Melinda felt numb from all the cacophony of noise in the room. She felt out of place. She had been to New Year’s Eve parties before, so why was this year so different to her? As she stood in thought, she wondered how those in Bear Lake were celebrating. Her thoughts began to stray to Uncle William and Aunt Martha and she wondered how they celebrated the New Year. Then her mind wandered to Gilbert and Jenny and she wondered how they were celebrating.
Meanwhile, back in Bear Lake Valley, Gilbert and Jenny celebrated a little differently. They sat together at the table playing checkers and card games, laughing each time someone would win.
“How about an arm wrestle, Pa? I’ve been workin’ extra hard lately and I think that I’m up to it now.”
Gilbert grinned at his daughter’s confidence. “Sure. Let’s have a try at it. But I have to warn you, I feel mighty strong tonight, Jen.”
“You sure sound confident, Pa. Now don’t get a big head or I’ll have to whop you at arm wrestlin’ to humble you a bit.”
Gilbert chuckled as he clasped Jenny’s hand firmly and grinned. She was sounding mighty grown up for an eight-year-old girl.
“Ready, Jen?”
“Ready.”
Jenny pulled with all her might, squinting her eyes and pursing her lips together in concentration. Gilbert allowed his arm to be pulled back a bit and exclaimed, “Oh, no!”
Then he pulled hers in his direction and watched her trembling arm as she pulled with all her might. Her face reddened with exertion as she struggled to pull her father’s hand. The knuckles of her fingers turned white as she struggled to keep her arm from collapsing.
After a while Gilbert moaned and then he weakened his grip, which gave Jenny leverage, and she gradually pulled her father’s arm toward her side. When she had him two inches from the table, he gave a slight groan and finally allowed his arm to be pulled to the table.
With a whoop and a holler, she jumped from the table with joy. “I did it! I did it! That’s my first time to ever…” she stopped in mid sentence and peered into Gilbert’s face. “Pa, you cheated.”
“No, I didn’t, Jen.”
“Yes, you did. You cheated. You let me win on purpose.”
“No, Jen. You won fair and square.”
She shook her head vigorously and grinned, “I know you, Pa. You were feelin’ sorry for me because I’ve never won and you just let me win. Confess, now.”
“I’m confessing nothing to you, Jen,” he said with a teasing glint in his eyes.
“Admit it, Pa. I can read the expression on your face. You can’t hide it from me.”
Gilbert guffawed as he held both hands up in surrender. “All right, I admit that I let you win and I promise you that it won’t ever happen again. But if you want to know, you’re getting mighty strong, young lady. And I had to struggle a bit.”
Jenny giggled at his statement. “If that’s supposed to make me feel better, it don’t, Pa. One of these days I’ll win at arm wrestlin’. You just wait and see.”
“That’s a deal,” Gilbert chuckled between his words.
While Jenny set up another game, Gilbert stood and walked into the kitchen to get some treats to eat. Throughout the evening, they ate a few snacks that had been prepared along with cookies and punch. Gilbert read a few nonsensical poems by Lewis Carroll and made Jenny laugh until her sides ached. When they noticed the time, they both started the countdown, “Ten, nine, eight…”
When the New Year rang in, they took pots and pans and went outside and banged them loudly with a ladle, yelling to all the neighbors, “Happy New Year. Happy New Year to everyone!”
Gilbert smiled at his daughter and said, “May this year be better than last year and may we learn from our mistakes.”
Jenny added. “And I’m gonna try to be a better student for my teacher.” She sighed. “I miss her, Pa.” Then she lifted her eyebrows curiously. “Do you like Miss Gamble?”
Gilbert thought a while and nodded. “Yes, I do, Jenny.”
“Pa, do you ever think you’ll get married again?”
“Never really thought much about it.”
“Why not?”
“Never saw a real need before.”
“Why not?”
“I suspect that I’ve been so happy with my daughter and so busy on the ranch that I never really thought about it before.”
“Pa, do you think you might start thinkin’ about it now?”
Gilbert thought for a bit, rubbing his chin. “Perhaps. Why are you asking me all these questions, Jenny?”
“Just curious, that’s all.” She looked down at her feet. “I really like Miss Gamble.”
Gilbert smiled. “Are all these questions you’ve been asking me pointing to someone special, Jenny?”
“Perhaps.”
Gilbert laughed. “You’re just like your Pa. I say ‘perhaps’ just to avoid an answer and so do you.”
Jenny giggled and Gilbert chuckled warmly. “Jenny, it’s time for bed and it’s cold out here. Let’s go in.”
Jenny nodded and gave her father a hug.
“Good night and I love you, dear. Sleep well.”
After Jenny went to bed, he stayed up for a while thinking about what Jenny had said. Gilbert had been thinking about Melinda during the holidays and had missed her. He had been invited over to Martha’s for Sunday dinners ever since Thanksgiving and he had become comfortable with Melinda and her ways. His thoughts roamed to their conversations and her beautiful green eyes and graceful movements. He knew that Jenny wanted a mother, but he was not quite ready for that commitment as of yet. He needed to guard his heart carefully because he had something that he needed to work out on his own before pursuing that direction.
Chapter 16
GILBERT MEETS THE TRAIN
As the train pulled into Bear Lake Valley, Melinda felt like she was home again. After just four months, this place felt like home. Why was that? As she realized how special this quaint little town had become, Melinda’s heart melted.
She noticed the mountains were covered with a white blanket and the land was knee-deep with snow. The green pines were dabbed with an icy crust and moved gently in the breeze.
The train slowed down as it approached the terminal. She looked out the window, searching for her aunt and uncle. Her heart fluttered with excitement when she saw their carriage waiting for her. When the train came to a stop, she grabbed her two bags and purse. As she stepped to the edge of the passenger car, she breathed in the fresh crisp air and joy filled her heart. It smelled so clean and fresh, so different from the city.
Just as she stepped down, she heard a deep familiar voice. “May I take your luggage for you?”
Melinda recognized that voice and she immediately raised her head. There was Gilbert watching her descend the stairs. With surprise in her voice, she said, “Mr. Roberts?”
Gilbert was gazing at her with great interest. He hadn’t seen her for a couple of weeks and he thought she looked mighty fine. “Martha asked me to pick you up. Your uncle is sick and she hated to leave him. She asked me to pick you up in her carriage because my buckboard wouldn’t be as comfortable.”
Gilbert held his hand out for her luggage and Melinda handed it to him. “May I take the other one, too?”
Melinda shook her head. “No, it’s all right. I can manage. I don’t want you to be weighed down when I’m perfectly able to carry at least one.”
Gilbert chuckled at her independence. As she held her skirts and stepped down from the train, he watched her and said, “My, it’s good to see you again.”
Melinda was surprised to hear that. As she searched his eyes for a clue to his feelings, she asked, “Is it? Why is that?”
Gilbert was not ready for that sort of question. He could not say exactly why he was so happy to see her. Could it have been that he had missed her and had been thinking about her for the past couple weeks? He was not even sure of his own feelings at that moment. He was too concerned about the differences in their pe
rsonalities.
“It just is,” he blurted out.
“Oh.” Melinda felt a little disappointed. She wondered if he had been thinking about her as much as she had about him. Slowly, they walked toward the carriage. “It’s good to see you again, too.”
Gilbert grinned as he put the luggage in the carriage. With a teasing tone in his voice, he asked, “It is? Why is that?”
When she saw him grin, she knew he was teasing her and she was not in the mood to be teased. All she wanted was to find out how he felt about her. That was all. Melinda noticed that he had not responded to her question, so why should she answer his? Two could play that game. No, she was not about to back down and dodge his question just as he had done, so she answered with a bluntness that surprised him.
“It’s good to see you because I’ve been thinking about you. I wondered how your Christmas and New Year’s Eve were. We’re friends and I enjoy being around you. That’s why.” When she saw his surprised expression, she added, “At least I can answer your question, which is more than you did.” She looked into his eyes and said with a little impatience, “What are you so afraid of, Mr. Roberts?”
Melinda was not about to be intimidated by his question. She gave her answer and it was the truth, and she was proud of herself for not backing down. She watched Gilbert’s face and waited patiently for his reaction.
When Gilbert heard her indignant tone, he grinned and then he burst out with laughter. “You know, Melinda, when we get together, we are just like two bulls butting heads.”
Melinda was not sure if she liked that analogy, but she smiled and then laughed herself. “I guess we are. But I’m not quite sure that I like being compared to a bull. Do you really want to know how I feel?”
Gilbert nodded. He searched her face and eyes while he listened to her. He wanted to know how she really felt.
She took a deep breath and began. “I like you, Mr. Roberts. I like you a lot, but I don’t know how you feel. You don’t show your feelings or even say what you feel. You seem to hide your emotions, and I don’t know whether you like me or not. I simply asked you why it was good to see me, and you avoided the subject like an illness. I just don’t understand you at all, Mr. Roberts.”
She put her hands on her hips and stood looking at him impatiently, waiting for a response. She had been blunt and she wondered how he would take such an answer from a woman.
Melinda’s words seemed to stir his heart. She cared. She actually cared. As she spoke, his eyes swept over her and he realized how attractive she was, even with all that spunk. Her auburn hair shone in the sun, and her rosy cheeks, her expressive green eyes, and the soft, gentle curves of her body made her look achingly beautiful to Gilbert. When his eyes strayed to the soft curvature of her mouth, a longing to kiss her rose sharply within him. Looking into her eyes and studying her intently, Gilbert impulsively stepped toward her and slid his hands around her waist, pulling her close to him, and pressed his warm lips to hers. Then he wrapped his arms around her and held her tenderly as his lips caressed hers. Relishing her softness in his arms, he let his kiss linger.
Melinda’s heart beat rapidly and her pulse raced, as it had never done before. His lips were warm and tender, and happiness overtook her, along with surprise. His hands were strong and his touch made her heart sing.
As he enfolded her in his arms and pulled her closer to his chest with the palms of his hands on her back, Melinda felt as if she were melting into his arms and a tingling sensation seemed to start at her lips and continue down to her toes. As she felt his muscled arms tighten around her in an embrace, she realized that she had never felt this way with any man before. Her spirits soared as happiness spread through her body and she found it difficult to come back to earth again. She felt him squeeze her tightly as his warm lips pressed against hers and she sighed in ecstasy. When he pulled away, she looked into his softened eyes and joy filled her soul.
Little did Melinda know that her reception of his kiss had had its effect on Gilbert and he was not ready for what his heart was telling him. She seemed so vulnerable and he was afraid of hurting her. When Gilbert noticed how she had responded to his embrace and melted into his arms, he suddenly became unsure of himself. His heart had skipped several beats during that embrace and he had found it difficult to let her go. He knew that he had fallen in love with Melinda, but he needed time to think.
Gilbert looked into her eyes and said softly, “Melinda, I should take you home.”
As he helped her into the carriage, his pulse was still racing and he tried to think of something to say. Should he have apologized for his behavior? Why had he acted so impulsively?
After climbing into the carriage, Gilbert whipped the reins and sat silently in thought, though very aware of Melinda sitting next to him. After a while, he decided to express a few of his concerns out loud.
He took a deep breath and said, “Melinda, we are so different, you and I. You’re a lady of the best kind. I’m just a rancher, a cowpuncher, and you’re a lady from the East. You’re not used to this kind of life here. There’s no future for us. Don’t you see?”
Melinda could see the frustration in his face as she watched him speak. “No, Gilbert, you are wrong. I’m a lady of the West now. And you are much more than just a rancher. You don’t see yourself as I do. You’re a loving father, a devoted friend, a fantastic cook, a righteous man, and a protector. I feel this land is mine now. I love it beyond words. I belong here and I know it.”
Gilbert smiled. This was the first time she had called him by his given name. He had asked her to call him that several times, but he had yet to hear it until now. He shook his head in dismay as he realized even that was affecting his senses.
The trip home was quiet and peaceful. Melinda did not have much to say because her heart was still pounding. She could still feel the taste of his kiss on her lips. Gilbert’s kiss and his strong arms around her seemed to linger in her memory during the ride home, and she was very aware of her own feelings for the man sitting beside her.
Gilbert was quiet. She could tell that he was wrestling with something very personal, something beyond what he had just revealed to her. His anguish was apparent and Melinda could see it clearly and wished that she could help in some way.
After he reined in the horse, he took her hand in his to help her down. He noticed how she gathered her skirts in her hand and gracefully stepped down from the carriage. Not wanting to let go, his hand lingered a while before releasing hers. He gazed deeply into her eyes, as if searching for a reason why he was feeling this way.
One question after another seemed to haunt him. What was it about Melinda that attracted him so? Was he actually in love for the first time in eight years? Why did they have to be so different? He had not expressed all of his concerns to her, but at least he was able to express one of them.
After releasing her hand, Gilbert took her luggage to the door and placed them inside the house. He wanted to speak to her, but the words would not come.
Melinda said softly, “You needn’t worry about the horse and buggy. I can unhitch the horse and put him away. I’ve been doing it for the past four months now. I’m capable.”
A frown appeared upon his face and without a word, he abruptly turned around and walked toward the buggy and led the horse to the small barn. Gilbert unhitched the horse and put it in the stall. He was not about to let Melinda unhitch the buggy, no matter how independent she was. This was the least he could do for her. After shutting the gate, he took off toward his horse, which had been tied up to a hitching post near the house. Taking the reins in his hands, he climbed upon his horse and galloped away without looking back.
As Melinda watched from the doorway, she wondered what had just happened. Why had he been so abrupt when he left? Why didn’t he allow her to unhitch the horse and buggy? Was something bothering him? And why didn’t he look back at her before he left, as a friendly gesture? As she contemplated her own concerns, she realized that when he had
pulled her into his arms, she had never felt warmer than at that very moment.
Chapter 17
THE BLIZZARD
A couple of weeks passed and Melinda had not had a chance to talk to Gilbert since he had kissed her at the train station. She had seen him a few times in town and he would nod and smile cordially at her, but he didn’t go out of his way to make conversation with her.
Melinda thought about him often and tried to figure out her own feelings. The memory of his kiss and his embrace seemed to linger in her memory. At long last, she came to the conclusion that she must be in love with him. Why else would she have thought of him so often during her vacation? Why else would she have compared everything he did to James while she was back East? Why did a warm glow fill her heart whenever she thought about him? She had never felt this way when she was with James. Her thoughts seemed to stray toward Gilbert every waking moment. This had to be love. What else could it be?
Melinda awoke to howling winds. She stretched and then hopped out of bed. As she opened the curtains to her bedroom window, she was absolutely surprised at what she saw. Snowdrifts were up to the tops of the windows at the main level of the house. The wind was howling like a mad demon. She had never heard wind like this before and snow was pelting down toward her window so thick and large that she could not even see more than eight feet in front of her.
When she heard a yell of agony downstairs. Melinda grabbed a robe and ran downstairs to find Aunt Martha stepping into the house, holding Uncle William’s arm around her shoulders.
“He’s been hurt,” Martha said. “He just fed the horse and was coming in when he slipped on the icy steps. I think he’s broken his ankle because he can’t put any weight on it at all.”
“Shall I get the doctor, Aunt Martha?”
“Yes, dear. Quickly.”
“What about school and the children? They won’t know what to do since I will be late.”
Melinda and the Wild West Page 9
