Page 43 of Heart of Stone
“Mrs. Rivers is a wonderful lady, and she’s doing very well,” Miss Ford replied quickly. “In fact, I have a letter for you, from her.” She opened the case by her feet and pulled out a cream colored envelope, offering it to Stone. “She said she’d explain things, but I suppose I should speak up for us.” She glanced at the other woman, who nodded, then looked back at them. “We worked for the Rivers family in Boston. I was the housekeeper, and Susan was the cook. But Mrs. Rivers – the senior Mrs. Rivers, I mean, Miss Agnes’ mother-in-law – she….” Her voice trailed off, and her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.
“She found out we are in love.” Miss Evans spoke up for the first time, and she raised her chin, apparently willing to say what her companion found difficult. “She fired us, because she didn’t want a scandal if anyone else found out her servants were ‘perverse’, as she put it. Miss Agnes tried to put a stop to it, but nothing she said made any difference. We didn’t know what to do, but then Miss Agnes came after us and told us that she knew of a place where some folks might not mind so much, and if we cared to start a new life, she knew just where we should go. So here we are.”
Things clicked into place suddenly, and Stone looked at Luke, raising a brow. “Well,” he replied slowly, wondering just what all Agnes had told the women about them, since Agnes had promised to make certain that their own relationship was kept quiet. “That does sound like somethin’ Miss Agnes would do, don’t it?”
“It sure enough does,” Luke agreed, regarding the two women with sympathy. “As it happens, we could use a cook and a housekeeper ‘round here, if you don’t mind a more simple way of life than what Boston has to offer.”
The two women looked surprised, then grateful, and Miss Ford reached out to take Miss Evans hand. “You don’t mind, then? You won’t hold it against us?” she asked, looking at Stone with a mixture of hope and fear. He could only imagine how difficult it must have been for them in Boston, if they felt that their only option was to pack up and move all the way to Nevada.
“No, we don’t mind.” He looked at them with a serious expression. “That don’t mean that everyone around here feels like we do, so I wouldn’t go doin’ nothin’ in public. But my aunt, Miss Priss, lived on this ranch with the woman she loved for many years, and folks weren’t any the wiser.” He looked at Luke again, smiling wryly. “Ain’t that right, Luke?”
“That’s right. See, I helped them out a bit by lettin’ folks think me and Miss Priss were sweet on each other when t’wern’t nothin’ farther from the truth. But it let her and Sarah be together in peace.” He glanced over at Stone, his expression speculative, and Stone could practically see the wheels turning in his head. “Seems to me like maybe the four of us could help each other out.” He rose to his feet and moved to stand beside Stone’s chair, reaching out to rest his hand on the back of Stone’s neck in a gesture that was more than friendly. “What do you think, boss?”
Stone saw the eyes of the two women widen, and he smiled, reaching up to take Luke’s hand, bringing it to his lips and pressing a kiss against Luke’s palm. “I think that’s a fine idea. You’re right smart, Luke, and so is Miss Agnes.” He rose from his chair, sliding an arm around Luke’s waist. “So ladies, what do you think? If you don’t mind the speculation that might be attached to your names in relation to us.”
The two ladies looked at each other. Susan nodded, a smile transforming her features into delicate beauty, and Anna grinned.
“Gentlemen, I think we could have quite a beneficial arrangement for us all.”
“Then you’re hired.” Luke mirrored her grin as he slid his arm around Stone in return.
Stone nodded in agreement. “In fact, I have an idea. We have a foreman’s house, but since the foreman lives here, it’s been sittin’ empty. How would you ladies like to have a place of your own? We can say we didn’t feel it proper for two unwed ladies to live in the same house with two unwed men, but you know people are goin’ to talk anyway.”
“Really? Our own house?” Susan rose to her feet, her eyes shining, and threw her arms around Anna. “Oh Anna, you were right to insist on coming here! And Miss Agnes was right when she said it would be better!” She looked at Stone and Luke, smiling joyously. “Thank you both. I’m going to bake a cake for you tonight, and Anna’s going to clean everything until it shines. Aren’t you, Anna?”
“Yes, I will,” Anna replied. She was less effusive, but her smile was warm. “You won’t regret this, I promise. We’ll get started working right away.”
“Why don’t you get settled first. There’ll be time for all that later,” Stone said a trifle gruffly. He was glad that they were happy, but a little embarrassed by their gratitude. “Then we can talk about your salaries and such before you dive in. The house is out back. It’s small but comfortable.”
He and Luke carried the ladies bags out to the house and left them already making plans for how they were going to make the place over into something beautiful. Once he and Luke were back in the house, Stone shook his head and looked at Luke with a wry smile. “Do you get the feelin’ that Miss Agnes is goin’ to start sendin’ a bunch of folks out this way?”
“Probably.” Luke grinned, not seeming at all daunted by the idea. “And if she does, well, we’ll find a place for them. Copper Lake’s a big ranch, and we can always use a pair of willin’ hands somewhere.”
“True enough,” Stone agreed. And they would. The world was a hard enough place, and Stone wouldn’t make it harder for anyone Miss Agnes might send to their door. “Now let’s see about that letter she sent us. Maybe it’ll give us an idea of what we’re in for.”
Stone picked up the letter from the table where he’d left it and opened it. It was only the second letter he’d ever gotten, and considering how the first one had changed his life, he was definitely curious about this one. As he unfolded the pages, a smaller piece of paper almost fell out, but he caught it before it hit the floor, then started to read the letter out loud.
Dear Mr. Harrison (and Luke, whom I presume is reading over your shoulder),
First, let me thank you again for giving James the chance to redeem himself. Having now become acquainted with his family circumstances, I truly do understand why he has been so selfish and unkind. People here in the east are rather different from those in the west, but I am doing what I can to adjust their way of thinking. I may not have an effect on society as a whole, but I have made progress with James, as the enclosed bank draft will demonstrate. He recently came into an inheritance from another uncle, and I insisted that the first thing he must do with the money is make amends for what he cost you. After having looked into the matter, I hope the sum will be sufficient to cover your losses in full.
James now understands the importance of having a clean slate – or if he doesn’t fully understand it himself, he understands thatIbelieve it is necessary. For the moment, that is sufficient.
Lest you think I am unhappy, let me assure you that I am quite content here in Boston. James’ mother is a strong-willed woman who treats me very well, but she does have decided opinions on things, as I am certain Susan and Anna have explained. I hope you don’t mind me sending them to you. When I heard about Mary’s marriage, I was certain they could be of service to you, and that you, being kind and understanding men, would give them a chance. I’m rather pragmatic in most things, but I truly do believe that love can conquer all. As it has for the two of you.
I hope to convince James to travel back to Serenity in a few years so that I may visit my parents. I am expecting our first child, and hopefully by the time he or she is old enough to travel, James will be at the point of being able to offer you a sincere apology in person.
I will close this letter with best wishes for your health and happiness.
Yours,
Agnes Wilson Rivers
“Well, I’ll be damned.” He looked up at Luke and shaking his head in wonder. “She made James pay for what he did to the ranch!” He handed Luke the bank draft. “Maybe we can buy a few more horses for breedin’ stock now.”
Luke gazed down at the draft with visible amazement, and he shook his slowly. “I ain’t goin’ to worry about Miss Agnes no more. Looks like she’s holdin’ her own just fine!”
“Sure seems like it,” Stone agreed. He was grateful to Agnes for all she’d done for them, and he thought that James Rivers was a damned lucky man that she’d taken an interest in him. Even if James himself might not think so.
He set the letter down on the table and returned to Luke, wrapping his arms around Luke’s waist. “Now as I recall, we was in the middle of somethin’ and got interrupted. Is that how you remember it?”
“I remember havin’ thoughts about bendin’ you over that table,” Luke drawled, hooking his fingers through Stone’s belt loops and holding him close and fast. “We got interruptedbeforeI could get in the middle of somethin’, so to speak.”
Stone grinned. “Well then, Mr. Ranch Foreman, I suggest you get busy again and make up for lost time.”
Luke proceeded to do just that, and as he surrendered to the pleasure of Luke’s possession, Stone was grateful once again to Priss, and to Agnes, and to the fate which had brought him to Copper Lake. It had taken him a long time to get here, but he had finally found true happiness, and, even more, he knew that his heart had found its true home at last.