“And maybe Pa can listen to me practice, too. He’ll probably get awful lonesome over in that room all by hisself. I sure wish we coulda all been in the same room like we was at the soddy.”
Laney tightened her grip on Jane’s arm. How could two children be raised by the same man and come away so differently? Laney cared where she lived. She wanted stability. Sameness. Jane wanted love above everything else. Family.
With a gasp, Laney sat up. Awareness flooded her like light pushing through a thick, black cloud.
“Are you mad at me, Laney?”
Laney laughed and grabbed Jane for a tight hug. “Of course not! You’re wonderful. How did you know that happiness and security don’t come from where you live but who you love?”
Jane’s brow furrowed with confusion. “I don’t know. Did I do something good?”
“You did something very good, sweetheart.” Laney bent and pressed a tender kiss to her sister’s forehead.
Luke! Laney would have liked nothing better than to run to him immediately, but the downstairs clock bonged six o’clock, a mere half hour before Miss Hastings ordered they be ready for supper. Laney gladly would have foregone a meal to go to Luke, but Jane needed her nourishment. “We’d best get ready so we aren’t late for supper.”
Jane shuddered a deep sigh. “Yeah. Miss Hastings might get cross if we’re late. What are you going to wear?”
“I have a clean pair of britches in the…oh.” Inwardly she groaned. Miss Hastings had insisted upon appropriate attire. With a sigh, she opened the wardrobe and yanked out her only skirt. She groaned as a telltale rip filled the room.
Jane gasped. “Laney. You tore it!”
Now what? She knew there was no way Miss Hastings would stand for her showing up in britches. She pulled out the blue gown she had made last year.
Jane’s eyes grew wide. “Did you make that?”
“Yep.”
“It’s so pretty!”
Eyeing the gown objectively, Laney grinned. “It is, sort of, isn’t it?”
“You going to put it on?”
“I reckon. Why don’t you go over and let Pa know we’ll be bringing him a tray in a few minutes. I’ll come and get you when I’m dressed.”
“Okay.” She hopped from the bed and scurried out the door, forgetting to shut it behind her. “Pa! Guess what Laney’s going to wear?”
A grin tipped the corners of Laney’s lips as she crossed the room and closed the door. Twenty minutes later, she was washed and dressed, thanking the Lord she was small enough that there was no need for her to wear a corset. She’d never have managed one alone. After several futile attempts to pin her hair into something resembling a fashionable style, she gave up and let it flow freely down her back.
With five minutes to spare, she left her room and collected Jane. She held her breath, daring Pa to say something. He did. “Ya look jus’ like yer ma.” Then he turned his back. Laney blinked in surprise as she turned away toward the stairs. She remembered only one kind thing her pa had ever said about Ma: “She was the pertiest thing I ever saw.” Laney couldn’t help but smile. Pa was definitely softening.
Luke’s heart raced until he thought it might beat from his chest. Rusty’s hooves pounded the earth. Only one thought hammered in his mind. Where is Laney?
He reined in his horse in front of the ranch, slid from the saddle, and skipped all three steps, landing on the porch. Pa opened the door just as Luke was about to barrel through it.
“Slow down, son. What’s happened?” Pa hobbled to the bench beneath the front window and sat.
“Laney’s gone. Cleared out, lock, stock, and barrel.” Panic welled up inside of him. Why had he allowed his pride to keep him from going to her right after the concert? How long had she been gone? How would he find her? “I just came home to grab some gear. I’m going after her.”
“I reckon I knew she was clearing out of the soddy.”
Luke blinked and stared incredulously. “You knew?”
“Just found out yesterday.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” How could Pa have done this to him? “I’ve lost an entire day I could have been on her trail.”
“No need to trail her. I know where she is.” Pa patted the bench next to him. “Come and sit.”
Reluctantly Luke did as he was told. He wanted to go find Laney. The longer he waited, the farther away she would be—even if Pa knew where she had gone.
“I had a visit from Garner a few weeks back, right after the trial. Seems Laney paid off her pa’s debt to keep him out of prison.”
“Yes sir. I was there when she offered.”
“It was all she had.”
The implication of his words hung in the air. “She lost the soddy?”
Indignation washed over Luke. “How could Garner take her soddy away after all the hard work she’s done?”
“Now don’t go jumping to conclusions. That’s why he came to me for advice. He would have offered to give her the soddy or at least have waited until she could raise the rest of the money. But he knew before he asked she wouldn’t do it. She’s too stubborn.”
“So you just let her lose it?”
“Not exactly.” His lips twitched.
“Then why is she gone?”
“I bought it from Garner and planned to offer it back to her, but she moved out early.”
“You said you know where she went?”
“Took two rooms at Hastings’s boardinghouse.”
Luke’s throat tightened. Laney would go crazy closed up in a musty old boardinghouse. And what about little Jane? A young’un needed a place to run and play.
Pa reached into his pocket and pulled out a document. He handed it to Luke.
“What’s this?”
“The deed to Laney’s land and the soddy. I talked it over with your ma. This is our wedding gift to you and Laney.”
“I can’t take that from you, Pa.”
“You ran this ranch while I was laid up. You were even willing to give up the idea of your own ranch to honor your ma and me. We want you to have that land to start your own ranch, just like you’ve dreamed.”
“But Laney won’t marry me, and I don’t want it without her.”
“She will when she sees you’re serious about not going to Oregon.”
A slow grin found its way to Luke’s lips. He headed for Rusty. “Tell Ma I won’t be here for supper.”
Pa chuckled. “I thought you might not.”
Trying to formulate the right words to make Laney listen this time, Luke took it easy on Rusty during the two-mile ride into town.
When he reached the boardinghouse, he dismounted, tethered Rusty to the hitching post, and strode to the front door. He knocked with purpose and waited until Miss Hastings appeared. “Yes?”
“May I see Miss Jenkins, please?”
She glared at him with contempt. “I am afraid Miss Jenkins has retired for the evening.”
Flashing his most winning smile, Luke leaned closer. “Miss Hastings, would it be too much trouble to ask her to unretire for a few minutes? I need to speak with her.”
Apparently unmoved by what Luke had been assured was a handsome smile, Miss Hastings squinted behind her spectacles. “Come back tomorrow at a decent hour, and I’m sure she will speak with you then.”
“I’ll speak with him now, Miss Hastings.”
Luke glanced up at the sound of Laney’s voice. His eyes widened and his mouth fell slack at the sight of her. Laney was always beautiful, but in a gown of blue silk, she was almost more than any man could take.
“I thought you had retired for the evening, Miss Jenkins.”
“I would have, except that you reminded me to remove my pa’s tray from his room and clean his dishes before I retire.”
The pinch-faced spinster’s face turned red. “I’ll just take that so you can attend to your guest. Please go into the parlor and leave the door open. I run a respectable place, and I will not have my name sullied.”
Luke would rather have stepped onto the porch or gone for a walk so they could be completely alone, but for the moment he wouldn’t argue. He patted his shirt pocket where he had placed the deed. Now if only he could convince Laney that he truly wanted to marry her and stay in Harper.
Chapter 16
Laney bit back a grin at the glare on Luke’s face. She knew he resented the lack of privacy, but she couldn’t afford Miss Hastings’s disapproval right now.
“You look beautiful,” Luke said, taking her hand as they walked into the parlor.
Laney ducked her head, unaccustomed to such compliments. “Thank you. Miss Hastings doesn’t approve of my ‘mannish garb.’” She threw him a cheeky grin.
He leaned in close, his tone conspiratorial. “If she ever wants to catch a man, she’d better not insist you wear dresses like this one too often,” he drawled. “You overshadow her by a mile.”
She laughed, enjoying the glint of admiration in his green eyes, as well as the easy camaraderie they had fallen into as though they had never disagreed. “Why are you flattering me?”
“I’m not. It’s all true.”
She sank onto the couch. “Have a seat.”
He started to sit next to her, but mindful of Miss Hastings pacing the foyer just outside the room, Laney motioned him to a wing chair across from her.
She gathered courage about her like a shield. “I’m glad you’ve come, Luke. I—I need to speak with you, too.”
“What is it?”
Her eyes misted. She longed to sink into his arms, but Miss Hastings’s shadow fell across the doorway, keeping them at a proper distance.
“I—I wanted to tell you that I will go to Oregon with you—if you still want me to.”
Wordlessly Luke stared at her for such a length of time that Laney thought maybe he hadn’t heard her. Finally she cleared her throat. “If you still want me, that is,” she repeated.
“If I…?”
“Well?” A frown furrowed her brow. He could say something. Even if he didn’t want her anymore.
“No.”
“No? You don’t want to marry me?” Laney grimaced as her voice reached a high pitch and cracked. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks and wished she could take it all back. She should have let him tell her what he came to say first. He probably would have spared her the humiliation of this rejection by telling her up front he had changed his mind about her.
“I don’t want you to go to Oregon.”
Laney leaped to her feet. “Yes, Luke. You’ve made that perfectly clear. Just say what you came to say and get out of here.”
“If you don’t simmer down and stop that yelling, Miss Hastings is going to be in here throwing me out in two seconds flat.”
As if answering a summons, Miss Hastings appeared in the doorway. “Is he manhandling you, Miss Jenkins? Shall I call in Mr. Witherspoon to escort him out?”
Luke grimaced and glared at Laney. “That won’t be necessary, Miss Hastings,” he said. “Miss Jenkins offered to come west with me…and—”
The poor woman’s face was instantly stripped of color. “Miss Jenkins, I am afraid I did not realize you were a woman of questionable morals when I allowed you to move into my establishment. Perhaps your peculiar ways should have raised my suspicions, but being a Christian woman, I hesitate to judge a person without proof.”
Mortified, Laney flailed her arms at Luke. “Look what you’ve gone and done, Luke. Miss Hastings, I promise, this isn’t the way it appears. I meant I would marry Luke and then move west with him.”
“Oh, that is a relief.” She nodded but didn’t quite smile. “You are getting married, then. When will you be moving out? I am afraid I cannot give you a refund for the month in advance you’ve paid, but I informed you of that fact when you insisted upon paying ahead of time.”
“It doesn’t matter, Miss Hastings,” Laney said glumly. “Mr. St. John has decided he doesn’t want me to marry him after all.”
“How unchivalrous! I would have expected more from the son of one of Harper’s most distinguished citizens.”
Something akin to a growl escaped Luke’s throat. “Wait!” He took hold of Laney’s hand and led her back to the couch. “Sit down,” he commanded. Then he strode to the door and extended his arm in that direction. Miss Hastings turned three shades of red and stepped out of the room.
Laney heard her gasp when he pulled the door firmly shut behind her. “Luke, you’re going to get me thrown out of here!”
“You don’t want to live here anyway.” He sat next to her and took her hands. “Now tell me why you changed your mind about coming to Oregon with me. Is it just because you lost the soddy? Because that’s exactly the same bad reasoning as it would have been for me to marry you just because I didn’t think I’d ever be able to head west.”
“That’s not it, and it doesn’t really matter since you don’t want me anymore, anyway. Don’t worry about thinking you have to do the right thing by me. I don’t go where I’m not wanted!”
“Yes, I know.” Luke chuckled. He cupped her chin. “Tell me. What changed your mind?”
Laney gave a sigh. “Jane.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Oh Luke. Jane made me realize that if you don’t have the ones you love around you, it doesn’t really matter if you have the best land in the world or not. I can be happier in Oregon with you than I would be on my land, in my soddy, without you.”
He bent forward and pressed his forehead to hers.
Laney closed her eyes, savoring his closeness.
“Laney,” he whispered, drawing her closer. His mouth moved over hers and clung until she could hardly breathe. All too soon, his lips left hers. He pressed her head against his shoulder.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting in the familiarity of his arms. “I meant it, Luke. I’ll be happy anywhere, as long as we’re together.”
“I feel the same way,” he said against her hair. “I’d rather stay here with you than go there without you.”
Laney pulled away and stared for a moment, trying to wrap her mind around his words. “Then why did you say you didn’t want me to go?”
“Because I’ve already made up my mind not to go west.”
Relief nearly overwhelmed her as she looked into his love-filled eyes. Still, she needed to be positive. “But are you sure, Luke? You’ve wanted it for so long.”
“Something changed inside of me when Pa got hurt. What if I hadn’t been here to help? I need to stay close to the family. And as far as my land goes, I can raise my own herd right here. It may never be as prosperous as Pa’s, but it’ll be mine…ours, if you’ll have me.”
“I will, Luke. But where are we going to live?”
“I want to build our herd right here. On your land.”
Laney felt the color drain from her face, and she sent him a blank stare. “Didn’t you know? I mean…why else would I be living here?”
Luke nodded. “I know what you did for your pa.” He moved closer and wrapped her in his arms, pulling her close. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize the consequences. I would have made sure you didn’t worry about your land for even one minute.”
She sighed against his shoulder. “Oh Luke. I think sometimes we just have to be brought low for God to show us the truth about ourselves. I had to realize that my land wasn’t the most important thing. God is. And the chance for my pa to come to know the Lord.”
“Has he?”
“No, but I’m not giving up. He’s softening.” Laney gave a short laugh. “He hates it, but he’s definitely changing, in spite of himself. I know it won’t be long before he accepts Jesus.”
“I’m glad to hear it. We’ll keep praying for him.” He pulled back and studied her, a twinkle lighting his eyes. “How soon can you be ready to move back out to the soddy?”
Was he being cruel? Or had he simply misunderstood? “What do you mean?
It’s gone. Garner sold it to another buyer already.”
Luke grinned broadly, pulled out a document, and handed it over to Laney.
“A deed?”
“Read it.”
Her hands began to tremble as she glanced down and read the name on the deed. “Luke St. John.” She threw him an accusing glare. “You bought my land?”
“Stop looking at me like that. Pa bought it. Garner wanted you to keep it, but he knew you wouldn’t accept an extension. Pa wanted to give you the opportunity to buy it, but when you moved out before he could offer you a deal, he decided to give it to us as a wedding present instead.”
“A wedding present? We can’t take this. We have to make him let us pay for it.”
Luke placed his hand over hers. “It’s a gift, honey. A gift. I’m not going to hurt Ma and Pa by trying to pay for it.” He slid to his knee in front of her. “You never answered me. Will you share it with me?”
Her eyes misted. “Oh Luke. You know I will.”
Mesmerized by her tears, Luke cupped her face and brought his lips to hers for a brief, tender kiss.
“When can we get married?”
“Wh–when do you want us to?”
“As soon as possible, before something else goes wrong.”
“But where would we live? With Pa and Jane and me, the soddy’s awfully crowded already.”
“I can add a room on to the soddy for now, and I can start hauling sandstone from the creek to build a real house as soon as possible. It still might take a couple of years before we can move out of the soddy though. Is that all right with you?”
Laney flung herself into his arms, nearly knocking him backward. “It’s wonderful. If you’re sure you can put up with Pa. I—I can keep making dresses for Mr. Tucker, and we can save our money for our herd.”
Luke frowned.
“What?” Laney asked. Then understanding dawned. “You don’t want me to keep working for Tucker?”
Luke smiled, hugged her, then pulled back again to look into her eyes. “I don’t guess it would hurt anything, as long as you promise not to get yourself all worn out like you did last fall.”
Brides of Kansas Page 48
