RNWMP: Bride for Curtis (Mail Order Mounties Book 26)
Page 9
He hopped on Curtis’s horse and headed back toward town. When he disappeared from sight, Caitlyn slumped back into her husband’s chest. His heart pounded madly against her back and his breath came in short pants, just like hers. Any minute now, he’d start berating her for her foolishness, and she probably deserved it. She got ready to defend herself, lining up all of her arguments in her head.
“Were you really ready to sacrifice your life for a beaver?” he asked quietly.
“Yes!”
He paused, then asked, “Really?”
His soft, gentle tone took herby surprise. Far from sounding angry, he sounded concerned. Since she hadn’t prepared herself for that, the walls she’d built up crumbled.
“Well, maybe not,” she said with a sigh. “But I really don’t want you to kill them.”
His shoulders shook with a chuckle. “I can see that. But…why? Why is it so important to you? I wasn’t going to bring them home to cook up for dinner, you know.”
She’d practice the answer to this question on the ride. “Because they’re God’s creatures too!”
“Caitlyn—“
“It’s true!”
Curtis sat silently behind her, holding her wet body tight to his. She felt safe, yet exposed. Comforted, yet frightened.
“Is that all?” he almost whispered in her ear.
Of course! Isn’t that enough? was on her lips, but she clamped them shut before she could blurt it out. He wasn’t criticizing her, she realized. He wanted an honest answer. And after embarrassing him in front of his coworker like that, he deserved the truth. If only she knew what it was.
Caitlyn’s parents had always bemoaned her headstrong ways, saying she knew her mind better than most adults. Except now that she was an adult, she felt as if she didn’t know her mind at all. Saving Bob and his family had seemed so vitally important, yet she cooked bacon for breakfast and wore leather boots. There had to be a reason the beavers seemed so important to her.
Her thoughts drifted to Curtis and the rough start to their marriage. Far too slowly, they’d cut down tree after tree of discord and built their relationship into something she treasured. But as the scene that had just occurred proved, their future together could come crashing down at any moment.
“No,” she whispered back, tears spilling. “That’s not all.”
He bent his head until his cheek rested against the side of her head. A silent sob shook her frame and he squeezed her tighter.
“Tell me.”
She swallowed back her tears so she could speak. “They remind me of us, Curtis.”
He said nothing, waiting for her to explain.
“They’re trying to build something together. Just look at them, Curtis. Do you see how committed they are to each other?”
Bob and Betty kept a close eye on the meddling humans as they worked on the damaged part of their home.
“But as much as they love each other, one wrong move and the whole thing could wash away. I don’t want that to happen to us. I love you too much.”
Love? Did she just say she loves me?
Curtis could scarcely believe his ears. Neither of them had declared their love for the other yet. He’d been planning to that night, but she beat him to it.
And he couldn’t have been happier about it.
“You love me?” he asked, relishing in the feel of her body against his. He didn’t care that her dress was muddy and wet.
Caitlyn gasped. “Oh, I just—“
“I love you too, Caitlyn,” he said.
She twisted around in his arms until she lay sideways in his lap and he cradled her like a damsel in distress. His damsel. The tears in her eyes proved she was in distress.
“Y-you do? Even after…” She glanced over at Bob and Betty.
He picked a fleck of mud off her forehead and smiled. “More than ever.”
Without stopping to think about it, Curtis kissed her. Right there, out in the open, in front of God, Bob and the entire world. She tensed at first, then relaxed, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. He’d never felt such happiness in his life.
That’s when it dawned on him — mid-kiss with the most beautiful woman in the world — that this was what a good marriage looked like. Not a proper little wife doing her wifely duties, but a friendship that would last for the rest of their lives. Good times or bad, they’d work together — just like Bob and Betty — to shore up their life together and fight against any outside forces that wanted to tear them down. This is what he’d always wanted.
Breaking free of the kiss, Curtis pulled her into a powerful hug. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he needed to be close to her, to feel her close to him. She didn’t complain. In fact, she hugged him just as hard. Finally loosening his grip, he sat her up next to him, one facing the water, the other facing the forest. He took her muddy hand in his and held it to his lips before gazing into her emerald eyes.
“That will never happen to us, Caitlyn. I promise.”
Her tears had dried, but she sniffled anyway. “Really?”
“Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Don’t say that!” she cried, crossing her own heart in the manner of her religion.
He laughed — with amusement over the irony of her gesture, with joy over their mutual love, and with relief that she didn’t want him to die. It took a minute, but she finally joined in. Bob and Betty hooted at them to shut up, which only made them laugh harder. Wiping the tears of mirth from his eyes, Curtis grew serious.
“I can’t promise we won’t have a few more bumps on the road, but I know together we can figure out any problem that comes our way.”
She sniffled back her own happy tears and smiled up at him. “You think?”
“With your stubborn streak? It’s guaranteed!”
They fell into giggles again.
“I’d really like that,” she finally said, her eyes glittering like jewels.
“I do need to ask you something,” he said. “Why have you been cooking meat for me most days, when you feel so strongly about animals?”
Caitlyn’s gaze dropped to their entwined fingers. “I won’t lie to you, Curtis. It’s been hard.”
“Then why do it at all?”
She gave him a look that nearly broke his heart. “For you, of course. I want you to be happy. I know most people don’t feel as I do, and I accept that. Of course, I’d love for you to one day feel the same way, but I don’t really expect it. So…I’ve been cooking meat for you.”
Never once in his life had he ever expected his wife to do anything but cook meat. It had never dawned on him there were people in the world who didn’t eat meat. But now that he knew how much it hurt Caitlyn, the fact she’d sacrificed her own comfort to accommodate his selfish desires gave him pause.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “I didn’t realize how much pain it caused you. I can’t promise I’ll ever give up meat, but I can promise never to make you cook it for me again.”
She smiled and laid a cool, damp hand on his cheek. “No, it’s my job, Curtis. I love you and I want to make you happy.”
He pulled her into his arms again, hugging her so tight, he marveled that she didn’t crumble. Whatever he’d thought his married life would look like, he wouldn’t trade it for what he had. As flawed and strange as it was, it was his life and he loved it.
“You make me happy, Caitlyn.”
They sat on the shore, holding each other close and listening to the beavers splashing around, for a long while. When they were together, time ceased to matter. The only thing that mattered was their devotion to one another. Just one thing bothered Curtis. Pulling away, he gave her a puzzled look.
“So…who named Bob’s wife Betty?”
Caitlyn simply grinned.
Epilogue
My dearest Curtis,
I apologize for not replying to your recent letter very quickly, but I cannot tell you how delighted I was to receive your next letter so
soon after the first. Caitlyn sounds like a lovely young lady and I cannot wait to meet her. I am not certain what a ‘vegetarian’ eats, but if you give me enough notice, I am certain the ladies at church will have some recipes to share.
Speaking of which, enclosed you will find several recipes for your favorite meals that include meat. When your first letter announced you had taken a wife, I thought I could never be so surprised, but when your second letter said you were learning to cook, you could have knocked me over with a feather. What other surprises do you have in store for me, son?
I am dreadfully sorry I do not have any advice to give on the subject of keeping goats. Neither your father nor myself has actually seen one up close, but I would suggest speaking with the farmer who sold it to you. What you described does not sound the least bit healthy for the animal. Besides, I certainly would not want to eat cheese made from a goat who has eaten so many of your dirty socks!
Now to answer the question you asked in your first letter. Of course I had other interests than being the best mother I could be. When your father and I met, I was training to be a dancer. I took one look into his beautiful blue eyes, which you inherited from him, and lost my heart. After we were married, I continued dancing for a short time, until I discovered your oldest brother would soon be joining us. Your father encouraged me to take it up again when I was able, but I was far too busy raising you boys. I do not regret having any of you, because all three of you are my dearest treasures, but I do regret not taking your father’s advice to go back to dancing. It lit my heart on fire so!
I am so proud of you for marrying such a fine young woman, Curtis. If you treat her with respect, love her deeply, and lift her up to the heavens, I know you both will live a long and happy life together. I am looking forward to your next letter, which I sincerely hope will announce the impending arrival of my next grandchild.
With all the love in my heart,
Your mother
Did you enjoy Bride for Curtis? I’d love it if you would spare a moment to leave a review on Amazon!
Don’t miss my other books in the Mail Order Mounties series:
Bride for Nolan
Bride for Dermot
Bride for Easton
Bride for Colton
Bride for Marshall
Bride for Bryce
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Also by Cassie Hayes
MAIL ORDER MOUNTIES
Bride for Nolan
Bride for Dermot
Bride for Easton
Bride for Colton
Bride for Marshall
Bride for Bryce
THE DALTON BRIDES
The Drifter’s Mail Order Bride
Hank’s Rescued Bride
The Marshal’s Rebellious Bride
GOLD RUSH BRIDES
The Beginning
Emmy
SILVER SPRINGS
Rocky Mountain Hero
Rocky Mountain Home
STANDALONES
Poppy: Bride of Alaska (American Mail Order Brides)
Hope on the Horizon (Debra Holland’s Montana Sky Kindle World)
Back Home Again (Yosemite Flats)
About the Author
Cassie Hayes grew up pretending she was Laura Ingalls (before that pesky Almonzo arrived on the scene) in the middle of Oregon farm country. She lives with her husband and cat on the Pacific Ocean, and loves to hear from her readers.
Connect with her at:
www.CassieHayes.com
cassie@cassiehayes.com
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