A Bargain Bride (Brides of Liberty, Texas)

by Rebecca de Medeiros

  “Shows how much you know about women! She actually threw her shoe at me.” Gabe grumbled.

  “Ah lad, she did that before.” Patting Gabe on the back encouragingly, Pops moved to stand in the doorway to distance himself a bit from his agitated grandson.

  “Well this time she did it on purpose! That crazy woman has a hell of an arm.” Gabe complained.

  “Stop yer’ pacing boy! Yer’ giving me an ache in me head.” Fergus snapped.

  “Well you started this and you’re damn well going to get me out of hot water.”

  Gabriel slowed his pace and focused on his grandfather. The anger he’d originally held when he’d seen Pops ride up with the boys a while ago, had abated somewhat.

  “Pops you didn’t see her cry! It was horrible, she just kept going on and on about how she was tricked. How she didn’t even know me. I thought that was the whole point of a catalog bride anyway.” He muttered darkly.

  “Gabe every marriage has it’s up and downs. Trust me this will pass.”

  “Yeah? Well just so you know she’s not too thrilled with you either.” Gabriel informed him.

  “Me? Why without me you two wouldn’t even be married!” The old man cried offended.

  “I think that’s the whole point Pops.” Gabe said dryly.

  Somewhere in the distance a door slammed, alerting the two men to the danger brewing inside the house waiting for them to enter her domain. Wary glances passed between the two men. There would be hell to pay. The question was exactly which man would be paying it?

  “Has she been that way all night?” Fergus asked with a grimace.

  “Worse. I think she’s finally starting to let up a little.”

  “I’ll just go in and settle her down a bit.” Fergus said trying to help. He did feel a little guilty.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea Pops.” His grandson warned him.

  “Many a time I had to play peacemaker between your parents lad. Trust me. I can handle one little woman.”

  “Pops, Mrs. Lawrence is in there with her.” Gabe warned.

  “Oh lord. We need a new plan.” Fergus stated, no longer in a rush to go inside.

  “Yeah, like plan on sleeping out here tonight…”

  **********

  “I don’t know who I want to kill first!” Melody glanced up into the face of the very livid Winnie Lawrence.

  “Why don’t you start, with my loving groom?” Mel muttered bitterly.

  As the two women sat in the tidy kitchen, Melody felt a measure of comfort at the elderly woman’s words. Winnie was upset on Melody’s behalf. It felt good to have someone to support her side.

  “Though sweetie, it really isn’t your husband's fault. You said yourself he hadn’t known about Fergus writing those damnable letters.” Winnie said consolingly.

  “I had mentioned them several times to him. He never said a word, and then last night…” Melody couldn’t go on. It was so embarrassing.

  The fact that Gabriel had made love to her on top of those stinking pages of lies hurt her deeply. The worst part was in the aftermath of such a glorious joining he’d spilled the truth tossing it out like dirty bathwater expecting his wife to laugh along with him. It was if they were perfect strangers, and last night had meant nothing to him. As if his laughing at her naivety was going to endear her to the brute.

  After Mel had thrown him out of the room, she’d spent countless hours weeping. Tossing and turning in the large mussed bed, unable to find peace. The scent of their combined lovemaking clung to the linen, making it worse as she remembered how wonderful their coupling had been. Finally after so many hours she’d cried herself to sleep, only to wake up to an empty bed and a sore head.

  This was not what she’d envisioned spending the morning after her wedding doing. Nothing was going as she’d thought it would, and it was partly her own fault. All her hopes of her husband falling down upon his knees and declaring his undying love for her was dashed to pieces. What did she expect? It wasn’t as if she were the type of woman to inspire poetry in a man. Melody knew that she was plain and poor and not some heroine in a penny novel.

  In the heat of last night’s fight, Gabriel himself had said it was just sex. Great sex, but only sex. Not once, had he mentioned the word love in all of his shouting and pounding on the locked bedroom door. Melody was miserable. During those long hours of darkness, she’d realized if given time he could have developed tender feelings for her. Now it was too late.

  A wall was built last night, and it was going to be mighty tough to scale. What man would want a wife who’d chucked her shoe at his head? Not once, but twice! When Gabriel had tried to physically hold her, just to calm her, she’d bitten him. She hadn’t done that since she was four. She’d behaved most shamefully and Melody knew it. The sad part of it all was that during her whole tirade, all she longed to do was to be pulled into those strong arms and to hear three little words. I love you. Only those words were never said, and now they may never be said.

  “Do you want to stay with him?” Winnie asked. “There’s still the possibility of an annulment.”

  “No there isn’t Winnie.” Melody’s face burned with embarrassment, at having to state the fact.

  “Oh lord.” Mrs. Lawrence muttered. “Well honey, I hate to say it, but the two of you are either going to have work this out or fight it out.”

  “The fighting we’ve done.”

  “Well, between the two of us I’m sure we can set things right again. Oh sweetness, please don’t you cry.” Melody who’d just burst into noisy sobs was immediately enveloped into Winnie’s warm comforting embrace.

  “You dry your tears now darling, we’re going to get some supper started. You’re going to smile and act like nothing happened last night. It will throw them off. Nothing confuses a man more than trying to figure out the moods of a woman.” Winnie laughed at her own jest.

  “A plan is what we need my girl.”

  **********

  Lily knew deep down something wasn’t right. Her sister was smiling a little too brightly as she served supper. Her new brother in law was looking almost frightened every time she came near him with the hot stew she’d prepared, and Pops looked ready to throttle Mrs. Lawrence. That actually wasn’t anything new, but somehow nothing seemed normal. Mathew was regaling the family with the story of how he caught his fish. Lily was sure that besides Michael, no one was paying much attention to him.

  “More stew Gabriel?” Melody asked with a sickly sweet smile. The sides of her mouth were aching with the strain of holding the fake grin.

  “No. Thank you.” Gabriel muttered.

  Although she hadn’t said a cross word when she’d caught Pops and him sneaking into the house earlier, he was sure it was coming. The real question was what was his punishment going to be? She’d already bit him, hit him with a boot and thrown him out of his own bed… What now? Keeping a wary eye on her, he sullenly wondered where he was going to sleep tonight. He didn’t want the boys and Lily to know there was trouble between him and Melody. He guessed they’d figure it out when they saw him trudging off to bed in the study.

  “Anyone care for dessert?” Mrs. Lawrence asked with a sly grin.

  “What is it?” Mathew asked. The boy never failed to be willing to partake of any available sweet.

  “Lemon meringue pie.” Winnie replied with a very knowing look in Gabriel’s direction.

  Oh yeah, something was up Gabriel thought. First his favorite stew, now his favorite dessert.

  Casting a suspicious glare at his wife, he declined the one food he never thought he would. Pie. He sighed. He loved pie. This was just too much to bear, a man could only take so damn much.

  “None for me either, thanks.” Fergus wasn’t going to let that old harpy, near him with that wicked looking knife. Although it was only a butter knife, In Winnie Lawrence’s hands, it looked a close twin to a butcher knife. Damn he could almost taste trouble. The normally contrary woman hadn’t once picked a fight
tonight with him. It was enough to give a man the creepies. She’d actually smiled at him. Twice so far, tonight!

  “I’m going out to check on apple blossom.” Gabe said in reference to the brand new rust colored foal that’d arrived four days ago. Shoving himself away from the dinner table, he beat a hasty exit. Striding hell bent to the barn, he prepared to make a place for his bed for the night. Damn the fool woman anyway! Couldn’t she understand he was the one wronged here, not her. Well it was just too damn bad that she felt tricked. Cause’ they were married whether she liked it or not.

  **********

  The house was quiet and everyone bedded down for the night, before her husband decided to make his way up to their room. Melody had waited for him in baited breath, wondering if he was even going to come to her. It was time they talked about last night. No fighting and definitely no biting, she thought with a grimace. They needed to find a way to move forward from this.

  “I just need a few things.” Gabe said quietly as he walked into the dimly lit room.

  He didn’t want to fight. Gabriel was cold and tired; he’d tried to stay as long as he could outside. He waited until he could sneak up to his room for some warm clothes to wear tonight in the barn. Rain was setting in he could feel it in his bones. Gabe began pulling out drawers and hastily gathering his clothing, as his wife watched him from the edge of the bed. The same bed they’d shared last night, he thought bitterly. It was a terrible thing when a man was run out of his own bed... By his own wife no less.

  “Where are you going?” Melody asked in a near whisper. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to forgive her for her unladylike display last night. Hadn’t she prepared his favorite foods? Hadn’t she kept that strenuous smile on her face, even though she’d ached to scream in frustration? She just couldn’t figure out why Winnie’s advice was backfiring. All she’d wanted was Gabriel to be pleased enough with her that he’d listen to reason tonight.

  “To sleep in the barn isn’t that what you want? After all, you did say I was a stranger to you.” He replied, sounding rather like a petulant child.

  Gabriel couldn’t help it, after last night he hadn’t expected her to turn to stone on him. She’d been so hot and willing last night that he’d thought he’d die with raw delight. The sad fact was he had the sneaking suspicion that their lovemaking had meant more to him than it did to her. That ticked him off.

  “Gabriel, please. Don’t go...” She said in a slight plea.

  “I thought you’d want me to.” Hm, maybe last night was better for her then he’d thought.

  “This is your bed. You are my husband, and you should sleep beside me.”

  “Really?” Alright now this was a good sign he deliberated.

  “Yes, now come to bed.” She said with a shy smile.

  Gabriel stood looking down at her for the briefest moments, as if making up his mind whether or not this was a trick before he shed his clothing. Quicker than a cat with his tail on fire, he stripped then dove into the bed, like it was a bucket of cold water before she could change her mind.

  “I am sorry about last night Gabriel.” Melody offered.

  “I’m sorry too. Things got out of hand.” He allowed magnanimously. Glad that she had said it first.

  “Yes.” She agreed wondering how she was going to bring up her request, the one appeal that she’d been debating with herself about all day.

  “I think it’s time we kissed and made up.” He said, instantly rolling to face Melody.

  This was just too good. Hell, he thought she’d hold a grudge for at least a few days but not his wife. He couldn’t hold back the satisfied smile that crossed his handsome face. Taking her into his embrace, his lips crashed down upon her flabbergasted mouth. This was just too sweet, he thought with glee.

  As his kisses sent desire stabbing through her body, she clung onto him for dear life. She knew there was something she had to talk to him about, but for the life of her she couldn’t think what. His hands making their way slowly down her body, threw all thoughts in her head out of the window.

  “Hmm… You feel so good sugar.” Gabriel murmured into her ear. As he kissed the side of her neck, and began to unbutton a few buttons of her gown, she tried harder to concentrate. Now what was it; she wanted to say to him?

  He was sending her spiraling into the flames of desire, working on her tender body. As he quickly began removing the last of her gown, it came to her what she’d wanted to say with the force of a bullet. She pulled away from his embrace shielding her nakedness from view.

  “Stop… please. Stop!”

  “What’s the matter? Are you too sore from last night?” He asked arousal thick in his voice.

  “A little bit, but that isn’t why I stopped you.”

  “Then why? I know you liked what I was doing.” She began to blush furiously, women weren’t supposed to feel this way. Were they?

  “I need more time Gabriel.”

  “Okay baby, we have all night….Come here.”

  “No Gabriel, you don’t understand.” She said as she fended off his grasp.

  “What then?” He was becoming confused again.

  What the hell was the problem? Gabriel did not want to rush her, but he was tired of trying to figure her out. He was aching and wanted to get back down to the business of making hot and sweaty love to his wife. He would pleasure her all night if she let him, making sure she reached her peak and begged for more.

  “I need more time.” Melody repeated as if he hadn’t heard her the first time.

  “You said that before. What the hell is that supposed to mean exactly?” He demanded. He wanted less talk, and more kissing going on.

  “It means I want to get to know you as my husband before we…” At a loss for words, Melody gave a helpless gesture.

  “Before we what?” Alarms sounded off in Gabriel’s head. Uh oh, this wasn’t good. His instincts practically shouted at him.

  “Before we make love again.” She said bluntly.

  “Good god woman! Are you out of your mind?” Gabriel nearly shouted. This was too much for one man to take. “So, this is my punishment huh?” He ground out not caring just how cruel the words sounded.

  “Punishment?” She asked all innocent like, but Gabe knew better.

  “Yeah, force the stupid man to slobber like a dog then say back off boy.”

  “That is not what this is about. All I want is some time to feel like I made the right decision. Just a little time, to get better acquainted with you in an intimate way.”

  “Isn’t that what we were just doing?” He snapped.

  “Don’t be obtuse Gabriel.” Melody said her voice beginning to rise.

  “What if I say no? A man has a right to take pleasure in his own wife.” Not that he’d ever force her, but how else was he going to get her to get rid of this fool notion?

  “Please Gabriel.” Melody gave a slight sob. And that was his undoing.

  His sweet Melody was getting all teary eyed and she was near to begging. He couldn’t bring her to do it; so much was his respect for her. She was a brave and caring woman and she deserved to get the time she requested. Though he wouldn’t, promise not to seduce her any chance he got. Or kiss her any time he liked. That would be just too much to ask.

  “How much time are we talking about here?” He asked, sizing up the lay of the land. Every man did have his limits and he was getting real close to his. There was going to be many dips in the frigid pond in store for him he could foresee.

  “I don’t really know.” She explained “Just until it feels right I guess. I don’t have a timetable.”

  Well hell! It felt right to him last night, but he wisely kept that to himself. He wasn’t going to go down without at least one more fight.

  “Can we at least make love tonight? You know, just give ourselves something to think about?” He wheedled.

  “Gabriel!” Melody shrieked.

  “Alright, Alright You’ll get your time. Just don�
��t expect me to be happy about it.” He grumbled.

  “Oh thank you!” She cried happily, kissing his forlorn cheek.

  “Yeah, Yeah… Let’s just go to sleep.” He said gruffly.

  His pride was smarting a bit. He watched as his little wife, made a cocoon out of the covers. Burying her body in, until only the top of her head was visible. Well, that was that! He thought grimly.

  It was a sad day in Gabriel O’Malley’s life, when a woman was happy to get out of sex with him…

  Things couldn’t get any worse he thought with a mournful shake of his head.

  “There’s nothing so bad… That it couldn’t

  get worse”

  An Irish proverb

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  He was wrong. That realization came to Gabriel as he cautiously studied his new ranch hand the following week. The day after Melody had declared her need for more “time,” riding up to the main house of the Lucky M ranch, came Hunter White-wolf.

  A man, whom Gabriel had assumed, was what most narrow minded folks called a half breed. The fact that he was or wasn’t of mixed race, made no matter to Gabe. Never one to judge a man by the color of his skin, Gabe had given the man a chance. He figured a man was worth what he did in his life, not what his bloodlines were. Gabriel had hired Hunter on the spot, when he’d seen the way his horses took to him. The man had a way with animals he’d give him that.

  Clad in buckskinned pants and leather vest, Hunter stood not twenty yards from where Gabe had paused on his way to the barn. Long dark hair pulled into a thick braid. His complexion dark from either his birth or the sun, he appeared at first glance a mighty Sioux warrior. He’d near to give Shorty a heart attack, when he’d first cantered up to the barn. Though, if you really looked closely at the man, you could see that he didn’t have the full bone structure of an Indian. His startling green eyes were also a dead giveaway to his mixed heritage.

  Hunter was a silent man who kept basically to himself. He hadn’t said more than fifteen words since he’d been hired on, at least not to anyone but Melody. That was the problem. It wasn’t that Gabriel disliked the man who appeared to be about a few years his junior. No, it was that he was getting just too damn friendly with his wife, the same wife who’d been denying him his intimate rights all week long.