Crumpets & Cowpies: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Baker City Brides Book 1)

by Shanna Hatfield

  “The pastor of the parish will read the banns for the next three Sundays. I assure you it is quite necessary for your marriage. Since you aren’t British, I think we should also procure a common license, but it is tradition for banns to be read.”

  “But I planned to wrap up business and head for home as quickly as possible. I thought we could see a justice of the peace and be on our way.” Thane glanced over at his intended as Jemma’s teacup clanged against the saucer in her hand. She set down the cup with a look of horror on her face.

  Irritated by what he viewed as a pointless delay, he leaned back in his chair and ran a hand over his head. “Might I presume to be wrong in that assumption?”

  “Indeed,” Jemma said, glancing to Weston for confirmation. Rattled at the prospect of a hasty wedding as it was, she couldn’t imagine not holding it in the church she’d always attended. In addition, she wanted her friends around her as she pledged her troth to the insufferable, intriguing, handsome Mr. Jordan.

  “Please tell me this isn’t going to be a full-blown shindig. Can’t it be a quiet, small ceremony? We need to leave as soon as possible. I’ve got a ranch to run and can’t be gone any longer than absolutely necessary.” Thane ignored Jemma’s cool glare and turned his attention to Weston.

  “I believe the shindig, as you call it, is up to the lady to decide. Of course, with only a few weeks to plan, it will be a scaled down version of anything she may have hoped to carry out.” Weston smiled encouragingly at Jemma. “Do you have any specific ideas in mind, my dear?”

  “I started a list this morning, but I do think it proper to have a small celebration after the ceremony. I’m sure Catherine and Charles would be more than happy to host it at their home.”

  “Splendid idea, my dear.” Weston enthusiastically slapped his hand on the table. “Good show. Will you speak to them right away?”

  “I thought to call on them today and share the news.”

  “Who are Catherine and Charles?” Thane asked, dreading the social calls he’d be forced to endure until he could set foot on a boat bound for America.

  “Catherine is my dearest and oldest friend. She and her husband, Charles, also own several prosperous mills here in Bolton. His father is the Duke of Winterbury. Perhaps you noticed their home on the way to Henry’s office yesterday. It’s the stone manor just before you enter town.” Jemma tipped her head and gave Thane a smile that put him in mind of a cat waiting to pounce on a bird.

  “You mean the castle? Your friend lives at the castle?”

  “It’s not a castle, per se, but a very fine manor. Don’t you think, Weston?”

  Weston nodded in agreement. “Very fine, what? And such a lovely place for a gathering after your wedding. Yes, my dear, you should visit Catherine today. What will you do for a gown?”

  “I’m going to contact Madame Beauchene in London. She used to do all my gowns, before…” Jemma’s voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. “Please excuse me, sirs. I have much to attend today.”

  Thane and Weston both rose from the table as Jemma made a hasty exit. Once she left the room, Thane sank into his chair and rubbed a hand over his face.

  “I think we better skip going over Henry’s accounts today. You are going to tell me everything I need to know about this wedding and any other particulars that I need to wrangle with between now and the time we leave.”

  “Yes, yes, of course, Thane. Shall we venture into town? We have a multitude of details to cover in a very limited time.” Weston set down his napkin, motioning for Thane to precede him down the hall and out the door.

  Chapter Six

  “Lily, love, please do try to sit still.” Jemma bent down and whispered in the little girl’s ear. The child nodded and held perfectly still for almost a minute before she began squirming again.

  Jemma couldn’t blame the child. She wanted to squirm in her seat as well, but kept her back straight, posture impeccable, as they sat on the wooden pew at church.

  When Mr. Jordan appeared at the table that morning wearing a new suit as fine as any Henry possessed, it left her stunned and speechless. She had yet to recover from the shock of seeing him so well dressed. The cut of the suit emphasized his wide shoulders and muscled form while the gray color brought out smoky flecks in his blue eyes.

  Admiration filled her as she studied the gray topcoat with covered buttons and matching waistcoat, dark gray trousers, and starched short-collar shirt with tie. However, he hadn’t altogether abandoned his western manner, wearing his cowboy boots rather than dress shoes. At least he’d polished them.

  Even with his hair in need of a good cutting and his beard in need of a trim, he still looked handsome and quite dashing.

  As they walked into church that morning, Jemma put on a friendly smile and worked her way to their pew, ignoring all the whispers about the man who trailed behind her carrying Lily. Once they settled into their seats, Jemma made certain Lily sat between them while Jack insisted on sitting between Thane and Weston.

  The pastor began the service and Jemma tried to focus her attention on the sermon but found her thoughts and gaze drifting to Thane. Although he took great pleasure in upsetting her, she admitted he was good with the children. As Lily continued to fidget, he lifted the child and held her on his lap.

  Lily released a contented sigh and nestled against his chest. Within moments, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. The sight of the darling girl held so tenderly by the big man made Jemma smile and filled her with hope that she’d made the right decision.

  When the pastor read the banns at the closing of the service, she knew it was too late to change her mind.

  People she’d known for years rushed to her, offering their words of congratulations and surprise at not having met her intended. Most of the well-wishers realized the reason for the marriage when she introduced him as Henry’s brother.

  Some of the joy fled from the day for Jemma when a few of the women gave her sympathetic glances and softly spoken words of encouragement.

  Thane took one of her hands in his and carried Lily while Jack clung to Jemma’s other hand, making their way outside.

  As they strolled across the lawn toward the carriage, he leaned down and his warm breath stirred the tendrils of hair around her ear.

  “Buck up, ol’ girl. It could be worse. I could be a drunken, toothless degenerate, intent on having my way with you.”

  Offended by his words, she tugged Jack forward and climbed into the carriage with Weston’s assistance.

  Coolly glaring at Thane as he sat down, still cradling Lily, she wondered if she could find some way of putting him in his place. No doubt, it would only serve to encourage him to insult her further. She pressed her lips together and turned her focus to Charles and Catherine as they hurried their direction.

  “You almost left before we could say hello,” Catherine said, leaning into the carriage and smiling at Thane. “I’m Catherine. We’re so pleased to meet you. Henry and Jane were so dear to us and we look forward to having you take a meal or two with us before your wedding. I’m so excited you and our beloved Jemma are allowing us to host the ball after the ceremony.”

  Thane managed an appropriate response then shook Charles’ hand as he introduced himself.

  “We won’t keep you, my good man, but perhaps we could go riding or out on a hunt one day soon.” Charles offered him a friendly grin.

  “I look forward to it,” Thane said, finding the idea of a hunt appealing. “Maybe next week?”

  “Certainly, sir. I’ll send word with a date and time.”

  Charles escorted Catherine back to their waiting coach. Thane watched the couple depart as their carriage began the drive home. Lily awoke and chattered about the trolls that lived under the bridge, the fairies who danced in the daisies alongside the road, and the magician who lived in the gatehouse at Catherine and Charles’ manor.

  “He’s not a magician, Lily,” Jack said, tired of listening to his sister’s stories.

>   “He is. He made a coin fall out of my ear last time we visited Catherine. So there.” Lily stuck out her tongue at her brother and he reached out to grab it, making her squeal.

  “Hey, now. You two settle down.” Thane gave them a warning glance and they both quieted without question.

  He turned his gaze from the children to the expensive pants covering his legs. It was bad enough Weston had dragged him to a tailor and forced him to buy a new suit, two pairs of trousers, and half a dozen shirts along with a ridiculous top hat, he’d had to endure shaking hands and acting like the doting husband-to-be in front of everyone at church.

  Condemned by his own morals, he felt like a fraud and a hypocrite. He needed to go for a long ride to sort out his thoughts.

  The vicious yank he gave his tie loosened it as they walked inside the house. Jemma raised an eyebrow, informing him the pastor and his family would soon join them for lunch.

  Annoyed, Thane rolled his eyes then stood in front of the mirror in the hall, attempting to fix his tie. Not doing more than jumbling it into a knot, he turned around to find Jemma staring at him, shaking her head.

  “That will never do.” A step forward brought her so close Thane could see copper and amber embers in her eyes as she tugged out the knot he created and set about tying it properly.

  Thick eyelashes fluttered against her smooth cheeks while she worked. Her soft, womanly fragrance filled his nose and he glanced down, admiring the curved shape of her figure, covered by a peacock blue dress with intricately embroidered panels running down the length of the skirt. A matching hat covered her shiny auburn hair. A plume on the side of it batted his cheek with every movement of her head.

  “That is the proper way to wear your tie,” she said, patting his chest as she finished, then jerking her hand back as if she’d touched open flames.

  She started to walk down the hall toward the kitchen, but he grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. Her eyes shot up in surprise and she gazed at him uncertainly.

  “Thank you, Lady Jemma. If I didn’t mention it before, you look lovely today. That’s a very nice color on you.”

  Cheeks fused with hot color, she nodded her head. “Thank you, sir.” Gently pulling her hand away, she rushed down the hall and disappeared into the kitchen.

  Thane hung his Stetson on the hall tree, having refused Weston’s urging to wear the top hat. He decided to save it for his wedding to wear with the unbelievably expensive suit the tailor worked on altering. According to Weston, the wedding would be quite an affair, even if Jemma didn’t have much time to plan it.

  They agreed to wed the Monday after the final reading of the banns. The ceremony would take place in the late afternoon at the church with a dinner celebration planned at Catherine and Charles’ home following the ceremony. The next morning, they would travel to Liverpool and the following day board a boat for America.

  If he could get through the next three weeks, a boat ride across the ocean, a train trip across America, and an hour-long wagon ride to his ranch, life could return to normal.

  “I think perhaps I imagined the whole thing,” Jemma said, sipping a cup of tea as she and Catherine sat in the sunny drawing room.

  Catherine laughed and laid a hand on Jemma’s leg, patting it reassuringly. “I assure you even my active imagination couldn’t conjure up Thane Jordan.”

  Jemma frowned at her friend then both of them laughed.

  Since the reading of the banns the first Sunday in church, Jemma had hardly seen Weston or Thane. The two of them returned to Liverpool after the banns were read the second Sunday and had been gone all week. With the wedding just days away, Jemma grew more nervous and apprehensive with every passing moment.

  As though she could read her mind, Catherine put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a comforting hug. “You’re doing the right thing, Jem. The children need to know their uncle, but they also need you with them. It’s a brave thing for you to leave behind your life here and venture off to America with a man you’ve barely met.”

  “And not entirely sure I like.” Jemma recalled the times she’d conversed with Thane since his arrival at the cottage. He never failed to irk her, insult her, or leave her perplexed and disconcerted.

  “Are you blind, my friend? What’s not to like about the American? He’s tall, handsome, strong, and rugged. Half the girls at the parish are hoping he’ll take a fancy to them before you two wed.”

  “They are not!” Jemma glared at Catherine, noticing her friend’s teasing smile.

  Catherine took a dainty bite of a lemon tart and a sip of tea before answering. “Perhaps not, but he has caught the attention of most of the women. Charles and I are both impressed with him.”

  “That’s because he treats you both with respect and courtesy.” Jemma refreshed her tea and furiously stirred in a dollop of cream. “I find him to be boorish, crass, and most often obnoxious.”

  Instead of responding, Catherine continued sipping her tea, trying to hide her grin.

  Irritated, Jemma set her teacup and saucer on the table, knotted her napkin between her hands, and released a worried sigh. “What if he turns out to be a fraud? What if he’s a womanizing drunkard who hates children and leaves us with nothing?”

  Catherine laughed again then took note of Jemma’s serious expression. “My darling girl, I do believe in the time he’s been here, if he was any of those things, someone would have noticed. Weston speaks quite highly of him and they’ve spent most every day together. Moreover, didn’t you sell some of your paintings and statuary so you’d have your own money, in the event something untoward happened?”

  “Yes, I did. Fortunately, Weston and Mr. Jordan have been gone so much they haven’t noticed anything missing from the house. Besides, I’ve been busy packing. I hope if they do find something amiss, they’ll think I’m planning to take it along.”

  Catherine’s gaze fell to a trio of trunks Jemma had filled with various things from the drawing room she just couldn’t bear to leave behind. “Did Mr. Jordan give you a limit on the number of trunks you can take?”

  “I asked in generic terms what I could take and received his approval for my request.” Jemma stared at her lap, aware that she’d been somewhat vague and misleading with Thane. If she gave him a detailed list of everything she planned to take, he’d refuse the majority of it.

  “Jem, you do realize everything you pack will have to be freighted to Liverpool, put on a ship, then freighted to a train, then somehow taken out to his ranch. From what I heard he and Charles discussing, his cabin, as he called it, is quite small. Where do you think you’ll put everything?” Catherine gave her friend a concerned glance.

  “I don’t know, but there are some things I just can’t leave behind. I just can’t.” Jemma dabbed at the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. After inhaling a calming breath, she straightened her shoulders. “Perhaps I got carried away, but I don’t know what else to do.”

  “Come on, Jem.” Catherine rose to her feet and held out a hand to her friend. “Let’s review what you’ve already packed and what else you plan to take. I’m sure we can narrow it down a bit while still making sure you have everything you need. There’s still time to sell a few things if you continue to refuse to take the funds I offered.”

  “Of course I refuse to take any money from you and Charles. You’ve already done far too much, especially hosting the dinner for our wedding. I won’t take anything else from you except your friendship, advice, and a promise to write to me in America.”

  Catherine sniffled and wrapped a hand around Jemma’s waist as they strolled down the hall to the front parlor where Greenfield left the packed trunks. “I’m going to miss you, my dear friend, but Thane has already provided me with his address, so at least I’m assured of a means of staying in touch with you. It will take such a dreadfully long time for a letter to reach you, though. I understand there is a telegraph office in Baker City so if an emergency arises, we at least have that as a faster mo
de of communication.”

  “When did you find out so much about Baker City? Thane has hardly spoken a dozen words about the place I’m soon to call home.”

  “He and Charles went for a ride last week then he stayed for luncheon. That’s when I decided you could do far worse than marrying Henry’s brother. He has the most marvelous eyes, don’t you think?”

  Jemma grinned at her friend’s teasing and opened a trunk so they could sort through the contents.

  Nervously standing beside Weston, Jemma jumped when he patted her hand as it rested on his arm.

  He bent down to whisper in her ear. “You’re a beautiful bride, Lady Jemma. It’s a true honor to walk you down the aisle.”

  Jemma took in a tight, frightened breath. “Thank you, Weston, for this, and for always being so helpful. I appreciate all you’ve done for us and will miss you greatly.”

  “Now, now, my dear. Let’s get you married to Mr. Jordan and we’ll worry about maudlin goodbyes another day.” Weston gave her a lopsided grin, making her smile.

  Jemma reached up and adjusted her veil then fluffed the train behind her before nodding to Weston. The two of them walked up the aisle. She raised her gaze to the man waiting to become her husband and almost tripped as she took in his appearance.

  Dressed in a black tailcoat of the finest fabric with matching trousers, the fitted jacket accented Thane’s muscular form. A white silk brocade waistcoat topped a white shirt with a stand-up collar accented by a white silk bow tie. Despite his formal dress, Thane wore his cowboy boots.

  Although surprised by his finely made and exact-fitting suit, his hair and face gave her a moment of pause. He’d finally gone to a barber. Gone were the long, shaggy locks she’d grown accustomed to seeing. He’d carefully combed his short, thick hair into place.

  Even more shocking were his freshly shaved cheeks, revealing a face more handsome than she could have imagined. He smirked at her and twin brackets framed his mouth, calling her attention to his generous lips.