“Are you and Abigail sleeping together? Is that why the rush to marry? You think she might be—”
Will shook his head and grabbed his friend’s shoulder and shook him gently hoping to encourage his friend to hear him. “Jeremy, the reason I’m marrying Abigail is that we make a great team. She’s so wonderful with the girls. And, we have fun together. I swear, the woman is unflappable. She takes everything in stride and she keeps calm under duress. And trust me, ever since Danielle Wilson arrived in town, we’ve had plenty of stress.”
“You know, Will, you haven’t said the word that would convince me that you marrying Abigail is the right thing to do.”
“And what’s that? Please?” Will teased his friend and wrapped his arm around Jeremy’s neck. Together, they walked side by side like brothers.
“No, love.”
Will stopped short and pulled away from his friend. “Love? Um, love. That’s a pretty big word there, my friend.” He thought a minute and then chose his words carefully. “Look, there’s more than one kind of love between a man and a woman. Besides the physical kind, there’s respect. And admiration. I have great admiration and respect for Abigail. She’s a kind, caring woman with a beautiful soul. There isn’t a mean bone in her body. I suppose I do love Abigail...in a way. I think we started out as adversaries, mostly due to the stubbornness of our own mindset.” He grinned as he thought about Abigail bucking his orders in Angel Creek when he hired her. “But since then, we’ve become friends. Really good friends. I admire and respect Abigail and I truly value her opinion. And I think she feels the same way. Whatever you want to call what we have Jeremy, it works. And, it makes a happy home for those little angels of mine.”
Jeremy relaxed and grinned at him. “That’s what I wanted to hear. I feel it was my idea for you to marry Abigail and I wanted to make sure you knew what you were getting into. All the times I’ve met her, she seems to be everything you just described and I, as your best friend in the whole wide world,” Jeremy teased, “I want to see you happy. You’re like the brother I never had. I just want to make sure, you’re happy this time around.”
Will heard the emotion in Jeremy’s voice. He was touched by his friend’s sentiments. “I love you like the brother I never had too, my friend. And I will be happy. Now, please wipe those old woman tears out of your eyes. The troops will not follow an officer who cries at the drop of a hat.”
Jeremy laughed and pushed him away. “Get away from me you silly school girl before I’m forced to turn you over my knee and teach you a lesson.”
Will threw his arm around his friend’s neck and held him in place while he rubbed his knuckles hard over Jeremy’s head. “I think we know who’s gonna end up teaching who lessons.”
Together, he and Jeremy walked toward the stables, each other’s arm wrapped around the other’s shoulders in brotherly friendship. Will was so happy to have found such a friend. He truly was the brother Will had always wanted.
They were brothers in the United States Army and they were brothers of the heart. He knew Jeremy would always be there if Will needed him, and he would always be there for Jeremy. No matter the cost.
When he and Jeremy parted ways, he pondered his friend’s words. Did he love Abigail? He wasn’t sure he even knew what the word meant. He thought he’d loved Charlotte and look where that had gotten him.
He made his way home—to his family with thoughts of Abigail foremost in his mind. He trusted her. He admired her. He respected her. He wanted her as a man wants a woman. But, was what he felt for Abigail love? Maybe, but he wasn’t ready just yet to call it that.
Chapter 20
Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and she would be a married woman in a little more than twenty-four hours. She glanced at the beautiful tree they had brought back from the mountains just this morning. It was beautiful. She and the girls had spent most of the afternoon making gingerbread cookies and hard candy decorations to hang on every bough. There was even a present or two under the tree, but not the ones Santa was bringing the girls on Christmas morning. She kept those carefully hidden underneath her bed in a box marked knitting. She knew the girls would never think to look in there.
A knock at the door announced her unwanted visitor had arrived. At least Danielle had started respecting Will’s demands that she not just walk into the house and she would only come if invited. So far, the woman had adhered to his orders.
Abigail greeted the girls’ aunt and welcomed her inside. She didn’t like the woman very much, but she would certainly respect the fact that she was their father’s sister and Abigail would never treat her like...well, like she treated Abigail.
“Good afternoon, Danielle.” Abigail offered small talk as she led her guest to the back of the house and into the kitchen, the warmest room in the house. “Care for some coffee?” She offered.
“Please.” The woman wasn’t very chatty this afternoon. Abigail could only wonder what trouble the woman was up to now.
Abigail set out the cups and heated the coffee on the stove. Strained silence filled the void between Abigail and the woman sitting stoically at her kitchen table. When the coffee was hot, she poured them both a cup and sat down. They both remained silent for a bit longer until Abigail couldn’t take it anymore.
“How have you been getting along since—”
“Since I was thrown out of this house and kept from seeing my nieces?”
“You weren’t thrown out of the house, and the only reason you asked not to come back unless invited was your antagonistic behavior towards Will and myself.” Abigail stated plainly.
The woman cut a pointed look toward Abigail. “Well, to answer your question, I’ve been making new acquaintences around town. Some are, shall we say, quite enlightening.”
Abigail wondered what on earth the woman could mean by that remark. “Enlightening? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Miss Whittaker—Abigail. I have heard some rather disturbing news that I think you should be aware of.”
Abigail wished the woman would just stop trying to cause trouble for her and Will. She was always insinuating something.
“I’m really not interested in idle gossip, Danielle. Besides, I’ve got a lot of chores to finish between now and suppertime.” Abigail rose and busied herself with imaginary chores to keep her from slapping her hand across the woman’s face. She wasn’t usually prone to violence, but this woman really made her want to—
“Yes, yes. I know how much work there is to do, especially with three little girls underfoot. I’m amazed that you are able to do so much work by yourself and manage to look—somewhat decent.”
Abigail turned in surprise. Had the woman actually tried to compliment her? She’d have to think about that before she thanked her.
“I’m sure you can see that your work takes you away from your ability to care for the girls and by that I mean you can’t spend much time with them, can you?”
Abigail frowned at the woman’s meaning. “I spend every second of my day with them. At least Lily and Rose. And Violet when she’s home from school.”
“Yes, you spent time with them as in you are in the same house as they are, but you are constantly busy as you said and while you are washing diapers, Lily is playing alone in her room. Rose is imprisoned in her high chair nibbling on food or asleep in her room.”
“Imprisoned?” Abigail shot a look to Rose sitting in her high chair nibbling on remnants of breakfast. “She’s enjoying herself. She’s certainly not screaming at the top of her lungs.” Abigail knew her words sounded defensive, but she couldn’t help it. She spent every moment of every day caring for these girls. And she and Lily did a lot of things together throughout the day. Abigail dismissed the woman’s unkind words. She had no idea what went on in this house when she wasn’t here to misconstrue her observations of Abigail and the girls.
“Yes, but that’s only because that is what she has become used to. When Daisy and David were alive, they had staff to see to the ph
ysical needs of the children while they spent time in the nursery simply playing with the children. They spent quality parenting time with the girls, not like...this.”
Abigail hadn’t grown up with a staff of twelve or a nanny or a gardener. Her family worked hard and cared for their own children. Realization slowly dawned on Abigail. Her mother hadn’t been a slave to her father. She had been a devoted caretaker to her family. It was hard work and a thankless job, but her mother had done it out of love for her family, and not out of some sense of obligation or submission. She had been on the outside looking in and she had gotten everything all wrong.
“Danielle, perhaps you and I didn’t come from the same kind of family, where children were bundled off to be cared for by nannies and other paid staff, although I may have misunderstood Will when he said you and your brother came from a middle-class family.
“We didn’t have staff to do our bidding. We did everything ourselves, and that included taking care of our own children. Every minute I spend with these girls, whether I’m talking to them or helping Violet with her homework over a pan of potatoes I’m peeling for supper, every minute is spent caring for and loving these girls while trying to give them the best life possible. Will and I both do everything in our power to make certain these girls are healthy and have everything they could possibly want, but most of all, we make sure these girls have a happy life filled with love.”
Danielle smirked. “Yes, well…that’s gonna be a bit hard to do, don’t you think? Considering.”
Abigail turned on Danielle. “What are you implying now, Danielle? Considering what? You’re always trying to undermine me and my efforts to care for these girls. What are you getting at? Just come out and say whatever it is you find fault with and get it over with.”
“Oh, Abigail. You’re so sensitive, but no, it isn’t you I find fault with. It’s Captain Bennett.”
“And what has Will done now? He’s a good man, Danielle. He’s a hard worker and he’s well-respected among his men. He’s kind and loving and considerate. And his sister wouldn’t have made him the girls’ guardian if she thought for one minute he wasn’t up to the challenge.” Abigail could feel the heat of her anger on her face. She took a deep breath to calm herself because she knew Danielle’s purpose in being here this afternoon was to cause trouble and she was smarter than to let the woman succeed.
“Yes, that may be true, but Daisy was his sister and a sister can miss the subtle signs of a man who has a wandering eye.”
“A wandering eye? What are you talking about now?”
“You know the captain was married once already, right?”
Abigail couldn’t hide the surprise on her face.
“Ah, so the good captain didn’t tell you about his first wife. I wonder why that is? Could it be because he didn’t want to tell you he was the cause of his divorce?”
“I don’t believe you,” Abigail hissed.
“You don’t have to believe me. Ask anybody. Ask his friend, Jeremy what’s-his-name. Ask him. He has been a witness to most of the captain’s shenanigans. You see, Miss Whittaker, your captain, the man you hold in such high esteem, is a rounder, a ladies’ man, a pleasure seeker. I could go through a whole list of labels, but I think you get my meaning. You may marry him, but you won’t be the only one he shares a bed with.”
Abigail had heard enough. “Get out. Get out of this house and don’t you dare set foot in this house again. We will see you in court in the spring. Until then, you stay away from this house and out of our lives. Do we understand each other, Miss Wilson?”
The woman slowly stood, smiling. “I understand you’re upset and I don’t blame you one bit for not believing me, but I suggest the next time Captain Bennett tells you he’s going to the fort on business, perhaps you should take a little trip inside the fort yourself. I hear he still has possession of his old officer’s quarters. Now why would a man who is happy at home need to keep his old bachelor’s quarters? It’s a question you should ask yourself before you commit to this marriage of convenience.”
Danielle turned to leave the kitchen when Abigail stopped her. “What do you mean marriage of convenience? Will and I—”
“Love each other? Please, you can’t be that naive. Do you think you and the captain just happen to fall in love and everything just fell into place into creating this happy little home? Hardly. William Bennett needs someone to parade in front of a judge so that he can try to paint the picture of domestic bliss at the custody hearing. But I can assure you, after my attorney gets through eviscerating the man’s reputation, you will be long forgotten as having any part in providing a home for these children.”
“You are a liar,” Abigail whispered to keep the girls from hearing their argument, but Danielle’s smug look was getting to her.
“Believe me. Don’t believe me. You are the one who must suffer the consequences of entering into a marriage of convenience with the captain. I would think as a fairly intelligent woman, you would want to know the truth before you committed to a life of drudgery chained to a man you will never be able to fully trust.”
“Get out of this house,” Abigail gritted her teeth and twisted her hands in her apron for fear if they were loose, she would place them around the woman’s neck and squeeze.
“I’m going. Don’t kill the messenger as they say.” The woman’s laughter could be heard down the hall until the front door closed silencing the harpy’s glee. Abigail had never before had such strong feelings about someone, but she could honestly say today, she hated that woman.
Abigail finished putting the beans on to cook and peeling the rest of the potatoes. She put Baby Rose down for a nap and she helped Lily read a Christmas story, but all the while she thought about what Danielle had said and wondered if some of it were true. “Did Will still have his room in the officer’s quarters? And if he did, why? The more she thought about it, the more that tiny seed of doubt Danielle had planted grew.
She tried to deny all of it, but she kept coming back around to the room in the officer’s quarters. Finally, she realized her problem had a simple fix. Prove Danielle wrong about the room and she proved Danielle wrong about everything. She could just ask Will, but she would always wonder if he was telling her the truth. No, better to see things with her own eyes and know the truth once and for all, than to wonder where he went each time he left the house.
Satisfied with the solution, she relaxed a bit and she and Lily and Violet made plans to go shopping for Christmas gifts the very next day.
Chapter 21
Will left the goldsmith’s office and tucked the new gold band he bought for Abigail into his pocket. One more day and he and Abigail would be husband and wife. It was an odd thought, especially after he and Charlotte divorced. He hated anything female and everything about marriage. Now, look at him. He was living in a house full of females and he was getting married tomorrow.
The streets of Fort Benton were crowded on the night before Christmas Eve. Everyone was hoping to make those last-minute purchases for Christmas gifts. He had the girls and Abigail’s presents hidden in his officer’s room in the fort. He had already spoken to his commanding officer about giving up his room there. After tomorrow night, he would be a married man and he would have no need for it any more. He should have given it up already, but it just hadn’t been on his list of priorities. He hadn’t been back since the arrival of the girls. It was the morning after the night when he and Lanora—”
“Hello, Will.” He turned to see Lanora walking up behind him. He hoped she wasn’t going to cause trouble.
“Hello, Lanora. How are you?” He nodded in greeting and then added. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you too.” She looked around as if looking for something.
He thought the woman seemed uneasy. “Are you alright, Lanora?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern. I guess I was just nervous about asking—”
Will’s intuition told him the woman was
up to something and he wanted no part of it.
“Well, I’ve got to get going. Abigail and the girls are waiting supper on me.” He turned away and was immediately stopped by Lanora’s hand on his arm.
“I said I was nervous about asking you something, but I didn’t say I wasn’t going to ask.”
“Alright, then ask, but make it quick. Like I said, Abigail and the girls—”
“Yes, I heard. They’re waiting supper for you at home. That’s what I wanted to ask. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind walking me through the fort. You see, I seem to have acquired an admirer and he’s been very persistent in insisting I accept his attentions.”
Will hadn’t expected that request. “Are you saying one of my men has been harassing you?”
“Um, yes. That’s right. That’s what I’m saying. And I’m asking you to walk with me so...he can’t bother me.”
“Why not just stay out of the fort?”
“Because...I have a new admirer who lives in the officer’s quarters and he and I...that is we...would like to spend some time alone together if you know what I mean.” Her slant-eyed look reminded him of the night he would rather forget.
“Yes, I know what you mean. Can’t this wait or can’t your new friend meet you at your place instead of you going to the fort?” He really wanted to get this over with and get home.
“No, because...we had already made plans and now I have no way of getting a message to him. Please, Will. Couldn’t you just walk me to the officer’s quarters? I can find my way from there.”
Abigail (Angel Creek Christmas Brides Book 12) Page 15
