Montana Bride by Christmas Read online

  Hugh was a neat, orderly man.

  She liked that. However she couldn’t dwell on her reaction as Hugh struggled with Evan.

  He reached the mattress and set Evan down. “Time to go to sleep, son.”

  The tenderness in Hugh’s voice caused Annie’s throat to constrict.

  A keening sound came from Evan’s throat and he scrambled off the mattress and into the corner, watching his father with wide eyes.

  Grooves appeared in Hugh’s cheeks at the way Evan shrank from him.

  Annie wanted so badly to comfort both of them she acted without thinking. She went to Hugh’s side and squeezed his arm as she spoke to Evan.

  “Evan, honey, your papa loves you and wants to help you. So do I. We are both going to be here to take care of you, to protect you, to help you learn to trust us.”

  Hugh’s hand came over hers. “That’s right, son. We are here for you. Always and forever.”

  Evan grabbed the quilt off his mattress and clutched it to him.

  “Good night, Evan,” Annie said. She longed to kiss him but knew she couldn’t. She slipped from Hugh’s side and left the room. In the hall, she paused. Had Hugh really said they were in this together for always?

  He stepped from the room and pulled the door closed behind him. “Thank you for all your help with Evan. I truly appreciate it.”

  “Did you mean what you said?”

  “I hope so. What specifically do you mean?”

  She shouldn’t have brought it up. She didn’t want easily made and as easily forgotten promises. Yet if he’d already made up his mind about her staying she wouldn’t have to worry about it.

  “I will do whatever it takes to help Evan, if that’s what you mean.”

  It wasn’t and yet it answered her question. He would accept her if he thought it was in Evan’s best interests. “I feel the same.”

  He shifted so he looked into her face. “Then we are agreed on the most important thing.”

  She nodded. Caring for Evan ensured she would have a home and family of her own.

  She wanted no more than that.

  *

  Hugh lay on his bed in the darkness, listening to Evan’s quiet breathing. The boy had slipped to the mattress and pulled the quilt over himself a short time after Hugh had turned out the lamp. Probably when he thought Hugh had fallen asleep.

  Sleep did not come easily for Hugh as he reviewed the events of the day.

  He’d advertised for a woman to become his wife and a mother to Evan and the only one to show up, eager for the task, was Annie…an unsuitable, unlikely match. And yet he had agreed. Out of desperation only.

  His eyes widened in the darkness as he recalled the words he’d spoken as she helped put Evan to bed…though help and put to bed were but idealistic terms. Evan had allowed neither. We are here for you. Always and forever. He groaned and regretted it immediately when he heard Evan scuffle to the far edge of his mattress.

  Annie could easily take his statement as a promise that he would marry her and make this agreement permanent. He couldn’t imagine doing so.

  Apart from her young age, she was a Marshall and he had quickly learned that the family had high expectations of themselves and others. Grandfather Marshall had founded the town of Bella Creek to provide a better place for people to live than the wild town of Wolf Hollow closer to the gold mines. When most of a block had burned down last winter, the Marshalls had spearheaded the rebuilding and finding a new teacher and doctor. It was Grandfather Marshall and two other men—one also a Marshall—who had interviewed Hugh for the preaching position. Annie was the younger sister and cherished daughter and granddaughter. If Hugh failed in any way to treat her as he should, he would face the combined wrath of the large Marshall family. It wasn’t something he would enjoy. How could he hope to live up to their high standards?

  How could he make this right? Make her understand he had spoken carelessly? He eventually fell asleep without finding an answer and woke up knowing he must clear up the matter.

  The room was still dark and Hugh stiffened listening for Evan’s breathing. He didn’t relax until the boy snuffled. The rattle of pots and pans informed him the young woman troubling his mind had risen.

  He slipped into his clothes before he lit the lamp.

  Evan woke up and lay in a bemused state for about two seconds then jerked upright, his eyes blinking rapidly. He retreated to the corner then rushed from the room to the kitchen.

  Hugh followed on his heels.

  Evan skidded to a halt as he saw Annie at the stove and Grandfather in his chair nursing a cup of coffee then he sidled past them and sank into the corner he had claimed as his own.

  “Good morning, Evan. Good morning, Hugh,” Annie said, cheerful as the morning sun that had not made its bleary way over the horizon.

  “Morning.” Hugh wasn’t yet ready to be as cheerful as she.

  Grandfather also greeted them.

  Annie poured a cup of coffee and offered it to Hugh. “I don’t know what you take in it. Cream, sugar?”

  “This is good.” He sat at the table. “I hope you had a good sleep.” He had a hundred things on his mind, things he wanted to clear up, but that was all he could come up with?

  “Fine, thank you.”

  She hummed as she prepared breakfast. Grandfather swirled the bottom inch of his coffee. Evan hunched in the corner. Hugh wrapped his hands about his cup. Seems the male members of the household did not wake as bright-eyed as Annie. The thought brought Hugh’s attention to her. She had a spring in her step that had her almost dancing in front of the stove. She reached for the salt with a quickness that made Hugh smile. She flung about and her gaze collided with Hugh’s.

  He couldn’t say what he saw in her face or perhaps, more correctly, didn’t want to admit he might see an eagerness. His fingers tightened around his cup. Was she recalling the careless words he’d spoken last night? Always and forever. Wasn’t that what he wanted for both himself and Evan? Why not with her?

  He couldn’t answer the question except with his previous doubts that she would soon enough decide she could do better.

  She shifted her attention to Evan. “Hey, little man. What would you like for breakfast?”

  Evan, as expected, gave no sign of hearing.

  Annie wasn’t deterred and she began to list possibilities.

  Remembering how she’d said Evan gave subtle clues, Hugh watched the boy. When she asked if he liked eggs, Annie nodded. “Good. One or two?”

  He wasn’t sure how she knew his answer but again she nodded. “Two it is.”

  She flicked him a triumphant glance. He wanted to believe she really saw a response but caution warned him she might only be saying she did in an attempt to impress him.

  Smiling, she turned back to the stove and soon had a bountiful breakfast prepared. She filled a bowl and placed it in front of Evan then served those at the table.

  Hugh glanced at those he was about to share the meal with. Grandfather, Annie and Evan. Somehow, despite his reservations about this arrangement, it felt right. He allowed himself to hope the future might provide better things. All he had to do was trust God and not expect too much. Which, he warned himself, did not have any bearing on what expectation the others would have of him.

  He asked Grandfather to offer the grace and the old man bent forward to bow his head and prayed a simple prayer of gratitude.

  As they ate, both Hugh and Grandfather came to life.

  Grandfather looked about. “Is there anything I can help you with, Hugh?”

  Hugh’s fork stalled halfway to his mouth. The last thing he expected was such an offer from the old man. He shifted a glance to Annie. Her eyes were quiet and watchful. Did she have an expectation of something from him? If so, he couldn’t begin to guess what it might be and turned back to her grandfather. He could understand the man wanting to feel he was useful but what could Hugh give him to do? Thinking of a task he had put off a long time, he chuckled.
/>   “I don’t suppose you would visit Mr. Barret for me? I promised I’d drop by this week and here it is already Friday.”

  Grandfather grunted. “He’ll understand when he learns how you’ve been occupied.” His gaze slanted toward Evan.

  Hugh couldn’t say so but he’d gladly accepted the excuse. Mr. Barret—cranky, complaining and bitter—was no joy to visit. “He expects me to keep my word.”

  “He expects a whole lot more than that from what I’ve seen.” Grandfather shook his head. “Seems to me he thinks the world owes him far more than it’s given him.”

  That was the truth. “I try to tell him that God has a purpose for his life but he won’t believe it.”

  “Son, you deliver the Word. It’s up to him to receive it.”

  “Thank you.” Hugh had seen so little of his own father that he barely remembered him. The old man’s words fell into his heart like a sweet, warm drink on a cold day. “You make me think of a kindly man, Stewart Caldwell by name. He and his wife took me in when I was twelve. He was a preacher. Because of him, I became one.”

  “You honor me to say so.”

  Hugh felt Annie studying him and met her gaze. “Were your parents both dead?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “I’m sorry. There’s so much I don’t know about you.”

  “And I about you.” The moment grew longer with each heartbeat.

  Grandfather chuckled. “You want to know anything about Annie, just ask me. I can give you all the details.”

  Hugh could ask Grandfather but would sooner have Annie tell him. Her cheeks looked like she was too close to the stove and she shifted her attention to Evan as did Hugh.

  The boy had cleaned his bowl and watched the adults until they looked at him and then he shifted away from them.

  Hugh’s coffee cup was empty but he took it and squeezed it between his hands as if doing so could relieve the heaviness sucking at his body. Would his son ever learn how to properly relate to people?

  Annie rose and reached for the coffeepot. “Can I give you a refill?”

  He held up a hand. “No thanks. I must go to the office and study for my sermon. Will you be okay?” He inclined his head to indicate his concern over Evan.

  Annie gave Hugh a steady, promising look. “We’ll be fine.”

  “You’re going to ignore Mr. Barret?” Grandfather’s voice carried a mix of humor and accusation.

  “I’ll visit him this afternoon.” Not until he reached his office did he realize he had not addressed the careless words he’d spoken last night. Of course, he could hardly say anything in front of her grandfather. The old man would surely see it as wrong to withdraw words that could be taken as a promise.

  He’d deal with the matter later, though he couldn’t keep putting off unpleasant duties.

  Before he started he sat quietly in prayer. God, show me how to help Evan. Give me insight into Your Word that I might deliver hope and encouragement to Your people. He readily admitted he needed to hear from God as much, if not more, than those who would gather on Sunday.

  He pulled out his notes, opened his Bible and dipped his pen in ink. Dishes rattled from the kitchen. Grandfather grunted as he made his way to his easy chair. The poor man must be feeling pain today. Annie murmured something.

  Hugh leaned closer to catch her words.

  “Evan, did you enjoy breakfast? I’m glad to see you ate it all. I hope you got enough.” She chattered away as if Evan understood and responded to everything she said.

  Grandfather’s deeper voice chimed in. “Hurts my bones to watch you sit on the floor, young man. Sure do enjoy my soft chair.”

  Hugh bent his head, determined to concentrate. He could close the door but he didn’t. How else was he to know what was going on in the other room? And if he wished, even a tiny bit, that he could be there observing, it was only because he cared about Evan. He refused to admit he wished he could see the expression on Annie’s face as she talked to the unresponsive boy.

  He forced his attention to sermon preparation and read over the Bible passage he meant to preach from.

  A knock rattled the back door. Hugh set aside his pen and pushed to his feet. By the time he reached the office door, a blast of cold air indicated Annie had let in the caller.

  “Hi, Logan. What brings you here? Did you want to see Hugh? I’ll get him.”

  “I’m here to see you.” Logan’s voice rang with authority.

  “Well, here I am. Can you see me?”

  Hugh hung back. Someone would call him if he was needed.

  “Dawson told me you moved in here.” Logan’s voice rang with disapproval.

  “Would you like a cup of coffee and some cookies?” Annie sounded unperturbed by her brother’s attitude.

  “Fine but don’t think you can keep me from speaking my mind.” The coffeepot scraped across the stove and china clattered on the table as Annie served her brother.

  Should he join them? Hugh thought.

  After a moment or two, Logan spoke again. “Tell me what you think you’re doing.”

  Annie chuckled. “I know Dawson told you everything and nothing has changed since yesterday.”

  “You can’t seriously plan to marry in response to an advertisement.”

  “Have you never heard of mail-order brides? Isn’t that what they do?”

  Hugh marveled at the calm way she answered.

  “You aren’t an old spinster. You have a family that gladly wants you to stay with them. Why are you doing this?”

  “Why do you object?”

  “Because you deserve better than a loveless marriage.”

  “I’m not married yet.” She drawled out the final word as if to inform Logan it was only a matter of time.

  Hugh had to put a stop to this. He hadn’t promised her a marriage…only a four-week trial period. Was that long enough for someone to answer his ad? Someone more suitable. As he headed for the door, Grandfather spoke.

  “Annie thinks she can protect herself from pain by settling for less than love.”

  “Why,” Logan demanded in an aggrieved tone, “would she want to do that?”

  Hugh slowed, wanting to hear her response.

  “Because of that young fella who courted her—what was it?—a year or two ago.”

  Logan made an explosive sound. “Rudy Ryman! That milksop? Good riddance to him, I say. If he hadn’t left, us boys were about to suggest he should.”

  Silence greeted his remark. Hugh wished he could see Annie’s expression. Was this the real reason for her eagerness to marry him?

  Annie’s soft response came. “Nothing stays the same but life goes on and I intend to go on in the way I choose.” No mistaking the conviction in her words.

  “Dawson told me you wouldn’t listen to reason,” Logan continued. “But you and I have always been closer than that. I hoped you’d listen to me.”

  Annie continued to speak in gentle tones. “I’d like you to accept that this is what I want.”

  There came no response. Was she changing her mind under pressure from her brother? Hugh had to know what was going on and crossed the sitting room. As he reached the kitchen doorway, Logan’s look blasted him. Hugh, having dealt with harshness all his life, kept his own expression bland. “Hello, Logan. What brings you here so early in the morning?”

  “My sister. No offense, Preacher, but I’m trying to talk her out of this arrangement.”

  Hugh’s gaze skimmed those at the table and settled on Evan who huddled in the corner, his shoulders hunched forward, hearing every word and wondering what these adults would decide and how it would affect him.

  Hugh met Annie’s look. Saw desperation and determination. She inclined her head slightly toward Evan signaling that she was concerned about how the boy would react to this conversation.

  Her look, her concern about his son and Logan’s comments about a beau of Annie’s made up his mind. “Annie and I are agreed that she should stay here for now. Evan and I n
eed her. Your grandfather provides chaperoning.”

  Annie’s smile rewarded him.

  Had she heard the limitation of his offer? For now. Until someone more suitable, more likely to find this situation to their satisfaction answered his ad. Why was he having to remind himself of that so often?

  *

  Annie poured Hugh a cup of coffee as he sat to visit with Logan. What Logan said was true. They had always had a closer relationship than she’d had with her other brothers but nothing he could say would change her mind about her decision. In less than twenty-four hours, she had already proven to Hugh how much she was needed here. And she meant to prove she was invaluable.

  As the men discussed the weather, she mentally planned the next few meals and observed Evan out of the corner of her eye. The boy gave the appearance of indifference but she was certain he listened with interest to every word. He glanced at the window as they mentioned the possibility of a storm. His hands twisted as Logan wondered if the cows would find enough shelter.

  Logan pushed aside his cup. “I better get home and tell Sadie how our discussion went. She will be disappointed I wasn’t able to change your mind.”

  “Assure her I am fine. We are all fine.”

  “That’s a fact,” Grandfather added. “I rather like the notion of spending the winter in town. That drive in the cold gets less and less appealing.”

  Logan chuckled. “Are you admitting you’re getting old?”

  “Nope. Just cold. And don’t try and convince me you enjoy riding out to the ranch every day.” Grandfather knew as well as Annie that Logan didn’t go out every day since the fall work ended.

  Logan managed to look slightly embarrassed. “I’ve got things to do in town. Come spring I’ll be out more often. In fact, Sadie and I are talking about building a house on the ranch property. We like the idea of the kids being around family more.”