by Linda Broday
His thumb traced her jawline, and his teeth grazed her lower lip.
“Evie—” he groaned into her mouth.
The raw sound of her name on his breath made her hold even more closely to him. After a moment, he lifted his head and held her face between his hands, staring down at her.
“Don’t you know I would never be unfaithful to you?”
“How could I know such a thing? You all but accused me of—of—well, you know, and we haven’t even gotten home yet!”
He rested his forehead against hers, briefly, then said, “I know. I’m sorry. I just wanted to get everything straight between us.”
She nodded, reaching to touch his cheek, her anger evaporating at his gentle touch. “Valentine’s Day is a little over a week away. Would you be willing to—to see what things come our way, and make a permanent decision then about our future together? It would give us a few days to get to know each other.”
“That’ll mean we won’t consummate our marriage until then, I suppose,” Alex said thoughtfully. “An annulment will be easier that way—if things don’t work out as we hope.”
She couldn’t help but notice the tone of disappointment in his voice. And he hadn’t mentioned putting the wedding off until then…Maybe there was hope, after all.
She smiled. “We’ll just have to be sure they do.”
CHAPTER THREE
As they topped the little rise, Evie could hardly believe what she saw in the meadow below. Again, it seemed Alex had understated his “farm”—what he owned, in her eyes, was a little spot of heaven in these flat lands. Though the cabin was small compared to her home in South Carolina, and even that of her aunt and uncle, it was bigger than most of the dwellings she’d glimpsed from the train window as they’d neared their destination.
There were corrals and an oversized barn, and Evie could see where a creek flowed sluggishly, nearly frozen, behind the house.
“It’s—beautiful,” Evie said, noting that her declaration pleased Alex. “Why did you tell me you owned a farm, Alex? This is so much more—a ranch, you said—and I see some of your horses—”
“I couldn’t very well expect you to come if I’d said I owned a saloon, could I?” he asked gruffly.
Evie thought back to the correspondence they’d shared. She had once mentioned she was fearful of horses ever since her cousin had been killed in a riding accident when they were children. But surely, that wouldn’t have been something he would have believed would keep her from accepting his proposal.
She didn’t ask, as he drove the wagon forward and turned into the dirt drive in front of the house.
Before he could set the brake and climb down, the door was flung open and two small figures ran toward them, yelling in happy greeting as they wrapped their arms around Alex’s legs.
Pure joy lit his face as he hugged them close, ruffling their dark hair. It was only when they turned to greet Evie that she realized, once more, she had not known the full story.
Dark, Indian faces looked at her from under black thatches of hair. Expectant love shone from their coal black eyes. Though she’d never personally seen an Indian child, there could be no doubt about the parentage of Eric and Sage.
Kevin Larson’s words floated in her memory. “Nobody else wanted ’em.”
No one wanted to raise half-breed children.
Something in her heart twisted and ached, and she somehow managed to climb out of the wagon on her own. She knew what it was like to be alone, and unwanted.
She shyly held her arms open, and Eric rushed forward as Sage squirmed out of Alex’s arms to join his older brother.
“Can we call you Mama?”
“You’re awful pretty!”
The boys spoke at once, and Evie looked up at Alex. There was an expression on his face that needed no words. That she had accepted his sons with no reticence meant everything.
“Let’s get Miss Evangeline inside,” he said, taking her arm. “We’ll take her in to meet Mrs. Blue, and then I’ll come back to take care of the horses.”
****
Mrs. Blue smiled at Evie as Alex made the introductions, and Sage ended with, “An’ she’s gonna be our new mama!”
Mrs. Blue nodded her greeting from the stove, where she stood stirring a pot of stew. “So nice to meet you, dear. I’m making stew and johnnycakes for an early dinner. What with the—” she broke off and glanced at Alex before she continued, “—the festivities this evening, I thought that would be a good choice. That way, if these boys of yours get hungry later on, there’ll be something left over.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, as well, Mrs. Blue. Festivities, you said—”
“Why your wedding, of course!” She clicked her tongue. “I’ve had water heating for your bath. Would you like something to tide you over, dear? When did you eat?”
Evie smiled at her thoughtfulness, though she wanted badly to say something to Alex about the quick wedding plans. “I am hungry, but a bath would be more wonderful than food right now.”
“I’ll have Jonas and Landry carry up the water and fill the tub right now. Dinner will be served at four and the guests will begin to arrive by six.” Mrs. Blue shook her head. “It won’t give you much time, I’m afraid, but it’s the best we could manage.”
And that was that, Evie thought. Today, she’d arrived in Indian Territory, a wild, lawless place that made her blood sing with adventure even though she had been half-sick with worry at the foolish thing she’d done by answering this man’s advertisement. She’d met her husband-to-be, her new family, and moved into a home–a home she dreamed would be filled with love and laughter, and a lifetime of dreams come true.
Tonight, less than twenty-four hours after meeting Alex Cameron, she would become his wife in all ways but one. Valentine’s Day wasn’t so far off, but suddenly a week seemed like a very long time to wait to know her fate.
She followed Alex up the stairway, and he opened the door to their bedroom. A tub was set behind a screen on the far side of the room—opposite the large sleigh bed that was turned back…waiting. A thrill of anticipation ran through her, and then she remembered the waiting period she’d suggested to Alex—until Valentine’s Day, a week away. He’d reluctantly accepted…was he feeling the same disappointment she was right now?
They’d scarcely entered the room when two of the ranch hands started up the stairs behind them, buckets of hot water in each hand. A loud thump sounded at the bottom of the stairs as they gained the landing.
“Sounds like your trunk has arrived,” Alex muttered as they stepped out of the way for the men behind them. “I think you’re going to be staying, Miss Fremont, if I have the men carry that thing up these stairs.”
****
His words made Evie’s heart leap. Surely, he meant it, or he wouldn’t have said it. The ranch hands passed by them on their way for more water. Evie and Alex stood in awkward silence inside the empty bed chamber. Finally, Alex said, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the boys. I was afraid if you knew—” He shrugged and looked away, then turned and took a few steps, his hands on his hips.
“I wouldn’t want them—couldn’t love them, because they’re Indian?”
“Yeah.” Slowly, he turned back to her. “You’re more than I expected, Evie. I didn’t play fair, and I’m sorry for that.”
“Isn’t there something else you want to tell me about them, Alex?” She crossed the room to stand close to him.
He shut the door behind them, and looked at the floor. “Seems like Larson must have already told you about what happened.”
“I’d like to hear it from you.” Her heart hammered, though her voice sounded calm, cultured.
“Of course.” He sighed. “Evie, I’ve made a mess of things with you. And I guess it’s time I set it all straight, before the preacher gets here tonight.” He hesitated, then nodded toward the screen that stood in front of the steaming, half-full tub.
“You may want me to come back after yo
ur bath—”
She shook her head. “No. I want us to have this talk with one another. Tell me what I need to know.”
“The boys belonged one of my men during the war. Their mother was killed in an accident, and Ray met his end in battle. There were no other relatives. I arranged with the local minister to care for them until I could get there. I…vowed I would see to them, Evie. I promised Ray, as he lay dying, that I’d take care of his family.”
“Mr. Larson said…he-he didn’t know about his wife.”
Alex shook his head. “No. I never told him. It’s haunted me. Maybe I should have—”
“No.” She laid a gentle hand on his arm. “I believe you did the right thing. What good could have come from it? You were only protecting him. And…you were protecting the children.”
He nodded. “I thought—if you knew, you would never have come. And they—they’re counting on a mother. They’re feeling ‘different’ and the cruel remarks are beginning to register with them.”
Evie reached to gently push back a lock of his dark hair. Obsidian eyes, filled with hope and despair, held hers.
“They look like you.”
He stiffened. “They’re not my blood. But—I will admit, I know how much gossip can wound a person’s soul. I guess, now’s as good a time as any to tell the rest of the story.” He took a long, deep breath and let it go on a sigh.
“I’m also of mixed heritage, Evie. My mother was full-blood Cherokee.”
****
Alex had never dreamed how hard it would be to look into the eyes of his bride-to-be and admit this as boldly as he’d done. To her credit, she neither gasped in shock nor moved away in disdain, as he’d imagined she might.
“I’m not a bigot, Alex,” she murmured softly.
“Yet, I doubt you ever thought you’d marry a half—”
She put her fingers to his lips to stop the hateful name on them before he could complete it. “Please, give me a bit of credit, Mr. Cameron. I—honestly, I don’t know what I expected.”
“Seems we’re both in desperate straits.” His voice came out harsh. The way Evie’s fingers tightened on his arm let him know he’d hit home. But her expression remained calm. She lowered her eyes demurely, hiding her emotions.
“Ah, Evie—I wish I’d done this differently.”
Her eyes flashed up, meeting his. “Do you want to be married, Alex?”
“Yes. At first, I did because of the boys. But now, I—”
How could he put into words what he wanted to say to her? He was not a romantic at heart. But she made him wish he was. He couldn’t have been happier when he’d seen her at the depot. She’d tried to appear confident, but he could tell she’d been worried. And who wouldn’t have been? He’d selfishly thought only of what he required for Sage and Eric. What about her, his Evangeline? Even her name was beautiful.
What had caused her to find this future with him an answer to her own situation? What could make a well-bred young woman leave everything she knew behind, and travel to this rough territory to a life she could not have predicted, married to a man she didn’t know?
It seemed, perhaps, Miss Evangeline Fremont was just as lost as he was.
****
A knock at the door interrupted them.
“Eric,” Alex murmured, a smile on his lips. “I know that knock.” He turned and walked to the door, immediately feeling the loss of her touch, as innocent as it had been. Perhaps it was best to let the words between them settle before he asked the questions that raced through his mind.
Eric’s hand was poised for another knock when Alex pulled the door open. “I brought special soap,” he said seriously, holding the floral-scented bar close enough to smell it. “Mrs. Blue sent it to Miss Evangeline.” He leaned toward Alex. “She says we have to call her that instead of ‘Mama’. And—” when he caught sight of Evie, he cut off the rest of what he’d wanted to say.
Evie came to stand beside Alex, bending low to look Eric in the eyes. “I would like it very much if you called me Miss Evie—at least for now. All my friends call me Evie. Evangeline is too long, don’t you think?”
He nodded, then held out the soap. “Miss Blue sent this for you.”
“Thank you for bringing it to me, Eric,” she said, taking the soap from him. “Please give her my thanks, will you?”
He nodded, turning to go.
“I’ll leave, too, Evie,” Alex said as he stepped outside the door. “They’ll be bringing the next load of water up for you soon. And I imagine I’ve got a steaming tub in the washroom downstairs.”
Evie could feel the blood rushing to her face as her thoughts took off like a runaway train. If they were truly married, he would most likely be helping her undress, washing her back…maybe even joining her in the tub.
Their eyes met, a slow smile curving his sensuous lips as if he’d read her mind and knew every secret thought she possessed—and every fear.
“You don’t need to be afraid, Evie—not ever.” Gently, he reached for her and drew her into his arms. “I don’t know what made you answer my advertisement, but I’m damn glad you did.” He held her away, looking down at her. “You’re either very brave, or very desperate—I don’t know which.”
“Maybe—a little of both,” she said.
He nodded. “Maybe so.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The guests began to arrive, just as Mrs. Blue had said, a little before six. Evie could hear it all from upstairs, in the master bedroom.
Mrs. Blue had come up earlier to see if she needed help getting into her “wedding finery.” Evie had thanked her, telling her there was no “finery”—just the only formal gown she still owned that she’d brought along. Old, and out of date, she’d kept it for the lovely shade of blue.
“That’ll do, nicely,” the older woman said. “Out here, you’ll see right quick that we don’t set store by what a person might wear.”
“Mr. Cameron dresses well.”
“That was for you, dearie,” Mrs. Blue said, as Evie donned the gown—a dark blue satin. Mrs. Blue began buttoning the row of tiny buttons up the back. “Mr. Cameron was nervous about looking his best—and that’s something to see! He’s always collected. But not today!” She gave a short chuckle.
“I—I felt the same,” Evie confessed. She turned to face Mrs. Blue. “I hope I haven’t disappointed him.”
Mrs. Blue patted her cheek. “Have a seat here at the vanity and I’ll do up your hair.”
Evie watched her in the mirror until finally she spoke again. “It pleased me today to see the pleasure in his eyes, and in those boys. Mr. Cameron is the best man I know, and a man of his word.”
“Oh, do you think—”
“No. I knew you might believe he’d only marry you because you answered the ad he placed. But he depended on honesty, and you gave him that, I believe.” She pinned Evie’s hair into an artful style.
“But—what about him? Will he be honest with me?”
Mrs. Blue nodded. “In time, you’ll both gain trust in one another. But for now, let your found hearts be enough.”
Evie arched a brow in question.
“Your heart was lost, or you wouldn’t have taken such a chance, coming all this way to an uncertain future. His heart’s been lost for a long time. Today—” She broke off, her hands not moving. “Today, I saw he’d found his heart again—or, at least, he’d found the possibility of love.” She smiled wistfully as she put the finishing touches on Evie’s hair.
“I doubted I would ever see him smile and laugh again like he did tonight at dinner. He’s had the weight of the world on his shoulders ever since he came home from the war. There’s no telling what he went through.”
She met Evie’s eyes in the mirror. “He never talks about it. I guess he’ll take those memories and heartaches to his grave.”
Mrs. Blue had left soon afterward, as if she were afraid she’d confided too much to Evie.
Now, waiting for the approaching time of he
r grand entrance, all Evie could think of were Mrs. Blue’s cryptic comments.
It seemed she was getting a husband who, while honest with her to a point, still had secrets he shared with no one. Could she win his trust? She knew only too well the pain of being too solitary—unable or unwilling to share her innermost dreams and desires with anyone for fear of ridicule or rejection.
‘Found hearts,’ Mrs. Blue had said. Could it be true? Could this stranger be the other half of her love, her happiness?
His kiss had seared her soul. Her gaze traveled over the bed. He’d agreed they would not make a final decision about their marriage until Valentine’s Day. But he’d said nothing about whether or not they would share a bed for sleeping…
She was exhausted. She’d never dreamed he might have already made these arrangements for a wedding on the very eve of her arrival. Yet, rather than being irritated by it, she saw it as a sign of his eagerness to begin anew.
What would it be like to be cherished? To lie in his arms every night—including this, their wedding night?
Anticipation rippled through her. It had been her idea to wait until Valentine’s Day to consummate their marriage. That was a suggestion she was beginning to regret.
A knock on the door jerked her from her thoughts back to the present.
“Come in,” she called.
The door opened, and Kevin Larson held out his hand. “May I escort you, Miss Fremont?”
“I thought you weren’t going to be able to come!” She was surprised at her own gladness at seeing a familiar face, and at having him escort her downstairs to the throng of strangers.
He gave her a cavalier grin. “Guess Alex couldn’t bear the thought of me not bein’ here.”
She stepped to the door and took Kevin’s hand.
“You’re a lovely sight, Miss,” he said as they turned to walk down the hallway. “The Captain is one very lucky man, I’m thinkin’.”
