Romance: Yes, Stepbrother!

by Annie Valentine

  “No, my husband was a good man.” Ruth looked down at her son who had his father’s brown hair and blue eyes. “It was us that got left behind.”

  “Did you love him?” Mary’s question caught Ruth off guard, but she answered anyway.

  “I did.” She looked out the window at the never ending blue sky above. “I still do.”

  Mary stopped speaking, most likely feeling she had asked enough. Ruth did not mind talking about her late husband. He was the only life she had none for so long. But since Mary grew silent, Ruth thought she would try to get some sleep while Billy napped. Sleeping seemed close to impossible, but she closed her eyes and nodded off while her young son sat on her lap and napped.

  Life with William hadn’t always been easy. They struggled on the farm, they argued over money and work undone, and some days they did not even speak a word to each other between the dirty looks and irritated sighs. But every night they held each other tight, no matter what the day had brought. He was the love of her life. William was the only man she could ever love. How would she carry on with someone new? How could she hold tight onto another man at night?

  “Mama.” Billy leaned up from her chest and pointed out the window. “Horses.”

  “Yes, horses.” They had seen many horses along the way and her eyes were too heavy to open.

  “Thank the Lord.” Someone called out from a few seats ahead of her. “We finally made it.”

  Ruth opened her eyes and saw from the window that the horses Billy had pointed to belonged to townspeople and they were trotting to the very large town nearby with a train station ahead.

  “This is it?” Ruth asked Mary. “This is Wadesville, Texas?”

  “It sure is.” Mary smiled as his curly red hair bounced with the jerking of the train. “This is Wadesville, your new home!”

  The nervousness began to flutter through Ruth. They were there and now she had to meet the rancher. There was no turning back now that they were three days from Kansas.

  “My Robert will be here to get me.” Mary began to run her fingers through her hair and push up the cleavage from her dress. “Who will be here to get you?”

  Ruth started to answer, but the trains extremely loud horn went off and stopped her form speaking.

  “Choo. Choo!” Billy called out.

  “Yes, Billy. Choo choo train.” Ruth smiled at her sweet son. “We are getting of this train, baby.”

  “About time, huh?” Mary applied pink to her lips as she looked in a small powder mirror. “Let’s get off this horrid train.”

  The sound of the wheels halting to a stop on the track let Ruth know that she had arrived in her new town. Mary jumped up from her seat as she squealed with excitement.

  “Come on, Billy.” Ruth stood up and grabbed their only suitcase from above them on the luggage rack. “We are here.”

  Mary practically danced down the aisle as she rushed to get to her husband. In contrast, Ruth walked slowly, hesitant to meet the man she would soon marry. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she held her breath and waited for the worst.

  “Robert!” Mary jumped off the train steps and into her husband’s arms. The man scooped her up and spun her around in a circle. He seemed as smitten with her as his wife was with him.

  Not having a loving man waiting with open arms for her, Ruth walked down the train steps and stood clueless next to all the other passengers that were reuniting with loved one.

  “Ruth, Ruth Campbell?” A man with a strong southern accent said form behind her.

  Weakened by anxiety and nerves, Ruth felt as though she may faint, but she fought the apprehension and turned to face the man that would soon be her husband. Unprepared for what she saw, she almost gasped as she looked up at the gorgeously handsome man. A cowboy hat sat on his head, but she could still see him well. His hair was golden blonde and in need of a trim, but only so it did not hide his beautiful masculine face. With intriguing grey eyes, it was like looking into thunderstorm brewing on the horizon; beautiful but alarming.

  “Are you Ruth, mam?” He asked again.

  “Yes.” She spoke softly. “I am Ruth Campbell.”

  “I am Tom, Tom Franklin.” Taking his hat off, he gave Ruth a better view of his good looking face. “I am pleased to meet you.”

  He reached out to shake her hand. She took his in hers, feeling his rough skin on hers. Something unexpected happened when he let go of her hand; she longed for more of his touch.

  “Mama.” Billy clung to her leg.

  “And you must be William Jr.” Tom leaned down and patted her son on the shoulder. “I have something for you.”

  Pulling a lollypop out from his pocket, he handed it to the eager boy.

  “What do you tell Mr. Franklin?” Ruth raised a brow at her son.

  “Thank you Mr. Franklin.” His sweet smile warmed her heart.

  “Tom, please call me Tom.” The rancher told them.

  “Mr. Franklin, do you need me to carry her luggage?” Robert, Mary’s husband asked.

  “Please, Robert.” Tom looked at Ruth. “Where is your luggage?”

  “I only have this one suitcase, and I perfectly capable of carrying it.”

  “Nonsense.” Tom took the suitcase from her. “Go ahead and get the carriage ready, Robert.”

  “Yes, sir.” Robert went off into the crowd.

  “Robert works for you?” Ruth asked as she looked for Mary in the crowd but did not see the woman.

  “Yes, you know him?”

  “No, but his wife Mary sat next to me on the train.”

  “Oh, yes Mary was traveling home from her relative’s.” He led her through the crowd. “Mary and Robert both live on my ranch. Robert works on the ranch and Mary moved in the quarters after they married. Perhaps she can help you settle in.”

  “They live on your ranch?” She asked him.

  “Yes, not in my home, but in another small house on my land.” He smiled at her. “But do not worry, we shall still have our privacy.”

  Ruth blushed as she thought about being alone with the stranger. Awkward silence took over and the two of them stopped speaking as he led her and her young son through the station. From the corner of her eye she thought she was a familiar face, but that was impossible, there was no way he could be here. She turned to get a better look but no longer saw him. Still, an eerie feeling unsettled inside of her as she swore she had just seen her brother at the Texas train station. Kansas was a three-day travel, so there was no Dave could be there, no way at all.

  “Take my hand.” Tom’s words interrupted her thoughts.

  “Pardon me?” Ruth looked at his hand as he held it out for her to take in her own.

  “Take my hand, and I will help you into the carriage.” He reached for her.

  His hand was firm but gentle. After she got into the seat of the horse carriage, Tom lifted Billy behind her and Mary joined them. Tom stayed out to talk to Robert for a moment.

  “You did not tell me you were coming to Texas for Mr. Franklin.” Mary leaned in to speak to her like they were trading secrets. “Are you his newest bride?”

  “Newest?” Ruth found it a strange chose of words.

  “You will be his third wife. The first two died within their first year of marriage to Tom. Townspeople call it the Franklin curse.” Mary must have seen the horror on Ruth’s face. The woman quickly changed her tone. “I apologize. I did not mean to sound so brash. Poor Mr. Franklin has just had some tragic

  “Are we ready to head out?” Tom came into the carriage and sat down next to Ruth.

  “Yes, sir.” Mary nodded. “We are ready, aren’t we Ruth?”

  As all eyes focused on Ruth, she suddenly felt anxious again.

  “Of course.” She agreed. “We are ready.”

  She pulled her son closer to her and kissed his forehead. Something inside of her became cautious of the people around her. How would she ever make it down the aisle with this man and his unknown secrets?

  Chapter
Five

  Ruth had expected a large ranch, but nothing like the extraordinary land that belonged to Tom Franklin. It was nothing like her small dried out farm back home. There were at least five large barns, all built with the finest lumber, nothing like her old barn that was falling apart more each day. Unlike her empty barn, these were filled with livestock.

  “This is all yours?” Ruth asked as she looked around the massive ranch.

  “Yes, mam.” Tom looked proud as he spoke of his property. “I am a third generation rancher at this ranch, my grandfather started it with just a dream and my father continued it with an ingenious hunger for profit. I inherited it when my father passed away three years ago.”

  The inheritance was nothing like her husband had left for her. No, her husband had left her with only a broken heart and empty bank. She sighed and pushed those thoughts aside.

  “And this will be your new home.” Tom told her as the carriage pulled up to his house.

  The huge cabin was four times the size of her home, with a wraparound porch and beautiful flowers surrounding the area. It looked like something out of a dream, people could not actually live in homes so enchanting, could they?

  “Wake up Billy.” Ruth whispered to her son. “We are home.”

  “He seems so tired.” Tom observed.

  “The train ride was so rocky that we hardly slept.” Mary told him. “The poor kid has had a rough past three days and it is already past dinner time.”

  “Here.” Tom reached for the boy. “Let me carry him to his new bed. The boy needs his sleep.”

  The idea of handing her son over made Ruth panicked, but before she could protest Tom had gently taken the boy from her arms and started carrying him from the carriage to the new cabin. She was about to interrupt, but seeing the man carry her son brought memories of her late husband to her mind. Tom seemed caring and loving with her child in his arms, it warmed her heart. Maybe this man would be good for both of them.

  “Robert is putting your suitcase in your new bedroom. After that, we will head to our place. It’s been too long since we were together.” Mary smiled mischievously, letting Ruth know just what she planned on doing as soon as she got a moment alone with Robert. “But I will come by tomorrow and help you with the wedding. We only have two days to get everything ready.”

  “What?” Ruth’s eyes widened large as she asked the woman to repeat herself. “Did you just say the wedding will be in two days?”

  “Yes, that is what I have been told by Robert, and he knows because he is in charge of getting the ranch ready for the ceremony and the guest.” Mary chuckled and shook her head. “You really are a clueless gal, aren’t you?”

  “Come, Mary.” Robert came walking out of the cabin and smiled at his wife. “Let them have their privacy, and we can have ours.”

  Mary practically jumped into his arms and the two skipped off to their quarters.

  “Ruth, please come inside and see your new home.” Tom was standing in the doorway, his cowboy hat in his hand, allowing the sunlight to shine on his blonde hair and brighten his already dazzling blue eyes. “You are home now. This is your home.”

  Home. If only calling the cabin made it home, her heart would not be back in Kansas.

  Stepping past Tom, Ruth went into the cabin and could not believe how amazing it truly was. There must have been over a dozen rooms, each bigger than the last as she walked curiously through it.

  “This is the kitchen, but you don’t have to feel obligated to cook, I can hire a maid for that.” Tom told her as they walked into the large kitchen.

  “No, that will not be necessary.” Ruth ran her finger’s over the long mahogany table, feeling the smooth expensive wood under the tips of her fingers. “There is no need for another person to cook.”

  “Truth is; I like to cook also.” He winked. “But I never have much time. Between the work on the ranch and business endeavors, by the time I get in this kitchen I just want to kick my boots off and head to bed.”

  Hearing his lips talk about bed made her feel shy again, and she turned so he wouldn’t see her rosy cheeks.

  “Come this way.” Tom grabbed her hand and led her form the kitchen to the stairs. He seemed excited to show her the place, but she had never had a man so eager to touch her hands before, not even William had been an overly hands on man. “I want to show you something.”

  The stairs were grand, with a banner that have been carved by a very skilled carpenter. She admired the beautiful woodwork as he quickly guided her up the steps.

  “When your brother told me about your son, I got excited to have him be part of my family. I’ve always wanted children.” He opened a bedroom door and motioned for her to go inside. “Keep quiet though, the young man needs his sleep.”

  As she stepped into the bedroom, she fought the tears from escaping her eyes. Not only did her son have his own bedroom, he had a bedroom fit for a prince. The large wooden canopy bed seemed a little drastic for a boy of three, but as she watched her son sleeping perfectly on the cloud like mattress she knew he deserved no less.

  “I will love him like my own.” Tom whispered into her ear.

  Ruth let a teardrop fall from her eye as she saw the life her son would now have. She then turned from the sleeping child and hurried out of the room. Everything was going so fast and she suddenly felt overwhelmed.

  “Wait, Ruth wait.” Tom followed her out of the bedroom and into the hallway. “Have I offended you? Have I done something wrong?”

  “No.” She shook her head, but could not stop from feeling panic in her heart. “No, you have been very kind and welcoming.”

  “I am not trying to overwhelm you. Please, I have another room to show you.” He led her to the bedroom next to Billy’s.

  There was a bed larger and more grand than her sons. It had a beautiful furniture set complete with a two dresser, a desk, and a vanity. He opened the closet and it was filled with wonderful dresses in every color imaginable.

  “Your brother told me your measurement. I suppose he thought it would please me to know your figure, but I found it helped provide a start for my seamstress to begin your new wardrobe. She can of course make any changes needed.” He pointed to the huge bed across the room. “And the sheets are from the finest European silks. I had the comforter made in purple. That is what I was told is your favorite color.”

  She looked at the bed. Soon she would be expected to join him in it after marriage. The thought took her breath once more. As attracted to him as she was, it still did not calm her nerves to know another man as well as she had known her William.

  “It is true. I do love the color purple.” She noticed the color incorporated into the room as she glanced around the magnificent area.

  “Well, this is all your.” He told her.

  “This is not your bedroom?” She asked as she realized there was nothing belonging to him inside.

  “No, I have the bedroom across the hall. This room is all your.” He smiled warmly. “Ruth, I do not expect you to love me yet. I do not expect you to share a room with me now. You hardly know me at this moment. I do hope in time that we can share a love for one another. And I do hope we can share a bed, eventually, but only if you so desire.”

  A sizzling tingle sparked inside of her when he spoke sweetly about sharing a bed together. The idea was not horrible, and she found herself hoping that in time in may happen too.

  “You are better than most men, you know that Tom Franklin?” Another tear shimmered in her eye.

  “There is one more thing.” Tom from behind her.

  “How can there be more, when you have already given so much?” She turned around to find him down on one knee in front of her.

  “I want to do this right. I want to give you proposal you deserve.” He pulled out a velvet heart shaped box from his pocket and opened it. Diamonds could not be so big, could they? No one owned rings like this back home. “Ruth, will you please do me the honor of marrying me?”

 
; “Yes.” She did not waste a second answering, even though her heart still had doubts. “I will marry you, Tom Franklin.”

  Tom got up and embraced her. Surprisingly, she found herself not wanting to let go.

  “I have a few things to tend to on the ranch before bed.” He told her as he let go of the embrace. “Supper is made in the kitchen and there are plenty of book in the library down the hall. Please make yourself at home. I will see you in the morning, for we have a wedding to arrange.”

  Tom put his hat on and disappeared down the hall and out of the cabin. A new excitement rang through her. Maybe this was her second chance at love. Maybe she was not doomed forever.

  A hand suddenly went over her mouth as a man grabbed her from behind and pulled her into the bedroom. She kicked and fought to get free, but his grip was too tight.

  “Shh. Shh. It is me, sister.” Her brother Dave said into her ear.

  “Dave?” She turned around to face him. “Dave! It is you!”

  Her arms wrapped around him as she felt happy to see her older brother again.

  “Keep quiet.” Dave closed the door behind them and went to the window to make sure Tom had gone from the cabin.

  “What are you doing here? How did you even get here? I left you in Kansas three days ago.” When she had left him, she feared never seeing him again.

  “I took the same train as you. I rode in a different class section and kept clear of you so you wouldn’t see me.” He explained. “Look, I found out news about Tom right only hours before you were to leave for Texas. I should have told you, but I feared you would not go through with this marriage.”

  “What news?”

  “He is a bad man with ulterior motives.” Dave sat her down on the bed. “Listen to me, he murdered his other two wives in order to inherit their fortunes. I fear he has the same plan for you.”

  “That can’t be true. He is a caring man who has shown us nothing but kindness.” Ruth then remembered the curse Mary had mentioned. Perhaps she was trying to warn Ruth of his past. “But I do not have any fortunes for him to inherit. What could he possibly think to gain from me?”