Mail Order Bride - Westward Sunrise: Historical Cowboy Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 9) (18 page)

              A week later, Jake went to the Dwyer estate and said to Joe, “I don’t want to move the bar anymore.”

              Joe said, “Why?  Because of your daddy?”

              “Yeah.  I don’t want to disturb the structure.  It was his place and I just can’t do that to it now that he’s gone.  It would feel like I was desecrating it or something,” Jake said.

              Joe nodded as he handed Jake a scotch.  “I understand, Jake.  So what are you gonna do?”

              “Not me, Joe. 
We
.  It’s what
we’re
gonna do,” Jake said, and tossed the drink back.

              Joe smiled. “Okay, what are we gonna do?”

              “We are gonna build a brand new Watering Hole out on that property. I’m gonna sell that orchard and use that money to help build the place.  I’ll take a lot of the fixtures and stuff and the bar and whatnot, but I don’t want anything done to the building itself,” Jake said.

              “That is a beautiful idea, Jake.  Marvelous, in fact.  But what about the current building?  What are you gonna do with it?”

              “Rebecca and I put a down payment on a house a couple of months ago and we were just waiting for the other people to move out.  They’ll be out soon and we’ll move in.  I won’t need the place anymore, but I know who will.  I can’t tell you about it until I talk to them,” Jake said.

              “All right.  Congratulations on the house, by the way,” Joe said.

              “Thanks.  Well, I have to go talk to that other party,” Jake said.  “We’ll talk soon, Joe.”

              Marcus went into the examination room to see Jake.  “Hi, Jake.  Not feeling so hot, huh?”

              “No, but I ain’t sick, Doc,” Jake said.  “It’s the only way I could see you.”

              Marcus smiled.  “Not that again.  Okay, what’s up?”

              “Well, I have something for you,” Jake said and held up a set of keys.

              “What are those for?” Marcus asked.

              Jake took Marcus’ hand and put the keys in them.  “These are the keys to your new medical clinic, Doc.  Your practice is outgrowing this one and the Watering Hole is the perfect size for it.  There’s plenty of space for more examination rooms and whatever else you need.  It’s got a kitchen and bathrooms, which could come in handy for you.  You could either rent out the apartment or live there yourself to be close to it.”

              Marcus said, “Jake, I don’t have the money to buy the place from you.”

              “You’re not buying it.  I’m giving it.  It’s free and clear, Marcus.  Pa would want you to have it.  You helped him so much.  We both know that without you, he’d have been gone long ago.  You need to keep helping people, but in order to do that, you need a bigger place to do it in,” Jake said.  “Don’t say no, Marcus.  Please use it for doing good.  Sort of like a legacy to Pa.”

              Marcus closed his hand around the keys and nodded.  “Okay, Jake, but only if we name it after him.  We’ll call it the Calvin Henderson Medical Center.”

              “He’d like that, Doc.  Now, we have one other matter we need to talk about.  Ben needs to go back to medical school so we have another doctor here.  You and Hannah are swamped and Ben is the answer.  He was almost ready to graduate when he was kicked out because of his father,” Jake said.

              “I think you’re right, Jake,” Marcus agreed.

              “It’s going to take some convincing, I think,” Jake said.

              Marcus smiled.  “I know just the person to do it.  Leave it to me.”

              Abby needed to go to the store for some things but didn’t want to run into Elliot.  She considered having someone go for her and then realized how stupid that would be.  It wasn’t like it was a game or anything like before.  No, the matter was very serious. Abby became determined and walked into the store.  Elliot was at the counter.  They froze when they saw each other and then Elliot smiled.

              “Hi,” he said.

              “Hi.  I just need a few things,” she replied.

              “Okay,” he said.

              “Fine,” Abby said, and walked on.  She hadn’t been prepared for how much she’d missed his smile or how badly she wanted to hug him.  As quickly as she could, Abby gathered her items and went to the register.

              Elliot said, “Is there anything else you needed?”

             
Only for my heart not to be broken
, she thought.  “No.”

              “Okay.”

              She watched his hands as he rung up her things.  She loved his hands and the way they’d touched her body.  “No, no, no!” she said.

              Elliot’s eyebrows rose.  “Did you change your mind about something?”

              “No.  I haven’t.  I just, oh, never mind.  Go ahead,” Abby said.

              Elliot thought he knew what had her so flustered.  It was probably the same thing that was bothering him.  “Your hair is longer again.  I’m not sure who around here would cut it for you.”

              “You don’t need to notice my hair,” Abby said.  She quickly paid her bill and left.

              Elliot smiled as he took the next person in line.  Bit by bit, he told himself.

              Ben showed up at her place late that afternoon.  She was surprised to see him.

              “Hello, Abby.  I was wondering if I might have the pleasure of your company this evening.  I’d like to go to Wolfe Point, but would prefer not to go alone.  I thought perhaps you would like a change of scenery,” he said, and watched her pretty face as he waited for her answer.

              Abby smiled as she took in the way he was dressed.  The black suit emphasized his broad shoulders and matched his black hair.  His green eyes were luminous and she became slightly entranced by them.  She thought about his offer.  Her first instinct was to refuse, but then the idea of being home alone didn’t appeal.  Ben was a fun person and she could use a little fun.

              “I take it that I need to wear some formal attire,” she said.

              Ben smiled.  He knew he had her.  “That’s correct.  Go get changed.  I don’t mind waiting.  I’ve got a team waiting at the livery stable.”

              He sat down on the sofa and looked at her expectantly.

              Abby laughed.  “You are confident of yourself, aren’t you?”

              “Yes, I am, but simply because I think it will be good for you to get out a little.  You can’t sit around and torture yourself by pining.  You’re too vital a person for that, Abby,” Ben said.

              Abby was touched by his concern and his compliment.  “All right.  I accept your offer.”

              “Thank you,” Ben said.

              When she emerged from her bedroom, Ben stood and let his gaze travel over her sweet figure.  She wore a deep maroon dress that showed off her assets a little and made his blood simmer with desire.

              Abby said, “I hope this is all right.”

              Ben said, “It’s more than all right.  You look gorgeous.”

              Abby thought she saw raw male appreciation in his eyes, but then it was gone.  “Thank you,” she said with a smile.

              “Well, shall we go?” Ben said.

              “Yes,” Abby said.

              Outside, Ben offered her his arm and Abby took it.  As they walked to the livery, Ben told Abby about Jake giving the Watering Hole to Marcus and how Jake and Joe were going ahead with plans to build a new and improved saloon on the property that Joe had bought.

              Abby laughed at how Joe had outsmarted the council.  Ben told her that she had a job once the place was built and she became excited over it all.  She had a sudden impulse to share the news with Elliot, but then squelched it as she remembered that they were no longer together.

              When Abby became quiet, Ben drew her out by talking to her about Joe’s idea to have wrestling matches at the new place.  That made her laugh and Ben’s heart did a little flip. 

              They collected their horses and buggy and headed out of town.  They went past Elliot’s store and he saw Ben and Abby riding out of town.  Ben gave him a smug smile.  Elliot just grinned and shook his head, which confused Ben.

              In Wolfe Point, Ben took her to the hotel dining room.  The food was superb and there was music for dancing.  Abby watched with amusement when Ben went over to the band leader and gave him some money and said something to him.  He came back over to her as a waltz started.  He bowed to Abby and offered his hand.

              Abby laughed at the mischievous smile he gave her and accepted his hand.  Ben’s movements were graceful and Abby thoroughly enjoyed dancing with him.  His touch was light and not unwelcome, she found.  That was confusing to her.  Every little bit, Ben would lean down and whisper something amusing in her ear about other customers.  She giggled and told him to behave, but of course he didn’t.

              Ben kept her amused on the way home, too.  He had a lot of funny stories to tell her about when he was a teenager.  It didn’t surprise her that he got in a lot of trouble.  Some of the ways he got out of scrapes were ingenious and Abby got a glimpse of Ben’s sharp intellect that she hadn’t seen before.

              When they arrived at her cottage, she invited Ben in for some tea and he accepted.  He gallantly started the fire for her so she didn’t get her dress dirty.  When the tea was ready they sat on the sofa.

              “Did you have a good time?” Ben asked.

              “Yes.  You’re a wonderful dancer,” Abby said.

              “Thank you.”

              “I didn’t know you danced like that,” Abby said.

              Ben smiled.  “Any southern gentleman worth his salt knows how to at least waltz.  We were required to attend balls and parties and dancing is always a part of those.  Therefore, it was necessary to be able to dance.”

              Abby sighed.  “I would like to go to a ball.  I think that would be romantic.”

              “They can be fun, but when you attend two to three a week it becomes tedious,” Ben said.

              Abby said, “I can see where that could happen.  I’m sorry that you went through such a horrible time.  How did you go from being a medical student to being a bouncer?”

              Ben smiled and said, “Well, I’ve always had an affinity for fighting and learned from some of the finest instructors.  I learned how to inflict the most pain with the least amount of work.  I know it might seem like an oxymoron that I would want to help heal people and then also enjoy hurting them.”

              “Yes.  I have wondered about that,” Abby said.

              “I only enjoy hurting those who deserve it.  I never hurt anyone who’s innocent of wrongdoing,” Ben said.  “I originally started attending medical school because I wanted to become a successful doctor and make money.  Along the way, though, I started caring more about the patients than the money.  That was why I was so angry when I was kicked out.  I was so close to finishing my degree and I could no longer help people.”

              Abby laid her hand on his arm.  “You could always go back to school, Ben.  Maybe get a scholarship or something?”

              Ben gave her a sad smile.  “I’ve thought about it, but I know how competitive that is and I’m not sure I would win the scholarship.”

              “You have to try, Ben.  You’re so close.  It’ll be a shame if you can’t continue your education and help people.  I know you could do it,” Abby said.

              Ben was moved by her faith in him.  “Your encouragement means a lot and I will think about it,” he said as he took her hand.  He squeezed it and ran his thumb over the soft skin on the back of it.

              Abby enjoyed his touch.  Then she looked into his eyes and saw desire in their jade depths.  Ben hadn’t planned on kissing Abby, but the sudden anticipation on her face led him to believe that she wouldn’t be adverse to it.  Slowly he leaned closer and cupped the back of her neck.  He tilted his head and softly pressed his lips to hers. 

              His kiss was exciting to Abby and she allowed him to deepen it.  She was curious and surprised.  Abby hadn’t realized that Ben was attracted to her.  Putting her arms around his neck, Abby let herself enjoy his embrace.  She didn’t mean to, but she found herself comparing Ben to Elliot.  Whereas Elliot’s kisses were passionate and tender, Ben’s kiss was passionate and fierce.

              Ben caressed her back and kissed Abby harder.  He’d wanted to kiss her for a long time and he wasn’t disappointed.  Her lips were soft and pliant under his, and that she was responding to him so strongly gave him hope that it would be possible for her to develop feelings for him.

              Ben’s mouth left her and he kissed his way to her ear and bit her earlobe.  Abby shuddered and held tightly to him.  She felt his hands on her hips and he pressed her harder against him.  Suddenly an image of Elliot rose in her mind and guilt struck her heart.  She pushed against Ben, struggling out of his arms.

              “No, Ben.  I can’t do this,” she said.

              Ben released her even though he didn’t want to let her go.  “What’s the matter, Abby?”

              “That shouldn’t have happened.”

              “Why?  We’re attracted to each other.  I don’t see the problem,” Ben said, even though he knew what the problem was.

              “I just broke up with Elliot and I can’t just jump into another relationship right away,” Abby said.  “I’m sorry, Ben.  I hope you can understand.”

              Ben smiled.  “I understand and I’m not rushing you.  I really hadn’t expected that to happen, either, but I’m not sorry it did.  Now you know where I stand and when you’re ready you know that there’s another man who appreciates you and would like to get to know you better.”  Ben got up and kissed her cheek.  “Goodnight, Abby.”

              “Goodnight, Ben,” Abby said.

              When he’d gone, Abby locked the door and carried the lamp into her bedroom.  There on her dresser sat at vase filled with flowers.  She recognized them as the kind that grew up on the ridge where she and Elliot had watched the sunrise.  The place where they’d both made love for the first time with each other.  A small box of her favorite candy sat by the vase and she couldn’t help smiling.  There was a note under the candy.

Just thought you would enjoy something pretty to look at and something sweet to eat.

              Abby had a strong yearning to go to Elliot’s house. She knew that he wouldn’t care about the late hour.  Then guilt over kissing another man filled her and that yearning faded.  Why had she kissed Ben?  She was honest with herself and thought about what a strikingly handsome man Ben was.  He was also fun, intelligent, and considerate.  And a very good kisser, she had to admit.  If she wasn’t still in love with Elliot, Abby could see herself dating Ben.  But she was still in love with Elliot and she didn’t think that was ever going to change.  She was going to have to tell Ben that.  She didn’t want to lead him on.

              The next day, Doc Turner and Marcus tracked down Ben at the Watering Hole.

              “Hello, Ben,” Doc said.  “How’ve you been?”

              Ben smiled at the older man.  He liked that Doc was a straight shooter and yet kind with everyone.  “I’m fine, sir, and yourself?”

              “Well, I’m all right for an old fart, thanks.  Ok, now that we got the pleasantries out of the way, I’ll tell you what I’m here for.  Marcus says you were a hair’s breath away from getting your degree,” he said.

              Ben gave Marcus a glance that told him he wasn’t pleased about Marcus telling this to Doc.  “Yes, sir, I was.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to finish.”

              Doc nodded.  “Well, that’s a shame.  Did you have a particular area of study?”

              “I was a surgical student,” Ben said.

              Both Doc and Marcus’ faces registered surprise. 

              “That’s wonderful,” Doc said.  “We sure could use a surgeon here.  Seth would have benefited from that a while back, but that’s beside the point.”

              “I do not have the funds to continue, Doc,” Ben said.  “So there’s no point in talking about it really.”

              “Now, now.  Don’t be so hasty, son.  What if you had a sponsor who would be willing to send you to school to finish?  Would you be willing to do that?” Doc asked.