Bonds of Matrimony

by Carrigan Fox

  “What are you and Father thinking?” she demanded of her mother. “Booth and Stockton are two of the most disreputable men in England. Surely you are both aware of this. There are stories that both men have carried on with married women and unmarried daughters. There was even one story of Mr. Stockton forcing himself upon the daughter of one of his father’s tenants. The young woman disappeared, as did the rumors once she was gone. And this is the man you and Father have decided to match with your eldest daughter.”

  Her mother had responded quietly with an accusing tone. “I would never expect you, especially, to pay heed to the gossip.”

  “Me, especially?” Chastity had challenged.

  Her mother had studied her thin, jeweled fingers as she had reminded Chase of her own unfortunate reputation among the gossips. “These are the same people who are responsible for those despicable lies of you cheating their husbands at cards.”

  They were despicable lies. She had beaten those men fairly. They simply had accused her of cheating because their pride couldn’t allow them to admit to losing to a woman. Naturally, she had never contested the rumors. She hadn’t been eager for her parents to learn that she had actually been gambling at the local tavern.

  Chastity had borrowed some of James’s clothes one evening and snuck out of the house. She had been bored nearly to tears and in desperate need of some distractions. The men had welcomed her as a stranger from out of town until she had stood and bent to retrieve her winnings. She had had a glass of whiskey while they had played, and when she had stood, the entire smoke-filled tavern had spun around her. She had stumbled and lost her hat. Once her long curls tumbled free, the men finally took a hard look at her and recognized her immediately. She had grabbed her winnings and dashed for the door as best she could under the given circumstances. Although it was a close call, she had made it to the door without knocking any tables over. If it hadn’t been for her bumping into one of the wives outside of the tavern, she would have gotten off scot free. None of those men would have willingly admitted to losing to a girl. But when his wife caught him gambling and began squabbling with him, he had blurted out that Chastity Fairfax had cheated them all in order to divert her attention. And thus, the “rumor” began.

  In spite of her own parents’ eagerness to refute the rumors, they had still been devastated and cried over another spoiled Fairfax reputation. Since that fateful evening, her mother had been more determined than ever to find her a husband. And she had been more determined than ever to foil her efforts.

  Chastity sat in bitter silence, unwilling to believe that her parents could place their own pride before the well-being of their daughters. Before long, the men re-entered the dining room, reeking of cigars and male bravado.

  In time, Chase had come to hate Stockton, his mustache, his shiny hair, and his stupid leer. And even when he threatened her and physically attacked her, even when her father had defended him and insisted on a marriage between the two of them, she had never felt such a burning fury. Granted, she had wanted to see Stockton dead, but she had never wanted to really hit him. And right now, she wanted nothing more than to knock Colton Webb out cold.

  Finally, the chill of the evening seeped into her bones. Shivering, Chase shoved open the door of her cabin angrily and slammed it behind her. In the dark, she heard Reese gasp and sit up in bed.

  “It’s just me,” she muttered angrily.

  Her voice held sleepy—but sincere—concern. “What’s wrong?”

  “What’s wrong?” Chastity repeated. “Oh, nothing’s wrong. I’ve just had the pleasure of receiving a lesson on a man’s perception of the two kinds of women. Did you know that women like you and me are stupid cows? And we have no soul?!” She fairly shouted this last bit.

  “What? What’s happened?”

  It was too late for her to pretend that she wasn’t upset or to deny that she’d been with Webb. Reese would see through those lies immediately. She lit the lantern beside the bed and pulled her knees up to her chin.

  “At breakfast this morning, seeing him with that woman…I just wanted to know who she was and what she meant to him.”

  “Oh, Chase,” her sister groaned.

  “I know. I shouldn’t have. But I did. So I went to find him and asked him about her. He launched into this speech about how there are easy women who enjoy certain pleasures and women who are raised to be proper wives. He called us the marrying kind. Said that he didn’t know which is worse, having to sit and listen to our idiotic chatter or having to bed our cold and soulless bodies. Can you imagine? The nerve of him! I came so close to hitting him, Reese. I did! But I finished my drink and got out of there. And if it’s any comfort to you, I hope I never see that insufferable ass again!”

  She only sighed and reached for the lantern. “Good,” she answered. She plunged the room into darkness.

  “I hope one of his card-playing friends pulls a gun on him again tonight and shoots him right in that hard head of his. Of course, it probably would bounce right off again, that bloody arrogant bastard.” Still cursing in the dark, Chastity managed to untangle herself from her clothing and crawl into bed beside her sister.

  “Go to sleep, Chase,” she scolded.

  “I’ll go to sleep. And he can go to Hell,” she muttered.

  The bed trembled beneath her, and she knew that Reese was silencing her fit of laughter. She was evidently extremely amused by her sister’s rage. “Oh, you can go to Hell, too,” she told her. With that, Reese gave up her efforts to stifle her laughter, and her joy only served to feed the flame of Chase’s fury more. It was hours after Reese quieted and fell asleep before her sister was able to calm herself enough that she could doze off fitfully.

  CHAPTER 5

  The following afternoon was day five of the journey. Chastity couldn’t wait to be off this ship and miles and miles away from Colton Webb. Granted, their ship was very large, but it seemed no matter where she went, she ran into Colton Webb.

  By the time she got downstairs to breakfast, he was eating with the Havisham sisters and her grandmother again. Later that morning, she passed him on the deck. And that afternoon, she spotted him further toward the front of the boat, leaning against the railing. She was with Reese, who was complimenting her sister’s self-restraint and pride in the matter of avoiding Webb.

  “I hope that you’ve learned that in spite of his rugged handsome appearance, he isn’t any better of a man than others we’ve known. That’s not to say he’s as scandalous or amoral or ruthless as Jett Stockton or Jackson Booth. But clearly, his attitude toward women would clash dramatically with your own need for independence.”

  “Reese,” she began with exasperation, “contrary to popular opinion, I am not a stupid, soulless cow. My eyes have been opened, and the flaws and foibles of Mr. Webb are perfectly clear to me. I have absolutely no interest in the arrogant ass. Perhaps a woman with no self-respect or pride would be better suited to him.”

  “Perhaps a woman like Elisabeth Davies? A woman who—if the rumors are true—has already been through enough humiliation in her lifetime?” she asked gently.

  “Definitely not a woman like Elisabeth Davies. You recognized her, too, when we saw her in the dining room?”

  “It took some time to remember where I’d seen her, but it occurred to me last night…while you were being educated about the weaker sex, apparently,” she added with a wry grin.

  Chase only snorted in response.

  “If you were Elisabeth Davies, wouldn’t you want to know that the man you were pursuing was actually, to quote you, an arrogant ass?” Reese asked.

  “Who’s to say whether or not she’s pursuing him?” she asked, watching one gull sweep down to the water and come up carrying a small silver fish in his beak.

  “Because she’s just approached him.”

  Chase turned and saw that Elisabeth had certainly approached the ignorant idiot standing at the ship’s rail. She was smiling up at him sweetly, and he was frowning down at her
with obvious irritation. Unable to help herself, Chase moved closer to them until she could hear Elisabeth’s soft voice.

  “Please, Colton. Won’t you walk with me?”

  He had his back to her now, staring out over the endless water. “Elisabeth, I told you that you need to stay away from me while we’re on this ship. You should be in your room right now.”

  “I know. But I’m going mad in there. I need to get out and get some air,” she argued.

  “When I escorted you to breakfast yesterday, you swore you’d stay in your room, away from me, for the rest of the trip. Do you realize what your mother could do if she finds out you’re with me?”

  “I know, Colton. And I’m sorry. I’m just desperate for company. I’m so bored,” she complained. She clutched her hands together beneath her breasts, as though in prayer, while she appealed to him.

  “Then find some nice simple-minded women to socialize with and stay out of my hair.”

  Clearly giving up the fight, she let her hands fall to her sides and turned away. She was clearly on the verge of tears, humiliated by this most recent rejection. Had the woman not suffered enough?

  Chastity stood for a few minutes after she left, debating whether she should push Webb overboard or follow her. She felt awful for the beautiful and heartbroken woman, but she couldn’t endanger her sister by giving away her identity and comforting Elisabeth. But the eldest daughter of the Earl of Bracknell had suffered far too much. If the rumors were true, her fiancée called off her engagement after he had a love affair with her mother. And being rejected by this conceited fool couldn’t help. And what was worse, he was aware of her prior suffering; and yet, he still rejected her coldly.

  That was the moment Chastity decided to somehow get revenge on Colton Webb. For Elisabeth Davies, for herself, and for any other women who dared entrust him with their hearts. She was going to make him pay.

  She turned away from him with a malicious grin, plotting all the ways she could make him suffer. She could tie him up and hold him at her mercy, proving that a female was stronger than he was. She could take every cent from him in a game of cards and then reveal her true identity, letting him know he’d been bested by a woman. She could spread rumors in Midland County and suggest to everyone in town that he had an awful disease. The people would, no doubt, run him out of town for that one.

  And with a sudden brilliant brainstorm that only a woman—with her insight of human nature and man’s weaknesses—could be capable of, she understood the most perfect revenge that could be exacted upon Colton Webb. She was going to make his worst nightmare come true. She was going to make the impossible very possible. Chastity Fairfax was going to make the man fall crazily in love with her.

  ***

  That day was the slowest day of her life. She was torn between her idea of making Webb fall in love with her and keeping her female identity a secret to protect Reese and herself. That choice was taken out of her hands during dinner that evening.

  She was enjoying the evening meal with her grandmother and sister. Overall, she’d had a wonderful day. The skies and water seemed bluer than they had on any other day of their journey. She had seen dolphins jumping beside the ship. Reese was beginning to perfect the game of poker. And Chase could hardly wait to see her brother again.

  “Do you suppose he looks the same?” Reese asked excitedly, apparently thinking the same thing her sister was.

  “I imagine he probably does,” their grandmother answered. Even she wasn’t able to keep the smile off of her face.

  And the entire jovial mood of the meal was dampened by the abrupt greeting of Colton Webb. “Evenin’, y’all. Mind if I join you?”

  Her grandmother shot a quick glance in her direction. Reese smothered a grin behind her napkin, and Chase fought to keep from scowling at the man.

  “Certainly, Mr. Webb,” her grandmother answered.

  “You must be eager to get settled in your new home in Texas, Mrs. Cochrane.”

  Her grandmother nodded. “It’s been three long years since I’ve seen my grandson. I don’t need some fancy house as much as I need my family.”

  “They’re lucky to have you,” he said quietly.

  “What about you, Mr. Webb? Don’t you have your family near you?”

  He shook his head and swallowed the food he’d been chewing. “My ma died when I was real young. Two or three. My daddy raised me by himself. They didn’t have an opportunity to have any other children.”

  “Have your grandparents passed, too?” Reese asked sympathetically.

  “Not exactly, no. My father’s dad passed away quite a long time ago. But my other three grandparents are still alive. They live in England; it’s a long ways from Midland County. We’re not too close of a family,” he explained.

  “Where is Midland County?” Chase asked him, suddenly eager to learn how far he’d be from Marcus’s ranch.

  “On the West side of Texas. I was telling your grandson, Mrs. Cochrane, that the town of Midland is growing like crazy. I think you will be very happy there.”

  “I thought Midland County was the name of your town,” Chase interrupted.

  “Midland County is the name of the county,” he explained with a patient smile. “The center of the county is a city by the name of Midland.”

  “And you live in the city?” she pushed.

  “Not far. I actually live outside of a small town in Midland County. It’s in the Northeast part of the county. Called Slaughter.”

  Reese choked on her chicken, and their grandmother straightened in her chair. As for Chastity, she couldn’t have been happier. If she was going to carry out her revenge on Colton Webb, proximity would only be an advantage.

  “Slaughter, Texas,” she repeated. “Funny. We’re going to Slaughter.”

  He slapped his knee. “Well if that don’t beat all!” he exclaimed.

  It was a strange phrase, but she loved it. At the moment, the stars were shining down on her. She was most definitely going to claim Colton Webb’s heart in Slaughter, Texas. She had no intention of returning his love. She simply wanted him to grovel at her feet and admit that women were more than stupid, soulless cows. She didn’t think it was too much to ask for. She popped some vegetables into her mouth and smiled at her plate of food, thinking of her good fortune.

  And that good fortune came to an abrupt halt with Reese’s next words.

  “If Slaughter is a small town, then surely you know our brother, Marcus Fairfax.”

  Webb stopped eating and stared across the table at Reese. “Fairfax is your brother?” he asked.

  Chase immediately realized her sister’s mistake and scrambled to cover for her.

  “I thought y’all are Cochranes.” He turned and confronted Chase with this observation. His eyes narrowed when they met her own.

  “Marcus changed his name when he came over,” she quickly lied. “When he and my father fell out, Marcus wanted nothing to do with the Cochrane name.”

  He nodded and took a drink from his water glass. “I see,” he replied. “How long has it been since you’ve seen your brother?”

  Their father had forced their brother out of the house and disowned him nearly three years before. Marcus had been twenty-two at the time and had fallen madly in love with Elisa Wolcott, the daughter of their family gardener. When they ran off and married against his parents’ wishes, they returned to find Marcus’s possessions packed and waiting in the foyer. With help from Elisa’s father, the newlyweds had bought passage to America, and the sister’s hadn’t heard from them since.

  “Three years,” Chase answered. “How well do you know Marcus?”

  Webb didn’t meet her eyes when he answered. “Pretty well. We share some grazing land. His ranch is a fifteen minute ride from mine, by horse.”

  “Have you met Elisa?” Reese asked.

  “Sure,” he answered.

  It was suddenly awkward. This man knew more about their brother than they did. “Have you heard that she’s e
xpectin’?” he asked.

  When the girls had decided to leave London, their grandmother had informed them that she and Elisa had secretly been corresponding since she and Marcus left England three years before. The most recent letter from Elisa had informed their grandmother of her pregnancy.

  “You must be thrilled about bein’ uncles.”

  Reese nodded enthusiastically.

  Chase studied him wearily. His tone sounded forced.

  They finished the rest of the meal in uncomfortable silence, and Webb invited Chase to share a cigar with him on the main deck. She snuck a peek at her grandmother, and she shrugged. Within twenty-four hours, they were all going to be reunited with Marcus. They were too excited to worry about being cautious for this last leg of their passage.

  She followed Webb up the staircase and strolled slowly along the railing, silently admiring the brilliant sunset on the horizon.

  “All this time we’ve talked and played cards, you’ve never told me how old you are, Cochrane,” he said, offering her a cigar.

  “It never came up, Webb. I’m nineteen.”

  “Practically a grown man. And your brother, Reese?”

  “He’s eighteen,” she answered, wondering where his questions were leading.

  “Did your mother play a big role in raising the two of you?”

  “Not particularly, why?”

  “I mean no offense, but your younger brother especially is a bit of a…”

  “Dandy?” She finished for him with a grin. “Reese isn’t the most masculine young man, I know.”

  Webb grinned with his cigar between his teeth. “No, he’s not. And I just figured that perhaps you’d been raised by your mother mostly. Women have a knack for fouling up the child rearing process, especially where their sons are concerned. Too many boys don’t learn to be men because their mothers want to keep them like babies forever.”

  “You think so?” she asked. He’d done it again. She didn’t think he could possibly be aware of how chauvinistic he sounded. Truly, this man was an ass.