Although still sad, Piper felt better after getting on dry clothes. Puddin wasn’t the first horse she’d lost. Her riding mare had died suddenly when Piper was twelve. The mare’s time, the stable owner said. That could be true for Puddin too, except that wasn’t what Kermit said. His one word had been gone.
She wished she could say that about Braxton. She didn’t want him gone like Puddin. Of course not. But gone from Wendover. She looked out toward the Big House. With night falling, the glow of lamps lit up the windows. She should go see him. She should, but morning seemed soon enough.
Except she was hungry. Breakfast was but a faint memory. The box that held their stash of candy bars was empty. Marlie, on rounds to the centers again, must have taken whatever was left. So starve till morning or face Braxton Crandall tonight in order to rummage something to eat in the kitchen.
A dog barked outside, and the next minute somebody knocked on her door. “Danny, you in there?” Suze called.
Piper opened the door. “I hope you brought food.”
“If you’re hungry, why didn’t you come get something?” Suze gave her a long look.
“I was a mess after riding in the rain.” Ginger followed Suze into the room and sat down next to Piper’s leg. The dog whined and licked her hand.
“I guess it makes sense you wouldn’t want to see your fiancé until you cleaned up.”
“My fiancé?” Piper stared at Suze.
“Braxton Crandall. Didn’t you know he was here? I fetched him from Hyden last night. He drove down in his roadster.”
“He told you he was my fiancé?”
“Isn’t he?” Suze frowned. “He said you were getting married after the summer.”
“My father did make an arrangement of some sort with him, but I haven’t made any promises to Braxton. Other than to consider his offer.” Piper shook her head. “I have considered, and if Braxton wants a wife—and he seems very ready to find one—he’ll have to look elsewhere.”
“Are you sure?” Suze studied Piper the way she did when she was trying to identify a new flower. “He’s a super nice guy.”
“That’s right. You did say you knew him.” Piper suddenly smiled. “Am I detecting some interest in our Suze in applying for the open position of wife?”
“No, no. A man like Braxton would never look at a girl like me.” Suze put her hands up to hide the flush climbing into her cheeks.
“Don’t sell yourself short.” Piper pulled Suze’s hands away from her face. “I see an attractive, intelligent future Mrs. Crandall.”
“That might be moving a bit too quickly.”
“Trust me. Braxton Crandall isn’t a man slow on his feet. He believes in moving fast.”
“He did say we were friends.” A hopeful tone crept into Suze’s voice.
“That’s more than the two of us could say when my parents chose him as my debut escort.” Piper shook her head. “My debut. When I think about that now, it’s like I was a whole different girl then.”
“Didn’t have muddy boots then, eh? Or blisters from handling pitchforks.”
Ginger went to the door. The dog looked back at them and whined again.
“What’s the matter with her?” Suze asked.
“Her pups!” Piper smacked her forehead. “Somebody locked them in one of the stalls and I guess Kermit didn’t let them out.”
“Come on. We can go by there on the way to the Big House.” Suze headed for the door. “You still need to see Braxton after he came all this way.”
“I know.” Piper sighed. “Is Jamie there getting something to eat? He missed supper helping the men down there.”
“I haven’t seen him since before . . .” Her voice trailed off and tears popped up in Suze’s eyes. “Poor Puddin.”
“Shh. Let’s just think about Ginger and the pups right now.” Piper snuffed out her oil lamp and grabbed her flashlight.
“And Braxton and Jamie. He’s really why you’re turning Braxton down.”
A little smile curled up Piper’s lips and a warm feeling settled in her heart. “I’ve been in love with Jamie since forever.”
“Mrs. Breckinridge is not going to be happy with all this romantic stuff going on.” Suze laughed and squeezed Piper’s arm.
Ginger raced ahead of them to the barn, where the pups set up howls that turned to happy yips when Piper opened the stall to let them tumble out.
As rain began peppering down again, Suze and Piper ran to the house, the stone steps as familiar as the steps at home to Piper now. In the sitting room, Miss Aileen looked uneasy as she fingered the pages of an open book in her lap. Braxton stood at the front windows, looking as if he’d rather be anywhere but there.
When he heard them, he turned from the windows with a genuine smile. “If it isn’t the elusive Piper Danson.”
Piper smiled back. “Not elusive. Just busy. I certainly didn’t expect you to be here.”
“I’m glad to know you didn’t invite him.” Miss Aileen closed her book with a snap and stood up. “That wouldn’t be acceptable at all. I expect my girls to have behavior above reproach.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Piper and Suze said almost in unison.
Braxton’s smile got broader.
“Now, now, young’un, don’t give the girls a hard time.” Mrs. Breckinridge stopped halfway down the stairway. “Our girls, pretty young women that they are, have done nothing wrong. Bees are drawn to flowers.” She laughed softly. “And it’s working out. Mr. Crandall and I have discussed his mother’s interest, and I’m sure he’s anxious to give her a full report.” She looked at Braxton.
“I do need to return to Louisville soon,” Braxton said.
“Soon is very good.” She turned her gaze back to Miss Aileen. “And young Mr. Russell has his story and may be ready to be on his way too. Although I did invite him to stay awhile. You know our first two couriers were young men. My nephew and his friend.”
“Yes, but if I remember correctly, you had no girls then. Only the boys. Mixing the two would not be a good idea,” Miss Aileen said. “Not at all.”
“Perhaps not. At least not him staying in that tent up on the hill. I wouldn’t be surprised if that thing leaks after years in the attic. If he should decide to stay, we’ll find him a place in Hyden. Nurse Thompson reports he has a wonderful way with the patients. She was quite taken with him, and you know our Tommy. Not taken with many.”
Miss Aileen looked ready to protest more but clamped her lips together when Mrs. Breckinridge raised her eyebrows. “Danny and young Mr. Russell have promised proper behavior.”
Braxton looked at Piper. “Is there something I don’t know here?”
“Jamie and I have known each other forever.” Piper felt her face turning red. She hadn’t planned on sending Braxton away in front of witnesses.
“Come now, Danny. Don’t tiptoe around the truth.” Mrs. Breckinridge came down another step. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years, it’s that honesty is always not only the best policy but what causes the fewest unpleasant repercussions. I happened to be watching out the window when you came home earlier and went down to see them burying poor Puddin.” She shook her head sadly. “Dear horse. Actually, that’s why I came down to speak to you, young’un.” She looked back at Miss Aileen. “You need to send the girls to find Kermit and bring him back here before he does harm to himself.”
“Harm?” Piper said.
“Miss Aileen will explain what’s needed. This weather is difficult for me and I’m afraid my back is demanding I lie down.” Mrs. Breckinridge smiled at Braxton. “It has been a sincere pleasure meeting you, Mr. Crandall, and I do hope your mother will visit soon. Be sure to let us know so we can welcome her properly.”
They were silent as they listened to her make her way back up the stairs and down the hallway to her bedroom.
Then Braxton surprised Piper by laughing. “I think I’ve just been nicely told here’s your hat, what’s your hurry.”
Suze and Miss Aileen both started to say something, but Braxton held up his hand to stop them. “Don’t concern yourselves. Susan has been a great hostess today and I did plan to leave tomorrow anyway. As soon as I saw Piper. And here she is.” He fastened his gaze on her. “Tell me, Piper, are you handing me my hat and showing me the door too?”
“I never gave you any promises, Braxton. My father is the one who perhaps made you think I would, but . . .” Piper let her voice die away.
“But Russell owns your heart.” Braxton didn’t seem upset.
“I’m sorry.” Piper met his eyes.
“And your father will be sorrier, but I happen to agree with Mrs. Breckinridge that it’s better to be out with the truth than to dance around it.” He looked almost cheery. No broken heart for certain. “Some deals just don’t work out. I’ll tell your father that.”
Miss Aileen cleared her throat. “The two of you can figure this out later, but now, Danny, you and Suze need to go find Kermit and bring him back here. I’ll put on some coffee.”
“Coffee? Isn’t it late for coffee?” Piper’s head was spinning.
“Yes, well, poor Kermit struggles when he has to do the task laid out for him this afternoon. He does love the horses, and at times like these, he tends to imbibe a bit too much.” Miss Aileen fluttered her hands. “We try to bring him back here where we know he won’t stumble off a cliff or get into who knows what trouble.”
“Oh,” Suze said. “But how will we find him?”
“In the dark,” Piper added.
“You have flashlights.” Miss Aileen looked uncomfortable again. “Down the way is a cabin where Kermit probably found the comfort he was seeking.”
“I think I know the place.” Suze leaned close to Piper and whispered, “Moonshiner.”
“No need naming it.” Miss Aileen shushed her. “He’ll let you bring him home. Poor man.”
“Perhaps I should accompany the ladies,” Braxton said.
“I think not.” Miss Aileen was quick with the refusal. “Our girls are safe enough wherever they go, but you might be mistaken for a government man. That would not be good at all.”
“Rejected again. Seems everyone is rejecting me.” His smile didn’t waver.
“Not me.” Suze shyly looked up at him.
Braxton’s smile warmed on Suze. “That’s good to know, Susan. Perhaps I will have time tomorrow before I am sent on my way to look at those flower illustrations you mentioned earlier.”
“I’d like that,” Suze said.
“Oh dear heavens. Not more romance.” Miss Aileen waved her hands in a shooing motion at Piper and Suze. “Off with the two of you. And good night to you, Mr. Crandall.”
“And now I’ve been told to go to my room.” Braxton maintained his good humor. “I’ll expect to hear all about it in the morning, girls.”
Outside the rain had stopped and stars peeked through the clouds. As Suze led the way down the hill, she warned, “Be careful. It’s slippery.”
“Should we take horses?”
“It’s not far. Maybe a mile. I think.”
“You think? I thought you knew where it was.”
“I do. Sort of. In the daylight.”
Fog was rising up from the river. “We might really get lost in this fog.” Piper slowed her steps.
“Courage, Danny. We’ve been given a task and a courier always completes her tasks.”
“Always?”
“Always.”
“You won’t mind if I ask a little guidance from above? I saw a miracle birth last night and we may need a different kind of miracle tonight.”
“No shortage of miracles among the frontier nurses,” Suze said. “Could be another miracle on the morrow if Braxton really does want to look at my flower illustrations.”
Piper had to laugh at that while at the same time sending up a silent prayer they would find Kermit without stumbling over a cliff in the fog.
“Go tell Aunt Rhody. The old gray goose is dead.” A man’s raspy voice snaked through the fog. “And her old horse is too.”
“That has to be Kermit,” Piper said.
When he saw their flashlights, he stumbled, then stopped walking. “Well, if it ain’t two of Aileen’s girls. Out here hunting trouble.” He swayed on his feet and grabbed a limb hanging over the path to steady himself.
“Not trouble. Hunting you.” Suze got on one side of him and Piper on the other. “Want us to help you sing about telling Aunt Rhody?”
“I ain’t wanting to tell her.” Kermit sounded weepy. “I done killed her horse. Killed him dead, I did. ’Twas an awful thing to do.”
“No, no, Kermit. You just sent him on to pastures where he can run and run,” Piper said.
“You think so?”
“We know so,” Suze said.
It was late by the time they got coffee down him and took him on to his cabin down the hill. He sprawled across his bed and was snoring before they got his boots off.
Suze put her hands on her hips. “Task accomplished. Time for us to turn in and do some snoring too.”
Back in her room, Piper was almost too tired to take her own boots off. But she did feel as though her mission was accomplished. Braxton Crandall knew she wasn’t going to marry him. And come morning, she would climb up to Jamie’s tent and let him know she returned his love. She’d worry about telling her parents later. One task at a time.