A Courageous Bride to Bring Him Hope: A Historical Western Romance Book

by Cassidy Hanton

  “Who is he?” Viola asked, loudly, proving Clementine’s point.

  Clementine pulled her arm, trying to shush her. “You didn’t even wait for him to properly leave,” Clementine chastised her friend.

  Viola looked utterly unrepentant. “Answer me,” she demanded.

  “Nobody, just a customer,” Clementine replied vaguely. She looked at Garry, searching for an ally.

  “Just a customer who punched Herbert in the face for Clementine,” Garry sold her out.

  “Traitor,” Clementine mouthed to him. He ignored her. There was a small smile on his face. Garry was enjoying this very much and Clementine felt like hitting him.

  Since violence was rarely the answer she said. “We all wanted to punch Herbert in the face.”

  “True,” Viola agreed.

  “What about you two?” Clementine continued to ramble, not giving Viola an opportunity to start with her interrogations. “Did you enjoy yourselves? I saw you dancing, laughing, talking, you looked rather comfortable,” her tone was utterly suggestive.

  Viola and Garry shared a look before saying at the same time. “We did enjoy ourselves,” not taking her bait.

  “You can tell me all about this Alexander Carson on our way home,” Viola announced, and Clementine cringed inwardly.

  “Home?” Clementine parroted.

  Viola nodded looking at her as though she lost all her wits. “You are sleeping at my house tonight.”

  Clementine knew what Viola was trying to do and she simply could not abide.

  “I will walk you home,” Garry offered.

  Clementine couldn’t spend the entire night being interrogated by Viola. She needed a way out. “I am terribly sleepy, I need to go home,” she slowly started walking backward.

  “Clementine,” Viola started, and Clementine interrupted her.

  “I really need to go. We will talk some other time, I promise.”

  Gary looked between the two not knowing what to do. “And I do not need a chaperone,” she warned, saving him the trouble.

  It struck her as odd he offered something like that in the first place. They all lived fairly close, and Courtfield was a safe enough town.

  “Clementine, I do have a bed in my house, as well,” Viola said in exasperation.

  It was apparent Clementine’s reaction took her by surprise. Viola did not expect resistance, so she wasn’t prepared to convince Clementine properly to stay, which was precisely what Clementine was counting for.

  “I really have to go and feed my cat.”

  Two sets of eyes looked at her as though she lost her mind. “You do not own a cat,” Garry said with good humor.

  “It’s my neighbor’s cat,” Clementine corrected herself.

  “You are such a liar,” Viola said with a sigh.

  She was.

  “Very well, if you do not wish to talk with me, we will see each other tomorrow,” Viola allowed.

  Clementine kissed both Viola’s cheek.

  “Tomorrow,” she stressed the word.

  Clementine smiled. “Looking forward to it. Sadly, you will be fairly disappointed since there is nothing to talk about.”

  Viola narrowed her eyes. “Mhm.” It was apparent Viola did not believe her.

  “Goodnight,” Clementine said to her friends before dashing home.

  Her step was light, and she was smiling the whole way while replaying her conversation with Alexander. She chuckled thinking about that dance as well. She could not remember when the last time she smiled this much was, not that she was going to dwell on that. Clementine was grateful she met him, and that he had such a positive effect on her. Now more than ever she was intrigued by him.

  Getting home, she instantly went to the bedroom, feeling rather spent. She carefully took her precious dress off, pleased to see it was in pristine condition. There was not one stain on it. She put it away, after admiring it some more, feeling grateful she had a friend like Viola who cared about her dearly. Clementine hoped she was a good friend in return.

  Once she changed, she felt more comfortable. Her usual attire might be plain but so was she, and Clementine preferred it that way.

  She fell asleep the moment her head touched her feathery pillow. Unfortunately, the nightmares returned. This time a mysterious stranger was there as well, all thought he was not a complete stranger anymore. He was not trying to save her. Alexander fought alongside her, and that made all the difference in the world.

  The next day at work, Clementine couldn’t stop humming as she was wiping one of the empty tables before carrying empty glasses back to the bar.

  “You are in a surprisingly good mood,” Garry observed. There was just a hint of teasing in his voice.

  Clementine realized that he was right, she was in a good mood, so she said as much. There was no point in hiding it, besides there was no reason she would do such a thing in the first place.

  “You must have had a lovely time yesterday, with your new friend.”

  She did. “Careful Garry, you are turning into Viola,” she teased back.

  “And you can’t stop singing,” he continued to speak, over her.

  “It’s the strangest thing, I cannot get this song out of my mind.” And she wasn’t even sure what it was called.

  “I know that song very well.”

  “You do? What is it called?” Clementine was curious to find out.

  “Love,” Garry deadpanned, and Clementine made a face.

  “I thought you were being serious,” she swatted at him with a dishcloth. And here he was, still making fun of her. She should have known better than to fall into that trap. Although she had to admit that was rather funny.

  All day Garry did not miss one opportunity to tease her. Even more so now since she spent part of her evening in Alexander’s company. Not to mention danced with him.

  Clementine would return the favor. Unfortunately, she couldn’t since Viola was her best friend, same as Garry was, and there was nothing romantic going on between those two.

  “Have you spoken with Viola?” Garry asked as though he knew she was just thinking about her friend.

  “Not yet,” she replied honestly. For a briefest of moments, she pondered if she should visit her before work, and ruled against it.

  Garry chuckled. “You know her curiosity would not let her leave you alone.”

  “Same as yours,” Clementine jibed, and Garry pretended to be wounded.

  “You cannot avoid her for too long.”

  “I could certainly try,” Clementine sing-songed, taking another round of drinks to a particularly rowdy group of customers.

  Truth be told Clementine did not want to speak with Viola about Alexander because her friend would ask her questions Clementine did not know answers to. At least not yet; it was too soon for making any kind of claims. Knowing Viola, she would not be satisfied with that type of answer.

  I just met the man, Clementine protested as though she was already arguing with Viola. Even though Alexander piqued her interest, and she definitely wanted to spend more time with him, get to know him better, that was it.

  For now, that was all she could focus on. And if she spoke to Viola it would only complicate things and Clementine wished to keep them as simple as possible.

  Viola would be disappointed by her answers, and at the moment they were the best Clementine had to offer, so it was prudent to postpone that serious talk for some other time.

  Speaking of Alexander, Clementine wondered if he would come to the store today.

  As she swiped the wooden floor in front of the store, she spotted Herbert watching her from across the street. Clementine wondered if he could remember what happened last night. He did not appear drunk while he was confronting Alexander and her, still, that meant nothing.

  Looking back at him, Clementine observed how he looked angry but not in those same levels from the other day when Alexander scared him away from her. Clementine was pleased he took their warning to stay away seriously.


  Half of his face was seriously bruised, and Clementine knew that was from that single punch to the nose. It was clearly broken. It wouldn’t be the first time.

  Herbert did not make a move, nor did he stop looking at her. Clementine refused to be intimidated by his strange behavior. She continued with her work, and he could just stand there all day for all she cared.

  “You are working mighty hard on this fine day,” Alexander complimented, and Clementine smiled, stopping with the sweeping so she could properly greet him.

  “Well, some of us have to while others can enjoy their leisure time,” she teased not missing a beat and he laughed.

  Out of the corner of her eyes, Clementine saw Herbert going red in the face. He was not pleased to see her with Alexander, again. She ignored it completely. Unfortunately, Alexander noticed him as well.

  “That man doesn’t know when to let it go,” he observed giving the other man a wave. Herbert scowled in return. Clementine barely contained herself not to laugh.

  “Just ignore him, as I do.”

  “Do you need a hand?” Alexander offered, as though not wanting to leave her alone.

  Clementine tried not to get offended by that. It was the middle of the day. The street was brimming with activity. She was as safe as she could get. Clementine let his gesture pass simply because she knew he meant well.

  “No. You already took out all the trash,” Clementine replied hoping he would catch her meaning.

  He did. Alexander nodded. “I’ll be seeing you then.”

  Clementine didn’t spare Herbert additional glance as she finished her work. She was certain Alexander’s presence in her life did something to him, however, that was of no concern to her. She was not his property or any man’s, for that matter.

  On the other hand, she was very happy Alexander came by to see her. She was hoping he would since Clementine wanted to spend time with him.

  As friends, naturally. Until he leaves. That thought threatened to ruin her good mood and she didn’t let it. Spending time with friends, old and new was a blessing and should be cherished as such, no matter how long people stayed in her life.

  Returning inside, Clementine was pleasantly surprised to see Alexander, sitting at a bar and chatting with Garry.

  Garry was laughing so hard, his whole face got scarlet. “And then what happened?” Clementine could hear him asking Alexander between the cackles.

  “Nothing,” Alexander shrugged, as a small smile danced across his lips. “I let him carry on with his walk.”

  “No,” Garry roared with laughter. Clearly, he did not see that coming.

  “I arrived just in time for a punchline,” Clementine commented, coming to join them.

  “You need to hear this story,” Garry told her, as he whipped a few tears from all the laughing, with his sleeve. “Your friend over here is rather funny.”

  That was high praise coming from her boss.

  “I have so many other,” Alexander reassured the other man.

  “You can stay then,” Garry allowed ceremoniously, yet it was all for show.

  As instructed, Alexander stayed right where he was and continued to speak with Garry and Clementine.

  Once Osmond arrived, their little circle became even bigger. At first, Osmond was a little wary of the newcomer. He was impressed with what Alexander did the other day with Herbert, however, that did not mean he was about to accept him in his inner circle. Osmond could be like that sometimes.

  His reserve quickly vanished when Alexander told him how once upon a time, he too played an instrument. Due to his hand, that was no longer possible. Osmond was very sympathetic toward the other man from that point on. Besides, Osmond needed another set of ears who would listen to his sad love story since he was still very much infatuated with his mystery woman from a carriage.

  It was apparent Alexander was startled at first by Osmond’s whole persona. To Clementine’s amusement, he quickly overcame it and they started acting as though they were long lost friends, forever bonded due to their deep love toward music.

  All that showed Clementine Alexander was a kind of man who could not only easily make friends, but connect deeply with them, showing empathy and understanding that every person was unique and had worth. Above all, Clementine was relieved to see he was not much of a drinker. He came to the store for the company not to get himself drunk. Clementine had enough drunks in her life, she honestly did not need another one. In her eyes, Alexander grew ever so slightly.

  I really hope you will stay, forever.

  Chapter Nine

  Clementine really hoped with all her heart Alexander would stay, however, she banished that silly thought instantly. She didn’t want to get her hopes up for nothing. It was apparent Alexander was a nomad, and that he preferred it that way.

  Perhaps that was due to his past, perhaps due to his nature, either way, Clementine was going to enjoy his company while he was here. The key was to not get too attached to him. What she really meant by that was not to fall in love with him. That was a notion that frightened her the most so she instantly stopped that train of thoughts.

  Clementine continued to watch the men interact, commenting every once in a while, happy to simply observe for a while. Gary and Osmond welcomed Alexander quickly, and that put a smile on her face.

  Steve, her late husband detested Garry, and the sentiment was mutual. Come to think of it, Steve did not like anybody. Only himself. That was just one of the many ways Steve and Alexander were completely different people.

  “Clementine, what is the name of that one-legged man, that owned that crazy horse?” Garry asked, clearly trying to tell a story but couldn’t remember all the details.

  “Martin,” Clementine replied wryly.

  Garry frowned. “That was not that man’s name.”

  “I know, I was speaking about the horse,” Clementine joked, and they all laughed. “The old man’s name was Jobe,” she provided.

  Garry nodded approvingly. “Right, Jobe,” he continued with his tale making Alexander and Osmond laugh all the while.

  Alexander was easily liked and a part of her was terrified by that because she could not allow herself to get hurt. Love was not for her and that was a proven fact since the only man she was supposed to experience something like that with showed her quite the opposite.

  Clementine needed to stay away, for the sake of her mind and her heart.

  Alexander forgot what it felt like to be a part of something. A part of a town, community, group of friends. Only now, when he was confronted with it thanks to Clementine, did he realize how much he actually missed all of that.

  Always being on the road, looking for another bounty was lonely. He only had himself and his thoughts to keep him company. Besides if he got sick, or injured, or lost there was no one he could turn to, and at times that was equally terrifying as being around people.

  Interacting with Clementine’s friends and colleagues was a refreshing experience as it was humbling. He appreciated immensely how quickly they accepted him as though he was one of their own. And he would never do anything to jeopardize their bond or the trust they showered him with.

  Alexander was alone for so long, chatting with Osmond, Garry, and Clementine made him feel a bit overwhelmed. Alexander liked Garry very much. It was apparent he was a very kind man, with a great sense of humor that truly, surprisingly, loved his job. That did not mean he was weak in any regard. Garry served in the army; Alexander could recognize fellow military man from the first time he stepped into the alcohol store.

  Osmond was a rather unique fellow. He was a gentle soul, so Alexander was not surprised to see how others were rather protective of him. Alexander was feeling the same urge himself. His strange proclivities regarding love were his business alone, and Alexander could respect that.

  Above all, he was grateful he met Clementine. She was like a tall glass of fresh water that did wonders to his parched soul.

  Overall, Alexander was pleased Clementi
ne had two such loyal friends who would do anything for her, defend her against all, and look after her if something like that was ever needed, like now, when a customer was demanding more bottles of beer than he could pay for, and doing so loudly.

  Alexander’s first instinct was to intervene. Since he was somewhat a smart man, he remained seated. If anyone really crossed the line, like that cretin from the other day Alexander would be out of his chair quicker than someone could say Stop that idiot. And he wouldn’t be the only one.