A Fearless Bride for a Wounded Rancher

by Ember Pierce

  * * *

  “I thought we would go together. Can’t you make an exception? Going to church is important to me, Scott. If we’re going to embark on this marriage the right way...if we’re going to be a couple who...”

  * * *

  “I just said, I don’t go to church, Mae. And you know that we aren’t a real couple. We discussed that already. We are not on the same path. You need to give up any notions that might seem to tell you otherwise. There is no right way to embark on this marriage because this marriage is a sham. Is that clear? We aren’t a couple and we aren’t going to be.”

  Mae’s face fell. She looked to be on the verge of tears. Scott hated saying the things he’d just said to her, but it would do neither of them any good if they played at being married for real.

  * * *

  He had laid down the terms for their union and Mae had agreed. Now, it seemed she wanted things to change, but he was still in the same mindset. He’d helped her out. A lady in distress. He’d helped her and that was all.

  * * *

  Whatever she wanted, her looking at him with her gorgeous clear, green eyes, was not going to get it for her. He refused to give in, even though a part of him wanted to.

  * * *

  A part of him wanted nothing more than to do whatever he had in his power to make her happy. But he couldn’t allow himself such freedom with her.

  * * *

  He needed to resist his own feelings that drew him to her and made him hate himself for causing her to be disappointed in any way.

  * * *

  “I realize you haven’t been to town much, and the thought of seeing all those people in one place must be intimidating. But, I’ll be with you, Scott. I’ll be right beside you,” she offered.

  * * *

  Guilt surged through his body and at the same time he felt nauseated like he might be sick to his stomach. He couldn’t bear the thought of seeing the townsfolk. Or of them seeing him. No matter what he’d been thinking recently.

  * * *

  He realized that it had all been fantasy. Now faced with the option of actually going, he couldn’t imagine stirring even a step past his own property.

  * * *

  There had been too many whispers and sorrowful looks after the accident. People would stare, not even realizing that they were doing it. Scott couldn’t stand it. It was better to avoid the townspeople altogether for the most part. As much as he could, he wanted to avoid them. He took a deep breath.

  * * *

  “Mae. I told you, I don’t go to church anymore. I don’t want to go. And I will not.”

  * * *

  “Oh, Scott. Please come to church with me, please. I’ve done so much to be here in Texas. I thought the letter that invited me here was real. It’s not my fault that it was Ephraim and not you who wrote it. It’s true that now I know it’s not, but that doesn’t change the fact that I gave up everything to come here. I gave up my home and I traveled so far to be here. You can’t expect me to give up my faith. Not after all I’ve already given up. It’s not fair.”

  * * *

  “I’m not saying you can’t go,” he said, exasperated. “I just won’t be going with you. I can’t, Mae.”

  * * *

  Scott was contrite, but he stayed true to his aim. He wasn’t going to change the way he did everything just because Mae was here. He’d married her, hadn’t he? Wasn’t that enough for her?

  * * *

  Hadn’t he saved her reputation and basically rescued her from a life of spinsterhood? It seemed her very survival had been dependent on his action. He didn’t want the responsibility of being sure Mae was content, as well.

  * * *

  But he wanted to do something because even though he couldn’t go to church, he wanted her to be able to. He didn’t want her to forgo her faith just because he didn’t want to go. He looked at her. Her eyes were threatening to fill with tears.

  * * *

  He could see her struggle, so he inhaled sharply and wondered what he could do, short of going to Church, that would make her happy. He didn’t want to set up an exchange between them wherein anytime tears came to Mae’s eyes he acquiesced to her desire.

  * * *

  He was no stranger to womanly wiles. But he knew that that wasn’t what this was. She needed her faith to be able to deal with all the new and strange things in her life. He understood that.

  * * *

  “I have an idea, Mae. How about this? I’ll take you into town so you can go to church. Then I’ll come back and pick you up. How does that sound?”

  * * *

  He looked full-on at her. Now Mae wasn’t talking and Scott felt a little uncomfortable under her scrutiny. She studied him for what must have been more than a full minute. A lot more. It felt endless. He wanted to fidget under her watchful eye but forced himself to sit still. He forced himself to keep eye contact.

  * * *

  After a sizable amount of time Mae said, “Actually, if you don’t mind, Scott, I’ll ride into town by myself. That is, if I’m allowed to ride one of the horses.”

  * * *

  Scott didn’t want to fall for her sarcasm. He knew he was a pretty easy mark when someone baited him. He struggled to keep his face placid and his emotions out of the discourse.

  * * *

  She waited until he told her of course. That would be just fine. He would hitch up the buggy for her if she wanted. While he talked she cleared the table.

  * * *

  Scott felt terrible. He wasn’t sure why, when it had all worked out just as he’d wanted it to. He didn’t have to go to Church with Mae. He didn’t even have to drive her in.

  * * *

  He should be glad he wasn’t wrangled into doing something he didn’t want to do. He knew he should be glad, but for some reason, he wasn’t.

  Mae put big pots of water on the cook stove to warm while she was in town. She left the breakfast dishes in one to soak while she was out.

  * * *

  She left her apron in the pantry and made a mental note to make a few more very soon. There was much cleaning to be done in the small house that, at first glance, had appeared so clean. It was neat as a pin. But in terms of deep cleaning, it needed a lot of work.

  * * *

  When the cupboards were opened or the heavy sackcloth curtains in the kitchen let the morning light in to illuminate the floor she could see the dirty.

  * * *

  In the hall inside the front door, she removed her bonnet from the hat rack and pinned it on. A quick check in the mirror told her it looked pretty. She took a light jacket and donned it, then she went outside.

  * * *

  Scott had hitched up the buggy. He helped Mae up and bid her good day. She gave a curt nod in response. Here she was going to town alone. It was unlady-like but she wanted to go to church.

  * * *

  She needed to go to church. Not only did she feel the need to worship alongside others, she craved interaction with them. She was after the specific kind of feeling she got when praying with like-minded individuals.

  * * *

  She looked forward to the service and she wished Scott had accompanied her. But he hadn’t and she wondered why he’d seemed so stubborn about it. As for his offer of driving her into town, she’d been stubborn about that, she knew. As it was, she had to handle the buggy and decide where to put it during the church service. Well, it could be worse.

  * * *

  What if he’d told her he didn’t want her in church without him? She should be grateful, she knew it. It was only that she’d never realized that she had ideas about marriage and... love. And even though she knew logically that she wasn’t to expect that from him, somehow she still did.

  * * *

  Independence was something she craved, but she had to admit she liked cooking for Scott. Her plans for the house occupied her mind frequently. She wanted to make Scott happy and keep his home peaceful and nice if for no other reason than that
he was her husband.

  * * *

  But that would entail his accepting her care. She didn’t expect him to return it. He’d already told her that they were not a couple. It was much more difficult for Mae than she’d thought it would be. It probably had to do with the fact that she feared she might be falling for him.

  * * *

  There was something about him that drew her in. And she was grateful to him for taking her in like he had. He could have been insistent and sent her away, but he’d found a way to help her and help himself at the same time.

  * * *

  Mae sighed. He’d been right. It had only been a matter of chance that had brought them together. She’d needed a husband and he’d been in need of a housekeeper.

  * * *

  Wasn’t that what he’d said? She found it hard to imagine that he ever hid his true feelings or motives. So then why was she looking for alternate meanings to his words?

  * * *

  Because his words and his actions hadn’t matched up very well. He told her there would be no small talk, but then sometimes he would ask her all sorts of questions. When she asked anything in return, he said they were not a couple and he didn’t want idle conversation. It was confusing.

  * * *

  The church was up ahead. Mae’s stomach did a somersault. She was going to have to introduce herself to the townsfolk by herself. Well, then so be it. She’d done more difficult things in her life. Traveling halfway across the country for one.

  * * *

  The hitching rail was across the road from the church which sat at the head of the square. It was a pretty church, not too big with large double doors and a bell tower that stood higher than any other building downtown.

  * * *

  Mae pulled the buggy up to the rail and got down from the buggy. She tied the reins, told the horses she’d be back in a bit and then took a slow, deep breath. It was time.

  12

  Mae woke and the first thing she remembered was the kindness of the townspeople that she’d met yesterday.

  * * *

  “Next week you have to come to dinner,” the schoolteacher she’d befriended at church, had said to Mae. She’d then proceeded to introduce Mae to some other folks who all smiled at her and welcomed her to Fable Springs. The people smiled and were polite. They didn’t push the issue when they asked after Scott. They knew that he didn’t go to church anymore, better than she did.

  * * *

  It was Monday, wash day. Mae had just woken up. It was too early even for laundry but she decided to get a head start. Everything could be on the line by the time she needed to prepare breakfast if she worked fast, which she always did.

  * * *

  It had been a good idea to put Scott’s work clothes to soak the night before. She knew from her father and brother how dirty a person’s clothes could get when working out in the fields.

  * * *

  She was still in bed and rolled onto her side. She could see the sky turning to a bright kind of indigo. The birds were already chirping and soon the sun would wink on the horizon.

  * * *

  She got out of bed and donned her work dress readying herself for the day. When she was done with the laundry, she’d wear her other plain dress into town.

  * * *

  She needed to put an order in with the dressmaker for the new clothes she needed or perhaps she’d see what ready made garments they had at the general store. Scott had given her spending money and she put some of it in her satchel.

  * * *

  He also had accounts in town. He’d told her that she could buy what she needed. It made her nervous to spend so much of his money, but she couldn’t get by anymore with what she had brought with her. Not if she wanted to look respectable.

  * * *

  When she was dressed, she left the confines of her room and tiptoed down the back stairs. She thought it must be about four o’clock or a little after. When she looked at the clock, she saw she was right. It was quarter past the hour.

  * * *

  First things first, she thought. She put a pot of coffee to boil. It seemed to be a Godsend that there wasn’t too much laundry. There were two shirts and one pair of dungarees, three neckerchiefs, and a union suit as well as the dress she’d traveled in. It wouldn’t take long at all.

  * * *

  Outside the kitchen door and over in the side yard, away from the porch, stood the big wash kettle. The pot caught rainwater and each Monday the fire in the pit underneath it was made and lit. Mae saw that the fire was already laid.

  * * *

  All she had to do was light a match and the fire started underneath the huge pot. While the water heated, she went to the barn to milk the cow and gather the eggs. She fed the chickens, the three horses, the pair of mules, and the cow. Then she went back to the wash pot.

  * * *

  The water was beginning to steam so she put the clothes in. Once they were boiling she stirred them around with the big laundry paddle she’d found in the little outshed near the laundry kettle. Then she went back to the house to take care of some kitchen work.

  * * *

  She fished out the first shirt and when it was cool enough washed it in the tub on the washboard. After that she rinsed the item in cool water and cranked it through the wringer. Then she hung it on the clothesline.

  * * *

  By the time the sun was over the horizon, all the clothes were on the line. Mae stood back admiring her work. Laundry was the hardest chore but the one that bore the most immediate satisfaction.

  * * *

  Back in the house, she mixed up some biscuits and baked them while she set the table for one. There would be coffee, the hot biscuits she’d just removed from the oven and cold ham, sliced.

  * * *

  She didn’t know what Scott usually had for breakfast on the weekdays. She also didn’t know if he came home at noon for dinner or if he ate out in the fields. It was getting near to six o’clock. If she wanted to be back from town in time to get done what she wanted to do, and to start dinner, she’d need to leave right away.

  * * *

  She put a plate, fork, and cup on the table and grabbing her satchel, headed out the door. The horses were waiting. She’d hitched them up earlier and within minutes was riding toward town. The location of the house was a good one, she thought. Far enough away to not get the hustle and bustle of people and vehicles. But close enough that it was easy to get to and from town.

  * * *

  It was past six-thirty but most of the businesses hadn’t opened yet. Mae laughed to herself. She’d been in such a rush, but she realized she had plenty of time.

  * * *

  A small restaurant on the main street looked open and she went into it. Inside was filled with miners, all single men who didn’t cook for themselves, and a few businessmen. There were no women so Mae went to the counter and asked for a table.

  * * *

  After a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and coffee. And some refreshing chit chat with the woman who brought her the food. Apparently she didn’t mind small talk. Mae knew that she could have just eaten at home, but she’d wanted to get out of the house before Scott came downstairs.

  * * *

  His quiet, sad moods were off-putting. Mae wanted to share her meal, but Scott didn’t want any talk. Eating at the restaurant was the better choice. She didn’t want her day ruined. At least not yet. She glanced at the clock to see that the time was now eight o’clock. The businesses were opening. Mae decided to go to the general store first to see what they had in the way of ladies’ clothes.

  * * *

  She walked into the dim interior of the place. No one was there but the proprietor who was writing in a book.

  * * *

  “Howdy. I believe we met at church yesterday.”

  * * *

  The man looked up, studied her for a split second then broke out into a smile. “Of course, Mrs. Henderson. Nice to see you again. You
can call me Nick.”

  * * *

  “Thank you, Nick. Uh, I need a few things. When I arrived here I didn’t bring too much with me. I’d like to see your ready-made dresses.”