Hope, page 13
part #3 of Brides of the Rio Grande Series
“Charity, you look stunning.”
“Ah, don’t be funnin’ me now. I feel ridiculous. I ain’t used to all this fluffery.” Charity made a show of straightening her dress. It was obvious their rambunctious sister was uncomfortable with all the attention she was getting.
Hiram stepped up and placed his arm around Aggie’s waist, but his shrewd gaze never left Charity. “My dear, I would never have thought this moment would come, but I can assure you that the gentlemen of Creede will be as astonished as we are. Shall we head to the dance? I can’t wait to find a chair in the corner and watch tonight unfold. Charity, I would be honored to accompany you to the dance. That is if my beautiful wife has no objections.”
Everyone knew Hiram only had eyes for his wife of—Hope wasn’t certain how long the Hanovers had been married now that she thought about it. Regardless of the years, everyone could see they were more in love than ever.
“It would be my pleasure to share my escort with such a vision in loveliness.” Aggie enveloped Charity in warm affection. “I’m so glad you decided to wear the dress. You are an extraordinary and beautiful young woman.” Hope could see happy tears welling in Aggie’s eyes. Aggie took charge much like a mother hen clucking to her brood of chicks. “Come ladies. We must hurry or those Ladies Auxiliary women will have already begun sitting people at their tables.” She winked at Charity. “We want to ensure we are front and center when a certain someone arrives at the dance. I can’t wait to watch Sheriff Grayson’s face when you come through that door, my dear.”
Hiram handed Charity and Aggie their wraps and led the procession out to the waiting luxury coach.
John wrapped his arms around Grace, enveloping her in her wool cloak. He appeared in no hurry to get moving. Hope watched her burly giant of a brother-in-law place a gentle kiss on the top of her sister’s head. Grace’s head rocked back and leaned against her husband’s solid chest as she gazed up at him. The love shining in their eyes for each other nearly took Hope’s breath away. After a gentle kiss, they walked through the front door and into the waiting carriage.
A voice whispered in her ear from behind causing goosebumps to race over her flesh. “If I didn’t know better, I might think you are jealous of your sister.”
Hope turned and slapped at Billy. She knew he was teasing her, but there was the tiniest bit of truth to what he said and it made her feel uncomfortable. She wasn’t jealous. Far from it. She was deliriously happy for her sister. She of all people knew the misery Grace had dealt with growing up. They all did. And yet, Hope couldn’t deny she wanted that kind of happiness too.
She was about to chastise him when Sarah came down the hall holding Abbie Rose’s little hand, the little girl toddling beside her. “Is everyone gone? I was hoping to tell everyone goodbye, but Abbie Rose and I were up to our elbows in cookie dough, as you can see.”
Sarah held up her hands to show the results of an evening in the kitchen with a toddler. Grace and John’s little girl mimicked the Hanovers’ housekeeper and held up her hands too. Hope couldn’t help but laugh at her sister’s precious baby girl. Tears welled in Hope’s eyes. She couldn’t deny she wanted what Grace had. She just didn’t know if she could have that kind of happiness with Billy. That was a very tough question she wasn’t prepared to answer just yet.
“Good night, Abbie Rose.” Hope cooed to the little girl and blew her a kiss. Billy placed his hand at the small of her back, opened the door and followed her out into the dark crisp December night. She was deep in her emotions when Billy spoke in quiet whispers near her ear so the passengers in the waiting carriage couldn’t overhear.
“Don’t think I didn’t see the way you were looking at me this evening.” She turned to see Billy smiling under the street lamps.
“Why, I have no idea what you are talking about.” Hope did her best to deny Billy’s words.
“Well I say you do. And I intend to prove it,” he challenged. Before Hope had a chance to offer her own retort, Billy bustled her up and inside the enclosed cab of the coach depositing her among her family. He closed the door behind her and she heard him call out to the Hanovers’ blacksmith and driver, Big Angus. “Get those mangy beasts moving, Angus. The ladies are anxious to get this evening started.”
The large coach lurched forward momentarily throwing its passengers off balance. “Billy? Why aren’t you coming with us to the—” Hope stared out the foggy window and watched her handsome escort grow smaller as the distance between them grew greater.
“I don’t understand.” She turned to question the other passengers in the coach.
“Don’t worry, Hope. Billy will be along soon. I’m sure he had some last-minute errands to take care of,” John offered. Grace’s elbow in his ribs didn’t escape her notice, nor did the look of something that passed between Hiram and Aggie. As usual, Charity was oblivious to the subtle signs going on around her. Hope didn’t know what to make of this turn of events. Thoughts of Billy off with Cora somewhere in the dark made her anxious, but she pushed back at the jealous thoughts threatening to ruin her evening.
“Well, he better be.”
Billy stood in the cold darkness watching the coach disappear down the street. It took every ounce of self-control he possessed to put Hope in that coach and not follow. But that was all part of his plan.
Tonight was going to be the best night of his life. Grace, John and the Hanovers were all in on it. They had even offered to help get Hope to the dance and keep her company until he arrived. Liam and Faith would be waiting for them at the dance. Faith promised to keep Hope occupied with news about the baby. She even vowed to faint if it would keep Hope distracted until he arrived.
By the shocked look on her face peering out at him through the foggy glass window of the Hanovers’ coach, she was not going to be happy with him once the shock of him sending her off alone to the dance wore off. No siree. She was gonna be mad. And he was pretty sure he could make it up to her if this night went according to plan. And if those smoldering looks she gifted him with earlier this evening were any indication of what was going on in that pretty little head of hers, this night was shaping up to be a night he would remember for the rest of his natural born days.
It was six thirty and the Town of Creede was teaming with activity. Everyone for miles had come into town for the annual Ladies Axillary sponsored social. It was an annual event that promised good food, good music and good times for everyone. People who had relatives or friends in town stayed with them. People who didn’t, stayed anywhere they could find a room. Every house and business in town was illuminated from roof to basement and the streets of Creede were bathed in light.
Stores stayed open late and offered amenities of hot beverages and homemade baked goods to lure the throngs of customers into their store.
Billy was about as happy as he had ever been in his life. He had a job he loved that payed him very well. He had worked his tail off to make enough money to build his own home—a good, solid home up on the mountain where he was happiest. And he had good friends he could count on. But the best part of all was if tonight went as he hoped, he would have the beginnings of that family he had yearned for since his mother died and left him in the sadistic hands of his brother and indifferent sisters.
He ducked into the bakery on his way to the dance. “Hello, Mrs. Dockery. Is everything ready like we talked about?”
The woman looked as if she were one hundred and eighty years old, but Billy was fairly certain she couldn’t be more than a hundred. The woman was stooped and frail-looking, but he had seen her lift a three-tiered wedding cake by herself with ease.
“Yep, Mr. Billy. Your cake was delivered this afternoon. The ladies are keeping it hid in the kitchen until the right moment. And if I do say so myself, the cake is as good as I’ve ever done. Two or three of them ladies were speechless when me and Abe rolled it in. I told them just how to cut it so you get enough cake for everyone at the dance. Can you believe the turn out this year? It’s as if everyone knows there’s somethin’ special goin’ on this year and don’t want to miss it. I’ll be turnin’ up a little later. Gotta wait for Abe Junior and his wife and brood to show up.”
Billy smiled his pleasure. Everything was going according to plan. “Thank you, Mrs. Dockery. I appreciate you helping me out with this little project. I hope you kept it our little secret. Like we talked about.”
“Oh I didn’t tell anyone except the two ladies you told me to hand off the cake to. They were so excited about it all, you woulda thought it was one of them getting proposed to.” The woman threw her head back and laughed at her own joke.
Nervous someone would spoil his surprise before he had a chance to propose, he cut his conversation short. “I guess I better get moving then.”
“Yeah, it’s gonna be a big dance this year. Hell, even that jailbird brother of yours was excited to hear you and your intended was gonna be at the dance tonight.”
“My brother? He was here?” Billy’s blood sludged through his veins at the baker’s comment. “When did you talk to that—Bobby? How did he find out?”
He came in earlier this afternoon and complimented me on the cake. Said you told him all about the surprise and he was playing a part in it. I’ll be honest, I was pretty surprised to find out you would include that murdering snake in this happy event, especially since he ain’t well liked around these parts, but I guess that’s your business. Me, for one, don’t cotton to somebody who’d beat a defenseless man to death, but then I don’t cotton to a man stealin’ another man’s wife either.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Dockery. I didn’t tell Bobby. I sure as hell didn’t.” Billy had paid for the cake when he ordered it so he needed to cut this conversation short and get to the dance before disaster struck. “Thank you, ma’am. See you at the dance.”
He didn’t address her last comment. There was no need to. He had made his bed of lies and he would suffer the consequences gladly if it helped to protect John from Lizzie’s deception. Even if it costs you Hope? His mind raced with worry and doubt and anxiety. He had a bad feeling he needed to get to the dance. Now.
The cold night air punched his lung, but he ran toward the Ladies Auxiliary building. Wagons and horses tied to hitching posts were so thick, he could barely squeeze between them to get to the front door. Music wafted through the thin frigid mountain air. Finally, he pushed open the door and pushed his way through the crowd nodding his greetings to everyone he passed. He prayed he wasn’t too late to stop his brother from spoiling his surprise.
11
Hope was a bundle of nerves all evening. Her stomach was tied in so many knots, she swore it must resemble Aggie’s disastrous knitting basket after the kind and patient woman tried to teach Charity the art of crocheting. She was certain Aggie regretted ever mentioning the idea.
“Relax, my dear. Your handsome beau will be walking through that door at any moment.” Aggie smiled and swayed to the fiddle music a man played in the corner of the room.
“Why isn’t he here? What if something has happened to him?” Hope was really beginning to worry. She had a feeling Billy was going to propose tonight, but his delay in arriving made her wonder.
Faith patted her hand. “Hope, remember what Reverend Baker always told me? Have faith. Well, I’m telling you to have hope.”
Hope searched her sister’s face for a sign. “Do you know why he isn’t here?”
Liam stepped up and placed a caring hand on Faith’s shoulder. “I’m certain Billy will be along any minute. If he doesn’t come soon, John and I will volunteer to go look for him. Does that quell your worries?”
Hope looked at the faces of her sister and brother-in-law. Something was up. She would just have to be patient. And have hope. She hadn’t realized the Reverend Baker had such a dry sense of humor until just this moment. It seemed the man had been very insightful when he had given them their names.
Hope’s nervous energy made it impossible to stand still. “I think I’ll get myself a cup of punch while I’m waiting. I’ll be back in a moment. Does anyone want anything?”
“No, I think we are content at the moment.” Faith answered her question while Aggie raised her cup of punch to her lips.
“Very well, I shall be back in a moment.” Hope turned and pushed her way through dancing couples and made her way through the crowded hall to the food tables.
“May I have this dance, little lady?”
“It’s about time you—” Hope turned, intending to chastise her beau. Instead, his look-a-like brother stood in his place.
“I can tell by the look on your face, you was expecting that brat little brother of mine, but as you can see, you got the grown up version behind these Buchanan dimples. Now, how about that dance?”
Billy and his brother did look a lot like each other. They were the same height, except Billy was more muscled. His brother was lean almost to the point of appearing gaunt. Their dark hair and dimples were the same. Even their eyes were the same color of blue. But Billy’s eyes were full of kindness. And laughter. And mischief. His brother’s eyes were cold and cruel. And when he looked at her, she felt violated.
“Thank you for the offer, Bobby, but I’m waiting on Billy. He should be here any moment.” She made a show of looking out over the crowd for him. When she didn’t see him, she began looking for familiar faces in case she needed help, but everyone seemed engaged in their own conversations.
Bobby pushed her on to the dance floor. “Well, maybe he changed his mind. About coming I mean. I don’t mind being his stand in until he decides to show up. If he shows up at all.”
Hope tried to pull away from him, but she held on tight. She didn’t want to cause a scene, so she allowed Billy’s brother to drag her onto the crowded dance floor and pull her against him. Their proximity was very inappropriate and she tried to create some space between them, but his gaunt appearance belied his strength. She was trapped against him.
He whispered against her ear making her stomach roil at the unwanted intimacy. “Careful, little lady. You don’t want all these people to think we ain’t friendly, being family and all, now wouldcha?”
The last thing she wanted was for people to think her and Bobby were friendly, but she didn’t want to be the cause of another public display either. It was her indecision that kept her in place.
“So tell me, why would a good looking woman such as yourself want to hitch your wagon to a snot nose little whiner like that little brother of mine?”
Hope tried to pull away again, but Bobby’s fingers tightened their grip. She looked around for help, but she couldn’t catch an eye.
“Stop calling him that,” she insisted. “Billy is a kind, hard-working, honest man.”
“Is he now? Honest? You think he’s honest? I guess then you don’t know about the day he went to visit Lizzie Malone, do ya?”
Hope wasn’t comfortable in discussing that night with Billy’s brother. It seemed disloyal somehow. She remained silent, frantically searching for someone to come rescue her.
“Ah, so you do know about that night. I’m not surprised. But do you know what really happened or just the lies Billy told to John—hell, to everyone—about how that night came about?”
Doubt slithered its way into Hope’s mind.
“I can see by the look on your face, you ain’t so sure ole Billy Boy is always honest. You see, there was more to that night than Billy Boy is tellin’—”
Hope refused to answer the man. Instead, she kept searching the crowd for one of her sisters or their husbands when a sudden commotion interrupted the laughter and music causing everyone to turn toward the ruckus.
“Why do you keep telling me I can’t ride in your posse? You know I can ride and shoot better than anybody. Especially that Mr. Fancy Pants you pay good money to. Hell, he can’t hit a tin can nailed to the side of a barn.”
“Miss Montgomery. I do not intend to sit here and have you tell me how to do my job. I will not allow a woman to ride in my posse. End of discussion. The entire dance hall turned to watch their town’s sheriff rise from his place at a table, throw down his napkin in exasperation, and stride toward the front door. His long, angry strides left no doubt to anyone watching, the man was not in the mood to continue this discussion. Charity started to follow but Liam stopped her from pursuing the lawman out into the dark night. Hope could tell her sister wasn’t happy about that either by the way she was arguing with Liam.
“That sister of yours is a spitfire, now ain’t she?” Hope turned to Bobby and knew the instant she saw his lidded gaze at her what was coming next. “I’ll bet you have a wild streak. One that needs a real man to satisfy—”
“That is highly inappropriate, Mr. Buchanan.” His lack of respect for her fueled her courage and she no longer cared about causing a scene. She jerked away from his steel fingers and turned her back on him. It was then she noticed Billy standing in the doorway. He did not look happy. In fact, he looked like he was about to murder someone.
Billy finally made his way inside the building. The place was alive with activity. He searched the crowd and finally found John in the corner talking with Hiram and Aggie. His friend was hard to miss since the giant of a man was a head taller than anyone else. And there was Grace sitting at a table, Faith sitting next to her. Liam and Charity were arguing about something. If Sheriff Grayson’s angry exit just now was any indication, Billy knew what they were arguing about. He glanced around the room again, but there was still no sign of Hope.
Billy’s eyes scanned the food table, every corner of the building, and the perimeter of the dance floor. No Hope. That was odd. He glanced around the dance floor and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. At first glance anyway, but when the dancers moved together and then away from each other in rhythm to the fiddle music, he saw Hope.
She was in the middle of the dance floor and his filthy no good brother was holding her captive. Billy’s blood ran cold at the sight, but then his emotions hit him full force and his blood turned to molten lava. He was going to kill that son of a bitch once and for all times. Right here. And right now.
