Love Inspired Historical June 2014 Bundle: Lone Star Heiress\The Lawman's Oklahoma Sweetheart\The Gentleman's Bride Search\Family on the Range (22 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

M
itch knelt in the garden, pulling weeds. Rufus lay nearby with his head forlornly resting on his front paws. It had been two days since the train had carried Ivy away, but it felt more like two months.

Mitch could barely stand to be inside the house. It seemed too quiet, too empty.

He
felt empty.

He sat back on his haunches and stared at Rufus. “What's happening to me? I never considered myself melodramatic before.”

The dog gave a halfhearted bark.

“Don't worry, she hasn't abandoned you. She'll be back in a few days to meet with Carter and Adam. Which means I'll have one more shot at getting her to see reason.”

Rufus set his head back down on his paws, watching Mitch with doubtful eyes.

“I don't understand why she's so resistant to the idea of marrying me. I know she's been hurt, but given our situation, compromises must be made.”

He stabbed at the ground with the trowel. “If I can put my feelings aside and enter into marriage again after vowing I never would, then surely she can do the same.”

He pointed the trowel Rufus's way. “And as for this matter of holding out for a love match—” Mitch slowly lowered his arm. “Perhaps, if she married me, love would come with time.”

This time Rufus's bark was more enthusiastic.

Mitch gave him a wry grin. “One thing you do have going for you is that you're a good listener.”

Suddenly the dog lifted his head, an alert look on his face. A moment later he was up and racing to the front yard.

Did they have company? Had Ivy returned already?

Mitch followed the dog in long strides. He rounded the corner to see not Ivy but Zeke Tarn from the train depot. Swallowing his disappointment, Mitch slowed his step.

Zeke descended the porch steps. “Oh, hi, Mr. Parker.” He held out a telegram. “This just came for you.”

Mitch's pulse kicked up a notch. He pulled a coin from his pocket to give Zeke, then stepped inside before he allowed himself to open the telegram.

It was from Dovie Jacobs.

And it contained a single line:

IVY NEEDS YOU.

* * *

Mitch pulled the buggy to a stop and studied the place. According to the farmer he'd passed on the road about a mile back, this was Dovie Jacobs's farm.

He smiled at the profusion of flowers bordering the fence and porch. Ivy lived here, all right.

Rufus jumped down and ran to the house, barking with tail-wagging enthusiasm.

Mitch followed, his pace nearly as hurried. That cryptic telegram had proven what Mitch already knew in his heart: he should never have let Ivy go with that snake—the man was nasty business. If he'd done anything to hurt Ivy—

The door opened before Mitch reached it, and he found himself facing a petite gray-haired woman with sparkling green eyes and gnarled hands resting on top of a walking stick.

He removed his hat. “You must be Ivy's Nana Dovie.”

She'd been studying him with a piercing gaze. Then she smiled. “And you must be her Mitch.”

He gave a short bow, liking the sound of “her Mitch.” “Yes, ma'am, and I'm very glad to meet you. I came as soon as I received your telegram.” He tried to look past her into the house. “Where's Ivy?”

“In town.” She frowned at him. “You're almost too late.”

His disappointment in not seeing Ivy gave way to concern. “Too late for what?”

“To stop the wedding.”

Mitch felt as if the breath had been knocked out of him. “Ivy's getting married?”

“She is. To that weasel Lester Stokes.”

“She loves him?” He refused to believe such a thing.

The woman snorted. “Ivy has more sense than that. But that's what she tried to have me believe.”

He studied her, noting her firm stance. “So his report that you were injured was just a ruse.”

“I'm healthy as a horse.” Then her eyes narrowed. “Is that how he got her to come home with him?”

Mitch nodded. “It's why I let her go.” He should have listened to his gut.

“That was a mistake.”

“Yes, ma'am, it was.” He tried to rein in his impatience. “Do you know the real reason she's agreed to marry him?”

“I have a good idea.”

He waved a hand toward the two rockers on the porch. “Then let's talk.”

* * *

Ivy shifted in the saddle. The horse she rode belonged to Lester's family. She didn't like the idea of being beholden to him, but he'd insisted, saying her borrowing it would go a long way toward making the community believe they were serious about their marriage.

The two of them had spent the morning with Reverend Tomlin making arrangements for the ceremony, which was to be held at Ivy's home tomorrow morning. The preacher had wanted them to wait until Lester's folks returned, but Lester had brushed that concern aside. He'd used Ivy and Nana Dovie's financial situation as an excuse, and assured the clergyman that they would schedule a second ceremony when his parents were available.

Reverend Tomlin had shot her several concerned looks throughout the discussion, but she'd done her best just to smile and let Lester do the talking.

And all the time her mind was desperately trying to find a way out of this mess, as it had been ever since Lester had made his twisted proposal.

A part of her wished she'd accepted Mitch's offer of marriage—he might not love her either, but at least he respected her. For one heartbeat of time, she thought about sending for him—her white knight who always seemed set on rescuing her.

But she discarded the thought almost immediately. Not only would it not be fair to
him,
but the thought of his coming to resent her later was unbearable.

If only Nana Dovie weren't so tied to this place, she'd let Lester have the farm and take her someplace where they could both make a fresh start.

Like Turnabout.

But, as Nana Dovie liked to say, if wishes were fishes...

As their small farm came into sight, Ivy frowned. Whose carriage was that?

She nudged the horse into a faster gait. It wasn't the reverend; she'd just left him. And no one else, other than an occasional peddler, ever came out here. Was Nana Dovie okay?

Then a familiar figure came bounding out the front gate. Rufus!

Her pulse kicked up a notch. There was only one explanation—Mitch was here.

But why? Could it be that he'd missed her as much as she'd missed him?

As soon as she arrived at the house, Ivy slid from the horse's back and smoothed her skirt. Then she paused to make certain her bonnet was on straight.

Taking a deep breath, she headed inside. She found Mitch sitting at the kitchen table with Nana Dovie, sipping a cup of coffee.

He stood as soon as she entered, and the sight of the warm smile on his face was almost enough to make her fling herself into his arms. Instead, she merely smiled.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ivy Kathleen, what kind of question is that?” Nana Dovie gave her a stern look. “And he's here because I sent for him.”

“Nana!”

“You didn't think I would let you marry that bully Lester Stokes without doing something about it, did you?”

Ivy cast a quick, embarrassed glance Mitch's way. She couldn't believe Nana Dovie was involving him in all of this. She turned back to her. “It's all settled. Reverend Tomlin will perform the ceremony here tomorrow morning. It'll just be us, you and Dory.”

Please don't let Mitch still be here.
She couldn't bear the idea of him watching her marry Lester.

“There's not going to be a wedding.”

She blinked at the absolute certainty in Mitch's voice. “Listen, Mr. high-and-mighty Mitch Parker, you can't just walk in here and give me orders.”

“You told me once that you would only marry for love. Do you love Lester Stokes?”

“Who I love or don't love is none of your business.”

“So you don't love him. That means you're being coerced. Perhaps the fact that his father owns the note on this place has something to do with that.”

“Don't you
dare
offer to pay that note. I won't be taking charity from you or anyone else.”

“Ivy Kathleen!” Nana Dovie looked truly shocked. “Didn't I teach you what a terrible sin pride is? And that ingratitude is nearly as bad?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Besides, last time I looked it was my name on the deed to this place. Don't you think it should be my decision as to whether or not to accept an offer of help?”

“But—”

Nana Dovie patted her hand. “I know, dear, you're just trying to help and be very brave in the process. But I can't let you do that for me. And no, I'm not taking Mr. Parker's money.”

“Then what—”

“I'm taking you both away from here.” Mitch's tone brooked no argument.

“But—” Ivy turned and took the older woman's hands. “Nana, I can't let you do this.”

“I've held you back for too long. That stops now.” She smiled in satisfaction. “The way you described Turnabout, I think it's going to be a mighty nice place to set down new roots.”

Ivy was afraid to let the hope building inside her unfurl. She looked from Mitch to Nana Dovie and back to Mitch, trying to make sense of it all.

Mitch gave her a reassuring smile. “Miss Jacobs and I discussed several things we think will make this trip smoother for everyone.”

“Such as?”

This time Nana Dovie spoke up. “There's a medicine I know how to mix up that helps a person relax, relax so deeply they sometimes fall into a deep sleep. I'll take this medicine tomorrow just before we leave, and with any luck I won't even notice I've left home until I wake up in Turnabout.”

Ivy wasn't convinced. “You've told me yourself that medicines can be tricky—different people react differently. How do you know it'll work?”

“Because I've tested it on myself. Don't look so shocked. I've wanted to take you away from here ever since Lester spread those lies about you five years ago. I just didn't have anywhere to take you before now.”

Ivy stepped up and gave her a fierce hug. “Oh, Nana Dovie, I love you so much.”

The woman waved her away. “Now, you two have important roles to play if we're going to make this work. First, I'm not certain I'll be able to get around very well, if at all.”

“Don't worry, ma'am, I'll see that you get where you need to go, with nary a hair out of place.”

Ivy smiled up at him, remembering the ease with which he'd carried her.

“And I'll also need a place to stay when I get there,” Nana Dovie continued. “A nice, quiet room where I can be alone whenever I want to.”

“I'm sure Eileen Pierce will rent us another room at her place. And if not we can share mine until we can make other arrangements.” Then Ivy looked around. “But this house, all your things...”

“They're just things, child. What's important are the people and the memories—and those we bring with us. We'll find new things when we settle in this new place.”

She stood. “I'll hear no more arguments. Now, you two go to Arnold Hemp's place. He'll be willing to take on the animals we've got here along with the tools and equipment for a fair price. Tell him he can also have whatever produce from the garden he can cart off, but he has to get it all before noon tomorrow.”

She walked them to the door. “Don't spend a lot of time dickering with him, but make sure you get enough to stake us for the next couple of weeks.” She gave Ivy a look that, on a younger woman, would have been called sassy. “After that, I expect you to use that inheritance of yours to take care of my needs.” Then she made shooing motions. “Now off with you. There are preparations to be made.”

Mitch helped Ivy into the wagon, savoring the luxury of having her beside him again.

Once she'd given him directions to Mr. Hemp's farm, he set the wagon in motion, trying to figure out how to say all he was feeling. He didn't want to mess it up this time.

“I'm sorry Nana Dovie asked you to come all the way here.” She stared straight ahead.

“I'm not.”

She turned to study him.

He tried for a light tone. “Rufus missed you.”

She nodded, then faced forward again.

He cleared his throat. “We both did.”

This time, when she turned to face him, there was a curious mix of hope and doubt in her expression. But she finally gave him a soft smile. “I missed both of you, too.” She shifted slightly. “I'm sorry for being so rude earlier.”

“You've been carrying a lot on your shoulders the past few days.”

“Still, I owed you better than that. Thank you for riding to my rescue yet again.”

“It was my pleasure.” Did she have any idea how deeply he meant those words?

“I can see Nana Dovie likes you.”

“The sentiment is returned. She's quite a lady.”

“I hope she knows what she's doing.”

Mitch placed a hand over hers. “Have faith.”

Her gaze flew to his. Was it a reaction to the touch or his words? He was pleased when she didn't pull her hand away. Instead, she repositioned it so that their palms touched and their fingers intertwined.

At that moment, she could have asked him to carry the world on his shoulders and he would have gladly attempted to do it for her.

Chapter Twenty-Three

I
t was difficult to convince Mitch to leave Nettle's Gap without confronting Lester. But Ivy had finally gotten through to him. She thought, more than anything else, it had been his memory of the consequences of ignoring another woman's entreaty that finally did the trick.

To her great relief, the trip to Turnabout went surprisingly well. Nana Dovie slept through most of it.

There
was
a bit of trouble at the train station when they tried to board. The conductor suspected the elderly woman was ill and at first refused to allow her on the train. But after a long discussion, and a bit of money changing hands, the man relented and Mitch was allowed to carry the slumbering woman aboard.

When they arrived in Turnabout, Mitch marched all the way from the train station to Eileen Pierce's home carrying Nana Dovie. With Ivy and Rufus flanking him on either side, they attracted every bit as much attention as they had when Ivy had first arrived in town beside him on that borrowed buckboard.

Mrs. Pierce, unruffled by their unannounced appearance on her doorstep, seemed pleased to be able to earn income from a second boarder. Within minutes of their arrival, a slowly awakening Nana Dovie was comfortably ensconced in the room next to Ivy's.

Afterward, Ivy walked Mitch as far as Eileen's front door.

He took her hand. “I'll see that your things are delivered from the depot. And I'll send word to Carter that you're back and ready to settle your business with him as soon as possible.”

“Thank you.” She didn't withdraw her hand, and neither did he.

“And don't worry about Rufus, he's welcome to stay with me again.”

She grinned. “I'd better watch it or he'll start thinking he's your dog.”

He gave her hand a slight squeeze. “I know this isn't the right time for a long discussion on the matter, but I hope you'll reconsider my offer of marriage. Especially now that you're moving into the community permanently.”

“Thank you, Mitch. You'll never know how much it means to me that you care so much.” She gently tugged her hand free. “But as I said before, barring blackmail, I intend to hold out for a love match.”

Her little attempt at humor didn't elicit so much as a smile.

“Aren't friendship and respect strong enough emotions to base a marriage on?” he asked.

Was that what he felt for her? “Not for me. Because I know what love feels like. And I want someone to feel that for me.”

He went very still. “There's someone you love?”

She nodded. Why was it so hard to say the words? “With all my heart. But he doesn't feel the same for me.” She touched his cheek. “So while I will always cherish his friendship and respect, marrying him would eventually break my heart, knowing he doesn't return my feelings.”

And with a quick kiss to his cheek, she turned and raced back up the stairs, feeling a bittersweet triumph.

She'd just told Mitch Parker that she loved him.

* * *

Mitch stood on Eileen Pierce's front porch, too stunned to move. His heart pounded so hard he could hear it thrumming in his ears. She loved him? For one shining moment, his whole being thrummed with exultation.

Then he sobered. This changed everything. A businesslike arrangement was one thing. It was safe and practical and had purpose—namely her protection.

But love—that was messy, complicated. If she loved him then he could disappoint her, fail her. Even if he loved her in return.

Who was he kidding? There was no
if
about it—he loved her, had loved her long before he'd allowed himself to admit it.

But knowing it didn't give him the right to act on it. Not with his history.

Perhaps she was right to refuse him.

* * *

Over the next few days, Ivy and Carter reached an agreement on how to split the ranch, and in the end, Ivy found herself the recipient of more money than she'd ever thought to see in her lifetime. While it wasn't a fortune by some standards, and Carter would be paying it off to her over a course of several years, she was confident it was enough to find a place for her and Nana Dovie to start their new lives.

Word reached them that Lester had not taken their leaving well. He had, in fact, set a torch to their house—his house, she supposed—in a fit of anger.

Nana Dovie took the news in stride, surprising Ivy with the prediction that he'd probably regret his actions once his pa returned home.

And despite Mitch's fears, mainly due to the support of his circle of friends, Ivy was not ostracized. While there were some who would always give in to the urge to whisper and gossip, for the most part Ivy was made welcome throughout the town.

But there was one welcoming smile she missed. She'd barely seen Mitch since she'd told him of her feelings four days earlier.

Had she made a mistake?

* * *

“Where is Ivy?” Mitch stood, hat in hand, on Eileen Pierce's front porch.

Nana Dovie, who was shelling a bowl of peas, eyed him as if she could read his secrets. “Out back in the garden,” she finally said.

Of course. Where else would she be? “Thank you.”

Before he could step away, she spoke up again. “There's something different about you today. You're carrying yourself with a sense of purpose. Does this mean you've finally come to your senses?”

He didn't pretend to misunderstand. “Yes, ma'am. I only hope I'm not too late.”

She waved him away. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go tell her how you feel.”

He nodded and jammed his hat back on his head. “Yes, ma'am.”

Mitch marched around the house, trying to figure out just what he'd say. He still hadn't settled on the right words when he caught sight of her.

She spotted him at the same time, and the welcome smile on her face gave him hope.

“Mitch, hello. Come see the size of these tomatoes.”

“Very nice. But it's you I'm here to see.”

Something flashed in her eyes and he prayed it was love. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Yes. You can marry me.”

She frowned, and this time it was sadness in her eyes. He winced, knowing he was the one who'd put that there.

She turned away, tugging another tomato from the plant. “Please, I've told you how I feel. Let's not go through it again.”

“No, we haven't been through
this
before. I
want
to marry you. Not because I feel I have to. Not because I feel responsible for you. But because I
love
you.”

She shook her head vehemently, not turning around. “Stop. I know you think this is the right thing to do, but I can't bear it.” She turned to face him and he was almost undone by the pain glistening in her eyes. “You're a good man, but you have to accept that you can't fix every problem—the gossip has all but died down, the inheritance is settled, Nana Dovie and I are happier than we've been in a long time. And much of this is thanks to you.”

She took a deep breath. “As for what I said the other day, I probably shouldn't have said anything. I'm happy to have you as a dear friend. So please, don't throw yourself on your sword over this.”

“You're not listening.” He took hold of her arms. “I. Love. You.”

Her eyes searched his face and he hoped she could see what he truly felt.

“But I thought you never wanted to marry again.”

“So did I. Then you came into my life, and everything changed. I've fought it for as long as I can. I may not deserve you but I've finally realized I can't go on without you.”

* * *

Ivy was afraid to believe what she was hearing, though she very much wanted to. This had to be just another way he'd found to
help
her, whether she wanted that help or not.

“But I'm not the kind of woman you're drawn to—I'm not gentle or delicate.”

“True. In fact, you're the most stubborn, down-to-earth, speak-your-mind female I've ever met. And you're also strong, generous, spirited, courageous and sensitive to the hurts of others. You'd willingly sacrifice yourself in marriage to a wretchedly cruel and selfish man to save your dear friend's refuge. And you are quick to extend grace and forgiveness to those who have wronged you.”

The look in his eyes as he uttered those beautiful words chipped away at her resistance. Could he really mean what he was saying?

His hands slid down her arms, his fingers twining with hers. “What you are is the woman I love. And you're absolutely right. This community has accepted you so there's no reason that you have to marry me. Except that I'll be totally and completely lost without you.”

He gave a crooked smile. “Marry me so you can bring color and life to my home, which seems so unbearably empty without you. Marry me so you can enjoy that swing in my backyard that seems so forlorn now. Marry me to tend to my garden and decorate my yard with riots of flowers. But most of all, marry me because I love you with all that I am.”

He traced the line of her jaw with a finger as tears slid down her cheeks.

“I love you, Ivy Kathleen Feagan. I've been every kind of fool and I'm so sorry it took me this long to realize it. But I promise to say those words to you every day for the rest of my life, if you'll let me.”

This time there was no doubting the truth. It was there in his words, in the slight tremble of his fingers, in the ragged emotion shining from his eyes.

She lifted a hand to his cheek. “Oh, Mitch, I love you so much. It would make me very, very happy to spend the rest of my days as your wife.”

With that, he pulled her into a hug and twirled her around. Then he set her on the ground again and very gently bent down to give her a kiss. A kiss that promised he would love, protect and cherish her, now and forever.

He was her hero, the man who would fearlessly slay all of her dragons and quietly make all of her dreams come true.