His Forever Valentine (10 page)

“That boy always was a prid
eful thing.” Mrs. Quinn commented as she shook her head. “I’ll talk to him, we can’t possibly have a wedding without all the necessary details!” She stepped out from behind the counter, and went down the back hall after her son.  Rose stood and watched until she disappeared around the corner, then realized she was alone with Nellie Davis. She glanced at the woman, who looked coolly down her nose in her direction.

“When did he ask her?” The question popped out before she could stop he
rself, but it wasn’t like nobody else would ask the same thing.
Everyone
in town would be asking soon enough.

“He hasn’t asked her yet, but he will.”

Rose spun to her, “What? How can you say they’ll be married then?”

“Oh, he’ll ask all right,” she said haughtily. “It’s only a matter of time.”

“Don’t you think you should wait until its official, before you tell folks they’re getting married?”

“Don’t be impertinent,” she scolded. “How Charlotte and Mr. Turner handle their nuptials is their own affair.”

“Seems to me you’re handling everything for them,” Rose muttered and turned away.

  “What did you say?”

“Nothing of importance, now if you don’t mind, I need to speak with Matthew.”

But before she could so much as turn around, “Of course, we’ll have to arrange it so the weddings aren’t on the same day. I don’t kno
w what Betsy Quinn is thinking having a double wedding. I think it’s a horrible idea. I’ll not have my daughter’s wedding day spoiled by the presence of …”

She stopped when Rose’s head snapped up. “Presence of who, Matthew and me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Rose sighed. “I wouldn’t worry about a double wedding, Mrs. Davis.  Besides, why don’t you let Charlotte decide?”

“Charlotte?  You silly girl, what does Charlotte know?”

Rose’s face lit up in amazement. How could anyone be so … so … oh, what was the word? 
Controlling? Condescending?  Both!
Oh please, Lord, make this woman butt out of it, for Charlotte’s sake!

Nellie ignored the look and made for the fabric display.  She fingered the same ivory brocade Mrs. Quinn chose for Rose’s own gown …

Mrs. Quinn, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Riley for that matter, all three had stormed in and taken over both weddings.  As Rose recalled, she didn’t pick out a thing concerning her own, and here Mrs. Davis sounded as if
she
decided Charlotte was going to marry Tom, and was setting it in motion.  The thought made a knot in the pit of her stomach. She went to the counter and leaned against it for support.  Did Charlotte even know what was happening?  Would her mother badger her into a marriage she didn’t want, simply because Nellie was caught up in Mrs. Quinn’s frenzied wedding plans?

Rose pitied Charlotte, because Mrs. Davis was exactly the type to do such a thing.  It didn’t matter if her daughter wanted to get married or not, her mother wanted a wedding to plan.  Sudden tears stung the back of her eyes, her own wedding going
forward whether she wanted it or not as well.  She did want her dress to be done, even if she wasn’t the one to decide on it.  She wanted to have the details that went with it, too. Flowers and ribbons, bows, and cake … all the things a girl dreams of, and Rose was no exception. But if Matthew wanted to get married right away, she would have none of those things. Not only that, she’d have no more time to think about the mistake she was making. But at this point, there was no way to back out.  She’d signed an agreement, and she would make it work no matter what.

She just wished for a way to be happy about it.

* * *

“I can’t believe
it! Charlotte is going to be married?” Mrs. Riley’s face was locked in astonishment.

Rose closed her eyes. Every time she heard it voiced, a small part of her reacted with a cry of,
no!
Yet there was nothing she could do, and wondered why she would have such a reaction in the first place. The sadness that followed, however, was hard for her to ignore.

“We don’t believe it either,” Summer said. “It seems so sudden, they hardly know one another, after all.”

“I hardly know Matthew,” Rose put in.

Each woman turned to her. They were in the parlor
, each working on a dress for the upcoming dance. Mrs. Riley set down her sewing. “Yes, but you’re a mail order bride, dear. Those brides and grooms usually don’t know each other before they marry.”

“I for one,” Summer began, “am glad I got to have a few weeks to get to know Clayton before we married.”

“Me too,” added Elle. “I enjoyed my brief courtship with Spencer. But when you’re not a mail order bride, then what’s the hurry? Deputy Turner and Charlotte have all the time in the world.”

Mrs. Riley pondered her words a moment. “You’re right, so … why is Nellie in such a sure fire hurry to see them married?”

Summer and Elle exchanged a look, then stared at her.  It caught Mrs. Riley’s attention and she gaped at them. “Oh, now I know what the two of you are thinking! You just wait until you have children and they get married!” She took on a dreamy expression. “Weddings, they’re such grand affairs,” she completed with a sigh.

“Yes,”
Summer began, “even when its someone else’s son or daughter getting married.”

Rose and Elle laughed, unable to help themselves.

“Oh, all right,” Mrs. Riley conceded. “I admit I get a little over zealous when it comes to wedding details, but someone has to show their excitement around here.”

“Mrs. Riley,” Rose chimed in. “If you don’t mind me saying so, you have enough excitement for two towns!”

Mrs. Riley rolled her eyes and smiled. “I do, don’t I?” Her eyes twinkled as she scrunched up her face with a mischievous grin, and picked up her sewing.

“I am worried about Charlotte though,” Summer said. “I don’t wonder if this isn’t Nellie just trying to keep up.”

“Why don’t we ask Spencer when he gets home?” Elle suggested. “He works all day with Deputy Turner, he should know what’s happening.”

“Now don’t be too nosy, dear. My boys tend to get a little huffy when they think you’re digging for gossip. I of all people ought to know!”

The women laughed at her remark before continuing on in silence for a few moments. Moments Rose needed in order to ponder her own thoughts on the matter. Again. There was no good reason for her to have such reservations about marrying Matthew Quinn.  He was handsome, he was intelligent, he was trained as a doctor, and … well, he had all his teeth to boot! So what was her problem?  Other than Charlotte … but she herself was to be married, and when that happened, what did she have to worry about?  If Matthew had any sort of feelings for her, then wouldn’t he have said something?

Rose rolled her eyes at the thought.  No, of course not.  Why on earth would he?  If, say, she had feelings for Tom Turner, and had to marry Matthew, would she tell him? Of course not, she’d keep it to herself, bury her feelings, and hope they died.

Her eyes widened and a tiny gasp escaped. Was that what Matthew was doing? Hoping to bury his feelings for Charlotte by rushing his marriage with her?  The thought stung,  “Is something wrong, dear?”

Rose looked up from her sewing.  Mrs. Riley watched her with interest. “No, well, yes. I was thinking about my wedding.”

“Well of course, dear. It hasn’t left my mind for a moment.”

Summer laughed as Elle snorted.

“At least, I admit it,” Mrs. Riley stated. “I know my faults, and there are worse ones …”

  All three girls burst into laughter.

“We’ll start on your wedding dress just as soon as we’re done with this one,” she told Rose. “Abbey said she’d help.”

Summer stilled her laughter.
“Don’t you think Nellie will commandeer Abbey to work on Charlotte’s?”

“Perhaps, but it depends
if  …” Mrs. Riley began, her brow furrowed as she shook her head. Rose found herself leaning forward, waiting for her next words. Why she needed to hear them she didn’t know, but she did.

“… Charlotte
is
really
getting married.”

Rose
let out a sigh of relief and scolded herself at the same time. Her own feelings shocked her, and her relief hadn’t come knowing Charlotte would give her mother more than she bargained for, should she try to badger her into marrying Tom, but that Tom wouldn’t be marrying her in the first place.

You have no right, Rose!
She told herself.
You came out here to marry Matthew Quinn, not Tom Turner, and if Tom marries Charlotte, then so be it!  You have a wonderful man waiting to marry you, as soon as possible if it can be managed.  What is the matter with you?

She shook off a chill.  What
was
the matter?  It made no sense, none of it. Besides, Tom nary gave her a glance … except for that dazzling smile of his, and his looks of admiration, and the way he rescued her from the ladder …

NO!  Don’t think about those things!

“Rose, are you all right?” Summer asked, concerned.

Rose didn’t realize she had her eyes tightly shut, and opened them to find three faces fixated on her. She hoped she hadn’t started talking to herself! “I’m fine!” She pushed out.  “Wedding jitters, that’s all.”

“Oh, now don’t you worry dear, you’ll be over them soon enough. We have the dance to think about first, remember?”

“If I’m not married by then,” Rose added in a weak voice.

“If I know Betsy Quinn, and I do, you won’t be. There are far too many details to take care of before hand, and besides, she’ll need
my
help.”

Summer and Elle smiled, then returned to their sewing.

Mrs. Riley smiled as she looked to each girl, before he face fell into panic. “Oh, dear me!”

“What?” Summer and Elle asked
in unison.

“I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of this before!”

“What?” Rose now asked.

Mrs. Riley looked all three girls over carefully. “Did they teach any of you how to dance at the orphanage?”

Three sets of eyes widened.

“I didn’t think so,” Mrs. Riley concluded. “Oh dear, we’re going to have to fix this, or Nellie will have a field day!”

“Mrs. Riley?” Rose began. She’d wanted to ask this question all afternoon. “Are you good friends with Mrs. Davis, or some sort of acquaintances?  One moment it seems this woman is your friend, others, an enemy. I guess I’m confused.” Though confused was an understatement, and she needed something to distract her from her own conflicting emotions.

“It’s a long story, but Nellie and I were once best friends, until Charles that is.  She fell in love with him, but he fell in love with me, and when her other friends heard him speak about me, they thought he was speaking about her, and it was a mess, I can tell you!”

“What happened?” asked Rose.

“He married me. Nellie’s never been the same since.  I see the old Nellie come out now and then.  Just the other day in the mercantile, when we all thought Deputy Tom was
going to marry Charlotte the first time.”

“And now?”

“Not so much, anything she can find to degrade or humiliate me, she does.  Which is why you three are going to learn how to dance!”

“But the dance is in less than two weeks!” Elle
lamented. “I’ve never danced in my life.  Good grief, how did none of us think of this?”

“Because we’ve been so caught up in weddings, and sewing, we haven’t had time.” Summer told her. “But you’re right, we need to learn how to dance if we’re going to attend one, and we all have to learn sometime. Do Clayton and Spencer know how to dance?”

“Of course, but we’ll need more than just the boys to help with this,” Mrs. Riley said. “Rose, would Matthew teach you?”

“I don’t know, in fact … I’m not sure
he
know how to dance!”

“You’re safe,” Mrs. Riley said. “He knows. But it’s easier to learn in the proper setting. Tomorrow I’ll go into town, and see what I can arrange. In the meantime, let’s see how much work we can get done on these dresses!  Nellie Davis won’t be able to say anything about them!”

Rose watched Summer and Elle exchange nervous glances, and was glad she hadn’t any more of a run in with Mrs. Davis than she experienced already.  But how long would it be before she did?

Nine

“Dancing lessons?” Matthew echoed his mother for the third time. She stood next to the stove in the kitchen.  He sat at the table with his father, having lunch. “Why didn’t Rose come to town with Mrs. Riley to discuss this?”

“I told you,” his mo
ther admonished. “Because she’s trying to get her dress done for the dance, so she can start on her dress for the wedding.”

“Dancing lessons,” he said again, under his breath. “The woman can’t dance?”

“Apparently not, nor can Summer or Elle.  All three will have to be taught.”

“I can’t teach all three, but I can certainly teach Rose.”

“You know more dances than the rest of us.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you taught some of the eastern dances you learned?  Would make for some fine entertainment this year, and make it easier for everyone else in town to learn them too.”

Matthew removed his spectacles and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Mother, I’m a doctor, not a dance instructor.”

“You’re not a doctor around here until Doc Brown says you are. Right now you’re not much of anything with that ankle. How is it today?”

“Better, but not good enough to be dancing. How do you expect me to give lessons when I can’t dance myself?”

“Leona said she asked Clayton, Spencer, and Deputy Turner to help teach the girls.  They need you, in turn, to instruct them.”

“Deputy Turner? What’s he going to do?”

“He needs to learn how to dance as well. You don’t want him embarrassing Charlotte, do you?”

Matthew clenched his jaw. “Of course not.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll let Leona know you’ll act as instructor. Now finish your lunch.”

Matthew stared at his soup and bread, his appetite squelched at the thought of teaching Tom and Charlotte the dances he’d learned in college.  This meant he’d have to watch while Tom twirled and held Charlotte, listen to her laughter as he did, and clap with the others each time they mastered a step.  The thought was almost revolting.

“Not hungry, son?” his father asked.

“Lost my appetite.”

“Are you disappointed you won’t be able to join the others while you’re teaching them?”

  Matthew tried to keep his lip from curling into a snarl. “You could say that.”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’re all fast learners, at least that will make your job easier.”

“It certainly will.” He also hoped it would mean spending less time watching Charlotte in the arms of Tom Turner. 
Oh for Heaven’s sake, man!  Get a hold of yourself!  You have a bride, and a very nice one too!  Besides, when has Charlotte Davis EVER shown any interest in you? 
He rubbed his tired eyes, before picking up his bread.

“Your Aunt Mary and cousins are coming to town for the dance,” his father announced.

Matthew was about to take a bite, and stopped, eyes wide. “Oh good grief, they’re
all
coming?”

His father smiled and sat back in his chair. “Yes, they are. All of them.”

Matthew dropped his bread. It plopped into his soup with a tiny splash.  “Lord, help us.”

“Now son, they’re not that bad.”

“Not that bad?  Mother told me they about tore the meeting hall apart a few years ago! They haven’t been back since, probably because the Sheriff told them not to!”

“Well they’re coming this year, and I expect you to be respectful. They
are
your cousins, after all.”

Matthew snorted and sat back.  Dancing lessons and now this! His cousins were the most unruly bunch he’d
ever seen.  It was a good thing they lived so far out and didn’t come to Nowhere but every few months, and usually it was Arlan, the eldest, that drove their mother to town.  Of the four, he was the most sensible, yet also had the hottest temper.  The twins, Ben and Calvin, were mischievous, and always pulling pranks, while Daniel the youngest kept more to himself, but could also be the mastermind of the four when it came to causing the most trouble.  All were old enough to be married, Adam had to be at least 26 by now, the twins not much younger, and as he recalled, Daniel was around nineteen.  Yet all four were content to stay out on their ramshackle farm with their mother, and carve out a living for themselves, with no other women in the mix.

  Matthew choked on his soup. Unless …

“What’s the matter? Something caught in your throat?” his father asked.

“Good Heavens, they aren’t coming to town to look for wives, are they?”

“Wives?” His father’s face paled. “Oh … this could be bad …”

“They never come to the Valentine’s dance, so why’d they come a few years ago?”

“I’ll ask your ma, but you could be right.  Adam did get in a fight with Spencer Riley over Lilly Pembrook.  That’s what started the brawl, if I remember right.”

“Brawl?  There was a brawl
?!”

His father grimaced. “A good
one too. I believe that’s the main reason they were told to stay away.”

“You would think they wouldn’t be allowed back at all!  Mother said a few window
s were broken, and a couple of chairs, but … I didn’t realize …”

“Best keep Rose with you at all times, son. We wouldn’t want her carried off by your cousins.”

“Carried off!”

“Now I don
’t mean that literally, but you gotta admit, your cousins are fine looking boys.”

“Each with the manners of a troll! I’ll have to speak with Sheriff Riley about this.”

“He already knows, I told Billy yesterday when he came into the mercantile. I’m sure he’ll give them a talking to once they get into town.  Your aunt plans on putting them up at the hotel for a couple of nights.”

“Why, so they can recover from whatever wounds they incur during the dance?  Oh, this will never do!”

“Calm down, son.  Getting all riled up isn’t gonna do you any good.  You have other things to think about, like how many dances do you think you can teach the ladies between now and then.”

Matthew took off his spectacles
and put them on the table. “You’re right, I’ll try not to worry about it, but it won’t be easy.  Having the Weaver family in town is like having a cyclone come through.  I do hope the hotel is up for it.”

His father laughed. “They’ll manage, I’m sure.”

Matthew let out a nervous sigh. “I hope the rest of us can.”

* * *

“Dancin’ lessons?” Tom laughed and leaned back in his chair.  He and Billy were in the Sheriff’s office waiting for Spencer to come with the latest wanted posters. “Who’s gonna be the teacher?”

“Matt Quinn,” Billy drawled as he smiled.

“He know any of them fancy dances I’ve heard about?”

“Most likely, he spent a lot of years in Boston, he was bound to learn somethin’ in all that time.”

“He did, huh? Hmmm, I think I might like dancin’ lessons. Does Miss Charlotte know how to dance?”

“She knows some, but not like Matt I bet.”

“Wonder if Miss Rose knows anything about dancin’.”

“It’s on account of her
, Mrs. Riley asked Matt to do it.  None of the Riley women know how to dance, cept’ Mrs. Riley herself, and even she can’t compare with what Matt can do.”

Tom stood. “When is this supposed to take place?”

“Tonight, after the mercantile closes.  It has the most space to work with. Sheriff Riley was gonna stop by and ask Mrs. Quinn the time.”

Tom smiled.
“Looks like I’m gonna learn me some dances! Won’t my mama be proud when I get home?”

“You gonna head out when we hire another deputy?”

“Not rightly sure, but I’ll let you know.  Got some things to think about first.”

“Like Charlotte?”

Tom stilled, his eyes glued to the stove. “Maybe.”

Billy smiled. “I love my Abbey, but she’s not like Charlotte. You marry her,
then take my advice and move as far away from Nowhere as you can get.”

“You mean her ma?”

Billy laughed, “Yeah, I just didn’t want to say it that way.”

They both laughed just as Spencer came into the office.

“Afternoon, Sheriff.  Looks like we’re gonna have a busy night,” said Tom.

“Looks like.” He tossed the new wanted posters onto the desk. “This is going to turn out to be some dance this year.”

“Cause of all the fancy dancin’ we’re gonna be learnin’?” Tom chuckled.

“No, because the Weaver clan is
coming to town.”

“Who are they?” Tom asked.

Billy started laughing. “A barrel of trouble if ya don’t stay on top of them.”

  “You got that right,” Spencer added. “They’re Matthew Quinn’s cousins.”

“Oh, I heard about them, live out of town quite a ways.”

“Yes, and they don’t come to town too often, but when they do …”

“I remember the time we arrested old man, Weaver!” Billy said as he laughed again. “He put a pig in the back of Mr. Johnson’s wagon, thinkin’ he was helpin’ them out.  But that pig caused more trouble!”

Tom looked from one man to the other. Spencer chuckled.
“The pig was docile enough, and fell asleep. The Johnsons didn’t know it was back there, and when it woke up, it went crazy.”

“Only cause of Mrs. Johnson’s screamin’.” Billy added.

“Weaver meant it as a surprise, but by the time the Johnsons were heading home, it was dark. Mrs. Johnson thought a strange man was in the back of their wagon.”

“Oh
,” Tom began, “I bet she was surprised all right.”

“Yes
,” Spencer said. “Clayton arrested Mr. Weaver because Mrs. Johnson made it sound like
he
was in the back of the wagon.”

“That’s what ya call a real miscommunication,” Tom commented.

“At any rate, they’ll need a talking to when they arrive. We’ll all have to be on our toes the night of the dance to make sure there’s no funny business.”

“Funny business?” asked Tom. “Are you sayin’ they’re dangerous?”

“No, they’re mischievous, which almost amounts to the same thing.”

  “Anything new, here?” Billy asked as he mused over the wanted posters.

“Thanks for asking, yes.” Spencer sifted through the papers on the desk and pulled out one. “Looks like Red Ned is at it again.”

Billy moaned.

“Red Ned?” Tom started. “Now that’s a familiar name.”

“It should be, though he spent most of his time up in these parts,” Spencer explained. “This says he’s been spotted near Oregon City.”

“He’s the one had a run in with your brother around Christmas, wasn’t it?” Tom asked.

“Yes, Clayton will be especially anxious that he be apprehended this time, along with Jack Cooke.”

“Jack Cooke?” Tom exclaimed. “I know him! He done caused a heap of trouble down in Clear Creek when I was a youngin’.”

“For now he’s Oregon City’s problem, but keep a sharp eye out, just in case.” Spencer picked up the stack, and took them to the wall where they pinned them up. “You ready for those lessons tonight?”

“Sure am, can’t wait, should be fun.” Tom said.

“I’m can bet Charlotte is looking forward to them too,” Spencer said, and winked at him over his shoulder.

Tom sighed.  The thought of dancing with Charlotte for a couple of hours should have him on pins and needles. What man wouldn’t want to spend an evening dancing with a pretty gal? But his heart wasn’t in it, or at least not as much as it should be. Yet thoughts of marriage occupied his mind more and more, and shouldn’t he begin to consider
the  prospect of  life with Charlotte Davis?  She was pretty, she was poised, (and didn’t seem to mind the fact he wasn’t) and folks said she was a decent cook. Better yet, everyone kept telling him to marry her and take her back to Clear Creek, to get her away from her mother.  He didn’t have any problem with that, he wanted to go home, not a day went by he didn’t think of the quirky little town and its unusual residents.

He let go a low whistle. “Yep, dancin’ lessons are gonna be fun.”

* * *

“Charlotte, you stand over there,” Matthew instructed, and Sheriff, you can be her partner.”

“I thought Tom was supposed to be her partner,
” Spencer told him. “I want to dance with my wife.”

Matthew stared at him, his mouth half open. Had he just tried to unconsciously pair up Charlotte with someone,
anyone,
other than Tom Turner?  Absolutely. He slapped his forehead. “Sorry, my mistake. Of course you want to dance with your wife.”

Spencer eyed him a moment before he reached out and took Elle’s hand.  Matthew in turn took Charlotte’s. “Let’s have you standing over here instead.”