Hope In Cripple Creek

by Sara R. Turnquist

  “Pa!” She crossed the room to embrace her father.

  “Katie, my dear.” He enveloped her in his arms. “I can’t wait to see what you two have scrounged up for dinner.” After he released Katherine, he walked over to his wife and kissed the side of her face.

  Katherine enjoyed watching her parents together. If only she could be so well matched. But, she realized, she had made a decision to hitch herself to Wyatt already. There would be no such hope for her. She turned away from her parents, an ache in her chest.

  “It will wait until you’ve washed up,” Ma teased her husband.

  “All right, all right.”

  Katherine heard the pump sink working as Pa tried to wash the day off his hands. She picked up a book from an end table and attempted to focus on the cover.

  “It seems we will have the special honor of an added dinner guest this evening.” Ma spoke to Pa, but Katherine felt that Ma’s eyes were on her.

  “Timothy decided to join us?” The pump stopped.

  Katherine’s face warmed.

  Was it Katherine’s imagination, or did Ma’s words come slowly? They tortured Katherine. “No, not the Reverend. This evening we will be host to Dr. Sullivan.”

  Katherine set the book down and turned to face her father. She would not hide from this.

  “Doc? Well, I’ll be,” he declared. He looked over at Katherine, a question in his eyes.

  She was wrong. The look in his eyes became too much. Katherine turned her head toward the clock. “He should be here any moment now. I can’t imagine what could keep him.”

  Right on cue and right on schedule, there was a knock at the door. Katherine froze. This dinner would be necessary before they made any more steps in their plan. Still, her stomach rolled, and she wished time would speed up and it could be done already. She dreaded the idea of spending any extended amount of time with Wyatt. So why did she think she could marry him? Sucking in a deep breath, she forced it out slowly and pictured the faces of Charlotte’s children. They needed her.

  Looking over at her parents, a wave of nausea overcame her at the idea of involving them in her horrid plan. But they deserved to get to know the man she was to marry a little better, and they should hear first from her before anything else was done. Still, she feared they would look at her choices the way Timothy had looked at her when she had proposed.

  “Well, Katie, are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to open the door?” Ma’s firm voice interrupted her thoughts.

  She all but jumped at the abrupt halt to her train of thought. But she soon recovered and moved toward the door. Hand on the latch, she closed her eyes and opened the door.

  Wyatt stood on the porch with a bouquet of fresh flowers. He had dressed well for the occasion. A church suit. And he had combed his blonde hair back out of his face. It brought out the strength of his jaw. “Good evening, Katherine. You are looking well-rested.”

  Well-rested. Was that the best he could do? She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she reached for the flowers. “These are lovely, thank you.”

  “Ah.” He pulled them just out of her reach. “Thank you, but they are for your mother.”

  Ma appeared behind Katherine. “Won’t you come in?” She gave Katherine a nudge.

  “Yes, please do.” Katherine managed through clenched teeth. She backed up to make space for him to enter the home.

  “Dinner smells wonderful,” Wyatt said, flashing one of those charming smiles of his. “Here,” he held out the flowers toward Ma. “These are for you.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Sullivan.” She gathered them and moved off to find a vase while Wyatt took off his winter things.

  Yes, he could charm the fleas right off a dog, couldn’t he?

  “Doc,” Katherine’s father said as he came over, putting his hand out to grasp Wyatt’s in a hearty handshake.

  “Mr. Matthews.”

  “You know better than that. It’s always been just ‘Tom.’”

  Katherine didn’t like all this friendliness between them. But it would be for the best. She just had to keep telling herself that.

  Wyatt nodded and took his hand back.

  “Dinner is ready,” Ma interjected, motioning toward the table.

  Katherine watched as Wyatt held back a moment. He waited as the Matthews stood behind their seats. Then he took the empty chair. That put him next to Katherine. Without further ceremony, everyone sat.

  Joining hands, Katherine’s parents bowed their heads. Wyatt held his hand out toward her. With some hesitancy, she slid her hand into his. As her father said grace, she found it difficult to follow along no matter how hard she tried. Why was Wyatt’s hand so warm? So fit for hers? Before she knew it, Pa closed his prayer with an “amen.”

  Katherine and Ma chimed in a chorus of “amens” as well. And Katherine drew her hand back from Wyatt’s, rubbing it as if he’d stung her.

  It took a moment for her to realize her parents had begun passing the food around and asking Wyatt about his practice. He shared vague details about his work, but kept most things private. And conversation soon turned toward the ranch.

  “I’m working on training a horse, but he has a lot of spirit in him,” Pa was saying.

  “I’d love a chance to take a look at your horses.” Wyatt speared a piece of squash with his fork.

  Wyatt had never seemed interested in ranch life before. Or horses. Except that scraggly gelding he rode.

  “I don’t see why we can’t do that after dinner.”

  Wyatt smiled and gave Katherine a quick nod.

  She ignored him.

  After some moments, the focus shifted to Katherine and the school. She didn’t want to say too much in front of Wyatt. Why should he care? But she shared how her students were progressing in their academics and highlighted some of the more promising individuals in her class. There, if he were to gossip about her, he wouldn’t have anything to condemn her with.

  After dinner drew to a close, Wyatt and Pa made their way over to the barn. Katherine looked after them through the window, wishing she could go, too. She didn’t like this idea of Wyatt and her father being alone together.

  “Katie, can you bring me those plates?” Ma worked on filling her dish bin with water.

  “Yes, Ma,” Katherine said, tearing herself away from the window to do so. She worked to help her mother clean up, but couldn’t help but worry what transpired between her father and Wyatt. What was Wyatt saying to him?

  She didn’t have to wonder for too long. They returned in short order. Her father’s face was dark. His features contorted in a mixture of confusion and aggravation. What had happened?

  “Doc, I hope you don’t mind making yourself at home for a few minutes. I think my wife, my daughter, and I need to talk.”

  “Of course,” Wyatt said, moving toward the sitting area in the living room.

  Katherine’s eyes sought out Wyatt’s. He looked calm and innocent enough as he shrugged in her direction. She didn’t believe it. What had he done? Her hands curled into fists at her sides.

  Pa didn’t so much as glance back to ensure his wife and daughter followed him as he headed further back in the house toward his bedroom. Katherine shared a look with her mother before they took up step after him.

  As soon as they entered the bedroom and Pa closed the door, Ma spoke, “Tom, that was rude. I hope you . . . ”

  He held his hand up. “It seems Doc Sullivan has some pretty serious ideas about Katherine.”

  Katherine’s heart beat so hard she was sure her parents could see it thumping out of her chest.

  “What do you mean?” Ma’s eyebrows furrowed across her forehead.

  “He has asked for Katherine’s hand in marriage.” Pa’s words were slow, each word emphasized.

  Katherine sat on the bed to keep from fainting. Why would he do that? She wanted to be the one to tell her parents about their arrangement! And now Wyatt had spoiled everything. Her heart squeezed and she saw red.
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  “Is there something you need to tell us?” Ma turned her eyes on Katherine, her voice rising a couple of pitches.

  Katherine laid her head in her hands. “I wanted to tell you first,” she started. “I never expected Wyatt to say anything to you, Pa.” She looked up, meeting their gazes.

  They crossed their arms almost in unison, watching her and waiting for her to continue.

  Where to begin? “Wyatt and I have come to . . . an arrangement. We want to provide a home for the Peterson orphans. So, Wyatt thought if we got married, we would be the ideal candidates.”

  Katherine’s parents exchanged a look. Were they gauging who should speak first? She took advantage of it.

  “I’m sorry it came out this way. Truly, I am. This was not how I planned it.”

  “Katie,” her mother said, sitting down next to her and putting an arm around her. “Are you sure this is what you want? Because I will tell you that marriage is hard work when you love each other and don’t have children. You and Wyatt have . . . well, you don’t have a good history with each other. It’s not the ideal basis for a lasting marriage.”

  Just as she feared. It was Timothy’s speech again. “I know all of that, Ma. But I can’t turn my back on these children.”

  “And what of Timothy?” Ma rubbed Katherine’s arm.

  “He didn’t want me.” Katherine met her mother’s eyes. Her lip quivered at admitting the truth of it. Was she ready to give up hope? All their times together flashed across her mind. The looks, the touches . . . He was the kind of man she could be happy with. But it wasn’t to be. And his words, his rejection still stung.

  “That can’t be true . . . ” Ma looked over at Pa.

  Katherine sighed. “It is. I asked him to marry me to help save the orphans and he said, while it is a noble reason to marry, marriages have to be based on more than that.” She looked at the floor. His words rang in her ears. And they sounded reasonable.

  “He has a point.” Pa took a step closer to where Katherine sat and laid a hand on her shoulder. “A marriage is an enormous commitment. It takes a lot of work. Even when you love each other.”

  Katherine nodded. She had heard it all from Timothy. Would her parents dissuade her? It was as if she were on the edge of reason. But Charlotte’s face came back to her in those moments. Jack’s and Susie’s faces haunted her.

  “But your mind is made up?” Her father’s tone was soft, but flat. It wasn’t a question.

  She looked at her mother then father, and nodded.

  Pa let out a long, somewhat ragged breath.

  “We will be here for you every step of the way,” Ma assured her.

  “I gave him permission,” Pa said. “I could find no reason to deny him other than my concern for you.”

  “Thank you.” Katherine bit her lip to keep from crying. Was she disappointing her parents? A heaviness settled in her chest. “Please know that I hear your concerns. I just have to do this.”

  Ma nodded, taking Katherine’s hand in hers. The touch comforted her.

  “As you can imagine, we cannot ask Timothy to marry us. So Wyatt has suggested we find a judge or reverend in a nearby town, or even Denver if we have to.”

  “When will you go?” Ma’s voice was quiet.

  “Saturday. Timothy gave me a week. He will only hold off on giving Jack to the Joneses and sending Susie away to Denver for that long. So we have to do it in two days if we are to return as husband and wife in time to meet the deadline.”

  Ma looked at Pa. There was sadness in her eyes. What was the matter?

  “We cannot be there with you,” Pa said as Ma looked down at her hand, interlaced with Katherine’s.

  Couldn’t go? Her parents wouldn’t be able to go?

  “One of the ranch hands is off with his ailing mother. Took off today. And it’s calving season. Several due any day now.” Pa spoke with authority, but his eyes reflected the same sadness she saw in Ma’s.

  “At least you must let us host a reception for you when you get back.” Ma squeezed her hand. “To show our support.”

  Katherine nodded. Fresh tears pricked at her eyes. This time it was too hard to fight them.

  Her mother embraced her, rubbing her back as only she ever did.

  When Katherine pulled back, she looked over at her father. His lips formed a straight line across his face and his eyes remained serious. He wasn’t quite as ready to throw in his support, but she trusted a few days with her mother and he would be.

  “I think we’ve kept Doc waiting long enough,” Ma said, standing. “Shall we?”

  Katherine wiped her eyes and they returned to the family room to find Wyatt leafing through a book. Standing there as if he had no part in what had happened.

  “Our apologies,” Ma said. She was ever the gracious hostess.

  He set the book aside. “Not at all. But it is getting late and I know Katherine has to teach in the morning.”

  Though she burned toward him still, Katherine nodded. She would be pleasant in front of her parents. No need to give them more reason to doubt her. “Thank you for coming to dinner.”

  “And thank you for having me, Tom, Lauren. I had a wonderful evening.”

  “Then you must come again,” Pa spoke up.

  Katherine offered her father a grateful smile. Yes, he would come around.

  Wyatt nodded. “I will.” Then he turned to Katherine. “Shall I escort you back into town?”

  As hard as she tried, she could find no reason to say “no,” so she nodded. It didn’t take long to wrap her winter shawl around herself and say her farewells to her parents. Then they left the house, closing the door behind them.

  Wyatt offered his arm to help her down the stairs.

  Still full of anger, she ignored his help and made her way down on her own.

  However, when they reached his buggy, she had to let him help her up into the seat. As much as she tried to ignore his hands on her, she could not. Why was she reacting this way? He hoisted himself up and took the seat beside her. She drew her shawl more tightly around herself, but not from the chill in the air. Being this close to Wyatt had warmed her. There was silence between them, giving her space to dwell on her thoughts.

  How she regretted that this was her only path. That this was where her future lay. In this man’s hands. Was there any other way? If so, she could not see it. He had already crossed her by speaking out of turn to her father. She would have to watch her back.

  “Are you going to say anything?” he asked after several moments, breaking the silence.

  She took a long breath. Katherine wanted to say “no,” then thought perhaps to yell at him. But neither of those reactions would get her anywhere. Maybe she should just tell him what was on her mind.

  “I wish you would have let me share the news of our arrangement with my parents in my own way, in my own time.”

  “How was I to know you hadn’t already?”

  She was silent. He had a point. Not that she would concede that.

  “If we’re planning to do this in a couple of days, I needed to do the honorable thing and square it with your father. Can you understand that?”

  Katherine watched his jaw muscles clench. She could understand, but she didn’t want to give any ground. Wasn’t she justified in being angry with him? Maybe what he had done was out of respect for her and for her father. It wasn’t something he had to do considering their strange circumstances, but he had all the same. He had done what he believed was right by her.

  Letting out a deep breath, she admitted, “Yes, I can.”

  Feeling his eyes on her, Katherine turned to face him. Their eyes met and held for a handful of seconds. The wall around her heart crumbled a little. Would it continue to do so? She looked away and he turned back toward the horses.

  “So,” she said, breaking into the silence. “We’re going to do this.”

  “I’m prepared to.”

  “So am I,” she said with more confidence than she felt. If
one of them were to back out, it wasn’t going to be her.

  “Then I’ll meet you at the coach station on Saturday?” he said as he slowed the horses. They neared the boarding house.

  She nodded. “Saturday.”

  He jumped down and walked around the cart to assist her. Reaching out to set her foot on the step down, she hit the side of her still-weak ankle on a bar and twisted her foot, causing it to give way underneath her. Wyatt reacted quickly, holding out his arms to catch her. It almost knocked him off-balance when she fell into his waiting arms, but he held his ground.

  And then she was in Wyatt’s arms, her arms wrapped around his shoulders to steady herself, their faces so close together. She became overwhelmed by the heat between them. But it made her uneasy.

  “Are you all right?” Wyatt asked, his words deep and slowed, his eyes on hers.

  “It’s, um, it’s that ankle you checked out a while back. Guess it’s not quite healed,” she said, her voice just above a whisper.

  “Do I need to check it out again?” She felt his voice vibrate in his broad chest as he held her.

  It mesmerized her. Where was her voice? “No, I thank you. I’m sure it’s fine. I’ll just need to be more careful about putting all of my weight on it.”

  “Probably so.”

  She needed to be out of his arms. Now. “Can you, um, put me down?”

  He stared at her but did not move. Was he as affected as she? Her words seemed to shake him free of his trance.

  “Yes.” With great tenderness, he set her on her feet, careful to support her weight until he was sure her ankle could support her.

  “Thank you,” she said, stepping away from him as soon as she could. “And thank you for the ride back to town.”

  “Of course.” His eyes were still on hers. Was it her imagination or did those hard steel-blue eyes appear softer tonight?

  With that, she turned and walked into the boarding house without looking back. Once inside, she rushed up to her room and looked out the window, watching him get back into his buggy and drive off. Only then did she catch the smile on her face.