“Slow down, Will. I’m having a hard time keeping up with those long legs of yours.”
He didn’t miss the meaning behind her words. “I’m sorry, Lanora. I’ve got to go pick up the sled and team of horses at the stable and I don’t want to be late.”
“Are you going for a sled ride this morning? Oh, how lovely? Do you mind if I join you? That would be so nice to take a ride through the woods in the sparkling snow. What a lovely idea, Will.” She cooed and clung to his arm while he hurried down the street.
“I’m sorry, Lanora. There isn’t room for another person. I’m taking the girls and Abigail, and we’re bringing back a Christmas tree for the girls. So you see, there won’t be enough room. Maybe next time.” He said the words, but he was pretty sure Lanora knew it was an empty promise. He didn’t want to be cruel to the woman, but she was a hard one to shake.
“I see. Well, I suppose I should wish you all to have fun.”
He could tell she was angry at not being invited, but he didn’t owe her anything. She had made her own choices the night of the card game. He just wished he’d been sober enough to make the choices he should have that night because he would never have taken her to his bed otherwise. That wasn’t the kind of man he was.
He felt bad anyway and stopped in the street. “Lanora, I’m sorry things turned out the way they did and I’m truly sorry you feel I’ve been unfair to you. It’s just that...I had way too much to drink that night. If I had been sober, I would never have—”
“There’s no need to apologize again, Captain Bennett. I understand. You would never have paid the least bit of attention to someone like me had you not been too drunk to decline.”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. You misunderstand me, Lanora.”
She eyed him through cat-like slits. “I don’t think I’ve misunderstood the situation at all. You’ve made it crystal clear how you feel about me...and that woman you’re living with.”
“That woman? Are you are referring to Miss Whittaker? Lanora, I’m not living with her, at least, not in the way you’re implying. She’s taking care of my nieces and—”
“I know what she’s taking care of.” Lanora’s lip curled in contempt. “I’m not a witless school girl. I think you’ll agree that I’m a grown-up woman with a grown-up appetite and I know what goes on behind closed doors when the lamps go dark and the children are asleep. You need not worry. I won’t tell anyone your little secret and I won’t bother you again. I have some pride and I have no interest in being somewhere I’m not wanted.”
She turned and stomped her way down the street, her anger evident in every step she took.
He wished that evening had never happened, but it did and there was no sense stewing over it even if Lanora didn’t seem to be the understanding type. Thoughts of Charlotte came to mind and he realized most women weren’t the understanding type. They were selfish and shrewish and snappish and he’d had his belly full of them. Except for Abigail. She didn’t seem to have any of these negative qualities. Instead, she was kind and thoughtful and she had the patience of Job.
Will glanced down the street where Lanora had disappeared. He hated that he’d played a part in her unhappiness, but as she said she was a grown woman who knew the consequences of her decisions. If her intention had been to trap Will into marriage, her mission had failed. Even if she had come to him with the news she was with child, he was certain it wouldn’t be his. He knew if he was too drunk to remember that night, he was too drunk to participate fully, which would make it impossible to get her with child. He vowed to never be that irresponsible again.
Sunday morning traffic picked up and he heard the church bell chimes announcing it was time to come to service. He knew he should be attending and taking his nieces instead of joyriding across the country in a horse-drawn sled, but he thought the girls would enjoy it and he was looking forward to seeing the joy on Abigail’s face at seeing her very first snow.
Shucking off his guilt, he hurried to the livery stable and picked up his rented team and sled. He was a little disappointed in its appearance. Plain brown wood and metal railings didn’t do much to proclaim the Christmas spirit. He decided it was nothing that a few pine boughs and a little red ribbon couldn’t fix. He drove the team to the town’s carpenter shop and went around back where Mr. Arnold piled his discarded pine boughs from the trees he stripped to make furniture.
Will drug half a dozen at a time to the sled and tied them to the iron railings with discarded ropes Mr. Arnold used to tie the trees to his freight wagon. He went back twice more and when he was done, the sled looked like a genuine Christmas sleigh. Now, all he needed was some red ribbon. He remembered Abigail had some in her sewing trunk at the house. He would make some bows out of the ribbon and tie them next to the bells on the team’s harnesses. He stood back and grinned at his handiwork.
Satisfied, he jumped on board and guided the team to his house. As soon as he pulled the team to a halt by the front gate, the front door swung wide open and his ladies spilled out.
“Uncle Will, you got Santa’s sleigh,” Lily exclaimed, her face bright with joy. Violet was close behind her. He looked past the girls to see Abigail standing in the doorway with a bundled Baby Rose on her hip. “You certainly kept your promise, I’ll say that much for you.” She smiled and he could tell she was excited too.
“I always do my best to keep my promises, but I do need that spool of red ribbon I saw in your sewing trunk. Would it be alright if we—”
Abigail sent him a bright smile. “I’ll go get it right now.”
She disappeared and returned with Baby Rose and a spool of red ribbon in her arms. “Here you are.”
“Give me a minute and I’ll have it all fixed up,” he loved to see Abigail’s joy shining brightly in her dark eyes. He wasn’t good at making bows so he wadded a strip of the ribbon and tied it with discarded wire hanging from the picket fence. Soon, he had as much red as green decorating the old wooden sled.
“It’s beautiful,” Abigail gushed in awe.
He grinned at her excitement. “Well, let’s get going. We have a Christmas tree to pick out.” He bent down and lifted Lily into his arms. “You girls wait inside the fence. I don’t want those big draft horses stepping on you by accident. I’ll go inside and get the hot chocolate and the blankets and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Okay, Uncle Will,” Violet and Lily said in unison.
He walked through the gate of the white picket fence and passed Abigail staring in admiration at his handiwork. Will grinned at her and tweaked Baby Rose’s nose. “I’m going to get the hot chocolate and tin mugs then we’ll be ready to go. I’ll grab a couple of quilts too.”
“Will, the sled looks amazing. Just like Lily had described Santa’s a few weeks ago. And it’s exactly like the ones I’ve seen on Christmas cards. It’s like a fairy tale.”
He had to admit he was quite pleased that Abigail and the girls appreciated his efforts. He realized he would do just about anything to make the ladies in his life happy.
Carrying a wicker basket full of hot chocolate and tin cups, he returned to the living room to find Abigail and a bundled up Rose waiting to experience the year’s first snowfall. “Let me get Violet and Lily snuggled into the back seat under the quilts along with the basket of goodies, then I’ll come back and help you with Rose. Wait right here.”
Abigail’s dark eyes sparkled with excitement. “I can’t wait.”
He hurried to the sled and settled the basket on the floorboard. “Okay, Violet. You first.” He picked her up and swung her around before setting her on the back seat. “Sit tight. Your sister is coming right away.”
He returned to the yard and swooped up Lily and spun her around in the air. Her infectious giggles made him laugh out loud. “Now settle in next to your sister and cover up with one of the quilts to stay warm. Snuggle close.”
Violet and Lily moved closer to one another and he covered their laps with a heavy quilt th
at had been doubled over to keep them warm and cozy. Their rosy cheeks and bright smiles did his heart good. He lay the other quilt on the front seat and retraced his steps to the front porch. “Now, it’s your turn. Give me Rose and you close the door behind you.” Will took Baby Rose and waited for Abigail at the sled. He watched her easy movements and happy disposition and wondered what his life could have been like had he met someone like Abigail instead of Charlotte.
“Ready?” Abigail stood beside him, her face aglow with excitement and anticipation.
“Sure am.” He helped her up on the front seat and then handed the baby up to her waiting arms. He climbed up onto the seat beside Abigail, their hips and thighs touching on the narrow seat. Her nearness affected him and he had a strong urge to lean in and kiss her, but now wasn’t the time or the place. Not in front of the house, in broad daylight where any passerby could see them, not to mention the girls in the back seat. No, now was certainly not the time, but later...later he intended to get her alone and then he would gauge how she felt about him and staying on in Fort Benton on a more permanent basis.
“Here, cover your lap and tuck Rose in your lap under the quilt. Everyone ready?” he called out.
“We’re ready, Uncle Will. Let’s go,” Lily shouted at the top of her lungs.
He laughed and gathered up the reins and spoke to his two draft horses. “Alright then Dancer and Prancer. Let’s not keep the ladies waiting a minute longer.” He snapped the reins against the giant horses’ rumps and with a stomp and a snort, they were off to explore the great woods to the north.
He was delighted at the happy smiles and sparkling eyes that took in every detail as they left town and trotted down the frozen road covered in frozen fractals sparkling in the morning sunshine.
“Oh my goodness. It’s so beautiful and it’s not nearly as cold as I thought it would be. I hope I haven’t overdressed the girls. If they sweat because they are too warm, they could catch their death when the cold air hits their little bodies.” Abigail fussed over the girls and he marveled at the genuine affection she held for his nieces. It was another reason he found himself falling for her.
Wait. Falling for her? When had that happened?
Chapter 11
Abigail inhaled a deep breath of cold air. The exhilaration of the ride, the snow, and the excitement of experiencing her first sled ride sent shivers of delight over her body. She couldn’t stop smiling.
“I take it you are enjoying yourself?” Will asked while keeping the draft horses at a steady trot. The grin on his face told her he knew she was having fun.
“You know I am. How could I not? Look at that view. The mountains and pine trees covered in snow. The bells on the horses are jingling. The pine boughs on the sled smell wonderful. The sky is so blue and the air is unbelievably fresh and clear. I can’t believe I’ve spent the last twenty-four years without ever once going on a sleigh ride.”
Will kept grinning and she couldn’t stop thinking about the attraction she felt for the man. One thought led to another and her mind drifted back to the two times they had almost kissed. At the time, she had been relieved they had been interrupted because she feared what would happen if they crossed that line, but now she found herself wondering what could happen if she stayed.
“What are you thinking?” Will’s voice interrupted her musings.
“Just thinking how different this place is from home. It’s so much more grand and more beautiful and more awe-inspiring than I thought it would be,” she hedged.
“And what kind of place did you think you were coming to when you headed for Montana Territory? I mean, you couldn’t have expected a metropolitan city, right?” She knew he was teasing.
“No, I never expected that, but I thought it would be just a dirty frontier town with a bunch of—”
She stopped when she realized she was about to say a bunch of dirty men.
Will threw his head back and laughed. “You were going to say a bunch of dirty soldiers, weren’t you?”
“No.”
He looked at her with a touch of humor and a hint of disbelief.
“No, really. I wasn’t going to say soldiers because I didn’t know I’d be coming to Fort Benton, but I was going to say I thought there would be a bunch of dirty men. You know, mountain men wearing bear hides and going without a bath for months on end. I just didn’t realize that there would be—”
“Handsome men like—”
“Are you seriously going to say like yourself?” She teased him back.
“I was going to say like my friend Jeremy, but if you want to include me in that group, I’m happy to oblige.”
“Oh, you are such a man.” She grinned and slapped him on the shoulder over a sleeping Baby Rose’s covered head.
“I am that,” he said and suddenly the humor in his eyes changed to something that pulled at her. She felt the heat of her blush and knew it stained her cheeks red. She could only pray Will would think her color came from the cold air.
She looked away at the passing landscape and then down at the sleeping baby in her arms. They rode in silence for another mile or so and then Will guided the sled to a flat opening along the side of the road and pulled the team to a halt.
“I think this is going to be the best place for us to take a break.” He set the brake and tied the reins around the handle. “Let me help Violet and Lily down and then I’ll take Baby Rose from you.” He hopped down and turned to the girls. “Come on, ladies. We’re here.”
Violet and Lily jumped into his arms and he set them down. “Now, remember. Stay away from the horses. We are going to play in this flat area over here, alright?”
“Yes, Uncle Will,” both girls replied and ran to the spot Will had pointed out and began scooping up snow to build their snowman.
She watched him walk around to the horses’ head and pull the lead rope from around the harness’s hames and lead the team to a large pine tree where he tied them. They began to paw through the snow to find the last remnants of dried grass hidden beneath it.
Will came around to her side of the wagon and extended his arms to take the sleeping baby from her. Then, he shifted Rose and extended one arm to help her down. When she couldn’t find a good place to put her feet to step down, Will reached up and grabbed her around her waist pulling her against him. Then, he allowed her to slowly slide down his body until her feet touched the ground. The only problem was her knees nearly buckled at the unexpected contact with Will.
“You, alright?” he asked, concern etched across his face when she stumbled a little.
“Of course. It’s just that I’ve been sitting for a while and Rose’s sleeping body grows heavy after a bit. I’m fine,” she assured him and started to take a step back to put a bit of space between them when Will stepped closer and bent down. “I’ll probably need to apologize for this later, but…”
His words trailed off and she knew he was giving her time to put a stop to what she knew he was about to do. The trouble was, she didn’t want to put a stop to anything at all.
She cut a quick look to where Violet and Lily played. They were so absorbed in their activities, they hadn’t a clue what she and Will were up to.
He must have taken her silence as agreement because he shifted Baby Rose and leaned down, his lips touching hers. The kiss was light at first, but then he stepped closer and pulled her to him with his other arm. His kiss took on a whole new meaning when his tongue parted her lips and plundered her mouth.
The girls squealed in delight at something and they guiltily broke apart. She sent a worried look to where the girls were playing, but she needn’t have worried. They were oblivious to the adults nearby.
She gazed up at him and she recognized the passion, or rather lust, in his dark eyes. As much as she wanted him to kiss her, she knew it could go no farther for there could be no future for them, at least, there could be no future for her here. Fort Benton was not the place she wanted to live and grow old.
She dropp
ed her gaze to the sleeping baby in his arms and backed away to give herself time to think about what had just happened between them. “Do you want me to take Rose now?”
“No, I’ll carry her for a while. Why don’t you get the hot chocolate and the tin cups from the back seat? Then we can help the girls build a snowman.”
Abigail nodded in agreement and hurried to the sled. She leaned in and pretended to fish for the basket. It wasn’t that she couldn’t reach the basket in the back floor board. It was that she just needed time to collect herself from the onslaught of emotions caused by Will’s kiss. Among her many doubts about Will, one thing she knew for certain, he was a wonderful kisser.
“Do you need some help?” Will asked her and cut a quick glance to check on the girls.
“No, I’ve got it.” She said.
He turned back to her and his gaze pinned her with a look that made her warm inside. She tried to ignore the molten dark look he gave her, but she couldn’t deny her attraction to him.
“Why don’t we take the basket over there. I’ll make us a temporary seat out of those dead tree logs, and we can lay Rose on the quilt between us. She can sleep for as long as she wants while Violet and Lily play.”
“That sounds perfect,” she said and carried the basket full of hot chocolate to the place where he led her next to the logs. She took the baby from him and he dragged the dead logs close to each other to form a seat of sorts. He set the basket on the logs and she lay Rose down on the two logs between them and bundled her up inside the quilts and blankets. The little girl kept right on sleeping.
Abigail poured the warm hot chocolate into the tin mugs and then called the girls from their play. “Come on, Violet. Lily. Let’s have the chocolate your uncle Will made for us. Come. Come.”
The girls stopped their play and hurried to where she and Will sat. Mittened hands reached for tin cups and soon everyone was quietly enjoying the chocolate amidst the beautiful landscape.
Abigail (Angel Creek Christmas Brides Book 12) Page 9
