Faye Favors a Foreman: A Historical Western Romance (Brides with Grit Book 11)

by Linda K. Hubalek

  “I wish I could bring you both home…”

  Rusty’s gaze snapped to Faye at Chaney’s words. Did she want to go back to Kansas City to be near him?

  “I’m sorry Richard, but I’m not going back to Kansas City. I’m going to marry Rusty on Sunday. Violet is my baby and Rusty will be her father,” Faye said with determination.

  Next, she turned to Ogden. “How about you help an orphaned baby instead of stirring up trouble here? Violet already has two parents, me and Rusty. Perhaps there’s a baby that looks more like you—or your wife—at the orphanage. That would be better for your wife’s reputation. I don’t think you want people speculating the baby’s father is the local merchant, do you?”

  Ogden looked at Chaney, probably realizing what people might say if Violet lived with the Ogden’s. Or, that Chaney might cause problems down the road to claim her.

  That was another worry for Faye and Violet. Would Chaney come back in a year, five or ten wanting to see Violet again?

  “Let’s go, Faye,” Rusty said as he took her elbow and angled her around the men. There was no reason to stall the talk they needed to have with his family and her mother, and it wasn’t going to be in front of these two men.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Faye whispered as they walked down the street toward the hotel.

  “Stop it. You have nothing to be sorry for, Faye. Absolutely none of this is your fault, and I wish I could get that through your head,” Rusty muttered.

  “I know, but my mother is here. I don’t know what to say or do!”

  Rusty stopped on the boardwalk and turned toward Faye.

  “You’ll get through this, Faye. You’ve met your father, and now you get to make peace with your mother.”

  “But Ogden can—"

  “Ogden can try whatever he wants, but I’m not going to let anyone take Violet away from us. Period.”

  “Thank you. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Rusty,” Faye looked up at him through her unshed tears.

  “Maybe fate, luck, and maybe some divine intervention was involved too?” Rusty tried to lighten the mood. “Can I carry Violet into the hotel? I want to show her off to my parents.”

  Faye sighed with relief and handed the baby to him. He didn’t know if her reaction was because she was scared she was going to drop Violet because of her trembling, or she felt no one could pull her baby out of Rusty’s arms.

  Rusty was thinking more along the line of what would happen when Faye and her mother met again. It could be a hug, a fight, or they’d pretend they didn’t know each other. All he knew was that he needed to help Faye through the actions and emotions which would meet them inside the hotel.

  He opened the door and stepped aside for Faye to enter first. Their family was waiting in the lobby for them instead of going up to their rooms. Ethan Paulson and his mother stood at the registration desk, probably curious at the somber reunion.

  “Sorry, for the delay,” Rusty apologized to his parents as he took off his hat and set it on the coat rack by the front door. At this point, he wasn’t going to say why they talked to the men who’d also gotten off the train. The Paulsons could hear every word and he didn’t want Faye’s, and her mother’s situation talked about in front of them.

  “Ethan, may we go into the event room for a private reunion? It would be easier than us all being stuffed into one of their rooms to visit.”

  “Of course. Let me open the room for you. Would you like me to bring in some coffee for all of you?”

  “Yes, I’m sure my family would like that. Thanks, Ethan.”

  Ethan nodded after he shut the door behind them, giving them the privacy, they needed to explain the situation. But what to start with first?

  Chapter 22

  Faye stood frozen in place, staring at her mother. The last time she’d seen her mother was four years ago before Faye left their brothel room, so her mother could work. Ruthie was half-dressed in her undergarments lying on their bed, looking dazed from the drugs she was addicted to, to get through the night of guests who would enter the room. Not a word passed between them as Faye left to go down to the kitchen to help Beulah with the evening’s food and drinks. Around midnight Faye laid down on a pallet on the floor by the stove to sleep until her mother’s room was empty of guests.

  That morning Faye had gone upstairs, and her mother wasn’t there. Faye never saw or heard from her again until the train arrived twenty minutes ago.

  Now her mother stood staring at her, wearing a soft gray wool dress with a high neckline. Besides apparently losing the sight in her eye, the right side of her face had three white scars running from her eye, almost to her chin. Her left eye was bright with clarity but questions.

  What had happened to her mother? Did she dare ask?

  What should Faye say?

  Did her mother’s husband know of their pasts?

  Did her in-laws realize they were soiled doves?

  Had Rusty shared her history in his letter to his parents?

  Since they hadn’t talked yet, her mother didn’t know if Rusty knew of Faye’s past, let alone who Violet’s father was.

  “Faye, I think you need to check Violet’s diaper. Why don’t you go into the ladies’ room to do that now before Ethan brings our refreshments?” Rusty said as he handed her Violet and the cloth bag of supplies he’d had on his shoulder.

  “Yes, I’ll take care of her wet bottom, or she’ll start fussing,” Faye answered, grateful for the diversion.

  “Mind if I go with you? I could freshen up a bit,” her mother asked as she moved toward the door Rusty had waved at.

  “Ma,” Rusty said, probably to stop his mother from following them, “what’s the news from my sisters?”

  Faye didn’t say a word as they entered the ladies’ room, or when her mother turned the lock on the inside of the door, and then turned to face her.

  “I don’t know why, but I have a feeling I’ve known you. I was in an explosion a few years back and lost most of my memories. Do we know each other?”

  Faye stared at her mother as her words sank in. She really didn’t know she was her daughter? Besides the fact they lived and worked in a brothel?

  “I had a tight feeling in my chest when I saw the one man who wanted to talk to you too. Should I know him?”

  The sincere look in her mother’s eyes was real and haunted with memories she couldn’t draw from.

  Faye was struck speechless, not knowing what to do or say now. Pretend they just met, or try to fill her mother in on their horrible lives?

  “Um, why did you lose your memory? I assume you were in an accident?” Faye touched her own cheek, wishing she could feel her mother’s scars instead.

  “I was told my husband, Roy, and I were at a trunk show in a hotel in Kansas City, and there was a boiler explosion in the basement below us. My husband died while I suffered head injuries and burns to my…face and right shoulder. As you can guess I lost my eye then too.”

  “I’m so sorry about your husband,” Faye murmured.

  Roy Evert. He was the salesman Faye thought Ruth had run off with when she disappeared that night.

  Ruth, Faye tried to think of her as, instead of her mother, shrugged her shoulders.

  “I’m afraid I can’t remember him at all. Our luggage was spared from the blast, and our marriage license was in it. We’d only been married two weeks.”

  Two weeks. The accident happened only two weeks after Ruth left her.

  “Where and how did you meet Edwin, Rusty’s uncle?”

  He was at the same hotel but was outside when the explosion happened. He knew Roy and decided to take care of me since Roy, and I didn’t have any family.”

  Faye cringed. Ruth had a family—Faye and Violet—but should she mention it now?

  “When did you and Edwin marry?”

  “About six months after the accident. Edwin would have liked to have married sooner, but I kept hoping I’d remember my past first,” Ruth shook her head, �
��but it’s remained a mystery locked in my mind.”

  Ruth stepped closer and peered into Faye’s face. “Are you sure you don’t know me?”

  Faye was crushed. All the answers she wanted to ask her mother why—weren’t available to her.

  What should she do now? Blurt out the truth, or pretend they just met? It could ruin Ruth’s marriage if Edwin found out about her past.

  What about Rusty’s parents finding out about Faye’s past? Well, it was no secret around town, so they’d eventually hear rumors. She was an unwed mother who came to her uncle Isaac for help.

  But Faye could spare her mother the humiliation of revealing her past life if Faye didn’t mention it.

  But what about Richard and Mr. Ogden waiting for them in the lobby? Thank goodness Rusty asked for them to use the private room.

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t recognize you, Mrs. Tucker,” Faye lied. “Maybe you knew me when I was a, uh, child? I grew up in Illinois.”

  “Maybe, although I don’t know if I’ve ever been to Illinois before I met Edwin.” Ruth gave a half laugh. “Edwin jokes, telling me ‘if you don’t remember, it keeps you from remembering if you’ve done something terrible in the past.’”

  “Sounds like he’s a wise husband. I better tend to my daughter’s diaper while you use the facilities,” Faye said as she laid Violet on a table in the room.

  Faye pasted a polite smile on her face when they exited the ladies’ room and walked toward the rest of the group sitting at a table already drinking coffee. She had to convey to Rusty what she’d learned about her mother.

  “Rusty, your aunt was just telling me a little about her accident and loss of memory. Your uncle is a special man to help her out during that horrible time.”

  Hopefully Rusty will take the hint that Faye didn’t reveal her relationship with her mother.

  “I thought Faye looked familiar, but we couldn’t figure out how that could be,” Ruth said as she sat down by her husband.

  “Don’t worry about it, Ruth,” Edwin gave her a one-arm hug around her shoulders. “We’ll get to know Faye, and her darling baby, starting now.”

  “Could I hold your baby? I’m just so drawn to the sweet little thing,” Ruth gushed.

  “And then I’m next,” Rusty’s mother laughed while Faye sat Violet down onto her grandmother, Ruth’s, lap.

  Faye sniffed back tears of sorrow and joy, glad the two could meet, but sad her mother didn’t know she was holding her grandchild.

  “Faye, since the elders are getting to know our daughter, you want to help me a minute? You can help carry plates of pie if the hotel dining room still has some available,” Rusty asked.

  “Yes, they’d love Millie’s pies,” Faye said as she quickly rose at Rusty’s suggestion. Bless the man for his quick thinking again.

  “What happened?” Rusty whispered as soon as they were out of the room.

  “Ma—no, think of her as Ruth—was in an accident two weeks after she left me, and doesn’t remember her past at all. She thinks she’s seen me before but can’t remember why or where. I told her I grew up in Illinois but left it at that, rather than say I was with my grandmother, rather than my parents.”

  Rusty rubbed his hands over his head, ruffling up his hair before smoothing it back down.

  “All right then. We’ll pretend you’ve just met and leave it at that.”

  “What about your parents? Do they know of my past?”

  “Um…to explain Violet’s presence, I said you were attacked at your workplace and came to your uncle for help.”

  “Well, that could be considered true, but several people in town know what kind of ‘place’ I worked in,” Faye said embarrassedly.

  “I don’t think people will mention anything to my family the few days they are in town…I hope.”

  “Meantime, Richard and Ogden are still in the lobby,” Faye fretted.

  “Nope. While I helped Ethan bring in coffee, I stopped in the lobby to talk to them. Ogden decided it would be cheaper to go find another baby for his wife than pay us for Violet.

  “Chaney said to tell you goodbye. He hadn’t told his wife about his visits with you at the brothel. And, he didn’t want to stir up problems now about a baby he’d fathered, and she couldn’t take care of.”

  “Where are they now?”

  “They were going back to the depot to catch the next train going east.”

  Faye melted into Rusty’s arms. For a few minutes she was sure she’d lose Violet and have her past—and her mother’s—paraded in front of Rusty’s family.

  “What did I say about fate, luck, and divine intervention? I think we got all three on our side today. Let’s go get pie for our family.”

  Faye squeezed Rusty’s hand as they walked into the dining room. How did she get so lucky to find this man and life?

  Chapter 23

  Rusty stood in front of the church altar watching Faye and Isaac walk down the aisle toward him. Faye looked beautiful, and—confident—in her burgundy satin gown. The frilly hat on top of her cascade of black curls matched the dress’ color, and he knew that was important to a woman, although he only had eyes for Faye’s smiling face.

  His soon-to-be bride was happy, and that was all that mattered to him. With the past problems behind them, they could look forward to a solid, loving marriage.

  Maisie’s fussy voice rose above the organ’s music, and Rusty noticed Isaac’s broad smile as he leaned over to whisper something to Faye. Dagmar Hamner was doing his best to keep the toddler entertained on his lap.

  As soon as Sarah’s children realized a family wedding was about to be performed, they were ready to charge up to the altar, even though Sarah had instructed them to watch from their seats this time instead of lining up in front of him and Faye.

  Because Sarah and Marcus were standing in front of their witnesses, the children had been handed out among family and friends to keep track of.

  Rusty wasn’t surprised his Aunt Ruth held Violet. The woman had been fascinated with the baby during the entire visit.

  Although he and Faye were careful to call Faye’s mother, “Aunt Ruth,” the woman still searched for a connection to hers and Faye’s past. If and when Ruth’s memories came back, there would be a traumatic encounter to survive, but Rusty wasn’t worried about it now. This was his and Faye’s wedding day.

  Isaac and Faye took the final step to Rusty’s side.

  "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" Pastor Reagan asked Isaac.

  “Faye’s entire family, with all our noisy blessings,” Isaac announced above the fussing of two of the triplets and Maisie.

  Rusty extended his elbow to Faye, and she took it with her white-gloved hand. Isaac stepped back to sit with Cate as Rusty guided Faye to stand in front of the pastor.

  Beside him, Faye took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She was confident and ready to be his wife. Faye was a bride…with grit, and he looked forward to their life together with Violet, and however many more babies they’d be blessed with.

  ***

  Fate.

  The word kept echoing through Faye’s mind as she stood beside Rusty in the Clear Creek Community Church, ready for Pastor Reagan to pronounce them husband and wife.

  By fate, with Isaac’s generosity and his envelope she’d kept, Faye found a home.

  By fate, and Cate’s raising Sarah to be a loving person, Faye had been accepted into her sister’s family.

  By fate, as a foreman offered her friendship, Faye gained self-esteem, love, a husband, and a father for Violet.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Rusty, you may kiss your bride,” Pastor Reagan said as Rusty turned toward Faye and then wrapped his arms around her.

  Faye tilted her head to accept her loving husband’s kiss. Rusty was the first man she’d ever kissed, and the man she was fated to kiss forever.

  The End

  What happens when Faye’s daughter, Violet, grows up? Be sure to watch for
Tully’s Faith when Tully Reagan meets his match with Violet Tucker.

  ~*~*~*~

  Dear Reader:

  I hope you enjoyed reading Faye Favors a Foreman. Please help other readers discover my books by either recommending them to family and friends by word of mouth or writing a review. I’d appreciate it.

  If you see any errors or typos, please email staff@ButterfieldBooks.com about them. Even though this book was professionally edited, things can slip through which I want to correct for the next reader.

  For more information on this series, you can go to www.LindaHubalek.com, or go online to your favorite retailer, or ask your local library to order them for you. These are standalone stories, but I recommend reading the books in order to get the full benefit of the storyline.

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  Many thanks from the Kansas prairie!

  Linda K. Hubalek

  Historical Romance Books by Linda K. Hubalek

  Brides with Grit Series in order:

  Rania Ropes a Rancher (Rania and Jacob)

  Millie Marries a Marshal (Millie and Adam)

  Hilda Hogties a Horseman (Hilda and Noah)

  Cora Captures a Cowboy (Cora and Dagmar)

  Sarah Snares a Soldier (Sarah and Marcus)

  Cate Corrals a Cattleman (Cate and Isaac)

  Darcie Desires a Drover (Darcie and Reuben)

  Tina Tracks a Trail Boss (Tina and Leif)

  Lorna Loves a Lawyer (Lorna and Lyle)

  Helen Heals a Hotelier (Helen and Ethan)

  Faye Favors a Foreman (Faye and Rusty)

  Grooms with Honor Series

  Nolan’s Vow (Nolan and Holly)

  Elof’s Mission (Elof and Linnea)

  Angus’ Trust (Angus and Daisy)