Iris (Suitors of Seattle Book 8)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Mary looked over Mallie's head at the other two girls. "Why, Iris led me to believe you were babies. You're practically grown up!"

  Katie stood as tall as she could, her face lit up with a smile. "We have a grandmother?"

  Mary simply lifted one arm from around Mallie and held it out to the other two girls who rushed to her. "Call me 'grandma,' please."

  As they walked home, the girls talked to their new grandmother about their day at school and how much they liked living in Texas. "Will we get to visit you in Seattle?" Mallie asked, her eyes wide.

  "Of course you will. Why, you'll be coming for your parents' wedding reception in September." Mary held Mallie's good hand and one of Katie's hands as they walked. Ettie was staying close to Iris.

  When they reached the ranch, Iris was unsure of where to put their unexpected guest. There was a small spare room upstairs, but she hated to ask her mother to take such a tiny room. After a moment of deliberation, she decided she had no choice.

  She took her mother's bag, which she had carried home for her, and took it up the stairs. "The room is small, but it's the only one we have. If you'd given us notice, I would have arranged for you to stay in the house where Francis grew up. His older brother lives there. They have a large spare room."

  Mary shrugged. "If you'd given me notice that you were marrying, I wouldn't have felt the need to come all this way to scold you, now would I?" She looked around at the room Iris had designated for her. "This will do just fine."

  "How long will you be staying?" Iris was almost afraid to ask. Her mother had traveled a long way to stay for just a few days. She was certain she meant to be there for a while.

  "Oh, I'm not sure. Until I'm certain you're happily married." Mary frowned. "I may need to find Edna Petunia before I go. Violet would never forgive me otherwise."

  Iris sighed. "She's happy, Mama. Isn't that what's important?"

  "What if she drank a little too much of her special tonic, and she fell into a river and drowned? How would you feel then?"

  "I'd feel terrible, but she made it very clear that she was going to go on with her life with or without my approval. I couldn't have stopped her from walking beside that river." What river, Iris didn't know, but she knew her mother would and that's what was important. "I need to go start supper. I'll leave you to get settled."

  Iris hurried down the stairs, wishing she knew how to get a message to Francis. If she had any idea at all where he was on the ranch, she'd ride out to talk to him. Of course, her mother didn't yet realize that she rode astride in a split skirt, so it was probably best if she waited for another day to go hunting down her husband on the range.

  She hurriedly fixed supper while she waited for Francis to come in. She wanted to talk to him privately, so she watched out the window with half an eye the whole time she worked. Finally, she saw him riding into the yard just as she was setting the table. She could hear the girls laughing with her mother upstairs, so she slipped outside to talk to him for a moment.

  She walked into the stable and saw him rubbing his horse down. "Francis," she began.

  Francis turned to her, startled. He hadn't expected to see her in the stable. He dropped the towel he was using on his horse and walked to his wife, embracing her. "How was your day?" he asked after a long kiss.

  "Different," she said. "My mother is here. She came all the way from Seattle to make sure I'm happy. I don't know how to get her to go home again. She said she's staying until she's certain we're happily married."

  Francis frowned. "Well, we are happily married, so that should only take her a few minutes to figure out. She'll be on a train in the morning, right?"

  Iris shrugged. "In theory. She's also upset that I've lost Edna Petunia."

  "Edna Petunia is a grown woman, and she's lost herself. You have no responsibility there. Did you tell her that?"

  Iris frowned. "You don't understand. My mother is—well, she's something of a force to be reckoned with. Trust me, you don't want to cross her."

  Francis removed his hat with one hand and ran his fingers through his hair with the other. "So how are we going to get rid of her? I don't feel like you're going to be happy until she's gone."

  "I won't be unhappy. It's just—I'm not going to feel comfortable making love with her in the house."

  "Well, you've just made me unhappy." Francis didn't know why her mother had come, but he obviously needed to get rid of her as soon as possible. He wasn't about to go too long without making love to his bride. He sighed, pulling her into his arms again. "We'll figure it out. She's got to be able to look at us and see how happy we are. Everyone else in Nowhere sure can."

  Iris rested her head against his shoulder. "As much as I love her, I love you and the girls more. I'm afraid she's only going to interfere." Iris stopped, almost putting her hand over her mouth. Before she'd used the word 'love,' she hadn't even been certain she felt it. As soon as it slipped out, she knew it was true. She was in love with her husband. She only hoped he felt the same.

  Francis looked down at Iris for a moment, his heart filling with her words. She'd said before she loved the girls, but this time she'd included him in it. But was she talking about a real love? The way he loved her? "We all love you, too."

  Iris smiled. "I know you do." She suddenly regretted the words. He'd said them to her only because she'd said them first, and he didn't want her to feel bad.

  Francis watched the light go out of her eyes. "What's wrong?"

  She shook her head. "Nothing. I need to finish putting dinner on the table. I just wanted you to know Mama was here." She turned and headed into the house, deep in thought.

  Francis watched her go, wishing he knew how to make her feel better. Something had just happened, and he didn't even know what it was.

  He finished rubbing his horse down before walking up to the house. He went into the bathroom to wash his hands and face. He didn't want to meet his mother-in-law looking like he'd been wrestling cows all day, whether he had been or not.

  Francis took his spot at the head of the table, watching as his daughters came down the stairs with a plump woman who looked to be in her early fifties. He got to his feet out of respect for her. "Mrs. Sullivan, I'm Francis Harvey. I've heard a great deal about you."

  Mary studied him, shaking hands with him before taking a seat at the table beside Katie. "So tell me how wonderful my daughter is."

  Francis was taken aback. Who would begin a conversation with someone they'd just met that way? "Well, she's a good doctor, and so far she's a wonderful wife and mother. I can't imagine anyone I'd rather spend the rest of my life with."

  Mary nodded. "Why does Iris seem unhappy? Did you two fight when she went outside to warn you that I was here?"

  "Of course not. Once I trusted her to take care of my daughter's broken arm, we stopped fighting."

  "You two have been married for how long and you haven't had a good fight yet?" Mary looked back and forth between Iris and Francis. "Well, no wonder she looks miserable. You need to have a good rousing fight so you can remember why you got married in the first place."

  "Oh, Mama, don't be ridiculous." Iris set the food on the table before taking her spot at the foot of the table, closest to the work table. Anything they needed she'd be able to jump up and get for them.

  "Dinner looks good, Iris. It's still odd to me that you went off to medical school and learned to cook while you were there. Just doesn't make any sense."

  "There were no servants at medical school. It was learn to cook or starve."

  Mary didn't say anything else as Francis said a prayer over their meal. She watched everyone at the table with an eagle eye while they ate, though. After everyone was finished, she announced that she and the girls would clean up. "You two go for a walk or something while it's till daylight."

  "That's all right. I can clean up," Iris answered.

  "No you can't. You worked all day, and then you came home and cooked dinner. Why would you think you should clean
up? Go for a walk with your husband."

  Iris nodded, heading for the door with Francis right behind her. As soon as they were out of earshot of the house, Francis said, "You know, your mother is right. You do look miserable. Why?"

  Iris shrugged. She wasn't certain she could put her feelings into words, and more importantly, she wasn't certain she wanted to. "No reason."

  Francis caught her arm and forced her to face him. "That's not true and we both know it. I upset you with something I said in the stable, and I have no idea what it was. I need you to tell me, because I'm not a mind reader."

  Iris sighed. "I got upset when you told me you loved me, because I knew you just said it because I did. I've wanted to hear those words from you, but I didn't want you to say them just because I did."

  Francis gaped at her in astonishment. "Do you think so little of me that you think I would lie to you about my feelings? You must not know me at all." He wasn't certain if he should be angry or hurt, but he felt a little of both. He'd never told Katherine he loved her in their seven years of marriage, because he'd never felt it. The first time he told a woman he loved her, he didn't expect her to call him a liar.

  "Well, why didn't you say you loved me before then? Why wait for me to say it?" She knew she was probably pushing him too far, but at that moment, it mattered too much to her to let it go.

  "Why? I spent seven years married to a woman who went through the motions of life. I don't think she truly cared about anything. She loved the girls, but other than that? She was like a lifeless doll." He looked up at the sky that was just now starting to darken. "It's hard to get over something like that and move on with your life. I married you because I wanted to. I never would have agreed to marry her if I'd met her first. Never. You? It was all I could think of after the second time I met you."

  Iris closed her eyes for a moment. Tracy had told her to be patient, and she'd done just the opposite. She took a step forward and laid her hand on his chest. "I'm so sorry. I never should have accused you of anything. I've never been in a relationship like that, so I can't say I understand, because I don't. I do know I was wrong. Will you forgive me?"

  Francis frowned at her for a moment before finally nodding. "Of course I forgive you. I love you. What else could I do?"

  Iris stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "I love you as well. I'm so glad I found you."

  "I found you, you mean. I went into your office. You didn't come to my ranch." He closed his arms around her, rubbing her back softly. "I'm glad you're here."

  They walked back to the house hand in hand. When Mary saw them, she smiled. "I see you worked everything out. My girl looks just as happy as she did this afternoon when I first saw her." She leaned back in her chair. "I'll be going home as soon as I can find Edna Petunia. I know you're happy."

  Iris smiled, hoping her mother found Edna quickly. She wanted time with her husband and children.

  Francis obviously was thinking along the same lines. "We'll all start searching for her in the morning."

  Epilogue

  Six months later

  Iris smiled at her sister Violet. "I wish she'd come too, but she's just too busy right now. Why don't you come to Texas and see us?"

  "Texas? You want me to travel that far on a train with an infant?" Violet patted her slightly rounded stomach. "With another on the way?"

  "Well, it's probably not the best idea in the world, but Edna Petunia isn't leaving Texas anytime soon." Iris's face lit up. "Oh, you should see her Vi. I've never seen her so happy. She's really in her element."

  "I'm so glad to hear it. Well, tell her to write me." Violet looked at something over Iris's shoulder. "Look out. Jasmine's coming!"

  Iris wasn't nearly as nervous around Jasmine as her sisters were. As the youngest daughter, she'd missed out on some of Jasmine's worst pranks. "Jasmine," she said with a smile as she turned to face her sister.

  Jasmine hugged Iris tightly. "How's my favorite youngest sister?" she asked with a smile.

  Iris patted her burgeoning belly. "Round. How are you?"

  Jasmine let out a loud laugh. "Happy to be back in Seattle. Mama's happy to finally get to have a party for one of us. I think she would have liked it better if you hadn't been pregnant for your reception, but at least she got to plan one."

  "She's made it very clear how she feels about me doing things the way I did," Iris said with a sigh. "I was sure she'd forgive me for the fast wedding if I just let her plan a big reception."

  "Oh, she forgave you as soon as you introduced her to her three new granddaughters. I swear, Mama would collect every child on the planet if she could."

  "Nathan's the only reason Mama forgave me for marrying so fast," Violet interjected. "Then the other two grandchildren helped."

  Rose and Lily saw them and headed across the huge ballroom their mother had rented out for the reception. Rose pulled Iris into an embrace. "I hate that I haven't gotten to see you yet since you arrived. Two of the children have been sick."

  "Don't worry, Rose. I've kept her busy," Lily told her. "Have you met Francis and the girls yet?"

  Rose shook her head. "Where are they?"

  Iris searched the room and then pointed in the direction of Francis who was talking to Uncle Max, Shawn, and Daniel. "Francis is in good company."

  Rose smiled. "Hopefully Shawn isn't talking his ear off about dental hygiene. I swear, if I'd known marrying a dentist would have made my life all about clean teeth I'd have—married Shawn anyway."

  The other sisters laughed. Hyacinth slipped up behind them, her youngest baby at her shoulder. "What are we talking about?" she asked, patting her son's back.

  "Oh, nothing much," Violet told her. "Where are Daisy and Amaryllis? It's almost time for us to start the dancing, but after the first few bars, I want all my sisters on the dance floor with me."

  Rose rolled her eyes. "They're off huddled in the corner as usual. Those two always go off alone. They claim it's because they need time together when they finally have it. They hate living so far apart."

  "We all do," Iris said with a frown. "But I'm glad I went to Texas. I wouldn't have met Francis otherwise."

  The orchestra started the slow strains of a waltz, and suddenly the sisters were surrounded by their men. Daisy and Amaryllis joined them. Francis, looking handsome but uncomfortable in his suit, held his hand out for Iris. "May I have this dance?"

  Iris smiled, placing her hand in his. "I can think of no one I'd rather dance through life with." They stepped onto the dance floor, and he swung her into the first dance. She'd spent months teaching him to waltz knowing her mother would insist they dance alone for at least a moment before the others joined them.

  He led her flawlessly across the dance floor, and only she knew that he was carefully counting out the steps under his breath. "One, two, three, one, two, three."

  When the others joined them, Francis visibly relaxed. "Have you met all my sisters now?" she asked.

  He frowned looking around. "Not Rose, but I met the others. I talked to Rose's husband for a few minutes though."

  "I saw you talking to Uncle Max. What did you think of him?"

  "He seems really nice. Everyone here has been wonderful, but I'm ready to get back home. I miss Texas."

  Iris nodded. "I do too, but I'm happy for a respite from the heat. Are you sure it won't get cool until the end of October?"

  "That's when you'll find it tolerable again. At least the baby will be born in the winter."

  "I'm happy about that!" she said. "A baby in the heat of the Texas summer would be unbearable."

  Francis brushed a kiss across her forehead. "I'm glad we came here for the reception, though. Your mother went all out."

  Iris looked around at the huge crowd. "I'm just glad all my sisters are here. I wasn't worried about the others."

  Francis shrugged. "As long as you're happy, I'm happy. Have I mentioned in the last five minutes that you're the most beautiful woman in the room, and I love
you beyond comprehension?"

  Iris shook her head with a laugh.

  "Well, you are. Thank you for being my wife and the mother of my children. I love you, Dr. Iris Sullivan Harvey."

  The dance stopped, and she clapped politely with the other dancers for a moment. Resting her head on his shoulder, she whispered, "I love you right back, Francis. As long as I'm beside you, life will always be perfect."

  More by Kirsten Obsourne

  Brides of Beckham Series

  Mail Order Mayhem

  Mail Order Mama

  Mail Order Madness

  Mail Order Mix Up

  Mail Order Mistake

  Mail Order Maternity

  Mail Order Match Maker

  Mail Order Motherhood

  Mail Order Meddler

  Mail Order Misfit

  Mail Order Minx

  Mail Order Misfortune

  Mail Order Melody

  Dallas Billionaires Series

  Steven

  Justin

  Cody

  Stand Alone Books

  Dream Lover

  Making Me Believe

  All For Emma

  Making Deals

  Lies

  Suitors of Seattle

  Rose

  Lily

  Amaryllis

  Daisy

  Jasmine

  Hyacinth

  Violet

  Iris

  Regencies

  Loving Lily

  Courting Constance

  The Dalton Brides

  The Rancher's Mail Order Bride

  The Cowboy's Mail Order Bride (by Kit Morgan)

  The Drifter's Mail Order Bride (by Cassie Hayes)

  Writing as Morganna Mayfair

  Thrice Blessed Trilogy

  Conquered