Chapter 7   

After Sunday’s service Connor had thanked the pastor for his sermon, and then he and Brian ushered the twins to the covered surrey they’d rented and drove away from the crowd. Excitement like he rarely felt flooded Connor. Finally, they would get to spend the day alone with the twins.

He glanced to his right to see Keeley holding Jamie on her lap. The boy bounced and babbled. Connor wasn’t sure if Jamie was happy to be outside or if he was enjoying the buggy ride. Either way, he was glad to see a smile on the little guy’s face. Jamie seemed to be adjusting well to living with the twins after that first rough day. Connor still hadn’t had any luck finding a couple to adopt the boy. No one wanted another mouth to feed.

Keeley looked at him and smiled. “I had a grand time at your Sunday service. ’Twas much different than what we’ve been to in the past. It felt lighter, if that makes a whit of sense.”

“Aye, it does.” Katie leaned forward on the back seat. ’Twas a fine, good time. People seemed happy, and Pastor Rice didn’t frown or yell at us.”

Connor had heard about churches where the minister preached hell and damnation messages, but he’d never attended one. Pastor Rice was a gentle man, and he got his point across without hollering.

“And could be that you feel lighter simply because you’re wearing calico. Rather like wearing a chemise all day, is it not?” Katie snickered and sat back.

“Katie!” Keeley turned and scowled at her sister.

Connor looked over to see Keeley blushing. He knew well what Katie meant, as he was always glad to shed his Sunday-go-to-meetin’ clothes for his normal denim pants and cotton shirt. He tugged at his string tie and loosened it a bit. The thing was too close to a noose for his liking.

Keeley shifted Jamie around so that he faced Connor. “There are so many wildflowers out here.” She swiveled and pointed. “What is that big thing?”

“It’s a prickly pear cactus. Down in southern Texas there are lots more than there are here.”

“We need to keep Jamie away from them.”

“That’s true. I don’t reckon he’ll go far, since he isn’t walking yet.”

“Perhaps.” Keeley kissed Jamie’s head. “The wee laddie sure can crawl fast though.” She pointed off toward the right. “Why are there so many trees over that way? That’s one thing I miss about Chicago. There were some fierce big trees there.”

“Those trees line Cactus Creek, which the town is named for. Whenever you see a bunch of trees like that, you can almost bet there will be water nearby.”

He guided the surrey off the road and headed for the shady area. After a few minutes, he reined the matching gray horses to a stop under a big oak tree. “Who’s hungry besides me?”

“I sure am.” Brian climbed out and lifted Katie down. “I could eat an elephant.”

Katie giggled. “Sure now, there are none of those around here. We saw one at a zoo in Chicago when we were younger.”

Connor took Jamie then helped Keeley descend. “Never seen one myself.”

“They’re bigger than the whole surrey.” Keeley pulled the blanket from the trunk at the rear of the buggy. “My, what a lovely place.”

Katie looked toward the creek. “I can hear the water.”

“Connor owns this pretty piece of land,” Brian said as he reached for the picnic basket.

Keeley hugged the blanket to her chest. “How nice. Why have you not built a house here?”

He shrugged. “For one, being the marshal, I have to live in town. That way if I’m needed, folks can get to me real quick.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” Katie helped her sister spread the blanket. “Do you plan to be marshal for a long time?”

“Not if the old busybodies have their way.” Connor chuckled. “It all depends on if I win the next election.”

“And if you don’t?” Keeley stared at him.

“I’m not sure. I worked on a ranch before I became a deputy marshal. I’ve saved up some money, so I’ll probably build a cabin and try my own hand at ranching.”

Brian deposited the food basket on the blanket. The women both sat and started unpacking things.

“This looks delicious. We love fried chicken.” Keeley set the chicken platter down then pulled a pie from the basket.

“You two certainly outdid yourselves.” Katie handed Brian two plates.

Connor dropped down onto the corner across from Brian and winked at him. Brian set a plate next to Connor’s leg. This day was going wonderfully. Connor stood Jamie up and held on to the boy’s torso. Jamie bent his knees then stood again. The boy grinned and repeated the action.

“I bet he’ll be walking before long.” Keeley opened a jar of pickles Mrs. Davies had included and set it next to a tin can filled with flaky biscuits.

Katie set four apples on a plate along with a knife, and placed it on the far side of the basket where Jamie couldn’t get to it.

“Oh look!” Keeley held up a small bowl. “Mrs. Davies sent Jamie some mashed potatoes, as well as cooked and smashed carrots. How thoughtful of her.”

“I wonder if Jamie will like the carrots,” Katie said. “We haven’t given him any yet.”

“Only one way to find out.” Connor reached for the bowl.

Keeley pulled a tiny spoon from her handbag, wiped it off on a napkin, then handed it to him.

“Shall we pray?” Brian asked.

Everyone bowed their heads, except for Jamie, who reached for the spoon. Connor let him have it for the moment.

“Heavenly Father, we thank You for safely bringing the twins to town. We pray that we can quickly get to know one another and that You will bless our unions when that day comes. Thank You for this fine meal, and we ask that You bless the food and Mrs. Davies for preparing it for us. Amen.”

Connor fed Jamie some potatoes while Brian and the women fixed their plates.

“Would you like me to prepare your food?” Keeley looked at Connor with those big, dark eyes. His heart kicked up several notches as he realized once again that this pretty woman might soon become his bride. All he could do was nod.

Keeley smiled. “How many pieces of chicken would you like?”

“Two, for starters.”

She piled his plate with food then handed it to him.

While they ate, Connor told the twins about his childhood, how his parents died, and that he went to live with Brian’s family.

In return, the twins talked about what little they remembered of life in New York and then Chicago. Neither of them remembered anything about Ireland or riding the ship across the ocean.

When he finished eating, Connor lifted Jamie into his arms and walked down to the creek to wash him off while the twins cleaned up the food items. “You liked those taters, didn’t you? I wasn’t sure you were going to eat the carrots, after that face you made.” He blew on Jamie’s stomach, making the boy giggle.

At the creek bed, he bent down and dipped Jamie’s hands in the water and washed them. Jamie splashed and laughed. Connor raised him up a bit, and Jamie tried to stick his toes in the water.

“You like that, huh? I’ll have to bring you back sometime and let you play, but today I have something really important to do.”

“And what is that?”

Connor rose quickly with Jamie in his arms and turned to see Keeley—he sure was glad the sisters has worn different-colored dresses—staring at him. He lifted Jamie in the air, needing a distraction. “This little dude is all clean, but I think he needs a diaper change.”

“It’s about time for his bottle and a nap.”

As if the word bottle triggered something within him, Jamie yawned. Or maybe it was the word nap. Connor smiled at him and tried to lay Jamie in his arm, but the little dude wouldn’t let him.

Back at the blanket, they sat again, and Keeley changed Jamie and fed him his bottle. “’Tis so peaceful and shady here.”

“I wish we had more trees in town too, but there isn’t enough water there. And folks cut down the ones that were there to build their houses and businesses.”

Connor reclined on one side and watched Keeley mother the baby. He could see the three of them as a family. He knew what it was like to lose his parents, as did Keeley. Who better to raise an orphan boy than them? But how did she feel? And Katie?

He glanced toward the creek where Brian and Katie were walking. There had been no objection at all from the women when Brian had ushered Katie to the back seat of the buggy and Connor had helped Keeley up front. He cleared his throat. “There’s something I’ve been wondering.”

“And what is that?” She glanced up with a peaceful expression on her pretty face.

He sat up. “Well, it’s just that you and me seem to have hit it off together, as they have.” He motioned to the walking couple. “Neither you nor your sister have objected to being with the man you weren’t betrothed to. Can I ask why?”

A very pleasing blush rose up on her cheeks, and she looked away. “We both felt as if we knew you equally, because we read your letters out loud. I can’t even remember how we decided who would marry who. But I can tell you that when I stepped off that stage, my eyes went first to Brian out of curiosity since he was my intended, but after that it was you I couldn’t quit staring at.”

A warm sensation heated Connor’s chest. She’d been drawn to him from the start. The thought delighted him and made him want to brag to Brian, except he wouldn’t. He’d never hurt his cousin like that. “But what about Katie? Does she know how you feel?”

Keeley nodded. “She was drawn to Brian as I was to you. Katie has always wanted to marry a man with blue eyes—and then there’s the store. She loves working there, but it scares me. I’m much happier staying home and carrying for our wee laddie.”

Connor smiled at the word “our” to describe Jamie. “So you have no objection to me courting you?”

She lifted her head and stared right at him. “None whatsoever.”

He grinned back at her. “Makes me happy to hear that.” He leaned closer, and her eyes widened a bit. “I’m hoping for a very short courtship.”

Keeley sobered for a moment, but then he saw her fighting a grin. “Aye, that would make me happy too. But there is one thing I’d like—no, two.”

Connor straightened, suddenly on guard. “And what is that?”

“I’d like for you to teach me to ride a horse and to shoot, if you don’t mind.”

A wide grin chased away his momentary wariness. “Now that’s my kind of gal. It would be my pleasure to instruct you.” Connor looked over to where Brian and Katie were sitting near the creek. He scooted closer to Keeley. “Would you care to seal our deal with a kiss?”

Sitting beside Brian in the lovely setting, Katie felt at peace for the first time in a very long while. She could see herself spending the rest of her life with him, but she couldn’t help wondering if he pined for Keeley. It had seemed as if he’d chosen to sit by her at church and in the back of the surrey instead of with her sister, but doubts still plagued her. She wasn’t sure how to go about broaching the subject.

“Connor owns over four hundred acres of land, although most of it is on the other side of the creek.”

“’Tis a shame he doesn’t live here.”

“I think he will one day. His father left it to him. The house they lived in burned down with his parents in it while Connor was at school.”

“What a difficult thing to bear—losing everything and everyone all at once.”

“It was hard on him. I think that’s the main reason he doesn’t live here.” Brian picked up a stone and tossed it into the creek, making a splash. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Katie turned to face him. “Aye? What is it?”

Brian twisted his lips and stared at the water, as if the words were hard to say. Was he going to tell her that he still wanted to be with Keeley? Her hope plummeted.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, he looked at her. “We work quite well together. I’m even getting used to you changing things around.” His mouth cocked up in an embarrassed grin. “I’m betrothed to Keeley, but the truth is … I’m attracted to you. I realize I haven’t spent much time with you other than at work, but I wondered if perhaps you might feel the same.” He shrugged and exhaled a long, slow breath, as if saying that was the hardest thing he’d ever done.

Katie’s heart soared. She glanced at her sister and noticed Keeley and Connor sitting rather close together. When she looked back, Brian was frowning. She reached out and touched his arm. “Brian, I feel the same. I love working at the store with you. I know I was supposed to marry Connor, but look at them. I’d say they’re quite happy the way things turned out. And the truth is, I’m attracted to you too. I was so hoping you felt the same.”

Brian looked past her, and his eyes widened. Katie twisted around in time to see Connor kiss her sister. She grinned. “See, no objection on their part.”

Brian grinned, his blue eyes shining. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me, to know you’re attracted to me and not Connor. But could you see yourself married to me?”

Katie’s cheeks warmed. “Aye, Brian. I can.”

He moved closer and leaned in to kiss her then paused. “Do you mind … if I kiss you, that is.”

“If you don’t, I’ll be kissing you.”

His eyes danced with delight then he caught her mouth in a sweet, gentle kiss—her first. She breathed in his fresh, manly scent and returned his kiss, dreaming of the day they would be man and wife.

When he pulled back, he stared at her. “I thought Connor just might call off the weddings the day you arrived and said that you wanted to get to know us before we married.” He reached up and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I’m so glad you two held your ground and wanted to wait. Just think, Connor and I might have married the wrong women. You seem far better suited to me, and Keeley is good for Connor. I think waiting was God’s idea planted in your minds.”

“I do believe you’re right. I never thought about it that way. How dreadful it would be to have married the wrong man. I’m sure we would have gotten along, but it wouldn’t be the same as marrying the man God had for me—and that is you.”

He reached for her hand. “You don’t have to worry anymore. So … uh … when do you suppose we could get married? Soon, I hope.”

“I think we need to talk to the others and decide together.”

“Agreed. Shall we?”

Katie nodded. Brian rose then helped her up. He looped her arm through his, and they strolled back toward her sister and Connor, joy flooding her heart. When she’d first considered waiting to marry, she thought she merely had cold feet, but now she could see it was God’s hand at work. She glanced heavenward and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving.