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December 23, 1879
The wind howled outside Bertha’s window, rattling the new panes as if it was trying to break in. She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and peered out the window. Even though it was windy, the sun sparkled like diamonds over the two inches of snow that had fallen the night before. She dropped the curtain and left her room at the new hotel. It still amazed and humbled her that Leona asked her to live on the second floor until spring, when a small house would be built for her. Not only given her a room, but over the past three months, let her help pick out wallpaper, paint, furniture, dishes, and all the things necessary to run a hotel and restaurant.
She climbed the stairs to the third floor where Josiah would live with Asa and Leona after they were married. Heavens, if getting the hotel ready for guests wasn’t enough work, Leona and Asa, King and Suzanna, and Julia and Daniel decided to have a triple wedding two days before Christmas. They were three crazy couples, crazy in love anyway, and not willing to wait a day longer to start their lives together.
Catching her breath, she paused at the top of the stairs. Even though she’d lost weight in the past few months, climbing stairs still exhausted her. Maybe she should start running up and down them to build up some stamina. As she walked down the hallway, she couldn’t imagine how the girls were feeling. She vaguely recalled the excitement of her first love, Sy. When she did, she had to dig deep to find the emotions James had successfully killed for her.
Now she was going to watch her three best friends get married. Best friends. How she loved those two words. The other night the girls had come to her with typical bridal nerves. Since she’d been married before, they’d expected her to know everything about a wedding night, a night she’d rather forget. But, while drinking copious amounts of wine the sisters had brought with them, she explained what would happen. Not since spending time with Becky exchanging thoughts about Sy and his brother, Les, had she giggled so much. Her hangover the next day had been well worth it.
After the men scrambled to get not only the hotel ready, but Daniel’s new law office and living quarters for him and Julia, they had to get everything done for the weddings. Suzanna and King would be living in the house built for the schoolteacher, and Leona and Asa would be on the third floor of the hotel.
****
Bertha stood at the bottom of the staircase in the vestibule as the girls came down one by one, grinning like schoolgirls. Who would have known a short while ago, there had been total chaos as the girls got ready to meet their future husbands? Clothes had been tossed on chairs and the bed, and a stocking had even been flung over the mirror. She’d enjoyed every minute of fixing hair, buttoning what seemed like hundreds of buttons, and praying for guidance to calm Leona when her hair had become twisted around a button on her dress and Bertha had to snip the strands off.
Sprigs of holly with berries attached were wrapped around the banisters and red ribbons had been tied around the newel posts. Asa, Josiah, and Toby had been sent on a mission yesterday to find as much holly as they could. Since no fresh flowers were to be found, the women carried some of it in lieu of bouquets and wore holly sprigs in their hair.
Bertha swallowed back tears. She’d already broken down once upstairs when the women were ready. They all looked so young and beautiful. The tears flowed even more when Leona gave her a hug and said she loved her. She hadn’t heard those three words since the last time she’d been at Mamaw and Papaw’s.
Paddy, King’s foreman, stood beside her. “They look mighty pretty, don’t they?”
“They sure do.” With Julia in pastel blue, Suzanna in pale pink, and Leona in light yellow, they looked like a group of spring flowers.
“You look mighty fetching, too, Bertha.”
Bertha slapped his arm. “Oh, go on with you. What would Hilda think if she heard you say something like that?”
“She’d agree with me.” Paddy checked his timepiece. “Four o’clock. Their men are chomping at the bit.”
When an organ sounded a chord, the women each raised an eyebrow. Bertha grinned. “Surprise.”
Julia kissed Bertha’s cheek. “Thank you.” She put her hand through the crook of Paddy’s arm as murmurs of appreciation flowed from the dining room.
Paddy returned for Suzanna.
Leona’s hands shook as she waited for Paddy to return. Bertha straightened out her train and stood before her. “Are you ready for this? You’re not only getting a husband, but gaining a son, too.”
“I’m more than ready. I always thought I’d never marry.”
“Whyever not?” Bertha brushed a stray strand of hair from Leona’s face. “You’re beautiful.”
“And bossy. And nosey. And . . .”
“You are no such thing.” Bertha grinned. “At least not anymore. You’re getting a great man in Asa. You’re going to have a wonderful life and beautiful children.”
As Paddy returned for her, Leona kissed Bertha’s cheek. “You’ll be next. I’m sure of it.”
Heat rose to Bertha’s face. “Oh, pshaw. I’ll be no such thing.”
“You just wait and see, my dear friend. I’ve seen the way Sorely looks at you.”
Paddy tugged on Leona’s arm. “C’mon, my dear. Everyone’s waiting.”
When they entered the dining room, Bertha stood in the wide, arched doorway and sniffled before taking a seat beside Josiah and Hilda. Earlier that day, the men had placed tables along the walls and arranged chairs to make an aisle down the middle of the room. The three couples stood before the minister, the men looking as dashing as the women were beautiful. She glanced at Hilda, who dabbed a handkerchief at her eyes. As King’s housekeeper at the ranch, she’d known him, Daniel, and Leona for a few years. Did she feel like a mother losing her chicks?
Although not many people had been invited to the ceremony, she recognized most of them. Ranch hands who’d helped work on the hotel. Colin and Sadie Haywood who owned a mercantile. Sadie’s first child was due in early spring.
Bertha was surprised to see Serenity Edleman, one of Deadwood’s blacksmiths, sitting beside a man she knew to be Serenity’s helper. Since she’d come with an escort, was there more to their relationship than owner and employee? She mentally shrugged. None of her business. She liked Serenity and had spent plenty of time with her making sure Leona’s orders for pots, pans, sconces, chandeliers, window frames, and anything else they could come up with, were ready for today.
While the minister started the ceremony, she made one last sweep of the guests. She stopped at a man she didn’t recognize. His short-cropped, rusty hair was gray at the temples, making him probably forty. His chiseled jaw and high cheekbones made him one of the most handsome men in the room. Before she could look away, he turned his attention from the minister giving first reading from the Bible. His sky-blue eyes pierced through her heart. Her breath caught and goosebumps rose on her skin. Snap out of it, Bertha Mae, or you’ll miss the vows.
She brought her attention back to the couples in time to see Daniel and Julia hold hands, repeat their commitment to each other, and exchange rings. The lump in her throat grew when Suzanna and King repeated the process. By the time Leona and Asa took their turn, she could barely swallow. Life would be different with her friends married and her single. Not that she would deny any of them their happiness, but she would no longer be able to climb to the third floor whenever she wanted. The new family would want privacy. Even though she’d still be working with Leona, once again she was basically alone. She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes. She needed to get hold of herself before she did something unlady like and break into sobs.
Asa placed a ring on Leona’s finger. Leona said her vows, her face glowing as brightly as a summer sun.
“Are they married yet, Bertha?” Josiah whispered loud enough to be heard in the next county. “I’m hungry.”
The minister chuckled. “Wait just a minute, young man. By the powers vested in me by the Dakota Territory, I now pronounce Daniel and Julia, King and Suzanna, and Asa and Leona husbands and wives.” He rocked back on his heels for a few seconds. “Now, you may kiss your respective brides.”
“Pa!” Josiah yelled. “Are you married to Miss Leona now?”
Asa grinned at his son. “You bet I am.”
Before Bertha could stop him, Josiah raced from his seat and wrapped his arms around them. After a few seconds, he stood between Leona and Asa, took their hands in his, and raised them in the air. “Guess what? I have a new ma.”
Josiah’s antics stopped Bertha from all-out bawling. People clapped, laughed, cheered, and came to the front to congratulate the newlyweds. The boy tugged on Bertha’s skirt. “Can we eat now?”
Bertha put her hands on Josiah’s shoulders. “We aren’t going to eat until everyone arrives, but I have something special in the kitchen for you.” As she prepared a snack for Josiah and poured champagne into glasses, a man entered the room and stood before her. If he hadn’t taken a bottle from her, she would have dropped it on the floor.
It was him. Up close, he was better looking. His grin revealed a pair of dimples. Something niggled in the back of her mind. James had had one dimple, but that wasn’t it. Either way, the man made her insides jump. “May I help you?”
“Bertha, it’s me. Sorely.”
She slapped a hand to her chest. “Sorely?”
His dimples deepened when he chuckled. “I guess you didn’t recognize me without my beard, did you?”
That was an understatement if she’d ever heard one. “No. No, I didn’t.”
“Hey, Bertha.” Josiah tapped her on the arm. “Bertha?”
She dragged her attention from Sorely to Josiah. “Yes, Josiah, what is it?”
“Are you getting sick? You look kinda funny. Like Pa when he looks at Miss Leona, I mean Ma.”
She did? “No. I’m fine. I simply didn’t recognize Sorely without his beard.” And clean in an ivory, high collared shirt, black dress pants, and royal blue, double-breasted vest. A black tie was knotted in a bow around the collar of the shirt. The blue of the vest accentuated his blue eyes. There was something about him . . . No. She banished the thought. There were too many things to get done to worry about whether she’d ever seen Sorely without a beard before.
“May I help you with anything?”
His question brought her from her musings. She glanced around the room. “Thank you for asking, but no. There are plenty of women here to help.” She took the bottle of champagne from him. “I just need to fill these glasses and take them into the other room for a toast.”
He took the bottle back. “I’ll help. I’ll fill the glasses and you can put them on the tray.”
Bertha tried to ignore the tingles shooting through her every time their hands brushed against each other. Each time, she tried to shake it off and chalk it up to wedding fever making her more aware of Sorely.
Sorely held the door for her as she carried the tray of full glasses. He stayed beside her as Paddy made his toasts to each couple. He tapped his glass against hers and peered at her over the top when he took a sip. At the rate her heart was pounding, she would probably have a heart attack and ruin her friends’ wedding.
When Paddy was done with his speech, and the women had sniffled into their hankies, he clapped his hands. “All right, folks, let’s get this party started.” He propped open the kitchen door.
Sorely set his glass on the tray. “Save a dance for me,” he said before helping the new husbands move chairs from the center of the room.
Good heavens, he wanted to dance with her. It took a few seconds and a nudge from Leona before she regained her senses and collected the empty champagne glasses. Every time she helped the women carry food from the kitchen to the dining room, she kept an eye out for Sorely. It was as if he was the only man in the room. Finally, the tables were groaning under the weight of the food. Barrels of beer and bowls of punch filled the beverage table.
The newlyweds started the food line, smiling and joking with each other. Something flickered inside her. Jealousy? She loved her friends, but what she wouldn’t give to be as happy as they were. Bertha stood to the side making sure the guests filled their plates. Once the original guests were fed, the front door would be opened to the city residents.
“Aren’t you going to eat?”
Bertha jumped at Sorely’s question. With all the talking and laughing going on, she hadn’t heard him come up beside her. “I’ll wait until everyone is done.”
“That’s down-right crazy. From what King has told me, you’ve worked hard to help Leona get this place ready, not to mention the preparations for this wedding. You deserve to eat with the rest of us.” He picked up two plates and held one out to Bertha. “Now, do you fill your plate, or shall I do it for you?”
His stern tone and look made it impossible to go against him. She sighed, took the plate from him, and proceeded down the tables piled with food. Crispy fried chicken, ham, grits, mashed potatoes, rolls, cornbread, and piece of apple pie. If she ate like this all the time, the seams of all her new clothes would have to be let out.
“Now, let’s find a place to sit.” He found two empty, side-by-side chairs, and nodded for her to take one, before he took one for himself.
Wherever he was from, and no matter what he’d appeared, he was certainly a gentleman.
He set his mug of beer beside him on the floor. “So, how’re you feeling today?”
“What do you mean?”
Sorely paused his fork in front of his mouth. “I mean, how are you handling the ladies getting married? It seems to me you’ve all become quite close.”
It had been decades since anyone had asked her how she felt about anything. And now? Well, the idea Sorely was interested made her speechless. To cover her confusion, she took a bite of German Potato Salad and chewed slowly to give her time to gather her thoughts. Since he seemed interested, she’d tell him the truth and see how he reacted.
“Honestly? I’ve been quite emotional these past few days. And seeing the girls dressed in their finery, looking so happy and in love . . . well . . . I’ve had to choke down tears all day.”
“I can imagine. When my oldest brother got married, my mother was an emotional wreck.” He chuckled. “She acted like the world was coming to an end, instead of her son getting married, living just down the road, and raising a bunch of grandkids for her.”
Bertha hadn’t thought of that. Why, she wasn’t losing three friends to their husbands, she was gaining three pseudo brothers. Her heart lifted. Oh, my. Babies. Even though in twenty years she hadn’t been able to conceive, which meant she was barren, she could help raise their babies, couldn’t she? She could be their auntie.
“You look thoughtful.”
“I hadn’t thought about them having babies.” She couldn’t help smiling at him. She tapped his arm with her fork. “Why, by the end of next year, there could be little ones all over the place.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Wouldn’t you want to have children of your own?”
The Bertha of old rose her ugly head, but before she told him he was being impertinent and it was none of his business, she had second thoughts. So far Sorely had been nothing but nice to her and his question seemed sincere, but still . . . none of his business. Time to turn the tables on him. “What about you? Why aren’t you married with a slew of kids hanging on your coattails?”
Sorely grinned and took a swig of his beer. “I see what you’re doing, Bertha. But I’ll play your game. I’ve never married because I simply couldn’t find the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my days with.”
“Really?” Bertha raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re what? Forty? Certainly, there was someone along the way.”
“Thank you for thinking I’m not in my fifties. Most people thought I was until I shaved my beard off. Scared the heck out of King when he saw me at the ranch. He thought a stranger had arrived to do harm to his place again.”
Bertha nudged him with her shoulder. “You did look like an old codger. I have to admit I didn’t recognize you, either. So, how old are you?”
“Thirty-eight. And yes, I’ve met plenty of women over the years, but none that piqued my interest.” He nudged her shoulder back. “Until now.”
A blush crept up Bertha’s neck to her face. She shoved a forkful of beans into her mouth. Maybe if she kept eating, she wouldn’t have to comment on his comment.
“You are quite attractive, you know.”
So, he wasn’t going to take the hint and stop talking. If her face got any hotter, her skin would melt off and land in her plate. “Excuse me, Sorely, I have to help the ladies refresh the food before we let the public in.” Without another word or looking at him, she took her plate into the kitchen, feeling his eyes boring into her back.
In the kitchen, she rested her palms on the counter and took a deep breath. Why had he lied to her? She knew she wasn’t attractive. Maybe in her youth she had been, but now? Too old to be attractive to anyone. A tear rolled down her cheek.
“Bertha?” Leona stood beside her and peered around Bertha’s shoulder. “Are you all right? Why are you crying?”
“He . . . He . . .”
“What? Did someone hurt you? I saw you eating with Sorely, who, by the way, is quite handsome with his beard gone. Did he hurt you?”
“No. He said I was . . .” She gulped in a deep breath. “I was quite attractive.”
Leona giggled. “Of course, he did. You are.”
“You don’t have to lie to me, Leona Winson. I mean Leona Johnson.”
The women in the kitchen scurried around them, giving them questioning looks.
“I’m not lying. Good heavens, Bertha. Haven’t you noticed how you’ve changed over these past few months? You’ve slimmed down. You don’t wear your hair in a bun so tight you always looked like you were squinting. You don’t frown and bark at people anymore—well, unless they need it. And you smile. Any man would think you’re attractive.”
Bertha wiped her eyes with her hankie. “Thank you, Leona. That’s quite nice of you to say.”
“Well, it’s the truth. Now, people are coming in to eat. Soon the band will set up and, if Sorely Swenson asks you to dance, you will say yes. Won’t you?”
The thought of being in the handsome man’s arms made her smile. “Yes, I will.”
“Good. Now I have to get back to the receiving line before Asa thinks I’ve left him to the lions on his own.”
Leona left the kitchen, leaving Bertha’s heart lighter. She was right. There was no reason not to accept Sorely’s compliments. With a grin, she followed her friend from the room.
****
The bowls and platters were empty and taken to the kitchen. So many toasts had been given, they would surely run out of beer and punch. The band was playing their first waltz, which was for the newlyweds. Sorely came up beside her.
“They surely look happy, don’t they?”
Bertha sighed. “They surely do.”
“May I have the next dance?”
She glanced down at her cup of punch to hide her smile. “Yes, you may.”
The song ended and the three couples moved about the room accepting congratulations from their friends.
“May I?” Sorely held out his hand and grinned down at her. “I believe the band is playing our song.”
This time she couldn’t help smiling. She had a feeling any song she danced with Sorely would be their song. My, wasn’t she getting sappy. Like everything else she’d loved doing in her youth, she missed dancing. Other than at their wedding, James never wanted to dance. To be in a man’s arms again, especially Sorely’s, was heaven. His shoulders were broad, his hands warm at her waist and hand. He moved as if he’d been dancing all his life. Maybe he had.
“You’re a wonderful dancer.”
“Thank you. My mother taught my brothers and me. Said if we didn’t learn, she wouldn’t be able to hold her head up in polite company.”
“She really said that?”
Sorely grinned, showing a dimple in his chin. “Yes, she did, but then laughed at our dismay. The last thing we wanted to do was embarrass our mother.”
“I had dance lessons, too, but with a dance instructor. He was a real taskmaster.” Her head spun when he whirled her around another couple.
“What did he do?”
“If I missed a step, he’d stomp on my foot. Mother never believed me, even when I would limp after a lesson.”
“That’s terrible.”
“I thought so.” Raised voices took her attention away from his arm at her waist. “What’s going on over there?”
Sorely turned them in the direction of the noise. “I don’t know. Looks like someone is arguing with Asa and Leona.”
A thin man, shorter than herself, sporting a yellow jacket and green pants, stood before the couple. His dark hair hung over his eyes, and he twisted a black bowler hat in his hands. He was yammering on in a posh British accent, about the jewelry Leona was wearing and insisting the sheriff arrest Asa. This didn’t sound good. They were joined by King and Suzanna.
“What’s going on here?” Sheriff Manning stood beside Asa.
The short man looked at the sheriff and everyone around them as if he were incredibly important and everyone else in the room not good enough to polish his boots. The hair on the back of Bertha’s neck bristled. Why had the man shown up today of all days? She had to do something.
As much as she hated to leave Sorely’s warmth, she pulled herself from his arms and went to Leona’s side. “I heard what was said.” She glanced over her shoulder at the guests. “Just like everyone else in the room.” She glared at the people pointing and whispering among themselves. “Leona, why don’t you and Asa go with the sheriff? I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Josiah. Manning can ask me questions later.” She raised her hand to the band. “Gentlemen, if you’ll continue playing.” She faced Sorely. “What do you think we should do?”
Sorely raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know. I don’t think rushing to the jailhouse will help any. We should probably stay here and keep the party going.”
Her heart broke for the newly wedded couple but was glad she had Sorely at her side. “I think . . .”
“Where’s Ma and Pa?” Josiah came from the kitchen, a cookie in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the other and stopped beside Bertha.
A girl wearing a pink dress with so many ruffles Bertha wasn’t sure how the girl could sit without bouncing into the air, strolled forward. “Wanna know where they are?” She stuck out her tongue at him and stomped her foot. “Well, I’ll tell you. Your pa and ma were taken to jail.”
“Jail?” He glanced up at Bertha. “Is that true? Why?”
“Because your pa stole some jewelry and gave it to your ma. That’s why.” She stuck her tongue out at him. “So, you’re the son of a thief. A convict. And you’ll end up just like him.” Her nose in the air, she stomped off across the room.
“Bertha?”
Some children were simply meant to be spanked, and this little girl was one of them. “Your pa was not arrested. A man showed up here tonight and said the necklace and earrings Leona is wearing were stolen from him.” She placed a hand on his shoulder. “The sheriff took them to the jail so they could talk without people listening.”
Tears pooled in Josiah’s eyes, and his face turned white. “I’ve gotta go.” He shoved his cookie and glass at Bertha.
“Hold up a minute, young man.” Bertha grabbed him by the shirt collar. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To the jail. Pa didn’t steal the necklace.” He jerked away from her. “I did.” Without bothering to put on a coat, he ran from the room, racing between people, ignoring Bertha’s calls to stop.
Sorely frowned. “What do you think that was all about?”
“I don’t know, but I think we can safely say he didn’t steal anything. Maybe he found the necklace, but I’m positive he wouldn’t have stolen it.”
“I agree.” Sorely took in the room. “I didn’t like the cut of that English fellow.”
“I didn’t, either.”
Daniel and Julia wove their way around people who stood around whispering and came up beside them. “Well, that was unexpected. I’m not sure what we should do now.”
Someone had to take charge of the situation, and that someone would have to be her. “If you four would please dance, maybe others will join you. We need to keep this party going.”
When the newlyweds walked to the dance floor, Sorely took her hand. “Does that include us?”
Worry over her friend almost made her say no, but if she sat around looking frightened, people may think there was truly something wrong. “I’d love to.”