Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

J oseph spied a trussed-up Holly and took a swing at her captor. He had to be her brother. He could see the similarity between them as his fist connected with Randall Turtledove’s jaw to send him sprawling. He heard a loud CLANG and saw another fellow teeter a bit before he crashed to the floor. Fried potatoes flew everywhere, a few hitting Joseph in the face as Randall sprang to his feet and rushed him.

Joseph was never more grateful for his boxing days in college as he was now. He dodged Randall’s fist then delivered a wicked upper cut to the man’s jaw.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG…

Meanwhile, Randall’s accomplice was getting his on the other side of the room as Mrs. Fraser continued to clobber him over the head with the silver platter she’d used for the potatoes.

Abigail sat, wide-eyed, as Mrs. Pettigrew struggled with her bonds. Poor Holly cringed near the wall watching the fray.

Randall went down again, and Joseph didn’t give him a chance to get up. He straddled the man and began to use his face for a punching bag.

“Don’t. Ever. Think. To. Harm. My. Betrothed. Again!”

Joseph was breathing hard at the end of his tantrum and noticed Tugs untying Mrs. Pettigrew.

“Mrs. Fraser, will you kindly stop beating the poor man?” she pleaded. “I do believe he’s been properly subdued.”

Mrs. Fraser stopped her clobbering, half her hair now loose from its pins, and grinned at her employer. “I got him!”

Mrs. Pettigrew stood regally. “Yes, you certainly did. By the way, he thought your breakfast was excellent. They both did.”

Mrs. Fraser smiled and shoved hair out of her face. “Of course they did! Best breakfast in town is right here!”

Joseph got up, went to Holly, and pulled her into his arms. “Darling! Are you alright?” He quickly removed the gag and untied her hands. As soon as they were free, she fell against him.

“Holly, you’re safe now,” he said against her hair. Joseph drew back to look at her, saw the fear in her eyes, and did the only thing he could think of to assure her all was well. He held her close, lowered his face to hers, and kissed her.

He was vaguely aware of Mr. Tugs saying something to Mrs. Pettigrew but didn’t care. Holly’s lips were soft, supple, and he’d be a fool not to tell her how he felt now. But would she accept the fact that he’d fallen in love with her? Joseph had no idea. Kissing her was all consuming, and if he didn’t stop, he’d definitely cause a scandal!

A resounding CLANG drew his attention, and he broke the kiss in time to see Randall’s cohort slump to the floor once more, a triumphant Mrs. Fraser standing over him with her trusty silver platter. He smiled, then gave his attention back to Holly, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

He’d kissed her! But there was more than his kiss, but Holly was so flummoxed, she didn’t remember what it was.

“Holly, darling?” Joseph said in a tender voice. “You needn’t worry, you’re quite safe now.” He steered her to a chair as Mr. Tugs proceeded to tie up their prisoners before either came around again and tried to escape.

“R-R-Randall found me!”

“But he didn’t take you, and now he’ll get what’s coming to him.” He sat in the chair and pulled her onto his lap, not caring what anyone thought. He held her close and whispered words of comfort against her hair. “You’re safe, no one is going to hurt you…”

“You fought Randall.”

“Yes, love. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” He drew back to look at her. “No one will hurt you; do you hear me?”

“Wh-what was that you told Randall when you were hitting him?” she asked in a small voice.

“Oh, yes,” he said and smiled. “I wanted to speak to you this morning and tell you a few things about me.”

“What sort of things?” She chanced a peek at a now trussed up Randall and his accomplice Bill.

“Well, let me see.” He adjusted her in his lap and smiled again. “I’m rich, but nothing like Mrs. Pettigrew. Dalton Simpson is closer, but we don’t own as many factories as his family…”

“I don’t understand, what are you trying to say?” Holly asked. It was hard for her to take anything in after that kiss of his.

“What I’m trying to say is, you’ll be well provided for. You’ll want for nothing.”

She gave him a blank stare.

Mrs. Pettigrew smiled. “Tugs, you’re going to have to put another advertisement in the paper for an assistant.”

Holly gasped. “Mrs. Pettigrew,” she said, a hand to her chest. “I’m so sorry!” She tried to squirm out of Joseph’s arms, but he wouldn’t let her go. “Please, my job!”

“But you don’t need one, darling,” he said with a smile.

Holly wasn’t sure she heard him right. “What?”

“As my wife you won’t need to work. Follow some pursuits by all means, but work? Heavens no.”

She gaped at him. “J-Joseph?”

“I distinctly recall telling your brother not to touch my betrothed again.” He let go of her and she escaped his lap, only to watch him go down on one knee. He took one of her hands in his. “Holly Turtledove, you’d make me the happiest man in Denver if you’d consent to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

Holly didn’t think it possible, but her jaw dropped further. “What?”

He laughed. “Marry me, darling. Please say you will.”

“Marriage!” Randall squeaked a few feet away.

Holly narrowed her eyes at him then looked at Joseph. “You… you love me?”

“Of course I do! Why else would I have spent all this time with you? After all that, how could any man not fall in love with you?” He got to his feet, drew her into his arms, and kissed her again!

“Oh, for the love of Pete!” Randall groused. “Someone make them stop!”

Mrs. Pettigrew drew in a deep breath. “Mrs. Fraser, your platter please.”

Joseph broke the kiss in time for Holly to see Mrs. Fraser hand Mrs. Pettigrew the silver platter. She promptly went to Randall, and CLANG! he dropped like a sack of potatoes.

“That will teach you!” Mrs. Pettigrew handed the platter back to Mrs. Fraser. “I’m going to send word to Mr. Forsythe to come at once.” She disappeared from the room, Abigail trailing behind her.

“Holly,” Joseph whispered. “Is it a yes?”

She smiled at him. “I… I love you too.”

He grinned. “I know. Why else would you put up with me all this time?”

Her eyes darted to his lips. “Why else indeed?”

He lowered his lips to hers once more as another resounding CLANG echoed through the breakfast room.

“I don’t care how much they liked my cooking!” Mrs. Fraser cried. “They’ll not leave the floor until the police get here!”

Holly laughed against Joseph’s lips, and he laughed against hers. It was a warm, wonderful sensation that sent tingles up her spine. “So, you were going to ask me to marry you this morning?”

“Right after breakfast.” He pulled a small box out of his coat pocket and opened it. Inside was a beautiful diamond ring. “This was my mother’s.” He took the ring from the box and slipped it onto the ring finger of her left hand. “I want you to become Mrs. Joseph Bradshaw. We’ll live across the street from Chastity and Dalton, and our children can play with their children, and we’ll have loads of fun watching them drive their poor old grandfather round the bend.”

She gasped. “You father…”

He held up a hand. “Not to worry, love. Father and I had a long talk last night, and I reminded him how much he and mother were in love. Poor man misses her something terrible. Since he’s miserable, he figures everyone else should be too.”

“That’s awful,” she said.

“Yes, and it took me half the night to convince Father of the same thing, but he finally listened.” He cupped her face with both hands. “I love you, and that’s all that matters to me. Not your station, not your lack of wealth or anything else. I just want you.”

Holly stared at him a moment, before she threw her arms around his neck and held him tight. “I love you!”

Joseph pulled her against him and hung onto her as if she were his only lifeline. She knew she’d fallen in love, and last night only proved it. This morning, she thought she’d be faced with a broken heart and almost had to face something far worse at her brother’s hand. Thank goodness Joseph and Mrs. Fraser came into the breakfast room when they did!

It wasn’t long before the police came and carted Randall and Bill off to jail. Mr. Bradshaw, out for a morning walk and seeing the police enter Mrs. Pettigrew’s home, followed, and was shocked by the news.

“You’ll marry right away,” he told them. “You’re better protected by Joseph if you’re in our home.” Mr. Bradshaw ran a hand through his hair. “To think we almost lost you to that blackguard before you even had a chance to be part of the family!”

“Spoken like a man who’s been in love,” Mrs. Pettigrew said. “I commend you, Humphrey.”

He blushed. “Joseph made me realize last night that one, I can’t make a choice for him when it comes to a bride, and two, that he should marry for love. My grief had such a grip on me, I…”

“There’s no need to explain,” Mrs. Pettigrew said. “All is well, Joseph has proposed, Holly said yes, and her brother is now behind bars.”

“Yes, indeed,” Mr. Bradshaw said. “We have much to be thankful for.” He went to Holly and took her hands in his. “I hope that in time, you’ll call me Father?”

Her lower lip shook. “I will.”

He pulled her into his arms and patted her on the back. “You’ll have to learn to run the household, but Mrs. Pettigrew assures me you’re a fast learner.”

Holly drew back. “I am, sir.”

“Father,” he corrected.

“Father.” She straightened, turned to Joseph, and stepped into his arms. “I’m so glad you rescued me that day.”

“So am I. And now we get to spend the rest of our lives together…”

CLANG!

“Great Scott, what was that?!” Mr. Bradshaw cried.

Mrs. Fraser entered the room. “I heard another voice and thought I’d sound off a warning!”

Mrs. Pettigrew shook her head. “It’s only Mr. Bradshaw. Please put your new weapon of choice away.”

Mrs. Fraser gave everyone a sheepish look then hustled back to the kitchen, her trusty silver platter in hand.

“I might have to get one of those,” Mr. Bradshaw said.

Holly laughed, along with everyone else. She was safe. She was loved. And had a family again. Who knew something so wonderful could happen to her?

She caught Mrs. Pettigrew’s knowing smile and had her answer.

THE END