“I see,” Jason said. “My house is across town and not close to the creek. You may not be able to see him often.”
As Ben’s face pouted, Jason blurted, “But we could get a dog?”
Charity looked at him with raised eyebrows, and Jason shrugged. “I had one when I was a boy.”
Both children exploded off the floor and ran to Jason.
“A dog. For real, Mister Jason?” Ben shouted.
“I want a dog, too, please,” Annie said as she tugged on Jason’s arm.
Charity bit back a laugh as Jason did his best to calm the excited children.
“I think,” Jason began, “that we can get one dog, and everyone can share. We can find someone who has puppies, and the two of you can choose one as long as you promise not to quarrel when we pick one out.”
“I won’t,” Annie said. “I’m going to call it Dog.”
“That’s a dumb name,” Ben countered. “You can’t just call a dog Dog.”
“It’s not,” Annie insisted. “I like it.” She turned her back on Ben and marched back to her chair and began whispering to her doll.
“Welcome to my family,” Charity said as she watched Jason fidget in his chair. “Have you changed your mind yet?”
“Never,” Jason insisted. “These two bring humor and excitement into my life.”
“They can bring much more than that. Just give them time.”
“I’m prepared, I think,” Jason told Charity while still having a befuddled look on his face.
Charity said, “The coffee should be ready. Come into the kitchen, and we’ll have some pie.”
“I think I need some coffee after this conversation,” Jason answered as he followed her out of the parlor.
The kitchen was silent as the children enjoyed their pie and milk. Jason’s heart swelled with love as he looked at his beautiful fiancée and knew that no matter what life would bring their way that being with her and the children was far better than being without them.
“No more thoughts about us or the wedding,” Charity asked as she collected the dirty plates from the table.
“I don’t think so. Ben and I will handle the suits. You and Annie seem to have the dresses and church decorations in hand, and my parents will take care of the reception. Pastor Elkins will announce the wedding in church the Sunday before and let the town know everyone is invited to come to The Paradise after the ceremony,” Jason explained.
“Are you sure inviting the entire town won’t cause chaos?”
“It can’t be any worse than a barn dance, and I’ll make sure no one spikes the punch. We can ask the hotel to keep the bar closed during the reception. Keeping it closed for a few hours in the afternoon won’t hurt the hotel any,” Jason assured Charity.
“It seems as if you’ve planned everything carefully.”
“Of course, it comes with my job. I need to foresee any problems and make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Our wedding will be well-planned, and I can’t imagine we’ll have any problems.”
“Shhh,” Charity admonished. “Never say that. As soon as you do, something will happen or go wrong with our plans.”
Jason winked and shook his head. “Don’t worry. It’ll all work out, and you’ll see you fretted over nothing.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Chapter 9
Two weeks later, with wedding plans well underway, Charity was busy back at work at the café. She and Holly had finished putting away the clean dishes from breakfast when a freckled-faced boy hurried into the café, waving a yellow slip of paper.
“Miss Charity,” he called. “Miss Charity, I have a telegram for you.”
Charity took the yellow slip, gave the boy a coin from her apron pocket, and thanked him. He smiled at her and asked if he should wait for an answer.
Charity read the telegram and shook her head. The boy nodded and hurried from the café.
Shaking her head as she walked back into the kitchen, she spoke to both Joseph and Holly. “This is rather strange. It’s from a friend of Gertrude’s saying that Gertrude will arrive on today’s stage. Why would Gertrude come back here after all these years, and why not let me know earlier?”
“Who’s Gertrude?” Holly asked.
“She’s Charles’ sister. She hasn’t lived here since she turned eighteen, and she hasn’t been back since Charles’ funeral.”
Joseph added. “She’s a spinster schoolmarm in Cheyenne and fits the description well. I wouldn’t want to be one of her students.”
“Joseph, that isn’t nice. She’s a bit forceful, but she’s had to live on her own in Cheyenne all these years. I think she’s a strong person,” Charity admonished.
Joseph snorted. “She’s ten years older than you are Charity and thinks she can run everyone’s lives. Remember the way she tried to convince you to allow her to take the children to Cheyenne after Charles died because she didn’t believe a young widow could properly care for children? She believed men would occupy all your time.”
Charity blew out a breath and sat on one of the chairs near the back door. “Yes, I remember. We were all grieving, and I don’t believe she was thinking clearly.”
“She’s a busybody to put it politely, and I would be careful if I were you. She didn’t come here for a social visit. She’s after something. Did you write and tell her you were marrying Jason?”
Charity bit her lip and slowly nodded. “I did, but only as a courtesy. I didn’t expect she would come to the wedding.”
“Mark my words,” Joseph insisted. “She didn’t come for the wedding; she came to cause trouble. I’m not sure what or how, but she never does anything without it benefiting her.”
“I suppose we’ll know in three hours when the stage
