“Do you have family, Ramee?”
“No, though I think of Carianne and Prudie and Adela as my sisters. Carianne is closer than a sister actually—bosom friends. We’ve known each other since I was thirteen. Do you have a friend that close?”
“I guess Rafe Harkins is as close a friend as I have. He’s why I’ve been staying in Sacramento, helping him and his wife move to Serenity.” She drank in his smile like it was honeyed tea, until he added, “What about your parents?”
“My mother died the same year I met Carianne.” Please don’t let him ask about my father. “I went to stay with my grandmother who lived in the same tenement building as Carianne and her grandmother. It was the best thing that could have happened under the circumstances. I soon saw something in Carianne I wanted.”
“What was that?”
Ramee grappled with her thoughts. How did one explain passing from darkness to light? “The love of God and all the peace and joy that brings. Carianne had a relationship with God like He was her father. Maybe because she didn’t have a father…and neither did I. Her father was killed in the war, you see.” She stared at her lap. “I…I don’t know quite how to explain it.” Maybe Josh would confuse her father with Carianne’s and not press her any further about her parents.
“I think you explain it very well.”
It occurred to her she’d been doing most of the talking—revealing her heart to this stranger, and he’d told her little about himself. “You asked me why I acted so rashly by coming out here in answer to your ad, and I’ve been honest with you.” She leveled a stare at him. “I hope you’ll tell me why a successful young rancher would need to advertise for a bride?” Besides being handsome enough to get any woman he wanted. “Surely there are a lot of suitable ladies in Sacramento.”
She noticed his jaw clench. “You’ve been honest with me, Ramee, and I’m going to be honest with you. I guess I expected us to spend a little time with each other before going into the whys, but the truth of it is, I sent out that ad so my prospective bride wouldn’t know my past.”
He fingered the brim of his hat resting on his knees as if grappling with his thoughts. “None of those suitable young ladies you speak of have fathers who would allow me to court their daughters. I’ve done a lot I’m not proud of and gained a reputation for it.”
Despite all her efforts, laugher broke through her lips. Their ulterior motives were so similar. “It couldn’t have been that bad.”
“I’m not going to mislead you, Ramee. My past is bad. I ran with an outlaw gang a few years back, and pretty much broke all Ten Commandments, except murder. Came close to that a couple of times. But last year I found that relationship with God you just mentioned, and I finally felt decent enough to find a woman to share the rest of my life with. I was hoping to find someone who’d accept me as I am now, instead of remembering who I was.”
She’d halfway convinced herself this man was the one for her and was already picturing life as a rancher’s wife with half a dozen blue-eyed children running around. He’d just put a torch to those plans. An outlaw, even a former outlaw, wasn’t her idea of a husband or father to her children.
A person could change through the power of God. She was proof of that, but conversions had to be tested. She’d have to think about this long and hard.
A loud harrumph shattered the uncomfortable silence. Ramee jerked her head and found Mrs. Hollingsworth at her side. “Do you know what time it is, Miss Abbott? It’s almost dinner time.”
Dinnertime? Impossible. She spied the clock hanging over the clerk’s counter. Had she and Josh been talking for two hours? Well, she’d been talking, and he’d mostly been listening.
Josh bounded to his feet as if the time had gotten away from him as well. “It’s my fault for detaining Miss Abbott. The dining room serves dinner until nine, and it’s mighty good eating.” He turned, leveling his gaze on Ramee. “I’d like to join you ladies, but I have to pack up. We’ll have to head out at daybreak.”
She shot up from the sofa. Had she been woolgathering and missed something? “Are we going somewhere?”
Josh worried his hat some moments and regarded her like a schoolboy confessing a prank. “I’d sure like for us to get to know each other better, but the truth of it is, I just moved to Serenity. It’s the little town close to my ranch. It has a nice boardinghouse for you and Mrs. Hollingsworth to stay for awhile. I’d be obliged if you’d come with me and look over the ranch.”
Ramee moistened her lips and bit the inside of her mouth, while weighing the odds. He said he was a Christian, and he had a lot to recommend him—easy to talk to, courteous, probably the most attractive man for a hundred miles. But there was a lot about him warning her to part company now, while she had the chance. “Daybreak is much too early for me. I wanted to visit the dress shops here in the morning.”
He studied his boots for several agonizing seconds. “We can wait until noon to get on the road. Would that be acceptable?”
No, it wasn’t acceptable. Two helpless women going off who knew where with a man who used to be an outlaw, a man the respectable people of Sacramento wouldn’t receive? “Yes, that’s acceptable.”
He rewarded her with a smile as big as the western skies. “Then I’ll fetch you ladies tomorrow at twelve. There’s a stage that goes through Serenity, but I’m taking the wagon. It should be fine. We hadn’t had any rain in over a week.”
Ramee stared at his departing form, and it was a full minute before she realized what he’d said. They’d be traveling in an open wagon. What did she expect out west? But with a name like Serenity, how bad could their destination be?
Chapter 9
Finding the sheriff’s office empty, Josh slammed the door to get someone’s attention. Rafe came from the back hallway. “Howdy, Josh. I’ve finished with Sheriff Higgins. I’ll be ready to ride in the morning.”
“That’s why I stopped by. You’ll have to go on without me. I won’t be leaving until noon.”
Rafe scratched his neck. “Why? I thought you were het up to get back to Serenity.”
Josh hooked his thumbs in his belt. “I’m going to be traveling with Miss Abbott and her chaperone.”
Rafe’s eyes popped. “I’ll be dogged. So you going to get hitched with that little gal from back east, the one you were sure wouldn’t work out?” His laughter boomed as he walked up and slapped Josh on the back.
“Now hold on. I’m not saying we’re going to be hitched. I just thought she ought to see where she’d wind up if she wants to marry me. And it still might be a long shot.”
“Nah. A gal wouldn’t go with you, chaperone or not, if she didn’t like you.” Rafe poked Josh in the ribs. “I’m proud for you, Josh. You’re making something of yourself. Lil and me was talking about it the other night. We thank the Lord you got out of the Renfro gang when you did.”
“I’m thanking the Lord too, and I might be wrong about it, but I think He sent this woman to me. I got a real good feeling about her.”
Rafe slapped his hands together. “Ain’t that something? Wait till I tell Lil.”
“Guess you’re anxious to get home.”
“You better know I am. Don’t like being away from Lil too long.” Rafe slapped Josh on the shoulder before going back to his work. “Nothing better than a good woman waiting for you at home—I hope with an apple pie cooling.” He started shuffling through some wanted posters.
Josh didn’t know if Ramee could cook apple pie or anything else, but that wasn’t on his list of qualities for a wife. “Don’t guess you’ve heard anything else about Tom and the Renfros?”
“I know they’re calling in the U.S. Marshal. It’ll be a federal trial. Hope your grandma don’t hear about it till you see her.”
“Me too. I’m going to see her as soon as I get to Serenity.”
“Good idea. It’ll likely break her heart.”
“Yeah. Guess I better be going.” Josh stopped at the door. “I got Tom a lawyer. Do you th
ink they could all be sentenced to hang, if no one confesses?”
Rafe blew out a sigh. “I don’t rightly know, but I’m guessing they’ll try to get them all hung. That was a Wells Fargo guard they killed. The law don’t mess around with something like that.”
Josh combed through his hair and positioned his hat, then opened the door.
“You get that little gal around to see Lil and me soon as you can.”
“I intend to, and I’d appreciate any good words you could put in for me. She’s probably going to think twice before getting involved with me.”
“You got out of the gang before breaking any law…that I know of…and don’t tell me if I’m wrong. I’d hate to have to lock you up.” His laughter shook the window panes.
“Thanks Rafe.”
Chapter 10
When Josh drove up to the hotel the next day with two minutes to spare, he found the women on the wooden sidewalk with a large pile of luggage. They must have already checked out of their rooms.
Mrs. Hollingsworth stood with her arms folded in front, her scowl suggesting she’d just eaten a green persimmon. On the other hand, a spritely smile brightened Ramee’s face. She sat on a trunk with palms pressed on either side as if she was ready to spring forward.
She wore a less fancy dress today, but its simplicity held an elegance he rarely noticed in other women’s attire. It was made of a blue patterned fabric that reminded him of calico, but with a polished sheen that accentuated all her curves in a way that sent his pulse up a notch. Ramee would certainly be the best dressed woman in Serenity.
He remembered what she’d said about designing dresses. What did that mean exactly? His mother and grandmother made their clothes from patterns. He wondered if Ramee made hers out of whole cloth. Expensive cloth. Her talent might cost him some money, assuming she consented to become his wife. The longer he thought about it, the more he wished she would.
After setting the brake, he gave some thought to how he’d load all that luggage. His bags only took up a corner of the wagon. He’d used his trunk to fashion a seat for Mrs. Hollingsworth, covering it with quilts and pillows. He’d have to put all their stuff behind that trunk and tie it down.
His gaze shifted back to Ramee. She returned his stare from under a wide-brimmed straw hat held in place with gauzy material the same shade of blue as her dress. He’d like to keep on looking at her, but that wouldn’t be gentlemanly, nor was there time. Besides, he’d have plenty of opportunity to scrutinize her on the journey. It was a long way to Serenity.
He sprang from the wagon’s seat. “Beautiful day for a trip, ladies, and I’m a lucky man to have such lovely traveling companions.”
Ramee tilted her head back to gaze into the almost cloudless sky. She ignored his trite compliment and got to her feet. “Let’s hope your luck holds.”
Mrs. Hollingsworth pursed her thin lips. “Stuff and nonsense, young man. How are you going to get our luggage into that little wagon?”
Without answering, Josh went about showing her, finding space for the trunks, then stuffing the smaller bags in between. After tying the luggage down, he stepped back to survey the load. With the weigh distributed evenly, the wagon shouldn’t tip, but he was glad his sturdy pair of bays pulled the load.
He formed a step-up with his joined hands for Mrs. Hollingsworth. She stabbed Ramee with a sharp glance before holding onto Josh’s shoulder and crawling onto the trunk seat behind the front bench.
Ramee held onto the rails, apparently determined to hoist herself up without his help. He stepped behind her and clasped her around her small waist, lifting her onto the bench. She felt as light and soft as a bale of rose petals and smelled just as good. It was the same fragrance she’d worn yesterday.
Josh didn’t know much about ladies’ perfume. Most of the women of his acquaintance wore strong smelling stuff. The scent Ramee used was subtle, requiring a man to come close to get a good whiff. That put a smile on his face. She’d be within whiffing distance all the way to Serenity.
Ramee tipped the brim of her hat to shade her eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Volker.”
“Josh.”
“Thank you, Josh.” Color surfaced her cheeks, and she got busy rearranging her skirt.
He climbed onto the driver’s side, but before he could flick the leathers, Mrs. Hollingsworth leaned into the space between him and Ramee. “I must compliment you, Mr. Volker. This seat is quite comfortable.”
“Well, I decided a lady who’d traveled across country on the train deserved a soft place to sit.”
“Mine isn’t soft,” Ramee said, a tease in her voice.
“Would you like a pillow?”
She poked her lower lip out in a charming way. “No, not yet anyway.”
“Do you have that book for me, Miss Abbott?” Mrs. Hollingsworth asked. “I believe I’ll read a spell.”
Ramee dove into the carpetbag she’d stored at her feet. “Oh, yes. Jane Eyre. It’s rather dark, but very romantic.”
Josh grinned at that. He hoped she was a romantic.
He kept his attention focused on the traffic until they’d cleared the city, then urged the bays to pick up their pace.
The lush central valley spread out before them. God must have still been thinking about Eden when he made this place.
Miles of vibrant, knee-high grass carpeted the dips and swells. Spring flowers swayed on slender stems. Forests rimmed the north, and snow-capped mountains rose over the horizon in the east. The trail narrowed with only an occasional farm or fruit orchard to hint at civilization.
He sent a sidelong glance to see if the countryside pleased Ramee. The desolation didn’t appeal to most city women.
She sat forward with her palms pressed to the bench at each side as her widened blue eyes peered straight ahead. “What’re those?”
Josh looked up in time to see a herd of antelope cross the road.
He told her.
They watched the antelope leap over the grass at an amazing speed. When they disappeared in the trees, Ramee sat back. “Are there any dangerous animals out here?”
“Wolves and coyotes for sure—rattlers, an occasional bear.”
“Bears.” Mrs. Hollingsworth had been quiet so far, presumably reading.
“I doubt we’ll run across one, but if we do, my rifle will take care of it.”
They passed grape arbors and more apple orchards, still in full bloom. “It’s beautiful.” Ramee’s tone, cloaked in awe, caught Josh’s attention. He’d always taken the scenery for granted, but now he saw it through her eyes, it was too beautiful to be ignored.
In less than a month he’d own a parcel of this land. God had blessed him mightily. “I have an apple orchard on the ranch. Maybe you’ll see it before the blooms have all fallen off.”
“I want to see it all.”
“You will.” He couldn’t help staring at her profile. The slope of her neck. The tilt of her chin. The curled tendrils framing her forehead. He was glad he’d sent that ad—glad he’d waited for her train. She might be an unlikely rancher’s wife, but she suited him. Smart. Talented. Vulnerable? It would be easy to take advantage of her. But he wouldn’t.
The road skirted a forest, and they ate lunch in the shade, then started off again. Ramee kept the conversation to ordinary, safe topics. After awhile, they were comparing the geography of the east versus the west. “I had hoped to have time to see the Pacific,” she said. “Carianne asked me to write her about it.”
“I’ll take you to see the ocean sometimes. There’s a place away from the wharves that’s right pretty.” They both knew he wouldn’t be taking her to the ocean unless they married.
He warned himself not to get too comfortable with that idea. She’d not said a word about his dubious past, but he’d caught how the light dimmed her eyes when he’d told her about being an outlaw. He hadn’t meant to reveal that vile detail until they’d gotten better acquainted, but her openness compelled him to be frank, and honesty was the best course. B
ut it might sour her opinion of him.
Chapter 11
How long would it take to get to Serenity? They’d been traveling all afternoon, and Ramee’s bottom was numb.
The sun slanted long shadows through the trees as they came to a river spanned with a rough log bridge. The forest running along the river was thick with oaks and pines. It couldn’t be much farther until they arrived at civilization.
Josh pulled up on the reins. “We’ll camp here on this side of the river.”
Ramee darted him a look meant to stab, but he was busy with the harness. Camp? Did that mean they’d have to spend the night out here in the wilderness?
Mrs. Hollingsworth tapped him on the shoulder. “Did I understand you correctly, young man. We’re not going to arrive at our destination before nightfall?”
“No, ma’am. Serenity is a good fifty miles from Sacramento. We still have a ways to go.”
Ramee fumed. She enjoyed the out-of-doors as well as anyone, but he had to be joking. They were going to camp right here, in the middle of nowhere, without even a necessary in sight. Was every man in the world insensitive to a woman’s needs? Josh Volker was no more considerate than Jackson. “You might have told us that before we started.” She put as much censure in her tone as possible.
“You were the one who refused to leave early.”
Heat blistered her cheeks. As if it were her fault, another way he reminded her of Jackson. “A gentleman would have realized Mrs. Hollingsworth and I traveled for two weeks, and we deserved a rest before being dragged out into the wilderness.”
His tanned complexion darkened. “I suppose I was insensitive, but I had to leave today. I have to see my grandma.”
At least he had a reason. “Is she ill?”
“She’s been ill for years, but that’s not the reason.” He stared straight ahead, obviously not going to tell her why. Now that she thought of it, he was too secretive for her peace of mind, especially after admitting he’d lived a lawless life until recently. She glanced down at the gun holstered to his hip and shivered.
The Annex Mail-Order Brides: Preque (Intrigue Under Western Skies Book 0) Page 15