Winter Promise

by Martha Rogers

  He just grinned and waved again. That’s all he needed. If she hung around for dinner, he’d never be able to keep his head straight. She should just stay home what with her wrist still in that cast. He headed back inside for more boxes. This was going to be a long day.

  After the wagons were loaded, they all set off for the new house. Kate drove the ladies in the doc’s surrey while the men rode on the wagons. Elliot perched himself on one of the boxes and held on as Daniel drove the horses down the street to the newly built house.

  The new place had much more space than the rooms above the infirmary. With a larger kitchen, Aunt Maggie already talked about all the things she could do in the new one. If that meant more baked goodies, then Elliot heartily approved.

  He leaned on his elbow and contemplated how far he’d come in the past few years. If not for his aunt and uncle, he’d probably be wallowing in some hole in Cleveland, completely cut off from everyone. He had much to thank them for.

  An image of Abigail darted across his mind. Strange that the one woman who had tapped into his wall of protection had a name so similar to Angela. Was this another of God’s cruel jokes to set him up for disappointment once again?

  Abigail’s name wafted on the breeze back to him. Elliot’s ears perked up, and he realized Cory and Daniel were talking about her. Cory laughed and said something about her independence and how he admired it in her.

  Elliot narrowed his eyes and clamped his lips together. Of course the deputy would have a better chance with Abigail. He was with her so much of the time at the boardinghouse, and his sister being married to her brother didn’t help matters.

  His hands balled into fists. Who she preferred should make no difference to him, but it did. Unless he planned to let her fully into his life, he’d better repair that chink in the wall around his heart. He shook his head and clenched his teeth. Even if he did let down his guard and seek her favor, she’d much prefer the handsome deputy over a scrawny doctor.

  The wagon slowed then stopped, and Elliot jumped down from the wagon. Henry Wilder sauntered up just as they began unloading furniture.

  “I’m not sure I can be much help, but I would like to write up an article about the new house and the plans for the space you just vacated.”

  “That’s a good idea, Henry. I’m sure Aunt Maggie will be happy to tell you all about it.”

  Cory swiped his head with his kerchief. “Hey, Henry, you’ve been missing a few meals at the boardinghouse. The newspaper got you that busy?”

  Henry turned redder than the kerchief in Cory’s hands. “Er, uh, um . . . Miss Annie invited me to have lunch in her little café. She wanted to treat me because of the story I wrote about her a few weeks back.”

  “That so? Well, it must have been a good lunch since you’ve missed a few noon dinners at the boardinghouse this past week or so.”

  “Oh, her cooking isn’t as good as Aunt Mae’s, but Annie and I found we have some things in common.” He straightened up a bit. “Anyways, where I eat my noon meal is no concern of yours, Cory Muldoon.” He tipped his hat. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go find Mrs. Jensen and learn more about this house.”

  Cory chuckled and shook his head. “Looks like another single man has found his mate. Yep, single women don’t last long around here.” He picked up a chair and strode toward the house.

  Elliot snorted and picked up a table. He’d been just fine as a bachelor, and so had Cory for that matter. Of course, why Cory stayed single remained a mystery to Elliot. He knew his own reasons, but they grew weaker the longer he was around Abigail. As far as her favor for a person, he figured Cory already had a good head start on that.

  Cory set a chair down by the fireplace in the parlor. Something must be eating at Elliot. He’d done nothing but scowl the whole morning. The young doc hadn’t said a dozen words to any of them as they worked. He had to be happy for his aunt and uncle, so why the frowns? You’d think the boy had eaten green persimmons and had a bellyache. No business of his, so Cory worked alongside of Donavan and Daniel. Let Elliot do his work alone if that’s what he preferred.

  A rumble started deep in Cory’s gut. Time to stop this heavy hauling and get some food into his stomach to restore the energy he’d lost this morning. If it hadn’t been slightly cooler this October morning, they’d all be sweating and grunting even more than they were.

  A flash of color caught his eye. He stopped and peered up the street. Abigail waved and hurried toward the new house. She held her hat with her good hand and carried a basket on the one with the cast. He grinned in spite of himself. That silly girl. She ought to be doing the opposite, but he wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.

  She ran up to him with her eyes sparkling and her cheeks rosy. “Aunt Mae sent some of her pound cake for everyone to enjoy. Sarah’s bringing the fried chicken and a casserole, so looks like dinner will be all ready in a few minutes. Is there a table set up yet?”

  Cory’s blood raced through his veins. How pretty she looked in her dress the color of sunflowers. He blinked his eyes and grinned at her. “I think one’s in the dining room. The ladies are stocking the kitchen, so you’ll find them there.”

  That radiant smile of hers warmed him right to his toes, and the scent of rosewater floated in the air as she passed by on her way to the porch, stopping to chat with whoever happened to be along the way. Never had he let a girl get under his skin like he had Abigail.

  Elliot greeted her at the door, and the smile she turned on him was even brighter than the one she’d given Cory. The deputy pushed his hat back on his head and stared at the couple who stood chatting as though they had all the time in the world. Green tendrils of jealousy began winding around his heart like English ivy on a stone wall. Elliot probably was more her style. What would she ever see in a cowboy lawman?

  He yanked a box down from the wagon bed and lugged it into the house, not even caring about the strain on his muscles. He’d be sore tomorrow, but if it took his mind off Abigail for a few minutes, all the pain would be worth it.

  Abigail left Elliot at the door and went to the kitchen. He had sure seemed happier when they talked just now. Maybe this move to a new house was just what he needed. Now if only she could get him to go to church, she’d be very happy.

  Two so very handsome men, and neither of them had shown much interest in her. Cory had flirted with her and teased, but then her brother teased her, and she certainly didn’t think of Cory like a brother. Elliot neither flirted nor teased, but he touched something in her heart, and she yearned to get to know him better.

  Sometime in the next week or so she’d have to sit down and decide just what she expected from her relationships with those two. If she had to choose right now which one to turn her attention to as a possible mate for the future, she’d be hard pressed to make such a decision.

  “A penny for your thoughts, Miss Abigail.”

  Abigail whirled around. “Oh, Sarah, I didn’t realize you were so close behind me. And my thoughts aren’t worth dirt, much less a penny.” She hooked her free hand under Sarah’s arm. “Come on, I hear the ladies chattering in the kitchen, and I think the men are about ready to eat.”

  The four women in the kitchen stopped their stocking of the shelves when Abigail entered with Sarah. “Here’s Aunt Mae’s pound cake, and Sarah has the fried chicken and trimmings.”

  Mrs. Jensen took charge and in a few minutes had the dining table spread with a feast for the hungry crew. As was the custom, the women would wait until the men were well fed before eating themselves. It was a stupid custom as far as Abigail was concerned. At least Aunt Mae had cooked plenty.

  The doctor’s wife wiped her hands on a dish towel. “Doc should be here from the infirmary unless some unexpected emergency came up.” She counted out silverware and napkins and laid them on the table. “Abigail, holler out there and tell the men to come on in before we eat it all.”

  Abigail laughed. Now that she’d like to do. On the porch she clapped her
hands. “You out here and those inside . . . dinner is ready in the dining room.”

  Even though the morning had been cool, the sun had warmed during the day, and all the men wiped perspiration from their foreheads before trooping up the steps and into the house. As they passed, the scent of the outdoors and hard labor filled Abigail’s nose. Such an honest smell.

  Cory winked and grinned at her when he passed. Heat burned in her cheeks. How forward of him to keep doing that, but she didn’t intend to ask him to stop. She liked it too much.

  She turned as Elliot descended the steps and stopped at the bottom. Abigail stared at him, and the admiration she saw in his face this time sent shock waves of delight to the tips of her feet. Then just as suddenly the admiration was gone, replaced by the familiar air of disinterest. He nodded at her and turned to go into the dining area.

  Abigail stood with her hand reaching out for support from the highboy beside her. All her plans to be free and independent threatened to fly out the window. She’d better catch them and get them back in line. Unless God did a miracle in the next few days or weeks, she couldn’t be thinking of Elliot as anything but a nice friend and a good doctor. She could never become involved with anyone who was not as sure of God as she was.

  Then a smile played about her mouth. God was in the miracle business, and He wouldn’t mind if she helped things along a little bit.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  THE FOLLOWING WEEK passed without any opportunity for Abigail to make good on her vow. She didn’t see Elliot except in passing, and unless he made himself more visible around town, most likely she wouldn’t see him again until he removed the cast. Although his aunt and uncle attended church every Sunday, Elliot had yet to make an appearance. She’d only been able to pray for him since the day he’d revealed he had no use for God in his life.

  Once again Abigail was invited to the Muldoon ranch for Sunday dinner. Afterward she joined the Muldoon women in the parlor while the men retired to Callum Muldoon’s office to discuss business. Even Nathan and Daniel had joined them. The only one missing was Seth, who had stayed in town with his wife, Erin.

  Abigail glanced down at the cast on her hand and wrist and grimaced. It itched worse than when she’d had poison ivy years ago as a child.

  Ada wrapped her arm around Abigail’s shoulders. “Are you in pain?”

  “Not pain, but it itches something terrible, especially my palm.”

  “Hmm, I think I have just the thing for that.” She scurried from the room and returned moments later with a long, thin wire.

  “Here you are. When Callum injured his leg last year and had it all bandaged up, he used this to reach under the dressing to scratch.” She proceeded to inch the wire under the cast and down to Abigail’s palm. “Now scratch where the itch is.”

  Abigail moved the wire back and forth and sighed with relief. It really did help. “Thank you, Ada. That worked quite well.”

  “Then take it with you and use it when you need it.”

  Abigail laid the wire near her belongings to take it back to Porterfield with her. When she rejoined the circle of ladies, Sarah was speaking of Doc Elliot.

  “We are so blessed to have him in our town. He shows such care and concern for me when I go in for my checkups.”

  Ada pursed her lips. “I liked the young man myself after the way he took care of Callum last year, but I still don’t understand the need to go see him every month. We didn’t do that in our day, did we, Mabel?” She glanced across at Aunt Mabel, who shook her head.

  “We sure enough didn’t. I think I may have seen my doctor twice during the entire time and then when it was time for delivery. Had my babies at home too, but now women are looking to hospitals for that. People say it’s safer that way and more babies live, but seems to me that’s God’s choice whether you’re in a hospital or at home.”

  Rachel, Kate, and Sarah all chimed in at once about the advantages of having a baby in a hospital rather than at home. Abigail listened with only a portion of her attention, as having babies certainly didn’t interest her right now.

  Her feet tip-tapped on the floor under her skirts as the voices droned on about her. She stood then wandered aimlessly to the window. Children played in the yard, and she spotted James Lowell playing with them. He must be telling them some tall tale as the children laughed and clapped at whatever he said.

  Someday she would like to have children of her own, but first she would have to find the right man. Or he would have to find her! Right now it looked as though neither of her choices even wanted to find her.

  A hand tapped her shoulder, and Abigail turned to find Cory behind her. He smiled and said, “I know all this talk is boring you. It’s such a beautiful day outside, let’s take a ride. You haven’t really seen all of our ranch.”

  “That sounds delightful, but I’m not in any condition for horseback riding.”

  Cory laughed. “Of course not. We’ll take the buggy. It’s hitched and ready to go.” He picked up his hat from a hall tree by the door and handed her the one she’d worn earlier. “The weather is perfect today for a drive.”

  Cory led Abigail out to where the family vehicles were hitched and unwound the tie on the one belonging to Kate and Daniel. Cory held her firmly about the waist as he lifted her up into the buggy. The touch of his hands burned through Abigail’s dress.

  She composed her thoughts as he climbed up beside her. “Are your fall seasons always like this? I’ve never seen such beautiful weather in October.”

  “Your brother asked exactly the same thing last year. This is my favorite time of the year, when the weather is cool enough for a light jacket but not cold enough for a heavy coat. The colors are not as spectacular as those in your state, though, or so I’ve been told.” He cut his gaze to Abigail and grinned.

  Oh, that teasing smile again caused her to bubble over with laughter. “That would be my brother. Connecticut is alive with color now, but fall can also be cold and rainy. It’s nothing like this.”

  Cory clicked the reins and pointed in the direction of a forest. “The pines are loblollies and grow to great heights. They’re the ones the sawmill cuts down for timber. When the wind comes down from the north or up from the south, you can hear the singing in the trees. It has its own special music, or so Kate says.”

  “I never heard it described like that, but I love it. In fact, I’ve grown to love everything about this place.” Being with him this afternoon made it even better.

  Cory smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

  He continued to point out spots of interest, including the types of cattle. To Abigail, they were ugly creatures with those horns sticking out of their heads. Cory called them longhorn cattle.

  Her mind drifted to thoughts of Elliot Jensen. Kate worked with him, yet she didn’t know much more about him than Abigail had learned on her own. As a doctor he was so caring and kind, but as a person he was withdrawn. Such a mystery she’d like to unravel.

  Cory stopped the buggy. “Are you feeling ill? You’ve been very quiet.”

  Heat filled Abigail’s cheeks. Here she sat next to one of the most handsome men in the area, and another man filled her thoughts. How rude she had been.

  “I’m sorry. I guess I was thinking about this cast and when I’ll be getting it off.” She furrowed her brow. “Cory, do you have any idea at all what might be bothering Doc Elliot? He’s such a good doctor, yet he can be so distant at times.”

  Something passed over Cory’s face that she couldn’t decipher. “He is a good doctor, and his patients all seem to like him. All I know is that something happened in Cleveland, and he nearly quit medicine altogether. I believe his uncle is the one who persuaded him to stick with it and come down to Texas.”

  “That was a good decision. I can’t imagine Elliot being anything else but a doctor.” She was grateful he had come. Although Doc Jensen was excellent, she preferred to have Elliot treat her.

  Her right hand covered the one bound in the c
ast. His hands had been so gentle and sure when he took care of her wrist. Whatever had happened in his past couldn’t have had to do with his medical skills. Something else must have caused him to want to quit. Her heart wouldn’t rest until she learned the truth and helped Elliot put it behind him.

  Then her mind snapped to attention. She had to forget the doctor and concentrate on the man beside her. He’d shown more interest in the past week or so than Elliot had in the entire time she’d been here. She turned to Cory and began to chat enthusiastically about her latest plans for the library.

  The quietness of the new house touched a nerve in Elliot. They’d moved in only last week, but the solitude grated and left him bored and restless. His fingers drummed on his desk as he viewed what he could see of the town of Porterfield through his second-floor window.

  Sunday afternoons meant empty streets and closed-up shops. Even the saloon closed down on the Sabbath day. The only places open for business were the hotel and the jail in the new courthouse. He turned from the window and grabbed his jacket from its hook near the door. With weather like today, a good walk about town might relieve the boredom as well as be good exercise. He descended the stairway as quietly as possible so as not to disturb his aunt and uncle, who indulged in their Sunday afternoon nap time.

  Out on the sidewalk, he breathed deeply of the crisp fall air then strode out to the street. The boardinghouse, two houses down from the Jensen place, looked serene on this fall afternoon. As he passed, Miss Perth and Mrs. Barnett both waved to him from the porch.

  Aunt Mae opened the door and stepped outside carrying a tray with a pitcher and glasses. She set it down then called to Elliot. “Yoo-hoo, Doc Elliot. Come on up and have some lemonade and cake.”

  He waved back and shook his head. “No, thank you. I’m taking a walk into town.”

  She shrugged and started pouring lemonade into the glasses. Elliot continued on his way and spotted children playing in yards down the street. Their laughter rang with joy through the afternoon air. Oh, to be young again with no more cares and worries than a child.