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  Tripp eyed her, and added, “Don’t worry. You won’t be expected to have anything to do with the cattle or horses. That’s Beau and Hank’s world.”

  “Well, what will I be doing?” Clara realized she only knew how to cook and bake, really. Yes, she loved animals, but really had no experience with them. She hoped she wouldn’t be expected to milk a cow. She was used to getting milk delivered every morning, in glass bottles on the front stoop of the house.

  She blinked hard when Tripp said, “If you’re worried about having to milk a cow, don’t be. Hank’s got sisters, and they each have a job. Pepper and Rosemary are the cow-milkers.”

  “Pepper and Rosemary?” Clara asked. “Sisters?” Her mouth went dry. She’d only had Robert, her very much older brother, and wasn’t sure what to expect with so many…sisters.

  Sadie nodded her head reassuringly. “Yes. Nutmeg, Rosemary, Sage, Saffron, Tarragon and Pepper. Their mother, Katie, was a fabulous cook and taught Tripp a great deal of what he knows. She had an herb garden she tended every day, hence the girls’ names. She died not long ago. So they’re all in that big, rambling house, trying to find their way. But they are very sweet girls.”

  Tripp and Sadie exchanged glances before Tripp continued. “It’s been a rough time for them—for all of us, losing Katie. I’m sure Hank will tell you all about it, but we thought it might help for you to be prepared. It’s a full house.”

  Clara’s heart tugged at the thought of a family of that size—any size, really—losing their mother. One that was obviously loved. She wondered how she could help, how she would fit in.

  “You’ll see tomorrow. You’re the guest of honor at the ranch for lunch. You’ll meet everybody then. And you can get to know Hank. I do know that they’re in a hurry for you to get married. I heard there was some sort of timeline in his grandpa’s will that said he had to be married within a month after his death to inherit the property. And that’s soon.”

  Clara shook her head, her mind fuzzy as she tried to piece things together. “I don’t understand why that would be in his grandpa’s will. As a requirement.”

  “Nobody understands it, Clara. This was Katie’s father, and she’s not here to shed any light on why this might have happened. It was a big surprise to everybody, including Beau and Hank. All anybody knows is that a wife is what it will take to inherit the land. And it’s land that Beau feels will be very important to the ranching operations,” Tripp explained.

  Sadie cleared her throat. “Yes, Beau feels it’s important, so it’s important.”

  “Now, Sadie…” Tripp took her hand and squeezed it.

  “I’m sorry. I just have my opinions.”

  Clara and Tripp both burst out laughing. “Oh, so you know that too, Tripp?” Clara said as Sadie narrowed her eyes at them both.

  “Yes, I do. Seems we have much in common, Clara. Understanding Sadie is one of them.”

  “And admiring her, of course,” Clara said with a twinkle in her eye as she looked at her friend and realized how much she’d missed her.

  Clara’s heart skipped a beat as she realized where she was, and what she’d done. It suddenly hit her like a cold burst of air—she was in a different part of the country, completely foreign to her, and soon to be married to a man she’d never met. She shook her head at the strangeness of it all, wondering if she’d made the right decision.

  She was relieved and comforted that Sadie liked Hank and Tripp seemed nice enough, but she sensed that there was more that they weren’t telling her. A wave of exhaustion washed over her and she suddenly longed for a bath—and a bed, just as Sadie had predicted. Closing her eyes and leaning her head back against the seat of the coach, her exhaustion got the best of her.

  “Clara? Clara, are you all right?” Sadie said, leaning forward.

  She slowly opened her eyes, rubbing them with her handkerchief. Tripp’s furrowed brow and Sadie’s frown shook her out of her musings.

  “Oh, please don’t worry. It’s been a long journey, and I’m very tired. I wanted this—I do want this—and I’m very anxious to meet Hank. All of them, actually.

  Her smile felt weak, but it was there. She hoped that after she’d gotten some rest, she might feel a little more like smiling. Right now, though, all she wanted was sleep. Tripp and Sadie fell silent as Clara’s head fell to the side, her mind free of worry—for now.

  Chapter 6

  It was all Hank could do to stay in his skin knowing that his future wife was on her way to Tombstone. When he’d told his father that it was all settled, he’d gotten only a nod in return. His father might be calm, but Hank held his hand over his belly as it tightened with the thought that soon, he’d be married.

  “What’s the matter, Hank? You look green,” his sister Nutmeg said as she hurried into the stables where he was grooming one of the horses.

  “You know exactly what the matter is, Meg. Don’t tease.”

  Meg smiled, tossing one of her braids back over her shoulder as she set down the basket full of eggs she’d just collected and plopped down on a barrel beside her older brother.

  “I know you explained this to all of us at dinner, but I’m not sure it’s the best idea. Is it what you want?” she said quietly, resting her hand on Hank’s arm.

  He looked up at his sister, the oldest of his six sisters and the one he’d always been closest to. She’d been hit hard by their other’s death like the rest of them, but she seemed to have a way of making it through.

  “I don’t know, Meg. I want to stay here and help, but Pa still thinks I need to be out on the trail.”

  “Ah,” Meg said as she leaned back against the stable wall. “You know as well as I do that Pa’s just—well, barely getting by. I’m hoping he’ll come around. But if you think you can go ahead and marry this Clara, it might be best for everybody. Surely for you, getting the property. After that, who knows?”

  Hank stood and nodded at his sister and his stomach clenched. He really didn’t know what was the right thing to do, but something had to change.

  “Thanks, Meg. I’m going to go ride for a while. Be back soon,” he said as he hopped on the horse he’d just saddled, a beautiful white mare that he felt particularly attached to. She’d always been good to him, and he could use some time on his own.

  He rode as fast as he could, away from Archer Ranch and up the slopes of grass now brown with winter, the mare breathing heavily as they stopped under a tree at the top of the knoll. He dismounted and sat under the tree, letting the mare graze freely.

  He thought of his mother, and how much her loss had affected them all. They’d once been a happy family, his mother joyfully raising seven children. He remembered where she was happiest—in her herb garden—and shook off the sorrow.

  He stood and looked around for his mare, spying her across a gully. He laughed at how happy she looked compared to how nervous he was to meet Clara.

  She’d be arriving shortly, he knew. He watched as a stagecoach approached from the far side of the ravine and traveled down the road toward Tombstone. That might even be the stagecoach she was in, he thought as he called for his mare, pleased that she came to him in an instant and nuzzled his chest.

  He hopped in the saddle, giving a brief wave in the direction of the stagecoach just in case it did carry Clara Martin to Tombstone to meet him, then turned to race home. Things would be changing soon enough, but for now, the wind on his face felt good. Let him know he was still alive.

  Chapter 7

  Clara’s eyes fluttered open and for a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was. The terrain out the window had changed again, and she saw what she thought were tall cactuses, based on the pictures she’d seen. She reached into her valise and pulled out a worn book, rubbing her hand over the soft leather that covered it. She opened it to a page with pictures of cactus and tried to match the pictures to what she saw out the window.

  Tripp and Sadie dozed in the seat across from her, Sadie’s head resting on Tripp’s shoulder, and Clar
a smiled. She breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of them so comfortable together, her heart swelling at the thought that she might have something like that too, one day.

  She set the book on her lap and breathed in the cool, fresh air. It was the beginning of spring, and the late winter snowstorm recently before she’d left Chicago made her appreciate the warmth here even more. Out the window, she saw a beautiful stand of trees that were definitely not cactuses. Tall, leafy and very green, she opened her book and flipped through to see if she could find something similar, even a drawing. Not finding anything, she turned to look again, shielding her eyes against the bright rays of the sun.

  At the base of the trees she could see the figure of a man—too far away to see any features, but she could make out a cowboy hat. The man stood, looking at something that was over the horizon, too far away for her to see. He leaned against a tree and put his hand to his mouth. She heard a faint whistle, and couldn’t look away.

  The scene was so foreign to her, and she gasped as she saw a beautiful, white horse slowly walk up to him. It stopped a few feet away, and he held out his hand to it.

  She gasped when the horse moved the remaining distance toward him, nuzzling his chest as he stroked its nose. Mesmerized, she watched him grab its reins and leap on its back, taking off in the opposite direction at full speed after a brief wave in her direction, she assumed to the driver of the stagecoach.

  She was ripped from her thoughts by the stagecoach driver’s yell of, “Coming into Tombstone, folks. Fifteen minutes.” Clara laughed as both Tripp and Sadie sat bolt upright, clearly startled by the shout. Sadie rubbed her eyes then glanced out the window. “Yep, we’re here. And there’s Suzanne to pick us up.”

  Clara spied Suzanne, each hand clasping that of a beautiful little girl who looked exactly like each other. “Oh, my. It’s going to be just the same as growing up with you two, isn’t it?”

  Tripp leaned forward and looked out the window. “Ah, yes. That takes some getting used to. First these twins, Sadie and Suzanne, and then another two with Lucy and Lily.”

  “They are adorable,” Clara said as she leaned out the window, waving at Suzanne.

  “Maybe it’s something in the water around here. Hank has two sisters that are twins, too. Wonder if it’ll be like that with us.” Tripp kissed the back of Sadie’s hand.

  Sadie’s smile wasn’t quite as big as it usually was as her face turned pink and she patted Tripp’s knee. “Let’s not rush into anything there, Mr. Morgan.”

  Tripp raised an eyebrow and winked at Clara. “I think she’s a little nervous.”

  “I am no such thing,” Sadie said, pulling her hand away from Tripp’s and turning toward the window.

  As the coach slowed to a stop, Tripp hopped out, holding out his hand as each of the girls stepped down.

  Clara spotted Suzanne again and rushed to her, grasping her friend in a firm hug. Her smile widened as she bent down, eye level to the two little girls with long, blonde braids hanging down their backs. “And who have we here? And how do I tell you apart?” Clara said, looking from one twin to the other.”

  “Oh, don’t mind them. They’re usually very—“

  “Mama says there is no way to tell us apart, but we know who we are. I’m Lucy, and this is my sister Lily,” said one of the twins, pointing at herself and then thrusting her thumb at her sister.

  Clara put her hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. She hadn’t had much experience with children, but enjoyed being around them when she’d had the opportunity. She looked again for a moment from Lucy to Lily. “Hmm. I bet I can tell you apart. I will practice.”

  Both the girls giggled. “We’re glad to meet you,” Lucy said, making a small curtsy.

  Clara laughed and took off her gloves, shaking their hands and curtsying herself. “So glad to make your acquaintance, Lucy and Lily.”

  She stood and blinked hard as Suzanne stared at her, mouth agape. “I was going to say shy. I’ve never seen them greet anyone like that right away.”

  “Oh, really? I can’t imagine that. They’re so friendly,” she said and looked down as two little hands grabbed hers. She smiled at Suzanne and shrugged.

  “Well, that’s a first,” Sadie said from behind her. “Took me a lot longer, but you’ve always had that way about you.” She smiled, looping her arm through Suzanne’s. “Come on, this way. Tripp’s got your bags and will bring around the buggy.”

  Clara followed her friends as she squeezed the girls’ hands and felt a squeeze back. She breathed deeply, taking in her surroundings. Robert was her only sibling, and she’d grown up with Sadie and Suzanne. They were as close as sisters to her. Being with them now warmed her heart as much as it had back in Chicago, and gratitude washed over her as she walked behind them, Lucy and Lily in tow.

  They’d both wanted to sit next to her in the buggy and talked the entire ride home. Suzanne had turned back once or twice, shaking her head at the girls and shrugging her shoulders. She smiled at Clara, and once said, “Let me know if you need some relief.”

  Clara smiled and paid very close attention to the things the girls were pointing out—the mercantile, Tripp and Sadie’s restaurant, the church, the theater. “This is much bigger than I’d imagined it to be,” Clara said as they pulled up in front of a big, white house with two stories and a big porch wrapped around three sides.

  “It’s even so big you can get lost,” Lucy said.

  “Only if you don’t know where you’re going.” Lily crossed her arms over her chest. “She gets lost a lot.”

  “Do not,” Lucy said, folding her arms over her chest as well.

  “Come on, chatterboxes. Let’s give Clara a little break,” Suzanne said as she reached up into the buggy to lift the girls down, one at a time. “Run into the house and see Daddy.”

  Turning to Clara, she said, “Whew. They really were giving you quite the tour, weren’t they?”

  “I was grateful for it. I really haven’t spent any time out of Chicago, so this is all new to me. It’s a lovely little town. Well, a big town. Bigger than I’d expected.”

  Tripp reached up to help Sadie out of the buggy, then Clara. “It’s grown quite a bit since that silver vein was found. Grew fast. Almost too fast. We’re not really in Tombstone proper, but it’s the biggest place close by,” he said as he tied the leather reins to the post in front of the house.

  “And who lives here?” Clara looked up at the big house and smiled. She’d never had her own house, and now, in her mid-twenties like Sadie and Suzanne, was anxious to have one of her own. She’d grow flowers out front in the spring, and have herbs in the garden to cook with. Her heart fluttered at the thought of a home of her own.

  “This is Suzanne’s house,” Sadie said, looping her arm through Clara’s and pulling her toward the stairs to the porch. “She has more bedrooms here than we do. Tripp’s adding on to our house for..well..”

  “You’re blushing, my friend. Do you mean for children?” Clara laughed and squeezed her friend’s hand. Clara remembered how strong and sure Sadie had always been—but she’d never seen her around a man. Maybe this was different. She’d rarely seen her out of the bakery back home after Suzanne left for Arizona Territory and Sadie took over the business when their parents died. She sighed, grateful that her friend had found a good man, and a good life.

  Sadie turned to look at Tripp, who was smiling widely at her and seemed almost ready to laugh outright. “This woman, I tell you. Yes, we’re adding rooms for children. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to start on supper while you ladies get settled.” He turned to Clara and tipped his hat before holding the door open for the ladies. “I’ll bring Clara’s bags up and set them in the hall.”

  “Goodness, he cooks at home, too?” Clara said, her eyebrows raised.

  Suzanne laughed as she turned at the top of the stairs and ushered Clara into a beautiful bedroom that had obviously had Suzanne’s decorating touch. The calm colors of green, purple and white so
othed her senses and she sat on the bed, a rush of exhaustion coming back as the excitement subsided.

  “He cooks when I let him, and he’s fairly good at it. Mostly, he’s my sous chef at home, but tonight he’s on his own. Wanted to make something special.” Sadie winked at Suzanne and smiled. “You never know with him, though, so I’d better go supervise. I’ll see you at supper after you rest for a bit,” she said with a hug for Clara before she left and closed the door behind her.

  “She sure looks happy.” Clara reached up and took the pins out of her hat and set them on the vanity, resting her hat on a hook by the door.

  Suzanne smoothed out the bedspread and brought some towels out of a drawer. “She sure is. It was touch and go there for a while, but they’ve seemed to find a happy rhythm. The restaurant is wonderful, and I’m sure you’ll be going there soon. For tonight, though, you’ll be getting a Tripp and Sadie original.”

  “Oh, goodness. I hope they’re not going to much trouble on my account.”

  “You know as well as I do, Clara Martin, that Sadie’s in hog heaven cooking for you. And her husband is, too. Trust me. Oh, and Hank will be coming for supper, too. I’ll bring up water for a bath, and you just relax best you can. Been a long journey, I’m sure.”

  “I…I…he is?” Clara’s face flushed and she found herself wringing her hands. She’d known this time was coming but now that it was imminent, the butterflies in her belly had re-awakened.

  Suzanne sat down on the bed beside Clara, smoothing a stray lock of her red, wavy hair back. “I imagine you’re a bit nervous. I sure would be. But, Clara, you know you are like a sister to us. Hank is a very good friend—like a brother—of Tripp’s. Sadie’s gotten to know him even better than I have, and she really believes that there’s something about you two that is special. I trust her, and for now, can you? You don’t have to go through with this if you don’t want to.”