Seven Brides for Seven Mail-Order Husbands Romance Collection

by Davis, Susan Page; Dietze, Susanne; Franklin, Darlene

  Luke nodded. She didn’t sound too happy about it, but she didn’t seem annoyed either, which bothered him to no end.

  Chardy straightened as the man rode into the yard. He must not be much of a horseman if he couldn’t beat Chardy with that stallion. Or maybe he let her win.

  “As you can see, Mr. Carter, I managed to get home all by myself,” Chardy said a little breathless.

  The man pulled off his hat and swiped his brow with his shirtsleeve. His soft chuckle grated on Luke’s nerves. “I can see that, ma’am. Still, I’m glad I could see you home safely.” He nodded toward Luke. “I’m sure your brother there appreciates that.”

  Luke stretched to his full height. “I’m not her—”

  But Chardy interrupted him. “I’m sure he does. Now if you’ll excuse us, I need to get supper started.”

  “Wouldn’t want your brothers to starve.” He gave them a crooked grin. “Maybe I’ll see you at the interviews.”

  Chardy didn’t respond. Instead, she gave him a polite nod.

  Luke’s hand tightened on his cane as the cowboy shoved his hat back on his head, and with a tilt of his brim, turned and rode off.

  “I don’t like him,” Luke said.

  Chardy watched the man disappear down the road. “You don’t know him. He might be a nice man.”

  At that, Luke turned toward her. “How do you know him?”

  “I met him on the road coming home. He seems like a nice enough fellow. Talkative, though.”

  “I don’t like him,” Luke said again. “He doesn’t even know you and he’s sniffing around your skirts.”

  She jerked around to face him. “That’s a terrible thing to say.”

  “It’s the truth. You could have been hurt, him chasing you down the road like that.” The more Luke thought about the way Chardy had rode down the path, as if her life depended on it, the angrier he got. “You aren’t going to let that man court you, are you?”

  Loose curls of glorious blond hair shook against her shoulders as she glared up at him. “That is the purpose of the groom interviews. So if Mr. Carter wants to court me, I should at least give him an opportunity.”

  Her words punched Luke in the gut. If only things had been different, if he’d come back from the war whole, he could be the man Chardy needed. He could tell her how the thought of her was the only thing that kept him alive, how she’d been his first thought in the mornings and in his dreams at night. How he would have lost his mind without the memory of her love to push him forward.

  Chardy deserved better than being tied to a cripple. No, she deserved the marriage of her dreams, but only with the right man, not some wily cowboy. Maybe he could help. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe you need someone to help you pick out a suitor.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “I said maybe …”

  “I heard what you said. I’m just wondering why you’d think something like that.”

  Luke wasn’t sure. Maybe it was the predatory look in Carter’s eyes that got him thinking. “Some of the men answering the ad might be coming here with less than noble intentions.”

  Fire sparked in her eyes. “And you think I’m not intelligent enough to figure that out?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying at all!”

  “Well, it sure sounds like it.”

  Maybe he did, but he was just worried about her. He had to defuse the situation. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”

  The lines around her mouth eased. “Then what did you mean?”

  Good, she was listening to him again. “They could be good, honorable men for the most part, but the truth is we don’t know them from Adam’s house cat. What if some are here for something other than marriage?”

  Her brows furrowed slightly. “Why would a man be here if he had no intention of following through with the wedding?”

  A faint smile pressed against his lips. Chardy always saw the best in people. It might be a bit naive, but he loved that about her. In this case, she needed to know the truth. “Some men get what they want then leave before honoring their promises.” The questions in her eyes made him continue. “Usually, that’s property or money.”

  Chardy’s lips flattened into a taunt line. “You think a man would only want me because of the store or this farm?”

  “Of course not.” Luke didn’t know whether to shake some sense into her or pull her into his arms. He didn’t do either. “There are so many reasons why a man would want you, Chardy. That sweet heart of yours. The way you take care of your brothers.” He could name a million more but it only reminded him of what he could never have. “I just think it would be a good idea to have someone with you at the interviews.”

  Her shoulders slumped a little as she thought. Then she glanced back up at him. “Maybe you’re right.”

  Good, at least they were on the same page now.

  “Maybe I should ask George if he would sit in on the interviews. He’s the oldest of the bunch and would know what the other boys would like in my husband.”

  “George,” Luke scoffed. The boy was barely out of short pants. “What would he know about the ways of men?”

  She chuckled. “Not much, but I’ve always thought he was a very good judge of character.”

  Luke drew in a deep breath. Good grief. But what had he expected? Of course, Chardy would want her brother involved. She didn’t have an older male family member to consult.

  In this situation though, Chardy needed someone older and wiser than a thirteen-year-old boy, a person who could judge these men on their merits.

  Someone like him.

  Was that what he wanted, to help the woman that held his heart find a suitable husband? Luke shook his head. He wasn’t that unselfish. Just the thought of her walking down the aisle to another man made his stomach turn. But she needed a husband, and if anyone deserved to be loved and cherished, it was Chardy.

  Pain rocked through his chest as the realization set in. “I’ll help you find a husband if you want.”

  Chapter 8

  Luke was volunteering to find her a husband?

  Chardy hadn’t thought she could hurt any worse than she had when Luke called off their courtship, but she’d been wrong. This was much worse. Was Luke that anxious to be rid of her?

  She stole a glance at him. The man had never worn his emotions on his sleeve, but there was something in his eyes, a slight hesitation, as if he wasn’t convinced this was the best course of action. Could he still have feelings for her? What would she give to ask him?

  For now, she had to consider his offer to help her. She’d been asking God to find a way through the wall Luke had built around himself. Was this really a blessing in disguise? Chardy plastered a smile on her face. “I might just take you up on that.”

  If she’d surprised him, he didn’t show it. He simply nodded then hobbled over to the screen door. “Guess I’d better finish up dinner before the boys declare a mutiny.”

  Chardy hurried over to where Luke held the door open for her. “You made dinner?”

  “Don’t get too excited.” His mouth quirked up at the corners. “I just fried some ham up, put on a pot of beans and some cornbread.”

  Still, she could spend the next hour relaxing with Luke and her brothers rather than cooking. “I don’t know what to say.”

  He followed her inside. “It didn’t seem fair, you having to cook after working all day. So me and the boys came up with a schedule. We’ll cook during the week while you work, and you can make Sunday dinner. Of course, I could help you with that.”

  She watched him as he passed her on his way to the kitchen. No one had ever cooked for her before. Since she was old enough to stand, she’d helped out in the kitchen. When her mother had died in childbirth, it was expected that she would prepare all the meals on top of her other responsibilities. That Luke would do this for her touched her more than she could say.

  She walked quietly into the kitchen. Thomas was busy laying out their plates
and silverware while George manned the stove, occasionally stirring the contents of the large soup pot. But it was the two little heads resting on the table that garnered Chardy’s attention.

  She glanced at Luke then walked over to her youngest brothers. “Emmett? Neil?”

  No answer.

  She stared at Luke. “Are they asleep?”

  He gave her that familiar lopsided grin that always set her heart to fluttering. “They had a busy day.”

  “We all have,” George added as he grabbed a dishtowel and moved the steaming pot to the middle of the table. “But it was a good kind of busy.”

  That was an odd remark, considering George usually balked at work. She walked over to the chair Luke had pulled out for her and sat down. “What have you been doing?”

  Thomas stopped and looked at her. “You didn’t notice the front field?”

  The pot landed with a thud against the table. “Or the front porch?”

  She glanced up at Luke. Obviously, she’d missed something.

  Luke looked at the boys. “Your sister was too preoccupied by the man following her to notice the front yard, boys.”

  “Who was it, Sister?” George slipped into his childhood name for her, an indication he was worried. “You were riding hard when Luke sent me inside to check on the boys.”

  “Just someone riding into town.” She picked up a napkin and laid it across her lap, anything to keep from looking at Luke. She hadn’t told her brothers she planned to sign up for the husband interviews, and now wasn’t the time. “He’s thinking about moving to Turtle Springs.”

  “He ain’t planning on courting you because of that ad the mayor put in the newspaper, is he?” Thomas asked.

  Chardy glared at Luke. “Did you tell them about this?”

  “Luke didn’t do anything,” Thomas said before the man beside her could respond. “All the kids at school know about it. I’m just glad you’re not going to interview for one of those husbands.”

  Now she’d have to tell them, whether she wanted to or not. Chardy sipped her water then spoke. “I am signing up for the interviews.”

  “You’re not serious!” George exclaimed, a scowl on his face. “Why would you do something like that?”

  “George.” Luke’s voice was low and comforting. “Your sister has her reasons.”

  Thomas stacked the remaining plates on the table, his gaze moving from Chardy to Luke. “I thought you were courting Sister.”

  Chardy felt her world tilt. She should have told them she and Luke had parted ways, but she still struggled with it herself. She needed time to get her thoughts together before she had this talk with her brothers. She gently shook her youngest brother, but the boy slid away from her, slumping deep into his chair, as if settling in for the night. She glanced up at Luke. “Could you help me put these two to bed?”

  He nodded, leaning over to rouse Emmett, helping the boy get to his feet.

  Chardy picked up Neil and followed Luke and Emmett to the door. Eyes closed, Emmett breathed deeply and, in a drowsy voice, asked, “Where are we going?”

  “To bed,” Luke whispered, glancing over his shoulder at her. “Then me and your sister need to have a long talk.”

  Ignoring Luke, Chardy held Neil close. She wouldn’t be able to carry him much longer, he was growing so fast. An emptiness she’d never felt before flooded through her. She’d miss his little boy cuddles, the way his head rested in the nape of her neck when he gave her a hug. She sighed. It was time she held a child of her own.

  First, she had to find a husband.

  With Neil’s warm body cuddled against hers, Chardy moved through the kitchen door and down the hall to the boys’ bedroom. She nodded to the bed against the far wall. “If you’ll take Emmett’s boots off, I’ll get them into their nightshirts.”

  “I think I can manage that,” Luke whispered as he led the older boy to a nearby chair. “Just let them sleep in their clothes. Better than waking them up.”

  She stood after laying Neil on the bed. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. Won’t they be uncomfortable?”

  “What do you think?”

  Chardy studied her brothers. Emmett’s head leaned back against the wall, his eyes closed. As Luke pulled at his boot, Neil had already turned on his side, his hands tucked under his cheek. “They look dead to the world. What exactly did you do today?”

  His warm chuckle made her stomach flutter. “Nothing that I didn’t do myself at their age.”

  “Oh.” When they were courting, Luke had told her stories about working his father’s farm. Though it had sounded like a hard way to live, Luke had seemed to enjoy it. It was one of the reasons he’d wanted a place of his own. And now, he was sharing his love of the land with her brothers.

  They worked quietly over the next few minutes, Chardy stealing glances when she could. Luke was so gentle with Emmett, patiently working the boot off so as to not wake up the boy. She could see him with sons of his own, strong boys, with his broad shoulders and gentle ways. Maybe a daughter or two who would wrap their papa’s heart around their tiny fingers.

  If only he wouldn’t deny himself the opportunity.

  “When did you start sleeping in the loft?”

  “How—” She started then stopped. Of course, he’d remember. That window over by George’s bed was where he’d come to say good-bye the night before he left to go east to the war. She’d been so terrified at the thought of never seeing him again, she’d stayed up late into the night to pray. The sharp ping of a pebble against glass had drawn her to the window. How tall and strong he’d looked standing there, telling her everything she wanted to hear. That he loved her. That he was coming back to make a life with her.

  Then he’d kissed her for the very first time.

  Chardy placed the boys’ boots underneath the bed. That was done and gone, Luke’s promises unfulfilled. “This room is larger than the loft. It didn’t seem right to have all this room when the boys were tripping all over each other upstairs.”

  He gave her a soft smile as he helped Emmett into bed. “Most ladies wouldn’t have given up their room. But then, you’ve always been a practical woman.”

  Yes, she supposed she was, not that she liked it much. Raising four boys had forced her to become even more so, to the point Chardy didn’t recognize herself at times. Is that why she signed up for the groom interviews? Had practicality overruled her heart? Because her heart still belonged to Luke.

  Minutes later, Chardy shut the boys’ bedroom door. “So what exactly did you do to those two today?” Luke leaned on his cane, and she wondered if was he as tired as the boys.

  “We started clearing out that place behind the barn for the vegetable garden.”

  “That big old field?” No wonder the boys were exhausted. That field hadn’t been cleared for years! “Papa usually kept a small spot here behind the house.”

  “George thought—and I agreed—that with the increased population in town, you would need a bigger growing area.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that,” she replied as they walked slowly back to the kitchen. Before they reached the door, she turned toward him. “And you say George thought of this?”

  Luke nodded. “The boy has a good head on his shoulders, and he’s good with his hands.” He must have seen her confusion because he continued, “George likes to work with metal.”

  “You mean like Mr. Clarkston, the blacksmith?”

  He nodded. “I was thinking we could ask him if George could work as his apprentice in the afternoons after school.”

  She mulled that over for a moment. “I guess so. I always thought George would want to take over this place.”

  “No,” Luke said as they entered the kitchen. “That would be Thomas, though he’d probably turn it into a horse ranch.”

  Thomas, a rancher. Why the boy had never even ridden an animal. How could Luke know that? Or maybe the better question was why didn’t she? She sat down at her place at the table while Luke retrie
ved the coffee pot. “Why do you say that?”

  He poured her a cup. “Because he likes horses. Did you know he can ride?”

  “That’s not true.” She poured a good portion of cream into her coffee then grabbed the sugar bowl. “He’s never been on a horse.”

  “About that.” Luke placed the hot pot on a dishtowel then sat down beside her. “It seems he’s been visiting Mr. Clarkston in the afternoons. Or should I say, he’s been visiting the horses.”

  She sank back into her chair. “Why didn’t he tell me that?”

  “I think he was afraid you wouldn’t approve.”

  “He’s probably right.” She felt his gaze resting on her. “Papa was trampled on by horses after he was shot. That’s what killed him. I haven’t allowed the boys to ride since then.”

  Luke’s hand closed over her forearm, his touch sending warmth up her arm and across her chest. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”

  She gave him a slight nod then drew in a breath and smiled. “So what do you think Emmett and Neil will turn out to be?”

  “Emmett, I’m not sure yet.” He released her and sat back, taking his coffee cup with him. He took a sip. “But Neil? That kid’s going to be a snake charmer. Have you seen the collection of snakes and lizards he’s got out in the barn?”

  “I’m hoping he grows out of it. Just the thought of those”—she shuddered slightly—“things makes my skin crawl.”

  “Then you’ll be happy to know he let them all go.”

  “He let them all go,” she mimicked, too stunned to react, much less come up with something to say. She blinked. “How did you manage that?”

  Luke leaned over slightly, the scent of soap and hard work making her head spin just a little. “We made a trade.”

  She leaned in toward him, until the world had narrowed down to just the two of them. Luke really was the most handsome man she’d ever known, yet now, with his eyes dancing in little boy mischief, she glimpsed the joy that had won her heart. “What kind of trade?”

  He came closer, and for the briefest of moments, she thought he might kiss her. But then the joy seeped from his gaze and he sat back. “He wanted to learn how to milk a cow.”