The Nanny Proposal, page 5
Miz Caroline heaved a heavy sigh as she closed the distance between them, a scowl on her face for her daughter. But her expression softened as she touched the boy’s shoulder. “I believe you could do it. But I could use help taking boxes to the kitchen. Would you mind? It’ll take strong arms.”
Henry’s chest puffed out, and he gave Jennie a satisfied smirk.
Miz Caroline had brought food from the café that wouldn’t keep. Hazel suspected supper would consist of leftovers. Not that she minded, if it was anything like the food the kind woman had generously brought her earlier.
As the boy grabbed a box more in keeping with his size and followed his ma inside, Jennie rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why Ma encourages him that way.” Jennie gave a huff. “Well, let’s get you settled.” She motioned for Hazel to follow her into the house.
“I wish you’d let me carry my satchel,” Hazel tried to argue. “I know it’s dreadfully heavy.” Once inside, she glanced around in wonder at the beautiful carvings and handmade wooden furniture. Miz Caroline had been right when she said they weren’t fancy, but there was no denying the beauty of this home.
Jennie shook her head. “It’s nothing!” But her breathing was just a little too heavy as they climbed the steps for that to be completely true. Shaking her head, Hazel followed silently. At the top of the wooden steps, Jennie turned right. She glanced over her shoulder with a grin. “So, tell me, Hazel O’Brien, do you enjoy no privacy, a lot of company and children crawling all over you at night?” Her blue eyes crinkled. “If so, I have just the room for you.”
A laugh shot through Hazel. “I’m sure I’ll be just fine. Trust me, it’ll be better than sleeping in an alley.” Realizing what she’d said, Hazel cringed as Jennie frowned with confusion.
Trying to explain away the comment would only lead to revealing information she’d rather keep to herself, so Hazel averted her gaze and tried to will away the traitorous blush she could feel creeping up her cheeks.
To Jennie’s credit, she let the subject drop as they stopped in front of a room. “Welcome to our humble abode, cramped though it may be.” Hazel stood in the hallway as Jennie stepped inside. “One set of twins, Josie and Julie, share this bed,” she explained, pointing to indicate. “They’re fourteen next week. Bethany and Bess—short for Elizabeth—share this one. They recently turned seventeen, and they’re both madly in love with a couple of boys who are more interested in riding and roping than courting. Hopefully whispering and giggling won’t keep you awake.” She turned to smile again at Hazel. “The bed by the window is mine. It’s one of the few benefits of being the oldest sister in the room,” she said wryly. “And Ma sent Wyatt out to set up that cot just in case you agreed to squeeze in with us.”
Hazel grinned back as she stepped into the room. It was exactly what Miz Caroline had said it would be: crowded and cozy. Nearly all the space was occupied by three beds, side by side. The cot—which Hazel assumed was for her—sat against the wall. With the wardrobe and a table holding a chamber pot and a washbasin and pitcher, there was barely room to walk without running into something. “I feel terrible putting you all out.”
Jennie chuckled. “Oh, Hazel. You’re probably going to feel a lot more put out than we will. One more person in the room won’t change much for us. But you’re about to sleep in a room with five other people—and there’s a very good chance you’ll wake up to one or two of the little children jumping in your bed.”
“I thought the children were older except for Henry.”
“Henry is the youngest. But my older sister, Sally, moved back in with her two children while her husband stakes a claim out West. She’s with child again, so they didn’t want her to travel all that way until her husband has the household built and the land settled.”
“So, the two children...”
Nodding, Jennie grinned. “Sally and her children are in my old room. Wyatt moved in with Ezra and Louie, and the other two older boys are married and out West. Henry sleeps in an old lean-to for now. Fair warning, my nieces inevitably make their way to our room at least four or five times a week. We never know whose bed they’ll turn up in.”
Hazel smiled as she followed Jennie inside. “It wouldn’t be the first time a child woke me up with a knee to my ribs or an arm thrown across my face.”
The other woman dropped her satchel on one of the beds. “That’s right, someone mentioned that you used to be a nanny. Did you enjoy that?”
An ache drifted through Hazel’s heart as she thought about the three children she’d practically raised. She nodded. “Very much.”
“How old was the child you looked after?”
“Children—there were three. I came to the Wellses’ home when the oldest was only a year old. He just turned eight.”
“It must have been so difficult to leave them. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel when Sally and her girls finally do head West.”
Gathering a shaky breath, Hazel sank onto the cot and nodded. “Yes. But they weren’t my children. And I came here to build a life and family of my own.”
“I’m sorry it turned out the way it did.”
Unable to respond without bursting into tears, Hazel nodded.
“Listen,” Jennie said, sitting on the bed across from Hazel. “I know you’re probably sizzling mad about Ben and Ivy right now—and, trust me, there’s not a person in town who would blame you if you are—but before you leave on the stage Monday, Ivy would like to speak with you. I told her there were no guarantees that you’d agree, but she begged me to try. She truly is a kind and gentle soul. She knew nothing about you until Ben showed her the telegram this morning.”
Averting her gaze, Hazel breathed in and out. “I am not sure there is any reason for us to meet. As you say, I’ll be leaving on Monday. It’s not as if I intend to stay and make any trouble for them.”
“She isn’t afraid of that. It’s just that she feels awful about the way Ben behaved—about the entire situation. I think she just wants to look you in the eyes and tell you that she is sorry.”
The sound of Ben’s name so casually connected to another woman—his wife—formed a vise of pain around Hazel’s heart. Didn’t these people realize that she had fancied herself already halfway in love with the man she had agreed to marry? She was struggling with all her might not to hold any bitterness toward the woman who had taken her place—but meeting her and being forced to listen to her excuses seemed rather too much to ask.
On the other hand, the Averys were being phenomenally kind, and Hazel didn’t want to refuse Jennie’s request outright. “I—I’ll think about it.”
Jennie nodded, then further demonstrated her kindness by changing the subject. “Will you go back to the children in Boston, now that...”
She let her question trail off, but Hazel knew what she meant: now that she had no reason to stay.
Hazel shook her head. “Mr. Wells hired a new nanny just a few days after my...” She would have said “dismissal” but caught herself just in time. “Departure.”
“How unfortunate.” Jennie nodded toward the bed by the window—the one where she’d set Hazel’s satchel. “That’s where you’ll sleep. One of the Js will use the cot, and I’ll sleep with the other one.”
“Oh, please don’t. I can’t push you out of your own bed. The cot will serve me just fine.”
But Jennie had begun shaking her head before Hazel finished speaking. “Ma gave me strict instructions to give you a real bed. And Ma gets what she wants. Always. So don’t even try to argue.” She laughed. “Trust me, you’ll just be wasting your breath.”
“Well, I can’t deny a clean, comfortable bed will certainly be a blessing after so many days traveling. First on the train, then the stagecoach.” She’d spent most nights on the train sleeping while sitting up. Once she boarded the stagecoach, she’d spent one night at an overnight station, and she’d slept on a thin pallet on the floor.
Hazel pushed herself up from the cot and walked to the bed. Opening the satchel, she pulled out the dress that she’d packed for tomorrow. She could only fit one dress, a nightgown, her Bible and another set of undergarments. Best to start getting used to making do with only two dresses from now on. Mrs. Wells had kept her well supplied in expensive hand-me-downs, so her trunk was filled with dresses that would, hopefully, fetch a decent sum. They were hardly worn, even if they were secondhand. Hazel was reasonably sure that if she sold all but two, she could finance her trip home.
“Where may I hang my things?”
Jennie gestured toward the wall above Hazel’s bed. “There are two pegs we emptied for you. We weren’t sure how many dresses you’d be bringing.”
“I just brought one besides the one I’m wearing.” She held up the dress in her hands—blue with little white flowers. “My others are in my trunk.”
“It’s darling. And how fashionable, that it has a bustle.” She smiled broadly. “Ivy made me a gown with a bustle a few months ago, but I haven’t had the courage to wear it yet.”
Hazel narrowed her gaze. “I don’t understand. Everyone is wearing bustles.” At least, everyone in Boston was. It suddenly occurred to Hazel that she hadn’t seen any in town. Were they considered unsuitable out here?
Jennie gave an offhanded wave. “Oh, no one thinks it’s inappropriate, if that’s what you’re worried about.” She took the dress from Hazel and held it up by the shoulders. “It’s just not a fashion the women around here have caught on to yet. But now that you are here, it won’t seem so strange to everyone. We’ll both be the front-page story in the Tucker Springs Chronicle the second Mrs. Green gets a look at us come Sunday.”
Hazel couldn’t help but imagine such a thing. What would it be like to be such a part of community that your choice to wear a new dress would be considered headline news?
It sounded wonderful.
The sound of scrambling footsteps coming up the steps stopped the conversation, and they both looked toward the door. Henry stood there, gulping for breath. “Ma says hurry, the sheriff’s here with Mr. Murphy and Louie.”
* * *
Louie jumped out of the wagon before it had even come to a full stop. Ezra sighed but didn’t bother calling after him. If he tried to scold and say it wasn’t safe, Louie would just nod along and then do the exact same thing the next time he had a chance. There was nothing for Ezra to do but shake his head and follow after Micah Lane—the local sheriff—as they headed toward the house.
Micah had waved him down just as he and Louie were leaving the store to head out to the Averys’ for dinner. It was common knowledge that Micah was sweet on Jennie, but that wasn’t the reason for his trip to the farm. He clearly had a more unpleasant task at hand. While he hadn’t shared the details—given that he planned to tell Ezra and the Averys at the same time—he had let Ezra know that there was some trouble in town and that he was going around to talk to all the business owners.
Will Avery, Miz Caroline’s husband, was waiting to greet them at the door.
Mr. Will nodded toward the sheriff. “Good to see you, Micah. Everything okay?”
“There’s some trouble, I’m afraid.”
“Well,” Miz Caroline said, “why don’t you come on in and have supper with us? The girls have everything almost ready. We’ll go into the sitting room, and you can tell us what trouble has come to Tucker Springs.”
Micah managed a smile at that. “Thank you, ma’am. I sure would appreciate it.”
Jennie had just come down the stairs when they walked inside. “Hey, Micah. What brings you out this way?”
“Come into the sitting room, Jennie,” her father said. “The sheriff is here on official business.”
Jennie’s gaze shifted to Ezra’s and she frowned, her eyes asking a question.
He shrugged, hanging back as the others went ahead into the other room. He glanced past Jennie.
“If you’re looking for Hazel, she’s putting her things away.”
Ezra’s ears warmed at being so easily caught out. “Is she getting settled in okay?”
“I think so. Ask again in the morning after she spends the night in that crowded room.”
“By the way, your ma invited Micah to stay for dinner.”
Jennie blushed. “She’s determined to get me married off.”
“You couldn’t do much better.”
She looked unconvinced. Ezra knew that it wasn’t because she didn’t like Micah. Rather, it was because she hadn’t ever gotten over Ezra’s brother, John. Even though John had fallen in love with someone else before he had died in the war. He wanted to tell her that there was no need to stay loyal to the memory of a man who’d left her behind twice over. But he knew his words would fall on deaf ears. Only Jennie could say when she’d be ready to let John go from her heart. For Micah’s sake, though, Ezra hoped it would be soon.
There was no more time for talk. They each took a seat and looked at the sheriff, who stood in front of the fireplace.
“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Jennie said.
He turned his gaze to her and nodded. “I’m telling all the business owners. There’s been some robberies in town. One last night and one this morning.”
“Robberies?” Miz Caroline frowned. “What do you mean? Who exactly has been robbed?”
“Blake Stone at the leather shop had near fifty dollars stolen from his cash box.”
“Gracious!” Miz Caroline said.
“And Chester left the blacksmith shop unattended for a while this morning, and when he came back he said some of his tools were missing.”
Miz Caroline scoffed. “He better not try to blame Louie for that one.”
Ezra appreciated the support of his second family. The blacksmith was always quick to name Louie as the source of all his troubles—but hopefully even Chester would have to admit that Louie was no thief.
“Well, I haven’t noticed anything missing from the café,” Jennie said. “But I can’t claim to keep too close of an eye out for that. If someone steals food, they likely need it worse than we do.”
Micah’s eyes softened as he looked at her. “And it’s kind and generous to think that way. But anyone who would steal cash or tools isn’t someone who is just hungry and in need of a meal. So be careful when you’re at the café alone after dark.”
Ezra turned to Micah again. “Do you have any idea who might be stealing? I can’t imagine it would be anyone we know.”
“I don’t have a suspect in mind yet. I can’t imagine that anyone in Tucker Springs would do such a thing. But no one seems to have spotted any strangers in town except for the woman who came in on the stage.”
Miz Caroline chuckled. “Well, I can assure you that Hazel has been accounted for every minute since she rolled into Tucker Springs. And the only criminal behavior around here is what Ben Gordon did to her!”
A gasp drew their attention, and Ezra saw Hazel standing midway down the steps, her face drained of color.
“Miss O’Brien,” he said.
“I—I’m sorry to intrude. I heard voices.”
Miz Caroline beckoned her with a wave of her hand. “Come on down, hon. The sheriff was just telling us that Tucker Springs has a thief running around. And apparently,” she said wryly, “you’re the only stranger in town.”
Rather than coming down, Miss O’Brien backed up one step, shaking her head. Somehow, her face turned even paler until Ezra was seriously concerned that she might faint again. “I didn’t. I...I wouldn’t.”
Micah held up a hand to stay her retreat. “I wasn’t suggesting you are the thief, Miss O’Brien. Both robberies happened before the stage got here.”
“Oh, I see.” Miss O’Brien descended the remaining steps, and Ezra noted the color beginning to return to her cheeks. Bewilderment drifted across his mind. Why on earth had she gotten so frightened?
“Ezra,” Micah said, pulling Ezra’s thoughts back to the conversation. “Please take extra precautions. You, too, Miz Caroline.” He turned to Jennie, and his voice got a bit gentler and a bit warmer. “And you. Especially when you’re there alone after dark.”
“Won’t you be there to protect me?” She grinned teasingly, but there was a definite blush staining her cheeks. Ezra smiled, hoping her feelings might finally be shifting. The sheriff would be good to her. Everyone knew how much he loved her.
Apparently oblivious to the undertones of romance between his daughter and the sheriff, Mr. Will frowned at the man mooning over Jennie. “We should’ve been told earlier, before we closed up the café. We might have taken extra precautions.”
“Pa!” Jennie said. “It’s not Micah’s fault.”
Micah shook his head. “No, Jennie, your pa’s right.” He turned to Will. “When it was just Chester reporting the theft, I hoped—assumed, actually—that it was just unruly youngsters and the stolen items would show up when they were done with their pranks. Then Blake stopped by the jail. He was robbed first, but it took him longer to realize because he thought his wife took the money to make some purchases. It was only when he went home to her that he learned the truth and came to report the theft to me.” He shrugged. “I should have taken Chester more seriously.”
“Well, he’s always stirring things up, so it was a natural reaction for anyone. Don’t blame yourself,” Mr. Will replied, his stern look giving way to understanding. One of the older twins showed up at the door and announced that supper was on the table. “Let’s go eat. We can talk about this later.”
While they ate, Ezra couldn’t help but notice that Miss O’Brien barely spoke and barely touched her food. Before he was half-finished, she stood and excused herself. Ezra frowned and caught Jennie’s gaze. She followed their guest, only to return a moment later. “She has a headache.”
Miz Caroline clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “Well, of course she does. She is likely beyond exhausted. Poor thing.” She narrowed her gaze and looked around the table, focusing on her children and grandchildren. “Miss O’Brien has had a very trying journey here and an even more trying day. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior as long as she’s our guest. And girls, you keep quiet when you go to bed. Am I clear?”
