Most Unsuitable Wife

by Clemmons, Caroline

  She pressed him toward a chair, then ran her hands across his shoulders when he sat. "Yes, yes. Sit here. I'll get your dinner.” She rushed into the kitchen.

  From his seat across the table from Lex, Drake pinned his cousin with what he hoped was a blood-curdling glare. "So, you were gonna watch out for her while I was gone, huh? Keep her out of trouble?"

  Lex held his hands up, palm out in supplication. "I told her you'd kill me, but only after you beat me to a bloody pulp first.” He lowered his hands and shrugged. "She was bound and determined to do this. The least I could do is see it was legal and her investment protected."

  Drake turned to his grandfather. "And your story?"

  "The same, son, just looking out for her. Lily had one of her worst fits ever. Lordy, you never saw the like, screeching and carrying on. Poured out all Pearl's medicines and broke the bottles. There was no keeping the two in the same house after that."

  "So, how long's this place been open?"

  "This is her fifth full week.” Grandpa looked around the busy room. "Doing real well. Busy people need a decent place to eat."

  Drake snorted. "Looks to me like all the 'busy people' are men."

  Lex corrected him, "No, sometimes ladies come in to eat. Lots come by for baked goods to serve at home."

  As if to underline his comment, Mrs. Magee stepped inside and up to the glass display of cakes and pies. From the empty spaces, Drake guessed the case had held several times the number of desserts now tempting the clientele. The dark-haired woman waited on the mayor's wife.

  Drake nodded to the front. "Who's waiting on Mrs. Magee?"

  "Rhoda Spiegel. You remember, her husband was killed at the quarry this winter? Has three young kids."

  "Yeah. Bad business. Tough on her. Who's in the kitchen?"

  Grandpa glanced toward the open doorway into the preparation area. "Dick Harrigan. He does some of the cooking. Worked his way from Boston's bars to Texas doing whatever he found. Even worked as an assistant chef in some fancy Chicago hotel.” He paused before he added, "He's also done some boxing. Promised to keep customers in line if necessary."

  Lex leaned forward. "Things go all right on the drive?"

  "We lost one of Bingham's men to rustlers.” He tapped a hand on his thigh, dreading relating the news to George Bingham. Thank the Lord, the dead man had no family, wouldn't leave another woman widowed. "Other than that, things went better than expected. One of our best drives."

  Grandpa looked pleased. "That's good. Holsapple's going to need the money. His leg isn't healing up right. He won't walk again, or I miss my guess."

  "Too bad, hate to hear it. But he'll have plenty of money now to hire someone to push him around in one of those fancy wheeled chairs."

  Flexing his hand, Grandpa added, "I told him he should ask Pearl what to do to help his bones knit proper. That old fool doctor's no help. Thinks anyone past fifty ought to give up and die quietly."

  Drake noticed his grandfather's gnarled hand looked less inflamed. The redness and swelling of his knuckles had all but disappeared. Grandpa sat straighter, his eyes shone clearer, sparkled more.

  "You're looking fit and in the peak, Grandpa."

  "Well, I'm feeling it. A sight better 'n I've felt in years, that's for durn sure. But I'm feeling guilty, too, if you want to know."

  Surprised at the admission, Drake asked, "Why is that? Appears to me you should feel grateful your health has improved."

  "Don't think I'm not. But, well, doctorin' me is what caused all the ruckus.” Grandpa paused to tug at his earlobe. "You see, it was a tonic Pearl mixed up for me that set Lily off. If I hadn't asked for Pearl's help, the whole thing would have held off until you got back."

  Drake shook his head. "Maybe. Storm didn't think so."

  The other two men looked at one another then back to Drake with questioning faces, so Drake continued, "Storm told me on the trail that Pearl was...let's see, what did he say? Oh, yeah, he said Pearl could only be pushed so far, and she was about to push back. I thought he was crazy, but he told me she would do something before we got home."

  "He was right.” Lex nodded. "Don't know how he knew, but he sure hit the nail on the head there."

  "He said it's 'cause he's lived with women all his life. Says they just don't think like men."

  All three men shared a laugh before Grandpa admitted, "Yep, he sure enough hit the nail right square on the head there. Danged if he didn't."

  Drake watched his beaming wife bringing him his lunch. The look of welcome warmed his heart again. It felt damn good to have someone to come home to, someone glad to see him. Maybe the changes at the ranch weren't so bad after all. What did he care if she dragged in old furniture and sewed on a few ruffles?

  Pearl sat a heaping plate of roast beef, vegetables and fresh bread in front of Drake. "It's nice to see the three of you laughing together again."

  "It's good to be home,” Drake grabbed her hand, realizing he spoke the trite phrase with his heart.

  "Are you staying in town for a while? I'll be through as soon as Sarah's here from school."

  She looked flushed, flustered. Like a girl with a beau. That welcomed him again. Damn, he wished he could take the pins out of her proper hairdo and spread it out across her shoulders. He wished they were alone.

  He shook his head. "Soon as I gobble up this food, I'd better square up with Holsapple and Bingham. Got good news for them about the drive, but sad news for Bingham about one of his hands.” Drake flashed a smile to conceal his regret at leaving this woman here while he fulfilled other obligations. "Reckon I'll see you later at the ranch, honey."

  * * *

  Pearl enjoyed dinner that night more than any meal in her life. She sat in her own home beside her husband. Her brother and sister sat nearby, looking almost as happy as she felt. At last they were a complete family. Pearl glanced at the guards sharing the meal. Surely they wouldn't need others watching over them much longer.

  Drake and Storm had regaled them with all the problems faced on the drive and the glory of making a good sale in Dodge. She told them of all the work she had done getting the restaurant launched and her healing. Sarah even spoke about her schooling and the people she had met in town.

  "I can't get over how much you've grown," Pearl said to Storm. "You look older, too."

  Drake said, "He did a man's work. Ate like two men. Every time I saw him he was stuffing food into his face."

  "It's true," Storm confessed with a smile. "Cook made me extra. Said a growing boy needed lots of food. I wasn't about to turn it down."

  "And the work?" Sarah asked. "Was it hard?"

  Storm nodded. "Sometimes. It was hot and dusty, or wet and cold when it rained. Days were long and nights short. But I was with the horses and the men treated me as an equal, so I was happy."

  "You did a man's work and kept the horses in top shape.” Drake turned to Pearl. "Storm has a real gift with animals. But you told me that the first day we met."

  After dinner the sentries excused themselves for their split duties and their time off in the bunk house. Pearl and her family moved to sit in the large room Drake called his parlor.

  Soon Drake stood and yawned. "I'm bushed. Think I'll turn in. You must be tired, too, Pearl."

  Pearl saw the knowing glance pass between Storm and Sarah, but she could hardly wait to be alone with her husband. "Yes. We had a very busy day, all of us.” She rose and walked with Drake down the hall.

  As soon as the bedroom door closed behind them, Drake swept her into his arms. "I've waited too long for this,” he said as he carried her to the bed and deposited her on the coverlet. He leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips, then broke it to work the buttons on her dress.

  "So you missed me a little?” Pearl asked as she pulled his shirt from his pants and slid her hands up his chest.

  She saw his breath catch as he closed his eyes and leaned into her hands. "More than a little. I missed you every night. Thought about you during the
day."

  His admission was balm to her tired body and food for her soul. Maybe there was a chance he could come to need her with him. She had missed him so much, missed that cocky grin he gave her and the way he called her honey.

  Their movements became more frenzied, more hurried. Soon they both lay against clean sheets with their clothes strewn across the floor. Pearl had a few seconds to wonder about the large windows of their suite and the door opening onto the veranda. Thank goodness Maria had closed the heavy draperies when she changed the linens earlier in the day. Now, though the hour was not late, the only light came from the oil lamp on the bedside table. With a happy sigh, Pearl gave into the pleasure of enjoying her husband and his lovemaking in her very own home.

  Time enough to worry tomorrow.

  Chapter Fourteen

  They lay wrapped in each other's arms. Tingles of pleasure radiated through Pearl's body. She reveled in perfect, if temporary, peace at last. Perhaps this man would grow to care for her. She dared not say the word love, even to herself. As her mind avoided it, her heart whispered it, yearned for it. Love. Love. Love.

  Drake nuzzled her neck. "You've lost weight."

  "A little.” Another wave of pleasure swept through her that he noticed the few pounds she'd lost in his absence.

  "You're working too hard.” His hand smoothed over the curve of her hip.

  "I wanted to get the house and garden ready before you came back so we could surprise you. It turned out to be a big job. When I arrived, it looked as if you only ate and slept here. I've tried to make it a home, some place you would find warm and welcoming."

  "You succeeded. Even I can see that. You spent a lot of time choosing and rearranging things.” He slipped a ruffled pillow under her head. "And making things, too. Must've had to work long hours to get it all done."

  Pleased, Pearl smiled to herself. "I couldn't have done it without Sarah's and Maria's help. It was a lot, I guess, what with the opening of the restaurant at the same time. Then all the people started coming for my healing."

  "Well, I think you've taken on too much. You're too thin and tired to the bone.” He ran his hand down her rib cage and caressed a hip, as if to emphasize his comment.

  His words hit her wrong. All her life people had criticized her. She hadn't realized how much she needed praise from this man until now. Reminding herself to keep a lid on her temper, she sought to answer his accusation.

  "Time is not so precious now that the restaurant is open and running smoothly. I'm lucky to have found Rhoda and Dick to help."

  "When did you get this crazy idea for a restaurant, anyway?"

  Crazy? Pearl bristled. She pulled from his embrace and scooted around to face him. "I wanted to put Granny's money to use. A place for people in town to have lunch seemed a good idea.” Realizing her voice had risen, she softened her tone. No use letting others in the household know about this disagreement. "From the business we've had, I'd say it's a darn good idea."

  Drake sat up and swung his feet off the bed. Pearl watched the muscles ripple across his broad shoulders and longed to pull him back, to reclaim the contentment of a few minutes ago.

  He stood and reached for his pants. "Hell, you slavin' in town all day, only to return home to face a houseful of people waiting for your medicines--you call that a good idea?”

  Pearl scooted up against the solid headboard of the bed and pulled the sheet across her breasts. "Usually there's not so many as today," she defended. "Sometimes no one is waiting to see me." Did he care she worked so hard, or did he resent the inconvenience to his schedule? She thought it more likely he resented the intrusion her businesses made into his life.

  "What happens when someone is real sick? You can't safely traipse around all over the countryside. They can't come to the restaurant where food's being prepared, either.”

  Drake stepped into his pants and paced the floor beside the bed. Black hair spanned his wide chest made velvet patches which narrowed and furred to a low vee in the soft light. She curtailed the desire that curled her belly and tried to concentrate on the subject, irritating as it was.

  "No. Miguel and Maria have explained about the danger to our family. People seem to understand. They come here and wait. If it's an emergency, they send word and I fetch Sarah from school and come home early, or they come into town to see the doctor. Rhoda and Dick can manage the restaurant for a while without me."

  "Well, it sounds crazy to me. You can't be in two places at once.” He ran his hand through his hair again and faced her to accuse, "Why couldn't you just stay at Grandpa's and wait for me 'til I got home like you promised?"

  She felt her heart break a bit. As she feared, he wanted her back in town. He wanted to control her life. "I tried. Believe me I tried.”

  When he made no answer, she continued, "Lily is so different from me, but she expected me to be exactly like her. I'm not. I can't be like her and there's no pleasing her.”

  She heard the pleading tone in her voice and bit back tears. "Drake, please try to understand I can't be what I'm not."

  "I'm not asking you to be what you're not.” He spread his arms wide, palms up, his face a mixture of confusion and anger. "I'm asking why couldn't you have waited for me?" he bit out again. "It was only a few weeks."

  "I did wait for you. But I waited in your home, not in Grandpa's.” She raised her chin, hiding the tremble of her lips. "I married you, Drake Kincaid, not your grandfather. I belong here."

  "With four armed guards round the clock?"

  "It's far better than living in another woman's home where I'm criticized constantly, where I'm not wanted. But I'm not wanted here, either, am I?"

  He dropped his hands to his side and stopped pacing, his back to her. His hands flexed and the muscles across his broad shoulders moved as if he took a deep breath before he spoke again. The pause cut her to the quick. She caught her lower lip between her teeth. Would he deny it?

  When he spoke, his voice was low with controlled anger. "Pearl, I didn't say that."

  "But it's true, isn't it? You never intended for me to live here, did you?” She pulled the sheet up again and crossed her arms over her breasts. The urge to throw herself under the covers and bawl like a baby almost overwhelmed her.

  He faced her but refused to meet her gaze. "I would have brought you here, soon as the trouble was over."

  She heard the lie in his tone. "Would you?” She shook her head in disbelief. "Somehow I don't think so. I promised to be your wife in every way, Drake, and thought you meant to be a husband to me in every way. Now I'm not so sure.”

  "Yes, I would have.” He sat on the side of the bed and faced her. She heard hestitation in his voice, as if he were unsure of himself. "It's true I didn't intend to at first. Hell, I was so mad at having to marry to keep the ranch I couldn't think straight.” He pried one of her hands loose from the sheet she clutched and drew tiny circles on her palm with this thumb. "But, well, after I got to know you some, that changed. I wanted you with me."

  A terrible weight lifted from her shoulders. She felt years younger. "Thank you. That means a lot to me. I've spent twenty-six years being unwanted. It's important I'm wanted now."

  "You are.” He dropped her hand and stood. "But why did you have to get so all fired messed up with this restaurant? Why didn't you bide your time at Grandpa's until I got back?"

  "The restaurant makes me feel independent. I'm not used to taking handouts or orders from anyone. And I've already explained about Lily. I can't be her or Helen Morris or any of the other women she thinks are right for you."

  "I didn't ask you to change who you are. But couldn't you have tried to fit in a little until I got home? Go to a few tea parties and listen to women prattle. How hard could that be?"

  "A lot harder than you know.” Frustration overwhelmed her. How she would like to rail at him, beat her fists against his chest.

  She slid from bed and grabbed the new silk wrapper he'd brought her from his trip. "If I'd known about
Granny's money, none of this would have happened. I'd have been gone when you came to Piper's Hollow and you would have married someone else."

  "And I suppose that's what you wish happened?” He stood facing her, his hands at his hips.

  "I didn't say that. But we would never have met, wouldn't be having this conversation if I'd had money. It came too late to make a difference that way."

  "And you felt compelled to rush right out and use the money? Why not invest it--or save it? Why not discuss your plans with your husband?"

  "My husband was never available to talk with. Even before you left with those cows you wouldn't talk to me about things. A marriage should be a partnership, but you don't want a partner. You want se--sex and then to tuck me out of the way until you feel the urge to take me out again."

  "Now that is unfair. When have I ever made you think all I wanted from you was your body?"

  "That's all you ever wanted. First you needed my body to meet the terms of the will. Then you wanted my body for...for sex. You never considered my needs.”

  As soon as she said the words, she regretted them. "No, that's wrong. You've been very considerate of my family and me, seeing we had everything we needed and all the money we could spend. But you missed the important part.”

  "And what would that be? I'm sure you'll tell me."

  "Everyone needs a purpose. To feel needed and useful.” And to be loved, she silently added.

  "And it takes that stupid restaurant makes you feel useful? Damn, I wish that place would burn to the ground."

  She couldn't suppress the gasp of shock at his statement. "Yes, it makes me feel useful, like I'm doing something to make a difference in this community. You stashed me in Grandpa's house like some unwanted toy until you were ready to play again. You treated me like a...a mistress or a fallen woman instead of a wife! Oh, you gave me your name, but you didn't give me any part of yourself."