Grooms with Honor Series, Books 7-9

by Linda K. Hubalek

  Everyone in the room seemed to sigh with relief that “someone” had taken in Holly so “they” didn’t have to. Holly blinked away the tears threatening to fall.

  “Thank you, Kaitlyn. I’d appreciate a room since that seems to be my only option.”

  “It will be our pleasure to have you stay with us, Holly.” Kaitlyn gave Holly’s shoulder another squeeze.

  “Nolan, Mack and I will take Holly home and get her settled. You need to have a talk with your grandparents.”

  Holly glanced around the room before turning to leave with the Reagans. Helen was ushering her daughter into the room marked “office” behind the desk. The Clancy’s were looking at Nolan with worry in their eyes and vice versa. And Mary stood near Nolan, looking very happy that he was back in town.

  Where did Holly fit in this picture? She didn’t, although Nolan had painted a glowing picture of acceptance and life in Clear Creek for her.

  Chapter 10

  Nolan felt like he’d been ambushed.

  First, about his grandparent’s declining health, which they’d failed to mention in their letters to him. Granted, he noticed his grandma’s handwriting wasn’t as clear as it used to be, but he didn’t connect that with how frailly they moved now. They needed to have help at home instead of trudging around in the snow with this cold air.

  Second, it was clear that the café was closed and in bad need of repair. When did it close, and why hadn’t they written about it? And why hadn’t the Reagan’s written him to let him know about the café closing and his grandparents’ health? Probably because his grandparents told them Nolan already knew about both, or it wasn’t anyone’s business and to stay out of it.

  And third, he felt ambushed because it was his grandfather’s idea that they needed to stop at the hotel for Holly. Gramps knew Mary was living in the hotel, probably in one of the third-floor suites, and thought it would be a good idea to push him and Mary together again.

  Was it because Mary hinted she was wealthy, and his grandfather thought Nolan could use her money for the café if they married? Or because they thought he was still secretly pining for his lost love?

  Even though it was clear Nolan had a woman friend with him. He hated to think of it, but his grandfather’s manner might be because of Holly’s skin color.

  It was Nolan’s fault that he hadn’t been clear to his grandparents about his relationship with Holly when they first met. He felt like he and Holly were good friends now as they spent time together working, and then traveling together. They had pretended they were married to protect Holly, but he liked his role and wasn’t sure if he wanted to give it up now.

  Nolan hated the pained look on Holly’s face when she realized his grandparents didn’t want her in their home. And then to take her to the Paulson Hotel, where she clearly couldn’t afford to stay. Nolan would have paid for her room until he found her other accommodations, but that would have cut into his savings, which were sorely needed for café repairs.

  It was time to walk his grandparents’ home and have a private talk. He’d check out the café later, after walking over to the parsonage. Pastor and Kaitlyn would give him their version of what had been going on with his grandparents, plus he wanted to see Holly again.

  “Shall we plan lunch here in the dining room tomorrow?” Mary’s question pulled Nolan out of his thoughts. What? Lunch? Why?

  “Excuse me; I wasn’t paying attention, Mary.”

  “We need to reacquaint ourselves, and I want you to meet my children, so please come over for lunch at noon tomorrow.”

  Years ago, this invitation would have thrilled Nolan, but now the timing almost irritated him. Didn’t Mary realize what all he needed to do, first for his grandparents, and Holly? Mary had never been a selfish woman, but right now, she was thinking of herself first.

  Oh. Was she looking for her next husband and father to her children? Why did that make him feel like he needed to tug on his shirt collar as if it was too tight?

  “I’m sorry, but I need to settle in with my grandparents and see about the café. We can visit after church on Sunday, and I’ll meet your children then.”

  “But that’s days from now.”

  “And I have a feeling I’ll be busy, so the days will go by fast for me.

  “Good to see you again, Helen,” Nolan called to the hotelier while tucking his grandmother’s hand in the crook of his arm. The first thing to do is to find the woman’s gloves or buy her another pair.

  “That was nice of you to help the Indian girl, Nolan.” He was about to open the door when Mary brought up Holly, probably fishing for details.

  “Holly’s mother was Cheyenne, but her father was a white man in the army, and Holly grew up on military forts.”

  “Oh, so she’s had some education then.”

  “More than you realize I believe, plus she’s a very talented violinist.” Why had he tossed that information out to Mary and his grandparents? Because Nolan felt like he needed to defend Holly.

  Holly had looked so self-conscious meeting Mary, even though they’d bought a pretty dove gray ready-made dress for her in Denver to replace her black mourning dress. But then Mary was dressed in a fancy navy blue silk gown, almost too pretty for normal daywear in this frontier town. Mary’s mother had dressed her in ribbons and frills while growing up, and Mary always prided herself on looking her best as a young woman. Guess that’s why she was opening a dress shop.

  “I can’t quite imagine an Indian playing at a barn dance,” his grandmother added. It was time to end this conversation and get his elders home.

  “Then imagine Holly playing music by Bach, Mozart, or Beethoven because she’s that talented.”

  Nolan opened the door, motioning his grandfather to walk out. “Let’s go home.”

  Nolan instantly noticed several problems in his grandparent’s home, both outside and inside as they entered the front door and he took off his coat to hang on the coat rack.

  Scraping and painting the siding of the house would have to wait until warm weather this spring, but the loose board on the porch was a priority, along with building a handrail beside the steps.

  “It’s cold in here, Gramps. Why isn’t the front room stove lit?” No wonder his grandmother said she’d leave her cape on for now as she walked into the kitchen.

  “Oh, we spend most of our time in the kitchen now. Easier to just keep the kitchen stove going instead of this one, too.”

  “But this stove is below the heat registers in the ceiling that help heat the upstairs rooms.”

  “Then you might want to light the stove, so you don’t freeze upstairs tonight.”

  Nolan was shocked when his grandfather took off his coat. He’d lost a lot of weight since he’d seen him three years ago, and he was shorter. Nolan was taller than his elder, rather than the same height he’d remembered.

  “Wood stack still by the back door?” There wasn’t any wood in the bucket by the stove to use.

  “Yes, the Reagan boys check now and then to be sure we have wood.”

  Well, Nolan’s first job was going to be stoking a fire to warm the house. That used to be his job growing up and it looked like it would be his job again.

  Nolan paused in the door between the living room and dining room. The dining room table was pushed against the wall, and there was a small walkway between it and his grandparent’s bed. It wasn’t neatly made as his grandmother always insisted he and Daisy do to their beds each morning.

  The kitchen wasn’t spic and span either. Dirty dishes were piled by the washbasin, and the oilcloth on the kitchen table needed a good scrubbing to clean off the crusted spills. His grandmother was struggling to open her usually a full tin of cookies with her arthritic fingers.

  Nolan quietly walked by her and went out the back door to get an armload of wood. First, he’d get the stoves going, and then they’d sit down for coffee and talk.

  ***

  The two knocks on Reagan’s back door startled Holly bef
ore it swung open. Nolan barreled in, slammed the door before struggling to take off his hat and coat and tossing them on the floor. She was sitting at the kitchen table with her hosts.

  “I can’t believe they didn’t let me know what was going on!”

  His foot was ready to take a step when Kaitlyn yelled, “Boots off!” Nolan retreated to the rug by the door and yanked off his boots, then strode over to the table and took a seat. Kaitlyn slid a plate of cookies over to his side of the table and then moved her cup of coffee she’d just refilled over, too. Nolan immediately took a sip and stuffed a whole oatmeal cookie in his mouth.

  Holly couldn’t believe Nolan was so upset. He had always been so calm and in charge of any situation when she’d been with him.

  “I told you he’d be over here this afternoon,” Kaitlyn smirked as she sat down with a new cup of coffee for herself.

  Pastor Reagan continued to sip his coffee, as if oblivious to Nolan’s return after his three years’ absence.

  “He fell months ago, almost breaking his hip! Her fingers are so arthritic she couldn’t open the tin of cookies she’s kept filled her entire married life! And the cookies in the tin were so stale and old she probably hadn’t baked for months!”

  Nolan stuffed another cookie in his mouth, vigorously chewing and swallowing at such a fast pace that Holly thought he’d choke.

  Kaitlyn took a sip of her new cup of coffee before pushing it over to Nolan after he drained the first cup.

  After eating the third cookie, Nolan looked around the table at Kaitlyn, Pastor and herself. He’d finally calmed down, just as Kaitlyn had predicted.

  What a wonderful couple the Reagans were. No wonder Nolan talked about them so much. Holly was so glad she’d be staying with them until the situation with Nolan’s grandparents was taken care of. The Reagans had told her what had been going on with them, so she felt so much better about being here in Clear Creek.

  “Welcome home, Son,” Pastor finally acknowledged the other man at the table.

  “Thank you, Pastor. I’m glad I’m finally here.”

  Nolan turned to Kaitlyn, giving her a serious stare before asking, “So what’s been going on with my grandparents?”

  “General aging health, plus your grandfather fell in the café kitchen.”

  “Have you been in the house lately?”

  “No, but I knew Reuben and Gabe Shepard moved their bed downstairs. My boys have been keeping wood stacked by the back door, but your grandfather wouldn’t let them bring it into the house.”

  “It’s a mess! Dust everywhere, their bedding reeks and needs a good washing, and how has Grandma been cooking when she can’t open a simple tin?”

  “We’ve tried to help as much as they’d let us, Nolan. They told us they’d written to you about their situation and we were not to contact you.”

  “Well, that’s one letter that was never written, let alone mailed!”

  Nolan set his elbows on the table and scrubbed his hands over his face and through his hair several times. Holly wished she could put her arm around his shoulders to comfort him as he’d done her several times, but she sensed he needed to talk it out with his longtime friends instead.

  “I should have moved back two years ago instead of staying in the army.”

  “You’re not to blame, Nolan. They could have accepted our help.”

  “Stubborn old man... He used to be so big and vibrant.” Nolan wiped his thumbs across his eyes.

  “Your mother has been slipping in the food we’d leave on the porch, so they haven’t been totally on their own.”

  Nolan sat up straight. “Does Daisy know about their health?”

  “I’m sure she doesn’t, but you can write and tell her now. Daisy hasn’t been home for years either.”

  Holly felt like she and the pastor were bystanders to Nolan and Kaitlyn’s conversation.

  “How long has the café been closed? Gramps wouldn’t say, or couldn’t remember.”

  “About the middle of September, although they had been cutting back for a while before that. First, they stopped serving breakfast, then supper, leaving the café only open for the lunch hour.”

  “Who’s been helping them?”

  “They had a woman, but she left when they cut her hours to only a few a day. I think she works in Ellsworth now. It wasn’t someone you knew.”

  “What are they doing for money?”

  “I’d have no idea, Nolan. I assume they had saved from their years of work.”

  Nolan looked at her as if he first realized Holly was sitting across the table from him and reached across the table with his hand.

  “I’m sorry, Holly. I didn’t think they’d act rude to you like they did.” She extended her hand for their embrace, although it was in front of the Reagans. She slyly looked at Kaitlyn who had a slight smile on her face instead of a frown.

  “I must say I was in shock with my first impression of Clear Creek and your grandparents, but Kaitlyn filled me in on what was behind their actions.”

  Nolan’s hands were back rubbing his face. What was he thinking now?

  “And Gramps took us over to the Paulson Hotel because Mary was there.”

  “Well, you had a history with her, and he was hoping for a happy reunion...and two instant grandchildren,” Kaitlyn said matter-of-factly. “You can’t blame the man for trying.”

  “Kaitlyn...” Pastor softly drew out her name, as a warning.

  “I’d probably do the same thing. Five of my boys are grown and should be married with children overrunning our home, Patrick.”

  The couple looked at each other; each raised an eyebrow at the other and didn’t say another word, just turned back to Nolan.

  “Where is Tully? I expected him to still be living here.”

  “The boy is seventeen now but hasn’t decided what he wants to do with his life. He’s working and living with his brother, Seth, at the Straight Arrow Ranch.”

  And Holly had become the lucky recipient of an empty nest and a woman who needed to mother someone because of her youngest son’s departure.

  “I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday. I assume they’ll all be in town for church and dinner?” Nolan asked, now calm, as Holly had always known him to be around her.

  “Not everyone. Angus is still a railroad detective riding the trains across the country. Fergus is out west somewhere, photographing nature, mining sites, or anything else that he finds fascinating. You know Mack is building houses and businesses in the area, and Cullen took over as the town’s postmaster, so you’ll see them, besides Seth and Tully.”

  “I can’t wait to talk to them all again. I’ll need their friendship to keep my sanity as I settle back into town.”

  “What are you going to do, Nolan?” Kaitlyn’s question wasn’t just a question, but a challenge.

  “If Holly agrees, tomorrow afternoon we’ll clean my grandparent’s house, and then go to the café to see what needs to be done to open it again. I need income since I’ve moved home.”

  Everyone looked at Holly, waiting for her to answer. “Um, yes, I’ll help—if your grandparents allow me to come into their home.”

  “They were embarrassed at the state the house was in and didn’t want the company to see it. I’ve talked to them, and they’ll be grateful for your help.”

  “Why wait until tomorrow afternoon, Nolan?” Holly was curious about what needed to be done at the café because she needed income, too.

  “I promised you we’d visit your family at the Fort Harker cemetery, so we’ll rent a buggy and drive over there in the morning.”

  “A good choice, Son. Holly, do you want us to come along for a service of blessing?”

  Holly looked between the three persons sitting at the table with her. The comfort the Reagans had given her so far told her they’d gladly give her support tomorrow if she asked for it, but she knew this first time back to the cemetery would be very emotional for her. Would she prefer Nolan or Kaitlyn’s comfort? Sh
e hated to say no to the Pastor’s offer.

  Nolan reached for Holly’s hand again and gave it a slight squeeze. “I think Holly would like her privacy this time since she hasn’t been there for years. Maybe this trip should just be the two of us, Pastor. Is that your wish, Holly?”

  Holly nodded to agree. The lump in Holly’s throat was too big to talk past now. It had been thirteen years since her mother died. She didn’t know how she’d react. Would she feel nothing or collapse on the grave sobbing with memories? Nolan would understand whatever she felt.

  And Holly wanted to play her violin at the gravesite for as long as she wanted to. Nolan would understand her need to connect with her parents again, with her playing their favorite songs.

  Chapter 11

  “This is it? This is all that’s left of Fort Harker?”

  All Nolan could do was shrug his shoulders. He was young when the fort had closed, and it hadn’t been a part of his life like it had been for Holly.

  The abandoned fort wasn’t far from Clear Creek, so it didn’t take them long to travel there using the horse and buggy from the livery. Kaitlyn had handed Nolan a thick wool blanket to wrap around them when he’d stopped by to pick Holly up. Now they sat close together with the blanket tucked around their knees. Nolan was thinking more about Holly’s body pressed against his side than the fort.

  “I recognize the red sandstone guardhouse, and remember running up the outside staircase once on a dare from a friend.”

  Holly continued to scan the snow-cover landscape. “The buildings were around the parade field, dozens of them. The guardhouse was on the west end, and those three buildings further east were officer’s quarters, although there had to be at least a dozen of them back then.”

  “Where did the enlisted men live? Pastor remembered about seven hundred soldiers were living here at the fort’s peak and about twice that in civilians.”

  Holly narrowed her eyes as she looked to the guardhouse, then around in a circle.