A Convenient Christmas Wedding

by Regina Scott

  She seemed so sure of herself that Nora couldn’t gainsay her. And she supposed it wasn’t a bad thought to meet their neighbors. This Mr. Paul or his wife might need sewing done at some point. If the other claim was that close, and since Nora had company, surely Simon wouldn’t worry about her going.

  Beth stopped by the main house long enough to take down the rifle from the cradle by the back door.

  “Do you know how to use that?” Nora couldn’t help asking.

  Beth broke open the barrel and nodded at the shells in the casing, then snapped the gun shut. “Everyone at Wallin Landing knows how to shoot. I’m sure Simon would teach you if you asked.”

  Nora eyed the sleek gray metal in Beth’s grip and shuddered. All she knew about guns was that people used them to kill things. She would leave that to others with stronger constitutions.

  They set off through the woods, heading south along the road. Though the clouds were heavy, no rain fell. The trees stood tall on either side of their path. Small things scampered away through the underbrush as they passed, and a gull circled overhead with a mournful cry.

  Although Thomas was only a little taller than Nora, his stride was longer, and he quickly moved to the head of their group, leading them off the main road and onto a narrow, uneven path. Walking beside Nora, Beth carried the rifle carefully.

  “I’m very glad you married Simon, Nora,” she said as they walked.

  In the act of lifting her plaid skirts out of the brush, Nora looked at her in surprise. “You are? Why?”

  Beth smiled at her. “Well, it’s nice having someone around who understands fashion, for one. And I know you will prove an ally. You can’t imagine how I have to argue with Simon over every little thing. You’ll understand.”

  She understood what it was like to be bowled over by a demanding brother. But Simon wasn’t nearly as autocratic as Charles, and Beth didn’t seem to have any trouble speaking her mind.

  “Besides,” the girl continued, pushing a branch out of their way with her free hand, “of all my brothers, I worried for Simon the most.”

  “You worried about Simon?” Nora asked. “But he has a strength of character I can only admire.”

  Beth slapped her hand down on her cloak. “See? That’s why it’s good you married him. Not many people can appreciate Simon’s qualities. He’s terribly dependable—if Simon says he’ll do something for you, you can count on it. And he will be the first one to agree to a wise plan. But he’s also the first one to tell you where you’re wrong. He’s hardheaded and strong willed and so very logical it makes me see double sometimes. It takes a special person to understand him. I’m glad he found you.”

  But he hadn’t found her. Likely, he would never have noticed her if she hadn’t pushed herself forward. He hadn’t wanted to marry her. He just couldn’t think of another way to claim those acres his family needed.

  They broke out of the woods into a clearing. A wide log cabin hunkered next to a barn, with empty fields all around. An older man in a thick coat and rough trousers was chopping logs by the barn. He set down his ax as they approached.

  “Mr. Paul,” Thomas said with a respectful nod. “We were wondering if we could borrow your cow.”

  When the farmer frowned, his bushy brows heavy over a bulging nose, Beth jumped in. “It would only be for a few days, and we’d take excellent care of her. We’re putting on a theatrical at the Lake Union School, you see.”

  Mr. Paul rubbed his hands together as if to warm them. “Don’t see at all. Why’d you need a cow for a school?”

  “The theatrical will be in our barn,” Beth explained. “It’s about the Nativity.”

  Nora was fairly sure the fellow had no idea what Beth meant.

  “The students are putting on a play about the birth of our Lord Jesus,” she told the man. “They’ve been working very hard. I’m sure you and your family would be welcome to watch the play Sunday next.”

  A smile hitched up, making him look far more approachable. “A real play? Out here? Why, that would be something to see.” His smile faded. “But you don’t want my cow. She’s defective.”

  Nora frowned at the unkind term.

  “Defective?” Beth asked.

  “She wandered too far afield and got herself caught in a beaver trap,” Mr. Paul explained. “I had to take off most of one leg to free her.”

  Beth cringed. So did Nora.

  “Wasn’t even sure she’d live,” he continued. “But she’s a tough old girl. She manages, but I can’t leave her out anymore. Wolf or cougar might get her. And I can’t afford to feed her grain all year.” He waved toward the barn, where a cow had just ventured into view, walking with an odd hop every other stride. She was a pure white, with darker speckles up her legs as if she’d stepped in mud. Those big brown eyes gazed into Nora’s, and the look went straight to her heart.

  “She isn’t defective,” Nora declared. “She must have imagination to want to travel and explore.”

  Mr. Paul snorted. “Never knew a cow to have an imagination, but it makes no never mind. She’ll be our Christmas roast.”

  Unthinkable! How could anyone even consider slaughtering so sweet a beast?

  Nora squared her shoulders. “I think not,” she told the farmer. “Mr. Paul, I want to buy your cow.”

  * * *

  Every muscle in Simon’s body protested as he hauled himself to the house after sunset. He couldn’t keep working two jobs. He knew his brothers needed his help to finish bringing in the spars, and his family would need the extra money from the sale this winter to buy things they couldn’t grow or make. But he had to keep clearing the new acreage. Any minute a winter storm could keep him in the house for days, and where would they be come spring? He was just glad Levi had helped him again today.

  But as he approached the cabin, no light gleamed through the windows. Had Nora sewn curtains now? He was truly going to have to think of meaningful things for her to do other than change his world. He had thought giving her time to sew would be preferable to more chores, but she seemed to want to keep busy. He could only admire her for that, if he did wonder at the results sometimes.

  He opened the door to darkness and silence.

  He blinked. Why wasn’t there a fire in the hearth, a lamp on the table? John had assured him he’d delivered Nora safely to the clearing. Had she come home and decided to go to bed early?

  “Nora?” he called.

  The quiet mocked him.

  He shut the door and strode toward the main cabin. Even he could not believe she would be overcome walking from the barn to his cabin. He’d never taken her for the vengeful type, so she could not be punishing him for his reaction in the woods. Nor was she particularly forgetful. So why had she left the cabin?

  Unless she had left him.

  The thought sped his footsteps, and he burst through the front door of his mother’s house. Levi looked up from setting the table, and Ma frowned from her rocking chair by the hearth.

  “Where’s Nora?” he demanded.

  Ma set aside her sewing. “At your cabin, working on the costumes for the school theatrical with Beth.”

  “No. My cabin’s dark.” His heart was thundering in his ears again, worse than when the tree had fallen this morning. What was wrong with him? There had to be a logical reason for Nora’s absence.

  His mother evidently thought so, for she rose. “Then they must have gone to James and Rina’s.”

  Of course. Simon willed his heartbeat to slow, his breath to come more evenly. Still, his mother regarded him with a frown as if she saw his agitation.

  “I’ll call them in,” Levi offered, laying down the last piece of cutlery and heading for the back door. Simon waited for the double shot that announced dinner was ready.

  It didn’t come.

  Levi
slipped back into the room. “Pa’s rifle is gone.”

  Their mother paled. “Why would Beth and Nora need a gun?”

  Simon felt as if something squirmed inside him, pushing him toward the door. “I don’t know, but I intend to find out.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Levi said, following him out the door.

  On the porch, Simon shouted Nora’s name while Levi called for Beth. No answer drifted on the cold night air. But it wasn’t winter’s breath that chilled Simon. It was the thought of Nora out in the darkness.

  “Beth’s smarter than this,” Levi said, shaking his head. “She knows not to go out at night.”

  “Get Drew and James,” Simon told him. “Tell them to bring their guns. I’ll get John and the lanterns.”

  Levi dashed off toward their brothers’ claims.

  A short while later, they all regrouped on the porch. Rina had checked the school, Catherine the barn, and both reported no sign of Beth and Nora.

  “The last I saw them,” Rina said, clutching her shawl closer, “they were on their way to inspect the barn with Thomas.”

  The schoolteacher insisted on calling Scout by his given name as a sign of respect, but Scout Rankin was still all but a child as far as Simon was concerned. Though his sister was a fair shot, the thought of Beth being the only person to protect Nora and Scout only ratcheted his worries higher.

  “Beth had some foolish notion about using the barn for the theatrical,” Levi told his brothers. “She was talking about it all day in school.”

  “Actually, it was Nora’s idea,” Rina said. “I was not convinced. I understand Nora spoke to you all about it.”

  The reminder of their earlier meeting only fueled the fire inside Simon. “We agreed to the plan. But that doesn’t matter. Something’s wrong. We have to find them.”

  “Agreed,” Drew said.

  John lay a hand on Simon’s arm. “Remember, Beth knows what she’s doing.”

  But Nora didn’t. They might meet a bear or a cougar. She could trip again, wander into a trap. The iron teeth were designed to hold a beaver tight, but they could easily crush human bone. Then again, the cold air made the trees brittle. She could be hit by a falling branch, like Pa.

  Simon shook off his brother’s grip and jumped off the porch. “You all can stand around debating. I’m finding Nora.”

  “Wait!” Drew ordered. When Simon turned back, Drew handed him a lantern. “You’ll need this.” He didn’t allow Simon to comment but turned to his other brothers. “James, with me. We’ll go north along the shore. Levi, go south with Simon along the road. John, make a circuit around the Landing in case we missed them. Fire two shots if you find them. If not, report back here when the moon is risen.”

  For once, Simon didn’t argue.

  Chapter Ten

  “Just. A little. Farther.” Nora tugged on the halter Mr. Paul had been persuaded to include with the cow. Beth had convinced the farmer to sell the beast to Nora for a small price, which Nora would supply from her sewing money. The two of them had been walking with the beast since Scout had had to return to his father’s homestead to do his chores.

  Britta, as the cow was named, stopped once more on the rutted road, a sigh working its way up her heavy body. Nora knew just how she felt. What had taken them a half hour to walk to begin with had taken nearly two to return.

  Now she stroked the cow’s rough hide, which showed pearly in the dim light of a cloud-shrouded moon. “It’s all right, Britta. We’ll just rest a moment with you.”

  Ahead of them, Beth turned from side to side, watching for trouble. They had not seen other animals or people on their journey, but Nora had become aware of cries in the distance, the sudden movement of the bushes on either side of the road. Now the night had closed in, and mist was beginning to roll in from the lake, bringing with it a chill that went straight to Nora’s bones. She hugged her cloak closer.

  “How much farther, do you think?” she murmured to Beth.

  Simon’s sister peered ahead. “Not far. Everything looks so different in the dark, but I thought I saw a light, so we must be close. Wait—there it is again.”

  Nora looked in that direction as well. A golden glow bobbed through the trees.

  “Someone’s coming,” she said.

  In answer, Beth grabbed the cow’s halter and tugged her to the side of the road. Before Nora could ask the reason, the girl raised the rifle and cocked it.

  Nora stared at her, and then at the light. Who did the girl imagine was coming down the forest road with a lantern? Outlaws? Hostile natives? Obviously, Beth thought that the trouble she’d been looking for had found them. All Nora could do was press against Britta’s warm side and put a hand around the cow’s mouth to keep her quiet.

  Now she could hear snaps, like footsteps on twigs, and the murmur of voices, men’s voices by the timbre of them. Whoever was coming didn’t care who knew it.

  Lord, please protect Beth and Britta!

  A moment more, and the light illuminated brown hair and a familiar angular profile.

  “It’s all right!” Nora cried, raising her head. “It’s Simon.”

  Beth lowered the rifle as Simon and Levi appeared out of the darkness.

  “Nora!” Lantern in one hand, Simon strode up to her. His gaze swept up and down her as if he expected to find some part missing. As Nora released her hold on Britta, the cow let out a bawl of protest.

  Simon jerked back. “What is that?”

  “Looks like a cow,” Levi offered, his head cocked to eye Nora’s acquisition.

  “Nora bought it for the school theatrical,” Beth explained.

  Simon seemed to be having trouble following the conversation. “She bought it for the theatrical?”

  That did sound rather foolish. “I actually haven’t bought her yet,” Nora told him. “I promised to return with the money tomorrow. And I didn’t buy her for the theatrical precisely. I bought her because her owner was going to butcher her, and for no good reason.”

  Beth nodded, her blond hair shining in the lantern light.

  Simon lowered the lamp, but not before Nora saw Levi grin.

  “I say it’s a great idea,” Simon’s youngest brother proclaimed. “Ma’s always complaining the goats don’t give enough milk for all her baking. Now we’ll have enough to spare.”

  Simon stood taller, gathering his composure like a cloak about him. “Very well,” he said, though his voice sounded more strained than Nora could like. “Levi, fire the gun to let everyone know we’ve found them.”

  Nora had flinched the first time she’d heard the call. How would Britta react?

  “Maybe that’s not a good idea,” she started, but Levi was already lifting the rifle. As the first shot rang out, Britta yanked the halter out of Beth’s grip and stumbled to one side. Nora hurried to hug the cow as the second shot echoed.

  Simon was undeterred. “Let’s get everyone home. Ma and the others will be worried.” He turned and started back the way he and Levi had come.

  Nora retrieved the halter and gave it a tug. In the fading light of the lantern, Britta’s big brown eyes looked up imploringly, but she didn’t so much as move a hoof. Beth added her strength to the halter, and Britta dug her back hooves into the mud.

  Simon must have realized they weren’t following, for he stopped and glanced back at them, a tall, dark figure surrounded by light. “Well?”

  “She’s resting,” Nora told him.

  “Resting.” His chin moved as if he was fighting for words.

  “Yes, you see she only has three legs,” Nora said. “She can’t move very fast or for very long without tiring.”

  Levi started laughing, but Simon strode back to Nora’s side, his eyes like chips of ice.

  “Let me understand this,” he
gritted out. “You brought my sister out in the woods at night to buy a cow that can’t walk.”

  He made her sound demented. “No,” Nora said. “We started out in good daylight. We never intended to stay out this late, or to buy a cow. But we did buy a cow, and Britta can only go so fast.”

  “It’s all right, Simon,” Beth put in. “It was my idea to go look at the cow. And I have Pa’s rifle.” She lifted the gun as if to prove it.

  “I can only be thankful you didn’t have to use it,” Simon said, voice as hard as his eyes. He handed the lantern to Nora. “Take this. We’ll keep the light in the middle so we can all make use of it. Levi, drop back and watch for any sign of cougar. This cow is an invitation to dinner.”

  Nora shuddered at the thought, but Simon was turning to his sister. “Beth, go first, but keep a sharp eye out. I’ll be right behind you, as soon as I get this cow moving.”

  Beth and Levi hurried to do as he asked.

  “I’m sorry, Simon,” Nora said as he circled the cow, obviously looking for the best way to persuade her to move. “I didn’t mean to be so late for dinner.”

  “Dinner, madam, is the least of my concerns.” He put his shoulder behind the cow’s flank and shoved. Britta hobbled forward two steps and stopped.

  “I think she’s tired,” Nora offered.

  “I think she’s useless,” Simon replied, straightening. “It would be a kindness if I just shot her now.”

  Nora darted between him and the cow. “Don’t you dare!”

  From behind them came an evil-sounding howl.

  Nora gasped, reaching out to clutch Simon’s arm with her free hand. Britta reacted even more strongly. She once more yanked the halter out of Nora’s grip and, with her hitching gait, broke into a run down the road.

  “Beth!” Simon shouted. “Watch out!” He dashed after the cow with Nora on his heels.

  They found Beth against a fir, where she had evidently flattened herself to keep from being run over. “She went that way,” she said, pointing down the road.