She winked at him as she stashed the coin purse back into her reticule. “It’s easier to buy candy when you have the money.”
Chapter Two
One month later
When the going gets tough, the tough go to the candy store.
Polly Friday Bird sat on a stool at the counter of Bea’s Confectionery and, without making eye contact with a soul lest they see how upset she was, stirred her tea with a peppermint stick. Her sister Merry, also upset, had gone to the dressmaker’s shop but Polly had no desire to go with her even though she loved buying new clothes, especially for the children.
Growing up, she and Merry had worn ill-fitting dresses cut from their adoptive mother’s tattered skirts, so both sisters delighted in dressing well now. Now that they’d each adopted children, they shared a desire to make sure the children wore decent clothing in styles and colors they liked. Still, Polly had other even more important problems to ponder.
A man came in and sat on the stool beside her. “Howdy, miss. Nice morning, isn’t it?” She didn’t look at him, but he smelled of bay rum and leather.
When she did glance up, perturbed that he’d interrupted her thoughts, she forced a smile. “Good morning.” Once she got a good look, the smile came easy even with all her woes.
His handsome features held her gaze for longer than she’d intended. He was well-dressed in a gray sack suit laden with trail dust—no doubt he’d just disembarked from the stagecoach. His slightly long dark hair brushed his starched collar, and his broad shoulders would attract any woman whose blood still ran warm. Even so, it was his deep blue eyes that captured her gaze until she could manage to get back to concentrating on her hot tea.
But good morning? Hardly. The morning had been a trial. First, she couldn’t interpret Noah’s hand gestures in his silent plea for whatever it was he wanted, and while she concentrated on that, little Evie had barfed pancakes all over the kitchen table, two of the chairs, and the floor. Once Polly had cleaned the kitchen and managed to find something that Noah would eat and Evie might keep down, Merry had announced that she had a visitor in the lobby.
Polly removed the peppermint stick from her tea cup and licked it off before she put it on the saucer, all the while wishing that instead of receiving the visitor, she’d gone straight upstairs and back to bed.
Mr. Ecclestone of the Children’s Society had come to take Noah and Evie, and Merry’s children, too, for the rules stated that all adoptive parents must be legally wed. If Polly and her sister didn’t come up with a solution by the end of the week, he’d have no recourse but to remove all five children from their home.
The very thought broke Polly’s heart.
“Looks like you’ve been here before.” He scanned the candies in the display. “What fine morsel of delight should I order?”
Before Polly had a chance to answer, the owner came from the back and stepped up to the counter.
“Why, Ford Daily, is it you?” She grinned from ear to ear.
“It’s me, all right.” His voice rumbled low and pure, like warm maple syrup.
“What brings you to Mockingbird Flats?”
“You, my cute little neighbor girl.”
“Your eyesight must be failing in your old age.” Bea giggled. “I’m neither cute nor little, and I’ve grown up some since you last saw me.” She opened the case, scooped some taffy onto a plate, and placed it in front of him. “I’ll fetch you some coffee. How’d you know I was here?”
“Grandpa wrote me that you’d moved to town and started a candy store.”
She slid a cup of coffee over the counter to him. “Are you back in Texas for good?”
“Yep. I’m officially graduated from Cornell and ready to doctor your animals.”
“Don’t have any.”
He shrugged. “And ask you to marry me.”
“That was quick.” She reached over the counter and pinched his cheek. “I might even have thought about it if I wasn’t already married.”
“You’re married?” He sounded aghast and disappointed.
“Just last week.” Bea cocked her head at Polly. “Polly and her sister Merry were there.”
Polly smiled shyly. “It was a beautiful wedding.”
“Well, drat.” Ford tapped his hat on his knee. “I really did come here to propose. Grandpa’s being stubborn about deeding the ranch to me. Says since I’m the last Daily, he wants to see an heir before he pushes up daisies.”
“Can’t help you,” Bea said. “Anyway, you have a bit of time. A fellow can’t get much healthier than your grandpa—he’s made of hearty stock.”
“I know, but he’s got a bur under his saddle. Told me not to come back without a bride. Problem is, I bought a herd and don’t have anywhere to put them. Grandpa told me not to bring the cattle there unless I brought a wife, too.”
“He can’t mean that.” To Polly, Bea said, “Can I get you anything else?”
Polly sipped her minty tea. “I’d like a bag of peppermint sticks and one husband, please.” She turned to Ford. “I have to be married by the end of the week or they’ll take my children.”
Ford raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you get that in the wrong order? Folks generally get married before they have babies.”
“They’re not babies.”
He eyed her a moment. “Why would anyone take your children?”
“Merry came in earlier so I know about the Children’s Society lawyer,” Bea said to Polly. Then she turned to Ford. “Merry and Polly adopted several youngsters from the orphan train. None of the children stood a chance of getting a decent home, but they’re doing well now.”
“Sounds like a batch of lucky young’uns to me,” Ford said.
Polly thought it was the other way around—Noah and Evie were blessings to her. “We’re doing well. I just want what’s best for them.”
Bea waited on another customer then came back. “I’m dreadful sorry you won’t be able to keep the orphans. Noah and Evie seem so happy now—they act much more like normal children than when they arrived. I remember how scared they were the first time you brought them in.”
Polly turned to Ford, who seemed more amused than worried. “I’m serious. You need a wife and I need a husband. We can get copies of the marriage certificate and once your grandfather and the Children’s Society lawyer are satisfied, we can get an annulment.”
“Not a bad idea,” Bea said. “You’re two good people who can help each other out.” She looked at Ford, then at Polly. “Why not?”
That’s when the handsome Ford Daily turned to Polly and said, “Would you marry me, Polly? That is your name, right?”
Her breath caught, for he affected her like no other man ever had, and she’d turned down her share of suitors. Another time, another situation, and Polly might’ve lost her heart to this man, but she was entering a business arrangement. She had to remember that. “I accept, and my full name is Polly Friday Bird.”
“Manford Daily, but everyone calls me Ford.” He raised an eyebrow. “Friday? That’s a strange middle name.”
“It was the surname given to me at the orphanage. I was found on a Friday.”
“You were an orphan?”
“Yes, and I know how dreadfully hard it can be for a child to grow up in harsh circumstances—that’s why I simply can’t bear to see Noah and Evie put to such a trial.”
“Well then, I assume you know a preacher?”
“That would be Reverend Zebediah Jones. I can contact him forthwith.”
“I’ll be at the church with wedding treats as soon as you schedule a ceremony,” Bea said. “Ford, you can use my husband as a best man. And Polly, if Merry’s not there, I can stand up with you.”
“When would be a good time?” Ford asked.
“The sooner, the better.” Polly had seen the reverend earlier when she was utterly beside herself so she reckoned he was still in the rectory. “I can go make arrangements now, if you’re of a mind.”
“And this w
ill help your children?”
“It will save my children.”
* * *
Noah held his hands out flat and circled both forefingers.
“We’re in trouble?” Evie asked.
He shook his head then pointed to Polly’s side of the bed.
“Polly’s in trouble?”
He nodded. He’d come to trust his new mother, and like her, too. Even more than like, maybe, and he didn’t want to see her in trouble because she’d given him and Evie a home. He pointed to Evie, then himself, and then walked his right-hand fingers across his left palm.
“We’re leaving?” Evie’s eyes grew big. “Where would we go?”
He shrugged. Then pretended to filch from the pocket of her new dress.
“I know we can get along—we did when we lived in Master Geldart’s protection.”
Noah scowled.
“Yeah, some protection.” Evie’s shoulders sagged. “When do we leave?”
He pointed to her trunk, then slipped the pillow out of its case and handed the pillowcase to her.
“I’ll gather my things now.” When he picked up his own bag, she said, “I’ll hurry.”
Once they got downstairs, they stashed their bags outside in the bushes on the far side of the yard and came back in the house and found Aunt Merry.
As he’d instructed, Evie asked, “Is it all right if we go outside and play?”
“Sure.” Aunt Merry rocked the toddler who slept in her arms. “Would you like to take some cookies with you? Mrs. Koch just made some oatmeal raisin.”
Evie and Noah both nodded. He’d sorely miss Mrs. Koch’s cookies—and all the food. Neither he nor Evie had ever eaten food so tasty or so plentiful as at the Mockingbird Flats Boardinghouse. Even more than the food, he’d miss the friendly talk and occasional joshing.
In Master Geldart’s alley, the kid who ate the fastest got the most, even if the food was full of dirt and bugs, and likely rancid, too. The meals at the orphanage had been eaten in silence, and the food all tasted the same, no matter whether meat or vegetable. Sometimes he couldn’t tell the difference.
“Tell Mrs. Koch that you can have two cookies each,” Aunt Merry said. “If you see Calvin, tell him we’re having fried chicken for supper and he’s guaranteed a drumstick.” She winked. “That way, he’ll be sure to show up on time.”
Calvin was another orphan boy. Aunt Merry had adopted him, the baby she was holding, and a girl named Abigail. Noah wondered where Abbie had gotten herself off to, for she seldom ever left the little one.
Noah waved good-bye and smiled, although he didn’t feel like smiling, for he had a fondness for her, the boardinghouse, the residents, and most especially Mama Polly. He really hated to go and felt a pang of guilt for asking Mrs. Koch for the cookies even though Aunt Merry said they could have them. Evie must have felt the same, for once they ran into the yard and grabbed their bags from the bushes, a tear trailed down her cheek.
He pointed at himself, so that she knew he felt the same. They took off at a brisk pace. He led his sister to the part of town where the saloons were, for he knew Mama Polly would never go there. He wandered nonchalantly, keeping close track of Evie lest she get snatched away, while looking for a vehicle that would take them away from Mockingbird Flats.
“I hope Mama Polly doesn’t come looking for us too soon,” Evie said.
She echoed his own thoughts. Mama Polly would try to keep them, but the orphan people would take him and Evie anyway and that would hurt her. It was better if he and Evie left.
He and Evie headed to a barrel to hide behind, but Deputy Barnell, who lived at the boardinghouse, was escorting a handcuffed prisoner down the boardwalk and saw them before they could get there. The deputy was an agreeable fellow and all the orphans liked him, but he’d tell Mama Polly where they were.
“What’re you doing in this part of town?” he called to them. “You young’uns best get yourselves home right now.”
“Yes, sir!” Evie called.
Noah pulled her along with him as if they were doing exactly as the deputy had told them to do, but when he and the prisoner rounded the corner, Noah and Evie scrambled back to where they were before—it was the best vantage point to see all the comings and goings on the two main streets.
They waited for another several minutes. No one paid attention to them except for a drunk man who asked them for a bottle of whiskey. Noah shrugged and showed the man empty hands.
“Too scared to talk, eh?” the drunk said.
Evie jammed her hands on her bony little hips. “Noah ain’t scared of nothin’ and neither am I.”
Noah tugged on Evie’s sleeve and led her across the street where they wouldn’t be bothered while waiting for a good opportunity to catch a ride out of town. Didn’t anyone in this part of town use a wagon? Lots of folks had wagons where the mercantile stores and the like were, but in the saloon and brothel section, men either walked or rode horses.
Finally, a man with a wagon pulled to a stop in front of the Red Dog Saloon. He tongued his soggy cigar from one side of his mouth to the other and adjusted his sweaty dirt-caked derby. Then he hopped off the wagon, walked to the back of the bed, and flipped back a heavy blanket to reveal a load of barrels. He pulled out a couple of planks that he used for a ramp, and then, with a grunt and a groan, the fellow managed to get one barrel tipped and rolled down to the road.
Noah knew the barrels had to hold either whiskey or beer, but he’d bet it was whiskey. There’d be enough room in the wagon for himself and Evie. All he had to do was wait and see if the driver would unload more, or all of the barrels. Noah elbowed Evie and she nodded.
They waited and waited. What seemed like forever later, the man came back and flipped the cover back over the remaining barrels. Then he gawked around a bit, lit another cigar, and finally climbed back up to the driver’s seat. But he didn’t flick the reins. Noah wondered why he was dilly-dallying so.
A huge lady whose bosom nearly busted out of her corset walked by Noah and Evie. Noah got in step with her, behind and to her left, so she wouldn’t notice. Evie did the same. The lady walked right by the wagon, and quick as a whistle, Noah sneaked onto the wagon. He reached out and pulled Evie on with him. Then they wiggled around so the barrels and blankets would hide them from everyone.
Chapter Three
After Polly left to make arrangements to be married, Ford munched on the taffy and wondered what on earth he’d gotten himself into. Miss Bird was a mighty comely lass—blond hair and shapely figure that made him ache to put his hands around her small waist. But what man in his right mind would marry a woman he’d never even seen before?
He’d come to Mockingbird Flats to marry Bea. She’d always been game for whatever he suggested, with few exceptions—not because he’d suggested them, but on account of she was the most daring gal he’d ever met.
In fact, he had a hard time picturing her being happy while stuck in a confectionery all day. Even so, she did look happy and seemed quite taken with her new husband. He hoped that continued for he wished her all the best.
But Miss Polly Friday Bird... that woman intrigued him in more ways the one. In more ways than she should. He’d been drawn to her right off the bat as she sat at the candy counter stirring her tea with a peppermint stick. She’d looked so alone and dejected. And beautiful. He had a strong notion to protect her and make everything right for her.
Maybe he was doing exactly that—all except for the big hug, which he still wouldn’t mind.
Bea came back and tapped her knuckles on the counter to get his attention. “So what do you think of Polly?”
He wasn’t about to tell Bea what he’d been thinking. “She seems like a nice lady who wants to do right by the orphans she adopted.”
“She’s the genuine article—sweet as they come, smart as a whip, and not bad looking, either. Several of the gents around here have tried to court her, but she wasn’t interested in any of them.”
“Eve
n to keep her children?”
“My guess is she likely was considering marrying one of them, but she wouldn’t do that except as a last resort because they’d consider it a real marriage. With you, it satisfies her need for a husband and your need for a wife. You’ll go away and she won’t have to worry about being married to a man she doesn’t love.”
“Love? So Miss Bird’s a romantic.” She was sounding better all the time.
“Very much so,” Bea said. “And picky when it comes to men.”
“What if I don’t leave?”
“Of course you’ll go. You’ve spent your whole life planning how you’ll improve the ranch once it’s yours.”
“I could set up a veterinarian office here in Mockingbird Flats.”
“That would cheer up your grandpa, all right. He’s never made it a secret that your main job in life is producing little Dailys, and he wants them born on his ranch.”
“I know, I’ve heard it a thousand times—the land is in your blood. Well, it’s in mine but he’s making other occupations look mighty blasted good.”
“Are you planning to take Polly to the ranch?”
Ford leaned on his elbows and finger-combed the hair on the back of his head. “She doesn’t seem like she wants to go anywhere. And I don’t even know her.”
“Well, I know her, and she’s a fine lady. So don’t you go taking advantage.”
“Dadburn it, Bea—pardon my French—you know I wouldn’t do any such thing.” But he’d thought of it right off, and this was one of those times he wished he weren’t so damnably honorable.
“Where are you staying?”
“You tell me. Is there a hotel?”
“Was. Now it’s the Mockingbird Flats Boardinghouse.”
“I’ll get a room there if they have a vacancy. Where is it?”
Bea gave him directions while Ford sneaked a fifty-cent piece under his plate, for she’d refused to let him pay for his candy and coffee.
“I’ll be back by once I find out when and where the wedding is.”
“Or I can let Polly know where you are and she can tell you.”
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