The Deceptive Bride (The Ladies Club of Laramie Book 10)

by Everly West

"I'm sorry, that sounded quite inappropriate once I heard it said out loud," Arielle grimaced.

  "Nonsense. I knew exactly what you meant. Think nothing of it." Caleb reassured his new employee the best he could without giving his own thoughts away.

  "Where do you want these trunks?" Levi called from the main living room.

  Caleb leaned out of the bedroom door. "In here."

  Levi and Jeremy tugged the smaller of the two trunks inside the bedroom.

  "Set them against that wall. I'll unpack them later," Arielle instructed.

  Levi and Jeremy did as she asked then returned to the carriage to get the other trunk.

  "Are you ready to see the rest of the house?" Caleb asked and suddenly he realized he was anxious for her to like his home. Why did it matter? She was a paid employee, just like Jeremy. It shouldn't matter what she thought just as long as she did her job. But somehow it did.

  "I would love to see the rest of your home. Why don't we start with the kitchen next? I'd like to see what items I will need to order from town before Levi leaves."

  "Of course. This way." Caleb led Arielle back into the main room and toward a brightly lit room at the back of the house. They entered the kitchen and she fell in love at first sight.

  "Oh my, this is a lovely room. Look at all the windows over the kitchen sink. The sun is practically beaming in here. It’s a wonderful place to add a few herbs. And look at this window. What a wonderful idea to put a bay window here in the kitchen. I've seen this done in many parlors, but never in a kitchen. Did you do this?"

  Caleb was pleased Arielle liked his kitchen. "No, my uncle built this house. He loved to look out over his property with his morning coffee. This is the place I remember him best. He would cook breakfast for me and then we would sit here and drink coffee together. We didn't really talk much. Just sat here and looked out on the legacy my uncle built."

  “And he left his legacy to you. He must have been very proud of you. And trusting of your stewardship to care for all of this.”

  “Yes, I suppose he was proud of me, but he knew I would care for this place just as he did because we both loved it so much.”

  Arielle turned to look at him. "You loved your uncle very much, didn't you?" Those dark soulful eyes of hers studied him again. He looked away.

  "Yes. I did. He was more like my father than my own. At least—he understood me. He didn't try to cram me into a square box when I fit better into a round one." He tried to smile to lessen his emotions, but it didn't work. He could tell Arielle saw right through his ruse.

  "And you miss him. It is so unfair to lose two people that you love so close together. I'm so sorry for your losses, Caleb. So very sorry."

  Caleb was sorry too, but not in the same way Arielle was. He was genuinely sorry his uncle was gone, but he was even more sorry he couldn't wrap his hands around Victoria's selfish neck. His teeth ground together.

  "Again, I apologize. I can see how much it distresses you to speak about this and I promise, I won't bring it up again if you don't want me to." Arielle reached out and pulled his hand into hers. "If there is anything I can do or if there's ever a time you need someone to talk to about your grief, please know that I am here."

  Caleb looked down at their hands entwined. What he would have given to have a wife like Arielle—whoa. Where had that thought come from?

  He pulled his hand away from hers. "I think it would be better if we just didn't speak of this again."

  5

  Arielle spent the rest of the day unpacking her trunks and getting organized. She had given Levi a list of items she wanted to order for the kitchen as there was a profound shortage of spices, flour, sugar, and other baking accouterments. It seems Caleb was very fond of steak and potatoes. Something she intended to rectify, for Melody's sake. A growing child needed fresh vegetables in her diet as well.

  Sorting her dresses and petticoats, she thought about her conversation with Caleb in the kitchen earlier today. It was obvious he was still in so much pain at losing his uncle and more recently his wife. She couldn't imagine losing someone so dear and she vowed to respect his wishes and not bring the matter up again. That is, not unless he did.

  "Hi, Miss Arielle. Whatcha doin'?" Melody skipped into the room and tried to climb up on the large four poster bed.

  "Here, sweetheart. Let me help you up." Arielle crossed the room and lifted the little girl up and scooted her into the middle of the bed. "And to answer your question, I'm organizing my clothes."

  "Why?" Melody asked.

  "Because I need to know where my things are so if I am in a rush, I don't have to rummage through everything to find what I'm looking for. And, a person's mind is much calmer when they aren't living in chaos." She smiled. That sounded like something Arianne would say. Perhaps she and her twin were more alike than she thought.

  "Chaos? What's that?" Melody frowned at her in confusion.

  The four-year-old was so adorable in her innocence. "Well, I suppose the best way to explain chaos is it’s kind of like when everything around you is out of order and it makes you feel out of sorts."

  "Papa is out of sorts sometime. Does that mean he's chaos?" Melody asked.

  "He may be experiencing chaos. It's hard to run a ranch and take care of a little girl at the same time. He wants to make sure you’re happy and safe, and he can't do that when he's working." Arielle tried to explain why her father may have been short with her from time to time. "You know he loves you, don't you Melody?"

  "Yeah, I know. I just wish my momma did." Melody's wistful sigh touched Arielle's heart.

  "I'm sure your mother loved you very much and she would be here if she could. Does it make you sad to think about her?"

  Melody sat quietly for a few heartbeats before she looked up at Arielle and said, "It used to make me sad, but I think I might be forgetting her. I can't really remember what she looks like anymore. Is that bad, Miss Arielle? Am I bad because I don't remember what she looks like?" Melody's voice cracked with emotion and Arielle could see the tears pooling in her innocent blue eyes.

  She pulled Melody to her and hugged her tight before letting her go and catching her gaze. "No, sweetheart. It doesn't make you bad at all. You are a wonderful little girl. It's not your fault your momma isn't here."

  Melody looked up into Arielle’s eyes. "That's what my Papa said too."

  "Well, your Papa is absolutely right. Now, why don't you help me put my things away and then you can show me the horses."

  "And the kittens?"

  Melody's excitement was contagious as Arielle helped her down off the bed. "Yes, most definitely the kittens."

  An hour later, Arielle had managed to put away her things, despite the assistance of her little helper. "Now, how about you show me the horses."

  "Papa said I couldn't go to the barn unless he was with me," Melody informed Arielle.

  "I think maybe it would be alright if you went to the barn with me. If you’re worried about it, then we can go ask your papa."

  "Okay, let's go ask him." Melody pulled on Arielle's hand and led her through the house and out into the bright sunshine. Arielle couldn't help but laugh at her new charge's excitement. So resilient after what this little girl must have gone through these last few months.

  Arielle heard Caleb's voice shouting at someone behind the barn. "I hear your papa. Let's go see what he's doing, shall we?"

  Arielle held Melody's hand as they walked through the open door and into the cool dark barn. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust when she heard Caleb shout, "Look out! Get out of the way!"

  She had no idea why he was shouting at her, but she knew she needed to heed the desperation she heard in his voice. She pulled Melody by the hand into an open stall just as a horse thundered through the barn and out the door she had just come through.

  Caleb arrived seconds later and rushed to help her and Melody to their feet. "Are you two alright? You nearly scared the life out of me."

  "Yes, yes. We are alri
ght. Just a bit frightened, that's all." Arielle made a fuss of wiping the dust off Melody's clothes and then her own. She heard Caleb breathe a sigh of relief.

  "Good. Good. I'm relieved everyone is okay. Do you mind me asking you a question then?"

  "Of course not." Arielle could tell Caleb was a bit rattled by the experience because when he ran his fingers through his hair, his hand trembled.

  "What the hell are you doing in my barn?"

  Caleb knew by the shock on Arielle's face, she hadn't been expecting that question. He tried to soften his words, but his heart had nearly stopped beating when he saw Arielle and Melody standing in the doorway of the barn directly in front of the runaway colt.

  The one-year-old filly Caleb was working to halter break pulled back on the lead rope and broke it. She had nearly ran Jeremy over when he stepped in front of her to stop her from getting out of the corral.

  Caleb had given chase and had planned to close the barn door before the filly figured out that was the way to freedom. He wasn't as fast as his little filly and she disappeared through the barn door before he could stop her.

  "Are you saying I—we are not allowed in the barn?"

  "No, I'm not saying that. Exactly. I'm just saying you should ask if it is okay—I mean if it's safe first. Besides, aren't you supposed to be getting settled and teaching Melody her lessons?"

  "Melody wanted to show me the horses and kittens and I didn't see any reason why a visit to the barn wouldn't be permissible...”

  Caleb had recovered a bit from his scare, but he wasn't ready to concede his authority just yet.

  "I think it would be smart to check with me before you put my daughter in danger."

  "You think it would be—smart? Mr. Montgomery. I am not a child. And I am highly offended you are questioning my intelligence. One would not expect a random visit to a barn to include unexpected danger. You are the one who placed us in danger by your inability to control your animals. Now, since it is obvious Melody and I are fine, don't you think you should be going after your horse?"

  He saw the flush of anger in her cheeks. The tilt of her chin and the flash of independence in her eyes made him take another look at this sweet little schoolteacher. Something about her made him want to pull her into his arms and kiss the hell out of her. He tried to shake that image out of his head. This was highly inappropriate, considering his circumstances.

  "Um, yes. I suppose that would be the best course of action. At this point."

  She stood next to Melody with one hand on her shoulder and the other firmly fisted on her hip. It was clear she was expecting him to obey her as if she was used to giving orders.

  "Well? Shouldn't you get to it? That horse of yours is probably halfway to Laramie by now." She raised an eyebrow in question.

  He found the gestor frustrating. "Yes, I'll get Jeremy and we'll go after the filly."

  With a final disapproving look at Caleb, she took Melody’s hand. “Now then, let’s go see those kittens.” Melody glanced at her father and with a nod from him, she led Arielle to where the kittens were sleeping in the back of the barn.

  He really should saddle a horse and go after that filly, but he couldn't seem to get his feet going in that direction. Instead, he stood rooted in place and watched the gentle sway of Arielle’s backside.

  Caleb shocked himself with the thoughts running through his head. He didn't need this sort of distraction. He had enough on his plate. Arielle was here to cook, clean, and to keep watch over Melody. That was the extent of their arrangement. Anything more was out of the question. It was her job to teach Melody and it was his job to protect Arielle’s reputation. After all, he had given his word.

  And yet, there was something about her that kept pulling his thoughts to a place he had no business in going. Besides, he was a married man despite his unintentional ruse as a widower. There was no place for them to go except to hell if he followed his desires instead of his common sense. And he prided himself on his common sense.

  He watched Arielle and his daughter for another few seconds and then turned on his and headed in the opposite direction. "Jeremy! Saddle up. We've got a horse to catch."

  Jeremy called out from the corral where he kept his saddle horses, "Yes, sir. I'm already on it."

  Caleb hurried to join Jeremy as he saddle the horses. "Did you see which way she went, Mr. Montgomery?"

  "Yeah, she took Melody to see the kittens," he said without thinking.

  "What?" Jeremy stopped cinching the horse's saddle and turned to give him a strange look.

  "Ah, the horse. Yes, she headed toward the watershed. That's where the other mares are. We'll start there."

  Jeremy nodded and turned back to his task. Caleb tried to ignore the pull of Arielle's presence.

  "Damn it." He cursed out loud.

  "Don't worry, Mr. Montgomery. We'll find her and when we do, you can hobble her. That always helps to get a filly’s attention. Then, you can teach her to do exactly what you want her to do."

  He nearly choked on Jeremy's words. They were much too close to the visions in his head.

  He shoved his foot into the stirrup and pulled himself up into the saddle. Without another word, he reined his horse in the direction of the mares. Once he cleared the corral gate, he leaned forward and spurred his mount to stretch out into a fast gallop.

  He wasn't worried about not finding the horse soon enough. He had a pretty good idea where she would be because she would be trying to find the nearest herd.

  He slapped the reins against the horse’s rump and encouraged the fleet-footed mare to run faster. No, he wasn't worried about not finding the horse. He was worried he was losing his self-control.

  Everything he had—everything he held dear—depended on Arielle Dufossé. The one thing he could ill afford was an inappropriate attachment to a single woman that would tarnish her reputation and damage his good name. Besides, he was already attached to his missing wife although that was a situation he planned to correct as soon as his finances would permit.

  6

  It had been two weeks since the collision with Caleb in the barn. Since then, they had quietly staked their territories. Arielle stayed close to the house and gardens while Caleb returned to the house to eat his meals and visit his daughter. It was an amiable unspoken agreement, but a lonely one she had to admit.

  Arielle woke early each morning and took her place at the table in the kitchen's bay window. Her routine of rising before anyone else allowed her the solitude she craved to scribble notes in her journal. She was surprised at how quickly she was growing to love this wild and beautiful country and she wanted to remember every little detail about this place when she returned to Boston in the fall. To choose a husband she reminded herself. The thought dampened her enthusiasm a bit.

  "Good morning." Caleb's deep voice startled her quiet reflection, but it was not an unwelcome interruption. In fact, she realized she looked forward to his company.

  "Good morning, yourself." Her heart danced a little at the sight of him. His wavy dark hair brushed the collar of his shirt while his full beard gave him a wild appearance that made her breath catch.

  "Are you ready for some breakfast before you start your day?" She rose and pulled the coffee pot from the stove in order to have time to collect herself. She inhaled a slow, deep breath and exhaled as she filled his cup waiting for his answer.

  He sat at the table in his usual place and sipped the hot black coffee before he answered. "No, I've got to take the wagon into Laramie this morning and buy some fencing supplies. I'll grab a bite while I'm in town."

  Arielle was surprised at her disappointment and quickly dismissed it as misplaced. In truth, she had been without female conversation for the past two weeks and she was feeling the pinch.

  "I see. I wish I had known you were going to Laramie today. I could have used a trip into town myself."

  "Write down what you need, and I'll be happy to pick it up for you while I'm at the general store," Caleb of
fered and quickly emptied his coffee cup.

  "More?"

  "No, I've got to get going. I want to get back before noon. There's a lot of work to do today and I can't get started until I get supplies.

  "Perhaps next time then?" She could have used a visit with her cousin, but she would wait for a better opportunity. If she insisted on going today, she would delay Caleb in getting his supplies and she didn't want to be the cause of disrupting their amicable truce.

  "Next time? If you'll write down what you need, I'll be happy to pick something up—"

  "It isn't things I need for the house, Caleb. It's people I need."

  "People? I don't understand." The confusion on his face was so endearing. It has been two weeks since I've had a conversation with another female. Or rather an adult female. Although Melody is a joy to be around, she doesn't have quite the conversational skills I'm accustomed to when chatting about women things."

  "Women things?" He looked a bit flummoxed at the word.

  "It isn't a bad word, Caleb. Women things. You know. Dresses. Hats. Social gatherings. Cooking. Children. Gossip. All the usual things women talk about when the menfolk aren't about. Women things." She hid her amusement behind another sip of coffee from her cup.

  "Ah, women things." He breathed a sigh of understanding. "Of course. I understand. You are a city girl and you aren't used to the quiet solitude of this place. I find the quiet gives me peace and allows me to think after a hard day's work. I suppose a woman such as yourself could find the quiet deafening."

  "Such as myself?" Arielle smiled at his assumption. "Just because I choose to live in the city, doesn't mean I don't appreciate solitude now and again. But even you have to admit a trip to town on occasion is a welcome relief from the lack of human interaction.”

  He grinned and nodded. "I suppose that is true enough. The last three months I was here alone waiting on Melody and Victoria—"

  Arielle watched Caleb struggle with his unintentional mention of his wife and her heart ached once again for his loss. He must have loved her very much if he still couldn't speak her name without hurting. A tiny prick of something she refused to label made her envious of the dead woman. As soon as the thought hit, she pushed it away. She wasn't a jealous person by nature and especially not of someone who was deceased. Ridiculous.