Louise Gouge - Cowgirl for Keeps

Seated by the door, Rosamond heard a soft tst . While Mabel plied the men with rolls in exchange for their life stories, Beryl peeked in and beckoned to Rosamond. In the hallway, Beryl embraced her fiercely.

“Rosamond, save me. Get me away from here.”

“What’s wrong?” Rosamond knew the answer. She’d happily donned her comfortable ranch clothes, but Beryl wore one of her Boston dresses. Underneath, Rosamond felt her tightly laced corset.

“It’s my sisters,” Beryl whispered anxiously and glanced toward the back door as if fearing they’d enter. “They expected me to jump right into work.” She bit her lip and stared at her hands. “I’m willing to do my share, but I can’t bear to get all freckled and rough-skinned again.” A tear slid down her ivory cheek. “I’m terrible, aren’t I?”

“Nonsense.” Rosamond hugged her. “You’ll get used to home life again.” She didn’t believe that herself. Beryl’s fears ran deeper than how her complexion looked. Rosamond thought of one way to help her. “Come meet those Englishmen.”

Beryl’s blue eyes widened. “Not like this.” She swiped away tears.

“Go freshen up.” Rosamond forced a cheerful laugh. “Your ma is feeding them her cinnamon rolls, but they can only eat so much.” She smirked. “The blond gentleman wants to meet you.”

Beryl’s eyes rounded in wonder. “Truly?”

“Truly. Now hurry.”

While her friend complied, Rosamond returned to the kitchen. The two men stood, as they had last evening. Their refined manners pleased her. Not every man understood the importance of such a gallant gesture.

“Beryl wasn’t expecting company.” She sat in the chair Garrick held for her, another chivalrous move on his part. Her opinion of him rose a little. “She’ll join us soon.”

“Capital.” Percy’s blue eyes brightened just as Beryl’s had.

Garrick, however, frowned as he reclaimed his chair. Rosamond’s opinion of him plummeted. How could he dislike sweet Beryl when he didn’t even know her?

“So, you boys are planning to build that hotel.” Mabel poured coffee for Rosamond.

“Not I, madam.” Percy chuckled. “I accompanied Garrick so I could see the famous—or should I say, infamous—American West.” He leaned toward Mabel with a playful smirk. “I believe the train robbery was staged entirely for our amusement, what?”

Mabel slapped his shoulder and howled with laughter. “You’ll do fine out here, boy. You’ll do fine.”

He grinned despite his coffee sloshing onto the tablecloth. Again, Garrick’s frown revealed an opposite reaction, disapproval of the kind lady who was showing him such generous hospitality. Before Rosamond could frown back at him, Beryl entered.

The men stood, and Percy stepped forward and bowed over her hand. “Miss Eberly, I presume?”

Beryl received him with the grace she’d learned at the academy. “How do you do, sir? You must forgive me for not knowing your name. We should have introduced ourselves after the train robbery, but—” Confusion clouded her face, and Rosamond gasped softly. Her friend almost revealed her hysteria to her mother.

“Ah, but with no one to properly introduce us...” Percy touched her elbow and drew her to the table as if he were the host. “Please permit the informality. I am Percy Morrow, and this is my cousin, Garrick Wakefield.”

Garrick gave a sober bow while Percy continued to fuss over Beryl. “Your mother’s cinnamon rolls are delicious beyond description. Do have one.”

Rosamond’s eyes stung. Percy had just rescued Beryl. What a good man, exactly what her friend needed.

Beryl regained her composure, and she and Percy began to chat. Mabel eyed Rosamond and lifted one eyebrow. Rosamond returned a tiny nod, bringing a pleased smile from her hostess.

Boisterous laughter sounded in the hallway as Beryl’s father and her three unmarried sisters entered. She sent Rosamond a panicked look.

“Oh, good.” Rosamond knew of only one way to manage this situation: head-on. “You gentlemen will get to meet more Eberlys.” These next few minutes might be awkward.

* * *

Garrick stood beside Percy while bedlam descended upon the kitchen as a ruddy, middle-aged man and three attractive young ladies in Western garb entered. Unlike quiet, well-mannered Beryl, the girls jostled each other and more yelled than talked.

“Mabel, honey,” the man said, “we could smell your baking clear out in the barn.” He blinked. “Well, I’ll be a skinned jackrabbit. I didn’t know we had company.”

Garrick shuddered inwardly at the picture the man’s metaphor produced.

“You didn’t notice their horses? Honey, you need spectacles.” With no attempt at formality, Mabel pointed at Percy and Garrick and announced their names. “Boys, this here’s my George, and these are three more of our girls, Laurie, Georgia and Grace. Grace is the deputy sheriff. She’s been keeping the peace in town since a bank robbery a few years ago. I’m glad we got us a full-time sheriff now so she can help out around here a bit more. Maisie, she’s our oldest daughter, is married to the town doctor. You’ll meet them at church tomorrow.”

While she chattered on about her family, Garrick tried to grasp the idea of a female law officer. Granted, at nearly six feet tall and wearing a gun at her side, Grace seemed capable of managing wrongdoers. Even ladylike Rosamond had helped defeat the train robbers. Perhaps these Western women needed to be as tough as the men. Except Beryl, whose cheerful chat with Percy ended the moment her sisters entered the room. Curious. Yet no matter what he saw here, he must try not to judge any of them by proper British standards.

“I don’t know, Ma.” Grace grabbed a roll from the platter. “Sheriff Lawson said this mornin’ he’s countin’ on me to help him.” She took a bite but kept talking. “Beryl’s home now. She can help you.”

Beryl began to tremble.

“Oh, dear.” Rosamond put an arm around her friend. “I’m counting on Beryl to help me plan our new high school.” She smiled at the two younger sisters. “I hope you’ll be enrolling in our classes.”

Warmth swept through Garrick’s chest. He didn’t understand the situation, but Rosamond’s care for her friend suggested an admirable depth of character. Perhaps working with her on the hotel project wouldn’t be so difficult, after all.

“In fact,” Rosamond said, “we’ve a lot to plan and need to start right away. Mabel, will you let Beryl spend a few weeks with us, starting tomorrow after church?”

Garrick’s warm feelings sank to his stomach like a cold lead weight. With Percy and Beryl in the same house, how could he prevent their forming an attachment?

From the enthusiasm on Percy’s face, Garrick feared it was already too late.

* * *

Rosamond had tried to outwit Mother’s maneuvering, but here she sat beside Garrick in the church pew. This afternoon she must persuade Mother to stop her matchmaking. After Garrick’s obvious disapproval of Beryl and Percy’s developing romance, she couldn’t even like Garrick, much less love him.

Of course Reverend Thomas gave a sermon on loving one’s neighbor. She’d learned long ago the pastor always preached what she needed to hear, as though the Lord whispered in his ear that Miss Rosamond Northam wasn’t listening to Him, so His servant must speak to her in an audible voice she couldn’t miss. How silly. She hadn’t spoken to Reverend Thomas since returning from Boston, so he knew nothing of her spiritual disposition. Still, she paid attention.

Despite the conviction churning within, she enjoyed being back in her home church. Would Garrick turn up his nose at their simple service? Oh, dear. There she went again, judging him. Lord, help me to love him with Your love.