They’d gathered their things quickly and ridden home in silence after the scene between Hank and Beau—and Clara, too, she supposed. Clara’s heart tugged as she thought of the look on Hank’s sisters’ faces when she’d said she wasn’t ready to be married. And why wasn’t she? She’d known that this was the reason she’d come.
Tripp and James had excused themselves to the parlor when they arrived back home, but not before adding their opinions.
“That was pretty bold, even for Beau,” Tripp had said, shaking his head. “That tops just about everything else I’ve seen.”
James nodded as they headed out of the kitchen. “I don’t know him as well as Tripp does, but that was unusually bold for the man I know.”
Clara sat down on the chair next to her. “Does he do these things frequently? Totally disregard others’ opinions or feelings?”
Tripp sighed. “Beau is a very successful rancher, and has been since the beginning. He’s used to getting his way—and also used to getting things done. He and Katie butted heads quite a bit about things like that. She would want him to be patient, let people come to things on their own. He always wanted things to happen right then. To his mind, why not if the solution was obvious. Or at least to him, anyway.”
“That isn’t exactly what I’m used to. I wasn’t raised that way,” Clara said, thinking of the respect she had for her parents and brother and that they had for her. Any decisions had been made as a family, and when they did not agree, accommodations were made for each one to be happy.
“No, neither were we,” Sadie said. “Maybe why we were all such good friends.”
“Ah, that explains a lot,” Tripp said as he smiled at his wife. “Hard-headed, but respectful, too.” His smile turned to a laugh as she blushed and nudged him with her elbow.
“Is Hank like that, too? I know you were raised in that house and you don’t strike me that way.” Clara turned to Tripp as she rubbed her eyes.
“I don’t think Hank and I are that way. We always take into consideration how other people feel.” Tripp put his arm around Sadie as he spoke.
Sadie let out an exaggerated cough as her eyes grew wide and she looked at her husband. “Tripp Morgan, I had to practically beat you over the head with a copper pot to get your attention.”
“Oh, right.” Tripp looked down sheepishly. “Well, if Hank and I are alike in that way, then I can assure you that it is not malicious.”
“Dunderheaded, maybe, but not malicious,” Suzanne added as she glanced at James. “Either way, it appears that Clara needs a little more time to find out for herself.”
“There is nothing at all wrong with waiting a while, Clara. You have nothing to feel bad about. That was truly poor form, what Mr. Archer did.” Sadie poured boiling water into the teapot as they sat at her kitchen table.
“I agree, Clara. We will support whatever you decide, and you are welcome to stay here as long as you like,” James said as he ushered Tripp out the door.
“No question about it. And to not even tell Hank? Who could imagine?” Suzanne said as she came through the door after putting the twins to bed.
“Honestly, we all knew this was coming. And it appears that there’s a timeline on the inheritance.” Clara picked up the spoon on the table and turned it over and over in her hand.
“Well, it was thoughtless, at best. He should know any decent girl would want to at least have a say in her wedding. I mean, he has six daughters. If he doesn’t know that, he needs to.” Suzanne pushed herself away from the table, sending her chair scooting behind her. Pouring the tea into mugs, she set one down in front of Sadie and Clara.
Sadie poured some cream into her cup, gently taking the spoon from Clara and stirring her tea. “Clara, what is it that you want. This is your wedding. How do you want it to be?”
Clara propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands. She sighed, shaking her head, and said, “I don’t exactly know. But I just felt that it wasn’t right. Not for me. Not for Hank. I’ve felt since I met him, and even more so when I met his family, that there are some things that are unhappy at that house.”
Sadie blew on her tea and took a sip. “Do you mean bad things? Tripp and James think the world of the Archers. And I have known Hank to be very kind and cordial. And he obviously loves his sisters.”
“Yes, he does. He was rapt with attention during their song, and it was a nice gift.” Clara warmed her hands on her tea, wishing she had a clear answer to her dilemma.
Suzanne stood and put the cream back into the icebox, taking a piece of apple pie out and setting it on the table with three forks.
Sadie wiggled her eyebrows at her sister and took a bite of the pie. “This will make everything better,” she said, laughing.
“As always,” Suzanne said, sitting down and grabbing a fork. “So, Clara, we know that we think Hank is a nice man. Are you having second thoughts?”
Clara had lost her appetite and fiddled with the fork in her hands. “No, I don’t think so. I have to say, I think he’s very handsome. He seems to smile a lot—at least when he’s not around his dad— and I love his laugh lines. And those eyes…”
Sadie slapped her hand on the table. “I knew it. You like him,” she said as she and Suzanne both laughed and Clara’s cheeks flushed.
“So then what’s the problem?” Suzanne took another bite of the pie that was rapidly disappearing.
Clara breathed deeply and sighed. “I think I need to just be there a little more. Understand what is there that is unspoken. It’s something, and once I know what it is, I’ll know what to do.”
“Well, you always have been one to go with your instincts, Clara.” Sadie picked up the empty plate and set it next to the sink. She turned around and leaned against the counter, folding her arms. “So, how are you going to do this? To get to know better what’s going on?”
Suzanne snapped her fingers. “I know. We all left in such a hurry—and I’m sure glad we did—but you were already in the buggy when the twins said goodbye to Hank. He looked so upset, it was awful.”
“I know. With all the ruckus, I didn’t even get to say goodbye,” Clara said, rubbing her forehead. “That’s not what I wanted to happen.”
Suzanne reached over and patted Clara’s hand. “There is no way to have done things differently with that big surprise he pulled. But as I was saying, Hank told the girls that since everything went south today, they could come back tomorrow and take a short ride. I say you come with us.”
“Hey,” Sadie said. “Not fair. Tripp and I have to work tomorrow at the restaurant. We’ll miss all the good stuff.” Her bottom lip stuck out and she pulled an exaggerated frown.
Clara laughed. “I hope there’s not a lot that would be worth missing. At least not a big show.”
“Like today.” Suzanne folded the dishtowel and laid it on the counter.
“Yes, like today.” Clara stood and hugged Suzanne and then Sadie. “Thanks for helping me think this through. I can’t even imagine being in this situation without you two.”
Suzanne and Sadie squeezed her hands. “You don’t ever have to be without us again,” Sadie said. “We’ll figure this out together.”
Clara’s eyelids drooped and Suzanne took her by the elbow, turning her toward the door. “I think this has been a pretty big day for you, Clara. Why don’t you get some sleep and I’ll tell Tripp and James the plan?”
“Yes, we can explain. And we’ll make arrangements for you to go with the twins for a riding lesson tomorrow, too,” Sadie said as she followed them through the door.
“I think you’re right. It’s the only plan that makes any sense, and I am just exhausted.” Clara rubbed her eyes and for the second day in a row, exhaustion swept over her.
“Please, just get a good night’s sleep. We can talk more in the morning. And Clara, I’m sorry about today. I had no idea…”
Clara smiled at her friends as she started up the stairs. “I don’t think anybody did but Mr. Archer and the few people he did tell. It will be interesting to see what he does next.”