Courting Holly (12 page)

“Yes, but by hunting so often you aren’t doing as well in school. You are forgetting to do your homework. Your teacher, Miss Clark, sent a note home with Riley.”

Calvin slumped in the chair. “I just forgot.”

“Would it please Momma to see you neglecting your studies because you want to go hunting every other day?”

“No, I suppose not.”

“How about if you plan a hunting trip once a month? Maybe Papa can go with you and you can track down some turkey or deer.”

“Do you think Papa would wanna come?”

“Yes, I think he would.”

Calvin shook his head as if unsure. “So I shouldn’t go hunting as much so I can do my schoolwork?”

“See, that’s the smart boy that Momma was so proud of. Yes, I think you should do as good a job with your schoolwork as you do hunting. We both know that’s what Momma would want, don’t we?”

He jumped off his seat. “All right. Can I ask Papa about hunting?”

“Sure, as soon as he gets home.”

Calvin ran out of the room and she heard his feet scurry up the stairs. Riley leaned against the door casing. “You’re good.”

Holly laughed. “And how are you today?”

“Learning something new every day. So, what are you working on?”

“Some Irish lace.”

“Are you half Irish like us or full Irish?”

“My father is Scottish, so I’m that mix.”

“You know, it is kinda strange having you be a half sister not a whole one.”

Holly stretched out her arms and gave herself an exaggerated exam. “I appear to be whole.”

Riley laughed. “You know what I mean.”

“I do, but has it really changed anything? I’m your older sister. I’ve always been your older sister and always will be. So what’s different?”

“Hmm.” Riley pondered for a moment. “I reckon you’re right. Only thing that is different is your last name.”

“Which apparently it always was. We just didn’t know it.”

“Who can explain that?”

“I simply tell people that it made it easier for school and my siblings that I went by the same last name as the rest of the family.”

“Oh, I like that. You know all the kids at school are talkin’ about it. Now I have something to say to ’em.”

“I’ll be the big story until something else comes along.”

“Well, your last name isn’t the big story right now. Now everybody’s talkin’ about you, Bryce and the bandits. Were you scared?”

Chapter 12

“I
t’s been a long three weeks, hasn’t it?”

“Holly!” Bryce dropped the bundle he’d just picked up back in the wagon. “It is so good to see you. It seems like ages, and it has only been two days. How is your family?”

“We’re doing well.” Her green eyes sparkled in the sunlight. He wished he could lift her in his arms from the gig, twirl her around and kiss her soundly on the lips. But there would come a time and a place for that. Today was not that day.

“I thought I’d give you a hand moving back into your own home. I also brought dinner. We just won’t be making it a late night this time.”

Bryce chuckled then grabbed his back and grimaced. “No, I agree, that would not be a good idea.”

“How are you?” She climbed out of the gig.

“Better, much better. I need to keep busy, though. With all the attention I am getting at my parents’ house I shall never regain my strength.”

“I’d like to help if I can. Along with the dinner, I brought some fresh-baked bread.”

“Dinner probably wouldn’t be wise. I would like you to leave with plenty of daylight still in the sky.”

“Agreed. I cannot believe the sheriff hasn’t caught them yet.”

“Nor I.” Bryce grabbed the bundle again and headed for the house.

Holly followed, taking the dinner and his valise. “I’ve been having several conversations with my brothers about Mother’s passing. They are doing much better. I did let my father know that Daniel can hear his late-night prayers.”

“I am certain it was an embarrassment for your father, but I wonder if hearing his prayers has helped Daniel understand his own loss.”

“As well as mine.”

Bryce took the key from his pocket and opened the door. A blast of stale air assaulted him. “I need to open some windows.”

“I’ll be happy to do that while you unload the rest of your stuff. How’d you end up with so many packages?”

“Mother. She has decided I need a few more items to make my house cozier. Truthfully, I am not even going to unpack them. I received word from the Turners that they want to purchase the house.”

“Oh.” Holly sighed.

“Holly...honey, do you want this house?”

“I don’t know. It’s gorgeous, and I could be very comfortable here. But you and I haven’t even started the courtship process. It will be a year before we marry.”

Bryce placed his bundle on the kitchen counter and took her in his arms. “It doesn’t have to be a long engagement. We could marry today if you would like.”

Holly let out a nervous laugh and closed her eyes. “Bryce, I love you, I really do. But today would be too soon. I am no different than all the other girls when it comes to wanting to walk down the aisle in church with all our friends and family in attendance. And when I say ‘all,’ I am including my family from Tennessee. Besides, you haven’t even asked me to marry you.”

Bryce brushed the red locks of hair sweeping across her face behind her ear. “Today is too soon. I am not healthy enough to carry you across the threshold.”

“I am looking forward to that day.”

“Good.” He released his hold and stepped back. “Now that today is settled, how about next week?”

She swatted his arm. “I think we’re talking a few months at the very least. I know I am doing a lot better but I still have some nagging, unsettling questions about the past.”

“Have you talked with your fathers about them?”

“I’ve written a letter to Emmett and I am hoping to hear from him soon. I doubt he’ll be able to help me, but you never know. I haven’t had the heart to mention it to John. Our relationship is better, although it’s not the same since Mother died.”

“Come here.” He pulled her into his chest and held her. He couldn’t give her the answers she sought. He could, however, give her love and comfort and security. He kissed the top of her head and felt her breathing calm. “Holly?”

“Hmm?” she whispered.

“Do you know that I love you?”

She eased back from his embrace and looked into his eyes. “Yes.”

“And do you know without a doubt that you love me, and that this love is forever, to be shared only between you and me?”

“Oh, yes, Bryce, I do, without one doubt. I’m uncertain about when I’ll be able to give you my love completely. There’s still a part of me that is... I was going to say angry, but angry isn’t the right word. Perhaps frustrated better describes what I’m feeling. It’s a much smaller problem than the day I first learned everything, but it is still there.”

He caressed her cheek with his fingers. “Then dear, sweet Holly, I will not kiss you, not yet.”

Holly groaned. “But I want to kiss you.”

“And I, you. But I made a promise to you in the barn and I intend to keep it. We will continue to pray and trust the Lord to remove the barrier first.”

Holly stepped back and turned away from him. He knew it wasn’t rejection, yet a near-physical pain seared his heart. Every impulse urged him to swoop her into his arms and chase away her fears and frustrations with a kiss. But Holly needed him to honor his word. He needed to honor his word. She deserved a clean slate without doubts, lies or half admissions to the truth. He could wait. She’d come so far. He stepped toward her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She leaned into him. “Holly, sweetheart. I will be patient. You can depend on me.”

She bowed her head. “I know.”

He kissed the top of her head again. “Soon, my love. Soon.” Then, with every ounce of his strength and moral convictions, he released her and went outside to gather the rest of his belongings. “Thank you, Lord, for the strength. Please give me more,” he prayed as he walked across the yard to the wagon.

“Bryce Jarvis, is that you? It’s me, Whit Butterfield.”

Bryce turned to his left. “Whit, what are you doing here?”

“Word is you had a run-in with some fellas a while back and I’ve been looking into it. May we talk?”

“Sure, come inside.” Bryce paused. “Holly is in the house.”

“I’ve made my peace with the Graham family.”

Bryce let out a pent-up breath. “And I need to apologize to you, as well. I was out of line at the cemetery.”

“Yes, sir, but you didn’t say anything I didn’t already feel.”

“No, Whit, I was wrong. I should have run after you that day and apologized right then and there. I can be terribly stubborn sometimes. Forgive me.”

Whit raised a hand. “It’s forgotten. Now, you wanna hear what I learned?”

“Absolutely. Let’s go inside.” Bryce grabbed one of the bundles and Whit the other.

“Holly, we have a guest.”

Holly turned from the kitchen sink. Her smile faded once she recognized who it was. “Hello, Mr. Butterfield.”

“Hello, Miss Graham.”

Bryce noticed Holly didn’t correct him.

“What did you want to tell me, Whit?”

“What can you remember about the man you tied up?” Whit leaned against the counter.

“You’re investigating Bryce’s shooting?”

“Yes. I’m not a deputy sheriff or anything like that. But I’ve heard some mumblings on the street and, well, I thought if I knew what one of the guys looked like I might be able to give the sheriff some helpful information.”

“Coffee? Tea?” Holly asked.

“Water, thank you,” Whit answered.

“Bryce?”

“Tea, thanks. I don’t think I am up for coffee at this hour. Whit, please have a seat.” Bryce motioned toward the kitchen table. “I am afraid I don’t have much in the way of furnishings.”

“Makes no never mind to me. I heard some fellas gettin’ all worked up about not being able to make any money on the streets at night lately. They mentioned your incident and how folks were staying off the roads at night or coming out heavily guarded.”

“Just about everyone is talking about that,” Holly offered.

“Except for the part about them not being able to make money. Who makes money off of folks using the streets at night?” Whit asked.

Holly nodded.

“Agreed,” Bryce said as he eased himself down in the chair. The wound was tender and the short move from his parents’ plantation to his house had irritated it. “Did you get a good look at them?” he asked Whit.

“Not too good. Besides, I wanted to talk with you first. There was one guy with brown, roughly cut hair a bit long on the collar. The other wore a dark hat so I couldn’t see much. I didn’t face them. They were behind me and I was trying to listen without appearin’ to be listenin’, if ya know what I mean.”

“Yes.” Holly and Bryce echoed one another.

“It was foggy, and I could barely see. But the man who came out of the bushes stepped into a sudden patch of light,” Holly told him. “He had a dark beard, an unkempt appearance. He wore old overalls and heavy work boots. And his partner called him Tom.”

“When I tied him up,” Bryce added, “he seemed thinner than he appeared standing in front of me. I gave him a good kick on the side of the head. I don’t know if I broke the skin or not but he must have had at least a bruise for a while.”

“More than likely it would be gone by now. Been close to three weeks, ain’t it?”

“Yes,” Bryce admitted.

Holly gazed out the window. “The sun is starting to set. I better head on home.”

“Be happy to provide an escort, Miss Graham. No sense anyone else getting hurt.”

Holly paused. Bryce watched her eyes dart back and forth between Whit and himself. “I’d appreciate that.”

Bryce nodded in agreement. He should be the one to escort Holly, but how could he defend her if necessary? “Thanks, Whit,” he said. “I appreciate it.”

“Be an honor.”

Holly placed a hand on Bryce’s shoulder and squeezed. “Do you need me to change the bandage before I leave?”

“Probably should check and see. I didn’t feel any bleeding, but you never can tell.” Bryce rose from the chair and lifted his shirt.

“It’s clean, no bleeding.” Holly smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.”

Whit nodded. “I’ll take good care of her. You have my word, Bryce.”

Whit extended his hand and Bryce shook it. “Thanks, again. You be careful with your investigating, and as soon as you know anything, tell the sheriff.”

“Don’t worry none. My wife and children are important to me. Things been tight since the accident and I care for my own.”

In that moment Bryce realized just how difficult life had gotten for Whit Butterfield and his family. In truth, the accident was no one’s fault. Allison Graham had slipped and fallen in front of Whit’s wagon. No one could have stopped in time. “Dear God,” Bryce silently prayed, “forgive me for my anger against Whit. Supply their needs and give him and Holly safe passage on the road tonight.”

* * *

“Good morning, Bryce.” Holly loved the startled expression on his face. He was so handsome, even in his disheveled state. Today she’d dressed in a whimsical style—a white blouse with tiny lilac flowers and a deep purple skirt. She did love purple.

“Holly, what are you doing here so early? You look wonderful.”

“Thank you. I wanted to finish our conversation.”

Bryce placed the mug of coffee down on the table.

“May I have a cup?”

“Certainly.” He jumped up and winced.

“Stay there, I’ll take care of it. I brought some fresh milk and eggs from home. Would you like me to fix some breakfast?”

His smile warmed her. “Thank you, but I have already eaten.” He eased back into his chair. “So what do we have to discuss?”

“The house.”

Bryce sat straight up.

“I know why you purchased it. I’m wondering if it holds bitter memories for you.”

“Nothing that cannot be erased. Holly, I don’t mind keeping the house, or we can purchase another home. It is up to you.”

Holly worried her lower lip. “I am undecided. Because Jessie and her husband are interested, I thought perhaps we should discuss this.” She poured some cream and a rounded teaspoon of sugar into her coffee cup and stirred.

“I can tell the Turners that my fiancée is having second thoughts about the house.” He winked.

Holly giggled and brought her coffee to the table. “I’m not your fiancée.”

“You will be.” Bryce reached across the table and took her hand.

Her fingers relaxed within his palm. “Why can’t I just say yes?”

“Because you are still healing. Honey, I understand you need more time. This may not be the right house for us. On the other hand, I don’t mind living in it by myself until we are married. But I don’t want to do anything that will make you afraid of committing to me. And if keeping the house right now feels like undue pressure, then I will sell it. I will make a good profit, which I can use toward the purchase of another home. I have investigated several possible houses. Perhaps I should show them to you and you can help me decide which has the most potential.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Great, we shall go on the great house hunt. Some of these houses I have looked at have great structure but the interior has come upon bad times. All repairable but not pretty, like this place was. All the floors needed to be sanded, stained and polished. They are the original floorboards, just...”

“Refinished,” she supplied for him.

“Precisely. There is something else you should know about me and my future plans.”

“What’s that?”

“I like investing in real estate. From time to time I will want to purchase and resell property. I am fairly certain I don’t want to deal with tenants. I have seen what they can do to a property. Buying and selling turns investment into profit. In our case, it will provide the finances we need to travel abroad. By the way, are you interested in honeymooning in Venice?”

“Does a cow give milk?”

Bryce laughed, gripping his side to ease the pain.

“Sorry.” Holly sipped her coffee. “I have a question for you.”

He leaned back in his chair. “I am at your command.”

“I am confused by your desire to live inside the city limits. For years you’ve talked about the land, raising crops, livestock... You cannot do that in the city. Wouldn’t you rather live on a small farm or plantation?”

“I do like working with my hands. And Father needs me to run the plantation, so I will always be working the land.”