Cowboy’s Orders
(Brides of Juniper Junction, Book Two)
Celeste Jones
Copyright © 2020 Cowboy’s Orders by Celeste Jones
All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed without prior written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Published in the United States of America
Editing by Helen Shade
Cover by Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs
This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Contents
About this book
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Other books in the Brides of Juniper Junction series
Also by Celeste Jones
About Celeste Jones
About this book
Forced to marry due to scandal. Will another scandal tear them apart?
They don't call her Nosey Posey for nothing and when her snooping causes a scandal that forces a marriage, Posey can't help but wonder if Jake truly loves her or is only fulfilling his duty.
His kisses leave her breathless and his discipline makes her quiver, but are his professions of love genuine?
Despite his many reassurances, Posey finds it hard to believe a handsome, dominant, caring man like Jake could love someone like her.
Just when Posey starts to feel confident in her husband's love, letters sent to Jake from a mysterious woman bring up all her old insecurities.
Love, secrets and intrigue come together for another sweet and sexy romance in Juniper Junction.
Chapter 1
Juniper Junction, Wyoming Territory 1885
"Did Uncle Fritz arrive yet?" Posey asked Tassie for the hundredth time. They were in the foreman’s office at Windy River Ranch. Even though he wasn’t with them in his office, being in Jake’s domain gave Posey a bit of comfort.
"Posey, honey, I'm starting to think he's not going to come at all." Tassie gave voice to the thoughts swirling around Posey's head. "I'm sorry."
"I know he was angry about what happened down by the river," Posey blinked back tears, "and he's never been particularly interested in me. That's why I am always being so... well, nosey. Growing up in that big house by myself practically all the time, I just got so lonely."
"I know." Tassie patted her arm. "But," she said, giving Posey an encouraging smile, "today is your wedding day. You and Jake. You won't have to be lonely anymore. That man just adores you."
Some of Posey's sadness fell away. "Do you really think so?"
Tassie gave her a startled look. "Um...he's waiting in the parlor to marry you, Posey. I'm not sure what more you need to believe it."
Posey shivered with excitement. "Oh, Tassie," she gasped, "pinch me. I can't believe it's true."
"If you don't start having some confidence in your man, I will pinch you. Now," Tassie handed Posey her bouquet, "it's just about time to get you married."
"Could you look again? Please? Maybe he's just getting here."
Tassie gave her a sympathetic look and stepped out onto the porch of the large ranch house. Posey said a silent prayer that her Uncle Fritz would come strolling in the door, apologizing for being late and proud to walk his niece down the aisle on her wedding day. It was a useless prayer, she knew. She'd been just a little girl when she was put into Uncle Fritz's care and it seemed as though she'd spent way too much time trying to gain his attention and approval. Today was no different.
There was a tap on the doorway and Posey looked up, hopeful of seeing her one and only relative. "Oh, hello, Mr. Conners." She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. Not only was Mr. Conners Jake's boss, but he had kindly offered to host their wedding at Windy River Ranch. Posey had been stunned by his offer. "I'm sorry I'm holding things up. I was hoping my uncle would be here." She had no idea why she was so sad about Uncle Fritz's obvious snub of her on her wedding day. He'd never been able to bother with much of anything that had to do with her other than to put a roof over her head and provide for her basic needs. I guess I just thought maybe this would be different. It's my wedding, after all.
"Of course," Mr. Conners said with a kindly smile. "Would you like me to go and see if he's coming down the lane?"
"No, thank you. Tassie just went out to do that."
Mr. Conners nodded and acted like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure.
"I want to thank you again, Mr. Conners, for hosting our wedding. It's very kind of you."
"I'm happy to do it. Jake is my foreman and you're going to be joining the Windy River Ranch family in just a few minutes."
"I guess that's true. It’s been a long time since I felt like part of a family,” Posey said.
Tassie returned. Alone. "Sorry, Posey. He’s not here."
Mr. Conners mumbled something under his breath. Posey couldn't be sure, but she suspected it was some swear words. Then he stepped forward. "I know I'm not officially family, Posey, but I'd be honored if you'd let me walk you down the aisle." He offered her his arm.
Stunned, Posey was momentarily speechless. She glanced at Tassie who smiled and nodded.
"Enough of this sad face," Tassie said. "It's your wedding day. I'm sorry your uncle isn't here. But that's just too bad for him. Now, let's get you and Jake married."
"Where is she?" Jake whispered to Cal Watson, his best man. He sure wished he wasn't standing in front of a roomful of people waiting on his bride. They were all staring at him and as the minutes ticked by, he actually started to wonder if Posey had changed her mind. Her uncle had been awfully mad when scandal forced his hand in allowing Posey to get married after he’d declared she was too immature to be a wife.
A bit of guilt pricked Jake’s conscience.
"I don't know," Cal replied.
Jake allowed his gaze to roam over the people gathered in the parlor of the main house at Windy River Ranch. Mostly folks from the ranch, cowboys and ranch hands who looked about as uncomfortable in their fancy clothes as Jake felt in his.
As he studied the crowd and then glanced to the rear of the room where Posey was supposed to appear, realization hit him. Posey was waiting for her uncle. They'd talked just the night before and she'd mentioned, with hope in her big brown eyes, that her uncle would relent from his declaration that she was dead to him after the scandal she'd caused. Jake knew better. Anyone who had even the slightest interaction with Fritz Parker had no delusions about him being anything but a hard man.
Jake's hands fisted at his sides as he imagined what he'd like to do to the man who had caused his little Posey to lo
ok so sad. The real wonder was how anyone who had lived in the same house—and cooked and cleaned practically from dawn to dusk—with that sour man could have retained her sunny disposition.
He knew most people called her Nosey Posey and it wasn't completely inaccurate. But what others saw as nosiness, Jake recognized as loneliness. He found her chatter and propensity for mishap charming. Endearing. The sound of her voice filled him with happiness.
In his mind's eye he could envision Posey waiting and hoping for her no account uncle to arrive and walk her down the aisle. "I bet she's waiting to see if that dirty dog Fritz Parker shows up," he hissed to Cal out of the side of his mouth.
"Well, that ain't gonna happen."
"She doesn't know that."
"What do you want me to do? Go and drag him out here?"
"Well, you are the sheriff."
Cal gave him a side-eyed look and sighed.
By now their discussion had moved beyond a few whispered words and the folks in the first row of seats undoubtedly knew exactly what they were talking about.
"I'm going to find Posey and talk some sense into her," Jake said. He wasn't one for rash behavior but he'd waited long enough for Posey to be his and now that he was this close to achieving his desire, he wasn't about to let anything stop this wedding from happening.
Cal grabbed hold of Jake's arm and just as Jake prepared to jerk his arm away from the sheriff, he noticed movement at the back of the room.
Posey, his sweet Posey. His breath froze in his chest. She wore a white dress with as many frills and flounces as Josie at the general store had been able to put on it. Though a veil covered her face, he could still see her big brown eyes and his gaze locked with hers.
It was like the earth stood still as she made her way to him on the arm of Mr. Conners. But Mr. Conners and everyone else crammed into the room faded away. As his little Posey got closer and closer, he had to hold himself back from running and grabbing her hand and dragging her to stand in front of the preacher.
When she got to his side and Mr. Conners placed her small hand in his, it was the happiest moment of his life.
It was quite a party that afternoon at Windy River Ranch. Mr. Conners had pulled out all the stops. Or as much as he could manage on short notice. A make-shift dance floor had been created in the side yard and a band played music all afternoon. What a treat it was for the folks who were there to be able to enjoy some entertainment and good company. The young people of Juniper Junction were particularly happy to have a chance to spend time with members of the opposite sex.
"Whew!" Posey came off the dance floor, Jake by her side. "And you said you had two left feet!"
"Must be my partner who helps me look like I know what I'm doing."
"Oh hush," she said, giving him a teasing nudge on the arm. "You moved like you knew what you were doing."
Jake leaned down, it seemed he nearly had to bend in half to get his face level with hers. "Oh, darlin', I've got all kinds of moves to show you. Later." His eyes smoldered and her tummy flipped. Her wedding night.
She knew it wasn't right or proper, but once she knew for sure she and Jake were getting married, visions of his broad shoulders, narrow hips and muscular thighs had invaded her thoughts and sometimes even her dreams. She'd woken up several times in recent days with an ache in her lower parts and a feeling of delicious naughtiness. Jake's obvious reference to consummating their marriage had her flustered. But not in a bad way.
And as always, she was curious. Oh, so very, very curious.
Heat suffused her face as she felt the desire in his gaze. His eyes smoldered and focused only on her. Jake always made her feel special and important. And now, other feelings grew stronger too.
"I-I think I need to get some lemonade," she said.
Jake chuckled, then whispered in her ear. "All right, little girl, I'll let you go for now, but remember, you're mine."
Posey stumbled a bit as she made her way across the room, Jake's warm voice echoing in her ear. "You're mine."
She'd never been so happy.
Working her way through the throng of well-wishers, she found the refreshment table and got a glass of cool lemonade. Much as she loved a crowd and activity, Posey needed a few minutes alone so she slipped down a hallway, hoping she didn't get lost in the expansive and unfamiliar ranch house. There were a number of rooms along the hall, but since no one was actually in the hallway at the moment, she ducked into an alcove and sipped her lemonade in peace.
Married. To Jake. Just like she'd been wishing and hoping. A sense of unbridled joy came over her. Finally, after all the lonely years living with her uncle—even though she was sad he hadn't come to the wedding, now that the ceremony was over, she was glad he wasn't there. Any party Uncle Fritz had ever attended, and they were few and far between, had been made worse by his presence. Glaring and dour, people tended to stay away from him. And as a result, they'd kept their distance from Posey as well. Until she'd finally figured out she needed to go after them herself.
Nosey Posey. She sighed. Maybe now that she was a married lady she'd be able to live down that horrible nickname.
Ironically, within seconds of having that thought, voices wafted out from one of the rooms down the hall. It sounded like several women laughing.
No, she told herself, she would not listen. She turned away from the sound and focused on her lemonade and the tart but refreshing flavor of the beverage.
More giggles.
Determined to put her eavesdropping ways behind her, Posey stepped out of the alcove and turned back toward the party. Everything would have been fine if she hadn't heard her name.
Her feet halted. Maybe she was mistaken. Why would anyone be talking about her?
Then she heard it again, loud and clear. "Nosey Posey."
Glancing in both directions and not seeing anyone else near, she tip-toed down the hall and ducked into another alcove closer to the open door.
"At least we're getting a fun party out of it," a woman said. She recognized Aggie Myrth’s voice. It had caused her stomach to knot up too many times for Posey not to respond the same way again.
"I can't believe she trapped him into marrying her," Myrtle, Aggie’s sister, said. "Jake's too kind a man for his own good. Everyone knows what a snoop she is. It woulda served her right if he'd refused to marry her. Everyone knows she did it on purpose."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures." And several women laughed.
Posey bit her lip to keep from crying out in agony. The accusations cut her deep and then to hear others laughing at her expense just added salt to the wound.
"I don't think it's so funny," Aggie said, her voice bitter. "It's like she stole him right out from under the rest of us. It's not fair."
"All's fair in love and war."
"Oh shut up with your stupid quotes."
"What about 'cheaters never win'? Seems like Posey cheated, stacked the deck in her favor and she got Jake and the rest of us have to pretend we're happy for them."
Posey's face flamed with shame. Had she really trapped Jake into marrying her? Is that what everyone thought? Was she a cheater? And what about all those women who seemed to think Jake was their property? Did he think that too?
She held back a moan of despair.
Hearing movement in the room and not wanting to be seen, she opened a door and prayed it was empty before slipping in to hide.
If she was brave, she'd stand her ground in the hallway and tell them she'd done no such thing.
But she wasn't really so brave and part of her wondered if they were right.
Thankfully the room was empty. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths. "They don't know what they're talking about," she told herself. "I know Jake and he loves me." She glanced at the ring on her hand. They were just jealous.
But a part of her couldn't help but wonder if she'd done a horrible thing and forced Jake to marry her. All because she'd been snooping aro
und where she shouldn't have been.
Chapter 2
A week ago
Posey scraped her feet along the worn dirt trail next to the Windy River. Her footsteps were heavy, as was her heart. Jake had been walking her home from church for the past few Sundays, but today he had not been at services. She'd sat as still and patient as she could while Pastor Ellis droned on and on about something. She couldn't even remember one thing that he'd said. Seated next to her uncle, she'd fought the urge to crane her neck and look for Jake in the back of the church. Usually he sat with the rest of the crew from Windy River Ranch, taking up the middle three pews on the left side of the aisle. She stole a glance that way, but his broad shoulders and thick dark hair were not to be found amongst the cowboys in attendance.
Was he ill?
Her uncle shot her a particularly dark glare when she fidgeted in her seat. For six long years she'd been attending services with him. She was more than familiar with his stern thoughts on the Bible and church. And women.
She dreaded election day even more than church. Wyoming Territory had granted women the right to vote and every election day, though she still was not of voting age, she'd been treated to a diatribe on his views of the foolishness of women and the even greater foolishness of the men who'd granted them the right to vote.
Cowboy's Orders (Brides of Juniper Junction Book 2) Page 1