Annie: A Bride For The Farmhand - A Clean Historical Western Romance (Stewart House Brides Book 3)

by Charity Phillips

  The ship dropped anchor a few moments later and Caleb squinted his eyes to see the passengers as they began to disembark. He could have moved closer, but he felt more comfortable here, watching from a distance to see if he could pinpoint the young woman by the description she’d given. It hadn’t been much—she was tall for a woman with auburn hair and pale green eyes.

  He’d never cared for redheads. The brassy orange of their hair reminded him more of rust than anything else, but again, it didn’t matter. She wasn’t for him; she was for Adam.

  Unfortunately, the few women that left the ship all had bonnets and hats covering their heads, so it was difficult to tell which one might be the woman he’d been writing to for months.

  But then he found her. One errant lock of fiery red escaped the tall, slim woman’s bonnet and he knew in an instant it was her.

  He also knew that he’d never again think of redheads the same way.

  The wayward strands that would not be tucked back inside her bonnet—no matter how hard she tried—were not the color of rust. No, they were the vivid red of the autumn leaves in Portland, Maine.

  He sorely missed autumn in New England, the most beautiful landscape nature provided. But it seemed Tessa Jenkins had brought a piece of that landscape directly to him.

  He watched as she finished her descent and then stood still, looking back and forth amid the crowd. He didn’t move for a moment, but quite quickly, he realized he wasn’t the only one paying attention to the auburn-haired beauty standing alone on the docks.

  Taking Adam’s hand, he hurried through the crowd before any one of the less-than-gentlemanly men there gave her a poor first impression of California, or worse, one of the discerning men there sweet-talked her into accepting a different offer of marriage.

  “Miss Jenkins,” he called from several yards away just as a seedy looking fellow started toward her. The man backed off quickly as he caught sight of Caleb’s solid, intimidating frame. The woman turned her head toward the direction of his voice, and Caleb came face to face with the most vivid green eyes he’d ever seen. They weren’t pale as she’d described; they were like crystal, and it made him angry.

  Of course that was irrational, but he didn’t want her to be lovely, or strong, or beautiful, or to have the most captivating eyes he’d ever seen. He didn’t want her to appear flawless but for a small scar on her neck that wouldn’t have been noticeable but for how it stood in stark contrast to her perfection. He wanted a woman to care for Adam, and nothing more. This marriage was to be one of convenience and nothing else.

  He chanced a glance down at Adam who clung loosely to his hand, and wasn’t pleased to see the boy smiling brightly at the woman. Of course, that was ridiculous, too. It should have pleased him immensely that Adam was immediately impressed with her. He wasn’t thinking logically and that had to stop. He’d lied through his teeth to convince the young woman to come all this way because he needed help, because Adam needed a mother figure. Glaring at the young woman wasn’t going to help his cause. He needed to convince her to stay—despite the fact she had no idea he had a child, nor that the child was to be her sole responsibility.

  “Good day, Miss Jenkins. I’m Caleb Knight,” he greeted her cordially, which seemed almost as ridiculous as his irrational displeasure over Adam’s smile. He’d offered to marry this woman, addressed her by her given name in his letter, and learned a great deal about her over the past several months through their correspondence. And yet, she was suddenly Miss Jenkins once again.

  “Good day, Mr. Knight.” She smiled warily as her gaze darted back and forth between him and the boy at his side.

  Alright; this was it. “Miss Jenkins, may I present to you Adam Knight. My son.”

  Panic flashed in her beautiful eyes, but she seemed to cover it up quickly. Right there on the docks, she lowered herself down to Adam’s level and held out her hand to him.

  “Good day, Adam. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  The boy’s grin grew wider and a tiny giggle escaped his lips as he slipped his small hand within the woman’s grasp. “Good day, Miss Jenkins,” he replied, his clarity of speech impressive for a boy only four years of age.

  She rose to her full height, and he realized she hadn’t been kidding when she’d said she was tall for a woman. Though not as tall as Caleb, her eyes were level with his chin whereas most females barely made it to his shoulders. He liked that she was tall, that she would need only to tilt her chin upward for him to sweep in for a kiss.

  Dash it all! What was he thinking? This first meeting was going even more poorly than he’d expected, and mostly because the lovely Tessa Jenkins was the one surprising him at every turn.

  “It seems we have a great deal to discuss, Mr. Knight. Might I suggest we make our way from the docks?”

  “Are you certain you wish to accompany me?” he asked, though why on earth he’d pause to give her the out was beyond him, particularly when he’d gone to great lengths to ensure she would have to give Adam a chance to woo her heart. He hadn’t known the woman a full two minutes and already she was making him forget himself—and his purpose for being there. A nanny for Adam; that was all he wanted.

  “Yes, well, it seems the ship on which I arrived will not be returning to New England any time soon,” she noted with an undercurrent of accusation in her deceptively light tone.

  He tried to smile, but no doubt, his chagrin marred the attempt.

  “Are you going to come home with us, Miss Jenkins?” Adam piped up enthusiastically, still too young for decorum and too innocent to recognize the tension that hung in the air between them.

  “I do believe that is the plan.” She smiled brightly as she spoke to Adam.

  And then she turned to him, still wearing the bright smile, though he noticed it had lost some of its authenticity now that it was pointed in his direction. “I wonder at the propriety of the arrangement, Mr. Knight. Should there not be a chaperone to accompany us?”

  He’d considered that, and though propriety wasn’t as much of a concern in the west, he knew it was vastly important back home, particularly for a young lady. “There is a second building on my property, not much more than a shack, but I would be content to make myself at home there, Miss Knight, until you feel comfortable…moving forward. Or else, we might stop by the church on our way. I have spoken with the pastor and he knows of our situation—”

  “Yes, I suppose that would be best,” she answered a little too quickly. He’d surprised her with a child, and she was still eager to proceed? She wasn’t even going to take advantage of the time he was offering her to become better acquainted with him or Adam? Was it possible for this woman to have been swayed so much by his inventive letters, or did Miss Jenkins have other reasons to tie herself to him so quickly? And if she did, would that stop him?

  He’d gone in search of a caregiver for his son, so it made no difference to him what secrets she kept hidden from him, but if there was any chance her secrets could put Adam in danger, then the arrangement was unacceptable.

  He eyed her speculatively, trying to ignore her delicate features and looking past them to the woman beneath. He’d learned the hard way to trust his gut when it came to sizing up a person. There was no maliciousness lurking in her crystal eyes. There was pain and guilt, both intense enough that he was half-surprised they hadn’t swallowed her up. But no, he was quite certain no evil creature was hiding deep within her. And that was enough for him.

  “Very well, then allow me to escort you, Miss Jenkins.” He motioned in the direction of his carriage several yards away, and she hesitated for only the briefest of moments before she started in its direction.

  Within the hour, he would be a wedded man, and Adam would have a woman to care for him.

  Chapter 3

  Not two hours had passed since she had stepped off the boat, and she was married. A married woman. And apparently married to a man who already had a child—though he hadn’t mentioned a word of it in all the l
etters he’d written.

  She’d been tempted to turn around and get back on the ship bound for Hong Kong the moment he’d introduced her to the adorable, young boy—or at the very least, berate the man for his deception—but she’d held her tongue. Who was she to reproach Caleb Knight when she hadn’t been honest about a single detail of her life? At least there was a decent chance ‘Caleb Knight’ was the man’s real name.

  And then, when he’d proposed, they proceeded with the wedding that very day, she couldn’t turn him down. Once she was married, there was absolutely nothing John Wendell could do—even if he did somehow manage to discover her location.

  Still, all of a sudden, she found herself with a husband and four-year-old boy, and she couldn’t help but wonder what else he’d been less than forthcoming about. Had his letters been filled with as many blatant lies as hers? Could he be just as much of a scoundrel as John Wendell?

  No.

  Of course, there was no way for her to know for certain, but her intuition told her Caleb Knight was not a bad man. Though he held himself aloof, it was impossible not to see the love that shone in his eyes when he interacted with his son. How bad could a man be if he cared for his child so thoroughly?

  The carriage slowed and she saw a house come into view just up ahead. It wasn’t at all what she’d been expecting. He’d spoken of a simple existence and meager accommodations in his letters, but the house that stood in front of her was beautiful. It was perhaps only a third of the size of her uncle’s manor, but there was a plethora of windows, and the decorative woodwork lent an air of welcome to the home.

  “I do not believe you did the house justice in your letters, Mr. Knight. It’s beautiful.”

  They hadn’t spoken a word to each other since speaking their vows in the church. She’d had no idea what to say, and his thoughts seemed to have taken him elsewhere. Even now, he glanced over at her, but it took a moment for her words to register.

  “Thank you,” he murmured and then returned his attention to the road in front of him.

  No one could accuse the man of idle chatter. Perhaps, like her, his thoughts had turned to the evening ahead of them. She’d never been a married woman before, but she knew enough about it to know what was expected of her on her wedding night. Her stomach churned at the thought, but she thrust the thoughts from her mind.

  Less than two minutes later, he came to a halt in front of the house and descended from the carriage without a word. Adam had fallen asleep next to her sometime after leaving the church, and his small head rested against her ribs while his hands rested in her lap. She gathered him up as carefully as she could, but before she could stand, Caleb was there, bending down to relieve her of the weight in her arms.

  “I’ll bring him to bed and then return to collect your things. Feel free to take a look around,” he told her. His voice was little more than a whisper next to her ear, and a shiver raced down her spine. She nearly gasped aloud in response. What on earth was that?

  But already he stood towering over her, looking at her with an expression she couldn’t decipher. He turned away a moment later and stepped down, balancing Adam in one arm easily. She rose and hesitantly took the hand he offered up to her. As she alit from the carriage, she deliberately ignored the tingling sensation that originated where he touched her and traveled up her arm.

  He strode ahead, inside the house and she followed slowly, taking in the sight of the man in front of her. Though she had no idea what to expect, she could not have anticipated the man who had come to collect her from the docks. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. She had no doubt, had they been in Boston, Mr. Knight could have had his choice of any of the fine ladies there.

  He disappeared inside the house and she turned her attention to her surroundings. The scenery was so different from New England, and yet it held its own appeal. It was warm and fresh, untouched in comparison to the busy streets of Boston.

  She hesitated once more as she reached the threshold. This was her home now; she was a married woman. She had deceived this man into believing she was someone she wasn’t, and he’d made her his bride. Relief and guilt flooded her together, guilt nearly overshadowing every ounce of relief. She’d taken advantage of a man and his young son in her selfish need to escape John Wendell, but what could she do about that now? Confess and wait for Caleb to ship her back where she belonged? No. She would find a way to make up for her wrongs because she couldn’t go back now.

  “Are you hungry, Miss Je—Mrs. Knight?” he corrected himself as he shot her a curious glance.

  She was still standing at the threshold, trying to force her feet to carry her inside.

  “There’s nothing prepared, certainly nothing one would count as a wedding feast, but I’m sure we could put something together,” he offered, still eyeing her curiously.

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “Of course. You’ve probably had a very long day and are anxious to get to bed,” he surmised.

  She had been tired just seconds ago, but suddenly, she was fully alert. It was their wedding night, and she was not ready to consummate their marriage whatsoever. “Actually, I am a bit hungry. If you’ll show me where the kitchen is…”

  He smiled knowingly and it looked like he was struggling not to laugh. “You do realize you’ll have to come inside if you’d like me to direct you to the kitchen. I suppose I could give you directions from out there, and you can try slipping in one of the windows…”

  “No, of course that won’t be necessary.” With a deep breath, she forced her feet to do what they’d been unwilling to do thus far, and in the blink of an eye, she was inside Caleb’s home. Her home.

  “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked, still smiling.

  “Yes, well, it isn’t often that I’m left unchaperoned in the company of a man.”

  “I can see that,” he bit back another peal of laughter. “But I’m not just any man, now am I? I believe it isn’t the least bit improper for a young bride to be left alone in the company of her husband. In fact, I believe the impropriety would come if a man and his bride weren’t afforded any privacy. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  The meaning of his words hit her quickly. “Mr. Knight!” He looked ready with another quip on his tongue, so she circumvented it in a hurry, “I believe you were going to show me the way to the kitchen,” she reminded him.

  His smile fell away and his expression was stern. “Yes, you are correct,” he motioned to the hall at his left, and she followed. She wasn’t unfamiliar with the domestic chores of cooking and cleaning—something she’d done more than once as part of her duties as a nurse.

  Their conversation turned to California’s weather as they ate and she was amazed at the differences. She hadn’t once considered that she might rarely again see a snowfall when she’d set out from Boston.

  “You must be tired, Tessa,” he commented again when the meal was finished.

  There seemed to be no other excuse to delay the inevitable. “Yes, I believe I am,” she said behind her hand as she stifled a yawn.

  “I’ll show you to the bedroom,” he told her, staring at the empty plate in front of him.

  She nodded, though she didn’t know why since he wasn’t looking at her. But he stood up and strode across the room without a backward glance. She followed…because what else could she do? It only took a moment to reach the bedroom door, and she placed her hands over her stomach, as if the action could somehow calm the butterflies that fluttered inside.

  “If you have need of anything, I’ll be in the room next door—Adam’s room. Otherwise, I trust I will see you in the morning.” He nodded to her curtly and left her there at his bedroom door while he turned into the room next to it.

  A flurry of confusion assailed her—and she wasn’t easily prone to confusion. They’d just gotten married, and yet, on their wedding night, her groom intended to sleep in a different room? Was he being kind, giving her a chance to settle i
n and get to know him? It would be sweet of him, except she didn’t get that impression. His words had a finality hidden in his tone. He wasn’t leaving her alone on this night in particular; he was announcing what was to happen that night and every night after—absolutely nothing.

  Chapter 4

  Caleb moved about the kitchen quietly, trying to avoid waking the woman who’d become his wife just a few short hours ago. He was putting off the conversation that would come inevitably once she was awake. He’d seen the look of confusion on Tessa’s face when he’d left her standing outside his bedroom. He could hope she’d simply fall into the kind of easy, uncomplicated existence he’d intended for them, but he’d be a fool. If she was the kind of woman who went with the flow of things, she wouldn’t be there now, uprooting herself from her loving and comfortable existence in New England for whatever unknown promises were to be found with him in the west.

  Every hour that passed left him thinking more and more that he had absolutely no idea what he’d gotten himself into. Finding a wife in order to garner a caregiver for Adam had seemed perfectly reasonable at first. But now, with a beautiful wife in his home, he questioned his former logic.

  “Good morning,” a gentle voice spoke from the doorway behind him.

  He turned abruptly, jarred from his thoughts. It had been some time since a woman had been there to greet him in the morning, and it disturbed him—more because he liked it than anything else.

  “I wanted to speak with you before Adam woke up…” she began, her tone hesitant.