The Detective Bride

by Sylvia Damsell

  She went to climb up on the front of the carriage. “Alright then.” Her foot caught in the bottom of her skirt which had never happened before but she knew she was a bit flustered. She was also more than glad to see him again.

  He grabbed her round the waist, lifted her and stood looking down into her face for a few seconds, his expression a bit intense. He placed her onto the front before jumping up beside her and she took the reins.

  “Long skirts can sometimes be a liability,” she said. “Never wear them.”

  He grinned.”I won’t.”

  “Thank you for catching me.”

  “You’re welcome. Do you have your train and stagecoach tickets and everything you need?”

  “Yes. It’s all in order.”

  “I bought you a huge box of chocolates which I’ll bring to the station. It will have to last you for a couple of weeks because the journey is long. I also got you some books and magazines to read.”

  Which her parents had as well but she hadn’t the heart to tell him that. “Thank you,” she said.

  “It’s a long journey, both on the train and the stagecoach. I’m not too happy about nights on the train.”

  “Albert said he’s booked a private compartment for me which I can lock. I’ll be alright.”

  “I didn’t know that but it’s good.”

  “Not that good because it shows he’s treating me like a woman again and not a detective. I bet if you went he wouldn’t give you a private compartment. He’d probably just put you in third class.”

  “Never! He would treat us all the same.”

  “Humph!” Her tone was sceptical.

  “So you’re going to refuse the private compartment?”

  “No. If he wants to be that stupid I’ll accept it.”

  “That is very magnanimous of you. Stop over there.” He pointed. “I can tie the horse to a pole. Do you have a long rope?"

  “It’s in the back.”

  “I’ll get it.”

  He leapt onto the ground and she couldn’t resist watching him as he leaned in for the rope. He came back, attached it to the horses and unharnessed them in order for them to be able to wander round the grass.

  “There’s some hay in the back,” Susannah said. “They might like that.”

  “I’ll get it but first.” He walked round to her side, lifted her and stood with her in his arms. “I can’t trust you not to fall. What will you do without me in California?”

  “I’ll muddle through. Put me down.”

  “Must I?”

  “The horses want hay.”

  “They’ll muddle through as well.”

  “Put me down, Noah.”

  He gave a big sigh and set her on the ground. “Slave driver. How are you going to remember to be the meek mail order bride? You need practise.”

  “Just get the straw, or I will.” She made for the door but he got there first and looked back at her.

  “Where’s the straw?”

  “In a box.”

  “I can’t see a box. Come and show me.”

  She moved next to him and he squashed beside her as she pointed. “A box and quite plain to see.”

  “Oh, that box. You didn’t say. You can’t expect me to do a good job without proper instructions.”

  He put one arm round her waist and reached for the box with the other. She felt she should pull away but the feeling his kisses elicited had returned and she didn’t want to lose it. Instead she leaned with him to pull as well.

  “I know how heavy it is,” she said, hoping he could not see how flushed she was.

  “It is. It most definitely is.” He turned his face to look at her. “I really would like to kiss you but you said you’ll maim me if I do. Does that still stand?”

  “Give the hay to the horse.”

  “I’ll risk it. I’ve been beaten up before.”

  Before she could draw back, which was something she definitely did not want him to do, he put his lips on hers and the kiss was a slow one. She wanted it to last forever and she wanted to turn to put her arms over his shoulder. But the kiss? She would give him a few seconds more.

  But it lasted more than a few seconds and she had to virtually rip herself away from him though not because he was stopping her. She drew back, kicked his leg and he grinned.

  “Ouch!”

  “Give the horse the hay.”

  “Anything you say, madame.”

  “Madame is for married women, mademoiselle for unmarried.”

  “I could always make you a madame.”

  “I’m going to be one. Remember?”

  He frowned. “I don’t like it.”

  “Don’t like what?”

  “You staying in the same house as that oaf.”

  “He’s not an oaf and I can look out for myself.”

  “So you said and he could well be an oaf.” Noah lay some hay on the ground. “You take things altogether too lightly. Why can’t Clark send you as a singer? You could then pretend to decide to stay for a bit in order to have a holiday.”

  “This is less suspicious.”

  “Nothing is less suspicious. I don’t know why I bother about you or try to instil any sense into you. It’s a sheer waste of time.” His tone was cross.

  “Why do you?” she couldn’t resist asking.

  He opened his mouth as if to reply, shut it then opened it again. “Because I don’t like seeing a lady in trouble.”

  “I’m not in trouble.” And that isn’t the answer I really wanted though any other answer would have complicated matters too much.

  “You probably will be. Let’s go and have a drink and cake. I’m hungry.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  He put his hand on her elbow as they crossed the road and the feeling she had when he kissed her returned. But she didn’t want that because it was a waste of time. He may have kissed her but he obviously had no deep feelings for her. She didn’t really want him to have them because she had an assignment two thousand miles distant and she didn’t want to be distracted.

  They went into the tearoom and she tried to push such things from her mind.

  Chapter 6

  “Miss Smythe?”

  Susannah peered from under her bonnet and pulled her wrap round her, her expression shy as she looked up at the tall man in front of her. Blair Wilde and he was all she might expect from men who wanted to marry women from the east. Tall, his features ruggedly handsome, his figure lean. His eyes were brown, as was his wavy hair. He was dressed in jeans with a shirt to match over which was a brown jacket.

  She curtseyed a bit. “Yes.”

  “I’m Blair Wilde, at your service. Do you have any trunks?”

  “Two and a carpet bag. The trunks are a bit heavy.”

  “That won’t be a problem. My wagon is over there.” He pointed. “And I have my children with me who are dying to meet you.”

  A young lady walked from the mercantile outside of which they had just drawn up. “My name is Arena,” she said. “Welcome to Lower Pine. The coach will be staying here an hour and I would like to invite you to my home for free refreshments. The Reverend Barnsley is usually with me but they’re away for a couple of weeks. However, my husband, who is the sheriff, is filling in and Zedekiah Ashdown will be joining us. He is the assistant minister. Whether you’re going to stay here or go on we would be pleased to have you.”

  “Would you like to join them?” Blair asked Susannah. “Or would you prefer to go straight to the house?”

  “I thought I would be staying in a boarding house until we marry,” Susannah replied, drawing back a little.

  “You will but I wondered if you would like to see the house and my children would like to meet you. Their names are Dan and Becky.”

  “Maybe we could go for refreshments and then I could settle in at the boarding house before coming to see your house.”

  “Then I’ll take your luggage to the boarding house and we’ll join you at Arena and Benjamin’s plac
e. I’ll take the children with me then come on.”

  Arena walked over. “You must be Susannah Smythe,” she said, holding out her hand. “Would you like to come for refreshments before settling in at the boarding house?”

  “I want to go to Arena.” A child’s voice came from Blair’s carriage. “Can we?”

  “I’ll gladly take them,” Arena said to Blair.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Quite sure.” She walked over to lift the children in turn. “We’ve got cakes.”

  “I want a cake,” Dan said.

  “I want a cake,” Becky added.

  “Then you definitely have to come. Have you met Susannah Smythe yet?”

  “She’s going to be our mama,” Becky said, looking up at Susannah with a little frown.

  Their mama? That made things a little bit too real. “I’m pleased to meet you both,” Susannah said. A couple of months ago an acclaimed singer, now a prospective mother. She wasn’t sure which was the worst. Probably this because really this was all unfair to the children.

  They looked at her even more suspiciously and took a hand each of Arena’s. They all got in the coach and it pulled away.

  The house was at the end of the village. She and her husband hadn’t been there long, Arena told the few people who were going to their house. They had built it and moved out of the sheriff’s house which was now being used by one of the deputies. She lifted Becky on her lap as the little girl stood in front of her and put her arm round Dan. Susannah felt more and more guilty as they drove the short distance to the house.

  They would still have their father, of course, but she would not be their mother and it was wrong to form a close relationship with them in view of that. Yet she needed to form some kind of relationship so they didn’t feel she was shunning them. They pulled up outside a picturesque house which was obviously new and had a sizeable garden in the front of it which was full of bushes of various kinds.

  A tall young man ran down the porch steps to open the door of the carriage. He put his hand out to assist the women and swung the children onto the ground. They giggled and ran to the house in front of everyone.

  They had to be about six or thereabouts, Susannah rather felt, and this must be an upheaval for them. They seemed to think they were going to stay in this area but surely Blair intended to return to Los Angeles once they finished their assignment.

  Susannah followed everyone in, her eyes taking in everything around her, in the way she had observed things on the train and stagecoach. She wasn’t doing the work she was doing without being someone who noticed everything, she had decided, and everyone in this area would probably be viewed with suspicion until they could establish exactly what was going on.

  Which included Blair, she thought when she looked at him after he arrived a few minutes later. He was certainly good looking but that didn’t make him a good father or a good detective. He was also rather young to be a widower. Had his wife died in childbirth?

  They were led into a large room which had quite a few comfortable seats. There was a glass door which faced onto the back garden, a garden which was filled with more bushes and a few flowering plants. The grass was neatly cut and within seeing distance were five swings hanging from a couple of tall trees.

  “I want to swing,” Becky said.

  “I want to swing,” Dan added.

  “We won’t have time for that,” their father said, walking in behind everyone.

  Why not? Without realising she was frowning Susannah turned to look at him. If there was time to have a drink there was time for the young people to swing. They ignored him and made for the door.

  “I can keep an eye on them,” Benjamin said, following them.

  “I make the rules for my children.” Blair paused and smiled. “Just joking. Thank you, Benjamin, but don’t you want some cake, Dan and Becky?”

  “We’ll swing first,” Becky said and ran out into the garden with Dan close behind her.

  Blair was good looking but she wasn’t impressed. The children definitely needed a mother but one who would stand up for herself. Once again without thinking Susannah followed them into the garden.

  “Are the swings strong?” she asked Benjamin.

  “Very strong. Would you like to swing?”

  She started towards one of them and paused. She was a shy mail order bride, not someone who did what she wanted when she wanted. She was not used to such places because she came from a poor background. “I’m not sure how good I’ll be at it,” she said. “I’ve never been on one.”

  “Then it’s time you did. Children, show Miss Smythe how to swing.”

  “It’s easy,” Dan said, beginning to do so. “Just sit on it and swing your legs backwards and forwards.”

  She sat carefully, tucked her skirts round her and gave a tentative swing. “You put your feet straight out when you go this way,” Dan said, demonstrating. “Then you pull them back.”

  Susannah did as she was told and it was wonderful. Their swings at her home were regularly used though not quite as much as when she was a child. “Like this?” she asked.

  “Yes, but a bit harder. Why can’t you swing?”

  “I’ve never been on one before.”

  “That’s silly,” Becky said. “Everyone’s been on a swing.”

  “We had a very small garden so there wasn’t room for one. You’re both very clever at it.”

  “We’re clever,” Dan said, looking up at Benjamin.

  “You are. Shall we just do a few swings and then go and have drinks and cake? I’ve also got colouring books and crayons for you.”

  “Okay.” They obviously trusted Benjamin, Susannah thought when they went back into the house, but they paid no attention to their father. After a while Becky walked over to Susannah and stood in front of her with her piece of paper and a crayon in her hand.

  “You could make a house with that,” Susannah said. She picked up another piece of paper from the little table in front of her and started to fold it. Boats, rabbits, houses. Her father had spent many happy hours with them when they were small doing such things.

  “If you get more paper you could do it too,” Susannah said as Dan walked over to stand next to his sister.

  “Can I make one also?” Arena asked, picking up another piece of paper.

  “We could make a little town,” Susannah said and the children’s attitude towards her, she felt, was softening a bit. They made a few houses while everyone chatted around them and the hour passed quickly before those who were going on had to get into the coach.

  Blair went to lift the children into the wagon but they turned away from him and put their arms up to Benjamin who was standing nearby with his baby daughter in his arms. He gave the infant to Arena and swung them up. Susannah looked at them with a small frown creasing her forehead.

  “Thank you for having us,” she said. Without thinking she looked at the children. “Becky? Dan?”

  “Thank you,” they chorused.

  “Yes, thank you,” Blair added and they pulled away from the house.

  When they reached the boarding house he told the children they must wait in the wagon but both of them ignored him. They went to climb over the edge to get onto the ground and his tone was impatient as he repeated his instructions.

  “Want to go with Susannah,” Becky said, jumping down.

  Want to go with her? Their attitude had definitely softened towards her. “Want to go with Susannah,” Dan added.

  Blair swung them none too gently back into the wagon and they yelled. Loud, embarrassingly loud by the expression on his face. Blair pushed them back none too gently and Dan fell backwards. His screams turned to sobs and Susannah grabbed him from behind.

  “You’re not their father,” she hissed in his ear.

  “Of course I am.”

  “No, you’re not. Where did you get them from?”

  He opened his mouth as if to deny it again and paused at the expression on her face. “From a
n orphanage. Where else? Little brats.”

  “Apologise to them.”

  “Pardon?” His expression was incredulous.

  “Apologise. At least play the part. If you can’t with them you certainly won’t in other circumstances. Detectives are supposed to get into their parts.”

  “I will not!” He paused, bent forward and stroked Dan’s hair. “I’m sorry, son. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you alright?”

  “Want to go with Susannah,” Dan said and it was his turn to glare.

  “I’ll take them,” Susannah said.

  “You can’t. It will look bad and then we really have blown our cover.”

  “Then marry me now and let’s get it over with.”

  “We can’t. It will then make it legal.”

  “They’re not staying with you on their own. I don’t trust you.”

  “I’ve been here with them overnight.”

  “You only arrived yesterday?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then how do you know Benjamin and Arena?”

  “They greet everyone, as you’ve just seen. There were other people there too.”

  “Well, the children are obviously not impressed with you. That is quite obvious. I’ll have them here and we’ll go to Independence tomorrow to get married.”

  “I could telegraph the bloke who’s marrying us and ask him to get here tomorrow.”

  “Do that and then ask the assistant minister if that will be alright. I really don’t see why you had to pretend to be a widower with children. It’s not fair on them.” Her tone was short.

  “I’ll take them back to the orphanage after we’ve finished with them. They know everyone there so they’ll be okay.”

  “You are the most unfeeling lout I have ever met.” Susannah turned and lifted the children from the wagon one by one. “Do you want to come and help me unpack and then stay the night with me?”

  They obviously did as they took a hand each on either side and Susannah instructed Blair to fetch some clothes for them. He got back in his wagon and a young man who said his name was Joel led them to their bedroom.

  “I’ll give you a bigger room,” he said. “I didn’t realise there would be more than one. This one has three beds in it. My wife is the cook here some of the days but she’s not working today. We would be honoured if you would all come for a meal. We’ve got little lambs and also a new puppy and kitten. You’ll like them, Becky and Dan.”