Mail Order Baron (The Brides of Tombstone Book 3)

by Cynthia Woolf

  He tightened his hold on her. “There will be no divorce, no separation. We are married for life, Molly.”

  “I’m sorry you’re so unhappy with me.”

  “What makes you think I’m unhappy with you?”

  She leaned up on his chest and looked him in the eye. “Because you do whatever you can to avoid me. You go visit with Matt and Julia, but do you stop and get me before you go, so I can see them, too? No. You go alone, probably because it’s the way you’ve always done it.”

  “I’m not avoiding you.” He furrowed his brows together. “It never occurred to me that you might want to go.”

  “Because you still think of yourself as single. But you’re not.” She couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes. “You have me and I’m tired of being alone.”

  “Molly, I’ll try to do better. I’ll come home at night for dinner and if I have a pressing matter to deal with, I’ll go back out, but I’ll try to stay in once I come home. We can get to know each other and I’ll get to watch you get big as a house.”

  He grinned at her.

  She smiled back.

  “There was that so hard?” he asked softly.

  Molly shook her head. “Smiling isn’t hard. Remembering to smile, having reasons to smile is very hard…when you’re alone.”

  He cuddled her close.

  “You’re not alone, Molly. Not anymore. I’m here.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Molly knew he started every day with the best of intentions, but his managers, now used to having him there to take care of problems, couldn’t seem to handle anything without him. Invariably, after dinner, a message arrived that such and such was happening and could he come right away.

  Molly was back to being by herself except now she had Ben at dinner time.

  “You have to tell them they must manage on their own, that’s their job. If you see they can’t do that job then find someone who can.”

  He lifted his eyebrow and grinned. “That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

  “I’m feeling a bit cranky. Ignore me if you like but that’s what I’d do.” She shook her head. “If allowed to, they will find the answer without you. If they know you will run to their aid whenever they call, they never will learn and we’ll never have a whole night together.”

  “You’re right.” He nodded and a smile grew. “You know, I think I married not only a pretty woman but a smart one, too.”

  At almost six months pregnant, Molly wasn’t feeling very smart or very pretty at the moment.

  The house was almost done. Molly wasn’t looking forward to living there if she was to be alone. At least here in the hotel, she could go talk to the desk clerk or Sadie if she got too lonely.

  At the house, she really would feel even more alone when Ben went out at night. Until they hired some live-in staff, it would be just her and Gil as usual. Ben had decided that Gil would move in, so that he would be on call twenty-four hours a day if Ben needed him. But that wouldn’t be for a while. Molly was being very picky and wanted to make sure she was choosing the right persons for the housekeeper and cook positions.

  Sadie came to the rescue for the cook position. She’d trained a nice middle-aged woman specifically for the position with Ben and Molly. When Molly found out she burst into tears and hugged Sadie.

  “Thank you. I was so not looking forward to having to rely on my own meager skills.”

  The construction went slower because she was there every day checking and making sure it was done to her specifications. She’d made them pull down a wall that was not straight even though it was just off by an inch.

  “I’m paying you to get this done right,” she said to the construction foreman. “If it is not done right, I will have you take it down and do it again. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, Mrs. King. I won’t let it happen again.”

  She was sure he wouldn’t, since he was charged the time and materials to do it a second time.

  Molly’s days were now routine. She had breakfast with Ben, went with Gil to the house site, then to Julia’s or Lizzie’s and home to nap before Ben got home.

  This day, Molly was more tired than usual.

  “Gil, take me home please.” He helped her into the buggy.

  “Are you all right Molly? You don’t look so good.”

  “That’s not a thing you say to a woman.” She tried to joke and even got out a chuckle before she leaned over the side of the buggy and heaved up her guts.

  “Molly!” Gil put his hand on her back. “Are you all right?”

  “Now I feel better. I just want to go home.”

  “You’re seein’ the doc first. This can’t be good with you expecting and all.”

  She was too tired to fight it. “Fine. Just go. The sooner we get there, the sooner I can go home.”

  Gil swatted the reins on the horses until they were at a gallop. The trip to the doctors from the house site was only about five minutes with the horses running as fast as they could.

  When they arrived, Gil went around to Molly’s side. “Watch your step now.”

  Molly got down and began to walk down the path but faltered.

  Gil picked her up in his arms and carried her to the doctor’s office. “Doc,” he shouted as he balanced holding Molly and opening the door. “Doc!”

  “Hold your horses,” said Matt as he came down the hallway. “What’s the problem? Molly?”

  “Hello, Matt. My stomach is cramping.”

  The doctor turned and went back down the hall he’d just emerged from. “Bring her to the first examination room.”

  Gil followed him into the room and put Molly on the examination table.

  “Gil, wait in the outer room, please,” said Matt.

  “Sure, Doc. Should I get Ben?”

  “No,” said Molly, shaking her head.

  “Yes,” said the doctor.

  “Sorry, Molly, but the doc is right. I’m getting Ben.”

  Gil left, closing the door.

  Molly felt mutinous, but was too sick to do anything about it. She held her pregnant belly.

  “What’s the problem?” asked Matt.

  “I’ve thrown up and I feel like I might have a fever but I’ve been having cramps.” Molly started crying. “I’m afraid I’m trying to lose the baby.”

  “Calm down now, Molly. Nothing will be helped by worrying. Let me listen.” He put on his stethoscope and moved it around on her belly. “Here you listen. His heart beat is strong.”

  After hearing the muffled sounds through the earpieces, she sniffled and dried her tears. “Thank, God. I was terrified when I started cramping.”

  “Sounds to me like you have food poisoning. What have you been eating?”

  “Everything. I’ve been very hungry. They say expectant women eat for two. I feel like I’m eating for two hundred.”

  Matt chuckled. “Only you would think that.”

  The door burst open with a crash and Ben hurried into the room. “Are you all right?”

  “The baby is fine,” said Molly, smoothing a hand over here her belly.

  Ben took her by the shoulders. “I didn’t ask about the baby. I want to know if you, Molly King, are ill?” He felt her forehead and scowled.

  “You’re burning up. Isn’t she Matt? She’s got a fever.”

  “Yes, she does. She’ll need bed rest for at least a week. No outings, no going to the construction site, no visiting with Julia or Lizzie and the kids.”

  She gasped. “Have I made them ill? Matt, please tell me they are not sick?”

  Matt patted her hand. “They’re not sick. That’s why I think you have food poisoning. I want you on beef or chicken broth nothing else until this passes. Then you can start with bland foods—toasted bread, oatmeal, rice—and water, lots of water. Don’t let yourself get dehydrated.”

  “And the baby?” asked Molly, her hand on her stomach.

  “The baby will be fine for the short amount of time you have to eat this
way.”

  Molly looked up at her husband. “There you see, Ben, the baby will be fine.”

  He shook his head and let out a deep breath, he’d probably been holding and didn’t realize it.

  Ben squeezed her hand. “You’ll be fine. That’s what counts.”

  “Yes, now can I please go home? I really want to get into bed and sleep for a long time.”

  “Yes, you can go home. Do as I said and drink lots of broth and water. Wipe down your face, neck and chest with a cool washcloth. It will make you feel better and help mitigate the fever as well. I don’t want that fever to get any higher than it is, so you can drink some willow bark tea.”

  Molly sat up and swayed a little. Ben caught her and lifted her in his arms.

  “You’re not walking to the carriage.”

  “I’m fine, I can walk,” insisted Molly even though she wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his chest.

  “No.”

  Matt opened the doors for them.

  “Thanks for everything, Matt,” said Ben as they went out the front door.

  “Yes, thank you, Matt,” called Molly from the front yard. Ben was moving so fast, she thought he’d beat the horses to the hotel if he wanted to.

  Ben approached the buggy, and Gil was in front of the horses holding their halters and keeping them still.

  “Gil, I’m taking her home. When we get there, please take the horses and buggy to the livery. She won’t need them for a while.”

  “You’re awfully bossy,” said Molly. “But I’m too tired to fight about it. This will pass and I’ll be right as rain tomorrow you’ll see.”

  Ben put Molly on the seat of the buggy. Gil climbed in the back and Ben next to Molly. Then Ben slapped the reins and got the horses trotting for the four blocks to the hotel.

  Molly was confined to bed for almost a week. She finally felt well enough to sit in the living room and read for a while on the sixth day of her illness.

  “I’m sick of broth. I want some oatmeal and toast and coffee.”

  Ben smiled at her. “I’m glad to hear it. Don’t hurt yourself when you eat them.”

  “I won’t. I’ll eat slowly, even though I feel like I’ve been starving for all my life.”

  Ben left to get the food.

  Molly was reading when she heard a rustling noise and stood in time to see an envelope shoved underneath the door. She looked at the writing on the envelope. To Molly McGregor. She recognized the handwriting. It was his. She sat again, her hands shaking so badly she could barely read the note.

  Molly,

  I bet you thought you could hide from me in this backwater town, but you can’t hide from me, even here. They have finally finished your house and it’s sitting empty. Perfect for what I have in mind. You have until tomorrow night to meet me, alone, at the site of your new house, or something bad will happen to Mrs. Reynolds or one of her lovely children. Do you understand? I’m not playing Molly, Come alone or watch them be hurt because of you. I’m watching.

  Tom

  He hasn’t contacted her in all these months since the fire. She’d begun to hope he was gone. Why would he contact her now?

  Ben would be back with her food shortly.

  She’d better make sure he knew she was well. He needed to go back to work so she could leave. She stood. Energy caused from fear coursed through her. Quick as lightning, she dressed in her sturdiest dress and boots. She wasn’t sure what Tom had in mind, but she wanted to be prepared.

  She sat again on the sofa and picked up her knitting. Something to keep her hands from shaking.

  Ben returned from the kitchen with her food and placed the tray on her lap.

  She had no appetite but forced herself to eat. “This looks wonderful. After days of broth anything solid is a treat.”

  Ben cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t think oatmeal is exactly a solid.”

  She chucked. “It is after nothing but liquids.” Does he hear the falseness of my laugh. I’ve must be careful. He’s got to leave.

  “You are looking and sounding much better. I think I can go to work today.”

  “I’m fine. Of course, you can.” She waved a hand at him. “Besides won’t Gil be just outside if I need anything?”

  “Yes, I’ll still have him stationed at your door. I know it’s been a long time since Marlow tried anything but you’re six months pregnant.” He sat next to her on the settee. “I don’t want anything to happen to you or to the baby. You need to take care of yourself.”

  “I will. I plan on just doing easy things today. Nothing strenuous. A little crochet on the baby blanket and several naps. I’ll be fine.” The lie, born of desperation, rolled thick as honey from her tongue.

  “All right. I’m going.” He bent down and kissed her full on the lips. Not the toe-curling kind, but at least a real kiss, not just a peck. She already missed his kisses. Had for some time and now she’d never get to know them again. Saddened, she remembered the threat Tom made and suddenly his kisses were very important.

  Ben walked out the door.

  Within moments, a knock sounded on the door.

  Molly answered it and plastered on a smile.

  “Hello, Molly. I just wanted to let you know I’m here now if you need me.”

  “Thanks, Gil. I’m just taking it easy today.”

  “Sure thing. That’s a real good idea.”

  She shut the door and went to the desk. After pulling out a sheet of paper, pen and ink she wrote Ben a message.

  Ben,

  I’ve gone to our house to meet Tom Marlow. The note he sent me is on the desk. I couldn’t take a chance with Julia or the children’s lives. When you get this you might come and rescue me.

  You have all my love,

  Molly

  She blew on the ink to make it dry quickly then folded the note and put it in an envelope. Knowing he’d be looking for her in the bedroom, she made the bed and then put the envelope on his pillow. He couldn’t miss it there.

  The window in the bedroom let out onto the side street where there were few if any people at nine o’clock in the morning. Everyone had gotten to their jobs. She looked out both ways and saw no one. She climbed out and let herself drop to the ground. Landing, crumpled to her knees but wasn’t seriously injured, though she had a wobbling gait. Lying in bed for nearly a week has made her lose some of her strength and it showed. Then she went around to the back of the hotel to the stable.

  “Hello, Robby. I need to have the buggy today. Can you harness it for me?”

  “Sure thing Mrs. King.” He looked behind her and frowned. “You don’t usually go out in the buggy by yourself.”

  Molly twisted the strings on her reticule and looked behind her to make sure no one was coming after her. “Everyone is busy with other things and I need to go see Lizzie Brandon, so I’m going on my own.”

  Robby nodded.

  He seemed to be convinced, at least he was preparing the buggy to go. In a few minutes it was ready, and so was she.

  He helped her into the conveyance and she took off. The moment she was out of town, she let the horses have their head. The sooner she got there, the sooner this would all be done and the fear that clenched her stomach would go away.

  * * *

  Robby, the stable boy came running with Gil into Ben’s office.

  “She’s gone.”

  “Gone? What do you mean gone?”

  “She come and got the buggy said she had to go visit Lizzie Brandon, but there was something wrong,” said Robby. He wrung his hat brim in his hands. “She was real nervous and kept looking over her shoulder. So after she left, I went and got Gil to see if she was supposed to be out by herself.”

  “I went into the suite,” said Gil. “And found this on the bed.” He handed Ben an envelope. “She crawled out the window. Something’s very wrong.”

  Uneasiness crawled over his skin. Ben opened the envelope and read quickly. “Good Lord. She’s gone to meet the maniac
at the house. Robby get the black for me and the gray for Gil and bring them to the front of the hotel. Gil, you come with me. I’ve got to get my pistol first.”

  Robby nodded and ran out of the room.

  “I’ll get mine, too.” Gil said and then lit out of the room like a fire was on his tail.

  Ben went back to the hotel for his pistols and read the note that Tom Marlow had sent Molly. Angry as he was, he understood why she did what she did. But didn’t she know Ben would protect her. His muscles stiffened. Ah, but that’s just the thing. She didn’t know. She thought he was still in love with Julia. He’d never told Molly he was in love with her. He didn’t know why he hadn’t—part of it was fear, part was stupidity. He knew that now. Guilt assuaged him and he knew her leaving was his fault.

  He went to the closet, got his gun belt from the top shelf and buckled it on. Then he went out to the front of the hotel and met Gil and Robby.

  Robby held Ben’s horse, and Gil was already mounted, waiting.

  Ben mounted Rex, his black stallion. “Let’s ride.”

  * * *

  Molly pulled to a stop in front of her new home. She didn’t think she’d ever get to live here, but decided it wasn’t a bad place to die. Straightening her spine, she set the brake and climbed out of the buggy. If she was lucky enough not do die today, she wanted a way to get back home.

  “Tom,” she called. “Tom Marlow.”

  Marlow appeared in the front door. “Glad you could join me, Molly. Come in. I want you to show me around your house.”

  “You don’t need the grand tour, Tom. You probably know it better than I do.”

  He chuckled. “You’re right I probably do. So come in and I’ll give you the tour.” He pointed his gun at her. “I said come in.”

  Molly walked up to the house. He took her arm when she got on to the porch.

  She wrenched herself away. “Don’t touch me.”

  His face took on an almost animal form. “I’ll touch you if I like. I’ll do anything I want to you and you can’t do a thing about it.”

  All pretenses to civility were gone.

  “Let’s go.” He grabbed her arm with such force she’d have bruises…if she survived. She winced but had no strength to resist.