Cowboy Seeks a Bride

Guilt and nervousness vied for control of Rand’s thoughts as he drove toward town. Nate and Tolley had insisted they would take care of today’s chores, but he still felt responsible for doing his share. It was all Susanna’s fault. She and Nate were staying in the big house while his parents and sister were back East, and his sweet little sister-in-law had wheedled the truth out of him about Marybeth’s reticence to marry right away. She’d insisted he must get busy courting.

“If Lizzy were feeling better, I’d say bring Marybeth out here today,” she’d told him over breakfast. Rand’s two-year-old niece had come down with a cold and had clung to her mother while she ate. “First thing next week, you have to do that.” She’d encouraged her fussy baby to take a bite of toast, but Lizzy had refused. “How about a picnic? Today isn’t too soon. Nate and I went on a picnic my second day here. His courage in facing down those Indians made him a hero in my eyes and went a long way toward winning my heart.”

Nate had beamed at his bride’s praise as he’d nudged Rand’s arm. “Go ahead, brother. Rita can pack a basket while you get old Sam hitched up to the buggy. You can drive into town and surprise Marybeth. Ladies like to be surprised, don’t they, sweetheart?”

Susanna had batted her eyelashes at Nate as if they were still courting. Rand admitted to himself that he’d like to have Marybeth look at him that way. Seated across the table, Tolley had just groaned.

“Sí, Senor Rand.” Rita, the family cook, had a little courting going on herself with one of the cowhands. “I’ll have everything ready in fifteen minutes.”

“Well,” Rand had drawled, still uncertain. “I did promise Marybeth a hike in the mountains.” He’d stirred a bite of griddlecake into a puddle of syrup on his plate. “I also promised we’d have a chaperone.”

All eyes had turned toward Tolley, who’d shoved back from the table, shaking his head. “No, sir. Not me. I’ve got all those chores to do, yours and mine. Got cows to milk, stalls to muck out, mustangs to break, fences to check and a whole bunch of other stuff.” He’d stood and started toward the door like a scared rabbit. “Helping with her trunk was one thing, but I refuse to play duenna while you two make eyes at each other. Find somebody else.”

“But you’d look so purty in a lace mantilla,” Nate had quipped.

Rita had giggled and Susanna had laughed. Tolley’s response was to slam the back door on his way out.

Bouncing Lizzy on her lap, Susanna had said, “Why not stop by Maisie and John’s and invite them along?”

So now Rand drove old Sam toward town with a large, well-packed picnic basket secured to the back of the buggy and a prayer in his heart that Doc and Maisie would be free today. If they weren’t, maybe Mrs. Foster would go. Of course that would mean they couldn’t go hiking because it would be too hard on the older lady, but they could go up to a meadow by the river. He couldn’t decide which chaperone he preferred. Having either one hear his every word would only add to his nervousness as he tried to become better acquainted with Marybeth.

As if that wasn’t enough indecision for a man to have, he also had to figure out what to tell her about Hardison. While Nate had advised him not to worry her with the gunslinger’s threats, Tolley thought she ought to know what the man had said in regard to her. Rand usually took his cautious older brother’s advice, and yet he couldn’t entirely dismiss the idea that she should be on the lookout for danger. As peaceful as the Esperanza community was, as caring the folks were about one another, there was always a chance of getting bit by a sneaky snake in the grass.

At the Henshaws’ two-story house several blocks from Mrs. Foster’s, he found three waiting patients seated in the front hallway. He greeted them with concern over their health even as his heart took a dip. Obviously his friends wouldn’t be able to get away for a picnic. Before he could leave, Doc came out of the surgery.

“You’re just in time, Rand. You can give me a hand.” Doc took him out the side door to a wagon, from which they unloaded a leather-topped oak examining table and carried it into the surgery.

With the new furniture in place, Doc eyed Rand up and down. “Now, what can I do for you? I should have asked you that before I put you to work.”

“Say—” Maisie came in the room before Rand could answer “—shouldn’t you be over at Mrs. Foster’s house courting that pretty little bride of yours?” She punctuated her question with a wink, a rowdy laugh and a slap on his arm.

“Uh, yeah. That’s where I’m headed.” Why had he thought inviting them would be a good idea? Maisie had a good heart, and he loved her like a sister, but she also had a loose tongue. He wouldn’t even waste time asking for sure if she’d told Marybeth about his past.

“But—” Doc said.

Not giving Doc a chance to finish, Rand made his escape, dashing back to the buggy and heading toward Mrs. Foster’s house.

Pretty piano music came through the open front window and Rand paused to listen to the end of the song. If that was Marybeth, she wasn’t bad, but not quite as good as Mrs. Foster. Of course she’d said she needed to practice, so he mustn’t be too quick to judge.

When Mrs. Foster admitted him, however, he saw that Laurie Eberly was just finishing her piano lesson. At fourteen years of age, Maisie’s next-to-youngest sister had a bit more musical talent than her four sisters, and she liked to sing. That was, when she wasn’t batting her eyes at Tolley like all the other younger girls. No wonder his brother was skittish about courting with every young girl in the territory making eyes at him, and him not even ready to court. Rand had suffered through that same phase several years ago.

“Make yourself comfortable, Rand.” Mrs. Foster waved him toward the settee as she started up the staircase. “I’ll fetch Marybeth. I’m sure Laurie won’t mind an audience, will you, dear?”

“No, ma’am. I’d love it.” Laurie glanced over Rand’s shoulder as if looking for somebody and then gave him a sisterly smile. “What’s Tolley doing today? Busy at the ranch, I suppose.”

“Oh, he’s real busy.” Rand had his own romance problems, so he sure didn’t want to stir up anything that would annoy his younger brother. He sat, hat in hand, and realized his palms were sweaty. Who would have guessed courting could be so difficult?

“Maybe I’ll ride out there after my lesson and visit Susanna.” Laurie set her fingers on the keys and began to play a song Rand wasn’t familiar with.

He couldn’t figure out a way to discourage her from going out to the ranch and pestering Tolley, especially since Susanna probably would appreciate a visit. Like all of the Eberly sisters, Laurie would be a big help with the sick baby.

“Hello, Rand.” Marybeth entered the parlor looking refreshed from her travels. Beautiful, in fact, with her pretty auburn hair piled high on her head and her eyes more blue than hazel today because of that blue dress. As he stood to greet her, his heart leaped into his throat. “I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow. Is everything all right?”

He had to clear his throat before he could talk. “Hello.” Was that dismay or worry in her eyes?

“Now, Marybeth.” Mrs. Foster stood by her with an arm around her waist. Their already comfortable relationship would encourage him if he weren’t so nervous. “Can’t a young man come calling unannounced?”

“Oh, yes. Of course.” Marybeth seemed to force a smile. “How are you today, Rand?”

“I’m well, thank you.” He felt the strain in his own smile. “And you?”

“Well, thank you.”

They stared at each other for a moment until Marybeth looked down at her hands.

About now was the time when Maisie would slap his arm and tell him to speak up. Fortunately her little sister didn’t seem so inclined. Laurie still sat at the piano, and even though she wasn’t playing she didn’t appear to be eavesdropping.

“I was wondering,” he said, “if you would accompany me on a picnic—you and Mrs. Foster? We can go down by the river, enjoy the scenery and see what our housekeeper fixed for us. She’s a great cook.” He glanced at Mrs. Foster. “Of course, not as good as you, ma’am.”

“Thank you, dear boy.” Her beaming face showed how much she appreciated his words. How she must miss hearing her husband praise her cooking. “Rita is quite young, but she’ll improve with a bit more experience.” She looked between the two of them. “Thank you for inviting me to chaperone your outing. Unfortunately, on Saturdays, my teaching schedule and my organ practice for tomorrow’s service keep me from accepting.”

Was that relief he saw on Marybeth’s face? Dismay wound through Rand’s chest. Was she all that set against being with him? So much for Susanna’s brilliant idea about courting.

* * *

Marybeth tried to hide her relief over Mrs. Foster’s refusal. The last thing she wanted was to have the older lady present when she asked Rand how serious he was about helping her find Jimmy. Bless her kind heart, the lady was a gossip, as their late talk last night had revealed. She wasn’t in the least malicious, but stated outright that folks had a right to know what was going on in their community. While Marybeth couldn’t disagree, she didn’t want her private business spread all over town and who knew where else. She must be the one who told Jimmy about Mam and Da being dead, an important piece of news she now wished she hadn’t told Mrs. Foster. Yet how could she have kept it from her?

She scrambled around in her mind to think of a public place to go with Rand, a place where she’d feel safe or could walk away if need be. Perhaps that park she’d seen across from the church—

“If you need a chaperone, I’ll go with you.” Laurie lowered the fallboard over the piano keys and stood. “Before Maisie and Doc got married, I always tagged along to keep things proper.” She gathered her music and put it in a leather satchel. “Since Tolley’s busy and all, I can go fishing and see if the trout are biting.” She gave Rand a look Marybeth couldn’t quite discern. “Sort of planned to do that anyway.”

Relief and amazement struck Marybeth at the same time. The Lord was still guiding her life in His mysterious way. While Laurie fished, she and Rand could talk privately.

“That’s real nice, Laurie.” Rand gave Marybeth a doubtful look. “Of course, if you had plans...”

“Not at all.” She must have sounded too eager, because Rand’s sad expression turned upside down. Gracious, he was handsome when he smiled. Handsome when he frowned, too, but of course smiles were much better. “Just let me change into something more suitable.”

It didn’t take her five minutes to slip out of her plain blue gingham and into her brown traveling skirt and white shirtwaist. Mrs. Foster offered her the use of a broad-brimmed straw hat to protect her complexion from the sun, and she carried her parasol for extra shade and a shawl in case a breeze came up. In a short time, they were on their way north toward the Rio Grande.

Marybeth sat next to Rand in his buggy, with Laurie riding her horse alongside them. Each time they went over a bump, Marybeth’s shoulder jolted against his upper arm, and she could feel the solid muscles beneath the blue plaid sleeve. How pleasant that might have been if they were truly courting. Or if he weren’t wearing that gun strapped to his right leg. Did he always wear it, even to church? She’d find out tomorrow.

The road smoothed out north of Esperanza and they picked up speed. Marybeth gazed east across the wide, flat valley toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. On the left, the San Juan range appeared nearer. Was Jimmy someplace up there? Or was she on a fool’s errand?

“Thinking about your brother?” Rand offered that lopsided grin that made her silly heart skip. Or maybe it was his insightful question that moved her.

“Yes.” She looked away from him toward the east again and brushed at sudden tears, hoping he hadn’t seen them. “After all these years, I can’t believe I’m this close. At least close to where his letter came from. Is Del Norte far? That’s where he mailed it.”

“Not far.” For some reason he gave a little shudder at the mention of the next town over. “It’s a long day’s trip there and back.”