Adoring the Architect
Cowboys & Angels
Book 26
George H. McVey
Introduction
Aileen McRae took one look at the handsome man at her brother’s wedding and knows he is the man for her. Only one problem: her brother forbids the man from even talking to her. What’s a woman supposed to do to get courted by the man of her dreams? Break the rules, of course.
Sterling McCormick is the most unlucky man in the game of love in all of Creede. Every woman he tries to court falls in love and marries- someone else. So when he sees the most lovely red-haired grey-eyed woman at Edwin McRae and Millie’s wedding, he knows she is meant for him. If only Edwin would stop acting like an ogre and allow them to court.
Can love overcome an over protective brother? Can Sterling make it through one picnic without losing the woman’s affections? How about Aileen? Will she finally become the bride after all these years of watching over her family? In Creede, anything is possible with a little angelic help. After all, someone has to be Adoring the Architect, don’t they?
Dedication
This one is for all the readers who waited so patiently for it. Enjoy.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Dedication
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Epilogue
Prologue
Sterling McCormick stepped into Pastor Bing's church in Bachelor to watch yet another lady he’d been interested in courting get married. That Millie Bing had chosen Edwin McRae over him hadn’t been a surprise. He’d badly handled the incident with the angry men trying to stop her March for Women’s Right to Vote. He’d honestly been worried about her and how violent those men seemed. He’d reacted out of fear, and McRae won the day with his bullheaded support of Millie’s March and cookie giveaway. Now here he was again watching a woman he’d tried to court marry another. That’s the last time I try to court a woman with a picnic. I just seem to have the worst luck with picnics and love.
He looked around trying to find an inconspicuous place to support his friend. While he didn’t like losing a woman as good and sweet as Millie, she was still his friend and McRae was still a fine upstanding man. However, he also knew the stubborn Scot could hold a grudge. So he wanted to show them there weren't any hard feelings on his end of things, but he didn’t want to be in their face about it either. It seemed, however, that his luck was holding steady and the only open seat he could see was right down front on the right side of the church directly in sight line of the bride and groom. With a slight nod to Edwin, he made his way to the pew beside Hugh Fontaine. Not long after he took his seat, the doors opened and in came a younger woman with dark hair and blue eyes. She walked to the front to stand at the altar. Who was this young woman who’d come to stand with Millie? She was followed in by another young woman similar enough in appearance to be her sister; she too walked to stand at the altar.
Everyone stood as Reverend Bing slipped out the door to escort his sister into the church. Sterling was startled as another woman, a bit older than the first two entered. She was beautiful, with her fiery red hair, and skin so porcelain smooth and creamy that he was overwhelmed by her beauty. Like the two women before her, she strode to the altar, but unlike the others she moved with a bearing so regal that she might well have been a queen. She took her place at the altar and turned facing the congregation. Her eyes met his, and Sterling felt his heartbeat quicken in his chest. His eyes were locked on hers, and he felt himself getting lost in the deep pools of blue that held his attention. As he gazed into her eyes, he wondered why he’d ever wanted to court any other woman. Everyone he knew were pale imitations of the perfect specimen of womanhood before him now. He would find out who she was, and he would court her. Nothing or no-one was going to keep this woman, this regal and perfect lady from being his wife. She was his and his alone; she just didn’t know it yet.
He was startled from his thoughts as Hugh slapped him on the back and tugged on his coat. He noticed everyone around him was seated, and he quickly sank down beside his friend. Reverend Bing said something to Edwin that caused the man to frown, but it all was lost on him as his eyes connected with the beauty standing just to Millie’s right. She seemed to be as connected to him as he was to her, and he knew the day wouldn’t be complete until he found out who she was and where she was staying. If he’d learned anything in the past few encounters, it was to strike first and fast when it came to winning a lady's affection, and he wouldn’t lose this lady. No, this one was his.
Aileen was exhausted, not just from the journey, though the three weeks felt much longer with the constant motion first of the ship and now of the train. No, she was weary all the way to her soul. She’d never been more grateful than when the Vicar handed her the short wire from Edwin just over a month ago. Thanks to her and her refusal to allow the current Laird of the Aberdeen Locality to take her as his mistress, he’d first had her and her sisters put out of the cottage they’d lived in their whole lives stating that the cottage was needed for the new groundskeeper. Subsequently, as soon as his mother had passed, whom Aileen was a paid companion for, she was terminated and not given the position of Nanny his mother had promised her, as had his wife. Afterwards using the influence of his position, he’d had both Isla and Rhona removed from their jobs as well. Of course, both employers had said it was the settlement’s failing economy but later the Vicar had admitted that he'd been ordered to release Rhona or be replaced himself. He’d done what he could though and allowed the three of them to stay in his stable loft until word of that had gotten back to the Laird as well. Thankfully, that was the day Edwin’s wire and funds had arrived. She’d wasted no time getting her sisters to the port and bought passage for them to New York, then sent a quick wire back to Edwin. Now here they were about to start their new life in America and what better way to do so than to watch Edwin marry Millie Bing.
Aileen hugged her new sister-in-law one last time as her sisters walked down the aisle of Reverend Bing’s church, and then she entered herself. Though it had been almost a year since her Da had passed away she remembered how he’d always told her to keep her head high because the blood of old highland kings flowed in her veins. She smiled just a little and did as he’d taught her moving slowly, and she hoped regally, with her head held high all the way to the front where she took her place beside her sisters. She heard her brother's intake of breath and looked up to see Millie enter the church, but her eyes were caught and her own breath faltered at the sight of the tall, dark-haired handsome man sitting in the second row. It was like a thread of belonging connected her to him, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away even for a second. Who was this man? His eyes were deep and dark, and she felt their pull all the way in her very spirit.
She startled back into the present when her sister Isla tugged on her arm. “Come on, Aileen. We’re catching a ride back to the Hearth and Home with Edwin’s partners, the Fontaine’s. What’s wrong with ya anyway? Ya been standing there staring at that same spot since you walked up here.”
Aileen felt the blush that was climbing up her neck, and she half smiled at her sister. “Just tired, I suppose. You said we were riding back to Creede with Winnywin’s partners?”
“Aye, Edwin has made arrangements for us to take rooms at the boarding house. In return, we’ll help out both the Fontaine’s with the boarding house and Edwin with the restaurant. Ye must be very tired. Edwin told us all this on the way up here to the church.”
Aileen didn’t answer,
lost again in her thoughts of the handsome gentleman whom she’d seen, wondering who he was and how to get him to come calling. A gentle warmth filled her, and she could almost hear her Da’s voice in her ear. “Slow down, me bonnie lass. Ye’ll ken the man soon enough.”
She nodded and climbed into the back of the buggy with the help of Hugh Fontaine. Soon enough, after all, if he was interested he knew where she’d be. Didn’t he?
One
Sterling woke the next morning and quickly dressed. He was hoping that at church this morning he would see the woman who had caught his attention. He knew she must be one of Edwin’s sisters whom everyone had said arrived just a few hours before the wedding from Scotland. He wondered which church Edwin would choose to attend this Sunday. He knew the man had attended Reverend Theodore’s church until he’d taken an interest in Millie and then like Sterling, he’d started making the trip up the mountain to the church in Bachelor, mostly to spend time with Millie.
While Sterling had also been going to spend time with Miss Bing now Mrs. McRae, he’d keep going because it gave him a chance to do some woodworking that didn’t involve building business or homes. He enjoyed the carving and detailed work that the local men put on the pulpits and communion tables they built to help support the church in Bachelor. Not only that, but the sermons were more uplifting and encouraging. He always felt like he’d been found lacking when he sat through Eugene Theodore’s sermons. However, today while he knew he should be focused on the sermon and worship, all he wanted was to find out the name of the woman who’d haunted his dreams and consumed his waking moments.
Finally, he climbed aboard his horse and headed up the mountain. He arrived and noted that Callum Bing seemed a bit more flustered than normal. His suit was not well pressed and his tie was slightly crooked. It made Sterling smile to realize that the normally so seemingly perfect minister was having trouble without his own sister to see to his domestic needs. He laughed when the McRae’s entered, and Millie went straight to Callum and straightened his tie and shook her head at the condition of his suit. His laughter died, however, when the red-haired beauty from the day before entered the sanctuary. He stood and started to walk toward her when Edwin suddenly appeared between him and the lady he wished to get to know. “Stop right there, McCormick. Ye’ll not be trying yer courtship game on me sisters. Ye’ll be staying away from Aileen, or I’ll be seeing you out back. You ken what I’m telling ya?”
Sterling was shocked. “Edwin, I don’t understand. Why are you so upset with me? What have I ever done that’s made you not even want to introduce me to your family? I thought we were friends.”
Edwin crossed his arms over his chest. “You aren’t my friend. You're a neighbor, but you also have a terrible reputation for trying to woo every eligible woman around. My sisters are here to help me with the restaurant and find decent husbands, not a rake like you.”
Sterling shook his head. “Why would you call me a rake? I’ve not taken advantage of any woman in my life.”
“Oh no? Let’s see, how many women have you courted since you arrived here after the fire? There was Mariah Redding, who became Mrs. Jensen but not until after you courted her, then who was next? Oh yes, Nessa Dobbs, who left here and returned to New York after being courted by you. Next you tried to court Regina Stoker, not to mention all the Crowther sisters and finally, my own Millie. Why I even heard that you were seen in the Nugget consorting with the woman there, Celeste. So I call you a rake, a womanizer with no intent to marry any of them.”
Sterling’s face started to heat up as his Irish temper got away from him. “That’s not even remotely true. I went on one outing with Miss Redding, who told me she was attracted to her now husband. Nessa was not a courtship, she and I provided chaperones for her sister and Aedan during their courtship. I never tried to court Regina. I helped her out when she arrived in town as did several others; and how can you or anyone say I was ever interested in any of the Crowther girls? Those girls are relentless in chasing men in this town. Even Reverend Theodore was forced to marry one of them. As for your own wife, she made it plain that she preferred you over me, and I instantly stepped aside. As for that woman in the saloon, I never did anything with her and whoever told you otherwise is a liar.”
He looked over Edwin’s shoulder at his sister. “Yes, I’ve courted a couple of women. Why shouldn’t I? Don’t I deserve a wife and family?” He shifted his gaze to Edwin. “Are you the only one allowed to find a wife?”
Edwin puffed himself up and pointed a finger at Sterling. “I don’t care if you find a wife. I only care that it won’t be one of my sisters. LEAVE THEM ALONE!”
Reverend Bing hurried to them as Edwin’s yelling started to draw attention. “Gentlemen, you are both in the Lord’s house. This is unacceptable.”
Sterling looked at the Reverend and nodded. “I apologize Reverend Bing. I’ll leave so that there is no other disturbance to your services.” He shoved past Edwin and smiled at Aileen as he passed her. She gazed up at him and smiled shyly back. He continued outside and climbed on his horse. He’d head to his house and spend the morning working on the rebuild. He needed to pound something, and since it would be wrong to pound on Edwin McRae in the house of God, he’d go pound some nails instead. Even so, he looked back at the church once as he rode away thinking. He would find a way to court Aileen McRae no matter what her bull-headed brother said. She was going to be his wife even if it took everything he had to accomplish it.
The morning after her brother was married Aileen was startled awake by someone calling her name in her room at the hearth and home. As she sat up, she almost screamed out loud as she saw her Da standing at the foot of her bed. It wouldn’t have been such a shock if he hadn’t been dead and buried right before everything went wrong back in Crawton. “Da?”
Her Da smiled at her and nodded his head. “It’s truly me, my bonnie lass.”
Aileen shook her head “Cain’t be; you’re dead and buried. I must be dreaming or going daft.”
“Nay, lass yer as awake as can be. Your Mam and me, we got assigned ta look after you lot. ‘Course yer Mam she had ta be first. Took care of ya brother and his wife, she did. Wanted ta be the one ta look after ya as well, but I put me foot down. Ye have been me bonnie lass since the day ye came into the world. I tole her ta leave ya be and let me handle things. So here I be and we got lots ta do.”
Aileen cocked her head to the left slightly as she pondered the words her Da was saying. “I don’t ken what ya are saying Da. What do ya mean you got assigned ta look after us?”
“I mean HISSELF done gave us the assignment ta guard you and yer brother and sisters. We’re ta make sure ya all are safe and guide ya and the ones meant fer ya together. Once ye be settled and cared for then we’ll be moving on ta other assignments.”
She shook her head. None of this made sense to her, so she reached down and pinched herself, yelping when it hurt. Her Da looked upset. “I done tole ya this isn’t a dream. I’m really here, lass. I’m your Angel, and you need to get up and get dressed. Today ye will get introduced to the man who caught your eye yesterday.”
Aileen watched her father slowly faded until she couldn’t see him. She thought about his words and the fact that her Da was her Angel, she wondered what that meant? Not only that but she wondered at him saying Mam had something to do with Edwin and Millie’s marrying. As she pondered on the things she’d been told, she got up and began to dress in the new dress Edwin had bought her before his wedding. He had told the woman at the mercantile that she, Isla, and Rhona would all be back on Monday to get more clothes and anything else they needed. Everything was to be put on his account which he told his sisters was the way it was done in Creede. That women didn’t pay in cash at either Crowther’s Dry Good’s or the mercantile because it wasn’t safe for women to have money on their person. She wondered about that and had planned to talk to some of the other women and see if that was true.
Aileen and her two sisters rode to ch
urch with Edwin and his new wife. The two had shown up at breakfast, and Aileen could tell that Millie was exactly what her brother needed. As the oldest, she had helped to raise each of her siblings and knew that she felt more like the Nanny and second mam at times instead of their sister. Yet she loved each of them, and hoped that this fresh start would lead them to a love like it appeared Edwin had found.
When they pulled up to the church that Edwin’s brother-in-law pastored, Aileen felt like there was a mass of fluttery creatures swarming in her belly. Her Da indicated this morning that she’d get a right proper chance at meeting that handsome lad from the wedding. The only place she thought that might happen was at the church. Millie explained to them that services here consisted of the worship service followed by a sort of bible class with the women and children inside and the men outside. The women worked on making a quilt that was to be sold in Denver to help support the church since the people of the church were mostly poor. That would be followed by a potluck dinner on the grounds. “We won’t be able to have the potluck much longer as the weather will turn cold and snow will fall. There was some talk about moving the potluck indoors into the old Saloon that Edwin’s partner Hugh Fontaine used to own but nothing has been decided yet.”
Just then they walked inside and Millie muttered under her breath. “Ach! Callum not even gone a day and ye can’t get yourself together.” She made a quick walk to the preacher and began to fuss over him. Just then Aileen’s attention was drawn to the man who stood and started walking straight to her. His eyes locked on her just as hers locked on him. He was but a few steps away when Edwin suddenly moved in front of her, blocking the man from reaching her. “Stop right there, McCormick,” her brother fairly roared. “Ye’ll not be trying yer courtship game on me sisters.”
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