Instant Frontier Family

by Regina Scott

  She sighed. “And my temper isn’t helping. I don’t know what to say to her.”

  “She’ll come around,” Michael promised. “She’s smart. The more stable we make their lives now, the easier it will be to learn to love it here.”

  “Stable, he says.” Maddie snorted as she lifted her skirt free of the mud. “The ups and downs of a new business, a new home and school, a whole new world all around them! There’s nothing stable here, even if we didn’t have these threats.”

  “The threats will be over soon,” he reminded her. “We just need to hold firm.” He called to Aiden to slow down as the boy darted across Occidental Avenue, Ciara not far behind.

  Maddie eyed him as they started along the next stretch of boardwalk. “There’s a time to hold firm and a time to give up, and it’s hard to be knowing which is which.” She glanced at the building they were passing, and he felt her shiver. Glancing up, he read the sign over the doorway: Eureka Bakery. So this was Maddie’s competition.

  The square building was painted a crisp white, with a high false front that proudly proclaimed the name of the shop and its proprietor. Every pane of the wide front window sparkled, and he could smell the now-familiar scent of baking bread.

  He took Maddie’s hand and squeezed it. “No need to give up, on Amelia Batterby or your bakery. We’ll succeed. We’re too determined not to.”

  “So you say,” she replied, but without any of her usual spark of courage. “But I left New York when trouble came, and so did you.”

  The sadness in her tone broke a hole in his heart. And it suddenly struck him that Ciara and Aiden weren’t the only ones needing stability. Maddie had lost a father and two mothers. She’d traveled halfway around the world, first from Ireland to New York and then around two continents. She’d risked everything to start a new business, one that now faced challenges on every side. Small wonder she didn’t believe his promises.

  Ahead of them, Ciara and Aiden ran down to the pier and wiggled over the edge. Aiden’s cry hastened Michael’s steps, and he outpaced Maddie to the rocky shore. The tide was out, leaving masses of kelp lying on the damp rocks like streamers of green and brown. Brine made the air sharper.

  Amelia Batterby sat near the high tide line by the carcass of a salmon, its silver skin flayed wide, pink meat open to the sky. She was calmly licking fish oil off her dainty paws while seagulls protested overhead. She glanced up at Michael as if accusing him of dawdling.

  Ciara snatched her up and held her close. “Oh, Miss Amelia, you had us so worried!”

  “Don’t you ever scare us like that again!” Aiden scolded her, hand rubbing down her fur.

  Michael’s gaze met Maddie’s over the children’s heads. He didn’t think he was imagining what was going on behind those deep brown eyes.

  Though relieved to find Amelia Batterby safe, Maddie was wondering about him. He’d said he’d stay until everyone was safe. But she’d faced adversity before, and alone. Now she wasn’t so sure of him. Would he really hold firm for her when trouble came, or would he give up and flee the scene as he’d done in New York?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Maddie stayed close to Ciara and Aiden as they all returned to the bakery with a smug Amelia Batterby. Dark clouds were crowding the mountains. She felt as if they gathered inside her as well, pushing at her to run, to hide.

  Why? Amelia Batterby was safe; Maddie’s countrymen were prepared to protect each other; she had the supplies and recipes ready for the wedding that would make her fortune. She should be celebrating. Instead, she felt weighted down, as if more than mud clung to her skirts.

  She couldn’t help glancing at Michael, who walked on the other side of Ciara and Aiden. Catching her gaze on him, he smiled, and she hastened to look away. He’d doubted her abilities at first—questioning how she wanted to raise her brother and sister, the debt she’d taken on. Now he seemed certain of her success. Why did she suddenly doubt?

  For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

  The remembered verse nearly stopped her in the mud. Could all these troubles and turmoil turn into something good?

  Would You be talking to me now, Lord? Are You truly interested in the simple folk like me?

  Once more, her gaze was drawn to Michael. She’d been so certain he was a problem to be solved—taking the money meant for her helper, interfering in the way she was trying to raise Ciara and Aiden. Yet he had helped her so much—in running the bakery and learning to understand her brother and sister. Now a smile kept playing about his mouth as he glanced down at the cat held so firmly in Ciara’s grip.

  Maddie could not imagine any other man of her acquaintance being so willing to spend his afternoon searching for a beloved feline. Her father, bless his heart, would likely have told Maddie good riddance and one less mouth to feed!

  She wanted to believe Michael would stay by her side. That what they felt for each other would only grow deeper. But what if she was wrong? How could she break not only her own heart but Ciara’s and Aiden’s as well if his love turned cold?

  Heart and mind full of questions, it was all she could do to lead everyone home. She even enlisted Ciara’s help in getting dinner on the table. As Ciara began peeling potatoes, Michael drew Maddie aside.

  “I think we should explain this situation to Ciara and Aiden,” he murmured, gaze on Maddie’s. “They understand enough to worry. We can put those fears to bed.”

  That he would ask her permission before going straight to the children told her he was trying to honor her position in the house. How could she not admire him for that?

  “Agreed,” Maddie murmured back. “We’ll tell them at dinner.”

  “It’s not nice to keep secrets,” Ciara said from her place at the sideboard.

  “Why?” Aiden asked, chasing Amelia before him into the room, body bent and arms wide as if to prevent her from escaping again. “You do.”

  Maddie went to fill a pot with water and set it on the stove to boil. “And what secrets would your sister be keeping?”

  “Nothing,” Ciara said with a look to Aiden as if daring him to contradict her.

  Aiden humphed, ducking to reach under the table and retrieve the cat. Amelia Batterby sighed for him.

  As close as they all lived, Maddie was fairly certain she’d have stumbled across any major secrets before now. Still, she could not help glancing at her sister. Ciara’s hands moved surely with the knife, slicing off the dark skins, coring away the black spots, all her focus on the work. When had she put up her hair? The thick braid wound around her head, pinned properly in place.

  Just like Maddie’s hair.

  Maddie’s lips trembled. So, despite all Ciara’s bravado, she still looked up to Maddie. Maddie wanted to hug her sister as close as Ciara had hugged Amelia Batterby, tell the girl that she understood and would never leave her again. She settled for complimenting her on her good work. Ciara’s cheeks turned pink.

  She and Ciara finished the potatoes and set them in the water to boil, then Maddie carved some pieces off the venison and fried them, making gravy with drippings. She was thankful to see Michael corner Aiden and clean the boy up after his foray under the chicken coop.

  At last they said grace and began eating. Maddie caught Michael’s gaze on hers and drew in a breath.

  “You were both a big help today with our visitors,” she told Ciara and Aiden, setting down her fork. “I know all this must be confusing to you.”

  Aiden nodded, but Ciara rolled her eyes.

  “It isn’t confusing in the slightest,” she informed Maddie. “Bad people are doing bad things to us, like always. And we’re starting a gang like the Dead Rabbits to stop them.”

  That brought Michael’s head up. “We are not starting a gang, Ciara,�
� he said. “The Dead Rabbits aren’t heroes. They’re a vicious mob intent on having their own way, in everything. Would you want someone telling you how to live, who to love?”

  Ciara frowned. “It’s not like that.”

  “It’s exactly like that,” Maddie told her. “I know it seemed as if the Dead Rabbits were fighting for Irish interests, but they robbed businesses and killed people who didn’t agree with their way of thinking.”

  Ciara paled and looked to Michael. “Is that true?”

  Michael nodded. “I was given a choice to help them and I refused. Because of that, they threatened to hurt Sylvie and her children, even you and Aiden. That’s why we left New York.”

  Aiden stabbed his fork into the ham. “I hate them!”

  “No one needs to be hating anyone,” Maddie said. “That’s how it all starts. We should be caring about each other, not hating and hurting.”

  Ciara scrunched up her face. “So we should care about the Dead Rabbits even if they’re as awful as you say?”

  Michael chuckled. “No one said it would be easy, my girl. But even though we turn the other cheek, that doesn’t mean we can’t protect ourselves. That’s why we organized the watch. Every night and during services on Sunday, Irishmen of good intent will be watching over the city.”

  “Like you,” Aiden said, raising his head.

  “And Patrick,” Ciara added with a smile.

  Maddie decided not to correct her sister’s use of the fellow’s first name this time.

  “That’s right,” Michael agreed. “They’ll notify the sheriff of any problems before those problems get too big for us to handle.”

  Aiden went back to his dinner. “Good. When I’m old enough, I’ll join them.”

  Maddie smiled at him. “And an excellent watchman you’ll make, I know. When you aren’t being a sailor.”

  “I don’t want to be a sailor,” Aiden said. “I want to be a sheriff and ride a big black horse.”

  “Maybe I’ll be a sheriff too,” Ciara said. “That way I can protect everyone.”

  Maddie laid a hand on her sister’s. “That will be a grand day. For now, please believe that Michael and I can protect you. I would never have left you behind in New York if I thought I had any other choice.”

  Ciara attacked her venison. “I could have given you lots of choices if you asked. You could have married the grocer. That way he wouldn’t have asked you to pay off Da and Mum’s bill. Or you could have married Michael.”

  Maddie’s face was heating, but her gaze was drawn to Michael’s once more. He winked at her.

  “But if Maddie and I had married in New York,” he told Ciara, “we’d never have come to this wild country where you and Aiden can be sheriffs if you want.”

  Ciara chewed on her venison, frowning in obvious thought.

  “Then you can just get married now,” Aiden put in brightly. “Maddie’s already figured out how to bake the cakes.”

  “As if that’s all there is to marrying!” Maddie protested.

  Aiden glanced between her and Michael. “Is there more than cakes?”

  “Of course,” Ciara scolded him. “There’s the wedding gown and a minister, and all your friends and family around you. But we can take care of all that. Miss Underhill already said she’d make the gown.”

  Maddie felt as if this ship was about to sail without her. “I don’t need a wedding gown, because I’m not marrying anyone.”

  “I don’t see why not,” Aiden said, flattening his potatoes with his fork so that gravy ran out across the plate. “You and Michael are together all the time anyway.”

  Maddie looked to Michael for assistance. He didn’t seem nearly as concerned as he should be, grin forming on his handsome face.

  “I believe he’s planning on moving out soon,” she said. “Aren’t you, Mr. Haggerty?”

  That wiped the smile from his face. Ciara and Aiden reacted nearly as badly. Her sister stopped eating in midbite, and Aiden’s face puckered.

  “You’re leaving now, Michael?” he asked, voice plaintive.

  Oh, what had she done? Trying to protect herself from marriage, she’d taken their stability and thrown it out the window like dirty water.

  “Not right away,” Michael assured Aiden. “I promised your sister I’d stay until all the trouble is over.”

  Maddie nodded, watching as her brother and sister relaxed.

  “Good,” Aiden said, returning to herding his gravy back toward the potatoes. “There’s always trouble, so you’ll never leave.”

  Maddie stared at him, but Michael laughed and reached for more of the venison.

  She managed to keep the conversation away from weddings for the rest of the meal, then settled her brother and sister into bed and heard their prayers. Michael was waiting for her near the stove when she came out of Ciara’s room.

  “I’m going to work at Kelloggs’ tonight,” he said, taking her hand and cradling it in his own. His touch sent warmth flooding through her. “But I meant what I said earlier, Maddie. Even when I move out, I’ll still want to be part of Ciara’s and Aiden’s lives. I’ll still be your friend, ready to help when needed. All you have to do is ask.”

  And asking was the hardest part. Asking meant she had to have faith in the other person. It was easier on her heart to rely only on herself.

  She pulled back her hand. “Thank you, Michael. I’d best get some sleep now. You know how early morning comes.”

  “Not early enough for me,” he said with a smile. “But good night, Maddie. Sweet dreams.”

  She was fairly sure her dreams would be more troubled than sweet. To her surprise, though, she slept so well the sun was already up when she opened her eyes. She lay there a moment, smiling at the light.

  The light? Her bread!

  She leaped out of bed, threw on her clothes and scurried down the stairs.

  Michael looked up as she careened into the kitchen.

  “Easy,” he said, catching her shoulders. “Aiden and I have it in hand.”

  Her brother waved from the worktable, where he stood on a stool, slathering icing on sugar cookies. By the stains on his shirt, more was going on him than on the cookies.

  “When you didn’t get up, Aiden and I checked on you,” Michael said, turning for the oven. “You looked so peaceful we didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

  “But the bread,” Maddie protested, brain feeling fuzzy as she followed him.

  “Is done,” he replied. Taking the peel from the wall, he opened the oven. Dozens of loaves, golden and plump, shimmered in the heat.

  “Michael said we shouldn’t try cinnamon rolls,” Aiden supplied, knife flashing as he spread the icing. “But we managed bread and cookies.”

  They had indeed. Maddie helped Michael line the loaves on the display counter to cool, then rescued the cookies from Aiden’s eager grasp and laid them out as well. Everything was ready by the time her first customers arrived.

  While Aiden gathered eggs and took them upstairs, promising to wake his sister, Maddie and Michael served the loggers and mill workers. The mad scramble went even faster than usual. She said as much to Michael as he helped her clean up afterward.

  “Maybe you’re just getting used to it,” he said with a smile.

  Perhaps. But another thought struck her. In fact, the truth of it resonated through her body. No matter what happened, everything was easier with Michael beside her.

  Oh, but she’d done it now. Despite all her efforts and firmly held beliefs, she was falling in love with him. Just what was she willing to do about it?

  * * *

  Michael glanced at Maddie as he finished sweeping the floor. He thought it had been a good morning. She’d been able to sleep in, and the bakery had still earned a pretty penny. Yet now her cinna
mon brows were down, and her mouth worked as if she chewed on thoughts far weightier than her bread. He was almost afraid to ask.

  She looked up then, and her frown deepened. Following her gaze, Michael saw a beaming bearded face peering in at them from the window.

  “Now, what could he be wanting?” Maddie asked as Mr. Terry waved from the other side of the glass.

  “Perhaps he’s come to admit defeat,” Michael suggested with a grin.

  She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe that, but she went to the door and let her competitor in.

  Mr. Terry whipped off his narrow-brimmed hat and gave them a nod. “Miss O’Rourke, Mr. Haggerty,” he greeted. “I was concerned you might have closed when I saw the place empty.”

  “We’re open,” Maddie assured him as if determined to put that rumor to bed. “Every day but Sunday.”

  “Maddie’s customers bought her out again this morning,” Michael added, unable to keep the pride from his voice.

  “It’s hard to keep up with demand,” Mr. Terry agreed. “Which brings me to the reason for my visit. I understand you’ve had some trouble at the bakery, and I thought I could help.”

  Maddie’s gaze narrowed. So she still harbored some suspicions toward the other bakery owner. Though Michael was equally sure the man was innocent, he had to admit that Mr. Terry had reason to want to see Maddie fail.

  “I’m doing well despite the troubles,” she told him. “But I thank you for thinking of me all the same.”

  He refused to give up. “You’re making do with your current clientele,” he corrected her. “The Wallin wedding will be a different matter. From what I hear all over town, James Wallin intends to feed the entire city of Seattle. That’s a big job, for any bakery.”

  “It is,” she agreed, “but I have every intention of helping the family who’s been so kind to my friends. I can manage.”