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

by Indiana Wake

  A smile crossed Christen’s face. “You certainly are a firecracker, but I know you are married.”

  “I am not married…”

  Now it was Christens turn to stare at her in bewilderment. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before saying, "Not married? But... but... the men saw you with him. They were absolutely sure you were his wife."

  "Whose wife?" Sabrina asked, curious.

  "Why, Forrest Caloway of course."

  Sabrina let out a burst of laughter. She couldn't believe she had been mistaken as Forrest's wife.

  "Why are you laughing?" Christen asked, puzzled.

  "I am not Forrest's wife," Sabrina said, still giggling though it was more from nerves than humor. "I'm his sister-in-law." Just then, a thought crossed her mind and she sobered up at once. "You're not going to kidnap my sister as well, are you?"

  Christen sat looking at the raw concern on her face and his heart melted. He smiled at her reassuringly. "I did not kidnap you, but we must be careful. These men will be sure Forrest would pay just as much for his sister-in-law as he would for his wife."

  Sabrina tried to scowl at that, but she was so relieved that Cassandra would come to no harm that she was unable to. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

  Christen stared at her with bafflement. She had been kidnaped and held against her will. These people, his neighbors had let her come to harm and she was thanking him. "Why are you thanking me?" he asked.

  "Because you won't be harming my sister," Sabrina said simply as if it were the most obvious thing.

  Christen stared at her for a few seconds, before shaking his head and saying, "You are an amazing lady, strange but amazing."

  Sabrina felt offended by that. "How is caring for one's sister and not wishing the same fate as one's self on them strange? You're the one who has a person held against their will and not even the right one and you're calling me strange?"

  Christen raised his hands in surrender. "I didn't mean it as an insult. I am not your kidnapper. I heard what was happening and came here to sort things out… I was only observing how anyone else would've been worried about their own life instead of their sister. Perhaps, strange wasn't the right word, I'm sorry."

  Sabrina huffed and puffed but before she could say something, Abe came in with fresh water and a cloth. Christen took it from him and sent him away with a look and a nod of his head. Sabrina noted the command this man had over the others.

  Christen dipped the cloth in the bowl of water and after ringing it out brought it to her wrists. She protested at first but after he insisted, she reluctantly gave him her hand. Gently he cleaned away the blood from both hands and then bandaged her wrists with clean strips of cloth. Sabrina was surprised that she enjoyed watching him work. This was such a confusing man. So tough, yet so gentle at the same time. And he told her she was safe, he didn’t kidnap her so soon he would take her home and these outlaws would be punished.

  After it was all done, he stood. "I am sorry once again for the way you have been treated. I promise you will be treated much better.”

  “But aren’t you going to take me home?” Sabrina asked.

  Once again he rubbed his hands through his hair; it was as if he were searching for an answer. “Give me time and I will take you home, but these are not bad men… They were forced into this because of some awful things. I need time to clear a way through this mess and to find them an answer.”

  Not knowing what to say Sabrina just nodded. Could she believe him? Had he really kidnaped her and what was going to happen now?

  “I will send someone with supper shortly. There are men located all around the tent so please don't try to escape… My control here is tenuous, and if you do so they may be rough with you. Do rest for a bit and if there is anything you need, just ask one of the guards stationed outside. If you need me, send someone and I will come as soon as I am able. Good evening, Miss." And with that he got up and left the tent, leaving her with the feeling that this was a puzzle she needed to solve.

  Chapter 12

  Sabrina tossed and turned on a pile of straw and a clean blanket that had been provided for her. Twice during the night she tried to escape. Both times she managed to get out through the back of the tent, but she was caught soon enough. The men escorted her back to her tent, with courtesy and an apology. So she laid awake listening to the wind and wondering if she would have been missed. Would Cassandra know? Would Amanda? Would they be looking for her and would they find her?

  The morning eventually came and sunlight replaced the darkness, but it could not remove the chill from her heart. She sat up, tired and afraid. Her hair, a mess, her clothes dirty and she was in dire need of a hot bath. Fear and lack of sleep made her tired and cranky and more than anything she just wanted to go home. What was it with men? Had all the good ones been taken? Why was this happening to her? As despair started to fill her, she decided to ask a friend for help. Getting down on her knees she prayed. “Dear Lord grant me safe passage through these troubled waters. Keep me safe in my time of need and help me find my way home.”

  Then as the prayer started to relax her, she thought of Christen. How he had looked concerned and troubled. Did she believe him? He had led her to believe that he was a good man, caught in an impossible situation but was that just talk? She had heard of men who manipulated women, making them think what they wanted and she was determined not to be fooled.

  She ended the prayer with thoughts for her family and that they would be kept safe. As the dawn gave way to morning, the camp began to stir. Her thoughts kept being drawn back to her family. How Cassandra would be beside herself and Amanda would blame herself for letting Sabrina out of her sight. That was of course if they even knew. What if the staff hadn’t noticed she was missing, or thought she had gone with Forrest?

  She was wallowing in these thoughts when a different man from yesterday came in and set down a tray full of food. Right behind him was Christen. The man left, but Christen stood there. Sabrina acknowledged him with a nod and then turned away. She didn't touch her food.

  "You shouldn't starve yourself. That won't help anyone and I'm sure you need your strength to try and escape again." Christen said in a friendly tone.

  "I demand you let me go home at once,” Sabrina said letting go with all her pent up frustration. “I cannot stand this place a minute longer."

  "I understand, but I need to keep you here for just a little while. There are other lives at stake,” he said and was about to turn and leave. “If there is anything else you want, you only need to ask. What is it that you can't stand and it will be my pleasure to replace it with something better."

  "How about the present company?" Sabrina asked, sarcastically.

  Christen smirked. "Nice sense of humor," he said, appreciatively. "But I am sorry, that is something unavoidable. What else is not to your liking?"

  Sabrina decided that if she was going to be here a while, she might as well take him up on his offer. "I need a better bed, clean sheets and something to read. Please," she added, thinking it was rude to just demand things. Of course, she wanted to ask for a hot bath and a change of clothes but could not bear the thought of changing in such a difficult situation.

  "It will all be arranged," Christen promised. "Now, would you please eat something? It will make both of us feel much better."

  Grudgingly, Sabrina reached for the food and picked up a bun. She brought it to her mouth but with Christen in the room, not eating and just staring, she felt awkward and put it back down.

  "What's wrong?" Christen asked, worried.

  "I can't eat with you just standing there. Either leave the tent or join me, so I don't feel so awkward."

  Christen shook his head, a smile creeping up his face. He sat down beside her and she broke the bun in half, offering him one part.

  "Thank you," he said and accepted the bread.

  They ate in silence for a few moments, but curiosity got the better of Sabrina. "Why do you need the
money so badly?” she asked. “So badly that you are willing to hold me hostage and demand money from Forrest? You seem to be a gentleman from a good family and I can't understand why you would be involved with these terrible men."

  "You're honest, aren't you," Christen grinned. "I like that. Hardly anyone is honest these days. But why do you assume I am a gentleman from a good background?"

  "Well, the way that you talk and you walk with a certain command and confidence. You are considerate and aware at all times of your manners. Those are all traits of a true gentleman. But you are stalling and not answering my question."

  "Ah, yes, why I am doing all this. Well, as I said this was not my doing. I found out about it after the fact and now I have to make sure the least amount of damage is done from this infernal situation.”

  “You could do that by just taking me home.”

  “And if I do that, these men will be arrested and probably hang. But more that that nothing will change, their families will still die.”

  Sabrina felt a gasp leave her and she dropped the food. “Why would their families die?”

  Christen put down his food and stared at her for some moments. It was as if he were making a decision. At last he nodded. “I come from a town not far from here, called Bear’s Bluff. It is in terrible shape, but I was starting to improve things when ...”

  He stopped and there was such sadness about him that it hurt Sabrina to and she was overwhelmed with pity.

  “Bear’s Bluff is my home,” he continued, blinking away the moisture that glinted in his eyes. “Redemption and my town have been adversaries since I can remember. There was a feud between two families some years ago and because of it no one will help us, or trade with us.” His words trailed off and silence lay between them.

  “That is terrible,” Sabrina said. “We passed through the town and I felt Forrest was nervous.”

  “He would be. Recently, we have been hit with an epidemic and we don't have the resources to provide medicine to the townsfolk. People have begun to grow really sick and many have already died. Including the two daughters of Coe, the man who kidnaped you, and the son of Abe, the man who hit you. Coe’s wife is very ill and he was desperate. In his grief, he thought that kidnapping you would bring money to the town and with money he could save the people.”

  “Is there no other way?” Sabrina asked her fear and discomfort replaced with concern for these poor people.

  “I have been trying to find help,” he said. “Everyone I’ve spoken to in Redemption is unwilling to give it. They just want me outta there quick in case I pass on the illness. A few desperate people from my village took this action. They don’t care if they hang… if they save their families.”

  Chapter 13

  Sabrina stared at him with one eyebrow raised. She had expected him to answer with silly reasons, such as personal gain, but hearing the true reason behind her kidnapping, made her kind heart melt. She felt the pain of the people there and wanted to help as best she could, but at the same time she knew that the way they were going about it was wrong.

  "Why didn't you just ask Forrest? He is a generous, kind and caring man. He wouldn’t put merit in a feud, not when lives were at risk. If you had simply asked him to help the sickly, it would have set his heart aflame and he would have done everything in his power to save lives."

  "I was on my way to do just that when I heard of your kidnapping. You don't understand. The feud between our towns goes way back and is ingrained in every individual. The doctor would not come because of it. We have sent back East for our own doctor, but so far our efforts have come to nothing.”

  “Then ask Forrest.”

  “My people believe that Forrest, no matter how kind you think he is, would not have blinked an eye to help us. That is how it is here."

  "Well, I know you’re wrong and if you haven't tried to at least ask, then you have not done your part sir. Justifying a wrong doesn't make it right."

  They sat in silence for a moment, each contemplating what the other had said. Christen looked up at the girl sitting in front of him. She was rather beautiful and reminded him of the fairies his mother used to tell him about when he was little. Sure, she was a little heavy, but he found her stunning to look at, even now when she had been treated so badly. What's more, she was passionate and kind. She believed in right and wrong and even though they were holding her hostage, she had shown both courage and kindness beyond anything he could believe. He had never met someone so pure, so radiant, and so innocent.

  Sabrina felt his eyes on her and she looked up, questioningly. His neck grew red and the color flooded up his cheeks as he quickly looked away. He had no idea why she was affecting him so much, but he wouldn't let her know about it if he could help it. Changing the topic, he said, "So, I'm afraid I don't know your name."

  Sabrina smiled at him. "My name is Sabrina Patterson," she said.

  Christen smiled back, looking into her eyes and meaning what he said, "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Patterson."

  "Please, just call me Sabrina. No one ever calls me Miss Patterson. That's what everyone calls, Amanda, my eldest sister."

  "You have another sister?" Christen asked, wanting to know more about her.

  "Yes, two sisters, both older than me."

  "You don't sound like you're from around here."

  "No, we moved from the East."

  "Oh, and why was that, if you don't mind me asking."

  And so it was that Sabrina told him the story of how they came to move West. How their aunt had sold them as mail order brides. About Amanda's and Cassandra's marriages, how they had come to love their spouses and how she had been promised to the awful Mr. Sanders.

  Hearing about Mr. Sanders and that she was promised to another man, made Christen furious for some inexplicable reason. Especially with the way he had treated her. He was surprised by his own reaction. "You must not marry him,” he said. “I have heard awful things about the man and such a beautiful and kind lady as you would be destroyed by this hard man.”

  Sabrina raised her eyebrows and was surprised when he blushed. "Do not worry; I let him know that there would be no marriage."

  Feeling happy all of a sudden, Christen muttered, "That is very brave of you."

  "Excuse me?" Sabrina said.

  "I only mean that… for many women a husband is all they aspire to."

  “And what is wrong with that?” Sabrina asked. “I wanted that marriage to work so much that it hurt badly when… when it failed. I would have done anything for my husband.”

  "There is nothing wrong with that, but if you are going to put everything on the line for a hope, then you are throwing your life away. A marriage is a bond between a man and a woman, but what that bond signifies and defines is what matters the most. You can't go into anything with your eyes closed. You need to have a connection, an understanding and the ability to comprehend if something is good for you or not. A mere obligation is no foundation for a marriage."

  Sabrina glared at him, anger rising through her as surely as the morning sun. "Have you been married, Sir? Or in love?"

  "No, I can't say that I have."

  "Then you have no idea what you are talking about. My aunt made a promise, and I was bound to keep it. I believed that everything happens for a purpose and so I went into it with an accepting mind."

  Standing up, feeling angry and sullen, he marched to the door. "Very well, Madam. If you are still to marry this man, then I wish you the very best. Good day."

  “No, I never said that I was to marry him,” Sabrina said.

  Christen turned and came back.

  “Sit down,” she said. “I would not marry a man like that. Much as I will not put up with this treatment from you.”

  Christen felt the anger leave him and he sat beside her. “Then help me find a way out of this terrible situation,” he said.

  For the first time since she had been taken, she felt optimistic. Doing something would make this right. Wh
at did she need to know? If the illness could be cured and if she were already infected? That thought set her hands to shaking, but she balled them into fists and fought down her panic. Once she knew what they were dealing with, then they could work it out. “Tell me the symptoms of the illness.”

  Christen ran a hand through his hair again. “It is a little delicate to discuss with a lady.”

  “Worse than a kidnapping?” as she said the words a laugh escaped her and soon they were both laughing. It relieved the tension and made everything seem just a little better.

  “I guess not,” he said. “Well, they get sick and then there is…”

  With a face as red as her favorite ribbon, Christen explained the symptoms of Cholera.

  “I know this,” Sabrina said. “I read about it in a book at Edson’s ranch. It comes from contaminated water.”

  For the next hour, they discussed what could be done and the more they talked, the better she felt. It was exciting to see the passion this man had for his people and it was exciting to help. At last they stopped and a barrier formed between them. After all, she was still held captive.

  “I need to talk to the town, to implement these changes as quickly as I can. Do not be afraid, do not lose hope.” As he said the words, his hand came up and stroked across her cheek. The skin warmed from his touch and a soft flutter went through her. With that, he was gone and she was left wondering about this strange man and once again whether she was safe?

  Chapter 14

  Sabrina sat thinking about all that Christen had said. About the terrible things in the town, about the deaths and lastly about whether she was safe. Because of their meeting lives would be saved, even now she knew the men would be boiling the water. Making sure that the food was well cooked. Things would start to improve. Then a groan of despair left her. What about her sisters? Her family would be scared half to death and it hurt her to think of them so. It had been wrong of her to have dinner with her captor while her family must be beside themselves. She set her thoughts back to escaping.