Chapter 14

The library of the Coleson estate had always been a place of calm, though the current estate itself was only about nine months old. Iagan had purchased the property some five years back, made his plans, and then gotten distracted by his research work before he could get them built as quickly as he’d wanted.

But now that he had the little missus of his, he had wasted no time building her a home she could be proud of. Finishing it to his specifications. Or rather…hers.

Well, Oscar could understand that.

He would need a house soon himself. But now…he found himself in the library of his friend’s home.

Pacing. The rows of worn leather-bound books, the faint scent of wood polish, and the heavy drapes combined to make a man feel important, dignified.

It had always had the exact opposite effect on Oscar. It was much worse today.

He wanted to go back to Beatrice, scoop her into his arms, and carry her up the road to the Hope Life Church that was still being built and have the pastor marry them tonight. He wanted his woman tonight.

Hell, if nothing else, he wanted his wedding night as soon as he could get it. That woman had been in his arms for hours. Pressed against him, soft, warm, inviting. Perfect.

If she thought he’d slept even a moment, she was woefully naive.

Then again, she was. He was going to have to remember that. Beatrice was going to take some coaxing, some wooing. And a man with a careful plan. For one thing, Beatrice had been out of control of her own destiny since she was a girl. She deserved more than for him to just take her choices away.

Although last night alone in a barn with him had rather done that for her. Oscar cursed the fates for that. He didn’t want her to be with him because she thought she had to be. He wanted Beatrice to want him. Because she knew they belonged together. That had been what he had planned. Before.

Apparently, he needed a new plan.

Oscar stood near the tall windows. As he planned.

He was going to have to buy some land nearby. She would want to stay close to the Colesons, after all. And he would need to be near the hospital. Iagan and Elspeth had very little family here—Oscar’s family was all in the Houston and Waco and Wichita Falls areas. And Beatrice only had Elspeth and the rest of the little birds. Yes, they would need to stay close to Coleson Hollow, so she could have other women to help her.

Maybe just south of the Colesons. Toward Garrity. Iagan owned most of this top third of the county. Oscar wanted a spread of his own. Garrity possibly had room for the kind of growth he could see enjoying. He could handle the medical needs of Garrity, Iagan could handle that of Coleson Hollow—he suspected they’d merge eventually—and Shadrach already had a rather fine physician there. Together, he and Iagan would build the hospital for them all.

His family had long believed that owning land was the key to prosperity long term. People would always need land. He was a wealthy man—he could hire someone to manage a small ranch, as well. Yes, he would build her a home of her own—to rival this one her friend was the queen of. Beatrice would have her own castle, as soon as he could make it happen.

The library door opened. He knew who it was without turning. He had been waiting.

“Took you long enough.” How long would it be until Iagan demanded Oscar do the right thing by Beatrice? He knew his friend, after all. Iagan was going to be in for a shock when he realized it was only Oscar waiting for Beatrice to do the right thing with him, and not the other direction.

Iagan stopped pacing but didn’t sit. “I thought we should discuss your next steps. People are already talking. I thought you’d want to know. Since I do know you are an honorable man, with sisters around her age. And would not want them to face such troubles.”

That he would not. Oscar felt highly protective of his sisters. Four of them, all of them more trouble than the last.

“About last night,” Oscar said. “With Duvall here and wanting to cause me trouble, I suspected as such. He wouldn’t give a damn about the girl’s reputation or needs. Just what kind of problems he could cause for me. She would not matter because to him a woman is second class.”

But Beatrice mattered to Oscar. More than he had ever thought a woman could. He was still not certain how it had happened, especially so quickly. But it had. “Hell, Coleson, just a handful of days ago I was thinking to myself that I was becoming too bored. ”

Iagan just watched him. “It didn’t take long for word to spread. You and Beatrice alone in a barn overnight? Coleson Hollow and Garrity will have a field day with that.”

People were after any excuse to talk, especially about a young innocent woman. Oscar knew how the world worked. “I’m not worried about the gossips. I’m worried about what is best for her.”

Iagan just studied him. “You’re worried about Beatrice? Or you’re worried about what people might think about her? Or you?”

“I’m worried about her. I’d already made up my mind about the two of us before last night. The carriage accident just precipitated things.” There was no one else in the world but Iagan and maybe two other men with whom he had ever shared so freely. Oscar did appreciate that. Even if he had never said it aloud. “She’s innocent in all of this, and the last thing she needs is people gossiping about something that didn’t happen.”

Iagan’s gaze didn’t waver. There was a knowing look in his friend’s blue eyes. “And you? Are you innocent in all this? Did you keep your paws off the girl under my protection?”

“What are you getting at?”

“I’m asking if you’ve thought about what your involvement means—for her. Beatrice has been through enough without you complicating her life further. I was hoping she would get settled here first, find her feet, so to speak. Before the inevitable happened and someone scooped her up and everything.”

“I know. I wanted to take it at a more appropriate pace, give her time. Court her a little first. She’s not had real control of her life in years. If she ever has. I don’t want what has to happen to be forced on her. But…now…It’s just a matter of her being ready. I’d have it handled tonight, if she would be able to manage that. But I don’t think she will. She’ll need…slower. Steadier.”

“Probably not. Beatrice…is different. It’s almost like she isn’t built the way most of us are in the way she thinks. She does well enough, and she is one of the brightest young women I have ever met. But she is different. And that concerns me—for her sake. For the man she marries will have to always be aware of that. So that he appreciates her for who and how she is.”

“That man is going to be me, Iagan, make no mistake about that. I had already decided before the damned axle broke. And I’ve seen the peculiarities for myself. And they make her who she is. I won’t have her any other way.” He paused, as he remembered her glaring up at him in the lamplight, alongside the damned road. Insisting she was just fine and could take care of herself. “Except possibly a bit less independent than what she is.”

“Noticed that, did you?” Iagan smirked at him, then sobered. “She’s independent because she’s had to be. Her family’s gone. Her home is gone. Elspeth said Beatrice lived alone from the age of fifteen to almost nineteen. Fending for herself. And now she’s here, in a place she doesn’t fully understand, surrounded by people who see her as… different. Odd.”

Oscar flinched at the word, though he knew it was true. Beatrice’s quiet ways, her aversion to noise, and her sharp focus on the things that interested her made her stand out in a crowd. Not often in a good way, without Elspeth and her friends to stand between her and the rest of society. But she had him now—he had no intention of changing her, but he’d be damned if he would not be there to protect her.

“She’s not fragile. She’s strong. Stronger than most people I’ve met.” What it had taken to get her to here—no, he did admire her for that. And if he could ease her way now, that would be all he wanted.

“Agreed. But even the strongest people can be hurt. And Beatrice is vulnerable in ways she might not even realize. The ball Elspeth has planned for Friday might be a bit more of a problem for Beatrice than I first anticipated. Els is inviting all of the townspeople to celebrate her first Christmas here in America. Heaven help me, the things that woman wants me to do. But if there is a lot of gossip—I don’t know that Beatrice will be able to withstand it. I suspect she’ll retreat and hide.”

Oscar had had the same thought. “I’m not blind to that. And I will stick close Friday. You can count on that.”

“You’ll need to be very careful. Because she trusts you, Oscar. Maybe more than she’s comfortable admitting to herself. I hope you see that for the miracle it truly is. That girl…she’s special. Don’t forget that.”

The weight of Iagan’s words lingered as the other man left the library. She deserved better than what life had handed her. And if it was within his power to ensure she never felt alone or unsafe again, he would do it. He couldn’t rush her, no matter what social circumstances might dictate if the gossips became too interested in what had happened.

That woman was his. He was going to do whatever it took to make her see that.

But if he had his way—there would be a promise made between them by that damned ball on Friday.

Beatrice Ardis wasn’t escaping him now.