Page 20 of The Drifter's Bride
“Such as you are just there to help get the luggage moved.”
Interesting that Marmee was giving him a way out.
“If a woman came all this distance expecting to marry me, I will do the right thing and keep my word, Marmee.”
Marmee’s face broke into a grin. “That’s why I like you, Lukas. You are an honorable man. I need to stop in and see Doc Mueller, so we can park over there and then walk over.”
They pulled up next to the doctor’s office and Marmee climbed out of the buggy and disappeared inside. Lukas waited with the buggy until the stage pulled up to the mercantile. He could see Marmee was still talking to Doc, so he headed over to the platform where the passengers disembarked.
“Marmee asked me if you were headed to the livery?” Lukas asked the driver as he climbed onto the top of the coach and started loosening the ropes holding the luggage.
“I am. Need something delivered there?”
“She asked for Mrs. McGuthry’s luggage to be dropped off there, if you don’t mind.”
“I can do that. Anything else?”
“I’m supposed to take the luggage for Miss Huntsman.”
The driver shuffled around the bags and boxes on the top. “Here, you can help me with the rest of this,” he said, handing a bag down to Lukas.
“That’s mine,” a deep voice said.
Lukas turned around and saw a man just a little older than him wearing a brown vest with a gold star on it. “You must be the marshal Mrs. Chapman mentioned.”
“I am.”
“Sam!” Whitney Hartman came running from across the street. “Glad you arrived. Let’s get you settled.”
The two men moved towards the sheriff’s office, leaving Lukas alone with the two women.
Where was Marmee?
“Here’s the next bag,” the driver said. “I think that one is for Miss Huntsman.”
“That would be me,” a voice giggled.
The hair on Lukas’s neck stood on end. There was something familiar about the voice. He turned to look, and a sourness rose in the back of his throat.
Lolly.
What was she doing on the stage?
And why was she going by the name of Catherine Huntsman?
“I apologize for being late.” Marmee stepped on the platform and diverted Lolly’s attention away from Lukas. “I’m Ingrid Chapman, but you can call me Marmee. Why don’t we move over here? We’ll get your luggage on the buggy. How was your trip?”
He dropped the bag to the side of the coach and stepped away, as if putting distance between himself and the women on the platform. How could Ingrid Chapman intentionally match him withthat woman?Especially given the history with her, Peter, and Lukas.
He needed to tell Peter that Lolly was in town, and they were going to have to keep her away from Bet until the baby came. He wasn’t worried about his sister-in-law holding her own against the other woman, but she was so close to delivering that Marmee had cautioned them all to keep stress at a minimum. Pete would be in town that afternoon doing a supply run, so Lukas would try to intercept his brother and warn him.
As Lukas moved to return to the doctor’s office, he nearly collided with a petite woman holding a small child to her chest.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Lukas said, tipping his hat. “I didn’t see you.”
“That’s all right.” The woman shifted the child on her hip and juggled the bag in her hand as she looked around the platform. “I was looking for a Mrs. Chapman. Do you know where I might find her? Or can you direct me to the church?”
“That is Mrs. Chapman over there,” he said, turning to point to the two women who were now in a heated conversation at the edge of the platform. “It is my understanding that the Reverend came down with a cold and couldn’t meet you today.”
