Dearly Beloved

Chapter 7

Beth and Rudy were soon settled into the ranch and the Morgan family had the opportunity to get to know Adam's future wife. Both Kid and Jamie found her friendly, if a little quiet, and very different from Charlie and her tomboy ways. Beth kept house for her grandfather and brother and was used to taking care of things, whereas Charlie had little time for anything but horses. It was clear the two young women had very little in common.

Ethan and Jake, however, were immediately taken with Beth when they realized that she knew stories about pirates and shipwrecks and other exotic things, and could retell them, complete with engaging, animated voices. A voracious reader, it had been Beth who had selected the books Adam had brought them from St. Louis, but they did not hold this against her after she offered to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to them.

Lou was doing her best to accept Beth and had to admit she was likeable and her shyness only made Lou remember what an awkward position she was in – trying to be accepted by what was to be her new family. Still, her sympathy for Beth's situation did not stretch so far that she completely accepted her, and Lou held firmly onto her reservations about Adam's engagement.

"I think it's wonderful news," her friend Melanie announced as soon as Lou told her.

"Traitor," Lou replied grimly.

Melanie laughed as she peered through the lace curtains of Lou's parlor, looking at Beth who was watching Jake and Ethan playing in the yard.

"I think she's charming. And quite a beauty," Melanie went on despite Lou's apathy. Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "I imagine she'll make beautiful babies."

"Don't you start too," Lou warned her.

"What?" Melanie said innocently, as she walked towards the kitchen to freshen their teapot. She threw Lou a look over her shoulder. "Grandma!"

Melanie ducked into the kitchen before a well-aimed cushion could find its target.


While Adam and Rudy spent time with Dr. Browne, seeing real patients and learning from the man who had practiced medicine in the West for 30 years, Beth spent her time contentedly reading and sewing while everyone else went about their usual business. Jake and Ethan had taken to monopolizing her time as soon as they returned from school, but she was happy to entertain herself in their absence. There were numerous visits from neighbors and townspeople who arrived at the ranch to call on Lou, but Beth had so little to say on those occasions that she had taken to disappearing into the yard of a morning so she could avoid them.

It was there on the porch that Jamie found her, a few days after her arrival. Beth was reading, the family's cat purring in her lap as she scratched its ears absently. Being Saturday, Lou had taken the younger boys into town to pick up supplies, but she had chosen to remain behind.

"Mornin'," Jamie said brightly, pulling his hat from his head.

"Good morning, Jamie." Beth smiled warmly, happy to see him. "You must have been up early again this morning. I missed you at breakfast."

"Yep, best time of day if you ask me. I like to ride out early and check the horses." Jamie remained in the yard, not wanting to get too close to her in his sweat-soaked shirt. Although only mid-morning, the fierce sun was making it hot work.

"Enjoyin' your book?" he asked, when he could think of nothing else to say.

"Very much. It's Adam Bede. Have you read it?" she asked enthusiastically. "I do enjoy George Eliot's writing."

"Never heard of him."

"Her," Beth corrected automatically, then grew embarrassed when she realized how pretentious she might appear to him.

"I was never much for readin' meself," Jamie shrugged, not concerned in the slightest. "Prefered workin' to schoolin', unlike that brother of mine."

"Oh," she replied softly, but was relieved when he didn't appear to think her rude.

"I thought Charlie was takin' you ridin' today." Jamie glanced around and saw Charlie in the corral closest to the house, brushing down her mare.

Beth stammered an excuse but Jamie was already calling his sister over. Charlie approached the house at his request but a scowl appeared on her face when she rounded the corner and saw that Jamie was talking to Beth.

"Ain't you takin' Beth for a ride today, while Adam's out with Doc Browne?" he asked sternly, but it was more of a statement than a question.

"I got chores," Charlie said sullenly.

"You don't got, I mean… have any chores that can't wait. We've got company." Jamie, his hands on his hips, spoke authoritatively, which rankled Charlie even more.

"Oh, quit showin' off. Why don't you take her ridin', if you're so full of manners!" Charlie yelled, before turning on her heel and stalking away.

"Charlotte Rachel Morgan, come back here!" Jamie sighed angrily at her departing back, but she ignored him. He glanced back at Beth, and this time it was his turn to be embarrassed. "I'm sorry about my sister."

"It's all right," Beth assured him. She was used to Charlie by now, having only received a few words from the girl in the past few days, which was quite a feat considering they were sharing a bedroom. Beth had tried to make conversation but Charlie showed little interest in becoming friends.

"She's been missin' Adam and I guess…"

"She didn't think she'd have to share him with any outsiders," Beth finished for him. "I understand."

Jamie smiled in admiration of her understanding and patience – he knew Charlie was not an easy person to live with when she was out of humor. He changed the topic instead. "So, what do you think of the place? What little you've seen on foot anyway."

Beth's face lit up. "It's beautiful. It's everything Adam described."

"Must be different from what you're used to."

"It is that," she admitted. "But I understand Adam more now, having seen the ranch. And meeting the family, of course."

"Well, we're glad to have you here," Jamie said, before replacing his hat back on his head.

He was about to excuse himself in order to get back to work when Kid marched a very recalcitrant Charlie back over to the porch.

"Miss Betts, Charlie would be pleased to take you ridin' to show you around," Kid stated calmly, despite the thunderous look in his daughter's eyes.

"That's very kind, thank you, Mr. Morgan," Beth stated in response. "But I'm still rather tired from our journey. Charlie, would you mind if we postponed our ride? Maybe in a few days' time?

"Fine with me," Charlie grunted, but after a stern look from Kid she threw Beth tight-lipped smile to appease him.

"If you're sure," Kid said.

"I am, thank you. And I wish you'd call me Beth."

Kid smiled genuinely. "All right. Come on then, Charlie, you can help Jamie and me with the horses."

He nudged his daughter and they made their way back towards the corral. Jamie stayed behind for a moment and tipped his hat at Beth in recognition of her covering for Charlie. He admired her fortitude if nothing else – she wasn't about to let Charlie intimidate her. Jamie grinned, wholeheartedly approving of his brother's choice of a wife.


Adam and Rudy returned to the ranch a few hours later, and while Rudy disappeared inside the house to recover from the heat, Adam took a seat beside Beth on the porch.

"What did you get up to with Dr. Browne?" she asked.

"Oh, we set a broken leg. A cowboy fell from his horse."

Beth raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I didn't think cowboys did that."

"He was drunk as a skunk at the time," Adam admitted, chuckling. "And riding backwards down the main street when the mail coach arrived."

Beth smiled, looping her arm in his.

"What about you? How is your day going?"

"It's been fine, thank you." A silence settled between them as Adam stretched his legs out before him.

"Your sister doesn't think much of me," Beth went on eventually.

"Of course she does." After seeing the look of disbelief that Beth shot him, he tried again. "She just needs time to get to know you. Charlie hasn't had many female friends. She grew up with four brothers, so she's always just been one of the boys."

"Something tells me she'd be quite happy without a new sister."

"She'll come round. I promise."

A faint smile appeared on Beth's lips as she leaned forward to kiss him. Then she rested her head on his shoulder. "You should spend some time with her, just the two of you. She misses you."

Adam rested a cheek on the top of her head. "What about you?"

"I'm fine. Besides I see more of you in St. Louis than your family does here. You should be spending time with them." She pulled back to gaze lovingly at him. "Besides, we have the rest of lives to be together, remember?"

"Have I told you how brilliant you are, Elizabeth Betts?" Adam asked, eyes shining. "And kind and smart and beautiful?"

"I don't believe you have, not today anyway. But we have the rest of lives for that too," she grinned.