by Barbara Goss
Elsie smiled up at him. “I didn’t want to miss out on that new house on our beautiful land, is all.”
Conner laughed, and Elsie laughed with him. At that moment, something changed inside of her, she could feel it; she’d just fallen in love with Conner.
Chapter Thirteen
Conner decided on the night his little wife helped free him from the bank robbers, that he’d start courting her. It wasn’t so much that she’d been brave and saved him as much as knowing she was a Christian. That had been one of the things holding him back, more so than the memory of Mary.
They may not have much in common, but she was a brave little spitfire, and it amused him that this sweet, quiet woman could conk a bank robber over the head with a rock and hold another at gunpoint. He was sure that once feelings grew between them, they could iron out their differences. At least, he hoped they could.
When he’d held her trembling body in his arms at the mine, she felt like she’d belonged there. The kiss had been unplanned, but he’d felt moved to do it. Emotions? Perhaps, but it was a sweet kiss that had lingered on his lips for hours afterward.
The morning after the mine adventure, he got up early, went into town, and bought the land they’d discussed. He walked over to the lumberyard, spoke to the owner, and got the name of a reliable builder. Next, he visited the man and paid him a deposit to begin building their house. The builder wanted Conner to bring his wife back with him so they could work on a layout of the house together.
Elsie and Conner sat at a large table in the builder’s office. Jess Howard showed them several blueprints of houses he’d built.
“So,” Jess said, “do you like any of these floor plans?”
Conner let Elsie pick the one she liked first because he figured she’d want the opposite of the one he liked.
She tapped on the floor plan he disliked the most, as he knew she would.
“Why do you like that one, Elsie?”
“It has the back porch I wanted so I could watch the sunset, and the kitchen faces the backyard, so I can keep an eye on any children we might have while I cook or do dishes.”
Conner sighed. “We have Bertie to do the cooking and washing up.”
“What if she leaves us?”
“She won’t.”
Now, Elsie sighed. “Which one do you like?”
Conner pointed to a plan. “This one has a front porch, but I’m sure we can modify it, right Jeff?” When Jeff nodded, Conner continued, “This one has four bedrooms—don’t forget we need a room for Bertie, and this one has a bedroom downstairs which would be perfect for her. The extra bedrooms could be for guests, like if my sister or brother come for a visit.”
Elsie nodded, wondering why he never mentioned children in their future. Did he plan for their marriage to be one where they never slept together?
“The kitchen is at the back of the house like you wanted.”
Elsie stared at the plan of the house Conner favored. “I guess as long as the porch is moved to the back of the house...”
Jeff said, “For a hundred dollars more, you can have a front and back porch.”
Elsie’s eyes lit up. So Conner agreed to pay the extra money.
“So, is it final that we get the four-bedroom floor plan?” Conner asked.
Elsie smiled and nodded.
At that moment, Conner’s heart did a weird flip-flop. They’d finally agreed.
They were walking along the wooden walkway holding hands when Conner asked, “What would you like to do tonight? There’s a barn dance at the Fuller place, and there’s also an opera in the park.”
Elsie stopped walking and looked up at him. “You’d go to a barn dance?”
“As long as you wouldn’t make me dance.”
Elsie laughed. “Let’s go to the opera, then.”
“Seriously?” Conner couldn’t believe she’d say that.
“I’m not a fan, but if it’s something you enjoy, then I’ll try to like it.”
Thrilled, yet confused, Conner asked, “But why?”
She looked down at the walkway and said faintly, “Because I care.”
Conner laughed loudly, which made Elsie look up at him in surprise. “I wanted to take you to a barn dance because... ” he looked down at her and cupped her chin. “I care, too.”
Elsie touched the hand that was cupping her chin. “See? We agree on something.”
Conner took Elsie’s hand. “I know what we’ll do—let’s go down to the river to watch the sunset.”
“What a marvelous idea,” Elsie said.
The couple found a large rock overlooking the river, but the sun hadn’t quite made it to the horizon yet. Not only did Conner enjoy Elsie’s company, but he thrived on it. They laughed together, having become closer since their adventure at the mine.
Conner knew he wanted to kiss her again, but that timing was everything. Was it too soon? Would she think he was rushing her to consummate the marriage? Conner’s heart pounded at the mere thought of consummating their marriage. The physical attraction was there, at least for him. Was she physically attracted to him? He thought it best if they courted a while longer. If he moved too swiftly, she might conk him on the head with a rock. He smiled at the thought and wished he had seen her hit the bandit over the head.
“What?” Elsie said.
“Huh?” Her question had jerked him out of his deep thoughts.
“You suddenly smiled for no apparent reason,” Elsie said.
“I was imagining you hitting that bandit over the head with the rock. I wish I had seen it.”
“Never underestimate a woman, especially when she’s angry.”
“I’ll remember that,” he said, slipping his arm around her shoulders. “Look at the sunset.”
“It’s lovely. I see reds and yellows.”
“And look,” Conner pointed, “a bit of purple over there.”
Elsie looked where he pointed, but when she failed to see the purple, she looked up at him, confused.
Conner kissed her lips lightly. “I just wanted you to look up at me so I could kiss you.”
Elsie let him pull her closer, and she lay her head on his shoulder. “This is better than a barn dance or an opera.”
Conner kissed the top of her head. “I agree.”
As they walked home, Conner said, “Well, the bandits are all locked up, Mac will be buried tomorrow, and the sheriff has promised to board up the entrance to the mine so that no one will ever be able to get in there again.”
On Sunday morning, Conner and Elsie held hands as they walked into the church. Elsie listened to every word of the sermon. It was about forgiveness, which made her feel guilty. How could she forgive Frank when he’d nearly brutally raped her? According to the Bible, she should have turned the other cheek and forgiven him. That wouldn’t be easy. She wondered where Frank was now. Was he alive and still coming for her, or had he found himself a woman somewhere and forgotten about her?
She and Conner had seemed to bond over the past week. The way he looked at her and constantly touched her shoulder or face made her wonder if he returned her feelings for him. She would do anything for that man, even sit through an opera.
In the clinic, they worked well together. She handed him the instruments he needed, and he always complimented her work, and she couldn’t be happier. Whenever he touched her—and especially when he kissed her—she knew she was ready for consummation. She loved him and wanted to please him, body and soul. How much longer would it be before he made that move, and how would he do it? Would he just come out and ask her if she wanted to, or would he just carry her to the bedroom after one of his sweet kisses?
She wished he’d kiss her more—the kisses felt so right.
Conner returned from town before dinner and opened up a letter he’d received. He read it with a frown.
“What is it?” Elsie asked. “Bad news?”
“Not necessarily bad news, but ill-timed news. I need to attend a medical convention i
n Kansas City next week. That means I’ll be gone for several days as well as a long train ride, two days of boring doctors giving us the latest medical news, and another long train ride home.”
Confused, Elsie asked, “Who will care for the patients while you’re gone?”
“They’ve arranged for a retired doctor from Russell to cover for me. You’ll like him. His name is Benjamin Wadsworth. He’s around seventy, but he’s very spry. He’s covered for me before. Bertie knows him.”
Still baffled, she asked, “Then, why is the timing not right?”
“Because,” he took her hand in his, “I was in the middle of courting you. I feel like if I go, I’ll need to start all over again when I come back.”
Elsie laughed, and she knew it was the last thing he wanted to hear just then. “You can start right where you left off. I love being courted.”
“But, I’d hoped—”
“You’d hoped what?”
“Never mind.”
“No. Tell me what you hoped. Tell me, or I’ll look for the largest rock I can find and—”
Conner laughed. “All right, I’ll tell you.” Bertie was in the house, and they were alone in the clinic. He pulled her close and held her. “I hoped to bring us to the ultimate stage of our relationship.” After he said it, he waited, as he wondered if she was about to laugh or swat him.
Elsie thought she’d let him wait long enough for her answer. She looked up at him and said, “I want that, too.”
Conner held her tighter. “You do? When do you suppose it can happen?”
She could tell he felt elated, and she hated to burst his happiness bubble, but she had to make sure things were right. Elsie pulled away from him and looked him in the eyes. “There has to be love first.”
“Love?”
Elsie nodded. “Do you love me?”
Conner’s face grew thoughtful. “I think about you all the time, and when I see you after not seeing you for a while, my heart skips a beat. Is that love? I’m just not sure.”
“My mother and real father were madly in love. Even at a young age, I could see it. I asked her one day how she knew she was in love with him, and her answer surprised me.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she wondered how she would feel if she never saw him again. If he suddenly walked out of her life. She said she didn’t think she could bear it. That’s when she knew she loved him. She couldn’t imagine a life without him in it.”
Conner looked into her eyes and said, “I want to be honest with you, always. I enjoy your company, and I can’t wait until we become intimate, but I’m not sure if it’s love or a strong case of like. One minute I think I’m in love and the next I’m not sure.”
“I appreciate your honesty. I think the consummation will have to wait until you’re sure.”
“I want it very much. I want you to be my wife in every sense, but you deserve honesty.”
“Conner, how did you know you loved Mary?”
He sighed. “We were so young, and she loved me so much... she was somewhat clingy, if you know what I mean. I married her because she was my best friend, and she expected it, but I wasn’t at all sure that what I felt for her was love until I saw her dying. Then, I knew.”
“That’s so sad,” Elsie said.
“Do you love me?” he asked.
“Yes, I do. I realized it the night you were being held hostage in the mine, and I was willing to do anything to free you.”
He pulled her into a hug. “And I’m afraid that what I feel might be love or it might be gratitude for what you risked for me.”
Elsie kissed his cheek. “You need more time. Maybe your trip to the convention will help you sort out your feelings.”
He kissed her lips lightly. “I do love these kisses.”
Elsie pushed him away. “We’ll talk more about this when you return from your convention.
Chapter Fourteen
The days before Conner left saw a flood of sick patients, as an epidemic of measles was making the rounds in Hays City. They had little time to talk or court as it exhausted them by the end of the day. Sometimes, Conner had to pack his bag and make house calls because some patients were too ill to come into the clinic.
Dr. Wadsworth arrived, and before Conner and Elsie knew it, Elsie was waving goodbye to Conner at the Kansas Pacific Train Depot.
Conner waved back at Elsie and turned to board the train, but when he looked back at her, his heart lurched in his chest. She looked so cute in the bonnet Bertie had insisted she wear to ward off any more freckles, but Conner adored the freckles. Small wisps of red hair had escaped from the bonnet and were blowing in the slight breeze. Not only did Elsie look sweet, she also looked sad.
Conner turned, walked back to her, and kissed her on the lips. “I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“God be with you,” she said. It was what the pastor told each member of the congregation as they left the church—Elsie must have thought it an appropriate thing to say.
The train pulled away, and Conner strained to keep Elsie in sight for as long as he could. Just before the train went around the bend, he saw her raise her hand in a weak wave. Did he love her? At times like this, he was sure he loved her with all his heart, but after she had saved his life, he had to be sure—he didn’t want to lead her to the marriage bed dishonestly, or it would haunt him for the life of their marriage. It had to be honest, and judging by the way his heart felt when he could no longer see her petite form at the depot, he knew it had to be love. He missed her already. All the way to Kansas City, he planned how he might tell her he loved her before leading her into his bedroom so they could be husband and wife in every way.
Dr. Wadsworth was amusing to work with. He had an infectious sense of humor, and the patients liked him, too. Elsie enjoyed working with the man, but she missed Conner with all of her heart. She worried as she lay in bed at night, and her brain filled with what-ifs: What if the train had a wreck? What if Conner met someone else? What if Conner didn’t love her back?
Then, her common sense would take over. She was almost positive that he loved her, even if he hadn’t realized it yet. It wasn’t gratitude she had seen in his eyes, but something that strongly resembled love. When he looked at her the way he had at the train depot, she did not doubt that he loved her—his eyes said it all.
Elsie fell asleep, knowing they would consummate the marriage when Conner returned, and they would live happily ever after. She imagined them having children and growing old together.
Dr. Wadsworth had just sewn up a severely cut forehead, and Elsie’s back was to the door as she sterilized the instruments when the next patient arrived. She sighed without looking up to see the patient. Would the day never end? No sooner had one patient left than another took his place. She heard Doc ask the patient what the problem was, and the sound of the man’s voice made Elsie spin around.
“Why, I’m here to see Elsie Crenshaw.”
Elsie dropped the utensils and froze. It was Frank Timmons!
Before either the doctor or Elsie knew it, Frank had pulled out a gun. “Over by the wall, Doc. You, too, Elsie.” He threw a rope at the doctor. “Tie her hands behind her back.”
Elsie could feel the doctor’s hands shaking as he tied them.
Frank must have figured out that the doctor might try to tie them loosely because he yelled, “Tie them tighter.”
Elsie knew that she would die that day, and she prayed for a miracle because she wasn’t ready to die. She wanted her marriage consummated, and she wanted to have children in their new home.
“I didn’t turn you in, Frank,” she cried frantically, “and I won’t, so please, let us go. You can return to Gobbler’s Knob and no one will ever know what you did, I swear.”
“Funny you should say that,” Frank said. “I wasn’t in town five minutes when I saw a wanted poster with my name on it—wanted for murder.”
Elsie gasped. She hadn’t known the sheriff had put Frank
on wanted posters.
She was surely about to die. Today was the day.
“Please, don’t harm Doc—he has nothing to do with this.”
Frank pushed Wadsworth into a chair and tied him to it, before locking the clinic’s door. Next, he put the “closed” sign in the window and stuffed a rag in the doctor’s mouth.
He turned to Elsie, grabbed her by the bun on her head, and pushed her toward the door leading to the house.
“No, not in there. Just kill me here.” Elsie knew that Bertie was in the kitchen, and she didn’t want her tied up or hurt.
“I aim to finish what I started in Gobbler’s Knob, first. Then I’ll kill you with delight. You’re the only one who can testify in court that I killed your mother. Once you’re gone, I’m a free man.”
“There are plenty of beds in here.”
He grabbed his coils of rope. “I need one with bedposts—you won’t kick me this time.”
Elsie couldn’t think of a way to keep him from going into the house. She knew he would take her into a bedroom and ravish her. Oh, how she wished Conner or the sheriff would burst in to save her.
Frank pushed her inside the house. The minute they entered the kitchen, Bertie turned to look at them.
“Who’s this?” Frank growled.
“That’s our housekeeper. Please don’t harm her.”
Frank pushed Elsie into a kitchen chair, grabbed Bertie, and stuffed a towel into her mouth just as she was about to scream. Then, he pulled off her apron and tied her to the door of the stove with the ties of the apron. “I’m not planning on hurting anyone except you,” he snarled at Elsie.
Elsie knew he planned to kill Bertie and Doc, too, because they would talk, so because of her, two wonderful people would die. She tried to recall what the minister had said in his last sermon, something like “God is our refuge and strength and very present help in trouble.” The whole time Frank was pushing her down the hall, she used these words as a prayer, repeating them all the way to the first bedroom.
