Mail Order Bride – Charlotte's Summer: Clean Sweet Western Cowboy Romance (Seasons Mail Order Brides Book 1) (6 page)

Charlotte waited until Thomas moved aside before she stepped into the room. She was excited to see where she would be living and had wondered on the ride over just what kind of mess she might stumble upon. With Thomas being a bachelor and so very young, she didn’t expect it to be overly tidy, but she never anticipated it would look the way it did. She glanced around herself until she had completed one full circle.

She was speechless.

The house was the exact opposite of what she’d pictured. If she didn’t know better she would have thought he’d only just moved in. It was completely bland. There were no paintings on the walls. No curtains on the windows. No color. No excitement. Not even a rug on the white-washed floors. Charlotte knew that some bright, checked fabrics and a woman’s touch would cheer the place up in an instant, but she wasn’t game to mention that to Thomas just yet. She got the feeling that he liked his things just the way they were.

A narrow hallway separated the main living quarters, the kitchen and the sitting room from the bedrooms, which she soon discovered there were two of. A good-sized washroom was at the rear of the house and Charlotte couldn’t disguise her delight at the amount of space available. The bathroom at the orphanage was half this size and meant to service many more people. But even the bathroom was listless and boring. Other than a single towel drying over a rack, there was little to say that it had been used recently. She might have thought that the case too, if it hadn’t been for the delightful, fresh scent of Thomas’s skin as she walked by him earlier. It was a mix of soap and earth and something unmistakably male and Charlotte had taken a deep breath, hoping to hold on to it just a little while longer.

“Would you like to take your bath, Charlotte?”

Thomas stood in the hallway, catching Charlotte off guard by the candid way he spoke. He was watching her absorb her new surroundings. He liked the way she studied his things so closely. Not that there was much. He’d never been one for sentiment and fancy things. So he kept the rooms bare and to a minimum. It had worked just fine so far.

“There are clean towels stored in the linen cupboard and a brand new bar of soap in the receptacle over the tub. Things can get a bit crazy over at the Calhoun’s, so if you didn’t get a chance to freshen up there last night, then you are more than welcome to do so here.”

“Thank you Thomas, that’s very considerate of you, but Gabe didn’t come in until very late, so there was plenty of hot water to fill their tub. I must have soaked for the best part of an hour before I went to bed.”

Thomas nodded, blinking faster than he ever believed possible. At the mention of a bath, his thoughts had turned to her undressing, which had led to thoughts of her being naked in his bathroom, and then that led to thoughts of their upcoming wedding night. Knowing she was looking at him again with those pretty flushed cheeks made him panic. He’d never been with a woman before. He knew the physicality of it though and he looked forward to consummating his marriage just as much as any other young man his age might do, but it still unsettled him some with the idea of getting it just right, for Charlotte’s sake if nothing else.

For the time being though, since he wasn’t married just yet, he thought it best to remove temptation altogether and walked past Charlotte to open another window. If he didn’t get some fresh air swirling around the room, and Charlotte’s beautiful smell out of his nose, then he felt that he might just be setting himself up for embarrassment.

He gestured for her to return to the kitchen and when she took a seat at the table, her eyes were drawn to the only sign of life she’d found in the entire house so far. Sitting right there in front of her, were three shiny red apples. They looked delicious, fat round ones, like they’d just been picked straight from a tree, and her father’s words came rushing back to her in such a way that it left her a little breathless.

Apples … Branches … Fruit.

If that wasn’t a sign then she didn’t know what was.

Thomas poured Charlotte a cup of coffee, setting the cream and sugar down in front of her, completely oblivious to the way she was staring so intently at the table. “I better beat us up some fresh eggs, it won’t take me too long, drink your coffee up while you wait. I’ll just grab the last bag of flour down from the pantry so I can knock up some flapjacks too. You like flapjacks, Charlotte?”

Charlotte glanced up at him and watched him work. She released a breath, one she didn’t even realize she was holding and shrugged, feeling herself blush for what must be the hundredth time. “I … I don’t think … think I’ve ever tried them.”

Spying the way Thomas’s muscles shifted as he hoisted the flour bag from the top shelf had pleased her in ways she’d never experienced. His shirt had risen a little from his britches too and she’d caught a small glimpse of his lean, flat stomach. Thomas knew Charlotte was watching him again and decided he’d better busy himself with making the breakfast before his thoughts started wandering again.

Whether he wanted to admit it or not … he was falling for Charlotte Bates.

T
homas furrowed
his brow when his attention was drawn to the distinct sound of galloping hooves coming toward the farm and any feelings he had brewing away inside him were soon squashed by the sight. A thin fume of dust rose over in the valley and caught his eye through the open window. Without a second guess he knew exactly who it was, and by the time he’d lead Charlotte back out onto the porch – conceding he’d need to make the introductions sooner rather than later – he looked up to find Earl and Junior pulling their sweating horses to a halt just a few yards away.

“Howdy, Mr. Ackerman, we came over to get us a look at…” Before Junior could finish the sentence, the back of Earl’s hand clipped his son’s ear and near knocked him straight off the rear of Lightning. The boy rubbed his head as he sat up tall again in the saddle. “Aw shucks Pa, whatcha go and do that for? I was only tellin’ it straight like ya always taught me.”

“I warned you twice before we even left the house. Watch ya manners.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Junior jumped from the horse and fiddled with his hair to keep it from falling in his face. He desperately needed a haircut but they’d been so busy on the farm lately that Earl just hadn’t found the time to take him into town. As he brushed the dust from his clothes and offered an enthusiastic ‘
it
’
s mighty fine to meet you
’ Charlotte couldn’t help but laugh when instead of extending his hand like a young man ought to, for some reason the child attempted to curtsy – like he was meeting the Queen of England.

“Dang boy! Enough with the curtsyin’ already. If it’s not one thing it’s another with you lately. This new bowing like a fool thing you’ve started up is gittin’ on my nerves.” Earl swung his leg out of the stirrup and jumped to the ground. He strode toward Charlotte, chest first, as proud as any man Charlotte had ever seen. “Earl Mason’s the name and this here is Junior, for whom I sincerely apologize. We live right over there…” He tipped his hat in the opposite direction. “It looks a way off to the naked eye but the homestead’s only a five minute ride. If you ever find yourself needing help with anything, you just give us a holler.”

Charlotte found herself instantly drawn to Earl and his darling son. Both Mason fellows had a thick mop of jet black hair, dark brown eyes and wore matching dimples that sat deep in their right cheeks. “That’s mighty thoughtful of you, Mr. Mason. I’ll be sure to take you up on that offer if the need arises.”

She couldn’t be sure, but Charlotte thought she noticed Thomas’s jaw tighten as he headed for the stables. He fetched a bucket of water from the well and roughly filled both of the troughs. To her eye they already looked good and full, but what did she know about farming, so she kept her thoughts to herself. “I’d love to meet your wife someday, too. I’m sure we’ll become fast friends.”

The words had no sooner manifested themselves before Charlotte wished she could take them back again. She’d just noticed Earl’s left hand and could tell instantly that he hadn’t worn a wedding ring there for many years. There was no banding of the skin and his tan was evenly placed.

“I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Mason. I should learn to mind my own business.”

“Nothin’ to be sorry about, Charlotte, and please call me Earl. We lost my beautiful Grace a few years back.” He nodded and smiled as he hugged Junior into his side. The boy pulled a carrot from his pocket and took one enormous bite. The loud, snapping crunch was so unexpected that Charlotte flinched. “But we do alright for ourselves, so you can lose that expression. You’re far too pretty to be sourin’ up a face like that with pitiful thoughts of me and the boy.”

Thomas dropped the bucket to the ground with a loud clang and it took all he had inside him not to kick the stinking thing right across the yard. He’d never been much of a fighter but he suddenly had an urge to knock Earl flat on his back. Pounding on his chest and staking his claim would look right childish in every way but there was something about Earl mentioning the nature of Charlotte’s good looks that got under his skin.

So he made a concerted effort instead to swallow back the ticking in his chin and tightness in his throat and made for the house once more. “You’re out early this morning, Earl. Something I can help you with?”

“Well, I thought you might have a spare helping of breakfast for a poor starving child?”

Thomas rolled his eyes and scoffed so loud that it caught in his throat. He coughed a few times to clear it. “The day you leave that boy to starve is the day I turn up my toes. If your cupboards are bare, just say so and I’ll fix him a plate.”

“Or possibly two?”

Thomas opened the door. “Just get inside, will ya? I don’t have all day. We got a lot of work to do and I ain’t bothered to be standing around wasting time with guessing games.”

Junior felt a rumble in his belly. His Pa was a lot of fine things, but a good cook wasn’t one of them and when the smell of grilled bacon wafted through the air, he couldn’t stop his mouth from watering. “You makin’ flipflops too, Mr. Ackerman? You know how I got a hankering for flipflops. The buttery sort like you always does, with berries and sugar?”

Thomas didn’t answer, didn’t splinter a smile and didn’t hold the door open for anyone else behind him as he trudged back into the kitchen.

It was becoming clear to Charlotte as she followed behind the others, that although Thomas was attractive and everything she’d hoped for in a husband, he was a hard nut of a man and it would take some serious cracking to break through his shell.

Earl hung his Stetson on the hook. “The old pantry’s running a little low or I wouldn’t be bothering you none. I need to get to the store to re-stock, not to mention get this child o’ mine to the barber’s. Looks like no one owns him with his hair bouncing all ’round like that.”

“We got a busy day today, Earl. The grain tower needs attention before the seasons change or we’ll have no stock feed for the winter. There’s no time for running into town.”

Thomas took two extra plates from the bench and divided the bacon and diced tomato he’d already prepared into four even piles. He began to beat up a fresh bowl of eggs and poured it into the hot skillet, swishing it from one side to the other until it looked like setting. “Where’d the boy run off to now, I thought he was hungry?”

“Went to check on Rosy, he’ll be back in a minute.”

Thomas nodded and then glanced over at Charlotte. “Eat up before it gets cold. Spending as much time as you did with Mabel this morning, I’m guessing you’ll need to re-build your strength.” The slightest hint of a smile brushed his lips but he let it fall away again before it turned into anything more substantial. “She’s nice enough I guess, a little nosey for my liking, but be warned to only share with her anything you’d be happy for the entire congregation to know.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Earl mumbled, shoveling into his mouth the heap of eggs Thomas had just piled high on his plate.

Junior bowled through the side door then, practically skipping over to the table once he spotted the food. His head twitched to the side, shifting his hair so he could make a start on the breakfast. “I reckon it’ll be three girls and three boys … just like Doc Lawson’s got.”

Thomas frowned. “I’m pretty sure Mr. Lawson wouldn’t take too kindly to you equating his children to a litter of piglets, Junior. She may not have that many anyway, don’t go getting your hopes up.”

“Doc Lawson works back in town,” Thomas explained. “Poor thing was left with six children to raise all on his own when his wife died, don’t know how he manages. Good thing he’s a man of reasonable means or they’d have all been sent off to live with relatives.”

Something about Earl’s somber expression caught Charlotte’s eye just then and she saw the same sad look that she’d seen earlier at her mention of his wife. Something told her that raising one child all alone was just as hard for him, as raising six was for the good doctor.

“I’m heading back in to town soon, Earl. I’d be more than happy to accompany Junior to the barber’s if you like. I’ll wait with him awhile and then he can show me to the store. I was planning on making a list of things Thomas might need to re-stock the pantry. I’ve already got some meals planned out for the next few days, so maybe I could pick up some supplies for you while I’m there?”

Earl smiled so wide that it just about filled his entire face. “Well, if you’re going that way all on your own, then I’d really appreciate it. Thanks Charlotte.”

Thomas threw the pan into the sink. “I never said I wouldn’t take you.”

Earl leant back in his seat, watching Thomas suspiciously. “I thought you said we had a stack of work to get through this morning?”

J
unior sure seemed pleased
with himself as he sat right up front beside Charlotte in the wagon. After convincing Thomas that there really was no need to forgo his plans for the day, not to mention a number of failed attempts at learning how to steer in a straight line, Charlotte now felt confident enough to make it into town without causing harm to herself, the motherless boy, or the unfortunate horse.

“My best friend’s name is Solomon Lawson,” said Junior. “That’s one of the Doc’s boys I was tellin’ you about before. He likes pigs just about as much as I do. I don’t think he cares for carrots quite as much though; he’s more a potato man if the truth be told. I used to be best friends with Sarah Lawson, but Pa says with me gettin’ bigger and all, spending too much time with the ladies will just cause me heartache … or somethin’ like that. You got a best friend, Miss Charlotte?”

“Why yes, Junior, I certainly do. Her name is Elizabeth Edwards – but everyone I know calls her Beth. I miss her terribly already. We lived together for many years, and used to stay up late talking. We even shared a bedroom for most of that time, so we are very close. I really do miss her.”

“What’s she like?”

“Well, let me see … she’s funny and silly and just an absolute joy to be around.”

“I like that name, Beth. It kinda sounds like Seth, but with a different letter up front. He’s another of the Lawson boys – Seth that is, he’s the middle one. What’s Beth look like Miss Charlotte, is she as pretty as you?”

“Oh, she’s much prettier than me, Junior. She’s got the most beautiful red hair that tumbles down her back when she brushes it out, all long and flowing.”

“You mean red like a tomata?”

“No, not that sort of red, it’s more like the color of an orange.”

“Orange like a carrot? Like a
carrot
head? I love carrots!”

Charlotte laughed, and as if on cue Junior pulled another carrot from his back pocket and started chomping on the blessed thing. “Why yes, she does have somewhat of a carrot head, come to think of it. You’ve certainly got a lot to say for a young fella.”

Junior bounced around a few times, giggling. “Fella … that kinda sounds like Stella, but with a different letter up front again, just like before. Stella’s another one of Mr. Lawson’s kids. Anyway, that’s their house right over there.”

The Lawsons’ home was situated beside the school on the outskirts of town. There were three large barns behind the house that looked to be in full use and Charlotte guessed that must be where Gabe runs his business from. There was a chicken coup in the front yard, a white picket fence surrounding the property and a rose garden so full of blooms that they spilled out like wildflowers through the cracks.

Junior lowered his voice. “Pa says Mrs. Lawson’s no longer with us. She went off to sleep when she brought Sophie into Mr. Lawson’s arms, and she never waked up again. Pa says the angels came and took her, just like they came and took my Ma, and the
poor dear
never even seen it comin’.”

Charlotte wasn’t usually so at ease around small children, especially ones that talked so much, but there was something about Junior that she couldn’t overlook. He was a sweet child under it all – the jumping about and the jumbled sentences – and it tugged at a place inside her that he’d lost his mother at such a young age. No child should be raised without a mother, of that she knew only too well. “I’m so sorry for their loss. I can’t imagine raising six children all on my own.”

“They not all on their own, Miss Charlotte … the Doc’s sister lives with them too. Aunty Dawn everyone calls her, even the kids who aren’t really hers. Miss Mabel calls her Aunty Yawn, on account of her being as boring as sin, but don’t you let my Pa know I told ya that or he’ll wallop my backside so hard I won’t be able to sit down for a week.” He suddenly straightened himself and an enormous smile spread across his face. “Solomon!” he shouted, frantically flailing his arms in the air. “Over here, over here! Look Miss Charlotte, there’s Seth and Stella, too. Can I go play for a while?”

“No, sit back immediately. I can’t have you falling out and injuring yourself.”

“Please, Miss Charlotte?
Please?
”

Charlotte ignored the boy’s begging and rubbed her fingers across her forehead, trying her hardest to keep up. “Let me get this straight … Solomon, Sarah, Stella and Seth. There are six of them altogether though? Who are we missing?”

“Samuel and Sophie,” Junior said, twisting in the seat as the wagon passed right by the Lawsons’ front yard. “Sophie’s only five; she’s the littlest of ’em all. She never got to meet her mother and Pa reckons that’s the sorriest thing he ever heard. She don’t talk none, Sophie that is. She just clings to her daddy’s leg so much I reckon he’s forgotten how to walk straight. He drags her around the yard, it kinda looks like fun. I asked Pa once if we could give it a try, but he said I needed to pay more attention in school.”

“I can only imagine,” Charlotte said, squinting in the sunshine as the wagon pulled closer to town.

A small steeple church suddenly ascended right up from the dust on one side of the road in front of them. Somehow she’d missed it on her earlier travels. It was rundown some but still in good working condition and the quaint charm of its exterior had Charlotte wondering if the inside was just as appealing.

The longer she gazed at it, slowing the horses to an easy trot just the way Thomas had taught her, the more it looked like the church she’d dreamed about back at the orphanage. The one with the aisle she’d walk down, clutching her mother’s handkerchief.

It was painted blue, with a matching timber fence. An archway framed the doors and a silver crucifix hung from a nail right there in the middle of the wood. There was a tall tree off to one side that shaded the grass so it was greener than the rest, and a copper bell swayed high up in the air above the shingled roof.

“Is that the only church in town, Junior?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“So that’s where Thomas and I will be wed? Oh, I do hope so. It’s the most beautiful church I’ve ever seen and nothing would make me happier than saying my vows right there in front of God. The most beautiful church I’ve ever seen!”

Junior simply shrugged.

Further along the street, set amidst the odd cluster of small-frame buildings, was the doctor’s office – where Mabel was clearly seen peeking out through the intricate lace curtains. Beyond that were the mercantile, a small butchery and the local barber shop.

On the other side of the dusty road stood the saloon. It was grander than any other building in town. There were a few stragglers moseying around the front, more than likely waiting on its opening, and Charlotte couldn’t help but notice how every set of eyes, blood-shot and unfocused as they were, was glued to the passing wagon. It seemed they were just as curious to find out about the mysterious young lady from Seattle as everyone else was.

It was only moments later when she pulled to a halt right in front of
The Coffee Grande
and she and Junior climbed out of the wagon. Through the window Charlotte could see Louise rushing about from table to table, serving morning tea. When the two women locked eyes through the glass, Louise instantly smiled and gestured for Charlotte to join her.

“I’ll be back in just a moment,” mouthed Charlotte, taking Junior by the hand as they turned and headed toward the red and white striped awning that overhung the footpath.

Louise, having spent far too much time with Henry and his detective mind, instantly cottoned on to what was happening and rushed to the door, poking her head out. “Good luck with that, Zeke’s a right bundle of nerves. If the boy comes out without a scratch on his face I’d be counting my lucky stars, but never you mind any of that, I’ll set two places while you’re gone.”