Unlawfully Wedded Bride (Love Inspired Historical)

by Noelle Marchand

  “Enough?” Nathan asked.

  She looked at him innocently. “Why? Are you tired?”

  He began to speak but the caller’s words sounded over his. “Fellers, grab your gals. It’s time for the ‘Courting Game.’”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nathan looked at the man in surprise then transferred his gaze to Kate. “The ‘Courting Game’?”

  “Oh, that.” She waved her hand as if dismissing the game completely. “It’s a square dance. We don’t have to play.” She was already moving off the floor.

  Nathan frowned. “Wait—”

  He was cut off when the caller said, “Kate O’Brien, where are you going?”

  Nathan’s gaze flew to Kate, who was waving the man off.

  “You send that young man up here so I can talk to him.”

  Her eyes widened and flew to his. Nathan made no attempt to hide his amusement as he shrugged. He walked over to the man who said, “Now, you just position yourself across from that gal and I’ll make sure one of you gets a hat, you hear?”

  “Yes, sir,” Nathan said then did exactly that. Kate looked at him from across the circle and shook her head. He ignored that, hoping she wouldn’t leave the two circles of dancers that were being formed with the men on the outside and the women on the inside.

  They were suppose to thread through each other, he was told. Between the hats and the name the ‘Courting Game,’ Nathan was sure mischief was afoot. To clench it, the caller said, “Now in years past the parson demanded that the kiss be given on the cheek…”

  Kiss? Nathan glanced across the circle at Kate who pointed to herself then away from the circle. He shook his head and pointed to the ground motioning that she should stay. However, the action was poorly timed for it was done just as the caller robustly exclaimed, “But he ain’t here tonight!”

  Kate frowned at him then turned to talk to the brunette beside her. He watched suspiciously as the lady responded to Kate then glanced around the circle to look at him. The woman laughed and whispered something to Kate. As the two giggled, the caller continued, “Seein’ as we got ourselves a room full of gentlemen, I think tonight we’ll allow the ladies their preference.”

  There was much laughter around the circle and not all of it came from the men. Nathan caught Kate’s gaze. She gave him a satisfied smile. One of the men near Nathan called, “Start the music, already!”

  The caller grinned and gave a nod to the rusty band of musicians who managed a pretty good semblance of “Turkey in the Straw.” Nathan soon caught on, extending a hand to one woman. Passing her, he took the hand of the next lady. He knew from glancing across his shoulder that Kate stayed opposite him as the distance between them diminished.

  The music stopped and so did the dancers. Everyone searched for the bearer of the hats and Nathan saw a man a few spaces in front of him collect a kiss on the cheek. The caller told everyone to pass the hats back three people. He wasn’t surprised when a hat tied with a green handkerchief landed in his hands. He glanced at Kate, but she was looking at the hat that landed one person ahead of her.

  The music started again and many women eyed the hat whether he extended that hand to them or not. He could no longer look across and see Kate. Then suddenly the music stopped and Kate was nowhere to be seen.

  Kate laughingly watched as Nathan smiled wryly at Mrs. Redding. With infinite care to propriety, he leaned forward and placed a smacking kiss on the woman’s cheek before glancing around in search of an irate husband. The music started up again and Nathan threaded through the line once more.

  As he passed by she lifted her cup of punch in a silent salute and grinned at the feigned reproachful look he sent her. Draining the rest of her punch, she turned to look for Ms. Lettie but suddenly stopped short. “Mrs. Greene.”

  The woman glared at her, obviously annoyed about something.

  Kate searched for any sign of Ellie but found her innocently talking to a few girls her age. “Is something wrong?”

  “I should say so. Why, the way you’re throwing yourself at that man is disgraceful. It’s all over town.”

  “Ah, yes. The rumor industriously circulated by Andrew Stolvins,” Kate acknowledged. “I wasn’t under the impression that you frequented the Red Canteen, Mrs. Greene.”

  The woman bristled. “Sinful, that’s what it is. All the while knowing the man is going to leave you. To think, I once imagined him suitable for my Emily!”

  “Mrs. Greene—”

  “Well, you’ve done your parents proud, haven’t you? Your poor mother would roll over in her grave if she heard the words I did.”

  Kate lifted her chin. “My mother wasn’t poor in any respect. She lived fully and completely with a compassion for others I doubt I’ll see again on this earth. Unlike you, my mother would never have entertained malicious gossip much less spread it.”

  Silence stretched for a moment. Mrs. Greene seemed to tremble in silent anger. When she did speak it was in a very cool, almost icy tone. “Young lady, if I had any doubts about the truth of what I have heard about your reputation, they have just been destroyed. I have never met such a disrespectful young woman in all my life. Why, if I hadn’t kept my mouth shut about this business in the first place—”

  “You may say what you like but I’m long past the point of caring what you think about me, Mrs. Greene. Good evening,” Kate said. Setting her cup down with a decisive thud, she turned and rushed quickly away.

  Nathan looked past the colorful swirl of dancers in search of Kate and moved to where he’d last seen her at the punch bowl. He paused in his search when he nearly ran into Doc Williams.

  “Nathan,” Doc said reaching out a hand.

  Nathan shook it firmly. “Hello, Doc. How’s married life treating you?”

  “Very well,” he said, then grinned. “A better question is how’s it treating you?”

  Nathan smiled wryly. “It isn’t.”

  “Kate is still adamant about you leaving then?”

  “As near as I can tell.”

  “The children will be disappointed to see you go.”

  “Yes, so will I.” Nathan’s gaze tripped nonchalantly over the doctor’s shoulder to survey the room.

  Doc frowned. “What will happen to Lawson if you leave? Do you think Kate will take him in?”

  “I’m not sure. When I spoke with the sheriff he said he was still looking for a home for the boy. I figured if he hasn’t found one by the time I head out, I’ll take him with me.”

  “I should think Lawson would be easy to place,” Doc mused. “He’s a good age to help around a farm.”

  Nathan glanced to the left and spotted Kate talking with Mrs. Greene. “Yes, but everyone knows he tried to steal from us and no one is willing to take the chance that he’ll run off with their possessions.”

  “Even now that the boy has proven himself trustworthy?”

  Nathan nodded. “The more I talk to him, the more I realize that he’s really just a victim of poor circumstances. He’s done the best that he can by himself. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to keep his belly full. He resorted to stealing in order to survive.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Doc Williams said. “I’d like to see what he could make of himself given the right opportunity.”

  “Maybe you should give him a chance then,” Nathan challenged.

  “The thought has passed my mind.” Doc Williams nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll talk to Lettie about it. I won’t keep you.”

  “Wonderful.” Nathan grinned as he took the doctor’s offered hand. “It’s always a privilege, sir.”

  Doc moved away, giving Nathan a clear view of where Kate had been standing, only to find her missing. Frowning, he searched the crowd then glanced back at Mrs. Greene in time to see the woman glare at something to his left before she turned on her heel. Following a hunch, he glanced to his left then moved that direction.

  Kate sat on the second step of the stairs spilling from the hotel’s small yet
well-constructed wooden porch onto the lawn of an overgrown garden. The win-some call of the fiddle carried through the air, melting into the sounds of cicadas and crickets calling to each other. A puddle of light slowly spilled from the doorway onto her dress, alerting her that she was not alone. She glanced behind her and smiled seeing it was Nathan. “You found me.”

  He left the door open behind him but stepped onto the porch. “You disappeared. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

  “I’m fine.” She paused then admitted, “I just had a horrible fight with Mrs. Greene.”

  “Who hasn’t?”

  She laughed. “You haven’t. She wanted you to be her future son-in-law for a while.”

  “I assume I have since been disowned.”

  She gave an amused nod. “Quite viciously at that.”

  “Lucky me.” He gestured toward the stairs and with her nod of approval he sat on the bottom step. He was quiet for a while before he asked, “What did you fight with Mrs. Greene about this time?”

  She rolled her eyes. “My poor reputation. What else?”

  He met her gaze sincerely. “I’m sorry, Kate.”

  “Don’t be.” She sat up proudly with a glimmer of laughter in her eyes. “I think I did very well for myself. Her face nearly turned purple. Ellie would be proud.”

  He laughed just as the fiddle wound down, leaving near silence. They were quiet for a moment, each content in their own thoughts. He looked toward the door. “I should go back inside. We don’t want to fuel more gossip.”

  He began to rise but she quickly caught his hand. “Stay.”

  He glanced at her in surprise.

  “The gossip ignited without any fuel so it hardly matters now.” She shrugged. “Besides, you left the door open.”

  His gaze trailed to where her hand rested upon his. He stilled. She followed his gaze and quickly released her grasp just as he turned his hand over to tighten his. She knew if she tugged her hand once more he would have to release it. He knew it, too. They both waited in the breadth of the moment for her to make her decision.

  She bit her lip then slowly relaxed her hand in his hold. The music started again as if it had been waiting for that cue. Nathan sat facing her then gently intertwined his fingers with hers. “I’ve been waiting for a month and a half to hear that word. It sure sounds good.”

  Her breath stilled in her throat. “Nathan…”

  His gaze was gentle, undemanding yet seeking. She didn’t know how to respond. For the first time in a long time she wanted to believe that she had correctly discerned God’s will and it was this. It was him. She wanted it to be him so badly.

  What if it was? Slowly, trepidation rose in the pit of her stomach, then turned into pure fear. She turned away and tugged her hand from his grasp. He immediately leaned back. His hand lifted toward her cheek then dropped once, twice, back to his side. “Kate.”

  She turned toward him.

  His eyes spoke to her gently. “It’s all right.”

  Tears suddenly pooled in her eyes, blurring her vision. She turned to face the garden and placing her elbow on her knee she buried her face in her hands.

  “I might think it’s something I did, but it’s more than that, isn’t it?”

  She nodded.

  He moved to sit on the same step as her with his shoulder touching hers, but kept his hands clasped and propped on his knees. He didn’t try to talk about it. He was just there, waiting if she needed his shoulder to cry on.

  How could she possibly explain that she was crying because she thought God might actually want them to be together? He wouldn’t understand. He would be happy but all she felt was fear of what that might mean to her heart and the plans she’d made for her future. She leaned against the stair railing so she could look at him. “Nathan, you said God led you here, didn’t you?”

  He looked perplexed at the sudden change of subject but nodded. “Yes.”

  “Do you still believe that, after everything that has happened and hasn’t happened?”

  He smiled. “Yes, I still believe that.”

  She shook her head in confusion. “But, why? I mean, aren’t you the least bit angry that God allowed you to believe he was leading you in one direction when you ended up arriving somewhere else entirely? Doesn’t it feel like…” She bit her lip, almost afraid to go on.

  He straightened with new interest. “Like what?”

  She swallowed then met his gaze more fully. “Doesn’t it feel like God lied? In Jeremiah, He says something about having thought of peace toward us and not evil. He says He wants us to have ‘a future and a hope.’ It doesn’t seem like that’s true. It seems like every time I let Him direct my path I just end up going through heartache. The same goes for my parents. They always prayed God would direct their paths but look what happened to them.”

  “You’re right,” he said quietly.

  “I am?” she asked in surprise.

  “God never promised that if we followed His will life would be easy or even make sense. He just promised that in the end it would all work together for our good. He promised that if we’d follow Him He’d take us to the best possible future, but He never said the journey would be easy. We’re supposed to go through hardships knowing that we’ll end up better for them in the end.”

  “You think I should stop focusing on the painful paths God has led me through and focus on where I’m going instead,” she said thoughtfully. “What if I’m not sure that He’s leading me to a good destination?”

  “I guess that’s where trust comes in. You have to trust that His word is true. You have to believe that despite how it seems now, He hasn’t lied. At the very least, ask Him to prove His word is true.”

  She nodded thoughtfully.

  “I think the same goes for love,” he said quietly. “You have to be willing to trust the other person. You have to be willing to depend on them. You have to let yourself be weak enough to find strength in others.”

  Her gaze slowly lifted to his. “I’m not good at any of that.”

  “Maybe not yet, but I think you could be.” His gaze seemed to say that he was counting on it. “We should go inside, but first—” He reached out and gently lifted her chin to its familiar defiant tilt, then winked. “That’s much better.”

  The next morning, Kate bit her lip as she watched Nathan say goodbye to her siblings and Lawson. Goodness, the way everyone was acting you’d think he was leaving permanently. He’d be back in a week with the money that was supposed to keep her from needing him. Of course, by then the judge might be back and Nathan would be leaving permanently.

  An awful feeling settled in her stomach at the thought. Perhaps it would be best to treat his departure now as a practice for the real thing. Maybe it would make things easier for her siblings when that day came. Perhaps, her heart seemed to whisper. But, would it make it easier for her?

  She watched as Nathan gave a kind word and an affectionate gesture to each of the children. Ellie wouldn’t settle for anything less than a hug, but was also rewarded with a grin and a tap on her pert nose. “Try to stay out of trouble, Ellie.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ellie said as she slipped her hands behind her back and rocked from her heels to her toes and back again. “It probably won’t do any good but I’ll try.”

  Nathan clasped Sean on the shoulder. “You just keep taking care of your sisters. You’re doing a fine job at it.”

  Sean nodded solemnly but Kate didn’t miss the way his chest swelled at the praise. Nathan moved on to Lawson, who stood with his arms crossed in front of him. Nathan didn’t try to penetrate that barrier. Instead, he surveyed his young friend carefully. “Remember what I said about keeping up with the chores and school. Don’t run off before I get back.”

  Lawson shrugged. “I’ll be here. It’s not like I’ve got anywhere else to go.”

  Kate braced herself with a casual smile as Nathan stepped in front of her. He didn’t say anything at first. The silence made her nervous. She
spoke first. “I left a satchel with a few more provisions under the seat of the wagon. If you think you’re going to stay more than a week, write a letter and let me know.”

  He tilted his head slightly as though to question her businesslike demeanor after what had passed between them last night. Her gaze strayed to where the children watched them with eyes that missed nothing. She didn’t want to do or say anything that might get their hopes up about her relationship with Nathan. It wouldn’t be fair to them.

  “You’ll be careful, won’t you?” Nathan asked. “Be wary of strangers. Keep the pistol with you at all times.”

  She glared at him. “Really, Nathan, if you tell me to be careful one more time, I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?”

  She began to respond out of her bristled pride but stopped herself before the words did anything more than form on her lips. He was only trying to keep them safe. She gave up with a minuscule shrug. “I’ll be careful.”

  A disbelieving smile tilted his lips as he caught her arms and gently tugged her closer for a better look at her face. “Are you feeling all right?”

  She lifted her chin threateningly but smiled reluctantly. In her peripheral vision, she saw Ellie hit Sean on the arm to make him pay attention to what was happening. Nathan’s gaze slid from hers to the children then he casually released her. “It’s probably best that I didn’t hear the rest of that sentence, anyway.”

  “I’ll be back.” He squeezed her hand then stepped into the wagon. He placed his Stetson on his head and tipped it at them all before urging the horses onward. She crossed her arms as she watched him disappear around the curve in the road. For one week, life was going to go back to the way it had been before Nathan Rutledge had ever shown up. That was a good thing. Wasn’t it?