“Don’t be afraid,” Deke assured. “She’s very gentle.”
“Uh-huh,” Amalie mumbled.
“If you’re afraid to touch her, let’s make friends with her first,” Deke said, and he pulled a carrot from a nearby basket. “You can feed this to her. She loves carrots.”
Amalie gripped the carrot as if she were terrified of dropping it, and Deke smiled. “No, you can’t hold it that way. She might accidentally bite you. Hold your hand out flat, palm up.”
Amalie did as she was told.
Deke put half of the carrot on Amalie’s palm and gently guided her hand toward Honey’s head, and the gentle horse pulled the carrot from Amalie’s hand.
Amalie exclaimed, “I didn’t even feel her take it.”
Deke laughed. “I told you she was gentle. Here, try the other half.”
Honey took the offered carrot as gently as she had the first piece, and Amalie blew out a tense breath. “I did it,” she said, smiling.
“That you did. Now, to make sure she’s your friend, you can give her a bit of sugar. Hold out your hand again.”
Amalie did as directed, and Deke shook a bit of sugar from a small jar onto her palm. She took a step closer to Honey, held out her hand, and the gentle horse licked the sugar happily. Amalie giggled. “That tickled.”
Deke laughed again. “It always does. Now, it’s time for you to get better acquainted. Just run your hand gently down her head and neck the way I did.”
Amalie nodded. She tried to still her shaking hand as she stroked the beautiful horse’s head and neck. When she stopped and pulled her hand away, Honey pushed her head against Amalie’s shoulder, and Amalie jumped back in surprise.
“She wants you to continue rubbing her head and neck. She likes you, and in a few days, you’ll be in that stall with her, brushing her, and the two of you will be the best of friends. Then, when you’re comfortable, we’ll let you ride her around the corral.”
Amalie looked at Deke out of the corner of her eye and smiled. “You make it sound so easy.”
“It is. You’ll see.”
“I have to check on the chicken. I’ll be back in a little while,” Amalie said before walking out of the barn and heading for the house.
~ * ~
Nate had been standing in the corner of the barn, listening and watching.
“That was a nice thing you did,” Nate told his brother. “Amalie has told me several times that she’s frightened of horses. I didn’t think you’d get her near any horse, including Honey.”
“Anyone can try to get over a fear. Some do, and some don’t—I suppose it depends on the situation. Now, are you ready to get back on Buck? He’s out in the corral.”
Nate shook his head. “I told you: I’m not getting back on any horse—ever. I don’t plan on staying. I’m going to head out next week and maybe go to Denver. I need to find city work and stay away from ranches.”
“I’ll hate to see you go. Do you have enough money to take care of you and Amalie?” Deke asked.
“What? Why would I take care of Amalie? She’s your wife,” Nate insisted.
“Only on paper. When I spoke to the judge about ways to get her out of whatever trouble you said she was in and he suggested a proxy marriage, he also said I could have it annulled at any time. All I have to do is ask, and he’ll sign the papers.”
“You can’t do that. I can’t protect her. If you annul the marriage, she loses the Sperling name.
Deke shrugged. “Then, you marry her.”
“That wouldn’t help. It’s not the Sperling name alone—it’s that she’s Deke Sperling’s wife. You have most of the country convinced that you’re some sort of unstoppable hero. Have you read the books they write about you?”
Deke rubbed his hand over his face. “Those books are full of half-truths and plain lies. I highly doubt that my name alone is enough to keep her safe. She left St. Louis a married woman—she’ll be safe anywhere else.”
“No, she won’t, and you know it. You know Rex Horrison’s reputation. If his men find her, they could take her back to St. Louis or kill her. It’s the fear of you that keeps her safe,” Nate insisted.
“If that’s true and you want to keep her safe, stay right here on the ranch. If not, leave, but she goes with you. I never asked for a wife, and I don’t need one,” Deke replied.
Both men heard a sudden intake of breath, and they turned to see Amalie standing, wide-eyed, in the barn’s entrance. She spun on her heels and ran back toward the house.
“You did it now,” Nate said.
Deke grumbled, “This is all your fault.”
“I’m not the one who just told his wife he didn’t want her.”
Deke kicked at an empty stall and confessed, “Yeah, you’re right, but I need your help to fix this somehow. I never intended to hurt her. If I was looking for a wife, she’d be perfect, but I’m not. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to accept the pain that might come from loving another woman.”
Nate clapped his brother on the back. “The first thing you do is apologize and maybe tell her what you just told me. She knew this was going to be difficult, but I don’t think she thought you would toss her away so easily.”
“Give me time to think. Maybe after supper.”
“If she still cooks us supper,” Nate uttered to himself.
Chapter Seven
The tension around the supper table in the Sperling house was palpable. Deke ate his supper as if he were starving, speaking only once when he took the time to mumble once that it was the best chicken and dumplings he’d ever eaten. Nate complimented Amalie several times, who just nodded and picked at her plate.
As soon as he was finished eating, Nate stood and said, “I have something to do out in the barn. I’ll be back in later for a piece of that pie I see cooling.” He disappeared faster than Deke thought he could move.
Deke swallowed and looked at Amalie. “I own you an apology. What you heard isn’t exactly what I meant.”
“You don’t need to explain. I know this isn’t what you wanted, and I’m an inconvenience. You can ask the judge for an annulment whenever you wish. I can find a job as a maid in any hotel in a larger city. I only ask that you pay for my travel there since I don’t have much money. I’ll pay you back as soon as I can,” Amalie said, and she stood to clear the table.
“Please, Amalie…sit. I want to talk to you and explain,” Deke said.
Amalie did as asked and stared at Deke as if waiting for him to say something—anything—that might make her feel like less of a burden.
“I need to explain what you heard,” Deke began.
“I heard all I needed to hear. I know you married me to offer me protection and convince Nate to come back home. You don’t need to explain further,” Amalie said before she stood to clean the kitchen.
“Amalie, please…sit back down. I want you to hear me out.”
“All right. I’ll listen,” Amalie said.
“First, after my apology, I want you to know that I won’t force you to leave or ask the judge for an annulment. I made the agreement, and I’ll stand by it. What I said to Nate was for his benefit. I’ve missed my brother, and I’ve found a way to keep him here.”
“You’re using me to keep Nate here,” Amalie said, sounding as if she were trying to hide the hurt in her voice.
“No more than you used me to get here safely. We both needed something from the other. You needed a home, and I needed my brother to stop wandering,” Deke explained.
Amalie answered, “I suppose you’re right, but if Nate wants to leave, I heard you say I must leave with him. I understand why. It surprised me, is all. I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. We can work this out.”
“All right. Let’s start over. We are married, regardless of the reason, and I’ll keep up my end of the bargain and remain married as long as you want. I won’t promise anything beyond you living in this house and carrying my name. This is a convenience for both of us, and if Nate
chooses to leave, you may remain here for as long as you wish.”
“Thank you. I can live with that. I never expected anything more. Honestly, I’m frightened to leave. Mister Caldwell is a conniving man, and I’ve heard that Rex Horrison is not one to break a deal with if you want to live. I worry that Mister Caldwell might try to find me or force another young woman to take my place,” Amalie admitted.
“Don’t worry about that. When we go into town to get supplies and to buy you some clothing, I intend to send a telegram to a friend of mine who’s a U.S. Marshal. He can check into the situation discretely to see if you’re still in danger or if Caldwell and Horrison are up to no good.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that. Would you like a piece of pie?”
Deke smiled. “Yes, I certainly would. Let me call out to Nate, so he doesn’t grumble that we ate all the pie.”
Amalie laughed. “I can always make another.”
Deke was nearly finished with his slice of pie when Nate wandered in and sat down at the table.
“Sorry. I was out getting reacquainted with Buck. He’s still a fine horse,” Nate said before digging into his pie.
“When are you going to ride him?” Deke asked.
“I’m not. You know that I’m never riding again. I swore that after my fall, I’d never climb onto another horse.”
“I know, but Pa and I both told you not to get on that horse, to begin with. He was untrained and wild. You never would’ve been thrown if you’d listened. Pa sold him so that you’d never have to be reminded, but you wouldn’t even get back on Buck. You used to ride Buck every day without a problem. Just get back on him and ride. You can ride with Amalie. She needs to start slowly, too,” Deke responded.
Nate pushed his half-empty plate across the table, stood as quickly as his leg would allow, and limped out of the room. A few minutes later, the sound of a door slamming echoed through the house.
Deke drummed his fingers on the table and looked at Amalie. “I need to apologize to you again. A family disagreement isn’t the way I wanted you to start life here on the ranch.”
“It’ll be all right. I’ve known Nate for nearly three years since I started working at the hotel. I don’t have to tell you that he’s a good man. I’ve seen him face down difficult customers and drunken cowhands who thought the maids and waitresses were there for services the hotel didn’t offer. He’s not a coward, Deke,” Amalie explained.
Deke nodded. “I never thought he was a coward. He took a terrible fall and busted his leg in two places. We thought he’d lose the leg for a while. He didn’t, but he has the limp, and we did our best to tell him it didn’t matter. When Ma and Pa died, he couldn’t help me as much as he wanted. Then, when he turned eighteen, he just up and left. I looked for him, but he’d disappeared. When I finally found him, he refused to return to the ranch.”
“Give him some time,” Amalie offered. “Neither one of us is going to jump on a horse tomorrow. Maybe, in time, we’ll both ride. I’m willing to give it a try.”
Nate took her hand and smiled. “Thank you. If you ride, then maybe Nate will want to try. I understand the fear of getting injured, but the longer you wait to try again, the harder it will be. I’ll give him the time he needs.”
“And I’ll pray for all of us,” Amalie said. “I know I’m going to need the Lord’s help to find my courage.”
~ * ~
The following morning dawned bright and cloudless. The sun was shining through the kitchen windows as Amalie prepared breakfast.
Deke ambled into the kitchen and said, “Good morning. Something smells good. I’m surprised that it didn’t wake Nate, too.”
“Good morning,” Amalie replied. “Nate is outside at the corral. He’s been out there for quite some time, walking back and forth. I think he’s talking to Buck.”
“Buck? Did he take Buck out of the barn and into the corral?”
“I’m not sure. They were out there when I came into the kitchen,” Amalie shared. “It looks as if he’s trying to decide whether to ride him or not.”
Deke muttered under his breath and looked out the window. “I’d better go out to make sure I didn’t push him into something he truly doesn’t want to do,” Deke said. He grabbed his hat off the hook next to the door and hurried out to speak to his brother.
Amalie watched Deke and Nate as they stood by the corral and talked. They seemed to be getting along, and she said a small prayer they’d find some common ground and not argue again.
A few minutes later, she heard the door open and saw both Sperling brothers enter the kitchen, laughing and talking.
“You look pleased with yourselves,” Amalie told them. “I’m happy you’re not arguing. I made fresh biscuits. Sit down, and we can eat.”
As they ate, Nate told Amalie that he’d decided to try and ride Buck. “If I’m going to stay on the ranch, I’m going to have to ride again. Buck remembers me, and I think we’ll manage to ride. I think I can stay on him. I’ve always heard that once you know how to ride, you don’t forget.”
Deke agreed and said, “Amalie, you might as well learn to ride, too. You can take a few short rides with Nate and me. After morning chores, we’ll go into town and get you some new clothes and whatever else you need for the house. Also, make sure you buy a riding skirt—you’ll need it.”
Amalie bit her bottom lip, thinking of something she might say to dissuade Deke from wanting her to learn to ride, but Nate looked happy and almost excited to ride again, and she couldn’t think of anything to say in defense of her fear of horses.
Chapter Eight
Deke pulled up the wagon in front of a small dress shop. He looked at Amalie and said, “Besides a couple of day dresses, you also need to buy a new Sunday dress and a dress nice enough to wear to a barn dance.”
“Barn dance?” Amalie asked with wide eyes. “What’s a barn dance?”
“You didn’t have dances in St. Louis?” Deke asked.
Amalie nodded. “They occasionally had dances in the hotel where I worked but never in a barn.”
Deke laughed. “Out here in the country, we do things a bit differently, and a barn is a good place to hold a dance. The woman who owns the dress shop goes to church with us, and if you ask her, I’m sure she’ll help you find whatever you need.” He handed Amalie the money for her purchases.
Amalie just stared at the money in her hand. She had never had that much money to spend any place at any time in her life.
She looked at Deke and asked, “Do you expect me to spend this?”
“Why—don’t you think it’s enough?” Deke replied.
“No, I’m sure it’s enough. I’ve just never spent this much money anywhere before.”
“I told you that I would take care of you, and making sure you’re dressed well is one of my responsibilities. Also, make sure that you buy whatever personal items and fripperies you ladies enjoy. When you’re done, I’ll pick you up, and we’ll get you some riding boots and a warm coat. If you need me, I’ll be right across the road at the gun shop,” Deke said before helping Amalie from the wagon.
Amalie gripped her reticule tightly, worried she might lose the money Deke had given her, and she slowly made her way to the store. She stopped to admire the dresses in the window, never having had the chance to shop in a store offering such lovely things before.
She drew in a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped into the dress shop. She was greeted by a smiling, middle-aged lady, who introduced herself as Mavis Thompson.
“What can I do for you today?” Mavis asked. “You’re new in town, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’m Amalie Sperling, and I’m not sure exactly what I need. My husband said you could advise me.”
“Sperling? Did you marry Deke or Nate? I saw them both at church yesterday with a young woman that I assume was you.”
“I was there, yes, and I married Deke.”
“Wonderful,” Mavis said. “Tell me what you are looking for, and we’ll go f
rom there.”
Before Amalie could answer, a young woman rushed past her and hurried out the door. Mavis laughed and said, “I think she changed her mind. Young people are always in such a hurry.”
Amalie agreed and said, “Hmm, I need a couple of day dresses, a Sunday dress, a riding skirt and blouse, and something I could wear to a barn dance. Oh, and a nightdress, robe, and some undergarments, please.”
Mavis smiled and said, “I can help you with all of those. Let’s start right here at the front of the store to find you a lovely Sunday dress and one that will make your husband trip over his own feet when he sees you wearing it to the next barn dance.”
Amalie tried on several dresses and finally decided on a tasteful, deep blue one for Sunday and a bright pink one with sleeves and lace and ruffles around the neck for a barn dance or whatever special occasions might arise.
Having found two day dresses, the search for undergarments, a nightdress, and a robe was quicker. Amalie thought her shopping was over when Mavis said, “You have the necessary clothes. Now, you need something special. I have a lovely selection of toilet waters and scented soaps. A young woman as beautiful as you shouldn’t go out without fragrance.”
Amalie preferred the scent of lavender over the stronger, rose scents, and she chose soaps, bath oil, and lavender water to splash on or use when she rinsed her hair.
“I think you have everything you need except for some ribbons to match the dresses. I have some at the front counter.”
Amalie followed her, wondering what else Mavis would think of for her to buy. She worried that Deke might not be happy with what she spent.
While Amalie chose ribbons to match her dresses, Mavis wrapped her purchases in paper.
The bell above the door tinkled, and Amalie saw the young woman who had hurried out earlier enter, along with two other young women and Laura.
“See,” the young woman said, “I told you she was shopping in here.”
Amalie dropped the ribbons on the counter and looked away from the young women, hoping that Laura would be kinder than she had been at church on Sunday morning.
A Bride for Deke Page 4