by Emma Ashwood
The past three months had been both blissful and agonizing. Penny could feel herself bubbling with excitement whenever she managed to intercept the post to find a letter from Cody, always waiting to read it in secret. It was agonizing to keep it secret from her parents. Paul and Patricia Smythe would not approve at all. Cody may have been a decent, hardworking man, but they didn’t want her to be married to someone below their status.
Penny didn’t care anymore. She wanted to be a bit more normal and lower her standards a little. Cody wasn’t lowering her standards but he was a much better bet than some of the men she knew in Philadelphia. And he seemed genuinely interested in her.
When he had proposed to her, it had taken all of Penny’s self-control not to scream in delight. She had resorted to dancing around her room before falling onto her bed. It was finally happening. She would become Mrs. Cody Laws and she couldn’t wait.
She had written back immediately, with Cody’s reply coming back almost as fast with a ticket for the Oregon Trail. It was going to be a long, arduous journey but Penny was willing to do it. She did need to pack, however, and she seemed not to have anything suitable. Her prettiest dresses would never survive the trail and so Penny opened up her trunk and began packing her somewhat worn outfits, those less suitable for balls and social engagements. Simple items that offered comfort and practicability. She wanted to bring everything, but Penny didn’t think most of it would survive.
It would be worth it in the end. She could buy more clothes later, and Penny knew how to sew; she could make her own dresses and be self-sufficient for the first time in her life.
Her trunk was almost packed when there was a knock at the door, the door opening half a second later before Patricia Smythe swept into the room. Penny gritted her teeth and straightened up.
“Mama, I didn’t get to say ‘come in’.”
“I shouldn’t need to ask permission from my own daughter to enter a room.” Patricia frowned at her child. “We’re beginning to wonder if you’re ever coming downstairs. Jacob Ryder is here.”
Jacob Ryder. Why would he be here? Penny had no intention of going downstairs now. She turned away and started folding her nightdresses.
“Then entertain him yourself, Mother. I don’t want to entertain him.”
“Don’t be rude, Penelope.” Patricia sniffed. “After all, you and he are due to be married…”
“We are what?” Penny dropped her clothes and stared at her mother. Had she heard that correctly? “I’m due to marry him? Since when?”
“For some time now. Since you turned eighteen actually.” Patricia gave Penny a haughty look, patting her perfectly coiffed hair. “Jacob’s family, your father and I are eager to see a marriage between you. You will make a handsome couple.”
Now Penny was feeling sick. They couldn’t lump Jacob with Amy and now they were going after her. Clutching at her stomach, Penny sagged onto the bed. This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t.
“I…You arranged a match for me?” She squeaked. “Without my knowledge?” She gave her mother a glare. “Or my consent?”
Patricia sniffed.
“You’ve turned away every other man we’ve paraded for you. You’re never going to make a choice on your own so we made it for you.”
Penny could feel her anger building. Not now. They couldn’t do this to her. Not when she was so close to leaving.
“First, I object because I’m only eighteen, Mother.” She had no idea how she managed to keep her voice level, how it wasn’t trembling. “I don’t want to be married immediately. Second, if you were going to force me into marriage, couldn’t you have chosen someone better than Jacob Ryder? I hate him! He’s a mean bully who thinks women aren’t good for anything except making the house look presentable and keeping the children out of sight.”
Just like his father and grandfather. Penny hated them as well.
“He’s also from a wealthy family who have allowed us into their circle, and this marriage could further us…”
“So, that’s all I am to you? Status is more important than your own daughter.” Penny snorted and stood. “Thanks, Mother. I’ll remember that when I’m well away from here.”
“What are you talking about?”
Penny smirked as she picked up her nightgowns and put them in her trunk.
“I’m getting married to someone else. Someone who’s a lot more decent than Jacob Ryder and is actually interested in me beyond looking pretty on his arm.”
She got great satisfaction from seeing her mother’s face turn white. It wasn’t often Patricia Smythe was put on the back foot and Penny liked that she could do that. Patricia looked as though she was going to have a heart attack.
“What…you…” She stumbled and grabbed onto the bedpost. “When did this happen? You’ve not been going out courting with anyone.”
“We’ve been writing to each other over the past few months.” Penny carried on packing. She wasn’t stopping for her mother. “He lives out in Oregon and he’s got a good, stable job. He’s kind and sweet and he’s asked me to marry him.” Penny couldn’t help but smile. “I’m leaving in two days.”
She was expecting resistance but nothing like this. Tight-lipped, Patricia stumbled around the bed and slapped her daughter across the face. Startled, Penny fell against the bed and sprawled on the floor.
“What the…Ma…”
“You are not going anywhere.” Patricia hissed, jabbing a finger in Penny’s face. Her face was going red. “I forbid it. And if you defy me, your father and I will lock you in here.”
Penny had never been hit by her parents. She didn’t think they would ever do that. She drew herself to her feet, rubbing her stinging cheek.
“Try stopping me, Mother. I thought you’d be happy that I was finally deciding to get married.”
“Not to a complete stranger in the middle of nowhere.” Patricia shrieked.
“You’d rather I married a bully?”
“Jacob is a very nice boy.”
Penny barked out a laugh.
“You clearly need spectacles if you didn’t see him strike his sister in public right in front of us. He punched her in the face and knocked out her tooth.”
“That was a misunderstanding.”
“Then you’re just as insane as he is.” Penny shook her head. “No, Mother. I will not marry Jacob Ryder. Never.”
Penny thought her mother might actually explode. She seemed to be having an apoplectic fit right now, her face getting even redder and her breathing heavier. Then she snarled at her daughter, enough to make Penny flinch, and stormed towards the door.
“You will not be going anywhere, Penelope. Your wedding is in a week.” She took the key out of the door and held it up. “And you’re staying here.”
Before Penny could move, her mother had slammed the door and the sound of the key turning in the lock seemed to seal her fate. Penny ran over and tried the door but it wouldn’t budge. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Her mother couldn’t have locked her in like a petulant child, surely? She banged on the door.
“Mother!” She screamed. “Mother, don’t do this! Let me out!”
But all the response she got was the fading footsteps as her mother walked away.
*****
Austin reached the station just as the coach was pulling in. He would be just in time to meet Agnes off the coach after she had been visiting family in Chicago. While it was refreshing not to have his little sister dancing about bothering him and Anton, Austin was looking forward to seeing her again. Three months was a very long time, and Agnes would have learned something from it. Her aunt was eager to have Agnes become a refined lady.
There was about as much chance of that as Austin striking gold on his ranch.
Dismounting, Austin tied his horse to the hitching post and headed over to the coach. Agnes had left her horse stabled at Trixie Hampton’s place in town while which alleviated the prospect of loading both her and her trunk onto Austin
’s horse. Not that Austin would do it; Agnes would have a fit if he manhandled her belongings.
Austin spied her with her back to him, her long black tresses falling down her back from under her bonnet as she spoke to the coach driver. The young man blushed and touched his cap before catching Austin’s eye and hurrying away. Austin bit back a laugh. His sister, although barely eighteen, seemed to cast a spell over men. They were simply drawn to her.
Austin tapped her on the shoulder.
“Hello, you.”
Agnes spun around. Her blue eyes went wide and she gasped in delight.
“Austin!” She flung herself into her brother’s arms and hugged him, Austin spinning her around. “I didn’t think you’d be meeting me. I thought it would be Trixie.”
“I managed to get the afternoon off.” Austin grinned. “Chris said I could come and surprise you.”
Agnes barked out a laugh.
“Seriously? Since when has Chris Morgan allowed you the afternoon off?”
“Maybe he thought you needed a proper chaperone.” Austin tweaked her nose. “You know he fancies you.”
“Honestly!” Agnes knocked his hand away. “He’s as old as Anton!”
“Since when has that been a problem for anyone?”
Agnes rolled her eyes and shoved him.
“You’re impossible, as always. Maybe you should have gone for some refinement at Aunt Matilda’s.”
“No, thanks. She’d stamp me ‘non-returnable’.”
Agnes laughed. Then her laughter died away as she looked across the yard and saw the young woman hovering near the train station entrance, her trunk beside her and she wrapped her coat around her.
“Oh, poor girl.”
“What?”
“The girl by the station.” Agnes pointed. “I saw her on the way over. She kept to herself and looked very nervous so I thought I’d leave her be. It looks like she’s not got anyone to look after her.”
Austin looked over at the girl who was clearly a newcomer to Eugene. She was young and very pretty. Blonde hair curled around her face, which was thin and pale, with stunning blue eyes that he could see from across the street. Young, pretty and familiar. Very familiar. Austin couldn’t place her just yet, but it niggled at the back of his mind.
“She does look familiar.” He murmured. “I’m sure I know her.”
“You haven’t been writing to anyone, have you?”
“Don’t be daft. You know that’s not my style.” Austin sighed when he saw the determination in Agnes’ eyes. “I take it you want to help her.”
“Well, I can’t just walk away, can I?”
That was Agnes all over. She was too soft-hearted. Austin hoisted her trunk and followed her across the street, straight up to the young woman. She touched the woman’s arm.
“Excuse me, miss? Are you all right?”
“What?” The woman looked up, blinking momentarily at Agnes before her expression cleared. “Oh. Hello. I saw you on the coach. You got on in Chicago.”
“I did.” Agnes gave her a friendly smile. “I’m Agnes. This is my brother, Austin. Are you waiting for someone? Would you like someone to wait with you?”
“I…” The woman bit her lip. “I am waiting for someone but I think he’s forgotten about me. Either that or he’s just been too busy to meet me. I don’t know where to go.”
She was a mail-order bride. Austin had half-expected that. He wondered who had written to her. There was only one person he knew who had written off for a bride. Austin’s heart sank.
“You’re Penelope Smythe?”
Penelope blinked and stared at him. Those blue eyes were beautiful.
“Yes.” She murmured. “Has Cody spoken of me?”
“Often.” Austin swallowed. “He was eager to meet you.”
“Was?”
Agnes looked troubled. She hadn’t been here but Austin had told her about it, as had a few of her friends. They were all in a state of shock over it. Austin put the trunk down and rubbed at his eyes. He wished he wasn’t the one telling her this.
“Cody’s dead.”
“What?”
Penelope’s face had gone white. She stared at him in alarm. Austin felt his chest tighten. This was not what he wanted to do at all.
“He was killed in a robbery. Two men stormed in and took money in the store before shooting him through the head.”
Penelope was swaying and he feared she might faint.
“I…” She stuttered. “How long ago was this?”
“A week ago. He was buried yesterday.”
Penelope’s legs gave way and she buckled. Austin darted forward to grab her before she hit the ground but Agnes got there first, wrapping her arms around the other woman as she broke down. She glared at her brother.
“You need to learn more tact, Austin.” She snapped.
“How else was I supposed to tell her?”
Agnes shot him another glowering look and tucked Penelope into her side, helping the taller woman to walk with her.
“Come on, honey. Let’s get you somewhere warm where you can sit down. It will soon be old to be outdoors. I’ll take you to Mrs. King. She can fix you up with a room and a warm bed. Austin, you bring the trunks.”
“What? Agnes…”
“Austin, don’t argue.” Agnes threw him another scowl over her shoulder before walking away with Penelope, who was still sobbing. “Come on, Penelope. It’s going to be all right.”
Austin groaned and picked up Agnes’ trunk as well as Penelope’s. His muscles strained. This was not how he was expecting to greet his sister; being a bellboy for two.
He just wished he was the on to have his arms around Penelope.
Where had that thought come from?
CHAPTER THREE
The Nightmare
Cody was dead. Penny couldn’t believe it. She had managed to escape without her parents realizing, and secret herself onto the coach and all the way out here without any trouble, only to be told that Cody was dead.
This had to be a nightmare. It had to be. Cody was alive, this man was just teasing her.
If he was, he had an awful sense of humor.
Penny allowed the young woman, Agnes, to take her through the streets and towards a huge house with ‘The Kingdom’ displayed over the front doors. Agnes managed to nudge the door open with her shoulder and helped Penny inside. Once inside and out of the rapidly dropping temperature, Penny realized she was in either a hotel or a boarding house. Everything about it said this wasn’t a family home, it was a business. It had a certain warmth about it which Penny had never experienced before. Her home had never been like this.
A woman in her early sixties with snow-white hair cut short and curling about her neck came striding into the hall, carrying several logs in her arms. She gasped when she saw Agnes and Penny and dropped the logs, hurrying over to the women.
“Oh, my poor dear!” She declared, easing Penny away from Agnes. “What on earth happened? Miss Black?”
“She’s had a bit of a shock, Mrs. King.” Austin grunted as he came in, dropping the trunks onto the floor as he kicked the door shut. “Do you have a spare room for her?”
“Of course I do.” Mrs. King pointed to the desk. “Mr. Austin, get the key for room nine. That will be perfect for her and it’s just been aired. Come on, dear.” She steered Penny towards the stairs. “Let’s get you upstairs and warmed.”
Penny couldn’t stop herself from leaning into the woman who, although old enough to be her grandmother, was strong and sturdy, moving as if she was a young woman. There was a homely smell about her that was quite unfamiliar to Penny. Her mother had always smelt of lavender and perfumes that made Penny’s eyes water. Her father had always smelt of tobacco. Mrs. King smelt of…comfort, warmth.
Home.
That had Penny bursting into tears again. Mrs. King hugged her in closer to her side as they went up the stairs and into room nine at the end of the hall. Agnes and Austin followed close behind,
Austin carrying her trunk. Mrs. King set Penny down gently on the bed. Penny wiped at her eyes and gave her an embarrassed smile.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. King.” She wiped her nose with her sleeve, taking the handkerchief Mrs. King held out. “I didn’t mean to be like this…”
“Don’t be silly, dear.” Mrs. King waved away her concerns. “It’s not easy being here on your own for the first time.”
“How…how did you know I’m not from around here?”
“I know everyone around here, dear. I was born and bred here and have seen every face that’s come through here in the last sixty-four years. I know when there’s a new face about.” Mrs. King gave her a kind smile. “And what would your name be, dear?”
“Penny.” Penny blew her nose. “Penny Smythe.”
“And what business might you have here, Penny Smythe?”
Penny felt her throat tightening up again. She swallowed, her hands twisting the handkerchief in her lap.
“I was…I was coming here to…to get married.”
Austin touched Mrs. King’s arm.
“Her future groom was Cody.” He murmured.
Mrs. King’s eyes widened.
“Oh, love. I’m so sorry.” She squeezed Penny’s shoulder. “This is awful. What a thing to arrive to. Would you, Mr. Austin, and Miss Black mind staying with Penny while I fix her a cup of sweet tea? Poor little thing’s shivering.”
“Of course.”
Mrs. King left the room, closing the door behind her. Penny couldn’t help but smile. There was something warm and comforting about her.
“She’s nice.”
“She’s a grandmother-figure to practically everyone around here.” Agnes sat beside her. “You can’t get any better than Dolores King.”
Penny didn’t suppose you could. She looked at the brother and sister pair who were beautiful to her. Both of them. Agnes was barely older than her, with her long black hair cascading down her back and a complexion which suggested she had grown up with the sun on her face. Her tanned face held sparkling green eyes. Her brother, Austin, made Penny’s heart stumble. Well over six feet and full of lean muscle, he was an imposing presence. Hair like his sister’s, cut short under his Stetson, with a roughened jaw coated in a three-day-old beard and eyes like brilliant cobalt. They were mesmerizing, practically the first thing Penny had noticed.