Love in Independence (Holiday Mail Order Brides)

by Morgan, Kit

  “Here you are. Oh, I see you found their pile,” he said, indicating the children’s clothing.

  “I take it this is a regular occurrence?”

  “You have no idea,” he said with a smile. “Elizabeth, do you think you can play with Cole and Charity while my friend and I get the kitchen cleaned up?”

  Elizabeth nodded, and sat on the floor next to her younger sister. Winnie set Cole down and stood. “We’re missing some.”

  Luke glanced around the room. “Ah yes; Lily and Eldon.”

  “Good heavens! I didn’t even notice they’d left the kitchen.”

  “They’re the quiet, sneaky ones. I bet I know where they are.” He left the parlor, went down the hall past the kitchen, and into a small bedroom. Winnie followed. The two missing children were both sitting on the bed, still covered in flour, looking at a book. “How did you know where to find them?” she asked.

  “Easy, I followed their tracks.”

  She turned and looked at the footprints that went from the hall into the room, and laughed. “Of course; how else?”

  He chuckled. “These two will be fine; let’s go rescue the kitchen. Ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be. Lead the way,” she said.

  And he did …

  * * *

  They worked side-by-side for the next two hours; cleaning, scrubbing, and chasing children. Elizabeth was a big help, and talked constantly to the twins, keeping them occupied. The two older siblings, Lily and Eldon, kept to themselves in the other room for the most part until Gabe got home. After that, they all filed into the kitchen.

  “Ah, here you all are,” Luke announced. “Line up for inspection.”

  “Inspection?” Eldon asked. Winnie guessed him to be about seven, Lily five or six.

  “Yes, now that we’ve cleaned the kitchen, it’s time to clean all of you,” Luke told him.

  Eldon’s eyes went wide, and he looked ready to bolt.

  “Oh, no you don’t,” Winnie said as she stepped around him to block the door. “You children are going to get washed up before your father gets home.”

  “Where’s mama?” Lily asked.

  “Upstairs with your new sister,” said Luke. “She’s very tired, so let’s not disturb her, okay?”

  Lily frowned and said nothing. Winnie sighed at the action. “Don’t worry; she’ll be down for dinner.”

  Together, they made sure the children were cleaned up before Winnie started a pot of soup. There wasn’t much food to work with; a few potatoes, carrots, and an onion, and she wondered if the family had any stores other than what she’d scrounged up from the larder and root cellar. She couldn’t imagine feeding this army once they were older.

  Once the soup was simmering, she took the new flour Gabe had brought home, and began to search for the other ingredients she needed in order to make biscuits. The meal was a simple one, but filling, if she could make everything she wanted.

  “What are you looking for?” Luke said from behind her.

  She turned and let out a tiny gasp. He was standing right in front of her. He had her pinned between his body and the dry sink. “Luke!” she breathed. “You startled me.”

  He looked down at her, a smile on his face. “I’m sorry.”

  She returned the look. “What are you smiling about?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know; I guess I forgot what it was like to hear my name.”

  She shook her head, not understanding him.

  “Without the ‘Pastor’ in front of it,” he explained.

  “Oh, I see.” She felt her cheeks burn. She’d never been this close to a man. “How long has it been?”

  “Seems like ages.” He gazed at her face. “I think I like it.”

  Her blush deepened. “Well, I shall try to remember to refer to you as simply Luke.”

  His eyes never left hers. “It’s hard for everyone to do, but I’d like it if you would.”

  “Really?”

  He shifted his weight, bringing him closer. “Yes,” he said with a nod. “I believe I would.”

  “Some will think it improper.”

  “Not if we keep it between us … Winnie.”

  Her body went hot and she leaned back to put more space between them. “Wha, wha, wha … ohhhh, no!”

  His face screwed up in confusion. “What’s the matter?”

  “No …no … no …” She sucked in a lungful of air. “Nothing.”

  “Are you all right?”

  “No … I mean yes … I mean, I have to bake biscuits!” Her last word came out a squeak as she released the breath she was holding.

  Luke put his hands on his hips. “What is wrong with you?”

  Winnie waved her hands at him and tried to push him out of the way. “Fine, I … I …” She took another breath. “… am fine!”

  He gaped at her as she moved past, and then scratched his head in confusion. “Fine,” he said waving her past.

  She was on the other side of the kitchen by now, and had located the butter crock. “Biscuits?” she said through gritted teeth.

  “Whatever you think they’ll like.”

  She smiled and nodded enthusiastically, not trusting her stutter to stay calm, and turned from him.

  Her tactic didn’t work. Within seconds, he was behind her again. Closer. “Is there enough butter?”

  She jumped. “Oh!”

  He laughed. “Someone sure is skittish today!” He put a hand on her shoulder and turned her around to face him. When she did they both stood stock still as their eyes met. What happened then, neither of them could explain. It wasn’t an impassioned heat that passed through her body, but a presence, a distinct energy he emitted, and it went right into her soul. It was then, that Winnie’s knees gave out.

  “Winnie!” Luke croaked as he caught her. “What’s wrong?” Not waiting for an answer, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the parlor where the twins still played. They looked at Luke as he set his load on the settee, then went back to the toys in their hands. “Winnie?” Luke asked again, his voice laced with concern. “Are you all right?”

  She stared at him, mortified. No, she was not all right! But she couldn’t tell him that! Good Lord! She’d nearly fainted because of him! What was happening to her?

  “Winnie?”

  She closed her eyes. What was she going to tell him? “I … don’t understand … what happened.” There, that was as close to the truth as she could get.

  “You’ve worked hard today, very hard. I’m sorry; this is all my fault.”

  “No, I’ll be fine. It’s not your fault.”

  He knelt next the settee, and took one of her hands in his own. She shivered at the contact and stared at him. “I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

  “It’s not your fault,” she whispered.

  “It …” he stopped, his eyes roaming her face as he slowly repositioned himself, bringing him closer. Much closer than was proper as his eyes came to settle on her mouth. “It is …”

  “No …”

  “Winnie …”

  They stared at each other, and then …

  The kiss was warm, gentle, beautiful. How it happened, why it happened, she didn’t know, but happen it did; but all too soon, it was over. They opened their eyes at the same time and gazed at each other, their breath still mingling. Luke tried to speak but couldn’t. She watched him struggle to the point where he had to press his lips together to get control. “I’m so sorry. So very sorry. I am the worst of …” he swallowed hard. “ … hypocrites.”

  “Hypocrites?” she whispered back.

  “I’ve taken a liberty that I never should have …”

  She put a finger on his lips to still them, and shook her head. “Stop.”

  He hung his head. “I promise it will never happen again.” He pushed himself up off the settee and hurried back into the kitchen. Winnie stared after him like a stupefied child. She let her eyes wander to the twins, who were staring at her and smi
ling. “Well, I’m glad the two of you enjoyed it.”

  * * *

  Luke went down the center hall, through the kitchen, and out the back door. As soon as he was outside, he gritted his teeth and groaned. “What are you doing, Adams?” he hissed at himself. Indeed, what was he doing? He hadn’t seriously thought about courting anyone since Molly died. He was too busy, for one, and for another … Luke stepped over to a well-worn tree stump and sat. There was no other anything. Except …

  “Oh, no; not that …” he turned and looked over his shoulder at the house. He’d thought was immune to loneliness and the steel grip it with which it often held men’s hearts. Had it somehow grabbed his, and he hadn’t realized it? He shook his head in resignation.

  Yes.

  He took a deep breath. He was going to have to go in there and face Winnie. What would she think of him now? He was supposed to be a man of God, a pillar of the community, and what does he do? Kiss his new assistant!

  Luke groaned again, louder this time, and rubbed a hand over his face.

  “What’s ailin’ ya, Pastor?”

  Luke spun on his wooden perch. Gabe was standing right behind him. He gave the boy a lopsided smile. “Did you ever do something you wish you hadn’t?”

  Gabe gave him a quizzical look. “Lots of times.” He peered at Luke, his eyes intent on his face. “So, what did ya do?”

  Luke grimaced. “Never mind; you don’t need to know.”

  “Pa says it’s only bad if you regret it.”

  Luke stared at him. Did he regret kissing Winnie? Oh, dear Lord. Nope!

  “Well?” Gabe asked. “Do ya?”

  Luke eyed him, and shook his head.

  “Well, then it ain’t a bad thing, so long as it didn’t hurt somebody else. If’n it hurts another, then that’s not so good.”

  Luke eyed him. “How old are you?”

  “Almost ten.”

  “Add twenty years to that my young friend; you’re wiser than you look.”

  Gabe screwed up his face. “Huh?”

  Luke laughed. “Never mind. Let’s go see if we can help with supper.” He stood, mussed the boy’s brown hair, and headed back to the kitchen. He didn’t regret that kiss and, the more he thought about it, the more he was inclined to want to do it again.

  Ten

  By the time Luke and Gabe entered the kitchen, Winnie was mixing up the dough for biscuits. He looked her right in the eye as he entered, causing her to blush a furious red. They would have to talk, of course; but now was not the time. The children were filing into the room, hunger their only thought.

  “When’s supper?” Lily asked. “Is Ma coming down?”

  “Why don’t you go up and check on her?” Winnie suggested. “Supper will be ready as soon as the biscuits are done.”

  “Are you going to live here?” Eldon asked.

  Winnie smiled. “No; I’m afraid I can’t.”

  “Why not?” asked Lily.

  “Because I …” she looked at Luke, and he offered her a tender smile, one intended to mend whatever his kiss might have caused between them. He sensed she was wary of him now or, could it be she was more wary of herself. “… live in town,” she finished.

  “I like how it smells in here,” said Lily. “What you make us?”

  Winnie’s eyes were locked on his own. “Soup,” she said in a soft voice.

  Unable to help himself, he stepped over to where she stood, and gazed down at her. She licked her lips in response, turned away, and dropped a spoonful of dough into a nearby pan. Lily and Eldon watched with interest as Elizabeth came into the kitchen, the twins close behind. “I’m hungry!” she announced.

  “That’s good, because your dinner is almost ready,” Luke said.

  Winnie dropped her spoon in the pan, and gripped the edge of the worktable. She leaned against it and closed her eyes. Luke’s heart felt as if it would leap from his chest as he watched her in the throes of some sort of battle. It was all he could do not to wrap his arms around her, and …

  “Winnie,” he whispered.

  She turned to him, tears in her eyes. “I can’t …”

  “Can’t what?”

  “This has been wrong since the beginning, and I can’t lie to you anymore.”

  “What are you saying?”

  She covered her mouth with her hand, and balled it into a fist. “Not here; not in front of the children. Later.”

  He stood, dumbfounded. What was she talking about? “All right; on the way home then.”

  She nodded, and went back to work.

  Luke stuck his hands in his pockets, and then looked at the children gathered around them. They were studying them both, and gazing at Winnie with eyes full of appreciation? Yes, that’s exactly how they were looking at her. It was how he looked at her. In two short days, she’d made his life so much easier, gotten him organized, his office straightened out. He’d made a mess of it in the short time he’d been there, and knew he needed to straighten it up, but didn’t have the time. Every spare moment he had was taken up by the townspeople. He again glanced at the children at their feet, a prick of emptiness growing deep within his heart. Wouldn’t Molly want him to move on? Find a wife, get married, have children? His eyes found Winnie. She was putting the biscuits in the oven. Yes, Molly would be proud of him if he decided to start a family. The one they never could.

  Luke sighed, and returned his attention to the children. “What say we get the table ready?”

  * * *

  The soup was good, but Winnie hardly touched it. She nibbled a biscuit, and even that proved a task. She washed it down with water but wondered if it would stay down. Ever since Luke kissed her, she’d puzzled and puzzled. Why?

  He gave no indication that he was attracted to her, at least none that she could tell, but then, what did she know? One thing Winnie did know was that she was very attracted to him. Maybe that’s all it took.

  He glanced up now and then to look at her, his face an expressionless mask. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking or feeling; and it was driving her crazy. Did he hate himself for what he’d done? Did he worry she would tell anyone? Good heavens; what if Mrs. Brock found out? What sort of gossip would that cause? Winnie almost dropped her spoon at the thought.

  But Mrs. Brock wasn’t going to find out; she would see to that.

  Luke cleared his throat. “Mrs. Edmonson, is there anything else we can do for you?”

  Mrs. Edmonson had been silent during the meal. Her hair was mussed, her face dirty, and she looked like she hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks. “Oh, Pastor Luke, you’ve done more than enough. We can manage now.”

  “When will Mr. Edmonson be home?” Luke asked.

  The woman stared at him, her mouth half-open. “Ah, well, ya see, he sometimes goes into town after work, and then comes home.”

  Luke studied the woman. “I understand. Well, why don’t Miss Longfellow and I clean things up, and then put the children to bed so you can rest?”

  Mrs. Edmonson’s lower lip trembled. “That’s mighty kind of you. I ain’t been feelin’ so good, ya know.”

  “Yes, I know. It’s why we’ve come,” Luke told her gently. “Now go upstairs and get some rest. We’ll take it from here.”

  She smiled, got up from the table, and headed for the stairs. The baby was asleep in her mother’s room, giving Mrs. Edmonson a small break and a chance to spend time with the rest of her brood. Lily tried to follow her but Luke reached a hand out and stopped the child. “No, best let your mother have a little quiet time now.”

  Lily bit her bottom lip and frowned. “But I want to hear a story.”

  “I can read you a story if you like,” Winnie offered.

  Luke smiled. “Ah, there, you see? You’ll still get to hear a story.”

  Lily smiled. “I have my favorite book; I’ll go get it!” The child ran from the kitchen to the bedroom, and returned, a worn book in her hand. She held it up proudly before Winnie. “Aesop!”

/>   Winnie took it and turned it over a few times to study it. “Aesop’s Fables? Oh, my goodness.”

  “Pa used to read them to us, but he stopped when Ma was carryin’ Ella.” Gabe explained.

  “Really?” asked Winnie. “I wonder why.”

  Gabe shrugged. “I can herd em into the parlor for ya, ma’am.”

  Winnie giggled. “I didn’t realize one could ‘herd’ toddlers.”

  Gabe gave another shrug and smiled.

  She nodded at him to commence with the herding, and stood. She looked at Luke as the children left the table and headed for the parlor. Luke, against his better judgment, stared back. His stomach felt light, as if he hadn’t eaten, and needed something. But what? Her? “You’re familiar with Aesop’s Fables?”

  “Who isn’t?” she said, her voice almost a whisper.

  He sucked in a breath. Lord, but he wanted to kiss her again! “We’d best not keep the children waiting.”

  She looked away. “No, we mustn’t.”

  He followed her into the parlor where the children waited, sat next to her on the settee, and for the next hour, listened to her read. It was heaven.

  * * *

  After they’d put the children to bed, they bid good-bye to Mrs. Edmonson, and left. There was still no sign of Mr. Edmonson, and Luke and Winnie could both guess where he was.

  “How long do you think he’s been going to the saloon before coming home?” Winnie asked as she walked along beside him.

  “Probably since the baby was born. You saw how scarce their supplies were. He’s doing what a lot of men do when they’re overwhelmed.” He let out a long breath. “I’ll visit him with some of the other men from church; have a talk with him. In the meantime, we should get a few of the women together to make them some food baskets.”

  Winnie smiled at his words. The thought of taking food to the Edmonson children with some of the other women in town made her feel useful, like she had a solid purpose. She was used to taking care of others, and realized she felt her best when doing so. “I’ll take care of it.”