by Lacey Davis
The attraction she felt toward them was sudden and swift, almost like that stampede itself.
Unfortunately or fortunately, she didn’t know which, her mother arrived before any damage could be done. Her mother almost asked them to dinner, but now she knew why she hadn’t.
Her father’s despicable boss Virgil Bartlett and his horrid teenage son Billy were guests tonight and her mother sat her right next to the old man who looked at her like she was a piece of fruit ripe for the picking. Like he wanted to touch her inappropriately, maul her with his big dirty hands.
His eyes seemed to remove her clothing and she felt soiled when he looked at her.
“Georgia, you look beautiful tonight,” he said, leaning down next to her, whispering into her ear, his vile breath making her want to shrink from him.
It was all she could do not to lean as far from him as she could. The man smelled of whiskey. A strong body odor let her know he had likely not bathed in a week. Though he wore a nice suit, his hair was greasy black with touches of gray. And she was certain he had farted at the table just a moment ago.
The memory of how Daniel smelled of soap and man and leather made her sigh.
“Thank you,” she said being polite, knowing the moment she could escape this horrid dinner she would.
Her father, his gray hair shining in the candlelight, frowned across the table at her like he could read her mind and knew she planned on leaving. A quick glance at her mother and she could see pity in her eyes. What was going on? Why would her mother have such a sad look?
The table was quiet for a moment and she gazed around at the faces. Mr. Bartlett smiled and seemed jovial while her mother appeared tense, even troubled. And that wretched boy, Billy, kept grinning at her like he knew a secret. A shiver ran down her spine.
The dinner was almost over, and again, she planned on excusing herself as soon as she could to go to her room where she would read poetry and dream about the men who rescued her today. At this moment, she couldn’t imagine which one she wanted more. They were both so handsome, so viral, so all male, that she had the most wicked thoughts of where she wanted to feel either man’s hands first.
An evening spent daydreaming of how it would feel when her husband removed her clothes and touched her in the most intimate of places made her smile. Soon, she could dream. Soon.
Hitting his silverware against her mother’s finest crystal, her father drew everyone’s attention.
“Georgia, I have the most delightful news,” her father said, gazing at her in a way that she couldn’t discern if he was happy or sad. The expression almost seemed angry.
Why was there so much tension in the air tonight?
“Mr. Bartlett has asked for your hand in marriage and I’ve accepted his offer," her father said.
For a moment, she feared throwing up at the table. Her lungs seized and she could feel her body begin to shake. Fear had her trembling. This couldn’t be true. No, she would never marry that old man.
She gazed from her father to her mother and she could see that her mother was looking at her nearly full plate. No wonder she had glanced at her all night in that sad, pathetic way. She knew.
“Isn’t this exciting news,” her father said.
How could she respond?
“It seems sudden, but we’ll spend the next month getting to know each other. Billy and I can’t wait for you move in with us,” the older man said, reaching out and touching her hand, which she instantly pulled back.
“Hello, Mother,” Billy said with a laugh and his father scowled at him.
“Enough, boy,” he told him before he turned back to Georgia.
“Georgia, I’ve had my eye on you for quite some time. We’ll get along just fine. You’ll be a fine addition to our home.”
She glanced at him and her heart felt like it shattered into a thousand pieces. “No, I’m sorry, but I don’t love you. I can’t do this.”
His face turned red and she could sense he was growing angry.
“Georgia,” her father said in that tone that said don’t argue with me. “A good marriage is not about love. That comes with time. After you’re married, you’ll soon grow to love Mr. Bartlett.”
What was there to love about this man? And the thought of sleeping with him had her almost gagging.
“Tomorrow night I’ll come over and we can sit down and start getting to know each other. Before long, you’ll grow to love me. We’ll be married by month’s end.”
The man assumed a lot. They all thought she would just go along with their plan? Why?
“How old are you?” she asked.
“I’m fifty-four,” he said.
“And I’m nineteen. That’s thirty-five years difference. When I’m forty, you’ll be seventy-six.”
The man laughed and then she felt his hand under the table pinching her leg, not in a sexual way, but in a way to inflict pain. Like he meant to hurt her until she agreed. “And you’ll take good care of me when I’m old.”
Reaching under the table, she didn’t make a sound, but slapped his hand away. "That is what your son is for," she said. Her father’s glare let her know he would offer her no help. She was on her own and her husband-to-be was a disgusting old man.
Rising from the table, she turned to her guest. “Excuse me. I’m not feeling well and I’m going to my room. Good night.”
Without another word, she turned and walked out of the dining room. She had known her parents wanted her to marry, but this was the best they could do?
The image of Daniel and Martin came to mind. Either of those fine men would be a wonderful husband. But she would never marry Mr. Bartlett. She would die an old maid before she said I do to that man.
Entering her bedroom, she turned and locked the door. No, she didn’t want to hear their excuses or their reasons for choosing such a pitiful man for her husband.
4
The pounding on her bedroom door had stopped around midnight. She had fallen into a fitful sleep, and this morning, she was trying to decide whether to make a run for it or to retreat to a nunnery.
But she was not going to let that smelly man put his hands on her. She would die first.
With a sigh, she rose from bed and put on her robe before she sat at the table in front of her window. For years, this had been her outlet to looking at the world. The neighborhood, the city of Butte, the mountains in the distance.
This was where she dreamed of her future, her husband, and eventually, the children they would have. This was where she tried to imagine what her husband would look like and in none of her dreams did Mr. Bartlett take center stage. Oh, no, never.
A knock sounded on the door. With a sigh, she knew she had to give in sooner or later.
“Georgia, it’s your mother. Let me in.”
Never before had she locked her parents out of her room, but last night, she didn’t want to speak to them. She needed time to understand why they would do this to her. She needed the time to decide how to handle this arranged marriage.
This morning, she knew this could not continue. In her robe, she opened the door to her mother who swept into the room.
“I know you’re upset. I’m upset. But you need to understand your father agreed to your marriage to Mr. Bartlett.”
Her mother didn’t glance at her but began to pace the room back and forth in front of her window. A butterfly flew gaily by the glass panes and Georgia wished she could fly away so easily.
“Mr. Bartlett came to your father. You would be a wealthy woman. He owns the richest mine in Montana.”
“Well, why don’t we just put my virginity up for auction. We can sell it to the richest man in town.”
In the light, her mother’s face turned red. “Georgia, stop it,” her mother said.
A sinking feeling began in the pit of her stomach. How had this happened? Why would they believe he was a good man for her?
“All these years, I’ve dreamed of my husband-to-be courting me. A handsome man close to my
age. Someone who didn’t look at me like they couldn’t wait to rape me, but who gazed at me with love.”
“Young lady, watch your language.” Her mother sighed. “Marriage is not like that. Your father and I barely knew each other when we were married. It’s not all hearts and flowers and happily ever after. Sometimes we have to make our choices based on what’s practical. This man is rich. You’ll be rich.”
“Money is more important than happiness? This is forever and I don’t even like this man. He smells. He’s gross and his son is creepy.”
“Yes,” her mother said. “Sometimes we have to make choices that don’t seem like what we want.”
The man was mean, and she was supposed to give herself to him in order to have money?
She’d rather die poor than let that old man paw at her body.
“Isn’t there anyone else? He’s not nice. Did you know he pinched me under the table last night? This is who you want me to marry?”
Her mother’s shoulders sagged. “No, I had no idea.”
“Yes, and his son is bizarre. The way he called me mother last night was chilling.”
What did she do now? Give herself to a man that made her cringe with disgust? The very thought of the marriage bed sent shivers through her.
“Papa is all right with me marrying this man? He’s so much older than me.”
A sigh came from her mother and she wiped away tears. “Yes. It’s for the best. For you and for us. He’s your father’s boss. He owns the mine and your father is getting up there in years. He could let him go and then how would we live?”
In the bright morning sunshine streaming through the window, Georgia then realized what her mother was trying to say, which left her with no choice. She loved her parents and would do whatever it took to keep them safe. Even marry Mr. Bartlett.
“It’s just that I was so attracted to Mr. Hamilton yesterday. And even his friend, Mr. Perkins, seemed exceptionally nice. Either of these men I would have accepted. Even been thrilled about. Mr. Bartlett would be my last choice of a husband.”
Her mother’s head tilted toward her. She gazed at Georgia, a strange look on her face. “I’ve got to run an errand. There may be a way out of this mess.” She lifted her skirts and all but ran out the door.
That was strange. It was like she suddenly received a burst of inspiration. Hopefully, she could save Georgia from marriage to that awful man. Though she still didn’t understand why the urgency? Why now?
5
Today, Daniel and Martin were out on their land. Rolling hills with lush green grass and mountains in the distance were the reasons Daniel chose to live here and not in Philadelphia.
While he loved working in the office in Butte, his real love was working cattle out here on the ranch and riding his horse over the land he and Martin owned. If the mining business dried up tomorrow, they would still have the acreage and the house they owned in Bridgewater.
Their place just needed a wife to make it into a home.
Martin rode his palomino mare helping him drive the cows from one pasture to another to enjoy the spring grass, building muscle thickness before they were herded to market in the next couple of months.
Though his friend only had one good leg, he still rode a horse better than most men, fired a gun better than most sharpshooters, and knew how to raise cattle.
Martin whistled to him, signaling he’d seen a buggy as he rode his horse toward where Daniel sat waiting and watching.
Why was someone coming out to see them? And then he recognized the woman. Mrs. Carroll. What did she want?
She pulled up in the small carriage, set the brake, and then stepped out.
“A word please,” she called to them, moving swiftly and with confidence. For an older woman, she was beautiful in a matronly kind of way. And her daughter looked so much like her. Her dark hair was sprinkled with gray and piled on her head in a neat bun.
They both dropped from their saddles onto the ground and hurried to meet the lady.
“Mrs. Carroll, what do we owe the pleasure?” Daniel asked, curious as to why this woman would come all the way to Bridgewater from the city.
“I need your help,” she said, wringing her hands. “When I met you the other day, I recognized you as some of the cowboys from Bridgewater. At the time, I had no idea of my husband's plans to marry off our daughter. While I know your way is different from most married couples, I beg your cooperation.”
The woman was nervous and spoke rapidly, her emerald eyes so much like Georgia’s, flashing.
“What can we do for you?” Martin asked.
“Marry my daughter,” she said bluntly.
Daniel felt his heart drop out of his chest, clear to his feet. This was what they wanted, but she didn’t know that.
“Mr. Bartlett has asked for her hand and will marry her in exchange for paying off my husband’s gambling debts. Georgia knows nothing of this, but she is refusing to marry Mr. Bartlett. This morning, she mentioned your names and I thought I should come speak to you in the off chance that maybe you were interested in marrying my daughter.”
Daniel didn’t know what to think. They were being offered the very thing they wanted. And yet, he was nervous. Why would she offer them Georgia?
“What would we have to do in order to marry your daughter?” Martin asked.
“You must pay off the gambling debts before Mr. Bartlett. That was the deal with him marrying Georgia. But if you do that and marry her quickly, then he can’t get to my daughter.”
Bartlett? That old man wanted to marry Georgia? And her father was going to sell her off to pay his gambling debt? What kind of man did that to someone he loved?
“Do you understand the lifestyle here in Bridgewater?” Martin asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Sometimes I wish I were married to Bridgewater men. You are honest men who make certain your wife is well taken care of.”
The two men smiled at each other. “And we will share your daughter between us.”
“I know,” she said, “but I feel certain she would be safer, protected, and cherished more with you than that terrible Mr. Bartlett. I fear he will abuse her in more ways than one. The way he looks at her…” The woman shivered.
Daniel was starting to feel excited at the chance that they might be marrying the woman they both wanted.
“Have you spoken to your daughter about us?”
“No. Some things a mother doesn’t tell her daughter. I would leave that up to you. But we must hurry. Mr. Bartlett is wanting to marry her within the week. He told her in a month, but now he’s moved it up.”
Daniel needed to speak to Martin. He needed to make certain that his friend, his partner, his brother, was certain this was who he wanted, that he was certain she was the woman for them.
“Excuse us for just a minute,” he said.
The two men walked a short distance away. “What do you think?”
“I think we better hurry if we’re going to marry our woman,” Martin said. “I’m also concerned at how much he owes in gambling debts.”
“Good question,” he said. “She may not know.”
“No matter what, we’ve got to save Georgia. I’m afraid for her. If that Mr. Bartlett gets his hands on her, he very well may mistreat her. You know the type of man he is. It’s rumored his own wife died at his hands.”
A chill ran down Daniel’s spine. “So we’re going to tell her yes?”
“Of course,” Martin said.
Daniel grinned, feeling a sense of lightness come over him. From the moment he’d seen her lying on the wooden sidewalk terrified, he’d know she was theirs to protect.
“Let’s go tell her,” he said
They walked back over to the woman. “Can you meet us at the diner on Main Street in Butte tomorrow about two in the afternoon?”
There would be fewer people there, and hopefully, they could talk to Georgia and see how she felt about marrying the two of them.
“Yes,” she said with
a smile.
“If Georgia will have us, then we’ll marry her tomorrow at the courthouse.”
The woman started to cry and then threw her arms around each of them. “Thank you. Thank you. I’m so thrilled. I have no doubts you’ll make my daughter happy and you will take good care of her and keep her safe.”
“What about the debts?” Martin asked. “Do you know how much he owes?”
“No,” she said. “He hasn’t told me. But the gambling hall owner is who he owes the money too.”
Daniel hated that they were going to have to pay off the debt, but he saw this as a way to protect their wife's family from being taken advantage of. After all, the in-laws were an important part to his family.
“We’ll go in the morning to pay the balance. Then after we talk to Georgia, we can decide if we think she is the one. If she is, we’ll be married by tomorrow afternoon. Have her things packed and ready to go, in case we marry her.”
The woman leaned back and smiled. “I can’t tell you how much this pleases me. I can trust my baby with you. Promise me that you will not tell her about the gambling debts. I don’t want her to think you bought her. Or think even worse of her father than she does now.”
“Of course,” Daniel said. "Thanks, ma’am. Now you better start for home. It’s going to get dark soon.”
“Tomorrow at two in the afternoon at the diner on Main Street.”
“See you there,” Martin said.
The woman climbed into her buggy, clicked to the horses, and away she went.
“We’re getting married,” Martin said. “I can’t believe we’re getting married.”
Daniel took off his hat and threw it up in the air. “To the woman I wanted. Hallelujah!”
“We better prepare the house. We want to take our bride on clean sheets.”
Daniel’s cock grew hard as a rock at the thought of spreading his sweet, new wife’s thighs and plunging his cock in deep. Soon, very soon.