by Indiana Wake
Courtney’s heart throbbed once with pain, and then settled again. “We are all weak and sinful. That is why it is called grace. Someone may have held you before I knew you, but no one else has had your love, and that is what matters most to me. I will not let a single past mistake keep us from years of happiness together.”
The pounding of hooves had them standing up and turning toward the door. It burst open and Robert stormed into the room pointing a pistol at Curly’s head.
“I could kill you now for what you have done and no jury in the land would convict me.” Robert cocked the pistol and the click sounded loud in the small room.
“Robert stop.” Courtney pulled on her brother-in-law’s arm. “Nothing happened. He spent the night with the horses. Stop it.”
“It doesn’t matter if anything happened or not. Your reputation is stained and it is his fault. He never should have led you on.” Robert’s arm didn’t move, but neither did he fire.
“Please, I am the one who came up here looking for him. I got lost and would have died if the horse I was riding hadn’t led me here. Curly brought me in, saved me, and spent the night with the stupid horses. He could have frozen to death trying to protect my precious reputation.”
“Is that true?” Robert glared at Curly who hadn’t moved or tried to defend himself in any way.
“It is true. She rode in here soaked to the skin and half frozen with no coat or rain gear. She scared the life out of me.” Curly glanced at Courtney and smiled. “She is an amazing woman. She will make some lucky man very happy.”
“Do you still refuse to marry her? I could force you to marry her.” Robert’s voice was no longer angry, but still determined.
“Not at all. She knows everything about me and loves me anyway. How many men can say that?” Curly turned away from the gun pointed at his head and held out a hand to Courtney. “If she still wants me, as I am, with all my faults and weaknesses, I would be honored to marry her and love her like the sun every day of my life.”
Courtney took his hand and held it in hers and she stepped closer until just their joined hands separated them. “I love you. Just as you are with all your strengths and your blessings. I want nothing more than to be your wife and love you into eternity.”
Robert released the hammer of the pistol and slid it back into the holster. “Well, we better get you back to town then. You may want to know that Kristine has already started planning the wedding. It seems she knew that Courtney would get what she wanted. It seems she always does.”
With a smile, Courtney nestled against the side of her future husband as they walked out the door.
Of all the things she had ever wanted, today she got the best of them all.
The End.
The Mail Order Husband
Indiana Wake
Chapter 1
1888
Abby tugged at the bottom of her bodice hoping to ease the snugness. Unfortunately, the problem wasn’t the bodice so much as the corset underneath. Oh, how she hated the thing. She couldn’t wait to get home and into her more comfortable work clothes. But for now, she had to suffer it out.
She had learned at a young age that first impressions counted for a lot and as a female, that meant looking her best. She had to appear at her very best today because, if everything went as planned, she would be married before the day was out. She didn’t care what the train brought her at this point, but if God smiled on her, he would be strong, reliable, and a hard worker.
Anything else she could learn to deal with.
She blew out a gusty sigh and looked around the train platform. She hated waiting, especially since there was always too much to do on the ranch. And if she were here, cooling her heels waiting for a train, it most certainly would not be getting done.
“Why Abby, is that you?” A pretty young woman hurried up to her. Well, as hurried as she could at eight months pregnant.
Kristine, her former rival for Robert’s hand was petite and delicate and all the things that Abby wasn’t. Resentment flashed through her chest, but was gone as quickly as it came. Even she had to admit that the woman was perfect for her long-time friend. Robert was the type who liked delicate, ladylike women. Looking down at herself forced into this dress she realized she would have made him a terrible wife.
But at one time she had fancied herself in love with him. Quickly she thanked her maker that she had never convinced him to marry her. His formal ways would have bored her to tears in the first month. Kristine was welcome to him.
“It is you.” Kristine kissed her on the cheek, her lavender scented perfume beating back the smells of smoke and humanity that filled the station. “What are you doing in town on a weekday? And looking so lovely as well.”
Abby tugged at the bodice again. She would never admit it to a soul, but her petite friend always made her feel like a clumsy ox when they were together. “I’m waitin’ on the train.”
“Oh, do you have a package coming?” Kristine smiled.
“Not exactly.” Abby felt her cheeks heat. Why hadn’t she just given the man directions to the ranch?
“No? A letter then? Or a load of breeding stock?” Kristine pretended to scold. “Now you know Robert told you to come to us if you need help with moving stock. It doesn’t matter that you are more capable than most men, even you need help sometimes.”
Her cheeks grew hotter yet. “I know it. That’s why I’m here. To get help.”
“On the train? What kind of help would you find on a train?”
“It’s a man. Does that satisfy you? I sent for a husband to help out on the ranch.” Abby stared at the rough boards of the platform and wished herself miles away. “Sendin’ for a wife seemed to work for Robert and Curly, you, and your sister. Well, since I can’t seem to find me a man here, I sent for one.”
“Why Abby, that’s wonderful!” Kristine gushed. “You must bring him up to the house so we can all meet him. I’ll send to the ranch for Curly and Courtney and we’ll make a party of it.”
“Can’t do it.” Abby shook her head, feeling one of the pins holding her hair come loose. Dang it. She jammed it back in. “I got to go back and feed the stock and tend the chickens. If I don’t, they’ll go hungry and the Coyotes will get the hens.”
“Nonsense, Robert would be hurt if you were to marry without letting him know. I will send a message to Curly to tend your stock. It’s only right since he left you to live on our ranch with Courtney after they married. We owe you.” Kristine winked. “Besides, you deserve one night of no chores. After all, it is your wedding night.”
“It isn’t like that. This marriage is a business arrangement. I don’t expect that he’ll demand his husbandly prerogative on the first night. Not after traveling all that way and being so tired. Likely, he’ll take one look at me and run for the first train back to his papa.” The thought gave Abby a pang. Being a widow, it wasn’t like she was a timid innocent, but being a widow for five years; she missed the comfort of a strong man’s arms around her.
“Why Abigail, I’m surprised at you.” Kristine looked up at her with wide eyes. “You are a beautiful woman and I have never known you to put yourself down.”
“Well, I’m not ugly, but I’m not the type to have men falling at my feet either.” Abby shrugged and looked down at her hands. Fine linen hid the roughened skin and thick calluses, but nothing could disguise the size of them. Other people were starting to arrive and the small platform was filling up. “Otherwise, I would already have me a husband and wouldn’t have to write way back east to pay someone to come marry me.”
“Why that has nothing at all to do with your looks.” Kristine patted her arm as the train whistle echoed through the station. “They just don’t know what to do with a woman who can out work, out ride, and probably out shoot them. They are all terrified of you.”
Abby had never thought of it that way. Why would a man be afraid of her? It made no sense. She just did what had to be done. There was nothing special about he
r.
Her hired men certainly didn’t fear her. They did everything they could to get out of work and made fresh comments anytime she spoke to them about it. She worked hard because if she didn’t, nothing would get done. Her cattle would either wander off or be rustled by no-account thieves.
The train hissed to a stop and people began to disembark.
Chapter 2
Abby knew who he was as soon as he stepped down from the train. Most of the men getting off were obviously headed for the gold fields high in the mountains. Their bundles of gear sprouted all manner of digging tools and their faces shone with desperate hope. She shook her head, so many men left for the high mountain passes, and so few returned. And those who did were often worse off than they were before.
No, her man was none of those foolish dreamers. A slow smile spread across her face as she paused to look at him before introducing herself. Tall enough to duck his head to pass through doorways, broad shoulders strained the seams of his plaid shirt, and the hand that gripped the single bag was strong and scarred from hard work.
Hair, the color of her favorite chestnut horse, covered his head in rough curls that needed a trim. A full beard, several shades lighter than his hair, hid most of his face and extended down to meet more hair of the same color peeking out from the v of his shirt. Black eyebrows framed eyes that were a startling blue amongst all that hair.
Abby’s heart thumped once, twice and a third time. This was a man who would not be easily frightened.
“Oh, my.” Kristine’s gaze was fastened on the big man as well. “He is a big one, isn’t he?”
“He’s perfect.” Abby heard herself say, unable to tear her eyes away.
“Hmm. Yes. Well.” Her friend shook her head. “I will leave you two to get to know each other. Don’t forget to bring him to the house for supper. I will tell cook to make enough for three more people.”
“Three?” Abby roused herself enough to glance at Kristine.
“I think that one could eat enough for both of us.” Kristine rubbed the swell of her belly. “Maybe even all three of us. You bring him by, promise?”
“I promise.” Abby was ready to say anything to get rid of her friend for a few minutes. Her focus was entirely on the man currently in a wide-legged stance in the middle of the station and staring about him with a frown.
Chuckling quietly, Kristine walked away just as the man’s gaze lit on Abby and his frown changed to a grin. At least she thought it did, it wasn’t easy to tell under the beard. He strode over to her, scattering people like birds, until he loomed over her with one wide hand outstretched. She placed her hand in his and felt liquid heat shoot up her arm at the contact.
“You must be Abigail. I’m Eugene, Eugene Reynolds. I believe you’re expecting me.” Even his voice was big, deep and booming until she could feel it in her toes.
“No, I wasn’t expecting you …” Abby blushed as his frown returned. “What I mean is you’re not what I was expecting … not at all.”
“Well, you’re not going to go and change your mind on me are you?” Those blue eyes narrowed at her. “I didn’t come all this way to marry a woman who changes her mind because a man ain’t exactly what she expected. I don’t hold with no flighty female ways.”
The accusation brought Abby back to herself. “Of course I haven’t changed my mind. I have never been flighty in my life and I resent the insinuation. You are here because I brought you here and because I need a strong man to help manage my ranch. If you are going to insult me, you can turn around and go back to wherever you came from.”
Abby squared her shoulders and turned, intending to stride away. The big hand grabbed her arm and held her in place. This time she tried to ignore the electrifying throbs.
“Now don’t get your dander up. I like a woman with spirit, but you got no call to walk away when we just met.” He turned her around and held her in place. “Let’s try again … hello, my name is Gene.”
Abby didn’t respond for a moment, but those blue eyes held her gaze and enticed her to give in. Just this once.
“Hello, Gene. My name is Abby.”
This time the smile was definite, white teeth glinted out from behind the whiskers. Creases spread out from around his eyes and peeked out from behind the beard. She smiled back. She couldn’t help it.
“There now, that wasn’t so hard.” Gene took her hand in a firm grip and pumped it up and down. “I am most pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Abby. Now where can we eat? You wouldn’t believe the stuff they pass off as food on that train.”
“Well, my friends, Robert, and Kristine have invited us over for dinner if you are interested. They have a very good cook. We can go right after the ceremony.”
Gene’s face lost its grin and Abby’s stomach clenched. After all that, had he changed his mind?
“I have to confess that I was hoping we could get to know each other a bit before jumping right in.” Gene’s face reddened wherever skin was visible. “I mean … before we …” His face reddened even more.
Realizing what he was trying so hard not to say, Abby’s face pinked as well. “Don’t worry, there is no rush on … that part. The ceremony is just a formality that makes it legal.”
“Even so, I’d like a day to get used to the idea.”
Abby’s heart fell. She found him so handsome, and he had to strengthen himself to marry her.
Chapter 3
“I don’t know what you are so worried about, Abby.” Kristine faced her friend in the mirror. “The man is obviously besotted with you. It’s written all over his face … what you can see of it.”
“Then why does he need a day to get used to the idea of marrying me?” Abby had agreed to let Kristine rearrange her hair before dinner. Free of its accustomed braid, usually wrapped around her head, the long blond locks brushed the floor as she sat, carefully, on her friend’s vanity chair.
Kristine ran the silver-backed brush along the shining strands. “Do you remember what I said earlier about men being afraid of you?”
“Yes, but what does that have to do with Gene?” Abby toyed with the array of tiny makeup brushes and bottles of scent scattered across the surface of the vanity. “He hasn’t been here long enough to be wary, unless Robert is scaring him off.”
Kristine smiled and reached for the iron heating inside the lampshade. “I wonder if perhaps he is afraid for a different reason.”
“What else is there?” Abby sighed and closed her eyes. No one else had brushed her hair since mother died. The soothing process eased some of the tension from her shoulders.
“It may surprise you, but some men are shy around women. Especially beautiful women.”
“He spoke to you well enough when we first arrived.” Abby kept her eyes closed. She leaned back in the chair then sat back up as the wood creaked ominously. “And you are far more beautiful than I could ever be.”
“Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’?” Kristine began to push hairpins into place. “I think Gene sees far more beauty in you than you see in yourself. I think, given time, he will learn to appreciate the beauty within you as well. But for now, we will make his eyes fall out in wonder.”
Kristine gave a final pat to Abby’s hair. “Open your eyes.”
Abby looked and her mouth fell open. No longer pulled straight back from her face, silky curls fell from a loose knot at the top of her head and caressed her cheeks. The gentle style, puffed and curled about her face, softened her whole look. Making her look like a woman, making her look … beautiful.
“Now let’s go down and see if the men can remember to eat while seated with such loveliness.” Kristine smiled and tucked her arm in Abby’s while they walked toward the door.
Gene’s response was all that Abby could have hoped. Even Robert stared as the women slowly descended the stairs. A year ago, Abby would have crowed with joy at his wide-eyed expression, but now her eyes were only for the man beside him.
&nbs
p; His eyes widened until they threatened to pop out of his head and his hand paused halfway to his mouth, the glass slipping from nerveless fingers and shattering on the marble floor. Gene didn’t even flinch. His face paled as the women neared the bottom step.
Leaving Kristine with her husband, Abby continued until she stood looking up at Gene. He stared at her with a glazed expression, not even blinking. She reached out and touched the hand still frozen in front of his face.
“Gene, are you well?”
He flinched and blinked, seeming to focus on her face for the first time. “Abby?” he shook his head as if to clear it. Then he took a step back. “Are you real?”
“Well, let’s go to the dining room.” Kristine’s bright voice shattered the moment. “Cook says we mustn’t let dinner get cold.” She took Robert’s offered arm and led the way with Gene and Abby following … not touching.
The conversation around the table centered on the lack of rain in the mountains during the recent autumn months. The cattle strayed toward distant ranges in search of fresh forage and the cowpunchers were having a hard time keeping them in their home range.
“Abby, have you noticed any cows disappearing lately?” Robert asked as he scooped up a forkful of pie.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell for sure. I’m on the range every day, but in different areas so I can’t be sure if they are missing or just moved to a different spot. Those lazy hands of mine can’t be bothered to keep accurate counts, but according to my tally, I am short nearly 500 head.”
“That many?” Gene spoke for the first time. “How can you afford to lose so many cows?”
“I can’t, that’s the problem.” Abby shrugged. “If I lose too many more, I won’t have enough to drive to the market and still keep some for breeding. I’ll be done and everything Hank and I have worked for will be gone.”