Pony Express Courtship (22 page)

Seth walked up behind Rebecca. “I see our guests are helping themselves to your fine cooking,” he whispered against her ear.

She shivered and looked to the ground. “Not mine. Fay wouldn't let me help in the kitchen,” Rebecca whispered back. She found herself wanting to lean into him.

He chuckled. “Good for her.”

Rebecca felt someone watching them. She looked up to find the woman staring at Seth with interested eyes.

“Do you think Fay would slap my hand if I snatched a sandwich and maybe a slice of that sweetbread?” he asked, glancing at the table.

“Are you kidding? She'd let you take both plates if you wanted to,” Rebecca answered. It was true. Fay thought that Seth could do no wrong, especially after he told how he'd rescued Rebecca from the outlaws.

He grinned. “I'll settle for one sandwich and a slice of bread.” Seth walked over to Fay.

Rebecca turned her attention to the passengers. They both sat at the table. The woman's gaze continued to follow Seth. Why was she so interested in him? He was a handsome man, but so was her companion. So what did she find so intriguing about Seth?

Rebecca felt uncomfortable and she knew why. This woman was beautiful and she was interested in Seth. And for the first time in her life, Rebecca experienced jealousy.

Chapter Twenty-Four

S
eth felt the woman's gaze upon him, but decided to ignore her. The thought that she was trying to make her companion jealous bothered him and he decided that as soon as he finished his sandwich he'd head back out to the barn.

Fay handed him a glass with tea in it. “Here, this should help wash that bread down.”

He smiled his thanks, took a sip and then asked, “How is she doing today?”

Fay glanced over at Rebecca. She'd moved to the rocker by the window and picked up Fay's Bible. “Good. She wants to help but I told her she has to let her hand rest a few days before she starts using it.”

“I'm glad she has you watching over her,” Seth said, taking a big bite out of the sandwich.

Fay frowned at him. “If you keep gulping your food, you're going to choke.”

He chewed and swallowed. “I'm just in a hurry to get back to the barn,” Seth explained. He took a swallow of the tea.

Fay teased him in a quiet voice. “Why? Because our guests are making you uncomfortable?”

“You feel it, too?” he whispered.

She laughed softly. “No, I don't feel anything but I can see that you have drawn some attention from the woman. I think she likes you,” Fay whispered back.

Seth stuffed the last of the sandwich in his mouth. He already had two women to worry about; he didn't want or need to add another. As soon as he could swallow, he drank the last of his tea and handed Fay back the glass. “Thanks for the sandwich.” He turned to leave but her voice stopped him.

“Aren't you going to take a slice of sweetbread with you?”

He turned back to her. She'd wrapped it in a soft piece of cloth and handed it to him. From the corner of his eye, Seth could see that the passengers were finishing up their meal and were standing to leave. “Thank you, Fay.” He thought to go back out the kitchen.

A male voice stopped him. “Excuse me, but are you Seth Armstrong?” he asked.

Seth inhaled through his nose and released the air through his mouth. Then he turned to face the man with a smile. At least he hoped it was a smile and not a grimace. “Yes, I am.”

The man walked toward him with an outstretched hand. “I'm Ben Wheeler. May we speak to you outside?”

Seth shook the man's hand. “Of course.” His gaze moved to the woman and for the first time he really looked at her. Emma's words about Charlotte came back to him.
She's a sweet woman with auburn hair and green eyes.
Seth realized he was looking in the face of his mail-order bride.

She extended her hand also. “Seth, I'm Charlotte. Charlotte Fisher.”

He took her delicate hand in his. His gaze moved to Rebecca, who stared back at him with big blue eyes. Seth felt the air leave his lungs.

Mr. Wheeler cleared his throat. “Is there someplace private we can talk?” he asked.

Seth released Charlotte's hand. “Yes, yes, there is.” He opened the front door and inhaled the scent of roses as Charlotte passed him.

Once outside, Seth looked around for a place to take them. He knew that if they stayed on the porch, Rebecca would be able to hear every word they said.

Charlotte motioned toward the stage. “We could sit inside the coach and talk.”

“That's an excellent idea,” Mr. Wheeler agreed, leading the way.

Mr. Wheeler helped Charlotte into the stage and then motioned for Seth to follow her. “This is between the two of you.” He made eye contact with Seth and said, “I hope you make the right decision.” Mr. Wheeler nodded his head and closed the door on the coach.

Charlotte folded her hands in her lap and searched Seth's face. “I can't believe we are finally meeting.”

He looked around the carriage. “Me, either. This wasn't exactly how I thought it would happen.” Seth studied her face. “I'm sorry I didn't find you as fast as I'd planned.”

Charlotte shook her head. “No, it was my fault. Let me explain.”

Seth nodded, happy to finally find out what had happened to her.

“I left on the day I sent you that last letter but to get to the station I had to walk through a cold rainstorm. When the stage left I was soaked and already starting to feel bad. We got about halfway to St. Joseph and I was very sick. Fever and chills shook my body. The ladies on the coach were afraid I was going to make them sick, too. So they talked the driver into leaving me behind.” Her green eyes took on a faraway look as if she was reliving those moments.

“Why didn't you take the next stage and continue on? I would have taken care of you.” He leaned forward and took her hands in his.

Charlotte smiled. “I'm sure you would have, but I didn't have any more money and the next stage wouldn't arrive for another two days. The lady at the stagecoach stop said I could sleep in the barn. So I stumbled to the barn and tried to get better. When the stagecoach arrived I was weak from lack of food and the fever that had consumed me. But I was determined to get to you.” Her green eyes searched his.

Seth couldn't believe how cruel the women had treated Charlotte. She was beautiful and jealousy was a cruel beast that some women fought. Of course, jealousy may have had nothing to do with their treatment of Charlotte; it could have been their fear of getting sick. “I'm sorry I didn't get to you first,” he confessed. “You don't have to tell me this, if it is too painful. You are here now and that's what is important.”

“No, I have to tell you the whole story.” She pulled her hands from his. “I made it out of the barn but tripped when I took a step to get into the coach.” Her hand went to her head. “The fall knocked me out and when I awoke, I had no idea who I was or where I'd been going.” She dropped her hand back in her lap. “But thankfully, Mr. Wheeler was on that stage. He's a doctor. He found out from the woman at the station that my name was Charlotte Fisher.” A gentle smile touched her lips. “Ben says he fell in love with me the moment he saw me. Can you believe that?”

Seth sat back in his seat. So the man outside the door was in love with Charlotte. He smiled at her. “Yes, I can. You are a very beautiful woman.”

She giggled. “Well, that day I was anything but beautiful. Anyway, he nursed me back to health, took me back to Sacramento and helped me find a job at the restaurant.”

Seth was confused. It was obvious that Charlotte was in love with Ben also, so why was she here? He knew she hadn't had time to get his letter. How did she know where he was? If she didn't know he was here and it was a complete accident, how had they known he was Seth Armstrong?

“I'm almost done, I promise.” Charlotte sat up straighter. “I was working one day when I heard a conversation between two men who had just arrived on the afternoon stage. One of the men asked the other if he thought they might run into Charlotte Fisher, that gal that Seth Armstrong was looking for in Dove Creek. I don't know why it happened but hearing both our names in the same sentence had my memories flooding back to me. I remembered why I was on the stage. That night I told Ben and explained to him that I had to come find you.” She inhaled deeply.

Seth searched her face. “But you love Ben, so why did you come here looking for me?”

“I came to ask you to release me from my promise. I know I said I'd marry you and I will, if you won't release me, but please, Seth. Ben wants to marry me, and my heart will shatter into a million pieces if I can't marry him. He's the first man who hasn't looked at me and only seen outside beauty. He saw me when I was sick, dirty and starving, and he loved me on sight.” Her hands shook in her lap. Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.

Seth leaned forward and placed his hands on hers once more. “It's all right. I release you, Charlotte.”

She grabbed him and hugged him, then leaned back. “But what about your promise to your grandmother?”

He shifted on the hard seat. “She made me promise to get married. She didn't say it had to be to you.”

A smile tipped her lips once more. “You're happy I'm releasing you, aren't you?”

Seth nodded. His heart was about to explode out of his chest with happiness. Now that he knew what had happened to Charlotte and she'd asked him to release her, he was free to tell Rebecca how he felt about her.

“It's the woman from the house, isn't it? The one with the bandaged hand.” She wisely crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a stern look.

Seth laughed. “Yes, but she doesn't know how I feel, so I'm a little unsure what the future holds now. Thank you for coming and telling me what had happened to you. I wish you and Mr. Wheeler the best.” Seth stood to exit the coach.

“I wish you the best, too, Seth. If you tell her that you love her, I'm sure your future will be bright.”

How could Charlotte be so sure? Would Rebecca believe that he loved her? Would she say yes if he asked her to marry him?

Lord, let Your will be done.
He silently prayed that his will and God's will were in alignment.

* * *

Rebecca watched from the window as Seth climbed out of the coach. Charlotte followed, looking happier now that they'd had their talk. What had she said to him? They'd been in the coach so long.

“What do you think they talked about?” Emma asked, standing beside her.

Fay answered from the sofa. “It's none of our business, ladies.”

Rebecca ignored Fay. “I don't know but look how happy she is now.”

Emma nodded. “But she's getting back in the coach and so is the man. Are they leaving?”

The coach pulled away from the house and continued on its route, carrying Charlotte and Mr. Wheeler with it. Rebecca watched as Seth hurried to the bunkhouse. “He never even looked back.” She turned from the window. “I'm tired. I think I'll go lie down for a little while.” Rebecca started to walk out of the room but stopped. “Thank you both for taking care of the passengers today.”

Emma asked, “Rebecca, are you feeling all right?”

“I'm fine. I just need to rest.” She didn't tell them that her heart was breaking. Seth seemed happy, Charlotte seemed happy and Rebecca couldn't help but feel miserable.

She went to her room and shut the door. The desire to throw herself across the bed and weep pulled strongly at her. Was Charlotte going on to St. Joseph to wait for Seth? Were they still planning on getting married?

Deep down Rebecca felt sure that they hadn't broken off their marriage since they both looked so happy. Even Charlotte's companion had looked pleased.

Rebecca avoided the bed and moved to the stuffed chair that sat beside the window. She picked up her Bible off the side table and opened it to Proverbs.

To her, Proverbs was the book of wisdom—at least that was what she liked to think. She read Proverbs, chapter sixteen, verse nine, out loud. “‘A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.'”

Peace washed over her. God was in control. Seth may have been in her life for a little while and if he left, she'd be fine because God would never leave her.

She closed the Bible and lay across her bed. “Lord, I trust You to direct my steps.” Rebecca closed her eyes, sadly wishing that her steps and Seth's walked side by side.

* * *

Seth paced the bunkhouse. He knew that God had brought him to the Young farm to teach him about love. When he'd arrived he'd sworn never to fall in love, to never let anyone hurt him like his mother had hurt him and his father. But all that had changed.

He loved Rebecca. He wanted to marry her. He also respected her sons enough to ask their permission.

Philip entered the bunkhouse first. When he saw Seth, he frowned. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

“Better than all right. Go tell the other boys to come here. I'd like to have a meeting with them.”

Philip nodded. “Let me change out of these wet socks and I'll go get them.”

It seemed to take forever for Philip to do the simple task of changing socks. And it took even longer for all the boys to make their way into the bunkhouse.

“This is everyone,” Philip announced unnecessarily.

Seth walked to the stove and stood in front of it, facing them. “Today my mail-order bride came to the farm.”

“What?”

“Where is she?”

“I didn't see her.”

“Are you going to marry her here?”

“Does Ma like her?”

Jacob stopped the questions. “Shut up, and let him talk.”

“She released me from marrying her. It would seem Charlotte has met someone more to her liking and so have I.” Seth took a breath and was immediately interrupted again with questions and outrage.

“Who did she meet?”

“What does more to her liking mean?”

“Who have you met?”

“Enough!” Jacob yelled.

All the boys looked to him.

“If you interrupt Seth one more time, I am going to thrash you.”

They seemed to take their older brother at his word and quieted down again. All eyes turned to Seth.

Seth answered their questions. “She met a doctor and they are going to get married. That's what I meant by more to her liking. As for who I have met.” He paused. For the first time he worried the Young men might reject him and his idea to marry their mother.

Jacob grinned. “Go on, tell them who you have met.”

Seth swallowed and then rushed on. “I met your mother and I want to marry her.”

Andrew stood. In a tense voice he asked, “Why?”

The two men locked gazes. “Because I love her,” Seth answered.

Jacob stood, too. He stepped between Andrew and Seth as if he thought Andrew would start a fight. Jacob said, “Then you should marry her.”

Andrew nodded his approval.

Clayton, Thomas and Philip grinned up at him.

Noah shrugged. “If you love her, then you should marry her.”

Benjamin stood and looked up at Seth. He didn't say anything and he didn't nod. Seth kneeled down in front of him. This little boy meant the world to him and he needed his approval as much, or more, than the others'. “Beni, I can't marry her unless all the Young men approve. It wouldn't be right.”