Robin (20 page)

              “Do ya love the girl, Mr. Benson, or is it a sense of duty you got stuck in your feelin’? Robin ain’t no dummy. She’ll sniff you out like a dog huntin’ a rabbit hole.”

              William shrugged. “I admire Robin. And I know I could learn to love her. Love, as I understand it, would only be a fickle emotion without friendship, admiration or respect, and the profound need to protect that which is loved. I’m hoping my time here will allow Robin and me to have a better understanding of where we are in this relationship. Or, perhaps, whether there even is a relationship.”

              John held his hand out to William. “I don’t suppose you’d consider staying on here, should Robin decide to take you up on your so-called offer?”

              William shook hands with the older man. “It would be tempting, but no. As much as I’ve learned to love this way of life while working for my uncle, in the end I don’t want to set up camp on a ranch. I’ll return to Chicago and my life as a banker—like my father and his father before him—with or without Robin.”

              “With or without the boy?”

William shook his head. “I don’t know, sir. I don’t know.”

TWENTY-ONE

              Robin tied the bow of her new straw bonnet under her chin. The trio of small burgundy roses along the brim complimented the lighter shade of pink of her dress. One last dab of rosewater on her wrists, one last pinch of her cheeks, and she was ready. Mama would no doubt have scolded her for being so vain. But Mama wasn’t here. And was it so wrong to want to be pretty? To actuall
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fee
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pretty?

              Uncle John would no doubt wink, and Jacob was sure to blurt out something about her new dress. But she woul
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let anything spoil this day. How good it was to have her trunk again. And to make it even sweeter, her sisters had packed two new dresses. It must have cost them a fortune, but this morning it didn’t matter. She would see they received payment later. For today, she planned to enjoy going to church with a new frock—and with William.

              “Robin? You plannin’ on havin’ church in your room or you gonna hie yourself on down here so we can be a leavin’?”

              “I’m right here, Uncle John. You needn’t yell.” Robin reached the bottom step and smiled at him.

              “Well, if you don’t look purty this mornin. Reminds me of them wild roses what grow along the creek.” The older man stepped closer and sniffed. “And, by gum, you smell like ‘em, too. Whooee, Cedar Bluff, Kansas. You best be lookin’ out this mornin’.”

              “Uncle John, please don’t say anything.” She kissed his leathery face. “I’m sure Jacob will embarrass me enough. But I do so want to look nice.”

              John patted her cheek. “Oh, girly, I wish your Grandma Wenghold could see you. Ya remind me of her, you know?”

              “I do? Thank you, Uncle John. I think that’s the nicest thing you could say. I’ve never heard you talk of her without love in your voice. She must have been a very special lady.”

              “Special don’t near say it all. But enough of that for now. Come along. Church won’t wait for us, you know.

              Robin stepped onto the porch and William’s eyes widened. A slow smile spread across his face, and butterflies danced in her stomach while his gaze inched at a snail’s pace from her bonnet to her feet, then back again. Her breath caught, and she bit her tongue to keep from gasping. William’s dark suit accentuated his sapphire-blue eyes. His reddish brown hair swept away from his face and fell to the top of his crisp white shirt collar. Why had she never seen this side of him in Chicago
?
He didn’t look like this in Chicago. That’s why.

            
 
“You two gonna just stand there a gapin’. Ain’t you never seed one another cleaned up before?

            
 
Jacob giggled and his shrill voice broke her reverie. “Look at me, Robin.”

              Goodness, but it was warm.

              “Do you see me, Robin? Uncle John says I’m big enough to ride the horse Ty gave me all by myself.”

              Robin scowled at her uncle. “You aren’t going to let him ride alone, are you?”

              “He ain’t gonna be by hisself. I’m lettin’ you and William take the buggy, and me and the boy will ride horseback, and I got his horse tied to mine. No need to worry, though. By the time I was his age I was bouncin’ on the top of a big ole’ cow pony so broad my legs stuck out like oars on a boat.”

              “By yourself?”

              “No. Your pa was with me. Hard to find a young’un on this prairie what don’t learn to ride pert near as soon as he can sit by hisself. It’s a necessity. I figger we’re startin’ two years too late with Jacob boy.”

              Robin shot a glance at William. Was he in on this?

              He shrugged and winked.

              She sighed. They outnumbered her.

              “Your buggy awaits, my lady.” William stepped to the porch and placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, then walked her to the buggy. He helped her in then climbed beside her and gave the reins a flip.

              John rode alongside the buggy. “William, be sure and have Robin point out the wild rose bushes. Patch don’t like to lollygag, so me and the boy will be pushin’ on. We got plenty of time if you was wantin’ to meander a bit.” He tipped his hat. “See ya in church.” He laughed as he rode away.

              “You have rose bushes out here on the prairie?”

              “We do, but that isn’t Uncle John’s reason for making the announcement.” Heat bathed her face, and it was more than the morning sun.

              William nudged her with his shoulder. “I didn’t figure it was. And, by the way, you look beautiful this morning, Robin. Is the color of your dress the same as a wild rose?”

              She giggled. “You catch on fast, Mr. Benson.”

              “Not fast enough, I’m afraid. But maybe my time here will make up for it. Now, is there anything I should know before we make our entrance into church this morning? Tell me about the good people of Cedar Bluff.”

              Glad for the change of subject, Robin did her best to introduce the people she knew through unbiased eyes. William could form his own opinion of the townsfolk when he met them.

              A quiet churchyard greeted them, and it made her more than uneasy. Not only would they walk in late, but also the likelihood of finding a seat in the back was very slim.

William helped her out of the buggy, then placed her hand in the crook of his elbow “Are we late? I don’t see John or Jacob.”

              Robin nodded toward the array of horses tied along the long rail. “Their horses are here. I’m afraid we meandered a bit slower than we should have.”

              When they reached the door, William put his hands on her shoulders and forced her to face him. “The look on your face tells me more than anything you said all the way here. And I can feel you tremble. Is it my being here that has you so upset?”

              She shrugged. “It’s not you, William. You know how I hate limping in late to anything. Plus, I’ve only been here once before and that time I left before the service began. It’s another long story I’m afraid.”

              “We’ll walk slow. So what if we’re late? You’re a picture to behold, so why not give your friends and neighbors a chance to enjoy it?”

              She lowered her eyes. “Don’t tease me. Please.”

              William squeezed her hands. “I’m not teasing. I mean every word of it. I’m proud to walk in with you. And I don’t think this is the kind of pride I need to confess as sin.” He winked. “Come on, you can lean on me.”

              Robin swallowed. The last time she heard those words she’d been through a twister. Now her insides twisted. William’s hand pressed warm on her back as they stepped inside the church.

              “This is the day which the Lord has . . .”

              Ty stopped, mid invocation, and in that moment of hesitation Jacob stepped into the aisle.

              “Down here, Robin.” His arms waved like signal flags. “We saved you a seat so Ty could see you in your purty new dress with Mr. Benson.”

              Heads snapped and smiles split faces as the congregation turned, en masse, to where the boy pointed.

              “Keep walking. And smile,” William whispered. He guided her forward, nodding in greeting to those along the aisle as they made their way to the front.

              When they reached their pew Jacob slipped between them. “We’re ready now, Ty."

              A titter ran through the congregation as Ty cleared his throat and resumed the service.

              “What took you so long?” Uncle John whispered out of the side of his mouth as people around them sat down once again. “I said meander, not stop for a picnic.”

              Robin shot Uncle John a glance she hoped would silence him for the rest of the service. He should know better than to tell the boy something he didn’t want repeated. And to top it all off, Henrietta Harvey and Albert occupied the same pew.

              “I think we should make young Jacob here our official greeter.” Ty smiled at the boy snuggled between her and William. His smile stiffened when his gaze locked onto the man sitting beside her. “We do welcome you, sir. I’m sure you’ll have time after church to mingle and be introduced. For now, would you all please turn in your Bibles to Leviticus chapter nineteen and verse thirty-four. ‘But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God’.”

              “Robin?” Jacob was on his knees on the pew, one hand cupped around her ear. If he said he needed to use the necessary she was going to make Uncle John take him out. She put her finger over the boy’s lips so he wouldn’t announce his plight to the entire gathering.

              He took her face in both hands and forced her to look at him. “I just want to ask you something,” he whispered. “Are strangers bad?”

###

Ty swallowed before he continued. He’d chosen today’s text with Jacob in mind. Now there was another stranger in their midst, and Jacob’s face beamed at him from his seat between this man and Robin. Mr. Benson, Jacob had called him. So this was the fancy-stationery man from Chicago? He’d expected a city slicker, not someone who appeared so comfortable in his surroundings. He’d need to work very hard to avoid looking at the front pew. And behind the Wengholds sat Anna Blair and her mother. Was there no mercy? “Could we all bow for a moment of silent prayer before I begin?” He took a deep breath to quiet his mind.

              He longed to retreat to the small cloakroom. But John would sure enough follow him
.
Lord, You’re going to have to take over my words, my thoughts, and my actions. Right now, Father, I would give my ranch to know what it is You’re teaching me, or what You want me to do. I’m engaged to Anna, but I can barely breathe with that other man next to Robin. The way he touched her, Lord . . . I know You have a purpose in all of this, but could You please let me know what it is?

              “Ahem.”

              Ty glanced up and John motioned for him to get on with it. He cleared his throat. “Amen. Now, once again we will turn our attention to the Word of God.”

              Somehow he managed to get through the service. He forced his gaze to stay behind the first two rows of worshipers. There was one more thing to attend to, and how he dreaded it. But even without looking, he coul
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Anna’s glare. He fought to keep his voice steady. “Before we close, I do have one more announcement.” He stepped away from the pulpit. “I’m sure you’re all aware we celebrate Independence Day this week. Anna and myself, along with Mrs. Blair, would like to invite you all to the Hawk for a picnic. I’ll be pleased to provide the beef and drinks. And, ladies, this is a perfect opportunity for you to display your prize culinary efforts. We hope to see you all bright and early, and do plan to stay and enjoy the fireworks.” Now, he needed only to get through the final hymn; then perhaps he could relax.

              As soon as he pronounced the benediction Anna slipped her arm through his. “I thought sure you were going to forget our invitation. You stumbled around all morning, though I can’t say I blame you the way that little boy seemed to want all the attention.” She pulled a small piece of lint from the sleeve of his suit coat. “The least we can do is greet people as they leave. I’m sure they have more questions than your announcement made clear.”

              “Wait, Ty.” Jacob’s voice rang above the voices of the departing crowd. “Did you think Robin looked purty this morning? ‘Scuse me. ‘Scuse me, please.” The boy tunneled through people around him, then tugged on Ty’s hands. “Come tell—”

              A dog barked and Jacob stopped and cocked his head. “Hear that, Ty? That’s Tripper again.” Before Ty could grab him, Jacob ran and shoved his way through the throng gathered at the back of the church.

              “Jacob, wait! Don’t go out there.”

              The boy dashed out the door.

              “Wait here.” Ty pulled away from Anna and shouldered his way through the remaining visitors.

              “Sam! Rusty!” With luck, they would still be jawing with other ranch hands in the churchyard. “Get the boy!”

              Jacob’s little legs pumped down the street, and the dog ran and yelped in front of him as though it was a familiar game of catch-me-if-you-can.

              Sam and Rusty mounted their horses and raced after the boy before Ty could get Tag untied from the hitching post. He turned to wait for John and met Robin’s fear-etched face, her eyes wide.

“Who is it, Ty? Did you see anyone with the dog?”

              “Can I help?” The Benson fella stepped forward. “I’m not sure if there’s a connection with the dog, but someone came sneaking around John’s barn last night. Tell me what to do.”

              “Take care of Robin for now, Mr. Benson. I’m going to try to get the boy and let my ranch hands search the area.”