She opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch. “Major, you stop that barking right now.”
The dog whined and came to her side. He didn’t look up at her but instead kept his attention on the area across the street.
“What is it, boy?” Beth strained to see what might have disturbed the dog. Clearly something was out there, but whether man or beast, Beth couldn’t tell. A jolt of apprehension washed over her.
“Maybe it would be just as well if we went inside,” she said to the dog. “After all, we’re hardly prepared to do battle, no matter who the opponent might be.”
Just then, a figure seemed to separate from the darkness and move toward them. Beth froze in place. She could tell by the lumbering movement that it was a bear. Perhaps this was the animal Nick had warned her about!
Major began to bark again. He charged forward a few feet, then stood his ground and raised such a ruckus that Beth was certain others would come to investigate.
“Major, come back here,” she called. She didn’t know what might happen if the dog decided to take on the bear, but she knew it wouldn’t be good. “Major!”
“What’s all the commotion?” Lacy questioned, coming up from behind Beth.
Beth jumped in fright. “There’s a bear. I’m trying to get Major, but he’s trying to protect me.”
“I’ll get the rifle,” Lacy said, leaving before Beth could speak.
With her lowest, most authoritative voice, Beth commanded, “Major, come!”
The dog barked but nevertheless turned and came back to the porch. Unfortunately, the bear seemed intent on following. Beth didn’t realize Lacy had returned until a blast sounded from the rifle.
The bear immediately lit out for the trees and disappeared into the night. Of course, the shot of the rifle was already causing lamps to be lit at the saloon, as well as at the Lassiters’.
“What’s going on out here?” Rafe bellowed. He staggered out the front door, pulling on his gun belt over long underwear.
By now, Nick and Simon had exited their house and were heading toward Gallatin House.
“It was a bear,” Beth explained. “Major was trying to ward him off, but he didn’t seem inclined to leave. Lacy had to fire a shot at him.”
“Did you hit him?” Nick asked.
“I didn’t even try to,” Lacy told him. “I just fired into the air and hoped it would scare him off.”
“Which it did,” Beth said.
The soft glow of lamplight filled the door behind her as Hank and Gwen appeared. “What’s wrong?” Hank asked.
“A bear,” Lacy said, shouldering the rifle. “He’s gone now, but no doubt he’ll be back. He was probably nosing around the pit where we roasted the pig.”
“Maybe we should put some traps out tomorrow,” Rafe declared. “Sure would save a body from havin’ to wake up to all that commotion.”
“I don’t like traps,” Beth said angrily. “They’re cruel and inhumane.”
“So are bears,” Rafe countered.
“We can worry about this tomorrow,” Nick suggested. “I’m with Beth, however. A trap would be a danger to other animals.”
Beth smiled in appreciation of Nick’s declaration. Gazing at him, she noted that he was very much like Lord Wodehouse. Even in the middle of the night, with the sleep still in his eyes, he was heroic and noble. She sighed.
“Lord Lassiter,” she murmured.
“What was that?” Lacy asked.
Beth shook her head. “Nothing.” But she couldn’t keep the smile from spreading over her face. “Nothing at all.”
CHAPTER SIX
“How did you know you were in love with Hank?” Beth asked Gwen. They were on their hands and knees, busy scrubbing the pine floor of the front room, when she posed this question.
Gwen looked at her oddly. “I don’t know. We spent time together and . . . well, I just knew.”
“But what about how he made you feel?” Beth asked, reflecting on the wonderful romances she’d read. “Did he make your chest feel tight? Did your stomach get all queasy and do flips? Did your heart burn?”
“That sounds more like a bad case of dyspepsia than love,” Gwen said, laughing. She got to her feet and surveyed their work. “I feel much better now that this is all washed down. It was looking so dull before.”
Beth studied the floor around them, but her thoughts were on Nick.
“I just don’t want to miss it when it comes to me,” she finally said. Beth glanced upward to see Gwen’s expression change from smiling to confused.
“What are you talking about?”
“Love,” Beth said. She stood, smoothing out the skirt of her gown.
“Goodness, what makes you think you’d miss love if it came to you? How silly. It isn’t like it sneaks around and hides until you find it. Love wants to be found.”
“And I want to find it,” Beth confided. She looked around the room rather uncomfortably. “I might even have found it, but I don’t know for sure.”
Gwen smiled. “Is this about Adrian or Nick?”
Beth felt her face grow hot. Was it that obvious to everyone around her? She put her hands to her cheeks. “I suppose it could be about either one, but . . . well . . . I was thinking actually of Nick. Before he started showing an interest in the Bible and churchgoing, I knew I shouldn’t even think of such things and I tried hard not to, even when he was always badgering to court me. Grandma Gallatin used to scare me half to death with all the terrible stories of young ladies she knew who’d been unequally yoked with men who hated God.”
“Yes, but I don’t think Nick ever hated God. He might not have known much about Him, but I never heard him speak negatively.”
“Still, you know that Jesus said if a person wasn’t for Him, he was against Him. I never could quite tell with Nick. But now he’s taken an interest in the things of God and . . . well, he might have even gotten himself right with God. I don’t know for sure.” Beth supposed the whole conversation sounded completely ridiculous to Gwen. It was starting to sound that way to her own ears, as well.
“Are you in love with Nick?” Gwen surprised her by asking.
Beth shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes I think I am, but other times, I just can’t figure it out. He makes me feel funny—like when I see him for the first time in the day and he smiles at me.” She paused and shook her head. “I know that probably sounds silly.”
“No. Not at all,” Gwen promised. “I feel the same way about Hank.” She closed the distance between them and put her hands on Beth’s shoulders. “You just need to give this time, Beth. Don’t feel that you have to decide overnight what your heart is telling you. It will come through loud and clear in time. You aren’t going to miss seeing the truth of it, believe me.”
“Is the cake done yet?” Lacy called as she came in from the back porch.
Beth suddenly felt uncomfortable. “We can talk more about this later,” she whispered. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Lacy, but of late, it seemed her little sister hated most of the men in the county. No sense asking for her advice about love.
“It’s cool enough to frost,” Gwen said, moving into the dining room.
“Cubby’s so excited that we would go to the trouble to bake him a birthday cake. I didn’t bother to tell him that we had presents for him, too,” Lacy said with a smile.
“Well, this will be a very special occasion. I’m hoping Rafe’s cooled off enough to not protest when Hank asks if he and Cubby would like to join us for a supper celebration. I would have extended the invitation only to Cubby, but it’s hard, given he’s still a boy and Rafe is his father.”
“Well, he doesn’t consider himself much of a boy anymore,” Lacy countered. “He’s got a bit of a swagger in his steps nowadays. He’s fifteen, and he thinks that pretty well qualifies him to be a man.”
“In much of the country,” Gwen replied, “I’m sure it does. Still, I don’t want to cause enmity between us and Rafe—at least, no m
ore than already exists.”
Lacy picked up the bowl of frosting that Gwen had prepared. “I suppose we’ll know soon enough if they’re coming. I’ll get the cake frosted, anyway. Cubby’s a sweet boy. I intend to see that he has a nice birthday cake, even if his pa doesn’t want him to have a celebration.”
Nearly a week later, Lacy encountered Cubby as she led her saddled horse from the Lassiters’ to Gallatin House.
“Miss Lacy? I’m wonderin’ if we could talk, private-like, for a minute.”
Cubby seemed nervous and almost embarrassed. Lacy couldn’t imagine what might have happened to cause this, so she immediately halted the horse. “Of course. What’s wrong?”
Cubby looked at his feet and shook his head. “Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to . . . to . . . talk to you.” He glanced up ever so slightly. “I like talkin’ with you.”
Lacy smiled. “I like talking with you, too. Did you enjoy your birthday party?”
He puffed his chest at this and seemed to lose some of his shyness. “I sure did. It was the first birthday party I’d ever had. Pa said it was a waste of time, but I thought it was a lot of fun. Made me feel real special.”
It figured Rafe would try to ruin the boy’s good time. The man wasn’t happy in his own life, so it seemed he wanted no one else happy, either.
“I don’t think birthdays are ever a waste of time. They are a person’s one special day. I’m glad we could celebrate with you.”
“It was really nice of you and your sisters.” He acted as though he were noticing the horse for the first time. “You going riding?”
“I’m heading out to the Shepard place.”
“Wish I had a horse. I’d ride along and keep you safe. You can’t be too careful around here. I heard Pa and Wyman talkin’ just the other day about some highwaymen.”
“I doubt they’d bother with me. I don’t carry any valuables, and I seldom keep to the road. I’m usually cutting across country for a faster trip.” She smiled at his concern. “But thanks all the same for caring.”
“I do care, Miss Lacy. I’m fifteen now, and I figure it’s time I tell you . . . well . . . that I care. I care about you.” He held her gaze for just a moment, then looked at his feet once again.
Lacy didn’t know what to say. Here this scrap of a boy, all gangly-legged and baby-faced, was speaking of having feelings for her. “I’m flattered, Cubby—”
“Quennell,” he interjected. “My real name is Quennell.”
Lacy looked at him for a moment, flustered by the unexpected confession of his feelings. “I’m considerably older than you. You might have turned fifteen, Cubby, but I’m twenty now. An old maid, by most folks’ standards. At least around these parts.”
“You aren’t an old maid, and you aren’t that much older than me,” Cubby protested.
“Five years can be a very big divide. Besides, I don’t think much of men right now. Certainly not enough to want to keep time with them. They all seem full of boasting and false promises, or they’re mean-spirited. I don’t want to be bothered, and I sure don’t want to hurt someone like you.”
Cubby grew bold and stepped forward to within inches of Lacy. “You wouldn’t hurt me, and I wouldn’t hurt you. I care for you. I want to court you.”
Lacy could see just how serious the boy was. She felt helpless to say anything that could dissuade his affections and ambitions.
“I think you’re very sweet, but I am not going to court you.” Lacy took that moment to move away from him and mount her horse. She looked down at him with a sympathetic expression. “I’m not going to court anyone.”
“It’s because you think I’m not worthy, but I am,” Cubby said, coming alongside the horse. “I’ll prove it to you, and then you’ll see for yourself. I know you like me, or you wouldn’t have bothered to give me a present or have a party for me.”
“Please, Cubby,” Lacy said, nearly distraught. “I don’t want you to think I feel something for you that I don’t. I don’t feel that way toward anyone, and I doubt I ever will.” She urged the horse forward, not daring to look back. She felt horribly heartless for her words, but she knew in time it would all be for the best. There was no sense in letting him get his hopes up for something that would never happen.
She rode across the empty field and found the path she often took to make her way to the Shepard ranch. Lacy was glad for the time alone.
“Poor Cubby,” she murmured. “I never wanted that to happen. I just wanted to be nice to him.”
Why do men have to be like that? On one hand, they are always looking for meaning where there is none, and on the other, they’re oblivious to details when it matters.
Dave Shepard came to mind. He didn’t seem to realize that the death of her father had left Lacy with a driving need to make sense of it all. Dave knew that Lacy believed her father had been murdered rather than accidentally killed. But still he refused to pursue the case further.
Lacy straightened in the saddle and pushed her wide-brimmed hat back just a bit. She couldn’t explain in any reasonable manner why she believed her father had been purposefully shot, but she did. It was just a gut feeling, and it continued to nag at her. Despite her promise to Gwen to try and stay out of it, Lacy knew it was no good. She couldn’t leave well enough alone. Sure, her father would still be dead no matter who was to blame, but at least if Lacy could find his killer, justice would be served. Didn’t she owe Pa at least that much?
“Do you really suppose you’ll stay in Montana?” Beth asked Millie as they sat together, sewing in the front room of Gallatin House. Gwen had suggested the gathering as a way to chat and get to know Millie better, while also accomplishing some of their household tasks. Nearly an hour had passed, with Millie asking Beth and Gwen all sorts of questions about her new homeland.
“I do love it here,” Millie admitted. “I loved Kansas, too, but I must say it’s completely different here. It seems so far removed from everything else. I feel as if I’ve driven right off to the end of the world.”
Beth laughed and knotted her thread. “Sometimes it feels exactly like that. Especially during the winter.”
Gwen nodded. “It does seem a little bleak at times. At least many more of the stages and freighters are making it through. Used to be that winter signaled the stop of just about everything. Now the roads are being developed in such a way that so long as the drivers take a shovel or two along, they can pretty well dig their way out if needed.”
“Remember the stage that got stuck about two miles from here?” Beth commented. “That was about three years ago, wasn’t it?”
“It was,” Gwen replied. “They were on their way up from Virginia City, heading to Helena. The snows were so bad, they had to walk the last two miles because they couldn’t get the stage through. We had those folks with us for a week while the stage company dug out a path. Of course, it didn’t help that it just kept snowing.”
“Goodness, but it all sounds so exciting,” Millie declared. “I love a good adventure.”
Beth thought immediately of Lady Effingham. She, too, loved adventure and often commented about it. “I love adventure, as well,” Beth added with a smile. “And believe me, we get plenty right here.”
Millie laughed. “I’ll say. What with bears on the prowl and Indian attacks, it seems like this is the Wild West so many easterners talk about. But I wouldn’t trade it. I’m glad we came. Evan was always telling me about the letters Nick and Simon sent home after they first came here. He said the place sounded so raw and unspoiled. He’s wanted to see it for nearly as long as the Lassiter brothers have lived here.”
Beth saw this as a good opportunity to better know Nick, and posed a question. “I never have heard the story of why Nick and Simon settled in this area. Why did they leave Kansas, Millie?”
The younger woman shrugged and gave the slightest hesitation. “I can’t really say. I know there’s something of a mystery about it, but the family keeps it quiet. There was some sort of t
rouble—that’s all I know.”
“Trouble?” Beth prodded. “What kind of trouble?”
“Like I said, I don’t really know. I came from Missouri to teach school long after they’d gone. I do know it involved Nick more than Simon, but because Simon was older, he took on the responsibility for his brother and brought him out here.”
Beth was utterly intrigued. Nick had a mysterious past, just like Lord Wodehouse—who she’d just learned was actually a royal prince who had killed his best friend in a duel and was now on the run, hiding from his past. Could Nick’s life be similar in circumstance and situation? Oh, but the thought of it delighted Beth in a way she couldn’t explain. It thrilled her to imagine that Nick was someone or something other than he appeared to be. Perhaps he was hiding from an evil foe who planned to do him harm.
Beth’s imagination ran rampant as she considered all sorts of problems Nick might have encountered. It made him mysterious . . . alluring.
“Of course, Forrest said it will come in time.”
Beth suddenly realized she’d not been paying attention and had no idea what Uncle Forrest Cromwell was advising would come in time. The clock on the mantel chimed four, and Gwen quickly put away her sewing.
“I must get supper started. We have a stage due in at six if the roads in the mountains aren’t too bad.”
Millie nodded. “I should get home, too. I need to get supper started for my menfolk.” She carefully folded the dish towel she’d been hemming. “It was sure nice to get to sit and talk with you gals. I hope we’ll be good friends.”
Gwen smiled. “I think we already are.”
Beth, too, folded her sewing and put it back in her bag. Gwen would need her help in the kitchen, as Lacy still hadn’t returned from the Shepards’ ranch. She stretched and headed for the kitchen while Gwen saw Millie to the door. Pictures of Nick battling with a sword came to mind. Beth giggled at the thought until the dashing image turned to stare at her. The dream seemed almost real enough to touch.
A Love to Last Forever Page 6