EMMA (Mail-Order Brides Club, #1) (8 page)

"We'll take the cattle back, if you want to go with the sheriff to get Jones," Paul said.

"I'll get my horse and we can head out," Ethan said.

The sheriff hitched up his wagon, as he'd need the room in the back to bring Russell in, and then he and Ethan started towards the Jones farm.

***

E
mma was jumpy all morning, worried about Ethan and wondering how things were going and if they'd caught Russell yet. It was their usual day to head to Naomi's after lunch and she was outside hitching up the horses when she heard a twig crack and the sound of footsteps. She turned around eagerly, expecting it to be Ethan, but it wasn't.

"Hello, beautiful. Lovely day, isn't it?" Russell Jones stood before her, all dark and oozing sleaziness. Fear raced up Emma's spine. She couldn't lock him out if she wasn't in the house.

"What are you doing here?" She tried to sound defiant, but the wobble in her voice gave her away.

He chuckled, enjoying her discomfort.

"Just being neighborly. I thought it was about time I dropped by. Aren't you going to invite me in for a cup of tea, my lovely neighbor?"

"We were just heading out, actually. It's our day to visit Emily's grandparents." Emma hoped the subtle reminder that she had a small child with her might make him go away.

But no such luck.

"Isn't that sweet. I'm sure they won't mind if you're delayed a bit. Let's go inside and relax, shall we?" His tone had a bit of steel in it now and Emma tried to stall, hoping against hope that Ethan would be home soon and wondering why Russell Jones was here instead of in town. She frowned at that, wondering if their plan had been completely derailed.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Russell's tone was ominous. "About that tea?"

"Fine, we'll have tea." Emma walked quickly toward the house, hoping to slam the door behind her, but Russell kept pace with her easily and held the door firmly open as she walked inside.

Emily was sitting on the floor, playing with her doll, and looked up in surprise and confusion when she saw Russell Jones.

"Emily, go to your room, now." Emma's tone left no room for questions and Emily did as she was asked. Emma then filled a teakettle with water and set it in middle of the stove, where it would heat up most quickly.

She stood a good distance away, but Russell quickly closed the gap and sidled up next to her.

"I've been looking forward to this," he said, and the image of a reptile flicking its forked tongue came to Emma's mind. Immediately, she took a step away from him, but he smiled and simply stepped towards her. "I think we’re going to enjoy getting to know each other better. Don't you agree?"

Emma shivered in response, which Russell noticed and took the opportunity to put his arm around her shoulders and draw her near.

"Cold my dear? I'll warm you up." Emma struggled to get free of his grip and he responded by tightening it.

"I do love a woman who plays hard to get." He was enjoying this game while Emma felt like throwing up.

"So, tell me, dear Emma, how are you enjoying all the benefits of married life?"

At her confused look, he somehow understood that she hadn't yet had that experience.

"You haven't yet had the pleasure? Are you telling me yours isn't a real marriage? That's the most wonderful news I've heard all day."

Emma simply stared at him in horror, while he chuckled with delight.

"Oh, Emma, I'm going to give you an afternoon to remember. You'll be able to teach Ethan a thing or two after I finish with you."

***

A
s they were about to pass by Ethan's farm on the way to Russell's place, Ethan was surprised to see that the buggy was still out front with the horses hitched to it. They were usually at his mother's place by now. They must just be running late. With the horses ready to go, Emma must be leaving any moment. They continued past the house and then Ethan pulled up short and the sheriff followed suit.

"I'm just going to swing into the house for a moment, make sure everything is all right.” Something had looked off and when they pulled up beside the buggy he realized what it was. There was another horse, tied up just beyond the house, so you wouldn't easily notice if you were passing by. Ethan's gut tightened as he flew off his horse and raced into the house just as Russell was leaning in to kiss Emma, his Emma. Russell stopped and turned at the sound of Ethan crashing through the door and Emma broke free of his grasp and did something that Ethan would never forget. In what looked like a purely reflex action, she grabbed the whistling tea kettle and flung boiling water across Russell's face. He screamed and fell to the floor just as the sheriff walked through the door.

"Russell's here?" He stated the obvious. Ethan ran to Emma and pulled her in tight.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" He held his breath, waiting for her to answer.

"No, I'm okay. Just a little shaken up."

"Where's Emily? Is she okay?"

"She's fine. She's in her room."

"What the hell were you doing here, Russell?" Ethan turned his anger on the man who was now whimpering on the floor. "Wasn't it enough that you stole my cattle? You wanted to hurt my wife, too?"

"I didn't want to hurt her. I just wanted to teach her a few things. Things you couldn't be bothered with. You don't deserve her."

"And you do? I don't think so. Sheriff, he's all yours." The sheriff yanked Russell up from the floor, handcuffed him and then led him out to his wagon. "He won't be bothering either of you again," the sheriff promised as he pushed Russell out the door.

A moment later, there was a frantic knock on the door and Ethan's mother's voice called out, "Emma, are you in there? Are you okay?"

Ethan opened the door and both his mother and father were standing there. He welcomed them in and filled them in on what had just happened. Emma was still by his side and he had his arm tight around her, as if he never wanted to let her go. His parents exchanged glances, and then his mother said, "Why don't we take Emily for a few hours and give you two some time alone together. To just relax and put this horrible day behind you. You can come pick her up later."

Emma was about to protest, but Ethan cut her off. "I think that's a good idea. Thank you." His mother went into Emily's room then and they left a few minutes later. Ethan still had his arm around Emily's shoulder.

Emma swallowed hard, nervous and excited for what Ethan was about to say.

"I know this has all been hard for you," he began. "I didn't think I could do it. To ever fall in love with someone again, to betray Susan like that. But I have, and I've been thinking long and hard about this. Seeing you in danger today and with Russell Jones about to kiss you—I wanted to kill him." He smiled then and his eyes softened. "What you did with the water was great, by the way."

He leaned forward then and kissed her. Ever so softly at first, but then the kiss grew deeper and more passionate. It was even better than the first time they’d kissed and Emma moaned again and then worried that he would stop like he did before. But he didn't. Not for a long time. Finally, he pulled back, but still held on to her tightly and looked in her eyes.

"Emma Donovan, I want you to be my wife, in every way possible. If you'll have me. I love you, and I didn't realize how much until today. I've never been so scared before. If anything had happened to you..."

"But it didn't... And I love you, too, and I am ready to move into your bedroom...now."

Ethan grinned at that and picked her up as if she was as light as Emily and carried her into his bedroom...their bedroom. He laid her down on the bed carefully and then kicked off his shoes and laid down next to her.

"You have way too much on," he teased as he helped her off with her shoes and then unbuttoned her dress and chuckled as he saw the three fluffy petticoats beneath it.

"Way too much...." he repeated as he gently eased the rest of her clothes off until she was completely naked and remarkably not feeling at all shy about it.

"Your turn," she breathed and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, then slid it off his arms and caught her breath at the beauty of his chest and the faint vee of hair that ran over his tightly muscled chest and then disappeared into his pants. Those had to go, too. She unbuttoned his pants and then pulled the legs down and off so he was lying there in just his socks and underwear. She nodded at his feet and he kicked off his socks and then held her gaze and waited. Tentatively at first, she eased down his drawers and then marveled at what lay beneath, or rather what was standing at attention. She'd never seen one before. Slowly she ran her hands down his chest and then along his arms and back to his abs. He shivered, and she smiled as he caught his breath. She looked down and hesitated.

"Go ahead, touch me."

She did, and explored his full length, fascinated, until he finally said, "I need you to stop for a minute. Come here." And he pulled her in to him and kissed her. He went slowly, too, exploring her body until she was fully relaxed and moaning for more. He then introduced her to the world of love-making and when it was over, Emma was spent and satisfied and grinning from ear to ear.

"So that's what all the fuss is about," she said. "Can we just stay here and do this forever?" She sighed with happiness.

Ethan leaned over and kissed her again, lightly. "We can do this whenever you want, as many times as you want. It will never be enough for me."

"Have I mentioned that I love you, Ethan Donovan?"

"You may have mentioned it in passing, but I'll never get tired of hearing it. Or saying it. I love you, Emma Donovan."

E
mma reread Julia's letter as they left church and drove over to Ethan's parents’ house for Sunday dinner. Julia sounded troubled, and Emma was worried for her.

I'm worried about Mr. Gregory. He's been forgetting things lately and there have been some mistakes with a few of his clients’ accounts. I've volunteered to take on more and to help as much as possible, but I don't think he's well and I'm not sure what will happen to his business, and to me, if something were to happen to him, if, God forbid, he dies or has to close the business. I'm just concerned. As you know, jobs are few and far between here, especially for a girl doing accounting work. Why would anyone hire me when there are men in line for the jobs?

Emma folded the letter and put it back in her coat pocket. It was time to have a talk with Liam and see how serious he was about having one of her friends come out here. Liam was a big talker, a charmer, and it was hard to know if he was just having fun.

Everyone was at the house when they arrived and Emma and Hannah helped Naomi bring the food out. They were having pasta and meatballs and lots of garlic bread. The meal was a treat, something they didn't often have. Naomi had said she’d fallen in love with the Italian dish when they first arrived in New York City. As they sat down and after Naomi led grace, Ethan stood up to make an announcement.

"We have some news. Emma and I, are in the family way. Emily is going to have a brother."

"Or a sister." Emma said with a smile. Congratulations flowed around the table and toasts were given. Emma gave Ethan's hand a squeeze under the table and he gave her a sweet smile. She knew he was excited but also very nervous about her pregnancy.

"Be patient with him," Naomi said, after they'd all eaten and she and Hannah were cleaning up. "He's going to be a nervous wreck until that baby arrives and you're both safe and sound."

"I know. I don't blame him."

"How are you feeling?" Hannah asked wistfully.

"I'm good, fine so far." Emma had been praying for Hannah to have a baby, too. It almost didn't seem fair that it had happened for her right away.

Once they'd put everything away and set out dessert, which was frosted cupcakes that Emma and Emily made, Emma grabbed two cupcakes and went off to find Liam.

"Feel like being bad with me?" she teased when she found him at the table, flipping through a newspaper.

"Always," he responded with enthusiasm as she handed him a cupcake.

"So, I have a question for you," she began.

"Ask away, I'm an open book," he said as he took a giant bite of the cupcake.

"Were you serious all those times you've asked me to tell my friends about you? Do you really want to get married? Sight unseen?"

He sat up then, the cupcake forgotten. "Yes, why? Did you not think I was serious? I'm serious," he added for emphasis.

"Okay. I think the timing might be right for my friend, Julia, to make a move. I didn't want to really suggest it, though, unless you were sure."

"What is she like? Your Julia?"

Emma smiled. "Julia is wonderful. Everyone loves her. You'll love her. She's funny and smart and really good with numbers." She thought for a minute as an idea came to her. "She can probably help you with the numbers side of your business, actually. That's what she does. Oh, and she's pretty. Really pretty."

"How pretty?" Liam wanted a visual description.

"She's about my height, average weight, long, strawberry-blonde hair, same shade as your mother’s actually. But Julia's hair is long, wavy curls and her eyes are blue. She's beautiful."

"I'm in love already. I'm in, if she'll have me."

"I'll write to her tomorrow. I think you'd get along well and selfishly, I'd love to have her here. I've missed her."

***

"W
hat are you looking so happy about? You're up to something, out with it." Ethan said as they started to drive home after dinner.

"It's Julia and Liam. I think she might be persuaded to come out here and Liam said he is ready to get married. It's perfect!"

"So, you're a match-maker now? Maybe it's your new calling? Mrs. Richardson will be jealous."

"Maybe it is my new calling," Emma said with delight. "I think I'd be quite good at it actually."

"Well, it certainly worked for us," Ethan said and then wrapped his arm around Emma and pulled her close. "I think you'd be great at it, too."