Chapter 17
The horses were all staring at him. Not surprising, as he stood in front of them sucking on his thumb to stop the bleeding.
He’d smashed it good with the hammer, then cussed a blue streak he was sure they heard down at the train station.
Liam was watching him too. The old man was getting around better now, but limped with every step.
The bone in his leg had healed, but he knew it still bothered him most days.
“I warned you what all that daydreaming was going to get you.”
He glared over at him and ignored what he’d said. He hadn't been daydreaming, just distracted. Had been since he got back into town over two months ago. As much as he enjoyed the fast-paced life living in Butte provided, it felt oddly—disappointing.
He filled his days with tending to the horses, repairing the many wagons and buggies Liam rented out, and even helped Everette over at the stagecoach station when he needed a hand, just to have something to do.
The cabin Liam had offered him gave him plenty to do after work.
All the minor repairs were fixed, and life was exactly how he had pictured it when he thought of what his future would look like.
Only he was miserable. He woke, dressed, worked, and went home.
Every day was the same, and he couldn’t even remember the last time he had even had something to smile about.
“I’m going to head on home,” Liam said, breaking into his thoughts. “Do you need any help before I leave?”
“Nah,” he said, picking the hammer back up. “I just need to get this last board on, and I’ll be heading out too.”
“All right, then. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Clay waved him off, watching the door shut before he got back to the wagon repairs. They’d replaced one whole side with new boards and worked on the wheel most of the day. This late in the year was slow, so it gave them plenty of time to fix everything that broke over the spring and summer.
It was near dark when he finally bedded the horses down for the night and left the stable.
The wind was getting colder, the air chilling his exposed neck.
He pulled the collar of his coat up to his ears and shoved his hands into his pockets, nodding his head at Everette when he passed the stagecoach station.
Halfway down the road, he saw Callie on the other side of the street, her steps slow on the snow-covered sidewalk. A quick look around him to see if he could duck into an alleyway to prevent her from seeing him was useless, as she looked directly at him a moment later.
He blew out a tired breath. Since getting back into Butte, he'd not exactly been kind to her. She’d asked him about Daisy not twenty minutes after he’d returned from Silver Falls, and he’d been more than rude to her, lashing out and telling her he wasn’t Daisy’s keeper.
He'd regretted it instantly. Daisy’s rejection had still been raw, and he’d taken it out on Callie. Luckily, she hadn’t taken offense.
Callie threw her hand up and waved at him.
He nodded his head at her and slowed his steps when she hurried across the street to where he was.
Her smile was wide when she stepped up onto the sidewalk, a dimple in her cheek catching his attention.
“Hey, handsome,” she said, huffing out a breath. “Where are you headed?”
“Home.”
“Me too.” She looked down the street before saying, “Old Lady Whisnant is probably screaming down the house as we speak.” Her sudden laugh was followed by a grin as she lifted a box in her hand.
“She sent me for one of those fried pies Glinda Jenkins makes over an hour ago, and if you’ve ever met Glinda, you know the woman loves to talk. ”
So did Callie, Clay thought, but didn’t say as much.
The smile on Callie’s face slowly fell away as she looked at him. “You look like shit, by the way.”
He huffed out a short laugh. “Thanks.”
“I take it you haven’t heard from Daisy, then?”
He readjusted his hat and said, “No. But I don’t really expect to.”
Callie gave him a thorough look before shaking her head. “I hate to say it, but she’s being pretty stupid, in my opinion. You’re a great catch. If she weren’t my friend, I would have already made my move.” The dimple was back in her cheek when she grinned. “Have you written to her?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “What’s the point? She doesn't want to live here.”
“So, it’s been two months. Maybe she’s changed her mind and is waiting for you to come back and sweep her off her feet.”
“You’ve read too many of those dime novels you told Daisy about.”
She laughed and nodded. “Probably, but that doesn’t mean what’s written isn’t true. Women like to be wooed and pursued. They like grand gestures and knowing their man would move heaven and earth for them. Maybe she’s been sitting at home waiting for your grand gesture.”
If it were only that easy. “She didn’t want to leave her family, Callie. No amount of grand gestures will ever change that.”
“How do you know? Have you tried?”
He looked away, further down the street. A light flurry of snow was falling, and the sun was disappearing over the mountain. It would be full dark soon, which meant he’d spend another night alone with nothing but his thoughts, as miserable as they were.
Callie bumped his arm with her elbow to get his attention.
“Go back and get her,” she said. “And don’t leave Silver Falls without her.
Make her see she belongs here with you. It's either that or grow old, alone, and bitter.” She took a few steps away from him and said, “I have to go. Let me know when you’re headed back to Silver Falls.
I’ll send a letter of recommendation along with you, letting Daisy know what a great catch you are.
” She grinned. “Or maybe I’ll just tell her if she doesn’t come back to Butte with you, I’m going to drag you off to the nearest preacher and marry you myself. ”
With a wink, she turned and headed down the street. He watched her go until he couldn’t see her anymore, then continued on his way home. She made it sound so simple. As if going back to Silver Falls would be enough. Hell, maybe it would be. He knew nothing about how a woman’s mind worked.
His steps slowed to a stop when the cabin came into view, his thoughts still on what Callie had said. Would going to Silver Falls really work? Would Daisy leave her family and come back to Butte with him if he gave her a grand gesture like Callie suggested?
It certainly won’t hurt to try.
No, it wouldn’t. He had nothing to lose but time in trying. If she still refused, then he’d know it was truly over between them. Despite her not wanting to leave Silver Falls, he knew she had feelings for him. He’d seen it in the tears she’d shed and the way she’d kissed him before he left.
He started walking again, a clear plan in place, but he’d have to hurry.
With the daily snowfall they were getting now, it would be difficult to take the trip if he waited much longer.
His steps quickened when he reached the front of the cabin.
He could be packed and gone by sunrise tomorrow, and if the weather held, he’d be back in Silver Falls the day after.
For the first time in weeks, the heaviness weighing his shoulders down lifted. He ran up the steps to the cabin, his thoughts on Daisy, her pretty face filling his mind's eye, and he could have sworn he smelled cinnamon as he reached the door.
Flinging it open, he rushed inside—then froze. He’d not imagined smelling cinnamon. The cabin was filled with it. A moment later, he noticed the lanterns were all lit, and a fire blazed in the fireplace.
He shut the door, blocking out the cold air blowing in, and turned his head to the bedroom when he heard a noise.
Seeing Daisy walk into the room nearly stopped his heart.
When she turned and saw him, she smiled and said, “Finally. I was beginning to think I was going to have to walk all the way to town to get you.”
He blinked several times, trying to clear his vision.
She didn’t go away. No matter how many times he did it, she was still there.
As he stared at her, her cheeks turned pink.
They matched the dress she was wearing. Her hair was down, long curls dangling down her back.
She wore nothing on her feet but thick wool socks, and she was a vision he still wasn’t sure was real.
“Supper is almost ready.” The words were said in a soft, gentle tone and snapped him out of the daze he was in.
He crossed the room in five huge steps, cupping her face in his hands when he reached her. She was real, her skin warm against his palms. “How….When…What are you doing here, Daisy?”
Her heart pounded inside her chest. Daisy had debated how she’d go about seeing Clay and had almost gone to the livery stable, but had been too scared to meet him in such a public setting.
What if he’d rejected her and sent her home, and everyone in town was a witness to it?
She would have died of humiliation. Graham had asked several people where Lewis used to live and guided the sleigh to the cabin on the outskirts of town, parking it out back.
She’d felt odd going inside without an invitation and wasn’t even sure Clay was living there until she’d walked into the bedroom and seen his things there.
She’d lifted a shirt to her nose, his scent clinging to the fabric, and her longing for him was overwhelming.