A Bargain Bride (Brides of Liberty, Texas)

by Rebecca de Medeiros

  “Pop’s is right! You’re forever telling us that.” Mathew declared to his annoyed older brother.

  “Boys, finish up and get started on the dishes. Tomorrow’s an early day. I need the two of you to ride fences with the hands.” Gabe crossed his arms over his chest, his tone allowing no room for argument. He wanted the subject of his possible leg shackling dropped.

  “Yes Sir.” The boys grumbled in varying degrees of petulance.

  Gabriel breathed a sigh of relief. They both were usually good about doing their chores without complaint. Though, he wasn’t surprised to hear, “With a woman around, we wouldn’t be doing any more dishes” A huff coming from Mathew, his younger brother in tow, as they exited the dining room in a sulk.

  “That boy’d do anything to get out of chores, including getting himself hitched.” Pops chuckled.

  “Then go ahead and find him a wife.” Gabe ground out in irritation.

  “Gabe be reasonable, a woman’s touch could go a long way with Michael about now. He’s so plum shy. He needs a soft hand that only a woman can provide.”

  Fergus was right Michael needed a little “mothering” right now. He hadn’t had enough time with Lydia before she was killed. Being raised in a household of men, couldn’t have offered much in the way of gentle comfort to a young boy.

  Gabe knew he’d made many mistakes with the boys. They’d both been so young when they’d come to live with him. He was at a loss on what to do with two little grief stricken boys. Somehow the four had managed to stumble through, until now. Sometimes, the death of his parents got to him more. Times like this, when he wished he could just seek sage advice from his father, on the subject. His mother would ruffle his hair, with a sweet smile and call him her “worrier.” Both Jacob and Lydia had once accused their eldest son of taking life too seriously. Now he had no choice but to take it seriously. The boys depended on him. His ranch hands needed him. He was determined to work hard enough to afford to send both boys one day to a good University.

  It was something Gabe had longed for, but never gotten the chance to do. Knowledge was indeed power to man in today's world. Gabriel wanted better for the boys than he had provided them thus far. He'd worked his tail off to build this ranch from nothing, and if sometimes he'd felt a tad lonely, so be it. That was life. After a long silence in the dining room, with each man considering past memories, he relented.

  “Guess there’s no way out of this is there?”

  “Nope, I already wired Miss Williams the money.” Fergus shifted slightly in his chair.

  “Damn!” A blinding headache was beginning to form behind Gabe’s eyes.

  “I knew you’d see it my way.” The old man said happily.

  There was nothing Gabriel could say in response to that except... “Looks like I might be getting myself a bride after all, but I’m not promising a thing old man. Any shenanigans and she is gone.”

  “No promises, I understand.” Fergus placated.

  “Just so you know, I will be making the final decision if we marry. Not you.” Gabriel warned the old coot.

  “Sure. No interfering, I swear.” Fergus crossed his fingers behind his back.

  Bidding his conniving grandfather pleasant dreams, Gabriel headed off to blissful peace and quiet to brood alone.

  “Oh son, by the by I’ll be needin’ you to purchase me a bit more drink, I’m low and I have a feeling that we will be celebrating verra soon.”

  Gabe paused a moment at the landing of the stairs. Damned if he didn’t hear a crackle of laughter coming from the room he’d just departed. Hurrying up the stairs, a scowl fixed onto his features, Gabriel knew he would no longer enjoy the article he’d waited months to receive. His mind would be too preoccupied on trying to figure out a way to ditch his perspective future bride.

  The slamming of a distant door reverberated, causing the old man at the table to laugh even harder. It was all he could do to keep himself in his chair. For tonight’s defeat; on the part of Gabriel called for the dancing of a jig. If his bum leg hadn’t been acting up, Fergus just might have done a victory dance. Every now and then, luck would roll Fergus' way. Hell; he had not even expected Gabriel to agree to a meeting so soon. He’d expected the boy to balk until it came down to the wire. Which would ruin Fergus’s already set plans. If he was anything, Gabriel was as stubborn as an angry old mule. He took after his grandfather in that respect. Fergus couldn’t hold back his delighted chuckle. Things were going along quite smoothly……..

  “If god sends ye down a stony path, may he

  give ye good shoes”

  An Irish blessing

  CHAPTER THREE

  A cool and refreshing breeze swept over Melody Marie Williams, as she stepped down from the dusty stage, and onto the wooden platform below. It was early evening now. The glaring sun would be setting soon on the quaint little town that they had only minutes ago arrived in. At last, she could once again breathe normally without the constant nausea she had been experiencing since her journey began. Two weeks and four days ago. First the grueling train ride all the way in to Austin, then quickly shuffled onto the rickety stagecoach. The trip had almost been too much for her to bear. The constant stops to load and unload passengers, the dust and the crowded tiny space inside the coach almost choked the air from her lungs.

  Amid the warring smells of stale sweat and heavily overloaded perfume, it was any wonder that Melody had held down the little she’d eaten along the way. Which, Melody was sure had undoubtedly pleased her five fellow passengers to no end. By the grace of god and dry biscuits, she’d been able to maintain her composure. Melody had never been a hearty traveler, so her satisfaction of ending her journey was quite great. She would have lovingly kissed the solid ground had she not been worried about making a fool of herself in her new hometown.

  A slight tug at her hand brought her eyes downward to the child at her side. Silent, questioning eyes so filled with grief stared up at her, asking for a reassurance that Melody was unsure how to give the child. “Lily, I told you that we’d make it here alright.” Melody comfortingly smiled at the nine year old mirror image of herself.

  Lily’s golden blonde hair and emerald green eyes should have looked angelic on the child. Instead, they looked sadly faded and gaunt. The past few months had been cruel to the Williams sisters. Both of their parents had succumbed, five months ago to the fever that had swept the tiny community of Rocking Arkansas. The small farm that her family existed on had been quickly swallowed by debt. With their food stores depleting, Melody was unable to keep their heads above the water.

  There wasn’t any work to be had in town to help supplement their meager income and the few friends that the family once had, were suffering themselves unable to help the orphaned girls. The farm was back breaking work for a young woman to do, let alone for the child to do but the girls had given it their best shot. Sadly, no matter how hard Melody had tried. She had failed them, failed this darling child.

  Curtis Jones the bank president had offered to extend “some time” on the note. If only, Melody would extend her “appreciation” to him in his private quarters. When she had refused his nasty advances, he quickly found an opportunity to foreclose. Fighting him with all she had, even that had only given the girls only two months to vacate. It seemed that Curtis got his pleasure one way or another.

  In shame, the girls had been forced to leave their home two and a half weeks ago. They’d had to sneak into the dirty livery to sleep for two nights before the train was scheduled to depart. Not having enough money to pay for the cost of a hotel room, they had made do like street urchins. Secretly they bathed with the water from rain barrels just to keep them as clean as possible.

  The only items the Williams sisters were allowed to take from their home would be their personal clothing and a few family heirlooms. “They must be without resale value, of course.” The vile snake of a man had snickered, when he’d come by to give them their eviction notice. That had left very little to pac
k for them as they never had owned much to begin with.

  Knowing the day they’d be forced to leave their home was rapidly approaching, Melody had answered the ad. Becoming a mail order bride had seemed like the right thing to do at the time, considering the alternative. Not that she’d lower herself to becoming the portly banker’s mistress, she thought grimly. Not only could she not stomach the disgusting man’s touch, but his rotund wife frightened the living day lights out of her. Even if she was to swallow her pride for the sake of her sister and sell her virginity to the rich man, she knew they both would suffer mightily at the hands of his spouse. As if their small family hadn’t been mocked enough over the years she did not need to add the title “whore” to the list of names to be called.

  The single men of Rocking Arkansas weren’t what you’d call “marriageable material.” Most were three steps past sixty. The others were either married or lived on horseback. Not a one would be prepared or willing to take on Lily as well. A little girl, who was shunned by the town folk wasn’t what most grooms looked for when they took on a bride. No, they needed a new start somewhere, far away from the ghosts of the past. Somewhere Lily could feel free. Be a carefree child for just once in her life. Maybe if Melody was very lucky she herself might find a measure of happiness in her new life.

  By luck, one day Melody had spotted the ad which had fallen to the floor from its posted spot in the general store. Well, lucky if you consider falling over that sack of dried beans in the middle of the floor. Her posterior still ached like the dickens! Although, if she hadn’t bruised her delicate anatomy, she wouldn’t be here facing a brand new start, she thought with glee.

  With a deep breath Mel glanced around looking for the mysterious Mr. O’Malley. In her short correspondence with the gentleman in question, she had gotten the impression that he was well educated. The way he had described the town of Liberty and the “pesky” O’Malley boys, she’d come to paint a picture of him in her mind, a pleasant man with a good heart. In his last letter a few weeks ago, he had said that he’d be more than willing to make room in his home, for both Mel and Lily. Yes, she felt most positive about answering the ad.

  A sudden movement out of the corner of her eye, alerted her to the approaching figure. Hoping it wasn’t that annoying Jack Dobbins coming to converse, she quickly turned her back. As if he’d take the hint!

  The reed thin, slightly balding man had been one of the fellow passengers on the stage. When he’d introduced himself his beady little eyes had stared holes in the two sisters. He’d made Melody’s skin crawl. There was something about the way he’d stared at Lily, which had put Melody on her guard. She’d never seen a look like that directed at a child before. It was more suited for a man to bestow upon a grown woman. A long jagged scar ran a length down the right side of his face. It’s puckered appearance making him look somewhat sinister to Melody.

  Clutching the handle of her faded carpet bag, Mel prepared to strike out at the disgusting man. So when the slightest tap of two fingers rapped on her shoulder, she’d reacted without thinking. Quickly spinning around and preparing to do battle, Melody flung her arm outward.

  **********

  “Umph.” Gabriel had no time to react, before the woman sent her suitcase flying into his

  gut. By all that’s holy she hadn’t hit him any lower!

  “Lady you’re dangerous with that thing.” Gabriel pointed out, absently rubbing his sore belly.

  Melody looked up in shock. This was no “weasel” Jack Dobbins! Before her was a solid wall of a man. Tall and muscular, he made quite an intimidating presence in his plaid shirt, jeans and buckskin jacket. The man was very handsome with his light blue eyes, hawkish nose and firm jaw. His hair or what of it wasn’t covered by his long brimmed hat came to rest just above his shoulders. It appeared dark black in the fading sunlight.

  “Are you Miss Williams?” The wall asked, before she could shake herself out of her stupor and quickly apologize. He had a deep baritone of a voice it sent strange shivers down her spine with its roughness.

  “Oh gosh. I’m so... So sorry! ”Mel rushed out. “It’s just that I didn’t know you...”

  “You hit every fella you don’t know?” Gabe’s eyes widened incredulously.

  He stared hard at the woman causing her to shift uneasily under his scrutiny. She couldn’t be much taller than five foot. Shiny blonde hair put up in some strange fashion, and a face so red it looked as if it was on fire. That was all he’d had time to notice, before she started moving in an agitated way.

  “No! Look, what I meant to say was...”

  “It doesn’t matter. Are you Miss Williams or not? I’m sort of in a hurry here, and if you’re not …” Gabe let the statement die midair. There was no reason to finish it, he was sure that she got his point.

  “Yes, I’m Miss Williams. You needn’t look any further.” Melody quickly stuck out her hand in greeting. Hoping to impress him with her good nature, she pasted on a big smile. It slightly faltered when he blatantly ignored the gesture.

  “Hm. Gabriel O’Malley. Follow me.”

  Preparing to turn on heel and march back toward the way he had come, a slight movement out of the corner of his eye had Gabriel stopping in his tracks. It was then, that he noticed the young girl peeking out behind the tiny woman’s back.

  “Who is that?” Stabbing a finger in the direction of the partially concealed kid, Gabe demanded answers. The child Looked too much like the woman standing beside her, not to be related. Was Miss Williams old enough to have a child this age? He did not think so, but hell what did he know about women?

  “She’s my sister. The one I mentioned in my last letter to you.” Melody quietly explained.

  This was Gabriel O’Malley? This man so handsome he caused her heart to flutter almost painfully? It was clear he was an impatient man and Melody was also starting to get the feeling that Mr. O’Malley had a faulty memory. Her suspicions had grown, when he asked “What letter?”

  Pops had never mentioned anything about any letter, let alone letters as in plural. Before he could ask just when the hell she’d had time to write him numerous letters in the last month, the little girl gained his attention.

  Shyly, Lily approached the large man standing in front of her sister. He didn’t look too happy, which made her sad. The way he kept glancing at her made her worry. Maybe he didn’t want her too. Maybe he was like Mr. Crawley, from the general store back home. Would he call her a freak just like Mr. Crawley did? Men usually weren’t too nice to her and her sister. Mostly they tried to get Melody alone so they could try to do bad things to her. As for Lily, sometimes a few would push her around and make fun of her.

  Lily had a mistrust of men in general but Melody had told her that this man was going to take care of them from now on. They just had to get him to accept them. What if he just didn’t like children? Lily knew there was only one way to find out. Self-conscience of her raggedy dress and mussed hair, she reached for his hand.

  Gabriel surprised them all by reaching down and lifting the girl into his arms. She was so light and fragile looking, almost as if she would break in half. It had amazed him that she’d been so trusting of him. Not normally one to take easily to children, Gabe couldn’t understand the protective feeling that had swept over him. One look in her eyes, and he knew the girl had expected rejection. He could almost see her wounded spirit and he knew he wouldn’t refuse this child. Her sister... Well that was another matter. He still hadn’t made up his mind on whether she’d meant to hit him with that damn suitcase or not.

  “Hello honey. Are you hungry?” He asked softly, directing his attention back towards the child. She had to be half starved with how skinny she was Gabe thought. He could feel the poor mite's ribs, sharp against his shoulders.

  “Lily hasn’t eaten since this morning, sir.” Mel explained for her sister, with embarrassment over her lack of money.

  Melody had very little money left over from her savings and that’s what they
used on the trip to eat when the stage made its regular stops. Mel had given most of the food to the little one, but even that wasn’t enough to feed a growing girl. In shame she cast her teary eyes downward to her worn boots that covered her sore feet.

  Gabe let his eyes drift over to the elder Miss Williams. Her worn calico dress was of a faded gray, which had probably once been black. She was short, but with a nice handful of curves. Thin through her middle, she could stand a few meals herself. Pretty, but not in the kind of way you’d notice right off. Well, maybe he was lying to himself. He’d noticed alright, but that didn’t mean he promised her anything he reminded himself!

  Gabriel reminded himself that he had to just feed them and get them back to the ranch, and then he could ignore them just like he’d planned. As soon as possible he was turning this mess over to Fergus, and letting the old man handle it.

  “Well ladies, let’s get some grub at the hotel dining room. Shall we?” Shifting the child to one arm he grabbed for the “offending” satchel not trusting Miss Williams with it any longer than necessary. No telling, what other kind of damage she could do to his person.

  “Shorty load up these ladies’ luggage onto the back of the wagon and join us for supper at the hotel.” He directed to the little man who stood unnoticed off to the side, as he observed the scene. Hoping his ranch hand hadn’t seen his run in with Miss Williams; he started down the wooden Boardwalk toward the promised food.

  **********

  Scratching his head in confusion Shorty stared after his boss as he walked away from the platform. He’d never thought that he’d live to see the day. Gabe O’Malley taking the plunge! Just wait till the other hands heard about this. He sure would like to be the one to tell them how the boss nearly lost his “valuables” to a ladies purse! The boys would probably water themselves laughing, when he told them about the boss’s comical look of surprise!