Chapter 13 #3
He loaded the baggage into the back of the buggy, his gaze sweeping over Sheridan.
She looked like she was barely holding her emotions in check.
And who could blame her? In the course of ten minutes at the most, he heard the words ‘ungrateful’, ‘willful’, ‘disappointed’, and ‘just like your mother’ several times each.
He eyed Odette and Estelle, their faces hard, pinched, and clearly showing their horrible, unhappy natures. “Ladies? Are we ready?”
He helped everyone into the buggy, shook the reins and started the ride home.
“How was your trip?”
“It was horrible! What did you expect? The trains were late, more often than not, and that stagecoach ride was terrible. I saw my life flash before my eyes several times.” Estelle complained, probably expecting some sympathy.
“I’m sorry,” Sheridan murmured.
Odette harrumphed. “And no one was willing to help us or show us the smallest amount of courtesy.”
Wyatt almost scoffed at the comment, but kept his mouth closed. In his opinion, these ladies didn’t deserve courtesy, as neither one of them seemed to be able to extend it.
Sheridan asked after their health and received nothing but more contempt.
And again, Sheridan apologized, though she was in no way responsible, before she lapsed into silence.
He reached for her hand. She looked up at him and tried to smile but failed miserably.
There were tears in her eyes, shimmering against her lashes.
He let go of her hand and reached into his pocket to pull out a handkerchief, which he handed to her, wishing he could wipe those tears from her eyes himself.
And all the while, his anger toward these two women, these harpies, grew.
How could they treat Sheridan like this? How could they not see her as he did?
It was one of the longest rides to the ranch in the history of rides and he couldn’t wait for it to be over. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when he drove the buggy through the gate at the beginning of the long drive.
“What is this place? Where have you taken us?” Estelle demanded to know.
“This is Wyatt’s ranch,” Sheridan said softly.
“Why aren’t we going to your house, Sheridan, the one you inherited? The one you gave up everything to claim?”
“It’s being renovated. I’m going to sell it.”
“Good. You don’t belong here.” Estelle sniffed, her voice dripping with disdain.
Wyatt ignored them and their attitudes. Already, he didn’t like Odette and Estelle.
“Welcome to Stone Creek Ranch. You’ll be staying with us for the extent of your visit.
” He stopped the buggy in front of the house and climbed down, then extended his hand to Sheridan.
She clasped it like a lifeline to her sanity.
It probably was. He leaned in a little, his lips to her ear. “It’ll be all right, Sherry.”
She nodded, but it didn’t seem like she believed him.
Her face remained pale, except for the two bright spots of color on her cheeks, and her eyes, despite the fact that she had wiped them several times with his handkerchief, glowed with tears.
She drew in a shuddering breath, let it out slowly, then turned and extended her hand toward her grandmother. “Let me help you.”
Odette looked at her hand, then at her face. “I don’t need your help,” she snarled before another blistering beratement began. “Dragging me out to this…this…pit of Hades! An old woman like myself. You should be ashamed.”
He noticed that Sheridan’s shoulders slumped, and it was on the tip of his tongue to say that they had invited themselves to Serenity.
Sheridan certainly hadn’t. In fact, he recalled her saying that she didn’t want to see them again.
He certainly understood why. He watched her climb the porch steps, dejected, and his anger rose.
He tamped it down, though why he should, he didn’t know.
Odette DuBois, and her daughter, didn’t deserve any kindness, as far as he could see, but still, he tried.
For Sheridan.
“Grandmother,” he said, but instead of extending his hand to her to help her from the buggy, he simply reached beneath her legs and physically lifted her from her seat. She drew in a startled huff but said nothing as he placed her on her feet.
He looked at Estelle next. It gave him some satisfaction to see the stunned look on her face as she scrambled out of the buggy by herself.
She pulled herself up to her full height, which was just a little shorter than Sheridan, tugged on the hem of her traveling jacket, gave an exaggerated ‘harrumph’ then climbed the stairs to stand beside her mother, who was still staring at him with a combination of surprise and disdain.
He glanced at Sheridan. Her hand was in front of her mouth. He narrowed his eyes and noticed that her shoulders were shaking just a bit and her eyes, which had been tear-filled just a moment ago, were now sparkling with humor.
He gave her a slight nod, then grabbed the first bag out of the buggy and placed it on the porch, just as the front door opened. Delilah and Royce stepped outside to stand beside Sheridan.
“I’d like to introduce you to Delilah and Royce Cabot, my mother and father.”
“Welcome.” Royce gave them each a little bow, then rushed down the steps to help empty the buggy of baggage.
“How do you do?” Delilah stepped forward and extended her hand. Odette looked at it for a moment, then stiffly extended her hand as well.
“A pleasure,” she said, but her voice and attitude did not match her words.
His mother, as gracious as this woman was rude, simply smiled. “I’ve made a nice pot of tea and some Madeleines for your arrival. I heard they were your favorite.”
If Odette was pleased, she didn’t show it. Instead, she glanced at her daughter. “Thank you, but we’ve had a horrible journey. We’d like to rest, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. Please, let me show you to your rooms.”
She led them into the house, holding the door open wide. Sheridan followed, carrying one of the valises.
Royce grasped the handle of another portmanteau and handed it to Wyatt. “Sheridan wasn’t lying when she spoke of them.”
“No, she wasn’t.” He drew in his breath.
“They’re rude and nasty and the things they said about her—and right to her face—is heartbreaking.
” New appreciation for his mother and Royce flashed in his heart.
Delilah would never dream of being so unloving, and that’s what these two women were.
Unloving. Uncompromising. Beyond contemptible.
“Let’s see if we can’t open their eyes a little. ”
Royce laughed. “Not sure that will happen with those two, but I’m certainly willing to try.”