Mail Order Bride- Twenty-Two Brides Mega Boxed Set

by Emily Woods

  However, in his heart, he recognized the truth. He did favor Lily and her brothers over all the rest. The boys were cheerful and lively, the younger ones seeking out his attention and the older two hanging on his words as though he were a man of great authority. He supposed that was only natural given that they’d been deprived of their father only recently.

  He felt protective of the Howard clan, that was for certain. With the father gone and the mother ill, it was only natural that he would feel this way, wasn’t it? Surely people would forgive him for giving them a bit of extra attention.

  “Do you want to see what happened?”

  Tom started a little and turned to look at Beth. They’d been having a conversation about something, but he couldn’t remember what.

  “What? Oh, it’s probably nothing,” he said dismissively. “So, uh, everything is good with you and Michael now? And…” He’d suddenly forgotten her brother’s name, but Beth didn’t seem to notice.

  “Yes, we’re all fine, better than fine actually. Now that all three of the Morris brothers have decided to stay in Oregon, we’re going to have quite a community of…” She stopped talking. “Something on your mind, Captain?”

  He noticed the small, secretive smile on her face, but it didn’t seem wise to him to ask her about it.

  “Uh, not really. What were we talking about?”

  Beth tilted her head to the side and continued to smile. “I know that look,” she answered, easily deflecting his question. “How long have you felt like this?”

  Tom took a step back, his heart pounding. “I better go check on the others,” he replied. “Let me know if there’s anything I…anything you need.”

  “The same to you, Captain,” she returned, the smile still firmly in place. “Anything at all.”

  Rushing away from her, Tom realized that he needed to get better at hiding his feelings, especially considering he didn’t fully know them himself. For now, he needed a distraction.

  Night was approaching, and he wanted to talk to Matthew before he took up the post. He also figured he should attend the preacher’s meeting. That would be a good place to let the others know what he’d decided, and it would help him to get his mind off…other things.

  The group that met in the evening was still quite large, despite having lost about half of the people who used to attend. It seemed to have grown as a direct result of the landslide which had endangered their lives. Perhaps the brush with death had made them want to invest more in the afterlife, Tom thought.

  Finding Matthew just before the meeting, he’d warned the younger man about his plan to make an announcement about adding him to the rotation of guards. He would inform the group in such a way that no one would be able to contest it. There was a need, and Matthew would fill it. It was as simple as that. He was quite sure that everyone knew Matthew was nothing like his father, and furthermore, he believed they would welcome the addition since it meant less work for the rest of them.

  “Good evening, everyone,” the preacher greeted them expansively, his warmth infecting the group and lifting the mood. “Let’s start with a round of Amazing Grace, shall we?”

  Tom knew a lot of the words, but not all of them as Matthew seemed to. The younger man sang with great enthusiasm, causing Tom wondered at his passion. How could he, a young man who had endured the wrath of his father for so many years and who had now been thrust into an undesirable position, be so enthusiastic about God? So sure of His love for him?

  The preacher’s talk seemed to go on for hours, but Tom knew the man only spoke for about twenty minutes. Even though his mind wandered repeatedly, he understood that the topic was forgiveness. However, it wasn’t until the end of the night that he realized the preacher had chosen that topic specifically. Tom had told him about Matthew’s situation earlier in the day, and the man was warming up the crowd for the announcement.

  With more gratitude in his heart than he would have imagined, Tom stood up after the final prayer and called for attention.

  “Hi there, folks,” he called out in his deepest and most authoritative voice. “I just want to tell you something real quick, and then you can get off to bed.”

  The people settled and turned their faces towards him.

  “So, as you know, we’re down to six men on rotation for night guards, less than half of what we had before. This means that each man has to take a shift two nights on and one night off. Now, I have a young volunteer who would like a chance to earn your trust. He’s a good kid, and I know he’ll do a good job. Matthew Howard, come on up here.”

  The boy made his way up to the front, head down slightly and mouth in a tight line, and Tom continued to encourage him, ignoring the slight murmurings of the crowd.

  “Matthew here wants to do the right thing and step in for his father. Maybe reminding you all of what happened is a bad move, but I think you are all smart enough to recognize the boy on his own merit and nothing else. So, would you join me in thanking him?”

  Tom started clapping and was determined to keep going until the others joined him. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait too long. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Morris brothers and their sweethearts all clap enthusiastically and soon others caught on. There were a few disgruntled men among the crowd, but when the preacher noticeably joined in, they reluctantly put their hands together.

  When the noise subsided, Matthew cleared his throat.

  “Thank you for that. I won’t let you down. I promise.”

  They must have seen how earnest he was because that statement brought more applause and even some whistles.

  Tom smiled. Today, he’d made a good move. He just hoped that he would have wisdom for tomorrow.

  5

  Lily didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until her chest grew tight. Releasing the air in her lungs, she found herself smiling at the rousing applause for her little brother. She’d been so worried that people would reject his offer or worse. She was overjoyed that they hadn’t. In that moment, she had a sense of elation, but it didn’t last long.

  “I prayed that people would be happy about this,” Mark whispered in her ear while still clapping for his brother. “God is good.”

  Lily’s head bobbed up and down, but a bitter taste filled her mouth. How could both of her brothers still be so devout? They had suffered at the hand of her father much worse than she had.

  “I’m glad,” she whispered back. “This will give him a lot of confidence.”

  When he returned from the front, Matthew had on a huge smile. He had no words, but he didn’t need any.

  “I’ll stay with him the whole time,” a voice whispered in her ear. She turned abruptly and almost knocked heads with Tom. His sudden appearance threw her off guard.

  “What? Oh. Uh, thank you.”

  She’d been apprehensive about the duty and hoped that Tom would keep close watch over him. Hearing him affirm this flooded her with gratitude.

  “Thank you,” she murmured. “For everything.”

  “Aw, it’s my pleasure. I like Matthew. He’s a good fella. All your brothers are.”

  In spite of her discomfort, Lily smiled. “I think so too,” she returned, suddenly realizing that he hadn’t moved and was only inches away from her. Heat stole over her face at his close proximity, but she didn’t step back. Having him at her elbow sent butterflies to her stomach, but she didn’t mind. Who did she hurt if she let herself indulge in a little fantasy? No one except for herself.

  “I’ll be making flapjacks in the morning,” she informed him softly. “And I held back some molasses too.”

  In the dim firelight, she saw his eyes widen. “Well, that’ll be a treat for sure. I’ll be looking forward to that!”

  His enthusiasm further warmed her, and she nearly sighed. For one evening, she would let herself pretend that she was a desirable woman with options.

  Surely she could be forgiven for that.

  Tom noticed the look of peace on Lily’s face an
d felt his heart thump a little faster. He realized that he wanted to keep making her smile or even hear her laugh. He tried to think of something to prolong the moment.

  “I think you’re just about the best cook I’ve encountered,” he complimented lavishly. “And my stomach owes you a deep debt.”

  It was an exaggeration of course. His own cooking wasn’t that much worse than hers, but he wanted to at least make her smile.

  He was rewarded with a small grin. “And was it very upset before?”

  Nodding, he pretended to be discouraged. “I was afraid it was going to get together with other organs and start a rebellion if I didn’t get something a little better than canned beans inside me.”

  The comment evoked a chuckle, and Tom felt victorious.

  “My flapjacks could pass for buffalo chips,” he continued to embellish. “I don’t think the average person would be able to tell the difference.”

  Now a real laugh escaped from her lips. It was such a beautiful sound that Tom drew in a sharp breath. He wanted to hear it again.

  “And my rice cried at having to give up its life to become a kind of mush that you wouldn’t feed your dog.”

  Another laugh tumbled out of her mouth, and people began to glance in their direction. He didn’t care, but he knew that Lily didn’t like to be the center of attention. In any case, he’d fed his own ego enough for one night.

  “Anyway, I’m glad you offered to cook for me. It’s not right to turn fine provisions into muck. I’m happy to hand them over to you.”

  Humor still glimmered in her eyes and she nodded. “And I’m glad to take them, especially the preserves. I noticed you have some strawberries. Perhaps I’ll make a cake tomorrow.”

  “Flapjacks and cake in the same day? That’ll be some treat! I hope I deserve that.”

  Her laughing eyes turned soft, and a gentle smile pulled her mouth wide.

  “Well, if you don’t, we’ll feed your portion to the neighbors,” she joked lightly. “So make sure you do a good job tomorrow.”

  He knew she was teasing, but he wanted to give her some assurance.

  “I’ll do my very best, Miss Lily. I’ll take it as slow and easy as I can. I promise.”

  When she laid a small hand on his arm, he felt a shock run through him. “I know you will,” she whispered. “You always do.”

  Even after she returned to her campsite and disappeared into her tent, Tom could still feel her hand on his arm. The sensation was more pleasant than anything he could have imagined. Whistling, he strode over to where Matthew was waiting for him. He expected the boy to still be brimming with pride and excitement, but he was taken aback when he saw bewilderment and concern on the boy’s face.

  “Please, Captain Rutger,” he started, his voice strangled. “Please, please don’t flirt with my sister. If you break her heart, she’ll never recover.”

  Tom wanted to reprimand the boy for being insubordinate, but he quickly checked himself. The boy didn’t know what he was talking about and was just being protective of his sister. So he should be, especially with his father gone. How had the interaction looked to others? Probably exactly as Matthew had described it.

  “Don’t worry, Matthew,” he replied gently. “I’d never hurt your sister, but you’re right. I should be more careful. The last thing I want to do is lead anyone on.”

  Even though the words that he spoke were meant to sound confident, Tom wondered why they felt like a lie.

  The next week passed by smoothly enough with the wagon train moving a slow six or seven miles a day. Although the climb was difficult in some places, Fort Boise was nearly in sight.

  “I expect we’ll get to the fort tomorrow,” Tom told the group after they’d stopped for the day.

  The air rippled with tension. Everyone understood the significance of arriving there. Not only would they be able to replenish their supplies for the last leg of the journey, but they would also learn the fate of Eugene Howard. It was impossible to know if he was still there or not. Lily had confided to him that she hoped he was not. She didn’t want to see him there and feel pity or anger or anything. When he asked her what she wanted, she didn’t have an answer.

  “I don’t know if I want him to be in jail or what,” she said honestly over dinner. “I just know that I can’t handle seeing him now.”

  On one level, he completely understood. If he’d had such a difficult father, he wouldn’t want to see him either, but for him, that would never be a choice.

  Even though he’d promised Matthew that there was nothing going on between the two of them, he couldn’t stay away from her. He always kept a respectful distance, but there was something so achingly vulnerable about her that he wanted to protect her forever.

  And then there were her brothers. Each one was so different, but he cared for them all. Each one looked up to him and respected him like an older brother, even Matthew, or maybe especially Matthew. Tom knew that his presence was a comfort to the family. The other families didn’t bother them because he was always in their company. He didn’t think that they would encounter any hardness, but it was impossible to tell.

  “I can’t give you any advice,” he replied. “I’ve never had the burden or blessing of a male parent.”

  He found Lily was easier to talk to than anyone he’d ever known. He wasn’t sure if it was because she’d made herself vulnerable to him, but she didn’t judge him, and he had told her nearly everything about his childhood over the past week. She hadn’t flinched once.

  In return, she confided in him about the harsh circumstances she’d grown up in.

  “Mother says that he wasn’t always like this, but his overbearing ways are all I’ve ever known. I suppose my mother romanticizes things because she married him.”

  “I think she still loves him,” Tom concluded. “She sees him differently. I think maybe you see me differently now that you know a lot about me.”

  It was his way of feeling her out. She didn’t seem to find his past repugnant, but he couldn’t tell.

  “It’s not the same,” she replied, shaking her head slightly as she dished out some more bison stew. The men had come across a small herd and managed to fell one. The meat would last them for many days.

  “No, I suppose not.” The two of them were not in love. Or rather, she wasn’t in love with him. Tom was coming to realize that his feelings for her ran much deeper than he’d realized. They were strong enough to make him rethink his future.

  When he’d started out on this journey with Captain Holt, it was with the intention of taking over for the man, who planned to retire. Holt had saved enough money to purchase the equipment required for starting up a ranch in the West, and had offered him the business. Tom also had significant savings from all his years of hard work, but he wanted to be a wagon master for the adventure of it.

  Now he didn’t know what he wanted.

  “What are you thinking?” Lily asked him suddenly. The boys had finished dinner quickly and were playing games with the other boys in the camp. The two of them were pretty much alone.

  Tom blinked a few times and felt his neck begin to warm. What could he say to her?

  “I—I was thinking…” Did he dare to say what was really on his mind? How would she respond? What would she think? “I was thinking about tomorrow,” he mumbled finally. “I guess I’m worried about your family and what will happen. No matter what, it won’t be easy.”

  A soft smile lit her face. “That’s kind of you to worry,” she whispered, her eyes glistening with emotion. “Mother is much stronger now, so if father is not released or not there, I think we will be okay. If he is released…” She blew out a sigh. “I don’t know.”

  Tom knew that she was deeply troubled by the thought, but he couldn’t think of anything consoling to say. “Maybe you should ask the preacher to pray?”

  He wasn’t sure where that had come from. Maybe his regular attendance at the preacher’s nightly meetings was starting to have an effect on him
. However, he’d never suggested such a thing to anyone in the past, but the words had popped into his brain and then fallen out of his mouth before he had a chance to think them through. Now that he’d said them, he wished he could take them back. The look on Lily’s face was hard and closed off.

  “I don’t know if that will help,” she replied, her voice tight. “My father said he was a Christian, but if that’s what being a follower of Christ is…”

  “Sorry,” he mumbled, staring down at his empty plate. “I don’t know why I said that.”

  Lily sighed deeply. “That’s okay. It’s a something that people say when they don’t have anything else, but my father’s not a reasonable man. No one can change him.”

  Even after they’d parted, Tom couldn’t shake her words. She’d sounded so defeated that he could help but ask himself if there wasn’t something he could do.

  That night, Matthew was on rotation for guard again. It was going to be the first time that he would stand alone for the entire shift. The previous two times, Tom had stayed with him, and the boy had been extremely vigilant, refusing to sit the entire time. He was ready for this.

  “Now remember, if anything out of the ordinary happens, wake me up immediately. Fire the gun if you have to.”

  Matthew nodded solemnly, but Tom could see a stubborn glint in his eyes. He felt the boy would only wake him if absolutely necessary, so he reiterated his statement.

  “I know you want to be brave and take responsibility, but if something happens that you can’t control, if a wild animal wanders into the camp or any kind of intruder, don’t take it on yourself. It’s not a weakness to ask for help.”

  “No, sir,” he replied stoically. “I mean, yes, sir.”

  Tom smiled a little, but it was tinged with concern. He could see himself in this young man more than he would like. They both had to be so strong, so independent too early.