Tabitha's Journey

by Caroline Clemmons

  “Miss Touch-me-not, I should have taught you a few things before the wedding. You’re bound to be frigid, you prissy bitch.”

  Bear reached for William. “You lousy piece of—“ He let fly a fist that sent William sliding along the aisle toward the exit.

  Buster brought out handcuffs and stepped between Bear and William. “I’ll take him to jail. You and Tabitha go ahead with your celebration. Joel and I already discussed this man. I’ll soon have him and his claims sorted out, and file the new charges against him.”

  Micah watched the handcuffs go on. “Don’t forget his father. That man was the mastermind who planned the robbery.”

  Zach stepped aside so Buster could lead the prisoner to jail. “His father was one of the raiders, too.”

  William shouted “Tabitha, you bitch, this is all your fault. You won’t get away with this.”

  Buster drew his gun. “This is a house of worship. We Texans don’t take kindly to men disrespecting our women or our churches. You talk like that again, and I’ll shoot you.” He glanced over his shoulder and winked as he shoved his prisoner out the door.

  Joel raised his hands to quiet the chattering guests. “Everyone’s invited to our house for the wedding reception.”

  Several offered their congratulations but most hurried from the sanctuary. Were they rushing away from her or merely eager for refreshments? She thought they hastened away from a tarnished woman.

  Humiliation shattered Tabitha and she sank onto the front pew and covered her eyes with her hands. Could she ever show her face in Radford Springs again? And what had she done to Bear? He must hate her now. And Erna, what must she think?

  Bear cupped her face. “Aw, honey, don’t cry. You know I don’t know what to say to a crying woman.”

  She pulled away and dipped her head, too embarrassed to look at him. “How can I face you and your friends after what just happened? I so wanted to be a good wife, and already I’ve shamed you in public.”

  He pulled her to stand and cradled her against his chest. “You did nothing of the sort. That man shamed himself and deserves whatever the law gives him.” His strong hands slid in soothing circles on her back. “Imagine, him being one of the Fishers. I’ve read about all the people his raiders killed and the homes they looted and burned. And the women they attacked. You told me he was dishonest, but turns out he’s even worse than you suspected.”

  “I didn’t dream he’d done all those things the Stone brothers mentioned. How frightening to think to think David wanted me to marry that man.”

  Erna put an arm around each of them. “You’re sure lucky to have escaped that one, daughter.”

  Daughter? What a sweet word. Tabitha wiped her eyes and peered at her new mother-in-law. “You’ll still accept me as your daughter-in-law? You’re not too angry with me?”

  “Oh, Tabitha, I said ‘daughter’ because that’s what you are now. I’m proud of both my sons, but I’ve always wanted a girl. Beau lives so far away I hardly get to see his wife. I’m thankful you and Bear will be where I see you every day.”

  Bear pulled hugged Tabitha again and then released her. He caressed her hair and gazed into her eyes. He smiled at her and kissed the tip of her nose. “Now I’ve calmed down, I see this is the most entertaining thing that’s happened around here since Rosalyn first moved to town.”

  Tabitha couldn’t hide her surprise. “Rosalyn? But she’s so elegant and kind. I can’t imagine her causing problems.”

  “She didn’t, not any more than you were responsible for William’s actions. But believe me, we had a lot of distractions from people against her.”

  Erna chuckled. “Got downright lively around here for a while, but life settled down pretty fast.”

  “You think people might accept me, even after what’s happened?”

  “I’m sure of it.” He grasped her hand and smiled. “Mrs. Baldwin, don’t you agree we should go to our reception and greet our guests?”

  Hope for the future bubbled forth in laughter. “Yes, Mr. Baldwin, I think we should.”

  Epilogue

  Ten months later

  Bear entered the cabin and unbuttoned his coat. “Looks like we’re in for more snow.” He hung the coat on a peg by the door.

  Tabitha looked up from her knitting. “Any news from town?”

  “Usual gossip.” He chuckled. “Of all things, Miss Castleberry answered a mail-order bride ad and is moving to Montana.”

  “Cold time of year to go north.”

  Bear handed Tabitha an envelope. “Collected the mail. This one’s for you.”

  “That looks like David’s handwriting.” She opened the seal and scanned the pages.

  “That awful Bertha took everything valuable and sailed for France.” Tabitha rocked, hardly able to believe what she read. “She admitted to David that she and William wanted access to the shipping company for smuggling. She tried to convince David to use American Atlantic Shipping for her nefarious purposes. She guaranteed they’d make a fortune. After she left, David learned Bertha was actually married to William, so her marriage to David wasn’t legal.”

  “Well, I’ll be a son of a gun. You were right to suspect her. And after her so-called brother-cum-husband and his father intended to use American Atlantic Shipping to smuggle stolen goods, she tried to do the same without them.”

  “I can’t help feeling sorry for David. He apologized for the way he treated me. He’s had to sell half interest in the company to replace the capital Bertha spent and stole and he mismanaged.”

  “Honey, remember he threatened to lock you in an asylum and he accused you of stealing your own inheritance.”

  She smiled at him. “But now that I know how powerful lovemaking is, I understand how Bertha controlled him.”

  His blue eyes twinkled. “You saying I control you? I thought it was the other way around.”

  She tilted her head and considered. “I don’t mean you try to control me, just that being with you is powerful. I can see how an inexperienced man could fall prey to a woman who knew how to use her wiles on him.”

  He laughed and removed the yarn and needles from her hands. “That’s what happened to me. You certainly know how to use your wiles. Why don’t we go to our room and you show me how you control me?”

  Tabitha glanced toward the kitchen. “Shhh. Tobias Andrew Baldwin, you are scandalous.”

  As if she couldn’t hear them, Erna hummed as she busily worked dough for bread. Tabitha sighed, wishing her breads turned out as well as her mother-in-law’s. At least she’d mastered the other chores expected of a ranch wife.

  Her husband lifted her into his arms and then settled into what had been her grandfather’s upholstered armchair. “Then why don’t you tell me again how much you love me.”

  She nuzzled her head against his shoulder. “You know I do, more than I ever dreamed possible.”

  “I love you, Tabitha Elizabeth Baldwin. More than I ever dreamed possible.” He slid his hand to her rounded abdomen. “And I’ll love our baby and be a good father.”

  Their babe chose that instant to kick and she covered her husband’s hand with hers. “Soon, Tobias. Only a couple more weeks and you can hold our baby.”

  “I don’t have to wait. Now I can hold you both. My precious treasures for all time.”

  Dear Reader,

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  Read Caroline’s western historical titles:

  Mistletoe Mistake, sweet Christmas story set in Montana

  Blessing, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, set in Utah, sweet

  Garnet, Widows of Wildcat Ridge, coming January 2019

  Loving A Rancher Series (sweet)

  Amanda’s Rancher, No. 1

  The Rancher and the Shepherdess, No. 2

  Murdoch’s Bride, No. 3

  Bride’s Adventure, No. 4

  Snare His Heart, No. 5

  Capture Her Heart, No. 6

  Loving A Rancher, No. 7

  Patience, Bride of Washington, American Mail-Order Brides Series #42, sweet

  Bride Brigade Series: sweet, set in Texas

  Josephine, Bride Brigade book 1

  Angeline, Bride Brigade book 2

  Cassandra, Bride Brigade book 3

  Ophelia, Bride Brigade book 4

  Rachel, Bride Brigade book 5

  Lorraine, Bride Brigade book 6

  Prudence, Bride Brigade book 7

  The Surprise Brides: Jamie, sensual, released simultaneously with three other of The Surprise Brides books which are: Gideon by Cynthia Woolf, Caleb by Callie Hutton, and Ethan by Sylvia McDaniel, each book is about one of the Fraser brothers of Angel Springs, Colorado

  The Kincaid Series: Sensual, set in Texas

  The Most Unsuitable Wife, Kincaids book one

  The Most Unsuitable Husband, Kincaids book two

  The Most Unsuitable Courtship, Kincaids book three

  Gabe Kincaid, Kincaids book four

  Stone Mountain (Texas) Series:

  Brazos Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book one, Free, sensual

  Buy the Audiobook here

  High Stakes Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book two, sensual

  Buy the Audiobook here

  Bluebonnet Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Texas book three, sensual

  Tabitha’s Journey, a Stone Mountain Texas mail-order bride novella, sweet

  Stone Mountain Reunion, a Stone Mountain Texas short story, sweet

  Stone Mountain Christmas, a Stone Mountain Texas Christmas novella, sweet

  Winter Bride, a Stone Mountain Texas romance, sweet

  McClintocks: set in Texas

  The Texan’s Irish Bride, McClintocks book one, Free, sensual

  O’Neill’s Texas Bride, McClintocks book two, sweet

  McClintock’s Reluctant Bride, McClintocks book three

  Daniel McClintock, McClintocks book four, sweet

  Save Your Heart For Me, a mildly sensual romance adventure novella set in Texas

  Long Way Home, a sweet-ish Civil War adventure romance set in Georgia

  Caroline’s Texas Time Travels

  Out Of The Blue, 1845 Irish lass comes forward to today Texas, sensual

  Texas Lightning, sweet, 1896 woman rancher comes forward to today

  Texas Rainbow, sweet, 1920s flapper comes forward to today

  Texas Storm, sweet, WWII WASP comes forward to today

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  Caroline’s Contemporary Titles

  Angel For Christmas, sweet Christmas tale of second chances, sweet

  Texas Caprock Tales:

  Be My Guest, mildly sensual with mystery, sensual

  Grant Me The Moon, sweet with mystery,

  Snowfires, sensual, set in Texas

  Home Sweet Texas Home, Texas Home book one, sweet

  Caroline’s Mysteries: (Texas)

  Almost Home, a Link Dixon mystery

  Death In The Garden, a Heather Cameron cozy mystery

  Take Advantage of Bargain Boxed Sets:

  Mail-Order Tangle: Linked books: Mail-Order Promise by Caroline Clemmons and Mail-Order Ruckus by Jacquie Rogers, set in Texas and Idaho

  Under A Mulberry Moon, nine-author anthology, July 2018, available for a limited time, novellas by Zina Abbott, Patricia Pacjac Carroll, Caroline Clemmons, Carra Copelin, Keta Diablo, P. A. Estelle, Cissie Patterson, Charlene Raddon, and Jacquie Rogers.

  The Kincaids, Books 1-4 in one set, sensual, Texas

  Cinderella Treasure Trove, excerpts, blurbs, author bios, and recipes from authors who write books with a new take on a fairy tale. Free

  Musings and Medleys, blurbs, excerpts, recipes, and author bios from the authors in Under A Mulberry Moon. Free

  About Caroline Clemmons

  Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To make up for this tragic error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a small office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued cats and dogs. The books she creates there have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, and Pinterest.

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