The Guilty Proposal (Heroes of Hays Book 1)

by Barbara Goss

  Her father turned and frowned at Ellen. “Our guest, Travis Grayson, is leaving. Please say your farewells, Evie and Ellen.”

  Both daughters stood by the door and politely thanked Travis for coming, and wished him a safe trip home as they’d been taught to do.

  Travis continued his daily visits to Libby. Ned was usually either there already or showed up soon after Travis arrived. Travis thought he couldn’t possibly find a better friend than Ned Benedict, his boyhood playmate. He was pleasantly surprised that Ned would show his support by helping him keep Libby company.

  Travis knocked on the Fisher’s front door, grasping a gift under his arm. Mrs. Fisher answered the door. She still couldn’t bear to smile at him, but at least she was cordial.

  “Come in,” she said. “I’m not sure if Libby will see you today. She’s a bit under the weather.”

  Travis waved the package in front of Mrs. Fisher. “This is sure to cheer her up.”

  “I doubt it,” Mrs. Fisher said, “but you go ahead and try anyway.”

  Travis knocked as he usually did. This time he didn’t hear her cheerfully call for him to enter. He knocked again. “Libby?”

  Finally, she answered. “I’m not well today, Travis. Come back tomorrow.”

  “I have a surprise for you. Please let me come in,” Travis pleaded.

  There was no answer.

  “Libby?”

  Travis entered without permission. Libby was lying on her side, away from the door. He walked around the bed in order to see her face. She didn’t look up at him, but he could see she’d been crying. Travis knelt down and took her hand.

  “What is it, Libby? Maybe I can help.”

  “I doubt that,” she said, then turned on her opposite side, facing away from him.

  Travis walked around to the other side of the bed and sat in the chair. He waved the package in front of her.

  “What is it?” she asked without emotion.

  This just wasn’t like Libby.

  Travis unwrapped the package and held up the book. “Silas Marner!”

  Libby’s eyes lit up for about four seconds, then she teared up again.

  “What is it, Lib? I hate seeing you like this.”

  “The doctor said that I probably…” She broke off crying.

  Travis knew what the doctor had told her. “It’s all right. My father and I plan to bring in a specialist from Kansas City.”

  She looked up at him. “Really?”

  “Yes,” he said with all the assurance he could muster. “Everything will be all right, you’ll see. Now, smile.”

  Libby gave him a tearful half-smile.

  “There, now, that’s my Libby.”

  Libby teared up again. “What if I can’t ever marry? What if I never become a mother? If I can’t walk, no one will want me, and I’ll be a crippled, old spinster.”

  “Nonsense. I’m going to marry you.”

  “You are?”

  “I’ll marry you even if you never walk again,” he vowed.

  Travis wondered where those words had come from: sympathy, surely, not love. Perhaps it could turn into love later. He had to do the right thing because he felt responsible for her life. If not for him, she’d be running, walking, riding, and completely normal.

  “Oh, Travis. You know I’ve always loved you,” she said. “I’d love being married to you.”

  Travis reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I won't let you down. My father and I are selling cattle to pay for the specialist. It’s the least we can do. You will walk again, Libby.”

  Just then, Ned walked in. “Hey, what’s going on?” he asked when he saw Travis holding Libby’s hand.

  “Travis just proposed,” Libby said with a teary-eyed smile. “Of course, I accepted.”

  Ned looked from Travis to Libby. “Well, I supposed I should congratulate you both then.”

  “And,” Travis said, “You’re just in time for the first chapter of Silas Marner.”

  Chapter 4

  Evie stepped out the backdoor and ran to the fields where her Father was working. She gazed around. The landscape was so different from England; it seemed so flat and boring. She stood and turned around in a full circle to see nothing but fields, crops, very few trees, and none of England’s deep green forests. The men at the settlement talked about making a park, but she wondered how they could possibly make one without trees and greenery. The land was so flat you could see for miles and miles in every direction.

  She spotted her father bent over a calf he’d just branded, working alongside Simon Atwood and Greg Halley, neighboring farmers. She smelled the burning skin and fought a gag reflex.

  Robert Radcliffe looked up. “Evie! What are you doing out here?”

  “Can I have a word with you, please?” she asked.

  “Can it wait? We’re a bit busy just now.” He spread his hands out over the cattle waiting to be branded.

  “It’s important…it’ll only take a minute…or two,” she said using her pleading voice.

  Robert removed his gloves. “Excuse me for a few minutes,” he said to the other two men. “I’ll be right with you. Take a break.”

  He walked away a few feet alongside his daughter. “Now, what’s so urgent?”

  “I don’t want to marry Roger Fairfax. Is there nothing you can do?”

  “You know that my opinion doesn’t count for much in our house, Evie. What would you have me do?”

  She felt her face fall in disappointment. “I had hoped—”

  “Hush. I don’t like Roger either, and I’m a firm believer in marrying for love.” Under his breath, Robert said, “Wish I’d had that choice.”

  “Your marriage was arranged, too?” she asked, surprised.

  “Of course. Back home, just about every titled family has arranged marriages,” he answered.

  “There is absolutely no way I could stand living with Roger for a day, let alone a lifetime. I’m desperate, Father.”

  “You know your mother—she gets something in her head there’s no talking her out of it. A contract was drawn up when you were just days old and she won’t let it go.” Robert shook his head. “I’ve tried talking to her—a lot of good that does.”

  “Father, you know better than anyone how persuasive mother is. I’m sure she’ll have no problem talking Roger into coming here. As much as I dislike Kansas, I don’t want to go back to England, especially not if I have to marry him.”

  “I know, I know, Evaline. I’ve been dwelling on that problem myself, lately. Now, I have to get back to work before it gets too dark to see what we’re doing. Run along and don’t worry. I’ll try to come up with something to save you. In the meantime, try not to dwell on it.”

  Evaline stood on tiptoes and embraced him. “Thank you, Father.”

  “Just remember: this is between me and you, only,” Robert said. “Don’t even tell your sister. I’ll find a way, I promise.”

  Each day Travis brought twenty-five to thirty cattle to Mr. Radcliffe in Victoria. Sometimes he caught a glimpse of Evaline and it made his heart beat a bit faster. Why didn’t his heart do that when he looked at Libby?

  When Travis had delivered the last of the cattle to Victoria, Mr. Radcliffe pulled him aside.

  “Do you have time to come into my office for a chat? I have something I’d like to talk to you about.”

  Travis was glad for another opportunity to see Evaline. “Sure, I have time,” he said.

  He followed the man into the back door of the house, feeling disappointed because the back hall led directly to the man's office and he wasn't afforded a glimpse of Evaline.

  “Have a seat.” Robert Radcliffe pointed to a chair beside his desk.

  After Travis had been seated, he looked at Radcliffe curiously.

  “This has to remain confidential‒can I trust you?” Radcliffe asked.

  “Certainly,” Travis said, now even more curious.

  “I’m in a bit of a bind,” Radcliffe said, rubbing his
temples. “My wife has arranged a marriage for my oldest daughter, Evaline, to a man she despises. I don’t know what to do. Evie’s begged me to help her. I can’t think of any sane solution to the problem and all I have is this one, crazy idea.” He looked at Travis hopefully. “It’s really crazy, but I don’t know what else to do.”

  “You can bounce your idea off me if you’d like,” Travis said. He did like the man, after all. All he had to lose was time.

  “I’d like for you to be a part of it,” Radcliffe said. “I’m willing to pay you well.”

  Travis’s mind conjured all sorts of reasons why the man could possibly need him. He could use the money to help Libby, but what exactly would he have to do to earn it?

  “Maybe I'd better hear your plan before I agree,” Travis said.

  “Certainly. I need to have my daughter kidnapped.”

  Travis was shocked. “What? Kidnapped?”

  “Kidnapped,” Radcliffe repeated. “Safely, though, by someone I trust…like you.”

  “Why do you trust me?” Travis was still too shocked to think clearly.

  “On the recommendation of Reverend Moran. Of course, he doesn’t know about the kidnapping plan. I asked if you could be trusted to do some personal work for me, and he raved about you. I have to say, since I've met you, I have to agree with him. You’re the best choice for the job.”

  “I could go to jail for kidnapping, and that’s the least of my worries. I’m afraid I'm just not the kidnapper type, Mr. Radcliffe.”

  “I promise you there will be no arrests. I’m her father and I’ll defend you, should a problem arise, but I doubt it will,” Radcliffe said.

  “How would I even go about doing what you ask?” Travis asked.

  “It wouldn’t have to happen unless this bloke from England arrives and is serious about marrying Evie. It may never happen, but if it does, I promised her I’d have a way out for her,” Radcliffe explained. “I know she likes you, and I’d let her know about our plan in advance so she wouldn’t be frightened.”

  Travis thought about Radcliffe’s plan. How he’d love kidnapping this man’s beautiful daughter, but he was promised to Libby, and he had no idea how to go about kidnapping anyone. Yet if the English man never arrived, he wouldn't have to go through with it, so what harm would it do to agree?

  “I’ll help you,” Travis said. “Just let me know the details if this man ever comes here to marry her. I’d need to know how you want it done and where it should happen. Also, where do I take her? When do I bring her back?”

  “When the time comes, if it comes, I’ll give you explicit instructions,” he said, smiling. “This has to be just between the two of us. What’s the best way to reach you should I need to?”

  “By messenger, I suppose. I live on the Grayson Ranch. Everyone in Hays knows where it is,” Travis said.

  Robert Radcliffe stood and extended his hand to Travis; Travis shook it.

  “I’ll let you know,” he said and escorted him out the back door.

  Travis continued his daily visits to Libby. They had finished Silas Marner and had moved on to Oliver Twist. Ned joined them and sometimes took a turn reading. Travis had visited his father’s lawyer and wired the specialist in Kansas City. He hoped he’d get an answer soon.

  He hated when Libby looked up at him with such admiration and love in her eyes, for he felt nothing but guilt and sincere friendship when he looked at her. He wished, more than anything, that his heart would do a flip-flop when he looked at her, but alas, it didn’t.

  Thoughts of the possible impending kidnapping were so far from his mind he'd nearly forgotten it. When he did think about it, he wondered what he’d do about Libby. Maybe he could stretch the truth and invent an out of town business trip, and Ned could take over reading to Libby.

  Travis was surprised when he walked into her room to see her sitting up in a chair. Ned was already there, chatting with her.

  “Hey, you’re out of bed! Terrific,” Travis said as he pulled up a chair.

  Libby handed him the book. “I can’t wait to hear what happens to Oliver next.”

  When they finished their reading for the day, Ned and Travis stood by their horses, talking.

  “Travis,” Ned said, “aren’t you forgetting something?”

  “I don’t think so…what?”

  “A ring. Libby mentioned to me you hadn't given her one yet,” Ned said.

  Travis hit his head with his hand. “I never thought of it as a formal proposal…”

  “Well, she did,” Ned said sternly. “Don’t break her heart, Travis.”

  “I won’t. It’s just…well, you wouldn’t understand,” Travis said.

  “Try me.”

  “I don’t love Libby romantically, I just feel guilty about what happened to her. I can’t let her go through life crippled and with no husband or children. It’s my fault it happened, and I guess I have to own up to it by marrying her.”

  Ned shook his head. “I think you should be honest with her.”

  “It would break her heart. Haven’t I done enough damage to her already?” Travis mounted his horse. “I just couldn’t live with myself. If the specialist can get her walking again, I’ll tell her the truth then.”

  “Promise?” Ned asked. “I’ll have to hurt you if you don’t, Travis.”

  “What?”

  “Your heard me,” Ned made his hands into fists. “You will not hurt her.”

  Travis couldn’t believe his best friend would turned on him like that. Then it hit him. “She’s the one, isn’t she?”

  Ned nodded.

  “Why don’t you let her know?” Travis said. “It would fix things for us both.”

  “Because she wants you, and I love her enough to want her happy. Don’t hurt her.”

  Chapter 5

  A week later, Travis made his daily stop at the telegraph office and was finally handed a telegram from the doctor in Kansas City, a man named Henderson.

  Henderson said he’d come for the agreed upon price to evaluate the patient. If treatment would help her, he’d give them an estimate as to the cost at that time. He’d stop by the following week after a seminar he was attending in Abilene.

  Travis didn't want to put the doctor up at a hotel and pay for the added expense, so he invited him to stay at their ranch. Sadie would love having another man there to fuss over. The only problem was, how would he get the money needed to pay for the treatment if the doctor recommended it?

  His next stop before his daily visit with Libby was to see Reverend Moran.

  Reverend James Moran, the vibrant, young preacher, welcomed Travis as he might welcome a long lost relative. He listened to Travis’s problem, nodding occasionally as he did.

  “That’s generous of you and your father to have sold all your livestock to bring that special doctor here, Travis. In fact, I think your family has done quite enough. What happened to Libby was an accident and not your fault. That’s what she tells everyone who visits, so there is no doubt in anyone’s mind.

  “I’m going to talk with the elders of the church and see if we might organize some charity events to help raise the money, you know: baked goods sales, rummage sales, and contributions. I know some of our wealthier citizens will throw in for the good cause.

  “Leave it to me and God, Travis. There's no need for you to feel guilty.”

  “I did something really dumb, recently,” Travis admitted, his head bent down as he looked at his boots. “I felt so bad for her that I asked her to marry me and she accepted, but I don’t love her in that way, though. Now, I’m sorta stuck.”

  Moran shook his head. “That was rather impetuous. Will you go through with marrying her?”

  “I don’t want to, but I will if I have to. I love Libby, just not romantically,” Travis said. “I sort of hoped you’d pray for the situation.”

  “I will. It'll be in God’s hands if we give it to him. Don’t forget, Travis: if we give our burden to God, we have to go with whatever He
chooses for you.”

  “Whether I like it or not, I know,” Travis said. “How will I know what he wants? How does he lead us to do His will?”

  “No one has the answer to that, but I think when doors open as a result of things that just happen beyond our control, it may be what God wants,” Moran said. “When you want something really badly and every door shuts in your path, it probably isn’t the path God has chosen for you.

  “Some people just feel strongly moved to do something and know it’s a message from God.”

  “I have one other question,” Travis said. “What kind of man is Robert Radcliffe?”

  “A fine gentleman,” Moran said. “He came here from England and is most conscientious about farming and raising cattle. Robert comes all the way from Victoria to attend our church. So far, no one else from his family has accompanied him, but he’s a fine man.”

  On Travis’s way to Libby’s, he thought about Mr. Radcliffe’s kidnapping plan. If the man from England pushed for the marriage to Evaline and he had to kidnap her, he’d take it as a sign that it was meant to be. He'd like nothing better than to spend some time with Evaline and he liked her father, too, so why not? Where would he tell Libby he was going while he was busy kidnapping another woman?

  After a pleasant visit with Libby and receiving more than his fair share of scowls from Ned, he decided that even though he was saving his money for her treatment, he’d spend a little to buy the ring she wanted so badly. Maybe he could find one that wasn’t too expensive.

  There was a jeweler, Mr. Harrington, on Broad Street, but he knew he wouldn't be able to afford one of his rings. He went to the mercantile and looked at their rings. They were cheap, probably not real gold or real stones, but what else could he do? He found one that looked expensive, a green stone set in silver filigree for two dollars. He paid for the ring and put it in his pocket.

  He stepped out onto the walkway and froze. There, on the other side of the street, stood Evaline Radcliffe and her sister, whose name he’d forgotten. They looked his way and waved. He hurried across the street.