Soiled Dove (27 page)

Hettie stood for a moment at the back entrance to the church before stepping forward. Clare hadn’t seen the demure school teacher more than a few times, and then only briefly, but today she looked radiant. Her white gown trailed on the floor behind her. The neckline sat halfway up her slender neck and was trimmed with what looked like tiny pearls. The same was true for the long sleeves that hooked over a finger on each hand to hold them in place. The veil that fell past her shoulders made it appear that she was walking out of a mist. Her face was solemn until Cyrus stepped forward to take her hand. Then she broke into a smile that lit up the room.

Clare didn’t remember much of the ceremony once the man at the front began speaking. She spent most of her time staring at Loretta. Cyrus and Hettie exchanged rings and vowed to love one another and no other for as long as they lived. Cyrus gave Hettie a chaste kiss when they were finally declared husband and wife. Clare waited until all of the guests had departed for the reception before she made her way to the front to escort Loretta out of the church.

Loretta wrapped her arm around Clare’s, grateful it was over. “Did that man talk longer than necessary or was it just me?” Loretta asked.

“I wasn’t listening. I was watching you. You look beautiful.” They made it to the entry of the church and Clare wrapped a warm cloak around Loretta’s shoulders.

“I’m tired,” Loretta breathed.

“Perhaps you should go back to Cyrus’ house and lie down for a while,” Clare suggested.

“If I lie down now, I’ll never get up again. All I want is to go home and lie down in our bed…with you,” Loretta said in a low voice. “But I have to make an appearance at the reception. I saw Ino and Mavis.

Mavis looked lovely. Did she like Ino’s clothing?”

“I don’t think they’ll make anything more than a brief appearance at the reception if the way Mavis was looking at Ino is any indication. I can’t tell you how jealous I am that I can’t act toward you the way I want to.” The tone in Clare’s voice was sad. “I wish I could tell the world how much I love you and how happy you make me, in every way.”

“We know and that’s enough for me,” Loretta said, giving Clare’s arm a squeeze. “But I do wish we could dance. I love to dance.”

They laughed together until they reached Rosario’s café which was closed to host the wedding reception. Willis even closed and locked the door between the reception and the saloon for the night.

When Loretta and Clare finally arrived at the café, they passed Ino and Mavis leaving.

“Want me to bring you a shot from the saloon,”

Ino asked.

“Punch no good?” Clare asked.

“Punch no liquor,” he said.

“No thanks. I’ll find something,” Clare said. “See you tomorrow.”

CLARE LEANED AGAINST the back wall of the café, sipping a cup of coffee and chatting with Rosario and Willis Manning. She was only half listening, distracted by how lovely Loretta looked. A few couples were dancing to music played on the piano Willis had moved from the saloon. Loretta had been trapped into one or two dances with older men who attended Cyrus’ church. Loretta was a graceful dancer and the men with her seemed at ease. A hand on Clare’s elbow drew her attention away from Loretta.

“May I have a moment, Miss McIlhenney?” Cyrus Langford asked quietly.

“Of course, Reverend.” Clare excused herself from Willis and Rosario and followed Cyrus to a table away from other guests.

“I…I wish to ask a favor, Miss McIlhenney. I know I should have already done this, but with the wedding preparations and all, it slipped my mind,” Cyrus said.

“I’ll be glad to help if I can, Reverend,” Clare said.

“If you’ll stop calling me Miss McIlhenney.”

Cyrus smiled thinly and to Clare it didn’t appear to be genuine. The man was being forced to ask a favor from someone he didn’t care for much. Clare was sure it was more than a little difficult for the man.“So what can I do for you, Cyrus?” Clare asked with a smile. After all, he was Loretta’s brother-in-law.“Well, Hettie and I are leaving tomorrow morning to spend a week in Denver. I have church business there and, well, we thought the trip might serve as a honeymoon for us as well.”

“Mixing business with pleasure,” Clare observed.

“Yes, well, in all the preparations I let an important detail slip by me. Amelia will be here alone for the week or so Hettie and I are away. I cannot allow that. She’s still a child. I was wondering if you would allow Loretta to stay in town with her while we’re gone.”

Clare stood up and glared at Cyrus, suddenly feeling insulted. “I don’t own Loretta, Reverend. She doesn’t need my permission. Whether she wishes to assist you by staying with Amelia is up to her.”

Loretta had been watching Clare and saw Cyrus approach her. They chatted for a moment and then Clare’s demeanor seemed to change. Loretta excused herself from the group she was talking with and made her way across the dining area.

“Beautiful wedding, Cyrus,” she said as she stepped up to stand next to Clare. “What’s going on?”

“I was simply asking Miss McIlhenney if she would allow you to stay in town with Amelia while Hettie and I are out of town. She seems to have taken my request as a personal affront,” Cyrus explained.

“Perhaps it was the way in which you phrased your request. I will be happy to spend more time with Amelia. I’ve missed her since I began my work at the ranch. But I would much rather bring her to stay with me than come into town. I can use her help decorating for the holidays and cooking.”

“What about Mrs. Manning?” Cyrus asked. “She is Amelia’s employer, after all.”

“I’ll speak to her, Cyrus,” Loretta said, patting him on the back. Then she turned to Clare, her eyes sparkling. “Clare, I just had the most wonderful idea!”

When Clare just stared at her, Loretta continued,

“By the time Cyrus and Hettie return from Denver, it will nearly be Thanksgiving. We should invite everyone to the ranch for dinner that day. Amelia can help me clean the main house and then with the cooking.”

“Well, I don’t…” Clare started.

“I’m not sure…” Cyrus sputtered.

“As you keep reminding me, Cyrus, this is a new life. That means new friends,” she said looking at Clare, “for all of us.”

“Please assure Miss Amelia that she will be welcome at my…our…home, as will you all,” Clare said, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

Loretta mouthed a ‘thank you’ when she left to find Amelia.

Life as Clare had known it for the last two decades was changing quickly. Possibly it was changing into what it should have been. Yes, Loretta Langford had changed everything, she thought as she rested against a wall at Rosario’s café. The people around her, guests at Cyrus and Hettie’s wedding reception all seemed happy for the minister and the school teacher.

They had been welcomed into the fabric of the town in a way Clare never had been. She frowned as she watched guests dance, laugh, and seem to enjoy one another’s company. Overwhelmed by her own bitterness, had she pushed them away, isolating herself from everyone. She didn’t have much time to dwell on her lonely past before an enthusiastic voice next to her asked, “Don’t you just love this time of year, Miss McIlhenney?”

Clare smiled when she turned and saw Amelia standing next to her, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, keeping rhythm with the music.

“I used to,” Clare answered. “It’s happier when you’re with your family.”

“Or when you start a new family,” Amelia beamed.

Clare thought about it for a minute before nodding. “You’re right, Miss Amelia. When your family can’t be with you, you can create a new family of friends. Do you miss your family?”

“Yeah, sometimes.” Amelia’s face turned solemn for a moment before brightening again. “I lost my family, but found a new one with Loretta, Cyrus, and Miss Hettie.”

“I thought Cyrus was your brother.”

“What? Oh, I meant our parents. Cyrus is a step-brother from our father’s previous marriage,” Amelia said quickly.

“Funny how you can feel closer to a friend sometimes than your own family.”

“You mean the way you love Mr. Valdez?”

“I suppose. He saved my life and puts up with all my bullshit…I’m sorry.”

Amelia leaned closer to Clare. “I’ve heard that and worse a thousand times,” she said with a giggle.

“Have you been drinking, Miss Amelia?”

“Rosario and I had one shot to celebrate,” Amelia said, holding her fingers up to show how much liquor she had imbibed.

“Well, don’t get carried away. I’ll pick you and Loretta up tomorrow morning.”

LIGHT SNOW BEGAN to fall again before they reached the ranch again. Loretta showed Amelia the room she would be staying in while Clare got a fire going in the fireplace.

“Coffee will be ready in a few minutes,” Loretta said as she joined Clare next to the fireplace. “I’m glad to finally be home.”

Clare smiled at her. “I’m glad you regard it as your home. What did you tell Amelia about where you’ll be sleeping?”

“Just that I would be sharing your room because it’s closer to the kitchen and I have to get up very early to feed the men.”

Clare looked around to make sure they were alone. She leaned down and kissed Loretta softly.

“Not too early, I hope,” she said.

Amelia and Loretta prepared a Thanksgiving feast that amazed Clare. She couldn’t remember the last time she had looked forward to celebrating a holiday, but this year, thanks to Loretta, she had something to be thankful for. With fewer worries about the smaller herd, Clare felt free to spend more time at home, with occasional trips to take hay to the herd. The winter was milder than Clare expected and they had been blessed with average snowfall. It left the ground white and sparkling clean, but still maneuverable on horseback. For the first time for as long as she could remember, Clare looked forward to walking into her house each evening. Ino had even stopped making comments about what others would say if they knew about the relationship between the two women. Clare was suddenly determined to live her life without worrying about what others might say. She personally invited Willis and Rosario Manning and their children, as well as the girls from the saloon who had befriended her, including Peg.

Cyrus and Hettie looked radiant when they arrived by buggy at the ranch. After dinner, which consisted of numerous trips back for seconds and thirds by most of Clare’s hands, Loretta and Hettie threw cloaks around their bodies and took a walk together to let their dinner settle.

“That was a wonderful meal, Loretta. We have so much to be thankful for this year,” Hettie said.

“It’s the new life we were all seeking. Are you enjoying married life?”

“Very much, but this is only the beginning. Cyrus is anxious to have children.”

“Is that what you want as well?”

“I love children, but Cyrus keeps talking about the Twelve Apostles. I don’t think I’m quite ready for that,” Hettie said with a blush.

“Does he make you happy? That’s all that matters.”

A broad smile, accompanied by reddened cheeks, crossed Hettie’s face. “I’m embarrassed to even think about how happy he makes me, Retta. I didn’t know it was possible to feel so…so fulfilled and,” she lowered her voice, “so wanton. Anything that wonderful must be sinful.”

When Loretta began laughing out loud, Hettie pressed a hand over her mouth before the sound could draw anyone else’s attention. Soon both women were reduced to subdued giggles.

“I’m so happy for you, Hettie,” Loretta finally managed.

“Someday you will know the same happiness.”

For the first time, Loretta wished she could tell someone that she had found happiness. “I know I will,” she said instead.

They walked back toward the main house slowly.

Hettie looked up at the gray clouds that were beginning to drift over the mountains. “It’s been a wonderful day,” she sighed. “But it looks like more snow may be coming. We should start back to town soon.”

“It’s been wonderful having Amelia with us this week. She seems happy and I hope you’ll let her visit us again soon.”

Hettie nodded and pulled her cloak closer as a cold breeze blew around her ankles. Loretta opened the back door to the house, but before she could enter she ran into Peg. Peg smiled at her and Loretta couldn’t bring her eyes to meet Peg’s. The saloon girl stepped aside and made way for Hettie to enter the house.

“I wanted to tell you that I appreciated the invite, Mrs. Langford,” Peg said as she stepped outside. “I hope I didn’t make the day too uncomfortable for you.”

Loretta stepped back a little. “I’m sure Clare was happy you could join us,” she said.

Peg looked back toward the house. “It’s good to see Clare happy. And I’m pretty sure you’re the reason.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I ain’t blind, honey,” Peg said with a smile. “I’ve known Clare a long time.”

“I’m aware of that,” Loretta said more harshly than she intended.

“She’s a good woman. She needs another good woman to take care of her and love her. I ain’t been a good woman in a long time. Just take care of her.”

Loretta wasn’t sure what to say. “I will.”

Peg laughed. “Don’t worry, sweetie. Clare and I have talked and your secret is safe with me.” She extended her hand to Loretta.

Loretta paused for a moment before she took the offered hand and gripped it firmly. “Thank you, Peg.

I know Clare regards you as a friend. That won’t change.”

“But no more kisses,” Peg snickered.

“Not on your life,” Loretta said with a genuine laugh.

Chapter Sixteen

THE STAGE PULLED to a halt in front of the Wells Fargo office on Commercial Street in downtown Trinidad after dark. Even though there were street lamps on every corner along the main street, they didn’t make the town look any more exciting than it usually did.

The stage from Pueblo had hit every pothole for the last sixty or so miles and by the time Jack Coulter gladly stepped from the carriage his body felt as though it had been beaten in a barroom brawl. He removed his bowler hat and rubbed a hand over his face. He glanced around the main street as he waited for his single suitcase to be tossed from the top of the stage. The coach carried a maximum of eight passengers. It was a moderately comfortable seating arrangement as long as all the passengers were thin.