Dearly Beloved

Chapter 21

Once the last snow had melted and the weather was warm enough to work outside again, Jamie set about breaking in a couple of new horses. He had taken to breaking in all of their wild stock, Kid deciding he was getting too old to be bucked off a feisty mustang or two. Jamie was working in the top corral when he spied Ben riding into the yard. He held up a hand in greeting and passed the horse's rope to a ranch hand. Jamie pulled off his gloves as he walked towards their neighbor.

"Ben."

"Jamie."

Ben dismounted and looped Red's reins on a hitching post.

"You off to church, or what?" Jamie asked with a grin, surprised at the new shirt and jacket he was wearing. His dark blond hair had been slicked down unsuccessfully, and he wore a look of acuteness shyness even for Ben.

"Is er, is your pa here?" he asked hesitantly, ignoring the teasing question.

"He's due back from town any minute." Jamie crossed his arms over his chest, growing more curious by the second. He had known Ben Ashmore for years but had never seen him like this. "Is anythin' wrong?"

"No, no… no. Nothin' wrong," Ben replied, looking around for some distraction so he didn't have to talk further.

Luckily for him Beth appeared on the porch at that moment. She smiled in greeting at Ben and walked across the yard towards them.

"Mornin' Beth," said Ben, nodding awkwardly.

"Hello Ben, this is a surprise," she said cheerily. "How are things?"

"Fine. Fine," he mumbled, but they obviously weren't.

Jamie clapped a hand on the older man's shoulder. "Ben's here to see Pa."

"I don't think he's back yet, is he?"

"Nope."

"Well, I'm sure he won't be long." Beth's tone was pleasant but she caught the look of anxiousness in Ben's eyes and, after glancing between the two men, felt bound to intercede.

"Perhaps you'd like to take a walk while you're waiting?" she offered. "I was just about to myself. Hannah's down for a nap and I thought I'd talk the opportunity to get some fresh air, now it's not so cold."

"Sure," Ben accepted quickly and with noticeable relief.

"Good." Beth reached out and took Ben's arm, leading him away from Jamie.

They wandered off, talking in low tones, leaving a disconcerted Jamie in their wake. He had no idea what was going on, but was taken aback that Beth had asked Ben to take a walk with her, and that she hadn't included Jamie in the invitation as well. It was unlike Beth to exclude him, and definitely unlike Ben to come to the ranch and take a walk with his sister-in-law.

Jamie stood alone in the yard, wondering what had just happened.


Inside the house, their departure was also the topic of conversation between Melanie and Lou. Melanie had noted Ben's arrival and Beth, who had been sitting with them chatting until then, suddenly rose to her feet and excused herself to go outside. A bewildered look passed between the two friends at her hasty exit.

"What's all that about?" asked Melanie curiously.

"I have absolutely no idea," Lou replied, and Melanie knew she wasn't covering up.

Both of them moved to the window to watch the proceedings outside. They watched as there was a brief conversation between Jamie, Beth and Ben, and then Jamie was left on his own.

"You don't think…" Melanie said slowly, staring at Lou. "Ben and Beth…?"

Lou stepped back from the window, surprise evident on her face. "I don't know."

"You said he's been visiting more frequently than usual."

"Yes, he has," Lou said thoughtfully. "He even spent Christmas with us."

She took a seat in her armchair once more, but did not speak for several minutes as she contemplated this unforeseen turn of events.

"It makes sense, I suppose," Melanie pondered. "They've both been widowed."

She pressed her lips together, wishing she'd held her tongue. She was acutely aware of Lou's feelings and didn't want to bring up the subject of Adam.

"You're right. Of course, you're right." Lou picked up her teacup and warmed her hands around it. "I just didn't expect it, I suppose."

"It's been a year," Melanie reminded her softly.

"I know, I'm just surprised is all. Ben…" Lou shook her head. "They have nothin' in common."

Melanie smiled, a little sadly. "Wouldn't be the first time that's happened."

Lou knew she was speaking from experience and threw her an understanding glance. "Well, if there is somethin' goin' on, at least she'll be close by… I couldn't imagine not seeing Hannah grow up. I'd hate for them to leave the area if she got remarried."

"Beth's gettin' remarried?" Jamie said sharply, having just entered the room. "Is that why Ben's here?"

"We don't know…" Lou replied hastily, not wanting to speculate. She could see the puzzled anger mounting on her son's face and didn't want him to think badly of his sister-in-law.

Jamie wasn't above jumping to conclusions. "She's Adam's wife," he stated crossly.

Lou sighed tiredly. "Adam's gone, Jamie."

"Just barely. How could she be thinkin' about marryin' someone else? How could Ben come here and take her like that?"

"We don't what's going on, let's not assume anything until we know the truth," Melanie interjected.

"Why else would he come here all gussied up? Why else would he be askin' to speak to Pa?"

"He wants to speak to your father?" Lou asked quietly. She couldn't help but think of Adam either. Melanie looked at her sympathetically.

"Damn it, it ain't right!" Jamie bellowed, and stormed from the room.

Melanie was about to ask if they should go after him when more movement in the yard could her eye.

"Kid's back," she reported. "And so's Ben. I don't see Beth anywhere."

Lou hastily joined her by the window once more and they watched as Ben approached Kid and they shook hands. Ben talked earnestly for a few minutes and Lou was frustrated they could not tell what it was about.

"It doesn't look like they're discussing horses," murmured Melanie, peering out from behind the curtain. "I don't think I've ever seen Ben look so nervous."

"I guess he would talk to Kid about it. I mean, he's the closest thing Beth has to a father here."

They waited with baited breath as the two men continued to talk. Kid gave a nod of his head but seemed bewildered. Ben shook his hand again and quickly mounted his horse. He rode away without a backward glance.

Lou and Melanie could hardly contain their inquisitiveness as Kid walked slowly towards the house. When he entered he looked unmistakably stunned, which immediately piqued Lou's curiosity further.

"What did Ben want?" she asked quickly.

Kid didn't respond straight away as he still digested the news.

"Kid?"

"He asked my permission to call on Charlie," Kid replied evenly.

"What? Charlie?!" the women gasped in surprise.

Lou got to her feet and approached her husband. "What exactly did he say?"

Kid wiped a hand over his forehead. "Just that they'd been spendin' time together and how much he respected her… But that he didn't want to take things further until he knew that we'd be comfortable with him courtin' her properly."

"What did you tell him?"

Kid shrugged helplessly. "What could I say? I told him if it's what Charlie wants… He's comin' to supper tomorrow night."

Lou was just as surprised, but Kid knew that mothers and daughters still had some secrets between them.

"Did you know anythin' about this?" he asked.

"No. I mean, she's been visitin' him recently, but I thought she was just helpin' him look after his horses." Lou smothered a smile at her daughter's ability to pretend nothing was going on when clearly it had been for several weeks.

"Where is she?"

"Upstairs gettin' changed." Lou gave his arm a squeeze and walked to the bottom of the stairs. "Charlie? Come down here!"

Lou rejoined Kid in the parlor, still shaking her head. "I thought he was here for Beth…"

"Seems she's the only one who knew somethin' was going on between them," Kid said a little grumpily. He didn't know how he felt about his only daughter and their older, widowed neighbor. Ben was a good, decent man but he was pushing 40 and Charlie was not yet 20 years old.

"So that's why he's been talkin' to Beth so much…" Lou mused.

Charlie skipped down the stairs to find her parents and Melanie all staring at her. Her step faltered, and she gave them a timid smile.

"Is everything all right?" she asked with a hint of trepidation in her voice.

Kid crossed his arms over his chest, unable to hide his frown. "Ben Ashmore was just here."

"He was?" A blush stole up her neck and cheeks. She glanced between the three of them, knowing full well what he had spoken to her father about. Ben had insisted he needed to get Kid's permission, even though Charlie thought it completely unnecessary. "What did you say to him?"

"I told him… that if it's what you want–" Kid didn't have an opportunity to finish his sentence as Charlie flew into his arms and gave him a crushing hug.

"Thank you, Papa!" she cried with an enormous sense of relief.

"I take it you don't mind if comes to supper tomorrow, then?" Kid choked out when it was clear that Charlie wasn't letting go.

"Not at all." She finally released him from her grip, her eyes shining.

"How long has this been goin' on?" Lou asked, but she was still more surprised than anything. She had not expected to see the excitement on her daughter's face, or the obvious happiness that Ben's request brought her. It transformed her into a true beauty.

"Not long," Charlie replied, embarrassed. "I didn't want to say anything just yet… Oh Mama, I'm so happy!"

She embraced Lou, squeezing her tightly until she laughed. Unable to hide her delight, Charlie ran to Melanie and hugged her too, before running out of the room.

"Wait, where are you goin', Charlotte?" Lou yelled after her.

"Riding!"

"I wonder where," said Lou, shaking her head. "That girl…"

The stunned look had returned to Kid's face which made his wife smile. Charlie had never acted like that when Dan Lawson was hanging around. Deep down both of them knew that perhaps this was it for their daughter.


Jamie stalked towards the creek, forgetting that he always rode everywhere. He was too angry to think straight. All he could picture in his mind was Beth and Ben together. He thought of Adam and the betrayal of his brother and stewed in his animosity towards Beth. He was still riled up when he reached the small graveyard, and was dismayed to see that she was already there.

"What, you gettin' his permission?" he snapped with thinly veiled disgust. He didn't even bother to pronounce his words properly as he had been so careful to do whenever he spoke to her.

Beth turned around, clutching her chest in fright. "Jamie, you scared me! What did you say?"

"Or maybe you just remembered that your husband is buried here."

The puzzlement on her face was replaced with a look of hurt. "Why are talking this way?"

"I know about you and Ben Ashmore," he spat, not believing her innocent act.

"What?!" She saw the anger etched in his features but laughed in spite of herself. "Ben and me?"

"He's back there talkin' to Pa, no doubt gettin' his permission. It's just the sort of thing Ben would do, you bein' his daughter-in-law."

"Or maybe for his actual daughter."

Jamie let out an exasperated breath. "What does that mean?"

"Charlie, he's here for Charlie, not me." Beth covered her mouth as she giggled.

He frowned – he had not been expecting that. "Charlie?"

"He wants to start courting her, but he wanted to talk to your father about it first."

"Ben Ashmore?! He's twice her age!"

"That doesn't mean anything. But I know he's worried about their age difference and how the family might react. Although I can't think why…" she added wryly.

Jamie ran a hand through his brown hair, slack jawed. "I thought it was you."

Beth's expression softened. She decided to ignore the accusatory way in which he'd spoken to her. "No, not me."

Jamie was surprised at the relief he felt after those simple words, not to mention how upset he'd been when he imagined her with Ben.

"Beth, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude just now."

"It's all right," she replied softly. "You thought I'd forgotten Adam?"

"No, it's just… If you went and got remarried… it wouldn't be the same if you weren't here." He looked at his feet, unable to meet her eyes. "You're supposed to stay with us. I know eventually you might…"

She took a step towards him. "Jamie, I'm not going anywhere, and neither is Hannah."

He seemed a little heartened by her words, but there still a look of uncertainty in his gaze. She laid a hand next to his cheek, barely touching his skin, forcing him to look at her. "No one could take Adam's place in my heart."

Jamie looked down again. But then he smiled, feeling foolish, but more than that he was relieved. She smiled in return, withdrawing her hand.

"So, Ben Ashmore wants to spark my little sister?" he asked after a few moments.

Beth, hands on her hips, fixed him with a determined stare. "Promise me you'll go easy on him, Charlie too. She's very fond of him, and he is of her."

"Really?"

"Really." She took his arm. "Come on, I'll walk you home. And on the way we can practice nice things to say to Charlie."

Jamie allowed himself to be led away, but before they had gone too far he squeezed her hand to reassure himself that she wasn't going anywhere. She grinned and held his arm a little tighter.