“And you didn’t tell me because?” Brody didn’t have a huge problem with her bringing her sister, especially if she didn’t plan to live with them forever. His problem was with her attempt at deception.
“Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure if you’d agree to marry me if you knew I’d have a sister in tow. I was hoping that once we arrived, and you met us both, you’d go through with it.” Esther knew that honesty was the only way to start a marriage she wanted to last. It was better he knew the truth before he married her than found out later.
Coral stepped forward then, holding her hand out to Brody. “I’m Coral.”
Brody shook Coral’s hand, his eyes never leaving Esther’s face. “I could still refuse to marry you now.”
Esther nodded. “You could. I hope you won’t. We were in a tricky situation back home, and we had no idea what else to do. It seemed the right thing to do at the time.”
“Is there anything else I need to know? There’s no baby in the bag?” he asked, frowning at the carpet bags he’d dropped when she announced she’d brought her sister.
Esther shook her head. “No baby. I was engaged to be married, right up ‘til the day I answered your letter, but he’s only kissed me. I’m still a virgin.” She knew the words were somewhat crass, but considering the situation, she wanted them to be out there.
Brody grinned at that. “Well, at least you’re honest now. Okay, let’s get married.” He was slightly disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to make love to his wife that night. There was no privacy in the small shelter they’d stay in halfway to the ranch.
Esther let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding to grab his hand and squeeze it. She stood on tiptoe and kissed his weather-worn cheek. “Thank you.”
He caught her by the back of the neck and kissed her lips quickly before releasing her. “If you’re going to kiss me, do it right.”
Esther felt a tingling in her lips that had never happened when Jeremiah kissed her. She wanted to catch his shoulders and bring Brody back for another kiss, but with her sister standing there, and the whole of Sweetwater Springs looking on, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
He bent and picked up her carpet bags, leaving Coral to carry her own. “Let’s go get married.”
He helped Esther onto the wagon seat and then Coral, walking around to get in beside Esther. It wouldn’t be the affectionate drive back to his ranch he’d had in mind, but maybe it was better if they got to know one another before they moved on to the next level in their relationship.
Mrs. Norton welcomed both women with open arms, not asking about why there were two and not just the one they’d expected. “I’m sure you ladies will want to wash up after your long journey.”
“Oh, yes, if you don’t mind,” Coral responded for both of them.
“I’ve already filled the pitcher with hot water.” She led them into a spare bedroom with a pitcher and bowl off in a corner, leaving them alone.
Esther washed first, unfastening the front of her dress, and dropping it down around her waist. “I feel so filthy!” she complained, reaching for the bar of soap resting on the edge of the bowl.
Coral nodded. “I do too. So hurry up!”
Esther washed quickly, not because of anything Coral said, but so she wouldn’t keep Brody waiting. “What do you think of him?” she asked, knowing there would be no question in Coral’s mind who she was referring to.
Coral shrugged. “He’s handsome enough, and he seems to be willing to accept the fact that I came with you and will stay with you for a while. The important thing is what do you think of him?”
Esther blushed, concentrating on washing instead of looking at her sister. “I like him. I really like the way he kisses.”
“More than Jeremiah?”
“Oh, yes! I always felt a little—dirty after Jeremiah kissed me. When Brody kissed me, I just wanted to kiss him more.” Esther blushed as she admitted it, but who could she talk to about those things if not her sister?
“Maybe what happened with Father is the best thing for both of us then.”
“Maybe. I’ll reserve judgment for a while.” She walked to the bed and sat down, rummaging through her carpet bag. She pulled out a dress to see if it looked terribly wrinkled. “I have got to get out of this thing. I feel like this dress could walk by itself it’s so dirty.”
Coral nodded, unbuttoning her dress and dropping it to the floor. She washed wearing just her petticoat. “He seems like a nice man. I do think you’ll be happy with him.”
“I just have to wait and see.”
Ten minutes later, the sisters were washed and dressed, and they stepped out into the parlor.
“Are you ladies ready to start?” the minister asked.
Esther nodded. “Yes, sir. We are.” She moved to stand beside Brody, looking up at him as he stood straight beside her. He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.
The wedding was short and brief, and Esther barely remembered it later. Except for the kiss, of course. She’d always remember that kiss for the rest of her life.
When the minister said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” Brody pulled Esther to him by the hand he held. He slipped his hands around her waist, lowering his mouth to hers.
The kiss that followed was nothing like she had ever imagined a wedding kiss to be. He held her just a little bit too close, his lips ravaging hers. As he kissed her, her hands moved up to circle his shoulders, and she pressed closer than she should have.
He nipped her bottom lip before raising his head. His eyes were half closed, and she saw something in them she didn’t recognize. It was almost predatory.
The pastor cleared his throat, pulling at the front of his collar. “Congratulations.”
Brody’s eyes didn’t leave Esther’s as he replied. “Thank you, sir.”
Coral’s eyes were wide as she looked back and forth between her sister and her new brother-in-law.
Brody smiled at his new bride. “Let’s start toward home.”
They all said goodbye to the pastor as they headed for the door. Esther pulled away from Brody and hurried back to thank Mrs. Norton. “I so appreciate you thinking to have warm water waiting for us. It made my sister and I feel very welcome.” She took the older woman’s hands in hers and squeezed them tightly.
Mrs. Norton smiled. “I was so happy to be part of your big day.”
Esther hurried to rejoin Brody. “Now we can start toward home.”
Brody had watched the whole thing with a smile. His wife had manners. Maybe she hadn’t been completely upfront with him before the wedding, but he had a feeling she would be now.
Five minutes later, they were out of Sweetwater Springs and on their way toward the ranch. “How far is your ranch?” Esther asked, needing to break the uncomfortable silence.
“It’s going to take a day and a half to get there. We’ll stop at a small cabin along the way, put there for travelers.”
Esther looked at her sister. She hoped that Brody would be willing to wait for their wedding night, so her sister would hear no untoward noises.
The beauty of Montana Territory was not lost on either of the sisters. They’d lived in the Northeast their entire lives, never traveling far at all from their home. In fact, their first train trip had been to Montana.
“It’s beautiful.” Coral looked everywhere around her, her eyes lit with excitement. She thought of this whole thing as a huge adventure.
Brody smiled. “Do you think you’ll try and find a man from this area? Make Montana your home?”
“Definitely. Not only do I want to be close to my sister, I can’t imagine ever leaving this place.”
“You two must be really close. I was very close to my brothers, before I left Ireland.”
Esther smiled. “I knew I recognize that Irish brogue. How long have you been here?”
“I moved to Montana when I was twenty-one. I left Ireland when I was eighteen, and I worked
in a factory in New York City for three years. I definitely prefer Montana to New York.”
“Oh, I think I would too. I can imagine living in a city as big as New York.”
Brody shrugged. “A man does what he must. I’m happy that I don’t have to do that any longer. My ranch makes me very happy.”
“Is it a big ranch?” Esther had been engaged to the son of the richest man in her hometown. It seemed strange to be married to this man now. Strange, but good.
“It’s certainly not the biggest ranch in Montana, but it’s not small. I have five men who work for me full-time.”
Coral’s ears perked up at that. “Are your men married?”
Brody shook his head. “Nope. None of them. And there are plenty of unmarried men in Morgan’s Crossing as well.”
“Morgan’s Crossing?” Esther asked. “Is that near you?”
“Near is a relative term. It’s about a half day’s wagon ride away, but it’s the nearest town.”
“Will we be so isolated that I won’t have a chance to meet men?” Coral asked.
“Not at all. Why, we’re even starting a country school about two miles from my ranch. There will only be about six children attending, but that’s enough that we need a teacher. We built the schoolhouse this summer.”
“Is there a church nearby?” Esther asked.
He shook his head. “No, but the teacher we hired said that he would be happy to preach for Sunday services in the schoolhouse if we’d like.”
“Sounds like we’ll not be as isolated as I expected.”
He laughed. “Oh, we’ll be pretty isolated. There are a few other ranchers in the area, and we’ll all have a chance to get together on occasion. There aren’t a lot of people around though. Don’t expect to have a busy social life.”
Esther was slightly disappointed. She hadn’t expected a busy social life, but she’d certainly hoped for one. It’s what she was used to, and she felt at ease in the middle of a social whirl. What else was she good for?
Chapter Four
They were about two hours out of town when Brody pulled the wagon to the side of the dirt road. “I paid Mrs. Norton to make a picnic for us. She always packs more than anybody could ever need, so I’m sure there’s enough for all three of us. Of course, she doesn’t think I paid her. I told her to give the money to the poor if she didn’t want it, so that’s what she’ll probably do.”
Esther smiled, liking the idea of a picnic lunch. “Sounds lovely.”
Coral looked between the other two, jumping down from the wagon. “I think I’ll go for a walk in the woods. I’ll be back in about ten minutes.”
“Will she be safe?” Esther asked Brody.
“Oh, certainly. As long as she doesn’t go too far off, she shouldn’t run into any hostile animals.”
Esther looked over her shoulder at her sister, who was already halfway to the woods. “Be careful!”
“I will!” Coral called back.
Esther looked back at Brody. “Being Coral, if she runs into something dangerous, she’ll just shimmy her way up a tree, and then she will start dropping acorns on its head in such a way that it will die immediately.”
Brody’s eyes widened. “She sounds self-sufficient.”
Esther shook her head. “In a way you would never believe if I told you. She is a sight to behold. I’m not the best cook, but she’ll help me. By the time she’s ready to marry, I’ll be able to cook a seven course feast with a two-hour notice. She’s been able to do that since she was four.” Esther knew she was exaggerating, but only a little, and it was nice to be able to explain about her sister to a stranger. Everyone who knew them just stared at Coral in awe.
Brody grinned. “Are you a little jealous of your younger sister?”
Esther put her hand over her chest, trying to look innocent. “Oh, no! I’m a lot jealous of my younger sister.”
He laughed. “Good. But let’s be honest, I wouldn’t want someone that perfect. I need someone as flawed as I am.”
“Flaws, I have. If you want someone flawed, you found the right woman.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” He reached into the wagon and took out the picnic basket he’d set back there. “If you grab the quilt, and spread it wherever you want it, I’ll put the picnic basket down.”
Esther reached into the back of the wagon and picked up the quilt that was lying there, folded nicely. She wondered briefly if he’d folded it himself or someone had done it for him. She carried it to a flat piece of ground. “It’s beautiful here. I’m not sure what I expected, but whatever it was, it was nothing like this. I think I expected to see snow.”
He laughed at that. “Not usually in September. I’ve seen it, but it’s really not common.”
Esther spread out the quilt, sitting on it with her legs crossed, and her skirt arranged nicely around her. “I’m very happy to hear that. I wouldn’t want to be fighting snow all year round.”
Brody set the picnic basket onto the quilt. “I have no idea what she packed for us, but I’m sure it’s good. Mrs. Norton is known to be a fabulous cook.”
Esther dug into the picnic basket, not looking at him as she pulled out fried chicken, baked beans, and potato salad, along with a loaf of bread and some butter. There was also a jar of lemonade in the basket and three glasses. “Thank you for being so kind about my sister being with me. I know that couldn’t have been easy for you.”
He sighed. “It’s not ideal, but I’m not going to turn her out.”
“I should have told you about her before you sent the money for my ticket.”
“Yes, you should have, but you didn’t know me and had no idea how I’d react. I do understand. I’d honestly rather not have your younger sister living with us during our first few months of marriage, but I can understand the necessity.”
“She’ll pull her weight. Knowing Coral, she’ll start her own business, and start paying you rent within a week or two.”
He laughed. “That really isn’t necessary.” He sat beside her on the quilt, his arm going around her shoulders. “I just want to have a chance to have time alone with my wife.”
As strange as it felt to allow him to touch her, she knew he had every right—and she liked it. “I know. So does Coral. Why do you think she disappeared?”
He grinned at that. “I’m glad she did. It gave us a chance to speak openly. I worry we won’t have any time to be private with one another with her here.”
Catching his meaning, Esther blushed. “We’ll find a way. We can go for walks, or send her for walks. I hope you have a two-bedroom house.”
“I do! Thank God. I don’t know what we’d do otherwise. I’m not going to not make love to you until she’s gone, but I don’t want to be heard by her either.”
“I’m sorry to make it so difficult for you,” she said, her eyes landing on his lips. She remembered how soft they’d felt on hers during the wedding. She wanted to ask him to kiss her again, but she wouldn’t be so forward. She’d been raised better than that.
Brody noticed where her eyes had landed and leaned down, pressing his mouth to hers. He traced her lips with his tongue, silently asking for entrance.
Esther parted her lips for him, scooting closer to him on the quilt. She liked the way he kissed her. She could feel a burning in her low belly as his tongue slid into her mouth to tangle with hers.
There was a loud cough from behind them as Coral approached. Esther pulled away, her face red. “At least she gave us fair warning of her approach.”
He sighed. “This is what life is going to be like until we get her married off. She needs to start courting someone this week. Maybe I’ll auction her off to my men,” he said, winking to let her know he was joking.
“You should have them all submit husband proposals, kind of like a mail order bride letter. She can choose between the letters and get to know them based on which she likes the best.”
He laughed. “Maybe I’ll do that. We’ll see how long it takes before the me
n start buzzing around her.”
Coral collapsed onto the quilt, taking the plate that Esther offered her. “I hope you’re hungry, because we have enough to feed a family of ten!” Esther told her.
“Starving! The last thing I ate was a sandwich right before we went to sleep last night.” Coral didn’t wait as she took a big bite of her chicken.
“What made you decide to be a mail order bride?” Brody asked Esther.
Esther choked, taking a big drink of her lemonade. “I’m not sure you’re ready to hear that story.”
He looked back and forth between the two sister. “Now I know that I need to hear it. What happened?”
“Well, we were raised in an affluent household in a medium-sized town in Massachusetts. We were happy there. I met a boy in school, and we courted, and he asked me to marry him as soon as we graduated.”
Brody nodded. She’d told him she was engaged earlier.
“Well, I was out shopping about six weeks ago, and when I got home, I found Coral and our mother in the parlor. Mother was crying, and she told me to take back everything I’d purchased, because we couldn’t afford it. It took a few questions before the whole story came out.” Esther took a bite of her chicken, thinking about the best way to tell the rest of the story. “The police had come and arrested Father that day. He was caught embezzling money from the bank he worked in. The one he’d worked in for as long as I could remember. The owner of the bank was my fiancé’s father.”
His eyes widened. His new bride, the sweet innocent woman looking at him with wide brown eyes, was the daughter of a felon?
“There was a letter from Jeremiah waiting for me, telling me he wanted nothing more to do with me, and that I should leave town to avoid embarrassment for both of us. Mother was on her way to go live with her parents, because she couldn’t deal with the embarrassment. Coral told me about a mail order bride agency right there in town, so I went and talked to the matchmaker. I sent you a letter that very night.” She daintily wiped her mouth as she finished her story, taking a quick sip of her lemonade. She hadn’t planned to tell him quite so soon, but she was glad the story was out.
Montana Sky: Mail Order Machinations (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 3
