Montana Sky: Mail Order Machinations (Kindle Worlds Novella) (3 page)

Elizabeth laughed softly.  “If she’s not, I’ll be surprised.  I’ve never met anyone quite like your sister.”

“That’s because there is no one quite like Coral.  Imagine being her
older
sister.  She’s supposed to follow in my footsteps, but I always felt like I was following in hers.  It’s very disconcerting to be found lacking when compared to a sister who is eighteen months younger than you are.  I know why you have an age limit for women you place, but—she’s more capable than any other woman I know.  I’ve always felt like less when she was around.”

Elizabeth smiled.  “I understand what it’s like to be overwhelmed by the reputation of your siblings.  Don’t worry.  All of that is about to change.  You’ll have a man to love and take care of.”

Esther nodded.  “I certainly hope so.”

Esther rested her head against the dirty window of the train, clutching Coral’s hand.  The next stop was Sweetwater Springs, and she was nervous.  More nervous than she’d ever been in her life.  What if Brody looked at her and didn’t find her pretty?  Worse, what if he took one look at Coral and said she had to go back home?

Coral squeezed Esther’s hand.  “Stop worrying.”

“Is it so obvious?”

Coral laughed softly.  “I can hear the wheels in your head spinning.  Either he accepts me or he doesn’t.  If he doesn’t, there’ll be somewhere for me to go.  I’m sure there’s a man close by who would marry me on sight.”

“I really want you to be able to marry for love.  That’s part of the reason I’m doing this. You should have all the time in the world to meet and find a man who you care for.”

“Why?” Coral asked.  “I can make the best of any situation.  I wish I was the one marrying first, so you could have that.  You deserve it.”

Esther shook her head. “We both know I’m the weaker sister.  No, you deserve to have time to find a man you can love.  We’ll see what happens, but I want you to wait until you’re ready.”

Coral rested her head on her sister’s shoulder.  “Whatever happens, I’m glad we’re here together.”

“Me too.” Esther was less nervous with Coral at her side, even though she knew Brody may be angry upon seeing her. 

The train stopped and the sisters stood, gathering their belongings.  After ten days on a train, they were both ready to get on with their lives.

Esther got off the train first, moving to the center of the platform, Coral staying slightly behind her.  Esther scanned the crowd, looking for a man in a cowboy hat, hoping to find him easily.

Brody stood with his hat clutched to the front of his chest, unusually nervous.  He’d never done anything like this in his life, and he wasn’t certain how he was supposed to act with a new wife he’d never met.  Should he kiss her in greeting?  Shake her hand?  Or just lead her to his wagon?

He’d stopped by the parsonage on his way to the train station to warn Pastor Norton and his wife that he would be stopping by with his bride on his way out of town later.

He spotted the woman he assumed was his bride, a tall brunette with pretty brown eyes.  She was wearing a pink dress with some sort of pattern on it.  He strode toward her, pleased with her appearance at least.  Hopefully she would have a good heart to match.

He approached her, hat in hand, stopping in front of her.  “Esther?”

Esther nodded.  “Brody?”  She stared at him, her throat going dry, and her hands starting to sweat.  She hoped he wouldn’t try to shake her hand just then. Who wanted their marriage to start with a sweaty handshake?

“Yes, I’m Brody Finnegan.  It’s nice to meet you.”  He wanted to kiss her, but wondered how she’d feel if their first kiss was on a train platform.  “The preacher and his wife are expecting us.”

He reached down to pick up her bags, and she looked back over her shoulder at Coral.  “I—I brought my sister with me,” she all but whispered.  Esther was shocked at how soft her voice was, and how very nervous she was around this man, who would be her husband in just a short while.  She’d never felt that way around Jeremiah.

The quickening in her stomach was new as well.  Just a tingling as he looked at her.  Why did she feel so differently with this man?

“Your sister?” His voice was perplexed and his brows drew together.  “Why would you bring your sister?”

“Because she had nowhere to go.”

Brody looked over her shoulder at the sister.  “What are we going to do with her?”  His house was small, only two bedrooms.  He wouldn’t turn her out, but what about when the children came?

Esther frowned at his callous question.  “She’ll be eighteen in a month or two.  I’m sure she’ll find a husband quickly.  She’s very skilled.”
Much more skilled than I am.

“So she’s planning on being with us for just a short while?” he asked, needing to know the plan before he married Esther.  “Did you know you’d bring her with you when you answered my letter?”

Esther thought for a moment about denying it, but she couldn’t start their marriage on a lie.  “I did.” Her eyes met his directly.  He had red hair and green eyes, the same coloring as Coral had.  She wondered idly if he was planning to marry the right sister.

“And you didn’t tell me because?” Brody didn’t have a huge problem with her bringing her sister, especially if she didn’t plan to live with them forever.  His problem was with her attempt at deception.

“Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure if you’d agree to marry me if you knew I’d have a sister in tow.  I was hoping that once we arrived, and you met us both, you’d go through with it.” Esther knew that honesty was the only way to start a marriage she wanted to last.  It was better he knew the truth before he married her than found out later.

Coral stepped forward then, holding her hand out to Brody.  “I’m Coral.”

Brody shook Coral’s hand, his eyes never leaving Esther’s face.  “I could still refuse to marry you now.”

Esther nodded.  “You could.  I hope you won’t. We were in a tricky situation back home, and we had no idea what else to do.  It seemed the right thing to do at the time.”

“Is there anything else I need to know?  There’s no baby in the bag?” he asked, frowning at the carpet bags he’d dropped when she announced she’d brought her sister.

Esther shook her head.  “No baby.  I was engaged to be married, right up ‘til the day I answered your letter, but he’s only kissed me.  I’m still a virgin.”  She knew the words were somewhat crass, but considering the situation, she wanted them to be out there. 

Brody grinned at that.  “Well, at least you’re honest now.  Okay, let’s get married.”  He was slightly disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to make love to his wife that night.  There was no privacy in the small shelter they’d stay in halfway to the ranch. 

Esther let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding to grab his hand and squeeze it.  She stood on tiptoe and kissed his weather-worn cheek.  “Thank you.”

He caught her by the back of the neck and kissed her lips quickly before releasing her.  “If you’re going to kiss me, do it right.”

Esther felt a tingling in her lips that had never happened when Jeremiah kissed her.  She wanted to catch his shoulders and bring Brody back for another kiss, but with her sister standing there, and the whole of Sweetwater Springs looking on, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

He bent and picked up her carpet bags, leaving Coral to carry her own.  “Let’s go get married.”

He helped Esther onto the wagon seat and then Coral, walking around to get in beside Esther.  It wouldn’t be the affectionate drive back to his ranch he’d had in mind, but maybe it was better if they got to know one another before they moved on to the next level in their relationship.

Mrs. Norton welcomed both women with open arms, not asking about why there were two and not just the one they’d expected.  “I’m sure you ladies will want to wash up after your long journey.”

“Oh, yes, if you don’t mind,” Coral responded for both of them. 

“I’ve already filled the pitcher with hot water.”  She led them into a spare bedroom with a pitcher and bowl off in a corner, leaving them alone.

Esther washed first, unfastening the front of her dress, and dropping it down around her waist.  “I feel so filthy!” she complained, reaching for the bar of soap resting on the edge of the bowl.

Coral nodded.  “I do too. So hurry up!”

Esther washed quickly, not because of anything Coral said, but so she wouldn’t keep Brody waiting.  “What do you think of him?” she asked, knowing there would be no question in Coral’s mind who she was referring to.

Coral shrugged.  “He’s handsome enough, and he seems to be willing to accept the fact that I came with you and will stay with you for a while.  The important thing is what do
you
think of him?”

Esther blushed, concentrating on washing instead of looking at her sister.  “I like him.  I really like the way he kisses.” 

“More than Jeremiah?”

“Oh, yes!  I always felt a little—dirty after Jeremiah kissed me.  When Brody kissed me, I just wanted to kiss him more.”  Esther blushed as she admitted it, but who could she talk to about those things if not her sister?

“Maybe what happened with Father is the best thing for both of us then.”

“Maybe. I’ll reserve judgment for a while.” She walked to the bed and sat down, rummaging through her carpet bag. She pulled out a dress to see if it looked terribly wrinkled. “I have got to get out of this thing. I feel like this dress could walk by itself it’s so dirty.”

Coral nodded, unbuttoning her dress and dropping it to the floor. She washed wearing just her petticoat. “He seems like a nice man. I do think you’ll be happy with him.”

“I just have to wait and see.”

Ten minutes later, the sisters were washed and dressed, and they stepped out into the parlor.

“Are you ladies ready to start?” the minister asked.

Esther nodded. “Yes, sir. We are.” She moved to stand beside Brody, looking up at him as he stood straight beside her.  He took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.

The wedding was short and brief, and Esther barely remembered it later.  Except for the kiss, of course.  She’d always remember that kiss for the rest of her life.

When the minister said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” Brody pulled Esther to him by the hand he held. He slipped his hands around her waist, lowering his mouth to hers.

The kiss that followed was nothing like she had ever imagined a wedding kiss to be. He held her just a little bit too close, his lips ravaging hers. As he kissed her, her hands moved up to circle his shoulders, and she pressed closer than she should have.

He nipped her bottom lip before raising his head. His eyes were half closed, and she saw something in them she didn’t recognize. It was almost predatory.

The pastor cleared his throat, pulling at the front of his collar. “Congratulations.”

Brody’s eyes didn’t leave Esther’s as he replied. “Thank you, sir.”

Coral’s eyes were wide as she looked back and forth between her sister and her new brother-in-law.

Brody smiled at his new bride. “Let’s start toward home.”

They all said goodbye to the pastor as they headed for the door. Esther pulled away from Brody and hurried back to thank Mrs. Norton. “I so appreciate you thinking to have warm water waiting for us. It made my sister and I feel very welcome.” She took the older woman’s hands in hers and squeezed them tightly.

Mrs. Norton smiled. “I was so happy to be part of your big day.”

Esther hurried to rejoin Brody. “Now we can start toward home.”

Brody had watched the whole thing with a smile. His wife had manners. Maybe she hadn’t been completely upfront with him before the wedding, but he had a feeling she would be now.

Five minutes later, they were out of Sweetwater Springs and on their way toward the ranch. “How far is your ranch?” Esther asked, needing to break the uncomfortable silence.

“It’s going to take a day and a half to get there. We’ll stop at a small cabin along the way, put there for travelers.”

Esther looked at her sister. She hoped that Brody would be willing to wait for their wedding night, so her sister would hear no untoward noises.

The beauty of Montana Territory was not lost on either of the sisters. They’d lived in the Northeast their entire lives, never traveling far at all from their home. In fact, their first train trip had been to Montana.

“It’s beautiful.” Coral looked everywhere around her, her eyes lit with excitement.  She thought of this whole thing as a huge adventure.

Brody smiled. “Do you think you’ll try and find a man from this area? Make Montana your home?”

“Definitely. Not only do I want to be close to my sister, I can’t imagine ever leaving this place.”

“You two must be really close. I was very close to my brothers, before I left Ireland.”

Esther smiled. “I knew I recognize that Irish brogue. How long have you been here?”

“I moved to Montana when I was twenty-one. I left Ireland when I was eighteen, and I worked in a factory in New York City for three years. I definitely prefer Montana to New York.”

“Oh, I think I would too. I can imagine living in a city as big as New York.”

Brody shrugged. “A man does what he must. I’m happy that I don’t have to do that any longer. My ranch makes me very happy.”

“Is it a big ranch?” Esther had been engaged to the son of the richest man in her hometown. It seemed strange to be married to this man now. Strange, but good.

“It’s certainly not the biggest ranch in Montana, but it’s not small. I have five men who work for me full-time.”

Coral’s ears perked up at that. “Are your men married?”

Brody shook his head. “Nope. None of them. And there are plenty of unmarried men in Morgan’s Crossing as well.”

“Morgan’s Crossing?” Esther asked. “Is that near you?”

“Near is a relative term. It’s about a half day’s wagon ride away, but it’s the nearest town.”