High Desert Haven (The Shepherd's Heart) (43 page)

Rocky stopped her with a touch to her elbow.

She turned towards him.

“Be sure and save me a dance, today.” He smiled, his deep brown eyes softening.

Her heart forgot to beat, then suddenly remembered and set to beating extra fast as though to make up for lost time. She looked down at the Daisy. “Alright.”
He’s a lawman. He’s a lawman. He’s a lawman
. She glanced back up, forcing herself to meet his gaze.

For one moment they stood, transfixed, simply gazing at each other. Then Rocky ran his left hand down the front of his coat and focused on the floor. “Better get going.” He looked back into her eyes.

“Yes. See you out there.” His right arm, bent at the elbow, pressed slightly into his torso, as though to protect it from being jostled. “Is your arm okay?” Her gaze flicked to his shoulder.

He waved away her concern, again using only his left hand. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Mama stepped out into the church entry and took Rocky’s arm.

Quickly, Victoria fluffed out mama’s train and then, stepping back around in front of her, preceded them to the aisle. Mama’s best friend, Miz Hannah Johnston who ran the town orphanage, motioned to Mrs. Hollybough on the organ and the music changed. Clasping the daisy in front of her, Victoria started down the aisle, her steps deliberate and slow.

Doc Martin, who would soon be her third father but only the second one she’d ever known, stood at the head of the aisle nervously adjusting his cuffs. Pastor Hollybough smiled reassuringly as Victoria took her place and turned to face the family and friends gathered in the sanctuary.

Julia Nickerson’s mother and father had managed to secure the seats right next to the one reserved for Rocky after he gave Mama away.
Where is Julia, I wonder?
Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Julia around town for several weeks. She scanned the sanctuary surreptitiously and her brows arched in surprise. Julia never missed any social events in their small little town, but she wasn’t here today.

Victoria pressed her lips together and fixed her attention on the door as the bridal processional started and everyone stood. Why should it bother her that Julia’s parents were obviously scheming to get Rocky to marry their daughter?
It’s not like you’re planning on marrying him
. Still, whoever he
did
marry, she hoped he was wise enough to stay away from the likes of the Nickersons, Julia in particular. With determination, she turned her thoughts elsewhere.

Mama radiated joy as she came down the aisle on Rocky’s arm, creamy satin rustling and her gaze fixed solely on Doc.

Doc took an involuntary step towards Mama as she and Rocky stopped at the front of the church and Victoria bit the inside of her cheek to smother the giggle that wanted to burst forth. He looked like a little boy on Christmas who’d been told he had to wait to open his presents for a few more minutes.

Rocky caught her eye and by the gleam in his own, she could tell he found it amusing, as well.

As she stood and watched Mama and Doc exchange vows her heart grew lighter and lighter. This was so right for Mama. After Papa’s death, Victoria had feared she would lose Mama to poor health, but Doc had come by faithfully with a little of this powder and that herb. Probably his company, more than his medicines, was what had restored her health.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Pastor Hollybough declared. “Doc, you may kiss your bride.” Doc did so with relish and to the cheers of the audience.

Victoria grinned. She felt like she might burst forth into song as she headed back down the aisle.
Lord, you are so good. Thanks for helping me see once again to how wonderful this is for Mama.

Rocky gritted his teeth and fisted his left hand. If Jay Olson asked Ria to dance one more time he might just have to go out there and cut in, pain be hanged. Couldn’t she see what kind of a man Jay was? His arm encircled her waist far too tightly. Obviously the guy had only one thing on his mind! Ria laughed at something Jay said and Rocky stomped over to the punch bowl and snatched up one of the prefilled cut crystal glasses. He was going to have to have a talk with her about that man. Rocky took a big gulp of his punch. Even if she didn’t want anything to do with him, the man she did marry needed to be four times the man Jay was!

Sky strolled up to him, Sierra tucked into the crook of his arm with her downy head lolling on his shoulder.

Rocky nodded a greeting, and tossed back another gulp of punch.

“Rock, you look like you did that time the big ol’ bull stepped on your foot and then refused to budge.”

The memory brought a pained smile to Rocky’s face. “That bad, huh?”

Silently they watched Victoria and Jay twirl around the dance floor. “Why don’t you ask her to dance?”

Rocky drained his cup and plunked it down on the table next to him. “Maybe another time.” His shoulder felt like it was on fire. He pressed his lips together, refusing to admit that he was up and about too soon.

Jay leaned forward and said something into Victoria’s ear. Her face burned scarlet and her jaw dropped for one second before it hardened and she stiffened in his arms.

Sky said, “Yeah. You’re probably right. You should just stand back and let Jay woo her. That’d be best.”

Rocky’s whole body trembled with the self control it took not to march out onto the dance floor and lay Jay out with one well-placed fist. He reached for a chair and leaned his good arm into the back of it with a white-knuckled grip. What had Jay said to her?

The song ended and Victoria abruptly pushed back from Jay, said something to him, then lifted her skirts and stalked away. Jay leaned back into his heels, slid his hands into his pockets and scanned Ria from head to toe as she stormed off. Turning with a smirk on his face, he met Rocky’s gaze and stilled.

Rocky deliberately narrowed his eyes and stood erect.

Jay’s smile faltered, then broadened. He gave Rocky a two-fingered salute and then headed jauntily for the door, disappearing into the sunlight outside.

Sharyah stepped up beside Rocky. “What was that all about?”

Startled, he looked at his sister’s worried frown.

Sky chuckled and adjusted Sierra on his shoulder. “Just a couple dogs struttin’ around a tasty bone, Sharyah. Don’t let it worry you. Rocky’s gonna see any day now that if he wants that bone, he’d better stand up and start fighting for it.” Sky pierced him with a look and arched a meaningful eyebrow.

“Really! Men!” Sharyah picked up her skirts and started off in a huff, tossing over her shoulder, “Victoria is much more than just a tasty bone and if Rocky can’t see that then he doesn’t deserve her!”

Rocky rubbed his jaw, angled Sky a glare, and headed over to say his congratulations to the new bride and groom. His shoulder had had enough of this day. He would have to talk to Victoria another time.

Clarice and Doc were talking with Miz Hannah Johnston. All three looked up as he approached.

Doc stood to his feet. “Well, speak of the devil!”

“Now, Dale! More like an angel, wouldn’t you say?” Clarice pulled Rocky into a motherly embrace.

Rocky gritted his teeth against the shards of pain jostled loose by her squeeze and hoped his face looked normal as he stepped back.

“Well now, yes, I think you’re right,” Doc replied. But his attention never left Clarice.

Putting both her hands on Rocky’s cheeks, Clarice looked up at him. “Honey, thank you for honoring me by walking me down the aisle. It means a great deal to me.”

“Sure, anytime. The honor was all mine.”

“Now,” she stepped back, “we were just talking about you before you walked up. Would you mind helping Victoria get my trunks from the house into Hannah’s buggy and then bringing them over to Doc’s place?”

“Sure.” He winced inwardly at the thought of having to lift anything heavier than a coffee mug, but the smile on his face never faltered.
So much for some rest
. “I’ll head over there right now. You two have a good trip.”

“I’ll jus’ go on with him,” Miz Hannah said. “That way my buggy’ll be right there an’ he won’t have to do no waitin’.” She pulled Clarice into her plump ebony arms. “Doll, you go on and have yourself a wonderful time.”

Clarice smiled. “You know we will.”

Miz Hannah turned to him. “Come on, Darlin’. Let’s go move some trunks.”

As they approached Hannah’s buggy Rocky’s footsteps slowed, an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. He had no desire to be driven across town by a woman. But if there was one unspoken rule in the little town of Shiloh it was this: No one touched Miz Hannah’s buggy but her.

He cleared his throat. “I’ll just walk on over and meet you there, Hannah.”

Hannah threw back her big head and let loose with a laugh loud enough to draw the attention of several people down the street. “Honey chil’, ain’t nobody never died from being driv around by Hannah Johnston. You jus’ climb on up there. I got somethin’ needs discussin’.”

Reluctantly, Rocky did as he was told. And Hannah set the buggy in motion with a smart snap of the reins and her characteristic, “Come on now!” call.

Rocky clenched his jaw and closed his eyes against the shooting pain. The consistent dull throbbing was much preferable to the stabbing shards that shot through him now.

Hannah huffed. “Honey, heaven knows you ain’t gonna be liftin’ no trunks, as much pain as you in. You do a good job o’ hiding it, but I sees it. Not much gets by Miz Hannah. No sir, not much. Clarice woulda seen it too, ’cept for her head bein’ in the clouds and all. But don’t you worry none, I done sent Cade over already. He’s gonna meet us there.”

Rocky looked over at her. “He’s back in town?”

“Yes. Said he done got a right smart price for them hosses. Right smart.”

“That’s good. Can you just drop me at home, then? I am about done for.” He gave her a sheepish smile.

“Wisht’ I could. Really I does. But I’m gonna need you to talk some sense into Victoria ’fore this day is through. ’Sides,” she angled him a knowing look, “I was there last night when you asked her mama for permission to call. Ain’t no time like the present.”

Rocky frowned, wondering why she needed him to talk some sense into Ria. “What do you mean?” His mind flashed to Jay and heat surged through his chest. “What kind of crazy thing is she doing?”

“Don’t get all het up, now. She ain’t doin’ nothin’ what she ain’t been doin’ for the past several years. And that’s goin’ to the train station in Salem to pick up the straggler orphans what don’t find no home.”

He relaxed, easing back into the seat. About once a year an orphan train came through Salem. The children on it were from large cities back east, usually New York. Their parents were either deceased, or unable to care for them for some reason. Since Salem was one of the last stops on the route, any orphans who did not find a home here, had to travel all the way back to New York. Several years ago, Victoria had taken it upon herself to make sure every last child left at the end of the day would find a home. She met the train, and brought any unchosen children back to Shiloh, housed them in the orphanage, and worked tirelessly until she found good stable homes for them.

“She does that every year. What’s different about this time?”

“What’s different is, I don’t gots no more beds down to the orphanage. Any chil’ she brings home, ain’t gonna have a bed to sleep in. I done tol’ her she needs to leave things in the Good Lawd’s hands this time. Truth be tol’ I was hopin’ with the weddin’ and all that she wouldn’t notice the ad in the paper. But you know her and her obsession with helpin’ them children. She’s bound and determined to go.”

“If she didn’t listen to you, what makes you think she’d listen to me?”

Hannah bellowed a laugh and slapped her thigh. The horse twisted back his brown ears at the raucous sound and snorted, jangling the bit in his mouth. “Honey chil’, she’ll listen to you ’cause she cares right smart what you think.”

Rocky didn’t allow her words to take him down a path of hope. “Who does she have taking her to the train?”

Hannah angled him a look, chin tipped down, her widened eyes a stark white against the ebony of her face. “Usually she has Doc take her, but seein’ as how he is indisposed today, she done asked Jay Olson to take her.”

“Jay Olson?!” Rocky sat forward with a start.

Hannah gestured for him to calm down. “But he done somethin’ she didn’t like, though I don’t rightly know what it was, and now she plans on goin’ by herself.”

“Well at least she has some sense,” he muttered, settling back against the seat.

“I gots Elsa watchin’ the children down to the orphanage whilst I come up to the weddin’ but I cain’t leave her alone long enough to run Ria down to Salem and back.”

Even though it was most likely more sensible than having Jay Olson escort her, the thought of Victoria travelling the 20 miles to Salem and back by herself, sent a coil of frustration rushing through Rocky. Anything could happen to a woman alone on the trail these days. Especially with Salem growing like it was. He sighed. “I’ll have a talk with her, but I can’t promise you it’ll do any good. You know how she gets when she has her mind set on something. Mules have nothing on her when it comes to stubbornness.”