“Now, slow down there. I wasn’t thinking you needed protection. I thought maybe you could use a friend.”
“A friend? You?” Indignation griped her. No man would ever be her friend. “I’m afraid not.” Wheeling around, she strolled toward her office again.
“Hold up a minute.”
She paused and allowed him to catch up. But only too late she realized how much his nearness troubled her. He stood mere inches from her on the boardwalk. A faint scent of leather mixed with masculinity reached her nose. It wasn’t unpleasant, but Annetta backed away just the same.
“Dr. Cavanaugh, did I offend you somehow?”
She hardened her heart, reminding herself that his entire gender offended her. An angry, murderous man killed the love of her life before physically overpowering her, violating her, and leaving her for dead. Pompous, arrogant men had belittled her as she struggled to become a doctor so she could help others. Sweaty, dirty men treated her with little respect as she walked beside a wagon filled with her belongings, including her beloved rolltop desk all the way from Missouri to this nothing town in the Territory.
Friends? Hardly!
“What do you want with me, Reverend McCabe? Are you looking for another convert? If so, I’m not the one you seek. I told you this morning that I’m not interested in your church—or you. So leave me alone.”
“Forgive me, ma’am.” No strains of insult or irritation were evident in his tone. “I just thought with you being a doctor and me being a minister of Christ, our paths might cross in the line of duty. Wouldn’t hurt to get to know one another.”
She tipped her head. “What do you mean?”
“Well, there might come a day when a patient of yours asks for a minister. I want you to know that you can call on either Luke or me anytime, day or night.”
Annetta found herself unable to lash out at him again as it appeared the good reverend was simply being nice. “Thank you.” It was all she could muster for now.
Spinning on her heel, Annetta hastened to the front door of her office, unlocked it, and entered. All the while she knew Jacob McCabe watched her every move.
NINE
SITTING ON THE LONG BENCH OUTSIDE THE BOARDING-house, Luke watched his older brother walk back from the doc’s office. Jake’s gait seemed more unsteady than usual, thanks to riding hard from Harlan’s place this afternoon. Across the street, raucous singing came from the saloon, accompanied by someone playing a squeezebox. Luke got a remembrance of his wartime days when he and other soldiers sat around in tent cities, waiting on their next orders.
How these folks in Silverstone need Christ. Luke closed his eyes and prayed for wisdom. How could he reach them? He’d already gone over and preached a sermon right in front of the brothel. He figured if they didn’t come to him at church, he’d go to them. Luke ended up in a brawl with three drunken men. Pa always said never run from a fight—and he didn’t. Walked away from that one too, although he was mighty banged up. But that was during his last stay in Silverstone, before Bethany came to town. He figured she wouldn’t appreciate looking at him with two black eyes and a busted nose these days.
Luke stretched out his legs, wishing he sat on one of Jake’s pieces of furniture instead of this flimsy piece of plank. Jake’s carpentry work couldn’t be compared to the nonsense Winters came up with—like the desk he attempted to fashion for Bethany before Jake stepped in to do it. What a sorry sight that was!
“Howdy, Preacher.”
Luke barely made out the lone figure of a tall, lean man. He inclined his head. “Evenin’.” Next he watched with disappointment as John Dempsy turned out into the street and made his way to the saloon.
Shaking his head, he swung his gaze to the boardinghouse door. Bethany had gone in to fetch her shawl as the temperatures plummeted after the sun set. Luke wished she’d hurry back out. He hadn’t seen her all day and wanted to tell her that he’d sent a telegram to her father. He hoped Mr. Stafford would give his consent and wire back soon. He felt confident Bethany’s father would be pleased with the match. Maybe he even expected it.
Jake finally reached him and claimed a place beside Luke. “She’s a hard one, all right.”
“Who’s that?”
“Dr. Cavanaugh.”
Luke thought a moment. “Why do you suppose that is?”
“Don’t know.” Jake worked to get comfortable on the hard piece of wood. “I imagine it could be any number of things.”
“Reckon so.” Luke watched the door of the boardinghouse, anxious for Bethany to return. He sincerely hoped his older brother would mosey on back to their cabin when she came out. Luke intended to spend some precious few minutes alone with his bride-to-be.
“But I’ll say this much…”
Luke turned to Jake.
“Annetta Cavanaugh came a long way to be unfriendly to an entire town.” Jake gave his head a slight wag. “Doesn’t make sense.”
“You know as well as me that since the war, thousands of people have headed West for new beginnings. Maybe Dr. Cavanaugh is just one of them.”
“Maybe.”
Luke could practically hear the gears of his brother’s mind cranking. He grinned, and seconds later Bethany finally stepped from the boardinghouse.
Luke stood and reached for her hand. She looked awfully fetching in the moonlight.
She smiled at him then turned her gaze toward the inky-black sky. “Look at all those stars.”
“There’s a mess of ’em, all right,” Jake replied.
“Who asked you?” Luke glanced over his shoulder. “Sorry you have to go home now, brother.” He gave his head a jerk in the direction of their cabin.
“Well, now, Luke, a little constellation-watching might be just the thing I need before calling it a night.” A wide grin stretched across Jake’s face.
Luke forced himself not to react to his older brother’s goading and turned his attention to Beth.
“The sky looks close enough to reach out and touch.” Her voice contained enough awe to encourage Luke.
“I’ll take you on a picnic near the canyon sometime.” Luke tucked her hand under his arm. “The sky looks really close from up there.”
“I’d like that.” She smiled up at him. “It would be nice to see something besides the flat and barren desert.”
“You can see the mountains on the horizon. They aren’t but a day’s ride away.”
Bethany rolled one shoulder. “The mountains might be inspiring…if they were closer.”
“You make Silverstone sound awful, Beth,” Jake remarked from his perch.
Beneath the moon’s glow, Luke saw her press her lips together. His heart sank at her unhappiness. “You haven’t seen much of the area,” he said hopefully. “There’s a lot of beauty here. Just have to look for it.”
He felt her stiffen beside him.
“You enjoy teaching here, don’t you, Beth?”
“Well, yes…”
That was something.
“I sent a telegram to your father today, asking for your hand.”
“I know.”
“What?”
“Trudy told me.”
Luke gnawed the corner of his mouth, wondering how Trudy found out.
“Yeah, well, her pa runs the post office,” Jake muttered, as if divining his thoughts.
“I had hoped to tell you myself.” Luke strained to see Beth’s face. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Luke,” she whispered, “what if my father doesn’t reply?”
“Why wouldn’t he? You’re his daughter, and he loves you.”
“Well, yes…”
Luke opened his mouth to say more, but before a word could form on his tongue, two men burst out of the saloon and onto the boardwalk. The music stopped, and women’s screams followed as the men continued their fight.
“Come on, Beth.” For her own safety, he steered her back inside. Once they stood in the dining room, he motioned to the sheriff, who had returned to t
he boardinghouse to debate the Indian situation with Ed Winters over a cup of coffee and pie. “Fight goin’ on outside, Sheriff.”
Montaño slowly stood, graciously thanked his host, and then made his way to the door. Luke disliked the way he bowed in front of Bethany before he secured his hat on his head.
“Until we meet again, Miz Stafford.”
“Goodnight, Sheriff.” She didn’t meet his gaze, for which Luke was grateful. However, the way her cheeks pinked forced him to quell the urge to sock the suave Mexican in the jaw.
Flexing his fist, he watched the man head for the fight. Jake trailed, and Luke figured he’d better get out there and help. Already more men had joined into the brawl.
“I’d best say g’night, Beth. I might be needed outside.” Luke stared into her kitten-gray eyes. “You go on upstairs, all right? I want you to stay out of harm’s way.”
She nodded, but as she pulled her hand from around his elbow, she clasped his hand. “I’ll be praying you’re not hurt tonight.”
“Much obliged.”
“And then I’ll see you at breakfast, right?”
“Right.” He gave her a smile then bent to place a quick kiss on her cheek. But since she hadn’t been expecting it, she moved and Luke’s lips caught the corner of her mouth. A thrill ripped through him like a hot lead ball, and if he thought he’d seen Beth blush moments before, he’d been sore mistaken. However, the crimson stain creeping up her neck and face…now that was some kind of a blush.
An overwhelming desire to kiss her senseless caught him by surprise. He blinked. Time to flee temptation. “G’night.” Luke turned on his heels and strode from the boardinghouse as fast as his legs would carry him.
He might as well do his part to break up the fight before half the town’s men got involved. At least it would keep his mind busy. But even as he stepped forward, the memory of kissing Beth’s lips, even though it had been accidental, remained foremost on his mind. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that Bethany Stafford was the woman for him.
The next morning, Bethany stared at her reflection, wishing her eyes didn’t appear so red and puffy. She’d cried all night, recalling how Luke fled from the boardinghouse after he’d accidentally kissed her. Was she that repugnant to him? Oh, why did she ever hope that Luke had fallen in love with her—the way she’d fallen in love with him.
Moving away from the looking glass, Bethany finished dressing in a plain brown skirt and ivory blouse. She recalled her father’s reaction when he’d learned that Richard intended to marry Sarah.
“I always thought the two of you would marry,” Papa had said as he mucked a stall in the barn. “A shame it won’t happen. Half the Navises’ farm could have been ours if you’d turned out pretty instead of plain.” Papa then heaved a sigh. “Looks like you’ll live out your days with us. Plenty of work here to keep your mind off of being a spinster. It’s just a good thing you don’t eat much.”
Even now his words stung. But the longing to prove him wrong and throw his insults right back in his face fueled her determination to succeed as a teacher—and a wife to Luke McCabe. Papa would never have to know the situation behind Luke’s marriage proposal.
But how could she go from her father’s low opinion of her to Luke’s lack of attraction?
Bethany sank into the nearby wooden chair and stared out the window. But perhaps she was looking at her circumstances all wrong. She’d never find a better man to marry than Luke McCabe. He was kind and gentle. She’d never have to worry about Luke mistreating her, and she wanted nothing more than to be part of his family…
A knock sounded. Then the door creaked open before Bethany could voice a reply, and Trudy’s round face appeared.
“Mama says breakfast is ready.”
Determination sprouted inside Bethany. She raised her chin. She was a respectable teacher, engaged to a handsome, honest man of God. So what if he didn’t love her? What was love anyway? Certainly not what was found in those dime novels Mrs. Buchanan donated.
Bethany made note to give them back at once. It wouldn’t do if some of the older girls, like Trudy, got their hands on those romantic stories. Just look what they’d done to her!
Luke ran a hand over his stubbly jaw as he watched the schoolchildren playing in the yard beneath the late afternoon sun. Funny how the heat didn’t seem to affect the young’uns. Boys chased each other round, while four girls jumped rope. Only a few others sat in the shade of a mesquite tree listening to Beth read.
He pursed his lips, pensive. Ever since this morning at breakfast Luke noticed Beth seemed downright miserable. Come to think of it, ever since he’d proposed, she hadn’t quite seemed herself. Didn’t she want to marry him? Had he been presumptuous in his asking? Impulsive?
Confused, he ambled back through the sanctuary, toward the small podium where he’d been working on his message for Sunday morning. Once he stepped behind the square, wooden stand, he gazed out over the benches on which his congregation sat. A sense of need enveloped him. Silverstone’s townsfolk had been spiritually neglected until he and Jake arrived. But now God was using them to reach men and women alike, turning their hearts toward the Lord. As a minister of Christ, Luke couldn’t ask for more.
If only Beth would realize the positive impact she could have on the next generation.
The school bell clanged loudly, pulling Luke from his thoughts. He closed his Bible and left the church, intending to walk Beth to the boardinghouse when she was ready. He’d hate for her to happen upon an Indian brave the way he had come face-to-face with Warring Spirit the other day on Harlan’s ranch.
Luke reached the yard as the kids sprang from the small, one-room school. He smiled and watched as they scattered in all directions. None wore shoes, but that didn’t seem to slow them down.
Suddenly the tantalizing smell of roasting poultry met his senses. He glanced toward the boardinghouse and saw a haze of grayish smoke rising from behind the structure. Seemed Rosalinda had begun dinner preparations. Luke’s stomach rumbled in anticipation.
He walked into the school and found Beth standing behind her desk.
“Howdy.” Luke took a few steps toward her. “Did you have a good day?”
She looked up at him with a tentative smile. “Yes. Everything went fine.”
As the school’s disciplinarian, Luke was glad to hear it. To date Beth hadn’t summoned him once. “It appears the kids have taken to you. They all looked happy as they left school.”
Beth’s smile widened. “Every child is happy when the school bell rings at the end of the day. Teachers too.” She sighed. “I’m exhausted from this heat.”
“You’ll get used to it. And it should be cooling off any day now.” Wearing a grin, Luke moved forward and sat on the corner of the desk. Jake had made it so it was a sturdy piece of furniture. “You ready to head over to the boardinghouse?”
“Not quite. Give me about a half hour.”
“Sure.” He watched her busily collecting the children’s slates. Her movements were quick, and it was obvious she avoided meeting his gaze. “Beth, is something wrong?”
She paused momentarily then continued on. “No…”
He waited, but when she didn’t offer more, Luke decided not to press the issue. Perhaps she’d like some time to herself. He’d head back to the church and work on his sermon.
But then thirty minutes became an hour. Donning his black, wide-brim hat, Luke walked the dusty path to the schoolhouse again. However, this time Beth was nowhere in sight. Traipsing around back, Luke called her name and looked for her near the outbuilding. She wasn’t there. His heart hammered at the thought of Beth abducted by some ruthless man.
Jaw clenched, Luke ran to the boardinghouse. His boots skidded on the plank walk as he reached the door. Pulling it open, he stepped inside and nearly collided with Beth in the lobby.
“Where’ve you been?” Luke’s breath came fast as he removed his hat.
“Well, I…” She smoothed down the fabri
c of her brown skirt while giving him a nervous smile. “I’ve been helping Mr. Winters sort mail.”
“You were supposed to give me a holler when you finished at school.”
“But when I came to the door of the sanctuary you seemed so engrossed. I didn’t want to bother you.”
Luke rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “You’re never a bother, Beth. And I worry about you when you go off on your own like that.”
“I was perfectly safe.” She squared her shoulders. “Besides, I’ve walked home from school before when you’ve been away or busy.”
“I know, but—”
“I’m not a child, Luke.”
He narrowed his gaze. “Seems I’ve heard that before—from my baby sister, Sarah, who got herself into a fine mess last year.”
Beth stepped closer to him. “I’m not your baby sister either, Luke, so I would thank you to respect me as the grown woman and teacher that I am.”
Luke considered her as she stood before him with her freckled, upturned face and gray eyes staring back with fierce determination. Her pink mouth was pressed into an unyielding line, but the thought of kissing it still crossed his mind.
“I don’t think of you as a child, Beth—or my baby sister, either.” He reached out and brushed a few strands of light brown hair off her cheek. “Nevertheless, I aim to protect you, and there’s a threat of an Indian attack looming over this town. You can’t take that lightly.”
Her features relaxed. “I suppose you’re right.” She lowered her gaze. “Forgive me for being so stubborn.”
Luke took hold of her chin, bringing her gaze back to his. “Nothing to be sorry for.” He suddenly wished they were married right now so he could take her in his arms and kiss her, tell her he loved her…
He loved her!
“Beth, I…” Suddenly he knew this wasn’t the time or the place for admissions of the heart.
Questions pooled in her eyes. “Yes, Luke? What were you about to say?”
Luke dropped his hand and glanced around the lobby. His gaze halted on Trudy standing several feet away giggling behind her hand.
An Undaunted Faith Page 10