Unlawfully Wedded Bride (Love Inspired Historical)

by Noelle Marchand

  Stolvins stared at him in defiance then reached down to pick up his hat. Setting it on his head he said, “You remember what I said, Kate.”

  “I believe I’ve already forgotten.”

  “Then you can forget my help with your crop. Do it yourself. I’ll be glad to see little Miss High and Mighty fail.” Stolvins gave them both a dirty look which Nathan returned with a polite nod. Nathan didn’t relax until the man galloped away.

  Lawson tumbled from the doorway with a grin. “That was amazing. I saw the whole thing through the window.”

  Kate shook her head with a soft smile. “Thank you, Nathan.”

  He shrugged. “I only did what any decent man would.”

  “Do you suppose what he said about my reputation was true?” she asked. “Is that what people think of me?”

  “I truly hope not, Kate. If so, it’s my fault. I should have realized there would be talk. However, you have to realize the worst thing the townspeople could do is force us to get married.”

  Lawson’s eyes widened. “You already are.”

  “Exactly,” he agreed, then frowned. “Listen, Kate. Why don’t I go into town and see how things stand?”

  “What about the wheat?”

  “We can start tomorrow. We’ll need to buy a few more scythes and Sean may have to stay home to help.”

  She sighed. “I hoped it wouldn’t come to that but I suppose there is no other choice. If you’re going to town then I’m coming with you. What better way to find out what people think of me?”

  Nathan didn’t like the idea but knew he wouldn’t be able to convince her otherwise. “I’ll get the horses.”

  Kate frowned at the glass of lemonade in her hands as she sat in Ms. Lettie’s parlor. “So there has been talk?”

  The woman smiled kindly. “Barely snatches of it, Kate, and those people were quickly put to right.”

  “I see.”

  “As far as I know, it’s only that horrible Mr. Stolvins and his saloon people who speak of such nonsense. Everyone else respects what you’ve done with the farm and is happy that you have help. I wouldn’t worry about it. Now, tell me. Have you any idea how you’ll bring in the harvest?”

  “Nathan suggested we keep Sean at home. Other than that, I suppose we’ll be working dawn to dusk.”

  “And you’ll be keeping more of your hard-earned money.” The widow paused in thought. “Kate, I have an idea that will bring you more workers than you can manage.”

  Kate smiled but watched her in suspicion. “What are you thinking?”

  “Just leave it to me.” Ms. Lettie leaned forward. “Oh, Kate. I’m so glad you came to town. I have news of my own. Luke has finally proposed!”

  “I’m not surprised,” Kate teased. “I wondered when Doc Williams would get around to it. I’m so happy for you!”

  “Yes, well, it seems I’ve found myself in desperate need of a maid of honor and seeing as you’re like a daughter to me I was hoping…”

  “Oh, I’d love to!” She squeezed Ms. Lettie’s hand. “You were my mother’s best friend, after all. You took me under your wing when she died. This is the least I could do.”

  Ms. Lettie smiled. “Wonderful. We’ll need to pick out some fabric then. I was thinking blue for you but I’m not at all sure of what color I should wear. Nothing white, of course. You’ll have to help me choose.”

  Kate followed Ms. Lettie into the kitchen to place her cup in the sink. “You don’t have to buy a dress for me.”

  Ms. Lettie smiled. “My dear, you are getting a new dress. I want you to have one so fancy and becoming you’ll be half ashamed to wear it.”

  “Wait a minute—”

  “It will be perfect,” Ms. Lettie soothed. “There’s no better time than the present. We’ll go pick out the fabric then visit the seamstress.”

  The two were soon talking over the fabric and possible embellishments at the mercantile. Glancing up, Kate caught sight of a familiar set of shoulders. Nathan stood at the counter talking with Mr. Johansen. The two scythes that lay across the counter spoke of the nature of their business together.

  “Should we ask Nathan’s opinion about the dress?”

  Kate’s eyes widened. “No. Why should we? Men hardly know of such things.”

  “I’ve found that doesn’t stop them from having an opinion,” the woman quipped as she waved at Nathan.

  “Ms. Lettie, I hate to say this, but you’re embarrassing me.”

  “I’m sorry, dear. This has to happen every once in a while. It’s hardly fair for you to miss out on this type of thing because your dear mother is gone.” When Nathan arrived Ms. Lettie held up sample of the two cloths. “Nathan, we need your help to decide which shade of blue suits Kate best.”

  Kate sent him an apologetic look. “No, we don’t.”

  “Do you think the lighter or the darker shade would be better?”

  Nathan seemed all too amused as he considered the two fabrics. Finally, he pointed to the bolt of medium blue fabric. “I’d have to say this one matches her eyes almost exactly.”

  Kate looked at him in surprise. Her eyes? He hadn’t looked at her to compare, which meant he didn’t need the reference. She tried not to let that thought flatter her but when her gaze met his she couldn’t seem to look away. Mrs. Lenworth’s voice broke the moment, allowing Kate to glance away though she still felt his eyes on her. “It’s a beautiful color isn’t it, Nathan?”

  “Very beautiful,” he replied then took a step back. “Was that all you needed?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  As soon as he was out of earshot Kate turned to Ms. Lettie with a tired sigh. “I wish you wouldn’t waste your matchmaking on me.”

  “We must pick out my fabric. I’ll take this dark blue one and I think this pretty cream ribbon would complement it nicely. We need buttons, of course. For you.” She looked at the lighter blue fabric. “Let’s go with white ribbons. I suppose you should purchase some white fabric now to be prepared,” she muttered, then hurried toward the buttons.

  It took a moment for the meaning of her parting comment to dawn. When it did Kate gave a sharp laugh that caused a nearby customer to look up. Grimacing, Kate followed Ms. Lettie.

  Kate and Lawson waited in the wagon with the few supplies they’d gotten from the mercantile while Nathan stepped into the Post Office. He pulled the letter he was sending from his pocket and set it on the counter. The older gentleman with the white hair searched under the desk for the appropriate stamp. “Did that fellow find you?”

  Nathan stilled. “Was someone looking for me?”

  “Sure was.” The man smoothed the stamp onto the envelope carefully. “It was a man about your age. He wanted to know if you were around. I told him I’d seen you a while back. He wanted to know where you were living but I couldn’t remember and didn’t care to speculate.”

  “Do you know if he stuck around?”

  “He said he’d be back.” The man handed Nathan his change back. “He was a tall fellow but skinnier than you. He had real dark hair and light blue eyes. That caught me as strange or I never would have remembered him. Do you think he might have been a friend a yours?”

  “Probably not,” Nathan said before he could catch himself. He didn’t like the idea of Jeremiah Fulton coming to Peppin. Eli’s death had changed a lot of things including Jeremiah’s friendship with Nathan. The man’s bitterness and anger didn’t belong in this place where Nathan had tried to make a fresh start. But judging from all those letters Jeremiah had sent his folks, Jeremiah wouldn’t stop tracking him.

  Perhaps it was time for them to finally talk about what had happened. If he showed up, Nathan would try to reason with him. Maybe they could part as friends. Doubt pulled his mouth into a frown. Trying to talk rationally to his friend hadn’t worked at the time. He could almost hear Jeremiah’s screams after Eli fell dead.

  “You’re going to pay.”

  Nathan’s gaze flew to the postmaster. The man stared back at him
. Surely, he’d misheard. “What did you say?”

  “I said I can only mail the letter if you’re going to pay.” The man lowered his bushy white brows. “You were expecting to pay, weren’t you?”

  Nathan ignored the chill that brushed over his skin, and paid the man. “Do you have any mail for me or the O’Briens?”

  The man shuffled through his stack of mail but came up empty. “There’s nothing today.”

  Nathan thanked him then couldn’t get outside fast enough. Kate glanced at him in concern when he climbed into the wagon. “Are you all right? You look so pale.”

  “I’m fine,” he said brusquely then set the wagon in motion. “Everything will be fine.”

  Kate placed her hands on her lower back and leaned into them. It felt wonderful to stretch her aching muscles. She leaned farther back and felt a satisfying pop. She had just turned back to her work when Sean called. “Kate, look.”

  She followed her little brother’s gaze to find her friend Rachel riding toward them on a small black horse. The young woman grinned and waved.

  “Rachel!” Kate exclaimed in surprise before hurrying toward her. The petite brunette slipped off the horse to give Kate a hug.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m with them.”

  “With who?” Kate asked but turned in distraction when Sean let out a whoop and hurried past her. It was then Kate noticed a group of ten or so men walking toward the field, scythes in hand.

  “Ms. Lettie said you could use some help.”

  Kate frowned. “But I can’t take you all away from your farms. You have your own harvests to worry about. We’ll be fine.”

  “Of course you’ll be fine—because you’ll have our help. There should be a few more men coming this afternoon. Ashley Walker, Cynthia Pikes and Erika Pikes should be waiting near the house. We all brought food, of course. Lena and John Talbot said they would come tomorrow since Mr. Stolvins is harvesting their fields today. This will be so much fun, Kate!”

  “But I can’t just accept your work for free,” Kate protested.

  “Naturally not,” Rachel agreed. “There are two things we want as payment. First, you all have to come to the Harvest Dance. It’s been two years since we’ve had O’Briens there, and we miss you.” Rachel grinned. “It’s just not the same without Ellie’s antics.”

  “And second?” Kate pressed.

  Her friend smirked. “One punch to Andrew Stolvins. That was paid in advance.”

  Kate couldn’t help but smile at the recollection as the men approached. Jeffery Peters slapped Nathan on the back. “Sure wish I could have seen it.”

  Deputy Stone laughed. “Sure wish I could have done it.”

  “I’ve been aching to for years,” said old Mr. Murphy. The kind eyes that always seemed to twinkle landed on her. “Miss Kate, we come offering our services. Do you accept?”

  Her pride urged her to say no, but for once, she pushed it back. These were her friends and neighbors, come to help out of the kindness of their hearts. Just this once, she was going to let them. “How could I not? Thank you all for coming.”

  Her gratitude was waved off. Billy Joe said, “I don’t see how we’ll do you much good standing around here talking.”

  “Truer words were never spoken,” Mr. Ives agreed.

  As the group of men moved toward the field, she walked arm in arm with Rachel as they made the short trip to the house. Giving her friend a sly look, Kate said, “So tell me how things fare with the deputy.”

  Rachel laughed. “Only if you tell me how things fare with Nathan.”

  Kate rolled her eyes. “The two are hardly comparable.”

  “You’re right. The absolute nothing happening between Deputy Stone and I hardly compares to what’s happening with you and Nathan.” She sent Kate an expectant look. “What is happening between you two, anyway?”

  “What makes you think something has happened?”

  Rachel shrugged. “He’s been here for a while now. Your feelings have had time to change. Have they?”

  “I don’t think so,” she said quietly as her gaze trailed back to the field.

  “That isn’t a firm no, so maybe there is hope after all.”

  “There’s more hope for you than there is for me.” Kate smiled teasingly. “Perhaps I’ll be attending another wedding soon.”

  “Perhaps you will,” Rachel agreed. “It may not be mine, but perhaps you will.”

  Nathan crept silently through the early morning darkness. He’d hoped the full day of harvesting would be enough to ensure a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, memories of Eli had been stirred up by the post master’s mention of Jeremiah and kept rest at bay. He hoped a hard ride might do the trick. An owl hooted over his head, rivaling the low creaking of the barn door as it opened and closed. He made a note to himself that it was time to oil the hinges. The sound was loud enough to wake the dead. Walking toward Delilah’s stall, his hand trailed to the reassuring weight of the holster belted low on his hips.

  Delilah welcomed him with a soft neigh as he neared her. Nathan smiled. “That’s right, girl. We’re going for a ride before we both get stir crazy. It will be just the two of us like old times.”

  He opened the stall then moved to get the bridle. Draping it across his neck, he placed the saddle blanket on the saddle in order to carry them both. At the plodding sound of horse’s hooves he spun just in time to see Delilah heading for the barn door.

  “Delilah,” he scolded but the sound of his voice sent the horse bolting through the door by widening the crack he’d unknowingly left there. He rolled his eyes. Maybe he’d made a mistake naming the horse. She should have been named something like “Sugar.” Then maybe she’d act that way. Nathan snorted, knowing he would never allow a horse the disgrace of being named something like that.

  He walked through the door, lugging the saddle with him. He was all prepared to whistle to Delilah, a sound she instinctively came to, when his gaze landed on a dark figure walking across the barnyard. He froze as apprehension shot through him.

  His gaze flew to the dark house where Kate, Ellie and Sean lay sleeping. He had to protect them. Yet, as he watched, it became apparent that the figure seemed more interested in Delilah than anything else. Yes, that’s right, take the fool horse, he thought, then immediately felt guilty.

  A voice reached his ears, sounding clearly in the early morning stillness. “How did you get out here?” He relaxed. It’s Kate. What is she doing out here alone at night? he wondered.

  Delilah moved toward Kate, blocking her from his view. He almost called out to her but before he could she said, “Well, no need to pretend. I don’t like you, either.” Nathan smiled.

  “Why don’t you like me? Is it because of Nathan?”

  Surely he had nothing to do with this.

  “I understand that you might feel angry since you were taken from your life as a cowpony to get stuck on this farm. Technically, it was Nathan who made the decision so you and I were just innocent bystanders.”

  I wonder if Delilah really doesn’t like Kate. She does seem a mite edgy the way her hooves are dancing around like that. Nathan swallowed a laugh knowing he should make his presence known but things were just getting interesting.

  “Unless, of course, you’re only jealous,” Kate continued. “It’s hardly my fault that he likes me better than you though I can see why. I am a sight prettier since my nose isn’t half as big as yours. But then, you can run much faster than me, so I suppose we both have our good points. Perhaps you would temporarily agree to share him with me until the judge comes back.”

  He decided it was time to stop Kate before she said anything else she might not want him to hear. He heard Delilah snort loudly which probably covered the sound of his approach.

  “What am I talking about?”

  This time he answered. “I haven’t the slightest idea.”

  There silence was penetrated only by the sound of his footsteps and Delilah’s soft
breathing.

  “Nathan, is that you?” Kate asked. He walked around the horse and came face-to-face with Kate. Instead of trying to discern her expression, he shifted the saddle so that he could place the blanket on Delilah. He smoothed it down then placed the saddle over it. That bulky hindrance removed, he turned to Kate.

  She stepped closer. “What are you doing out here?”

  “I’m going for a ride.” He tilted his Stetson up for a better view of her.

  “In the middle of the night?”

  “It’s nearly morning now. The sun will be rising in a little less than an hour.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I couldn’t sleep, anyway.”

  “Why not?”

  “Bad dreams,” he admitted.

  “Bad dreams about Eli?” she asked hesitantly.

  He caught her arms. “How do you know that name?”

  “You mentioned him when you were sick.” She placed a hand over his. “I guess he’s the business partner you said died. If you ever want to talk about it…”

  He shook his head. “It only makes the dreams worse not better.”

  Besides, he’d been forced to tell his story so many times he’d resolved to never tell it again. He suddenly became aware of the cold metal touching his arm. He glanced down then lifted her hand in his. “Were you coming to do me in?”

  She seemed flustered as she tugged her hand from his grasp and slipped the gun into her pocket. “No.”

  “Delilah, then?”

  “Of course not.”

  “That’s good,” he said before turning to tighten the saddle’s cinches and slip on the bit and halter. “It’s hard to find a good cowpony.”

  She stiffened beside him.

  Placing his hat on the saddle horn, he stepped closer. “Though I must admit your nose is twice as pretty as hers.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Kate turned away from him to face the house. He’d heard every word she’d said. She was sure of it. Oh, what had made her go spouting off to a horse? Better yet, why had she deemed it necessary to get out of her safe bed to investigate the opening and closing groans of the barn door? Who would have guessed she would find Delilah standing in the middle of the barnyard unsaddled, unbridled and looking downright ornery?