Love Inspired Historical January 2015 Box Set: Wolf Creek Father\Cowboy Seeks a Bride\Falling for the Enemy\Accidental Fiancee (48 page)

“I'll go for Doc.” Tired as Rand was, he would do anything for his sweet sister-in-law.

While Nate tended Susanna and Rita took care of little Lizzy, Rand retrieved his tan oilcloth duster from the closed-in back porch and then headed to the barn to saddle a fresh horse.

He had no doubt Doc and Maisie would be at Nolan's party. Would it be possible to get their attention without seeing Marybeth? If he did see her, what would he say? Just a week before Christmas, how could he destroy all of her hopes of ever reuniting with her brother? The best thing would be to completely avoid her, no matter how much he wanted to talk to her.

Chapter Fourteen

M
arybeth guided Anna around the spacious drawing room to greet each guest, giving hints as to what the girl should say to each one from the ideas they'd rehearsed. As they moved away from their short chat with Doc and Maisie, Anna sighed...again.

“I know everybody here. I know what they did today and what they think of the weather. Why do I have to ask these silly questions?” The now-thirteen-year-old crossed her arms and huffed out a sigh.

“Because Nolan wants you to learn how to be a gracious hostess.” Marybeth had worked hard to absorb the lessons at Fairfield Young Ladies' Academy. Teaching them to Anna reinforced them in her own mind. “You must practice so it's second nature. You can appreciate that, can't you? You never want to be caught not knowing what to do or say.”

Another sigh. “I suppose not.” Anna's face brightened. “There's Tolley Northam. What should I say to him?” She giggled. “Can I tell him how much I like the way those big green eyes of his light up when he wears that gray shirt?”

Just like Rand's.
Marybeth stifled a smile. One day soon she'd be able to tell him she admired more than his eyes. “Only if you want to make him uncomfortable.”

“That'll be half the fun.” Anna took a step in Tolley's direction. “All the girls like to torment him just to see his face turn red.”

Marybeth caught her arm as gently as she could. “Save that for another day and—”

A small commotion at the drawing-room door cut her short. “Come, Anna. It's your responsibility to learn what's going on so you can smooth over any unpleasantness.”

They approached a cluster of people gathered around...Rand! Marybeth's heart leaped into her throat. He must have returned home in the past couple of hours, because Tolley had told her earlier his brother was still in Del Norte. She left Anna and shoved through the crowd, for the moment dispensing with the manners she'd worked so hard to learn. She did manage not to cast herself into his arms, but her whole body trembled with wanting to do just that.

“Is Doc here?” Rand appeared exhausted and a bit unkempt. Dark whiskers on his handsome face suggested he hadn't shaved for several days, yet he looked wonderful to Marybeth.

Doc and Maisie approached from the other direction, already donning their wraps.

“Is it Susanna?” Maisie pulled on her leather gloves while Doc retrieved his black bag from a nearby table.

“Yes.” Rand's gaze lighted on Marybeth and he gave her a brief nod.

Her heart jumped again but then sank when he didn't offer a smile or other greeting. Maybe it was time to be a little more like Maisie and Anna. She stepped over to him.

“Hello, Rand. It's good to see you back.”

Maisie and Doc swept past him, and he started to follow them. “Good night, folks.”

“Rand—” She couldn't let him go without asking him to come see her. That was, if he still cared for her.

He turned back just as Nolan stepped up beside her and snaked his arm around her waist. “Good evening, Rand. We are glad to see you back. When it is convenient, Marybeth and I would like to hear all the news about Hardison.”

Glaring at Nolan, Rand plopped his hat on his head. “Sure thing.” He disappeared into the hallway. Seconds later the front door slammed.

Marybeth spun around to face Nolan. “Why did you do that?”

“My dear, you cannot blame me for trying to discourage the competition.” He put on his shy face and for the first time she could see it was all an act. Further, his “my dear” sounded entirely too much like Dathan Hardison.

Mindful of several people watching, especially Anna, she smiled, leaned close to his ear and whispered in her sweetest tone. “But,
dear
sir, as I thought I'd made quite clear to you, there is no competition. There is no
we.
And since you refuse to hear me, I will be going home now.”

His possessive smile drooped slightly. “May I at least have one dance before you leave? Please do not embarrass me in front of my company.”

Every instinct shouted “no.” Every lesson she'd learned at Fairfield Academy insisted she must comply. “Very well.”

Yet as they twirled around the drawing room to Mrs. Foster's slightly rusty Strauss waltz, Marybeth chanced to glance out the front window. There stood Rand in the light streaming through the glass, his hands shoved into the pockets of his long coat, his shoulders hunched, his eyes on her. Before she could lift a hand to hail him, he turned and strode away.

* * *

The wind slicing around the edges of Rand's oilcloth duster wasn't nearly as sharp as the pain in his heart. He spun away from the mansion and nailed shut the door of hope he'd briefly opened when he knew he'd see Marybeth this evening, after all. Maybe the Lord planned it this way so he'd finally get it through his head that she wasn't for him. With all of her fancy training back East, no wonder she preferred to marry a banker. He tried to console himself that a ranch wife should know how to cook, but his heart answered that he would eat anything she prepared and love it because it came from her hands.

Back home for the second time this evening, he set aside his troubles and kept Nate company in the ballroom, the farthest spot in the house from poor Susanna's cries. She was a brave little gal, but even a cow sometimes bawled when dropping a calf.

To keep Nate's mind off of his wife's suffering, Rand showed him the toys he'd brought home. “Frank and I carved the rough shapes, and Andy finished up the details. He's got a real talent.”

“Those are really something.” Nate turned a four-inch toy soldier over in his hands and then picked up one of the smaller doll babies. “I know Lizzy will love to have one of these. Maybe Susanna can sew little blankets for them when she's up and about.” He gazed around the ballroom he'd built just over three years ago for their parents' twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. “You know, being in here makes me want to give the Christmas party, after all. We could do it next Saturday, this one just for the children. If all goes well...” He glanced up toward the other wing of the house as though trying to see Susanna through the ceiling and walls.

Rand patted his brother on the shoulder and sent up another prayer for the little mother and her coming baby. A party was a good idea. Maybe it would be just the thing to help him forget Marybeth. Mother always said doing for those less fortunate helped a person get over his own troubles. He'd speak to the preacher about the party after tomorrow's church service.

Around three in the morning Maisie came downstairs and invited them to come see the newest member of the Northam family, a healthy baby boy with a head full of the signature dark brown hair. Susanna was already sitting up, looking tired, happy and every bit as healthy as her son. Nate wiped away tears of relief and happiness before embracing the two of them.

A bit emotional himself, Rand let the happy event soothe away some of his sorrow over losing Marybeth. He fell into bed for a long, deep sleep, only to wake up around noon on Sunday and realize he'd missed church. He offered an apology to the Lord, but he figured the Almighty had mercifully let him sleep so he wouldn't have to see Marybeth sitting with Nolan. After all, a man could only take so much heartbreak.

* * *

Worn out from the previous night, Mrs. Foster stayed home from church to recuperate. Although several other ladies could have taken her place at the organ, they'd all urged Marybeth to play the hymns. They didn't have to ask twice. Now she wouldn't have to sit with Nolan, nor would she have to explain to Anna why she wouldn't be sitting with them anymore. She would, however, smile at Rand to let him know she would welcome a chance to talk with him. If he didn't approach her after the service, she would chase him down before he could mount his horse and ride away.

To her disappointment Tolley was the only member of the Northam family present at church. During announcement time, he revealed the good news of Nathaniel Junior's birth. He also said that since the church addition wasn't quite finished, his family would be holding a Christmas party for the children of the community the next Saturday, Christmas Eve. Several ladies volunteered to bring food and help through the week, as well as with the event itself.

Marybeth loved the idea of the party. This would be the perfect opportunity to show Rand how well she could cook. If that didn't restore his interest in her, nothing would. The thought of failing to win him sobered her, yet she couldn't be entirely depressed about helping out. At least she'd get a chance to see Lizzy and the new baby.

After the service, the ladies gathered at the back of the church to decide when each would take a meal out to Four Stones since Rita would be too busy helping Susanna with the children to do all the cooking. Marybeth volunteered to go on Saturday. That would give her time to plan and prepare her best recipes. It would also give her time to come up with Christmas gifts for the Northam family. She knew exactly what she would give to Rand.

* * *

On Friday afternoon Seamus and most of the cowhands returned home from Denver, all of them better off after their extended stay at the camp meeting. Seamus's faith in the Lord had already been as solid as the Rock it was founded upon. Now his entire countenance, bearded though it was, glowed with an inner peace and joy. Some of the other hands had seen the Light and been converted. Of the fifteen drovers who'd taken the herd north, only three decided the seedy section of Denver was more to their liking than being preached to. Sorry to hear about the reprobates, Rand and Nate agreed the three had never been happy in a town with no saloon and no liquor.

After the men cleaned up from their travels, the trail cook fed them supper in the bunkhouse, during which Rand told them all about Hardison's attempted bank robbery. Later Rand took Seamus to the ballroom to show him the decorations for the next night's party.

“If you're not too worn out, maybe you could help me finish trimming the tree in the morning.”

“I'm your man.” Seamus plopped down on a sturdy settee and laid his head back against the antimacassar protecting the green velvet upholstery from just such actions. In his absence he'd let that beard grow out, the long, bright red whiskers contrasting sharply with his shoulder-length dark auburn hair. “I don't suppose you've seen Lucy while I've been gone.”

Rand sat in a nearby chair, pleased for a chance to finally talk with his friend. “I saw her last Saturday. She looked pretty miserable.” He explained about the party at the Meanses' house.

“It's a shame he treats folks that way.” Seamus got a faraway look in his eyes. “Y'know, Rand, a while ago when you told us about what happened with that scoundrel she took up with, instead of being angry, I felt sorry for her. I believe with all my soul the Lord's forgiven us for that shooting over in Del Norte. He's forgiven me for a whole lot more I've never told you about. I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't forgive her for misjudging Hardison. From what you said, I guess he put on a pretty good show that could turn any girl's head. What would you say if I rode into town tomorrow and invited her to the party?”

Rand thought for a moment as more of his own guilt sloughed away. “I'd say you're right about forgiving others as we've been forgiven. Go ahead and invite her.”

“Now, tell me about your little gal. You never did tell me her name.” Seamus seemed to have lost some of his Irish brogue, but the accent had always come and gone depending on the situation. Tonight he sounded more like a regular cowboy, probably from hanging around with the other men for so long. “When are you two getting hitched?”

Rand blew out a long sigh. “She's not my girl anymore. She took that job at the bank and Nolan Means started courting her. While I was in Del Norte guarding Hardison, he won her over.” And just as Seamus forgave Lucy, he needed to forgive her for breaking his heart.

Seamus sat up and reached over to grip Rand's shoulder. “I'm sorry to hear that.”

“Thanks.” Annoyance cut into his self-pity. “Let's talk about something else. Can we count on you to stick around and work for us another year, or do you plan to become a circuit-riding preacher?”

Seamus chuckled. “Nope. No preaching for me. But during the camp meeting, the Lord convicted me about some things I've done. I have some business to attend to back in Boston before I make any promises here.”

“Boston? I thought you were from Philadelphia.”

Seamus hung his head. “I guess I should come clean about a few things in my past.”

“You don't need to do that.” Rand gave his friend's arm a little shove. “It's all forgiven, remember?”

“Yes, but I still need to reconcile with my family, at least Mam and my sister, Marybeth. Even my da, if he's still alive...and sober.”

Rand nearly passed out on the wave of shivers running through him. “Jimmy O'Brien.”

Seamus jumped to his feet. “How did you know my real name?”

Rand could only stare at his friend, unable to speak. Now he didn't have to tell Marybeth her brother was dead. It might be too late to win her heart, but at least he could give her the Christmas present he'd so desperately wanted to.

* * *

After making certain Mrs. Foster was as well as she claimed, Marybeth slid her perfectly baked apple pie from the oven and placed it in a towel-lined basket. The cast-iron pot full of Irish stew sat in a wooden crate by the front door beside one sturdy leather case and a canvas bag full of presents, all ready to be carried out when Doc and Maisie came to fetch her.

Excitement and nervousness vied for control of her emotions, with excitement winning the moment the Henshaws arrived in the late afternoon. In the backseat of their surrey sat the three young daughters of the Chinese couple who operated the laundry at the edge of Esperanza. The girls' coal-black eyes were round with wonder, as though they thought perhaps a mistake had been made in their inclusion in today's festivities. Having grown up Irish in Boston, Marybeth knew all too well about such doubts. She gave the girls a warm smile as she climbed into the back and took a seat beside them. Soon they were on their way south toward Four Stones Ranch, singing Christmas carols as they went.