Kitabı oku: «The Rancher’s Surprise Triplets»

Chapter One

June 1896

Little Horn, Texas

Louisa Clark pushed through the half-dozen young women to get to the counter of the store. They peered at a sign on top of the oak counter.

“A dime a dance, you say?” One of the pretty women spoke. So young and fresh looking it made Louisa, at twenty-seven, realize she was well past her prime...old enough to earn the title of “spinster.” Not that it mattered to her. She was content with her life...found it immensely satisfying.

She edged between two of the young women and glanced at the sign. Dances were being sold at a dime a piece to raise money to help out the many needy families in the area. The ongoing drought left so many struggling to survive. Her heart went out to them. To be unable to care for one’s family must surely be the worst feeling in the world.

“There will be a dance Saturday night to wind up our three-day fair. Every man who wants a dance will have to pay a dime. Won’t that be fun?”

She glanced toward the speaker who answered the young lady’s question.

Bo Stillwater leaned back on the heels of his well-worn cowboy boots and pushed his equally well-worn cowboy hat back on his head, revealing sandy-brown hair and silvery eyes that seemed to be perpetually laughing at life. She’d met him shortly after her arrival in town and had barely been able to look directly at those eyes. He was a rancher and his twin brother was the preacher at the church next to the doctor’s house.

The young ladies turned as one to cluster around the cowboy.

“What about you, Mr. Stillwater? Are you going to pay a dime to dance with each of us?” The young miss blossomed rosy pink.

Louisa felt sorry for her. Had she ever been so young and innocent? Oh, yes, there was a time she’d fancied herself in love. At eighteen she had been naive and full of dreams. She’d loved Wes and trusted that he loved her. But when things got serious enough for them to talk marriage, she had warned him they’d have to wait until Amy and Mother no longer needed her. He had responded that it sounded like she meant for him to wait most of his life. Said he wasn’t willing to wait. She wasn’t worth waiting for. Nine years later she sometimes wondered if she was finally worth waiting for or if she was meant to always be alone.

Enough dwelling on the past. It offered nothing but painful memories. She glanced at her work-worn hands and the dusty skirts of her dress. She had no time for fussing about her looks. What mattered the most was helping her father with his doctoring and caring for her mother.

In the three weeks they’d been in Little Horn, Texas, she’d helped Father clean the office area and examining room. He’d been seeing patients from the beginning but could now receive them in his office. Getting the rest of the house ready for Mother’s arrival was next.

“I’ve come up with a better idea,” Bo said. “I’m going to sell dances with me for a dime. That way anyone who wants to be my partner can be and it’s a fine way to raise more money.” He held up a piece of paper. “I have slots to fill. Anyone interested?”

The young ladies rivaled each other for the chance to pay money to dance with Mr. Bo Stillwater.

The storekeeper finally turned his attention to Louisa and she ordered the supplies she needed. She wanted more cleaning compound to get the grime off the walls of the kitchen.

“You must be scrubbing that house within an inch of its life,” he commented.

“Simply doing what I can to make it ready for my mother.” The house Father purchased to set up his medical practice and a home for the family was adequate for the most part. But not for an invalid like her mother. Mother needed things to be extremely clean or she’d catch something and get ill. Her weak heart put her life in jeopardy. Besides utmost cleanliness, she needed the furniture arranged in such a way she could navigate the rooms in her wheelchair. Louisa was anxious to see her mother again and smiled as she thought of how welcoming she would make the house for her and how appreciative Mother would be.

“She’ll be along soon, will she?”

“I expect so. She’s traveling with my sister and her husband at a more leisurely pace than my father and I took.” Plus she’d be sleeping in the best accommodations available and eating in the best restaurants on their journey from Cleveland, Ohio. Father and Louisa had taken the cheapest and fastest transportation and eaten food they’d packed before leaving home. Not that she minded. It had been like a holiday to be traveling alone with her father.

“The doc seems to be doing a brisk business.”

“He’s been busy,” she agreed. “Busy enough that on occasion we’ve gotten young Annie Hill to help.” Annie had assisted Louisa on some of her calls to deliver babies—there’d been four since they’d come. Once the women of the community learned that Louisa was somewhat of a midwife, they had taken to calling her for help rather than bother the doctor. Annie was efficient as an assistant to Louisa when she attended a birthing. She was kind and helpful in other ways, too...such as helping to clean the house.

“Bo’s doing a brisk business too.” The storekeeper nodded toward the rancher, who took a dime and jotted down a name. “He’s determined to bring in enough money to help all those in need, and by the looks of it, he could well succeed. Industrious young man. He’d make someone a good husband.” The man’s black-shoe-button eyes bored into Louisa. “Say, you aren’t married, are you?”

Louisa chuckled. “I really don’t see how I’d fit a husband into my already busy life.”

“That a fact?” He sounded less than convinced.

“How much for the supplies?” Before she could withdraw the few coins for the storekeeper, the room grew silent and the walls sucked inward, like everyone drew in a deep breath at the same time. A footfall sounded behind her and her neck muscles twitched.

She knew without looking that Bo moved closer and she quickly gathered together her purchases and turned. He stood squarely in front of her, blocking her escape. His odd-colored eyes sent shivers through her. Her gaze darted past his shoulder to the doorway.

“What about you, Miss Clark?” His smile teased.

Six young ladies stared at her. She would not look directly at them, certain she’d see resentment that the handsome bachelor would pay her attention.

“I’m sorry.” Her tongue barely functioned. “I don’t understand your question.”

His grin widened. “About the dance. Can I sign you up to offer dances? And would you care to pay a dime for the privilege of a dance with me?” He lifted his sheet of paper toward her. Already several lines were filled in.

No doubt her cheeks were unattractively red. She felt everyone waiting. Knew she had to say something but his question left her speechless.

She said the first thing that sprang to her mind. “I would not want to take a dance away from any of your admirers.” Her purchases pressed hard to her chest, she pushed past Bo and rushed out the door. Why had she said that? She understood the dance was not without its benefits as a way to raise funds. Her answer made her sound as though she didn’t care about helping the town. She did care. But between preparing for her mother’s arrival and helping her father with his work, there was no time in her life for anything else.

Her life was satisfyingly full. She’d found joy in caring for her mother and making sure her younger sister, Amy, enjoyed a happy and full life despite being frail because of her too early birth. She knew it wasn’t her fault Amy was born early but still she carried a burden of guilt. She’d visited a friend and brought home an infection that made Mother ill, made her deliver Amy much too early and permanently damaged Mother’s already weak heart.

Bo called after her. “Surely you are going to support the—”

The door clicked shut, closing off the rest of his words.

Of course she would support the county fair. She’d contribute what she could toward the fund-raising because her heart went out to those struggling through hard times.

She would love to help the cause with just one dance with the silver-eyed Bo, but it wasn’t to be.

* * *

Bo adjusted his hat as the girls around him gasped or giggled as suited their personalities. What was wrong with Miss Clark that she refused to take part in the festivities? Yes, she was a newcomer so perhaps unaware of the needs in the community. The drought affected so many of the ranchers, leaving them near destitute. There were needy widows with children in the area. And orphans that needed care. He would like to see the young men who worked on the ranches be taught some basic schooling so they could handle their affairs better. Some could not even write their names or do more than basic counting, which left them vulnerable to being taken advantage of.

His final words to Miss Clark died before he could spit them out. Surely you are going to support the Lone Star Cowboy League. He was one of the founding members and deeply committed to the causes it sponsored by offering many forms of assistance to fellow ranchers. Lately, it had grown to include anyone in the community in need of aid.

Pretty little Suzanne Bachmeier, whose father owned the shoe-making business, edged closer. “I’ll buy her dance.” She giggled behind her hand, batting her blue eyes at him. Her blond ringlets danced with her merriment.

Her equally pretty and equally blonde sister, Nora, delicately edged her aside. “No, I will. After all, I’m older than you.”

The girls elbowed each other while the rest of the young ladies protested loudly.

He held up his hands. “Now, now. Let’s be fair. One dance only until Saturday night. Then if I have any spaces left, I’ll...” He hadn’t thought of how he’d handle the possibility but now saw what an opportunity it would be. “I’ll auction off whatever dances I have left.” Pleased with his solution, he tipped his hat at the young ladies and hurried from the store.

Was that Miss Clark turning the corner ahead? He’d catch up to her and explain why the league was so important to the community. He lengthened his stride, easily gaining on her.

She turned to the right. Her pace increased as she turned right again down the next street. He followed, steadily gaining on her. He had most of the block to overtake her before she reached the doctor’s quarters.

But his steps slowed as he drew abreast of the blacksmith shop. The two boys—Butch, fifteen, and Brady, twelve—huddled in the shadows of the building. Butch spoke low and hard. Brady’s shoulders shook. The boys had lost their mother last year.

Bo remembered how that felt. He and his twin, Brandon, were sixteen when their gentle mother had died, leaving the boys under the guardianship of their cruel father. His words still rang in Bo’s head. You’ll never amount to a row of beans. Too much like your mother, the both of you.

Bo sucked in a deep breath. He would not let his father’s words hurt him any longer, though they had achieved one good thing...they’d made Bo determined to prove the old man wrong and he was well on his way to doing it by becoming a successful rancher.

“Howdy,” he called.

Both lads jerked toward him. Brady scrubbed at his cheeks, wiping away the evidence of a cry.

Bo’s gut clenched. His fists curled. He’d never known James Forester to be a hard man, but nevertheless, these boys were having a difficult time. Their situation was different from his and Brandon’s. Yet it was much the same. The loss and aloneness of death. What could he do to help them? He remembered the candy sticks he’d purchased at the store. Although he had a genuine fondness for sweets, he would gladly share them if it helped these boys forget their pain if only for a few minutes.

He pulled the little package from his pocket. “I think I bought more of these than I should have. You two care to help me reduce the number?” He took two steps toward them and showed them the array of candy.

Brady moved first and selected a red-and-white stick—peppermint. One of Bo’s favorites.

Butch hung back momentarily, then grabbed the cinnamon stick. Two of Bo’s favorites gone, but he selected the root-beer-flavored one and the three of them sucked at the candy.

“You boys will be coming to the fair tomorrow, won’t you?” he asked.

Butch shrugged. “Pa says we’re too busy.” The ringing thunder of hammer against anvil bore witness to the truth of those words.

Brady scuffed the toe of his boot against a lump of dirt and said nothing.

Bo straightened. “Maybe he’ll change his mind.” He glanced down the street. Miss Clark had disappeared into the doctor’s house. He was about to again follow after her when David McKay rode up on horseback and called to him. David, one of the three McKay brothers, had a little girl, Maggie. Bo glanced around, wondering what mischief she was up to at the moment. He didn’t see the child and tried to relax.

“Bo, we’re having trouble getting some of the tents to stay upright. Could you come and give a hand?”

He should have been at the fairgrounds long ago, had been headed that direction when he got sidetracked with his good idea of selling dances and then of convincing Miss Clark to join the activities. All for a good cause. “I’ll be right there.” He’d talk to Miss Clark later. Perhaps to James Forester, as well. Every bit of money would help, be it admission to the grounds, entry fee for the many contests to be judged, payment for a chance to participate in the many games or a dime for a dance.

He made his way to the fairgrounds, where his intentions were soon shoved aside as he confronted the many demands. He wanted this event to be successful in every way and rushed from one need to the next—helping drive in tent pegs, setting up sawhorse tables for the displays, checking to make sure the judges had everything they needed, pointing out the need to keep the area clear around the horseshoe pits. As dusk descended, people drifted away. The air filled with the gentle sounds of night—a distant owl, even more distant coyotes with their mournful song, a woman calling to a child, a fretful baby crying and the slam of doors as people returned to their homes for the night.

He wandered through the grounds and, satisfied with the setup, he retrieved his horse where it waited patiently and rode to his ranch. Dusk gave way to darkness but he didn’t need light to recognize the familiar sounds of his home. The gentle lowing of cattle settling down for the night, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, the call of a duck on the nearby pond. He entered the barn, lit the lantern and took care of his horse before he made his way to the house.

His housekeeper, Mrs. Jamieson, greeted him in the kitchen. “Supper’s on the stove.”

“Cake for dessert, I see.”

She waved him away. “That’s for the cake competition tomorrow.”

“You’ll win the blue ribbon for sure.”

She fluttered a towel at him. “I’m just an ordinary cook. You eat up. I’ve already eaten so I could finish the apron I’m entering in the fair.” She disappeared into the sitting room to tend to her sewing.

He eyed the cake with a degree of disappointment but it was good to know Mrs. Jamieson was doing her part to support the fair. He had yet to speak to Miss Clark and persuade her to do the same.

* * *

The next morning, he left early for town. People would be coming to set up their wares, to put out their baked goods and sewing for judging. He needed to be there to make sure it all went well. He’d check on things at the fairgrounds, then go over to the doctor’s house and speak to Miss Clark. The fair was going to raise a lot of money and be a great deal of fun. She ought not to miss it.

The sound of many people reached him even before he arrived at the site. Not an unpleasant sound. He sat on his horse, grinning widely. It was going to be a success. He turned aside to the spot where animals and wagons were parked for the day and left his horse there. The grounds were alive with people rushing in and out of the tents and booths, preparing for the opening. He began his tour of the grounds, checking every tent, greeting each contestant and wishing them the best. He toured the livestock area, admiring the array of horses, sheep and pigs.

A little later, satisfied that things were ready for the opening at noon, Bo made his final stop. He stepped into the pie tent, where he would serve as one of the judges. He’d agreed to judge this competition in honor of his mother. She’d made the best peach pie. As the aroma of many pies assailed him, a flood of memories washed through him. Ma, her smile welcoming them, serving him and Brandon generous slices of pie. Father was away, so they could relax and enjoy their time around the table without fear of him coming in and turning the meal into some kind of confrontation. Father took joy in making life miserable for his wife and two sons. He criticized with cruel comments, mocked his wife and sons, and didn’t hesitate to use his hands to convey his hateful attitude. Because of his father, Bo, at twenty-nine, had not married and would never do so. Only once had he come close to forgetting his vow and he would not make that mistake again. He had courted a young lady back in Boston. But it didn’t work out. He’d watched Valerie berate a child who splashed mud on her and was so angry at her unkindness to the poor little boy that Bo’s rage threatened to overtake him. He knew then he had too much of his father in him to ever marry and have children. Like Father had mockingly said. Don’t forget half the blood flowing through your veins is from me.

Bo would never forget the cruel laughter following those words as if his father was happy to think of his sons living the same sort of unhappy life the elder Stillwater lived.

Instead, Bo would do what he could to make life better for others. He would judge the pies and think sweet thoughts of his ma while he did.

He turned, about to leave, when a sound caught his attention. A cry? A baby? He looked again into the interior of the tent. Row after row of pies upon long tables arranged in a U shape. He was alone in the tent. The sound must have come from a woman walking by with a baby in her arms. But the cry came again. Then a second. And the sound came from nearby. From inside the tent. How odd. His imagination must be playing tricks on him.

He shook his head and took another step toward the doorway. A third cry joined the others. His imagination had gotten very loud. Loud enough to require further investigation. Were some mischievous boys trying to trick him? If so, they were very good at imitating babies.

He went around the top of the U and down the side. The sound grew louder, more insistent. With a sudden rush forward, he rounded the corner, intending to catch the teasing culprits before they could race away. At what he saw, he ground to a halt and stared. A pushcart with deep sides and a broad bottom stood at the end of the table. Three angry little faces screwed up and wailed a protest. Three babies? Who? Where? What? He couldn’t bring a single rational thought to his mind. Three pairs of feet kicked a beat to accompany their cries. The worn blue blanket covering them tangled around the chubby feet. A piece of paper lay tucked in beside the thin mattress. He pulled it out, opened it and read the words.

To the Lone Star Cowboy League: Please take care of my triplets. I’m widowed and penniless. The ranch is dried out. I can’t stay there and provide for my babies. I’m also very sick and am going to where I was born to meet my maker. One day, if you could make sure the boys knew I loved them, I’d be obliged. They were born September 30. Was the happiest day of my life.

Surely this was a mistake. A trick. He ducked down to look under the cloths covering the tables. No one. Nothing but trampled grass.

He straightened and glanced into every corner of the tent, hoping to discover someone hiding there. Nothing. What was he to do? He couldn’t think over the sobbing babies.

He looked at them again, his heart breaking into three at their misery.

Jasper, Eli and Theo, he read on the front of their tiny shirts.

Their noses ran. The one with Theo on his shirt pulled at his ears. Little Eli had bright red cheeks. He touched those cheeks. Hot. He touched the cheeks of the other two. Hot, as well. He was no expert on babies but he guessed they were sick. He’d take them to the doctor and then find the mother. Please, God, keep her safe until we locate her.

The Lone Star Cowboy League could help this poor mother and her babies.