The early September storm that slam-banged in from the Pacific Ocean paled in comparison with the fury in Charles Stanhope’s face. He waved the special delivery letter that had just been delivered to him in the library. Edward had never seen his father so angry. Or heard him roar like the flames up the fireplace chimney.
“Letitia Stanhope, how dare you hire a private investigator to spy on our son?”
A wave of red mounted to her carefully styled blond hair. “You needn’t shout. I did it for Joshua’s sake.”
Josh? Edward sagged with relief.
His mother held out her hand. “The letter’s for me, is it not? Why did you open it?”
“I’ve been expecting to hear from our shipping office in San Diego. Thank God I opened the letter and found out what you are up to.”
Curiosity overcame caution. “What does the letter say?” Edward asked.
His father cast him a quelling look but began reading:
“Except for a few malcontents at Christ the Way, Joshua has been well received. He’s called ‘Preacher Josh,’ and people of all ages sing his praises, notably the young women who flock around him. Even in the short time he’s been here, church attendance has grown substantially—especially among the ranch hands. It doesn’t set well with the church chairman, but Joshua insists he must seek out those who are lost.”
Edward wanted to applaud. So, good old Josh was carrying out his mission. Yet a pang went through him. He missed his twin.
His mother obviously cared little for the lost. “Just what I thought,” she snapped. “A bunch of designing females making fools of themselves chasing Joshua. As if he’d ever look at anyone in that cow town.”
“Don’t gloat too soon.” Charles gave her a stern look and resumed reading:
“According to gossip, those who plot to become Mrs. Joshua Stanhope may as well give up. The only girl your son has paid any attention to is a rancher’s daughter. She sings in church and is called the Sierra Song-bird. I have to admit, she has a nice voice.”
Mother gave an inelegant snort. “What does an investigator know? She probably sings like a crow. Is that all?”
“Yes. Pay the investigator and dismiss him. I will have no more spying on my son. I trust him, even if you don’t.” He threw the letter into the fire and stalked out.
“He’s my son, too,” Mother flung after him. “Edward, what are we going to do?”
“Go to Madera.”
A look of horror crossed her face. “You must be mad!”
Edward sat bolt upright. The idea grew like dandelions in spring. “Why not? We can find out for ourselves what’s going on, meet this Sierra Songbird and”—his imagination took flight—“if she has any kind of voice, we’ll bring her back with us, give her the finest training possible, and make her the rage of San Francisco. It will get her away from Josh.”
Letitia wrung her hands. “You are mad. As mad as your brother.”
“Not at all.” Edward fitted his fingers together and played his trump card. “When Josh left Bayview Christian, you lost the prestige of being the mother of ‘our fair city’s most up-and-coming minister,’ as the San Francisco Chronicle called Josh.” A gleam in his mother’s eyes showed he’d reached her. She dearly loved the limelight. “There’s one chance in a million that the ugly Madera duckling could turn out to be a swan. As her patron and discoverer, your social status would skyrocket.”
The opposition in Mother’s face gave way to consideration. “Your father won’t hear of it.” Her regretful voice told Edward he’d won.
He stood and stretched. “He’d do anything to help make peace between you and Josh. What’s more effective than our visiting Madera and offering the local songbird a chance to soar?” Edward shrugged. “Who knows? It might even cause Josh to reconsider where he’s supposed to be. Bayview Christian’s still holding his place open, aren’t they?”
“Yes.” A conspiratorial look passed between mother and son.
Three days later Letitia and Edward ferried to Oakland and boarded the eastbound train.
Josh thrust aside the sermon he’d been working on and headed for the Diamond S. “The only honorable thing to do is confess to Matt,” he told Sultan. The black gelding pricked his ears into the listening attitude Josh knew so well. “How could I take advantage of Ellie when she was distraught over Tim?”
He repeated the question in Matt’s office a short time later. Matt sat behind his desk with Josh standing across from him, feeling like a prisoner before a judge. “Ellie asked me what she could do to thank me for saving Tim.” Sweat crawled up Josh’s back. “I blurted out ‘by marrying me.’”
Matt’s voice cut like a skinning knife. “Did you mean it?”
Josh clenched his fists. “I never meant anything more.”
Matt crossed his arms and tilted his desk chair back until it groaned. “So what’s the problem?”
Josh swallowed, wishing he was anywhere else. “I should have told you how I felt and asked permission to keep company with Ellie before speaking out like that.”
“Did you tell Ellie you love her and ask her how she feels?”
Josh felt himself turn pale. “You sure aren’t making this easy. Not that I deserve anything else.”
“What do you expect?” The chair crashed down on all fours. “A man comes to me, says he told my only daughter she could marry him because he happened to be in the right place at the right time, and—”
The words stung. Josh stepped forward and glared down at Matt. “It’s not like that, Matt. I didn’t ask anything from Ellie except for her to keep in mind that someday, God willing, she’ll be my beloved wife.” He met his friend’s stern blue gaze squarely. “We’ve known each other a little less than three months. I’m twenty-seven. She’s eighteen. I wouldn’t expect her to love me now, although sometimes…” His voice lay down and died.
Mischief replaced the sternness in Matt’s eyes. He got up from behind the desk, wearing a Cheshire-cat grin. One strong hand shot out and gripped Josh’s. “Put her there, Preacher Josh. You may have my daughter’s hand in marriage if you can win her. In the meantime, see that Tim ‘keeps company’ with you two unless you’re in a crowd.” His mirth changed to sadness. “Ellie was the target of vicious gossip as a child. It left scars. There’s at least one two-legged cat in the vicinity who will scratch and squall if she thinks you’re serious about Ellie.”
“I know.” Josh heaved a great sigh. “Tim already warned me that Amy Talbot has been making her intentions known all over town.”
“It figures.” Matt gave Josh a lopsided grin. “One thing. How will that San Francisco family of yours feel about Ellie?”
Josh’s joy evaporated, but he wouldn’t duck Matt’s question. “My father will have reservations only until he meets her, Mother will huff and puff and try to blow my house down but will have to give in. My twin brother, Edward, will—”
“Twin brother! There are two of you?”
The look on Matt’s face proved too much for Josh. He bent double laughing. “That bad, huh?”
Matt dropped back into his chair and stared until Josh felt impaled by his keen gaze. “No. It’s just that I’ve heard twins sometimes share the same feelings.” Matt cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable. “If your brother is like you, what’s to keep him from falling in love with Ellie when he meets her? I’d hate to see her in a tug-of-war between brothers. Bad business. All three of you would lose.”
Matt’s insight sent a chill through Josh. “We look alike, but it ends there. Edward and I chose different paths in life a long time ago. Besides, he’s already engaged.” Right, a little voice taunted. Beryl Westfield is like a burned-out comet compared with Ellie, who brings the sunlight. How can Edward or any man help falling in love with her? You were down for the count the first time you met her.
“Well?”
Josh gathered his wits and replied, “Edward may have his faults, but I’m sure he has enough honor to never come between me and the woman I love.”
Are you sure? the little voice persisted. Absolutely sure? Josh wanted to drown out the voice with a resounding yes, but doubts born of past experience rose. If push came to shove, would Edward let anything stand between him and something he’d set his mind on possessing? Time after time, the role of brother’s keeper had lain heavy on Josh’s shoulders. He’d given up much for Edward. If he fell in love with Ellie, as Josh knew could happen, must the older brother stand aside in order to keep Ellie from becoming a wishbone?
Matt leaned forward. “You can take my advice or not, Josh. But if I were you, I’d get a ring on Ellie’s finger before that brother of yours ever meets her.”
Josh’s mouth dried. “A wedding ring?” His heart leaped at the thought.
Matt rolled his eyes. “No, you dolt. A brand. A sparkler. An engagement ring. Something to tell the world she belongs to you.”
“You’re all right with that?” Josh marveled.
Matt cocked one eyebrow and drawled, “Well now, Preacher, it really isn’t up to me. One thing more. How are you going to support my daughter if Luther Talbot convinces folks you need to mosey on three months from now? I doubt you’ve saved much on the salary you get here.”
Josh wanted to laugh. “I have income from a trust fund my grandfather left and saved quite a bit from Bayview Christian. The trust fund principal comes to me when I’m thirty, unless Mother finds a way to stop it. She didn’t want me to leave San Francisco. By the way, this is privileged information.”
“Of course.” Matt’s eyes twinkled. He stood, signaling the interview had ended. “You’re a good rider. If Talbot succeeds in getting you kicked out, which I’m pretty sure he won’t, I can always use another good hand.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep it in mind. Now I’d best be getting back to town before Luther sends a pack of hounds after me.”
“He’s about ready to,” Matt warned. “His big gripe continues to be that you spend way too much time outside the church and parsonage.”
“How do you feel about it?” Josh asked.
“You have to do both. Tend the flock and go after the strays.”
Josh told Matt good-bye and headed back to Madera, pondering over the remarkable session and thinking of the rancher’s final words. So much to do. If only there were more hours in a day! “There aren’t,” Josh told Sultan. “Hmmm. Wonder what’s next?”
He didn’t have long to wait. The eastbound train was grinding to a stop when Josh reached Madera. He tethered Sultan to the hitching rail in front of Moore’s General Store and idly watched passengers descend to the dusty street. A heavily veiled woman paused on the platform at the top of the steps, with the porter attempting to assist her. A haughty voice commanded, “My good man, I can walk. Will you please let go of my elbow?”
Blood rushed to Josh’s head and roared in his ears. The voice could only belong to one person. “Mother?” he croaked.
Letitia stepped down, followed by her grinning younger son. “Really, Joshua, must you gape?” She cast a disparaging glance up and down Main Street. “That’s what comes of living in a place like this. Now, will you kindly take me somewhere so I can recover from our dreadful journey?”
She looked at the well-filled horse trough nearby and sniffed. “I presume there are accommodations with modern conveniences. Or is this where people here bathe?”