Shattered Trust: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book Two

by Ball, Kathleen

  Tilting his chair back on two legs, the judge eyed Shannon for a while before he turned his gaze on Cinders. He righted the chair. “I’m hungry. Eats!”

  The gathering crowd filling the restaurant had the flimsy walls practically bursting. “Damn, can’t even get Eat’s attention.” He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. Silence ensued. “All you gawkers leave. If you’re not buying, you’re loitering. Now git before I get mad.”

  There was much grumbling from the crowd as one by one they filed past the trio and out the door. A well-rounded man with uncombed hair and an overgrown beard hurried to the table. Grease and flour stained his apron.

  “I’ll have your breakfast ready faster than a prairie fire with a tail wind.”

  “I appreciate that, Eats. This here is Miss McMurphy. Why don’t you bring her and Cinders here something to eat too.”

  Eats nodded. “Nice to meet you, miss.”

  “Thank you.” Her voice was barely audible.

  “Now the way I see it is you have two choices, miss. You can either marry John or Cinders.” He looked at Cinders with humor in his eyes.

  Cinders stood up. “Now wait a minute. I said I’d hire her. No one said anything about getting hitched.”

  Shannon’s face turned a deep shade of scarlet and Cinders silently cursed. He didn’t want to make her feel unwanted, but he didn’t like being dictated to.

  Judge Gleason combed his gray hair with his long fingers. “Sit down, Cinders. I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.” He paused as Cinders sat. “Of course, she could always work for John or become his wife. After all, he did pay for her to come here so she does owe him.”

  “I don’t see why she can’t work for me.” He hoped the judge could hear the annoyance in his voice. He didn’t want or need to be hog-tied to any woman again.

  “Cinders, you know how it all works. You have to marry her so you don’t sully her good name. You know how the gaggle of women around here are. They’ll treat her no better than a whore.” He stopped talking and turned to Shannon. “No offense, miss.”

  Shannon nodded and her eyes dulled as she stood. “Thank you for coming to my rescue, Mr. Cinders. I’ll always be grateful, but this is my mess. I accepted his proposal, and I’m going to keep my word.” She stepped from the table and started for the door.

  “Hell, I’d rather you marry me than go to John.”

  She stopped and turned around. “You’re a kind man, but I can’t saddle you with my problems.”

  His eyebrows rose. “You’re choosing John Hardy over me?”

  “It’s not a choice, really, it’s more of a duty. I wouldn’t want you stuck with me. I have a good idea what my face will look like once the bandage comes off. It’s not fair to you.”

  The sadness in her voice touched him and he couldn’t let her go. “If you’d rather, it could be a marriage of convenience.”

  Her dark eyelashes fanned her face as she closed her eyes. She wanted to say yes, he could tell. “You’ll want children,” she said

  “No,” he said firmly. “That won’t be a problem for me.” Cinders quickly glanced away from her probing expression. He wasn’t about to go down that road again.

  Swallowing hard, she nodded her consent. “Then thank you.” Her voice quavered and the uncovered side of her face looked a deathly white as though she'd been sentenced to the gallows.

  “Well, Judge Gleason, you might as well marry us now.” Cinders stood next to Shannon, noticing for the first time just how delicate she was. He knew she was small, but next to him, she seemed tiny.

  The humor in the judge's blue eyes fled. “Now? But I haven’t had my breakfast.” He sighed and nodded. “Eats, hold the food. I need you and Poor Boy to come witness the wedding.”

  Eats came rambling over, his dark eyes full of excitement. Following behind him was a thin boy with mousy-brown hair and brown sullen eyes. “Ain’t never had a weddin’ in here afore.”

  * * *

  The next thing she knew she was standing next to Cinders facing Judge Gleason. Words were spoken and she made all the appropriate responses, but Cinders’ quick peck on her lips surprised her.

  “Now git so I can eat, and don’t forget to settle up with Hardy.” He nodded and smiled. “Have a good day, Mrs. Cinders.”

  Cinders opened the door and followed behind her onto the boardwalk. She stopped and peered up at him. “Your last name is Cinders?”

  “Yep.”

  “What’s your first name?”

  “You didn’t hear it during the wedding? You can just call me Cinders.”

  “Surely you can tell me your first name.” She shook her head. “It has to be a better name than Poor Boy. Just tell me.”

  He smiled and offered her his arm. “I do believe we have business to take care of. Then I’m taking you home.” He walked her to the mercantile aware that people stared at every step they took.

  “My bag is already in your wagon?”

  “Edith probably put it there. Do you want to wait inside the store or in the wagon? I don’t want you anywhere near Hardy.”

  “The wagon please.” He easily spanned her waist with his big hands and helped her up. He seemed like a good man. Perhaps she'd gotten lucky after all.

  After a minute, she thought perhaps she'd made the wrong decision to wait in the wagon. A crowd gathered around her, not saying a word, just looking at her. It took every ounce of pride she possessed to sit with her back straight and her chin up. She’d done nothing wrong and she wasn’t going to allow them to intimidate her.

  She’d hoped for a few kind words, or maybe congratulations on her nuptials, but nothing was said. Now nervous, she pretended to smooth out the horrid wrinkles in her skirt.

  Cinders walked toward the wagon looking thunderous. An attractive woman with blonde hair stopped him. She watched as they exchanged words. The woman glared at Shannon, her mouth curved in a frown. She instantly knew Cinders was meant for someone else. As Cinders walked away from the woman, Shannon turned her gaze. Had she known…

  The wagon tilted slightly as Cinders climbed up and sat beside her. “Quite the crowd.”

  She noticed his face when he removed his hat to wipe the sweat from his brow. “What happened to your eye?” Her stomach clenched as she stared at the bruised skin. “Did John Hardy do this to you?”

  “Let’s get going, we’ll talk when we get out of town,” he said.

  Shannon sat proudly beside her new husband as he maneuvered his team of horses down the street. Now the people who had started earlier warmed up in Cinders’ presence.

  Once out of town, her shoulders relaxed a bit. Until then, she hadn’t realized how tightly wound she’d been. So much had happened in less than twenty-four hours. She touched the bandage with the tips of her work-worn fingers and peered at her husband from the corner of her eye. The brim of his hat shaded his eyes but she knew them to be kind.

  He glanced at her and she quickly turned her head to gaze at the countryside. It was beautiful with a mix of green grass, wildflowers and tall trees. The sky looked bigger too. “How long until we get to your place?”

  “’bout two hours or so. We should be there before the sun is at its peak.”

  Turning to him again, she studied his body as he drove the team down a path carved into the earth by wagon wheels and horses. He had a nice profile. His nose had a slight bump near the top, probably from a fight. His bruised eye was on the other side and she wondered how it faired. His strong jawline and dimpled chin made him endearing. She had to admit he was a fine specimen of maleness. How he ended up as her husband, she still didn’t know. It astounded her; he came to her rescue and then offered to marry her.

  It wasn’t a real marriage, but she considered herself lucky she had some place to go. Shivering, she thought about John Hardy’s duplicity. He had plenty of women at his place, so why send for her? What did he expect she’d do when she found out his true profession? Men ran the world, and she'd b
et anything he'd expected her to go along with him regardless of his brutishness.

  This was supposed to be her one chance for a happy life. Now that chance was lost. Cinders didn’t want her. He’d simply been backed into a corner by the judge. Her mother had always chastised her for living in a dream world. Now she knew the words to be true. Reality set in the moment her parents had died.

  There were no happy endings, and it didn’t help to dream of things that could never be.

  “We’ll be at the house soon. We’re on my land now.” The pride in his voice was impossible to miss.

  “It’s lovely. How long have you lived here?”

  “All my life.”

  “Did you fight in the war? I mean if you did, I wouldn’t hold being a confederate against you.”

  The edges of his lips twitched. “That’s mighty kind of you, Shannon, seeing as you’re in Texas now and all.”

  Her eyes widened as the realization of how inappropriate her words were sunk in. “I’m sorry. My side has been trying to kill your side and it never occurred to me until now. But truthfully so many of our men never came home and the marriage prospects dwindled.”

  “I didn’t fight.”

  “Why not? Do you have something wrong with you I can’t see?”

  Cinders laugh started deep and low, rumbling from his chest. “Not that I know of. The Texas government requested I stay and provide meat for the cause. I accepted but as money grew tight, my profits dwindled. Eventually I had no buyers but I did have plenty of people who needed food. It hasn’t been easy but the herd has grown and I’m planning to drive my cattle north to sell this time.”

  “Did you give people food?”

  “I sold some in New Orleans but yes, I gave a lot away. I couldn’t stand to watch my neighbors’ families starve. I had a roof over my head and enough to feed my men. I don’t need a lot.”

  Her admiration for him grew stronger— perhaps he was one of those good doers. He helped her when he could have just walked away.

  “Whoa,” Cinders yelled as he stopped the team. “This, Mrs. Cinders, is your first view of your new home.”

  To her relief the house was made of wood. She’d heard about the sod houses. There was a barn and a few other buildings dotting the area. Warmth flowed through her as she took in the sight of her new home. Relief overcame her. “It’s beautiful.”

  He nodded with a satisfied expression. “That’s what I always think when I get to this point on my way home.”

  He picked up the reins and off they went. The house was bigger than she realized as they stopped in front of it. It was a fine log house and it looked safe and sturdy. Things were looking up.

  Cinders jumped down, walked to her side and held out his hand. She grasped it and the next thing she knew she was in his strong arms. He held her for a moment staring into her eyes, and then gently put her down.

  A young man walked out of the barn, whistling. He grabbed the reins and nodded to Cinders. He seemed to be bigger than Cinders with brown hair and dark brown eyes. His whistling stopped and his jaw dropped. “You finally found us some entertainment? I know I mentioned it a time or two, but I never thought you’d do it. Now we won’t have to go to town so often, we’ll have our own gal to give us relief. What’s wrong with her face? Is she hiding a wart under that bandage?”

  She gasped and her hand instantly lay on her cheek.

  “Tramp, this is my wife, Shannon.” His voice was slow and steady but the warning was clear.

  Tramp didn’t apologize or acknowledge her. He kept his gaze on Cinders. “Sure, boss, just glad you’re back.”

  “I’ll be out in a few,” Cinders said.

  Tramp shrugged. “Take your time.” He then winked at her when Cinders wasn’t paying attention.

  She’d have to put him on her list of lowdown snakes. The list only had John Hardy on it and now there were two names. She hoped her list didn’t grow any longer.

  Cinders grabbed her reticule out of the wagon and led her to the front door. He opened it and ushered her in. “I, um, I didn’t expect to have a guest. It’s a busy time of year.”

  She winced in pain when she tried to smile. “It’s fine. Nothing some soap, water, a duster and broom won’t fix. It’s lovely actually.”

  “I built it myself.”

  “You did a great job, Mitch.”

  “Mitch?” His eyebrows rose.

  “I’m trying out first names for you. I figure if I keep at it I’ll get it right.”

  “You’ve had a bad few days yet you’re still able to find humor. I think we’ll get on just fine. Make yourself at home. The bedroom is through the door on the right. If you need, well if you need the necessary, the outhouse is out the back door. I’ll bring in some water for you in a bit and I’ll send Cookie in to help you put away the grub I bought at the mercantile.” He hesitated as though he was afraid to leave her alone.

  “I’ll be fine. I’m sure you have a cow or two to milk or something.”

  He laughed. “There you go with that sense of humor. Okay, I’ll be back in a bit.”

  The door closed behind him and she made a mental note, he doesn’t milk cows.

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  About the Author

  Sexy Cowboys and the Women Who Love Them...

  Finalist in the 2012 and 2015 RONE Awards.

  Top Pick, Five Star Series from the Romance Review.

  Kathleen Ball writes contemporary and historical western romance with great emotion and

  memorable characters. Her books are award winners and have appeared on best sellers lists including: Amazon's Best Seller's List, All Romance Ebooks, Bookstrand, Desert Breeze Publishing and Secret Cravings Publishing Best Sellers list. She is the recipient of eight Editor's Choice Awards, and The Readers' Choice Award for Ryelee's Cowboy.

  Winner of the Lear diamond award Best Historical Novel- Cinders' Bride

  There's something about a cowboy

  Other Books by Kathleen

  Lasso Springs Series

  Callie’s Heart

  Lone Star Joy

  Stetson’s Storm

  Dawson Ranch Series

  Texas Haven

  Ryelee’s Cowboy

  Cowboy Season Series

  Summer’s Desire

  Autumn’s Hope

  Winter’s Embrace

  Spring’s Delight

  Mail Order Brides of Texas

  Cinder’s Bride

  Keegan’s Bride

  Shane’s Bride

  Tramp’s Bride

  Poor Boy’s Christmas

  Oregon Trail Dreamin’

  We’ve Only Just Begun

  A Lifetime to Share

  A Love Worth Searching For

  So Many Roads to Choose

  The Settlers

  Greg

  Juan

  Scarlett

  Mail Order Brides of Spring Water

  Tattered Hearts

  Shattered Trust

  The Greatest Gift

  Love So Deep

  Luke’s Fate

  Whispered Love

  Love Before Midnight

  I’m Forever Yours

  Finn’s Fortune