The Ultimatum Bride

by Leah Atwood

  A loud whistle to the east caught his attention, and he turned to see the train rumbling in through a billow of gray smoke. The train’s arrival brought the crowd of people waiting on the edge of the platform, craning their necks to see the advent of the locomotive, only to back away when it pulled in. The iron horse came to a stop, and Jesse fixated his gaze to the door where passengers would depart.

  Faith had given him a brief description of her physical attributes so he trained his eyes to look for a petite woman with red hair and green eyes. Only one person stepped from the train who could be Faith. From her lack of words in describing her features, Jesse had expected someone mildly plain. Instead, the woman before him was beautiful. Fiery red hair was styled in the latest fashion, with a few errant strands in discord with her pristine features. A small, pert nose sat perfectly centered below two eyes greener than the pastures in April after a fresh rain.

  His heart was doing strange things to him, and he found himself suddenly short of breath. Forcing a few deep breaths, he went over to meet his bride.

  “Miss Donovan?” he asked to confirm her identity.

  “Yes. Mr. West, I presume?” She spoke with a musical lilt that betrayed no hint that she was experiencing the same nervousness which he was.

  “Yes. Please, call me Jesse.”

  “Very well, Jesse. And you may address me by Faith.” She graced him with a hesitant smile which revealed a full set of pearly white teeth set in a straight line.

  “How were your travels?” Jesse inquired, wanting to hear her voice again.

  “Very nice. Thank you for the advanced accommodations.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m pleased your trip went well.” He crooked his elbow, offering his arm to her.

  Faith slid her arm through his, and they walked down the street. Later, he would return for her trunks, but for the time being he wanted time to talk with her before their wedding just a short period away. Absorbed in the arrival of his bride-to-be, Jesse didn’t notice the disgruntled look thrown his way by Mr. Young, nor his subsequent storming out of town.

  They walked past the restaurant and the tantalizing smell of roast beef filled his nostrils. Feeling guilty, he realized he hadn’t asked Faith if she was hungry. He didn’t know when her last meal had been. “Would you like something to eat? We have enough time to dine before meeting the reverend.”

  She looked up at him through long, dark eyelashes. “I’m afraid in all the excitement, I don’t have much of an appetite, but if you’re hungry, I will be happy to sit with you.”

  “We will keep walking, then, unless you would like to sit somewhere.”

  Faith laughed before answering. “After sitting for so long on the train, I can appreciate walking.”

  A few people stared at the couple as they strolled down the boardwalk on the side of the main street. The town was still relatively small, and everyone was naturally curious about the newcomer, especially since she was seen on wild Jesse West’s arm. Some had the good grace to be more subtle in their observations. Fortunately, Faith seemed oblivious to the glances, continuing to tell him stories of the Wallace boys she’d looked after.

  The awkwardness Jesse had expected to exist, did not. Faith was a lively conversationalist, and he could imagine her fitting right in with his sisters. He loved listening to her talk, and when she would finish one story, he’d fill in the lags with information on the town and his family. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe their entire marriage could be eased into this smoothly, but for the moment he was content and grateful for the simplicity of their introduction.

  Jesse pulled out his pocket watch, noting the time had come to make their way to the church. “Are you ready to get married?” For the first time, he noted a hint of trepidation in her eyes.

  “Yes,” she answered, her voice shaky.

  Leading her to a small alleyway, allowing for a measure of privacy, he clasped her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay to be nervous and a little scared. This is a lifetime commitment we’re about to enter into.”

  “I’m sorry. I tried so hard to be brave and act unaffected, but the truth is, I’ve barely been able to stop shaking since I arrived. As long as I talked, I didn’t think about the wedding business. I’m not usually that talkative.” She gave a nervous chuckle, and Jesse smiled at her.

  “No apologies needed. I’ve enjoyed listening to you.”

  “How come your family didn’t want to come to town for a wedding?”

  Faith’s question threw him off guard, but he chose to be honest with her. “They don’t know.”

  Her lips formed a perfect O, and a flicker of fear flashed in her emerald eyes. He had to tell her something quick to assure her. “For your sake, I didn’t tell them. I love my sisters, but they can be overbearing. I didn’t want them to overwhelm you.”

  It wasn’t a complete fabrication—he was certain had his sisters known of Faith, they would have stepped in and taken control. The simple wedding he desired would have turned into something much more extravagant. If his father had even allowed it to continue.

  The fear left her eyes, and although Jesse could tell Faith did not fully accept his explanation, she did not press further.

  Together, they walked to the church where Reverend Anderson was already waiting with Horace, Leonard and Leonard’s wife, Hettie. The stationmaster’s wife greeted Faith with a hug and placed a bouquet of wildflowers in her hand. When Faith’s face lit up, Jesse was glad he’d listened to Leonard about bringing Hettie along. She’d seen to it that Faith would have some niceties at the wedding, and Jesse was grateful.

  The ceremony was brief, and soon Jesse was looking at his wife. They were now bound together for the remainder of their lives. Returning to the depot, Jesse gathered Faith’s two trunks and carried them to the wagon. In silence, they rode to the Circle W, each lost in thought, overcome with the magnitude of the vows they’d just recited.

  “How much longer until we reach your home?” Faith asked him after some time had passed.

  “Our home,” he corrected, wanting her to feel welcome at Circle W. “We’re on Circle W land now, but we’ll get to the house in about thirty minutes.”

  “The land is so different than what I am used to.” Faith’s gaze traveled across the expanse of the high plains.

  “What was it like in Missouri?” Jesse had never been further than the southern boundary of Nebraska, and that was a few years back when the family went to visit an aunt.

  “In St. Louis, there are buildings and people everywhere. Nothing with the vast openness that surrounds us now. How far does this continue?”

  “As far as the eye can see. Farther west are the mountains, but our land stops well before they become visible.”

  “I think it’s beautiful.”

  Unwittingly, Faith increased Jesse’s esteem for her. Many a woman had turned against the land, unable to cope, unwilling to discover its splendor. “There are canyons hidden amidst the prairie.”

  “Really? But the land seems so flat.” Her eyebrows raised in disbelief.

  “Looks can be deceiving. There is a magnificent one on the north end of Circle W, filled with juniper and cottonwoods. Would you like to go one day?”

  “I would.”

  They fell back into silence, more comfortable this time. Jesse felt a peace settle over him convinced this marriage was a good idea. The main house came into view, and he desperately tried to hold onto the serenity he’d found.

  As the wagon approached the house, George West came barreling out of the barn, looking angrier that a rattler about to strike.

  “Where have you been, boy? Darrel Young was just here to inform me you were parading around on the arm of a…”

  Jesse spoke sharply and harshly to interrupt his father. This was not how he’d wanted to introduce Faith and announce their marriage, but he knew what Pa had been about to say. He would not subject Faith to such language.

  Jesse knew the exact moment Pa re
alized someone was in the wagon with him. George West’s eyes narrowed with disdained intrigue, but he didn’t say another word. Dropping the reins, Jesse turned to Faith. “I’m sorry,” was all he could say.

  He didn’t miss the tremble of Faith’s fingers. The contentment of the trip from town had been shattered and now reality was hitting them with a vengeance.

  “I’ll show you to our room, then speak with Pa privately. He’ll be fine once I explain everything.” His reassurance did little to qualm his own doubts, but Faith gave him a weak smile.

  “Meet me in my office in fifteen minutes,” Pa barked.

  Exiting the wagon, Jesse sucked in a breath. He would stand his ground before his father. Faith was a respectable woman, and Jesse knew, given a chance, the family would love her. Already, he could see himself loving her in time. He walked around to the wagon’s other side, placed his hands around Faith’s trim waist and lifted her from the wagon.

  He led her into the house, showing her the room they would share. “This will be our room.” He felt apologetic as he looked at the sparse furnishings. He’d never needed more but felt foolish offering this little bit to his wife. His lack of thought and planning perturbed him. “I’m sorry it’s not more. There was no time to build our own house, but I promise I’ll make that a priority.”

  “This is fine,” she maintained.

  “I’ll bring your trunks and then talk to Pa.” Jesse gave his wife an encouraging smile before leaving. After making quick work of bringing in her belongings, he went to face his father.

  Entering the office without knocking, he saw his father staring at a small framed portrait that sat on his desk. A sad smile shrouded his Pa’s face, aging him far beyond his fifty some years. When he heard Jesse enter, the sadness disappeared, replaced with fury.

  “Who is that woman, and what is she doing in this house?” the elder West demanded.

  “She is my wife.”

  “Your what?” George bellowed.

  “My wife. We were married just before returning from town.”

  “Of all the fool things you’ve ever done.”

  Despite his father’s rage, Jesse was able to remain calm. “I did what you asked Pa. Faith is a respectable woman from St. Louis.”

  “So Faith is the girl’s name. And how did you come to meet her?”

  “I placed an advertisement in The Daily Times of St. Louis. The family that Faith had been a loyal governess for was no longer in need of her services, and she needed somewhere to go.”

  His father’s lips twitched, and Jesse could tell he was trying to choose his words carefully. “When one has wealth, marriages cannot be entered into lightly. How do you know this woman is honest? Maybe she is a loose woman, trying to trap you with another man’s child. Or maybe she’s out to get her hands on our fortunes. Did you stop to think of these repercussions?”

  The exasperation in Jesse turned to fury. “You have no right to say those things about my wife,” he ground out through gritted teeth.

  “Until we know more about her, my conditions are not met. You will not indulge in any drinking or brawling. Until Faith has proven herself to be respectable and worthy of the West name, you will not have a permanent place in my will.”

  “But you would have me marry a girl like Elsie? Because if you think someone such as she is worthy of the West name, then I’m not sure the name holds much value.” Jesse spun around, storming from the room before his father could answer.

  Back in his room, he found Faith curled in a chair, crying. He rushed to her side. “What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.

  She looked up at him, tears still streaking her cheek. “Is that all I am? An ultimatum bride to remain in your father’s will?”

  Chapter 4

  Faith held her breath, waiting to hear Jesse’s answer. She hadn’t been able to unlatch her trunks and had hoped to catch her husband before his talk with his father. Instead, she’d been drawn to the office door by loud voices speaking with vehemence. Privy to the entire conversation, she hadn’t been able to turn away. The angry words she’d heard could not be undone.

  She was nothing more than a pawn in an argument between father and son—a son who drank and fought at that. The happiness she’d felt just a few minutes earlier had crashed down around her, shattering with the devastation of a broken heirloom. Her worst fears were coming true.

  “How much did you hear?” Jesse’s face contorted into embarrassment and worry.

  “Enough,” she answered sadly, the weight of broken dreams pushing her down. Mustering all the dignity and strength she could, she raised the subject of her own parents’ abusive marriage. “I won’t be married to a drunken man who thinks hitting people is acceptable. I witnessed enough of that from my own father.”

  Before she knew what was happening, Jesse drew her into him, embracing her, comforting her. The strength of his arms around her was a direct conflict of the warring emotions inside of her. Upon meeting him, she’d felt a pull, an attraction she’d never known. He’d been affable and attentive, and she’d allowed herself to believe her marriage would be different than her parents’ union.

  But how could a marriage succeed based on what she’d learned? Her husband didn’t truly want a wife—he wanted a means to receive his inheritance. Oh, maybe she could bear that alone, but from his father’s words, she intuited that Jesse imbibed and had a violent side. That she could not tolerate. There was no alternative, though, except to make the best of this situation. She’d made her vows and would not break them.

  “I’m so sorry, Faith. This is not how I wished your arrival to happen. Please, let me explain.”

  Mrs. Wallace’s words of advice came to the forefront of her memory. Marriage takes a lot of understanding and communication. Conclusions are often drawn, but difficult to erase once spoken. An argument then commences because neither party listened to the other in time.

  “Sage advice,” Faith muttered.

  “What was that?” Jesse asked.

  “Just remembering some words of advice,” she answered quietly.

  Jesse released her once her tears fully subsided. “I am truly sorry you had to hear the words between Pa and me. It is true in a sense that you are an ultimatum bride, but there is more to it.”

  His words stung but, as much as it hurt, she needed to know everything. “Then please tell me.”

  She saw Jesse inhale sharply, and he stood and moved to the edge of the room. His demeanor became agitated, not toward her, but as though he was hesitant to explain. When he remained silent, she spoke words meant to spur his explanation. “Our marriage will be difficult enough considering the aspects of how we met. The circumstances may not have been ideal, but I want to believe we can still be happy—however, that will require complete honesty.”

  Jesse turned and came back toward her. Kneeling in front of her, he took her hands. She made no effort to remove them, sensing he needed that contact. “I’ve made mistakes in my past. My mother died young, and I was the eldest of four children, the only boy. Lost in his grief, my father hired a housekeeper and a nurse to look after us. For all intents and purposes, I was left to my own devices, the girls receiving most of the attention. As I grew, my father over indulged me, allowing me too much freedom. I’m ashamed to say I took advantage of that freedom, doing things I’m not proud that I did.”

  He paused and Faith reflected on the differences in their upbringings. Both had lost their mothers at a young age, but Faith had no choice but to grow up and be an adult. “And has that changed?”

  Sighing, Jesse looked increasingly uncomfortable. “I want to say yes. Since my father issued his ultimatum, I have not indulged in alcohol or been in a fight. Even before that, I’ve never struck a woman. My last fight was even to protect a woman’s honor. But I’m afraid I’m still making decision that reflect my own selfishness. Had I been more considerate, perhaps I could have spared your feelings and the scene with my father.”

  Faith looked into h
is eyes, drawn by their depths of gray. “Why me, Jesse? It would have been so much easier to choose a wife from Morganton? What do I have to offer?”

  “Everything.”

  “Everything?” she repeated, confused.

  “Pa gave me a choice. Find my own wife within two months, or marry Elsie Young. Marrying Elsie was never an option for me. I know the type of woman she is, and she’s not the type of woman who would make a pleasant wife. There are other women in town who would have jumped at the chance to marry me, but only because my family has money. Maybe it’s just wistfulness, but I’ve always wanted more when it came time to settle down and have a family.”

  “I’m still not sure why you chose me.”

  “Because you offer me a chance for a fresh start. We weren’t present for each other’s pasts but are promised together for the future. You came to me unaware of my previous transgressions or my family’s money. We can learn to love each other for who we are, not what we’ve been or have.”

  When he phrased it like that, Faith felt her disappointment melt away. The earnest plea came from his heart—that much she knew. She had a choice to make. They could move forward and put this ugly episode behind them, or she could continue questioning his motives. There was only one route which would lead to happiness. Mentally and emotionally, she set aside her fears of an abusive marriage. Jesse may have fought and drank in the past, but Faith believed he would never harm a woman. Her instincts said Jesse was a good man.

  Twisting her hand, she extracted it from his then held it out in greeting. “Hello, Mr. West. I am Faith Donovan, your mail-order bride.”

  Her husband’s mouth quirked before he burst into laughter. Jesse took her hand, accepting the olive branch. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. West.”

  Faith paused. She hadn’t thought about her change in name, but she did like the way Faith West sounded. Every time she heard Faith Donovan, it was a reminder of her father’s cruelty and failures. Her name change would be one less reminder of that dark season in her life.

  Standing up, she accidentally kicked one of her trunks. The contact didn’t hurt but did serve as a reminder of how she’d come to overhear that fated conversation. “Would you mind helping me open my trunk? The lid seems to be stuck.”