Dear Mr. Stone (Mail-Order Bride Ink Book 11) Read online

  Katie put her face in her hands. Beryl stepped forward but Ephraim stopped her. As soon as Katie let her hands drop, she looked her father square in the eyes. “Please leave, Papa.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Get out of my house.” She didn’t say it unkindly, but it was firm and clear.

  Petunia gasped. “But Katie …”

  “If Papa can’t be kind, then he can’t be here.”

  “Katie,” he said in warning.

  “Please, just go.”

  “Harrumph!” He turned, grabbed Petunia’s hand and out the door they went.

  As soon as they were gone, Beryl took Katie in her arms. “I’m so proud of you.”

  She sniffed back unshed tears. “For what? All I did was stall the inevitable.”

  “You stood up to him,” Beryl pointed out. “You know as well as I do that he wants to get you to Denver without Jace and try to force you into a divorce or an annulment.”

  “I know,” she said sadly. “I just don’t understand why they can’t be happy for me.”

  She hugged her. “Give them time, but don’t let your guard down.”

  Katie stepped out of her embrace and wiped away tears. “Thank you.”

  She smiled. “Think nothing of it. Now, how would you like to have lunch with us at the Vanders’?”

  Ephraim nodded. “Good idea. And I’m sure Betsy won’t mind another guest.”

  “I’m beginning to really like Betsy,” Beryl commented.

  “You and me both,” Katie said. “And yes, I’d love to join you. I need to get out of the house.”

  “Good,” Ephraim said. “I need to check on a few things at my office – why don’t you two visit and I’ll come back for you?”

  They nodded, said their goodbyes to him and watched him leave. As soon as he was gone, Katie turned to her. “So tell me everything. What happened?”

  Beryl smiled as her cheeks flushed pink.

  “That good, huh?”

  She smiled again and motioned to the nearest chair.

  “Oh, no, I need to make us some tea first. I have a feeling this’ll be good. At least something is.” Katie glanced at the door, then hurried off to the kitchen to fix their tea.

  Beryl sat with a sigh, then sent up a silent prayer that Katie’s parents were leaving town soon. Without Katie.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “… And that’s how Cecil and I met,” Betsy finished with a flourish of hand movements and a bow.

  “My, my,” Beryl said. “That was quite the story.”

  “Yes,” Ephraim agreed. “And you put in more details than I’ve heard before.”

  “That’s because you heard it from Cecil,” Betsy said. “That man always leaves out details, but not me!”

  Beryl laughed. “I should say not. How wonderfully romantic and exciting.”

  Betsy looked at Katie, who’d been unusually quiet. “What do you think, young lady?”

  “I wish I’d had a frying pan when I was abducted. Maybe things would’ve turned out differently.”

  Betsy smiled warmly. “Things turned out just fine despite what you went through. Don’t dwell on what’s come and gone. The experience will always be with you, but it’s how you let it define you that matters.”

  Ephraim smiled. “That’s a nice way of putting it.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Stone,” Betsy said. “Now, does anyone want another sandwich?”

  “I’d like one,” Katie said.

  Beryl smiled at her. “I’m glad to see your appetite is good.”

  Katie rolled her eyes. “I don’t know about that. I tend to eat when I’m upset.” She sighed. “My father is just being my father. Jace hasn’t had a chance to speak to him since the first time, which was hardly at all. And I’m not sure what will happen when they speak again.”

  “Do you think your parents will leave?” Ephraim asked with a frown.

  “Oh, they’ll leave all right. It’s whether or not they’ll speak to me again that I worry about.”

  Beryl exchanged a look of concern with Ephraim. This was what they were hoping to avoid for Katie “Maybe you should be there when Jace finally speaks to Mr. Haverdash.”

  “That would be up to Jace,” he replied. “Situations like this are always challenging.”

  “What would you do if you were married to Beryl,” Katie said, “and her parents were doing this sort of thing?”

  He whistled long and low. “That’s a good question. I’d try to handle things diplomatically, but if Beryl’s father was like yours, my patience would be tested.”

  “Is Jace a patient man?” Beryl asked.

  Ephraim nodded sagely. “I’d say so. But I know he won’t put up with any nonsense.”

  “Mm-hmm,” Betsy said. “Just like the Vander men and my Cecil. Though I admit they take the side of diplomacy rather than beat someone to a pulp.”

  Katie gasped. “Jace would never … oh, wait. He might.”

  Beryl reached across the kitchen table and put her hand over Katie’s. “Don’t worry, it’ll all work out. Your parents just have to accept there’s nothing they can do. For the life of me, I don’t understand why they think they can get you to leave Jace and marry another.” She looked around the table. “That’s the only explanation. They must be desperate to try something so ludicrous.”

  “I’m afraid I have to agree,” Ephraim remarked. “But I’m not sure how to help them.”

  The back door to the kitchen suddenly opened. “Sorry we’re late,” Fletcher said as he ushered Sophie in. “But I had some extra business to take care of.” He looked at everyone seated around the kitchen table. “Why are you all eating in here?”

  “On account your grandparents decided to go have lunch with the Smythes today,” Betsy said. “Besides, this table is just as good as the one in the dining room.”

  Fletcher and Sophie took the last two chairs available and sat. “True enough,” Fletcher agreed.

  Betsy put sandwiches on their plates, then poured them each a glass of lemonade. “Say, Doc, what happened to that tall drink of water that was meeting with Sheriff Diamond in the café? He lit out of town the other day, and I haven’t seen him since.”

  Beryl caught Katie’s shoulders sagging in relief, happy for the change of subject. She’d talk more with her later.

  “Mr. Markhel?” Ephraim said.

  “Big fella?” Betsy said. “Broad as a tree, drop dead gorgeous?”

  “Oh, him,” Beryl commented.

  “Is there something wrong with him?” Katie asked. “He helped save Jace and me.”

  “He did,” Ephraim said. “He helped a lot, in fact.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question,” Betsy retook her seat. “What’s he doing in town?”

  “Well it’s not because he’s the Mad Matchmaker,” Fletcher said with a smile then took a bite of sandwich.

  “You be quiet.” Betsy turned back to Ephraim. “Well?”

  He sighed. “Mr. Markhel works for a government organization. He’s here trying to recruit for it.”

  “What kind of organization?” Katie asked. “I know he talked to Jace, but Jace never told me exactly what it was.”

  “He didn’t tell you because he married you,” Ephraim said. “One of the stipulations of taking the job is that you can’t marry.”

  “Why on Earth not?” Betsy asked.

  Cecil entered the kitchen, several bags of supplies in his arms. “I’m back!”

  “Oh, dear me, let me help you.” Betsy left her seat. “Don’t stop, Doc Stone. I’m still listening!”

  “Well, this organization Mr. Markhel works for is recruiting for positions similar to a Pinkerton. Fairly dangerous.”

  “Is he trying to recruit you?” Beryl locked gazes with him. It was a valid question. And if they were courting, then he’d better not have told Mr. Markhel he was interested in the job.

  Ephraim smiled sheepishly. “He was trying to recruit me.”

  Beryl
closed her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “I’ve not said yes,” he pointed out. “And I’m not going to, not now.”

  She opened her eyes. “But were you?”

  He nodded. “He made a sound offer, said I could help a lot of people.”

  “You help a lot of people right here.” Cecil began to put supplies away. “I’d say you’re the best doctor this town’s ever had. Things wouldn’t be the same around here without you, Doc.”

  “Thank you, Cecil,” he replied, his eyes still locked with hers.

  “So you told him no?” she asked to make sure.

  “Not yet.” He leaned toward her. “But I will. You don’t need to worry, sweetheart.”

  Her shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank goodness.”

  “That goes double,” Betsy said. “Maybe he won’t come back.”

  Ephraim wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it on the table. “Oh, he’ll be back.”

  Beryl thought a moment. Not only would he be back to get a definite answer from Ephraim, but because of Darcy Templeton. Which reminded her. “Did you ever speak to Darcy?”

  “Darcy?” Betsy blurted from the other side of the kitchen. “What does Darcy have to do with any of this?”

  “Nothing to be concerned about,” Ephraim sighed.

  “Darcy Templeton?” Fletcher grabbed another sandwich off the platter. “What about her?”

  Ephraim rubbed his face a few times. “Have you seen her when Mr. Markhel comes into the café?”

  Fletcher stopped chewing. “Don’t tell me she’s set her cap for him now?”

  “Oh, dear,” Sophie said. “Wasn’t she sweet on you, Fletch?”

  “Yes, then it was Sheriff Diamond …”

  “And then it was me,” Ephraim said. “If it was any more obvious who it is now, word would get back to her parents – if it hasn’t already. Somehow I don’t see Jess Templeton too eager to have someone like Mr. Markhel as a son-in-law.”

  “Land sakes,” Betsy said, “all the man has to do is ride into town and trouble starts brewing. Look what happened the last time he came.”

  Everyone looked at Katie.

  “But he did help save me,” she volunteered.

  “Be that as it may,” Ephraim said, “he’s not the kind of man for Darcy Templeton to get sweet on. He has a dangerous job from the sound of it, and like the rest of the men working for his organization, he probably can’t marry. So what’s the point?”

  Katie smiled weakly. “Oh, I see. Poor girl.”

  “Indeed,” Ephraim said. “But he’s left for a time, off recruiting elsewhere.”

  “That doesn’t explain why he hightailed it out of town the other day,” Betsy said. “But enough about him. Let’s talk about you, Doc.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Me? What for?”

  Betsy’s eyes darted between him and Beryl, making her blush.

  Ephraim smiled and reached for her hand. “Yes, it’s official – we’re courting.”

  “I knew it!” Betsy said with glee. “I could see it in the way you look at her, Doc.”

  “Don’t believe a word she says.” Cecil laughed. “She thinks she knows everything.”

  Now everyone laughed – except Betsy. “Cecil, you watch your tongue or no dessert tonight.”

  “I can have as much dessert as I want. It’s my turn to make it, remember?”

  Beryl laughed with everyone else at the older couple’s bickering, then met Ephraim’s gaze again. She leaned toward him and asked quietly. “Are you sure about Mr. Markhel’s offer?”

  “Of course I am. I admit I hadn’t been really enthused about it in the first place.”

  She smiled and nodded. It would have to do. Besides, if he had indeed made up his mind to join Mr. Markhel’s organization, they wouldn’t be telling people they were courting. She didn’t know why she felt insecure all of a sudden. Maybe it was because this was new territory for her. She still wanted to talk to another woman about it. But Katie was so fragile right now and Mother was in Europe.

  They finished lunch, shared pie, coffee and more conversation, then it was time to go. Ephraim wanted to drive out to some outlying farms and check a few of his patients, which left Beryl with time on her hands.

  Betsy must have realized it too. “Miss Branson?”

  “Yes?”

  “Would you like to hear about the time our very own Pastor Luke met his wife Winnie?”

  She smiled at Betsy. “I’d love to.” Good, now she had something to do this afternoon. Besides, spending time with the Betsy was far more pleasant than spending it with the Haverdashes. Betsy was older than her, wiser and could probably answer her questions about what was normal about falling in love and what wasn’t. Maybe Katie could stay and learn a thing or two with her. She hoped so. She didn’t like seeing her friend like this. And things would only get worse the longer Katie’s parents insisted she leave Independence with them.

  Beryl never knew romance could be so … complicated.

  “My,” Betsy poured herself another cup of coffee. She returned to the kitchen table. “My, my!”

  Katie and Beryl exchanged a look of confusion. “Well?” Beryl said. “Is it so strange?”

  Betsy sat and took a sip of coffee. “My, my.”

  “Will you stop saying that?” Katie said in exasperation. “Is what Beryl told you normal or not? I mean, I know it’s similar to how I fell in love with Jace, but isn’t it different for different people?”

  Betsy shook her head. “Miss Branson, I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve never heard of such a thing.” She looked at Katie. “Your story is more believable. It sounds a lot more like what falling in love is like.” She glanced at Beryl. “But honey, I don’t know what to tell you. You’d best not share this with too many folks or they’re liable to think you’ve gone ‘round the bend.”

  Beryl gaped at her. “Then what would you call it?” She looked at Katie and back. “If not normal?”

  “Can I be frank?”

  “By all means.” At least Betsy asked. Beryl was still staring at her like she’d grown a third eye. What did she mean it wasn’t normal? What made falling in love normal? Getting abducted like Katie had?

  Betsy set her cup on the table. “I’ve seen a lot of folks fall in love since I’ve been in this house, myself included. But I ain’t never heard anything like yours before. Think about it. I’ve told you girls a lot of stories this afternoon, haven’t I?”

  Katie and Beryl looked at each other and nodded.

  “And in all those stories, how many were exactly alike?”

  Beryl shrugged. “None of them, really.”

  “Yes and no,” Betsy said. “One thing you’ll notice is that certain things happen that most of us of the female persuasion can agree on.”

  “Like what?” Katie asked.

  “That funny fluttering feeling you get in your belly when you see your man,” Betsy said.

  Katie nodded. Beryl didn’t, not at first. She’d experienced those feelings a few times. But whenever Ephraim was near, it felt more like a bolt of lightning. And when he kissed her …

  “Miss Branson, I hate to say it, but if any of those things happened to me when Cecil was making his affections known, I might have had a heart attack.”

  Beryl put her face in her hands. “This isn’t helping.”

  “It’s all right,” Katie assured. “You have a very strong personality. Wouldn’t that make falling in love more intense for you?” She turned to Betsy. “What do you think?”

  Betsy arched an eyebrow at them. “Strong personality, eh?”

  Beryl shrugged. “I guess I am intense. Always have been. I think what Katie says makes sense. Why wouldn’t I feel things more dramatically than the next woman?”

  “I suppose it makes a little sense,” Betsy said, “You being a city girl, maybe that makes a difference too.”

  “I’m from Denver,” Katie pointed out.

  Betsy sighed in f
rustration. “Child, just when I have myself convinced what’s happening to Miss Branson is normal, you have to go and say that.”

  Katie grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. But it made perfect sense to me.”

  Betsy shook her head and groaned again.

  Beryl sat, considered another cup of coffee and wondered if she shouldn’t wait and ask her mother. But she had no idea where her mother was at the moment. She’d telegraphed her father’s office in Baltimore, figuring Father’s secretary would know exactly where they were. In the meantime, she’d have to muddle through and ignore that she wasn’t falling in love the conventional way.

  Which also made her wonder: what did Ephraim think? As far as men went, were his affections toward her normal? Who in blazes could she ask? She had no idea. Other than someone who knew him well such as … “Oh, Katie? Would you mind if I joined you for dinner tonight?”

  “Of course not. In fact I was going to ask you and Ephraim if you’d like to come.”

  Beryl bit her lip. “Do you mind if I come … alone?”

  “No, of course not. But don’t you want to spend time with Ephraim? I’m sure Jace and I would make excellent chaperones.”

  “I think I’d rather spend time with just you and Jace tonight. If you don’t mind.”

  Katie’s eyebrows rose as she shrugged. “Fine with me.”

  Beryl smiled. Good. Maybe Jace could tell her why the more time she spent with Ephraim Stone, the emptier and more fulfilled she felt. She had no idea how the two could coincide, but they did. If Betsy didn’t understand, maybe Jace would. If not, she might go mad.

  She didn’t understand why this was bothering her so much, but it certainly wasn’t what she read about in romance novels, or heard about from Katie or any other young lady she knew that had fallen in love. This was uncharted territory. She didn’t want whatever it was between her and Ephraim to just be some sort of infatuation. She didn’t want to be like Darcy Templeton, pining away for a different man each month. She wanted to make sure what love was and be able to measure it. But could that be done?

  Beryl had no idea.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jace listened intently as Beryl explained how Ephraim made her feel. It was one of the most difficult things she’d ever had to do. Katie knew her well, and she was comfortable talking with her about it, but she didn’t know Katie’s new husband. Telling Jace was like putting her heart on the table and letting him examine it for flaws. Of course, she couldn’t tell Ephraim these things. What if he thought she was mad?