Newton (Prairie Grooms Book 9) (14 page)

“Do we have to go back?” she asked, her eyes pleading.

Duncan’s chest tightened. “You know we must.”

Cozette’s head fell to her chest as she sighed. “Yes, unfortunately …”

“Here – I know something that will cheer you up.” He gave the horse a slap of the reins.

“What?”

“You’ll see.” They drove another mile, neither speaking, until Duncan steered the wagon off the road.

“Oh, Duncan!” Cozette exclaimed. “You are wonderful!”

“I do try,” he said with a grin and brought the wagon to a stop. He climbed down and before he could walk around the wagon to help his wife, her feet were already touching the ground. “Don’t tell me you’re going to fall back into all your old habits while we’re here?”

She laughed at him, lifted her skirts and, as best she could considering the shoes she wore, ran for the trail that led down to the canyon, the creek and His Majesty.

“Wait for me, you silly woman!” Duncan called after her. He had to run to catch up.

Cozette ignored him and ran ahead, picking her way rapidly down the trail. Duncan watched her all the way. When she wanted something, she went for it. And right now, that sense of home, that familiarity was what she craved. He wasn’t about to stop her from having it. And, agile as she was, he didn’t have to worry about her falling flat on her face.

He, on the other hand, had to make his way down more slowly. By the time he reached the bottom she stood in the middle of the meadow, staring at the huge oak. She took his hand as he joined her, and together they approached the mighty tree. “Will you just look at it?” he said in awe. “I’d almost forgotten how big it is.”

“His Majesty has seen some things since we’ve been away,” Cozette commented.

“I’m sure he has.” They walked over, and as one reached out to touch the rough bark. “Hello, old friend,” Duncan whispered. “I’ve missed you.”

Cozette turned and leaned against the massive trunk. “Duncan, is this not where you planned on building a house?”

He also turned, leaned next to her and gazed out over the meadow. “Yes. Before this whole duke business was thrown at me, this is where I wanted to build myself a little cabin.”

She turned to him. “You still can.”

Duncan took her hands in his. “My dear, sweet Cozette. It doesn’t make much sense to build one when we’re not here to occupy it.”

“Susara and Logan live in my father’s cabin.”

“Yes, but …” Duncan stopped. “… hmmm. You’ve just given me a wonderful idea.” He pulled her into his arms, looked deeply into her eyes and kissed her with everything he had.

H
arrison and Colin
got up from the kitchen table at the same time. “We’re leaving, dear wife!” Harrison called. But no one answered. “Sadie must be upstairs with Belle,” he told Colin.

“No matter, they’ll figure out we’ve gone back to work soon enough.”

“Did you hear something earlier?” Harrison asked.

“No, why?”

“For a moment I thought I heard …”

A knock sounded at the door.

“… that.”

“Oh well – one of us had better answer it, I suppose,” Colin quipped.

Harrison headed into the hall. By the time he reached the door, Sadie was just coming downstairs. “I thought I heard someone at the door,” she said.

Harrison smiled ruefully. “You have impeccable hearing, wife, except when I call you.”

She glared at him as he swung the door open, then gasped.

Harrison looked in alarm at her before snapping his head around to … “Duncan!”

Duncan stood on the porch, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Hello, brother.”

Harrison launched himself at the man and almost knocked him over. “By Heaven, it’s good to see you!” He hugged him, then pulled away, tears in his eyes.

Colin came running down the hall. “What’s all the commotion about – oh! Duncan!” He flew out the door and ran into Harrison, who hit Duncan. All three brothers went down.

Sadie stood in the doorway, laughing and shaking her head. “Welcome home, Duncan.” She looked away as the brothers struggled to untangle themselves and took Cozette into her arms with a squeal. “I didn’t see you standing there! Oh my goodness, it’s good to see you!”

Cozette smiled and laughed. “It’s good to see you too, Sadie.”

Sadie pulled back. “Cozette! You’re … you’re talking!”

Cozette nodded. “Yes, I can speak very well now.”

“Until she gets upset,” Duncan said as Colin pulled him to his feet. “Only then does she hesitate.” He smiled, looked at his brothers and pulled them into another bear hug. When he let go, all three brothers had tears of joy in their eyes. They slapped each other on the backs, started talking at once, then burst into hysterics.

Sadie giggled. “I think we’d better let Belle and the others know you’ve arrived,” she said over the men’s laughter. “Come on, let’s go.” She pulled Cozette into the house as the brothers continued to chortle and smack each other. They didn’t even notice the women had left.

“When did you arrive in town?” Colin asked, calming somewhat. “We didn’t expect you this early.”

“Yes,” Harrison agreed. “We didn’t think we’d see you until close to Christmas, if then.” He suddenly sobered. “How did you get here so fast?”

Duncan’s eyes misted as he studied them. “Does it matter? I’m here now.”

“Yes, but … what did you do, sprout wings and fly?” Colin teased.

Duncan swallowed hard, then smiled. “Cozette and I are here and that’s all that counts. Now, how about some coffee? We have a lot of catching up to do.” He put an arm around each of them and steered them to the door.

“Sadie made an apple pie,” Harrison said. “I’m sure she won’t mind if we cut into it for you.”

“I’m sure she won’t,” Duncan said as he preceded them into the house. He stopped just short of the stairs and breathed in the air. “Ahhh, it’s good to be home.”

“Your room is all ready,” Colin said. “The women prepared it the moment we got your letter.”

“Good. It will be nice to sleep in the ranch house again.”

Duncan stepped into the parlor, studied it, then left and crossed the hall to the dining room. Harrison and Colin watched their brother inspect each room, picking up things and setting them down as he went.

“Not much has changed since you left,” Harrison called after him.

“I can see that. It makes coming home all the better.” He came back out of the study. “It’s like we never left.”

Harrison and Colin smiled. “It’s bloody good to have you home, brother.” Harrison said.

Duncan closed his eyes a moment and nodded.

“Duncan,” Colin said as he went to stand before him. “You know, you may have been gone for over two years, but … I can still tell when something’s wrong.”

Duncan looked at him, but said nothing.

“What is it?” Colin asked and put a hand on his shoulder.

“As I said … we have much to talk about.”

Colin and Harrison exchanged a quick glance and nodded. “To the kitchen, then,” Harrison announced. “The pie is waiting.”

“
C
ozette
!” Belle said as she struggled to sit up in bed. “I wondered what was going on downstairs!”

Sadie helped her up. “Yes, they surprised us!”

Cozette took one look at Belle and smiled in delight. “You are … so big!”

Belle rubbed her hands over her swollen belly. “Yes, a few more weeks and the baby will be here.”

Cozette hugged her. “It is so good to see you.” She pulled away. “Both of you.” A tear headed down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. “I have missed you both so much.”

“We’ve missed you too,” Sadie said and put an arm around her. “Wait until Jefferson and Edith get here!”

“Yes, it will be good to see them too. Where is Honoria?”

“Napping. You’ll be the first to know when she wakes up,” Sadie said with a smile.

“I can’t wait to hold her,” Cozette said and smiled back.

“How are your father and the countess doing?” Belle asked. She backed away from Cozette and sat on the bed.

Cozette sat next to her. “Very well, thank you. They sent presents for everyone.”

“The better question is, where are they?” Sadie inquired. “Duncan never mentioned their location in his letters.”

“They are in Dalrovia.”

“Dalrovia?” Belle said in astonishment. “Of course that shouldn’t be a surprise, but it means …”

“Yes, it does,” Cozette said. “Madelaina will ascend the throne soon. They have been there for some time, but politics …” She shrugged.

“I can only imagine,” Sadie said. “Her grandfather the king has passed on, then?”

“Yes, but only recently. We found out when we … reached New York.”

Sadie fell into a nearby chair. “This means that Maddie and Andel … my goodness, it’s almost too much to think about.”

“They’ll be crowned the new King and Queen of Dalrovia,” Cozette said. “It is a very exciting time, but …”

“But what?” Belle asked.

“Complicated … the politics involved,” Cozette explained.

“I wish we could see them,” Belle said. “I suppose now, however, that it’s likely we’ll never see them again.”

“Don’t say that,” Sadie said. “I’m sure we’ll find a way.”

“You will have to travel to them, I’m afraid,” Cozette said. “I do not see Andel and Maddie coming here. The affairs of the crown will be too much for them to spare time to leave their country.”

“No,” Belle said, sadness in her voice. “But what about your father? Could he come to visit?”

“I do not know,” Cozette said, staring at the floor. “I’m not even sure when I will see him again.”

“Oh, Cozette,” Belle said and put an arm around her. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Cozette nodded. “I miss our times together.” She glanced at Belle, then Sadie. “Ours too. We had so many …”

Sadie got up, went to the bed and sat. “We miss them too.” She put an arm around her as well. “It’s been awful quiet in this house since everyone left.”

“Everyone?” Cozette said.

“Yes, Penelope, Imogene, Eloise, Apple, Constance …”

“Oh, yes, the cousins Duncan sent here to marry. We saw some of them last night at the hotel.”

“You mean you spent the night in the hotel?” Sadie said, affronted.

“Sadie, of course they would,” Belle told her. “Wouldn’t you?”

Sadie smiled. “I suppose I would. Sorry, Cozette – I didn’t mean it that way. You and Duncan were probably very tired when you got into town.”

“You have no idea,” she said with a smile.

Sadie hugged her. “We’re so glad you’re here. Now let’s go downstairs and see what the men are doing. Belle, do you need to rest awhile?”

“Rest? Now?! I’m going downstairs with you. You don’t think for a minute I’m going to miss out on anything, do you?”

Sadie laughed. “I suppose not. Come on then, let’s go see what sort of trouble our husbands are talking themselves into.”

“Talking themselves into?” Cozette said with a raised eyebrow.

“Cozette,” Sadie said in shock. “You of all people should know how they can be. You’re married to their ringleader.”

“Yes, but we have been away –”

“Exactly!” Sadie agreed. “Which is why we’d best get downstairs before Duncan concocts some outrageous plan like roping us all into this year’s Christmas play.”

Cozette laughed. “Oh yes, the play. I want to see Annie and Josiah.”

“You will, and everyone else in town,” Sadie said. “We have a bit of a surprise for you.”

“You do?” Cozette said with a little clap of her hands. “I can hardly wait!”

“Neither can we,” Sadie said. They helped Belle up and headed downstairs.

When the three entered the kitchen the men were seated at the table, coffee mugs in hand, half the pie Sadie had baked that morning gone. “Harrison Cooke!” she snapped. “What have you done?”

Harrison stood, arms wide, and smiled. “Sadie, Belle! Come celebrate with us!”

Sadie put her hands on her hips. “I know we’re celebrating, but I really wish you’d eaten the cookies. The pie was for after supper.”

“But my dear, sweet wife, this calls for a real Clear Creek celebration! And that means pie!”

“Right.” She smiled at Duncan. “No offense, Duncan, but the man will find any excuse to get into dessert before it’s time for it.” Only then did she notice the look on Colin’s face. He was grinning ear to ear. “What have you men been cooking up down here?”

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Harrison chortled.

“Isn’t
what
wonderful?” Belle asked in confusion.

“We’re all going to England!” Colin declared.

Belle stood in shock. Cozette locked eyes with Duncan. Sadie shook herself, nodded in resignation and looked at Cozette. “Told you he was the ringleader.”

“
P
ut those tables over there
… yes, that’s right.” Polly Van Cleet pointed at the hotel lobby. “We’ll move them later.”

Cyrus watched men scurry here and there under her direction. “Polly my dear, I’d no idea you had it in you.”

“Had what?”

“The organizational tactics of an Army colonel. One would think you’ve done this sort of thing before.”

“As you’ll recall, I did host a ball or two in our younger days. This might not be Boston, but we’ll make do. Why do you think I wanted you to make the hotel’s dining room so big?”

“You were quite right to insist, my dear. Now I’d better see about where to put those tables.”

“Leave me at least two … no, better make that three.”

“Three?”

“Cyrus, the food. There’s going to be a lot of it.”

“Ah yes, of course. Three it is, then.” He kissed her on the cheek and headed for the lobby.

“Arya, dear, could you run to the kitchen and fetch me a cup of tea?” Polly asked.

Arya glanced up from the book Susara had given her. It was full of drawings, and she liked to look at them. “Tea?”

“Yes, be a dear and fetch me a cup. Giving all these directions, my throat is quite parched.”

“Parched? What is parched?”

Polly laughed. “It means I’m thirsty.”

“Would water not be better?”

“Fetch me a glass of that too, will you?”

Arya smiled, nodded and set the book on a nearby table. She’d no sooner stood than three men picked up the table and began to carry it off, forcing her to run after them and retrieve her book from the surface. With a sigh, she turned and headed for the kitchen. “Mrs. Upton?” she called as she entered.

“Howdy, honey. What can I do for you?”

“Mrs. Van Cleet, er … Polly, she wants water and tea.”

“I guess she would after barking all those orders. That woman has definitely thrown a party or two in her day. Now we know who to have organize these things in the future.”

Arya gave her a tiny smile, then looked at the floor.

“What’s the matter, honey?”

Arya shrugged and made a face.

“Don’t give me that, I’ve spent enough time with you to know when something’s wrong.”

Arya’s eyes darted around the room. “I feel … strange.”

“Strange? You aren’t sick, are you? Maybe we’d better have Doc Drake take a look at you.”

“No, no, not like that. I’m not sick. But I feel strange – in here.” Arya patted her chest.

Mrs. Upton glanced at the kitchen door. “Are you feeling left out, honey? I know ever since Duncan arrived in town, we’ve been fussing over that party of his. But don’t you go thinking any of us has forgotten about your wedding. It’s just that …”

“Yes, I know,” Arya interjected. “Everyone is very excited about the duke and the duchess being here. It would be no different if someone of great importance came to visit my people. It’s … that I do not understand when everyone is talking at once.”

“I see. I guess everyone is busy as a bee out there. Maybe if you make yourself busy too, you won’t feel so out of place.” She went to a sideboard, poured a glass of water and handed it to her. “Here, take this out to Polly and I’ll get a pot of tea going.”

Arya took the glass from her. “I will tell her.”

“Ask her for something to do,” she suggested. “Help out as best you can until that handsome man of yours comes back. What time will he be home?”

“In time to eat dinner. He is working all day with Ryder.”

“You must miss him during the day while he’s out there,” Sally commented.

Arya nodded. “I do.”

Mrs. Upton smiled. “Take Polly her water and do as I said. You’ll see.”

Arya forced a smile and left the kitchen. She went straight to Polly and handed her the glass. “Thank you my dear,” Polly said, then took a sip. “Ah, that’s better.”

“Can I help?” Arya asked.

“Oh no, not right now. The men are seeing to everything. I won’t need your help until we start decorating tomorrow.”

Arya stared at her a moment, then nodded in understanding. “I will go to my room, then.”