Unconquerable Callie (22 page)

Callie barely made it back to the privacy of her wagon before, like spring run-off, the tears broke and streamed down her face. She crawled inside the wagon and threw herself onto her sleeping mat. Burying her face, she sobbed long and hard into the heavy quilt.

She had never known such grief. And mingled within that grief was the aching knowledge she only had herself to blame for the loss of Seth and Phyllis. She’d prepared herself to eventually lose them. But she hadn’t prepared herself for not being able to say goodbye.

Unsteadily, she got to her feet and went outside to wash her face. Eyes red from crying, she was glad Caleb was with his parents and no one would see her. Why the Monroe’s had ridden ahead with Seth, Callie could not even guess. Another mystery. Another something she would never know. She gave herself a mental shake. She had a letter to write. A long letter of explanation to a man she loved but had deceived.

After delivering the letter to a scowling Henry, Callie hitched the oxen to her wagon, tied her horse to the back, and for the first time in months, left the protection of the wagon circle. She told no one goodbye. She offered no explanations. She had written three letters: one for Seth, one for Phyllis, and one for Henry Henry. She’d told him the letter was a surprise but he couldn’t open it until tomorrow at noon break. He’d reluctantly agreed, saying he’d wait until then to find someone to read it to him. The letter would tell him she was staying in South Pass City and not to look for her to catch up with the wagon train. She told him that had been her intention all along, but didn’t explain further. Callie ended by reminding him to give the thicker letter to Seth the second he saw him.

If it weren’t for the pain in her heart, she would be happy. South Pass City was all she had dreamed it would be. With the discovery of gold in Sweetwater Creek, and the gold in Carissa mine, prospectors and miners arrived daily. Men were hungry for the taste of home they’d left behind. Men would push and shove to get their hands on anything home-baked.

For the first few days, Callie listlessly wandered around the town. She boarded her horse at the livery stable and the oxen at a pen in the back, leaving word that they were for sale. The owner said he’d do his best.

It was nothing but luck that she stopped in for lunch at a newly built building sporting the sign, ‘Jesse’s Eating Emporium.’ Jesse was lonely for a woman’s company and was delighted to visit with someone of like mind. Laughingly, she told Callie how she had been given a boy’s name by a father disappointed in yet another girl. Before the sun set, she and Callie had become well acquainted, and had come to an agreement. For the use of Jesse’s kitchen, after the eatery had closed, Callie would supply Jesse with desserts to be served with every dinner. It was a winning proposition for both women. Callie had her kitchen and Jesse had more customers than she could handle.

Still, it wasn’t her own place and Callie continued looking. Following a lead from the blacksmith, Callie found and bought the perfect piece of land. She’d start building her bakery come spring. Tomorrow she’d take a trip to the sawmill north of town and place an order.

It had been a week since the wagon train had pulled out, and she’d cried herself to sleep every night. But today, with the deed to her land safely put away, and her order for lumber placed at the busy mill, she vowed to not cry again. She vowed to make the most of this life she’d chosen. She’d paid dearly for it.

Already in one week, she’d accomplished more than she’d ever imagined. And she’d made a friend. Never would there be another friend like Phyllis, but Jesse would, in time, hopefully come close.

Callie tried not to think of Seth. By now he would have read her letter. By now, he would loathe her. The joy in owning her own business would be forever dimmed. The light he’d brought into her heart was gone.

She had been baking since early that morning. She and Jesse had reworked their original plan. Callie’s baking had been such a success and moneymaker for both women that they decided to share the kitchen space throughout the day. The stove was kept hot with cooking and baking. Callie set her baked goods out on a large table, and was kept busy replenishing the supply. It was backbreaking work, but immensely satisfying.

The dinner rush over, she would have the kitchen to herself for the next few hours. Jesse had gone to her room at the hotel. Callie baked and sold her goods to the miners and prospectors that were drawn by word of mouth, and the tantalizing smells, to the business that seemed to never close.

She had her back to the door, her hands immersed in bread dough, flour up to her elbows, when she heard the door open and softly close.

“Help yourself, and put the money in the jar. I trust you.” She didn’t turn around, having done business this way before.

“Do you have any sugar cookies?” the man asked in a quiet drawl.

Callie froze. Her heart chilled in her chest. “I-I don’t bake sugar cookies. I won’t sell them.”

“That’s a shame. I used to get them for free. They’re my favorite.”

Callie felt the room swim. She closed her eyes and willed herself to breathe. It wasn’t. It couldn’t be. Surely she wasn’t dreaming. Fearfully, she turned around.

When she saw Seth standing there, the room tilted and her legs lost their strength.

“Easy there, honey.” And with one quick step, she was in his arms.

She wasn’t dreaming. Seth’s strong arms were around her, holding her up. She smelled his familiar scent of horses, leather, and the outdoors.

Seth.
It was Seth. How or why didn’t matter. Tears streamed down her cheeks and sobs wracked her body.

“Hey now. Is that any way to greet a customer? All I did was ask for sugar cookies.”

Callie gazed up into the preciously familiar twinkle. His blue eyes sparkled.

“I . . .” She swallowed a sob, then tried again. “I won’t make sugar cookies. Someone I once knew loved them. I did a terrible thing and lost his friendship. I’ll never make sugar cookies again.”

Seth’s arms tightened around her, oblivious to her dough-covered hands and the flour creasing his shirt.

“I read your letter.” Seth spoke the damning words softly.

Callie stiffened. “I know you must hate me. I’m so sorry I lied. If it’s any consolation, I’ve paid for every lie I told. Oh, Seth, I wanted to tell you. Several times I almost did, but I couldn’t bear to have you hate me. I promised myself I’d tell you when we reached South Pass City, and then you were gone and I never . . .” Her voice caught. “I never got to even tell you goodbye. I lost you and Phyllis because of my—”

“Hush.” He gently sat her on a chair and, crossing the room, turned the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Closed,’ and locked the door.

He knelt down in front of her. “Like I said, I read your letter.” He put his finger against her lips, stopping her next words. “My turn, Callie. I think I always knew something wasn’t quite right. How any man could let his loved one face such dangers alone was beyond my power of reasoning. You have no idea how much I’ve hated”—he grinned—“that fiancé of yours. You also have no idea how much I love you.”

Callie’s eyes widened. Surely she hadn’t heard him right. Her mouth opened, only to be silenced by Seth’s mouth on hers. His kiss, gentle and sweet.

“Shh. I’m not finished. That letter made me the happiest man in the world. Finally I was free to love you.”

“But,” she broke in, “I lied. I—I deceived you. How?” She stumbled over the questions whirling in her mind. “And-and you’re here. The wagon train?”

“I turned the train over to Henry Henry. He’ll make a good captain. He knows the way and the people trust him. I wasn’t about to wait months before finding you. Yes, you lied, but maybe I’d of done the same if I was in your shoes, or boots,” he added, the twinkle back in his eye. “You were pursuing a dream the only way you knew how. But,” he admonished, “there’ll be no more lies between us, Callie, love.”

Callie’s hand went to her mouth and again tears filled her eyes. “I don’t understand. Your final destination was Oregon City. You were going to make this your last wagon train before you settled.”

“That’s right. Before I settled. I don’t think I ever mentioned where I’d be settling.”

Callie shook her head. “There was talk of you having land somewhere.”

“I do. I own a beautiful valley north of here, where the grass grows waist high, and the Sweetwater Creek keeps it green. I, uh, I also own the sawmill. The same sawmill where a Miss Callie Collins placed a rather large order for building material. A bakery, I believe.” A smile quivered at the side of his mouth. He held her hands tight in his large ones, his eyes never leaving her face.

“Oh, Seth. I’ve been so stupid. I gave up you and Phyllis for a dream. I never got to tell her goodbye, either.”

“Well, I think we can fix that. She’s waiting over at the hotel. Jacob, Caleb, and Phyllis want to share their news with you.”

“The baby? But I already—”

“Not just the baby,” he interjected. “When Jacob finally was told he was about to become a father to a baby girl, he decided then and there Phyllis wouldn’t travel any farther. I told them of my place and of open land nearby. One look was all it took for all of them to decide to put down roots here.”

Callie shook her head. Phyllis here? In the hotel? She, Jacob, and Caleb settling close by, where she could see them? See the baby? It was too much to take in all at once.

Weakly, she said, “How wonderful. Phyllis and you both nearby.” Her voice trailed off. It was wonderful. But . . .

Seth reached out and tilted her face. “Callie, I won’t be nearby.”

“You won’t?” Fear laced her words. She’d just found him. How could she bear losing him again?

“No. You’re not listening, honey, or else I’m saying it poorly.” He took a deep breath. “Callie, I love you. I think I loved you from the minute you talked your way onto my wagon train.”

Callie flushed. Then what he had just said slowly took root in her mind and shot up to blossom.

“Seth.” Her whisper was laced with disbelief. “You love me? After what I’ve done? After what I’ve said?”

“Yep. I love you and I don’t intend to live nearby you. I intend to live
with
you. Callie, will you marry me? I need a woman of unconquerable courage to help me build a ranch, help me raise a family, help me overcome all odds and hardships in this beautiful territory. I need you. I know you’ve got your heart set on your bakery. We’ll work something out. I won’t ask you to give up your dream. Don’t you see? We’ll make a home and fill it with love. Phyllis will be within a day’s ride. She needs you, too. That baby girl needs her Aunt Callie.”

The darkness miraculously disappeared from her heart, the pain gone as joy bubbled up inside of her. Unbelievable joy. Indescribable joy. Seth loved her. The words sang. He wanted to marry her. He forgave her. Her thoughts flashed like lightning in a storm. A home of her own. A friend nearby. A dream to fulfill. Tears streamed down her face, but these were tears of joy. She felt like laughing, singing, dancing. But instead, she got to her feet and yanked Seth to her.

“Yes,” she cried, her face mirroring her happiness. “Yes. Yes. Yes. But I won’t be giving up my dream. Because this time, my dream will include the man I love, the home he’s offered me, and the life we’ll have together. Oh, Seth. The bakery was a good dream, but it was an empty one without you. As rewarding as the bakery has been, it nowhere near measures up to the pleasure I got baking you those darn sugar cookies. The bakery will be someone else’s dream. I’ll do my baking from now on for my wonderful husband and my someday family.” She blushed prettily. “I can’t believe you love me. You truly do?”

“Yep,” he grinned. “I truly do. I love you, Callie Collins.” He lowered his voice. “You’re my determined, my mischievous, my fearless, one true love. My unconquerable Callie.”