A Bride Worth Billions (16 page)

EPILOGUE

Mia woke up to the horn blown every morning to wake everyone in the camp. The sun had not risen yet, but almost everyone was up. She washed her face, brushed her teeth and put on her training clothes. While looking at her self in the mirror, the sudden urge to look pretty came to mind and so she put on a pink lipstick. She also parted her hair to the side to highlight her cheeks. When the result pleased her she grabbed her bag and went for the door.

The smell of fresh onions, garlic and basil leaves tickled her nostril, it made her smile. However, the scents of the spices didn’t set well with stomach. It smelled rotten to her and she had the urge to puke. She covered her mouth to stop anything from coming out, though there was nothing in her stomach since she didn’t eat last night and her appetite was failing her.

She had been feeling tired these days too, probably because she had not had any decent meal for a couple of days. Mia swallowed the lump on her throat and continued towards the dinning hall. She had to eat something, force it down her stomach if she must, or else she will end up in the infirmary. And she doesn’t want to show weakness to her trainees.

The dinning hall was just a few steps away when Mia felt her surroundings spin. She held on to a nearby bench for support but her condition worsened and she was starting to see black dots. Her feet wobbled and she collapsed on the ground.

The next time she opened her eyes she was already lying on one of the beds in the infirmary. The doctor stood by her side and smiled.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little better. Maybe I was too hungry and my body gave up on me. I haven’t eaten anything nutritious these days.” She smiled weakly.

“These are just symptoms for your current condition.” The doctor extended her hand. “Congratulations! You’re two months on the way.”

With that she was left alone.
She’s pregnant?
But she didn’t have any contact with Nate since he left the camp a month ago.
Two months?
It meant one thing, she got pregnant after the attack.

There were many casualties on that day but mostly they were from the black wolves. The elite guards and the Commander served as backup and Dimitri was killed by Nate. After the enemy’s leader fell, the rest of the black wolves run away.

The fallen young men had been brought back to the camp and a special place near the training field was where their bodies were buried. Everyone mourned their deaths and spent the following day offering prayers and performing rituals to honor them.

Nate had stayed with her and they never left the cottage. He had been so worried that she would never look at him the way she used to after Mia had witnessed how cruel he was with their enemies. After so many assurance sealed with kisses, he finally relaxed. And the playful Nate was back. He made love to her whenever he could, telling her every single time that she was all he ever needed.

That was probably when she conceived their child. But what was supposed to happen now?

Nate had been out of the camp to meet with the elders of the society. They demanded an explanation from him since he was the only Alpha present that day. Yes, he was an Alpha of his own clan and a favorite candidate to become the ultimate Alpha for the wolf society.

A knock on the door brought her back to the present. It was the captain of the training team. He went straight to her.

“Nate is back.”

THE END

It was an unpleasant dream at first, one in which I could hear noises. It started with popping and crackling and the sounds grew violent and so loud that I realized I wasn’t dreaming. I kicked off my patchwork quilt and thrashed around my iron bed. Soon I heard beams crashing to the ground and windows shattering. It was the autumn of 1872 and it had been like any other day at my family’s brownstone in Boston. It wasn’t a dream so I couldn’t wake from the horror and the sounds got worse as I started to hear screaming. Wretched calls for help from my parents and two little brothers started loud eventually faded and then stopped. They were trapped on the floors above because flames engulfed the staircase. Smoke filled the room as I managed to burst out the front door and onto the street. The next thing I knew I was waking up in a sterile hospital room with other patients who were affected by the great fire. Strangers moaning in pain and family members in distress replaced the cries of my family. The first person I saw when I opened my eyes was a strange man with a vaguely familiar smile.

“Hello Cassandra. You don’t know me but I’m your Uncle Henry O’Brien. I was on my way to Boston to see my brother Ed and stay for a while. I was almost here when I got word that Boston was burning. You survived the tragedy, which the doctors said was nothing short of a miracle.”

“Nice to meet you Uncle Henry but I have no idea who you are and I want to talk to my parents or the boys. Elliot and Joseph must be scared out of their wits,” Cassandra said.

“I’m pained to tell you that your parents and your brothers perished in the fire. I’m afraid I’m the only relation you have left because I don’t think you have a husband.”

“I have no one left and no house. Even the clothes on my back are singed. No offense to you Uncle Henry but I have nothing.” I pounded my fist on the bedside table and began sobbing.

Uncle Henry realized that not only did I look like an O’Brien but I came with the feisty attitude that was the hallmark of O’Brien women. My father said that I would have trouble finding a husband; not because of my looks but because of my temper. At that moment, I wished I had a husband, which would have provided me someone to turn to other that Uncle Henry.

“I’m a God fearing man and I’ll do the right thing by you. You’re family so I’ll just have to take you back with me. I hadn’t planned on returning until springtime but I see that I have no choice.”

“Take me back where Uncle Henry?” Cassandra asked tentatively.

“Oklahoma is where I came from and it’s where we’ll go back to together.”

“Oklahoma? Isn’t that where they have cowboys?”

“Yup”

“Oh, great.” I said sarcastically.

Uncle Henry had his hands full and it was clear immediately that he had no idea what to do with a black haired beauty as me. When I finally dried my big blue eyes and gathered my thoughts, I put on a dress donated by the church and we headed west.

“This journey to Oklahoma Territory has taken a long time Uncle Henry. I’ve never shied away from hard work but this is difficult in a different way. I was used to household duties and helping my Mother take care of the boys. We weren’t rich but comfortable so having little takes getting accustomed to,” I said.

“That’s the first complaint I’ve heard out of your mouth since we left Boston. I think you’re talking gibberish cuz I’m impressed with how well you’ve done. I know you lived a life of comfort in Boston with nice clothes and proper meals at regular hours so this must be hell. I’m even starting to think of you like my own daughter. We’re gonna get along fine in Oklahoma.”

“Tell me about your home,” I asked.

Uncle Henry was embarrassed to go into detail because he didn’t have much. He softened the edges of life out west so I wouldn’t be scared.

“I live in a small town called Sage outside of a bigger town called Oklahoma City. Some other homesteaders and I make up the town. We got our land through the big “land grab”. Some couldn’t survive life on the plains and headed back east. Indians got a few of my friends but much of that nonsense has died down.” Uncle Henry downplayed the threat of Indians.

“You’ve told me about your land. What’s the house like. Will I have my own room?”

Uncle Henry fell asleep before he could go into detail. The church was generous for paying our way back to Oklahoma. We travelled by both stage, railroad and the journey lasted three weeks. There were only two days left before the train pulled into Oklahoma City and I couldn’t wait to breath in the fresh air. After that, we were going to contact Seth at the mill in Oklahoma City who we would pay to ride us home to Sage. It was confusing and I was glad to have Uncle Henry whom I had come to rely on.

At dawn, a man came through the train alerting us that we would arrive in Oklahoma City that day. I would have looked forward to buying a clean new dress until I remembered that stores might be difficult to find out west and more importantly, I had no money.

“Uncle Henry. Wake up Uncle Henry; were in Oklahoma City. We finally made it all the way from Boston.” I nudged my uncle and poked his doughy belly but he didn’t respond. I kicked him with my button up shoe but he didn’t react.

Uncle Henry was dead. I was heading westward not knowing a soul in Oklahoma City. Before I alerted anyone that he was dead, I emptied Uncle Henry’s pockets. I came across a couple of coins and a folded up scrap of paper that I didn’t take the time to read. I stuffed what I found in my own pocket and called for help.

I was expecting fresh clean air when I stepped off the train alone in Oklahoma City. In Boston, we had the new factories, which stunk, but the ocean breezes provided relief. There was no ocean in the West. I hated my new home already and tried hard not to break out in tears. The first person I noticed was leading a horse and seemed to know where he was heading.

“Excuse me. I wonder if you can help.”

I would use anything at this point. I was a woman and he was a man so I pulled down by dress to give him a better view of my breasts. His eyes widened.

“You sure do look like you could use help. It’s not safe for a woman to be walking unescorted.”

“That’s the problem sir. I have no choice but to be alone because I don’t know anyone outside of Boston. My name is Cassandra O’Brien and I’m looking for a man named Seth who works at a mill.”

“How do you know Seth?” He asked and a slight smile began to form on his face.

“My Uncle Henry was a homesteader in these parts and he planned to find Seth when we arrived.”

“
Was
a homesteader?”

“My uncle died on the trip from Boston and now I know no one here.”

The man extended his hand. “Seth Morgan. Your luck is changing Cassandra because any friend of Henry O’Brien’s is a friend of mine. May he rest in peace” Seth had a friendly smile even if he was missing a couple of teeth. “This character coming my way is my son Job.”

Job Morgan was a huge man in comparison to my petite 5’2” frame. He cleared six feet by a couple of inches and he looked strong but by no means fat. His blue-grey eyes smiled before his mouth did and unlike his father, he had a glistening smile.

“Do you think you can get me out to Henry O’Brien’s place?” I asked

“There isn’t much to Henry’s place; a one bedroom shack and a barn. It’s on a creek which is its only redeeming quality. It’s no place to drop off a young lady like yourself. You’ve been out there Job; how long do you think this city girl will last on Grist Creek alone?”

Job laughed. “Not long at all pop but I guess she has no choice. I’ll bet she lasts a week before she’ll do anything to get back to Boston; I mean anything.”

I liked Job based on his appearance when I first saw him but I was beginning to detest him for underestimating me. My father once challenged me to catch a fish off the dock with him, de-bone and fix it for dinner. I did it with little difficulty.

“I’m only asking that you bring me there. My Uncle spoke of a root cellar where he kept provisions, which will prevent me from starving. I’ll surprise you Job, with my resourcefulness.” I smiled at Job and he was surprised at my spunkiness. “You said that you would bet on my failure. I’d like to make the bet interesting so let’s wager on something; any suggestions.”

“I should point out the obvious Cass; you have nothing with which to wager. I’ll just win knowing you run back to Boston as the loser and I’ll be the winner,” Job said.

“We’ll wager my cabin and the land on Grist Creek. If I have, it fixed up nice as I expect I will; I’ll remain in Oklahoma. If I fail, I’ll go back to Boston and leave you everything.”

“This is going to be the easiest bet that I’ve ever wagered,” Job, offered his hand to seal the deal. He had a powerful grip and surprisingly smooth hands that were as river rocks.

“I should intervene here and mention that we’re running out of daylight. We had better get moving. The two of you can argue on the way out to Henry’s place. I guess now it’s Cassandra’s place.” Seth smiled.

The three of them walked back to the mill where they climbed on Seth’s wagon for the ride along Grist creek to my new home.

“I should warn you about a few things that you’ll need to know about life on the plains.” Job said as Seth took control of the team.

“Go right ahead Job. I don’t scare easy and I’m aware that you’ll make it sound more dangerous than it is.”

“You’ll run into Indians and they won’t be happy to see you. The government is pushing em west and many Chickasaw, Cherokee and Muscogee’s have decided that Oklahoma is about as far as they plan to go. They see you as an invader on their land. It was worse 10 years ago but they’re a pesky bunch so beware. I’m hoping Henry left a spare pistol in the cabin; if he did, you should learn to use it. If you hadn’t noticed Cass, it’s winter and storms come quickly around here. I happen to work at the tannery and I also skin animals so I’ll give you something warm; don’t want you to freeze to death before I win the bet.”

I interrupted. “You haven’t scared me yet. I was thinking Job, we have to put a time limit on our bet. When did you have in mind?” I asked.

“How about July. It will give you the spring to get a small patch of land planted. How about the 15
th
of the month?

“Perfect Job. It’ll be easy to remember because it’s my 20
th
birthday. We can celebrate my success and my birthday together. Are you planning to keep calling me Cass?” I asked.

“Fancy names don’t impress folks out here so yes; I’ll continue to call you Cass.”

I smirked because I liked my name.

“I see smoke coming from the left. Is that Indians?”

“No, that’s Lydia Dale. She owns the land closest to yours. I guess you’d call her your neighbor. She’s a tough old bird who lives there alone since her husband Ben died. Some say he was killed by the Cherokee but it was a mountain lion that got him. When people die around here, they often blame it on the Indians.”

We came upon my new home as the sun was setting. It was not as I imagined it but I didn’t show my disappointment. A front porch was falling off the front of the structure and the window frames were shuttered. The door had been bolted shut by enormous timbers and a brick chimney poked out the roof. It was definitely built by Henry and he was probably proud of his work. For a man living a solitary existence it was just fine but for a 19 year old woman, it would take getting used to.

“Well, thanks for escorting me home. Do you think you can do me one more favor and pry off the boards blocking my entrance?”

“We’ll go one step further and spend the night camped out by the creek. Fish are practically jumping out of this creek so we’ll catch a few before we leave in the morning. I don’t care if you have a bet with my son, I insist on helping you get on yer feet. I’ll be back with some supplies in a few days. For tonight, you should lay under the pelt that Job provided and try to get some shut-eye.

I managed to make it over the decrepit porch without falling through the rotting boards. The cabin was thick with cobwebs. Every rafter was filled with them making the cabin appear dream like. Dust on the table and one chair was an inch thick and a stale odor hung in the air. No windows meant it was dark so I carried a lantern.

“Eek. Help.” I screamed and fell against the wooden chair.

Seth and Job came rushing in.

“What’s wrong Cass? Are you hurt?” Job screamed and moved to lift me off the floor.

My dignity was more harmed than anything as I lay spread eagle on the floor with my cheap dress cinched up.

“Something startled me. I think it was a bear or maybe a mountain lion. I’m not certain but it was big.”

As the words came out of my mouth, a raccoon and her babies scattered down from a top shelf. They scurried out the front door. Job and Seth began laughing uncontrollably. I did not.

“That’s the kind of missed opportunity that’s gonna cause you to lose this bet. You should’ve  trapped the coon cuz it would have made a warm hat,” Job joked.

“Now that you have had a good laugh, leave me alone in my raccoon nest. I’ll see you boys in the morning.”

They walked outside. As soon as I saw the backs of their heads I burst into tears and curled up on Uncle Henry’s dirty mattress. I was down but not out and I was not going to let the Oklahoma plains get me.