by Lexie Clark
“I know nothing about your family,” she said.
“As a mail order bride, you wouldn’t,” he countered.
“On the contrary, I believe we would have discussed family in great detail during the exchange of letters. But in any case, I’m asking now. Do you have family?”
“He has me,” Stuart said from the back. “I have a sister, and my mother is still alive, although they live in Denver proper. We stayed with them last night, but we told mom we were here to get supplies, not to pick up Eli’s bride.”
“I see.” Cordelia wondered why they’d kept the information from Stuart’s mother, but she wasn’t sure it would be polite to ask. “In any case, what about you, Eli? Will I meet your parents tonight?”
“Not without going to heaven,” Stuart answered for his cousin.
“I’m very sorry,” she said to Eli.
He shrugged and shook the reins. “They’ve been gone a while. As have my three brothers.”
Cordelia’s eyes widened. “You’re the only one left?”
“I am.” He didn’t provide any more information, and she wasn’t sure it would be a good thing for her to ask. Maybe after a few days she could bring the subject up again, see if he would tell her more. She was sure there was a story behind their deaths. In an effort to change the subject, she asked how the household was run.
“I have a housekeeper,” Eli said. “She cooks and cleans. She and her husband stay in a little house not too far from my house. You can help if you want, but I told her I expected her to stay in charge of everything until you’re settled in.”
A smile touched Cordelia’s lips. “In other words, you don’t want me to take over, because I won’t be there that long.”
He shrugged. “I think you’ll be here at least a year.” He sounded like it didn’t really matter to him. “I have no clue when the woman from England will arrive.”
“Does she have a name?”
He flicked the reins again, as if he were agitated. “Yeah, but I can’t remember it. I’ll look it up when we get to the house and get you settled.”
Thinking about the woman from England once again brought the subject of Eli’s parents to the forefront. She wanted to ask him once again what had happened, but she kept her mouth shut. She wasn’t sure he would appreciate her being so nosy on her first day.
They rode in silence for a while, and finally drove through the gates of the Four Fours. The grass was green, and there were tall trees and mountains in the background.
“What sort of ranching do you do?” she asked.
“Cattle,” he answered. “We also have a farming area where we grow potatoes.”
“In this region?” She was shocked to hear this news.
“Yup.” He steered the horses to the right. “We’re almost there. Mrs. Dunlap will be waiting, with food and all sorts of questions.”
He stopped the wagon. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold band. “I hope it fits.”
Cordelia hadn’t thought of a wedding band. It made things seem so real that she almost refused to take it. But in the eyes of everyone she was about to meet, things were real. She was Mrs. Eli Bannister. She would have to answer to that name, and remember to accept kisses and hugs from her husband.
With a slightly shaky hand, she took the band from him and slipped it onto her left hand. It was a little snug, but she managed to get it all the way on her finger.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Bannister,” Stuart said from the back. And then he laughed.
Eli picked up the reins and got the horses moving again. She knew they were getting very close, and she was ready for the journey to be over. What she really wanted right now was a hot bath, a cup of tea and a bed where she could lay down and sleep for a while.
“I hope there is nothing planned for the evening,” she said.
“Mrs. Dunlap will have dinner ready around six,” Eli said. “That’s usually what time I get back from working in the fields.”
Cordelia made a mental note of that time for future reference. Of course, if things went well, she would be working in the kitchen with the housekeeper to get her ‘husband’s’ meal on the table when he got home from work. She glanced up at the sky, wondering what time it was now. As if he could read her mind, Eli told her it was almost two.
“After I get you settled, I’m going to go check on things. I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“All right,” she said. She was ready for some alone time, where she could allow herself to examine her surroundings after she napped. Hopefully she’d have time to write in her journal, too. She was determined to keep accurate notes so that she would have a great basis for her article. But she needed to make sure they sounded authentic, in case someone got hold of the book and read it. It wouldn’t be good for their secret to be exposed in that manner.
Keeping the fact that they weren’t really married a secret was going to be harder than she’d thought it would be, but if she was careful, Cordelia was sure she could pull it off.
They rounded a corner and a house came into view, a large, two-story white clapboard house with a huge porch around the front. It was much bigger than what she’d expected, especially since Eli didn’t have any family.
But he’d had family at one point, she reminded herself, parents and three brothers. And they were gone now. As the wagon neared the house, a small woman burst out the front door. She wore a gingham dress and there was an apron tied around her waist.
Mrs. Dunlap, Cordelia thought to herself. This would probably be the one person who would be hardest to fool. Cordelia would have to put on quite an act for this woman.
And it was show time.
Chapter 2
From the journal of Cordelia West
First day in Colorado:
I am married, or so these people think. It is a hard to tell lies to people, even if I do not know them. I have tried, several times, to tell myself I am doing this because it will help me survive. The funds I receive from this story will help me survive, and will give me a rainy day fund, as my mother would say.
The man I am supposedly married to has been nothing but kind to me. After my rest, I explored my new surroundings for a while. The house is spotless, kept that way by Mrs. Dunlap, the housekeeper. I have not had a chance to have a lengthy conversation with her, but she seems to be a very sweet, loving person who cares a great deal about Mr. Bannister.
Mrs. Dunlap set up quarters for me in a room that connects with Mr. Bannister’s. I wanted to ask for a key, but that would not seem proper to her. Besides, I’m not sure if the key would be to keep him out, or keep me from sneaking into his room at night.
I admit to being a virgin. I am not ashamed that William and I managed to keep from doing things an unmarried couple should not. But it was hard. Our hands found places on each other’s bodies that created sensations that I should not have enjoyed, but did. After we explored one another a few times, I started to crave his touch, and if it had been up to me, I would not be a virgin right now. It was William who said we had to wait for marriage.
Now, being so close to Mr. Bannister, who creates naughty feelings deep inside me, I worry that I would not be able to hold back if things should turn physical between my supposed husband and myself. It is a situation I did not expect to find myself in, but it is there nonetheless.
I will have to make sure that Mr. Bannister and I do not spent much time with just the two of us. I will need Mrs. Dunlap, or even Stuart, to keep me on the straight and narrow.
This is not something that will make its way into my article for Mr. Tuttle, but it is something I am going to have to deal with on my own.
* * *
Cordelia closed the journal and sighed heavily. Keeping the matter of her non-marriage a secret was going to be easy. She had a feeling Eli Bannister spent most of his time working on his land, either with his cattle or his crops. Talking with Mrs. Dunlap would be easy, and it would not be hard to pretend she did not know much
about her ‘husband.’
But she would have to learn to control the feelings Mr. Bannister produced in her. She had first noticed them when he had helped her alight from the wagon that afternoon. He had put his hands on her, tight enough so he could lift her down. He should have let her get down on her own, offering his hand for support. But he had not done that, and the touch of his strong grip on her waist had reminded her of William. That was not a good thing.
Another problem that crossed her mind was Mr. Bannister’s insistence that she would be in Colorado for at least a year. She did not expect to be here that long. In her mind, Mr. Bannister’s supposed fiancée from England would arrive within a month, she would find him already married and would leave in a huff. To Cordelia’s way of thinking, that would mean she would be back in New York in two months time, three at the most.
This was a topic they would have to discuss at some point, and tonight would be best. But she could not do it at the dinner table. She would have to wait until they were in private. Maybe she could get him alone in the library, or after they dined she might propose a walk. If those things did not work, she would have to do it in the privacy of her room, which meant opening the door that connected her space with his. It was a pattern she did not want to set. It would be better if Mr. Bannister knew this was her private space, she should not be invaded.
After she put her journal under her pillow, Cordelia patted her hair and looked at her image in the looking glass. She looked very nice. After she had rested, she’d changed into a blue dress that had needed very little pressing. The others would have to be tended to before they could be worn, and she was sure Mrs. Dunlap would insist on doing that chore.
She opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Total silence greeted her. There were four doors on this upper level. Something told her the space she now inhabited had once belonged to Mr. Bannister’s mother, and Cordelia’s ‘husband’ lived in his father’s quarters. That would be the only reason for a connecting room, in Cordelia’s opinion. Or perhaps it was a bedroom and a nursery.
Finding out the history of the home was not high on her agenda, though. She made her way down the stairs, and let her nose guide her to the kitchen. Mrs. Dunlap was at the table, peeling carrots. “It smells delicious in here,” Cordelia said.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bannister,” the older woman responded, a big smile on her face. “I’m making cottage pie. It’s Eli’s favorite, and I thought he would appreciate me making it for your first night here.”
“That’s very kind of you, Mrs. Dunlap.”
The older woman blushed and waved her hand as if to say it was nothing at all, but something told Cordelia it was. She knew enough about the dish to know they used leftover meat, but from the looks of the peeled vegetables around Mrs. Dunlap, it had taken a while to prepare the other ingredients.
“Tell me about yourself, Mrs. Bannister,” the housekeeper said. “I’m anxious to learn all about you.”
“Only if you will call me Cordelia.” She indicated an empty chair. “May I?”
“Of course,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “Can I fix you some tea? Eli brought me a fresh supply from Denver today. Or perhaps something cold? I have apple cider.”
Without waiting for an answer, the woman went to a counter where she took a pitcher of amber liquid from the corner. She poured a glass and presented it to Cordelia with a flourish. “I make it myself.”
Cordelia took a tentative sip before she took a larger one. “Delicious,” she pronounced. “You are quite the cook, it seems.”
“My mother taught me how,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “She came from Ireland.”
“She did a good job.” Cordelia drank more of her cider. When she put down the glass, she could see Mrs. Dunlap looking at her in anticipation. Then she remembered what the woman had asked her; she wanted to learn more about her new ‘mistress.’
“Where shall I start?” Cordelia said. “I am twenty-eight years old, my family is originally from England, but we have lived in the United States for the past forty years. I was born in New York City.” Cordelia paused to take a drink.
“And you’ve never married?” Mrs. Dunlap asked.
Cordelia had decided it was best to stay truthful in these matters. “I was engaged, but my future husband passed away a few years ago, before we could say our vows.”
“You poor dear.” Mrs. Dunlap patted her hand. “Sick, was he?”
“No.” Cordelia felt her throat tighten. “He was killed in a robbery attempt.” Here she had to be careful, because giving the full details of William’s death would hit too close to what he did for a living, and it would bring about questions Cordelia would rather not answer.
“New York City is so violent,” Mrs. Dunlap said.
“Actually, he was killed in Missouri,” Cordelia said. “He had come west to see about jobs in the area before we married.”
The truth was he had come to the West to write stories about the men who had come home from the Civil War, and what they were doing to make a living now. He’d been knifed in a saloon when he had dared to ask one former soldier what he thought would have happened if the South had won.
Those around him that night had written Cordelia to tell her William had had a little too much to drink when he posed the question. He should have seen, one friend said, that the young man he was talking too was already drunk, and itching for a fight.
Cordelia wiped away a tear. When William had first died, she had thought she would die with him. But as time passed, she had learned to overcome her grief and live with the memories she had of him.
“Poor child,” Mrs. Dunlap repeated. “You must have loved him so. Is that why you decided to marry someone you’ve never met?”
That caught Cordelia by surprise. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Well, it’s inevitable that a man dies before a woman. Perhaps not being in love with your husband will bring less grief when he dies.”
Cordelia had never thought of that, but it was as good an excuse as any. She nodded. Then she wondered why Mrs. Dunlap was thinking about Mr. Bannister’s death. She asked her that question in no uncertain terms.
The older woman had been peeling potatoes, and she stopped. “Well, the Bannister men, they don’t exactly… exactly… have longevity.”
“Is Mr. Bannister ill?”
“Oh heavens no,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “It’s just that… well, life is hard out here, and it seems to be harder on the Bannisters.”
Before Cordelia could ask her to continue, the older woman rose from the table. “I’ve got lots of work to do, and you need to rest up for your… wedding night.”
Cordelia’s mouth dropped open. “Oh I do not thi—”
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Dunlap said. “He may have had me set you up in a second bedroom, but Mr. Bannister is a healthy man. After seeing you, I’m sure he’s going to want to exercise his husbandly rights. Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt that bad, and soon you’ll come to enjoy it. I know Mr. Dunlap pleases me on a regular basis.” The older woman was laughing as she walked into the dining room.
Husbandly rights. Cordelia’s mouth went dry. But Mr. Bannister was not her husband. How were they going to explain the lack of blood on the bed sheets in the morning? Mrs. Dunlap might seem sweet, but something told Cordelia she would be watching the marriage bed with great interest.
It was the first big problem they would have to overcome. Cordelia went in search of her ‘husband,’ hoping he would have the answer.
* * *
“Find those calves,” Eli said to Stuart. “There are three of them missing, and that’s three we can’t afford to have gone.”
“Yes Sir,” Stuart said with a salute. “I’m on my way now.” But before Stuart could leave the barn, he said, “Oh, look who’s coming. Your wife.”
Eli looked up to see Cordelia hurrying toward the barn. She had her hands on her skirts, lifting them off the ground to keep them clean. His insides stirred as she drew closer. She was definite
ly a beautiful woman. He would have to work hard to keep from trying to seduce her.
She entered the barn and came to a halt in front of him. “Mr. Bannister,” she greeted, and then she looked at Stuart and said the same thing.
“Eli,” Eli said to her. When she looked confused, he repeated his first name. “You can’t call me Mr. Bannister. You have to call me Eli. That’s the way it was with my parents, and it would seem strange if you didn’t call me Eli.” He’d made a fuss about repeating his first name several times, so he could drub it into her brain.
“Oh.” She fanned her face with her hand. Her chest rose and fell in obvious exertion, and Eli couldn’t help but wonder what her breasts would look like when they were bare. There was a light sheen of sweat on her forehead, and some of her hair had come loose from where she’d piled it on top of her head. Eli’s cock started to pulse. “I need to speak with you, Eli.”
“Better,” he said. He flicked his hand at Stuart. “Out.”
“Yes Sir,” Stuart saluted him once again, and Eli wanted to reach out and backhand him. His cousin needed a lesson in manners.
When he was gone, Eli turned his attention to Cordelia. “What’s wrong?”
“Mrs. Dunlap,” she managed to get out.
“Was she mean to you?” he asked.
“No,” she said, her voice rising. “But she expects us to share the same bed tonight. She told me so. She even gave me advice that it does not hurt that much to lose your maidenhead.”
Now his cock was at full attention. This hadn’t been in today’s plan. He’d expected to see her at dinner, and then have her retire to her room while he got used to the idea of having a woman around the house. But she looked so perfect standing there, so sweet, so beautiful, so… dare he say it… delicious. “Tell me, Cordelia, are you a virgin?”
She took a step away from him. “How dare you!”
Eli couldn’t help the smile that spread across his lips. “It’s a simple question.”
“You, sir, are out of line.”