The Outrider (Redbourne Series #5 - Will's Story) (9 page)

Opal had said that Winnie intended to return the
tickets with a letter of apology. The young woman had proven herself shrewd,
but Elizabeth didn’t care about any of that. The woman’s fears about leaving
her family and comfortable life behind to venture out on the journey had worked
out in Elizabeth’s favor and now, a new adventure awaited her, just like those
that she’d come across so often in her books.

“You have your money. Now, may I please have the
tickets and other travel arrangements the preacher made for you?”

“Oh, of course,” Winnie waved at the air.

Elizabeth extended her hand.

“You mean now? I don’t have them with me,” she
placed a hand over her chest, “but I will see that you have everything you need
by the time the stage leaves tomorrow. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind delivering my
letter to Mr. MacKenzie?”

“Not at all,” Elizabeth responded with a slight
bow of her head. “Tomorrow then. Opal.” She nodded at her new travelling
companion, then turned for the door, smiling to herself. Now, she just had to
tell Grace and she’d be on her way.

When she reached the livery, Grace was in a
pleasant conversation with a stout woman in a thick bustled dress with
cherry-colored fringes.

“Here she is now,” Grace said, holding out her
arm toward Elizabeth. “Eliza Beth, this is Mrs. Blanding, the good preacher’s
wife. She tells me that the teacher at the school on the edge of town is
leaving tomorrow on the stage and the position needs to be filled as soon as
possible.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Blanding,” she
said with a slight bow of her head. She studied the woman for a moment, the
trio standing in silence before the question plaguing her mind slipped from her
mouth. “Do you like being a preacher’s wife?” she blurted.

Grace stared at her open-mouthed, but quickly
recovered.

“Do I like…” the woman cleared her throat. “Well,
I’ve never really thought about that. Mr. Blanding is a good man and I enjoy
the occasions I have to call on the women of this town.” She stood up a little
taller. “Yes, I suppose I do like being a preacher’s wife.”

Elizabeth breathed deeply, satisfied with the
woman’s answer.

“Though,” Mrs. Blanding continued, “I never saw
myself as the type.” She turned to Elizabeth. “You know, the kind to host
afternoon tea or organize a bazaar. But, here I am.” She looked past them and
concern found a place on her brows. “Excuse me a moment, ladies,” she said as
she slipped between them and over to where two young boys were in a tussle near
the livery’s front gate.

“Grace—”

“I know you have a plan, but the selfish part of
me thought that with your love of books and your abundant knowledge, you would
be just the person for…the…job. What’s wrong?”

“I’m leaving on the stage tomorrow with Opal. And
apparently, the town’s teacher,” she added, trying to find some humor in the
situation.

Grace’s shoulders dropped a little, but her smile
didn’t falter. “Are you sure this is what you want? A teaching position would
give you a place. A purpose.”

“I know. Thank you, but my mind is made up. I am
going to be Mrs. MacKenzie—a preacher’s wife.”

Grace giggled. “That explains it.”

“What?”

“I thought Mrs. Blanding was going to faint when
you asked her if she liked being married to a preacher. The look on her face…”

“Was shocked, to say the least,” Elizabeth finished.

They both laughed.

“I guess it was rather outspoken of me.”

“Elizabeth, you are definitely one of a kind.”
Grace linked her arm in hers. “I don’t care how far away you go, I know we will
always be friends.”

“I would not have it any other way.”

Ethan pulled up in the buckboard. “You ladies
ready?” he asked, jumping down and offering a hand to his wife, then to Elizabeth.

Normally, there would have been a lot to do to
prepare for a trip like this one, but with no belongings to speak of, there was
nothing to prepare—just a few goodbyes to say. The feeling was bittersweet.

By the time they pulled into Redbourne Ranch it
was already near six o’clock. Supper would already be on the table. Ethan went
to take care of the horses and the wagon, while she and Grace headed for the
back door that led directly into the kitchen.

When they passed by the window, she caught a
glimpse of the honest-to-goodness Will Redbourne already seated at the table.
She laughed at herself for having thought Ethan was his brother. It was true
they were similar in appearance, but the sight of Will took her breath away. He
was even more handsome than she had remembered.

Elizabeth froze in place, her mind racing as to
what to do.

“I think I’m just going to walk back up to your
place to pack my things,” she reasoned, though she knew her new friend would
see right through her.

Grace glanced through the window. “Will’s home.”

Elizabeth nodded.

“Why don’t you just face him? Tell him
everything?”

Images of her brother’s swollen face, his bandaged
head and body streamed through her mind. While he’d certainly been deserving of
the beating he’d gotten, she couldn’t imagine that Will would be able to
forgive or forget everything that had happened.

She shook her head. Breath escaped her and her
heart sped within her chest.

“What are you two doing waiting out here?” Ethan
asked as he joined them on the back porch. “Lottie made pot-pie tonight. With
Tag and Cole home, we’d better hurry or there won’t be any left.”

“I’ll catch up,” she said, feigning a smile.

“Are you all right?” Grace asked, placing a hand
on her arm.

“I’ll be fine,” Elizabeth whispered back. “I just
need to catch my breath for a moment.”

“It’ll be okay. Talk to him and then, if you
still want to leave, I won’t protest.”

“Thanks, Grace.”

The couple disappeared inside of the house.
Elizabeth plastered herself up against the wall. She would not be joining them
for supper tonight.

Lottie’s chicken pot-pie had lived up to everything
Will had expected and described to his friend. The succulent meat seemed to
melt in his mouth along with the heavenly flaked crust on top. When he glanced
over at Sven, he couldn’t help the chuckle that sounded low in his throat. His
broad-shouldered friend had closed his eyes as he chewed and his tongue swiped
across his lips.

“This is a mighty fine meal, ma’am,” Sven told
Leah.

She smiled softly. “We are very blessed to have
Lottie with us. She has a real talent in the kitchen.”

“I’ll say,” the Norwegian said, eying the platter
of little creamed custards topped with fresh-picked raspberries across the
table.

Everyone at the table laughed and Jameson picked
up the dish and held it out for Sven.

“Thank you,” he said. “Don’t mind if I do.” He
picked up one of the custards and set it down in front of him, scooping one of
the raspberries up into his mouth.

The back door opened and Grace walked in followed
closely by his little brother, Ethan.

“I’m sorry we’re late,” Ethan said as he hung his
hat on the rack by the stairs. “We had some business in town that needed
attending to.”

“So,” Jameson said, looking at the Norwegian as
he picked up his napkin and wiped the corners of his mouth, “Will tells me that
you are headed out on the stage tomorrow, taking a group of young ladies to Colorado.”

Sven nodded, his mouth still full.

“We have property in Silver Falls,” Tag said as
he scooped up another bite of his savory pie.

“Mama spent a few summers there while granddad
conducted business,” Hannah chimed in.

Sven started to speak, but a coughing fit ensued.

Leah stood up and poured more water into his
glass. “Are you all right, dear?” she asked.

“Wrong pipe,” Sven choked out as he hit his chest
with his fist. With a large gulp of water from his glass, he finally was able
to swallow, then inhaled deeply.

“I heard it’s not just a run-of-the-mill job.”
Ethan joined in the conversation. “I understand that it will be carrying the
bankroll from Stone Creek to Kansas City.”

“Nobody is supposed to know that,” Sven said,
swallowing hard, then coughed again.

“Mr. Collins at the bank has a big mouth,” Cole
said heartily.

Leah shot him a quelling look.

“Sorry,” he said with his head bowed.

“I tried to get Will to come along, but he’s too
busy getting ready for his overseas adventure.”

The table went silent.

Damn.

This is not the way he’d wanted his family to
find out that he was headed back to England.

Knock. Knock.

Will laughed weakly, wiped his mouth, and pushed
himself away from the table. “I’ll get it.” He scampered into the front room
and swung open the door. “Professor!” he exclaimed, extending a hand to the man
who had offered him the teaching position at the University of London. He’d
nearly forgotten the man would be stopping by tonight. He glanced back at the
kitchen.

Well, I guess now is as good a time as any.

“Come on in, Professor. We’re just finishing up
our supper. Would you like to join us?”

“Why, I would be delighted. Thank you,” Professor
Cromwell said as he stepped over the threshold.

Will took the man’s coat and hung it on a nearby
rack. If anyone could get his family to see the benefit of what he was
planning, Professor Cromwell could. As he took a step toward the kitchen, the
professor put a hand on his arm to stay him.

“May I have a word with you first?” he asked with
a raised brow.

“What’s on your mind, Professor?”

“In town earlier today, I can’t be sure, but I
swear I saw Sterling Archer’s daughter on the street. She pretended to be
somebody else, but it’s her. I’m sure of it.”

Will swallowed hard.

“Do you think Archer is in town?” he asked
without hesitation.

“No.”

“Then, what would his daughter be doing in Stone
Creek?” Will asked.

“The girl has been missing for months. Sterling
has scoured the countryside looking for her, sparing no expense. He’s even put
out a reward for her safe return. If she’s here…”

The professor didn’t need to finish that
sentence. Will had had enough experience with Sterling Archer to know that he
would do anything to protect what was his. And that included killing anyone who
stood in his way.

“Do you think she’s here against her will?”

“To that I cannot speak, unless your
sister-in-law is holding her captive.”

“What does Grace have to do with this?”

“They were together on the boardwalk today when I
ran into them.”

Will nodded in understanding. He’d never actually
met Archer’s daughter, but was all too well acquainted with the rest of her
family. A pit formed in Will’s stomach, but he tried to shake it off. He guided
the man into the kitchen where the family was deep in conversation

“I think it’s romantic,” Hannah said, leaning on
the table with her elbows. “Crossing the country in search of love.”

Will rolled his eyes at the machinations of a
young girl.

“Are you speaking of the mail-order-brides
leaving tomorrow?” Will asked, interjecting himself into the conversation.

Everyone turned to look at him.

“Yes,” Ethan said. “I think Grace is a little
envious of the adventure that awaits her new friend.”

“As if I didn’t have enough adventures with you,
my darling husband.” Grace raised a brow at Ethan, her mouth widening into a
grin.

Ethan pulled his wife in close to him and kissed her
smack on the mouth.

There had never been a lack of affection in his
family. Most everyone looked away, scooping food into their mouths—except for
Hannah, who sighed as she leaned on her hands and watched the display.

Jameson cleared his throat and his brother tore
himself away from his beautiful wife. Her cheeks were flushed, a smile touching
the corners of her mouth.

“I just hope ‘my friend’ is not doing it for the
wrong reasons,” Grace said as if the conversation had never halted. Her voice
grew a little louder and she leaned toward the back door so far, Will thought
she might fall over. “I would feel much better if she wasn’t travelling alone,”
she called out loudly. “There’s a teacher’s position opening in town and I
thought it might be nice to have her stick around. No matter how hard it might
be.”

Will glanced at the door, but there was no one
there. He shook his head.

Women.

“We’re all right here, Gracie,” Jack, her little
brother, said as he stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it around.

“Sorry.” Grace wiped her mouth with her napkin.

Sven cleared his throat and coughed, holding a
glass of water near his lips as he spoke. “There are two other ladies who’ll be
on that stage travelling with us to Silver Falls, and I’ll be right there
beside it, Miss Grace,” he said. “I’ll make sure to keep her safe.” He took a
drink.

“Thank you, Mr. Anderson. That is of some
comfort.”

“Everyone,” Will announced, stepping aside, “this
is Professor Cromwell from—”

“The University of London,” Grace cut in. “It’s
nice to see you again, Professor.”

“Mrs. Redbourne,” he replied with a nod, stepping
forward toward the table. “Please forgive my manners for intruding into your
discussion, but were you speaking of the young woman whom you introduced me to earlier
this afternoon on the boardwalk?”

“Yyyyes,” Grace replied hesitantly. “Eliza Beth
Jessup. From Oklahoma,” she added unnecessarily.

“Who is Eliza Beth Jessup?” Will asked
nonchalantly. He’d been away quite a bit, but for the life of him, he didn’t
recall anyone by the name of Jessup in town. Will sat down in his chair and
offered Raine’s empty seat to the professor. If this woman was the one who
Professor Cromwell believed to be Sterling Archer’s daughter, he wanted a look
for himself.

“She’s the gal who bought Old Ferg’s place,”
Ethan said as he scooped some of the pot-pie onto a plate for his wife.

“The one that burned down?” Will asked
incredulously.

“That’s the one.”

“Has Raine found out any more about how the blaze
started?” their father asked.

“Where
is
Raine tonight?” Will wondered
aloud.

“He said he’d be late for supper because he found
a lead on the fire and had a few miscreants to round up for questioning.” His
mother took her own custard from the tray and dipped her spoon inside.

“I would have just thought the sheriff had him
out doing rounds again. Doesn’t seem he can stay out of the saloon long enough
to do his job himself. He has to send Raine around to do it for him.”

“Taggert Redbourne, bite your tongue,” Leah
scolded her son. “Sheriff Butts…

Smothered giggles surrounded the table.

Leah cleared her throat. “Sheriff Butts,” she
tried again, staring down anyone who dared the slightest smile, “has been very
good to our family. He has had it tougher than most. Especially, after losing
his wife and daughter in that disaster.”

“I only meant that he…” Tag said, trying quite
unsuccessfully to keep the smile from his face.

“I know what you meant, son, but we will not
speak ill of others in this house. Am I understood?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Tag said. “I meant no disrespect.”

“That goes for the rest of you too,” she said,
eying each person sitting at the table, her gaze finally resting on their
father, who cleared his throat and scratched at his face with the back of his
hand.

“Yes, ma’am,” they all said in unison.

“So, this Eliza Beth Jessup,” Will started again,
unable to quash the curiosity in him. “Has she lived in town long?”

“Why the sudden interest, Will?” Cole asked,
eying him warily.

“No real interest. It’s just that usually when
someone new moves to town, we’re all put on welcome duty and I wondered why
I’ve never heard of the woman before now. That’s all.”

“We didn’t discover she’d moved in until Ferg’s
place burned to the ground,” his mother was quick to say. “Luckily, Ethan and
Grace saw the smoke and were able to go and help.”

Will bobbed his head, contemplative.

“You could ask her yourself,” Ethan said between
bites of his dessert. “She said she just needed a moment and she would be in.
Come to think of it, I wonder why she hasn’t joined us yet,” he said, glancing
toward the back door.

“You mean, she’s here?”

“We left her out on the front porch just a bit
ago.”

Will pushed himself away from the table and
dashed to the door. When it swung open, the porch was empty. He scanned the
yard, but she was nowhere to be seen. A feeling of disappointment settled in
his gut. He closed the door and returned to his seat, shaking his head at an
expectant Grace. She arose from her seat to verify for herself.

“So, Mr. Cromwell,” Jameson said, addressing the
professor, “what brings you to the states?”

Will exchanged glances with the professor.

“Actually, Dad, I’ve been meaning to talk to
you.”

Everyone sitting at the table seemed to stop
eating at that moment and look up at him. Waiting.

He cleared his throat.

“The University of London has offered me a
temporary teaching position in the archaeological department, and…I have chosen
to accept.” He breathed out a sigh of relief at not having to carry that weight
around with him any longer.

“Temporary?”

He could hear the hope in his mother’s voice.

“We are in the middle of a large project that
will guarantee your son’s services for five years. Isn’t that wonderful?”