by Emma Ashwood
CONTENTS
Chapter One - Prologue
Chapter Two - Chapter 1
Chapter Three - Chapter 2
Chapter Four - Chapter 3
Chapter Five - Chapter 4
Chapter Six - Chapter 5
Chapter Seven - Chapter 6
Chapter Eight - Chapter 7
Chapter Nine - Chapter 8
Chapter Ten - Chapter 9
Chapter Eleven - Chapter 10
CHAPTER ONE
Prologue
St Stephen’s Day, 1875
Jacob looked around at the newly painted nursery, his hands in fists at his sides. He blinked fiercely to hold back tears. He would not cry again.
Yesterday he had sobbed, cradling Elsa and their perfect newborn baby daughter in his arms, taking in the perfection of their still faces. Faces that would never now laugh, smile or cry. What right did Jacob have to cry now?
He hadn't been there for them; he had been so busy on the ranch and childbirth was a woman's issue, surely?
When he heard that Elsa had gone into labor and their baby would be born on Christmas Day, Jacob had hurried to get his work done so that he would have more time to spend with them.... But now there was no time, and there never would be. Jacob felt a wave of guilt so strong he gripped the side of the crib he had so lovingly made.
I should have been there.
He had been so focused on the ranch of late, determined to use his father's inheritance wisely, and it had paid off; the ranch was flourishing even though Jacob had had to go it alone with no real help or support.
Apart from Elsa, with her sweet encouraging ways and her beautiful, ever-trusting eyes. Now both she and their longed-for child were gone, and he would never know what might have been.
Jacob straightened up, turned and walked out of the room. He knew one thing for certain.
He would never celebrate Christmas again.
CHAPTER TWO
Chapter 1
3rd December 1880
Tally May Jones read the letters one last time before tucking them away in her purse and gazing out of the train window. It was a long journey, and what awaited her at the other end was a whole new life. Tally May didn't know which was stronger, the excitement or the nerves.
Excitement, because in just a few days she would be a married woman and starting a life of her own. Although she loved her parents dearly, spending her life helping at her father's haberdashery store in their dusty small town had been a bleak prospect. At twenty-two Tally felt ready to start a family and run a household of her own, and there had seemed little prospect of that, until she answered Jacob's advert. Jacob, her soon-to-be husband.
Over the last few years so many men had gone out West to make their fortunes that it seemed all the eligible bachelors had disappeared; but of course they had left all the women behind and so many a man had taken to placing adverts for a prospective bride in the newspapers. As soon as Tally read Jacob’s advert, as short and to the point as it had been, something had stirred inside her. And the weeks and months of waiting for his letters had only heightened her anticipation. Jacob seemed to be all a small-town East Coast girl could desire; young, wealthy and eager for a wife. Her parents, after some initial trepidation, had given their blessing and now here she was, on her way to Cedar Fields to the Tucker ranch that would be her home. It was almost Christmas, and she would be spending it as a wife. It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her.
Except, she had to admit to herself, now she was on her way and it was really happening, her nerves were growing. Although Jacob seemed to offer everything she could want, his letters had been short, even seeming at times cold and aloof. Tally May thought he was probably just shy, and when she had raised it with her parents they had seemed unconcerned. He sounded like a good provider, and that was their main concern in their old age.
'You could melt anyone's heart, Tally May,' Pa had told her with affection. As her mother said, writing letters wasn't known for being a man's forte. He was a rancher, a busy hard-working man. 'As soon as you step off that train,' Mother had assured her,' he'll fall in love.'
Sitting back in her seat, Tally May prayed they were right.
Jacob stood watching his ranch hands driving the cattle, nodding in approval. Things were going better than ever at the ranch, despite young Joe taking off in the spring. He had just upped and left one night and told no-one where he was going. Still, Jacob shrugged, they were getting on fine without him, even if it was a shame; the boy had been shaping up to be a good rancher. Every pair of hands was a Godsend; there was so much work to do, and not just at the ranch. Pete, his senior ranch hand, had cast his wise eyes over the sparse interior of the ranch building and the even sparser food stores and said gruffly, 'You need a wife, lad'.
Jacob's first response had been to leave the room with a face like thunder. Elsa had been his wife, his love, and he had no room in his heart for any other. Although he never spoke about Elsa anymore to anyone, except occasionally Pete, five years had not dulled the pain of her loss. It was something he carried with him constantly, his cross to bear. Only the ranch mattered now; proving his late father proud and making good on his inheritance.
After the anger had simmered, Jacob had to admit that Pete had a point. Pete told him about the men who were placing adverts for wives through the newspapers, and it had seemed the perfect solution. A business arrangement, almost. And although sometimes her youthful enthusiasm seemed naive, on the whole Tally May Jones sounded a level-headed young woman who could run the housekeeping, the cooking and cleaning with the woman's touch it undeniably needed.
Pete walked over to him with a grin, breaking him out of his reverie.
'The young lady will be here tomorrow then?'
Jacob nodded, 'She will. I'll need you to collect her from the station for me, Pete, and bring her back here to get her settled in. We'll be married the next day; it would be no good for her reputation for her to be staying here as an unmarried woman. I’d have arranged it for today, but you know what the trains are like, it could end up being evening by the time she arrives.”
Pete frowned at him, 'Do you not think you would best meet her yourself? She's been traveling for four days, likely the longest she's ever been away from home, and it sure won't be my face she'll want to see.'
Jacob shook his head, feeling his impatience growing, 'There's too much to do here, Pete. I'm certain she will be fine.'
Pete looked as if he was about to say something but changed his mind, turning on his heel and walking off with a shake of his head. Jacob watched him go with a pang of remorse at his abrupt tone, but Pete had known him since childhood; he knew him well enough not to take offense. He knew too well why Jacob would be wary of being too involved with this girl. At that thought, Jacob suddenly called Pete back. Pete looked over his shoulder.
'Seen sense, have you?'
Jacob jogged over to him, keeping his voice low so as the other ranch hands didn't hear, 'Pete, she's not to be told.'
Pete looked confused for a moment, and then he nodded, his expression sad. 'About Elsa? Don't you think maybe she should know?'
Jacob glared at him, 'She's not to be told.'
Pete sighed and nodded reluctantly. 'You're the boss,' he said and left. Jacob didn't miss the look of disappointment on the older man's face. Pushing it from his mind, he turned his attention back to the ranch.
CHAPTER THREE
Chapter 2
Tally May hurried after the man who had thoughtfully offered to carry her bags, blinking back tears. Maybe she was over-reacting, she admonished herself, but surely her new husband would have wanted to greet her himself? Sh
e had got off at the train station to find herself in what looked to be the middle of nowhere, looking around nervously and then breaking into an excited smile as she saw the horse and cart approaching.
The man who had stepped down however had not been what she was expecting. He looks a lot older than he said he was, had been her first thought before the man had tipped his hat at her and said in a gruff voice, 'I'm Pete Brown, ma'am, senior ranch hand at Tucker ranch. Jacob sent me to fetch you. He sends his love,' he had added, somewhat awkwardly.
'Erm, yes, of course. Pleased to meet you. I'm Tally May Jones,' she had said, quickly composing herself. 'I take it Mr. Tucker is ...indisposed?’ She had hoped he wasn't ill.
'No, he's just mighty busy. With the ranch,' Pete had said, lifting her onto the cart and then going back for her bags. It wasn't that he didn't seem to be a very nice man, Tally reflected, but she had hoped for, well, a more romantic greeting.
As she followed Pete up the path towards the ranch building, she looked around with wide eyes. It was a recently built, large building with an almost imposing air, and set in what seemed acres of land. There was no doubt her parents were right about her being well provided for. This is to be my home. Imposing or not, it was beautiful, and Tally felt a little thrill at the thought of soon being its mistress. She pushed her disappointment from earlier at the train station away. After all, with all this to manage, it was no wonder Jacob was busy.
Pete showed her into the house and motioned for her to go upstairs. 'After you, lass. There's a room made up for you. I'll send my daughter Ellie along to help you get settled. She's a good girl.'
There was a slight catch in his voice as he said the latter, Tally noticed, and she wondered what that was about. The thought was quickly replaced however. Still no Jacob? Not coming to the station was one thing, but to not even meet her at the house?
'When will Mr. Tucker be...joining us?'
Pete looked embarrassed. 'I'm sure he'll be along for dinner. Come on, miss, I'll show you to your room'.
Pete led her up the stairs and down a long corridor, giving Tally a chance to look around and take in her surroundings. Her home, for the foreseeable future. It was large and grand yet somehow it felt almost unlived in. There was nothing to indicate the people who lived here or anything about them. Of course Jacob was a bachelor and she knew he had no family, his parents having died some years ago, leaving him with no siblings. Tally reassured herself she could brighten up the place in no time.
Pete showed her into a room that was smaller and cozier than what she had already seen of the house, with a personal touch in the embroidered blanket that had been arranged carefully on the bed and the fresh flowers on the dresser.
'Ellie tried to make it nice for you,' Pete said, watching her look around. Tally smiled at him.
'Thank you, I'm sure I'll be very comfortable'.
Pete nodded and placed her bags at the foot of the bed. 'Ellie will be along soon to help you get unpacked. I'll see you shortly, ma'am.' He tipped his hat at her and left her alone.
Tally sat down on the bed, her hands absentmindedly stroking the pretty blanket. Jacob must be very busy, she told herself. Pete had said he would join her at dinner, but when was that? Was she expected to prepare food? She sighed and lay back on the bed, grateful for its softness after four days on the train. She would freshen up, she decided, while she waited for Ellie and then ask the girl to show her more of the house and the ranch. She couldn't just stay up here all day, waiting for Jacob Tucker to make an appearance.
She was just unpinning her hair when there was a soft knock at the door.
‘Come in,’ Tally felt a sudden stab of home sickness and realized she would be glad of some female company.
The girl entered the room with a shy smile, a jug of water in her hand and a small cloth over her arm. ‘I thought you might want to freshen up, Miss.’
‘Thank you,’ Tally took the things off her and set them down on the dresser. ‘You must be Ellie? I just met your father, he seems very kind.’
The girl nodded with a wide smile and it transformed what Tally had initially thought to be a somewhat plain face. She could very well grow into a beauty, Tally thought.
‘Yes, he is, he’s a good man. He’s taken good care of us since Ma died.’
‘I’m sorry for your loss.’
‘It’s alright, really, it was some years ago now. I do miss her still, but you grow used to it, I suppose. You must be missing your home?’
Tally nodded, ‘A little now that I’m here. Sure, I’ll soon settle in. I haven’t actually met Mr. Tucker yet?’ she said with a nervous laugh as Ellie looked down as if embarrassed.
‘He is very busy; I’m sure he can’t wait to meet you. Shall I do your hair for you, Miss?’
Tally noticed the sudden change of subject and felt a little alarmed. Was there something about Jacob, the man she was pledged to marry, that they were keeping from her? Not wanting to push as the girl looked so uncomfortable; Tally nodded and sat down before the dresser and the small mirror. She could barely see all of her face in it; she would have to send for the rest of her things as soon as she was settled.
Ellie’s nimble fingers got to work unpinning and brushing Tally’s thick, corn colored hair, and Tally felt herself relaxing into her hands. She had never had a maid, as such, do her hair before; only her mother whose fingers were stern and quick rather than gentle and soothing.
‘Your hair is so beautiful,’ Ellie said with a sigh, glancing ruefully in the mirror at her own fine, light brown hair.
‘Yours is very pretty too,’ Tally reassured her, feeling a sense of protection over the girl, even though she they had only just met, ‘and I bet it’s much easier to manage. Mine’s so thick it just falls down all the time.’
‘Not when I’ve finished with it,’ said Ellie proudly, and indeed the girl turned out to have a talent with hair as she swept Tally’s mane into a neat but complicated braided bun she would never have been able to achieve.
‘Oh, it looks lovely, thank you.’
‘Have you thought about how you want it for the wedding? A little looser, maybe?’
Tally shook her head, feeling a little of the morning’s excitement come back. Her mother had made her a beautiful dress, simple but perfectly fitted, and she had tried it on so many times over the last few weeks, picturing the moment she was married.
Though at this rate, it will be to an invisible man.
When the man in question showed no sign of turning up for dinner, Tally’s excitement once again turned to foreboding. Sitting in the lovely but empty kitchen, watching Ellie dash around to serve her up the best stew she had ever tasted, followed by hot apple pie, Tally didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Here she was in this beautiful house with what seemed to be her very own maid, yet she was also so far utterly alone. She was beginning to wonder if Jacob Tucker even existed.
‘No doubt he’s eating in the barn with the ranch hands; he does that often. Especially since…’
Ellie’s voice trailed off as Tally looked at her with sharp eyes.
‘Since?’
Ellie shook her head. ‘Oh, you know, the ranch getting so big and all. He likes to mix with his men.’
‘How friendly of him,’ Tally retorted, and then regretted her sharp tone as Ellie looked mortified. It wasn’t the girl’s fault, she reminded herself.
Conversation ran dry after that, with Ellie soon excusing herself to get back to the small cottage at the edge of the ranch that she shared with her father. Tally found herself up in her room, unpacking with a heavy heart and hands. This was so different from what she had been expecting and her disappointment cut keenly. Perhaps she had been silly to expect that any kind of romance could be initiated with letters.
She lay on her bed and the tiredness of the last few days overcame her, she drifted off to sleep.
A knock at her door interrupted her rest. No doubt Ellie had come to unpin her hair, and Tally composed herself be
fore answering it to tell her she needed no help. She would rather be by herself.