Mr. Timmons seemed a bit low, so she mixed him up a few scrambled eggs with a slice of steak to build his blood. Then she prepared the rest of breakfast, trying to decide what would be best for dinner. With a chuckle, she realized that she was quite enjoying this—playing homemaker, coming up with menus, balancing cooking and cleaning. This would be good practice for when she had a home of her own one day.
It occurred to her that she had no idea what the inside of Joel’s cabin looked like. The other girls had spoken of dust and clutter when they arrived at their new homes—well, she couldn’t imagine anything worse than what she’d encountered at the Timmons’, and she’d survived that. She was probably well prepared for anything that might come her way for the rest of her life. One bachelor Mountie’s cabin did not scare her.
After she cleared away breakfast, she decided to tackle what remained of the laundry. She had a few things that needed to be washed, so she did those first, and then she turned her attention to the rest. Mrs. Timmons had been joking when she’d said Evelyn could wash the stinky socks—she washed those herself, but she did accept Evelyn’s help with the rest. That seemed like a fair trade.
She got everything hung up on the clothesline in the backyard and then went inside to start a fresh batch of biscuits. A moment later, she saw something through the kitchen window that made her gasp.
A giant moose was wandering through the clothesline, getting his antlers stuck on the clothes and making a huge mess of things. He seemed more focused on eating the grass than getting free.
“Mr. Timmons?” she called out, her voice tremulous. “There’s a wild animal outside!”
Faster than she thought he’d be able to move, Mr. Timmons came out of his rocking chair and grabbed the rifle that hung over the fireplace. He joined her at the window, and then chuckled. “Oh, that’s not a wild animal,” he said. “He’s almost tamer than some of the men in this town. He wouldn’t hurt you.”
“He wouldn’t?” Evelyn’s fear vanished, replaced with curiosity. “How did he become so tame?”
Felix shrugged. “Don’t know. But he’s wandered in and out of town for the last . . . oh, I don’t even know how long. Likes to cause mischief, but never does any real harm.” He put his rifle back up on the pegs and settled down in his chair, asleep within seconds.
Evelyn looked back out the window. The moose had managed to pull himself free, but he’d brought down half the line with him. She’d have to rewash much of what she’d done that morning, not to mention fixing the line.
She opened the back door and approached the animal cautiously.
“Hello,” she said, wondering how one should go about talking to a moose. “My name is Evelyn. I’ve never met a moose before.”
He snorted, but then he held still as she came closer.
“I wondered if I might pet you.”
He didn’t seem to have any objections, so she edged closer, reached out, and stroked his side. It was thrilling to think that she was actually in contact with this majestic animal.
After allowing her that one moment, he backed up and gave her a nod, almost like a human would, and then he turned and trotted away. Too late, she noticed that he had one of Mr. Timmons’ socks draped over one of his antlers, and it didn’t seem ready to fall off any time soon.
She hoped Mr. Timmons had an extra.
***
“Oh, yes. That’s Monty,” Rose said complacently, offering Evelyn a refill of tea.
“Monty? The moose’s name is Monty?”
“Yes. Isn’t he funny? I saw him getting caught up in your laundry. Do you need some help rewashing it?”
“No, that’s all right. I don’t know what to do about the clothesline, though. He practically destroyed it.”
“Joel could fix it for you, couldn’t he?” Rose gave her a pointed look as she passed the sugar bowl. “Just how are things going there?”
Evelyn shrugged. “At this exact moment, things are going well, but that could change at any time. It’s difficult to convince myself that we’re good for each other when all we do is argue.”
“If you didn’t care about each other, you wouldn’t argue, because you wouldn’t care,” Rose said. “I think it’s a positive sign.”
“I’ll have to take your word for that. Now, what about the rest of you? Are you settling into married life?”
Rose smiled. “I think we’re all feeling plenty awkward, but we’re slowly getting there. It’s difficult, suddenly having a man there every time you turn around. Don’t get me wrong—it’s wonderful not to be alone—but when you’re used to being alone, it’s different.”
“I can imagine so.” Evelyn took a sip of her tea. She wanted to know what that would be like, having a husband underfoot and complaining good-naturedly to her friends about it.
Rose nodded toward the window. “There Joel goes now.”
Evelyn turned her head and saw Joel passing by outside. “What time is it?” she asked, realizing that she’d lost track.
“Just before four.”
Oh, no. She was late. “I need to go. Thank you for the tea, Rose.” Evelyn dashed out the door, almost forgetting to close it behind her, and caught up with Joel, who was walking purposefully toward the Mountie office.
“Well, hello there,” she said, coming up alongside him and trying not to sound out of breath. She didn’t want him to think he had that effect on her, even though he did. “Out for a stroll, or is this official Mountie business?”
He turned to her and grinned. “I was just going to grab the horses and come pick you up.”
“Well, let me help you with those horses. I used to have one of my own when I was a little girl.”
“You did? Mare or stallion?”
She scoffed. “Stallion, of course. No offense to the gentler sex, but a mare just isn’t powerful enough.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Powerful enough for what?”
“To win races against my brothers, of course.”
They reached the Mountie offices, where Evelyn saw two horses at the hitching post ready to go. “Oh. I thought we were saddling them.”
“Sorry—I already did it. You sound disappointed.”
“I am.” She patted the flank of the animal nearest her. “I enjoy saddling horses. It’s relaxing.”
He chuckled. “You find it relaxing?”
“Of course—the smell of hay, the routine, the calmness of the horse. Thinking about where we’ll ride. Don’t you enjoy it?”
He shrugged. “I’m usually on my way somewhere in a hurry—I don’t have time to think about it much.”
“I suppose that’s true. Well, one of these times when there’s no emergency, slow down a little. Breathe.” She took the reins of the horse she’d been patting. “Is this one mine?”
“Sure. Need a hand up?”
“I’ve got it.” In one fluid motion, she put her foot in the stirrup, grabbed the saddle horn, and was seated.
“You ride astride?” Joel asked, obviously flustered.
“Of course. It’s nearly impossible to race a horse sidesaddle.” She grinned and motioned down to what she was wearing. “This is a riding skirt designed especially for proper young ladies like myself. I see that you are a stranger to women’s fashion.”
“I haven’t had much time to study up on it as of late.” He grinned. “I have to say, I’m relieved—we don’t have any sidesaddles here, and I was wondering how we were going to get along on our ride this afternoon.” He swung up into his own saddle, and they were off.
As they went, he pointed out the various homes of the people they served and explained a little about each family. Evelyn noticed how far spread out the cabins were and wondered if that ever became inconvenient. While she liked the idea of living in the woods, she didn’t want to be so far away from her neighbors that she wouldn’t be able to get help if it was needed.
“You have an impressive memory,” she said as they looped around to head back on a different trail. “I do
n’t know if I could ever keep so many names straight.”
“It does take a little while, but we have it easy compared to some,” he said. “This isn’t a large community, even when you add in the other areas we cover.”
They ducked to go under a low-hanging branch. “How goes the search for your outlaw?” she asked.
“None of the nearby Mountie offices report having seen him as of yet, and we’re still going out on patrol. Until we get a solid lead, that’s all we can do.” He shook his head. “It’s so frustrating.”
“I wonder if he has any family nearby where he could hide out,” Evelyn mused. She glanced over to see a flicker of emotion cross Joel’s face. “I’m sorry. Am I trying too hard to be a Mountie again?”
“Evelyn, wait.”
She pulled her reins and turned to face him. “Yes?”
He studied her eyes. “Please forget I ever said that. I didn’t understand how deeply it would hurt you, and I wish I could take it back somehow.”
“I know, and I understand. I just might have to tease you about it once in a while, though.” She smiled and nudged her horse to keep walking.
Once they were clear of those particular trees, Joel brought his horse alongside hers again. “You showed a lot of trust in me last night by sharing your feelings, and I’d like to do the same, if I might.”
Evelyn felt warmth rise to her cheeks. She’d taken a huge risk by allowing herself to be so vulnerable—she was glad he felt it was worth it, but she hadn’t reached a decision on that for herself. “Of course,” she replied. “Fair is fair.”
He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, and she was about to prod him with a question when he finally opened his mouth. “Did you know that I’m currently the youngest Mountie in charge of an office in all of British Columbia?”
“You are? No, I didn’t realize. That’s quite impressive.”
“And it’s put me in a position of scrutiny. Some of my superiors felt that this post should be granted to an older, more experienced Mountie, and they watch me carefully for any mistake I might make. I’ve been told flat-out that they can pull my assignment just as easily as it was given.”
“Oh, no.” Evelyn felt terrible for him. “That must be so hard.”
“It is, and that’s why I’m so punctilious about everything. I feel their eyes on me all the time, just waiting for me to take a misstep. I’ve worked hard to reach this point, and I would hate for that to be taken away from me by someone who believes I’m not qualified.”
“And I could have made that worse for you if I’d done anything to muddle your paperwork.” Evelyn’s heart felt like it would break. “I’m sorry, Joel. I didn’t realize.”
“It’s not just the paperwork—I was already on edge because of the hunt for Black Jack Bitters, and then when he escaped . . . the expectations are high.” He nodded ahead. “Let’s stop up here.”
They walked the horses another few hundred yards and then dismounted, looping the reins over a nearby low-hanging branch. As soon as the horses were secure, Joel reached out and took Evelyn’s hand, running his thumb across her knuckles. “Thank you for telling me that,” she said. “I feel like I understand you so much better now.”
“Well, thank you for taking the first step in opening up to me. I don’t know if I would have been that brave.” He came a step closer. “I’m sure glad you came to Squirrel Ridge Junction, Evelyn.”
“I think I am too,” she said, watching the expression in his eyes.
“You think? You think?” He gave a low, playful growl. “Just what will it take to convince you?”
“I don’t know,” she said, shrugging, not taking her eyes from his.
He read her correctly. With a grin, he pulled her to him, and the kiss he gave her was sweet and yet powerful at the same time. Exactly what it should have been.
When he let her go, Evelyn said, “You’ll catch him, you know.”
“What?”
“Black Jack Bitters. You’ll catch him.”
Joel raked his hand through his hair. “Excuse me? We just shared our first kiss—and a rather nice one it was, too—and the first thing you can think about afterwards is Black Jack Bitters?”
“It was a nice kiss. It was a very nice kiss. And this is me, having been kissed, showing you my support.”
He grinned again and reached out to touch her face. “That I can accept. Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Do you remember last night, when you told me that you fell in love with me before you ever got here?”
Evelyn’s heart thumped. “Yes?”
He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “I’m in love with you too.”
His breath tickled, and she giggled. “What did you say?”
“I said I’m in love with you too,” he repeated.
Evelyn turned and addressed an imaginary audience. “You’ll have to forgive Joel. His pronunciation isn’t everything it ought to be.”
He caught her up in his arms again. “Promise me you won’t leave on Thursday, Evelyn. Tell me you’ll stay and marry me.”
She pretended to consider. “You know, I think I’ll stay and marry you.”
He gave a whoop and spun around with her in his arms, then set her down, leaving no corner of her mouth unkissed.
Chapter Nine
When Joel returned to his cabin, the first thing he saw when he walked in was a pie sitting on his dining room table. He had to laugh—he’d gotten Miss Hazel out of a precarious situation, and she’d promised him a pie in exchange for his silence. That was going to be one tasty bribe.
Early the next morning, he was awakened to pounding on his cabin door. When he opened it, he saw Cyrus Green, one of the business owners in town, standing on the other side, looking a bit perturbed.
“Corporal Clark, you’re needed,” Cyrus said.
Having slept in a shirt and trousers, as he did out of habit so he’d be ready for anything, Joel grabbed his pistol and headed out, following Cyrus to a clearing behind some of the near cabins. A million thoughts were going through his head—maybe Black Jack had been found. Maybe there was another gunshot victim. Cyrus wasn’t talking, and Joel didn’t know what to prepare for.
And he certainly couldn’t have prepared himself for what he saw.
The moose that frequently wandered through town—the one he’d been told was now named Monty—was nibbling on some leaves growing on a bush near the edge of the clearing. Timothy Horn, a man who had just moved to the area with his family, had his rifle trained on the animal, and Evelyn had a pistol trained on Timothy.
“There you are, Joel,” Evelyn said.
“Thank goodness, Corporal,” Timothy said at the same time.
Joel squared his shoulders. “Both of you, lower your weapons,” he said. “Nice and slow.”
Evelyn and Timothy glared daggers at each other, but they complied.
“Now, set them on the ground.”
Again, they did as they were told.
Joel crossed his arms over his chest. “All right, what’s all this about?”
The two started talking so fast and loud, Joel couldn’t make out what either was saying. All he could tell was that they were equally agitated. Finally, he held up both hands. “Hold it—hold it. One at a time. Timothy, you first.”
Evelyn didn’t look pleased about having to wait, but Joel couldn’t play favorites right now. Timothy cleared his throat. “Well, I was out hunting, and I found moose tracks up on the ridge. I lost them halfway down, but then I found this fellow right here in town. It was providential. So I got him lined up in my sights, but then she came along and told me that if I shot the moose, she’d shoot me.”
Joel was surprised and yet not surprised to hear this. He nodded, then turned to Evelyn. “What do you have to say?”
“Joel, this is Monty,” she said, as though that answered everything. “Monty the Moose.”
“Yes, I do recognize him. Why did you pull a gun
on Timothy? And for that matter, where did you get one?”
“It’s mine,” she replied. “I’ve owned it since I was sixteen.”
“And you just happened to have it on you this morning?”
“Of course not. I carry it all the time.”
Joel rubbed his hand across his face. “You carry it all the time? You’re telling me that since you got off that train, you’ve been carrying a gun?”
“Yes. That’s one nice thing about being a girl—skirts are handy places to hide a pistol.”
Joel glanced at Timothy and then at Cyrus. Both men seemed to be paying quite a lot of attention to this conversation. “So, you saw Timothy preparing to shoot the moose—”
“Monty,” she interjected.
“Monty,” he repeated, trying to be patient. “And you took out your pistol and threatened him?”
“Yes, I did,” she admitted forthrightly. “It wasn’t the kindest thing I could have done, but I couldn’t let him shoot Monty.”
Joel rubbed the back of his neck. He had to tread very carefully—there were far too many ways in which this could go wrong. “Many of the families out in this region depend on wild game for their survival,” he said, hoping his voice was gentle enough. “They have every right to hunt.”
“But this is Monty,” Evelyn said.
Joel turned to Timothy. “Remind me how many children you have, if you would, please.”
“Six, sir. New one born last month.”
Joel nodded. “Six children, Evelyn. This man has a tremendous responsibility to his family. How is he to keep them fed if he can’t hunt?”
“But this is Monty,” she repeated, and he knew he wasn’t going to make any headway with her.
Joel had been in difficult situations before. He had once saved a woman and child from a burning house. During the case that had earned him this post, he’d come up against a bank robber, and they’d held guns on each other until the other man finally relented. But this moment was the worst out of the bunch—the woman he hoped to marry versus the community he hoped to serve.
All three sets of eyes were on him. Monty even tossed his head in Joel’s direction as if reminding him that he had a vested interest in the proceedings as well.
RNWMP: Bride for Joel (Mail Order Mounties Book 4) Page 5
