Unclaimed Bride

by Lauri Robinson

  She arrived at the house. After kicking the snow from her boots, she opened the door and set the bucket down with a thud. It took a few minutes to brush the snow from the hem of her skirt, and then empty the bucket into the larger crock near the cooking stove. The golden brown crust said the meat pie baking in the oven for Jeb and Miles was done, and she set it on the counter before moving to hang her coat near the door.

  The men would be surprised. She hadn’t cooked for them before today, but hoped the action would persuade them to give her a ride to Heaven on Earth first thing in the morning. It was time she faced up to Ellis, told him about her past and that she’d lied to him. She was nervous; he hadn’t deserved to be treated so, and she had no excuse other than that she’d been afraid. The days and nights since Lula Mae’s visit had given Constance plenty of time to evaluate the things that mattered and the things that didn’t.

  Ellis mattered. Angel mattered. In reality, that was it.

  The thoughts lifted her spirit, and she floated across the room to where she’d stacked the books from Ellis’s library back in the big basket. Amongst several others were Little Women and Around the World in Eighty Days, telling her Angel had helped pack the basket.

  A noise outside the cabin had her moving to peer out the one small window the cabin boasted next to the door. The dark opening of the barn revealed the shadowy figure of a man leading a horse into the darkness.

  Jeb and Miles no doubt. She moved to the cupboard to find a plate for them to carry the meat pie to their room. As anticipated, a knock sounded on the door within minutes. One or the other always checked on her as soon as they arrived.

  Leaving the pie on the counter for the time being, she moved to the door.

  A moment of pure shock rendered her speechless, motionless. Then her heart slammed against her rib cage so hard and fast she thought her chest might break open.

  “Hello, Constance.”

  The voice, though not heard in some time, sent her instincts rearing. In one swift motion, she slammed the door shut and dropped the heavy lock in place.

  “Open the door, Constance! Open the door!”

  She shouted the only words racing in her mind. “You’re dead! You’re dead!”

  Byron pounded harder. “Do I look dead to you?” The door rattled against the long board bracing it closed. “Open the door, Constance or I’ll break it down.”

  “Go away!”

  The bottom of the door bucked, making her jump back. He kicked at it again, and again. The wood was weathered, and wouldn’t hold for long. “Go away, Byron. You’ve already taken everything I had. Go back to New York.”

  He pounded at the top again. “Open the door, Constance!”

  A rifle shot sounded, and Constance cowered, clutching her stomach with both hands. It was a second before she realized it had come from far off. Heart racing in her throat, she bolted to the window. Byron ran for the barn. Another shot sounded but she couldn’t see where it came from, and seconds later an iron-black horse with Byron in the saddle tore out of the barn and disappeared beyond her vision.

  Constance moved to the door, but fear kept her from lifting the heavy latch board. She stood, trembling from head to toe, and half questioning if Byron had been real or a product of her imagination.

  “Miss Jennings! Miss Jennings!” Jeb’s shout had her lifting the lock and peeking out. His horse spun in a wide circle, tramping the snow near the door. “Who was that? What did they want?”

  Her mind went blank, or was so balled with information it was unable to complete a coherent thought.

  “Who was that?” Jeb repeated.

  “A m-man,” she managed to eke out. “A man I knew in New York—I mean England.”

  “Friend or foe?” Miles asked in his gruff voice.

  “Foe,” she admitted. “Most definitely foe.” Her stomach erupted, sending a ball of fire to the back of her throat. She made it out the door and to the corner of the cabin before she heaved, over and over again until nothing was left to come out. The spasm continued though, and she leaned against the house, holding her burning stomach.

  “Here, ma’am, drink this.” Miles handed her the dipper from the house water bucket. “Just rinse your mouth. Don’t swallow or it’ll come back up.”

  She did as instructed. It helped, not only in removing the nasty taste from her mouth, but in grounding her. “Thank you.” She gave him back the dipper.

  “Let’s get you inside.” Miles led her all the way to the bed along the wall. “Lie down for a few minutes. There’s nothing to worry about. Jeb went to make sure the man’s gone. And I’m here to look out for you.”

  The softness of the mattress sucked her in, and she went willingly, closing her eyes as her head sank into the pillow. Something cool was pressed to her forehead. She opened her eyes and took the wet cloth from Miles’s hand. “Thank you,” she said. “And thank you for arriving when you did.”

  “You just rest for a few minutes. You can tell us all about it when Jeb gets back.”

  She placed the cloth over her entire face, hoping it would block the image attempting to plant itself behind her eyelids. Byron’s blond hair and faded blue eyes had looked ghostly with all the white snow glittering behind his image. Had he always looked so evil, or was it just because she now knew how wicked he was?

  The thunder of hooves sounded outside, but she didn’t move. Miles was still in the house and it was just Jeb returning. Soon enough they’d want to hear who’d been at the door and what he’d wanted.

  A click echoed as the door opened, followed by footsteps. She pulled the cloth from her face, wondering why Jeb was rushing toward her bed. The image coming at her was the most wonderful thing she’d ever seen. A sob exploded in her throat and tears gushed from eyes. She flipped her legs over the edge of the bed and held up her arms, catching Ellis around the neck as he knelt down beside the bed.

  His arms wrapped around her, and filled her with such emotion she buried her face in his neck and did the one thing she sworn she wasn’t going to do again. She cried her eyes out. It was what she’d done the last time she’d seen him, the night she’d left Heaven on Earth, and she didn’t want him to see her crying again.

  He held her, rocking her until the storm inside her slowed. “Shh,” he whispered. “Everything’s all right.”

  “You’re here,” she sobbed into his coat collar. “You’re here.”

  “Yes, I’m here, darling.” He hugged her so tightly she was lifted off the edge of the bed. “I’m here.”

  She folded her knees, planting them on the floor near his, refusing to let even an inch separate them. “I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you, too.”

  The gaze in his eyes stole her breath, yet somehow she managed to ask, “You did?”

  “I did.”

  His lips met hers then, in a merger so sweet and precious she closed her eyes and thought of nothing but him. The power of his kiss, the magic of being in his arms was unparalleled, inexplicable. It was as if a part of her had been missing, and was now back.

  The kiss, fully engulfing her senses, lasted a great length of time, but still ended too soon. However, the enchantment of his lips upon hers went on and on. She laid her head against his chest, never wanting to move.

  She had to though, when Ellis whispered, “Come here. Let’s get you off the floor.” He helped her onto the edge of the bed. After he pulled off his coat, and set it aside, he sat down and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “That’s better.”

  Leaning against him, she whispered, “I can’t believe you’re here.” Then a shiver pinched her spine. “Angel?”

  “Is fine.” He pressed his forehead against hers.

  “Her leg?”

  “It’s healing.” He kissed her chin and the tip of her nose, teasing her lips in an almost wicked way. “I’d have been here before now, but the weather didn’t cooperate.”

  “It didn’t cooperate for me, either,” she answered, catching his l
ips. It was in the middle of that kiss her mind chose to suddenly recall the day’s event. She hurled herself out of the kiss, glancing around the room. “Where are Miles and Jeb?”

  “They must have thought we needed some time alone.”

  The word alone had her clutching his shoulders. “Ellis,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to go home.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Constance held her breath, waiting for his response. She hadn’t meant to sound so desperate, but she was. Being away from him had been torture, excruciating and numbing anguish.

  Ellis lifted her chin. “Home?”

  She nodded.

  “To Heaven on Earth?”

  She nodded again.

  His fingers combed into her hair, drawing her closer. “I want you to come home more than anything in the world.”

  Her lips met his at the same time, equal partners in the merger. She gave all she had, parting her lips to deepen the kiss intimately, and sharing all the devotion boiling in her chest. Maybe she pulled him down, or perhaps he led the way, regardless, they reclined onto the bed, scooting across the mattress without breaking their kiss until they lay side by side.

  When the kiss ended, she tugged his hat off his head. “I should never have left Heaven on Earth.”

  He took the hat and tossed it on the floor. “Why did you?”

  Constance took a moment to contemplate her answer. It had only been a week, yet seemed so long ago. “I don’t know. I didn’t want to go, but I was so afraid you’d send me away….”

  “Send you away?”

  She swiped a clump of his hair off his forehead while searching for a way to say what she had to say. As much as she believed her reasoning, doubt still trickled in. “With the holiday party completed, you wouldn’t need a housekeeper any longer.”

  He shook his head. Heart pounding, she continued, needing him to believe her. “That’s what our agreement was for, and when I left Angel’s room to change my dress, Jeb was in the hallway—”

  “You’ve always been more than a housekeeper,” he interrupted, gently kissing her forehead. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Ashton’s will. I meant to, but—” he shook his head “—I was afraid you’d leave if I did.”

  There was such love and sorrow in his eyes her head practically spun. “You were afraid I’d leave?”

  “Yes.” He cupped her cheek. “I’d never send you away. What made you think that?”

  She had to tell him the truth, everything, but it wasn’t easy. The bits of fear mingling in her heart twisted into a knot. “History. For years I thought my parents sent me to England because they didn’t need me. I was too little, and a girl. Couldn’t fight in the war like my brothers—couldn’t do anything to help them. It wasn’t until lately that I realized they did it for my own safety.”

  “They did it because they loved you.”

  “I know that now, but…” She rested her head on the pillow, stared at the ceiling for a moment trying to come up with a way to describe how she’d felt. “I never felt like I belonged in England. My aunts were wonderful, but I saw the pity in other people’s eyes, heard them whisper how Theresa and Julia were burdened with me.”

  “Aw, honey,” he whispered, slipping his arm beneath her neck and tugging her close.

  “I felt at home at Heaven on Earth. As if I had a purpose. A reason for being there.”

  He ran a finger along the side of her face. “You did, and do. It’s where you belong.” His lips brushed hers briefly. “I wish I had known. I’d have—”

  Shaking her head, she pressed a finger to his lips, unwilling for him to take any blame. “I didn’t know. I didn’t understand it all until a few days ago.” It was time to tell him everything. Delving up an ounce of courage, she began, “I was in your office, and saw you out the window.” Ashamed of spying on him, she pulled her eyes from his. “You were at Christine’s grave, kneeling in the snow.” The image was so clear in her mind she could almost see it in the rafters overhead. “You looked so sad.” She fought to hold the tears at bay. “I thought it was because you regretted what had happened between us the night before—wh-when we kissed in your office. I—”

  He made her look at him. “I’ve never regretted kissing you, and never, ever will.” His eyes were somber, serious. “I was telling Christine about you. I had been standing guard against the coyotes all night, and that had given me plenty of time to think, to realize what had happened.” His fingers combed into her hair. “That morning, I told her I’d fallen in love with you.”

  She gasped at the eruption in her chest.

  “It’s true. I love you.”

  The knowledge had her heart soaring, but remorse burned her throat. “I behaved so foolishly.” She’d get on her knees and beg his forgiveness if necessary. “Please forgive how I lied to you that day. I hadn’t locked my bedroom door. I was upset you hadn’t come to my room, and when I saw you out the window—” Shame tore at her. “I—I’ve never imagined you were someone else. I should never have said that.”

  Her emotions were so raw and close to the surface, the hesitancy she sensed in him tore at her. Pressing a hand to his face, praying he believed her, she whispered, “I never loved Byron. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you.”

  He grinned, and kissed her slowly, softly and so sweetly her heart began to sing. As his lips left hers, he whispered, “I’ve been in love with you since the night I was ill and we kissed.”

  The gasp in her throat turned into a whimpering moan as her cheeks heated. “You remember that?”

  “I’ll never forget it,” he answered, kissing her brow.

  “I thought you were asleep.”

  “And I thought you’d discover just how much I wanted you then.”

  She frowned, not comprehending what he meant.

  He chuckled and ran a finger playfully down her side. “You were washing me with a cloth, and coming very close…” His palm, floating over her lower stomach, ignited delicious sensations. The mischievous glint in his eyes gave her full understanding.

  Enticed, and more than a touch excited, she trailed her hand down his side, over his ribs to where his shirt was tucked in his pants. “Really?”

  “Really,” he said, capturing her mouth once more.

  All sorts of things were zipping to life inside her. Wants and needs and desires, but when Ellis drew out of the kiss and cast a very somber look upon her, she squirmed a touch, growing fearful of what he was about to say.

  “There’s something I need to know you understand, Constance.”

  Almost paralyzed, she nodded.

  “The morning you saw me out the window?”

  She nodded again.

  “I told Christine I was in love with you. I also told her there would always be a part of me that loves her. We had a good life together. She gave me Angel. I’ll always be thankful for that. Always love her for that.”

  The pleading look in his eyes tore at her heart. “Of course you will. I’d expect you to.”

  He caressed the side of her face with a single fingertip. “But I also want you to know that I never loved her the way I do you. Christine and I knew each other for years. She grew to become my best friend and then my wife. You—” he grinned and touched the end of her nose “—hit me like a snowstorm. You blew in so fast and tied my heart up so quickly I get dizzy just thinking about it. I can’t go a minute without thinking about you. I can’t look at something without wondering what you’d think about it, if you’d like it. I don’t even need a calendar, I mark time using the day you walked into my life.”

  Her heart could barely hold all the love rushing into it. “That’s how it is for me, too.”

  “You, Constance Jennings, are my world. You are my Heaven on Earth. Not the place, but the feeling.”

  If a person could melt, she did, into a puddle on the mattress. Ellis joined her, kissing her lips and caressing her body until Constance swore they’d melded into one. He
was lying on top of her, but his weight wasn’t crushing, instead it was a part of her. She ran her hands over his hard yet supple back, and explored the inner regions of his mouth with her tongue.

  Intimate, swirling sensations raced through her veins, making her shift beneath him, so his body could press against her most sensitive points. The ache that lingered inside, the one she knew only he could satisfy, roared into life.

  Ellis broke the kiss with several tiny ones as he lifted his face from hers. She ran her hands down the curve of his backside to keep his hips pressed into hers.

  He grinned. “Not yet, darling, we aren’t done talking.”

  She wiggled, pressed her hips into his, loving the teasing friction. “I’m done talking.”

  After a swift kiss, Ellis moved off her. “No you aren’t.” He sat on the side of the bed and took her hand, pulling her upward.

  Even though she’d have rather had him back on top of her, she went willingly, flipping around to sit beside him. The disappointed look she flashed at him said more than words could have.

  Chuckling, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “I do love you, Constance. More than anyone can imagine.”

  Smiling, she leaned her head on his shoulder. “And I love you, Ellis. You make me so happy…so…oh, I don’t know…I can’t describe how wonderful I feel.”

  “I know,” he whispered. “Loving you is like a destination I always wanted to go to, but never knew how to get there. Now that I’ve found it, I never want to leave.”

  The room grew still as Constance savored Ellis’s declaration. His love was so precious it felt as though she held a delicate crystal ball in her heart. When he shifted to gaze upon her, a glorious wave washed over her. It was there—boldly in his eyes—for her to see. His love wasn’t delicate, but solid and rich. Like gold. It would never break, nor tarnish or perish, no matter what.

  “Constance?”