Page 13 of May I Kiss the Bride

EVERYTHING ABOUT WYOMING REMINDED VIOLA of him .

Everywhere she looked, she thought she saw a tall cowboy, but each time it was someone else. It didn’t help that so many men in Cheyenne wore cowboy hats and cowboy boots. Her heart had done more than one somersault, and her stomach wasn’t in much better condition.

She should just take a carriage to Mayfair and see him, once and for all.

And then she’d know. She’d know if her constant thoughts about him had merit and if he returned those same thoughts.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” a gentleman said as he moved past her toward the post office.

That’s where Viola stood now, with three letters clutched in her hand.

One to Aunt Beth, explaining that she’d try to visit each weekend, but she thought that living in Cheyenne would help her focus more on her training.

The second letter was to Miss Barnwell and the director of the San Francisco nursing school, thanking them for the recommendation.

And the third letter was to Sheriff Rey.

She didn’t know his address, but she assumed the title Sheriff would be directed to the right person.

His letter was very general, with a brief update on what had transpired the last several weeks. And at the end of it, she thanked him again for all of his help and protection in Mayfair. She’d been sure to add the return address to the envelope of the nursing school where she boarded.

That way he’d know where to find her, if he ever wanted to find her.

Sure, she’d most likely see Rey when she visited Aunt Beth next week.

But she didn’t want the first time she saw him to be an awkward meeting—and she hoped that writing a letter explaining a few things would create a connection of friendship.

Was that really what she wanted? To have Sheriff Rey for a friend?

Yes, that’s what she wanted. For now. Because she’d just committed to nursing school, and that needed to be her focus. She stepped into the post office and posted the letters. There. It was done.

Viola smiled to herself as she headed back to her rented room.

In exchange for doing the laundry for other boarders, her rent would be covered.

She needed to prepare for the church social tonight.

She wouldn’t let herself become a recluse, and despite all that had transpired with her parents, she wanted to honor her mother’s original plea that she keep up on her singing.

Surely the church in Cheyenne had a Sunday choir.

“There you are,” Donna Dickson said as Viola walked into the back entrance by the rented rooms. “Are you coming to the church social still?”

“Yes, I just need to get ready,” Viola told the brunette woman who had a ready smile and quick laugh. They’d become fast friends. “Give me ten minutes, maybe?”

“Of course.” Donna flashed a smile and headed down the corridor.

Viola turned into her room and shifted through the bureau drawer to find her gloves. It was much too hot to wear them during the day, but an evening social might require more formal attire. She removed her bonnet and refreshed her hair arrangement.

Someone knocked on the door, startling Viola. It had only been a handful of minutes. Was Donna really that impatient?

“Yes?” Viola called.

“Someone’s here to see you,” Donna said through the door. “I told him you’d be a few minutes.”

Him? Viola froze mid-motion adjusting her hair. Her heart began a slow pound. “Did he give his name?”

“Reynold Christensen.”

Viola was glad there was a door between her and her new friend because she had to rest her hand on the wall next to the mirror. She didn’t even know if she could get any words out to reply.

“Viola? Should I send him on his way?”

The curiosity in Donna’s voice was plain.

“No, tell him I’ll be out shortly.” When she heard Donna’s footsteps move away, Viola tried to resume fixing her hair, but her fingers were trembling.

Why was Rey here? In Cheyenne? At the nursing school? Maybe he had a message from Aunt Beth? Was everything all right with her? She gave up on her hair and sat on the edge of her bed.

She hadn’t expected her pulse to jump around so much and for her stomach to erupt in anticipation. Donna was probably chatting with the sheriff—she was a friendly sort. And she’d be audience to their meeting.

It couldn’t be helped. And she couldn’t hide out in her room. Rey already knew she was here.

So she smoothed her hair over one shoulder and tied it with a ribbon.

The hat and gloves could wait. Opening her door, she heard the rumble of a man’s voice coming from the reception room.

She headed down the corridor, following the sounds of conversation.

As she neared, Rey’s deeper tones separated from Donna’s low laughter.

Envy pinched inside, surprising Viola. Rey was a free man, just as she was a free woman. She’d heard plenty of swoony comments over the sheriff when she was living in Mayfair. So why did Donna’s laughter strike deeper?

Viola rounded the corner to find Donna sitting across from the cowboy. Rey looked over at Viola immediately, and her heart skipped more than one beat as his smile appeared. If he was smiling at her, he couldn’t be delivering bad news, could he?

His cowboy hat rested on his knee, and he grabbed it, then rose to his full height so that she had to tilt her head upward to see him.

“Miss Delany.”

“Mr. Christensen.”

His green eyes flashed, and she knew he’d wanted her to call him Rey. But he’d been formal first, and they had an audience.

“Miss Dickson was just telling me all about the nursing program here. Sounds like you’re in good hands.”

“Oh, we’re in good hands with Viola,” Donna said. “She knows more than some of our current students.”

Viola smiled politely because she was seriously resenting Donna’s presence. Rey’s gaze stayed on her, and she’d love to know what was going on inside his mind. “Is everything going well in Mayfair? How’s Elsie doing?”

His smile reappeared. “Had a birthday this week, so I’m now living with a nine-year-old boss.”

Viola couldn’t hold back her laugh. “Well, tell her happy birthday for me.”

Rey nodded. “Will do, ma’am.”

Inwardly, Viola melted a little. He called her ma’am, no matter how many times she’d corrected him. It was his way of teasing her now.

“Who’s Elsie?” Donna asked, which Viola found very impertinent of the woman to insert herself.

“My daughter.”

“Ah, so you’re married.” Donna’s voice held a note of disappointment. “Are you old friends with Viola, then?”

Rey finally turned his gaze fully to Donna. “I’m a widower, Miss Dickson. And Viola and I are new friends.”

Donna’s face flushed, but her eyes sparkled. “Well, you are welcome to visit any time. After class hours, of course.”

“Thank you for the invitation,” Rey said, a hint of amusement in his tone. His gaze shifted to Viola. “Your aunt sends her regards.”

Not that Viola had forgotten about Aunt Beth, but seeing Rey so unexpectedly had made all commonsense questions flee from her mind. “How is she doing? I sent her a letter today.” And I sent one to you too .

“She’s doing very well,” Rey said. “She gave me the location of this place.”

“Who’s your aunt?” Donna asked. “Is she the one who runs the bakery?”

“Yes, that’s the one,” Viola said, hoping that she’d kept the irritation out of her tone.

“Well, Miss Delany, I wondered if you might oblige me with a walk around the block.”

“We were about to leave for the church social,” Donna said. “You should join us. We’d look good arriving with a new member.”

“I—uh, don’t live in this town, so I wouldn’t exactly be considered a new member.” Rey stumbled over his words. “Thank you for the invitation though, Miss Dickson.” His gaze found Viola’s again. “Pleased to see that you’re settled in, Miss Delany. I’ll give your best to Elsie and Beth.”

“Thank you,” Viola murmured, although inside she was screaming for him not to leave yet.

But that’s exactly what happened. Reynold Christensen walked out of the reception room and onto the street, replacing his hat and striding away.

Viola’s stomach dropped to her feet. Donna set in with the comments immediately, but Viola hardly paid attention.

Ten minutes later, they headed to the church social, arm in arm, but Viola could only think about Rey walking out of the nursing school.

His cowboy hat atop his head, his long strides taking him farther and farther away.

He hadn’t come for any specific reason, which meant he’d come to see her. Was he doing other errands in Cheyenne, or was he heading back tonight?

Every word that Donna spoke now felt like cat claws scraping Viola’s skin.

The church social didn’t settle her heart or her mind. People milled about, and Viola introduced herself over and over. Finally, she told Donna she had a headache and would walk back alone.

“It’s dark out,” Donna protested.

“I’ll keep to Main Street,” Viola said. “Besides, there are plenty of people out walking. It’s early yet.”

She hurried along Main Street, keeping her eyes peeled. Maybe Rey hadn’t left yet. Maybe he was loitering on the street, waiting for another chance to speak with her. But, of course, he wasn’t loitering. She reached the nursing school without seeing him at all. He was truly gone.

She walked through the darkened building, her thoughts mulling over every word of their conversation. But mostly she thought of the way he’d looked at her. If she wasn’t imagining things, the man was interested, just as Aunt Beth had stated.

Well, he’d get her letter tomorrow probably, and then maybe they could start some sort of correspondence.

Her step paused when she reached the reception room. In the light of the moon filtering through the windows, she saw an envelope on the floor by the door, as if someone had slipped something beneath it.

She crossed the room and picked it up. The envelope was sealed, and on the front, her name was scrawled across in bold penmanship.

Her breath shortened as she opened the envelope and tilted the letter toward the moon to read the words.

Dear Viola,

I should have expected our meeting to have an audience, but somehow I didn’t plan for that.

There are a few things I’d like to say to you, but they will have to wait until tomorrow.

That is, if you can find time to get a way for a short walk?

I’ll be waiting across the street at 7:00 a.m., if that’s not too early.

I am happy to see you’re doing well, and I’m sorry about the friction with your family. Your aunt told me a few things.

Take care,

Rey

She read the words more than once until she’d practically memorized them. He hadn’t left after all. For some reason, she found that a very important detail. She’d find a way to meet him—a way that wouldn’t be interrupted by Donna or anyone else.