Tame a Wild Bride, a Western Romance (5 page)

“You shouldn’t judge all women by your stupid wife.
 
You didn’t say anything in your letters about not wanting children.”
 
This development saddened her more than she could say.
 
It was one thing to not have a chance at a real marriage.
 
One with love, respect and friendship.
 
But to not have her own children almost too much to take.
 
She bit back a sob and swiped at her eyes.
 
Her entire marriage, her new life was built on a lie.
 
She would not cry.
 

“Didn’t figure I’d get many responses if I mentioned that fact.”

“No, you wouldn’t have, including mine.
 
Most women want children of their own.
 
What if your kids don’t like me?”

“I figure that’s going to be up to you.
 
They’ll be a tough sell.
 
Ben especially.
 
He was very close to his mother.
 
Suzie, on the other hand, doesn’t remember her.
 
She was only a baby, just barely one, when Sarah died.”

“I see.”

“I don’t think you do.
 
I need a cook, housekeeper and mother for my children.
 
That’s all.
 
Don’t have any illusions about love, Rosie.
 
It won’t happen.
  
A woman already betrayed me once.
 
I won’t be taken in again.
 
Don’t expect love from me.”

“So now you feel it’s all right to betray me?
 
Why?
 
Because I’m a woman?
 
Not wanting children was not something you ever mentioned in your letters, but I’ll try to remember what your feelings are.”

“If I recall correctly, you didn’t mention it either.
 
That’s one of the reasons I chose you.
 
You seemed straightforward and practical without silly, girlish notions.”

“I don’t think wanting love and children in my life is a girlish notion.
 
But you’re right, I don’t have any delusions that you may fall in love with me.
 
I gave up on finding love a long time ago.
 
I
was
hoping for friendship.”

He was silent.
 
Finally, he asked, “What put you off love, or perhaps I should say who?”

She looked down at her gloved hands, clasped in her lap.
 
“I had a beau who I thought cared for me.
 
All he cared for was my money.
 
When he found someone with more, he dropped me like a hot iron.”

“I’m sorry, Rosie.
 
That explains some things.”

“Like what?
 
What
can you garner from those few sentences?”

He turned his head and those deep blue eyes bore into her.
 
“I can see why you would answer an advertisement for a mail order bride.
 
You were hurt and looking for someone to validate your existence.”

“I don’t
need
validation.
 
I was looking for a way to have a home of my own.
 
One I can’t be thrown out of.
 
Of course, that has yet to be seen, doesn’t it?”
 
She didn’t want to talk about this any longer.
 
It was painful enough to know that she wasn’t desirable to Tom.
 
“Tell me more about your children,” she said, changing the subject.

His features visibly softened at the mention of his children.
 
She saw on his face how much he loved them and swallowed the lump in her throat.

“I am lucky enough to have two beautiful children.
 
Ben, who’s ten, is my serious one.
 
He’s a good student as you’ll see.
 
He always has his nose in a book and would rather read than anything.”

“I wish you’d told me that before.
 
I’d have gotten him books for his gift.”

“You didn’t ask what they wanted, only if they would like what you picked out,” he said softly.

She let out a sigh.
 
“You’re right.
 
All I wanted to know was how old they are.
 
I’m sorry.
 
That was very presumptuous of me.”

“It’s alright, he’ll enjoy the pocket knife, too.”

“I did bring a few books with me, maybe he’d like to read them, if he hasn’t already.”

“I’m sure he will.
 
Giddy up.”
 
He slapped the reins on the butts of the team.
 
They were beginning to slow and try to eat the grass along the side of the road.
 

The country side was beautiful.
 
Unlike anything she’d ever seen before. The mountains stood purple against the blue sky.
 
The grasses were growing and meadows filled with a riot of colors from flowers she couldn’t name.
 
Amazing country.
 
Beautiful.
 
Wild.

 
She itched to get her watercolors out and paint it though she knew the watercolors wouldn’t do it justice.
 
Oils would be much better to capture the vibrancy of color all around her.
 

“You’ll have to teach me to drive a team.
 
It doesn’t look too hard but I’ve never done it and probably should know how.”

“You’re right, you should.”
 
He passed the reins to her.
 
“There’s not much to it.
 
If you want to turn left, pull back on the left rein, right on the right rein.
 
To stop or slow down, pull back on both reins at the same time.
 
To get them going, slap them on their rumps, like I just did.
 
You try it.”

She took a rein in each hand and slapped them down.
 
It did almost nothing.
 

“You need to flick it with your wrist.
 
Like this,” he put his arm around her then took her hands in his and flicked the reins.
 
He was so warm, in a way that had nothing to do with the sun and everything to do with his effect on her.
 
She wanted nothing more than to lean into him and draw his warmth to her.
 
Glancing up she found him gazing at her.
 
She swallowed hard and lowered her eyes back to the horses.

His hands lingered on hers for an extra moment, at least she thought they did, before he leaned back to his side of the bench.

He cleared his throat.
 
“Well, you see what I mean.”

Breathless from just his touch, she felt heat in her cheeks.
 
“Yes, I do.
 
I imagine it would be a little different with a lighter vehicle, like a buggy.
 
The horses wouldn’t want to go so slow and they’d be harder to control.”

He nodded.

Her breathing back under control, she tried for the mundane.
 
A safe subject.
 
“So what about Suzie?
 
She’s three now, correct?”

“Yes.
 
She was just a baby when Sarah left, so she doesn’t remember her at all.
 
Suzie was our surprise baby.
 
After so many years, we thought Ben would be our only child.
 
Then Sarah got pregnant with Suzie.
 
I thought she doted on both kids.
 
Her bond with Ben seemed special, just as mine is with Suzie.
 
That little one has me wrapped around her finger and she knows it.
 
She’s my ornery one.”

“How did you manage a baby all alone after she was gone?”

“My mother’s a widow and came to help me.
 
But she had to leave to help her sister and she thought it was time I married again anyway.”

“So, you placed an ad and got me.
 
I bet you got lots of responses.
 
What made you choose mine?”

“You were the only one who sent a photograph.”

“Oh.”
 
Well, that was something and she felt a little better.
 
Actually, she decided he must have found her pleasing enough.
 
He’d sent for her, hadn’t he?
 
Maybe seducing him would be easier than she thought.

She smiled.

*****

Tom knew he’d hurt her again.
 
He didn’t do it on purpose but for some reason everything he said came out wrong.
 
Though he wanted her to know where he stood, he didn’t want her to take it as personal.
 
He would have done the same thing no matter who it was that he’d picked.

He’d picked her because she was pretty in her photograph.
 
He’d lied when he said she was the only one who sent one.
 
Several of the other women had, but Rosie’s was the one he kept coming back to.
 
The one he thought about during the day and looked at before bed at night.
 

Even under the dirt, soot and grime from the trip, he could see her beauty.
 
He was scared.
 
Everyone left.
 
He knew that.
 
He no longer had the same innocence of commitment, so he decided looks were paramount.
 
He picked her.
 

He’d chosen correctly.
 
In person, she was spectacular.
 

*****

They arrived at the McKenzie’s right around noon.
 
Ben came running out, Suzie followed as fast as her chubby little legs would carry her.
 
“Papa,” yelled Ben, as he ran down the porch steps.

Tom helped Rosie down and then turned just as Ben hurtled into his side.
 
Suzie launched herself at Tom completely confident he would catch her, which he did.
 
He stood there holding both of his children.
 
“Kids, this is Rosie.
 
She’s your new mother.
 
Say hello.”

Ben stepped away from his father and held out his hand.
 
He was a little sullen but obedient to what his father expected him to do.
 
“Hello, I’m Ben.”

The perfect little gentleman, Tom beamed with pride in his son.

“Hello, Ben.
 
I know you already have a mother and I’m not trying to take her place, so I would be pleased if you could call me Rosie.”

Ben perked up a bit.
 
“Alright, Rosie.”

“Suzie,” prompted her father.
 
“What do you say?”

She took her thumb out of her mouth.
 
“Hello.”

Suzie tried to put her thumb back in her mouth but Tom stopped her and shook his head.
 
Suzie sighed and dropped her hand.
 
“Sorry, Papa.”

“It’s all right.
 
Mama will help us remember, too, from now on.
 
Won’t you, Mama?” said Tom.

Rosie nodded, unable for the moment to say anything.
 
Mama.
 
The one word she’d waited all her life to hear.
 
“Of course, I will.”

A beautiful red-haired woman carrying a baby, and one of the most handsome men Rosie had ever seen, followed Tom’s children down the stairs.
 
With them was a boy about four.

“Catherine and Duncan McKenzie, this is my wife Rosie.”

“Hello, pleased to make your acquaintance,” said Rosie.