by Keta Diablo
Nooooo, Nettie screeched. Her apparent displeasure rang through Ruth’s head.
She covered her ears and closed her eyes. "Please give me a chance to talk to Konnor before you do that again."
"Do what?" The concern in his voice had Ruth’s eyelids blinking open, and she stared at his handsome face.
Luckily, the ghost kept quiet and gave her a chance to explain her strange behavior. "Nettie, your resident spirit wants us to put off our trip until tomorrow."
"Nettie Petran McKee? My great, great grandmother?" Konnor glanced around and stepped forward. "She never even lived here in the States. She’s from the old land."
"Yes, well, she’s here now." Ruth tried to determine the reason for the ghost’s sudden opposition to them leaving. "Do you have any idea why she might want us to delay?"
He blinked as if surprised by the question. "Not that I can think of. Why should it matter if we go today or tomorrow?"
"I don’t know," Ruth commented but withheld the fact that the ghost may have knowledge of events that they didn’t.
Konnor slipped his arm around her waist and drew her close. "Are you willing to wait? An extra day to prepare for the trip might make it easier for me to get away. I can arrange for Henry to stay over tomorrow night so we don’t have to worry about trying to come home in the dark. After all, we have no idea how long it’ll take for your boss to make a decision and telegraph you."
Suddenly seeing the reason for his opposition to her trip, Ruth snuggled closer. "Is that why you were so bullheaded earlier? You didn’t want me out after dark?"
He leaned in and brushed a light kiss on her lips. "No. There was only one thought going through my head when we were upstairs."
She noted the seductive heat in his eyes and teased, "Because you were anxious to see to the horses before we hashed out a solution?"
His arms tightened around her. His gaze locked onto hers. "No. All I wanted was to climb back in bed and spend the day making love to you. The trip, the horses, nothing else mattered, which for me was a life-altering moment."
He tilted his head and studied her with a peculiar look on his face. "I’ve never put anyone before my horses."
"Buttercup will be heartbroken that I’ve taken her place in your heart." Ruth grinned and rose up onto her tiptoes to drop a light kiss on his lips. "That might be the reason you’re determined to marry me."
"Oh, yeah," he groaned and covered her mouth with his. This time, he demanded she surrender everything. The urgent sweep of his tongue dove deep and robbed her of the ability to breathe. His arms held her plastered to his body. The steady beat of his heart hammered against her chest, and she longed to get even closer.
"Uh, excuse me, but, uh...." A male voice interrupted. "But if you two keep kissing that way, Miss Wilson’s dad is going to come after you with a shotgun, Konnor."
Konnor’s lips shifted from hers, and he muttered, "Henry, didn’t anyone ever tell you to knock?"
"Oh, yes, I did. Several times, but when no one answered I thought there might be a problem." Henry shuffled on his feet and toyed with the hat in his hand. "After all, I promised you that I’d make sure you wouldn’t have to marry Miss Wilson."
He offered her an apologetic smile. "I mean, it’s not that you’re not a nice lady. But well, Konnor, here, isn’t the marrying kind."
"Really?" Ruth lifted a brow and shifted out of Konnor’s arms.
Not true. He just needed to meet the right woman, Nettie’s voice whispered through Ruth’s head.
Konnor turned to the boy and placed his hands on his hips. "Well, I guess you failed at your job, because tomorrow, we’re heading into town to get married."
The shocked expression on the young man’s face morphed into a wide grin. "Good, then we don’t have to worry about you mooning around over that wicked hag, Wilhelmina, anymore."
Throwing up his hand, Konnor yelled, "Git out of here before—"
A loud banging noise sounded from the dining room.
Konnor McKee, what in Sam Hills has gotten into you? The boy is merely happy to see you with the right girl.
Ruth smiled, pleased that he hadn’t heard the ghost’s scolding tone.
* * *
"Come on, Midnight. I believe we’ve done enough training for today." Konnor brushed the sweat off his brow and listened to the clanking of the harness.
The black, two-year-old draft mare swished her tail and turned to the left, following his lead. The horse seeing the corral in the distance picked up her pace.
"Easy there, just because we’re calling it a day, doesn’t mean you can get out of hand." With Midnight being unfamiliar with wearing a harness, Konnor pulled on the reins and kept the animal under tight control. The barn stood like a welcome sanction about a quarter of a mile in front of them. He’d spent most of the morning and a large portion of the afternoon working with his horses. He didn’t want their training to suffer because he’d be gone for a day, possibly two.
It’d take several hours to get there. Then they’d need to send Ruth’s telegram and head to the church. Once they were married, he wanted to have a nice meal and perhaps find a place to spend the night. They would need somewhere to rest until Ruth heard back from her boss and they could leave. He also didn’t want to be caught out on the road at night.
The rough drone of a wagon’s wheels on the path leading to his house captured his attention. He stared at the horse-cart and driver. Too far away to recognize either, he glanced up ahead at the barn to see if Henry was aware of their approach.
Racing toward him, Henry waved his arms and yelled, "Konnor, come in."
Lifting his hand to indicate, he was heading in that direction. Konnor noted the distance he and the wagon were from the corral. He figured they’d arrive at around the same time.
Henry didn’t seem happy with their new visitor and continued racing to him. "Hurry."
Not wanting to rush Midnight, Konnor eased off on the reins and allowed the horse to lengthen her stride. "Okay, girl, just a hair faster."
Still, monitoring the horse’s progress, he darted a quick glance at the wagon and almost dropped the reins. "Holy, shit, what in the hell is Wilhelmina doing here?"
"She’s back," Henry gasped when he got closer. "What are we going to do? She’ll upset everything. Miss Wilson won’t marry you if she thinks you still have feelings for Miss Keller."
Not any happier about the situation than Henry, Konnor continued driving the horse toward the barn. Midnight, anxious to eat and get out of the harness, tugged on the reins. Tightening his grip, he held the big animal steady and cautioned the young man. "Take it easy. We don’t even know why Wilhelmina has returned."
"What other reason can it be other than she’s changed her mind and wants to marry you?" Henry’s nonstop chatter wore on Konnor’s nerves. "After all, how can you turn her down? She’s one right pretty woman, tall and sleek with curves to make a man want to—"
"Henry, stop. I need you to take Midnight here into the barn and unhitch the harness." Konnor pulled the horse to a stop and offered the reins to the young man.
"Are you sure? I’ve never worked with Midnight before. Do you really believe I’m ready?" Henry shifted restlessly on his feet and caught hold of the long lengths of leather.
Relinquishing his control, Konnor moved out of the way and watched for any problems Midnight might have with the change in drivers. For the past few months, he’d been teaching the young man how to handle and train draft horses. Now was as good a time as any to give him a bit more practice. "You got it, son. Just keep your focus on her and you’ll do fine."
Henry’s grin showed he was more than happy with this new task. "I’ll take real good care of her. Won’t I, Midnight?"
He let up on the reins, and the horse stepped forward. "See we’re going to be the best of friends. You and me, we’ll head inside the barn and get you unhitched. Then I’ll rub you down and...."
Konnor tuned the boy out after making sure he had control of the horse and
hurried forward.
Wilhelmina drew her carriage to a stop in front of the house.
Again, he wondered why she might have come back. Did she want to return the items she’d stolen? Or did she have a different reason?
Stepping up beside the wagon, he held out a hand to help her down. "Wilhelmina, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, Konnor, it’s so good to see you, sweetheart." She placed one foot on the side-mounting step and rose from her seat. Towering over him for a moment, she dove forward into his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I’ve missed you so."
Shocked by her exuberant display of affection, he rocked back on his feet and worked to maintain his footing. His arms automatically circled her waist, and he held on tight to keep them both from landing in the dirt. "Wilhelmina, what—"
"Oh, honey, please forgive me." She grabbed his head, her fingers tunneling through his hair. Her blue eyes met his briefly before she set her mouth over his.
His body instantly responded, and he pulled her close before his brain caught up to what she was doing. He grasped her waist and tugged free of her kiss. "What are you doing here?"
She grinned and tried to snuggle closer. "I thought I was making myself perfectly obvious. I’ve changed my mind. I still want to marry you."
Stunned, he stepped back and stared into her beautiful face. "I’m, uh, afraid that’s not possible. I’m engaged to someone else."
"What?" She glanced around, and her gaze locked on Ruth, who was standing on the front porch. Then she giggled and slapped him lightly on the chest before moving away. "Nice try, sweetheart. But there is no reason for you to claim an affection for another. I already know who your guest is."
Konnor’s gaze followed Wilhelmina. The long black cloak she had on hid her tall, elegant form. Most people would proclaim she was the perfect match for him because of their similar height and her connections to wealthy horse breeders. But after meeting Ruth, he couldn’t understand why he ever found her attractive. Yes, her blonde hair and blue eyes were a striking combination, but some quirks of her personality didn’t appeal to him. Perhaps, it was her unwillingness to listen to him or anyone.
Wilhelmina’s heels thumped over the wood planks of the porch drawing his attention to Ruth.
He noticed she hadn’t bothered to put on a coat. Her arms were crossed over her chest. He wondered if she might be cold. The slight smile on her face told him Wilhelmina’s sudden visit wasn’t quite the surprise that it had been for him.
Was this the reason behind the ghost wanting them to wait until tomorrow to leave? Had Nettie told Ruth about his ex-fiancée making an appearance after he went back to work?
The high-pitched tone of Wilhelmina’s voice drew him from his musing. "You must be that investigator from P.S.I. Agency that Barton spoke about. Miss Wilson, isn’t it?"
Ruth glanced at him briefly before she nodded. "Yes, I arrived a few days ago. Though I must say, I’m glad you showed up today. Mr. McKee and I were planning a trip into town tomorrow to see if we could find someone to locate you."
"Excellent, then let’s go inside and get better acquainted." Wilhelmina turned and waved him forward. "Don’t worry about my carriage, sweetheart. That boy you have around here can take care of it once he’s done with the horse you were training."
Torn between wanting to set Wilhelmina straight and making sure Henry had Midnight settled in her stall, Konnor walked up the front steps. "Why don’t I just see you to your room? Then we can all meet up in the kitchen in a few minutes and have something to eat."
"Excellent, I’m a little road weary. I’ll just freshen up and then be right down." Wilhelmina beat him to the door and walked inside as if she already owned the place.
"Ruth, it’s freezing out here. Why don’t you go first?" He indicated she should precede him with a slight wave of his hand.
"Thanks," she smiled, and he followed her into the house.
"There’s no need for you to come upstairs with me, Konnor. I know my way around. I’ll just take the same room I stayed in the last time I was here." Wilhelmina turned without a backward glance and started up the steps.
"Great, it’s right across the hall from Ruth’s. Luckily, this is a big place so you each can have your own room." He stepped forward and placed his hand on Ruth’s lower back. "Why don’t we head to the kitchen?"
Chapter Eight
The door clicked closed behind Konnor.
Ruth sighed with relief. Wilhelmina’s sudden appearance made no sense. What did she want?
Konnor had tried to apologize for his ex-fiancée and assured Ruth he still wanted to marry her. His distress had only added to her confusion of how to handle the problem of the missing silver. Should she confront Wilhelmina and tell her of Nettie’s accusations or let things ride for a while?
To gain a few moments to herself, she had rushed him out the door with the tasks of making sure Midnight was settled and to see if Henry had everything under control. She’d promise Konnor they’d discuss Wilhelmina’s arrival later along with what they should do regarding the missing silver.
Now, she stood in the middle of the kitchen with no plans as to what to do while she waited for his return. She’d spent most of the day in the house alone. At first, she’d tried to talk to Nettie, but the ghost hadn’t been in a talkative mood. Instead, needing to be useful, Ruth had made muffins and then after lunch put a roast in the oven.
Wanting to focus on the reasons behind Wilhelmina’s sudden arrival, Ruth walked to the table, drew out a chair, and sank onto the hard surface. A wave of jealousy washed through her when she remembered the other woman snuggling up against Konnor’s chest. She shook her head to rid her wayward thoughts of pounding the woman. "From that kiss she planted on Konnor’s mouth when she arrived, I believe she’s here to win him back."
Won’t happen. He’s completely smitten with you, Nettie argued.
"Perhaps," Ruth pictured the other woman wrapped in Konnor’s arms. The two seemed made for each other. His thick arms circling her slim body highlighted her sleek shape. Where his robust form appeared masculine, hers represented a dainty, feminine flower. Her blonde hair lying against the contrasting dark brown of his added to the complimentary differences between them and created an appealing picture.
He loves you. The familiar male voice in her head had her rocking back in her chair. Her brother’s spirit hadn’t communicated with her for years, not since they sold the farm. Baffled as to why he decided to show up, she sputtered, "Barney, what...."
Her mind spun off into a new direction. What made him return? And how could she keep him from leaving her again?
Not letting her stammering interrupt him, her brother addressed her in the same familiar way he had as a child. Now, Ruthie, you have to stand up for yourself and make it clear to this woman that Konnor belongs to you.
She blinked, bombarded by several old memories that hit her at once. The first time he came to her was after his death. He had convinced her to tell her family about her ability to talk to dead people. Even his part in her final fight with her father flashed through her head, before she could gather herself and respond, "I’ve missed you, Barney."
Oh, now, don’t go and get all weepy on me. We’ve got a problem here that needs to be taken care of or there’s going to be major trouble headed your way, her brother admonished, using a very authoritative tone. Nettie, here, doesn’t like this blonde. She says the woman is a thief.
"We have no proof she took those items. That’s why I planned the trip to town. I wanted to arrange for an agent to check her out and see if he could locate the missing pieces at her house." Ruth grumbled, "Nettie, when you told me were having a guest today, why didn’t you tell me it was Wilhelmina?"
The ghost remained quiet.
Barney answered for her. She wasn’t sure how you’d react to the news. She doesn’t understand how brave you can be when you feel someone is in danger.
A low chuckle whispered through Ruth’s head. She
closed her eyes, remembering the sweet sound of her brother’s laughter and pictured his cheerful face. A pang of guilt rushed through her.
Remember that young girl you met at the library in St. Louis? What was her name? Helen? Haven?
Ruth blinked, trying to bring to mind the episode. "Are you talking about Healy Harrison?"
Yes, that girl stood a foot taller than you but was shy as a mouse. Barney snickered. You almost clocked that older boy when he started bossing her around. You stomped on his toes and was ready to deck him before the librarian stepped in and told him to leave you two alone.
Frowning, Ruth recalled the event. "But I don’t understand. You never said another word to me after we left the farm. How do you know about Healy?"
A light poke on her arm had her swaying on her seat. Barney laughed. Hey, just because I didn’t chatter away doesn’t mean I wasn’t nearby.
"Yes, but—" Ruth argued, but Nettie cut her off.
Forget it. We have a bigger problem. What do you plan to do about the woman upstairs? Her stern tone indicated she wanted Wilhelmina out of the house as soon as possible.
"There’s not much I can do. I have no way to contact anyone in the home office and tell them to investigate Wilhelmina. If she sold the items she took from Konnor and deposited the money in her bank account, we might be able to track down where she acquired the funds. Or she may still have the silver in her house."
A long pause followed while Ruth struggled with how best to approach Konnor’s ex-sweetheart. Would she be willing to accept the fact that he no longer wanted to marry her?
From the bit of conversation Ruth had heard earlier, she didn’t expect this to be an easy task.
Barney broke the silence. I could talk to her.
"Who? Wilhelmina? I don’t—"
No. Healy. Isn’t she working at the same agency, you are now?
Her brother’s suggestion intrigued Ruth. "Can you do that?"
Sure. I’ve talked to her a few times when you were in St. Louis. Though, I told her not to mention me to you. Knew it’d upset you.
"Damn, right. I thought—"