It was several minutes before Morgan could comprehend the enormity of what he was reading. If the article was correct, Callie Mae would be dead in three weeks. Even in this century it seemed he was doomed to lose those he held dear. Well, not in this lifetime, dammit! He didn’t give a rat’s ass what those over-educated Washington bureaucrats thought. Surely preventing the death of one small woman wasn’t enough to throw the entire future out of whack, and even if it was, he wouldn’t see it because he was staying right here and taking care of business. He had a mother and brothers to look out for, a farm to work, and a certain little lady to straighten out.
Morgan froze. The frantic movements as he transferred the items to his saddlebag halted as the truth of his thoughts battered him. He had a mother, Emma, but she wasn’t really his mother, was she? Hell, yes, she was in every way that mattered, and he loved her, loved them all, Mead, Matthew, Melissa, and Callie Mae. He wasn’t two thousand miles away either, he was right here and there wasn’t a commanding officer telling him how to proceed. He could do things his way and the future be damned. There was no way in hell he would stand by and let Callie Mae die.
Swinging onto his horse, Morgan set out for the farm at a good clip. He had plans to make and he wasn’t above using force if need be. Matthew would help him and so would Mead if it came to that. He wondered which of the other girls had been injured and in what way? Was it shy Annalise, Marilee, Jane, or Fancy? Was it a minor injury or something more substantial, possibly permanently debilitating? Of all people, Morgan understood that not all wounds were treatable. Some scarred the soul. It would be a crying shame if one of those young girls was damaged for life simply because she answered Callie Mae’s hair-brained advertisement.
The smartest and perhaps the easiest thing to do would be to shut the damn saloon down, at least until the critical time had passed. Callie Mae would never agree, of course, but that was a minor point in his opinion. If he had to, he’d kidnap her and the girls and lock their butts up somewhere safe. There wasn’t much he missed about the modern world, but what he wouldn’t give to be able to throw their asses into a RV and drive a few hundred miles away until this threat expired.
He wondered if he could get Callie Mae to agree to marry him in such a short period of time. He could take her on a long honeymoon trip, but that would leave the girls unprotected, unless he took them along. Money wasn’t an issue, but it didn’t appear women traveled in packs like they did where he’d come from. Heck, it was nothing to take an entire wedding party to Maui for a week or two in his world.
Getting her to marry him at all might be a problem. Hell, she was barely speaking to him. If only he’d done a better job of spanking her. Maybe she’d be more agreeable if she knew any further nonsense would result in him baring her bottom for a good licking. The next time she ended up over his knees he’d make damn sure he made an impression, but for now he’d have to consider all avenues open to him.
The smell of bacon cooking as he rode into the yard had his stomach growling in response. One of Emma’s meals always put him in a better frame of mind and he tied his horse to the rail and headed for the pump. After Sunday dinner he’d have a little talk with his brothers.
Ty Wainwright was waiting outside when Callie Mae and the girls arrived for church and after greeting them, he spirited Annalise away to his family pew with a strong arm around her waist.
Morgan took advantage of the vacant seat next to Callie Mae and planted himself right beside her, despite her glare. Snapping open her fan as though she smelled a foul odor, she rolled her eyes and clamped her lips together.
In the Whittaker pew, Missy winked at Morgan and stifled a giggle. Lilly huffed loudly to show her disapproval and shot a disgusted look at Mead who pointedly ignored her. In front of them, Laurie Dixon tried to keep her oldest boy from kicking the next pew until Matthew leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was worked and Laurie smiled gratefully over her shoulder when they all stood for the first hymn.
Emma smiled. She could hear the blended voices of Callie Mae and Morgan and observed Ty Wainwright holding the hymnal open for Annalise. Dorothy Wainwright was smiling too as she watched her oldest son leaning protectively toward the blushing young woman at his side. Lilly, who was normally quite vocal even though her voice wasn’t all that pure, was surprisingly quiet this morning, Emma observed. She wondered if Morgan sitting beside Callie Mae was the cause or she was just in one of her moods. Young Mrs. Dixon certainly had her hands full with her three young’uns and Emma made a mental note to ask her to supper next Sunday. Before she knew it, the service was over and Reverend Simms was asking the congregation if there were any matters that needed his attention or anyone who needed to be added to the prayer list.
Ty quickly stood and pulled Annalise up with him.
“Yes, Reverend, I have an announcement to make,” Ty said clearly. “I have asked Miss Annalise Martin to be my wife and she has accepted. Now we don’t have a date picked out, but I hope she doesn’t keep me waiting too long,” he teased. Noting her fierce blush, he patted her gently on the shoulder. “I know she’s new in town and this may seem pretty quick to some of you,” he continued, looking around, “but I’m a firm believer that when a man finds the right woman, he knows it. I feel very fortunate and I hope you’ll all be happy for us.”
“Congratulations to both of you,” the minister replied jovially. “I’m sure the entire congregation joins me in wishing you and your future bride the very best.”
“Thank you, we, Annalise and I appreciate that, don’t we, honey?”
“Um, yes, of course,” Annalise croaked out just before her future mother-in-law pulled her to her ample breast and hugged her.
The whole church erupted at that point. Callie Mae and the girls rushed forward to offer their congratulations and support to their friend, as did Missy and Cole. Several gentlemen came forward and shook Ty’s hand and a number of disappointed mamas pulled their daughters toward the doors.
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake, she’s a saloon girl,” Lilly snapped, her eyes flashing as she swept by the others and made her way outside, fanning her face rapidly.
Mead stayed behind and spoke to both Annalise and Ty as did Emma, Laurie, and Matthew.
“I don’t know what you’re going to do about her,” Emma said softly as Mead escorted her from the church.
Mead didn’t have to ask who she was talking about. He knew quite well that it could only be his intended. Lilly had been behaving poorly ever since Morgan returned, but it was more than pique, much more. Apparently, there was a side of Lilly he never knew existed and wasn’t overly fond of; it went far deeper than any chastisement could cure. There was a mean and somewhat spiteful streak in her he’d only caught a glimpse of now and then. Previously, he’d attributed it to her time of the month or just plain stress. Mead knew her shop wasn’t doing all that well, but it didn’t concern him. If she wanted to continue to work after they married she could, but he made enough to support them, although it wouldn’t be a lavish lifestyle by any means. However, before he’d slip a ring on her finger, he planned to get to the bottom of whatever was stuck in her craw. He had no desire to be tied to a shrewish woman for the rest of his days.
“Mrs. Dixon,” Emma called as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
Laurie kept one eye on her children who were caught up in an impromptu game of tag.
“Yes, Mrs. Whittaker. It’s nice to see you again. Was there something you wanted?”
“I’ve been meaning to invite you and the little ones out to the farm for supper,” Emma said, taking Laurie’s hand in hers and noting the calluses. “Would next Sunday be good for you?”
“Oh, Mrs. Whittaker, you don’t need to go to all that trouble. I know everyone in town feels a little sorry for me, what with losing Floyd and all, but we’re doing fine, really,” Laurie said with bravado.
“I’m sure you are, dear. I hear the Blue Bonnet is busy all the time. I just thought that maybe you’d enjoy a meal you didn’t have to cook.” Patting her hand, Emma continued. “Would five o’clock be all right?”
“Well, I don’t…”
“I’ll send Matthew with the wagon to collect you and the children. He’ll put a fresh bed of hay down and cover it with a quilt. That way if the boys fall asleep on the way home they’ll have a nice soft ride.”
“But I’m not sure it’s a good…what with Matt…”
