Destiny's Embrace

  Mariah turned to see a short little man with a mustache that nearly dwarfed his face.

  “Name’s Jim Deeb. I’m the president of the cattlemen’s association.”

  Beside him stood a very tall, terse-faced woman in a green gown, and wearing a hat way too large to be flattering. “And I’m his wife, Felicity,” the woman stated clearly and coolly.

  Mariah was a bit thrown by the woman’s tone. “Pleased to meet you both.”

  “Likewise,” Felicity replied. “Logan. Naomi.”

  Both nodded greetings, but Felicity didn’t linger to chat. “Come James. Looks like the church will be crowded, and I don’t want to have to fight to get a seat.”

  He didn’t balk, but as he departed, he shot Mariah a bold wink.

  That threw her as well, and she saw Logan’s jaw tighten and his eyes narrow.

  Naomi cracked, “If Felicity had seen that wink, he wouldn’t be able to see out of that eye for a week.”

  Logan chuckled. “I agree.”

  Naomi added, “But Felicity’s right about the crowd. Apparently word’s gotten around about Logan being here this morning. Everybody’s wanting to see if lightning’ll strike.”

  Mariah turned to see how Logan was taking the dig. He was smiling. She decided then and there that she wanted Naomi Pearl as a friend.

  Logan said, “Then let the lightning begin. Ladies?” He offered his arms to both. Naomi grinned and didn’t hesitate. Mariah didn’t either.

  As Felicity predicted, the church’s interior was full. They managed to find a seat on one of the wooden pews toward the back. Trying not to be overwhelmed by all the interest their entrance garnered, Mariah sat beside Logan while Naomi flanked him on the opposite side. Mariah recognized a few people from Feather’s party who sent her smiles and nodded greetings, but most of the faces were unfamiliar.

  Naomi leaned over and said quietly, “You and Logan are causing quite the stir, Mariah, but folks here are fairly nice, so don’t be put off.”

  Mariah took the advice to heart, but in an effort to calm her nerves and not be intimidated by all the whispering and looks, she pretended nonchalance as she scanned the surroundings. There was a pulpit, a small choir box, and a beautiful wood altar rail, polished until it shone. The four windows, two on each side, were plain, not stained glass like those at her church back home, but they were opened to let in the morning breeze.

  The organist was Beattie McDowell. He took his seat, and when he began the opening strains of the processional hymn, everyone stood. The small five-member choir, which included Dex Sawyer, slowly marched up the center aisle, singing as they went. They were followed by Reverend Paul Dennis. If he noticed Mariah, he gave no indication.

  To her surprise, Eli entered their pew. He slid in next to Naomi, who acted as if he were invisible. He didn’t appear to mind, and offered Mariah a polite nod.

  Because the service was very similar to the ones she’d attended at her home church back in Philadelphia, she was familiar with the prayers and responses. When the time came, Reverend Dennis gave a nice sermon on the power of prayer. He stayed on message, and didn’t go too long, just as Beattie promised.

  After the sermon, the service continued, and Beattie stood up to read the announcements. He announced the times for the upcoming week’s meetings of the usher board, the ladies’ auxiliary, and choir rehearsal.

  “Now, do we have any visitors?” He looked specifically at Mariah. “Mrs. Cooper, why don’t you stand and introduce yourself?”

  Everyone in attendance turned her way. She fought down her nervousness and stood. “I’m Mariah Cooper, and I’m originally from Philadelphia.”

  She was welcomed with applause. Smiling, she took her seat. When she glanced up at the reverend, she saw sadness in his eyes before his gaze slid away.

  Beattie then asked, “Mrs. Cooper, who’s that stranger sitting next to you?”

  The congregation laughed.

  Appearing amused, Logan nodded a greeting, then got to his feet. “Although Mrs. Cooper came out here to be my housekeeper, she’s graciously agreed to be my wife. We’ll be marrying in October and you’ll all be invited.”

  A woman cried, “No!” which brought on a few snickers, but the deafening applause and words of congratulations that followed made it difficult to determine who the person might’ve been, and frankly, Mariah didn’t care. Although she and Logan hadn’t talked about setting a date, she assumed he’d chosen the month of October because it held her birthday. Such thoughtfulness made her love him all the more.

  When Logan sat down, Eli leaned over and shook his hand.

  Naomi said softly, “Congratulations, you two.”

  Eli turned to Naomi with a knowing smile, which she pointedly ignored. The reaction caused Mariah to wonder what their story might be.

  Once all the hubbub died down, the service continued.

  After church, Logan left Mariah in the care of Naomi and went in search of Reverend Dennis. He found him in the church’s small office. “Paul?”

  “What can I do for you, Logan?” His voice was as frigid as his eyes.

  “Why’d you come out yesterday? Did you want something?”

  “Frankly, yes. I came to make sure Mrs. Cooper and I were still on for dinner this evening, but I could see that she was, shall we say, occupied. My congratulations, by the way.”

  He didn’t sound sincere in the least, but Logan didn’t call him on it.

  Paul removed his robe and hung it on the tree in the corner of the room. “Since it’s common knowledge that I’m looking for a wife, I was naïve enough to believe you’d let me at least try and court her. Should’ve known better.”

  Logan’s lips thinned. He wasn’t going to apologize.

  “And if you’re worried about me telling anyone what I saw, don’t worry. I won’t. Anything else?”

  “No.”

  “I’ll let you know about the new teacher committee next week.”

  “Thanks.” With that, Logan turned and walked out. He and Paul had always gotten along. Now, he had no idea what the future held.

  Mariah was enjoying being introduced around by Naomi and Eli to the members of the congregation gathered outside. Eli soon left them to speak with some of the men, so she and Naomi strolled on. A couple of women they approached stuck their noses in the air and walked away. Naomi explained that they were among those who’d hoped to have Logan for themselves one day, but now that he was no longer on the market their hopes were dashed. “As if he’d paid them any attention before you came,” she added sarcastically.

  Mariah saw Dex Sawyer, but he walked by her without a word. She assumed he was still angry at her for not liking his song. Beattie McDowell sought her out and offered sincere congratulations on her upcoming marriage, as did Orville Rose. “Hope you and Logan will be as happy as me and my Maebelle were.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Rose.”

  He moved on, and Silas Cook approached. He looked angry.

  “Hello, Mr. Cook.”

  “Don’t you hello me, girl. You led me on.”

  Naomi eyed him with surprise while Mariah sighed. “I told you I wasn’t interested.”

  “And I told you I was coming back so we could have dinner!” he shouted. His voice was loud enough to make people stop and stare.

  “Don’t you dare shout at me!”

  “I’ll shout all I want. Come here!” He grabbed her by the arm only to have a fist suddenly explode in his face. He was out cold before he hit the ground.

  A seething Logan stood over him. “Are you okay?” he asked Mariah.

  “I am.”

  “He didn’t hurt you?”

  “You didn’t give him time,” she pointed out.

  Naomi chuckled.

  “Good. I’m ready to head home.”

  “I think you are, too. Thanks for coming to my rescue.”

  He took her by the hand. She gave Naomi a quick wave. As he led her away, applause broke out.

  After h
anding her up into the buggy and getting them under way, he cracked, “See why I don’t come to church?”

  That afternoon, she was seated in her courtyard working on Feather’s sketches when Logan stepped out to join her. He looked at what she’d drawn. “I like that.”

  “I’m hoping Feather will, too.”

  “I spoke with the reverend. He’s promised not to tell anyone about what he saw.”

  “That’s kind of him,” Mariah said. “Are you two still friends?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  She stood and put her arms around him. “He looked very sad when you made the announcement.”

  “I know.”

  “I love you, Logan.”

  “I love you, too, querida.”

  Later, Logan left her to attend the monthly meeting of the cattlemen’s association. The election of the new president was on the agenda and only two names were on the ballot. Logan’s and current president Jim Deeb. The price of beef was falling. Logan and a few other ranchers wanted to explore agreements with distributors in the East as well as some in Mexico, but Deeb’s ties to their current distributors and the kickbacks he’d been receiving for his loyalty were hemming in the members.

  The meeting was held at Deeb’s place and when Logan entered, he was greeted with congratulatory handshakes and pats on the back for his upcoming nuptials. He responded graciously and glanced around the room to see who was in attendance. The only man who appeared to be missing was Silas Cook. Logan hoped he was still out cold on the grounds of the church.

  Eli approached and Logan asked him quietly, “How do you think the vote’s going to go?”

  “With any luck, the way it should. Everybody’s had enough of Deeb and his strutting around.”

  Logan agreed. “So, are you any closer to a wedding day of your own?”

  “Doesn’t look like it, but I’m not giving up.”

  Naomi was making Eli pay for trying to keep her on a string with two of his other women, and his efforts to make her jealous by bringing another woman to her diner for a meal. “Have you tried writing Naomi a song?”

  “A song?” he echoed sounding confused.

  Logan chuckled. “Never mind. I’ll explain later.”

  Deeb called the meeting to order. The old business was dealt with first, which included a discussion of the current legislation concerning water rights, bovine health issues, and landowner disputes. Logan thought about Arnell Wiley and his trespassing dairy cows. So far the repaired fence hadn’t been breached. He was hoping Wiley had gone somewhere and bought himself some good sense.

  Once the old business was taken care of, they moved on to the election. Deeb stood up to give a speech, but one of the ranchers, a man named Tom Foster who didn’t care for the president any more than the rest in attendance, cut him off. “No speeches. Let’s just vote.”

  Deeb looked angry, but a quick show of hands supported Foster, so the vote was held. When the ballots were counted, the final tally put Logan on top.

  “I want a recount!” Deeb demanded.

  Eli, who’d been one of the counters, shook his head. “You got three votes out of the thirteen here. A recount won’t make much difference, Jim.”

  Eli looked to Logan. “You have anything to say, Mr. President?”

  Logan met the eyes of the men counting on him to direct their economic future. “Thanks for the support and votes. We’ll meet next month to talk about distributor alternatives. Until then, meeting adjourned. I’ve a woman I want to see.”

  Chuckles melded with understanding nods. They all said their good-byes and Logan rode toward home. He had one more stop to make, however. One he’d been looking forward to since proposing to Mariah the day before.

  He found Alanza currying her mare in the stables and she greeted him warmly, “Hello, Logan. How’d church go?”

  “Other than knocking Silas Cook out cold for trying to manhandle Mariah, it went fine.”

  She stopped. He explained how he’d seen Silas grab Mariah’s arm, but he left out why Silas was upset with Mariah, for the moment. When he finished the abbreviated telling, displeasure filled her face. “Silas has always had manure where his brain should be.”

  He then filled her in on the cattlemen’s meeting and his new position.

  “That’s wonderful. You’ll be a much better leader than that tadpole Deeb.”

  He thought so as well. He then quizzed her for a moment about her day in church and when she was done, he said, “Now, I have some news.”

  “And it is?”

  “I’ve asked Mariah to marry me, and she’s said yes.”

  “Dios!” She grabbed him and began planting joyful kisses all over his face while speaking rapidly in Spanish about how happy she was, how happy they’d be, and her having grandchildren to spoil and love.

  Then she stopped and eyed him critically. “You made me stand here and listen to all those other things about Silas and his manure for brains, and then that tadpole, knowing this is what I wanted to hear first? Shame on you, Logan.”

  He laughed.

  She smiled and her voice turned serious. “She will be a wonderful addition to our name.”

  “Yes, she will.”

  “And I want at least one gold-eyed grandchild, okay?”

  “I’ll be sure to let her know.”

  She opened her arms and he stepped into the hug without shame. They embraced fiercely with a love for each other that had begun when he was six years old and she fifteen.

  She whispered, “Since the day we met, you’ve always had a special place in my heart. Thank you for making me so happy, not just today but all these years. May God continue to bless you, my eldest.”

  “I love you, too, Alanza.”

  When they parted she wiped her tears. “Oh my. My heart is so full.”

  “So’s mine. I’ll head home now. Going to see if I can’t convince Mariah to go to Sacramento in the morning, so we can get a few more things for the house. Do you want us to bring you anything back?”

  “No. Your news has given me all I need.”

  “Good. See you when we return on Tuesday.”

  “Travel safe.”

  Outside, he mounted Diablo, and as he turned the stallion’s head toward home, he heard Alanza back in the barn scream out happily, “Yes!”

  When he entered the house the place was dark. It wasn’t very late but he assumed Mariah was in bed asleep. He saw a faint light beneath the door to his bedroom. Easing the door open as soundlessly as he could so as not to disturb her, he entered and stopped at the sight of her in the tub.

  “Good evening, Logan.”

  His manhood instantly returned her greeting in its own lusty way. “Evening.”

  “I think I’m in love with this tub.”

  “I think I’m in love with the sight of you in that tub.”

  “Care to join me?”

  He was already undressing. While his eyes slid ardently over her dewy body and the way it glowed in the turned-down lamp, he wondered how he might convince her to greet him this way on a regular basis, but once he joined her and the kissing began, all his questions were forgotten.

  Chapter 21

  Logan didn’t have to do much convincing to get Mariah to agree to a trip to Sacramento, so early Monday morning, they set out.

  When they arrived, although the city was smaller than Philadelphia, Mariah enjoyed the many buildings and the traffic and the semi-crowded streets because in a way it reminded her of home. They spent the afternoon looking at furnishings and each purchase was loaded into the back of the wagon. When Mariah was first hired as the housekeeper, she’d resigned herself to furnishing his home for whomever he might marry in the future, but now that the future had come and he was marrying her, the choices would be for her home.

  He spared no expense, which caused a few quiet arguments due to her efforts to be frugal, but he was having none of it.

  “We can afford it, querida, so just buy the damn dining table, please
.”

  She bought the dining table. And the matching chairs.

  By the end of the day, the wagon was loaded down with her beautiful dining table and chairs, a couple of arm chairs, a curio cabinet, tableware and glasses made of fine crystal.

  They spent the night at a small boardinghouse, and in the morning, the shopping resumed.

  “Now, we shop for you,” he told her.

  She started to balk but the look on his face made her close her mouth and walk beside him quietly. He escorted her down the crowded walks to a shop he’d obviously patronized before, because the proprietor, a short, plump, older woman who appeared to be of Spanish ancestry greeted him enthusiastically. “Logan! How are you?”

  “I’m well, Celestine. I want you to meet Mariah Cooper. She’s from Philadelphia.”

  “Oh, she’s so beautiful. Look at those eyes. Welcome to Sacramento, Mariah.”

  “Thank you.” Mariah took a quick look around the shop and saw dresses and hats and other finely made female attire.

  “Mariah and I will be marrying in October, so she needs nightwear and a few other things.”

  Mariah’s eyes widened. Nightwear! She was more than a bit embarrassed by his request. Men didn’t shop for nightwear for their wives, did they? “Logan, I—”

  His eyes gave her that amused look again, so rather than argue in front of the beaming Celestine, she let him have his way.

  “Such a lucky lady,” Celestine told her. “Let me show you what I have.”

  The nightgowns brought out for her to inspect were thin gossamer pieces of confection that would never keep her warm on a cool California night, but it occurred to her that warmth wasn’t the objective. Seduction was. Each beautiful piece was designed to entice and tempt the eye.

  Logan asked, “Do you want to choose the ones you like?”

  Mariah was speechless for a moment.

  “Then I will.”

  While she looked on, he chose so many she wanted to protest wasting so much money on such frivolity, but remembering Alanza’s words, she again kept quiet.

  By the time he was done, she had more gowns than there were stars in the sky, and Celestine totaled up the bill with a smile.