Rachel: Bride of New Hampshire (American Mail-Order Brides 9)

by Diane Darcy

  He needed a flawed wife.

  One who would be grateful to have him as a husband. One who wouldn’t attract other men. One he’d never have to worry about straying.

  When they heard him at the doorway, all three turned to look at him.

  His skin prickled. Blast it! This was his home. He wasn't going to feel uncomfortable in his own home. “Excuse me, ladies. I forgot to get something.”

  As they continued to stare, he could feel heat rise to his face. “I’ll just be going now.”

  As soon as he left, he could hear the chatter start up again. He retrieved the Colt and quickly headed back out the door.

  When he hit the Gentrys' place, the reverend was just leaving as well. “Hello, Thomas. Lovely day.”

  Thomas looked up at the dark clouds. “If you like rain.”

  The reverend chuckled. “It just so happens, I do. I love autumn.”

  The two fell into step as they headed up to Main Street. “I have to thank you for bringing Rachel out. She’s a nice girl and my wife is enjoying her company. I imagine she’ll be married quite soon, but in the meantime, it’s nice to see them giggling like girls.”

  She would quickly capture the attention of every male in the area, wouldn’t she? What did he care? As long as she honored her commitment to him, she could marry whomever she wanted.

  At that thought, his fists clenched and unclenched. He didn’t like the emotions churning within him.

  Maybe he should introduce her to Franklin. Perhaps they’d marry quickly? Once she was out of his reach he could stop thinking about her.

  Only he didn’t want to lose her. She was being helpful, so far anyway.

  Now, he just needed to remember she was simply his employee. His real wife was on the way.

  Miss Rachel West was not for him.

  Chapter Six

  Rachel finished styling Cassie’s soft, clean hair as the young girl chatted away. The girl had obviously taken a bath the night before. Because of Rachel’s comment about her unbathed state? Rachel hoped she was starting to influence the girl.

  “We are going to have so much fun!” Cassie wiggled on her seat, having a hard time sitting still. “We have a picnic basket and we can make chicken or something. Clara and I are participating in the sack race. I bet we’ll beat both Ida Hastings and Johnny Tompkins.”

  Rachel just wished she was as excited about the upcoming church social. She was sure to be questioned, and felt she didn’t know her place in this home yet, let alone this town.

  That man was just so irritating! One moment looking at her like she was the last sweet on the table, the next ignoring her completely.

  The fact that she’d originally been intended for his bride added some pressure to the situation. She could feel it. It was hard to look at him and imagine he could have been her husband without feeling something. Surely he felt the same. She took a breath and exhaled. Now, she was here to care for his daughter and lend a hand with his mother. That was all.

  She wasn’t going to think about Mr. Buchanan anymore.

  When she finished, Cassie touched her French braid. “I love it!”

  “Great. Let’s have breakfast, and afterward, if you’d like, I could walk you to school.”

  Cassie shot her a shy glance. “All right. I guess that would be fine.”

  Mrs. Polanski watched Mrs. Buchanan and Rachel was soon walking Cassie to school, which turned out to be a few streets over. The building was larger than Rachel anticipated, with a big pitched roof, and three large windows at one side. “What a charming school. Do you enjoy learning?”

  “It’s all right.”

  When they arrived at the front doors, the teacher, a young man in his late twenties, greeted Cassie, but focused on Rachel. She introduced herself and explained who she was.

  “And I’m Daniel Riley. So you’re Cassie’s new governess? It’s so nice to meet you.”

  Rachel could see admiration in his gaze. “Thank you.”

  “Is this a permanent change for you?”

  “It could be. I guess time will tell.”

  He smiled. “I certainly hope you’re happy here.”

  Rachel nodded. “Thank you.”

  Cassie glanced between the two of them, wide-eyed, her expression avid as she took in the spectacle of her teacher flirting with her governess. She was quite sure Cassie would want to talk all about it later.

  Rachel quickly excused herself.

  “Have fun today, Cassie. I’ll see you after school.”

  At that, Cassie waved and hurried to meet up with three other girls, no doubt to share her thoughts on their teacher and his conversation with her governess.

  As Mrs. Polanski was keeping Mrs. Buchanan company, Rachel decided to head out to the main square, and, as she did, found herself thinking about Thomas.

  Again.

  He seemed a harsh man most of the time, but perhaps that was simply his attitude toward her. Maybe it was his way of distancing himself from a woman he’d intended to marry before changing his mind. A way to dispel the intimacy that fact might cause. Did cause. She supposed a bit of time would help the feeling fade. She certainly hoped so.

  Still, regardless of a bad beginning, she was happy here. She had food to eat, a job, another lined up, and a comfortable place to sleep. And frankly, more control of her time than she’d had in a good long while. Working in a mill included long hours and hadn’t allowed for much freedom.

  Life was looking up.

  If she could keep that in mind, rather than Thomas, this could be a wonderful day.

  Two young ladies spotted her and crossed the road. “Hello. I’m Miss Noland,” said a pretty brunette. “And this is Miss Wilcox,” she introduced her to a blonde with an air of superiority. Both wore beautiful dresses, one blue, one green.

  “You must be Mr. Buchanan’s new governess.”

  Thomas again!

  “How do you do? I’m Miss West. And actually, I’m his daughter’s new governess.”

  The girls giggled. “Yes, of course,” Miss Wilcox smiled. “But how is it, working for Mr. Buchanan?”

  “I rarely see him. I’m staying with the Gentrys', so when I arrive in the morning, he leaves for work, and when he arrives home, I return to the Gentrys'. We barely speak two words to each other. Cassie on the other hand, is a darling.”

  “Oh. But surely he says something to you when you do see him?”

  “Not so you’d notice. But Cassie has such potential. I’m going to teach her to embroider, and expect she will excel at it.”

  “Yes, but Mr. Buchanan—”

  “Did you know they have a Steinway piano? I’m to teach Cassie to play. It’s so exciting. I expect she will master her notes in short order.”

  By the time they were finished with the conversation, the girls knew her name, where she was from, and that she’d worked as a seamstress. But she kept details about Mr. Buchanan, and the fact that she’d come out to be his bride, to herself. One of the first rules you learned when employed as a governess was, you didn’t gossip about the family.

  After they said their goodbyes, she continued on her way. She walked past the bakery and received admiring glances from several men, and greeted about ten other people.

  She glanced around wondering where Thomas’s store was located.

  And there she went, thinking about Thomas again.

  It irritated her to no end.

  He certainly wasn’t thinking about her. She was well aware that when his new bride arrived, she’d be out of his life, and his thoughts, permanently. She stifled a pang of dismay. At least he hadn’t tried to mislead her. She knew exactly where she stood with the man. Straightforwardness was not a trait to be disparaged.

  She even felt grateful toward him. Whether he’d planned to or not, he’d given her a second chance.

  Still, that didn’t mean she wanted to think about the man all day.

  ~~~

  The Reverend Gentry held a fist high in the air. “M
en and women belong together in holy matrimony. They are to be helpmeets. They are meant to bolster one another. To raise honest, God-fearing children together.”

  Rachel sat beside Mrs. Gentry during the sermon and tried to keep her face impassive, even though she suspected he might be talking about her and Mr. Buchanan.

  “Young people should not put off marriage. There seems to be a tendency among the undisciplined to decide they can do it on their own. To avoid responsibility. To shun God’s plan.”

  Rachel straightened her spine and tried not to wiggle in her seat. Surely she was wrong, and the reverend wasn’t talking about her? Them? Was the fact she’d been glad to get out of marriage to a stranger the reason he addressed this? It wasn’t as if she’d had a conversation about it with him, but he was a man of God. Perhaps he’d seen inside her and gleaned she was perfectly content to do without Mr. Buchanan.

  “Pridefulness and fear should not stop a woman from accepting a decent man. Harsh judgments and doubt should not stand between a man marrying a goodly woman.”

  Rachel resisted the urge to look over her shoulder to see Thomas’s expression. She might be reading too much into this, but that last bit seemed earmarked for her and Thomas. She also wondered if there were any in the congregation who felt the sermon was directed at themselves. If any engagements were announced this week, she’d have her answer.

  After church, Mrs. Gentry introduced her to a gentleman who happened to be standing next to Thomas Buchanan. “Miss West, might I introduce you to Mr. Cunningham.”

  Rachel felt her cheeks warm. “How do you do?”

  The pleasant-looking blond gave her a quick appraisal, and smiled. “Miss West. I’m so glad to make your acquaintance.”

  She wouldn’t be embarrassed by the introduction, except Mrs. Gentry was so obvious as she glanced at Thomas. She hoped to make him jealous.

  Another man approached. “Oh, and I don’t believe you’ve met Mr. Ford. He actually works with your employer.”

  Mr. Ford was a giant of a man, dark-haired and plainly interested in making her acquaintance. He smiled, dark eyes shining. “Miss West, I’m so glad to meet you.”

  “And you as well, Mr. Ford.”

  She happened to catch Thomas’s gaze at that moment, and found him glaring at her.

  Her eyes narrowed slightly. What was this? She wasn’t good enough for Thomas or his business partner, apparently. She smiled sweetly at the two other men.

  “And of course you’ve met Mr. Klein,” Mrs. Gentry said as the man approached.

  “ Yes. It’s so nice to see you again, Mr. Klein.”

  As she stood chatting with all three men, she was very aware of Thomas watching the entire spectacle. He didn’t look happy, which for some reason made her very happy.

  Cassie took her hand and glared at the other men, looking like an extension of her father.

  Rachel wanted to laugh. This was so strange, three men chatting with her, another glaring about the situation. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before.

  Of course in Lawrence, she’d worked up to fourteen hours a day. There hadn’t been time for pleasantries with the opposite sex, nor had there been many gentlemen lurking about.

  In her community, life had been hardscrabble, with everyone trying to get by. Most didn’t have time for courting, nor the inclination. She’d received more lewd suggestions from men than admiration. She just hadn’t been attracted.

  Out of the men standing here, Thomas drew her more than the others. They faded into the background as awareness sparked between them.

  She studied the three other men.

  Why Thomas? Why should she want him when he didn’t want her?

  She revisited her earlier conclusion. Even though they didn’t know each other well at all, the fact that they’d almost married had granted them a level of intimacy that would normally be absent. Surely that would fade away.

  “Cassie.” Thomas called his daughter. “Let’s go.”

  Rachel smiled pleasantly as Thomas and Cassie left. As soon as they were gone, Mrs. Gentry said her goodbyes and, after the reverend waved them on to walk ahead, led the way home. Mrs. Gentry looked very self-satisfied.

  “Thomas didn’t look well pleased this afternoon, did he?”

  “No, he didn’t.”

  And why that should amuse Rachel so much, she didn’t know.

  ~~~

  “See you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Thomas had been in a foul mood at work and was glad to head out the door and go home.

  He kept thinking about Rachel surrounded by all those men. He couldn’t get her out of his head. It hadn’t helped that he’d had to listen to Franklin all day, expounding upon her beauty and her many wonderful characteristics.

  As if, after one conversation, he knew everything there was to know about her.

  As he walked home, anticipation seemed to build every step of the way. He went inside, didn’t see anyone, and headed into the kitchen and found his family there. Rachel was helping Cassie with homework while his mother put together a flower arrangement in a haphazard manner. Once again his home was peaceful, organized, his child and mother happy and well cared for—with Rachel at the center of it all.

  “Father!”

  Cassie jumped up and rounded the table, hugging him around the waist. She hadn’t done that in a while. He looked at Rachel over the top of Cassie's head.

  She stood. “I’ll just be going now.”

  “Please, stay for supper.” The invitation sprang out before he knew he was going to issue it.

  “Mrs. Gentry is expecting me. Cassie, come finish your homework. You’re almost done.”

  Cassie sat again and Thomas followed Rachel out to the front door. “I’d really like you to stay.”

  “Perhaps tomorrow night. As I said, Mrs. Gentry is expecting me.”

  He moved closer, maybe a little too close, and she stilled, her head tilted back to look up at him. She was so attractive in the low light of the living room, her full hair, high cheek bones, the startled expression in her blue eyes. Before he’d even realized he was going to do it, he quickly bent his head and kissed her lush lips, and sensation vibrated through him, making his head swim. After the barest moment, Rachel kissed him back, her hands rising to his chest, and intense satisfaction joined the myriad of emotions she pulled from him.

  He broke away and wrapped his hands around hers where they rested against his thundering chest. “Rachel, maybe we could give this another chance.”

  “Pardon?” Her voice was soft, breathless, making him want to gather her close.

  “Perhaps I was hasty in deciding you wouldn’t make a good wife. Maybe we should marry after all.”

  Her mouth parted as she looked at him blankly, and then struggled to free her hands.

  Irritated by her lack of reaction, by her struggle, he let her. “Why so shocked? I’m asking you to marry me. I thought you’d be grateful. You can have all the pretty dresses you want, all the bows and fripperies. And you’ll be the lady of your own house and can decorate if you’ve a mind to. Babies, too, if you want them.”

  Intense emotion streaked across her face, but he wasn’t sure what it signified. Shock? Horror? Either way, not the reaction he was hoping for.

  “No, thank you, Mr. Buchanan.”

  He took a step back, as his jaw clenched. That couldn’t have been more clear. “Why not? Two days ago you were willing to marry me. I’m man enough to admit I made a mistake.”

  Her chin lifted. “I think you were correct in your first impression. Your reaction to me was very strong and negative. Tell me, have you written to Miss Miller yet? Have you requested a new bride? Did you claim I wasn’t what you wanted?”

  He felt his face heat. “Yes.”

  She nodded. “Well, that’s that, then. Some lady on the other end will be wasting her time if you’re off the market. I was in that position once. Desperate and about to run out of funds for rent. I ca
n’t do that to another woman.”

  “I could write another letter explaining the situation.”

  She hesitated. “I feel you’ll regret it later. What do they say? Marry in haste, repent at leisure?”

  He exhaled, turned away to rub his hands over his face, then swung back. He hadn’t expected this reaction. What he’d expected was gratitude. Excitement. Relief. He should just drop the conversation, give the lady what she wanted, but he felt compelled to argue. “What if we just courted for a while? Then we could see how it goes? What do you plan to do if I do get another bride?”

  “I have a job lined up at the mercantile.”

  Anger swamped him. “What? You and I have a deal. Are you refusing to honor it?”

  “Our deal?” Her voice rose. “Are you referring to the position you offered me as your wife, or as your governess? Because you are the one who refused to marry me, and now you’ve sent for another wife, so that deal is off the table. As for the governess job, it comes with an expiration date. And when your new wife arrives, I’ll take up work at the mercantile. And not a moment before. I honor my commitments.”

  Implying that he didn’t. They glared at each other. “You secured a new job awfully fast.”

  She shrugged. “You didn’t want me. I had to make alternate plans. Mr. Klein, at the mercantile, was kind enough to promise me a job when this one comes to an end.”

  Unexpected jealousy swamped him, dark and bitter. “I bet he was.” No doubt this new job was the reason she wasn’t grasping at the chance to be his wife. And no doubt his rejection had hurt her pride.

  She turned away, put her tattered shawl around her shoulders, and headed out the door without another word.

  He wanted to chase after her. To insist. This wasn’t the end.

  If he spent more time with her, perhaps she’d change her mind. He could convince her he was excellent husband material. Give her a chance to get over her injured pride. In the mean time, he could be pleasant and accommodating. She’d come around, and he’d have his bride.

  Chapter Seven