Eleven

Addy leaned back in the buggy seat, enjoying the summer greenery as they passed through the narrow tree-lined road. Addy was surprised to see at least a dozen buggies in the clearing by the cave in addition to a number of saddle horses. She hadn’t realized the Lynches were this busy.

As they pulled up in front of the Marble Cave office, a sense of familiarity surged through her. She didn’t think she’d come here since Abby married. And she’d only been here a couple of times before that. Once to hear her sister and the old men in her band.

Did Abby miss playing the violin in public? She said she didn’t, but she sure didn’t turn down any chance to play for the family or church programs. There was no denying Abby had talent. With the proper training, there was no telling how far she could have gone.

As they got out of the buggy, Mr. Lynch came forward, a huge grin on his face. He grabbed Addy’s hand in both of his huge ones. “Tuck Collins! It’s about time you came to see me.”

Addy laughed. “Sorry, sir. I’m not Tuck. I’m her twin sister, Addy Sullivan.”

Consternation crossed his face. “Oh. Miss Sullivan, forgive me. I never could tell you two apart. Except when Tuck was wearing her overalls.” His jovial voice boomed.

She retrieved her hand, which was growing numb in his tight clasp. “That’s quite all right, Mr. Lynch,” she said. “It’s a common mistake.” Though not as often since Addy had been teaching school in town.

The two men shook hands, and Mr. Lynch said, “What brings you today, Jim?”

“I mainly wanted to see the place for old time’s sake.” As organ music bellowed from the cave, Jim darted a glance in that direction. “What’s going on in the cave?”

“Ah, a wedding today. A young couple from Forsyth thought it would be romantic to get married in the Cathedral Room. After the ceremony, you should take a look at how well my girls decorated the cavern.” He spoke with pride, and Addy knew it was well deserved. The Lynch sisters were known for their talents in music and decorating. “They’re also providing the music. My youngest is playing the organ, and the oldest sang a special song. I wish you could’ve heard her sing.” He kissed his lips to his fingers in appreciation.

“I’ve heard her sing many times, Mr. Lynch, at community socials,” Addy said. “It’s something I always look forward to. She has such a lovely voice.”

“Ah yes, Miss Sullivan, and your sister is very talented, too. Tell her I miss her fiddle very much.”

“I will.” Addy smiled and glanced at Jim. He held out his arm, and she laid her hand on it, relieved he was ready to go.

“If you don’t mind, sir, I’d like to take Addy for a stroll.”

She groaned inwardly. The sooner she got away from the cave, the happier she’d be.

They strolled through a wooded area then walked up a path until they stood on a bluff overlooking the cave.

“Isn’t this the site of the old mining town?”

“Yes, Marmoros.” He shook his head. “I’ve heard it was a fairly wild place before it burned down.”

Addy nodded. “It didn’t just burn down. The Baldknobbers did it deliberately, or so they say.”

“Yes, I heard that, too.” He frowned. “I wonder why they did it.”

She shrugged. “Who knows? From what I’ve heard, they wanted to control everything. They didn’t want the town here for some reason. And it seems they got their way.” Sudden nostalgia gripped her. “Actually that was the night I first met Ma Lexie.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You see, Papa Jack had taken Abby and me in a few days before.” She gave him a side grin. “Well, actually, we were camping out in his house when he came home from a trip down the river. He found us and didn’t know what to do with us.”

Interest washed over his face, and he laughed. “I’d like to hear all of that story.”

“Maybe someday,” she said with a smile. “But to go on with this story, Papa Jack smelled smoke and finally saw flames coming from Marmoros. He told us to stay in the house and took off on his horse. About an hour later, we were just about to go looking for him when Ma and Uncle Will showed up with Pa all wounded. At first we thought he was dead.”

“That must have been frightening.”

“It was. When we saw he was alive but unconscious, we figured they might take us to an orphanage, so we pretended Jack was our Pa. Boy did that lie cause a lot of trouble for everyone.” She still felt guilt over that every now and then.

“So your parents met here by Marble Cave,” he said with an odd look on his face.

“Well, so to speak. They actually saw each other once before in Forsyth.”

“You and I met here, too, you know,” he said. “I think you’ve forgotten.”

“Here?” She searched her memories. “No, Jim. We met at Abby and Rafe’s wedding, remember?”

“Think back, Addy. Remember the day Abby came to apply for the temporary job for her band? Because the Lynch girls were going away on vacation?”

Suddenly light broke through the darkness. She remembered following Abby into the little office. Rafe had been there and. . .Jim! He was the one who took Abby’s application. “Yes, I do remember now. I was in such a hurry to get away from the place, I couldn’t think of anything else. I just knew Abby would try to talk me into entering the cave.”

“You were wearing a blue dress with lace on the sleeves and collar,” he said. “And you had a blue ribbon in your hair.”

“Fancy you remembering that.” How could he have carried around such a momentary memory for all this time? Even to remembering what she was wearing?

“It was easy for me to remember, Addy. You were and still are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

❧

Jim watched as varying emotions washed over Addy’s face. Had he said too much? Would she think he was foolish? Or worse still, could he have been wrong to think she was beginning to return his feelings? That would make him as pathetic as the doctor.

He held his breath as a blush washed over her cheeks. She didn’t appear to be angry or disgusted. If anything, she looked pleased. He took a deep breath as relief surged through him.

She cleared her throat. “Thank you. That’s a very nice thing to say, although I’m sure you’re only teasing me.”

“My dear”—he took her hands, and she lowered her eyes—“I mean every word of it.”

“Thank you,” she whispered then gently removed her hands from his. “But perhaps we should go now.”

“Of course.” He led her down the steep pathway toward the cave, where the wedding party was ascending from the enormous Cathedral Room below. He hoped the stairs had been replaced with something a little more fitting for formal clothing.

The bride and groom stood to one side shaking hands with their guests. Apparently they had no plans to run away from the crowd, at least not for the present.

Addy had paused, and when Jim looked at her, her eyes were focused on the bride. Her hand resting on his arm trembled. She darted a look up at him, and when she realized he was watching her, she blushed once more.

He helped her into the buggy and started down the road toward her home. Wanting to put her at ease, he smiled. “If you have no objection and no other plans, I’d like to take you to dinner at the Branson Hotel next week. After all, I’ve accepted your family’s hospitality several times.”

Suddenly she looked straight into his eyes. “I have no objections at all.”

He grinned at her sudden transformation from shyness to honesty. “In that case, will you marry me?”

“Oh, you. Don’t be silly.” She cast a captivating smile his way. “Don’t get too sure of yourself. I’ve only agreed to dinner. I haven’t said I’d marry you.”

“Are you by any chance telling me to slow down?” He felt giddy as a girl from her new attitude toward him.

“Yes, indeed, Mr. Jim Castle.” Suddenly the laughter slid from her face. “I would love to be your friend. Rafe and Abby have been best friends nearly all their lives. I believe friendship is very important in any relationship. Don’t you agree?”

“I do agree. And since we’re now discussing Rafe and Abby, does that mean you might marry me after all?”

“Oh! There you go teasing me.” She pressed her lips together in an unsuccessful attempt to hide the smile that was teasing her lips. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Very well. Your wish is my wish. What would you like to talk about?”

“I don’t know.” She was silent for a moment. “Oh, yes I do. Tell me about the new hunting lodge.”

This girl never ceased to surprise him. “What do you want to know about it?”

“What sort of staff will they need? And will they be hiring local people?”

“Partly. They’ll bring a management team from St. Louis. But they’ll be hiring locals for bellboys and other serving and cleaning staff.”

“Will they hire any women?”

“I’m sure they’ll hire women for housekeeping.”

“But not for the desk or serving?” Disappointment filled her eyes. Now what had she been thinking?

“Very unlikely. Since this will be a gentleman’s lodge, they’ll hire mostly male staff.” He cut a glance at her, curious about the types of questions she was asking. “Why? Do you know someone who needs employment?”

“Oh, no, no. I was just curious, that’s all.” She frowned and looked away. “My, the honeysuckle does smell sweet.”

Back to flowers again. “Yes, they do. Quite a heady smell, I’d say.”

When they arrived at the farm, the family was sitting down to supper. Lexie insisted that Jim join them for ham sandwiches and potato salad left over from dinner.

Betty kept up a continuous round of questions directed at Jim, until finally her Pa told her that was quite enough and to stop being rude. With a pout, she said, “I’m sorry,Mr. Jim.”

“That’s quite all right, Miss Betty. I always enjoy the conversation of beautiful young ladies.” He threw her a grin and a wink, and she giggled.

When he’d taken his last delicious bite of blackberry cobbler, Jim asked Jack if he could speak to him in private.

With a knowing look, Jack agreed, and they went onto the front porch.

As Jim drove toward town later, he couldn’t help laughing at himself. He’d been as nervous as a gangling boy as he asked Jack for permission to court his daughter. And the nervousness didn’t end there. Jack had shot question after question at Jim for at least a half hour.

The hard question he’d saved for last. “What are your plans for the future?”

“Sir, I wish I could say we’d settle down here, but you know my job takes me all over the country. Sometimes out of the country.”

“Does Addy know you intend to stay with your present job?”

Jim shook his head. “We haven’t actually discussed that yet. But I promise I’ll speak to her about it soon.”

Jack nodded. “Make it very soon. Before you talk to her about courting. I won’t have you courting her under false pretenses.”

“I’m leaving for Kansas City tomorrow, but I promise I’ll talk to her as soon as I get back. In fact, we’re having dinner together next Sunday.” He hastened to add, “Just as friends of course.”

Finally Jack offered his hand and said he had no objection at all as long as Addy was agreeable as well.

As Jim rode into town, worry and a niggling doubt wormed their way into his thoughts. He’d finally settled it for himself that things could work out well, even if he was on the road a lot. She could travel with him most of the time.

But now he wasn’t so sure. What if she wasn’t willing? Maybe he shouldn’t have been in such a hurry to talk to Jack.