“Want to go, Curt?”
“Sounds fine to me, partner, but I’d like to get back here in time for supper. The food is good and the service is excellent.” He grinned at Grace.
“I bet you won’t get this waitress to serve you tonight.”
“And why not, Mrs. Wainwright?”
“This is Grace’s afternoon off. Sometimes we spend it together.”
“Then, why don’t you join us, Miss Grace?” Curt asked.
“I have some things…”
Amelia interrupted. “Come on, Grace. It’ll be fun. While the men are looking over the Lawson ranch we can see how many times Mrs. Lawson wrings her hands wondering what kind of trouble we’re thinking up to get Wilma into.”
“And if that’s not enough reason,” Curt said, “I won’t have to put up with the newlyweds ignoring me. I’d have you to talk to.”
Grace finally agreed to go and after she and Amelia changed into riding outfits, the four of them headed toward the Lawson ranch.
* * * *
“Mr. Donahue, I’m sorry I don’t know where your daughter is. She and her husband ate dinner in the dining room and left. Where they went, I don’t know and I didn’t ask.”
“Damn it, man, don’t you keep up with your guests?”
“Of course not, sir. Where they go is their business. I have no right to infringe on their privacy.”
Elizabeth put her hand on her husband’s arm. “Rafe, why don’t we go in the restaurant and ask Grace Hunter?”
“Who’s she?”
“You know her. Her parents were killed when their home burned to the ground. She’s a friend of Amelia’s and she works as a waitress here.”
“Then let’s go talk to her. Amelia might have said something to her.”
“Excuse me, Mrs. Donahue, but Grace takes the afternoon off after she serves dinner on Wednesday. It’s our slowest day and my wife and daughter serve supper.”
“Hell and damnation. It looks like everything’s conspiring to keep me from finding my daughter.” Rafe jammed his hat on his head and strode out the door.
Elizabeth followed him and in a rough voice, he asked, “Got any more bright ideas, wife?”
She glared at him, but only said, “Let’s go home.”
“I’m staying right here until that bastard brings my daughter back. Then I’m going to…”
“What are you going to do, Rafe?” Elizabeth had regained her composure and her voice was soft. “Are you going to kill Amelia’s husband right before her eyes?”
“It won’t come to that.”
“How do you know? He’s a bounty hunter, Rafe. If you draw on him he’ll probably kill you.”
“If he does, at least Amelia wouldn’t stay with him.”
Elizabeth looked disgusted. “Listen to yourself. You’re talking like a school boy who lost a fight on the playground. Why don’t you give up and wait for Amelia to contact you. I’m sure she will soon.”
He turned on her and his eyes blazed. “I’ll be damned if I’ll sit around while my daughter is giving her favors to the likes of Jed Wainwright.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“You’re going to get in this buggy and go home and I’m going to the saloon to see if I can find out if anyone knows where they went.” Without another word he turned from her and headed down the street.
Elizabeth couldn’t understand what was going on in Rafe’s mind. She used to be able to reason with him, but for some time now it’d been almost impossible to understand his moods. When her father died and he brought Amelia back from Boston, he’d changed. He ruled the ranch with an iron hand and the only person he listened to was Vince Callahan. Even with his hardnosed ways, he’d gotten over all the things Amelia had done, but she wasn’t sure he’d be able to this time. He was determined to make his daughter bend to his will and marry Vince Callahan, no matter what Amelia wanted. Why he was so determined, she didn’t know, but she didn’t like it.
Knowing she couldn’t do anything about the situation at the moment, she stepped into the hotel and went into the dining room. She’d have some tea and wait to see if Rafe would calm down and be reasonable. Though she doubted he would.
* * * *
Vince Callahan met Rafe on the sidewalk in front of Brown’s Mercantile. “Where you headed, boss?”
“The Wildcat Saloon. That bastard took Amelia out of town again.”
“I need to get my tobacco pouch refilled. I’ll meet you there.”
Rafe nodded and kept walking. “I’ll wait for you.”
Vince didn’t answer, but stepped inside the store and looked around. “You alone, Andy?”
“Yeah. My brother, Stanley, and Papa have gone to Cheyenne to get supplies. Mama went to do some kind of church work. Ain’t no customers been here for the last hour.”
“Good.” Vince tossed Andy his tobacco pouch. “Fill this up in case somebody walks in. Then we’ll talk.”
Andy filled the pouch and turned back.
Vince took the full pouch. “What do you have for me?”
“Not much, but I’m keeping my ears open like you paid me to do. Kemp Newton was in yesterday. He was half drunk and I got him to talking. I told him I’d like to find out if Wainwright and his bride were really married in the biblical sense. He asked what it was worth to find out and I said how about a dollar. Well, to Kemp, a dollar is a fortune. I didn’t know how he planned to find out, but he showed up this morning to collect his money.”
“What’d he do?”
“He saw the Wainwrights come back late last night and when he found the front door open and the lobby empty, he slipped in the hotel and hid until everything settled down. He then went into the hall and listened outside Wainwright and Miss Donahue’s door.” Andy grinned. “He said the bed springs squeaked a whole lot.”
“Damn,” Vince said. “Rafe tried to convince me their marriage was in name only and it’d be easy to make her annul it. Don’t look like that’s going to happen now.”
“Ain’t no man in his right mind would marry a woman as pretty as Amelia Donahue in name only.”
“I guess the only way to get her is to get rid of him.”
Shock crossed Andy’s face. “Are you going to kill him?”
“I didn’t say that, did I?” Vince’s voice was rough.
“No. I was just wondering. I bet it’d be hard to kill Wainwright. Milt Gordon was in here earlier. He and some friends tried to take Wainwright in the saloon. Before they could get their guns out, the bounty hunter shot a gun out of one of their hands and Milt didn’t get a chance to draw before Wainwright’s pistol was pointed at him.”
“Ain’t a man been born yet who can’t be killed, Andy. Jed Wainwright included.”
“I guess you could set a trap for him.”
Vince nodded. “Maybe I will.”
“How are you going to do it?”
“I’ve not figured it out, but I’ll come up with something. In the meantime, I’m going to see if I can convince Rafe that Amelia ain’t gonna walk away from this man and get an annulment.”
“So you’re going to accept her marriage?”
“For the time being. It don’t matter to me if I get her second hand. She’s still a pretty woman, but the important thing is getting the Double D. No matter what I have to do to get it.”
“Do you think she’ll turn to you if Wainwright is out of her life?”
“Her father will see she does. He wants her to marry me under any circumstances.”
“Why does he think so much of you, Vince?”
Vince laughed. “I made myself indispensable to him. He thinks I’m the best hand he’s ever had on the Double D. He also thinks I worship the ground he walks on.”
“Do you?”
“Hell no, but to get the ranch, I’ll let him keep thinking it.”
“You’re still going to give me a job on the Double D when you get it, ain’t you?”
“I promised you I would,
didn’t I?”
“Yes and I take your word for it. I want to get away from this damn store. Papa has his head set on me and Stanley taking it over, but the last thing in the world I want to do is run a mercantile.”
The bell over the door jangled.
“How much do I owe you for the tobacco, Andy?” Vince’s voice carried across the store.
“Twenty cents.”
Vince put some money on the counter and turned to leave.
“Hello, Mrs. Ellsworth. What can I do for you today?” Andy was saying as Vince went out the door.
Chapter 8
John Lawson and his son, Ralph, left to ride over the ranch with Curt and Jed. Grace and Amelia stayed at the house. The women sat with Gladys Lawson and her daughter, Wilma, in the big main room which went from the front entry to the back of the house. There was a large rock fireplace in the back wall with windows on each side. It looked out on a yard with a flower garden leading to the vegetable patch. Beyond the garden was the open pasture.
Amelia remembered the door to the left led into a large eat-in kitchen. Behind the kitchen were a couple of bedrooms the cook used.
Yes. The place is even nicer than I remembered. It will be easy to live here if Jed and Curt buy it.
“I must say, I was shocked when I heard you’d gotten married, Amelia.” Gladys interrupted her thoughts. “How long have you known Jed Wainwright?”
“For some time. He has been bringing prisoners to Settlers Ridge for several years.”
“Yes, my dear. I’ve heard of his reputation.” Gladys stirred her tea. “What I mean, is how long have you been seeing him?”
“Not very long. In fact, we fell in love at first sight.”
“Oh, how romantic,” Wilma said.
“Pooh,” Gladys said. “Only a fool would believe that. You can’t fall in love that fast.”
“In Amelia and Jed’s case, it happened fast, Mrs. Lawson. She told me one evening at supper she was going to get married and low and behold, she got married that very night.”
Wilma giggled and Amelia looked at Grace, hoping her eyes thanked her friend for her interjection.
“Stop laughing, Wilma,” her mother said. “It’s not the way a man and woman should keep company and get married. It just isn’t proper.”
Amelia wanted to stop Mrs. Lawson’s criticism of Wilma. “It’s probably not the usual way, but you know me, I never do things as others do. I do it all my own way.”
“That’s for sure,” Gladys said. “How do your mother and father feel about your marriage?”
“My mother is visiting her sister in St. Louis, but I’m sure she’ll be happy for me.”
“What about your father?”
“You know how men are about their daughters. Daddy doesn’t think there’s any man good enough for me except Vince Callahan. He wanted me to marry him.”
“Vince Callahan’s an old man,” Wilma said.
“He’s sure too old for Amelia,” Grace offered.
“I must say, I agree.” Gladys put down her cup. “What is your father thinking? I don’t know if I’d have chosen Jed Wainwright for you, but I do know I wouldn’t choose Vince Callahan. He’s not right for you at all.”
“Daddy thought if I married Vince, I’d not embarrass him so often.”
Gladys bit her lip. “From what I’ve heard about Mr. Wainwright, I have a feeling he’s the type who can calm you down better than Vince Callahan ever could.”
“I think we’ve talked enough about me. Why don’t you tell me about your possible move?” Amelia didn’t need Gladys’s opinion of Jed.
“I’m so looking forward to it.” Gladys grinned. “I hope your husband likes our place and will buy it. I want to move to Texas as soon as we can. The ranch there is so much nicer than this one and I’m sure there will be lots of interesting people.”
“I don’t want to move,” Wilma said.
“Of course you do, dear. There’s a better chance for you in Texas. The ranch is not far from San Antonio. You’re sure to find a suitable husband there. There’s nobody in Settlers Ridge I want you to marry.”
“I’m sure you’ll like it once you get there, Wilma.” Grace set her cup on the table.
“I keep telling her that, but she won’t believe me.” Gladys shook her head.
“When do you plan to move, Mrs. Lawson?” Amelia asked.
“John said when we sell, we’ll move right away. He tried to approach your father about buying the ranch a week or so ago, but Rafe was so busy trying to find you he told my husband to come back in a month. I don’t want to wait that long, so I hope your husband and his friend will buy our ranch today.” She sighed. “I want to be away from here before the month is out.”
Amelia sat her empty tea cup aside. “Would you mind showing me through the house, Mrs. Lawson? If Jed and Curt do buy the place, I’ll need to know how my things will fit into the rooms.”
“I don’t mind.” Gladys shifted her heavy frame. “I plan to leave the heavier furniture because our new ranch is furnished and the stuff is so much nicer. You can use whatever we don’t take or give it to the needy.”
“If they buy the place, I will, Mrs. Lawson.” Amelia stood.
“Why don’t you show your friends around, Wilma? I’ll go make sure cook has started the vegetables to go with the roast for supper.”
When the three younger women walked down the hall, Wilma said, “You’ve seen my room, Amelia, but I don’t think you’ve seen the other bedrooms.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“There are two bedrooms down here and two upstairs where my room is. Mother and Father used to have their room upstairs, but she got so heavy she has trouble climbing the steps, so they moved down here.” She opened the door to her parents’ room.
“It’s nice,” Grace muttered.
When they went upstairs, Wilma opened the door to a large bedroom. “As I said, they used to sleep here, but not anymore. I think it’s the prettiest room in the house.”
“Yes, it’s lovely.” Amelia walked to the window and looked out. There was a panoramic view of the rolling plains. The front yard was inviting with the white picket fence enclosing it. In the distance she saw riders coming in.
“I think you and Jed should use this room, Amelia,” Grace suggested.
“Yes. I think he’d like this one.”
“May I ask you something, Amelia?”
“Of course, Wilma.”
“How do you like married life?”
Amelia colored a little. “It’s better than I thought it could ever be.”
“I’ve watched them, Wilma, and I can attest to the fact they have a hard time keeping their hands off of each other.”
Wilma giggled. “I wish I could get married and not move to Texas. Ralph is excited about the move, but I want to stay here.”
“Is a special man the reason you want to stay here?” Amelia eyed her.
Wilma dropped her head and looked at the floor. “There is and I’ll tell you if you promise you won’t tell Mother.”
“Of course we won’t tell her,” Grace said. “Remember who you’re talking to. We always keep each other’s secrets.”
Wilma whispered, “It’s Stanley Brown.”
Amelia was shocked. Everyone knew Stanley Brown was a tall, skinny, shy young man who hid behind his glasses and spent most of his time working on the financial end of his father’s mercantile business. Nobody had ever seen him show an interest in a woman, unless you could call the nervousness he displayed when he waited on women as an interest.
“When did this happen?” Grace asked.
“Nothing has really happened, but he smiles at me when I go in the store and I always smile back.”
“Then why…” Amelia started.
“I don’t know why, Amelia. All I know is that I daydream all the time about working in the store with Stanley. I can see us married and having children someday.” Tears came into her eyes. “I know if I move to Texas, I’l
l never see Stanley again and it breaks my heart.”
“You could meet somebody in Texas who you’ll like better than Stanley Brown,” Grace offered.
“Grace’s right. Somebody who’ll not only smile at you, but will talk to you, too.”
“Do you really think so?”
Grace and Amelia said almost in unison, “Of course.”
Gladys Lawson’s voice traveled up the stairs. “Hurry, girls. I think I see the men coming toward the house.”
“We’re about through, Mrs. Lawson,” Amelia called. She then reached for Wilma’s hand. “Don’t give up. Sometimes when things look the darkest, something will happen to change it all.”
Wilma nodded and wiped her eyes. “I try to believe Mother is right about somebody being in Texas for me, but I don’t really think so. Stanley is the man I want.”
“Have you told your mother this?” Amelia felt sorry for her friend.
“Yes, but she doesn’t listen.”
“Girls, are you coming?” Gladys called to them again.
“We’ll be there in a moment, Mama.”
They toured the rest of the house quickly and were descending the stairs as the men came in the front door.
Gladys rushed to meet them. “Well, what did you think, Mr. Wainwright?”
“I think it’s a nice place and so does Curt.”
“Are you going to buy it?”
Amelia saw Ralph and her father cringe, but Jed ignored her statement. He said, “If you’ll excuse us a moment, I’d like to discuss it privately with my wife. After all, she’ll be living here, too.”
“Of course,” Gladys Lawson muttered. “Would you like to see the house? Amelia looked it over.”
“I’ll see it when we get back.” He reached for Amelia’s hand. “Let’s walk down to the corral, honey.”
He held her hand all the way to the fence. She knew it was because the Lawsons were all on the porch watching and he wanted them to think the Wainwrights were a happily married couple. Still, she couldn’t control the tingle running up her arm from the feel of his hand holding hers.
When they reached the corral, he dropped her hand and leaned one foot on the lower rail of the fence. The horses they all rode in on were prancing about the corral, but Jed was looking at Amelia. “It’s a nice place. The brand is a fancy L. I guess because their name is Lawson. Of course we plan to change the brand.”
Amelia's Marriage Page 10
