Rogue Rapids

by Shirleen Davies

  “I think it’s quite nice. There are still so many places where marriages are made for convenience, not love. It’s quite sad.” She thought of her family and her friends who’d already succumbed to arranged marriages to strengthen alliances and increase power. Sylvia wanted no part of such an arrangement.

  “Love is important to you?”

  Her brows drew together. “How could it not be? I mean, why else would you commit to a lifetime with someone if you didn’t love them?”

  “I’ve known couples who’ve made a good union when love wasn’t involved. They care for and respect each other, even if the passion is lacking.”

  “You don’t believe in love?”

  Mack’s jaw clenched, thinking of the woman and the cousin who’d betrayed him. “No.”

  Letting out a breath, she shook her head. “I’ll not marry unless it’s for love. It’s the reason I came here.”

  Mack tightened his hold on her arm. “To escape an arranged marriage?”

  Sylvia winced, knowing she’d already said too much. “The prospect of an arranged marriage. My father didn’t have a specific man selected for me.” She shuddered. “Can we speak of something else?”

  Mack let it go for now. Sometime soon, he’d learn about her family and what she was hiding. “Of course.”

  They stepped onto the boardwalk, passing the telegraph and post office as the tinny music of the Wild Rose’s piano spilled onto the street. Loud laughter came from inside. Mack couldn’t help noticing the way Sylvia looked across him, trying to get a glimpse inside.

  “Have you ever been inside a saloon?”

  Her gaze shot to his, eyes wide. “It wouldn’t have been proper.”

  Mack grinned. “That isn’t what I asked.”

  Sylvia groaned. “No. I’ve never been inside a saloon.”

  Before they left the Wild Rose behind, he moved closer to the last window, stopping. Mack guided her in front of him so she could look through the grimy glass, resting his hands on her hips.

  “Take a good look. Downstairs, the men drink, play cards, and listen to music. Upstairs…” He considered his next words. “I’m pretty certain you know what goes on up there.” Mack looked over her shoulder, seeing her mouth slightly open, gaze moving across the large room before traveling up the stairs.

  “How long do they stay?”

  “Stay where?” Mack asked.

  Turning her head, she gave him an exasperated glare. “In the bedrooms, of course.”

  He thought about it a moment, picking his words carefully. “Some men spend a few minutes. Others an hour or two. Although not often, a few pay for an entire night.”

  She lifted a brow. “A few minutes? Is that all it takes to, well…finish?”

  Mack started to think stopping at the Wild Rose was one of his worst ideas. “For some.”

  Nodding, she bit her lower lip. “Is that how long you stay?”

  Gritting his teeth, Mack turned her to face him. “No. Now it’s time we move along.”

  “But…” Her voice trailed off as he whisked her away, his arm around her waist, keeping her close to his side.

  Neither spoke as they passed the jail, general store, and bank. Allie Coulter’s shop stood at the far end of the street. Each one had closed long ago, light from the oil lamps extinguished.

  Crossing the street, Mack continued to hold Sylvia close as they stepped onto the boardwalk in front of the St. James. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, so much mystery surrounding her background and where she’d lived before coming to Splendor. She’d deftly deflected each of his questions, giving as little information as possible, leaving him more curious than before.

  “Have you ever been married, Mack?”

  Her question surprised him, as did much of what came out of her mouth. “No.”

  “Engaged?” she pressed.

  “Yes.”

  Stunned, she stopped, pulling her arm from his. “What happened?”

  Mack let out a breath, his jaw clenching. He had no desire to talk about his fiancée, or the way she and his cousin betrayed him. The way his entire family betrayed him. It had been years since he’d been home or heard anything from them, and the pain at what happened still burned hot within him.

  “It didn’t work out as planned.” He took her arm again, slipping it through his, glad Sylvia didn’t push further.

  Reaching the front of the boardinghouse, he stopped, an almost imperceptible grin on his face. He had a good time, enjoyed her company and curious mind.

  “Do you have plans tomorrow night?”

  “Lena Evans has invited me and the others to supper.”

  His brows scrunched together. “The others?”

  “May, Tabitha, and Deborah. Lena’s the one who worked with Pettigrew’s to bring us to Splendor. Well, along with Abby Brandt, Suzanne Barnett, and a few others.”

  “What about Sunday? May I escort you to church?”

  Sylvia worried her bottom lip, wondering if he knew what he asked. “Are you sure you want most of the town to know you’re courting me?”

  “We’ve had supper at the Eagle’s Nest and Suzanne’s. Spent time walking the town. Do you believe me courting you is a secret?”

  She shook her head. “Well, no.”

  “Would it bother you if everyone knew?”

  “Not at all, Mack. It’s just, well…I wasn’t sure if you wanted everyone to know.”

  Moving his hands to rest on her shoulders, his voice softened. “Look at me, Sylvia.”

  Hesitating a moment, she met his gaze.

  “You need to know three things about me, sweetheart. First, I want to spend time with you, get to know you, see where this may take us. Second, I do want to marry and have a family with the right woman. Someone who understands the limits of what I can give.”

  Her nose scrunched. “Limits?”

  He nodded. “The third thing. I’m not interested in a union built on love. I don’t believe in it and don’t expect it in return.” He saw her eyes widen, felt her shoulders slump. Ignoring both, he continued, knowing he had to be honest. “Companionship, respect, and trust are all I ask. In return, I’ll take care of her and our children. I won’t cheat and would never leave them to take care of themselves. I’d be willing to give everything a successful marriage needs.”

  She blinked a few times, looking away. “Except love.”

  He took her chin between his fingers, forcing her to look at him. His gaze hardened on hers. “Except love.” Mack dropped his hand, taking a step away. “I don’t want you to have any illusions about what I’m after, Sylvia. You deserve honesty.”

  Forcing herself to swallow the bile his honesty caused, she nodded. “I see.”

  He sighed, seeing the light in her eyes dim. “Think about it, Sylvia. If you’re still interested, meet me in front of the church ten minutes before services. If not, I’ll understand, and hope we can still be friends.”

  Sylvia felt numb, unsettled in a way she hadn’t expected, especially after he’d declared his intention to continue courting her. Holding her arms straight at her sides, she straightened her spine and lifted her chin.

  “Thank you, Mack, for being honest with me. I will need to consider what you’ve said.”

  Something akin to loss swept through him at the resignation in her voice, the closed look on her face. All traces of joy were gone, swept away as his words settled in.

  “Good night then, Sylvia.” He turned away, stepping from the boardwalk onto the street.

  “Good night, Mack.” She breathed the words out, knowing he couldn’t hear her or the way her voice cracked.

  Chapter Ten

  Philadelphia

  Dominic stood outside Pettigrew’s, ready to get his business finished and be on his way to finding Sylvia. Turning the knob, he stepped aside to let a young woman pass by. He let his gaze wander over her, wondering if she’d put in her name as a mail order bride.

  He couldn’t deny his curiosity a
bout the women who found themselves walking inside. What drove them to travel across the country to meet and marry a man they knew little about, accepting an uncertain future? What made Sylvia do it?

  Shaking his head to clear the questions always circling in his mind, he walked inside. Standing in the foyer, he read the sign next to each of three doors, the center one being for Pettigrew’s Mail Order Bride Company. Taking a breath, he walked inside. Sitting at a desk was a prim and proper looking woman, a pair of glasses perched at the end of her nose, her attention focused on the papers in front of her.

  When she didn’t look up, he cleared his throat. “Excuse me.”

  Huffing out a frustrated breath, she looked up, her face pulling into a false smile. “May I help you?”

  “I need information on a missing woman. We have reason to believe she applied at your agency and may have been sent west.”

  Her face twisted into a scowl. “I’m sorry, but we don’t—”

  The badge he dropped on her desk stopped whatever else she meant to say. “I’ll start again. I was sent here to locate a woman believed to have been kidnapped. There are those who believe Pettigrew’s is involved.” The woman gasped, her face flushing. Dominic leaned forward. “You can give me the information now, or I can close you down while we do a complete investigation of your records.” He picked up the badge, slipping it into a pocket.

  She picked up her pen with trembling hands. “What is her name?”

  “Sylvia Maria Pietro Lucero. She’s been missing for about nine months.”

  The woman’s brows knit together. “The name doesn’t sound familiar. I’ll need to access the files. If you come back tomorrow, I should have the information.”

  “I’m not leaving without answers.” Walking to a chair, he sat down, stretching out his long legs and crossing his arms.

  “It may take some time.”

  Dominic shrugged. “Take whatever time you need. If anyone comes in, I’ll let them know you’re busy and to come back tomorrow.”

  Anger flashed across her face before she turned and hurried into another office. Dominic relaxed, expecting to wait a long time, surprised when she emerged less than five minutes later holding a slip of paper.

  “I believe this is what you’ll need to find her. We’ve had no word she’s left this location.”

  Standing, Dominic took the paper from her hand, glancing down. “Thank you. I’ll let you know if we need anything further.”

  “There isn’t anything else in the file. You’re looking at all we have.”

  He gave her a hard look before leaving. Stepping outside, he walked down the steps to the walkway, holding the paper up to read it once more.

  “Splendor, Montana Territory. The contact is Magdelena Evans, St. James Hotel. Four mail order brides.”

  Splendor

  Sylvia dusted the shelves in the general store for the third time since arriving Saturday morning. Mr. Petermann had been there all day, handling most of the orders while she cleaned and stocked shelves until boredom threatened to overwhelm her.

  Supper with her friends and Lena last night had been wonderful, even if her appetite hadn’t returned since being with Mack Thursday evening. She hadn’t seen him on Friday, nor had he stopped by the general store today, as he sometimes did when he knew she’d be working.

  “Sylvia?”

  Straightening, she walked toward her boss. “Yes, Mr. Petermann?”

  “I need to work in the back for a while. Would you mind watching the front?”

  “Of course not.”

  One hour passed, then another without any sign of Mack through the large front windows. It gave her time to think about what he’d told her on Thursday. He wanted to marry, have a family. He just didn’t want it with a woman he loved.

  She left her family, traveled across the country to get away from a marriage of convenience, only to fall for a man who didn’t believe in love. Sylvia didn’t doubt her feelings for him, which made his decision about marriage much more difficult to accept.

  If she continued to see Mack, Sylvia believed they would eventually marry and have children. The fact he didn’t believe in love couldn’t kill what she felt for him, no matter how much she wished it would.

  She couldn’t help wondering what kind of marriage it would be without love. If she’d grow to resent him over time, becoming bitter and withdrawn. Oddly, her instincts told her Mack would love their children. He just wouldn’t love her.

  Sylvia thought of the home and family she’d left in Texas. Her parents loved each other, which made her father’s demand his children marry to enlarge their holdings so hard. Now she found herself loving a man who believed the same as her father, even if Mack’s reasons were different.

  The thought made her pause. Mack hadn’t shared why he had no use for a marriage based on love. Although she suspected it had something to do with his broken engagement, Sylvia hadn’t asked. She’d been too stunned to ask anything at all when he’d confessed the type of union he expected.

  She hadn’t made a decision about whether to meet Mack outside before church or go inside with May. Without words, not meeting him would send the message she wasn’t interested in being courted by a man who had such disdain for love.

  There was another option, one exposing her to more pain if it didn’t end in her favor. She could consent to a courtship for a period of time, making a decision when it suited her, and not before.

  Along the way, Mack just might fall in love with her as she had with him.

  Sitting outside the jail, Mack whittled on a piece of wood, paying no attention to the shape he created with his short strokes. The action passed the time while he thought of what he’d told Sylvia, wondering what she’d decide. He hadn’t realized how much he wanted her to be standing outside the church in the morning.

  After leaving her at the door of the boardinghouse on Thursday night, he’d walked behind the jail to the house he shared with Caleb. A light shown, letting him know his friend was inside. Stomping up the steps, he’d opened the front door, seeing Caleb slipping into his boots.

  “Where are you off to?”

  “Ruby’s for a couple drinks. Why don’t you join me?” He had stood, tucking in his shirt and buckling the belt.

  Mack remembered thinking about what he’d told Sylvia not fifteen minutes before about no more saloons. In his mind, that meant not seeing other women. It didn’t mean no whiskey with friends.

  An hour later, he’d returned home, leaving Caleb to watch the show, and do whatever his friend did when Mack wasn’t around. Taking off his boots, he’d fallen back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling until almost dawn, unable to forget Sylvia’s dismayed look when he’d mentioned his thoughts on marriage.

  Tonight, whittling the piece of wood while glancing up at the light in her bedroom across the street, he still couldn’t keep his thoughts off her. He’d known she wanted love, and a part of him wished he could be the man to provide it. Unfortunately for both of them, that man died long ago, and he had no intention of ever bringing him back to life.

  He’d made the decision to be honest with her. Mack liked and respected Sylvia too much to let her think he shared her beliefs on love. He didn’t see love as a requirement for a successful marriage.

  Seeing her bedroom light flicker and go out, he stopped whittling, staring at the darkened window for several minutes. It had been a long time since he’d met a woman who held his interest and stirred his desire. Sylvia did both, so it wouldn’t be easy to let her go. Mack could only hope the terms of his proposal weren’t too steep. He’d convinced himself they could build a strong union, enjoy a long and fruitful marriage. All she had to do was agree to a marriage without love.

  Dominic rested his head against the seat, scanning the horizon as the train made its way to Denver. Pulling the badge from his pocket, he held it in his hand, chuckling. If the woman at Pettigrew’s had taken a good look, she’d have seen the Texas Ranger engraving and realized he
had no real jurisdiction in Philadelphia.

  He’d been accepted into the elite group of lawmen a week before leaving Whiplash. With the turmoil surrounding Sylvia, Dominic hadn’t risked his father’s wrath by giving him the news right away. The arrival of the Pinkerton telegram increased the urgency for the Luceros to do something on their own.

  Suggesting he be the one to travel to Philadelphia gave Dominic more time to prepare an explanation as to why he applied to the Rangers. He hadn’t thought the acceptance would come so soon or be accompanied by a badge. Before leaving Whiplash, he’d sent a telegram to the Ranger’s headquarters, letting them know he might be gone for several weeks.

  He’d received a quick response, his captain asking him to pass along information to several lawmen about a new string of bank robberies. Dominic agreed, feeling pride at being given the request.

  Crossing his arms, he closed his eyes, thinking about the decision he’d made after leaving Pettigrew’s. Not hesitating to reconsider the action, he had gone straight to the telegraph office, sending a quick message to his father. The elder Lucero would explode when he received the news. Dominic didn’t provide Sylvia’s location. Instead, he let his family know he was going after her and would send word once he learned more.

  The way he saw it, his mother would be distressed, his father enraged, and Cruz accepting of his brother’s decision. Because he looked forward to a marriage with the woman he’d loved for years, their brother understood Sylvia and Dominic wanted the same. Unfortunately, the only answer for the two youngest Luceros seemed to be leaving the family ranch, getting themselves out from under their father’s rule.

  Scrubbing a hand down his face, he took a deep breath, knowing there’d be hell to pay upon his return to Texas. Dominic didn’t know when that would be, but he knew his relationship with his parents would never be the same.

  Splendor

  Sylvia couldn’t stop chewing on her lower lip as she paced around her small bedroom. Thirty minutes before church and she still hadn’t made a decision about whether to agree to Mack’s conditions or protect her heart and let him go. She knew the safest choice would be to walk away, allow him to find a woman happy with a marriage absent of love. It would certainly be the best for Sylvia.