Perfectly Matched (The Blue Willow Brides Book #3): A Novel

by Brendan, Maggie

  Anna prayed fervently that Edward would forgive himself. Casting a sideways peek at him, she saw his lips moving. More than anything else, she wanted the Lord to bless their marriage and asked for guidance. Even after a rough start, they’d finally come to understand each other better. Wasn’t that what marriage was all about? Love? Acceptance? A helpmeet?

  “I want to go have a word with Waldo,” Edward declared to her as the service ended. “He’s just walking out to leave.” He held her elbow, hurriedly guiding her past the crowded aisle to reach the Krunks.

  “Waldo! Wait!” Edward called out, pulling Anna down the wide concrete steps and into the courtyard.

  Waldo and his wife paused, then turned around. Anna knew this would be hard for Edward, so she promised to hold her tongue.

  “Hello, Edward,” Waldo said.

  “I guess by now the sheriff told you that I forgot to set the combination and timer. I don’t suppose you’d ever forgive me, but you know that I didn’t steal the money from the safe.”

  Waldo let out a deep sigh. “Archer did tell me. I could hardly believe it. I trusted you to handle that with the utmost professionalism.”

  Edward stared down at his feet. “I’m truly sorry.”

  “It seems that my teller Calvin went back in with his key, and since the safe wasn’t locked, he took everything and is nowhere to be found. Probably left on the last train out of Union Station.”

  Anna squeezed Edward’s hand.

  “I don’t know how to make it up to you,” he said.

  Waldo shook his head. “Fact is, you can’t. I just hope the posse can catch him and I get my money returned. I’m sorry this happened too—but you no longer have a job with my bank.”

  “If you’ll just give me another chance, Waldo, I promise you the checks and balances for the safety of your vault will be given my utmost attention and detail.”

  Anna felt sorry for Edward. It pained her to hear him grovel like this.

  Leola gave her husband a pleading look. Waldo shifted his stance and looked down at his boots. “I don’t know, Edward. This is the worst thing that I’ve had to deal with in my banking years. I had to face all the people and tell them their money’s gone.” Waldo shook his head.

  “I don’t know what else to do, other than go after the man myself.”

  “Now, Edward, don’t go breaking down like a cheap watch! You’re a better man than that.” He pursed his lips, his jaw twitching. “Oh, all right! Against my better judgment, I’m going to let you try one more time—only because we’re friends. But I’ll be with you when you set that timer. Understood?”

  “Yes, yes! Of course.” Edward stuck out his hand, and after a second Waldo shook it.

  “With that responsibility, I expect you to check the timer several times a week and make sure the combination is up to snuff. Agreed?”

  “Agreed. I promise you, I won’t disappoint you again.” He pumped Waldo’s hand.

  Waldo smiled. “You can let go of my hand now, Edward.”

  Edward dropped his hand. “Pardon me, but thank you for being willing to give me another try.”

  Waldo clapped him on the back. “I’ll see you Tuesday at five o’clock then?”

  “I’ll be there—and no distractions.”

  Anna smiled her appreciation at Waldo, who smiled back, tipping his hat. Then he and Leola strolled down the sidewalk to their buggy.

  “Feel better now?” Anna turned to her husband.

  “Yes, I do. Let’s get on over to Ella’s. Wonder what’s for lunch?” His unsmiling face belied his cheerful speech.

  “I’m sure it’s something delicious. It always is.” She took his arm while walking to their carriage. Although he’d apologized for what he’d said on the ride home last night, she still had a wounded heart. And though she’d apologized for doubting his innocence, he had remained distant. Lord, give us strength, she prayed as they rode in silence to Ella’s.

  Lunch was good as usual. Edward took two helpings of fried chicken. Too bad he didn’t eat heartily like that when she cooked, Anna thought. Very little was mentioned about the bank robbery. Anna had felt the cloud of suspicion from a few of the church members who’d given them a wide berth at the service, so she was sure Edward must have been aware of it too.

  It was always enjoyable to have a leisurely Sunday dinner with Ella and Ernie, and when Ernie suggested that Edward needed to see his new hunting gun, Ella and Anna were left to talk while washing the dishes.

  “Ella, you know Edward better than I, being his sister. His ego is terribly bruised, and I don’t know what to say to help him.” She dried the dish Ella gave her and stacked it with the others.

  Ella brushed a fallen curl from her brow. “Give him some time, Anna. He’s worried about his reputation, but as soon as they catch Calvin, people will forget. Thank God Waldo is going to give him another chance.” She looked at Anna. “But it’s more than that, isn’t it?”

  Anna’s bottom lip trembled. “Yes.”

  “Come, let’s sit at the table and talk while the men are occupied.”

  Anna plopped into a chair and sighed deeply. “I think he believes that he forgot to lock the safe because of me.”

  Ella laughed heartily, but seeing Anna’s frown, she quickly stifled her laughter. “I’m sorry, but that struck me as funny.”

  “Let me explain and maybe you’ll understand.” Anna briefly told her how Edward had said he’d been more distracted with his work and other things since he’d married her. “He feels I’m to blame that he forgot to lock the safe. He told me that since he married me he’s been too distracted . . . He said some very unkind things to me.” She stared down at her hands in her lap. “I suppose it’s the truth. I am a distraction to him, but I thought we were both having fun in our relationship and making progress.”

  Ella’s curls bounced when she shook her head. “Edward has always thought he had to be perfect to earn our father’s respect. Father was hard on both of us growing up, but harder still on Edward, which in Edward’s mind meant that everything had to be perfect or it wasn’t worthy. He wasn’t able to relax and had very little fun in his life.”

  Anna was reminded of the incident with the puppy and Edward’s father, and it made her heart ache. “So why does he blame me?”

  “I suspect it has a lot to do with his own expectations of himself. Perhaps the bank robbery will turn out to be a good thing.”

  “How do you mean?” Anna raised her eyes to look at Ella, whose thoughtful expression conveyed genuine concern for her older brother.

  “He has to realize that just because things aren’t perfect in his life, that doesn’t mean they’re not worthy of consideration or value. That is one of the reasons he is so particular about his timepieces. He thinks they must be simply perfect—and for keeping time they are. But real life cannot imitate inanimate objects.”

  “Mmm . . . I can see that in him. I know I’ve been a huge disappointment to him in many ways. It’s a wonder he tolerates me at all.”

  “Let me guess. That list he gave is part of the problem?” Ella arched an eyebrow.

  Anna laughed. “How did you guess?”

  “As a boy, he wrote lists for everything. He marked items off one by one and was quite pleased when he’d accomplish a task. He simply could not move forward with a new task unless another one was completed.” She giggled. “I remember his room was always in perfect order, and he could tell you exactly how many steps it was to the schoolhouse door.” She placed her hand over Anna’s. “Anna, however peculiar his habits are, you’ve made him change some of his thinking so that he can relent a tiny bit for the first time in his life. I’d go so far as to say you’ve brought him a lot of joy in a few short weeks. I call it love. Love makes one do strange things that are sometimes totally out of character.”

  “Love?” Anna was shocked, since she hadn’t heard that word from Edward.

  “Yes, my dear, love. Hasn’t he told you?”

  Anna�
��s heart beat fast. “Well, not exactly.”

  “Do you love my brother?”

  Anna was surprised at her direct question. “I didn’t in the beginning. I had affection, yes. But I’ve known for some time that I do love him—really love him.”

  Ella smiled at her. “Then the two of you will be all right. Just give love time to blossom even more.”

  “You’ve made me feel better and helped me understand him. But what if he continues to think that I’m the problem and that this is too much change for him?”

  “I know one thing. He told me you seem willing to do most of the things he expects of you. You both have to be willing to risk small changes to accommodate each other. I don’t mean in everything, because that would change who you are, but the give-and-take every single day—that’s what marriage is about. I think Edward may be a mite jealous of all the attention you give to your animal rescue work too. Just be sure and keep him the focus of your marriage, and the rest will fall into place. That’s when he’ll want to do everything to make you feel happy. Respect him first. That’s what men want and need—respect. Everything else is icing on the cake.”

  Edward handed Ernie back his new gun. “Very nice, Ernie.”

  Ernie grinned, then placed the gun back on the wall.

  “I’m going to find him, you know,” Edward said.

  “Who?”

  “Calvin. I have to do something. It’s my fault, and I had so many cold stares today I thought an ice storm had moved into the sanctuary.”

  “I’ll go with you.” He reached for his gun again.

  “No, I have to do this, Ernie. I’ll find him, and he’ll give that money back or I’ll wring his scrawny neck!”

  Voices coming from outside alerted the women that the men were on their way back, so their private conversation would have to end. Ella gave Anna a sisterly hug—like Catharine or Greta would have done.

  Anna patted Ella’s hand. “Thank you for your wisdom. I count you as my sister,” she said.

  Ella smiled. “Me too!”

  Anna watched as Edward flipped his saddlebags across Cloud’s back and tightened the cinch under the horse’s belly, then slid his carbine into its sheath. She’d been surprised when he’d woken up early and dressed in jeans, boots, and a hat he’d borrowed from Daniel, then declared he was going to find Calvin.

  “There’s no way I can talk you out of doing this?” she asked.

  “Not a chance. I have to track down Calvin as soon as possible. He’s already got a two-day head start on me.” Edward stood with one hand on his hip and the other holding the reins.

  “But this is the sheriff’s job.”

  “That’s true, but I can’t stand by when I’m responsible for the people of this town losing everything they had in the bank.” Edward drew on his leather gloves, not meeting Anna’s eyes.

  “Where will you go first?”

  “I’m not convinced that he’s left this area. He could be lying low anywhere. I put the ‘Closed’ sign over the shop door until I return.”

  “Please be careful, Edward.” Anna touched his sleeve. Was he not going to kiss her goodbye?

  “I will. Keep the doors locked.” He threw his leg over Cloud’s back, then tipped his hat to her and gave Cloud a tap on his sides.

  So, he’s still angry with me. She lifted her hand in a wave, watching as he rode away, and said a silent prayer for his safety. She wished he’d asked Daniel to go with him.

  Edward rode out of Denver, heading toward the foothills. He had a hunch from his brief meeting with Calvin that he wasn’t a rugged outlaw. More like a man looking for a way to get rich fast if the opportunity presented itself.

  If it wasn’t for tracking Calvin, Edward would’ve enjoyed the brisk fall morning. He rode for miles, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of tracks or movement, hoping that he could pick up on something Sheriff Archer had missed.

  He felt bad that things had turned out the way they had with him and Anna, but he hadn’t felt like kissing her goodbye. He’d seen the hurt reflected in her pretty eyes, but he was hurt too. He wasn’t sure what to do about it. He hoped the good Lord would give him guidance—after all, he really loved Anna. But have you told her? he asked himself. He reckoned he hadn’t, but how could he now?

  The higher he pushed into the foothills, the colder it became. The wind rose and he buttoned up his coat. Cloud’s nostrils expelled steam as he labored up the steep incline. When they’d made it to the ridge, he reined Cloud in and scanned below the trees and thickets as far as he could see. Wasn’t Daniel’s father’s ranch nearby? If so, Edward figured he probably had a line cabin somewhere close. He could stop and let Cloud rest. He patted the dappled gray, admiring his strength. He knew that his horse was from good stock, but he didn’t want to push him too far.

  It was another mile or so before Edward spotted the line cabin in the distance, tucked beneath a thicket of spruce and aspens. Perfect timing. He needed to dismount and stretch his legs. As he drew closer, he spied sudden movement at the cabin door. He squinted and made out a man’s figure, so he slowed his mount behind a stand of trees to watch without being seen. He’d figured on the cabin being empty. Could this be who he was looking for?

  The man turned and looked around, scanning the landscape. It was Calvin! What a stroke of luck. But why in the world would he have stopped here? And how had the sheriff missed him? Edward didn’t have to consider the thought for very long. The man strode over to a small pile of firewood and hoisted a few logs onto one arm just as a young and very pregnant woman walked out of the front door and said something to him. She went back inside, leaving the door open.

  Edward slid off the horse’s back, looped the reins around a branch, and lifted his carbine. He didn’t intend to use it, but it would make a statement if need be.

  Calvin started back to the house, and Edward called out, “Calvin!” as he moved from the shelter of the trees.

  Calvin dropped the wood, sprinted to the house, and slammed the door. The next thing Edward saw was the barrel of a gun poking out the front window. “Who are you and what do you want?” Calvin yelled.

  “You remember me—Edward from the bank. Why don’t you come on out peacefully and let’s talk about that money you stole!”

  “I didn’t take any money! Who do you think you are—the sheriff?”

  Edward took a couple of steps into the clearing.

  “You’d better leave now!” Calvin fired a shot at the ground in front of Edward, but Edward stood his ground.

  “I’m just a common citizen who wants to see that the people of Denver get their savings back. Let’s talk about it, Calvin, like adults.”

  “I’m leaving Colorado for good! I worked hard all my life and never got anywhere. Then Waldo hired Leonard over me, after I gave five dedicated years without a raise, ’cause he was Waldo’s nephew. I don’t need them!”

  Edward heard loud arguing, and suddenly the young woman burst through the door and ran down the steps. She stood wringing her hands in her dirty apron.

  “Please, don’t hurt Calvin, mister!” she cried. “He really is a good man.”

  “Jenny! What are you doing? Get back in here!” Calvin now stood at the door.

  Jenny turned to her husband. “Calvin, I can’t do this. We can’t do this—running from the law. Please give yourself up!” She was sobbing now, holding a supportive arm under her belly.

  “Not a chance! Get back inside, woman.”

  “Calvin, she’s right. You can’t keep running, and it looks like you have a baby on the way. Is this the way you want to start off raising your child? Teaching him or her to be dishonest?” Edward kept perfectly still, his hand still on his gun, not sure what to expect from a man he knew little about. He glanced at the young woman who stood between him and Calvin.

  “He’s right, Calvin,” Jenny said. “Please come to your senses.”

  “Calvin, I had five hundred dollars of my own savings in the bank vault too. If you h
and the money over to me right now, I’ll see that it’s returned to the bank, but I’ll give you my five hundred dollars to start a new life with your missus and child. I’ll even give you a day’s head start. But that’s all I’ll promise. A second chance—no strings attached. What do you say?”

  “Say yes, Calvin, please—” The woman gripped her abdomen and expelled a loud moan, one arm flailing out into the air. “The baby—”

  “Jenny!” Calvin tore down the steps to reach his wife. He grabbed her about the waist and supported her to keep her from falling to the ground. “Honey, is the baby coming?”

  Edward scurried over to help, and when Calvin didn’t object, they helped Jenny inside the cabin and eased her onto a lumpy cot.

  “Jenny, are you all right?” Calvin patted her hand. Edward took a step back.

  “I’m okay. It could be false labor, the baby’s not due for a couple more weeks.” She took his hand. “Just give him the money. I never wanted any part of this,” she pleaded. “For me . . . for the baby and us.”

  Calvin’s shoulders slumped over, and he sighed deeply, stroking her brow before whispering, “For you.” She squeezed his hand, then closed her eyes. Edward wasn’t sure whether she was sleeping or only resting as Calvin pulled a thin blanket over her.

  Calvin motioned for Edward to follow him to the other side of the room. He reached behind the wood stacked by the fireplace, dragged out two saddlebags stuffed with the stolen money, and handed them to Edward. “I reckon it’s time to settle up.”

  Edward thought of Anna and how he hadn’t kissed her goodbye. “Yes. And it’s time I settle up too.”

  35

  It was well after supper time when Edward arrived home. Anna was relieved to see him and rushed out to meet him.

  “Edward, I’m so glad you’re back. I’ve been so worried.” Which was true. Anna could hardly concentrate all day, but she’d managed to bake pork chops and whip up a batch of biscuits. Supper that she couldn’t eat because of the lump in her throat.