The Outrider (Redbourne Series #5 - Will's Story) (8 page)

The heavenly aroma of freshly baking biscuits
clenched his gut, the scent itself melting in his mouth as it wafted through
the front door of the house and reached his nose. He dismounted with some
effort, but with a grin on his face that extended from ear to ear, he greeted
his mother with a bear-like embrace.

“I invited Sven to eat with us,” he said, looking
down at her. “I hope that’s all right.”

“Well, of course it is,” she said, squeezing his
arm. She turned to Sven. “You are always welcome, Mr. Anderson. I’ll start
heating some water for you both to clean up before supper.”

Will smiled to himself. It was good to be home.

“Your father and Tag just returned from Texas
this morning. It’ll be nice to have so many of us together tonight.” Leah
gathered her apron and turned back for the house.

Will’s gut dropped. He had tried to tell his
parents multiple times over the last few months that he would be leaving
Redbourne Ranch for a short while, but hadn’t been able to voice the words. He
didn’t think his mother would view five years as such a short while, especially
so soon after returning home from university.

Will loved his family. He loved ranching and the
clarity it provided him, but he still yearned for something more. The
University of London wasn’t expecting him for a while, though he’d be leaving
for Boston in the next few weeks to purchase his ship and hire a crew.

His new position at the university would allow
him time and means to explore—an adventure he couldn’t wait to begin. With only
a few weeks remaining, he aimed to make the most of his time here at the ranch
and would tell everyone when the time was right.

Soon.

It took a while for them to brush down, water,
and feed the horses, but when they made their way into the back stall of the
barn, they were greeted by two over-sized, elongated basins that had been
filled with hot water. Steam rose from the top like a hazy fog over the
mountainside. Towels draped over the gate. Fresh cakes of soap, two
straight-blade razors, and a hairbrush had been laid out in front of a mirrored
base.

Will closed his eyes in gratitude as he inhaled
deeply.

“You weren’t kidding. It’s like your own personal
bath house right at home.” Sven didn’t waste any time removing his clothes and
sinking down into the warm water. “This kind of living could do a man good.”

Will laughed. “Just wait.”

“Will,” Hannah called from somewhere toward the
front of the stable.

“We’re a little busy,” he called back.

“Mama said that Mr. Anders…on…” Hannah stepped
into the back stall and froze. “Um…I’m sorry,” she threw a hand to cover her
unusually wide eyes. “I didn’t see anything. I swear.” She took a step
backward, her arm knocking into the shelf that held dozens of cans and a few
empty milk jugs. She squealed as they all came tumbling down on top of her.

Will hopped out of the tub, grabbed the towel
from the gate’s top rung, and draped it around his midsection as he rushed to
help his kid sister.

She sat up, pushing a large milk can away from
her. A deep-seated red burned into her cheeks as she looked up at him. “I’m
sorry, Will.” She shook her head. “I didn’t—”

“Think,” he finished for her. “Didn’t listen. I
told you we were busy.”

She dared a glance at Sven, whose upper body was
still visible above the basin, and the red in her face darkened another shade.
“I’m sorry.”

“Any broken bones?” Will asked as he helped her
to her feet.

“I don’t think so.”

“Are you hurt?”

“Just my pride. Or what was left of it,” she admitted
with a sheepish smile.

He reached out to steady her by the shoulder and
she winced.

“Maybe a bruise or two, but I’m fine. I’ve got
seven brothers who’ve taught me how to be tough,” she countered with a grin.

Will laughed.

Hannah leaned in close to him. “Is Mr. Anderson
staying for supper?”

“What is it with you?” he asked, a little laugh
in his voice. “Get on up to the house. We’ll be there shortly.”

A smile spread across Hannah’s face and she
clapped her hands together before turning on her heel and disappearing from the
stable.

“A breed of your own, I tell ya,” Sven said with
a chuckle, dropping down lower in his tub.

“Maybe so, my friend. Maybe so.” He glanced back
at the stable door and thought for a moment before climbing back into the
welcoming warmth of the water.

He reached over the side of the tub and pulled
the folded image from his vest pocket. His ship. Well, it would be his once he
made the trip to Boston, but he’d already made a gentleman’s agreement.

Maybe it was time for a new breed of Redbourne. The
seafaring kind.

Elizabeth watched out the window by their table for
any sign of Opal Gailey. She needed to speak to the young woman before they
headed back to Redbourne Ranch.

“Becoming a mail-order-bride is a huge step. And
a little scary. Are you sure that is what you want to do? Just to avoid running
into Will?”

“That’s not the only reason, Grace. When I
arrived in Stone Creek, I truly believed this was the right place for me.”

“Then stay.”

“I wish it was that easy. I bought a house—well,
my pretend husband did anyway.” She chuckled lightly under her breath and shook
her head. She waited a moment before continuing. “After it burned to the
ground, I realized that most everything I had brought with me—my books, my
money, my clothes—were all gone and I had nowhere to turn.”

“If money is what you need—”

“I need a purpose, Grace. I need a place I can
call my own. I need…” What did she need?

“A man?” Grace supplied.

Elizabeth looked at her friend with a smile.

“Maybe. I don’t know, but I cannot believe that my
adventure is over. There is more for me to do. If it works out that I can find
a home…” She leaned toward Grace with a smile, “…and a good man along the way,
then all the better.”

They both laughed.

“Seriously, when I left England, I knew I could
never go back. I started a life here, and now, it seems, I will have to start
again, somewhere else.”

“Maybe if you just talk to Will, I’m sure he will
understand.”

“Will is a good man, but sometimes things just
aren’t meant to be. I thought Stone Creek would be my home, but life has other
plans for me.
This
is my chance to move on and find that place. And
after encountering the professor…”

“You don’t want to risk your father finding out
where you are.”

Elizabeth nodded slowly.

Grace’s eyes moved back and forth between Elizabeth’s,
searching, then she nodded her understanding. “I know what it’s like to start
over and how hard it can be. But, I want you to know that there will always be
a place for you here.” She placed a hand over Elizabeth’s. “I feel like I’m
losing the sister I never had.”

“Me too. Thank you. You and your family have
already been so generous. I’m afraid I don’t know how I’ll ever repay your
kindness.”

“Be happy,” Grace replied. “That’s all I ask. Be
happy with whatever choices you make in your life.” Her eyes diverted to
something outside the window. “Oooo, look. It’s Opal Gailey,” she said,
pointing at the young woman walking out of the milliner’s shop.

Elizabeth pushed herself away from the table, but
Grace caught her arm.

“You’re sure this is what you want?”

“I’m sure. That stage is leaving tomorrow and I
am going to be on it,” Elizabeth said with more conviction than she felt. She
hoped she was doing the right thing, but there was only one way she was going
to find out.

Grace nodded with a sad smile and let go of her
arm.

“You’d better hurry. I’ll take care of this and
then head over to the livery for the carriage. Meet me back here in an hour?”

“One hour,” Elizabeth confirmed with a bob of her
head, then hurried out the door and across the street. “Opal,” Elizabeth called
out to the young woman from the mercantile.

She turned around, swinging her head in such a
fashion as if to show off her new purchase. The hat was quite extraordinary and
exquisite—far from the type of hat Elizabeth would have thought to buy for a
long trek west.

“Hello,” she said, a blank expression crossing
her features. Then, she smiled. “You’re Grace’s friend. Eliza Beth, right?”

“Right.” It was funny. Elizabeth had been living
at the old Ferguson place for a couple of months now, but a few days of being
friends with a Redbourne made her someone worth knowing.

“I’m afraid I haven’t taken much time lately to
get to know the new people in town. You see, I’m getting married and I’m
leaving tomorrow.”

“I had heard that,” Elizabeth said, unsure how to
broach the subject without appearing the nosy neighbor. “Um…Opal…” She cleared
her throat. “I was in the mercantile just a little while ago. I hadn’t meant to
eavesdrop, but I understand that you are taking tomorrow’s stage to Colorado to
be…a mail-order-bride.”

“That’s right,” Opal squealed. “Can you believe
it? Me. A bride.”

“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how did you
meet, eh…find your groom-to-be?”

Opal smiled widely and leaned over as if sharing
a secret.

“I haven’t actually met him. In person, I mean.
There is a shortage of women farther west, where there are plenty of men
searching for brides. I responded to one of the ads that I saw in the Stone
Creek Chronicle from the Matchmaker Agency in a place called Thistleberry,
Montana. They really are quite reputable and there are simply dozens of men to
choose from in a variety of different locations.” Opal looked as if she might
burst with pride. “My Robert is a young tanner who just opened his first shop
in a small town called Silver Falls in Colorado.”

“The Matchmaker Agency, you said?”

“Yes.”

“And, what about your friend? I heard her say
that she has decided not to go. Is that still the case?”

Opal eyed her for a few moments before responding,
as if trying to decide if she was shocked or honored that Elizabeth had
‘overheard’ so many details of their conversation. Then, she tsked.

“Poor thing. The reverend, I mean. He will be
expecting a bride on the stage and all he’ll get is Winnie’s refusal letter.”

“What if that wasn’t all he would get?” Elizabeth
dipped her head lightly to look Opal in the face.

The young woman placed a hand on Elizabeth’s arm
and smiled knowingly.

“Are you interested in becoming a
mail-order-bride, Eliza Beth?”

Truth was, Elizabeth was ready to take on most
any challenge at this point, she just needed to get out of Stone Creek before
her father could find her.

“I might have some interest. Do you think the
agency would be okay if someone took her place?”

“That, Eliza Beth, sounds like more than a little
interest,” Opal replied happily. “Winnie has made up her mind. She is
definitely not going to Silver Falls. Oh,” she said, weaving her arm through
Elizabeth’s, “I thought I would have to travel all that way alone with Gertrude.
Thank heavens that will not be the case.”

Elizabeth had no idea who Gertrude was or what
she might be getting herself into.

“I’m sure Winnie has not notified the agency yet.
I know she has the stagecoach and train tickets that she was prepared to return
to her unfortunate beau with a letter of apology. So, I don’t see why you
couldn’t take her place on the stage.” She paused. “If you don’t mind marrying
a preacher.”

“A preacher?” Elizabeth swallowed. She wasn’t
exactly the type to hold bible study classes or host sewing bee’s or afternoon
tea, but she guessed that if it was meant to be, she could be a preacher’s wife.

“How old is this preacher, exactly?”

“Winnie would be the best one to talk to about
that. She has exchanged several letters with the man. I was just on my way to meet
her for lunch at Millie’s Café. Would you like to join us?”

Elizabeth looked down the road to where Grace was
speaking with Mr. Phillips at the livery. She looked at the large clock that
towered over the town. She still had forty-five minutes before she had to meet
Grace at the restaurant.

“It would be my pleasure,” she said with a dip of
her head.

Opal linked her arm in Elizabeth’s and guided her
across the street to Millie’s place. It was a quaint little café with flowers
in the windowsills and embroidered cloths on the tables. When the door opened,
Elizabeth closed her eyes to soak in the atmosphere. It smelled like a little
slice of heaven.

“We’ve got fresh, warm Strawberry Rhubarb pie on
the menu today. Would you ladies like to try a slice?” Millie held a pot of
coffee in one hand and dusted her apron with the other.

“That sounds divine, Millie,” Opal told the
establishment’s proprietress.

“May I just have a glass of lemonade?” she asked.
She’d already shared some pie at the restaurant across the way with Grace and
didn’t think her stomach would appreciate two in one day.

“Of course,” Millie said with a smile.

Within moments they found the table where Winnie
had been seated. Opal sat down next to her, and motioned for Elizabeth to sit
on the other side of her. Winnie smiled half-heartedly as Elizabeth did as
she’d been told.

“I am not sure I have had the pleasure,” the
second woman from the mercantile spoke while raising her glass to her small
mouth.

“Winnie,” Opal began, “Eliza Beth is a friend of
Grace Redbourne. Since you have decided that you will be staying here in Stone
Creek, wouldn’t it be lovely if she went in your place?”

“Why would you do that?” the woman scrunched her
eyes into slits as she evaluated Elizabeth.

She hadn’t expected the question and it took her
a moment to collect her thoughts.

“Well, Miss Winnie, hmhmm…” she cleared her
throat, “I’m afraid there is nothing left for me in Stone Creek. I have no
family to speak of, my home burned to the ground, and I want to start over, but
that is hard to do without means.”

Winnie leaned back in her chair. “Your house
burned down? That is horrible. I am so sorry to hear of your predicament, but I
am still deciding whether or not I should go.”

“But, Winnie,” Opal said, in protest, “I thought
you—”

“Now, Opal, you know that I detest the idea of
causing that man any more pain than necessary. My father seems to be getting
better every day.” Winnie said before taking another sip from the large glass
of lemonade sitting in front of her.

It took everything Elizabeth had not to roll her
eyes into the back of her head. She had encountered countless women with the
same wishy-washy attitude as Winnie back home. How was a girl supposed to make
any plans when dealing with someone so fickle? She would probably decide to
make the trek only to get off the stage in the next town and coax some
unsuspecting farmer into bringing her home.

“I am so sorry,” Elizabeth said, deciding to play
the girl’s game. “I did not realize that you had changed your mind. I apologize
for having wasted your time.” She stood up and looked down at Opal. “Thank you
for your kind offer. It would have been quite an adventure,” she said as she
turned to leave, placing a hand on the woman’s shoulder. “Good luck, Miss
Winnie. It is a shame really.”

“What’s a shame, Eliza Beth?” Opal asked with
interest.

“Well, I was willing to pay what I could for your
place on the journey,” Elizabeth said as she shrugged her shoulders, “but—”

“How much?” Winnie said with a squeaky little
voice, her finger twirling one of her ringlets.

“I’m sorry?” Elizabeth said, forcing the woman to
speak a little louder.

Winnie looked at Opal, then back to Elizabeth. “I
mean, it did take a lot of time and effort to coordinate the trip, to apply to
the Matchmaker Agency and to write to my Adam. Your Adam,” she corrected.

Elizabeth reached into her satchel and pulled out
a few of her remaining bills, set them down beneath her hand, and slid them
across the table to Winnie.

“Take it or leave it,” she said with a fabricated
smile.

Winnie glanced down at the money and looked up
with wide eyes. “I would say you have been more than generous. Thank you.” She
picked up the money and tucked it away in her own little handbag.

Elizabeth had done a fair share of research into
mail-order-bride services since learning of the potential opportunity, and she
knew that Winnie had not paid a penny for her travel plans. The men requesting
a wife were responsible for that purchase, as well as any other expenses a
prospective bride might encounter along the way.