by Bobbi Smith
Michael's expression turned serious as he considered what she'd just said to him.
"Don't worry, darling," Elizabeth went on. "Everything is going to work out fine."
"I hope you're right."
"I'm always right," she insisted. "I'm your mother."
Much later that night when Michael lay in his solitary bed, thoughts of Karen and Casey haunted him. Karen was everything a man could want in a wife. She was educated. She had beauty, wealth and social connections. Casey, on the other hand, knew little about social amenities and didn't seem the least bit interested in learning about them. She was pretty, but untamed. Kind, yet fearless.
Michael stared blindly up at the ceiling of his room, wondering about his future.
He had given his word, and he would keep it.
He would marry Casey.
And Karen?
He decided then and there that she was a part of his past. He wouldn't see her again. That part of his life was over.
When Casey returned home, she found her father had retired for the night. She checked to make sure he was resting comfortably, then sought her own bed.
She was tired, but sleep proved elusive. Her heart was torn by conflicting emotions. Michael's kisses had been her heaven and her hell. She cursed her weakness in not moving away from him when he'd kissed her the first time.
Even as she told herself it was a weakness she would never give in to again, Casey knew the truth, and the truth was that she had actually enjoyed his embrace.
The realization was startling for her, and painful. She was certain Michael didn't feel the same way. It was obvious from the way he had acted that he wanted nothing to do with her.
A great sadness filled her. This was what her life was destined to be she would be married to a man who didn't want her and who would never love her.
Resigned, she rolled over in bed and buried her face in her pillow. She tried to tell herself she didn't care, but she couldn't stop her tears. She had always prided herself on being strong, and it surprised her to find that Michael's unspoken rejection hurt so badly.
Casey could never let anyone know the truth of her feelings.
She would do what she had to do to save the Bar T. She told herself nothing else mattered.
"You doing all right, Pa?" Casey asked him the next moming at breakfast.
"I'm fine," he answered. He hated keeping the truth from her, but it was better this way. He didn't want to burden her.
"I'm going to ride over and see how the house Michael's building is coming along."
"You mean how `your' house is coming along, don't you?" he asked, smiling.
"It's hard to think of it that way," she told him honestly. "Just like it's hard to believe we're going to be married so soon."
"It's for the best, darling."
"I know, but it's still scary."
"You? Scared of Michael Donovan? I never thought I'd see the day," he teased, hoping to lighten her mood.
"Oh, Pa." She smiled at him, for she recognized his ploy. "You never saw him in his fancy Eastern duds. Now, that was scary!"
"I guess that could be enough to frighten a soul," he agreed with a laugh. "That feels good."
"What does?"
"Laughing. We haven't had much to laugh about around here for a long time."
"No, we haven't."
"Things are looking up now. Everything's going to be all right."
"So, do you want to ride over and take a look at the house with me?"
"I can't today. I've got some work I have to get done with Pete." It was a lie, but Jack couldn't tell her that he didn't have the strength to go anywhere. Til go one day next week."
"All right. Well, I'm going now, but I'll be back."
Casey went to the stable to get her horse and then rode toward the building site. It was a beautiful day. The sky was clear and a brilliant blue, and the morning breeze was still cool.
Casey didn't notice how heavenly the weather was, though. She was too caught up in her thoughts about facing Michael again. She wished she hadn't agreed to visit the building site that day. In fact, she wished she didn't have to see Michael again until their wedding, but that wasn't going to happen. Very shortly, they would be faceto-face, so she had to prepare herself
Casey had never thought about being an actress, but she hoped today she could put on a great performance. She was going to have to act as if nothing unusual had happened between them. Obviously, to Michael's way of thinking, nothing had happened, so she told herself it shouldn't be too hard to pretend around him.
As ready as she would ever be to see him again, Casey topped the low rise that afforded her a view of her new home. She reined in to look over the scene before her and was surprised to see how much progress the men had made in such a short time. She'd expected to see not much more than the frame, but the construction actually already looked like a house. It wasn't big. It was a singlestory dwelling, but it would be big enough for the two of them, and it had a small porch across the front.
The men from the Circle D were already there and hard at work on the roof.
Casey urged her horse toward the house that would soon be her home.
"Here comes your future bride now," Nick told Michael as he slaved away beside him on the roof.
Michael looked up to see Casey riding in. He put down his hammer and climbed down the ladder to welcome her.
"'Morning," Michael said, waiting as she dismounted and tied up her horse.
Casey noticed he hadn't said "good" morning.
"Hello, Michael," she said, then turned and smiled up at Nick, who was still working on the roof. "Hi, Nick!"
"Hi, Casey!" Nick responded. "What do you think of our handiwork?"
"It looks wonderful."
"I bet you didn't think I could do this kind of work, did you?" he asked.
"I'd never underestimate you, Nick," she answered with a smile. "Keep up the good work."
"For you, Casey, anything," Nick promised her.
Michael listened to their easy banter and grew annoyed. "Do you want to take a look around inside?"
"Yes," she agreed.
Turning her attention to Michael, Casey walked by his side toward the front door.
Several men were working inside the house. One of the hands called out, "Hey, Michael! You'd better practice carrying her over the threshold to make sure you do it right on your wedding day!"
"That's right, Michael. Let's see how good you are," another agreed.
"I'll wait until after the wedding." Michael didn't want to lay a hand on Casey today, much less cany her in his arms. He wanted to keep some distance between them. He planned to give her a guided tour and then send her on her way.
"Aw, c'mon, Michael! You're going to have a rehearsal for the wedding. Why not rehearse carrying her over the threshold?"
All the hands joined in, encouraging him to action, and Michael knew he was trapped.
"All right, all right."
Michael turned to Casey and saw the look of unease in her eyes. He was tempted to throw her over his shoulder and carry her inside that way, but instead, without waiting for her to argue or protest, he simply scooped her up in his arms. Holding her close to his chest, he strode purposefully into the house.
Casey had thought she was prepared to be in Michael's arms again, but being held against him that way set her pulse to racing. She actually found herself blushing as the ranch hands cheered them on. The thought that the next time he carried her that way they would be married almost unnerved her. When he finally set her on her feet inside their future home, Casey was surprised to find she felt almost bereft at being out of his arms.
The men shouted out their compliments to Michael on a job well done.
"I told you I didn't need any practice," he called back to them.
Casey moved away from Michael to look around. She'd known the house wasn't going to be very big, so the fact that it was small didn't bother her. Her home on the Bar T wasn't a
ll that roomy. What did bother Casey, though, was the fact that there were only two rooms one bedroom and one big room that would be a combination kitchen and sitting room.
Casey had assumed that they would each have a bedroom. She wondered how to handle the situation. Whatever discussion they had about it would have to be held between the two of them in private.
"So? What do you think?" Michael asked after watching her look around.
"It's going to be very nice."
At her answer, Michael called out, "It's all right, boys! She likes it!"
The hands were pleased at the news. Michael had warned them that she would be paying them a visit today, and some of them had worried the house wouldn't suit her.
"You've all done a fine job," Casey said as she and Michael went back outside.
Nick had climbed down from the roof and was waiting to talk to them.
"So you're pleased," Nick said. "That's good."
"You had doubts?" Casey asked, a teasing glint in her eye.
"There's no pleasing some females," Nick replied. "I'm glad you're not one of them."
"We should complete all the work here by late next week," Michael put in, changing the direction of their conversation. The easy camaraderie between Casey and Nick still bothered him.
"It's hard to believe the wedding is so close," she said.
"Yes, it is," Michael agreed. "We don't have a lot of time left to get things ready."
"If worse comes to worst, we can always move in with my pa for a while," Casey suggested.
"That's all right," Michael was quick to respond. "This is our home. We'll be living here."
Casey still liked the idea of staying with her father even if Michael didn't, but she had no choice in the matter. Once they were husband and wife, they would have to be together.
In that very house.
In the one bedroom.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, dear?" Dorothea Whittington asked her daughter in a tortured voice as they suffered through yet another seemingly unending day of miserable travel.
"Of course it is. We're almost there. The driver said we'd arrive in Hard Luck by sundown."
"Thank God," Dorothea said melodramatically.
"Mother--" Karen gave her a censuring look. "We haven't come this far to give up now. You always taught me to persevere when I want something and I want Michael Donovan."
Dorothea gave a strained sigh. "I know. I just wish he'd never had to return to Texas in the first place and to a town called Hard Luck, at that." She rolled her eyes heavenward in an exaggerated show of distaste.
"Once we reach Hard Luck and I find Michael, I'll con vince him to come back home with me right away. Don't worry, Mother," she said with confidence, "we won't be stuck in Texas very long."
"I hope you're right," she said.
"I am. Once I remind him of what he's been missing, I'm sure he'll come back to Philadelphia with us. Why, he was almost ready to propose when all this happened."
"Needless to say, I can hardly wait for the return trip. I'm sure it will be just as tedious, but I am definitely going to enjoy it more."
"I'm going to enjoy it more, too. Michael's going to be traveling with us," Karen said with a confident smile.
She couldn't wait to see him. It had been too long already. Though she was still upset with Michael for leaving without saying good-bye in person, once he apologized, she would forgive him, and everything would be wonderful between them especially after she became Mrs. Michael Donovan.
Karen stared out the stagecoach window and completely understood why Michael had left Texas to go to Philadelphia. Texas was so...so uncivilized. They hadn't seen a building or any sign of humanity since they'd left the last depot, hours and miles ago. She wondered how anyone existed here. She certainly couldn't. Confident that Michael's love for her would draw him back to Philadelphia, she didn't worry in the least that she'd be forced to stay in Texas. Soon, very soon, they would be on their way back East together.
It was late afternoon when the stagecoach rolled to a stop before the depot in Hard Luck.
"This is Hard Luck?" Dorothea said with disdain, looking out at the tiny Western town.
"Yes, ma'am," the stage driver said, opening the door for her.
"Oh, my." She took his offered hand reluctantly, for he was quite dirty, then descended from the rough-riding stagecoach.
Dorothea thanked him and stepped aside while he helped Karen down.
"Can you recommend any accommodations?" Dorothea asked him.
The driver frowned. He pushed his dusty hat back and scratched his head. "If you mean, can I recommend a hotel, well, sure. There's only one hotel in Hard Luck, little lady. It's the Hard Luck Hotel and it's right down the street there." He pointed the way. "I'll send your trunks there for you."
"Thank you," Dorothea said in her most prim tone as she and Karen moved off.
Dorothea tried her best not to gawk at Hard Luck, but it was difficult. It was a hot and dusty little town, and she wondered how it had even come into being. She couldn't imagine why anyone would want to settle down there. The stage depot was the only redeeming feature she could find, and that was only because it afforded her a way to escape the place.
"It's hard to believe that a gentleman like Michael comes from a town that is so...crude."
Karen understood her mother's reaction but wanted to make the best of things. "Once I get to see Michael again, everything will be fine."
"Of course, dear," Dorothea said, holding her tongue for now. She hoped her daughter was right, for she certainly didn't want to spend an hour longer there than necessary.
They reached the hotel and went in.
"Afternoon, ladies," Ernest Williams, the hotel clerk, welcomed them as they approached the check-in desk.
"We need a room, please," Dorothea dictated.
"Yes, ma'am." Ernest quickly registered them, then escorted them upstairs to their room. "Where are you ladies from?"
"Philadelphia," Karen answered. "We're here to visit the Donovans."
"Oh, are you kin?"
"We soon will be," Karen responded, with confidence. "I'm Michael's fiancee."
"You are?" Ernest tried but couldn't quite hide his surprise. He'd heard the talk around town about the upcoming wedding between Michael and Casey, and he knew this woman's unexpected appearance was definitely going to cause trouble.
"You sound surprised," Dorothea said pointedly.
"Well, we hadn't heard Michael was engaged to anyone back East," he said, managing not to reveal anything. He didn't want to be the one who told them about Michael's upcoming marriage to another woman. He didn't want to be anywhere around when these two women found out about it.
"We hadn't publicly announced it yet, but Michael and I are going to be married," Karen said firmly.
"I'm real happy for you," Ernest said noncommittally.
"Is there a way to send a message to Michael at the ranch? Is there someone I can hire to contact him for me?"
"Yes, there surely is. The boys down at the stable are always willing to do odd jobs. I'll have one of them come see you."
"Thanks."
Ernest opened the door to their room for them. "I'm Ernest Williams. If you need anything, let me know."
"We will."
He left to find a messenger.
Dorothea and Karen went into the sparsely furnished room and looked around. There was a washstand, two single beds and a small dresser.
"It's clean," Karen pointed out. "And it's better than some of the places we've stayed in on this trip."
"That isn't saying much," Dorothea said as she sat down on one of the beds to test its softness. "But all this will have been worth it, once you're reunited with Michael."
Karen smiled brightly as she thought of her future as Michael's wife. "Yes, it will."
Ernest hurried down to the stable to talk to Fitz.
"I need someone to ride out to the Circle D," he told him.
"Let me get Rob for you," Fitz answered, searching the back of the stable for his helper. "What's going on that you gotta get in touch with the Donovans?"
Ernest liked to talk, and he quickly related what he'd learned.
"But Michael's manying Casey," Fitz countered.
"I know that and you know that, but these ladies don't," Ernest replied with a sly grin. "This could get real interesting. It's been a while since we had any fun in Hard Luck."
"I wonder if Michael's going to think this is fun."
"We'll find out. This Karen Whittington is one finelooking lady."
"I guess we'll be finding something out real soon, won't we?" Fitz remarked. "Rob! Ernest needs you."
Ernest returned to the hotel with Rob, and they went upstairs to the Whittingtons' room.
"This here is Rob. He'll be glad to deliver your message to the Circle D for you," Ernest told Karen and her mother.
They thanked him for his help, Ernest left them to settle in and returned to the front desk.
"I need you to deliver this letter to Michael Donovan at the Circle D ranch," Karen instructed Rob, holding out the envelope containing the note she'd written while waiting for Ernest to return.
"Yes, ma'am. I can do that."
"How long will it take you?"
"Not long. Less than an hour. Do you want me to wait for an answer?"
"No, that's not necessary."
Ernest had told her what the charge was and Karen paid the messenger. When he'd gone, she closed the door and looked at her mother.
"I guess all we have to do now is wait."
"That may be what you are going to do, but frankly, I need a bath," Dorothea declared.
"Why don't we get cleaned up and then see if there's someplace nearby where we can get something to eat? By the time we finish eating, I'm sure Michael will be here."
Ernest wasted no time in spreading the news. His shift ended right after Rob rode out of town to deliver the message to the Circle D, and he went straight to the Sundown saloon to tell everybody what he'd learned.
"Bill, wait until you hear this," Ernest began as he took a deep drink of the beer the barkeep had served him.
Bill shook his head and grinned at him. He knew what a gossip Ernest could be, and he could hardly wait to hear the latest. "What is it now? It must be important, for you to get this excited."
