Second Chance Brides (8 page)

It would be the perfect place for her to set up a home, if only it had a kitchen and stove. But she had no means of making money to pay rent. She shook her head. No sense dreaming such foolish dreams as living on her own.

She crossed Bluebonnet Lane and stared at the pile of rubbish that had been the mercantile. People had been working to clean up the mess since the storm, but there was still a ways to go. How would the town survive without it? What a shame.

Two men she didn’t recognize, who were working on the edge of the property closest to her, straightened and then tipped their hats. She nodded and smiled but continued walking. As she walked down Oak Street, she noticed that the Foster home, which had sat right behind the destroyed mercantile, was also severely damaged. A tent had been set up behind in the back yard behind where the house had sat. Were the Fosters living there? Or maybe they were keeping the stock they’d salvaged in it. Those poor people. How would they ever manage to rebuild after this devastating loss?

She shifted the basket to her other arm and counted houses until she found the Howards’ home. The house looked well maintained, with a fresh coat of pale yellow paint and white trim on the woodwork. The lace curtains were closed, though. Could Mrs. Howard be resting, even though it was midmorning? What if she was asleep?

Leah hated bothering the woman if that was the case. She looked past the house to the livery and nibbled her lower lip. Perhaps she should ask Mr. Howard if it was all right to visit his mother. Besides, it would give her a chance to see him in his workplace.

She continued walking and stopped at the side entrance of the livery. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim interior. The placed smelled of hay and horses and reminded her of her pa’s barn. Six stalls ran down one side of the gray, weathered building, three of which contained horses.

She found Dan at the front of the building unloading a wagon filled with large burlap bags with another man’s help. Dust motes drifted lazily on fingers of sunlight that stretched into the livery, attempting to drive back the shadows. Dan hoisted a heavy-looking bag over one shoulder and toted it to an empty stall, where he dropped it. The other man did the same but seemed to have a harder time lifting and carrying the large sacks. As Dan reached for another bag, the back of his shirt pulled tight across his shoulders, making Leah’s mouth dry. Muscles flexed in his tanned forearms, made visible by his rolled-up sleeves. Dan was the tallest man in town, so far as she knew, and though he was wide-shouldered, he didn’t look to have an ounce of fat on him. Perhaps she shouldn’t be too hasty in ruling out Dan Howard as husband material. He had come to her rescue, after all.

She stepped farther into the livery, and when Dan’s gaze landed on her, he stopped suddenly without acknowledging her. He stared for a moment, then turned and dropped the bag he’d been carrying. He strode across the livery to a bucket and tossed water on his face, arms, and hands, then dried off on a towel. He ran his hand through his brown hair and turned to face her as he rolled down one sleeve.

“What can I help you with, ma’am?” His gaze ran down her length, then back up, not in a leering way like Mr. Abernathy’s but as if she was someone he cherished. She swallowed hard.

“I…uh…Mrs. Hamil—I mean Mrs. Davis sent over some soup and other things for you and your ma’s dinner. I noticed her curtains were closed and wondered if I should knock on the door or just leave the food out on the porch. Of course, I’d hate for a stray dog to get into it, so I came over here to see if you thought your ma would be awake.” Leah clamped her mouth shut. She was rambling more than the ivy running up the side of the town’s only bank.

“It’s near lunchtime. Give me a few minutes to tally up with Stephen, and I can walk over to the house with you.”

Leah nodded. She wasn’t sure if she wanted his company, but she’d best get used to the idea. At least she’d have a chance to get to know him better. But was that what she really wanted?

Yes, he’d been kind to her, but, no, he didn’t fit her idea of the perfect husband. At least Dan should be a good protector, built like he was. She waited several minutes until he paid the man who’d brought the sacks, and then Dan Howard walked toward her, his near-black eyes capturing hers as he moved lithe and steady in her direction. “I’ll carry that for you, ma’am.”

She handed over the basket and tried to swallow, but it felt as if she had a biscuit stuck in her throat. Goodness.

She peeked at him as they fell into step together, walking toward his house. She liked how it felt to walk next to a man and could almost pretend he belonged to her. He stood a solid eight inches taller that she, and with his hat back on, even more. His long, brown hair was pulled back and tied with a leather strand. Though only near noontime, his beard had already started growing back in. She guessed his age to be somewhere around the midtwenties.

She stumbled on a rock, taking several quick steps to keep from falling, and his hand shot out, gently clutching her arm and stabilizing her. Heat stormed to her face. If she hadn’t been gawking at him, she wouldn’t have missed a step. “I, uh, thank you for assisting me.”

His lips turned up on one side. “My pleasure.”

At the porch steps, he handed her up, then followed. With him on the covered entryway with her, the area seemed to shrink in size. Dan opened the door, and stood back, allowing her to enter first. His steady gaze made her squirm, and she broke eye contact and stepped into the dim parlor. Heat slapped her in the face, and she wondered if a fire was burning in the stove.

Dan entered behind her leaving the door open. He went straight to the front window and lifted it open. The lacy curtains fluttered on the light breeze. “Sorry about it being so hot in here. When Ma has one of her spells, she keeps things closed up.” He shook his head, walked through the dining room and into the kitchen, and opened the back door.

Dan set the basket on the kitchen worktable. “I’ll check on Ma and be right back. Have a seat if you’d like.”

“Don’t make her get up on my account,” Leah called as he disappeared around a corner. She looked around the Howard home. In the parlor, a sofa and two wingback chairs faced the fireplace. Though the furniture looked old, the room was tidy. Against one wall was a table covered in harnesses, bridles, and tools she didn’t recognize. A dining table and hutch resided in the next room, which sported faded floral wallpaper. The house smelled musty, with the lingering scent of leather polish. Leah tugged at her collar as sweat trickled down her chest. How could Mrs. Howard stand this heat? And if she was so ill, how did she manage to keep her house clean?

A rustling sounded just before Mrs. Howard shuffled into the room with Dan close on her heels. A wide smile graced the woman’s wrinkled cheeks. “Welcome, my dear. I’m so glad you could visit.”

Leah pulled out a chair at the table, and Dan helped his mother to sit. “I’m happy to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Howard.”

“Sit down, dear. Dan doesn’t mind fixing the food, do you, sweetie.”

Leah glanced up at Dan. She hadn’t planned on staying to eat and preferred to leave the food and go, but she didn’t want to disappoint this kind woman. Dan shook his head and turned to go in the kitchen. She leaned toward Mrs. Howard. “Excuse me for a moment, if you would.”

Leah followed Dan into the large kitchen, and he turned around, surprised to see her. “Let me do this, and you go sit down.”

His thick brows lifted. “That wouldn’t be proper. You’re our guest.”

Leah shook her head. “Nonsense. I came to help. Show me where the bowls are and then go visit with your ma.”

He opened a cabinet and pointed at the bowls, as if she hadn’t seen them. He rubbed the back of his neck, obviously uncomfortable with her serving him. She strode past him and reached for the bowls at the same time he did. His hand landed over hers. She lifted her gaze to his, and her heart stampeded. For a moment neither moved. His calloused hand warmed hers, and ever so slowly, he drew back, trailing his fingers over hers. All breath left her lungs until he stepped back. Her hand trembled as she took the bowls off the shelf.

Dan leaned back against the cabinet, his gaze watching her every move. What had just happened? She’d only ever been attracted to one other man—and Sam Braddock had been just a boy compared to Dan. Sam. How long had it been since she’d thought of her first love?

She busied herself so she could forget both Sam and Dan. “Do you have a ladle?”

Leah removed the jar of stew from the basket and unscrewed the lid, sending a savory fragrance into the air. Footsteps sounded behind her, and a ladle appeared over her shoulder. All she had to do was turn around, and she’d be in Dan’s arms. She kept her feet from moving a speck and snared the ladle. “Thank you.”

“Smells good,” Dan’s voice rumbled behind her, and her hand shook a little more.

“Do you…uh…have something to drink? For dinner, I mean?”

He stepped up next to her and grabbed a pitcher from the corner. “I’ll fetch some water.”

Leah finally caught a decent breath once he left the room. What was wrong with her? She was acting like a lovesick schoolgirl. She was acting like her twin sisters did over a cute boy.

Forcing her mind back on business, she ladled the stew into two bowls and carried them into the dining room. Mrs. Howard smiled again, and her faded eyes twinkled.

“Dan’s a good son. He takes better care of me than most men would for their old mother.”

Leah set a bowl in front of the woman and placed the second bowl on her right. “It’s good that you have him then.”

Mrs. Howard nodded. “Don’t know what I’d do without him.”

Leah returned to the kitchen and rummaged around until she found the silverware and some napkins. She folded the fabric and laid the silverware on top.

“But there’s only two place settings. Where’s yours, dear?” Mrs. Howard looked up with such a hopeful gaze that Leah hated hurting her feelings.

“Mrs. Davis is expecting me for dinner at the boardinghouse, but thank you for asking.” She hurried back into the kitchen and placed the biscuits on a plate and then sliced some of the cheese that Rachel had sent.

Dan stepped back through the open door, his face and hair dripping wet, just like the tin pitcher. He held it up. “Got the water, and it’s fairly cool.”

Leah smiled at his exuberance. She couldn’t imagine her own pa doing something so menial as fetching water. “That should taste good on a warm day like today.”

He nodded and placed his fingertips in the top of three glasses and carried them into the dining room. In a half second, he stormed back to the kitchen. “Where’s your bowl?”

Leah opened her mouth, prepared to explain again, but stopped. Rachel would probably figure out that she’d stayed and eaten with the Howards if she didn’t return for the noon meal. Why not stay and learn more about the Howards and maybe even brighten an old woman’s day? “I didn’t get one, but I will now. Thank you for inviting me.”

A few minutes later, they all settled down to eat. Mrs. Howard’s eyes watched Leah and continued to sparkle as she nibbled her stew. Was the woman always so friendly?

“Tell us about yourself, dear.”

Leah winced. She dreaded talking of her family. She dabbed her lips with the napkin and sipped some water before answering. “I lived on a farm in Missouri with my parents and brothers and sisters before coming here.”

“We lived on a farm—before my Owen died. I’d always hoped for a big family, but Dan is my only child to survive. Do you have many siblings?” Mrs. Howard broke off a piece of biscuit and stuck it in her mouth.

Leah peeked at Dan. He shoveled his food in as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks. He caught her watching and winked. Leah yanked her gaze back to Mrs. Howard and realized the woman had seen their exchange. “I come from a big family—eleven children at last count.”

Dan dropped his spoon, but his mother’s smile widened. “How wonderful. And where do you fit in that lineage?”

“I’m the oldest.”

“Ahh…no wonder you came here.”

Leah hastened eating her stew and stuffed the last bite into her mouth. She needed to leave before this woman had her married off to her son. Leah stood, and Dan hopped up. “Please, keep your seat. I’ll just refill your bowl and then wash the dishes.”

“Nonsense, Dan can do those.”

Leah waved her hand at Mrs. Howard. “I don’t mind. In fact, I’d like to help you, and that’s the best thing I know to do.”

Mrs. Howard leaned toward her son and mumbled something that Leah was certain sounded like, “She’s a keeper, son.”

Grabbing the bucket sitting by the back door, Leah charged outside. She pumped water as fast as she could. She couldn’t help thinking about Dan. She liked him—a lot. He had a nice home, a healthy business—or so it seemed—and he was fine to look at. Yes, sir, she definitely needed to reconsider him as husband material.

C
HAPTER
6

M
ark slammed his book shut and muttered a frustrated sigh. Reading while riding in the wagon on a good day was difficult, but trying to hold the book steady with one hand just didn’t work. His shoulder banged into his brother’s as the creaking wagon dipped into a deep rut and then careened back out.