Lucky Creek Lady

by Shirley Kennedy

  “What about Brandon?” Before she could answer, he touched a finger to her lips. “Wait. Don’t answer. You’ve got enough on your mind right now. You’d better get home before your family hears the good news from someone else.”

  She agreed she better had. Together they straightened the office, carefully replacing the items so hastily tossed from the sofa. “Tom will never know,” Laurie remarked when they were done, and the office was neat again.

  Darcy chuckled. “Tom doesn’t miss a thing, but don’t worry, he’ll be happy for us.” They left the office. He helped her hitch the horses and said he’d follow her down the mountain on Champ. “It’s almost dark, so be careful.”

  By the time she got home, night had almost fallen. She brought the buggy to a halt in front of the house. He pulled Champ to a halt beside her. “Any regrets?” he asked.

  She smiled and replied, “None, whatsoever.”

  “Tonight belongs to your family. You’ll be wanting to give them the good news.” His eyes brimmed with tenderness and passion, sending the message she wanted to hear. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  “Of course.” On a whim, she added, “I’d wager Mrs. Wagner has already heard the news. I’m sure she’ll be very happy for you.”

  “I’m sure she will,” he answered straight-faced but with a faint grin that told her he knew she was teasing.

  “Tomorrow.” He gave her a quick salute and rode away.

  As she watched his horse disappear in the growing shadows, she repeated, “Tomorrow,” in an ecstatic whisper. A simple word, commonly used, but spoken in a tone that held a promise of wonderful things to come. In a matter of hours, her life had done a complete turnaround, so swiftly she could hardly absorb it. The new vein of gold meant they wouldn’t be poor after all. Darcy had revealed he cared, putting an end to those miserable weeks she’d spent thinking he didn’t. Tomorrow they would talk. She already knew what he’d say and what she’d say in reply. How could her life get any better?

  Anxious to get inside with the good news, she drove around back to the stable, hurriedly unhitched the horses, gave them a quick brushing and fed them their oats. Stepping inside the house, she heard voices coming from the front parlor. Good. She’d hoped to find Mother and Ada together, and the children, too. But wait, was that a man’s voice? How strange. What man would come visiting at this hour? At the parlor door, she paused. All the family was there, and a man sat in their best giltwood chair. When he saw her, he stood and smiled. “Hello, Laurie, are you surprised?”

  Surely her eyes had deceived her. But he was still standing there, real and in the flesh. She heard herself say, “Why, yes, this is quite a surprise.”

  “Well, it’s me, sweetheart. I’ve come to fetch you home.”

  She hoped she didn’t look as thunderstruck as she felt as Brandon Cooper strode across the parlor and swept her into his arms.

  Chapter 18

  Brandon had become a myth in her mind, so remote, so far away, he could have been living in the cloud palace over Mount Olympus. Now here he sat in her parlor, handsome as ever with his golden hair and wide smile, his teeth strikingly white against his tanned face. Both Mother and Ada were going out of their way to be cordial. How delighted they were to meet him after all the wonderful things Laurie had said about him. How deeply impressed they were that he’d traveled clear from Philadelphia just to see her. “Aren’t you thrilled, Laurie?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Uh, yes, thrilled.” While her family was giving Brandon the warmest of welcomes, Laurie made a valiant effort to conceal her shock. As if someone else were speaking, she heard the correct phrases coming from her mouth with just the right amount of delighted disbelief.

  “My goodness, what a surprise. I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “You’re looking well, Brandon. How was your journey?”

  Brandon appeared to be in a buoyant mood. “My journey was amazingly easy. I took a steamboat from New York to Chagres, Panama. Crossed the Isthmus in a day on that new railroad they built. Caught a ship to San Francisco, and here I am.” Sitting next to Laurie on the settee, he took her hand and gave it an affectionate squeeze. “So wonderful to see you again.”

  Elizabeth beamed with sheer joy, her most ambitious dreams for her daughter come true. “We’re just so delighted that you’re here, Mr. Cooper. Laurie has told us all about you, and of course I’m familiar with the prestigious Cooper family. I can’t imagine why you and Laurie didn’t meet sooner, being as we also lived on Society Hill.”

  “I, too, regret we didn’t meet sooner, Mrs. Sinclair,” Brandon replied deferentially. “Until recently, I’ve been deeply devoted to my entomological pursuits. Dedicated myself to science, so to speak, but now I’ve rearranged my priorities. By the way, my sincere condolences. When I heard the sad news about Mr. Sinclair, and how Laurie was actually working in a gold mine, I couldn’t stay away any longer, and I—”

  Laurie let out a little gasp. “I forgot about the mine.” The shock of seeing Brandon had knocked the exciting discovery at the Monarch right out of her head. “Excuse me for interrupting, Brandon, but I must give my family the good news. How could I have forgotten?” She described the newly found vein of gold at the Monarch. “Mr. McKenna says it’s the richest he’s ever seen, and it may produce for many years to come.” She wanted to add, “So we won’t be poor after all,” but a guest was present, so she refrained.

  “That’s wonderful!” Ada exclaimed. The children were too young to completely understand, but they caught the excitement, laughed, and clapped their hands.

  Mother looked as dazed as Laurie felt. “I can’t believe it. This means we can all go home now, does it not?” As realization hit, her face lit with happiness. “Just think, Laurie, you can get married in Philadelphia. Oh, how exciting. You’ll have a wonderful wedding with all the best families invited. We’ll start planning the minute we get back.”

  Laurie didn’t know how to answer. Still shocked and dumbfounded, she couldn’t get her thoughts in order. Did she want to go home? Plan her wedding to Brandon? No. She desperately needed time to clear her head. If she spoke up now, revealed her doubts, she’d shock them all and ruin the evening for everyone. She must have a discussion with Brandon, but she’d wait until tomorrow. Yes, by far the better plan. She would get him alone and tell him…what? That she’d fallen in love with someone else? That she loved her job at the mine? But what about her commitment to Brandon? How could she hurt him when he’d come all this way? But she must. There was no other way. “We’ll see about the wedding later,” she remarked noncommittally. “There’s too much else going on.”

  “It’s never too soon to start planning,” her mother replied, not the least daunted.

  The family spent the rest of the evening in a jovial mood. Mei Ling fixed a fine dinner. Mother decided they should open a bottle of the champagne Sam had stored in the cellar. “So, we can properly celebrate the finding of the new gold vein,” she announced. “As well as our happiness that Laurie and Brandon will soon be married.” She invited Brandon to stay in the guest room, but he declined.

  “Thanks, but I’ve already booked a room at the Egyptian Hotel, where Hugh’s staying.”

  For a fleeting moment, Laurie wondered how Brandon knew where her brother was staying, considering no one had mentioned it. But by the time he left, she’d forgotten such a trivial concern. He’d said he would return in the morning, take her to breakfast, and she could show him the town. He hadn’t asked if she was busy, had just assumed she had nothing more important to do than be with him. Why hadn’t she spoken up? Told him she was needed at the Monarch Mine? The more she thought, the less she admired her spineless behavior. By the time they all went to bed, she was disgusted with herself, and for more reasons than one.

  She was in her nightgown when Ada came in and perched on her bed. “Are you excited?” she asked.

  “More
like astonished and concerned.”

  “I didn’t think you were all that thrilled to see him.”

  “How could you tell?”

  “Because I caught that horror-struck look on your face when you walked in. Mother missed it of course. You covered it up fast, but I knew what you were thinking.”

  “Not so long ago, I would have swooned with delight if I’d found Brandon sitting in my parlor.”

  “What a shame. The man’s gorgeous—all that blond hair and those gleaming white teeth.” Ada’s brow creased with worry. “Are you sure? Maybe you haven’t had time to think it through. When you do, maybe you’ll find you’re still in love with him.”

  If there was one person Laurie could talk to, it was her sister. She wouldn’t hold back. What a relief to let it all pour out. “For years I waited for him. You wouldn’t believe the number of times I cried myself to sleep because I loved him so desperately, and he kept postponing our wedding date. Now he’s come clear across the continent to see me. Fancy that. I should be thrilled, my most heartfelt wish come true, but instead my heart sunk when I saw him.”

  “Is it Darcy McKenna?” Ada asked, regarding her with sharp, assessing eyes. “It is, isn’t it?”

  At the mention of Darcy’s name, Laurie couldn’t help but smile. “I told you how standoffish he’s been, but not today. We celebrated finding the gold vein together. It was…quite a warm moment, I would say. We’re good friends again, and more.”

  “Oh, my goodness.” Ada took a moment to digest this latest. “When will you tell Brandon? What about Mother? She’s already planning the wedding, and I can only imagine how crushed she’ll be when she finds out how you really feel. What a mess this is, Laurie. Why didn’t you speak up when he first got here?”

  “I have no excuses,” Laurie replied honestly. “Other than I was so shocked at first I didn’t know what to say. Then I got all wishy-washy and didn’t want to make a big scene.”

  “You were only being thoughtful and considerate.”

  Laurie vigorously shook her head. “No, I wasn’t. I was being a coward. Men have the right idea. Darcy wouldn’t have dodged and evaded the truth like I did tonight. He wouldn’t have worried about spoiling the evening for everyone. He would have said straight out, “Sorry, Brandon, but you need to know there’s somebody else now.”

  “That’s because men are more direct about such things,” Ada answered in her soothing voice. “They don’t care about hurt feelings. We women have more compassionate hearts.”

  “Don’t make excuses for me, Ada. I should have spoken up. Forget about compassionate hearts. Brandon gets told first thing tomorrow.”

  Ada heartily agreed Brandon must be told, and quickly. “If you don’t, what’s Darcy going to think? From what I’ve seen, he’s a man you wouldn’t want to mess with.”

  A sudden fear gripped Laurie’s heart. Ada was right. Darcy was indeed a man not to be messed with, a man who’d never understand her cowardly hesitation.

  After Ada left, Laurie lay in bed for hours, trying to absorb the amazing events of the day. How elated she’d been over the finding of the new gold vein. How shocked at the sight of Brandon sitting in her parlor. His unexpected arrival had turned her world upside down. So terrible that he’d come all this way for nothing. She hated to disappoint her mother, but what choice did she have? When she thought of Darcy, his passion and tenderness, the way he’d made her feel this afternoon, she knew she must tell Brandon her true feelings in the morning, painful and embarrassing though it would be.

  But first she must tell her mother, a task which, upon reflection, was what she dreaded most of all.

  * * * *

  Next morning, Laurie knocked on her mother’s bedroom door and found her already dressed and ready to come downstairs. “Good morning, Mother, I need to talk to you.”

  “Of course,” Elizabeth answered in a jubilant voice. “Isn’t it a lovely day?”

  Laurie hadn’t seen her mother in such a cheerful mood since they left Philadelphia. This would be harder than she’d expected, and she’d already prepared for the worst. She’d made up her mind, though, and nothing could make her change it now. “Sit down. I have something to tell you.” When both were seated, she began, “I know this will come as a surprise, but I’m not sure about my feelings for Brandon.” Hearing how weak that sounded, she tried again. “What I mean is, I’m not sure I love him.” What was the matter with her? That wasn’t strong enough, either. “Actually, what I mean to say is, I positively don’t love Brandon, and that’s because I’ve fallen in love with someone else.”

  To her astonishment, Mother started to laugh. “You’re not the first bride with the jitters, and you won’t be the last.”

  “It’s not jitters. I meant what I said.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes in disbelief. “And just whom are you supposed to be in love with?”

  “Darcy McKenna.”

  “What? Are you out of your mind?” A combination of scorn and disbelief filled Elizabeth’s voice. But only for a moment. She started laughing again. “Really, Laurie, you must be joking. What college did Darcy McKenna attend? What degrees does he have? What are his family connections? Have you gone insane? Do you honestly expect me to believe you prefer him over a man of exemplary character and achievement like Brandon?”

  “Actually, yes.”

  Laurie’s resolute answer must have finally got through because Elizabeth shot up from her chair and started pacing the floor. “I cannot believe what I’m hearing. All we ever heard was Brandon, Brandon, Brandon, and now you don’t love him anymore?” She clenched her fists and stamped her foot. “How could you do this to me?”

  Laurie hated to see her mother so distraught. And it’s all my fault. “I didn’t mean… I never thought…”

  “You never thought,” Elizabeth raged. “Well, it’s time you did think.” She paced for a while, seeming to calm herself down, and finally sank back into her chair. “You think you don’t love Brandon anymore?” she asked in a quieter voice.

  “I know I don’t love Brandon anymore.”

  “Will you at least do this for me?”

  “Anything.” Laurie would have added within reason, but seeing her mother in such a state, she didn’t have the heart to deny whatever she wanted.

  “Then don’t tell Brandon yet. Have breakfast with him. Take him to see the town. Give yourself time to get over the shock of seeing him again. Wedding jitters is all it is, you know.” Mother had regained her composure, her voice steady and assured. “You’ll soon remember why you fell in love with him.”

  “For how long am I not supposed to tell him?”

  “It won’t take long for you to come to your senses. Give it a day. You know I always have your best interests at heart. Just twenty-four hours, and you’ll see I’m right.”

  No, I will not, Laurie thought. Never in her life had she seen things more clearly. No more dithering. She didn’t have the wedding jitters. Whether she put off telling Brandon for twenty-four hours or twenty-four years, she was done with him. Her mother was wrong, and neither she, nor anyone else was going to tell her what to do. “I’m not going to marry Brandon, and I’m going to tell him so this morning. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is, and I’m not changing my mind.”

  Elizabeth sank back in her chair looking as if she’d been struck. For a few moments she could only sputter. “You’re making a terrible mistake,” she finally managed.

  “Perhaps, but it will be my mistake and nobody else’s.”

  She must have sounded as if she meant what she said because Mother threw up her hands and declared, “Fine then. You’re a grown woman. Do as you please.”

  “I’ll do just that.”

  Laurie left her mother’s bedroom with a burden lifted from her shoulders. She’d almost faltered, followed Mother’s demands yet again, but thank goodness, n
ot this time. Now all she had to do was give the bad news to Brandon. What a heady moment. At last she’d be free to do what she pleased. She dreaded telling him. Of course, he’d be devastated. Especially after he’d come all this way, but she’d made up her mind. No turning back now, despite how wretched she felt about hurting him.

  * * * *

  Elegantly dressed in a cutaway coat and derby hat, Brandon arrived early. The horse and buggy he’d rented awaited Laurie in front. He smiled broadly as he assisted her into the buggy with a flourish. “I hear there’s a good restaurant at the Gold Spike Hotel. Shall we eat there?”

  What if Darcy was there? She almost said no, then remembered he was an early riser and surely would be at the mine by now. “The Gold Spike would be lovely.” She would tell Brandon at breakfast. They would say goodbye, and then she’d head for the Monarch, the only place she really wanted to be. A stab of guilt struck her. How callous she was being! How coldhearted and insensitive. She was about to break a man’s heart, but all she could think about was getting to the mine and Darcy.

  They arrived at the Gold Spike. Even though she was sure Darcy had already left for the mine, when they entered the Bonanza Restaurant, Laurie looked cautiously around. Of course, he wasn’t there. She couldn’t relax, though, not until she had that talk with Brandon. She would wait until they’d placed their orders, then tell him.

  The waiter had come and gone, but finding the right moment was harder than she thought. Brandon was a talker. Why hadn’t she noticed all he did was talk about himself? Halfway through breakfast, she’d as yet to get a word in edgewise. He’d hogged the conversation with lengthy descriptions of his successful expeditions, his latest highly acclaimed discoveries in the entomology world, his journey from Philadelphia to California, which he described in excruciating, boring detail. So different from Darcy, who never rambled or talked about himself, and always got straight to the point. She had just finished the last of her pancakes when she reached the end of her patience. Brandon had just started a discourse on the superiority of Philadelphia restaurants when she laid her fork down and interrupted. “I have something to tell you.”