Daisy accompanied her mother and sister up the stairs to their rooms, a smile on her lips. She loved how Eli was handling her mother. She could think of no way that would be better.
Once they reached the room, Mary turned to Daisy. “I don’t like him.”
Daisy shrugged. “I’m sorry, Mama, but I do like him.” She was surprised to hear the words come out of her mouth, because she’d never really stood up to her mother before. She wished her aunt was there to back her up like she had in Seattle, but Eli would back her up when he returned.
Mary shook her head. “So you liked that he grabbed you and mauled you as soon as he met you?”
“She looked like she was enjoying herself,” Jasmine said.
“He didn’t maul me, Mama,” Daisy said, ignoring her younger sister as usual. “He kissed me. We’re going to be married soon, and he has every right to kiss me if he wants to.”
“He looked like he was trying to glue the two of you together,” Jasmine said. “What did it feel like when he stuck his tongue in your mouth? Did you like it?”
Mary looked at Jasmine. “Hush now.”
Jasmine shrugged. “Well I want to know.”
Mary turned back to Daisy. “A man who will those that kind of liberties as soon as he meets a woman isn’t respecting her enough.”
Daisy shook her head. “He’s thinking of me as his wife already. I like him.” She wasn’t willing to listen to any more criticism of him. She was marrying Eli, and that’s all there was to it.
“I can’t talk you out of marrying him, can I?”
“No, you can’t. I came here to marry Eli, and that’s what I’m going to do. I like him, and I want to stay here with him.”
Mary sighed. “Then at least wait for a day or two. We’ll get to know him a little better, and then you can marry him.”
Eli stood outside the door, waiting to hear what Daisy would say. He’d made it clear to her what he wanted, so he wanted to know what she would say to her mother. Her voice rang out strong. “I promised to marry him today, Mama. I’m sorry that you don’t like it, but I’m a grown woman, and I’m marrying him.”
Eli grinned and stepped into the room. “I have your luggage, ma’am.”
Daisy turned to him and smiled. “My trunks are being stored at the general store. I have clothes to change into today in my mother’s things.”
Eli nodded. “I’ll give you an hour to get ready while I go to the store and get your trunks loaded onto my wagon.” His eyes met Daisy’s. “Is an hour long enough for you?” He obviously only cared about Daisy’s opinion and not the others.
Daisy nodded at the same time as her mother said, “Not nearly!”
Eli smiled. “I’ll be back in an hour then.” He whistled happily as he left the room, heading straight for the mercantile. He was thrilled with his little bride.
Back in the room, Daisy put her wedding gown on and sat at the small vanity fixing her hair, ignoring her mother’s pleas for her to change her mind. Jasmine’s eyes were dancing with mischief as she pulled her gown over her head. It took Mary a few minutes to realize her arguments were not being heard, and she changed herself. “Daisy, we forgot to bring daisies for you to carry! You can’t get married without daisies.”
Daisy shrugged. She did like the flower she was named after, but not enough to not marry because she didn’t have them. “It’ll be fine, Mama. I won’t be any less married for lack of daisies.” Daisy giggled softly.
“What’s so funny?” Mary asked.
“Just the way I said that made me think of the word lackadaisical. And that’s how I feel about my lack of daisies.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “You aren’t as witty as you think you are!”
Mary chuckled. “I think she’s very funny.” They all hurried around the room dressing. Once Mary was ready, she helped Daisy with her hair. “Why do none of my girls give me any real time to plan a wedding?” She looked at Jasmine. “You’re giving me a good six months to plan your wedding. Do you hear me?”
Jasmine shrugged. “However long it takes.”
Mary sighed. “Three days. You’re going to give me three days, aren’t you?”
“I’ll do my best to give you at least that long, Mama.”
“If you give me a whole six months and marry a man in Seattle, you’ll be my favorite daughter forever.”
Daisy’s face split into a grin. She’d thought a lot about getting rid of her status as a “flower” and how much she’d miss her family, but she hadn’t yet realized that she was done with Jasmine. She would only have to put up with her on the rare occasion now.
Jasmine shrugged. “I don’t need to be your favorite daughter, as long as I’m not your least favorite. I’m sure Daisy just got herself classified as least favorite by moving to Montana, so I’m good!”
Mary sighed, pushing the last pin into Daisy’s hair. “We really do need daisies for your hair.”
Jasmine walked to a trunk and opened it, pulling a bouquet of daisies from it. “I went to the florist and got these right before we left yesterday. They traveled well.”
Daisy stared at the flowers in her sister’s hands in shock. “You got me daisies?” What was she up to? There had to be an ulterior motive.
Jasmine shrugged. “I didn’t think anyone else would remember.”
“That was really thoughtful. Thank you, Jasmine.” Daisy knew her voice betrayed her surprise, but she couldn’t stop it.
“I can be thoughtful sometimes, too!” Jasmine protested.
Mary took one of the daisies from Jasmine and carefully pressed it behind Daisy’s ear. “And you can carry the rest.” She beamed at Jasmine. “That was very thoughtful. I’m proud of you, Jasmine.”
Daisy watched her sister wondering what she was up to. Daisy didn’t do nice things just to do nice things. Ever. There was something up her sleeve. There had to be. She started at a knock on the door, pressing her hand to her stomach to try to settle her nerves. She was about to marry her handsome Eli. Was she ready to be a wife?
She hurried to open the door while Jasmine and Mary stood back and watched. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek with his hand. She smiled up at him, so happy that he was the kind of man she’d always longed for in a husband. Why else would he be so gentle? He was perfect!
Eli stared down at the pretty woman in front of him. How had he been so lucky to get a woman like her as a mail order bride? He kept looking behind him, wondering where his real bride was. There was no way this woman could have been a mail order bride. Were all the men in Seattle blind or something?
He cleared his throat. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, taking the rest of the flowers from her mother. “I’m ready.”
“You really should wear a coat. It’s cold out.”
“How far is it?” she asked. She knew it was vain, but she didn’t want to cover her pretty dress. If she was only going to wear it once, then she wanted her time in it to count.
“It’s a five minute walk from here.”
“I can go without,” she told him. She wasn’t sure that she could, but she was certainly going to try. Just the short walk from the train station had her nose completely numb.
“We’ll bring it, just in case,” he told her, his eyes never leaving hers.
Mary and Jasmine put their own coats on, but they understood Daisy’s vanity. She was normally the most down to earth of all of them, except maybe Lily, but her dress was beautiful. Mary picked up Daisy’s coat and folded it over her arm. “I’ve got it.”
Eli nodded at Mary. “Thank you.” Looking back down at Daisy, he whispered, “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.”
Daisy smiled. “Thank you.” She had no other words to say. She was too busy staring at her future husband.
They walked the short distance to the preacher’s house with his arm wrapped securely around Daisy. She barely felt the cold, held against him as she was. He knocked on the preacher’s door and opene
d it wide. “I was expecting you a while ago, Eli!” The older man sounded like he was annoyed that Eli had taken so long to arrive.
“Sorry about that, sir. I wasn’t expecting my future mother-in-law and sister-in-law on the train as well as my bride. I had to make some quick arrangements to see to their comfort.”
The preacher nodded, smiling at Jasmine and Mary. “I see. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“This is my bride, Daisy. Her mother, Mary, and her sister, Jasmine.” Eli made the introduction smoothly. “Ladies, this is Pastor Williams.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Mary said with a nod, not offering her hand.
They were invited into his home, and he had Eli and Daisy stand in front of the others side by side. The wedding service was short and to the point. When Pastor Williams told Eli he could kiss the bride, Eli pulled Daisy to him and kissed her with all the passion built up inside him. He was going to be taking this pretty woman home and making love to her that night. He couldn’t wait.
Daisy clung to his shoulders as he kissed her, surprised when his tongue touched hers. She wasn’t sure if it was proper for him to kiss her that way as a wedding kiss, but she was certain her mother wouldn’t think so. She liked it, though. She liked everything about him. She moved closer to him, and tilted her head to the side to kiss him back better.
Mary cleared her throat, trying to get them to stop once again. She looked at the preacher and sighed. “Daisy, that’s enough.”
Daisy blushed, pulling away from Eli. Soon he’d be kissing her without her mother watching, and as nervous as she was about that, she also couldn’t wait. Her eyes stayed on his, and she felt a flood of warmth in her belly. How could she be so drawn to a man she’d only known for a couple of hours?
Eli shook hands with the pastor and thanked him for marrying them. He led the three women outside. This time, Daisy accepted her coat. He was almost disappointed, because it was another layer he’d have to try to touch her through.
They all walked back toward the hotel. “Is there a restaurant where we can have a proper wedding lunch?” Mary asked.
Eli sighed. He’d been hoping he could take her family back to their hotel and run off with his new bride. He could see that wasn’t happening, though. “Yes, there’s a restaurant across the street from the hotel.” He led the woman there, his arm still firmly around Daisy’s waist.
They got to the restaurant and were led to a table. Daisy sat quietly beside Eli, while her mother peppered him with questions. “How long have you been ranching?”
“Eight years. I came out here as a homesteader when I turned eighteen.”
Mary made a face. “I thought you had to be twenty-one to homestead.”
Eli shrugged. “I told them to put me down as twenty-one. They didn’t ask any questions.” He had been doing a man’s job for several years by then, and he wasn’t ashamed of what he’d done. He’d worked hard and was proud of his accomplishments.
Mary shook her head. “So your land isn’t really yours? You lied to the government?”
“The land is mine. I’ve been on it for eight years.” He kept Daisy’s hand in his firm grip. How long would he have to put up with these people before he could take his bride home?
“How many rooms does your house have?”
Eli shrugged. “Does it really matter?”
Mary sat up straight. “My daughter was raised to be a lady. It matters to me.” Daisy wanted to throttle her mother at that, but she held her tongue.
“There are three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a parlor.”
“You don’t have an indoor bathroom?”
He shook his head. “No one in these parts does, ma’am. Maybe someday.”
Daisy didn’t like the idea of living without the convenience she’d always known, but she knew she could. The school she’d attended hadn’t had an indoor toilet either, and she knew how to use an outhouse. It wouldn’t kill her.
“You’ll need to put one in as soon as possible,” Mary told him. “Daisy has never lived anywhere without a bathroom.”
He looked at Daisy, startled for a moment. It hadn’t really occurred to him that he’d married a girl who came from wealth before that moment. She was so pretty that he’d been blind to everything else about her. “Do you mind?” he asked softly.
Daisy shook her head with a smile. “I’d like one eventually, of course, but my life won’t end because I have to use an outhouse.”
He smiled at her, thrilled she didn’t mind. “I’m awfully lucky that you were the woman who stepped off that train.” He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them.
Mary shook her head. “Do you think you can keep your hands off my daughter long enough for us to all eat lunch?” she asked.
“No, ma’am. I don’t think there’s any way I can do that. If it offends you, I’m happy to take my bride back to my house now, and let you and your other daughter eat.” The slight emphasis he put on the word “my” made Mary shake her head.
“You’re an insolent young man.”
Eli laughed. “No, I’m just happy that my bride is finally here with me. I’ve waited a long time to finally meet her.”
Their food came to the table then, and Eli was forced to relinquish Daisy’s hand so they could both eat. They still stared into one another’s eyes the whole time, and Mary kept tsking at them and shaking her head.
Once the meal was done, Mary asked Eli what they were going to do next. He’d had enough. “I’m not sure what you and Jasmine are going to do, ma’am, but my bride looks like she needs a nap. She was on a train all night, and I have a feeling she didn’t sleep well.” He led them back across the street to the hotel. “I’m taking her home with me.” He tipped his hat to Mary and Jasmine. “It was nice meeting you. I hope you have a safe trip back to Seattle.” He waited as Daisy hugged her mother and sister before helping her up onto the wagon seat.
Mary stood gaping at him. “You mean to tell me you’re not going to let me see my daughter again before I go back to Seattle? I need to see where she’ll live at least.”
Eli nodded, understanding that she would want to see Daisy the following day. He could be a crazed man who would hurt her daughter on their wedding night. “I’ll come at ten in the morning to get you so you can see the house and that I’ve not killed her. You may stay for lunch, and then I’ll drive you back to town.” He climbed into the seat beside Daisy. “Sleep well.” He drove out of town without another word.
Daisy was giggling softly as they reached the outskirts. “Mama really doesn’t like you.”
He laughed. “She would have stayed for a month, wouldn’t she?”
Daisy nodded. “She doesn’t know you. My oldest sister married someone Mama didn’t know very well, but she knew him a great deal better than she knows you. And my sister stayed in Seattle. I married you and moved to Montana of all places.”
He wrapped his arm securely around her waist and brought her up beside him. “I’m glad you did!” He smiled down at her, happy they were finally alone.
She smiled, rubbing her face against his arm. “Me too.”
He kissed the top of her head, which was the only part of her that he could reach as he made the long cold drive out to his ranch. They’d had a few warm days and no snow since, so the land around them wasn’t covered in pretty snow as it usually was. Instead, it was a dull brown that wasn’t very interesting. “Usually this time of year, everything is covered with snow. It’s beautiful to look at.”
“I love how everything looks covered with snow.”
“So do I.” He smiled down at her. “You obviously came from a wealthy family. Do you know how to cook?” He held his breath as he asked her the question. He was so sick of his own cooking, he couldn’t stand it. He existed on beef jerky, bacon, and eggs. There was nothing else in his diet unless he bought a pie or some bread while he was in town, but he rarely went to town to get those things.
She nodded. “We had servants to cook and clean a
t home, but Mama made sure we all knew how to sew. I’ve spent the last three years volunteering at a shelter for abused women, though, so I know how to cook and clean as well.”
“Good. That will be necessary out here.”
“I know. My aunt and I talked about whether or not I had the kind of skills I’d need to be your wife.” She blushed as she thought of everything being a wife entailed. Amaryllis had talked to her about what her wedding night would be like, and she was grateful. Her mother had given her the basics, but nothing more. Amaryllis had been a great deal more forthcoming with details. Daisy was nervous about the things that would happen, but she knew if she could do them with anyone, she could do them with Eli. She’d never been attracted to a man before.
She looked everywhere as they drove, interested in her new home. It took around an hour to get to the ranch, and he hurried around to help her down. When her feet were touching the ground, he leaned forward and kissed her again. This time she opened her mouth readily for his invading tongue, knowing what to expect. Her arms wound around his neck and she pressed against him, happy to have him touching her once again, but even happier to know that her mother wasn’t there to interrupt them.
She was out of breath when he finally raised his head. “Let’s go inside. I want to show you the house.” He grabbed her carpet bag from the back of the wagon, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he led her inside. “I’ve been working sixteen hour days for six years, and I’m afraid the house shows it,” he told her apologetically before opening the front door.
Daisy swallowed hard as she looked around the house. It was a good sized house, which she liked, but it was filthy. Everything was covered with grime. She stared around her in surprise. There was a pump at the kitchen sink, which thrilled her. She wouldn’t have to lug buckets of water from a well. There was a sturdy looking table and chairs, but no tablecloth or curtains. She could take care of all that.
There was one bedroom on the first floor that he told her they would share. She peeked into the room, knowing she wouldn’t be able to nap until she’d changed the linens. She also knew there was no way she’d be able to cook dinner or do any cleaning until she’d napped. She didn’t think he’d appreciate it if she fell asleep while he was kissing her that evening.
Daisy (Suitors of Seattle) Page 3
