Return to Whispering Pines

by Scarlett Dunn

  Clarissa gave an inelegant harrumph, loud enough to cause some of the church ladies who were eavesdropping to chuckle. “You should have a talk with that child and let her know the harm she can cause with loose lips.”

  Claire understood Addie was upset because she’d called the sheriff papa, but she didn’t know why the other woman was making an angry face at her. Her lips started quivering, and she turned her watery blue eyes on Jack.

  Jack placed his large hand on Claire’s back, hoping to offer her some comfort. His eyes slid to Addie. “Don’t be hard on her. There was no harm done, and these things happen.”

  “They most certainly do not just happen without some encouragement from adults,” Clarissa snapped. She glared at Addie before adding, “Perhaps someone is prompting the child.”

  Addie was dumbfounded by the woman’s rude behavior. She wasn’t sure how to respond, and she didn’t get the chance because Davey and Jane walked up and greeted Jack.

  “Are these all of your kids?” Clarissa asked Addie.

  Addie took issue with her tone. “They—”

  She was interrupted by Jack. “Weren’t you listening to the pastor? These are the children who traveled with Addie from back East. They will be staying at the Langtry farm.” He couldn’t bring himself to say the children were orphans. He’d never liked the word; he’d thought it made children sound like they weren’t valued.

  Addie thought it prudent that she leave before she said something she shouldn’t. “I do apologize for the misunderstanding. We will say good day.” She turned to walk away with the children beside her, but she’d only taken one step when she was intercepted by a couple who introduced their son to her.

  Clarissa’s eyes were still fixated on Addie’s backside when she said to Jack, “From the looks of her matronly figure, I just naturally assumed the children were hers. Women always become a bit round after two or three children.” She turned her full attention on Jack and hooked her arm through his. “Where were you yesterday? I came by your office looking for you.”

  Jack’s focus was on Claire, who was just a few feet away, staring at him over Addie’s shoulder. She was opening and closing her little fingers in her special little wave. He’d heard Clarissa’s catty remark, and he almost told her he liked Addie’s figure just fine. He more than liked it. In his estimation, he should arrest her for being a danger to the public. The men in town would be tripping over their tongues every time they looked at her curves. He shook his head, trying to get his mind off of the schoolteacher’s shapely figure. He was, after all, standing in the churchyard. He glanced back at Clarissa, who was now looking at him like she wanted to snap his neck like a chicken. What did she ask me? Something about yesterday. “I was at the Langtry farm yesterday. What did you want?”

  “You seem to be spending a lot of time at the Langtry farm lately. I wanted to invite you to dinner today.” Clarissa had invited Jack to Sunday supper several times over the last two years, hoping that he would eventually show more than a passing interest in her.

  Jack didn’t feel the need to explain to Clarissa where he was spending his time, but he tried to be polite. “I’m helping Morgan with the farmhouse. I won’t be able to make it to dinner today. I’m having dinner at Morgan’s.”

  Clarissa pressed closer to him. “Maybe you could stop later tonight for coffee and dessert.”

  “Sorry, I’m taking the children riding later, and then I’ll need to get back to work so Webb can have some time off.”

  Clarissa pursed her lips in obvious disapproval. “I don’t think it’s wise to give so much attention to those children. You don’t want them to become too attached, since they will be adopted.”

  Jack settled his hat on his head as he tried to think of a polite way to say butt out of my business. “Thank you kindly, but I think I’ll seek my own counsel in this circumstance.” Being the town sheriff had taught him to be diplomatic if nothing else. He tipped his hat, and walked toward Addie and the children. He hooked one arm around Jane and the other around Davey. “Are you two ready to learn to ride?”

  “Yes, sir,” Davey and Jane said together.

  “Right after lunch,” Addie reminded them.

  “Let’s hurry,” Davey said, and took off at a full run to the buckboard. Jane was right behind him, and Claire squirmed in Addie’s arms until she put her on the ground.

  “You stay with your brother and sister, young lady,” Addie said. “We’ll talk about whether you get to ride when we get home.”

  When Claire was out of earshot, Jack said, “Don’t be mad at her. They’ve all had a tough life. Now they’ve come to a totally new place, and Claire may be the only one not disillusioned with people. I just hope they won’t be disappointed again.”

  She glanced up at him and saw his eyes were on the children. Addie thought there was a personal sadness in his words, along with a world of understanding. “You understand better than most. I just don’t want her getting too attached, or making a pest of herself.”

  “I don’t consider her a pest. She’s a beautiful child.”

  “Yes, she is. It is nice of you to offer to teach them to ride, and I thank you for that. I’ve never seen them so excited. Actually, this is the first time I’ve seen Davey act his age. He’s normally so serious that I worry he’ll never have any fond memories of being a child. It meant more than you know that you included him yesterday building the house. He didn’t even give me a hard time about attending church today. I have a feeling I have you to thank for that.” After he’d been so kind to the children, Addie worried Claire may have caused a rift between him and Clarissa. “I’m sorry if Claire created a problem with your lady friend.”

  Jack appreciated her honesty. He looked down at her and grinned. “Don’t worry about Clarissa, she’ll invite me to supper again next week.” Actually, he thought Clarissa would most likely pout for a few weeks, but it didn’t bother him one way or the other. After the way she’d treated Addie and the children, he didn’t care if he saw her again.

  Addie admired his confidence. “I wouldn’t count on it. She seemed to be pretty angry.” “Don’t you know, I’m like honey to a bee since Morgan married Rose,” he teased. “There aren’t many single men left in Whispering Pines. At least single men under fifty.”

  Addie thought he’d be handsome at fifty. “I think I figured that out as soon as I saw the women homing in on you after the service. I thought I might have to make a mad dash for the buckboard so I wouldn’t be trampled.” Addie wasn’t teasing; she did notice other women keeping a sharp eye on him while he spoke to Clarissa.

  Jack laughed. He liked her sense of humor. “Clarissa will be fine. It’s these kids who have had too many people disappoint them. I don’t intend to be one of them. Davey is a good boy who has too much responsibility for a youngster. They need to know that some adults will do what they promise. That’s the reason they care about you. You’re the one person who cares, and they love you for that.”

  His genuine concern for the children touched Addie. “I’m afraid I care a great deal about them. I will be filled with mixed emotions the day they are adopted.”

  Jack understood how she felt. He’d just spent a day with them, and he was already fond of them. They were good kids who’d been dealt a bad hand in life. “I just hope they will be adopted together. It’d be a shame for them to be forced apart.”

  “I know. That worries me more than anything.”

  Before they made it to the buckboard, several people stopped Addie to introduce their children who would be attending school. Addie kept an eye on the buckboard, and she could see the children watching her every move, silently telegraphing they wanted her to hurry the conversations.

  After Addie met the last student, Jack said, “I think you met all of them.”

  “I counted eleven students, and it looks like there are some boys Davey’s age, and a couple girls Jane’s age. Are there any children Claire’s age? She will be five soon.” Addie expected
to have a wide range in ages, but she’d hoped Claire would have at least one child her age.

  “We have several younger children, but too young for school,” Jack replied.

  Granny, Rose, and Morgan joined them at the buckboard. “Addie, did Jack tell you that the farmhouse will be ready in a few days?” Morgan asked.

  “That is wonderful news,” Addie said. “It will be a fresh start in so many ways.”

  Jack didn’t voice his opinion, but he wondered if she would be safe at the farm with three young children. He thought he was probably being overly cautious, but that came second nature to a lawman.

  Once Jack and Morgan helped the women into the buckboard, Morgan pulled Jack aside.

  “What did you say to Clarissa? She stormed across the yard as though the devil was snapping at her heels.” Morgan had seen Clarissa corner Jack when he was with Addie and Claire, and he figured the woman would cause trouble. Clarissa was always looking for a reason to nettle someone.

  “She said I shouldn’t be spending so much time with the children, and I told her to mind her own business.” Jack grinned when he added, “In a nice way, of course.”

  Morgan whistled. “She always was one to create problems where none existed.”

  Jack nudged Morgan with his shoulder. “You might have told me that before I started accepting her dinner invitations.”

  Morgan laughed as he walked toward the seat of the buckboard. “I didn’t want to spoil all your fun.”

  Jack was still laughing when he untied his horse from the rail. Once he was in the saddle, he reined his horse beside the buckboard. Claire stood and held her arms out, a clear signal she wanted to ride with him.

  “No, young lady, you are not riding with the sheriff,” Addie said.

  “Sherf,” Claire pleaded.

  Jack looked at Addie and the stern look on her face told him she would not relent. He couldn’t bear to see Claire’s sad face, so he rode ahead of the buckboard. He figured Addie was making her point right now, but she would allow Claire to join Jane and Davey on their first riding lesson. One thing was certain: Addie loved those children, and he felt certain it was difficult for her to scold them.

  Chapter Six

  “Do you have a beau, Charlotte?” Frank wasted no time trying to get to know Charlotte once they were on their way to Denver. There were only two other passengers in the coach with them, and Frank was sitting close to Charlotte so he could speak to her in a hushed tone.

  “Most men are too afraid of my father to call on me.”

  Frank leaned closer to her ear. “You mean to tell me you’ve never had a beau?” Charlotte blushed. “I’m rather shy around most people.”

  Frank touched her ear with his lips and he felt her shiver. “You’re beautiful. Have you ever been kissed?”

  Charlotte glanced at the men across from them, and they were staring directly at her. “Shh, they will hear you.”

  Frank shot a glance at the men. He’d noticed them gawking at Charlotte before they boarded the stagecoach, as did Judge Stevens. The judge had pulled Frank aside and asked him if he was sure he could protect Charlotte’s virtue if necessary. Frank assured him no one would lay a hand on his daughter unless it was over his dead body. The judge offered a handsome sum to escort his daughter to Denver, and while Frank needed the money, he needed something more important. He wanted the judge indebted to him, and he wasn’t a man to kick a gift horse in the mouth. He refused the judge’s offer, saying it was his pleasure to escort his daughter safely to Denver.

  “You men might want to stop gawking at the young lady,” Frank said.

  Two sets of eyes slid from Charlotte to Frank. “She your woman?” one of the men asked.

  Frank narrowed his eyes at him. “What difference does that make?”

  “She don’t act like no lady, allowing your hands on her,” the other man commented.

  “No harm in sharing,” the other man said.

  “Consider her my woman, and if you don’t mind your own business, I’ll stop the coach and we can settle this another way,” Frank threatened. Frank prided himself on understanding how no-account drifters thought. They’d call your bluff until they realized you wouldn’t back down.

  Their eyes meandered down to Frank’s pearl-handled Colt on his hip.

  Frank smiled and leaned forward. “Yeah, I’m good with it.” Since he’d started wearing his brother’s gun, few men challenged him. There were two types of men who carried flashy guns: real gunslingers or aspiring gunslingers. Most men didn’t want to chance gambling with their lives to find out which category he was in. He might not be as fast as his brother had been, but he could hold his own. Both men looked away, and Frank figured they weren’t as interested in Charlotte if they thought they’d have to fight for her. He’d never fought over a woman, but there was always a first time. Gaining her father’s trust was the goal.

  Both men turned to look out the window. Frank knew he’d have to keep an eye on them, but he wasn’t going to let them spoil his limited time with Charlotte. He slid back in the seat again and nuzzled Charlotte’s neck. “Don’t worry about them.”

  Charlotte nodded, but kept her eyes on the men. She thought the exchange between Frank and those two men was like watching a play. Frank was ready to defend her to the death. She was frightened and stimulated at the same time. Everything about Frank excited her. Unlike most men of her acquaintance, Frank was audacious and fearless. Most men kowtowed to her father, never uttering a word that might be considered disrespectful. Frank’s brash and unconventional behavior attracted her more than his handsome face.

  “What if I kissed you like you should be kissed right now?”

  “Don’t say such things. Father would never approve of your behavior.”

  “Honey, I can handle your father. He doesn’t intimidate me.”

  “But the things you say are not appropriate.” She was saying what was expected, but she wanted him to kiss her. The closeness of his body pressing against hers from hip to ankle created a flood of sensations she’d never experienced. She’d read about such feelings in the novels her father didn’t know she read. He would have considered them scandalous. But those novels had educated her on affairs of the heart. She’d longed for the experiences of the heroines in those pages, and the intimacies no one in polite society discussed.

  Frank barked a laugh. “Darlin’, I’m not an appropriate kind of man.” He cupped her chin and turned her face up to his. His lips were mere inches from hers, and he could see her pupils increasing in size. “Honey, when we get to the first stop, I’m going to find us a private spot and show you how to kiss.”

  Charlotte felt as though her skin was on fire. “You can’t.”

  Frank put his arm around her and pulled her closer. “There’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. I can and I will.”

  Over the next several hours Frank was relentless in his attack on Charlotte’s delicate sensibilities. He’d made it his mission to know everything about her before they reached Denver. What he’d never expected was to like her as much as he did. He couldn’t say he’d spent as much time talking to another woman before, but in the small confines of the coach, Charlotte was his sole focus. Initially, he’d planned on getting the judge in his corner through Charlotte, but surprisingly, Frank was attracted to her. He supposed it was her innocence that appealed to him. He couldn’t say he’d ever spent time with an inexperienced woman, and he considered that a challenge. The combination of beauty and virtue made him think of his sister Rose. He’d thought she was innocent until she became involved with Morgan LeMasters. Now he hated his sister as much as he hated her husband.

  True to his word, when the coach stopped so the passengers could get out and stretch, Frank took Charlotte by the hand. He led her to a private spot deep into some brush, far away from prying eyes.

  Charlotte was breathless when Frank finally stopped behind a huge boulder. Frank had whispered his intentions for hours, and the anticipation of wh
at he’d promised had been electrifying. When he took her in his arms, she was heady with anticipation of being kissed by him.

  “Eighteen years old and never been kissed.” Frank cupped her face in his hands and gently urged her mouth open with his thumbs. “Put your arms around my neck.”

  Charlotte did as he instructed, and when he lowered his lips to hers, she was startled by the warm softness of his mouth. Frank tightened his arms around her, and pressed her firmly against the rock. She stopped questioning the right or wrong of what he was doing, and succumbed to the demands of her youthful yearnings.

  Minutes passed, and Frank was longing for more than kisses. When he heard the stagecoach driver whistle, he grudgingly pulled away from her. He smiled at her rosy cheeks, and the dazed look on her face. “I knew you would like to be kissed.” He leaned in for another quick kiss before they walked back to the stagecoach.

  Once inside the coach, Charlotte tried to appear composed, but she knew her face was flaming. By the smirk on the faces of the two male passengers, she knew the intimacy of what had passed between them was no secret. She questioned if all men kissed the way Frank kissed. It was probably wrong of her to want more, but when the stagecoach driver whistled, she didn’t want to leave that secluded spot. She wanted to stay right there with Frank and learn the mysteries of what transpired between a man and a woman. Frank could teach her all of the things her father never discussed.

  * * *

  By the third night when they reached the way station, Frank had formulated his plan to marry Charlotte. It would be no hardship to have her for a wife; she was young and accommodating, and he’d already seen she hadn’t resisted his advances. The more he thought about it, having a beautiful woman at his beck and call certainly had its appeal.