Millie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 7)

by Shanna Hatfield

  “I can’t believe Aundy and Garrett’s son rides one of those silly things,” Dally said, sitting forward and clasping the top of the seat her parents occupied with her gloved fingers. “It’s ridiculous. Isn’t he a doctor now? Shouldn’t he set a better example? How can their son not love horses as much as they do? With all the wonderful horses they raise at Nash’s Folly, you would think he’d enjoy riding one of them instead of that… that… monstrosity.”

  Braxton and Dacey exchanged a look Dally couldn’t interpret and wasn’t sure she wanted to.

  Her mother studied her with a penetrating gaze. “Nik Nash is a fine young man. In fact, Aundy was hoping he’d arrive home a few weeks ago, but he was delayed in Chicago. He spent the last six months there working with one of the top surgeons in the country, learning all he could before he returned to Pendleton to open a practice with Doc Reed.” Dacey tipped her head to one side, as though she listened for the sound of Nik’s motorcycle. “He must have arrived in town quite recently because when I spoke with Aundy at church Sunday, she was uncertain when he would make it home.”

  Hunter craned his neck, trying to catch another glimpse of Nik. “Well, if I had the option of riding a motorized bike or a horse through town, I’d definitely choose the motorcycle. Those machines can really move fast.”

  Repulsed by the thought of Nik Nash, Dally lifted her nose slightly. “I still think it’s preposterous for him to ride that thing. After all, he comes from a family with one of the most established ranches in the area.”

  “I’d think you, of all people, sweetheart, would be tolerant of those who are slightly unconventional.” Braxton gave Dally a pointed look. “After all, you wouldn’t want him to judge you for wearing a lovely gown like that with your old cowboy boots would you?”

  Dally should have known one if not both of her parents would notice her choice of footwear. With the gown long enough to cover her toes, she vainly hoped she’d get away with wearing her comfortable boots instead of stuffing her toes into the new shoes Mama purchased for her.

  At any rate, she didn’t know why everyone seemed so interested in Nik Nash. After all, she barely knew him. The last time she’d seen him, she’d only been fourteen. He’d arrived home a few days before she and her family returned to North Carolina after spending several weeks at the ranch. The few moments she’d seen him in passing at church that day hardly counted as a proper visit.

  However, someone like Nik Nash, someone who had no interest in raising horses or cattle, wasn’t a man who’d claim her attention — even if he was handsome and charming and had the most heart melting smile she’d ever seen. Or, at least he had years ago.

  Dally wouldn’t admit to anyone she’d had a crush on the older boy. If memory served her correctly, Nik was five or so years her senior. No doubt, he’d seen her as a child back then, if he noticed her at all.

  In spite of her tendency to romanticize her thoughts, she did not intend to marry for a long while. She wanted to experience life before she tied herself down with a husband and the responsibilities of being a wife and mother.

  Even though her family joked about it, Dally knew she wasn’t a girl most men wanted to court. She was stubborn and freethinking, and treasured her independence. It would take a special man to reach the depths of her heart and build a future with her.

  And that man most certainly was not recklessly wheeling through town on a motorcycle.

  Aware of her suddenly pensive mood, Dally’s mother chatted about amusing things they’d done or seen the past few weeks. When they turned a corner, heading toward the train depot, they waved to Ilsa Campanelli. The dressmaker stood in her boutique’s big front window, rearranging a display of exquisite gowns.

  No matter how many times she saw them together, Dally couldn’t wrap her mind around the fact that petite, delicate Ilsa and Aundy Nash were sisters. Aundy brought images of a Viking queen to mind since she was as tall as most men and full of determined spirit. Ilsa was tiny, petite, and the epitome of well-mannered comportment.

  Dally’s thoughts meandered to the members of her parents’ circle of friends in Pendleton. Aundy and Ilsa’s brother, Lars Thorsen, was married to Marnie, a former saloon girl. They started an orphanage and last she’d heard, they had thirteen occupants plus their own little boy. Some of the girls from the orphanage worked at the telephone office with Millie McBride on a part-time basis. Two of Millie’s former employees were also among the people Dally’s parents considered friends. Lacy Williams wed Grant Hill, one of the town’s most esteemed bankers, while Bertie Hawkins married Riley Walsh. Bertie and Riley worked for Garrett and Aundy during the summer months. Riley also sometimes helped the sheriff’s department when they needed an extra hand. Lars worked with Kade Rawlings, both as deputies to the sheriff. Kade’s wife, Caterina, was a sister to Ilsa’s husband, Tony.

  It was all so confusing to keep straight, but Dally did try because she truly liked all the fun-loving, big-hearted people her parents knew. She looked forward to spending the next few weeks in the area. Perhaps she’d be able to get in a few visits with Aundy and Ilsa before she and Hunter returned to Bramble Hall.

  “Whoa, Rain and Sky. Steady there.” Her father called to the horses as he parked the wagon at the train depot. People bustled in and out of the depot office, and hefted luggage onto carts to be loaded onto the train.

  Her father had barely set the brake when the whistle of the oncoming train echoed through town.

  “Not a moment to spare,” Beatrice said, smiling at Hunter as he gave her a hand out of the wagon while Braxton swung Dacey down to the sidewalk.

  Dally glanced at Jeff as he pouted. Annoyed at her brother and his blatant lack of manners, she climbed off the seat unassisted and settled her skirts around her,.

  “I’ll get a cart. You boys keep an eye on things,” Braxton said. He disappeared into the throngs of people milling about, rushing to secure tickets and ready themselves for the journey ahead. He soon returned with a cart, accompanied by a smiling Nik Nash.

  “Nik! How nice to see you. We saw you zoom by on your motorcycle or we wouldn’t have known you were in town. Have you been home long?” Dacey asked, giving him a hug.

  Nik grinned and shook his head. “I just arrived on the train this morning. I’m glad I ran into you all before you left. Have you been out to see Mom and Dad while you were in town?”

  “We certainly have. They both appear to be doing well. Your little sister is just a dilly.” Dacey looped her arm around Nik’s and pulled him along with her to where Dally stood next to Beatrice. “Please allow me to introduce you to Braxton’s mother, Beatrice Douglas.”

  Nik took Beatrice’s hand in his. Gallantly, he bent forward and gave the back of her hand a quick kiss then straightened with a smile. Dally had no doubt that particular smile probably sent girlish hearts into a state of frenzy all the way from Pendleton to New York, where he’d attended college and medical school. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Douglas.”

  “Thank you, Doctor Nash.” Beatrice tipped her head to him. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you from your parents. It’s nice to finally make your acquaintance.”

  “The pleasure is all mine,” Nik said, offering her a boyish grin. “If you still think it’s nice to meet me, Mom must have shared only the good stuff about me with you.”

  Beatrice laughed. “Not at all, dear boy. She sang your praises, but also shared some of your past misadventures.”

  Nik sobered. “I’m terribly sorry about the passing of your husband, Mrs. Douglas. My condolences to you all on the loss of a fine man, from all I’ve heard about him.”

  Surprised Nik knew about her grandfather’s death, Dally hid it beneath cool indifference while her grandmother reached out and grasped Nik’s hand.

  “Thank you, Doctor Nash. Even though he’s been gone a year now, I still expect to hear Daniel’s laughter in the house or see him outside playing with the boys. Unfortunately, his heart gave out before any of us were re
ady to say goodbye.”

  “I truly am sorry, Mrs. Douglas.” Nik gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

  Beatrice smiled, ready to change the subject. She glanced at Dally and tipped her head toward her. “You know my granddaughter, don’t you?”

  Nik turned the focus of his soulful, warm-chocolate gaze to Dally. “This can’t be little Dahlia. Why, the last time I recall seeing her, she was a little bit of a thing.”

  Insulted and aggravated, Dally narrowed her gaze. “How nice to see you again, Mr. Nash.” She accentuated the word mister, hoping to irritate Nik as much as he infuriated her. In truth, it wasn’t nice to see him at all. The man was even more handsome than her girlish heart remembered and ten times more maddening. Who did he think he was, charming her grandmother and mother, looking like a perfect specimen of outdoorsy, rugged male with his tan skin and appealing smile?

  “That’s Doctor Nash, Sis. Didn’t you hear Mama say he finished medical school and is back in Pendleton to work with Doc Reed?” Hunter nudged Dally with his elbow as he reached out to shake Nik’s hand. “What are you doing at the train depot?”

  Nik took the younger man’s hand and gave it a hearty shake. “Call me Nik. I’m not accustomed to people referring to me as Doctor Nash. It makes me sound like an old man and I’m not there, yet.” He pointed to the platform behind them. “I brought a shipment of medical equipment with me so I had to make arrangements to transport it to Doc Reed’s place.”

  “On your motorcycle?” Dally asked, wondering if Nik realized how idiotic that picture appeared in her head. She could just see him trying to balance a crate of medical equipment behind him while he ripped down the street on his bike.

  Her question sent one of his dark eyebrows upward toward his hairline. “No, Miss Douglas. Uncle Tony let me borrow his wagon and Uncle Lars helped me load it. He’s drove it over to Doc’s office for me. Uncle Kade will help me unload it.” He leaned toward her. “Besides, I’d look pretty silly trying to carry all that stuff on my motorcycle, wouldn’t I?”

  “Indeed, Doctor Nash.” Dally drew out every letter of the word doctor making it stretch long enough to make its own sentence.

  Her mother gave her a strange look. Beatrice tapped her arm with her fan, a sure warning sign she was close to getting herself in trouble with the two women who did their best to curtail her temper and her tongue.

  Nik’s smile brightened as he shook hands with Jeff then turned to Braxton. “Let me help you with these trunks, sir.”

  “Thank you, Nik. We appreciate it.” Braxton rolled the cart closer to the wagon and Hunter began loading it. Nik removed the jacket he wore and lifted a heavy trunk, setting it on the cart with ease.

  Although Nik wasn’t as tall or broad-shouldered as her father, Dally couldn’t help but notice the muscles in his arms and shoulders visible through the cotton of his shirt. He appeared lean, sinewy. The hair that had been a shiny, glorious, tousled mess in his youth was cut short into a respectable style. Yet, it still held the shine she remembered as sunlight glinted across his mink-colored hair. In spite of the cropped length, wayward tendrils on top made her wonder what it would be like to run her fingers through his hair.

  The boy she remembered had changed into a full-grown man. One with a defined jaw, determined chin, and a full upper lip that most likely left girls twitterpated for miles around.

  Of their own accord, her eyes traveled over the length of him, stopping at his hands. Nik always had such beautiful hands. His long, strong fingers would save countless lives and bring an endless supply of comfort to those in his care. She had no doubt they’d also gently caress the face of the woman he loved and tenderly hold his firstborn child.

  Shocked by the direction of her thoughts, Dally looped her arm with Beatrice’s and inconspicuously pointed out the colorful blankets some of the Indians on the platform carried. Together, they walked away from the wagon and glanced around.

  “The next time you come, Grandmama, we’ll have to go to the woolen mills. The blankets they make are so colorful. I just love them,” Dally said, pointing to a blanket with bright orange and green tones mixed with a cream and dark gray pattern.

  Beatrice nodded. “They are lovely, darling. I’d enjoy a visit to the mills next time I come.”

  Dally smiled at her grandmother. “You really mean you’ll come back for another visit?”

  “Absolutely, sweetheart. I can see why you want to stay. It’s a wonderful little town full of fascinating people,” Beatrice said in a quiet voice. She motioned to Nik as he helped Hunter and Braxton load the last of the bags on the cart. “Such handsome young men, too.”

  “Grandmama!” Dally’s exasperation carried in her voice, even though she spoke quietly. “I have no interest, whatsoever, in that particular young man. From what I can tell, he doesn’t want to have a thing to do with horses and that just wouldn’t ever work for me, not when that’s what I want to do with my life. If I ever allow a man to turn my head, he’ll be wearing a Stetson and cowboy boots.”

  “Oh, darling.” Beatrice gave her a fond smile as they returned to the wagon. “You may be entirely surprised how that turns out. Don’t cheat yourself out of the opportunity to experience true love by casting a blind eye to those who don’t fit your notion of how they should look, or act.”

  Caught off guard by her grandmother’s words, Dally remained silent while her mother offered Nik a parting hug.

  “Thank you for your help, Nik,” Dacey said. “Perhaps the next time we’re in town, we’ll be able to get in a real visit with you. Please tell your folks we’ll be thinking of them, especially with the upcoming events taking place at their home.”

  Nik nodded to Dacey then shook Braxton’s hand. “I’ll do that. Safe travels to you all.”

  After shaking Hunter’s hand and solemnly taking Jeff’s, Nik tipped his hatless head to Beatrice and Dally, grabbed his discarded jacket, and jogged off to the other side of the platform.

  “He’s such a wonderful young man,” Dacey remarked, falling into step beside Braxton as he and Hunter pushed the heavy cart up the ramp to the platform.

  “That he is, but what would you expect from one of the Nash family?” Braxton released a relieved sigh when they reached the top of the platform with all the baggage still on the cart. “I’ll see to getting these loaded if you wait by the fifth car. That’s where we’ll board.”

  “I’ll help you, Dad.” Hunter walked off with Braxton while Jeff sullenly followed the women over to the train car.

  “Jefferson Daniel Douglas, what in the world is wrong with you today?” Dacey cupped the chin of her youngest in her hand, even though he stood a few inches above her.

  “Nothing, ma’am,” Jefferson said, refusing to meet her probing gaze.

  Dally lobbed an exasperated glance at her brother. “Oh, let him be, Mama. He’s just pouting because Hunter and I get to stay and he has to go home.”

  Jeff sneered at her then pulled away from Dacey’s grasp.

  She grabbed his hand before he stalked off to join his father. “I know you want to stay, son, but there are any number of reasons you need to accompany us home. That’s all there is to it. Now, if you want me to consider the possibility of allowing you to stay at some point in the future, you’ll stop pouting like a whiny little girl and act like a young man of thirteen.”

  Jeff straightened his shoulders and looked his mother in the eye. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Dacey smiled and affectionately patted his cheek. “That’s better.”

  Braxton and Hunter soon returned and the family gathered in a circle to say their goodbyes.

  “Y’all are gonna miss the train and that ain’t gonna do anything but put Jeff in better mood.” Dally grinned at her mother then turned her dimpled smile to her grandmother. “Go on and light a shuck out of here.”

  “Your annihilation of proper grammar is appalling and I’d reprimand you for it if I wasn’t the reason you learned to speak that way.” Dacey pulled her daughte
r into a tight hug. “What did we do to deserve such a cheeky young miss?”

  Dally pulled back from her mother, eyes sparkling with life and humor. “Raised me to be like you?”

  Braxton laughed and tossed his wife a teasing look. “She’s got you there, Dacey Jo. We did raise her to be free-spirited and self-sufficient. This is the thanks we get.” He reached out and pulled his daughter close to his side. “Give your old dad a hug and then I’ll see if I can herd the women on the train.”

  “There will be no herding, Braxton. I refuse to be treated like one of the cattle from the ranch.” Beatrice shot him a scathing glare then turned to Dally with a feigned lemony expression. “It’s bad enough you condone Dally running around like a wild hooligan, but now you’re allowing her and Hunter to stay here unsupervised? It’s unheard of. Why, in my day, a proper young lady wouldn’t even contemplate such a thing. She and her brother should return home with the rest of us.” She winked at her granddaughter to let her know she teased then leaned close to whisper in her ear. “Have a wonderful time, darling. I want to hear all about your adventures when you return to Bramble Hall.”

  “Thanks, Grandmama.” Dally kissed her grandmother’s cheek then turned to her father. She gave him another hug, breathing in the familiar, comforting scent of him. Despite gray hair infiltrating the dark waves along his temples and a few more wrinkles around his eyes, she imagined her father appeared just as handsome as the day he and her mother met. No wonder her mother had so easily lost her heart to him.

  Before her youngest brother put up more fuss, Dally gave her grandmother a boisterous yet careful hug, lest she bump the woman’s hat. Hunter managed to knock it askew when he gave Beatrice a hug, earning a frown as she straightened it. Once it was set aright, she took their hands in hers and smiled warmly. “I expect you both to tell me all about the fair and the first-ever Round-Up. It does sound like great fun.”