Cheryl St.John - Marrying the Preacher's Daughter

She was slender, but not skinny, with curves in all the right places. She wore a burgundy-colored skirt with a flounce of some sort in the back. Her fitted ivory blouse was printed with flowers the same color as her skirt and the rounded neck opening revealed the chain that held her gold ring.

She caught him looking at it and brought her hand up to touch the piece of jewelry.

“Medicine wore off, and it was awfully quiet,” he said.

“We were having dinner.”

He imagined the whole family around a table. “You can go on back.”

“Are you certain you don’t mind? We do have guests.”

“Any pretty young ladies?”

“No, Mr. Taggart. A widow and her son.”

“A pretty widow woman?” he asked.

She frowned. “‘Beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.’”

“From the Bible?”

She nodded.

“What about you? You’re pretty.”

Pink tinged her cheeks, the only indication that his question had affected her. “I prefer to be appreciated for my abilities.”

“So, you know you’re pretty?”

“You’re impertinent, Mr. Taggart.”

“No disrespect intended. Most ladies enjoy a compliment.” He dug back into his meal. “Your father said he had a houseful of women, and seems they’re all good cooks.”

“Leave your tray on the end of the bed when you’re finished.” She turned and left the room.

He stared at the spot she’d vacated for a long moment. Her idealism stood firm in the safe cocoon of her protected world, but one of these days when faced with a reality she couldn’t pray her way out of, Elisabeth Hart was in for a big disappointment.

For some reason he couldn’t explain, he hoped he wasn’t around to see it.

The following morning, Gabe found a pitcher of water outside his door, carried and poured it into the bowl on the washstand. It irritated him that the wound in his side was so debilitating, even to the point of making it painful to raise his arm.

After washing and shaving, he dressed and opened the door. Minutes later, Elisabeth appeared. “My father has excused me from my duties for a few days in order to look after you.” Her tone relayed her displeasure in the fact. She extended a piece of paper. “I got to the land office early. This is how much you owe.”

She’d obviously seen the amount, since the paper wasn’t folded or in an envelope. He glanced up, noting her almost pleased expression.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Guess that will take care of my share of the reward money.” Did she think that was all he had to his name? He went to the bureau, took out his packet of money and counted it. He extended all but a few bills. “That’ll cover the taxes.”

She took the money.

“One more thing.”

She met his gaze, and her eyes reminded him of a clear mountain lake.

“I’m going to need a place to live until I can build.” It was probably going to be a few weeks before he could work much himself, but he could hire someone to get the house started.

“I’ll see what I can do.” She turned back toward the hall. “I’ll bring your breakfast and then run your errands.”

While he ate, a dark-haired woman tapped on the open door. “Mr. Taggart? I thought it was about time I came to introduce myself. I’m Josie Hart.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, ma’am. You’re a fine cook, and I thank you for lettin’ me stay here.”

“You’re most welcome.” She was a pretty woman with a friendly smile and the girth of an expected new life under her white apron. “I climb the stairs as few times as possible during the day, so I wanted to stop by now.”

“Pleased you did.”

“How is your injury?”

“More bother than I’d like, but I’ll be fine.”

“Elisabeth has gone downtown, so I’ll be listening for your bell, and I’ll have Phillip come if you ring.”

“Shouldn’t need anything, ma’am.”

Elisabeth had mentioned her stepmother. That was why Elisabeth looked nothing like this woman…and why she set such store by that ring around her neck. Her own mother had died.

He knew what it was like to lose a parent. He’d lost both of his when he’d been sixteen and Irene barely ten. He’d tried working two jobs, but it had been no life for a little girl, so he’d hired on with a cattle drive and left his sister in the best place he could find.

It hadn’t taken long for him to learn there was more money to be earned hunting bounties than punching cows. Before long Irene was in one of the best boarding schools in Pennsylvania and he was earning a name for himself.

Now nineteen, his sister had been after him to bring her to live with him. In order to do that, he needed to make a new start, make a home for her and leave his past behind.

Irene didn’t know what he’d done all those years. He’d led her to believe he’d made enough herding cows to invest and create a tidy nest egg. She would never know the truth as long as he had his way. And he always had his way. He’d be the most respectable man she could ask for in a brother, and he’d see to it she found a husband worthy of her.

If it wasn’t for this bullet hole in his side, he’d be buying lumber and roofing nails right this minute. The frustration of this setback ate at him. He wasn’t used to relying on other people.

Especially not persnickety women.

He checked his revolver and tucked it into its holster against his side.

“My ma sent me for the tray.”

Gabe turned at Phillip’s voice.

Eyeing him, the boy picked up the meal tray. “I gotta go to school.”

Gabe nodded and gave him a silent salute.

He shouldn’t have been so blasted tired just from getting up and shaving, but winded, he lay back down. He’d been sleeping a short time when footsteps woke him.

Elisabeth was turning away to leave.

“I’m awake.”

She stopped and turned back. She held a sheaf of papers. “This is your deed and your proof of taxes paid.”

After handing it to him, she opened the curtains and the shutters so he could look over the papers. After a cursory glance, he set them down. “Appreciate it.”

She looked away and then back. “There are homes for sale here and there. The boardinghouse has an opening. There’s a room over the tailor’s for rent.”

“I need a little more room than that. A small house would do.”

“Well, there is one small house. It’s at the bottom of the hill, just down from here, and it’s vacant.”

“I’ll take that then.”

“Don’t you want to see it first?”

“I can hire someone to clean it.”

“That won’t be necessary. The church owns it and takes care of the upkeep. I’ll let my father know you’ll be renting it.”

“As soon as the doctor says I can be on my own, I’ll move in. Maybe in a day or so.”

The time couldn’t pass quickly enough for Elisabeth. She wanted to send this man on his way and get back to her normal routine.

Two days later, Gabe stood at the open window, staring out at the mountainside behind the Hart home. The day was bright and the scent of pine lay heavily on the air. He squinted at the forested foothills that rose above the grouping of houses. From half a dozen clotheslines, laundry flapped under the sun.

“You must be restless by now.”

He turned at the male voice to see Sam Hart just inside the doorway. “You could say that, yes, sir,” he replied.

“Did Elisabeth mention we’re having guests for dinner this evening?”

He shook his head. Elisabeth didn’t speak to him any more than was necessary.

“Think you’re up to joining us? I’m sure you need a different perspective.”