by Lynn Donovan
"I'll see to it." Joseph handed his fiddle to his brother, who put down his viola and tucked the fiddle under his chin. Joseph pulled Myrakle to her feet. "May I have this dance?"
Myrakle hesitated. She'd never danced before. He placed his hand in hers and the other at her waist. A lovely ribbon of color rose from the fiddle in a three-color wave. She turned to look into Joseph's eyes. His lips moved. "Just follow me. One, two, three. One, two, three."
Yes, she could see that. She slid her foot forward when he stepped back, then slid her foot back as he gently guided her backward and stepped toward her. She moved with him, swaying and turning, like the ribbons of color floating from the fiddle.
And they waltzed.
CHAPTER NINE
Myrakle woke the next morning with a smile in her heart. Joseph was wonderful. Dumpling lifted up to touch her arm with his paw, the signal someone was calling her. She sat up with a delightful stretch and yawn. Jasmine's bed was empty. Dumpling pawed at her again.
"Is it the breakfast bell, boy?"
Dumpling eased down, wincing as he did. He trotted toward the bedroom door, turned in circles slowly and sat up, with one paw up. His eyes weren't as bright as they used to be. But he still looked happy and ready to accompany her to anything she wanted to do.
Myrakle shrugged on her dressing gown and padded down to the dining room. Dumpling trotted at her side. Six girls sat at the table with coffee mugs in hand. Myrakle made seven.
She poured herself a cup of coffee, added a cube of sugar and a splash of cream, then sat beside Jasmine. Dumpling settled against the wall behind her chair. Beans brought in platters filled with bacon, fried eggs, fried potatoes, and a big pot of cooked oats. He had sliced an entire loaf of bread and toasted the slices to a crispy golden, buttery perfection. He set out two jars of jelly and the crock of butter. The last three ladies entered and, after grace, everyone ate.
The girls chattered on about last night's dance, the men, Myrakle's piano playing, Jasmine's accident with the violin, and hopes for a second visit from the men they had danced with. Some had dreams for being courted, others were not sure. Mr. Redburn walked in from the office across the hall with a mug of coffee and his leather records book under his arm. How long had he been awake? He sat at the head of the table, listening while he sipped his coffee.
"So, ladies, can I assume we've got some compatible matches after last night's shindig?"
Myrakle dropped her chin to her chest but smiled. She certainly thought that was true for her. "Joseph Penella said he wanted to take me to his ranch today." Heat filled her cheeks. "He wants to show me the instruments he and his brothers make. But, we'll need an escort."
"Hmm." Redburn rubbed his chin. "An escort? Yes, of course." He lifted his eyes to Beans, who shrugged. "I s'pose 'tween Beans and myself—"
Beans shook his head. Redburn frowned. "—I could escort you—"
The girls erupted into an onslaught of questions.
"But, what if my beau comes back to court me?" Helena whined.
Jasmine looked hopeful. "If I get invited to the Penella ranch, Myrakle and I could chaperone each other."
"You certainly cannot chaperone each other, that's not proper." Bert looked worried.
"Well, what are we gonna do?" Esperanza whimpered. "We can't go off courting by ourselves. What will people think?"
Redburn leaned back in his chair with a heavy sigh. "Ladies..."
The girls halted and stared at him. He looked to Beans for an answer.
Beans eyes grew wider and wider. "Boss, I don't think you and me can escort all ten gals. Maybe you oughta check with Miss Viola's friends."
"Aunt Viola was an active member of the Ladies' Social at church. I'll go speak to the pastor and see if some of them would be willing to chaperone you ladies." He turned to Jasmine. "I noticed you and Seth Penella were getting along. Can I put you down as compatible?"
His held a pencil poised over the page.
Jasmine flushed. "I don't know." Sadness filled her eyes. "He was very sweet. But after my clumsy tumble into Joseph's violin, he didn't— I don't think you should put us down as a match." She drew a ragged breath and stood abruptly. Myrakle stood with her, but Jasmine touched Myrakle's arm. "I'll be alright. I just want to be alone."
Myrakle nodded hesitantly and sat back down.
Redburn sighed. "Alright, well, are you sure you're alright?" He watched Jasmine leave the room. "Should I keep lookin'?" He called after her.
He slowly turned back to Beans. "What did I say?"
Beans shrugged.
Redburn looked down at his records book. "I'll just keep lookin'. Anybody else?"
He turned his eyes to the other ladies. The overlapping chatter started anew. Myrakle caught some of the words, but she couldn't watch everyone's lips. She focused on her breakfast instead, and when she had finished, she slipped a bite of bacon to Dumpling and gathered empty plates. She and Helena washed and dried the dishes, while Bert and Violet wiped down the table and sideboard and swept the kitchen floor. Dumpling hastily enjoyed a bowl of scraps.
Beans put dried dishes back in the cupboard and cleaned the cast iron skillets and the stove. He banked the fire for later. "I'll go to the mercantile today and get your friend a bag of kibbles."
Myrakle looked at Dumpling as his tongue swiped the bits caught in his fur around his mouth. She giggled. "He loves his table scraps, but that would be nice of you."
Beans grinned. "He's a good dog, but he's getting up in the years. He needs a slimmer diet."
Myrakle regretfully agreed and rubbed Dumpling's ears. She joined Jasmine in their bedroom. "I hope Seth does invite you to the ranch. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were sisters-in-law?"
Jasmine smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "That would be very wonderful. But I don't know..."
They left the speculation hang in the air. Time would tell. Myrakle prepared for the day. She put on a pretty dress and brushed out her braid. She and Jasmine took turns helping arrange their hair and soon Myrakle and Dumpling sat in the parlor waiting for Mr. Redburn to return with news of a chaperone.
Joseph arrived at ten o'clock on the dot. Myrakle and Dumpling met him on the porch with big wide grins. "Good morning, Joseph."
Dumpling barked his greeting.
Joseph set the brake of his buggy and stepped down. "You know, I almost miss you calling me Maybe-Joseph." He chuckled.
Myrakle smiled as she admired the length of him. From his polished boots to the string tie at his throat. He was clean shaven and a tell-tale hint of skin that had not been kissed by the sun indicated he'd been to the barber shop. He looked ready for church, or something special. He yanked his tan Stetson from his head. "Good morning, Myrakle. You sleep well?"
"I did, thank you." She stepped toward him. "Mr. Redburn is checking with the Ladies' Social for some chaperones. He should be back any time now."
"Oh." Joseph looked back at the two seater buggy. "I hadn't counted on three of us. You s'pose she'd mind sitting in the trundle?"
Myrakle laughed. "If she does, I reckon I could sit back there."
Joseph grinned. "I'd much rather have you beside me, but I s'pose it'd only be proper to put an elder woman in the seat." He glanced back at the buggy, as the shiny black gelding shifted uneasy.
Myrakle grinned, imagining the chaperone hanging onto the back of the buggy and holding her hat on her head, while she and Joseph sat comfortably in front.
"That would probably be inappropriate," she confessed.
Joseph's gaze darted toward the street. A woman wrapped in a knitted shawl clung to Mr. Redburn's elbow. She bore a scowl on his face. They came into the yard. Myrakle turned to Joseph when his mouth moved.
"—ing inappropriate going on, Mrs. Clements. We were just discussing that it would be appropriate for you to sit up front with me when I take Miss Estes out to Pa's ranch!"
The woman huffed. "I'm your chaperone, not your intended, son. I'll be fine sitting in the back t
rundle."
Myrakle suppressed the giggle and the vision of her hanging off the back again. "I'm Myrakle Estes, ma'am." She curtsied slightly.
Redburn brought the woman to the porch and introduced them. "Martha Clements, I'd like you to meet one of Miss Viola's brides-to-match, Miss Myrakle Estes."
"Pleased ta meet ya." She shook Myrakle's hand.
Myrakle blew a sigh of relief. Mrs. Clements hadn't reacted offended or surprised by Myrakle's flat tone. Redburn must have pre-warned her.
"Well. Let's get going." Mrs. Clements drew her shawl closer around her ample bosom. "No use burning daylight when there's courtin' to be done."
Myrakle flushed at the woman's directness. And yet, she liked her. A no-nonsense kind of person like her papa. Myrakle let Joseph help Mrs. Clements into the trundle seat and then he took Myrakle's hand, guiding her into the buggy. Dumpling jumped and then Joseph pushed the dog's behind to get him fully in the buggy. Joseph turned to thank Mr. Redburn and slipped his hat in place. The black gelding lifted his head and bore his teeth. Myrakle assumed he'd whinnied as they pulled away from the bride's house. She glanced back at the window upstairs. Jasmine had just pulled the curtains together. Myrakle's heart ached for her friend. "Will Seth be calling on Jasmine later?"
Joseph looked uncomfortable. He dug his finger in under his string tie as if to loosen it. "That's between him and Jasmine."
Myrakle dropped her eyes to the floorboard where Dumpling was curled up in a tan and white ball. She didn't like being reprimanded for caring. "I am not trying to pry into your brother's affairs, Joseph."
He glanced at her quickly and slapped the reins against the horse's rump.
"Mr. Redburn... well, I don't mean to criticize him either." She continued. "But he doesn't know exactly what he's doing. Miss Viola apparently left this world without instructions to her nephew or information about her plans for us. Except, there seems to be something about one of us, but Mr. Redburn keeps saying it's a mistake and he's gonna fix it." She chuckled. "You'd think he learned the bride to be was intended for him. What a hoot that would be for Miss Viola to have planned a bride for him without letting him know nothing about it—"
Myrakle gasped. "Oh my goodness."
Joseph whipped his eyes toward her. "What?"
Her mouth hung open with utter surprise. "I think that's what happened."
She glanced back at Mrs. Clements who rocked with the motion of the buggy, her head flopping loosely as if she were asleep.
Myrakle smiled. "I wonder if she knows?"
Joseph glanced at their chaperone. He shrugged. "I guess when she wakes up we can ask her."
Myrakle shoved her shoulder into Joseph's arm. They both laughed as quietly as possible, so they didn't wake her. Dumpling lifted his head to see what the commotion was and then laid it back across his front paws.
The town slowly faded behind them as the land opened up into farmland, a line of trees peeked over the horizon to their right. "That's the river over there." Joseph pointed.
Myrakle nodded.
"And over there's the Rocking P Ranch." He pointed at a tall timber-framed gate.
"Oh." Myrakle sat up straighter. Dumpling sat up, too. Joseph jumped from the buggy and unlatched the gate. Myrakle took the reins and gently flipped them, causing the gelding to meander through the gate. Joseph re-attached the wire latch and climbed into the buggy. "Thank you."
"Sure." She smiled. He took the reins from her and eased Thunder on along. A copse of trees jutted out from the green line where Joseph had indicated the river ran. Joseph eyed the area intently. Myrakle watched him. Concern wrinkled his brow.
"What's wrong?"
He turned quickly to her. "I'm not sure." Then he turned back to the trees.
Just then, three men rode out of the wooded area. Joseph smoothly reached down under his seat to pull out a shotgun and eased it onto the seat between himself and Myrakle. She gathered her skirt to lay the folds over the gun. Myrakle's heart pounded. Mrs. Clements jerked awake and put a firm hand on Myrakle's shoulder. It was comforting and irritating at the same time.
"Gentlemen." Joseph greeted them.
"Howdy. You one of the Penella boys?" The bigger one, dressed in a dirty denim shirt and pants and black boots, chewed on a match stick, shifting it from one side of his mouth to the other. His teeth were mottled with tobacco stains.
"Yes sir. I'm Sebastian Penella's oldest. Joseph. And you are...?" The men looked familiar but Joseph couldn't place where he might know them from.
"Oh we're making our way to Fort Bent. Looking for work since the Redburn ranch went under. My horse threw a shoe back by the river. We was wondering if you got any smithing tools at your ranch." He squinted against the sun. His face gleamed with perspiration.
Ah, ranch hands from Chance Redburn's ranch. Now Joseph recalled where he knew them from. He looked down at the horses' feet. His hand slid under Myrakle's skirt folds for the gun. Men desperate for work could be trouble. "Which one threw a shoe?"
"Did I say threw a shoe? I meant he's gone lame, must be a rock he picked up over there by the river."
"I see." Joseph sat statue still. "Well, either way, I reckon your horses look like they're riding alright now. You're only about three miles from town. But you knew that. If you take it easy, you could make it there. I'm sure the smithy could help you." He paused. "If you're looking for work, you might drop by the Rocking P. I don't know if we got any openings, but you never know. Our pa might have something you could do... to tide you over."
"We're not looking for no charity, Penella!"
Myrakle felt Dumpling press against her skirts. A low growl vibrated from his chest. She slowly reached down to pat his head. She didn't want him to jump up and startle these men. She wasn't sure if they were trouble but they sure seemed scary. Obviously Dumpling found them threatening.
He leapt to all fours. His hackles stiffened straight up on the ridge of his back.
"You best get that dog under control, or we'll have to shoot him."
"Dumpling!" Joseph hissed. "Sit!"
Myrakle placed a flat hand in front of Dumpling's face. The sign for him to sit. He hesitated, then lowered his hind end. His hackles remained ridged.
"Won't be no need for that." Joseph took the reins into his hands. "Well, my pa is expecting us, so we'll get going. I s'pose you boys'll be alright. Smithy's on your left just as you pull into town." Joseph touched two fingers to his hat and flipped the reins. Myrakle sat back and stared straight ahead, her hand still on Dumpling's head, keeping him sitting. Her worst fear was for Dumpling to leap out of the buggy and have one of those men shoot him. Her heart pounded so hard, it hurt.
Joseph said something to Mrs. Clements. Myrakle turned just in time to see him say the woman's name. Myrakle supposed he was asking if she was alright.
She held both hands over her shawl. "Laaan sakes. I don't think those men were very nice. I never seen a man wear such filthy rags, and I think one of them had a bullet hole. You suppose they stole those clothes?" She shivered. "Laaaan sakes, that's horrible."
Joseph nodded. "Well, I can't judge or pretend to know what a man might go through out in the open plains— what I mean to say is, they did give me a feeling they were up to no good. Even Dumpling was ready to tear them apart." He chuckled. "Once we get to the Rocking P Ranch, I think I'll tell Pa and Adam or Seth to go check if there's any evidence of what they might've been up to out there by the river. Maybe they can find a clue to what they had up their sleeves."
Myrakle shook her head. "I hope Seth is heading to town to see Jasmine."
Joseph looked at her with a wrinkle in his lip. "Well, if he is, that's 'tween him and Miss Jasmine."
Myrakle smiled. "My goodness, Joseph. I wouldn't dream of interfering with your brother's choice in brides. After all, there are ten of us girls who came here at Miss Viola Redburn's request. Lord only knows who she had in mind for us to be matched with. Whatever makes you think any one of us would take
it upon ourselves now that we realize Mr. Chance Redburn is so clueless to what Miss Viola had in mind? Did you know he tried to measure and weigh us yesterday? He thinks matchmaking is like ranching cattle, Joseph, sizing us up for breeding. He didn't have any chaperones lined up, or plan-one in place for us to get to know a potential husband. You were the one who brought us that dance last night. I was the one who told Mr. Redburn that Rafe Adams was all wrong for me and that I wanted to be matched with you.
"Oh no, my dear Joseph, not a one of us silly girls would take that bull by the horns and rustle our own match-made-in-heaven according to our heart's desires. That would just be foolish!"
She crossed her arms over her chest and sat back in the buggy.
Joseph stared at her, then glanced at Mrs. Clements.
"You have a point, what I mean to say is, I'll ask Adam and Pa to investigate what those scoundrels were up to at the river."
Myrakle smiled. "Whatever you think is best, Joseph."
CHAPTER TEN
Dumpling sat up, eagerly panting as Joseph pulled up to the large ranch home. Something grabbed Dumpling's attention in the barn. A brown and white cow dog ran into the yard to greet Joseph. He stepped down from the buggy and rubbed both her ears. "How's my girl?"
Myrakle held her hand in front of Dumpling, signaling him to stay, although she knew he was anxious to go meet the pretty female. "Joseph? Should I let Dumpling down?"
"Yeah." Joseph looked across the yard to the barn and back to Myrakle. "MaryBelle should be alright, just don't let him go in the barn. She's got some pups."
"Oh?" Myrakle removed her hand from Dumpling's face and stood. "I'd love to see them."
Dumpling jumped down stiffly and trotted over to MaryBelle. The two dogs sniffed one another in greeting, turning numerous circles, then ran to the front porch and laid down side-by-side as if they were old friends.
"Sure. Let's go inside and tell Pa about those men, then I'll show you around the ranch." He approached the back of the buggy to help Mrs. Clements from the seat and then extended a hand to Myrakle. She stepped down, watching that Dumpling was alright with the unfamiliar dog.
