Faltered Beginnings: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book Five

by Ball, Kathleen

  Faltered Beginnings

  Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book Five

  Kathleen Ball

  I dedicate this story to my Uncle and Godfather John Tighe. He was a man of honor that I looked up to. They don’t make men like him anymore. His family was everything. You’d like this one, it’s Christian.

  And as always I dedicate this to Bruce, Steven, Colt, Clara and Mavis because I love them.

  Contents

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  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  The End

  Tattered Hearts

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  About the Author

  Other Books by Kathleen

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  Chapter One

  Mary Beth stood straight and tall as she knocked loudly on the door to the biggest house on the ranch. It certainly wasn’t as large as the house she’d once lived in, yet she found it nonetheless imposing.

  The door swung open, and a pretty blond woman stood smiling. “Hello.”

  “I wanted—”

  The blond woman cut her off. “Can you run a household?”

  Confused, Mary Beth answered, “Yes.”

  “How are you at cooking?”

  “I don’t cook.”

  The woman frowned. “Perhaps you should come inside, Miss.…”

  “Winters. My name is Mary Beth Winters. I’ve come to marry Lexington.”

  “Oh? I’m Georgie Eastman.”

  “It’s very nice to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Eastman. I need to find Lexington Willis and quickly. It’s of utmost importance.”

  Georgie stared at her. “I, well perhaps—”

  “I hate to tell my secret, but I must marry Lexington. Oh, how can I say this delicately? We had a night of endless—”

  Three other women stood and stared at her, and her courage faltered. “I’m with child,” she finished barely above a whisper.

  “Let me introduce you to my friends. This is Veronica Maxwell, Glory Sandler, and Iris Willis.”

  The three women each wore an incredulous expression.

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Miss. Willis. Are you Lexington’s sister? Do you know where he is?” She pretended not to notice the glare Iris sent her way.

  “Won’t you join us?” Iris asked woodenly. She gestured to an empty chair.

  “I’ll get another cup,” Glory volunteered.

  Mary Beth took in her surroundings. The house lacked many things, such as servants. “Thank you, I’d be delighted.” She sat where Glory indicated. “I really need to talk to Lexington.”

  “I think we’d all like a word with Lex,” Iris commented.

  Glory came back with a china cup and poured tea for Mary Beth.

  “Is there a preacher in town? Maybe we can have someone get the preacher? This is very important.” All the women frowned in concern. Mary Beth relaxed a bit. Lexington wouldn’t have a chance of getting out of marrying her.

  “I knew that Lex proposed to you, but I was under the impression you said no.” Iris smiled at her.

  “I was foolish to allow him to get away. We didn’t agree on certain things, and I know I should have made him see everything from my perspective. Sometimes you have to lead a man gently to your way of thinking.” Mary Beth put sugar in her tea and stirred it.

  “That works well around here,” Veronica replied. Was she being sarcastic? She didn’t seem the friendly type.

  “I’m glad we are like thinkers. Is he here at the ranch?” They were taking too long with their tea. She needed Lexington. “Shall I go find him?” The women still gawked at her. It must be her fine clothes.

  “I’m sure he saw you arrive. You went right by him on your way to this house,” Georgie explained.

  At least this Georgie had manners and answered her.

  The door burst opened, and Mary Beth quickly stood and smiled. “Lexington, I’m here to marry you. I changed my mind.”

  * * *

  Lex Willis glanced at his wife, Iris, and then stared at Mary Beth. “You refused me.”

  Mary Beth walked gracefully to him and touched his arm. “It was a poor choice I made. I’m saying yes now and we’re going to send for the preacher any minute.”

  “Excuse me ladies, I need a moment with Mary Beth.” Willis took her hand and led her out to the front porch. He wanted to smile when he saw the window curtains move.

  “Tell me what is going on, Mary Beth?”

  She stared down at her gloved hands. “I’m carrying your child, Lexington.”

  He cringed and took a step back. “That’s not possible. We were never together that way at all.”

  “It’s your child. Are you going to deny it? Are you going to throw us out into the streets to beg? What kind of man are you?” She glanced up at him and cocked her right brow.

  What was wrong with her? She knew… “I can’t marry you. I’m already married.”

  She gasped and put her hand to her mouth. “How could you? You philanderer!”

  “Say it louder, Mary Beth, I don’t think all the women heard you,” he said sarcastically as he shook his head in disgust.

  “You got married fast after you left. Did you get her with child too?” Mary Beth asked sounding haughtier than he’d ever heard her.

  Iris walked out the door and linked her arm with his. “My husband is a good and honorable man. We waited until we were married. You don’t look like you’re expecting.”

  “Clothes, carefully styled, can hide such things for a long while. Lexington, you would really throw your child away?”

  He’d had enough talk about a child. It simply wasn’t possible. “Why are you really here, Mary Beth?”

  “I need a place to stay until the baby comes.” She lifted her chin.

  “What happened with your father?” Something wasn’t right, and he was getting nowhere with Mary Beth.

  “He threw me out. I asked around and found that you lived here. I was sure you’d do the honorable thing. It never occurred to me you’d married. You’ve known her only a few months.”

  He released an impatient sigh. “Her name is Iris Willis, my wife. And we’ve known each other longer than that. She lived here before I left. It’s a long story, but I have always loved Iris.” His instincts told him not to trust Mary Beth.

  She slumped down onto one of the porch chairs. She seemed sincerely distraught. Her tears that fell looked real enough.

  He glanced at Iris, hoping she’d know what to do. He sure was proud of the way she had stood up for him.

  Georgie came outside. “Oh dear,” she cried and handed Mary Beth a handkerchief. Georgie looked at him and then Iris raised one brow.

  He shrugged slightly.

  “Mary Beth, do you have money of your own to rent a room in town?”

  “No!” Mary Beth wailed as she dabbed at her tears with the handkerchief.

  Glory and Veronica joined them and they both stared at him. Willis frowned. Why did he have to find an answer? Mary Beth was not his problem. She’d told him he wasn’
t good enough for her.

  One horse in the corral reared and bucked. He glanced back and forth between the horse and the women. “I need to get back to work. I wish I had a way to solve your problem, Mary Beth, but you need to look in your heart and tell the truth. The babe isn’t mine.” He kissed Iris’ cheek and quickly left. Oh boy, what was he supposed to do?

  “What was that about?” Parker, the ranch owner, asked. Many of the men on the ranch had served under Captain Parker Eastman in the War Between the States. Lex Willis, Kent Sandler and Austin Maxwell had been with him ever since, helping to make the ranch prosper. Now Lex, Kent and Max all owned a share of the ranch. A few months ago, more of Parker’s regiment had arrived. Fletcher Taylor, Joe Kelly, Ross Carter, and Noah Ward had shown up hoping to find work as jobs were scarce in the South.

  Willis took his hat off and slapped it on his thigh a few times to knock off the dust before putting it back on. He vaulted the corral fence and took the reins from Fletcher. “Woah, boy, let’s keep our feet on the ground.” The horse stopped and watched him. Soon he got close enough to whisper into the horse’s ear. The horse calmed. He patted the roan’s withers and led him into the barn and put him in a stall.

  Fletcher’s jaw had dropped, and it stayed that was as he followed Willis into the barn.

  “What did you say to the horse?”

  “The usual. It calms them. Plus, if you’re calm so are they most of the time. I knew the roan wasn’t dangerous. I watched him in the pasture yesterday.”

  “What’s the usual?”

  Willis opened his mouth to answer, but a shadow filled the doorway, and Parker came into the barn. “What does that woman want?”

  “She wants me to marry her and be a father to the baby she claims is mine.” Willis wanted to smile, but it was too serious.

  “Is the baby yours?” Fletcher asked.

  “Fletch, you’ve known me a long time. What do you think?”

  The other man chuckled. “Of course it isn’t yours. Heck, I’m still surprised you got hitched. What are you going to do with her?”

  Three men rode up and brought their horses into the barn. Joe, Ross, and Noah had been out riding the fence lines on the east side.

  Willis stared at brown-haired, blue-eyed Fletcher. “I was thinking you could marry her.” He tried so hard to keep his lips from twitching, but it was a losing battle, so he turned away.

  “Fletch is getting married? To who?” Joe asked, joining the conversation.

  Fletcher shook his head. “Not me. I’m not raising Willis’ kid.”

  Willis stared at him and stiffened. “You told me you didn’t think it was mine. I think you might be touched in the head.”

  “Willis got a woman in the family way?” Joe Kelly gave a low whistle. “Where is this little gal?”

  “Kelly, you and the rest are as bad as old biddies gossiping,” Willis admonished.

  Kelly rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re right. It’s none of my business.”

  “What did Iris have to say?” Ross Carter asked.

  “Carter, leave the man be,” Parker growled.

  Noah Ward just nodded and kept his mouth shut. Noah was the smartest of them all as far as Willis was concerned.

  Parker leveled a gaze on Willis. “Georgie needs someone to work at the house. We could give her a job while we figure this all out.”

  “Thanks, Parker, but she was raised with servants. I doubt she’d know one end of the kitchen from the other.” Willis still couldn’t believe the outrageous claim Mary Beth had made.

  “Parker, is it true that when a man gets married they get a house built?” Carter asked eagerly. “If so I can take her off your hands.”

  Max and Sandler walked into the barn as the conversation turned to wives and houses.

  Max flashed the four newer men a look of annoyance and shook his head. “Let’s head over and check on our wives,” he suggested to Sandler. “Looks like they’re still visiting with Georgie.”

  “Good idea,” Sandler agreed. He turned and walked out the barn. Max, Parker, and Willis followed.

  Willis’ gut tightened. If a man he’d trusted with his life thought he might be responsible, what was Iris thinking? What about everyone else? Iris wanted a baby in the worst way, and it hadn’t happened for them.

  When they went into the house, the children who’d been napping were all wide awake now. They were a noisy lot. Willis immediately gazed at Iris. She was holding Parker and Georgie’s youngest boy, Will. She glanced up and smiled.

  Introductions were made, followed by an awkward silence between the adults. Finally Parker cleared his throat. “Miss. Winter, there isn’t a lot of extra room available on the ranch. If you’re willing to work for your keep, you could stay here. I know Georgie is looking for someone to cook and clean.”

  Georgie stood in the background shaking her head at Parker.

  “I don’t work. I’d be happy to stay in the extra room. Just keep a tally of what I owe,” Mary Beth said.

  “It’s not an extra room; it’s a room for an employee.”

  Mary Beth stared at Willis, and he stared at Iris.

  * * *

  Iris couldn’t decide if she was amused or plain mad. Mary Beth was up to something, but a wrench had been thrown into whatever she’d planned. Mary Beth didn’t work? Iris had grown up with servants too, but out here people needed to work if they wanted to eat.

  “We have an extra room,” Iris offered.

  Everyone’s eyes widened except for Mary Beth’s. Her face took on a smug look. As soon as Iris said it she wished she could take her offer back, but it was done.

  “I’d be happy to live in your house, Iris. I know the three of us have much to discuss.” Mary Beth practically beamed while Willis narrowed his eyes at Iris.

  Iris gave little Will a kiss on his forehead before she handed him to Parker. “I’d best start supper and get Mary Beth settled?” Oh, she’d made it sound like a question. Well she’d just walk and see who followed.

  The breeze hit her face, and she smiled. As long as she was free, she could survive anything. She almost laughed. Lex didn’t like Mary Beth. Had he even kissed her while they courted? Mary Beth probably wouldn’t allow her hair to get mussed at all.

  The heated gazes from all the ex-soldiers seemed to sear Iris as she walked. If it wasn’t happening to her and her husband, she’d be curious too. In fact, she’d be tempted to laugh.

  She opened the door and waited for Mary Beth to catch up. “Welcome to our home.” She couldn’t hide the pride in her voice. She loved her house.

  “Do you have indoor plumbing?”

  “We have a water pump in the kitchen and a privy out back, close to the woods.”

  “A chamber pot will have to do.” Mary Beth sighed.

  “As long as you empty and clean it.” Iris took a deep breath. Calmness would be to her advantage. She let the breath out slowly. “Let me give you the tour.” Iris smiled at Lex as he stepped inside.

  “I can see just about everything from here. It’ll be a mighty short tour.”

  Iris flashed Willis an irritated look to convey, this is your doing. “Of course we have the big room, the kitchen and we have three bedrooms. The first one is mine and Lex’s room. You can take either of the other two.”

  Mary Beth marched over and opened one door and then the other. “I can sleep in one and the other can be my dressing room.”

  Iris elbowed her husband, who had come to stand next to her.

  “I’ll make it up to you,” he whispered. He put his hand over his ribs.

  “Tonight?”

  His brow furrowed for a moment and then he smiled. “Yes, tonight.”

  “I’m going to start supper.” Iris walked away from Lex’s warmth and went toward the kitchen. She grabbed the apron she kept hanging on a peg near the cook stove and put it on. Then she took ingredients out of cupboards.

  “This reminds me of the house you built in Button Hills, Lexington.�
��

  “It’s similar,” Lex answered.

  Iris had to look away. Lex hated being called Lexington, and it was hard to hold her laughter in. She turned and stole a look at Lex and this time she couldn’t help but laugh.

  Her husband narrowed his eyes at her, but she could see his lips twitching.

  “Perhaps you’d be good enough to tell me what is so funny? I could use a laugh myself,” Mary Beth said.

  Iris had to turn away again. By Mary Beth’s tone, she knew they were laughing at her.

  “Lex, would you see if you can find me a few eggs?”

  “Of course, honey. How many?”

  “If you can find any get as many as you can. We can use the extras for breakfast.”

  Lex left.

  “What do you mean by if he can find any? I thought chickens laid eggs. All he has to do is find the chickens.” Mary Beth sat down on the settee.

  “Eggs do come from chicken, and they are usually in the chicken coop, but by this time of day others have probably taken what eggs there were.”

  “You allow others to take your eggs?”

  Iris nodded. “The chickens belong to the four who have houses. We only take what we need. There’s never been a problem. For instance, I told Lex to take them all, but if Veronica needed any for her meal; I’d give them to her. We enlarged the vegetable garden, and that works on the same principle. Usually I pick what I need in the morning's coolness. You plan your meal around what’s available to pick. There is always plenty and more than enough to can.”

  “Can what?”

  Iris frowned. “Why the vegetables to use during the winter.”

  Mary Beth waved her hand as though it didn’t concern her. “I don’t prepare meals, I only eat them. Do you plan on hiring help too?”