Chase (Prairie Grooms, Book Four) (8 page)

“
Go to the hotel and tell Constance and Eloise they've found Cutty.” Sadie told her. “I'm sure they'll want to see him.”

“
I don't understand,” said Apple. “If this is the man that saved everyone from the fire, then what is he doing way out on the prairie?”

“
That's something we'd all like to know,” said Sadie. “Hurry along now, and I’ll join you as soon as I can.” With that, she quickly headed across the street to Doc Waller's.

“
I say,” said Imogene. “But I shan’t ever get used to these Americans and their ways. Why would anyone save a bunch of women from a fire and then run off like a common criminal?”

“
Obviously, we don't know everything,” said Fina. “And neither do the others, or
they
would know.”

“
What a wonderful mystery,” commented Lena. “It would make a lovely play.”

“
Still your tongues, ladies,” said Imogene. “From the sounds of it, the poor man they're bringing in is half-dead already.”

“We meant no disrespect, cousin,” s
aid Lena.

“
Do remember not to make light of such things from now on,” said Imogene. “The people here will think you care nothing at all about them.”

“
But we do care, cousin,” said Apple. “It's just that… none of us have ever dealt with death before other than father and uncle Leonard. Oh, and we mustn't forget cousin Charles…”

“I should say not
,” huffed Imogene. “Let's go find Constance and Eloise, and tell them what happened.” The four set off down the street, Imogene in the lead, the others following like ducklings after their mother. When they reach the hotel they entered, and gasped in astonishment. They'd admired the outside only briefly before entering and though the building's exterior was exquisite, none of them were prepared for the lavishness of the interior.

“
Can we live here?” asked Apple.

“
It's beautiful,” breathed Fina. Why ever is it here?”

“T
he owner must be an idiot,” said Imogene. “It's the only explanation.”

“Idiot
or not, cousin,” said Lena. “You have to admit, the man has taste.”

“
I still say he's an idiot. Building extravagance such as this in a town with no one in it!”

Lena ignored her and walked to the front counter. Since no one was about, she rang the bell. The women waited a few moments and then heard footsteps descending the stairs. They looked up. “Eloise!” cried Lena.

Eloise stopped in the middle of the staircase and stared at them. “Lena? Apple? Fina!” She hurried down the rest of the stairs and grabbed the nearest cousin. “Fina! I'm so happy to see you! To see you all!”

Imogene stepped into their midst
. “So you’re Eloise? Why, I've not seen you since you were in your nappies.”

Eloise studied the older woman, her
eyes narrowed in concentration. “Cousin Imogene? Why, I thought you'd retired to India.”

“Obviously not,” stated Imogene.

“What ever are you doing here?” asked Eloise.

“Someone had to see
to the girl’s safety and make sure they weren’t accosted on their journey here.”

“
You
accompanied them, by yourself?” asked Eloise in disbelief. “Surely someone else came with you?”

“Girl!” said Imogene in a huff
. “Any woman capable of bringing down a tiger is also perfectly capable of bringing down a man.”

Eloise's brows rose in astonishment. She looked Imogene over a second time. “You mean… you really
did
bag that tiger?”

“
And I have the rug to prove it!” Imogene said with a victorious nod of her head.

Lena pu
lled Eloise into a hearty embrace. “It's so good to see you cousin. We missed you after you left.”

“I don’t
see how,” said Eloise. “We rarely saw each other when we were but miles apart.”

“
It's amazing what a few extra miles will do,” said Apple. “The more miles there are, the more you seem to miss someone.”

Eloise
smiled at her, then looked up the stairs. “Wait right here, I'll go get Constance.” She turned and hurried back the way she came.

“
I say,” said Fina. “But cousin Eloise certainly moves fast, doesn't she?”

“
She certainly does,” said Lena. “In time, I'm sure we’ll be moving just as quickly.”

“
I hope not,” said Apple. “I might miss something if I'm moving about so fast.”

Imog
ene ignored her and sighed. “I could do with a spot of tea.”

“
As could we all,” agreed Fina. “Where do you think we can get some?”

“T
hrough those double doors,” said a male voice.

The ladies turned. Chase Adams stood in the doorway of the hotel. “Mr. Adams,” whispered Lena.

He tipped his hat then took it off. “Just go through those doors and have a seat at one of the tables. I'll let Mrs. Upton know you're here. She'll have your tea fixed in no time.”

“
Won't you join us, Mr. Adams?” asked Lena.

Imogene gasped. “Young ladies do not invite young men to tea in such a direct manner!”

“
Oh stop,” said Lena. We’re not in England anymore. Besides, Colin told me yesterday that the men in this town enjoy a spot of tea. Isn't that true Mr. Adams?”

“
It sure is,” he said. “Round about four o'clock a lot of the men come to the hotel and have tea. Gives Mrs. Upton an excuse to bake.”

“They’re
bringing a body back to town!” Apple suddenly blurted.

H
is smile vanished. “What? Someone else got shot?”

“
No,” said Lena as she touched his arm. The action was automatic. She quickly pulled her hand away, embarrassed. “He's not dead, but he's gone too long without water and is badly burned.”

“
Burned?” said Chase, his face serious. “I better go see if I can help. Who told you they were bringing him in?”

“
Someone named Henry,” offered Fina.

“Henry Fig
,” said Chase.

“
Harrison took the wagon out to meet them and help bring the man into town,” added Apple.

“
Sadie has gone to the doctor’s house to let him know,” added Lena.

Chase's eyes darted between the women.
“Maybe I’d best go down to Doc Waller's place and see if he needs anything.”

“
I'll go with you,” said Lena.

“
Lena!” Imogene huffed. “You'll do no such thing!”

He
is
her betrothed,” Apple pointed out. “Why can't she go with him?”

“
Because they wouldn't be properly chaperoned,” argued Imogene.

“
I'll go with them,” said Apple with a smile.

“
I can go too,” said Fina.

“
You'll do nothing of the kind,” snapped Imogene. “Apple may go, you can stay here with me until they come back.”

Lena couldn't believe her luck, and tried not to stare at Imogene. Maybe she was loosening up? “We shan’t be long,” she told her.

Imogene gave Chase a
piercing glare. “See that you aren't.” With that, she turned on her heel and headed for the tearoom.

* * *

Chase walked down the boardwalk with Lena on one side, her sister Apple right behind them. It was all he could do to keep from staring, worse yet outright gawking at the woman next to him. Her dark auburn curls, those not tucked up under her bonnet, glistened in the sun, her skin appeared creamier than the day before, her dark eyes rimmed with long, lush lashes.

So, this was his betrothed, his future bride, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. If he'd been thinking, he'd have offered her his arm back at the hotel. But when he heard Apple say he was her betrothed, his mind stopped, as did his breathing. It was all he could do to keep from looking her up and down like some prized mare that a lowly blacksmith such as himself could never afford. “I hope you don't find this upsetting, Miss Sayer,” he said. “This isn't what usually happens around here, just so you know.”

“I should hope not. Bodies and wounded men, indeed”
she said gazing at him as they walked.

“
Do you have to sleep with your gun?” asked Apple, her voice full of curiosity.

“
I sleep with it by my bedside,” he told her.

Apple hurried ahead of them,
turned and began walking backwards in order to face him. “Perhaps I should get a gun.”

“
Apple! Watch where you're going!” scolded Lena. “You’ll bump into someone.”

Chase chuckled as she did what she was told, and turned. “Lena never lets me have any fun,” complained Apple. “I see no reason why a woman can't shoot a gun.”

“
Ladies do not shoot guns,” said Lena.

‘Cozette
Cooke shoots a gun,” said Chase. “She's pretty good with a bow and arrow too, I hear.”

“
Are you speaking of the new Duchess of Stantham?” asked Lena.

“
Sure enough am,” he said. “I’ve seen her use a gun, but not a bow and arrow. I can tell you one thing, though. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of either one!”

“
We met her on several occasions, but had no idea she had such talent for weaponry,” said Lena.

“Well,
ladies, when you live out here, it never hurts to learn,” said Chase as he stepped up onto the Waller's front porch. Lena made no comment as he knocked on the front door

G
randma answered. “Chase Adams, what brings you here? The posse back?”

“No G
randma, I just thought I’d come see if there’s anything I can help you with. They’re bringing the injured man in, and should be here any time.”

Grandma looked past him at
Lena and Apple, and cocked her head. “Are they here to play nursemaid?”

Chase glanced as his walking companions. “No, ma'am. They just decided to accompany me here. You don't mind, do ya?”

“N
o,” said Grandma. “I don't mind, come on in. Make yourselves at home.” She opened the door to let them in. Not bothering to wait, she headed down the hall toward the kitchen. “I’ll be right back, just wait in the parlor,” she called over her shoulder.

“
I wonder where Sadie is?” asked Lena. She looked at Chase as he ushered them into the parlor and motioned them to each take a chair. “Probably in the back where they keep the patient room,” he said. “I'm wondering where Doc Drake and his wife Elsie are.”

“I do hope no one else is
injured,” said Lena.

Chase looked
at her. “I think we all do, ma'am.”

“
Oh, please, must you call me that?” asked Lena.

“
Call you what, ma'am?”

“
That
,” she said. “Ma'am. We don't use the term in England. I'd don't think I shall answer it.”

“
Around here, that's how one addresses a lady,” said Chase. “Would you rather I call you, Miss Sayer?”

“
Oh, just call her Lena,” interjected Apple with a wave of her hand. “You're getting married, so why not call each other by your first names?”

“
Apple!” said Lena, her voice terse. “What has gotten into you lately?”

“
Well, as I see it, there are far more of them than there are of us, so it only makes sense that it would be much easier to act like them, than for all of
them
to begin acting like us. Does that make sense?”

Lena raised a hand to her temple and began to rub it. “Do forgive my sister, Mr. Adams. For she knows not what she's says.”

Chase laughed, unable to help himself. She does have a point, and I have to say, I agree with her.

Le
na looked at him, aghast. “You do? But it's so improper to be calling each other by our first names.”

“Not if we’re gonna
be married in a few days.”

“
A few days? Oh dear, that will never do.”

Chase’s brows rose in confusion. “Why not? Isn’t that what mail-order brides do when they come to town, get married?”

“
I realize that, of course, but…” she gave him an imploring look. “I was hoping to get to know you a little better first.”

His face softened in understanding. “If that's want you want, I'm agreeable.” He studied her a moment and caught the slight flicker of fear in her eyes. “If we were in England,” he began. “And I was one of your gentlemen callers, how long would we court before we were married?”