Chapter 29
Dawn painted the eastern peaks in shades of rose and gold, but Mandie had been awake long before the sun crested the mountains. Her heart hammered with a mixture of anticipation and nervous energy that made sleep impossible.
Today she would become Mrs. Enoch Balfour.
Or…Lady Balfour? That didn’t feel right. Enoch’s wife would be more than enough.
Someone had already built up the fire in the stove when she stepped into the kitchen. Probably Enoch. The water in the kettle was almost hot as well.
She would prepare an easy meal this morning.
The cornbread batter came together quickly, followed by thick slices of ham that sizzled in the cast iron skillet.
The rhythm of cooking helped settle her nerves, grounding her in simple, necessary tasks while her mind spun with everything the day would bring.
The eggs cracked clean against the bowl’s rim, their golden yolks sliding into the mixture as she whisked them.
Outside, the low murmur of men’s voices rose—the brothers discussing their plans for the day, no doubt.
Footsteps in the dining room drew her attention, and her mother appeared in the doorway, already dressed despite the early hour. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, suggesting she’d slept as poorly as Mandie.
“Good morning, dear.” Mama’s voice carried a tremor of emotion. “I thought I might help with breakfast.”
“The ham just needs turning in a few minutes.” Mandie poured the eggs into another skillet, watching them foam and set at the edges. “Did you sleep at all?”
Her mother moved to stand beside her, hands fluttering uncertainly before settling on the counter.
“Some. I kept thinking about your first wedding.” She paused, her voice growing thick.
“The church full of flowers and all our friends, your father walking you down the aisle in that beautiful gown we had commissioned…”
Her tone dropped and sadness crept in. “And now here you are in a frontier kitchen, preparing to marry a man we barely know, in such a…rough ceremony.” Mama’s voice caught.
Mandie set down her wooden spoon and turned to face her mother fully.
“My marriage with Nicholas was…acceptable.” She couldn’t summon a better word to describe the mixture of companionship and loneliness.
She’d thought she’d managed to grow love for him, yet compared to the way she felt about Enoch…
“But Mama, what I feel for Enoch is so much more than I ever imagined possible. That beautiful church wedding you remember? I was terrified the entire time. Terrified of disappointing Nicholas, of not being the wife he expected, of living my whole life trying to fit into a mold that never quite suited me.”
Her mother’s eyes widened, and Mandie reached for her hands.
“Today I’m nervous, yes, but not afraid. Not the way I was before. Enoch sees me—truly sees me—and loves what he finds. That’s worth more than all the flowers and fancy gowns in Savannah.”
Tears gathered in her mother’s eyes as she nodded. “It is. I just…I want everything to be perfect for you.”
“It will be perfect because it’s right.” Mandie squeezed her mother’s hands. “A simple ceremony with the people we love most—that sounds far more beautiful to me than any elaborate affair.”
The sound of boots and voices in the great room interrupted them. The brothers had come inside, their conversation low but urgent.
Mama gasped. “The ham.” She released Mandie’s hands to rescue the skillet before the meat burned.
Mandie turned the eggs one final time before sliding them onto a platter, then carried it to the dining room where the men had gathered around the table—Enoch, his brothers, and even her father.
“Morning.” Enoch rose to take the platter from her hands, his fingers brushing hers in the exchange. The brief contact sent warmth up her hands, and she caught the tender look in his eyes before he turned to set the dish on the table. “You look beautiful this morning.”
The simple compliment, spoken quietly enough that only she could hear, made her cheeks warm.
She would dress for their wedding later, but for now, she’d braided her hair in a simple plait that hung over her shoulder, and wore her everyday blue calico dress.
Nothing fancy. Yet the way Enoch looked at her made her insides heat.
Her mother appeared with the ham and cornbread, setting both on the table before taking her seat.
Once they were all settled, Enoch bowed his head to ask the Lord’s blessing over the food and the day. His hand found Mandie’s under the table as he began the prayer, and the warmth of his palm against hers, his fingers woven through hers, helped settle her insides.
Thank You, Lord, for this man.
At the amen, the family began loading plates, and Enoch’s voice lowered as he spoke to her, though everyone at the table could hear. “James and Robert will ride ahead to town. Make sure everything’s quiet.”
“Quiet?” Mama’s fork paused halfway to her mouth.
“Just a precaution.” James offered the words in a casual tone, but Mandie well knew his meaning.
Her stomach tightened, though she tried to keep her expression neutral. She wouldn’t let fear overshadow this day—not when she’d finally found something worth celebrating.
“And I’ll head south to fetch Mrs. Wang from the Jenkins’ place.” Thomas grinned. “She’d never forgive us if we let her miss this day.”
“Mrs. Wang?” Mama looked confused.
“Our housekeeper.” Enoch’s tone carried the warmth reserved for family. “She’s been with us since we lived in England. More of a mother to us than a housekeeper, really.”
“Oh.” Mama’s expression softened. “Of course she should be there.”
“What time should we plan to leave for town?” Papa cut his ham with methodical precision.
Enoch looked to her, his expression softening in the way it only did when he looked at her.
“How much time would you like this morning? I’m planning to rent a room at the boarding house so you have a place to…
” Red crept up his neck, and he seemed to lose his words.
“…get ready or do whatever you like before…”
She had to bite her lip to keep back a grin at his floundering. “That sounds wonderful. With the room there, I only need an hour or so here before we leave.”
She’d wait to dress in town so she didn’t soil her gown on the ride.
After only a few more minutes, Robert pushed back from the table. “We should get moving if we want to be back in time. Sun’s full up now.”
James nodded, rising as well. “We’ll send word if anything is amiss, but I expect all will be well.”
Thomas stood next, draining the last of his coffee. “I’ll collect Mrs. Wang and meet you all in town.” His teeth flashed in that charming grin he kept at the ready. “She’ll likely box my ears for not coming to get her straightaway after all the excitement yesterday.”
The warmth in his voice made Mandie’s chest tighten. “Tell her I can’t wait to see her.” In only a few days, Bea had become such a good friend.
The three brothers filed out, leaving behind a quiet that felt heavy with anticipation.
“Well then.” Papa cleared his throat, setting down his napkin.
“I suppose that leaves us to prepare for the day.” He glanced toward Enoch, who was finishing the last of his eggs.
“Perhaps you could put me to work. Maybe hitching the wagon, or whatever else is needed. I can handle a horse well enough.”
Enoch looked up from his plate, surprise flickering across his features before settling into something warmer. “I’d appreciate the help. I was planning to put a second bench in the wagon bed so we can all ride together comfortably.”
“Good thinking.” Papa stood, seeming relieved to have a task. “Lead the way.”
The two men rose from the table, and watching them head toward the door left a bittersweet ache in her middle. Perhaps her father would use the time to get to know the man she was marrying—really know him, not just the titles and inheritance that already seemed to fascinate him so.
“Come along, dear.” Mama’s voice drew her attention back. “We should get your things packed. Leave these dishes and I’ll work on them in a minute. I thought you might like to wear my green silk with the ivory trim. It’s not a proper wedding gown, but it’s the finest dress we have.”
The next hour passed in a blur of hearing Mama’s suggestions and nudging them in a direction more appropriate to the setting and what they would be able to accomplish in a short time at the rented room in Walnut Springs.
As thankful as she was to have a place in town to freshen up and dress for the ceremony, she didn’t plan to keep Enoch waiting an instant longer than she had to.
When they all set out in the wagon, the late summer sun had climbed high enough to warm the mountain air.
Mandie settled beside her mother on the rear bench. Papa took the front bench beside Enoch, and she couldn’t help but notice how her father’s posture had relaxed since breakfast. Time with Enoch must have been good for him.
“Fine team you have here.” Papa started the conversation as Enoch guided the horses down the winding mountain road. “Matched bays—good bone structure, well-trained.”
“Thank you, sir. Both were born here on the ranch.” Enoch’s voice held a proper amount of respect, but she could hear the hint of effort in his tone. He wasn’t accustomed to as much conversation as her father could manage.
Papa nodded approvingly. “Breeding your own stock—that’s the mark of a well-run operation. I imagine the bloodlines go back to England?”
“Some, yes. My father shipped several mares and a stallion when we first came to Montana.” Enoch kept his attention on the road ahead, but Mandie caught the slight tightening around his eyes at the mention of his father.
Or maybe England. “We’ve added local stock as well—horses bred for mountain work. ”
“Smart approach. Combining the best of both worlds.” Papa settled back against the bench, warming to his subject. “And I understand you’ll inherit a dukedom eventually? That must weigh on a man’s mind, knowing such responsibility awaits.”
Mandie’s stomach clenched. This was exactly the sort of conversation she’d hoped to avoid today. Her mother leaned forward slightly, no doubt eager to hear Enoch’s response.
“It does.” Enoch’s answer came measured.
“But surely you’ll need to return to England soon? To prepare, to take your place in society?” Papa’s tone carried the assumption of someone who understood such obligations well.
The wagon jolted over a particularly rough section of road, and Mandie gripped the bench to steady herself. The movement gave her an excuse to catch Enoch’s eye when he glanced back to check on them.
She offered him a small smile, but the tense line of his shoulders didn’t soften.
He turned back to the road. “Eventually, yes.” His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “But we’ll wait until Mandie and the baby are both ready for travel. My father has given me leave to plan the timing.”
“Of course, of course.” Papa waved a dismissive hand. “But a man of your station has duties that can’t be put off long. The estate, the tenants, parliament—these things require attention.”
When Mama spoke, her voice sounded bright with curiosity. “Will Mandie need to be presented at court? I imagine there are certain expectations for a duchess.”
The questions pelted like hail, and Mandie’s insides knotted as tight as the line of Enoch’s shoulders.
She cleared her throat. “Perhaps we could save such discussions for another day? Today feels like a time for celebrating what’s ahead, not worrying about distant obligations.”
Her mother patted her hand. “Mandie’s right. Though I must say, the thought of my daughter as a duchess...” Mama’s voice carried a note of wonder mixed with pride. “It’s almost too much to fathom.”
“Mama.” Mandie laced her tone with a warning.
Enoch’s quick glance back flashed gratitude in those warm blue eyes.
They’d traveled perhaps an hour—the latter part filled with blessed quiet as her parents took in the beauty around them—when one of the horses nickered and Enoch’s head snapped up, his whole body going alert.
A horse and rider appeared around the bend, approaching at a steady trot. James.
Enoch reined in the team, and James halted his mount ahead of them since the trail wasn’t wide enough for him to come alongside.
“All quiet in town. We asked around, and no one’s seen him since you all came through the first time.” He nodded to Mandie’s parents, then focused back on Enoch. “Robert stayed to keep an eye on things, just to be sure.”
“Good.” Enoch nodded, though his grip on the reins didn’t relax. “Thomas there yet?”
James shook his head. “Not yet, but it’s still early. Should be along soon.”
Enoch nodded, then focused on the team. “Let’s get moving then.”
As the wagon started out once more, Mandie eased out a long breath, letting the tension flow from her chest with the spent air. All seemed to be well.
No sign of Clayton, and soon, she and Enoch would be preparing for their new life together.