by Tia Siren
There was a bar at the end of the room, with a bartender behind it. He looked up when they came in and lifted one hand. “Hello, George!” He called out.
The two of them walked to the bar.
“Hello, Sam. It’s good to see you today. How have you been?”
“Doing well, sir. We’ve been doing good business, too, no problems there.”
“That’s good to hear, Sam, good to hear.” George nodded. “I’d like to introduce Caroline. She has come all the way from Virginia to be a companion for me.”
Sam turned impressed eyes to Caroline and she could see that he approved. The corners of her lips raised in a soft smile.
“Hello there, Caroline. It’s good to meet you. I hope you enjoy it here in Arizona. Virginia is nothing like this.”
“So I have noticed.” She nodded. “But I like it so far.”
“Good to hear!”
She could see George smiling in her peripheral vision. It gave her a good feeling in her chest.
“I think you’ll like ol’ Red here, too,” Sam said with a smirk, looking at his boss. “He’s one of a kind that’s for sure!”
“Hey now. That doesn’t sound too good. What are you trying to do, scare her off?” George laughed.
“He can’t scare me off,” Caroline said, giving George a bigger smile than she had Sam. He noticed her eyes sparkled when he smiled at her. It gave him a pleasant warm feeling. He reached out instinctively and put his hand on her back. She felt it there and was embarrassed to realize her cheeks were flushing. Just his fingers and hands felt strong to her and it made her heart flutter slightly.
It was a wonderful feeling. She wished he would never take his hand away.
“Yep, she’s here to stay,” George announced. “Send us the best serving girl so I can get her the best food that she wants and make sure the best cooks are making it, would you?”
“Oh, I’ll be sure to tell them you are here with a very special guest, boss. You got it.”
“Thanks.” George nodded and turned to steer Caroline in the direction of a table in the middle of the room. “This is where I always sit,” He said as he pulled her chair out for her. “I like to look around and make sure I see that things are going well.”
She sat down, saying, “Yes, I read in your letter that you are very conscientious about your business. I’m glad of that, I must say.” She spread her napkin on her lap and looked back up at him. “In my work as a secretary, I was always told I had a head for business, but you know…women aren’t in the position to do business like you men.”
He shook his head sitting in a chair that was closer to her than across the table. “That’s nonsense, in my opinion. Women are just as capable of running a business.”
“I do like that opinion.”
He hesitated for a moment, gazing at her. His stare didn’t make her feel uncomfortable. Instead, she felt exhilarated.
“You said that your parents own a restaurant in Virginia?”
She suddenly felt nervous. She had forgotten about her pledge to ask him for money to help their restaurant and save it. “Uh, yes, they do.”
“Is it successful?”
“It’s been successful for many years,” She responded.
“In that case, perhaps you can help me run one of my restaurants and take some of my burden off of me.”
“I can do that.” She nodded with a smile. “I certainly can do that.”
Chapter Four
She picked up the plates from the table, resting the eating utensils and resting them on top. She carried them to the back, passing through the door quietly.
It had been three weeks since her arrival in Arizona and as she suspected, she had assimilated well. She was used to the drastic difference in weather and had made several friends in the Flagstaff restaurant.
George had taken her to the other restaurants he owned and gave her a tour of his casino. He was told her he had gained his wealth by gambling in the first place. He was excellent at it. She had watched him in action and was very impressed.
He only gambled for fun now, because all the money he used at the casino went back into his own pocket. He had thought that was hilarious and she laughed with him about it.
After getting to know George well, she had finally decided to ask him for help for her family that evening at dinner. The house he owned was absolutely huge, no doubt. There was room for at least a half dozen children.
She was nervous to talk to him about it, but she had come to know him as not just a good businessman but also a kind gentleman. He had asked her to stay for a month to make sure it was what she wanted. He’d given her the option of working in the restaurant or just being at home all the time. Since there was a maid and cook, she had very little she needed to do for him there.
So she had chosen to work in the restaurant so that she wouldn’t be bored. She noticed George came around the restaurant quite often during the day and had one time even pulled up his shirt sleeves to help cook food in the kitchen.
She thought about the discussion she needed to have with him the entire day. She rehearsed what she wanted to say over and over. Her heart beat hard in nervousness and excitement. She was nervous he would think it was the only reason she had come, which it actually was. She didn’t want him to think badly of her. But she had worked hard to show him that she was a good woman and would do what she was required from him willingly. Over time, she felt her feelings growing for him. She was glad of that because it would make being married to him easier.
A knock at the door brought her attention away from her thoughts. She had been getting ready for her date with her soon-to-be husband and was staring in the mirror.
“Come in!” She called softly.
The door opened and George stood there. He gazed at her and smiled.
“You look lovely, Caroline.”
She smiled and blushed. “Thank you, George.”
“Are you ready to go?”
“I am.”
She turned off the lamp beside her and walked to the door, noticing how his body was outlined by the light behind him. It made her heart skip a beat and she knew she was done for in this situation. He had her heart. Hopefully, he wouldn’t think badly of her when she needed to ask her favor.
He took her hand and led her down the stairs to the ground floor. She reached for her long sweater, but he stopped her hand.
“You won’t need that,” He said.
“But it’s chilly out, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “Yes, it’s cool. Regardless, dear, you won’t need it.”
She gazed at him for a moment in confusion. “O…okay, George. Where are we going?”
He didn’t respond. He took her hand and began to walk through the house toward the back. She lifted her eyebrows and went with him.
They walked through the hallway and to the kitchen. He took her through the rest of the house and pushed open the back door to the yard. He stepped back to let her through first. Her eyes opened wide when she stepped out into an unrecognizable yard. There were pretty colored lanterns hung all around, with beautiful colored paper strung around the roof.
A small table had been set in the middle of the porch area. Two long candles had been placed in front of each plate. They glowed softly. There were two plates, wine glasses with red wine in them and a covered plate in the middle of the table.
Caroline’s heart melted. She couldn’t help it when her mouth fell open and she gasped.
“Oh, my!” She breathed. “This is so beautiful, George. Oh, George!” She looked at him with misty eyes. It was obvious that he had the same feelings she had. She sighed and went to the table to look closer at its beauty. She sat when he pulled the chair out and scooted forward to sit comfortably.
He sat across from her.
“Before we have dinner, we need to talk. I would like to ask you something.”
She was surprised when the words came out of his mouth that she’d had every intention of saying h
erself.
“You would?” She asked.
“Yes.”
She pressed her lips together. “I also have something I want to ask you.”
“Who will go first?”
She smiled. “You can.”
“Okay.” He put out his hand and held it flat on the table. She placed her hand in his. “I have come to the decision that asking for a bride through the mail was the best thing I could have done. I believe that God has brought you to me. I am impressed with you as a woman and a person. You are a beautiful lady. I’m glad you’re here with me. I hope you are planning to stay. How has it gone for you? Do you like it?”
She nodded vigorously. “Oh yes! I am extremely happy here.”
“Do you miss your family and Virginia?”
She tilted her head and gave him a smile. “I do, of course. But I don’t mind it as much as I thought I would. I will write to them. And perhaps someday we can visit them.”
“We can definitely do that.” He nodded and his smile betrayed how happy he was that she was pleased to stay.
“I believe it is not very hard to fall in love with a woman like you,” He said, his deep voice soft. She sighed quietly.
“I feel the same about you,” She whispered, her cheeks red.
He was quiet for a moment, looking at her. “I have something for you.”
“Oh?”
He reached forward and took the cover off the dish in between them. Instead of a plate of food like she expected, there was a soft bed of lettuce with radishes lining the outside. In the very middle of the lettuce sat a silver ring. She was stunned.
She picked it up and looked at it. It had a large diamond in the placement with tiny red stones surrounding it in the shape of a heart. She pulled in her breath all the way and held it.
He took it from her fingers and took her hand. “I would so love it if you would marry me, Caroline. You are sent from God, I’m sure of it.”
“Oh, George!” She couldn’t hold tears back from her eyes. “This is a beautiful ring. Of course, I will marry you!”
He smiled wide and sighed hard. “That’s wonderful!” He slid the ring on her finger. Excitement and nervousness ran through her. She stood up and he did too, pulling her into a tight hug. She felt so comfortable in his arms. She rested her head against his chest, smiling contentedly. When she pulled away, she looked up at him feeling better than she had in a very long time.
“Now didn’t you have something to ask me?” He said. “They will bring us our food in a little while. We have time to talk.”
She sat back down and he did, too, leaning over the table toward her.
“Well,” She hesitated, again worried about what he would think. “I told you before that my parents own a restaurant. That’s how I know what to do when working there.”
He nodded. “Yes and you do a good job. Even in business matters, I’ve noticed that you make good decisions.”
“Thank you. That’s my father’s influence.”
“Your father must be a good teacher.”
“He is. And I followed him around all the time.” She laughed, thinking about her father’s acceptance of his young daughter trying to be just like him. “I admire everything about him. But before I came here something tragic happened to my family.”
“And what was that?”
“Well…” Again, she hesitated, looking down.
“Caroline, don’t be anxious about what you have to say. If we are to be married, we must be open and honest with each other. Go ahead.”
She knew her cheeks had filled again. She decided to just get it out. “My father’s business partner stole all the profits from the restaurant for the past several years. He has bankrupted our family…or it will happen and we will lose everything unless something happens fast.”
George sat back with a serious look. She instantly feared he suspected her affection for him was only because of the money. When he spoke, she felt a deep sense of relief.
“What? That is horrible! Yes, that is a dreadful thing for your family!”
“I would like to help them if I can. If you are willing to help them, I will work off every cent you give, in the restaurant or casino. I will do whatever it takes to pay you back.”
George was quiet for a moment and she wondered what he was thinking. Was he angry with her for asking? Did he know that she truly felt love for him?
“Let me ask you something, Caroline,” He said, leaning toward her again. Her breath caught. “Do you truly have feelings for me? Can you love me?”
She lowered her head. “I already do,” She whispered.
He reached out and took her hand. “I believe that, Caroline. I see how you look at me and it fills my heart. I don’t need you to pay off every cent in the restaurant or casino. I don’t need you to pay it back at all. I have money. What I want is love. I don’t mind using that money to make someone I love prosper…or her family, in this case.”
“Oh, George!” Caroline began to cry, her relief flowing through her. Her mother and father and siblings would be safe. The restaurant would continue to be profitable. He stood up again and gathered her in his arms.
“I love you, Caroline. I want you to be happy. Please don’t worry or hesitate to ask me for anything that you need.”
She looked up into his eyes. “You are an amazing man, George. I can’t thank you enough for caring enough about me to help my family, too. Thank you!”
She moved into his waiting arms. “I love you, too.”
*****
THE END
A Baby for the Bride – A Clean Western Historical Romance
Chapter One
Joyce sat up in bed, stretching her arms up toward the ceiling and letting out a long breath. It was supposed to be one of the most beautiful days of the year, and she was excited about it. She and her aunt had a picnic on Glade Hill planned for the afternoon. She couldn’t wait. She hadn’t been able to sit down with her aunt Grace and have a talk for several weeks.
She slipped out of the bed and pushed her feet into her slippers. She pulled on her robe and stepped over to her desk to get her brush and tooth cloth. Her mother had told her when she was a child that if she brushed her hair every morning and night and rubbed her teeth with a small cloth, they would stay cleaner and look healthier. She had practiced those two traditions every day since she was ten years old when she and her family migrated from Ireland.
She pulled back her thick red hair after brushing it thoroughly with 100 strokes and tied it behind her head in a large bun. She pulled on her bonnet over it, then pulled it off and decided she was going without today. She didn’t have to wear a bonnet if she didn’t want to.
She put on her clothes and left the room, leaving the house with fifteen minutes to walk to the sewing shop in town where she worked. It wasn’t far from her room in the boarding house. On the way out, she picked up a ham biscuit from the kitchen. Each morning, one of the other tenants fixed ham biscuits and left them warm for anyone who wanted one. She delighted in them since they were the only meat she got until dinnertime.
Today would be different. Her aunt was sure to have ham or turkey biscuits, with some corn and cabbage on the side and possibly a few other tasty delights. Her aunt, Grace, made the best sugar cookies she’d ever eaten. They were another thing she was looking forward to today.
Joyce smiled as she walked down the side of the street. There didn’t appear to be many people on the road this morning. No horses, buggies, carriages, or wagons passed her on her way. She thought that was a bit strange but after a moment forgot about it.
Her coworkers were already in the shop, sitting around in comfortable cushioned chairs with their sewing work on their laps and their sewing baskets set either at their feet or to the side.
“Good morning, Joyce!” Several of them called out a greeting to her, and she smiled at them.
“Good morning, ladies.”
“Did you have a good sleep last night?” One of them, A
nn-Margaret, asked curiously. Without waiting for an answer, she continued. “I didn’t. I heard a dog howling in the middle of the night, and it woke me up. I couldn’t get back to sleep! Can you imagine? Letting your dog howl all night long when other people are trying to sleep.”
Joyce went to a shelf and took down her sewing basket. “Did you go out and say something about it to your neighbor?” She asked as she strolled back to her seat.
“I wanted to, let me tell you that.” Ann-Margaret was shaking her head. “But I don’t like to wander about at night by myself. You don’t know who might be lurking in the shadows.”
“Yes, because there are so many wild dog or Indian attacks here, right, Ann-Margaret?” One of her other coworkers winked at her. The rest of them laughed. Ann-Margaret gave her friend a smile.
“It’s dangerous whether you like to believe it or not, Jane. I could have been attacked by a wild animal. You just never know!”
“Or a mosquito could have bitten you!” Jane said, continuing to tease her. “How tragic! How awful!”
They all laughed, and Ann-Margaret joined in. “Oh, it may be silly to you, Janie. But I just don’t like it. I could even trip or walk into a hole and break my ankle.”
“Well then you would be useless as a horse with a broken leg, wouldn’t you?”
“All right now.” They heard the sound of their boss, Jack Carrigan, come from the back room. He stepped out and smiled at them all. “You can’t get work done if you are sitting around teasing Ann-Margaret about her fears.”
The women greeted their boss jovially.
“Good morning, Jack.” Joyce nodded at him. “I’m not late today, am I?”
He shook his head, moving into the room to survey the work his employees were doing. He was a large, round man with a pleasant demeanor and a quick hand to help anyone who needed it. Like his employees, the woman who worked for him were treated with a great deal of respect and encouragement. He paid them a decent salary and never tried to withhold any money from them. They did good work, and he liked to reward them for their efforts. “Not at all, Joyce. You just didn’t get here early!”
He grinned at her and she returned his smile, sitting to begin her work. She enjoyed the job and had been saving her money for some time now to do some traveling. She wanted to get out of the small Virginia town that had become her home after coming over from Ireland to New York. Her mother had detested New York and moved them South as soon as she could.