Love Finds You in Groom, Texas (5 page)

“I don’t suppose so.” He shrugged but kept walking.

Cassie’s mother stepped off the mercantile porch, her eyes brightening as she looked Jake’s way. “ ’Course, there are plenty of girls around here, should a man be looking for a beautiful bride,” she called out loud enough for everyone in town to hear. “Problem is, some fellas can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Jake glanced to his right and his left, seeing nothing but wide-open plains and a few scattered buildings. “Yes, well, I—”

Falling into step behind him, Mrs. Martin lit into a list of all the reasons he needed a good woman in his life, singing the praises of her daughter along the way. Cassie began to puff and pant, clearly struggling to keep up.

“I’ve really gotta go,” Jake managed at last. “I’m needed up at the station.”

He gave the Martin women a little wave and then took off sprinting, far more concerned about the condition of the train track than the condition of his love life.

Chapter Four

From time to time, we at the Panhandle Primer highlight one of our fair towns. This week I’ve chosen to focus on the tiny town of Groom, incorporated three years ago in 1911. Located about sixty miles east of Amarillo, this small town might look like just a dot on the map to some, but it has served as home to some of the most famous cattlemen in Panhandle history. Chief among them was the late Colonel B. B. Groom, for whom the town was named. He purchased thirteen hundred head of cattle back in ’82 and never looked back. Unfortunately, his dreams of having the largest ranch in the country didn’t pan out. Still, you can’t blame a fella for trying. And that go-get-’em spirit lives on in the modern-day ranchers of Groom. Ask any one of them to show you his patch of land and he’ll flash a smile so bright it’ll light up the Panhandle on even the darkest day. —
“Tex” Morgan, reporting for the
Panhandle Primer

Anne awoke to the sound of horses’ hooves. She yawned and stretched, trying to get her bearings.
Where am I again?
Ah yes, a sleeper berth on the train. Thanks to her angelic benefactor. Anne eased herself into a sitting position, careful not to awaken Kate, who slept soundly to her right. And Emily…

Turned out Emily was already wide-awake and staring out the window. “Ooh, look, Anne. You’re not going to believe it!”

“What is it?” Anne followed her little sister’s pointed finger and looked at a cluster of young men standing outside the train. Bunched together in a group like that, she could barely make out their faces.

“Do you think they’re thieves, come to rob us blind?” Emily pressed her nose against the glass. “Oh, I do hope they are. I can only imagine the stories I will one day tell my children and grandchildren about the time I barely escaped with my life.”

Anne began to fan herself. “They’re just local men, silly. Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Humph. Well, if they’re not thieves, then they must be cow-boys.” Emily giggled. “A couple of them are wearing hats. And they are rugged and handsome, just like the fellas in my story.” She glanced out of the window once again. “Most of them, anyway. But I don’t see any six-shooters.” She looked at Anne with a shrug. “How are they going to rescue us without guns? It won’t be nearly as exciting.”

“We’re hardly in need of rescuing.” Anne yawned. “I slept really well in this berth. You?”

Emily groaned. “I want to get off this train. They could come aboard at any time and rescue me and I wouldn’t fuss one little bit.”

The porter’s voice rang out, awakening Kate, who startled. The youngster glanced up then rolled back over.

Anne cracked open the door of the train car to respond to his call. “Yes?”

The porter tipped his cap. “Miss, we’ve received news that the damage to the track is more severe than expected.”

“What does that mean?” She fussed with the door to keep her body hidden behind it.

“From what I’ve been told, we’ll be in Groom for the better part of a week.”

“A
week
?” Anne, Emily, and Kate spoke in unison.

Anne had barely managed, “Whatever will we do?” when Emily began to cheer.

“Oh, it’s perfect! See, I told you we were on an adventure, Anne! One more week to do as we please without Uncle Bertrand around!”

“If the people here don’t know us, they can’t possibly tattle to Uncle Bertrand when we’re naughty.” Kate mumbled, still half-asleep.

“When, or if?” Anne asked.

“When.” Kate let out an exaggerated yawn.

“You’re forgetting one very important thing.” Anne popped her head back inside the car, her thoughts a jumbled mess. “We have no place to stay in this godforsaken place.”

“And no food to eat.” Kate sat up, now frowning.

“Those problems have been solved for you, miss.” The porter’s voice sounded from outside the door. “Several of the local families have offered to open their homes to folks in need of a place to stay. I do believe that would offer the best possible alternative to this otherwise uncomfortable situation.”

Anne peeked her head back around the door. “I don’t know how I feel about that.” She shook her head. “Staying with strangers seems so…unsettling.”

“You’re such a scaredy-cat.” Emily plopped down on her bed and crossed her arms at her chest. “We’re having an adventure, remember?”

“Yes, I remember.” And what an adventure it was turning out to be. Anne could never have predicted any of this. She turned back to the porter. “Can we telephone our uncle to let him know of the delay?”

“Of course. As soon as you get settled. Or we can wire him from the station in Groom for you.”

“That’s fine, I suppose. Though I do have to wonder what he will think when we don’t arrive at the station in Dallas this afternoon.”
He’s bound to be angry. Very angry.

“The folks at the station will let him know. But if you would feel better contacting him personally, that can certainly be arranged.”

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure. I’ll go fetch your luggage while you get dressed. Then some of the nice local gentlemen will assist you fine ladies down from the train and drive you on to your destination.”

“That would be fine.” Anne turned back to the window, glancing down at the handsome cowboys standing alongside the track. Her gaze shifted to one in particular. He didn’t look like the others—not quite as rugged, maybe. And he had a welcoming face. For a moment, he glanced her way. She could read the interest in his eyes as their gaze met. Just as quickly she turned away, her heart rate skipping to double-time.

Yes, indeed. It looked as if staying in Groom might be very unsettling indeed.

Jake stood outside the train, his gaze shifting from the beautiful young woman at the window to the porter, who approached with luggage in hand.

“How many of you fellas can help transport these folks to town?”

Cody raised his hand. “I brought the Model T. It can hold five, counting you and me. Where are we taking them, though? The hotel is full.”

“It’s my understanding that several families in town have offered to help house them for a few days,” the porter said.

It took Jake only a couple seconds to respond with, “I’ll take a handful back to our place.” Who else in the county had a home with so many bedrooms? Yes, they could surely take at least one family.

“Very nice.” The porter pulled out his pocket watch and gave it a glance. “Would you mind helping some of the ladies down from the train?” the fellow asked. “We’ve got quite a few who need assistance in the next car.”

“I’d be happy to help.” Jake shifted his thoughts from the young woman at the window and climbed aboard the train behind Cody, ready to get to work.

First to exit the train was an elderly couple. Cody helped them down the steps and led them to the first truck. Next came a ragtag lot of men who looked as if they’d just been awakened. These fellas didn’t require much assistance, though one nearly tumbled down the steps to the ground below.

One by one they came, young and old—about twenty in all.

“Might I ask for your assistance?” A genteel voice rang out from the doorway.

Jake did his best not to gasp aloud as he saw the dark-haired beauty in the lavender dress. He’d caught a glimpse of her through the window minutes before, but seeing her in person could not compare. Those beautiful blue eyes. That lily-white skin with dark hair tumbling over her shoulders. Her slender physique. Those perfect lips.

She looked for all the world like that woman he’d read about in school, the one in that King Arthur story. What was her name again?

Guinevere. Her name was Guinevere.

Jake rushed to her aid, for the first time noticing the young girls standing behind her. She extended her white-gloved hand his way, and he felt her hand trembling in his as she took the first step down.

Jake felt himself tongue-tied. “C–careful, ma’am,” he finally managed.

Fine lines appeared between her brows as she gazed his way. “
Ma’am?”
Her emphasis of the word made him wonder if he’d some-how offended her. She stepped down onto the ground, the younger girls following.

“Well, sure.” He grinned. “You’re a lady. That would make you a ‘ma’am.’ Least around these here parts.”

“Would it now.” The woman’s once-somber expression shifted, and Jake thought for a moment he saw a hint of a smile cross those perfectly shaped lips. “I daresay this is the first time I’ve been called ‘ma’am.’ I felt sure that expression was reserved for older women. Still, there’s something about it that’s rather…”

“Silly?” the little girl behind her spoke up, ruining a perfectly good moment.

“I was going to say ‘quaint,’ ” the dark-haired beauty said. “It’s so…Southern.” Her eyelashes took to fluttering, and Jake focused on those captivating blue eyes. Boy howdy, a fella could get lost in eyes like that. And that fancy dress…definitely store-bought. Guinevere was a big-city gal, no doubt about it. How she’d come to land in a place like this was nothing short of a miracle.

“Well, we Southern boys are polite,” Cody spouted off from behind him. “Our mamas raised us right.”

At once the woman’s smile faded and her eyes clouded over. Jake wanted to elbow Cody but really couldn’t find just cause. Nothing unusual had been said—had it?

The youngest of the three girls shook her head and gave Cody a pointed look. “Our mama is
dead
.”

“I–I’m so sorry,” Jake managed.

“Sorry, little miss.” Cody removed his hat. “I had no idea.”

“Papa’s dead too,” the youngster added, her eyes filling with tears. “He died six weeks ago.” She turned and flung herself into fair Guinevere’s arms.

Cody knelt next to the little girl and patted her on the shoulder. “Please forgive me. Shouldn’t have been so careless with my words. And just so you know, I lost my mama last year. She was the finest woman I ever knew, and she worked really hard to raise me right, though I strayed a time or two.”

A time or two?
Jake chuckled then found himself distracted by someone pulling on his sleeve. He looked down to see the youngest of the girls staring up at him.

“ ’Scuse me, sir,” she said.

“Yes, miss?” He couldn’t help but smile at the innocent face and bright blue eyes.

“Sir, are you a real Texas cowboy?” She pointed to his hat.

“Well, now, I hardly think you could call me a cowboy.” Jake shook his head. He pulled off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair. “Though I do live on a ranch.”

“Do you wear a six-shooter?” The other girl—the one with the inquisitive face—asked as she pulled out a writing tablet.

“A six-shooter?” He fought to hide the smile as he shoved his hat back into place. “Nah. I work for the railroad. We don’t carry guns.” This girl certainly had an imagination.

“The railroad?” The middle girl’s nose wrinkled and she closed her writing tablet. “How can I possibly interview you for my story if you don’t carry a gun? There’s nothing romantic about that.”

“Romantic?” He and Cody spoke the word in unison.

“Yes.” The youngster batted her lashes. “Don’t you see? I’m a writer. And the story I’m writing is about a handsome cowboy who rescues females in distress. When I looked out the train window and saw you…”