Well, at least his life’s story had been forgotten for the worries of the young women in town.
“Darcie…Darcie,” Reuben called twice to get his wife’s attention. “How about we have dessert and coffee to finish our meal, then you ladies can plot and plan later?”
Barton inwardly groaned, realizing if the women took off to plan quilting and dresses, he’d be left with Tate and Reuben to be grilled again about his past.
And why would they do that? Because Darcie was eyeing him as a husband for Amelia, and Reuben was doing his fatherly duty to be sure Barton was good enough for his daughter.
Barton tried to think of himself and Amelia in Reuben and Darcie’s place twenty years from now and realized he’d be doing the same thing if their daughter had a suiter.
***
"I can't believe we've been so wrapped up in the planning of the couples and hadn't thought of the follow through. The girls need their quilts done before they marry," Darcie commented to the Peashooters later in the afternoon.
Darcie, Helen, Lorna, and Millie had shown up at the parsonage about the time Kaitlyn was ready to take an afternoon nap.
"There's enough women in town that we can set up quilt frames in the library and hotel events room and whip the quilts together, at least the wedding quilt for each of the girls," Helen commented. "Luella's sisters are almost done quilting her quilts, so don't worry about them.
For years, Kaitlyn put the meat roaster in the oven before church, and her sons would cook the potatoes and vegetables, and have the meal set on the table as she and Pastor arrived home from church. She loved that her sons' families always came to the parsonage for their Sunday dinner, but it wore her out.
"Kaitlyn, put your feet back on your ottoman as we visit. Sunday is always a long day for you," Darcie pointed at the footrest in front of Kaitlyn's chair, and she gladly complied.
She had raised six sons. Why did she take on six more boys at her age?
Who do you think will be married first?" Lorna asked, not having a daughter in the six to keep track of the gossip.
"Is there any couple that is matched for certain? They seem to be in a group together all the time," Helen asked.
"You have two daughters in this group. Who do they see the most?" Lorna questioned Helen.
"Well, Avalee is sticking to her fake fiancé story to ward off a suitor she doesn’t like, although she's been going to their group suppers. Nadine and Wesley are working together in the hotel, but I don't see any sparks between them at all.”
"I thought Amelia was with Wesley," Kaitlyn asked.
"Barton joined us for dinner today. I think he and Amelia might end up together, and Reuben and I would approve of the match," Darcie reported.
"Barton has the blacksmith shop up and running. Already living in the back apartment too," Lorna added. "They could be the first to wed."
"What about the Brenner girls?" Kaitlyn asked.
"I haven't seen any pairing out. The sisters are sticking together,” Lorna reported.
“Well, until the housing is ready, there's no rush on some of the marriages,” Kaitlyn said with a sigh of relief. “What shall we plan for our next event for the group?”
“They’ve been playing card games together most nights. How about a box supper to add a little excitement?” Lorna asked.
“Between the twelve of them?” Kaitlyn asked.
“Let’s make it a public event, held at the schoolhouse. If area ranchers and hands come in to bid on the box suppers, the prospective grooms might pay better attention to their intended.”
“I don’t know how our six’s money situation is though. They might be outbid or bid more than they should. We don’t want an event that would cause hardship.”
“They are adults and situations will come up much harder in life than if they have enough coins in their pocket for a box supper. Shall we plan it for next Saturday night? Will that be enough time to spread the word?” Lorna asked.
“Yes, but I hope you take charge of that event, Lorna,” Kaitlyn spoke from her comfortable chair. “Now back to the quilting. One night could be a couple’s night. While the women sew, the men could make—”
“Taffy, or popcorn balls in the hotel kitchen for refreshments afterward, say on Friday night since the six of them are in town to notify. I’ll be in charge of that event,” Helen insisted.
“We could invite the girls’ siblings and other young couples to that party to have more quilters and friends present,” Kaitlyn stifled a yawn trying to get the words out.
“Also, Luella brought up at dinner the fact she’s gotten her wedding dress from the Five-Trunk Room. Helen, will Avalee and Nadine do the same?” Darcie asked.
“I had planned on it. I’ll talk to Cora to be sure there are plenty of dresses in the trunks for six more girls, providing the Brenner girls don’t want to make their own dresses, of course,” Helen answered.
“I have plenty of fall flowers for hand bouquets, providing the young women wed before a hard frost,” Millie offered.
Kaitlyn looked around her parlor as the four women were quiet, apparently in deep thought, of what else needed to be done for their project.
Meanwhile, there was only one couple that had declared they were interested in each other. What could they do to ensure the rest of them got together?
Chapter 12
“Oh. My. Gosh! Look at the size of that stone house!” Tobin exclaimed as he pulled the wagon to a stop at the top of the hill overlooking the Cross C Ranch. The group had borrowed three two-seater buggies to drive out to see the countryside after church today.
"It's just our home and ranch, Tobin, nothing special," Molly waved off his excitement. She had sat in the wagon seat with Tobin to show him the way to the Brenner home this afternoon. Amelia and Barton sat in the seat behind them. The other buggies pulled up on either side of them to look at the view too.
It was gorgeous weather this afternoon. The sky was partly sunny, with the clouds parting now and then to move shadows across the hills. The prairie grass had turned shades of gold and reds mixed in with some persistent greens. The air was warm, but with a hint it could turn cool by evening.
"You girls grew up in that house? Golly, Molly!" Tobin exclaimed looking back and forth between the homestead below and back at Molly.
"Didn't you have any big ranch houses in your part of Kansas?" Molly asked, apparently not affected by Tobin's excitement.
"We have some grassland around Topeka, but most of the land's been cut up into small cultivated farms instead of open prairie. And that house would rival a railroad tycoon's mansion."
"Well, Grandpa Isaac was a wealthy man when he left Illinois and moved to Kansas. His gun manufacturing company was a main supplier for guns during the Civil War. He followed his friends, the Wilersons, to this area after he sold the company,” Molly explained.
"He married Cate Wilerson after her husband died, and they helped raise our family when Isaac's nephew, Marcus Brenner, married Cate's daughter, Sarah."
"Still a big house," Tobin shook his head.
"True, but when you had eight kids, four adults, and countless dogs running through the house, it never seemed big enough."
"And your Aunt Faye and her baby, Violet Rose, lived with you a while too," Amelia reminded her.
"Oh yes, my aunt from the brothel," Molly sighed.
Barton turned to raise his eyebrows at Amelia, wondering what that story was about.
"Faye's the most generous, sweet woman you'll ever meet, just a little—" Amelia faltered.
"Daft and unfiltered in expressing her thoughts," Molly concluded.
"Sounds like a wonderful family to grow up with," Tobin sighed but didn't elaborate.
Amelia wondered what Tobin's life was in his adoptive home, but he'd never spoken about the couple he lived with, other than they had no children.
"Go on, Tobin. The sun will be down before we drive back into town if we sit here all day," Molly announced, bu
t she was enjoying the view like the rest of them. Amelia knew Molly moved into town to be with her sisters, but her heart still longed to be on the ranch.
"Look at that herd!"
"That's a lot of cattle spread across the hills," Barton acknowledged.
"No, I mean the horse herd in the pasture close to the barn!" Tobin noted as he drove toward the pasture instead of the house in his narrowed concentration.
"They're Morgans. You raise all of them here?"
"No, Seth and Lily Reagan breed and raise the stock at the Straight Arrow Ranch near here."
"If I wasn't running the livery, I'd be begging for a job here or at the other ranch."
Amelia’s gaze and mind wandered as the front couple talked. She'd spent many days out here with the Brenner girls. This Cross C Ranch, and the other big ranch in the area, Cora and Dagmar Hamner's Bar E Ranch, were second homes to her and Tate.
"It is an impressive place. You'd never know the Brenner girls were from 'cattle royalty'," Barton murmured in Amelia's ear.
Amelia turned her head slightly to ask, "Jealous?"
"Not in the least. Keeping track of five boys and reopening a blacksmith shop is plenty for me. There's got to be hundreds of cattle dotting the hills around here. I'd be constantly worried about the weather, predators, cattle prices, let alone the ranch hands it takes to maintain the herd and buildings."
"Marcus was a career military man until he was injured and came to the Cross C to recuperate. He runs the ranch, and his five sons, like a general would run an army post."
Molly finally convinced Tobin to pull up to the house to let everyone out of the buggies and unload the picnic baskets. After visiting with the older Brenners, the girls planned a lunch in the grove of trees behind the house.
"I'll help Tobin unhitch the horses," Barton told Amelia as he helped her step down to the ground.
"Hello, Barton. No need to worry about the horses. We'll take care of them," Micah, one of the Brenner triplets told Barton as he shook his hand.
"I can't tell those three boys apart for the life of me," Barton commented as the young man moved on to talk to Tobin.
"It's very hard to tell Mark, Matthew, and Micah apart. Even their older brother Marty matches their brown hair and features. Only Moses, Molly's brother, looks different with his lighter hair.
"Come on. Enjoy the day. You've been bent over the forge and anvil all week and need some fun and fresh air," Amelia said as she tugged his arm to follow her up the steps of the massive porch.
"Is it too bold to say I'd rather have a picnic for two instead of twelve today?" Barton leaned over to tell her, so others didn't hear his comment.
Amelia was starting to feel the same way. For the past two weeks they'd done everything as a group. Planned activities, like the supper box social the Peashooter's sponsored, to playing cards in the evenings, it was always the twelve people together.
She and Barton seemed to be the only couple spending time alone together when possible. There was a clear division between the five women and the five men, with no one crossing the gender barrier except her and Barton.
***
Barton made a conscious effort to forget the worries that plagued his mind every day as he worked to build a business. Amelia was right. He'd been worrying too much about anything and everything, rather than sitting back and enjoying the new life unfolding for him and the others.
"Quite a contrast from the New York slums, huh," Wesley commented, making Barton turn his head toward his friend. They were sitting in the shade against two tree trunks a little ways from the others. The girls were spreading out quilts and unloading the picnic baskets. Tobin and the others were with the Brenner boys still talking down by the horse corral.
"That time has been blocked from my mind. Why did you bring it up now, Wesley?"
"I still get flashbacks now and then, even though it's been almost twenty years since..."
Since Wesley lived with his parents and little sister in the worst part of town, known for its filth and crime. Where Wesley, returning home from school, found his parents murdered for what little cash they had, and his little sister hiding under the bed. Someone took the two children to the orphanage, but Wesley was separated from his sister. Wesley lost his whole family that day.
"Are you satisfied with our decision to move here, Wesley? You can always change your mind and choose your own path," Barton counseled him.
"No, it's a good place to settle down. I like working with the Paulsons. We have food, shelter, and plenty of fresh air.
"Don't know why, but the whiff of manure from the barn just sent me back to the squalid conditions of the alley we lived in."
Barton knew what Wesley occasionally experienced, because the same thing would sneak up on him.
"If you ever need to talk about it, I'm always here to listen," Barton offered.
"Like you have been since you were ten years old. Thanks, but it's time I take care of myself. Besides, you seem to be smitten by Amelia. I'd advise you to spend time with her instead of so much with the group of us."
"Think I should? I don't want to pull away from the rodent pack," Barton said to lighten the mood.
"Amelia seems to match, no, maybe complement your personality. And I've seen her working at her family's leather shop. She can pound a nail in a boot heel, or a silver lump into an intricate shape, just as accurate as you pound hot iron."
Barton was quietly proud that Wesley praised both his and Amelia's work. He'd always hoped he was a person the rest of the men could look up to.
“If you guys won’t mind, I think I will spend more time alone with Amelia, and her family,” Barton hinted.
“Fine with me. Maybe with all of us actually. No offense, but we need to find our own way instead of relying on you to lead us.”
That deflated Barton’s pride a bit, but he knew Wesley was right.
“Food’s ready!” Maggie’s voice carried to where Barton and Wesley sat. Wesley quickly stood up, apparently ready for the picnic or wanting to get away from Barton.
But then he turned and reached out his hand to pull Barton off the ground.
Barton took it, noticing the strength in the man’s hand. Wesley had grown up, just as the others he’d promised to take care of.
“After lunch, why don’t you and Amelia take a walk down to the creek beyond these trees. Talk to Amelia and see if she’s ready to spend more time with you.”
Wesley left Barton glancing at the creek in the distance and back to Amelia, where she stood with her friends. She turned his way and waved for him to join her.
Barton mentally took a step toward her and his legs followed. Wesley was right. He needed to see if there might be a future with Amelia.
But could he do it without feeling guilty about spending less time with his brothers and friends?
Chapter 13
“What’s on your mind?” Kaitlyn asked, standing in front of Barton, where he sat on the church steps. Twilight was almost gone, causing shadows in the night sky. Probably why he hadn’t seen the woman approach him.
Barton wasn’t sure how he ended up sitting here this evening by himself, but he hadn’t been in the mood to be around others. And he didn’t like sitting in his home by himself either. Apparently, he’d wandered through town and stopped when he was ready.
He sighed and shook his head, not wanting to unburden his thoughts and worries on the woman. They were things he had to sort through on his own.
“This was one of my favorite places to escape at night when I first arrived in town,” Kaitlyn said as she gathered her skirt enough to sit down beside him.
“I’d look up at the stars in the sky and pretend I was back home in Ireland, instead of in the middle of a treeless land, trying to be a wife to a widower who only wanted a woman to take care of his motherless boys.”
Barton glanced at her, noting she still stared at the first stars of the evening.
“Patrick wrote back to his family that he�
�d lost his wife. They, in turn, wrote back saying a new wife was on the way.”
“I thought you were a mail-order bride, answering Pastor’s advertisement.”
“It’s the story our boys know, so please keep the real story under your hat.”
“No, Patrick received the letter from his brother only a few days before I arrived—with two orphans—Fergus and Mack. Their mother died on the ship, and I couldn’t let them be sent back, so I claimed them as my own.”
“They don’t look like brothers,” Barton commented thinking of Mack being so tall and brawny and Fergus tall, but slim in build, and both with different facial features.
“I’m guessing each looked like one parent, but that was the least of their worries. They were homeless boys when our ship landed in New Orleans, and I was traveling to a guaranteed home in Kansas, or so I thought.”
Barton couldn’t help grinning, thinking of Kaitlyn and Pastor meeting for the first time, each with two young boys at their side.
“I assume you had spunk back then too,” Barton asked, trying to picture a fiery redhead defending her two charges.
“Let’s just say Patrick didn’t know what hit him, although it was all bluster and fluster on my part. Hence me coming out here to sit on the church steps once the children were in bed. He was still grieving for his wife, not ready to let me into his life yet, but needing me at the same time,” she shrugged her shoulders.
“When did things get better?” Barton wanted to know, thinking of his own worries.
“Oh, we had to work side by side for the sake of the boys, and we soon realized life was better together than trying to stay apart,” Kaitlyn confided. “And I was a young attractive Irish lass who Patrick couldn’t help falling in love with.”
Barton couldn’t help chuckling at her last statement. He could imagine Kaitlyn at Amelia’s age, ready to protect her new family and falling in love with her husband at the same time.
“But life, and marriage hasn’t always been easy for us. Bringing Cullen home tested everyone’s patience.”
Amelia Changes her Fellow Page 8
