Linda Ford (22 page)

Moderating his smile, he returned to the kitchen and the work that remained to be done.

Amelia wandered in with Gabriel in her arms. “I’m excited about this job. It’s a chance for a new life.”

He grinned at his cousin. “You deserve a second chance.”

“Thank you for not saying
I told you so.
”

He knew she was referring to his warning against marrying Vern, but pretended otherwise. “Why would I say that?”

She patted his arm. “You wouldn’t because you’re far too nice.” She tipped her head and studied him long and hard. “You deserve your own happiness. I hope you get it.”

They considered each other. She didn’t say anything more. She didn’t need to. They’d known each other far too long for words to be necessary. But he had to conceal the depth of his feeling until he spoke to Rebecca and knew her answer to his offer of love. He dared not hope beyond that. He turned away and picked up a piece of wood, though he had no idea what he meant to do with it. “I’m glad you’re free of that man.”

“Me, too. Before I forget, I don’t plan to return to your place. I’ve got my own home. And for the first time I can go there without worrying about the mood Vern will be in when he returns.”

So he’d have Rebecca alone on the way back to the ranch. He hummed under his breath as he carried the scrap of wood to the pile at the back of the lot.

He glanced at the sky. Two more hours and he could confess his love.

He watched for her to return, impatient for a glimpse of her.

She dashed up the street and into the front door as if there was an emergency.

He hurried to the back to see if she was hurt.

She sat at the table with Amelia across from her. “There’s been news from Wyatt. The judge has ordered the orphans from Mr. Baxter’s orphanage be released to Wyatt’s care. He says he’ll have them here Monday.”

Amelia sat back. “It’s finally time.”

Colton stepped out of sight. Once the orphans arrived, her work would be done and she would begin her preparations to leave. He’d hoped for more time for her to get used to the fact that he loved her before he had to worry about her going back to New York. How long would she need?

He’d soon know, because in a little more than an hour, he would take her home and bare his heart to her.

As he stood in front of the orphanage, he saw the afternoon stagecoach rumble up to the store and stop. Two people got out. He recognized the one man returning from business in Newfield. The second man was a stranger. A tall man with a fine-looking top hat and a black suit jacket who walked as if he owned at least half the sidewalk.

Colton watched until he disappeared into the store, then shrugged and returned to his thoughts. To help pass the time, he reviewed every move, every gesture, every touch that gave him hope his love was returned.

Realizing that he was staring at the orphanage with a wide smile on his lips, he turned to look down the street again.

Pauline escorted the tall stranger toward the orphanage. Colton’s smile flattened and his eyes narrowed.

He dashed through the back door and reached the kitchen just as Pauline and the stranger came through the front door. Rebecca glanced up, and he noted the exact moment she saw the man. Her blue eyes widened, then she bolted to her feet and raced into his arms. “Father.”

Colton stared at the man. He’d removed his hat to expose silver hair. His face revealed his years and yet he was handsome, with the same blue eyes as his daughter. As the man hugged Rebecca, those blue eyes studied Colton, measuring him. Colton drew himself up tall and met the man look for look. He might not be city stuff, but he wasn’t ashamed of who he was or what he did.

But would Rebecca see it that way? Would she feel she had to choose between the two of them? And if she did, which would she choose?

* * *

Rebecca clung to her father, finding comfort in his sheltering arms. She wouldn’t have to deal with the future alone. She could now face Colton, hear his words that she was no longer needed and not drown in her misery. But why was her father here? Had he come to check on her?

She pulled from his embrace. “Why have you come?”

“In response to a letter from Mayor Evans, whom I learn is this woman.”

“A letter?”

Pauline nodded. “As grateful as I was toward the anonymous donor who funded the rebuilding of the school and building the orphanage, I wanted to be able to thank him directly. I figured it had to be your father. Who else could provide that much money? So I wrote and thanked him.”

Her father gave Rebecca his most demanding look. One that had the power to make her agree to anything. Though she was so confused it failed to impress her this time. “Father, you?”

“Not me. Unless you committed me to something without asking.”

“Of course I didn’t.”

“Normally I wouldn’t have thought so, but from Mrs. Evans’s letter, it seems you’ve been behaving very differently from how I would have expected.”

Whatever Pauline had said about her, Rebecca would not shrink from the criticism. She’d made plenty of mistakes, especially in the beginning when she didn’t understand the strength of this community and how people pulled together...but she was still proud of what she’d accomplished. “What did she say?” She might as well know the worst.

“Besides thanking us for our generosity, she said you’ve been an example of kindness, community spirit and endless enthusiasm for helping the children. Apparently, you have been a most welcome addition to the whole community.”

Rebecca blinked. “She said that?” She turned to Pauline. “You said that?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Every word is true, as everyone knows.”

Amelia nodded.

Everyone but me.
She’d thought they couldn’t wait to get rid of her.

Her father continued, “It sounded so different from the daughter I put on the train back in April that I had to come see for myself.”

“If the funds didn’t come from you, then who sent them?” Pauline tapped her chin in concentration, then confronted Rebecca. “Are you sure you don’t know?”

“I don’t. I’m sorry.”

Pauline’s mouth pursed into determination. “I won’t rest until I get to the bottom of this mystery. I don’t like not having every
i
dotted and every
t
crossed.”

Mr. Sterling looked intrigued. “Exactly what did the note say?”

Rebecca thought a moment. “Besides how the money was to be used, it said, ‘There is no better gratitude for an act of kindness than to pass it on.’”

Pauline gasped. “No.” She pressed splayed fingers to her chest. “It can’t be.”

Amelia edged Pauline toward a bench, where she sat down, her eyes wide, her mouth open, but no sound came out.

Rebecca knelt before her. “What’s wrong?”

Pauline sucked in air and pulled herself together. “Have you ever heard that exact saying before? The one in the letter?”

“I don’t think I have.”

Pauline sent an inquiring glance to Amelia, Rebecca’s father and then to Colton, who hovered at the doorway. They all shook their heads.

“Well, I have. It was my husband’s favorite saying. He learned it from his best friend in the army. After my husband saved his life, his friend lived by it. My husband mentioned it a number of times.” She tipped her head, considering something. “It can’t be. His name wasn’t Curtis. It was Charlie.” She looked surprised as she considered the information. “That was only a nickname, wasn’t it? Oh, how could I have overlooked it? He once said those exact words, but we were arguing and it never registered.” She jerked to her feet. “I must find him and talk to him.”

Rebecca and Amelia stayed on either side of her in case she got wobbly.

Father fell in behind them. “This might be interesting.”

Colton joined the second parade of the day. “Mr. Sterling, pleased to meet you. I’m Colton Hayes.”

Father didn’t slow his steps. “Hayes? Isn’t that where my daughter’s been living?”

“It is.”

“Humph.”

Rebecca refused to look over her shoulder at either of them. They both had her so confused that she didn’t know which way was right and which was left. So she faced forward and marched straight ahead.

“Curtis will likely be at the hotel,” Pauline said.

So again they paraded up the street, through the wide door and into the lobby. Curtis saw them approach and stood.

Ned rested his elbows on the desk.

Pauline shot him a look.

“I know. A little privacy. I’m leaving.” The door shut rather loudly as he stepped into the office.

“Curtis Brooks, I’ll have you know that thanks to you, I’ve made a fool of myself by writing this fine man—” She paused to introduce Rebecca’s father. “I mistakenly thought he was the anonymous donor. He is not. I suspect you already know that—because I suspect that you yourself are the donor. And I believe there’s something more you’ve been keeping from me. Something about my husband and your acquaintance with him. Am I right?” She crossed her arms and waited.

Curtis puffed out his cheeks. “Robert wrote me a letter when he knew he was dying.” He pulled it from his pocket and handed it to Pauline. “He asked me to take care of you.”

“Why not tell me that when you came? Why pretend you were only here to supervise the loan money from the bank?”

He looked embarrassed. “It’s all in the letter...” When Pauline simply glared at him, he continued. “Robert didn’t think you’d accept help if I offered it directly. He told me I’d have to find a way to help you and the town without your realizing who was responsible.” He offered the letter again. This time, Pauline took it and began to read.

Rebecca figured she read it at least twice.

She folded the pages, inserted them in the envelope and handed the letter back to Curtis. “So you’re here out of obligation? You’re simply passing on gratitude?”

“At first that was all it was. But I soon came to respect the townspeople as they pulled together. I grew fond of them.” He closed the distance between himself and Pauline. “I grew particularly fond of one of them.” He took her hands and rubbed his thumbs across the backs of them.

Amelia cleared her throat. “I think we’re done here,” she said, leading the way outside for everyone but Pauline and Curtis.

In front of the hotel, Father took Rebecca’s hand and tucked it around his arm. “Why don’t you show me around this little town?”

“We’ll go to the orphanage.” Amelia took Colton’s arm and led him away.

Rebecca allowed herself only a second to stare at Colton’s departing back. She didn’t realize how much that glimpse revealed until Father shook her gently. “Seems like they’re fond of each other.”

“They’re cousins.” She would say nothing more. “Come, I’ll show you through town.” They walked through the village green, stopped in front of the town hall, passed Pauline’s house and reached the schoolyard. “Holly lives here.” She paused long enough to introduce her friend, then they retraced their steps to the other side of town, past the jail where Amelia’s husband awaited the judge’s arrival, past the grain mill now again in operation. She told him what other businesses and homes had suffered damage in the flood. She pointed out homes where children from the Society were placed. “Many of them are out of town.” Laughing, she told him about some of the fiery town meetings. Finally, they reached the creek. “It’s hard to believe it flooded the town this spring.”

“This trip was good for you. You’ll be a real asset in New York. An efficient hostess, but also a person with well-formed opinions. I’m proud of you.”

She watched the water gurgle past and assessed his words. She had grown, matured. She had become confident and sure of herself. She had fallen in love with a big-footed cowboy. Unless she put words to her newfound maturity, it would be wasted. “Father, I would never dishonor you. You know that, don’t you?”

“You’ve always been a dutiful and obedient daughter.”

She sent up a heartfelt, silent plea for God to guide her words. “I will continue to be obedient.” She faced him knowing her eyes begged for understanding. “But I’m asking for you to grant me permission to stay in Evans Grove.”

He studied her, his expression inscrutable. “It’s because of Colton Hayes, isn’t it?”

She nodded.

“Has he said he loves you?”

“No, Father,” she whispered. She hoped against hope that he did, but she must face the possibility that he did not. “But even if he doesn’t, I want to stay.” Her voice grew strong and sure. “I have found something here I never knew in New York.”

“What is that?”

“Friends, acceptance, community. And purpose. I can do things here that really matter.”

Father pulled her against his chest. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t. The trains will continue to run both ways.”

“So they will.” He sighed deeply. “If this is what you truly want, if you’re convinced it will make you happy, I will not stand in your way.”

“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek.

“Promise me one thing.”

“If I can.”

“You’ll come home if things don’t work out.”

“I promise.”

Chapter Twenty

C
olton swallowed back his disappointment as he drove home alone. Rebecca had said she would stay at the hotel with her father. He should have found a way to speak to her earlier. Now it was too late. Her father had come for her, and she would return with him.

At the ranch he had to answer a hundred questions about why Rebecca and Amelia weren’t with him.

When Heidi learned about Mr. Sterling’s arrival, she jerked forward on her chair. “Did he come to take Miss Sterling back to New York?”

“I expect so.”

Heidi clutched Jakob’s hand.

Colton slammed his fist on the table and bolted from the house, his long strides eating up the distance until he reached the spot on top of the hill.

Normally he would find peace and contentment there. But no longer. He remembered Rebecca sharing the place, admiring the wildflowers...

He could not let her go. She belonged here. She belonged in his family. More, she belonged in his heart. She’d always be there, whether or not she believed it. She was capable, generous, kind—just what the community needed. And what he needed more than he could begin to measure.

He’d petition her father for permission to ask her to be his wife. If she said yes, they’d sort out the details, such as his parents, after that.

His heart alive and well again, he did the chores. Jakob joined him and did more than his share.

The next day he saddled his horse. It would be good to ride again, rather than take the buggy.

Jakob followed him to the barn. “Tell me what needs doing and I’ll do it. I need to work.”

“I don’t mind if you enjoy your time with Heidi.”

“No. No. You not understand. I
need
to work.”

“I see.” The boy was almost a man. And likely used to being treated like one. Of course he needed to feel useful. “I haven’t had time to check the fences for some time.”

“I can do it.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that. Supplies are in the tack room.”

As Colton rode to town, he rehearsed what he would say to Mr. Sterling. He meant to find the man and speak to him at the first opportunity.

He’d expected to see Rebecca and her father at the orphanage, but they weren’t there when he arrived. Amelia sauntered over an hour later, but still no Rebecca. A horrible thought shattered his peace of mind. “Did Rebecca and Mr. Sterling leave town?”

She shrugged. “Not that I know of. They are likely lingering over breakfast.”

He considered marching over to the hotel and confronting the man there, but they needed to speak in private. So he stared at the orphanage. The walls said nothing.

Ted looked up when Colton walked around the corner. “Almost finished here. A coat of paint is all that’s needed.”

Colton nodded. He should be glad. The farmwork had been neglected too long. But he couldn’t be glad. Not yet. Not until he opened his heart and confessed his love.

Not until his love was returned.

He charged from the yard and headed toward the hotel. He would wait. A few minutes later Mr. Sterling stepped from the hotel. He stood on the front step, leaning back on his heels to study his surroundings.

Colton watched for Rebecca to join him, and when she didn’t, he crossed to the man’s side. “Sir, may I speak to you?”

“Certainly.”

“In private.” He indicated the town green and the man nodded. They crossed to the grove of trees. Colton drew to a halt and faced the man squarely. “Your daughter has become a valued part of the community.”

“So I understand.” He watched Colton with the same steady expression Rebecca gave him when she didn’t want him to know what she was thinking.

Taking courage from the echo of familiarity, Colton continued, “She’s more than that, though. I’ve enjoyed her stay at the ranch.” His rehearsed words sounded pitiful in his ears. “What I’m trying to say is I’ve come to care for Rebecca. I’d like your permission to ask her to be my wife.”

The man nodded slowly. “I see. And what do you have to offer her?”

“I’m just a rancher. Not even a big one. I have a house. Small.”

“That’s all you can give my daughter?”

Colton drew himself up tall. It gave him courage to realize he had a couple inches on the man. “No, sir. What I will offer Rebecca is my heart. My love. My fidelity. My loyalty. For as long as I live.”

Mr. Sterling clapped Colton’s shoulder. “No more and no less than she deserves. You have my blessing to ask her.” He strode away, leaving Colton with his heart thumping madly. Now he only had to convince Rebecca of his love.

She stood on the hotel step watching her father approach. Mr. Sterling said something to her and waved her toward Colton. She nodded and crossed the street toward him.

“Father says you have something to say to me.”

He nodded, his mouth so dry he couldn’t speak. Not that he intended to say anything in full view of anyone who cared to look. He offered his arm, and she tucked her hand around his elbow. The warmth of her touch set his pulse racing. He led her to the center of the square, where the trees were thickest and where a bench waited. They sat side by side, her hand still resting on his arm. He pressed it close. Where he wanted to keep it as long as they both lived.

“Rebecca, I know your father has come to take you home.”

She murmured something that was neither agreement nor argument.

He faced her, studied her watchful blue eyes, drank in her beautiful skin, her golden hair, her slender neck, her kissable lips. “I could never get tired of looking at you.” His voice grew husky.

Her pink-china cheeks made him realize how bold his words had been.

“Rebecca, I am nothing but a big-footed cowboy. I don’t have a thirty-room house.” He shook his head. He didn’t mean to focus on his deficiencies. “What I’m trying to say is I don’t have a lot to offer, but I love you and I always will. Marry me, please? Make me the happiest man in Nebraska, in the world. I can’t promise you riches, but I can promise you my undying, unending love.”

Her smile filled his heart with sunshine and hope. “I can’t think of anything more precious than that.” She searched his eyes, shifted and studied his chin. Her gaze came to his mouth and stalled there.

He lowered his head, ready to accept her silent invitation to a kiss.

She touched her fingers to his chest. “Let me finish. I wondered if you would find me worthy. After all, I’m a spoiled, city girl. Before I came to stay at your ranch, I was totally unprepared to take care of a ranch home.” She ducked her head. “I’m not sure your parents approve of me.”

He laughed. “They’ve grown fond of you.” He tipped her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I love you and that’s all that matters to me. Not your qualifications. Besides you’re a quick learner. You’ve proven that you are capable of anything you put your mind to.” He watched her, wanting to know how she felt.

She brushed her fingers down his cheek, the stubble making a rasping sound. She stroked his chin then pressed her fingers to his lips. “Colton Hayes, I love you.”

The words he longed to hear. He dipped his head and claimed her mouth. She leaned into him, offering her lips, her heart, her love. Her arms stole around his neck and she held him tight, as if she never wanted to let him go. He eased them to their feet so he could wrap her close and hold her next to his heart where she belonged. Where he belonged.