Reality crashed in upon her like a wave upon the shore. He thought she was Shannon. Her sister, who looked almost like her twin, had indebted herself to save her children more times than Shona could count on one hand. That had to be it. But that meant…
Shannon had moved away not but two weeks before. She’d married some man who had a house in the country and could take her away from it all. And now Shona was in danger of being harmed for debuts she hadn’t incurred.
Feeling sick she placed her hand on her stomach. The feeling soon turned to anger, as it usually did. How dare Shannon leave without telling her of the possibility of this? What was worse was that the man had caught Shona leaving the house where she worked. He obviously knew her habits to have found her there. Did that mean he knew where she lived as well?
Nell walked out from the side of the house and Shona had an idea. “Nell?”
The woman looked startled to hear her name but quickly joined Shona in the shadows of the alley. “What is it, dear?”
“I know this is a lot to ask, you’ve got a family of your own, but could I stay with you for tonight?”
“What’s wrong?” Nell’s brows drew together and Shona knew she could see how shaken she was. “You’re as pale as a Mrs. Grey’s fancy, white cotton sheets.”
“I just…there was a man…” she couldn’t bring herself to shame her sisters name. “He may know where I live.”
“Come home with me, dear,” she said, wrapping a warm arm around Shona’s shoulder. “You’ll have to sleep on the couch though.”
“’Tis fine,” she said and fell into step easily with the woman.
The feeling of dread didn’t leave though. The man knew where she worked, likely knew where she lived, and would be back. He’d given her a month. How could she escape in a month?
Her mind flew to what her sister had done. She’d gotten married. Maybe that was the answer? Shona bit her lip as they crossed a busy street. She’d seen the mail order bride advertisements many times but hadn’t found the courage—or the need—to publish her own. Until now.
***
Golden Hills, Nevada
Calvin Wilkes ground his teeth as he watched yet another governess leave, her back ramrod straight indicating just how much she would miss her position. Not at all.
“Levi!” his tone left no room for argument and his son stepped warily around the corner.
“What did you do to poor Miss Sneed?”
“Nothing, honest.” His bright blue eyes looked upward in what the boy hoped was an innocent look, but Calvin knew better.
“Was it frogs or worms?”
Levi dropped his gaze. “Frogs.”
Calvin let out a defeated sigh. “Son, what have I told you about your pranks! Ladies do not find them humorous. What will I do with you? Go to your room.”
The boy turned, his little shoulders slanted in penance, and trudged up the stairs. Calvin felt a twinge of regret for his harshness but then he remembered that his son had effectively pushed away not one, not two, but five governesses in the span of six months. Calvin had lost count of how many had left before that, but it had been nearly a constant turnover the past two years since his wife’s death.
Calvin ran a hand through his hair, at a loss of what to do next. His housekeeper had suggested marrying again, as if he could somehow just up and pick a wife out of thin air, but that type of commitment was possibly the only thing that would guarantee someone would stay despite Levi’s little-boy affinity for reptiles, rodents, and bugs.
He paced the hallway then stopped short.
Maybe that was it. If he brought a woman from the East out to the West, wouldn’t she feel obligated to stay? He wouldn’t necessarily have to marry her, just hire her to take care of his son. It seemed like a reasonable assumption. Though it would mean bringing someone out on false pretenses, but if he chose someone with few other options, maybe it would be worth it to them. Besides, it would almost be less expensive bringing out a woman from the East knowing that she would stay longer than a month. His time was precious and he needed every ounce of it to run his ranch successfully.
Calvin nodded, his mind made up.
Walking into the kitchen he asked if Mrs. Otero, the housekeeper, would watch out for Levi while Calvin ran into town. She frowned at him, one hand stirring the soup on the stove and the other resting on her hip. “Will that child behave?”
He cringed, but assured her that he would make sure. Levi usually did fine with the housekeeper, it was only when Calvin announced a new governess that the child acted crazily.
After a stern lecture to his son and the promise they would talk more later, Calvin rode into town and straight to the general store that also acted as the post office for the town. He picked up the matrimonial journal and, as soon as he was outside, sat on a beach beneath a tree and began to thumb through, stopping to read every few entries.
Then he came across an entry he thought might just work. It was for a Miss Shona O’Malley. She had housekeeping skills and mentioned that she was good with children. It almost sounded like an advertisement he would look at to hire a governess.
He would write to her that night and have it in the post by the morning. The question remained: should he mention that it was for a governess position or for marriage? Which was she most likely to respond to? He needed her to come as quickly as possible…
Pushing the decision off, he climbed back on his horse and set off for home. When he sat down to write the letter he’d make the decision. He was sure it would come to him then. Now, the most pressing thing was figuring out what to do with his son until he could get this new governess here.
He sighed. He’d never wanted to have children but his wife Ida had insisted. She’d said that having a child would bring them closer but it hadn’t. Her time and attention had turned to the baby and completely away from Calvin. It had driven him to work and now he wasn’t sure how not to work.
Running a hand over his face he pushed the thoughts away. It was his life now, and there was no changing that.
Chapter 2
Shona stepped from the train onto the cold platform. It was still early fall but she hadn’t expected the cold to be quite as intense as it had been the last few days of her travel. Granted, it wasn’t nearly as cold as New York, but she still lifted her free hand to rub her arms.
Swallowing nervously, she searched the platform. Mr. Calvin Wilkes had rushed her out of New York before the month’s time and before the man came to collect from her. But now she felt the weight of her hasty decision. He had barely said anything to her about the arrangement, but she assumed they would be married soon—if not that very day. Wasn’t that what happened when you were a mail order bride?
Her eyes collided a man walking toward her, his hand resting on the shoulder of a young boy who looked very much like the man. Father and son?
“Are you, by chance, Miss O’Malley?”
Her heart thudded in her chest when he addressed her by name. So this was Calvin. But who was the boy? He’d made no mention of a son.
“Aye, I am. You’re Mr. Wilkes?”
“Yes.” His eyes narrowed, assessing her and she felt her indignation rise. She hadn’t lied about who she was. Of Irish descent, she’d come across the Atlantic with her sister’s, both of which were married now, and she’d stayed single, preferring not to attach herself unnecessarily. A fact that now had her regretting her hasty agreement to marry a man sight unseen.
It wasn’t that he was unpleasant to look at. Quite the opposite actually, but with the presence of the boy she realized she knew very little about the man who had brought her out here. Had she stepped into a worse situation than what she’d endured in New York? That seemed unlikely though, for Mr. Wilkes looked clean, pulled together, and decidedly handsome.
“I…I’m not sure what to do at this point,” she said. Shona found that honesty was always the best in an awkward situation.
“Come with me, we have much to discuss.
”
He turned on his heel, the boy looking back up at her before his attention was jerked forward by his father’s hand on his back.
Well then, she thought.
Straightening her shoulders, she followed the man down the busy street until he turned into a hotel with fancy, scrolling lettering on the glass front and the look of riches inside.
He turned to her. “We’ll discuss the terms over supper if that’s all right with you.”
“Fine by me, I’m famished.” And she was, though she wasn’t sure she knew how to act in such an establishment as the fancy hotel.
He shot a direct gaze at his son and she overheard the word behave. She smirked. Though she’d never had children of her own, she’d been around her sister’s children before they moved away and she’d grown up with younger siblings that were still in Ireland. Places like this were not meant for kids, especially not young boys.
As they waited to be seated she looked down at the boy, his luminous eyes never leaving hers. “And what might be your name, lad?”
“Levi.”
“That’s a good, strong Biblical name. It’s nice to meet your acquaintance Master Levi.”
“You speak funny,” the boy said.
She grinned but his father shot him a look.
“’Tis true, I do. I’m from Ireland.”
“Where’s that?”
She was about to answer whey they were shown toward their seats and she promised to tell him more about it later.
Her thoughts flew in every direction though. Why hadn’t she known about the boy? He was clearly Calvin’s son. And what was there to discuss as the man had said? Why was he being so cryptic?
As they sat though, Calvin turned toward her and his next words at once answered her questions and brought more to mind.
“I’m afraid I’ve brought you here on false pretenses.”
***
Calvin contemplated how he would break the news to Shona O’Malley, but he began to get the feeling that she wouldn’t take anything but the straight truth.
“I’m sorry…what false pretenses are you talking about.”
Her soft accent floated toward him and created a direct contrast to the harsh chatter around them. This was the moment he’d been dreading and yet the test of what kind of woman Shona was. He’d been careful to word his letter as a direct reply to her advertisement but not to promise her marriage. He wasn’t sure if she’d picked up on his subtle wording or not, but by the look on her face she hadn’t noticed anything.
His gut clenched but he forged ahead. “I’m not so much in need of a wife as I am a governess. For Levi.”
He turned to look at his son who was making a tower out of the rolls the waiter had brought them.
“A…governess?” She blinked and her eyes flicking to Levi then back to Calvin. “I’m sorry…did you not write to me from my ad in the Matrimonial Journal?”
He cringed. It was a valid point but he hoped she’d over look that. “I did…”
“And yet, you were lying.”
Her blunt words felt like a slap. “I prefer to think of it as revealing only a portion of my intensions.”
“I’ll say,” she said, leaning back against her chair. Her cheeks flushed pink, a direct contrast with her red hair. The whole look offset her emerald green eyes. “Well, if this is how you’re teaching your son then I’d say you do need a governess.”
His mouth dropped open. It was the last thing he’d expected her to say. “I—I…” he wasn’t sure how to finish his sentence.
“So, let me understand this properly.” She leaned forward and he was unable to escape her harsh gaze. “You want me to look after ‘im while you what…go about your business I suppose? And then I’m to do what? Be at your beck and call?”
“Of course not!” The way she said it made her sound like some type of floosy and he quickly straightened, checking to make sure no one else was listening to their conversation. “You’ll have your own room and will be treated as…staff.” He swallowed, pulling his shoulders back. “I run a very busy ranch and am gone most of the day. I merely expect you to watch over Levi during the day.”
She wrapped her arms in front of her. “I’ve never…” she shook her head. “I’m insulted, that’s what.”
He wanted to feel indignant, but this was the risk he’d taken. There was a chance kindness would turn her around…maybe.
“Look, Miss O’Malley,” he purposefully softened his tone, leaning forward and holding her gaze. “I apologize for the subterfuge. It’s been…difficult to find adequate help to watch over Levi. Ever since my wife died two years ago I’ve tried to do the best I can but…” There was a subtle softening of her features and, though he felt despicable for playing on her compassion as a woman, he forged ahead. “I’ve realized I can’t do it alone. I knew no other way than to find someone who would be willing to come out West.”
He held his breath, waiting for her response. Would she give in to his pleading? Would he have to bribe her? What would it take to make this fiery woman give in and agree to at least try to take care of Levi as a governess?
“Fine.” Her word was anything but soft, yet it was all he wanted to hear.
“You’ll do it?”
“I will. I expect you’ll be paying me though.”
“Of course,” he said, briefly wondering if she would leave when she had enough money to.
The waiter arrived with their food and conversation was effectively cut off, but Calvin couldn’t help but feel a bit of triumph. Yes, he’d lied to get her out here, but he felt as if the situation had worked itself out.
Shona O’Malley would have good employ, Levi would have a governess again, and he could go back to doing what he wanted—no, needed—to do: work.
Chapter 3
Shona jolted upright in the chair where she’d dozed off during the afternoon naptime. She had the feeling that something was wrong but she wasn’t sure what that was. Then she felt the movement again. It came from her pocket. Swallowing, she peered down at her apron pocket just in time to see two golden eyes peering back up at her.
She let out a yelp of surprise but didn’t move just as Levi burst into laughter from a chair he was hiding behind.
“Oh Levi,” she said in a singsong voice. “Did you leave something of yours in my pocket.”
His boyish face peeked out from behind the chair. “Aren’t you going to scream and run around now?”
Ah, so that was his plan, she thought. Well, he wouldn’t get the satisfaction. Thankfully she’d grown up with brothers and knew their tricks.
“Why would I want to do that? I’d scare the poor thing.” Slowly she reached down and extracted the frog from her pocket. “Awe, he’s a cutie, this one.”
“What?” Levi charged from behind the chair, little fists going to his hips. “You’re a girl. You’re not supposed to think frogs are cute.”
“My brothers and I used to catch these all the time.” She stroked the back of it and it let out a ribbet in what she wanted to think was pleasure.
“You had brothers?”
“I did.”
“Huh.” He folded his little arms over his chest and stared her down. “Want to see something?”
She had a feeling she would regret agreeing, but nodded. “All right.”
He turned and headed for the door and she followed, wondering what he would have in store for her now. Outside they walked around the corner of the house to the pond where she released the frog.
“Give me one second,” Levi said then disappeared into the underbrush.
She wondered what in the world he could be looking for but turned her attention back to the pond and her thoughts. She’d been at the ranch house for two weeks now and, though it had been a rough transition; she’d made friends with Mrs. Otero and found her living quarters to be much nicer than what she’d had in New York. The pay was better as well.
The only thing that wasn’t better was her boss.
Mr. Calvin Wilkes was, in a word, absent. He woke up early, was gone before Levi was awake, and came back just before Levi went to bed. She wasn’t sure how he was functioning on such little sleep and such large amounts of work, but it wasn’t her place to comment.
The only feeling she couldn’t quite escape was that of disappointment. She had come out West to marry. It felt absolutely ridiculous, knowing that she’d never desired to be married before, but now that the option was no longer before her, she wondered if she’d missed something by agreeing to stay as governess.
She’d hardly be able to meet an eligible man while taking care of Levi on the ranch. Though it hadn’t passed her notice that Calvin was a handsome man. There wasn’t any hope there though since he hadn’t paid her any more attention since she’d come—
Suddenly, Levi popped up in front of her holding out a snake.
Shona was so startled that she took a step back, but her foot slid on the muddy bank of the pond and, before she could stop herself, she fell backwards. The sound of the splash was nothing compared to the sound of her scream as she crashed into the small pond.
Cold water flooded around her and she flailed her arms to stay afloat despite her dress clinging to her legs. Thankfully she’d learned to swim as a little girl on the banks of the Bann River, but she hadn’t prepared to go for a dip today.
Thrashing her arms and legs and coughing out mouthfuls of the murky water, she managed to make it to the side of the pond to crawl out amidst the sounds of laugher coming from Levi.
“Levi Nathanael Wilkes what have you done!”
The laughter stopped abruptly and Shona looked up into Calvin’s face, intensely aware of how disheveled she looked with her soaked dress clinging to her and pond scum stuck in her hair.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, shooting a look over at his son. “Why don’t you get cleaned up and we’ll talk.”
She had half a mind to call off their arrangement, but something in his gaze stayed her decision. It was the look of desperation.
[2016] A Wanting Bride Page 29
