Seducing Susannah: The Bride Train

by E. E. Burke

  Actually, he’d fled because her friends converged on his office. She felt bad about that, and had asked everyone but Rose to leave so she could get her work done. When Ross offered her this job, he must’ve known it would disrupt his life, but he’d decided it was worth it to achieve his dream.

  She turned over the letter she’d found in the desk drawer while organizing his papers. The handwriting looked vaguely like Ross’s, but it was his father’s bold script.

  Come home. The ranch is yours…

  Ross had told her his father had offered him the ranch. Then he’d asked for permission to court her. She hadn’t put the two together until today. Now she knew why he pursued her so ardently. She also knew she couldn’t give him what he wanted—but not for the reasons he thought.

  “He promised he would take me to see his other horse.” Danny craned his neck to look down the street.

  “Didn’t you have a chance to meet horses when you stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Valentine?”

  “Aye, he did. And he made friends when he fed ’em,” Rose interjected.

  Sweet Rose. She was fortunate to have a man like Constantine Valentine, who adored her regardless of how poor and improper she’d been when she arrived. Ross wouldn’t be as understanding or forgiving should he find out he’d been duped.

  “But I want to see Mr. Hardt’s horses. I like Soldier.” Danny put his forefinger on the glass over a stenciled letter. He couldn’t seem to remember to keep his hands off the window no matter how many times he was told.

  “Daniel Wade, don’t touch the glass! You’ll put fingerprints all over.”

  He dropped his hand to his side. After a moment, he dug into his pocket and pulled out a wriggling worm. With a worried glance over his shoulder, he stuffed it back into his pocket.

  Susannah sighed. She wouldn’t scold him again; pockets could be cleaned.

  “Would ye mind if Danny ran down to the saddle shop to ask Mr. Valentine when he’ll be ready to leave?” Before Rose could finish her question, Danny raced to the door and grabbed his cap.

  An errand would keep him busy for about ten minutes, enough time to finish sorting through Ross’s correspondence. “Stay on the sidewalk,” Susannah instructed him. “Don’t wander—”

  The door banged and he dashed past the window.

  Susannah closed her eyes. “Tell me he didn’t lead you on a merry chase while he was staying with you.”

  “He was sweet as a lamb.”

  “Lambs wander, don’t they?”

  “Not if ye put up fences.”

  “You’ve put up a fence?” Knowing her son, he would climb it.

  “Aye, but don’t fret. We didn’t turn him loose in the pasture. Val took him out to meet the workers at the mines, and they had a grand time. Then Danny helped me with the chores, and by the time the sun set, he was so tired he couldn’t keep his head up long enough to eat his supper.”

  Susannah’s throat grew thick as emotions welled up. “What am I to do, Rose? I want to give Danny that kind of life. I want to find a good man, like your Mr. Valentine, who’ll spend time with him and teach him things and—”

  “Mr. Hardt could do all that.”

  “No, he can’t. He’s too busy to deal with Danny, and he isn’t careful…” He’d been too busy wooing her to worry about piddling things like a settlers’ revolt. It had frightened her to think he would be so careless with his life, and hers.

  Even so, she had already forgiven him, considering she was the last person who ought to be passing judgment. To be fair, his job was a dangerous one and everyone knew it. She could’ve refused to go along, except, deep inside, she’d wanted to spend time alone with him.

  Rose reached into her bag and drew out her knitting needles and her latest project, a small one by the look of it. “Perhaps ye should give Mr. Hardt another chance. He hasn’t had a woman or a child to think about…until now.”

  Susannah avoided meeting her friend’s eyes, and focused her attention instead on arranging documents that needed to be signed. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t give Ross another chance. He didn’t need just any bride; he had to marry a proper one to meet his father’s requirements. That must be why he hadn’t sought out Hope, whose blood wasn’t pure enough, or Delilah, whose face bore scars. He’d pursued a respectable widow. She didn’t think his interest was feigned. When they’d kissed, their mutual passion had caught fire and nearly burned them up. But passion wasn’t enough to secure the future, as she’d learned when she’d let her emotions sweep her away once before. Would Ross still want to marry her if she told him she had borne an illegitimate child? Her stomach upended just imagining his reaction.

  “I can’t take the risk.”

  Her friend’s gaze turned speculative. “What sorta power d’ye think ye have over the future, Susannah? Ye can’t control everything that happens or prevent trouble, no matter how careful ye try to be. Mam was careful. She did everything she could to protect us, but it wasn’t enough. Sometimes the fate of those we love isn’t in our hands.”

  Susannah couldn’t accept Fate as philosophically as Rose. Had she done so, her son would’ve been taken from her. She was his mother, and there was no one on earth who could love him more or better. She had to do what was best for him, and allowing this budding relationship with Ross to bloom wouldn’t be best because it would led nowhere. He couldn’t marry her and claim his inheritance.

  But she couldn’t say all this to Rose. She didn’t dare confide in anyone, not even her closest friends. “I know I can’t control everything, but I can control whom I choose to marry. I’ll find someone who isn’t so concerned with his own needs.”

  She had to remember that Ross wasn’t in love with her, even if he did lust after her. She just happened to be handy, and he was a practical man, above all. “Do you forget that he gave you away to the first man who was convenient, without a thought as to whether you’d be well-treated.”

  Rose smiled. “That was ye he tried to give away, not me. I had to ask for Val.”

  Susannah chewed her lip. The entire debacle could’ve been avoided if she hadn’t badgered and badgered until Ross lost his temper. He wasn’t blameless, though. “That may be, but I wasn’t about to let Mr. Hardt bully us into being raffled off.”

  “He’s stubborn, aye. It’s a good thing ye were there to stand up to him.” Rose went back to her knitting.

  Oh yes, she knew how to stand up to Ross, all right—by letting him kiss her until her knees wobbled. Her heart ached from wanting someone she couldn’t have, a man she shouldn’t desire in the first place. “Tell me he’s not prideful,” she begged.

  “Why would I do that?” Rose shrugged her shoulders. “He’s full of himself. I can’t think of a single thing he’s done for somebody else.”

  Annoyed, Susannah stood and braced her hands on the desk now cleared of clutter. “You know very well he loaned Val money so he could start the mine, and he chased off that awful blackmailer who was after Charm, and helped Prudence get Mr. Childers out of jail, and he gave me a job and a place to stay…” Oh good grief, she was walking right into Rose’s trap. “I’m not saying he’s a bad man or incapable of good judgment. He just isn’t the right man.”

  Rose’s knitting needles clacked. “Who d’ye think is the right man?”

  Susannah despaired of finding the perfect mate, especially after having found a flawed man that she feared she might love. “The best father for Danny.”

  “Danny seems to like Mr. Hardt well enough.”

  “Ross promised to teach him how to ride horses and shoot guns. Of course Danny adores him.”

  Rose held up her knitting, which looked almost like the start of a small sweater, then laid it back into her lap. “So yer sayin’ he could teach Danny a few useful things?”

  “Yes, of course, he could teach him things…” Such as how to pick a proper wife, someone unlike his mother.

  Sick with regret, Susannah slid the letter into the top drawer. “I can
’t marry him, Rose. Even if I wanted to.”

  Chapter 7

  Mulling over how he might win Susannah’s trust, Ross left O’Shea’s saloon and started across the town’s central thoroughfare, a dirt road. Amidst the sounds of creaking wagon wheels and jangling harnesses came a distressed yapping and high-pitched shouts.

  A mangy pup, with its tail tucked, dashed down the middle of the busy street, followed by a boy in hot pursuit. Danny. He’d somehow managed to slip Susannah’s apron strings.

  Something cinched Ross’s lungs tight. Neither dog nor child paid any heed to the approaching wagon, or the driver who cursed as he hauled on the reins, turning his team to avoid hitting them. The wheels lurched, nearly overturning the load onto the scampering duo.

  “Danny, look out!” Ross dashed into the street to intercept the pair. No wonder Susannah worried. That boy didn’t have a lick of common sense. He scooped up the fleeing puppy before it darted beneath a buggy, then grabbed Danny’s arm and hauled him across the street, not letting go until they reached the sidewalk. The scrawny mongrel trembled against his chest and licked his hand, and seemed the more grateful of the two for rescue.

  “What the Sam Hill, Danny! Mr. Sears had to turn sharp to keep from running you down. He nearly lost his load. He would’ve tanned your hide—if he could find you under all that hay.”

  Danny’s flushed face turned a deeper shade of red. His expression shifted from wide-eyed excitement to fear.

  Ross realized he was bellowing, which had never been very helpful when he’d been the boy’s age. He didn’t typically yell when he got angry, only he wasn’t so much angry as…afraid. That was this feeling that banded his chest, and what Susannah felt when her son got into dangerous situations, only it had to be a hundred times worse. Now he understood.

  “I was just tryin’ to save Dodger.” The boy looked down at his scuffed shoes. His trousers needed saving too. Dirt covered his hands, and his cheeks were grimy, as if he’d crawled around on the ground trying to catch the dog before following the foolish creature out into the street. “I was afraid he’d get killed.”

  Ross sympathized with the boy’s dilemma. He had a soft spot for animals as well, especially if one appeared to be in distress. The little dog felt like a bag of bones, and it’s coat was matted with mud and—

  Whew! He held the stinking mongrel away from his clothes and it immediately began whining fearfully.

  Danny reached up. “He’s scared. Let me have him.”

  “Dodger belongs to you?”

  “He don’t belong to nobody. I just found him. But I plan to keep him.”

  “This pup needs a bath and food.”

  “I can bathe him and feed him.”

  “Ask your ma first. She may not want a dog.”

  Danny’s face registered anxiety. “She will! I know she will.”

  Ross wasn’t so sure, but this was Danny’s battle to fight. He handed the puppy over to the boy, who hugged it close and petted it gently, earning slobbery licks. Dogs that had been abused weren’t generally affectionate. This one appeared to have been neglected, and now realized Danny was his savior.

  “He’s friendly,” Ross observed.

  “Yes, sir; he sure is!” Danny giggled as the dog continued to bathe his face.

  “Let’s go see your ma,” Ross gestured to the land office a few doors away. “I’m sure she’s wondering where you got off to.”

  They barely got inside before Susannah came around the desk, frowning at him, like he’d done something wrong.

  Rose Valentine sat in front of the desk, knitting. She gave him a look he couldn’t interpret—wasn’t a warning exactly, more like…regret? Susannah must’ve said something to her friend that wasn’t good news for him. Whatever it was, he’d deal with it. He didn’t know the meaning of the word surrender.

  Susannah brushed at the dirt on Danny’s coat, which was akin to cleaning up the sidewalk with a hankie. That outfit would have to be boiled in soapy water. “Where have you been, young man? You’re positively filthy…and is that you I smell, or the dog?”

  Danny focused his attention on calming the wriggling puppy. “His name’s Dodger, and I want to keep him. He’s real friendly, and I can bathe him so he’ll smell good.”

  Ross debated what to tell Susannah about her son’s antics. He guessed she’d be livid and Danny would get a whipping, and he wouldn’t be able to keep the puppy. But to say nothing entailed too many risks. Should Danny repeat the stunt, the next time he might not be so lucky. Tact required getting the information across without landing the boy in too much trouble.

  “We’re pretty sure it’s a mongrel. Danny saved it from being hit by a wagon,” Ross explained, using a calm tone to avoid arousing her anxiety.

  “We?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Did you encourage him to go after the dog?”

  Her question hit Ross like a bucket of cold water, leaving him shocked, and damn near speechless. She didn’t blame her son; she blamed him. Her ridiculous question didn’t deserve a response, but it spoke volumes about her low opinion. Granted, he’d done his part in shaping the image she held, that he was arrogant and, at times, inconsiderate. She still hadn’t forgiven him for taking her on that trip. He hadn’t forgiven himself either. But she had to know he wouldn’t willingly endanger a child.

  With a sigh, the pup rested its chin on Danny’s shoulder. Ross reached over and rubbed the dog’s head. The little fellow needed this boy, and Danny needed a pet to love. Not only that, having a dog would teach him important lessons—compassion and patience, discipline and responsibility.

  Ross debated urging Susannah to let her son keep the dog. He knew she’d take the opposite stance, assuming his judgment to be faulty. “I reckon you’re right, he shouldn’t have a dog. I’ll find someone willing to take it.”

  “No!” Danny looked at him as George Washington might’ve looked at Benedict Arnold.

  Susannah put her hands on her son’s shoulders. The set of her chin told Ross that his bet would pay off. “You misunderstood. I didn’t say he couldn’t keep the dog. It might be good for him to care for an animal, something smaller than a horse.”

  “Touché, Mrs. Braddock.”

  Susannah blinked like she was confused at his acknowledgment. He’d only used one French word, and assumed she would know the meaning. She had pitted herself against him from day one, turning their interactions into battles, which made him wonder if their brief, passionate interlude had been a fluke. She’d set her standards so high no man could measure up—him, least of all. He’d done some crazy things in his life, but he had to be plumb loco to think he could win this impossible woman.

  Rose stuffed her knitting into a large tapestry bag. “I should go find Val and see if he’s ready to head home. I’m feelin’ a bit woozy.” She stood, turned ghastly pale and swayed.

  “Rose!” At Susannah’s shout, the pup jumped out of Danny’s arms and darted beneath the chair where Rose had been sitting.

  Leaping into action, Ross caught his friend’s wife before she collapsed. Fortunately, she wasn’t heavy, despite being as tall as him. He helped her to the chair. “Sit here, I’ll fetch a doctor.”

  She waved him off. “No, no, I’ll be fine.”

  “You’re white as a sheet.” Susannah went to Rose’s other side, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and studied her friend’s face. She looked up with a grim expression. “Do go find Val and tell him to bring the doctor. Danny, get that puppy out of the way please.”

  Danny dropped to all fours and pushed aside Rose’s skirts, reaching beneath the chair.

  “It’s not sickness,” Rose said with a weak smile. “It’s still too early to tell for certain, but—”

  “You’re expecting!” Susannah’s worried frown melted into a relieved smile. “I thought that looked like a tiny sweater you were working on. Oh, Rose, I’m so happy for you!”

  While the women embraced and wept, Ross stood to one side, feeling awkward. He fold
ed his arms across his chest. What did one say to an expectant mother? Good luck? Good job? “Congratulations.”

  “I thank ye, Mr. Hardt, for catchin’ me afore I ended up in a heap on the floor.” As usual, Rose kept her sense of humor, which lessened the tension in the room. What a relief she wasn’t sick. Although finding her husband sounded like a good idea, as well as getting Danny and the smelly dog out from underfoot.

  “You sit here and rest until I bring Val,” Ross commanded. “Danny, come with me. On the way back, we’ll clean up that dog. Bad as he stinks, he’s bound to make us all sick.”

  Susannah’s silence was troubling. She might refuse to let Danny leave with him.

  “Rest assured, I won’t push him out into the street, or in front of an oncoming train.”

  The sadness that came into her eyes wrung Ross’s conscience. He shouldn’t have said that; it wasn’t even funny. “Yes, Danny, go with Mr. Hardt. Be sure to mind.”

  “I will, Momma.” Danny finally managed to nab the elusive dog and Rose moved her skirts so he could drag it out from under the chair.

  Ross retrieved his hat, and even though he couldn’t read Susannah’s mind, he sensed she was fighting with herself more than with him. Rather than shooting off his smart mouth, he’d do better to show her that her trust wasn’t misplaced.

  He hadn’t started off well where she and the other ladies were concerned, and had shown only marginal improvement since. He shouldn’t expect his siege to be any easier than the one Grant had waged against Vicksburg. Hopefully, Susannah wouldn’t hold out for months.

  Ross put his arm around Danny’s shoulders and guided him toward the door. “We’ll find a rope so you can fashion a collar and leash. It’s your job to teach Dodger good manners.”

  Still hugging the dog, Danny puffed out his chest. “I know lotsa manners.”

  “Good. You can teach me some.”

  * * *

  The next day, Susannah left Sunday services intending to find Ross and ask his forgiveness. The Divine wasn’t the only one she needed to petition. She should have known better than to accuse Ross of endangering Danny—a fallacy her son had corrected during their long talk about making good decisions. As it turned out, Ross had dragged her son out of the street and had been the one to rescue the puppy.