Bran (Prairie Grooms, Book Six) (11 page)

“How can I? You two almost beat me senseless!”

“We did nothing of the kind,” Harrison said in defense. “If you hadn’t have
fallen
out of the hayloft and land on that pitchfork …”

“Pitchfork?” asked Apple. “There really was a pitchfork? And here I thought Jefferson made that up.”

“Is that who’s been regaling you with our romantic exploits?” asked Harrison.

“He’s a good story teller,” said Apple. “And he makes us laugh.”

“Who is us?” asked Colin as he turned to look at her.

“Lena, Fina, and me,” she said. “He would tell us stories after breakfast or when we were out hanging laundry.”

“My, my,” said Colin. “And to think we thought him such a quiet sort.”

“You all have had such wonderful, romantic adventures,” sighed Apple. “I wish I could have one.”

Harrison looked at her. “But you are having one, right now.”

“I wouldn’t call what’s been happening an adventure. More like a disaster.”

“Apple, give the man a chance to court you. I’m sure he’s forgiven you, even if he hasn’t told you in so many words,” said Sadie. “Come Sunday you’ll be looking at a new man, one who has romance and you in the same thoughts.”

Apple gave Colin a weak smile, turned, and gave it to Sadie. She then faced forward. “I hope so, because so far, I haven’t given him much to get romantic about.”

Eleven

Sunday couldn’t come soon enough, and Apple was beside herself with excitement. Who would have thought that the man she’d locked in a safe and—well, she really
was
trying not to think about
that
part of it anymore—was coming to Sunday supper!

“What should I wear?” she asked Belle as she stepped into Apple’s bedroom. “I wanted to wear my lilac dress, but it’s at Eloise’s.

“I think you could dress in a flour sack and Deputy O’Hare would still think you were beautiful,” Belle told her.

Apple blushed. “Do you really believe he thinks I’m pretty?”

“Of course he does. Why are you so worried?”

Apple gave her a lopsided smile. “For the obvious reason.”

“So he had a … slight brush with death. It didn’t catch him, now did it? You can’t keep blaming yourself. Stop it.”

“I know, but what if he’s …”

“What if he’s what?”

“What if he’s just doing all this because he feels guilty?”

“Guilty? About what?”

“Not forgiving me.”

Belle blinked at her a few times. “So, you think he wants to court you because he feels guilty? Apple! Who puts these thoughts into your head?”

“Myself, mostly …”

“Well tell yourself to stop it!” Belle crossed the room to examine several dresses Apple had laid out on the bed. “This one,” she said and picked up a beautiful dark plum colored gown with white lace trim.

“I can’t wear that! It’s far too formal for Sunday dinner.”

“True, but when would he ever see you in it? Tell you what, if you dress up, I will, and so will Sadie. It will be our surprise to the men.”

“But, that’s a ball gown, do you have one?”

“I have something, not as fancy as this mind you, but it will do.”

“And what about Sadie? What does she have?”

“She has a beautiful blue dress with black lace trim that will keep Harrison on his toes. I’ll run downstairs and tell her while you find whatever else you need.”

“I have gloves that match …”

“Perfect! I’ll go tell Sadie!”  She left the room and went downstairs. Apple examined the gown and fingered the satin fabric. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to wear the dress again. She’d worn it during her first and only season. No, make that her first and only ball. After that, no one would come near her, or her sisters. Another suitor, one of Lena’s, had wound up with a broken leg and the curse was upon them.

Apple sat on the bed. What if it still was? What if Eloise told her all those things only to make her feel better? What if right now Bran O’Hare was riding to his death by coming to see her?

She swallowed hard as a chill went up her spine. She stood and started to wring her hands together as she paced the room. “What do I do?”

“Get dressed,” said Sadie as she came into the room. “Belle just told me we’re all going to give the men a big surprise! I think it’s a wonderful idea! Do you need any help with your gown?”

Apple stilled, and tried to calm down. “I think I can manage.” She paced back and forth one more time then stopped in front of Sadie. “What time is it?”

“Time for us to change if we’re to be ready when the deputy gets here. Do you want one of us to fix your hair?”

Apple sat on the bed. “I … I don’t know.”

Sadie sat beside her. “What’s wrong?”

Apple picked at the lace trim of her gown. “Nothing.”

Sadie sighed. “Change is scary, I know.”

Apple stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“I can tell by the way you’re acting, that you’re scared about something. I’m guessing it’s all the changes that will take place once you marry.”

“Oh,” said Apple. “I hadn’t thought of that before.”

“I’m sure that’s it. Marriage is a big change in a young girl’s life. But it’s one that is always for the better.”

“Was it for you?”

Sadie smiled. “Harrison is the best thing that ever happened to me. But, we got off to a rough start too.”

“Did Duncan give
him
a black eye?”

“No, but he gave me a good lump on the head.”

Apple gasped. “Duncan or Harrison?”

“Harrison,” said Sadie with a laugh. “When he rescued me from the outlaws, he had to carry me.”

“Yes, I remember Jefferson telling us that part.”

“Well, what Jefferson probably didn’t tell you, or Harrison would just die, is that Harrison slipped on some ice, and ran into a tree. Only I hit it harder than he did.”

Apple’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh no!”

“Oh yes,” Sadie said and absently rubbed the back of her head. I think it knocked me out for an hour or two.”

“So Harrison gave you a head injury, Duncan gave Colin a black eye, and …”

“Duncan himself, was poisoned while courting Cozette, so you see, injury and mayhem go hand in hand in this family. That being the case, then you and Bran O’Hare are definitely made for each other.”

“Who would have thought?” Apple commented and forced a smile.

Sadie smiled back. “If you can get along all right, then I’m going to get dressed myself. Call me if you want help with your hair.”

“I will,” said Apple as she watched her leave. As soon as she was gone, she let herself fall back onto the bed and blew out a long breath. Injury and mayhem during courtship indeed! At least none of her cousins had come as close to killing their intended as she had! And because she did come so close, would the next time be more than close? What if next time, she succeeded? Sadie mistook her fear for wedding jitters. Well, she couldn’t have any jitters if there wasn’t a wedding!

“But I would like to get married …” she thought aloud. Apple sat up as an idea struck. “What if I test it? Yes, test to see if the curse is real?” If it wasn’t, then she could marry Bran O’Hare and no one would be the wiser! But if she noticed that whenever they were around, disaster struck, then … she’d not only have to remain a spinster, but she’d have to find a way to leave Clear Creek as well.

* * *

“I’m sure we can make some arrangement, Deputy,” Harrison said. “After all, if you’re going to marry our cousin, we’ll want to make sure you can take care of her.”

Bran gaped at the Englishman. He’d just offered him a few head of cattle, and they hadn’t even had supper yet! “That’s mighty generous of you, Harrison, but what if Apple decides she doesn’t want to marry me? You and yer brother seem to be awful sure of yerselves.”

Colin slapped him on the back. “Let’s just say we know our cousin, and, we know exactly how you can win her.”

“What if
I
find we won’t suit?”

“A brave thing to suggest,” commented Harrison. “But if you thought that, you wouldn’t be here.”

Bran sighed in defeat. “All right, what did ye have in mind?”

Colin peeked at the stairwell, then sat on the settee and smiled. “A little mayhem,” he whispered, then winked conspiratorially.

“Mayhem?” echoed Bran, his brows raised. “What are ye talking about?”

“We believe Apple is craving adventure and romance, especially after Jefferson filled her head with our courtship catastrophes,” said Harrison.

“If they were catastrophes, then why would she want any part of them?” asked Bran.

“Because at the same time, they were terribly romantic, in their own way, and our wives still sigh when we speak of them.”

“After they’ve told us what idiots we are, of course,” Harrison added dryly.

Bran looked from one to the other. “So … does this mean ye want to give me a black eye?”

“No, no, no,” chortled Colin. “Nothing so extreme!”

“Isn’t that what worked for you?”

“Yes, but that was different.”

“I should say so, yer brothers beat ye up.”

“We didn’t beat him up, we just … helped him win the heart of the fair maiden with bandages and witch hazel,” explained Harrison.

“And alcohol,” added Colin with a grimace.

Bran shook his head. “You’re both loco.”

“Hear us out,” said Harrison. “Apple feels guilty for the whole safe incident, and even after you’ve forgiven her, which, I hope you plan to do,” Harrison said with one eye brow raised, “it might take her a bloody long time to forgive herself.”

“So what has that got to do with mayhem?” Bran asked, growing more suspicious by the second. Just what was he getting himself into?

“What if you were to… say … rescue her, or let her rescue you?” explained Colin.

Bran stared at him. As crazy as it sounded, he was beginning to understand their logic. “Yeah, go on.”

“We can get together a few of the men, say, Seth and August, maybe Harlan, and pretend to be outlaws or some such thing. We’ll cause a little mayhem, you rescue the fair damsel, and she falls madly in love, has her own adventure and romance, and voila! You propose.”

Bran laughed. He just couldn’t help it. “You English are inventive, I’ll give ye that. Just what makes ye think Apple won’t recognize any of you?”

“We’ll wear masks,” Colin said in a sinister tone. “What do you think? We could attack you when you take Apple down to see ‘His Majesty’.”

“I think when you fell out of the hayloft a few years ago, you must have hit your head harder than you thought.”

Harrison laughed. “So do we, but we never bring that up around Colin.”

“Hey,” Colin said as he stood. “There’s nothing wrong with my head!”

“Then why are you suggesting such an outrageous plan?” Bran asked. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I can’t go along with this. What if Apple were to get hurt accidentally?”

Harrison smiled. “Ah, spoken like a true knight, putting the safety of the fair damsel ahead of your own wants.”

“I don’t need the help of you two to win the
fair damsel
, as ye call her,” Bran told them. “I can do very well on my own, thank you very much.”

Harrison and Colin exchanged a quick look. Harrison then slapped Bran on the back. “And so you shall, Deputy. Now, let’s …”

“Good Lord!” Colin gasped.

Bran and Harrison both turned to see what had caught Colin’s sudden, undivided attention. “My word …” breathed Harrison.

Belle was the first to reach the bottom of the staircase. She wore a dress of powder blue with white lace, that came off the shoulders and showed off the pearl necklace she wore. She went straight to Colin, and curtsied. Colin stood, speechless.

Sadie was next to come into the parlor, and like Belle, went to her husband, and curtsied before him. Colin and Harrison, both bowed in return. “What’s the occasion?” asked Harrison as he drank in the sight of his wife.

“Just because,” said Sadie with a smile.

A small sound caught their attention, and they turned just in time to see Apple descend the stairs. The sound had been Bran’s breath as it hitched. He took in the beautiful picture and stopped breathing all together. For Apple was indeed, beautiful. Her dark plum-colored dress was in sharp contrast to the white gloves she wore. Her hair had been braided and piled on top of her head. Small pearls had been placed here and there within the plaits, and he wondered how the women managed to get them to stay there. “Great Mother,” Bran whispered as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Just as Sadie and Belle had done, she went to him, and gave him a small curtsy. Bran belatedly took in his own attire. A simple shirt, vest, and trousers, but then, Colin and Harrison weren’t dressed much better than he was.

“Are you surprised?” asked Apple.

Bran had to swallow. “Aye, lass, who wouldn’t be?”

Apple ran a gloved hand over the skirt of her gown. “Do you like it?”

Bran looked her up and down. “I’ve never seen such a dress before on a woman. It’s… stunning.”

Apple grinned ear to ear. “I wasn’t going to wear it, but Sadie convinced me. She can be very convincing when she wants to be.”

“Don’t I know it!” said Harrison as he held out his arm to his wife. “Shall we?”

Colin followed suite, and did the same. Belle took it with a smile. “Let us to dinner then,” he said.

Apple and Bran watched them leave the parlor and cross the foyer to the dining room. He looked at Apple, smiled, and offered her his arm. “May I escort you to dinner?”

She blushed. “Yes, you may.” She wrapped her arm through his, and together, they went into the next room.  Their evening had begun.

* * *

Dinner was a pleasant affair, and Apple, if but for a few brief moments, allowed herself the luxury of envisioning herself as Mrs. Bran O'Hare. It was easy enough to do, considering three couples had sat down for a family dinner. She let the dream linger, and pictured her sisters and their husbands there. What a perfect evening that would be...

Bran spoke of his years in Texas as a lawman, or rather something called a Texas Ranger, which she gathered from the men's conversation was a special kind of lawman. From the sounds of it, Bran had done his fair share of the work in the position, and she marveled in silence as he talked.