Then to his astonishment she said she’d accept rule four and he felt his heart almost fall to his feet from shock, but thanks to his training at hiding his feelings when he was in tight situations, he’d been able to conceal his reaction. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t like to get his hands on the pretty Amelia, he just didn’t want to get married to do it. In the past ten years he’d been able to bed a lot of women without a mention of marriage.
Though not Miss Amelia Donahue. For some reason he felt he’d been outmaneuvered. If he hadn’t been, why was he now sitting in this rented buggy with the lady and headed to preacher Eli Ellsworth’s house to get married? Something he swore he’d never do again. Losing Marie had been heart wrenching and had changed his life. He never intended to love another woman, because he knew he couldn’t go through the same kind of heartache again.
Of course he didn’t love this pretty little blonde beside him, but he was physically attracted to her. In fact, more physically attracted to her than he had been to any woman since Marie, but it didn’t mean he wanted to marry her. He only wanted to take her to bed, which he still might not be able to do. Even after saying those wedding words, he might be seeking his pleasure in the local whorehouse. Though he’d found comfort and relief in such establishments over the years, he couldn’t help hoping Amelia would elect to choose the option of sleeping with him. It would be a pleasure to have someone like her in his bed instead of the kind of women who graced it most often now.
He glanced at her and a strange thought hit him. In an instant he knew no bordello woman could ever replace this beauty. A plan began to form in his mind and he made a silent vow. No way in hell I’ll settle for a whore when I’m married to this woman. It might take a little while for her to invite me to her bed, but she’ll do it. I’ll make sure it happens. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but in the near future.
Jed pulled the buggy into the preacher’s front yard. As the thought of seducing his soon-to-be wife took root in his soul, he was beginning to feel better about this whole marriage thing. With a grin he glanced at her and said, “Well, we’re here.”
She gave him a shy smile. “Thank you for doing this, Jed.”
“I said if you’d agree to my rules, I’d marry you, Amelia. I’m a man of my word.” He knew this was true, no matter how much marriage went against everything he thought he believed in.
“I’ve heard you always keep your word. It was one reason I knew I could trust you.”
Good. You already trust me. Let’s see how quick I can change your trust into caring enough to want to give yourself to me. He came to the other side and held his hand up to assist Amelia down. “You’re still sure you want to do this?”
She nodded, took his hand and let him lead her to the door.
Preacher Ellsworth answered their knock. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, sir.” Jed removed his hat. “My name’s Jed Wainwright and this is Amelia Donahue. We’ve come to ask you to marry us.”
“I know Miss Donahue, but I’m surprised about this.” The minister’s face didn’t suppress his shock. He looked at Amelia and stammered, “Are you sure you want to get married?”
She nodded and Jed said, “Yes. We’re sure.”
Reverend Ellsworth took a deep breath and said, “Then, please step inside.”
They followed him into the foyer and he showed them into the parlor. “Are your mother and father joining us as witnesses?”
“No, sir. My mother is visiting her sister in St. Louis. My father is busy with round up and trying to catch rustlers.” She offered no further information.
“Then please have a seat and I’ll see if my wife can join us.”
“Thank you, Reverend Ellsworth.” Amelia gave him her sweetest smile.
As soon as he was out of the room, Jed turned to her. “I’m not sure he wants to perform this ceremony.”
“Whether he wants to or not, he will. He doesn’t have a choice.”
“He doesn’t?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
She shook her head. “When he first came to town, he was trying to raise money to build a church. The church now has a sizable building fund and will be a reality in a few months because of my mother’s influence. Of course I lent a hand occasionally and he knows me. He’d be afraid to refuse. He thinks it might upset my family and his building fund would dry up.”
He eyed her. “You’re more devious than I thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” He changed the subject. “Is your mother really in St. Louis?”
“Yes. She’s visiting her sister, but Daddy said he was going to send her word to come home to plan my wedding to Vince.”
“Does your mother want you to marry this Vince fellow, too?”
“She doesn’t know anything about it unless Daddy has sent the telegraph, but she’ll go along with whatever he says. She never crosses him.”
Before they could talk further, the door opened and an older woman came in followed by the minister’s wife.
“Why, Jedidiah, it’s you,” Gertrude Ellsworth exclaimed as her face broke into a wide grin. “I didn’t know you were getting ready to marry this beautiful young lady.”
Jed stood. “Yes, ma’am, I am.” He smiled back and took her extended hand.
“No wonder you were in a hurry to get to the hotel and take a bath.”
He winked at her. “You’ve got to admit, I needed it.”
“That you did.” She laughed and continued, “I hate to admit it, but this evening I overheard your lovely bride-to-be in the hotel restaurant tell the waitress she was there to meet her fiancé. I’m so glad it was you. You make such a handsome couple.”
“Thank you.” Jed glanced at Amelia. “I was sorry I couldn’t meet her for supper.”
“Jed and I have been keeping our engagement a secret, but it won’t be long until everyone knows about us,” Amelia said.
“Well, my dear, you’re getting a nice young man. He was helpful to me in town today.” She held her hand to Amelia. “My name is Gertrude Ellsworth. I’m Eli’s mother.”
“I’m delighted to meet you, Mrs. Ellsworth. I’m Amelia Donahue, soon to be Amelia Wainwright.”
Margo finally spoke. “Hello, Amelia. Eli says you want to get married.”
“Yes, Margo.” She introduced Jed.
Margo nodded as Eli came into the room with some papers in his hand. He again asked the couple if they were sure they wanted to get married.
When they insisted they did, Gertrude announced she didn’t think a bride should marry without flowers. “Why don’t you go out back and pick some of those lovely blooms, Margo?”
“I’ll be happy to, Mother Ellsworth,” Margo said and glanced at Amelia. “I’ll get something that will match Amelia’s dress.”
Jed decided probably few people would refuse to do Gertrude Ellsworth’s bidding.
* * * *
It wasn’t long until Jed was snapping the reins over the back of the horse and pulling the buggy out of the preacher’s yard. Sitting next to him, Amelia was wearing her grandmother’s wedding ring on her left hand and holding tightly to the bouquet of mixed flowers. In her right hand she had the signed official marriage certificate. The Ellsworths were all on the porch waving at them as they turned into the road and headed toward the hotel.
“I told Frank to move my things into your room while we were out, Amelia. I thought it would save confusion later on.”
“Why?” She looked frightened.
“You’re the one set on making your daddy think this marriage is real. It wouldn’t look right if we spent our wedding night in separate rooms, would it?”
She looked perplexed. “I guess it wouldn’t.”
They rode a little further in silence. Then Jed said, “Have you decided if I spend our wedding night with you or with one of the saloon girls?”
“You can’t stay with…” She glared at him. “I mean, it would get around town you spent our first night w
ith a fallen woman. You can’t shame me.”
“Then I did the right thing having my things moved to your room, didn’t I?”
Amelia gulped. “Yes, but…”
“But, what, Mrs. Wainwright?” He cocked an eye at her.
“Nothing,” she whispered and looked away.
They rode the rest of the way in silence. When they pulled up to the hotel’s front entrance, Teddy ran out to meet them.
“Daddy sent me to take the buggy back to the livery. He said you’d be too occupied to return it.”
“Thanks, Teddy. He was right.” Jed hopped out of the buggy, flipped him a coin and came around to help Amelia down.
“Thank you, Uncle Jed.” The young boy’s grin spread across his face. He climbed onto the buggy seat and took the reins.
Jed felt Amelia tremble as he took her arm and helped her up the steps. “Are you cold?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“You must be nervous.”
“A bit.”
“I must admit, I’m a little nervous myself.” He opened the door and followed her inside.
“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Wainwright,” Frank said as they came in.
Henrietta stood beside him. “I’m delighted to have you spend your first night together in our hotel.”
“Thank you,” Jed said with a grin. Amelia nodded.
Grace came through the door. “Oh, Amelia, why didn’t you tell me you were marrying Jed Wainwright?”
Amelia glanced at him as she submitted to Grace’s hug.
“She wasn’t sure I was going to make it to town, Grace,” Jed said. “She knew I’d promised that when I captured the McBride gang, I’d give up bounty hunting and settle down. She just wasn’t sure when that would be.”
“Well, I’m happy for both of you.”
“Thank you, Grace.” Jed smiled at her.
“Yes, Grace. Thank you. I know you’re always one friend I can count on.” Amelia gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m sure my father is going to be a little upset when he hears I’ve eloped with Jed.”
“Though we’re all surprised, I think you’ve managed to get a wonderful husband,” Henrietta said. “He’s certainly special to our family.”
“He sure is,” Frank said and turned to Jed. “I moved your things into Miss Donahue…I mean Mrs. Wainwright’s room, Jed. I hope everything is all right.”
“I’m sure it will be, Frank. Thanks.”
Frank grinned. “Congratulations to you both. I hope you’ll be very happy.”
“Yes, the heartiest of congratulations,” Henrietta added.
“From me, too,” Grace added.
“Thank all of you,” Amelia mumbled.
Jed nodded, took hold of her elbow and ushered her toward the stairs. “Good night, all,” he said when they started up the steps.
When they reached her room, she paused and looked at him. “I’ll have to find the key.”
“Of course.” He stood by as she searched in her drawstring purse.
When she produced the key, her hand was shaking so she couldn’t get it into the keyhole.
“Let me do it.” Jed took it from her and opened the door.
Amelia stared into the room, but didn’t step inside.
“Are you waiting for me to carry you in?” Jed looked down at her. She shook her head and he said, “I don’t mind.”
Before she could answer, he reached down and swooped her into his arms. She let out a little cry.
He ignored her and stepped inside, kicking the door closed behind them.
“You can put me down, now.”
He put her down and looked around. “I don’t think this room has ever looked this good.”
Amelia glanced around. It did look better. There was a vase of flowers on the dressing table, a bottle of wine and two glasses on the table beside the bed along with a plate of sweets. The bed had been made with clean linens and a frilly lace spread. She knew this was Grace and Henrietta’s doing.
“It does look nice,” she mumbled as she walked to the dresser and put her wedding bouquet in the vase with the other flowers.
Jed moved to the table and picked up the bottle. “Looks like a nice wine. Shall we drink a toast to our marriage, which is not really a marriage?”
“If you like.” Amelia wasn’t sure if she was doing the right thing by drinking alcohol, but a glass of wine might relax her, and she sure needed to relax. Of all the situations she’d gotten herself into, none had ever made her this nervous. Of course, she’d never been married before.
Jed poured the wine and handed her a glass. “To you, Mrs. Wainwright: May you never forget your wedding night.”
Oh, Lord, now what am I going to do? I can’t jump into bed with this man even if he is one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen. He’s still a stranger and one who I’m sure has had experience with a lot of women. What will he expect of me? Does he realize I know nothing about men? Of course, he doesn’t. Maybe…should I tell him to go to the whorehouse? I’m sure he’s well known there.
“You’re not drinking,” Jed said, breaking into her thoughts. “Don’t you like wine?”
“It’s fine.” She took a sip. “I was thinking.”
“Good. I’ve been thinking, too. I think we should get ready for bed. We’ve got some business to take care of in the morning then I have a surprise for you.”
“What kind of surprise?”
“It concerns a message I got from a friend of mine, but I won’t go into it now. Tomorrow will be soon enough.” He drained his glass and set it down. “Now let’s go to bed.”
With a shaky hand, Amelia put her glass down beside his. She’d only drunk half her wine.
“Which side of the bed do you want?” he asked.
She looked at the bed. It seemed to be much smaller than it was when she checked into this room earlier. “Doesn’t matter. I’m used to sleeping by myself.”
“That was before you got married, Amelia.” He lifted an eyebrow.
“I know.” She began to fumble with the buttons on the back of her dress.
“Need my help?”
“No!” She backed away from him.
“I didn’t think so.” He laughed. “Though we’re married, you don’t want to do this do you?”
“I’m sorry, Jed. I thought I could…but…”
“It’s okay.” He turned toward her. “I guess that means I’ll sleep elsewhere?” When she didn’t answer, he headed for the door.
A million thoughts ran through her head. Tomorrow the word would spread about Amelia Donahue’s new husband going to a prostitute because she denied him his right on their wedding night. Her father would come to town and with a smirk on his face and demand she get an annulment and then he’d make her marry Vince. She would face another wedding night and the man would be Vince Callahan. She knew in her heart Vince wouldn’t think twice about demanding his right with her. She couldn’t stand the thought. It would be awful if she had to marry him. Jed was by far the better choice.
“Please don’t go.” She moved to the door and put a hand on his arm. “I’ll be all right if you’ll give me a little time.”
He stared into her eyes for what seemed a long time. Finally he took her by the arms and gently led her to the bed. He sat down and pulled her down beside him. “All right, Mrs. Wainwright.” His voice was kind and seductive. “I’ll make a deal with you.”
“What kind of deal?”
“As you may or may not know, I’m back from a hard capture of a bunch of criminals. I’ve been two nights and three days without sleep. I’m not sure how I’m still standing on my two feet. Therefore, I won’t make any demands on you tonight. All I ask is that you let folks see you as a happy and fulfilled bride tomorrow.”
Is he telling me he wouldn’t go to the whorehouse if I didn’t… Oh, what a wonderful man.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“I think…I think you’re a gentleman, Mr. Jed Wainwright. A wonderful gentlema
n. Thank you so much.”
“Then it’s a deal?”
“Of course. I thank you more than you’ll ever know.”
“Then, as I said earlier, let’s get ready to go to sleep.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll lock the door and take the right side of the bed.”
Almost in slow motion, Amelia slipped behind the screen in the corner, removed her dress then dropped her silk nightgown over her head. When she came back around the screen and sat down in the chair to remove her shoes and stockings, Jed was already in bed. By the time she hung her dress in the wardrobe and slipped into the other side of the bed, she knew her husband intended to keep his word. His deep, even breathing told her he was already asleep.
Chapter 4
Sunshine filled the room when Amelia opened her eyes. For a minute she didn’t know where she was then it all came back. She married the bounty hunter, Jed Wainwright, last night and they had spent the night here in this room.
She turned her head to look at him, but the other side of the bed was empty. Where was he? Did he have a change of heart and run out on her? He probably didn’t like it because they only lay in the bed together with nothing happening between them. Oh, Lord what would her father say when he learned she’d been such a fool? Would she have to get an annulment when she showed him the marriage certificate? Maybe not. At least she was still married as long as she had that piece of paper to prove it. Was it any good since she hadn’t performed her wifely duty?
These thoughts came to an abrupt halt when a noise on the other side of the room drew her attention. Taking a deep breath, she turned her head.
Jed was sitting in the one chair in the room putting on his socks and boots. He nodded to her. “Good morning.”
Now she felt guilty for not trusting him to keep his word. She nodded back and muttered, “What time is it?”
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