by Carré White
“I can see it’s gonna take some convincing to get you to soften your position, but maybe this will help.”
He was going to kiss me!
I’d hardly been able to string two thoughts together when his lips covered mine. Not only that, but his arms went around me, pulling me to the solid length of his body. His tongue sought entrance, and I wanted to deny him, but I felt myself giving in…for the moment. I tilted my head back, while he took full advantage, his mouth needy and possessive. My hands fell to his shoulders, while fingertips dug into firm muscle. It wasn’t in my nature to yield to such base desires, and I could not ever remember enjoying a kiss this much. The idea of being with a man had crossed my mind, but I had always pushed it aside. Even when I had been married to Henry, I hadn’t minded that we were never intimate, but I had wanted children, so for that reason, I had assumed we would share a bed. Such a thing had never come to pass.
His lips were on my neck, kissing and nibbling, while I threaded fingers through his hair, feeling where his skull had been injured, although a bandage covered this area. He groaned, and I let go, pushing him from me. “We must stop this now,” I whispered.
“I really do think you should marry me.”
“I don’t even know you, Mr. Montgomery.”
“It doesn’t matter. That’ll come later.”
“I can’t do that. I must have a better understanding of your character before I could ever consider such a thing.”
“How long were you engaged to that other fella?”
“Nearly two years.”
“And he still turned out wrong, eh? You found out some things that weren’t so pleasant. That goes to show you that it don’t matter how long you’ve known ‘em. Even a decade might not be enough. You gotta have some faith.”
“That’s fine and dandy for you to say, but I hold myself to higher standards.”
His expression fell. “Oh, that again. I’m well aware that I ain’t good enough for you.”
The tone of his voice affected me strangely, as I felt badly for my harsh words. “Oh, let’s not argue, sir. You shouldn’t overdo it. You’ve only just recovered from a serious injury. You should be in bed.” He leaned into me, and I found myself against the wall again. “Sir!”
“You and me got chemistry, Louisa,” he whispered near my ear. “I wondered if you’d be a cold fish, but you’re not, quite the opposite actually. There’s fire in your veins, woman, and it runs hot. You shouldn’t waste yourself in a schoolroom. You need a husband. You need someone like me.”
“I’m going to bed.” I hated that I had begun to tremble. Even my knees felt weak. Don’t let him ruin your resolve!
“You know you’re in my room, don’t you?”
“Would you like me to take the one downstairs?”
His smile was slight. “Or I could just join you in this one.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “I’m going to pretend I didn't hear that.”
“But you did. Then we can go to town and get married in the morning.”
Those words were shocking. “Y-you’re unbelievable. Your manners are scandalous.” He had recovered far too quickly. I had vastly underestimated him and my own reaction.
“So you’ve told me…repeatedly now.”
“Good night, Mr. Montgomery.”
He seemed thoughtful, yet there was something in his look I hadn’t seen before. “Good night, Mrs. Montgomery.”
Hearing those words stopped me in my tracks; my hand was wrapped around the doorknob. I hadn’t completely recovered from that unexpected kiss, and now this! I was rapidly reaching the end of my tether. It had suddenly become imperative that I leave this house as soon as he was healthy…and that moment could not happen fast enough.
“I…” our eyes met, “I’m…oh, goodnight!” He chuckled softly, as I closed the door. I leaned against it, my chest rising and falling, while images of being in his arms drifted through my mind. “That horrible man.”
It was an effort to sleep that night, because my body seemed to react physically each time I thought of how he had felt against me. Waves of pleasurable tingles left me doubting my long held beliefs and wishing I could throw all caution to the wind and marry him. I had to know his character, though, before I embarked on anything more serious. He was still a mystery to me, his vices had yet to be fully uncovered, and I suspected he had more of them. Once I knew what they were, would I be able to accept them, and give him my hand in marriage? I had a great deal to think about.
After I had dressed the next morning, pinning my hair in a tight bun, which was hidden beneath a frilly cap, I glanced at myself in a mirror, seeing a woman with dark eyes, rosy cheeks, and a stern expression. I tried to soften the look by smiling, but it seemed forced.
“Oh, I look like the perfect schoolmarm,” I muttered.
I hated knowing that I might not ever receive another proposal of marriage, as there were so few eligible bachelors in Denver City. There were plenty of miners who needed wives, but I did not want to marry a miner. If I were going to seriously consider Mr. Montgomery, I needed to assure myself that I wasn’t missing an opportunity elsewhere. But I had vowed never to marry again, and this was a drastic departure from my earlier stance. It was obvious that he had confused me dreadfully now, leaving me to question my beliefs on the matter.
“Oh, bosh!”
My mind was a bundle of disjointed thoughts. If only he hadn’t kissed me. That had been disastrous, because it was all I could think about now. Frustrated, I left the room. Someone needed to make breakfast and see to the children, and that task fell to me. Once the eggs and bacon had been placed on the table, I stood at the sink washing my hands.
“Good mornin’,” said a deep voice from behind me.
“Good morning, Mr. Montgomery. There’s food, if you want it. I’m about to go up and wake everyone.”
“I’ve been thinkin’ about what you said.”
“What’s that?”
“I should make a henhouse.”
“Nathan might have some leftover supplies.” I glanced at him over my shoulder. “He could help you, but you really should be in bed, sir. You’re supposed to recover for a few days.”
He’d come up behind me, while my hands were in the water. His hair was messy, and he looked tired. “I slept poorly, and it’s all your fault.”
I would never admit that I had suffered as well. “I was out like a light.”
A peal of laughter came from him. “Right. I heard your bed creakin’ for hours. Don't tell me you weren’t thinkin’ the same thing I was.”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” His arms went around my waist. “What are you doing?”
“Holdin’ my wife.”
Why he felt it necessary to say such things, I would never know, but they had an impact. If only the embrace hadn’t felt so easy, so natural, I might have been able to dismiss it. “You musn’t do this, really.” That sounded weak.
He nuzzled the side of my face, his prickly cheek brushing against mine. “We could go to town right now and do the deed. Then we could spend the rest of the day in bed.” The husky quality of his voice sent a delicious shiver down my spine.
“Are you gonna marry my pa?”
I gasped, seeing Annie in the doorway. “Good morning. How did you sleep?”
“Just fine. You were kissin’ my pa.”
“I…wasn’t kissing him. He was telling me something.”
“You were awfully close.”
Mr. Montgomery pulled out a chair. “How about you sit here, squirt.”
“Yes, Pa.” She climbed onto his lap.
“Do you think I should marry Ms. Hoffman? Would you like her to be your Ma?”
She nodded vigorously. “I would, sir. Very much.”
“Do you think your brothers would accept her as their Ma?”
“I don’t see why not.”
I glared at Matthias, completely agitated by this particular conversati
on. “I’ve got biscuits and bacon with eggs. Who wants some?”
“I do!” Annie’s eyes were wide with anticipation. “I want salt and pepper on mine, please.”
“Why I think I can accommodate you.”
“That does sound good,” said Mr. Montgomery.
I detected the feel of his hand on the back of my skirt. Turning away from him, I was determined to keep my distance. The situation had taken a drastic turn. If I stayed in this house much longer, I suspected my resolve would crumble.
“You’re looking very healthy indeed, sir.”
“Is that so?” He grinned with a mouthful of food.
“Yes, so healthy in fact, that I might go home later today.”
“What about watching over me, like the doc said?”
“I’ll arrange for people to stop by.”
“You got somewhere important to be?”
“I’ve school on Monday. I need to prepare. I do expect to see the children in school, Mr. Montgomery. They will be ready first thing Monday morning, won’t they?”
“I suppose.”
That did not strike me as a confident answer. “Fine. I’ll be here extra early to get them ready then.”
“Why bother with all that? If you’d just marry me, you’d already be here.”
“Is it true then?” Annie sat straight as a board. “Are you really marrying my Pa?”
“I…can’t say right now, honey. He’s about as obnoxious as they come. I’m not sure if I’m strong enough to deal with something like that.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “The important thing is that he gets better, so he can look after you proper.”
“I sure hope you do. You’d make a really nice Ma.”
“Sounds like you’ll at least think about it.”
“A woman should be courted, Mr. Montgomery. You can’t just accost someone in a hallway and expect them to fall over for you.”
“I lack tact. You should know that.”
“I do.”
“I’m horrible with all that…courting nonsense.”
“You might want to try harder.”
His expression fell. “I really thought that kiss was gonna do it. It was an awfully good kiss. I can’t imagine it gettin’ any better than that.” He scratched his head. “But…I’d be happy to try a coupla more times, if you want. I’d gladly kiss you all day long.”
I sighed, feeling entirely exasperated, wishing he wouldn't speak so plainly in front of Annie. “You have a lot to learn about women.”
“I guess I do.”
Chapter Nine
By Sunday, I felt that Mr. Montgomery had recovered enough that I would not need to stay the night, leaving earlier that day to spend the rest of my time preparing for class. I was excited about the prospect of teaching, as it was something I had always wanted to do. I set aside any feelings I thought I might have for Matthias, knowing that they were inappropriate. There were far too many reasons why I could not marry him, and it was important that I remembered the reason I had came out west to begin with. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children and pass along what knowledge I had learned.
Although I had prepared for this momentous occasion, I was inundated with a case of nerves. My clothing selection was immaculate, a peach and green dress with flounced skirts. My bonnet was emerald green with a matching sash tied beneath the chin. I carried a bag filled with a dozen small slates that the children would use to write on. I was also in possession of several abacuses. I had been assured that a box had arrived at the school with rulers, dip pens, ink, skipping ropes, marbles, and hoops. If something had delayed the shipment, I would be beside myself.
“There you are,” said Hannah, who appeared at the bottom of the steps. “I came to wish you well. You look the part perfectly, Louisa.”
“Thank you.” I descended, feeling the grandeur of the moment. A dream was about to come true. “I’m excited by the prospect of shaping young minds.”
“Of course you are. You’ve been waiting ages for this.”
“I hope Maria made something to eat. I’m starved.”
“Yes, it’s on the table.” She followed me into the kitchen. “You’re up rather early.”
“I have to stop by the Montgomery house and pick up the children. They might not be ready in time.”
She eyed me peculiarly. “You seemed so eager to leave that place. Did something happen?”
“No, not at all. He improved. That was all.”
“Don’t you miss Annie?”
“Of course I miss that girl. I’ll see her soon. It’s not like she’s disappeared off the face of the earth.”
“Jerry dusted your wagon.”
“I need to thank him.” Since I would be traveling back and forth daily, I needed my own conveyance. The one I had acquired in Missouri had been tucked away by the side of the barn. “I don’t want to leave you without a means to go about your daily life. I’ve already been enough trouble.”
“You’ve been no trouble at all. Stop saying that.”
“With any luck, I’ll find lodgings in town. Then you’ll have the bedroom free.”
“I was thinking I might’ve lost you to the Montgomerys, but I guess that’s passed.”
“He’s much improved.” I’d filled my plate with ham and eggs, joining her at the table, where Maria had left a loaf of fresh bread. “This all smells heavenly.”
“Maria is an angel. She’s waiting for her sons to return. They’ve been in Breckenridge all summer mining.”
“Will she leave you then?”
“She might for a while. She comes and goes, but it’s dreadful without her. I loathe doing the washing.”
“That’s my least favorite chore as well.” Keeping an eye on the time, I needed to hurry, as I suspected Matthias had not even roused the children yet. I ate quickly, washing the food down with tea. “I must be going, Hannah.” I got up, placing the plate in the sink. “You have a wonderful day.”
“Please travel with care.”
“I will.” The bag was in my hands. “Wish me luck.”
“Good luck.”
Then I had a thought. “But I might bring some bread with me.”
“Are they always so low on essentials?”
“Yes. A little ham also. He really aught to keep chickens and pigs.”
“A cow comes in handy too.”
“It most certainly does.”
Twenty minutes later, I approached the Montgomery house, spying the wooden structure against the trees. The wagon wheels rolled over thick roots and deep ruts, while the horse plodded onward. After tying the mare securely, I stepped to the ground, bracing for what I might find, yet hoping that the children were awake. Once through the door, I smelled the aroma of coffee, my spirits lifting. Mr. Montgomery was in the kitchen, but he had not made food.
“Good morning.”
He turned to look at me. “How are you, Louisa?”
“I’m fine. Are the children awake?”
“They should be.”
“How do you feel?”
“I’m well.”
He was never particularly talkative in the morning. “I’ll check on things upstairs.”
“Be my guest.” He sat at the table, yawning.
I found the children still in bed, which was distressing. “Oh, get up! You’ve school today. Get up!” Oscar and Hugh were less than responsive, stretching and snuggling into their pillows. I removed my shoe, banging it on the bedframe. “Time to wake up!” This got their attention.
“Aw…no…please, Ms. Louisa. Don’t be so loud.”
“Get dressed boys. Wash your hands and faces. Take care of your teeth. Breakfast will be waiting downstairs.” I was forced to apply the same tactic with Annie, who looked like a messy blonde kitten. “Get dressed!”
By the time I joined Mr. Montgomery in the kitchen, I felt a wave of exhaustion dulling my senses. “I might have some of that coffee.”
“Yeah? You look like you could use it.”
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“Ouf!”
He moved about the kitchen, wearing a pair of crumpled trousers and a calico shirt. “You shouldn’t have to go through all this fuss.”
“What do you mean?” He gave me a cup, which steamed. “Thank you.”
“If you’d just agreed to marry me, we could still be sleepin’. I bet you look really nice with your hair down.”
His comments were scandalous. “Sir!”
He shrugged. “It’s the truth. Then you could teach them kids at home. No need for all this rushing here and there and back again.” He noted my expression. “Aw…but you want to be courted. I forgot.” A tired, crooked grin split his face. “I’m gonna have to think on that. I never courted nobody before.”
“Don’t make yourself uneasy, Mr. Montgomery. It isn’t necessary.” Annie appeared in the doorway. “Hello, muffin.”
“Mornin’.” She hugged her father, which was adorable. “Please, Pa. I don’t want to go to school. Can I go back to bed? I’m mighty tired still.”
“I know, honey, but Louisa’s forcing you to.”
“Don’t say it like that!”
“She won’t marry me. She’d rather be a schoolmarm.”
Exasperated by this conversation, I pulled out a chair for her. “Here, sit, please. You need to eat breakfast. Where are your brothers?”
“Gettin’ ready.”
“Good.” I glared at Mr. Montgomery, hating that he had become more vocal and bold in his statements, especially in front of the children. “We’re going to have to have a private discussion about this matter.”
“I’d love to.”
I closed my eyes. “Ugh.”
It was a logistical nightmare getting everyone dressed, hair brushed, shoes tied, and hats on. Harder still, settling the children in the wagon, as they persisted to argue about who would sit where on the bench. I let Hugh sit next to me this time, with Annie in the seat on the way home. Matthias came to stand on the front porch, watching as we drove away. It was a peculiar feeling leaving him like that, while his children were with me, but I set those thoughts aside. I had other things to think about.