Forever His Texas Bride (Bachelors of Battle Creek #3)

by Linda Broday

  He came. Just like he said he would.

  Once he’d dismounted near the porch, he said, “Morning, ladies. Enjoying the pretty day?”

  The sound of his low voice sent delicious thrills over her.

  “How did you guess?” Mabel grinned and pushed back a strand of hair that had escaped the bun at the nape of her neck.

  “Just lucky that way, I suppose.” With the sun’s rays kissing his bronze face and neck, he climbed the steps and propped his lean body against the rail, crossing his legs at the ankles. The knee-high moccasins made his legs appear even longer than they already were. Rayna found her breath trapped somewhere inside her chest. “Are you ready to go shopping, Rayna?” he asked.

  “I really don’t—”

  “I didn’t ask that,” he interrupted softly. “I’m sure you think you have everything you need, but I want to do this. Please.” He swung his attention to Mabel. “Would you please come with her? She could use your help. I could use your help.”

  The round woman’s kind eyes lit up. She immediately began smoothing her graying hair and stood. “Give me a minute to get this apron off.” She disappeared into the house.

  Brett sat down in the rocker she’d vacated. Though they’d shared close quarters while being held in Steele’s Hollow, Rayna had no idea what to say to him now. Her tongue seemed tied in a knot, and jitters made her insides hop like jumping beans.

  Finally, she cleared her throat. “How is your wound? I probably need to take a look.”

  His dark eyes met hers. “I’ll have Doc Yates here in Battle Creek check it.”

  “That’s probably best…with him being a doctor and all.”

  “I didn’t mean that I think you’re not good enough. You did an excellent job, Rayna. As Doc Perkins said, you seem to have a knack for doctoring.”

  “Thought we were going to have a talk. At least that’s what you said last night.”

  “We will. I promise. Right after the shopping. I have a little more thinking to do first.” He rose, took her hand, and gently pulled her from the rocker. “I know you’re scared, so I intend to show you the town so you can get used to it. I meant what I said about helping you. And if you decide this is not the place for you, I’ll take you to another and another until you find what you’re looking for.”

  His soft words brought warmth to her face. Her pulse raced as she tilted toward him a little. The yearning to be close, feel his strong arms around her, his lips on hers, made her knees tremble with wanting. All sights and sounds melted away. They were in their own silent world like before. She couldn’t focus on anything except the nearness of Brett’s firm mouth and the fact that they were alone. The force between them was undeniable. And real.

  His dark eyes were locked on hers. He started to lean in.

  But she’d never know if he’d intended to kiss her, because Mabel returned at that moment, and Brett pulled away with a flush.

  “I’m ready,” the woman announced cheerfully.

  “Then let’s head to the mercantile.” Brett offered each lady an arm and they set off.

  Rayna took in the construction everywhere she turned. It appeared the town was undergoing a growth spurt. When they came to a ladder leaning over the boardwalk, she stopped in her tracks.

  Brett turned. “What’s the matter?”

  “It’s bad luck to walk under a ladder.”

  “Unless you walk in the street, you have no choice.”

  “You go ahead, and I’ll go around.”

  “It’s only a ladder, dear,” Mabel said.

  “I know.” Rayna stepped off the boardwalk and onto the dirt thoroughfare. They were waiting when she rejoined them.

  The remainder of the walk passed without any more hindrances. Outside the mercantile, Brett turned. “I will leave you ladies for a bit. I have some errands to run. Mabel, don’t listen to anything Rayna says. She needs everything. Especially shoes.”

  Rayna put her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with my shoes?”

  “Those men’s clodhoppers aren’t fit for a woman. Besides, if you have better shoes, maybe you’ll leave my moccasins alone.” He leaned in to whisper, “Remember that Cooper is the sheriff in this town.”

  *

  Guilt left a trail inside Brett as he strode to the bank. He shouldn’t have said that last bit, even as a joke. He either trusted her or he didn’t. There shouldn’t be any half measures. So which was it? Did he trust this woman he barely knew…or didn’t he?

  He tried not to worry, yet it was in the back of his mind as he went about his business. A short time later, he emerged just as the nine o’clock stage rolled down the street and stopped at the Franklin Stage Line office across from the bank.

  Ever since getting the letter from the woman claiming to be his sister, he’d begun paying attention to the stage arrivals. Just in case. Not that he believed she would come for a second.

  He didn’t have a sister. She was either some deranged woman, or she had him mixed up with someone else.

  Cooper and Rand were all the family he needed.

  But still…just in case.

  Brett leaned against the building’s shadowed wall and watched the passengers getting off. The first person through the door was a thin woman who fanned her face furiously against the swirling dust the horses had kicked up. A small child clutched her dress. Brett was about to head over to the mercantile when a second woman accepted the driver’s hand and stepped out.

  This mysterious woman stood in the midst of the churning dust without fanning or choking. Instead, she stared unflinching toward the horizon, her pale face a beautiful, calm mask. He took in her fancy hat, kid gloves, and clothes that probably cost what twenty of his best horses would bring.

  Something told him this woman never let much disturb her. She seemed to notice everything around her and took it in stride. Even if she was disappointed by what she’d found.

  The sun caught on strands of hair beneath her hat and painted them the color of newly plowed earth. She moved aside, and a boy around fourteen or so, who was tall and as lanky as a colt, alighted to join her. In contrast to her pale skin, he was clearly of Indian blood. A jolt rushed through him. He straightened, pushing away from the wall of the building.

  A second later, he crossed the street in time to hear the woman speak to the stage driver. “I was told Brett Liberty lives near. Can you give me directions please?”

  Eight

  The driver, who happened to be an old friend, spied Brett. “I can do better than that, ma’am. Here’s Brett Liberty now.”

  Brett moved forward. “May I help you?”

  The woman, who was clearly white, held out her hand. “I’m Sarah Woodbridge, your sister.”

  Ripples of shock wound through him. How could he and Sarah be siblings? “Miss Woodbridge, there seems to be some kind of mistake. We can’t possibly be related.”

  “There is no mistake. I am your sister. Just hear me out, that’s all I ask. I think I can convince you. If not, I’ll climb back onto the stage, and you’ll never see me again.”

  That sounded fair enough. She didn’t seem to be forcing herself or her crazy notions on him. He had lots of questions, but not in the middle of milling people. Brett swallowed his questions back for later in private.

  Without smiling, she turned to the boy who would soon become a man. “This is my son, Adam.”

  “Nice to meet you, Adam.”

  “Can we eat now?” The boy rudely turned away, spurning Brett’s outstretched hand.

  “We will eat when you can show some manners, young man,” Sarah said firmly. “I’ll not tolerate disrespect.”

  “Sorry,” the boy mumbled. “I apologize, Uncle Brett.”

  “It’s fine.” After all, they couldn’t be kin. Brett’s attention swung to Sarah. “If you can point out your trunk and other bags, I’ll see they get to the hotel. We have two hotels, the Lexington Arms and the Texas Cattleman’s. Do you have a preference?”

  “
I trust your judgment. I have very limited funds, though.”

  “Then I suggest the newly renovated Lexington Arms.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  Thinking her statement about a lack of cash a little odd, given her manner of dress, Brett made arrangements to return for her trunk. He escorted Sarah and Adam to the hotel, pointing out the Three Roses Café along the way.

  “Will you join us at the café, Brett?” She lifted her long skirts in order to maneuver the steps. “We have some things to discuss.”

  Brett glanced toward the mercantile, but saw no sign of Rayna and Mabel. “I have to be somewhere. Besides, it’s too noisy at the café. I can meet you at two o’clock. There’s a boardinghouse up the street—Mabel’s. You’ll have no trouble finding it. It’s quiet there.”

  “See? I told you,” Adam blurted angrily. “He doesn’t want us either.”

  Brett swung around. “I don’t believe I said that.”

  Fidgeting under Brett’s piercing stare, Adam mumbled, “Sorry.”

  Satisfied, Brett opened the hotel door and ushered them inside.

  Once Sarah had gotten a room that was furnished with a sofa for Adam to sleep on, she laid a gloved hand on Brett’s arm. “I’ll see you at two o’clock. I’m so glad to finally find my brother. I’ve waited a long while for this moment.”

  Unease gripped Brett as he left the hotel. He didn’t know what he’d expected when Tom Mason told him about Sarah two months ago, but this wasn’t it. He’d expected her to be more like him, not some rich, cultured woman with pale skin.

  Yet the record of birth, in addition to Sarah’s letter Mason had provided, seemed to suggest that possibly they were related.

  A sister.

  He suddenly smiled.

  If the evidence didn’t lie, he had blood kin.

  But he’d learned that even the most fervent hopes could flame and turn to ash in the blink of an eye.

  *

  Rayna glanced out the mercantile window in time to see Brett entering the hotel with a well-dressed woman.

  A painful lump in her throat blocked her ability to breathe.

  Though she vaguely wondered about the woman’s identity, she couldn’t stop staring at her fine clothes. Those, in addition to the way she carried herself, told Rayna she was a lady. The kind Rayna desperately wanted to be but never would. That was something a person was born with.

  She was a bone-picker’s daughter, a girl who would always be on the outside with her nose pressed against the glass.

  The new clothes and the first real pair of ladies’ shoes she’d ever owned wouldn’t make her into anything better. You couldn’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. She would always be someone’s problem.

  “Can you think of anything else you need, dear?” Mabel asked.

  Only the man who had given her hope of a new start, but Rayna didn’t voice it aloud. “No, Mabel. I have more than enough.” She turned away from the window and the bitter disappointment strangling her.

  “Then I suppose I should tell Mr. Abercrombie to wrap our purchases, and we’ll return to the boardinghouse.”

  “I suppose.” She watched Mabel King speak to the proprietor and wondered where she would go from Battle Creek. One thing about it, she wouldn’t stay. It would hurt too much seeing Brett and not being able to have him.

  She vaguely heard the bell over the door jingle as she tried to swallow past the lump blocking her throat.

  A man spoke from behind. “Are you finished?”

  Rayna whirled to find Brett standing there, smiling, holding his black hat. Her heart melted at the sight of him even as she knew now he’d never be for her. “I…I am.”

  “You look surprised. I told you I’d be back.”

  “Learned a long time ago not to count too much on anyone. Saves disappointment.” And a broken heart, she added silently.

  He took the packages from her. “Rayna, I never say anything I don’t mean. I know it’ll take some time before you realize that though. Seems we both have a ways to go before we trust. Life has kicked us around too much for it to be easy.”

  His softly spoken words were like a soothing ointment on a deep cut. She wanted to trust him more than anything in the world.

  Only where she came from, trust wasn’t discussed, because it didn’t exist. She didn’t even know how to begin. She knew so little about such things. The more she was with good, kind people, the more ignorant of the world she realized she was.

  Brett leaned close. “I’ll never toss you aside. No matter what, you’ll have me.”

  The gloom suddenly lifted, and her heart soared with hope. Rayna smiled. “All I know to do is keep trying to find the goodness.”

  “Me also.” He looked down at her feet and frowned. “Where are your shoes? Why are you still wearing these brogans?”

  “I did what you asked. I do have new shoes.”

  “Then shouldn’t they be on your feet?”

  “I didn’t want to get them all dirty on the way back to the boardinghouse. They’re the first shoes I’ve ever had that have belonged only to me.”

  Brett smiled. “All right.”

  “I promise to change at Mabel’s.” Her heart swelled. Despite her fears, she couldn’t help clinging to hope. She decided she’d stick around for just a while longer.

  She could always leave later.

  *

  Brett was acutely aware of Rayna’s small hand clutching his arm as they strolled to the boardinghouse with Mabel. This time he walked around the ladder with her. Whether walking under it gave you bad luck or not, Brett wasn’t going to take a chance, since he would meet Sarah in a few hours.

  He shifted Rayna’s purchases and thought of what she had revealed. How could she not have had at least one pair of new shoes? He couldn’t imagine that. Even as an orphan, he usually always got a new pair at Christmas when donations flowed in from charitable folk. Though more often than not, they hadn’t fit.

  And she’d been surprised that he’d kept his word to come back for her. Something inside his chest had cracked when she said she’d learned a long time ago never to count on anyone. Someone had tried to destroy her. Maybe they almost had.

  Raymond Harper? He knew she had no love for her father. For her to be so damaged, it was likely others had tried as well.

  Mabel had been walking beside them, but she now turned. “Do you mind if I run on ahead? I forgot I have to get some beans on to cook.”

  “We don’t mind, Mabel. We’ll be along,” he said.

  After watching her stride off for a minute, Brett stopped and thrust the packages underneath his arm. Then he took Rayna’s hand in his. The shadows in her face vanished, and her smile was like the sun peeking through the clouds. “Thank you, Rayna.”

  Her strange-colored eyes stared up at him. “What for?”

  “For being you. You’re easy to be around. And for sharing your good luck heart with me.”

  “The charm you scoffed at. You simply had to believe.”

  “How can you put so much faith in a carved piece of wood but none in people?”

  “Easy. A piece of wood never lies,” she said quietly.

  “No, I guess it doesn’t.”

  “Would you like to carry it? I wouldn’t mind. Really.”

  Thinking of his impending talk with Sarah Woodbridge, he considered taking the good luck charm. But only for a moment. He feared he’d need something more than a wooden talisman before it was all over and done with. “No, you hang on to it. The thing brings you comfort.”

  “I suppose you’ll go back to your ranch pretty soon.” Rayna’s skirts brushed his legs.

  “Not until later. I have to meet with someone first. She’ll come here to the boardinghouse.”

  “You don’t sound pleased about it.”

  “I don’t know what this woman’s motives are.”

  “It sure would save in the long run to know ahead of time. But we can’t. My grandfather used to say putting the cart
before the horse never got you where you want to go. You’ll just have to see what she has to say first.”

  “She’s bringing a young boy with her.” Brett gave Rayna a half smile. “I wonder if you could do me a favor and keep him company until we finish our conversation. I know it’s a lot to ask, but we need some privacy.”

  Rayna tightened her hold on the crook of his arm. “Of course I don’t mind. Tell me a little about him. How old is he?”

  “I’d say thirteen or fourteen. He’s Indian like me. His name is Adam. Other than that, I really don’t know anything else. Sorry.” He leaned to kiss her cheek but pulled back, remembering he couldn’t keep touching her, kissing her cheek, holding her hand. Deep sorrow that he couldn’t do what he most wished sent a blow to his heart. “Thank you. It’s good to have a friend I can count on.”

  *

  At two o’clock sharp, Sarah Woodbridge knocked on the door. She had a woven bag on her arm. Brett let her and Adam in and made the introductions, omitting the fact that Sarah claimed to be his sister. Wasn’t any need until she proved it beyond a doubt.

  This could all be a hoax of some kind.

  His heart lurched painfully. If it turned out to be false…

  Once Rayna took the boy outside to the stream that ran behind the boardinghouse, Brett led Sarah into the parlor. Every nerve was stretched as tight as a piece of rawhide.

  Maybe after all these years he was finally going to get some answers about who he was.

  Sarah declined some refreshment and sat on the settee while he lowered himself into a chair opposite her. She dropped her bag to the floor and pulled off her gloves.

  Smoothing back her light brown hair, Sarah met his gaze. “I know you’re having a difficult time accepting me as your sister. I had hoped the letter I sent with Tom Mason would prepare you, but I can tell it’s a shock to see me.”

  “To put it mildly. But I’ll hear you out. Your letter didn’t say much except that my father was English and my mother of an Indian tribe.”

  “I thought it best to wait for more until we were face-to-face.”