by Kit Morgan
Large fingers gently touched her chin and pulled her head around to face him. His own face was an expressionless mask, unreadable. But when her first tear finally fell, it was encompassed by a compassion she had never seen in any man’s eyes. He let go her chin and gently brushed the tear away. “I guess this answers my question,” he said as he then stood. He put the marriage contract into the satchel then placed it back on the floor by the dresser.
He slowly turned to her. “I’ll make what arrangements I have to and as soon as Doc says you’re ready, come for you.”
Summer could only stare. Her mouth then slowly opened as her entire body went numb. He was going to send her back. Oh good God! No!
He looked about then chuckled to himself. “Guess I done left my hat and coat out in the kitchen. I’ll let Milly know what’s going on. You rest now.” He smiled and then left the room.
Summer shook her head. Oh no! No, no, no, no! She couldn’t go back! She just couldn’t! Slade would be on her quicker than flies on sugar! And when he got a hold of her he’d never let go! He’d make sure that once he had her entrenched into the life he planned for her there would be no escape.
Summer stifled a sob as she heard muffled voices from down the hall and then listened to the front door as it opened and closed. She quickly looked to the window, the golden light of sunset nearly gone now, and watched as Clayton Riley strolled down the front walk, through the gate, and out of sight.
“Oh please Lord! I can’t leave! I can’t go back!” Summer’s tears fell in force as she prayed. What would she do? Where could she go? One thing was for certain, until her foot healed, she wasn’t going anywhere. Perhaps that was it! Maybe so long as her foot was injured he couldn’t send her back!
Summer’s shoulders slumped. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t fake her injury to stay. No, that wouldn’t do at all. Think Summer, think!
She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths then suddenly smiled. Of course! She’d simply make plans to either stay on in Nowhere or go someplace close by where she could find a job and earn the money it cost Mr. Riley to get her out west in the first place! It was, after all, the logical thing to do!
Summer took one more deep breath to calm down before she smiled with relief. Surely Mr. Riley would understand her dilemma and cooperate, wouldn’t he? But perhaps Mrs. Ridgley was to reimburse him based upon her return to New Orleans. Good Lord! What if that’s how it worked? Summer saw something in the marriage contract to that effect but her head was so fuzzy at the moment she couldn’t remember the exact wording.
Her eyes suddenly fixated on the satchel next to the dresser. How was she going to get over there to check? She looked to her foot beneath the light blanket that covered her. To move meant pain and she didn’t want to risk further injury. She then looked to the door. Wasn’t there someone else in the house with her? Milly was it? Perhaps she could get it for her?
Summer let her body fall back against the pillows, suddenly too tired to think about it any further. She’d call the woman in and have her fetch it for her yes, but first she wanted to close her eyes against the pain in her foot for a moment. After she rested she’d tackle the task at hand. But before Summer could so much as think about what she would do if the contract did indeed state she had to go back, sleep took her from all her troubles and pain once more. If Summer had her way, she’d stay hidden within sleep’s peaceful folds. But such was not to be.
* * *
Five days passed with no sign of Clayton Riley or his brother for that matter. Summer remembered the man who briefly introduced himself before rushing out of the Sheriff’s office to get help the day she got shot. Milly the doctor’s wife told her they had to hurry out of town to join a posse that was tracking a gang of outlaws that struck a settlement south of Nowhere. Summer’s stomach had been in knots ever since. Would they catch them? Would the Riley brothers get hurt? What if Mr. Riley didn’t come back at all? Then what would she do?
She silently chastised herself for thinking such morbid thoughts then tried her best to concentrate on how she was to carry out her plans, of which she had several. Firstly, the marriage contract did state that should the groom not find his bride to his liking, he could send her back to New Orleans and all funds would be reimbursed to him. The Ridgley Mail Order Bride Service would then send him another, but it would cost him an additional fee on top of the train and stage fare he was to provide. Perhaps that was a fail safe should a man want to make a return. Maybe if he knew he had to pay an extra fee to get another bride, he’d be more apt to keep the one he originally got.
But that wasn’t going to do Summer much good. She needed to avoid going back at all costs. So secondly, she discovered the local mercantile was in need of help and as soon as she was able to walk, she’d go talk with Mr. Quinn the owner about a job. Surely with what skills she had she could be hired. Her only worry was her darn foot that kept her from inquiring about the position in the first place! By the time it was healed enough for her to go speak with Mr. Quinn, the position would already be filled! Thus thirdly, she also found out there were several smaller settlements within a fifty-mile radius of Nowhere. She could probably make it to one of them, but then what?
This of course brought Summer right back to square one. Again.
And again.
And again!
One more go around with it all and she thought she might scream. She threw her face in her hands instead and moaned. Right when she thought she found a solution, something came to mind that told her it wouldn’t work. If only she didn’t feel so utterly trapped! The only good thing that happened in the last few days was her foot didn’t pain her so much. That at least was encouraging, on the one hand. On the other hand, as soon as it was healed, Clayton Riley would toss her onto a stage the first chance he got.
As usual her mind strayed to a picture of Clayton Riley storming into her room, scooping her up into his arms, and carrying her straight to a waiting stage. He’d give her a “good bye and good luck” before he waved at the driver and she’d be off. Back to a nightmare she’d been trying to avoid ever since she got old enough to realize the world was full of very bad men. “And so few good ones,” she whispered to herself.
Her eyes wandered about the room. “Clayton Riley, why? Why don’t you want me?”
But what could she expect? There had been no correspondence, no letters of warmth and happy words to let him get to know her. He got her not only sight unseen, but unread as well.
If only she could find a job, earn enough money to send to Mrs. Ridgley to cover the reimbursement money and make things work that way. But Clayton Riley was a man of the law, and he would do things by the book, she was sure.
Summer sunk against the pillows as if to hide, and let the tears fall. There was no way out, no way around any of it. Her only hope was to seek refuge with Mrs. Ridgley for as long as she could.
What a shame, what a crying shame he didn’t want her! The one decent man she’d met in years, years! And he has to go and be a lawman that doesn’t want a woman with any sort of past. Well, everyone has a past. He just obviously didn’t want one that wasn’t to his standards. He didn’t even bother to ask what she was running from! Once he figured it out he immediately came to the conclusion she simply wouldn’t do.
Summer wiped at her tears. Men! They could be such beasts! Such horrible, horrible beasts! What then, was a woman to do? Summer was at Clayton Riley’s mercy and once back in New Orleans it would only be a matter of time before she would be at the mercy of one man or another. If not the vile Mr. Slade, then some other slave trader.
The war on slavery it seemed, still raged on. Only this slave trade had been going on for far longer than the war so recently fought by the north and the south.
Summer sniffed back more tears.
If only she’d been born a man … then she’d show Clayton Riley what for!
Speaking of Clayton Riley! Was that him coming up the walk?
“Oh my God!
No!” Summer said under her breath as she looked frantically about the room. But what could she do? Where could she go? She couldn’t even stand on her own two feet! She was indeed completely and utterly at the man’s mercy. He probably came to tell her he’d written or telegraphed Mrs. Ridgley to say he was sending her back.
Summer slumped against her pillows as her heart sank in utter defeat.
A knock sounded at the front door …
All her life she’d been rejected, tossed aside or left behind. Why should this be any different? Who was she to think it wouldn’t be? No wonder Mr. Slade and his kind preyed upon hers. What else was there?
She could hear Milly greet him, hear his spurs jangle as he came into the house …
No. No! No! No matter what happened, she wasn’t going to let someone like Mr. Slade tell her she was worth any less than anybody else! So what if Clayton Riley didn’t want her! God wanted her! By golly yes He did and she would keep that hidden in her heart to see her through the long journey back.
“Miss James?”
Summer steeled herself one more time before she looked at him as he entered the room.
“OH!” she suddenly cried when he pulled the blanket off her then scooped her up into his arms without warning. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry about this Miss James, but I’ve got a schedule to keep and Doc needs the bed. Milly!”
Milly came into the room and quickly snatched up Summer’s satchel. She wasn’t the only patient occupying the doctor’s three patient rooms. Several men had been wounded hunting the outlaws and brought in not a day after the posse left! Milly had been busy with them ever since and hardly had time to say two words to her in the days that followed.
Summer suddenly realized what was happening. Why else would Milly be holding her satchel and tagging along behind Mr. Riley as he carried her down the hall? Oh no! No it couldn’t be! “Mr. Riley, please!”
“I’m sorry about this Miss James, but I don’t see any help for it.”
“But Mr. Riley!” She all but sobbed. No! She would not cry! After all she knew this was going to happen.
“Oh it’s not as bad as all that!” Milly admonished as she followed them out the front door. “Lots of mail order brides have to do the same thing. You’ll be fine once you get there.”
“Once I get there?” Summer all but squeaked. “But my foot’s not healed yet!”
“What has that got to do with anything?” Milly scolded. “Stop your fussing child and be grateful Sheriff Riley was able to make arrangements so quickly!”
“But…”
“I’ll not hear another word about it, Miss James,” Mr. Riley told her in a stern voice. “It’s all been arranged.”
Summer couldn’t help it. She began to cry. He was sending her off without a second thought, and she couldn’t even walk yet! How cruel could the man be?
Too tired and down hearted to argue further, she turned her head into his shoulder and softly wept out her shame and heartache. Besides, people were watching them and she couldn’t stand the humiliation of the ordeal. The whole town would know he didn’t want her!
His arms were incredibly strong, and he carried her down the street without effort. She finally glanced up and saw the stage and its driver waiting for them. Summer never thought she’d ever be one to beg, but she was highly considering it. Perhaps she could try a logical plea?
But even that was beyond her as they approached the stagecoach. The driver smiled and waved at them as they drew closer. Mr. Riley gave him a curt nod of acknowledgement. Summer could stand it no longer. “Oh please, Mr. Riley, please! I can’t! I just can’t! Please don’t make me do it!”
He stopped. “What are you so upset about? A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do! Doc, Milly and I all discussed it and felt this was the best thing to do all the way around.”
The sobbing came unbidden. It was humiliating. Perhaps it was the laudanum over the past few days. Maybe it was simply the fatigue at spending each waking moment trying to figure out a way to keep what was happening now from happening at all. Whatever it was that caused every pent up emotion she’d stuffed deep down inside herself over the last few days to suddenly erupt, Summer wished with all her might it would stop. But it didn’t.
A horrible wail escaped her just as they reached the stage.
“For the love of God, woman!” Mr. Riley exclaimed. “You’d think I was taking you to hang!”
Summer tried to speak but couldn’t, the sobbing was that bad…
“Whacha do, Sheriff?” The stagecoach driver asked. “Accidently shoot her again?”
“No! Now move aside so I can get her settled.”
Summer sucked big gulps of air, so much so she felt as if she might be sick. She did her best to wipe away her tears as the awful, beastly, horrible Mr. Riley made his way straight to the …
“What?” Summer exclaimed as he stormed past the stagecoach to a wagon parked just behind it. She looked disbelievingly at the stagecoach driver as he began to secure a trunk onto the back of the stage, ignoring them now. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean what am I doing? I told you I made arrangements! What are you so upset about? It’s not like its improper or anything!”
“Improper?” Summer echoed. “What’s improper?”
“For crying out loud woman, are you going to question every blasted thing I do?”
Summer blinked at him a few times in shock. “What … what exactly is it you’re doing?”
He stopped at the back of the wagon. Spencer was there and watched them warily as he tossed some blankets into the wagon bed then jumped up himself.
“Isn’t obvious you silly woman? I’m taking you home!”
Five
Summer stared numbly at him as Spencer quickly spread the blankets over some hay. Mr. Riley stared right back, his jaw set as he shook his head then gently handed her up to his brother’s out stretched arms. Without saying a word Spencer settled her onto the waiting blankets, covered her with yet several more, then climbed over the wagon seat and sat. Mr. Riley took the satchel from Milly, tossed it into the wagon, then hopped up himself and sat beside her. He looked down at her briefly before he tucked the blankets in more tightly then put an arm around her and pulled her against him.
“Let’s go,” he said, his jaw set as before.
Summer audibly gulped. “I… I thought…”
“You thought what? I’d really like to know because I’ve never seen someone make such a fuss over having to give up their room to a couple of wounded men. But they’re my men and I want them cared for proper.”
“Your men were hurt?” She asked on a whisper, still not over the shock he wasn’t sending her away.
“Shot unfortunately. Feel bad about it, but at least they’re not dead. Both are married.”
She stared at him, her mouth open in a continual state of utter disbelief. “You’re taking me to your house then?”
Mr. Riley looked at her, his face now a mask of concern mixed with something else. Was he about to laugh at her? He held her to him a bit tighter and yelled. “Don’t bother sparing the horses, Spencer! Let’s get on home!”
* * *
Good grief! What did doc give her? She was acting plumb loco! Crying, sobbing, carrying on like he was … oh no, it couldn’t be… He chanced a look at her and loosed his grip. He was trying to keep her warm, but earlier he feared she might try to jump out of the wagon what with the crazy way she was going on, so he figured he best keep a tight hold on her. But what woman wouldn’t if she thought he was going to load her up on the stage injured as she was and send her away?
Oh Lord! How could she think such a thing? Didn’t I tell her I’d make all the arrangements?
But had he really? He’d spent the last five days getting shot at and trying to keep himself and his men in one piece. Making arrangements to transport Miss James to the farm hadn’t exactly been at the forefront of his mind. When he got back that morning he
’d hurried home, got cleaned up, spoke with his mother and brother then went into town to gather up what he needed. Namely the woman sitting next to him who looked like she didn’t know whether or not she was going to laugh or cry hysterically. Either one he decided, would be bad. If she laughed hysterically she might well be loco. If she cried, he’d have to climb up front with Spencer. If there was one thing Clayton Riley couldn’t stand, it was a crying woman. Carrying her to the wagon had about done him in. To realize she was sobbing the way she was because she thought he was sending her away was harder to choke down now than when it was actually happening.
How on earth did he not explain it? But then, he’d been in such a hurry to find Spencer so he could send word to the mail order bride company that Miss James had arrived and do a little detective work, he might not have explained a thing. He couldn’t remember. What he did remember was she came to Nowhere because she was running from something. He was no Pinkerton, but he had a nose for finding things out nonetheless. He glanced at her again. Once he got her settled at the farm he’d find out a thing or two about his future bride.
Clayton pushed back his hat and allowed himself a moment to relax as Miss James was calm for the time being. She did look a fright though. Her eyes were puffy and red, her nose much the same. He wondered if they should stop at the creek and clean her up before their mother saw her. But his mother would probably make a bigger fuss if she found out they did. It was getting down right cold out and would probably snow later. No, he’d have to carry Miss James into the house and face the music like a man. And then, of course, pray his mother and brother could keep their mouths shut that he’d had no idea Miss James had been sent to be his future bride in the first place. Seemed the whole town knew it. By a sheer miracle no one had said a word to the poor woman. Probably because it was a lot more fun to watch him squirm. Milly and Doc had kept everyone away for the most part, but then Milly and Doc were also the worst! Especially Milly who threatened him the day he left with the posse from Northridge that she might accidently spill the beans. But for a front seat at his wedding, she’d keep her mouth shut!