And it finally struck him.
He was in love with her. Deeply and madly like he had never been before.
Something within his mind clicked, and the impulse overrode every other power of brake that he had been employing throughout the past weeks.
He glanced sideways and saw the conductor helping the last of the passengers up.
Throwing all caution to the wind, he willed the words out of his mouth before the precious moments would pass.
“Fanny, I don’t have much time. And this is the one opportunity I’ll never get back.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“Will you marry me?”
His stomach curled into a knot when she began to giggle.
“I thought you would never ask!”
Before he had the chance to calm his raging heart, his reflexes took the upper hand for he had to catch Fanny’s bag that was clumsily tossed out the window.
Her titters echoed through the air as she got up and disappeared into the shadowy depth of the compartment.
He fixed his eyes on the door from which she soon emerged, smiling as she approached him.
“That was a yes?” Still confused by the quick turn of events, Chuck wanted to make sure that he hadn’t misunderstood anything.
“It would be a cruel joke if I just wanted to beat you up with my luggage upon proposing now, wouldn’t it?”
Taking her hands in his, he couldn’t believe what was happening. A wild rush roared in his veins as he considered the tight moments in which he could have lost her.
“I love you, Fanny,” he confessed. “I’m in love with you.”
“And I with you.”
His gaze intensified, overflowing with emotions he had been censoring for weeks. “You don’t mind living in a small cottage?”
“I’ll be living with a man larger than life.”
“Oh my...” He tittered, momentarily closing his eyes. “You were gonna go. You were gonna leave me.”
“I wasn’t going to allow my feelings to put you in an awkward position. You’re a good man, Chuck, and you don’t deserve to be cornered.”
“Cornered?” he scoffed. “I was like a puppy, following you everywhere!”
“I thought Bert had instructed it so he could be alone with Kitty.”
Slowly shaking his head in astonishment, Chuck knew that he was willing to devote the rest of his years to loving this woman and seeing to it that she felt adored.
As he proceeded to pick up her bags, she softly touched his arm. “I need to return my ticket.”
“Let me do it,” he volunteered.
“Chuck.” She forged a serious stare. “The Fanny you know does everything for herself. Just because we’re engaged, doesn’t mean that this would change.”
He chuckled. “We’re engaged.”
“Yes, we are.” She echoed his laughter.
Ecstatic that this wonderful woman was about to become his wife, Chuck put the bags back down and pulled Fanny in for a long, heartfelt embrace.
He did not care that people were staring, or that the conductor was beyond confused upon seeing a passenger out with her luggage on the platform floor.
Agreeing to meet back at the wagon, Chuck took the bags and headed over to where his friend awaited.
The short walk felt like a stroll over the clouds, for after all those years, he had finally found his soul mate. A real woman, as Bert had once said. A lady who was not afraid of being alone but would gladly surrender to the might of love once it had found its way to her heart.
Chapter 15
While Fanny began to negotiate with the conductor, she thought she heard an astounded yelp and flabbergasted mumbles from the direction of where their wagon was parked by the sidewalk.
Kitty’s excited voice filled the air, for she could not have been more surprised had the sky fallen on their heads when she saw Chuck appear from the station, carrying Fanny’s bags.
“Wha—what on Earth happened?” she heard her squeal.
Chuck laughed in satisfaction. “She’s recovering her train fare.”
“Oh.” She paused, fumbling for words. “I don’t understand!”
Eventually, Fanny was granted a refund since a last-minute passenger made his coincidental appearance and was in dire need of an urgent ticket. As she victoriously made her way back to the wagon, the smile on her face propelled her forth to face the thousands of questions her friend had in store for her.
“Fanny, I—you…” Kitty had excitedly left the wagon, standing on the sidewalk with eyes wide open and a baffled grin from ear to ear.
Bert stood by her side, laughing as he exchanged some inaudible murmurs with Chuck. The coach was rearranging Fanny’s luggage back into the vehicle, shaking his head in bemusement.
“I’m staying,” she announced with a relieved sigh.
“But—” Kitty’s eyes repeatedly alternated between Fanny and Chuck, who had now taken Fanny’s side, cheery with a proud smile.
“We’re engaged,” Fanny declared while her fiancé took her hand in his.
Kitty’s eyes got wider as her eyebrows wrinkled before shooting up so high that Fanny thought they were going to reach her hairline. “Goodness gracious!” Her hand covered her lips in disbelief.
“That’s right, ma’am.” Chuck lifted his chin. “We are soon to become Mister and Missus Masters, and I’m happier than a dead pig in the sunshine.” He chuckled.
“That’s great news.” Bert patted him on the back while shooting Fanny the sweetest smile. “Congratulations and good luck.” He glanced behind him to find that the coach had just finished setting up the space.
“I can hardly believe it.” Kitty launched to hug her friend, her face flushed and her hands trembling with exhilaration. Upon embracing, she whispered, “You’re not leaving.”
“No.” Fanny tittered, tightening her arms around her friend. “I’m moving to his cottage!”
Even she could not quite believe her own statement.
Merely seven weeks ago, she had arrived at Oklahoma with her friend as a chaperone. Her mission was short-lived and her plan was precise. She did not expect to meet a cowboy who was going to change her entire disposition on the dynamics with men, let alone fall in love with him.
And the last thing she had imagined was that now—after Kitty was married—she, herself, was going to have to contemplate a letter to the Sisters at the orphanage, informing them of her decision to not only terminate her work there but to also marry a man she had only met less than two months ago.
The ride back to the homestead felt surreal in a small carriage that was bursting with a hundred emotions, colliding in the air like little particles swimming in a sea of invisible energy.
Quietly but insightfully, Fanny watched everyone around her as the contrast between the ride to the station and the current state glared like the noon sun.
Kitty’s eyes, once damp with restrained tears now danced with glee as she watched the scenery change along the side of the road. Bert’s previously tense expression was now relaxed. He held his wife’s hand, a slight smile stretching his lips with a satisfied look in his eyes.
And Chuck…
The man looked like someone else entirely.
His face that was only an hour ago hidden under the brim of his hat was now beaming with delight. His once slumped shoulders were now high and straight, pulling up his chest as he sat upright, visibly making mental lists of things to be bought and tasks to be done.
Fanny must have written and scratched off a dozen letters in her head to Mother Superior throughout the ride. A part of her was relieved by their arrival at the ranch house, for the first thing she wanted to get over and done with was that heavy resignation correspondence.
“We’ll start the celebration early, then,” Bert announced with a chortle, pulling Chuck by the arm. “We’ll be at the shed. See you at dinner?”
“Of course.” Kitty cheerfully nodded before accompanying Fanny inside. “What’s the rush?” she
whispered.
“I must write to the orphanage immediately if I want them to have any luck at all replacing me in time.”
Kitty giggled. “Always thinking of others, even on your big day.”
“My big day shall be the wedding.” She shrugged, concealing the bubbling elation that was erupting within her.
“Nonsense,” she insisted as they stepped into Fanny’s room. “You got engaged today; don’t belittle it!”
Playfully ignoring her friend, Fanny sat down at her desk and picked up her pen and paper.
“And you can’t deny that you are head over heels for the strong cowboy,” Kitty continued.
Turning to regard her, Fanny softly placed her palm over the empty page. She looked at her quietly for a moment, silently contemplating what to essentially admit.
“I do love him,” she pensively whispered, fixing her eyes on the foot of the bed upon which Kitty had settled, decidedly avoiding eye contact.
“Why so grim?”
Her eyes rose to meet her friend’s. “But I don’t know why he would.”
“There’s no why in love, silly!” She giggled. “It’s not like physics or law or banking. It’s feelings.”
“But—” She shook her head. “I spent my entire life on a course, and now… everything is derailing. I am doing the right thing, aren’t I?”
“For purely selfish reasons, I’d want to jump to the ‘yes’ immediately,” Kitty professed. “But I want to assure you that I knew he loved you long before he confessed. A man couldn’t have possibly changed that much, and given you all his attention over a pretense. And why would I sense it in my gut if it weren’t true?”
“Do you think I’m up for it?”
Widening her eyes in disbelief, Kitty scoffed. “Up for what? How many girls have you taken care of over the years?”
“None of them was my husband, and the orphanage was never a ranch.”
Laughing, Kitty infected Fanny with her humorous spirits, prompting her to giggle despite her momentary concerns.
“I’ve watched you fit into this place like a hand in a tailored glove.” She regained her serious tone. “Chuck is a solid, patient man and I can see that he wants to involve you in everything that makes up his life.”
“He is, isn’t he?”
Sighing with relief, Fanny knew that she had to let her apprehension go.
Epilogue
Just as he had resolved, Bert employed the assistance of Mrs. Butler, her maids, as well as her nephew for the renovation of Chuck’s cottage as a wedding gift.
Kitty could not have been more thrilled as she helped Fanny choose fabrics, paint colors, and small additions for her new home.
As the wedding preparations consumed the ladies for the weeks that followed, Bert and Chuck began to bond over a whole new aspect of their friendship—becoming married men.
The Masters’ wedding was held at the same chapel where Bert and Kitty had gotten married, with the attendance of the same groups of associates and acquaintances who now referred to the ladies as good friends.
While Fanny mentally settled into her new role as a cowboy’s wife, she was also adamant about finding a new job. She was now a married woman, but that was no reason for her to give up her passion.
Chuck was more than supportive of her ambitions, and he even contacted a few friends in Oklahoma City to scout for opportunities for his beloved wife.
A fortnight into her job search, the experienced educator was offered a proper position as a teacher in one of the nearby city’s schools.
“Good morning,” she began her first class with a smile. “I am Madam Masters and I hope that this year is as exciting as I expect it to be.”
Amused by the pupils’ reaction to her new name, Fanny knew she had finally found the balance she had been searching for.
As a new routine developed over the months, the foursome was enjoying their coffee out on the porch one night when Kitty and Bert looked at each other with a mysterious smile before addressing their friends who sat on the bench across.
“We have something to tell you.” Bert smiled while lovingly holding his wife’s hand.
“I’m with child.” Kitty grinned, looking at them both before regarding her best friend with a meaningful look. “You’re going to be an auntie.”
“Oh my word!” Fanny immediately rose, covering the distance between them while Kitty stood up for the hug. “Congratulations, darling. I couldn’t be happier!”
“Congratulations, Bert.” Chuck laughed.
“Oh, dear, we must prepare!” Fanny excitedly rubbed the palms of her hands together as she sat back down. “Which room are you planning to assign?”
“I believe the one next to ours, so it would be easy to attend to the baby through the night,” Bert confidently decided.
When Lilly Biggum was born on a sunny Spring day, Fanny immediately fell in love with the little bundle of joy.
From the very first night, she saw to it that she cared for the little one just as much as Kitty did. They took turns in looking after the child, and Fanny felt massive bursts of bliss every time the baby smiled at her.
A few days after they celebrated Lilly becoming two months of age, Fanny had just put her down in her cradle when she straightened back up and suddenly felt dizzy.
As Kitty coincidentally stepped into the room, Fanny’s hands grappled to grab the wooden rails of the crib and whispered in bewilderment, “Did I stand up too quickly?”
Before Kitty had the chance to comprehend what her friend was saying, Fanny felt the room spin as she swayed backward and dropped to the floor.
She barely heard Kitty call out her name in a frenzy before everything turned black.
Expecting the worst, Kitty’s calls turned to cries as she hollered for Bert and Chuck downstairs to come up quickly. They had just finished eating breakfast and were about to leave for work.
“What’s the matter?” Bert came rushing in.
Chuck swiftly followed, his eyes landing on his wife’s still body on the floor. “Fanny!” He knelt down, checking her breathing. “Fanny, my love, can you hear me?”
“She needs a doctor, hurry!” Kitty urged as her heart raced.
“I’ll help you.” Bending down, Bert began to grab Fanny’s arm.
“It’s all right.” In an instant, Chuck effortlessly hoisted her up. “I got ‘er. Let’s go.”
The three of them raced downstairs, led by Bert who opened the door for Chuck to pass while he loudly called for Earl to bring the wagon.
As they speedily rode out to town, anxiety raided through their minds until Fanny began to slowly come to. Chuck had rested her head over his shoulder, wrapping an arm around her to fix her in place.
“What?” she lazily whispered, her eyes slowly opening. “Did I fall down?”
“Sweetheart,” Chuck murmured from under his worried breath, his hand caressing her pale, cold cheek. “You collapsed on the floor.”
“I walked in and saw you drop like a leaf,” Kitty added, concern dripping from her voice. “How did you feel?”
“Dizzy.” She furrowed her eyebrows, clearly still lightheaded. Her hand slowly settled on her stomach as all blood drained from her face. “Actually,” she heaved forward, “do you mind if we stop?”
Bert immediately yelled out, “Stop the wagon!” prompting the coach to put the vehicle to an abrupt halt.
Without waiting for assistance, Fanny hastily stumbled out by the side of the road. Chuck rushed to her side, his hands carefully holding back her hair as she emptied the contents of her stomach.
“Dear Lord, what’s happening to her?” Kitty’s chest began to rise and fall with uneven breaths as Bert’s hand squeezed hers.
“Let’s pray it’s nothing,” he whispered.
“I can’t lose her,” she murmured, her eyes welling up.
“And you shan’t,” he insisted. “Hush now, it’s no use to let your mind fall prey to such thoughts.”
Outside the to
wn clinic, Kitty impatiently waited in the wagon, silently mouthing verses of prayer while Lilly obliviously slept in her arms. Bert quietly settled on the wagon bench across, nervously shaking his knee.
As the clinic door cracked open, they saw Chuck emerge alone with a look of shock etched on his pale face.
Unable to help it, Kitty immediately clutched her baby and burst into tears, the grimmest possibilities plaguing her mind.
Bert shot him a questioning look to which he silently responded by shaking his head while he sat down next to him. He then held his hat between his knees and looked down at it in utter bewilderment.
Soon, the door opened once again, revealing Fanny who approached with an unreadable expression on her face. Chuck quickly got up to help her to the wagon.
Bert took his seat beside his wife, and Kitty could no longer bear the suspense.
“What is it?” she impatiently blurted out, her voice still broken by the tears.
As Fanny settled herself by Chuck’s side, she gave him an agreeing nod.
“We—” He briefly chuckled as though in disbelief of what he was about to announce.
“We’re having a baby next spring!”
The end
A teaser from “To Win his Heart”
On a bright early summer morning in sunny California, Dan Law was getting ready to start another day of hard work on the ranch. After eating breakfast with his mother, Kitty, and his sisters, Catherine, Josephine, and Mary, he made his way into the kitchen for a drink of water before heading out.
“Why don’t you take the day to rest and spend it here with us?” Cathy cheerfully suggested as she washed a dish.
“And do what?” He shrugged. “Sit by the window and read a book? I do that at night anyway.”
“Can’t you imagine a day of leisure, brother?” Josie joined in, subtly winking at Mary who seemed rather concerned.
“Maybe on Sunday,” Dan muttered as he stepped out of the kitchen, before kissing his mother’s forehead and walking out of the house.
Strutting through the pathway that led to the log cabin, the barn and the rest of the ranch, Dan smirked to himself as he remembered his sisters’ repeated pleas for him to “rest a little” and “settle down with a good wife.”
A Spinster in the West Page 6
