A Bride’s Unyielding Heart: A Historical Western Romance Novel

by Etta Foster

  “Sorry, dear! I forget my own strength sometimes,” Viola said, wrapping her arms around Coralee so suddenly that she didn't have time to react. Coralee stood frozen, with her hands held out at her sides uncertainly. “Thank you for taking lunch out to Gavin earlier. I'm getting too old to be able to run meals out to him when he’s on the far side of the property. I know he’s probably loving the fact that you keep bringing him his meals. I know he always loved it when I brought lunch to him when he was a young boy.”

  “It's my pleasure,” came Coralee’s genuine reply as they continued on towards the house. Once inside the kitchen she reached into the cupboard to retrieve the kettle. She set it above the fireplace and then glanced over at Viola. “We'll need to prepare a chicken, I think.”

  “That's no trouble. I had Harland do that this morning. The carcass is hanging in the storeroom out back. Why don't you come with me and I can show you? That way you’ll know where we keep them,” Viola offered.

  “I'd like that.” They walked out toward the back of the house to a nearby shed that Coralee hadn't noticed before. Stepping inside, she immediately saw a freshly cleaned chicken hanging from a piece of twine on a peg. Coralee raised an eyebrow in silent question but didn't speak, instead watching in silence as Viola untied the chicken and carried it over to her. “Now I'll teach you how to completely debone a chicken.”

  Later that night at dinner, Coralee and Gavin sat across from Claudia and Jude. After much coaxing, Coralee managed to get Gavin to tell her more about what he would be doing with the Mustang, as well as getting the low-down on what he'd been doing with the fencing earlier. She did her best to act like Jude and Claudia weren't even there; they never said anything polite anyway, so what reason did she have to go out of her way to be on good terms with them?

  Isaac asked Jude what chores he had done that day, and Gavin's older brother blustered and stammered his way through what sounded like a lie. Coralee rolled her eyes gently, casting a glance over to where Gavin was currently lifting a forkful of the shepherd’s pie to his lips.

  “This is fantastic,” he exclaimed, glancing over at his mother. “Did you make this?”

  “Actually, most of the cooking tonight was done by Jessica,” Viola replied instantly, cutting off Coralee with a small look. It felt wrong to take credit, but she wasn't going to argue with Viola.

  “I'm really impressed, Jessica,” Gavin said earnestly, turning his gaze to her and offering a smile that almost made her melt.

  “You really are too kind,” she mumbled in embarrassment, squirming from having the attention of everyone at the table focused solely on her. “I can't even claim credit for the recipe. I read it in a magazine.”

  “We wouldn't have had it without you, so I think that’s good enough,” Isaac chimed in.

  Jude and Claudia said nothing, eating from their plates in silence. They can't bring themselves to compliment me, so they're just going to sit there in silence instead. I figured as much. It’s not like I was looking for their approval, anyway.

  “It's not bad, I suppose,” Claudia said snobbishly. “I've certainly had worse.”

  Coralee ignored her comment and simply sat in silence. It was obvious to her from the start that Claudia was not a big fan of Coralee. That feeling was growing every day, but she wasn't going to let the other woman know it bothered her. Claudia wasn't going to get the satisfaction of knowing that she was getting under Coralee's skin.

  Once dinner was finished and they had all said their goodnights, Coralee sat in her room with only the light of a candle to read by. She was reading one of the dime novels she had brought with her. It was one of the few belongings of Jessica's she had been able to grab the night she fled the Caldwell house.

  It was one of Coralee’s favorite stories, one in which a young girl is saved from thieves attacking her train car by a dashing young man who turns out to be the son of the mayor. It had one of her favorite endings of all time, in which the two got married and had two beautiful children, wrapping up their happily ever after.

  It had been Jessica's favorite story as well, and as she clutched it to her chest, Coralee wondered whether it was her own dream. This is all Jessica. I’m so caught up in trying to live a lie that I'm starting to forget who I am. She set the book down on her bedside table and lay gazing at the door. She realized that Gavin had not once come to talk with her after bedtime, which struck her as slightly odd.

  Will I even be able to go through with the wedding when the time comes? Can I really marry him knowing that I will spend the rest of my life never answering to my own name again? The tears began to fall before she realized it. She pressed her face into her pillow to keep her sobs stifled, the smell of freshly washed linens offering a small amount of comfort.

  Pull yourself together, Coralee. This is a wonderful place, and you’re lined up for a wonderful life. Jessica wanted this for you. This was her idea, remember? I just need to keep my wits about me. If I don't, and I need to leave this place, I wouldn't know what to do. I can't risk going back to Boston, so I’m trapped out here. Who knows what I would have to resort to in order to care for myself?

  The image of Lucas's angry eyes glaring at her loomed in her mind, his seething expression making her flinch internally. She let out a groan as she buried her face deeper into her pillow, willing the images of her tormentor to disappear. She didn't need him on her mind right now. I need to try and get some sleep. Lucas is out of my life, and I'm never going to see him again. One way or the other.

  Turning toward her window, she found that she had a lovely view of the moon from where it seemed to hang right outside the house. It hung low in the sky and appeared so large that she felt almost like she could reach out and touch it. It helped soothe her, albeit only a little bit. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she focused on the sound of her breathing.

  I wonder if Gavin is thinking about me right now. Is he having just as much trouble going to sleep as I am? If only I could work up the courage to go to his room and see. But just like every other night, I'll lie here with my thoughts until I fall asleep. That simply won't change.

  Chapter 14

  The next day, Jude saddled up his horse and rode it into the nearest town. He had grown tired of sitting at the ranch dealing with his family's prolonged awkwardness together, so he was going to go get himself a nice drink.

  Claudia had not begged him to bring her along, but that was only because they were having troubles. Claudia had been growing moodier by the day, and he couldn't understand for the life of him what was causing her sour mood.

  I can’t believe it’s because she’s upset about Jessica and Gavin’s engagement. She picked me over him; if she thought that we wouldn't get along, she shouldn't have convinced me to elope. Whatever her attitude is, she better get over it.

  Anyway, I have it worse than her. I can't believe I had to come back to this crappy place. I'm already sick of the smell of manure and the bad attitudes of the ranch hands. I guess Gavin spent all the time I was away poisoning them against me.

  Pulling on his horse’s reins to bring him to a halt, he dismounted unceremoniously. He hitched his horse to the hitching post that sat in front of the saloon and pulled a carrot from the saddle bag and fed it to the Palomino before making his way inside.

  The sound of piano music that had been faint when he'd first rode up was now significantly louder. It had to be, in order to compete with the sounds of the place. Men were slapping the tops of tables and clinking their glasses.

  “Get me a glass of whiskey, and make it snappy,” he bellowed, the bartender immediately scurrying away to do as asked when he caught sight of Jude's sour expression. When he had his drink in hand, he made his way over to a dark corner of the saloon where a solitary table sat unoccupied. This is more like it.

  “Jude Woodworth, you old dog! How have you been? I haven't seen you in over five years, and your brother always ignores my questions when I try to ask him about you,” came a voice from b
ehind him that sounded rather familiar, which prompted Jude to turn around.

  Standing there was a squat older man in his mid-forties, missing teeth showing as he grinned toothily at Jude. He was dressed nicely despite what Jude would have assumed, but that had always been the case with him. The man before him was no stranger. They had chatted many times back when Jude had originally lived in the area.

  “Virgil Gleason. I didn't think that I would be running into you so soon after getting back to the area. Don't tell me you were looking for me or something like that,” Jude said cheekily, taking a gulp of his drink and letting out a satisfied smack of his lips as the familiar warmth coursed down his throat.

  “So, what have you been up to?” Virgil asked, motioning to the bartender for another round of drinks before lowering himself into the chair across from Jude. “Tell me what’s happened with you in the last five years.”

  “Well, Virgil, it’s honestly a pretty miserable story. My brother was seeing this girl who was apparently sweet on me, and just when she was about to marry my brother, she asked me to elope with her and start a family somewhere. Against my better judgment, I agreed, and we fled Colorado to make our way out to California. I had heard from a family friend of mine that there was land for prospecting to be had out there. However, upon arriving, I discovered that we had been duped.”

  “Duped how?” Virgil asked, leaning forward against the table. His eyes were glittering with curiosity, but Jude knew it was only because the sneaky businessman was trying to find something to use against him.

  “I spent three months of going day after day to the land I'd purchased and searched everywhere, but I didn't find a single flake of gold anywhere. When we started having trouble paying for places to stay, Claudia blamed me for it. She said it was my fault that I had bought worthless land and risked everything on baseless rumors. She's been a treat, I tell you,” he added, tapping his glass on the table, desiring a refill.

  “What about starting a family? Women usually mellow out after they have a kid or two. Why didn't you go that route with your old lady?” Virgil asked as he tossed back his head to swig down another shot.

  It was one of the first times Jude had felt embarrassed in a long while. He suddenly stopped smiling, his expression growing pained. “We've been trying. I don't know what’s wrong. It just hasn’t worked out yet.”

  “That's a rough situation, to be sure,” Virgil replied sympathetically, reaching over to give Jude's shoulder a gentle pat. “I'm sure you'll get there eventually.”

  “I don't know if our marriage is going to be able to last if it takes much longer,” Jude replied miserably, setting his head on his arm and scratching his cheek with his free hand. “She seems to grow angrier with me by the day.”

  “Are you back at the Woodworth ranch right now?” Virgil asked, suddenly looking far more interested than he had before.

  “Yeah, I'm stuck there for the next six months. My old man seems to be kicking the bucket soon, but it isn't all bad. I’m apparently getting half of the ranch land even though I haven't been around for the past few years. The only stipulation is that I need to spend the next six months doing chores every day. Half the reason I left the first time was because I was tired of that lifestyle,” Jude whined, his cheeks slowly starting to grow flushed from the alcohol.

  “Sounds rough, Jude. What would you do once you got hold of that land? If you inherit it, there’s nothing to say that you have to keep it. If I were you, I would find some generous soul who would be willing to purchase it from you. Then take the money and put it towards starting that new life of yours. That would stop Claudia from making her complaints, wouldn't it?” Virgil's eyes were glittering greedily now, his hands rubbing slowly together.

  “It certainly would. But who could I find that would give me anywhere near what the land is worth? There are a lot of unsavory people out there, Virgil. Someone could try and fleece me for the land, then turn around and make a whopping profit. Then I come out a sucker, and that's not what I'm looking for,” Jude hiccupped, laughing softly.

  “That's why you’re so lucky to be acquainted with a generous man like me. I would be more than happy to buy that land off you, Jude. What's more, I'll pay you a whole six hundred dollars for your part of the land. Just make sure that your portion of land includes that lake in the back. I love letting my cattle graze near there and having that under my ownership would be a mighty nice change of pace,” Virgil said, indicating for the bartender to bring them a bottle and pouring Jude another glass. “What do you say?”

  “I say that you are quite the generous man, Virgil.” That would be more than enough for Claudia and me to go set ourselves up in a nice little place where we can live without a care in the world. Maybe then she would finally be happy with me again. She might even do that special thing that I like once more, like when we first got married.

  “I won't ask that you make such a decision without a little bit of thought first. You can have a little bit of time to think it over, if you need it,” Virgil replied amicably.

  “That won't be necessary, Virgil. You’re being very generous, and I would be a fool to let a blessing slip past me after it has presented itself so desirably. I'm not yet in possession of my half, but as soon as I come into it, you'll be the first one I get in touch with,” Jude replied, slapping his hand on top of the table to get the bartender's attention. “Another round, bartender, to celebrate my rightful inheritance!”

  Virgil echoed his cheer, along with some of the other, more inebriated patrons. Shakily forcing himself to stand upright, Jude held his glass aloft, noticing the chubby ranch owner's rings glinting on his fingers.

  They drank until the sun began to lower in the distance, prompting Jude to let out an annoyed scoff. “I best be making my way back. I'm sure everyone is going to be wondering where I've been all day.”

  “Are you even capable of riding back after all you’ve drank? Let me give you a ride back to your place. It’s the least I can do for a friend like you,” Virgil's voice was unusually sweet, which should have served as a warning for Jude. However, he was far too gone to care now.

  “I can make my way just fine, but I won't turn down your kindness. Can I get my horse hitched up to the back of your carriage? I can't really afford to leave it around here. Never know what sort of unsavory characters might try to walk off with him,” Jude slurred suspiciously, the ability for him to think starting to lessen more and more as his drink got the better of him.

  He didn't fully recall how he managed to get home. The last thing he truly remembered was climbing into the back of Virgil Gleason's carriage, the gentle rocking of the vehicle having lulled him partially to sleep.

  He awoke to Virgil gently shaking him when they arrived at the Woodworth Ranch. He thanked Virgil for his kindness and led his horse toward the stable, cursing as he stumbled with every step.

  Claudia was sitting on their bed when he came back, a look of annoyance plastered to her face. Jude found himself to be in a pretty decent mood, all things considered, and he was even willing to try and make up with Claudia. “I'm sorry for earlier.”

  “You smell like you had a good time,” Claudia replied shortly, her arms crossing in front of her chest. “Is that where you ran off to for the better part of the day? You could have at least told me you were leaving.”

  “I'm sorry, love, I just felt cooped up and needed to be by myself for a while,” he said trying to pacify her, his hands moving to rest on her shoulders. His thumbs slowly started tracing small circles on her shoulder blades, causing a soft groan of appreciation to escape her lips. “How about I give you a nice back rub to make up for it.”

  “I guess that wouldn't be so bad,” Claudia said, laying on her stomach and gazing back at him expectantly. It took some willpower not to fall over, but he managed to straddle the center of her back so he could start rubbing her shoulders.

  “Besides, I was talking to someone about solidifying our future,” he said, leaning
forward to plant a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Your patience these last five years is about to be rewarded big time. Just you wait.”

  Chapter 15

  It's hotter than hell out here! The sun was bearing down on Gavin once again as he stood outside doing his chores, turning what would otherwise be a humdrum activity into a sweaty quagmire of annoyance.

  It was bad enough that he'd been expecting rain only for it to never come. Jude had been here for two weeks now, and his presence, in addition to the weather, was proving to be a big contributor to Gavin's sour mood. It was swelteringly hot, with the air itself shimmering from the heat.

  In the distant sky, Gavin could see heavy, dark clouds beginning to gather. Normally, he wasn't a fan of stormy weather. However, standing as he was with his shirt clinging to his body from sweat, he wouldn't have minded some rain in that moment.

  He was currently putting food into the feeding troughs, watching the horses mill around, munching on the fresh oats and straw he had laid out for them. He'd even mixed a little alfalfa in with it, just as an added treat for them.