A Promise to Believe in (24 page)

Hank looked at her for a moment, then glanced back at the doorway to the kitchen. “Here? Now?”

She nodded. “What better time?”

Dave Shepard stared at the ceiling of his bedroom. He knew he should get up and start his day, but for the life of him, he felt unable to even move from the bed. His mind pored over memories of the night and day before. He’d acted like a fool in the barn. When he’d seen Lacy out there working to put the horses away, he’d never intended to upset her.

He’d heard threats against her and knew that her interference with the local ranchers and their workers was not boding well for her. Dave only wanted to keep her safe. He cared about her—more than he liked to admit.

Why couldn’t he like Beth instead? Beth was sweet and seemed to enjoy being a lady. Lacy was something entirely different.

He shook his head and closed his eyes. Lacy was different, all right. Beth was pleasant and appreciated his company, but Lacy hated him and thought he didn’t care about her father’s death. She thought he was lazy. But nothing could be further from the truth. He didn’t want her to get hurt.

“Lord,” he prayed, “I don’t know what you have in mind for me where Lacy Gallatin is concerned, but I could sure use a little help.”

He thought of the kiss he’d given her. He never should have touched her. It only served to ignite a fire in him that he knew was impossible to control on his own. Dave already found himself thinking about her every day, but now she would haunt his nights. He could only plead with God for the strength to fight his emotions.

When he’d seen her in the fire, so close to the flames, Dave had panicked. He’d taken hold of her and pulled her from the desk. The urge to hold her and ensure her safety had been overwhelming, but he’d fought it. He couldn’t bear the thought of anything bad happening to her.

But I can’t always be there to protect her,
he thought with a heavy sigh.

Lacy Gallatin was trouble. There was no way around that. If she didn’t end up getting herself killed, she might very well end up hurting someone else. Either way, it wasn’t something Dave wanted to see happen.

Knowing that sleep was a lost effort, Dave opened his eyes and decided to face the day. He heard Lacy’s voice in the hall and smiled. She was arguing with Gwen about something.

She’s always arguing with somebody about something,
he thought, throwing back the covers with a smile.
I might as well get in on it.
After all, facing Lacy and her arguments was still better than not getting to be with her at all.

Beth got a fire going in the stove. She was glad she’d laid it all out the night before. The wood caught quickly and crackled and flamed to life. It wouldn’t be long now before the stove would be hot, and she could get breakfast going. The morning was cold, but nothing like the winter dawns when they’d have to unthaw the bread and water before they could even start the meal.

She couldn’t help but wonder when Gwen and Lacy might return. They should have been back the day before, but she figured the storm slowed them—maybe even stopped their progress altogether. No doubt they’d be along shortly. She hoped they’d found what Mr. Bishop was looking for. She’d be glad when he left them and returned to the East. He was a thorn in her sister’s side, and she didn’t appreciate the torment he’d caused them all.

Taking up a bucket, Beth traipsed down to the hot springs. The warmth of steam coming off the springs felt good. It smelled of minerals—not all that pleasant, but she’d grown accustomed to it. She shivered at the brisk chill of the morning air as she made her way back to the house. It was nearly enough to send her back for a long, hot soak in the pool. And she might very well have chosen such an early-morning respite had it not been for the pounding she heard on the front door as she came back into the kitchen.

Beth put the water aside and quickly went to see who might be arriving at Gallatin House at such an hour. She opened the door to find an entire congregation of men standing on her porch.

“Hello, ma’am,” the man nearest the door announced. “I’m Adrian Murphy, and these are my men. We’re with the railroad.” He was tall and ruggedly handsome. Beth immediately thought of the many romances she’d read. He looked like the perfect hero.

She forced her mind back to his comment. “The railroad? There isn’t a railroad around these parts.”

“There will be soon,” the man countered with a twinkle in his eyes and a broad grin, “if we can figure out the best route to lay track. But unless we can get a decent meal, I fear that might never happen. Some of my men are ready to mutiny unless I see them properly fed. We heard about the roadhouse and thought we’d give you a try . . . well, give
it
a try.” He smiled boldly, as if he wasn’t at all sorry for the blunder.

Beth laughed and felt her knees grow weak. My, but he was a charmer! “Well, I suppose we can see to that. I’d hate to stand in the way of the railroad coming through.” The men chuckled at this as she stepped back. “You might as well come in and make yourselves comfortable. It will be at least a half hour before we can eat.”

She watched the men as they came into the house. She counted twelve as they filed past. They took off their hats and gave her the briefest nod, some even commenting on her generosity. Oh, but she wished Gwen and Lacy were back.

“Meals are two bits apiece,” she told them. “I haven’t gotten the fireplace lit yet, but I’ll get around to it now.”

“You just go on ahead, ma’am,” Adrian insisted. “We can get the fire going, and two bits for a home-cooked meal sounds like a bargain, by my account.”

Beth nodded. “Very well. Thank you. I’ll see to breakfast. I hope ham and potatoes will suit you. We’re nearly out of beef, and I haven’t yet gathered the eggs. If there are enough, I’ll fix those, as well.”

“Sounds like a feast,” Adrian assured. “After living off beans and hardtack, I can guarantee you’ll get no complaints from us.” He winked and smiled at Beth, adding, “Especially when the cook is so pretty.”

She felt her cheeks flush as she looked away. He certainly knew how to endear himself to a gal. Beth found herself humming all the way out to the chicken coop. It was just like one of the novels she’d read. A stranger came into town and swept the heroine off her feet with one single smile.

Beth giggled, and the hens looked at her strangely as she began to gather the eggs. “I know I’m silly,” she told them, “but one can never dismiss the possibilities that true love can show up on your doorstep when you least expect it.”

Several of the hens clucked at this, as if chiding her for her girlish ideals. Beth refused to be moved, however, and merely lifted her chin in defiance. “What do you know about it? You’re just chickens.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Major Worthington came bounding out to meet them as Hank, Gwen, and Lacy rode toward Gallatin House. The dog barked in greeting and wagged his tail to show his approval of their arrival.

“He’s sure happy to see you,” Gwen commented. She dismounted and reached up to the horn to take down a large basket of eggs. It hadn’t been easy to keep them from jostling around, but she thought they’d made the journey in no worse condition than when they’d started.

Hank stepped from his black and reached down to pet Major. “How are you, boy?”

The dog barked again, and Gwen laughed. “I believe he’s telling you that he’s fine.”

“I’ll take the horses to the Lassiters,” Lacy offered. She remained atop her mount and waited for Hank and Gwen to bring her their reins.

Gwen noted noise coming from the house. “Sounds like a party going on, but I can’t imagine what it is at this hour.” She looked around. “There isn’t a stage.”

“Maybe it’s just a few travelers on their own,” Lacy said, glancing at the house. “I’ll turn the animals over to Nick and get back here to help. Beth’s probably beside herself.”

“Is there something I can do?” Hank asked Gwen as Lacy led the horses away.

“I don’t know. There very well might be. I suppose we’ll know better after we go inside.” She hurried to the front door and opened it, only to have the cat streak through.

“I guess he doesn’t much like the noise,” Hank suggested.

“Calvin hates for his sleep to be disrupted.”

Hank chuckled. “I know the feeling. Kind of like being awakened in the night due to the house being on fire.”

Gwen put her hand to her throat. “I’m already mortified by what happened. You needn’t tease me.”

“It was an accident,” Hank said with a smile. “The Shepards know that, and the damage was minimal. Make them a nice pie, and they’ll forget it ever happened.”

Gwen relaxed. “I would, but Patience already makes the best pies in the county.”

Inside the house, Gwen could see that Beth had her hands full. There were men everywhere. There must have been at least a dozen.

“Beth?” Gwen maneuvered through the gathering as best she could. Making her way to the kitchen, she saw Beth moving with lightning speed. “Tell me what we can do. I have a basket of eggs, if that will help.”

Her sister looked up and an expression of relief passed over her face. “They all want breakfast. I’ve been working at it for about half an hour, but I feel like I’m not making any headway. The ham is heating in the oven and the potatoes are done, but I haven’t begun to work on the eggs or any oatmeal.”

“That’s probably for the best—at least where the oatmeal is concerned,” Hank said with a grin. “Gallatin House oatmeal leaves a great deal to be desired.”

Beth shook her head. “Don’t start in on that. I don’t have time to so much as sass you for such comments.”

Gwen nodded. “Hank, please go fetch some water and more wood. You’ll find the cart at the back of the house, and the hot springs run free, just beyond the pool. Woodpile and chopping block are between the outhouses and shed.”

“No problem,” Hank replied. He took off his coat and tossed it on a peg by the back door.

Beth looked at Gwen quizzically. “So you’re calling him Hank now?”

Gwen laughed. “We just spent a good deal of time on the trail together, and I very nearly got him killed last night after I set fire to the Shepard place.”

Beth nearly dropped a bowl of biscuit dough. “What?”

“It’s a long story,” Gwen said, pulling on an apron. “Suffice it to say, I knocked over a candle, and Lacy’s quick thinking saved the day. Look, I’ll get to scrambling up some eggs. Get the ham out of the oven and get those drop biscuits in. Then slice up the ham.”

Lacy arrived at that moment. The men seemed more than a little bit interested in the youngest Gallatin girl, and some even followed her partway into the kitchen.

“I haven’t got time for you boys just now,” Lacy told them. “Not if you want to eat.”

“I can’t believe we’re getting breakfast with three beautiful women,” one of the men declared. “I ain’t seen nothin’ but these miserable mutts for weeks.”

The other men laughed and agreed that the girls were a wonderful change of scenery. Gwen gazed toward the ceiling. They were always getting comments from their male customers, and quite often, proposals of marriage soon followed.

Getting to the tasks at hand, the three sisters worked in perfect unison. They knew what was needed to make order out of chaos, and it wasn’t long before the trestle tables were set with dishes and food.