Second Chance Brides (39 page)

Annabelle shook her head and leaned back against his desk. “You men can be awfully dense at times.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just what do you expect Shannon to do? Do you have any idea how hard it must be for her to come here several days a week and work for you when she’s in love with you, but you’ve all but told her you don’t want her?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“But it’s what she heard. She’s all alone in this world, from what I understand. You can’t expect her to keep working here with things as they are. And where does that leave her? With no job, she has no other alternative except to marry—or work in a saloon.” Her teasing smile turned his stomach.

Mark strode across the room and leaned into Annabelle’s face. “Don’t you talk about her in such a manner. Shannon would starve to death before working in a saloon.”

“Ah, so you do love her.” She sighed heavily. “Guess that leaves me out on the streets again.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why do you think I came here, Mark? I was hoping we could pick up where we were before you shot that cowboy.”

Mark’s stomach turned at the verbal mention of his misdeed. Had she told anyone about that? If so, he’d probably want to run away like Jack had after that bully painted those words on half the buildings in town. What if Annabelle had done that?

Mark is a killer
.

He shuddered at the thought.

“Are you just going to let her marry Rand Kessler?”

“Kessler?” The fact that Shannon was marrying an honorable, well-to-do rancher didn’t soothe him at all.

She smirked. “Shannon didn’t tell you? I hear he’s a fine catch.”

“I thought you heard everything she said.”

She shrugged. “I might have missed a few words.”

“What is it you want, Annabelle? I need to get on the road.”

“I came here to woo you myself, but I can see that your heart belongs to another. So, you gonna let her get away, or are you gonna be the man I know you are, put your past behind you, once and for all, and marry the gal you love?”

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It is.” She laid her hand on his arm. “What you did back in Abilene was an honorable thing.”

Mark harrumphed. “Since when is killing a man honorable?”

“You were protecting me from being mauled by that cowboy. All you did was tell him to stop. He’s the one who got mad and pulled the gun. You were just defending me and yourself. Why is that so hard to understand?”

“When you’ve been raised in church, you’re taught that killing someone is a sin.”

“So, isn’t your God supposed to be the forgiving type?”

Mark nodded. How odd to have an ex-saloon girl preaching to him.

“Well, if He forgives you, then it’s time you forgave yourself.”

He pondered her words for a while, and then suddenly, Annabelle stood up and shook her skirts.

“Well, I suppose I should get back to the boardinghouse and pack.”

“Pack?” Mark pulled himself from his stupor. “You’re going somewhere?”

“This town’s way too small for me. I think I’ll head up to Dallas.”

He could see past her fake bravado. She’d hoped he’d fall for her and marry her. Make a decent woman out of her. “It was good seeing you again.”

She narrowed her gaze. “You mean that?”

He nodded his head. “I hope you can find a job—not in a saloon—and do something good with your life.”

She laid her hand against his cheek. “You, too, Mark Corbett. Don’t you think it’s high time you started your lawyering business?”

Mark barked a laugh. “You’re the second person today to say that.” He reached into his pocket and handed her a wad of dollars.

“Don’t.” She pushed his hand away. “I have enough money to start over, courtesy of Everett.” Her eyes twinkled with mischievousness. “Have a good life, and if you ever happen to think of me, say a prayer to that God of yours.”

“He’s your God, too.”

“What would He want with the likes of me?”

“You’d be surprised. Promise me that you’ll attend church wherever you settle and give God a chance.”

“We’ll see.” She flashed him another saucy smile. “Farewell.”

The bell on the door jingled, and just that fast, a second woman walked out of his life.

Leah wrapped the last loaf of bread in a clean towel that Rachel had loaned her and put it into the basket, also borrowed.

“This is a kind thing you’re doing.” Rachel smiled at her from the other side of the worktable.

“I feel like I ought to be doing more, but I don’t want to give Dan false hopes. I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer the past few days and feel that God wants me to help them by providing bread and some cookies or maybe a pie, now and then.”

“I’d be happy to send some things along from time to time. I can’t imagine how Dan is cooking for five small children.”

Leah winced again at being reminded of Dan’s hardship, but she was doing as much as she could. “I’ll just run these over, and then I want to get back and help Shannon finish up her dress.”

Rachel leaned against the door frame. “I still can’t believe she’s getting married to Rand. I thought for sure that she was in love with Mark.”

“I think she is, but since he made it clear he doesn’t want her, she’s moved on. I think she’s doing the wise thing. I can’t imagine her married to a Corbett.”

Rachel pressed her lips together. “They aren’t as bad as they may seem. They may be teasers, but both are actually honorable men.”

Leah snorted a laugh. “Tell that to someone who didn’t have her whole life changed by them.”

“It hasn’t all been bad, has it?”

She stared up at the decorative ceiling and realized Rachel spoke the truth. “No, it hasn’t. I’ve made a number of friends here and fallen in love with a wonderful man.”

Rachel pushed away from the door and crossed the room. “Won’t you reconsider? Dan needs you now more than ever before. I truly believe you’d be happy with him and the children.”

Shaking her head, Leah grabbed the basket off the table and placed the handle on her arm. “I can’t. I promised myself I’d never get in that situation again.”

“Well, you’ll bless them with your kindness and this food. I’ll see you later.”

Leah nodded and hurried down the hall before Rachel decided to give her another talk about marrying Dan. If only she could do that. Her heart ached. She missed him dearly. Maybe she’d catch a glimpse of him working at the livery when she delivered the food.

Her feet quickly ate up the short distance to Dan’s home, and she noticed the differences immediately. Clothing of all sizes was laid out on the porch railings to dry in the September sun. A wagon, ball, and discarded doll littered the yard. She almost dreaded seeing the inside, but she climbed the steps and knocked on the door.

The middle girl—Ruthie, wasn’t it?—opened the door. She stared up at Leah with big brown eyes. “I know you.”

Leah smiled. “I met you the day you arrived. I’m Leah, and I’ve brought you some snacks and bread.”

“What kind of snacks?”

“Oh, sugar cookies and some apple bread.”

The girl straightened and licked her lips. “Can I have some now?”

“Well, maybe we should ask Callie first. Or your uncle. Is he here?”

Ruthie shook her head, her untidy braids flying back and forth. Dirt smudged one side of her face and around her mouth, and her hands were filthy. “Uncle Dan isn’t here. Him and Ben’s working.”

Little Davy toddled to the door and stared up at her. Tears still dampened his lashes and clung to his eyes. He reached up his hands to her. “Hold’ju.”

Leah felt a crack form in the wall she’d erected around herself. She cleared her throat. “How about a cookie. Would you like that?”

“Tookie!” The boy clapped his hands and disappeared into the house. Leah longed to shove the basket into Ruthie’s hands and flee back to the safety of the boardinghouse, but the load was too heavy for the child, and she needed to return Rachel’s towels and basket. She swallowed hard. “May I come inside for a moment?”

“Shut that door, Ruthie. You’re lettin’ in flies.” Leah couldn’t see Callie but recognized her voice. “And don’t you dare let Davy out again, you hear?”

Leah cringed. Callie was just a small version of what she’d been like. She’d had to take care of her siblings as far back as she could remember. Her heart ached for the little girl who’d have to grow up far too soon and would probably never get to be a playful, young girl again. Why, if she had to care for her siblings all the time, she wouldn’t even be able to attend school.

Footsteps pounded on the floor, and Callie appeared in the doorway. “What are you doing here?”

Leah winced inwardly at the animosity in the girl’s voice. “I brought some fresh bread for you and some cookies.”

She longingly eyed the basket, but her glare quickly refocused on Leah. “We don’t need your handouts. I can make bread.”

“So you already have all you need?”

“Nuh-uh. We don’t got no bread. You told a lie. I’m gonna tell Ma.” Ruthie’s scolding expression suddenly changed, and she frowned, her lips quivering. “I’m…uh…gonna tell Uncle Dan.”

Callie glared at her sister. “I didn’t say we had any, just that I could make it.”

Leah wasn’t taken in by her false bravado. “Well, since I have all this bread, I’d hate to see it go to waste.” She strode in and her heart nearly broke. Clara Howard’s tidy home was a complete mess. Crates of clothes, toys, and other items were stacked along the empty spaces of the parlor. Two small chests of drawers lined the wall of the crowded dining room. Everything from sticks and rocks the boys must have dragged in to clothing and diapers covered the furniture and made walking difficult. Davy picked up a stick and whacked the door frame. Leah smiled, hoping to distract him. “Come, time for a cookie.”

When he toddled past her, she took the stick from him and laid it out of his reach on top of one of the dressers and carefully made her way to the kitchen, where dirty dishes covered the table and countertops. She stacked several soiled plates to make room for the basket.

A woman was definitely needed here. The workload was far too much for an eight-year-old. Leah tried to ignore the guilt assaulting her. Was she being completely unreasonable? Dan needed her, and so did these children.

But how could she jump right back into the situation she’d so recently fled?

Ruthie climbed up on a chair, and Davy attempted to do the same. Leah picked him up and sat him in the chair next to his sister. “Before you eat, we need to clean those hands. Callie, could I please borrow a washcloth?”

“Suit yourself, but I’m not washing any dishes they dirty.”

“Why not?” Leah asked as she searched for a clean cloth.

Callie shrugged. “I got too much to do watching these young’uns to do dishes. Uncle Dan does them at night.”

Leah’s heart took another blow. Poor Dan. Working all day, tending these orphans, and then most likely having to fix dinner and wash dishes afterward. At least she could help with this one chore. After washing off the children’s hands, she rolled up her sleeves and filled the bucket. The children were done with their snack and playing in the parlor when she finished. She tidied up the kitchen, putting containers back on shelves, and then she swept the floor. Her heart felt good knowing Dan wouldn’t come home to such a mess.

She rummaged around for something to cook, but when she didn’t find any meat, she decided to make a pot of potato soup. It would taste good with the bread she’d baked. She checked on the children and found Davy asleep on the floor. Poor little thing. Callie sat on the settee looking at a picture book with Ruthie, whose eyes were nearly closed. Leah picked up Davy, receiving a scowl from Callie, then took the boy into Dan’s room and laid him in the middle of the bed. She brushed his hair from his forehead and smiled. He was a comely child.

Not having heard a peep from the baby the whole time she was there, she tiptoed into the bedroom that had been Clara’s. Her heart jumped. Not a thing had been done in here. Clara’s clothes still hung from the pegs, and her brush and comb rested on a small vanity. Her shoes stuck out from under the bed, where Maggie slept with her thumb hanging just out of her mouth. Her lashes were spiked as if she’d been crying, and the girl’s tongue moved as if she were nursing. For the first time, Leah realized that the baby probably still had been nursing when her mother died. “Oh, you poor thing.”

What was Dan going through trying to comfort five young children who missed their parents and had their whole world yanked out from under them? She hung her head. How selfish she’d been. Tears coursed down her cheeks, and she broke into sobs. “Forgive me, Lord,” she whispered. “I’ve been so selfish.”

She stared up at the ceiling, fortifying herself for the tasks at hand. God would give her the strength to do His will; she understood that now.

Quietly, she gathered up Clara’s dresses and shoes and carried them into the parlor, where she placed them in an empty crate.

“What are you doing?” Callie stared, her mouth twisted to one side and her brown eyes sparking. Ruthie had slumped over and was asleep. “We don’t need your help.”

Leah realized she needed to mend some bridges, so she sat beside the girl. “I need to apologize to you. I…uh…wasn’t prepared for Dan to bring you kids home with him. It was a surprise. A very big surprise.”