Marnie:

by Shanna Hatfield

  “Lars, this isn’t at all proper.” She snatched her dress from the floor but he grabbed it out of her hands and tossed it on the worktable.

  “Proper or not, I sure like seeing you that way, sweet thing. You are the most beautiful, breathtaking woman I’ve ever seen.” Lars kissed her again, melting both her resolve and resistance while his hands caressed her sides and roamed up and down her back.

  Forcing herself not to get lost in the man who’d earned not only her trust but her love, Marnie focused on the sounds of Sophie crying and Sadie trying to comfort her.

  “Lars, I’ve got to go check on the children. Sophie’s screaming and Sadie and Noah need me.” Marnie jerked the dress over her head and began fastening the buttons that ran down the front of it with trembling fingers. Lars shoved her hands out of the way and took over, righting the buttons she’d pushed through the wrong holes. His deliberate attention to fastening each button had them both feverish before he finished.

  Giving her a wicked grin, he slid his hands up her back then tangled them in her hair before burying his face in the shiny tresses.

  Lifting his head, his smile was nearly her undoing. “You always smell like something fresh and clean, kind of like the air after a gentle rain.”

  Marnie blushed and pulled away from him again. “I appreciate you telling me that and for your careful attention to helping me dress. Now, go get your boots on or you’ll cut your feet to pieces on the broken glass in there. I’ll hold a gun on Melton until you get back.”

  Lars shook his head and hurried to the back door. Before he ran out into the darkness, he turned back to her and grinned. “You’re quite a woman, Marnie Jones. Don’t you ever forget it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Seated at the table in Ilsa’s workroom, Marnie sewed buttons on a shirtwaist the mayor’s wife had ordered. Once she finished and gave the piece a good pressing, the summer creation of lace and cotton would be ready to deliver.

  While she stitched the buttons into place, Marnie let her thoughts wander to an article she’d read a few days earlier in the newspaper. The account of a speech President Theodore Roosevelt offered at the Prize Day Exercises at Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts, provided many interesting points. The article didn’t include the speech in its entirety, but it did cover the highlights.

  One line stood out to Marnie and continually flitted around in her thoughts.

  “Because much has been given to you, therefore we have a right to expect much from you.”

  Despite the pain of her past, she could see that much had been given to her, especially in the last few months.

  The previous afternoon, she’d received a telegram from her father’s attorney in response to an inquiry she’d sent a few days ago. He assured her the inheritance from her family was still rightfully hers and he would immediately transfer the funds to her account in Pendleton. He expressed his pleasure in knowing she was alive and well and encouraged her to contact him if she needed anything further.

  In addition to her sudden, unexpected riches, she had work she loved doing, good friends who enriched her life, three sweet children who needed her, and a tenderhearted man who loved her.

  Lars hadn’t said the words, but he didn’t need to. She knew by the look in his eye, the gentleness when his hand held hers, the tone of his voice when he spoke that he loved her. He’d shown her his love in many, many ways.

  Although he could never be hers, she would always know that he loved her even when her life was a sordid disaster.

  Reflecting on other parts of the article in the newspaper, so much of what the president said made her think of Lars. The speech mentioned men should work hard and be honest, full of courage and common sense. It said men should have a strong mind and clean character.

  Marnie couldn’t imagine anyone having a better mind or character than Lars. He was honest, fair, brave, strong, and upright.

  He was exactly the kind of man she’d pictured marrying as a young girl, full of wonderful plans and ideals. Thanks to Lars, her hopes and dreams were no longer locked away in the back of her mind, but dancing around in her heart.

  She would never love anyone but Lars, so she resigned herself to spending the rest of her life content to do honest work and raise the three children God delivered into her life. But, oh, how she wished Lars could be part of her future.

  Wishing wouldn’t make it so, though. Marnie knew that with unwavering certainty.

  Picking up the last button, she knotted her thread as the bell above the front door announced a visitor. The clomp of boots and the sound of spurs jangling across the floor reached her ears.

  “I’ll be right there,” she called. Poking the needle into the fabric, she set the shirtwaist on the table and rose to her feet. Hurrying toward the doorway to the front of the shop, she came up short when Lars stepped into the room and gave her a devilish grin.

  “Afternoon, Miss Jones.” He took off his hat and held it in his hands, studying her from head to toe then back up again.

  Speechless, Marnie stood staring at him.

  He’d been gone for almost two weeks, wrapping up all the details of the Bowman Gang’s arrest. The telegram he sent her had been brief, letting her know he was uncertain when he’d return to Pendleton. He made no mention of his next assignment and she’d tried not to think of him leaving Pendleton for good.

  She knew all along he had a job to do and would leave as soon as he brought in the gang. However, she never expected to miss him with such a relentless intensity.

  As he stood before her in all his tall, brawny, and handsome glory, Marnie felt her heart begin galloping within her chest. Reaching up to check her hair, she poked in a few loose pins, still unable to find her voice.

  “Cat got your tongue, sweet thing?” Lars tossed his hat on the worktable and continued walking toward her until he stood so close, she could count the individual freckles on his nose. He smelled of horses, leather, sunshine, and uniquely him - the most magnificent scent Marnie could imagine.

  Before she could take a step back, he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her against his solid chest.

  “I sure hope the cat didn’t get your tongue, because I’m quite partial to it.” His hot blue gaze bore into hers, making her knees wobble.

  Marnie slapped playfully at his arm and shook her head, finally regaining the ability to speak. “You shouldn’t say such things. It’s not at all proper.”

  “What a relief, it’s still in there.” Lars leaned back far enough he could look his fill. A shiny mass of curls rested atop her head, making her seem taller than he remembered and she wore his favorite pink dress. A soft blush blossomed on each cheek and those blue eyes that haunted his dreams looked like a summer storm brewed in them. “I sure missed you, darlin’. The last twelve days have been the longest of my entire life.”

  “I missed you, too, but I didn’t think you’d be coming back.” Marnie knew he’d visit his sisters, but she was afraid to hope he’d come see her. He’d made it perfectly clear from the start he was married to his job as a U.S. Marshal and had no room in his life or his heart for a wife or family.

  “Why would you think that?” Lars gave in to his desire to feel the silky strands of her tresses wrapped around his fingers and began unpinning her hair. She started to push at his hands, then stilled, closing her eyes as he finger-combed through her curls. Her fragrance teased his nose, reminding him he’d been without the smell, sight, feel, sound, or taste of her for nearly two weeks.

  “Because you took in the gang. There isn’t any reason for you to stay.” Marnie opened her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

  “No reason to stay?” Lars backed away from her with a perplexed look on his face. He stood silently considering her for a long moment. “Do I or do I not have two sisters here along with their families?”

  “You do.”

  Lars stepped forward.

  “And do I or do I not have three children here I’ve come to care for gr
eatly?”

  “You do.”

  He raised his hand and lightly brushed his knuckles along her smooth jaw line.

  “Do I or do I not have a woman I love more than life itself and would move heaven and earth to be with her?”

  “I don’t know. Do you?”

  Lars gave her a long, intense look then roughly pulled her to him, taking her lips captive. He poured his heart, his very soul, into the kiss. Jubilant satisfaction filled him when Marnie wound her hands around his neck, returning his passion wholeheartedly.

  Lifting his head, he gazed into her face and gave her a slow, seductive grin that made her stomach flutter like a swarm of butterflies took flight inside it.

  “I believe I do.”

  Marnie pulled his head down for another kiss, fully immersed in the fervent desire sizzling between then. They both struggled to catch their breath when it ended.

  Chest heaving with the effort to regain her composure, Marnie glanced around, trying to find her hairpins. “Sadie and Noah will be home from school any minute. In fact, they should have been here by now.”

  Lars grabbed her hand and kissed her palm before tasting the delicate skin at her wrist. He heard her sharp intake of breath and watched her long eyelashes flutter closed, fanning her cheeks at the intimate touch.

  “Relax. The kids are fine.” Lars cocked a hip and leaned against the work counter with a smug tilt of his head.

  “And where, exactly, are they?”

  “Aundy took Sophie out to Nash’s Folly, didn’t she?”

  Marnie nodded, wondering how he knew Aundy arrived mid-morning and said she’d love to keep the baby for the day.

  Lars kissed each one of her fingers making delicious shivers race up her spine. “Kade took Noah home with him and his two boys and Sadie is staying with Ilsa and Tony.”

  “Oh.”

  “Since the children are all safe and sound, would you please take a ride with me?”

  “A ride? I’m hardly dressed for a ride. I’ll go change and put up my hair…” Marnie started toward the stairs, but Lars slapped his hat on his head, turned the lock on the back door, and swept her into his arms.

  “I like your hair down and I don’t want you to change. That happens to be one of my favorite dresses.” Lars carried her through the front of the store and outside. He set her down and locked the front door then turned back to her with molten eyes. “I realize I’m not a knight in shining armor like in those books you love so much, but would you take a man of the law on a white horse?”

  Laughing, Marnie nodded her head.

  Lars mounted Viking then motioned for her to come closer. Grabbing her around the waist, he settled her across his lap and started out of town with everyone who saw them stopping to stare.

  “The good reputation I’ve worked so diligently to cultivate will be in tatters, Lars. My gracious!” Hot embarrassment filled her cheeks. She rode across a man’s lap with her hair down, trailing over his arm like a banner. People would be talking about her reverting to her former occupation.

  “If they’re staring, it’s because they’re jealous that I’m holding the most beautiful girl in town in my arms.” Lars kissed her into silence and by the time he was done, Marnie no longer cared what people in town might think or say.

  They rode Viking out of town in the direction of Nash’s Folly and Marnie wondered if he planned to see his sister. It would have made more sense to take a buggy so they could bring Sophie home with them.

  Marnie observed the rapidly passing scenery as Lars urged Viking down the road. When he turned at a crossroad, she wondered why in the world he’d take her out to Dogwood Corners.

  Remembering what a delightful time she had Easter Day there with his family, she smiled as they rode up the lane between the rows of dogwoods.

  “What are we doing here?” Marnie asked as Lars gave her another quick kiss then set her down before dismounting and taking her hand.

  “Going for a little walk,” he said, looping her arm around his.

  “The flowers are beautiful. Mr. Meade does such a nice job of taking care of the place.”

  “He does, which is why I recommend he stay on as groundskeeper.”

  Marnie gave him a puzzled look. “You recommend? That really isn’t of your concern, is it?”

  “It is now. I bought this place from Aundy and Garrett, although, in all honesty, they practically gave it to me. They thought my funds would be better used in the third part of my plan.” Lars led her to a bench beneath a weeping willow tree in the backyard as she stared at him, baffled.

  Taking a seat, she couldn’t make sense of his statement and her thoughts lingered on the fact he’d purchased property in the area. She hoped that meant he planned to be around, at least some of time.

  “Third part of your plan? What are you talking about? What’s part one and two?”

  “Part one is the most important.” Lars dropped down to one knee and took a ring out of his vest pocket. The diamond glinted in the afternoon sunlight as he held it out to her. “Part one is that I love you, Marnie Marie Jones, with all my heart and soul. I can’t envision my future without you in it. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

  Tears filled her eyes as Marnie nodded her head and Lars slipped the ring on her finger.

  She placed a hand on his cheek, on the face of her beloved, and smiled. “I love you with all I have to give. It would be an honor to marry you. I could search for a lifetime and never find someone who loves me as completely, unconditionally, and unselfishly as you.”

  He sat on the bench and lifted her to his lap, kissing her with profound tenderness that made her sigh in pleasure.

  “The second part?” she asked, leaning her head against his chest while holding out the ring, admiring how perfectly it fit her finger and the way the sunlight sparkled off the diamond.

  “I officially resigned my position with the U.S. Marshals and accepted a job the sheriff offered me as a deputy here in Pendleton. Do you think you’d mind having me around on a permanent basis, instead of gone for weeks or months at a time?”

  “I wouldn’t mind at all. In fact, I’d like to keep you this close all the time.” Her flirty glance made him tighten his grip on her waist. “I approve of your plans so far. What does part three entail?”

  “You attract orphans like bees to a clover patch and we’re going to need somewhere to put them.” Lars waved a hand toward the massive, sprawling house that stood before them. “Dogwood Corners seems like the perfect place for us to raise a whole passel of kids. Aundy said there are fifteen bedrooms and I don’t mind if you want to fill them all, as long as you keep one as our personal haven.”

  “Oh, Lars.” Tears of joy spilled down Marnie’s cheeks and she hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me. I plan on some of those kids being born from our loving and I’m willing to put forth as much effort as needed to give you as many babies as you want.” Lars offered her a roguish grin and kissed her soundly. “They’ll be beautiful babies.”

  Marnie felt overwhelming joy as all the hopes and dreams she’d longed for suddenly slid into her grasp. A saucy, enticing smile lifted the corners of her well-kissed lips as she gazed at the man she loved. “Well, sugar, how fast are you going to marry me so we can get started?”

  Lars jumped off the bench and swung her around, making her laugh as he covered her cheeks with kisses.

  “Tomorrow, sweet thing. I’ll marry you tomorrow with Sadie, Noah, and Sophie right beside us, blessing our future together.”

  Coconut Cake

  In an effort to provide you with an authentic cake recipe from the early 1900s, I went on a quest for a delicious recipe. I scoured online offerings, referred to a handful of cookbooks I inherited from Captain Cavedweller’s grandmother, and gathered ideas. After baking approximately half a dozen cakes and forcing my beloved to try them all, we arrived at the conclusion we are spoiled by today’s light, airy cakes. All the recipes I tr
ied seemed so heavy and dense. Rather than share one of those disappointing recipes, I’m instead giving you one of my favorite cake recipes. Even though it uses a boxed mix, I think Lars and Marnie would approve.

  Coconut Cake

  1 white or vanilla cake mix

  3 eggs

  1/2 cup oil

  1 1/3 cups water

  3 cups of freshly whipped whipping cream

  1 tsp. vanilla

  1/2 cup powdered sugar

  1/2 cup raspberry jam

  14-ounce bag of shredded, sweetened coconut

  Fresh raspberries

  Mint for garnish (optional)

  Preheat oven to 350.

  Mix cake mix, eggs, oil and water, following cake mix package directions. Pour into three 8-inch cake pans that have been greased (or sprayed with non-stick spray). Try to get the layers as even as possible.

  Bake until cake bounces back when touched lightly or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (about 18 minutes or so).

  Remove from oven and let cool completely.

  Whip whipping cream until stiff. Add in vanilla and powdered sugar. Stir in gently.

  Place first layer of cake on a cake stand or serving platter. Spread a thin layer of whipping cream then a nice layer of jam on the cake layer. Repeat with the second layer then top with the third. Generously cover the entire cake with the whipping cream.

  Freeze the cake until ready to serve. This is particularly handy because you can freeze it well ahead of time. When you are ready to serve the cake, remove it from freezer with enough time for it to thaw (an hour - or get out the night before and leave in the fridge).

  Generously place coconut all over the cake. When buying the coconut, give the packages a little squeeze. You want the coconut to be really soft and fresh. This is very important. Do not use dried-out coconut. It should feel moist when you take it out of the package.

  Once the cake is completely covered, top it with raspberries and a garnish of mint. Be prepared for rave reviews!