by Cassie Hayes
Silas paused in his work and grew wistful. “Boy, she were something, my Katie. Full of life and spark, and bossy as the day is long. Kinda like your Tilly.”
Nolan wasn’t sure he’d call Tilly bossy, but she certainly knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to ask for it. She wasn’t some mealy-mouthed mousey type who was afraid of contradicting anyone. Sure, she was wary of new people, but once she was comfortable, she had no trouble speaking her mind. He liked that about her.
“My Katie latched onto the suffragette movement pretty early on, and were one of the head honchos by the time good Lord called her home back in double-aught.”
He sighed heavily and resumed packing the crate. A few minutes earlier, Nolan had been anxious for Silas to finish, but now he was so wrapped up in the man’s story, he wanted to hear the rest.
“How did she die? If you don’t mind my asking.”
“Cancer. By the time the docs found it, she only had a week or so to live. Been ten years and it hurts as much as the day she passed, but a fella figures out how to keep on livin’. Ain’t been as much fun without her, tell ya that much.”
“I’m sorry, Silas.”
Nolan’s heart ached for the man. He couldn’t imagine losing Tilly, and they’d only been married for two weeks. After thirty years, it must have felt like part of his own soul dying. It certainly explained why Silas always seemed so cross.
Silas shrugged and dropped the last item in the crate. “Death is part of life, son. Ain’t none of us gettin’ outta here alive. That’s why it’s so important to cherish ‘em while we got ‘em.”
He set the crate on the counter, but didn’t let go when Nolan tried to take it. Instead, Silas stared hard at Nolan. “You hear what I’m tellin’ ya, son? You got a good woman there. She’s got a mind of her own, and her man shouldn’t try to keep her down. Woman like that burns so bright no man can hold her tight. She needs to be set free so she can shine. Don’t take her for granted, y’hear?”
Nolan grew deadly serious. “I won’t, sir. I swear to you.”
“Good,” Silas said, releasing the crate. “Katie and me never had no children, and I sorta come to think of Tilly as my own kin. Treat her right, and you’ll be alright by me.”
“I will, Silas. Thank you!”
Nolan had no intention of doing otherwise, but he swore to always remember Silas’ words. Hurrying down the street toward their cabin, he vowed to always show Tilly how much he appreciated all she did. And not just the cooking.
She’d turned his cabin into a home, kept his clothes clean, and had even started a small kitchen garden. She happily helped JoAnn and Rose with their cooking whenever they needed it, she’d nursed Silas back to health, and she cooked wonderful meals for the men the Mounties brought back to their small jail, insisting they deserved good food as much as anyone. But beyond that, she laughed at his jokes. He couldn’t ask for more than that. Yes, Nolan had married the most wonderful woman in the world, and he would never forget it. He only hoped she felt the same about him.
Bursting into the cabin, Nolan shouted, “Special delivery for one Mrs. Wheeler!”
As Tilly came out of the tiny kitchen carrying his smoked salmon and cheese sandwich on a plate, he kicked the door closed and set the heavy crate on the table.
“I’ll trade you,” Tilly said, handing him the plate before reaching for the basket of apples perched on top.
“Uh uh,” Nolan said, setting the plate down and pulling his beautiful wife into his arms. The fact she didn’t so much as tense when he touched her pleased him beyond words. That showed she trusted him, and that would make tonight all the more special.
“Don’t you have to get back to work?” she asked, twining her arms around his neck and gracing him with a delighted smile.
“I do, but I was hoping to steal a kiss before I go make Joel jealous of my delicious sandwich.”
“Oh, were you now?” Her smile turned mischievous and she pressed her body against his in a way that made him forget his own name.
Tilly stood on her tiptoes and closed her eyes in a clear invitation. Nolan took a few seconds to commit every line and curve of her face to memory before dropping his head. Just as he felt the warmth radiating off her lips, a pounding on the door jerked them apart.
“What the…” Nolan growled and stomped to the door. “Better be important.”
Joel stood on the front step, his expression serious. Nolan knew that look — it meant trouble was at hand. His heart raced, as it always did when he was about to be sent on an assignment. Didn’t matter what the job was, how far into the backwoods it took him, or how long he was gone; he thrilled at protecting his country and couldn’t imagine ever doing anything else.
“What’s happened?” Nolan asked, sensing Tilly’s presence at his side before he saw her.
“Just got word a boat full of illegal immigrants wrecked near Prince Rupert,” Joel explained.
“Chinese?” Nolan asked.
“Yup, about twenty of them, and the locals aren’t acting too welcoming. A transport boat will be dispatched from Vancouver as soon as the weather that wrecked the boat calms down a bit. In the meantime, you need to keep the locals from stringing them up from trees.”
Tilly’s hand flew to her mouth when she gasped.
“When?” Nolan asked, already knowing the answer.
“Right now. The conductor’s holding the train for you and he’s spitting mad about it, so get a move on.”
Chapter 6
Disappointment gripped Nolan’s heart so tightly as he closed the door, he thought the lump in his chest might just turn into a diamond. Not just because he wouldn’t be having ‘apple pie’ — that hardly mattered anymore. What mattered was leaving Tilly behind.
This had been the happiest time of his life. They’d laughed, shared stories, and really become friends. Best friends. And now that she’d finally let down all her defenses, he had to leave her. Probably not for more than a week, but Nolan couldn’t imagine spending even a day away from her now.
But this mission was not only his job, it was his duty. As a Mountie, he’d taken an oath to defend the law, and as far as he was concerned, that oath was as sacred as his marriage vows. Didn’t mean he had to like it.
“Well, I guess I’d better go pack,” he said with a resigned sigh.
Tilly frowned at him as if he’d just insulted her. “You mean we’d better go pack.”
“We?” Nolan must have heard wrong. He shook his head to clear whatever was causing the impairment. “What?”
Tilly brushed past him with a sniff and headed for the bedroom. “I’m going too. You can’t get rid of me that easily, Mr. Wheeler!”
Nolan ran after her, completely confused. “Tilly, a mission like this is no place for a lady.”
He stopped in the doorway, uncertain if he should enter her private space. His father had always taught him discretion was the better part of valor, so he stood just outside and poked his head in.
Tilly pulled her ratty old carpetbag from the top of the wardrobe, then opened the door to the large cabinet. She stood with one hand perched on her hip, the forefinger of her other hand tapping her lips as she perused the contents. Nolan thought it was probably the most adorable thing he’d ever seen.
“What do you think you’re doing, Tilly?”
She glanced over her shoulder, then turned back to the task at hand. “Have you suddenly gone blind as well as deaf? I’m packing.”
“Didn’t you hear me? This kind of mission—“
“Yes, yes,” she said, flapping a hand at him dismissively. “I’m still going.”
Nolan sighed in frustration. “If you’re expecting Prince Rupert to be more…cosmopolitan than Squirrel Ridge Junction, it’s not. It’s a rough and tumble fishing town, Tilly. It’s no place for a lady like you.”
She turned a withering glare at him. “Do you think so little of me, Nolan?”
“What? No! I just…I…um…” He was more confused t
han ever.
“Nolan,” she said, her expression softening, “I don’t need big cities anymore. I admit at first I was wary, but I’ve grown to love this little town. The only problem I’m having is feeling useful, especially now that Silas is better. I know I can be of use in Prince Rupert.”
“I don’t know, Tilly,” he said, still unconvinced. “The train is pretty uncomfortable.”
She gave him a funny look, and it took him a minute to figure it out.
“Oh, right. That’s how you got here in the first place.”
“Yes, and it was a much longer ride than what we’ll have going to Prince Rupert. Ooh, Prince Rupert! It’s such a noble sounding town name!”
Excitement sparkled in her emerald eyes as she spun around and started stuffing garments and toiletries into her bag with vigor. Nolan hated to douse her enthusiasm, but he also hated the thought of her first days as his wife being so difficult.
“It’s mostly just canneries and fishermen,” he continued, with her ignoring him. “It smells pretty bad.”
Tilly paused turned narrowed eyes on him. “Do you not want me to go, Nolan? Is that what this is about?”
“No!” Nolan scrubbed a hand across his mouth, wondering how things had gone downhill so quickly. “It’s just…”
“What?”
Stepping into the room, he pulled her hands into his. “I don’t want to be away from you for a moment, Tilly. You must believe that. But I have a job to do, a very serious job, and I won’t be able to spend much, if any, time with you. I don’t mean this to sound harsh, but I can’t afford to worry about you as well.”
He held his breath, hoping she would understand his plight. As much as he wanted to spend every waking moment with her, he had an obligation to his country that he couldn’t ignore.
She stared into his eyes, and relief washed over him when she smiled. Her fingers brushed across his jawline, then she stood on her tiptoes and let her lips brush against his. Nolan yearned to pull her into his arms, but she stepped out of his reach.
“I understand, Nolan, and I wouldn’t dream of interfering with your work.”
He released the breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “Oh, good, because—“
“Which is why I promise to stay completely out of our way once we get there.”
Nolan stared slack-jawed as she continued packing. This couldn’t be happening. What would Joel think of Nolan taking his new bride on assignment?
He couldn’t deny part of him had warmed to the idea immediately, but it seemed so ludicrous. What woman would really want to join her husband on such a potentially dangerous rescue mission? No, she wasn’t thinking straight. He’d have to say no for her own sake. He opened his mouth to speak when Silas’ words ran through his head.
She’s got a mind of her own and her man shouldn’t try to keep her down. Woman like that burns so bright no man can hold her tight. She needs to be set free so she can shine.
“What would you do to fill your time?” he asked tentatively.
“With so many survivors, I’m sure they’ll need lots of assistance. And from the sounds of it, there aren’t too many residents willing to help them.”
“True,” he conceded, wondering if it could actually work.
“In fact, I bet those poor souls haven’t had a proper meal since they left China. Oh, that reminds me! I’d better pack my recipe box.”
Nolan leaned against the doorframe watching Tilly as she ran around the cabin, putting away the food he’d brought home, tidying up, and jamming a few kitchen items in her bag. He’d never seen a more driven woman in his life. On top of that, her generosity and adventurous spirit seemed to know no bounds.
If he hadn’t known it before, now it was firm in his mind. He was totally and completely in love with Tilly. There would never be another woman who could ever compare to her. She certainly wasn’t perfect — she excelled at many things, but the poor thing couldn’t carry a tune to save her life, and she didn’t suffer fools, including her husband — but she was certainly perfect for Nolan.
Nolan threw a few items into his own bag as he thought about the best course of action. Joel might balk, but as long as Nolan paid for her train fare and meals, a Mountie’s wife joining him on assignment wasn’t breaking any rules. And he loved the idea of showing her more of the area they lived in. Besides, he’d made a promise to let her shine — he couldn’t bring himself to deny her the joy of helping others. One more argument would decide things.
“You know,” he said, setting his bag by the door. “It’s the high season in Prince Rupert. The salmon are running…that means dozens, if not hundreds, of fishermen and cannery workers are probably taking up every single hotel room in town. We might have no better accommodations than a smelly tent.”
Tilly set her bag next to his, pulled her wool coat from the peg next to the door, and gave him a determined grin. “Then I guess we’ll spend our honeymoon in a smelly tent.”
Yes indeedy, she was the woman for him! Pulling her into his arms, he watched her face for any sign of doubt. “Are you sure, Mrs. Wheeler?”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed as he cupped her face in both hands. “Very sure, Mr. Wheeler.”
Without another word or asking her permission, Nolan kissed his wife. A sweetness lingered on her lips, no doubt from something she’d been cooking, and he thought he could die happy in that moment. But he had work to do.
No, we have work to do!
“How far is Prince Rupert,” Tilly asked once the train pulled out of the Squirrel Ridge Junction station.
The conductor had grumbled and groused when Nolan had insisted on taking the time to pay for her ticket. She’d thought it quite chivalrous, and of course the right thing to do, which only made her love him more. Once they’d boarded, the grumpy conductor had jabbed a finger toward the back of the passenger car, then left to get the train moving.
The handful of men in the car had stared as they’d passed, no doubt wondering what a Mountie was doing with a woman on a train bound for Prince Rupert. The pressure of Nolan’s protective hand on her back as he’d guided her to their seats still lingered.
“It’s about ninety miles,” he explained. “Should pull in around dinner time.”
“Oh, I had such a wonderful meal planned for you,” she moaned. “I really wanted it to be something you’d remember forever.”
Nolan clasped her hand and smiled. “Tilly, my dear, I will never forget this day as long as I live, you can be sure of that.”
Tilly looked down at his big hand engulfing her small one and a smile touched her lips. Not once since she was a child had she given much thought to finding a husband. Becoming a chef had taken precedence over becoming a wife.
While all of her friends were being courted by handsome young men, Tilly had been learning about jacquarding, tempering, and barding. When they all began marrying, she had been working tirelessly through the kitchen ranks until she’d become head chef for a well-respected member of parliament.
After ‘the incident’, as she’d come to think of it, she’d spent weeks trying to convince herself she’d eventually find another position as a chef. When no one would even talk to her, she’d lowered her sights to a cook’s assistant. If she had to work her way up the ranks again, so be it. But again, she’d never been granted so much as an interview. In desperation, she’d applied for a maid’s position, hoping she could leverage it to be moved to the kitchens, but it was for naught. Word that she was unhirable had spread through Ottawa like wildfire. No one had wanted to elicit the wrath of the wife of a member of parliament, and she couldn’t blame them.
No, she’d blamed the man himself, her former employer. He’d made her uncomfortable on many occasions, then he’d allowed his wife to labor under false impressions and ruin Tilly’s life.
Except she hadn’t ruined her life after all. If anything, the woman had done Tilly a favor by blackballing her. Thanks to her former employer’s bad behavior,
Tilly had done something she never would have imagined — signing on as a mail-order bride and meeting the love of her life.
Tilly shifted her hand until her fingers entwined with his. Examining his calloused fingers gently grasping her soft ones, a sense of peace settled over her. She’d never been happier since arriving in Squirrel Ridge Junction and it was all because of Nolan. A man as fine as he was deserved nothing but the best…and that included knowing the truth about her past.
“Nolan,” she started, her voice catching in her throat.
It wouldn’t be easy, but she couldn’t be in their marriage any longer without telling him everything. Clearing her throat, she began again, turning her face up to his and keeping her voice low so the other men seated nearby wouldn’t hear.
“Nolan, every marriage should be based on honesty, don’t you think?”
His brow pulled together. “Of course.”
“I’d been planning on telling you all of this over dinner, but…”
“What is it, Tilly?”’
Concern replaced his frown and that made her feel even worse. As much as she wanted to watch his face to gauge his reaction, the tale was too humiliating. She trained her gaze on their locked fingers and took a deep, bracing breath.
“First of all, you need to know I haven’t lied to you, but I also haven’t shared everything about myself…and that feels almost as dishonest.”
His fingers squeezed hers. “Please don’t feel that way, Tilly. We have our entire lives to get to know all of our secrets. I’m sure you don’t know everything about me.”
She tipped a quirked eyebrow up at him. “I know you’re always hungry. Is there more than that?”
Goodness, she loved the sound of his laugh. Deep and throaty, as if coming up from the depths of his belly.
“Maybe you do know everything about me!”