A Love of Her Own (5 page)

April stood thinking about the predicament and quickly formulated an idea. “No, Dr. Barnum. I have to get to Lewistown.”

“So do we all, and we will.”

April saw by the look on his face that he knew she was considering what she could do. She walked toward Morgan, who was taking a closer look at the wheel at the rear of the stagecoach.

Morgan looked up and said, “I’m gonna need the bags unloaded that are strapped on top of the coach. Mark, you think you and Billy could give me a hand with that?”

“Sure thing,” Mark answered. Billy hurried over and started climbing on top of the coach.

April shielded her eyes from the sun to look up at Billy. “Could you throw mine down first?”

Morgan threw her a questioning look, but she pretended she didn’t notice. “I’m going to change clothes.”

“Whatever for?” Beth asked, swinging Anne back and forth in her arms.

“If Mr. Kincaid will let me, I want to borrow one of the horses and ride on into Lewistown.”

April heard Beth gasp.

“What? Are you crazy? You’ll wait just like the others,” Morgan sputtered.

“Mr. Kincaid, I’m a good horsewoman, and you’ll have a fresh mount when Leon gets back. Besides, he may have to wait for another coach. In the meantime, I could take one of your horses and might be able to get to Lewistown before the wedding at five.”

“What makes you think I’ll let you do that, Miss McBride?” Morgan pursed his lips into a fine line. “You can wait right here like the rest.”

April dropped her shoulders, momentarily deflated. “Because I’m begging you. I’ll take care of your horse and you won’t be responsible—”

Mark interrupted. “I say if she can stay on one of those huge beasts, then let her give it a try. It’d be a shame to miss her only brother’s wedding.” Mark glanced at Morgan.

“I have a feelin’ that I’m gonna regret this . . . but since I know Josh personally, I’ll agree, Miss McBride, but my horse better not come back lame, and you better not fall off. I’m still responsible for my passengers.” He walked toward the team and started the process of unharnessing another horse. “I don’t know what you’ll do for a saddle, but that’s your problem.”

“I can ride bareback for a few hours, if you have a blanket.”

Morgan grunted. “I have one under the driver’s seat that we use for sudden cold spells. I’ll grab it.” He climbed up to the seat and came back with a woolen blanket and handed it to April.

“Perfect,” April said, taking the blanket. Morgan watched her, his eyes narrowing in thought.

“Billy, would you drag my trunk over to those bushes there?” April turned to Mark. “And thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Mark stood with his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “I feel pretty sure you can handle just about anything you set your mind to.”

April felt her face burn. “I’m not sure about that, but I’m determined to make it to Lewistown.”

“If I don’t make it to Josh’s wedding, please give him my apologies, and I’ll catch up with him and Juliana later,” Mark said.

April hurried over to where Billy had dragged her trunk and opened the lid with her key. Mark and Beth went to find a grassy area to play with the baby while they waited for Leon to return.

After digging underneath her dresses and petticoats, she pulled out a pair of men’s jeans, a light blue flannel shirt, and a pair of boots. She’d keep her split skirt that she normally wore for later. No point in getting it filthy. Making certain that she wasn’t going to be seen behind the chokeberry bush, April scrambled out of her traveling skirt and jacket, yanked on the jeans, then quickly buttoned the shirt, stuffing the tails into her waistband. She put a few necessary items in her tapestry valise, along with the soft yellow dress that she would wear to Josh’s wedding. The rest of her things, including their gifts, she would retrieve when the stage arrived in town. She pulled her long hair into a knot, shoved it underneath her felt cowboy hat, and donned her black duster.

Billy’s eyes opened wide at April when she stepped from behind the bush. “Wow, Miss April. I hardly recognized you!”

“Good! I’ll be safer on the trail that way. Which horse did you decide to let me borrow?” she asked, fixing her gaze on Morgan.

“This here’s Gus. He’ll get you there in a hurry and is easy to control. When you check into your hotel, just have the livery take him over to the stage station until we arrive.” Morgan led a huge sorrel over to April, then gave her directions to Lewistown.

“I’ll take good care of him. I promise.” April patted Gus’s broad face and he snorted.

Morgan raised his eyes heavenward. “Lord, I hope I don’t regret this,” he prayed underneath his breath.

“Did you say something?” She turned to Morgan.

“I was just telling Billy to get your trunk.”

Billy piped up. “I’ll take care of it myself, Miss April. Hope I’ll see you in Lewistown later.” He gazed at her sheepishly.

“Thanks, Billy. I’m sure we’ll run into each other.” April dismissed him with a wave of her hand and turned to Morgan. “Mr. Kincaid, if you could just give me a hand up, I’ll be on my way.”

Morgan laced his fingers together, and she placed a booted foot inside it, throwing her other leg across Gus’s broad back. Morgan handed her bag up to her. “Thanks, Mr. Kincaid. I owe you one.” April looked down at Morgan, probably knowing he wasn’t too happy about his decision.

“You’ve got that right, Miss McBride. Do be careful. You ought to make it to Lewistown in just under two hours.” Morgan stepped back to let her pass. He watched her gallop down the trail, kicking up a cloud of dust, looking like a man from the back with a long coat and hat. He admired how she held her seat in spite of not having a saddle. He watched as she and Gus became one fluid motion until he could no longer see her on the dusty road.

As much as he hated to let her take off on Gus, Morgan was glad to be rid of April and her constant grumbling and complaining. If it wasn’t the food, it was the stops they had to make and where they stayed. She complained about the other passengers too. He was sure that she was used to having her every need met whenever she snapped her fingers. He hoped she didn’t return home by his stage. He had just about all he could take of her and her attitude.

Morgan turned to Mark. “I pity the man who tangles with those beautiful blue eyes.”

Mark chuckled. “Shoot, she’ll have him roped and lassoed quicker than a wildfire spreads.”

3

Wes thought he’d be able to get a handle on Lars’s mare in the corral at the edge of town and still have time to make it to the wedding. He hadn’t seen a horse that he couldn’t break. It was something he was proud of. But this mare might become the first.

He stepped back, letting the rope that he’d looped around the mare’s neck go slack. She was a beauty for a fact. Jet black, about sixteen hands high. Her sides heaving, she stopped pawing the ground before her in anger and stared him down with her huge, gleaming black eyes.

“Hey, girl, nobody’s gonna hurt you none,” Wes whispered, keeping his distance for a bit. He had to earn her trust. He tentatively took a step toward her, and then another with his palm faceup. The mare rose up on her back legs, pawing the air with her front hooves and tossing her head, which sent her mane flying. Wes yanked down hard on the rope, and the mare screamed. He dug his heels into the ground, trying to hold the rope taut while speaking quietly to her.

“Hey, you there! Stop that!”

Wes turned to see a young lad canter toward him on the back of a big sorrel, sending rocks and dirt flying as he reined his horse in. The rider stopped some distance away, but Wes could tell that he must have been on the trail for a while. He couldn’t help but notice that he used no saddle, only a blanket. Still holding the rope, Wes pushed his hat back to get a better look at who was yelling at him. The young man leaned over his horse’s neck to stare at him. His jeans and duster showed dirt from a long ride, and his floppy felt hat shaded most of his face.

“If you are trying to break that horse, those tactics won’t work!” Wes heard a squeaky-pitched voice laden with anger say.

“Boy, I’ve been doing this most of my life, and I don’t believe I asked for your advice!” he yelled back.
Snot-nosed kid sure has
a lot of nerve. Must not be from around these parts, or he’d know
better.

“Leave that mare be. I’ll take her off your hands.” The rider pulled out a wad of bills from his hip pocket and threw them in the dirt, and the mare snorted her displeasure. “That ought to be more than enough to cover the cost. I’m in a bit of a hurry, but I’ll be back to collect her in the morning.”

“She’s not for sale. She belongs to Lars, the smithy, for your information.” Wes drew his lips into a tight line.

The young man’s horse danced back and forth in agitation. “He’ll sell her just to get her off his hands. Right now, I have a wedding that I must attend.” The rider yanked the reins in the direction of town and cantered off.

Wes picked up the money.
Whew! This high-strung mare isprob
–
ably not worth this amount for all her aggravation.
Wes wondered who that person could have been. No matter, he was going to the wedding too, and he’d just hand the money right back to him.

Wes let the rope drop and left the corral. The mare immediately ran to the far side. She would get used to walking about with the rope, and then maybe he’d try to put a bridle on her. But now he needed to wash his hands and hightail it to Josh’s wedding. Maybe he’d see Natalie there. She had been friendly to him at the art sale and at church, when he’d let Josh talk him into going. Would she remember him?

April could hear the bells tolling the five o’clock hour from the white clapboard church at the end of Main Street. She realized that she was already late and decided that if she went on to the hotel now to change, she would miss the entire wedding. She could slip in the back of the church unseen and then hurry to change for the reception. Her mother would be mortified if she knew that she’d taken off from the stagecoach alone with a borrowed horse, but she didn’t want to endure two days on a stage just to miss her beloved brother’s wedding. Too bad their parents wouldn’t be here.

It took only moments to find Beaver Creek Church on the edge of town. Looking around the churchyard, April saw that it was filled with horses and buggies. She tied Gus to a hitching post, tiptoed up the steps, and eased open the church door. Good, no squeaking. She breathed a sigh of relief. Closing the door behind her, she turned to see the church pews filled with people and decorated with white bows and orange chrysanthemums. The wedding party was already assembled at the altar. She took one tiny step over to the nearest pew, and the floor groaned in protest. She held her breath, but in the quiet sanctuary, the guests turned around to see who the latecomer was. She quickly sat down, her hat still on to help hide her face, but not before Josh’s eyes locked with hers and a huge grin spread across his handsome face. April placed a finger to her mouth, indicating for him to be quiet, so he turned to face his bride. She wouldn’t be able to skip out early now that he’d spotted her.

She tried to ignore the stares around her, but she was acutely aware of her grimy appearance and knew her cowboy garb was not appropriate for a wedding. With her hair pushed under her cowboy hat, perhaps they would think she was a man.

April squirmed in the pew, a bit warm with her duster on, but she dared not remove it and cause any more distractions. After the ceremony, she’d hurry out before she would have to speak to anyone else.

She focused on the reverend as he spoke the wedding vows to the couple. Josh’s bride, whom she now knew as Juliana, was tall with dark hair, and from her profile April could tell she was attractive. Josh wore a navy blue suit and matching string tie with a chrysanthemum in his lapel, and black leather boots. Juliana was dressed in a white gown with delicate lace inserts at the bodice and sleeves. Around her head she wore a crown of mock orange blossoms and a trailing veil of frothy tulle. They made a handsome couple. Her brother was looking at Juliana with complete adoration, as she smiled up at him with trembling lips. April adored her brother and prayed that Juliana would be a good wife for him.

The vows were repeated and rings exchanged, and the groom lifted the lacy veil and kissed his bride, lingering a moment on her lips. The smiling couple faced the congregation before walking the length of the aisle. Everyone stood up clapping and cheering. As they neared April, Josh stopped and leaned over for a kiss from his sister as she congratulated him. April noticed the questioning look Juliana gave him.

In a quiet voice so as not to be overheard, Josh said, “Juliana, meet my sister April. Apparently she just rode up. Literally!”

April shot her brother an impish look, then smiled at his new wife. “Nice to meet you. I’ll see you at the reception in the fellowship hall once I’ve changed.”

“Lovely to meet you as well,” Juliana murmured shyly.

“Don’t take long, sis,” Josh said, guiding his bride back into the aisle to go outside.