He glanced at her riding up on the wagon seat, driving the team. He wanted nothing more than to pluck her off that seat and sit her in front of him so he could kiss her neck.
“Is something wrong?” Mercy didn’t even look at him when she spoke.
“No, just admiring the view.” He grinned when her face turned a rosy red. Perhaps there was a chance after all. He kept grinning until she finally scowled at him. Well maybe not. Either way, they needed to talk.
“I’m hoping we have nice weather the rest of the day. I have an Uncle Jed who can predict when storms are coming and when they will be over. It came in handy on the Oregon Trail.”
The day had been long, and anticipation began to fill him. They’d been on Settler land for about a mile. Should he tell Mercy? Maybe not. She might just ride in the other direction. He stopped them near a creek for the night. He wanted to get cleaned up. Mercy was off the wagon before he could even offer to help her down.
They tended the animals. Then after Greg started a fire. He grabbed the only clean clothes he had left, a bar of soap, and a towel, and headed to the creek. He made sure he was out of Mercy’s view.
He undressed and dunked his whole body under the refreshing water. Making liberal use of the soap, he lathered his body, and immediately felt light of heart. He’d work things out with Mercy. He had to. After rinsing the soap off, he waded toward the bank and immediately saw that his clothes and towel were gone. Quickly, he scanned the area, but he didn’t see anything out of place.
“Mercy! Very funny. Now can I have my clothes back?” He waited and there was no answer. “Mercy!”
She stomped toward him and her eyes widened. “Put some clothes on. This is not endearing you to me.”
He grinned. “Very funny. Just give me my clothes back. I’m not mad, I just want to get dressed.”
A frown graced her face, and his stomach dropped. “Run, get the guns!” He dropped down into the shallow water near the bank. He still didn’t see anyone.
Mercy came running and dropped to the ground with gun in hand ready to shoot. She handed him both a towel and his sidearm. “I’ll cover you while you get out of the creek. I don’t have time to worry about your nakedness. Just get out of the water.” She lay on her stomach looking for whoever was out there.
Greg ran toward Mercy without taking the time to cover up. Her eyes widened briefly, but then she quickly scanned the area. As soon as he had the towel wrapped around him, Mercy gestured with her head toward a clump of bushes.
Greg narrowed his eyes and waited. He stood up and walked out into the open. “Juan, come out before I blacken both of your eyes!”
There was laughter from the bushes.
“You too, Carlos. I swear you’ll be sorry. You’ve scared my wife.”
Two heads popped up. “Wife?” Juan asked.
“Yes, you two fools. This is Mercy, my wife.” He helped Mercy up and grinned at the brothers.
“Mercy, these two jokesters are my brothers, Juan and Carlos. They were just about to apologize to you.”
“Well I’ll be dam… I mean it’s a pleasure.” Juan said. He took Mercy’s hand and kissed it. Then he grinned at Greg.
“Nice to meet ya,” Carlos said.
“Is it yours?” Juan asked.
Greg threw his gun down and took a swing at Juan. Juan ducked and threw his shoulder against Greg’s legs, taking him down to the ground. First Juan had the advantage and got a good punch in. Blood spurted from Greg’s lip. Greg immediately took control and was on top of Juan with his fist ready to hit his brother.
“Stop it, both of you!” Mercy shouted as she grabbed Greg’s arm.
“Well, is it?” Carlos asked and Greg began to lunge at him but Mercy had a tight hold on him.
“She’s not showing,” Carlos said to Juan.
“What is wrong with you? I’m not in the family way! Why we’ve never… Well, I’m just not, and I find it insulting.” Mercy turned and stomped off toward the fire.
Greg shook his head at the other two. “Mercy is my wife. She deserves the respect due to her. She wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of ranching, and you do this? You both should be ashamed of yourselves. I expect you to apologize to her.”
Greg didn’t feel much satisfaction at the sorry looks on their faces. He turned, grabbed his gun, and went to find Mercy.
She sat by the fire not looking at all upset. Puzzled, he sat next to her.
“I’m sorry about that.”
“I’d appreciate it if you got dressed. Greg, I grew up with miners. There were fights daily, and I had to patch up my pa plenty of times.”
Juan tossed Greg his clothes. Greg caught them and went behind some bushes to get dressed. He heard both boys apologize to Mercy and was relieved. He wouldn’t have to try to hit them again. He wiped his lip with his hand and there was plenty of blood on the back when he pulled it away. How was he supposed to kiss Mercy now?
He came out from behind the bushes. He didn’t expect to find a worried Mercy with clean water and a cloth to doctor him up. She grabbed his hand and sat him down. Her eyes looked soft and tender as she dabbed at his wound with the cloth. He didn’t care if it hurt, just seeing her look at him that way was worth getting punched.
“What are you two doing all the way out here?” Greg asked.
“Juan has man pains and needs a place to get rid of them,” Carlos said ruefully.
Greg glanced at Mercy and they both burst out laughing.
“What type of man pain can be fixed out here?” Greg asked. He stopped laughing when he saw the hurt expression on Juan’s face.
Juan shrugged. “I just want to be my own man. I want to be able to breed and train horses without constant yammering from Eli and Jed. Their way is the only way, and I’m tired of it. I’m old enough to be on my own.”
Greg glanced from Juan to Carlos. They looked so much alike with their dark skin, black eyes, and long black hair. Greg had never known anyone that was Mexican before they became his new brothers. “What about Carlos? Pa won’t like this, and Ma’ll have a fit.”
Juan smiled as though he already knew that, but it seemed to be news to Carlos, who scowled.
“I don’t care. I’m staying with Juan!” Carlos jutted out his jaw.
Juan sighed. “So, how long have you two been hitched?”
Greg shrugged. “I think about three months?” He looked at Mercy for conformation.
“Three months and twelve days. It was right after my pa died.” She stared into the fire.
Greg reached out and took her hand in his. Her hands might be small, but they did a powerful amount of work. He stroked her hand with his thumb. She shivered at his touch and his heart felt so much lighter.
“So Greg, you have a wife, but I bet you didn’t find any gold like you planned. I knew you wouldn’t find any,” Carlos said.
Greg didn’t correct him. “Mercy is my treasure.” Her blush pleased him.
***
Mercy stared at them wistfully. She’d always wanted brothers and sisters. “I can make some supper.”
“No, I’m taking you to the creek so you can have a private bath. Juan is a great cook.” Greg turned toward Juan. “You don’t mind do you?”
“How long will this bath take? I’m starving.” Carlos folded his arms in front of him.
She got up and grabbed clean clothes, along with her soap and a towel. “It’ll take as long as it takes.” She marched off toward the creek, not looking back. Greg would follow and make sure no one peeked. She stopped at the creek and hesitated. What about Greg? Would he think it his right to watch her? A lump formed in her throat.
Before she knew it, Greg was standing in front of her. He reached out and caressed her cheek. “I won’t look. I never should have that night in the cave. You deserve my respect, and I knew you didn’t want me to watch you. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Nodding, she smiled. “I’ll be quick. Carlos is hungry.”
Greg laughed. “D
on’t let him fool you. He’s always hungry.” He turned his back.
She hesitated and decided she needed to trust him. She undressed and walked to the deepest part of the creek and dunked under the water. It felt delightful to have the mud and dust disappear. She lathered the soap in her hair, and when she finished rinsing herself she was in a better mood than she’d been in days.
“I’m coming out.”
“Fine. It’s getting cooler out. You might want to dress quickly.”
He cared. She felt her splintered heart begin to mend. She dressed in record time. Of course she was wearing trousers and an oversized shirt. It would have been good to have something else to wear in front of his family, but she’d left her too-small, faded black dress behind.
“You can turn around now.” The twinkle in his eyes had her face heating, but she liked it. “Let’s get to the fire so I can dry my hair.” She began to walk, but Greg stood in place scowling. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want anyone but me to see your hair down. It’s too beautiful to share.”
“It’s getting cold. I’m going to sit by the fire.” Another splinter mended as she walked to the fire and sat down.
Greg reached into the trunk in the back of the wagon and brought her brush to her. She gave him what she hoped was one of her best smiles.
“Are we on your family’s land already?” She wasn’t sure she was ready to meet Greg’s parents yet. Would they think her good enough to be their son’s wife? She highly doubted it. She had never met anyone’s standard of what a woman should be.
“Yes, the border is about a mile away. We jointly have a lot of land,” Juan explained as he put a hoe cake on a plate and handed it to her.
“Thank you.” She wished she was hungry, but her appetite had fled as her doubts crowded into her head. She was bound to be a disappointment. It was a good thing she planned to leave and start her own life.
Greg glanced at her. “Not hungry? That’s not like you.”
“I’m fine, really. It’s been a long day is all.” Pretending to be happy without a care in the world was exhausting. “Would it be rude if I spread out my bedroll?”
“Of course not.” Greg took her plate from her and grabbed her bedroll from the back of the wagon. He placed it close to the fire. He looked worried, and that made her feel guilty.
She lay down and turned her back to them. They talked in low voices, and soon she drifted off.
Chapter Nine
The house was in sight, and Mercy could feel Greg’s excitement, in vast contrast to the dread that filled her. She couldn’t stop the thoughts in her head that said she wasn’t worthy and they would hate her.
She was used to the rough and tumble life of the gold mines. She was sure to embarrass Greg. He was such a good man, and he deserved better. Juan and Carlos gave their horses their heads and off they went. If not for the heavy gold they were hauling Greg probably would have followed.
Taking off her hat, she tried to smooth down her hair. It hung down her back and when she tried to rake her fingers through it, she noted just how knotted it was.
“I can’t go.” She reined in the team.
Greg stopped right next to her. “Why not?” His brow furrowed as he frowned.
“Look at me. I don’t dress like a woman, and my hair is a mess, and your family will think you married some street urchin. I know how nice women look at me. I’ve seen it when I went into stores with my pa. Just point me in the direction of the nearest town.” Tears filled her eyes.
“No.”
Her breath left her in a whoosh. “No? Why not? You couldn’t possibly want to be saddled with me.”
Greg grinned. “Perhaps I do want to be saddled with you, Mercy Settler. No one will look down at you. They’ll be happy that I made a good choice in a bride. I know I’m happy.” He stared into her eyes, and she saw the truth of his words.
She nodded and urged the team on. Her hands shook slightly as she drove the wagon to the house. Greg jumped down and was at her side. He helped her down and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
A pretty young girl walked out the door, took one look at Mercy, and shook her head. “Certainly this isn’t—”
“Scarlett, this is my wife Mercy.”
“Nice to meet you,” Mercy said. Her heart sank when Scarlett shook her perfect head with her perfect dark hair. She turned around in her beautiful green dress and rushed back inside.
Mercy took her hand back. “I’ll get going now.” She hated how pitiful her voice sounded.
The next thing she knew so many people piled out of the house, she had no idea how they had all fit inside. An older woman smiled at her then walked up and hugged her. “Welcome, Mercy. Juan and Carlos were just singing your praises. My name is Lynn, and I’m Greg’s ma.” She turned to Greg and there were tears in her eyes when she hugged him tight to her. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
Greg hugged her just as tight. “It’s good to be back, Ma.”
Lynn Settler stepped back and looked him over. “Definitely a man now.”
Greg turned red. “Ma, you can’t say things like that.”
Lynn laughed. “Come on into the house, both of you.”
Greg reached out, grasped Mercy’s hand, and led her to the house. Once they were inside, she could see the house was unusually large. The table in the kitchen was as long as the tables in the mining camp.
“How many kids live here?”
Lynn poured coffee into three mugs. “Well, we have Juan, Carlos, Scarlett, Cindy, Brian, Will, Oscar, Alex, and Rose. And since you’ve been gone, Greg, we have added Hunter, Anthony, Jax, Mia, and Cotton. Sit, let’s have coffee.”
The three of them sat down, and then a young boy came bounding in. “Greg you’re back! Did you strike it rich?”
Greg smiled back. “I sure did and her name is Mercy.” He grinned at her. “Mercy, this is my brother Will.”
Will frowned. “Howdy, Ma’am. I was thinking about gold.”
“That too. Some’s on the mule. The rest is buried in the wagon. Will you help bring it all in the house?”
“Sure thing, Greg,” Will yelled as he ran out the front door.
The big house, meeting Greg’s ma, the number of orphans… It all overwhelmed Mercy. Not only did she know she looked ugly and plain, she wasn’t used to family life. She was bound to make herself appear awful. She didn’t know how to deal with his family. How would she remember their names? She felt the blood drain from her face. Now she must look pasty white.
“How did you two meet?” Lynn asked.
“I covered him with my shotgun while he was being shot at,” answered Mercy. “He got to safety.”
Lynn’s eyes widened. “At the gold mines? Mercy, you were there?”
“Yes, ma’am. I grew up in the mines. Me and my pa, we traveled from claim to claim. It’s not such a bad life. We had each other until he was shot in his own mine. It was a bad time. Greg almost got hanged for it, but I knew the judge. He insisted we marry. Greg and I became partners, and we’d fight about the perfume on him when he came back to the mine with it on his clothes.” She took a deep breath. Why couldn’t she seem to stop chattering?
Lynn cocked her left brow. “Perfume?”
Greg narrowed his eyes when he glanced at Mercy. “I had to go to the saloon to see what was going on is all. We barely got out of there with our lives and the gold.” He shrugged. “Now I have a wife.”
He didn’t sound very cheerful about the wife part, and Mercy allowed her shoulders to sag. Perhaps it would be best to just be quiet.
Two girls came running into the kitchen giggling and then they stopped.
“I thought Scarlett was fibbing,” the blond girl said.
“I never had much but I always had a dress. I never had to dress like a man,” the girl with light brown hair said.
The blood quickly returned to Mercy’s face and she grew hot.
“Girls,” Lynn said in a disapproving voic
e. “Mercy, this is Cynthia and Mia.”
Cynthia was the blond and she barely gave Mercy a nod.
Mia didn’t even look embarrassed by her words. “Don’t you have a dress?”
“Mia, I think that is quite enough. Come meet your brother Greg.”
Mia scowled at Lynn and then she smiled sweetly at Greg. “I’ve heard so much about you, Greg. Everyone is right. You are very handsome.”
“Girls, why don’t you go tell your pa that Greg is back,” Lynn suggested. She appeared relieved when they ran out the door.
“Mercy, I’m so sorry. Cynthia was very shy until Mia came to live with us.” She hesitated. “Perhaps Greg can get your things and you can change.” Lynn’s voice was gentle.
Mercy stood and nodded. “I can get my own things.” She hurried outside and was relieved to see the saddlebags had not been unloaded from Greg’s horse.
She quickly mounted and rode the way they’d come. Her pride had taken quite a beating. Between her heart breaking and her pride being ripped to shreds, she wasn’t sure which hurt more. Her father must have protected her from people like Cynthia and Mia. She couldn’t ride into town. It was Greg’s town, and she didn’t want to embarrass him. She still had her gold flake and nuggets in Greg’s saddlebags. She’d survive.
***
Greg pushed back his chair hard as he stood. He’s been sorely disappointed by his sisters’ reaction to Mercy. “I have to go get my wife. She thought she’d be judged here because of her lack of clothes and because her hair, though clean, wasn’t styled in any fashion.” Bitterness he couldn’t control colored his words. “I assured her everyone here was kind and it wouldn’t matter. They’d see past those things and realize how nice she was. I’ll be back.”
Before his ma could say a word, he left. Will, Juan, and Carlos all stared at him as he quickly saddled another horse from the barn and mounted. Juan pointed in the direction Mercy had gone, and Greg nodded his thanks.
Greg had been riding for at least an hour. Where was she? She didn’t have much of a lead on him. But he couldn’t see any trail that she’d left. He heard a horse coming up behind him and grabbed his gun, turning his horse. Relief swept through him. He wanted to tear up at the sight of Smitty, his pa.
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