A Bluebonnet Misfit Christmas: Sweet Historical Christian Western Romance (Mail Order Brides of Misfit Ranch Bluebonnet, Texas Book 2)

by Patricia PacJac Carroll

  Justin was about to get up to see what was wrong with his aunt, when Sally pulled on his arm. “I like spicy food. It’s what most of the girls—” Her cheeks turned red. “I like spicy food.”

  All he could do was stare at her, and what he saw chilled him. She had all the looks of a girl in love. With him. He swallowed and looked at Wills. “When do you think you’ll be moving into your office?”

  He didn’t answer. His eyes remained fixed on the pot of chili.

  “Wills?”

  He looked up. “Yes?”

  “Your office. When will you move in?”

  “Oh, maybe tomorrow.” He said it flat as if it were just another day and nothing exciting or new about it.

  Reed returned with the bowls. “I’ll dish it out.” He ladled a helping in a bowl and passed it around. Finished, he sat down.

  Nettie nodded at him. “Will you say the blessing, dear?”

  “Father in heaven, we thank You for this food. We bless all seated around this table, and we ask for Your grace and forgiveness. Amen.”

  Justin didn’t move and sure didn’t look at anyone. In fact, everyone sat. Still.

  Nettie tapped her spoon on her glass. “Dear, we forgot to bring the pitcher of tea. Let’s go and get it.”

  Reed and Nettie got up and went into the kitchen. Hushed words flew back and forth. Finally, they came out. Without the pitcher.

  Justin shook his head and pointed.

  Nettie put a hand to her mouth and turned around. In a minute, she came out with the pitcher. “What a funny thing. We both went into the kitchen and forgot the pitcher. Funny, isn’t it, dear?”

  Already seated, Reed nodded.

  Justin hurriedly ate his chili, washed it down with a glass of water, and wiped his mouth. “I better get back to town. If you need help getting Burkett to work, let me know.”

  Reed stood as if he’d sat on a hot plate. “Sure will. I’ll walk you to your horse.”

  “Buggy.” Justin corrected.

  Outside, Reed shook his head. “Might ought to leave the buggy here. Sally will need a way to get back.”

  “Uh, forgot about that.”

  “You can ride Socrates. I can pick him up when I take Sally back to town.”

  “Thanks Reed. Is everything all right between you and Nettie?”

  He nodded. “We’re fine. Just some business Nettie has to attend to today. Women. Let me tell you, before you get hitched, think about it. I’ve never been happier, but …. Well, you’ll see.”

  Justin went into the barn.

  Yancy was sitting on a pile of hay ordering Burkett around.

  “Would you mind saddling Socrates for me?”

  Yancy glared at him, but then smirked. “Not at all. Burkett, saddle the palomino. He’s out back in the meadow.”

  Burkett glowered at them both, but he took a bridle and went outside.

  “Sheriff, hope you don’t plan on bothering my girl anymore. She’s mine. Her parents will back me.”

  Justin glared at him. “Not like you’re in any position to do anything about it.”

  Yancy mocked him. “Her parents don’t like lawmen. I know why. Amelia doesn’t. But once they tell her, she’ll never agree to marry you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Ask her father.”

  Burkett was back with the horse, and in minutes, he had it saddled.

  Justin checked the cinch, mounted, and reined the horse toward the road.

  “Ask her father, Sheriff.” Yancy’s parting words carried the threat of truth in them.

  Nudging the horse into a lope, Justin tried to settle his thoughts. What was their secret? Yet, even as he asked, he didn’t want to know.

  ###

  Sally still had half her bowl of chili left when Justin bolted from the table. It was because of her. She’d thought maybe he liked her, but his actions told her otherwise. He didn’t even tell her goodbye.

  Her insides quaked while the voice in her head shouted that she was dirty. Afraid to look anyone in the eye, she stared at the chili. Nettie went on and on about the roses Reed had bought for her.

  The stranger, Wills, didn’t say a thing.

  The door opened and Reed walked back into the room.

  She stared at him as if he would know what to do for her. How to fix her brokenness and show her a way out of the mess her life had become. Instead, he slipped his gaze from her to the stranger.

  “Wills, I need to talk to you about … Burkett. Nettie, will you excuse us.” He stared at her for a few moments.

  Nettie nodded. “Yes, of course.”

  The men left, and Sally relaxed until she looked at Nettie. The woman was staring at her, mouth partially open.

  Finally, Nettie rose from the table, but instead of clearing the dishes, she motioned for Sally to follow her to the settee.

  Obediently, Sally rose and followed her to the sitting room. Oh, how she dreamed of having such a room with a fireplace and a braided rug in front of it. Windows with real curtains, comfortable chairs to sit in, and all on a wooden floor. Most of the cabins she’d grown up in had had dirt floors.

  “Sally, the reason we had the lunch today was really for you.” Nettie folded and unfolded her hands.

  “For me?” That did not make any sense. No one had hardly spoken a word to her or anyone else for that matter.

  “Yes. I need to confess to you that I did something. I only want to help you, but I’m afraid you will be angry with me.”

  Sally could only stare at the woman. “I could never be mad at you, Nettie. I—”

  “Please, let me get this out while there is time. You know that Reed and I met because of an ad he placed in the newspaper looking for a wife.”

  “Yes, I love that story, Nettie.”

  She closed her eyes for a second, took in a deep breath, and stared at her with such compassion. “Sally, I placed an ad for you. To help you find a husband.”

  Sally gasped, her blood rushed to her toes, and the room started to spin. After a few minutes, it righted. “For me. Oh, Nettie. No one wants a pro—me.”

  “Dear, I did find someone. And they know of your past.”

  A flicker of hope darted into the black hole where her heart resided. “I find that so hard to believe. Where will I have to go?”

  Nettie smiled and took her hand. “It’s Wills. Wilbur Williams. The young man who sat across the table from you.”

  Shock choked her words. Wills? He hardly looked at her. “Nettie, does he know that I am the one he agreed to marry?”

  “Why yes, I told him I needed to tell you and we’d meet Saturday, but today just seemed like the perfect day. I wish I could have prepared you today, but he arrived at the same time as you did.”

  “I don’t think he likes me. Did you tell him I worked at The Cattlemen’s Saloon?”

  Patting her hand, Nettie looked worried. “Yes, well at a saloon anyway, and he wrote me the nicest letter saying that it didn’t matter. That you and he were a perfect fit.”

  “Oh, Nettie. You don’t think he’ll use me? Like Harold Rayburn?”

  “No. Wills is a very nice man. If you were my daughter, I couldn’t be happier. He’s a wonderful choice for a husband.”

  “Why would he want me? I’m nothing special. I’m ruined. Why would he want to marry me?”

  Nettie paused as if she didn’t have an answer for the question. She raised her head and smiled. “It will all work out. Reed and I couldn’t be happier. You’ll see.”

  There was a knock on the door. “Nettie is it safe to come in.”

  “Yes, dear.”

  Sally clung to her arm. “I don’t have to go with him now, do I?”

  “Oh no, he has agreed to court you properly, and if you don’t like him, you do not have to marry him.”

  Relief flooded her. She couldn’t see any good reason why Wills would want to marry her. He was an attorney and would be a man of good standing in the community. Being married to a trollop w
ould not go well for him. He’d see that soon enough.

  Reed entered with a rather sheepish-looking Wills following.

  Nettie stayed seated beside her. “We can all sit in here together, or you young people can have the room to yourselves if you like.”

  “Stay.” Wills spoke at the same instant as she. Sally would have laughed if it hadn’t appeared that he thought he’d made a mistake. She couldn’t blame him.

  “Reed, will you bring in a couple more chairs from the kitchen?”

  He nodded, left, and reentered with a chair on each arm. He sat one by Nettie, and Wills jumped into it as if it were a lifeline.

  Reed shook his head and put the other one across from her.

  Sally cringed. She was such a failure.

  Wills cleared his throat and looked right at her. “Sally, I can’t tell you how much I’ve looked forward to meeting you.” His voice was kind and strong.

  She on the other hand, couldn’t say a word. Those she could think of, he wouldn’t want to hear. The ones he might want to hear her say, she couldn’t speak. So, she nodded.

  He licked his lips. “I meant every word in the letters I sent to Nettie. Perhaps, if she still has them, she can give them to you to read tonight, after you get back to Mya’s.”

  Fear shot through her. Justin had left. Surely, they weren’t expecting her to ride back to town alone with him.

  As if reading her mind, Wills gave her a slight grin. “Don’t worry, Reed and Nettie are driving you back in the carriage.”

  “Oh.” She laughed with relief. “That’s nice. I would like to read the letters. And Mr. Williams, if you have changed your mind about me—”

  “Wills. Call me Wills. I haven’t changed my mind. You’re as pretty as Nettie said in her letters. No, ma’am. I haven’t changed my mind.”

  She didn’t want to be pretty. That’s what all the men in the saloon had said. “I’m ready to go, Nettie. If that’s all right?”

  “Why yes, dear. Would you like some time alone with Wills?”

  She stared at him. “No. Not today.”

  Reed stood, gave Nettie a hard look, and walked outside. Wills looked confused as he followed him.

  Nettie went to her desk and pulled out several envelopes. “You will see that he is a fine man. I don’t think you could find a better one. I did pray before I answered his letters. I do hope you aren’t angry with me.”

  Sally hugged her. “I know you meant well. I guess it will take time for us to see if we are right for one another.” Sally stopped the rest of her words. She already knew that she couldn’t be good for Wills.

  With her reputation, she’d make him a laughing stock. She shuddered just imagining how Wills’ conversation with Cornie might go. No, he might be a wonderful man for her, but she wouldn’t be a good woman for him.

  “Let me get my wrap, and I’ll meet you outside.” Nettie left her to her thoughts.

  Sally looked longingly at the room and what might have been. Then she went out the door to the carriage.

  Wills helped her into the back seat. “I’d like to call on you tomorrow.”

  She looked at him. Wished it could be. “No. I’ll read the letters. Perhaps another day.”

  Sadness crossed his face. “All right. When you’re ready then.”

  She forced a smile to her lips. “I stay at Mya’s Boarding House. Thank you for lunch, Nettie.”

  “Oh, my pleasure.” She gripped Reed’s arm.

  Yancy came and tied Reed’s big black horse to the back of the carriage.

  Sally tried to ignore him, but Yancy sidled up beside her. “So, I hear you got somebody to court you. Imagine that.”

  Wills pushed Yancy away from her. “I think you probably have work to do.”

  With a mocking grin, Yancy saluted. “Yeah. Take care, Sally. Been some time since I’ve seen you. Miss you at the saloon. We had some good times, didn’t we?”

  Reed half stood. “Yancy, get yourself back in the barn and finish cleaning the gear. It better be spotless.” He sat and slapped the reins. “I’m sorry, Sally. I’ll deal with him proper when I get back.”

  Tears swelled and she had to blink hard to keep them from flowing. “Don’t bother. I guess Wills has to see the truth of what he bargained for.” She looked back where Wills rode behind the carriage.

  He wasn’t looking at her.

  She’d already lost him.

  Chapter 9

  Amelia could not stand to look at one more can of beans. She had to get out or she was going to go crazy. That her parents watched her like a hungry hawk didn’t help. They were afraid she’d see Justin, and they ought to be.

  He filled her thoughts and dreams. They were perfect for one another. She sighed. “Oh Justin.”

  Mother peeked around the corner. “What did you say, dear?”

  “Nothing, Mother. Oh, I need to go outside and get some fresh air. All the dust is bothering me.”

  With a suspicious gaze, Mother walked toward her. “You can go sit under the oak in the town square where I can keep an eye on you.”

  “I’m a grown woman. Why can’t you see that?”

  “I see that all too clearly. Feelings can be very strong when you’re young. Your father and I don’t want you to rush into something that you’ll later regret.”

  “I know my own heart, and my love for Justin goes much further than a few schoolgirl feelings.” Thinking of the first moment she saw him sent chills of excitement through her.

  After swatting at a fly with her dust cloth, Mother looked at her with her face-of-steel. “He is a nice man, but not the one for you. Perhaps when Yancy has been at Reed’s long enough, he’ll be ready to settle down.”

  “I don’t love Yancy. We were childhood friends and that’s all.”

  “He seems to think differently.”

  Amelia turned to face her mother. “He’s as wild as Texas, has nothing, and no means to support me. I can’t believe you would prefer Yancy. Are you that desperate to keep me away from Justin?”

  “Yes. You have no idea what it’s like being married to a sheriff. Never knowing if they’ll come home for supper. It’s not a life I want for you.”

  “Mother, it’s my life. You have no right to deny me that.”

  “I’m your mother, and I have every right to do anything and everything to protect you, even if it is from yourself.” Mother halted her words, appeared troubled as if she feared what she might say. “I have work to do. If you want to take a break, go to the oak in the square.” She whirled around and attacked the nearest shelf with her dust rag.

  Amelia gritted her teeth, stomped to the front door, and cringed as the last person she wanted to see walked inside.

  “I’d like a pound of coffee.” Cornie gave the command as if she were General Lee.

  “I was just leaving. Mother is in the back.” Amelia didn’t wait for a response but left the spinster huffing and puffing. It was going to cost her. Cornie would make sure to tell her mother just how rude her daughter had treated her. That was a given.

  Angered at the morning’s events, Amelia walked to the town square. Halfway there, she regretted not bringing her shawl. Although sunny, the air was crisp and cool. She didn’t care. Her anger would keep her warm.

  She plopped onto the bench and watched a few riders head toward the saloons. Making it a game, she guessed where each one would go. The dark haired man with the frowning face and skinny horse, he’d go to the Hole in the Wall.

  The two cowboys racing through town and whooping it up would either go to the Shady Lady or the Cattlemen’s. However, by their clothes and horses, they didn’t have much money so she figured the Shady Lady.

  Right on both counts.

  Another man rode by and tipped his hat. He wasn’t an ordinary cowboy. Well-dressed, he rode a tall dark bay that had to be a thoroughbred. Definitely a man of means, he was going to the Cattlemen’s.

  Yep. She wondered who he was. Bluebonnet didn’t get many strangers like him
. Wills was another. She liked his easy-going way. He was the first attorney in their town. Mother would get a thrill if he asked her to marry him.

  Alas, her heart was already taken. She put her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands and stared at the Cattlemen’s Saloon where the well-dressed stranger had just tied his horse and was about to enter.

  “You look like you’re solving all the world’s problems.”

  She started. Wills stood not two feet from her. “I guess I was lost in another world. I didn’t hear you walk up.”

  “This is nice place to come and think, too. Mind if I sit on the bench?”

  She scooted to the far end. “No, I don’t mind. Are you finding Bluebonnet to your liking?”

  He gave her a wry smile and sat at the other end of the bench. “Very much so.”

  “Where are you from?”

  He propped his leg over his knee. “Chicago. Ever been there?”

  “No, I’ve never even left Texas.” He was an easy man to talk to. Easy man to like.

  “It’s a bustling city. Trains going all over the country. Industry. Has a nearby lake so big it looks like an ocean.” His eyes took on a faraway look.

  “Sounds exciting. Bluebonnet is nothing like that. You must miss it.” Her thoughts tripped to yesterday when she saw Justin helping Sally into the carriage. Why was he taking her for a ride? Not as if Amelia would find out, since she was forbidden to talk to him.

  “Some of it I miss, some of it I don’t. This is my home now.” His eyes sparkled with warmth.

  A gust of cold air brushed over her. Shivering, she rubbed her arms. “Silly me, I forgot my wrap.”

  Wills stood, took off his jacket, and then draped it around her shoulders. “The air does have a bite to it. Nothing like the cold winds we’d get in Chicago. At times, it was so cold it turned your breath to ice.”

  She laughed at the thought and enjoyed the warmth of his coat and the smell of him on the jacket. She gazed at him and found herself wanting to know more about him.

  “Are you married?”

  The question seemed to startle him. “Uh, no. Not really. Not yet, anyway.”

  Amelia wasn’t quite sure what to make of that answer. She wanted to ask him more questions, but he didn’t act as if he wanted more questions. “When will you start your practice?”