Mail Order Bride: 9 Book Boxed set : 9 Brides for 9 Cowboys: CLEAN Western Historical Romance Series Bundle

by Faye Sonja

“Well, I don’t want to talk about my depressing life so how about we just sit here,” he motioned to the ledge off to the side, “and be quiet for a minute. All day you and I constantly talk to people. Let’s just take a break.”

  And that was exactly what they did. For fifteen minutes they sat there eating large roasted chestnuts and staring at the world passing them by and he felt at ease. For those fifteen minutes his world stopped spinning and he was completely content.

  “I have to get back to work,” she told him breaking the silence a few minutes later. She got up to go and he allowed her reluctantly.

  “I will be here to walk you home when you are done,” he said to her and she looked at him like he was strange. He accepted the fact that he was, and he was alright with that. The one thing he had learned in life was that when something felt this good and right you didn’t ignore it. Follow your gut instincts and see where it leads you, and so he busied himself for the next four hours trying to get to know the south side of town.

  He had reason to be coming back here often.

  * * *

  Amy saw Lyca standing at the door of the salon when she returned. It was mid-afternoon when business slowed and though Amy was technically not late since her workday had actually started at nine, it was surprising to see that for the first time in all the months since she had hired her, she was showing up after her break was over on time.

  It was clear her break must have been a fulfilling one.

  “Your glow is so bright I think I might go blind from it,” Lyca said to her as soon as she walked in.

  Amy laughed as her friend hugged her and demanded to know all about the happenings of the night before that she had been too busy all day to tell her about. Amy spared no details and she was happy for that.

  “When do you see him again?” Lyca asked her and she told her of their plans to meet up that night.

  “Take it slow,” Lyca again warned her. Lyca was truly happy for her friend, but she was not hoping she would experience the same luck as Amy had. She had already made a life for herself and she was happy for it. Amy knew that she meant well but she found that misplaced fear could be the thing that either broke or propelled you. She respected Lyca’s opinion and would listen, but at the end of the day, fear would not make her choose not to explore the possibility that this newfound relationship could be the best thing to ever happen to her.

  That was her thoughts for the rest of the day while she worked and when evening came she was surprised to find she was not just looking forward to being with him, but also content by the mere thought of him. It was as if the troubled seas in her life had been calmed by the thought of him as well. She was rolling on a high. She wondered what he had meant when he mentioned his depressing life, but she would find out soon enough.

  Seven o’clock couldn’t come fast enough and her feet ached. She was glad the workday was over.

  “I was beginning to think they were holding you hostage for the night,” Brian said behind her as she walked out of the salon a few minutes past seven.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked him in shock.

  He frowned at her. “Why do you sound so surprised? If I said I would be here to walk you home then I would be.”

  She looked at him speechless. “I just didn’t expect that.”

  She was suspicious of him. It wasn’t that men were not like this. In fact, she knew of quite a few men from her little neighborhood who would wait on their women and children hand and foot, so she wasn’t saying he was an anomaly. It was just that she was not his woman and she had just met him.

  “You know,” he began, “I worry about your perception of the world. You do know men like me truly do exist right? First you think I pay you compliments that I give all other women, which is insulting. Now, you are wary of my desire to see you home safely.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t get all full of yourself. I know good men exist. I just want to know why you are so interested in me. I am sure there are more beautiful, successful and promising women in your world. Why me?”

  “This is the second time you have made a distinction between our worlds as if I am somehow from any place but this one.”

  With a chuckle she pointed out the obvious. “We might as well be. Take for example the cost of your pants. I bet I could eat for a whole month for what they cost, and your carefree gait speaks of a certain level of achievement.”

  He was silent and she looked at him as her words finally registered on his face. “I see what you are saying, and I believe you are right.”

  “Why do you like me, Brian?” she asked the man she had just met who was clearly not going to leave her be anytime soon.

  He stopped her and turned her to face him. “Would you believe me if I told you?”

  “Probably not.”

  “Then why should I be bothered with explaining?” he sounded irritated.

  Truth is she shouldn’t be asking him all these things, maybe Lyca was indeed rubbing off on her, but she needed to know that he had not in fact just taken her up as a distraction. She was beginning to love the time they spent together a little too much to risk getting her hear broken.

  “Just tell me anyway,” she said, hooking her arms into his and turning him down the dingy alley that would take them to the diner.

  “Where are we going?” he asked looking around worried. “If you are setting me up to be mugged don’t bother. I will give you everything in my wallet.”

  She laughed. “See! Another reason I keep pointing out that we are from different worlds. For me this is a shortcut to where I need to get to and for you it is a place you may possibly get mugged. Different worlds,” she again pointed out and this time he remained silent.

  They walked through the alley, each holding their breath as the stench of the smelly garbage assaulted their senses. When they got to the other side she took a deep breath and turn to the left, he followed on her heels- the silence deafening. She wondered if her words had offended him, but she didn’t want him to have any misconceptions about the way things would be here. She needed him to know the reality, and the reality was that they were two different people.

  “Amy! Over here!” An old raspy voice called to her from the side of the building up ahead. She turned with a smile in that direction and saw Brian freeze in his spot, admiring the beauty of Amy’s smile.

  The building in front of them had rats scurrying about on the sidewalk. The windows were broken and the graffiti murals could be considered beautiful if you appreciated that kind of thing. No doors were visible and through the dark hallways only lit by the flickering street lamps, grotesque figures emerged like the undead and made their way towards them.

  “I know why I like you so much,” Brian said as they stepped into fresh air. “You have a big heart and I can see the depth to your soul through your eyes. I like you because you represent something different.”

  “I will not be your science project or charity case,” she interjected.

  “I would never expect you to be,” he defended himself stopping her to pull her in for an unexpected hug that felt right in so many ways. “I am just saying you represent a difference I respect and I knew from the moment I met you that you were not like most women. You asked me why I came back. I came back because you are a woman worth getting to know.”

  She had no words to answer that, mostly because she could see that he meant every word of it.

  “Want to go grab a cup of coffee with me?” he asked and she nodded. “Well, this is your town. Take me to someplace you like.”

  She smiled and hooked her arm under his. “I like the fact that you are trying to get comfortable in my world as opposed to taking me to yours.”

  “Maybe when you are convinced I am a good thing, you would consider taking a trip there with me.”

  She loved the sound of that.

  * * *

  5

  Chapter FIVE

  -

  -

  -
/>   -

  -

  -

  -

  “ … I beg that we speak of things we

  have yet to address …Our marriage?”

  .

  Turns out they did not actually go for coffee; instead she took him to one of the few places in this city that brought her joy. It was the library a few streets over from her. When she had just gotten into town, fresh off the train and filled with high hopes and dreams, this place had been her oasis. It had been her refuge. It had been the place where her thoughts bloomed free and her heart could sing or weep, depending on its mood. It was her safe place, and seeing as flowers represented change and growth she thought it the best place to be. Besides, she adored a good book and found herself lost in one or two each and every week.

  “This seems like a good place for passing the time,” he said beside her as he ran his fingers along the leaves of blossoming geraniums in a large adobe planter placed at the bottom of the steps. Outside of the library downtown the wind blew in powerful gusts and she turned to him with a smile.

  “It is the place of many things, happy thoughts among them of course.”

  He took her hand in his, staring down at where her slender fingers laid splayed against his long ones. “What bothers your mind?”

  “Bothers?” she asked him with a laugh. “I am not bothered. I am hopeful, but to know if it is misplaced hope I beg that we speak of things we have yet to address.”

  He turned to her. “Our marriage?”

  Nodding, she turned back to the sidewalk and walked the path that took them to the park. “What have you decided?”

  “I want us to be certain of two things,” he said to her. “Firstly, I have a daughter who means more to me than life itself. If you have a problem loving her like your own, then we cannot go forward and this would have been a sweet and memorable affair of the heart and mind. Another is that we have not yet had time to really get to know and fall in love with one another.”

  “I am well aware of these things, and loving your child is already a given,” she assured him.

  “I just want you to know not to have unrealistic expectations. I am willing to learn to love you and for now that is all it can be. If this should not work out then we can agree to move on with our lives.”

  She nodded tossing pieces of bread she had saved from lunch into the fish pond a full story below. The erratic clambering of the fish for the treat she had provided gave her momentary pause, but then his voice drew her back to the reality they must face.

  “If you can agree to all of this, then Amy Shultz, I would be honored to call you my wife.”

  She turned to him. This had never been the way she thought she would have married. Growing up she had figured some lovely man from her Amish community would have asked her out on Rumspringa and then they would have fallen all over each other. They would have been wedded on a Thursday by the river and then they would have gone on to make beautiful Amish babies. Never once did she think that she would have found a husband through an advertisement. She never dreamed he would have had grey eyes, a masculine build, the sweetest touch and the most entrancing twinkle in his grey eyes. She had never imagined he would have already had a child. But as Brian stood before her with his hand outstretched and a simple engagement ring waiting to be slipped onto her finger should she agree, she knew she would not have had it any other way.

  Ring in place he pulled her in for their first kiss. It was sweet, slow and soft, and then it was over.

  “The wedding will be in three days,” he said. “I hope that is okay with you.”

  She nodded. “I have no problem with that. There is just one thing we have yet to discuss.”

  “Your job?” he asked her knowingly.

  “Yes, what of it?”

  “The choice is yours, as I would hate to think of taking your free will away. But with a daughter I would appreciate you being present at home, and I have several businesses in which your input will be appreciated. Can you manage that?”

  She shook her head. She had half expected that to be the arrangement, but she knew Lyca would have a hard time replacing her.

  They spent a couple more hours talking of what the wedding would be like and then he took her home.

  “Soon this will be the last night you will spend here,” he kissed her again with a smile.

  “I cannot say I will mind much.”

  And that was the honest truth. Her apartment had been a little cramped and it was only fair that she was looking forward to more space of her own.

  * * *

  6

  Chapter SIX

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  -

  “ … I beg that we speak of things we

  have yet to address …Our marriage?”

  .

  The following morning she broke the news to Lyca who was happy for her and sad to see her go at the same time.

  “You have to come by here to visit often or I will make sure you know how disappointed I am,” the woman said.

  “I intend to,” she assured her, and they spoke of her replacement, wedding and soon to be husband for most of the morning. She had wanted to surprise Brian with a pie she had baked and so she went by the address of his office in town that he had given her. He had been sharing a lot of information with her over these past few days. She couldn’t deny it, which was after all what marriage was all about. She stroked the scar on her wrist and decided that she would be no hypocrite. She had told Jasmine she needed to let her husband know what that scar was about and so she would do the same... at some point.

  “Amy Shultz to see Mr. James,” she said to the curious woman who opened the door. Brian had told her about his friend Kayla, and as she looked at the woman who stood appraising her to see if she was fit for passage, she knew she was looking at one of his best friends. For a moment she found herself needing to please her, but she had never been one to spend much energy on things of which were not a necessity. She was directed to the basement of the building and was told he was in the file room, but what greeted her was a man she had not seen before.

  “How many times am I to tell you to stop messing around with my shipments?” she heard a stone cold angry voice ask from behind a partly opened door as she passed. She would have considered it just another schmuck getting it handed to him as it often happened in this town, but it was the sickening sound of a fist meeting a face and the muffled cry of pain that followed which made her stop dead in her tracks.

  Then again!

  To follow was a voice she was all too familiar with. “Do not steal from the hand feeding you. I do not take such things lightly,” Brian said.

  The kind of death that quaked in his voice was enough to make her feel sick to her stomach. But even though her internal voice recognition left no room for her to be mistaken she still refused to believe the obvious until she was certain. She had known first-hand what assumptions could do so she quietly walked to the door and peered in. Feeling like she was back with the looting gang who took pleasure in pounding to a pulp, all of those who went against them.

  What she saw made her heart stop beating for a second. Like a tall glass of sweet and dangerous, was Brian standing over a man that had long since been familiar to her. The face was badly bruised over the right eye and the lips severely busted. He was tied to a chair with a burly man with scars running the length of his arm standing over him. She gasped as Brian slammed a fist into the man’s face yet again.

  The three men turned their attention to the door through which she was easily visible. Her brain screamed for her to run but her body did not obey that order, and somewhere deep inside her heart she held onto the thought that Brian, the man who promised her marriage and a good life, would never lift a finger to hurt her.

  In the seconds it took him to make it to the door and pull it closed behind him as he stepped out, she had managed to convince herself that
very often things were not as they seemed.

  “What are you doing here?” Brian asked her in a stern voice and any conversation she had just had with herself was forgotten. She somehow seemed to have lost the use of her tongue and she wasn’t sure she wanted it back. Amy had a feeling it was safer for her if she said nothing at all.

  “I came to bring you pie,” she said holding it in her hand. “Your assistant directed me here when I told her who I was here to see.”

  “You should never have seen that,” Brian said to her, “that was all business in there and I hope it didn’t scare you.”

  This time his voice was far more controlled but she could not have fathomed that he was capable of such cruelty.

  “Have you tried using your words,” she asked.

  He smiled and took her scarred arm. He turned it over to smile at the snake scar identical to the one Jasmine also wore. “I know this scar means you used to run with a gang of thieves, and you of all people should know that sometimes these things are unavoidable.”

  She regained control over her body and took two steps away from the man in front of her who she no longer recognized. She would have run but full function was not yet hers.

  “Amy,” he whispered at her, putting a hand on his waist and dragging a palm across his face in frustration. “I am sorry,” he finished, and for a moment she saw a glimpse of the man she had sworn she had come to love, but his bloody knuckles and the splash of blood she knew was not his on his white shirt made her apprehensive.

  “I-I have to go,” she stuttered.

  “This was all business,” he said to her, his words pleading for her forgiveness but without remorse. She couldn’t stay to listen to that.