AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“His late wife didn’t dress this way, I take it?”
“No. Adele was sweet as pie, but she knew little about life out of doors. She could cook and clean and do all the things a proper wife is supposed to do, but she didn’t know a hammer from a pitchfork.”
“How’d they meet?”
“At Howard Medical School. Her grandfather was one of the men Colt studied under.”
She knew of Howard and its illustrious history. “Was it a love match?”
“Yes. He was inconsolable after her death. I think in some ways, he’s still grieving her passing.”
Regan was pleased to learn he’d loved her but wondered if he had it within himself to love again. “What’s their daughter like?”
Spring paused as if debating her response. She met Regan’s eyes. “Truthfully? Anna is unhappy and rarely smiles. My heart aches when I see her.”
“Why is she so unhappy?”
“After Adele’s death, my brother didn’t know what to do with an infant, so he turned most of her raising over to Spare the Rod Spoil the Child Minnie Gore, Adele’s aunt. My niece has spent most of her life walking on eggshells so as not to evoke Minnie’s wrath.”
“I met Minnie yesterday. It wasn’t pleasant. The wrath isn’t physical, is it?”
“No. Colton wouldn’t stand for that, but Minnie fusses at Anna incessantly about staying clean, sitting and speaking properly, using the correct utensils, her diction. There’s nothing wrong with having those expectations, but Anna doesn’t get to be a child. She’s not allowed to go out and play because she’ll get dirty. Minnie has discouraged her from having friends because she thinks they’d be a bad influence.”
“What does her father say about this sadness?”
“He sees it, but isn’t sure how to undo what Minnie has done. He’s the only doctor in this part of the Territory, which means he’s sometimes gone for days at a time, so Anna’s cared for by either Minnie or my grandfather Ben who believes children should be seen and not heard.”
“Do you get a say in her raising?”
“No. Colt and Ben think I may teach her to grow up and speak her mind one day. Can’t have that, now can we?”
Spring’s bitter tone made Regan curious about its cause and her standing with the two male family members. Anna’s plight was disturbing. Growing up, Regan and her older sister, Portia, had chores and were expected to be accomplished in all the areas Spring had pointed out, but they were also encouraged to have adventurous, carefree childhoods. They each had their own mounts, swam, explored the nearby canyons, fished, learned to use tools, and were never chastised by the adults for getting dirty. “Sounds like little Anna could use a champion.”
“I agree, but it won’t be Aunt Spring.”
Regan had no idea what kind of mother she might be, but having been abandoned by her own mother, Corinne, and later raised by her loving Aunt Eddy and Uncle Rhine she knew bad from good and considered that to be in her favor. In her mind, every child should be allowed to be a child and not have to walk on eggshells. She realized her own naïveté in thinking she’d simply waltz into this arranged marriage, find the love and adventure she desired, and all would be well. A complicated road lay ahead.
After breakfast, Spring took her on a tour of the place. In addition to the Appaloosa colt Regan had seen yesterday, there was also a beautiful black stallion named Cheyenne and two mares: Sunrise and Lady. Spring greeted the stallion with an affectionate hug and the horse whinnied in response. “I found him up in the mountains when he was a colt. I’m not sure if his mother died or if he got separated from his clan, or what, but he was near death. Brought him home, nursed him back to health, and he’s been with me now about six years.”
“He’s very handsome. Where’d you get the mares?”
“They’re his.”
Regan’s confusion must have shown, so Spring responded, “I woke up one morning a few years back and he was gone. I looked for him for days and when I couldn’t find him, gave up. I figured he’d found a clan and I’d never see him again. Broke my heart. But at the end of the summer he returned and had the two mares with him.”
“Needed some company?”
Spring laughed. “Apparently. Took me a while to get the mares used to the saddle, but the three are strong stock. I’ve been selling the foals and making a good profit.”
“I’ll need a mount. I didn’t want to subject mine to the long train ride.” She missed her mare, Catalina, terribly and wondered how she was faring, and if she missed Regan as deeply.
“I don’t have any for sale at the moment, but there are a few ranchers who do. Once you get settled in, we can go see them.”
“If I get settled in. Your brother might not want to go through with the agreement.”
“And you?”
“I’m still willing.” In spite of her earlier protestations and misgivings, she hadn’t come all this way to turn tail and run simply because he’d seemed prickly and, yes, rude at the outset. Surely there had to be more to him than that.
