by Kit Morgan
Her aunt looked from one face to the other. “He can’t have any of it unless he pays cash!”
Mr. Van Cleet laughed. “There’ll be no problem there! Now, I must be on my way. I’ll see all of you fine ladies at the picnic!” He then left.
“Picnic? What picnic?” Aunt Irene huffed.
“The men Mr. Van Cleet brought with him are finishing the church this week. We’re celebrating with a picnic down at the creek on our ranch.” Sadie told her.
“Riff raff! The whole lot of them!”
“I was hoping you’d help me plan some entertainment.”
“Entertainment? Young lady, the only entertainment any of those men are interested in is the kind that comes from a bottle.”
“They were quite excited when Mr. Van Cleet told them. And it’s the least we can do to welcome them to town and thank them for finishing the church.”
“That’s the Van Cleet’s business, not ours!”
“Auntie. It’s the new church. And as Sadie said, some of these men might want to settle here after their work on the hotel is done.”
“I don’t care. I’ll have nothing to do with any picnic. And neither will you!”
Belle stiffened. “I want to help.”
Her aunt spun on her. “The only help you’ll give will be right here in my store. Do you hear me?”
“Mrs. Dunnigan, Belle should be allowed to...”
“She’ll do as I say! Mind your own business and get out of here!”
Sadie stood straight, her jaw set. “No. I’ve come in here on business and I intend to finish it.” She turned to Belle. “I think we should start right away.”
Belle looked from one face to the other. It was now or never. “I agree. Saturday is only a few days away. I can help you after my work here is finished.”
“I’ll have Harrison or Colin bring me back into town. We can meet with Mrs. Mulligan and go over the details.”
“What details?” Aunt Irene snapped. “What are you talking about?”
“We need to plan for the picnic. If you do not wish to participate that is your choice.” Sadie stated calmly.
“Well I don’t wish it! And I won’t. And neither will Belle!”
Belle took a deep breath. “Auntie, I am going to help with the planning. There is no work to be done after we close the mercantile. It’s not going to hurt to go down the street and meet with Sadie and Mrs. Mulligan for an hour.”
Aunt Irene’s face turned red as her eyes narrowed. “You step outside that door tonight and I’ll not let you back in.”
Belle couldn’t believe her ears. “What?”
Sadie stood next to her, equally in shock. Her mouth opened and closed but nothing came out.
“You heard me. You step outside that door tonight and you’ll never set foot back inside this house again.”
“Auntie, you are being ridiculous.”
“Am I? You think I don’t have eyes? You two have probably concocted this whole thing just so you can see that disgusting man!”
“What?” Both girls said at once.
“I saw you down the street. Thought at first my eyes were playing tricks on me, but no. I saw it plain as day!”
“Saw what?” Belle asked, totally exasperated at this point.
“I saw you throw yourself at that Cooke boy! In public no less! Why you’re nothing more than a...”
Belle closed her eyes a moment. The kiss. Aunt Irene must have seen it. But so what if she let Colin kiss her? No one else seemed to mind. After all, this wasn’t Boston, but Clear Creek. And out here, she was learning things were quite different. She took a calming breath. “Like a what? What do you think I’m like, auntie?”
Sadie took Belle’s hand and pulled her away from her aunt a foot or two. Belle let her. At this point she didn’t wonder if Aunt Irene might try to slap her.
“Like a shameless whore.” Aunt Irene said in a low tone.
Belle knew what her aunt was going to say, but gasped all the same as the stabbing words hit their mark. She turned to Sadie. “I’ll see you tonight. You’d better go. And if you see my uncle, tell him to come back to the mercantile, will you?”
Sadie’s eyes softened. She knew now as well as Belle that Aunt Irene was completely unreasonable. Perhaps Uncle Wilfred would be able to talk some sense into her. “I’ll do that. And I’ll see you tonight.” She then left.
After the door closed, everything went incredibly still. There wasn’t a sound. Only the slight rasp of aunt Irene’s breathing. Belle fought to get her emotions under control. Never had she been so angry. Her aunt’s words were hurtful and she would not have her life so controlled by the woman. But she also had to figure out what was wrong. Was Aunt Irene losing her mental faculties? Or did she really hate the world and everyone in it that much?
Tears fought for release, but Belle managed to hold them back. She watched as her aunt turned from her without a word, and went back upstairs. Oh Lord ... please ... show me what to do.
She had to know what was wrong and how to handle this. And Belle had to admit, it was easier to think her aunt was slowly going insane, rather than believe she could hate the world so very, very, much.
* * *
“It’s not your fault, Colin,” Sadie began as he drove them back to the ranch. “Mrs. Dunnigan would complain if she saw you so much as look at Belle, let alone kiss her.”
“I should never have taken the liberty. It was wrong of me.”
Sadie sighed in frustration. Colin had been angry ever since he watched Mrs. Dunnigan drag Belle back to the mercantile. After Sadie explained what happened while she was there, he’d gone deathly silent. Until now.
“Belle obviously didn’t mind.”
“Had you seen us would you have stopped it with another rock?”
Sadie had to laugh at that. “Colin, I don’t think a rock would have kept you from kissing her this time. I’ve seen the two of you together and I can honestly say, I believe Belle allowed it without any reservation.”
A slight smile curved his mouth. “Really? Well, she didn’t slap me, so I suppose that’s a good sign.”
“Trust me, it’s a very good sign. You’re going to court her now, of course.”
Colin smiled. “Of course. Though I suppose driving you to town can’t be used as an excuse anymore to see her.”
“You’ll have the excuse again. Belle and I need to meet with Mrs. Mulligan tonight.”
“You mean after all that was said, Belle is still going to meet with you and the other women?”
“Only Mrs. Mulligan, myself, and maybe Grandma. But Mrs. Dunnigan should be better. Mr. Dunnigan will have had a chance to calm her down.”
Colin shook his head. “I’ll definitely drive you, right after supper. The mercantile will be closed by then. I hope Wilfred can do it. Poor Mrs. Dunnigan is getting worse every day.”
“I know. Best we step up our prayers for her.”
“Going to be busy at the new church with all those prayers for that woman!”
Sadie laughed. “I would think you’d be praying harder than anyone else. If my guess is right, you’re going to be related.”
“Why does courting a girl have to lead to marriage? She may refuse me.”
“I doubt that. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”
Colin’s jaw tightened as he tried not to smile too much. The thought of marrying Belle settled into the pit of his stomach and warmed his entire being. Good Lord, had he already fallen in love?
Sadie caught his look and pressed her lips together to hold back the giggles threatening to erupt. It didn’t work. Once she got started Colin began to laugh so hard he nearly fell out of his seat.
Sadie calmed down first. “Why don’t you woo her with some of your poetry?”
“My poetry? Hmmm, that’s not a bad idea.”
They looked at each other, and unable to help themselves, laughed again. But both knew wooing and winning Belle would be easy. Wooing Mrs. Dunnigan into giving t
hem her blessing would be another matter.
There was indeed going to be a lot of prayer going on.
Eleven
That evening Belle left the mercantile tense and relieved at the same time. Relieved Uncle Wilfred had managed to talk her aunt into letting her attend the planning meeting for the town picnic. Tense because he’d invited the new preacher who arrived with the Van Cleet’s wagon train to supper. Having the new preacher meet Aunt Irene after she’d been so riled up was a risk, but Belle and her uncle soon found it a good idea. After all, how much ‘sin’ could the new preacher harbor for Aunt Irene to complain about? At long last, there was someone in town she approved of.
He was a pleasant enough fellow, Belle thought. But didn’t really seem the preacher sort. He was tall and muscular like Colin, and built as if he’d known hard work. His hair was longer than she thought a preacher’s ought to be, his dark waves beyond collar length which explained why he had to tie it back. It probably blew all over the place in a good wind. His grey eyes, though gentle, held a steeliness to them that spoke of a hard life. Naturally Belle wanted to know what sort of life he had before coming to Oregon territory, as did her uncle. But when Uncle Wilfred asked him what he’d done before becoming a preacher, the man’s answers were vague. “A bit of this and a little of that,” did not constitute specifics in her book and so she began to wonder about Mr. Josiah King from Colorado.
“May I escort you to the meeting, M’lady?”
“Oh!” Belle exclaimed. Colin had come out of nowhere. He stood smiling down at her as he offered her his arm.
She took a deep breath. “You scared me half to death.”
“I do apologize. You did seem to be doing some rather heavy wool gathering when I walked up behind you.”
“I suppose so, I didn’t at all hear you coming.” She said as she took his arm.
“As you are out here in the street, rather than in your parlor, I assume your uncle worked his magic on your dear Aunt Irene?”
“My aunt and uncle are entertaining a guest.”
“Do tell? I must admit I’m surprised she let you leave at all.”
“Aunt Irene wanted to speak with the new preacher and gave me permission to go to the meeting. She thought I’d find their talk of Colorado boring.”
Colin’s brow furrowed. “The preacher is here already? Hmmm, still seems odd to me she let you go. Too easy, but I’m not one to argue. Shall we?”
Belle nodded. Colin escorted her down the street to Mulligans'. They went around the back instead of through the front doors. Customers would be coming into the saloon at this point in the evening and Colin didn’t want to parade Belle or Sadie past them to the Mulligan’s private quarters. He’d already delivered Sadie, now it was Belle’s turn.
They entered the saloon and headed up a set of back stairs. There was a small landing at the top and a single door. Colin knocked and after a moment, Grandma Waller answered. “Land sakes, Colin! It took you long enough! Did you get lost along the way?” Grandma took Belle’s arm from him and pulled her inside. “Now mind yourself while we ladies take care of this picnic business!” And with that she shut the door in Colin’s face.
He sighed in contentment as the lingering warmth of Belle’s arm so recently held in his sent a tingle up his spine. Colin smiled, then began to whistle as he made his descent down the stairs. It was going to be incredibly fun courting Belle Dunnigan.
* * *
The day of the picnic dawned clear and bright. As did Aunt Irene, who actually hummed as she helped Belle prepare and bake several pies. She not only gave Belle permission to go, but was planning on going herself with Uncle Wilfred. Belle didn’t understand the sudden change in her aunt, but like Colin a few nights before, she wasn’t going to argue either. Maybe all the prayers said for her the good Lord saw fit to take care of right away. Thank you, Father! Heal her heart; yes continue to heal her heart! It’s working! But all things in Your time. I know this is only the beginning. Please give me the patience I need to see this through.
Belle took another pie from her aunt. “I’ll set these by the window. They should be nice and cool by the time we leave.”
“Yes, and your uncle and I have the prizes all ready.”
“Prizes, auntie?”
“Why yes, we’re donating a few things as prizes for your games. You didn’t think a few pies would be enough to give away, did you?”
Belle tried to keep her mouth from flopping open in shock. Heavens, Lord! You really did work fast!
“I had no idea. That was very kind of you, auntie.” Aunt Irene smiled. Belle hadn’t seen a full smile out of her since the day she arrived in Clear Creek. “It’s the least we can do. Now you and I have some chores to finish before it’s time to go. And you’ll need to change of course. I think you should wear your blue dress.”
Belle watched her aunt’s face. Her grin looked as if someone had painted it on. In fact, the look was so foreign Belle blinked to clear her vision. Was she seeing things? And why on Earth was Aunt Irene so ... well ... happy? Something wasn’t right. “I’m sure we’ll have time to change. The men won’t be finished with the church for another few hours at least.”
“Your uncle and I will head to the picnic area with Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Mulligan to set up. You can get yourself ready and come out later.”
“But auntie, it’s several miles to the Cooke’s property. You don’t expect me to walk do you?”
“Of course not. Mr. King will escort you.”
“The new preacher?”
“Of course.”
Oh dear ... Belle suddenly felt like the sacrificial lamb about to be taken to slaughter. No, it couldn’t be...
“And I’m sure the two of you will have plenty of time to get acquainted on the drive out.”
Good Lord, it was! Aunt Irene was playing matchmaker with the new preacher! Heavens! Did he know?
Belle stared at her aunt, dumbfounded. How on Earth did this happen? Several days ago her Aunt Irene called her a whore for letting Colin Cooke kiss her. Today she was having the new preacher drive her to the picnic without a chaperone! What next? Nuptials under His Majesty? For Heaven’s sake, did Aunt Irene expect the preacher to marry himself to her that very day?
Belle turned away from her aunt so she couldn’t see her shocked expression. Of course the thought of getting married to the new preacher that same day was ridiculous, but this was a pickle all the same. Colin would be at the picnic and she didn’t want to have to handle two men! But knowing Aunt Irene, Mr. King probably had no idea what was going on. Yet. Oh that poor man...
Belle closed her eyes and sighed. If her guess was right, this was going to be some picnic.
* * *
Several hours later Belle found herself in a buckboard wagon sitting next to Josiah King. He seemed rather surprised to find that neither her aunt nor uncle were with her and was obviously under the impression they’d all be going to the picnic together. Belle gritted her teeth in aggravation when he told her so, and was still gritting them when they began to drive out of town.
To see Colin, Duncan, and Henry Fig speaking with Sheriff Hughes as they neared the Sheriff’s office sent her teeth to grinding. The whole town was going to the picnic, which meant Clear Creek itself would be empty. The Sheriff had asked some of the men to stay behind to keep an eye on things while the rest of the townsfolk celebrated at the Cooke’s place. She had no idea Colin had volunteered, or more likely had been volunteered. And Belle could bet she knew who did the volunteering.
“Fine day for a picnic.” Mr. King called out to the Sheriff and gave him a friendly wave.
“Wonderful day! You folks have a good time, and welcome to Clear Creek! Be nice to have our own preacher!” The Sheriff called back.
Mr. King smiled and re-settled himself on the seat which brought him a few inches closer to Belle. She didn’t think he did it on purpose, but the shocked look on Colin’s face told her he figured he had. Mr. King must have also caugh
t his look and raised a curious brow in reaction.
Belle turned on the seat as they passed and sent Colin a weak wave. After all, what was she supposed to do? Belle had to admit, Aunt Irene couldn’t have planned it any better. She managed to work it so the new preacher drove her out to the picnic while the two single Cooke men had to stand guard duty.
But at least Colin and his brother would be relieved at some point. They couldn’t patrol the town the entire time. The picnic was being held on their ranch for Heaven’s sake! And besides, no one would expect Harrison and Sadie to take care of everything! She’d just have to explain to Colin about Aunt Irene’s matchmaking plot. She knew her aunt’s earlier behavior was too good to be true. Belle shook her head and sighed. Oh auntie ... I know you mean well...
“Such beautiful country. I should have thought to come west sooner.”
Mr. King’s voice pulled Belle out of her lamenting. She should stop feeling sorry for herself and focus on being cordial to the new preacher. “Yes it is. I didn’t think I would like it at first. It’s so much different than living in a big city. But I think I’m beginning to fall in love with it.”
He smiled. “Yes, I can see that.” He cleared his throat, and then asked, “Weren’t two of the men speaking with the Sheriff our hosts?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Are they taking the first watch?”
“Apparently.”
He chuckled. A deep rolling sound. Belle found it rather soothing. “Seems odd for the hosts of the picnic to stay behind in town to perform guard duty, don’t you think?”
“Yes, Mr. King. I do.”
“Your aunt is an interesting woman, Miss Dunnigan.”
“You don’t have to tell me, Mr. King.”
“I think I’ve been hoodwinked.”
“As have I, Mr. King.”
He stopped the wagon. Looked at her, and laughed. “Your aunt asked me some interesting questions the other night at supper. And informed me you’d make a fine wife.”
Belle jumped in the seat. “She, what?”
“I think I left something at the church. You don’t mind if we turn around and go back do you?”