The Nanny's Little Matchmakers (Love Inspired Historical)

by Favorite, Danica

“No, you don’t.” Mitch came closer to his brother. “I didn’t do a very good job of telling you much of anything, and that wasn’t fair. A very wise person told me something about pride yesterday, and how she let her pride stand in the way of her happiness. Or something like that.”

  Mitch looked at Andrew, realizing how little he knew his brother. He’d let too much distance come between them. “You see, I was hurt by what you said when I married Hattie. You told me not to marry her, and I didn’t listen. When things went wrong, I had too much pride to confide in you. But being around Polly’s family has made me realize just how much I miss our closeness.”

  His throat felt tight as he said, “I’m sorry.”

  Tears filled Andrew’s eyes. “No, I’m sorry. I could tell you were having a bad time of things, and I should have offered my support sooner. I wish I could have done more than just offer my house and store as collateral for your bond.” Then he grinned. “But I’m mighty glad to be getting it back.”

  Andrew came around the corner. “But all that’s water under the bridge now. I understand Polly has your terrors in hand, so maybe we could do more together as a family.”

  “I’d like that,” Mitch said, giving his brother a hug.

  The door jangled, and a group of customers walked in.

  “I should get back to the children.”

  Andrew nodded. “We’ll talk soon.”

  Mitch left and arrived home to a quiet house. Funny how this place had already become home. Now that the reporters weren’t dogging their every move, he supposed they could go home to Denver. But he didn’t want to.

  Taking advantage of the quiet, he went up to his room to grab his Bible. A note lay on the bed.

  Mitch,

  I was wrong in not giving you a chance. Me and my pride. The truth is, I’m in love with you, but I’m scared. What if you don’t love me back? I don’t want things to be awkward between us, so if you share my feelings, meet me at the livery so we can go on a picnic. If not, I’ll understand, and I promise never to mention it again.

  Love, Polly

  Mitch closed his eyes. He’d told them no more. How was he supposed to get the children to understand that being with Polly was impossible?

  He went downstairs to find the children at the kitchen table, hard at work on their studies.

  “Children!” He knew his voice sounded harsh, but he couldn’t help himself. They didn’t understand. Couldn’t understand.

  “Yes, Papa?” Louisa’s voice was all sweetness, her eyes all innocence.

  “Which one of you left the note on my bed?”

  “What note?”

  Four sets of eyes looked at him in what would have been perfect innocence had he not known better.

  “Fine.” He looked over at Gertie, who appeared to be supervising their studies. “Where’s Polly?”

  “She had some errands to run. I offered to help the children this afternoon. I’m sure they didn’t mean anything by their prank. You know how they are.”

  “Yes, I do.” He glared at them. “You will each write one hundred sentences. They will read, ‘I will never meddle with my father’s love life again.’ Do you understand?”

  “But that’s not fair!” Louisa jumped up. “We didn’t do anything.”

  He turned his attention to Clara. “Did you or did you not tell me just this morning that I should kiss Polly?”

  Tear-filled eyes looked up at him. She nodded.

  “From now on, if I hear any of you mention anything romantic with Polly, marrying Polly, prayer requests at church about getting a new mother, you will all write one hundred sentences. And you will keep writing until you learn to stay out of my affairs.”

  Then he looked at Gertie. “None of them are to leave the table until they all finish their sentences.”

  “Mitch...” Gertie looked disappointed. “Don’t you think...”

  “What I think is that these children have too much time on their hands if they have the time to keep arranging love notes.” He held up the note, then stomped over to the stove and tossed it into the fire.

  “There will be no more of this nonsense. Polly is not your mother, and she never will be. Taking care of you is her job, just like my working in the store is mine. She does not want to get married, she does not want a family and you need to leave her alone.”

  Then, without waiting for a response, Mitch stormed out of the kitchen, slamming the back door behind him.

  “They are just children,” he could hear Polly’s voice saying in the back of his head. He’d been unfair to them, and he knew it. Gertie knew it, and she probably thought terrible things about him for it.

  But what else was he supposed to do? If one more person tried pushing him toward Polly, he was going to lose his mind. Yes, he cared for her. And yes, in answer to Clara’s very nosy question this morning, he did want to kiss her. More than he’d ever wanted to kiss anyone else.

  Polly, however, did not want those things. And even if he could convince her to try, what kind of man made a woman give up her dreams? Oh, he knew Polly wasn’t Hattie, but how could he do that again? Polly wouldn’t have affairs or leave them, but how long would it take for her to resent her decision to stay?

  Love was letting someone go and giving up your right to have that person by your side so that they could be happy.

  Did he love Polly?

  Most desperately.

  Which was why she could never know. Never settle for the life she didn’t want.

  * * *

  Polly waited at the livery until long past the time she’d told her mother she’d be back. Mitch wasn’t coming.

  At first, she’d tried telling herself that he’d been held up at the sheriff’s office. But she’d seen Will, and he’d stopped to say hello. He told her that everything wrapped up nicely, and James Booth was already on his way to Denver, where he’d be officially charged with Hattie’s murder.

  Though they’d had the clue of the cuff links, apparently the sheriff’s office had other evidence not linked to Mitch that they’d been hiding—evidence that proved James had done it—including James’s prized statuette, which had been used to kill Hattie. Some of it had been pushed aside because it didn’t fit with the theory of Mitch being the murderer. But others, like the cuff links, had been deliberately hidden by a deputy on Booth’s payroll. The deputy would be facing charges of his own.

  Great news for Mitch. Great news for Laura. But it didn’t seem to matter when Mitch wasn’t here to celebrate.

  Polly turned to walk back to the parsonage, wishing she didn’t have to face him. She’d said that she’d never speak of her feelings for him again, but it was still humiliating to have to see him. As much as she loved the children, how was she going to be in his presence knowing that she loved him and that he didn’t love her back?

  She’d been a fool to think that just because she’d experienced a change of heart, Mitch had as well. After all, hadn’t he made it clear that he had no intention of remarrying? That his heart was no longer available to romance? He’d assured everyone, including Polly, that his feelings for her were nothing more than platonic.

  He’d given no indication of his feelings being any different. Polly sighed. Deep in her heart, she must have already known that, which was why she’d left him a note, rather than having to see his face when he rejected her.

  Somehow she’d thought it would be easier to not see the look in his eyes when he rejected her.

  And now she wondered how she’d even be able to look at him at all.

  Her stomach knotted, and she wanted to be sick. Why had she been so foolish as to go against her better judgment and fall in love with Mitch? Why had she expressed those feelings, knowing he didn’t feel the same?

  Once again, Polly had allowed her heart to blind her t
o common sense. Would she ever learn?

  She looked up to see a familiar face.

  “Polly!” Eleanor Steele greeted her warmly.

  Despite the churning in her stomach, Polly gave her friend the best smile she could manage. It seemed almost cruel to run into someone glowing with the happiness of a woman in love—and loved in return. While she was genuinely pleased for Eleanor, Polly wasn’t sure she could hold her broken heart together if she had to listen to the other girl talk about the joy Polly would never have.

  Eleanor gestured to the woman next to her. “I’m so glad you’re here. You can be the first to meet my dear friend, Rebecca Ashworth, who is here to help with the wedding. Rebecca just finished teacher training school in Denver, and after the wedding, she’ll be looking for a job. She wanted to go to work right away, but I convinced her that she should stay with me for a while first. When else will she be able to enjoy her life? Once she starts teaching...”

  Rebecca groaned. “It’s not going to be that bad. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Polly. Eleanor has told me so much about you.”

  “The pleasure is all mine.” Polly smiled at the other woman. As much as she’d dreaded having to hear more about the happiness she’d never experience in her life, running into Eleanor just might be the answer to Polly’s problems.

  “I’d love to hear more about that teaching school. I’ve been hoping to attend myself.”

  “We were just on our way to tea at the Rafferty. Join us,” Rebecca said with a smile.

  Polly smiled back, but she didn’t feel much like it. This is what she’d said she wanted all along, but as she followed her friends into the hotel, she felt more like her entire world had just ended.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Betrayal was not strong enough of a word to describe Mitch’s feelings as he listened to Polly in Frank’s study, outlining her plan to go to Denver.

  “You promised the children you’d stay as long as you were needed,” Mitch said, trying to keep his voice steady.

  “They appear to be doing fine,” Polly said, turning toward Laura. “Laura has agreed to help with them.”

  Laura nodded. “I’ve always wanted children. And, given that I won’t have children of my own, I rather like the idea of being able to care for yours. I’m sure we’ll get along.”

  Mitch snorted. “Until they set you on fire.”

  “What is wrong with you?” Polly glared at him. “They’ve grown. Changed. I’m sure they would never do such a thing.”

  Then she added with a small smile, “Again.”

  “Fine,” Mitch said. “Have a nice life.”

  He started to turn to leave before his anger got the best of him. Before the pain of Polly tearing herself from him engulfed him in a fire that burned hotter than anything his children had ever set.

  “Please, Mitch, don’t leave angry. I want us to be...”

  He waved a hand at her. “Don’t. We’ve discussed this. I knew your involvement in our lives was temporary. I just didn’t think you were going to leave so soon. I’m sure it’s better this way anyway.”

  Yes. That’s what he needed to tell himself. Had been telling himself. Better for her to leave now, when he was just beginning to fall in love with her, than later, when he’d given her his entire heart.

  Mitch shook his head. Who was he trying to fool? Despite all of his efforts, he’d already done that.

  “I need to check on the children.” He didn’t give her a backward glance as he turned to go.

  When he opened the door, five faces stared back at him. Then they rushed past him.

  “Don’t go, Polly,” they wailed.

  “We’ll be good, we promise,” Rory said.

  “Papa already punished us. We’ll never try to get you two married again. Just don’t leave us.” Big, fat tears rolled down Clara’s face.

  “Please, Polly, we still need you.”

  Louisa’s tearful admission had probably cost his daughter far more than anyone realized. How long had she argued that they didn’t need a nanny?

  But Polly hadn’t just won his heart. She’d won the hearts of five children determined to never give theirs up either.

  It’s not fair, Lord, he prayed. Why did You do this to us? To them?

  “I’m sorry, children,” Polly said softly, her eyes puffy and red. Why she cried, he had no idea, since it was her decision to leave.

  “But there’s a class that starts next week, it’s a special class, and it will allow me to...” Tears streamed down her face. “I may never get a chance like this again. But it’ll be like I promised. I’ll write, and we can visit sometimes.”

  Her voice cracked as she said, “And the truth is, you don’t need me anymore. You’ve all done so well, and I’ve hardly been doing anything the past few days. Louisa, you’ve proven to me that...”

  Sobs kept Polly from saying whatever she’d meant to say, and only the devastation on his children’s faces kept Mitch from feeling sorry for her.

  “We won’t write to you.” Louisa glared at her. “You’re a liar, and we never want to see you again.”

  His daughter turned and stormed out, taking the rest of the children with her. Mitch wanted to call her back and tell her that she was behaving inappropriately, but he didn’t have the heart to. She was only telling the truth, and he, too, felt like he’d been lied to.

  Polly began to sob like her heart was breaking. All it did was remind Mitch that his already had. And somehow, he’d have to go upstairs and find a way to put together five other broken hearts.

  He should have known this was a bad idea. Should have known not to bring someone into their lives who had every intention of leaving. He’d just expected Polly to have more integrity and keep her promise to stay until they no longer needed her. The trouble was, Mitch couldn’t imagine that such a time would come.

  Which was why, he told himself, it was better for her to leave now. Had she waited any longer, and gotten everyone’s hearts further entangled, he wasn’t sure how he would pick up the pieces. Even now, it seemed to be a Herculean task.

  * * *

  Everyone in her family thought she was crazy. They didn’t say it, but Polly could tell from the way they looked at her. More than a few times, she saw one of them start to open their mouth to try to talk her out of it, but then her mother would shoot them a glare to remind them of their promise not to meddle in Polly’s life.

  On one hand, Polly wished they would meddle and talk her out of this nonsense. But the looks on Mitch’s and the children’s faces told her that she’d already done too much damage. There was no way that they’d take her back, even if she spent every second since the horrible words came out of her mouth regretting her decision.

  She trudged up the steps, also regretting her decision to give up her bedroom for Laura. She’d have to sleep in the attic, listening to the children’s gentle breathing and hating herself for the hurt she’d caused in their lives. Polly wouldn’t sleep a wink, but that was the price she’d pay for her actions.

  Why did she think declaring herself to Mitch was a good idea? All she had was everyone else’s word that he cared for her. He’d never said he had feelings for her, just that he was attracted to her, and that wasn’t the same thing, now was it?

  When she reached the top step, she felt something funny under her feet. But before she could determine what it was, she felt herself falling.

  With a thud, Polly landed at the base of the stairs. Pain shot through her leg, surging through her body. Unable to help herself, Polly cried out.

  The first person to open his door was Mitch. “Polly! What happened?” He looked down at her and he said carefully, “Don’t move. Frank!”

  Uncle Frank opened his bedroom door. “What’s going on here?”

  “Polly’s been hurt
. We need a doctor.”

  She thought she heard Ma’s voice, but she couldn’t be sure as the pain seemed to overwhelm everything else. Darkness tried claiming her, and while she thought she might need to fight it, everything hurt too much to try.

  When Polly regained consciousness, she was in her mother’s bed, quilts wrapped around her and her leg propped up.

  “Don’t move,” Ma said quietly. “Your leg was badly broken, and while Dr. Owens was able to set the bone, he said you need to lie as still as possible to give it the best chance of healing.”

  “What happened?” Polly looked around the room. “Why am I in your room?”

  “It seemed easier.” Ma gave her a small smile. “As for what happened, the children rigged a contraption to the attic door, thinking they’d keep you out. Unfortunately, you didn’t see it and tripped over it instead, causing you to fall down the stairs. You landed on your leg, breaking it in several places.”

  Polly’s heart sank. “The children—”

  “Are upstairs packing. Mitch is horrified at what happened. Now that he’s been exonerated, he wants to get them back home to Denver. We told him it wasn’t necessary, but he feels it’s best to resume their normal lives.”

  “Can I see them?”

  Ma looked away.

  “They need to know I’m not angry.” Polly sighed. “I’m sure they didn’t mean to hurt me.”

  “Mitch would prefer that you didn’t.” Ma didn’t sound happy about it, but she hadn’t seemed happy during any of the conversation. But who would be at having their daughter laid up so?

  “Could I talk to Mitch?”

  Seeing him would hurt more than the throbbing in her leg. But she had to tell them that she was sorry. And that she wasn’t upset with the children. She should have known that they’d act out. And she should have known that they’d take their frustrations out on her.

  “He’s waiting outside.”

  Ma got up and opened the door. “You can come in now. I’ll be outside, but I need to leave the door open. I’m sure you understand.”

  Polly fought the urge to laugh. There was no risk of violating propriety here.