An hour later, he left Molly in front of Cobb’s Penn.
“I’ll be back in a while. I need the blacksmith to make a new hinge for one of my gates.” After helping her dismount, Storm tied her horse to the hitching rail, then mounted his own gelding. “I shouldn’t be too long.”
She smiled. “Thank you for bringing me with you.”
He tipped a finger to his hat, then headed up the street. His time alone with her hadn’t gone the way he’d hoped. Small talk about the weather, about Noelle, and about his horses was about all he’d managed to do. He’d never been one for idle chatter. She’d listened politely when he’d spoken and had asked questions at the right moments.
It was clear that she was as nervous about being out with him as he was. Maybe she’d finally realized that she was about to be seen in town in the company of a half-breed. He dismissed the thought immediately. He was letting his old insecurities and past experiences get the better of him. One of the things that drew him to Molly, he’d realized, was that when she looked at him, it was evident in her eyes that she saw a man, not an Indian.
He clenched his jaw and scowled. The goose was another dilemma. Telling Molly that the bird had to live outside wouldn’t go over well, but the gander couldn’t continue to live in his house. If he was going to marry the woman, she had to see reason about that bird. Maybe he could build a pen for the goose in the barn, but she might not be agreeable to that.
Storm was leading his horse to the blacksmith shop when someone called his name. He glanced over his shoulder. Draven caught up to him.
“What’s the matter? Married life not agreeing with you?”
Storm cursed under his breath. Today wasn’t the day to get into a fight with the sheriff.
“I’m not married, yet.”
The smug smile on Draven’s face reached all the way up to that one eye. Storm looked at his horse rather than letting the sheriff bait him into a battle of words. He didn’t need to reveal to his friend that thoughts of marriage to Molly had been on his mind. Draven snorted when Storm let slip that the goose bothered him more than Molly. Storm gripped his horse’s reins tighter when Draven grinned.
“You got the goose-girl? Why not serve the thing up for Epiphany dinner?”
Good question. The thought had crossed his mind more than a few times. Molly would kill him, then serve him up for dessert.
“Because I heard a rumor she tried to kill the last man who wanted to cook her goose.” He hadn’t exactly heard that rumor, but Molly had certainly implied something similar.
Draven snorted. “And here I thought you were worried about her feelings, not your own hide.”
Storm blinked. Was that it? Was that the reason he hadn’t wrung that gander’s neck? He was more concerned about Molly’s feelings than bringing some semblance of peace back into his cabin. She cared deeply for that animal, and it was something he could relate to. Wolf was his constant companion, and he’d always protect his dog from real harm if need be.
Luckily, Draven seemed to have some pressing business elsewhere. Storm let out a relieved sigh when they parted ways, and headed toward the blacksmith shop, where he found Culver Daniels at his forge.
“I should have the hinge done for you by tomorrow, Storm.” Culver smiled at him while hammering a horseshoe into shape.
“Much obliged. I’ll be back or send my grandfather to pick it up. He’ll be happy for the excuse to come to town and have a drink with Gus.”
Daniels chuckled. “Those two still out causing trouble?”
“Every chance they get.”
Storm was about to leave when a tall woman holding a baby came walking toward them. She nodded in greeting, then called to the blacksmith.
“I have sandwiches ready, if you can stop for something to eat.”
The giant man dipped the horseshoe in a pail, making the water hiss and steam. He wiped his hands on his apron and leaned down to kiss the woman on the mouth.
“Have you met my wife, Storm? This is Kezia, and our daughter, Jemimah.” Culver kissed his wife again. “They are the best things that have happened to me in a long time.”
Storm concealed his surprise with a smile. He glanced from the tall man to the woman next to him. Both their faces glowed with happiness. So, Culver Daniels had gotten married to one of the mail-order brides, and he’d gotten a child with the deal? The couple certainly looked happy.
His thoughts instantly went to Molly. Could she be happy with him? Could he find the peace and contentment with her that Kunu had talked about?
“I heard you were getting married, too, Storm. Congratulations. We’ve already got Reverend Hammond married, and last I heard, Woody is getting married today.” He chuckled.
Storm blinked. The comment caught him off guard. Chase Hammond had married a mail-order bride? And Woody, the muleskinner, was getting married, too? Culver’s wife held out her hand. Storm hesitated for a second, then shook it.
“Molly and I didn’t have the chance to get better acquainted, but from our few interactions, she seemed very nice.” Her smile faded slightly. “How’s her goose doing?” The question was almost hesitant.
“Couldn’t be better,” Storm said. “He’s made himself quite at home at the ranch.” He reached out to shake Culver’s hand before he’d be forced to answer any more questions he might not be prepared to answer.
“I’d best get going.”
Storm led his horse away from the blacksmith shop. Conflicting thoughts raced through his mind. Culver Daniels sure looked to be happy with his new wife. Maybe Kunu had been right, and having a woman around wasn’t such a bad thing. Molly appealed to him, even though her goose didn’t.
Marriage was a forever kind of thing. If he was going to follow through with it, he and Molly would be bonded for life. They would have to come to some kind of an agreement about her pet.
He glanced up at the sky when a flock of geese flew overhead, following the course of the river. They honked in unison as they formed a V-shape in flight. Storm waited until they disappeared from sight. He smiled as he mounted his horse and pointed the gelding down the street toward Cobb’s Penn. The answer to his problems where Daniel the goose was concerned had literally just dropped out of the sky.
Chapter 8
The Third Day of Christmas, December 27, 1876
“Avis? How nice to see you.” Molly rushed up to the woman with whom she’d spent some time in Denver and traveled with to Noelle. Avis’ eyes widened with equal surprise when Molly entered Cobb’s Penn, the dry goods store. Molly gave Avis a quick embrace. “Are you shopping, too?”
A soft smile passed over Avis’ lips and she lowered her gaze after her eyes darted to the man who stood behind the counter, talking to another customer. Was that a rosy blush on her cheeks? Molly returned the smile, but didn’t say anything. Her eyes again drifted to the man who appeared to be the owner of the mercantile. The other man didn’t look like Avis’ intended groom. Maybe she was reading too much into it.
The first day of their arrival, Avis had been badly shaken up when she’d been humiliated in public by the jacka . . . by the horrible man who was supposed to have been her groom. Was there something going on between Avis and the merchant? If there was a chance that she might find happiness with the mercantile owner, Molly shouldn’t jeopardize it by asking questions.
“No, I’m not shopping. I’m working for Liam Fulton.” Avis leaned forward and whispered. “He’s a nice man, but he has no business sense whatsoever.”
Molly nodded, and they both laughed. Perhaps she had been wrong with her initial assessment. “Well, if anyone can help him out in his business, it’ll be you. You’re a smart lady.”
Her smile faded. She reached for Avis’ hand and gave it a squeeze. “I didn’t get a chance to talk to you the night we arrived. I’m so sorry about what happened with your groom, Mr. Jones.”
Avis shook her head and waved a dismissive hand in front of her face. “It was bound to happen.”
“Don’t worry yourself about it. It’s done, and I’m better off for it. I didn’t like the short little weasel anyway from the moment I set eyes on him, and I can’t even imagine if I would’ve had to marry him. I’m much better off for it.”
Molly frowned. She gave her friend another hug. “Things do tend to work themselves out for the best, don’t they?”
In her case, was that true? Storm hadn’t said a word to her about getting married. She’d tried to prove herself to him over the last couple of days. She’d cooked and cleaned, and generally kept his home in order. Ezra had praised her constantly, but Storm acted as if he hadn’t noticed. He continued to behave like a grumpy bear.
No doubt Daniel had a lot to do with it. She couldn’t fault Storm for being angry with the goose. No one had ever put up with Daniel for long, and to his credit, Storm really hadn’t said much about the gander.
When he’d said earlier that he was heading to town, Molly had jumped at the chance to go with him and spend some time with her intended without the watchful goose around to cause trouble. Storm hadn’t said much during the entire ride.
Getting information out of the closed-off man had been like pulling teeth. Not even a sledgehammer to his head would weaken the stony wall he’d created around himself. A few times since her arrival there had been a hint of a smile on Storm’s face, so perhaps it wasn’t completely impossible to break the ice with him.
The way he’d looked at her at times over the last few days had made her melt inside, and given her hope, but each time she’d caught him looking her way, he’d hardened up again. Storm was the most handsome man she’d ever seen, and she was irrevocably drawn to him, but there was something about him that kept him closed off.
“Do you ever see your father’s family?” she’d asked when they’d almost reached town. After making small talk about his ranch, his horses, and Ezra, this seemed like a safe question.
Storm had instantly stiffened. He’d glanced at her, but there was no warmth in his eyes, making him look almost wild and fierce.
“I have relatives among my father’s people, but I don’t see them. My grandfather insisted I learn to speak their language and to call him Kunu to honor my father.”
Surprised that he’d even answered, Molly had pressed even further. “Ezra told me that your father left his village to be with your mother.”
Storm’s eyes had blazed with anger. “Did he also tell you that they killed my father for it? Their punishment for him wanting to live like a white man was death. They killed him a few days before my mother gave birth to me.”
He’d nudged his horse in the sides and ridden ahead of her, ending the discussion. As she’d watched him ride off, it occurred to her that maybe he was ashamed of the Indian part of his heritage. If not, he was certainly angry and bitter about it. Was that why he worked so hard to appear grumpy – to keep people at a distance?
Maybe it was up to her to nudge him in the right direction and make him see that his mixed heritage didn’t matter to her. In fact, it made him quite attractive. Why, though, had he asked for a bride, if he showed no interest in getting married?
“What about you?” Avis’ question effectively kept Molly from contemplating any further about Storm. Avis had her eyes on Molly as if searching for something. “You moved out of La Maison fairly quickly, but I didn’t hear that you got married.”
Molly studied her fingernails before making eye contact again. “I’m not married. Not yet, anyway. I think Storm has to get used to Daniel first, and vice- versa.” She laughed softly. No use telling her friend that Storm didn’t seem at all interested in her.
“I was rather surprised that you’d accept such an agreement.”
Molly nodded. No doubt several of the other women frowned upon her choice of moving to the ranch with a man without first being wed. She shrugged. They could think what they wanted. She’d had to make a choice, for Daniel’s sake.
“Yes, I know it was a little sudden, and please don’t think any less of me for accepting. I was thinking of Daniel when I agreed. He’s much better off on the ranch than if he were stuck in this town. There’s nothing improper going on.” Molly raised her chin. “Besides, how was I supposed to get to know the man I came here to marry? Since he lives outside of town, it was much more practical that I moved to his ranch.”
Liam Fulton came around the counter of the mercantile and wished the other customer a good day as he ushered him out. He turned to Molly with a smile. Avis stood between them.
“Liam, this is Molly Norris. She’s Storm Thornton’s intended bride.”
Liam held out his hand, and Molly shook it. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Fulton.” Her eyes darted from Avis to Liam.
The mercantile owner tilted his head, and raised an eyebrow, as if he were confused about something. Then he smiled.
“I’m so glad to hear that Ezra was able to make Storm change his mind.”
Molly frowned. “Change his mind?”
Liam chuckled. “Yes, Ezra was worried that Storm wouldn’t agree to marry you. Poor Storm sure was surprised on Christmas Eve when he found out that Ezra drew a straw for him. I’m happy to hear it worked out, and congratulations.”
Molly stared. She clamped her mouth shut or she would have shouted that she wasn’t married, yet, and that nothing seemed to have worked out. A cold sensation crept down her spine.
Storm’s cold demeanor toward her suddenly made sense. Storm had never wanted a bride. He’d never intended to marry her. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been the one to invite her to come live at the ranch. It had been Ezra.
Molly blinked rapidly and plastered a smile on her face. In reality, her insides twisted and her limbs turned to mush. She cleared her throat and sucked in a deep breath.
“Avis, it was so good to see you. I think I need to be going.” She choked out the words. Her legs barely held her up as she rushed to leave the mercantile. Her horse was still tethered to the hitching rail, and thankfully, there was no sign of Storm. She couldn’t face him at the moment. Perhaps later, after she’d digested what she’d just found out. Besides, if he didn’t want her as his wife, he’d surely not want to discuss it with her in town. First, she had to talk to Ezra.
Her hands trembled as she picked up the reins and reached for the saddle horn to pull herself onto the horse’s back. Her skirt caught on the heel of her boot as she swung her leg over, and tore slightly as she pulled it free. It didn’t matter. She needed to leave before her emotions took over and she started to cry.
Noelle was supposed to be her fresh start. Finding out from a stranger that it had all been a lie was too much to bear. The anger would come, but right now, a feeling of hopelessness engulfed her.
After straightening out her skirt, Molly nudged the horse in the side and pointed the gelding down the street to head out of town. The quicker she was away from here, the better. The wet footing made it impossible to ride as fast as she would have liked, and the deeper snow slowed her down even more, but at least Storm hadn’t caught up to her by the time she reached the ranch. Leading the horse to the barn, she stripped the saddle off the animal and led him into one of the empty stalls.
The numbness in her chest had nothing to do with the cold. What was she going to do? How was she even going to talk to Storm about this? Certainly, she wasn’t going to stay here at the ranch any longer. Hopefully, Mrs. Walters would take her in again and she could move back to La Maison. What to do then was as dark as a moonless winter’s night.
Tears froze on her cheeks as she rushed to the house. The door wasn’t latched. It creaked open when Molly gave it a slight push. She frowned. She stepped inside the welcoming warmth of the main room and glanced around, blinking back a new onslaught of tears.
This could have been her home. She’d never felt more comfortable than in this cabin. Despite the owner’s surly mood, she’d convinced herself that she could win him over. In the last
few days, watching him discreetly as he’d worked tirelessly on ranch chores, and the way he interacted with horses, his dog, and his grandfather, she’d been sure that she was falling in love with him.
Even when he’d made snide remarks about Daniel, Storm had tolerated him, and he’d even smiled about the goose’s antics on occasion. No one else had ever done that. Now she had to leave again and find another place to call home.
With all the men in Noelle, and no women, there would certainly be someone else who’d be willing to marry her. But what other man would put up with Daniel, or was as handsome when he cracked a smile, or was as good with the horses, or made her heart race with a simple glance?
Molly’s eyes swept around the room before they fell on the old man sitting in the rocking chair. A soft smile spread across her lips. Ezra Thornton’s eyes were closed and his mouth was open. He snored softly. He was another Thornton who’d worked his way into her heart.
Ezra had deceived both her and his grandson, and she should be angry with him. Storm certainly had been. It explained why he’d been at the saloon on Christmas Eve, getting drunk.
Ezra’s heart had clearly been in the right place, but he should have been honest with her . . . with both of them. She shook her head in annoyance. Storm should have been honest with her, too. He’d had plenty of chances to tell her that it hadn’t been his idea to marry, especially a mail-order bride.
Molly sighed. She wasn’t going to wake the old man, but once he was up, and as soon as Storm was back from town, she’d give them both a piece of her mind. She headed for her bedroom, but stopped in her tracks. The door was slightly open.
“Daniel?”
No sound came from her room. Molly pulled the door open all the way. No Daniel. The room was empty. She spun around and glanced to the front door. With each second that passed, her heart sped up more and her breathing quickened. The goose, her one steady companion since the loss of her best friend, was gone.
The Goose_The Sixth Day Page 8
