Unexpected

Chapter Three

What had she been thinking? That she would just charge into that argument head long, nosing into business that didn't concern her? Proper ladies didn't speak out of turn. Ladies didn't order men about as if they held authority over them. 

But hearing the way that pompous doctor had spoken to Samuel--Mr. Martin--irritated Caroline. 

Irritated being a light description of what she'd felt. Based on the way her blood still boiled at the thought of her encounter with Doctor Willis, infuriated was, perhaps, a better description. 

Caroline shifted on the uncomfortable bench seat. Wyatt had said that the wagon ride from Blackwell to the McClain's new homestead wasn't far. Edith still wanted to be close to their father. She'd said as much in her letters to Caroline. Yet the distance they'd already traveled seemed like such an inconvenience to Caroline, who was used to living within walking distance of all her friends and her favorite amusements around the city. 

Her mind had turned to Boston's busy streets, when Emmy Lou spoke, "You can't deny your behavior was odd, Caroline."

Rolling her eyes, Caroline muttered, "Mama I'd rather not hear any more about it."

As soon as Caroline had joined her mother and father at the wagon after her tirade against Doctor Willis, Emmy Lou began her questioning. Her daughter's behavior, she said, was so incredibly out of character that she was suddenly concerned that Caroline's constitution was actually worse than her own.

"It's just that I've never seen you act so eager. And you claim you hardly knew that man?"

"I don't."

Wyatt cleared his throat.

"Well, not really," Caroline amended, "I know of him. But he's certainly no acquaintance of mine." Caroline smoothed the folds of her dress, feigning distraction when she could only think of Samuel Martin's alluring smile and handsome appearance. She would do anything to keep from meeting her mother's gaze at this moment.

It wasn't difficult to seem preoccupied as they traveled down one of the few roads leading out of Blackwell toward Edith and Calvin's farmhouse. The wagon jostled the three of them against each other, shoulders bumping and brushing each time the wheels rolled over an uneven spot of earth. But it was better than riding in the saddle. She'd experienced saddle sores throughout her childhood the few times Wyatt had managed to talk her into riding a horse and didn't wish to feel them again. 

"Acquaintance or no, he's a handsome man, and your father tells me he's a widower. A kind rancher as well. You could do much worse."

"Mother! He has a child!" said Caroline, aghast. 

"A child with no mother! A child he desperately needs help caring for! Come now, Caroline you saw for yourself how desperately the man struggled. He needs a woman to help him with that precious little girl," Emmy Lou paused, and then with a suggestive wink, she added, "and along the way he might just find a fancy for you too."  

Caroline's gaze whirled to her mother's conniving stare. She couldn't believe it! Emmy Lou, seriously suggesting Caroline pursue Samuel Martin! He was a rancher, a hard laboring country man. With a child to boot!

Even in her confoundment, Caroline's mind whirled with possibilities. What would it be like? To fall so willingly into the arms of Samuel Martin? He was a kind man, from what she had observed thus far. Her father seemed fond of him as well, and Wyatt had always been a good judge of character. And Samuel did seem to be struggling with his young daughter, bless his wayward heart. Besides, it wasn't as if he was difficult to look at...