Love Finds a Way (Cutter's Creek Book 16)

by Kit Morgan

  “I have a feeling they already do.”

  “Perhaps. If so, it must be very hard not knowing what will come out of Martha’s mouth at any given time.”

  Elizabeth looked pained. “Sometimes … this is going to sound silly, but sometimes I wish I could speak whatever’s on my mind, though I don’t have Martha’s excuse and don’t want it.”

  He studied her a moment. “I don’t have her excuse either, but I don’t need it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He took their plates and set them on a tree stump, then took her hands in his. “Elizabeth, this might not be the time or the place for this, but I have to tell you …”

  She swallowed hard. A tremor ran through her and he wondered if she might faint. Did she know? Had she guessed that his heart belonged to her and her alone? “Tell me what?” she finally asked.

  He squeezed her hands and smiled. “Elizabeth, I’ve been torn lately. Torn between my past and my future. But I think I’ve found a solution …”

  “You have been thinking about leaving,” she interjected. “Oh, I knew it!”

  “No, wait …”

  She lowered her gaze. “I won’t keep you from leaving. I can find someone else to assist me …”

  Bart tucked a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  Her lower lip trembled. “No.”

  “Then let me finish,” he said gently. “What I’m trying to say is that I love …”

  “Me!” Martha Overton shoved Elizabeth out of the way. “He loves me!”

  Elizabeth regained her footing, ignored her and looked at Bart. “What …?”

  But before she could finish, Mr. Overton shoved his way through the growing crowd of onlookers. “Martha!” he growled. “Stop whatever it is you’re doing this instant!” He reached them, took one look at Elizabeth’s and Bart’s shocked expressions and gasped. “Great Scott, Martha, what have you done this time?”

  She shook her head and smiled innocently.

  Mr. Overton pulled at his thin hair. “No. No, not again!”

  “Again!” Elizabeth squeaked. “This has happened before?”

  “Mr. Overton,” Bart said. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

  “No,” he groaned. “Go back to doing … whatever it was you were doing.”

  Bart shrugged, turned to Elizabeth and said, “I love you.”

  “See!” Martha exclaimed. “He loves me!”

  Mr. Overton buried his face in his hands. “Martha, you dumb bunny, why do you do this to us?”

  Mrs. Overton pushed her way through the crowd. “Martha! What’s going on?”

  “Nothing, Mother,” she said, innocent as pie.

  Her father knew better. “The usual is going on, Libby. And I’m guessing you’re behind it.” He waved a finger at his wife.

  “Martha is under the impression that I hold some affection for her,” Bart explained.

  “As well she should, considering what she heard come out of your mouth this morning!” Mrs. Overton huffed.

  Mr. Overton brought his face out of his hands, a hopeless dread in his eye. “What did she hear?”

  Mrs. Overton grabbed Martha by the hand. “She heard this man tell Eldon Judrow he was in love with her and would tell her today.” She turned to Bart. “Well, have you?”

  “No!”

  “But … you said it!” Martha whined. “I heard you!”

  “Miss Overton, I wasn’t talking about you,” he said gently. He put an arm around Elizabeth and pulled her close. “This is who I was talking about.”

  “Of all the nerve!” Mrs. Overton spat. “How dare you lead my daughter on!”

  Mr. Overton was simmering now. “Libby, I don’t think he was the one leading her on.”

  “Good heavens!” Elizabeth gasped. “This is Olivia Bridger all over again.”

  “Oh, never mind.” Mrs. Overton grabbed Martha by the hand. “Come along, dear, we’re leaving!” The crowd of people gathering to watch the display, parted as they shoved their way past.

  Mr. Overton shifted his feet and rubbed his balding head in embarrassment. “I am so sorry about this.”

  “Sir, you have some explaining to do,” Bart told him. “Do you realize your daughter…”

  “I know, I know. She’s been like this ever since she was left at the altar back in ‘43.”

  “What?” Elizabeth said. “You mean she’s been this way for twenty-four years?!”

  “Yes,” he said with a nod. “And it gets worse every year. I’ve tried everything to help her, but it’s no use. Especially with her mother feeding her fantasies …”

  “What help have you sought?” Bart asked in all seriousness.

  “Medicines, alienists, matchmakers, preachers … all without result.” Mr. Overton turned red as a beet. “She’s not crazy, just naturally mean. Bull-headed, unforgiving, selfish, and that was even before she was engaged to … well, never mind him; he was smart to get while the getting was good. Now she’s … like this.”

  Elizabeth could only stare. She’d heard enough stories from Aggie about Olivia Bridger and her family to know there were plenty of such people in the world. Apparently, they came in all different forms. Olivia and her mother held nothing back. Martha Overton and her mother were a quieter sort of nasty. “But you love her dearly,” she said.

  “Of course I do – she’s my daughter. But she’s hard to like at times. She’s a little better when we visit relatives in San Francisco or Salt Lake – they keep her occupied. But I need a break from the bustle of cities, for the sake of my sanity – that’s why I bought the chicken ranch here. And when she doesn’t have anything to do, she gets bad. Dangerous bad.”

  Elizabeth nodded in understanding and pictured Olivia Bridger at forty. How much worse would she become by then if she didn’t change her ways? Pride cometh before destruction, she recited in her head. There would always be people like Olivia and Martha, and worse.

  “I apologize for her behavior,” Mr. Overton said. “I doubt she will. She never does.”

  “I’m sorry,” Bart said. “I had no idea you had such a burden.”

  Mr. Overton nodded. “Well, I think my cousin has finally found a match for her. We leave for Salt Lake City on the stage next week. I don’t know if I like the idea of her being a fourth wife, but … well, at least she won’t be alone.”

  “I hope things work out for Martha,” Bart said. “For all of you.”

  “So do I,” Elizabeth added.

  Mr. Overton nodded. “I appreciate that. Thank you for being so understanding. The last fellow she set her cap for, she clobbered him over the head with a frying pan and told everyone his horse kicked him.”

  Bart grimaced.

  Mr. Overton sighed. “I hope this hasn’t ruined your day.”

  “No, on the contrary,” he said. “It’s prompted me to tell Elizabeth some things I wasn’t planning to say until later. In fact,” he turned and put his arms around her. “I’d say it’s prompted me to do something I hadn’t planned on doing until much later.”

  She stared up at him, her heart in her throat. “What’s that?”

  He looked into her eyes, smiled and said. “This.” He kissed her – in front of Mr. Overton, several children, Mrs. Todd, Mary Latsch and everyone!

  When he finally broke the kiss, Mary Latsch smiled. “Do I need to fetch my husband?”

  Bart made sure to look at Elizabeth for permission – he didn’t want to rush ahead. When she nodded, he replied, “Yes, Mrs. Latsch. Please do.”

  16

  Elizabeth stared at him in naked adoration. It had been a long time since she’d been kissed, a long time since a man had told her he loved her. And now … wait, what was that about Mary Latsch getting her husband? Had she just agreed to marriage?!

  “Something the matter?” Bart asked.

  She blinked a few times, her entire body feeling like jelly. “Uh … what just …?”

&
nbsp; “Should I clarify?” Bart dropped to one knee, still holding her hands.

  Just then Aggie, Emma and Eldon worked their way to the front of the crowd. “Oh, how wonderful!” Aggie cried.

  “Only if he didn’t drop something,” Eldon said with a smile.

  “You didn’t, did you?” Emma asked. “Tell me you aren’t down there because you dropped a spoon.”

  “No, I’m not.” Bart looked up at Elizabeth. “Elizabeth Cornell, you’d make this old stubborn fool the happiest man on Earth if you’d have me as your husband. And even though I’m difficult to live with at times, I promise to cherish you, honor you, keep my beard under control and live with you here in Cutter’s Creek so long as we both shall live. If that’s what you want.”

  She blinked back tears. “You mean, you’re not leaving?”

  “Not unless you are. I’ll be wherever you want to be. Every place has a few bad apples mixed in with the good – it doesn’t mean I have to run someplace else at the first sign of trouble. Best you can do is to treat them with kindness, and be careful, because folks like that don’t care what happens to folks like us.”

  She nodded, her heart in her throat.

  “So?” he said. “Will you marry me?”

  Her shoulders shook with silent sobs. “Yes,” she blurted, her emotions erupting.

  “Yes!” Emma said with a clap of her hands. Then: “OH!”

  Everyone turned to her.

  “Ohhhh,” she said again, her hands on her belly.

  “Oh!” Elizabeth echoed.

  Bart jumped to his feet. “Where’s Lucius?”

  “The pie-eating contest,” Eldon said. “It’s why we came to find you.”

  “Ohhhhhhhhh!” Emma wailed. “I don’t care where he is or what he’s eating, find him!”

  Everyone scattered, several folks bumping into one another in their haste to find Lucius Judrow. In fact, everyone ran off in such a hurry that only Bart, Elizabeth and Aggie stayed with Emma.

  She looked around, her face a grimace. “Oh, for Heaven’s sake!”

  Aggie took Emma by the hand, and she and Elizabeth steered her toward the contest. “It’s okay, Em,” Aggie said. “What a day – we’ll have a wedding and a baby before it’s over.”

  “Perhaps not in that order,” Emma said through gritted teeth.

  “I hope you didn’t want Lucius as your best man,” Aggie said over her shoulder.

  “I hope the doctor is close by,” Bart added.

  “I hope Emma’s baby waits until we find Lucius!” Elizabeth said.

  They reached the tables with the contestants to find the contest already underway. Eldon and Bart had positioned themselves behind Lucius and were about to interrupt him, but Emma waved at them to let him continue. After all, the man had been looking forward to it all day, and her pains had just started. Besides, she knew the contest would only take a few minutes.

  Those in the crowd who knew what was going on relaxed when they saw Emma wave, and began to enjoy the spectacle. They cheered along with everyone else at the frenzied eating. Lucius took an early lead, then let his sweet tooth lead the way. By the time he was declared the winner, the townsfolk were cheering so loudly, they didn’t notice that Emma, Aggie and Estelle Todd had left for Doc’s house to get Emma settled.

  “When’s the weddin’?” someone called to Bart.

  “What’s this?” Lucius said, wiping his mouth. “A wedding?”

  “Yes, didn’t you hear?” Bart said. “Mrs. Cornell and I are getting married!” The townsfolk cheered.

  “How did I miss that?” Lucius asked in surprise.

  “You had your face in a pie.”

  “Well, true.”

  “That’s not all ya missed, Lucius!” Jasper Smith shouted. “You’re having a baby!”

  “What?!” Lucius stood, knocking his chair over. “Great Scott, where’s my wife?” He leapt over the table and ran into the crowd. “Emmaaaaa!”

  Sam Todd blocked him and pointed. “Doc’s house is that way, son.”

  “Thanks.” The man was off like a shot.

  Bart smiled. “Lucky Lucius.”

  Elizabeth joined Bart and looked up at him. “Lucky me. I’m glad you spoke up when you did, because I … I realized just today that I love you too.”

  Bart smiled. “And if I hadn’t spoken when I did?”

  She gave him a half-hearted smile. “I might have convinced myself otherwise, let my fear take hold.”

  “Fear can do that,” he said with a nod. “I’ve seen it before.” He brushed a lock of hair from her face. “So will you wear it?”

  “Wear what?”

  “The dress in the window. I made it for you, you know.”

  “What? Bart, you … you did?”

  He brought his mouth to her ear as his arms came around her. “It’s your wedding dress.”

  She shivered in his arms.

  “But I think we can get married later in the week. Let’s let Emma have the baby first. She’ll want to come to the wedding.”

  Elizabeth smiled, tears in her eyes and nodded. “But what will you wear?”

  He smiled. “You’ll see.”

  Five days later …

  “You may kiss the bride,” Rev. Latsch said.

  Bart took Elizabeth in his arms, tossed back her veil and kissed her. And kissed her, and kissed her.

  A cheer went up. “Are they going to stop?” Eldon asked.

  Aggie smacked him on the arm. “Oh, let them keep kissing. It’s been an eternity for both of them.” She sighed as she admired the couple.

  Elizabeth wore the dress that had been in the shop window, with a matching veil and gloves. Bart wore his Grand Army of the Republic captain’s uniform, his hair, beard and mustache freshly trimmed. Together they were a handsome couple.

  “I hear love can be wonderful the second time around,” Eldon commented.

  “As much as the first,” she said. “If something happens to me, what will you do?”

  He arched an eyebrow at that. “What do you mean?”

  She nodded at the kissing couple. “They both found love again. Promise me, Eldon, that you will too.”

  “Aggie, don’t say things like that.”

  “I don’t mean it as if something’s going to happen to me, but if it ever did …”

  He pulled her into his arms. “I understand.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’d want you to be happy, too, should anything happen to me.” He kissed her again, this time on the lips.

  “Hey – who just got married, you or Bart?” Lucius asked from the pew behind them.

  Eldon chuckled. “I can kiss my wife when I want, brother.” He turned to him and smiled. Lucius’ newborn son Emery was in his arms. “How’s my nephew?”

  “He’s fine. Eats a lot.”

  “Ah, just like his father,” Eldon said.

  “Boys, stop.” Emma scolded. She looked at Aggie. “I swear we don’t have one little boy in the house now, but three.”

  Aggie laughed. “I quite agree. Who knows what things will be like when there’s four?”

  “Hey,” Lucius said. “Are you saying that Eldon and I are immature?”

  “No, but I am saying that you’re going to be an uncle.”

  Lucius laughed, then froze. “Wha-a-a-at?” He looked at Eldon, who had a wide grin on his face.

  Emma’s mouth dropped open.

  “We were going to tell you weeks ago,” Aggie gushed. “But then things were so busy with the picnic and all, we wanted to wait for the right moment to surprise you.”

  “The picnic didn’t take up that much time,” Emma insisted.

  Aggie didn’t answer, turning instead to watch Bart and Elizabeth. A beaming Rev. Latsch stood behind them as they turned and faced their wedding guests. “Sometimes love needs time to find a way,” Aggie said. “That night when Bart and Elizabeth came to supper, I could see it. They just needed to see it themselves. If I’d brought it up that night, they wouldn’t have battle
d.”

  “Battled? It takes a battle to fall in …?” Lucius shut up and looked at Emma. “We battled a bit, didn’t we?”

  She smiled. “The whole way along the trail between Oregon and Cutter’s Creek.”

  “Huh.” Lucius watched Elizabeth and Bart head down the aisle, the townsfolk clapping and cheering as they passed. Once they were outside, the Judrows left their pews and followed. “Do you think they’ll spar like we do?” Lucius asked his wife.

  “Not so long as he keeps his hair in check,” Aggie answered for Emma.

  Eldon and Lucius laughed. “Knowing Bart,” said Eldon, “he’ll try to grow that bushy beard out again.”

  “If he does, Elizabeth is likely to shave it off while he sleeps,” Aggie said, and they all laughed.

  When they got outside, Elizabeth and Bart came over to ooh and ahh at Emery. “Well, little brother,” Eldon told Lucius. “Another happy ending.”

  “Yes. I wonder … would Bart have gone back to Boston if you hadn’t talked with him the day of the picnic?”

  “I doubt it. Boston is his past. I think he knew Elizabeth was his future. He’d have stayed until he felt she was ready to hear him out. His fear was that he’d speak too soon and scare her off.”

  “But she was in love with him too.”

  “According to Aggie, she didn’t realize it until the day of the picnic.”

  “With Aggie’s help, of course,” Lucius said with a smile.

  “Of course. After all, sometimes love needs a nudge.”

  Lucius smiled. “Sometimes.” They winked at each other, both knowing neither of them had needed much prompting. Help or not, love really does find a way.

  The End

  About the Author

  Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, lives in a log cabin in the woods in the wonderful state of Oregon. She grew up riding horses, playing cowboys and Indians and has always had a love of Westerns! She and her father watched many Western movies and television shows together, and enjoyed the quirky characters of Green Acres. Kit’s books have been described as “Green Acres meets Gunsmoke,” and have brought joy and entertainment to thousands of readers. Many of her books are now in audio format, performed by a talented voice actor who brings Kit’s characters to life, and can be found on Amazon, Audible.com and iTunes.