The Unconventional Bride: The Ladies Club of Laramie

by West, Everly

  After tonight, she would not only be going back to the gambling hall, but she would try drinking and smoking and all the other things forbidden. Why not?

  If she was going to be forced to marry, then she would sow all her wild oats now.

  "Tell me, do you know what happens in the marriage bed?" Jennie asked. "The man puts his tallywhacker in you. Is that what you want?"

  It was both her greatest fear and intrigue. What would sex feel like with the man she loved? There was a certain curiosity.

  "No," Hattie said. "But that's how you get pregnant and I want children."

  "So do I, but the thought of him pushing into me is kind of gross."

  The two girls giggled. "But I would like for him to kiss me. Maybe that should be part of my wanting to try new experiences. A man has never kissed me."

  "Me either," Hattie said. "Since you're the oldest here, kiss someone and come back and tell me about your experience."

  A frown furrowed Jennie's brow as she remembered the men at the gambling hall who flirted for her attention. Their pushiness gave her the willies. Would she let one of them kiss her? No, they were far too aggressive, and they would think she offered more than a simple smooch. What they wanted would never happen.

  "Come on, we better get dressed. You don't want to be on Mother's bad side. Since I'm already there, I need to behave," Jennie said as they walked into their bedrooms.

  An hour later, her mother came up and gazed at her dress and the way she curled her hair in a soft chignon on top of her head, leaving her neck and back exposed. The sheer sleeves of the blue gown felt like a whisper against her skin.

  "Gorgeous," her mother said. "You look like a fairy princess in that gown. I'm so glad you wore that one."

  Knowing her mother would be pleased, she chose this dress. For the last few days, she had not done anything the woman liked and there was a tension in the air that usually meant trouble.

  "I brought you my pearls for you to wear tonight. They will be the perfect complement to that gown," her mother said as she stood behind her and hooked the clasp. Her mother whirled her around and gazed at her.

  "Stunning. A man is coming to dinner who is very eligible to marry you. I expect you to be on your best behavior. Do you understand me?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Jennie said, wondering how she could shake things up at dinner.

  What could she do to keep this man from being interested in her? Should she pick her nose or spit or even the most disgusting, fart. With a sigh, she knew that would cause her all kinds of trouble, but somehow she needed to discourage this man.

  So many things left for her to experience before she was tied down and started having babies.

  "He should be here any moment. You will know when you hear us come down the stairs. Remember, you are a catch, dear Jennie, and this man needs to understand he's getting the finest young woman. Please be on your best behavior tonight," her mother said, her green eyes narrowing in that threatening way.

  "Yes, ma'am," she said dutifully knowing if given the chance, she would discourage him from ever looking her way again.

  "I'll see you downstairs soon," her mother said as she hurried out the door.

  Why wasn't she born a male? If she were a man, she would do whatever she wanted. Most of all, her mother would not be trying to sell her to the highest bidder. All her life, she lived under rules for women while the boys ran wild and were expected to cause misconduct.

  When Jennie got into trouble, it was a major ordeal, and she would be scolded for not behaving like a proper young woman. Her daughters would never have to live by these ridiculous principles of behavior.

  In fact, she would do her best to make certain they experienced life before being tied down.

  The door opened, and she heard her mother and father welcoming their visitor. With a groan, she considered not going down, but her mother would come looking for her. Still, there was no sense in rushing things.

  Standing, she walked to the mirror on her dresser and checked her appearance. The urge to do something wicked overcame her, and she snipped the bodice of her beautiful gown until she removed the thin gauze that covered her chest. Exposing a daring décolletage where the swells of her breasts were exposed.

  Now, she was ready. Opening the door, her sister Hattie stood waiting, "Come on, Mother is getting upset."

  She gasped. "What did you do to your gown?"

  A smile crossed her face. "If I'm on the marriage auction block, I want him to see the goods."

  "Jennie, you are going to be in so much trouble," Hattie said. "Why can't you behave."

  It was something she often questioned herself, and yet she didn't think she was being that outlandish.

  "Only boring women behave," she said and walked past her sister and out the door. The evening would certainly be interesting.

  * * *

  Milton stood chatting with her mother and father while they waited for Jennie. Her mother strategically steered him to where he would see her on the stairs. And when she came down, she was stunning.

  The woman looked regal, her blue gown flowing around her, sapphire eyes sparkling and all that gorgeous auburn hair she had somehow curled on top of her head. The other night in the gambling hall she was beautiful, but tonight, her stunning looks gave him second thoughts about being here.

  No, he didn't want a wife, only a nanny, and she would be a temptation to face every day.

  For a moment, her mouth fell open at the sight of him, and he smiled. Oh, yes, she remembered taking his money at the gambling hall. Her mother greeted her at the stairs and turned to him. "Mr. Milton Wardell, our daughter, Jennie."

  "Please call me Milton. Nice to meet you, Miss O'Brian," he said, bending over her hand and kissing the back.

  "Have we met before?" she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

  There was no way he would say anything in front of the woman's mother or she would be mortified. "Not that I know of," he said. "Perhaps we passed each other on Main Street. Laramie is not a huge town."

  "Cook has prepared us a lovely meal tonight. Let's all go into dinner," Mrs. O'Brian said. As he turned, he saw the mother pinch Jennie and whisper something in her ear.

  The girl grinned and shrugged her shoulders before he whirled back around. The mother didn't approve of something she'd done, and he bet it had to do with the bodice of her gown. Creamy white breasts surged above the material, and he rather enjoyed the sight.

  Once they were all seated, the servants brought in the platters of food.

  "Mr. O'Brian," the wife said. "Please say the blessing."

  While Milton bowed his head, a tiny foot traveled up his pant leg. With a jerk, he glanced at Jennie, and the woman had the audacity to smile. At the gambling hall, she had not seemed so forward. In fact, he'd watched her simply give the men a don't even think of touching me look that sent them on their way.

  So why was she suddenly so impertinent?

  After the prayer, they began to pass the food around the table. "Mr. Wardell owns the Myra mine," Mrs. O'Brian said, "and has two twin boys.”

  "Are you married?" Jennie asked.

  "Widowed," he said. "Just me and my sons."

  "Oh," she said disappointed and he smiled. The woman was a challenge like he knew she would be.

  "Milton, do you like to gamble?"

  The woman was playing with fire. Because he was certain her mother didn't know about her gambling and would never approve.

  "On occassion. It's a good way to spend the evening," he said. "What about you?"

  "My grandfather taught me how to play. Occasionally, Papa and I play," she said, her sapphire eyes twinkling with mischief, almost daring him to say something. Which he understood would cause the night to end in disaster and her mother to be upset. Is that what she wanted?

  "They let you win," he said, taunting her back. Why did he enjoy this woman? Why did he feel like they were dancing around one another, and she was leading him on a merry chase?

>   "Papa, do you let me win?"

  "No way," her father responded. "Her grandfather, the tightest man alive with his money, would never concede. No, if you play poker in this house, you're on your own."

  How could the woman be such a temptation?

  "Since my father passed, we do not play that sinful game here in our home," Mrs. O'Brian informed him.

  A grin spread across Jennie's face. "Shame, we used to have a lot of fun playing against one another."

  The remainder of the dinner was quieter, though her small foot occasionally rubbed his leg beneath the table. He glanced at her and raised his brows. Was she trying to scare him off?

  When they were finished with dessert, they went into the parlor where they sat around talking about the oldest daughter who had married the governor's son. Cora and August were expecting their first child and Milton listened politely, bored.

  Her sapphire eyes narrowed, and he couldn't tell if it was interest or boredom.

  "What a wonderful night. Why don't you young people take a walk. Don't wander too far. Let me grab you a shawl," her mother said.

  "Don't need one mother," she said.

  "Oh, yes, you do," her mother said.

  Mrs. O'Brian took a lace shawl and wrapped the garment around Jennie's shoulders. "Don't want you to catch a chill in that dress."

  A look of frustration crossed Jennie's face, but Milton realized the mother was covering up her chest. She didn't want Milton to be tempted by Jennie's luscious curves that were on display in the light.

  "Come on," he said as they walked out the door. Now would be the time learn a little more about her.

  The door closed and she faced him. "What are you doing here?"

  With a grin, he took her arm and placed her hand on the crook of his elbow. "Come now, you need to at least show your mother you're making an effort at letting me court you. Right now, your mother, father, and sister are all staring out the windows, witnessing how you're doing."

  Stepping off the porch, she asked, "How were you chosen to court me?"

  He thought about telling her the truth and then decided that wouldn't bode well. "Your mother and I had tea where we discussed she was searching for a husband for you and I need a wife."

  Milton hated saying those words, because he really didn't want a spouse, but his sons needed a mother. Whatever he could do to help his boys, he would do, even marrying someone. Somehow they had to become less of little hellions and more like all the other children.

  Strolling across the yard, Jennie gazed at him in the moonlight. "But I'm not searching for a husband."

  "Why not?"

  "Because..." she stared up at the sky filled with stars. "Because there are so many things I want to do yet. How can I explain to you I want to live life on the edge for a little while? No, I don't want to do anything bad, but why can't I gamble, drink liquor, go dancing and even smoke. Why do girls have to exist with all these prim and proper rules while you men have all the fun? I want to experience living."

  The woman really was a little rebel. "Is that why you kept rubbing your feet up my leg?"

  A laugh resounded from her. "That was meant to frighten you away."

  "I have twin boys, not much scares me."

  "How exciting."

  If only she knew the truth about his sons, she would be running from him.

  "No, they're troublemakers, just like you."

  "Like me?" she questioned. "How am I a troublemaker?"

  They stopped not far from the house and faced one another. "You're daring and take risks. Does your mother know you gamble?"

  A smile spread across her face. "What do you think? No, and if you want to court me, I wouldn't advise telling her."

  That was a subtle threat. Tell on me and I won't see you again. How could he blame her?

  "Understood. Will you ever get enough of pushing society’s rules?"

  "Now, would a man ask another man that question? When the right time comes, I'll settle down. Right now, I want to experience some fun. I'm only eighteen years old and have the rest of my life to be a wife and mother."

  How could he entice her? How could he convince her that marrying him and watching his children, he would let her do whatever she wanted.

  "Could you be looking at marriage all wrong. What if your husband didn't care that you gambled? What if he didn't care you tried liquor or that you danced with him - no one else, but him. As for smoking, you can try a cigar if you like, but I'm warning you, the taste is nasty."

  In the moonlight, he could see her brows draw together as she gazed at him in the darkness.

  "You wouldn't care? What about your boys?"

  "My twins need discipline. They need someone like yourself who would help them learn to tame their wild ways. Just like you will some day shed your wild ways."

  Shaking her head, she said, "They're children and I'm an adult. Who says I'm ever going to be a normal type of woman? Normalcy is boring, and I don't ever want to be dull."

  And she wasn't. That was one aspect he liked about her. She was different from most women.

  "From the moment you sat down at that table, something told me you would be the perfect mother for my boys. Call me crazy, but they need a mother who would curtail their wildness."

  Part of what he said was true.

  "That's the problem," she said. "Everyone is always trying to tame us. Maybe I don't want to be tamed. Maybe your sons don't want to be tamed. Why can't we be who we are?"

  The woman shocked him with her keen insight, but he didn't know what to say. So he turned and took her in his arms. Gazing at him, she leaned back. "It's why I think you'd be good for them. You understand."

  A sigh escaped her. "Mother is determined I'm going to marry someone. At least you like to gamble, and I would be able to do what I want, right?"

  "Yes," he said, knowing motherhood would curtail her activities to a certain extent.

  "I'll agree to court you, but don't get too excited. We're a long way from the altar and I'm going to be dragging my feet every step of the way."

  Unable to resist her full mouth, he pulled her to him, his lips covered hers as she wrapped her arms around him. The kiss sent tremors ricocheting through him. Jennie was the first woman he kissed since his wife died. Sure, he had a woman who took care of his needs, but they never kissed.

  Jennie's lips on his was a pleasant surprise that left him wanting more, but that could never be. While he hated deceiving her, their marriage would only be a loveless union of two people working together to raise his sons.

  With her hand, she pushed back from him, breaking the seal. "We can court, but when we meet in the gambling hall, I'm still going to take your money."

  A chuckle rumbled through his chest. "I'd be shocked if you didn't."

  Chapter Three

  Three days later, Jennie waited patiently inside the door for Milton to arrive with his children. After meeting him at dinner the other night, she had been pleasantly surprised.

  Even at the gambling hall, she had been intrigued by his emerald eyes and his soft smile. All night he watched her, his expression filled with awe and she enjoyed surprising him.

  Even the other night, several times she shocked him, and she delighted in each and every moment. Today, they would spend the afternoon on a picnic with his boys. When they picked her up, the four of them would go exploring and eat lunch along the Platte River.

  Milton had warned her they were ornery little devils.

  In her reticule, she brought two cookies she planned to give them after they ate.

  When Milton drove up, her mother and sister were standing near the windows. "Twins. How often do you see twin boys? Aren't they sweet."

  With a glare of disbelief, she glanced at Hattie. "No, he warned me, they're not sweet. In fact, they're little devils. And Mother wants me to marry him."

  "Now, Jennie, you could tame those children. You would never have to worry about money," she said.

  Why did she neve
r include the word happiness when she spoke of marriage? Only money.

  "Mother, is that all you think about?"

  "Yes, it's called security for my daughters, so you won't starve or be living in a tent."

  "There are no guarantees in life," Jennie said as Milton warned the boys to stay in the wagon.

  As he turned his back, one little boy said something to the other and moved toward the brake. In a quick move, Jennie stepped outside the door. "Leave that alone," she demanded. "Unless of course, you want the horse to take off without your father."

  The boy stopped and took notice of her frowning. Milton turned and glanced back at his children. "Why can't you boys behave for one minute before you get into trouble?"

  The children gazed at each other and giggled.

  Her mother stepped out on the porch. "I expect you home before dark."

  With a shake of her head, Jennie's first response was to say with or without my virginity. Those words, she knew would create all kinds of chaos and drama she didn't need.

  "Don't worry, I will need to be home in time to give the twins their bath and prepare them for bed. We'll be back later this afternoon."

  "Have a great time," her mother said and went into the house.

  Milton helped her up into the wagon, and she turned and stared at the two mischievous kids behind her.

  "Hello, boys. What's your name?"

  "I'm George," the first brunette haired little boy said.

  "Paul," the other said.

  Staring at the kids, all she could see was miniature replicas of Milton, though their eyes were a dark chocolate brown instead of green. The twins studied her, their gazes curious.

  "All right, are we all set?" Milton said.

  "Let's go," they yelled.

  Their enthusiasm was contagious, and she laughed as they rolled down the road until a nudge landed on her backside. At first, she thought she imagined the kick, but it happened again. If she let the boys get away with being rude, their discourteousness would only continue. "Stop."

  With a frown on his face, Milton pulled on the reins. Jennie climbed over the bench into the back and sat between the little hellions.