The Wrangler's Mail Order Bride (10 page)

H
ank
and the rest of the guests were already on the back patio of the ranch when Clara arrived, James at the reins of the buggy. Her heart thudded in her chest as she gripped the small bouquet of flowers the twins had given her before they’d left for Archer Ranch with their mother, Tripp and Sadie.

She shifted from foot to foot, smoothing her dress, for what seemed like ages before James came back out and said, “They’re ready.”

He smiled as he offered her his arm, having said he was honored to be chosen to walk her down the aisle. She squeezed as she put her arm through his, looking into his kind eyes as she remembered their time in Chicago while he courted Suzanne.

A lilting melody drifted through the open door as Hank’s six sisters began to sing, and James gently led Clara through the house to the patio.

Her friends and future family stood to each side of the patio stuffed with flowers of all kinds, some in pots and some in vases, and it took her a moment to look up and notice Hank, his shock apparent as he looked at the dress she was wearing. Concern flitted through her head that she’d made the wrong decision, worried that he was upset, but she breathed a sigh of relief as he smiled, meeting her eyes as he took her hand from James.

The pastor spoke quickly, Clara lost in her thoughts as she looked from the pastor to Hank and back to the pastor. She hadn’t even thought about this part, so when she was prompted to say, “I do,” she did. Plain and simple.

As the pastor pronounced them man and wife, her butterflies returned when Hank leaned toward her, hesitated, and leaned further in, his warm lips brushing hers. Six titters—no, eight if you counted the twins—broke the spell as he moved away and reddened. He turned, a mock scowl aimed at his sisters, who immediately looked at the floor and fell silent, although unable to wipe the grins off their faces.

“Congratulations to the newlyweds,” her new father-in-law was the first to say as Clara and Hank turned to shake hands and receive hugs while Beau reached into his pocket for the marriage license and a pen.

“Could you please come with me for a moment?” he said quietly as he guided Clara by her elbow into the house and spread the license out on the table, handing her the pen and an ink-pot to dip it in.

“Pa, right now?” Hank said as he followed them inside.

“Yes, now. Then we can go right to the Occidental.” He smiled and nodded at Clara as she dipped the quill and signed her name in the spot he had indicated. She handed the pen to Hank, who did the same and thrust the pen toward his father and pulled Clara back out onto the patio.

“I’ll lead the way in case you all don’t know where the Occidental is,” Tripp said as everyone laughed and headed toward their buggies.

Clara pondered what Hank had thought about his father on the short ride to the restaurant. He’d explained yesterday that it was to keep the property in the family. If she recalled correctly, she’d heard when she first arrive that if Hank had not been married when the appropriate time period ran out the property would be donated to…something. Somewhere. She reached back in to her memory but couldn’t grab the name. Everything had been so new, and things had moved so fast.

“I still think it’s for sentimental reasons,” Clara said as they walked into the small dining room at the restaurant to applause and stopped short as her eyes fell on the most beautiful wedding cake she’d ever seen, its white frosting dotted with rose petals. She turned to search for Sadie, rushing to hug her friend.

“However did you do this so quickly?” Her eyes took in the buffet of wonderful food that had been prepared in their honor.

“I have no doubt that you can remember how early we bakers rise when need be,” Sadie said. “It’s in our blood—and even easier to do for such a happy occasion.” She squeezed her hand as she whispered in her ear, “Congratulations, my friend. I know you will be very happy.”

Clara glanced quickly at Hank, hoping that her friend was right.

“This was so kind of you to do,” Hank said to Sadie as he stood by Clara’s side, his smile genuine.

“Think nothing of it,” Tripp said. “I did invite someone, though, so I hope you don’t mind.” He looked past Hank over his shoulder and waved.

Clara and Hank both turned, Hank extending his hand as he clapped his friend on the back. “Clara, please meet my old friend, Samuel Ford. I didn’t get a chance to introduce you when we were here for dinner the other night.”

Samuel bowed slightly toward Clara. “You must be the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen, ma’am. Hank, you’re a lucky man.” He stood and looked around the room, winking at Tripp and James. “You’re all mighty lucky to have found such good women.”

The twins laughed and Clara reddened.

“Don’t listen to him, Clara. He’s a charmer, that one. That’s how he does so well behind the bar.”

Samuel clapped his hand on Hank’s back. “I never tell a lie, Suzanne. You’ve known me a long time. I just say what I mean and mean what I say.”

“And that’s why we thought you’d be perfect behind the bar, Samuel. Thanks for joining us,” Tripp said, shaking the hand of the tall, thin man with laughing green eyes.

“It’s an honor,” Samuel said as he moved into the corner where her father-in-law stood, watching the event unfold. As Samuel approached, they fell deep into conversation, their heads together as they spoke quietly.

Hank steered Clara over to the cake by her elbow, whispering, “Do we need to go to Suzanne’s to get your things?”

“No, I packed this morning before we left. Everything is ready. James unloaded my bags onto the porch before we left the house.”

“Oh, good,” he said as he handed Clara the knife to cut the cake. “I have an appointment this afternoon at the barn that I can’t miss.”

Startled, she said, “Today? On our wedding day?”

He took a step back. “I didn’t know today would be our wedding day until last night. I couldn’t change it, and it’s very important. I’m sure you understand.”

Sadie had plated several pieces of cake and handed one of the rich, dark chocolate confections to Clara. “Pay attention, everybody. It’s time for the bride and groom to have the first piece of cake.”

“Of course, I understand.” She smiled at her friends and new family, turned to Hank and smeared the chocolate cake right on his face.

H
ank had eyed
her warily after the cake incident, but seemed not to be bothered after he’d been given a napkin and cleaned up. Mercifully, he hadn’t done the same to her.

They’d been the first to leave due to Hank’s appointment, and he’d said he wanted to see her settled in her new room before the arrival of whomever he expected.

Hank pulled the buggy up to the front of the ranch house and went around, helping her out. He didn’t release her hand right away, and took his hat off, and said, “You look beautiful, Clara, and thank you for wearing my mother’s dress.”

She looked down, smoothing her skirts. “I notice that the tie you’re wearing matches,” she said, referring to the turquoise bolo tie he had on, the light blue color the exact shade as the dress.

“My father gave it to me right before the wedding. I didn’t know why, but I wore it out of respect. My guess would be it’s what he wore when they got married.”

“Did you know your father had sent the dress?” She pulled her hand away and started up the steps to the house. Hank pulled his hat down and followed.

“No, he hadn’t told me. I still think there’s something strange going on.”

Clara waited as Hank opened the door for her, ushering her inside. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your room. I hope you don’t mind joining in with the crowd in the house, but there’s not a choice for now. Besides, when I head out on the trail next week, it’ll be better for you to have company.”

She followed him down a long hallway with doors on both the left and the right, and into the one she’d seen during their brief tour before.

Hank set her bags down on the small, wooden bench at the foot of the bed as she looked around. The room was cool due to the thick adobe walls, the window open to the garden behind the house.

The doors to the large, dark wood wardrobe stood open, its shelves empty. Hank followed her gaze and said, “The room is all ready for you. Our housekeeper will be in shortly to help you unpack.”

She turned from the window and walked toward the bed. “That won’t be necessary, really. You go on ahead to your appointment. I can manage.”

Hank sighed and looked back out the door to the grandfather clock that stood in the hall. “I really do have to go, Clara. I’ll be back later this evening for supper. And please do take advantage of Maria, at least to show you around to the facilities.”

Clara took off her white gloves and laid them down with her hat on the bed. “Really, Hank, I’ll be fine. Please, go ahead.” She smiled weakly as he hesitated then left, shutting the door behind him.

“Some wedding day,” she muttered, propping her head on the windowsill and dropping her chin into her hands. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thoughts that clamored in. It really had been a beautiful wedding, her friends going to a great deal of trouble—particularly with the short notice. She reminded herself to be more grateful.

Clara banged her head on the top of the short window frame as a, “Hello,” jarred her out of her self-pity.

Rubbing the top of her head, she peered out the window, greeted by the shy face of Saffron, one of the twins. The longest, most beautiful eyelashes Clara had ever seen fluttered over big, brown eyes, her shy smile welcome.

“Hello to you, too,” Clara said, accepting the single daisy that Saffron held out to her.

“I wasn’t sure that we needed any more sisters at first, but Pepper said we didn’t have a choice, that it’s what Papa wanted.”

Clara groaned, once again reminded of her place—and purpose—in this household. “Thank you for the flower, Saffron. I will try to be a good sister, as all of your others are.”

Saffron laughed, her hand to her mouth. “Who said they’re good sisters? Not all the time, anyway.”

“Oh,” Clara said as she laughed, thinking of Lucy and Lily. “Hopefully, I’ll be one of the good ones. I’d like to be, anyway.”

“I hope so, too.” Saffron walked away slowly, but stopped as Clara said, “Thank you for welcoming me to your household. I imagine it has been a bit of a surprise.”

Saffron looked at her intently, walking back over and squeezing her hand through the window, to Clara’s surprise. “We’ve had some time to get used to it. I, for one, am glad you’re here.” Her shy smile returned before she ran off further into the garden.

Clara pulled her head back in the window. Holding the daisy to her cheek, her heart filled with warmth at the shy greeting she’d just received.

She moved to the door when a soft rap came, thinking it was the housekeeper to help her get settled. “Thank you very much but I don’t need—”

She stopped mid-sentence at the sight of her new father-in-law outside of her door. He looked down at his polished boots, his hands clasped behind his back, his head popping up as she opened the door.

“Hello, Clara. I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to thank you for today. I’m sure you know how much it means to me,” he said.

“I do, Mr. Archer. And thank you for the dress. It was an honor to wear it.”

His eyes misted as he looked down at the dress Clara still wore. Clearing his throat, he said, “I’m glad that you wore it. It looks lovely on you.”

She stood waiting as he looked around. “Where is Hank?”

Clara sighed. “We had to come back early. He said he had an appointment, down at the barn, I believe.”

His lips fell in a thin line. “Is he messing around breaking horses again?” He looked out the window in the direction of the barn.

“I don’t know, exactly, but I think so. Isn’t that what he does best?”

“Best? It depends on how you define best. Hank is the best trail boss I’ve ever seen. And he’s heading out in a few days, so he should be getting ready for that, not training some stranger’s horses.”

Clara watched as her father-in-law grew more agitated with every word. She squared her shoulders, and even though she was angry with Hank, she said, “Mr. Archer, shouldn’t people be able to choose what they
want
to be best at? He’s awfully good with horses. They listen to him.”

“Listen to him?” he scoffed. “Don’t be silly. Horses don’t ‘listen’, they only know what they’re told to do.”

She lifted her chin and continued. “I’ve seen him with the horses and it’s…special.”

Beau fumed in front of her, his hands clenching. “Now, young lady, we have a business to run, and it has priorities. There’s no time for him to chase those fantasies of his that the horses ‘listen’ to him. There are cattle to be run.”

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to say—”

“I know what you were trying to say, and I’ll have none of it. And truthfully, it’s not any of your business. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” he said as he gave her a curt nod and turned on his heel toward the front door.

Clara shut the door and plopped on the bed. She worried the hem of her dress and reached into her valise to find another one, more suitable. Or at least durable.

As she hung the crystal blue wedding dress in the wardrobe, she smoothed it, tucking it in, wondering how she would ever fit here. Clearly, she’d been told to mind her own business. She wasn’t sure that was something she could do now that she knew her husband needed her.