Love And Hearts Ride West: Mail Order Bride: 16 Novella's Bundle

by Indiana Wake

  Someone above them cleared their throat.

  Chapter 9

  “Uh, Tess, if you’re going to get Charlie in the race, you had better hurry. Not that anyone will believe you’re a boy, but you can try.”

  Tess craned her head until she saw Harry’s leering face above her. Suddenly she realized her position in the dirt with a strange man lying on top of her. Her cheeks flamed and she shoved Zach off and clambered to her feet.

  “He thought the shots were real.” Tess flicked a glance at Zach as he rose to stand beside her. “The two shots were the ten-minute warning.”

  She stooped to grab her hat and tried to stuff her hair under it, but her hands were shaking too much to be of much help.

  “You’re down to eight minutes, now. You spent the last two lying in the street.” Harry snorted a laugh and ran back down the alley. Tess prayed he wouldn’t tell ma what he had seen or there would be a whipping in her near future. Finally, she got her hair under control and she reached for Charlie’s reins.

  “You can’t ride that horse in the race. You’ll get hurt.” Zach had got to the reins before she did. The words snapped her out of the fog his tenderness had put her in.

  “Who are you to tell me what I can and can’t do?” Tess made a grab for the reins, but he pulled them out of her reach. “I have to ride him. Everything depends on it.”

  “Why?”

  Tess could hear the creak of saddles as other men mounted their horses. Panic fluttered in her chest. She didn’t have time to explain it to him.

  “I have to get out there or they’ll start without me.” She cursed the tears of frustration that welled up in her eyes. “Charlie has to win this race or I will lose everything I ever dreamed of.” Tess stared into Zach’s eyes as she willed him to understand. A man’s voice in the street called for the street to be cleared and the horses to line up. It was too late now; she would never get into line in time. The vision of her little valley began to fade into the realm of impossibility.

  Zach put a hand under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. Mere inches separated them. He searched her face for a moment as a tear escaped her control. He wiped it from her cheek with a delicate touch. Another shot rang through the afternoon air followed by the thunderous pounding of hooves.

  Tess closed her eyes as despair washed over her.

  It was too late.

  Something warm and soft touched her lips.

  Tess’s eyes flew open in time to see Zach lifting his lips from hers. Charlie danced behind him, eager to join the horses racing past. Before she could catch her breath, Zach was launching himself into the saddle and spinning her horse in a tight circle.

  Tess staggered to the entrance of the alley, fighting her way through the cheering crowd and stared as Zach and Charlie pounded after the pack of horses a long way ahead.

  Chapter 10

  Zach felt the powerful muscles of the horse surge under him. He had ridden some fine horses back home due to his own father’s passion for good horses. Yet he had never ridden anything like this whirlwind. For the first few moments, he could do little more than hang on.

  Then the memory of the tear trickling down Tess’s face wavered before him and the dust cloud in front of them. He had caused that tear by refusing to let her ride. It was his responsibility to make up for it.

  “Come on, Charlie, we can’t let her down.” One red ear flicked back in acknowledgment of his voice. Zach leaned forward until all his weight was balanced over the horse’s withers. Charlie’s stride lengthened until it seemed his hooves barely touched the ground before driving forward once more.

  The long black mane whipped Zach’s face until the tears came. He just crouched lower. His hat was long since lost in the dust behind them, but all he could think about was the waving tails between him and the finish line. He didn’t even know where the finish line was but trusted the horse and God to show him.

  This race was one thing he refused to fail at doing.

  Slowly the pair gained on the rest of the pack. They passed a gray whose breath was already coming in labored gasps. The grim-faced cowboy on its back slapped the ends of his reins against the horse’s neck, but the horse merely rolled its eyes as Zach rode past.

  Charlie flew along, gaining on a small cluster of horses stretched across the road ahead of them. There was no room to pass. Zach called out hoping the riders would make a hole, but after one backward glance, they spread out more leaving no space for Charlie to pass.

  Zach pulled on the reins trying to check the stallions speed before there was an accident, but Charlie ignored the command to slow. Instead, he whipped his big head to one side and nipped the hindquarters of the horse just ahead. The horse shied to the side and opened up just enough space for them to race through.

  Obviously, the big stallion was merely tolerating the interloper on his back. Tess had trained her horse well. Zach might as well sit back and enjoy the ride of his life. Zach let Charlie run as he lingered on the memory of Tess’s face.

  How could he have known that he was drawn to the feisty, independent woman with the looks of an angel? Zach smiled as he remembered the stubborn set to her lips and their clinging softness when he kissed them.

  He probably shouldn’t have done that if he had no intention of marrying her. She obviously did not intend to give up her life here to return to the life of a farmer’s wife in West Virginia.

  He thought of his cozy farmhouse tucked in the mountains as Charlie thundered past another flagging horse. For the first time in his memory, the thought of returning to his home with its silent emptiness had no appeal.

  What if he were to stay? What if he signed the papers that would give him ownership of a whole 160 acres? What if, instead of an empty house, he had a home where a wild angel lived?

  Zach smiled at the thought.

  Only one horse remained in front of them. Charlie’s breath pumped like a blacksmith’s bellows as he kept up the killing pace. The rider ahead of them glanced back and dug his spurs into his horse’s ribs. The animal leaped forward with a fresh burst of speed.

  He was pulling away.

  “Come on, Charlie. Do it for our angel, do it for Tess.”

  The horse seemed to understand and from somewhere deep inside, pulled out more speed.

  This was what it was like to fly.

  Chapter 11

  Tess strained to see through the dust. The crowd had gone silent and she could hear the thunder of hooves. One horse, or was it two? Her chest hurt from the need to breathe, but she couldn’t draw any air.

  Her lips still tingled from Zach’s kiss. He had said she was beautiful. She was dressed as a boy with her hair falling in a tangled mess around her face and shoulders, but he called her beautiful.

  Was it a dream or a miracle?

  The thunder grew louder and a black shadow loomed through the dust. It was the Sheriff’s black stallion, the only one who came close to Charlie in speed. Tess clutched her hands to her heart. It thundered in time to the hoof beats.

  Where were Charlie and Zach?

  The finish line was just a few yards away. Where were they?

  The red stallion burst through the cloud of dust, the man on his back barely visible through the thick black mane. With agonizing slowness, they gained on the black horse in front of them. Charlie’s legs were a blur of motion and Zach’s face no more than a pale shadow on his back.

  The sheriff spurred his horse without mercy, but the black had no more to give. Zach and Charlie crept up on them until they were neck and neck.

  With a final lunge, Charlie pulled ahead just as they reached the finish line.

  Tess’s knees turned to water and she sank to the ground. People swarmed around her, patting her back and congratulating her. Someone pulled her to her feet and draped one arm over her shoulder. She looked into the grinning face of Harry.

  “Did you see that, sis? That horse of yours ran so fast, I think he was flying there at the end. Come from behind to win �
�� I never would’ve believed it!” Harry’s excited chatter was a buzz in her ears as she searched the crowd for a face.

  Just one face.

  Then all of a sudden, he was there. Zach pulled her into his arms and lifted her off her feet. He spun her in a circle until the world seemed to tilt alarmingly. Tess wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

  Her heart thundered in her chest.

  Finally, he set her back on her feet and loosened his hold. She stared into his face.

  “We won, Tess. You won, you and Charlie.” Zach’s voice was low, but it seemed to drown out the crowd. “Now all your dreams can come true.”

  Her dreams, Tess stared into his face still covered by dust from the race. She stared at his grinning lips and the white teeth that seemed to be the only clean part of him. Her dreams seemed empty unless he was a part of them.

  Zach’s smile faded. She looked up into his eyes that now looked at her with a strangely intense expression. She kept her eyes open and he leaned closer, until he was a breath away. His brown eyes seemed to fill her vision, her world. Nothing existed but the two of them.

  “You are my dream, Tessy. You are my beautiful wild angel. I would spend my life loving you if you will consent to be my wife.” Then Zach’s lips claimed hers for the second time and this time she clung to him and held him tight.

  This time he would not get away.

  Chapter 12

  Tessy melted into the kiss. It was like jumping into cool water on a hot summer’s day. Exhilarating and refreshing, yet she feared being pulled down into the depths of his love. Nothing had prepared her for this, but she had never faltered at anything. Opening her lips, she kissed him back and felt a groan escape her as a thousand butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

  “Unhand her you varmint,” a voice shrieked from behind them.

  Did she hear something or was it just the ringing of bells, after all he had called her his angel.

  Then he was gone and the loss made her stagger. Opening her eyes, she looked straight into Ma’s angry ones. Then Ma turned and hit Zach on the head with a bag of soap flakes. It was an extravagant purchase and to see her wasting it so caused Tess’s already tumultuous stomach to roll over in panic. Ma was gonna be mad.

  “Stop Ma,” Tess called. “Stop, he’s gonna be me, husband.”

  Ma dropped the soap flakes and spun back to her daughter. “What did you say? Have you bin carrying on behind me back?”

  “No Ma, this is Miriam’s brother all the way from West Virginia,” Tess hoped with all her heart that her Ma would accept him. “I wrote to him. We’re gonna get some land and breed horses.”

  Ma looked at Zach, her eyes defying him to say no. Zach nodded, unsure at first but then his face broke into a smile and he shook his head more vigorously. “Pleased to meet you,” he said holding out his hand.

  Ma ignored his hand. “Go get cleaned up and meet me at the church,” she said and then she grabbed Tess by the ear.

  “You will be there?” Tess asked as her Ma dragged her away.

  Zach nodded, but the expression on his face said what am I doing.

  ***

  Zach washed off the dust in a horse trough outside the livery. Then he dipped inside and put on a clean shirt. What was he doing? But as he had that thought a wild girl sat atop a powerful stallion came into his mind and he felt his heart lurch. All the years he had been lonely never had he imagined such passion and he knew he was in love. Picking up his hat he walked from the stables into the sunshine and nearly ran straight into his sister, Miriam.

  “I thought that was you,” she said, with a youngster in her arms and another clung to her legs. “What are you doing here?”

  Zach explained about Loretta and the family, but what could he say about Tess. “I’m in a bit of a hurry,” he said.

  “What’s the rush,” a good looking cowboy said from behind his sister.

  “You remember Sam,” Miriam said, “my husband.”

  Zach felt the heat rise up his face and into his ears. He had to tell them, that was unless he changed his mind?

  “I errr… well I… I… came out to see Tess Bonner… she wrote to me looking for a husband.”

  Miriam passed the baby to Sam and hugged her brother close. “That is such good news,” she said. “Where are you staying, when is the wedding?”

  Zach pulled away and looked down at his boots. “Well, that’s just it. Her Ma kinda insisted that it happen now.”

  Miriam slapped him gently on the head. “What were you doing to her?”

  Zach shrugged. “She’s not like anyone I ever met.”

  Miriam looped her arm through his. “Come on then, let’s get you properly wed.”

  “I don’t have a ring or nothing,” Zach cried patting his pockets as if he would find one there.

  Sam laughed. “Leave that to me, you get to the church.”

  Zach took in a big breath and walked arm in arm with his sister down to the small church. There was a crowd gathered and people patted his back and offered congratulations. He wasn’t sure if it was for the race or the wedding, but he smiled and walked on. As he reached the church, the crowd hushed and he turned to look. Riding down the street was Tess on Charlie the big bay stallion. She was wearing a green dress and sat with her leg over the saddle horn. She looked every bit a lady with her chestnut curls bound up beneath a small green bonnet. He could swear his heart stopped as she got closer and closer. This vision was to be his. His wife and the mother of his children, he had a family. Well, that was if he could tame her, but somehow he knew it would be fun and suddenly the thought of West Virginia was gone from his mind.

  A hand tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a brass ring. “It was the best I could do,” Sam said.

  Zach took it and helped his bride down from Charlie. She fed him a handful of oats and hugged him tight. Then arm in arm she walked with Zach into the church and there under the eyes of God they became man and wife.

  Epilogue

  Tess patted Charlie’s warm neck as she stared out over her homestead. A tiny figure beside the seep waved. Her heart leaped in her chest. Eager to be by his side, Tess nudged Charlie with her heels calling for those behind her to follow.

  Leaving the wagons behind, Tess and Charlie raced to the valley floor where she dropped from the horses back and into her husband’s arms. A small boy with chestnut curls and mischievous brown eyes came up to grab Charlie’s reins.

  “I’ll take him, Aunt Tess.” The boy danced away with a patient Charlie close behind. Tess watched him carefully.

  “Don’t worry, angel. Charlie won’t let him get into trouble.” Zack smiled down at her and pulled her to his chest, her rounded belly snug between them. He ran his hands softly over the firm mound. The baby seemed to recognize his touch and gave him a firm kick. They both smiled.

  “Do you think it is safe for you to be riding? Your time is getting close.” Zach slipped his arm around her thickening waist and led her to the bench he had built for her.

  “It is safe enough.” Tess grabbed his hand and rested it on her belly so they could share the miracle of their child’s energy. “The trail to town is wider now and safer. Plus I wanted to bring these visitors in myself.” She smiled at the cries of welcome coming from the newly finished houses.

  Zach looked over her head at the wagons pulling onto the valley floor. Familiar voices caught his ears and he smiled. Standing he reached for her hand and walked toward the new arrivals.

  Andrew Tarlton grinned at him from the first wagon. “I heard that there is a new arrival coming soon.” He jumped down from the wagon and clasped Zach’s hand in a firm grip. “Thank you for opening up your home to so many in need.”

  The former teacher’s eyes drifted over the solemn faces showing in the wagons slowing to a stop behind them. The faces were haunted and many of them streaked with tears.

  “I don’t know if you heard, but there was a fierce battle at the mine. T
he miners were on strike to demand the owners offer reasonable compensation for their work. Is it so much to ask for decent housing for their families, fair pay in real money instead of company scrip, which is worthless anywhere else.” Tarlton shook his head sadly. “Soldiers were called in to help keep the peace, but the only peace came after the company men rode the train through the town shooting…”

  Loretta placed a comforting hand on her husband’s arm while she held their daughter in her lap. “We saved as many as we could. Thank you, Tess, for letting them come. Maybe they will feel safe here.”

  “And will you stay safe here as well, Loretta?” Miriam had come up behind them, her belly big with a third child. Sam walked beside her.

  “Loretta will stay; at least until little Mary is older.” Tarlton amended his first statement at his wife’s sharp look. “This place is a safe haven and I cannot thank you enough for that, but I need to go back and continue my work. The company is starting to listen. At some point, reason must overcome this madness. Unions are forming all over the country and justice will prevail in West Virginia as well.” Tarlton smiled at the group before him. “After all, some of the best things I know came from there.”

  Later that night, Tess lay nestled in her husband’s strong arms. “Do you ever miss the mountains?”

  “Sometimes,” Zach admitted and let his memory travel back to the green hills and fields where he had grown up. Then he pressed a gentle kiss to Tess’s forehead. “But my angel and my miracle are here, so that is the only place I want to be.”

  The End.

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