Newton (Prairie Grooms Book 9) (21 page)

“Because you were still recovering from everything,” Imogene said as she joined him. “No one thought to tell you who those outlaws were at the time because no one knew you had any dealings with the vermin.”

“I wish I hadn’t. That’s who forced me along with him. That’s who locked all the women in the Cookes’ barn and set it on fire!”

“Attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery,” Duncan said. “My word, but this Spider certainly earned his eternal reward.”

“Aye, and he kept some equally interesting company,” added the Scot.

“Wait a minute,” Cutty said. “Forgive my impertinence, but what do you know of all this? Just what are you and your wife doing here?”

“I’ve business with the duke.”

Everyone turned to Duncan who gave them a shrug. “Mr. MacDonald and his wife have helped me adjust to the, um, rigors of the nobility.”

Imogene put one hand on her hip. “How so? Have you been in England?”

“Yes, we have,” Mrs. MacDonald said before her husband could.

Cutty looked helplessly at Imogene. “I’m not sure I’m following all of this.”

“I am Scottish,” Mr. MacDonald explained. “I do go home now and then to visit, ye ken.”

“Ohhhh,” Imogene said. “Of course – how silly of me.”

“I kent His Grace was in London while we were there, so I sought him out.”

Cutty nodded and looked at his wife again. “I think we’d better stick to writing stories about this sort of thing. I can’t take the real thing as well as I used to.”

“Excuse me?” Mrs. MacDonald said with a smile.

“We’re writing adventure stories,” Imogene explained.

“Ah, I see,” she said. “I hope you’ll be very successful with them.”

Cutty and Imogene smiled at her as the music stopped. Newton and Arya made their way through the crowd to join them. “That was fun!” Arya said.

Newton laughed. “She’s a fast learner.”

“We saw,” Cozette said with a little clap of her hands. She turned to Duncan and looked at him with pleading eyes.

He smiled back. “Would someone like to dance?”

Cozette smiled and nodded.

Duncan laughed, took her by the hand and led her through the crowd.

Mr. MacDonald bowed to his wife. “Might I ha’ the honor?”

She curtsied. “Of course.” He flashed her a brilliant smile and led her to the dancing area.

No sooner had they left than Amon and Nettie came to join the rest. “Newton, who is that?” Nettie asked.

“I’m not really sure, actually. Friends of Their Graces.”

“Name of MacDonald,” Cutty added. “They’ve visited here a few times… ahem, as I understand it. I don’t know his rank or title, but he doesn’t seem the sort to trifle with.”

Nettie kissed Cutty on the cheek. “Tall, isn’t he?”

“Very,” agreed Newton.

“Well, never a dull moment to be had in this town,” Imogene commented. “I dare say, I wonder if it’ll be as exciting when Colin and Harrison go to England.”

“What?” Amon said. “When did they decide this?”

“Heavens, man, it’s all over town,” Cutty said.

“I don’t get into town much, you know.”

“Well, the good news is I’ll have work to do,” Newton said. “Colin has asked me to help out with the ranch while they’re away.”

Nettie smiled. “Newton, that’s wonderful! You’ll have a job!”

“Yes, and full time, at least for a while. Logan is going to help me run things while they’re away. Colin and Harrison will start showing me how things are done next week.”

“How long will those people be in town?” Arya asked, pointing to the MacDonalds as they danced.

“Long enough for us to get to know them better, I’m sure. If this woman is familiar with your people and can speak your language, then I want to find out more.”

“I wonder if her tribe is close,” said Arya.

“We’ll find out when we speak with them. In fact, let’s invite them to dinner tomorrow.”

Arya nodded, satisfied. She felt like she’d just found a long-lost sister in the mysterious Shona. “Yes, let’s do that.”

Newton gave her hand a squeeze. “Care for another dance? This is all for us, you know. We’d best take advantage of it.”

Arya smiled as she realized she was now officially married to this man, in the eyes of his people as well as hers. “Yes.”

He led her to the dance area, bowed, then reached for her hands. “You remember the steps I just taught you?”

She gazed into his eyes. “I love you, Newton.”

He smiled and pulled her close. “I know. I love you too.”

“When can we visit my people?”

He glanced at the MacDonalds, who were laughing at something Grandma Waller had just said. “Sooner than I expected, is my guess.” He wasn’t sure why he said it, but there it was.

“Thank you,” she said, and they began to dance.

W
illie tossed
the last bag on top of the stagecoach. “Is that all of it, yer, uh … yer Grace, sir?”

“For Heaven’s sake, Willie, call me Duncan. And yes, that’s all.” He turned to the gathering crowd. “Where’s my wife?”

“Better not leave without her!” Wilfred cried from the mercantile porch. “Now wouldn’t that be something?”

“It’s not likely to happen, Wilfred,” Duncan called back with a smile.

Colin helped Belle into the coach. Once she was settled he turned to Sadie. “I’ll take little Jefferson.”

She handed him his son. He was a lusty little babe, wailing with hunger. “There now, Jeffy, you’re going to love England,” she cooed.

“I’ll love it if we make it in one piece,” Colin quipped. He carefully handed the baby to his mother in the coach. “But who am I to argue with my big brother?”

“They’ll be fine – nothing to worry about,” Duncan said reassuringly.

“Don’t you folks be leaving just yet!” Grandma Waller cried as she hurried down the street, a huge basket in her hand. She reached them, out of breath. “Here,” she gasped and handed the basket to Duncan. “A little something for the road.”

Duncan took it and smiled. “Good heavens, what’s in here, Grandma? Food for a month?”

“Well ya can’t expect to make such a long trip without a few vittles to take along? Just be glad Andel’s not with you,” she added with a wink. “Think of all the pies I’d have to try to fit in that one basket?”

Everyone laughed at that. “Will ya get to see Andel and Maddie?” Wilfred shouted from his perch.

“It’s hard to say,” Duncan called back. “But we’ll certainly try.”

Eloise handed Honoria to Sadie. She turned to Harrison as Duncan placed the basket in the coach. “I’m so excited! I just wish it didn’t take so long to get there.”

Duncan glanced at her and smiled. “It’s not so bad. You’ll see.”

Harrison smiled, then turned to Newton and Arya. “Now you’ll write if anything happens?”

“Of course,” Newton said.

“Ah, don’t go bustin’ a gut,” Jefferson barked. “Between Newton, Logan and myself, things’ll be fine. By the time you get back the herd’ll have doubled in size! And we may even have that cabin of yours built for ya Duncan. Right next to His Majesty!”

“I dare say, but we’re not going to be gone that long!” Harrison said.

“Long enough,” Jefferson shot back. “And besides, ya need to be gone long enough for Newton here to cut his teeth on some good ranchin’. Then he can help teach that new grandson of mine.”

“Jeffy will have plenty of time to learn the family business,” Colin said. “As will any other future children of ours.”

“Worry about this one before you go thinkin’ about any more,” Jefferson laughed.

Patrick Mulligan slapped him on the back. “Who knows how many they’ll be coming back home with, eh?”

“Don’t even think it!” Belle said from inside the coach. She’d had a hard delivery – having more children was the last thing on her mind.

Patrick and Jefferson ignored her and kept laughing.

“Stop it, you two!” Irene snapped as she waddled through the crowd, a bag in her hand. “Here,” she said and handed it to Colin. “Cookies.”

“Why, thank you – how very thoughtful.” Colin kissed her on the cheek.

She blushed. “You take care of that grand-nephew of mine, you hear? Or …” She scrunched up her face and glared at him. “… you know what will happen.”

Colin gulped. “Yes, I do.” He waved at the crowd. “See you in six months!” Those gathered cheered as he climbed into the stagecoach, Harrison helped Sadie with Honoria get into the coach, and then climbed in himself.

Duncan glanced around again. “
Where
is my wife?”

The sound of a galloping horse reached his ears. Cozette and Arya, both dressed in buckskins, came to a skidding stop just short of the crowd. They jumped off the horse laughing and brushed dust from their clothes.

“You two,” Duncan said sternly. “Where have you been?”

“Hunting,” Cozette said and held up a rabbit. She handed it to Arya. “Enjoy your dinner. You will love my recipe.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Arya said with a laugh. She went straight to Newton and presented him with their catch. “For you!”

“Oh yes, of course. Though I’ll like it better when it’s on a plate tonight,” he told her.

She laughed as the crowd pressed in on Duncan and Cozette. “When will you be back?” someone asked.

Cozette smiled. “We do not know.”

Duncan put his arm around her. “I doubt we can come when Harrison and Colin return, but rest assured, we will visit you all again.”

Several in the crowd groaned in protest, including Sheriff Hughes. “Well, when you come back, let’s hope you have a quieter visit!”

“I’m counting on it, Harlan!” Duncan said and helped Cozette into the stagecoach. He then turned to the townsfolk. “Know that we love you all.” He climbed inside, shut the door and sat. “Let’s go, Willie!”

Willie gave the reins a slap. The stage lurched forward as the people cheered and yelled their final goodbyes.

“Well, that’s that,” Jefferson said.

“How about some pot roast for lunch?” Wilfred asked as he came down the mercantile steps. “Irene made plenty, enough for all of ya.” He swept his hand at Newton, Arya and Jefferson.

“Sounds mighty fine,” Jefferson said. “Newton?”

“You go on in. Arya and I will be along in a moment.”

Jefferson followed Wilfred and Irene into the mercantile as the crowd dispersed. Newton watched Grandma Waller wipe her tears with Doc’s handkerchief, then blow her nose. She took Doc’s hand and they made their way up the street to their house. “It will seem … empty here now that they are gone,” Arya said.

“Yes.” Newton turned to face her. “Happy?”

She nodded. “I want to go to England too one day.”

“We will, as soon as I earn enough money.”

“And we will stay with Duncan and Cozette?”

“Of course, darling. Where else would we stay?”

She put her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder. “I am going to miss Cozette.”

“I know you are. The two of you have grown very close.”

“I learned so much from her. I wish she was my sister.”

Newton chuckled. “I dare say it’s been nearly impossible to separate the two of you these past months.”

She smiled. “Yes, it has been. I miss Shona too.”

“Mrs. MacDonald? Well, there’s an interesting woman. Truth be told, love, I’m glad they didn’t stay too long after our wedding.”

“You don’t like them?”

“No, no, it’s not that. It’s just … well, it’s like Duncan keeps saying. They either attract trouble or they just happen to show up for it. Like him, I’m not sure which.”

“But I learned a lot from her too. She spent several years studying my people and their ways. What was the word she used –
missionary
?”

“Yes. She and her husband have quite the varied backgrounds. Both of them missionaries, he a wagon master, she a faith healer of sorts. Handy to have around in a pinch, I admit.”

Arya snuggled against him. “I have to take care of my rabbit.”

Newton smiled. “How about some lunch first? Then we’ll go back to the ranch and you can take care of it, all right?”

She looked at him and smiled. “I love you, Newton.”

“I love you too, Arya. Now, let’s go have some of Mrs. Dunnigan’s famous pot roast before she takes a ladle to us.”

That got Arya moving. She jumped back, spun on her heel, took the steps two at a time and ran into the mercantile.

Newton laughed. He looked back to where the stagecoach had been. A memory flashed of his and Nettie’s arrival in Clear Creek. Now they were both happily married and called the town their own. It was a far cry from England, certainly a far cry from Arya’s people, but they were home. He smiled. Even if their new home was a bit bizarre.

He looked down the road at the end of town and studied the rolling prairie that lay beyond. A movement caught his eye, something far off in the distance, but he ignored it. Irene’s pot roast was more important. With a contented sigh he went up the porch steps and into the mercantile. Life was good, for all of them.

I
hope
you’ve enjoyed reading
Newton
, the ninth and final (for real this time!) book in the Prairie Grooms series. Be sure to check out the rest of the books:

B
ut while the
series is over, we’re not quite done with Clear Creek yet – or with the mysterious Awahnees and MacDonalds. Who knows what fun books will be coming in 2016 that center around Clear Creek and its wacky residents?

A
nd if you
’d like to know more about the MacDonalds – seriously, what could a Highland Scot be doing wandering around post-Civil War Oregon?! – check out Geralyn Beauchamp’s books: