Safe Havens Bundle

by Sandy James

  Just him.

  Perhaps one day, she might even learn to like the act of mating. Perhaps one day it wouldn’t bring pain and shame.

  Would she take this man as her husband? “I will.”

  Caleb repeated his own promise to honor and protect her in a clear and steady voice, making Sara wince in her mind. He couldn’t know what he was doing. This all had to be a mistake. There was no way on God’s green earth that Ty had sent him to her.

  Was there?

  She was so very tired. All she wanted was to rest—really rest. To know peace after watching her back and living in fear and abuse for so long.

  “I now pronounce you man and wi—”

  “Stop!”

  A tall man with hair the same raven shade as Caleb’s came striding up the aisle of the small church, head down like an enraged bull.

  Sara instinctively stepped in front of Caleb to protect him the same way she had any new girl forced to work at The Palace whenever a customer got mean.

  Caleb grabbed her waist and stepped to her side. “Sara, what are you—”

  “Stop this damn wedding!” The man stopped in front of the couple and scowled down at her.

  “Gideon…” Caleb snaked an arm around her waist and hauled her up against his side, “this is my wife, Sara.” He smiled at her, a genuine smile. “Sara, this is my brother, Gideon.”

  “She ain’t your wife yet,” Gideon insisted.

  The preacher cleared his throat and closed his black book. “I’m afraid you’re wrong, Gideon. I just united them in marriage.”

  “Then un-unite ’em.” While Caleb’s brown eyes were full of compassion, Gideon’s burned with anger as he continued to frown at her. “Who the hell are you?”

  Caleb pushed her behind his back. “Let it be, brother. She’s my wife now. What’s done is done. Shouting at her won’t change anything.”

  Since she’d never had a man protect her before, she could only gape at her new husband’s back. He was a tall drink of water. Her head barely reached his shoulders, and she had to stand on tiptoes to look over him at Gideon. While she was glad to know he was family and probably not a danger, she wasn’t about to let her guard down.

  He was even taller than Caleb, and his disposition seemed surly. “You don’t know nothing about her,” Gideon insisted. “You can’t marry a stranger.”

  “I already did,” Caleb calmly replied.

  “You’ve yet to kiss your bride,” the preacher said with a lopsided smile.

  Caleb dismissed his brother by turning his back. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

  The kiss was over and done before she could react. She stood there, dumbfounded at a kiss that was nothing like the slobbering kisses her customers had offered—one of the reasons she’d avoided kissing as much as she could. This one was warm and sent a shiver of pleasure racing through her.

  Gideon had set his fists against his hips and was trying to glare her into submission.

  Sara raised her chin and straightened her spine, glad the pride she’d feared was lost had kicked back in.

  Caleb fished some money from his pocket, handed it to the preacher, and murmured his appreciation.

  After accepting the funds, the preacher left through a side door, probably wanting to let the brothers talk through their differences in private.

  Caleb took Sara’s hand and picked up her bag. “Ready to go see your new home?”

  Gideon’s anger shifted its target. “Don’t you dare take her to your house. How do you know she ain’t gonna rob you blind or kill you in your own bed?”

  Letting go of her hand and dropping the heavy bag to the floor, Caleb stepped forward to stand toe-to-toe with his brother. “She’s my wife now. Accept that. Please, Gideon. Accept my choice for my life. You ain’t changing what’s already done.”

  The tension in the air grew as the brothers continued to stare at each other. Sara knew neither of them well, but she owed her loyalty to her new husband. Ty wouldn’t have chosen someone weak to marry her, and she tried not to worry that the Young brothers would come to blows over her. Both were clenching and unclenching their hands and breathing hard enough their nostrils flared.

  As more long moments passed, she decided to try to bring a peaceful conclusion to the confrontation. She stepped to Caleb’s side and took one of his fisted hands in hers. “I’ll try to make you a good wife.”

  Caleb’s gaze caught hers, and the anger ebbed as his dark eyes softened. He relaxed his hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “I know you will.”

  With a nod, she shifted her attention to Gideon. “I came here to make a new life. I’ll try my best to help Caleb run his farm. I’ll also try my best to be a good wife to him. I truly want to make this work—for all of us.”

  She meant every word. This gift—this blessing—was her new start. The past could be left behind, and she no longer had to live a life full of violence and degradation.

  Sara felt reborn.

  All she had to do to begin her new life was convince Caleb’s brother of her sincerity.

  “I mean what I say, Gideon,” Sara said, her voice as full of confidence as she could manage. “Montana is a new start for me.”

  “And this marriage,” Caleb added, “is a new start for me.”

  Gideon ran his hand over his face and looked away. With a sigh, he dropped his hands to his sides. Without another word, he turned on his heel and marched out of the church.

  After the door slammed shut, Caleb leaned in to brush a kiss over her cheek. “Thank you, Sara.”

  “Why are you thanking me?”

  “For the promises you just made to my brother. He’ll come around. Just give him some time. Drew will get him to accept you.”

  “Drew? You have another brother?” She had so much to learn about her new husband and his life. Her only hope was that a new brother—and the rest of Caleb’s family—wouldn’t be as dead set against her as Gideon was.

  Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, clearly frustrated. “Sara.... Drew is Gideon’s...um... special friend.”

  She cocked her head. “Special friend?”

  “Drew and Gideon are...close. They...um...live together in his new house near the southern property line, farther from town.”

  The truth came on her suddenly. There were a few young men working for Crazy Kate. “Oh... Oh, I think I understand.” Although her cheeks flushed, she pressed on. “Some men prefer the company of other men rather than women. Is that what you’re telling me? That Gideon and Drew are those kind of men?”

  He gave her a brusque nod.

  Grateful he didn’t ask how she’d gathered her knowledge of men’s sexual habits, she smiled and chose another subject. “How far is your farm?”

  “Our farm.”

  Her smile broadened. A home. Her whole life that was all she’d ever wanted. Her own home. “Our farm,” she said in a breathless whisper. Suddenly anxious to get her new future started, she couldn’t help but ask, “Is it close to town?”

  He nodded. “Only about an hour’s drive.” Tugging her along with him, he headed toward the door. “Are you ready to go home, Mrs. Young?”

  “Mrs. Young.” As all that had happened began to settle on her, she wanted to twirl around and shout her happiness. “I like the sound of that.”

  ***

  The ride back to his farm passed in silence. Caleb had so much he wanted to tell Sara, so much more he wanted to ask. He simply couldn’t get his mind off the fact this was his wedding night. He had a beautiful bride, and he wasn’t sure how to approach the topic of consummating the marriage.

  Sara seemed to enjoy the quiet, and he needed the time to formulate a plan. While he might’ve told people he’d sought a wife to share the work at the farm and to spend time with, truth was he wanted intimacy most of all.

  He knew a few whores who’d set up shop nearby. They kept to themselves, having customers visit them in their cabin just outside White Pines. No o
ne thought poorly of them, and married men gave them wide berth. Their visitors were mostly cowboys and single men—like Caleb—who were doing nothing more than easing the demands of their bodies.

  While he’d found the physical release he so desperately needed in that cabin, he couldn’t ignore that he was sinning. Each and every visit might have slaked his lust, but he was left with a troubled conscience and a feeling of shame. Most times the need struck him he simply took matters into his own hands.

  But now he had a wife—a sweet and pretty young woman who he hoped would learn to love the marriage bed.

  Caleb found himself with a problem he hadn’t anticipated. Sara had been abused. She might not have told him in so many words, but the yellowed, fading bruise around her right eye and the way her voice had trembled when she’d admitted she wasn’t a virgin shouted the fact. He’d have to coax her into making love.

  The thought that she might not be ready for intimacy brought a groan.

  Sara turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling in the fading sunlight. “Are you ill?”

  “No. No, just...thinking.”

  “It must’ve been an uncomfortable thought.”

  Since his cock was already hard in anticipation of making love to her, he chuckled. “Yeah...very uncomfortable.” He shifted in his seat, although it did little to help his predicament.

  He wanted her, and not because she was a female. She was a sweet-tempered woman, and he enjoyed the spark of courage he’d witnessed when she’d pushed him behind her to protect him from Gideon. She was a beauty, too. And although a bit cautious, guarding her words, he’d seen a streak of humor in her.

  No, Sara was more than a simple woman. She was his wife, and he already felt a possessiveness that startled him with its intensity.

  “Gettin’ close,” he said, pointing to the last turn. “The house is on that road.”

  She bounced on her seat, her excitement palpable. “Is it large? Not that I need a big home, mind you. I’m simply curious.”

  “Yes, ma’am, it’s large. Three whole bedrooms. It was my parents’ home before they passed on. Then Gideon and me took it over.”

  “You lost your parents?”

  Caleb nodded. “The flu swept the town ten years back. Took a good share of the population, including my sister and my parents.”

  She picked up his hand and cradled it in hers. “I’m so sorry. You must’ve been so young...”

  “Yes, ma’am. I was only thirteen. Gideon was twenty-two. He raised me after that. That’s why he was so upset. He still thinks he needs to protect me.”

  “From me.” Although she held tight to his hand, she glanced away. “He doesn’t approve of you marrying me.”

  Giving her hand a squeeze, he hoped to ease her worries. “It weren’t you, Sara. He didn’t want me to marry this way. That’s all.”

  “This way? You mean having the marriage arranged?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Caleb?”

  “Yes?”

  “I think you can stop calling me ‘ma’am.’ I’m your wife now.”

  “Yes, ma— Sara. Yes, Sara.”

  God, he loved her smile.

  The wagon shifted through the ruts on the road, forcing Sara to slide closer to him. Their thighs brushed, sending heat blazing straight to his groin. This time, he swallowed his groan.

  She didn’t move away, and he liked that she still held tight to his hand.

  Caleb didn’t let go until he had to ease the horses’ pace as they pulled up to his home. “We’re here.”

  “Oh...my...” Her gaze wandered the house. “It is big. How many rooms?”

  “Six.”

  “Six?”

  “Yes, ma— Yes, Sara. And I even have a bathroom. Tub and all.”

  Her eyes widened. “A real bathroom?”

  He nodded.

  Her gaze dropped to her lap as she smoothed her hands over her skirt. “My clothes are covered in filth, and I imagine I smell as rank as your manure pile.”

  “You do no such thing.”

  “May I have a bath? Please?”

  Climbing down, Caleb reached up to lift Sara from the wagon. Instead of releasing her, he held tight to her waist and stared down into her eyes. “Yes. You may have a bath.”

  Her smile took his breath away. “Thank you.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. This is your home now.”

  “Truly?”

  Why would she doubt him? He’d gone to great trouble and expense to bring her all the way from St. Louis. Surely she knew he wouldn’t go to such lengths if he hadn’t intended on sharing his life with her.

  Time, he reminded himself. Sara would need time to get over her abusive past.

  “Truly,” he replied.

  And still, he wouldn’t release her. Having her close seemed so right, and he tightened his grip, pulling her even closer until her breasts brushed his chest.

  Caleb sucked in a hissing breath.

  Sara’s eyes widened before her lids dropped to half mast, looking drowsy and downright sexy.

  He had to kiss her. From the moment his lips had touched hers after the ceremony, he’d wanted to taste her fully. Going slow, giving her time to pull away, he lowered his head to hers.

  Sara had been dying to see if the wedding kiss was some odd occurrence or if Caleb’s kiss was really different from those she’d received from greedy customers. She rose on her toes to meet him halfway.

  When his lips touched hers, she felt the same shiver racing the length of her spine. The kiss was gentle, his lips firm and yet soft. Ever so slowly, he increased the pressure, letting her know there was hunger behind the kiss.

  He tasted like...more.

  She fisted her hands in his jacket and tickled his lips with her tongue. When he opened them to her, she slid her tongue into his mouth.

  His demeanor changed as he wrapped his arms around her and embraced her with a ferocity that left her breathless. The kiss became wild as his tongue chased hers into her mouth. One hand grasped her braid while his other settled on her backside, pulling her hard against him.

  The moment his erection rubbed against her lower belly, her whole body stiffened in response.

  It was instinctual, the fear of a hardened cock. Sara had loved Caleb’s kisses, wanting to surrender to whatever magic had held her in its grasp. That magic had ended when the reality of her situation hit.

  Caleb wanted sex.

  Exactly what every man in her life had ever wanted from her.

  Caleb eased his grip. “It’s okay, Sara. I understand. I’ll be gentle with you. I promise.”

  How many times had she heard that same promise from a man only moments before he gave her pain?

  She glanced away, surrendering to the inevitable. She’d known all along that this dream couldn’t possibly last. One day—or night, rather—she’d have to awaken to stark reality. Her new husband was no different than any other man.

  “I know,” she said with a resigned sigh.

  His crooked finger lifted her chin until she was staring into his eyes again. “No, you don’t. You don’t know me at all, short of having stood before a preacher and sayin’ our vows.”

  “It’s okay, Caleb. You’re a man. I–I understand what you want.”

  “I do want you. I admit that freely. But I’ll be gentle.”

  He swept her into his arms and carried her into the house.

  Chapter Three

  When Caleb released her, Sara was unsteady on her feet. The darkness made her disoriented, so she stood patiently while Caleb set her bag aside and lit the lamps.

  The home wasn’t the log cabin she’d pictured as a Montana homestead.

  They were in a large parlor—much larger than she would’ve expected after seeing the house from the outside. The darkness had obviously concealed its true size.

  As light cast all around, she marveled at the furnishings. The floor was smooth wood, and although there was no carpet, the shine of the pol
ished surface in the lamplight was inviting. Two beautifully carved rocking chairs sat on either side of the pot-bellied stove. Their twisted spindles had to have taken hours upon hours to create. She ran her fingers over the back of one chair, touching the roses in full bloom that had been etched into the wood.

  A large set of shelves was topped with a carved image of a horse in full gallop, his mane and tail had been delicately engraved. On the shelves sat two worn books and statues of Indians and animals ranging from deer to raccoons.

  She picked up one of the carvings and considered it more closely. Not a dog as she’d first supposed but a wolf. “This is beautiful. So detailed. So lifelike.” Tracing the ridges of the fur, she glanced to her new husband. “Did you make this?”

  His cheeks were stained with a blush. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You made all of these?”

  “Yes, ma— Sara. Gets mighty lonely since Gideon moved away.”

  Her sympathy went out to him, and for a moment, her battered heart allowed her to see a child—a child she should’ve shared with Caleb—playing with the wolf.

  Then she sobered.

  Sara could never bear a child. Her husband would surely be disappointed, but she hadn’t found the courage to tell him before they’d exchanged vows. If he’d known, he would have stopped the wedding.

  And then where would she be?

  He’d made no mention of wanting a family, only a wife. She would have to be enough for him thanks to Crazy Kate.

  The memories still burned like the hottest fire. Sara had barely realized she was expecting when Kate had her drugged with laudanum and tied to a bed while a man tore her child from her womb with dirty surgical instruments. After suffering through weeks of fevers and bleeding, she’d recovered. But she’d never conceived again, leaving her convinced she was barren.

  Sara set the wolf and any dreams of having a family aside. She shed her coat, looking around for a place to hang it.

  Caleb came to her rescue, taking it from her and hanging it on a coat tree she’d missed. After he took off his own coat, he hung it up as well. “What do you think?”