Western Night Series Collection (Mail-Order Brides)

by Rosie Harper

  Hardy couldn’t remember a morning when he had felt so wondrously alive, with so little sleep. He whistled contentedly as he strolled through the silent streets, back to the Saloon. It was still dark, the sun would not come up for another hour or so, but Mariette did not want him to be seen leaving once it was high in the sky. He didn’t want her to end up embroiled in gossip, she had to live here after all, but he had made sure that she knew it had been the most wondrous night of his life.

  He snuck into the Saloon, glad that there seemed to be nobody around. His bed looked inviting, but he wanted to get out to the Greive place as early as he could, to try and find Caleb Green. He prayed that the man would be able to find him some work. He’d do anything, well almost, to stay here and be able to court Miss Mariette Macardle openly. Though, he had the strangest feeling that as she had kissed him goodbye, that had been exactly what she meant. Something about her eyes, her words had seemed so final. He recalled his flippant comment about whether he would respect himself in the morning, and her cheeky reply and wondered if she had known all along that she intended to use him.

  He knew he should feel used if that were the case, but he couldn’t help but admire her. Men had been doing the same thing to women for centuries, maybe it was about time women got their fair share of being able to take their pleasures where they wanted. He didn’t mind if that was all he was to her, but he couldn’t help but hope that if he stayed she may just want to use and abuse him for his body on a more regular basis!

  Blaze nickered and pranced a little as they headed out of the stable, the sun was rising and the horizon was a blaze of reds, and pinks, oranges and golds. It was breathtaking, and he sat for a moment just enjoying it, before he clicked to his horse, squeezed his heels and they shot off in the direction Mariette had told him he might find the Greive ranch. He was impressed as he pulled up outside the smart ranch house, the yard was tidy though a few fences could use a little attention. Caleb Green must be doing well for himself.

  A lovely young woman, with long blonde hair was out on the porch carrying a pail of water. He rushed to assist her. “Good morning Ma’am,” he said, whipping off his hat and giving her a little bow. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he added as he took in the shock in her vivid blue eyes. “I’m here to see Caleb Green, Mariette Macardle sent me, said he may have some work for me. Am I being presumptuous that you are maybe Mrs Green? May I help you with that?”

  “I am indeed, and yes you may,” she said with a smile. “Any friend of Mariette’s is welcome in our home. Come on in.” She said and ushered him through the screen door.

  “I understand congratulations are in order?” Hardy said as he ducked his head to get through the door. She chuckled at him.

  “Indeed, some honeymoon – two nights and one day!”

  “Your husband is a very lucky man. I’m Hardy by the way, Hardy Williams.”

  “Melissa Halda… no sorry Green. I will get used to it eventually.”

  “You’d better,” a playful voice growled from the stairwell. “Caleb Green,” the man said as he appeared from the shadows, his hand outstretched. Hardy shook it firmly. “I don’t know woman, we’ve only been married a day and you already have another man with his feet under the kitchen table!” He moved to his wife’s side, pulled her close to him and kissed her as if they were alone. Hardy looked away, a little embarrassed but it pleased him to see a couple so clearly in love. He wished them well.

  “Mr Williams is looking for work. Mariette sent him up to us,” Melissa said as she made her husband sit and poured him coffee. “Do sit.” She indicated the chair opposite her husband’s and Hardy did as he was told. “Have you eaten?” He shook his head. She quickly served them both up a full plate of bacon and eggs, grits and kept the hot, strong coffee coming. Caleb ate quickly, kept his eye on Hardy the entire time.

  “Have you done any ranching before?” he asked finally as he put down his knife and fork.

  “None, but I’m strong – grew up on a farm back East. We grew grain crops mostly, but some vegetables too. I learn fast.”

  “D’you ride?”

  “I can hold my own.”

  “D’you mind spending weeks in the saddle, wet, cold?”

  “Have done a fair bit of it the past few months trying to find work, wouldn’t say as I like it, but I can do it,” Hardy admitted wryly.

  “No, doubt any man does really. How about being up all night with a cow delivering a breach calf?”

  “We had two milk cows ourselves. I know what’s entailed. I care about animals, will take care of yours well. Show me the ropes I’ll be the best damn cowboy you can imagine. Especially the ropes,” he said with a chuckle.

  “The lasso not your thing my friend?” Caleb looked at him through narrowed eyes. “You’ll need to get to grips with that.”

  “You can teach him Caleb, stope teasing the man,” Melissa interjected. “You and I both know that the fact Mariette sent him up here that you’ll be taking him on. Now, git the pair of you and do some work before I have to clout you round the ear, new husband or no!” Caleb stood and took her in his arms, kissed her soundly.

  “And it begins, eh Hardy? Get a ring on their finger and the sweet girl you once knew turns into a harridan,” he winked at Hardy and Melissa swiped at him affectionately.

  “Go on, get out of my kitchen. Even if you don’t have work to do, I certainly do,” she said firmly.

  When Hardy returned to the Saloon that night he was exhausted. Caleb worked hard. He’d just taken over the Greive place, which lay next to his own. His herds showed the difference in care. Caleb’s cattle were plump and content. The others skinny and skittish. Caleb had decided that the best thing to do was to bring them in to the barns and the fields directly around the farm so he could monitor them until he felt they were healthy enough to return. It had been a baptism of fire for Hardy as he learnt to separate out a herd, and the importance of recognizing signs of more concern. Those Caleb was most worried about were now in his barns, and his new boss had been patient and knowledgeable about explaining his reasons for why each animal had been put where.

  A note stood on the washstand. He picked it up and smiled. Suddenly he felt his energy return. Miss Mariette wanted to see him, if he was still in town. He knew it would probably be better for them both if he didn’t go – after all he wasn’t sure just how long he could be of any use in his new job if he was constantly exhausted from lack of sleep. But he was also concerned that the clearly affluent Marriette not have her reputation besmirched. He knew he could never dream of offering for her, he had nothing to offer and was a mere ranch hand, but he couldn’t deny the attraction he felt for her.

  He washed quickly, and waiting until it was full dark slipped over to her place, sneaking in through the back door. She was lying in front of the fire again, had a picnic supper laid out for him. “I thought we could enjoy being a little less formal,” she said in her rich butterscotch voice.

  “You have such wonderful ideas,” he admitted as he sank down beside her. She handed him a glass of rich, red claret. He drank deeply and began to tuck in to the delicious spread of fesh bread, cheeses and cold meats.

  “So, how did it go with Caleb?”

  “He put me through my paces that is for sure, but he’s fair. A good man.”

  “He is definitely that. Did he say if he’d take you on permanently?”

  “No, but he did tell me to be back tomorrow. I’m hopeful he’ll see I’m useful to have around,” he said as he took a chunk of cheese and held it up to her lips. “This is delicious.” She took a bite and chewed thoughtfully.

  “Strange it tastes different tonight, better somehow. Maybe I don’t pay enough attention to my food normally,” she said as she fed him a pickle. He crunched down on it, and noted what she said was true. Somehow it tasted sharper, more flavoursome. They experimented, feeding each other tidbits of every food. It was fun and enlightening and the sensuousness of it made the atmosphere c
harged with erotic tension. Eventually Hardy could take no more, and picked Mariette up and swept her up to her bed chamber. “Well, I knew you were all man,” she teased. “But now I have definitive proof. I don’t think there are many men who would ever be brave enough, or strong enough to lift me so effortlessly.”

  “Shut up and kiss me,” Hardy growled as he laid her down on the bed and knelt over her. She put her arms around his neck and obeyed.

  Chapter Four

  Mariette lay in bed after Hardy had left her with a lingering kiss one morning. She felt deliciously tired, used and satiated. She smoothed out the wrinkles in the coverlet, and wondered what on earth she was doing. She was playing with fire. She couldn’t deny that she liked Hardy a lot, and clearly they were more than compatible, but what had started as just a quest for her to have a child of her own was starting to get complicated. She knew she had sent Hardy to Caleb, and part of her had hoped that her friend would give him a job – but she hadn’t thought her plan through on the possibility he would. No, that had been, as usual, harebrained and ill thought out. She had seen him, decided he would be perfect – a man wandering through town would not try and make her marry him or bow down to him, try and turn her into something she was not.

  She had no idea if her plan would even work. She often reflected on the many times she and Bartlett had been intimate, none had resulted in a child. Now knowing what she did of him she prayed fervently that the trouble had been his and not her own. The thought she may be barren would be heartbreaking. But she admitted with a wry frown, so would losing Hardy now too. He was such easy company, so pleasant to be around. Oh he had nothing, and would probably be prickly as hell about it if she were ever to suggest they make their liaison more permanent. So, unless he had fallen in love with her, as she had with him, all she could see was a rocky road ahead of her as she tried to convince him that her money would see them through whatever.

  “Miss Mariette, your morning chocolate,” Katie said as she brought the tray to the bed.

  “Thank you Katie. You’re very early today?”

  “Ma’am you told me to wake you early this morning, do you not remember? You wanted to open the newspaper office. Tomorrow will be your first edition. You wanted to be at the newspaper office to help Miss Melissa and Mr Cole to ensure it was ready and out in time – remember?” Mariette couldn’t help but notice the cheeky little smile her maid was giving her. But any sane woman would lose their mind with a man as virile as Hardy around. Mariette just prayed that her tongue wouldn’t wag too much about her Mistresses antics. “I’d never tell a soul you know,” Katie added as if she were reading her mind.

  “I know, you are deliciously discreet Katie. Thank you. I am lucky to have you.” The young girl flushed with pride. “Now, can you please lay out my grey velvet today. I think it is the oldest thing I have, and being grey if I get newsprint all over it, it shouldn’t matter a bit!”

  “Yes Miss Mariette. I’ve shined up your oldest boots too.”

  “You are a treasure, and I do not know what I would do without you.”

  Just thirty minutes later and Mariette was walking swiftly down the high street to the building she had purchased to house the Stephenville Star. Standing outside were Melissa and Mr Cole, a short stocky man she had hired from Dallas who would run the printing press for them. He had come highly recommended. Melissa looked bright and eager, and Mariette hugged her tightly. “This is all so exciting,” she whispered. Melissa nodded. “Mr Cole, thank you so much for getting here so swiftly. You will soon learn, I am the kind of woman who once I have set my mind on something I tend to want it to happen in an instant!” They shook hands warmly and Mr Cole handed her the key.

  She put it in the lock of the smart, stone built building and opened the thick oak door. “I proudly announce the commencement of the Stephenville Star,” she said dramatically. “Welcome, and long may we prosper!”

  Inside in the main chamber was the huge press. They stood and marvelled at it as Mr Cole carefully checked every part, and quickly blocked some text, and fed in the paper. He cranked up its engine and moments later the first words came rolling off the presses. He had simply put ‘Bon Voyage’, they all grinned at each other like school children with a new toy.

  “We’d best get to work,” Melissa said finally. “You and I need to go and find ourselves some stories for our first edition.”

  “Well, we can announce your marriage for a start,” Mariette joked as they walked up the stairs to their office. There were two big desks, opposite one another in the large room, with bright lamps, heavy typewriters and stacks of notepads, pencils and pens on them. “How is life treating you Mrs Green?”

  “Very well, though it being two weeks now since the wedding we may well be old news by now! I must say thank you for sending Hardy our way. Caleb cannot stop singing his praises. Wherever did you find him?”

  “In the saloon!”

  “You are a one Mariette, I know of no woman who would ever willingly be seen dead in a saloon, and you go round picking up cowboys in them.” Mariette stopped dead. How on earth did Melissa know? Katie had sworn she wouldn’t tell a soul and she couldn’t imagine that Hardy would be the type to brag about his conquests.

  “How did you know?” she cried aghast.

  “I didn’t, well not entirely until right now – good reporting skills eh? I guessed. Something about the soft, melty look that came over your face when I mentioned his name. I can’t say I blame you, had I not met Caleb first, I would not have objected if Hardy had been the one that saved me!”

  “Oh, Melissa you mustn’t tell a soul. I have gotten myself into such a pickle. Would you like the desk by the window?”

  “If you are sure, I would love it, but what do you mean you’ve gotten yourself in a pickle?”

  “Well, I know this sounds incredibly foolish, but I want a child. I took one look at Hardy and knew he would be perfect.”

  “You decided on sight the man you wished to marry?” Melissa asked incredulously.

  “Well so did you, if you’re honest – and even worse, you decided who you’d marry before you had even seen him at all!”

  “Touché,” Melissa admitted. She had after all come to Stephenville as a mail order bride, though thankfully that hadn’t worked out.

  “But no, not marry him. I just wanted him to be the father of my child. I figured he was passing through, wouldn’t care or even know what he had left behind – and then I sent him to Caleb for work!”

  “So, we weren’t supposed to give him a job?” Melissa looked confused. “If that was your plan, why didn’t you at least write us a note!”

  “Because I wasn’t thinking straight about any of it, and now he’s doing so well at the ranch, and Caleb can’t live without him, and I think I’ve fallen in love with him anyway!” Melissa put her slender arms around her friend’s shoulders.

  “You poor, silly girl. Thank the Lord you’re no brighter than the rest of us after all. I can stop being intimidated by you now!” she teased. “So, what we need to do is make sure Hardy loves you too, and he’d be a fool not to after all.” Mariette shook her head sadly.

  “It wouldn’t matter. Even if he did love me, he’s said over and over that he couldn’t even think about marriage until he has enough to offer a woman a safe, solid home. That could take him years. But, if I am carrying his child, he’ll do the right thing and then he’ll feel I trapped him into marriage. It would take away all his pride, being married to a woman like me. Let’s be honest, it would be the same for so many men. I doubt there are many as comfortable with their manhood as your Caleb, would let their wife have a career – let alone want to have her be the wealthier one by far.”

  “I see your dilemma, but are you sure he’s that adamant? Maybe it’s all bravado, have you considered he may suspect that you are using him as just a rich woman’s plaything? Maybe he might feel that you could never love someone so lowly as he, and he is putting up the barriers to protect himse
lf for when you get bored of him?”

  “I don’t know any more, I just seem to be an emotional wreck these days. I cry, I giggle, I sob – I have thoughts I would never have entertained before. I feel that being in love with Hardy is turning me into a crazy woman!” Melissa looked at her carefully, she scanned her up and down, even walked around her. “What, what are you doing?”

  “Well, I didn’t like to say anything, but you do seem to be filling out your bodice a little more than I remembered, and being over emotional is a bit of a giveaway sign. Are your breasts tender?” Mariette nodded. “Have you noticed any foods or smells you used to love making you feel a little nauseous?”

  “I used to love the scent of coffee, and brandy – but both make me run to the water closet retching! Oh my goodness, you think I’m pregnant!” Mariette didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or just be aghast. She sank into the nearest chair, and stared at her friend. She laughed hysterically. “Oh be careful what you wish for,” she said sadly.

  “Mariette, don’t,” Melissa said firmly. “This isn’t a disaster.”

  “But how will I ever know now if he truly loves me? I’ll have to tell him. He’s a good man, will want to do the right thing. Would hate for me to be the subject of gossip.”

  “Well, you were intending to be brazen enough to go it alone without him, so I think we can delay a little while before telling him. Why not try sounding him out, see how he really feels first?”

  Mariette thought about her friend’s advice in every spare moment she had that day, though there weren’t many of them. She was just typing up the final story she had managed to ferret out ready to hand it over to Mr Cole when Melissa burst through the door. “I have our first front page story!” she cried ecstatically. “I was just chatting to Elliot in the Saloon, he said there had been some strangers in that day. They were talking about buying land nearby. Elliot didn’t want to eavesdrop – but apparently their voices carried more than they should. They want to buy up the Hunniball place, the old Catthorne steading and the Morriss’s farm. Apparently they think there are some kind of mineral deposits that are going to make them a fortune – but they don’t have any intention of telling them. Naturally I went out to see all three families. They have been offered a pittance, but all three are so poor that they were seriously considering it. I told them to hang on. That we would make a big stink about it in the newspaper, that if they were going to sell we would try to at least get them a good price.”