Page 503 of Conveniently Wed
“I made the stew for the most part. Lorinda peeled the potatoes.”
He nodded his thanks toward the younger woman. When his housekeeper passed the basket of biscuits to him, he took two and put them on the saucer beside his bowl of steaming stew.
While he reached for the butter, Mrs. Oleson added, “Lorinda made these biscuits and helped me with the pie. She’s a good cook.”
He glanced once more toward the younger woman and found her sitting with her hands in her lap and her face turned down as if she were still praying. A becoming blush stained her cheeks. Maybe she wasn’t used to compliments, but surely her husband had told her he liked her cooking...and how lovely she was. If not, the man was an ingrate.
After a moment, she picked up her spoon and tasted the stew.
Why hadn’t he paid any attention to the woman? His callous treatment may have contributed to her reticence. Perhaps he should make her feel welcome as long as she was here in his home anyway. He wouldn’t have treated any of his other employees the way he’d been treating her.
He sank his teeth into the biscuit dripping with melted butter, the perfect accompaniment to the steaming beef stew. “These biscuits are every bit as good as Mrs. Oleson’s. Thank you, Mrs. Sullivan.”
A slow smile spread across her face, finally reaching her eyes. “Th...thank you, Mr. Vine.”
That broke the ice, and the conversation flowed freely throughout supper.
When they had finished eating the main part of the meal, Mrs. Oleson cut the pie. Franklin noticed Lorinda didn’t take a taste until after he did.
“Ladies, this is wonderful. It’s still warm.” He shoved another bite into his mouth, and that shy smile once again crept over her features.
After Mrs. Oleson set down with her dessert, she smiled at the younger woman. “Lorinda dear, I have a cedar chest I’m not using anymore. I’ll have one of the hands move it into your room. You can put all your new things for the baby in it.”
Lorinda’s eyes widened, then tears glistened on her lashes. “Thank you.”
“That’s a good idea.” Franklin got up and patted his stomach. “I’m as full as a tick on a hound dog.”
Both women laughed.
“I can move the cedar chest for you.” Franklin welcomed his housekeeper’s thoughtfulness. From now on, he would try to be more kind to the young widow.
After all, she wouldn’t be here very long.
9
On a cold evening in late March, Franklin leaned back in the rocking chair on the front porch and crossed his feet on the railing. Lacing the fingers of both hands behind his head, he watched the fading colors of the sunset slip behind the mountain peaks, revealing a clear, starry sky. Everything was calm on the ranch. Just the way he liked it. With the number of calves his cattle had produced, he’d be able to thin the herd and sell a goodly number to the mining companies. Even ship beeves to the Denver market.
Things had settled down on the home front as well. He’d gotten used to Lorinda being a part of his household, and she was more relaxed around him. If he were honest with himself, he welcomed her presence.
Mrs. Oleson often told him how much she was enjoying all the help Lorinda gave her. She’d been missing having a woman to talk to and hadn’t realized how much until Lorinda came. Maybe he’d offer the widow a permanent place on his staff. The long winter ahead would be more comfortable with his housekeeper having another woman around the place. They did work well together.
The front door squeaked open behind him. He’d need to have Rusty oil the hinges tomorrow.
“Franklin.” Mrs. Oleson’s voice sounded agitated.
His feet dropped to the floor with a thud, and he rose to face her. “Do you need my help?” When he caught a glimpse of her face, he knew it wasn’t something simple. “What happened?”
Wringing her hands, she was more frantic than he’d ever seen her. “Lorinda has gone into labor, and it’s progressing right along. We need the doctor to come as soon as possible. Could you send one of the men to get him?”
Franklin stared at her for a moment while he figured the best thing to do. “Major is the fastest horse in the stable. I’ll ride into Breckenridge myself.” He had to do something to help the two women under his care.
He quickly entered the house and grabbed his hat, coat, and holster. Running toward the barn, he buckled the gun belt around his waist. After he saddled his stallion, he rode out of the building while Rusty waited to close the door. He gave a quick wave to Mrs. Oleson as he sped past. A strong feeling of unease held him fast in its grip. He hoped Doc was available. Lorinda needed the man, and he’d make sure she had his help.
Major enjoyed a good run. Since the moon shone bright in the night sky, Franklin could let him have his head. While they thundered down the road, he whispered a quick prayer for Mrs. Oleson and Lorinda. But soon he ran out of the right words. He’d heard other men at church say that having a first child could be dangerous. Too many women died in childbirth. Thinking about the possibility of that happening to Lorinda punched him in the gut. He couldn’t let that happen, no matter what he had to do to prevent it. The sooner he got the doctor and they returned to the ranch, the better.
Franklin made good time reaching the edge of Breckenridge. He expected the town to be quiet, except for the area wherethe saloons were located, but that wasn’t the case. Hordes of people were out and about, scurrying here and there. All the conversations sounded ominous, even though he couldn’t distinguish the words.
The windows on the parsonage were well-lit, but not at the doctor’s house. Still he knocked on the door, trying to raise the medical man. After he waited a couple of minutes, he pounded even harder. No one came, so he headed toward the parsonage.
