“You are right, Iris. I will do my best to find the right time to tell Mr. Grant the truth.”
Chapter Ten
Anne awoke early on the day Malcolm Carp was to arrive, and she still hadn’t found the right time to tell Morgan about knowing Carp or about her time in London. She had planned to tell him sooner than later, but the past week had gone by quickly with all they had needed to do to get the house ready.
If she didn’t tell him this morning, he would think her a coward, and he would be right. Unfortunately, though, by the time she had dressed and gotten to the dining room for breakfast, Morgan and Walt had left for town. Panic was her only excuse, that, and self-preservation. Now, all she could do was wait for their return to know her fate.
To take her mind off her impending doom, she double checked the house, beginning with the room for Malcolm. When she reached the kitchen, Iris, Mollie, and Morgan’s cook, Providencia were working on the lunch to be served to the men when they returned to the ranch with their English guest. The women worked well together laughing and talking about their tasks.
“May I help?”
Providencia answered, “Is going good, señora. We will serve a good lunch for you.”
“I know you will.” She smiled at the woman who had been with Morgan for a few years. “Since this all seems well in hand, I will go check the dining room.”
The table looked as fine as they could make it. She was sure the butler from Higby would not approve, but she had to admit the simplicity of having fewer crystal stems, china, and silverware was freeing. The chairs were all appointed, and the table decoration of ivy would do. Now, she just had to await her fate.
Morgan settled Mr. Carp onto the wagon seat and climbed up beside him. Walt had gotten the all-clear from Doc Harper, so he had retrieved his horse at the livery and had gone back to work at the marshal’s office. He hadn’t known what the Englishman would bring with him in the number of trunks and bags, but he had nearly as much as Anne. The wagon bed was fairly full.
Finally settled in for the drive to the ranch, he asked, “How was your trip? Were the seas smooth?”
“Relatively speaking.”
Just then, the left front wheel dipped into a hole causing the wagon to lurch. Morgan recovered control and said, “Probably smoother than this road we’re on.”
“Quite,” Carp agreed. “However, this is common for a dirt road. I am curious though about the odors that plague the area. Is this normal?”
“Unfortunately, it is, with the vast number of wells surrounding the town.” He slowed the horses to navigate a rough patch in the road, and then continued, “I think you’ll find the air is much better at the ranch.”
“Ah, more to look forward to. I have heard many stories, is this the wild west?”
Morgan grinned. “Not generally, but you wouldn’t know it from the influx of wildcatters and roughnecks. On January tenth, with the discovery of oil at Spindletop, any resemblance to normal left our little town for some time to come.
“Walt, our city marshal, was shot in a street fight a couple of weeks ago.”
“Then, this is the wild west in the truest definition.” He looked around and asked, “How much longer until we reach your ranch”
“We’ve actually been on ranch property for a few miles, but the house is just ahead there.”
Carp held onto the side and back of the wagon seat as the wagon traveled over some deep ruts in the road. “Well, it will be nice to get there and have a look.”
Morgan pulled the wagon to the front gate, tied off the reins, and jumped to the ground. He walked around the rear of the wagon and met Carp at the gate. Together, they walked to the porch. When the front door opened, he smiled and said, “Mr. Carp, this is my wife—”
“Lady Anne Medvale.” Carp gave a small bow and kissed her hand. “What are you doing in this God forsaken country?”
“Mr. Carp,” Anne said. “Welcome to Grant Ranch. Won’t you come in?”
Morgan stared from one to the other with his face hanging out. Why hadn’t she told him how well she knew Malcolm Carp, especially when he’d specifically asked her that day when Ranger Pike had come to the house? She’d had ample time to voice that tidbit of information. Why hadn’t she?
“This way, Malcolm, you can wash up for lunch,” Anne said, leading their guest to the washroom.
Morgan waited for her to return, and then he said, “You didn’t say how well you know our guest.”
“Oh, surely I mentioned it.”
“No, no you didn’t., and I demand you tell me now.”
Iris came to the living room. “Luncheon, my lady, Mr. Grant.”
“Thank you, Iris.”
Morgan followed Anne as she led the way into the dining room. Taking hold of her arm, he said, “Tell me how you know Carp.”
“I don’t intend to get into this right now.” She glanced around him and said, “Malcolm, please come in and have a seat.”
He watched her orchestrate the serving of their lunch knowing he’d made the right choice in marrying her for this specific guest and any other guests in the future. She was definitely accomplished in decorum and social settings, something he lacked.
He did, however need to feel he could trust her. He observed the exchange between the two of them through the meal, their banter about old times in England, and though they never mentioned anything specific about their past, he got the feeling there was much more to it than was being spoken about openly.
As soon as she returned from showing Carp to his room for the afternoon, he approached her. “Anne, come with me.”
“Morgan, I don’t have time, right now. I have to clean up and get ready to set the table for dinner.”
He took hold of her arm and ushered her outside onto the porch. When she tried to pull free of his grasp, he only tightened his grip. “We’ll talk here or in front of our guest where you can explain to me why you neglected to say how well you know him.”
She tried once again to break free of his grasp and said, “I will not be bullied. Now, let go of my arm.”
Morgan knew stubborn when he encountered it directly, so he let go and followed her as she took out across the front pasture.
Anne kept walking until she stopped against the fence surrounding another pasture. Their short walk hadn’t given her near enough time to work up her courage. She felt his eyes on her and finally, she jumped off the edge.
“Morgan, I haven’t told you everything about my past.”
“I know,” he said. “Or, at least, I assumed so. Why don’t you tell me now?”
She searched his eyes but saw nothing except kindness. She had to tell him everything, even the sordid mess with Mr. Smith.
“Two years ago, when my two younger sisters became engaged, my father began bringing suitors to dinner and the occasional hunt. You see, it’s the duty of a daughter to marry, and I think Pa-Pa believed I might never find a man who could handle me.” She grinned at him and said, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I have a bit of a stubborn streak.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up when he answered, “I’m starting to pick up on that.”
“Well, I decided a year ago I wasn’t going to let him dictate to me who I would spend the rest of my life with. One night, I ran away to London with Mr. Smith. He was prominent in government and was expected to be the next Prime Minister.”
“It sounds like a good match, what happened?”
She started to walk along the fence line to help her concentrate better on the conversation. “Unfortunately, after being at the hotel alone, with Mr. Smith in a room nearby, I found out he was married. He only wanted to keep me as his mistress.”
He stopped her with his hand on her arm. “Did he . . . touch you?”
“No, of course not! I was ruined just the same.” She continued with her story. “Pa-Pa came to London to fetch me home and forbade me to leave Higby Castle. Then one day, Mr. Ballard showed up for dinner. His family had m
oney and position in Boston society, so Pa-Pa brokered a deal for our marriage.
“The Ballard’s wanted the marriage to take place in Boston and, since Pa-Pa was so determined, he agreed to their terms. Once we arrived, I found out Mr. Ballard wasn’t the man I thought he was. I promptly called off the wedding and Pa-Pa closed my account at the bank when I refused to go back home. And that’s how I became a mail order bride.” Anne knew she had rambled, but her story was out now. A tremendous weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She wondered what he thought, but he just stood there staring off into the distance.
Finally, he spoke, “I have an idea, but first I need to know how Malcolm Carp figures into your story.”
“He doesn’t other than he is Mr. Smith’s cousin and I was afraid he would give away my past.”
Morgan reached for her hands and said, “Tomorrow we’re going into town to send a telegram to your mother and father. You’re going to tell them you’re married and invite them to visit. Your father will come around.”
“Do you think so?”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. “I guarantee it.”
Two months later, Anne rode next to Morgan in the new carriage he had bought to bring her parents to the ranch. They were due in today on the noon train. So much had happened since she had sent the telegram. First of all, he had been right about her father, and if she hadn’t listened to him, they might have remained forever estranged.
Mollie had moved back into the Mollie B with Marshal Walt Fountain as her star boarder and close companion. The woman became girlish and practically giddy when talking about their close relationship.
The most recent occurrence was Iris and her new romance with a certain Texas Ranger, Jim Pike. It didn’t appear she would be moving to live with her cousins in Dallas any time soon.
Morgan stopped the carriage at the depot, turned to her, and pulled her into his arms. “Are you happy, darlin’?”
“I am, truly.” She loved being held close to him, her very own Texas rancher. She leaned back a bit and said, “I saw Doc Harper a few days ago. He told me something that’s going to make you happy.”
“You think so?”
“Yes, in about seven months you’re going to be a father.” She held her breath when he didn’t answer right away. Boldly, for her anyway, she asked, “Aren’t you happy?”
He smiled in that way she loved about him. “I am, truly, m’lady.”
Thanks for reading my book.
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Acknowledgments
This book is dedicated to the Mail Order Brides, Ranchers, Oil Field Workers, and Law Enforcement Agencies, all who helped make Texas the great state she is today.
I wish to extend an extra special thank you to my critique partner, beta reader, and my wonderful editor.
About The Author
About Carra Copelin
I write contemporary and historical romances but, unlike so many other authors, I didn't write from childhood or read long into the night beneath the covers with a flashlight. I found romance novels as an adult. After reading about a million, I discovered numerous people residing in my head, all looking for a way onto the printed page.
I'm a member of Romance Writers of America, plus I'm a regular contributor to the blog, Smart Girls Read Romance.
My husband and I live in North Central Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where we enjoy our family and grandchildren. In addition to writing and researching, I enjoy my Bridge group, crochet, and tracking down our relatives through genealogy.
Also by Carra Copelin
Texas Code Series
CODE OF HONOR, Book One
THE LEGEND OF BAD MOON RISING
Brides of Texas Code Series Novellas
KATIE AND THE IRISH TEXAN, Book One
MATELYN AND THE TEXAS RANGER, Book Two
ANGEL AND THE TEXAN FROM COUNTY CORK, Book Three
FAITH AND THE TEXAS LAWYER, Book Four
Texas Holidays Series
LILAH BY MIDNIGHT
A Novella
A SANTA FOR CHRISTMAS
A Short Story
A BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS
A Short Story
A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS
A Short Story
American Mail-Order Brides Series
LAUREL: Bride of Arkansas, #25
Anthologies
A COWBOY TO KEEP
Mail Order Millennium
Brides of Beckham and Second Chances Crossover
Peggy L. Henderson
Chapter 1
Something’s come up, Sherri. I have to get back to the city right away.”
Sherri Stucki glanced up at her boyfriend, who stood halfway across the room with his cellphone in his hand. She pushed back the blanket she’d wrapped around her legs and stood from where she’d made herself comfortable on the leather couch facing the fireplace. A slight shiver passed through her from the chill in the room.
“But we just got here.” She walked up to Chad and wrapped her arms around his neck. “What’s so important that we have to leave? It’s at least two hours to drive back to the city.”
Chad smiled while extracting himself from her arms, and took a step back.
“We don’t have to leave,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I want you to stay here and enjoy the cabin, and I’ll come back as quickly as I can.”
Sherri’s brows rose. “You want me to stay here alone?” She glanced around the room. While she’d been at her father’s weekend cabin - in the middle of nowhere, deep the woods - plenty of times with friends, and even her family once, she’d never actually stayed here by herself. The last thing she wanted was to be alone. Wasn’t that the whole point of coming here with Chad?
“I was looking forward to spending the weekend with you.” Sherri stuck her lower lip out in a way that usually got her what she wanted from her father.
Chad laughed. “Don’t be so dramatic, Sherri. How old are you? It’ll only be overnight. I’ll be back tomorrow evening at the latest, and we can go on with our weekend plans.” He covered the distance between them and pulled her into an embrace. “What do you say? Can I borrow your car to get back to the city?”
Sherri fell against him, bringing her lips up to meet his. “Why can’t I go with you?”
Chad stiffened slightly. A frown replaced the quick smile. He seemed to hesitate before he answered. “The call was from work. There’s some kind of problem with one of the accounts, and I have to take care of it. There’s no sense for you to come along.”
“Why can’t you tell them you’ll look at it after the weekend? I thought this was supposed to be our time alone together, without interruptions.”
Chad stiffened, and the smile vanished. “It’s my job,” he said gruffly. “I was fortunate enough to land this position in the first place. I can’t just blow it off when my boss calls me.”
Sherri inhaled a deep breath rather than respond. A twinge of annoyance raced through her.
“Fine,” she snapped, and turned away from him. She and Chad had been dating for three months, and at first, he’d seemed different than the other guys, but now he was putting other things ahead of her, too . . . like everyone else.
“I suppose I can stay here all by myself for one night,” she grumbled.
“I’ll make it up to you.” Chad c
ame up behind her and planted a kiss against her neck. “I’ll be back as quick as I can. Tomorrow evening at the latest. I’ll call you when I get back to the city.”
He was already to the door when she turned. “You’d better not leave me stranded,” she called after him. The response was the cabin door slamming against the wooden frame.
Her shoulders slumped. Leaving her stranded was exactly what he was doing. She was alone in the woods, with no car to get her out of here. The closest neighbor was several miles away. This place was her father’s summer getaway when he needed to “decompress,” as he called it, from his high-stress job as a lawyer to the rich and famous. Not that he ever had time to decompress. He worked all the time. Only once while growing up had her parents spent a weekend with her, just the three of them, right here at this cabin.
Even then, her father had been busy making phone calls or locking himself away in the spare bedroom he’d used as an office. Mom hadn’t known what to do with Sherri all by herself, since they’d left the nanny at home.
Outside, her brand-new Corvette roared to life. Sherri stepped up to the window and glanced out. Chad put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway and onto the dirt road. When the vehicle swerved around the curve and became invisible through the dense trees and foliage of the forest, everything became eerily quiet all of a sudden.
Sherri sighed, and lumbered back to the couch, letting herself fall into the soft cushions. She pulled the blanket up over her head and closed her eyes. This weekend getaway had been too good to be true from the beginning. She’d already convinced herself over a week ago when she and Chad had made plans to come here that it would probably get cancelled. She’d been more than surprised that they’d actually made it here.
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