Mesmerized at Will’s unusual behavior, she remained silent waiting until he was ready to talk, but when he hugged Rose even closer resting his chin on her little head and closed his eyes as if he couldn’t dare to let her go, Abigail had seen enough. “Will, it’s obvious something is wrong. Please don’t keep me in suspense any longer. If there’s something going on I need to know about, please...just tell me.”
Will opened his eyes and pinned her with a look over Baby Rose’s head. “Yes, we need to talk. I just don’t know exactly how to get started,” he admitted and placed Rose back into her high chair securing the wooden tray and rearranging the crumbs of crackers.
“Sit and just start. Anywhere will do.” She heard the fear in her voice and took a deep breath hoping to calm her anxiety. It didn’t work.
“What time do you have to leave to be at the schoolhouse when Violet gets out of her classes?” he asked and pulled up a chair to the table and sat.
“I usually leave around two-thirty. Why?” Abigail forced herself not to push. He would tell her when he was ready.
“I had hoped to have more time to talk to you about this, but as it is we only have about half an hour.”
“A great many things can be accomplished in so little time if one would just begin.”
He nodded and offered her a half-hearted grin. “That’s one of the things I like about you, Abigail. You are not easily ruffled. That’s a good quality to have.”
“I suppose.” She studied his face as he stared down at his tented fingers in front of him. “Will, please. You’re starting to scare me. Is it the girls? Has their aunt done something? Did something happen at the fort today? Is everyone alright?”
“No to both your questions. Danielle hasn’t done anything that I know of and nothing happened at the fort today. At least nothing bad.”
“Then I must urge you to speak now, for every second you do not, I imagine the worst.”
“I’m sorry. Yes, I guess the best course of action is to just tell you what is on my mind and let the wind carry us where it will.”
“Let the wind carry us where—now you’re talking in riddles. Out with it, Captain Bennett. I’ve never known you to beat around the bush when you had something to say.” She hoped her gentle reprimand would push him forward.
“Very well. On the way to work this morning, Jeremy and I struck up a conversation that I found very troubling.”
“Troubling?” Abigail couldn’t imagine what he and his best friend could be at odds about. “Well, I’m sure whatever has caused the disagreement with your friend can be undone. Perhaps if you just talk to him—”
“No, you misunderstand. I’m doing a very poor job of explaining the jest of this conversation. Jeremy pointed out how easy my life would be if I let Danielle take the girls away like she wants to, and—”
Abigail’s heart stopped in her chest. She stood and paced the room, her anger and agitation getting the best of her good intentions of remaining silent until he finished. “You can’t be serious, Will? You can’t mean what you are saying? This woman is not qualified—she has no idea how to care for these girls. Why just this morning she as much as admitted to me that she has no intention of raising them herself. Instead, she plans to turn them over to her staff. A nanny. I can’t believe you are saying such things.”
She turned her face away to hide the tears welling in her eyes. She knew at this moment she loved those little girls and she would do everything in her power to keep them safe and that meant not turning them over to Danielle Wilson, the hateful shrew. But what could she do?
“Abigail, that’s not what I’m saying. I said that’s what Jeremy said. Please come back and sit down. There’s more you need to hear.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear more at this point. She thought she and Will were a team. He’d even asked her to be part of his team to keep these girls here, with him. Controlling her anger, she sat, but she refused to look at him for fear her anger would override her good sense.
“Jeremy was just pointing out the obvious, Abigail. He knows how much those girls mean to me…to us. He was just pointing out some things I didn’t want to see.”
“And what is it you don’t want to see, Captain Bennett?” Her words were clipped and she stole a glance at him. She could tell he was worried. “Just get to it, Will. Say what it is you have to say and get it over with.”
“You’re right. I’ll just say it and then we can talk about where we go from here.”
Abigail watched him get out of his chair and come around the table to stand beside her. She refused to look up at him, so he knelt on one knee so he was eye level with her. He chucked her chin with his forefinger and pulled her face up leaving her no choice but to look into his dark eyes.
“Abigail Whittaker, I know we’ve only known each other for a matter of weeks, but I feel like I know you...know who you are. You are love and care for those three little girls and I sense, and please tell me if I’m going down the wrong path here, but I sense you and I have a connection too. I feel there is a very deep, very strong bond between us.”
She no longer needed his finger to make her look at him. Her eyes studied him and she replayed his words over in her head. Finally, she nodded in agreement. “Yes, Will. I feel it too. I feel our connection. And not just in our physical attraction to one another, but in our daily lives. The way we work together to see to the needs of these girls. To ensure they get the best of everything, and we do it as one mind. I can’t explain it, but I feel it. I don’t understand what this is about? What are you trying to tell me?”
“I’m not trying to tell you anything, Abigail. I’m trying to ask you something and I’m not sure how to go about it. I was wondering if you would...if you might consider...if the thought had ever crossed your mind that it would be possible—”
“For heaven’s sake, Will. Say what’s on your mind.” Abigail had reached the end of her patience rope.
“Abigail Whittaker, will you marry me?”
Of all the things that she had considered was on his mind, this was certainly not among them. She sat stunned staring at him, and now she understood. He was on one knee and he was asking her to marry him.
Her first inclination was to immediately say no, but her heart begged her to listen before she threw away this opportunity to find happiness. He was very good to her. He helped her with the children. He was a good provider. He loved to have fun with her and the girls, and he laughed frequently. She never dreamed she would even consider getting married, not after everything she’d witnessed in her own family—but when she looked at this man, she didn’t see her sisters’ husbands. She saw a good man. One who listened to her and cared about what she thought. It was at that moment, she realized not only had she fallen in love with the girls, she had fallen hopelessly in love with their handsome uncle too.
“Abigail? Don’t keep me waiting. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked again.
She nodded as her heart tumbled with joy.
“Does that mean yes?” he asked, but she knew he was teasing her.
“Yes. That means yes, I would be honored to be your wife.”
He stood and pulled her into his arms to kiss her when a voice spoke from the kitchen doorway. They both turned to see the girls’ aunt watching them with a sour look on her face. “Well, isn’t this cozy. So, you think you’re getting married. It won’t work, Captain. Your little ploy to project a cozy little family picture for the judge won’t work. I’ll see to it that the two of you never make it to the alter.”
Chapter 17
Will couldn’t believe it. Abigail agreed to be his wife. Together, they would make certain Violet, Lily, and Rose stayed with them where they could bring the girls up in a safe and stable environment full of love and happy times. It was the answer to his prayers. Now, all he needed was to get Danielle Wilson out of their lives and out of his town.
Ever since Monday, when that woman had walked in on his proposal to Abi
gail, she had been like a turkey buzzard circling over a dead carcass. She’d swoop in unexpected, interrupt their household and routines, nip and bite and pick at every little thing he and Abigail did for the girls, then just when they couldn’t stand another second of the harpy’s barbs, she’d disappear only to return again and again insinuating herself into their lives trying to pull them apart.
He had to admit the woman was true to her word. He and Abigail both knew what she was trying to do. She wanted to create tension between them so she could drive them apart, but that wasn’t going to happen. Abigail was as determined as he was to outlast the woman. He just prayed she didn’t plan to stay in town until next spring. God forbid that should happen because he didn’t know if he could keep his hands from around her neck if she did.
“Get that look off your face. You’ll scare the children.” Abigail’s voice pulled him from his morbid thoughts.
“What? Oh, yeah.”
“What were you thinking or do I want to know?” He knew she was teasing, but she wasn’t wrong.
“No, you don’t want to know.” He pushed his musings away and offered her a smile, then he turned his attention to the girls sitting at the breakfast table. “Ladies, it’s only four more days until Christmas and I received a post from the North Pole. Can you guess who it was from?”
“Santa Claus,” Violet and Lily shouted in unison. Baby Rose startled at the noise puckered her bottom lip to cry.
Will rose, unbuckled her wooden high chair tray and pulled her to him just as she began to wail. He bounced her and blew kisses against her cheeks. The baby was so surprised she stopped in mid-scream and grabbed his nose. Soon, his noises and antics had her laughing. There was only a single tiny tear left on her cheek.
“That’s right, ladies. Santa Claus,” Will said and returned to his chair with Rose on his lap picking at food from his plate.
“What did he say, Uncle Will? Tell us, what did he say?” Lily was desperate to know, but he could tell Violet was sitting on the edge of her seat too.
“Well, he said he had heard of three little girls that had moved from Missouri to Fort Benton and wondered which house he should bring their presents to.”
“And what did you tell him?” Violet couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. “What did you tell him? Did you tell him we live here now and he should bring them to Fort Benton?”
Lily nodded to her sister and then turned her attention back to him. “Yeah, Uncle Will. Did you tell him to bring them here?”
He sent an amused look to Abigail across the table and she did her best to hide her smile.”
“Well, yes that’s exactly what I told him. That he should bring your presents and put them under our Christmas tree here.” He was quite pleased with himself that he had managed to bring the girls some relief that their presents would not be sent to Missouri.
But out of nowhere, Lily began to cry. He sent a shocked look to Abigail who shrugged her confusion. Suddenly, Violet began to sniffle too. What on earth had he missed?
“What’s wrong? Don’t you understand? Santa is going to bring your presents here. So you don’t need to worry anymore about them going to your old house.”
For another minute or so, the girls sniffled and choked back their tears until they could finally find their words. “But Uncle Will. We don’t have a Christmas tree. Santa won’t leave our presents because we don’t have a tree.” Violet said as she continued to sniffle.
Will exhaled a breath of relief. “Oh, is that all? Ladies, we have lots and lots and lots of Christmas trees. Look all around us. The mountains are covered in Christmas trees.”
“But we don’t have one here. We don’t have one in our house for the presents.” Lily pointed out as if he were the densest person in the world.
Amusement shining in his eyes, he looked at Abigail who sent him a look that said ‘aren’t they the cutest?’
“Then, we shall remedy that immediately. Today is Wednesday so I say we load the sled up again this Friday after school and head up into the mountains to get ourselves our very first, and most special, Christmas tree. What do you say?”
Violet and Lily jumped from their chairs and raced to his lap covering him with grateful hugs and kisses. “Oh, yes. We want a very special Christmas tree, Uncle Will.” Even Baby Rose was caught up in the excitement and nearly bounced herself right out of Will’s arms. He had to hang on tight to keep her from tumbling from his arms to the kitchen floor.
It did his heart good to see these precious little girls so happy after such a tragic year. And when he looked across the table and saw the joy on Abigail’s face, he realized he wanted to marry this beautiful woman more than anything—and preferably as soon as possible. Each day he spent the morning sitting across the breakfast table from her. Each night he went to his bed knowing she was just down the hall in hers. He longed for the day when they could truly live as one family. Both as husband and wife, and mother and father.
“Will, are you alright? You have such a strange look on your face,” Abigail frowned at him.
“I was just thinking about what I wanted for Christmas,” he said sending her a look he hoped she didn’t miss. If the blush on her cheeks was any indication, she had gotten his message loud and clear.
“Well isn’t this enough to make a person lose their breakfast.” Danielle stood once again inside the doorway glaring at their happy little family.
Will stood and handed Baby Rose to Abigail over the table. He turned and faced Danielle, but spoke to Abigail. “Abigail, why don’t you take the girls and get them ready for school. Aunt Danielle and I have some things to talk about.”
Without a word, he heard Abigail help the girls down. She herded them toward the kitchen door where Danielle stood blocking their exit. He was about to intervene when Abigail took control. “Violet, why don’t you ask your aunt Danielle to sit at the table and have some biscuits.”
He could tell by the red hue of Danielle’s cheeks, she was angry at not having a confrontation with Abigail.
Violet politely obliged. “Aunt Danielle, Abigail made some really good biscuits this morning. You should have one.”
Will watched the woman struggle with her rage at being outmaneuvered, but she finally gave in and stepped aside allowing them to slide past her without further conflict.
After he was sure the girls were out of hearing, he rounded on Danielle. “How is it you think you have the right to just barge into my house—My House—anytime you feel like it? I remember now why we never stayed in touch after Daisy and David got married. It’s because my sister couldn’t stand you and your futile attempts at meddling in her marriage.”
Danielle peered at him through cat-like slits. “That’s because that sister of yours wasn’t good enough for my brother just like you aren’t good enough to raise my brother’s children.”
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those children belonged to my sister too. And, just so there’s no chance of a misunderstanding, let me make myself perfectly clear. This is my house and you are no longer welcome in it. From now on, you will only come here when you are invited. I know that’s a strange concept for someone used to doing what she pleases without consideration of others, but I am going to insist you adhere to my commands. And just so you know I’m serious about this, if you step inside this house again without mine or Abigail’s express invitation, and I’ll have you arrested for trespassing. Do we understand each other?”
“You don’t tell me what to do, Captain Bennett. I’m not under your command. You can’t give orders to me.” She hissed at him like a rattlesnake he’d once encountered on a ride across the plains.
“You are absolutely correct, Miss Wilson. You are not under my command. But I can give orders to anyone who crosses the line into my territory, and you have repeatedly crossed that line. I suggest you take care, Danielle. I will not allow you to upset this household, those children, or my fiancée. Do I make myself clear?”
She pinned him with
an evil stare and refused to yield.
“I asked you if I had made myself clear?”
“You’re gonna regret the day you ever crossed me.” She huffed and spun around in a whirl of heavy brocade and lace. He heard her angry footsteps stomp down the hallway. “You’re gonna regret treating me this way.” The woman was almost screaming by the time he heard the slam of the front door leaving the house in an uneasy silence. Temporarily.
Abigail appeared at the kitchen doorway. “Is everything alright?” He could tell she was worried.
“Everything is just fine. That woman won’t be bothering us—in this house at least—ever again. Not unless one of us invites her in. I don’t foresee happening, and that’s a promise.”
He watched Abigail breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s wonderful to know.” Violet stood beside Abigail and frowned.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” He bent down to get at eye level with her.
“Aunt Danielle isn’t a lady is she?”
Abigail and he exchanged a surprised look. He turned back to his oldest niece and questioned her. “Why would you ask such a question?”
Violet put her hand on her hip and shook her head at him as if he were the dumbest man on the planet. “Because she’s not being polite or kind. Isn’t that right, Abigail?”
Abigail tried to hide her smile. “Yes, that is absolutely right, Violet. Thank you for bringing that to our attention. We will have to explain to your aunt what it means to be a lady.”
With a satisfied nod, Violet turned back down the hallway to finish getting herself ready for school leaving him and Abigail in stunned silence.
“I don’t know what to say.” Abigail turned and stared at the spot Violet had disappeared into her bedroom.
Will stood and reached out to touch Abigail’s cheek. “I do. My little niece is learning how to be a lady, like her mother was. And she’s learning from the only woman good enough to walk in my sister’s shoes.”
Abigail (Angel Creek Christmas Brides Book 12) Page 13
