An Unexpected Love (The Colorado Brides Series Book 5) (3 page)

“We're fine. Peter knows how to handle a rifle, but we’ve not had a need for it.”

“Those coyotes get in the chicken coop again?”

“No, not after the fence was fixed. It’s just the rabbits we have to worry about. They always find a way into the garden, the rascals.” There was movement out of the corner of my eye. A man approached carrying a child. Letty ran behind him. I gasped, not being able to hide the reaction, because for a moment, it looked like an Indian—and it was, but then…it couldn’t be. “Oh, my.”

Hannah glanced over her shoulder. “That’s our new ranch hand, Ryan Hartsock. Don’t be alarmed. He’s part Ute, but perfectly safe.” She grinned, waving. “Looks like you found him.”

Charlie was over his shoulder, the toddler screeching with pleasure, as the lanky stranger approached. He held him with one hand wrapped around a thigh, while Letty followed, having collected several colorful weeds.

“I found flowers.”

“You can put them in a vase, if you want.”

She seemed delighted by this idea, hurrying for the kitchen door. “I will.”

“Jane, this is Ryan.”

He held out a hand, and I shook it. “We’ve met before.”

This seemed to surprise Hannah. “You have?”

“Yes, on the road the other morning. Our wagon was stuck in a rut, and he helped us.” Charlie was still in his arms; the child seemed to enjoy being held. “I saw you in town too. That man—he was rude to you. I’m sorry.”

He blinked. “No need to apologize. It wasn’t your fault.” The timber in his voice was husky, yet pleasing.

“What happened?” asked Hannah.

“Someone threw a bottle at him. It almost hit me too. The drunkards in town are getting worse.”

“It’s more than just drink.” Hannah was less than pleased; her mouth had turned down. “They see someone who looks Indian and have a conniption fit. Everyone is on edge because of what happened to that poor family last year.” She was referring to the Hungate murders. The bodies of the slain family had been brought to Denver City to shock the masses into taking action against the Indians, mainly driving them further out.

I couldn’t help wondering about Ryan’s history and what had happened to his mother and father, or perhaps they were still together and living somewhere. It would be improper to question him about this so bluntly, so I asked, “And you’re working here?”

“For the summer, yes.” Charlie had begun to squirm, and he placed him on the ground, giving him a playful tap on the butt.

“We always need help with the corn,” said Hannah. “I’m not sure if we’ll get enough water this year. We might have to do it by hand.”

“Oh, that won’t be good. What a chore.” The wind gusted at that moment, forcing me to adjust the bonnet. The movement caught Ryan’s attention, as he stared steadily.

“Is Nathan still in the field?” Hannah asked.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be going back.” He tipped his hat. “Good day, ladies.” He turned, striding towards the fence.

Hannah smiled peculiarly, and I couldn't help asking, “Is something funny?”

“He’s handsome, in a dark, mysterious way, don’t you think?”

That statement was surprising. “What?”

“He seems to find you interesting.”

“Oh, that’s nonsense.”

“He’s not much older than you are. I believe he’s nineteen.”

“How nice.” I did my best to seem disinterested, although I longed to know more about him.

She picked Charlie up, taking grass out of his hands. “Stop that. You can’t eat that. Let’s feed you. I’ve some freshly baked bread. I’ll make tea.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“Then you can ask me more about Ryan.” She grinned; a teasing gleam was in her eye.

I wanted to object, shocked that I had been seen through so easily. But my interest was merely natural curiosity. I’d never seen a half-breed man before, and it was perfectly normal to want to know more about such a fascinating life, wasn’t it?

Chapter Three

Hannah had only been teasing me. She knew very little about Ryan Hartsock, other than that this mother was deceased. His father would remain a mystery. I wasn’t able to stay long, because I had to tidy the house before Fanny and Jack arrived. Luckily, my siblings hadn’t been too messy, and there was minimal sweeping and dusting to be done, but the laundry had grown alarmingly. That chore was better suited for two people, and I would wait for Fanny’s return. We typically shared the washing.

After I had retrieved my siblings from town, Fanny and Jack’s wagon ambled into the yard, while Jack jumped from his perch to help his wife and son down. We’d all gone to the porch to greet them, my brothers running out.

“Fanny!” cried Peter.

“Hello!” She held Thomas, who fussed. “How have you been?” She hugged Peter and Connor, who then ran to the back of the wagon to help unload their things. “You all seem hale, but this one is out of sorts. I need to put him down. He cried for the last hour.”

“I’ll take him,” offered Mary, holding out her arms. “I can do it, if you like.”

“Oh, thank you.” She wore a green traveling outfit with a matching bonnet. “I’m exhausted. I hate to admit this, but we should’ve left Thomas at home. He was a trial for everyone. He never sat still.”

Fanny and I had gotten off to a rough start three years ago when she became our guardian. She had been married to my uncle briefly, and then she had inherited us after his death. It had been rather shocking to discover she was now the mother of five children, although Mary and I hadn’t been all that young. We had made our peace a long time ago, and now I had come to see Fanny as an equal, mostly because we were close in age. Technically, she was my mother, but we were more like sisters.

I embraced her. “It’s good to see you.”

“And you.” She entered the house, removing her bonnet, while I was a step behind. “Everything looks so clean. I had expected a disaster. I would’ve understood. Managing Peter and Connor is no easy task.” Her gaze lingered on me. “Something smells delightful. What have you done?”

“It was Susanna’s idea. She made fried chicken with mashed potatoes, and Mary made the cherry cobbler.”

Her mouth fell open. “Oh, my! That’s so thoughtful of you. It smells delicious.”

“We’ve been waiting for you,” said Susanna. “The boys are anxious to eat.”

“I’m sure they are.”

“How was Golden City?” I asked. “Did you have any adventures?”

“I’ll tell you all about it at dinner. It was lovely to see a new place, but they’re all terribly isolated up there. The winters are harsh, as you can imagine. We’re lucky to be where we are.”

Peter and Connor brought in the trunks along with several crates. “What are in those?” I asked.

“It’s mostly venison. It’ll need to be taken to the icebox soon. We’ll have meat for quite some time.”

“I love venison stew,” said Connor.

She ruffled his messy hair. “You’d eat anything. We’ll have lots of venison stew then.”

“Yummy!”

“I think that’s it,” said Jack, who removed his sack coat. “All done.” He stood in the parlor grinning. “What is that smell?”

“Susanna’s made supper for us.”

He glanced at his wife. “And you were worried she’d burn the house down. It looks like she’s done rather well. How was everything?” He’d directed that question at me.

“Fine. We had a little mishap with the wagon the other morning, but other than that, things went smoothly.”

“Excellent. I think we should eat.”

“We certainly should,” agreed Connor. “We’ve been waiting an hour to have supper.”

“Oh, goodness.” Fanny waved to him. “Then let’s set the table quickly.”

“That’s been done already,” said Susanna.

Peter and Connor followed Fanny into the kitchen, with Mary and Susanna in tow. Jack’s hand was on my back. “Thank you for watching over things. You’ve done a fine job.”

His praise was appreciated. “You’re welcome.”

Once in the kitchen, Mary and Susanna removed the items warming in the stove and placed them on the table; among them was a large plate filled with fried chicken and a bowl of mashed potatoes. There was gravy as well and beans.

“Heaven’s to Betsy,” exclaimed Fanny. “This is beyond what I expected.”

“It was mostly Susanna’s doing,” said Mary.

“We should eat now so we can have dessert,” said Connor.

“Let’s say grace then.” Peter placed a napkin in his lap. “Hurry up please. I’m starvin’.”

Jack pulled out a chair. “From the looks of it, it won’t be long before Jane’s good and married.”

That statement was a surprise, as I stared at him. “Why would you say that?” I sat next to Mary, who reached for the saltshaker.

“Oh,” he grinned, “just a hunch.”

“Things would go faster, if Wesley would propose,” said Fanny.

“That brings me to mind.” Jack got to his feet, scraping the legs of the chair on the floor. “I might have something for you.” He left the room, returning a moment later with an envelope. “We stopped in town on the way home. This might brighten your day.” He handed me the letter.

“Dear me!” It was always a treat to receive mail. I glanced at the return address, and it had been sent from Tarryall, which was in the mountains.

“Now, let’s say grace, so we can eat,” said Jack.

Once dinner had ended and the dishes washed, I excused myself, although I did not have privacy in the bedroom, as Mary and Susanna were changing into their nightclothes. I sat on a chair in the corner and read the letter.

Dearest Jane,

I am sorry I have been absent so long. I hope you can forgive me for this slight; it was not intentional. I’m writing to you now before I return to a stream we found near the South Platte River. I’m hoping it yields quite a few ounces. I am confident I’ll be a rich man by the time I return to Denver City. I have every intension of offering for you once I have achieved my goals. You are in my heart and mind and my prayers, Jane. I miss you dearly, my love. Even though I cannot be near you now, I am always thinking of you. I will return as soon as I am able.

Yours truly,

Wesley Hornsby

“What does he say?” asked Susanna, who ran a brush through her hair.

“He’s still looking for gold.”

“When will he come back?” Mary had dunked her hands to wash them in a ceramic bowl on the dresser.

“I don’t know.”

“Poor, Jane. She looks crestfallen now.” Susanna smiled sympathetically.

“I’m fine. I suspected he’d be gone longer. I’ll be too busy this week to concern myself with his absence. Hannah’s children will run me ragged.”

Mary sat on the bed, crossing one leg over the other. “Wouldn’t you rather have children of your own to mind?”

“I would, but I needn’t rush into it. There are plenty of Hoffman babies to love in the meantime. Paulina, Louisa, and Hannah’s children are nearly the same age. Then there’s Thomas and Charlie.”

“That’s because everyone had babies at the same time,” said Mary. “Now Louisa’s pregnant again.”

“Let’s say our prayers and go to bed,” said Susanna. “I’m all tuckered out.”

I reached into a drawer for my nightclothes. “You can start yours. I’ve got to go to the privy first.”

“Fine.” Susanna fell to her knees beside the nightstand.

When I returned, my sisters were in bed with the lamp turned down. I hastily brushed my hair and then knelt to pray silently.

Dear Lord, please watch over Wesley while he’s away mining. Please take care of him and protect him from danger. Thank you for bringing Fanny and Jack and Thomas home in good health and spirits. Thank you for all your blessings, and watch over those that are too weak to take care of themselves. Amen
.

I shared a bed with Mary, lifting the blankets to slide between them. My mind continued to spin with thoughts.
It would be a dream to have my own family. Then I could mind my house the way I see fit and have a large bookcase filled with my favorite novels.

Turning, I stared at the wall, although it was in shadow.

Does Wesley like to read? I don’t recall ever seeing a book in his hand. I’ve hardly time to read lately
… Closing my eyes, I began to drift…floating…

We had the luxury of sleeping in the next morning, as the weekend was upon us, but Fanny and I were in the yard early doing laundry. The washtub held a washboard, upon which a weeks’ worth of clothing was scrubbed, until our hands were nearly raw. After each item was rung out, it was hung up, creating a long line of billowing fabric that caught the wind. Mary and Susanna took turns minding Thomas, which allowed us to finish the chore by lunchtime.

Jack tended the garden, fixing a fence that failed to keep the rabbits out. Then he sat at the dining room table with a Bible, working on a sermon for Sunday. Being the preacher for Denver City, he was expected to be prepared. I saw him seated, as I passed into the kitchen, but then I returned to speak to him.

“Jack?”

He lifted his head. “Yes?”

“The other day in town, something happened. It was disturbing.”

“What was it?”

“There’s a man here who’s half Indian. He was received poorly because of the way he looks. I spoke to him before, and he’s perfectly civilized.”

“That happens quite often, Jane. People are quick to judge. If he looks like an Indian, I can see why.”

I pulled out a chair, sitting. “A man threw a bottle at him. It was shocking.”

He nodded. “Some of these miners are rough and not too smart. What were you doing in town?”

“I took everyone to school. I was on my way home.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Couldn’t you mention something about it tomorrow? It’s unfair to judge someone solely on what they look like. This man didn’t deserve to be treated that way. He was nothing but helpful to us.”

“How do you mean?”

“When the wagon was stuck in the road, he helped us. He pulled it free. His name is Ryan Hartsock. Hannah knows him. He’s working for Nathan at the moment.”

He smiled. “Is there anyone in town they don’t hire?”

“They have that cornfield to manage.”

“You’ve had some adventures this week.”