The lady sure did have a big purse, he hoped her other luggage wouldn’t be as oversized, after seeing the size of that bag he wasn’t sure he should have volunteered to come into town with the boss this morning. Curiosity to see the woman he had overheard Fergus tell his boss that he’d ordered for him, had made Shorty jump at the chance to ride along.
Who would have thought that the boss would so eagerly sign on to be hen pecked? Well! Wasn’t no woman getting her claws into Shorty Brown! He thought as he walked toward the area where the stagehand was depositing the entire group of passenger luggage.
No sir. Not even if she was as pretty as the woman he and his boss had waited impatiently all day in town to pick up. Especially if she carried a large bag on her person!
“More dangerous is the evil
That is oft cloaked”
An Irish warning
CHAPTER FOUR
No one noticed the man staring at the trios’ backs. Watching and waiting for his time to strike. His pale yellow eyes gleamed in the shadows. Oh yes, he’d get his turn he thought with satisfaction. It was a game he had enjoyed. It was a new way to hunt, a way that his daddy hadn’t shown him.
He’d begun his frequent “hunts” again about five years ago maybe longer. The first kill after so long of abstaining hadn’t been as satisfying since he hadn’t started off with the intention of killing the girl. It had happened though, he thought with a shrug. Not that the first one had mattered anyway She was just some unimportant injun’ girl.
Her screaming had stayed with him throughout the next few weeks, urging him to do it again the right way this time. So, when he’d spotted that little red headed girl walking home from her school yard, he couldn‘t stop himself. That experience had been almost perfect… so he’d kept up his “hunting.” With each kill he was perfecting his techniques.
The little blonde girl this time was more of a challenge. She hadn’t spoken to him like the other ones had. Why, he’d even tried to get her to follow him when they had stopped to rest the horses the night before. The girl “Lily” had just stared at him as if knowing what he’d planned for her, completely startling Jack. Not one of the others had ever given him that look of mistrust before. They’d always followed him willingly. Obeying him like faithful little puppies. It was almost enough to make him find another to prey on. Except Jack Dobbins was no quitter. No matter what his daddy had said! Jack wanted this girl.
The big man that had met up with the two sisters also posed a problem. Getting around him would be difficult, but knowing that he was exceptionally smart Jack didn’t worry. Maybe this time he’d take the older sister too. He had never been interested in fully grown women, but this one drew his interest. The snooty bitch hadn’t been particularly nice to him on the trip, always giving him those superior looks. She needed to be punished in a way only Jack knew how.
Yes sir, this trip might turn out to be pure pleasure after all….
“A drink, proceeds a story”
An Irish Saying
CHAPTER FIVE
Sunlight filtered in through the window relentlessly bringing Melody’s vision into focus. The room she currently lay in was unfamiliar to her. Peach washed walls and a shining hardwood floor was noticed right away. Given that, she was hanging halfway off the bed, sprawled on her back. Her head swam in an ocean of dizziness.
Dear lord what in the world had happened? Mel tried to remember what could have led her to her current pain filled position. She was still fully dressed, minus her boots and stockings. Her mouth felt dry and her head ached. The last thing she’d recalled she was having dinner with Lily and Mr. O’Malley. Melody had ordered a wonderful meal of sautéed pork chops and cooked carrots.
Dinner was especially delicious in view of the fact that she hadn’t had anything to eat, except a dry biscuit since the previous night. Mr. O’Malley was even generous enough to order her some of the hotel’s raspberry wine. It was quite a rare treat for her. Mel never having had any “spirits” of any kind, she felt almost decadent sampling the wine.
Mel’s head felt fuzzy as she sat upright. Noticing a washstand in the corner, lying next to it was her carpet bag. Just the thing she needed! A quick wash and a change of clothes and she was sure she’d feel just the thing. Groaning she held a hand to her forehead and took her time in getting up from the bed. The promise of cool water to ease her pain was too tempting to stay abed any longer.
Excited by her new surroundings, she just couldn’t wait to set out and explore. It wasn’t every day that a girl got a new start in life and Melody was positive this was going to be the home the girls were so desperately looking for.
Hopefully Melody would get a chance to see Mr. O’Malley and thank him for such a fine meal. He was such a kind gentleman. He had even coaxed a small smile from her baby sister.
Gabriel O’Malley would make the perfect husband. She was sure of it. She just needed to convince him to agree to Marry her and then everything would be absolutely wonderful.
***********
Melody was blissfully unaware that the opposite was thought about her. For the gentleman in question, was of a difference in opinion of last night’s dinner.
“Calm down son.” Fergus tried to sooth the savage beast pacing before him. Watching Gabriel stomping up and down the kitchen floor, he was sure he’d wear a hole in the maple flooring.
“Pop’s you didn’t see her last night!” Gabriel exclaimed.
Sure… Miss Melody Williams seemed like a gentle lady, when they’d arrived at the hotel dining room. Everything had been going smoothly while they’d ordered and began to eat. He had actually been half tempted to consider taking the woman for his wife. It was not until they’d been on their way home in his wagon; when her banshee nature had emerged.
“She began giggling hysterically at shrubs! Not to mention how many times she’d tried to stand up and dance. If it wasn’t for the little one asleep in the bed of the wagon, I was almost willing to leave her in the middle of nowhere.” Gabriel was getting all worked up about it again.
Remembering how she’d removed her boots and slowly rolled down her stockings had left him in a state of mixed shock and arousal. It wasn’t until she threw her shoe at his head, when the fury had over rode that arousal. Shorty hadn’t been any help either; he just kept mentioning something about claws. If his Daddy hadn’t taught him not to hit girls, lord’ a mercy Gabriel would have turned her over his knee and spanked her bottom!
“The woman’s a menace. I mean it Pops, she goes.” Gabriel demanded. He was firmly planting his foot down on this subject. Fergus had tried to find him a bride and failed. Oh well, time to scrap that plan and move on Gabe assure himself.
“Gabe you need to be sensitive to her. The girl traveled a long way to be here and must have been exhausted, and probably never had a taste of spirits before.”
“Pops she only had a couple glasses of that watered down wine.”
“Son, I remember a couple glasses of ‘That watered down wine’ used to knock your sainted Grams off her toes but good! In fact, that’s what got us your Pa.” Fergus chuckled at the memory.
“I don’t want to hear this.” Gabe’s look of warning got Fergus to stop chortling.
“Pops, she…. she puked on me!” Gabriel sputtered. He didn’t see anything in the least funny about having been forced to wear the dinner she’d just consumed home on his favorite jacket. The damn thing was beyond repair which made Gabe even angrier.
“It was probably all that dancing.” Fergus busted out once again laughing. If only he’d been awake; when his grandson had gotten in last night. Damn, but it was a shame to get old. You missed out on all the fun.
The young woman strolling merrily into the kitchen ceased the old man’s laughter. Pretty as a fresh flower she was. Fergus couldn’t help but smile, he’d done right by his grandson after all. She was even better than her letters described .Of course, Gabriel couldn’t find out that he and the council were the ones answering he
r letters over the last two and a half months. Fergus didn’t want his grandson to know how much planning had gone into this. If Gabriel would just take a bride, hopefully fall in love, the other bachelors would quickly follow suit.
“Good morning lassie. I’m Fergus O’Malley. Gabriel, be a good lad and say hello.” That last part was mumbled so only his stubborn grandson could hear.
“Miss Williams.” Gabe said inclining his head politely in greeting. It had almost killed him, but he had kept his mouth shut. After all, demanding a woman to vacate your home before she’d had a cup of coffee was probably bad-mannered.
“Good morning.” Melody shyly returned their greetings.
Looking about the room she inquired, “Have either of you gentlemen seen Lily?” It wasn’t like the girl to wander far from her sister’s side.
“She hasn’t come out of the room I put her in last night.” Gabe’s voice softened thinking of the child. Poor thing must have been all tuckered out traveling the way she had. It wasn’t the little one’s fault, that she was stuck with a loon for a sister.
“I wanted to thank you for the lovely supper last night. I must have been so exhausted from the trip, that I don’t remember arriving here last night.” When Gabriel just grunted, Melody uncomfortably glanced around taking in the room.
The kitchen was quite large and spotlessly clean. Yellow curtains hung on the only two windows in the room. A large stove rested upon a far wall with a kindling box at its side. This was the fanciest kitchen she’d ever seen. The hallway she’d walked through probably held at least five bedrooms! Walking down the staircase, she’d followed the sounds of muffled laughter. Mel noticed the house had a parlor room. She knew because she’d been nosey and peeked, and it had an office of some sort. This was a far cry from her little farm.
Mel’s parents had been too poor and always too falling down drunk, to build onto the small shanty they’d lived in. The hovel only boasted of a kitchen and two back rooms which they’d used as bedrooms. She suddenly felt out of her element. She wasn’t sure, but Melody was beginning to think Mr. O’Malley was somewhat wealthy. To a girl that only owned three dresses; she knew she was sadly out of place.
“The boys are riding fences today, but you’ll be able to meet them tonight. Gabe doesn’t let em’ go too far.” Fergus explained to fill the awkward silence. Mel had no idea what riding fences meant, so she wisely kept her comments to herself.
“Are you gentlemen hungry? I could make something.” It was still quite early yet, hopefully they hadn’t already eaten. She could use this as an opportunity to show off some wifely skills.
“I could use a spot me self.” Fergus agreed.
“I’ve eaten.” Gabriel ground out angrily before he strode for the door.
**********
Over breakfast Melody and Lily had gotten better acquainted with Gabriel’s grandfather. They listened to the tales of Fergus O’Malley. His colorful stories made all the more dramatic by his thick Irish brogue. “Pops” as his grandsons and half the population of Liberty addressed him, gave them permission to do so as well.
“What a pretty lassie ye are honey.” Fergus directed his comment to the silent, watchful child. She hadn’t said a word throughout the morning meal. “Thank you” Mel answered for her sister.
“Lily me’ love, why don’t ye go on and take a wee look around? We have a few new colts out in the barn. Ye mind, don’t get too close now.” Fergus directed the child out towards where Gabriel was working with the new “Babies”.
“Mr. O’Malley...” Melody began.
“Fergus or Pops will do, love.”
“Pops I know that Lily may seem strange to you.”
“Nay strange, just I’m wondering why she’s so quiet.” Fergus wasn’t used to a child so silent, even Michael who was naturally shy, spoke a little.
“Well you see Lily doesn’t speak very often.”
“Why is that?” Fergus asked.
“When she does, she has a hard time. She stutters badly, and can barely put a simple sentence together.” Melody explained to him.
“I’ve heard of this condition, maybe there is help for the lassie.” Fergus pondered the situation.
Melody hadn’t gone into detail about how the child had been sent home from school so many times, with bruises on the backs of her hands a testament to her teacher’s frustration. Melody wasn’t so sure Lily could be helped after all. If her teacher, who was trained to educate couldn’t even help her maybe nothing could.
The children in town would point and laugh at Lily whenever the family rode into town. Finally, the school board had stopped allowing Lily to attend. It was for her own good, they’d explained. No one wanted to deal with her any longer. Even Lily’s own parents hadn’t wanted to deal with her.
Fletcher and Patricia Williams hadn’t the energy to do much after a long back breaking day on the farm. What time they had for rest they spent drinking themselves into a stupor. Without money to send for one of those fancy doctors to help the girl, there was no choice but to keep the child away from town as much as possible. Soon, Lily stopped speaking at all. Whether in shame or in fear of upsetting her parents, Melody wasn’t sure. Though Melody knew one thing, she’d give anything to hear the sound of her childish laughter again.
Noticing the frown that crossed the lovely young woman’s face, Fergus turned the topic towards something a little lighter.
“You’ll make a wonderful wife for me’ grandson honey.”
“I hope so. He certainly seemed like he was in a hurry to get to work.”
Mel didn’t want to sound like she was criticizing the man, but he’d hardly said a proper hello to his future bride. How could they get to know each other, if he did not take the time to visit with her?
“He’s not much of a morning person is all...” Sometimes even Fergus himself couldn’t believe Gabriel was his flesh and blood. Why O’Malley men were trained from the cradle to exercise good manners at all times especially towards the gentler sex.
“That reminds me... the widow Lawrence; she lives on the spread just west of us. She’ll be coming to stay a piece here Just for propriety’s sake and all.” Fergus explained. “She takes some getting used to, but I’m sure you’ll get along just fine.” At least he hoped so.
Winifred Lawrence was an odd female in his view. Always spouting off whatever came to mind. Her low opinion of Fergus grated on his nerves and they butted heads on too many occasions to count. But this time they had the same agenda. One would have to know he’d been at his wits end, to include that ornery female in on his plans. Fergus just hoped she wouldn’t fill the sweet lassie up with her strange “Notions.”
“I’m sure we’ll get along wonderfully.”
Melody and Fergus spent the day touring the ranch. He’d shown her the corrals, bunkhouse and smokehouse, wisely avoiding the barn where his brooding grandson spent his day. The entire out buildings looked newly built, with the exception of the barn. Pops had explained that it was the only structure standing, when Gabriel had bought the land. Old but sturdy, it had a lot of life left in it. She had laughed when he’d likened it to himself.
Later in the afternoon Fergus and Lily joined her on the porch snapping fresh beans for the evening meal. The porch was quite large, and lent shelter from the days glaring sun. Wrapping nearly around the two story white Washed house, the porch held four rocking chairs. Two of which, were presently occupied. Lily chose to sit on the steps and play with her rag doll.
The house was such a lovely home with its deep green shutters and wide, large paned windows. The large flower garden was a beautifully added touch to the land. A large vegetable garden was not forty feet from the house and provided the family with a bounty of foodstuffs to store for winter months. Fergus had explained, while Gabriel had nearly built the house himself, Fergus took care of the gardens. They were his pride and joy.
This was a place that she felt she could belong, a place to raise her own children god willing. By
the time she’d put supper on to cook, Melody felt she’d made the right choice. Gabriel O’Malley would make a wonderful husband. She promised herself that she would make sure that Mr. O’Malley never regretted the choice he’d made, if and when he chose her for his bride. Although she was very unsure on how to be an actual wife, Melody was confident that she could do her duty. Her mother had taught her to cook while she was still at her knee, and cleaning she could do with her eyes shut. What more to it could there possibly be? She was just going to have to work her tail off to prove what a good wife she’d make. Starting with tonight’s supper…..
“A closed mouth… A wise head.”
An Irish proverb
CHAPTER SIX
“Men are asses!”
Out of the string of curses the little gray haired old lady had just spouted, that was the truest and cleanest of them all. Melody stared at Winifred Lawrence in disbelief. The plump but remarkably pretty woman of about seventy years was riled up about something, as she walked about the freshly cleaned parlor. Winnie was marching as if in military fashion.
It had been a week since Miss Winnie had moved into the O’Malley household, albeit temporarily; stirring up the household with her rambunctious ways. Melody and the elderly widow had taken an instant liking to each other. Each night long after the men and Lily were off to bed, they would sit up and gossip like young girls, giggling long into the night. While Mel was still very shy around her intended, Mrs. Lawrence was not... In fact she had no qualms making any or all of the O’Malley males blush like school girls Mostly in particular Winnie’s longtime nemesis, Mr. Fergus O’Malley.
Mel still couldn’t understand why the normally sweet and gentle Fergus became a cussed old goat around Mrs. Lawrence. While Mrs. Lawrence who Fergus, had called an old goat, to her face no less became quite quarrelsome and rowdy. Whenever in the proximity of each other, they would snip and taunt the other like naughty six year old children. Melody was starting to think the squabbles were all for show. For all her blustering Winnie’s pretty brown eyes would sparkle and her plump cheeks would blush quite prettily whenever the man was near to hand. As for Fergus, he also seemed to enjoy their fiery exchanges.
A Bargain Bride (Brides of Liberty, Texas) Page 3