A Bride for Blake

by Marianne Spitzer

  Sarah, sensing trouble, decided to put the food out and give the guests something to do besides stare at Constance.

  After the rest of the introductions were made, Blake suggested they eat first and enjoy the outside dining table if they wished. “It’s a warm evening, and I expect we’ll see a beautiful sunset.”

  Aunt Hortense and Constance chose to remain indoors, and Sheriff Conway joined them as did the judge. Eliza and Mister and Missus Wilbey, the owners of the mercantile, joined Eliza on the back porch. Amalie, Faith, and their husbands also chose to sit on the back porch. Blake did his best to speak to all parties moving from inside to outside and back again.

  When everyone had their fill of Sarah’s delicious meal, Blake suggested they retire to the parlor and enjoy a glass of sherry.

  As soon as everyone had a glass of sherry, Aunt Hortense said, “I think we should offer a toast to Blake and his new bride, Eliza.”

  With a couple of “here heres” and lots of smiles, the young couple were toasted by their friends.

  Aunt Hortense sipped her sherry and said, “I think we should also make Eliza welcome and get to know her better. Why don’t you tell us a little more about yourself, my dear? Perhaps you could start with why you left St. Louis, the employ of the prominent Richards family, and escaped from town with your reputation barely intact.”

  “What?” Eliza sputtered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Blake turned to his aunt, his eyes darkening in anger. “What are you saying, Aunt Hortense, and why are you saying it here and now?”

  “It’s simple, Blake, the good people here tonight need to know what type of woman is living in their town. She didn’t grow up in an orphanage, she’s the child of a saloon girl and worked as one before she convinced you to marry her. She’s nothing more than a harlot who does not deserve the Montgomery name,” Aunt Hortense lied.

  Eliza gasped and spilled her sherry, staining the front of her new dress. Before Blake could defend Eliza, Amalie strode toward Aunt Hortense and stopped inches from the old woman.

  “I want you to know that I have known Eliza since she was a tiny baby. She, Faith, and I grew up in the same St. Louis orphanage. Her mother died shortly after she was born, and her father was killed in an accident before she was born. She left the employ of the Richards because he was a letch. Do you understand what that means, you old crone?” Amalie nearly shouted.

  Aunt Hortense took a step back and said, “No need to be rude, young lady. The truth is often difficult to hear.”

  “Truth,” Amalie snapped back. “You wouldn’t know the truth if it actually spoke to you.”

  “Now see here,” Aunt Hortense retorted. “I have a report from a very reliable source that every word is true.”

  Amalie moved closer and looked Aunt Hortense straight in the eye. “I want you to give me that report, and I’m going to give it to my husband. Do you know who my husband is? He’s a retired bounty hunter, and his name is Deke Sperling. Just the name Sperling strikes fear into the hearts of criminals across this country. I’m going to have him travel to St. Louis and find all these liars, and they’ll all end up in jail.”

  Aunt Hortense couldn’t move back any further and tried to move to the side but came face to face with Faith. “Amalie is right. You’re lying. I grew up with Eliza, too, and I’m married to Deke’s brother. I’ll send Nate along with Deke, and anyone who told these lies will be sorry they ever heard your name. How much did you pay them to lie?”

  Deke and Nate moved up behind their wives and gently convinced them to walk away from Aunt Hortense, and Blake demanded to see what information his aunt had.

  Aunt Hortense shook her head. “That is my personal business.”

  “All right,” Blake said. “I have a friend who is a Pinkerton agent in Denver. I’ll telegraph him and asked him to have someone in St. Louis investigate whoever you hired. I want you to pack your things and leave my home.”

  “You can’t mean tonight? It’s too late, and I need time to pack my things.”

  Blake, barely able to contain his anger, stared at his aunt. “All right, I will give you until the day after tomorrow. One of my men will have the carriage ready to take you to town at sunup and not a minute later.”

  Constance began to cry, and Blake turned to her. “You are welcome to stay. I don’t believe you played a part in this scheme of my aunt’s.”

  Aunt Hortense stormed from the room, and Constance followed.

  Blake turned to find Eliza being comforted by Ethel Wilbey and heard her say, “Don’t you worry, dear. We know the truth. You’re a welcome addition to our town. You should join the quilting circle at church and come visit me at the mercantile. I’m always there working.”

  Eliza did her best to smile and said, “Thank you. I’d like that.”

  Everyone offered their thanks for a lovely meal and hurried on their way. Blake sat next to Eliza and did his best to comfort her and try to explain away his aunt’s behavior.

  “It’s not your fault, Blake. You don’t need to apologize, but I’d like to go to my room and lay down. I have a headache, and I think my dress is ruined,” Eliza said, holding the stained fabric in her right hand.

  Sarah heard her and said, “Let me help you off with that dress, and you can lay down. I’ll soak it, and we’ll see if we can get the stain out.”

  “If not, I’ll see to it that Florence makes you another. That dress is too nice not to be saved or replicated. You look lovely beyond words,” Blake promised.

  “Thank you,” Eliza said, her sad eyes betraying the smile on her face.

  Chapter 13

  After the previous evening’s disastrous ending, Eliza was happy to see Sarah in the kitchen making breakfast. She’d slept too late, but thankfully her headache was gone.

  Eliza blew a loose curl from her forehead and confided in Sarah. “I don’t understand why Constance hates me. She can’t possibly be in love with Blake. The last time she saw him, he was fourteen years old. He barely remembers her.”

  “It’s not Blake that young woman loves, it’s his money, and the more his aunt speaks about what he’ll inherit from her, the more Miss Constance’s anger grows. She can’t believe that Blake loves you instead of her. You just cling to Blake, and the two of you will stand strong together,” Sarah explained. “He’s needed someone like you in his life for a while now.”

  Eliza blushed at the kind words knowing that she and Blake were lying to nearly everyone even if they were secretly courting, but if she had a choice, she’d remain his wife forever.

  “I think I’ll go outside and take a walk. I could use some air to clear my thoughts,” Eliza said before pulling her shawl and bonnet from a hook near the back door.

  Sarah smiled as she watched the young woman who was already a large part of the family close the door and disappear onto the back porch.

  Eliza sat on the swing that faced the western border of the property. It was her favorite place to watch the sunset each evening. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear Constance walk up behind her.

  “Look at you sitting here acting like the lady of the manor,” Constance spat as she walked around the swing.

  “Constance,” Eliza quipped. “I’m surprised you’re awake this early. You usually sleep until ten.”

  “You can’t possibly expect me to rise with the sun the way you and that hired woman do. What can you possibly do that early in the morning?”

  “First, that woman’s name is Sarah. She’s not hired help. She’s a friend of the family that works for Blake. You should wake up early one morning, and you could accompany me to the barn. I could teach you to milk the cow,” Eliza said, smiling.

  Constance visibly shuddered. “That will never happen, and when Blake and I return back East with Miss Hortense, you can live in the barn with the cow for all I care.”

  “What is wrong with you?” Eliza questioned. “I’m Blake’s wife, and he’s not going anywhere with you or his A
unt Hortense.”

  Constance smirked. “Last night I couldn’t sleep. I went to the kitchen for a glass of milk, and I heard you and Blake talking. I listened at your bedroom door.”

  “You eavesdropped,” Eliza said incredulously.

  Constance shrugged. “If you didn’t want anyone to hear you, then you should have been quiet. I found your conversation quite interesting, and so will Miss Hortense when she awakes. I can’t wait to tell her that you’re not really married to Blake.”

  “We most certainly are married. I have our marriage license to prove it.”

  Constance laughed and said, “You are married in name only to fool Miss Hortense and me. Now that I know the truth Miss Hortense and I can leave this horrible place and take Blake back where he belongs.”

  Eliza shot to her feet and fisted her hands at her hips. “I can’t wait for you to leave.”

  “Don’t worry, it will be soon, and you and that hired woman can both live in the barn until Blake sells this terrible place and buys us a lovely home in the country and a townhome in the city.”

  “You are confused and misinformed,” Eliza lied. “You didn’t eavesdrop long enough to hear Blake, and I laugh at how silly we were to think we could ever just have a marriage of convenience. We love each other, and I hope we started our family last night.”

  Constance’s face burned hot with rage, and her eyes turned a shade darker. “You are going to leave one way or the other.”

  Eliza laughed, but her laughter turned to horror when she saw Constance holding a small silver gun in her hand.

  “Please, put that gun away before you hurt someone,” Eliza pleaded. “You can’t get away with shooting me.”

  “I’m Constance Olivia Beatrice Glavens-Bradshaw, and my father is an important man. I can get away with anything I want. I always have,” she said as she pulled the trigger and fired a bullet into the porch wood at Eliza’s feet.

  Eliza jumped back and let out a small scream. The back door flew open, and Sarah rushed out. “What on earth is going on?”

  Constance turned and pointed the gun at Sarah. Eliza took a chance and rushed at Constance before she could fire at Sarah. They grappled for possession of the gun until it fired. Eliza’s face paled as she crumpled to the ground.

  Sarah screamed and ran to Eliza’s prone body. “What have you done?” Sarah screamed at Constance.

  Constance shrugged. “It’s a small gun with little bullets, it can’t hurt anyone.”

  Sarah lifted her bloody hand and said, “Does this look like she’s not hurt.”

  Before Constance could reply, three of the ranch hands ran up to the porch.

  Sarah stood and said, “Ray, carry Eliza into her room, Buck, go find Blake and my husband, and Joey, ride into town as fast as you can and send Doc and the Sheriff out here. Go to Doc’s first.”

  All three men nodded. Buck and Joey took off running while Ray lifted Eliza and carried her into the house. Sarah grabbed Constance by the arm and the back of her collar, “Get in the house. You’re going to stay right here until the Sheriff comes.”

  “Sheriff, what in the world would the Sheriff want here? Eliza and I had a little spat. Blake will understand when he gets here, and he’ll finally send that wretched woman away so we can leave this place,” Constance spat as she struggled against the much stronger Sarah.

  Sarah pushed Constance into the house through the kitchen and into the parlor. She met Ray coming from Eliza’s room.

  “Here,” Sarah said. “Watch her and don’t let her out of this room. I don’t care if you have to sit on her, tie her to a chair, or hold your gun on her. She shot Eliza, and the Sheriff is on his way, I hope.”

  Ray nodded, and Constance backed away from him until the back of her knees collided with the settee, and she sat down, gripping her hands tightly in her lap.

  Aunt Hortense chose that moment to enter the room, and Constance stood and moved toward her but stopped when Ray pulled his gun.

  “Sit back down,” Ray ordered.

  Constance dropped back down on the settee, and Aunt Hortense glared at Ray. “Put that gun away, young man. This is my nephew’s house, and I won’t abide men with guns in the parlor.”

  “I don’t care what you will or won’t abide,” Ray answered. “That woman shot Missus Eliza, and I’m going to keep my gun on her until the Sheriff arrives. You best hope Missus Eliza doesn’t die, or she’ll end up in prison or worse. If I were you, I’d spend the time praying.”

  “It was an accident,” Constance screamed. “Eliza grabbed my gun. She shouldn’t have tried to take the gun from me.”

  Aunt Hortense sat next to Constance and held her hand. When Sarah ran out of Eliza’s room, asking for Aunt Hortense’s help, the old woman said she was doing her best to calm Constance, and that was most important.

  Sarah scowled but hurried to gather clean towels and hot water before returning to Eliza’s room.

  “Now, now, don’t fret,” Aunt Hortense said to Constance while patting her hand. “This will all work out well. I don’t think it was a good idea to come out here. As soon as Blake gets here, we’ll tell him we're heading home. This is a terrible place to live, and I’m afraid Blake loves this ranch more than he could ever love you.”

  Constance nodded and whispered, “Do you think that man is right? Could they send me to prison?”

  “He’s trying to scare you. Men out here seem to be mean and nasty. They aren’t like the cultured gentleman you’re used to at home. We’ll find you a wonderful man when we get back,” Aunt Hortense assured.

  Constance’s fear grew, and she began to whimper and slumped on the settee.

  “Sit up,” Aunt Hortense ordered. “Straighten your backbone and show them that you’re a lady and not one of these simpletons.”

  Aunt Hortense turned her wrath on Ray and ordered him to put the gun away and leave them alone.

  Ray smirked. “You’d have a better chance of finding water in the desert than you will seeing me put my gun away. I don’t like the way the two of you are whispering. Move away from her and go sit on one of those chairs.” He motioned with his gun to the two chairs in front of the window.

  When Aunt Hortense didn’t move, Ray took a step closer, and she finally gave in and moved but not before calling him a lowlife ruffian.

  Chapter 14

  Blake leaped from his horse as it was still moving, ran up the porch steps, and into the house. He headed toward his bedroom, thinking that would be where he’d find Eliza. Blake stopped for only a moment when he saw Ray standing in the parlor, holding a gun on a distraught Constance. He ignored his aunt’s demands that he speak with her and rushed into his room.

  He stopped in his tracks when he saw a pale Eliza lying on the bed covered to her neck with a clean white sheet. Her breathing was slow and shallow, and Blake knew he was going to lose her.

  Blake dropped to his knees next to the bed, taking Eliza’s hand in his, and began speaking as he did his best to hold back his tears.

  “Please, Eliza, don’t leave me. I never knew how lonely this ranch was until you came here. I don’t know what to do if you aren’t here with me. Please, Eliza. You have filled my life with sunshine. Don’t leave my world in darkness without you. I love you, Eliza. Please fight and live, for me, for you, for us.”

  Blake opened his eyes when he felt Eliza’s hand move. “I’m here, Blake. Sarah said I’m going to be all right. She said I have a through and through wound whatever that means. She stopped the bleeding and bandaged me until Doc can get here and put in a few stitches. I’m going to stay right here with you.”

  Blake kissed her hand and said, “It means the bullet went through, and Doc won’t need to perform surgery to find it. Yes, you’re going to be all right. What happened?”

  “Constance shot at me and then turned to shoot Sarah. I grabbed her arm, and we fought. The gun went off, and I don’t remember anything else until I woke up here in bed with Sarah smiling at me,” Eliza explained.r />
  “Why would she shoot you?”

  “She wants you. She listened outside the bedroom door last night and heard us talk about our marriage of convenience. She told me that you would be leaving with her and your aunt. She made me angry, and I lied, telling her she missed part of the conversation, and we are indeed together. Her face turned red, and she pulled a little gun and shot the porch right in front of me. Sarah heard the shot and came out, and you know the rest.”

  Blake shook his head, “I thank God she didn’t hurt you worse. I’m sorry this happened. I never should have agreed to let them stay here.”

  “You didn’t have a choice. Your aunt was ill. I wouldn’t expect you to do anything less. I heard you talking to me when you first came into the room. Could you repeat it?” Eliza asked.

  Confusion crossed Blake’s face, and he thought of what he had said. “I was asking you not to leave and to fight and live.”

  “I know,” Eliza said. “You said more at the end.”

  Blake thought back, nodded, and smiled. “I asked you to live for us.”

  “What else?”

  “I said I love you, Eliza.”

  Eliza smiled at him and asked, “Did you mean it?”

  “Of course, I did. I felt it but didn’t realize it fully until I thought I was going to lose you,” Blake said, kissing her hand again.

  “I love you, too,” Eliza whispered.

  Sarah stepped into the bedroom, “Blake, Doc and the sheriff are here.”

  Blake stood and said, “I’ll be right out, please stay with Eliza while the Doc examines her.”

  Sarah nodded, and Blake passed the doctor as he headed toward the parlor, already hearing his aunt’s shrill voice arguing with the Sheriff and Ray.

  “You absolutely will not arrest Constance and take her to your filth infested jail. You house intoxicated, despicable criminals there,” Aunt Hortense said as she stood directly in front of the Sheriff.

  Ray interjected, “She shot Missus Eliza. She belongs in jail.”