“Rosie, I know you’re nervous about tonight but you don’t need to be. I’m not taking you to bed tonight. Maybe not anytime soon. But I will bed you, hell, that’s what a wife is for, but just so you know, there’ll be no more children. I’ll see to that.”
Even though she’d wanted to wait, she didn’t mean forever. She was flabbergasted and hurt. He was killing her dreams. The one thing she wanted more than anything was children. Her own children.
“May I ask why?” Her voice broke as she choked out the question.
Tom was straight forward with his answer. No beating around the bush for him. “My wife left me for some sweet talkin’, low life peddler. Then she had the good taste to go and get herself killed in a carriage accident. I’ve got no use for a woman in my life. My children do. You’re here for them. I love my children but I don’t want to be left to raise more when you leave.”
Now she knew where the bitterness came from. Not from his love for his first wife but the woman’s betrayal of him. “Not all women are as shallow and self-centered as your wife was.”
“You couldn’t prove it by me.” His eyes blazed with anger. “If you want an annulment, now is the time to say so.”
He might as well have slapped her. The pain would have been easier to take. “I don’t plan on needing an annulment. I made a bargain and I’ll keep it. I appreciate your consideration in telling me, you might have done so in our letters. Don’t expect me to be happy about it. You lured me here under false pretenses without disclosing some pertinent facts. You married me without giving me a chance to say no. Your children are mine now, but I still want a child of my own. I’m not asking for your love. And I’ll never ask you for another thing.”
She must have gotten to him. He answered her, “You’ll never have my love or interest but I’ll consider what you’ve said. As for now the fact we haven’t had intercourse doesn’t mean we won’t appear to be a happily married couple. You will share my bed, for sleeping only and my bedroom is now ours.”
“Of course, that would be best.”
When they got back to the boarding house he opened the door to their room and held it for her to enter, then closed it behind them. It wasn’t a large room. There was a small dresser, wardrobe, commode with pitcher and basin on it, a small table with two chairs and dominating the room, the bed.
She stared at the bed.
“It seems awful small for two people.”
“You’ll get used to it. You can sleep under the sheet and I’ll sleep on top of it. Trust me. You’re quite safe from me. Tonight.”
Rosie was disappointed. He rejected her. Didn’t find her attractive enough to want to have sex with her. Maybe he used a whore at one of the whorehouses. That wouldn’t be something he’d tell her. Oh well, he may not want more children, but she did. She’d just have to seduce him. After all, as far as she knew there was still only one way to get pregnant. Yup, with all her feminine wiles, she could easily seduce him. Right.
“I’m sure I am.” She blushed. “Mary promised me a bath and I’d like some privacy once it gets here.” She could be as detached as he was. For a while anyway, but not for long. He’d change his mind about this or her name wasn’t Rosemary Louise Stanton Harris.
CHAPTER 2
Tom knew his words hurt her. But she needed to know where he stood. She needed to know she’d never have him, never have his heart. It was for the best she didn’t know how attractive he found her. Round in all the right places, that he ached to touch. And her lips. Those amazingly kissable lips she nibbled when she was nervous. He doubted she even realized she did it. And he wasn’t dead after all. He may not have been with a woman in years, Sarah quit having sex with him even before she left. Said she needed her strength for the children. But that didn’t mean he didn’t get urges just like the next man. Maybe he should have forced her, other men would have. They would’ve thought it their right. But Tom wanted a woman to want him. Want to lie with him. He wouldn’t force himself on a woman ever.
Still, sleeping next to her and not touching her was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever done. He’d consigned himself to hell for as long as she decided to stay. But he knew she’d leave. Women always left. Didn’t Sarah prove that?
He’d stayed at the boarding house many times over the years. But in all those years he’d never noticed that the beds were so darn small. He’d be touching Rosie all night if he didn’t hang off the side. It was going to be torture.
“When the bath comes I’ll go for a walk to give you some privacy.”
He watched her turn a pretty shade of pink from the tops of her ears all the way down her neck as far as he could see. Which wasn’t far since she had her blouse buttoned clear to the top.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
There was a knock on the door.
A man carried the long metal tub into the room setting it down in the center. He was followed by two more men with buckets of steaming water and a third with cold water. They filled the tub.
“Here you go, ma’am. Mary sent up some of her bath salts for you.” He handed her a small packet.
“Thank you and tell Mary I appreciate it.”
He nodded and left.
Tom got up to leave. “Enjoy your bath. I’ll be gone about a half hour, so be done by then.”
She took her hair down from what was left of the bun atop her head. Once all the pins where out of it, she ran her fingers through it and shook her head to get it all loose. Tom had never seen anyone with such beautiful hair. The urge to touch it, to run his hands through it was nearly irresistible, but he managed. He turned on his heel and left before he did something he’d regret.
It felt so good to have her hair down. She hurried out of her clothes and stepped into the tub. The water was hot and so wonderful. Her aching muscles felt better already. Rosie dunked her head and soaped up her hair. It was going to be clean for the first time in a week. Dunking her head again, she rinsed her hair and soaped up and rinsed her body.
By the time he got back she was combing the tangles from her hair. After she got them all out she braided it for sleeping. Plus it would add to the waves in the morning. She was going to use all her wiles to change his mind about bedding her. Maybe not tonight, she really did want to get to know him better. But he would bed her. She would have a real marriage and hopefully the additional children she wanted.
Rosie was sitting on the bed when he came in and started to unbutton his shirt. She let out a small gasp. Couldn’t help it. She’d never seen a man without his clothes, all of his clothes. Knowing he was her husband and she needed to get used to his being naked sometimes, didn’t stop her from being surprised. Or thrilled by what she saw. He was muscular without having overly bulging muscles. His shoulders were wide and his chest looked hard. It was sprinkled with curly brown hair. Was it soft? Her hands ached to find out.
Rosie looked away. She’d had to. Her body yearned for something. She wasn’t exactly sure for what except she wanted to touch him. Badly. Looking away was the only thing she could do to break the spell he wove.
He looked over at her and she felt herself blush from the tops of her ears all the way down her neck. Turning his back on her he unbuttoned his shirt and took it off. It didn’t help. Seeing him from the back only emphasized the width of his shoulders and narrow waist.
“Don’t worry,” he said as he walked to the bed. “I’m leaving my pants on for tonight, but you’re going to have to get accustomed to seeing me without clothes. Just because I’m not going to fuck you, doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep in my clothes every night.”
He smiled at her small nod. Sitting on the bed he took his boots off, doused the lamp and then laid back. Rosie gave an inward sigh. She’d dream about his magnificent body tonight. All muscles, long and sleek. He was like a thoroughbred race horse rather than a Clydesdale. He was lean, well built and she felt his heat immediately. It was like sleeping next to a furnace. It was going to be a long night. A very lon
g night.
*****
Warm. The bed was so warm. And hard. Her hand rested on a warm, hard…chest. Oh, God! She opened one eye and looked up into Tom’s dark blue ones.
“Good morning.” His voice reverberated in his chest, through her hand and straight to her core. Heating her up in places she’d never been hot before.
She backed away like something burned her, which he practically had.
He chuckled.
“I…I got cold.”
“I could tell.” His eyes danced with amusement.
“I’ll try not to let it happen again.”
“I don’t mind. These things are bound to happen when you sleep with someone.” At least he wasn’t totally immune to her. He didn’t mind that she cuddled with him. It was a start.
“Oh.” Her mouth suddenly dry, she reached for the glass of water he’d brought her last night and took a large swallow. She coughed hard as it went down her wind pipe. Tom sat up and slapped her on the back.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded and gasped for air.
“Before you choke again, I’ll get my clothes on and you can dress when I’m gone.” He sat on the side of the bed and pulled on his boots. Then grabbed his shirt and put it on, buttoning it as he walked out the door. “I’ll get us a cup of coffee while you dress. So up and at ‘em.”
Rosie scrambled out of the bed as soon as the door closed behind him. She used the chamber pot, pulled off her nightgown, grabbed her chemise and corset and got them on with all speed. Then she put on her dusty traveling suit from the day before. No need to dirty another outfit just to sit on a buckboard all day long. She was just putting her nightgown in the valise when he returned with two steaming cups of coffee.
“Here you go,” he said handing her one. “I didn’t know how you like it so it’s just black.”
“Thanks. Black is fine. Sometimes I put a little milk, but normally it’s black for me.”
“Mary is about ready to serve breakfast. I’ll take your bags down to the foyer and we can go eat, then leave for home.”
“How long will it be? To get home, I mean.” she took a sip of the strong brew, then set it down and began unbraiding her hair.
“It’s about two and a half hours to Duncan’s. Duncan and Catherine McKenzie are watching my kids for me. We’ll have to visit for a bit. Catherine’s got a lot of questions for you. She’s never met a mail order bride before. Actually, none of us have. You’re the first in these parts. Then it’s another three hours to my ranch from there. That’s why I think you’ll barely have time to fix supper before the sun goes down. It’ll be four o’clock or after before we get home.”
“What about you? Do you have any questions for me?” She ran her fingers through her hair and loosened it before gathering it up into a bun atop her head.
“We’ll have a lot of time to talk on the way home. Time enough to get to know each other some.”
She glanced over at him, wondering if her fiddling with her hair had worked and was pleased with what she saw. He looked at her with hunger in his eyes. He was weakening. “Well, I do have a question, just one more for now. Is the bank open yet?”
“No. Why?”
“I didn’t want you to worry, but I brought a bank draft with me that I need to deposit. It’s my dowry, in the amount of five thousand dollars. I wasn’t going to tell you, in case I needed it to leave, but I’m not going to. I’m determined to make a go of this.”
“Five thousand dollars! That’s a hell of a lot of money.”
“My parents were wealthy. I’ve been living with my brother until now. The five thousand is all I have in the world. I know it sounds like a lot of money, but it wouldn’t take long to go through it if I had to live on it.”
He nodded in agreement. “You’re right. I’m glad to hear you’re determined to make a go of it but I still don’t think you know what you’re in for. It’s not an easy life on a ranch. You’ll have to do the washing, cleaning, cooking. You’re expected to gather the eggs and milk the cows. Do you know how to milk a cow?”
She shook her head. What had she gotten herself into? Milking cows?
“I’ll teach you. It’s not hard. Did you keep chickens in Philadelphia?”
“No. We bought all of our meat and eggs from a butcher or the market each week and kept them in the ice box.”
“Well, I’ll teach you how to gather eggs too, so you don’t get pecked. The hens don’t like to give up their eggs. Is there anything you can do? Besides cook, I mean.”
“I know how to clean a house,” she said her feelings bristling. “I’m not completely useless. I can teach your children reading, writing and arithmetic. And I can cook. Whatever else I need to know, I’ll learn. I’m a quick study and eager to learn everything I can.”
“Eager to learn, huh?” His lip quirked up. “Glad to hear it. You’re going to have a lot to learn in a short period of time. Shall we go?” he picked up her bags.
“Yes, but I want to go to the bank first. I’ve got that draft and I’ve carried it long enough.”
“All right.” He checked his pocket watch. “It’s eight-thirty. The bank opens at nine. We’ll be done with breakfast right about then.”
He turned toward the open door and held it for her. “Let’s get moving. We’ve got a long trip ahead of us.”
This was her last chance to back out. She actually thought about it, but she wanted a family and she’d take her chances on changing his mind about wanting more children. If she couldn’t, she’d at least have his two to raise as her own.
After breakfast they went to the bank. After that, they’d go out to the McKenzie’s where she’d meet Tom’s children for the first time. Her stomach churned. There was bound to be some resentment on their part. After all, in their eyes she was taking their dead mother’s place. But she shouldn’t be this nervous. She’d talk to Tom on the way there. After all, it was a nearly three hour trip, there would be plenty of time to discuss everything.
The buckboard was tied to the hitching rail in front of the boarding house. Tom placed the bags in the back. That’s when she noticed the supplies he had. There looked to be bags of grain, beans, sugar, flour and coffee. She was especially happy to see a small bag of tea among all the other groceries. Plenty of food stuffs to cook with if she had meat to go with it. He’d gotten cans of fruit, too. Peaches. She could make a cobbler or a pie. Something easy to begin with. Later she could dazzle him with her baking skills. Her brother had loved all the treats she used to bake for him. Perhaps Tom had a sweet tooth. She could use it to soften him up. Her thoughts consumed her as they walked down the street.
Tom stopped in front of the bank. “Before we go in, I want you to know that I don’t want your money. It’s yours to do with as you please.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you. You don’t know how much it means to me to hear you say that.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome.”
He held the door for her and then called out to one of the men behind the counter. “Hello, Sam.”
The man, short, skinny and balding, with his graying hair combed over from one side in a fruitless effort to hide the bald spot, looked up. “Well hello, Tom. Is this the new Mrs. Harris?”
“Yes. This is Rosie. Rosie, this is Sam Kent, president of the bank.”
Rosie held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kent.”
“And you, Mrs. Harris,” he replied. “What can I do for you both today?”
“I need to open an account and deposit a draft from my bank in Philadelphia,” said Rosie.
“Certainly, Mrs. Harris. Tom already has an account here, so…”
“No, Mr. Kent, this is my account, not my husband’s.”
Sam looked over at Tom who nodded. “Very well, please fill this out.” He handed her a form.
It only took her a couple of minutes to complete. “Here you go Mr. Kent. Also, I would like twenty-five dollars in cash please.”
“
What do you need cash for?” Tom, suspicious, asked. “Nothing to buy on the ranch and we don’t get peddlers. They aren’t allowed on my property.”
“I want to stop at the mercantile and get a small gift for each of your children.” She twisted her hands together causing her reticule to bounce off her skirt. “I can only imagine what they must be feeling and perhaps this small token will help ease things between us. I also want to pick up the school supplies they’ll need or perhaps I should say, that are available.”
“Are you trying to bribe my children?”
She hesitated for only a moment. “Do you think it will work?”
Tom chuckled. She was amazed at the transformation a simple laugh made in his face. Gone were the hard lines formed from a steady frown. His eyes sparkled and reminded her of sapphires. “It just might. You never know with kids. Something that works this time won’t the next.”
Mr. Kent came back to the counter. “Here you go, Mrs. Harris. Here’s the receipt for the deposit and twenty-five dollars in cash. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No, thank you. I appreciate all your help.”
“Goodbye, Sam. See you next time we come to town,” Tom said as he placed his hand on her waist. The contact, though slight, sent shivers right through her.
“You bet. See you then.”
Tom ushered her out the door and they walked to the mercantile. His hand remained firmly on her waist in a proprietary gesture. She liked it. Liked the feeling of being wanted, even if only for her domestic skills.
Rosie chose a doll for Suzie and a pocket knife for Ben. Tom assured her they didn’t have either of the items.
She also purchased slates, chalk, books on history, mathematics and spelling for Ben and a couple of coloring books and colored pencils for Suzie. She asked Sadie, the owner, what books the local school teacher ordered and asked her to order the same ones for her.
“It’ll take about a month for them to get here. Hope that’s all right,” said Sadie.
Tame a Wild Bride, a Western Romance Page 2
