“Daryl Comer operates a bath house and barber shop. He’s open on Sundays if you’d like to go in the morning.”
“I take it you don’t attend church.”
“Usually we do but I’ll miss tomorrow to get ready for our uninvited visitors and our wedding. Sunday is the only day I close the café.”
“Is your minister going to come calling if you aren’t in church tomorrow?”
A cloud crossed her expression. “Our minister was one of those who died. A positively evil man named Mortimer Crane owns most of the town. He plans to dismantle the church and move it to one of his other sites. He’s already moved some of the other buildings.”
What kind of man would tear down a church? “How do you propose getting married if there’s no preacher in town?”
“People wire the minister at the next town. He rides over and performs the wedding, then rides back.” She laid a hand at her throat. “Oh, the lawyer I talked to is a Judge. Perhaps he can perform the ceremony.”
“Would you handle that?”
“I’ll do so while you’re at the bath house. The children can go with me.”
“Garnet, we have to come up with a plausible story for how I arrived and why I’m here. I can say I came here because I was looking for horses. That’s the truth in that I’m looking for my horses.”
She nodded and smiled. “We met when you came for a meal. That’s also true. Oh, but how did we get together and get engaged?”
“I noticed you’re a gorgeous woman and that you had no one to help. As a way to get to know you I offered my services.”
“Why would you do that?” She waved away his suggestion, obviously not understanding how attractive she was. “Maybe your horse threw you and you were injured. No, think of something.”
“My brother is supposed to meet me here but he’s delayed. I had time to kill so I decided to use it to get to know a pretty woman better. When I learned you had a prowler, I was insistent I protect you and the children.”
“That might work. The prowler was Sunday night, and you came on Monday. Cordelia will likely go along with our story.”
She rose and came around the table to lean over him and peer at his face. “The cuts are about healed and the bruises are fading. By Tuesday, they won’t be noticeable.”
“Okay, we’re getting married on Tuesday. I’ll let the man at the bath house know in case he gossips.”
“I don’t think he does, but the owner of the mercantile does, trust me. He’ll be wondering why I bought men’s clothing. Saturday is when the farmers and ranchers come to town and he was too busy to ask questions. He’ll grill me next time he sees me.”
“Tell him you didn’t like the clothes I brought. Not acceptable for a mining town.”
She chuckled. “That’s certainly true. They weren’t acceptable for anywhere, not in the condition they were in when you arrived.”
She laid a hand at her throat, a gesture she seemed to use a lot. “I feel so much calmer. Thank you for agreeing to marry me. I’ll go up and get ready for bed. I’ll be able to sleep now that we’ve worked out a plan.”
He picked up the book he’d been reading and watched her go upstairs. They hadn’t worked out everything. Sleeping arrangements held a special interest for him.
Chapter Nine
Garnet sent Adam to the bath house as soon as she thought it would be open. He wore his new boots and yesterday’s clothes and carried a fresh set of duds to wear after he’d bathed.
She and the children enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before going for a walk. She headed for Hester’s as it was still too early for church services. “You two play quietly on the porch or front yard. I won’t be long.”
As she suspected, she found Owen there having breakfast. “Just the man I wanted to see. Can you perform marriages?”
He leaned back in his chair and sent her a wide smile. “I can and have. I take it that fellow is going to cooperate.”
“Fortunately for me, he is. We thought Tuesday at eight might be a good time to wed. Will that be satisfactory?”
“It will unless Hester has another obligation.”
Hester beamed at Owen. “Tuesday evening is a fine time.” She turned back to Garnet. “When are these grandparents arriving?”
“On Wednesday’s stage. They’ll be in a bad mood, I’m sure, after that bumpy ride. From what Dessie said, they aren’t very likable people in the first place. What I don’t know is if they’re staying at the Ridge Hotel or if they plan to stay with me.”
“Let’s hope they choose the hotel.” Hester shook her head. “From what you’ve said, though, they’ll stay with you. I’ll bet they’re as frugal with their money as they are with their affection.”
A cloud of dread encompassed Garnet. “Oh, you’re probably right. I guess I’d better make arrangements for them. They can use Joey’s room and he can sleep on the couch.”
Hester sent her a knowing look. “Keep them as far from your bedroom as you can.”
Garnet felt the heat of a blush spread across her face. “I intend to. I hope they won’t go poking into things, but I imagine Mrs. Miller will. From what Dessie said, her mother has no sense of privacy.”
Owen dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “Where do you intend the ceremony to be held?”
“In the café dining room.” She explained the story they were giving of Adam’s arrival and courtship designed to appease the Millers. She didn’t elaborate on the real reason Adam was in town.
Hester glowed with happiness. “All the weddings are so hopeful, don’t you think?”
Garnet was pleased her friend was coming out of the deep depression she’d been in from losing her husband and son. Of course Hester would never stop loving them or forget them, but at least she was able to smile now and to keep company with Owen Vaile.
Garnet grinned at the lawyer. “Yes, and the newcomers who’ve decided to remain give me hope, too.”
In usual lawyer style, he gave nothing away in his facial expression.
With the arrangements settled, she bid Hester and Owen good day and gathered her niece and nephew. On their way back to the café, they met Eleanora and Tessa.
After greeting them, Garnet asked, “Can Tessa come spend the day with us?”
Tessa tugged her mother’s skirt. “Please.”
Her mother patted the girl’s head. “Sounds like a nice day to me. Don’t let her be a bother now.”
“No, she never is. By the way, you and Tessa and Reed are invited to my wedding on Tuesday.” She gave the details and mentioned Eleanora could spread the word if she wished.
“Will you be at church today?”
“Not today. I have so much to do in preparation for the wedding and the children’s grandparents’ visit. You can announce the wedding for me, though.”
Next, they went to the marshal’s office. Cordelia wasn’t there so they crossed the street to her house. Briefly, Garnet explained her plan. Cordelia agreed to support that explanation and said she’d tell the sheriff when he came for dinner.
With three children in tow, she went back to the café. When she saw Adam, she stopped dead in her tracks.
“You’re blond.” She couldn’t help staring. His hair was the color of wheat in summer when sunshine turns it golden.
He brushed his hand over his hair. “Once again, thanks to the bath house and some Scandinavian ancestors. Man, that hot water felt good. Comer trimmed my hair a bit, too.”
Garnet couldn’t get over how handsome Adam was. She’d known he was attractive, but cleaned up, he left her awestruck.
He picked up Hyacinth. “What do you think, Princess Hyacinth?” He tickled her tummy.
She rubbed a hand on his face. “I like how you look.”
He set her down and laid his hand on Joey’s shoulder. “What about you, Joey?”
Her nephew tilted his head and peered up at Adam. “I liked you before but you look, um, real good now.”
Adam gestured to Tessa. “An
d who is this lovely young lady?”
Hyacinth took Tessa by the hand. “This is Tessa. She’s our friend. She comes here sometimes when her mom is busy. We like for her to be here.”
“Glad to meet you, Tessa.”
Hyacinth tugged Tessa’s hand. “Come on, let’s go play upstairs.”
The three sounded like several times that many children going up the stairs.
Watching their progress, Adam grinned. “Be nice to have that much energy, wouldn’t it?”
He faced her. “Wedding set?”
“Yes, the lawyer is also a judge and is going to perform the ceremony on Tuesday at eight in the dining room. Is that all right?”
He shrugged a shoulder. “I left that up to you so that’s fine.”
“If you follow me, I’ll give you a tour of the family rooms. When I arrived, I was surprised they’re as comfortable as they are.”
“I’d like to see them.” He followed her up to the parlor.
“The furniture was all expensive, as you can tell.” She shook her head. “Not at all practical for a café owner in a mining town, but I enjoy it so I don’t mind that they splurged.”
She gestured to the side. “There’s a tiny kitchen but we seldom use it. Joey’s bedroom is here. I tried to make it look like a little boy’s room.”
She’d painted the pink papered walls light blue. The dark blue coverlet appliquéd with white sailboats made it more masculine. She’d bartered meals with the undertaker to build book shelves for Joey’s toys and his few books. She’d figured correctly that if Alex Terry could build a coffin then he could build other things as well. She’d painted the shelves white.
Adam put his hand at her waist. “Looks like a room any boy would love.”
She hated to pull away from him, but she moved down the hall. “Next is Hyacinth’s.” The pink striped wallpaper was perfect for a little girl. Her niece had white shelves, too. The three children sat on the floor on a rug made by Dessie.
Joey looked up, appearing slightly miffed. “We’re playing house and I have to be the father. Later we’re going to play sheriff and robbers and I get to be the sheriff.”
Garnet smiled at him. “Thank you for taking turns, children.” She was nervous about the next room. There was no avoiding it, though, so she took a deep breath and gestured. “Here’s the master bedroom.”
Adam stood inside the room and gazed around. He leaned his hands on the mattress. “Appears comfortable. Nice room.” He picked up the broken drawer. “I can probably repair this for you.”
“I’d love it if you can. That dresser is a quality piece of furniture and I hate that it’s ruined.”
He wandered down the hall, peering at each picture and shelf. “I’ll see if there’s glue on hand. If not, I’ll get some from the mercantile.”
He grinned at her. “That will give the owner a chance to meet me so he can gossip about me.”
She opened the hall linen closet. “I’ll get you a spare set of sheets for the cot? I’m sure you’d like clean ones since you’re clean.”
He accepted the fresh bedding. “I appreciate you thinking of that.”
“I’d better go make some dinner.”
Adam patted his stomach. “I could eat and I’ll bet the kids can too. I’ll change the sheets while you whip up a meal.”
He stepped in front of her at the stairs. “I had strict instructions from my mother. Men go behind a lady going up the stairs and in front of her coming down so they can catch her if she falls.”
“Sounds nice in theory, doesn’t it, but I fear we’d both fall in such a circumstance.”
After lunch, Garnet suggested the children rest for an hour. She knew Hyacinth and Tessa would fall asleep. Adam helped her in the kitchen and then picked up the book she’d loaned him.
“Would you like to read in the parlor? The chairs are more comfortable.”
“This is fine until after Tuesday. I might take a nap myself.”
“Sundays are the days for napping and reading. Also for mending and such.”
“And I’ll bet for laundry. You did my laundry during the week. Is that typical?”
“That was an emergency. Actually, there’s a woman in town who does laundry and I prefer to send ours to her. She really needs the business and she doesn’t charge much.”
“You support one another here. That’s nice.”
Memories flared and she couldn’t prevent the veil that enclosed her. “We lost so many—not just relatives but close friends. We had to work together or give up. A few did give up and went back to their original homes or moved on to another place. Those of us who stayed are the more determined not to be defeated.”
Three-year-old Tessa came down stairs rubbing her eyes. “I was sleepin’ but Hyacinth kicked-ed me.”
Garnet picked her up. “I’m sorry, sweetie.”
Adam gestured to the storeroom. “Put her on the cot.”
“Are you sure?” When he nodded, Garnet carried the little girl to the storeroom. “Look, this is like your own room while you’re visiting us. Here’s a special bed just for you with fresh sheets on it.”
“Goody. No one will kick me here.” Tessa smiled when Garnet tucked the cover under her chin and kissed her.
“Sweet dreams. When you wake up you can play some more.”
Garnet went back into the kitchen. Now she was stuck downstairs. She decided to catch up on her mending.
Chapter Ten
By the next day, news of the wedding had spread through Wildcat Ridge. If the circumstances were different, Garnet would be as elated as she pretended for her friends. She contemplated her plight as she went through her usual chores.
She’d married one man she didn’t know and things hadn’t turned out too badly. Mike was a nice man and she’d become fond of him. If she were honest, she had to admit she hadn’t grown to love him and doubted she ever would have. He was too immature.
Although she grieved for all those who died in the explosions, most of her grieving had been for Dessie rather than for Mike. Dessie had become like a true sister to her in the few months they’d worked together. She missed all her friends who’d died, but she missed Dessie most of all.
Heavens, here she was, about to marry another stranger. Sure, Adam appeared to be a nice man. Would he keep his word? At times the way he looked at her made her nervous. Like now.
Adam appeared with arms laden. “I’m moving my belongings to the bedroom. Plenty of time but I want to be sure I get every trace of me out of the storeroom.”
“Leave the cot for next time Tessa spends the day. I emptied a couple of drawers in the chest for you and there’s space in the armoire for you to hang clothes.” Having his things in her bedroom created an odd sensation in Garnet. She chided herself with a reminder that she was lucky Adam had agreed to this charade.
He passed her as he climbed the stairs. “Thanks. Found some wood glue. I’ll mend that cracked drawer today while I’m thinking about it.”
“Great. I’ve hated that lovely dresser was damaged. Just like Frank to thoughtlessly destroy something nice.”
Adam paused and leaned over the railing. “The marshal hasn’t seen anyone matching his description. I feel like he’s still here. Don’t think he’ll leave without your jewelry.”
“I don’t either. It’s a priority with him. He’s too close to miss out on snatching the gems. He’s probably hanging out in one of the bad saloons. There’s one that I don’t think even Cordelia dares go in to check.”
“You can bet that would be the one he’d choose.” He continued toward the bedroom.
Their bedroom.
Dear merciful heavens, what a dilemma.
He was handsome as sin and polite. He’d told her he wasn’t very nice, but that’s not what she’d seen. He was helpful to her and good with the children.
Was there another side to him yet to become evident? There must be for him to capture criminals. She hoped he could hold his own against Frank bu
t keep the nice side for her and the children.
***
Garnet was so nervous she was certain she could jump out of her skin. She wore her best dress, not that it was fancy. The gown was a watercolor print of lavender cotton. Her light brown hair was in tight curls on top of her head with two long curls falling down her shoulder.
“Be still, Hyacinth. You want to look your best for the wedding, don’t you?”
The little girl momentarily stopped squirming. “I didn’t know old people like you and Adam got married. He said he’ll be my uncle now. Is that right?”
“He sure will. We’ll be your old, old aunt and uncle.” She affixed a large pink bow in the girl’s blond curls.
Hyacinth twirled around. “Is Tessa coming?”
“I’m not sure, dear. We’ll see in a few minutes. Don’t muss your dress and hair. I’m going to check on Joey.”
Joey appeared in the doorway. “I’m ready. Adam helped me.”
Adam followed Joey. “We men have to stick together, right, Joey?”
Joey beamed with happiness. “That’s right.”
Garnet took a deep breath. Joey admired Adam so much. What would happen when Adam moved on? She couldn’t solve that problem now. Her wedding was in a few minutes. One thing at a time.
“I guess we should go to the dining room. Guests will arrive soon.”
Adam grinned at her. “You’ll be surprised. Your friends have been busy.” He gently held her arm. “Don’t hurry or you’ll fall. Won’t be a wedding then.”
When they entered the dining room, several of her friends were there. Earlier Adam had stacked the tables at the back and set chairs in rows. Someone had moved two of the tables together with a lovely white cloth covering them.
A large wedding cake set on one table. On the other side was a punchbowl filled with what appeared to be apple cider. Cups and plates from the kitchen were stacked on the two tables along with forks.
Garnet clasped her hands together. “This is wonderful.”
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