by Morgan, Kit
“Not really,” Apple said, her tone flat. “Is the curse real or not?”
Eloise let out a heavy sigh. “No, Apple, I don't believe it's real.”
“You… you don’t?” Apple asked, truly shocked. “Then what happened to all those men back in England?”
“I don't know, except that someone didn't want them inheriting the Stantham estate. It's the only logical explanation.”
“But who would do such a thing?”
“Some cousin or other I suppose. Thackary Holmes is the only one that comes to mind. I heard Colin and Harrison talking about him one night when I was still living out at the Triple C. What they said made sense. After all, he did travel all the way out here with Cousin Anthony’s solicitor to see if Duncan or his brothers were alive and able to inherit. If they weren’t, then Thackary would. Everything points to him.”
“Yes,” Apple said as she looked to the floor. “I've heard the stories.” Her head snapped up. “But what about the curse?”
Eloise stood up from the bed, and put her hands on Apple shoulders. “There is no curse. The only thing that would keep you from marrying anyone is yourself. You have a handsome man downstairs waiting to have tea with you, and I think you should drop this silly curse business and pay attention to him.”
“There’s no curse?” Apple asked again, her voice trailing off.
Eloise put an arm around her. “No, silly. But I admit, I thought there was just like you do. That's it, isn't it? You're afraid you can't let Mr. O’Hare court you because you think something will happen to him?”
Apple looked at her, tears in her eyes, and nodded.
“Oh, Apple,” Eloise said and took her in her arms. “There's no curse, do you hear me? Just a madman out there trying to get something he was never meant to have.” She gently put Apple away from her. “And who knows where he is by now? Hopefully long gone and out of our lives forever. Now, let’s go back downstairs, shall we?”
Apple sniffed back her tears and nodded. “You mean I've got myself all worked up for nothing?”
“I think you have,” said Eloise as she put her arm around her and steered her toward the bedroom door.
Apple stopped and spun to her. “I was planning on running away!”
“You were what?”
Apple nodded. “I thought that if Deputy O'Hare tried to court me, something bad would happen to him.”
Eloise closed her eyes a moment and smiled. “Oh, Apple, you poor dear. But I understand. I thought the same thing, but it's not true. None of it is.”
Apple's lower lip trembled, but she smiled all the same. “I’m so glad.” She suddenly straightened, eyes wide. “But what am I going to do about Deputy O'Hare?”
“What about him? He’s obviously interested in you, or he wouldn't have asked you to tea.”
“That's just it! I don't know what to do! He wants to court me!”
“Then let him, silly! Now let's go.” Eloise took her by the hand and led her from the room.
Downstairs, conversation at the three tables was well under way. Make that two tables, Bran sat and stared at a biscuit as he waited for Apple's return. Sadie had left and joined Harrison and Colin and was soon savoring the spicy tea Mrs. Upton served them. They were making such a fuss over it that he was tempted to try a cup.
“I'm sorry I kept you waiting,” said Apple as she retook her seat.
“No need to worry, lass. I wasn't going anywhere,” he told her in a reassuring tone.
She looked at him with a brightness that wasn't there before. “I'm glad.”
“You… You are?”
“Yes, of course. Shall we have our tea now?”
He eyed her suspiciously. When she first arrived he thought sure she didn't want to be there, now she seemed perfectly happy to be in his company. Odd.
“There now, you look pretty as a picture, honey!” said Mrs. Upton as she approached their table with a fresh pot in her hand. Bran noticed she gave Apple a wide berth, then poured her a fresh cup and moved to do the same for him. “You'll have to try this,” she told him. “I had some in the kitchen and it's wonderful!”
“It must be from India,” commented Imogene to Cutty. “The spice is most distinct.”
Bran watched as Cutty’s eyebrows rose with pleasure. He looked like he wanted to take a bath in it. “I’ll have to agree with ya there, Miss Imogene,” he drawled.
Bran stared at his own cup, picked it up, and took a cautious whiff. It did smell good. He took a small sip, and smacked his lips. “That's not bad.”
Apple took a delicate sip. “Needs sugar,” she said and reached for the sugar bowl. She stirred in a spoonful then tried the brew again. “That's better. I like my tea sweet.”
“I can see that,” he said with a smile.
“Do you put sugar in your coffee?”
“No, I prefer it black.”
“I've never acquired a taste for the stuff myself, but if you like it…”
“If I like it? Ye'll what?”
“Well, I…”
Bran smiled again then took a gander at everyone else in the room. All eyes were on them and he suddenly felt like an insect trapped under a glass. “Ye'll start drinking coffee for me?” he finally asked.
“Well, I could.”
“No lass, you don't have to drink coffee just because I do. Nor more than I would drink tea, because you do.”
“You don't like tea?” she asked breathlessly.
“I might now, this stuff isn't bad.”
“The Duke sent it from England, with a letter.”
He leaned toward her a few inches. “And what, pray tell, did the Duke have to say?”
Apple looked up at the ceiling a second, then gave him a lopsided smile. “Come to think of it, I didn't ask.”
Bran couldn't help it, he laughed. “Ah, lass, yer a fine one, aren't you?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He found her adorable. “It means ye make me laugh, and that's a good thing.”
She gave him a shy smile. “It is?”
He took another sip of tea. “Aye, lass, it is. Now, tell me something about yerself…”
And she did.
Ten
“And that's how the story of the crocodile came about!” Apple finished with a smile.
“What a tale,” Cutty said then slurped up the rest of his tea. He made a show of smacking his lips as Bran had done, purposely trying to get Imogene riled up. He’d been doing it all afternoon, much to everyone’s delight. Except Imogene’s.
Bran stared at the older couple a moment, then at Apple. He didn't know a woman could contain so many words. Dare he ask the inevitable? But he was no coward. “And then what happened?”
“I'm not quite sure,” Apple told him. “That's where we all get a little muddled.”
“I still don't believe a word of that story!” huffed Imogene. “After all, the only person who could confirm it would be the Duke, and the Duke is no more.”
“But I thought you said his wife, what was her name again? I thought you said she was still alive and she knew the tale,” said Cutty.
“Well, as I wasn't there, I can't confirm it, now can I?” said Imogene. “One needs a witness to such an outlandish story.”
“If any of us could actually remember the whole story, then we could judge whether or not it was outlandish,” pointed out Harrison.
“Why don't one of you just simply asked Duncan?” suggested Sadie. “Isn’t the duchess still alive” Couldn't he ask her? Wasn't she there?”
“By Jove!” laughed Colin. “Why didn't we think of that?”
“Harrison rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Don’t ask. But I’ll be sure to mention it in my next letter to His Grace.”
“Harrison,” said Apple. “What did Duncan say in the letter he sent?”
Harrison and Colin exchanged a quick look. Bran noticed how Cutty watched them with more than a little interest. “He wrote to say he was sending alon
g another package. Something to do with Christmas.”
“Probably our Christmas presents!” said Colin. “I can't wait to see what he got me!”
“Christmas presents?” huffed Imogene. “All the way from England? Well that's very generous of the Duke, I must say.”
“Isn't it though?” added Eloise.
“I wonder if he sent us anything, or if he just sent things to his brothers?” Apple mused.
Bran took his focus off of Cutty and looked at her. “Do ye like presents?” he asked. By now he knew she certainly liked to talk! She did it nonstop for the last hour and a half.
“I adore them!”
“Do ye now?” he said and looked at Harrison with a smile.
Harrison raised his brows at him, as if to say; how was I to know? Bran turned back to Apple. “What kind of presents do ye like?”
She blushed, sensing his intent. “All kinds, really,” she said as she looked to her lap. “But most of all, I like to be surprised.”
“I can see that,” he said with a smile. And he could. She was spontaneous, lively, and though she talked nonstop, was still a breath of fresh air. “I'll have to keep that in mind,” he said in a low voice, just to see what she would do.
She shivered as if chilled, and he smiled at the reaction, pleased. “Will you?” she asked.
“Of course,” he told her. “Who knows what may show up on yer doorstep?”
She put a hand to her chest. “On my doorstep?”
“Maybe even under yer pillow,” he teased.
Apple let loose a tiny gasp. “Mr. O'Hare! You shouldn't talk like that.”
“Like what?” he asked innocently. He found he liked it when he got a rise out of her.
“It's not proper,” she whispered back.
Time to take a chance. “It is, if we're married.”
Her mouth dropped open as her eyes became round as dinner plates. “Married?”
He leaned toward her another inch or two. “My intentions are to court you, Miss Sayer, if ye’ll let me.”
She sat and stared at him as if he'd asked her to jump off a cliff. He watched her struggle with indecision as she glanced around the room. Thankfully, at this point, no one seemed to be paying them any attention.
“Well, Miss Sayer? Yer cousins Harrison and Colin have already given me permission to do so if that makes ye feel any better about it.” Did she feel good about it? Why was she not saying anything?
“They did?” she breathed.
Heat pooled in his belly and began to travel to his toes, not to mention other places. Her innocence was like a bright, shining flame. There was luscious purity about her that he found deeply attractive. Unfortunately, it also brought out the instinct to protect her at all costs, to even kill if he had to. “Yes, they most certainly did. The only one who can tell me now, at this point, is you.”
“I don't know what to say…”
“Say yes.” She stared at him a moment, her mouth opening and closing with indecision, and he felt his heart sink a notch. He’d learned a lot about her in the last couple of hours, and he sensed he could learn so much more. Unable to help himself, he said, “I for one, would very much like to spend more time with you, but I won’t if it goes against yer wishes.”
She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. When she opened them she was smiling. “I'd like to spend more time and get to know you too, Deputy.”
“Bran, call me Bran.”
“Oh, but I couldn't do that, that's so improper!”
He smiled and tried not to laugh. “Not so much around here… Apple.”
She looked at him in wonder, as if hearing her name on his lips was the most fantastic discovery she'd ever made. “Very well then, Bran.”
“Sounds like a food to me!” laughed Wilfred.
“Apple-bran,” mused the sheriff. “Hey, you’re right. Sounds like that would make a good muffin, don't ya think?”
“You two, stop!” Sadie scolded. “Let them court in peace!”
“If’n we were to let them court in peace, then none of us would be here!” laughed Cutty.
“They can't possibly court un-chaperoned!” snapped Imogene. “Drink your tea!”
Cutty grinned and slurped his tea again, loudly. He was trying harder than ever to get a rise out of Imogene. She didn't disappoint.
Everyone laughed as she kicked Cutty under the table. “OW! Whatcha do that fer?”
“Don't be impertinent,” Imogene scolded.
“Imperti… what?” asked Cutty.
“You know perfectly well, what I mean,” she snapped in her signature low, ominous tone.
“I know nothing of the kind, woman!”
Apple giggled, and Bran had to join her, though his was more of a low rumble. “Do they always carry on like this?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, all the time.” She leaned toward him, and whispered, “If you ask me, I think they were made for each other. They bicker constantly, but they love it.”
“I've heard of that, couples who argue all the time, but it's just their way of speaking to each other.”
“That would certainly be Cousin Imogene and Cutty,” She looked at him, eyes aglow. “You don't say much,” she pointed out.
He smiled and tried his best not to laugh. “Well lass, there's a good reason for that ye see.”
“What?” she asked innocently.
“Because ye do enough talking for the both of us,” he said and snorted. He didn't mean to, but it slipped out. The snort that is.
“Well, I never…” Apple began in a huff, then noticed Colin and Harrison staring them down. “I never did get to see ‘His Majesty’ yet,” she said with a smile, quickly changing the subject.
That got Bran’s attention. He looked at her, confused, before his eyes darted to the disapproving scowls of Harrison and Colin. She had just rescued him. “Then I should take ye to see it, with the proper escort, naturally. Perhaps one of yer cousins would join us?”
Apple quickly turned to Colin and Harrison. “Did you hear that? Mr. O'Hare would like to take me down to see ‘His Majesty’.”
“That can be arranged,” said Harrison in a matter-of-fact tone. “I'll see to it.”
Apple turned to Bran again. “That was easy, when do you think we’ll be able to go?”
“I believe that Harrison will decide,” he said and had another go at his tea. He could really begin to like the stuff.
“Where do you live?” she suddenly blurted.
Bran almost choked. “Saints alive, lass! Give a man some warning.”
Laughter filled the room. It was coming from all the men. This was the most cockeyed courtship he'd ever heard of, and unfortunately, it was his. “She took me by surprise, all right?”
The men laughed again (especially Sheriff Hughes and Wilfred) then settled down and went back to their tea and cookies.
“Well?” Apple began again. “Where do you live?”
Bran had almost had enough. Almost. “I have a room here at the hotel.”
Imogene nodded. “Well, now that's not so bad,” she said and turned to look at Apple. “He has a room at the hotel, and not in some barn.”
“I heard him the first time, Cousin,” she said and shook her head. She then smiled at Bran, her eyes bright. “So, now you see how it is. This is my family.”
He licked his lips and smiled. She was just too adorable for words, enough to ignore her cousin’s insult. “I already knew, lass, that they are. But ye wouldn't trade them for the world, now would you?”
“No, never,” she answered. “What about your family? Where are they?”
He took a deep breath. “Gone. They're all gone.”
“What? You mean you don't have any brothers or sisters?”
“No, none. And both my parents, as far as I know, are gone.”
“What do you mean, as far as you know?”
He took another breath, and let it out slowly. “My mother died when I was young, I was maybe ten. My father ra
ised me for a few more years, and then I lost him.”
“Oh that's terrible, I'm so sorry. How did you lose him? Did he get sick?”
“No, lass, he just wasn't there anymore.” He looked away, he hadn't told anyone in Clear Creek about his father and how he'd abandoned him when he was thirteen. He supposed he should explain, but he didn't want to talk about it, and thankfully she must've sensed it, because she didn't bring it up again.
“I've had a nice afternoon,” she said shyly.
“I'm glad to hear it, lass. I've rather fancied it myself.” He noted Harrison as he stood and gave them a curt nod. “It seems as though our time is up. Perhaps we could do it again?”
Her mouth curved up into a smile. “Soon?”
“As is proper, of course. Mrs. Cooke did invite me to Sunday supper, which is only a few days away.”
“I look forward to Sunday, then,” she said with a smile. She turned and looked as Colin, along with the rest of the men at their table, also stood. Clearly, their time really was up. “Looks like I'll have to go home now. Will you… think about when we could see ‘His Majesty’?”
“Aye, I’ll speak to Harrison about it. But it's too cold now to go for a picnic, but a brisk walk down to see such a bonny tree will do us both good. I'm sure will see to it, just as he said.”
“I'd like that,” she said with a wide smile. She looked at her hands folded in her lap, stole a quick glance at him, and blushed. She was cute and pretty and beautiful all at the same time, and he couldn't find the right words to describe her. But that was part of her charm. Apple Sayer, truly was, indescribable.
* * *
Apple let go a happy sigh as she sat next to Harrison and Sadie on the wagon seat. Imogene decided to stay in town to read to Cutty, a habit they’d formed while he was recovering from his burns and other injuries after rescuing Apple’s cousins and the Cooke women. His heroics were still the talk of the town, for which Apple was glad. It kept talk of what happened to Deputy O’Hare to a dull roar at best.
