The Most Unsuitable Wife

by Caroline Clemmons

  A nod of his head indicated the window. "This is the Sabine River crossing. That's the state line."

  "Been raining some," Lex said.

  Murky water swirled below the bridge. Though not as large as the Mississippi, its width cut an impressive swath from Pearl's view.

  "Is this what your ranch is like, this dirt?"

  "No. Our area has soil that's darker. Grayish brown. Lots of limestone in the area."

  "So, your rivers are brown?"

  He laughed. "No, ours run clear and cold. Lots of springs around, too.”

  His eyes sparkled when he talked of his home. The planes of his face softened, shaving years from his age and highlighting the love for his land. The train stopped at Denison to let more travelers join or leave.

  Near Fort Worth the landscape changed from woodlands to open range ribboned by trees and streams. It seemed to Pearl the sky became bluer and higher, the sun brighter with each passing hour. Drake and Lex became more cheerful and restless with every mile.

  Drake looked ready to dance as he leaned near. "The car holding the horses, this car, and a few others will be switched in Austin for the tap line to Kincaid Springs."

  Lex overheard and nodded. "Can't say I'll be sorry to see the last of this train. It's been too long since we've seen home."

  In spite of her fatigue, fear of the unknown gripped Pearl. She brushed at her mended traveling suit and adjusted her battered hat. Questions bombarded her mind.

  What would Drake's family think of her? Would they accept her or think of her and her family as an unwanted burden?

  Chapter Nine

  The men helped the three women down the steps from the railroad car. "We'll see to the baggage later"—Drake looked around anxiously—"Grandpa and Aunt Lily will be here somewhere. Lex's parents, too. And Jorge and Vicente are supposed to come from the ranch to help with the horses."

  Sure enough, a crowd of people stood at the end of the station platform.

  "There," said Lex, nodding toward the depot as he guided Belle toward a distinguished looking couple.

  Pearl picked out Drake's grandfather at once. He looked as she imagined Drake would in thirty or forty years, tall and straight with a mustache to match his mane of white hair. Drake waved and hurried his new family to meet the old.

  Grandpa thumped Drake on the back and said, "Well, it's about time you got back, and just in time for your birthday.” He took Pearl's hand. "This must be the new Mrs. Drake Kincaid. What a lovely woman you are, my dear."

  In all her twenty-six years, no one ever called her "lovely.” Pearl hoped he meant it and loved him at once for even saying it.

  "Thank you, Judge Kincaid. I've heard a lot about you from Evan Cummins. And from Drake and Lex, of course."

  "Now, now. Call me Grandpa.” He gestured to all his new family, "All of you call me Grandpa. We're family here."

  Sarah chewed her lip and nodded. Storm looked terrified. Belle looked as if she just grabbed the brass ring on the carousel.

  Pearl smiled at the elder Kincaid. "Thank you, Grandpa. It's nice of you to welcome us."

  "It's good to have you finally here. I'd love to see Evan again. We had some high old times in our day. Perhaps you'll fill me in on him later. Now let me introduce you to the rest of your family. Rosilee and Samuel Tremont are Lex's parents."

  Pearl nodded to the couple, who smiled and exchanged pleasantries. Their eyes hardly left their son, and Pearl read the questions as they looked from Lex to Belle. Rosilee Tremont shared her son's auburn hair, but her eyes were the soft blue of her father. Samuel's stocky build made him seem larger than his son in spite of standing an inch or so shorter.

  Grandpa turned to the red-haired woman by his side. "And this is my youngest daughter, Lily Stephens."

  "Oh, my.” Pearl couldn't suppress her surprise. "I do apologize, but I expected Drake's aunt to be an older woman.” Realizing her gaff, she added, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

  Lily's tight-lipped mouth twisted opened to bite out, "My age has nothing to do with anything. I take care of my father and run his household.” Several inches shorter than Pearl, the woman would have been beautiful if not for the sour lemon twist to her mouth and hard look in her grey eyes.

  Bewildered by Lily's snappish speech, Pearl stammered, "I'm sure you do a wonderful job."

  Before she could apologize again, Grandpa broke in. "Lily was a late blessing to Katherine and me, born only five years before Drake and seven before Lex. When Lily lost her husband, my darling wife had fallen ill. Lily came to live with us to help out, and has remained since Katherine's death."

  While Pearl's mind whirled with all the new faces, Drake introduced Sarah, Storm, and Belle to his family.

  The group moved toward two buggies and a wagon. Grandpa left servants gathering baggage into the wagon and the family walked toward the buggies. Drake excused himself to see the horses safely unloaded.

  When Storm hesitated at the side of the buggy, Grandpa asked him, "What's wrong, son?"

  "I should stay with the horses."

  Drake shook his head. "Vicente and Jorge will help get them off the car and to the ranch. You don't have to help.” He shrugged. "But you can stay if you wish. If it's all right with your sister."

  Pearl recognized the look of longing in her brother's eyes. He hated crowds and loved horses. "Of course.” She turned to her host and hostess. "Storm is gifted with animals.”

  "That's true," Drake assured them. "He cared for them most of the trip. Lex, why don't you go on with your folks to Grandpa's. Storm and I'll bring your horse round later."

  Lex tipped his hat in a thank you.

  Pearl's stomach tightened into a worry ball when she realized Drake intended her to go with his family while he remained at the station unloading the horses. She had to go with this waspish woman to her home. At least Grandpa and Lex's parents acted friendly.

  Maybe it wouldn't be too bad. How long could it take to unload horses? Before she knew it, she would be in her own home at the ranch.

  The ride to Grandpa's house took only a few moments, but Pearl liked the looks of the town. Most of the homes appeared neat, the businesses prosperous and well kept. People waved or nodded as the buggies drove by.

  Her heart grew lighter and the worry lessened. This looked exactly the sort of place she dreamed. Surely they would have a fresh start here. Encouraged, she smiled and nodded at the people they passed.

  Grandpa guided the buggy up a long, tree-lined drive. Ahead sat a huge building. Larger than Oak Haven in Tennessee. Large enough for a castle. Surely that couldn't be Grandpa's house?

  But it was. A large porch hugged the front and sides of the frame structure. Dormered windows on the roof above the second story indicated a smaller third story including the peaked turret at one side.

  Oh, my goodness. She had no idea Drake's family was so wealthy. How could she have been so stupid? The clues were there. His clothes were from better cloth than any she had seen before. He always carried cash money. He seldom asked the cost of things. The fancy sleeping car they rode in on the train. She'd been so intent on getting her family safely away for a new start in life that she hadn't considered Drake's bank account.

  The chasm between them widened. She remembered the list of expenses she had kept to account for every cent he spent on behalf of her and her family. How foolish it would seem. Those sums probably meant nothing to him.

  They meant a great deal to her. A great deal.

  A servant rushed down the sweeping front steps. Grandpa helped Lily from the carriage while the servant rushed to help Pearl.

  As she passed them, Belle leaned near Pearl and whispered, "Looks like a hotel, don't it?"

  Sarah, eyes wide with wonder, nodded. "Or a palace."

  Her back straight, Pearl followed the others through the portal into the foyer. The click of their slippers on the marble echoed through the entry hall. The polished surface of a cherry table reflected the parasol and gloves Lily tosse
d there.

  Sarah, eyes still wide in her pale face, grasped Pearl's hand tightly. Belle grew silent and looked around with a stunned stare. Pearl knew she must wear a similar expression.

  Lily called to a maid, "Ellen, show our guests their rooms.” She faced the three newcomers. "You probably want to freshen up. I've put you all in the same part of the house, overlooking the gardens. Dinner will be at eight."

  Grandpa must have sensed their distress. "Now don't you ladies worry your heads. If they aren't here in time for dinner, Drake and Storm will be back by nightfall. You rest up a bit and come down when you're ready. We'll be gabbing in the drawing room."

  Pearl felt abandoned and bewildered as she followed Ellen up the stairs. Thin as a brown-haired stick, the maid moved with a plodding gait. The other two women trailed Pearl, and not a sound came from their feet treading the thick rugs of the upper hall. Sarah and Belle were each assigned a room along the central hallway and Ellen indicated which would be Storm's chamber. The maid showed Pearl the room she and Drake would share at the end of the passage.

  Not a room. A group of rooms. Ellen held the door for Pearl and said, "These be your rooms, Missus Kincaid. Your things will be along in a bit.”

  Tentatively, Pearl let her fingertips touch the pale blue moiré covering the walls. Imagine, cloth on a wall. And not a quilt, either, like folks back in Tennessee used to keep the winter chill out. All she could manage was a simple, "Thank you, Ellen."

  Ellen made a quick inspection of the area then gestured to the second room. "There's water in the pitcher on the chest there if you want to have a wash before you lie down. Or, the bathing room be at the end of the hall.”

  Their honeymoon suite in Chattanooga boasted of a bathing room, and Drake told her Grandpa's house had two. She should have suspected his wealth then.

  She wondered how she would find her way in this huge home. Panic prompted her to ask, "Will someone call us for dinner?"

  The young woman's brow furrowed. "I s'pose I can come for you."

  "Oh, yes, would you?” Lord, she hadn't meant to sound so desperate. She straightened herself and added, "I'd hate to be late for dinner my first evening here.”

  The maidservant left and Pearl waited a bit before she opened the door a crack. When she peeked out, she saw Sarah and Belle tiptoeing toward her. She gestured for them to enter and held the door wide.

  Sarah fairly gushed in a breathy whisper, "Sister, you should see the room they put me in. It's like one for a fairy princess. It's all in shades of pink with a beautiful white counterpane on the bed and curtains hanging from the top."

  Belle nodded. "Mine, too, 'cept it's green with a darker green coverlet and curtains. I never saw nothing so fancy.” Her eyes widened as she revolved slowly. "Except this. Lordy, this is as big as most houses I've seen."

  "I know.” Pearl looked into a dressing room. Worry furrowed her brow. She sat in a silk upholstered chair finer than any she had ever seen. As she held her hands in her lap, it was all she could do to keep from crying.

  Sarah rushed over and kneeled in front of her. "Sister, what's wrong? Are you ill?"

  She shook her head, afraid she would give in to the desperation chilling her blood. "Why would a man who lives in a place like this choose me?"

  "Because you're special.” Sarah, always a romantic, looked wistful. "He must have been attracted to you the minute he saw you."

  Pearl shook her head. "No. Remember? He said he had to marry or lose everything. Why wouldn't he marry someone from here? Or someone who grew up the same way he did?"

  With a wave of dismissal, Belle assured her, "Why worry about it? You're here, Sarah and Storm and I are here with you. Be thankful for your good fortune. Lord knows I am."

  "I—I am, too. At least, I think I am. But I don't understand.”

  And she didn't. She mulled it over, trying to look at it from every angle. No matter how she viewed her situation with Drake, it made no sense.

  Why did he choose her? Why not marry a beautiful miss from a good family with wealth? What madness possessed him to marry her instead?

  Ellen knocked on her door to announce dinner then hurried back downstairs. When the three women went down for dinner, they found Storm and Drake in the foyer beating the dust from their clothes.

  Pearl rushed to Drake with relief. "Thank heavens you're back.” Drat, she hadn't meant to sound critical—or so needful.

  Drake gave her a puzzled look then offered his arm.

  She took his arm and asked, "The horses are all settled in fine?"

  "Great. And Storm was a big help."

  Her brother beamed. "Wait 'til you see the ranch. You won't believe how big it is.” He would have said more, but their host came into the hall to greet them.

  "Ah, good," Grandpa beamed at them. "We were just going in to dinner.” He shepherded the group toward the dining room.

  Light from dozens of candles in the massive chandelier danced across the spotless white damask cloth. More crystal and silver glittered at the place settings than Pearl had seen in the hotel the night of her honeymoon. Ten chairs were placed for tonight's guests, but the table provided ample room for a larger group.

  Maybe she should have changed from her traveling suit. Lily wore an ice blue taffeta dress trimmed in lace. Pearl's eyes inventoried the other guests, and she exhaled with relief that Rosilee Tremont still wore the same muted afternoon dress she had worn to the depot.

  Once again she thanked her lucky stars for the training given her by Pearl Cummins. At the time it seemed like play acting, for she never dreamed she would put those sessions to use. Now she found herself in a setting fancier even than Mrs. Cummins had imagined.

  Lily fluttered about the room, imperiously delivering seating instructions. Drake helped Pearl with her chair before he took his seat down the table and across from her. She sat to the right of Grandpa, with Lex's father at her right.

  Sarah, across from her, looked pale and worried. Further down the table at the prune-faced Lily's right, Storm looked ready to bolt. She smiled at him, hoping she conveyed more confidence than she felt.

  Of the four from Tennessee, only Belle looked genuinely happy. Seated two chairs down from Pearl between Samuel Tremont and Lex, she faced Rosilee. Judging from her cheerful smile, Belle felt very pleased with their elegant surroundings and the company she shared.

  Lily rang a bell and Ellen served bowls of soup. In a few minutes, a plump older woman Lily addressed as Polly carried a large platter of beef and served each guest. Ellen followed with bowls of vegetables. When Pearl thought she could hold no more, Polly returned to serve slabs of cake.

  Throughout dinner, Drake and Lex entranced their family with tales of the trip and threats against them—the rockslide, the attack on the train, and earlier attempts on Pearl and her home. Drake's eyes sparkled with mirth as he explained his first sight of her in Pipers Hollow. When he mentioned her violet eyes, his voice softened. Pearl's heart gave a flip, and warmth flooded her. Maybe, just maybe, he did find something about her special.

  Lily gasped in shock at the description of Pearl firing her gun, but Grandpa and Lex's parents showed only concern for Pearl's safety. Pearl liked to have died of shame at Drake's vivid description of her attire and her gun. At least Drake and Lex described her bravery as something they admired. The other salve to her pride came when Drake and Lex described how she helped people on the train with her medicines.

  "I reckon this is about the trouble on the train.” Grandpa pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. "Sheriff Liles got this wire yesterday.” He handed the note to Drake.

  Drake scanned the page, then raised his eyes to Pearl. "From the railroad investigation.” He looked down the table toward Lex, "It's about the attack on Pearl. They found the body of the man who tried to throw her off the train. Broke his neck in the fall. Serves the sorry b… um, serves him right."

  Pearl's stomach did a flip. "Was it Jug?”

  "Yep. Had some papers on him
. They think he killed a railroad brakeman and stole his clothes. That's why no one noticed him waiting for you."

  Grandpa patted Pearl's hand. "So, maybe this terrorizing is all behind you.”

  Drake shook his head. "No, Grandpa. There's at least one other man involved. And we have no idea who he is—or where."

  Grandpa gave Pearl’s arm a pat. "You're in Kincaid territory now and we take care of our own. Things will be better from now on, girl."

  "Thank you, Grandpa. I hope I don't bring trouble to your family."

  "We're your family now. Don't forget that."

  The evening passed tortuously slow for Pearl. She worried over each course served, over each fork and spoon she used. Glances down the table assured her Storm and Sarah shared her discomfort with the formality of the meals. Even Belle's smile looked strained by the end of the meal. Drake's every word or movement registered in Pearl's mind.

  How she wished they were away from this elaborate setting and at the ranch where they would live. Perhaps then she could relax, could draw a deep breath without fear of embarrassing herself or her new husband.

  Relieved when the meal ended, Pearl and her family followed the others into the parlor.

  Lex guided Belle to the piano. "Please, play for us. And sing."

  "Sing?” Belle's hand flew to her throat. "Not for all these people. I couldn't."

  "Oh, yes, my dear, do.” Rosilee Tremont urged.

  Lily clapped her hands in delight. "You sing and play? How lovely. Please serenade us."

  For the next half-hour or so, Belle treated her small audience to a concert. Appearing hesitant at first, she soon lost herself in the music.

  Pearl contented herself observing the other listeners. Drake appeared attentive, but the tiny muscle twitching in his jaw revealed his impatience. From Storm's wriggling, Pearl recognized her brother's "I hate crowds" signs. Sarah sat with hands folded in her lap, a happy smile lighting her lovely face. Even Lily looked pleased, her face softening to let her beauty shine through.

  Lex sat enraptured, his gaze never leaving Belle. Sam Tremont's concerned frown exposed his alarm for the blossoming relationship between his only child and a stranger from nowhere. Pearl knew Lex and his parents would be shocked, perhaps even angry and disgusted, if they knew Belle's background. Loyal to her new friend, Pearl hoped Belle would be spared heartbreak and censure in their new home.