But that would also mean leaving her friends, including her best friend, Cora. But that friendship would suffer because Cora’s alliance should be to her sister-in-law.
Where would Lorna go? A town nearby, so she was still close to friends? She could move anywhere but she was with child and it would be hard to find someone to hire her in her condition.
She hated to ask, but Cora’s grandfather’s fund could help her relocate. Cora had offered it to help her before.
Pastor Reagan announced the next hymn to sing, and Lyle automatically placed his hand under her elbow to help her up. They still sat together in church, because of Cora, but she was going to have to cut the ties so Lyle was free to love a wife, because she wasn’t free to be his spouse.
***
Lyle liked Ruby, but the spark wasn’t there as it was with Lorna. But he needed a wife, so he had continued to get to know Ruby better. They’d taken a few buggy rides the past three Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and found enough topics to keep a congenial conversation going. Lyle had joined Ruby at her grandparents’ home for meals and enjoyed time spent with the three.
Lyle hadn’t confessed his love for Lorna or the marriage deadline to Ruby, hoping by some miracle Lorna’s husband would show up, dead, or alive and agree to divorce Lorna.
But Clara’s arm had healed, so Ruby could go home to Kansas City at any time, meaning Lyle needed to make a decision. Her parents owned a mercantile, so Ruby had been able to take time off to visit her grandparents. If Lyle was going to ask for her hand in marriage, he needed to do so before she left Clear Creek.
So, now that their supper was done and Ruby and Clara had finished cleaning up, he needed to propose to Ruby. He felt sad and resigned, instead of happy in love. But, Ruby was a nice person, and they could have a good life together, if he could forget Lorna.
“Ruby, how about we take a stroll before the evening light disappears?” Lyle asked as the women returned to the parlor.
“It’s pretty cold out there,” Homer said from his chair by the fireplace. Homer complained often enough that the cold bothered his joints.
“Well, it’s not too cold for these young folks. Enjoy your walk while we enjoy the fire,” Clara waved them out of the room, probably hoping for what Lyle was about to do. He was sure the older couple would love for their granddaughter to live in town permanently.
“May I help you with your shawl?” Lyle politely asked.
“Thank you,” Ruby politely replied.
Politeness, not passion. That was what was missing from their relationship. Could he really settle for the first and not the latter?
Ruby tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, and he felt no spark from her touch. He sighed, realizing he felt more emotion when petting Lorna’s cat than touching Ruby. Lyle hadn’t even attempted to kiss Ruby yet.
“Let’s walk down to Main Street where we can sit on a bench and talk,” Lyle suggested when they stepped off the porch.
“I’ve never seen your home, Lyle,” Ruby hinted.
“No. It wouldn’t be proper for you to be there with me,” he said sharply, wishing he could have tempered his words, after saying them though. Lyle still thought of the hours Lorna had spent in his home and he couldn’t fathom another woman in her place. He’d have to adjust his mind, or move, if Ruby said yes to his proposal.
“But I know you have entertained Lorna Jantz there,” Ruby softly replied.
“And she’s married, so there’s a difference.”
They continued silently walking the three blocks to the downtown area. Ruby slowed and let go of his arm to sit on the bench in front of the hotel. All was quiet on the street as it was a cool evening. Another half hour and it would be dark except for the lamps in the hotel, saloon, and various homes above the businesses.
Lyle looked across the street to the café, automatically looking up to where Lorna lived. He couldn’t see any light coming from her room since it didn’t have a window on the front of the building, but he knew how the light shone from the back alley, always pulling him toward her.
He looked over to Ruby and realized she had been watching him. Did she know what he was thinking?
Time to get this over with. Without saying a word, he pulled a diamond solitaire ring from his coat pocket and moved to kneel in front of Ruby. He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away.
“No, Lyle. Please get up off the boardwalk and sit by me so we can talk.”
Lyle let out a lung full of air and sat down next to Ruby.
“I was going to ask you to marry me,” Lyle said, but couldn’t bring himself to look at Ruby.
“I realized that, but my answer would have been no.”
He was stunned by her answer before he had a chance to ask her. “Why not? Why wouldn’t you marry me? I could offer you financial security, a nice home...” He searched her face for answers, but he knew why.
“Because you couldn’t give me love.”
“I...think it would come in time. We get along well...”
Lyle threw his arms up in frustration. He needed to get married! His time courting her had been wasted time then, which had also hurt Lorna.
“I’m going back to Kansas City tomorrow, Lyle. My grandmother is getting along fine, plus the neighbors will look in on them.”
“Is there no hope for us to marry?” Lyle had to ask one more time.
“We’re not suited for each other. If we wanted to marry each other, you’d be smiling with nervous happiness when you got down on one knee, and I’d be grinning with anticipation, knowing what it meant.”
“You’re right.”
“So why did you ask me to marry you, when you clearly love Lorna Jantz?”
He supposed the whole town knew of his love for Lorna, but he owed Ruby an explanation.
“Yes, I love Lorna with all my heart...but she’s married. And I have to be married by my birth date, next month, to inherit my share of my grandfather’s estate.”
“You’d take money over love?”
“It’s not that simple. There are stipulations...” and Lyle went on to explain to Ruby what they were.
“You’re a lawyer, Lyle. Can’t you find a way around the requirements?”
“Believe me, I’ve tried. But a better lawyer than me made grandfather’s Will iron clad.”
“Then you need to change Lorna’s situation,” Ruby challenged him. She rose from the bench and motioned down the street. “Please walk me back to my grandparents’ house, and then have a talk with Lorna. I know you’ve missed her.”
***
“Lorna, please let me in.” Lyle had knocked at her door on and off for five minutes. He could see her shadow sitting in her chair through the thin curtain covering her window.
When he first knocked, she drew back a corner of the curtain and peeked out, so she knew he was on her landing. He tried the door but she’d locked it.
“If you don’t let me in, I’m either going to kick in the door, or break the window!” Lyle threatened. He saw her get out of her chair and walk over to the door.
“Lyle, please go away.” Her muffled voice against the door sounded so sad.
He leaned against the door, talking to the doorframe. “Ruby turned me down.”
“Then you’d better ask the schoolteacher then. Maeve will accept your proposal.”
“No, I won’t ask her because… I love you, Lorna.”
Lyle waited for an answer but it didn’t come through the door. Did she hear him? He noticed her table lamp dim, then the room was pitch dark. He sagged against the door, feeling defeat. Losing her would feel much worse than losing his grandfather’s money.
He heard the doorknob turn when he was halfway down the stairs, and turned around to look up. Lorna stood in the open doorway, the moonlight shining on her white nightgown and tear-stained face.
“Lyle, do you really mean that?” Her question was a desperate plea of hope.
He raced back up the stairs, but stopped one step
below the landing so he was level with Lorna’s face. “Yes, I love you. Any chance you feel the same way about me?” Lyle wanted to gather Lorna in his arms to show his love, but he needed to let her declare her feelings without any pressure from him.
“Yes, I…”
“Okay, then I’m going to declare your husband dead and push it through the court. If I have to, I’ll dig a grave in the cemetery, throw a sack of potatoes in it and declare on a stack of Bibles it’s Maynard’s body. We love each other and we’re not going to be apart any longer. I’m going to marry you by my birth date.”
Lyle stepped up the last step and pulled Lorna into his arms. He started with a tender kiss on Lorna’s lips, but it grew into passion as they shared their declared love. He finally broke the kiss and moved his head so he could see Lorna’s face in the moonlight.
“I’m sorry for not asking you properly.” Lyle kneeled on one knee for the second time tonight and pulled the diamond ring from his pocket again. He took her hand with his right while showing her the ring in the moonlight, “Lorna, will you marry me?”
“Lyle…no. I…can’t accept if it means you’d have to break the law so we could marry. You’d lose your license to practice...”
“But…I’ll figure a way around the law,” Lyle argued, stunned at her answer.
“I can’t ruin the life you’ve worked so hard to establish here, Lyle.”
“Then we’ll move elsewhere.”
“No, Lyle. Living elsewhere won’t solve you breaking the law here first. I love you so much…but I have to say, no… I can’t marry you.”
Lorna stepped back into her room and softly shut the door while he still knelt on the landing. Lyle sighed, and turned so that he sat on the top step. He looked up at the sky, searching for a star he could wish upon to make their dreams come true. So far, there hadn’t been any other way to make it happen.
Chapter 9
November 1st
The man’s laugh, coming from the far back table, made Lorna pause. She set the plate down in front of a customer before chancing a glance in the direction from which it had come. His back was to her, but his brown hair, curling at his shirt collar made her think of…surely not, but nonetheless she moved back to the kitchen to pick up the water pitcher. She’d walk around the room, refilling water glasses while checking the man out.
He sat with a woman, a little older than herself. Definitely travelers, not a local, as she knew about everyone in town now.
The man murmured something across the table and the woman blushed and coyly smiled back. Then the man tilted his head while flirting, and Lorna saw a scar behind his ear, disappearing under his collar. It was Maynard, she was sure if it!
Lyle sat at his usual table waiting for his food. Luckily, he sat alone today so Lorna approached him, pretending to check his water glass. They had only talked briefly the last six weeks, keeping their contact formal around town, and not visiting each other’s home anymore.
“He’s here, back table with the woman in the blue outfit,” Lorna said quietly, while adding only an inch of water to his glass.
“Who?” Lyle looked around as Lorna stepped out of his line a vision for a moment before blocking his view again.
“Maynard,” she whispered, “my husband…”
Lyle looked shocked at Lorna’s quiet announcement, before craning his neck to try to see around her.
“Are you sure? It’s been months since you saw him.”
“Besides the scar behind his ear I recognize, he’s wearing my wedding present to him…gold cuff links with his initials on them. Last time I saw him he was clean-shaven instead of sporting a small mustache, but I’m positive it is Maynard.”
“So who is he sitting with?” Lyle whispered back.
“Don’t know but I’m about to find out.”
Lyle pushed out of his chair, but Lorna laid a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
“I’ll tell Dan what’s going on and send someone for the marshal. Maynard’s not going to slip away this time. Be ready to take on my case against this man.” Lorna straightened to carry the pitcher back to the counter by the kitchen door.
Lorna quickly spoke to Dan, who sent Daisy out the back door to find the marshal. Lorna delivered plates to the tables, always keeping her back to Maynard to avoid his catching a glance at her.
She could tell he was getting restless to place their order with her, but Lorna waited until she saw Marshal Wilerson walk in the front door and sit down at the table with Lyle. Now, with her friends in place, she could approach her missing husband.
Lorna slipped the notepad and pencil from her apron pocket and stood at Maynard’s table.
“Our specials today are fried chicken or beef stew. Both come with mashed potatoes and biscuits.”
Maynard hadn’t even looked up at her while she stated the choices, just kept his stretched hands across the small table holding the woman’s hands.
Lorna cleared her voice and turned to the woman. “Ma’am, did you prefer the chicken or the stew?”
The woman smiled up at Lorna. “I’ll have the chicken, please. We were married this morning, so I hope you have cake for dessert, too.”
“Well, congratulations! You’re in luck as we have both angel food cake and sunshine cake available.”
Lorna turned her attention to Maynard, who sat looking at Lorna with a puzzled look on his face. She carried on, waiting for him to figure out their connection.
“And for you, sir? The chicken or the stew?”
“Uh…” Maynard quickly drew his hands from the woman’s and had them on the table, like he was ready to push away and bolt.
“Which meal do you prefer to celebrate your latest wedding?” Lorna stood there expectantly; ready to write down his choice on her notepad. She smiled wide when Maynard’s eyes grew wide and his face turned pale.
“I remember you had roast beef after our wedding ceremony, and I had chicken.”
Yes, now he knew who she was, and he was caught.
“Maurice, do you know this woman?” Lorna felt sorry for the confused bride, but better to get her out of the situation now, rather than later.
“Ma’am, I believe you’re confusing me with someone else.” His pale face told Lorna he knew otherwise, especially when his eyes traveled down to her belly and stayed there an extra second.
Now her husband glanced around the room, like he was trying to gauge how many steps it would take to get out the front door. The marshal coughed loudly and turned in his chair so the star pinned on his vest was visible to Lorna, and the couple at the table.
Maynard viewed the situation and turned back to his bride. “Helen, I….”
“How did you meet your groom?” Lorna butted in, not letting him talk. “It’s always fun to hear how newlyweds meet.”
Helen looked back and forth between the two in confusion.
“Are you by chance a mail-order bride? A lot of western ranchers look for brides back East since there is a shortage of women on the frontier,” Lorna continued talking over Maynard’s sputtering.
“Um, yes, I did answer an advertisement,” Helen answered, but watched Maynard now staring at Marshal Wilerson, who was blatantly watching and listening to their table’s conversation.
“Well, so did I! Nice to meet you, Helen. I’m Mrs. Lorna Jantz, and from Boston originally. What church did you have your ceremony at?”
Lorna shifted to stand behind Maynard’s chair as she ignored him and continued her conversation. He couldn’t push his chair back now without knocking her down.
“Um, at the Methodist Church in Ellsworth. Are you familiar with it?” Helen asked. Lorna took a liking to Helen, and would help her once her world crashed.
“I’ve been by it. My husband and I were married in the Episcopal Church in that town.”
“I’m not feeling well, so we need to leave, Helen.” He shoved his chair back so Lorna had to move so the chair back didn’t hit her in her enlarged midriff.
“I’m sorry you can’t stay and enjoy your meal, Maynard. However, instead of fleeing to who knows where, I suggest you go with Marshal Wilerson and my attorney Lyle Elison over to the jailhouse. I believe we need to discuss the matter of my missing money, and other things,” Lorna said while patting her extended belly.
The bride looked confused watching Lorna touch her middle, and spoke up. “What are you talking about, Mrs. Jantz? What does my husband have to do with your money?” Lorna was glad to see the woman had a backbone. She’d need it to get through the mess Maynard had caused both of them.
Lorna addressed the other woman as the marshal and Lyle walked up to block Maynard’s escape.
“Your or my husband, Maynard Jantz, and I were married several months ago, but then he disappeared the next day…along with my inheritance money. This is the first I’ve seen him since then.”
“Maynard?” Helen’s voice quivered, “Uh, no. I’m sorry, but his name is Maurice Jensen. You have the wrong man.”
“Let’s go over to my office to sort this out, then,” Marshal Wilerson said diplomatically while pointing toward the door with his left hand, while placing his right on his hip above his revolver.
Lyle placed his hand on Lorna’s arm to get her attention and softly spoke in her ear. “Go up to your room to get anything which will prove any connection to Jantz, then meet us over at the marshal’s office. I’ll let Dan know what’s going on.”
Lorna turned back to watch Marshal Wilerson guide Maynard out the door before going upstairs. Hopefully he wouldn’t slip away again before she made it to the jailhouse.
“First, welcome to Clear Creek. I hope your stay is pleasant,” Marshal Wilerson acted as if it was normal to invite all visitors to see the interior of the town’s jailhouse. “Please sit down.” The marshal waved at the two wooden chairs sitting in front of his desk.
“I wouldn’t call being dragged to the jail as welcoming, especially on my wedding day,” Maynard huffed out, not realizing until he’d said his statement that Lorna had slipped into the room.
Lorna Loves a Lawyer: A Historical Western Romance (Brides with Grit Book 9) Page 9