Kayla’s mouth gaped open as she came back with, “What are you talking about, Abby? I wasn’t going to say anything bad. You had better head to church with that mind of yours.” Kayla cleared her throat. “I was going to say he looks strong enough to carry you over the threshold, and protect you.”
McKenna vehemently shook her head. “Oh, there will be none of that. Cole has insisted our marriage will be in name only.”
“Oh, really?” Abigail said with an incredulous look on her face. “You, McKenna, who has always insisted that you’d never marry, are considering marrying a man you don’t even know. It’s just unnatural to promise to marry this man and not even plan on having a proper marriage.”
“I haven’t promised anything yet, which is why I’m discussing it with you now. I won’t just be doing this for me, but all of us. I won’t see my sisters working their hands to the bone trying to keep the family going, and I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure you don’t. I’ll be able to send you money regularly, if all goes well.”
“Well, the marriage part would ease my mind somewhat,” Abigail offered after a moment. “But whatever will you do if you fall in love with this Cole? From the way you were looking at him when you came out of the dining room, I think you like him at least a little.”
McKenna shook her head. There was just no truth to that. “I don’t know him well enough to say if I like him or not, but falling in love with Cole is not part of the deal.”
“It never is, sister,” Penelope said with a sly smile.
Penelope had more experience in the matters of the heart than any of her other sisters. The problem was that she fell in love much too easily, and as a result, her heart had been broken often. She had just gotten over her last beau, the banker, Jake.
“I suppose I should think about this overnight, but unless we all want to have our grandfather set us up with crotchety old men, I think this proposal is looking better all the time.”
“I thought you said our grandfather told you he wouldn’t help us?” Penelope asked.
“He suggested we all get married, remember? I mentioned this before.”
Cadence sat in the corner as always. She was quite shy, and their parents’ passing had taken its toll on her in particular. She was quite close with Mother, while McKenna was closer to Father, but McKenna had no choice other than to keep things going at the store. Well, when they’d had a store.
“What do you think, Cadence?”
“What are you asking me for? It seems like you’ve already made up your mind. First Mother and Father are gone, and now you’re leaving, too,” Cadence cried as she jumped up and ran from the room.
Abigail stopped McKenna from going after her sister. “Leave her alone. She’ll be fine,” Abigail said. “I’ll handle Cadence if you decide to leave, but it will be hard on her.”
“It will be hard on all of us,” Penelope corrected. “But Abigail is quite capable of handling things here, until you send for us, which I really hope you do at some point. I think Nevada sounds exciting, a wild frontier ready to be explored. How will you get there, horseback?”
McKenna fingered her satin gown. “I surely hope not.”
“I bet not, sister,” Abigail said. “I can’t imagine you being anywhere dusty or dirty. It’s just not who you are.”
“I-I know, but I’ll just have to get used to it is all.”
“And hot. It will insufferably hot there,” Kayla remarked.
“I’ll be sure to pack only my lighter dresses. If I go, I mean.”
“And Father’s pistol,” Abigail said. “I insist you take it.”
“But I don’t know how to shoot.”
“You mean Father never taught you?” Abigail asked with raised brow. “Now that I find hard to believe, but I’m sure Cole would be happy to show you. Or perhaps not, if he worries you might just shoot him.”
“From what I know of the man already, I hardly think I need to do that. Unless he decides not to live up to his end of the bargain and keep the marriage in name only, like he told me.”
“So, you’re actually going to do it, McKenna?” Kayla asked. “Marry this stranger and go out west with him?”
“I’m not sure just yet. I told you I was thinking about it still.”
“Don’t press, McKenna. This is something that should be thought about long and hard, perhaps over a cup of tea. I just got the most wonderful blend yesterday from Betty Nash. She told me she received a shipment from India,” Abigail said.
“India?” McKenna asked. “I had no idea the Nashes were that cultured.” This assumption was due to the fact that the Nashes didn’t dress according to their station in life. Why, people who didn’t know them might think they were very much part of the working class. They were always so friendly and lived right next door. She’d have to ask them to look after her sisters when she was gone, if she decided to go. Oh, who was McKenna fooling; she was so ready for an adventure, no matter where it took her. She wouldn’t allow herself to think about Cole any more than a means to her end. As a married woman, she’d have more freedom than an unmarried one did. Even though he was appealing to her, McKenna simply wouldn’t entertain the thought that she could fall in love with him. No, love certainly wasn’t part of this. It was a business arrangement and that was all.
McKenna excused herself. Upstairs, Cadence rushed forward with a rustling of her satiny dress, giving her a quick hug before going back to her room. She didn’t know if that was a sign of her acceptance about her leaving, or her sorrow at losing another member of her family. She was hard to judge, and McKenna leaving would be difficult for her.
CHAPTER THREE
McKenna had never been more nervous in her life as she waited for Cole to join her at the home of Betty and Frank Nash. She had sent him a note by way of courier, and he had responded promptly. Both he and his brother Bret would join them at their neighbor’s house, which would be much more appropriate.
As McKenna lifted her teacup to her lips, it rattled. When she set it down, Betty gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Are you certain you wish to do this, McKenna?”
“Yes, it’s my only chance. Our only chance for a new life, since our uncle stole the business right out from under us.”
“That man is a ba—”
“Frank,” Betty interjected. “Watch your language.”
Frank shook his head. “That Abner is no good, and Neiman’s will be closed within a year of him taking over the business. From what I heard, his business skills are quite lacking.”
Cadence sniffled. “I-I hope not. I just hate that the business Papa and Mama had built will just go down like that. There must be something we can do?”
“No, believe me. I’ve sorted it out with the attorney. There simply is no other option for us. Opening a store in Nevada is our best hope of getting back what we’ve lost.”
“I agree,” Frank said. “But you do know that Nevada will be nothing like Halston. It will be rugged and dangerous for a woman on her own.”
“I won’t be alone. I’ll be with my husband.”
“Make darn sure you stick close to him. I’d hate for something to happen to you.”
“You will look after my sisters while I’m gone, right?” McKenna asked.
“Yes, we will,” Betty assured her. “Abigail has found a few women in need of a room. It will help with expenses until you get settled.”
“We have enough to last almost a year,” Abigail added.
McKenna glanced at her sister and knew she’d be able to handle things when she left. She’d done well managing the household.
“Keep a close eye on Kayla,” she whispered to Abigail. “I’m worried she might just get herself into trouble when I leave.”
“Not to worry. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“And we’ll make sure she stays on her studies,” Frank said.
Kayla pouted. “I don’t know why you think me incapable of running my life the way I see fit.”
“Because, dear, once you ruin your reputation, it will limit your chances at finding a decent man,” Betty explained. “If what you’ve said you wanted is true.”
They were interrupted when there was a knock at the door. Betty waited until there were three raps before she answered it.
She opened the door and invited Cole and Bret inside. When the men strode in, Cole wasn’t dressed like he’d been the day before. Instead, he wore jeans, cowboy boots and a black vest.
“What is the meaning of this, young man? Is this how you show up when you come a-courting?” Margaret asked.
“I-I—”
“I tried to tell you, Cole,” Bret said.
Kayla glided toward Bret, but Betty took ahold of her arm and guided her right back to the sofa. “Calm yourself, Kayla. We want to hear what Cole has to say for himself.”
“I apologize. I was readying my wagon for the trip to Nevada.”
McKenna’s hands went to her hips. “I didn’t even tell you whether I’d marry you or not yet.”
“I’m going regardless, even if I have to become a miner until I raise the funds I need.”
McKenna’s shoulders dropped. “I’m sorry, Mr. Winters. I should have held my tongue until you were able to explain yourself.”
“No problem, Miss McKenna, but have you made a decision yet about my proposal?”
“If she marries you, I expect you to abide by her wishes,” Frank said. “Meaning this marriage will be in name only until McKenna decides otherwise.”
“Which I won’t,” McKenna butted in. “But if you can agree that it will be in name only, I’ll marry you, providing you can prove you have the funds to pay your half.”
“I can prove that, McKenna,” Cole said, grinning. “We’ll have to find a preacher willing to marry us on short notice.”
“I’ll take care of that,” Betty said. “We should be able to put the wedding together for Saturday.”
“That quick?” McKenna said. “How will I ever get a wedding dress in time for that? No seamstress I know works that quickly.”
“You could wear Mama’s wedding dress,” Abigail suggested.
Penelope clapped her hands, “Great suggestion, sister. It should fit her just fine.”
“I’m not taking part in this farce of a marriage,” Cadence said as she darted from the room.
McKenna sighed. “I’m sorry. My sister Cadence isn’t at all happy that I’m leaving for Nevada soon. She’s taken our parents’ death harder than the rest of us.”
“That’s understandable,” Cole said. “Is there anything I can do to ease her mind?”
“No, I think it’s best to leave her alone. I’ll talk to her later.”
Betty smiled. “We’ll look after her. Why don’t you have a seat, Cole, next to McKenna. We’ll give you a little privacy to talk.”
“I’ll be in hearing range,” Frank warned Cole.
Betty and Frank left the room with her sisters, retiring to the dining room.
McKenna massaged the material of the sofa, not daring a look at Cole just yet. Her heart beat rapidly; she was more than a little anxious since she’d told the man that she’d indeed marry him.
She finally glanced up and Cole was looking at her quite sympathetically. “I know this was bad timing for your family, but the time is right for this deal. I’ll uphold my end of the bargain if you do the same.”
She wasn’t sure what that meant, but she nodded. “Good. I don’t want to have any problems on the road. How will we travel to Nevada? Train?”
“No, stagecoach for you. I’ll be taking a wagon with supplies. That way, we’ll have everything we need when we get to Silver. Of course, we’ll be ordering more supplies once the store is ready to open.”
“Why don’t I ride in the wagon with you?”
“I want you to be comfortable, McKenna. You won’t enjoy being bounced all over in a wagon. Besides, it will be too full to fit you.” He smiled. “I’m very excited about the venture. I’ve wanted to start over since I left California.”
“Oh, and why did you leave California, exactly?”
Cole pulled at the neck of his shirt. “I’d rather not say, but I suppose I should just come out with it. I don’t want you to feel like I’ve kept something important from you. It’s important that you trust me.”
“That would be nice. I want to be able to trust you.”
“I was married before, but my wife Sally became quite ill and died.”
McKenna gasped. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you, Miss McKenna. I was quite distraught about it, and that’s what brought me to Ohio; but I’ve taken up enough of my brother’s time. It’s time that I move on. Thank you for deciding to marry me. I could see at Neiman’s that you know a thing or two about setting up a store.”
“Yes, Papa was a good teacher. I’ve worked in that store since I was young.”
“And no beau to speak of?”
“Oh, no. I was way too busy at the store. I ran the store for my father, so he and my mother could travel. It seems that’s how they died in the carriage accident. They were coming home from Georgia. They went down there to help out the poor.”
“That was kind of them.”
“Papa was a great man. He helped out the poor here in Ohio and had us do charity work, too. He told us it was an important thing to do. He was right, and it always made me feel good to help out.”
Frank walked back into the room. “Good to hear you getting on so well, but it’s time for you and your brother to leave, Cole. We have a wedding to plan.”
Cole stood up, said his goodbyes and left with his brother. McKenna wished Frank hadn’t shooed him away so quickly. She rather enjoyed talking to Cole.
“You have plenty of time to get to know each other later, after the wedding,” Frank told her.
McKenna gave Frank a hug, ignoring his widened eyes when she did so. “Thanks.”
“Well, somebody has to look after you girls since your parents aren’t here to do it anymore.”
“Go along home and find that wedding dress. I can alter it for you,” Betty said. “Leave the rest of the preparations to me. It won’t be the fanciest wedding, but I’ll do my best to make it a happy event.”
McKenna wasn’t sure why she would go to so much trouble since it wasn’t going to be a real marriage, but she didn’t say so. She was just happy that Betty wanted to help. With the couple watching over her sisters, she felt so much more at ease about leaving town.
* * *
Saturday at noon, McKenna fidgeted as Betty made the last-minute adjustments to her dress.
“Hold still, dear, or I’m going to accidentally stick you with this needle.” McKenna did as she was told until Betty finally announced, “All done.”
McKenna then went over to the full-length mirror and stared at her reflection. The heavy silk faille gown was trimmed in chenille fringe around a low décolleté neckline, which thankfully had netting that covered her upper chest and around the cuffs of the gown. Betty then came over and tied the gathered fabric at her waist. In McKenna’s opinion, she didn’t look nearly as beautiful as her mama did when she married Papa.
Betty stood back and surveyed McKenna’s appearance. “It needs one more thing. I have the perfect necklace which will look great with that dress.” She walked over to her jewelry box and came back with a necklace. When she put it around McKenna’s neck, it was a beautiful cameo.
“Oh, thank you so much, Betty. That’s a good accessory.” She dabbed at her eyes. “I still can’t believe I’m going to marry a man I don’t even know and head off to Nevada with him.”
Betty smiled. “Don’t worry. I have a good feeling about this, but if you ever want to come home, just send me a letter and I’ll make sure you are able to.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Me either, but one never knows. Frank did some checking and Cole comes from a good family. Otherwise, he’d never allow you to marry that man.”
“I so appreciate everything you’ve done. I’d never have been able to pull off this wedding without you.”
Betty moved away as Abigail, Penelope, Cadence, and Kayla came into the room, each wearing powder blue gowns.
“Wherever did you get those gowns?” McKenna asked.
“Oh, I had them sitting around somewhere,” Betty said. “I should see how the men folk are doing.”
When she left the room, McKenna arched a brow. “I wish Betty and Frank hadn’t gone to so much trouble. I know those gowns weren’t just lying around anywhere.”
“Nope,” Kayla said. “She had four seamstresses working around the clock to get them completed in time.” She whirled around, giggling as her gown flared around her.
“Seriously, Kayla. I wonder sometimes how old you are,” Abigail said.
“She’s barely eighteen,” McKenna scolded. “We can hardly expect her to act all grown up.”
Kayla’s eyes narrowed. “I’m grown up enough to get married if I wanted to.”
“Oh, and what do Betty and Frank have to say about that?” McKenna asked. “Have you a beau tucked away somewhere that we don’t know about?”
“No, and I’ve already been told I’m to go to college. Can you imagine that? A woman going to college.”
“Women have more opportunities, and Mama and Papa already paid for your education. The least you could do is finish,” McKenna said. “I expect you to do what’s expected of you. If you want to be all grown-up then you need to start acting like it. Don’t you dare shame our family name.”
Kayla crossed her arms. “Fine, but only because that’s what our parents wanted, not what you or Abigail say.”
Cadence gave McKenna a big hug. “You look so beautiful, McKenna. Just as soon as you get settled, I’ll be coming to Nevada.”
“That would be great, but please wait to find out how it goes in Nevada. If I can’t make a go of it in a year, I’ll be coming back home, but I’ll make my best effort to make this a successful venture.”
“Aren’t you a little worried about being alone with Cole?” Penelope asked. “It’s not like you’re used to that sort of thing.”
McKenna, (Sweet Western Historical Romance) (Nevada Brides Series Book 1) Page 3