A Dream to Call My Own (6 page)

“Partner?” Cubby looked at his father. “What about Wyman?”

“Wyman’s hired help, nothing more,” Rafe declared. “Jefferson is a visionary.”

“What’s that?” Cubby asked.

Rafe laughed and eyed Mulholland with great interest. “The means to a better life.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

As the first week of February slipped away, Dave Shepard’s proposal seemed more like a dream than a reality. Whenever Lacy would think back on her time at the Shepard ranch, she wondered if she’d somehow made more of the situation than it merited. Maybe Dave wasn’t serious at all. Maybe the passion of the moment had caused him to speak first and think later, and now he regretted having asked her to marry him.

Lacy thought it was entirely possible. After all, she had responded out of the intensity of the moment. Why couldn’t Dave have done likewise? She was just starting to relax a bit when Dave brought up the topic at breakfast one morning. The fact that he lived in the Gallatin House addition put him at their table for almost every meal, much to her chagrin.

“I’m sure by now Lacy has told you our news,” Dave announced.

Gwen nodded. “We were very happy to hear of your engagement.”

Lacy focused her attention on the last of her pancakes. So much for thinking she’d made too much of the situation. Still, how dare he bring this matter up now—without having discussed it with her first? She pushed the food around and waited for someone to speak further on the matter.

Nick slapped Dave on the back. “Yes, I wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if I was allowed to.”

Dave laughed. “Usually this family is no good at keeping secrets, but it seemed like this issue was being tiptoed around, so I thought I’d just throw it out on the table.”

“I’m glad you did,” Gwen said. She picked up the coffee pot. “Anyone need a refill?”

Dave and Hank held out their cups while Lacy wanted to crawl under the table. She still hadn’t come to terms with how to deal with her engagement to Dave.

“So, Lacy, have you set a date?” Beth asked.

Lacy wanted to kick her sister under the table. She looked up reluctantly and shook her head. “No, there have been far too many other things to focus on.”

“Truly?” Gwen asked. “Such as?”

Lacy silently wished she could find the laudanum Hank had taken away and dose them all. “Well, we . . . we . . . have to decide about the land and where we’re going to live.” It was as good an excuse as any.

“I suppose that does merit consideration,” Hank said. He cut a piece of sausage in two and ate in silence.

“It’s very important to know such things,” Lacy said, believing it was better to push on with the conversation than to let anyone else bring it back to setting a date. “Have we heard any more about the railroad land that Adrian said would be offered?”

“Not a word,” Hank said. “I do have plans to get on it, however. I was thinking when Dave rode over to Bozeman, I just might join him. Maybe you could watch the store for me, Lacy.”

She nodded in a most enthusiastic manner. “I’m sure I could. There haven’t been any problems in the area for some time. When I was picking up cheese from Rachel the other day, she credited it to the fact that Dave is now in the area all the time.” She wanted to kick herself. There would be no getting Dave to leave with comments like that.

Beth spread butter on a muffin. “I’m sure Dave’s presence has a great deal to do with it. Sometimes just having a representative of the law reminds folks to keep order. With the highwaymen knowing that Dave is out there, tracking their every move, they are bound to be less inclined to attempt robberies.”

“Not to mention that it’s been minus twenty degrees a good portion of the winter,” Dave said with a chuckle.

Nick and Hank laughed, too. “Nah,” Hank said, shaking his head, “they’re scared of you, Dave.”

“If you and Dave are heading to Bozeman, maybe Lacy should go, too,” Gwen suggested. “She needs to pick out material for her wedding dress.”

Lacy nearly choked on her pancake. Just when she had begun to think the conversation might steer away from her and Dave, Gwen found a way to bring it front and center.

“She’s welcome to come along,” Hank said. “I could probably get Cubby to watch the store. We could take the wagon and pick up anything else that’s needed.”

Lacy shook her head vehemently. “I figured I’d just have Hank order in some material when the time came.”

“Well, the time has come,” Beth said in a teasing voice. “You don’t want to let this get away from you. We should get the gown started right away. After all, I’ll be having the baby in June and—”

“I don’t imagine Dave intends to wait that long to tie the knot,” Nick interjected.

Lacy pushed back from the table in frustration. “Just stop. We haven’t set a date, and frankly, I don’t even know what kind of dress I want. I do know that I wish you would all stop trying to plan out my life.”

She left everyone gape-mouthed at the table and hurried into the kitchen. Grabbing her coat and hat, Lacy decided some fresh air would do her good. Chopping wood had always been an effective way to spend her anger.

Pulling on her gloves, Lacy drew a deep breath and let it out again. She picked up the axe and went to work as if it were her personal job to provide firewood for the entire valley. After splitting about ten logs, she was startled to look up and find Cubby watching her.

“What do you want?”

“You looked pretty upset. I thought maybe you’d want to talk,” he offered.

“Talking won’t fix anything.”

“Why not?”

She put the axe down and only then realized she’d worked herself into a sweat. She wiped her forehead and looked back at Cubby. “Talking got me into this mess to begin with. I’m tired of people trying to make me see and do things their way.”

“I feel the same way. Pa’s always trying to tell me what to do and what’s best for my future. Like he’s set a good example himself.”

“Exactly!” Lacy’s eyes were bright. “You are exactly right. People who can’t figure out their own messes shouldn’t be dictating to others how they can solve theirs. Sometimes I think I should just leave.”

“Funny you should say that, Lacy. I’ve been thinkin’ the same thing. I am sixteen now, you know.”

“I remember.”

He grinned. “I figured you would. Anyway, I’ve been ponderin’ the idea of making my own way. You could come with me.”

“Well . . . things are complicated right now,” Lacy said.

Cubby closed the distance between them and took hold of Lacy’s gloved hand. “I’d take good care of you. We could go anywhere you wanted to go.”

Pulling her hand from his, Lacy shook her head. “It isn’t that simple, Cubby.”

“Call me Quennell. Cubby sounds like a boy’s name. I’m a man now, and I want folks to respect me.”

“But I like Cubby. Cubby sounds friendly and comfortable. Still, if you really aren’t happy with it, I suppose I can learn to call you Quennell.”

The young man pushed back his dirty blond hair and smiled. “You can call me Cubby if it’s that important.”

“It isn’t that.” She heaved a sigh. “I really can’t explain. I should probably just gather some of this wood and get back to my chores.”

“I hate seeing you sad, Lacy. I know things are hard, but I want to take you away from here. I want to get us a place of our own. I want to marry you.”

Lacy couldn’t keep from rolling her eyes. “So you’re just one more person who wants to dictate my life to me.”

“No, it’s not that. I love you. I care about you.”

“So does everyone else, apparently. And because of that, they believe they have the right to impose their will upon me. No, Cubby, I’m not leaving with you, and I’m not marrying you.”

He frowned and then his expression turned hard. “It’s because of Dave Shepard, isn’t it?”

“If it were, it wouldn’t be any of your business.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to face him. “Let me go, Cubby.”

“No. You’re no better than my father’s women. You talk nice to a fella and make him think he’s got a chance, then you go off and allow some other man to take liberties with you. Don’t think I didn’t see you and Dave Shepard that day in the cemetery.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You let him kiss you!”

Lacy knocked his hands away. “What if I did? I’ve never pretended to be anything other than friends with you, Cubby. I told you long ago I’m not interested in marrying you or having anything but friendship between us.”

He slapped her hard across the face, leaving Lacy breathless. The sting against her cold skin sent a burning sensation across her cheek. “How dare you? You’re no better than your father. He treats women like animals, and apparently you’ve learned well. Go home, Cubby. Go home and leave me alone.”

He looked torn between apologizing and hitting her again. Lacy stood her ground and put her hands on her hips. Finally he muttered something she couldn’t make out and turned back for the saloon. Only after he’d gone inside did Lacy allow herself to wince. She put her hand to her face and touched the spot gently.

“I didn’t realize you were out here,” Dave said, coming from the back porch.

After having battled Cubby, Lacy was in no mood to deal with Dave. She bent to pick up firewood. “I’m trying to get my work done.”

“Let me help.”

“No, that’s all right.” She straightened and forced a smile. “I have it.”

“What happened?” Dave asked, eyes narrowing. He reached out and turned her cheek to better view it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Someone hit you. I can see a clear handprint on your face.” His voice lowered. “Lacy, who did this?”

“It’s not important, Dave. It was just a misunderstanding.”

“It looks like more than that. People don’t just go hitting each other and have it be a mere misunderstanding. You’re going to be my wife, and it’s my place to take care of you. I demand you tell me who did this.”

“Everyone seems to be demanding something of me.” She threw the wood down. “Frankly, I’m sick of it. I said it wasn’t important, and it’s not.”

It was nearly the end of February, and the citizens of Gallatin Crossing had been enjoying milder temperatures. After a winter of sub-zero weather, temperatures in the twenties and thirties felt almost balmy.

The nicer weather left everyone more than ready for spring, even though they knew it was still a long way off. Hank figured it was a good time to plan for the future. With Nick and Dave gathered in his office, he shared a letter that had come that day.

“It’s a mixed blessing,” Hank said. “The bad news is that the stage company refuses to renew our yearly contract. The good news? Well, they’ve agreed to keep us on month-by-month until something better comes along.”

“That doesn’t sound all that good,” Nick said, taking a seat opposite Hank. “I need a steady income—now more than ever.”

Hank nodded. “As do I. I tried to point out that the railroad can’t possibly be complete for at least two years, so surely they could at least renew for that long.”

Nick raised a brow. “And?”

“And they wouldn’t budge. Told me they didn’t feel it was in their best interest.”

“Never mind that we’ve been loyal workers, upholding their contracts and schedules,” Nick said bitterly.

“So what do you suggest, Hank?” Dave asked.

Hank reached under his desk and pulled out a rolled-up map. “Adrian Murphy sent this. It’s the rail line plans. He’s marked out a potential town site that would serve the railroad well. It’s just ten miles or so northwest of Bozeman.”

Nick and Dave leaned forward to look at the map as Hank unrolled the paper. “This is the location Adrian told me about.” Hank put his finger on the map. “The railroad will go through Bozeman here. Then it will follow along this line.” Hank drew his finger along a faint marking.

“Where are we currently from that line?” Dave asked.

“Here.” Hank pinpointed the spot south of the planned railroad.

The three men considered the distance between locations. Hank knew they’d be thinking the same thing he was. It would be cheaper to sell out and rebuild than to try to move any of their buildings to the new site.

“It would mean starting from bare ground,” Hank said. He left the map out and took his seat. “I’ve been asking about the land prices. The railroad has a certain easement, as well as land given by the government that they can use as incentives to get people to build towns. I think we can benefit by this quite nicely.”

“But what of our land here?” Nick asked. “I would need to sell it, and I won’t get a very good price for a piece of land alone, since the fire burned all the buildings.”

“We could arrange to build a cabin. With our friends in the area, we could surely put up a small log structure. That would help a little bit.”

Nick nodded. “I suppose it would, at that. Of course, Rafe still wants to buy it.”

Dave frowned. “I can’t find any way to prove his involvement in your fire, but I feel sure he was at the start of it. Someone threw a lit lantern into the hay. It didn’t get there by itself.”

“But why do you think Rafe’s behind it?” Hank asked.

“He’s the one clamoring to buy the land. Nobody else has stepped forward asking for it. Have they?”

“No,” Nick admitted. “Still, he hasn’t been pestering me at all. Seems like he’d be pressing to see the matter resolved if it was important enough to set fire to my barn. I just don’t want to falsely judge him on this.”

“Yes, but on the other hand,” Hank said thoughtfully, “as Dave said, he’s the only one who really stood to gain from it.”

“He couldn’t be sure I’d sell.” Nick shook his head. “Rafe is a selfish man, I’ll give you that, but I can’t believe he’d want to destroy me like that—even risk killing me and my family.”

“Hey, where is everybody?”

Hank recognized Cubby’s voice. “We’re in the office, Cubby. Come on back.”

Cubby bounded into the room, his face clearly showing the excitement his voice betrayed. “Gold!” He was rather breathless. “They found gold on the Gallatin.”

“What? Who found it?” Nick asked.

“Some men . . . my pa. . . .” He panted to regain his breath. “They’re over at the saloon.”

“No one has ever found gold in this area before,” Dave said. “Are you sure it’s not fool’s gold?”

“My pa’s friend Mr. Mulholland knows about such things, and he says it’s gold for sure.”

“This could change everything,” Nick said, looking at Hank. “It might very well mean new life for this town. If there’s a gold rush, the railroad may be willing to build a side line down from the main road. I could rebuild the livery.”