Wanted- Developer Read online

  If she did her best to be the wife he wanted and needed, would he come to love her? At least she wasn’t bashing him in the head with her parasols anymore.

  ~~~~~

  “Okay, boys, it’s nearly lunch time. Head home all of you. Find somewhere else to play this afternoon.” Denver ran across the lawn and grabbed Connor, throwing him over his shoulder. “Into the house and wash up, squirt.”

  “Ah, I wanted to play with my friends all day,” Connor grumbled, but laughed as Denver began tickling him.

  “I know, but I have an idea for you and me for the afternoon.” Denver set him on his feet on the porch, keeping hold of his shoulders. “Did you know that a big steam shovel was delivered on a train yesterday? It’s going to dig up the streets so we can put pipes down. I thought you’d like an up-close look at it. I can’t do that with all your friends, but I can show you.” He tapped Connor on the nose.

  “Wow, yeah, that’s better than playing with them.” Connor ran into the house. Denver heard the boy running up the stairs and Belle’s voice calling, “Walk.”

  Laying the folder he’d brought from the office on a side table, Denver headed to the kitchen. Belle was facing the stove and Geneva was setting the table. He put a finger to his lips, causing Geneva to smile.

  “I’ll go get Neva,” the older woman said.

  He stepped up behind his wife and slipped his hands around her waist, planting a kiss on the back of her neck. She jumped slightly, startled, then relaxed, leaning back against him.

  “Don’t scare me like that.”

  He could see a smile on her lips so he knew she wasn’t truly upset.

  “I thought you were going to be at the office all day.” Belle pushed back against him to move him away. She bent and took a pie out of the oven.

  “I decided I wanted to spend the day with my family. Thought we’d go and see the steam shovel. Connor liked the idea when I told him.”

  “He’ll love that. Neva will too.”

  There was a look in Belle’s eyes he hadn’t noticed before. It seemed to be both doubtful and hopeful at the same time. He wondered what that was about. Wanting to reassure her, Denver began to pull her to him. The clatter of feet running down the hall stopped him. Belle dropped her head and her forehead rested on his chest as she sighed.

  Neva burst into the kitchen. “Bama got me. Is lunch ready? I’m hungry.”

  “Go wash up. Connor is upstairs already. By the time you are done it will be on the table.” Belle stepped away and looked up at him. “You go wash up too.”

  Denver smiled, kissed her on the nose, and followed Neva from the kitchen.

  ~~~~~

  Belle snuggled against Denver in their bed that night. They’d had a fun afternoon, just the four of them. Geneva had shooed them out as soon as lunch was finished, saying she would do the dishes and was going to take a nap.

  “Thank you for taking the children to see the steam shovel and answering all the questions. They had lots of fun. They liked the candy you bought at the mercantile too.” Belle laid her head on his shoulder.

  “I had fun, did you?”

  “I did. You hadn’t told me all about how steam shovels worked. It was interesting.” She sighed. His hand rubbing up and down her back was soothing. “You know, it’s going to be so strange when they tear down the mercantile. It’s been there ever since I can remember. My father would give me a penny once in a while and I’d get to walk to the store by myself and get a piece of candy. Nearly everything has been moved to the tent.”

  “You know, as awful as the fire was, and all the destruction, it has given Silverpines a lot of opportunities,” Denver said into her hair after he kissed her head. “I hate that so many lost their businesses, but I see an excitement as they plan to rebuild. With the reconstruction and the city services, there will be a lot of job opportunities. Silverpines doesn’t have to rely on the mine and timber industry as the main employment sources. That will be good for the town. I see people wanting to look forward rather than remaining as they’ve always been.”

  “How do you mean?” Belle asked.

  “Look at the Cutlers. I think they would have stayed in the same building, selling just as they always had. Now, they are changing into a department store and building a separate grocery. That’s the way of the future. I hear someone is purchasing the café and the lot beside it to make a larger restaurant.

  “I’m thinking of writing to the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to see if they would donate the money for a free library in the town. He’s built a number all over the country. It would be good for Silverpines.”

  “Oh, my, that would be wonderful.”

  “Back east, I have my parents’ books in storage. If we can get a library, I’ll have them shipped out and donate them.”

  “You’d do that?” Belle lifted her head and looked at him in the dimness of the lamplight.

  “Of course, I’ve not brought them with me before since I was always planning on changing locations after my job was done. I’m not now.”

  “You mean that we will stay in Silverpines once all the city work is done?” Belle felt her heart beat faster. She’d worried about them having to move away.

  “It’s your home. You’ve lived here all your life. It’s a good town with lots of opportunities. Even if my job with the city ends, I’m sure I’ll be able to find one. We’ll soon be sending out letters to various newspapers around the country telling of the opportunities for new industry coming to Silverpines.”

  “And you didn’t tell me?” Belle pushed up against his chest. He knocked her elbows, causing her to fall back down, then kissed her.

  “Not until now. Who knows, something will come along.”

  “Here I was so worried we’d have to move away. You could have told me.”

  “I’m sorry. How about I make it up to you?” Denver lifted her off him and turned her onto her back. Belle lifted her arms around his neck and kissed him.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Denver followed Connor up the street. Today, he and his new son were having the afternoon together, just the two of them. The previous Saturday, he’d spent the morning with Neva.

  They’d gone to the mercantile tent for some candy after he took her on a tour of his office. She’d wanted to see where her mama worked. So had Molly the doll. They’d had a tea party at his desk. Neva had examined everything in his desk drawer, which he’d had to put to rights Monday morning. Neva had loved every minute they’d been together. His heart had just about leapt from his chest when she put her arms around his neck and thanked him by kissing his cheek.

  “Where are we going?” Connor turned around and was walking backwards.

  “Watch where…” Too late. Connor had tripped over a clod on the street and fallen on his knees.

  “I’m okay.” He jumped up, brushing the dirt off his pants.

  “Do you remember my speech at the social?”

  “No, I wasn’t listening. I was watching them dish up the ice cream.”

  Denver laughed. “I’m sure that was much more interesting. Since you don’t know, I’ll keep it a secret until we get there.”

  “Ah, come on, tell me.” Connor ran back to him.

  “Okay.” Denver grinned. The boy was warming up to having him as his father, and Denver loved it. Loved him. “See over there?” He pointed to an area where some trees had been cleared at the edge of town.

  “Uh huh.”

  “That’s going to be the baseball diamond. Once it’s all cleared and the fences made, you guys can come over here and play ball. I’m hoping it gets done by the Fourth of July. Then we can have a game at the city festival.”

  “Wow! And I’m the first kid to see it. Thanks, Daddy.” Connor grabbed his hand and started pulling.

  Denver nearly stumbled. It was the first time Connor had called him that. It felt so good.

  When they arrived, he could see that more progress had been made since the last time he’d been there. All the trees
in the infield had been removed and the area cleared of debris. He showed Connor where the bases would be and watched him run around.

  “How far will the field go? How far will I have to hit a ball to get a home run?”

  “Let’s go pace it out.” They started at home plate and walked straight across the field and into the trees. “Right about to here.” Denver turned and saw that Connor had stopped a ways back and was looking up a tree. “What are you looking at?” Denver jogged back to him.

  “Doesn’t this look like the best climbing tree ever?” Connor asked.

  Denver looked up dubiously. “I don’t know. I’ve never climbed a tree.”

  Wide-eyed, Connor’s jaw dropped. “Never in your whole life?”

  “Nope.”

  “Well, do you want to now? This one looks like it would be good for a beginner.” There was no way Denver could refuse the expression of hope in Connor’s eyes.

  Denver examined the tree. The trunk was split into two near the base. It would be easy for both of them to get up into. One trunk went more straight up, the other leaned at an angle. It would be easier to get into the branches.

  “Let me boost you up. Then I’ll come after you.” He lifted Connor and set him in the crook of the trunk. The boy scrambled up to the lowest branches. It looked easy enough. It was a good thing Belle had suggested wearing his oldest clothes.

  They climbed to where the trunk thinned into branches that didn’t look as if they could hold Connor, let alone Denver.

  “Look how far we can see. I can see Cutlers’ house.” Connor pointed. “It’s between those houses.” He turned, looking the other way. “There’s my school and the inn.”

  There was a cracking sound. The trunk inched down. Denver grabbed Connor. More, louder cracking was heard. The tree slipped down with a jerk. Another jerk, a sound like a gun firing, and they were falling.

  Denver held Connor tightly to his chest. When they hit the ground, Connor was on top, as he’d planned. Within the noise of the tree crashing to the ground, Denver heard another crack and knew his arm was broken. The pain was immense. Connor scrambled off him.

  “Get away!” Denver shouted, and shoved the boy as a large branch fell on top of him. Just before he lost consciousness, he was able to weakly say, “Get help.”

  ~~~~~

  Belle was playing with Neva, Opal, Grace, and Ida Cutler. They’d laid a blanket out in the front yard and were having a tea party complete with tiny cakes and lemonade. Each girl had a doll sitting next to her. The girls’ cat, Kitty was lying in the middle of the blanket, much to their delight.

  A cry of “Help! Help!” broken with sobs had Belle look up sharply. It was Connor’s voice. She scrambled onto her feet and ran to meet him.

  “What’s wrong?” She grabbed him to her.

  “Daddy’s hurt. The tree fell. It’s my fault,” Connor wailed.

  “What happened?”

  “We climbed a tree and it broke. A big branch fell on Daddy. He’s under it.”

  Geneva appeared next to them, as did Clay, Ryder, and Nathan Cutler, and Luther. They’d all heard Connor’s cries for help.

  “Where?” Clay asked.

  “At the baseball field.”

  Geneva took Connor in her arms. “You go. I’ll tend him.”

  “Nathan, get Doc Childs. Ryder, come with us. We may need your strength to help move the branch.” Clay put an arm around Belle’s shoulders.

  She was numb. She couldn’t think. Memories of a year ago when the earthquake shook the town and the sound of the mine collapsing tore through her mind.

  No, Lord. No. I can’t lose him. I can’t go through it again. I never even told him I loved him. Over and over she prayed as they ran to where the baseball field would be.

  They crossed the infield and entered where the trees hadn’t been removed yet. “There he is,” Luther yelled, sprinting ahead.

  Belle saw the white of his shirt and broke away from Clay. She knelt by his head, and brushed the hair from his forehead. There were scratches on his face. A bruise was forming above his eye. A branch must have struck him there. Debris from the tree littered the ground. A large branch lay across his legs. Smaller branches and twigs covered him.

  “Let’s see if we can get this off of him. Belle, you need to move away. I don’t want you getting hurt when we move this.” Luther lifted her to her feet and moved her out of the way. She stood back, one hand pressed against her mouth, the other her stomach.

  Ryder, Doc Childs, and Pastor James arrived with a stretcher. Soon, the tree was off Denver and Doc was kneeling next to him. Luther pulled her into a hug. Belle wished he would tell her Denver would be all right rather than stand silently with her. Victoria Garrison, Luther’s wife and Belle’s friend, came and took her back a ways, murmuring comforting words and prayers.

  “He’s alive. His left arm is broken. I can’t tell yet if his legs are from the impact of the branch on him. The bump on his head is getting larger, which is good. Let’s get him on the stretcher and back to his house.”

  ~~~~~

  Belle was pacing in the upstairs hall. Doc had kicked her out of the bedroom. She hated not being with Denver, but knew she’d just be in the way. Lacey Lou, who helped at the clinic as a nurse, was at the house when they arrived. She was with Doc, tending to Denver.

  Footsteps coming up the stairs made Belle look that way. It was Geneva, who came and hugged her. “Any word?”

  “Doc doesn’t think it’s too bad. Doesn’t think there are any internal injuries. At the least, a broken arm.” Belle couldn’t go on.

  “Sweetie, you need to talk with Connor and Neva. They are very scared. Connor keeps saying it’s his fault.”

  “Why?”

  “Seems it was his idea to climb the tree. If he hadn’t suggested it, Denver wouldn’t be hurt now.”

  Belle leaned against the wall and tipped her head against it. “It’s not his fault. Accidents happen. I’m not sure me telling him that will convince him.” She pushed off and went downstairs.

  The children sat next to each other on the davenport in the parlor. Big sad eyes pleaded for good news. She wished she could tell them everything would be okay. That Denver was going to be fine. Until she knew for sure, she didn’t know what to tell them.

  Connor’s eyes filled and tears slipped down his cheeks. “I didn’t mean for him to get hurt. I didn’t know the tree was going to break.”

  Belle picked him up and sat with him on her lap. “I know. Daddy didn’t either.” Neva leaned into her side. Belle put an arm around her.

  “He’s going to hate me.” Connor leaned against her and began to cry in earnest.

  She kissed his head. “Shhhh. He won’t. It was an accident. He’s going to love you just like he always has.”

  “I told him that, Mama, but he doesn’t think so. I can tell.” Neva’s comment pulled a soft smile on Belle’s lips.

  They all looked up when they heard someone coming down the stairs. Doc Childs came in. He sat on a chair. Belle prayed what he was going to tell them wouldn’t upset her children more than they already were. Especially guilt-ridden Connor.

  “He’s pretty banged up, but he’ll get better. It will take a while, but he’ll be fine in time. There’s a break between his elbow and wrist. I’ll put a cast on it soon. I don’t think his legs are more than bruised, but it’s bone deep. They’ll hurt for a long time.” He looked at Connor and Neva. “You won’t be able to climb on him until he’s better.”

  “But he’s going to be okay?” Connor’s voice was shaky.

  Doc smiled. “Yes. He’ll have a lot of aches and pains, but he’s going to be fine.”

  When he looked at Belle, she knew he wanted to speak with her privately. She hugged Connor and Neva, then got up and followed Doc up the stairs. They stopped in the hall by her bedroom door.

  “He hasn’t regained consciousness yet, but I expect he will soon. He’ll have a massive headache.” Doc went on to explain what he expect
ed Denver to feel like and what his treatment would be. Belle was glad Lacey Lou would stay the rest of the day. At the moment, there was no way she’d remember what Doc was telling her.

  They entered the bedroom. Belle nearly collapsed. He looked so pale. The lump on his forehead was much larger and was turning a dark shade of purple. His arm was in a splint, the fingers swollen and bruised. She looked at Doc, then Lacey Lou.

  “He’s going to be a sight, isn’t he?” Lacey Lou asked. “It will all fade, and he’ll be his handsome self in no time.” All Belle could do was nod.

  Doc picked up his medical bag. “I’m heading home. If you need me, you know where I am.”

  Lacey Lou picked up the clothing they had cut off of him. “I’ll take these downstairs.”

  Soon, Belle was alone. She could feel the cool wetness of tears on her face. A chair was next to where Denver lay. She sat down and picked up the hand on his unbroken arm and pressed her lips to it, bringing it to her cheek. “Please wake up soon. The children are worried. Connor thinks it’s all his fault. I need to see those hazel eyes I love so much.”

  ~~~~~

  Denver hurt all over, especially his head. And his left arm. And his legs, his back. Everywhere. He knew if he opened his eyes, the light would make his head ache worse. He thought he was in his bed, but didn’t want to do anything to confirm it.

  He heard a soft sob, then footsteps approaching, the quiet scrape of a chair as someone sat on it. Then his hand was picked up and kissed. Wetness touched it as he felt skin pressed against it. Belle, he thought.

  “Please wake up soon. The children are worried. Connor thinks it’s all his fault. I need to see those hazel eyes I love so much.”

  “I love yours too.” His words were barely above a whisper. Any louder and his head might burst.