Page 568 of Conveniently Wed
When he stepped into the café, the heat hit him so hard his fingertips tingled, and he felt his face turning red from the strength of it. Rand Morgan and two other ranchers sat at a table near the counter. They waved him over to join them.
Belle came to take his order, and soon he was sinking his teeth into the warm gingerbread that melted on his tongue, awakening his taste buds. Stopping here was just what heneeded. Away time with other men, jawing about what was going on at their ranches. The meeting was like an oasis in his desert-dry day.
When he went home, he’d be better able to continue his discussion with Lorinda. They were both adults, and they should be rid of their anger by the time he got there.
36
Lorinda stood by the front window and stared at the lane leading to the ranch house. How long had it been since Franklin rode off? It felt like forever. She glanced at the clock. Only an hour.
The heated words they’d flung at each other scorched her soul. Did her words destroy any chance she had for happiness? She had tried to force him to listen, but she hadn’t listened to everything he had to say. Had her words run him off for good? Surely not. This was his ranch. He wouldn’t just leave her and plan not to come back. Her heart sank at the thought. She wanted him back. This time, they needed to have a calm discussion.
She rubbed her sleeves as a chill ran up her arms, raising goosebumps in its path. The temperature outside had to be sinking, because it was becoming harder to keep the rooms warm. She hoped Franklin wasn’t still out in the cold. If so, by now, he could be nearing frostbite.Lord, please protect him and bring him back to me.
When he got here, she’d try to control her emotions and let him finish saying what he meant. Perhaps he hadn’t wanted her to leave. He was just giving her the choice. That’s what she’dalways desired, wasn’t it? For the man in her life to let her make her own decisions, instead of controlling her.
“There you are, Lorinda.” Mrs. Oleson came into the parlor. “Where’s Franklin? He didn’t go back out in the cold, did he?”
Lorinda cringed at the thought that their argument had been heard. Maybe their housekeeper hadn’t understood the loud discussion.
“He was in here talking to you when I went up to take a nap.” The housekeeper sat in a wingback chair and picked up her knitting from the basket beside it.
“Yes, he was. He left.” Lorinda didn’t want to tell another lie, even to keep their secret. “We had a disagreement. He didn’t tell me where he was going.”
Mrs. Oleson studied her for a minute. “That’s unlike him. I hope he gets home soon, so we won’t have to worry.”
Lorinda dropped into the chair across from her. “He’s been gone an hour. I’m already concerned.”
Loud banging sounded on the front door. Lorinda hurried into the hallway. It couldn’t be Franklin. He wouldn’t knock.
She opened the door, and one of the older boys, who often wandered around Breckenridge trying to find some kind of work to do because their fathers had been lost in a mine mishap, stood there. He shivered in his ragged clothes that couldn’t possibly withstand the harsh winter that was already upon them. How did he get all the way out here without freezing?
“Can I help you?” She said through the screen.
“Gotta note fer Miz Vine.” His teeth were chattering. “Ain’t you her?”
She opened the screen and invited him in. They moved into the parlor. The boy headed toward the fireplace and hovered beside it, still shivering. He dug in the pocket of his ragged trousers and brought out a dirty, wrinkled piece of paper and handed it to Lorinda.
“Would you like a hot cup of coffee, young man?” Mrs. Oleson dropped the knitting back in the basket. “It’ll help warm you up.”
“Please, ma’am. I’m half froze.”
She hurried to the kitchen.
Lorinda read the scratchy writing.
Franklin has been hurt. He’s calling for you. Come quickly.
Lorinda turned toward the boy, just as Mrs. Oleson handed him the cup of coffee. “Young man, where did you get this note?”
“A man.” He wrapped his fingers around the warm mug and took a gulp of the hot liquid. “Paid me t’ bring it t’ you.”
“Where is my husband? Is he hurt bad?” Lorinda needed to know.
“I dunno. I never seen him. Just the man.” Fear shone out of the boy’s eyes.
Lorinda handed the message to Mrs. Oleson and began wringing her hands. Had their quarrel sent Franklin into danger? If so, she was responsible for what happened to him. She had to go to him right away.
Mrs. Oleson helped her gather what she might need to help Franklin. Lorinda got blankets, bandages, ointments, and warm clothes. She put on two layers of Franklin’s union suits, then his trousers and a flannel shirt. She had to belt the trousers up tight to keep them from falling off, but she needed protection from the extreme cold.
