Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three) (4 page)

“It depends on Ryder. I may stay with him.”

Eloise nodded. “I understand; it’s just that I’d love to spend some time with you.”

“Let me see to him first,
then I’ll let you know.”

They left the room, and Eloise couldn’
t help but look for Seth when they reached the bottom of the stairs. Where could he be? She glanced back several times, hoping to catch a glimpse, but Seth Jones was nowhere to be seen.

“Have you heard from Penelope?” Constance asked. “Does she know what’s happened?”

“Not yet. But she’s coming this morning for the sewing circle, and she’ll find out then.”

“It will be good to be together, even for a few hours,” Constance told her. “I’m hoping Ryder will be up and
around today.”

They would soon find out as they stepped onto the Wallers
’ front porch, and knocked on the door. Grandma immediately opened it. “That’ll be a penny.”

“What?” the sisters asked at once.

Grandma laughed. “Never mind. Come on in; it’s getting mighty crowded back there.”

Eloise and Constance glanced at
her curiously as they passed, and went to the patient room. Harrison and Seth were already there, speaking with Ryder.

“Mornin’, Sugar,” he said
in a tired voice.

Harrison and Seth moved aside so Constance could get to the bed. She sat
down, and hugged her husband. Eloise stood near the door, as Seth backed up a few steps to stand next to her. “Good morning,” he greeted.

She blushed. Even when he spoke a simple greeting, her heart thumped in her chest
like a drum. “Good morning, Mr. Jones. How is your brother?”

“He’s fine
; a little weak, but other than that, both Doc Drake and Doc Waller say he’s as good as new.”

“That’s wonderful news,” she said, her voice soft. “I’m glad to hear it.” She looked at him as she realized the time. “Did the posse head out already?”

“Yes, they’ve been gone for hours.”

She swallowed. “And … you didn’t go with them?”

Seth made a show of glancing around the room. “I guess not; I’m right here.”

She smiled. “I’m glad you stayed. I … we
ll, if I might be so bold to say such a thing … but I believe I would miss your company if you’d gone.”

“You may say.
And, I’d miss you, too.”

Her cheeks brightened and she looked away, a shy smile on her face. “Chasing outlaws is best handled by those experienced in such things. The sheriff is so much better at it than … oh, I mean …”

“Than I am?”

Eloise looked at him, and offered a weak smile. “I apologize
; I didn’t mean it to sound like…”

“Like I’m not the kind of man to go
?”

She put her face in her hands. “I’m not making sense, am I?” she mumbled through her fingers.

Seth pulled her hands from her face. “You’re making perfect sense. Who am I to go chasing after dangerous outlaws?”

Harrison glanced at them, but said nothing.

“Men do what they will. No matter what a woman says,” said Eloise.

“Not all men, Miss Sayer.”

“I say, Cousin,” Harrison interrupted. “Isn’t it about time you went across the street and started on your dress? The sooner it’s done, the sooner the two of you can be married.”

Seth smiled. “He’s right. I ma
y even sit down and help you work on it.”

Eloise started at the remark. “I
… I beg your pardon?”

“Bet ya didn’t know Seth here can sew,” Ryder put in with a chuckle.

“Sew?” Eloise said. “You?”

“I’m not unhandy
with a needle and thread,” said Seth. “I’ve done my share over the years. Usually patching up this one’s clothes.” He pointed at Ryder and grinned.

“True enough!” Ryder said. He kissed Constance on the top of her head and sighed.

“I think we’d best leave them to visit for a while,” said Harrison. “Let’s head across the street and see if Penelope and August have arrived.”

Seth held his arm out to Eloise. “Shall we?”

She took it, still embarrassed by what she’d said before. Did he think that she thought him less of a man by not going with the posse? What about her quip concerning leaving it to the lawmen? He seemed not to take offense, but still … or, was it that she did? Had
she
formed an opinion of him, based on what she saw? But then, who wouldn’t? A better question would be what kind of man she was hoping him to be. What kind of man did she really need?

But mail-
order brides weren’t supposed to be picky, and definitely shouldn’t expect to get exactly what they wanted. After all, didn’t a woman become a mail-order bride in this country because they couldn’t find anyone else?

Eloise closed her eyes against the thought. If so, then …
oh … how pathetic.
The whole reason she and her sisters were in this wretched country was because no one in England wanted them! At least she had the knowledge that it was through no fault of theirs.

She stole a quick glance
at her intended as they walked across the street. He was handsome, and from the feel of the arm entwined with hers, very strong. But she’d not seen him use it, nor hint that he possessed such strength. He was very gentle, and soft-spoken toward her. She liked it, but …

“I hope you’re able to finish your dress soon. It gets kinda lonesome being in that big hotel all by myself at night.”

She stopped dead in her tracks. “Alone?”

“Well,
not entirely. Sally Upton has herself a set of rooms, too, but it’s closer to the kitchen. Mine’s upstairs on the other side of the building. Never hear a peep out of her.”

“Where does her sister
, Marybeth, stay?”

“She’s married to Harvey Brown
; a farmer who lives a couple of miles out of town. She helps out at the hotel, but not every day.”

“Oh, I see. We shan’t be disturbed then.”

He smiled. “No, we … shan’t.”

She looked into his eyes, and noticed the briefest hint of … something. Promise? “Then I can be assured my endless chatter will not be a problem. I do tend to carry on at times.”

“I’ve not heard it from you yet. What do you talk about when it goes non-stop?”

She opened her mouth then quickly closed it, realizing
that the topic of non-stop girlish delight was usually about men. “My wedding,” she offered, true for the most part.

He smiled as th
ey entered the mercantile. “That could be a problem.”

“Problem?”

“Yes, ma’am. It means that after we’re married, you won’t have anything to talk about.”

She giggled. “I’m sure we can find something.”

His smile broadened. “Oh, I have a few things in mind …”

The muscles in his arm tightened, and she felt a bulging bicep beneath his brown frock-coat. She swallowed hard at the sudden weakness in her knees, and shuddered. Good heavens! It was just a muscle!

“Move out of the way, comin’ through!” Gran
dma Waller called behind them. She carried in her arms a bolt of cloth, with Mrs. Dunnigan behind her, who held a basket of thread and buttons. They went to a circle of chairs near the front window where the preacher’s wife, Annie, sat next to Mrs. Mulligan and Lucy White. Sadie and Belle occupied another two chairs. “Who’s not comin’ today?” asked Grandma.

“Susara offered to stay at the ranch and watch Honor
ia for me,” said Sadie. “Logan is working near the house today, so they’ll be fine.”

“What about Jefferson and Edith?” Grandma inquired with a worried look.

“They’re at the ranch, too,” said Belle. “The other hands are guarding the stock.”

“Glad to hear it,” said Grandma. “Now, who
else we missing?”

Eloise shivered as a tremor of fea
r went up her spine. The Cookes were taking extra precautions in case the outlaws came back to the area. She suddenly felt much safer in town than out of it.

“Fannie, Penelope, Constance
, Mable, and the Upton sisters,” answered Mrs. Mulligan.

“Well, no sense waiting for them,” said Grandma
. “Let’s get started. Who knows when they’ll show up?”

“You’d best take your seat,” Seth whispered into her ear.

She shivered again. But this time, it wasn’t out of fear. She could feel the heat come into her cheeks, and prayed that no one noticed. “When will I see you?”

“I’ll try to dr
op in later, see how you’re doing with that pretty dress of yours.” He patted her hand, and then let go her arm.

She stood, not wanting to move. The warmth of his body was comforting, even though the morning was warm. “I look forward to it.”

“Stop your whispering over there, child!” Grandma scolded. “And come help us. It
is
your wedding dress we’re working on!”

Eloise turned a bright red, gave Seth a small curtsy, and hurried to an empty chair between Annie and Belle. Seth smiled at her, tipped his hat, and left the mercantile.

* * *

“And then the blasted bird pecked poor August on the head. It was a frightful thing to watch, but at least the little beast didn’t draw any blood!”

The women stared open-mouthed at Penelope’s tale, before gathering their wits again. “I’d take that thing out and shoot it!” said Mrs. Dunnigan.

“Oh, we couldn’t do that,” said Penelope. “Clyde’s like part of the family now, and he did …”

“Save your life,” Eloise finished. “Yes
, we all know about Clyde’s heroics. Too bad he wasn’t a dog.”

“I don’t know
; I think having an attack chicken is rather novel, don’t you?” Penelope asked.

Eloise
giggled. “Just so long as no one eats him. Why did he attack August, anyway? I thought Clyde liked him.”

“We’re not sure
. He was chasing the hens to get them out of the barn so he could clean it. Maybe Clyde didn’t like him going after his … er … wives.”

Constance
snorted. “What’s that bird going to do if you eat one of them?”

“Oh
, perish the thought, sister! We use them for eggs,” said Penelope.

Grandma laughed. “You three sure are fun to listen to. I don’t think I’
ve had as much fun since Mr. Berg and the others left town.”

They’d been working for hours, and Eloise was beginning to wonder if Seth was ever going to come back.

Seth
… she smiled as she realized that she’d ceased thinking of him as ‘Mr. Jones’. And why should she? They were to be married in a matter of days.

“What are you smiling about, Miss Sayer?” asked Annie.

Eloise looked at her, and blushed.

“I bet I know,” said Belle in a teasing tone.

Sadie smiled and shook her head. “Stop teasing and keep working. We’re almost done!”

Belle giggled, and winked at Eloise
. She then put her sewing in her lap, and stretched. Sadie watched her closely, as did Constance, but said nothing. Eloise in turn, watched them both. “What is it?”

Sadie and Belle’s heads both popped up. “What is what?” asked Sadie.

“I don’t know,” Eloise said with a shrug, you were looking at each other rather funny. I thought perhaps something was wrong.”

Sadie and Belle exchanged a quick look. “No, nothing wrong here,” said Belle.

“Oh, very well. I was just curious, is all. One never knows in this place,” said Eloise.

Grandma stopped her stitching
and eyed Belle and Sadie. She looked each one over carefully, before she returned to work, her eyes flicking to each of them now and then.

Constance, unable to help herself, snorted.

“Oh! Now I
know
something’s afoot!” said Eloise. “She only snorts like that when she’s highly amused, or privy to information Penelope and I don’t have!”

Sadie sent Constance a glare
, and then quickly returned to her sewing. “Maybe she was clearing her throat.”

“She bl
oody well was not!” Eloise said, then spun to her sister. “What is it? I know you know
something
!”

Penelope also turned to Constance. “Is there anything you want to share with us, sister?”

Constance shook her head, her face red,
and quickly bent over the dress. Belle laughed at her, set her sewing down a second time, and again stretched, then put a hand on her belly.

“Ah ha!” Grandma cried. “I knew it!”

Mrs. Mulligan dropped her needle. “Land sakes! Warn a body, will ya? I could’ve stabbed myself silly!”

“How
, when you dropped your needle?” Mrs. Dunnigan pointed out.

Sadie ign
ored them and fixed her eyes on Belle, who looked at her, and shrugged.