The Lassoed by Marriage Romance Collection

by Bell, Angela; Breidenbach, Angela; Carter, Lisa

  After a quick breakfast, Molly washed and dried the dishes. She slid them onto the cupboard shelf, making sure the latch was secured. She surveyed the kitchen. Her kitchen.

  Her heart plummeted. What had she done? She didn’t remember how to cook. The saloon owner’s wife did the cooking so Molly didn’t get splattered with grease or burned, which might tarnish their entertainer and they’d lose business.

  Yesterday, Noah had mentioned her helping her mother cook. Molly rubbed her temples. Helping and cooking were two different things. Why hadn’t she kept quiet? Noah obviously knew how to cook. The bacon and eggs tasted delicious.

  The train jerked to a stop. Molly stumbled against the table. She hadn’t noticed the train slowing. After regaining her balance, she stepped into the chapel and hurried down the aisle and out the door.

  She’d worry about cooking later. Right now she wanted to be out among the people at the depot. Perhaps she’d see Cass.

  Disappointment filled her heart when she stepped onto the wooden depot platform. A scarce few stood around the building.

  Noah spoke to the engineer whose head poked out of a window. When he was finished, he turned and strode over to her.

  “You can wait on a bench in the depot. It doesn’t take long to park the chapel car on the spur track. Then we can walk into town.”

  Molly started when Noah clasped her hand and looped it through the crook of his arm.

  “This is how a gentleman treats a lady.” Noah’s gentle smile held no condescension. He was simply providing information.

  He took a step. Molly followed, glad that of all places Seth could have taken her he’d chosen Noah. She felt safe with Noah. He’d always been kind and brave like Cass.

  Pausing in front of a wooden bench by a window, Noah removed her hand from his arm. “This shouldn’t take long.”

  “I’ll be here.” Molly sat on the bench and watched Noah exit the same door they’d entered. Her gaze roamed the oblong room. Each wall facing the railroad tracks had a window with a bench beneath it. A framed map hung on the opposite wall. One man worked behind a caged-in counter where passengers purchased tickets.

  A hinge creaked and echoed through the silent depot. A young boy about eight, Molly guessed, stepped into the building. He wore tattered clothes close to becoming too small. The unbuttoned cuffs of his sleeves hit above his wrists. His pants hem skimmed the tops of his worn boots.

  “Got any passengers who need help?” The boy stood on his tiptoes to peer into the caged office.

  “Not this stop.” The ticket man answered without looking up from his work. The boy turned around and noticed Molly. “Got any bags that need carryin’?”

  “No.”

  Disappointment sagged the boy’s shoulders. “You waitin’ for someone?”

  “Yes, Noah.”

  The boy walked over to the bench. “Noah your brother?”

  “My husband.” It was the first time Molly called Noah her husband. The words sounded strange.

  The boy stood in front of her, eyes narrowed. “Are you stayin’ or passin’ through?”

  “We are staying…for a short time.” Molly stumbled over the end of her sentence. She wasn’t certain how long the chapel car would be parked on the spur track.

  “Got kin here?”

  She hoped so. She hoped Seth was right about Cass’s whereabouts and wrong about his occupation. “Maybe. I’m not sure.”

  Her laughter rang through the depot at the face the boy pulled. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re not hurtin’ me by laughin’ at me. People do it all the time.”

  Molly sobered. “I beg your pardon. I was laughing at the funny face you made at my answer because it was confusing. I’d never laugh at you or anyone.”

  The boy’s features gentled. He slipped onto the bench beside her.

  “I’ve heard my brother might live near here. I haven’t seen him in five years.”

  “I know ’most everyone in town, even if they pretend not to know me.”

  Molly’s heart went out to the boy. It was obvious by his dress and attitude his family was poor, but that was not a reason to mistreat a child. “I can’t see why anyone would treat you badly.”

  The boy shrugged. “It’s ’cause of my parents.”

  The matter-of-fact way he admitted this shame told Molly he’d accepted his lot in life. Something she’d yet learned to do.

  “What’s your name?” Molly yearned to reach out and ruffle the young boy’s blond hair, a shade darker than Cass’s.

  “Tom.”

  “I’m Molly. Molly Calla—” Molly stopped and cleared her throat. “Manning. I’m Molly Manning. What’s your last name?”

  “Don’t have one.”

  Molly’s eyes widened. She turned her head so Tom couldn’t see her surprise.

  “I’ve heard about a marshal named Manning. He don’t live here, if he’s your brother.”

  “Marshal Manning is my brother-in-law.” Molly looked back at the boy. “My maiden name is Callahan.”

  “Is Cass Callahan your brother?”

  Happiness shot through Molly. Could this child lead her to her brother?

  “Tom!”

  The ticket agent hollered from behind the wrought-iron bars. “I’ve told you not to badger my customers. Ma’am, I hope the boy hasn’t swindled you out of any money. He’s a little beggar. Go on, get.” The man waved his hand at the door.

  “I was only visitin’. I didn’t ask for no money.” The defense in Tom’s voice matched the expression on his face but didn’t mask the loneliness in his brown eyes. He stood.

  So did Molly. “Sir, the young man was doing no harm.” Molly needed to keep the boy here. If he knew Cass, he’d know where to find him.

  “Right now.” The ticket agent clicked his tongue while his eyes roved her from head to toe. “I haven’t seen you around before. You say you know this boy?”

  Molly realized the man was judging her based on her threadbare clothes.

  She cleared her throat and strode over to the counter. “Yes, I know this young man. He is my first friend in this town. I’m Mrs. Manning. Pastor Manning is overseeing our home, the chapel car Emmanuel, while it’s being parked on a spur track.”

  “Begging your pardon, ma’am. I understand now, but the boy needs to leave.”

  “All right.” Molly grasped Tom’s shoulders and guided him toward the screen door.

  When they were outside, Tom stopped and raised his arm to his forehead to shade his eyes from the noonday sun. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  An image flashed in Molly’s mind. Another young man shading his eyes from the sun while taking a break hoeing the garden. She smiled. Tom reminded her of Cass. They had the same hair and eye coloring. “It was my pleasure. Besides, I didn’t have a chance to answer your question. Cass Callahan is my brother. Do you know where I can find him?”

  The boy shrugged.

  “Have you seen my wife?”

  Molly turned and peered through the screen door. “We’re out here, Noah.” When she turned back to talk to Tom, he was gone.

  Noah thanked God one thing went right on his new appointment. The chapel car was secured on the track with no mishaps. The first service would take place tomorrow night, then nightly thereafter.

  Rubbing his chin, he watched Molly. She seemed to be looking for something or someone. Noah doubted Cass Callahan lived in this town. It was quite bustling. Wouldn’t an outlaw hide out somewhere secluded?

  “Are you looking for someone?” Noah cupped Molly’s hand in the crook of his arm and patted it.

  “No.”

  Noah stole a glance at his wife. Guilt etched her pretty features. “Then what are you looking for?”

  Molly stopped and pulled her hand free of his arm. By the time he stopped and turned, her fists rested on her hips. “I haven’t been in a town this big before, Noah Manning. Can I help it if this is all new to me?”

  He arched a brow. He hadn’t co
nsidered that. “Forgive me. It seemed like you were looking for someone. Molly, I don’t think Cass lives here.” Even if he was hiding out in this town, he’d never show his face in the light of the day, would he?

  Dropping her hands to her side, Molly sighed. “I met a young boy in the depot. He took off in a hurry. I was hoping to see him.”

  Noah smiled. All the guilt left her face at her admission. “Thank you for telling me. Husbands and wives shouldn’t keep secrets from each other.” He offered his elbow.

  Molly looped her hand through, and they continued toward town. The depot sat a half mile from the actual main street of town, which from this distance appeared to be four blocks long with side streets and houses spreading out on each side.

  The scent of the blacksmith’s shop welcomed them long before they walked past. Finally, they reached the boardwalk. Noah searched the buildings for a dress shop or general store.

  “Do you know how to sew?”

  “Yes, I mended the…um…other girls’ clothes at the saloon.”

  Anger surged through Noah at the embarrassment flushing Molly’s face. How could Cass put his sister through that type of life? A small part of Noah hoped Cass did live in or near this town. He’d like some answers. He planned to make a quick visit to the sheriff’s office to verify Seth’s story. He hadn’t wanted to ask in front of Molly yesterday, but he wondered if this was an isolated case of rustling. People who fell on hard times sometimes took drastic measures. Or was this Cass’s occupation?

  Noah scanned the street locating the sheriff’s office, a dressmaker’s shop, and a general store. “You’re in immediate need of a new frock. Let’s go to the dress shop first. After that I’ll let you browse the fabric at the general store. You should have two house dresses and a Sunday dress in addition to an apron and well…” Heat burned Noah’s cheeks that had nothing to do with the summer sun. He leaned toward Molly’s ear. “Other ladies items.”

  “I can’t accept all of that.” Molly’s eyes searched his face.

  “You are my wife and I am pastor of the chapel car Emmanuel. You need to dress appropriately.” A girl as pretty as Molly should have been dressed in many fine dresses by this age.

  Noah marched them toward the dressmaker’s shop and stopped in the doorway. He hesitated. Nothing in his training prepared him for entering a dress shop. He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew some money. “This should take care of a dress. I have an errand to run. I will meet you in the general store.”

  He didn’t give Molly time to argue before he strode off.

  Chapter 5

  Molly admired her new Sunday dress in the plate-glass windows of the stores as she passed by. She smoothed a hand down the soft blue calico with lace overlay on the long sleeves, cuffs, and bodice.

  Clutching the brown paper parcel that held her tattered dress, Molly looked up and down the street. There was no sign of Noah. Although the general store was two buildings away from where she stood, the sherriff’s office across the street called to her. She longed to check the wanted posters. Seth could have easily printed up a false poster with Cass’s name, couldn’t he?

  Lifting her skirt so it didn’t drag in the dusty street, Molly quickly crossed to the opposite boardwalk. Her eyes focused on the large board papered with wanted posters that hung to the right of the jail entry.

  Molly glanced over both shoulders. No one seemed to notice her standing in front of the board. She started at the top and scanned each picture and name. One-third of the way down, her gaze froze to a sheet of paper. Her heartbeat rivaled the pace of a hummingbird’s wings. There was a poster with Cass’s name and the word rustler.

  The picture didn’t look right. She rose to her tiptoes and squinted at the faded notice. A scar marred the man’s cheek, and stringy hair poked out from under his hat like a scarecrow’s hay hair. This couldn’t be Cass. Someone was posing as her brother. Was that why he left her? To protect her?

  “What ya lookin’ at?”

  “Oh!” Molly had been so engrossed in the picture, she’d forgotten to keep her wits about her. Looking down, she saw Tom.

  Tom’s eyes rose to the board. “Oh, I see. You’re lookin’ at your brother.”

  “Hush,” Molly scolded. She twisted her neck both ways to make sure no one in town had heard. Once satisfied that bystanders hadn’t heard, she reached down and grabbed Tom’s hand. Their footsteps thumped along the boardwalk until she spotted an opening between buildings. She pulled Tom into the narrow space.

  She looked down to find his lips trembling.

  “I thought you was my friend.”

  Molly sucked in a deep breath in hopes it’d steady her racing heart. “I am. Tom, I’m sorry I was gruff on the street. I’m trying to find my brother, but it’s kind of a secret.”

  “You don’t want nobody to know he’s your brother?”

  Molly was taken aback. “It’s not that at all. I think there’s been a mistake. I’m not sure the picture of the man on the wanted poster is my brother.”

  “Well, if your brother is Cass Callahan, it is.”

  The earnest expression on Tom’s face caused her hopes to plummet. She pursed her lips, blinked rapidly, and willed the hurt not to pool in her eyes. She cleared her throat to remove the tightness. “How do you know that for sure?”

  “I work for him.” Tom shrugged. “Sort of.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He comes to town, gives me money, and a list of supplies. I do his trading over a couple of days. He comes back and picks up the stuff.”

  “Where does he pick up the supplies?”

  Tom lowered his eyes and twisted the marred toe of his boot into the powdered dirt. “I oughtn’t to tell you, but since he’s your brother.” He heaved a sigh. “I live in a lean-to behind the livery. He leaves me some food and money to tide me over to the next time.”

  Molly crossed her arms over her chest and studied Tom. He didn’t appear to be lying. She pulled a penny from her pocket. “I’d like you to work for me, too.” She pressed the penny into his palm. “The next time Cass comes to town, tell him where I am.”

  Noah swallowed, hard, and prayed his stomach didn’t revolt. He plastered a smile to his face. He looked across the table at an anxious Molly waiting for approval that her attempt at cooking breakfast fared better than last night’s fried chicken. It didn’t.

  He forked a clump of brown eggs. Bacon grease dripped from the bite onto his plate. His stomach lurched. He took the bite. Pretended to chew before he drank a big swig of coffee and swallowed it like a bitter pill.

  The shine of pride on Molly’s face was worth the agony on his tongue.

  “I’m sorry about burning the chicken and scorching the potatoes last night. I need to get used to the stove. I so wanted to do something nice for you, since you purchased me a dress and fabric.”

  “You’re welcome. It is a husband’s duty to provide for his wife.” Noah hoped Molly sewed better than she cooked. He flashed her a smile. Her heart was in the right place, and she was trying. He picked up a piece of charred bacon and snapped it in two. How could someone manage to burn a quarter-inch-thick slice of meat?

  “And a wife’s duty to take care of her husband.”

  Molly scooped a bite of eggs in her mouth. Her pretty pink lips puckered. Her brows drew together. She dropped her fork and reached for her coffee cup to wash down the grease-soaked eggs. “That is awful. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Her shoulder’s drooped.

  “You wanted to run the kitchen. Your mother was a wonderful cook, and you used to cook with her.”

  Molly pushed her plate away. “That was a long time ago.” She fixed him with her gaze. Her blue eyes held apology. “I’m sorry I’ve ruined two meals and wasted food.”

  She arose and went to the cupboard. She returned with a loaf of bread and strawberry jelly. “It seems this is the only food I can prepare and not burn.”

  Noah accepted the jelly-slathered slice sh
e offered him and wondered if she remembered how to bake bread. His monthly stipend would be stretched tight between the two of them. They couldn’t afford to waste food.

  After finishing his meager breakfast, Noah excused himself and retreated to the chapel car for prayer time. He never needed to commune with God more. Worry burdened his spirit. While Molly was in the dress shop, Noah paid the sheriff a visit. The sheriff verified Seth was right. Cass was a cattle rustler.

  He paced the length of the aisle. What had happened? Cass had been closer to Noah than any of his brothers. Their opinions and morals mirrored each other’s. Could Molly be right? Had someone forced Cass to rustle and leave Molly at a saloon?

  Anger surged through Noah at the thought of Molly being held prisoner and forced to use her God-given talent for illicit purposes. Noah stopped mid-pace. He drew a deep breath. He needed to stop his wandering thoughts and talk to God.

  Cass had ruined enough lives: his own, his sister’s, and all the ranchers he’d stolen from. Noah wouldn’t let Cass’s actions ruin his ministry. His first pulpit post would dictate the rest of his career. He already had a mark against him with his unexpected marriage to Molly.

  Tonight at his first service, he needed a clear head and a strong spirit to deliver his sermon with the conviction necessary to lead sinners to God and strengthen the believers’ faith.

  He dropped to his knees at the altar. When he lifted his head sometime later, Molly, dressed in her old frock, polished the organ’s brass music holder.

  The brass pieces on the pulpit and the light fixtures on the opposite wall gleamed in the sunbeams streaming in the windows.

  “How long have you been working out here?” Noah stood.

  Molly rubbed the fixture base. “An hour.”

  “I didn’t even hear you. You are as quiet as a church mouse.” Noah stepped over to the organ and admired her work. “The fixture is beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” Molly smiled at him. “I tried to be quiet and respectful of your prayer time, but I want the chapel car sparkling for your first service tonight.”

  Pride expanded Noah’s heart.