Not the Marrying Kind (25 page)

“Wait a minute. What did you say?” she
asked, pushing aside her own thoughts long enough for Kendrick’s
words to register.

“I’ve located Benjamin’s kin.”

Kat shook her head. “He’s got no kin.” She
refused to take the seat the reverend offered, but stood her
ground, her arms folded. “His father and mother are dead.”

“That isn’t true. He lied to you, dear.”

Kat bristled. Reverend Kendrick had no right
to use any terms of endearment with her. And how dare he call
Benjamin a liar! The man thought he knew so much, yet in reality,
he knew nothing.

“Benjamin’s got no reason to go around
telling tales,” she said. “He’s a child, Reverend Kendrick, and
children aren’t given to deception. It’s not in their nature.” She
frowned, thinking of Emily Sue and her penchant for exploiting
others. Surely her sister was an aberration. Children were innocent
and pure. Only adults had the capacity to lie, to deceive, to
manipulate others. “The poor boy has no family. He’s alone in this
cruel world, and instead of spreading vicious rumors about him and
calling him names, you ought to be looking for ways to help
him.”

Kendrick stood looking at her with a
patient, almost benevolent expression. “It’s admirable that you
choose to see the best in everyone, Katherine, but I’m afraid your
faith in the boy has been misplaced. He’s not an orphan as he
claims. His name is Benjamin Brooks. He’s a runaway.”

She pursed her lips while her brain tried to
process this new knowledge. She needed to know more. “Where did you
get this information?”

“Wes Randall came by yesterday. Said he’d
met a fellow in Denver while he was conducting a bit of business.
The man’s searching for his son, a young boy who happens to fit
Benjamin’s description perfectly.”

“You can’t be sure it’s him.”

“Randall wisely passed the word on to me,
figuring if the boy was anywhere near Sunset, either he might show
up here begging for charity, or that perhaps another kind soul,
much like you, Katherine, might find him and bring him here.”

For a moment, Kat wasn’t sure how to
respond. “Thank you for telling me,” she said at last. Both
surprised and hurt by what she’d learned, Kat turned away. “I’ll
have a talk with him,” she said as she headed for the door.

“His father wants him back.”

“Yes, of course.”

“I’ll send word to let the man know we’ve
located his son.”

Kat nodded, but made no further reply. As
she hurried from the room, her heart ached for Benjamin. Something
was wrong. She felt it in her bones. Yes, he’d lied to her, and
maybe he should be punished for it, but she knew the boy must have
had a good reason. He wasn’t the sort to run away on a whim. He
wouldn’t have gone off searching for adventure on his own.

Now, she understood his reluctance to speak
much, and the wariness she so often saw in his eyes. She must tread
carefully with him and not push for answers, yet she needed to get
the truth. If she didn’t know what he was running from, she
couldn’t protect him.

She didn’t broach the subject until later
that day, after they’d returned to the ranch and had finished
Sunday supper. Pa had gone to his room for his afternoon nap and
Mama had taken Emily Sue with her to make calls on several elderly
folks, a regular part of her Christian service to others.

“You can help me wash up these dishes,” she
told him, keeping her voice as light as she could, hoping Benjamin
wouldn’t hear the tension she felt. “If we work together, we can
have the kitchen cleaned before Mama gets back.”

If Benjamin had a father, did he also have a
mother? What was she like? Was she the sort to get irritated
easily? Or was she patient? Kind? Loving? Where was she? Had
something happened to her? Suddenly Kat had a thousand questions.
She suspected she’d play hell getting any answers from the boy.

“Do you remember your folks, Benjamin?” she
began, studying him closely. But before he could say a word, the
dogs on the porch set up a ruckus, barking and yapping—a sure sign
someone had come to call.

“I’ll see who it is.” Benjamin bolted from
the kitchen.

As he took off for the yard, Kat sighed,
knowing she’d lost the opportunity to ferret out any information
from him.

The screen door opened and Benjamin poked
his head inside. “It’s Joshua,” he told her with a broad grin.
“Want me to invite him in?”

Heat rushed to Kat’s cheeks. Why did the
handsome man always have that effect on her? Embarrassed that
Benjamin had obviously guessed of her interest in Joshua and
fearing he might blurt something out about
how good they looked
together,
she gave a nonchalant shrug.

“Yes, I suppose that would be the neighborly
thing to do.”

Excited and flustered by news of Joshua’s
arrival, Kat bustled about the kitchen, quickly setting things in
order the best she could.

What was Joshua doing there? Had he come
calling on her? Did he mean to make his courtship official?

For once, Kat was delighted to be dressed
like a lady. With a smile, she shook her skirts and checked the
buttons on her bodice. If she’d known Joshua was coming, she would
have slipped upstairs and added a velvet ribbon to her hair. Kat
glanced toward the stairs, but there wasn’t enough time.

Besides, it’s not like there was any real
romance going on between them. Whatever feelings existed between
them were only wishful thinking on her part.

But why couldn’t Joshua be attracted to her?
Why couldn’t love and romance happen between them? They did get
along well. According to Mama, that was the first step in the
process.

She swallowed her nervousness and hurried
out into the yard to greet him.

He leaned against the corral fence, chatting
with Benjamin. Beneath his arm, he carried a misshapen package.
“Good afternoon.” He tipped his hat toward her. “Hope I’m not
catching you at a bad time.”

She glanced to Benjamin then looked Joshua’s
way again. “Ben and I were just cleaning up the kitchen.” She
smiled toward the boy. “I’ll finish the dishes,” she told him.

“Can I take one of the ponies and go out
riding?”

Kat nodded. “Just don’t go too far. Be sure
you’re back before sundown.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He headed toward the tack
room.

Joshua stepped forward. “He seems to be
doing well. I’m glad to see it.”

Kat wasn’t sure if she should tell Joshua
what she’d learned about Benjamin or not. Although she had no good
reason to withhold the information from him, she hesitated. She
needed to get the truth from Benjamin first, she reasoned. Facts
needed to be confirmed before being shared. “Yes, he’s adjusting
well to life on the ranch. But what brings you to the Rocking P?”
she asked with what she hoped was a suitably flirtatious smile.

He grinned and held out the package. “I sure
do hate to impose upon you, but you did mention once that if I ever
needed any little domestic chores tended to, maybe I could…” His
face reddened. “Well, that is, I hate to ask, and all, but I’ve got
a couple shirts here that need a little attention.”

“Shirts?” Kat felt panic growing, but she
reached out and took the sack. “You want me to wash these? Is that
what you’re asking?”

“Oh, no, ma’am. I don’t expect you to do my
dirty laundry. There’s just a few little things to repair. A loose
button, a couple collars that ought to be turned.” He scratched his
jaw. “I’m afraid this beard is mighty rough on shirt collars.”

“Ever think of shaving it off?”

“You think I should?” He rubbed at his
whiskers. “Not sure how I’d look without it. What do you think,
Miss Kat?”

She lowered her lashes and looked away. Her
lessons with Lucille were paying off. “I think you’d look quite
handsome without that beard.”

“All right. Consider it gone.”

Her head jerked up and her eyes widened.
“You’d do that?”

“It’s a bit scratchy, to tell the truth.
I’ve been thinking about shaving it off.” He gestured toward the
sack, his beard forgotten. “Oh, there’s some socks in there,
too.”

“Socks? Do they need to be darned?”

“Yes, ma’am, if it’s not too much trouble.
I’ll be right glad to pay you for your time and trouble. I’d hate
for you to think I’m taking advantage of your good nature.”

“Mending,” she said again. “And darning.”
Somehow she managed to keep her smile intact.

Washing would have been easier. She could
have handled that task. But anything that involved a needle and
thread spelled certain disaster. She continued smiling, all the
while thinking the man must surely be out of his mind to ask such
favors of her. But, he had no idea how awful her sewing was. And
she intended to keep it that way. “Well, yes, of course, I can tend
to these things for you.” She clutched the sack to her chest.
“Meanwhile, since you’re here, would you care for a cup of
coffee?”

“That would be real nice, Miss Kat,” he said
as he followed her into the kitchen. “I don’t suppose you’ve got
any of that apple pie today, do you?”

“I’m afraid Mama—” She stopped short,
realizing she’d nearly blurted out the truth. Because it was
Sunday, Mama hadn’t baked a pie that morning. Always quick of wit,
Kat smiled again. “Mama finished it off earlier today.” The fib
rolled smoothly off her tongue. “Tell you what, why don’t I save a
piece for you next time?”

“I’d like that.” He settled his muscular
frame into a chair and stretched his long legs out. “Thank you,
Miss Kat. Nothing a man enjoys more than a good cup of coffee,” he
told her when she placed a mug filled with the steaming brew in
front of him.

“Unless it’s a good cup of coffee and a
piece of apple pie,” Kat quipped, enjoying the playful banter.
“With fresh cream on top.” She returned the pot to the stove.

“You’ve got that right.” Joshua laughed.
“Well, anyway, how long will it be before those shirts are ready?”
He glanced toward the back of the house. “How’s your father doing?
Maybe I could chat with him a bit while I’m waiting.”

Waiting?

Still standing at the stove, Kat whirled
around. Did the man truly expect her to whip out a needle and
thread to stitch on buttons and turn collars while he waited?
Without warning, her hands started to shake. He couldn’t possibly
be serious!

Quickly, she clasped her hands behind her
back. “I’m really sorry, Joshua, but I hope you’re not planning to
take those shirts back home with you this afternoon. I—” Frantic,
she searched for a plausible excuse. “Well, that is, I have
something to do…something else…I mean…”

“In other words, you’ve got plans,” he
said.

“Yes. Plans.” Kat’s cheeks heated. Yet had
she caught a tiny note of disappointment in his deep, mellow voice?
Not disappointment about his buttons and collars, but displeasure
at the thought of her having
plans
? Plans that didn’t
include him? He wore a look of genuine regret upon his handsome
face. The corners of his mouth turned downward, and it seemed the
usual spark had suddenly gone out of his eyes. She savored the
moment, thoroughly enjoying his apparent distress. He certainly had
no need to know that her plans included nothing more than brushing
her hair, washing her face, then curling up on her bed and writing
a few words in her diary.

With a heavy breath, Joshua got to his feet.
“Well, I do thank you for the coffee, but I suppose I’d best be on
my way since you’ve got plans. I sure didn’t mean to intrude or
take up too much of your time.”

“Oh, no! I don’t mean that you should leave
right now. In fact,” she said, turning toward the window to glance
out toward the corral, “there’s something I’d like to talk to you
about.” Benjamin had already saddled his favorite pinto and ridden
off toward the mountains. She could barely make out his figure as
he rode toward the horizon. “Sit down, Joshua, please.” Forgetting
her earlier resolve not to mention anything to him until she’d
gotten the facts, Kat pulled up a chair beside his and waited for
him to resume his seat. “I’ve got some news about Benjamin.”

“I’m listening.”

“He’s lied to us from the moment we found
him. I’m not sure why, and I don’t know what to do about it.”

Taking note of the empty mug in front of
Joshua, she got up, fetched the coffee pot and poured a refill. She
took another mug from the cupboard and poured coffee for herself
too. She didn’t often drink it, but sometimes a cup of hot java
helped her think. It seemed to clear her mind somehow. Of course,
it would also leave her restless and keep her awake long into the
night, but after seeing Joshua, she doubted she’d get much sleep
anyway. Lately, she’d been dreaming about him…in vivid, delicious
detail. She licked her lips.

“What would Benjamin have to lie about?” The
question rumbled from Joshua’s throat, bringing Kat’s mind quickly
back to the topic of discussion.

“He’s not an orphan. He ran away, and his
father is looking for him.” She pressed her hands around the coffee
cup. “I don’t know what I should do.”

“Where did you hear this?”

“Reverend Kendrick told me this morning
after church.”

Joshua frowned at the mention of the man’s
name. “I don’t think you have much choice. Benjamin was wrong to
lie, and his father’s probably mighty worried about him. I’d say
the sooner he’s back home where he belongs, the better.”

“How can you say that?” Kat set her cup down
so hard, the coffee spilled over the rim. “Obviously, he ran away!
There has to be a reason why.”

“Not really. He’s fourteen years old. Kids
that age run off all the time. They get notions in their head that
they know what’s best, think they can take care of themselves, and
they usually end up getting themselves in a whole mess of trouble.”
He chuckled. “I speak from experience. I was fourteen once
myself.”