Robyn- A Christmas Bride

by Jacqui Nelson

  Robyn rushed to them. “Fina, it’s wonderful to see you again.”

  “And you too. We brought you nourishment.” Fina tilted her head to her companion. “This is Victoria. She runs the bakery and sweet shop with her husband.”

  “I helped Fina make your sandwiches and then as we were wrapping them…” Victoria grinned wickedly. “I couldn’t resist adding a treat for you and all of your helpers.”

  “Thank you.” Robyn took the load from Victoria’s arms. When Lark arrived at her side and silently started transferring Fina’s packages into her own arms, Robyn introduced her.

  “It was kind of you to think of us,” Robyn added. “What do Max and I owe you?”

  Both Fina and Victoria shook their heads and said, “Nothing.”

  Lark gasped. “But you’ve brought so much.”

  Victoria’s smile didn’t waver as she addressed Lark. “This is our gift to Jack and Birdie for always doing so much for everyone in Noelle.”

  “And not only them. Robyn helped me at my diner yesterday. And Max…” Fina’s eyes sparked with mischief as she winked at Robyn. “Well, I couldn’t refuse him anything after he asked for your gift.”

  “My gift?”

  “Yes, and I’m ready to give it.” Fina set her hands on her hips and struck a theatrical pose. “Where is he?”

  “Somewhere in this house.” Her heart raced with excitement. She now had an immediate excuse to find Max and talk to him. “Let’s put the food in the kitchen and look for him.”

  She led the way to the back room. To a kitchen with the longest table she’d ever seen and six chairs made to match the number but not the height of the stools currently in Peregrines’ Post. And best of all, to Max who stood in the kitchen placing dishes in a cupboard.

  A domestic task that made her grin.

  Max took pride in completing any type of work, whether it was organizing an entire town to finish his brother’s house, or four Llewellyn teamsters to run a Denver freight office, or simply knitting the woolen cap that she wore right now.

  He couldn’t give her a better gift.

  Except for maybe a lifetime of his smiles.

  When he smiled back at her, she sped up her pace, eager to reach him. And caught her skirt on the corner of the table. And stumbled. And could only curse as the weight of the packages in her arms made her tumble straight for the floor.

  Before she could drop her cargo and brace herself for her fall, Max caught her in his arms. Her shock quickly turned to delight at having him hold her—even if the food nestled between them formed a barrier. Maybe she should trip more often. But that would be dishonest. But she wanted Max to hold her like this. But she wanted him to do it eagerly and not merely to prevent her from hurting herself.

  Max’s eyes widened with amazement as he stared down at her.

  She muttered another curse. “Sorry. I may never get the hang of this dress.”

  “Don’t apologize. I was more fascinated by the expressions flashing across your face than your falling. You’re…mesmerizing.”

  She snorted. “What I am is a menace to myself, and others, when wearing this dress.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t wear it.” His face went as red as his beard, but he didn’t let go of her.

  If she didn’t wear Birdie’s beautiful creation, what could she possibly wear to impress him? Probably nothing. Or maybe…actually nothing? She felt her own face heat at the thought. “You never liked this dress.”

  He heaved a sigh. “I hate to say it, but I’ve always liked it. A lot.”

  “That’s an odd thing to say. Confusing as well.”

  “Then let me be clear, and damn the consequences.” He leaned so close that their noses almost touched and whispered, “I like seeing you in a dress as much as seeing you in trousers. My main dislike is not seeing enough of you lately.”

  “I think I should come back another time.” Fina’s words faded along with her footsteps down the hall.

  Max lifted his head from hers. “No!”

  The volume of his voice startled her.

  “No more delays,” he said less loudly but even more intensely. “I want you to have your gift right now. The one thing you wanted more than anything else.”

  “You.”

  He blinked in surprise. “Me?”

  She pressed her lips tight. She was making a muddle of things again. He wanted to give her a gift and she was acting like she didn’t want it because she wanted him most of all. “What I meant to say was…you are kind to get me something. What is it?”

  “Dance lessons.”

  “That’s why Fina’s here!” She glanced over her shoulder to see if she was still there.

  Fina stood by the hall doorway, smiling at them. “Max arranged everything. He even asked Felicity and the ladies who visited you yesterday to cover for me at the diner, so no one will interrupt your lessons. Not that someone from the diner would come all the way out here and do that, but…” She shrugged. “You never know.”

  Max’s gift wasn’t only dance lessons but his time to arrange them. And hadn’t she been thinking that giving your time was the best gift of all?

  Her vision went blurry with tears. When she ducked her head to hide them, the food started falling from her arms. Max released her and bent to pick them up, while Fina and Victoria helped her and Lark get the rest of packages onto the table without dropping any more.

  “I love your gift,” she blurted and spun to stare out the window at the starkly white snow outside.

  “Are you sure? Your brothers said—” He released another weary sigh. “Well, maybe it was just Griffin. They jabbered about a lot of things in my office the day you left.”

  She’d asked them to tell Max she’d gone to Noelle. They, however, often got off track and said a lot more. Right now, there was only one thing left to say. She spun to face him. “I’ll need a dance partner.”

  “You’ll find plenty of ’em at the Christmas party tomorrow.” Gus rubbed his hands together as he rushed from the hall to the table.

  Max scowled at his grandfather, but when his gaze shifted to her, he straightened his shoulders and said, “Grandpa’s right.”

  “Of course, I am.”

  No! I don’t want you to be right. I want to dance with Max.

  “I got a nose fer sniffin’ out the truth. And sandwiches too.” He grabbed one and groaned happily after the first bite. “I could smell ’em all the way upstairs. You better eat fast,” he told Robyn between mouthfuls. “Noelle’s bachelors are gonna keep you busy. I heard three—who are at the top of my matchmaking list—pacing circles outside the front door while they argued about you. Although, it’ll do you no good dancing with any of them since they’re yer brothers.”

  Robyn’s stomach lurched. “What are Hedd and Griff doing outside? They promised to board a train to Denver as soon as they finished the last Noelle freight run.”

  Max grabbed her hand. The solid warmth of his big fingers wrapped around hers elated her until she saw him frowning at Lark.

  “He said three.” Max gaze cut to her and his frown deepened. “Your three brothers.”

  Her stomach plummeted.

  “Of course, I did.” Gus huffed. “I ain’t so old or so hungry that I’ve lost the ability to count.”

  In the brittle silence that followed, the squeak of the new door opening then slamming at the other end of the hall echoed like gunfire. The thump of heavy boots approached. Then halted. Abruptly.

  “Stop jumpin’ in front of me.” Bryn’s growl was unusually menacing.

  “We would if you’d be reasonable,” Griff hissed back.

  “Yeah, stop being so ornery,” Hedd complained. “Agree to return to the train depot and we can—”

  A tussle erupted.

  “Go,” Max whispered and pushed her toward Lark.

  “I ain’t leavin’ till I get answers.” Brynmor’s voice thundered down the hallway. So did footsteps.

  Robyn yanked Lark toward
the back door which Max had opened to speed their escape. She leapt out with Lark in tow.

  “First Rob abandons me. Then you two knuckleheads.” Still in the hallway, Bryn’s accusation held more loneliness than anger. He’d never been without them. He’d gone from brother to father. He’d shaped his whole life around them.

  Only a puff of air marked the blessedly silent closing of the door behind her. She staggered through the snow, fighting her skirt and her guilt for leaving Bryn again.

  Inside the kitchen, his raised voice was muffled, but she still heard every word. “At least Rob told me where she was going. She wouldn’t—”

  Silence descended all around her. Not even a bird chirped or a tree branch rustled. She glanced over her shoulder.

  Bryn stood in the center of the kitchen, gaping at her and Lark through the window.

  She wouldn’t desert me completely. He didn’t say the words but she heard them nonetheless ringing in her head.

  He’d caught her abandoning him. Caught Lark as well. Again.

  He yanked open the door, then just as quickly turned his back to them. “Help your sister and—” He paced the room waving his hands wildly like Hedd often did. “Just get them out of the snow and the cold.”

  Hedd and Griff scrambled to comply. Max beat them to it. He thrust his hand out to her. She pulled Lark—who stood surprisingly tall and undaunted beside her—forward and put Lark’s hand in Max’s. When Lark was back inside, Hedd and Griff jostled each other to reach around Max and help Robyn in as well.

  Max elbowed them aside and seized her hand. He didn’t let go. Not even when he moved to close the door behind her.

  “Well, ain’t this a fine sight to see.” Gus was the only one smiling in the room. “All of the Llewellyns finally in Noelle. Business must be slow in Denver for you to be here.”

  Robyn’s guilt grew. Her family had let Max down.

  “I’ll come back later. Tonight. Or tomorrow morning.” Fina gave Max an apologetic look as she edged for the hallway with Victoria close beside her. “There’s still time.”

  Robyn’s shoulders slumped. Her family had also ruined the gift Max had invested so much time organizing for her.

  Max’s fingers tightened around hers. “Fina, I know it’s not a good time, but if you stayed, I think it’d help. Brynmor needs to talk to his sister, and Robyn needs to learn how to dance. They can do that together.”

  No! She stifled the selfish word. She wanted to dance with Max, but she couldn’t do that. She must do what was best for everyone else in this room.

  “Where shall we do the lessons?” Fina asked.

  “In Jack’s new carpentry room.” Max thrust his chin toward the front of the house. “It’s the only one without furniture moved in. My brother listed everything else as a higher priority.”

  “I’ll meet you there,” Fina said as she slipped out of the kitchen with Victoria.

  Still keeping a hold on her hand, Max thrust sandwiches into Hedd and Griff’s hands. “Go see if there’s anything that needs finishing in Birdie’s dress shop room.”

  The one across from the carpentry shop where Bryn would be. Max was making sure her brothers stayed near Bryn. Just in case.

  Her brothers glanced worriedly at her.

  “Better hurry up,” she urged. “There’s lots of sanding to finish.” There wasn’t but she hoped adding to the size of task would finally get them moving.

  When they left, Max turned to Gus. “Grandpa—”

  “Yeah, yeah. Get upstairs ’n get back to work. Yer about as much fun as Jack when he’s snapping the reins.”

  Max gestured to the sandwiches on the table. “Can you take some food upstairs for our helpers? Better grab a second sandwich for yourself.”

  “Now yer talkin’ my language, Maximilian Boy!”

  When Gus had left with his arms overflowing with food, Max turned to Lark. “You should sit down and also try to eat something.”

  Max was right. Although Lark still stood tall and faced Bryn head on, her skin had resumed the pallor from when she’d arrived and first heard about his injury.

  “Mor,” she whispered in a raspier voice than ever before.

  Lark flinched along with Bryn. Her being the only one to use this special nickname, that should’ve been so obviously to Robyn and her brothers, showed how connected she was to Bryn. Or had been.

  “I’m sorry,” Lark whispered. “I never meant for—”

  “No.” He spun sideways and stared at the wall, keeping his clouded eye as far from Lark as possible. He’d never hidden his injury from anyone before. “I don’t want your pity. I only want to know why you left me in Cheyenne.”

  The starch went out of Lark’s spine. She slumped down on the nearest chair.

  “Brynmor—”

  “What?” Bryn barked, cutting off Max.

  “Lark will be here when you’re done helping Robyn learn how to dance and when you’ve hopefully”—he stressed the word like a warning not a hope—“calmed down.”

  Bryn glared at him.

  “I promise she’s not going anywhere,” Max vowed. “You can trust me.”

  Bryn threw his hands in the air. “Fine. I’ll do as you suggest.” His gaze jumped from Max to Lark to Robyn then back to Max. “You’ve never given me a reason not to believe your words.”

  Remorse twisted Robyn’s stomach into a knot as she watched him retreat down the hall and away from her.

  Max pressed two sandwiches into her palms then cupped her hands in his, still not letting go. A sudden wave of fatigue made her unbearably tired. He’d be letting go very soon. He had to.

  “Take these and try to get him to eat something with you.” A wry smile tugged his lips then disappeared. “I think I’m turning into my brother with all my bossy fussing.”

  “Whatever you do is perfect. Thank you for always helping me with my brothers.”

  “They need you. Especially Brynmor. And I want you to have your lessons. You can distract him with them and who knows…” He smiled again, but his eyes remained dark with uncertainty. “Learning to dance might one day help him win the heart of the woman he loves.”

  And Max? What would he do when he fell in love and wanted to dance with that lucky lady?

  She wished he loved her and needed her and— Guilt swamped her again. Max did need her. Just not in the way she’d hoped for and schemed to achieve. He needed his friend back.

  He needed her to get her brothers back on track. Back to Denver to help run his office. Where she would go as well. To make sure they all did their jobs.

  But first she must help him finish Birdie and Jack’s house.

  She opened her mouth to say she didn’t need dance lessons, but then closed it just as quickly. This was his gift to her. And she wouldn’t deny him the chance to give something to her if that was what would make him happy.

  She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him close. Her voice cracked as she said, “I’m so sorry things didn’t work out between us. But I’ll treasure your friendship forever.”

  She released him before he could answer or see the tears flooding her eyes again. She bottled up her unhappiness, pressed it deep down in a corner of her heart, and raced from the room.

  Chapter 12

  December 25, 1877

  The morning of the Christmas party

  Yesterday, he’d held Robyn in his arms. Twice. And he’d let her go twice. First so, she could begin her dance lessons with him as her partner. Then second, so she could have those same lessons with her brother instead.

  Because he’d seen it in her eyes and felt it in their embrace. She’d been willing to give up the thing she’d told her brothers she most wanted and had been struggling for days to achieve in Noelle. She’d give up her happiness rather than let Brynmor say something he’d regret if left alone with Lark.

  That was yesterday. Today, they couldn’t stop Bryn from doing something rash every moment that he and Lark remained in Noelle. Together. But no
w no longer talking. As far as he knew, the pair hadn’t said a word to each other since their reunion in the new house.

  Never had one of Griffin’s favorite sayings summed them up so well.

  We’re all idiots.

  Why couldn’t he have let go of his determination to help Robyn with her worries about Bryn? Then I’d have danced with her. And I’d be happy.

  He shook his head. He couldn’t be happy if Robyn wasn’t happy.

  A glum looking Robyn worked beside him as they loaded the last of Jack’s tools and wooden legs into two burlap sacks. She didn’t speak or smile or even meet his gaze. She just worked.

  She hadn’t stopped since her dance lesson finished and she’d resumed helping with Jack and Birdie’s house. He’d had to escort her off the worksite before she’d sleep. At least during that all too short walk, he’d got to hold her hand again.

  But she hadn’t smiled. Not then and not now.

  Maybe it was because she was exhausted. They all were. Her brothers were with Gus and Lark doing final preparations at the house. And Peregrines’ Post and Freight was once again closed for the day. In both Noelle and Denver.

  “I’m sorry my brothers left your office unattended.” Robyn’s tone was an odd combination of angry and remorseful.

  She was startlingly good at guessing what he was thinking while not quite understanding his thoughts. She’d apologized many times yesterday for her brothers’ leaving Denver, but this was the first time today.

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said firmly. “It’s Christmas Day. And today whatever is happening, or not happening, in Denver doesn’t seem all that important.”

  The floorboards creaked upstairs. They hurried to pack the final items as a single pair of footsteps echoed down the hall towards them. They hid their sacks behind them then straightened as one to face the stairs and Jack descending with Birdie in his arms.

  A vigorous rustling close beside him snapped his gaze back to Robyn. She swiped at the dust streaking her skirt. A disapproving scowl etched her brow. She didn’t do things half-measure. He’d always admired her for that. But her attachment to the dress confused the heck out of him.