Canceled-Order Bride (Sons Of A Gun Book 1)

by Brenda Sinclair

  The woman glanced at her daughter and slowly nodded her head. “It’s so difficult to admit to it, but I do need help.” She met his eyes. “Thank you. You’re very kind.”

  He started down the steps, paused, and turned around. “If you require anything else, let someone know. Folks are willing to lend a hand, and no one thinks less of a person if asking for a little help. Tragedy could strike any of us at any time and then we’d be the ones asking for a bit of assistance.”

  Mrs. Cameron stood, tears trickling down her cheeks. She nodded and then closed the door as he headed for his horse.

  Jackson climbed into the saddle. “Dixon, we’re heading back to the ranch. Talking sense into Lily will have to wait,” he muttered aloud. The horse pranced in anticipation. “First we’ll stop at the church and then the general store and get started on the benevolence. Then we’ve got a wagon load of wood to organize.”

  Dixon whinnied and bobbed his head.

  “Glad you approve of my plans,” he drawled and reined the horse around, and together they headed off to begin their good deed for the day.

  Chapter 25

  July

  Lily collapsed onto the sofa in the small apartment above the clothing store. She’d been anticipating word from the Pinkerton agent for weeks now, but she’d never expected this.

  “Are you certain, Jackson?” she whispered, her heart in her mouth.

  Jackson settled beside her on the sofa and held up a piece of paper. “I picked up this telegraph a few minutes ago. Manning sent it to Pa’s attention. Having been inundated with inquiries from Pa for weeks now, the telegraph operator figured the message held some importance and he agreed to let me pick it up on Pa’s behalf.”

  Lily nodded.

  “Read it for yourself.” Jackson handed over the paper.

  Lily quickly perused the words, hoping to see more information than Jackson had divulged. Returning to Milestone. Bringing someone with me. S. Manning.

  “What do you suppose that means?” She met Jackson’s eyes.

  “I have no idea.” Jackson shook his head. “This Manning fellow couldn’t have been more mysterious.”

  “Has he located Mr. Connors?” Lily stood and paced. “Did that scoundrel convince Mr. Manning that we’re truly engaged and Mr. Manning is accompanying Mr. Connors here to ensure there’s a wedding?”

  Jackson threw up his hands. “That’s not happening. Pinkerton or no Pinkerton.”

  “How are you going to stop it?” Lily leaned against the kitchen table, feeling her face pale.

  “I’ll think of something,” Jackson muttered.

  “Well, it doesn’t matter. I won’t be here.” Lily strode toward her bedroom, intending to pack her belongings.

  Jackson reached out and snagged her arm. “What do you mean?”

  Lily stood with her head held high, despite her shaking knees. She’d lived in Milestone for weeks now, but hearing this news, she considered herself right back where she’d started. “I’m leaving. I’ll go somewhere new. Start fresh again. I won’t marry that horrible man.”

  “Not unless it’s over my dead body.” Jackson wrapped her in his arms. “And don’t argue with me. You’re moving back to the ranch so I can protect you.”

  Lily gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. “What am I thinking?”

  “You’re not thinking clearly at all. You’re in a panic.”

  “No, I mean, I can’t move anywhere. Not even back to the ranch. Amanda desperately needs my help here at the store. Almost all of my money is invested here.” She collapsed against Jackson’s chest. If he hadn’t been holding her so tightly, Lily’s knees would have buckled and she would have crumpled in a heap on the floor.

  “Aunt Ruby has grown stronger every day. She can move in here with Amanda and help out,” Jackson suggested.

  Lily wrung her hands. “Ruby knows nothing of the business or the customers. I’d be riddled with guilt just walking out the door and leaving Amanda in a bind.”

  “My sister will understand. Your safety is more important than a clothing shop.” Jackson tucked his hand under her chin and forced Lily to meet his eyes. “You need to put your safety ahead of loyalty. I can’t protect you if you’re in town and I’m working on the ranch.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Lily mumbled, not certain she believed a word of it. Her stomach knotted with anxiety, fearing Mr. Connors’s possible arrival.

  “You don’t believe that and neither do I,” Jackson scoffed, as if reading her mind. “Connors could sweep into town and carry you off to the preacher in a heartbeat. You could be Mrs. Connors before I’m even aware of his arrival in Milestone.”

  Lily’s stomach flipped at the thought of becoming that horrid man’s wife, and she swallowed hard to prevent being sick. “Could he do that? Insist I marry him? Even if it was against my will?”

  Jackson nodded. “If your father put in writing that he’d promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to the man. Then… maybe he’d try.”

  Lily closed her eyes against the terrifying thought. “I can’t believe Father would ever do such a thing,” she whispered.

  “We couldn’t prove he’d written it while inebriated. Your father could have been drunk as a sailor on leave, but if he managed to write legibly then it could be difficult to prove it isn’t a binding agreement. Especially without your father here to disprove it.” Jackson shrugged. “You need to listen to me, sweetheart. Move back to the ranch. There’s always someone in the house and on the property. Someone who can protect you from that scoundrel.”

  “Let me think about it while I make arrangements for someone to help Amanda with the store.” Lily wrung her hands. “Then I’ll move back to the Double M until Mr. Manning arrives and we learn what he’s discovered.”

  Jackson shook his head. “I don’t like it. We have no idea when Manning will arrive. Or who he’s bringing with him. They could show up in a week. Or in an hour.”

  “My money is on Mr. Connors arriving here.” Lily clasped her hands together to stop them shaking. “No doubt Father is in no shape to travel. Perhaps he’s even succumbed to…” She couldn’t finish the thought, the possible consequences of his already passing from drink too horrible to consider.

  Booted steps on the staircase leading to their living quarters startled Lily from her thoughts, and a moment later Amanda bounded into the kitchen. “I finally finished that lovely yellow dress for Mrs. Carter.” Amanda’s broad smile spoke of her pleasure with the accomplishment. “Emily’s going to love it, and it will be perfect for her daughter’s wedding next Saturday.” The baker’s wife had talked of nothing but Barb’s wedding for months.

  “That’s good,” Lily muttered, not meeting her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” Amanda demanded, stepping closer and reaching for her friend’s hands. “Has something happened?”

  Lily nodded, clasping her middle with shaking hands. “We’ve heard from Mr. Manning. Show her the telegraph, Jackson.”

  Amanda read the message. “Oh, my word! Who is he bringing with him? Surely it isn’t your father’s business partner. What was his name?”

  “Connors,” Jackson replied. “We don’t know who it is and I insist Lily move back to the ranch where we can protect her.”

  “I totally agree. And the sooner the better.” Amanda wrapped Lily in her arms. “You’ll be safe there. I’ll send word the minute Sawyer arrives back in town.”

  “Sawyer?” Jackson’s one eyebrow rose.

  Amanda’s face reddened. “I… I mean, Mr. Manning.”

  “How well did you—” Jackson began.

  “They’re friends,” Lily interrupted. “I was always close at hand the evening he visited the ranch, and I know for a fact Mr. Manning was nothing but a gentleman during the time spent with your sister.”

  “Why haven’t I heard about this?” Jackson demanded.

  “Because I knew you’d react exactly like you are now,” Amanda scolded her brother, wagging a finger at him. �
�All insanely protective. Blowing the matter of our walk together out of proportion.”

  “You went for a walk with him? Alone?” Jackson croaked.

  “We went for a walk,” Lily corrected Jackson. “At least, I wasn’t far behind. You were summoned to the barn, and I didn’t completely trust Mr. Manning either. But the gentleman couldn’t have been more accommodating, walking at a leisurely pace to match Amanda’s shorter stride. And not once attempting to touch her or even hold her hand.”

  Jackson dragged his hand down his face. “Amanda, listen to reason. Sawyer Manning is too old for you.”

  “That isn’t your decision.” Lily attempted to hide a smile with her hand. The day she arrived at the ranch mostly remained a blur in her mind, but she could only imagine Jackson’s shocked expression when he initially learned she’d been the lady briefly betrothed to his father. Especially if Jackson harbored issues concerning people’s ages. And now his eighteen-year-old sister had shown an interest in a man presumably in his early thirties.

  “Enough of this.” Jackson waved his hand toward the bedroom. “Pack some things in a bag, Lily. I’m taking you back to the ranch today. We’ll have Aunt Ruby come stay with my sister.”

  Amanda gasped. “You can’t take Lily to the ranch now. Tomorrow’s Saturday.”

  “What does that have to do with it?” Jackson stood hands on hips.

  “Everyone comes to town on Saturday. It’s our busiest day of the week.”

  “She’s right,” Lily added. “While several ladies from town buy custom-designed or already sewn dresses from Amanda, a good number of the ranchers’ wives purchase bolts of material and thread and buttons from the shop to sew their own dresses or clothes for their family members. Either way, it means a profit for the store.”

  “Then I’m checking into the hotel and staying in town until Manning arrives with whoever he’s bringing with him.” Jackson paced the floor. “Or maybe I should stay here and sleep on the couch.”

  “You are not staying here!” Lily exclaimed “It’s… why… it’s not proper.”

  “My sister is here to chaperone.”

  “No, Lily’s right,” Amanda stated. “Go back to the ranch or stay at the hotel. It’s your choice. But you won’t disrupt our lives by being underfoot here.”

  “I’ll be at the hotel.” Jackson grabbed his Stetson and stormed out the door.

  Lily sighed. “Thank you for agreeing with me. I’d be a nervous wreck having him watching me like a hawk every minute of the day.”

  “Not to mention, we’d have a dickens of a time explaining his presence to our customers.” Amanda opened her arms. “Come here. You look like you need a hug.”

  “I do,” Lily whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “What if Mr. Manning brings that horrible man with him? What will I do?”

  “You’ll send the scoundrel right back to where he came from.” Amanda hugged Lily tightly and then rubbed her back while she spoke. “There’s no reason for you to marry that man. Or any man for that matter. We’re independent women who can take care of ourselves. Neither of us requires a man.”

  “You’re right.” Lily nodded. “We might be defying convention, but we’re doing it anyway. We’re successful business owners. Making our own money.”

  “Exactly. Should we decide to marry someday, it will be on our terms.”

  “To a man of our choosing.”

  “To a man I love dearly,” Amanda added, grinning. “Regardless of his age.”

  “But hopefully, he hasn’t one foot in the grave.” Lily winked at her, remembering she’d almost been betrothed recently, to not one sixty-year-old man but two.

  Amanda burst into giggles. “Sawyer hasn’t either foot anywhere near a grave.”

  “You truly like him?”

  Amanda nodded, smiling. “I do. And if he asked me, I might accept his proposal.”

  Lily gasped. “You met the man one night and shared an hour walk around your family ranch with him. How can you be so certain he’s the one?”

  “I just know. He’s… he’s marvelous.” Amanda winked at her. “The same way you’d realize Jackson was the only man for you, if you’d allow yourself the time to consider it.”

  Lily’s mouth dropped open. “Is it that obvious?”

  “My oldest brother sneaks a peek at you whenever he knows you’re not looking.” Amanda shook her head. “You’re just as bad. Making cow eyes at him every opportunity.”

  “I do not!”

  Amanda threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, my friend, you most certainly do. And I can’t wait for you to become my sister-in-law.”

  “I don’t even know what cow eyes look like,” Lily protested.

  “It means you sneak a peek at him, looking all coy and knowing full well Jackson is equally smitten with you.”

  Lily opened her mouth to add to her previous objection but changed her mind. “I guess you’re right. Jackson is very handsome. And kind. And… oh, for Pete’s sake. All right, I’m falling in love with him.”

  “I know.”

  “Don’t look so smug about it.”

  “I’ll try not.” Amanda smiled. “But I did write that letter to you… I’m taking full credit for the two of you finding each other.”

  Lily couldn’t argue with that statement either. If she hadn’t ignored the canceled proposal and traveled to Milestone anyway, she would have missed out on meeting the man truly for her. She prayed Amanda was right, and she and Jackson would be wed, until death us do part. No man, not even Mr. Connors, could put their union asunder once she and Jackson exchanged their vows.

  Now, she needed to avoid an encounter with Mr. Connors until Jackson and she stood at the altar. But what if Amanda was wrong? What if Jackson wasn’t smitten? Then what would she do? She smiled. “I’ll pack my belongings and stash them in my room,” she whispered.

  Either she’d move back to the ranch.

  Or she’d flee town for a new start far away from William Connors!

  Chapter 26

  Next morning, Jackson left the hotel and headed for his sister’s store. His sour mood hadn’t improved over breakfast.

  He’d paced the hotel room floor most of the night and when he finally settled into the lumpy bed, he’d been plagued by a nightmare involving Lily and a dark-haired man standing at the altar before Reverend Fitzpatrick. Tears streamed down Lily’s beautiful face while a smirking man gripped her hand painfully. Jackson had jolted awake in a cold sweat.

  “I’ll kill Connors before I allow that it happen,” he muttered, hands fisted at his sides.

  He blew out his breath to calm himself. He’d never take such drastic measures to stop the man, but he needed to do something. And do it now. He veered off course and headed for a new destination. Five minutes later, he knocked on the door and waited for an answer, hoping someone was home. The door cracked open and a familiar face appeared in view.

  “Mr. McLennon!” the child exclaimed. “Mama, it’s Mr. McLennon!”

  “Land sakes, Victoria, you’ll deafen the poor man.” Nancy Cameron hurried into the entryway, wiping her hands on a striped tea towel. She wore a clean calico dress, her washed hair was styled in a bun at the nape of her neck, and her glowing complexion spoke of her good health. The child appeared equally well kept in a pretty blue dress that enhanced the shine in her red curls.

  Jackson removed his Stetson. “It’s nice to see you again, ma’am. You’re looking well. You, too, Victoria.”

  “Thank you. I’m feeling much better. Some days are still…” Mrs. Cameron shrugged and then blinked rapidly keeping the sudden pooling of unshed tears at bay.

  Jackson nodded. “Understandable.”

  Mrs. Cameron reached for a jam pail and handed it to her daughter. “Hurry along now. Or you’ll be late for the picnic with your little friends.” Nancy glanced at Jackson. “Mrs. Fitzpatrick and a couple of the church ladies organized a picnic and games day for the town’s children. Victoria’s bringing cookies for ou
r contribution.”

  “Sounds like a wonderful idea,” Jackson said.

  Victoria beamed. “I like summertime, but I can’t wait for school to start again.”

  “That’s good. Learn to read and do your sums and the world will be yours for the taking.” Jackson patted the red curls atop her head. He recalled toting his lunch to school in a similar jam pail. He imagined Victoria enjoyed learning as much as he had. He could have gone on to one of the colleges in the East as Pa had suggested, but he only ever wanted to be a rancher. He’d learned a lot just by reading and keeping abreast of what was happening in the world. Some of it good, other events should never be repeated.

  Mrs. Cameron laughed. “I don’t know about that. But she loves drawing pictures and reading.”

  “I don’t like numbers,” Victoria confessed.

  “Well, I know a lady who is really good with numbers and cyphering. Maybe when you start school again, Miss Watson can give you a hand with whatever trouble those numbers are giving you.”

  Victoria’s face lit up. “Is Miss Watson nice?”

  “Sure enough is. I like her a lot.” Jackson twirled his Stetson in his hand. That was an understatement. He’d probably fallen in love with the Eastern beauty about ten minutes after meeting her. He’d just never admitted it to himself until recently. And the thought of admitting it to Lily almost had him breaking out in a rash. But he’d do it. One day.

  “All right. Enough chatter. Get going, little miss.” Mrs. Cameron kissed the top of her daughter’s head and then shooed her out the door.

  “Goodbye, Mr. McLennon,” Victoria called, skipping down the short pathway to the street where two other children had been waiting for her. The threesome headed off together.

  “Goodbye.” Jackson waved and then turned his attention to the child’s mother. “She’s looking a lot happier than the last time I was here.”

  Mrs. Cameron’s face reddened.

  “I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” he quickly added. “You were in dire straits. But I can see things have taken a turn for the better.”