The Wrangler's Mail Order Bride (7 page)

“
T
hese earrings match
your eyes perfectly, Clara, and we want you to wear them tonight. They look beautiful with your dress.” Suzanne pushed Lily forward and she opened her hand to reveal a pair of stunning emerald earrings. “Unless, of course, you want to wear the pearls your mother gave you. I know how much they mean to you.”

Clara took the earrings and stood in front of the mirror, holding them up to her ears. They really did accent her eyes and matched her dress perfectly.

“Oh, thank you, Lily. They’re beautiful, and I promise I’ll take very good care of them.” Turning to Suzanne, she said, “That was very thoughtful of them. I’d like to wear them, if you don’t mind. I’m a little nervous—but it feels more like excited. I don’t think I need the pearls tonight.” She turned in a circle and asked Lily and Lucy, “Do I look all right?”

They ran to hug her and she smoothed their hair as she hugged them in return. Suzanne leaned against the wall, eyeing her friend thoughtfully. “You know, Clara, your hair is so beautiful. With the red waves, it makes your eyes look even more green. He’s not going to know what to do when he sees you.”

“Yes, Clara. You look like a princess,” Lucy added, at which her sister nodded solemnly.

The twins jumped at the knock on the door, racing down the stairs. James met them at the bottom and stopped them with open arms. “Hey, hey, slow down.”

“But Daddy, Hank’s here and Clara looks like a princess. Mama says he won’t know what to do when he sees her, so I wanna see what happens.” Lucy hopped from one foot to another as she tried to wriggle away from her father’s grasp.

He picked them both up, one under each arm, and laughed as he set them down by the fire. “I think we can watch from here, don’t you, Suzanne?”

“Yes, please.” She sighed as she and Clara walked down the stairs, James’s eyes growing wide at the sight of Clara.

“My goodness,” he said as Clara stepped off the bottom step, thinking that her face must be as red as her hair.

“See, Daddy, we told you. A princess,” Lucy said as she clapped her hands together.

“Hank’s a lucky man,” he said as he wrapped his arm around Suzanne’s shoulder. “Almost as lucky as I am.”

Suzanne laughed and pulled away. “Well, one of us ought to actually open the door.”

As Suzanne swung the door open, Clara grasped the newel post to steady herself. She wasn’t quite sure why she was nervous—no, excited—and thought maybe it was because she’d never been courted before.

But when she saw Hank’s face, his wide eyes and big smile as he saw her, she knew it wasn’t just because someone was taking her out to dinner. It was because it was
this
someone.

She looked down and smoothed her dress to break eye contact as she remembered that he was courting her for two reasons, neither of which involved caring about her. His inheritance, and to avoid his father’s wrath.

Hank held his hat to his chest and stepped into the room, his eyes still locked on Clara. James and Suzanne exchanged glances and James cleared his throat.

“Oh, hello, James, Suzanne,” Hank said, blinking as if suddenly realizing there was anyone else in the room.

Lucy jumped off the settee and ran to Hank, Lily close behind. “Doesn’t she look like a princess, Uncle Hank?”

He hugged the girls and looked back up at Clara. “Yes, Lucy, I believe she does.”

He stood and wiped his hand on his pants again before extending her his arm. “Shall we go, Clara? I have a reservation waiting for us.”

Clara looked at Suzanne, wishing that she knew more about this sort of thing, and received a comforting smile in return. She took a deep breath and decided that whatever was to happen would happen as she threaded her arm through his.

“Thank you, everyone. I’ll see you later,” Clara said as she let Hank guide her out to the buggy.

“Clara, I must say that you look lovely,” Hank said as he helped her into the buggy.

“Thank you, Hank. You look nice yourself,” she said, noticing more how he smelled than how he looked. He had on a different clasp on his string tie tonight, all silver, that looked sort of Indian from the pictures in her picture book. Where was that book, anyway?

“Your tie is interesting. Is it Indian?” she asked, peering over at him as he turned the buggy toward town.

“Oh, this? No, not this one. This one is from Mexico. We’re so close to the border that there are many things that make an appearance as the cultures mingle.”

“We’re close to Mexico?” she said, wishing she remembered more from her geography lessons in school. Was that in the book, too?

“Yes,” he said, chuckling. “People seem to be surprised by that, but it’s not like there’s a fence or anything separating us. And we have things they need and vice versa.”

“Is that where your father learned about adobe houses?” She tried to look straight ahead as they made small talk, wondering where they were going to and hoping it was to the Occidental.

“I believe partly. He’s always been interested in things like that. He has a lot of flaws, especially since my mother passed away, but he’s always had great respect for people and the land. That’s why this is all so surprising to me, how he’s behaving.”

Clara cleared her throat, not quite sure what to say. All she knew about Mr. Archer so far was that he was heavy-handed and didn’t include his son in important decisions—like his own marriage. So far, she didn’t feel like she had much use for him.

“Well, here we are,” Hank said as he pulled up to the Occidental and stopped the buggy close to the hitching post. He pointed to a store on the corner. “That next door is James’s mercantile. That’s where I first met him.”

She gazed at the big porch and lovely shutters, and the sign over the door announcing Tripp and Sadie’s restaurant.

As Hank came and offered her his hand to help her step out of the buggy, she stood and turned around, marveling at the busy street. She gasped as her heel slipped off the buggy step and she fell backward, closing her eyes and hoping she didn’t hit the ground too hard.

Perfect. My first ever evening out with a man and I
…

Her heart thudded in her chest as she awaited the impact with the dirt, but time stopped as she felt strong arms break her fall. She opened her eyes finally, gratefully looking up into those of Hank.

Her mortification subsided as he laughed, and said, “Well, that was…not the most graceful thing I’ve ever seen.”

She smiled as his eyes twinkled, and she held her hand to her forehead in mock horror and said, “What else is a princess to do when her foot slips out from under her. Thank you for saving me.”

Hank set her down, taking her hand and bowing before her. “It was an honor, my lady.” He held his arm out for her, and she slipped hers in and let him guide her into the restaurant.

“Clara. Hank,” she heard the minute they entered the beautiful dining room of the Occidental.

Sadie rushed to them and grabbed Clara’s hand, pulling her to the best table in the house. “Here, I saved the table with the best view out the window for you.”

Clara’s heart tugged at her friend’s excitement, grateful that everyone seemed to be cheering them on and hoping for the best.

Hank pulled out her chair for her and scooted her in as he smiled at Sadie. “Is Tripp in the kitchen?” he asked, looking over toward the door.

“Yes, and he’s busy right now, but I’m sure he’ll be out soon to say hello.” She smiled and offered them both menus, turning and pointing over to a beautiful, mahogany bar that spanned the length of the room. “And we have a bartender finally. We were able to open the bar for people to wait for an open table. Tripp says it’s someone you know, Hank. Name’s Samuel something.”

“Samuel Ford? Really?” Hank stood and looked over to the bar. “Well, I’ll be. I haven’t seen him for years. Clara, mind if I say hello real quick?” he said as he placed his hat on the chair beside him.

“Oh, no, please go ahead.” She unfolded her napkin and laid it in her lap as Sadie quickly sat in Hank’s chair.

“So, how is everything?” she whispered as Hank walked toward the bar and extended his hand to the man behind it. He was greeted with a broad smile and sturdy handshake from the tall, lean man in a satin vest and white shirt, his sleeves rolled up.

“I think all right, but I almost fell out of the buggy. Hank had to catch me,” Clara said, fanning herself with her menu.

“How romantic,” Sadie said with a sigh. “You know, I think you two are perfect for each other, Beau Archer notwithstanding. Uh-oh, speak of the devil.” Sadie stood and turned as Beau Archer strode through the room, taking a quick glance at his son at the bar and heading straight for Clara.

“Hello, Mr. Archer. Nice to see you,” Sadie said as she raised her eyebrows at Clara. “Are you here for supper?”

“No, no, thank you, Sadie. I’ve just returned from Tucson with some news, and would like to speak with Miss Martin quickly for a moment, if you don’t mind.” He held Clara’s gaze and didn’t glance at Sadie.

“Oh, well, if that’s okay with Clara…” Sadie stood for a moment, shifting her feet as Clara contemplated her potential future father-in-law.

“Thank you, Sadie. I’m sure we’ll be fine.” She gestured for Mr. Archer to take Hank’s seat as she stole a glance at him laughing at the bar with his friend.

Beau glanced at Hank as well before he cleared his throat, pausing for a moment.

Clara waited, wondering what he could possibly have to say to her. Somehow, she didn’t think she’d be getting an apology.

Beau took a deep breath and sat back in his chair. “Clara, I can imagine that this is a little difficult for you. I’d like to first thank you for even considering helping us in this complicated situation.”

Clara folded her arms and leveled her gaze at Hank’s father. “You’re welcome.” She fell silent, waiting for him to continue and enjoying his obvious discomfort, despite herself.

“I believe that you are aware that my wife, Hank and the girls’ mother, passed away not too long ago. Actually, she was Tripp’s mother, too. At least, she considered herself to be.”

Clara dropped her hands to the table as she looked down at her napkin. “Yes, I did know that, Mr. Archer. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you,” he said with a glance down at the table. “It is imperative that this property becomes Hanks as soon as possible. It is what his mother would have wanted.”

Clara frowned as she wondered what Mrs. Archer had to do with anything regarding the property. She recalled that it had belonged to Katie’s father, but knew nothing beyond that.

She sighed, leaning forward on her elbows. “Mr. Archer, I understand that this is meaningful to you. It would be impossible to miss that fact.”

He smiled, steepling his fingers in front of him as he assessed Clara from across the table.

“Miss Martin, yes, you are correct. It is very important to me, and it would be to Hank if he knew all of the facts.”

“I’m sure that Hank is as aware that this is important to you as I am, but I’m not at all sure why. Maybe you should…”

She stole another glance at Hank, just as he turned and spotted his father at the table with her. His face reddened and he quickly said something to his friend before striding over to the table.

“Pa, what are you doing here?” he asked, glaring down at his father.

“Nothing, Hank. Nothing, really. Just having a quick word with your future bride.” He stood, moving away from Hank’s seat and gestured for him to take it.

“Thank you,” Hank said as he sat across from Clara, casting a sideways glance at his father.

Beau remained in place, thoughtful during the awkward silence that followed. He seemed to make a decision, and cleared his throat.

“Could I convince the two of you to take a ride with me tomorrow? To see the property?”

“What? I’ve seen it, Pa. Not sure Clara’s even interested,” Hank said, studying his father.

“Now, Hank, you’ve seen part of it. There’s something particular I’d like to show you. I can have the housekeeper pack a picnic. I’ll show you what I want you to see, and head back. You two can stay and roam around as you like.”

“Pa, I don’t know…” Hank looked across the table to Clara, his eyebrows raised, waiting for her response.

Clara looked from Hank to his father, and made a decision. She wanted to clear up as much of this confusion as possible, and if it took a ride out to the property to do that, so be it. She needed to know…to move on.

“That would be fine with me, Mr. Archer. I would be happy to come along. Maybe Hank will even give me a riding lesson like he did for the twins today.” She smiled at Hank as he looked up at his father.

Hank sighed. “How is eleven o’clock? Pa, I really need to know what this is all about. Clara deserves to know, too.”

Beau’s head dropped into his hand and he rubbed his eyes. “Hank, thank you for trusting me. I think tomorrow, after we go to the property, you may understand a little better.”

He turned to Clara, bowing slightly toward her. “And thank you, Miss Martin, for humoring me. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

With a quick nod to Hank, Beau turned and left the restaurant.

Almost as if on cue—not that she would have been listening—Sadie came to the table. “Everything okay?”

Clara smiled at Hank, happy that tomorrow, she’d finally find out what the urgency was about the property. Not the timeline, but what it meant to Beau—to the family.

“Yes, we’re fine, Sadie. Everything is great.”

Sadie sighed as she let out a deep breath. “Oh, good. Are you ready to order?”