Читать книгу His Substitute Mail-Order Bride - Sherri Shackelford - Страница 15

Chapter Four

The sun had reached its zenith by the time Russ was able to break for the noon meal. After delivering Anna safely to the hotel, he’d visited the office before returning home at midday. There’d been some confusion over Anna’s name at the hotel—the porter had been expecting Susannah—but Russ had smoothed over the awkward moment as best he could. He tipped his chair against the side of the house and rested his crossed ankles on the porch rail. A cool breeze stirred the warm air, and he’d slung his coat over the back of the chair.

Susannah’s letter rested on the table beside him. She’d apologized profusely in tiny script for several pages. The explanation was better delivered succinctly, but brevity had never been Susannah’s strong suit. His attention had drifted after her third apology, which only seemed to exacerbate the sting, and he’d skimmed the last page before the postscript had piqued his curiosity.

Look out for Anna. The past three months haven’t been easy, and she deserves better.

For all Susannah’s lengthy elocution, that line had been sparse. He figured she referred to Anna’s husband’s death. A pang of regret reverberated through his chest. Great sorrow only came with great love. Anna had said her husband’s death was “sudden” without revealing more. What must it be like, loving someone so much that you couldn’t let them go, even in death? What kind of man had Anna loved? Given her family connections and her father’s ambitions, her husband must have held some prominence in the community.

If he’d been a community leader, Mr. Linford’s death would be noted in the newspapers. A fellow law school graduate had recently sent Russ a copy of the Philadelphia Morning Post after winning an influential case. If Russ recalled correctly, the paper had been dated about three months before. He hadn’t cleaned off the dining room table in ages, and the newspaper was probably buried beneath a stack of legal documents.

He half stood and then sat back down again. Digging into the past felt intrusive. Anna Linford’s life was none of his business. He was protective of her, that was all. A natural inclination given their previous acquaintance. He had no romantic aspirations toward her or anyone else. Having lost out in love twice already, competing with the memory of a dead man held no appeal.

He’d seen that sort of soul-deep love before in his parents’ marriage before his father’s fall from grace. As though she were summoned by his thoughts, he recognized his mother’s silhouette near the end of the block, her steps long and purposeful. Dread filled his stomach. He’d have to tell her about Susannah, but perhaps news of the attack on the road had failed to circulate.

Moments later, she climbed the shallow porch stairs and leaned against the banister. “Lovely afternoon we’re having.”

Sunlight glinted off the dark hair beneath the brim of her ribboned hat. Though she’d never admitted as much, she was still mourning the disappearance of her husband nearly a decade before. Once or twice, Russ had broached the subject, and she’d gently but firmly rebuked his questions. Whatever she thought of her husband’s defection, she kept the feelings to herself. Instead, she clung to his memory with love.

“Isn’t today your meeting with the committee?” Russ righted his chair. “I didn’t expect to see you.”

On Mondays, she met with the opera house committee and often stayed well into the afternoon. They invariably dined at one of the restaurants in town.

She hoisted a perfectly winged eyebrow. “I heard there were outlaws in the area.”

Russ heaved a sigh. “Not anymore.” Keeping the encounter a secret had been too much to ask. Gossip spread faster than a plague of locusts.

His mother gestured toward the house. “Did you find your lunch?”

“Yes, but you don’t have to cook for me. I can eat at The Cattleman on the days you have meetings.”

“I like to take care of you once in a while.”

“Then I won’t argue. Too much. Having home-cooked meals has been a rare treat.”

While his mother spent the bulk of her time living with Seth on his ranch outside of town, she was staying with Russ for a few weeks while Seth and Marigold adjusted to married life with an instant family.

Just last month, Seth had become the guardian of three boys following the death of a childhood friend. Though a confirmed bachelor, Seth had taken on the added responsibility of raising three precocious children. The pretty, new schoolteacher had assisted with the transition. His brother had fallen head over heels for Marigold, and the two had recently married and adopted the three boys, as well as Marigold’s young niece, Violet, who had come to town. Seth’s bachelor home had gone from a hollow shell to a house brimming with love practically overnight. The transformation in his brother was both astonishing and heartwarming.

Russ pulled out a chair. “Did you visit Seth today?”

“I watched the boys for a few hours. Violet is still adjusting. She’s only seven and the last few months have been difficult. Before she lived for that brief time with her father, she was accustomed to having Marigold’s attention all to herself. Now she has three brothers to contend with. Marigold and Seth wanted a little time alone with her.”

Russ nodded. “She’s gone through a lot, losing her mother and being taken from her aunt. She appears resilient, though.”

“She’s an absolute delight. I took the boys to the opera house. I think Harper has a natural talent for the theater. He did cartwheels across the stage while Pippa was attempting to rehearse. And now James Johnson is taking them fishing for the afternoon.”

James was married to the local dressmaker in town, and they had a daughter, Ava. He did odd jobs around town when he wasn’t working at the stockyards. The boys had been fascinated by his beaded jacket with the leather fringe, and they’d struck up a friendship. When work at the stockyards was slow, James occasionally took them fishing.

“I didn’t realize Pippa was in town.”

“Her husband is visiting on railroad business. She’s using the opportunity to stage a performance of Lord Dundreary Abroad. The committee has approved the funding for a new set and costumes. Should be our best show yet.”

Pippa and her husband, Gideon Kendrick, had met and married in Cowboy Creek. Though Gideon’s work with the railroad took him all over the country, they returned to Cowboy Creek whenever possible. A talented actress, Pippa was also masterful with costumes and makeup. Everyone looked forward to attending the theater when she performed.

“If Pippa is involved,” Russ said, “I’m already looking forward to the performance. I’ll escort you on debut night.”

“I’d like that. Perhaps Seth and Marigold can join us.”

“Seth isn’t much for the theater,” Russ said, “but he’ll go anywhere Marigold leads him. She’s good for him. I’m happy for Seth.”

“I am, too. I spent too many years leaning on him after...after what happened with your father. It wasn’t fair to him, having all that responsibility.”

“Adam and I were just as guilty of depending on Seth too much.”

Seth had always been the responsible son. He’d become the patriarch of the family after their father disappeared, rebuilding the family legacy while Adam and Russ had pursued other interests. All three of them had taken Seth’s hard work and dedication for granted.

Seth had repaid the loan to Ogden by selling off some of the land, only to lose the herd when he left for war. Thankfully, they’d sent their mother to live in Philadelphia before armies from both sides had burned and looted their way through Missouri. A dutiful son, Seth had regained his fortunes in the cattle markets of Colorado.

Without uttering a single word of complaint, Seth had put his wants and needs aside and sent for their mother. He’d come to Cowboy Creek to start over yet again, and his hard work was finally paying off.

None of them had realized how much of a burden he’d shouldered until he took on the added responsibility of the three Radner boys after the death of their parents. Seeing the change in his brother following his marriage to Marigold, Russ was ashamed he hadn’t taken notice sooner. He hadn’t realized how unhappy his brother had been until he’d seen him happy.

His mother took a seat on the proffered chair. “Marigold has been a darling, and she takes excellent care of the boys.” His mother adored the Radner children and enjoyed living on the ranch, helping Marigold and caring for her four new grandchildren. “We all owe Seth a debt of gratitude.” His mother scuffed the ground with her toe. “Have you heard from Adam recently?”

“Not in months. You know how it is with him. His work takes him to places we can’t follow.”

Following the war, Adam had joined the Pinkerton Detective Agency. He’d sent a few letters over the years, but he didn’t correspond regularly. Russ didn’t know the details of his brother’s work, but he knew Adam was often in dangerous situations.

His mother dabbed at her eye. “I pray for him every day.”

“I’m sure he’s fine, mother. The agency would contact us if something happened.”

“You boys mean the world to me.” Unshed tears thickened her voice. “I’d be devastated if anything happened to you.”

His anger flared. The next time he saw Adam, they were going to have a long talk. Their mother deserved better. Adam could at least write a letter now and again, letting her know he was alive.

“Nothing is going to happen to any of us,” Russ said. “Especially me. I’m just a pencil pusher. Nothing dangerous in my line of work.”

“Oh really?” She dropped the handkerchief from her eye and pursed her lips. “Then what about this afternoon?”

A guilty flush crept up his neck. The tone of her voice yanked him back to being scolded as a child. No matter his age, she was still his mother. “I’m sure whatever you heard has been exaggerated.”

“I would have preferred to hear about the incident from you,” she declared. “I can’t believe I had to learn about your outlaw encounter in a conversation with Tomasina. Imagine my surprise when I bumped into her at the opera house, and she regaled everyone with your brave rescue. She assumed I knew.”

Tomasina was the mayor’s wife, a spitfire redhead who’d ridden into town on a cattle drive last year. Though she and Will were as different as chalk and cheese, they somehow managed to be perfect for each other at the same time.

“There was nothing brave about it,” Russ said. “Tomasina is exaggerating.”

“What exactly happened then? And what’s this I hear about Susannah missing the train? How does one miss a train? They run on a schedule, after all.”

A part of him had been dreading this encounter with his mother since the arrival of the bride train, but now that she was here, he figured he might as well get it over with.

“Susannah isn’t coming,” he said, cutting right to the point.

“Is she all right?” His mother’s annoyance instantly transformed into concern. “Has something happened?”

“She’s fine. She merely had a change of heart.”

“A change of heart?” His mother snorted. “Did she at least have the decency to send a letter?”

“Yes.”

“A letter? That’s all? A letter!” The concern returned to annoyance just as quickly. “I don’t know what’s wrong with women these days. If all she can do is send a letter, then it’s her loss. You deserve someone better. I don’t know why you had to send to Philadelphia for a wife anyway. I mean, certainly I understand why some of the men of Cowboy Creek feel that a mail-order bride is their only choice, but you’re not just anyone. You’re handsome and successful.”

“You have to say those things.” Russ lifted his eyes heavenward. “You’re my mother.”

“You’re going to be the mayor someday!”

“My political career is uncertain.”

Especially now. He’d been so sure about what he wanted and where he was going. This morning had changed everything. The hitch in his plans had left him unbalanced for the first time since Charlotte had thrown him over. He was growing heartily tired of having his life derailed by fickle women who just happened to fall in love with other people.

“You’re going to be the mayor, and we both know it,” his mother declared. “There’s no need for false modesty. You’re absolutely the most qualified man for the position. Anyone would be a fool not to vote for you.”

“Now you’re exaggerating.”

“I’d say that even if I wasn’t your mother.”

Russ chuckled. “I’m certain you would.”

“You deserve someone like Marigold. Someone who is mad about you. You deserve love, not some...some...ramshackle agreement with a stranger.”

Susannah’s words rattled around in his head: Anna deserves better.