Abandoned Bride (Dakota Brides Book 2)

by Linda Ford

  “Okay.” She kept her attention on a plate she dried.

  He tipped his head until it touched hers. “I want to be here and not just for the good food.”

  Slowly, half fearfully, half eagerly, she brought her gaze to his.

  “I like the good company too.” He smiled so sweetly that her eyes stung. He made it sound like he enjoyed her company.

  It was what she wanted…to be valued.

  They finished doing dishes together. Elin knew a working cowboy and ranch owner didn’t normally wash dishes and she tried not to think it meant anything beyond Sam helping her settle in.

  He emptied the basin on the bush.

  “What is the name of that bush?”

  “It’s a caragana.”

  “It will have blossoms, ja?”

  “Little yellow flowers like bean blossoms.”

  She smiled. “Good. I’ve always wanted something blooming outside the door.”

  He dried the basin and hung it up then turned to study her. “It’s not a beautiful flower. Why not plant some flower seeds? Did you bring some? If not, we’ll ask in town tomorrow if anyone has some to spare.”

  Her thoughts stalled. The man had offered to help her find flower seeds. As if pleasing her mattered to him. She pushed away the thought. Was she so desperate for any sign of importance? Wasn’t praise over the food enough? “I have flower seeds,” she said, hoping he didn’t notice how hoarse she sounded. She’d plant some the first chance she got.

  “Good.”

  Gus got up and went to his room.

  Elin looked at the door to her bedroom. Should she say good night? But her mind churned with so many confusing thoughts. She’d never be able to go to sleep.

  She’d seen a bit of paper and a pencil in a jar. She’d like to make a list of supplies but had no right to make such decisions regarding purchases and wasn’t sure how to broach the subject with Sam. It would be best to leave it be and see what the men had in mind when they got to town.

  “What time can you be ready to go tomorrow?” Sam asked.

  “How early do you want to leave? I can get up whenever it suits you. If Joey is still sleeping, I can carry him to the wagon.”

  Sam chuckled. “That’s not necessary. We’ll have breakfast first, then leave if that suits you.”

  “That is fine.”

  “Maybe I can find a couple more men to work for me.” His gaze went to the window and she knew he must be concerned about his cattle.

  “I’ve kept you from checking on your herd. I’m sorry.”

  He gave a soft chuckle and brought his amused gaze to her. “I don’t recall you hog-tying me and forcing me to stay.”

  “I—well, not like that.”

  “Not to worry. If there was a problem, someone would have come to tell me.” His expression hardened. “I’m hoping the rustlers have moved on to other things.”

  “I pray it will be so. But not to steal someone else’s cows.”

  He nodded. “What do you need to get tomorrow?”

  She looked about for some clue as how to answer. “I think that is up to you.”

  “Me? The supplies I would buy are already in the cupboard. You need to add to them. I recall you mentioned almonds. What else do you need?”

  “Fish?” She kept her face expressionless.

  He laughed. “There might be salt cod at the store.” He grinned at her. “Make a list and get whatever you need.”

  She nodded, still uncertain about the arrangement.

  “Is there something wrong?”

  She studied her fingernails. “How do I know how much money I should spend?”

  “Spend whatever you want. I can afford to feed my household.”

  She detected a hard note in his voice and looked up at him. “I did not mean to suggest otherwise.”

  They regarded each other in stiff silence.

  He sighed. “I know you didn’t. It’s just—” He shrugged and didn’t finish.

  She didn’t press him, knowing how it stung to be looked at as not enough. Instead, she fetched the paper and pencil and began a list. At the very top, she wrote Fish.

  From across the table, he read the word and chuckled. “Poor Elin. Leaving life near the ocean to a flat, land-locked land.”

  She met his gaze. “I do not regret it. I will gladly live without fish to have what I have here.” Then wondering if she’d said too much, she hastened to add, “The rolling prairie is not unlike the ocean when it is calm.”

  “I have never seen the ocean so I can’t say if I agree or not.”

  “Then wouldn’t it be easy to simply agree?”

  He laughed. “I think I should be careful what I agree to.” His smile flattened and he looked to the darkened window.

  She kept her attention on the non-existent list. Did he refer to agreeing to let her stay? Had she done something to make him regret it? Or was there another reason for his regret?

  Chapter 7

  The next morning Sam waited until he heard Elin rattling pots in the kitchen before he left his room. He’d been awake and wanting to get up for half an hour. It wasn’t that he was anxious to see her. He simply wanted to get to town in good time, take care of purchases, perhaps find a couple more men to work for him, and then get on with his life.

  Only, the moment he stepped into the kitchen and saw Elin humming at the stove, work slipped from his mind. Never before could he remember feeling like he wanted to hang about a house.

  Gus was already sitting at the table, an empty cup between his palms as he waited for the coffee to boil. He looked up at Sam. “All set to go to town?”

  “Yup.” Sam managed not to rub his hands together and grin. This sense of anticipation was so unfamiliar. “Been awhile.” With a start, he realized he didn’t mean going to town. He meant the welcoming feeling of home. He’d last had it when his ma was alive. What would Elin think if he told her that?

  She filled cups with coffee for them. “Breakfast will be ready shortly.” She glanced toward the bedroom. “Joey is sleeping late.”

  Three pairs of eyes looked that direction as Joey shuffled out, wiping sleep from his eyes. Still wearing his nightshirt, he climbed to his chair and leaned his arms on the table.

  Sam looked to Elin. “Is he too tired to go to town?”

  Joey sat up straight. “We go town?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  “See G’ma?”

  Elin wrapped an arm about the child. “I’m afraid not. We’re only going to Buffalo Hollow. You remember that’s where we got off the train.”

  Joey sighed and lowered his head to his arms on the table.

  Elin and Sam exchanged looks. He figured he looked as worried about the boy as she did. “It takes time,” he murmured.

  She nodded, acknowledging that she understood he meant it took time to get over such a large loss. She patted Joey then gave Sam’s arm a pat. “Or learn to accept it.”

  He met Gus’s gaze across the table and could not miss the knowing look in the older man’s eyes. Gus shifted his gaze to Elin and back to Sam as if he needed to make his thoughts clear to Sam.

  Sam ducked his head and studied his coffee. No point in Gus thinking he saw something out of the ordinary. Sam hoped no one saw his grin. There was nothing ordinary in having a woman and child in this house. Or any house Sam had lived in since he was five.

  Elin served breakfast. The adults ate with more focus than usual and then Sam and Gus went out to do the barn chores. When they returned, driving the wagon, Elin had the kitchen clean and Joey dressed. She wore a pretty gray bonnet that matched her dove-gray dress and carried a drawstring bag. She looked fresh as morning dew.

  Sam lifted Joey into the back of the wagon with Gus and helped Elin to the seat. She sat upright, her attention going from side to side as they made their way down the trail toward town. “I saw all this on the trip out here, but it looks different now.”

  “It hasn’t changed much in four days.”


  “Four days ago, I was wondering where Harry was and why he hadn’t come for me as he promised. Now I’m different.” She kept her head turned away from Sam.

  He glanced over his shoulder. Joey chattered and waved his arm. Gus nodded. They weren’t listening to the conversation at the front.

  “How are you different?” he asked softly.

  “I know I am needed.”

  He wrapped his hand over hers, felt her twitch, but she didn’t pull away. “I’m glad you’re here.” And glad Harry wasn’t.

  He moved his hand to adjust his hat even though it sat where he wanted it. At this leisurely pace, it would take an hour to get to town unless he pushed Claude, and he saw no reason to. Nor did he want to spend the time thinking how nice it was to have Elin at his side. So he pointed out the landmarks. Told her who lived in each direction.

  “Why did you come to Dakota Territory?” she asked.

  “Because of the grass. Good ranching country. Some places in the state are too arid, but this part has plenty of water and enough trees for protection.”

  “Did you grow up on a ranch?”

  “I did. Morty and my pa were partners and raised cattle.”

  “That’s why Morty became your guardian after your pa died?”

  Sam brushed away a persistent horsefly. “I guess he inherited Pa’s share of the ranch as well as a stepson. He was good to me.”

  “Did Harry resent you?”

  “Harry had no reason to. I worked like any of the hired men. He did only what he wanted to. Sometimes it wasn’t much.”

  She shifted to stare at him. “You were ten when your pa died, weren’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Surely you didn’t work like a man at that age.”

  He chuckled. “Not exactly, but from the time I was five and Ma died, I rode with my pa. By age ten, I could cut out a cow as well as any man. Better’n some. I could do chores. I only have one regret.”

  “Not being allowed to be a child?”

  “Nope. Not learning how to cook.” He grinned at her. “But now I don’t have to.”

  She jabbed him in the ribs. “Maybe I should give you some lessons.”

  “Why? Are you leaving?” He meant the words to be teasing, but even to his own ears they sounded pleading.

  “I’m staying. I thought I’d told you that.”

  “Then I don’t need any cooking lessons.”

  What if Harry came back? Would he marry her and stay? Marry her and leave? Or simply leave again? He flicked the reins to hurry Claude along. Scattered homes lay along the road as they approached town. Glad of the diversion, he told Elin what he knew of every occupant, which was far less than the questions she asked. He had spent more time with his cattle than he had socializing. He’d left the latter to Harry, who went to town at every opportunity.

  They made their way to the rather small shopping district. He stopped in front of Litton’s General Store and jumped down. He helped Elin to the ground. Her gaze went past him. He looked over his shoulder. She stared at the train station.

  “Everyone will know that I came to marry Harry and he is gone,” she whispered as he helped her alight. “They know I brought Joey with me. Will the Scanlons have told people that they suspect he is mine?”

  “There are no secrets in this town.”

  She laughed though it lacked mirth. “There were no secrets in Norway either.”

  “What do you want to say about the boy?” Sam asked.

  She watched Joey scrambling out of the back with Gus helping. “Seems to me whatever we say, people will choose to believe what they want. And usually the worst. Is there any point in saying he is Harry’s child?”

  “Can’t see it will do him any good. Harry has the reputation for living without concern for consequences.”

  “So every childish nonsense the boy is part of is going to be judged as evidence of a foolish nature?”

  Sam couldn’t have said it better. “I expect that will be the case.”

  “Then I see no reason we should feel obligated to correct people’s misconception. I will tell the truth to anyone who asks, but I won’t offer an explanation to those who have drawn their own conclusions.” She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.

  Sam had once thought women were weak. Elin had proven to be otherwise, and no more than at this moment when she faced the critical judgment of the residents of Buffalo Hollow and the surrounding area. News of the newcomer would have spread out like a flood.

  She clung to his elbow as they made their way up the steps into the store. Joey clung to her other hand and Gus followed on their heels.

  He didn’t know if she realized it, but they all flanked her, sending a silent message that she was protected by them. He smiled as he wondered how much she needed it.

  Elin told herself she didn’t care how she was judged. What difference did it make if people saw her as the mother of Joey? She would proudly be his mama. She held tight to his hand. She would have carried him except she couldn’t make herself let go of Sam’s arm.

  An angular man watched them approach. “Howdy, Sam, Gus. See you got company.”

  Elin could tell nothing from his bland tone of voice.

  Sam drew her forward. “Miss Hansen, this is Sid. He and his brother Sol run the store.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” Elin congratulated herself on sounding calm.

  “I hope you enjoy your visit. You staying long?” Sid again sounded as if he hadn’t heard the least rumblings about Elin and Joey.

  “I’m staying,” Elin said.

  “That a fact?”

  “She’s keeping house for us.” Sam’s voice was low but Elin wondered if Sid heard the warning note.

  “That’s nice. What can I do for you today?”

  Elin had prepared a list. “Do you have all this?”

  Sid glanced down the items. “Plumb out of salted cod. It don’t sell well here. Most folks prefer beef or venison. But I can do the rest for you. Give me twenty minutes. In the meantime, have a look around and see if anything catches your fancy. The little fellow might like one of the balls.” He indicate the three perched on a shelf.

  “We’ll take one,” Sam said, and reached for the red one. He handed it to Joey, who grinned his pleasure.

  Elin circled the room, taking in the array of fabric and sewing goods, the small display of books and stationery. She selected a children’s book of Bible stories and some pretty writing paper.

  She’d brought her two letters. One to Nels in Grassy Plains and the other to her parents in Norway. Seeing the postal wicket, she took them there and Sid glued on stamps. He made no secret of reading the addresses. “It will take a few weeks for the letter to get to Norway, but this Mr. Nels Hansen in Grassy Plains, Dakota Territory, should get his letter within a few days. He kin of yours?”

  “My brother.”

  Sid set the letters in a slot and returned to filling the order. Gus picked out a few items, but Sam looked at her as if she had said something wrong. She replayed her words over. Nothing should have upset him. She’d only said Nels was her brother.

  She wanted to slap her forehead. She hadn’t told him that Nels had accompanied her to America. And Anker’s sister, Freyda. She’d let him believe that Anker was the only family she had in America.

  Sam shifted his attention away and spoke to Sid. “You know of any men looking for work? I could use a couple more cowboys.”

  Sid stopped and stared at the far corner of the room as if seeking the answer on the wall. “I recall the Bouman boys were in last week and I overhead them talking like they wanted to move on. Al said the younger brothers were big enough to help on the farm. Bart said, ‘Yeah. We’s just two more mouths to feed.’” Sid chuckled. “’Spect those two boys eat a month’s worth of rations in one sitting. You sure you want to feed them?”

  Sam laughed. “Maybe I’ll appoint one as hunter for the others. Anyway, I’d like to send a message to them.”

&n
bsp; “Sure ’nough. Just write it out and I’ll send the blacksmith’s young lad out with it. He’s always eager to run errands and earn himself a nickel.”

  Sam wrote a note and left it on the counter with a nickel.

  A few minutes later, Sid said, “Your order is ready.” He added a box filled with supplies to the sacks he’d already placed on the counter.

  Sam paid the man and Sid helped him carry out the supplies. Joey clung to his ball.

  As soon as everything was in the wagon, they headed for home.

  They passed a tiny building that, with its steeple, had to be a church. “I didn’t know Buffalo Hollow had a church,” Elin said. “Harry never said.”

  Sam looked at the building. “Harry has never been inside it.”

  Elin stared at Sam. “Surely you are mistaken. Harry assured me he was a Christian and had attended church regularly before he moved out West where it wasn’t possible. I assumed he meant there wasn’t a church.”

  Sam shrugged. “I’m guessing he told you what he thought you wanted to hear.”

  “Am I really that gullible? That ready to believe anyone who pays me the least bit of attention? It shames me to think so.” She sank forward.

  “You did not tell me your brother was here.”

  She straightened. “Please don’t think me as deceitful as Harry. At first, I didn’t say anything because I thought you would send me back to him. Then I forgot.” She told of the three of them journeying together. “My cousin Fredya’s husband came out last year and built a house for her on his homestead. He perished during the winter, but she insisted she would come and live in the house he built. Nels is building a home on his homestead for his intended.”

  “It seems this Freyda might welcome someone to share her house.”

  Elin couldn’t tell from his tone of voice if he wished she would choose that. “I am needed here, am I not?” She longed for him to repeat his earlier comments. “Did you not say I was a blessing? That you liked having someone make your meals? Is that not why we bought all these supplies?” She turned to indicate the boxes and sacks in the back.

  Joey and Gus watched her, their eyes full of worry.