Robin Lee Hatcher (10 page)

I shouldn’t be here
. He moved toward her even as that thought crossed his mind.

No, he shouldn’t be here, but here he was. He didn’t care if she was the daughter of a wealthy man and he was a working cowboy. He didn’t care that some folks would censure them, that they would consider him unsuitable for her. He didn’t care about any of the possible differences that might separate them.

“Mr. Chandler . . . you’re here.” Her voice was soft and inviting.

“I decided I couldn’t refuse your invitation again.”

Color brightened her cheeks. “I’m glad.” She lowered her eyes. “I hope you’ll be blessed.”

If he had her regard, then he was already as blessed as any man had a right to be. It surprised him, discovering he felt that way.

After church, Ingrid and Rand stood off to one side of the tent, watching the townsfolk and ranchers as they visited with one another. Silence stretched between them, and the silence made Ingrid anxious. Why couldn’t she think of something to say?

Rand spoke at last. “I started clearing a spot on my land this week.” He looked at her. “I know right where I’m going to build the house. Would you like to see it sometime?”

“I would like that very much.”

“I want you to tell me if you like what I’m plannin’ to do.” He paused and that drew her gaze to him at last. “You see, I want it to be your house too.”

She didn’t know what to say. She’d hoped, even though she’d not dared to hope.

He cleared his throat. “I love you, Ingrid. I know most folks will think it’s a mite fast, but it’s how I feel. Will you be my wife? I haven’t much to offer, but I sure will love you.”

She opened her mouth but found her throat too tight to speak. Her eyes watered. Any moment her face would be tracked with tears.

“I’m sorry, Miss Johnson.” The uncertain expression on his face turned to one of despair. “I knew I was bein’ foolish, but — ”

“Yes.” She took his hand, whispering, “I want to be your wife. Yes, I will marry you.”

It was as though the sun broke through his clouded face. He looked around, and then drew her through an opening in the tent. He didn’t let go. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the territory.” He kissed her cheek.

“I am happy too. But you must speak to Reverend Silverton. I cannot marry without his blessing.”

“Of course. Of course.” He grinned from ear to ear. “Wait until I tell Hawk.”

“Not yet. Please say nothing until you speak to the reverend.”

“Why don’t I do that right now?”

Joy welled up inside her. She smiled even as she stopped him. “No, Rand. Do not speak to him today. I fear he will answer that it is too soon or that I am too young. I want to prepare him, as best I am able. Will you wait one more week? Just one.”

He kissed her again, this time on the lips. “I’ll do whatever you ask, long as it means you’ll still want to marry me.”

“I will. I promise.”

They slipped back into the tent, and Ingrid searched for a glimpse of Reverend Silverton. She found him engaged in conversation with Hawk, Bethany, her mother, and a couple from town.

“Bethany said she would get him to come to church,” Ingrid marveled to herself, “but I did not believe her.”

“Who? You mean Hawk? Yeah, I was surprised. He hasn’t darkened a church door since I’ve known him.”

“Wherever will I get five dollars?”

“What’d you say?” Rand leaned closer.

Oh, gracious.
She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “Nothing important. I should not have spoken of it.”

“Of what?” He looked at her fondly. “We’re gonna be married. You can tell me anything.”

“I cannot tell you this.”

“If it concerns you, it concerns me. Tell me, Ingrid, if for no other reason than you love me.”

Hawk had come to church because he wanted to see Bethany, but he had to admit, he’d enjoyed listening to her father’s sermon. The message was one of hope for those who trusted in Christ, and the words the reverend read from Luke and Romans had tugged at his heart.

Memories of the nights when his mother sat beside his bed, reading aloud from her Bible, filled his head. “God will watch over you, my son. Trust him.” Much had changed in his life since then, but he knew she would still say those words to him if she could. “God will watch over you, my son. Trust him.”

Maybe the reasons he’d stayed away from church weren’t valid ones.

“We hope we’ll see you next week, Mr. Chandler.”

He looked at Virginia Silverton, wondering what else she might have said while he was lost in thought. “I’ll do my best.” His gaze shifted to Bethany. “I’m glad you asked me.”

Her smile was a wondrous thing to behold.

When would he have the chance to kiss her again?

Hawk and Rand were halfway back to the ranch when Rand broke the silence with a chuckle.

“Something funny?”

“No. It’s nothin’.” Then he laughed again.

“Come on, Rand. Must be something.”

“Nothing, really. Just something Ingrid told me.”

“Well, tell me so I can laugh too.”

“You cost her five dollars today.”

He lifted an eyebrow in question.

“I swear it’s the truth. Seems that first day we saw Ingrid and Bethany in town, Ingrid took one look at you and said they wouldn’t ever see you in church.”

He failed to see the humor in that.

“Maybe it’s because we were outside the saloon. Anyway, Bethany made a wager that she could get you to come to church within a month.”

“She what?”

Rand didn’t seem to notice Hawk’s darkening mood. “And she did it too. With a week or so to spare, I’m thinkin’. So now Ingrid owes her five dollars.”

Hawk felt like he’d been hit dead-on by a buffalo. So it had all been a joke. Getting him to church had been a game to her. Her coy glances, her shy smiles, even her innocent kiss had been a sham. A lark. He should have known. He’d thought she was different, but she was just another hypocrite.

Something in his stomach tightened and twisted.

“You think that’s amusing?” he said in a low voice. “How about a wager of our own?”

Rand’s smile faded.

“Something a little more difficult.” Something that would make Bethany regret playing games with the lives of others.

“Wait, Hawk. I don’t think you want to — ”

“Fifty dollars says I can get her to agree to marry me before the end of June.” He turned a cold gaze on his friend. “And not a word to Ingrid, either. This is between you and me.”

“But you don’t want to marry Bethany. Do you? Why put her and you — ”

“Marriage isn’t part of the bet. I only have to get her to agree to it.”

“Hawk, I — ”

“Think I can’t do it?”

Rand shook his head. “You’re wrong about this. You’re wrong.”

“Is it a bet or not? Because I’m doing it anyway.”

The pale light of a first quarter moon fell through the hall window on the second floor of the Silverton home as Bethany tiptoed past her parents’ bedroom. Reaching Ingrid’s door, she tapped lightly, then slipped inside.

“Ingrid? Are you awake?”

“Yes,” came a mumbled reply.

“I couldn’t sleep. Can we talk?”

“Mmmm.”

Bethany closed the door and hurried across the room. She sat on Ingrid’s bed, tucking her feet beneath the quilt and drawing her knees up beneath her white nightgown to hug them against her chest.

All afternoon she’d wanted to talk with Ingrid about how Hawk made her feel, but there had been guests for Sunday dinner, and then Papa had wanted to discuss plans for the building of the new church, and then it was suppertime already.

Ingrid pushed herself up against the headboard. “What is it?”

“Are you . . . are you in love with Mr. Howard?”

Silence.

“Are you?”

“Yes, I love him.” Another pause. “I’m not supposed to say anything yet, but today he asked me to marry him.”

“He did! Oh, Ingrid, what did you say?”

“Yes.”

Bethany launched herself forward, giving her friend a hug. “Oh, I’m so happy for you.” She settled against the headboard at Ingrid’s side. “Tell me how it happened.”

“We were talking and he told me he was starting to build his own house . . . and then he said he wanted it to be my home too.” Moonlight caressed her face. “He told me he loves me.”

Gooseflesh rose along Bethany’s arms. She envisioned the scene, but instead of Rand and Ingrid, she saw herself standing with Hawk. She imagined him bending low to whisper those three wonderful words in her ear. Her heartbeat quickened.

“I wasn’t to tell you until Rand speaks to your father. You must swear you will not tell a soul. Not anyone. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

“And I will pay you the five dollars as soon as I am able.”

“Five dollars?”

“The wager, Bethany. Mr. Chandler came to church. You won.”

Bethany laughed softly. “I forgot all about it. I was just so glad to see him.” She sobered. “Do you suppose I could be falling in love too?”

TWELVE

On Monday, Nathaniel Silverton received an invitation for the family to tour the Circle Blue. The note was delivered by one of Hawk’s ranch hands, who said he would return for his reply before leaving town.

“Papa,” Bethany said when she learned what the note said, “we must go. It would be rude not to accept.”

“We can’t, my dear. He’s invited us for tomorrow, and your mother and I have another obligation.”

“Then let Ingrid and me go. Mr. Chandler said he would escort us if needed.”

Nathaniel scanned the invitation a second time, then lifted his gaze to his daughter. She stood beside his desk, her hands clasped at her waist. Her expression was eager, her eyes pleading.

Throughout his daughter’s life, Nathaniel had given her more freedom than most girls enjoyed. He’d been told as much for years. But he wasn’t so liberal that he would allow her to visit an unmarried man unaccompanied by a chaperone. After the trouble she’d gotten into because of her impetuous ride more than two weeks ago, how could she think he would change his mind now? He did not doubt that Hawk Chandler would treat his daughter with utmost respect, but she was high-spirited and impulsive. Who knew what mischief she might cause herself?