Where the River Flows

by Hildie McQueen

  Joshua frowned at his sister. "Women and your romantic notions."

  "Oh you'll see. I just know you'll be chomping at the bit to consummate the marriage."

  "Abigail hush," he replied in a whisper. "Go on and get her now."

  His sister giggled and went inside her words turning his mind to thoughts he’d rather not have prior to speaking to Miss Bunting. Heat threatened to climb from his neck to his face so he paced and looked to the sky, hoping the brisk air would help.

  "Mr. McKade?" Her voice was husky and definitely becoming. Joshua turned to find she watched him with interest. From the pinch between her brows, she was not at all impressed by him.

  Joshua moved closer and reached out his hand. "Joshua."

  Her hand was small and delicate in his. "Viola Bunting. I do suppose we should call each other by our given names."

  Up close she was prettier than he expected. Beautiful in all honesty. Expressive brown eyes, a cute pert nose, and although her mouth was a bit larger than would be considered attractive, it suited her perfectly. There was a light sprinkle of freckles across her nose and top of her cheeks. A delicate mole on the right corner of her lip caught his attention.

  "I still find it awkward, you will excuse me if I stumble over my words." She sat and looked up at him with expectation.

  Joshua pulled the other chair to across from hers and lowered into it. "I have some things to discuss regarding this arrangement of ours."

  "Arrangement?" Her right eyebrow lifted.

  He plowed forward. "I do not have romantic aspirations, Miss Bunting. I expect you do not either."

  "No, I do not." Her honesty surprised him. "I expect at best to become good friends."

  "Yes, right. I want to propose we agree to our responsibilities to each other prior to getting married."

  "Housework and cooking in exchange for providing me with a roof over my head, clothing, and food?" Viola's bored expression almost made him laugh.

  "And some help with the ranching."

  "No."

  "Excuse me?"

  "I will not be out there plowing or milking. I detest the thought of rough hands and sunburned skin." Her eyebrows high, she waited for his reaction.

  "Have you ever milked a cow, Miss Bunting?"

  "I thought we had agreed on given names. And no, Mr. McKade, I have not."

  He huffed. "Do you plan on spending the day with your crochet then?"

  "It's pronounced cro-shay, not cro-chet,"she corrected him. "And no, I will not be spending my day crocheting. I will clean, garden, prepare your meals, grind grains, feed the chickens, and whatever other animals you keep. I will wash clothes, iron them, and mend them. I will maintain the house, sweep, mop, and clean. I will ensure you have heated water for bathing, keep your hair and beard trimmed, and of course lay in bed with you."

  Joshua was speechless for a moment. "About that. We don't have to."

  "Of course we have to. If you speak the vows, our marriage will be consummated. Afterwards if you wish to just lie next to me and keep your distance it is up to you. I'm perfectly fine not to have you touch me ever again, once we are husband and wife as God intended."

  "Are you always so outspoken?" Joshua couldn't help smiling at her.

  "Yes, Mr. McKade, I am. And I must say, I am not in the least impressed by your appearance. I do expect you'll bathe prior to our...er..."

  "Consummating of the marriage?"

  "Precisely." She stood. "Now should we get on with it or are there more things you wish to discuss?"

  "No, ma'am." Joshua got to his feet and followed her all the while thinking on how he'd avoid said "consummation." He looked to the barrel and his lips curved. He wouldn't bathe and definitely not shave.

  Chapter Six

  Viola managed to keep from hyperventilating until she made it to the small bedroom where she'd spent the night in the Albright's home. She'd made an excuse to Sunshine about needing to get something before saying the vows and somehow managed to keep upright until closing the door. She slumped against the solid wood and pushed the heel of her palm into her mouth to muffle a cry.

  How was it possible for life to change so drastically? Just two years earlier, she lived with her parents, spent her days baking and assisting her mother with household chores, her greatest worry what dress to wear the next day. Now on the brink of marrying a total stranger, her parents long buried, there was no other choice.

  She looked around the room wildly in an attempt to remain calm. Surely an idea would come to mind. There had to be a way or something she could do to avoid marrying the unkempt man who waited out in the parlor with the Albrights and his sister and her family.

  His sister, Abigail, was very nice and had tried to make excuses for his appearance. It was easy to see he did it on purpose. The man could have at least changed into clean clothing and attempted to trim all the hair on his face. She shuddered to think about having to kiss him or worse yet consummate the marriage. She let out a slow breath and swallowed past the dryness of her throat. It was best to just get it over with. Nothing she could do now, far too deep into the proverbial creek.

  She went to a basin and splashed water onto her overheated face. The coolness of it helped and Viola took a deep breath. Whatever happened, she was sure of one thing. She'd never allow Joshua McKade to hurt her. If nothing else, she was grateful for him expressing what his expectations were. Once they were husband and wife, each could keep their end of the bargain and coexist in peace.

  For some reason, going over the conversation they'd had earlier helped her calm and Viola turned to the door. She opened it and gasped at finding Sunshine with her hand up about to knock. The woman's eyes widened and then she composed herself. "Are you ready Viola? Everything is set. Let's get you married."

  "Thank you. Yes, I'm ready." She followed the woman to the front room surprised to see her future husband already standing next to the judge. Somehow Joshua McKade managed to look a bit cleaner. His sister's gaze went from her to him and she frowned as if embarrassed by his appearance.

  Sunshine rushed to a table, lifted a small bouquet of flowers, and shoved them into her hands. "There now everything is perfect." Was the woman drunk? Nothing was perfect. The wedding was the simplest, thrown together affair ever.

  Viola stood beside Joshua and the judge took his place before them and cleared his throat. The vows felt hollow to her and for some inexplicable reason, funny too. She covered her mouth with one hand to stifle a giggle. Her groom gave her a questioning gaze without comment. Finally unable to keep from laughing, she began to cough hoping it would help what had to be hysteria.

  "Viola Bunting, do you take..." the judge began.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt," Viola told the judge and wiped at a tear. "I need a glass of water."

  She wasn't sure who handed her the glass, yet taking time to drink from it helped her calm. Everyone watched as she turned back to the men. "Please continue. I am ready now."

  The vows finally finished, the judge smiled at them, his rosy cheeks plumping. "You may kiss your wife," he pronounced.

  A sniff sounded and Viola wondered if it was Sunshine or his sister. She stiffened when he leaned closer, not daring to move away. Thankfully, the kiss was quick and chaste. It was hard to say what his expression was with the beard and bushy mustache. She was pretty sure he grimaced.

  "I need to get back to the ranch. Got some cows to round up." His eyes widened when his sister kicked his leg and Sunshine let out a loud gasp.

  "We made a wedding cake," Sunshine glowered at him before giving Viola an apologetic look.

  "And we have to toast to the happy occasion," Abigail commented with a glare. "I can't believe your atrocious manners, Joshua." She took Viola's hand. "Come on, sweetie, don't mind him. He's a very nice man. Once you get to know him, you'll see."

  Doubt filled, Viola looked to her new husband who stood in the same spot without speaking. "It won't hurt to wait just a few minutes. Will it?"

 
He slid a look to the judge who was focused on the cake. "I don't suppose it will. Not like I have a choice it seems." He went to the doorway and leaned on the jam looking into the distance.

  His wide shoulders almost filled the gap. His broad back tapered to a trim waist and on down to long legs. Joshua McKade was tall and well built.

  "He's handsome too," Abigail told her with a wide smile. "You'll see when he finally shaves."

  Heat rushed up from her neck at being caught studying the man she'd just married. "Oh. I'm sure he is." Of course her sister had to say it. Admittedly his eyes were a nice mixture of green and gold specks. He had long lashes. With all the facial hair, it was hard to tell what he really looked like. Not that it mattered. They'd already come to an agreement to live together. More of an arrangement than a marriage and it suited her just fine. If he weren't handsome, it would make things even easier.

  "Cake?" Sunshine handed her a small china plate with a sliver of the confection. It was sweet and buttery, with slight hints of spice.

  "It's wonderful," Viola placed the plate on the table. "May I take some for tomorrow?"

  Sunshine and Abigail beamed with pride. "We're known for our cakes," Abigail reported while her friend cut a large piece and placed it into a basket. "There are some other things in there since we're not sure what all Joshua has at the house."

  "We won't go hungry," the groom grumbled and surprised her by taking a plate and eating the cake. Although he seemed to want to be anywhere but there at the moment, he looked to enjoy eating the dessert.

  Viola met Abigail's gaze. "I worked as a baker in Virginia."

  The woman rushed Viola bringing her into a tight embrace. "What great news. We'll have to share recipes." She looked to her brother. "You hear that Joshua? You'll have to buy a new stove."

  Instead of a reply, he went to pick up one of her bags and carried it outside. The women stood side by side and watched him for a moment. "I don't understand why he advertised for a mail order bride." Viola said, her eyes on the doorway. "He doesn't seem very happy at the situation."

  Neither Sunshine nor Abigail replied, and Viola wondered if she'd said something wrong. "I'm sorry. Surely he's just nervous."

  The women exchanged glances and Sunshine shrugged. "He'll come around. Joshua has always been a bit on the shy side."

  "Very true," Abigail piped in and looked to the judge who had a child on his leg and attempted to keep her from eating his cake.

  His eyes widened at noting they waited for his comment and he cleared his throat. "The ladies are correct Joshua will come around. He not a man to take vows lightly."

  As if he'd passed some sort of test, the two women nodded and smiled. Abigail threaded her arms through Viola's. "Come, sister. Let's see you off to your new home. I will come by in a few days to check on you and help with any questions you may have. Make sure you ask Joshua to take you to town for supplies. He keeps a pitiful kitchen."

  Her new husband walked toward them from the wagon. Viola couldn't keep from admiring his confident stride. She swallowed and looked away. Sure she'd fall when her legs began to shake, she held on to Abigail's arm tighter. "Thank you so much for the cake and the food."

  Sunshine bustled past them and loaded the basket onto the back of the wagon just as Joshua took her elbow to assist her.

  His large hand cupped her elbow and he easily lifted her up into the bench. Viola released her grip on his shoulders and settled back. "It's quite high up here is it not?"

  "I suppose. Don't they have wagons in Virginia?"

  "I always took a coach whenever I needed to go further than I could walk," Viola said after he settled next to her. He studied her for a moment and then snapped the reins.

  Viola turned and waved to the women who wiped at their eyes. "Your sister and her friend are very sensitive."

  "Yep. They are a pair, those two."

  The trip to his ranch was about an hour long. She was becoming tired of the silence and although their consummation lay ahead, was happy to see the dwelling when he motioned to it. "There's home."

  It was lovely. Just like town, it was nestled in the beautiful valley. The small ranch home was situated in the center of a large plot of land with several corrals behind it. There were quite a few horses grazing and prancing about, all a deep chestnut color. To the far right of the house were a large stable and a smaller building she gathered was a bunkhouse. It never occurred to ask Sunshine what exactly he did for a living. The ad had said "rancher," however the description was rather vague.

  The sun had begun its descent behind the mountains painting the sky with hues of orange, yellow, and red. The breathtaking sight made her lean forward. "It's beautiful here. Look at all the colors in the sky and how the light reflects off the river."

  He did not reply while guiding the horses to pull up in front of the house. His serious gaze scanned the horizon before meeting hers. "The beauty of the place is what made us settle here. Whoa!" Joshua brought the horses to a stop and jumped down before she could ask anything else.

  Once he assisted her down, Joshua rounded the wagon and grabbed the basket. "Hold this." He hurried to the back of the wagon and grabbed her larger bag then rushed to the front door. She followed behind and entered.

  Although rustic, it was well furnished with sturdy well-made table, chairs, and sitting area furnishings. There was a large rug in the front room floor and the kitchen looked to be well stocked with cooking utensils.

  Unfortunately the house was an utter mess. Clothing was strewn about. There was dog waste on the floor beside the kitchen table. A puppy had chased Joshua to the back of the house when he'd entered. Viola figured the animal was responsible for some portion of the messiness.

  A plate and bowl on the floor meant Joshua must have left the dog indoors while coming for her. There were dirty dishes and what looked to be burnt food on the kitchen table. Thankfully there was a clear surface next to a small window where she could put down the basket of food.

  "I gotta go see about the horse and such. The bedroom is straight back." Joshua went to the door.

  "I am not sure what you expect me to do..." the slam of the front door cut off her sentence. Viola's mouth gaped open, ever so slowly she let out a breath. She and Mr. McKade would have to speak about his atrocious manners. The puppy whimpered at the door, looking over its shoulder at her. She went to it and petted its head. "I am not sure if you're allowed to go outside or not. Unfortunately your owner has the manners of a...a..." She was at a loss. "Let's just say he is very rude."

  She went to the basket and pulled out the plate with cake on it. After washing a fork, she and the puppy went to the front room, sat down, and shared a piece of wedding cake.

  Chapter Seven

  The sun had long set by the time Joshua made it back to his house. The puppy rushed from a large chair in the front room and jumped up and down, pawing at his pant leg. He walked back outside with her and waited while she relieved herself and began to play. The dog ran back and forth in an attempt to get him to chase her. "Not tonight pup, I'm too tired."

  Nothing looked different when he went back into the house. The kitchen was still in disarray, and the parlor to the side remained strewn with clothes and other miscellaneous things. He scratched his beard attempting to ignore the guilt at bringing Viola to such a messy place. Perhaps he should have cleaned up a bit more.

  As if in reply, his arm throbbed, a stark reminder he'd pushed it today. Of course most of it had to be done. Admittedly, he'd stayed away longer than necessary, in an effort to avoid his new wife. It was easy to see she'd had a hard time getting through the marriage. Like him, circumstances and fate dictated to end up standing before Judge Albright exchanging vows. In spite of her pallor and obviously not feeling well, Viola's beauty had kept his attention.

  She was not like any other woman he'd ever seen. With wavy long hair and expressive eyes, it was hard to look away from her face. Her lips were curved up on the corners. It was as if she kept
an adorable secret. The most expressive thing about her was her eyes. A deep shade of brown, they were large and bright. When she'd first seen the ranch, her expressions and words were eerily similar to what his Gretchen's had been. Every syllable she'd spoken brought him closer to pulling her against him to hug her while she described what she saw as he'd done with his wife years earlier. The pang in his chest had bothered him so he'd had to get away from her as quickly as possible. He could not allow her close. Never again would he soften his heart enough to allow someone in.

  The memory of the pain of losing someone he loved still shook him to the core. Joshua moved past the front rooms to the bedroom being careful not to make much noise. He stopped in his tracks upon passing a smaller guest room. In the center of the bed was his wife.

  She lay curled on her side under the blankets, her hair blanketing the pillow. Facing away from the door, he couldn't make out if she was awake. He'd not considered she'd not sleep in the same room with him. However, they'd made an agreement. They'd live as husband and wife, nothing more. Perhaps to her it meant separate rooms as well.

  Her bags were now in this room, which did not make a good living space for a lady. Besides the bed and a small side table, there were no other furnishings. He looked to his bedroom and back to her.

  To wake her and move her to the other bedroom would lead her to think he planned to have relations with her. The one thing he planned to avoid.

  His arm throbbed reminding him of his limitations. Although he'd gotten pretty good at removing his clothes, it still took longer than it should. Not to mention he'd yet to wash up before sleeping.

  Why did life have to be so damn complicated anyway? Joshua made his way back to the front room, sat down, and removed his boots. He fell back onto the cushions and pulled a quilt over his legs.

  Tomorrow, once his morning chores were done, he'd have a conversation with Viola. If she insisted on staying in the guest room, they'd have to go to town to purchase a washstand and other necessities. He pushed the pang of want away. The raw need to be with a woman like her made him shift in discomfort.