And, as if she read Laura’s earlier thoughts, Aunt Ethel piped up.
“I never saw Abe smile like he has until you got here, dear. I think you’ve done a number on that boy,” she said, with a smile.
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Laura replied, with a sly grin.
“I do!” Aunt Ethel laughed, as she looped her arm through Laura’s, and they continued down the street.
“He’s a good man, he really is,” Aunt Ethel continued. “No pedigree, just a good salt-of-the-earth boy. I’ve adopted him in my heart like a son.”
“That’s lovely, Aunt Ethel. And yes, he is quite a good man,” Laura mused, “Aunt Ethel, do you ever regret not having children of your own?”
“Time and again, but it just wasn’t in the cards for me and Ernest. But it did mean that all the time we had together, we could dedicate to each other, and that was quite nice,” Aunt Ethel reminisced.
“You really loved him, didn’t you?” Laura asked.
“Oh, yes, I was the rebel child of the family, married for love against my father’s wishes. But, as soon as I met Ernest, I knew, it would all be worth it.” Aunt Ethel looked at Laura with such passion in her eyes.
“How did you know? And what made you so sure it would all be ok?” Laura pressed.
“Oh, dear, there was just a way he looked at me, and I looked at him. You could feel it, how time would slow down, how my mind would quiet and I knew everything would be okay.” Aunt Ethel patted Laura’s arm as they walked.
“That sounds incredible,” Laura said, with a sigh.
Aunt Ethel stopped suddenly and looked straight at Laura.
“Love is such a precious thing in life, my girl. You find it, and you have to hold onto it as hard and as tight as you can. Because it won’t come along every day,” Aunt Ethel said, both lovingly and firmly.
So confident. So strong. Can I find that in myself? Have I already?
“Just be strong, girl. You never know what life might bring you,” Aunt Ethel said gently. “Oh my, this is all just so exciting! I’ll write your family and insist they stay long enough for the Jubilee. It would be a shame for them to take you back and miss it!”
“Thank you, Aunt Ethel!” Laura exclaimed.
“Of course, dear. Now, what else do I need, let me see…” Aunt Ethel thought for a moment. As she did, Laura saw Abe riding down the street. She smiled at him, and he pulled Bruce to a stop next to them.
“Afternoon Aunt Ethel…Laura,” he said
Was that a slight flush in his cheeks? No, I’m imagining things.
“Good afternoon, Abe! So good to see you. Did you hear the news?” Aunt Ethel chirped.
“I did, indeed, quite a day,” Abe replied.
“Do you think there’ll be a roping competition?” Laura asked.
“Oh, I’m sure there will. It ain’t a true party without one,” he said, with a wink.
“How exciting!” Laura said, her heart racing.
“Well ladies, I’d best be off. I promised I’d help Ottie out today,” Abe said, with a tip of his hat.
Laura waved as Abe rode off.
“Ah, I remember! Marmalade orders, come on dear,” Aunt Ethel exclaimed.
They set off down the street to the general store. While Aunt Ethel and Mr. Mason discussed marmalade, Laura wandered over to the windows. She could just barely see down the street, where Abe was talking to Ottie on the porch of the jailhouse. She could see him laughing at something.
I wonder what.
Her mind drifted back to the laughs and smiles they had shared when they rode down to the river. She could feel an ache in her heart, and she wanted to run across the street and be nearer to him. But something stilled her feet.
It would be improper. You need to grow up.
But the ache was there, pulling at her heart as she stared. Begging her to jump into the unknown. She could feel her two lives about to collide, the one she had lived all her life back home, and the one that had begun to blossom here. There was love here in Santa Clara, love like she hadn’t felt back home. It oozed out of the storefronts and the smiles of the people she was now beginning to get to know.
And of course, she felt it radiating out of her heart, and the heart of Abe Mavor. It had all happened so slowly, and yet so fast. Like she had been born again and grown up, all in the span of a few months. She could feel a tingle in her entire body.
What will my family think of this version of Laura Edmonds? And what will they think of Abe Mavor?
Chapter Fourteen
The thudding, rhythmic beat of the stagecoach team grew louder, as they stormed toward the house, a thin dusting of snow covering the ground. They pulled up closely to the porch and Laura ran out to greet her parents for the first time in nearly four months. The driver opened the door and helped her mother out, who saw Laura and, immediately, flung her arms around her.
“Oh, my dear! I swear you’ve grown. You look so much taller than when you left!” she exclaimed. Of course, this wasn’t true, though perhaps she stood a little straighter these days. Aunt Ethel appeared on the porch, moving slowly with the aid of her cane but still full of energy.
“Dorothy! Xavier! How absolutely delightful to see you!” she called out. Laura’s mother hurried up the steps to embrace her sister, while her father finished unloading the trunks with the driver. She took her sister by the arm and walked into the house with them.
“Ethel it’s been far, far too long. You look so well. And your home! It’s an absolute dream!” Laura’s mother surveyed the freshly painted shutters and tidy interior.
“It’s all your Laura; she completely transformed the place. She’s been an absolute delight,” Aunt Ethel gushed.
Dorothy turned to Laura. “Well, now, quite the resourceful woman she is, indeed! Well done, my dear.”
“It was nothing, Mama; it’s just been nice to be able to help out,” Laura replied, and she headed to the stove and began preparing supper, as her parents settled in with Aunt Ethel, recounting the bumpy journey they had just embarked upon.
“Xavier, how is the store doing?” Aunt Ethel inquired.
“As good as ever! Looking to have our best year yet! Been a long, difficult journey to get to this spot but, by God, we have. I’m quite pleased.”
“Laura, how have you enjoyed your time here?” Dorothy asked. “You’ve barely written since you left.”
“Oh, don’t nag the girl, Dorothy! She’s had her hands full around here, I let this place get into such disrepair after Ernest died,” Aunt Ethel jumped in.
“No, Mama’s right, I should have written more. I’ve enjoyed it, Aunt Ethel has been fantastic company and I’ve enjoyed fixing up the house.”
“It’ll be good practice for when you have one of your own, dear!” Dorothy piped up excitedly.
“Of course, Mama,” Laura tried to hide the flatness in her voice.
As supper hit the table, everyone gathered excitedly. Her father took a bite of the stew and sighed with contentment.
“Still a fabulous cook, my dear,” he said. “You’ll make a fine wife one day.”
He was practically beaming. “Which, of course, brings us to the good news we have.”
“Yes, we’ve been waiting to hear what news was so great that we’ve had to wait for your arrival to hear it!” Aunt Ethel exclaimed.
“Laura, as I’m sure you’re aware, the time has come to start thinking about your future, finding a good match, so that your life continues on in the security I’ve tried to build for you. Well, as it so happens, I believe we’ve struck the perfect match for you!” Xavier said, as he grabbed Laura’s hand.
Laura was stunned, not sure how to respond. Abe’s stormy grey eyes were all she could see. Somehow, she mumbled: “Who is it, Father?”
“Jacob Fisher!” Her father exclaimed proudly. “His father is the most skilled doctor in all of Arizona and Jacob has already amassed a small fortune of his own with his business ventures. I do believe it’s
quite the smart match. He and his father have already agreed to the arrangement and are quite as excited as we are!”
Laura looked over at Aunt Ethel, who seemed to also be trying to conceal her shock.
“Does Laura know this boy?” Aunt Ethel asked.
“They met briefly as children, but Laura and Jacob haven’t seen each other since, his father sent Jacob to a very elite boarding school on the coast for his education,” Dorothy said, her eyes sparkling.
“Well educated, ambitious, and he plans to build his businesses up in Tucson, so Laura won’t have to be too far away from us,” Xavier happily boasted.
Laura searched her mind for something, anything to try to buy herself some time to talk to Abe, perhaps figure out a way to convince her father of him being a better match for her, than someone he had selected. “But Father, would it not be prudent for us to have at least one meeting to be sure the match is solid and I truly please him?” she implored.
“Oh, I’ve thought of that as well, which is why he’ll be arriving tomorrow!” Her father victoriously took a large chunk of bread and chewed it nervously. “My dear, there is no way he’ll be displeased with you, of course, you’ve grown into a fine young woman and your cooking, well, is bar none.”
Laura felt as though she might faint. The following day everything would change. She should find a way to get to Abe tonight.
* * *
Abe ran the flint slowly across his small knife, slowly polishing out the tiny nicks and spurs that had worn into the blade. A small flame flickered in the oil lamp on the table, its light barely cutting through the thick layer of soot on the glass. Embers glowed red in the stove behind him, but the heat did little to cut through the chill.
Ain’t no way she’ll actually stay. She’s got a life back in Tucson. I got nothing but a few head of cattle. He kept striking, faster and faster, until tiny sparks began to leap off the blade. You’re a fool Abe. Just plain stupid!
A knock at the door jolted him out of his thoughts. He placed the knife and flint down and strode to the door, hand on his holster. Who the hell…at this hour? He slowly opened the door, to see the figure of Laura standing there, looking rather worried. “Laura!” he exclaimed, quickly releasing his grip on the pistol on his hip. “What in the world…it’s very late…what are you doing here?”
“I’m sorry, Abe. I know this isn’t appropriate, I just needed to talk to…someone to talk to.” She wrung her hands in a way he had never seen before.
“Well, come on in before you become coyote food,” Abe said, ushering her through the open door. “How’d you get here anyway?”
A small smile cut through her worried lips. “I borrowed Aunt Ethel’s old mare. Poor thing hasn’t gone this far in ages. We took it easy and she’s still panting like she just ran the barrels at the rodeo.”
A laugh escaped Abe’s lips. But…
“My Father selected someone for me…” She blurted out.
And with that, his fears were confirmed.
“Is that so?” Abe replied, keeping his face solemn. “I suppose you were quite right then in knowing he would.”
“Yes, but I…I just didn’t think so soon. And…Jacob Fisher…I’ve only heard of him, never seen or spoken to him in my life.”
“Well, you did say that the Tucson boys hadn’t piqued your interest. Maybe this fellow will.” Abe tried to sound nonchalant and reassuring.
“I’m not ready to go back to Arizona. I feel like I’ve done so much more here, already, than I ever did there. Back there it’s all knitting, and chores, and what color yarn to buy, and who’s getting married,” Laura rambled.
“But that’s your real life, Laura. Being out here is just a temporary thing,” Abe replied.
Laura stared at him as though he had grown a second head on his shoulders. “How can you be so callous about this?” she snapped. “What happened to you caring for me?”
Abe’s face softened. “I do, Laura,” he said, his voice dropping. “Enough to know that whatever you may be looking for, you ain’t going to find it here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Abe?” Laura was biting her bottom lip, looking like she might cry.
What do I say here Laura? What do you WANT me to say? “I just…life just doesn’t always work out the way we might expect. I’m sure this fella will give you the kind of life you rightfully deserve.” Abe looked at Laura, allowing those hazel eyes to cut into his heart.
The two stared at each other, in a bit of a stunned silence for a moment, an electric tension bouncing between them and off the walls. Finally, Laura softened, sinking into the wooden chair Abe had been sitting on sharpening his knife. She cradled her head in her hands and Abe just sank into his own seat.
“I’m just not ready for all this, Abe,” Laura mumbled.
“I can understand that,” Abe replied sympathetically. “Marrying someone you don’t know, can’t be the most appealing prospect.”
He saw Laura’s eyes begin to drift around the cabin. On the walls, a few faded ribbons from roping competitions all over Utah hung. Otherwise, they were largely bare, save for a shotgun above the door and one very faded photograph of a man and a woman.
Laura’s eyes landed on the photo. “Is that your family?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am.” Abe said quietly. “Pa was trying to be a rancher. Ma…well, she got herself in the bit of trouble you seem to find yourself in. Got promised to a man she never met, then got dragged all the way out to Utah, to make a life at the new frontier.”
Laura stood up and walked over to the photo. “She’s quite beautiful,” she remarked, tracing her finger across the glass.
“Yes, she was,” Abe replied solemnly.
“What happened to her?” Laura asked, keeping her eyes fixed on the photograph.
“Died in childbirth. Doctor couldn’t get out to the homestead fast enough. It was Christmas,” Abe replied, staring at the flickering flame in the oil lamp.
Laura turned to him, wide eyed. “That’s terrible, I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about Laura, it is what it is.”
Abe stood up and walked over to Laura. He put his hands gently on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Big difference between you and her though,” he said earnestly. “You got a chance for a good life, a fella who can provide for you. Not too many get this kind of choice.”
Laura looked at him for a beat, and then sighed. “It doesn’t seem like too much of a choice.”
A clatter erupted from the barn, and a high-pitched whinny pierced the night air. Bruce. Abe let go of Laura’s shoulders and ran to the door, grabbing the shotgun off the wall. The cold air cut through his undershirt as he ran toward the barn, the sound of Bruce’s hooves cracking against the wood hitting him right in the chest. He flung open the doors to see Bruce rearing and kicking wildly in his stall.
“Woah boy! Woah!” Abe cried out, extending his hands toward the stall door. This motion only made Bruce kick wilder. What the hell happened here? “Easy boy, it’s just me, I got you!” he said firmly, but softly, trying to steady his breath. Bruce was still wide-eyed but after a few more kicks he began to calm. Abe slowly unlatched the stall door and slid inside.
Bruce’s sides were heaving, and he tossed his head about worriedly. Abe slowly extended a hand and placed it on Bruce’s sweat-soaked neck. “That’s it boy, see, nobody here but us two.” Abe was suddenly aware of how powerfully his heart was pounding in his chest. He slowly stroked Bruce’s neck and sides, as the stallion began to calm, rocking his weight from side to side.
Abe surveyed the stall. Maybe a rattlesnake got in? Or a door swung open with a gust of wind? He turned around to face the stall door, which is when he realized Laura had followed him out to the barn.
“You’re quite incredible with him,” Laura said quietly.
Abe patted Bruce’s neck and smoothed his long lock of mane that hung down between his eyes. “We’ve been through a hell of a lot together, he and
I. Built up all kinds of trust over the years. Can’t say there’s a human alive I care about or trust more than this fella right here,” Abe said, partly to Laura and partly to Bruce, who pushed his nose against his chest in a kind of understanding appreciation.
“May I?” Laura asked, motioning to the stall door.
“Of course,” Abe replied. He slowly moved over to the stall door and opened it, gently guiding Laura into the stall next to him. She slowly reached out and offered her hand toward Bruce’s nose.
He happily obliged, pushing his velvety snout underneath her fingers, allowing her to run her hand up and down his face. Abe continued to stroke his neck and sides, which no longer heaved in panic. But his eyes were fixed on Laura. She’s absolutely fearless.
The Salvation 0f A Runaway Bride (Historical Western Romance) Page 10
