Page 431 of Conveniently Wed
She bent closer to inhale the sweet pungent fragrance. “Whatever is the big surprise, and why do we have an extra setting?”
“All in good time.”
They waited for another half hour, sitting at the table chatting. Every time she asked what they were waiting for, Josiah put her off.
Finally, Delilah came into the dining room from the kitchen. “Dinner will be ruined if’n we don’t partake soon.” She clucked her tongue and shook her head.
Josiah sighed. “I thought our surprise guest would be here by now. He must have run into some problems. Call Abe, we’d best get started.”
Ten minutes later, the brass door knocker sounded, and Josiah jumped from his chair. A rush of excitement pumped through his veins.
“I’ll be right back.” He winked at Katie. “Our surprise guest has arrived.”
He headed for the door with a sense of pride. His wife—his beautiful wife—had finally stepped into the role of mistress of the house in every way. She looked the part far beyond his wildest expectations. Not that he didn’t love her casual style with no pretense, but the woman he’d left seated in the dining room was commanding and gorgeous. She completed the picture to perfection. Everything was coming together—Colby’s arrival, the horses safely in town, and his beautiful wife growing closer to him each day. Who could ask for more? Soon, she would declare her love, he was sure of it. Nothing could stop them now. A beautiful life lay ahead.
He swung open the door. “Colby.”
“Josiah.” A familiar grin widened on Colby’s face.
He hugged his friend, then ushered him into the dining room with pride.
Nothing could have prepared him for the shock on his wife’s face. Her eyes grew wide and her face drained of color.
“Charles.” She stood, her legs looking a little wobbly at first. Her expression looked almost dazed. Then she seemed to gather herself and skirting the table, almost running into Colby’s arms. “I thought you were dead!”
Colby did not hug back, and she pulled away with furrowed brows.
Josiah’s stomach dropped to the floor. She had never flown into his arms with anything even close to that level of exuberance.
Colby regarded her with a wary look. “You knew Charles? Charles Braddock?”
“Oh.” She peered at Colby, and color pinked her cheeks. “You’re not Charles.” Her voice was flat, disappointed.
“He was my brother.”
Her eyes were glued to his face, and she touched his cheek, then dropped her hand. “You…you look so much alike.”
Josiah’s temperature rose. What was she doing touching Colby so intimately? He placed his arm around her shoulder and squeezed. The touch finally broke the spell between his wife and his closest friend.
“Colby, this is my wife, Katherine. Most everyone calls her Katie.”
She extended her hand politely. What a joke after having fallen into Colby’s arms. Josiah worked hard to relax the muscles tightening his throat and to keep his voice level.
“Katie, this is Colby. My good friend I told you about. He spent most of the war looking for his brother Charles. You obviously knew him.”
Katie rubbed her temples. “I need to sit.” She returned to the table and sank back into her chair.
The tears glistening in her eyes cut into his heart. He wanted to comfort her and throttle her all in the same moment. Who was this Charles to her, and why had she never mentioned him? A memory slipped back to him then. Robert from the General Mercantile had told him about a Charles from her past. Was her Charles the same man as Colby’s brother? He must be.
Her hands trembled as she smoothed them over the cloth napkin. “Charles was a friend, a good friend.” She motioned for them to sit. “I’ll explain.”
Josiah plunked his body hard into the chair. He forced himself to remove the scowl he could feel bunching his forehead.
“Charles and I became friends at about the age of twelve. He arrived with his mother from…hmm I’m trying to remember.” She was looking at her lap.
“Philadelphia,” Colby said.
“Oh, my. You sound just like him.” Her gaze flew up. “It’s so odd, yet wonderful to hear…” Her voice trailed off.
