Grooms with Honor Series, Books 7-9

by Linda K. Hubalek

  The town didn’t seem to have as many streets as Ellsworth, although it could be misleading. But then with no trees in town, you could see between the buildings and houses to the next street. What a stark contrast between the forested Miller Springs and this town sitting in the middle of the bare winter prairie.

  The church and parsonage seemed to be the west boundary of town with the school next to it. The depot was about a half block south of the business district, which she guessed was about two blocks long.

  “Looks like a nice three-story building on the east end of Main Street. I assume it’s a hotel?” Holly craned her neck one way then another to see the building as they slowed in front of the depot platform.

  “It’s the Paulson Hotel, run by Ethan and Helen Paulson. A good family, with eight girls. Four were Helen’s before she married Ethan, then they had another four girls.”

  “Goodness! At least they can keep handing down dresses to the next girl.”

  “There’s my grandparents! See them standing against the depot wall?”

  Holly saw the couple where Nolan was pointing. They were older than Holly expected them to be, considering they were still running a café. The man was leaning on a cane, and the woman had a firm grasp on his arm, as she needed it for support. Both of them were searching the car windows for a glimpse of their grandson.

  “When’s the last time you were home, Nolan?”

  Nolan paused a moment as he studied the couple. “It’s been three years,” he soberly answered. Was he seeing them as old now, instead of what he had pictured in his mind?

  The woman had a black scarf tied around her head instead of a hat. Her gray cloak looked like it needed repair around the hem of the garment. The woman pointed to the train and Holly noticed she didn’t have any gloves on.

  The man’s coat sagged off his shoulders, a few sizes too big for his frame, but at least he had a hat and knitted gloves on his hands.

  “How old are they?” Holly asked next.

  “Gramps is four years older than Grandma...so let’s see...must be, gosh, almost eighty and seventy-six now.”

  “And they are still running the café?”

  “I thought so, but they must have help doing the work because they don’t look physically able to.”

  “They’ve spotted you, Nolan,” Holly half-turned to speak to Nolan while watching the older couple beam with happiness and wave to their grandson.

  Holly swallowed the lump forming in her throat and blinked her eyes to clear the tears threatening to fall. She’d never have a family member greet her. She was an orphan with no clue if she had living relatives somewhere. Myrtle was as close to a grandmother figure as she’d ever had, but Myrtle was with her family now.

  The train ground to a halt and people started to stand, gathering their belongings to depart from the car. Holly felt Nolan leave her side as he stood up to reach for the bags on the overhead shelf.

  Holly continued to stare out the window, seeing people on the platform meet arriving passengers, watching their faces for emotion. Tearful embraces to cordial handshakes along with people’s breath frozen in midair. What kind of emotions would Nolan’s grandparents give her?

  “Come on, Holly. Time to go,” Nolan said as he studied her face. “It will be all right, I promise.” He stood in the aisle so she could walk in front of him.

  “Watch your step, Miss,” the conductor said as he took her hand to help her reach the ground.

  “Thank you, sir,” Holly automatically answered, before taking a deep breath and stepping forward. It was strange to watch Nolan’s grandparents look over Holly to see their grandson as if she didn’t exist. What would they think of her being with Nolan?

  “Gramps! Grandma! Boy, it’s good to see you!” Holly stepped aside as Nolan hugged the older couple, embarrassed to feel jealous of the attention they were getting now instead of her. Holly took a deep breath and pasted on a smile. It would be fine after Nolan introduced her.

  “Let’s make arrangements for your trunks to be delivered and head home. Your grandma needs to get out of this cold.”

  Holly stayed frozen in her spot near the train as the couple turned to walk away. They had Nolan between them, hanging on to his arms for support, urging him to go to the depot.

  “Wait a minute, folks.” He slowly turned them around to face Holly. “I want you to meet Miss Holly Brandt. We met in Miller Springs, Montana Territory when my train was delayed because of a snowstorm. Holly, these are my grandparents, Dan and Edna Clancy.”

  Holly put on a brave smile and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you both.”

  Edna just nodded, probably hating to pull her warming hands from her grandson’s coat, and Dan took her hand, to limply shake hers.

  “Nice to meet you, too, Miss Brandt. Where are you traveling to?” Dan inquired.

  Holly looked at Nolan for him to answer because she didn’t know what to say.

  “Miss Brandt worked, and lived, in a café in Miller Springs, until the owner retired last week and moved to Billings to be with her daughter’s family.

  “I asked Miss Brandt to travel to Clear Creek with me, hoping she would work and live at Clancy’s Café now.”

  Holly noticed how Nolan’s words said “Clancy’s Café” instead of “your café.”

  Dan’s eyes narrowed as he looked over Holly. Was he judging her heritage as many others did? “Why?” Just one word has some many questions in it. How would Nolan handle this?

  “Miss Brandt grew up in Fort Harker, and her mother and sisters are buried there. Her father died a year ago, and Holly is on her own now, so I suggested she move here.”

  Edna eyed her this time when Nolan called her Holly instead of Miss Brandt. Was she wondering if something was going on between the two of them?

  “I didn’t know who you had working at the café with you, but I figured you could use another helper beside me. And, if the apartment above the café is available, Holly could live there.”

  Holly held her breath for their answer, but from both, their frowns knew she’d have to find other work and a place to live. She also knew her face was turning red from their hesitation to answer Nolan.

  “Cullen Reagan lives in the apartment, so it’s not available,” Dan said as he looked at Nolan, not her.

  “Oh. What’s he doing now? I thought he was working on the Cross C Ranch?”

  “Cullen recently took over as the town’s postmaster. He didn’t want to move back into the parsonage, so he rented the apartment.”

  “Well, that’s a surprise he moved back to town. He’s always preferred being with cattle instead of people.”

  Silence hung between Nolan and his grandparents. Was Nolan waiting for them to offer she could stay with them? With no offer, Holly timidly asked, “Is there a boarding house in the town I could stay at?”

  Nolan started to protest until he saw her quick glance, willing him not to cause problems with his grandparents.

  “Just yesterday Ennis Donovan said they were full again. You’ll need to check into the Paulson’s Hotel—if you plan to stay in town,” Dan noted with a touch of haughtiness in his voice.

  Holly stiffened her back at the man’s words, which clearly pointed out Holly had no job in the café either.

  “Well, we still need to get you out of the cold, Grandma. I’ll have Holly’s and my trunks took over to the hotel then.”

  “No, Nolan, your room is ready at our house, so please have your belongings delivered there.”

  Holly didn’t look up when she knew Nolan was looking at her. This was going just as Holly feared it would.

  “All right, I’ll stay with you. Gramps, how about you escort Grandma and Holly over to the hotel while I see about our baggage?”

  “Oh, of course. That’s on our way home anyway,” the older man shuffled forward and extended his elbow to Holly. He may not approve of Holly, but he did have manners.

  “Thank you, sir.” Holly grasped his elbow, noting the frail
ness of his arm. What were they doing out in this cold weather? At least the paths were fairly clear for them to walk. Most of the snow had blown off the boardwalk when they walked around the front of the depot, providing a safer path down the block.

  “It might be safer for you to walk together and I’ll walk behind you,” Holly mentioned as she let go of Dan’s elbow. At their snail’s pace, Nolan would catch up with them before they walked the block to the hotel.

  As the couple concentrated on their steps, Holly had time to look at the businesses along the way. Taylor’s Mercantile had a nice display in their windows. They also walked by a drug store, clothing store, and the marshal’s office.

  But what struck Holly was the front of Clancy’s Café across the street. It was in dire need of a coat of paint and didn’t look open for customers. Did Nolan’s grandparents close it so they could meet Nolan at the depot, or was it only open for breakfast and lunch since it was late afternoon now?

  Next to the café was a nice, two-story building with the sign above the door proclaiming “Lyle Elison, Attorney-at-law.” It looked like a full apartment above the lawyer’s office, where the café had a false front.

  The business on the other side of the café had a sign saying “meat, eggs, cream,” which would be handy for the café.

  “Shepard and Sons Saddlery” was next to it with the blacksmith shop rounding out the block.

  Holly glanced at the Clancy’s and decided she should be watching their walking instead of the stores. Dan stopped to lean on a porch post, trying to catch his breath.

  “I just talked to Mack Reagan at the depot,” Nolan said as he approached them and stopped to talk. Did he notice the problem with his grandfather, too?

  “He’s building the new block of businesses in town, staying above one of them while looking for merchants to move in,” Edna said with pride for her town.

  “I didn’t take the time to ask, but what’s going in the new stores?”

  “Not for sure yet, except for a dress shop,” Edna said as Nolan opened the door to the hotel for his grandmother.

  The hotel was very nice with beautiful woodwork, large tapestry rugs, and three groups of upholstered settees for seating in the lobby. The clerk’s desk was situated in front of an open stairway. Holly could see a fancy dining room off to the right. She couldn’t afford to stay here, but maybe she could work here.

  “Well, Nolan Clancy, welcome home!” A middle-aged woman came from behind the desk and greeted Nolan with a hug. Her auburn hair swirled up on top of her head in the latest fashion, and she wore a stunning russet brown dress. Apparently, the hotel business must be good in Clear Creek.

  “Are you here for a visit?” the woman asked as a young girl, about four years old actually climbed on and slid down the stair banister, then hopped off and stood by her mother.

  “Phoebe, hotel manners,” she said under her breath without dropping her smile.

  “No, I’m out of the army now and moving back home to help with the café,” Nolan said while reaching for Holly, who reluctantly moved to his side.

  “Helen, this is Holly Brandt. Holly, I’d like you to meet Helen Paulson and... Which daughter is this?” Nolan gestured at the child politely listening to the conversation.

  “So nice to meet you, Miss Brandt. This is our youngest daughter, Phoebe. She might have been just a baby when you were last home, Nolan?”

  “I believe so. Your older girls still around or have they married and moved away?”

  “All the girls are still in Clear Creek. Iva Mae is the schoolmistress—and still waiting for Gabe Shepard to take a hint and ask her to marry him.

  “Maridell is in charge of the dining room here in the hotel, and Avalee does most of the housekeeping. Luella is still in school, as are the younger girls, Nadine, Daphne, and Cecilia. Phoebe is with me here in the hotel, although Ethan’s parents watch her quite a bit over at their home.”

  “Well, it’s nice to see your family and hotel all flourishing. Miss Brandt is moving to town and needing a place to stay. Do you have something inexpensive and available for the short term?”

  “Well, I’d have...”

  “Nolan? You’re finally home! I’ve been waiting for you!”

  Holly stood stunned as a young woman hurried down the stairs and launched herself into Nolan’s arms, brazenly kissing him on the lips! Was this one of the Paulson girls? Nolan’s grandparents were broadly smiling, as if glad to see this reunion.

  Nolan gently disengaged the woman’s arms from around his beet-red neck. The color moved up to his hairline before he glanced at Holly. Was he embarrassed or happy to see this woman?

  “Holly, this is Mrs. Abram Jenkins. Mary, this is my friend, Holly Brandt.” Nolan gestured between the two of them.

  The woman spun on her heel, studying Holly, before giving Holly a contrite, “Hello. I didn’t catch your name. Was you last name Brand?”

  Holly Brandt,” Nolan corrected Mary while reaching for Holly, but she slid away from his extended hand.

  All of a sudden, Holly realized this had to be the woman responsible for Nolan joining the army. He’d mentioned her, confessing she was his first love. What was she doing in Clear Creek?

  Nolan cleared his throat before asking, “Uh, you home visiting your parents? Last I knew you were in Chicago.”

  “No, we’ve moved back to town. Mack is building me a dress shop down the street. We’re staying here at the hotel until we can move upstairs in our new building.”

  “So what does your husband do in town?”

  “Oh, Abram’s not with me. He died six months ago, fortunately leaving me comfortable savings so I could move back near my family.”

  “Sorry for your loss. You said ‘we’?” Nolan gave her his sympathy, which Mary acknowledged by taking the liberty of hugging Nolan around the waist again.

  Mary reluctantly pulled away. “I have two children, Burdette, age five and Nolan, age three.”

  She named her son after Nolan. Holly watched as Nolan blinked in surprise.

  “That’s nice you have children to remember your marriage by. I’m sure it helps with your grieving.”

  “Thank you, Nolan. It didn’t turn out to be the perfect marriage, but our children were my blessing for the unfortunate union.” Mary demurely nodded, while sending a clear message about her marriage situation.

  Holly’s head was pounding with tension, and she wished she could return to the train to head back west. This meeting of Nolan’s grandparents and her problem of housing and employment wasn’t going as she’d hoped, nor as Nolan had promised.

  Holly glanced at Nolan, realizing he looked stunned at meeting Mary and couldn’t seem to collect his thoughts to continue.

  “Mrs. Paulson, we were talking about a room for me,” Holly tried to get the conversation back on track before she bolted out to the street instead. She didn’t know how she’d pay for a room in this fancy hotel, but maybe she could afford a night before finding something else.

  “Saint’s be praised, Nolan! You’re home!” Everyone turned to see a woman in her early forties, walk through the hotel door, and straight up to Nolan. She took Nolan’s face in her hands and pulled his face down to her level to give him a kissing smack on both cheeks before changing it into a fierce hug. Nolan relaxed and laughed, apparently loving the affection he received from this red-haired woman with the distinct Irish brogue.

  “It’s about time you came home, Son. Your grandparents have needed you. Now, introduce me to your lady friend.” Holly’s eyes widened when she realized all eyes were on her now, including a big, young man standing behind the woman.

  “Kaitlyn, this is Miss Holly Brandt. Holly, this is the pastor’s wife, Kaitlyn Reagan, and her third son, Mack, is towering behind her.”

  “I’m so glad to meet you, Miss Holly!” Kaitlyn grabbed her right hand with both of hers and gave it a good shake. Then Kaitlyn’s arm slid around Holly’s shoulder and stayed there while she continued.

&nb
sp; “When Mack stopped by the parsonage to tell me Nolan brought home a pretty lass, I had to come see you for myself.”

  Why wasn’t Nolan saying anything? The woman was endearing but embarrassing, not knowing the situation between her and Nolan. Especially with his former flame standing right beside him.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Reagan. I met Nolan in the Montana Territory when he was on his way home, and he...thought I could find work and a place to stay here in Clear Creek as I lost both recently.”

  “You caught Nolan’s eye, you did, and he was taught to help others. What did you do in the territory?”

  Holly looked around at everyone watching for her response. “I lived with an older woman and helped run her café. But she decided to close the café and move to Billings to live with her daughter’s family, so...”

  “So Nolan knew you’d be the perfect person to help his grandparents at home and in their café.”

  Kaitlyn turned to her son, who Holly now realized was holding her trunk in his beefy arms. “You must have gotten this wrong, son. You should be delivering her trunk to Clancy’s house instead of a hotel.”

  “Uh, my grandparents haven’t agreed...” Nolan’s few words and a nod to Kaitlyn meant Holly hadn’t been invited to stay with them—which had already been clear to Holly before they walked to the hotel.

  “Well then, Holly, you’re moving in with Pastor and me.” Before Holly could think what to say, Kaitlyn turned to Mrs. Paulson.

  “I don’t mean to take business away from you, but don’t you think the lass needs some guidance, like Pastor and I, can provide?”

  Helen laughed, apparently not a bit surprised by the woman’s remarks. “Holly couldn’t find better accommodations in Clear Creek than the parsonage.”

  “You sure you have room? Don’t you have a big family?” Holly was sure Nolan said she had six boys.

  “All grown and out of the house. The parsonage isn’t big so that the Pastor and I are rattling around the house, but we now have two extra bedrooms, and people are always welcome to stay with us. Especially when they’re a friend of Nolan’s.”