"The catch? We do the right thing and wait until our wedding night." He told her simply and took her hand. "Penelope, will you marry me?"
Looking at him and searching his face for some kind of malicious joke, or him to tell her he took it back she finally nodded at him when his gaze never wavered.
"Okay, I'll marry you Dave, if you are sure you want to marry me." Penelope wasn't expecting a proposal from him and she was a little shocked that he'd offered. "I'm just surprised, that's all."
"Why?" Dave seemed genuinely curious and a little shocked at her answer.
"You've already given me a place to live, a job, and money that I saved up so I can survive. You've taught me how to shoot guns. I just don't understand exactly what you get out of it. You've given me a lot." Penelope told him honestly. If they were going to be married, honesty would be the key to a successful marriage. She wouldn't accept less.
"Have you ever considered maybe the fact that you over think it?" Dave smiled at her and then rubbed his chin and shrugged. "I found you attractive, and you seemed like you needed help. I was lonely and I didn't mind the company. Having you around showed me that I liked having someone here. Everything else about you was just a bonus. If I didn't find you attractive and intelligent I probably wouldn't have offered to marry you though. I can be friends with people I like, but what I feel for you is more than just friendship."
"Do you love me?" Penelope asked him bluntly, realizing that she might not like his answer.
"I think I could," Dave told her honestly. "I know that I don't mind that you're pregnant, and I like the idea of being a father. I want to settle down and it's not just because you're already here. I would have probably sought out a wife in the next year or two anyways. I think it was good luck that a compatible woman fell into my lap."
"So you think it was fate?" Penelope gave him a confused look; this conversation wasn't really helping her understand him any better right now.
"Let me start over," Dave said chuckling. "I rescued you because it was the right thing to do. I brought you here because something about you made me not want to let you disappear until I got to know you better. Whether you want to call it sheer curiosity, or lust or the potential for love, I don't know. The only thing I will regret in this situation is if I let you leave before offering you a life with me."
"But you don't love me?" Penelope asked him again, she could sort of understand the rest. Realizing suddenly that if she stayed here with him, agreed to marry him, love was important.
"I like you a lot. I can picture spending my life with you. I can picture growing old with you and seeing our grandchildren play in the yard. As to love, I know you seem to really want an answer about that one right now and so I guess my question to you is, do you love me?" Dave turned the question back around on her.
"I could, I think." Penelope answered him honestly and searched his face. "I have strong feelings for you. I think if I let them blossom I could easily love you, which is why I think I'm worried about it being a one-way street. I don't think I could love someone who only liked me in return. I would feel like something was missing."
"Penelope, I think that given time together love is something that grows between people. There are many kinds of love and I'd rather have whatever the two of us have together, than some whirlwind passion that blows away as fast as it started. We have a real connection. Friendship, dare I say the potential for passion?"
"I find that attractive," Penelope whispered and dipped her head down, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Dave stood up and grabbed her hand pulling her out of her seat. Pulling her to his chest he lowered his head and kissed her.
Penelope clung to his shoulders as his lips met hers. Soft at first, slow and teasing she leaned into him and let the emotions and sensations fill her. When he teased her lips with his tongue she opened her mouth slightly and he deepened the kiss. His hands went down to her hips and he dug his fingers slightly into her waist and held her close as his mouth was hot against her own.
When he finally pulled back, his lips were swollen and his eyes were heavy. "Do you still have any doubts that what we have is more than just two people who live in the same house now?"
Penelope searched his face and then smiled at him, "No, I think you are right. There is definitely something between us that has a lot of potential."
"Good, now I need to get some stuff done today. I have to go out and fix some fences that the cows have been pushing on later, but I want you to start planning our wedding right now. Order a dress, write a note to the pastor of the church, whatever you want." Dave told her and put his hand on her face gently and looked at her for a moment. "This should be a special day for both of us. I'll apply for a marriage license. I want to wait until marriage, out of respect for starting this marriage as pure as possible."
"But you realize," Penelope said blushing, knowing she was about to ask a dumb question.
"You're still pure of heart Penny. What he had you do because of your job and your situation, he took advantage of you. I respect you and our future marriage, so we will wait together." Dave pressed a kiss to her forehead and then left her there to figure out the details of the wedding.
Penelope sat down and put her hand over her belly and realized that she'd need to get a dress that was looser in the waist. Her corsets and dresses were no longer fitting.
Humming to herself, she started to make a list of things she'd need. She wasn't going to go too crazy. A few flowers, a pretty dress, and maybe a small after party for the town to celebrate their wedding. They could have it at the church.
She wrote a letter to the pastor to ask him what dates would work for him and was feeling quite content with the situation.
Chapter 5
Finished putting the last few pins in her hair, she grabbed the flowers that she was using for her bouquet and went to meet her husband-to-be down where he and the pastor were waiting for her. The entire town had showed up for the wedding. She was a little shocked, but he was well liked so maybe she shouldn't have been so surprised.
Walking down the aisle, she wished her mother was here, but at least she'd gotten a letter from her mom about the wedding before it took place. She was still small enough with her pregnancy that the dress with a princess empire cut was able to hide her growing belly.
Feeling blessed and assured that today would go without a hitch, she held her head high and went to meet her husband.
She should have realized that the family she used to work for would cause a scene, but she didn't think they'd do it at the wedding, or in front of the Sheriff.
When she got down and put her hand in Dave's, he smiled big at her, happy to see her.
"You look beautiful," He whispered to her, just loud enough only she could hear.
They turned to the pastor and when he asked if anyone had any issues with the wedding or could forever hold their peace her old Master stood up and protested.
Dave looked angry and turned to face him.
"She's nothing more than a servant. You have no business marrying her." The man told Dave angrily.
"I'm free to marry who I want. If you don't like it, leave the church." Dave told him. The people sitting in the pews were whispering loudly.
"She's pregnant with our child, and won't give it to us," Her old Mistress announced loudly, trying to humiliate her. She glared at Penelope.
Penelope was shaking in embarrassment and wished she'd realized that they might have created a scene to get back at her for denying them the baby.
Dave leaned over and spoke to one of the deputy's and asked them to escort them from the church if they wouldn't leave willingly. Nodding, Travis went to do as Dave asked.
"No, you don't understand. She is having our baby. It's mine, she has to give it to me," The woman protested and started to cry. The sympathetic looks that were tossed her way full of pity and realizing that she was falling apart in front of the entire town.
Travis forced them to leave and
then stood guard at the church entrance to make sure they couldn't come back in. The pastor was waiting for the scene to be over and then cleared his throat.
"Does anyone else want to protest, or can I get on with the wedding now?" He asked loudly and waited a moment. "Okay, good."
"Thank you," Penelope mouthed to him and the pastor gave her a gentle smile as he started his sermon.
When it was over and Dave had kissed Penelope, the crowd cheered for them. The church had a buffet style of food that was setup in the other room for the reception after the ceremony. Dave escorted Penelope there and kissed her temple, telling her he was happy she was his wife.
"I'm sorry they caused a scene," Penelope whispered to him. It was a moment she'd never forget and it's not how she pictured her wedding day.
"Don't be sorry. You're not the one who chose to make a fool of yourself at someone else’s wedding. They brought this on themselves and there's a good chance that they will be shunned by many of the townsfolk after this. People don't like drama, and she's showing signs of brain sickness."
"I could almost feel bad for her, if she wasn't so aggressive about the pregnancy. I understand wanting a child. I even understand wanting her husband's child. But you can't just take someone's baby." Penelope told him quietly and slipped her hand in his as they walked into the reception room.
"She'll get over it. I plan to go have a long talk with her and her husband later about knocking this off. We deserve to have a good life, and I won't let them interfere with it anymore." Dave told her and then let the women pull Penelope away from him to socialize and visit before they headed home for their wedding night.
"Are you really pregnant?" The innkeeper asked her. She was a round lady, but she was usually sweet. Her name was Melly, and Penelope and she had chatted a few times in the past.
"Yes." Penelope admitted.
"Is that why you quit working for them and left to be with Dave?" Melly whispered to her, wanting the latest gossip first hand from Penelope.
"It's complicated and I really don't want to talk about it at my wedding." Penelope disengaged from the conversation as politely as she could and then searched the room to find her husband. He was standing over with two deputies that were at the wedding and she made her way to him.
"I think I've about had it. Their scene at the wedding is making everyone ask me questions that I don't want to answer." Penelope told him and gave him a pleading look to get her out of here.
"We can do that. Let me just tie up a few loose ends first and we'll go home." He told her and brought her hand up to his mouth to kiss it before doing what he promised.
Penelope made her way outside to the back where their wagon and horse waited for them. Lucille was waiting for her and had a big stick in her hand. Penelope hadn't been prepared for her to be there, and she didn't have her gun with her. Backing up slowly she ran into Marvin's chest and he grabbed her arms hard and then put his hand over her mouth before she could cry out for help.
"You broke Lucille's heart," Marvin whispered hatefully in her ear. "Now she's going to break yours."
Lucille came at her with the stick as if she was going to hit her and Penelope struggled hard in Marvin's arms, trying to get away from them. Her intention clear as Lucille stared at her belly and went to swing the stick at her.
A shot fired out, in the air and both Travis and Dave stood there. Travis had a rifle pointed directly at Lucille and Dave was glaring at Marvin.
"Let go of my wife, or I will shoot you both." Dave growled at them. The look on his face would have traumatized Penelope if she knew it was directed at her, but in her defense it had her sighing in relief. His timing couldn't have been any better.
"She deserves this," Lucille screamed and lunged at Penelope to attack her. Dave fired and shot her in the shoulder, making her drop the stick. She fell to the ground whimpering, holding her shoulder.
"Marvin, let go of my wife, or I will shoot you." Dave told him, threatening him.
Marvin let her go with a look of disgust on his face and stepped back from Penelope. He didn't immediately attend to his wife on the ground, he was too busy glaring at Dave and Travis.
"You are both under arrest," Dave told him and nodded to Travis who slung the rifle on his back and grabbed some rope out of his pouch on his belt. Tying both their hands up he made Lucille get to her feet.
"It's a superficial wound, I'll have the doc come around at the jail to dig out the bullet and sew her up. You're lucky Dave didn't do worse to you," Travis hissed at Lucille when she whined that it hurt.
"I'm taking my wife home now. I don't care what you have to do, make sure they stay in jail, and when you talk to the judge, I want them out of my town for good. They can't be trusted here." Dave told Travis and then wrapped his arms protectively around Penelope.
Watching Travis get his horse and force them to walk behind it with tied wrists to the jail downtown Penelope wanted to feel bad for them, but she couldn't.
"Thank you. You saved my life and most likely that of our baby." Penelope whispered when he helped her up into the carriage.
"I would do anything to keep you safe Penelope, I hope you never doubt that." He leaned over and kissed her passionately. If there was any doubt about his feelings before, she didn't doubt it now, even if he hadn't said the words yet.
"Are you ready to start the rest of our life together?" Dave asked her quietly when they pulled into their yard and started unhitching the horses to put them away.
"I couldn't think of anything I'd like more," Penelope told him and put her hand on his arm for a moment. "I love you Dave, I'll be inside waiting for you."
Dave smiled at her and nodded watching her walk to the house.
Penelope went inside and worked on getting out of her dress, she laid on the bed and waited for him. This wasn't exactly how she pictured the start of her marriage beginning, but with Dave at her side, she could handle anything.
She waited for him to join her.
THE END
The Renegade Angel’s Mail Order Husband
Chapter 1
"What do you mean my grandfathers will stated that I had to be married to collect my inheritance? He never told me about this." Mercy couldn't believe it. "I've been doing all the work since I was knee high."
Mercy Hamilton stood in front of her lawyer Tom Pinken, with the parchment clutched into her hand.
She was glaring at him in frustration.
Mercy resisted the urge to stomp her feet, knowing that giving in to childlike reactions wouldn't help her situation right now.
Her grandfather had died last month; she'd lived with him her entire life.
Mercy's parents had died in a carriage accident when she was a small child, and he'd raised her. She couldn't understand why he would have put that clause into his will. She had no desire to marry. She liked to be her own independent woman and having a husband could put a kink in that.
Her husband might want to take over and control the business her grandfather had built from the ground up. She'd been running it by her grandfather's side since she had to stop wearing breeches and wear dresses and corsets in public around other people.
He had bred and raised thoroughbreds; she had done most of the training and riding since she was small enough to ride them. She loved her horses and she wouldn't allow a man to tell her she couldn't ride.
It was the only time she got to wear pants when she was on the back of a horse, she wouldn't give that freedom up for anything.
Her horses were the only thing that mattered to her. The stable her grandfather had built had produced many champions, and her horses were highly sought after.
Tom cleared his throat. "Perhaps because a woman trying to run a business is unheard of, and he knew you'd need the support and figurehead of a man to continue the success he saw while he was alive. Everyone knows you've done most of the work the last few years, but you are a woman."
Mercy was aptly named; she had a temper that suited
her redheaded personality, and a tongue of a shrew. She was a tiny package of claws and teeth and no filter. Very few people could be around her for long, because she always spoke her mind, no matter how offensive it would be.
"Men are so stupid. Men all need to be beaten upside the head with a riding crop until some sense has been knocked into them. A woman can run a business just as well as a man can." Mercy said as her fists clenched into a ball.
"Listen, all you need to do is get married. No one even said you had to like your husband or spend time with him." Tom swallowed hard when he saw Mercy narrow her eyes. "Just pick a man to be your husband who won't get in your way. One who will allow you to get your inheritance and continue on with life as you know it. You don't even have to know he's there."
Mercy leaned back taking a deep breath, watching the lawyer for a moment, and then nodded her head.
"Fine. You're in charge of finding me one." She ordered him, pointing a finger at his chest. "He can't be ugly, or feeble-minded, no horrible vices, and one who won't embarrass me by flaunting his mistresses every time he talks to another male."
"I will see what I can do." He muttered feeling relieved when Mercy got up and stalked towards the exit.
"By the way, you have one week to produce this so-called perfect husband of mine, or I will make your life a living hell." She told him.
Tom nodded frantically.
If anyone could live up to that threat, it was Mercy. Tom let out a breath that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding when she shut the door and was out of his office. But he knew he'd better get to work. Mercy didn't make idle threats.
Chapter 2
"No." Mercy said. "Every candidate you've shown to me is worthless."
"Why?" Tom Pinken said, confused, he rubbed a hand to his temple, trying to bite his tongue.
She was impossible.
The Taken Bride: A Medieval Romance Page 30
