Grooms with Honor Series, Books 7-9

by Linda K. Hubalek

  Holly spent Saturday in the kitchen beside Kaitlyn, baking bread, and pies for the Reagan family Sunday dinner, or sitting at the kitchen table talking about everything under the sun. Of course, Holly couldn’t help but tell Kaitlyn her life’s story. The woman had a way of making a person feel comfortable in talking about himself or herself, and it felt good to have someone listen without judging her. Kaitlyn told her own story of traveling to America and the problems she faced, making Holly feel a special kinship with her.

  Kaitlyn also told her about every possible thing she could think of about who lived in Clear Creek. Where a family lived before moving into town and when they’d arrived. How many children they had, what the husband did for a living, personality traits, and on and on in detail.

  Holly had a better idea of what had been going on with the Clancy’s and their café too, which would give her better patience and empathy in dealing with them. Dan was upset with his loss of mobility and strength, and lashed out at everyone, especially Edna, who wasn’t in much better health herself.

  Pastor Reagan read them his sermon after lunch, dutifully writing Kaitlyn’s comments on the margins of his paper. Holly guessed this was a Saturday ritual, although Kaitlyn confessed after her husband left the kitchen, her suggestions were never added anyway. And she laughed about it, not at all upset, as some people would be.

  The three of them each had private time in the kitchen bathing in the tin tub. Washing and combing out her long hair had been long overdue and improved her spirits with that act alone.

  A knock and opening of the back door after supper didn’t surprise Kaitlyn, but it did Pastor and Holly. Two young men walked in, calling out their greetings as they took off their coats, kicked off their boots, and left everything by the back door. They’d been trained because Kaitlyn hadn’t yelled “boots off” as she did to Nolan.

  “Holly, you’ve met Mack, but I’d also like you to meet Gabe Shepard. I told you all about his family today. These two, along with our sons, Seth and Tully, who won’t be in tonight, will be providing the special music tomorrow. Gabe, this is Holly Brandt, who is going to run the café with Nolan.”

  “Why am I the last to know about ‘special music’ tomorrow?” Pastor grumbled under his breath while narrowing his eyes at his wife. She just smiled and didn’t say a word.

  “And why are we practicing tonight, Ma? We can sing any Christmas carol you want because we know them all by heart anyway.”

  Holly froze when Kaitlyn turned her sweet smile to her. She was up to something, already getting to know this woman.

  “Well, Holly is an accomplished violinist, so I thought she could accompany you tomorrow. It was only fair that you should practice with her tonight.”

  Holly only had a second to panic before Mack burst out laughing and walked over to give her shoulders a sideways hug.

  “Welcome to the Reagan family, Holly. Ma has adopted you, so be prepared for her ambushes for the rest of your life.”

  Gabe gave her a wink and smile. “Don’t worry, I was ‘adopted’ too when I moved to town and—most of the time—it’s been a good thing.”

  “Actually, that is a good idea, Holly. Playing at the very first meeting of the townspeople will help them accept you. I’m sure my wife has filled you in on everyone in town and around the area, good and bad. Hold your head high, smile, and become part of the community immediately by playing tomorrow.” Pastor punched the air with his fist to emphasize his point.

  “It will go a long way in making people come back to the café, too,” Kaitlyn said in a serious tone.

  Her stomach felt queasy. But, Holly realized that in Miller Springs she should have been involved in the community, so she should go with the Reagan’s advice now.

  “All right, I’ll do it. What song are you singing tomorrow?”

  Holly’s question made Mack shrug his shoulders as if he didn’t know.

  “Da? What’s the theme of your sermon tomorrow?”

  “It’s Saint Lucia Day for the Swedes in our congregation, so I’ll tell the story of how the saint brought light and food to the starving people on the darkest night of the year.”

  “Oh good! Hamners bringing cookies?” Mack rubbed his hands together.

  Kaitlyn laughed. “Yes, Annalina Hamner said she and her daughter-in-law, Cora, would make and bring ginger cookies. One of the Hamner granddaughters, I’m not sure which one will be St. Lucia this year, but anyway, one of the girls will wear the white robe, red sash, and candle crown. She does the procession at the end of the service and serves cookies to the congregation as they leave their pews. Then several older cousins will have cups and pour coffee at the back of the church to go with the cookies.

  “Holly, do you happen to know the Neapolitan song, “Santa Lucia”?” Kaitlyn hummed a few bars.

  “I’m familiar with the tune, why?”

  “That’s the tune, with Swedish words of course, to which the girl walks up the aisle for the ceremony. The Hamners always just sing it, but maybe you can play along?”

  “Ma...I thought you were asking Holly to just accompany our quartet for one Christmas hymn?”

  Holly could not help but laugh. Mack had warned her.

  “But what better way to enjoy Holly’s talent?” Kaitlyn argued.

  “You haven’t heard me play yet, so you may change your mind.”

  “Well, fetch your violin, tune it up, and we’ll see if it works. I’d suggest ‘Angels We Have Heard in High’ or ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ to go with the saint theme.”

  So this was why Kaitlyn suggested Pastor shorten his sermon tomorrow. She had three songs planned for extra music.

  “Relax. You handled the first round of introductions just fine.” Mack leaned down to assure Holly.

  She was glad when Mack took her elbow and led her away from his mother though. Her head was swimming with names, although Kaitlyn’s descriptions of everyone had helped.

  Mr. Taylor’s nose was broken last year and now pointed to the right.

  Rania Hamner is at least six feet tall.

  Her twin sister, Hilda, always wears pants or a split skirt, never a dress.

  Holly was sure one of the reasons Kaitlyn pointed out distinct things about people was so Holly realized her hair and skin tones made her unique, but not bad.

  Now she was squished in the front pew between Mack and Tully, the two talkative Reagan men. She’d also met Seth and Cullen this morning, who were the opposites of their brothers. Seth asked a few polite questions, Cullen only nodded at her, and Tully...was a young male version of his cheerful, outgoing mother.

  She glanced over her shoulder, looking for Nolan and his grandparents. They were just walking down the aisle when Nolan saw her. He stopped his grandfather to say something, and Mr. Clancy looked up to where she was sitting. His grandmother was already sidestepping down the length of a pew, and his grandfather waved Nolan off as if he was a fly, and followed his wife.

  Mack tilted his head toward Holly and whispered, “Doesn’t matter if Nolan wanted to sit by you, the Clancy’s have always sat in that pew, so no changing now.”

  Tully leaned over her to whisper to Mack. “Looks like Mary has changed her pew though. She just slid in by Nolan, instead of by her parents. Think she’s trying to butter her way into Nolan’s life now that he’s back?”

  “Tully, remind me to knock some sense into your brain after church.”

  “Why? What’d I do now?”

  Holly sat lower than the towering brothers did, but she saw Mack make facial gestures between her, then backwards—probably to Nolan—and then raise an eyebrow to Mack, signaling something to Tully.

  “Oh.” Tully turned back to the front to watch his father trying to get his mother’s attention to sit down, probably wanting to start the church service.

  Now Holly was embarrassed besides nervous. Why again was she sitting in the front pew with the Reagans? Because Kaitlyn had said, repeatedly that Holly would be a welcome asset t
o Clear Creek and her heritage would fit in with the rest of the townspeople. She’d believed it—until she started meeting people before church, and again after looking back to confirm Mary was indeed sitting beside Nolan.

  “Our men’s quartet will be accompanied by Miss Holly Brandt, our newest town member. Miss Brandt will be working with Nolan Clancy to reopen the family’s café. Be sure to welcome her while we’re all enjoying coffee and cookies, in honor of the Swedes’ St. Lucia Day.

  “This month we’re singing all our favorite Christmas hymns so let’s all rise to start our service with ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem.’”

  Holly became more nervous as the service continued. She could just imagine every way she could mess up her playing, from dropping her bow to screeching a wrong note. After Pastor finished his long sermon with an “Amen,” Mack stood, lifted Holly from her seat by her elbow, and walked her to the front of the altar. Tully reached for her violin sitting beside the altar and handed it to Holly. The quartet lined up beside her, clearing their throats and watching her to start.

  Mack had told her before the service that they would line up in a semi-circle so Holly could watch Kaitlyn if she didn’t want to look out over the congregation. Holly looked at Kaitlyn’s beaming face and drew her bow across the strings for the first note. She could play three songs because the Reagans, and Nolan, believed she could.

  “I was impressed with your talent, Miss Brandt. Thank you for playing in church today,” Mary politely told Holly, sounding genuine, not malicious.

  If the woman just wasn’t holding Nolan’s elbow...but why should that matter? Because Holly had to admit, she had strong feelings for Nolan.

  “Mr. Clancy insisted we all eat together at the hotel, so I hope you can join us,” Mary continued.

  Holly doubted Mr. Clancy planned to include her, especially since he was starting to walk out of the church holding little Nolan’s hand. The elder was trying to set Nolan up with Mary’s family again. And why wasn’t Nolan asking her to join them instead of Mary?

  Kaitlyn materialized beside the three of them. “I had already planned a Sunday family dinner to welcome you home, Nolan, and I invited your grandparents, too. Didn’t your grandma say anything about it?”

  “I’m sorry, Kaitlyn. Grandma didn’t say anything to me about your dinner.”

  Holly waited for Nolan to say he’d collect his grandparents and come over to the parsonage soon—but he didn’t.

  “Well, my boys will enjoy the extra food then, while learning to know Holly better. We’ll plan to have your grandparents over another time.

  “Mack, please escort Holly home while I drag your father away from Isaac Connely. They could talk all day, and I’m sure his wife, Cate, is waiting for him in their buggy.”

  After her fast, clipped speech, Kaitlyn spun around and headed for her husband at a fast pace.

  Mack took Holly’s hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow while grinning at Nolan. “Oh, Nolan. You upset Ma’s plans, so you’ve fallen from her grace. She even made your favorite meal.”

  Mack tipped his hat to Mary. “Ma’am, enjoy your lunch with the Clancy’s.”

  Mack chuckled half way to the parsonage, but Holly was upset for Kaitlyn.

  “Will she stay mad at Nolan? I really don’t think Edna told him about coming over to the parsonage for dinner.”

  “She’ll be right as rain by the time she’s home. And actually, I don’t mind if Nolan’s missing from the table today. That way I’ll get all your attention.”

  Mack was a harmless flirt who made her blush, but it felt good just the same. The Reagans hadn’t judged her by the color of her skin, as she was sure some of the congregation did. Even though Kaitlyn did her best to introduce Holly positively, many people didn’t like the thought of a half-breed in the church or town.

  But she’d never been a part of a real family like the Reagans, and she was going to enjoy it.

  “Quick, Tully! Put the three plate settings back on the table and the chairs around the table, too!”

  “Why, Ma? You just told me to take them off when I left the church...”

  The brothers glanced around the kitchen at each other with eyebrows raised. Mack had pulled the roast from the oven and was slicing the meat onto a platter. Seth was slicing two loaves of bread on a cutting board on the side table. Cullen was mashing potatoes, and Tully had been digging watermelon pickles out of a jar with his fingers...instead of a fork.

  When they had arrived back at the house, and Holly asked what she could do to get the meal ready, Mack just said, “Sit down and watch. We have our routine practically timed so we can have the meal on the table by the time the folks finish up at church.”

  Kaitlyn had trained her boys well.

  “Well, since the Clancy’s weren’t going to join us, I invited Isaac and Cate to come over. And because your father and Isaac were standing there talking to Kiowa, I invited him to eat with us, too.”

  “You invited Kiowa Jones to eat with us?” Tully asked, holding a pickle in midair with his fingers.

  “Well, he was standing with the men so I wouldn’t snub him.

  “Use a fork, Tully. How many years have I told you that?”

  Why was Mack looking between her and his mother as if trying to figure something out?

  Holly took the bait. “I don’t remember meeting a Mr. Jones in church. Was he there?”

  Four men turned to their mother but didn’t say anything.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him walk into the church sanctuary, but he’s often outside listening to the service, or in the back nave of the church if the weather’s bad.”

  “Why doesn’t he come inside for the service?” Holly was curious to know.

  Pastor cleared his throat, and everyone turned to the back of the kitchen. He stood inside the back door, with another man.

  “Because I’m an Indian and not welcome.”

  “Nonsense, you just don’t want to sit through Pastor’s long sermons. And take your boots off before you enter my house.” Kaitlyn pointed to where Pastor had just sat to pull off his boots.

  He hesitated, but Mack pointed to his stocking feet as well as his brothers. “Ma never lets any of us wear boots in her house, so she’s treating you like family, Ki.”

  The man started forward to shake Holly’s hand after his boots were sitting neatly in line with five other pairs.

  “Holly Brandt, please meet Kiowa Jones.”

  “Nice to meet you, Ma’am.”

  “And you too, Mr. Jones.”

  “You can call me Ki, like the Reagan’s do, because I imagine you’ll be my friend,” the man said with a firm handshake and a grin.

  Ki had golden skin like hers, and he had a black braid down his back that would rival Holly’s if it weren’t pinned up at the nape of her neck. He was as tall as Mack but more muscular than stocky. He only had facial lines around his eyes and mouth when he smiled, so Holly guessed he was in his late twenties or early thirties in age.

  “Ki’s our local blacksmith, set up by the livery, so you’ll hear him pounding on metal on and off during the day,” Mack added for an introduction.

  “Hello! We came in the front door since its Sunday!” Cate, then Isaac, carrying his boots walked into the kitchen through the dining room.

  “Are we eating in here? Looks a little crowded,” Isaac asked as he set his boots in the lineup and looked around at the group.

  Holly noticed Ki’s shoulders relax when Isaac was stocking footed now, too.

  “Everyone carries something into the dining room, and we’ll eat after Patrick gives his blessing,” Kaitlyn ordered, and the laughing crowd followed Cate back into the dining room.

  Conversation and food flowed non-stop at the Reagan’s table, and Holly loved being a part of it. Maybe she could pay the Reagan’s to be a permanent boarder at the parsonage instead of living by herself. There was no hint of any animosity toward her or Ki’s heritage, and she felt like a normal woman
enjoying a Sunday dinner with friends. The Reagan brothers teased each other, telling Holly stories of when they were growing up in Clear Creek.

  “Knock, knock,” Everyone turned to the kitchen door when Nolan walked into the dining room.

  “Boots off!” Kaitlyn pointed back to the kitchen.

  “You can tell he hasn’t been home for a while,” Mack leaned over to Holly to speak in a low voice. “Ma will get him trained again though.”

  Holly looked across the table at a smirking Ki, knowing now he wasn’t the only one Kaitlyn yelled at today.

  “Your Ma always rule with an iron fist?” Ki asked quietly. The three of them were at the end of the table, the opposite of Kaitlyn, Pastor, and the Connely’s.

  “She had no choice with us six boys, coming from different homes, all about the same age. And Gabe Shepard and Nolan Clancy were here most of the time, too.”

  Nolan returned from the kitchen, looking down the line of his friends until he spotted Holly and Ki.

  She saw the look of surprise when looking over Ki. Nolan stared at Kaitlyn a second before walking around to their end of the table and sticking his hand out to Ki.

  “Don’t think we met. I’m Nolan Clancy. My grandparents ran the café, and I plan to run it again.”

  “Kiowa Jones. I took over the blacksmith shop from Jim Anderson last year.”

  Nolan shook his hand a second after Ki released it.

  “Why are you here, Nolan?” Kaitlyn asked as she stood to clear empty serving dishes from the table.

  “Um, I stopped by to see if Holly can meet me at the café at 8 o’clock in the morning?”

  “Are you formally offering Holly a job?” Kaitlyn asked before Holly could answer.

  Was Kaitlyn thinking of her best interest, or still miffed at Nolan for changing her dinner plans?

  Holly thought it was the latter, by the way the brothers grinned. You’d think they were all eight years old instead of in their twenties. But it was nice they all respected their parents and got along so well.