West Winds of Wyoming (38 page)

Charlie reined up at the end of Brenna’s street and dismounted. Now that the time had come, it felt as if boulders had had a landslide in his stomach. He removed his hat and pulled his arm over his brow, thinking how much he needed a bath and a shave. Should he wait? Get cleaned up? As if of their own accord, his feet moved slowly up the street toward Brenna’s home.

Standing outside the picket fence, he looped his reins around a spike. Laughter came from within. A multitude of happy voices carrying on at the same time made it sound like a party. Was Maddie better off here in this family? The thought tortured his heart. He didn’t have a home. Or a mother for her. And given Nell’s reaction, he wasn’t likely to find a mother there.

Had Maddie forgotten his promise to come for her and given up on him? How long was a little girl’s memory?

A loud squeal, followed by another round of laughter, made his decision for him. He collected his reins and went to mount up when the front door opened. Mr. Hutton stepped out onto the porch, followed by Brenna and all the children. Maddie came last, carrying a tiny gray kitten.

Brenna broke out into a smile when she saw him standing in front of her fence. “Why hello, Mr. Rose. You must be here for your mending. I started to think you’d forgotten.”

His mending? He
had
forgotten. “Yes, ma’am.”

As she hurried back into the house, Penny took the kitten from Maddie’s hands, went over to one of the chairs, and set the little animal on the seat. It mewed loudly, drawing more giggles. Without any trouble at all, the fluff ball scampered up the backside of the chair and teetered on the top, as if putting on a show for the children.

“Let’s name her Tracy,” the middle girl said, fluffing the kitten’s fur. “That’s pretty.”

One of the boys frowned. “Naw, that’s a person’s name. I don’t like it.”

Maddie’s face brightened. “Skippy sounds like a kitty,” she offered. Actually, the name sounded like a puppy to Charlie, but he was pleased when all the kids nodded to his daughter’s suggestion.

Mr. Hutton regarded him with a pleasant smile on his face. He came down the steps and held out his hand. “Good to see you again, Mr. Rose.”

Charlie dragged his gaze away from Maddie. “Th-thank you.” He wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. A plucked chicken couldn’t have been more uncomfortable. “I, ah—”

Brenna was back, breezing down the steps with her arms full. “Here you are. Washed, mended, and ironed. That’ll be thirty-five cents.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you doing this.”

“Not at all, Mr. Rose, er—Charlie.” She smiled.

He paid her, set his items on the seat of his saddle, and glanced up to find Maddie watching from the veranda. Her head, tipped to the side, alerted him she was listening intently as she tried to hear their conversation. The other children had stopped their chatter, and had turned to see what she was doing. She took an uncertain step forward and one of the boys set his hand on her shoulder, as if to make sure she didn’t go too close to the edge.

“Pa?” He saw her mouth the one word as her face lit up with joy and uncertainty.

He pushed past Mr. Hutton and Brenna, crossed the yard, and from the edge of the porch scooped his daughter into his embrace.

“Maddie,” he breathed before his throat closed with tears. The feel of her in his arms almost dropped him to his knees.

“Mr. Rose!” Brenna shrieked, running to his side. She gripped his arm with the strength of a bear. “Put the child down this instant!”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

I
rritation over her stupidity sizzled inside her chest. How could she continue to be so senseless day after day? She fell for Charlie’s charm every time, forgetting all too quickly that he had some unspoken bond with Brenna. The fact he’d ridden all these miles today, after days in the saddle, even after their encounter last night under the stars and their kisses in the box canyon—probably a goodbye, a what-might-have-been—told her he’d never truly be hers. If she didn’t want to go on suffering each time that cowboy did a reversal, she had to put a stop to this one-sided relationship. The best way to do that, and make sure she didn’t weaken and go back on her intentions, was to do it in front of both Charlie and Brenna. Clear the way—and the air. Then she could start fresh, a life without a man named Charlie Rose.

But on top of that, a forewarning had hit her the second he’d ridden away. The sensation of an oncoming tempest, like the one she’d had in the mercantile, and then again in the stage when Maddie had arrived. It was urgent, and hot. She didn’t know what it meant, but she intended to find out.

Nell arrived in front of Brenna’s home, surprised to see that Charlie had only just arrived himself. When he moved she steeled herself, prepared to watch him sweep Brenna into his embrace, but instead he passed her by. It was Maddie he hugged, bundling her into his arms. The little tyke wrapped her small arms around his neck, and held on for dear life as he rocked her back and forth, her face buried in his neck.
What is going on?

Brenna hurried to Charlie’s side and gripped his arm in an effort to get the child back. She turned toward Mr. Hutton. “Gregory, help me! He’s gone mad. He may do harm to Maddie.”

Maddie pulled back. She laid her hands over Charlie’s face for several seconds, feeling its contour and shapes, then a smile brighter than a July sun moved across her expression. Cupping his face between her palms, she kissed his cheeks, forehead, and even the tip of his nose. Nell gasped. On the porch, the other children’s mouths gaped open in surprise.

“I knew you’d come, Pa,” her little voice shivered. “I just knew you would. I never gave up hoping and praying.”

All of a sudden little pieces started fitting into place—the way he’d watched her at the picnic, his interest in Brenna, him talking as if he’d had a child and now here she was conjured up out of thin air. But why had he concealed her? And why had he let Nell make a fool of herself going on and on about wanting children? He should have been truthful with her then.

“Maddie. Maddie,” Charlie’s tortured reply made Nell wince. “I’m so sorry it took me so long, little darlin’. I’m so sorry.”

Maddie was Charlie’s daughter. Sent ahead on the stage? How had Brenna’s Aunt Cora become involved?

Brenna continued to pull on Charlie’s arm, fear marring her pretty face.

Charlie took a step back and turned to face everyone. Nell knew the exact moment he spotted her. Their eyes locked. Against her will a surge of longing took hold of her soul.

Fuming, Brenna stepped back and stomped her foot. “Charlie Rose! Put Maddie down!”

He shook his head. “No, Brenna. Maddie’s my daughter. I’ll never put her down again.”

Nell dismounted and tossed her reins over Brenna’s picket fence next to the packhorse. She went into the yard and up to Charlie. She touched Maddie’s slender leg. “Hello, Maddie,” she said. The smile on Maddie’s face was angelic.

“Hi, Mrs. Page,” she replied. She kissed Charlie one more time on his cheek, then laid her face against his whisker-stubbed jaw. That child wasn’t going to let Charlie go anytime soon.

“So Charlie Rose is your pa, then?” Nell asked softly. Close beside her, Charlie’s gaze caressed her face. She craved to feel his lips on hers again, the way he’d kissed her today in front of Gabe and Jake. She dared a glance up through her lashes and lost herself in his eyes.

Maddie nodded. “But his name’s not Charlie Rose. It’s Tristan Axelrose. And I’m Maddie Axelrose.”

Brenna gasped again. The other children stood silently on the porch. The kitten had long since jumped down and picked her way through the sparse grass. She rubbed back and forth against Charlie’s boot, or Tristan’s boot, or whatever the man Nell was going to marry called himself.

Nell felt a smile coming on as she gazed into Charlie’s eyes. “Tristan Axelrose?”

He shrugged and the color of his face deepened.

When Charlie took a step away, Brenna gripped the sleeve of his shirt. “You can’t imagine I’ll just let you walk out of here on your word. This goes against everything inside me. I can’t let you take her.”

“I understand. And it does my heart good to know you’ve loved my little girl just like she was one of your own. Ask her few questions about where she’s from. And her ma’s name. I’ll be able to corroborate. She brought her crocheted doll with her. The one she calls Beatrix. You still have her, Maddie?”

When Maddie nodded, Jane dashed into the house. She returned with the doll and set her into Maddie’s arms.

A fond smile appeared on Charlie’s face when he saw the toy. “Miss Baxter, your Aunt Cora cared for Maddie in Wilsonville. She’s the one who suggested she bring Maddie to you in Logan Meadows. Until I could get here myself.”

Brenna straightened, her eyes softening. “She cared for Maddie?”

Charlie reached over and placed a hand on Brenna’s shoulder. “I’m sorry she didn’t make it here, Brenna. It’s a real shame. She had a heart of gold, for sure. Took wonderful care of Maddie. I didn’t learn of her passing until Nell told me at the school picnic. I couldn’t be more sorry for your loss—
our
loss—even if she were my own aunt.”

Still cradled in Charlie’s embrace, Maddie’s smile faded.

“Honey, what happened to Miss Baxter?” he asked tenderly. “Can you tell us what occurred?”

“She didn’t feel good,” Maddie said softly. She blinked several times before saying, “We went to bed, but I woke up later when she called my name. She wanted her bag so she could write a note. I got scared and started to cry, but she told me everything would be all right. That nothing bad would happen.” Tears trickled down Maddie’s cheeks. “Then in the morning when she didn’t wake up, someone came and told me she was dead and they would dig a grave.” She buried her face into Charlie’s neck and he rocked her back and forth.

Poor child. Nell reached up and rubbed Maddie’s back.

“I’m sorry, Brenna,” Charlie said, his voice low. “Your aunt wanted to make the trip. She wanted to settle here in Logan Meadows with you. Actually, she wanted me and you to get marr—” Charlie quickly closed his mouth.

Brenna’s hand fluttered to her chest.

Charlie looked uncomfortable and cleared his throat. “Things have a way of working themselves out.”

When Brenna swayed, Mr. Hutton folded her hand into the crook of his arm. Her ashen face was rife with grief. “Since her things arrived on the stage, I’ve wondered. I sent a letter to the postmaster in Wilsonville trying to learn why she was coming here and what her connection was to Maddie.” She gave a small sob. “I’m sorry she passed on by herself.”

“I was with her,” Maddie said softly, still nestled next to Charlie’s neck. “Holding tight to her hand.”

Brenna tried to smile, but her face crumbled. She turned into Mr. Hutton’s arms. “Thank you, Maddie,” she said between gulps of air. “Thank you for being with her as she passed.”

Charlie looked adoringly into Maddie’s face. “Can you wait a little longer for me? I need to find a place for us to live before I can take you home.”

Brenna sniffed, then used the hankie Mr. Hutton fished from his pocket. “Take as long as you like,” Brenna said. “Maddie is always welcome here.”

Charlie nodded. “Thank you.” Nell thought she saw a shadow of something pass over his eyes.

“But, Pa . . .”

“I know, I know, sweetheart. I’m just as anxious as you are, but some things have to get worked out.” He glanced at Nell, a smile tugging at his lips, before he kissed Maddie on the forehead. “And I’ll be by to visit as much as I can. Brenna, I’ve intended from the start to compensate you for your generosity. We’ll take care of that later today as well.”

“No, I couldn’t—”

“You will and I don’t want to hear another word.” He dug in his pocket for the bag of peppermints. He put it in Maddie’s hand, kissed her cheek, and set her on the ground. “There’s enough to go around.” The children crowded in excitedly.

“Nell and I have some unfinished business to take care of,” he said. “I had no idea she’d follow me into town.”

“You angry?” Nell asked, understanding now that the premonition that had moved her from the box canyon and the others before wasn’t a warning of impending danger, not in the way the stranger had been. Instead it was a message of love, a major change for her life—all for the good. Marrying Charlie and having a daughter of her own.

The twinkle in his eye made Nell’s breath catch. “What do you think?”