Mail Order Bride: CLEAN Western Historical Romance: Denial of the Resistant Bride (Three Brides of Haines Press Book2)
Page 7
“Then it’s settled,” Joe said. “I’ll invite her.”
“No,” Clara began to rub her arms.
Joe stared blankly at Clara. “Why not?”
Clara stopped rubbing her arm. She looked blankly at Joe, too. “Fine, invite her.” I’ll just say no, she thought. Why stop Joe from inviting the woman? It didn’t mean that Clara actually had to go. All she had to do was come up with a plausible excuse for C.C. Reed not to attend. She smiled. This would be easy.
* * *
10
Chapter TEN
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“ Joe wasn’t waiting for a good woman. He
wasn’t waiting for anyone, but Clara Cain. ”
Joe smiled when Clara walked into the store. “Hey.” He went back to checking out his customer before turning back to Clara. It was one of the only customers who’d come in that day. The snow had started to fall in Haines. The outside streets were blanketed in a field of white. The color seemed to have been slipped from the city’s canvas. No one was leaving their house unless they had to. Clara didn’t have to. School was closed for the winter, which meant Clara had come out in the snow to see him. They’d started hanging out again after Eve’s dinner; which had been a few weeks ago. Their friendship was still in the healing process, but Joe hoped it would get better and eventually back to the way it was, minus him being madly in love with Clara.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Clara said as she made it to his side.
Joe looked down at the cream colored suit he was wearing. A white shirt sat underneath it. A green bowtie that matched his eyes sat on his collar. “Thanks.”
Clara pulled up a chair next to Joe and placed a newspaper on the counter. She opened it up and pointed to the ad that was there. “The play starts tonight.”
Joe’s smile brightened. “I know.”
Clara’s own smile wavered. “Who ya takin’?”
Joe looked away, his smile still in place. “It’s a secret.” When he turned back to Clara he found her eyes had narrowed.
“A surprise?”
Joe nodded.
Clara sighed and looked away. “I didn’t know you’d asked anyone.”
Joe frowned. “Why’s it matter?”
Clara shrugged. “I just didn’t want to go by myself. That’s all.”
“Well, you can go with Florence or Grace.”
“Forget it, Joe.” Clara rolled her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Clara, but this is what you wanted…”
Clara stood from her chair. “No, Joe, this is not what I wanted. This is what you wanted.”
“I’m trying to be your friend, but that means I’ll start seeing other women now.”
“I know that, Joe. But, the play? That’s our thing.” Clara crossed her arms. “Who are you taking?”
Joe looked around the empty store. “C.C. Reed.” When Clara didn’t answer, he turned to find her staring wide-eyed at him. He frowned. “What?”
“You’re taking C.C. Reed?”
“Yeah.”
Clara started to look around the room; her eyes not landing on anything. “How? That’s impossible. She told you no,” she whispered.
Joe narrowed his eyes at her. “What? No, she didn’t. I never told you what her reply had been.”
Clara was shaking her head. She looked pained. Joe grabbed her arms. “Clara, what’s wrong?”
She looked up at him. “I want to see the letter.”
Joe reached into his pocket. Clara snatched it from his hands; frowning. “You keep the letter on you?”
Joe narrowed his eyes. “Is that a problem?” Joe didn’t like the way Clara was acting. “You know, for a woman who doesn’t love me, you sure have a funny way of being in my business.”
Clara waved him off and opened the letter. It was typed and said that it had come from C.C. Reed. The letter stated that she was excited about the play and couldn’t wait to attend with Joe. C.C. Reed requested that Joe pick her up at the train station at 3 o’clock; four hours before the play began, one hour from now. Joe’s suit made sense now. C.C. Reed was coming in on a train from Kansas. “This is not possible.” Clara looked up at Joe. “Who gave you this?”
“Eve.”
Clara shook her head. “I’m going to kill her.”
Joe sighed. “Clara, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t not want to be with me and then forbid me to see anyone else.”
Clara waved him off again, but didn’t meet his eyes. Her mind was busy at work. “No, that’s not it.”
“Look, Clara—”
“I have to go.”
Joe shrugged. “Yeah, I was just about to head to the station anyway.” He started for the door and Clara joined him. They were outside when Joe touched her arm. Clara turned around and stared into the most amazing pair of eyes she’d ever seen on a man.
Joe looked away before meeting her gaze again. “Clara, I know things are different between us now, but I want you to know that you’ll always be my friend.”
Clara placed a gloved hand on Joe’s cheek. “I hope so.” Her heart ached. What was she to do? Eve had just promised Joe that C.C. Reed would join him for the play. Either Clara showed up and spilled the beans about who C.C. Reed really was or Joe went alone; thinking he’d been stood up. Either option was likely to break his heart, but Clara was unsure as to which one would hurt him the least.
On one hand, telling Joe that she was in fact C.C. Reed had the potential of hurting their fragile friendship; after all, she’d been lying to him for years and had gone even further as to write him these last few months. The news that there was no C.C. Reed would probably hurt and had the added effect of taking Joe away from Clara forever. No, that option didn’t suit Clara. C.C. Reed would be standing the man up. Clara wasn’t sure what Eve’s intentions had been, but she would speak to her about it.
Walking into Haines Press, Clara was on that very mission. She didn’t say hello to anyone she passed. Clara had tunnel vision. Her mission: confront Eve. The lady of Haines Press could not be found on the main floor, so Clara went to the office. She didn’t knock. She simply walked in and found Eve to be alone.
Eve looked up from her papers and frowned. “Clara, you really must knock. Robert could have been in here.”
Clara shrugged. “Why would Robert’s presence matter?”
Eve just stared at Clara. It took a minute, but then Clara found herself blushing. “Sorry.”
Eve nodded. “It’s alright.” She smiled as she folded her fingers together and placed them on top of the table. “What can I do you for?”
The memory of what happened a few minutes ago spread like heat through Clara’s limbs. She sighed. “Did you write Joe on C.C. Reed’s behalf?”
“Yes.”
Clara gave Eve a blank look. “Why?”
“Because this must end, Clara.”
“What does that mean?”
“You tell him who you are or you don’t, but it ends tonight.” Eve went back to the papers on her desk.
Clara’s fingers dug into her hands as she balled them into fists. “How dare you!”
Eve put the papers back down. “Clara, you’re hurting Joe. Can’t you see that?”
“This is my life, Eve.”
“It’s not just your life. It’s Joe’s too. He loves you. You love him. It’s time you both just moved on.”
Clara shook her head. “You had no right. You’re supposed to be my friend first! You don’t take the side of some man!” Clara wiped at the tear that began to fall.
Eve sighed. “I am on your side. You’re the only one who’s not on your side.”
“What does that mean?”
“A real friend doesn’t let someone wreak havoc on their own life. If you pass up on Joe, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
“No, I won’t.”
“Clara, I know tha
t your father hurt you…”
“No—”
“But you have to move on. Don’t let him destroy you.”
“I am destroyed!” Clara shrieked. “Don’t you get that?”
Eve got up and stood before Clara. She took Clara into her arms. “What are you talking about, Clara?”
Clara cried through her words. “The Jack Adams crimes. They’re not all fiction. The bad men he kills and arrests, they’re me and my dad. I was a crook with my father. We did terrible things to people. Someone like us shouldn’t be allowed to love, much less fall in love.”
Eve shook her head. “Clara, you were a child. You can’t be held responsible for what you did.”
Clara looked at Eve. “I don’t hold myself responsible, I just know who I am, and I’m someone who can’t be with a good man like Joe.”
Eve frowned. “That’s not true, Clara.” She wiped tears from Clara’s face. “You’re a wonderful person. You always stand up for your friends and you stood behind me when the board threatened to kick me out of my father’s business.”
Clara sighed. “That was easy…”
Eve shook her head. “No, it wasn’t. You love writing, yet you were willing to give it all up if I wouldn’t be your publisher. Everyone loves Jack Adams, but you were willing to never write a single book again if I asked you to.”
“And I’d do it again.”
Eve smiled. “A terrible person doesn’t make decisions like that. A terrible person goes wherever the money goes, but you didn’t. You stood by me, because you’re a good person, Clara.”
Clara clung to Eve. Eve was three years older than Clara, but so much wiser. “Thank you, Eve.”
Eve held Clara just as tightly. “No need, just go love your man.”
Clara sighed. “I don’t think I can, Eve.”
“You already do, Clara. Now all you have to do is decide to be happy. Think about all the good times you and Joe have shared. Think about the smiles. You already know you make him happy. So, what’s stopping you now?”
Clara sighed. “Me.”
Eve nodded. “But not anymore. If my memory serves me correctly, there’s a train pulling up and someone is supposed to be getting off it.”
Clara smiled. “I can’t believe you did this, Eve. Marriage has made you soft.”
“No, marriage has made me love better.”
Clara sighed and pulled herself away from Eve’s arms. She did what she could do with her face and then left for the train depot; still unsure of what she was going to do when she got there.
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11
Chapter ELEVEN
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“ Joe wasn’t waiting for a good woman. He
wasn’t waiting for anyone, but Clara Cain. ”
Joe watched the passengers come down from the train; scanning the crowd for a face he knew nothing about, yet he was sure she was here. C.C. Reed. Since he’d first written her, he’d wondered what she looked like. The author, in his mind, had gone from an older man to a young, unmarried, lady of mystery. He smiled as his eyes caught those of a redhead who was heading his way. He opened his mouth to speak, but she dashed past him; leaping into the arms of another man. She wasn’t C.C. Reed. He looked around and began to wonder if the woman was there at all.
“She’s not coming.”
Joe didn’t have to look to know whose voice that was. “Clara, what are you doing here? I don’t want her to see you.” His eyes continued to scan the diminishing crowd. “You might scare her off. I don’t want her to think I’m taken.”
Clara sighed. “She’s not on the train, Joe.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because she lives here in town.”
Joe finally turned to see Clara. She looked so small; bundled deep into the folds of her black fur coat. Joe narrowed his eyes. “I don’t believe you.”
Clara’s expression was unreadable. “I know her, Joe.”
Joe shook his head. He went back to looking at the last of the passengers who stood at the depot. “I don’t believe you.”
“I’m C.C. Reed, Joe.”
Joe laughed. “Okay, Clara.”
“I’m serious, Joe.”
Joe looked down at her. “Clara, why are you doing this?”
Clara gave a large huff. “Joe, I’m C.C. Reed. Clara Cain, C.C.” She threw her hands up. “Don’t you get it?”
Joe narrowed his eyes. “Where did the Reed come from?”
Clara crossed her arms. “Reed is supposed to be like read. So, it’s like… Read Clara Cain. Like…” She threw her hands up. “Read a Clara Cain mystery. It’s like an advertisement in itself.”
Joe stared at Clara. “Are you serious right now?”
“As a heart attack.”
Joe shut his eyes. “Clara, please don’t do this. Please tell me you haven’t been lying to me all these years. Please tell me you didn’t sit across from me at meals and in the store while I read your own book aloud to you.”
A slow smile crept on her lips. “I thought it was adorable.”
Joe turned and started from the depot with no idea where he was going. Clara caught up, almost having to run with her shorter legs. “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, are you still taking me to the play?”
Joe stopped and spun on her. The heat from his body causing snowflakes to melt long before they reached his face. “Clara, are you kidding me? You just revealed to me something that has the power to ruin our friendship forever, and you want me to take you to the play?”
Clara grabbed his head. “Don’t be so dramatic, Joe.”
Joe took his head back. His anger was boiling by now. He had to get away from her before he said something that she wouldn’t like. He backed away from her. “Clara, go away.”
“Joe.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“I love you.”
Joe stopped moving. His heart began to furiously pump blood in his chest. He wavered a little. Clara reached out as if to catch him, but Joe backed away. “That’s not enough, Clara.”
Clara folded her hands together. “What’s enough, then?”
Joe shook his head. “You can’t just say ‘I love you’ and think that everything is better. It’s not.” He stared at Clara. Her black hair and long lashes were covered in snow. She looked so beautiful. Joe’s hands went to his hair; pulling the short blond strands where he could. “I don’t believe you. You’re scared of losing me, so you’re willing to say anything right now.”
Clara didn’t move. “That’s not true, Joe. I do love you.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Joe laughed. “Clara, it doesn’t work that way.”
“Says who, Joe?”
“Says me.”
“Then how does it work?”
Joe shook his head. “I don’t know.” He started to turn. “I just need space—” Joe felt a hand touch his arm before he went spinning. He slipped and fell bottom first into a pile of snow that sat on the side of a nearby building. He stared wide-eyed at Clara, who now had her gloved hands over her mouth.
She was laughing. She waved at him. “Oh, Joe. I’m sorry.” She reached out. “Here, let me help you.”
Joe didn’t take her hand. He didn’t try to get up. He just leaned back; settling himself further into the snow, resting there, ready to die. “Just go away, Clara.”
“I can’t, Joe.” Clara came and knelt in the snow by Joe’s hip. She hovered over him, blocking the snow from landing on his face. She was smiling.
“What do you want from me?”
Clara blinked a few times. “Teach me how to love, Joe.” There were tears in her eyes. She sniffed and they broke from their held place. “Teach me how to love you and not to be scared, because I don’t want to go through
life without you.” She placed a hand on his chest. “You mean more to me than anything, Joe. I’ve always loved you, I’m just scared.”
Joe placed a hand on top of hers. “Scared of what, Clara?”
“Scared that you’ll hurt me. Scared that I’ll hurt you.”
Joe sighed. “I’d never hurt you.”
“I know.”
“But I need you to be honest with me from now on.”
“Alright.”
“No more secrets, Clara.”
“Okay.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Joe nodded and then he smiled.
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Epilogue
Three Months Later
March 1924
Clara held on to Joe as they sat in the grassy field behind Eve’s house. A shot of white flew towards the sky. A thunderous crack later, fireworks lit up the spring’s night sky. They’d been her special request for their big day. Clara Cain was now Clara Dawson. Clara had never imagined herself married, but when Joe proposed, she’d known she’d wanted the day to be a grand affair. She was sure she’d driven everyone crazy, but with a little help from her friends, she’d pulled it off.
Joe’s hold around her wrist grew tighter as he nuzzled against her ear. “What are you thinking?” he asked.
Clara pulled away in an effort to make out his face in the dark. The lanterns and torches had been put out for the fireworks show. “Just thinking about how much you’ve all had to put up with, with me.”
Joe laughed. “Well, you wouldn’t be yourself if you were easy.”
“And you don’t mind?”
Joe shook his head. “How could I when I’ve got the woman I’ve always wanted on my arm?” He leaned that last inch inward and they brought their lips together.
Clara sighed when he pulled away. “I love you so much, Joe.”
“I love you too, Clara.”
“Clara.”
Clara turned to see Eve making her way in the dark towards her. Eve bent over and whispered into Clara's ear. “Have you seen Florence?”