Regency Romance: A Duchess in Disguise (Historical 19th Century Victorian Romance) (Duke Fantasy Billionaire Romance)

by Sarah Thorn

  “He can’t walk.” Elizabeth murmured. “If we find him out here, it was because he was left to die.”

  “I know.” Tyler sounded angry. He held his hand out to Elizabeth, and she took it. “Do you think we’ll find him?”

  Elizabeth didn’t know what to say. She hoped and prayed they would. But she thought the chances were slim.

  Chapter Four

  They crept along slowly, keeping their ears open for any sound. The only thing Elizabeth could think about was some kind of animal getting to the baby before they did if he was even out there. She peered into the darkness, trying to get a sense of where he might be.

  Finally, they heard a call, and both took off running toward the man. He was on the other side of the carriage, down the road just a bit. He waved his arms in the air, one hand holding the swinging lantern, so they would see where he was.

  When the crowd gathered around him, and Tyler pushed through, they could see that he was standing next to a bundled up blanket on the ground. He held the lantern close to it so that Tyler and Elizabeth could see the baby. His eyes were closed, prompting Elizabeth to run to him and kneel down, putting her hands around his tiny face. “He’s still warm!” She said. “He’s breathing!”

  She picked him up and turned around to give him to Tyler but her fiancé had his hands up and was shaking his head. “You hold on to him,” he said. “He needs a woman, a mother to hold him, not these hard, dirty hands.”

  Elizabeth looked down at the tiny boy. His eyes were slightly open now, but he was quiet and making small sucking motions with his lips. Fear slid through her. What if his care fell to her now? She knew of no one else who would be able to do it, unless Tyler’s parents were alive and well enough to take him in. She thought about all the farm work she did, how she was up from the crack of dawn until the sun slid behind the distant mountains and how tired she was all the time.

  She was dismayed by her selfish thoughts, but it didn’t stop her from thinking them. A baby was a huge responsibility and one that you took on for life. She was only months away from being the baby. And now she might have one to take care of. It was unthinkable.

  She tried to hide her feelings from her face so that Tyler wouldn’t see them. She didn’t know if he would understand what he was seeing anyway. She nodded at him and moved through the men to get to the wrecked carriage. She pulled in a deep breath and said, “All right, let’s see how much of the baby’s things we can find. He has to have bottles around here and more blankets and maybe some clothes and diaper cloths. Help me find them.”

  The men scattered all around, picking through the mess. After a short time, two men with separate wagons pulled off near them and enlisted help to take Barbara and Jerry to the morgue. Elizabeth was still holding Kyle in her arms and watched as the men gathered together a small pile of baby items. She looked for Tyler and saw him talking to three of the men who had met them on the scene.

  She watched them for a moment, wondering what was being said. The look on Tyler’s face was thoughtful, and he seemed to be staring out in front of him, listening closely. One of the other men was gesturing harshly. His face indicated that he was angry, and his words were being spoken in a blunt and forceful manner. He was looking directly at Tyler, though Tyler wasn’t looking at him. The other men in the small group were nodding vigorously.

  Tyler placed his hands on his hips and for the first time, Elizabeth noticed he was wearing a sidearm. Her eyes darted back up to his face, and she realized what they were talking about. He was making plans to go after the hijackers and get revenge for the murder of his sister. They were forming a posse.

  Chills spread over her like a wildfire. She understood why he wanted to go after them. His sister had not deserved such a brutal and torturous ending. But he had more than just his own life to think about now. What would she do if something happened to him? She would be alone. They would probably take Kyle and put him in an orphanage. She wasn’t married to Tyler yet, so she would be without a home once again, out in the dust alone completely.

  She fought back tears. Did she dare to go over to them and listen to their conversation? Should she get involved, let her feelings be known to him?

  She hadn’t shied off before. She couldn’t see herself doing it now. She crossed over the grass to reach them, but before she got there, she saw the man who had been speaking look at her and stop talking. He stood up straight and took his hat from his head as she approached.

  “Miss Elizabeth.” He greeted her. Tyler glanced up at her. He had one arm over his chest and the other hand cupping his chin and rubbing his mustache as he thought. He looked down at the baby in her arms and turned to her.

  “Do you have enough of Kyle’s things to get you through the night, Beth?” He asked.

  She was caught off guard by the question, her only thoughts focused on what he was about to do. “I…Probably yes. But Ty…”

  “Good.” He interrupted her. She closed her mouth and pulled back a little, blinking. He wasn’t going to listen to her. “Take him home. I’ll be there in a little while.”

  “Tyler…”

  “Please, Beth.” The men he’d been talking to turned and walked away from them. Tyler lifted his hands and placed them on her shoulders, where they weighed down like a heavy burden. She looked into his eyes and knew she didn’t want to ever be away from him. “Please, I know you are smart enough to know what is going to happen now.”

  “Yes, I…”

  He shook his head and placed one finger over her lips, silencing her. “I’m going to get these monsters, Beth. I hope you will understand.”

  “I do but I…”

  Again, he cut her off by placing a firm kiss on her lips. When he pulled away, she had lost her breath and could only stare at him. “I’ll be back,” he whispered. “Take Kyle home now.”

  He turned away from her and jogged to the wagon where his sister’s body had been laid. He pulled himself up into the back with her and said something to the driver, who pulled the horses out onto the road. Tyler waved at her as he left. She lifted one hand and waved back.

  She’d only wanted to tell him she loved him. He hadn’t given her the chance.

  Jake had accompanied her and Kyle back to the house. Teddy had taken Tyler’s horse and followed the wagons into town. When she got to the house safely, Jake left her there and went to town himself.

  She watched his horse fading into the darkness and didn’t know what to do. She slid from the saddle and grabbed the folded up cloth she had tied to her saddle horn. It contained all of the baby’s things that they could find. In all the time she had been with him, Kyle had never made a sound.

  She looked down at his face, half covered by the makeshift sling she had made out of a soft blanket. He was resting comfortably, his eyes closed and his hands folded under his tiny chin.

  “Let’s hope your uncle comes home soon and in one piece.” She murmured. “I don’t know what I will do if I don’t get to marry that man and spend my life with him.”

  Her feelings were mixed up inside her. Life was going to be so hard. How would she have happiness and comfort living on a farm that needed a great deal of repairs and a baby that wasn’t hers and a husband who didn’t care if he lived or died? Her muscles had grown strong in the short time she had been on the farm. She had stopped complaining after the first few days, after her conversation with Barbara, in fact. Once she started to put in the effort, she’d realized she really did want to be on the farm; she really did want a family, and she definitely wanted to marry Tyler.

  Instead of going inside, she sat on a wicker rocking chair Tyler had placed on the front porch specifically for her, so she could enjoy the sunrises and sunsets from a comfortable vantage point. She untied the sling and held the little boy in her arms. She rested him on her knees after a few moments, swinging her legs back and forth and cooing at him.

  She was still sitting there when the sun rose up the next morning, and she marveled at the beautif
ul colors. Surprised she wasn’t tired, she pondered going inside to make coffee. The baby had slept through but was now making sounds like he was hungry. She would have to make him something to eat. She dug through the bag until she found a baby bottle and a small jar of food with a baby’s face displayed on the front.

  She stood up and was about to go inside when she saw a cloud of dust in the distance. She stopped and stared. The dust cloud grew larger, and she turned back to watch the men approaching. She gripped the baby to her tightly as she saw that there were three horses, but Tyler’s was empty. He was doubled up with Jake. Tyler was behind Jake with one arm over his shoulders and his head rested against his back.

  Elizabeth heard a small squeak and realized it was coming from her. Instant tears rose to her eyes. She covered her mouth with one hand.

  “Tyler. Tyler, you man, how could you go and get yourself killed, oh, oh!” Elizabeth moaned. She turned and went inside the house, the porch door slamming behind her as she ran to the den. They had a bassinet there for visits. She carefully laid the baby down, turned and ran back out to the porch to meet the men. She realized there was a horse and buggy also following the men on horseback. It was the doctor from town.

  Exhilarated that Tyler wasn’t dead, Elizabeth ran to Jake’s horse and helped Tyler get down from it. She held on to him, avoiding the large blood spot that had soaked his shirt below his right shoulder. He was holding his right arm to his side and looked at her through pained eyes.

  “It’s…okay, Beth. I’m gonna…live. You…might regret that someday.”

  She giggled though tears were streaming down her face. “That’s so silly, Ty. I will never feel that way. I am so glad you’re going to be okay. I was so worried about you.”

  “I’m sorry I worried you,” He said. She helped him hobble toward the porch steps, Jake on his other side. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

  “It’s okay, Ty. Don’t worry about it. I’m fine. You’re…going to be fine.”

  “Where’s Kyle?”

  “He’s in the bassinet.”

  “Good. He’s okay?”

  “Yes. He’s fine.”

  They had crossed the threshold and moved into the den, where a long couch provided a needed bed for Tyler. They lowered him to it. Elizabeth knelt next to him, propping his head up with several cushions. Tyler took her hand in his.

  “Beth, I won’t scare you like that again. I hope that you will stay with me and marry me.”

  Beth kissed his hand. “I don’t want to let you go, Ty. I’m not going anywhere. I love you, you see. And I want to be your wife.”

  Tyler’s face lit up, and he smiled. He tried to give her a hug but grimaced and fell back against the cushions. She shushed him.

  “Don’t try to get up, Ty. The doctor’s going to take care of you.”

  “I love you, too, Beth. I need you to know that.” He said.

  She leaned over to whisper in his ear, “I know it.”

  She gave him a soft kiss on his lips before moving away so the doctor could tend to his wound.

  *****

  THE END

  WESTERN BILLIONAIRE Romance – The Cowboy’s Forgiveness

  Chapter 1

  When I was fourteen, I was certain that my life would be an Eliza Doolittle. I had just begun my first year of high school. My overalls were pressed. My braces were set. I had become increasingly more conscious about my freckles and the impossible knots that my bushy brown hair got itself into. Eliza and I, while we had our differences, were in similar straights. I was just another country girl waiting for a handsome, high-society man to pamper me with things and teach me some class. Further down the line, I jokingly figured I’d settle for a Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman. But, being a romantic and a girl longing for adventure never really worked out in the small town of Gordonsville, Montana: population two thousand.

  In a small pond like that, I quickly realized my path was never meant to be quite so serendipitous. I wanted to travel the world, live in a big city, eat sushi, ride a subway for the first time... So in my twenty-second year, that’s exactly what I did. I left town for big dreams, and had no intention of returning. Five years passed, and I got everything I ever wanted. But there were some parts about Gordonsville that never quite left…

  Well, I did manage to live out a Julia Roberts scenario like I always wanted, though not at all like I had planned. Welcome to the life of me, Erin McGarity, Gordonville’s very own Runaway Bride.

  “Zelda!” I called, weaving through piles of clutter and stacks of boxes. It was an early Tuesday morning, and the apartment was in utter disarray. Unpacked boxes were scattered about, clothes still piled in hangers and some half-folded into suitcases.

  At this rate, we’re never going to catch our flight in time.

  I chided myself for thinking that I had enough time to finish everything. It wouldn’t have been too bad, but Mr. Kinney begged me to take on one more account before I left and it completely tied me up for the weekend.

  “Zelda!” I bent to peer beneath the living room coffee table. I sighed, resting my hand underneath my chin, and slumped over the table.

  In the corner of my eye, I spotted a small, white ball dart toward the fireplace.

  “Philip,” I called. “She’s in the fireplace!”

  The sound of pattering feet became louder as he neared.

  “Where is she? Where is she?” Philip’s loud squeal echoed across the apartment. He ran into the room and dove to the floor, crouching on his hands and knees, his head peering at the fireplace. He wore his dinosaur pajamas, his blonde hair whirred into messy tufts from tossing in his sleep.

  “You have to be very quiet,” he said in a whisper. I sat with my arms folded, silently laughing to myself at Philip’s serious nature.

  “If you’re quiet,” he said, “she won’t be scared. And if she’s not scared, then she trusts you.”

  For a moment, Philip cooed toward the logs that sat in the fireplace. He reached into his pajama shirt pocket, and began piling sunflower seeds on the floor in front of him.

  “Oh, Philip…” I sighed. “You shouldn’t put--”

  “Look, look!”

  A little white head peeked out from behind the logs. Zelda’s little ears twitched, and her tiny pink paws skittered toward the pile of seeds that Philip left. Soon, she was climbing on his shoulder, twitching her little whiskers at Philip’s face as he giggled.

  Of all the animals my son could have possibly chosen to love, it had to be a rat.

  At least he seems to be taking the move well, I thought. Perhaps Zelda’s presence helped with that. I was thankful for any relief I could get. I knew it would get much harder in the days to come. But, for now, I reminded myself, it’s time to pack!

  “The prodigal daughter returns,” a familiar old face met with us outside of the airport. Leaning against his dusty, blue pick-up, was Peter Hargrave, Gordonville’s very own carpenter, welder, and plumber extraordinaire. To me, however, he was an old family friend, the uncle I never had. He stretched out his arms for a hug, his rosy cheeks beaming under his silvery-white beard.

  “You’re all grown up now,” he rested his hands on my shoulders.

  “It’s only been six years,” I said. “I’ve been grown up for a while, Pete.”

  “But your hair--how’d you get it so straight?--and your clothes--why, I remember when you were just a little bony thing, always gettin’ tears in your dresses from playing with the boys.”

  My cheeks grew warm. “Well, a lot has changed.”

  A small hand pulled at my jacket.

  Pete’s eyes widened. “A lot indeed!”

  He bent down to meet Philip. Philip hugged at Zelda’s carry-box close.

  “You must be Philip,” Pete sent him a wink.

  “You must be Uncle Pete,” Philip said.

  Pete stood up and chuckled.

  “I am indeed.”

  “This is Zelda,” Philip held up the little carry-box. “She’s
shy at first, but if you’re nice to her, she will be nice to you. Also, she loves sunflower seeds.”

  Pete smiled and fished into his front flannel pocket for some sunflower seeds. One, he bit into himself, prying out the seed from inside the shell. The other he gave to Philip, whose face lit up. Pete tousled Philip’s hair.

  “Well then,” he chuckled. “I think Zelda an’ I will get along just fine.”

  It was a two hour drive to Gordonville from the small airport that we flew into. Going from New York time to Montana was rough. Philip had already fallen asleep in the back seat shortly after we set off, and even I had trouble keeping wake. I leaned against the passenger door. Outside, endless fields of grasses filled the landscape, some early spring flowers already began to peak out. Mountains and trees scattered in the distance, the melting snowy peaks visible in the clear air. It was quiet out here. I had almost forgotten the sound of silence.

  Pete filled the emptiness. “When I heard from Rick that you were comin’ back to take over the farm, why, I about jumped out of my seat.”

  I sat up.

  “Whoa, whoa--wait a minute,” I said.

  Philip shifted in the back and I let my voice down.

  “Look, I don’t know what my dad told you, but I don’t have any intention of taking over the farm.”

  Pete’s smile left, and he shifted uncomfortably.

  “Oh, well, I guess I must have misheard--it sounded to me like Rick thought you were comin’ back to help out, an’--”

  “Yes--to help. I’m coming back because I heard he was having a hard time, and I know he won’t admit it. I’m not planning anything permanent. I’m going to see what I can do. Honestly,” I folded my arms. “I keep telling dad to come move in with me. He knows he’s just not able to do it all by himself anymore. But he’s too stubborn to listen.”

  “Your father’s a proud man,” Pete said. “But this is his home. You can’t just expect him to give it up so easily.”