by Kit Morgan
Gwen crossed the porch, a warm smile on her face. “Welcome to Dalton!” she said to Adele and held out her hands as if to pull her up the steps.
Adele smiled in return and climbed the stairs slowly, not sure how to take in the woman’s happy countenance. “Hello.”
“I’m Mrs. Walton Dalton, but call me Gwen. We’re so glad you’re here and that you arrived safely.”
“With Percy’s help,” added Benedict with a grin.
Percy took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“So I hear,” said Gwen. “Won’t you come in Miss …”
“Brown,” Adele said.
“Blue,” Percy corrected.
“What, Percy?” Gwen asked. “I didn’t quite catch that …”
Percy cleared his throat. “Blue. Her name… is Adele Blue.”
Gwen eyed him. “You don’t have to make it sound like it’s a bad thing,” she chided.
Percy closed his eyes and pressed his lips together.
Adele fought against a sigh. Did he have to make his dislike of the situation so obvious? Perhaps they ought to go into the nearest town tomorrow and get the annulment. She didn’t know if she could take much more of this.
Gwen grabbed her hand and pulled her away from Percy. “Come inside and get comfortable. We’re about to serve supper.”
Adele let the woman take her into the house, down a hall and into a dining room. A long table was set, and numerous adults and children were already sitting down. She suddenly felt nervous and wished Percy was at her side again. Why would that be? All he was doing was complaining, albeit silently.
But still, while his demeanor wasn’t calming, his presence was. She felt safe around him – enough to allow herself to fall asleep against him on the way out. Puzzling.
“Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll introduce you to the family,” Gwen said with a smile.
Adele gave her a weak smile of her own and took the chair Gwen pointed to. Percy entered and took the one next to her. He gave her a reassuring look and a tiny hint of a smile. Unable to help herself, she smiled back, at the same time wishing he’d make up his mind. Half the time, he seemed to like having her around; the other half, he couldn’t get rid of her fast enough.
But then, she was of two minds about this whole mess too …
Gwen began the roll call. “This is Nate and Elizabeth – Libby – across from you. And the little one in Libby’s lap is their daughter Hattie.”
Adele had to make an effort to tear her gaze away from Percy. Odd … She looked at the couple and child as they studied the two of them with interest. Nate had the funniest gleam in his eye … “I’m pleased to meet you,” she finally replied.
“Oh, and we you!” said Libby. “We’ve prayed you’d arrive safely.”
Adele’s eyes darted around the table. “I’m sorry, I’m tired and just a little confused. How did you know I was coming? I had to leave so quickly.”
“Miss Miller sent us a wire,” Nate explained. “We found out about your arrival a week ago.”
Very efficient of Miss Miller, Adele thought. That would explain how the preacher knew what day to show up at the train station, even though he was late getting there. But it didn’t explain why Percy didn’t know, except that what he’d told her was the truth. So, his family really had sent him to fetch her, but hadn’t told him why? That hardly seemed sporting.
But if that were the case, could she trust these people? Sure, Elizabeth Miller had sent her here to get her away from the bad men in Beckham and to get married, but why all the secrecy? And why keep the groom in the dark? She just didn’t get it.
“Did you have a safe trip?” Libby asked.
Adele gave the girl her full attention. She couldn’t be much older than she was, and was pretty, though not as stunning as her sister. She wondered what the other sister – Bonnie? – looked like. “Safe enough.”
Percy cleared his throat.
“Yeah, Percy?” Nate asked. “Did you run into trouble along the way?”
“I said nothing of the kind,” Percy replied quickly.
Nate smiled. “No … but you didn’t have to. I’m sure you had a nice drive back to the ranch without incident.”
Percy narrowed his eyes at him. “Yes, it was … pleasant enough.”
“And why wouldn’t it be with such a charming young lady as company?”
Adele turned to see who had spoken. She’d been so tired, she hadn’t noticed until now that Bart, Nate and this newcomer were identical triplets. Good heavens! “You must be …”
“Walton Dalton, at your service, …” He looked right at Percy and grinned. “… Mrs. Blue. Welcome to my home.”
Adele glanced at Percy in time to see him bite his bottom lip. She did the same, to keep from laughing. His family seemed to relish driving home the fact he was now married to her – it was clearly a source of amusement. “Thank you. I’m glad I arrived safe and sound.” She stole another quick glance at Percy. “Thanks to your brother.”
“Brother-in-law, actually,” Walton corrected as he took the chair at the head of the table. “But family is family, and I love ‘em all.”
“You’ll find Walton quite passionate about the extended family,” Benedict added. “We’ve all become very close over the last few years.”
Adele watched as two more women, a man and more children filed into the room to take their seats. They all smiled and nodded at her in greeting. The man must be Percy and Benedict’s brother – they might not be identical triplets like the Daltons, but the resemblance was unmistakable. “How do you do?” she said.
“We’re so glad you’re here,” said a dark-haired woman. “I’m Lillian, Benedict’s wife.”
Adele smiled.
“And I’m Hank’s wife Maggie,” said the other, as Percy’s brother Hank sat next to her. “We took the liberty of putting your things in your room.”
“My things?” Adele asked, and realized she hadn’t seen her satchel since she and Percy left the wagon. She looked at him. He shrugged and reached for a glass of water.
“Don’t worry about it. You’ll be fine here tonight, and tomorrow we’ll move you out to Percy’s place,” Hank said.
Percy choked on his water. “Wh-what?!”
“Yes, you’ll be fine with your new husband,” Maggie commented, grinning at Percy.
“Now see here!” Percy sputtered. “You can’t put Miss Brown … er … I mean …”
“He means Mrs. Blue,” Nate said.
Walton looked from one face to the other. “Maybe I shoulda wagered after all,” he muttered.
Gwen glared at him, then sat. “Enough. The important thing is that Adele is safe, and I, for one, plan to keep her that way. We’ll take care of whatever it is we need to take care of in the morning. Now let’s eat.”
Everyone stared at her a moment before Walton smiled and said, “My dear wife, since when did you become so demanding?”
“Since some of you decided to take things into your own hands and play with people’s … integrity.” She made a show of glaring at Hank and Nate, who sat and tried to look as innocent as possible.
Percy too, glared and took a deep breath through the nose. “Did I pass?”
Nate raised a curious eyebrow. “Pass what?”
“Your little test?” Percy prompted.
“With flying colors!” Hank crowed.
Percy stood. “So you’re actually proud of what you’ve done?”
Nate stood as well. “Now settle down, Percy. You did the honorable thing and married the girl. We’re mighty proud of you.”
“I married her because there was a man in town that seemed far too interested in taking her off my hands!”
Hank and Nate exchanged a quick glance. “There was what again?” Hank asked.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know,” Percy said, his eyes narrowing even further. He turned to Gwen and Walton. “I’m sorry, but I seem to have lost my appetite. Take good care of our guest.�
�� He turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
“What was that all about?” Libby asked.
Adele closed her eyes against the tears that threatened. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“Isn’t what obvious?” Maggie asked.
“He never wanted to marry me in the first place. He only did it to protect me.”
Lillian and Maggie exchanged a quick look. “So did our husbands,” said Lillian.
Adele looked at them. “Yes, but I don’t think this is the same thing.”
Hank sat back in his chair and smiled. “Trust us, it’s the same. Just give it some time.”
“There isn’t time,” Adele told him. “Your brother wants to go to Wiggieville and get an annulment as soon as possible.”
“Don’t worry about that tonight,” Nate insisted. “You just eat up, then get a good night’s rest. We’ll take care of Percy.”
Adele stared at him, tears in her eyes. “I think the only thing that’s going to take care of him is if I’m married to someone else.”
Nate and Hank exchanged another quick glance. “Why don’t we let Percy decide on that?”
“Decide?” Adele said as she stifled a sob. Her emotions were getting the best of her at this point. “It’s quite obvious he’s made up his mind already.”
“But that’s just it, Adele,” Hank said. “He hasn’t.”
She blinked at him a few times. “How can you tell?”
Nate smiled. “Wiggieville is on the way from Weatherford to here. He could’ve easily stopped there today and gotten the marriage annulled.”
Adele’s eyes widened. Maybe Mr. Percival Blue wanted to stay married to her after all. At the very least, maybe his previous statement wasn’t final.
*
Percy leaned against a porch post and stared out at the ranch. Smoke curled from several chimneys, and he wondered what the ranch hands were having for supper tonight. Maybe he ought to go eat with them. At least he wouldn’t have to put up with any teasing while in their company, and no one would try to trick him into something he didn’t want to do. Unlike his own flesh and blood.
He sighed at the thought and stepped off the porch. Didn’t they think him capable of making his own decisions when it came to a bride? Did they have to herd him into a marriage like a stud bull? The man claiming to be from Missouri and looking for a wife … he was probably some actor they’d hired! Why in Sam Hill would they do such a thing? He wasn’t some child. At least they could respect him enough to get the job done in his own way, in his own time. Was that too much to ask?
Percy pushed the thoughts aside and headed toward the nearest bunkhouse. There was a small cabin the ranch hands used for all their meals. Being the only bachelor left in the family, he occasionally ate with them. It beat his own cooking, which was sad at best.
He entered and was immediately met with the heavy scent of beans and bacon. “Howdy, Percy!” one of the men called. “You’re late!”
“Wasn’t sure where I was going to eat tonight,” he said.
“Thought ya were up at your sister’s,” said another. “We saw ya headin’ up that way.”
“Yes, but I changed my mind and decided to dine with you fine gentlemen,” Percy said with a grin.
Abel, a grizzled old man and the ranch cook, tossed a plate of beans on the table. “So you’d rather eat with us than up at Mr. Dalton’s house?”
Percy smiled. Nate and Bart, many of the hands called by their first names, but Walton was always “Mr. Dalton”. Maybe it was because that’s where their pay came from. “I wasn’t in the mood for Gwen’s cooking tonight.”
“Had a disagreement, huh?” Justin asked. Justin was no older than Percy, but wore an eye patch over his missing eye. It did nothing to hamper his work, though – he was one of their best hands.
“You could say that.”
“So who’s the gal I saw ya escortin’ up to Mr. Dalton’s?” Justin inquired. “She was a might pretty thing.”
Percy stared at him. Hmmm … maybe he ought to see if Justin was in want of a wife. He could always marry Adele off to him. Justin would be a good provider – and he didn’t have a past like Percy’s …
“Well? Ain’t ya gonna answer the boy?” Abel groused.
Percy jumped in his chair. “Oh, uh … yes. She’s …” Oh good grief, what was he going to tell them?
“Nate done told me she was yer wife!” Gideon piped up.
Gideon might be a good prospect for Adele too: young, strong, had all his teeth still. But now that the cat was out of the bag with the workers, he supposed he’d better come clean. He took a deep breath. “Technically, she is, yes.”
“Then why ain’t ya up at the house eatin’ with her?” Justin demanded, confused. “If I had a filly like that and I’d just got hitched to her, I wouldn’t let her outta my sight!”
Percy looked at him. “Then perhaps you’d like to take care of her.”
“What?” Justin asked in shock. “Why, what’s wrong with her that ya want to get rid of her already?”
Percy opened his mouth to speak, then shut it.
“Oh, this must be bad,” said Gideon. “If he cain’t even talk about it …”
Percy shook his head. “No, no, there’s nothing wrong with her.”
Gideon and Justin exchanged looks with the others around the table. “Then what’s the problem?” they asked in unison.
“There isn’t one … except that I didn’t want to get married.”
Seven
“If your circumstances were different,” Libby asked, “would you have stayed in Beckham?”
Adele reached for the plate Libby held. “I don’t know. Without a job or a husband, I guess I would have moved on eventually.”
“What happened to your parents?” Libby asked as she washed another dish.
“They were killed in a fire. I’m still not sure how it broke out. No one is.”
“I bet I know,” Lillian said with a grimace.
Adele had remained quiet during supper after Percy’s outburst, but figured she needed to at least try and be sociable with her hosts. So she’d offered to help with the dishes. She took the next plate from Libby. “What do you mean?”
“Never mind Lillian,” Libby said as she cocked her head to one side and studied her. “I think I remember you. Your family moved to Beckham not long before we left.”
“Why did you leave?”
Lillian and Libby exchanged a quick look. “For the same reason you did,” Libby replied.
Adele swallowed hard and turned away. She didn’t want to think about what had brought her to Texas, or what could have happened if she hadn’t escaped Beckham when she did.
“It’s all right,” Lillian said. “You don’t have to tell us anything if you don’t want to. In fact, why don’t you go to bed? We’ll finish up in here.”
Adele set the plate she’d been drying on the stack near the washtub. “Thank you. I am pretty tired.”
“I’ll show you your room,” Libby offered. “I need to gather up Hattie anyway. She’s upstairs playing with, Prue and True.”
Adele’s brows shot up.
Lillian laughed. “Short for Prudence and Truman,” she explained with a wry smile.
“Lillian gave them those names on purpose,” Libby said, rolling her eyes. “Just so she can call them Prue and True Blue.”
Adele smiled enough to have to cover her mouth with a hand. She didn’t recall the two children at supper. She removed it then asked, “How many children are on the ranch?”
“Well let’s see,” Lillian said. “There’s Prue, True, Hattie … Gwen and Walton have Savannah, Bonnie and Bart have Jedediah with one on the way, but she’s not due for a while, and Hank and Maggie have Sissy. There, I think that covers it. That is until Maggie’s sister Mary or their friend Catherine have some.”
“When will I meet them?” Adele asked.
“When they get back from doing their visiting up north. Probably in a few weeks.
”
“So that makes seven altogether,” added Libby. “Eventually we’re going to need to make a population sign.”
“How many children do you want?” Lillian asked.
Adele gaped at her. “Children? I haven’t gotten used to the idea of being married yet … not that it would do me any good.”
Libby gave her a tender smile. “Don’t worry – Percy will come around, you’ll see. I can tell he likes you.”
“You know him better than I do, but I still think he’s planning on getting our marriage annulled as soon as he can.”
“Not if he has reason not to,” Lillian suggested.
“What … what are you saying?” Adele stammered.
“I’m saying that maybe with a little prompting, Percy will decide he’d be better off keeping you.”
Adele rubbed her temples with her fingers and closed her eyes. “I don’t know if I want to hear this. I don’t want to do anything to upset him. I think his brothers have upset him enough.”
“The main culprits are Hank and Nate,” Libby said with another eye roll. “But they wouldn’t have done it if they didn’t think Percy was ready.”
“For marriage?” Adele asked. “Shouldn’t he be able to make up his mind for himself?”
“Of course, but there aren’t any available women around here. Unless you count …
“And we don’t,” Lillian said with some force.
Adele put two and two together. They were probably referring to some house of ill repute nearby. The women they mentioned that were up north visiting, must be married, or Percy would have them as prospects. Or were they? What if he had his eye on one and when they came back …
“Anyway,” Libby continued, “he would’ve had to send away for a mail-order bride, but then you showed up. And, well, now here you are.”
“Yes, and married to a man who had no idea I was coming.”
Libby took Adele’s hands in her own and gave them a gentle squeeze. “Nate was right when he said Percy could’ve taken you to Wiggieville and gotten your marriage annulled, but he didn’t. He also sat next to you at the supper table.”
“What has that to do with anything?”
