An Unexpected Dilemma Bride_Family of Love Series_A Western Romance Story

by Elliee Atkinson

  “Must be,” Daryl agreed. “I tried to pay attention, but a lot of that was boring. I knew I was gonna be working the ranch. No need for some of that stuff. I wanted to learn to read and write and do my numbers. No need for anything else.”

  “Well, it’s pretty interesting if you let someone tell you about it. Or it might be that I’m an adult now and I’m thinking about it more. You can learn some interesting things when you actually pay attention.”

  Daryl chuckled. “If you say so. But my schoolin’ days are over. Maybe you can get George to come and read some of his schoolin’ to me so I can hear interesting things, too.”

  They both laughed. “So we’re going out to look at the Lansing land today? He’s gonna sell it to you for a good price or you just want the land?”

  “I haven’t decided yet. That’s why you’re here. I thought we could go in on it together if you like the looks of it. You been saying how we need to put a ranch together and build up a business out of it.”

  Heath nodded. “Yeah, but we’ve been talking about that for years, Daryl. Why now?”

  “I know you gotta want to leave something good behind to your son, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do. But hopefully we’re talking about years in the future. I don’t want to kick the bucket anytime soon.”

  “You’re not going anywhere anytime soon.” Daryl directed Prince to go down the road toward town. “I gotta get some breakfast in my stomach. I don’t wanna cook anything. Let’s go to the Inn before we go out to that land.”

  “I’d rather go to the Long Trail Saloon. They got good grub, too.”

  Daryl shrugged. “Whatever. I do like the food there.”

  “I did want to talk to you about something, though, Daryl.”

  The tone of Heath’s voice raised Daryl’s senses. He felt alarmed for no reason. He slowed Prince and looked at Heath. “What is it? Sounds serious.”

  “It could be. I don’t know yet.”

  “Well, don’t keep me in suspense. Tell me what you want to tell me.”

  Heath licked his lips and gave Daryl a look, while scratching his head. “I… I, uh…”

  Daryl raised one eyebrow. “What in God’s name is stopping you, Heath? It can’t be that bad! Spill it!”

  “We might have to change a few of our plans, Daryl, is all I’m trying to say.”

  “Oh? And why would we have to do that?”

  Heath looked squarely at him. “I’m falling in love.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  HEATH’S NEW LOVE

  HEATH’S NEW LOVE

  Daryl thought about Heath’s announcement the rest of the trip into town. They stopped at the Long Trail Saloon. By the time they got there and sat down at a table inside, Daryl wanted a brew. He felt like he was losing everything. His heart sank into the pit of his stomach, thinking about a woman taking Heath away from him.

  He felt guilty and sad. He felt childish for wanting his best friend to stick around. He shook his head. He knew already what would happen if Heath remarried or started courting a woman. He would lose interest in their future plans. Daryl was counting on those plans so that when he found a woman to marry, he would have his fortune already in place.

  Heath had disappeared for a time when he was married. It was short-lived because her death was sudden and only a year or two after they married.

  Daryl wasn’t jealous of the fact that Heath may have found love again. Perhaps a bit envious, but not jealous. He didn’t wish harm upon his friend and most definitely wanted him to be happy. He’d been happy with his first wife and devastated in the years that followed her death. If anyone deserved a good woman to be happy with, it was his friend.

  Daryl was still waiting for that type of happiness. He hadn’t given up hope. He knew someone would come along at some point and he would discover his heart was working after all.

  However, he worried that Heath would renege on all the plans they had made so far, plans he was counting on to make the money to be as successful as he wanted to be. He wanted to develop real estate. He was sure that would be the money maker, not just now in the late 1880s, but in the future as well. He wanted his children to be set for money. He would still teach them to work hard for their money and their possessions. The most important thing he would instill in his children was their love for each other and for family.

  He and his sister, Rebecca, who was now married and living in Wickenburg, had always looked out for each other. He rarely got into scrapes, but if she was threatened, he would jump in like it was his job. He wanted his own children to have that same kind of commitment, loyalty, and love for their siblings.

  Heath was staring at him from across the table when he came out of his thoughts. He lifted the glass of beer to his lips and took a long swallow. “What are you staring at, Heath? I got a twisted nose?”

  Heath chuckled. “No, I just know you had to be thinking about a woman.”

  Daryl shook his head. “Not a woman… not one in particular. Just women in general. They are all so different. You can’t predict what they will do next.”

  “I consider that part of the adventure.” Heath grinned over his beer glass.

  “You think it’s an adventure dealing with women?”

  Heath shrugged. “They’re humans just like we are. No reason why they can’t have their opinions and knowledge and goals and education.”

  “So you think women should be the ones making the decisions?” Daryl sounded amused.

  Heath shook his head. “Not making the decisions. But having the ability to put in something, to be able to speak and be heard. I just don’t think they should be so repressed anymore. It’s almost the 19th century. When are women going to get the respect they deserve?”

  Daryl laughed. “You would plead the cause of the female gender? Are you feeling all right?”

  Heath’s voice was soft and low. He stopped his horse and turned to Daryl, resting one arm on the saddle horn. “I’m just saying most of the women I know are not stupid by far. They may be delicate, beautiful creatures, but they still have working, functioning brains and they should have a say-so in the way things work around here.”

  “And by here, you mean Planet Earth? Come on, Heath. That sounds like a world-wide dilemma that we have nothing to do with.”

  “You may not. But you haven’t fallen in love and you haven’t been committed to a woman.” He help up his hand to stop Daryl’s protests before they happened. “I’m not coming down on you, my friend. I’m simply saying that when you do fall in love… and you will, you will feel differently about the whole thing. Women are to be treasured and doted upon because of their beauty and their unique ability to have children. We both know you and I can’t do that. No man can.”

  Daryl laughed. “And that’s a good thing. We men can’t handle that kind of pain. You know it and I know it.”

  They fell quiet for a moment and Daryl thought about when he and Heath rode into town, approaching their destination in a slow, meandering fashion. They didn’t notice when another horse pulled up alongside them until the rider tipped his hat to greet them.

  “Daryl. Heath.”

  Daryl looked at James Fisher, trying to keep his face neutral. “Hello, James. How are you today?”

  “Not bad, can’t complain.”

  Daryl and Heath looked at each other. James didn’t look like he was doing okay. He looked rough. His vest was torn, his eye looked like it would soon blacken and it seemed he was having trouble staying in the saddle.

  “You look like you need help. You want to see the doctor?”

  “Nah, I’ll be fine. I’ll go home and Esther will tend to these.”

  “Are your children in school today, James?” Daryl asked. The man gave him a narrow, sneaky look.

  “Yeah, why?”

  Daryl shrugged. “I saw the place was quiet earlier today.”

  “You been spyin’ on my house?” James looked infuriated, as though Daryl had just told him he had stolen som
e of his possessions.

  Daryl tried not to look taken aback. He shook his head.

  “Of course not. I was standing on that hill up behind my house and can see for many, many miles around. I could see your house from there. No children playing outside. Hence, they must be in school.”

  James grunted. “You like to use those five dollar words, don’tcha, Daryl?”

  Again, Daryl and Heath exchanged looks. They knew what was coming if they didn’t defuse the situation. “Look, it was just a simple question. Why don’t you come on in and have a drink with us? We gotta go fix a fence on Heath’s property later if you’d like to help out.” Daryl waved a hand at James.

  James stared at him for a moment. Daryl could see he was contemplating whether he could trust Daryl. His negativity won out and he shook his head. “Nah, I got errands to run. Gotta make sure I got those kids in clothes or their teacher will be all over me about it and I can’t stand a nagging woman. Nothing makes me want to put them in the ground more.”

  Daryl didn’t like the sound of that, but tried to hide his disgust. The last thing he needed was a one on one brawl with the big man. He could probably count on Heath to jump in for him, but he’d really rather fight his own battles. And he knew he didn’t want one with this big man.

  He nodded. “Suit yourself. You’re invited if you want to come, just remember. And let me know if you need any help fixing up your place, I’m just a ranch over, not even a five minute horse ride. Come on over. If I have time, I’ll help you out.”

  James seemed to bristle at Daryl’s words. Both Daryl and Heath noticed the reaction, almost as clear as the nose on his face. Daryl imagined the hair on James’ neck had to be standing straight up.

  “There’s nothing wrong with my house or my land, thanks,” he responded in a gruff voice. Without another word, he turned his horse and was soon heading away from them.

  They looked at each other.

  “I think that man has some serious problems, Daryl,” Heath said. “Best to keep an eye on him.”

  “I’m no deputy here, Heath. It’s not my problem to deal with.”

  “Louisville would benefit if they would make you a deputy here. Or a sheriff!”

  Daryl shook his head. “I don’t want to be a sheriff. That’s too much. I’ll help out when I can, but I’m not going to try to be sheriff. Let’s get inside, there’s something I wanna talk to you about.”

  He instinctively shook his head again, remembering. Poor Esther. She had no way out.

  CHAPTER TWO

  NO FOOD FOR HEATH

  NO FOOD FOR HEATH

  He knew Heath was expecting the lecture. The one Daryl always gave him when he seemed interested in a woman. It wasn’t meant to scare Heath into not marrying, but to make him aware of what possibilities lay ahead in such a venture. Daryl had no problem laying out both sides of the equation, both the benefits and the flaws.

  However, this time, he wasn’t going to lecture Heath. He was getting up in age himself. He needed to find a woman and settle down. Surely almost ten years was long enough for a man to torture himself by not being loved or being able to love a woman. It was time for both of them to move on to the next chapter in their lives.

  They were seated at the table in the Long Trail Saloon with a couple brews when Heath asked the underlying question, bringing to light the elephant in the room. “So you have something to say, my old friend?”

  He leaned across the table, locking eyes with Heath in a way that made Heath even more curious.

  “What is it?” he asked expectantly.

  Daryl dropped his eyes to his balled up fists on the table. “I’m not going to lecture you about it. As a matter of fact, I think I… I understand where you’re coming from. I… uh, I’ve been thinking about love and all that stuff lately.”

  Heath laughed. “All that stuff, huh? Well, do you have a lady friend you’re interested in courting?”

  Daryl shook his head. “Nah, I haven’t met any women, not here in Louisville, that I can see spending the rest of my life with. And having children.”

  “How many of them have you even met?”

  “Enough to know I have that opinion.”

  “Well, let me enlighten you, my friend. This woman I’m talking about… her name is Lily Hoffman. She’s a beautiful brown haired girl with big brown eyes. She’s got a sister.”

  “Uh oh.”

  “Yeah, you know what that means.”

  “I shouldn’t be going on blind dates.”

  Heath laughed again. “What do you mean? Of course you should. That’s how you meet the best women!”

  Daryl raised his eyebrows. “Somehow I doubt that.”

  “No, you shouldn’t. Really. At least, not in this case. She’s a beautiful girl, too, Daryl.”

  “How do you know these ladies?”

  “I was offered a job through their mother, who works with my sister at the community wash.”

  Daryl nodded. “Oh, I see. Yeah, I suppose the community wash is a good place for single women to meet single men. You take your clothes down there, do you?”

  “And George’s. You don’t?”

  “I have on occasion. It was nice of the women of Louisville to offer that service to the men who don’t have anyone to wash their clothes for them.”

  “You’re a single man; why don’t you use them all the time?”

  Daryl shrugged. “I know how to wash my own clothes.”

  “Well, it’s been a real time-saver for me and George. And yeah, they work down there. Dunno if they are volunteers or not. You think they get paid?”

  “If they do, I don’t know where the money is coming from. I thought it was just a service the ladies decided to provide.”

  “They both work on the washing side. You should come with me next time I go.”

  “What if they aren’t there?”

  Heath lifted his beer to his mouth and swallowed almost half the glass. He slammed it down on the table, causing it to spill just a little over the edge. He wiped the back of his hand over his mouth and grinned. “I know when they’re there and when they aren’t.”

  “You’ve been keeping an eye on them?”

  “Well, not them, really. Her specifically. I just happened to notice that her sister comes with her almost every time, if not every time. Just because I didn’t see her doesn’t mean she wasn’t there, you know?”

  “I do. So how do you know they are sisters?”

  Heath shook his head. “I didn’t say I’m in love because she’s a beautiful woman, Daryl. I’ve spoken to her nearly every week for the past two months. Just casual conversation, mind you. But from what I’ve heard so far, she’s the woman for me. I swear she is.”

  “You gotta give me more details than that. I wanna hear about her.” Daryl wasn’t sure whether he was lying or just stretching the truth. He didn’t want to hear about Lily because he was interested. He wanted to hear about her because it would keep Heath from hounding him to see the sister.

  As Heath talked, Daryl half-listened. Small voices in his head were debating why he should or should not give love a chance with this blind date woman. Heath wouldn’t steer him wrong, but love and women had not been a frequent topic of conversation over the years. It wasn’t until that moment that Daryl realized he and Heath knew very little about what the other wanted in a relationship. It just wasn’t part of their everyday conversation. Heath had told Daryl about his first wife and Daryl had been his best man at the wedding. Nevertheless, since Victoria’s death, he and Heath had spoken only on occasion about the beauty of women and how they felt about love.

  Daryl looked at his friend’s face and could easily see how happy he was. He decided it would be worthwhile to listen to what the man had to say. Perhaps it would encourage him to seek out this woman, Laura, and see what possibilities might lie there.

  “You boys okay?” They both looked up when the bartender, a frail, thin old man leaned over their table. If there was one thing ab
out Mr. Clay Turner, he was a man who never knew his weakness. He stared at the younger men expectantly.

  “Oh yeah, just fine, Mr. Turner,” Daryl said, lifting his glass and smiling.

  The older man rolled his yellow eyes toward Heath. “You sure you should be in here, Heath Bartley? Ain’t you got work to do on that farm of yours?”

  Daryl felt a streak of exasperation pass through him. The old bartender was losing what sense he had. He often saw both of them as the young boys they once were, working on their parents’ farms and trying to get away with doing as little work as humanly possible.

  “I’m doing good on the farm, Mr. Turner,” Heath responded in a tight but friendly voice.

  “You should. Your papa needs as much help as he can get, doesn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he does.” Heath looked at Daryl. “You wanna take off, Daryl?”

  “Not yet. You’ve had breakfast. I gotta get something. You got some ham and eggs on the menu today, Mr. Turner?”

  “You ain’t got school today?” Mr. Turner slid his eyes over to Daryl, glaring at him accusingly.

  Daryl shook his head. “No, sir, it’s the summer vacation, you know.”

  Mr. Turner scanned him up and down. “Yeah, I got some ham and eggs in the kitchen. You want some biscuits to go with that?”

  “That would be right nice of you, sir.”

  Mr. Turner spun on his heel and left with just a nod of his head. He didn’t ask Heath if he wanted anything.

  Heath chuckled. “I reckon it’s a good thing he don’t know the school schedule. Summer break ain’t here yet.”

  “Them kids, they’re lucky they don’t have to go year round like I did.”