“I'm not sure, but maybe,” he admitted.
Carl nodded, and leaned in conspiratorially. “Sir, I’d recommend the Matrimonial Journal. You won’t find suitable young women in this town—believe me—but there’s some fine young women back East. Though you probably already know that.”
Ben considered the man’s words, savoring the last bite of his pie. He’d heard many men in town tell of their efforts to find a wife through advertisements and mail order brides. Some had even had great success.
Surely his mother would approve of a woman from a larger city and good standing.
Ben nodded, his thoughts turning as sweet as the pie he’d just had. Maybe it was time he settled down.
“You may just have something there, Carl,” he said.
Tomorrow he’d put plans in motion to place and advertisement in the better-known and more expensive matrimonial journals in New York and Boston. If the Lord saw fit, maybe he’d find himself a wife that even his mother couldn’t find fault with.
Chapter 2
Lucy clutched Ben’s last letter in her hand like it was a lifeline to her future, and in some ways it was. She had told her father she was going out to a party that night but it was only a ruse to get out of the house. Telling the driver to wait, she rushed to the side of the house where her maid, one of the most loyal girls Lucy knew, had hidden her bags and all of the things she’d be taking West with her.
Then, instructing the driver to take her to the train station, she tried in vain to calm her frayed nerves. This was the right thing to do, she knew it, but it was also the most difficult. Her mother would be devastated when she found the note inscribed personally to her. Her father, on the other hand, would be livid.
It was the price she had to pay—or rather, he had to pay—for attempting to control her life. She was proving to him that she could make up her own mind and plan the steps of her own future.
Not to mention the fact that she rather enjoyed her letters to Mr. Epps. She bit her lip trying to tame her smile. He was charming, wrote in a strong hand, and had a good sense of humor. From what he had told her, he lived on a cattle ranch, loved horses, and enjoyed being outdoors. He also seemed to be well-read, which made her very happy as well.
Lucy could see it now. They would live in a small cabin somewhere, enjoying one another’s company. He would work during the day as she did household duties, whatever was required in West, and at night they would read. And, if she wanted, she could ride to her hearts content and be out doors in the wilderness.
The thought nearly made her explode in anticipation but she calmed herself down with the reality she had to make it to Montana first.
The driver pulled up to the station and helped her with her bags then left. She had purchased her ticked the week before and was ready when the train rumbled into the station. She passed the lower class cars and entered the red velvet coaches she was familiar with.
How had Ben afforded this for her?
She shook her head in amazement. He had likely saved to bring a wife out West for a long time. A brief thought made her wonder if he was much older than he said, but she pushed it away. Even if he was age wasn’t a factor in loving a person. It was only a number.
Once she was settled with a book in her lap and tea on the way, she finally began to relax. It would be a long ride with many stops along the way, but the journey excited her. Unlike many of her friends, she didn’t avoid adventure. Instead, she embraced it head on, looking forward to what she would learn along the way.
And this adventure would certainly be a learning process. That she could be sure of.
The train slowed to a stop jolting Lucy awake. She tried desperately to wipe sleep from her eyes but she was still groggy when an attendant came up to her, a look of concern on his face.
“We’re here ma’am. Are you well?”
“Yes, yes of course,” she said, standing. The days of travel had taken their toll on her, casing her sleep to be fitful at best. The last hour or so she’d dozed off and now she tried desperately to shake off the remints of sleep that clung to her.
Following the man off the train, she stepped onto the platform and took in a deep breath. The air was crisp and clean. It even tasted clean—not like the air in New York. She blinked, unaccustomed to the brightness from being in the train car for so long.
Looking around the platform, she searched out the faces surrounding her. How would she know Ben? Would he recognize her from the description she gave? Then again, as she looked around at the crowd surrounding her, she realized they were mostly men. She wouldn’t be hard to spot.
Then from behind her a deep voice spoke up. “Miss Castle?”
***
When Lucy Castle turned toward him his breath caught. She was stunning with vibrant green eyes, dark brown curly hair that was slightly mussed, and pert lips that curved up at the corners.
“Yes. Mr. Epps?”
He nodded, unable to from a coherent word. She was perfect, if he could so boldly call her that. His mother would be hard pressed to find fault with her.
“I—” he faltered, unsure of what he really wanted to say. So many thoughts flooded his mind.
“Should we get my bags?”
Bags. Yes. That would be a safe place to start so he wouldn't pull her into his arms and kiss her right there on the platform. Though he was sure the men milling about would send up a cheer for him.
As he followed her down the platform he admired her shapely curves and her fluid movement as she glided toward the platform. She showed him, which trunk was hers and he indicated where the men could take it, buying himself another moment without speaking by feigning interest in how they loaded the trunk.
Then they were seated in his wagon on the way back to his home, the distance between them feeling like a chasm and too close all at the same time.
“So,” she said, smoothing out a wrinkle in her dress, “Are we going to the church?”
He glanced at her, confused for a second. The deep blush on her cheeks drew him in and he had to focus on what she was saying. The church? Why would they go—
Oh! Of course.
“I’m sorry,” he gave a rueful look, “I should have explained. My mother desperately wanted to be here for the wedding. I hope you don’t mind, but she’s planning to be here next week. Until then I’ve hired someone to stay with us so were…um,” he cleared his throat, “Her name is Kate.”
Her slight smile showed she noticed his uncomfortable response but she didn’t comment on it. Instead she said, “Oh, I see. Thank you for considering…all of that.”
They both turned their attention to the road before him and he desperately tried to think of something smart and funny to say. It was unlike him, but he wanted to be debonair. She looked as if she had class and came from a well-off family. Would she think living in the West was beneath her?
Then again it wasn’t like he was necessarily living as the average man from the West.
“How was your trip?” he finally asked, unable to think of anything more interesting.
“It was good…though long.”
She had to be exhausted. “I’m sure you’d like to rest. I didn’t have anything else planned for us today if you’d like to nap.”
Part of him wanted her to decline, to prefer sitting and talking to him but she nodded saying, “That would be nice.”
The large house came into view and he saw her sit up taller. “That’s your home?”
“It is.”
“It’s so…large.”
He smiled with pride, though the funds to purchase the ranch had come from his mother, not from hard work.
“It’s a little large, but I figure someday there would be a need for more space.” Heat rushed up his neck. He was thinking about children and they weren’t even married yet.
The pink tinge on her cheeks lingered but he also saw a smile there.
He pulled back on the reins and before he knew it one of the hands was there to take the horses. No
rmally he would have done it himself, though the hands usually insisted, but he wanted every minute with his bride-to-be.
“Well, I’ll be,” Carl said, stepping onto the porch with Kate behind him. The young girl was shy, keeping her head down, but Carl spoke enough for them both. “You must be Miss Castle. Aren’t we lucky to have you here safe and sound? I’m Carl and I’d like to welcome you to Montana. What do you think of the ranch? Better yet, Mr. Ben?”
Carl let out a laugh as Ben stifled a groan. Leave it to Carl to say whatever was on his mind.
“It’s nice to meet you, Carl,” she said, gracious and kind as ever, “And I like…all of it.”
The glance she sent Ben made his insides turn to mush. They kept talking as they all walked inside, Carl saying he would show her to her room so she could rest, but all Ben could see was the memory of her smile.
It was helpless. He was smitten.
Chapter 3
Lucy stretched her hands over her head, letting out a contended sigh. After her long nap the day before she’d still managed to get a full night’s sleep. The bed was soft and wonderful, the sheets smooth against her skin, and the sunlight streaming through her window just bright enough to wake her slowly.
This wasn’t the luxury she’d expected when thoughts of moving west had first entered her mind. She’d envisioned a rough cabin, acres of nothing, and having to do without…well, most conveniences. But this home…it was stunning.
She rolled onto her side and propped her head up with her hand. Ben’s face slipped into her mind. He was more handsome than she’d expected with blonde hair, deep brown eyes, and the type of refined features she would have been accustomed to seeing at dinner parties, not on the range in the West.
In fact, he could have been a brother to Charles Benning.
She groaned and rolled back onto her back. No. Ben was much better looking. Though he’d barely been able to string together sentences let alone showcase the humor she’d seen in his letters.
A smile wound its way onto her face. Was he tongue tied because of her?
“Miss?” came a soft voice from the door. She recognized it as Kate immediately.
“Yes?”
The girl entered, her eyes downcast in respect. “I wanted to see if you wished for breakfast in the sunroom. It’s rather nice in there.”
“That would be lovely,” she said, pulling the covers back. “I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
The girl curtseyed and left, giving Lucy just enough time to dress and fix her hair before she made her way down the large staircase to the main floor.
During breakfast she got an idea that wouldn’t let her go. Seeing the men working on the ranch through the sunroom windows, she had the unbearable desire to go riding.
When Ben entered just as she had finished breakfast he looked alive with the fresh morning air, his cheeks tinged by the coldness and his eyes bright.
“Good morning,” he said, sitting and taking a scone from the plate.
“Good morning. What a lovely day.”
“It is. Though a little cold.”
“I don’t mind it,” she said, smiling. “Though I do have a request.”
His eyebrows shot up and he grinned. “What’s that?”
“I’d like to go riding. Is that possible?”
He seemed taken aback by her request but recovered quickly. “Riding. Today. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”
“Yes,” she said. She nodded vigorously to prove her point.
“All right then. Riding it is.” He stood, grabbing one more scone “Meet me in the library in half an hour and I’ll take you out.”
She frowned. He was coming? She had expected he would just have a horse saddled for her. She wanted to explore. To maybe even get a little lost—though not really. She just wanted to feel as if she were free.
“You don’t have to take me. I’m sure you’re busy.”
He frowned. “Of course I’d take you. The men hardly need me for anything, I just impose my help on them.” He laughed, the sound low and bold. “Besides, I can’t let a lady go out on her own. It’s not safe. Not in the wild west.” He said the last part with a silly grin on his face.
“If you insist.” She tried to cover her disappointment but he didn’t seem to notice it.
As she trudged up the stairs to dress for their outing she thought about their ride. She had wanted to feel independent, but he’d insisted on coming. Maybe that was good though—he could show her the best trails and places to go so that the next time she could go by herself.
If it was one thing she was determined to do it was prove herself as woman of the West. Not just some girl who had previously been under the thumb of her father and was too delicate to survive without servants or nice things. Granted, it looked like she would have those things anyway.
A twinge of disappointment sunk into her heart. Though Ben was handsome and caring, he wasn’t what she’d expected when she had agreed to be a mail order bride.
***
“Don’t go too fast, Lucy,” Ben called out, his heart in his throat as she thundered across the field ahead of him.
Lucy Castle had no fear. That fact almost frightened him. She had slid easily onto the saddle, claiming she’d ridden before at her father’s country estate. It was his first clue that he’d been right, she had come from a wealthy family out East.
But then she’d taken off like she was being chased and it had taken all of his skill as a horseman to keep up. She was a talented rider; he’d give her that.
She finally slowed at the edge of the field, her face flushed and breathing hard. She looked energized and so full of life. So beautiful.
He slid to the ground and offered up his hands to help her down but she got off without him.
“That was amazing. It’s so beautiful here!”
“It is,” he said, keeping his eyes on her. She was the beauty around here. What were rocks and tress compared to Lucy Castle?
“I—”
“I have to run.”
He frowned. “What?”
“I have to. I just have to…” she tossed her arms wide open, “run through this beauty.”
He tried to understand what she was saying but suddenly she tossed the reins over a low lying branch and took off running into the middle of the field.
Watching her go, he laughed. She was definitely not what he’d expected, but what was a little morning exercise?
He secured his own horse and took off after her. Closing the gap, he watched in shock as she tripped and went sailing forward.
“Are you all right?” Ben asked, coming to kneel at her side.
She rolled back and a loud laugh echoed from her. “I’m fine.”
Relief coursed through him and he sat heavily down next to her. “You scared me. I thought you’d broken an ankle or something.”
“Nope,” she said, propping herself up on her elbows. “I just tripped.”
He watched as she gazed up at the sky, her face alight with awe and wonder. He wondered what things looked like from her perspective. Then again, he knew. At least he could guess.
The wide open spaces where shocking. Not having carriages, people, and noise surrounding you like they did in the city had taken him a bit to get used to.
“Do you miss New York?”
“Not in the least,” she said, glancing his way.
“Really?”
“No.” She twirled a blade of grass in her fingers. “It felt…confining.”
He nodded in agreement. Then his eyes trailed down the soft curves of her face to her lips. They were pursed in concentration as she studied a leaf she’d picked up and he wanted nothing more than to soften them with his.
Scooting closer, he leaned down on his elbow, looking into her eyes. “Are you happy you came?”
The leaf fluttered to the ground as her gaze turned to his. She stilled and he saw her swallow. “Um, yes.” Her eyes were on his and she was barely breathing.
> “I’m glad, too.” He leaned closer, the scent of grass and earth and her filling his nostrils. She was beautiful. He couldn’t have picked a lovelier bride.
Without hesitation, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. She stiffened beneath him, but didn't push way—at first.
But then suddenly her hand on his chest was shoving him away. Their connection was broken and he sat back, feeling the rebuff like a physical blow. Didn’t she have feelings for him?
Chapter 4
Lucy paced the library, looking for a book—or anything that would divert her attention from the man she was going to marry. After she’d pushed him away during their kiss in the field he’d been moody and quiet.
She bit her lip. It had been a good kiss, one she would have enjoyed had she known him better, but even after months of writing letters back and forth it was still difficult to get to know someone—or even fall in love with them—in the span of a day. And that’s exactly what Ben seemed to want: love.
Cringing, she picked up a leather tome and sat down near the window.
Why shouldn’t he want love? She wanted it too, but she felt the need to approach it more slowly. To take her time. Then again, it wasn’t as if she had much of a choice. She would be married to Ben soon after his mother arrived, which would be happening any day now, and there would be no option then.
It all seemed so fast. But that, again, was her fault. She hadn’t been willing to marry Charles Benning, a smart choice on her part, but she’d rushed headlong into an equally perplexing matter. Ben Epps was, by all standards, a lot like Charles.
She looked outside, her mind straying from the book in her hands. No, that wasn’t quite right. He was nice, more handsome, and less self-absorbed, but he also wasn’t the rough cowboy she thought she would marry. The one who would think her obsession with riding and a desire to learn how to chop wood a commonplace thing, not beneath her like she felt Ben believed.
Ben kept trying to protect her where she just wanted to live. To explore. To be free.
Maybe she’d made a mistake in coming to the West. Would a life back East have been easier?
[2015] Cowboy Saves a Widow Page 45
