Heart of a Lady (Book One of the Red River Valley Brides)

by Hestand, Rita

  Jo Ella sighed and joined Maggie at the window. But she would not let this discourage her or the others. They could still accomplish what they came for. "It ain't the town we are marrying'. It's the men in it. Remember that."

  Maggie lifted her chin, and set her shoulders straight. "You know, Jo Ella…you're right. So we gotta hurry up and get well…so we can get married!" She laughed.

  Chapter Three

  "We can't tell them we're from Sourdough," Jo Ella cautioned them. "Call yourself from Red River Valley that sounds better. It's far enough away they wouldn't know nothin' about us. Just don't go mentioning Sourdough. They got telegraphs, and we don't want to be found out. I think we should exercise good judgment and try to speak as clearly and politely as possible." Somehow everything would work out.

  "And what if they don't like us?" Sarah asked.

  "I suggest we use our powers of persuasion. Getting men to like us is the least of our worries." Jo Ella affirmed. "What we have to sell these men on is that we want to be their brides, but we are cousins from the Red River Valley. At least most of us are cousins." She glanced at Nadine.

  "I used to live there, up by the river itself. Oh that was so long ago, but I haven't forgotten what it's like. So I can help fill in a lot of information." Maggie nodded.

  "So far these have been such nice men. I hate to lie to them." Trish bit her lip. "I mean the one that brought me in wasn't that great to look at, but he seemed so protective of me. I felt so safe around him."

  Jo Ella frowned, for the life of her she couldn't see Trish with that bear of a man, but then Trish was a little different, she didn't trust men.

  "It all comes down to whether or not you want a better life. Sometimes life don't hand you a ticket to the better things. That means there are two ways of getting' it—workin' for it or stealing it."

  "The fella who brought me here sure was handsome. Did you see how blue his eyes were?" Sarah asked. "He's the one that spoke the pretty words over the driver. He's got to be a preacher."

  "No, but you did." Maggie chuckled. "He's the preacher, that's true, so watch out. He'd be the first to know you was lyin'."

  "I'd like to see more than just his eyes, though." Sarah gushed.

  "Easy girl, you got a whole year to explore him." Jo Ella cautioned. "Findin' yourself a preacher is pretty shrewd in some ways, Sarah, but be careful he doesn't find out what you've been. That would be real trouble for you."

  "There is absolutely no way he's gonna find out. I intend to be the nicest lady he ever met." Sarah batted her eyes and tossed her dark blonde hair from her shoulders.

  Everyone cheered her on.

  ~*~

  Ma Jones turned out to be a big husky lady with a voice of an angel. Her face belied her personality, sweet but firm and a little controlling. The boarding house she ran was a huge three story house with a bigger than life room at the top where she planned to house the girls. Women were quieter than men, it made sense to put them on the top floor where they could be together.

  Ma kept a clean house, and always had something cooking on the stove.

  On the front porch there were several rocking chairs and one table where an old chess board had been set up for guests.

  The place was warm and inviting.

  "So you are all mail order brides, huh?" The woman eyed them from head to toe.

  "Yes, ma'am," they choired.

  "Then you'll board here regular until you find a man of your own. Where you from?"

  "We all come from the Red River Valley area. Are you familiar with it?" Jo Ella said.

  "To some extent. Got an old uncle still lives up that way." She snorted. "You do understand that if you don't find a man within a year, you must work in the saloon or leave town."

  "Yes, ma'am, we are aware," Maggie answered.

  "That don't bother you none?" Ma Jones squinted at them.

  "No. We fully intend to find a man." Trish smiled shyly.

  "I like your spunk. When that ad was placed, nearly every man in town wasn't married nor did they even have a girl. Now nearly half of them are married and the other half are confirmed bachelors or no-goods. There is the reverend, and the sheriff, my son. They'd do. But most of the others are just riffraff."

  "The sheriff is your son?" Jo Ella asked.

  "Last I looked, yes." The woman watched her.

  "Just curious." She smiled.

  Maggie came closer to the woman, her gaze darting over the lady's fading dress and knotted hair. "A lady can turn riffraff into men, if she wants."

  Ma Jones let out a belly laugh. "You got grit, girls. I like that. Well, supper is at six and don't be late. I like to have all my ladies inside and tucked into bed by nine. No decent lady would stay out later. Breakfast is at six, and we have a small meal at noon. No men in the rooms, of course, and keep your rooms tidy. You'll pay for any damages, so just take care of it. You don't owe a dime until your year is up. At that time, you will pay ten dollars a month if you decide to stay and work in the saloon."

  "Sounds fair enough." Jo Ella smiled. Ma Jones intrigued her and she found the sheriff an interesting man to pursue. But only time would tell.

  Chapter Four

  After two weeks of mending, Jo Ella set about seeing the town and meeting some of its people. Like other Texas towns, it was full of rough and rowdy cowboys, some drifters who had no particular goals and aims in life, and others who intentionally planned to make farming or ranching their life. The women folk were all friendly, as half of them had come here to be brides too.

  For several minutes, Jo Ella browsed the dry goods store.

  A woman walked up to her after buying some material. "You're one of the ladies that was rescued from the stagecoach, right?" She smiled, her blue eyes flashing.

  "Yes, I am." Jo Ella grinned and moved along the counter.

  "Jeffrey told me about the accident. You must have been pretty shaken up?"

  "It was an experience." Jo Ella smiled as the man behind the counter watched them closely.

  "My name's Becca. Jeffrey is my husband." She extended her gloved hand.

  Jo Ella stared at her hand and then took it in hers. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jo Ella."

  "Pardon me, but you are a mail order bride, aren't you?" Becca stared at her a little longer.

  "Yes, yes I am."

  "So was I over a year ago."

  "Really?" Jo Ella looked her over, wondering what they might have in common other than that.

  "Yeah, Jeffrey and I have been married nine months. We're going to have a baby in about six months." She blushed.

  Jo Ella marveled at her peaches and cream complexion and realized that was why she had just a hint of fullness of the face. "Congratulations."

  "Thank you. We wanted to start a family as soon as we could. Well, I hope we can be friends." She started to leave.

  Jo Ella turned her full attention on the young woman. "It was nice to meet you, Becca, and I'm sure we can."

  Becca gave her a quick wave and darted out the door.

  Jo Ella looked at the storekeeper, who had been staring at them.

  "That Becca, she's a nice little lady," he said. "She comes in about once a week and buys some material, food, or yarn for the baby. She was one of them mail order brides too, but I guess she told you that."

  "Yes, she did. Could you tell me how much a couple of yards of this material is?" Jo Ella picked out a pretty blue color. When he quoted a low price, she gasped. "I'll take three yards of it. You have some fair prices here. I’m sure me and my cousins will do business with you, sir. What did you say your name was…"

  "Call me Fred, ma'am. Your cousins?"

  "Yes, we came in with the sheriff the other day. Our stage overturned…"

  "Oh yes, Harry told me about that. Were you hurt?"

  "A little, but we are mendin'." Jo Ella flashed him a curious smile.

  "I hope you find our little town comfortable. Harry said you are all mail order brides." Fred twisted about to stare
at her.

  "That's right. Know anyone you want to point out to me?" She chuckled.

  Fred put his palm of his hand to his chin and stretched his finger to his forehead. "One of the best bachelors in town is Harry, the sheriff himself, but he's kind of a confirmed bachelor. 'Course he knows everyone here, and he just don't seem interested in no ladies. He'd be a hard one to catch. There's the reverend. He's a fine fellow, Joseph Miller. He's a little shy, but worth the effort I'd say. He's a rancher most of the time and a preacher on Sunday. There are a few other ranchers here abouts and a farmer too. Then there's Dillon Spears, but he's a little rough around the edges. He killed a man last week in a gunfight. The man stole some of his cattle, and he didn't take too kindly to it. The man called him out, and Dillon shot him dead in the street. He had his right, but Harry wasn't too happy about it. Harry's been kind of doggin' him ever since."

  The man at the lake! She just knew it had to be him. Dangerous, and yet somehow gentle too. After working saloons for so long, Jo Ella had learned to recognize quality in a man, just like she was quick to recognize the bad in them too.

  She had to get that man out of her head. Trouble was, with a name added to his handsome face, he was doubly hard to forget.

  "Is this Dillon a bad man?" She grabbed her chest, expecting to hear the worst.

  "No, not really. His family helped settle our town. Big ranchers. But Dillon is one that don't wait for the law to handle things. He's a fair man, a good man, but I think there could be some trouble between him and Harry. You see, Dillon's dad died mysteriously last year and Harry ain't found out who done it yet." Fred stared out the window of his store.

  "No one knows who killed him?"

  "Nope. It's been a while and I got a feelin' that until they find out who done it, Harry and Dillon won't be getting' along too well."

  "Do you consider this fella, Dillon, dangerous?"

  "Not unless you are on his bad side." Fred nodded. "Here comes Harry now."

  The sheriff stepped inside the store and dwarfed everything around him. Jo Ella hadn't noticed how big the man was. Tall yes, but she hadn't noticed the wide spread shoulders, the tapered waist, and the narrow hips. His gray eyes sought her out. "Miss Jo Ella, I hope you are feelin' better."

  "I'm much better, thank you. The doc made sure we took care of ourselves. We've practically been in bed for two weeks now." Jo Ella smiled pleasantly at him before pretending interest in the material Fred was cutting for her.

  "I'm gonna be free tomorrow afternoon, I'd love to take you for a buggy ride, so you could see the town and its boundaries," Harry offered.

  "That sounds nice, sheriff, but don't you have duties?"

  "No, ma'am, my deputy can handle it for me. Would you do me the honor of letting me escort you about town?"

  "Well." She batted her eyes at the sheriff. "I'd love to then."

  "I'll call for you at noon then. Since it gets pretty hot, we should start early." He smiled at her.

  Jo Ella paid for her purchase and nodded to the sheriff. "At noon, sheriff."

  "Please call me Harry." He took his hat off and displayed a handsome head of burnished gold hair.

  She nodded and left the store.

  As she crossed the street, she silently scolded herself. Jo Ella wasn't the least bit interested in the sheriff with his polite manners and handsome smile. She was well used to handsome men, so looks didn't entice her most of the time. There was something about the sheriff. Jo Ella suspected he wasn't a shy man around women. She'd have to watch her step. Maybe he suspected something of her?

  Jo Ella rushed back to the boarding house, climbed the two flights of stairs, threw open the door to a room full of beds, and the smell of sweet flowers that Maggie had picked that day, with eagerness to tell the girls about the sheriff.

  "He's really cute." Maggie winked.

  "He sort of grows on you, but you know, Maggie, we are used to a lot of different men. I don't think my heart is in courting a Sheriff." Jo Ella flashed them all a worried glance. "I mean, wouldn't that be ironic? A sheriff?"

  "Why not? He sounds like the most upstanding man around. At least he doesn't play games. He comes to the point. I like that in a man."

  "I don't know. He kind of reminds me of Randal for some reason. Maybe it's just his title, and not him. I'll give him a chance though." Jo Ella said as she wrung her hands for lack of anything else to do.. "Maybe I'm misjudging him. Maybe I'm not giving him the benefit of the doubt. Anyway, I agreed to going on a buggy ride with him, to see the lay of the land. I guess that won't hurt. And I might learn something."

  Maggie nodded. "That's the spirit."

  "You know, when I came up with this, I thought it would be easy. Just find a man and settle down with him, but now, I just don't know." Joe Ella tossed her hat on the bed. The green feather waved in the air.

  "Well, I'm not gonna be bashful about the preacher. I'll be in church every Sunday." Sarah flaunted her hips.

  "Good for you!" Maggie cheered.

  Chapter Five

  Precisely at noon, the sheriff showed up clean and smelling rather sweet in a blue suit. The suit seemed to bring out the gray of his eyes. His smile beamed at her, displaying perfect teeth. She liked a man that groomed himself. Her nerves were jangled. A black hat finished his appearance. It looked as though he could veil his thoughts with his so-long lashes.

  Jo Ella had donned a lovely flowered peach dress, homespun and more to keeping with what the town women wore. She didn't want to stand out, but wanted to fit in more than anything.

  Harry escorted her to the buggy. It must have been a rented one from the stables as it was very luxurious.

  "This is a fine looking buggy," she said in an alarming soft voice that had him taking another look at her.

  His lashes cast a shadow over his cheeks, but a slight smile played at his sensual lips.

  It dawned on her that the sheriff was courting her, and all the towns people were smiling at them as they rode about. He pointed out all the local businesses, which didn't amount to much, and then they headed out of town.

  He smiled and waved at people as they drove by, but this smile was different from the one she received. This smile was to appease the gossips.

  "Where are we going?" Her voice sounded breathless.

  "On a picnic, of course." He said charmingly. The way he glanced at her from time to time showed he was definitely interested in her. The way he explained this excursion was that he was showing her around. But the look in his eyes said much more.

  Jo Ella began to relax, and he pointed out several spots of interest. The fresh country air hit her as soon as they were out of town. The seldom used road made the land look so untouched, except by nature itself. Blue bonnets peppered the fields, along with buttercups and Indian Paints. An occasional oak or pecan tree dotted the rich grassland valley.

  "You really have a lovely town." She tried to think of something else to say. "And it's beautiful out here. I seldom take the time to enjoy the countryside. I don't know why, I love to be outdoors."

  "This area is owned by the big ranchers. The properties are all well cared for." He stopped the buggy and motioned to a big pecan tree in the distance. "Let's put our quilt over there, in the shade."

  "Of course. " She waited for him to help her down. As her feet touched solid ground once more, she noticed him staring at her. "Is something wrong? Do I have my dress on backwards?"

  "Why no, of course not. It's just that I’m not often escorting the prettiest girl in town about." He smiled again, and she noticed the smile was more relaxed now, more natural. Was the big tough sheriff actually a shy man around women? If so, how did he get the nerve to ask her out here? "In fact, I can't remember the last time I escorted any female."

  "I'm honored. Are you originally from Veda, sheriff?" She picked the basket up and tried to ignore the compliment.

  "Yes, ma'am," he answered curtly. "Born here, raised here, and I guess I'll remain here the rest of my life. It's
home. And you might even find me boring because of it."

  "You sound as though you regret living here." She glanced up to read his expression, but he guarded it with that shy smile.

  "In some ways, I do. Deep down, I have an itch to see more of the world, but family means a lot to me. My mother is here. I was born here. My friends are here. It would be hard now to move on. I should have done that years ago."

  He spread the quilt and took the basket from her. She glanced around, then sat down on the quilt and waited until he did. Only he stood staring again.

  "You keep staring at me. I feel as though something is wrong or out of place."

  "No, it's just you look a little familiar." He squinted from the sun then joined her on the blanket. "A pretty girl like you, you'd think I could place you easily enough."

  "Now, sheriff that's rather an old line, don't you think?"

  He sent her a crooked smile. "I'm a little out of practice in courting a lady."

  "Is that what you are doing?"

  He leaned toward her. "Yes ma'am. I'm trying to."

  Jo Ella allowed the kiss, out of curiosity. His lips met hers firmly, but there was tension she hadn't expected. It was the way he took her into his arms, so gently, so carefully. The question of his kiss was unmistakable. The man was somewhat controlling. She pulled away.

  "I really don't know you very well, sheriff." She blinked. "And I don't usually kiss a man until I know him better."

  "You're right. I am sorry." He shrugged. "My name's Harry. Sheriff sounds a little formal, don't you think? Especially on a picnic," he murmured as he stared into her dark eyes. His hands sat at her waist.

  "Harry, why don't you tell me about yourself? I can't get to know you unless you open up a bit."

  "I don't like to talk about myself," he mumbled as he pulled away. "Besides, a lady doesn't want to hear all the bad things about a man."