Charity wondered but kept her doubts to herself. Reggie probably counted on his mother’s inheritance coming to him without her spending any with a new husband. “I’m sure he will. He’s bound to like Mr. Murdoch. I hope you like Reggie’s wife.”
A rap on the door startled them.
Jenny opened to reveal a young man. “Come in, Nick. What brings you today?”
“Sheriff Mathers sent me.” He removed his hat and nodded at the other women.
“Nick Sanders, this is Mr. Kevin’s fiancée, Mrs. Edwina Shaw, her niece Miss Charity Kelso, and their friend Mrs. Amelia Douglas. Ladies, Nick lives on the Carter Ranch, one of the largest and oldest hereabouts.”
Aunt Edwina asked, “Is the train running again?”
“No, Ma’am, but the railroad company arranged for a stage from the last stop before Sweetwater Springs to the first stop afterward and vice versa. They have a trail cleared so the horses and stage won’t get bogged down. With the stage running both ways, folks can get around the blocked track and be on their way to their destinations.”
Aunt Edwina clasped her hands together. “That’s wonderful news. Do you know at what time the stage heads west?”
“Plans are for it to leave at one. I don’t know how often it runs on time since today’s the first day.”
Jenny indicated a chair at the table. “Nick, have a piece of Mrs. Shaw’s pie and a cup of coffee before you leave.”
The young man grinned and sat. “I don’t mind if I do.”
Aunt Edwina grilled Nick about his family and where he lived.
He spoke between bites. “John Carter is my godfather and when my folks died, he took on raising me. Next to my pa, John’s the finest man ever was.”
He pushed his empty plate away. “That was the best apple pie I’ve ever eaten.”
Aunt Edwina smiled at him. “Thank you. I hope you’ll come back again and eat the entire meal with us.”
“Thank you. I’d best be getting on my way. Tell everyone hello.”
After he’d gone, Aunt Edwina stood. “I have a lot to accomplish in a short time.” She hurried toward the stairs.
Charity needed go upstairs too. “Jenny, do you need help or can I go help my aunt.”
Jenny made a shooing motion with her hands. “You’d better help her. She’s so excited who knows what she’ll pack?”
Charity had to focus on her aunt’s happiness and not feel sorry for herself. What could Charity do once she left? Nothing appealed to her except life right here with that ornery Logan Murdoch. Her heart heavy, she hurried up the stairs.
Charity walked into her aunt’s room to find chaos. “Aunt Edwina? Stop and let me help you organize.”
Aunt Edwina placed her fingers on either side of her face. “I’m too excited to think clearly. I never dreamed I’d have this chance. I’m terrified it will suddenly disappear.”
“Mr. Murdoch is far too clever to let you get away, Aunt. Now, let’s think this through. You’ll be gone about a month. Say ten days on the train counting both ways. That leaves about two and a half to three weeks in Portland. You’ll want to include five day dresses and two evening dresses.”
Her aunt’s lovely brow furrowed. “Only five day dresses?”
“Aunt, they won’t expect you to wear a different dress every day you’re there. What if they have small rooms? Where would you store trunk after trunk?”
“As usual, your good sense prevails. Help me choose, will you?”
“We’ll use this steamer trunk to check in baggage plus one valise for use on the train. Your creams, brush, and such will go in the valise. So will any jewelry you take.”
“Don’t you think I should give Reggie’s wife a family piece of jewelry?”
“That would be a nice gesture that I’m sure would help cement your relationship with her and please Reggie.”
“I guess I’ll give her Mother’s pearls. I don’t know what sort of social life they engage in there. I’ll take the diamonds as well and decide when I’m there.”
“Good idea. If you adore her, you could give her both. Or, you could save one for the birth of their first child. Your grandmother’s pearls would be nice for your wedding, not ostentatious, but lovely and with a great deal of meaning.”
“Right, and they look nice with the blue dress.” She lay down. “You choose, Charity dear, I simply can’t focus. I’m as nervous as a debutante at her coming out party.”
Charity carefully selected ensembles and packed them in the steamer trunk. Into the valise, she placed her aunt’s nicest nightgown and silk robe, jewelry case, and changes of unmentionables and stockings. The extra traveling suit and a second pair of shoes pretty well filled the valise. As an afterthought, she tucked in a couple of novels her aunt might enjoy.
She had finished when she heard heavy boot treads on the stairs.
Mr. Murdoch burst into the room and swept her aunt into an embrace. “Jenny just told me the good news, my love. Shall we go tomorrow?”
Aunt Edwina held his shoulders and beamed at him. “I’m ready. Charity just packed my trunk and valise.”
“I’ll send one of the men to town to arrange things with Reverend Norton. I can’t tell you how happy I am you’ll soon be Mrs. Murdoch.” After a touching kiss, he released her and ran down the stairs.
Her aunt glowed with happiness. Charity thought, that’s how I’d be if Logan wanted to wed me. With a sigh, she said, “I’ll have to get my things in order too. I’ll be ready by morning.”
Hurrying from her aunt’s room before she broke into tears, Charity sought the privacy of the room she shared with Amelia. But, she opened the door to find her friend there packing.
Amelia looked up. “I’m so eager to be on the way to my brother’s.”
Charity averted her gaze. “I’m sure he’ll be relieved to see you. No doubt he’s wondering what’s happened to you in the interim.”
“We’ve had a grand adventure, haven’t we, Charity?”
Charity sighed and wondered if her heart would survive. “Yes, quite an adventure. I’ve learned a lot in our time here.”
Sean came to the door. “Supper’s ready.” He went to the next room to inform Aunt Edwina.
“I suppose this can wait until after we eat.” Amelia closed her valise.
They saw Sean escorting Aunt Edwina so they followed them to the kitchen. Mr. Murdoch was jovial and talked about the plans he and Aunt Edwina had made.
Charity took her seat and refused to look at Logan. Tears pricked the backs of her eyelids. She hoped she could get through the meal without having to excuse herself.
Logan leaned near. “Guess you leave tomorrow.”
She looked at her plate. “Guess so.”
“What will you do?”
She shrugged without looking at him. “I don’t know. Perhaps my cousin Reggie will have a suggestion.”
“Will your aunt finance you in a business?”
She shook her head. “I wouldn’t ask her to. She doesn’t owe me anything and I have no right to her funds.”
He turned toward her. “Charity—”
“Attention everyone!” Kevin cut off whatever Logan had been about to say. “A toast to my beautiful bride.” He raised his cup. “To Edwina.”
Each of them raised a cup as well.
Mr. Murdoch took his seat. “You’re all invited to our wedding tomorrow morning at eleven in the Sweetwater Springs Church. We’ll depart on the stage in the afternoon.”
Charity glanced at Logan but he concentrated on his plate. She wished she knew what he’d been going to say before his father’s interruption. If only he’d give her another chance.
She made it through supper and managed to force a smile for the happy couple. Sean and Whitey joked with them. Logan remained quiet.
She and Amelia did the dishes.
Amelia dried a plate. “Hard to believe this is the last time we’ll do this, isn’t it.”
“There’s tomorrow after breakfast.�
�
“That’s right. Still, this seems strange. I’ve never done kitchen chores but I think I’ll miss this place.”
“You’ll likely end up helping your brother in his kitchen.”
“Probably. He didn’t mention a maid. I’ve been thinking about his letters and realize he really didn’t explain much about his life there. He wrote about the weather and the city.”
“Probably he was trying to entertain you. Does that concern you?”
“I worry he’s hiding something from me.” Amelia shook her head. “That’s silly. I’m just nervous about the trip.”
Charity wondered if that kind of perception didn’t forecast the truth but she tried to reassure her friend. “Of course you are. When you see him again everything will be fine.”
As soon as they’d tidied the kitchen, Charity excused herself to go pack. She simply couldn’t listen to the engaged couple discussing plans with others. She was happy for her aunt and for Mr. Murdoch, but she longed for the same thing with Logan.
Most of the trunks were in the barn. She repacked the one in the room and laid out the dress she would wear tomorrow. Her aunt had asked her to be maid of honor, so she chose her best from those in the trunk. She supposed she could change at the parsonage before getting into the stage.
She put her green traveling suit at top in her valise and saved out her ice blue gros grain dress trimmed in navy velvet and white Valencia lace. What would she wear until time to get ready to leave for the church? Today’s dress would do.
When Amelia joined her, they readied for bed, climbed between the covers, and lowered the lantern. Light from the fireplace gave the room a cozy glow.
Amelia pulled the cover under her chin. “I believe you’d prefer staying here. Why don’t you? Your aunt will be back in a month or so and you can live with her.”
“I haven’t been invited, but I couldn’t even if I had. I need to make a life somewhere instead of living at the edge of someone else’s.”
“I understand, for that’s how I felt at my in-laws’ home. But, I thought you’d adjusted to ranch life and liked being here.”
“I’ve enjoyed our time on the ranch, but I need to move on. Someday I’d like to marry and have a family. I won’t find a husband hidden away on this ranch.”
“Not unless you marry that handsome Logan. He watches you all the time. I’m surprised he hasn’t asked you to stay.”
Charity didn’t answer, hoping Amelia would take the hint. Apparentl, she did and they settled in to sleep. But, Charity couldn’t stop the tears flowing and sniffled before she could stop herself.
Amelia asked, “Is something wrong?”
Taking a deep breath, Charity answered, “I must be coming down with a cold. Wouldn’t you know, just in time for the trip?” She slid from bed and retrieved a handkerchief, blew her nose, and returned to burrow under the covers.
Chapter Eleven
As the hands organized their bedrolls, Logan followed his father and Sean upstairs. At the top of the stairs, Pa beckoned.
“Logan, come to my room with me.”
Logan figured his father wanted to give him last minute directions for running the ranch while he and Mrs. Shaw were away. He’d listen, but he knew what to do to keep things going. Sean and he had been drilled in ranch management as long as he could remember.
Pa shut the door. “Have a seat, Son.”
Logan sat in one of the two chairs. His father sat in the other, a solemn expression on his face.
“Pa, you don’t have to worry about the ranch while you’re gone. Sean and I know what to do and so do the hands. We’ll keep things running just like you were here.”
“I have no doubts where the ranch is concerned. I know you and Sean will do a fine job. Far as that goes, the hands could manage if you and your brother want to come with us.”
“Then what’s on your mind?”
“How can you let Charity get away? That girl loves you and I think you care for her. She’s proved she’d make a good rancher’s wife. What’s standing in the way?”
Why did he have to explain and bare his pain? “I asked her to marry me and she turned me down. She even said she loved me but that she had to see her aunt to Portland because she’d promised. I told her Amelia could handle that chore, but she said she’d given her word. The thing is, she didn’t love me enough to make other arrangements.”
“Son, that’s not logical thinking. I’m disappointed in you.”
How could Pa say such a thing? “Pa? She chose her aunt over me.”
“That’s not the way I see it. Suppose I had to go to… say to Denver for medical treatment and you promised to go with me and see I got there and back in good order. And, suppose you gave me your word you would stick with me no matter what. Then Charity asked you to stay here and send Sean instead. What would you do?”
“Aw, that’s different. If you were sick and I’d given my word, of course I’d go with you.”
“How is that different? Edwina had just lost an abusive husband and was at a low point in her life. She could hardly function from sorrow and humiliation. Her husband, a man who gambled and drank and told her how worthless she was as a wife, had died in the arms of a prostitute in a brothel. Charity promised she wouldn’t leave her until they reached Reggie in Portland.”
Logan sat looking at his hands for a few minutes. Deep down, he’d known he was making a big mistake. He’d even started to apologize and try to make things right, but his father had interrupted with news about the wedding.
He raised his head to meet his father’s gaze. “Pa, I’ve really screwed up, haven’t I? I knew I was wrong, but didn’t know how to get around the mess I’d made.”
“You’d better figure a way soon or she’ll be gone. Chances like this don’t come along often. She loves you. You going to let her disappear from your life?”
Logan scrubbed a hand across his face. How could he right this mistake? He hoped he hadn’t ruined his chance with Charity.
“I’ve got some figuring to do, Pa.”
“You damn sure do. Start figuring and make it fast.”
Logan looked around the room, registering with surprise that Edwina’s trunks were in a corner. “Guess this is your last night sleeping alone.”
“Could be your last night alone too if you straighten out your mess.”
Logan stood, the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Goodnight, Pa.”
“Goodnight, Son.”
He closed the door quietly as he left.
In the hall, Sean waited by his door with his arms crossed. “Pa give you what for?”
“How’d you know?”
“Plain to everyone you and Charity are crazy about one another but something went wrong somewhere. Knowing both of you, I figure you’re the fly in the ointment.”
“I’m so miserable I don’t even want to slug you for poking in my life. I’ve really messed up this time, Sean. I don’t know if she’ll forgive me now.”
Sean clapped him on the back. “Only one way to find out, isn’t there?”
After talking with his brother a few more minutes, Logan went to his room and tried to sleep. He tossed and turned then gave up and lit the lamp and tried to read. The words blurred and he saw Charity’s face the way she’d looked when he’d hurt her.
He recognized that he was no expert on women but that didn’t matter. He didn’t want any other woman, only Charity. From the first day, she’d captured his heart.
She’d shown him she could handle ranching and the house. He smiled while recalling the times she’d challenged him. Charity Kelso was no timid miss who could be pushed around. She’d defended herself against wolves and the elements. Apparently, only her family had the power to defeat her.
And, he had.
He’d hurt her and now he had to plan how to remedy his error.
***
Charity woke as tired as when she’d gone to bed. Sluggish from little sleep, she moved slowly.
A
melia busied herself taking the last steps to have her luggage ready to be loaded. “There, I think that’s everything except changing into my traveling suit just before we leave.”
Amelia stopped and took Charity by the shoulders. “You really must be coming down with something. Your eyes are red and puffy.”
“My head is pounding but I’ll be fine once I’ve had my coffee.” She dressed and went next door to help her aunt.
Aunt Edwina stood in the center of the room wringing her hands. “I’m so excited I can’t think straight. I hope he’s not disappointed with me. I don’t have the figure I did as a young woman.”
Charity hastily fastened her aunt’s dress. “He loves you exactly as you are, Aunt. He’ll be a good and kind husband, which you deserve. You’ll be good for him as well. You’re both lucky.”
“Thank you, Dear.”
After a few minutes, Charity tucked the last curl in place and stood back to admire her work. “Your hair looks lovely. I’ll put your brush and container of pins on top of the valise in case we need to touch up at the church.”
He aunt peered in the mirror. “I still have hope things will work out between you and Logan.”
Charity turned away. “I’d rather not talk about him, Aunt Edwina.”
Her aunt hugged her shoulders. “I understand. Shall we go down for breakfast?”
A festive mood reigned in the kitchen. While Charity and Amelia did the dishes, the men carried down trunks and took them to the wagon. They’d already loaded Charity’s and Amelia’s trunks from the barn. Yesterday they’d brought Aunt Edwina’s belongings inside and up to the master bedroom.
At last, Charity and Amelia raced upstairs to change into their traveling clothes. The dresses Charity and her aunt would wear at the wedding were pressed and draped in a sheet to protect them and minimize wrinkles.
Once again, the women sat on trunks, but Mr. Murdoch rode in back with them. Jenny wore a pink dress Charity had never seen and her hair was in a neat bun. The ranch hands rode their horses alongside the wagon.
Mr. Murdoch—soon she’d have to call him Uncle Kevin— stretched out his long legs. “I was afraid I’d get horse hair on my suit, so I decided to ride with you ladies.”
Montana Sky: Murdoch's Bride (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 3) Page 9
