Chase (Prairie Grooms, Book Four) (12 page)

Lena picked at
the skirt of her dress. “The thought makes me nervous, that much I will admit.”

“
Of course it does,” said Colin. “You don't know each other yet. But you will, and that, dear one, is what makes it so much fun.”

“
Fun?” she asked. “As in a jolly good time for all, at our expense?”

“
No, no, no. You're not listening. The fun part is getting to know one another, while at the same time, knowing you’re to be married within a week!”

She turned on the seat and looked at him again. “Why Colin, I had no idea you were such a romantic.”

“
My wife thinks it's grand. As I recall, you're quite the romantic yourself.”

Le
na faced forward again and blushed. She knew Colin referred to when she used to perform as a child in the gardens, at the country house in Kent. “I'll admit, I have my moments.”

“
Then you'll take some advice?” he asked.

She eyed him
. “What advice is that?”

“That you let Chase Adams see that side
if you, the one you unabashedly showed the world as a child, but now keep hidden.”

“Life is not a romance, cousin,” s
he said. “One must be realistic if one is to survive. Besides, I cannot allow myself to expect too much.”

Colin brought the horses to a stop just as they reached the livery stable. Without saying a word he jumped down and came around the wagon to help her out. That done, he spun her around to face the livery stable, then bent down, and whispered in her ear. “Romance him, dear cousin. Romance him and show him the free-spirited girl I once knew as a child. The one who was in love with the world.”

Lena turned to look up at him but Colin gently pushed her face
-forward again. She squared her shoulders, her back stiff. “I don’t know if she still exists.”

“
You'll find her, if you look for her.”

“
But what if I don't?”

“Then I'll tell Mr. Adams
to find her for you,” he said, his voice gentle, and pushed her toward the livery stable.

Eight

Lena wanted to dig
her heels into the ground, but also didn't want to stumble through the stable’s doors like an idiot, which she would if Colin decided to give her a good shove. She knew well he wouldn't hesitate if it served to get Chase’s attention. Which at the moment, she had in spades. He stood staring at her, his face drenched in sweat, the dampness of his shirt also evidence he'd been working hard. There was a fire in the forge near him and she could feel its heat from where she stood near the stable doors. “Am I interrupting?” she asked.

He held a huge hammer in his hand, and
quickly set it aside. “Not at all,” he said. “Come in.”

She studied him. He wore a leather apron around his waist and brushed his hands on it as she approached. There was a bay horse tied near him, and he patted its neck as she reached him. “Is he yours?” she asked.

“
This big fella? No, this is the sheriff’s horse. He patted the horse again and looked her up and down. “What brings you to town?”

“
You do, actually. There seems to be some question as to when we are getting married.”

He laughed and shook his head. “According to some folks, we already are.”

“
So I've heard. However, it has recently been suggested that we marry at the Triple C’s barn-raising. I've come to find out if that would be agreeable with you.”

She'd stood several feet away,
and he quickly closed the distance. He put his hands on her upper arms, and the action startled her. “Is that what you want?”

He was closer than was proper, and Lena, much to her own dismay and shock, discovered it thrilled her to the core. She stared up at him as her breathing quickened. “I know I asked for two weeks, but if one week will do…”

He pulled her close and stared down at her, his eyes roaming her face. “It'll do just fine,” he said, his voice low and husky. His hands tightened on her arms a notch, as he closed his eyes. He looked as if he was having some inner battle and she wondered if he was losing the war. He confirmed her suspicions by releasing her suddenly, and took a step back. He then turned to the sheriff's horse, his hands balled into fists. “The barn- raising it is then.”

“
Mr. Adams? Chase… Is everything all right?”

“
If it gets any better, Miss Lena, I'm going to have to kiss you.”

A tiny gasp escaped her as her
hand flew to her mouth. Her fingers touched her lips, and she wondered what his would feel like upon them. He turned back to her, his eyes riveted on her hand and mouth. Perhaps she would find out…

He swallowed hard. “I don't know what it is, Miss Lena, but you get prettier every time I see ya. I'd say another week is all I can stand.”

She looked him up and down, her hand still at her mouth. She quickly lowered it. “Then I'd best not make you wait any longer than that.”

“
I'd appreciate it,” he said. His look intensified and he took a step closer.

Propriety told her to take a step back, but she didn't move.
“Did you plan to call on me before then?”

Her words must've hit him like a slap. He shook himself as if startled, and gawked at her. “Of course,” he said. “Do you think I’m plumb loco?”

“
Loco? What is this loco?”

“Y
ou know, crazy?”

“
I hardly think calling on your betrothed is considered, as you say, crazy.”

“
Then why did you ask?”

She stared at him. A cold lump formed in the pit of her stomach. He couldn't possibly be entertaining the idea of not seeing her until the wedding, could he? “It's nothing,” she said. “Of course you would want see me between now and then.” He just told her he would, didn't he? So why was she feeling apprehensive about it?

“
Maybe we could have supper at the hotel,” he suggested. “Mrs. Upton is a right fine cook, and I know she'd love the idea of being able to cook for somebody, even if it’s just the two of us.”

“
Of course she would,” Lena agreed. “Your hotel hasn't any guests.”

“One day it will, Mr. Van Cleet
says so.”

“It's a fine establishment, to be
sure.” She glanced around the stable for a moment before speaking again. “Do… you live here?”

Chase followed her gaze as she stared at one of the horses in a stall. “No ma'am, I've got me a little place outside of town. The last full-time blacksmith they had lived here though. Slept on a cot right over there,” he said and pointed to a corner. “Berg was his name, big fella. He come from some little country over in Europe called Dalrovia. I don't suppose you've heard of it?”

She looked at him, a smile on her face. “I have, actually. And you are quite right; Dalrovia is small.” She cocked her head. “I say, but what in heaven's name would bring a Dalrovian all the way to America and then out West?”

Chase chuckled. “Now that there, is what ya might call a tall-tale, Miss Lena. One that I ain’t fit to tell. But your cousins could.” He stared into the fire. “Would tomorrow evening be too soon to share a meal with me?”

She gave him a tentative smile and blushed.

“
Chaperoned of course,” he quickly added.

The cold in her belly began to dissipate. “I shall inquire of my cousin Imogene, if she is up to the task. She is, after all, our self-proclaimed protector.”

“A woman
protecting a woman,” he said with a shake of his head. “She must be a lot like Duncan's wife, Cozette. You know, the new duchess? I have to say, I admire that kind of spunk in a woman, but then it kind of scares me too.” He smiled, and she could tell by the shaking of his shoulders that he was trying not to laugh.

“
I assure you, Mr. Adams, that I am not adept at the handling of pistols, swords, or knives, not even in the kitchen.”

His smile vanished. “Well now that's a shame,” he said in mock horror. “I guess it wouldn't be so bad except that I'm not any good in the kitchen either.”

Now it was Lena
's turn to laugh. Being a lady, however, she let out a small giggle instead. “We may be eating at the hotel more often than not.”

“
That would be true if’n I could afford it,” he told her as his face sobered.

She looked at the ground near his feet. She had to remember this was not a rich suitor from London, but a simple blacksmith in a tiny western town. Yet, his status—or lack thereof-- didn't bother her like she thought it would. No, what did was that she didn't know how he felt about her yet. They would be married in a week. How was she to be sure he felt anything for her in such a short amount of time? Suddenly the severity of being a mail-order bride hit her full force. Yes, she wanted to be married, and to a man of good character. But in that moment, what she also realized was that she wanted to marry for love.

She looked at him again, her smile gone. Could she marry a man without love?

“
Is something wrong, Miss Lena?” he asked.

“Oh, no… n
othing, I'm fine. Tomorrow then?”

He took a couple of steps toward her, as his eyes sought hers. “Yes,” he said, his voice soft. “I'll be looking forward to it.”

She smiled as her stomach fluttered.
“As will I, Mr. Adams.” She looked away, unable to meet his gaze any longer. Was his look one of admiration, because she was beautiful? Or did he feel something for her, and therefore looked at her in adoration? They were two different things, after all. To be admired was one thing, but to be adored, quite another. “I shall inform Cousin Imogene as soon as I see her.”

“I'll be sure to
quit my work early so's I can go home and look presentable for ya. Five o'clock …”

Heat raced up Le
na's spine, and she wondered if it was wise to make eye contact with him. She might not be sure if he had feelings for her, but she certainly felt something whenever he was near.

It scared her.

“
Until tomorrow then,” she said and bobbed a small curtsy. She spun around and left the stable, welcoming the cool air that hit the moment she passed through its doors. Once outside, she looked up and down the street, but saw no sign of Colin or the wagon.

She started to head for the mercantile when Chase hurried out of the stable after her.

“
Miss Lena?”

She tried to still the fluttering in her stomach, and turned to him. “Yes?”

He stood in front of her, nervous, and wiped a hand on his leather apron. He then, much to her shock and delight, took one of her hands in his, bent at the waist, and kissed it. A tiny gasp escaped her the moment his lips touched her. Heat shot through her body, and her knees went weak. He then stood upright and gazed into her eyes. She was speechless.

He smiled.
“Now I know why menfolk in England do this kind of thing,” he told her. “It gives a man something to think about until the next time he sees his lady.”

Tears stung the back of her eyes as she smiled. She was at once thrilled and frightened at the same time, but why? She quickly closed them to keep the tears at bay.

“
Something wrong?” he asked.

She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
“No, not at all. Five o’clock.”

Chase looked up and down the street. “Where's Colin?” A breeze lifted some loose tendrils of hair across her face. Chase turned back to her, reached up, and brushed them away for her. He didn't speak, and looked as if he was afraid to breathe. Now that she thought on it, she'd stopped breathing a few seconds ago!

Finally, she took a breath. “I never thought that was a reason for a gentleman to kiss a ladies hand. I was only aware that it was good manners to do so.”

He gave her hand a squeeze before he lifted it once again to his lips, and kissed it.

Mrs. Mulligan, who was crossing the street to the Sheriff's office, saw them, and gasped. Chase and Lena watched her as a wide smile formed on her face. “I think maybe I'd better stop kissing your hand before we gather an audience,” he whispered.

“
No one would think anything of it in London,” she informed him, her voice just as low.

He made as if to kiss her hand again.

“
But more than two would
definitely
draw attention,” she said in a rush.

He smiled at her, her hand poised before his mouth. “Then I guess I better not overstep my bounds. But I sure do like kissing your hand. It tastes sweeter than honey.”

Lena
bit her lip to keep from saying
she liked it too!
But every proprietary bone in her body told her that it would be
most
un-lady like. “Until tomorrow, Mr. Adams. I will see you then.”