Catching Kent

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “No, it’s not,” Harriett softly said.

  “If nothing else can be said about Rose, she is loyal to those she loves,” Adam added then chuckled. “But if she knew all she had to do was eat a lunch by herself, it would have saved her a lot of plotting.”

  Harriett laughed. “And us a lot of headache.”

  “Good luck.”

  “You think your father might say no?” Kent asked, his stomach tensing.

  “Oh, he’ll say yes,” Adam assured him. “I meant good luck being married to her.”

  “That’s horrible,” Harriett admonished, though the smile betrayed her true feelings at his joke.

  They continued their walk to the house, and Kent entered the barn where Eli was helping Mr. Larson put fencing supplies in the back of the wagon.

  “How did the afternoon go?” Mr. Larson called out to Kent as he approached him.

  Kent collected a couple of the poles on the ground and placed them beside the others in the wagon. “Didn’t Adam and Harriett tell you?”

  “All they said was that they didn’t enjoy it.” He wiped the sweat from his brow. “But you look like you had a better time.”

  Despite himself, heat rose up his neck and to his face. “Yes, sir. I did.”

  Eli set more poles in the wagon and snickered. “I saw you and Rose holding hands on the porch.”

  “Eli,” Mr. Larson said, a hint of warning in his voice, “that’s enough. Make sure the cows have water in their troughs.”

  Eli’s shoulders slumped but he hurried out of the barn to do as his father asked.

  “Don’t mind him,” Mr. Larson told Kent as he grabbed some barbed wire and placed it next to the poles. “We don’t get much excitement on the farm. Anything out of the ordinary gets noticed right away.”

  At least he didn’t seem upset by Eli’s comment. That was better than he hoped. “You want help?” he asked as Mr. Larson retrieved more barbed wire.

  “Sure. Grab a pair of gloves from over there.”

  Kent hurried to the table in the corner of the barn and slipped the gloves on before returning to him. He leaned down and grabbed a good amount of wire then put it in the wagon.

  “What’s on your mind?” Mr. Larson asked.

  “Well, sir—”

  “You can call me Dave.”

  Kent picked up more wire and placed the last bundle in the wagon. “Alright. Dave.” It felt strange to refer to the man by his first name. He’d never addressed anyone’s father so informally before, but he had learned that out west, people were more lenient on what was socially acceptable. Clearing his throat, he gathered some poles to put in the wagon. “I’m not graceful at this sort of thing.”

  “Putting things into a wagon?”

  At first, Kent thought he was serious, but noting the twinkle in Dave’s eye, he laughed. “Honestly, I don’t put things in wagons. I mean, I do that here, but I haven’t had the need to do it in the past. You see, sir…Dave, I come from money.”

  Dave stopped putting poles in the wagon and focused on him. “Did those men attack you for your money?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He shrugged. “I learned long ago, it’s just money. The money and clothes can be replaced. Losing my uncle’s pocket watch is what hurt. It was his gift to me,” he softly replied, lowering his gaze to the poles on the ground before picking them up. “Anyway, that’s long gone and I’ve decided not to dwell on it. I can’t bring it back. But that’s not why I wanted to talk to you.”

  “You want to court Rose and eventually marry her.”

  Still holding the poles, he managed to make eye contact with him. He took a deep breath and nodded. “I would but I won’t without your permission.”

  Dave leaned against the wagon and smiled. “I’d be happy to have you for a son-in-law.”

  Startled that it was that easy, he almost dropped the poles. He quickly regained his composure and returned his smile. “Thank you.”

  “You have no reason to be nervous around me. I think very well of you.”

  “Thank you. Again.” He had no idea how much Kent appreciated that. Realizing he was still holding the poles, he placed them into the wagon. “You don’t have to worry about your daughter’s future. Most of my money is in investments, but I have a substantial amount of wealth. I didn’t carry the significant portion of it with me on the train.”

  “Kent, you don’t have to prove that you’ll be good for my daughter. I already know you’ll be. As for money, it’s nice to know she’ll be provided for, but I’m more concerned that you’ll love her, which I already know you do.”

  “You do?”

  With a wry grin, he said, “Anyone who’ll eat all of her stew has to love her.”

  He chuckled. “She won’t have to cook. I’ll have someone else do that.”

  “Well, it was a nice gesture. She felt bad about how it turned out. She’s always given it her best shot, but cooking isn’t something she’s good at. I’m afraid she takes after me that way.”

  Before Kent could respond, Rose came into the barn wearing her riding pants and shirt. “Pa, can Kent and I go for a horse ride? I think he’s healed up enough to enjoy a ride through the fields.”

  “Which horse do you want to take?” Dave asked Kent. “We have two you can choose from. Rose will want to take her mare.”

  “He’s right,” Rose told Kent. “I was the first one to ride Pink Lady and she hasn’t let anyone else ride her since.”

  “Poor Harriett cried for days over that one,” her father added as he retrieved the last group of poles and put them in the wagon. “Trust me, Kent. Few things are as heartbreaking as watching a ten-year-old girl cry.”

  “She rides Dee and Dee’s a good horse,” Rose replied. “So it all worked out.”

  Kent thought to tease Rose that it wasn’t fair that every man and every animal seemed to be drawn to her but thought better of it. In some ways, it would be flattering to be desired by so many. In other ways, it would be hard if you didn’t want all the attention. And he sensed that Rose wished that the men would stop clamoring for her and pursue her sister instead. That was bound to be easier once word got out about their engagement.

  Turning his attention back to Dave, he said, “Any steed you give me will be fine.”

  “I know just the one,” Rose interrupted as her father started to speak. “Can I get Hammer?”

  Dave nodded and she grabbed a bridle then hurried out of the side door of the barn to get him from the pasture.

  “Hammer?” Kent asked, wondering how the horse got its name.

  “Eli named him when he was five. To this day, no one knows why he picked Hammer for a name.”

  He glanced at the side door and since Rose hadn’t returned, he asked, “Can I ask you a favor?”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  “I’d rather not tell Rose about the extent of my wealth until after I marry her. I want to give her time to know me as I am. Some people don’t know how to respond to me once they realize I’m rich.”

  “I understand. I’ll let you tell her when you’re ready.”

  “Thank you.”

  Rose returned with Hammer, leading him by his bridle. “Are you ready to go for a ride?” she asked Kent, her excitement reaching out and affecting him.

  He glanced at her father. “Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”

  “No. Eli, Adam, and I got it,” he replied, waving him toward the horse. “Just be sure to stay within viewing distance.”

  “Will you be putting the fence by the stream?” Rose asked as she tied the horse to a pole. “I want to show Kent that part of our land.”

  “I will.”

  “Good!” She turned to Kent, her eyes sparkling. “I’ll get the horses ready while you change.”

  After Kent removed his gloves, he placed them back on the table and headed for the house to put on a pair of jeans suitable for riding.

  Chapter Fifteen
/>   “Isn’t is lovely?” Rose asked.

  Kent looked at the gentle slope of the field that went to the river that ran through the Larsons’ property. Despite the heat of the day, the wind made it bearable, but even so, he had no idea how Dave and his sons managed to be out in the sun when it was beating down on them. He glanced at the group who was a good way off. They diligently worked together, pounding in each post so they were spaced equally apart. The heat didn’t seem to bother them, but he supposed that was because they were used to it.

  He turned his attention back to Rose. “It is a nice view.”

  “This is my favorite spot. I like to come here at least once a week and take time to enjoy it.”

  Unable to resist the urge to tease her, he asked, “Do you daydream while here?”

  She offered a playful shrug. “Maybe.”

  “What do you daydream about?”

  “Well, sometimes I imagine what it’s like to be a bird so I can see what the river looks like from up in the sky. Sometimes I imagine what it’s like to be a fish swimming in the river.”

  “Have you ever been down there to take a swim to find out what it’s like to be a fish?”

  “Not as much as I used to. When I was a child, I went down there a lot during the summer. But now I have to tend to the animals and laundry most of the time so I don’t get down there as much as I used to.”

  “Does that disappoint you?”

  “No. I love taking care of the animals, especially the horses. The good thing about animals is that you can talk to them as much as you want and they never get tired of listening to you.”

  He chuckled. “I think it’s good that you can be happy no matter what you’re doing.”

  “I think being happy is a decision a person makes.”

  She was probably right. He remembered a time when he had endeavored not to let his father dictate his life, but one thing led to another and before he knew it, he got sucked into doing what his father wanted. Had it not been for his uncle, he didn’t know where he’d be today. Perhaps Rose was happy because she did what she wanted, regardless of what others said to discourage her. She didn’t give up on her dreams but kept going, even when things looked bleak.

  “How do you do it, Rose?” he softly asked. “How do you decide to be happy?”

  “I’m not sure how to explain it,” she replied, a thoughtful expression on her pretty face. “When bad things happen, I try to find something good that can come from it. Sometimes the good thing doesn’t happen right away, but I find if I’m patient long enough, I’ll discover what it is. Like when I was a girl and used to go barefoot everywhere. One day, I walked on some thistles. Needless to say, it was a painful experience. I learned to wear shoes when outside and my feet have been good ever since.”

  He smiled. “There are a lot of thistles in this world.”

  “Then you’re better off wearing lots of shoes.”

  Laughing, he said, “I won’t argue with that.” He pulled on the reins so the horse brought him closer to her. Cupping the side of her face with his free hand, he whispered, “Don’t let anyone stop you from being happy.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Good.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb, noting how wonderfully soft her skin was. Lowering his hand, he cleared his throat. “It’s your most endearing quality.”

  “Will you give me another kiss?”

  With a glance at her father and brothers, he shook his head. “We’ll have plenty of time to kiss after we’re married.”

  “What if I tell you that I can be happier if you kiss me?”

  “I’d say that you already had your kiss and should be content with that.”

  “But I’m not. I want another one.”

  “More kisses will come in due time.” He urged his horse away from hers. “Is there anywhere else you want to show me while we’re out here?”

  Though she sighed in disappointment, she nodded. “There’s a nice section of land right along the cornfield where you can get a good view of some hills.”

  “Lead the way.”

  She did and he followed her, unable to stop the smile that crossed his face. She was like a breath of fresh air, and he knew without a doubt that she’d make his life worth living.

  ***

  A week later, Kent waited on the porch while Dave got the wagon ready to take him to town.

  “Why are you leaving?” Rose asked.

  “I already told you three times why I’m doing this,” he replied, his gaze turning to her.

  “I know but it doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Rose, I can’t stay in the same house with you when we’re courting. Besides, my money came in and I need to get the plans started on our house. I want to get everything together before we get married.”

  “But can’t you make all those plans while you’re here?”

  “No. I need to be in a separate place.”

  “But I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you, too.”

  She shook her head. “That’s what doesn’t make any sense. Why would you want to be somewhere else when you can be here with me, especially since you’re going to miss me?”

  He took her hand in his and squeezed it. “Am I worth waiting for?”

  “Of course, you are. I’ve been waiting for you my entire life.”

  “I promise that you’ll be glad you waited.”

  She kissed his cheek. “When will you come out to see me?”

  “In a week.”

  “A whole week?”

  “A week isn’t that long.”

  “It is when you’re in love.”

  He saw the wagon leave the barn and led her down the steps. “You’ll just have to spend the time we’re apart daydreaming. Go on and imagine that fairytale princess one you’re fond of.” Unable to resist teasing her, he added, “You can make me the prince who comes in to whisk you off to your castle.” After she saw the house he had in mind to build her, she was likely to think she was a princess.

  “But all of my dreams have come true. I don’t need to daydream anymore.”

  “You have plenty to daydream about,” he said in a lower voice so her father wouldn’t overhear as they approached the wagon. “You keep talking about the wedding day and our future children. Daydream about those things.”

  Her face lit up. “That’s true. And I’ll have time to make you more shirts.”

  He glanced at the shirt he was wearing—the one she’d made him—and already knew of all the shirts he’d ever own, this would be his favorite. “Yes, that will help the time pass, too.” After he helped her on the wagon, he got in beside her.

  Her father glanced at him. “You want to go to Lu Anne’s Boarding House?”

  “Yes, sir,” Kent replied as Dave led the horses forward.

  “What if she doesn’t have a vacancy open?” Rose asked.

  Surprised she should be so practical when she spent so much time fantasizing about things, Kent smiled. “I talked to her earlier this week and she secured a room for me.”

  “But I thought you only went to town to help my pa get staple items.”

  “I did that, too, but I wanted to make sure I had a place to stay when I moved to town. Rose, I can’t stay here anymore.” Especially not when he had admitted his feelings to her because as soon as he’d done that, he became even more aware of his attraction to her.

  “Patience, Rose,” her father told her. “You need to let him get everything taken care of.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” she reluctantly agreed.

  Kent had a nagging suspicion that biding his time until he could bring her to their new home was going to go slow if she insisted on giving him those sad looks.

  On the ride to town, Rose asked him more questions about the type of work he did, and all he could really tell her was that he invested in promising businesses.

  “What do you mean you invest in them?” she asked, her arm brushing his, something he knew she did
on purpose.

  “Well,” he began, trying to think of the best way to explain it, “I meet with a lot of people who own their own businesses, and when I come across someone who seems to be passionate about their work and are smart, I offer them money to help them expand their business in return for a part of the profit.”

  “And you make money doing that?”

  “I do if I the business prospers.”

  “So you can lose money?”

  “It happens from time to time, but not often,” he replied. “The more I do it, the better I get at judging which businesses and owners have the greatest potential.”

  “This is what you did in Ireland?”

  He nodded. “I knew some things about it before going to Ireland, but I learned how to be good at it while I lived there.”

  “What do you mean, ‘how to be good at it’?”

  Laughing, he patted her hand. “It’s as it sounds. When I lived in New York and Virginia, I learned a lot about what not to do.” His father hadn’t been good at it. Kent had no idea if his father ever became good at it, but that wasn’t his concern. As his uncle once told him, the past was in the past and should stay there. All he could do was face forward and do what he could to better himself. Turning his attention back to Rose, he continued, “When I went to Ireland, my uncle showed me how to do things right.”

  “It sounds like you had a good uncle,” Dave commented, glancing in his direction.

  “One of the best,” Kent said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him.”

  “That’s a sweet thing to say about him, though I’m sorry he’s no longer alive,” she replied, her tone soft.

  “I am, too, but I’m also glad that I got a chance to know him.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and waited until the urge to tear up passed before he added, “He made the world a better place.”

  “What was his name?”

  “Patrick.”

  “If we have a boy, let’s name him Patrick in honor of your uncle.”

  A smile tugged at his lips and he thought there was no better way to remember him. “I’d like that.”

  She squeezed his hand then released it. “Then we’ll do it.”