Mail Order Vow

by Alix West

  “I was just coming to see you. But you’re free. I can hardly believe my eyes.”

  “You were going to bring me supper again?”

  “I was. I know you expected me to leave today, but I didn’t want to go. Not while you were in trouble, Seth. Don’t be angry with me.”

  “I knew you wouldn’t get on the train.”

  When she’d seen him in the jail, he’d been unshaven and unkempt. Sitting before her he looked entirely different. He wore a white, crisply-pressed shirt, and finely tailored trousers. He looked like he was on his way to church services, not waiting for a judge to decide his fate.

  Laura felt an overwhelming sense of relief along with some foreboding. What did Seth know? Why hadn’t Nick intervened to set things right? How would she ever explain what she’d agreed to when Seth clearly wanted her out of Colter Canyon? Not posing as his wife.

  “When did they release you?” she asked.

  “This morning. They found their man. He confessed right before he died.”

  “My word. Thank God.” Her hand fluttered to her throat. “You’re not here to give me trouble about staying in Colter Canyon, are you?”

  His eyes drifted down her face and lower.

  “What’s this?” he asked softly.

  He slipped his fingers inside her cloak. When he stroked the edge of her dress, he trailed his finger across the swell of her breast. She shivered with a heady mixture of surprise and desire.

  “You were coming to the jail?” he asked, his voice gruff.

  “Yes.”

  “Wearing this?”

  Dear lord, his touch was making her lightheadedness return. Desire drifted through her body, leaving her needy and breathless. She tried to push his hand away, but he stopped her with a hard look. When he tugged the cloak back, cool air washed over her skin. Goosebumps sprang up.

  “Seth,” she pleaded, for what she didn’t know. It was just the two of them in the saloon. Why had he come? Why was he touching her so intimately? Slowly, it dawned on her.

  The marriage proxy… he knew…

  His lips curved into a slow smile. He drew back and straightened, towering over her. “Interesting day. I get out of jail and find out I’m married.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again, fighting the wash of shame. He’d caught her in a bold-faced lie. “You’re not married, Seth.”

  “Says who?”

  He seemed almost amused. With slow, dawning horror, she realized he toyed with her. “You didn’t sign that proxy. Nick signed your name. Forged your signature.”

  He frowned. “Let’s see, did I sign that, or didn’t I?”

  Clarice’s door opened. She came out but stopped abruptly. “Why, Seth Travis. You’re a free man.”

  Seth turned to face her. “That I am. And a married man, too. But I’m sure you knew that, didn’t you?”

  Clarice’s brow arched. She set her hands on her hips and crossed the room, a pensive expression on her face. “Am I supposed to remember something?”

  “You saw Laura sign the marriage proxy.”

  Laura got up from her chair. “What do you want from me?”

  She tried to gain some distance from him, but he blocked her retreat. He cupped her chin and stroked her cheek with his thumb. His gaze grew sultry. “I want what any man wants. A wedding night with his lovely bride.”

  She closed her eyes, His touch sent sparks across her skin, tantalizing pleasure that made her weak. “I did it to help you, Seth.”

  “I know,” he murmured. “But that doesn’t mean I’m letting you go. Ever.”

  She swallowed and shook her head. She felt weak. The room began to swim around her. The corset made it hard to draw a breath and his words and the meaning behind them overwhelmed her.

  “You had your chance, Laura. I told you to run. You didn’t. Now you’re mine.”

  Swaying on her feet, she clasped his arm. As she fell forward, he caught her and lifted her in his arms. She sank against the span of his powerful chest, unable to utter a single sound of protest.

  Chapter Six

  Seth

  Bringing Laura home had been less trouble than he’d anticipated. Clarice followed him as he carried Laura to her room. She fussed and complained about losing the best cook she’d ever had, but in the end, Clarice relented and even helped her pack.

  Moving around her room, Laura kept her cloak on, but every so often he’d glimpse the way her dress dipped and cupped her breasts. He both loved and despised the dress. It had to be something from Clarice and he enjoyed the sight of her lush breasts, but cared little for the notion of other men seeing her loveliness on display.

  After he helped Laura onto the buckboard, Clarice lowered her voice.

  “That girl’s been sweet on you for a long time.”

  “I know that,” Seth replied. “I’m sweet on her.”

  “I wouldn’t let just any man carry off one of the girls that worked for me, Seth, but seeing as it’s you.”

  Her tone grated on him. She wanted to put on a show of caring for any girl that worked for her, and maybe she did, but she’d also given Laura a room without a bolt. She’d let her go to a men’s jail. No, Clarice might care about Laura, but not anywhere near the same way he cared about Laura. He clenched his jaw. He knew what he was doing was heavy-handed, but he wasn’t going to allow Laura to live in a precarious situation.

  He had no choice but to take her away. Not when Melvin talked like Laura was his, and told everyone that it was just a matter of time before he claimed her. And not when she’d signed a marriage proxy. As far as he was concerned, she’d sealed her own fate.

  He narrowed his eyes at Clarice. “Laura’s and my name are both on a marriage proxy. That proxy is now at the Colter Canyon Courthouse. Nick said you witnessed her signing her name.”

  He let his words hang, thinking she would hear the finality of the state of affairs.

  “It’s fine, Clarice,” Laura said, quietly.

  “You take good care of her,” Clarice said.

  Seth nodded. “I aim to.”

  He got onto the buckboard and sat beside Laura. When he moved closer, she flinched at his touch. He nodded good-bye to Clarice and snapped the reins. The lurch of the wagon drew a small cry of surprise from Laura’s lips and she grabbed his arm for support, jerking it away an instant later.

  “I’m not going to bite, Laura.”

  She shook her head, her lips pursed. “This is just a joke to you, isn’t it?”

  He didn’t reply immediately. Instead he waited, steering the horses through the crowded streets of Colter Canyon. He thought she was joking? His thoughts about Laura were far from funny. He’d never been more serious in his life.

  “This isn’t a joke, sweetheart. I intend to take you to my home and keep you. You’re going to live with me as my wife and if you have any doubts about that, I’ve invited the minister out to marry us tomorrow morning. We’ll say our vows to make sure this is done the right way.”

  Her eyes were wide, her face powder white, but she gave a small nod. Seth felt a possessive growl form in his chest. The nod was a small gesture, but it sent a thrill of pleasure across his tumultuous thoughts. She agreed. That was a good thing if the minister was going to get an “I do” from the trembling bride.

  Two horses stopped in front of him, forcing his team to pull up. Melvin Campbell and his brother glared at him, fire in their eyes, their mouths twisted into snarls.

  “I paid for her train fare, Travis,” Melvin rasped. “You have no right to even talk to that little tart.”

  Seth tightened his hold on the reins. Fury burned his blood, not just because Melvin insulted Laura, but because she shrank in fear. The only consolation was that she drew close, seeking protection from him.

  “Laura is my wife, Melvin,” Seth gritted out from between clenched teeth. “You ever disrespect her again, and I will kill you with my bare hands.”

  Melvin gaped. “Is that true?”


  Laura sat beside him, frozen with fear. “Seth, I don’t want to talk to him.”

  Melvin’s face reddened. “Dammit, girl, answer me. Did you marry Seth or not? All that time I’ve been coming to the Magnolia, trying to talk to you and Clarice run me off every time. Now you go marry a Travis? Is it true? You owe me an answer.”

  Seth’s blood seethed in his veins. “She owes you nothing, Melvin. Leave her alone. Quit spreading lies about her.”

  Melvin shook his head in disbelief. He spat on the ground and scowled at Seth and then Laura. People gathered on the walkways and in shop doors to watch the unfolding spectacle. Seth wondered if he might need to get off the buckboard to fight Melvin. He didn’t like the idea of brawling in front of Laura, but he was angry enough to take both men.

  “Come on, Melvin,” his brother muttered. “Leave the girl be already.”

  Melvin didn’t move, but kept his furious gaze fixed on Laura. Finally, he nodded, kicked his horse and trotted past, his eyes lingering on Laura. Seth saw the hunger in Melvin’s look. He might just have to fight Melvin one day, if for no other reason than to teach the man a lesson. Laura was his and he didn’t want Melvin even looking at her. Ever again.

  Seth urged the horses on. “I don’t want you to come to town without me,” he said quietly. “Not for a long while.”

  She nodded. “I won’t.”

  As they got closer to his ranch and his home, Seth felt his anger fade. He was bringing Laura to the home he’d built for the family he hoped to one day have, and now he had a wife. A wife to build a future with. Well, she’d be his wife tomorrow. He couldn’t rightly say what she was to him right then. After he pulled the buckboard onto the worn track leading to the house, he took her hand.

  “This is our home, sweetheart. Right here on the ranch my father started. I built it, imagining this day.”

  Her expression, filled with awe, pleased him. He looked at the house as if for the first time. Built of Texas limestone, the house was two stories. The wrap-around porch had several rockers and planters. Crimson geraniums filled the earthen pots and spilled down the sides. A small dog, a little terrier, shot down the steps.

  The dog barked furiously and raced around the buckboard.

  “That’s Teddy,” Seth said. “He likes to make the rounds. Sometimes he’s at my place, other times, he visits Nick and Will.”

  Laura smiled. “The horses don’t pay him any mind?”

  “No one pays Teddy any mind. That’s why he’s such a loudmouth. He figures one day someone will notice how important he is.”

  He pulled the horses up to the house and brought them to a stop. After he set the brake, he helped her down. Leaving his hands clasped around her waist, he held her close and let his gaze wander down the front of her cloak.

  “Your dress is very revealing, Mrs. Travis. Did you wear it to catch someone’s eye?” He spoke in a gentle, teasing tone.

  “I suppose I was trying to catch my husband’s eye. He ignores me and says I’m just a slip of a girl. I wanted to prove him wrong.”

  For months he’d seen her watching him with such clear yearning, but she’d always retreated, never returning his smile or wave. Now he held her in his arms. The fear was gone and in its place was the barest hint of a flirtation.

  “I haven’t even kissed you, and we’ve been married how long?”

  She blushed. “You have to wait till the minister gives you permission.”

  “Says who?”

  “Says your wife.”

  He grinned and stroked his thumb along her jaw. “I don’t believe I can argue with your logic, Laura.”

  A cool afternoon breeze skimmed over them. The waning sunlight cast a warm glow over her features. He’d thought of her so much the last two months and he knew she cared for him. There were times when it seemed she would never even speak to him. That the canyon between them was too wide, and now here she was. With him. On the eve of their wedding.

  “Will you marry me, Laura?” he asked softly. Her eyes flew wide, but before she could answer, he sank to his knee. “Will you marry me, Mrs. Travis?”

  She smiled and cupped his jaw with her hands. “Yes, Mr. Travis. I will marry you.”

  Slowly, he got to his feet, his blood burning with need. From the beginning he’d wanted to protect her from his fierce desire, but now she was as good as his. He lifted his hands to cup her face. She looked up at him, her eyes wild with both longing and unease.

  He lowered to kiss her, gently at first. The instant his lips met hers, he knew kissing her was a mistake. He should have waited, but he couldn’t resist. Lust clawed at his self-control. She set her hands on his chest. He wondered if she might push away. Instead, she clasped the fabric of his shirt, and clung to him.

  The urge to carry her to bed was too strong to kiss her a moment longer. He broke the kiss, but held her in his arms, unwilling to let her go just yet.

  “I should carry you across the threshold, Mrs. Travis.” His voice was rough with desire.

  “Ah, but we’re not married yet, Mr. Travis.”

  “Quit saying that.”

  Lifting her in his arms, he ignored her words of half-hearted protest and carried her up the stairs and into the house. In the foyer, he set her down and gave her a quick kiss on the mouth, a kiss that was more possessive than passionate.

  He reached into his pocket and held out her small sketchbook. “I believe this is yours.”

  She took it from him and searched his eyes.

  “I liked seeing your drawings, sweetheart. I’d like if you made more and showed those to me, too.”

  She nodded. He’d been a bastard for taking her sketchbook, but for the moment she didn’t seem too irritated with him. If anything she looked a little dazed and overwhelmed and plenty nervous.

  He kissed again. “Welcome home, Laura.”

  Chapter Seven

  Laura

  Seth showed her around the house and took her upstairs to a spare bedroom, telling her that she’d have that room for the night. He left the house to tend to the team and buckboard. Later, they ate dinner in the dining room. The evening had been entirely ordinary, just the two of them talking over dinner. Yet it had seemed almost unreal. She felt sure that at any moment, she’d wake up and find it had all been just a dream.

  After dinner, she’d risen from her chair, a wave of shyness coming over her. “Tomorrow, we’ll say our vows?”

  He nodded. His gaze was warm, unfurling tendrils of pleasure across her skin.

  “I’ll come to your room later,” he said with a possessive tone. “To say goodnight.”

  Her breath caught. At least three times, he’d told her they’d wait till they’d said their vows. He hadn’t said for what exactly, but he didn’t need to. She understood things would change tomorrow. What would happen tonight exactly, she wondered. Would he expect some sort of favors from her? And if he did, why didn’t he press for those favors now?

  She turned away and went to her room to draw a bath. Sinking into the warm depths, she tried to imagine saying her vows to Seth Travis. She had a dress that she’d brought with her to Colter Canyon and it made her happy that she would have a chance to wear the gown. Would he like it? She’d made the gown from simple fabric and a plain design. Everything Seth possessed spoke of opulence.

  Her thoughts flitted to the moment earlier that day, when Melvin had berated her in front of Seth. Shame burned inside her like a glowing ember. As she washed, she recalled with growing mortification the things Melvin said. Ever since he’d rejected her at the train station, he’d railed against her to anyone who would listen. What rumors had Seth heard, she wondered. She rose from the tub and dried off, tugging a night gown over her head.

  Melvin suggested she and Seth weren’t married. Shame filled her chest. She wished she’d told Melvin that her heart belonged to Seth. That would have shocked him. She yanked the blankets down and crawled into bed, filled with self-loathing. If only she’d had the courage to finally look
Melvin in the eye. The blankets warmed her, but still she felt no comfort, just restless fury, mostly with herself. Why hadn’t she spoken for her own defense?

  A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts.

  “Come in.”

  Seth stepped into her room, somber and resolute and heartbreakingly handsome in the lamplight. “I’ve come to kiss my wife goodnight.”

  She smiled.

  “Starting tomorrow, I’ll have you right there in bed with me and I can kiss you goodnight at bedtime or any other time of the night.”

  His words ignited a burning need insider her. She didn’t care that her thoughts were indecent. She didn’t care if they were married or unmarried. Her heart sought his. Pure and simple. Slowly, she sat up in bed, not caring that the blankets fell to her waist. Seth moved closer. A look of burning hunger lit his eyes. She shivered beneath his gaze. Her breasts ached, and she could feel her nipples tighten.

  His eyes raked over her. “You’re a vision, Laura.”

  “Seth,” she whispered. “I’m yours. The next time I see Melvin, I’ll tell him so.”

  He narrowed his eyes. The air in the room suddenly felt heavy. Pressing his lips together he shook his head. “No, Laura.”

  “I should have said something today,” she insisted.

  “You’re not talking to him.”

  Now she began to feel a little of the anger that he so clearly felt.

  “I’m not afraid of Melvin. If I never speak up for myself, he won’t ever stop trying to bully me.”

  Seth stepped closer to the bed, and from her seated position, she felt positively tiny. She wouldn’t allow him to intimidate her, even if he was twice her size. She remained obstinately silent.

  “Melvin is my problem. He needs to be taught a lesson and I aim to do just that. The only reason I didn’t take him today was because you were there.”

  She shook her head. “I should have spoken up. Next time I will.”

  Seth rubbed the back of his neck and frowned. She could see he was thinking about her words and she hoped he was at least a little impressed by her fortitude. He offered her his hand. Puzzled, she set her hand in his. Her confusion grew as he coaxed her to her feet, so she stood in front of him.