Last Promise

by Scarlett Dunn

  The designer came back into the room and saw her looking at his sketches. He glanced at the paper in her hand. “You prefer this one?”

  “It is beautiful,” she told him.

  “Yes, that is my favorite. It would be lovely on you.” He had noticed this beautiful bride-to-be was not thrilled to be planning a wedding. While her mother was over-enthusiastic, the actual bride looked like she would prefer the guillotine. “You are not excited about the wedding?”

  “No.”

  He’d heard the rumors about her father’s debts and he was well aware of Stafford’s wealth. It wasn’t an uncommon practice to marry for money, but he couldn’t say he agreed, particularly when it made such a lovely young woman unhappy. This was not a woman in love, at least not in love with the groom. “Wrong groom?”

  “Wrong groom,” Mary Ann confirmed.

  * * *

  Dinner with Edmund and his parents was an abysmal affair. Mary Ann preferred to be in her room alone with her thoughts. It wasn’t necessary for her to be at the table as they didn’t include her in the conversation about her big day. She might as well have been invisible. The parents were busy planning everything, and occasionally sought Edmund’s input, not hers, but she didn’t object. She didn’t want to plan this farce of a wedding. Thoughts of the future, tomorrow, or a year from now were depressing. In Wyoming she was excited about her future, but now her entire life looked dismal.

  “Your mother said your wedding dress is going to be fabulous,” Edmund’s mother said to her.

  “So Mother says.”

  “Were you not pleased with the design?”

  Mary Ann didn’t want to discuss the gown. “It only matters if Mother is pleased.”

  Edmund’s mother thought it was an odd response, but she thought Mary Ann was an odd bird. Any young woman who had taken off for America alone was surely not of sound mind in her opinion. She’d told her son to find another young woman to marry, but his mind was set on Mary Ann.

  Listening to their conversation, Mary Ann learned her social calendar would be filled with events leading up to the wedding. How would she ever make it through the days without going insane?

  * * *

  After dinner, Edmund escorted Mary Ann to the gardens so he could speak to her in private. “I want you to have this designer handle your wardrobe for our tour of Italy after our wedding.”

  “Italy?” This was the first time she’d heard of taking a trip with him.

  “Yes, I’m thinking we will take in a few more countries as well. We will be away for several months.”

  She didn’t want to be away, but she didn’t want to be in England, so she didn’t argue.

  “I had planned to take you to America, but you’ve already been there so the point is moot.”

  “Did you enjoy America, Edmund?” she asked.

  “I enjoyed it less the farther west we traveled,” he answered. “What I find interesting is how a lady such as yourself enjoyed it so much.”

  This was the first time Edmund had a real conversation with her. “I cherished the independent spirit. There were no servants hovering over me every minute. For the first time in my life I felt free.”

  “Most women take pleasure in having servants, buying new wardrobes every season, and a calendar full of parties.”

  “Yes, my mother loves that life,” Mary Ann agreed. Edmund seemed so rational tonight she thought he might listen to reason. “Edmund, you know we don’t suit, why don’t you marry someone else?”

  “We are going to marry, you might as well adjust to the idea. Your cowboy is not here,” he replied.

  How she wished Luke were here, that would certainly shake up the evening. She almost smiled at the thought.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Luke had never traveled by stagecoach and he found the whole experience nerve-racking. He knew he could make better time on horseback. He was thankful that George was an excellent traveling companion, possessing the wisdom to know when to converse and when there was a need for silence. As impatient as Luke was to get to his destination, he did enjoy listening to George’s stories about Mary Ann’s life in England. Considering her sheltered past, he was even more amazed at her courage to travel to Wyoming by herself. It took a special kind of woman to embark on such an adventure.

  After spending time with Luke for weeks, George had developed a deeper respect for the man. He was very much like his brother Colt, a man of integrity, hardworking, and a generous heart. The only difference George saw between the two men was Luke’s appeal to the ladies. Colt was intimidating, where Luke was naturally charismatic and attracted women without effort. During one part of their journey a couple was traveling with them, and the woman couldn’t keep her eyes off Luke. Luke didn’t encourage her attention, he was simply being polite, but the woman flirted shamelessly. George found the woman’s actions entertaining, but her husband was not amused. Luke had confided that from the first moment he saw Mary Ann no other woman interested him. George was certain his niece felt the same about Luke, and he prayed her marriage to Stafford hadn’t taken place.

  The stagecoach pulled into another way station where they would be spending the night and leave at first light. George carried the luggage into the house while Luke assisted the stagecoach driver with the horses. An older man walked from the stables to help them get the horses in a corral. “Thanks, young man. You seem to know your way around horses.”

  “Yessir, I’ve spent a lot of time with them.”

  “Where you coming from?”

  “Wyoming,” Luke replied.

  “Where you headed?”

  Luke wasn’t offended at the questions. He figured the man enjoyed talking to the travelers when they arrived. The people who ran these stations lived an isolated life, and while most of them had been friendly, some were not as sociable. “Well, I’m headed to England.”

  “Is that a fact?”

  “Yessir.”

  * * *

  Luke walked into the house and joined George at the table where a woman was pouring coffee. “That coffee sure smells good.”

  The woman eyed Luke, noting what a handsome man he was as her eyes moved over his large frame to the six-gun on his hip. When she walked over to pour his coffee she saw his beautiful blue eyes and thought something about him looked familiar. “Have you been through here before?”

  “No ma’am.”

  “I just thought you looked familiar.”

  “I’ve never been here.”

  The older man came through the door and sat opposite Luke at the table. His wife gave him a cup of coffee. “Honey, I want you to meet someone.” He pointed to Luke. “This is the man that you wanted to write. The one with his head up his tail.”

  Luke and George exchanged a look silently telegraphing that these two people had been isolated way too long.

  “It isn’t possible!” The woman looked at Luke. “I think I knew the moment he walked in! I thought he looked familiar. It must be those eyes!”

  “Why would you want to write to me?” Luke found himself asking and not at all impressed that she thought he had his head up his keister.

  “You’re Luke McBride.” It wasn’t said as a question, but as a fact.

  Luke hadn’t mentioned his name to the old man, so he didn’t know how she knew unless George told her. “Yes, ma’am, I am.”

  Lillian sat the coffeepot down and she swiped at her watery eyes. “Oh Henry, is it possible?”

  “I think someone needs to explain what is going on here,” George said.

  “I’m Henry and this is my wife, Lillian. My wife and I have heard all about this young man.”

  “How so?” Luke asked, truly confused by this woman’s emotional outburst.

  Lillian sat beside Luke. “We know Mary Ann.”

  George was the first to speak. “You know my niece?”

  “If your brother is that old coot from England, then yes, we know his daughter,” Henry answered.

 
; By that description, George correctly figured out they had met Hardwicke. “He’s not my brother, but my sister is married to that old coot.”

  Henry grinned. He liked this Englishman immediately. “The only thing in his favor is he helped to create that beautiful young woman.”

  “When was she here?” Luke asked impatiently.

  “It’s been almost two months. You’re late to the party, young man,” Henry said.

  “I’m afraid I have bad news for you,” Lillian said.

  “Don’t tell me she’s already married,” George said.

  “Oh, no. She was shot.”

  “Shot!” Luke never dreamed he would hear those words. He’d worried about all of the dangers that could befall Mary Ann during the journey on the stagecoach, but he told himself that her father and Stafford would protect her. He should have known better. “Is she okay?”

  “Yes, she’s fine.” Lillian patted Luke’s hand. “She was protecting me from robbers. She took the bullet that was meant for me.”

  “Had she mended by the time they left?” George asked.

  “Her wound looked good, but Clive didn’t want her jostling around.” Lillian told them of their neighbor who had tended Mary Ann.

  “I’m sure Hardwicke insisted they leave quickly. He’s not a patient man,” George said.

  “That he did. He was anxious to get home to have a wedding.”

  “What happened to the man that shot her?” Luke asked, not wanting to think of a wedding that may have already taken place.

  “He got away, but I winged him. There were three of them, two rode off. The other one is buried out in the field.”

  “Who were they?” Luke asked.

  “We never saw them before.”

  * * *

  Lillian left the table to start dinner and Luke joined her at the stove. She had already prepared the chicken for frying, so she started making dough for biscuits.

  Luke picked up the coffeepot and poured himself another cup. “So tell me why you thought I had my head up my rear.”

  “Mary Ann told me you wouldn’t forgive her about Stafford, and that she didn’t get to apologize to you, or say good-bye. I told her you didn’t deserve her if you didn’t accept her apology. You broke that dear gal’s heart.”

  Luke thought about what she said. “I didn’t know what I felt at the time.”

  Lillian thought he must have worked out his feelings since he was going after her. “Well, that girl is crazy about you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so much in love except for me and Henry.”

  That made Luke smile. “You been married a long time?”

  “Forty years.” She gave him a motherly smile. “You can have that too if you get to her in time.”

  “You said her wound was healed, but you didn’t think she should have left. Why is that?” Luke had a feeling Lillian had left some things unspoken.

  Lillian started rolling out the dough as she talked. “If I know anything, I know that gal had a broken heart and it was eating her alive. She was skin and bones when she left here. And that father of hers, well, I wouldn’t want to walk from here to the stable with him, much less be forced to travel with him across an ocean.”

  “What about Stafford? Do you think he cares for Mary Ann?” Luke wanted to strangle him for not protecting Mary Ann. He didn’t know why he should be surprised, he hadn’t even put up a fight when he punched him.

  Lillian picked up the tin biscuit cutter and pushed it through the dough. “I think he wants to marry her for her beauty like most men would. I’m not sure what’s in his heart. But he’s pretty much useless in this country. They weren’t armed and they ran for cover when the shooting started with those three men. Of course, none of us expected what happened. Those men ate our food then tried to rob us. But if Mary Ann is going to be stuck with Stafford, it’s probably a good thing she will be in England. I reckon men don’t carry guns there like they do here.”

  “She won’t be stuck with him if I get to England in time.”

  “You must love her a great deal.” Lillian was thrilled he was going after Mary Ann. Maybe Henry had been right when he predicted they would see Mary Ann again.

  “It took me long enough to figure it out.” Luke glanced down at the biscuits she was placing in the pan. “You’re the one that taught her how to make biscuits.”

  “Yes, I did. She told me how much you liked them.”

  “I thought I was going to explode I ate so many. My sisters-in-law are good cooks, but Mary Ann’s biscuits are better.”

  “I promised to write her in England and give her more recipes. Of course, I could just as easily send those letters to Wyoming.”

  Luke winked at her. “I reckon you could.”

  * * *

  After dinner, George retired for the night, but Luke wanted to hear more about Mary Ann. He spoke with Lillian and Henry for several hours. After they answered all of his questions, Lillian asked about his family. “Mary Ann was very taken with your family. She made life on the McBride ranch sound wonderful.”

  Luke told them about the ranch and his brothers. “We are not without our own hardships, but we are content. My brothers have married beautiful women and I have three nephews that are real characters.”

  “Yes, she told us all about them. It sounds as though Mary Ann would be happy there.”

  Luke prayed she was right. He knew he’d never find another woman like her. He thought of the many times Colt told him he needed to believe that his prayers would be answered. Have faith, Colt had told him. Even his larger-than-life brother said there were times when men couldn’t handle difficult situations on their own. He’d never really understood what his brother meant until now. He’d been a stubborn fool to let Mary Ann leave Wyoming, and now he wasn’t in a position where he could protect her. Her safety was in God’s hands.

  * * *

  Luke was the first one up the next morning and he was outside hitching the team before dawn. He couldn’t wait to leave knowing that he was closing in on his destination. He needed to see Mary Ann with his own eyes to make sure she was okay.

  “We will see you on your way back,” Henry told him.

  “You better bring her back with you,” Lillian said sternly.

  “Unless she doesn’t want to come with me, I will bring her back.”

  “And tell her I was wearing a dress I made with the material she gave me.”

  “And that’s a very pretty dress. Henry best watch his p’s and q’s before he finds himself with some competition.”

  Lillian blushed at the compliment. “Go on with yourself now.”

  After Luke threw the luggage to the top of the stagecoach, he walked to Lillian and put his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll be expecting some biscuits on our way back to Wyoming.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Mary Ann’s mother made sure her daughter would make a grand entrance when she arrived at Stafford’s ball. She was wearing an ice blue dress designed with a skirt so voluminous that Mary Ann could hardly move. But just as Coreen planned, all eyes were on her and her daughter when they made their appearance in the great ballroom.

  Always the perfect gentleman in public, Edmund appeared by Mary Ann’s side as soon as she entered. Masquerading as the perfect couple, they roamed the vast room casually speaking with the guests. Mary Ann figured there had to be at least three hundred people in attendance and it seemed Edmund knew them all. Most of the women were openly affectionate with Edmund and barely acknowledged her. But Mary Ann didn’t take offense, she actually hoped Edmund would find a woman more to his liking. She hadn’t felt that way with Luke. Thinking about the morning when she thought Luke was the man sneaking out of Arina’s room, she remembered she had wanted to throw something at him. Oh Luke! Why are you forever invading my thoughts? She wished she could stop thinking about him for one night.

  Edmund escorted her to the dance floor. “Darling, it’s good to see you are not so glum this evening.” Edmund rev
eled in showing off his fiancée to all of the men.

  “It is a lovely ball, Edmund, and so many lovely ladies are here who would love to marry you.”

  “But you are not one of them?” Edmund was tiring of her attitude. He thought she would come to appreciate all of the things he could give her. He didn’t dare think she could be in love with that hooligan in Wyoming.

  “No, I’m not one of them.”

  “Tell me, Mary Ann, were you intimate with that cowboy in Wyoming?”

  “Of course not! Why would you ask such a thing?”

  “I can’t imagine a real lady allowing such a man to kiss her in front of everyone. It stood to reason there was much more going on between you.”

  He had a point. She had allowed Luke to kiss her in the middle of the hotel without a care. And her behavior behind the church the night of the social was purely scandalous.

  “Perhaps I’m not a real lady.”

  “Perhaps not. But I will know soon enough. Why don’t we go upstairs now and you can give me what you seemed so eager to give that cowboy. We can put the matter to rest tonight.”

  Mary Ann was shocked by his statement and tried to pull away from him. “If you remember correctly, I left England after you thought it was your right to take what was not offered.”

  “Obviously not something you found objectionable with that man.”

  “Quite objectionable with you!”

  Edmund yanked her close to his body. “It won’t be long until you have no choice in the matter. And you won’t be running away. I will not be as careless as your father. I shall have someone watch over you day and night.”

  “So I’m to be a prisoner once we are wed?”

  “Indeed. I will not be made a fool.”