“Go away, Steffen. I’m not returning to New York. Tell my father I’m happy, and I would never marry you if you were the last available man. You can tell your sister she will never see a penny of my inheritance and neither will you,” Delia declared feeling the strength of Wes behind her.
Steffen laughed. “Addie and I will get exactly what we both desire. She’s back home convincing your father that you’re unstable. I heard her suggest sending you to an asylum if you continued this behavior. Your father was leaning toward agreeing with her. Life with me would be better than an asylum.”
“Not much,” Delia said trying to keep the fear from her voice.
Delia glanced across the street and saw Mercy standing outside the shops with people scurrying past her apparently without seeing her. Mercy smiled, nodded, and waved her fingers at Delia. A sudden calm Delia could not explain came over her, and she found her courage.
“Leave, Steffen. I refuse to leave with you regardless of your threats. I have nothing else to say to you.”
Steffen was about to answer her when Wes stepped forward and held out his hand. “Hello, my name is Wes Field. I’m a friend of Delia’s. Perhaps I can help.”
Wes remembered Steffen from New York. He never liked the strange man and always felt he was corrupt or plotting some type of con to increase his stature and financial needs. With his beard and some coal dust darkening his blonde hair, Steffen did not recognize the man he had detested for years.
“Humph, you look like the type of person I would expect Delia to meet in a town like this. We don’t need your help. Delia is my fiancé, we’re leaving Creede as soon as possible, and we will be married upon our arrival back in New York,” Steffen spat and reached for Delia again.
Wes stepped between Delia and Steffen. “I don’t believe you’re going anywhere with Delia. She’s staying here in Creede. She has friends, and I will assure her safety from you or any other harm that may come her way.”
“You,” Steffen stammered. “I wipe my boots on men like you. Delia is mine, and you have no say in what happens to her. She comes with me back to New York willingly, or she will be taken to an asylum in Denver where she will reside until she learns her place and follows my directives.” Steffen straightened his spine hoping to intimidate the man several inches taller than him.
Delia still feeling the calm and strength after seeing Mercy turned and whispered to Wes, “Steffen works for one of your father’s companies.”
“Let me handle this,” Wes whispered back.
Wes stared straight at Steffen and said, “I lived in New York for quite some time. Perhaps we’ve met. You look vaguely familiar. I worked for the Satterfield family. Perhaps you’ve heard of them?”
Steffen puffed out his chest and answered, “No doubt you worked in some physical, menial job and saw me around. I am employed by the Satterfield’s in an executive position, so you see, Delia has no choice but to return with me and you have nothing to say in the matter.”
Wes laughed out loud at the scrawny man doing his best to intimidate him. “I’m sorry about that, Mr. Rivers. When we met a few minutes ago, I was not completely honest with you. I shall rectify that immediately.”
Steffen’s eyes squinted as he wondered what this man was trying to do.
“Wes held out his hand and said, “Let’s start over, Mr. Rivers. Let me introduce myself. My name is Wesley Satterfield, and my father owns Satterfield Enterprises.”
Steffens’ eyes opened wide, and he studied Wes’ face. Could it be true? Yes, it was Wesley Satterfield, but surely the man had gone insane. This was perfect. He now had ample reason to whisk Delia away from Creede and an obviously unstable man. He’d need to try and keep the man in a calm mood until he could find the town sheriff.
“I see. I do recognize you, Mister Satterfield. You left New York rather abruptly. Some of the employees thought you died on your way to to San Francisco. I’m pleased to see that you’re alive and appear well,” Steffen said hoping to appease Wes.
“Thank you, I am indeed well and taking my grandfather’s suggestion of looking for new opportunities for Satterfield enterprises. It was his wish before he died that the company expand. Creede offers those opportunities,” Wes answered as he waved his arm down the street indicating the businesses.
A brisk wind picked up and blew the previous night’s snow around them in swirls. Delia shuddered against the cold even in her warm coat.
Wes wrapped an arm around Delia and Steffen complained, “Get your hands off of my fiancé.”
Wes shrugged, “I am protecting her from the cold. I told you I would protect her. Now, I would suggest that you return to New York and tell Delia’s stepmother that your plan failed. Delia will telegraph her father that all’s well and what you tried to do. I’m sure he’ll be quite interested.”
“He’ll never believe you,” Steffen shouted.
“I may also telegraph my father and discuss your employment. He may not see fit to keep you around.”
Steffen’s temper blew, and he reached for Delia again. “You wouldn’t do such a thing over a woman. Your father would question your mental abilities.”
Delia whispered into Wes’ ear, and Wes began to laugh.
Steffen took a step back concerned about the tall man standing in front of him. Surely he was unhinged.
“Thank you, Delia,” Wes said. “Delia was kind enough to remind me that upon my grandfather’s death, I inherited an equal share of the business along with my father. You, Mr. Rivers, work for me, and as of this moment, your employment with Satterfield Enterprises is terminated. I doubt any other company will hire you once they learn of your duplicity in trying to force Delia to return to New York.”
Steffen turned on his heel knowing he needed to send a telegram to his sister and shouted over his shoulder, “This isn’t over yet, Delia.”
Wes grabbed Delia’s hand and said, “Come on. We don’t have much time. I don’t trust that man.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the church,” Wes answered. “Trust me.”
Delia still had a bit of doubt, but she saw Mercy across the street again smiling and waving. Delia squinted because she thought Mercy might be glowing. That couldn’t be, could it?
Chapter Five
Delia slipped in the snow trying to keep up with Wes’ long strides, and he caught her before she fell.
“Why are we hurrying to the church? Don’t we need to send telegrams to try and stop Steffen?” Delia asked while trying to catch her breath.
“Later. I have a solution to keep Steffen, your stepmother, and your father from interfering and to keep you from being forced into an asylum,” Wes said as he helped Delia walk to the church.
“What solution?”
Wes winked at her. “We’re getting married. No one but me can make decisions for you after that.”
Delia stopped, and Wes was forced to stop with her unless he decided to pull her along the snow-covered street.
“Married? What? No, we can’t,” Delia stammered and tried to break loose from Wes’ grip.
“Dee, listen, please. You need someone to protect you. Marriage provides the safety from Steffen’s threat of confining you to an asylum. I would be the person to decide that and you know I would never hurt you that way or any way. You’ll be safe with me. We have to hurry before Steffen finds us and causes trouble.”
Delia bit her lip nearly hard enough to draw blood and realized that Wes’ idea was better than any she could come up with. “All right, but I need a witness. I was going to meet Penny at the dry goods store. Maybe she’ll come along.”
“All right,” Wes nodded. “Let’s go get her and then see Reverend Theodore.”
Delia didn’t say a word as they hurried to Crowther’s store. Penny was waiting for her just inside the door.
“I was worried you weren’t coming, Delia. Who’s your handsome friend,” Penny asked smiling at Delia and Wes.
“My husband to be. We ca
me here to get you to be our witness,” Delia explained in one breath.
“Married. How exciting. Why didn’t you tell me before and how did you ever find him and convince him to marry you so quickly?” Penny asked.
“We knew each other in New York,” was all Delia could think to say.
Penny asked, “Don’t you need two witnesses?”
“Oh my, we do. Wes?” Delia asked looking at her soon-to-be husband.
“I’ll take care of it,” Wes assured as he strode toward a disheveled man standing at the counter.
“Morning, Syd,” Wes said. “Are you busy for the next thirty minutes or so?”
“Well, I do need to get back to the mine,” Syd answered.
“Here, let me pay for your purchases,” Wes suggested and laid the money on the counter.
Syd smiled at Wes. “Thanks, I suppose I have thirty minutes.”
Syd gathered his package and followed Wes who was following Delia and Penny on the way to the church. The young women were chattering like magpies and Wes explained that he and Delia were getting married. Syd scowled at the thought of marriage but agreed to be Wes’ witness.
Delia and Penny stopped at the church doors and waited for Wes to open them. They entered and hoped to find Reverend Theodore.
Reverend Eugene Theodore paced the front of the church practicing his Sunday sermon when he heard the door open. He smiled when he saw Penny and Delia enter, but his expression changed when he saw Wes dressed in clean miner’s clothes along with a man who appeared badly in need of a shave and a bath not to mention a new set of clothes.
Wes walked toward Reverend Theodore holding out his hand. “Good morning, Reverend. I hope you’re not busy. My fiancé, Miss Warrington, and I came to be married. We hope you can perform the ceremony.”
Reverend Theodore’s eyes flitted between Delia and Wes, and he then asked, “This is a bit sudden? I haven’t seen you in church together before.”
“No, sir, we knew each other back in New York and met here again in Creede and decided to marry,” Wes explained brushing his blonde hair out of his eyes.
Reverend Theodore’s confusion crossed his face, and he stared directly into Delia’s eyes, “Do you love this man and if you do, how long have you known you wanted to marry him?”
“All my life,” Delia disclosed aloud before she realized she hadn’t just thought the words.
Wes’ head snapped toward her as she spoke, and his wide smile broadened. He planned to keep Delia safe, and after Steffen and her stepmother were no longer a threat, he’d offer her an annulment. Perhaps, an annulment wouldn’t be needed. Could he be so fortunate to spend the rest of his life with Delia? He could only hope.
Wes could see Reverend Theodore was thinking about the rushed wedding and said, “I didn’t properly introduce myself. I’m Wesley Satterfield. Perhaps you’ve heard of my family. You have a nice quaint church here, Reverend Theodore. I enjoy the churches back home with their organ and stained-glass windows. I plan to do business in Creede. I’d love to have new windows installed and offer you a piano or organ. There’s no reason Creede shouldn’t have the finer things life has to offer.”
Delia stared at Wes with raised eyebrows hoping God wouldn’t look at Wes unkindly for trying to bribe a reverend. She saw Mercy sitting in the back of the church smiling but shaking her head.
Reverend Theodore tugged at his vest and smiled. “That would be a kind gift to the residents of Creede, Mister Satterfield. I see no reason why I can’t perform a marriage ceremony right now. I see you brought witnesses. Let me get the paperwork needed.”
Reverend Theodore returned a few minutes later and asked for their full names then began the simple ceremony. Delia wasn’t quite sure if she said the right words when asked but no one corrected her, and soon Reverend Theodore announced they were man and wife and Wes kissed her softly on the lips. Her knees nearly buckled. She was Delia Satterfield. She was awake, but it felt like a dream.
Penny hugged her tightly and said, “You are so fortunate. He is handsome, and I imagine he will be more so when he is shaved and has clean clothes.”
“That he is,” Delia whispered back. “I remember when we danced at balls back in New York. He was the most handsome man in the room, and I thought I was dancing on air.”
Wes shook Reverend Theodore’s hand, slipped the marriage certificate into his pocket and turned to Delia, “We have to hurry. We have a lot to do.”
“What do we have to do that’s so important?” Delia wondered if he was going to rush her into anything she wasn’t ready for.
“We need to send telegrams to your father and mine. They need to know we’re married and about Steffen’s plans. Then we need to tell everyone we see, all our friends, and the sheriff that we’re married. If Steffen tries to hurt you, I want the entire town to know you’re married to me and not Steffen’s fiancé. If you need help when I’m not around, people will hurry to help you when Steffen begins telling lies. We also need to buy wedding rings, I need new clothes, and we need a place to live.”
Delia just nodded trying to take it all in. She agreed with Wes but the whole day was a whirlwind and it was barely noon. She glanced back at where Mercy had been sitting expecting her to be gone since she must have been sent to make sure Delia found and married Wes for her protection, but Mercy was still sitting there watching and smiling. Did that mean she still needed Mercy?
Wes took Delia’s hand and said, “Well, Missus Satterfield, are you ready to announce our marriage to everyone?”
Delia nodded and smiled, “Yes, let’s do.”
Before they left Wes spoke to Reverend Theodore. “When you decide on which organ or piano you’d like ordered and the window glass, please let me know. I will stop by and pay for the order. Thank you again for the wedding on such short notice.”
“Of course, I will pray that you two will have a happy life and I will let you know what I decide about the additions. God bless you both.”
Once outside the church, Syd hurried back to the mine to share the news that Wes married one of the most beautiful women he’d ever met. Penny scurried back to the dry goods store to spread the news before Wes and Delia had time to arrive and tell everyone.
On their walk to the telegraph office, Wes and Delia met several people and shared their good news. The men shook Wes’ hand, and the women embraced Delia. They welcomed the couple which was precisely what Wes hoped. The more people who knew Delia as Missus Satterfield, the safer she was, and the less chance Steffen had of convincing people otherwise.
Chapter Six
Wes held onto Delia’s hand as they walked to the telegraph office.
Delia asked, “What are you going to say to your father and mine when you send the telegrams?”
Wes replied, “I believe it would be better if you send a telegram to your father at home letting him know about our marriage. I will send a separate telegram to your father’s office explaining the details of our marriage and the plot Addie and Steffen devised against you. I’ll send another telegram to my parents. I think they will be delighted.”
Delia’s hand shot to her mouth, “Oh, no, Wes, your sister is going to be heartbroken. We’ve been planning our weddings since we were little girls.”
“I can take care of that,” Wes said. “When I send the telegraph to my father, I’ll tell him we plan to come to New York to visit, and Little Bit can plan a grand reception.”
Delia giggled, “She hates when you call her that. Nettie is a grown woman now. You should call her by her proper name.”
Wes smiled, “She’ll always be Little Bit to me. She’s had that name since the day she was born, and I saw her as a squealing little bit of a thing.”
“But it did cause her problems when you called her that at school. It was the real reason she punched Billy when we were ten,” Delia confessed.
Wes stopped and looked at her. “She told my mother he called her a nasty name. Mother was mortified, but father explained that a
girl needed to protect her reputation at all costs. They decided to ignore it since Billy was too embarrassed that his black eye came from a girl that he made up some story about getting hit by a boy he didn’t know.”
“Nettie didn’t lie. To her, it was a nasty name when the other children laughed at her.”
Wes frowned, “I need to apologize for causing her trouble, but I’m not going to start calling her anything but Little Bit,” Wes said.
Delia shook her head, “You are fortunate that she loves you.”
Wes laughed as they reached the telegraph office. “Ready? Time to let your family know where you are and that you’re my wife.”
Delia nodded, “My stepmother will faint.”
Wes smiled and held the door open. After introducing Delia as his wife to the telegrapher, Delia sent the short, simple message to her parent’s home that she was in Creede and had married Wes.
Wes read what she wrote down.
Safe in Creede Colorado. Married Wesley Satterfield today.
“That’s all you want to say?” Wes asked.
Delia smiled a wicked smile, “That’s all I want my stepmother to know. You can give more details to my father when you tell him in your telegram.”
Wes did exactly what Delia suggested and sent his telegram to her father’s office explaining about their marriage and that he shouldn’t send Steffen or anyone to try and bring her back to New York. His telegram to his father was a bit longer followed with a promise to send a detailed letter to his mother and Little Bit.
Wes paid for the telegrams and then looked at Delia. “We need to stay somewhere. Before we stop at the café for lunch, let’s go to the bank. I need to add you to my account, and we’ll see if they have a house we can buy or rent.”
Delia just nodded as he held her hand and walked down the street toward the bank. Everything was happening so fast. Marriage was one thing but a house? She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Wes was right, they did need to stay somewhere, and this marriage of convenience would be easier to pull off away from a place with a lot of people. The Hearth and Home was lovely, but a bit more privacy would be helpful.
Trusting the Tycoon: Cowboys and Angels, #29 Page 3
