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PREVIEW
The Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner
Chapter 1
Arizona Territory
India Cunningham tried to blow away the curls that fell across her right eye. She didn’t want to stain her white-blond tresses with the rich red barbeque sauce concocted by one of her ranch hands, Hector Gonzalez. India had no idea what all Hector put in the mixture, but she knew it left a mark on anything it touched. She would have to rub a lot of lemon juice on her hands before they would return to their natural color. Even then, it might take a day or two for the crimson stain to wear off.
Today should have been a good day for the fundraiser for the Cactus Corner Orphanage. This time of spring was usually cool and mild. Not today. A blazing sun beat down, bringing a river of sweat that rushed down India’s spine. She had worn a brown blouse in case some of the sauce splashed on it while she basted the whole steer her foreman, Nathan Hodges, butchered yesterday. While he slowly turned the spit holding the beef over the fire pit, India painted the side nearest her with sauce, making sure every inch of the carcass would absorb the tantalizing flavor.
Hector’s sauce almost guaranteed the success of the event. Cowboys from every ranch for miles around flocked to get their share of the feast and add to the coffers of the orphanage. Today most of the cowhands’ pay would be spent to help people instead of wasted in the saloon across from the general store.
The milling crowd kept even a hint of a breeze from reaching India. She had hoped to escape to the hotel and clean up before the festivities began, but the time for that was long past. Maybe no one would notice how terrible she looked since she was by the fire pit at the edge of the crowd. Wrinkling her nose, she shrugged her shoulders, trying to dislodge the fabric that plastered against the moisture on her back.
“India Cunningham!” Jody McMillan pushed her way through the nearby crowd. “What are you doing still back here?” A frown replaced the questioning expression Jody had worn just a moment ago. “I thought you were going to clean up at the hotel. Didn’t you take a room for that very purpose?”
India watched her good friend try to brush away some of the dust that had settled on the skirt of her own dress. Why ever did Jody wear such a light color to a picnic? Didn’t she know how it would show all the smudges? And all those ruffles would just hold in the heat.
After putting the sauce brush on a plate to catch the drips, India tried to push her hair back with her forearm. The attempt only dislodged the curls for a moment before they fell again. “I haven’t had time to get away.”
“Surely you don’t want everyone to see you like that.” Jody’s hands fisted on her hips as she glared at India.
Just what she needed, to be reminded of how awful she looked after toiling over the barbeque most of the morning. If only Martha had been able to help her husband with the beef. Donating the steer should have been enough of a contribution for India to make, but lately, nothing came easy. For some reason, many of the men in the surrounding area didn’t believe that a young woman could run a ranch as large as the Circle C. She had to prove her abilities to everyone except the hands on their ranch. They knew that ever since she returned from finishing school back East, she had been more in charge than her father.
“Do you want me to do that while you go clean up?” Even though Jody offered to take over painting the luscious-smelling beef, India could tell that she really didn’t want to.
“And get this red stuff all over that dress?” India couldn’t help laughing. “You’d never be able to wash it out.” She thought about what else Jody had said. Besides, there’s no one I want to clean up for.
*****
The loud blast of the train’s whistle announced the arrival of the eastbound in Cactus Corner, Arizona. Joshua stood and lifted his carpetbag from the seat beside him. He would pick up his larger luggage at the baggage car after he stepped down from the stuffy passenger compartment. He ducked his head and stared out the grimy windows. Cactus Corner was not the tiny village he remembered from the summer when he was twelve, but the mountains in the background held the same purplish cast against the clear blue sky. His family had come about this same time of the year, but he didn’t remember it being this hot.
He pulled his attention to the surrounding area. A thoroughfare that intersected the tracks not far from the depot had a sign that said Main Street. People milled around, but many of them seemed to be headed the same direction.
When he stepped down onto the platform, he asked the station master, “Is something special going on today?” Then he noticed the heavenly aroma that made his mouth water and reminded him that it had been too long since he ate.
“Sure is.” The man nodded and his prominent Adam’s apple bobbed in tandem with his head. “A big barbeque and auction. . .to benefit the orphanage.” As Joshua approached the baggage car, the man walked right beside him. “You might want to go over there and get something to eat later. It’s the best barbeque this side of Fort Worth, Texas.”
After retrieving his small trunk and hefting it onto one shoulder, Joshua turned back toward the shorter man. “I have a couple of questions. Where is the hotel, and which way to the barbeque?”
A frown marred the man’s face. “You might not be able to get a room tonight. Lots of folks from outlying areas have come in for the festivities. They take every opportunity to get together when one comes along, since they are few and far between.” He turned and looked down the street. “The hotel’s that way, and a boardinghouse is up there.” The last comment was accompanied by a thumb thrust over his shoulder. “You might get a place there if not at the hotel. If they’re full up, I believe there’s some rooms over the saloon.”
“Thank you.” Joshua wasn’t sure the information was that helpful, but his mother had taught him to be polite. But he was certain that he wouldn’t take the man’s last suggestion. He’d sleep outside under the stars with his trunk for a hard pillow before he would go into that place.
“I could tell you to just follow your nose to the barbeque, but the smell pretty much covers the whole town.” The white-haired man laughed at his own joke. “If you go past the hotel and turn right at the next corner, the church is a couple of blocks down that street. Most of the activities will take place in the open field behind the building. I’ll probably see you there later.”
*****
Getting his name in the hotel registry almost proved the dire prediction of the station agent. After talking until he thought he would lose his voice, Joshua finally procured a room, such as it was. A tiny space the size of a closet in the house he rented in California. The single bed sat beside the wall opposite the door, with both the headboard and the foot almost touching the sides of the room. The space barely allowed the door to open all the way, and a chair sat in one corner. He dropped his trunk on the chair and placed the carpetbag on top. Evidently he would be expected to retire by dark, since the hotel didn’t have gaslights on the wall, and no table to hold an oil lamp or candle could be wedged into the meager space. Hopefully, he would only spend one night here.
Since he left his business suits back in San Francisco, getting ready for the festivities didn’t take him long. After making a stop in the washroom to get rid of some of the travel grime, Joshua set out to find the church. Stretching his legs after his long journey felt good. He took the indicated street and strode on the wooden sidewalk. Even if the stationmaster hadn’t told him how to get there, he would have figured it out. Probably, every person who lived within twenty miles of this town headed the same direction he did.
By the time he reached the church grounds, several people had introduced themselves and welcomed him. Maybe they hoped he would contribute to the cause in a big way. . .Maybe he would.
Cactus Corner must have been built around a spring. Even though he had passed through arid country, this town looked more like an oasis. Trees and sparse grass surrounded the houses he passed, and many of the structures had a few colorful flowers in pots on their porches. He smiled. A pleasant place, for a small town.
A large crowd milled around. People stopped beside several tables laden with handmade items, such as quilts, hand-carved knick-knacks, and even furniture. Many of the women congregated around a display of lacy things and frippery. They chattered and exclaimed over each one they picked up.
Joshua studied the younger ladies, trying to decide if one of them was India Cunningham. When he last saw her, she wore her hair in braids, but strands escaped and curled around her face. Freckles had peppered her nose and cheeks, becoming more pronounced the longer they spent time in the sun. Since she had to be in her twenties now, she might have lost the freckles. He hoped some of them remained. They looked cute on her.
What color were her eyes? He couldn’t remember exactly. She had been like a whirlwind, always in motion. Well, it didn’t matter. Joshua stood to the side and studied every woman with brown hair who passed him. Somehow, he didn’t see anyone he thought was India Cunningham. Should he ask someone if she was here?
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