Chapter Twelve
Seth washed his hands for the third time, his fingers brushing nervously against the basin’s edge as he stared at the dirty water. He was waiting, waiting for something that likely wouldn’t come—because he was waiting for something to steady his nerves.
He wasn’t sure why he was so uneasy, but the tightness in his chest wasn’t going away. The butterflies roaming around in his belly wouldn’t stop flying.
He sighed as he rubbed his beard again almost absently, the bristles of hair rough against his palm. He could see the nervousness in his reflection. His jaw was set, his eyes just a bit too wide, the muscles in his neck too tense and his face had gone pale.
What is wrong with you? It’s just Henry. Henry and his wife. But things were different now. They two married couples, yet things between him and Annabelle were much different than what Henry and his wife experienced.
Ever since his marriage to Annabelle, it felt like the world around him had shifted. He’d been fine on his own. For years. He liked it like that.
He worked hard, kept to himself. But now, with Annabelle, things were so much more complicated. He wiped his face with the small white towel on his dresser and combed through his hair again.
He wanted to look nice, but why? For who? Henry? Mary? Or was it Annabelle he was trying to impress?
He grumbled to himself as he ran his comb through his beard.
Maybe it was a combination of all those people.
He wanted Annabelle to feel like she had a man who could hold himself together and entertain with her.
The last time he’d had Henry over at his ranch, there had been no one else to consider, no expectations, no one to impress.
But now, this was their first real company since getting married. Wasn’t that a big deal for women?
He looked himself in the mirror again and scowled at what he saw.
Quickly, he adjusted his shirt, smoothing the wrinkles, even though he knew it wouldn’t make a lick of difference.
Without putting much more thought in it, he grabbed the straight blade that sat next to his basin and started trimming along his beard line.
“Seth!” Annabelle called. She sounded nervous, too.
“Coming!” Was she nervous because of him?
Or was she dreading the entire encounter altogether? Mary was her sister. He thought she’d be delighted to have her own sister over for supper, but then again, she didn’t strike him as the social type.
Still, it had to mean something to her… right?
He was reeling.
Why are you so nervous?
She’d been in the kitchen all day, moving quickly and her eyes had darted to the door every time she had heard a sound.
He had made fun of her a time or two, but now it was his turn.
He trimmed a little more along the edges of his beard before wiping his face off and heading out into the kitchen, tucking his shirt in as he walked. He had to be a better husband. Maybe this was the first step: helping make a good impression.
He could hear the clink of pots in the kitchen and the bubbling sound of something simmering on the stove.
It all smelled good. Annabelle made a heck of a transformation with her cooking.
She was doing it like she’d done it for years.
It was clear she was starting to try. He could see it.
And it made something clench tightly in his chest and a lump form in his throat.
“Do you need help?” he asked, coming in to the dining room to see her pacing.
She shook her head. “Just wanted to see if you might greet them. They should be here soon.” She spoke quickly. Nervously.
Seth nodded, offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile, before stepping out onto the porch. Truthfully, he was desperate for air and welcomed the walk out onto the porch. Why are we both so anxious?
His pacing was interrupted by the distant rattling of a wagon, and raised laughter, drawing quickly closer.
Seth watched as the wagon pulled up the front drive toward the ranch house. Henry and Mary’s voices melded together in a way that was lot easier than Seth’s with Annabelle’s.
It was crazy, really, how natural they made it look.
They seemed so carefree with one another, so loving, and that difference pressed down on Seth more than he thought it would.
Why couldn’t it be that easy with Annabelle?
“Woah…” Henry called out to his team horses as he pulled on the reins.
They came to a halt just off the front porch.
Seth smiled despite his nerves. Since the entire debacle with Turner, he hadn’t stepped foot back in town.
He wasn’t exactly sorry about that, but he did miss seeing his friends.
It was a welcome treat for Henry to come visit with his wife.
Smiling, Seth tipped his hat to them as Henry stepped off, followed by his bride, whom he helped down.
Seeing them smile at each other, Seth felt suddenly happy for his friend.
Proud, even. The two of them seemed to be a picture-perfect couple.
Henry was happy, and so was Mary, and at the end of the day, that was all that mattered.
But somewhere deep down, there was a twinge of envy.
He wished his marriage was a little more like theirs and a little less like… his.
Annabelle was a tough nut to crack.
“Hello, Mr. Whitman,” Mary said sweetly, dimples forming in her cheeks.
“Mrs. Landry,” Seth replied, tipping his hat again. “Annabelle is just inside if you want to head in and talk with her.”
“I’ll do that,” she replied, and Seth watched as she let herself inside.
“I gotta talk to you about something,” Henry said, his demeanor completely changing as soon as his wife was out of earshot. Seth sighed deeply. He already had an idea of what it might be about.
“It’s about Turner,” Henry began. “He’s been causing trouble again.”
Seth let out a bitter snort. “What’s he done this time?”
“He attacked Hazel,” Henry said bluntly. “Yesterday, at the saloon. She was lucky to get away.”
A stone sank in the pit of Seth’s stomach. Hazel belonged to his past. A past he had no intention of revisiting. Not anymore. But he still hated the idea of Turner hurting her.
Hazel Hamilton. That was a name he never wanted to hear again, least of all shouted in the streets.
He hadn’t talked to Annabelle about her yet, either, so it was a name that wasn’t exactly welcomed on a night like this.
Annabelle hadn’t heard about how Hazel Hamilton was his fiancée before the war.
At least, she had been, before she became a saloon girl at Turner’s place while Seth had been shedding blood on a battlefield.
He had come home from the war to hear a lot of bad news.
The hardest news was Ma and Pa and Lilian.
But almost as harsh was hearing about Hazel.
He had been in love with her. And hers had been the worst betrayal he had ever experienced.
Not much better than death. But that was a long time ago, and those feelings had died along with his trust in her.
It seemed like a lifetime ago. Yet he still hated hearing about Turner causing grief.
“That man is out of control,” he muttered. “And somebody needs to put a stop to him. He destroys everything he touches.”
“We will,” Henry promised. “We’ll take care of him one way or another.”
The sound of laughter drew their attention toward the ranch house. Annabelle’s laugh.
Immediately, some of the tension went out of Seth’s shoulders.
There was something about her laugh that did something to him; something he didn’t really even want to admit.
He walked through the front door with Henry and caught sight of both women in the sitting room near the hearth, their faces flushed with mirth.
Annabelle’s smile lit up her entire face, and her eyes sparkled with an ease that was seldom there.
Her sister Mary leaned close, whispering something that sent them both into another fit of laughter.
Seth stopped in the doorway, struck by the sight of his wife.
Happy.
He rarely saw her this way—carefree, light, beautiful. For a moment, he forgot about Turner, Hazel, and the heaviness it all carried.
All he saw was Annabelle—her carefree smile, the way her eyes lit up. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
Mary caught sight of them and waved. “Seth! Henry! Come join us.”
Seth couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. Annabelle didn’t laugh like that often, and when she did, it was a rare gift.
“Come on,” he said, leading Henry into the sitting room. “I was just telling Annabelle,” Mary began, “that we should organize a little celebration for the town next week. Something to bring everyone together. Food and dancing! The works!”
“A celebration?” Seth groaned. “You mean some kind of party?”
Mary nodded. “It’s been too long since the town’s had a reason to celebrate. Let’s celebrate and enjoy one another’s company!”
Ordinarily, Seth would’ve dismissed that kind of idea without hesitation. But Annabelle was smiling still, and that was so rare to see that he found himself agreeing. “That’s a fine idea,” he said.
Mary beamed at Annabelle. “What do you think, Henry?” she asked.
Henry looked at Seth and then back at the women, a smile breaking out on his face. “I agree! I think it’s a mighty fine idea.”
“Wonderful!” Mary squealed. “We can plan it together! With Sophie! Will the two of you have your first dance there?” She wiggled her brows at Annabelle and Seth.
He swallowed nervously. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d danced… let alone with a woman as beautiful as Annabelle.