Chapter Four
Trixie nervously tried to smooth her curls down. The entire family was to have dinner with the Fraynes tonight. She stared back at her reflection anxiously. Maybe she should listen to her mother more and wear her bonnet and soak her skin with buttermilk so she wouldn't have so many freckles. Of course, Jim had freckles, she thought with a smile, and she liked them on him.
"Trixie, hurry up!" Bobby yelled.
She winced. Mart was assigned to Bobby duty as her parents expected her to converse with the Fraynes. Trixie was nervous enough without the hassle of watching her younger brother.
Nervous didn’t begin to describe the butterflies in her stomach or the lightheaded feeling that had been plaguing her for the last hour.
The worst part was that no matter which man she choose, Dan or Jim, she had to face the same parents. With Dan out of town, it was only slightly less intimidating. What did the Fraynes already think of her, that she would agree to be courted by both their sons? Would they consider her a harlot in the making?
"They should think they raised two very good young men," she muttered.
"Trixie, are you ready?" Helen stepped into the doorway.
"No," Trixie said truthfully. "Ma, what if they think I'm a hoy-hoy-"
"No daughter of mine is a hoyden, Beatrix," Helen said sharply. "I'm sure they're anxious to meet the young lady who has captured not one, but both sons’ hearts."
Trixie bit her lip. "I hope so. You know Mr. Frayne Sr. doesn't really like me. Not since Susie and I almost ran down that ugly hen of his, Queenie."
"Yes well, that was years ago," Helen said soothingly. "I'm sure he's forgotten all about it."
"I hope so," she muttered. Helen fiddled with the lace collar of Trixie's dress.
"You really are growing into a lovely young lady Trixie," Helen spoke softly. "Those boys are just a bit smarter than the rest to figure it out so quickly."
Trixie smiled and hugged her mother. "Thanks, Ma."
Her fragile confidence soon slipped away as they approached the Frayne estate. What were his parents like? Julianna was awfully sweet, what about his mother? What if she was cranky and ornery and despised Trixie on site? Or his father declared she wasn't fit to polish his son's boots, let alone be courted by both of them? Maybe they would think she was just out for the Frayne fortune, and it didn’t matter which son!
A pressure on her hand snapped her out of her momentary fear. Looking up she realized Mart's bright blue eyes were on her.
"Buck up," he said softly, giving her hand another squeeze. Trixie smiled gratefully at him. Despite his teasing, Mart was always there to cheer her up.
Jim was leaning against a column of the front verandah and hurried down to greet them with a big smile. Trixie couldn't help but notice his coppery hair gleaming in the sun, and refusing to lay down flat. For a second she thought of Dan and his thick dark hair that was almost long enough to be tied back. They were so opposite in looks, she thought. It was no wonder that no one had ever figured out they were brothers in the beginning.
After a moment of hellos, he led the Belden family inside to meet his parents. Trixie couldn't hang back as Jim took her arm and led her inside.
Winthrop Frayne was an older version of Jim, Trixie noted immediately. It was impossible not to know they were related. Physically they were almost the same size, and had the same copper red hair, but Win’s was laced with just a bit of gray at the temples. He had the same fair skin and freckles and welcoming smile that he gave the family, his emerald green eyes lingering on Trixie. His suit was cut perfectly to his frame and Trixie knew without even getting close up it was expensive. Trixie wondered if the crotchey old Frayne Sr., had been more like Winthrop when he was younger, before his hair turned pure white and his wife died.
Katje Frayne however, made Trixie feel much better. The petite blonde woman hurried forward to meet the Belden family. Her dancing blue eyes took in everything, her golden hair gathered neatly in a bun at the nape of her neck. The pale pink and blue plaid dress was well made, but not ostentatious, she noted. The Fraynes didn’t flaunt their wealth.
“Mother, Father, allow me to present Miss Beatrix Belden, her parents, Peter and Helen, and her brothers, Mart and Bobby.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Miss Belden,” Win gave her a warm smile. “Our boys have told us so much about you and your family.”
Trixie smiled weakly as Mart chortled softly.
“Thank you sir,” she said softly. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you as well.”
More greetings were given and the two families settled in the parlour. Mart, in charge of Bobby, eyed his younger brother carefully. Bobby was worse than Trixie at sitting still.
“Bobby,” Katje Frayne said, with a twinkle in her eye, “why don’t you come sit with me? I’d like to know all about this lovely little town and I bet you can tell me!”
“Well,” Bobby answered dubiously, “I’ll try. We gots lots of Indians around here!” he said brightly.
Mart paled slightly as he remembered the tales he would tell Bobby as a means of keeping him from wandering the woods. Please don’t let him start with those! Mart thought.
“Uh, Bobby-” he started. Bobby joined Katje, who smiled knowingly at Mart. Mart relaxed. She had raised two boys, he remembered. Surely she was familiar with them. Just to be safe, he and Helen joined Katje and Bobby’s conversation.
Trixie relaxed as Jim sat next to her, and Peter joined them and Win Frayne. The two men laughed and joked as if they had known each other for years. Jim reached over and squeezed her hand gently at one point, his emerald green eyes shining.
** *
“Lovely people,” Katje Frayne commented, as she brushed her long blonde hair out. Win rested his hands on her shoulders, kissing her neck gently. “Very good family, lots of love.”
“Quite. I can see why the boys are so taken with her,” his hands ran through her soft hair and began the long braid she slept in. “She reminds me a bit of you when we were first met.”
Katje smiled up at her husband.
“I’ve never seen Jimmy so taken,” Katje mused, closing her eyes as her husband worked with her hair.
“They have a good feeling together,” Win admitted. “But I’m also anxious to see her with Danny.”
Katje nodded as Win finished the braid. “She’s a lovely girl, but if Dan is truly as crazy over her as I suspect, one of our boys is going to get his heart broken.”
“I know,” Win sighed as he drew her close. “And I don’t look forward to that day.”
***
Trixie smiled to herself as she looked up at the stars on the ride home. The Fraynes were nice, and obviously loved their sons. They spoke with equal pride of Dan and Jim.
“Methinks you didn’t quite scare them off,” Mart said cheerfully. “In fact, they seemed to like you. Not sure why, though.”
“Mart, stop teasing your sister,” Peter said from the driver’s seat.
“Wonderful people. I do hope to see Katje some more. Some of her recipes sound divine,” Helen commented.
“Mrs. Frayne is nice,” Bobby said. “She says she likes little boys and her cookies are yummy.”
“You would know, you ate enough to almost put Mart to shame,” Trixie answered with a laugh, running her hand over Bobby’s curls.
“I restrained my yearning for the palatable delicacies,” Mart said loftily.
Trixie giggled. “Uh huh. Only because you didn’t want to look like a pig in front of them!”
“Children,” Helen said warningly. Her older children fell silent but Mart crossed his eyes at Trixie and she stuck out her tongue while wiggling her hands near her ears.
***
Jim waited patiently while the frosted glass box was wrapped carefully. He knew he could have gotten a better one in New York but this was Winikekia, Oklahoma, a tiny town about to get a new name.
The town council had been very secretive but were planning a social within the next few weeks to dedicate the town’s new name.
Thanking Mr. Lytell for the package, he carefully took the bag outside where Jupiter waited patiently for him. Tucking Trixie’s present into his saddlebag, he glanced up and noticed Madeleine making her way through a crowd of rough looking men. Frowning, he hurried over towards her, not liking the way the men were looking at her. They were new, drifters looking for work, and no doubt trouble.
“Miss Wheeler!” he called. Startled, she turned, then gave him a grateful smile as he reached her.
“Hello, Jim,” she didn’t protest when he slipped her arm through his firmly.
“You shouldn’t be out riding alone,” he said gently. “There are too many unknown men hanging around.”
“Regan was occupied,” her eyes twinkled merrily at him, “with your cousin. He did not see me leave,” she confessed.
Jim shook his head. “You’ve spent too much time with Trixie,” he smiled. “Where were you headed?”
“Just the post, to look for a letter.”
“I’ll escort you,” he said firmly. Madeleine was beautiful girl, he thought, but his feelings towards her were that of a brotherly nature. The only woman for him was a petite, curvy blonde.
***
Katje Frayne sat at the dining table, planning out the week’s meals. Her mind wouldn’t stay focused though, and she finally set her pencil down. Standing up, she wandered to the big window, where she could see the side lot of the property, and the thick woods it backed up to.
Her mind kept straying to the other night, and the Belden girl. Trixie reminded Katje of herself, impulsive, excited and unsure of herself. She had received a long letter from Jim not long ago, raving about the girl. The only hindrance was that his brother Dan cared for her as well. Dan has sent a letter as well, her younger son his usual brief self, mentioning only that he had met a spitfire young lady.
That letter had spurred this visit. That, along with the fact that Katje missed her sons. This tiny town had a telephone and switchboard operator, so Win could be reached by his business partners. They both wanted to travel, and see their boys.
Jim had had to nag his brother into writing home, and Dan only briefly mentioned the spitfire Miss Belden. That spoke volumes to Katje. Dan was the quieter son, the brooder who kept his cards close to his vest. Jim was the outgoing brother, with Win’s friendly demeanor.
Dan had always been quiet after his birth parents died. Watching his parents die had changed the boy permanently, and he smiled less, even in his teens years. His determination to become a lawman struck when he was eleven and set in. Where Jim was husky and broad, Dan was lean and wiry, even though he ate twice as much as his older brother.
They were brothers in every sense of the word, getting into all sorts of trouble together, at school, in saloons, and where ever else. Jim had a hot temper, Dan a big mouth, and between the two, trouble ensued. Dan had talked them out of trouble with the law more than once but Katje never pried. Win was only called once or twice, and he brushed it off as boys being boys. Katje really didn’t want to know what her boys were doing.
Dan had joined the Marshals as soon as he was able to. His quick mind and crackshot marksmanship made him a huge asset, and he loved the travel. Jim stayed closer to home, learning the family business that Dan didn’t have much interest in.
When Uncle James had written to complain about cattle thieves striking the area, Dan had been interested, and was able to start an investigation. Jim, deciding it was time he do some travel as well, headed West with his brother, where they put their plan into operation.
Katje had to admire the spunk of the Belden girl. Jim had told her how Trixie tried to pass herself off as a cowhand by wearing breeches. And, how she snuck out at night to spy on Dan, whom she believed to be a cattle thief, risking her life to catch the thieves.
Not exactly ladylike behavior, but now that Katje had met the girl, she knew Trixie would never be a prim and proper girl, and Katje didn’t mind. A prim and proper girl would bore both of her boys. They both needed someone bright and feisty, and Trixie fit that description.
Jim had attempted to court two other young women once, Laura and Dorothy. Laura had been a quiet girl that Katje knew would never hold Jim’s interest. Dorothy had been a society girl and preferred the complex, manipulative games of the social elite. Dan had caught onto her game early but Jim didn’t want to listen. Dan took matters into his own hands and made sure Jim caught Dorothy and him in a compromising position. Jim had been furious with his brother for weeks until he realized Dan had done him a favor and forgiven his younger brother.
While both had been pretty blondes, neither had the sparkling eyes of Trixie, let alone her charm. Katje could see how both boys would fall for her.
She just wasn’t sure which one would get the girl, and which one would get the broken heart.
 
***
Author's Notes
- a huge yeee-haaa! to my editor, Julie! All mistakes are mine.
- word count, 2,322
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