Evelyn (Orlan Orphans Book 5) Read online

  “Speaking of that…”

  “Speaking of what?”

  “Church socials, of course.”

  “We weren’t speaking of church socials. I was merely making a point.”

  “Well, then let’s do.” He started the team on the road to town.

  “Let’s do what?” The man made no sense whatsoever.

  “Speak of church socials.”

  “Why would we want to do that?” she asked.

  He sighed. “Evelyn, would you do me the honor of going to the church social with me on Friday night?”

  Evelyn held her breath for a moment. “I don’t know. What will people say?”

  “Why would they say anything? And even if they do, why would we care?”

  She shrugged. “I—I’m just an orphan, and probably a bastard. You know that, right? And I’m your employee. I don’t know that you should be taking me to the church social.”

  “I don’t care what anyone thinks, Evelyn. I want to take you to the social. I am beginning to care for you.”

  Evelyn took a deep breath, fighting her feelings. Would going with him be the right thing to do? She had no idea, but she had to find out. She was starting to care for him as well, and wherever it took them, she had to explore it. “Yes, I’ll go with you.”

  He looked at her with a big grin on his face. “You will? Really?”

  She nodded. “You didn’t think I’d say no, did you?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve heard talk about you from my men.”

  She frowned at that. “What kind of talk?” Sometimes cowboys were worse than old women when it came to gossiping.

  “Just that you turn down every man who asks you out.”

  “Is that why you asked? Because I’m some sort of challenge?”

  He sighed. “Are you going to question my motives on everything I do? I asked you to the church social, because I want to be there with the prettiest girl in town on my arm, and because I care for you. If those aren’t good enough reasons, you just let me know.”

  Evelyn smiled, shaking her head. “Of course those are good enough reasons, Frank. I’ll go to the social with you. I’d be happy to.”

  Frank nodded, not looking over at her again. As often as she filled him with a feeling of hope for his future, she infuriated him. He didn’t remember things being so difficult with Rebekah when they were courting. Of course, Rebekah had been as different from Evelyn as moonlight and the sun.

  He’d figure Evelyn out, and when he did, he’d have the key to her heart. He was realizing a bit more every day just how ready he was to marry again. He only hoped Daniel was ready for him to remarry as well.

  For now, he refused to think about it, knowing that dwelling on his future would only distort his perception of what would truly come. No, he’d be patient and kind, waiting for his sweet girl to fall for him.

  Chapter 6

  While they shopped, Evelyn thought about what she’d wear for the social on Friday. Frank hadn’t known her long, so she could easily wear an old dress that he’d never seen, or she could beg Penny to make her a new dress. After a moment of contemplation, she popped over to her sister’s work station at the back of the store.

  “What are you doing here?” Penny asked. “I thought you were teaching Daniel today?”

  Evelyn nodded, keeping her voice soft. “I am. I’m teaching him in the mornings, but I’m doing housework in the afternoons. I’m supposed to be cooking meals, but there was no flour or really any other food, except sausage and eggs. I made that for breakfast and lunch, but I need some real ingredients for supper, so Frank drove me into town.” She shook her head. “That’s not what I want to talk to you about though. How busy are you this week?”

  Penny tilted her head to one side. “I’ve got the orders that have been paid for made up, and I’m just working on building up some stock right now. Why?”

  “Frank asked me to the church social.”

  “You want a new dress before Friday? Are you kidding me?” Penny looked exasperated. “What’s wrong with the dresses you have?”

  “Please? I know you can do it, Penny. There’s no seamstress like you in all of Texas.”

  “Oh, don’t even try to butter me up.” Penny sighed. “Of course, I’ll do it, but you’re going to owe me.”

  Evelyn flew around to the back of the table her sister sat behind and hugged her tightly. “Thank you!”

  “What kind of dress do you want?” Although Penny rarely had the opportunity to make dresses, she preferred them to men’s work shirts, so she kept a small book of sketches she’d made of dresses.

  Evelyn picked up the book and flipped through it quickly. She was supposed to be shopping for food, not for a new dress. She found one she liked with a straight skirt and a blouse that wasn’t quite low enough to show cleavage, but was low enough that it would feel a bit scandalous for Evelyn. “I like this one. Do you think Cletus will let me out of the house in that?” She studied it carefully, knowing it wasn’t truly an immodest dress, but also knowing Cletus might see it as such. He wanted his daughters to always be covered. Preferably from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes.

  Penny grinned as she looked at it. “I drew that with you in mind. It’ll be perfect! You’ll wear a shawl until you leave.”

  “That’s brilliant! Okay, I have to get to work shopping for the food we need.”

  “What about fabric?” Penny asked.

  “Surprise me!” Evelyn trusted Penny’s taste better than her own. Her sister had proven time and again that she was infallible when it came to picking out clothing.

  “Okay. Fitting Wednesday night.”

  Evelyn nodded and waved as she rushed through the store picking out the things she’d need to cook with.

  Just as she was finishing up, Frank came into the store. “I went to the butcher. I got some pork, chicken, and some beef.”

  “Sounds good. I can do a lot with those, now that I have actual food to cook.” She’d bought potatoes and canned goods as well as staples like sugar, flour, and butter.

  He carried her boxes of items to the wagon while she spent a moment talking to her brother-in-law. “How are the kids?” she asked.

  “Fine, and Ruby is fine too, before you ask.”

  Evelyn grinned. “I miss Ruby.”

  “You saw her at church just yesterday. You quit your complaining, Evelyn.”

  She laughed. “Give her my love.”

  “I will. Now go on and get back to work. I can see Frank out there, looking plenty impatient.”

  “I’m not scared of him,” she whispered, shocking her brother-in-law.

  “Well, maybe you should be!”

  She laughed, hurrying out the door with a wave over her shoulder. When she reached the wagon, Frank took her hand and helped her up. “You do know he’s married, right?”

  “Who’s married?” Evelyn asked, confused.

  “Lewis. You know, the man who owns the mercantile.”

  “Yes, I know he’s married.” She couldn’t figure out why he’d tell her that.

  “Then why were you flirting with him?”

  She stared at him, momentarily taken aback. “Flirting? How was I flirting?”

  “I saw you lean forward and whisper to him. That’s flirting.”

  She sighed. “You know he’s married to one of my sisters, right? Ruby.”

  “What? No, I had no idea.” He took the reins and started navigating the rig through the light traffic of Nowhere. “Now I feel like a heel.”

  “For what?”

  “For assuming you were flirting with him.” He shook his head. “I just saw you being so friendly with him and I saw red. You’re only supposed to be that friendly with me.”

  “Well, technically, I shouldn’t be as friendly with you as I am with my brother.”

  “Oh, I totally agree now that I understand the situation. And that’s why I feel like a heel.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not bothered by it.” An
d surprisingly, she wasn’t. If he’d continued to be upset with her over it, she’d have been bothered a great deal, but when he’d backed off as soon as she explained the situation, she was thrilled.

  “What are your plans for the afternoon?” he asked.

  She looked at the sun, trying to judge the time. “I’ll make dinner, of course, and I need to get the wash in off the line, fold the clothes, remake the beds. If I have time, I’ll bake some fresh bread, but that may have to wait until morning.”

  “I can understand that. I’m really happy with everything you’ve done so far today. The house is already looking better.”

  She smiled at that. It was so nice to be appreciated for her hard work. “And we made it through a good day’s worth of lessons this morning. It worked well for me to do the laundry and some housework while giving him his assignments. Daniel does very well working independently.”

  “Glad to hear it. Sometimes I wonder if anything he does is right.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t be disappointed in him. He’s a good boy.”

  Frank looked at Evelyn. “Do you really think so? I thought you probably hated him for the trouble he gave you at the schoolhouse.”

  “I would never hate a boy for that. He just didn’t do well with the whole group of kids for whatever reason. I think the girls were much too distracting for him.”

  “That doesn’t bode well for the future, does it? Imagine when he’s sixteen and has a girlfriend.”

  “I don’t even want to!” Evelyn said with a laugh. “That boy is going to have every father in the whole county locking up his daughters.”

  Frank laughed. “That part scares me a lot. Maybe I should just chain him to the wall in my barn until he’s twenty-five or so. Save all the other fathers some trouble.”

  “I’m not sure if that’s the solution…but it may be something you want to offer to the other fathers for a small fee…”

  He shook his head. “The way your mind works scares me just a bit.”

  “Only a bit? I guess I’m not trying hard enough…”

  He pulled into the yard in front of the house. “I’ll carry all this inside. Do you mind putting it away?”

  She shook her head. “Would you have a problem if I rearranged your kitchen so it made sense to me?” She’d had a hard time finding anything when it came to cooking. It would be so much easier if she set things up her own way.

  “That’d be fine if that’s what you want to do.” He didn’t care. As long as he didn’t have to cook, he would be content with just about anything she did.

  She hurried into the house, making sure the lunch dishes were done up. Everything was neat, and Daniel had obviously gone off to help on the ranch, which suited her just fine. She’d take the time to rearrange the kitchen while she cooked supper for them.

  Frank carried the boxes into the kitchen and set them on the table. “I’m going to head back out to help the men. What time is supper?”

  “Does six work?” she asked, glancing at a clock and seeing it was already three in the afternoon.

  “Yeah, that’s fine. You are going to stay and eat with us, aren’t you?”

  She looked at him for a moment, startled. “I can if you want. I figured I’d eat supper with my family, but I’m fine either way.”

  “Stay here with us, at least tonight. We’ll see how it works for us.” He glanced around, as if to make sure Daniel wasn’t near, before pulling her up against him. “I want to spend time with you, and mealtimes seem to be the only time our paths are crossing.”

  She stared at his lips for a moment, worrying her own bottom lip with her teeth. He shook his head. “Don’t bite your lip that way!”

  She frowned, her gaze moving from his lips to his eyes. “Why not?”

  “Because it’s my job.” He leaned down and captured her lips with his, biting the bottom one softly.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. She hadn’t realized she’d been waiting for this moment all day. She missed being held by him, and it had only been twenty-four hours since he’d kissed her last.

  When he lifted his head, he smiled. “You’re getting awfully good at this kissing business, Miss Sanders. I’m not sure that’s good for me.” With that, he turned and left the house, plopping his hat on his head along the way.

  She leaned back against the counter, her chest rising and falling with her rapid breathing. She could get used to being kissed that way. It wouldn’t be good for her, she feared, but she could certainly get used to it.

  Shaking her head, she got to work, putting the perishables into the ice box, and getting to work putting everything where she wanted it.

  Once she was finished, she started the chicken boiling while she brought in the laundry from the clothesline. She was pleased with the progress she’d made on the house in such a short time. Why, it looked better and smelled good.

  The beds were made, and the dirty clothes were put away. She wouldn’t have time to bake bread that day, but she would the next. She still needed to wash down the walls and scrub all the floors, but she was certain she could be caught up on the household chores by Friday. Then it was only a matter of maintaining it all.

  She sighed contentedly as she looked around. She felt as proud as if it was her own house. Putting her fingers to her lips, she could still feel his kiss. Maybe someday, it would be her house.

  Chapter 7

  When Evelyn got home that evening, Edna Petunia asked her to join Cletus and herself in the formal parlor. The older couple spent most evenings in the parlor at the back of the house, while leaving the informal parlor at the front for the girls. The girls all knew they were allowed to join their parents, but they preferred to give them time alone when they could. They all knew it hadn’t been easy for them to adopt fifteen orphan girls just a few months after they married.

  When Evelyn stepped into the parlor, her eyes went back and forth between Cletus and Edna Petunia. “Did I do something wrong?” The girls secretly joked about how they only got called into the parlor when they were in trouble. Evelyn knew it wasn’t true, but she’d never been called back there, so she was a bit nervous anyway.

  Edna Petunia patted the spot on the sofa beside her. “Close the door and sit down. We just want to talk to you for a few minutes.”

  Evelyn closed the door before joining Edna Petunia on the sofa. “What’s going on?”

  Cletus looked at Evelyn, a serious look on his face. “I hear you’re going to the church social with Frank Keifer on Friday. What do you know about the man?”

  Evelyn sighed. “Not a lot. I know he has a son named Daniel, who was the bane of my existence when I was the teacher’s assistant in town. I know his wife died a year ago. I know he came from Georgia, I think he said. Daniel was telling me about the parties they used to hold at their home there, so I get the impression he left a very wealthy lifestyle to come here and be a rancher.”

  Cletus nodded, rubbing his chin. “I don’t know how I feel about you seeing him.”

  She made a face. “You never complained about the others. Why Frank?”

  “Because he hasn’t come to me to declare his intentions yet. I want him to tell me what he’s doing. Is he just wanting a woman on his arm to pass the time? Or does he have a real courtship on his mind?”

  “I really don’t know,” she answered honestly. “I haven’t asked, and he hasn’t offered the information.”

  Edna Petunia put her hand on Evelyn’s arm. “Why don’t you invite the two of them over for supper tomorrow night, so we can get to know them better?”

  Evelyn didn’t see that she had a choice. “I’ll invite them.”

  Cletus nodded. “And remember what I told you about Edna Petunia needing a wedding to plan. I don’t want to hear that the two of you ran off to town and got married. I know Micah would be willing to perform the ceremony, but we need time to make you a nice dress and get all your sisters bridesmaid dresses.”

  Evelyn’s
eyes widened. If she was expected to have all fourteen of her sisters in her wedding, that guaranteed that she would elope. Why would anyone want that many people in their wedding? “That’s a lot of bridesmaids.”

  Edna Petunia smiled. “Are you already thinking about your wedding?”

  Evelyn shook her head emphatically. “Not at all. I never planned on a large wedding. I was raised in an orphanage. Orphans elope. It’s just what they do.” Besides, to her, eloping sounded so much more romantic than planning out every single detail of a wedding.

  Edna Petunia frowned. “So you’re telling me it’s my own fault none of you girls will let me plan a big wedding? Because I chose to have a houseful of bastard girls?”

  Evelyn groaned softly. “No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. Maybe one of the younger girls will want a big wedding with all the trimmings, but it’s not something I’ve ever wanted.”

  Edna folded her arms across her chest, glaring at Evelyn. “You do want a big wedding. I can see it on your face every time we discuss weddings.”

  Evelyn knew what Edna Petunia was about. She was trying to convince Evelyn that she wanted what Edna wanted her to have. It wasn’t going to work, though. “No, ma’am. I want nothing of the kind and never have. Besides, I don’t think Frank Keifer is going to ask me to marry him. He’s been married to a beautiful debutante. Why would he want an orphan girl?”

  Cletus frowned. “You’re not an orphan any longer. We adopted you.”

  “Yes, sir, I know you did. But I was an orphan for seventeen years. It’s hard to lose that stigma.”

  Edna Petunia frowned at Evelyn. “What do you know about your real parents?”

  Evelyn shrugged. “Honestly, I’m a very likely candidate for being a real bastard. I have no idea where I come from. I was left on the orphanage’s doorstep when I was just three. No one ever claimed me or really wanted anything to do with me.”

  “Oh, I know that can’t be true. You’re a beautiful girl, so I’m certain you were a very pretty baby.”