The Minx Miner

by Janelle Daniels

  Everything she’d dreamed of, everything she’d wanted, was right here.

  He cleared his throat, and when he spoke, she could feel the rumble from his chest against her back.

  “I know you said you had a dress already, but if you’ll allow me, I can supply you with the other necessities you’ll need before meeting your groom.”

  “That’s very kind of you.” She wasn’t quite sure what to say. Should she admit she’d lied about being a mail-order bride? He’d need to know if they would ever have a future together, but how would she explain things? She didn’t know him well enough to know how he would react. “I don’t need much.” She didn’t want him thinking she was a high maintenance kind of woman. “I have most of what I need in my bag.”

  Truly, she didn’t need much, and from his clothes, she guessed he didn’t have much to share. The finer things in life could come later.

  “That was smart to pack the necessities in something you kept with you.”

  She chuckled. “I learned that the hard way. Last time I went on a trip, my suitcase—I mean my trunk—got lost.”

  “You’ve lost all your belongings before?” He sounded shocked at such a thing.

  “Not all of my things. Just some clothes and stuff.” It really hadn’t been that big of a deal, but to him clothes were expensive. The loss of so many things would be a hardship in this time. She needed to remember that. “It was a long time ago.”

  She felt him nod, but he didn’t say more.

  “Does your mother live far?” she asked, wanting him to speak more. She wasn’t embarrassed to admit she was a little in love with his rich baritone already.

  “Not too far. We should be there shortly.”

  “How close to town is she?”

  “Approximately thirty minutes on horseback. The wagon takes a little longer.”

  Not bad at all. It could take an hour to travel a couple blocks in New York if the traffic was bad enough. Riding a wagon through gorgeous countryside? Yes, please! “How long have you lived here?”

  “My parents came to make their fortune when I was very young.”

  “So you grew up here?” She couldn’t imagine such a childhood. Mining wasn’t easy in modern times, but it was much worse now. “What was it like?”

  She felt his shoulders move slightly. “There were some hard times, but it wasn’t too bad. Much different than back East, I’m sure.”

  That probably went without saying. Although, she didn’t know what life was like growing up in the East during this time period either. It didn’t seem like anyone had an easy life. Children worked in factories, there was little education, and hardly any medical care.

  Her father owned a dental office, and just the thought of what dentistry was like during this time made her shiver. She was determined to take care of her teeth at all costs. It wasn’t like she could pop into the future every six months for a checkup.

  Curious, she asked, “Would you ever want to travel east? Move back?”

  “No.” There was no question in his voice. “My life is here.”

  She liked his certainty. He knew where he belonged, what he’d do with his life, and she respected that. So many people in modern times flitted from one thing to the next, never knowing what they should do or where they should go.

  There was a sense of peace in knowing those things and never questioning them. That was something she wanted for herself. “It must be nice to know where you belong.”

  “Everyone has a place they belong.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not so sure of that.”

  “You belong here, or else you wouldn’t be here.”

  Did she? If she belonged here, then why hadn’t she been born during this time? It’d taken fairytale-like powers to bring her here. “I hope so.”

  “I’m sure you’ll feel better about things once you find your fiancé.”

  She wished she could turn around and look at him right then. His voice sounded hard as if he didn’t like thinking of her with another man. Could he possibly be jealous?

  “Why did you decide to become a mail-order bride?” he asked, then quickly added, “Forgive me, it’s none of my business.”

  “No, it’s all right.” She wasn’t truly a mail-order bride, but she could still answer his question. “I came because there was nothing for me in my old life except my father. I love him dearly, but I wanted more. I want love, home, a family of my own.”

  “And you couldn’t find that back East?” He sounded doubtful.

  “No.” She laughed. “Pathetic, isn’t it?” She dared a look behind her, and he looked at her intently before she twisted back around to the front.

  “I find it hard to believe you weren’t fiercely sought after. A woman like you would have suitors at her door day and night.”

  Her heart beat faster, unable to believe what he was saying. Did he really think she was worth all that? “There were a few, but none of them interested me.” The guys who’d wanted to date her weren’t exactly winners. They spent their time either drinking and partying or playing video games in their mothers’ basement.

  He was silent for a moment. “Your fiancé must be an excellent man then.”

  She didn’t want to lie to him again, so she remained silent. A moment later, she cleared her throat. “You’re sure your mother won’t mind me staying with her?”

  He laughed. “No. I have a feeling the two of you will get along just fine. My father died soon after they arrived. My mother did whatever she had to do to protect our future.”

  “She sounds like an amazing woman.”

  “She is.”

  The way he spoke about his mother touched her heart. She could tell he truly loved her, appreciated her, and respected her. Although he was a grown man, it was obvious he still took care of his mother.

  The differences between him and the men back home were staggering. As she learned about him, she couldn’t help but feel admiration for him.

  He had to be the right one for her. She could just feel it. Perhaps she should just tell him everything now. “I think—”

  “The house is just over the hill,” he said, speaking at the same time. “Forgive me. What were you saying?”

  She was about to tell him who she really was, but just then they crested the hill, and he stopped his horse. The air left her lungs in a rush. “That’s your mother’s house?”

  “Yes. Well, technically it’s mine, but she lives with me.”

  She stared dumbly at the mansion in the valley below. The structure was sprawling even by modern standards. Even the stable was larger than most midsize homes. “This is yours?” she asked, trying to take it all in.

  “It is. I would’ve told you before, but I didn’t want you to think I intended anything untoward. If it would make you more comfortable, I can sleep in the barracks with the other men and leave the house to my mother and you.”

  “Absolutely not. I’m not going to kick you out of your bed.”

  He laughed. “No. We have several guest rooms, so that won’t be a problem.”

  She closed her eyes, berating herself. She hadn’t even thought that she might actually be taking the bed he slept in. Heat swept through her just thinking of it.

  What was she supposed to do now? She’d thought he was only a simple man, one working on someone else’s land—

  She spun toward him. “The river? Does it belong to you?”

  He looked at her seriously but then nodded.

  “And all the land we rode over? Is it all yours?”

  “It is.”

  She felt sick and turned back around, her dreams crashing around her. He couldn’t possibly be the man for her then. This man, Logan Walburn, was a man of means. His destiny was already written out, and she wouldn’t interfere with that.

  Besides, he could have anyone. Why would he want someone like her? Someone who had to leave her own home in the future to travel back in time for something she didn’t have?

  She wante
d someone simple. Someone who had nothing, someone she could build something with. That man wasn’t Logan. He already had everything.

  And she had nothing to offer him.

  He urged the horse forward, leaving her shattered dreams behind them.

  Chapter 4

  If there was somewhere to hide, Gemma would. Even from this distance she could see the bustling activity at the house. Everyone would soon know about her. There’d be no getting away from it.

  But before they got any closer, he slowed his mount again, stopping completely and dismounting.

  Frowning, she looked down at him. “Is something wrong?”

  His eyes trailed over her denim shirt and jeans. “No. But I thought you might be more comfortable changing before we approached the house.”

  She nodded immediately. “Yes! Yes, I think that’s a good idea. Thank you.” The last thing she wanted to do was make a spectacle of herself. And dressed as she was, it was guaranteed.

  She swung her leg over the saddle, but before she could jump down, he stepped forward, hands around her waist again, and brought her down slowly.

  As before, her heart beat quicker, but she squashed that feeling. This man wasn’t for her, and basking in her attraction wouldn’t help anything. She moved out of his reach, gripping her bag. “So I’ll just…” She glanced around until she spotted a large tree. “I guess I’ll go change behind that?”

  Was that completely inappropriate? She wasn’t sure what other option there was.

  He nodded briskly. “That should be fine. No one’s out here, and I’ll turn my back.”

  “All right.” She didn’t waste another moment debating it and headed for the tree.

  She didn’t question whether he would peek or not. She already knew he was a man of honor. She could’ve changed right behind him, and he probably wouldn’t have glanced back.

  She didn’t know if she would’ve been as strong.

  She raced around the trunk, squatting down to riffle through her bag. She pulled out her wrinkled dress, shaking it a few times in hopes of fixing it, but there was no use.

  It was a mess, but it would have to do.

  She stripped out of her shirt and pants, folding them quickly before donning the dress. She should probably wear a corset, but she couldn’t stand the thought of it, and besides, she hadn’t been able to find something accurate for this time. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be difficult to pick one up.

  She packed everything once she was dressed and smoothed her skirts before stepping out from behind the tree. “All set,” she said, feeling like she was dressed up for Halloween.

  He turned around to face her, then froze, glancing the length of her dress.

  When he didn’t speak, she shifted from foot to foot. “Is something the matter?”

  He approached her slowly, still looking at the dress. “This is yours?”

  “Yes.” Panicked, she wondered if she’d sewed something wrong. Was she off in her styles for this time period? “Is something the matter?”

  “No. I just wouldn’t have guessed.”

  She frowned. “Guess what?”

  He gestured to the draping, pleated skirt. “That you’d have something so fine.”

  Glancing down at her dress, she realized she’d made a mistake. “Oh! Well, my other dresses weren’t nearly as fine. I brought this to be my wedding dress,” she quickly said, hoping it would explain the modern quality.

  His features cleared. “I see. That makes more sense. It was smart of you to keep it close. It would’ve been a shame to lose such an elaborate garment.”

  She pasted a smile on her face. “I agree. I’ll have to see about purchasing more appropriate gowns.”

  He frowned again. “Depending on your fiancé’s income, gowns like this might be appropriate for day-to-day wear.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t remember who he is, but I know my intended isn’t a man of means.”

  He looked as if he wanted to say something more but decided against it. Instead, he held out his hand for her. “Come, let’s ride the rest of the way to the house and get you settled.”

  She took his hand, and he guided her to the horse, lifting her gently and setting her sideways to accommodate the dress. He climbed behind her, only gently holding her around the waist.

  He was being delicate, clearly overthinking how he treated her and touched her. Had the gown really made that much of a difference? Somehow, he seemed even more guarded now, as if the dress had changed something between them.

  He didn’t say anything else as they rode to the house. Workers called out greetings to them, and Logan acknowledged each of them by name.

  Stopping in front of the house, he dismounted and helped her down quickly without lingering. “If you’ll just follow me, we’ll get you settled.”

  He barely looked at her. What was happening here? Why would a dress make such a difference?

  He led her up the steps to a large wraparound porch. The furnishings out here were wicker with lush cushions. But as she stepped into the entry, her breath whooshed out. Rich, gleaming paneling lined the walls and the grand staircase. Light filtered into the room in an array of colors from the large stained-glass window by the stairs.

  It smelled of lemon, apples and cinnamon, and freshly cut flowers. It was more than she ever imagined a home could be, and it was even grander than she’d anticipated from the outside.

  Whoever Logan Walburn was, his mine must have produced insane amounts of gold to be able to afford a lifestyle like this.

  She planned on striking her own claim and building a house later on. But something at this level had never entered her mind. The cost in modern times was staggering, and she couldn’t even fathom what it would take to build one here.

  If she had any other lingering ideas about Logan being the one for her, they were now crushed. Logan was destined to marry an heiress or some other grand lady. That certainly wasn’t her.

  “Logan, I thought I heard you come in. You’re home earlier than I expected.”

  Gemma turned toward the staircase and saw an older woman descending. That must be his mother…except she didn’t quite look like she belonged in a house like this.

  Her dress looked nice, but it was plain, and Gemma could see the material had been turned out a few times. Was Logan stingy with his money? But if he was, why had he offered to buy her things before taking her to her fake fiancé?

  “I found someone while riding.” He placed his hand on her lower back and brought her forward. “Mother, I’d like to introduce you to Miss Gemma Watts. Miss Watts is a victim of a stagecoach robbery.”

  Her light-brown eyebrows rose. “You’re lucky to be alive. Most times, all the passengers are killed.”

  Gemma cleared her throat. “I jumped.” That was sort of true—she’d jumped through time anyway.

  “How long have you been on your own?”

  “It’s hard to say.” She shifted on her feet. She didn’t want to lie any more than she had too.

  Logan cleared his throat. “I offered to let her stay here for a few days until I can take her to town and find her fiancé.”

  His mother looked at her curiously. “Are you a mail-order bride?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sure your fiancé is very concerned. Especially if you’ve been missing for a few days. You are more than welcome to stay here, but are you certain you don’t want to head into town immediately?”

  When Gemma didn’t respond, Logan spoke for her. “She hadn’t much contact with him, and the letters they exchanged were with her belongings. She doesn’t remember his name.”

  “Oh dear.” She looked at Gemma sympathetically. “I can understand how distressing that must be.”

  “It is. Thank you for allowing me to stay.”

  Logan smiled at his mother. “I think you’re going to end up having a lot in common.”

  “Is that so?” his mother asked, glancing at Gemma’s ornate dress.

>   He laughed. “Mother, I found her in pants panning for gold in the river.”

  Gemma’s eyes bugged out. “I didn’t think you’d tell her that!” Then, realizing she’d scolded him, and in front of his mother no less, she looked at the older woman, horrified. “I apologize—”

  The woman laughed and waved her hand. “Oh no. Please don’t apologize. My son is right. I do like you. The fancy dress threw me off, but I can see you’re not the type I thought you were.”

  Gemma knew it was a compliment, and her shoulders relaxed. “You’re right.” She grabbed a fistful of skirt. “This is beautiful, but it’s not me.” Her voice lowered. “And it’s so uncomfortable.”

  His mother laughed, and even Logan chuckled—even though saying such a thing was completely outrageous in this time period.

  His mother walked over to her and looped her arm through Gemma’s. “I think we’re going to become friends rather quickly, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  She started leading Gemma toward the stairs. “And you lost all your belongings?”

  Before Gemma answered, she looked over her shoulder at Logan. His eyes lingered on hers, and she saw longing there. Desire.

  It was the same emotion she felt running through her veins.

  But no matter how much she was attracted to him, no matter how much she respected him or appreciated his mother, she wouldn’t see him again once she left here in a few days. With any luck, he’d be out of the house most of the time she was here, seeing to the mine and property.

  Because she worried she might change her mind if she spent any more time with him.

  Logan’s mother led Gemma into a bedroom worthy of a princess. “This will be your room.”

  She walked in, trying not to gape and failing miserably.

  She smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “It’s the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen.” It looked just like a museum she’d been to, with an elaborately carved bedroom set and canopied bed. “Thank you, Mrs. Walburn.”