by Kari Trumbo
A tense knot formed in her stomach. Her sisters had false ideas about her and now she’d have to face them and their distrust. She settled herself on the bench seat and Ruby sat next to her, Beau and Brody Ferguson, in front.
The ranch wasn’t far from town, not even an hour, which seemed like nothing after such a long journey. Her knees wobbled as she climbed down. In the doorway of a small cabin stood her twin sister, Eva, and Jennie. She gasped. Eva looked just like her now. Eva had always been more frail, quiet, small. Now, after a year of unbearable food, Hattie looked much the same.
“Oh Eva, I’ve missed you!” And it was true. She’d grown to miss them all. Even after she’d told herself she hated them for following Beau and Ruby; for always agreeing; for being good and obedient, and mostly for taking her far from her home in Yellow Medicine. Now she knew, home was where your family was, and pa had barely been family.
Eva bunched her skirts in her hands and tore off toward Hattie, they collided in a fierce embrace. Jennie stood back. Her hands hidden in the folds of her dress. She looked terrified to come near as if she couldn’t quite believe she was seeing the truth.
“Jennie?” Hattie held out her hands, but Jennie stayed rooted to her spot.
Jennie slowly shook her head. “Hattie, I’m so sorry. I should’ve paid more attention. I should’ve tried to save you. It’s all my fault.”
Aiden appeared behind Jennie, a little thinner than she remembered him being. He put his arm around Jennie and kissed her head, then whispered something in her ear. She nodded then stepped off the porch and strode toward her. Hattie chewed her lip. She’d been incredibly unkind to Jennie before she’d left. That hurt had followed her all the way to Keystone and had been one of the few things to break through the fog of her drunken mind.
Jennie stood before her, her hands still hidden in the folds of her dress. Hattie reached out and Jennie stepped into her arms. “Jennie, I’m so sorry. I had no right to say the things I did. I’m sure some of those things made you think I wanted to be where I was, but I didn’t. I was so selfish, then I couldn’t get out once I saw how bad life was going to get. Can you ever forgive me?”
Jennie stiffened and Hattie stepped back, still holding Jennie’s arms. She saw the purple color of Jennie’s hands and gasped. “What happened to you?”
Jennie shook her hands and pulled them away, shoving them into the pockets of her skirt. “I wanted to save you, but I couldn’t.”
Hattie shook her head. That made no sense. How could Jennie have saved her, and how did that hurt her hands? “I don’t understand.”
Aiden appeared beside her and again pulled her close to his side. “Jennie was sleep walking and had a vision of you burning in the house in Deadwood. She reached into the fireplace. Luckily, I pulled her out before she damaged more than her hands.”
Hattie’s knees went weak under her. She’d hurt those she loved most. How could they ever take her back? She’d be apologizing until she didn’t have breath left.
Jennie met her gaze. “It wasn’t your fault, Hattie. I was reading about the fires in Deadwood’s history, and I missed you so much and felt so guilty after you left.” A tear fell down her cheek. “I just wanted my family all together. I’m so glad you’re home now.”
Hattie’s other sisters lined up along the porch waiting for her. All four of them: Francis, Lula, Nora, and Daisy had grown so much since she’d left. She’d lost so much time with them. When Hugh arrived she’d get married and she’d never get that time with them back. She sighed and hugged each one in turn, blinking back hot tears.
Ruby stood next to her, holding the still fussing Joseph. “You can come on in and take the spot Jennie left when she married. There’s barely enough room to turn around in there, but the ranch is huge and you’re free to go anywhere up on this ridge. It’s hard to get down to Aiden and Jennie’s without a horse, so you’ll need to learn to ride. Hugh can help you with that when he arrives.”
Ruby brushed past them and into the house, probably to go feed Joseph. Hattie sighed and went to pick up her bag. Aiden, Beau, and Brody stood by the wagon. Beau nodded to her. “I’ll bring your bag in. Why don’t you go rest. It’s good to have you home. I’m sure Hugh will be here in the next few days.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
FOUR DAYS. IT HAD been four days since arriving in Deadwood and she hadn’t seen nor heard from Hugh. She’d written a letter to her mother in Cutter’s Creek, she’d spent time learning her way around the ranch, and she’d cleaned the cabin she and Hugh would share when he returned. She’d run out of things to do besides letting her gut twist in worry about every possible thing that could go wrong. The one worry that reoccurred the most was that he came to his senses and just ran away.
Hattie snapped off the end of a green bean and tossed it into the saltwater on her lap. He had to come soon, he just had to. But what if he didn’t? Had she been wrong about his feelings? After he’d rescued her from the cave they’d spent hours together, talking and reading…and trying to avoid situations where they’d be alone. The temptation to kiss him was far too great. Yet all she wanted was to spend more time with him, to never be apart from him.
Eva dropped down next to her on the step with an elaborate sigh. “Still watching for your prince to arrive?” Her soft pale cheeks rose in a slight smile. “He’ll be here soon. I told Jennie the same thing and she waited weeks and weeks.”
Hattie snapped a bean and tried to look at anything but the trail down the hill. “So, Jennie had to wait, too? Why?”
“Aiden had to go back home and make things right with his family, then he ended up bringing them back with him. Good thing he did, or you’d never have met Hugh.”
She stopped snapping and closed her eyes. “If not for Hugh, I’d probably be dead…or wishing I were.”
“You’re right. I think our Heavenly Father planned everything, just so you could find Hugh.”
Hugh had shown her passages where men had gone through terrible things just to be used by the Lord for good, but that didn’t make her any more pleased about being the one chosen for God’s purpose. “Please don’t talk about that time as a blessing, Eva. It was anything but.” Just thinking about what she’d gone through that year left her sick to her stomach.
“I wasn’t talking about that. It wasn’t God’s choice that you should go, but since He knew you would, He brought—not only Aiden for Jennie, but also Hugh. Hugh was meant to come here, and he was meant to go save you. He was meant to love you.”
“I don’t know about that, Eva. Hugh isn’t here. He was supposed to be here two days ago.” She snapped her bean with vengeance and it sent the top flying behind her.
“You have no idea why he’s late. I’m excited for him to get here. I’ve been riding the range out around the fences and I can’t wait to show you some wonderful things I’ve found. I have drawings… There are some things that you can only share with a twin.”
“Eva…once Hugh comes back, if he comes back, we’ll get married. I don’t know if he’ll want to live and work here or if we’ll go to Deadwood. I don’t want to count on staying here, if I’m not.”
Eva’s face sagged. “You just came back. I’ve missed you so much. We all have. Doesn’t that account for anything?”
Hattie wrapped her arm around Eva and squeezed. “Of course it does, but Hugh will decide where we live. Not me.”
The rumble of a man’s voice shocked her out of her thoughts. “I’m sure if the man’s worth his salt he can take his wife’s desires under advisement.”
The familiar voice vibrated through Hattie’s heart and into her soul. She leapt to her feet, spraying beans everywhere. She screamed in surprise and ran to Hugh, throwing her arms around his neck. He lifted her clean off the ground in a crushing squeeze then dropped her to her toes with a light kiss that didn’t even come close to fulfilling her need.
“Oh Hugh, where have you been?”
He smiled, the first real smile out of him she’d
ever seen—and it was glorious. She’d paint it if she could. His eyes fairly glowed with it. She stared, wanting to remember that sight forever.
“I was in Deadwood for a few extra days setting things right with Bullock and ordering some wood. I can’t have my bride and not have a place for her.”
Her outburst had brought people from all over the ranch, but she wouldn’t let them steal him from her quite yet. “But a house will take a long time to build, are we to wait until it’s finished?”
Brody strode up behind Hugh and clapped him on the back. “Nope, I’ve already told Hugh you prepared the small cabin. It’s the same one that Aiden and Jennie lived in while he and Hugh built the house in the valley. If this keeps up, I’m going to end up deeding all my land to you sisters and your husbands!” He laughed.
“You already talked to Brody? When?” He hadn’t come to see her first? She pushed aside the hurt, glad he was there at all.
“Brody was in Deadwood picking up supplies. I happened to see him in the street.” He clapped Brody on the back. “I also arranged for the new preacher to come here and perform a wedding in two days. If you’ll still have me?”
“Of course I’ll have you.” Heat rose into her cheeks.
Eva squealed in excitement. “Oh, I’m so excited. Another Arnsby married to the right man!”
Hattie turned and smiled slyly at her. “You do realize, you’re next?”
Eva shook her head so vigorously pins fell from her hair. “No, not me. The Dakota’s don’t make my kind of man. Quiet, book learned. My kind of man would be too soft for South Dakota.” She turned a deep pink.
Hattie couldn’t help but smile at her sweet sister. “Maybe that’s what the Lord has in mind for you, maybe not. Either way, you’ll be next. Francis will only be sixteen this year.”
Hattie laughed as Eva nibbled at her lip. Eva had plenty of time to think about what she wanted. Though Eva would always be her twin, Hattie suddenly felt ages older.
Hugh touched her back, ever so softly, sending a shiver up her spine. “Walk with me?”
She looked at the bowl of scattered beans and the saltwater.
Eva raised an eyebrow and sighed. “I’ll wash them up. You go.”
Hugh didn’t wait for a reply. He directed her toward the stable, his excitement almost palpable. She could feel his pace increase the closer they got.
“I have to show you something.” He drew her into the dark barn and she blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dim interior. Hugh took her hand and led her forward, his breath was warm on the back of her neck and his solid frame behind her reassuring. “Are you ready?” He sounded so happy and excited, how could she not share in it?
She nodded and he moved his hand. There, before her, was a beautiful smoke-colored horse. She knew next to nothing about horses, couldn’t even tell if it were male or female, but it was beautiful.
“Oh Hugh! Is it for me?” She glanced back at him, his expression soft. The lines around his eyes and lips had vanished, the strain from the time in Keystone long gone.
“Yes, Hattie. She’s all yours. You can name her and I’ll teach you to care for her. You’ll learn to ride so that you’ll always be able to get where you want to go. I never want to ride alone again. I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too. I was so worried you wouldn’t come back, Hugh. I guess that was foolish of me. You’ve never let me down.”
He tucked his finger gently under her chin and lifted her face to look up at him. “I told you I’d never leave you. I meant it. I didn’t want to be apart from you, either, but sometimes work has to be done. I thought about you the whole time.”
His lips brushed across her cheek, sending a pleasant heat dancing down her body. She opened her eyes and took in everything about him. Memorized every line around his eyes and his soft brown eyelashes, his long straight nose and his strong chin. She wouldn’t change a thing about him and, despite what she’d been through, she couldn’t wait to be his wife.
“We have to wait two whole days?” She took his hand in hers and he followed her from the barn.
“It gives the family a little time to prepare. And the preacher couldn’t come out any sooner. I asked.”
She couldn’t keep the laughter from bubbling up and Hugh’s arm wound around her waist, pulling her into him, squeezing her close. She wanted to see him smile every day of her life. He’d been too long without.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, Eva’s missing?” Hattie tugged her dress up over her arms and Jennie grabbed the seams and began on the long row of buttons up the back.
Jennie ignored the question. “I hope you don’t plan on wearing this gown again. Hugh will have a devil of a time unbuttoning you tonight and he won’t ever want to do it again. If it were Aiden…well, never you mind.” She laughed. “I’m having enough trouble with my stiff fingers as it is.”
Hattie turned around and words escaped her for a moment. “Oh, Jennie. I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me. Ruby would be glad to do this. You can help me with something else.”
Jennie shook her head, her lower lip trembled, and she sucked it into her mouth. “It isn’t that I can’t, or that I don’t want to, it’s just difficult. There’s a difference.”
“Jennie, I’m real sorry for the things I said to you about Aiden. I had no right.”
“Oh, fiddle-faddle. It’s water under the bridge, gone a million miles from here by now.” Hattie turned back around and Jennie’s hands held the two sides together as she sighed deeply. “You need to forgive me, though. It was my fault. I told Beau and Aiden they shouldn’t follow you. I assumed you wanted to be where you were. I…” Her voice slid away and her body shuddered with a sob. Hattie spun to embrace her sister, but Jennie held up her hand. “No, hear me out. I assumed you wanted to be…what you would later become. That you wanted the drink bad enough to do anything to get it. I was wrong. I should’ve sent them after you. If I had, they may have found you in Lead in time.”
Hattie sighed. She’d known this was coming, had worried about it the last two days. But everyone had been so busy preparing, no one had spoken about her past.
“Even if they’d found me the very first night I was taken, it would’ve been too late. Roy used me first, then he convinced me that because I didn’t fight back, I liked it and I deserved to be a prostitute. I believed that the whole time I was there. Hugh showed me that Roy tricked me, used me.
“I was with Roy in Lead for about a month, but never outside the little house where he took me. I didn’t realize it then, but I was as much a prisoner there as I was at the Red Garter. I doubt they would’ve found me and I don’t hold it against you. I was angry when I left. Pent up. And you’re right. I would’ve done about anything for a real drink. I was taking nips of Ruby’s pain tinctures just to feel well enough to get through the day.
“I don’t expect you to understand, but Hugh does, and we can build a life where I never have to have a drink again.” She laughed softly as Jennie raised her head. “But I need to get this dress on first. I can’t go out there hanging open.”
Hattie turned around and after a moment’s hesitation Jennie fastened the last few buttons at the base of her neck. The gown itself had a plunging neckline, but a blue lace insert in the front made it look like a high collar. It matched the pattern of the fabric and was set against a buttery yellow background. The blue lace rose in three tiers of ruffles on the front of the gown, sweeping along the back of the bustle as well. It was, by far, the nicest gown she’d ever owned.
The thoughts of her dress turned her mind to the buttons Jennie had mentioned. Sure, she knew the basics of what happened between a man and a woman, but she had the distinct feeling that what went on between husband and wife was different, if not in action, then in emotion. There was nothing for it, she’d find out soon enough. The worry had her tying her fingers in knots.
Ruby came into the room and laid a hand on Hattie’s shoulder. “You’ve f
orgotten the blue ribbon Hugh got you. It would look lovely woven into your hair.”
Hattie sat in front of Ruby’s small mirror and watched as Ruby wove the ribbon intricately through her pins.
“We still aren’t sure where Eva is, but I’m sure she’ll be back soon. If she doesn’t come back before the preacher arrives do you want to start without her? He can only stay for two hours.”
Hattie nibbled on her fingernail, then sighed. “Did she go on another one of her rides?” She wanted her twin there, but couldn’t postpone it. Eva would understand, she hoped.
“I’m sure she did. She’s been acting so strange of late.” Ruby tucked a pin into Hattie’s hair, securing the ribbon.
Hugh appeared at the doorway with a sweet smile on his face. “Ladies. Ruby, would you mind if I spent a few minutes with my beautiful Hattie while we wait for Eva?”
Ruby hesitated. “It isn’t usually done, Hugh. And to have you both alone in our room before you’re wed, it’s just…”
“I promise you nothing will happen, leave the door open if you wish. I just want to spend a few minutes with Hattie before she becomes Mrs. Bradly.”
Hattie’s stomach fluttered as Hugh stepped closer. He looked more handsome than usual in his tailored black suit and string tie. Jennie left and Ruby followed, giving them a quick glance as she left the door open behind her.
Hugh strode toward her and dropped down on one knee in front of her. She gazed directly into his deep blue eyes as he rested his hand on her knee. “You are the most precious, beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Heat rose up her neck and she couldn’t hold in a smile.
“I want you to know that in this last few weeks, I’ve grown to see you as a whole new woman. You aren’t the Hattie I found in the Red Garter. You aren’t the woman who couldn’t even raise her hand after the drink sapped your energy. That Hattie is gone, and in her place is a new creation. That creation is bathed in white, is precious. Is forgiven by the only one that matters.”