Amelia's Marriage

by Agnes Alexander

“You’re not humoring me, are you?”

  “I’ll humor my wife if I want to.”

  She put her arm around him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

  “Now, stop that or I might take advantage of you and we won’t get around to making a plan.”

  She giggled. “I won’t complain. We could plan later.”

  “All right, Mrs. Wainwright. Get serious. We’ll start with the fact your mother made it clear she didn’t want to see Donahue. I feel we should honor her wishes.”

  “Of course. She can stay in the house if he comes.”

  “If he insists on coming inside…”

  “No. I won’t allow him inside. He wouldn’t let my husband in his house. Therefore, he’s not welcome in mine.”

  “But he’s your father.”

  “That doesn’t matter.” She snuggled against him. “Don’t you know that anywhere you’re not welcome, I’m not welcome either?”

  “Amelia, I’m used to being snubbed, ignored and called names because of my heritage. You’re not and I don’t want you to think you have to defend me. I’ve been handling such treatment most of my life. It doesn’t even bother me anymore.”

  “Well, it bothers me and now I’m here to handle it all with you. As long as we’re married, I intend to take my vows seriously. I’ll be there through sickness and health and through name calling and being snubbed or any other thing people do to you.”

  He was silent, but he did pull her closer.

  “You’ve already shown you’ll be there for me, Jed. You defended me from my father, you had a showdown in the saloon over me and now you’re helping protect my mother. It’s my turn to be there for you. I hope you…” Her voice trailed off.

  “I appreciate it, honey, but I can’t help being a little surprised you want to be there for me.”

  “Well, I do.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to mess around and make me fall in love with you.”

  She muttered something against his chest and he said, “I didn’t understand what you said, Amelia. Say it again.”

  “It’s probably better you didn’t understand.”

  He frowned into the night. “Why? Don’t I have a right to know?”

  “If you insist on knowing, I said, I wish you would start falling in love with me because I’m already falling in love with you.”

  His body tensed beside her and she felt him pull away. “Please don’t fall in love with me, Amelia. It would never work out between us. You know that.”

  Amelia felt a pain shoot through her heart. “Why not, Jed?”

  “When my wife died I lost the capacity to love. There’s nothing left in me to share. As wonderful as you are, there’s no way I could ever love you the way you deserve to be loved.”

  Though Jed had made his position clear from the beginning, Amelia was crushed by his words. She felt everything in her wanting to cry. It was at that moment that she knew she loved Jed as deeply as any woman could love a man. If she didn’t, it wouldn’t hurt so much. She knew, too, though she would never have him as her own, she’d love him until the day she died and there was nothing he could do to make her stop feeling this way.

  “Amelia,” he said after a long pause, “I’m sorry. I’m only being honest with you.”

  “I know. You’ve been honest with me from the first day we met.”

  “Shall we get back to making a plan to…”

  Biting back tears, she said, “Let’s talk about it in the morning. I think I want to go to sleep.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Good night.”

  “Good night, Amelia,” he said, but he didn’t remove his arms from around her.

  She said nothing else, but tears pooled in her eyes as she cried silently. She wasn’t conscious of the fact Jed felt her wet lashes against his chest.

  Chapter 19

  Jed watched Amelia slip out of bed at dawn. She removed her gown and washed herself with the water bowl on the dresser. She dressed quickly, brushed and braided her long blonde hair and turned to leave the room.

  He sat up. “Good morning,” he muttered.

  “Good morning. Breakfast will be ready by the time you get to the kitchen.” Her voice showed no emotion and she didn’t smile at him as she usually did. She slipped out of the room without waiting for him to answer.

  Jed moved to the basin, washed himself and dressed in the same clothes he wore the day before. He would be branding today and there was no need to mess up clean clothes. Amelia had to wash his things and he didn’t want to put more work on her. As he sat to pull on his boots, he noticed her brush lying beside the water pitcher.

  Why it attracted him, he didn’t know, but he reached over and picked it up. Though he’d watched her pull the loose hair from it and throw it in the trash can beside the dresser, there were a few long blonde hair strands still in the bristles. He pulled them free and ran them through his fingers. As he realized what he’d done, he tossed the brush on the dresser, rubbed his hand on his ankle and finished putting on his boots.

  He opened the door to the hall and the smell of bacon hit his nose. He closed the bedroom door and headed downstairs.

  Curt was at the table.

  Jed pulled out a chair and sat. “Where is everyone this morning?”

  “They ate early.” Curt laughed. “Mort said after supper last night, they thought there were too many fancy women at the table for them, so Juanita fed them and got them out the door. I guess they were talking about Amelia and her mother.”

  Amelia handed Jed a cup of coffee. Juanita placed a platter of bacon on the table and followed it with a bowl of eggs and a basket of biscuits.

  “Mother hasn’t come down yet. She’s used to sleeping later.” Amelia took the chair beside Jed and sipped her coffee.

  “We’ll see she eats when she wakes up.” Juanita took a seat. “Miguel was excited last night because you let him help out with the branding yesterday, Curt. He had a hard time going to sleep so I thought it would be all right to let him stay in bed a little longer this morning.”

  “It’s fine, Juanita.” Curt smiled at her. “The boy did a good job yesterday and he deserves to rest.”

  Jed dipped eggs onto his plate and passed them to Amelia. He then picked up the bacon. “I think we’ll let Miguel or Andy help out around the house this morning. We won’t be far away, but I want someone here to come for me if Donahue happens to show up.”

  “I think that’s a good idea.” Curt filled his plate.

  “I don’t think it’s necessary,” Amelia said in a flat voice.

  Jed frowned. “Why not?”

  “I’m going to have to get used to taking care of my problems without your help, and I might as well start today.”

  Everyone looked at her. Curt broke the tension which settled on the group. “I don’t see why you say that, Amelia. Jed will always back you up.”

  Jed didn’t say anything. He was waiting to see what she’d say.

  She looked at Curt. “You’re getting the herd ready to drive to market. I figure it’ll take the both of you away for a few weeks. Miguel and Juanita will be my only back up then, and things won’t have changed between my father and me.”

  Jed knew she wasn’t talking about the cattle drive. She was thinking of when their six months were up, but he still didn’t say anything.

  Again Curt spoke. “I’m not sure it’ll take both of us for the drive. What do you think, Jed?”

  “One of us could handle it with no problem. I think one of us should stay here. After Juanita and Miguel’s experience, I wouldn’t feel right leaving the women alone.”

  Without warning, Amelia jumped up and pushed her chair backward. She ran out the back door.

  “What in the world?” Curt looked confused.

  Jed and Juanita stood at the same time, but she spoke first. “Let me go, Jed.”

  He nodded and sat down.

  When they were alone,
Curt said, “Looks like you may have had your first disagreement, my friend.”

  “I wouldn’t call it that.” Jed wasn’t about to tell Curt why Amelia was upset. “We need to hurry and join the men at the branding pit.”

  “Aren’t you going to wait and check on your wife?”

  “I’ll see her as we leave.” He took another biscuit and refused to be drawn into a conversation about Amelia.

  “I’m about ready, but I have to say one thing before we go.” When Jed ignored him, he went on. “I’m one of the few people who knows what you went through when you lost Marie, but that’s all in the past now. You now have a chance to be happy again with Amelia. The woman is crazy about you and you know everybody doesn’t get a second chance in this life. I don’t want to see you blow it.”

  Ignoring Curt’s statement, Jed put down his fork. “Let’s head out.”

  “Did you hear what I said or are you ignoring it?”

  “My marriage to Amelia is none of your business, Curt. I don’t appreciate you interfering so drop it.” Jed stood. “We have cows to brand.”

  Curt shook his head. “Man, there’s times when I don’t understand you at all. I loved my wife, too, but if I had a chance with someone like Amelia, I’d jump at it.”

  When Jed said nothing, Curt shrugged and followed him out the door without saying anything else.

  Jed saw Amelia and Juanita walking back from the privy. It was possible his wife wasn’t mad. She could have had an emergency and had to hurry out. He walked toward them.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. I’m sorry I ran out so quickly.”

  He smiled at her. “As I said, we’ll be close. I want to help if your father shows up.”

  “I know you do and I appreciate it.” She returned his smile though hers was a weak one.

  He leaned down and kissed her cheek. He whispered, “Things will work out.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  He then turned and mounted one of the horses Mort brought from the barn.

  * * * *

  Amelia watched until he was out of sight, then she turned and began throwing up. She didn’t know how she’d kept from letting him know she was sick. She was upchucking for the third time and she wondered how much more could be in her stomach. She’d been sick before, but never like this.

  Juanita wasn’t helping. She simply stood beside her and grinned. Amelia wanted to smack her, but of course she didn’t.

  Finally, her stomach seemed to settle and she looked at Juanita. “I’m sorry I ruined your nice breakfast, but I couldn’t help it. I don’t know why I got so sick. It was sudden and unexpected. I hope nobody else catches it.”

  Juanita laughed. “Amelia, nobody is going to catch it because I think I know exactly what your problem is.”

  “What?”

  “I bet you’re pregnant.”

  Amelia looked stunned. “No. I can’t be.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I don’t…of course we… Oh, my goodness… What will I do… I mean…”

  “My friend, you’ll do what women have been doing for thousands of years. You’ll have a beautiful baby and make your husband proud.”

  “I can’t let Jed know.”

  “Why not? He’ll be excited, I’m sure. Most husbands look forward to their first child.”

  “No, Juanita. You can’t tell him. I want to be sure and…”

  “I wouldn’t presume to take it on myself to tell him, Amelia. That’s your job and if you want to wait, I understand. I can keep my mouth shut if I have to.”

  “I don’t want anyone to know, Juanita. Not yet. You have to keep my secret from everyone.”

  “Even your mother?”

  “Yes. Especially my mother.”

  Juanita frowned. “I don’t understand why, but I’ll keep your secret if you’re sure you want me to.”

  “I’m sure and thank you.”

  A voice came from the back porch. “Mama, where are you?” He sounded scared.

  “I’m here, Miguel.”

  They reached the porch.

  “I came into the kitchen and didn’t see you. I was sc… I mean, I didn’t know where you were.”

  “Miz Amelia wasn’t feeling well and I took a little walk with her. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you got up. I’ll get your breakfast now.”

  “Are you feeling better, Miz Amelia?”

  “Yes, Miguel. Thank you for asking.”

  “I think she should lie down for a while. She’ll be fine by this afternoon if she’ll get a little rest.”

  Amelia nodded. “I’m sorry to leave you with all the work this morning, but I think I will go to my room for a little while.”

  “Don’t let it worry you. I’ll be fine. Miguel will help me, won’t you, son?”

  “Sure.”

  Amelia nodded and headed up the stairs. She stretched out on the bed, stared at the ceiling and let the questions enter her mind. Of course, Juanita was right. She was pregnant. She’d wondered why she hadn’t had her monthly for a couple of months, but she figured it was the hard work and the stress of her situation. But the upchucking confirmed the fact that she was with child. What in the world was she going to do now? There were two more months left in the marriage contract. Could she hide the fact there was a baby for two months? If she let Jed know she was going to have a child, would he end the marriage or would he force her to leave? She didn’t think he’d make her leave, but did she want him to stay with her because of the baby? She knew the answer to that was “no”. If he didn’t want to stay with her without a baby, she didn’t want him to stay with her because she was going to have one. Then she wondered if he’d be upset if she didn’t tell him. She closed her eyes and thought. When they popped open, she had her answer. She would keep the secret until the marriage ended. Then, she’d go visit her aunt in St. Louis. When she came back, she would introduce Jed to her baby. That way if he wanted to be in the child’s life he could be.

  With it settled in her mind, she turned over and hugged the pillow to her chest. She smelled Jed’s scent. It was comforting and she drifted off.

  * * * *

  Jed let one cow get away before it was branded and Curt had to rope it and get it back in line. Jed cursed and tried to shift his mind back to his work, but he found it wasn’t easy. He could still see Amelia’s haunted eyes when she said she might as well get used to handling her own problems. Though she covered well by talking about the cattle drive, he knew the drive had nothing to do with it. She meant she’d have to handle her problems when they were no longer living together. Of course, he knew she’d be fine. The sheriff knew Vince Callahan was behind Roberto Garcia’s killing and Amelia no longer had to worry about being forced to marry him. Rafe would probably have to go to jail for his part in everything, and Amelia was capable of running the Double D as well as her father, especially since he and Curt would be close by to help her.

  In fact, there was no reason to stay married now that the problem of the forced nuptials was no longer an issue. They could end the marriage today if they desired, but he’d agreed to stay married to her for six months and he would honor the agreement unless she decided there was no need to stay together. Maybe he’d ask her tonight what she wanted to do.

  “Watch it, boss.” Elton Bowler’s voice cut into his thoughts. “Damn, if you didn’t almost brand my hand.”

  “Sorry,” Jed muttered and pulled his thoughts away from Amelia. “Take over here, Ward.”

  “Sure.”

  Jed backed away and headed for the pasture. No matter how many times Amelia invaded his thoughts he figured he couldn’t make a mistake if he ran the cows into the branding pen. Any fool could do that.

  * * * *

  Vince Callahan could’ve made it back to the Double D a day earlier, but the little redhead in the house of pleasure had been worth the extra day. He felt satisfied as he rode his horse southward and who was to know he’d dallied a day. It was a man�
��s right, whether he was single or married. It wasn’t natural to be faithful to one woman. Of course after he married Amelia, he’d be like Rafe. He’d use women away from Settlers Ridge for variety and not embarrass his wife. Until after she gave him a child or two anyway. After that it wouldn’t matter. She’d be stuck.

  As he neared the turnoff, he thought about going into town for a bath and shave before heading for the ranch, but he changed his mind. He was anxious to see if Rafe had been able to get Amelia to come home or if Smithy was able to get her to the cabin. It was vital to his plan for one or the other to have taken place. Getting her away from Wainwright was the key for the rest of his life. Of course, it would be fun to whip her into line, but the main thing was to marry her so the ranch would be left to her, and through the union, be his. It didn’t matter that she’d been sleeping with the damn half-breed bounty hunter. He’d heard rumors of how the Indian was capable of making a woman beg him for more of his loving. Amelia would soon learn he could satisfy her in a way Wainwright never could.

  Of course, Rafe was fool enough to think he was going to be gentle and loving to his precious child, not demand she bend to his will. But she would end up bending any way he desired. That was what a wife was for. After all, he’d already had one who wouldn’t do what he wanted her to. That’s why she wasn’t his wife any longer.

  As for the ranch, there was no way he’d go on as the foreman after the marriage, though Rafe expected him to. What the fool didn’t know was he’d be sole owner of this ranch. Though they didn’t suspect a thing, Rafe and the snooty Elizabeth would never see these things come about. The couple would leave on the long-intended trip to Europe, but they’d never come home. If all went as planned, they’d never get out of this country. Several types of accidents could befall them, before they left Wyoming. Vince was already working on the plan to get rid of them.

  Rounding a curve, the majestic main house on the Double D came into Vince’s view. He grinned. He couldn’t wait to make his home in that place. He and Amelia would sleep in the largest and most elaborate bedroom. He’d probably keep Delores on as housekeeper. The woman was a damn good cook. Vince did like a good meal after a hard day’s work and a good breakfast after a night of hard loving. Of course, his cowhands would be doing most of the work on the ranch. He’d do like Rafe does now. He’d sit in his study, drink expensive whisky, count his money and when he was in the mood, he’d demand Amelia come to him and submit to his every whim.