by Carré White
“Can I assist you, ma’am?” A short, rotund man stood behind the counter.
Rosalie set her valise on the counter. “Why yes, please. I’d like to purchase provisions, but I’d also like to inquire about hiring someone to transport myself and my purchases.”
“Where are you needing to go?”
“The Cantons’. Well, I guess the Blakes’ now. Audra Blake is my cousin and I’ve come for a visit.” Rosalie’s confidence had taken a serious beating thus far on the trip. The attempted stagecoach robbery had just topped it off. She wanted to get to Audra’s and quick before anything else went awry.
“Oh!” The proprietor smiled warmly. “I know your cousin well, I do. Their place is a fair piece, though.”
“I must admit I am not familiar with the distance, this being my first visit.” Rosalie struggled to maintain her poise. This man had to help her. He just had to.
“Could be the marshal might take you. He’s friends with Audra’s husband, Lucas, him being a former lawman and all.”
“I see. Where can I find the marshal?” Rosalie brightened. Perhaps completing her journey would not be as difficult as she’d feared. A lawman would want to assist a lady in need, wouldn’t he?
“His office is at the end of the street. Dunno if he’s in. He just got back from Denver, I believe,” the shopkeeper said thoughtfully.
“I appreciate your suggestion. I’d like you to prepare an order for me. Does my cousin shop here?” Rosalie realized how silly her question was as the words left her lips. There was no place else to shop.
“That she does. She sells, as well. She makes the best butter in the area.” The man slapped the counter for emphasis.
“I need enough provisions for one person for the winter. The type of things they usually purchase. I suppose flour, sugar, and such. Can you do that?”
“I surely can, ma’am.” His face lit with anticipation at a large sale.
“I’ll try to find the marshal.” Rosalie fished in her bag, took out money, and laid it on the counter. “Will that cover it?”
“With a bit of change, I imagine.” The shopkeeper swept the money from the counter.
“That’ll be fine, then.” Rosalie smiled sweetly, encouraged for the first time since she left Boston. She turned toward the door, stuffing her hands into her muff.
“Just turn right and go to the end. Last building on this side,” he directed.
“Thank you kindly.” Rosalie opened the door and the brisk wind hit her. She hurried down the sidewalk, only slowing after sliding on a slick patch. The brutal cold stole right through her coat. What she wouldn’t give to be sitting in front of a roaring fire!
When Rosalie came to the last building, she grasped the doorknob and let herself inside.
There was a man sitting at the desk, and when he looked up, Rosalie froze in horror. It was that wiseacre from the brothel, though she supposed she should give him some consideration since he’d rescued the stagecoach.
“Well, hello there, miss. This is a surprise.” He flashed a friendly smile.
Rosalie found her tongue. “I’m looking for the marshal.”
“Well, you found him.” He leaned back in his chair.
“You’re the marshal?” Rosalie could not hide her surprise and dismay.
“That I am. I’m Garrett Ballinger. What can I do you for?”
“I’m Rosalie Weld. Audra Canton … Blake is my cousin. The proprietor of the mercantile thought you might be able to take me out to their place.”
“I might be going that way,” he drawled.
“I can pay. I have a trunk and some food to transport as well.” Rosalie kept her tone brisk. This was a business transaction, after all.
He rocked his chair back on two legs. “I was just there last week. I don’t recall mention of an expected visitor.”
Rosalie flushed. “It’s a surprise.”
The marshal laughed. “I’m sure it will be.”
Rosalie didn’t have many options. “Can you do it?”
“I can if the weather holds, but we ought to leave tomorrow in the early morning.”
“I wanted to leave as soon as possible.”
The chair thumped back down. “That is as soon as possible. It’ll be dusk soon and it’s not a good idea to be traveling the wilderness in the dark in winter.”
“I didn’t realize.”
“You can take a room at the hotel.”
A respite sounded appealing. “I will. Thank you for your assistance.”
The corners of Marshal Ballinger’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I’ll come for you in the morning.”
Before she thought about it, Rosalie found herself smiling in return.
~*~
Rosalie slept soundly for the first time in days. The hotel was quiet and the accommodations comfortable. She was dreaming—wearing her beautiful wedding dress and walking forward, grasping for her bouquet, which floated out in front of her. She extended her hands toward it again and again, but it remained just out of reach.
A loud pounding on her door startled her awake.
“Miss Weld? I’m leaving in thirty minutes. You’re going to want to get ready and have something to eat. I’ll meet you out front.” The marshal’s footsteps thudded on the floorboards as he walked away.
Rosalie groaned as the remnants of her dream faded away. She felt as if she could sleep a week more and still not have her fill. She dressed quickly. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and she didn’t want to leave without breakfast.
True to his word, Marshal Ballinger waited outside the hotel with a small wagon. Her trunk from the stagecoach, along with the crates containing her provisions, were already loaded.
He jumped down off the seat and took her arm. “I hope you found the hotel comfortable.”
Rosalie fought the urge to pull her arm away as her breath caught. There were many layers of fabric between her skin and his, but somehow that didn’t prevent a tiny thrill at his touch. “I did, thank you,” she stammered as confusion swirled through her.
The marshal helped her onto the seat and they set off through town.
~*~
“We’re getting close.” Garrett’s voice broke the pristine silence of the wilderness.
Rosalie glanced at the marshal then returned her gaze to the scenery. Pine trees dusted with snow decorated the landscape like so many Christmas trees. The steely gray sky bumped right against the mountaintops in the distance. The wagon crunched along the barely visible track covered with ice and snow.
Rosalie’s fingernails bit into her palms. Her nerves flared. What had she been thinking to come all the way out to the middle of nowhere on the pretext of a familial visit? Audra was a sociable correspondent, but that didn’t mean she wanted Rosalie to show up on her doorstep unannounced.
Garrett caught her eye and smiled. “I know your arrival is unexpected, but I’m sure you’ll be welcome.”
In the distance, Rosalie spied a log cabin with puffs of smoke exiting the chimney. “Is that their place?”
“That it is.” Garrett urged the team along the final stretch.
A dog barked and the door swung open. A tall, dark-haired man stepped out onto the porch.
Garrett raised his hand in greeting. “Hullo there, Lucas. I’ve brought you a surprise.”
“Is that so? Well, get that team in the barn. It’s too cold to linger. Audra’s putting on coffee.”
Garrett brought the wagon to a stop in front of the porch. Lucas offered his hand to Rosalie and helped her down.
Garrett climbed down to the ground. “I’ll take your advice regarding the horses. I wouldn’t mind coming in to warm up a bit before the return trip.” He unhitched the horses, leaving the wagon sitting in front of the cabin.
Lucas looked down at Rosalie. “Who might you be?” He regarded her with speculation but his smile was friendly.
“Rosalie Weld.” She tried to hide the shake in her voice. The cabin was rustic but it appeared sound. The
re were a number of other structures nearby, all constructed of wood worn gray by the weather. Patchy snow covered the ground.
Lucas took her elbow gently. “Well, come inside out of the cold, Miss Weld. It is miss?”
“It is.” Unlike with Garrett, Rosalie felt nothing when Lucas grasped her arm—merely thanks at his assistance across the slippery porch.
Lucas led her out of the cold and into the cabin. “Audra? We have a guest. Miss Rosalie Weld.”
Audra turned slowly, revealing her heavily pregnant belly. “Rosalie Weld? From Boston?”
Rosalie flinched at Audra’s shocked face. “Yes. I’m so sorry to arrive unannounced.” Rosalie wished the floor would open and swallow her. This whole trip seemed like foolishness now.
Audra waddled over and embraced Rosalie. “My goodness. What a lovely surprise. Don’t trouble yourself a bit over it.”
Tears prickled Rosalie’s eyes and she whispered, “I’ve broken my engagement. I didn’t know where to go.”
Audra patted her back. “You’re more than welcome here. If you want to tell me about it, why I’d be happy to listen, and if you don’t, I’ll try to respect your privacy despite my curiosity.”
“Thank you.” Blessed relief engulfed Rosalie. The cabin, simple and rough though it was, represented a haven. Rosalie desperately desired a place to lick her wounds and just be without scrutiny.
Audra stepped back and a wide smile lit her face. “I’m so happy to have you here. I’ve missed the company of another woman. Lilah is away.”
“I didn't realize …” Rosalie hadn’t considered what an inconvenient time it would be for a visit. Audra had a baby on the way. An uninvited guest was the last thing she needed as she prepared for a new addition to her family.
“No matter. My sister is taking a bit of time to see the world. Well, maybe not the world, but something beyond Cascade Creek.”
Lucas held back, giving the woman a bit of space, but now he stepped in and clasped Rosalie’s hand. “Audra’s cousin from Boston. Imagine that. It must have been quite a trip. Are you hungry? We’ve plenty.”
Rosalie’s lip quivered a bit, but the out-of-control feeling passed. “Yes. I’ll admit I had a bit of trouble with meals on the trip, and last night, I was so tired I didn’t eat much.”
Audra clapped her hands. “Of course. I’ve a stew on the stove for dinner. I’ll ladle you out some with a bit of fresh bread.”
“That sounds wonderful.” The kindness and welcome they offered brought tears to her eyes.
Lucas helped Rosalie out of her coat and guided her to a seat at the table.
The cabin door opened and Garrett stuck his head in. “Shall I bring in the trunk and crates?”
Rosalie’s eyes flew to Audra.
Audra nodded. “Of course. Bring in Rosalie’s things.”
Rosalie rubbed the cameo at her neck like a talisman. “I have a small trunk with my clothing and such. I stopped at the mercantile and purchased food. I couldn’t show up in winter imposing on you without providing for myself.”
Audra took a seat next to Rosalie. “Now, don’t you worry yourself one bit. We’ve plenty. But if it makes you feel better, why that’s fine.”
Lucas stepped out and lent Garrett a hand. In short order, Rosalie’s trunk and the crates were stacked in the corner.
Audra braced herself on the table as she struggled to her feet. “I tell you what. Why don’t I serve up some stew for everyone? We can eat a bit early.”
“Can I help?”
Audra waddled across the room. “Rosalie, I’ll be grateful for your help in the coming days I’m sure, but for today, why not rest a spell and let me treat you as a guest.”
Audra prepared dishes of stew and tin cups of coffee for everyone. She brought the bread and butter to the table and then sat, easing herself back into the chair. Audra offered a quick prayer and then sliced bread for everyone.
Rosalie bit into the bread and immediately thought of home. The bread was light with a tender crust and reminded her of what the family cook baked. The stew was thick and savory, filled with carrots and potatoes. The knotted muscles in Rosalie’s shoulders relaxed a bit. Perhaps her impulsiveness had not led her into a worse situation, after all.
Garrett tucked in the food with relish. “Did Miss Rosalie tell you of our adventure?”
“Adventure?” Audra turned toward Rosalie.
Rosalie flushed. Garrett could not mean for her to relay a story about seeing him in a bawdy house.
Garrett smiled as if he’d read her mind. “Some men tried to hold up the stage.”
Audra gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Was anyone hurt?”
Garrett shook his head. “I winged one of the bandits, but no passenger was injured. Between myself and the driver, we drove them off.”
Lucas set down his spoon. “They’re getting bolder all the time. Just when you capture one gang, another moves in to take its place.”
Garrett’s smile disappeared. “That’s true. There’s never a lack of work for lawmen.”
Audra reached for Rosalie’s hand. “You must have been terrified.”
Rosalie found her voice. “Yes. It was quite frightening. Thankfully it was all over rather quickly.” An echo of the fear and helplessness resonated in her and her appetite fled.
“Who was it?” Lucas asked.
Garrett helped himself to another slice of bread. “Looked like the Boltons to me. Unlucky for them, they picked that stage. The driver's a right old codger.”
Rosalie looked directly at Garrett as if seeing him for the first time. “It was fortunate for us that you were there to act.” He was a hero. Whatever else he might be, he was a hero.
Garrett’s jaw turned ruddy. “Well, that’s what I do.”
Audra began to clear up. “I don’t think I could take the worry if Lucas was still chasing outlaws.”
Lucas winked. “I just needed the right reason to move from outlaws to sheep, though some of those sheep are as ornery as any outlaw I ever brought in.”
Everyone laughed.
Audra brought the coffee pot to the table and refilled the tin cups. “I’m sorry I don’t have something to offer for dessert. I’ve been keeping off my feet a bit recently.”
Garrett’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I cannot imagine why that would be,” he teased. Garrett winked at Rosalie and a blush rose in her cheeks.
Garrett left while there was still plenty of light and Rosalie found herself sorry to see him go. He was rough around the edges, but he’d become entwined in her runaway flight. She frowned as she remembered where she met him. His heroism on the stagecoach kept overriding the image of him sprawled on the plank sidewalk outside a brothel.
Lucas pried open the crates from the mercantile and Rosalie assisted Audra in tucking the food away. There was a cellar right under the cabin and it was no exaggeration to say it was filled to the brim. Root vegetables and row upon row of canned items, both homemade and store bought, lined the shelves.
A bucket of fresh water sat in the dry sink, as there was no running water into the cabin. There were many things to adjust to and the water situation was just the first. The cabin didn’t appear to offer much privacy, either. There was a bedroom and loft in addition to the main living space, but that was it.
Lucas left to tend the animals and Audra carried a pile of linens in from the bedroom. “It’s a might chilly this time of year. Lucas is thinking of adding a fireplace in the bedroom, but right now if it gets too cold, we fix up a pallet by the fire.”
Rosalie wondered how cold was too cold. It was downright freezing outside in her mind. “That makes sense.”
“It’s not too bad right now, we can get by with extra blankets, but I don’t want to put you in the loft. It’s simply too cold up there. Do you think you’d be able to sleep in here? I’ve a thick quilt to cushion the floor.”
Rosalie had never slept on a floor before. It didn’t strike her as too comfortable. But good manne
rs dictated she not complain. “I’m sure I’ll get along fine.”
Later that evening, tucked into the blankets, Rosalie admitted that the makeshift bed was surprisingly comfortable. Weariness overcame her and she drifted to sleep as the blazing fire settled down into glowing coals.
Chapter Five
Rosalie watched Audra closely as she kneaded a batch of bread. “I want to help, but I’m afraid you might have to show me.”
“Oh?” Audra rocked the dough back and forth under her palms.
“Back in Boston, we had servants in the house. I didn’t do much cooking and such. But I really want to learn if you’re willing. I don’t want to be a layabout.” Rosalie had let Audra fuss over her for a few days, but she couldn’t allow it to continue.
Audra dusted more flour on the table. “An extra pair of hands is always welcome. There’s always plenty to do around here.”
Rosalie shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I don’t want to be a burden.” She wanted badly to help, but she simply didn’t know where to begin. They hadn’t discussed the length of her stay, but Audra must expect her to lend a hand. She was not a true guest.
Audra flipped the dough over. “You’re not a burden at all. I can’t get around like I used to and I’m sure you’ll be a great help when the baby comes.”
“Will it be soon?” Rosalie didn’t know the first thing about childbirth.
Audra split the dough into two chunks. “The end of the month maybe. I’m hoping before Christmas, though. It would be a wonderful gift.”
Christmas. In the confusion and haste, the holiday had slipped Rosalie’s mind. An ache spread through her chest. This was supposed to be a season of joy and happiness. Right now, her parents were making the rounds of the parties and social events of the season. Soon, Sadie, the cook, would start baking and the house would be filled with inviting aromas. On Christmas Eve, all the relatives in traveling distance would come to their home to share in a huge meal, which always featured a roasted goose. Cakes and pies of every flavor would be spread out on a table, and it was one of the few times Rosalie indulged her sweet tooth without receiving a narrow look from her mother.
