“Mrs. Saunders?” The man tipped his hat as he addressed her. All Elizabeth could do was nod, she was so caught off guard. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Paul Hart.”
He tipped his hat again and bent to pick up her luggage. To Elizabeth’s chagrin, she blushed. This man looked nothing like she’d imagined as she’d read his letters. She cleared her throat and gathered herself.
“Thank you, Paul, it’s so nice to finally meet you.”
Paul merely nodded, then directed her toward a small, open wagon pulled by a sturdy horse. He lifted her luggage into the back of the wagon before offering her a hand into her seat. Then he climbed in next to her and took the reins.
As they rode in silence Elizabeth’s mind whirled with questions. Had she said something to offend him? Was her appearance so disagreeable to him that he couldn’t even look at her? She hadn’t expected him to fall madly in love with her, but she’d thought they had a connection through their letters. Having already married for convenience once, Elizabeth had hoped that this would be a warmer experience, if not a marriage of love.
“Paul, is anything wrong?” Elizabeth resisted the urge to address him as Mr. Hart. He’d asked her to call him Paul before he’d proposed. She clung to that small intimacy with hope.
“No, ma’am, nothing is wrong.” Paul offered Elizabeth a cursory glance.
Ma’am?
“I’ll do my best to be a good wife to you, Paul. I want to know what you expect from me. From our marriage.” She couldn’t bear the thought that she’d gotten herself into the same situation she’d had with Richard. If she could get him to talk to her, she had a better chance with Paul.
“If you’re doing your best, what more could I ask of a wife?” he replied cryptically.
She began to feel some alarm as he drove the wagon past the church and turned toward the edge of town. “We are getting married, aren’t we?”
“Ma can’t make the trip in. Minister’s meeting us at the ranch.”
“If you regret proposing—“
“It’s not that,” he said in a rush. “It’s just that Ma’s health is worse, and we’ve had some problems with rustlers, and I need to get back. I’m sorry, I’m not much for romance.”
He’d mentioned that his mother wasn’t well in his letters. She didn’t blame him for being worried. She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “Whatever you need, I’ll do my best.”
He looked relieved, and in that relief, she saw a glimpse of the man she’d been corresponding with. Hope surged inside her.
After what felt like a long, bumpy ride in uncomfortable silence, a beautiful one-story ranch house came into view. Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised. The house seemed simple and practical, yet spacious and lovely. As they drew nearer, knots began to form in Elizabeth’s stomach as she realized what was about to take place. She was about to marry a man she had just met. A man with only a hint of the warmth that his letters had seemed to carry.
But it was too late to back out now.
“Ma?” Paul called out as he ushered Elizabeth into her new home. He carried Elizabeth’s luggage through a short hallway and set it down outside a closed door before turning to the open door on the right.
Hesitantly, Elizabeth followed Paul into the small bedroom.
“How are you feeling?” Paul knelt by the side of the bed, where a delicate-looking woman rested, long white braid trailing over one shoulder. In spite of her obvious frailty, she had a radiant smile.
Elizabeth felt a wave of relief at seeing Paul’s tender greeting. It seemed he was capable of love, of caring for another. If he could love his mother so much, perhaps one day he would learn to love her.
This was the man she’d been corresponding with. Her reservations about marrying him evaporated.
“Ma, this is Elizabeth,” Paul motioned to his wife-to-be as if she were a new ranch hand. “Oh, Minister, thank you for agreeing to meet us here.”
Paul stood and held out his hand to the middle-aged man sitting in a rocking chair in a corner of the room.
“Happy to, Paul. Your mother and I were just catching up. So, this is your bride?” The man in the somber black coat turned graciously to Elizabeth and gave her a warm smile. “Welcome to Texas, my dear. I trust your travels went well?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Come here, come here,” Paul’s mother interrupted. “Let me meet my new daughter-in-law.”
Elizabeth walked up to the side of Maria’s bed and smiled down at her while taking both of the older woman’s hands in hers.
“It’s very nice to meet you Mrs. Hart,” Elizabeth gently squeezed Maria’s hands.
“Mrs. Hart! My name is Maria, but you will call me Mother, my dear. You’re family.”
Yes, Mother,” Elizabeth fought the tears that threatened to spill over as Maria’s kind words poured over her unsettled heart. If her marriage never blossomed into love, this woman would be a ray of sunshine in Elizabeth’s life.
“Let’s get on with it. I’m not getting any younger.” Maria’s smile lit the room, and she passed Elizabeth’s hand into Paul’s. Elizabeth was afraid Paul would pull away, but he didn’t flinch. His hands were rough and work worn, unlike Richard’s softer hands. Paul’s hand was also warm and strong. Elizabeth found comfort in it. She looked sheepishly up at the man she was marrying, her heart in her throat.
He looked surprised. Then he looked away.
“Marriage is not something to be entered into lightly,” the minister began. “Marriage is a covenant between two people and God. Marriage is about sacrifice and putting the needs of the other person before oneself. It is a beautiful reflection of God’s love for us.”
Elizabeth felt Paul’s hand get warmer within her own. There were no rings to exchange, Paul had spent everything he could spare to pay for Elizabeth’s travel expenses. They simply repeated their vows after the minister, solemnly promising to love, honor, and cherish one another until death.
“Now, Paul, you may kiss your bride,” the minister proclaimed, beaming at the newlyweds.
Elizabeth looked cautiously at Paul, who had gone red. He turned toward Elizabeth and placed a small peck on her waiting lips. The minister clasped his hands together in satisfaction and Maria wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Elizabeth looked down at her shoes, disappointed.
She wasn’t sure what she’d expected. A wildly passionate embrace? Of course not. Even so, it had been an exceptionally chaste kiss for two people who’d just promised to love each other for the rest of their lives.
Chapter Four
Elizabeth placed the heavy-laden plate of food in front of her new husband before dishing a plate up for herself and sitting opposite him at the small kitchen table.
“Thank you, this looks wonderful,” Paul said without looking directly at Elizabeth.
“My mother’s recipe,” Elizabeth tried to put a little affection in her tone. She was determined to warm him toward her. “When I was little, I used to help her make the gravy.”
After the excitement of the ceremony, Maria had fallen asleep and the minister had taken his leave, so Elizabeth had made herself at home in the kitchen. She didn’t mention that she’d come to love cooking after Richard’s poor luck at cards had forced them to fire the cook. This was her new beginning. She wasn’t going to spoil it by talking about the past.
“Your home is lovely,” Elizabeth attempted to start a conversation in the heavy silence in between bites of potatoes.
“Thank you, I’m glad you like it,” was all Paul offered in return.
Elizabeth studied him for a moment as he tucked ravenously into his supper. She wondered when was the last time he’d eaten a good meal. Surely Maria didn’t have the energy to cook. Had Paul been cooking for himself?
If there was to be no love between them, at least Elizabeth would take joy in making sure Paul and Maria were well taken care of.
Paul swallowed another mouthful and sighed. “This is heaven.”
/> “I’d be happy to learn to cook whatever you’re used to eating.”
“I want to get used to eating this.” He grinned, for the first time since she’d laid eyes on him.
Elizabeth smiled back. Richard had always complained while Elizabeth fussed over him, making her feel like nothing she did would ever be enough. Paul’s appreciation seemed genuine. Fussing over him would be a pleasure.
“I understand that life will be different here, and I’m ready to learn. I can see that Mar—Mother will need some extra care. How else can I help?”
He looked relieved that she’d asked. Poor Paul, trying to take care of his mother and run a ranch. It was too much for one man to manage. Nothing Elizabeth had done when she was married to Richard had mattered, but she was beginning to see that she could make a real difference here.
Paul leaned back in his chair, palms flat on the tabletop, like he was bracing himself for something. He cleared his throat. Looked up at her. Looked back down at the table. “Ma wants grandchildren.”
Elizabeth blushed with embarrassment, but forced herself to keep her expression steady. “I would love to give her some.”
Paul flashed her a look of shock. Was he surprised that she wanted children? Or surprised that she had spoken straightforwardly about it? Marital duties weren’t exactly a socially-acceptable topic for the supper table, but their situation wasn’t normal, and she was a widow, with more experience than a bride was supposed to have.
What Elizabeth really wanted to know was… “Do you want children?”
“Yes,” Paul snapped. He took a deep breath. “Sorry. Yes, I do. I just never thought I would be in a position to have them.”
“Why not?”
He looked like he was trying to figure out what he should tell her. Was he infertile? Or…dare she think it…unable to…? She’d known men in Richard’s circle who simply weren’t attracted to women. Was it possible that Paul’s lack of warmth toward her arose from a lack of interest in women in general?
What had she gotten herself into?
“If we’re going to be partners, you need to tell me the truth, Paul. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.”
“Rustlers. They’ve gotten almost a fifth of my herd, and we haven’t managed to catch them yet. If I don’t stop them soon, we’ll lose the ranch.”
Elizabeth sighed with relief that Paul’s problem wasn’t one of the many she’d been imagining. “The sheriff isn’t able to find them?”
“Sheriff’s got to keep peace in town. He’s got a man watching the auction in Dallas, but rustlers usually rebrand the steer, to make it hard to tell it’s stolen.”
“There must be other ranchers having the same problem.”
“At least three I know of in the vicinity of Salvation.”
“What if we set a trap?”
“We?”
“I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Paul shook his head, but his lips quirked up at the corners. “Take care of Ma, so I don’t have to worry about her while I’m chasing down those cattle thieves.”
“I will.” And I’ll take care of you, too.
Paul stood abruptly, walked to the door and put on his hat and jacket. Then he hesitated, returned to her, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back by bedtime.”
But sunset came and left. Elizabeth began to wonder how late she should stay up waiting for Paul to come back. On the one hand, it was their wedding night. On the other hand, Paul had responsibilities that he was clearly struggling to keep up with, and it wasn’t as if theirs was a traditional marriage. Her mother would have said it was bad luck not to consummate the marriage right away. But doing so certainly hadn’t brought her luck in her relationship with Richard.
Maybe it was best that they take it slow. They were still practically strangers. And Paul clearly felt awkward around her, which would make things harder in the marriage bed.
Once the dishes were finished, she went into Maria’s room to find the older woman propped against her pillows and reading the Bible.
Maria’s expression brightened as Elizabeth walked in. She carefully placed a ribbon to mark her place, then laid the Bible on her bedside table.
“Is there anything I can do for you, Maria?”
“I told you to call me Mother and I meant it.” Maria winked at Elizabeth conspiratorially. “Would you mind helping me rebraid my hair? It’s difficult for me, and Paul doesn’t have a woman’s touch.”
“Of course.” Elizabeth picked up the beautiful silver-plated brush on Maria’s dresser as her mother-in-law moved gingerly from the bed to a nearby chair.
Elizabeth began gently undoing Maria’s braid and separating the silver strands so they could be brushed.
“Mother.” The word felt sweet on Elizabeth’s lips. “Is Paul always so…so polite?”
She’d almost said “distant,” but didn’t want Maria to think that Paul was treating her poorly.
Maria sighed deeply, and in the mirror on the far wall, Elizabeth noticed that concern wrinkled her brow.
“He’ll come around in time. Paul has very little faith in love.”
“It’s clear that he loves you.”
“I think he has forgotten the sweetness of loving a woman. I may as well tell you where Paul’s heart went sour, then maybe it’ll be easier for you to be patient with him.”
Elizabeth set aside the brush and slowly started to plait Maria’s hair into an intricate braid.
“Back when we lived in New York, Paul fell in love with a woman named Kimberly.”
Kimberly. Elizabeth felt herself frowning, but she couldn’t stop it. Unreasonable of me to think there’s been no one else for Paul. I’m a widow, for goodness’ sake, not some innocent first-time bride.
“I never liked that woman,” Maria continued. “But Paul did, and he thought she loved him too. When he proposed, she laughed in his face. He wasn’t ambitious enough for her.”
“Horrible woman,” Elizabeth said.
“Another thing we agree on.” Maria sighed. “He’s been carrying that broken heart around for years, refusing to let another woman love him.”
“But he’s very polite, always a gentleman, as his mama raised him,” Elizabeth pointed out.
A tender smile crossed Maria’s face before worry reasserted itself.
“It’s nearly broken my own heart to see him close himself off from love,” Maria turned to face Elizabeth and cupped the younger woman’s face in her hands. “But God has brought you here, and now there’s hope. When my time comes, I don’t want to be worrying he’s alone.”
Elizabeth’s heart flooded with relief now that she knew Paul’s taciturn manners weren’t meant as a rejection of her. He was a broken man.
“I’ll take care of him.” Whether he loves me or not. She’d done that for Richard, and Paul was a much better man than Richard.
Elizabeth took the silver-plated mirror from Maria’s dresser and held it up so Maria could see her braid. Maria grinned over the mirror at Elizabeth and caressed the intricate plait.
“This is beautiful!” Maria beamed. “Help me back to bed, dear.”
Chapter Five
Paul crept quietly into the house just as the sun began to rise in the east. He looked out the kitchen window at the splendid colors glowing over the horizon, and sighed. He hadn’t meant to spend his wedding night in the foothills, but the rustlers had led them on a wild chase. Now he was exhausted and angry, and no doubt Elizabeth would be upset with him too.
He removed his boots and hat in slow motion, his muscles aching from a long night in the saddle. A quick check on Mother, then he’d find Elizabeth and face the music. He felt guilty—for leaving his mother to entertain a stranger, and for leaving his new bride to care for her new mother-in-law without help. Please, God, I need Elizabeth to be trustworthy. And if it’s not too much to ask, help her forgive me for starting our marriage off on the wrong foot.
He stopped in the open doorway o
f his mother’s room.
His mother slept peacefully, looking more relaxed than she had in months.
Even more surprising, Elizabeth dozed in a chair next to Ma’s bed, a book forgotten on her lap. Had she been here all night? She slumped in the chair. He couldn’t help wonder how she’d fallen asleep in such an uncomfortable-looking position. Gratitude filled his heart. Of all the woman he might have married, he’d managed to find one with an abundantly kind soul.
He wanted to thank her in some way, but all he could do now was to take her to bed so she might rest more comfortably.
Paul slid the book out from under Elizabeth’s hands and placed it on his mother’s bedside table. Then he gently lifted Elizabeth from the chair and turned to carry her to their bedroom. Their bedroom, no longer just his. Paul shook his head at the foreign thought. He had never shared a house with another woman besides his mother, let alone his bedroom. He would have to get used to the idea of having a wife.
She felt soft and warm, and she was light in his arms. Somehow, holding her like this felt right. Like he’d been waiting his whole life for this moment.
Elizabeth’s eyes fluttered open and a small gasp escaped as she looked wildly around, as if she had forgotten where she was. The next moment, she looked flustered. A blush of pink adorned her cheeks. When he’d picked her up at the train station, he’d thought she was pretty, but she was downright beautiful.
“I’m capable of walking,” Elizabeth’s voice sounded rough with sleep.
Paul carefully set her feet on the floor and stepped back, feeling awkward. He should have thought before taking liberties with her body. Just because they’d said wedding vows this afternoon didn’t mean she wanted him to touch her. She might need time to get used to being married too.
“I apologize, it looked like you were uncomfortable. I thought you would be able to rest better in bed. I was only trying to help.” He raked a hand through his unruly black hair. Elizabeth smoothed her own golden locks and smiled sheepishly up at Paul.
“Well, thank you. I am up now. I don’t think I will go back to sleep. But you look exhausted.”
Winning The Rancher's Heart (Mail-Order Brides of Salvation 2) Page 2