Mail Order Bride - Westward Sunrise: Historical Cowboy Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 9) (5 page)

Rachel smiled at her boss. “I’m glad he thinks so.”

“I do,” Elliot said.  “Everything going okay?”

Rachel nodded.  “Yeah.  No problems or anything.  It’s actually been pretty quiet.  Everyone must be getting ready for tonight,” she said.

“What’s tonight?” Abby asked.

“Fridays are usually very busy at the Watering Hole,” Elliot said.  “It can get a little wild.”

Rachel put her elbows on the counter and said, “I wish I could go, but Mitch would never allow that.”

“No, he wouldn’t,” Elliot said.  “Sorry.”

“Me, too,” Rachel said.  “I love Mitch and Sammi, but being raised by a Sheriff and deputy can be tough.”

Elliot wasn’t going to comment on that statement and get himself in trouble either way.  “Well, I’m going to show the house to Abby.  I’ll be back later on to help close up, okay?”

“Okay.  See you later,” Rachel said as they headed towards the back of the store.

“Poor kid,” Elliot said as they entered the office.

Abby asked, “What makes you say that?  Because of Mitch and Sammi?”

Elliot laughed.  “No.  They’re great parents to the kids.  She has a huge crush on Jack, the deputy, and he has no clue.  Of course, Rachel doesn’t know that I know it, either.  I can see it every time he comes in the store, though.  She lights up and can’t concentrate when he’s around.”

Abby looked around at Elliot’s messy office as she asked, “He doesn’t feel anything for her, then?”

“Well, he’s about four years older than her and I think he still sees her as a kid.  That could change as they both get older, though,” Elliot said as he opened the back door.

Abby stepped through and looked at the house she was planning on sharing with Elliot. The two-story white structure looked well-maintained.  The yard between the two buildings was brown since the grass had been dried up by the heat and sun.

She knew that there was a kitchen, parlor, small dining room, and two bedrooms upstairs.  As Elliot showed her around, Abby found that she felt at home in the house.  It had a welcoming atmosphere and Abby thought it must be because she already knew so much about Elliot.  Although it was apparent from the décor that two men had lived there for a long time, it was clean and relatively neat. 

Abby saw that it could use some new curtains and rugs, things of that nature that most men didn’t really think about, but on the whole, it was a nice house.

She turned around to say something to Elliot and collided with his chest.  “Whoops!  I didn’t know you were right there,” she said with a laugh.

“No problem,” Elliot said as he grasped her shoulders to steady her.  The contact with her body had been far from unpleasant.  “Are you all right?”

Abby smiled.  “Yes, thank you.  Your house is even nicer than you told me it was.”

“Thanks.  I was hoping you would like it,” Elliot said.  He released her arms, but what he really wanted to do was pull her closer. 

“Very much so.  When we go back through the store, I’d like to pick up a few things,” Abby said.

“Ok.  But I’m not taking your money,” Elliot said.

She fixed her blue eyes on him and Elliot felt that pleasurable stomach drop again.

“Why not?” she asked with a puckered brow.

“Because that would feel a little weird,” Elliot said.

“It’s not strange.  We’re not married and if I wasn’t who I am and you weren’t who you were, I’d still have to pay for my purchases,” Abby said.

“I see what you’re saying and while it makes sense, I’d still feel strange about it,” Elliot said.

“So you’re telling me that until we would be married, I’m not going to pay for anything?” Abby asked.

Elliot sighed.  “I guess that won’t work, either.  I don’t care about the money part, but if I were you instead of me, I’d feel the same way you do.”

“What if you didn’t know I was buying things?” Abby asked. 

“Huh?  You lost me on that one,” Elliot said.

“If you don’t see me buy them then you won’t know what I bought and how much it costs and all that.  See?” Abby said.

Elliot saw and the fact that he saw her twisted logic was funny.  He laughed and said, “Okay, so how are we going to do this right now?”

“You stay here in the house and give me fifteen minutes.  I’ll buy what I need to and then go home with it.  I remember where I’m going.  Then you come to my place with dinner later on,” Abby said.  She wasn’t ready to part ways with him, but it was the best solution and it would give her a chance to freshen up and unpack before he showed up.

Elliot thought about it for a moment and said, “Okay.  I guess that works.”

“Good.”  She took his hand again and said, “I’m really glad to finally be here, Elliot.”

He smiled back at her and said, “I’m glad you’re finally here, too.”

Before she could talk herself out of it, Abby rose on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Bye, Elliot,” she said.  Then she trotted out of the room before he could see her blush.

              Their dinner that evening was eaten on the little table in her kitchen.  She told Elliot all about her trip to Dawson and Elliot was astonished at her detailed memory recall.  He laughed as she told him about funny people she’d met along the way.  Abby enjoyed his laugh and seeing his brown eyes shine when he did.  Happiness unlike any she’d ever known blossomed inside her as they ate and talked about whatever came to mind.

              Elliot didn’t seem to mind when she went off on a tangent about something.  She’d get a little carried away and then catch that gleam of humor in his eyes and laugh with him.  Elliot found that she was the type of person who didn’t take herself very seriously and wasn’t afraid to laugh at her quirks.

              He had surprised her by bringing all of her letters with him and she ran to get his letters from the drawer in which she’d put them.  After they ate, they sat close together at the table as they put their letters in chronological order.  She had used odd numbers to order hers since she’d sent the first letter and he had used the even numbers.  That way they were able to simply flip right through them.  They laughed over some of the sillier things they had said to each other that no one else would get.

              As they talked, Abby found it impossible not to touch his hand or his arm.  She craved that innocent contact and Elliot seemed to feel the same way.  Elliot tried not to stare at her pretty bow-shaped mouth too much.  He’d have liked to kiss her, but felt it was too soon for that.

              When seven o’clock rolled around, Elliot announced that they should go over to the bar because things would be getting started at that point.  Abby let out a tiny squeal of excitement before she could stop herself and jumped up.  Elliot was beginning to understand why people said Abby was hyperactive.  It seemed that she was always in constant motion, which he found amusing.

              Jake smiled as he saw Elliot enter the bar. 

              “Where’s your girl?” he asked.  “You didn’t bring her to meet us?”

              “I did, but she’s outside.  I need you to stop what you’re doing and come around the bar and stand in front of it.  Get your wife and have her do the same thing.  Don’t ask, just do it,” Elliot said with a smile, and then went into the barroom and started looking around.  He quickly assembled the people he wanted out by the bar.

              “Ok, now you can’t tell Abby who you are.  We have a bet going that she can guess who each of your identities.  Jack, take off your badge,” Elliot said.

              Jack chuckled.  “Yeah, I guess that’d be a dead giveaway.”

              “Right,” Elliot said.  “I’ll be right back.”

              When he went out the door, Jake said, “I’ve never seen Elliot like that before, have any of you?”

              Sammi said, “Nope.  This is a strange start to their relationship, but each to their own.”

              Lacey said, “I think it’s kind of nice.”

              Elliot came back in with Abby and she smiled as Elliot introduce her and said, “Now, not a word from anyone unless she guesses who you are correctly.”

              Abby said, “Before I start, I just want you to know that I’m so excited to meet all of you.  Elliot has told me so many wonderful things about all of you.  Okay, here goes.”

              As her gaze roamed intently over each of them, Sammi looked at her hair.  She didn’t think it was every woman who could wear their hair short like that and look as good as Abby did.  After giving the group a thorough onceover, Abby closed her eyes a moment and cocked her head as if listening to something.  Then she opened her eyes and started.

              “Okay, if I guess who you are, move off to the side, please,” she said.  “Ladies first.  Rebecca.  You’re the only lady with black hair.  Um, Sammi.  You’re easily recognizable for obvious reasons. Jamie. You have red hair.  Lacey, and…Hannah,” she said as she pointed at each in turn.

              All five women moved away from the men as they laughed. 

              “You’re pretty good so far,” Lacey said.  “This is fun.”

              Elliot smiled, “Yeah, it is.”

              “Okay, now the gentleman.  Jake,” she said.

              “How’d you know?” Jake asked.

              “Because you have a bar towel on your shoulder,” she said.

              Joe laughed and said, “You idiot.”

              Abby jumped on her advantage and said, “Joe.  You’re the Texan.”

              Elliot rolled his eyes and said, “I told you to keep your mouths shut.”

              Joe laughed and moved away from the group as Jake went back behind the bar.

              “Luke.  The big brown eyes are a dead giveaway.  Gus.  It’s the hat.”  She moved to stand in front of Jack and Seth.  “Jack and Seth,” she said as she put a hand respectively on each of their arms.  “Mitch.  You carry yourself like a Sheriff.”  Standing in front of Owl, she spoke in the Sioux language that all three branches knew.  “Hau.  You’re Owl.  Nice to meet you.”

              Owl’s brows rose and he smiled and responded in kind.  “Very good, sister.  Elliot didn’t tell us that you speak Sioux.”

              She grinned at him.  “Elliot was right.  You are a very handsome man.  Hannah’s a lucky woman.”

              Owl’s smiled turned a little bashful and those that understood Lakota laughed.  Abby moved on to Ben and started to draw a blank.  She closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them.  Her brow puckered as she concentrated.

              Elliot began to speak, but she put a hand over his mouth and the group laughed as she said, “Hush!  I’m not ready to admit defeat.”  She paced back and forth as she stared at Ben.

              Ben thought
she’s cute as hell with that hair and pretty little face.  She's got a fine figure, too. 
He wasn’t offended in the least.  He was rather glad that he presented a challenge to her. 

              Suddenly she burst out with, “Ben the bouncer!”  She grabbed his forearm and bounced up and down a little as she laughed.  Then she hurried over to Elliot and held out her hand.  “Pay up!”

              Elliot tried to scowl and failed as he dug out their penny and handed it over.  Abby whooped and put in her dress pocket.  “Victory!”

              Sammi started laughing at her antics and couldn’t stop as she saw the look on Seth’s face. 

              Seth looked between Elliot and Abby and said, “The bet was for only a penny?”

              Sammi snorted and everyone laughed.

              “Not just any penny, Seth,” Abby said.  “This penny has travelled back and forth across the country with every letter we sent, and there are a lot of letters.  It was to pay for each other’s thoughts.”

              Suddenly Sammi’s laughter faded to be replaced by tears.  “That’s so romantic,” she said as she sniffed.

              Mitch handed her his handkerchief and chuckled.  Sammi took it, blew her nose, and said, “Damn mood swings.”

              Abby spontaneously hugged her.  “Aw.  Don’t worry, they’ll pass.”

              To everyone’s surprise, Sammi hugged Abby back.  Then Abby said, “Okay, Jake, may I have a beer?”

              Jake smiled and said, “Sure.  It’s on the house since you won the bet.”

              “Thank you,” Abby said.

              Joe watched Elliot’s face as he looked at Abby.  His expression was one of pride.  Joe couldn’t blame Elliot.  Abby was fun and had the most fantastic memory he’d ever seen.  He was glad that Elliot had found someone that had a good intellect such as Abby. 

              “How is your baby girl, Jamie?” Abby asked the redhead.

              Little Rosie Samuels had come along a couple of weeks after Elliot’s father had passed.  She had Jamie’s red hair and Luke’s dark eyes and was precious.  Everyone got a kick out watching Luke with her because he was so big and she so tiny.  Luke was a doting father and didn’t mind retrieving the baby for Jamie to feed in the middle of the night.  When Rosie had her belly full, Jamie and Luke sang her lullabies and she would soon fall asleep again.

              Jamie beamed and said, “She’s beautiful.  This is my first time away from her.  We can’t stay long, but Tessa said it would be good for us to get out for a little while.”

              “I’m so glad you did so I could meet you.  I’m sure she’s gorgeous,” Abby said.  “I can’t wait to see her and meet everyone else, too,” Abby said.

              Joe said, “Speaking of having to leave early, let’s sing some before ya’ll gotta go, Jamie.  Abby, you’re in for a real treat.”

              “I’ve no doubt,” Abby said.

              Elliot was happy to stand back and watch Abby with all of his friends.  He was extremely pleased that they all seemed to like her so well.  Jake gave Abby her beer and poured one for Elliot.  He led her into the barroom and she took it all in.  She smiled as she saw the wall with the Lakota display and went to examine it more closely. 

              Owl had followed them over.  “So, sister, what do you think?” he asked in Lakota.

              “It’s beautiful.  The dream catchers are so colorful and the beadwork on the clothing is remarkable.  Please tell whoever did it that I said so, Owl,” she said.

              “I will do that.  How is it that you know Sioux?” Owl asked.

              “Wabasha, where I’m from, is as far as I know the oldest city in Minnesota and was originally home to the Sioux.  They’re part of the fabric of our community and I’m friends with several.  They taught me over the years,” Abby said.

              “I’d say you learned very well,” Owl said.

              Abby smiled at him.  “The same goes for your English.”

              “Thank you.  Well, I’ll let you get seated,” Owl said with a friendly pat on her shoulder.

              Elliot drew her over to a table and they sat down. 

              “You didn’t tell me that you know quite that much Lakota,” he said.  “You’re holding out on me.”

              Abby gave him a coy smile and said, “A woman has to have a little mystery.”

              He smiled.  “I guess so.”

              “I’m sure there are things I don’t know about you yet,” Abby said.  “We’ll have fun learning about each other.”

              Elliot met her gaze head on and said, “Yes, we will.”

              Something about the look he gave her made Abby feel a shimmer of awareness of him on a more primal level, and she suddenly wished they were alone.  Then the music and singing started and the moment passed, but Abby didn’t forget it.  Even as she tapped her feet and clapped with the rest of the crowd, the memory of that look stayed with her.

              Abby noticed how Jake kept coming out onto the dance floor with Rebecca or sometimes asked Lacey to dance.  Elliot had told her what a good dancer he was, but she thought that he was one of the best dancers she’d ever seen.  Lacey was spectacular as well. 

Elliot enjoyed watching her laugh during the raunchier songs and clap along with the beat.  Her animated mannerisms were a treat to watch.  He found that she responded very emotionally to the type of song played.  During love songs, she held his hand and if the song was a faster number, she swayed and stomped her feet.

At one point, Jake came over to their table and asked, “Elliot, is it okay if I borrow Abby for a dance?”

Elliot grinned.  “Sure.  I think she’s been itching to get out there.”

Abby blushed.  “Am I that obvious?”

Elliot put his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart and said, “Just a little.”

She laughed and took Jake’s hand.  As they reached the floor Jake spun her around and Elliot saw a flash of her legs as her skirts rose on the air current the spins created.  He was suddenly very thankful to Jake for asking Abby to dance for that reason alone.  As they danced, Elliot saw that Abby was very nimble and seemed to know many of the steps. 

When Jake did something she didn’t know, she made him show her how to do it.  She learned the new steps fairly easily and didn’t care if she made mistakes.  Elliot could almost see her mind working to solve the issue as she danced and laughed.  When the song was over, Jake returned her to Elliot and thanked him for being so gracious.

“That was so fun,” Abby said.  “You should try it some time.”

“Oh no.  I am not a good dancer at all.  I’m the definition of ‘two left feet’,” Elliot protested.

“When was the last time you tried?” Abby asked.
              “A long time ago and I learned my lesson to not try again,” Elliot replied.

“We’ll see,” Abby said and winked at him.

Elliot smiled and shook his head.  “You’re incorrigible.”

“Yes, I am.”

“She doesn’t even deny it,” Elliot said.

Abby shrugged.  “Why deny it when it’s true?  Do you want another beer?  I’m going to have one.”