The Bartender’s Mail Order Bride(25)

Meg’s smile faded as Suzanne stood and looked past her, over her shoulder and her eyes grew wide. “Meg, I don’t know how to tell you this…”

Suzanne’s voice trailed off, and Meg’s heart thudded in her chest as she turned around and looked straight into the eyes of her father.





Chapter 15





Meg had been completely positive that she was making the right decision when she wrote to Sam, so her reaction now was disconcerting to her. Her palms began to sweat and her heart just wouldn’t go back to a normal rhythm.

“Hello, Nutmeg,” her father said. He’d taken off his hat and held it in front of his chest, his dark hair with gray at his temples combed neatly.

“Hello, Papa,” she said, encouraged that his tone was calm and that she saw no fire in his eyes—at the moment, anyway.

“Good afternoon, Suzanne.” Beau nodded to Suzanne, who smiled in return, but kept glancing at Sam and James across the room.

Beau followed her eyes. “Ah, I see your…Mr. Allen is here.”

Sam looked up from the array of hardware James was describing and his eyes moved from Meg to Suzanne and rested on Beau. Meg felt a sense of relief as he excused himself from James and came to her side. She knew her father had a huge heart and was just big and blustery when things confused him, but she was glad she wouldn’t have to face it alone.

“Hello, Sam.” He held out his hand for Sam to shake. Sam took a quick look at Meg and reached out, giving his new father-in-law’s hand a hearty shake.

Meg felt a little spark of hope in her chest and she smiled. “Papa, what brings you here?”

“Oh, I saw Sam’s buggy outside and was hoping that you were here. Haven’t talked to you since the…well, since yesterday. Seems like it’s been much longer. I’ve missed you. We’ve all missed you.”

“Oh, Papa, I—”

Beau held up his hand, quieting her. “Please, Nutmeg, I really came just to speak with you for a moment. Sam, might it be all right if I take my daughter next door to the Occidental? Maybe for a cup of tea?”

“You don’t need to ask my permiss—” Sam started, but Beau cut him off as well.

“It would be proper, as you’re her husband.”

Sam appeared incredibly uncomfortable and turned to Meg for an answer to that question. She smiled and turned back to her father.

“I would be happy to join you,” she said, and Suzanne let out a whoosh of breath from behind her.

“We won’t be long,” Beau said as he held out his arm and escorted Meg out the door.

Meg took a quick look back before the door closed, and smiled as she saw James, Suzanne and Sam all in a row, their mouths open and eyes wide.

Neither spoke while they entered the Occidental, Sadie equally as surprised to see them together as her twin sister had been if the look on her face was any sign.

She looked questioningly at Meg as she followed Beau to his regular table, and Meg shrugged. Anybody’s guess would be as good as hers as to what was going to happen next, but she followed along, actually a bit anxious to find out what he was going to say, knowing it would have great impact on her future. Would she be able to see her sisters? How upset was he, really?

After her father had pulled out her chair and scooted her in, he sat down across from her and laid his hat on the chair next to him.

“What can I get for you two,” Sadie said, and Meg could tell she was trying to sound light and cheerful, belying her furrowed brow.

“Meg?” her father said as he placed his napkin in his lap.

“I’ll just have tea, Sadie, and a piece of your delicious berry pie, if you have any. Papa, would you share it with me?”

Beau smiled and nodded. “That’s an offer I can’t refuse. And tea for me, too, please.”

Meg watched Sadie retreat to the kitchen behind Beau, and covered her smile with her hand as she saw Sadie hold up crossed fingers before she went into the kitchen.

Beau let out a sigh. “I suppose you wonder why I’ve asked you here.”

“I have been a little curious, yes.” She rested her hands in her lap, inwardly smiling at his obvious discomfort.

“Well, I’ve had some time to think about all of this. Actually, I’ve had some help thinking about it, too. Everyone in the house seems to think I’ve lost my mind. I haven’t heard the end of it. Even Maria thinks so.”

Meg smiled at the thought of their long-time housekeeper shaking her finger at her father and rattling off both Spanish and English. If anybody could get through to her father since Meg’s mother had died, it would be Maria.

“Oh? And what do they think?”