The Unexpected Bride

by Debra Ullrick

  And if Ferrin chose to come after her like he had when she had run away to Aunt Lena’s, and if he found her unmarried, he would no doubt use brute force to make her Mr. Alexander’s newest wife.

  Well, she would do everything in her power to not let that happen and pray that God would give her the strength to do what needed to be done. And He would. After all, God had given her the courage and grace to engage herself to Haydon, who she did not know or love, and she knew He would give her whatever else she needed to survive.

  Rainee straightened her slumped shoulders. “I will stay. But only until I find out if another man might consider me or until I hear from Mr. Bettes.”

  Katherine smiled. “Oh, I’m sure they will.” She turned her head toward the living room window. “But I’m even more sure before that happens my son will come to his senses and not let you go to another man.”

  Rainee was certain she was not meant to hear that last part, but she had. She could only hope and pray Katherine was right and the stubborn man in question would indeed come to his senses.

  Later on, before the sun had settled in for the evening, after the dishes were finished and put away, Rainee slipped outside into the warm air. The need to be alone and to think weighed heavily on her because she could not shake Haydon’s words from her mind. What had happened to him to make him dislike her so?

  “Hello, Rebel.”

  Inside the barn, Haydon turned his ear toward the sound of Rainee’s voice.

  “How are you this evening?” she asked his horse.

  “I’m fine,” Haydon answered.

  Rainee whirled in Haydon’s direction as he stepped up beside her. Her body stiffened and she turned to leave.

  “Don’t go, Rainee.”

  She kept walking.

  “Please.”

  She stopped.

  “I’d really like a chance to apologize for my rude behavior and to talk to you.”

  She faced him. “You do not owe me an apology or anything else, Mr. Bowen. As you are not the one who sent for me, and you have made it perfectly clear you do not want me, I will take my leave as soon as other arrangements can be made. I am not one to burden myself onto another, and it is I who needs to apologize for what my presence here is putting you through.”

  “Rainee, I can’t have you thinking my attitude has anything to do with you. It doesn’t. It has everything to do with me. I want you to know you are more than welcome to live here with my family for as long as you like.”

  She tilted her head in a way he’d come to recognize, questioning him to see if he really meant what he said.

  He could only hope he wasn’t making a huge mistake with his offer, but right was right and wrong was wrong. And he’d been wrong in his treatment of her—especially these last weeks as he tried to keep his distance. Besides, her staying with them didn’t mean he had to marry her.

  “Thank you, Haydon.”

  Hearing her address him as Haydon instead of Mr. Bowen was a good sign, and he felt the relief of it all the way from his head to his toes.

  “I appreciate your kind offer. But I have already sent my post to Mr. Bettes, and if he still wants me, I will accept his offer of marriage.”

  With those words, she headed toward the house. “Good night, Haydon,” she tossed over her shoulder.

  Sunday morning, Rainee stood at the bedroom window with her hands on the sill and her forehead pressed against the glass. She gazed up at the bright July sun. Today looked to be another scorcher.

  Down below she noticed Michael setting up tables. He picked up one end of the long table, and Smokey lifted the other. Michael, such a sweet, sensitive boy, would someday make some woman a fine husband. Just not for her, for he was much too young.

  Rainee knew Michael had set his cap for her, but since their encounter with Haydon at the clothesline, she had tried to avoid the boy as much as possible because he was shirking his duties to be in her presence. Still, he seemed to find her wherever she went, and she refused to be rude to him. Guarded, yes. Rude, no. In fact, whenever she was around him, she made sure nothing in her countenance showed anything other than friendship.

  It seemed to be working to some degree because Michael’s visits had become less frequent and he no longer caressed her with his eyes as he once had. It was if he understood there would never be anything between them.

  Haydon stepped into view.

  Rainee moved to the side of the window where he could not see her and watched as he hoisted the benches and placed them neatly in rows. How she wished things would work out between them.

  He was a gentle man with a caring heart.

  A man who loved his family and treated them with the utmost respect.

  A man who under unusual circumstances had been polite and courteous to her.

  Last night at the dinner table, he had tried to include her in the conversation, but after she had overheard him telling Jesse he wanted her to leave, she had no desire to talk to him. It was such a strange place to be—wanting him to fall in love with her, yet guarding her heart because she knew it would never happen.

  So rather than talk to him, she had diverted her attention onto Abby. She loved that little girl as if she were her own sister. Rainee had always wanted a little sister. And if things would have worked out between her and Haydon, she would have had two.

  As she continued looking out the window at the handsome man who caused her chest to rise and fall, she whispered, “Lord, Thy will be done.” She pushed away from the wall and headed toward the mirror.

  Still dressed in her robe, Rainee stood in front of the looking glass contemplating what to do. Since wearing the lightweight dresses without the restricting corset, she never wanted to don that wretched contraption again.

  What she did want to do, however, was to take her corset and wrap it around the person’s scrawny little neck who had invented it. Did they not know or care how suffocating and stifling the corset and all those layers of clothing were in the scorching heat? And for what? Appearance’s sake?

  Appearances be hanged. Rainee was sick to death of the whole thing.

  Though she loved her father dearly, that was one thing that had always disturbed her about him. Born a British gentleman, position, appearance, and wealth meant everything to him. Since moving to America, however, Mother said he had relaxed some of the stricter parts of his upbringing, but propriety was not one of them.

  Rainee scrutinized the articles of clothing she had to choose from. Once again she was faced with the dilemma of what to wear. Her mere wardrobe consisted of four silk gowns and the three dresses Katherine and Leah had helped her let out.

  Her mother’s words about dressing properly so she did not embarrass her father skimmed through her mind. She did not wish to embarrass the Bowens either, but she did not know what would be considered proper attire for an outdoor church gathering.

  Rainee let out a very unladylike snort. She hated having to concern herself with such trivial matters. Sometimes she just wanted to run away and live in the wilds where no one cared about what she wore or how she looked.

  A smile graced her lips. The Idaho Territory appeared quite wild to her. And she had run away to it.

  She giggled, picturing herself running around in a pair of men’s trousers, an oversize shirt and a cowboy hat and boots. She rather liked the visual. It represented a freedom she craved but was likely to never have. In fact, she wondered if she would ever be free from the strict proper upbringing that seemed to haunt her like a ghost no matter where she went.

  Unfortunately, clothes were not the only problem weighing heavily on her right now. Today, the Bowen’s neighbors would arrive. Just how would they explain her presence at their ranch? How would they introduce her? And what would she say? Her stomach crinkled just thinking about it.

  “Rainee.” Katherine’s voice sounded from the other side of the bedroom door. “May I come in?”

  Rainee pulled her robe shut. “Yes.”

  The door
opened and in walked Katherine wearing a pink cotton dress. No ruffles, no frills, no silk and no layers of hot clothing. Just a simple, lightweight garment. The burden of the morning lifted, and the tight scrunches in her stomach relaxed. Perhaps the freedom she craved was within her reach after all.

  “I was wondering if you would like me to braid your hair.”

  Would she ever. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

  Katherine’s kindness and thoughtfulness never ceased to astonish Rainee.

  She grabbed her clothes and slipped behind the makeshift partition. Within minutes she was dressed and feeling carefree and lighter than she had in years. She all but skipped to the dresser and sat down.

  Katherine picked up the brush and pulled it gently through Rainee’s long hair. Rainee closed her eyes and relished the rare treat of someone else brushing her hair.

  Growing up, servants had always styled her hair. And on rare occasions, her mother had. But all that had changed when her parents died and Ferrin had taken over her life. Some of those servants had moved on, and some of them had stayed for Rainee’s sake. With her no longer living at her parents’ plantation, she wondered if even more of the servants had moved on and what they were doing. Especially Jenetta.

  “You have such beautiful hair.”

  “My mother used to say the same thing every time she brushed my hair, and she would share something with me from her childhood.”

  “Like what?” The brush stopped mid-air.

  “Well, when she was little, Mother had a horse named Beauty whose mane and tail were the same color and thickness as my hair. She loved horses. So did my grandfather. He had taught her everything she knew about them.

  “But she had confessed the real reason she loved spending so much time with the horses was because during those times her father would tell her stories about his many business travels. She cherished those times she had been fortunate enough to spend with him. Just like she treasured the time she spent with me, brushing my hair and talking.” Rainee could still see her mother’s smile as if she were standing here in the room with her. And what a beautiful smile it was.

  A smile she would never see again.

  “You must miss her terribly.”

  “Yes. I miss her so much sometimes the pain becomes almost unbearable.”

  “Oh, Rainee, I shouldn’t have asked you to share with me. I can see how much it disturbed you to talk about her.”

  “Please, do not apologize. While it is difficult to remember those precious times with my mother, for that brief moment it also brings her back to me. So thank you for asking.” Rainee looked at Katherine’s reflection in the mirror and smiled.

  “You’re welcome. Any time you want to talk about your mother, I’d love to hear it.”

  Rainee just might take her up on that offer.

  “There. I’m finished.” Katherine set the brush down on the vanity.

  “Thank you so very much, Katherine. It has been a long time since anyone has brushed my hair for me.” She smiled her gratitude.

  Katherine lovingly patted her shoulder. “Well, anytime you want it done, you just ask. I love doing it.” She moved her hand from Rainee’s shoulder. “Shall we go downstairs?” Katherine turned to leave.

  Rainee twisted in her chair. “Katherine?”

  “Yes?” She stopped.

  “I just wondered…” Rainee’s gaze dropped.

  “Wondered what?”

  “People are going to wonder who I am and what I am doing here. And…” She shrugged and glanced up at Katherine.

  “You’re wondering what we’re going to tell them,” Katherine finished for her.

  “Yes, ma’am. I am.” There. She had said it.

  Katherine took her hand and pulled her up. She looped her arm through Rainee’s and smiled. “We’ll tell them the truth.”

  Rainee’s heart dropped clear to her button-up boots. “The truth?” she squeaked as panic settled inside her. When she had written the advertisement in search of a husband, she had not planned that far ahead. She never thought about what she would say to people when they met her.

  Tears battled in the back of her eyes, begging for release for the unfortunate situation she now found herself in. If only her mother and father had not died. Then she would not have to concern herself with such dreadful things. No longer able to hold back her tears, they slipped out and onto her gloved hands.

  “Rainee, look at me.”

  She sniffled, pressed her fist against her mouth and then looked at Katherine.

  “The truth we’ll be sharing with them is…” Katherine smiled. “That you are my guest.”

  Rainee let out a short breath.

  “No one needs to know otherwise because it isn’t anyone else’s business why or how you got here. Haydon and I have already discussed it, and we agreed everyone would announce you as my guest. After all, it’s the truth. You’re my guest for as long as you like.” She smiled.

  “But what if they ask how you know me?”

  Katherine’s brows furrowed. She released Rainee’s arm and turned puzzled eyes at her. “I’m not sure. Let’s go downstairs and see what Haydon thinks.”

  “But Haydon does not like me. And I know he does not want to be burdened with me.”

  Katherine laughed.

  Rainee did not see anything so funny in what she had just said.

  “He likes you, Rainee. He just doesn’t want to admit he does. Come here.” Again she looped elbows with Rainee and led her over to her bed. Katherine sat down and patted the spot next to her. Rainee sat and faced Katherine.

  “I want to tell you something about Haydon and then perhaps you will understand why he acts the way he does. But first, I want you to know why I’m telling you this. For more than a year now I’ve prayed for God to send Haydon a wife. And then you came along.”

  Rainee’s mouth opened in a very unladylike manner.

  “So, we’ll just wait and see what God wants on that point.”

  Not knowing what else to do, Rainee nodded.

  “One thing I do know about my son is that he may rebel against something and even refuse to do it, but he’s learned the hard way about going against God’s will and following his own desires. Now he only wants what God wants for him.”

  Those words caressed Rainee’s heart. She, too, only wanted what God wanted for her. In fact, before she had made her decision to move out here, she had sought the Lord and He had given His approval. Solutions to the obstacles she now faced, therefore, were best left in His hands.

  “Haydon would be furious if he knew I was sharing this with you, but I believe it’s the right thing to do.” Katherine tucked a wayward strand of hair back into place. “Before Haydon moved out West with us, he made sure his wife Melanie approved. She agreed even after he told her they would be moving to a ranch far from town and how harsh it would be. She assured him it would be fine. Melanie loved adventure. Even a dangerous one. That was one of the things that had attracted Haydon to her.

  “Anyway, Melanie had this romantic notion about the West. And she wasn’t the only one. Many people romanticize it. Haydon warned Melanie a lot of people had lost their lives and their children’s lives because of the harshness of this land.” Katherine got a faraway look on her face.

  Is that what had happened to Katherine’s husband?

  Shimmering eyes looked back at Rainee. Rainee wanted to wrap her arms around the woman and comfort her. She knew only too well the devastation of losing a loved one.

  “Haydon doesn’t know I’m aware of how miserable Melanie made him, but I noticed it shortly after they arrived here. Melanie hated living here. She had a hard time dealing with the harsh reality of this place. She despised it even more when she realized she wouldn’t be attending any more fancy parties. That there was no place to show off her expensive silk gowns. No more servants to tend to her every whim. And no more extravagant shopping sprees. Haydon had warned her about that, too. But the poor thing just could
n’t cope.

  “Many times I heard her screaming at Haydon, telling him what a horrible failure he was as a husband and as a man. She would say cruel and hateful things to him. Things a mother couldn’t bear to listen to. She told him he was worthless and it was all his fault she was so miserable. Said she would never forgive him for the anguish he was putting her through.” Disbelief and heartbreak flittered across Katherine’s face.

  Horrified, Rainee covered her mouth. How could anyone say such cruel things to another human being? Let alone their own husband?

  “Finally, Melanie told Haydon if he really loved her, he would move them back to New York. Haydon promised her he would, but they had to wait until spring because travel was much too dangerous in the winter. But she had no desire to wait. She snuck out during the night, and the next morning Haydon found her battered body at the bottom of a steep hill not too far from here. She had slipped on the rocks and fallen to her death.”

  Rainee gasped. “Merciful heavens. How dreadful. Poor Haydon.”

  “He hasn’t been the same since. He still blames himself for Melanie’s death, and he’s built a stronghold around that soft heart of his to keep himself from feeling that hurt again.”

  Rainee’s heart broke for what Haydon had endured. Everything made sense to her now. She even understood why Jesse had sent for her. He just wanted his brother to be happy again. Rainee wanted that, too. Perhaps she could make him happy. After all, not all women were like Melanie.

  Rainee was not. She loved helping people, not being helped. Fancy balls and extravagant gowns meant nothing to her. She loved the outdoors and the wide-open spaces. The only thing she did not love was pigs.

  Chapter Eleven

  Rainee stepped into the living room, and Haydon did his best not to stare at the beautiful woman. He expected to see her dressed in her fancy frippery, but her attire surprised him. The simple yellow dress she wore brought out the gold in her hair and eyes, and her overall appearance was wholesome and not that of a rich socialite.

  Something about the way she looked at him caused his breath to hitch. He couldn’t say what the look conveyed exactly, but something was definitely different.