The Stafford Collection, Historical Western Romances (32 page)

Chapter 5

It somehow seemed as if something or someone was missing. Not usually one to brood too
long, he smiled thinking it will be good to see Brock and Sabrina again. He was taken by Sabrina immediately and a mite jealous of Brock for snaring the spunky brunette first. She was a handful. It would be good to see them again, even if he was forced to wear one of those fancy neck cloths around his neck. With his troubles easing he lifted his face to the rising sun. Being unable to pass up the adventure, he inhaled the crisp morning air and finished loading the wagon.

“
Great timing,” he said to Thomas as he and Jaelyn appeared while he loaded the last satchel.

Thomas’s
“Um” and pink ears were all the explanation he needed. Shaking his head, he moved to help his parents into the back of the buckboard. Jaelyn chose to ride in the back with Thomas, as well as her parents. With a final look back at his home, he flicked his wrists. His muscular arms easily handling the horses’ reins as the wagon lumbered off.

Jaelyn nervously smoothed down the burgundy traveling dress Thomas had purchased for her. The color blended perfectly with her mocha complexion. She stood watching as Chase and Thomas assisted her father onto the train first and then her mother. It was soon her turn and she eyed the metal giant hesitantly; it quivered as if about to spring forward at any second.

Thomas smiled sweetly at her as he offered her his hand. Feeling like a child, she grasped it tightly as she climbed up the narrow black stairs. Her eyes widened in surprise as she stepped into the train cabin. It was not what she expected. She was not ignorant by any means; she had read many books about trains and train travel. What surprised her was instead of the rows of padded seats, there were several seating sections with posh sofas and rooms off to the back, which Thomas informed her with a small blush contained beds. She looked at him in surprise.

“
You arranged for this?”

“
Yes.”

“
This
whole
thing is for
us
?”

“
Isn’t it grand?” Chase said stretching out lengthwise on one of the seats. Putting his feet up on the red velvet armrest, he dipped his hat over his head as if to sleep. Jaelyn stomped over knocking his feet down.

“
Sit up!” she hissed. “Thomas this is
too
much; regular seats are fine,” Jaelyn said worriedly.

Thomas frowned a bit. He had not expected this reaction. She was so unlike any other woman he had ever met. That was why he loved her
so. She gave so much to him he wanted to give something back.

“
Your father needs the space. Plus it’s a long ride and your family has done so much for me,” he insisted.

“
You saved my father’s life. What in comparison have we done for you?” Jaelyn whispered as they both stood in the middle of the small room. Her parents were not paying any mind to the young couple as they were wrapped up in a quiet conversation but Chase was paying rapt attention.

“
What have you done for me? You are my whole world, Jaelyn. I did not begin to breathe until we met. I owe you everything and you shall have it.”

“
I only ask for you.”

“
Then you shall have me.” She watched in confusion as he pulled a small golden ring with a clear shimmering stone out of his pocket.

“
Jaelyn Stafford, I would be amazed and honored if you would become my wife.”

Jaelyn stood in a shocked silence. So intense was the moment that neither of them heard the train whistle and when it set into motion Jaelyn was tossed forward
and only Thomas’s quick reaction kept them from falling to the floor.

He guided her to the closest seat and knelt by her feet still waiting for an answer as the train rumbled forward.

“Yes?” he prodded hopefully.

“
Of course yes!” she said as tears filled her eyes and she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly. She peppered his face with kisses not caring who was watching.

“
What kind of jewel is that?” she asked when she could finally speak. “It’s the most beautiful thing I ever saw.”

“
It’s a diamond. This was my mother’s ring and I want you to have it.”

“
Your mother’s? Shouldn’t it go to your sister?”

Thomas snorted.
“Mother had gobs of jewelry. Sally got all the rest. My father gave it to me on our visit. He wanted you to have it and so do I.”

Jaelyn hugged and kissed him again. She then hurried over to show her mother.

Chase sighed, turning away from the happy couples. He looked out the window watching the scenery fly by as he contemplated his own future.

***

Hours later, back at Montgomery, Sabrina awoke watching the fading light out of the window. She looked around for Brock and not finding him, she climbed out of bed to dress. She didn’t have many clothes that fit her growing body so she reluctantly put on the dusty one from her trip. She made her way down the stairs and outside.

The sunset was spectacular. The pinks, reds,
blues, and purples stretched across the sky. The only thing blocking the brilliant view was the oak tree. Taking a deep breath for courage, she walked over to it.

Sabrina stood in the yard staring up at the great tree. A cool breeze swept past
her, whispering in the leaves. The swaying branches mimicked the movement of her father’s body as it hung from one of the massive limbs. She felt wetness on her face and reached up to wipe away a tear that had slipped down her cheek.

“
I thought about cutting it down,” a quiet voice spoke from behind her.

Sabrina turned to find Warren standing there holding his hat in his hand as he chose to stare at the ground.

“I have many memories of this tree. I remember Momma scolding me for climbing too high in the branches, and Papa pushing me on the old wooden swing. Not all of them are bad. I’m glad you didn’t.”

She turned into his arms hugging him for strength as
they both cried for their loss. Sabrina sniffed, pulling away yet still holding tightly onto Warren’s hand for support. Her eyes flickered back up and she briefly returned her gaze to the newly budding boughs outlined by the colorful light. Life does go on, even though it’s hard.

Hearing horses in the
distance, Sabrina and Warren both turned to watch Samuel and Brock ride up to meet them in the yard. Brock dismounted and came up to give her a shy kiss on her cheek. Unabashed, she pulled him down to kiss his lips before kissing his neck as well.

“Umm, you’re sweaty,”
she whispered, mischievously licking the salt off her lips.

“
Samuel gave me a tour of the ranch.”

She turned to glare at her friend.
“You could have waited for me,” she accused.

“
Well… I just thought… In your condition…”

The glare got harsher as Samuel started to squirm.

“I’M NOT AN INVALID! I’M HAVING A BABY!”

“Sorry, ’rina.
Brock said you couldn’t ride,” Samuel said, smoothly passing off her anger to Brock.

“
I’ll take care of the horses,” Samuel gallantly offered planning his escape.

“
Well at least I can give you a tour of the house,” she grumbled as Brock and Samuel glanced at each other, daring the other to speak. She glared at them both before grabbing Brock’s hand, squeezing it tighter than need be, leading him to the house and leaving Warren to follow with a smile.

The front door opened up into a great room. To the left was a hallway leading to the master and guest bedrooms and the stairs to the upper floor. Taking the time to look around the room for the first time since she arrived, Sabrina became overwhelmed. Her gaze took in the large portrait over the
fireplace; she walked over slowly as if in a trance.

The painting was of the entire family. Looking up into her
parents’ faces for the first time in years brought tears to her eyes. In the picture her parents were young and smiling. The artist had captured every brilliant detail in color, from her mother’s brilliant red locks to her father’s olive complexion and almost black hair. Below them were their three children. Warren and Lydia both redheaded like their mother and Sabrina with her waist-length dark hair right in the middle of everyone.

Sabrina looked at her
three-year-old self in the portrait. She felt Brock wrap his arm around her waist for comfort and gratefully leaned into his side.

“
How?”

“
I had a photograph with me in Boston. I commissioned an artist to paint it from that. I described the colors as best I could remember them.”

“
It’s perfect,” she said with tears running down her cheek. Brock wiped them away in concern.

“
Are you okay, love?”

Sabrina nodded
sniffling. She had put this off long enough.

“Perhaps
I should take over the tour,” Warren said, patting her shoulder as he moved to show them the grand piano he had imported from France crouching in the corner.

The piano reminded Sabrina of Ted Roberts and a chill
crept down her spine as she tried to ignore it. Sabrina loved playing music when she was younger. Ted, drawn to the music, had become obsessed with her and ended up killing her family to keep them from coming between them.

As if reading her
mind, Brock hugged her tighter. This was much harder than she thought it would be. Next came the library which Warren used as his office when he was home. He was an attorney and traveled most of the time with the circuit Court Judge.

The kitchen was next. Brock was astonished by the large wooden counter and cabinets. It had two stoves and a
built-in water pump over the sink.

“
I made a bit of a change,” Warren confessed, opening up a door at the end of the kitchen. Sabrina was awed by the small room Warren had added on next to it. Inside was a porcelain, claw-foot tub large enough for two. Caught up in her daydreams, she barely paid attention as Warren explained to Brock that it was set up to drain outside when the stopper was pulled.

He headed back the way they came to show them the other rooms
downstairs. The large dining room fascinated Brock. Growing up, most of his meals were served sitting on the ground. There were two bedrooms on that level. One was his and the other one he had Alma set up for Brock’s parents. He placed them on the main floor due to Jonathan’s injury. Brock thanked him for being so considerate.

Warren led them
upstairs, pointing out the other rooms and the attic. Sabrina sadly walked around the almost empty room. The attic ran the entire length of the large home and she remembered her and Lydia playing hide-and-seek in its depths. Her eyes burned with unshed tears and she took a deep breath to calm herself. Yes, she was home but it was not the same.

Brock,
sensing her distress, took her hand and lead her back downstairs. They could hear Alma in the kitchen getting ready for supper and she went to join her.

“
Need any help?”

Alma looked up from lighting the fire in the stove.
“I dunno ’bout that. Do you plan on setting the curtains on fire again?”

“No,
ma’am. Actually, Brock has been giving me lessons. He says I’m getting pretty good.”

“
Hmff, men will say anything to get what they want. But you can help by cleaning those chickens,” she said with a knowing look at Sabrina’s belly.

Sabrina looked over to the
sideboard and frowned at the four dead chickens lying on the table, feathers and all. She was thankful Alma had rung their necks; she wasn’t sure if she was up to that task. Nodding to herself for courage, she grasped the first one by the neck and carefully started to pluck out the large tail feathers one by one. A shadow moved next to her and she watched as Alma picked up another one, taking large handfuls of feathers from the wings and working her way down. Sabrina switched her method to match Alma’s and was pleased to see her progress as the tender pinkish skin was revealed.

Alma moved away without a sound and returned to the stove to start the water boiling for dumplings.

A young black woman entered through the back door and nodded somewhat nervously to Sabrina.

“
Just in time,” Alma said welcoming the newcomer. “Jasmine, this is Sabrina. Jasmine lives in town. Warren hired her to help me out with all the company coming.”

Sabrina smiled at her.
“Nice to meet you, Jasmine.”

“
Thank you, Miss Lovett.”

“
Oh no, please call me Sabrina. I couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve been called Miss,” she said with a twinkle in her eye as she thought back to all the years she spent pretending to be a boy.