Rustlers and Ribbons

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “What I think is that I’d like to take a nap, and your yammering is keeping me awake,” Gabriel said.

  Hope gave Collette an exaggerated look, then turned back to the novel Gabriel had handed her almost the minute they had boarded the train.

  Collette wasn’t bored enough to seek something to do. She looked out the window, still fascinated by the shades of brown in the countryside as they passed through it. Colorado had mountains so tall, they looked as though they’d brush the sky, and the trees were tall and stately. Kansas, however, had flattened out and turned into a patchwork of earth tones, and as the sun descended in the sky, it landed on those browns and made them gold. It was breathtaking.

  It was fully dark and the stars were vivid overhead when the train pulled in to the Topeka station. “That’s the Brody right there,” Gabriel said, motioning to a tall building just across the way. “Welcome home—for however long you end up staying with us.”

  His words filled her with a sense of belonging. Welcome home—when she didn’t know where home was. Could this place be a fresh start for her? She’d take whatever it offered her, however temporary, and be glad for it.

  When they had collected their bags, they made their way up the front walk of the hotel and climbed the porch steps. Gabriel hadn’t even touched the knob yet when the door opened wide and an older version of him stepped out, his arms wide. “You made it,” he said, giving Gabriel and Hope hugs in turn. Then he held out a hand to Collette. “You must be Miss Barnard. I’m Adam Brody. Please come inside and let’s get you comfortable.”

  Collette hadn’t realized the extent of her fatigue until she entered the lobby and felt the subtle warmth coming from the fireplace embers in the parlor. It was a lovely place, but more than that, it felt like a home, and she could see why Gabriel and Hope had been so eager to get back.

  “Are any of you hungry?” Mr. Brody asked. “I had our cook leave something ready for you in case you were.”

  Gabriel and Hope both shook their heads, and he turned to Collette. “Thank you, but no,” she replied. “I think what I’d like most is to go to bed.”

  “Of course. You’ve had a long day.” He gave her a smile, and for a moment, she was reminded of her own dear papa. The memory was so strong and so dear, she had to blink back sudden tears. “I’ll have Edith show you to your room.” He nodded over Collette’s shoulder, and a young woman in a dark dress and white apron stepped forward. “Feel free to sleep as long as you need to in the morning. Breakfast will be ready whenever you are.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Brody,” Collette replied. “And thank you for taking me in. I know my situation is most unusual.”

  “My dear, how could I possibly refuse? Everyone deserves a place to feel safe. I’m glad that I have the means to provide that for you.” He gave her another warm smile. “Now, I won’t keep you. Off to bed with you, and we can become better acquainted tomorrow. Sleep well, Miss Barnard.”

  She gave him a nod, quite unable to reply to his kindness, and followed Edith up the stairs. At the first landing, she turned and looked back down. Gabriel had rested his hand on his father’s shoulder and they were having an intense, but low, conversation. She hoped everything was all right.

  “This is your room, miss,” Edith said, opening the door to a room marked with a number three. “It’s yours for as long as you need it. May I help you unpack?”

  “That’s all right. I’ve got so very little.” Collette nodded to the satchel the girl had carried for her. “Thank you, Edith. I’m surprised they gave me a guest room—I’d be all right staying with the staff.”

  “Oh, no, miss. When Mr. and Mrs. Brody heard you were coming, they insisted on the best for you. This room has a nice view of Main Street, and when the clouds cooperate, you can see the moon real clear on most nights.” Edith crossed the room and peered out the window. “Not moon time, but the stars are nice.”

  “Yes, they are.” Collette could see them even from where she stood. “Thank you, Edith. I appreciate your help.”

  “My pleasure, miss.” The girl bobbed a curtsy, pointed out the fresh water in the basin, and left, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

  Collette walked over to the window and threw the curtains wide. The stars did indeed show themselves to their best advantage from here, and they seemed quite friendly that night. She knelt on the bench at the window and stayed there for several minutes, so tired that she couldn’t find the strength to move. Once again, her good fortune overwhelmed her, and she took a moment to give thanks. Her story could have been so very different. How many times had she heard of girls in straits similar to hers who ended up in the workhouse or in a saloon? She knew that Beatrice never would have allowed such a thing to happen to her, but what if there had been no Beatrice? Over and over again, she had been blessed.

  Finally, she stood, dressed for bed, and crawled between sheets as crisp and clean as any she’d ever slept on. In the morning, she’d ask about a bath. For that moment, she would sleep as though she were made of lead. Her eyelids certainly felt heavy enough.

  Chapter Six

  I gave it a great deal of thought, Father, and yes, I’ll take over the hotel,” Gabriel said. He watched Adam Brody’s shoulders slump with relief as he spoke. “You can’t leave it all entirely, though—you must stay nearby and walk me through each thing.”

  “I’ve been walking you through each thing since you were ten years old,” his father protested. “You know this business better than I do.”

  “I might know the mechanics of it, but I don’t know the heart and soul of it,” Gabriel replied. “Hope’s convinced this place is magic, that it brings people together. I don’t know about that, but there is something special here, and I’m afraid that once I take over, that special something will fade away.” He realized he sounded quite ridiculous, but it was what it was. “I might not be the best steward, Father. Rose or Hope might be better choices.”

  “They’ll help you, but you are the right person for this job,” Adam said. “And as far as the special something in this place—I feel it too, but I can’t account for it. I’ve always said it comes from your mother. She was the magic in my life when she walked into it.”

  Gabriel nodded. He knew his mother was sleeping, but he badly wanted to see her. He would wait until morning, but it would be difficult. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, watching his father rest his elbows on his desk in much the same way. “What would you have me do first?”

  “First, go to bed. You look exhausted. Second, I’d like you to meet with my lawyer. We’ll draw up some paperwork and begin the transfer into your name.”

  Gabriel sat back. Paperwork . . . a lawyer . . . He supposed all that was necessary, but he’d assumed it would be simpler, like handing over a key to the front door or something. Paperwork seemed so official, so binding, so final, and it felt like the ending of an era.

  Which was exactly what this was.

  He wondered if it was too late to get out of it. If he refused to take over, his father would have to remain at the helm forever, wouldn’t he? And that meant nothing would change. He shook his head. He was thinking like a child.

  “I’ll be ready when you need me, Father.” He came to his feet. “Goodnight. Try to get some rest too.”

  Adam nodded, but Gabriel knew that was just to placate him. If he knew his father, he’d be up until dawn, even though they had a night clerk to watch the hotel while they slept.

  Gabriel ducked down the hallway into the family quarters and rested his hand on his mother’s bedroom door for a moment. He’d visit with her in the morning as soon as she was ready for company. Maybe then this knot in his chest would loosen.

  A bath had never felt so wonderful. Hope lent Collette a dress to wear while her own things were outside on the line, and now freshly scrubbed from head to toe, Collette sat at a table in the dining room, a cup of hot chamomile tea in front of her while she finished her eggs. This place truly was a bit
of heaven. She wondered how long it would take for Lady Sybil’s package to arrive. It would come by boat, and the timing would depend upon when the next boat sailed. There could be quite a delay, but Collette found that she didn’t mind so much. This was a pleasant place, to be sure.

  Gabriel entered the dining room just then, glanced around, saw her, and smiled. He made his way between the tables toward her, and she found that her heart gave an unexpected leap at his approach. “Good morning,” he said when he reached her. “How did you sleep?”

  “As thought I’d been given some sort of draught,” she said with a chuckle. “And I think it’s more likely noon than it is morning.”

  “Could be, but no matter. Do you mind if I join you?”

  “Of course not.”

  He pulled out a chair and sat next to her. “I bring you the apologies of my mother. She wanted to see you this morning, but she’s not feeling well, and asked if you had some free time this afternoon.”

  “Absolutely.” Collette paused. She badly wanted to ask, but she hated to add to the look of worry on Gabriel’s face. “Is . . . your mother all right?”

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry to say she’s not. She has cancer of the liver, and the doctor says there’s nothing more he can do.” Gabriel’s tone was flat, but Collette knew it wasn’t from lack of emotion. It was far more likely that he felt more emotion than he knew how to express.

  “I’m terribly sorry. I’m sure she’s so glad to have her children close by.”

  He nodded. “My oldest sister, Rose, wired to say she’d be here tomorrow. I think it will do my mother a lot of good to see her. She always talks about being happiest when all her children are together. In the meantime, I wondered if you’d care to go for a horseback ride with me.”

  He changed subjects so quickly that it took Collette a moment to follow him to his new thought. “Yes, I’d enjoy that. I noticed your stables when I looked out the window here.” She nodded toward the outbuilding, where she could see horses being exercised. “You have a fine selection of animals.”

  “We do. We only had a few when I was a boy, but my father added some as an investment. The brown ones there are racehorses and aren’t used for pleasure riding, but the white one and the caramel one are excellent for jaunts down by the river.”

  “I like rivers,” she replied, feeling a tingle of excitement at the prospect.

  “Do you feel comfortable without a chaperone, or should we invite Hope along?”

  “Hope’s always welcome, but I don’t have any qualms about being alone with you, Gabriel. You’ve been nothing but a gentleman, and after meeting your father, I can see that you were raised in a home with good values.”

  “I was. My parents are incredible.”

  She couldn’t help herself. She reached out and touched his hand. “The doctor’s sure there’s nothing he can do?” she asked softly.

  “He’s tried everything he can think of, but it’s too far gone,” Gabriel replied. “We even discussed surgery to attempt to remove the diseased portions, but he fears she wouldn’t survive the operation. She was given the choice, and she decided to live out her remaining days as God sees fit rather than hastening the inevitable with a knife. Her words, not mine,” he hastened to add.

  “I can’t wait to meet her. She sounds wonderful.” Collette smiled at the waitress who came to gather her plates. She only then realized that she was still touching Gabriel’s hand and sat back quickly. “Will we see her before or after our ride?”

  “After. It takes a few hours each day for her to wake up and dress, and her laudanum to take effect.”

  “She’s not dressing on my account, is she? I won’t be shocked at all at seeing her in a robe—I’ve seen ladies in their robes before.”

  Gabriel smiled. “Don’t worry—she’s not planning on going all out. She does like to be as presentable as possible, though. It’s always mattered to her. Are you ready to go?”

  “I am.” She looked down at what she was wearing. “Do you think Hope will mind if I wear her dress on a horse? Mine aren’t quite dry yet.”

  “It won’t matter to her in the slightest. I imagine that all her dresses have spent a fair amount of time on a horse.”

  They walked out to the stables and were greeted by Chet, the stable master, who promised to saddle their mounts and bring them around as soon as possible. While they waited, Gabriel pointed out the apple orchard Hope had spoken of. It was too late in the year for the blossoms to be on, but Collette could picture how breathtaking it must be—acre upon acre of sweet-smelling pink blooms.

  “There are several varieties out there,” Gabriel said, and she realized she hadn’t been listening to him. She’d been letting her mind wander through the trees in the spring. “You’ll have to taste each kind come picking time.”

  She turned to him in surprise. “Do you think I’ll still be here come picking time? Just how long do you suppose Lady Sybil plans to leave me here?”

  He held up both hands in mock defense. “I was just saying maybe you’ll still be here. I know she wouldn’t have rescued you from one form of abandonment just to abandon you again.”

  “Well, I should hope not. That would be a mean trick.” She gave him a slight smile to show that she knew he was teasing, and that she was too. “I like apples. If I happen to be here, I’ll make sure to taste each kind.”

  “Good. I’ll hold you to that.”

  Chet came out of the stables just then, leading one horse by the bridle. A younger boy followed behind with the second horse, and Gabriel thanked them both. Collette mounted her horse without any help, which seemed to surprise the men, but she just smiled as she cantered around the yard, waiting for Gabriel to join her.

  When he was at her side, he led the way, and they headed down by the river.

  The trees that lined the water reached out and interlaced their branches, creating a pleasant shady canopy, and the sound of the water flowing over the rocks was soothing to Collette’s ears.

  “We’ve brought picnics down here for years,” Gabriel said, nodding ahead to a place where a stretch of grass edged the river. She could see that it would be a perfect spot to spread out a blanket and enjoy a meal. “We send our guests down here too. It’s one of the Brody traditions.”

  She turned to look at him. “Is something wrong? You sound as though you’re saying goodbye to those traditions.”

  “Do I?” He shook his head. “I suppose I’m rather caught up in my thoughts today. I have a meeting with my father and his lawyer tomorrow. The hotel is being put in my name, and I have an irrational fear that everything that’s good about the place is going to be ruined because I don’t know what I’m doing.”

  Collette motioned to the river. “So, because you’re a terrible hotelier, the river’s going to become a bad picnic spot? You certainly are powerful, Gabriel.”

  He laughed. “I know, I’m being irrational. I’ve had this same conversation with myself dozens of times. Perhaps it will keep me humble and I’ll avoid making some mistakes I might otherwise have made.”

  “See? There’s a bright side to it.” She brought her horse to a stop. “Shall we get down for a few minutes? It’s been a while since I’ve ridden, and I’d like to stretch my legs.”

  “Of course.”

  They tied their horses loosely to the low-hanging branch of a tree and walked instead along the water’s edge. “Tell me your dreams for the hotel,” she said. “What improvements do you plan to make?”

  “My first dream is to live up to my parents’ high standards,” he replied, sidestepping to avoid some mud. “My second is to continue to upgrade throughout for electricity. I want to stay as modern as possible without losing our comfortable feel. I’ve seen glass bulbs for electric lights that soften the glare a bit, making them seem more like candles, and that’s what I’d like to use—in the bedrooms at least. The other bulbs are a bit harsh, in my opinion.”

  “That’s an excellent idea. See? You’re alrea
dy doing a marvelous job.” They ducked under some branches that were growing too closely in their way. “What are your other interests? Things not relating to the hotel?”

  “Not relating, hmm?” He looked thoughtful. “The hotel has taken up so much of my life, I’m not entirely sure, but I do enjoy helping with the racehorses. Does that count? It’s outside the hotel, as opposed to inside.”

  “I suppose I could let that count. Do you race yourself?”

  “Sometimes, although I’m really not supposed to. Riding a racehorse is a specialized skill that I haven’t had time to develop, but I do exercise them.”

  She could see a twinkle in his eye as he spoke of it. “Why don’t you take the time to develop the skill? You clearly enjoy it.”

  He stopped walking and turned toward her. “I don’t know. It seems frivolous, doesn’t it, when there are so many other things to do? I’m to ride out and see some land holdings tomorrow afternoon as part of this meeting with the lawyer, and we need to hire a few more waitresses, and . . .” He looked frustrated and overwhelmed, and she felt sorry for him. So much responsibility, but he seemed perfectly up to the challenge.

  “All that has to be done by you? Won’t you have an assistant or a business manager of some sort?”

  He blinked a few times as though he’d never considered it. “My father had my mother all these years,” he replied. “There’s no reason why I couldn’t advertise for the job.”

  “Or ask Hope to fill that role,” Collette suggested. “You wouldn’t have to train her at all.”

  “Hmm.” Gabriel crossed his arms and pinched his lower lip. “She already does quite a bit, but it’s rather on her terms—she comes and goes as she pleases most days.”

  “But does that have to be the way it continues? If you were to offer her the position, don’t you think she’d take it seriously and help you more?”

  He didn’t answer for a moment, and Collette wondered if she’d offended him. But then he smiled broadly. “Collette, you’re a godsend. I’ll talk to Hope today and see if she’ll accept more of a role. She and I work well together, when she’s focused, and I believe she’d make a very good assistant.”