by Joyce Alec
“Of course!” he replied, his eyes still twinkling at her. “I know just how much you love the countryside.”
It was true, of course. While Catherine did enjoy the hubbub of the town, nothing quite compared to the quiet loveliness of the country.
“I thought you might also like to be close to your parents,” he continued, surprising her still further. “Given that my estate borders your father’s, it means that we will be close to them and able to see them whenever you wish it.”
“Oh, Linton!” Catherine whispered, her eyes blurring with sudden tears. “I can hardly believe it!”
He chuckled, pressing her hand a little. “No doubt you thought I would wish to remain in the town, close to the things I love.”
“I did,” Catherine admitted, brushing away her tears with her fingers. “I even said so to Mama. I thought you would wish to remain where all the excitement can be found.”
Linton shook his head, his eyes serious. “No, Kitty. I chose you, which means I chose to live in a way that would please you. And, for what it is worth, I do not believe living in the country to be any kind of penalty. I think that life will be quite exciting enough with you by my side.” Seeing a small path leading between various rosebushes, Linton led her in that direction, and the air was soon filled with beautiful scents.
“Does it please you?” Linton asked, stopping her in their walk and turning her so that she had no choice but to look into his eyes. His eyes searched hers, a small line of worry creasing his forehead.
“Does it please me that you are doing whatever you can to make me happy?” Catherine asked, astonished that he would worry about such matters. “Of course it does! It does surprise me, yes, but I am more than delighted to know that we will be living so close to my parents. I had not considered until earlier today just how much I would miss them.”
Linton smiled, the worry gone from his expression in a moment. “I am glad to hear it,” he said. “I do not want you to ever doubt the affection I have for you.”
Catherine followed his hand with her eyes, her fingers suddenly itching to be where his were, delving into the thick locks of his brown hair. Heat rushed into her cheeks at the thought, her heart beating almost painfully as he moved closer to her, his hands now resting gently around her waist.
“I must be honest with you,” he continued, his voice quiet. “I want you to know how I feel before we go into the church to become man and wife.”
“Speak freely, please,” Catherine replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as she could despite the hurrying of her heart. She looked up into his face inquiringly, wondering to herself when he had become so handsome.
“I love you, Kitty.”
Her world stopped turning at his words. Stars began to sparkle in her vision as she saw the earnestness in his expression, becoming painfully aware that her feelings went in much the same direction.
“I believe I have loved you all my life,” he went on, his hands now a little tighter around her waist. “I threw myself into all these vices, trying to drown out your quiet voice in my head, trying to kill the love I held for you in my heart, but it has proved entirely impossible.” Dropping his head, Catherine saw Linton’s gaze move to her lips before returning to her eyes once more. “I can only apologize for all the hurt and pain I have caused you, and I promise you that, from this day forward, I will love you with all that I have, never preventing myself from feeling such a way as I have done in the past.”
Letting out a long breath, Catherine closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself.
“Kitty?” he asked, the quietness in his voice replaced with concern. “Have I upset you?”
“Upset me!” she exclaimed, her eyes opening at once. “No, you have not. It is just that I have been tormented in much the same way.”
As she watched his face, she saw his expression turn from worry to a slow dawning understanding, his features coming alive with happiness.
“I cannot say when this came about, and it certainly has not been as of long standing as your own feelings,” Catherine admitted, a sense of peace washing over her, “but I have to confess that I think I love you in return.” It was as though saying it aloud, even to herself, brought about a deep relief.
“I see,” Linton replied hoarsely. “I cannot believe this. I…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I never thought this would happen to me. I feel as though I am not worthy of you.”
“You are proving yourself worthy with every day that passes,” Catherine whispered, boldly stepping forward and putting her arms around his neck, her fingers threading into his hair. “You are not to torment yourself with such a thought any longer. You wish to make me happy, and I find that I wish to do the same for you. I know now that our marriage will be one filled with all the love and affection I once longed for.”
Catherine saw him swallow once, twice, before his eyes closed and he held her tightly. She rested her head on his shoulder, peace running through her. This was where she was meant to be. This was where she belonged.
“I love you, Kitty,” Linton murmured, his lips searching for hers.
Catherine smiled gently, ready to close the distance between them. “And I love you, Linton,” she murmured, just as she pressed her lips to his.
Westward for Love
Mail Order Bride
Westward for Love
Text Copyright © 2018 by Ruby Hill
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
First printing, 2018
Publisher
Love Light Faith, LLC
400 NW 7th Avenue, Unit 825
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
1
Colorado 1869
“Get yourself out here!”
Annie shuddered violently, keeping her back to the door.
“You ain’t got any other choice!”
Closing her eyes, Annie tried to let out a long, slow breath, but it shuddered out of her, shaking her body from limb to limb. She was afraid. More than that, she was terrified. This man did not give up.
The door rattled, and Annie was forced to swallow her scream. He was doing everything he could to get her out of the house, and every time he tried, the attempts grew all the more violent.
“The pastor’s waiting, Annie. We’re gonna get hitched.”
Shaking her head, Annie wrapped her arms around her knees and held herself tightly. This wasn’t what she’d imagined would ever happen when she’d come to Fair Springs three months ago as a mail order bride. Now she was left cold, empty, and entirely alone.
“It’s only right, Annie!” came the furious voice from outside the door. “This is my place and you know it!”
Just breathe, she told herself, squeezing her eyes closed as her heart began to hammer violently in her chest, her brown curls tumbling about her shoulders. Just breathe through the fear. He’ll be gone soon enough.
Even though she’d closed the shutters and locked her door tight, Annie was always afraid that, one day, he’d find a way inside. He’d never once threatened to smash a window and climb inside, but she was sure that, one day soon, he might do just that. He was desperate enough, and everyone in this small town was terrified of him. Especially when he was in a drunken rage.
There came some more shouts, some more anger, and then, finally, the rattling of her door stopped. His footsteps moved away from the house, mutterings still pouring out from his mouth as he descended. Annie drew in a long, steadying breath – only for something hard and huge to slam against the door.
He’d tried to ram his way through the loc
ked door. She screamed as he hit it hard again, clearly slamming his full body weight against the door, but to her very great relief, the door held.
“I’ll get you yet, Annie!” he roared, shaking the door handle violently. “One day soon, you mark my words! And it’ll be all the worse for you since you’ve gone on and refused me.”
She didn’t deny it. In fact, she knew full well that in refusing the oaf and bully that was Simon Hartford, she was making her future very bleak indeed. The problem was, she just couldn’t bring herself to accept him.
Her body was racked with weakness as she tried to stand up but found her legs entirely unwilling to hold her up. Letting herself sink back down to the floor, Annie felt the hot tears come to her eyes, closing her eyes tightly as she rested her head on her knees. Moisture soaked the fabric of her old dress, but she didn’t make a single sound. She couldn’t allow herself to do that, not if he was still out there. Somehow, she hoped he believed her gone from the house, as she fought back the tears and her growing terror with every word that came from his mouth.
There was nothing but silence. It had been a good few minutes now. Perhaps that meant that, finally, he was gone.
Tears ran down her cheeks as, with an effort, she pushed herself to her feet. Moonlight streamed in through the chinks in the door, reminding her of just how dark things were. She knew she wouldn’t sleep much for the rest of the night. It would be another fitful sleep, another few hours of tossing and turning until the first fingers of dawn crept across the sky, bringing her relief.
Managing to make her way to the kitchen without too much difficulty, Annie set a kettle on the stove before sinking into the only soft chair she possessed. The chair that had been her husband’s. The chair that she now could call her own.
Leaning one elbow on the table, Annie tried to clear her mind of all her trembling thoughts and think clearly about what she could do. It hadn’t been the first time she’d sat here like this, and even though she tried over and over, nothing new came to her. She was like a wild animal surrounded by hunters. There was no way out.
The kettle began to steam gently, and getting up to make herself a pot of tea, Annie wiped back the rest of her tears with the back of her hand, sniffing as she did so. There was nothing worse than feeling so entirely alone.
It was not meant to be like this. She’d come from the only home she’d ever known, a shack miles away from any kind of town, in order to be a mail-order bride. When her papa had died, he’d left her the shack and the land with it, but she’d sold it just as soon as she could. There had been nothing to keep her there. The land was hard, the soil almost barren—even though she and her father had poured years of hard work into it. How they’d managed to keep themselves going for so long, she still wasn’t quite sure.
She’d known full well she’d not be able to stay there alone, a single, unmarried woman, miles away from any other kind of civilization. Her father had loved the solitude but being on her own had frightened her. She’d picked the first advertisement she’d seen that had offered her a new life, packed her bags, and made her way out to Fair Springs.
Paul Hartford had been older than she’d been expecting, although he’d not given much away in his advertisement. Thankfully, he’d not turned away from her even though she had calloused hands, blue eyes—which were rather small— sunburned cheeks, and brown hair that flew in all directions no matter what she tried to do. He’d thanked her for coming out all this way, and they’d been married that very afternoon. She’d never really been attracted to him, given that he’d been close in ages with her father, but thankfully that side of the marriage hadn’t been something he’d sought. It turned out Paul Hartford had only wanted a companion. Someone to be with him during the day and the night, someone to cook and clean and generally take care of the place whilst he went on out to work.
It had suited Annie wonderfully.
The four months they’d spent together had been pleasant enough, and Annie had felt herself slowly settling into her new life. In fact, she’d even thanked God for it numerous times, thinking that things couldn’t get any better for someone like her.
The only cloud in her happiness had been the presence of Simon Hartford, Paul’s only son. Paul had explained that his wife had died some years ago, and it had been Simon and Paul together ever since. Simon had decided to find a place of his own and had moved further into the town of Fair Springs, whilst Paul remained in his own house on the outskirts. He told Annie that he liked it that way, and Annie, just being glad that she was finally part of a community, had agreed. However, as the days and months had passed, it became clear that Paul and Simon were not close. In fact, Paul had finally managed to explain that there was a good deal about Simon that upset him. Simon was nothing more than a bully, a violent, arrogant man, who seemed to like it when others were fearful of him. Paul had tried to speak to him about it a couple of times, but it hadn’t managed to make a single bit of difference to his son’s behavior.
Even though Paul and Simon were meant to run the blacksmith shop together, Paul had often come home completely exhausted, telling Annie that Simon hadn’t appeared at all, all day. Annie had been upset with Simon for treating his older father that way, for claiming the money for work he’d had nothing to do with – and had told Paul so. What had happened after that had sparked a series of events that had brought her to where she was now.
Sighing again, Annie passed a hand over her eyes and felt guilt nag at her soul, pushing down heavily onto her shoulders.
Perhaps…if she’d never said anything…
Perhaps…if she’d kept her thoughts to herself, then things might now be very different.
But you know how Simon is, said a quiet voice in her heart. You know he wants to have things his own way.
When Paul had suddenly and unexpectedly died one day, working hard at the blacksmith shop only to collapse in front of the furnace, Annie had felt her world turn in on itself. To discover then that Paul had made a new will, where she kept the house and a large portion of Paul’s wealth, had been a huge relief even though she’d had no idea he was such a wealthy man. Unfortunately, even though Simon had received the bulk of the money and the ownership of the blacksmith’s shop, it hadn’t been enough for him. He’d wanted more. He wanted her. That way, he could have the house and the rest of the money, as well as a warm body to do with as he pleased. It was all Annie could do to refuse him.
Shuddering violently at what would happen to her if he ever managed to break into her house, Annie added a spoonful of sugar to her tea and drank it quickly. There was nowhere else for her to go. Even though Paul had left her enough money to live on for the rest of her days so long as she was careful, it wasn’t enough to find a new home somewhere else. Besides, she couldn’t be sure that Simon wouldn’t come on after her, determined to get what he thought to be his.
The townsfolk were all afraid of him, and since there was no sheriff around these parts, there was no one she could turn to. It didn’t help that Simon chose to try to break into her house at night, making sure to leave her alone during the day. Being a little bit out of town meant that no one saw him, no one heard him, and no one came to stop him.
What am I supposed to do?
Simon didn’t go near her during the day. In fact, if they ever came across one another in the street, he was always polite, touching his hat and smiling at her with an almost kind expression. He was goading her, as though he knew that she couldn’t do anything to stop him. She’d spoken to a couple of her friends and their husbands, but there had been nothing but a shrugging of the shoulders and a mutter of apology. Being the only blacksmith for miles around brought its advantages. No one could afford for Simon to turn them away. He had power; he had control; and sooner or later, he was going to find a way to break her.
Tears slipped down her cheeks, splashing onto the table. One even fell into her teacup as she tried to pour herself another cup of sweet tea. Everywhere she looked, everywhere she turne
d, she couldn’t see a way out. There was nothing for her to do other than endure and try her best to think of something – anything – she could do to stand up to Simon.
And yet, with every night, there came more fear. There came more terror, more doubt, more overwhelming loneliness. She had nothing and no one. There was no hope. Sooner or later, Simon would get what he wanted.
Her.
2
“Evening, Mrs. Hartford.”
Annie managed a small smile. “Annie, please.”
Old Mr. Stewart smiled back at her, his wrinkled face betraying years of being out in the blazing sunshine. “Might I help you with something?”
Pressing her lips together for a moment, Annie looked at him steadily. “I think we’re needing a sheriff around these parts, Mr. Stewart.”
Mr. Stewart frowned, although his light blue eyes were vibrant with interest. “A sheriff, you say?”
“Yes, I think so,” she continued quickly. “I don’t know who else to ask, Mr. Stewart, but you’re one of the important men of the town, and I thought…” Mr. Stewart owned a ranch just outside Fair Springs, but it was doing so well that he didn’t need to do much other than keep an eye on things. His son ran it, really, along with the men they’d hired to work alongside him. He had a good deal of sway in town matters, and she had no idea who else to turn to.
“You’re still having trouble with that boy, are you?” Mr. Stewart asked, sympathetically. “Is that what all of this is about?”
Biting her lip, Annie gave a sharp nod, her eyes darting about to ensure Simon wasn’t nearby somewhere, listening.
“And folks here can’t help you, is that right?”
“Of course they can’t!” Annie exclaimed, with a little more gusto than she had first intended. “The man terrifies them.”
