Grooms with Honor Series, Books 7-9

by Linda K. Hubalek

  “So how’s the cookie baking going?” Nolan’s warm breath fanned the back of Holly’s neck as he bent low to whisper in her ear.

  Holly kept tabs on Nolan’s movements around the room all evening, as he did hers. Kiowa may have escorted her to the taffy pull, but hadn’t stayed by her side. Ki poured the batches of taffy out on metal baking pans to cool a bit, then was the first to pick up and start pulling the batches before handing them to a team of two to pull and twist the taffy. It may be he was used to heat, being the blacksmith, because he didn’t seem to mind touching the hot candy.

  “Very well, considering I have a wonderful new stove to work with. Plus several young helpers excited to decorate the cookies with frosting and colored sugar.”

  “I talked to Gramps about scrapping the café stove in the near future and buying a new one. I assume I’d have your vote?”

  “In other words, am I baking for you when you open the café?” It was bold of Holly to ask, but being with the Paulson girls had given her a bit of confidence. Being around a normal family with banter between the parents and sister siblings had shown Holly what life could be like in Clear Creek, and with Nolan.

  “I’m counting on it. There’s no one else I’d rather have in the kitchen than you,” Nolan lowered his voice again so only she could hear his comment.

  Nolan’s hand briefly touched her shoulder, and she wished it would have stayed longer.

  “I noticed the kissing balls are all hung around the hotel. Please avoid being under one with Ki. I really want to be the first to kiss you under each ball.”

  “I’ll try, but you know that will be hard to avoid when they are above every door in the hotel,” Holly whispered across her shoulder at Nolan.

  “Maybe you and I need to walk through the hotel then?” Nolan’s hand trailed down her back, causing her to shiver. She wished she could lean back against him as they’d done on their train travel. Holly had missed their frequent contact from those days.

  “Nolan, I need a partner to pull this taffy. Please grab hold of the other end of this strip.” Holly stiffened when Mary addressed Nolan, waiting for him to help Mary with the taffy.

  “You better ask someone else before the candy cools too much. Holly and I were discussing a new stove for the café, and she was going to show me the hotel’s new one.”

  Mary was still trying to connect with Nolan, but he wasn’t taking the bait. Did Nolan really want to be with her, instead of Mary? Holly hoped so but didn’t see why. Mary was such a better woman than herself.

  “Show me the features you like on the new stove. I’ve looked at several in the catalog at the mercantile, but can’t decide if the extra features are worth the extra cost.”

  They were in the dining room of the hotel, and Holly led Nolan into the hotel kitchen. Several other people were in there cooking batches of taffy so they couldn’t get close to the stove, but Holly pointed out her favorite features from a distance.

  “It’s a Windsor Steel Range with a double oven, with the fire box in between the ovens. It has eight lids on top. Helen said the high closets for warming cost extra for this stove.”

  “What’s the reservoir capacity? I saw one stove advertised that held twelve gallons of water. Of course, it was an extra feature to buy. It didn’t come with the basic stove.”

  Holly had problems thinking about stoves with Nolan standing so close, looking over her shoulder and asking her questions. “Um, I’m not sure, but I’m guessing this stove holds about that much water, too.”

  “Several stoves advertised they could use soft or hard coal or wood, which would be an improvement from the old wood stove we have now.”

  “Any improvement on regulating heat would be wonderful.”

  “You know, you wouldn’t have to come in as early to the café to bake if you had two ovens. Plus you could continue baking during the day if we only needed one oven for meats.”

  “That would be nice to come in later, especially during the winter months.”

  “I’m still debating what hours and days to be open. Gramps insists we need to be open on Sundays, but I’d like to have that day off to be with my wife and family.”

  “Wife and family?” Holly hated to ask, but he brought it up.

  “I’ve a special lady in mind for my future. Time will tell if it works out.”

  Why didn’t Nolan say more? He’d asked to escort her to several events, so Holly hoped he was talking about her. But she was the one who balked, because of her heritage. Could she dream he could live with it?

  “Holly? Are you ready to call it an evening?” Kiowa’s question pulled Holly back to the present and caused Nolan to step away from her side.

  “Oh yes, about any time, I guess. Is all the taffy made?” Holly hated to leave the party since Nolan was still here.

  “Most of it is pulled, cut, and wrapped. The rest of the candy will soon be ready for the open house, too. Our contribution is done, and I’m ready to walk you to the parsonage. Maybe I could come inside, and we could talk a while?”

  She wanted to say no, in case he had feelings for her, but yet she wanted to talk about his heritage. Where was he from, and why did he live in Clear Creek now?

  “I’m sure Kaitlyn will have the coffee pot on and expect a report of the evening’s work.” Was that enough hint that they wouldn’t be alone? Nolan was listening to their conversation, and Holly wanted it to be clear to him as well as to Ki.

  Laughter by the front door greeted them as they walked toward the lobby where they had left their wraps. Couples were kissing as they left the hotel because a kissing ball hung right above the entrance.

  “Looks like I’ll have to kiss you before we can leave, Holly,” Ki grinned at her, and then threw a quick glance at Nolan, who had followed her and Ki out of the kitchen. Nolan’s jaw moved side to side, but he didn’t say anything. Would Ki kiss her in front of Nolan? It was all in fun, but Nolan was the only man she’d ever kissed.

  “Well let’s show them the proper way to kiss, Nolan,” Mary moved in front of Nolan, raised her arms around his neck and pulled his head down, kissing him full on the lips before Nolan had time to react.

  “Mary,” Nolan pulled Mary’s arms off his neck and stepped back. “We weren’t under the kissing ball, so you shouldn’t have kissed me.”

  “We used to kiss a lot of places without needing a kissing ball, Nolan.” Mary smiled while glancing at her and Ki. Holly’s face probably matched the red ribbon used to hang the ball from the ceiling.

  Why did she think she had a chance with Nolan? Mary was still in the picture, and Nolan would come to his senses, courting—and marrying—Mary instead of her.

  “Holly? Ready to go?” Ki’s words were sharp. He looked ready to bite someone’s head off instead of kiss it.

  “Yes.” Ki held her cape out for Holly and then waited for her to button the front and pull on her gloves before opening the door.

  “Good evening,” Ki called back while quickly ushering Holly out the door, not stopping like the others to kiss under the ball. Apparently, he didn’t want to kiss her. How could she be relieved and sad at the same time?

  They were halfway down the block before Ki slowed his pace. “Sorry, for my abrupt exit, but I couldn’t stand Mary boldly kissing Nolan.”

  That surprised Holly. “Why?”

  “Because I’d like to be kissing Mary, but she’d be repulsed being kissed by an Indian.”

  Holly was shocked Ki had feelings for Mary. She’d never have guessed it, but she knew what he was feeling. Even though Nolan said Mary shouldn’t have kissed him, they had.

  “So you asked to escort me tonight because people expected us to be together, or to make Mary jealous?”

  “I’m not sure Mary knows I exist, so I just as well court someone of my own kind.”

  Ki had a point. People wouldn’t accept Mary with Kiowa, any better than her with Nolan. But she and Nolan had shared a kiss, and Holly hoped it meant a future for her with hi
m.

  “Ki, I’ve sometimes felt less than worthy of…anything. Do you feel that way, too?”

  “At times, like when I’d love to kiss Mary under the kissing ball, in front of everyone to stake my claim on her, so to speak. Some people in town would consider hanging me for such an offense to a white woman,” Ki snorted in disgust.

  “My grandparents spoke of the days when the tribes were free to roam the plains. Can you imagine how different our life would be now if we still lived that way?” Ki looked up at the sky, possibly searching for answers.

  “Yes, life would be simpler. But I’m fond of being able to buy food in stores instead of hunting it and having a warm stove—in a warm room—to cook the food on.”

  Ki laughed. “I’d say you’re one spoiled Indian maiden.”

  “Probably. But I grew up in the white’s world, never experiencing my mother’s Cheyenne culture.”

  “I vaguely remember the days before the Civil War. I was only six when our world started to change. But I remember the buffalo herds stretching for miles,” Ki stretched his free hand wide to explain their distance.

  “I lived on Fort Harker until I was eight. My mother was so excited when there would be a herd close to the fort. We’d sneak out of the fort, get as close as we could to the herd, watching from the rock formations above the river valley where they’d be resting or drinking from the river.”

  “When’s the last time you ate buffalo meat?” Ki asked.

  “Oh years ago, while we still lived at Fort Harker. Soldiers would hunt when a herd was close to supplement our meat supply.

  “How about you, Ki?”

  “When I was young, too. Before the railroad was built and it became sport to shoot buffalo from the train.”

  They had reached the parsonage, but Ki hesitated at the door before opening it. “I won’t be coming in, so you’ll have to tell Kaitlyn about the evening. Thank you for allowing me to escort you this evening. We do have a lot in common, but…”

  “I’m not Mary?” Holly sadly asked.

  “And I’m not Nolan. Maybe we could be friends—and cousins—due to our heritage?”

  “Yes, I’ll definitely need a male cousin at times, so I’d like that.”

  Ki tipped his hat and pushed the door open for Holly. “I saw Kaitlyn peeking out the front room window, so you better go inside.”

  “Thank you, Kiowa. I appreciated you taking me tonight. Maybe I’ll see you in church on Sunday?”

  “Only if you happen to look outside. I’ll be listening for your violin’s music. Good night, Holly.”

  Holly watched Ki walk back to the street before closing the door. She didn’t know his life story, but she’d like to hear it someday. Would Ki eventually share with Mary how he felt about her? Would it help Mary look his way instead of Nolan’s? If so, she wished Ki would hurry up and speak to Mary. She was getting tired of seeing Mary flirt with Nolan.

  Holly saw Kiowa when he peeked around the corner looking for Mary in church. She played her violin with the men’s quartet again today, so she had a view of the back of the church. Holly had to look up at the ceiling a few seconds to keep from smiling when Ki winked at her. But when she looked back, he was scowling, obviously seeing Mary sitting with Nolan and his grandparents again. But Nolan had greeted Mary and her children warmly when they sat in their pew, letting Mary’s son push past his knees to sit with Dan. And it was good for little Nolan to have a grandfather figure in his life. Holly wished she would have been so lucky.

  Now the service was over, and Holly was working her way through groups of people to talk to Edna. Kaitlyn had asked the Clancys to eat at the parsonage today, but Kaitlyn stayed home from church with a cold, so Holly needed to cancel the invitation with Edna.

  “Yes, we’ve talked about living arrangements after Nolan marries. Nolan asked if we wanted them to live with us, or if we’d prefer a smaller home all on one floor.” Holly stopped to listen when Edna mentioned Nolan marrying. Was Nolan going to propose to her soon?

  “Well, what does Mary want? You have to think of her wishes, and what would be best for her children, too.” Holly was stunned by what another woman in the group asked.

  Mary? Nolan had told his grandparents he was marrying Mary?

  “Dan suggested we add another room or two on the back of the house so we can have our own bedroom. We’ll need to retreat now and then to give the newlyweds time to themselves.” Edna chuckled.

  Red-faced from embarrassment, Holly turned and fled. She couldn’t talk to Edna now.

  “Holly? Holly?” Holly didn’t stop when she heard Nolan calling her name. How could she after what she’d overheard? Nolan kissed her the other day, but he was still going to marry Mary!

  “Holly! Wait up, will you?” Nolan touched her arm, and she tried not to flinch.

  She didn’t look up, knowing he’d see tears in her eyes.

  “What’s wrong? I was ready to escort my grandparents over to the parsonage and saw you run out of the church.”

  “Um, I need to fix dinner for the Reagan’s. You know Kaitlyn’s sick, so you better not bring your family over today.”

  “Oh, good point. I’d hate for either of them to come down with something. I’ll make them a quick lunch and be over to join you later,” Nolan suggested.

  “No, please stay away, too.” Holly quickly cut him off, not wanting to see Nolan again anytime soon.

  “I’m healthy, so I’ll be fine.”

  “No, Nolan.” She took a deep breath to continue. “I’ll see you at the open house on Thursday. I need to go over to the hotel early, so I don’t need your escort to the event.”

  Nolan didn’t say anything for a long minute.

  “What’s wrong, Holly? You won’t look at me, and I know you’re trying to hold back tears. Did someone say something about you playing in church today?”

  “No. Maybe I’m getting Kaitlyn’s cold, so I need to go. Goodbye, Nolan.”

  Holly took off at a quick pace, wondering if he would follow her, or if he’d go back to the church…to talk to Mary, the woman he apparently decided to marry, instead of her, the half-breed.

  Holly heard Nolan turn and his footsteps fade away as he walked back to the church. So, that was her answer. Her dreams of marrying Nolan someday were just shattered.

  Chapter 17

  “So, I hear congratulations are in order.” Cullen sidled up to Nolan, who was watching Holly set another glass tray of decorated cookies on the food table. Holly had brushed him off when he tried to talk to her, three times, this afternoon. The hotel was full with community members, so he wasn’t at a loss for someone to talk to, but the person he wanted to spend time with was constantly finding something to do, even if it was just to add an inch of punch to the refreshment bowl.

  “Congratulations for what?” Nolan finally realized Cullen was talking to him.

  “For your upcoming nuptials...”

  “I hadn’t asked her yet,” Nolan watched Holly fidget with the arrangement of cookies on one of the plates. She knew he was watching her, but she avoided eye contact. What was that about?

  “Oh. I heard a conversation in the post office about you building on to your grandparent’s house.”

  “I’ve talked to my grandparents about it. If we do build on, it won't happen until decent weather and when Mack can fit us into his work schedule.”

  “Well, you can imagine all the conversations I hear from behind the counter while working in the post office.”

  “That’s the place lots of gossip is passed around.” Nolan watched Holly disappear into the kitchen again. She had on a pretty garnet red dress with delicate white lace on the collar and cuffs, and her head was topped with a cascade of dark ringlets. He guessed the Paulson girls had a hand in her dressing for the open house. But that didn’t matter, Holly sure looked pretty, and Nolan wished he could corner her under a kissing ball—or two—yet today.

  “When you going to propose and marry then?”

&n
bsp; “I plan to ask tomorrow, on an afternoon drive, if the weather cooperates.”

  “Well, she’s been waiting a long time for you to pop the question. I’m sure Da will look forward to performing your wedding.” Cullen slapped Nolan’s shoulder and walked away.

  Waiting for a long time? He and Holly had known each other less than a month.

  “Nolan, the children’s program is about to start. Your grandfather has saved seats for us,” Mary placed her hands on his forearm, indicating they should go to the hospitality room. A small stage was set up at one end of the room for the children to stand on, and chairs were lined up in front of the stage for seating.

  Nolan looked back to the kitchen door, but he couldn’t see Holly. Just as well enjoy the program then if she continued to ignore him.

  “Then we better be seated.” Nolan dropped his arm, so Mary didn’t cling to it, but she moved her hand to hold onto his elbow instead. Thank goodness Holly was in the kitchen or else she’d think Mary was plotting to kiss him again.

  “Congratulations to both of you,” Mrs. Taylor called out as they passed by her.

  “Congratulations on what?” Nolan turned to Mary to ask.

  “Oh, I assume people are just ‘assuming.’ There’s your grandparents. Hurry up, the children are lining up for their first number.”

  Nolan trailed behind Mary, as she whispered excuses as she stepped in front of seated people to get to their saved seats. He did the same, although he had a nagging feeling he should have searched for Holly for a private talk instead. The refreshment table didn’t need watching while everyone was being entertained by the children.

  Nolan glanced back often, hoping to see Holly enjoying the program from the back of the room, but he could never find her.

  “Did you see me?” The room echoed with the same question from several children as they ran to their parents after the program was over.

  “Did you see me, Poppa?” Nolan didn’t give the question a thought until Burdette was tugging on his coat sleeve.

  Poppa? Mary’s daughter had never called him by that name before.

  “Yes, I did see you, Burdette. But I’m not your father, Burdette. Why did you call me by that name?”