"I mean, every woman deserves to be courted properly. Especially you, Rose. So, I'd like you to accept my intention to court you the way you should be."
Somehow, Elijah knew the woman he'd married deserved a proper courtship. He hadn't planned it until this moment, seeing her so unsure of her place and what he wanted from a wife.
He wanted to make this work. And he hoped theirs could be a true marriage.
But even as he said the words, he had to push the niggling worry that always reared its ugly head. Being a Mountie was dangerous. He'd found that out at a young age.
What happened if Rose fell in love with him, only to end up widowed like his ma had been? What if they had children, and he left them without a father?
He'd always swore he'd never let it happen. Yet here he was, married to a beautiful woman and finding himself drawn into the depths of those dark eyes staring into his own.
Somehow though, as they stood on the street lost in each other's eyes, he sensed they both needed each other more than they knew.
And for reasons he couldn't understand, he already knew he could never let her go.
Chapter 11
"Thank you so much, Tilly. I can't believe I've managed to make all of this food without anything coming out the color of coal. Not to mention tasting like it too." Rose shook her head in disbelief as she stared at the roast chicken, boiled potatoes, carrots, and apple pie. "Although I guess I can believe it since you really told me what to do every step of the way."
Tilly laughed and shook her head. "Rose, you're getting better. It's not something a person can learn overnight. You've never had to do it for yourself, so you need to just be patient. It will come."
Rose lifted her head and smiled at her friend. Tilly had become someone she knew she could trust and confide in, and spending the day cooking with her had been a wonderful distraction. Rose had no expectations of ever becoming a world class chef, but she did hope she could at least learn to cook for her husband without serious incident.
"Elijah will be so surprised when he gets home from his overnight patrol."
"I still think it is so romantic that he has declared his intentions to court you. He didn't have to do that, since technically you both are already married. I have to say, these Mounties we've married are true gentlemen, even if things have been a serious adjustment to what we were used to."
Rose laughed quietly. "I'd say serious adjustment was a bit of an understatement."
Tilly came over and patted her on the shoulder. "You're adjusting remarkably well. I'd say in no time you’ll be madly in love with Elijah and your old life back in Ottawa will be nothing but a distant memory."
Rose smiled at her friend. "I wish the same for you too, Tilly. You and Nolan seem perfect together, so I'm sure you're soon going to be able to put your own past behind you." Even though, she didn't know all of the details, Rose knew enough to know Tilly was running from something painful.
The door opened and Elijah stood silhouetted with the light of the setting sun behind him. Tilly started to grab her things she'd brought to help Rose, while quickly shooting a subtle wink in her direction.
Rose's heart was pounding wildly as she looked at her husband. His hair was tousled even more than normal from the days he’d been on patrol. He looked tired, but his eyes instantly searched for her. Her pulse quickened as his eyes met hers and he smiled.
Robert, the man everyone had always assumed she would marry, had never been able to make her feel like this. Even though every woman in Ottawa was throwing themselves at his feet, Rose had never seen what the attraction was.
He'd been confident, arrogant, and smug while Elijah was quietly sure of himself, without feeling the need to make anyone feel he was better than them. And as far as Rose was concerned, Elijah was much better looking. Seeing him in his red jacket as he pulled his arms from the sleeves, her knees suddenly felt weak. She was sure if she tried to speak her voice would crack.
Thankfully, Tilly was on her way to the door, smiling at Elijah. "I hope you don't mind that I spent the day here with Rose. It's nice to have a friend to be able to spend time with."
"Not at all. You're welcome here any time, Tilly. I have to say I feel a bit sorry for you knowing how hungry Nolan will likely be since we've been on our patrol. Even though he still eats more than a horse of the food we’ve made over the fire, it’s obvious he’s become used to a more satisfying fare."
Tilly laughed softly. "Well, I better get myself home then so I can make sure he's fed." She turned to wave to Rose, who was still standing there nervously waiting for Elijah to come inside and see everything she'd cooked. "I will see you tomorrow."
Elijah came inside and pulled his jacket the rest of the way off, throwing it over the back of the chair at the table. "It smells wonderful in here, Rose. Did you make all this?" His voice sounded surprised as he walked over and peeked over her shoulder, looking at the food sitting on the counter.
She bit her tongue from scolding him for not believing she was capable of making a meal. It wouldn't really be fair to be mad at him considering it was mostly true.
"Tilly helped me, but I tried to do most of it." She was feeling a strange sense of pride at having accomplished such an everyday task, even if she was doubtful she could have done it on her own. But seeing the smile on Elijah's face warmed her heart.
Since the day he'd announced he was going to officially court her, he'd gone out of his way to follow through on his promise. They'd gone for walks, ridden around Squirrel Ridge Junction while he showed her the beauty of British Columbia, and spent a few evenings at the homes of the other Mounties. She hoped that tonight she'd have the courage to tell him everything about why she came west.
She was starting to believe he could perhaps be someone who could possibly care for her and not just her family's wealth.
But she also knew she had to tell him about the scandal that had set everything in motion in the first place. She hoped he’d believe her and understand why she had to leave Ottawa.
He leaned over to sniff at the still warm pie, closing his eyes as he let the scent fill his nose. "Oh, this smells heavenly. I've heard rumors that Tilly knows how to make the best pies."
Rose swallowed hard. "Actually, I made this one. Tilly just told me what to do." The words came out angrier than she'd planned, but for some reason, hearing him talk about how good Tilly's pies were had stung.
His head whipped up, and he nodded quickly. "No, I know you made it. I'm sure it will be perfect."
She had to take pity on him. The look on his face as he tried to figure out what he'd said wrong was endearing, so she couldn't be mad. She'd started to learn over the past week that sometimes he had a hard time finding the right words to express what he wanted to say.
She wanted tonight to be perfect. He had somehow managed find his way into her heart, and she was determined to make things work with this awkward Mountie who didn't seem to mind that he didn't get a bride who could cook.
She decided it didn't just have to be the man who did the courting.
Chapter 12
"Rose, this is delicious. Honestly, I don't think even my grandmother makes apple pie this good." He lifted his eyes quickly and opened them wide in mock horror. "But don't you dare tell her I said that!"
"I will keep your secret. Especially since I can't promise you will ever get another one that tastes this good unless Tilly comes over and helps me cook every day." Rose laughed as she took another bite of her own pie. It really was heavenly.
Elijah just shrugged as he smiled across the table at her. "I think you might surprise yourself. And even if you never made another dish that tasted like this, I can't complain. I have the most beautiful woman sitting across the table to share my meals with, so I'm a happy man."
She could feel her cheeks start to burn as he nonchalantly looked back at his pie to take another bite. She had to give him credit—he seemed to know what to say to make a woman happy. He'd obviously been raised r
ight.
"So, do you get to visit your grandmother often?" She remembered him mentioning his grandma living in Manitoba when they'd been on their ride that day, before they'd ended up arguing.
He shook his head and gave a sad smile. "Not as often as I'd like. She writes me letters every week, though, to let me know what she's up to, and I write back to tell her what I'm doing." He leaned back in his chair, having finished his pie. "I imagine I'm going to be getting a fairly long one scolding me for not letting her be here for my wedding."
"I hope she isn't too angry with you. And that she approves when I finally get to meet her." For some reason, getting the approval from this woman she'd never met had suddenly become very important to Rose.
He absently pushed at the curl that hung down while he studied her. Finally, he nodded. "Oh, I'm sure she'll approve. She’d given up on me marrying."
"Why did she think you wouldn't marry?"
He looked past her and shrugged. "After my ma died from missing my father so deeply, I'd always told my grandma I would never do that to a woman. It wasn't fair to be married to a Mountie, who could be taken from them so easily."
Rose held her breath as she realized the truth in his words. She'd known marrying a Mountie had risks, but she hadn't really let herself think about it much. What if she did let herself fall in love with this man, only to have him ripped from her arms and left alone to grieve?
"So, what changed your mind?" Her voice shook as she spoke quietly into the room.
His eyes came back to hers and he smiled. "Well, you've met Miss Hazel…"
She laughed, letting out the breath she'd been holding. "Of course. Miss Hazel doesn't exactly take no for an answer."
"What about you, Rose? You haven't told me anything about your reasons for coming all the way here to marry a stranger. A woman as beautiful as you must have had suitors lined up outside your door. So why come all the way here?"
She stood up to clear the dishes from the table, feeling uncomfortable as he watched her intently. "I didn't have a lot of suitors. I kept to myself a lot and just didn't want to be stuck living in Ottawa for the rest of my life. I'd always hoped to have more, so when Miss Hazel approached me, I knew it was my chance."
Why couldn't she just tell him the truth?
That she came from one of the wealthiest families in Ottawa, and had never had any say in anything she did in her life. That she'd been engaged to a man she never wanted to marry, and he'd promptly ruined her reputation when he realized she was planning to call off their engagement.
Elijah didn't seem the kind of man to judge her harshly for her past, so she couldn't understand what was stopping her from telling him everything.
He was following her with his eyes as she moved to set the dishes into the wash basin on the counter. "I find it had to believe you didn't have any suitors at all. There must have been someone. And what about your parents? Were they angry about you coming out here to marry a strange man? I'd think they’d have wanted to be here for your marriage."
When he asked the question, she promptly dropped a dish on the floor as she turned sharply back to the counter. It shattered with a loud crash, sending shards of porcelain all over the wooden floor.
She hurriedly crouched down to start picking up the pieces, hearing his chair push back against the floorboards as he came over to help. He bent down and she caught a glimpse of his blue eyes as he looked over at her.
"I'm so sorry, Elijah. Honestly, I don't know why I'm so fumble-fingered all the time. You'll have nothing left to your house with me around."
He smiled. "It's our house now, Rose. And I'd be happy enough if there was nothing left but you."
The few pieces she'd already picked up fell to the floor once again as she heard him speak. When he reached out and lightly brushed his fingers along her cheek, she finally understood what it could feel like to have someone care for her. She'd never known anyone to look at her the way Elijah was at this moment.
Swallowing hard, she quickly stood up. She wasn't used to having anyone pay her compliments without it seeming empty and only offered to her because they knew who her family was.
Elijah rose too, reaching out and taking her hands in his. "Rose, I know we both ended up in a marriage we maybe weren't sure of, or how it even happened. But maybe Miss Hazel knows more than we know. I do know that since you've arrived, I've found myself being much more excited to come home, knowing you'll be here. And even though my back is aching from sleeping on a hard floor, I look forward to having you here in the morning to share my table with." He grinned at her as he gently rubbed his thumbs over her hands. "I will even admit to almost looking forward to seeing how my food will taste each day."
She laughed nervously, having a hard time concentrating while his thumbs left a burning trail over her skin.
Her pulse raced as his eyes bore into hers, sending her heart into a tailspin. Robert had never made her feel like this. When he'd touched her, she'd felt her skin crawl. The way Elijah's skin felt on hers made her whole body heat up.
Just as she was sure her knees would give out under her, Elijah brought his head down and his lips softly touched hers. He held her hands firmly between them, and pulled them up to press against his chest. She could feel his heart pounding against his chest as one hand came free to reach around her back, pulling her in closer.
As his lips moved over hers, she was grateful for the support his arm was giving her. His other hand was still holding hers, tucked between them as though he was afraid she'd try to get away if he didn't hold her tight.
She knew at this moment she'd never try to get away.
When he pulled back, she had to force her eyes back open. Her lips were still parted slightly and she was sure the room around her was spinning slowly.
He smiled down at her as he reached up and caressed her bottom lip. "Yes, I'd say Miss Hazel might have known exactly what she was doing."
Chapter 13
Elijah rode back into town, saying hello to people who were stopping to tell them how much fun they’d had at the reception the night before. The community didn’t get to celebrate often, so when they’d had the opportunity to come out for the marriage reception of the town Mounties, it had been a night of revelry and excitement.
Of course, it had been planned for a while, but the reception hadn’t been able to happen until all of the couples were married, and since Joel had dragged his feet until yesterday, the reception had been on hold until then.
He smiled as he remembered the smile Rose had wore all evening, even after her incident with the cake she’d offered to make. After having it end up on the floor, she’d been devastated at not being able to take it to the reception.
But, he’d spun her around on the dance floor and enjoyed the feeling of having her in his arms all night.
He hadn’t been happy about having to go out and deal with a squabble among some neighbors this morning who seemed unable to settle things themselves. He’d have far rather spent the morning sitting with his wife.
Elijah couldn't wait to get back home and see Rose. After the past couple of nights, getting to know his wife and spending more time with her, he was starting to let go of his doubts and worries, and was determined to follow his grandmother's advice. Whenever he'd say he didn't want to marry and leave his wife a widow, his grandma had clucked her tongue and shook her head, telling him he was being a fool.
He could hear her voice in his head. "You can't spend your life without falling in love. Having someone love you, and who can share your life with you, is worth every moment of sadness you would feel if they left you. The same goes for any woman who loves you. There are always risks in life, and just because you're a Mountie, doesn't mean you should never allow a woman to love you. You never know what you would be missing if you don't give yourself the chance to feel love."
Elijah wasn't sure what he was feeling for Rose at the moment, but he was starting to understand what his grandmother was always telling him.<
br />
As he rode into town, a cloud of dust following behind him, Elijah's heart jumped when he noticed a familiar black head of hair standing and talking with Joel and Evelyn outside the mercantile. She carried her basket with food she’d just picked up. Rose's eyes found his, a smile reaching across her face. Knowing she was just as happy to see him made his stomach pull into a knot.
Riding up beside her, he quickly dismounted and reached out for her hand. He didn't want to embarrass her by kissing her in front of everyone, so he simply lifted her fingers to his lips and grinned at her. "Hello, Rose."
He could almost feel Joel rolling his eyes behind him, but he didn't care. In that moment, his eyes only saw one person. And she was standing in front of him with her cheeks the color of fire.
Suddenly, the train could be heard pulling into the station up the street, breaking the moment between them. Since the train only came through once a week, when it arrived, it caused a lot of commotion. People raced to see what mail had come through, and to see if any new people would be arriving to stay in Squirrel Ridge Junction.
When they were around, the Mounties always made a point of being close by at the station in case things ever got out of hand.
"Guess we better head over to the station, Elijah." Joel was already moving in that direction, holding his wife’s hand as they turned to go.
Rose fell into step beside Elijah with Evelyn on the other side of her,. As they neared the station where the train was still hissing like a great beast, he noticed the fancy Pullman car attached to the usual rail cars that made the run.
Whoever was in that car was definitely someone important. Elijah wondered why they hadn't been notified of anyone special arriving in town.
Suddenly, Rose stumbled beside him and gasped. "No."
One word, but it sent a chill down his spine. His head turned to her, and he noticed her skin had gone a deathly white. She’d gone stock-still and her eyes were large as she looked at the people stepping onto the platform from the car.
RNWMP: Bride for Elijah (Mail Order Mounties Book 2) Page 5