Love And Hearts Ride West: Mail Order Bride: 16 Novella's Bundle

by Indiana Wake

  “It is her sweetness and innocence that I’m worried about. Even though she sees Curly for what he is, who is to say she won’t fall for some other man just as bad, if not worse. I think we should send her back to school.”

  Courtney barely restrained herself from running into the room and begging her sister to let her stay. She silently cheered Robert’s next words.

  “Would she go? And would they take her back? You told me that the headmistress would brook no disobedience and Courtney was about as disobedient as you can get. Besides, you said the school was useless as anything but a place to keep them safe from the maneuverings of your father. Surely, your sisters will be just as safe here with us. And I know you enjoy their company.”

  “I do enjoy them, even when Courtney is acting so strangely.”

  “I have an idea.” Robert sounded pleased with himself. “How about we send them out to my cabin on the far side of the ranch for a while. It will give Courtney time to recover and all of my hands are older and not likely to tempt a young girl to fancy herself in love.”

  “But your cabin is right next to Abby’s. Curly is one of her hands. They are bound to meet up at some point.”

  “Not really. The cowhands are usually out riding the range, checking on cattle, and watching for rustlers or wolves. They really have very little free time for flirting. I can even suggest to Abby’s foreman that he send Curly out to one of the cabins at the edge of their range. They can make him cut hay for winter or clean out a new water hole, anything to keep him away from the ranch for a few days until Courtney is ready to come back.”

  “Yes, I think that might be best. I will go tell her.”

  Sounds from the Library indicated that Kristine had stood and was moving towards the door. Quietly as she could, Courtney ran back to the stairs, and up a few steps then turned, and pretended to be just coming down.

  She had to work to look miserable and keep the smile off her face. They had come up with a perfect plan, all she had to do was play along and keep them from sending Patricia to the cabin with her.

  “There you are, Courtney.” Kristine emerged from the library. “How are you feeling today? Robert and I have a proposal for you. Tell me what you think …”

  Kristine outlined the plan, making sure to emphasize the beauty and solitude of the area. It was perfect for tending a broken heart.

  Not wanting to seem too eager, Courtney demurred, saying she wanted the action and excitement of the city. When she spoke of parties and meeting other men, Kristine paled and redoubled her efforts. Finally, Courtney allowed herself to be convinced, with the added benefit of Patricia not wanting to leave town herself for reasons she didn’t say, but that made her blush.

  A few hours later, Courtney was in the wagon and headed toward the ranch nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The driver was a grizzled old man who didn’t speak except to answer her questions with grunts so she sat back and began to plan.

  Chapter 7

  Courtney kept up her melancholy façade until the driver pulled away, headed back toward the city. Now she was alone in the cozy ranch house except for the cook and if she wanted to put her plan into practice tomorrow, she needed to set the stage today.

  Hurrying up the stairs, she unpacked her trunk. Keeping out a smaller satchel, she packed it with essentials that she would need for a few days on her own. Her comb, hairpins, a clean chemise, extra stockings, and a tiny bottle of scent that Kristine had given her for Christmas.

  Satisfied that she had the basics covered, she found her way to the kitchen. The cook, a sturdy Swede, who spoke little English, made her sit down and proceeded to fill a plate for her, all the while jabbering in his own tongue. The plate he placed before her was mounded high with sliced meat, baked potatoes, and biscuits. To Courtney, it looked like enough to feed an army instead of one girl.

  “Eat, eat!” The cook pantomimed shoveling food into his mouth. “Too skinny, eat.”

  Courtney sent him a nervous smile. There was no way she could eat all that food. It was enough to keep her fed for days … perfect.

  Trying to be discreet, she took small bites from her plate while making happy chewing noises. The cook, seeming to be satisfied, went to the sink and pumped water into a basin for washing. He belted out a song in Swedish as he washed, occasionally taking the time to dance a little jig.

  Courtney had to swallow a laugh, seeing a man who would make three of her singing and dancing while doing dishes seemed incongruous in the small kitchen. But it kept him busy while she sneaked bits of food onto her lap and then into the waiting leather bag. Soon, more than half of the food was hidden away, her satchel ready to burst. And she still had eaten enough to have her stomach pressing painfully against her corset. And there was still food on her plate.

  She shook her head in wonder. Did people really eat that much out here?

  When she couldn’t eat another bite, she thanked the cook and left him beaming after her. Up in her room, she added the bulging bag of food to the rest of her bundle and collapsed on the bed, groaning. If she ate like that for too many days in a row, she would be waddling back to Denver.

  The lack of sleep the night before and the unusual amount of food conspired together to have her drift off into a deep sleep. When she woke, the stars outside her window winked at her as she undressed and slipped under the covers to drift back to sleep.

  The next morning she woke up refreshed and rested. Lowering her supplies out the window, she dressed in a simple skirt and blouse that would stand up to hard wear and tear. A pair of boots, a hat and a pair of leather gloves and she was ready to go.

  With signs and gestures she told the cook that she was going for a ride and would not be home for lunch. The big man smiled and nodded but before she left, he grabbed her arm and gestured toward the sky saying something she couldn’t understand. He looked concerned, but the sky was blue and cloudless as far as the eye could see.

  Courtney nodded and patted his arm. Satisfied that she understood his message, the Swede released her arm and waved her off toward the barn.

  At last, she was riding off toward her future. Armed with her pack of supplies and a crude map provided by the old man who saddled her horse, Courtney turned her mount toward the distant mountains.

  Chapter 8

  Hours later, she was tired, hungry, and desperately lost. The directions, which had seemed so simple, lost all meaning among the trees and rocks where everything looked the same. At a small stream, hardly more than a trickle, Courtney pulled her horse to a stop and all but fell from the saddle.

  Nibbling on a dry biscuit, she studied the crude map. The man had labeled peaks, rivers, and canyons, but she didn’t know one from another. A trail was marked with a dotted line that led to the cabin that he said was the most distant point of the combined ranches.

  But no matter how she searched, there was no dotted line. At this point, she didn’t even think she could find her way back to the ranch. There was nothing for it, but to continue on. Courtney gave herself and the horse an hour to rest, then climbed back into the saddle, wincing at her sore muscles.

  As she crested a rise, she caught sight of a peak that looked familiar. Maybe she was closer than she thought. Either that or she was riding in one big circle. She also saw that clouds were beginning to build against the peak and even as she watched, the rocky summit was swallowed by gray.

  If it was going to rain, she would need to find shelter. A cold drop splashed against her cheek. Then another one landed on her hand. She nudged the horse forward, thumping its ribs with her booted heels as the beast tried to turn back.

  “I have not come this far to turn back now.” She thumped it again. “Get moving before we get caught in the rain.”

  Finally, the horse did move on, but however reluctantly, it was at least moving. Courtney kept her eyes open for some sort of cave or overhang that she could use for shelter, but there was nothing. The wind turned cold and the rain came down in sheets.

/>   All she could do was hunch in the saddle and hold on. She hadn’t thought to bring a jacket or slicker. The sun had been shining brightly when she left and she had planned to be at the cabin long before now. She began to shiver and gave up looking for shelter or guiding the horse. Leaning forward, she pressed her cheek to the horse’s warm neck and closed her eyes, praying that the animal had some idea of where to go because she had none left.

  None of her ideas had worked out very well at all.

  Something was different. The sound of the rain had faded. Had it stopped? Courtney struggled to open her eyes. Something white and feathery landed on her eyelashes. She blinked. Snow? It was the month of May. How could there be snow?

  It must be a dream. She was dreaming of snow because she was so very cold.

  The steady plodding of the horse lulled her back to a state of half-sleep. There was no beginning and no end, just endless movement.

  “Who’s there?”

  A bright light seared through her eyelids, but she didn’t even try to open them. The horse had finally stopped moving and at last, she could sleep.

  “Hey there, fella. What are you doing way out here, and what did you bring me?”

  Strong hands blessedly warm hands pulled at her. She was falling! She fought to retain her grip on the horse, but her muscles would no longer respond to her command.

  “It’s all right, you’re safe now.” The voice was soft and comforting. Something about it pulled at her. Had she heard it before?

  The warm hands pulled her off the horse and into a pair of arms. She was held against a broad chest that gave off almost painful heat. Courtney curled in closer and tried to burrow into it.

  “Easy now, Miss.” The arms carried her for some steps then laid her on something soft and left her. She could have wept at the loss, but then the hands were back, brushing half-frozen strands of hair from her face.

  When had she lost her hairpins?

  “Now, let’s see who you are.” The hands stroked her hair back, gently tugging it free of her lips. A sigh escaped her as the hands stopped moving.

  “Oh good Lord, it’s you.”

  Courtney’s eyes flew open of their own accord. Curly’s startled blue eyes stared into hers. She smiled.

  “I found you.”

  Chapter 9

  “I still don’t understand what you are doing in the mountains. Where did you come from?” Curly stared at her as he fed her a spoonful of soup. Her hands trembled too much to hold the spoon. “The last time I saw you was in Denver in your sister’s parlor. How did you get here?”

  “I c-came to f-find you.” Courtney cleared her throat, but it was still hoarse and the lingering shivers had given her a stutter. Not exactly how she planned to convince him that he needed her. “Just to t-talk.”

  “From where? Certainly not Denver.” He fed her another sip of the bland soup.

  She shook her head. “Robert’s Ranch.”

  Curly shook his head, perplexed. “I just don’t understand why. I told you I wasn’t the marrying kind. I am too young and having too much fun kissing all the girls to settle for just one. You ran away from me, crying. Why would you take the chance of riding up here in a storm, hoping to find me?”

  “I love you.” Courtney tried a shrug and was proud of herself that she could manage it without falling over. “And the sun was shining when I left.”

  “Don’t you know how fast the weather can change, especially when you climb from the foothills to the slopes? You are fortunate that the horse brought you here. He must have been ridden here before and remembered the food. If he hadn’t, you would have died.”

  “I know.”

  “Then why? Why would you risk your life to find me? I am nobody. I’m not a ranch foreman, like I told you I was. I’m just a cowhand making thirty a month plus meals. I have no home, no future, nothing to offer a woman. Why would you do it?”

  “I love you.” Courtney watched the confusion war with astonishment in his eyes. “The sun rose in the east this morning and made me think of you because it saw you first, and I was jealous. The sun rose high at noon and made me think of you, your sparkling eyes and warm laughter. The sun sets this evening and makes me think of you, because in all its glory, no sunset is as beautiful as you.”

  “It sounds like poetry when you say it.” Curly set down the bowl of soup and began to pace. She loved how graceful he was, even frustrated and pacing.

  “It is poetry. It’s beautiful; I have never read anything like it.” She waited for a moment, not sure she wanted the answer to her next question. “Did you mean it?”

  Curly didn’t pause in his pacing, but glanced over at her before looking away.

  “Did you mean what you wrote?” She smiled when he just jerked a shoulder. “I’ll take that as a yes, you are too honest to lie to my face.”

  “That’s just it.” Curly increased the urgency of his pacing. “How do you know that I’m honest? How can you know? You barely know me at all. I lied to you about my position. I led you on, thinking there could be something between us when it’s obvious that it could never happen …”

  “Why?” She turned his question back on him. “Why is it obvious? I love you.”

  “Why? How can you ask that?” He threw up his hands. “Look at me. I have nothing to offer you.”

  “I am looking and I see everything I want.” Courtney clutched the blanket around her shoulders and forced herself to her feet. With shuffling steps, she crossed the small room to where Curly stood eyeing her like a cornered rabbit. She stood just inches away and locked her knees to keep them from trembling.

  “I see a man who cannot see himself. I see a man who is humble enough to turn away from a woman because he doesn’t believe himself good enough for her. I see a man with a poet’s soul and a warrior’s pride. I see a man with a heart tender enough to bring a puppy to another man’s daughter and strong enough to fight himself to do what is right.”

  At that point, her knees gave out, only to have Curly catch her before she hit the floor. He carried her back to the single bed but before he put her down, Courtney trapped his face in both her hands. “I see a man with a great deal of love to give and I am selfish enough to want it for myself.”

  “Oh, Courtney.” Still holding her, he rested his head against hers. “You just don’t understand. I can’t give you what you want.”

  “Why? Are you already married, engaged? Wanted by the law?” Courtney pulled away and searched his face. What she saw gave her a glimmer of hope.

  “No, none of those things.” He closed his eyes to hide the secrets they told.

  “Do you love me?” Her voice was a whisper. She thought she knew the answer, the letters, his reaction to finding her, it all fit. But if she was wrong …. “Curly. Clifton Graham …”

  His eyes flew open at the name.

  “Clifton, do you love me?”

  “Yes.” The cry was ripped from his lips. “God forgive me, I do!” He pressed a kiss to her lips, a kiss that spoke to her heart of his love, regret, and shame. The only one she clung to was the love. Nothing else mattered and her heart sang.

  Then she was sitting on the bed and he was slamming out the door.

  Chapter 10

  She waited through the night, but he didn’t return. A light glowed in the lean-to where the horses huddled together against the wind. And she knew he had gone to them where he was safe, safe from her and her demands.

  Part of her was sorry she had pushed him so hard. He had been quite clear that he had admitted something that he had wanted to be kept secret. But the secret was a miracle. It seemed as he said the words that a light had entered her heart and burned with a tender flame. She held it close and treasured it.

  Whatever happened tomorrow, she had his love for tonight.

  The rising sun reflected off the snow that lay ankle deep all through the clearing. The trees surrounding it were painted with a pixie’s brush until the views out the window was a fairyland. The e
aves were already dripping with melt water when she stepped out clutching his blanket around her.

  “Curly, are you all right?” She stepped into the snow thankful that her boots had dried overnight. “Curly?” Panic began to rise until she saw a familiar shape step out from between the horses.

  “I’m fine. You?”

  “Better.” She smiled. “Will you come in for breakfast? I brought food with me, so there’s plenty.”

  He nodded and walked toward her. Courtney saw the signs of a sleepless night etched deep in his face. And something else. Something had changed and it worried her.

  They ate the reheated beef and biscuits in silence. He stared at the fire and took occasional bites when he caught her watching him.

  “What happened last night, Curly? Why did you leave so suddenly?” she reached out to touch his hand but he flinched away.

  “Because I had no right to do what I did.”

  “But I wanted you to.” The shattered look on his face broke her heart. “It was only a kiss. We did nothing wrong.”

  “It’s not just that.” His voice shook as though he was about to cry. “There’s more.”

  “Tell me then. There is nothing you can say that would make me stop loving you.” She reached for his hand and held it even when he tried to pull away.

  “I’m not good enough for you. I’m not pure.” He glanced at her and she was shocked to see the glint of tears. “I was with another woman. Just once. I was young and she was beautiful and enticing and …” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I am a weak, sinful man. I’m not all those things you said.”