A Fella for Frances by Donna K Weaver

Author:Donna K Weaver [Weaver, Donna K]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781946152442
Publisher: Emerald Arch Publishing
Published: 2020-02-01T16:00:00+00:00

11

Frances leaned back, as everyone started talking at once.

“You sure know how to throw oil on a fire, don’t you?” Nick said with a chuckle.

“They can’t leave me out anymore. I won’t let them.” She looked at him and covered their clasped hands with her free one. “Thank you so much for doing this for me. I’ll do my best to make it worth your while.”

“You already have. I’ve told you more than once I’d do anything for you.”

There it was again, that new intensity to Nick. He was showing her a side she hadn’t seen before. It both scared and thrilled her a little.

“Well,” Frances said lamely. “Thank you anyway.” She leaned closer, meaning to kiss his cheek, but Nick shifted his face so their lips met instead. Drat him. She was starting to like kissing him way too much. She pulled back.

Nick leaned closer and kissed her cheek near her ear. “We’re newly married. They expect it.”

He straightened. They faced the others, only to find them staring with knowing smiles.

When Frances had made the decision to marry, she’d known she’d have to show some affection to her husband. Which she’d completely underestimated. She needed to take control of the conversation.

“Nick and I haven’t had a wedding trip yet, obviously, and I think it’d be fun to show him our old stomping grounds.” Frances leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “I’ll bet Uncle William thinks he has us running with all the stunts he’s pulled on us.”

“Or he’s getting desperate,” Charles said.

“And desperate men take even bigger risks,” Nick said.

“Exactly so,” Abe said, worry creasing his brow. “I’m not sure you girls even need to go back to Indianapolis to see him. Let the courts handle this and give you control of your fortunes then.”

“With both Maude and Doris increasing,” Frances argued, “we have to make the trip while we can. Marshall said he has connections to someone in the railroad and could get a car to ease their journey, but we can’t wait too much longer. Charles and Maude have their own wedding trip to take to San Francisco.”

“I agree with the sheriff,” Luke said. “Don’t forget I have a wedding in a few weeks with some very important guests coming. Judith and I can’t take two weeks off to go to Indianapolis right now.”

“You don’t have to go,” Frances said. “I know your memories of the place aren’t good, and I wouldn’t ask you to come with us so close to your wedding.”

“But I’m your guardian—”

“Not anymore,” Nick broke in. “I’m responsible for Frances now.”

Her habit would have been to tell him what she thought of such a presumptuous declaration, but she paused before speaking. Nick would be twenty-five soon, but his lighthearted and teasing sense of humor had always made him seem younger. There was nothing tyrannical in his eyes or the tone of his voice when he’d made the simple comment. Instead, there was something adult in it. And humble, like he’d been given a great honor to be responsible for her.

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