by Rose Dumont
“Sounds good to me. So what did you talk to Miss Jean for so long about?”
“I just wanted her to know that I’m grateful for what she’s done for me and Jenni all these years. And to know that she doesn’t have to leave when Charlotte and I get married.”
“You want her to stay?”
“Of course. She has no where to go but that lonely, empty house of hers. She has no other family but us.”
“Does Charlotte know she’s staying?”
“Well I didn’t exactly come around to telling her that, but she knows how important Miss Jean is to us. I’m sure she won’t mind.”
“I wouldn’t assume nothing, but that’s on you. Women are funny sometimes and Charlotte might think Miss Jean won’t respect her as being the woman of the house or something like that.”
“Don’t be silly. Miss Jean and Charlotte will get a long just fine. She’s like a grandmother to Jenni and that’s what she’ll continue to be.”
“Well I hope so ‘cause I sure do like Miss Jean and even though she’s getting older and hasn’t been able to cook us meals like she used to, like you said, I feel she is family to us.”
“Well I’m glad you think more of her than just being a cook for us.” Grayson smirks.
“Of course. Don’t twist up my words. You know what I meant.”
“Yes, Jarrod. I do. Anyway, let’s get this fence finished. Charlotte will be arriving in a just a few days and I don’t want to be out here fixing fences when she comes.”
“Well you know we’re gonna have to fix fences long after Miss Charlotte arrives. She’s knows your a rancher, right?”
“Yes, of course. I’m just saying the day before the wedding I don’t want to be out here. I got a lot of stuff planned and need to make sure everything goes right.”
“Gosh, you act like the President is coming to town.”
“She’s much more important to me than the President.”
“Well Miss Jean and those other women from town will help you. I guess I’ll help you too. But you better believe I’m not hanging ribbons or decorating with doilies or fringy things. I’ll help with moving around tables or heavy stuff though.”
“Fringy things?”
“I dunno what those things are called that ladies decorate with. But you get my drift.”
“Thanks, Jarrod. Any help would be much appreciated.”
“So let’s get this fence fixed then, eh?”
“Yep. I’m on it.”
Grayson and Jarrod worked on the fence for a few hours, meeting at the middle of the mend where they gathered up their tools, put them in their saddle bags and then mounted their horses. The sun was just going down behind the mountains in the distance.
“I told Miss Jean we’d be home around supper time. She was going to start a beef stew for us and maybe bake some biscuits so it should be ready when we get there.”
“Sounds good to me. I’m starving.”
Grayson took off with Buck into a full gallop yelling, “First one home gets the extra biscuit!"
Jarrod kicked his horse and tried to catch up with his brother. “Oh, sure. Now when there’s food involved you’re in a hurry!”
CHAPTER FOUR
Charlotte stepped off the stagecoach and looked through the crowd. Then their eyes met. Grayson waved and Charlotte waved back. He hurriedly weaved through the crowd until finally they were both standing in front of each other.
“Hello, Miss Charlotte. I sure am glad to see you.” Charlotte Abbey Chadwick stood tall at 5-foot 9-inches. She was slender, yet curvaceous. She had long, flowing golden-bronze hair that was tied back in a bun. She had a warm complexion, shimmering sapphire-blue eyes, a petite nose and full pink lips. Grayson knew she was beautiful from her photo, but after seeing her in person he felt the photo did not do her justice.
“Did you think I might not come?”
“The thought did cross my mind. You’re just so beautiful and it’s such a long way for you to come and be with me.”
“I love you Grayson. It’s why I’m here and why I want to marry you.”
“I love you too, Charlotte, and I can’t wait to marry you. Here, let me take your bags and get you to your hotel room. I made sure they reserved the best room for you.”
“Sounds good to me. It’s been a long trip and I would love to get cleaned up and have a good night’s rest.”
“Oh, these are for you.” Grayson handed Charlotte a bouquet of daisies, her favorite flower.
“How kind of you. They're beautiful.”
“Your favorite, right?”
“Uh, oh, yes. My favorite. Daisies.”
They made the short walk to the Laurel Springs Hotel. Grayson checked Charlotte in and then carried her bags to the room.
“Is the room okay?”
“Yes, this will be fine.”
“Good. Well, I’ll let you get settled in and get a good night’s rest. I’ll swing by in the morning so we can have breakfast together.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning, then. Goodnight, Grayson.”
“Goodnight Charlotte.” Grayson shut the door. “Make sure you lock the door,” Grayson instructed from the hallway. He waited a few seconds and then heard the door lock.
“All secure,” Charlotte declared from inside the room. Charlotte was happy to see Grayson, but was exhausted from her long journey across the country. All she wanted to do was wash up and lie down and go to sleep on a soft, comfortable bed.
Grayson walked back down the stairs into the hotel foyer.
“Grayson, you’re one lucky man,” said Sid, the hotel desk clerk.
“I know it, Sid. And in just a couple days she’ll be my wife, Mrs. Grayson Lee.” He leaned on the edge of the front desk, gazed upstairs towards Charlotte’s room and said, “And I can’t believe she’s all mine.”
“Looks like it to me. You sure she’s not after your money, right?”
Grayson looked back at Sid with a furrowed brow. “No, Sid. She’s not like that. She would love me if I all I had was a shack and a mule.”
“Well I hope so. I’ve heard stories about some of these mail order brides. They marry you and then before you know it, you haven’t a penny to your name.”
“Not my Charlotte. She’s different.”
“I’ll have to take your word. Only time will tell. I do wish you the best.”
“You’re coming to the wedding, right?”
“I’ll be there. Wouldn’t miss a big thing like that in our little ol’ town. The ladies’ gossip circle say it’s gonna be a quite a fancy one.”
“Are you part of the ladies’ circle?” Grayson chuckles.
“Naw. I just overhear things, that’s all.”
“Well I gotta get some shuteye. I’ll be back in the morning for breakfast. See ya Sid.”
“Goodnight.”
Grayson got on his horse and rode home under the moonlit sky. He thought about Charlotte and how happy he was to see her. He would have stayed and talked with her all night, but knew she needed the rest. He couldn’t wait until morning when he could see her again.
***
Grayson barely slept a wink. His mind couldn’t stop thinking about Charlotte, the wedding and how much his life was about to change. It was only four in the morning, but he decided to get out of bed since all he was doing was tossing and turning with no sleep in between.
He started a pot of coffee and then went outside to the chicken coop to get some eggs. When he came back inside, Miss Jean was mixing up a batch of biscuits and frying bacon.
“Did I wake you up, Miss Jean?”
“I sleep pretty lightly these days, so the faintest noises wake me up. I came down and saw you through the window going to the chicken coop, so I figure you were fixing breakfast. I reckon bacon and biscuits will go with your eggs?”
“Yes, Ma’am! Thank ya. Sorry I woke you up, though.”
“What are you doing up this early anyhow?”
“I couldn’t sleep,
thinking about Charlotte and all.”
“You sure are love-struck, aren’t you?”
“I’m in love, that’s for sure. And as happy as can be.”
“Well you know everything isn’t going to be all nice and easy with smiles all the time. I’m sure there going to be some adjusting and getting used to things for all three of ya.”
“Yeah, I know Miss Jean. I’m going to make the transition as easy as I can for her and Jenni.”
“Did you give her the ring last night?”
“I was planning on it, but it was so late and it didn’t feel right giving it to her off the stage or at the hotel room. I want it to be more special than that so I’ll be taking her somewhere nice after breakfast and then give it to her there.”
“Where?”
“I haven’t decided yet. But it’ll be nicer than the hotel room, I know that much.”
Clomp, clomp, clomp. Jarrod comes down the stairs dragging his feet. His hair is messy and in his eyes and his shirt halfway tucked into his pants. “What in the world is ya’ll doing down here so early? For goodness sakes, even the roosters are still sleeping and so should I.”
“Sorry, Jarrod. I couldn’t sleep and then I woke up Miss Jean making coffee so she came down to help with breakfast. You hungry?”
“It was the smell of bacon that finally got me out of bed. So yeah, I’m hungry. Why can’t you sleep?”
“Just thinking ‘bout stuff.”
“What stuff? Wait, let me guess. Charlotte, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Women. They mess with your mind like that. For now, I’m glad I don’t have one on my mind.”
“But one day you will and you’ll love every moment of it.”
“We’ll see. But enough talk about women. Let’s get to eating.”
Eventually Jenni woke up too and joined them. “Hey sleepy head. Ready for some breakfast?” Grayson picked up Jenni from her crib and brought her to the table and fed her some breakfast.
Grayson, Miss Jean and Jarrod sat around the table talking until the sunrise, reminiscing about old times with their parents and growing up on the ranch.
“Well I’ve enjoyed spending this early morning with you, Miss Jean. Thanks for the breakfast and your company.”
“What about my company?” Jarrod asked.
“You’re not company. You’re my brother. We’re pretty much always hanging out together, so nothing different there.”
“I reckon.”
“Anyway, I gotta get going. I told Charlotte I’d meet her for breakfast.”
“You’re gonna eat again?” asked Miss Jean.
“Yeah, by the time I ride into town I could be hungry again. I’m a growing boy.”
“You’ll be growing outward, not upward, if you keep eating like that. A boy you are not anymore.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Ma’am. Maybe I’ll only have two eggs, two bacon strips and two biscuits.”
“Well don’t starve yourself, now,” Miss Jean said with a smirk.
“No, Ma’am.” Grayson winked, put on his hat and opened the front door. “Oh, and Jarrod. I’ll be with Charlotte most of the day showing her around and stuff. If you need me, then I’ll be either in town or here at the house.”
“So when am I and Miss Jean gonna meet this Charlotte of yours?”
“I figure we could have dinner together here at the ranch.”
“What do you need me to do?” said Miss Jean.
“Nothing. I’ll be taking care of everything. Maybe you can just help set the table for me, all pretty like with flowers or something?”
“Yes, I can certainly do that. But what about the cooking?”
“I’ve got it covered.”
“Well alright. But a woman from the East might be expecting more than biscuits and gravy ya know.”
“Don’t worry, Miss Jean. I’ll do better than that.”
Grayson went out the door, hitched up the wagon to Buck and headed into town.
CHAPTER FIVE
Grayson pulled up the wagon to the hotel, engaged the brake and walked inside. Today he would propose to Charlotte and give her the engagement ring he sent away for a few months back. Although he wasn’t one-hundred percent sure Charlotte would accept his proposal, he ordered the ring anyway in the hopes she would.
Most men couldn’t afford an engagement ring, even the more affordable ones that were now commonly available by mail-order through the Sears & Roebuck Catalog. Grayson, however, always spent his money wisely and the last five years were especially good for his cattle business, so he had some extra money saved up.
Normally he would never consider spending so much money on something like jewelry, but he really wanted to do something special for Charlotte. Grayson spoke with a few of the more sophisticated women in town who knew more about jewelry and rings than he did, which was essentially nothing, and they told him he must get Charlotte a ring with a “Tiffany Setting”.
A few months earlier…
“Tiffany Setting? What’s that?” Grayson asked.
Victoria further explained, “It sets the diamond up on a pedestal, away from the band, allowing more light to shine through the diamond and make it sparkle. The Tiffany Company invented it about ten years ago. It’s what all the girls want now.”
“Well, if you say so.”
“She’ll love you forever. What a lucky girl.”
“I’m the lucky one.”
***
Grayson walked into the hotel foyer. “Mornin’ Grayson.” Sid nodded towards the dining area. “Your lady just sat down at a table inside.”
“Thanks, Sid.”
Charlotte’s back was to Grayson. He lightly touched her on her shoulder and said, “Good Morning. I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.”
“No, not at all. I just sat down.”
“Good. Are you hungry? They make a mighty fine breakfast here.”
“Actually, not very. My stomach feels a little odd.”
“Oh. Well how did you sleep?”
“Not much. I guess it’ll take me a few days or so to adjust being out here.”
“I couldn’t sleep a wink either. I’m just so excited you’re here.”
“Me too.” Charlotte smiled at Grayson.
Bonnie, the waitress, came over to the table and asked, “So what’ll it be for you two lovebirds?”
“Hey, Bonnie. I guess you’ve heard.”
“Yep, word gets around fast around this lil’ old town.”
“Well I’d like to introduce you to my fiancée, Charlotte.”
“Howdy, Charlotte. What’ll you have?”
“Nice to meet you, Bonnie. Um, I’m not sure.”
“You’ve got to eat something, Charlotte.” Grayson insisted. “How about a couple of flapjacks? They’re always good here.”
“Okay, I guess. But what are flapjacks?”
“Huh? You don’t know what a flapjack is? It’s a round, flat, fluffy-like cake. And then you smother it with butter and molasses.”
“Oh, you mean pancakes. Yes, that’ll be fine.”
“Pancakes? I guess you folks back East call things differently than us out here. Anyway, bring us both an order of flapjacks, Bonnie. And two cups of coffee. You drink coffee, don’t ya?”
“Yes, and we call it coffee too,” Charlotte smirked.
“So it’ll be two orders of flapjacks and two coffees. Thanks, Bonnie.”
“Are you only going to eat a couple of pancakes? That seems not much for a man like yourself.”
“Well, like I said, I couldn’t sleep so I was up before dawn and Miss Jean and Jarrod and I had breakfast together. I already ate some eggs, biscuits and bacon. I actually was planning on eating more, but once I saw you I got all kinds of butterflies in my stomach, so a couple of flapjacks will do just fine.”
“Oh, that makes more sense then. You had me worried thinking I was going to eat as much as a cowboy for breakfast.”
“Naw, I can pack it
away as good as any hard-working cowboy can.” Grayson reached across the table and took Charlotte’s hands in his. “Gosh, you have no idea how happy I am to finally have you here with me. You are a dream come true, Miss Charlotte.”
“Oh, Grayson. You’re too kind. I guess that’s why I love you so much. Not only are you kind, but you’re also handsome, strong, funny and so much more. I cannot wait to marry you.”
“Just a few days away. I’ve been planning the event ever since I got your letter. I hope it will be the most beautiful wedding for you.”
“I’m sure it will. You didn’t have to fuss so much over me. I’ll be happy even if it were just you and me and nothing else but the pastor to wed us.”
“Well it’ll be much more than that. I had to make it special for my special lady.”
“So what are we doing after breakfast?”
“I’m gonna take you around and show you my ranch. Then later on we’re gonna head back to the main house to have dinner with my brother, Miss Jean and Jenni.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’m looking forward to meeting your family, especially Jenni, of course.”
“She’ll love you. I just know it.”
“I hope so.”
Grayson and Charlotte had their breakfast and then went outside the hotel.
“Here’s the first one of the family I’d like to introduce you to.” Grayson patted Buck on the head. “This is my horse, Buck. I was fourteen when he was born. Raised and trained him myself. He’s just as close to me as any other family member.”
“Well hello Buck. Charlotte slowly approached the horse and gently stroked him along the side of his neck.”
“I think he likes you.”
“Glad I passed the first test.”
“That’s right!” Grayson chuckled. “Here. Let me help you up into the wagon and then we can get on our way.”
Charlotte lifted up her dress with one hand as Grayson provided his hand for balance as she stepped up into the old buckboard wagon. She looked down at the seat covered in hay and dirt and paused before sitting down.”
“Oh, let me sweep that off for you. I know this isn’t the nicest way to get around town, especially for a lady like yourself, but it serves its purpose for me and Jarrod. I actually have been working on a nice buggy for you to travel in when needed.” Grayson took his leather gloves and quickly swept the bench seat.
