Two weeks later, Dori halted Splotches under a giant oak tree on a knoll above the Diamond S and slid from the saddle. Matt had ordered her to stay within sight of the ranch house when riding alone, due to rumors about unsavory-looking strangers being seen on the range. Now she sank to the ground. If she didn’t let out her pent-up feelings she’d burst.
“I don’t understand, Lord,” she said in the direct approach that made God her Trailmate, as well as her Savior. “I’ve repented, groveled, and apologized. I’ve studied until my head ached to make up for ducking out on my lessons earlier. Unless I’m sadly mistaken, I did well on my final examinations. I’ve helped teach the Mexican women and children, been nice to Abby when she comes to visit, and done everything Matt tells me. Yet things are worse with Seth than ever.”
Splotches nickered and nudged Dori’s shoulder with her nose.
“What do you know?” she asked. “You’re only a horse. Sorry, girl. If I didn’t have God and you to talk to, I’d be sunk. I told Solita if my life were a storybook, Seth would recognize I’ve turned over a new leaf—now that Stancel’s gone. We’d have a grand reconciliation scene, and the book would end with us living happily ever after.”
She groaned. “Know what she said?” Dori mimicked the housekeeper’s voice. “ ‘Life isn’t a storybook. This is only the end of a chapter. Dios will show you what comes next. Trust Him and wait. He knows what is best for you and Senor Seth.’ ”
Dori sprang to her feet. “Lord, I don’t want to wait. Seth is as polite as can be but the biding-my-time look in those blue eyes is driving me crazy. Why can’t he see I’m sincere?”
The autumn leaves do not change color overnight, but gradually. Seth needs time to be shown that you are not the same Dolores Sterling.
All the fight went out of Dori. Her voice of conscience was right, as usual. But what would it take to convince the man she loved that she had truly changed?
A horrid thought came. “Abby is hot on Seth’s trail. He’s also mighty friendly with Katie. If she’s in love with Curly, like Solita says, why was she whispering with Seth on the porch the other evening? What if God knows I’m not the best mate for Seth?”
Splotches had no answer beyond another whinny, and the little voice that sometimes plagued and at other times comforted Dori remained silent.
She swung into the saddle and turned toward home, so lost in misery that even the western sky flaunting red, orange, and purple banners failed to raise her spirits. Seeing Seth talking with Katie by the corral didn’t help. He appeared to be pleading with her, but as Dori drew closer, she saw Katie shake her head and heard her say,
“Faith and mercy, has that spalpeen Curly been for getting your help to argue his cause? ’Twill do him no good.” Laughter rippled. “We’ll wed when I say the word, and not one minute sooner.”
Dori’s despair over Seth changed to joy. One down, one to go, she exulted. With Katie marrying Curly, that just leaves Abby for competition. She grinned and called, “Grand evening, isn’t it?” then dismounted and led Splotches into the corral. Her heart thundered while she removed the saddle, rubbed Splotches down, turned the mare loose in the pasture, and headed for the house. Thankfully, she reached the privacy of her room without encountering anyone.
She sat down by her window and stared into the growing night. Katie had disappeared, but Seth still stood by the corral, face turned in the direction of the house. Dori’s hands flew to her burning face. How could she face him—or anyone—blushing like tonight’s sunset? Surely they’d see the love she’d tried so hard to hide.
Sterling pride won out over Dori’s dismay. She changed from her riding clothes into a red-checked gingham dress with a white collar and cuffs and ran downstairs. The family was gathered in the sitting room as usual, along with Seth, Curly, and Solita. Conversation stopped when Dori entered. She chose a chair where her face would be in shadow and asked, “Am I interrupting something?”
“Not at all,” Matt said. “In fact, we were talking about you.”
Dori sat up straight. “What did I do now? I thought I’d been pretty good lately.” She hated the quaver in her voice. Was Matt, as well as Seth, questioning her sincerity?
Matt’s laughter boomed. “I’ll let Katie tell you.”
Dori took heart. It didn’t sound like she was in trouble. “Katie?”
Her teacher’s eyes sparkled. “You’ve been for studying so hard recently that you’ve passed your final examinations with highest honors. Congratulations.”
Dori sagged with relief, but Katie wasn’t finished.
“Being here has been a blessing, one I’ll be for remembering long after I’m gone.”
Curly raised one eyebrow, and his eyes twinkled. “I don’t think you’ll be for movin’ on any time soon,” he drawled.
Katie turned rosy red and sent a quick look at Seth, who said, “That’s for sure,” and smiled at Dori.
She felt the telltale blush she hated crawl into her cheeks. Best to get away before she betrayed her feelings. She yawned. “Excuse me, folks. I think I’ll turn in.” She stood up and started for the staircase, but Seth’s voice stopped her.
“Now that you’re finished with your studies, maybe we’ll have time to ride again.”
Dori gulped. “I thought my lessons were over.”
“Really? I may still have a few things to teach you.”
The twinkle in Seth’s eyes made Dori feel she’d stepped onto shaky ground. Drat. He’d always been able to see right through her. Had he caught the relief in her face that Katie wasn’t a candidate for his affections? She gathered her wits and raised her head.
“Why, of course.” Dori forced herself to slowly walk upstairs when she longed to run. She wanted to ride with Seth. Yet doing so meant giving herself away, and refusing would bring down a storm of questions on her hapless head. Before falling asleep, she pounded at the gates of heaven, asking for a reprieve.
If Dori had ever questioned whether God had a sense of humor, she’d have tossed the notion to the four winds the very next day. A buggy pulled up to the ranch house. Abby Sheridan stepped down.
“Howdy, everyone. I have a few days off.” Abby’s pretty face shone with excitement. “I’m taking the stage trip up to Big Tree Station. Anyone want to go along?”
“Where’s Big Tree Station?” Sarah wanted to know.
“In the Yosemite Valley,” Matt told her. “You stay overnight and the trip is quite an experience.” He grinned. “Remember when we went, Dori? You couldn’t believe that a tree could be big enough for a stagecoach to drive through.”
“It was, though.” Dori added, “I also remember the endless forests and canyons and snow-capped mountains. You’ll love them, Sarah. Guess what: Even former president Ulysses S. Grant took the trip.”
Sarah’s eyes glowed. “It sounds like just this side of heaven.”
Abby clapped her hands and giggled. “What’s good enough for a president is good enough for me.” She paused and dramatically added, “Besides, we may be held up.”
“Held up? Does that happen often?” A little worry line creased Sarah’s forehead.
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Abby reassured her. “Holdups are so commonplace that the tourists almost hope they will happen. The robbers are usually real gentlemen. They hold up the stage, relieve passengers of their valuables, politely thank them, and ride away without harming anyone.” Abby beamed. “We’ll outsmart them. We’ll leave our valuables at home and enjoy being held up without losing our possessions.”
Sarah laughed so hard she had to hold her sides. “It sounds wonderful and really quite safe. What do you think, Matt? Can you get away?”
He shook his head. “I wish I could, but I have to attend a cattleman’s meeting.” His face brightened. “Seth can take my place, and you can chaperone, Sarah. How does that sound?” He grinned at Dori. “The trip will be a reward for your hard work.”
“Thanks.” Dori kept to herself the fact she saw the trip as twofold. She could gauge Seth’s reaction to Abby. There also might be a chance to show Seth she wasn’t the same spoiled girl she used to be.
On the appointed morning, Seth, Sarah, Dori, and Abby met at Captain Mace’s Yosemite Hotel just before six o’clock. At the last minute, Katie had decided to stay at the ranch. She didn’t say why, but Dori suspected it was because Curly wasn’t going.
Dori shrugged and vowed to shelve her worries and enjoy what lay ahead. The day loomed bright and beautiful; the stagecoach sat ready and waiting. Dori shivered as much from excitement as from the chilly morning. She thought of Stancel Worthington III and laughed. What would he think of the open-sided stagecoach with its canopy top, horsehair-filled seats, and great wheels? He’d surely look down his nose at the other two passengers: rough-dressed ranchers who said they’d be getting off at Fresno Flats. And he’d jeer at Charley, the grizzled, loquacious driver who had Seth riding next to him.
Dori couldn’t have cared less. Nothing could spoil the day. She reviewed their itinerary. Arrive and change horses at Adobe Ranch, nine miles east of Madera. Go through Dustin’s Station. Stop for dinner at Coarsegold. Travel through Potter’s Ridge, Fresno Flats, and Burford’s Station. Reach Big Tree Station in the late afternoon.
“I can hardly wait to stay at the Wawona Hotel,” Abby said when they were underway. “I heard all about it from a woman who took the trip.” Peals of mirth brought an answering smile to Dori’s face.
“You won’t believe this. First she raved about the hotel, which is a large, two-story building with a lobby, sitting room, dining room, office, twenty-five guest rooms, lots of flowers, and wonderful food. Then she sighed and said, ‘Now if it were only in San Francisco instead of way up here in the wilderness, it would be perfect.’ ”
“Sounds like…uh…someone Dori knows,” Sarah teased.
“Enough of that, Mrs. Sterling. Pay attention to the trip.”
“I am.” Sarah’s eyes reflected the wonder Dori felt in spite of having to keep her balance in the swaying stagecoach. A bull elk meandered across the dusty road, and Charley warned, “Be keerful of animules up here. You gotta watch out if ’n you sleep on the ground floor at the hotel. Don’t leave yore winders open. Coyotes ’round here have been known to sneak up an’ snatch at a body’s bedroll.”
Seth chuckled. “Come on, Charley. That only happens in the woods, not in the hotel.” He seemed more carefree than he had for weeks.
“I’m just joshin’. Yu’ll be perfectly safe at Big Tree Station.”
By the time they reached Coarsegold, Dori couldn’t wait to get out of the jouncing stagecoach. The trip so far had surpassed expectations but she secretly wondered how much of her would be left by the time they reached Big Tree Station. Once on solid ground, Dori clicked her teeth. “Lead me to the food. At least no robbers yet.”
No robbers. Something worse. When the travelers returned to the stage after dinner they discovered a new passenger.
Red Fallon was perched beside the driver.