The Brides of Chance Collection (30 page)

“I heered ya got another one,” he said, remembering to slip his beat-up, greasy hat from his head. Sweat stained his armpits all the way down his sides. A grizzled beard stubbled his face. Alisa thought she might be ill.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Wall,” Miriam spoke up. “Would you like to join us for lunch? We just finished saying grace.”

His face lit up. “Don’t mind if I do, Mrs. Chance.”

Alisa had never been more aware of anything as she was of the empty seat beside her. Apparently that suited Mr. Wall, for he nearly leapt toward the seat. Miriam took his arm and steered him to the other end of the table.

“Fine. Why don’t you take Logan’s seat? It’s really the best seat at the table.”

“Oh, but I was just going to—”

“Nonsense. Logan doesn’t mind scooting over.” A sweet smile curved Miriam’s lips, and Alisa wanted to hug her. “After all, you are a guest.”

Logan grinned at Alisa and winked. She couldn’t help but return the scamp’s smile as he scooted next to her. Suddenly her heart grew light. Thanks to God’s intervention, she had landed smack in the middle of a large, loving family who seemed bent on helping her. And Titus or no Titus, she felt as though she belonged.

Titus swallowed hard and tried again, wishing desperately Whites’ wasn’t the only store in town. “I need enough material for two dresses for Miss Worthington.”

Prissy’s scowl only deepened. “Why should you be buying clothes for your servant?”

“First of all, she isn’t a servant. And second, she needs clothing and a warm coat. As long as she’s living under our roof, we’re responsible to see that she has everything she needs.”

“I should think you’d care more about your fiancée’s feelings than about your hired help.”

“Well, about that…”

Her smile could have lit up the room. Titus swallowed hard. How had he gotten himself into such a mess?

“Prissy, I came to tell you that I—”

“Hi there, Titus.” Reba White entered from the back room. “Nice to see you. Is this business, or couldn’t you wait until supper tonight to see my girl?”

Prissy giggled. “Mother, you’re embarrassing me.”

Sure she was.

“To tell you the truth, we’ve hired a young woman to help Miriam around the ranch.”

“Now why would you go and do a thing like that when you’ll be adding my Priscilla to the ranch soon?” Reba waved toward Prissy. “She’ll be plenty of help.”

“Now, Mother, I’m not much good at cooking and cleaning. You know that.”

“Sure, but once you marry, you’ll need to take care of your man. We discussed this. Remember?”

“Yes, but with Miriam doing the cooking—”

“You’ll have to learn, just like every other woman does.” Reba’s voice had taken on a hard edge, and she glanced sharply at Titus. “So this young woman. Is she the one you had supper with last night at the station?”

“Yes, ma’am. She came in on the stage.”

“I figured that. What’s she needing?”

“As I was telling Priscilla, enough material for two dresses and any other things women need. You’ll be a better judge of that than I would. And a coat.”

Prissy gave a harrumph and flounced toward the back.

With a shake of her head, Mrs. White jerked her thumb in the direction the girl had gone. “Don’t mind her. She’ll learn the ropes in no time.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mrs. White peered closer. “You havin’ second thoughts, Titus?”

Was he that transparent, or was Mrs. White a mind reader? Whatever the case, it was too bad her daughter wasn’t as astute.

“No need to answer. I can see she doesn’t take your fancy anymore. Is it the new girl?”

Titus felt his cheeks warm, and he averted his gaze.

“Never mind. I can see it written all over your face.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. White. I tried to tell Priscilla the truth, but—”

“Oh, I know. Once she gets something into her head, there ain’t no convincing her. I wondered why she’d gotten herself all fired up to go out to the ranch this mornin’.” She gave a dismissive wave. “Don’t you worry yourself none about it. I’ll take care of that daughter of mine. She has a dozen standing proposals. I’m sure one’s just as good a catch as another. She won’t be upset for long.”

Relief flooded Titus from his hairline to his toes.

“Guess you’d best not come to supper, though. Mr. White might not take this as rationally as me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“All right. You come back in an hour, and I’ll have your order ready.”

Titus thanked her and stepped outside. “Titus, hold up!”

He turned to find Todd Dorsey striding toward him. “What are you doing off the ranch today, Todd?”

“Thought I’d come in and get a haircut and a shave.”

The saloon keeper doubled as a barber, and from the nicks on Todd’s face, Titus figured the man had been drinking before he took the razor in hand.

“I…uh…thought I’d come over for a visit this evening. Heard you’re breaking a new colt.”

“That’s right. Bryce is working on it.” Titus eyed the man suspiciously. He was no fool. A new colt being broken was no reason to go visiting, especially when the same thing was going on at his own ranch. Alarm bells rang inside of him. He didn’t even have to ask the question on the tip of his tongue.

“I hear you’re hidin’ a real pretty girl at Chance Ranch.”

“We’re not hiding anyone.”

“Then there ain’t a girl out there?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Todd’s eyes narrowed. “Then what
are
you sayin’?”

Expelling an impatient breath, Titus shrugged. “Miss Worthington came in on the stage and needed a place to stay. Miriam could use the help, so we offered her a job in exchange for room and board.”

Satisfied?

Todd wasn’t satisfied. Not by a long shot.

“So no one’s got dibs on marrying her yet?”

“Dibs? You make her sound like the last piece of chocolate cake.” Titus cringed at his analogy.

Todd grinned. “Well, ain’t that sorta like what she is? I’m moseyin’ on out there to get my offer in ’fore someone beats me to it.”

“Now hold on just one minute.” Anger began to rise, and Titus took a steadying breath to control himself. “No one said she wasn’t already called for.”

Todd frowned. “Ya mean she’s already promised to one of ya?”

“Well, no, but I—”

“Then she’s fair game. You Chances got the last woman, and that was only fair seein’ as how she’s your brother’s wife’s sister and all, but it’s someone else’s turn, and I plan for it to be me.”

With that, he mounted his horse and took off at a gallop toward the ranch.

Titus hurried to his horse and mounted quickly. Wishing he still had Raven, he turned the sorrel toward home. His faithful old horse would have gotten him home before Todd could get there. As it was, he knew a couple of shortcuts.

He was halfway home before he remembered the dress goods he’d ordered from Mrs. White. With a groan, he whipped back around. Hopefully Alisa wouldn’t take a fancy to Todd or anyone else before he could get back and announce that his wedding was off once again.

Chapter 9

C
hoosing her words carefully, Alisa smiled at Mr. Wall. “Yes, Mr. Wall. I can see how a woman would be blessed to marry a man with a ranch as vast as yours.” He’d spent the last few minutes spouting every acre of land, every piece of livestock, and his future plans.

The man’s chest swelled. Indeed, his modest acreage, though it couldn’t be compared with Chance Ranch, was quite impressive. Of course, a woman would have to look past the excessive sweating, the missing teeth, and the layer of dirt on his neck for him to find someone to share his life with. And she certainly wasn’t that woman. Mr. Wall had come for lunch and had stayed for the entire afternoon, despite Miriam’s hints that he surely had work that needed attending at his own ranch. He seemed intent upon staying at Alisa’s side. They’d been sitting on the bench just outside the door to the main house since lunch.

Alisa was having trouble keeping her eyes open, and the smell was beginning to give her a headache.

The pounding of a horse’s hooves drew her attention toward the road.

“Well, if that don’t just beat all.” Mr. Wall’s disgust was clear.

“Is something wrong?” Alisa asked.

“There sure is something wrong. I was here first, that’s what. Todd Dorsey must have caught wind of you. Now he’s coming to try and take you away.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Someone must’ve been yappin’ about you being here at the ranch.” He put a protective arm around her shoulders.

Alisa gasped and pulled back sharply. “Please keep your distance, Mr. Wall, or I’ll be forced to ask you to leave.”

“Sorry, miss,” he muttered. “Just don’t want there to be no mistakin’ who was here first.”

The horse pulled to a halt, and a young man dismounted. He removed his hat and grinned, showing a much more promising set of teeth. “Hello. My name’s Todd Dorsey. You must be Miss Worthington.”

“Why, yes, I am.” Alisa found herself responding to his manners.

Miriam appeared on the porch like an answered prayer.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Dorsey. What brings you all the way out here?”

“You know good and well what brung him,” Mr. Wall accused.

Mr. Dorsey gave a sheepish grin. “I saw Titus in town. He mentioned that Miss Worthington here was as pretty as a flower and hadn’t been picked yet.”

“Hadn’t been picked yet!” Alisa squared her shoulders and narrowed her gaze.

“Well, in a manner of speaking. He said you wasn’t spoken for.”

Alisa’s heart sank. Titus was shuffling her off to other men? He must have decided to marry Priscilla White after all.

“Titus was wrong,” Mr. Wall declared, stepping forward. “I picked her. I’m claimin’ her right now. So you kin just go on and get outta here.”

“You can’t claim her. I’m claimin’ her.” The two men stood nose to nose. Alisa feared they might come to blows.

“Gentlemen, please,” Miriam’s voice remained low and conciliatory. “Don’t you agree that Miss Worthington has the right of choice in the matter of who will be her husband? Marv, you were here first, so you were certainly at an advantage. But Todd rode all the way out here to meet Miss Worthington, so the least you can do is step aside and give him a chance to get to know her as well.”

Marv turned to Alisa. “You choose, then. Me or him.”

Alisa gasped. “I—I—I don’t know what to say.”

“Now, gentlemen. Don’t be silly. Miss Worthington isn’t going to choose one of you right here and now. She doesn’t even know you.”

“That’s right.” Alisa’s relief that Miriam was here knew no bounds. She only wished she could escape the men who seemed bent on getting her to an altar.

“Now a real gentleman would realize that Miss Worthingston is dead tired from her long trip from San Francisco. I should think a man might show his consideration by letting her rest. That sort of man might make a good impression.”

Luckily, Alisa was forced to stifle a weary yawn at just that moment.

Understanding flickered in Todd’s eyes. He gave a gallant bow. “Miss Worthington, may I call on you tomorrow evening?”

“Now wait just a cotton pickin’ minute. I was about to ask.”

“Why don’t you both come to supper tomorrow night?” Miriam suggested. Alisa glanced at the woman. Whose side was she on anyway? Surely she realized Alisa would never be interested in either of these men. Both paled considerably in comparison to Titus. Of course, he’d called her an unpicked flower! Apparently he had no interest in her after all.

The sound of a horse’s hooves interrupted once more, and with great trepidation, Alisa lifted her gaze toward the sound. “Titus,” she breathed.

“Yes,” Miriam said, a smile crossing her lips as she nodded. “I guess he’ll be home for supper after all.”

Unpicked flower
.

Suddenly the humiliating situation of having two unsuitable men fighting over her while the one she admired was handing her to them on a first-come, first-served basis was more than she could manage. “Excuse me, please.” Turning on her heel, she fled to her cabin. Once inside, she leaned against the closed door and shut her eyes.

Tears slowly pushed past her lashes. She flung herself across her bed. Wave after wave of images rolled over in her mind. Discovering her grandmother only to lose her in a flash. Being implicated by her own father, having to run away before the police arrived, wandering all night and all the next day unsure what to do but knowing she couldn’t go back. Nor could she return to the orphanage. After buying a half-rotten apple from a street vendor, Alisa had found the stage station and bought a ticket to take her as far as she could go. Reliable was the end of the trail for her.

Were her only options to marry the likes of the men represented here today? Or should she go back to San Francisco and hope that the police would believe her? But wouldn’t they take Robert Worthington’s word over hers? After all, he owned a prominent shipping company, and she was merely an orphan working in the Worthington household. Despair filled her, and the tears became a river until sobs shook her.