Mail-Order Cousins 2

by Joyce Armor

  Her modest valise—she had traded her more opulent and larger one with Lindy—was packed and ready to go. Lindy didn’t know it, but Per had tucked $60 and a note in the bag she’d left for her cousin. She couldn’t even have explained why; she just felt a need to do it.

  It was Wednesday. The train tickets were for Saturday. She needed to give herself as much time as possible before anyone realized she was missing and came up with what she thought was an ingenious plan. She told her mother she was traveling to Chicago so her Aunt Cathryn could help her with her trousseau. She realized it was time to start thinking about marriage, and Cathryn and her husband owned a fancy dress and bridal shop. Per knew her mother could not go on this trip because two friends from New York were due in this weekend. She promised this was just a scouting trip, and she and her mother could go again together soon.

  Her mother, the inimitable Candida Reeves Vanderhaven, was thrilled that her daughter was finally contemplating marriage. She never asked to see her train ticket; she would never trouble herself with such mundane activities. She insisted, of course, that her faithful steward, John Hardee, deliver Per safely to the train station. He was a good man, although too perceptive by half. As the carriage approached the station on Saturday, he looked at Per’s battered valise and then at her.

  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” he asked, one gray eyebrow raised.

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” she smiled.

  He nodded, pulling the brake. “I’ll wait until the train leaves.”

  As he helped her down, she looked up into his weathered face. “I really wish you wouldn’t.”

  “I won’t make note of where you’re going, but I will stay here until you’re safely aboard. You couldn’t get your cousin Lindy to go with you?”

  “She’s a little timid.”

  He smiled. “We could never accuse you of that.”

  She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I’ll never forget you and all your kindnesses. Now I have to make a little change before the train comes.”

  She went into the station and located the retiring room. There, she quickly changed out of her stylish dark green traveling skirt and jacket and cream-colored silk blouse into a simple navy blue traveling dress. She folded the suit and blouse and left them on the counter. Perhaps someone would get good use out of them. With that final act of rebellion, Miss Priscilla Hughes Vanderhaven picked up her valise and walked toward her future.

  * * *

  The word “misgivings” could not begin to cover Gus Burgen’s feelings as he stood waiting for the 10:00 stagecoach from Canyon City. If he was lucky, she would not be on board. Hell, if he was lucky, this whole matrimonial farce would be a dream (or nightmare) and he would wake up on his pallet in his tent with a slightly fuzzy head from drinking but still single and not threatened by a chain around his neck.

  Perhaps that was a bit harsh, but he was through with society girls. That’s what had sent him west in the first place. If Per Vanderbilt came flouncing out of the stagecoach with any kind of an Eastern better-than-thou attitude, he would just put her right back onto the stage and say, “fare thee well.”

  If Gus was honest with himself, he would admit that he felt equally apprehensive that Per would be everything he ever wanted in a mate. Why that scared him as much as or more than the thought that she would be phony and condescending he didn’t know.

  He kicked a stone with his dusty boot and eyed the older couple that was also waiting for the stage. He had seen them in town somewhere. At the apothecary; the twinkly-eyed, rather rotund, middle-age man was the owner, if he wasn’t mistaken.

  “I hope the stage comes soon,” the older woman said, adjusting her flowered bonnet. “We’re waiting for our son. He’s been attending college in Reno. How about you?”

  “I graduated from New York University.”

  She laughed. “No, I mean, who are you waiting for?”

  He knew what she meant but didn’t like to share personal information. He stifled a sigh. “My fiancée.”

  “Oh, how wonderful,” she gushed.

  He could only hope.

  That’s when he heard the unmistakable sound of horses in the distance and felt something akin to nausea. You’re a grown man, for God sakes. Buck up. He took a deep breath and tried to fake an air of nonchalance. And then he almost laughed. This wasn’t a life or death situation. He wasn’t facing a grizzly or battling the Nez Perce. The union would either work out or it wouldn’t. If he didn’t like the woman, he wouldn’t marry her. If he married her and didn’t like her, he would send her packing. There. Problem solved.

  What he knew for sure and certain was that no woman would ever control him again. No woman would have the power to affect his happiness. Love was for suckers. That didn’t mean he and Per couldn’t forge a partnership of mutual respect. And then the stagecoach pulled up, kicking up dust, and his heart rate speeded up.

  The first person off the stage was a young man. Must be the college student. The thin, fresh-faced fellow turned and assisted an elderly woman off the coach. And then he helped a somewhat bedraggled young woman off, smiling at her with big white teeth, and Gus felt slightly outraged. It couldn’t be jealousy. He didn’t even know the woman.

  She smiled back at the shameless flirt, then looked around. He knew the instant she spotted him. She grinned, showing a perfect set of teeth, and her eyes lit up. Her black hair was tucked into a rather wilted pale blue bonnet, with several strands hanging down. Her dark blue dress contrasted with the light blue of her eyes, which were striking. Her beautiful lips formed kind of a bow, and her body…well, her body looked good. Really good. She was small but sturdy looking. He hadn’t expected her to be so attractive. Beautiful really. He stepped forward.

  “Per?”

  She walked toward him, smoothly, elegantly, smiling. “Gus.”

  He put out a hand to shake hers and she stepped right up to him and hugged him warmly. Taken aback, he hesitated a moment before putting his arms around her. After a moment, he stepped back. He didn’t want to want her as much as he already did. What was wrong with him? He needed to get control of himself.

  “How was your trip?”

  “Long and tiring, but interesting.” She lowered her voice. “Harold over there is dropping out of college, but his parents don’t know it yet. He wants to move to Colorado and try his luck in silver mining. The older gentleman who got off after me was a hero at the Battle of Gettysburg. He saved a general and earned the Medal of Honor. He can’t move his right arm above his waist. I think the older woman ate too many prunes.”

  He chuckled. “I hate to think what you’ll say about me.”

  “Only good things, I hope.”

  Her first impression of him was somewhere between “wow” and “holy Moses.” Gustavus Burgen was tall, at least 6 feet and probably an inch or two more. He had long, chocolate brown hair pulled back and tied with a leather thong, but several strands were too short and tended to fall in his face. His eyes were also brown and soulful, almost dripping with something…sensuality maybe. His skin was browned, no doubt from working outside, and his strong jaw had just a little beard growth, as if he hadn’t shaved for a day or two. All in all, he was one amazing specimen of male pulchritude in his denim trousers and brown plaid shirt. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing muscled forearms dusted with brown hair. She had half expected him to have an accent, given his name, but he didn’t.

  She hoped she wasn’t so shallow to judge a man solely on his looks, but that’s almost all she had to go on at this point. That and her skill at judging character.

  “Do you have a trunk?”

  She shook her head. “No just this.”

  She lifted her battered valise and he took it from her. He looked pleased, as if she had passed some test.

  “The preacher is waiting. Let’s go.”

  He started walking. She noticed he wore fine leather boots with low heels. She’d never seen anythin
g quite like them, though she assumed they were part of western wear. He looked clean but not exactly dressed up for his wedding in his worn clothes, an outfit no dandy back east would be caught dead in. That almost made her giggle. She was so nervous.

  She took a couple of steps and then stopped. Best to get it over with. “Um…Gus?”

  He halted and turned back to her, then noticed the druggist’s wife was watching them intently. He gently grasped her elbow and led her several steps down the street. She looked almost apprehensive.

  “I didn’t want anyone to overhear. Is there a problem? Have you changed your mind?” He dropped her valise in the street with a thump.

  Did he look hopeful?

  “No,” she said quickly. “I just…um…it’s that…I…uh…” She was wringing her hands.

  “Just spit it out. I want get back to the campsite before dark.”

  Well, that was a little snippy. She straightened up, brushing a bit dust off her skirt. “Okay…I…it’s just that I would like to wait a while before we…um…uh…”

  Studying her face, which was turning all shades of pink, he finally figured out what she was trying to say. “Consummate the marriage?”

  She sighed in relief. “Yes. We don’t know each other very well.”

  He looked her in the eye. “Define ‘a while.’”

  She thought about it for a good minute, as people passed them by, eying them curiously. “Eleven days.”

  Gus had no idea what she would say…six weeks? Six months? Eleven days he did not expect. “Fine.” He picked up her bag and started walking again.

  She shouldn’t have expected him to offer her his arm. They weren’t in a fancy drawing room back east. Still, it disappointed her. Before he disappeared around a corner, she hurried after him. “How often do you come to Vale?”

  “As infrequently as possible.”

  “Gee, I’m sorry to inconvenience you.” She couldn’t help herself. He was being rude, and if that’s the way he wanted to play it, she could serve it up, too.

  He stopped so suddenly, she ran into his back with an “oof.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry, Per. It’s been a long day for me, but I’m sure it’s been an even longer one for you. I’ve been alone for some time, and I expect it will take some effort on my part to think of someone besides myself. Can we start over?”

  “Of course. I thought you were mad because we weren’t going to…uh, celebrate the wedding tonight.”

  “Well, there’s that, too.”

  Her head jerked up and caught the glint in his eye. He was teasing her. And she suddenly knew it would be all right. She felt certain she was making the right decision. She picked up the valise and started walking off. “Let’s go.”

  Amused, he followed her for a block until she stopped abruptly. “Where are we going?”

  Chapter 2

  Per knew she was supposed to want a wedding with a voluminous pearl-seeded gown, 10 bridesmaids, a massive bell choir and hundreds of guests. What she experienced instead was a simple ceremony with two strangers for witnesses, and somehow it was perfect, another symbol of how she meant to go on. The minister was kindly and perhaps understandably insightful, picking up on her nervousness and doing his best to make her feel comfortable. When the “I do’s” were completed and the preacher pronounced them man and wife, Gus leaned over and kissed her full on the lips with a passion that shocked her and kicked her own passion up to goose-bump level. Her one thought was: Eleven days might be too long.

  For his part, Gus was also stunned at the response he got from his obviously virginal young wife. He had to admit to himself, up to this point he liked her. This was no biddable maiden. She had a sense of humor and was no shrinking violet. It annoyed him that she called him out on his bad behavior, yet he also respected her for it. As travel-worn as she was, she was still beautiful. Eleven days is going to be a long, long time.

  They signed the register, Gus paid the minister and they thanked him and his lovely wife, who had handed Per a bouquet of lilies just before the ceremony began. She had to laugh when the woman took the flowers back after the wedding. Then she saw another young couple sitting in the second pew and understood. They were obviously in love, as they held hands and could not have sat any closer together unless she was in his lap. Per felt a tinge of sadness. Or was it envy? Gus picked up her valise, which they had left on the first pew, and they were off to start their new life.

  “I got you a horse,” Gus said as she walked with him down the street.

  “Oh, Gus, thank you. That is so thoughtful.”

  He didn’t respond, and she took the opportunity to look at the town. The street was wide and rutted from wagon tracks. They passed the Vale Citizens Bank, a feed and grain store and the Vale Community Room, whatever that was. Then she saw the mercantile and had a thought.

  “Gus, wait.” She grabbed his arm.

  Although he stopped, he looked impatient.

  “I need to buy some boots. I can’t ride in these.”

  She raised her dress up a bit to reveal her black slippers. He lost focus for a moment while gazing at her ankles before getting back on track. He realized she had a point.

  “Okay, but don’t dally.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said as if responding to a general, grabbing her bag from him and climbing the two steps up to the entrance.

  “Hold it.” He dug in his pocket and held out some bills.

  She waved him off. “I’ll take care of it.”

  Without looking back she marched into the store. He wasn’t sure what to make of his new wife. He didn’t want her paying for things that were his responsibility. His wife, bloody hell. What was he thinking? In three years his only female companions had been harlots and squaws, and sometimes harlot squaws. Always willing women, of course. He had forgotten how to treat a lady, not that Per was like any lady he had ever known back in Maryland. She was feisty and he could see that stubbornness she wrote about in her first letter. At least she wasn’t afraid to speak up and tell him what she needed, except for the wedding night jitters. Though she wasn’t a large woman, she looked sturdy enough. Maybe it would work out. He sighed. And maybe it wouldn’t.

  When Per emerged from the store 10 minutes later, which he had to admit was quickly for trying on and buying boots, she was wearing her dusty blue gown with her new purchase. She had chosen well. The leather boots, although he could only see the feet, looked well-made. Once again she lifted her dress to show them off. They were dark brown and hugged her shapely calves. She also looked ridiculous in the combination of dress and boots.

  She lowered the dress and walked right past him carrying the valise. After enjoying the view of her from behind for a few seconds, he caught up with her and pulled the valise from her hand.

  “Nice outfit.”

  “Thank you.” It was no doubt an insult, but she didn’t really care at that point. She was not going to walk down to the livery in her slippers and change into the boots there. That was just a waste of time since she already had them on.

  That’s all he said before he took off and she caught up to him. Gus walked like he was on a mission, and she didn’t want to upset him. They passed several more storefronts, one vacant, a blacksmith who was pounding on a horseshoe and then arrived at the livery.

  A boy of about 14 was pitching hay into an empty stall and looked up. His eyes widened when he saw Per, and then he saw the stern look in Gus’s eyes.

  “I…I fed and brushed your horses, just like you said, Mr. Burgen. Saddled ‘em about five minutes ago.”

  “Thanks, Brian.”

  Gus flipped him a coin, which he caught. The boy grinned and tried to look at Per again without appearing that he was looking. Gus led his bride to the back of the livery, where she spied a magnificent black stallion in one stall and a gorgeous red mare quarter horse in another. She was flabbergasted.

  “Gus,” was all she could say. She had tears in her eyes.

  He saw the tears an
d thought she was upset. “You don’t like it?”

  “This…” She could barely get her thoughts together to speak. “This is the most wonderful gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you.”

  She threw herself into his arms and practically squeezed the life out him. They had only been married 20 minutes and already she was starting to worm her way into his heart. He didn’t like it and had to put a stop to it. He removed himself from her clutches.

  “Yeah, well, we are starting a ranch so I want all our horses to be top quality.”

  She got the message. She was being too effusive, making him uncomfortable.

  “You have a wonderful eye for choosing stock. Does she have a name?”

  “I’ll leave that up to you,” he said as he started leading the stallion out of its stall.

  “I’m going to ride her for a while before I decide. See how she handles.” She unlatched the stall door and grabbed the mare’s reins, following Gus out of the stable.

  And then a thought occurred to her.

  “Hold my horse. Please.”

  She handed him the reins, grabbed her valise from him and headed back to the last stall before he could say anything. There, she quickly changed out of her traveling dress and into brown breeches and a blue plaid shirt, which she tied at the waist. After she put the boots back on, marveling at how comfortable they already were, she folded the dress and stuffed it into her valise. She passed the stable boy, seeing his jaw drop and also caught Gus’s look, which was somewhere between shock and amusement. Ignoring him, she handed him the valise and snatched the mare’s reins. Without any warning, he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her into the saddle, ignoring her little squeak of surprise.

  As much as Gus seemed eager to consummate the marriage, he appeared to be uncomfortable when she hugged him. She thought about that as they rode out of town in silence, coming to the conclusion that he most likely wanted to engage his body but not his heart. She also came to another important conclusion. Her trip west had taken 10 days, so her mother already knew she was missing. She had left a note explaining that her mother’s life was not for her and she would be in touch in the future. She had no doubt, however, her mother had already hired a private investigator to track her down and most likely haul her back home. He might be able to find her in less than eleven days from now, and if the marriage hadn’t been consummated yet, it could be annulled.