This Calder Range (Calder Saga 1)

“Yes? What is it?” she prompted him to state his reason for stopping her, all regal and haughty.

“By chance, would you have been in Dodge City three years ago?” he asked.

An eyebrow lifted in quizzical surprise. “I was, yes, with my late husband.”

“Perhaps you might recall speaking to a young woman and giving her a bottle of lotion for her skin,” Bull suggested.

Her interest became genuine and sharply curious. “I do remember the incident. May I ask how you learned of it?”

“I spoke to the young woman, Mrs. Calder, this afternoon while I was getting the carriage fixed. She was most grateful for your kindness to her.”

“Mrs. Calder, yes, that was her name.” She nodded, as if his mention of it had prompted her memory. “And she lives around here? What a coincidence!”

“Her husband owns one of the neighboring ranches,” he confirmed.

Lady Crawford was quiet for a thoughtful moment. “Perhaps I could call on her,” she mused aloud, then glanced at Bull. “Do you think she would mind?”

“I think she would be very pleased.” He smiled at how pleased Lorna would be to see the woman again.

“It wouldn’t be correct to arrive unannounced. Would you ride over to her ranch tomorrow and ask if I might call on her the day after?” she asked.

“I would be more than happy to do that for you,” Bull assured her.

“And I will require that you escort me to her ranch the following day. I’ll arrange it with the duke,” she stated.

“Very good.” He made another slight bow as she moved away.

With all the noise that went on at the building site, Lorna didn’t pay any attention when she heard the rumble of a wagon outside their cabin. Webb came racing into the house and charged straight at her. Lorna grabbed the hot iron an instant before he bumped the board.

“Mommy, it’s Aunt Mary!” he exclaimed breathlessly. “She’s come to see us!”

Lorna forgot all about scolding him as she set the iron back on the stove and walked quickly to the door. Webb wasn’t mistaken. Mary and Ely both were both approaching the cabin.

“Webb said you were outside,” Lo

rna declared in surprise. “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I could have baked a pie.”

“There just wasn’t time,” Mary said, then looked at Ely. Both of them were wearing a smile that went from ear to ear. Lorna had the feeling that they were a young couple falling in love.

“Wasn’t time?” she repeated, thoroughly confused by their behavior.

When Mary looked back at her, there was a misting of tears in her eyes. “We’re going to have a baby, Lorna,” she announced.

“You are!” Lorna was shocked and happy, both at the same time.

“Yes.” Her chin bobbed up and down excitedly. “Isn’t it wonderful? After all this time, we’re finally going to have a baby.”

“It’s more than wonderful!” The next second she was hugging her friend as they cried and laughed together.

“I just couldn’t wait a minute more without telling you,” Mary said when she drew back to catch her breath. “Ely was worried about me riding all this way in the wagon, but I knew I’d bust if I couldn’t tell you in person. We’ve waited so long.”

“I’m so happy for you.” Lorna wiped at the tears on her cheek, then reached over to squeeze Ely’s hand. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

She heard the cantering of hooves and looked up to see Benteen riding in. Lifting her arm, she waved excitedly to him. He spied Ely and reined his horse toward the cabin. She barely gave him a chance to dismount before she was telling him the news. When the congratulations died down a second time, Lorna suggested they all come into the cabin for coffee.

While the men were busy discussing ranch business, Mary leaned over to whisper to Lorna, “Is it true that Bob Vernon is getting married?”

“I hadn’t heard anything about it.”