“Don’t want them thinking I’m a cheapskate. I’ll give you money to buy all the nicest clothes-”
“But I don’t need new clothes,” Mary Ann said, looking down at her dress. “This is fine.”
“Not for the mayor’s wife, it’s not.”
“What does that matter?”
Warren looked at her surprised. “What do you mean ‘what does that matter’?” He chuckled. “You have to impress them! Then, you’ll get invited to their parties. And they’ll come to your parties. You can host them here...”
“Why would I host parties?”
Warren looked at his wife, bug-eyed. “Well, you know why. We just talked about it. It’s important to make a good impression on the big wigs. Their wives will know things, and then you’ll know things. I’m the sheriff, I need information, I need the town’s respect.”
“You can get that by being a good sheriff.” Mary Ann shrugged. “Not through fancy parties.”
“I am a good sheriff.”
“I didn’t mean – “
“You’re a sheriff’s wife now, Mary Ann,” Warren said, brows furrowed, “start acting like one.”
He turned around and left the dining room. Mary Ann staggered to her chair, knees weak. She went West to find a place where she could be herself, away from parties and stiff-lipped people in front of whom she’d have to pretend to be someone else. But to be a good wife, and obey Warren, meant she’d have to do exactly what she had run away from.
* * *
“The Lord said a woman should follow her husband.”
Thunderbolt snorted.
Mary Ann chuckled. “It’s not like Warren’s a bad one. I guess I just jumped right in without knowing what I was really in for.”
They cantered across the green fields, overlooking the river on one side, and the town on the other. Mary Ann watched the farmers tilling the soil behind their fences. Their brown faces furrowed in concentration, but she knew that at the end of the day, they would look back and smile at the honest and hard work they had done.
Maybe the parties were her land to toil. And her little garden would be her respite. She laughed at the reverse image in her mind. Her older sister would be appalled at the thought. And that made Mary Ann giggle again.
She took a turn down the road and scratched Thunderbolt behind his ear.
“I am his wife, after all,” she continued as they approached the house. “I shouldn’t have just thought of myself. He has an entire town to look after. I should be his partner, his support…” She narrowed her eyes at a figure outside the house.
Warren? Before sundown?
He helped her get down, a small blush spreading across his cheeks. “You ride really well.” He smiled.
Mary Ann nodded and wiped her hands on her dress.
“I just wanted to borrow Thunderbolt – take him out for a short run.”
“You don’t have to borrow him,” Warren said. “He’s your horse, too.” He took off his hat and fiddled with it, placing it before him like a shield. “I… I wanted to apologize about last night. I hadn’t intended to shout at you…”
“I know,” Mary Ann said, “and I guess I didn’t really think about how the town would see me – or you.”
“So,” Warren began, taking Thunderbolt’s reins, “who taught you how to ride a horse? Your father?”
“My mother actually,” Mary Ann said. She chuckled at his surprised expression. “She was a great rider. But she died when she fell down a ravine while helping herd the cattle.”
“I’m sorry,” Warren said, casting his eyes towards the horizon, “my mother died when I was born, so I don’t have any memories of her. What was your mother like?”
“Tough. She was more of a disciplinarian than my father was. But she was also gentle. She loved mingling with people, talking to them. She and my sister Elaine would always hold the best parties in town.” Mary Ann ran a hand down the stallion’s mane. “When she died, the house became – quieter.”
“Your Ma sounds like quite a character,” Warren muttered. “How’d it feel like to grow up with two sisters and two brothers?”
Mary Ann bit her lip and tilted her head. “Did you have any siblings growing up?”
Warren shook his head. “Nope.”
Mary Ann threw her head back and laughed. “You must’ve been quite spoiled as a child then!”
“On the contrary.” Warren stopped as Thunderbolt grazed beside a tree. “I lived with my cousins who were always bigger and better than me. But, you know, it was a tiny house, so it really didn’t matter.”
Mary Ann kicked up some grass over to the horse. “My brothers were always fighting, who’d get to ride the horses first, who would go with our Papa to the stables… but they’d also get along when it came to making fun of my sisters and me!” She leaned against Thunderbolt. “We raced each other on horseback and even wrestled on the hay. We’d get a spanking then!”
Warren smiled sadly. “Looks like you have a lot of memories there.”
“I do.” She looked at his rugged face. “But I’m making new ones here.”
He smiled, then cleared his throat. “I got you something.”
Mary Ann watched as her husband wound a small, studded bracelet around her wrist. Three tiny blue gems winked at her when she turned the trinket to the sun.
“It’s beautiful, Warren.” She wrapped her arms around her husbands neck and gave him a kiss.
Warren held her close. “I’m glad you like it,” he whispered. “It’s actually, it’s… it’s my mother’s. My aunt gave it to me when I left home.”
Mary Ann’s cheeks reddened, and her heart swelled. “Oh, Warren, I don’t know what to say...”
Warren shook his head. “It’s nothing really... Just a tiny...”
“I’m not good with parties,” Mary Ann said, stepping back, “but I do want you to be proud. I want to make new friends in Angel Creek, so I’ll try my best…”
Warren looked at her and smiled. “And that’s enough for me.” Warren closed the distance between them and kissed her on the lips this time.
It was softer and warmer than their wedding kiss. Compromise, Mary Ann thought, compromise and understanding. That’s what they needed. Everything would be all right.
Chapter 5
“Land sakes, this is the third time!”
Warren sighed at the older man’s fury. He glared down at the young boy behind him who flinched. An old man barreled his way inside the station, like a bull shown a red rag.
“Calm down, Mr. Ebsin.” Warren placed a hand on the boy cowering behind him. How he wished he had someone on payroll who handled these things, but the town didn’t have the funds for a deputy. He certainly didn’t have money of his own to spare. He might have overspent on the wedding just a tad.
Plus, being the only lawman in town was getting tiring, when the only thing people reported were bothersome drunkards.
The old man growled when he saw the boy, and Warren waved a hand, trying to rid the air of the man’s whiskey breath.
“Mr. Ebsin, please take a seat.”
But the old man was either deaf or plain stubborn.
“C’mere!” he shouted, spit flying in all different directions as he approached the boy.
Warren grabbed the man’s hands. Thin but strong.
“Sir, just sit down a moment.” He pushed the man into a chair and said, “We caught your grandson taking some apples from Mr. Dubson’s store.”
“I told that little brat! I told ‘im not to cause trouble!”
“He’s just a boy,” Warren said with a sigh.
“Well, I can discipline him for ye, Sheriff.”
With murder in the old man’s bloodshot eyes, Warren doubted it.
“That’s not what he needs.” Warren clutched the boy and levelled the old man with a glare. “He’s not eating right. He’s not eating enough. That’s why he’s stealing.”
The old man smirked. “It’s not like we got a lotta mo
ney, Sheriff. The boy’s mother can’t put food on the table –”
“Maybe because you’re using the money for your liquor.”
The old man stiffened. Warren stepped forward.
“I’m gonna let the boy go. You’re not going to discipline him. You’re going to stop wasting your daughter’s money on the booze, got it?”
The old man’s head bobbed. Warren leaned down on him and placed a rough hand on his shoulders. “That wasn’t a request, Mr. Ebsin.”
After a beat, the old man nodded.
Warren turned to the boy. “If your grandfather doesn’t do as he’s told, come find me, all right?”
The boy nodded, then made to run, but Warren stopped him. “And don’t steal. Or you’re gonna spend the night here. Got it?”
The boy glanced at his grandfather, then at Warren. “Yes, sir,” he said in a serious voice and then ran out the station.
Warren threw the old man a withered look. The latter cast his gaze downward and made his way out the door, head down and shoulders stooped. Alone again, Warren sat down behind his desk and surveyed the barren office. It wasn’t like he wanted something bad to happen, but... The town bell clang, and Warren got up. Time for most folks to go home. He took his hat and locked up the station.
He approached Thunderbolt, who gave him a snort. “Yeah, yeah, I know you like Mary Ann more than me. Well, I like her more than you.”
He chuckled and untied the reins. “Now, don’t throw me off for that.”
He climbed on the horse’s back and set off.
“Sheriff!”
Warren turned his head to see the pastor beside the flower shop. Warren waved back. “Good evenin’!” He steered the horse towards the man. “Whatcha got there, Reverend?”
The man waved a bunch of flowers. “For the church tomorrow. Are you gonna get some?”
Warren laughed. “Ain’t too fond of them myself.”
“But your wife might be.” The man eyed him with a raised brow. “Aren’t you gonna get some for her?”
Warren looked at the flowers, then at the pastor, who chuckled at him. “I’m not…” He was shocked at his own cluelessness. Why on earth hadn’t he brought his wife flowers? Mary Ann liked to toil and work in the garden. Of course she liked flowers! What kind of husband wouldn’t notice that?
“Of course,” he said. He jumped off the horse and asked the woman behind the array of flower buckets for a couple of roses.
“So how’s married life treating you?” the pastor inquired.
Warren took off his hat, and pushed back his sweaty hair. “It’s, uh, challenging.” He turned to the pastor. “Truth be told, I’m not sure what I’m doing most of the time.”
“Well I’m not married,” the pastor said, “but I have counselled and wed plenty of couples. I think I have a fairly good idea what you mean. Let me tell you a secret that’s going to make your life infinitely better.”
Warren’s eyebrows shot up.
“The key to a long lasting and happy marriage is to understand each other,” the pastor said. “To, you know, compromise.”
Warren nodded and took the bundle of flowers form the woman. He laughed and looked at the pastor. “Easier said than done.”
“Yes, but that’s not the only thing. There’s, of course, romance.”
Warren coughed.
“Keep it alive. Go on picnics with your wife. Bring her presents. And don’t stop after you have children.”
“Sounds like a lot of work,” Warren said, sweat rolling down the side of his face. He cracked a sloppy grin at the pastor, who grinned back.
“No marriage is perfect, after all. But it’s God’s gift, so it only works if you make it work.” He winked at Warren, then left.
Warren let out a sigh. He felt like a noose had been slipped around his neck for a minute there.
He thanked the florist and jumped back on his horse. That night, after a few minutes of trotting, he saw his wife on the way home from the bakery. He couldn’t help the large grin on his face when he hailed her over.
“Warren!” Mary Ann said, eyes wide. “Oh no, I haven’t made dinner yet – I was just talking to Mrs. Jenkins. I lost track of time –”
“No problem.” He held out a hand to her. “Wanna ride?”
She looked at his hand, and, with a blush in her cheeks, climbed up behind him. The feel of her body next to his sent a shiver down his spine, and he tensed when she placed her hands on his waist. He liked the feeling.
“Let’s go home,” he said.
* * *
Warren leaned into his chair as Mary Ann piled the dinner plates. Dinner was fantastic. Sure, he was biased, but if anyone asked who made the best stewed venison and roasted quail this side of the country, he’d vote for Mary Ann.
She cleaned up the table, then said, “So, I was just talking to Mrs. Jenkins at the bakery.”
Warren finished his glass and pushed it towards Mary Ann. It was good to know that she was making new friends.
“Hm? Oh yeah, what were you two talking about?”
“Her daughter, Maria, was asking about that incident with the horse.”
Warren chuckled. It was amusing how many of the townspeople still remembered that, but he reined in his amusement. Shouldn’t they also remember the big wedding celebration?
“Seems she’s interested in riding horses.”
Warren raised a brow. “She’ll only get herself injured. Most of the women here don’t know how to ride a horse. In fact, I haven’t met anyone who knows how.”
“Except for me.”
“Except for you.” He grinned.
She grinned back, took the plates to the kitchen, then returned and sat opposite Warren. “Which is why... I’m thinking of giving riding lessons.”
His smile dimmed. “R-riding lessons?”
Mary Ann nodded. “And maybe even shooting.”
He gasped at her.
“I mean you’re good with a gun –”
“I’m very good with a gun –” he said through a strained smile.
“Maybe you could help, too. But let’s focus on the horseback riding –”
“We’re not focusing on anything,” Warren said, standing up. “You’re not giving riding lessons.”
“Why not?” Mary Ann asked. She mirrored Warren’s stance. “A lot of the women seemed interested –”
“That’s not the point,” Warren hissed. His wife took a step back, and he looked down for a second. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to shout. But you should’ve told me first.”
What if someone got hurt? They’d blame him and Mary Ann!
“It’s – it’s not final. I haven’t agreed to anything yet.” Mary Ann fiddled with the lace of her blouse. “What don’t you like about it?”
“The entire idea!” He flailed his arms and turned his back on her. “It’s not what a proper lady would do, Mary Ann.”
She grabbed his arm and he turned back to her. “Then tell me, Warren, what does a proper lady do?”
“She dresses up, holds parties, and... does things like sewing, cooking...”
“I sew and I cook,” Mary Ann said. She tilted her head, and Warren saw shining eyes.
Wait, was she...?
“I work hard and I will be a faithful wife to you till the Lord takes my soul, but I don’t think being a proper lady should mean pretending to be someone I’m not.”
“Don’t you understand?” Warren said, exasperated. “You’re an amazing woman, Mary Ann, but that won’t help us get into their good graces.”
“Their?” Mary Ann gasped. “Is that all you think about? Is that what’s important to you? Being popular among the wealthy?”
No, no, she got it all wrong. The way she put it surely did sound like he was vain, but all he wanted was respect. And to do the best he could for the town. Being friends with the mayor could get more funds for the station… How could he explain it so that she sees it the way he does?
Warren opened his mouth, but a p
ounding on the door interrupted their conversation. “Sheriff! Sheriff!”
Mary Ann took a deep breath and turned away from him. Warren gritted his teeth and opened the door. Larry Wilde, who worked at the mayor’s household, stood outside.
“What’s wrong, Larry?”
The haggard, brown-skinned man fanned himself with his straw hat. “The – the mayor – he – he sent me h-here.” He took a deep breath. “A group of bandits have been spotted nearby! The mayor wants to send a posse after them.”
Warren nodded. If the mayor wanted to send a posse, it meant that the threat was imminent and close. He turned to Mary Ann who was sitting in the living room, head down.
He told Larry, “I’ll just get my things.” He went to get his hat, but stopped on the way to the door. “Don’t wait up for me. I’m not sure what time I’ll be back.”
Only a quiet sniff acknowledged his words. Warren mentally cursed himself, at the same time, he called to God to watch over his wife.
“Let’s go, Larry,” he said, and they left.
Chapter 6
Mary Ann knotted her bonnet firmly in place. She had done her hair in the style that Hannah had taught her - it went well with the gift she wore often. Bonnet securely affixed she set out down the road towards Hannah’s farm.
Her own small garden had some fruits and vegetables growing, but she still had to supplement her crops. Hanna’s big farm had plenty food to spare and Mary Ann bought some of the excess from her friend.
As she walked Warren’s words swirled in her mind. Had she just been thinking about herself? Had she acted in a way that was… inappropriate for a lady in this town? Warren hadn’t returned home last night. She was worried for him. I better check up on him after this.
She strolled down the dusty road towards Hannah’s fence. The house looked quiet and empty. It was still before noon. Surely the couple was still at home?
“Hannah?” Mary Ann watched the curtains, but they didn’t move. She raised her voice. “Hannah? Jeremiah? Hello?”
A Mail Order Bride for the Sheriff: Mary Ann & Warren (Love by Mail 4) Page 4