The Guilty Proposal (Heroes of Hays Book 1)

by Barbara Goss

  Tears ran down Travis’s face. “I’ll make it up to you and to Libby. I’ll do anything to help her recover.”

  Libby’s father patted Travis’s back. “Why don’t you both go home, get a good night’s sleep, and come back tomorrow to see how she is coming along? The doctor's agreed to stay overnight to keep an eye on her.”

  “If you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask,” Travis said.

  Her father nodded and walked them to the door.

  In the morning, Travis arrived at the Fisher home and was escorted to Libby’s bedroom. Mrs. Fisher didn’t say much, but she didn’t seem angry with him either. Libby was asleep, so he sat by her bed and prayed. He hadn’t always been close to God, but since his mother died, he grew closer to the church and the Bible.

  After he’d prayed for several minutes he sat back and gazed about her bedroom. He’d never been inside a female’s bedroom before. He thought it was too pink for his taste. The furniture was white, the wallpaper pink and white, and the quilt pink. Frilly pink curtains hung at the window, billowing with the light morning breeze.

  He noticed Libby moving her fingers, so he quickly brought his attention back to her. She opened her eyes and smiled slightly.

  “It wasn’t your fault,” she whispered.

  “I shouldn’t have‒” he started.

  “No, there was nothing you could do. I don’t blame you, Travis. I told my parents that, too.”

  “What did the doctor say? Will you be up and around soon?” Travis wasn’t sure how much the doctor had told her, so he didn’t want to even hint that she might not walk again.

  “He said I'll have a long recovery. I’ll hate that. I never liked staying in bed, even when I was sick, but when you feel well, you certainly want to be up and about.”

  “I’ll be here for you, Lib. What can I do? Shall I bring a book and read to you each day?”

  “That would be delightful,” she said, “but you don’t have to. I don’t want you to do it because you feel you're to blame. I want you to do it because you want to.”

  “Of course I want to. What type of book do you like?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe that new book by George Elliot that everyone's talking about.”

  “Silas Marner?”

  “Yes, that’s it.”

  “I’ll see if I can get a copy. I bet Mr. Abbot has a copy at the schoolhouse we could borrow.”

  “Actually, he doesn’t‒I asked him last week. He did say that Reverend Moran has a copy.”

  “Then it’s as good as in my hands,” Travis said. “I’ll get it today.”

  First thing the next morning, Travis put a rope around Aries’ neck and led him to town riding Comanche. He hated to part with the horse as Aries was such an affectionate animal and he’d always liked him. It wasn’t his fault he wasn’t cut out for ranch work. Aries would rather prance around showing off his brilliant trot. He couldn’t ever remember walking down the stable aisle without Aries nudging his shoulder for attention.

  “I’ll not take less than one hundred dollars for that horse,” Travis said. He steeled himself to look self-confident as he haggled with the owner of the livery.

  “Nah.” Olin Stump spat out his chewing tobacco. “He ain’t worth that much. I’ll give ya forty.”

  “I’d be giving him away!” Travis shouted. “Look at his lines! He’s prime stock.” Travis ran his palms down the horse’s rump.

  “I ain’t need’n prime stock. I jest need horses to rent and pull carriages. I ain’t payin’ no hundred dollars.”

  “Seventy-five, then. And that’s my final price.” Travis picked up the leads of the horse in question as if he were leaving with it.

  “Fifty even,” Olin said, “and that’s my final offer.”

  Travis sighed and gave the offer consideration. It was better than nothing, and he needed to get rid of Aries, since he was of little use on the ranch.

  “Deal,” Travis said solemnly, and held his hand out for Olin to shake.

  He rubbed Aries’ nose and bid him a silent goodbye. “Take good care of him, Olin. He’s a good horse.”

  As Travis rode away from the livery, he was still disappointed he hadn't gotten the price he’d wanted for the horse, not to mention his not really wanting to part with him. He wasn’t sure if his father would be pleased or angry by the sale. His mood caused him to gallop down the main street faster than usual. Suddenly, a woman stepped off the wooden walkway right in front of his horse, and the horse clipped her, knocking her to the street. He quickly reined the horse in, turned around, and trotted to where she lay.

  “Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” they both said in unison.

  Travis slipped from his horse to help the woman to her feet.

  The woman brushed the dust off her fancy dress and frowned at him. “Me? I’m not apt to run anyone over while walking! You’re on a horse and should be more careful.”

  “You stepped out right in front of me, miss,” Travis said.

  “Excuse me,” she said arrogantly, “but I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”

  Travis glanced to his left and then to his right with exaggeration. “Since there's no one here to do the honors, may I present Mr. Travis Grayson of Grayson Acres.” He removed his hat and bowed. He noted that she was a pretty little thing, even if she hadn't watched where she was going.

  She gave him a sarcastic smile. “Shouldn’t you ask if I’m hurt after you trampled over me?”

  “I’m sorry. Are you all right?”

  “Yes, I think so.” She gave him the slightest smile.

  “Is that an English accent I detect?” Travis asked.

  “My name is Evaline Radcliffe, and I’m new to the area. I’m originally from London, England.” She looked up and down the main street. “It’s much smaller than I’m used to, but it's suddenly gotten more interesting.” She smiled broadly at him.

  “You must be from Victoria, then,” he said, remembering the new settlement.

  She nodded. Her bright blue eyes and light brown hair, not to mention her delightful smile, mesmerized Travis. He wondered how he could get to know this woman better. All his previous problems were suddenly shoved to the back of his mind.

  “Again, I apologize,” he said.

  Evaline brushed the dust from her dress again. “No problem, I really wasn’t paying attention and you merely clipped my arm. Had I been paying attention it never would have knocked me over.

  “I was sniffing the aromas coming from Dutton’s Bake Shop and was trying to move past it without weakening to buy something delightfully sweet.

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an errand to run.” Evaline turned to walk toward the general store.

  “So long, then.” Travis waved.

  Evaline entered the general store and headed for the bolts of cloth. The store was dusty. The further she walked toward the back, the darker it got. There were bolts and bolts of materials lined up against one wall. She concentrated on the full bolts, since her mother needed to sew curtains for several windows. She found one she thought her mother might like in a solid, light green. She picked up a few ribbons for herself and her younger sister, Ellen, and then paid the man behind the counter.

  The bolt of cloth was heavier than she'd thought, and she struggled with it as she stepped out of the store and onto the wooden walkway, balancing it from arm to arm until it suddenly flew into the air. She swung around.

  “You!” Was all she could think of to say as she saw Travis Grayson, balancing the bolt of cloth on his muscular shoulders, and she couldn’t help but notice how fit he was. The muscles in his arms stood out as he carried the bolt.

  “It’s the least I can do after knocking you down.” He grinned.

  She thought he had a nice smile, too. She returned it slightly, still a bit weary of him.

  “You have a rather odd accent yourself, Mr. Grayson.”

  “Ah, you remembered my name.”

  �
�I am very good with names.”

  “I’m flattered, none the less. Where’s your wagon?” he asked.

  She smiled. “At the lumberyard. My father's buying lumber. Thank you for the help.”

  Travis found the wagon and placed the bolt in the back of it. “Can I buy you a cup of coff…um…tea? I forgot you English drink tea.”

  “I think not. My father will be done soon.”

  “Another time, maybe?” Travis asked.

  Evaline studied him. He had a fine-looking face and wore such a hopeful expression that she felt tempted, but she had enough problems in her life right now, and he was, after all, a stranger.

  “I think not, but thank you for the help.” She jumped up onto the wagon’s seat and waited for her father. Halfway home she scolded herself for forgetting to stop at the bakery for some sweets.

  Chapter 3

  Travis visited Libby every day. He read to her, he brought her treats, and he sat with her for hours. He didn’t know what else he could do. Sometimes Ned was there and the three of them would play a card game.

  Deep inside, Travis was tortured by Libby’s accident. What could he have done differently? Probably should have let Jake take her home. The words "if only" came to him a lot lately.

  “Sadie,” Travis said as he walked into the kitchen. “I’ll eat in my father’s room tonight.”

  “That’s a good idea. I’ll bring a little end table in for you,” she said.

  He went upstairs, washed and changed, then went into his father’s room where Sadie had set a table up with his and his father’s dinner.

  As they ate, they made small talk before Travis unloaded his feelings.

  “What can I do, Father? I’m guilt-ridden about Libby and the fact that she may never walk again. Isn’t there something we can do?”

  Edward closed his eyes and laid his head back on the pillow. “Let me think a moment,” he said. When he opened his eyes, he turned to Travis. “Sell off some of our cattle and wire to Kansas City for a specialist to treat her. Will Landry, my lawyer, will know of a good doctor since he’s from Kansas City.”

  “You wouldn’t mind losing some of our cattle?” Travis asked.

  “Of course I mind…but I care about Libby and your conscience, too. Just save the two bulls and the newest females. Sell off all the four-year-old calves."

  "I’ll work on that tomorrow.” Travis kissed his father’s forehead. “Thanks, Father, I feel a little bit better knowing we’re doing something.”

  “There’s one more thing you can do‒if you’re willing, that is,” Edward said.

  “What’s that?”

  “Marry her.”

  Travis rode to church to speak to Reverend Moran. He found him in his church office. After exchanging pleasantries, the minister invited him to have a seat.

  “How’s Miss Libby coming along?” he asked.

  “She's doing fine, at least, she seems accepting of her situation although I’m not sure she knows the worst of it, yet,” Travis said. “And that’s why I’m here. She's asked for a copy of Silas Marner. She was sure you had a copy.”

  “I did have it,” Moran said. “A new church member borrowed it. He should be finished with it if you’d like to go to his house and pick it up.”

  “I sure would.”

  “Except, he lives over in Victoria. Do you know where that is?” Moran asked.

  “I’ve never been there, but I think I can find it.”

  “The road that runs by the courthouse leads right to it. It’s close to ten or twelve miles away. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “I’ll ride there today. What’s the man’s name?”

  “Robert Radcliffe; he’s an Englishman,” Moran said. “He borrowed it for one of his daughters. She's homesick for the bookstores and shops lacking in this area. They don’t even have a schoolhouse or even a church in Victoria yet.” Moran shook his head. “I’m afraid that settlement will never last if they don’t start giving the families the things they need.”

  “That name sounds familiar,” Travis said, rubbing his chin. “Oh, well. I’ll ride out today so I can surprise Libby with it.”

  The ride to Victoria was long and dusty, but Travis finally rode into the settlement. He was amazed to see that where before there had been nothing but fields, two-story homes, a hotel, and several barns now stood. The town seemed to be growing, as there were several other homes and barns under construction as well. He looked out over the fields and saw herds of cattle, reminding him that his next chore was to sell off some of their cattle in order to find a specialist for Libby.

  He stopped in front of the hotel, tied his horse, and went inside. He asked the man behind the desk where he could find Mr. Radcliffe.

  “He moved into his new house a few months ago,” the clerk said. He pointed to the window. “He lives in the large gray house by the barn that’s just now being built.”

  “I see it,” Travis said. “Thank you.”

  Travis left his horse and walked the short distance to the gray house. On his way, he passed several Englishmen playing some sort of game in the fields. He thought, perhaps, they were taking a break from their farm work.

  He went up to the gray house and knocked on the front door, inhaling the scent of freshly cut wood from all the new buildings in the area. When the door opened he was shocked to see the beautiful woman he’d nearly run over in Hays a few days ago. He realized his mouth was hanging open and remained speechless long after he clamped it shut.

  “Nice to see you again, Mr. Grayson,” she said.

  Now Travis remembered where he’d heard the name Radcliffe before. “Miss Evaline,” he said with a slight bow. “I’m here to see your father, actually.”

  “Come in,” she invited, opening the door wider. “He’s in his office.”

  Evaline was shocked to open the door to the handsome young man who’d knocked her down in Hays. He had the nicest green eyes. As she escorted him to the back room where her father had made himself a small office, she envisioned him dressed in formal English dress and escorting her to dinner at a ball. She shook herself from her daydream and knocked on her father’s door.

  When he bid them enter she said, “Mr. Travis Grayson of Hays to see you, Father.” She stepped aside to allow Travis to enter the room and turned to leave, but when she heard Travis ask about Silas Marner, she stopped to listen.

  “Yes, young man, I do believe we have that. My daughter, Ellen, was reading it,” Robert Radcliffe said. He turned to Evie. “Will you ask Ellen for the Silas Marner book?”

  Evaline nodded, ran up the stairs, and found her younger sister lying on her bed, paging through a catalog.

  “Ellen, where’s the Silas Marner book?”

  “It’s here somewhere,” she said. “Look under my bed.”

  “Ellen, it’s a hard-to-get book. You should be taking better care of it.”

  “It’s very safe under my bed.”

  Evaline got down on her hands and knees and scooped out the book. She dusted it off, although it wasn’t a bit dusty. She stood, went to the mirror, and adjusted her hair.

  “Why do you need it? Don’t tell me you’re going to actually read a book?” Ellen asked.

  “I do read, now and again,” Evie said. “I just prefer non-fiction, like the newspapers.”

  “Yes, the gossip columns mostly.” Ellen sat up. “Don’t you just miss those?”

  Evaline sighed. “I sure do!”

  “So why do you need the book then?” Ellen asked again.

  “There’s a young man here who wants to borrow it. He said Reverend Moran sent him.”

  “Do tell. Is the young man handsome and dashing?” Ellen asked. “Maybe I should go down and check.”

  Evie had second thoughts about sharing her newly found gentleman with Ellen.

  “Did I say young man? He isn’t really young, young. I meant just younger than Father. He’s balding with glasses and sort of on the pudgy side.”

  “Oh,�
�� Ellen lay back down and continued paging through her catalog.

  Evaline rushed downstairs, clutching the book to her chest and walked to her father’s office slowly and nonchalantly.

  She entered her father’s office and stood quietly while the men finished their conversation about cattle. It seemed Travis had cattle to sell and her father was interested.

  Her father stood and reached for the book. Evaline walked over and handed it to him, smiled at Travis, and left the office.

  She paced the sitting room wondering how long Travis would stay there, talking with her father. She wanted to walk him to the door and speak to him again at the very least, even though her position was hopeless: even if Travis were attracted to her, she was promised to Roger Fairfax, a Baron in England. He was tall, thin, wore spectacles, and had a nasal voice‒if she had to listen to that voice the rest of her life she’d just die.

  Her mother and Roger’s mother were second cousins, and a contract had been drawn up years ago for them to marry. Her mother was obsessed with keeping the bloodline pure and in the family. She was currently in England trying to persuade Roger to come to Kansas to marry Evaline. Only her father sympathized with her. He'd even told her the other day that he’d tried talking to her mother about breaking the contract but wasn’t able to get anywhere.

  Any day now she expected to get a letter saying they were on their way.

  She’d thought that when her family moved to America it would be the end the marriage contract, but now, with Mother back in England trying to arrange for Roger to come to her, she felt doomed. To say she was frustrated at being stuck in a miserable position without any means of escape was an understatement.

  Just then, her father came out of the office with Travis, and they walked to the front door. Ellen came bounding down the steps and stood at the foot of the stairway with her mouth open, gazing at Travis.

  “Why Eve, he isn’t bald or pudgy at all!” she exclaimed.

  Travis’s eyebrows went up and he gave Evaline a questioning look.