“You’re not a failure at anything as far as I can see,” he whispered into her ear. She trembled so hard he could feel it.
“Being close to you makes me feel strange inside. I’ve never felt this way before,” she confessed.
“We share an attraction for one another.”
She pushed back against him again and he gritted his teeth. She had no idea that she shouldn’t rub certain areas of him.
“We need to get some sleep,” he said when he could speak. “Tomorrow I want to be able to go as long as the horses are willing.” He pulled away a bit but kept his arms around her waist.
“Good night. I’ll help however I can.”
She would and then some. He felt bad for how her parents had treated her. Apparently she had always been second best, if that. He knew his brother Monty had often felt the same way. Parker had told Monty it didn’t matter, but in the end, Monty had felt pushed to join one of the first Texas regiments and he’d been killed in their first battle. That was still hard to deal with.
Chapter Three
Georgie tried to put her hair up into something fashionable, but she knew it wasn’t working. It had been hot the last few days of the trip. Parker told her they’d be at his place in a few hours, and she insisted he stop so she could wash her face and fix her hair.
She looked at the gray and blue dress she wore. It was her finest, yet it was best suited for use as dusters. Her skin had darkened due to the sun. She had one ladies’ hat to wear, one made of woven straw that looked as though someone had ridden over it with a horse. Not only was the brim bent downward, but the dark blue ribbon that circled it and formed a wilted bow in back was frayed. She looked like a beggar. But she was clean. She twisted her hair one last time and secured it with her hair pins and then smiled. One thing done. She then set her crumpled hat on her head and secured it with a hat pin. Her shoes had seen better days, and she was lucky they hadn’t just fallen apart.
There was no help for it. She was a Tennessee O’Rourke, after all. Swallowing down a laugh, she shook her head. People would be waiting for them. Maxwell had ridden ahead to let Mrs. Eastman know of their pending arrival.
Climbing back to the front, she glanced at Parker. He looked so handsome in his clean clothes. His boots had such a shine on them.
“I’m nervous.” She bit her lip.
He put his hand under her chin and brought his mouth down on hers. “Don’t bite your lip. It’ll be fine and I’ll be there.”
Giving him a weak smile, she nodded, but all the while her stomach churned. They started out and Georgie wished they had another day before she had to meet his mother. She was bound to think Georgie was not good enough for her son. What would she want to be called? Mother Eastman, Mother or by her first name?
“What is your mother’s name?”
“Millicent Beauregard Eastman. Don’t call her Millie, though, it makes her crazy.” Parker patted her hand. “Look.” He nodded his head to the front of them. “That’s my ranch. Actually, I amend that. That’s our ranch.”
“Does it have a name?”
“The Eastman Ranch.” Parker laughed. “My father was a straight shooter. He had a hard time imagining just how big he could make the ranch.”
“But you have a vision of what you want.” It wasn’t a question it was a statement. “Oh my, the house is bigger than I pictured.” She stared at the vast two story house. It looked elegant and not at all what she pictured a ranch house would look like.
“It’s made of hand-hewn wood from the trees on the property. I built it with my father and Monty. We added the big porch to please Mother.”
“It’s exquisite, and I’m in awe that you built it. Many of the men I knew before the war wouldn’t risk getting calluses on their hands.”
Parker laughed. “There were a few dandies around, weren’t there? They ended up ill equipped for life in the army. But here we are. Oh look, Mother is waiting!”
Georgie’s stomach clenched but she smiled at her husband’s enthusiasm. He drove the wagon right up to the front of the house and reined in the horses. Then he jumped to the ground, immediately rounded the wagon, and helped her down. Smiling his encouragement, he took her hand, settled it in the crook of his elbow, and they walked up the steps together.
Millicent Beauregard Eastman took one look at her new daughter-in-law and gasped.
Georgie had known it was going to be that way, but it still hurt.
“Mother, may I present my bride, Georgie O’Rourke Eastman.”
His mother opened her mouth then shut it. Her gaze swept Georgie up and down, and by the expression of disgust, she found her son’s bride severely lacking. “You are Georgia O’Rourke? I think there has been some mistake. I meant, are you one of the O’Rourkes? The high-society O’Rourkes? Oh my, Parker, you didn’t marry this chit did you?” Her eyes flashed in anger as she stared at her son.
“Yes, I just said she’s my bride. I expect you to give her the respect my wife deserves. She is one of those O’Rourkes, but as you can see, much was lost in the war.”
“You look more like a field hand than a wife. Look how dark you’ve allowed your skin to get. I hope you don’t expect me to pay good money to make you look presentable. Didn’t your mother tell you to bathe with lemons? Where is your maid?”
Georgie tilted her head up and ignored her mother-in-law. “Parker, I would like to rest a bit. Would you be so kind as to escort me to our room?”
Parker nodded.
Millicent gasped. “You will not sully my son by sharing a room with him.”
Trying not to allow her gathering tears to fall, Georgie hurried into the house, with Parker right behind her. “Upstairs?”
“Yes. Georgie—”
“We can talk about it upstairs.” She hated that her voice wobbled. Heck, she had stood up to the Union Army, but a few caustic words from Parker’s mother was her undoing. She practically ran up the steps. “Which room?”
“I’m not sure. Mother wants us in separate rooms. Maybe she’ll be kinder if we go along with her.” Parker couldn’t meet her gaze.
“You were a Captain in the Confederate Army. You are the head of this household. Where do you want me to sleep?”
He sighed loudly then opened a door and ushered her in. It wasn’t his room. There was too much floral décor for it to be his room. Her heart dropped as she turned and stared at Parker. “You can’t mean for me to stay in here.”
He looked guilty and a bit sorry.
“Get out. I can’t have you here right now. I thought you were a different type of man. I need to be alone for a while.” She swallowed back her tears.
“I figured you’d like to be alone—”
“Close the door behind you,” she said softly. As soon as the door shut, her tears fell. Where was the man she’d traveled with? He’d gone from a decisive, powerful man to a man who still hung onto his mother’s skirts. Separate rooms would make it so she never had to… She’d never conceive a child. Disappointment overwhelmed her as she peered out the back window. She had a view of the bunkhouse but it was the view beyond that she found breathtaking. There was an abundance of green grass and plenty of trees. Cattle grazed as far as her eye could see. He’d be busy.
Turning from the window, she studied her surroundings. Her room in Tennessee was much bigger and much grander. This room consisted of a bed and wardrobe. There wasn’t even a mirror. Just who did Millicent Beauregard Eastman think she was? She was nobody trying to be part of society.
But what did it matter? It didn’t look as though anyone was willing to be Georgie’s ally. She hadn’t met everyone yet, but her hopes weren’t high that she’d find anyone to stand up to Mother Eastman. Georgie shivered. That name would never do. That woman was no type of mother.
At a knock on the door, she opened it, hoping it was Parker with a different attitude. Her shoulders slumped at the sight of Maxwell with her few possessions. He looked around and gave her a look of pity before he s
tepped out and closed the door behind him.
If only she hadn’t married Parker. Now she was tied to him forever. Or perhaps this was just an act to get his mother to accept her. She started to hang her few dresses in the wardrobe when the door flew open. Speak of the devil.
“Don’t you dare put those disgraceful clothes in one of my wardrobes. I don’t know what your game is, but I don’t believe you’re who you say you are. I talked to my son and an annulment is possible.”
How could he have told his mother their private business? Her face burned. “Just what do you propose I wear?” Georgie cocked her right brow and gave her a haughty look.
“We’re ready to sit down to dinner. I’ll bring you something afterward. Come on, your husband is waiting.” Millicent strode out of the room.
Georgie closed her eyes. What if she just refused to join them? Could she dare hope that Parker had some plan for the two of them? She followed at a slow pace and joined them in the dining room then stood next to her chair waiting for Parker to pull it out for her and after an uncomfortable length of time he finally stood and held it for her. She tried to catch his gaze but he had his face adverted the whole time. It felt like a knife slicing off a piece of her heart.
A man in cowboy garb served dinner. It was barely edible, but she managed to choke down a few bites. The utensils were silver-plated, not real silver, and the plates were made from inferior china. Millicent was a complete fake.
“You must have missed your son very much while he went to pick me up, Mother Eastman,” Georgie stated with a smile. Millicent did not like being called Mother Eastman, and for some reason that brought Georgie a bit of pleasure.
“Georgia, you may call me Mrs. Eastman. And since we are talking about names, your name is Georgia not Georgie. I don’t want to hear that hideous nickname again. It’s beyond common.”
“You may call me Mrs. Eastman too. And my father, Richard Alexander O’Rourke the fourth gave me that nickname. My mother, Mary Winston O’Rourke thought it was cute. So no it’s not beyond common.” She turned her head to look at her husband. “What do you think, Parker?”
He glanced at her and then at his mother. “Yes, Mrs. Eastman is fine. Truthfully, I was a little taken aback by the nickname, but I soon got used to it. Perhaps it was a fun childhood nickname but we all have to put our childhood behind us as we become adults. Georgia is such a pretty name, and it honors one of our great Southern states.”
Georgie blinked once, twice, three times at him wondering where his backbone had gone.
“I’ll be gone for two weeks or more. I have to check out the upper pastures and then go into town and check on our land deeds. People keep trying to steal my land. I also need to see what type of deal I can get for the cattle. Taggart and Stookey will stay behind and keep you both safe.”
“Excuse me, I’m rather tired.” Georgie wiped her mouth with the cloth napkin and then stood. There was no way she was asking permission. She wasn’t sure what was going on but she was not going to acknowledge Mrs. Eastman’s power. She wished she could weep about the loss of her husband. For that man sitting there was not the man she had married.
As she walked into her room, she noticed a clean white nightgown on her bed. She reached for it and frowned. It was made from cheap scratchy material. She’d worn worse, and she would not complain or let that woman know she was getting to her. She donned the gown and slipped into bed. Maybe when she woke up in the morning she’d find that this was all a horrible nightmare.
* * *
Parker left the dinner table and went outside to get some air. His mother was impossible, but he was afraid she’d get her whip out and use it on Georgie. He wouldn’t be here to protect her. He’d talk to her tonight about it. He should have warned her.
He had seen his mother threaten the help with butcher knives before. He tried to get the doctor to help her, but the doc’s suggestion was to keep her strapped to a chair during the day and the bed at night. Parker couldn’t do that to his mother. She’d been back to normal when she talked about how Miss O’Rourke was coming to stay with them.
He waited outside until his mother’s room lamp went out. His wife’s lamp was still lit. Good, they needed to talk. He went inside as silently as he could and then snuck into Georgie’s room.
No sooner had he entered than she sat straight up and opened her mouth.
“Shh,” he warned urgently. “I need to talk to you, but I don’t want to wake Mother.” He hoped that Georgie would forgive him. He sat on the edge of the bed and met her angry expression. Did he look contrite enough? “I’m so sorry.”
She tried to push him off the bed.
“My mother isn’t well. I’ve been playing along with her for your sake.”
She pulled the sheet up to her chin. “I don’t believe you. You have been nothing but cruel to me since we got here. You are not the man I married, and I can’t—I won’t accept it. Your mother mentioned an annulment, and I think—”
He cut her off by kissing her, cradling the back of her head in his hand so she couldn’t pull away. Almost immediately he felt her anger drain away, and he pulled her into his embrace. “I love you, Georgie.”
She pulled back and stared into his eyes. “I don’t believe you. I won’t believe you.”
“It’s true. I didn’t expect it, and I don’t know how it happened so quickly, but I have deep feelings for you.”
She shook her head violently. “I’ve been through too much to allow myself to be involved in whatever sick game you and your mother are playing. I plan to leave tomorrow.” Tears filled her eyes.
“Oh Georgie, I need you to believe me. For some reason, my mother has gone a bit mad. It happened after the death of my father and brother. She took her anger out on the slaves, I heard. When I got back, the slaves were free but she didn’t see it that way. She locked the two who worked in the house up at night. I made sure they weren’t locked up, and I offered them wages. They left rather quickly, and I don’t blame them.” He swallowed hard. “I was so ashamed of her. Any help I hired she thought she could use a riding crop on. She even landed herself in jail at one point. The doctor suggested I tie her up day and night.” He shook his head. “I just couldn’t.”
She dropped the sheet and took his hands in hers. “I’m so sorry.”
He took a deep breath. “When she found you, she was herself again. She told me you were to be her companion.”
Georgie dropped her chin to her chest and stared at their entwined hands.
“Hey, I’m not sorry I married you. I had Maxwell ride into town to get you ready made dresses and new shoes and stuff a woman needs. She’ll be her old self again. Taggart and Stookey both promised to watch over you at all times. Don’t worry about Taggart, he won’t leer at you again.”
He kissed the top of her head and then lifted her chin with his finger. “I don’t want to force you, but she’s positive we can get an annulment.”
“You told her we never consummated the marriage.”
“I did no such thing. I couldn’t imagine talking to my mother about that.”
She sighed. “I can’t either. She must have been trying to find out if we did or didn’t by guessing.”
“I want to make you my wife in truth, Georgie. If something happens to me this would be your house. I don’t want you to be homeless ever again.” He leaned down and kissed her again. This time she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer. His heart had never felt so full.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I love you too.”
* * *
When she woke the next morning, Parker wasn’t in the bed with her. She smiled as she touched the pillow where she could still see an indentation from his head. He really did love her. She hopped up out of bed and ran to his room. She wanted to see him off.
Her new clothes were piled up on a large chair, and she smiled in delight. It had been years since she’d had new clothes. Quickly, she gathered what she needed and
slipped on a dress in a shade of muted rose with a high collar made of lace in a cream color. She brushed her hair and added a pink ribbon to it. She didn’t want to waste any time.
After she dashed down the stairs, she searched each room for Parker. Finally, she stepped outside.
“You’re too late, you hussy. He didn’t look rested when he left.” Millicent peered at her and laughed. “You think that new clothes can hide what you really are? You somehow faked your name, married my boy, and then last night you made sure there would be no annulment. You can’t fool me.”
Georgie went back inside and made her way into the kitchen. It was a bit of a mess, and her hopes that there would be some breakfast rapidly faded. All that was there was a piece of bread. She ate it. What had happened to the cowboy from last night? She rolled up her sleeves, got hot water from the reserve tank on the stove, and poured it into the sink. The dishes weren’t going to clean themselves.
When she was done, she went outside and checked the garden she’d glimpsed the day before. It needed weeding but it was well planted. A hat to keep the sun off her head would have been nice. She grabbed a towel from the kitchen and used it to kneel on. The morning went quickly, and she still had a ways to go. It would have to wait until the next morning when it was cooler out.
She picked some carrots and onions and found a few potatoes and brought them inside. Millicent stood there with a sour look on her face.
“Well what did you make for the noon meal? I don’t see anything, and I’m hungry. If you weren’t so lazy you’d have made something.”
Tattered Hearts: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book One Page 4
