Page 31 of A Groom for Millie
“About?” Millie raised her eyebrow.
“Nothing in particular.”
Somehow Millie didn’t believe her mother. She started taking her items from the basket. There were several cans of fruit. They were quite expensive, but Millie thought they would be a nice treat for the holiday. She had two scarfs she purchased for her mother and Mary Rose.
Altar had made them, and Millie thought they would make the perfect Christmas gifts. She even had one for Robert tucked away in the bottom of the basket. She didn’t know if she would ever give it to him. Since he was up and around, Millie thought he might travel to his next stop before the end of the year.
At least she knew now that Robert had no interest in Heather, and Heather had no interest in him. Robert was able to prove that he didn’t write the letters, by pulling out a journal from his saddlebags and showing Heather his handwriting.
So, the letter that Heather received was tossed aside with good riddance. It was one less letter Heather would have to respond to. Millie knew for a fact that her friend hadn’t written to any of the prospects from the letters she collected. She hoped Heather would come around before Pastor Collins realized what was going on.
“Is it snowing out?” Robert asked.
Millie shook her head. “No. Just bitterly cold.” She looked around the small kitchen. “Where’s Mary Rose?”
“She having a nap.”
“A nap?” Mary Rose never napped. The little girl was too busy getting into something to nap.
“In fact,” Regina stood and stretched her arms. “I might lay down for a bit as well.” She walked to the stove and stirred the stew. The scent of beef in a rich gravy filled the kitchen. “Should be ready in an hour. Wake me then, Millicent?”
Millie watched as her mother disappeared into the bedroom.
“Want to join me?” Robert asked, pointing to the chair.
“I should probably make some biscuits to go with dinner. Do you want a refill on your coffee?”
Robert put the cup on the edge of the table. “It’s tea. Your mother was telling me about this ranch. It seems you have quite the operation.”
Millie snorted. “Wehadquite the operation. Now it is just a bunch of horses in the field and a few goats and chickens.”
“Don’t forget your cow.”
“Of course, the cow.”
“What are you planning on doing with the ranch?”
“I honestly don’t know.” She pulled out a bowl and the flour container. “The pasture is normally lush and green. This year it was so dry that most of the grass died. George was going to sell the horses, but…” Millie per face in her hands and started sobbing.
Robert was up from the table in a flash. He gathered Millie to him with his good arm. Pressing a kiss on her hair he tried to console her. “It’s alright. Let it out. Your mother mentioned you hadn’t grieved yet.”
Millie cried for a few minutes, just letting the immense loss of everything wash over her. Not only did she lose her husband; she lost most of her horses. She also, lost her freedom when Pastor Collins required the women to seek husbands. She no longer had a choice.
Eventually, the sobs subsided, and Millie pulled away from his embrace. It felt so good to have human contact again that Millie didn’t ever want to leave Robert’s arms. She held onto Robert, curling her fingertips around his arm.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t know what came over me.” She lifted the corner of her skirt and blotted her eyes.
“It’s alright. You’ve not had a chance to properly grieve.” He gently rubbed her back.
“It’s not just that. The letter came today.”
“Letter?”
Millie nodded. “I sent off a letter in early November. The gentleman just responded, and he wants to come to Flat River and get married as quickly as possible.”
Robert dropped his arm and moved backward as quickly as he could. “I didn’t realize…”
“This just happened. Pastor Collins told the ladies we had to get married or leave town.”
