His Forever Valentine (7 page)

Rose’s eye were round as saucer
s at this point. She dipped a cookie in her tea and chewed in rapt awe, as she watched the men face off.

Matthew also stood. “You’ll court her, and then by golly, you’ll marry her!”

Tom puckered
his brow as he sat. “Where did you say you were from?”

“I’m from right here in this town, where Charlotte and I grew up together!  And I’ll not see her marry some … some sort of ruffian!”

Tom sat, mouth agape. “How in tarnation did this go from first names, to marrying to … ruffi-
whats
?”

“The word is
ruffian
, and if you had any sort of
real
education, you’d know what I was referring to.”

Rose set down her cup. “Matthew, tel
l me about Boston,” she suddenly pushed out in an attempt to defuse them.

He glared
at her, his forehead now sporting several veins. He was beyond upset.  Did he think so little of the deputy, that he thought he had to defend Charlotte? Rose looked at Tom, she didn’t know him yet, but liked what she’d seen so far, and knew he wasn’t a “ruffian” as Matthew put it. “Can’t we just enjoy our tea?” she said to no one in particular.

Tom flopped back in his chair
as Matthew slowly sat down. Charlotte let go a sigh of relief and reached for her cup.  She noticed both men watched her. “If you two are done locking horns, let us continue.”

“Continue what?” Tom asked as he picked up his cup. “We haven’t done
nothin’ yet.”

“Oh, I’d say you’ve done plenty!” Matthew shot back.
“In a matter of moments, it’ll be all over town that you’re not only courting Charlotte, but are going to
marry
her!”

Tom choked on his tea. “Wha …
What?”

Ma
tthew sat back in triumph. “You’ll do right by her, old man, or I’ll demand satisfaction.”

Charlotte’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Matthew Quinn! What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that if he doesn’t …
marry
you,” the word came out sounding as if it pained him, “then I shall have to challenge him.”

“Like in the fairy tales?” Rose chimed in excitedly.

“Oh, good grief,” Charlotte said and rolled her eyes. She put her hands to her temples and rubbed them. “Could someone please make them stop?”

Meanwhile, Matthew’s eyes narrowed on Tom. “A
duel
,” he said, his voice dropped in pitch.

“A duel!” Rose echoed, her voice bright.

Charlotte moaned.

“How romantic!” Rose then added. “A man willing
to fight for you!”

Charlotte quirked a brow, “Isn’t he supposed to be fighting for you?”

“You mean a shoot out?” Tom asked, his own brow raised in shock.

Charlotte’s eyes widened. “No!” She quickly turned to him. “He didn’t mean it, Tom
. I know he’s upset, but he didn’t really mean to challenge you to a …”

“Who says I didn’t mean it?” Matthew interjected.

Charlotte spun around. “Matthew, don’t. Stop this foolishness and enjoy your time with Rose. That’s why we’re here, remember?”

Matthew swallowed hard. “I hope you’re satisfied, deputy.” He looked at Charlotte. “I know you have no intention of marrying the likes of him. I’ll see to it this whole
matter is cleared up, before your mother orders Mrs. Jorgensen to sew you a wedding dress.”

“Matthew Quinn, since when do you make my mind up for me?” Charlotte tossed back.

“Since this man stepped out of line.”

“He did nothing of the kind, and I’ll marry whomever I wish.”

  Matthew froze. “You can’t be seriously considering …”

“And what if I am?”

Rose slumped on the love seat. “Here we go again…”

“What?
Charlotte
, you can’t!”

“And why not?  If I want to let Tom court me, and then marry him, it’s my choice.”

“But …”

“In fact,” she began
and turned to Tom. “What are you doing Sunday after church?”

Tom looked at her, dumbfounded. “Ah, nothin’ that I recall.”

  “Good, come to dinner, meet the folks.”

Matthew shut his eyes and sucked air through his nose. “Charlotte …”

“Stop worrying about me and concentrate on your bride. You’ve hardly said a word to her this entire time!”

Ma
tthew opened his eyes and stared at Rose. She was right, he’d been so upset by Deputy Turner’s talk, he’d forgotten about his bride altogether. “Rose … I am sorry. I’ve acted abominably. It is not my habit to do so.”

Rose smiled at him. “That’s all right, I can see you truly care for Charlotte. You must have been g
reat friends growing up.” She glanced between them. “Why is it you two aren’t married?”

Charlotte and Matthew looked at each other, as her words sunk in. After a moment, Matthew audibly gulped. “Because …”

“I never gave him a second thought,” Charlotte said softly.

Tom watched them both.  That obviously wasn’t the case where Matthew was co
ncerned, and he had to wonder, how long had Matthew cared about Charlotte, and not said a word about it? 

“Well, I can see why he’d be protective of you,” Rose stated. “I wish  … I mean I hope, that one day you’ll feel the same about me.”

Matthew closed his eyes. “I am sorry, Rose.” He wiped his hands on his trousers. “Perhaps this was a bad idea.”

“What?” Tom asked.

“Having the two of you chaperone. We don’t seem to be getting along very well.”

“We did until
you bit poor Tom’s head off,” Charlotte said, her voice flat. She picked up her reticule. “Maybe you’re right. I should leave.”

“No!” Matthew blurted. “I mean, don’t go, for Rose’s sake. Please, stay.”

“Maybe I ought to be the one to leave,” Tom suggested.

“No!” Rose was the one to blurt this time. “Er, ah … for Charlotte’s sake!  If you two are going to court, you might as well start here, right?”

All three stared at her with a dazed expression. Matthew was the first to come around. “Are you suggesting we chaperone each other?”

Before she had the chance to speak, Mrs. Riley rushed into the room. “I just heard the news!  How wonderful!” She went straight to Tom, bent down and kissed him on the cheek. “I’m so happy for you!”  She did the same with Charlotte. “Oh, now you know I’ll do whatever I can to help, dear!”

Tom’s expression changed to panic. “Help with what?”

“
Your wedding of course!”

“Mrs. Riley …” Charlotte moaned.

“Oh we’ll have none of that tone! I’ll get Summer and Elle to help as well, we can have a double wedding!”

“But Mrs. Riley …” Charlotte tried again.

“We ain’t made no definite plans,” Tom pushed out. “In fact, we need to have ourselves a long talk with certain family members before we … commit to anything.”

“Well you’re courting the girl, aren’t you?” Mrs. Riley huffed. “Isn’t that commitment enough?  Why else would you be doing it except to get married?”

Charlotte let her face fall into her hands.  Her shoulders shook, and Tom didn’t know if she laughed or cried.

“A double wedding?” Rose said to herself.

Just then, Nellie Davis came into the parlor, with Matthew’s mother in tow.
“Charlotte! Why didn’t you tell me?” She quickly turned to the other matrons. “A mother is always the last to know these things!”

Charlotte brought her face out of her hands, her eyes meeting Matthew’s first. He sat, a horrified expression on his face, his jaw so tense she doubted he could speak.  She turned to her mother as
she shook her head. “It’s not what you think.”

“Of course it is,” her mother said sternly. “Especially if I say so.”

“Now wait a minute,” Tom put in. “Ain’t I the one that’s supposed to say so?”

“You did!” Mrs. Davis said as she spun to him. “And now you’re courting my daughter! I cant’ wait to tell Mr. Davis!”

Charlotte fell back in her chair and began to fan herself.

“Really, this has gone far enough.” Matthew said as he stood.

“What do you mean?” his mother asked. “It hasn’t gone anywhere yet. But I’m sure by the time you and Rose get married, Deputy Turner and Charlotte can too.” She grasped one of Mrs. Riley’s hands in her own. “We have our work cut out for us, Leona!”

“We’ll have to get Abbey to help!” Mrs. Davis cried.

Tom, Charlotte, Matthew and Rose sat. It was like watching three giant hens pecking and clucking at one another as each went on and on about wedding details, none of which had to do with whatever detail the others were talking about.  Matthew got up, hobbled to the stove, took a pot and banged it with a ladle.

The three matrons stopped, and gawked at him.

“Please, may Rose and I continue with our visit without any further interruption from you?”

The women looked at each other, then back to Matthew. “We were only trying to help,” his mother sniffed. “But if you don’t want it …”

“Rose is perfectly capable of telling you what she needs for the wedding,” he stated in a diplomatic tone. He glanced to Charlotte and did his best not to clench his jaw. “And I’m sure that goes for Charlotte as well.”

Mrs. Davis stepped to her daughter. “Come along, Charlotte, we have plans to make.”

Charlotte’s jaw dropped. “What plans? Don’t you think daddy ought to speak to Deputy Turner?”

Matthew tried not to smile. “
Now
, it’s Deputy Turner …”

She sent him a glare, before giving her attention back to her mother. “He hasn’t actually asked me yet.”

Mrs. Davis gave her a condescending look. “Of course not. He’s hardly courted you yet!”

Charlotte closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I mean, he hasn’t asked if he could
court
me yet!”

“Of course he has!” her mother shot back, “Why else would he be wanting to marry you?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Davis,” Tom said as he stood. “But I ain’t marrying nobody unless I decide it, and neither is Charlotte.” He took one of Charlotte’s hands in his own before facing the three matrons. “I know you ladies mean well, and we all appreciate it. But we’ll all get to courtin’ in our own time, and marryin’ in our own time too. Ain’t that right, Matthew?”

Matthew still held the pot in one hand, a ladle in the other. “Right.” He set them on the tab
le and limped back to the love seat. “Deputy Turner and Charlotte
mentioned
courting, but neither has decided.  They are here as chaperones, nothing more.” He shot Tom a nervous glance.

“Now if you ladies will excuse us, we’d like to get back to what we were doin’,” Tom said with a smile.

They looked at him, as if each lost a loved one, before anger flashed in Mrs. Davis’s eyes. “I’ll be speaking to your father about this, Charlotte,” she spat then turned on Tom.  “And you young man, will have to take it up with him!”  She turned on her heel and stormed down the hall.

“Oh dear, oh dear
,” Mrs. Riley said to herself as she began to wring her hands together. “Nellie’s upset, this can’t bode well.”

“What do you mean, it can’t bode well?” asked Rose.

“Oh, child. You don’t know her like we do,” she quickly glanced to Charlotte. “No offense, but you of all people should understand how she can be.”

Charlotte nodded. “More than ever, but tell me, Mrs. Riley. Who encouraged her?”

Mrs. Riley stood stock still, except her mouth, which opened and closed in silence. Finally, she took a deep breath. “I admit Mrs. Quinn and I can get … excited at the prospect of … young love.”

Rose
had to cover her mouth to stifle a very un-lady like snort. Tom smiled at the action, Matthew didn’t.

Charlotte sighed. “As can my mother. She, however, likes every single detail done her way. She didn’t get to do anything when Abbey got married. Now she’s saving it all for me.”

“I’m sorry, dear, I got so excited when Mrs. Quinn told me about a double wedding, I was … well, I clearly over-reacted. You know I meant no harm by it.”

“I know, but now I’m going to have to find a way to handle her.”

“I think this is my fault,” said Tom. “I never meant for ya to have to be in any kind of scuffle with your ma, Miss Charlotte.  If’n it will help, I’ll follow ya on home and explain the whole thing was a misunderstandin’.”

“How did talk of the two of you courting get started, anyhow?” Mrs. Riley asked Tom.

He didn’t answer as all eyes gravitated to Matthew. “Leave me out of this!” he said and held up his hands in front of him. “All I did was suggest Rose and I call each other by our first names!”

“That’s all, huh?” Tom chuckled.  “Well then I’d hate to see what would happen if you’d suggest she let you steal a kiss!”