Iris (Suitors of Seattle Book 8) (6 page)

"I trust you," he finally said, making it clear that he wasn't suspicious of her.  He didn't want her to think that she had to be careful to guard her words around him.

Iris squeezed the hand that held hers under the table.  "I'm glad."

Mallie's eyes lit up as she watched them.  "Pa, shouldn't you have brought flowers to Dr. Iris?  Isn't that what a man does when he courts a woman?"

Iris hid her grin, looking at Francis and waiting for his answer.  She knew Mallie was making him uncomfortable, but she didn't care.  She wanted to know his answer.

"Well, um, I don't know what her favorite flower is," Francis said, running a hand along the back of his neck.  Courting was hard enough when it was just a man and a woman.  How was he going to be able to make it work with three young girls always around?

Mallie looked at her father as if he'd lost his mind.  "Probably irises."

Francis closed his eyes for a moment, feeling like the biggest oaf alive.  Iris's next words didn't help.  "What did you think it was?  Marigolds?"

"I feel like an idiot for not just knowing that," he mumbled.

Iris laughed, leaning over and resting her head on his shoulder for a moment.  "Don't.  I could prefer roses or lilies or daisies."

"You could, but I can see why you don't."  He looked at her, trying to remember which flower was an iris.  He had no idea.  "I don't even know what an iris looks like," he finally admitted.

"Well, I'm not an artist like my sister, Violet, but I can draw an iris easily enough.  Do you have paper and a pencil?"  Violet had loved art so much that if Iris wanted time with her sister who was closest to her in age, she had to be willing to do something that had to do with art.

Mallie jumped up to get the paper and pencil, bringing it to the table and placing it in front of Iris with her good hand.  "I like to draw," Mallie said shyly as she watched Iris pick up the pencil.

"I'll have to introduce you to my sister then," Iris said as she made swift strokes on the paper with the pencil.  When she was finished, she moved the paper over in front of Francis.  "It's a purple flower.  Very pretty actually."

Francis nodded as he looked at the drawing.  She was a better artist than she let on.  "I think I know the flower you're talking about."

Iris shrugged.  "My sister could have done a much better job.  Violet is so good with a paintbrush.  She's been painting since we were both tiny.  I think I was three when she got her first easel.  She hasn't stopped painting since."

Mallie smiled.  "I would love to have an easel."  She looked at her father.  "Maybe for my birthday, Pa?"

Francis looked at Mallie, surprised by her words.  He'd had no idea his oldest daughter was interested in art.  "Maybe."  He wouldn't even know where to find an easel.  Maybe there would be one in the Sears and Roebuck catalogue he could order.  "Your birthday isn't for several months anyway."

Mallie nodded.  "I know, but it's nice to think about it."

Iris smiled at Mallie.  "What else would you like for your birthday?"

Mallie tilted her head to the side and thought about it.  "A new dress!  One that I get to go to the store and pick out the fabric for.  Aunt Tracy always makes my dresses, but she doesn't like to go to the store on Saturdays, because it's too busy.  So she goes during the week while I'm in school.  I've never picked out my own dress before."

Iris nodded.  She couldn't sew at all, but Edna Petunia could.  She could even make her a nice hat to go with the dress, since she'd been a hat maker most of her life.

"Pa's birthday is next," Mallie told Iris.  "It's next week."

Iris looked at Francis.  "It is?  What do you want for your birthday?"

Francis had been watching Iris and how well she handled Mallie, thinking that all he wanted in life was for this woman to marry him, be a mother to his girls, and a good wife to him.  He could picture waking up next to her every morning.  He knew it was too soon to ask, but he didn't really want to wait.

"Me?  I think I want a wife for my birthday."  He could see by the look on her face that he'd shocked her, but he really didn't care at that moment.  The truth was the truth.

Iris wasn't certain if he was declaring his intentions to find a wife, or suggesting she become his wife.  Either way, she found his words odd, especially with his daughter sitting there.  "So are you going to send off for a bride?" she asked, keeping her face carefully blank.

"No, I thought I'd just marry you."  He knew he was bungling things.  This wasn't the right way to ask a woman to marry him, but he didn't know how to do it right.  "The girls already love you.  How about it?"  If she could accept that ridiculous proposal, then she was definitely the perfect woman for him.

Iris fought to come up with a suitable answer.  "You want me to marry you next week?"  Oh, her mother would have a fit. Iris could just picture Mary opening the telegram.  She would be on the first train to Texas. "My mother would kill me."

Francis frowned.  "Your mother doesn't think you should marry a rancher?"

Iris laughed.  "No, two of my sisters are married to ranchers in Montana.  That's not it.  You see, my mother wants at least one of her daughters to let her plan a big wedding.  All of my sisters married too quickly for her tastes.  I'm her last hope."

Francis looked down at the table.  It was a flimsy objection, but better than her coming right out and refusing him.  "I see."

Mallie looked between her father and Iris, a pleading look in her eyes.  "Why don't you marry Pa next week on his birthday, and then your mother can throw a big reception?  Either here or in Seattle.  I'd love to go to Seattle and meet your whole family."

Iris thought about the suggestion for a moment.  "You know, that's not a bad idea.  Mother could have the fun of planning, and I could marry your pa next week."  She honestly loved the idea.  She wasn't in love with him, yet, but she knew she easily could be.  She felt comfortable in his home, and wanted to spend her time with his girls.  She looked at Francis.  "If you're all right with the idea of marrying next week, but having a big reception in six months time, then I'll marry you."

Francis looked at her for a moment, his eyes intense.  "Are you serious?  You'll marry us?"

Iris looked behind Francis and saw Ettie and Katie standing behind him, their eyes wide and pleading.  "Please, Dr. Iris?" Ettie begged.

Iris laughed.  "Yes.  I'd love to marry you."

Francis grabbed Iris and pulled her into his lap, kissing her soundly.  The girls, who didn't remember their mother, looked on with slack jaws.  When Francis finally let Iris come up for air, she grinned at the three girls who were standing together.  "You'd better get used to kissing, because I like kissing your pa."

Katie threw herself at Iris, her face buried in Iris's neck.  "I always wanted a ma."  She pulled back after a moment and looked up at Iris.  "Will we have to call you Dr. Ma?"

Iris laughed.  "You can keep calling me Dr. Iris if you want, or you can call me Ma.  It's up to you girls."

Katie sighed happily, her head resting on Iris's shoulder.  "Ma."

Iris felt tears prick her eyes.  "I couldn't ask for better daughters."  She looked at Francis who was watching her with a smile, his hand stroking her back gently.  "What day is your birthday?"

"Monday."

Iris nodded.  "I can be ready in a week."  She didn't know what she'd do with Edna Petunia, but she was sure the old woman could continue to live in her house. 

Francis smiled.  "I can't think of anything I'd rather have for my birthday."

Chapter Six

As soon as Edith was back from her drive, Francis and Iris headed back to town.  Iris sat as close to Francis as she could.  "It seems strange knowing we'll be married in a week." Iris still couldn't believe it.

Francis smiled. "I can't wait. I want to be married to you. I know you'll be the perfect mother for my girls, and I know you'll be the perfect lover for me."

Iris blushed, happy that it was too dark for him to see her well. "I'm not sure if you should talk to me that way."

He chuckled. "Don't expect me to stop anytime soon." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm getting something special with this marriage. I'm getting a woman I actually chose to be my wife. Katherine was sent to me. She's not someone I would've chosen. You? I took one look at you and knew I wanted you in my bed."

"Francis!"  She couldn't believe he would speak that way when they weren't even married.  Even a husband shouldn't speak to his wife that way, should he?

"Get used to it."

She heard what sounded like a dog howling. "I wonder what that dog is howling at."

"That's not a dog. That's a coyote." He felt her shudder. "Don't worry. I have my rifle under the seat. He probably won't come too close, but if he does we're ready."

"I don't know how I'm going to tell Edna Petunia. She moved to a different state so she could be my companion, and within three weeks of arriving I'm getting married. She can still be my nurse, of course, but it's not the same."  She frowned. She hated letting anyone down, and that's what she felt like she was doing. Of course Edna had wanted her to marry Francis from the moment she met him.

"She'll be fine. Rumor has it she's seeing this old coot who hangs around in the woods." Francis had heard a lot of people talk about Edna and the old man. He didn't know if it was true, but there were enough people claiming it was that he tended to believe it.

"You really think Edna Petunia is seeing someone? Like courting? Do you have any idea how old that woman is?"

Francis shrugged. "Oh she's old. There's no doubting that. Even old people deserve  love though, don't they?"

Iris frowned. "Well of course they do. That's not what I'm saying. It's just… Edna Petunia! I feel like she's my responsibility."

"Is there something wrong with her that someone needs to watch over her?" From what little Francis had seen of the old woman, she didn't seem to be in ill health, just a little crazy.

"Not physically. She's just a little—oh, how do you describe Edna? She's just a little too Edna.  I'm not sure if I want to protect her from the world or protect the world from her!"

"That's exactly what I was thinking." He pulled the wagon to the side of the road. "I wouldn't feel right kissing you good night in town, just in case someone is watching."

Iris frowned. "It won't bother me if someone sees us kiss. Were about to be married."

"Yes, but if I kiss you good night here, I don't have to worry if anyone sees us. I don't think anyone should see me kiss you the way I'm about to kiss you." His voice deepened as he spoke.

Iris grinned. "Oh really? How are you about to kiss me?" He certainly wasn't asking permission to kiss her now!

Francis pulled her close against him, his lips coming down hard on hers. At first he kept his hands on the sides of her face, but once her hands went to his shoulders, and her mouth opened for his, his hands moving down to explore her body. He brought one hand around to cup her breast. At her soft moan, he lifted his head. He found her nipple through the layers of cloth that separated them, stroking it with his thumb. "Do you like that?"

He could see by the pale moonlight that her eyes were closed, and her lips were still parted. She looked wanton in his eyes. He let out a low groan. "How am I going to be able to wait a week?"

Iris pulled his head down for another kiss. She didn't want to think about waiting. She just wanted to be kissed.

He pulled her onto his lap, turning her so she sat astride him. Her skirt was bunched up around her waist. All he would have to do was unbutton the placard of his pants, and he could be inside her. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't stop thinking about how it would feel to slide into her.

Iris was at first shocked by the position he put her into, but she found she liked being over him this way. She settled on top of him, feeling his hardness through his pants. She moved against him.

His hands went to her hips, pulling her down even harder against him. Sweat stood out on his forehead. It never would have occurred to him to do something like this with Katherine in a wagon, but with Iris, he wanted nothing more than to make love to her right there.

Iris unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt, sliding her hand underneath the fabric. She had to touch his flesh. She encountered a soft covering of hair, and stroked her fingers through it. "You feel so good."

Francis groaned. "We have to stop. In another minute, I won't be able to."

"I don't want to stop." Even Iris was surprised as the words passed her lips.

Francis wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "We have to. I want our wedding night to be special."

Iris sighed, burying her face in his neck. "I do too. But I want to feel you inside me."

"Iris, you're killing me." He grasped her hips in his hands to lift her off, but had to pull her against him one more time first. "One week. We can wait one week." He lifted her off him, and moved her back to the seat beside him. Who would have thought that a beautiful woman like her would catch fire the way she did?

Iris carefully righted her skirts. She kept her face averted from him. She felt as if she were a horrible person, because she just didn't want to stop.

Francis buttoned his shirt. He shifted in his seat to get comfortable. Glancing over, he saw her looking away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have touched you that way. Will you forgive me?"

Iris looked at him, tears pricking her eyes. "You're not angry with me? You don't think I'm a bad person?"

He reached out with one hand and pulled her back against him, kissing the top of her head. "Absolutely not. The things we feel for each other are natural. We just need to wait until we're married to finish what we started."

"Is it terrible that I don't want to wait?" she asked, her voice soft and petulant.

"I sure hope not. Because I don't want to wait either." He picked up the reins and started driving. "I think I'm going to send the girls to stay with Andy and Tracy for a week after we marry."

"I hope that doesn't make them feel like we don't want them around!"

"We'll make sure they know they're wanted. We just don't dare make love with them in the house right away. I have a feeling we're going to be loud."

Iris blushed. "So what will we do after the first week? I have a feeling we won't get enough of each other quickly."

Francis shrugged. "Hopefully by then we'll have found enough strength that we can be quiet."

"I hope you know that I already love your girls. I'm so happy that you're going to share them with me."

Francis wasn't certain why he was disappointed that she hadn't said she loved him. But he was. "I'm glad."  And he
was
glad she loved the girls.  He truly was.

"Do you want me to close the office next week?"

Francis thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. "I won't be able to stop working, so there's no reason for you to. Maybe we can both just work mornings all week. My men can do most of the work on their own.  They just need to remember that I'll be around in the mornings, so they'll know they need to keep going."

"Your men?"

He nodded. "I have a huge ranch. I have five men working for me."

Iris was surprised. She never really thought about the logistics of his ranch. "I'll do that then. I'll put up a sign tomorrow saying that the office will be open only in the mornings next week. Will we get married Monday morning or afternoon?" Iris wasn't sure how she was going to get ahold of an iris before Monday, but she knew she needed to. Her mother would be upset enough that she couldn't attend the wedding, but if she didn't have an iris, she was certain she'd be disowned.

"Afternoon I think. The girls will be in school in the morning, and I want them there. We'll get married right after they're out of school."

"That sounds good." She saw that they'd almost reached town. "Do you know where I can find an iris? I really need to have one for my wedding."

Francis thought it was an odd request, but he didn't say anything. He knew women were strange about their wedding day. "I'll send one of my men into Austin on Sunday night. He can get your iris from a florist there on Monday morning and be back here in time for the wedding on Monday afternoon."

"I would appreciate it." The wagon stopped in front of her house, and Francis helped her down. She could see a light burning inside the house. "Edna Petunia must've beaten me home."

He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Why don't the girls and I come over Saturday and pick up most of your things? That way you won't have to worry about it on Monday."

"Are you going to invite your brothers and sisters to the wedding?"

Francis nodded. "Even though it's short notice, they'll want to be there. Besides, we need Tracy to take the girls home with her." He walked her to the door. "I'll see you just before lunch on Saturday."

"Why don't I plan on making lunch for everyone? I'd like to get to know the girls a little bit better before the wedding. Besides, they'll be good little chaperones."

Francis let out a short bark of laughter.  "Judging by what happened on the way home, we need one."

Iris stood on tiptoe and put her lips to his ear. "If you didn't set my body on fire, it would be much easier."

He grinned. "Oh, I don't know about that. I'm looking forward to setting your body on fire a whole lot after the wedding." He stood watching as she opened the door and went inside. Getting into the wagon, he started the thirty minute drive home. He must've done something right for God to send Iris to him.

*****

Iris stepped into the tiny house she shared with Edna Petunia and immediately saw the older woman sitting at the table, a look of utter shock on her face.  Iris moved to her side, slipping into the seat beside her.  "Edna Petunia?  Are you all right?"  What could have happened to her?

Edna nodded slowly.  "I...I think I am."  She turned to Iris, and there was a tear trickling down her withered old face.  "How soon do you think you can replace me?"

Iris sat back in her chair, astonished by the question.  What would make Edna ask that?  "Are you unhappy with me?  I thought this was working out well for both of us."

"Oh, it is.  I just...well, I've had a better offer.  One I just can't refuse."

"A better offer?  What do you mean a better offer?"  Iris was flabbergasted.  What kind of offer did a woman Edna's age receive?

Edna pulled herself up to her full height, her bosom sticking out as far as it could.  "I mean a better offer."  She said nothing else, and Iris studied her face for a moment before responding.

"Are you happy?" 

Edna nodded emphatically.  "Oh, Iris, I never dreamed I
could
be this happy again!"

"But you don't want to talk about it?"  Iris didn't know what to say.  She'd never met anyone who didn't want to talk about it when they found something that made them happy. 

Edna Petunia shook her head.  "I'm afraid if I talk about it, it will all just disappear.  I can't tell anyone."

Iris nodded slowly.  "I don't think I understand, but I can find someone whenever you need me to.  I won't need a companion any longer anyway.  You see...well, I'm getting married.  On Monday."

Edna's eyes grew wide and her hand covered her mouth.  Suddenly she let out such a loud cackle that Iris almost fell from her chair.  "Your mama is going to
kill
you!  You were her last hope!"  She looked positively gleeful at the idea that Mary's desire to plan a wedding would be thwarted after all.

Iris hung her head.  "Oh, I know.  I'm going to send her a letter and tell her that I'm getting married now, but I want her to plan a huge reception for me in six months."  She looked at Edna Petunia through her eyelashes.  "Do you think she'll disown me?"

Edna sighed.  "No, I don't think she will.  She loves you girls with everything inside her.  She's going to be disappointed, but not as disappointed as she'd be if you showed up for your wedding six months along."  She eyed Iris skeptically.  "You're not carrying a bastard baby, are you?  'Cuz you don't have to marry if that's it.  I'd help you!"

Iris shook her head.  "No, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not having a bastard baby.  We're waiting until the wedding night to consummate.
I
don't want to, but he's insisting."  She shrugged.  "Leave it to me to pick a man who is going to be noble about things!"  She couldn't believe she was actually complaining about Francis wanting to do the right thing, but...she was feeling extremely frustrated.  Her whole body was tense.