Alexander returned to Clementine’s company. She was sitting under the tree and fanning herself with a big leaf. With a quick glance, he discovered Pauline was playing with other children nearby, so he sat down.
“You did that on purpose,” Clementine broke the silence.
“Did what?” He pretended not to understand her meaning.
“The winning shot. You missed it on purpose so Martin could win. It’s his wedding day, after all,” she guessed.
“What? That is an outrageous notion. I fought like a true cowboy until the very end,” he defended. Unfortunately, there was a small chance he went overboard with his acting.
By the way she smiled at him, it was apparent she did not believe a word that came out of his mouth. “You are a good man, Alexander Carson.”
His heart swelled hearing her say that, and he certainly hoped so. Alexander wanted to be a good man for her. Should I tell her that? His heart started beating even faster, louder.
“Clementine?”
“Yes?”
‘I love you’ was a simple enough sentence, nevertheless, his throat felt dry all of a sudden and it was too hot outside. “I...”
“Auntie, Auntie,” Pauline came rushing to their side. She looked frightened which instantly put Alexander on high alert. Satisfied she appeared unharmed he started looking for potential threats as Clementine spoke with her. “What is the matter, my dear?”
“Benjamin got bitten by the snake! Is he going to die?”
“What?” They both said at the same time.
“The boys found one in the bushes, there,” she pointed with her finger. “I told them not to play with it, but they didn’t listen to me.”
Alexander and Clementine looked at one another and jumped back up on their feet. The three of them rushed to the boy’s aid. True enough the boy had two puncture wounds on his arm. He was crying into her mother’s arms. That alerted a few other guests.
“Call doctor Jensen, he is among the guests someplace,” he heard someone say.
Alexander was more intent on finding the darn snake. He needed to know what kind it was. That boy’s life could very well depend on it.
“Take Pauline inside,” he advised Clementine. He did not want Pauline anywhere near here if there was a potentially dangerous snake on the prowl.
“I want to go home,” Pauline said in a small voice.
“We will, as soon as we know Benjamin is all right.”
As the boy’s parents tried to soothe him, all were waiting for the doctor, except for Alexander. Where are you?
The doctor came and started to inspect the wound immediately. He started barking orders in that authoritative way only doctors and generals could master.
Alexander spotted the serpent at last. It was still in the bushes Pauline directed him to and pretty upset by all the commotion. The boys really managed to provoke her good since she bit one. Alexander did a fair share of stupid things while growing up, he reminded himself, taking his revolver out. Not wasting any time he shot the snake in the head, then leaned forward and grabbed her by the tail.
All heads turned toward him as he presented the parents with his bounty. “It is not poisonous,” he informed, much to everyone’s relief. The doctor wanted to make sure, inspecting the snake more closely, and agreed with Alexander.
Another sign that Benjamin was one lucky boy was the fact his arm did not start to swell. He was sniffling, complaining how much his arm ached. That did not matter. He was going to live. Besides, he forgot all about his pains when the bride Jemma came and gave him a kiss on the cheek for being a good boy. Luckily this excitement had a happy ending, and the celebration continued.
Despite being happy, relieved the boy would be all right, Alexander was a bit saddened his moment with Clementine passed. It was true he was not doing well before being interrupted and he was determined to do better next time. He was going to profess his feelings with confidence and utmost honesty. Alexander simply had to find a proper moment to speak with her. And there will be such a moment, Alexander would make sure of that.
Chapter Fourteen
Clementine was rather impressed with how Alexander remained levelheaded during the crisis with that sweet boy, Benjamin. She knew he was the sheriff for many years. Knowing something and seeing him in action, so to speak, were two different things.
Clementine couldn’t lie, the worst went through her head seeing those bite wounds on the boy’s arm, praying the Heavens it was not a venomous snake that did it. Pure dread that he would be taken from his parents washed over her.
Praise the Heavens, everything turned out to be just fine. Clementine had to admit she was glad Alexander shot the snake. She never liked those crawling creatures anyway.
Living on a farm her whole life, she was used to dealing with snakes, was bitten once herself, and the whole endeavor was always stressful, especially if the serpent wandered off to the horses stable and frightened the poor animals.
“Do you still want to go home?” Clementine asked Pauline. Now that the scare, passed most of the children returned to playing, Benjamin included, and she hopped her niece would do the same. She could not live her life in fear, after all. Clementine did that for a while and would not recommend it.
Pauline made a face. “I heard they were about to bring out the cake.”
Clementine had to laugh at that. They were definitely related.
“I want to eat some cake as well,” Alexander chirped.
“All right then,” Clementine was more than happy to oblige her companions. “Let us see where that cake is.” Because who was she to say no to a cake? That would be pure lunacy.
They spent a marvelous time together, and Clementine came to the realization it did not truly matter where they were as long as they were together.
While they ate, Clementine could not help thinking about the moment between her and Alexander, right before Pauline came running to warn them about Benjamin. She was quite sure Alexander was about to tell her something rather important. It was written all over his face. Instinctively, her heart started to beat a little bit faster looking at his eyes as he struggled for words.
Alas, for the life of her, she could not imagine what he was going to say. And perhaps now, she would never know. The moment passed.
“My tummy hurts,” Pauline announced while stuffing the last bite of her dessert into her mouth. Clementine reached for her, and the little girl came to sit in her lap. “But the rest of me is happy,” she concluded, wisely.
“I feel the same way,” Clementine said. “It will pass.”
Pauline nodded to that while yawning. It was time to go home.
“Shall we go then?” Alexander asked as though reading her mind, and Clementine nodded. “Let’s just find the newlyweds first to say goodbye. “Oh, and to Mrs. Townsend as well.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The new Mr. and Mrs. Gaiman were just about to depart, so Clementine and her companions caught them in the nick of time to wish them farewell and all the best in their future life together.
Martin appeared to be a good man, and Jemma was lovely. Clementine prayed they would make one another happy and spend the rest of their lives together and in harmony.
Mrs. Townsend was even easier to spot. She was sniffling in her handkerchief, looking at her daughter saying goodbye to everyone.
“I will miss her terribly,” she confessed to Clementine.
“Of course you will, however, it is time for her to start her own family,” Clementine tried to comfort her. “Think about all the grandchildren that will follow.”
That did the trick. “True. And speaking of starting anew, you look good together, like a real family,” Mrs. Townsend told her, conspiratorially, while winking and looking at Alexander. Luckily, he did not hear that, as he was too busy fussing over Pauline.
Clementine only smiled in return not knowing what to say. Was she really that obvious? She hoped not. “We will be going now,” she said eventu
ally.
“Be good, my dear, and thank you for all your help earlier.”
“It was my pleasure.” Clementine was always happy to help. Despite Clementine’s protests Mrs. Townsend insisted on paying her for that minor repair, and heftily. Even though she was more than happy to do it free of charge, a part of her was happy she had that sum in her possession to give to Mr. Brewer.
Alexander carried Pauline on his shoulders all the way back home, while she giggled and pretended he was her horse named Dancer. Alexander was only happy to oblige, jumping about like he was a true mare.
He was very good with Pauline. He was very good to Clementine, as well. Very quickly he infused himself in her life, so much so, Clementine could not picture her life without him anymore.
Her heart squeezed inside her chest. She would have to do that regardless. From the beginning of their friendship, she was aware they would have to say goodbye eventually. However, that day was not today.
“We have arrived, my dear lady,” Alexander announced, changing his voice a little. Perhaps so he would resemble a horse more accurately, Clementine joked.
“You are silly,” Pauline informed him with the most contiguous of laughs. “Horses do not speak.”
“Of course they do,” Alexander insisted. “They don’t usually bother with English and speak in their native horse tongue.” To prove his point, he started to neigh and whinny much to Pauline’s delight. Clementine was enjoying the performance as well.
“If you ever grow tired of being a bounty hunter, an animal emulator is a good path for you,” Clementine teased.
“Thank you kindly,” he accepted the compliment.
Alexander put Pauline down and they all went inside Clementine’s house.
“Thank you for inviting me today, I had a great time,” Alexander said to her.
“Any time,” Clementine blurted out before she could stop herself. “Let’s get you to bed, sugarplum,” she quickly added to mask her sudden uneasiness.
“I do not want to go to sleep,” Pauline rebelled. “I want to play with Dancer some more.”
Alexander laughed and one look from Clementine stopped him. “You must do as your Auntie said,” he told the little girl in all seriousness.
It was apparent Pauline prepared to fight him as well, but he beat her to the punch. “And if you do, I will have a big surprise for you tomorrow.”
Clementine groaned inwardly. Bribery was never the answer.
As predicted, that piece of information delighted Pauline. “A surprise?” She squeaked, clapping with her hands.
“Indeed.”
She gave him a quick hug before practically dragging Clementine to the bedroom. “Goodnight,” Pauline said over her shoulder.
Clementine tried really hard not to laugh despite herself. She allowed her niece to take her toward the bedroom but not before she mouthed to Alexander. “You are spoiling her rotten.”
He looked a bit sheepishly back. “That’s what uncles are supposed to do,” he said then coughed, clearly realizing what he just said.
Clementine’s brain stopped working for a moment as well. Uncle? She could feel her cheeks turning red, so she quickly spun away. “Goodnight, Alexander,” she mumbled going to put Pauline to bed, not to hide.
She was certainly not hiding.
Once Pauline fell asleep, Clementine stayed with her some more. She did not want to part with her. Previous events really hit her then, since the danger passed. That snake episode shook her more than she liked. She could not think what she would do if Pauline was in Benjamin’s place. If Pauline was the one that had been bitten by the serpent, Clementine would be beyond herself. The notion of Pauline being hurt in any way was too awful to contemplate.
Being a parent was a horrible endeavor. The worry about the wellbeing of that small, precious person was constant. For years, she was adamant she did not want children of her own. Lately, with a little soul searching and due to meeting Alexander, she realized that decision had everything to do with her being married to an abusive person and nothing with her personal preferences.
Spending time with Alexander and Pauline gave her a little taste of what it could be like and now she craved more. She was not a fool; kids would probably drive her mad, yet she was certain it was all worth it, every ache, every worry. It was all worth it just to be able to enjoy moments of peace and unconditional love.
Getting out of the room, Clementine was not that surprised Alexander was still waiting for her. He handed her a cup of steaming, deliciously scented liquid.
“I took the liberty of making us some tea,” he explained.
“Thank you.” After the meal they had, this gesture was much appreciated. Her stomach sang as she took a sip. It was perfect, just the way she liked it.
They settled in the living room.
It amazed her how comfortable she was in his company. When she wasn’t thinking about how much she fancied him, Clementine corrected herself. She never felt this way around Steve, not even in the beginning.
There was always this underlying tension, weariness, that was bothering her and could not understand why she felt the way she did. She thought it was perhaps he was the first, the only man in her life. And once she did discover, that he was not who he claimed to be, it was already too late.
This realization led to another. She had to stop comparing the two men since they were nothing alike and never would be. Alexander deserved better from her at any rate. He was not Steve’s substitute. Her relationship with Alexander was something new, something else entirely, and she should treat it as such.
“Clementine?”
“Hmm?”
“What are you thinking about so intently?”
You. “About this tea, it’s rather good.” It was one of her own blends, but she said that simply because she could not tell him the truth.
Alexander chuckled. “Making tea is one of my many talents.”
“So I see,” she played along.
“You know, I have been thinking how Pauline should really start learning how to ride a horse.”
Alexander was quite surprised when Clementine told him she did not know yet. Toddlers in these parts usually knew how to ride a horse before they could properly walk. Unfortunately, Clementine and Viola were always too busy to teach her.
“She will never compete in rodeos if she doesn’t,” he managed to say with a straight face.
On the other hand, Clementine burst out laughing. “I thought she already did know how to ride, Dancer,” she teased.
“Very funny.”
“I know, thank you.”
“Seriously now, do you think that is a good idea. I volunteer to be her teacher, of course.”
Clementine was touched by his offer. “Yes, of course you can teach her how to ride.”
He was pleased to hear that.
“Tell me something, is this somehow related to the big surprise?” Clementine asked, speculating.
“No. Two completely separate things.” As always, he said nothing more about the subject. No matter how much Clementine insisted, or tried to get the truth out of him, by any means and tricks, she did not learn anything. That bugged her to no end.
“I am still cross at you for not letting me see what it is,” she informed him.
“I know,” his reply was unrepentant. “I am not certain you could keep such secret all to yourself. So better safe than sorry.”
“Well, I never...” Clementine pretended to be offended and retaliated immediately. That led to another round of mutual teasing. Clementine laughed so hard her stomach started to hurt, and she constantly had to put her hand over her mouth so as to not wake Pauline up.
When she started to yawn with steady frequency, Alexander stood up. “I think it’s time for me to leave, you look bone-tired.”
Clementine mimicked his movements. “I am not throwing you out.” She was having such a lovely time, a part of her did not want it to end. Just a part? She challenged herself. It wa
s more likely, every part of her wished for him to stay, she corrected.
She was about to suggest he should stay a little bit longer, perhaps to eat something when she yawned again.
Alexander chuckled. “I am throwing myself out,” he joked. “You need to rest.”
“Yes, Mother,” she grumbled much to his delight.
A Courageous Bride to Bring Him Hope: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 14