“I guess that settles that then,” Emma replied with a sigh. “I swear sometimes that man can be stubborn as your Pa was. I imagine he’ll be fine, and Dr. Brubaker has already wired ahead to a couple of doctor friends he knows. They’ll be looking for him. Come on inside now and have some breakfast. Callie Mae’s not up yet, but I’ll keep it warm on the stove.”
“What?” Morgan asked in feigned disbelief. “I hope my bride doesn’t think I’ll allow her to lie in bed all day,” he continued with a wink. “She better get her sweet little behind moving if she ever wants to see New Orleans.”
“New Orleans?” Emma gasped.
“Yes, I thought since we didn’t have to go east, we’d have our honeymoon on a riverboat and travel down to New Orleans for a few days.
“Oh, that’s sounds wonderful. I’m sure Callie Mae will enjoy taking a trip, just the two of you. Morgan, are you sure the girls will be all right while you’re gone? I’m not worried about Annalise so much. She’s already engaged to Ty Wainwright and I know he’ll keep a close eye on her. It’s Marilee, Jane, and Fancy I’m worried about. After all, it’s only been a few weeks since they left the orphanage to come out here. I’m not sure any of them are sensible enough to stay out of trouble,” Emma said, putting a plate down in front of Morgan and pouring a cup of coffee for each of them.
“I don’t see what could possibly happen, Ma. The Duchess is closed temporarily. Mead’s fiancé, Lilly, is supposed to be keeping an eye on things. Matthew is in and out of town just about every day. Of course, my little brother spends as much time as he can chasing after Laurie Dixon. Not that I can blame him. He’s got his heart set on making that widow his bride, and I’m sure he’s a big help to her. Running the Blue Bonnet alone can’t be easy, especially with those three boys of hers. I have to give her credit. Mrs. Dixon is a hard worker and she’s providing for her family as best she can,” he pointed out. “What has you so worried?”
“For one thing, I’m not sure how much I trust Lilly to keep an eye on anything. Yes, since the shooting she’s been remorseful for the way she behaved, but in my heart, I think she blames Callie Mae and the girls for what’s happened to Mead. Lilly never wanted any of them here and this might be her only chance to get rid of them.”
“She can hardly make them leave town, and besides that, none of the girls have anywhere to go, as far as I know,” Morgan said thoughtfully, for the first time not really enjoying his mother’s cooking. “What could she actually do?”
“I don’t know,” Emma said, stirring her coffee as she thought things over. “I suppose she could get the ladies of the town to take action. Lilly can be pretty underhanded to get her own way.”
“What does Mead see in her?” Morgan asked sadly shaking his head.
Emma looked at her son closely.
“I don’t know, but at one time you were quite taken with her,” she remarked dryly.
Morgan felt so at home here, so much a part of the family and the community, that he often forgot there was a man here before him. Emma’s son, Morgan, never returned from the war and was presumed dead. Thankfully, he looked enough like him to pass himself off with only Mead knowing the truth. But looks were where the resemblance ended, and he needed to remember that. He had a past he didn’t know much about and that past included Lilly.
“I guess I was a touch blinded by how pretty she is,” he said, quickly trying to cover up his slip. “But you know what they say, pretty is as pretty does and our lovely Lilly isn’t quite so appealing anymore.”
Callie Mae pausedbefore the threshold of the kitchen door. Waking alone, she hurried to wash and dress, intent on finding her new husband. What she overheard was unsettling. Was it possible Morgan still had some feelings for her nemesis? He just about admitted he thought she was beautiful. And what about Lilly, did she still want Morgan and had she only taken up with his brother Mead in case Morgan never returned?
The girls were a concern, one she hadn’t forgotten. They were all young, attractive, and inexperienced. They could easily be influenced by the clever older woman. Maybe going so far away as Maryland wasn’t such a good idea. Whether The Duchess was open or closed, she still had expenses to meet and she couldn’t meet them with the doors locked.
Callie Mae loved Morgan with all her heart, had loved him most of her life, but that didn’t mean she was ready to roll over and play dead. They didn’t need a fancy honeymoon, and in fact, she was surprised when he brought it up. Back east newlywed couples often took an extended trip, visiting relatives both far and near, but here in Kansas folks had more sense than that. The world didn’t stop turning just because you had a ring on your finger. There were chores to do and obligations to be met. Squaring her shoulders, she swept into the room.
CHAPTER3
“Callie Mae, you’re up,” Emma said starting to rise. “Let me get you some breakfast.”
“No, Mother Whittaker, you sit right there, I can serve myself,” she replied taking a plate from the cupboard and lifting the lid from the pan on the stove. “Sit down, Morgan,” she continued as her husband rose at her entrance.
Placing a small piece of ham and a few scrambled eggs on her plate she set it on the table and poured a cup of coffee.
“Would either of you like more?” she asked, holding the pot. When they nodded, she refilled their cups and set the pot back on the stove before taking her seat next to Morgan.
“Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?” he asked with a grin.
Callie Mae felt the heat rise in her cheeks but ignored his bating comment.
“Very well,” she replied, placing her napkin in her lap. “I’m sorry I slept so late,” she continued looking at Emma. “I should have been up helping you.”
“Nonsense dear, I’m sure you were tuckered out. After all you’ve been so busy. It was a lovely wedding, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I think it was. We certainly had a nice turnout, considering half the town thinks I’m trash,” Callie Mae said staunchly, smoothing the skirt of her modest gray dress.
Morgan choked on his coffee and Emma shot him a look that clearly said, ‘be quiet’.
“I don’t think that’s true at all,” Emma offered. “They wouldn’t have come if they believed that. It’s the saloon dear.”
“I know, but that’s not going away just because I’m married,” Callie Mae said, taking a bite of her eggs.
