“Have her close the shutters in the kitchen when she needs you. You’re sure to see it.”
“Good idea.” He huffed out a breath. “I’m a bit calmer now. I should get back. Thanks for standing with me on this.”
“We’ve always had each other’s back, and we’ve been good at it.” Parker clapped his hand on Max’s shoulder. “Let’s go get your daughter.”
* * *
The door opened and Veronica put her sewing down and smiled at Max and Bridey. “I was beginning to wonder where you were. And why is Walter Green staring at our house?”
Max handed Bridey to her. As glad as she was to have them home, she noted concern on Max’s face and frowned.
Max removed his hat and put it on a peg near the door. He then sat in a chair opposite her. A chill went up Veronica’s spine.
“I have some news, disturbing news. Your brother-in-law is in these parts, and he’s been asking about you all around town, especially at the Sink Hole.”
She immediately felt lightheaded. “Amis is a-a-alive?” She must have heard him wrong. “Amis is here in Spring Water?”
Max stood and took Bridey from her. “You look as though you’re about to be sick.”
“I do feel a bit on the sickly side, but I’m fine. How is it he’s still alive?”
Max shrugged, and she realized he would have no answers.
“Did he ask about Bridey?” She held her breath waiting for a yes or no.
“Not Bridey exactly. He’s looking for you and his son.”
Veronica closed her eyes for a moment. “A son? Did someone tell him I left with his son?”
“I wish I knew, honey. He seems intent on taking you both home with him.”
“That’s why Walter’s been watching the house, isn’t it?”
Max nodded.
“I should go to another town. Perhaps I can leave Bridey with Georgie? I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back and collect her.” It felt as though someone was ripping her heart right out of her chest. Then the fear of Amis shot through her.
“You’re shaking. I won’t let him anywhere near you or our daughter. He obviously doesn’t know what’s going on. Why he thinks you have his son is a bit bewildering.”
“He wasn’t there for the birth of Bridey and the death of my son. He thought it funny we were both pregnant, and he often said he’d have two sons. I was afraid if I had a girl he’d throw her out into the forest. He never wanted to look at the baby and then he was shot. How he even tracked me this far is a mystery.” She couldn’t get the shaking to stop.
“Sandler and Willis will go to the Sink Hole tonight and see what’s going on. Maybe they can convince him you’ve moved on.”
“He probably spent all his money drinking and well, you know. I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have enough money to go home.” Dread gripped her gut. “Oh, no! He expects me to take my sister’s place.” She got up quickly despite the pain and ran outside. She stopped at the side of the house and vomited again and again. Then she leaned against the side of the house trying to find her courage. It seemed to have fled as soon as Amis’ name was spoken. He would beat her to death this time. And what would he do to sweet Bridey?
She slumped against the house until she was sitting on the ground. She had to hide Bridey. There was no way that man would ever touch that baby. Amis was a crafty one, and despite Max’s assurances, he’d figure out a way to get to both her and her daughter.
A shadow blocked the warmth of the sun. She glanced up and there stood Max.
“Let’s get you inside, honey. Do you feel any better?” He reached out both hands, and she placed hers in them. He easily pulled her up and she was soon in his arms, leaning against his hard chest.
“Max, I’m frightened.”
“I know.” He tightened his arms a bit, but not so hard he hurt her ribs. “I’m here. We’ll make sure no harm comes to you or the little one.”
“Is Bridey in her cradle?”
Max stroked her back up and down. “Walter has her. Bridey likes him.”
“She does?”
Max chuckled. “Bridey would have made her displeasure known.”
Veronica pulled away. “You’re right about that.” She took Max’s proffered arm, and they walked to the front of the house. Walter looked as though he was telling Bridey a story, and the baby watched his face as though she understood him.
“Thank you for watching Bridey,” Veronica said. Max took the girl from Walter and carried her inside.
“I wonder what he was saying that kept her attention?”
Max grinned. “What he always talks about: Sondra. Whether or not he should wait to ask her to marry him. He has a big list why he should and an even bigger list why he shouldn’t.”
She gave him a tight smile.
“I hate to ask, but we’ll need description of Amis so we can spot him if he comes close to the ranch.” They stepped inside the house, and Max led her to the sofa. “Here, sit down for a bit. I bet that bending you just did hurt your ribs.”
She gingerly sat down. “A bit, I guess. He’s a head taller than me and muscular; he’s not fat or skinny. His hair is long to his shoulders—or it was—and he almost never washes it. It’s light brown. He has blue eyes. He also has a small scar right above his lip where I managed to hit him once. If he’s at the Sink Hole then he’ll think he knows it all. It gets worse when he drinks. Keep the girls away from him, because he’ll hurt them.”
“That’s a great description. I’ll pass it along to the men in a bit. What about his crops? I would have thought he’d had too much to do to leave Louisiana.”
Sighing, she nodded. “You’d think so. He probably doesn’t know enough to grow anything. After Hester married him, we did most of the work. His pa was a sharecropper too, so you’d think that Amis would know at least something about it. The plot is probably full of weeds. He didn’t care as long as he could afford moonshine and drink with a few other worthless men.”
“He’s bound to run out of money soon enough. When that happens he’ll probably make his move.” Max held Bridey against his shoulder.
“I think she’s sleeping. You might as well put her in her cradle,” Veronica suggested.
Amis…alive. How had he found her? It made no sense at all. He was a dumb as a rock. Had she let it slip out at any time? No, she was certain she’d kept her mouth shut. Very certain since her life depended on it. Somehow he had found out and that worried her. There had to be money involved somehow. Amis didn’t even like children. But he had enjoyed abusing her. Her ribs began to hurt more than ever, and she realized her body had grown tense. Amis was too close, way too close, and she didn’t have complete faith that Max and the other men could protect her.
Chapter Ten
Max made breakfast, did all the morning chores, and finally put Bridey down for an early nap. It hurt to see the fear in Veronica’s eyes. She’d hardly slept all night, and that had kept him up too. Walter was watching the house, and Max nodded to him as he made his way to the barn.
He’d told Veronica about the shutters and to close them if trouble came. He saw a small measure of relief in her eyes. Sandler and Willis were watching a horse walk.
“I think its knee is swollen.” Sandler stopped the horse and squatted down to rub his hands up and down the horses’ knee. “Yep, this one will need stall rest for a few days.” He stood and turned. “Hey, Max.”
Willis turned, and he had bags under his eyes. “We stayed at the Sink Hole most of the night.”
“You didn’t have to drink,” Sandler scolded.
Willis shrugged. “I’d hardly call that drinking. It was more like sipping and listening.
“The man is plain loco,” Sandler began. “He raged about someone named Hester for a bit then shed a few tears because she was dead and it was her sister’s fault. Veronica had a duty to take Hester’s place and bring his son back. He went on and on about her stealing his son before he ever saw him. Someone
might just tell him in order to get him to be quiet.”
Willis nodded. “He was a royal pain. I wanted to hit him over the head in the hope that he’d pass out. We only had one night’s fill of him. I can’t imagine what the regulars felt like. We need to get him out of there. Preferably out of the state.”
“Veronica isn’t a very popular name.” Sandler mused, rubbing his chin. “He’s bound to find out. Parker told everyone to keep Amis off the ranch by any means possible. He’s going to get himself shot.”
“Perhaps we should just kidnap him while he’s passed out and leave him in another state,” Willis suggested.
“The thing is, Bridey is his daughter. He was so sure he was having a son. But Bridey is Veronica’s sister’s baby. He has rights and that’s what worries me,” Max said angrily.
Both Willis and Sandler looked confused.
“But don’t you have to have a baby to feed the baby like…” Crimson seeped into Willis’ cheeks. “You know what I mean.”
“It’s not my story to tell but Amis beat Veronica so badly she lost her own baby. Hester died in childbirth, and the doctor there told Veronica to take the baby girl and get out of town. It’s a tragic story all around, but please don’t tell anyone about it.” Max took a deep breath. “Veronica didn’t sleep a wink last night. I guess we all went without sleep.
Sandler shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“He’s right about that,” Willis agreed. “Max, go on home. We have things covered here. I heard about Veronica’s ribs, and she’s basically defenseless.
Max frowned and looked around the barn. “If you’re sure you two yahoos can handle things.” He finished his sentence with a smile.
“Yahoos? Now I know you’re delirious from no sleep,” Willis teased.
“We’ll keep an eye out. You go on.” Sandler gestured toward the barn door.
“You two aren’t going to town again tonight, are you?”
Willis laughed. “No, not tonight. I think Sandler here might actually shoot the guy.”
Max chuckled as he left but he grew grim when he saw Walter. “Thanks, Green.”
“No problem. Best get in there. Veronica keeps pacing and looking out the window.”
Max looked up to the heavens and shook his head. “I guess that’s her idea of resting. We better get rid of this guy and quick.”
He saw the curtains flutter as he walked up the porch and wasn’t surprised when the door opened.
Her hair was a mess trying to escape the braid Georgie had put it in for her last night. The circles under her eyes were darker than he’d ever seen. He closed the door behind him and opened his arms and felt a surge of heat as she walked into them.
“I think we have different ideas of resting,” he teased.
“I’m worried. More for Bridey than for myself. He must have done something back home, something bad. Otherwise I really don’t think he’d be here. There are plenty of younger girls there he could get hitched to.”
Pulling her closer would only make her ribs hurt, so he kissed her forehead. “That’s a good idea. There might be a wanted poster on him. I’ll let Parker know. He can send someone to the sheriff’s tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” She rubbed her hands up and down both his arms. “You make me feel safer. I never knew there were men like you in the world.”
“Like me?” He cocked his brow.
“Fishing for complements?” She smiled and the fear was gone from her eyes.
“Always. No one as pretty as you ever said nice things about me.”
“Not even your ma?”
He grinned. “Other than my ma. Let’s be getting you back to sitting and resting. Bridey is taking a long nap.”
“I fed her while you were gone.”
“Veronica Maxwell, I told you to signal if you needed help.”
She laughed. “Are you scolding me? She was hungry and I fed her. I did sit on the bed while feeding her though.”
Leaning down he kissed her soft lips. Too bad her ribs were still hurting, he’d like to pull her close and kiss her senseless. But he put his hand to the small of her back and led her to the sofa. “Rest.”
“Fine, but only for another day or two.
“Only when I tell you that you are fine are you to stop resting.” He kissed her forehead. “Bridey and I would be lost without you.”
She smiled, and he bet no one ever made her feel important to them. He’d have to remember the little things while courting her.
“I have to go and see if I can do the books or something for Parker. I will be back in a few minutes. Not enough time for you to get up and get into trouble.”
“If you insist. I might even take a nap since I’m a lady of leisure.”
The way her gaze followed him while he got ready to go made him hopeful. If she could find love in her heart, he’d be the happiest man on earth. Strange how he never craved love before, and now he couldn’t do without it.
* * *
Two days later, Veronica stared at the book in her hand. She touched the front of it, the back of it, and even the first page. Her heart beat faster, and she wouldn’t have been able to stop smiling if she wanted to.
“This is really for me?”
Max nodded. “I had Georgie get the book for you when she and Parker went into town yesterday.”
She ran her fingers over the letters. The Mysterious Key and What it Opened, by Louisa May Alcott. “I can’t wait to read it. A woman wrote it.”
“Georgie was excited about that fact too. She wants to read it after you.”
“You didn’t have to buy me anything.”
Max swallowed hard. “I wanted to get you something. I don’t think you’ve had many gifts in your life.”
“No, I haven’t.” She glanced down at her hands. “I think every gift I’ve been given except for Bridey has been from you. You are a nice man, Max. My heart feels like it’s beating out of my chest.”
“I hope that’s a good thing.” He stared into her eyes.
“Yes, you make me feel like I belong and that you care for me.”
“I would think heart pounding would be more than just caring for you.” He still stared.
“I don’t know how to say what I mean. You make me smile, you make me happy, and you make my heart pound loudly.” She turned from him. What was it he wanted her to say? She was so lacking in social or romantic ways.
Deep caring reflected in his eyes, but he said nothing.
“I feel so stupid,” she murmured. “Other women know exactly how to flirt and attract a beau. I’m a disaster who has brought nothing but trouble with me. I wouldn’t blame you if you walked away.” Her eyes filled. She was a failure as a wife. He probably expected hot meals and things that involved her wifely duty. And no husband wanted a wife who wasn’t pure. If she only had a way to make him happy. He’d been bringing her gifts. Why was he even bothering? She bowed her head wishing her feelings would just shut down. She learned not to show her hatred to Amis. Maybe she could learn to not show her budding feelings for Max.
Why were mail order bride marriages so popular? Max probably felt obligated to try to love her, but he was making her fall in love instead. Her life had become increasingly complicated.
“Veronica, are you all right?”
She nodded quickly. “I’m going to check on Bridey.” She went into the bedroom and stared down at her beautiful daughter. She found love the instant she took Bridey in her arms. It had been surprising and the greatest blessing. Why would Max bother to bring her gifts if he wasn’t trying to make their marriage a good one? He cared, she could tell he did, but did he love her?
She had to know. Veronica opened the bedroom door and walked until she stood in front of Max. She looked into his eyes. “Well, do you love me or not?”
His mouth dropped open, and that was all the answer she needed. Her heart hurt so suddenly she feared she would collapse at his feet. She couldn’t let that happen, so she grasped
her skirts and lifted them enough so she could run outside. She ran in a direction she wasn’t familiar with, and when she was finally out of breath she sat down on a felled tree. She’d run out on Bridey again too. What was wrong with her?
She’d thought of herself as tough and able to handle whatever life threw at her. It had thrown more than its share her way, but she’d survived. Now she’d turned into the type of woman who hoped for a man’s attentions. When had she turned into a pathetic female who thought life would be good?
Max made her feel too much, and now that he didn’t return her feelings, she had no idea what she was supposed to do. After all they were married, but he could find himself someone he fancied better. She knew crops and everything about the growing nurturing and harvesting them. She knew about pigs and chickens. She didn’t know about cattle or horses or men. Perhaps she should stick to what she knew.
She promised not to run again. She wished she could break that promise.
How was she supposed to face Max? She’d made such a fool of herself. Her cheeks heated and she touched them with her hands. Yes, they were indeed hot. Would he feel sorry for her? Poor Veronica thought he loved her. He was only being kind, and she needed to remember that. She’d have to keep her face blank and devoid of all feeling.
There was no use sitting anymore. Facing Max wouldn’t go away. Standing, she began the walk back to her house. She had run very far. Suddenly, her fear of being so far from safety outweighed the humiliation of facing Max. Sighing, she walked faster. A movement in the corner of her eye froze her in place. Someone was in the woods to her right. She’d have to walk in a different direction; walking parallel to the woods wouldn’t be wise.
Yet another unwise decision she’d made this day. She saw a few cowboys riding and waved them down. The one named Crumb lifted her up in front of him and he rode for home. He didn’t ask, and she offered no explanation as to why she was out there.
Shattered Trust: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book Two Page 10
