Their room.
She shuddered.
The cabin sat in silence, so she got up and pulled on the dress she’d worn yesterday. With days of endless travel, her first act of business would be to find a wash tub and clean her clothes.
Her plan changed as soon as she stepped into the main room of the cabin. Completely abandoned, a folded stack of bedding testifying that Axel, and probably Lars as well, were up and busy with their day. The sooner she found the money, the sooner she could leave—something she needed to do before Axel decided he wanted theirs to be a real marriage. She thought of the knife. As much as she wanted him to suffer for his part in her family’s distress, she didn’t want to see him dead. And definitely not at her hand.
Elizabeth began her search in the main room, checking for any sort of hiding places along the walls, loose rocks in the fireplace, and then through each tin box of foodstuffs. Flour, ground oats, coffee, and even matches, but no money. She moved to the second bedroom where Lars slept. Not much in there besides a tall-backed chair beside the bed, and a large wooden chest against the wall. What might it contain? The hinges creaked as she opened the lid, joining the song of the hinges on the front door of the cabin. She dropped the chest lid and scampered out of the room.
Axel plopped his hat to the table and raised one of his honey-colored eyebrows. “Were you looking for something?”
Attempting to regulate her breath and pulse, Elizabeth gave a nod. “I was… I need…a…wash basin. For my clothes.”
“Oh. Of course. It’s hanging outside.” Axel’s words died long before his stare. After a minute, he cleared his throat and moved to the stove. Crouching, he opened one of the lower compartments and shoved another log into the heart of the dying fire. “After I fix some breakfast, I’ll fetch you the tub and fill it.”
Elizabeth wiped her moist palms down her skirts as she inched closer. “I’m sure you have other things you need to do. If you show me where everything is, I can manage.” Not that breakfast was at all on her mind. Curiosity about the contents of that chest overrode her hunger.
“Nonsense. Anything else can hold. Besides, with how busy life usually is up here, breakfast might be the only honeymoon we have.” He cracked a smile then plucked a large jar of doughy mixture from one of the middle shelves and spooned a generous dollop into a wooden bowl. “And trust me, this is the best sourdough west of the Mississippi river. Add a little more flour and some eggs, and I’ll cook you up some of the fluffiest flapjacks you’ve ever enjoyed.”
Since he wasn’t going anywhere, Elizabeth seated herself and settled in to watch Axel cradle the bowl in one arm as he added ingredients and stirred with the other. A memory surfaced of the large dining room in her childhood home, entering with Mother for the only dinner they had shared with Father’s partner and his family. She had a very faint picture of what Mrs. Forsberg had looked like, because Elizabeth had been much too focused on the son, almost a man and one of the handsomest in her young opinion. He’d stood as she’d found her seat and she’d felt so much like a woman. But no doubt he had seen her just as she was—a child. Still, she’d waited impatiently for the next Christmas party—one that had never been held—and dreamt of the day she’d be old enough to draw his attention.
She cleared away the memory with a cough. “I never considered you the domestic sort.”
“Though, you have known me for less than a day.” He winked. “I imagine it will take some time to fully become acquainted.”
Elizabeth’s body heated as her thoughts read deeper into his words than hopefully he’d intended. One thing was for sure, by the way he looked at her, she now had Axel Forsberg’s full attention. And she could use that to her advantage if she had the mind. What better way for him to feel the pain they had caused her than by letting him fall in love, and then breaking his heart.
A smile came easily to her face.
***
Axel struggled to return his attention to the batter. The way Eliza’s smile lit up her face did something strange to his insides. He’d do about anything to keep that smile on her lips.
“I was thinking last night that maybe come winter, when I have a little more time, I’ll start felling more trees, build a second cabin.”
The smile was replaced by an inquisitive pout. “A second cabin?”
Axel turned to the stove for his favorite skillet and knifed in some butter. “I noticed your face when you saw Pa and realized he’d be living with us. And I can’t blame you for wanting a place of our own. I talked with him this morning and he agreed with me. In fact, he suggests we build a smaller cabin for him and we stay here where we’ll have room for children when they come.”
A choking cough brought his head around. Eliza held one hand over her mouth while the other fanned her face.
“Are you all right?”
“Of course. Fine.” Her smile returned, but with a hint of mischievousness to it. Just as attractive. “Let’s not hurry, though. Like you said, we’ve known each other less than a day.”
“It’ll be winter before I have time to start on the cabin.”
“I wasn’t talking about the cabin.”
“Then what?”
Rosiness blossomed in her cheeks. “Children.”
As Axel turned back to the stove, the warmth of the fire touched his face. She probably eluded to what came before children—something that had lingered in his mind last night as he’d tried to get comfortable on the floor. Axel quickly spooned some of the batter into the skillet before the butter burned. This was an easier topic to breach while faced away from her. “I’ll leave the timing to you.” Though he was beginning to hope she didn’t take too long.
“Thank you.”
When the first pancake was cooked to perfection, Axel flipped it onto a plate and set it before Eliza, already decked with a generous amount of butter and the prickly pear jelly he’d made himself that summer. He set the skillet off the heat so he could watch her first bite. Pleasure stretched across her face, as it probably did his.
He pulled the coffee pot back over the heat, and returned to cooking while she ate. As soon as her fork clanked to the plate he offered her more. And she took it—good woman. He wouldn’t have his wife blown away by the next decent wind that swept over the mountains.
“Where did you learn to cook so well?” Eliza waved off a third helping.
“When we first came west, Pa got us a job handling a chuck wagon on a cattle drive. We hadn’t much experience before that, but it was what work was available.” Axel dumped in the last of the doughy batter then turned to her and rested his forearms against the back of a chair, leaning forward. “They had this bible of a cookbook, so we tried our hands at something ‘til it tasted right, then moved on to the next recipe. We’d compete to see whose food would get eaten first by the cowpokes. Real fun.” He chuckled at the memory and shook his head, grateful that his wife didn’t seem the type that would kick him away from the stove, telling him it wasn’t his place. “For a while we tossed around the idea of opening an eating house of sorts, but that would mean living in a larger town, and I like it up here.”
Eliza pushed a bitty crumb around her plate and through a puddle of melted butter. “And so you hauled that monstrosity of a stove up here so you could cook to your heart’s content.”
“That’s the fact of it.” Axel relaxed, liking the way loose strands of rich brown hair fell beside her oval face. The odor of a charring flapjack assaulted his nose. He spun to rescue his breakfast, but he’d swallow down burnt food any day if it meant he’d get to keep this pretty distraction. Pa was right. He just needed to give Eliza some time.
***
After her clothes were washed and hung—thankfully the line was behind the cabin so her undergarments weren’t on display for the men—Elizabeth wandered out to the barn and corrals. She’d familiarize herself with options for leaving when the time came.
Horses. There were two of the creatures nibbling on the summer grass i
n a small pasture just to the right of the barn, and three more in a corral to the left. She made her way in that direction and mounted the bottom plank of the fence so she could see beyond. In a round arena, the ground beat to powder, Axel perched on top a muscular animal the color of caramel. She squinted to try to make out what he was doing, but from the looks of it, nothing. He just sat there, shoulders slumped, complete focus on the horse under him.
Curious, she worked her way around the first corral, and then quickened her pace to where Lars stood watching. Neither man looked her direction, but the horse did. Its ears perked high and its eyes widened. In an instant the horse reared and spun, then dove its nose to the ground and began to buck. Axel remained seated for all of seven seconds before tumbling heels-over-head and flat on his back. She winced at the thud. Then darted forward to see if he’d survived.
“Are you all right?”
A long moan was the only answer he gave as he rolled into his side, and then pushed himself up. He paused halfway to brace his hands on his knees and try for a breath. When he did straighten, his hand stole up to massage his temples. He groaned. “I’m alive.”
She covered a smirk behind her hand. “I was going to ask if you could teach me to ride, but after that, I think I’d prefer to learn how to hitch the wagon.”
Stretching his back, Axel moved to catch his horse. He secured one of the reins and came to the nearest fence. “This lady is just a little stubborn about things like saddles. Don’t worry, I have the mount for you. That little gray mare in that next corral will do your beck and call with a smile on her face.”
Elizabeth met Axel’s gaze and placed a smile on her own face. “Really? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse that looked pleased.”
“Oh, the ones around here are quite happy critters.” He gave his horse a firm rub on the neck, and then led her toward the center of the pen. “If you’d been listening, I’m sure you would have heard Desert Lady here chuckling to herself a few minutes ago.” Axel eyed the stirrup, and then looked back to Elizabeth. “It might be better if I come find you when I’m finished here.”
Elizabeth retreated. He probably didn’t want her startling the horse again. “Only because I’m not quite ready to become a widow.” Watching him break his neck wasn’t part of her plan. It would only save him from what she did have in store.
Chapter 5
Axel dragged the saddle from the little mare’s back and set it aside as his wife took up a brush and began currying the gray coat, almost black in places with sweat. “You’re a good rider. I was worried when you first got astride, but not for long.”
Eliza worked the bristles over the animal’s hip, a subtle smile giving added form to her mouth. “I have ridden before and received training. It’s just been a few years, and I’m not used to such a cumbersome saddle.”
A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Well, the mare is yours now, and you can ride her whenever you like. You can rename her, too.”
Smoothing the brush over the silken coat, Eliza worked her way to the animal’s face, her expression studious and her lips pursed. “What about Stitches.”
“Stitches?” Not at all what Axel imagined she’d choose.
The smile slipped from Eliza’s face. “I slaved away in that sewing factory for over four years, and I won’t go back. I won’t forget why I came here.”
Axel stepped behind her and braced her shoulders, wishing he could remove the burden that seemed to remain over them. But all he could do was let her know that he was there for her now and she would never have to go back to that life.
Eliza twisted away and dropped the brush to the ground. “I’m tired. I think I’ll retire early tonight.” She scuttled from the barn and hurried toward the house.
Blowing out his breath, Axel stooped for the brush and finished with the mare. Then he led her back to the pasture. A full hour passed before the chores were complete. He washed off at the well and made his way to the cabin. Pa sat alone, dinner already on the table. One plate showed the residue of stew. Good. Eliza had eaten. Axel only downed a few spoonfuls before he pushed away from the table and collected his pillow and blanket from the floor.
“Thanks, Pa. I’m done in. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“G’ night, son.”
The bedroom was dim with the setting sun stealing away beyond the mountain, but enough light remained to make out Eliza’s form tucked under his mother’s quilt, eyes watching him. Axel tossed the pillow onto his side of the bed and then perched on the end to pull off his boots and socks. He unbuttoned his shirt. What would Mama think of his new bride? He wasn’t aware of a person she hadn’t liked. She’d been the epitome of charity and gentleness…especially to her son and husband.
Down to his long underwear, Axel slipped under the quilt next to Eliza. She rolled to face away from him, so he settled onto his back and stared up at the rough-hewn rafters above as they sank into shadow. He relaxed his muscles, letting the pain of the day seep from them. Desert Lady had thrown him once more before she settled and let him ride her. Thankfully tomorrow was the Sabbath and the Lord had declared it a day of rest. His body needed one. It would also give him more time with Eliza—something he looked forward to.
He turned onto his side to see his wife. Her dark hair lay in waves across the pillow, filling the space between them. Axel couldn’t resist touching the ends, feeling the silkiness at the tips of his fingers. Maybe someday soon she’d let him sink his hands into her tresses and pull her close. Just to hold. The sweet fragrance, like his mother’s summer flower bed, filled his lungs, and he deepened his breath.
“Goodnight, Eliza.”
“Goodnight.”
Axel let a lock of her hair slip between his thumb and forefinger. Mama’s hair was brown too, but not this dark, and she always wore it piled on the back of her head, or in a thick braid when she’d been confined to her bed. She’d lain there for weeks, propped up with pillows so she could stitch the dainty roses into the array of colored fabric for this quilt.
“Why is this so important to you, Mama?” he’d asked her a few days before she slipped into the eternities. Her hands shook, making each stitch an exercise of will.
“Mostly selfish reasons,” she’d said, her smile brightening her eyes as it always did. “I want to leave a mark upon your life. Just you remember, Axel, nothing will make you more miserable, or bring you more joy, than the woman you someday marry. Marriage is like a quilt. It’s patching two lives together, with children to follow. You can tack the cloth together and pray it holds enough to keep you warm, or you can create a work of art that will add color and beauty to your life as well as protect you from the cold.”
Axel ran his hand over the quilt, her final words resonating within him.
“Make something beautiful.”
***
Eliza’s heart sped as Axel’s fingers wrapped over her arm. Her hand slipped under her pillow to find the hilt of the knife. He’d promised to let her decide when they would consummate their marriage, but she also knew he couldn’t be believed. Her father had once trusted this family and they had driven him and Mother into an early grave.
“Eliza?”
“What?” She struggled to swallow.
“I want this to be a real marriage. I know it’ll take time, but I promise to give you my whole heart. I want to be a good husband to you.” He paused and the warmth of his breath seeped through her hair as he drew nearer. He laid a kiss just above her ear. “Help me.”
The room fell silent so all she could hear was the thudding in her chest. And his. After a moment he withdrew. The mattress shifted as he rolled away. Still his warmth and presence filled the bed, making her feel overheated even in the linen nightgown. She released the knife but didn’t move until the last of the light faded and his breathing deepened with sleep. If Axel and his father thought they could take what they wanted, and then build a perfect life for themselves without any consequences, they’d soon discover how mistaken th
at notion was.
Minutes extended as darkness filled the room and silence fell over the cabin. Only a slight glow through the window suggested a part moon. When she was certain everyone slept, and she couldn’t stand the wait any longer, Elizabeth slipped from the bed and pulled on her shawl. Feet bare, she tiptoed to the end of the bed and picked Axel’s boots from the floor. She didn’t put them on until she was outside. Then plodded toward the corrals. Desert Lady raised her head as Elizabeth approached. A beautiful horse. No wonder Axel considered her worth the effort.
As Elizabeth took hold of the rope fastening the gate closed, memories of her father returned with potency. The day he had come home and collapsed at the table with a sob. “We are ruined. Forsberg has destroyed us. He’s left us with nothing. There’s no money left. The business, the house, everything. It’s lost.”
He’d sat there, weeping like a child. She’d never seen Father cry before. And nothing had ever scared her more.
Elizabeth swung the gate wide, and then started back to the cabin.
***
Axel felt no hurry to climb out of bed the next morning, not with his pretty wife lying beside him, her eyes closed, the usual tension in her body gone. She’d tossed a little during the night, bruising his shoulder with her elbow, and now faced him, fast asleep. Tucking his arm under his head, he watched her. He’d have to talk to Pa about Mama’s wedding ring—he should have thought of it sooner. She’d wanted Axel to pass it to his wife.
The thought made him smile. His wife.
What sort of life would they build together? After seeing her up to her elbows in sudsy water yesterday, and later, how she’d taken to riding, it was easy to picture working side by side as they grew old together. His thinking might be premature after only two days of acquaintance, but there was something about her…like he’d met her before.
Mail-Order Revenge Page 3
