Lady of Light (15 page)

She pasted on a wobbly smile, took his hand, and climbed down the steps. Before Ian even had a chance to follow, Abigail and Conor MacKay, accompanied by a suddenly shy, dark-haired and dark-skinned girl, hurried up to them.

Father and son stared at each other for a long, emotion-laden moment, then hugged each other. “It’s good to have you home again, Son,” Conor said, his voice husky. “We’ve missed you.”

Evan leaned back in his father’s embrace. “It’s good to be home, Pa. Home to stay, this time for good.”

Abby moved up to offer her own greetings, and finally so did the girl who Claire surmised must be Evan’s sister, Beth. Evan grabbed Beth and picked her up, whirling her around. Her shyness forgotten, his sister squealed.

“Put me down this minute, Evan MacKay,” she demanded, suddenly all propriety and indignation. “I’m not just your kid sister anymore. I’m a young lady. I’m thirteen now, you know.”

He laughed and set her down. “Why, you are, aren’t you, Bethie? You really
are
starting to grow up.”

“Er, Son.” Conor’s glance strayed to Claire and Ian. “Maybe you’d better hurry up the introductions a mite, so we don’t keep your wife and her brother standing out here in the hot sun any longer than need be.”

“Yes, you’re right, Pa.” Evan wheeled about, held out his hand to Claire who took it, and pulled her to him. “Abby. Pa. Beth. This is my wife, Claire, and her brother, Ian.” He turned to Claire and Ian. “And this is my father, Conor MacKay, his wife Abby, and my sister Beth.”

There was a fleeting instant of awkwardness. Then Abby stepped up to Claire and embraced her. “Welcome, Claire. We’re so happy to have you. So happy that Evan has finally found the woman of his dreams.”

Claire smiled and returned the embrace. Abby was a pretty woman who looked to be in her late twenties, with rich, chestnut-colored hair, hazel eyes, high cheekbones, and a short, pert nose. Though Abby was of medium height, Claire still felt like she towered over her new mother-in-law.

“Thank you, Mrs. MacKay,” she mumbled, feeling coarse and gangly next to such an elegant woman. “I’m happy to be here at last.”

“Please, call me Abby,” her mother-in-law urged. “We’ll be spending a lot of time together at Culdee Creek, and I’d like to think we’ll be fast friends.”

Claire nodded, forcing a smile. “It would be most appreciated … Abby. I’m sure there’ll be much to learn in the days and weeks to come.”

Her hand still on Claire’s arm, Abby turned to her husband. “Well, it’s your turn now, Conor, to greet your new daughter-in-law.”

Conor MacKay nodded. “I’ve been looking forward to it, but thought I’d let you two women have at it first.” He moved close, took Claire in his arms, and gave her a quick hug before releasing her. “Welcome, Claire. Culdee Creek’s your home now, and I hope you’ll soon come to look upon us as family.”

He was a big man, broad-shouldered and nearly as tall as Evan, in his late thirties by her guess. His strong, chiseled features reminded her of an older, more weathered version of his son. His own black, wavy hair was just as unruly as Evan’s, too, with a touch of gray frosting his temples. His smoky blue eyes were the exact shade of Evan’s, and far too piercing for comfort as he quietly assessed her.

She smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. MacKay. I’ll need the support of a new family, as far afield as I now am from my own people.”

“Conor. Please, call me Conor.”

Claire nodded once more. “Conor it is, then.” She turned to Ian, who all the while had been standing back watching everything—particularly Beth. “This is my brother, Ian Sutherland,” she said, catching hold of his hand and dragging him up to stand beside her. “He’s verra interested in learning to break mustangs and rope a steer. Aren’t you, Ian?”

He flushed, then shot her an offended look. “Och, and I’m sure they’re caring about such things right now, Claire.” He did render them all a quick inclination of the head, though. “I’m pleased to meet you.” His glance lingered finally on Beth.

Claire nudged him in the side. Ian flushed even redder, and dragged his gaze from the girl’s.

“Well, it’s probably time we were heading on home,” Conor said. He looked to Evan. “Why don’t you and I see to the luggage, while Abby shows Claire and Ian where the carriage is. I figure the ladies can all ride together in the buggy since it has a top, and we men can follow in the buckboard.”

Evan nodded. “Sounds good to me, Pa.” He turned to Claire. “I’ll meet you at the buggy.”

She smiled wanly and rendered a nod of her own, then followed Abby around to the front of the train depot. The whitewashed building stood beside a dirt road. Not far away, Claire could see the first wooden buildings lined up on both sides of a street that soon intersected with an even longer one. Grand View wasn’t a big town, but it easily seemed larger than Culdee. It also, thanks to the rolling hills and flat stretches of plains surrounding it, seemed stuck out in the middle of nowhere.

“We’ll drive down Winona, the main street, as we leave town,” Abby said as she drew up before a large, black buggy with iron spoke wheels and a black top. “That way you’ll get a better look at what Grand View offers. It’s not a large town, but there’s enough here to meet our basic needs. And sometime, after you’re all settled in, we can take a trip to Colorado Springs.”

“Where’s that?” Claire asked, shading her eyes and glancing around.

Abby pointed west, toward the mountains. “Colorado Springs is situated at the base of the Rockies, and is becoming quite the resort. Though it can’t rival Denver, our state capital, it possesses many amenities, including first-class hotels, many fine homes, and a wide assortment of stores.”

Claire smiled. “To be sure,
that
would be a sight to see.”

“Well, why don’t we all climb into the buggy?” Abby asked, waving in its direction. “I see the men coming with the trunk, and the buckboard’s parked here, just behind the buggy.” She glanced at Beth. “Go ahead and take the backseat, will you? I’d like Claire to sit up front with me, so we can visit along the way.”

Beth eyed Ian, who stood beside her watching Evan and Conor reach the buckboard and load the trunk in the back. “Maybe Ian would like to ride with us,” the girl suggested. “There’s plenty of room in the backseat.”

“If he’d like, that would be fine.” Abby looked at him. “Well, would you, Ian? Like to ride with us, I mean?”

Ian started to chew on his bottom lip. “Hmmm …”

Claire knew that look, and knew he was searching for some polite way to back out of the offer. She supposed he felt as uncomfortable as she, and the thought of sitting next to a girl who was most prettily eyeing him wasn’t exactly his cup of tea. Mayhap in another year or so, anyway, but apparently not just now.

“I’m thinking Ian might prefer the company of men,” she whispered, leaning close to Abby. “He isn’t overly versed with young ladies as yet, if you get my meaning?”

Abby chuckled. “Yes, I think I do.” She motioned toward Conor and Evan. “You know, Ian, I’d imagine the men might need some help with that trunk. Would you mind riding in the buckboard instead, and keeping an eye on the trunk so it doesn’t get too banged up?”

A look of relief flashed in the boy’s eyes before he quickly masked it. “Och, aye, ma’am. I’d be glad to help.”

Before Beth, whose expression brightened eagerly, could offer to join him, Abby grasped her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle push toward the buggy. “Now, up with you then. It’s time we were heading for home.”

The girl shot Abby a disgruntled look, but silently complied. Claire and Abby soon joined her, settling themselves on the front seat. After the sun’s heat, Claire was grateful for the ample shade the buggy top provided. Even so, she pulled a handkerchief from her handbag and dabbed at her face.

“It does take a bit of getting used to,” Abby offered, smiling in sympathy. “To the heat out here on the plains, I mean. I’m originally from New England, which I imagine is a lot closer to Scotland’s weather, and I recall my first summer in Colorado as being stifling at times. But you’ll adjust after a while.”

“I’m certain I will,” Claire mumbled as Abby took up the reins, then clucked at the horses to set out.

Behind them, Evan slapped the reins over the backs of the team pulling the buckboard. “Giddyap now!” he cried.

At the joyous excitement in his voice, Claire turned around. His eyes bright, Evan grinned back at her. He looked so happy, so much in his element with his dark jacket off and his shirt sleeves rolled up past the corded strength of his forearms, that Claire couldn’t help but wave and grin back.

As the buggy lurched forward, a stiff breeze swooped down, ruffling her husband’s dark, wavy hair. Her heart swelled with pride and love. She was so very, very fortunate to have married him. Surely everything would work out. It couldn’t help but do so, with a man such as Evan MacKay at her side.

“This store on the left,” Abby explained, drawing Claire from her musings, “is Gates’ Mercantile. We do the majority of our shopping there, for whatever food we can’t raise ourselves, for fabric to make clothes, and for all sorts of odds and ends.” As they passed the big building, she turned the horses to the left. “And now we’re on Winona Street, which is the main street into town.”

Claire saw a long row of false-fronted buildings, most with signs proclaiming the purpose of each establishment: The Crown Hotel, Town Hall, Edgerton’s Butcher Shop, Mrs. Lombardy’s Rooming House, Nealy’s Livery. Before the buildings ran a long, wooden boardwalk, which Claire surmised helped keep one out of the dirt streets.

“We also have a town doctor—Doc Childress—an icehouse, a feed lot, a school, and two churches,” Abby continued.

At the mention of churches, Claire’s ears perked up. “Two churches? Is one, mayhap, of the Roman Catholic faith?”

“No.” Abby shook her head, softening the action with a smile. “The closest Catholic church—St. Mary’s—is in Colorado Springs. Grand View’s two churches are Presbyterian and Episcopal. We attend the Episcopal church. The Reverend Noah Starr is pastor there.” She shot Claire an uncertain glance. “Will that be a problem for you? Attending Sunday services with us?”

Claire frowned. She hadn’t even thought to ask Evan about the available churches in the area. She could only wonder what Father MacLaren would say if he had known.

For a fleeting instant, the old priest’s kindly face flashed through her mind’s eye. His parting words came again, strong and clear. “Put aside yer doubts and go with God, lass,” he had said that morning they had visited him for a final blessing before the coach came. “He’ll be with ye, no matter how far ye travel or how strange the land and people. He’ll be with ye, as long as ye carry Him always in yer heart.”

At the memory, rife as it was with a renewed swell of homesickness, Claire’s eyes filled with tears. She needn’t worry what Father MacLaren would think about her not being able to attend Mass, just as long as she worshiped the Lord in some church whenever possible, and carried Him always in her heart.

“No, it won’t be a problem,” she replied at long last. “There’ll be many things I’ll have to adapt to, I suppose. If you’ll just be patient with me …”

Abby reached over and patted her hand. “Take all the time and ask all the questions you want, Claire. I don’t offend easily. I want to do whatever I can to ease your way in these first few months. After all, you’re family now.”

She shot Evan’s stepmother a grateful glance. “I thank you for that. My fondest wish is to make Evan proud of me.”

“Well,” Abby said with a laugh, “I think you’ve already accomplished that and more. I don’t recall ever seeing Evan quite so happy as when he first introduced you to his father.” She paused, licked her lips, then cocked her head. “If you don’t mind me asking, how
did
you and Evan meet?”

“Och, one afternoon I was sweeping the steps outside St. Columba’s kirk, where I worked as housekeeper, when he walks up all tall, dark, and so verra handsome and asks for help in finding his kinfolk.”

“Was this anywhere near Culdee, Scotland? The last letter we received from Evan mentioned his decision to visit Culdee.”

“Aye,” Claire agreed with a nod. “It’s the verra same place. And Father MacLaren, our parish priest, seemed to think it’d be a most excellent idea for me to help Evan in his search. He always did have a matchmaker’s heart.”

Encouraged by Abby at all the appropriate places in her tale, Claire made quick work of the retelling of her and Evan’s courtship. And, when she finally brought the story to an end with their arrival in New York City, Abby silently drove for a few minutes more before asking one final question.

“So, how long was this courtship of yours, then? It doesn’t sound like you knew each other all that long.”

Claire could feel her face growing warm. She had known that the brevity of their courtship might well be a sore spot with Evan’s parents. Indeed, several folk in Culdee had wasted little time speculating as to the reason for the short time elapsing between when they had first met and when they wed. But none of them understood. Evan was different from the other lads she had known. He was so good, kind, so very, very special. And he offered so much more—for her and for her brother.

“I met him near the first of May, and we were wed in St. Columba’s on Fourth of July,” she said, deciding the sooner all the facts about their courtship were out in the open, the sooner they could move past them. “It was your country’s Independence Day,” Claire added. “Evan said it was a perfect day for us to do so. We’d never forget our anniversary, and the whole of America would help us celebrate it each year.”

Abby laughed. “Yes, I suppose it
was
a perfect day, wasn’t it?”

“You aren’t angry or disappointed, are you, that we didn’t wait to wed until we arrived here? I know it might seem selfish of us, but we were so in love. Besides, Evan was verra eager to return home, and I didn’t think it’d be proper for us to travel so far unless we were man and wife …”

“No. No,” the older woman was quick to assure her, even as a tiny furrow formed between her brows. “As you say; it wouldn’t have been proper. What matters in the end is that you and Evan are happy. We’ve all the time in the world now to get to know each other, don’t we?”