A Spinster in the West by Katie Lockwood & Emma Maas

Author:Katie Lockwood & Emma Maas [Lockwood, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

On the day of the maidens’ much-anticipated arrival, Chuck helped Bert pack the necessary belongings he would be needing and lug them over to the foreman’s cabin.

The two men had agreed earlier that it would be best if Bert stayed with him, leaving the ranch house to the ladies while he and Kitty took their time to ascertain whether a marriage would be viable.

When it was almost time for the train’s arrival, Chuck agreed to accompany his friend to collect the guests at the station.

Before taking the wagon and heading to town, Bert ran into the house for a last-minute confirmation that everything was ready and up to par. Chuck, on the other hand, made sure that Mrs. Butler was paid and that all her maids had been generously tipped and sent on their way.

Upon the initial meeting, Chuck was delighted to note that his friend was completely and beyond doubt taken by Kitty’s beauty and presence. After making the appropriate introductions and exchanging the socially mandated pleasantries, Bert was simply unable to take his eyes off of his special lady.

It also was not lost on Chuck that Kitty’s older friend, Miss McGhee, had a rather comforting demeanor all round. She was neither strikingly gorgeous nor offputtingly condescending, in spite of her prestigious schooling and stature as an experienced educator.

Her overall presence was elegant and light, her words were scarce, and her smile was readily offered, accompanied by the kind regard of her compassionate eyes.

“And would you rather live in a withdrawn orphanage or an isolated ranch?” he playfully asked her, intentionally making it a tough question to answer.

“It’s all about the company, I believe.” Her grounded tone was soothing. “As long as it’s removed, I don’t prefer the bustle of the town.”

Wondering why he would analyze her in such a way upon their first interaction, Chuck mentally kicked himself for losing sight of why he was there in the first place.

The smooth and steady conversation between the four lasted the entire drive back to the ranch. By the time they arrived at the homestead, Chuck concluded that Bert’s expectations of Kitty were undeniably met.

He, on the other hand, couldn’t help but restrain himself from asking Fanny the long string of questions that invaded his mind. After all, it was only her first hour there and the last thing he wanted was to come off as intrusive.

On second thought, he pondered whether her polite and to-the-point responses originated from her deep-rooted graciousness and whether her friendly questions stemmed from a civil courteousness aiming to not embarrass him.

All in all, she seemed to be a well-rounded conversationalist with amicable sociability that put everyone around her at ease. She was also probably the only woman close to his age with whom he had the pleasure of conversing.

The consideration of age brought his mind to the next logical station of thought. He was in his thirties, and his interests did not match any of those of the women he had courted in the past.

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