Catching Kent

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  After a few minutes of deep thinking, she wasn’t any closer to the answer. She yawned and stood up. Perhaps she’d think better after a good night’s sleep. Deciding that would be the best course of action, she headed back to bed.

  Chapter Ten

  A couple days later, Rose intercepted her uncle before he left the house. “How is Kent doing, Uncle Joel?”

  He halted in mid-step and laughed. “You often appear out of nowhere, Rose.”

  She moved aside so he could go out the front door. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been curious about his condition. Is he doing better?”

  “Yes. He doesn’t need the crutch anymore. He’s not back to his old self yet, but he’s close to it.”

  “That’s good.” She followed him as he headed toward his horse. “Don’t you want to stay for supper?”

  “Usually, I’d say yes, but I promised your aunt that I’d be home early tonight. Lisa is bringing over her baby and if it’s one thing us grandparents can’t resist, it’s a chance to see our grandchildren.”

  “Oh, alright.”

  He untied the horse from the post. “I’ll try to stay for supper next time I come out.”

  As he hopped up on the saddle, she noticed his medical bag. “How old is that thing?”

  He glanced at it and shrugged. “Not sure. I’ve had it for as long as I can remember.”

  “Do you keep it because it reminds you of all the years you’ve been a doctor?”

  “No. I keep it because I can’t afford a new one. There are always other things—more important things—I need to buy.”

  She considered his words. “Do you need money?”

  “I’m not in the business of taking money from your parents, Rose.”

  So he did need it. Before he could leave, she grabbed the reins and smiled. “I have an idea! Why don’t you have a bachelor auction to raise money?”

  “A bachelor auction?”

  “Yes! I read about it in a dime novel. There was this man who needed money to buy a train ticket to help his brother on his farm. He entered a bachelor auction to get it and headed out to Kentucky. But the train ended up in a terrible accident and the man had to walk the rest of the way. He got stuck in a thunderstorm so he went into a bar where he ended up getting into a brawl. Then he got sick with consumption. He died and locusts ate all of his brother’s crops so he couldn’t keep the farm. His brother decided to hang himself. It was so sad. My heart ached for two whole days.”

  Her uncle grimaced. “You need to read happier books.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m now reading a comedy.”

  “Good.”

  “Oh, I remember what I was going to say. You should have a bachelor auction to raise money so you can buy things you need, like a new medical bag. That thing is ready to fall apart.” Her eyes lit up and she patted the horse’s nose. “Have women bid on the man of their choice.”

  He tilted his hat back. “What?”

  “It’s perfect.” She’d been wondering what she could do to get Kent to spend time with her, and this was the answer she’d been looking for. “Have the women bring a lunch to share with the man they bid on.”

  “I don’t know. Shouldn’t the men be bidding on the women? Or maybe bid on the lunches and end up sharing it with the woman who made the lunch?”

  “No. That’s a silly idea.” Especially since she didn’t think Kent would bid on her or anything she made. What she needed was a guaranteed way to get time with Kent, and if she bid high enough, he’d have to share a couple of hours with her. “I think women should get to choose the man they share their meal with. They will go through all the trouble of making it, after all.”

  He hesitated. “It is an interesting idea. Do you really think enough men and women will agree to this to make it worth doing?”

  “I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t.”

  After a moment, he nodded. “Alright. What can it hurt?”

  “It’ll be wonderful!”

  He chuckled and lifted the reins. “I got to hand it to you, Rose. You come up with some of the best ideas of anyone I’ve ever known.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure do. If anyone’s in a bind, you’re the perfect person to help them.”

  Pleased, she grinned at his compliment. For once, having an imagination seemed to work in her favor.

  “I’ll stop by next week and we can work out the details then.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  He waved and she returned the gesture as he rode away.

  ***

  “Thank you for taking me to town,” Kent told Mr. Larson as he gingerly climbed into the wagon. Even if he didn’t need a crutch, he still had to take it easy because his ribs were sore. Sometimes he wondered if he’d ever completely heal.

  As he settled into a comfortable position, Mr. Larson smiled. “I’m heading to town anyway.”

  “Wait for me!” an all-too-familiar voice called out.

  Kent hesitated to look over his shoulder because he already knew who it was, but he couldn’t stop himself. Sure enough, Rose was hurrying toward them, her golden waves bouncing off her shoulders as she ran across the lawn. He told himself he needed to stop watching her, but her hair wasn’t the only thing bouncing. He didn’t like the way his thoughts were going. Nothing could be more inappropriate with her father close by. Forcing his eyes off her chest, he finally managed to turn from her, relieved when he realized her father hadn’t noticed how he was watching his daughter.

  Rose reached the wagon and shot Kent a smile that somehow didn’t irk him today. He told himself it was only because he’d soon be on a train going to California. Surely, this explained his improved mood. That had to be it. It had nothing to do with her. Besides, what man wouldn’t notice a woman’s breasts if she was running toward him? He’d have to be blind not to look. And really, why didn’t she know better than to run anyway? She should stroll toward the wagon like a lady was supposed to do.

  “Ma told me to come along,” Rose told her father. “She wants me to pick up some items from the mercantile.”

  After a moment, her father nodded. “Alright.” Glancing at Kent, he said, “I forgot a couple supplies last time I went, and Rose has a great memory.”

  “And I can’t ruin supper if I’m not cooking it,” she joked as her father helped her into the wagon. She sat between her father and Kent, and unfortunately for Kent, the wagon wasn’t wide enough to avoid touching her. “I’d like to say the incident with the stew was rare, but I don’t share my ma or sister’s talent for cooking,” she told Kent.

  Kent supposed he could have told her that he’d never marry a woman who couldn’t cook, but for some reason, he didn’t have the heart to do so when he recalled how Adam and Eli had hurt her feelings about the stew. Instead, he offered a slight shrug, figuring it was best not to say anything. Who knew if he’d say something to encourage her without realizing it? For sure, he’d never come out and say something stupid like, “With the amount of money I have, my wife won’t have to cook because the servants will do it.” He wasn’t going to take a wife—ever—so there was no point in worrying about it.

  “Pa, do you mind if I stop to see Uncle Joel while we’re in town?” she asked.

  “I don’t see why not, as long as he’s in his office,” her father replied.

  Though she wasn’t looking at Kent, her hand brushed his. He quickly pulled his hand away, but as her father urged the horses forward, her arm touched his and she made no move to position herself so she was no longer touching him. He sighed. This was going to be a long ride, and he couldn’t decide if it was because she was intentionally finding a way to touch him or because his body actually liked it.

  Kent decided not to talk while Rose spent the next hour rambling away about all the wonderful dreams she had the night before. He honestly didn’t know how her father patiently listened to her through it all. If she hadn’t kept finding a way to brush her thigh or arm against him, he would h
ave fallen asleep. When they finally arrived to town, he breathed a sigh of relief.

  Mr. Larson stopped in front of the mercantile and set the brake. “The bank is just down there.”

  Kent looked in the direction he pointed.

  “Rose,” her father began as he helped her down from the wagon, “I’m going to take Kent to the bank. You go ahead and start collecting the items your ma wants. I’ll join you soon.”

  To Kent’s relief, she didn’t insist that she should go to the bank, too. He waited until she was entering the mercantile before he stepped down from the wagon. As he joined Mr. Larson who was chuckling, he asked, “Am I walking funny?”

  “No.” He shook his head and slowed his pace so Kent could keep up with him. “I love my daughter, but I also realize she’s not for everyone. To be honest, I’m so used to young men trying to court her that it’s nice to know I don’t have to worry about one who’s a guest under my own roof.”

  It took him a moment, but Kent caught his meaning. “Even if I was, I wouldn’t do anything.”

  “I know. I didn’t intend to imply you’d take advantage of a situation. Some men would, but I know you wouldn’t.”

  Curious, Kent studied him. He seemed sincere. Maybe he meant it. Either way, Kent was afraid to ask about it. After all he’d been through, it’d be nice if there was someone like his uncle who could believe the best about him.

  When they entered the bank, Mr. Larson led him to a middle-aged man working there. “How are you doing, Doug?”

  “Doing good, Dave. Who do you have with you?”

  “This is Kent Ashton. Kent, this is Doug Connealy.”

  Kent shook his hand and greeted him.

  “Kent’s here to transfer some money to this bank,” Mr. Larson said. “He’s an honest young man, so you can trust him.”

  Surprised but pleased that he chose to extend such a high compliment to him, Kent smiled at him.

  Mr. Larson patted him on the back. “I’ll let you two take care of business while I get what I need from the mercantile.”

  Kent nodded and followed Doug Connealy to his desk.

  ***

  When Kent was assured his money would be in the bank soon, he headed for the mercantile. As he came within a few yards of it, he caught sight of Rose talking to a young man who looked much too happy to be with her. They stood by a bench, and he was the one doing all of the talking. She offered him a polite smile, nodding when appropriate and kicking at a small rock when looking away from him. Even though she showed absolutely no interest in him, Kent had to stop the urge to interrupt them. It was ridiculous that the scene should bother him as much as it did. She might have expressed a desire to be with him, even to the point of getting on his nerves, but she didn’t belong to him.

  And after Ann Statesman, he swore he’d never get tangled up in another situation where he’d have to worry about another man wanting the lady he was attracted to. He gritted his teeth. No, he didn’t want Rose. She wanted him, and that was where it ended. He was more than happy to pawn her off on someone else. The sooner she turned her attention elsewhere, the better.

  Forcing his eyes off them, he proceeded toward the mercantile.

  “I hope you’ll bid on me, Rose,” the man said.

  “Oh, I don’t cook well at all,” she replied. “You should let my sister bid on you.”

  Kent felt the weight of her stare as he passed by. Ignoring her, he pressed forward.

  “There’s no one better than you,” the man told her. “I just hope you won’t bet on Abe or Cody. They’re awfully eager to court you.”

  Good grief, there were more men pursuing her? Kent opened the mercantile door with more force than necessary and willed himself to calm down before someone detected his irritation. He should be glad Rose had men lined up to be with her. It made it that much easier to get out of Omaha when he got his money.

  “How did things go at the bank?” Mr. Larson called out.

  “Fine. The money should be here soon.” Noting the full basket Mr. Larson was holding, he asked, “Do you need another one? I can carry some things.”

  “No, I’m just about done.”

  Just as Kent nodded, Rose came into the store and hurried over to them.

  “Did you talk to your uncle?” her father asked.

  “I did. Everything is set.” She glanced at Kent and smiled in a way that made Kent wonder what she was up to. Turning her gaze back to her father, she asked, “Did you get everything on Ma’s list?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Can we get some tea?”

  “Tea?”

  “Kent came from Europe and I hear they drink tea all the time over there.”

  Kent shook his head. “That isn’t necessary, Mr. Larson. Coffee is just fine.”

  Her father hesitated. “Do you like tea?”

  “Well,” he glanced at Rose who nodded as if she could read his mind, and in this case, she’d be right, “yes. But I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”

  “It’s no trouble at all,” he said and went to retrieve some.

  “I can’t wait to try it,” Rose told Kent.

  He almost told her to run back out and find some other man who’d fawn all over her but bit his tongue. No, he didn’t want her to go back out there. And he wished it didn’t bother him that other men were interested in her.

  “I think I got everything now,” Mr. Larson said, returning to them. “Is there anything else we need?”

  “Some clothes for Kent?” Rose suggested.

  “Right.” He placed the basket on the counter.

  “I’ll make you a shirt,” she said. “I can sew better than I cook. What’s your favorite color?”

  “This isn’t necessary,” he told both of them as her father grabbed a catalogue to sort through. “When I get my money, I can buy clothes.” He could even pay someone to make them for him.

  “Nonsense,” Mr. Larson said as he showed him the men’s clothing. “We can order anything on here you want or go to the tailor’s. It’s your choice.”

  “But I have money.”

  “And it’s not here right now. I don’t want you to have to worry about going to California and buying clothes. You’re young and starting out. You need all the money you can save up. I’ll have no argument over this.”

  Kent opened his mouth to protest, knowing there was no way Mr. Larson had even a fraction of the amount he did, but Rose said, “What’s your favorite color?”

  “Blue,” he quickly answered. She ran off so he turned his attention back to Mr. Larson, but he was already pointing to a pair of trousers and denims. “What’s your size?”

  “Mr. Larson, this isn’t—”

  “I know it’s not necessary, but I want to.”

  The resolute tone in his voice stopped Kent from saying anything else. It was important to him that he did it, and Kent decided he should go ahead and let him purchase two pairs of pants and let Rose make a shirt or two for him. After he told him his size, he added, “Thank you,” and left it at that.

  Chapter Eleven

  A week later, Rose held up the blue shirt and sighed in satisfaction. She’d spent every waking moment working on it, and now that it was finally done, she couldn’t wait to give it to Kent. Jumping up from the chair in the parlor, she hurried up the stairs and ran to her brothers’ bedroom.

  “What are you doing?” someone asked her.

  Gasping, she clutched the shirt to her chest and whirled around. She laughed when she saw it was Harriett. “You scared me.”

  “I gathered that much,” Harriett said, holding neatly folded clothes in her arms. “I asked you a question, Rose. What are you doing with that shirt?”

  “I was going to give it to Kent.”

  “He’s not in the bedroom.” Closing the gap between them, she lowered her voice. “You shouldn’t even think about going in there if he’s there. That’s not something a lady does.”

  “Well, he’s in our house, and that means h
e risks me entering any room I please at any time I wish.”

  Harriett shot her a pointed look and tapped her foot on the floor. “You’re awful. A man deserves some privacy, especially since he’s a guest in our house.”

  “It’s the middle of the day. It’s not like he’ll be taking his clothes off.” Though it would be fun to see him without his shirt on. “I bet he looks wonderful without a shirt on.”

  Harriett covered Rose’s mouth with her hand. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. In the future, you mustn’t ever say something like that. It’s very inappropriate. Can you imagine what Ma or Pa would do if they heard you?”

  She pushed her sister’s hand away. “Pa’s outside and Ma’s in the kitchen. I can say all I want about how much I’d love to see Kent’s naked broad shoulders and chest. You know he’d look wonderful.”

  Harriett groaned. “You think everything about Kent looks wonderful.” She paused, her face pink. “At least what you imagine.” Then, in a whisper, she asked, “You aren’t imagining him without clothes on? You haven’t snuck at peak at him when he’s bathed have you?”

  Her eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea! I should sneak into the kitchen next Saturday evening when we take turns bathing.”

  “You shut your mouth this instant.”

  “Why? It was your idea.”

  “No, it wasn’t. I was only making sure you didn’t do it.”

  “No, I wasn’t that clever.” Rose grinned. “But I can be now. I’ve always wondered what a man looks like when he’s naked. You know, an adult man.”

  “Rose, you can’t. You mustn’t! Not now. Not ever. Do you understand?”

  “I’m going to marry him. Sooner or later, I’ll get to see him without clothes on. Why not now?”

  “Because you’re not married yet. Stop acting like a saloon girl. You are an honorable woman and will stay that way until you exchange vows with him.” Harriett rolled her eyes and grunted. “For heaven’s sakes! You got me talking as if you’re going to marry him.”