Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) Read online

  CHAPTER TWELVE THE DANCE

  The day of the dance dawned bright and clear. There were ice dogs in the sky over the mountains. The winds were calm and not a cloud was in sight. The Barnettes and Martha left for Laramie an hour after lunch, planning to spend the afternoon with the Carruthers. Luke would be leaving later in the afternoon. Jed had promised to get him a room at the hotel when he registered himself. He dropped the ladies off at the Carruthers, took the carriage to the livery stable where he made arrangements for the care of the horses. He then walked to the hotel, where he registered for the rooms he needed as well as one for Luke as well. He put their bags in the rooms and walked over to the Carruthers.

  “Jed, it’s good to see you,” Grace said as she gave him a hug. “I’m glad we’re going to see you in church tomorrow. Can I get you something to drink?”

  Watching the greeting, Martha confided in Sarah, “I think Grace is the warmest individual I have ever met, except for you of course.” She laughed.

  Sarah countered, “I would agree with you 100%.”

  After she greeted, Jed, Grace turned to Martha. “Luke is your escort for the dance tonight? I imagine your paths cross frequently since the schoolhouse is on his ranch. How is he doing?”

  “I don’t actually know”, said Martha.. “I still see a cloud cross his face when there’s a mention of Clara or if some reference is made. My students and I spent the night in the main house after the storm, and I don’t think he’s moved a single thing of hers.

  “I suppose your church would frown on you going to the dance wouldn’t they?”

  Grace nodded and said, “I’m afraid so. I’m expecting a full review of the goings on from the two of you.”

  Her daughter padded into the room and immediately walked to her mother’s chair. She held out her arms to be picked up. Watching this, Sarah said, “I can’t believe how fast Emma Rose is growing. She’s getting to be quite a pretty young lady isn’t she?” Sarah said.

  “She surely is, and her daddy spoils her rotten,” agreed Grace. “She must be the most inquisitive little person ever. She has to investigate everything. I’ll be glad when she passes through this phase.”

  Sarah, the mother of two laughed.“I hate to tell you,” said Sarah, “but mine haven’t grown out of it. Just hang on and enjoy the ride. If it weren’t for Mattie, I don’t think I’d survive.”

  Jed was at the church, helping John with some minor repairs, when Luke rode up. Jed tossed him the keys to his room and said, “Here you go, you’re all set. Front facing left room.”

  “Thanks, Jed,” Luke said. “Any upfront payment?”

  “No, there wasn’t. Just settle up when you leave. By the way, Martha is really floating on air about the dance. You made her day.”

  “She’ll probably come down pretty quick after I have stepped on her toes a few times. I haven’t danced in years.”

  “Nor have I,” said Jed. “I think the secret is to just keep moving and act like you do it every day.”

  John interjected, “it’s nice to see you two enjoying yourselves again.”

  “Why shouldn’t we be? We’re both blessed with good fortune and good health. For the most part, life has been kind to us, and to top it off, we’re going dancing with the two best looking girls in Laramie,” Jed enthused. Luke said nothing, just stood there with his ten mile stare.

  “John, would you, Grace and Emma join us for dinner as my guest?” Luke asked.

  John replied, “That’s very kind of you to offer, but I need to work on my sermon for tomorrow. The subject is “The Evils of the Dance., He said, with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Come on, John. Grace deserves a night off from cooking. I’ll go tell her you accepted,” Luke urged.

  When he went back into the house, he told Grace they were to be his guests at dinner. “How kind of you Luke. I do appreciate it. It will be nice to have someone else do the cooking for a change.”

  Luke told everyone, “I’m going to the barber shop for a bath, a shave and a haircut, then I am going to the hotel and enjoy the luxury of of a nap.”

  Grace said, “Out with it Martha. What have you done with the real Luke Hastings, and who is this impostor?” Everyone enjoyed the joke at Luke’s expense.

  “I think I’ll send Jedadiah over to join you. In the shave and haircut, not the bath and nap,” Sarah said.

  Jokingly, Martha said, “Do you suppose we could get a nice hot bath at the barber shop?”

  “The old coots hanging out there would enjoy that,” Sarah said.

  “You two are scandalous, you know that?” said Grace.

  Jed chose that moment to walk in with John. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

  Grace said, “Sarah and Martha are going to the barber shop and get a bath.”

  “They’re what?” spluttered John. Then he realized his leg was being pulled. The room convulsed with laughter.

  “You see what I have to put up with every day,” Jed appealed to no one in particular. “Wait up Luke, I guess I’m going with you.”

  * * *

  The Laramie Catlemen’s dance was being held in the association’s meeting hall. The wives of association members had done some rudimentary decorating. Tables had been set up along the walls while the center was to be used for the dances. Admission to the dance was $2, with ladies admitted free. The price of admission included free non-alcohol drinks, however, it would be foolhardy to assume there was no whiskey at the dance.

  Arriving at the hall, Luke quickly snagged a table for the group. The music began for the first dance, a fast paced two step. “If you’re willing to take a chance of being stepped on, Let’s give this one a try.” He took Martha’s warm, soft hand and led her to the floor. As they began to move around the floor, he said, “You’re a good dancer, way beyond what I can do.”

  “There wasn’t much else to do in Owego when Daniel and I were courting,” she said.

  “I’d better watch my feet, else these boots will stomp all over your feet.”

  “You’re doing fine, besides, I’d rather you look at me than your boots.” she said as he guided her around the floor. She covertly studied this tall, handsome man who was her escort. He had a firm jaw, dark hair and the deep blue pools that were his eyes were alive with light. They sparkled when he smiled. “He really should smile more often,” she thought.

  There were a few near collisions with some of the more enthusiastic dancers, but Luke successfully evaded them. At the end of the dance, they stood in the middle of the floor and applauded the musicians. As they stood there, his nearly six foot frame, seven inches taller than her five feet four inches, he saw dark brown hair that had been brushed to a lustrous shine. Her skin was flawless. He saw not one blemish and the feel of the hand he was holding was as soft and smooth as any baby. “She may well be the prettiest woman I have ever seen.”

  The orchestra began playing the Blue Danube, a waltz where partners have physical contact with the bodies of each other. As they danced, she could feel Luke grow more and more tense as they danced. “You think Clara is watching and feels betrayed, don’t you Luke?” she thought. “You wish she was the one you’re holding. That’s not very flattering, Luke.” When the music ended, she thought, “I almost think I felt a sigh of relief.”

  Luke and Jed exchanged partners for the next dance. Jed was a good dancer, as was Martha and they partnered together well. Watching Luke and Sarah, he appeared relaxed and enjoying himself. She and Clara had been friends. She was married and no threat.

  As they sat out the next piece, she watched Luke, and she made a decision. “I’m not going to make him any more miserable. This was it for me. I’m going back home.”

  As the next number started, He came to pull her chair out. She looked up and said, “I’m sort of winded. I’m going to sit this one out.” She didn’t dance any more that evening.

  Her sister looked at her with questions in her eyes. When Luke and Jed went outside for some air, Sarah moved to the
chair next to Martha. “What’s going on?” she asked. “What’s the matter? Did he say anything?”

  “No, it’s not that,” said Martha. “He wishes I was Clara.”

  “Oh come on, Martha, you don’t know that.”

  “I do know it. During the two step, he was fine. When we started the waltz, he became as stiff as a board. He that that ten mile stare in his eyes, like he was somewhere else, in some other time.”

  “Martha, that’s only natural. He lost his wife. He misses her.”

  “I lost my husband, Sarah. I’m not still clinging to what is gone. I have my whole life to live. I’m not going to spend it living with a dead memory. If that sounds harsh, then so be it. I’m turning in my resignation on Monday and I’m going back to New York, Home,” she said with finality.

  The men returned to the table. The ever sensitive nature of Jed said, “It’s cold in here. Was there a storm?”

  “You might say,” his lovely wife said. But she didn’t elaborate.

  “I’d like to go back to the hotel, please, Luke,” Martha said.

  “Back to the hotel?” he asked. “Aren’t you feeling well?”

  “I’d just like to go to my room, please.”

  “But Martha,” he said.

  “Never mind.” She stood and pulled her coat around her and headed for the door, leaving an upset sister and two befuddled men behind.

  “Luke, don’t let her go by herself, please,” Sarah asked.

  “Would someone just tell me what is happening?” Jed pleaded.

  Luke was still sitting at the table. “Jedadiah, would you take me back to the hotel so I can talk to my sister, please?”

  From the tone in her voice, he knew she was not joking, so he pulled her chair out and assisted her with her coat. They left the hall, followed by a confused Luke.

  Back at the hotel, Sarah went to Martha’s room and rapped softly at the door. It was answered shortly by her sister, her cheeks stained with tears. “Can we talk?” she asked.

  “As long as you don’t try to talk me out of my decision,” Martha said.

  “I can’t promise that. I want you to stay here too much to give up easily.” She continued, “I want you to stay, relationship or no relationship, Luke or no Luke, although I wonder if you’re being fair.”

  “Maybe it isn’t fair, but I’m thinking of my future and there isn’t one with a ghost lurking in the wings. He’s probably relieved Ieft when did.”

  Sarah’s anger rose. “Now I know you’re not being fair. Luke Hastings doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He goes out of his way to help others. Jedadiah considers him a father figure. He lost a brother and a wife. He has two motherless sons. I won’t listen to you talk that way about him.”

  Martha was looking out of the window to the street below. “I just think it would be best if I go home.”

  “Having a little pity party are you?” she asked. “So the tall cowboy misses his wife and doesn’t have a clue what he could have with you. Don’t take it out on those that love you. If you think I’m being selfish, maybe I am, but dammit, I love you and want you with me. You brighten my life and I want you in it.”

  Stunned at hearing her sister use that language, Martha was speechless. She stayed by the window. “Sarah, don’t be upset with me. Please. I thought there might be a chance, but now I’m sure there isn’t. When you left home to come here, you thought it was something you had to do. I think this is something I have to do.”

  “Oh, Martha,” a now tearful Sarah hugged her sister. “ I do understand, Before you do something rash, please listen to me. I’m the sister with the level head, remember?”

  “Flat headed, you mean,” said Martha with a wan smile.

  “If you can’t stay because I ask you, think of those twelve kids that are your students. They’re counting on you. At least wait until they can find someone else, I can tell you, there is no one in the area as qualified as you to teach them.”

  “It wouldn’t be fair to them. You’re absolutely right,” Martha agreed. “I’ll think about it.”

  The Barnettes sat in the pew alone. Luke had eaten breakfast in the hotel cafe and driven home just after daylight. After the services, Grace said, “I thought Luke was coming to the services with you this morning.”

  “There was a change in plans,” Sarah replied.

  “Did something happen between them?” she asked with a nod toward Martha.

  “I think he saw a ghost,” Sarah said.

  “That’s too bad. I think they make a nice couple.”

  “I do too,” Sarah said.

  Save for the clopping of the hooves, the ride home was quiet.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN BACK IN SCHOOL

  All evidence of the storm had passed and Monday arrived right on schedule and Martha had prepared the room for the beginning of the school day. Her students came, some showing more enthusiasm for school than others. Will Hastings was brought to class by Hetty.

  Luke did not put in an appearance until the end of the school day. He was the last of the parents to come for their child. He tied his horse to the hitching post in front and came into the classroom. “Do you have a few minutes to talk,” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said, laying aside the paper she had been grading. “What would you like to talk about?”

  “You know what about. The other night at the dance,” he said.

  “Are you sure you want to have this conversation with your son present?” she asked.

  “I guess maybe that wouldn’t be such a good idea. Would you mind stopping at the house as you leave or would you rather I came to your place?” he asked.

  “I’ll stop by, I just want to be home before dark,” she answered.

  “How soon will you be leaving?’

  She said, “I’ll be finished after I grade these papers. I want to return them to the class tomorrow.”

  He invited her into the living room, when she arrived at the big house, “Would you like anything?”

  “No thank you, I’m fine,” she answered.

  “I might as well jump right in. The other night, I don’t understand what happened. The dance ended, you didn’t want to dance any more and you left all of us standing there. I was dumbfounded,” he finished.

  “If you think back, I told you I wanted to go back to the hotel. Apparently you didn’t want to escort me, so I escorted myself. The next morning, you left without saying anything to anyone. That is not the behavior of a gentleman.”

  “I’m lost. One minute we were fine and the next you wanted to leave…”

  “And you didn’t offer to take me after I asked,” she said.

  “But why did you want to leave?” he questioned.

  “That’s not germane to the discussion,” she said.

  “Look, Clar… I’m sorry, I apologize. Martha, I’m just a plain old cowboy, and I’m not schooled in the manner of eastern customs. I have no idea what your problem was or is.”

  “Don’t talk down to me, Luke. You’re a successful rancher and businessman. I’ll tell you just what was wrong, and for your information, you hit the nail on the head just then.”

  “I don’t understand. How did I hit the nail on the head,” he asked.

  “You came very close to calling me Clara. The other night, you were wishing I was Clara. Every time we touched, you recoiled.”

  “Clara was my wife and I loved her as much as any man could love a woman. She’s gone and I miss her. Is that so wrong?”

  “It’s not wrong,” she said. “It’s been more than six months since she died. I loved Daniel. I miss him every day, and I honor his memory, but it’s time for me to move on. It’s what he would have wanted for me. I like and respect you, Luke. A lot. I cannot compete with a ghost. Nor will I try,” she finished with a rush.

  “What do you want me to do?” he asked.

  “That’s up to you. It’s not what I want you to do. It’s what do you want to do. Now, I have to go.”

  “Can I cal
l on you?”

  “Toward what end,” she asked.

  “I would like to see you,” he said simply.

  “You know where I live and work, at least for a while. Now I really must be going.”

  She started for the door, he jumped ahead and held it open for her. “I’m sorry, Martha. I really am.”

  “I am too,” she said so softly he could barely hear.

  * * *

  Jed and Luke were riding in to Laramie for a meeting with Henry Calhoun, their attorney. “Jed, she’s your sister-in-law. What’s wrong with her?”