Christmas at Dove Creek

by Scarlett Dunn

  “They are growing fast. When we found them they were very tiny, probably just a few hours old.”

  “You’d never know it now by their fat little bellies.” He laughed at the squirming pup in his hand.

  Thorpe heard their laughter as he was harnessing the mules, but he didn’t acknowledge them as they approached.

  “Good morning,” Lily said.

  “Where’s Isabelle?” Thorpe asked, sounding none too friendly.

  “I thought she was here,” Lily replied.

  Stone walked up and heard Thorpe’s question. “Isabelle told me she was going to the general store.”

  “We’re ready to leave,” Thorpe said.

  “I’ll go get her,” Stone said.

  * * *

  Isabelle had spotted a bolt of cloth in the window of the general store when she’d passed by and thought it would be perfect to make some clothing for her baby. When she went inside to have a closer look, there was another woman examining the same cloth. She was a lovely young woman with curly dark hair and large dark eyes.

  “Looks like you had the same idea,” the woman said to her when Isabelle approached and touched the fabric. Eyeing Isabelle’s open coat and her bulging stomach, the woman asked, “When are you expecting your baby to arrive?”

  “By Christmas,” Isabelle responded.

  “I thought you didn’t look like you had much longer to go.” The woman opened her coat and lovingly ran her hand over her small protruding stomach. “My little Ethan is coming a few months from now.”

  “You’re naming your baby Ethan?” Isabelle smiled, thinking it was a coincidence the woman had chosen the very same name she planned to name her baby if it was a boy.

  The woman smiled wistfully. “I know we can never know if we will have a boy or a girl, but I’m quite sure my baby will be a boy.”

  “I think my baby will also be a boy,” Isabelle confided.

  “I’m naming my baby after my husband.” The woman became visibly emotional and she pulled her handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at her watery eyes. “You see, my husband was killed recently in battle, and my son will never know his father. I think that’s the least I can do to honor his name.”

  “I am so sorry,” Isabelle said. She found herself becoming emotional as she could relate to the woman’s situation. At least the woman had a husband; she was a widow and she wouldn’t be living in shame like she would be for the rest of her life.

  “I’m sorry. It is ill-mannered of me to be so emotional in front of strangers. I’m totally rude for not introducing myself. I’m Charlotte Horn. I do hope your husband is not a soldier like my poor Ethan. Of course, I am proud of him, but I don’t want another woman to go through such a loss.”

  Isabelle couldn’t speak, she couldn’t move, she couldn’t breathe.

  “I’m prattling on, I realize, but I’ve no one to share this event with since . . . well, since Ethan is gone. We were going to settle in Wyoming, but now I will be going back to Missouri after my baby is born.”

  Stone overheard part of the conversation when he stepped over the threshold. He hurried to Isabelle’s side. “There you are, my dear. I’ve been looking for you. Everyone is ready and waiting on us to leave, honey.” He glanced at Charlotte Horn. “I’m sorry, but we are in a hurry.”

  Charlotte looked at the badge on Stone’s jacket. “Oh, thank goodness you are not a soldier, Marshal. I just lost my poor husband who was a soldier, and I was telling your wife I’m naming my son Ethan to honor him. She is so lucky to have you by her side.”

  Mrs. Horn had assumed exactly what Stone intended, and he hadn’t told a lie. He tipped his hat, and said, “Nice talking to you, ma’am, but we must say good-bye.” He quickly ushered Isabelle out of the store before she broke down. Once they were outside, she still didn’t utter a word. Stone feared she was in shock. “Are you okay?”

  She didn’t respond.

  Stone helped her inside the wagon that he’d driven to the store. The captain and his men were ready to ride, and Thorpe was in the saddle. Stone caught Lily’s attention and motioned for her to come to the wagon. Stone spoke softly to her and told her what happened in the general store.

  “Oh no! Of all the people to run into in that store. Poor Isabelle. Tell Thorpe to give me a minute. I need to make sure she is okay.”

  Lily crawled inside Isabelle’s wagon as Stone went to explain the situation to Thorpe and Jed.

  “Do you think we should leave? Is she in any condition to travel now that she knows?” Thorpe knew what it was like to be deceived, and he worried she might be so upset that she would have that baby early.

  “I think it will be best to get her out of here,” Stone said. “I think if I were in her position, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near this fort.”

  “Let’s give Miss Lily a minute. She’ll know what to do,” Jed said.

  * * *

  Isabelle was lying on her pallet, but she wasn’t crying when Lily sat down beside her.

  “Are you okay?” Lily asked softly.

  “He had a wife. He said he was going to marry me, but he had a wife. He lied to me and I believed his lies. I’m going to have the baby of a liar.”

  “I’m so sorry, Isabelle.” Lily didn’t think there was anything she could say that would take away her pain.

  “I don’t want this baby. I don’t want any part of Ethan in my body.”

  “Isabelle, stop that! You’re just angry right now and rightfully so. But this is your baby and you will love him. This baby can’t help what his father did any more than you can. He’s an innocent like you, and he’s going to need someone strong that will look out for him.”

  Isabelle sat up and looked at Lily for the first time. “If you want it, I will give it to you. If you don’t want it, I will find someone to take it when we get to Thorpe’s ranch. I don’t want any part of it.”

  Lily took her by the shoulders and shook her. “Listen to yourself! Before you found out about Ethan’s lies you loved this baby. You are not making any sense. This baby is not an it! He is your baby and you will love him more when he comes. You have to have faith that something wonderful will come of this situation.”

  “You’re wrong. I no longer have faith that anything good will happen.” She lay back down on the pallet and turned away from Lily. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Please tell Thorpe to get us out of here.”

  Realizing Isabelle wasn’t seeing things clearly at the moment, Lily left the wagon and told Thorpe they were ready to leave. She looked at Stone and shook her head. “Give her some time.”

  * * *

  During the noon break, Captain Anderson approached Lily and asked her to take a walk with him. Blue jumped up to accompany them. “Is this your chaperone?” Anderson asked.

  “He generally stays with me all of the time.” She didn’t mention that Blue spent an inordinate amount of time with Thorpe now as well. She told him the story of finding Blue injured and how he’d been with her ever since.

  “I noticed Isabelle hasn’t left the wagon. Is she ailing?”

  “No, unless you count a broken heart as being ill. I’m afraid she saw Mrs. Horn in the general store.”

  “I am sorry,” Anderson said. “But perhaps it’s best to know the truth about Horn.”

  “I agree, but she’s not taking it very well right now. I’m worried about her.”

  “I’m certain she has to be frightened, given her situation.”

  Lily thought it was unusual for a man to be so perceptive without judging Isabelle. “Yes, she is. But Thorpe has invited us to stay on his ranch until spring, and she will have people surrounding her that care for her.”

  “When she has that baby, her whole life will change,” he said. He looked off in the distance thinking of his life before tragedy stuck. “I know mine did.”

  Lily thought he was unmarried. “You have children?”

  He stopped walking and pointed to some boulders where they could sit.
“I was married several years ago, but my wife and young son died of cholera three years ago.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Lily could tell by the look on his face that he still felt the loss.

  “My boy was a little character. He’d put on my coat and hat and salute me. He was only four when he died.”

  “You must miss them terribly.” Lily could sympathize with him, having lost her family.

  “Yes.” He tried to work up the courage to ask her the question on his mind. “Do you want a family, Lily?”

  “I haven’t thought that far ahead. I will have time for that later after I find my grandfather.”

  It wasn’t the answer he wanted, but she was a woman who knew what she wanted. He stood and took her hand and walked out of sight of the wagons and his men.

  * * *

  Thorpe was sitting on a rock enjoying his coffee and watching Lily and Anderson as they strolled away from the camp. He figured the captain was trying to gain favor with Lily. And that was okay with him, as long as he didn’t try anything inappropriate. When they walked out of sight, Thorpe thought about walking in that direction, but Stone sat down beside him.

  He inclined his head to the couple. “I think the captain likes Lily.”

  “I’m not surprised,” Thorpe said, trying to keep his eyes from following them.

  “Yeah. He seems like a decent fellow with a good head on his shoulders.”

  Thorpe didn’t want to talk about Anderson. “How’s Isabelle?”

  “She says she doesn’t want to talk about it, and that she . . .” Stone hesitated, not sure if he should reveal what Isabelle was thinking.

  Thorpe noticed Stone’s worried expression. “What?”

  Stone threw his hands in the air. “She says she doesn’t want this baby.”

  Thorpe shook his head. “She’s hurt right now. She’ll come around. Give her time.”

  “You haven’t seen the look in her eyes. She’s changed.” Stone didn’t like what he saw when he tried talking to Isabelle; she wasn’t the same woman.

  “It’s not easy to understand unless you’ve been betrayed. It takes time to get over the hurt and anger.”

  “Maybe you should have a talk with her,” Stone said. “I didn’t seem to make any headway and neither did Lily.”

  “I think you need to leave her be right now. As my dad used to say, Time heals all wounds. When I was younger I didn’t understand what he meant. But I now understand when you give yourself time, you are able view situations without anger clouding your judgment. Leave her alone, let her think about it, and she’ll come around. Isabelle is a fine woman and she’ll let go of her anger.” Thorpe figured Isabelle felt like he did when he learned of Evelyn’s betrayal.

  “I’m afraid we don’t have much time before she has that baby. With her present frame of mind I’m worried she might really give that baby away. That’s what she told Lily.”

  “Give her a few days and see if she comes around.”

  * * *

  Captain Anderson found a private area and turned to face Lily. “Lily, I asked if you wanted a family for a reason.”

  Lily looked up at him, her brows raised in question.

  “I’d like to get to know you better. I’m not sure how long I will be in Wyoming, but I want to know where you go after you leave Turlow’s ranch. Would you consider writing me and let me know where you are located? I’d like the chance to court you proper.”

  Lily liked him, and she thought perhaps in the future he might be a man to consider marrying when she was ready. If she could forget about Thorpe. “Yes, I will let you know.”

  Wallace took her by the shoulders and leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. He raised his head and looked her in the eyes. “I want you to know I’m not a man like Horn. I’d be true to you if I ever got the chance to court you.” He wanted to give her a real kiss, but he had nothing to offer her at the moment. He couldn’t even tell her when he would see her again, and he wanted to be fair to her.

  When the captain pulled his lips from hers, Lily found herself thinking of Thorpe’s kiss. The captain didn’t kiss her like Thorpe. No one had ever kissed her the way he did. She couldn’t imagine another man kissing her that way, and she couldn’t believe she’d ever enjoy another man’s kiss quite so much.

  Looking into her eyes, Anderson forgot about being fair and leaned down to press his lips to hers once more.

  His second kiss startled her. Her mind was on Thorpe’s kiss when Anderson wrapped his arms around her. Just as she was about to push him away, his lips left hers at the sound of a voice behind them.

  “We’re ready to pull out,” Thorpe said.

  Lily stepped away from the captain and stared at Thorpe. She was so flustered, she couldn’t speak when she saw the look of contempt on Thorpe’s face.

  “Let’s go,” the captain said.

  Thorpe turned Smoke around and headed back to the wagons. He couldn’t believe he’d found Lily in Anderson’s arms, and she looked like she was enjoying herself. He didn’t know why he was so surprised; he already knew he couldn’t trust women.

  When Lily and Wallace walked back to camp, Thorpe stole a glance at Lily. Her face was flushed and he wondered if it was due to the cold or the kissing. “Is your wagon ready to leave?” he snapped. He already knew Jed was hitching the team for her.

  “I’ll have it ready in a few minutes.”

  The captain nodded to Lily before he walked away to join his men.

  Lily left Thorpe standing there alone. She walked to her wagon and found Jed harnessing the animals for her. “Thanks, Jed.”

  “You’re welcome, Miss Lily. Mr. Thorpe sure seemed to be in a hurry all of a sudden.”

  She looked Thorpe’s way and saw that he and the captain were riding side by side.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Thorpe, do you have an interest in Lily?” Anderson asked.

  Thorpe couldn’t say he was surprised by Anderson’s straightforward question. He admired his direct approach. “I have an interest in her well-being, and I intend to make sure she arrives at Dove Creek safe and sound.”

  “I appreciate that, but I’m asking if you have a more personal interest in her. Have you planned on courting her once she’s at your ranch?”

  Though Thorpe liked the captain, he wasn’t inclined to discuss his plans, if he had any when it came to Lily. “What business would that be of yours?”

  “As you probably figured out earlier, I’m attracted to Lily and I plan to court her once she’s settled. I’ve made my intentions known.”

  Thorpe reined Smoke to a halt and stared at Anderson. “What does Lily have to say about your intentions?”

  Anderson pulled his horse around so he could look directly at Thorpe. “You could see she had no objections.”

  Yep. Thorpe had noticed she wasn’t protesting when he was kissing her. “Then I reckon you have no need to worry about me or my interest.”

  Anderson gave him a half grin. “I didn’t say I was worried. You’re a smart man. I figured if you were interested, you’d have done something about it before now. With a woman like her, a man would have to be crazy not to stake a claim when he had a chance. If you had told me you were interested in courting her, I would have told you that I plan to give you some competition.”

  Thorpe was tempted to take that challenge, but he wouldn’t toy with Lily. After that kiss he’d shared with her, he knew he could easily get himself in the same position he had with Evelyn. He wanted her. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted Evelyn. But he didn’t want a wife right now. “I’m not looking for a wife.”

  “That’s the best news I’ve had in a long time. I’m looking for a wife and I want children.” Anderson was relieved Thorpe had no interest in marrying Lily. He figured Thorpe would have the advantage since he’d spent so much time on the trail with Lily, and she was going to be under his roof through the winter. Smiling at what he thought was his good fortune, he urged his horse ahead.
He hated to say good-bye to Lily tomorrow morning, but he had the night to spend some more time with her. He hadn’t kissed a woman in a long time, and he didn’t call that peck he gave her earlier a real kiss. He wanted to give her a kiss that she would remember, and one that would last him for several months.

  Thorpe didn’t move for a few minutes, thinking about Anderson’s comments. He wanted children, and he wanted Lily to be the mother of those children. The thought of Lily being married to Anderson and bearing his children troubled him. But why should it? If Lily wanted Anderson, why should he care?

  * * *

  Watching Thorpe and Captain Anderson riding together, Lily realized she couldn’t escape the fact that her heart belonged to Thorpe. It was obvious he didn’t want anything to do with her, yet that didn’t stop her from loving him. She liked the captain, but she couldn’t see herself ever feeling for him what she felt for Thorpe.

  * * *

  Captain Anderson rode with his men for several miles until he realized he could spend even more time with Lily before nightfall. He rode back to her wagon and told her to stop. After tying his horse behind the wagon, he jumped into the seat beside her.

  Lily gave him a questioning look. “I decided this would be a much more pleasant way to pass the miles.” He took the reins from her. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  Much to her surprise, she didn’t mind. Her mind had been on Isabelle, and she wasn’t quite sure what she could do to change her mind about the baby. It would be nice to have someone to talk with. “No, I don’t mind.”

  “You know I will be riding north in the morning and I may not be back to the fort for several weeks.” He’d told her about the Sioux attacking soldiers in Montana Territory.

  “It sounds very dangerous.”

  “Nothing that we can’t handle.”

  “I’m sorry to see you go.” She didn’t want anything to happen to him or his men.

  He looked into her eyes. “Are you?”

  Before she responded, Blue jumped from the back and sat between them.

  The captain laughed. “I think someone is jealous of me sitting too close to you.”