An Unexpected Groom

by Nerys Leigh

  She looked from the plants to her food. “You truly don’t need anything, do you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean...” She pushed a piece of toast around the plate with her fork. “The only thing you brought me here for is... me.”

  When he didn’t reply, she raised her eyes.

  He looked uncertain, as if he wasn’t sure how to respond. “Is that a bad thing?”

  “No. It just feels like a lot of responsibility.”

  His smile returned. “I’m pretty sure you’re up to the job.”

  “You don’t even know me.”

  “I think I do, a little. We did exchange letters for almost five months.”

  “Yes, but I...” She looked away, thinking how to explain without sounding as if she’d been lying to him. “I always tried to make myself sound as attractive as possible, so you’d choose me.”

  He spread his hands, glancing down at his legs. “Have you forgotten my own little omission?” Leaning his elbows on the table, he gazed into her face. “I figure we’ll both learn a lot about each other in the next two weeks, but you want to know why I chose you and none of the other women I wrote to?”

  She wasn’t so sure she did, but she nodded anyway.

  “I chose you because there was something about you, a kind of spark in your words. I felt like we could be friends. You have this sense of fun and adventurousness that convinced me I’d want to spend my time with you.”

  That didn’t sound like her at all. “Are you sure you’re not confusing me with someone else?”

  “I’m sure,” he said with a chuckle. “Maybe it’s a bit hidden right now, but it’s definitely there, just waiting to be set free. I can tell.”

  It couldn’t be true. She always made sure she behaved like a lady; demure, reserved, sober. She didn’t do fun and adventurous. She’d never been allowed to.

  “You’re just teasing me,” she said, waving her fork and smiling.

  He leaned back, his gaze speculative. “Well now, I think I’ll take this as a challenge. I bet you two weeks from now the real Louisa will be sitting across this table from me, whoever she is. Although I think I already know.”

  She couldn’t help laughing. “You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

  He grinned. “Sure am.”

  Chapter 6

  After breakfast Jesse packed up a set of saddlebags with a picnic, donned a dark brown cowboy hat, and they headed for the livery.

  Parson’s Livery was a large, barn-like structure on the edge of town. Louisa followed Jesse in through the open double doors at the front, immediately fighting an urge to raise her hand to her nose. Despite the doors they’d entered through and another set ahead of them being wide open, the smell was unpleasantly strong.

  “George?” Jesse called into the seemingly empty building.

  “Morning, Jesse.”

  Louisa jumped at the voice behind her, whirling round to see a man emerging from a door she hadn’t noticed.

  “Sorry, ma’am,” the man said. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “Louisa, this is George Parsons,” Jesse said. “Owner of the best livery in town, so he tells me. George, meet Louisa Wood.”

  Mr Parsons snorted a laugh. “Haven’t heard any complaints from you or Duke.” He turned to Louisa. “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Wood. I’d shake your hand, but I don’t reckon you’d want me to.” He held up his dirty palms.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mr Parsons,” she replied. “And thank you for your kind consideration.”

  George Parsons appeared somewhere around fifty, with sun roughened skin and dark hair sprinkled with grey. Despite his hair needing a trim and his face needing a shave, he wasn’t unattractive for his age.

  “Where’s Zach?” Jesse said, looking around.

  “Working at the hotel. Art Porter twisted his ankle pretty bad and can’t walk so Zach’s covering for him this morning. He said he’d be in later though. He’d better. I could use his help.”

  “Still haven’t found anyone to replace Abner?”

  “Not yet, but with this being a Saturday, I’m hoping someone will come round. Got Duke ready for you. Saddled Eagle too, like you asked.” He looked at Louisa. “You know how to ride, ma’am?”

  “Uh, yes, a little, although I haven’t for a while.”

  “Don’t worry, Eagle’s a good, calm horse. He’ll take care of you. I’ll bring them in.”

  “You arranged all this?” she said to Jesse as Mr Parsons headed out the back.

  “Yesterday, before you arrived. You said you could ride in one of your letters.” He smiled. “Or were you not being entirely truthful about that?”

  “Oh no, I can ride.” She could, probably. Her parents had managed to get her a handful of lessons in exchange for some work for a rich family when she was eighteen, and she’d enjoyed them at the time. Admittedly, she hadn’t ridden since, but she was sure she could remember how.

  Almost sure.

  Reasonably sure.

  Mr Parsons returned through the back doors with two horses and nerves fluttered through Louisa’s stomach at the sight of the big animals.

  One of them, a large, muscular grey stallion, headed straight for Jesse, bending his head to nuzzle at his shoulder.

  “Morning, boy,” Jesse said, rubbing his neck and ruffling the mane between his ears. “Louisa, I’d like you to meet Duke, the best horse in the world.”

  Duke lifted his head at her cautious approach, one ear flicking back.

  “Good morning, Duke,” she said softly, holding out a hand.

  The horse stretched his neck to sniff at her hand, blowing out a soft breath onto her knuckles then nudging her with his nose. She moved her hand to his neck, stroking down to his shoulder when he perked both ears forward and leaned into her touch.

  “Looks like you’ve found a friend there,” Mr Parsons said, taking the saddlebags from Jesse and attaching them to the back of Duke’s saddle.

  She stopped stroking and laughed when the horse stretched out to hook his nose beneath her hand again.

  “Bit of an attention seeker,” Jesse said, “especially when it comes to beautiful women.”

  She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Are you talking about your horse?”

  His eyes widened, and then he burst into laughter.

  “She’s got you there, kid,” Mr Parsons said. He draped the reins of the second horse he’d brought in loosely over one of the stall doors and patted his neck. “This here’s Eagle. He’s a good horse. Had him eight months and never had any trouble with him. He’ll look after you.”

  “Thank you, Mr Parsons.” Walking slowly up to the sturdy bay, she held out her hand. “I’m sure we’ll get on just fine, won’t we, Eagle?” She hoped the horse believed her more than she believed herself.

  He sniffed her hand and seemed happy to let her stroke his neck. Hopefully he would still be happy when she was on his back. The back that looked inordinately high off the ground.

  “Can I help you up, Miss Wood?” Mr Parsons said, placing a mounting block beside Eagle.

  She took his hand and stepped up onto the block. It only then occurred to her that the saddle on Eagle’s back was for riding astride. She’d only ever ridden side saddle.

  “Something wrong?” Mr Parsons said.

  “Uh, no. No, everything’s fine.” Jesse didn’t have to know how useless she was when it came to the practicalities of living in the west. How hard could riding astride be?

  Except, what on earth was she going to do with her skirt?

  Somehow, with a lot of quick thought and pauses to rearrange clothing, she ended up in the saddle with her legs covered demurely, although once she was up there she wasn’t entirely sure how she’d managed it without becoming indecent. Or even if she’d managed it, which was a mortifying thought.

  Thankfully, neither Jesse nor Mr Parsons looked embarrassed or awkward, so presumably she had. Or maybe they were just being
polite.

  Jesse wheeled in close to a stall on the other side of the livery, Duke following him. Without any instruction, the horse positioned himself side on to Jesse on the opposite side to the stall and stood still.

  Grasping the top of the stall door, Jesse pulled himself to a standing position then moved one hand to the horn of Duke’s saddle. Louisa watched in amazement as, using only his arms, he raised himself into the air between the stall and the horse and at the last moment twisted to seat himself on the saddle. He pulled his leg over Duke’s neck and reached down to situate his feet in the stirrups.

  “You’re so strong,” she murmured in awe.

  He looked over at her and smiled and she might have imagined it, but his chest may have puffed out a little. She couldn’t help noticing, even through the fabric of his shirt, how broad a chest it was. Up on Duke with his cowboy hat and his denim trousers, he looked every inch the dashing, romantic hero.

  “Anything else you need?” Mr Parsons said, wheeling Jesse’s chair into an alcove by the back door.

  Louisa rapidly looked away from Jesse’s chest. She really needed to stop staring at him so much.

  “No thanks, George. We’ll be back later.”

  “Have a good day.” Mr Parsons took a well worn brown hat hanging on one of the stall doors, nodded to Louisa, and walked out the back door.

  Jesse guided Duke over to her. “You ready?”

  She looked at the back of Eagle’s head. To her mild surprise, she felt fairly comfortable in the saddle. Of course, so far they hadn’t actually moved. “As I’ll ever be.”

  He reached out to touch her arm. “Are you sure you’re all right with riding?”

  She drew a deep breath in and out. “The truth is, I haven’t been on a horse for years and I’m not used to riding astride. But I’m sure I’ll be okay. Mr Parsons said Eagle is a calm horse. I think I can do calm.” And despite her nerves she found she was even looking forward to it.

  He nodded and gave her a smile that seemed just a bit pleased with itself. “Okay then, my little adventuress. Let’s go for a ride.”

  “Ohhh.” She drew out the word as understanding struck. “You think this is the fun and adventurous real me emerging, don’t you?”

  He affected a wide-eyed look of innocence, laying a hand on his chest in feigned shock. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Of course you don’t.” Ignoring Jesse’s grin, she rubbed the side of Eagle’s neck. “Come on, Eagle. Let’s show him this is simply a gentle, everyday ride with nothing at all adventurous about it.”

  She pressed her calves into Eagle’s sides and, to her relief, he began to walk. Guiding him towards the front doors, she held herself straight and gave no indication that the sudden movement had made her stomach lurch.

  She also hid her thrilled smile when she found her balance and realised she remembered how to ride a horse after all.

  ~ ~ ~

  They rode for over an hour, Jesse taking them on a tour of the town and then out into the surrounding countryside.

  After a while, with her confidence and enjoyment growing, Louisa nudged Eagle into a faster walk and was gratified when it took Jesse by surprise and he fell behind. She didn’t want him to think her nerves always got the better of her. She could be brave sometimes.

  She smiled at him when he caught up.

  “You’re doing real well with him,” he said, nodding at Eagle.

  “I’d forgotten how much I like riding.” She gave her docile horse a pat on the side of his neck. “I’m truly enjoying myself.”

  “You sound surprised.”

  “I am, I guess. A little.” She gasped, one hand going to her mouth. “Oh! I don’t mean I’m surprised to be enjoying myself with you.”

  He chuckled, a pleasant sound that wound its way up her spine and wrapped itself around her chest in what felt like an auditory hug. She vaguely thought she should berate herself for thinking about auditory hugs, but she was having too nice a time to bother.

  “That hadn’t occurred to me, but I’m glad to hear it.” He leaned forward and peered around the brim of her bonnet. “I’m also glad to hear you’re enjoying my company.”

  She didn’t want him to be encouraged by that, but she couldn’t stop a smile from tugging at her lips.

  The amusement in his eyes told her he’d noticed.

  It occurred to her that she should be more careful about what she said, but then she remembered his assurance about not assuming by anything she did that she would be staying to marry him. And right now, bathed in the late morning sunshine, surrounded by stunning scenery and with a handsome, charming man at her side, she wasn’t inclined to question it.

  He eventually took them up a hill overlooking the town and through a stand of trees, coming to a halt where they emerged to a wildflower-drenched meadow and a vista across the valley to the mountains.

  “Oh, Jesse,” she breathed, “this is beautiful.”

  “I was hoping you’d like it. What do you say to stopping here?”

  She drew in the scent of flowers and spring, releasing the air on a sigh. “I’d say it’s the most perfect spot.”

  He walked Duke a little way out into the meadow to an ancient, stunted tree, and twisted to remove the saddlebags from behind him.

  “Can I do anything to help?” Louisa said, reining Eagle in beside him.

  “Are you all right getting down by yourself?”

  She looked at the very, very far away ground and gave a firm nod. She’d got this far, she could get down. “I can do it. But...” she glanced up at him, “would you mind turning away? I haven’t quite got the hang of what to do with my skirt when I get on and off and I might inadvertently become indecent.”

  His lips pressed together as he looked down at Duke’s back, his shoulders quivering.

  “Stop laughing at me,” she said, fighting a giggle.

  “I’m not laughing at you,” he said, grinning. “I just think it’s funny that here I am worried you might be nervous about falling and all you’re concerned with is showing an ankle. I think I may be underestimating you.”

  She lifted her chin. “A proper lady knows that breaking a leg is one thing, but allowing anyone to see it is far, far worse.”

  He barked a laugh that had Duke looking back at him. Jesse patted his shoulder. “Sorry, boy.”

  Louisa waved her hand at him. “Just turn around. I’ll tell you when I’m down.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  With his eyes safely in the other direction, Louisa hoisted her skirts up and dismounted, arranging her clothing again before speaking. “I’m down.”

  He turned back to her, his gaze briefly lowering to her feet, and she was sure she detected a hint of disappointment in his eyes. She should have been indignant that he was hoping to get an illicit glimpse of an ankle, and yet she wasn’t. In the slightest.

  “You can let Eagle loose, he won’t go far,” he said, lifting the saddlebags from Duke’s back and handing them down to her. “There’s a blanket in the right one, if you’d like to get it out.”

  She let out a yelp of surprise as he released the bags and the weight pulled her forward.

  He gasped and reached down to her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think how heavy they are. Are you all right?”

  She straightened, pulling the bags up with her and attempting to hide the effort it was taking. “I’m fine. I’ve got it.”

  She carried them a few feet away, placed them on the ground and opened the right hand one. Inside was a blue woven blanket and she pulled it out, admiring the craftsmanship as she ran her hand over the surface. The pretty material was soft yet hardwearing, with a subtle checked pattern.

  “Okay, Duke,” Jesse said behind her.

  Duke wandered past to a juicy patch of grass in the meadow, Eagle following.

  Louisa turned back to Jesse. “Where would you like...” She stopped abruptly, gasping in a breath. “You’re standing!”

&n
bsp; He was leaning against the ancient tree, his left arm wrapped around a low branch. He wasn’t completely upright, but he was on his feet.

  “More like holding myself up.” He nodded at the arm wound around the branch. “I do have some strength in my legs, I just can’t make them do anything meaningful. Could you put the blanket just there?”

  He pointed with his free hand a few feet in front of him and she spread the blanket out on the grass. He lowered to the ground and shuffled forward onto it. She brought the saddlebags to him and lowered to the blanket, trying not to be too obvious about looking at his legs.

  “I’d never even heard of Little’s Disease,” she said as he began unpacking a selection of food.

  “Not many people have. When I was born it didn’t even have a name, not until a Doctor Little started working on it about ten years ago. No one really knows what causes it and the symptoms are different for everyone. Some who have it can walk, some it affects their upper body as well, some have trouble with speaking or other movements.” He placed a cloth-wrapped bundle onto the blanket and patted his thigh. “It’s not exactly like being paralysed. I can feel my legs, I just can’t move them properly.”

  The strangest urge came over her to reach out and touch his leg. She’d never had an urge to touch a man before, ever. “That must be so frustrating for you.”

  He shrugged and continued with his unpacking. “Sometimes, but I’ve had twenty-six years to get used to it.” When she moved her eyes to his face, he smiled. “It’s not so bad for me. To be honest, I’ve been blessed with good friends and a wonderful family. Other than a wife to share it all with, I really couldn’t ask for anything more. And I swear I’m not saying that to put any pressure onto you,” he added quickly. “It’s simply the truth.”

  “I know.” She believed him, but his mention of a wife nevertheless made her stomach shiver.

  Feeling warm, she tugged at the ribbon beneath her chin and removed her bonnet, laying it beside her on the blanket. As she raised her hands to smooth any stray strands back into place, she noticed Jesse had stopped moving, his eyes fixed on her hair.

  His eyes moved back to her face. “I was staring, wasn’t I?”