Bertie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 6) Page 18

  Riley turned around on the seat and looked behind him. “Steve! You stay home! No wandering down the road, you hear me?”

  The mule stopped and let out a sound that sounded like a cross between a bray and a whinny, topped off with a few whistles and loud grunt at the end.

  “Might I assume he isn’t pleased with your command?” Bertie raised her eyebrow and shot Riley a bemused grin.

  “You would assume correctly, but he’ll mind. In some ways, he’s more like a dog than a mule, although he is stubborn. He generally doesn’t like women and stays clear of them, but I noticed he took a shine to you.”

  “What can I say…” She flicked her fan coquettishly. “He has excellent taste.”

  Riley chuckled and snapped the reins over Mud’s rump again. “Come on, Mud, we’ve got places to go and things to see.”

  They hadn’t gone far when Bertie’s curiosity got the best of her. “How did you come to have a mule named Steve?”

  Riley pushed his hat up with his index finger and leaned back against the seat. Sorely tempted to slip an arm around Bertie and draw her to his side, he instead clutched the reins with both hands. “Steve belonged to my father. I inherited him along with the farm when he passed away.”

  At her encouraging look, he released his breath and relaxed. “Pa had one brother. He was something of a prankster, always doing something crazy. When Pa and my mama wed, my uncle showed up with a young mule for a wedding present. They named it Steve, after my uncle, and he’s been a part of the family ever since.”

  “Did your uncle appreciate having a mule named after him?”

  Riley cast Bertie a sly glance. “He thought it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. Told everyone in three counties his brother named a mule after him. We always blamed the mule’s strange ways on being named after my uncle.”

  Bertie laughed and fluttered her fan in front of her face. “What does your uncle think of you moving all the way out here to Oregon?”

  Riley’s face sobered and he sat up a little straighter on the seat. “Uncle Steve died two years after my Pa. He was my last living relative. It’s just me, Steve, and Mud.”

  The fan in Bertie’s hand stopped mid-motion. Sympathy filled her gaze as she turned to Riley. “I’m so sorry. I know what it’s like to lose so many people you love. If I hadn’t had Bobby…” Her voice caught and she swallowed back her tears.

  Riley placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “But you do have Bobby and it’s obvious he cares for you a great deal. Did I hear he was courting the new school teacher who moved to town?”

  Grateful for the change in topic, Bertie nodded. “Yes, she seems like a very nice girl. We had lunch together after church Sunday.”

  “Does it bother you, the thought of Bobby courting someone, taking a wife?”

  Bertie’s brow wrinkled with a frown. “He’s a long way from taking a wife, but I suppose the idea of it doesn’t bother me, at least too much. Since our parents died, Bobby made taking care of me his priority. I want to see him happy with his own family, I’m just not sure there’s anyone deserving of someone as wonderful as my brother.”

  “He probably says the same thing about you, that no one deserves you. In your case, he’d be correct. You are one of a kind Miss Roberta Elizabeth Hawkins.”

  She stared at Riley to see if he was teasing her, but he appeared quite serious. Flustered by his honesty, she turned her gaze to the passing scenery and waved to people she knew as they met a wagon heading home from town.

  “Do you know everyone in the area?” Riley asked as he raised a hand in greeting to the wagon heading the opposite direction.

  “Not everyone. However, when you work at the telephone office, you quickly learn more than you want to know about anyone with telephone service and several who don’t have any. We also kept track of the time, the weather, any business closures, new enterprises coming to town, information about school events and the like. People called all the time wanting to know if the train was running on schedule, if the mercantile had plenty of sugar, if it was true Doc Reed had to push his automobile home in the last rainstorm because he couldn’t get it to start.”

  At Riley’s questioning glance, Bertie gave him a wide-eyed look then grinned. “In truth, he did.”

  “Do you miss working at the telephone office?”

  “Not as much as I thought I would. I miss Lacy and Millie and a few other girls I worked with there, but for the most part, I’d much rather be at Nash’s Folly. Aundy and Garrett have been wonderful. I get to spend my days, or at least part of them, out in the sunshine and fresh air, and Aundy has taught me so many things.”

  “Like what?”

  As they entered Pendleton, Bertie stuffed her fan back into her reticule before answering Riley’s question. “I’ve learned how to make several new dishes, how to sew curved seams on the sewing machine and do all sorts of fancy stitches, how to ride a horse, how to gather eggs — and don’t you dare bring up that hateful little rooster.”

  Riley smirked but refrained from offering any comment.

  “My mother started teaching me about caring for a home, cooking and sewing when I was young, but there was so much I didn’t know. Aundy has shared so many easier ways of doing things from getting stains out of the laundry to peeling the skins off peaches.”

  The mention of peaches drove Riley’s thoughts back to the orchard and rescuing Bertie out of the tree. Visions of her stocking-clad legs filled his head. Heat swirled through his gut and his collar threatened to strangle him.

  Fortunately, they’d arrived at the Opera House along with what appeared to be half the town from the large crowd milling around outside and on the steps.

  “Why don’t I leave you here at the door and go find somewhere to park the buggy?” Riley tugged on the reins, but Bertie put a hand on his arm, drawing his attention to her face.

  “I’d rather stay with you. If you don’t mind a little walk, we can park the buggy at my house. It will be safe and out of the way there.”

  “If you’re sure…”

  “I’m sure.”

  After they parked the buggy, Bertie popped in the house to say hello to Bobby only to discover him gone. Not surprised to find him away, she grabbed Riley’s hand and hurried down the sidewalk in the direction of downtown. Halfway there, Bertie stopped and insisted Riley put on his tie then helped him adjust it before continuing to the Opera House.

  Although they had plenty of time before the show began, Bertie was eager to get inside and find a seat. The one-night performance filled the Opera House to overflowing with attendees.

  At the door, Riley produced the tickets Aundy had given to him and an usher escorted them to seats at the end of a row in the middle of the theater.

  Bertie settled into her seat, but strained to see over the crowd, looking for others she knew. Excitedly, she raised her gloved hand and waved to Lacy and Grant Hill, seated three rows ahead of them. They both returned her wave and left their seats, heading her direction.

  “Bertie! What a wonderful surprise to see you!” Lacy gave her a warm hug then smiled at Riley. “Hello, Mr. Walsh. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

  “Mr. Hill, Mrs. Hill.” Politely, Riley tipped his head to the couple. He liked the banker and his lovely bride. They were genuine, caring people who made everyone feel at ease and welcome.

  “Now, Riley, I thought we’d moved right past all that formality,” Grant said, shaking his hand. “After the performance, we’d love to have you join us for dessert at our home.”

  “Oh, Grant, how lovely of you to invite us,” Bertie interjected before Riley could answer. “As much as we’d love to, Riley will have to care for his stock after we return home as it is.”

  “If you want to stay, Bertie…” Riley sensed how much she longed to spend time with her friends.

  She grabbed his hand and squeezed it, scrambling his thoughts and cutting off his words. “Riley has been so kind. I was suppose
d to come with Nik, but he accompanied Doc Reed to an emergency at one of the outlying farms. When he discovered my disappointment in missing the performance, Riley generously offered to accompany me. In our haste to arrive before the show began, he didn’t take time to feed his animals.”

  “Aren’t you a regular knight in shining armor,” Grant teased. “It looks like the show is about to start, but I hope you both will take us up on our offer to stop by another time when you don’t need to rush home.”

  “Thank you, Grant. I’d like that.” Riley shook Grant’s hand again then tipped his head to Lacy before placing his hand on Bertie’s elbow and guiding her back into their row. She sat down, barely able to hold still while Riley settled in beside her.

  Throughout the show, Riley paid as much attention to Bertie as he did to the performers. It began with a skit filled with such humor, the audience roared with laughter. His amusement stemmed not so much for the comedian on the stage, but watching Bertie giggle like a gleeful child.

  A magician took the stage next. The youthful zest and innocent wonder on Bertie’s face fascinated Riley much more than the tricks the man executed.

  A brief intermission followed. Everyone filed out to the lobby to enjoy punch and cookies before returning to their seats.

  When the curtain went up, four identically dressed men stood on the stage. They sang in a close four-part harmony that ranged from hauntingly lovely songs to tunes so lively Bertie tapped her toe to the music. Their repertoire included hymns, folk tunes, and popular music of the day such as “Hello, Ma Baby” and “Sweet Adeline.”

  They sang through the closing song, “In My Merry Oldsmobile,” one time then requested the crowd join in the chorus. Riley didn’t know the words, but Bertie sang them all by heart.

  Enthusiastically clapping at the end of the performance, they stood and walked with the rest of the crowd out into the evening. Grant and Lacy accompanied them for a few blocks until they parted ways at the Main Street Bridge. The couple lived on the hill in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the city.

  Bertie waved to them then turned down a side street that would take them to her home. She looped her arm around Riley’s and hummed the song they’d sang, fairly skipping along the sidewalk.

  “Did you have a good time, Bertie?” Riley didn’t need to ask the question. It was obvious she had enjoyed the evening.

  Admittedly, he had, too. More than he’d enjoyed anything in a long, long time. It would be so easy to grow accustomed to being the man at Bertie’s side. Even if he’d hated the performances, which he didn’t, it still would have been a wonderful evening just seeing the joy and excitement on her face.

  Riley was treading on dangerous ground. Once again, he resolved to leave Bertie alone, starting tomorrow.

  Tonight — well, all kinds of possibilities existed for tonight.

  Bertie stopped at the gate to her house and glanced at it with longing. No light shone from inside, so Bobby either was out or had already gone to bed. Riley saw a flash of disappointment on her face before she regained her earlier good mood and spun around in a circle right there on the sidewalk.

  “Mmm. Isn’t it just the most glorious evening?” Bertie spun around again, eyes half-closed and lips parted. “I wish I could catch it in a jar and save it for a gloomy day.”

  This merry, vivacious girl hardly seemed like the one he’d met the first day he set foot on Nash’s Folly. She made him feel lighthearted and younger than he had for years. The most glorious thing about the evening was Bertie.

  Heedless of who might see them, Riley wrapped his arms around her and waltzed a few steps before swinging her into the buggy.

  The smile he gave her held a hint of teasing. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d been imbibing in more than the watered-down punch they served at intermission.” Riley sat beside her, picked up the reins, and released the brake. “You wouldn’t be the first girl intoxicated by the magical nectar of a beautiful summer evening, though.”

  A happy sigh filled the air as she leaned back against the seat. “If this is what it feels like to be drunk, it’s no wonder the saloons in town do such a booming business.”

  His eyebrows rose skyward and he worked to hide his grin. “I think you’d find a noticeable difference in the two experiences.” Although he hadn’t had anything to drink, other than the fruity punch, Riley also felt a little inebriated. Without a doubt, the cause of it was the enchanting woman sitting beside him.

  Aware of the trouble he was about to jump into headlong, Riley ignored the words of caution tumbling through his head. He slipped an arm around Bertie’s waist, drawing her closer to his side. “I wouldn’t want you to catch a chill.”

  The warmth of the evening combined with Bertie’s enthralling scent and enchanting presence elevated his temperature.

  The dubious look she gave him made him consider if he’d misread her interest. Then she settled her head against the curve of his shoulder and breathed a deep sigh. “This is nice.”

  Riley didn’t trust himself to speak at that moment. Words he couldn’t and shouldn’t say might roll out of his mouth. Words that would change the friendship he had come to cherish with Bertie. Words that would end in pain for them both.

  Finally, he spoke. “Did I hear Dent say that Aundy and Garrett are hosting a picnic tomorrow?” Ranch happenings provided a safe topic of conversation.

  “Yes, I think Kade and Caterina, Tony and Ilsa, Marnie and Lars and all the children will be there. Aundy said she wanted to have everyone over for a pleasant evening before harvest begins. Nik will leave the day after harvest is over. This is the last opportunity for everyone to gather together before then.” Bertie gazed up at Riley, studying his strong chin, and firm lips. Lips she so desperately wanted to kiss.

  In need of a distraction, she returned to their conversation. “You’ll be there, won’t you? All the ranch hands are invited.”

  “Most likely.” Riley knew the last thing he needed was to spend more time with Bertie, but he enjoyed being around Aundy and Garrett and their extended family. The promise of an abundance of good food was a strong incentive to attend.

  Bertie sat up and tugged on his arm. “Please, Riley. It just wouldn’t be the same without you there.”

  “I’ll do my best to be there. It should be lively with all those kids in one spot.”

  Bertie laughed. “Between the Rawlings twins and Sadie and Noah, there’s never a dull moment when they’re around.”

  “That Sadie is something else.” He winked at her.

  She leaned close to him again, snuggling against his side. It took him no time to decide she fit perfectly, as if she was the one woman created to be there.

  That thought made his heart heavy.

  She glanced at him, curiosity evident on her face from the light provided by the canopy of sparkling stars and shining moon overhead.

  “What’s that look for?” he asked.

  “I was just wondering about you. I know you were an only child, but you seem so good around the little ones. Either you’re a natural with children or you’ve had some practice caring for them.”

  Riley held back a groan and looked away. He didn’t want to have this conversation with Bertie, not now. He’d known he would have to tell her the truth some day, at least part of it, but he hated it to be this evening. What he needed to tell her would no doubt cast a pall over the pleasant time they shared.

  His hesitation caused Bertie to sit up and place a hand against his chest. “Are you well, Riley? You’re awfully quiet.”

  “I’m fine.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm before releasing a sigh. “The reason I’m good with kids, know how to care for them, is because I had a son.”

  Air whooshed out of Bertie’s lungs and she slumped against the back of the seat. “You have a son?”

  “Had, Bertie. I lost him and his mother three years ago. Joshua. My son’s name was Joshua. He was almost three.”


  “But how… what did… were you…” Bertie stammered, shocked by Riley’s revelation. “How could you possibly be…”

  Painful memories made him stiffen and tightly clasp the reins in both hands. “Eugenia moved to town when we were both sixteen. I was smitten the first time I saw her. She was tall for a girl, with beautiful black hair and dark eyes. I thought she looked like an exotic princess, even though she wore a plain calico dress.” Riley stopped, needing a moment to collect his thoughts and choose his words.

  “My Pa died and left me the farm when I was fourteen. I’d managed quite well on my own for two years, had grown up more than most boys by that age, so I asked her to marry me.”

  “You wed at sixteen?”

  “Sure did. Joshua was born the following year.” Emotion clogged Riley’s throat and stung his eyes. He looked up at the stars and swallowed hard. “He was the best baby, rarely fussed. And he was so inquisitive, full of life and questions. He’d started following me everywhere when he… when…” He stopped and sighed. “Joshua was the very best thing that ever happened to me. I loved him completely.”

  Sympathy filled Bertie’s eyes as she stared at him. “What happened?”

  “There was a terrible tragedy,” his voice cracked. “I lost both my son and wife that day.”

  “Oh, Riley. I’m so, so sorry.” Bertie slipped her arms around his waist and gave him a hug. Sensing his need to end the discussion, she remained silent on the remainder of the ride to Nash’s Folly.

  The buggy rolled to a stop at the end of the front walk, drawing Riley out of his dark musings. This certainly wasn’t how he imagined ending the evening. Morosely, he walked around the buggy and offered Bertie his hand. She held it as they entered through the gate and strode down the front walk.

  He walked her up the steps, knowing this had to be an end to the friendship they shared. He couldn’t be around Bertie and not want more.

  Slowly, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her fingers. “Thank you for the best evening I’ve had in a very long time, Bertie.”