A Dream to Call My Own (13 page)

These small acts of kindness and attentiveness were Dave’s way of courting and wooing her. He was proving his love for her in the only ways he knew would really matter to her, and that touched her deeply.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Lacy watched from the kitchen as Hank and Nick signed contracts with the stage company manager. Major, the dog, stood faithfully at Hank’s side as if to oversee the entire process. The three men paid him little attention, however. After working out the details over the last few days, they had finally come to an agreement. The stage company was giving them a five-year contract, contingent upon the hotel and livery being in place by October. Given that it was already the middle of July, Lacy wasn’t sure how they were going to accomplish everything.

“Have they finished?” Gwen asked, nudging in close behind her sister.

“They’re just now signing,” Lacy replied.

Gwen shifted Julianne from one hip to the other. The baby chortled as if she were having a great time. Lacy couldn’t help but smile. “Sounds like she approves.”

“I’m sure she does,” Gwen answered. “She knows how all of this has worn on my peace of mind.”

Lacy turned back to check on the cookies she had baking in the oven. “I hope they know what they’re doing.”

Gwen secured Julianne in the baby chair and then retrieved her apron. “I know Hank already has men and supplies assigned to various building projects. The railroad has deeded him land, and he’s quite enthusiastic about seeing this through to completion.”

“And what about you?”

Gwen reached for a large mixing bowl. “I’m happy about it. I can’t bear this place anymore.” Her voice was heavy. “Nothing is the same. The land has been torn up—the peace and quiet is gone. I don’t feel comfortable walking about my own yard.”

“But who is to say the same thing won’t happen in the new town?” Lacy asked.

“Hank and I have discussed that.”

“Discussed what?” Hank asked as he strolled into the kitchen. He kissed Gwen on the cheek, then motioned to the stove. “Is the coffee fresh and hot?”

“Of course,” Gwen replied. “Would you all like a cup? I can bring some in for everyone.”

“That would be wonderful.” He looked at Lacy and then back to Gwen. “So, what have we discussed?”

“The fact that corruption could occur in the new town as easily as it has here in Gallatin Crossing,” Gwen said, pulling a tray from the far cupboard. She placed three coffee mugs atop it and retrieved the cream and sugar.

“Are you worried about that, Lacy? I didn’t think you were going to make the move.”

“I’ll still need to go to town, and I’ll want to know that my family is in a safe place.”

“I think things will be different this time around,” Hank said, shrugging. “The railroad officials have their own idea of what the town should be. We’re working closely with them to position the hotel and livery near the depot. I’ve also heard some comments that they might pay to build a school.”

“Schools and churches always civilize,” Gwen said. “I remember Pa saying that.” She poured coffee into each of the mugs.

Lacy nodded. “I do, too. I suppose it’s true, given that families would be more inclined to move to a place with such facilities available to them. Still, I worry that we are only delaying for a time the misery we’ve known here.”

“Ah,
‘plus dolet quam necesse est qui ante dolet quam necesse
est,’ ”
Hank murmured.

Lacy raised a brow. “And that would mean what?”

“ ‘He suffers more than is necessary who suffers before it is necessary.’ There is simply no use working yourself into a lather over something that hasn’t happened. Give our dreams a chance.”

Lacy considered her own life and all that stretched before her. “I suppose dreams are important.”

“Of course they are,” Gwen said, smiling. “Dreams give us hope for the future.”

Hank reached for the tray as Gwen stepped forward. “Exactly. Oh, and here’s a good bit of news: I’ve heard from Nick’s uncle and cousin. They aren’t happy in Bozeman. They feel they will be better off joining us and starting over. They’ve managed to save a small amount of money while working for other folks, but both want to get back to owning their own shop.” He secured the tray and turned to go.

“It’ll be nice to have Millie close by,” Gwen said.

“I thought you’d be pleased to hear the news. Thanks for the coffee.” Hank nodded toward the tray.

Lacy pulled the cookies from the oven. “I’ll bring you some of these when they cool.”

Hank grinned. “I was hoping you would.”

Lacy finished serving the men before heading out for the Shepard ranch. Gallatin House was in need of butter and eggs before the stage came in the following day. The countryside, with its gentle swaying grass and wild flowers, revived Lacy’s senses. She never tired of the grandeur—the stately beauty of the Rocky Mountains. The rugged peaks had lost their snowy caps, but she knew it wouldn’t be for long. Soon enough the high country would once again clothe itself in white. Before she knew it, September would arrive and she would marry Dave. If not sooner.

“Lacy!”

She halted the horse and wagon at the sound of her name. Looking to the right, she saw that Cubby was crossing the field. He carried a rifle in one hand and balanced a long stick on his shoulder with the other. Two dead rabbits dangled from the small stripped branch.

“Hello, Cubby.”

He paused and looked at her for a long moment. “I’m sorry I hit you.”

He spoke as if the incident had happened only the day before. Lacy met his gaze. “Thank you for apologizing.”

Cubby looked away and kicked at the dirt. “Is it true you plan to marry Dave Shepard?”

Lacy nodded. “It is.”

He squared his shoulders and seemed to puff up his chest a bit as he fixed her with a hard stare. “I won’t help you find your pa’s killer if you do.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You don’t have to help me find him, Cubby. Dave and I are capable of continuing the search. Honestly, why do you think it’s acceptable to bully me into calling off my engagement?”

Frowning, Cubby shook his head. “I’m not bullying. I’m just sayin’ I know something about it, but I won’t tell you if you marry Dave Shepard.”

Anger coursed through Lacy. She tightened her grip on the reins. “If you know who killed my father, you need to speak to the sheriff. It’s your duty.”

“I only have a duty to myself,” he snapped back.

“Now you really sound like your father.”

His face reddened. “Stop saying that! I’m not like him. You can’t see me for who I really am.”

“Your actions speak for themselves,” Lacy replied. “You bully people and try to force them to do things your way, and when they don’t, you strike out to hurt them.”

“I told you I was sorry for hitting you,” Cubby said, raising his voice.

“I’m not talking about that,” Lacy countered. “You are hurting me by suggesting you know who was responsible for my pa’s death, yet you won’t see the man brought to justice. You say you care about me, but you do nothing but grieve me.”

“I could say the same. In fact, I will.”

“You just did. Good day, Cubby.” She snapped the reins and put the horse in motion.

“I’m not like my pa, Lacy.”

The words rang across the open expanse of land. Lacy couldn’t be sure, but she thought his voice broke just a bit as he declared it for a second time. She trembled to think he might actually know the name of the murderer. Maybe it was just a game, she reasoned. Cubby might not know the killer, but he knew how important it was to her. Maybe he was simply using it to get her attention.

Well, it had done that, for sure. Lacy could scarcely think of anything else as she continued to the ranch. What if he really did know who killed her father?

“What in the world is that all about?” Beth asked, pointing to a line of wagons as they came around the bend from the south.

Lacy glanced up to see the procession. “I have no idea. It looks like an entire wagon train.” She got up from her seat on the porch and handed Max back to Beth. “Where do you suppose they’re bound?”

By now the front rider had passed by Rafe’s and was headed directly for Gallatin House. “Morning, ladies,” the man said, tipping his hat. “I wonder if you might tell me, is this Gallatin Crossing?”

“Yes, it is,” Lacy replied.

The man signaled to the first wagon. “This is it!” The wagon came to a halt with the others pulling up tight behind it.

“Can we help you?” Beth asked.

“I sure hope so.” The man took off his hat and wiped his forehead with the back of his sleeve.

Lacy thought the man looked to be about fifty. His skin was leathery and weathered, betraying his many hours in the sun. Behind him stood a string of wagons—at least ten that Lacy could count. Women and children were disembarking to stretch and survey the town.

“I’m J. D. Patterson,” the man told her, “and this is the group out of Colorado.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know anything about a group out of Colorado,” Lacy told him.

The man frowned. “We have deeds to land around these parts.”

Lacy could only imagine that Hank had sold them part of the Vanhouten acreage. She smiled to ease the man’s concerns. “You probably need to talk to my brother-in-law, Hank Bishop. He’s over there at the store. I’m sure he’ll know exactly what’s going on. Why don’t you come with me.”

But Hank knew no more than Lacy. He took a look at the man’s papers and then back to the gathering of men. There were thirteen in all, each representing the thirteen families who’d come from Denver to make a new start in Montana.

“I don’t know anything about this,” Hank told them.

Just then an old miner stumbled up to the counter. “What do you have to ease the miseries of a constipated mule?”

Everyone turned and looked at the man as if he’d lost his mind. He didn’t seem to care that they were startled. “My Myrtle has been in a world of hurt for two days, and I need to give her some relief.”

Hank nodded and went for a bottle on one of the back shelves. “This should do the trick. Give her a good-sized dose to start with. The instructions on the back will tell you.”

“Cain’t read,” the man admitted. He pulled some coins from his pants. “But I’ll get someone to tell me.” He paid Hank and then started toward the door. “Cain’t spend time jawin’ with ya, either,” he told the gathered people. “We can have a good yak after I get Myrtle on her way to happiness.”

The wagon train folks watched the miner make his way out the door. The entire event seemed almost surreal, and Hank motioned to Lacy. “Close the door and turn the sign. We don’t need to have any more interruptions.” She did as he directed, pressing her way through the angry crowd.

Hank continued. “I’m afraid you may have been duped.”

“That’s impossible. The man was from the railroad,” Patterson said firmly. “He had the proper credentials. He told us the railroad was going to run a spur line to Gallatin Crossing, and they could offer us cheap land to encourage town growth.”

“But as far as I know there isn’t going to be a spur line,” Hank countered. “At least none they’re talking about for the present.” He went to his desk and pulled out the map he’d acquired of the railroad’s final survey.

“See here,” he said as he spread the map out, “the line runs well to the north of Gallatin Crossing. If a spur was ever to be built, it would be many years down the road. As for land, well, most of the land in this area was previously owned by me.” He met the men’s expressions. “I hired no agent to act on my behalf and sell any of it.”

Lacy could see that the men were upset. She also realized the stage would be in most any time. “We’re expecting the noon stage, gentlemen,” she interjected amidst their grumblings. “We will need to feed the passengers and change out the horses, but after that, we can certainly revisit this matter.” She looked at Hank. “Maybe you could help them locate a place to set up camp and clear the road for the stage.”

Hank nodded. “You men can move your wagons to just behind the store. After lunch we can discuss what’s to be done.”

One by one the men shuffled out the store and back to their waiting women. Lacy didn’t envy the worn group. They’d been on the trail since sometime in April and were ready to settle onto their land. Only there was no land.

“I think Justin is stealing some of the baby’s things,” Beth told Nick as he readied harnesses for the stage team.

He shook his head. “Why do you suppose it’s Justin? We’ve had plenty of other things disappear around here.”

“These are things from inside the house,” she countered. “And only things that belong to Max are missing.”

“Did you ask him? Maybe he just wanted to see them and forgot to return them.”

“Yes, I did ask,” Beth said, her frustration mounting. “He said he wouldn’t touch anything that belonged to Max because he hates him.”

Nick looked at her in surprise. “He actually said he hated him?”

“Yes. He said that you are too busy to go fishing with him, and I’m too busy to play tricks with him. He said that it was all Max’s fault and that he hated him.”

Nick rechecked the harness in his hand and headed for the door. “I have to ready the team for the stage, but I’ll talk to Justin about it after the stage goes. It’s probably not as bad as you think.”

Beth wasn’t convinced. She hurried back to the house to help Gwen and Lacy with the meal, her heart heavy with worry for Justin.

“You look upset,” Gwen said as Beth entered the kitchen.

“I am.” Beth tied on her apron and immediately looked around for what her next task should be. “I tried to talk to Nick about Justin, but he’s too busy getting ready for the stage.”

Lacy took a stack of plates and headed for the dining room, and Beth lowered her voice to keep her younger sister from hearing. “Justin told me that Lacy loved him more than I did. He said he’d rather she be his mama.”

Gwen smiled. “He’s just being ornery. He doesn’t know how it hurts you.” She stirred a thick stew and replaced the lid. “You can’t let the antics and comments of a ten-year-old ruin your day.”

“I just thought we were closer than that.” Beth frowned. “I love him. He’s a son to me every bit as much as Max.”

“Have you told him that?” Gwen asked.

Beth thought back on the times she’d spoken with Justin about her feelings for him. She thought of all the things they’d done together before the baby had come. True, she hadn’t had much time for such fun since Max’s arrival, but that would change in time.