Montana Bound: A Sweet Mail Order Bride Historical (Mail Order Bride Journeys Book 2) (3 page)

“Mmmm. Something smells great! I brought in fresh milk.” He said cheerily.

The ladies acknowledged the compliment, but both of them seemed a bit cold and distant. Owen was not surprised.

He decided that he had better let the small talk go, and get right to it. “I’ve had a chance to think this morning, and I want to apologize to both of you for my rude behavior last night, especially to you Miss Russell. I had a rough day yesterday and I was not prepared for a house guest. That does not justify my behaving in such an inexcusable way, however, and I am embarrassed for how I acted. So, I hope you will accept my apology.”

Grace looked up at him as he was talking, and her gaze caught his for a moment. Again, Owen found himself getting swept away in the unusual blue color of her eyes seemed, which reminded him of the deep seas, he had seen only in paintings. He forced himself to break free from her entrancing eyes, only to find his attention captured again, this time by the gentle curve of her pale, pink lips. He had realized that he found her to be an attractive woman last night, but in the mood he was in, he failed to recognize how just how attracted to her he really was.

The spell was finally broken, when Grace answered, the corners of her soft lips pulled into a warm grin, “I understand Mr. Miller. And all is forgiven.”

Owen felt his heart flutter.

Instantly he withdrew into his accusing thoughts.
You are in love, you should not be so attracted to this woman!
He was so deep in his thoughts that he was only vaguely aware that his sister had said something, but realizing that Grace was speaking again, he snapped out of it.

“I’ll pour some of that milk into the glasses for us all. Breakfast is pretty much done.” She reached for handle of the bucket, which was curved in such a way that caused it to be necessary for their hands to touch until he relinquished his grip on it. He hesitated.

Again he felt the same flutter in his chest, followed quickly by the same thoughts accusing him. The sound of his sister’s voice snapped him back out of his thoughts.

“What is the matter with you, give the girl the bucket.” Constance said, a confused look on her face.

Realizing that the bucket was suspended between the two of them, he felt embarrassed and hoped that his expression had not revealed too much to Grace. He certainly did not want her to suspect that he had been enjoying having her hand slightly overlapping his. He released his grip.

“Er—um. Sorry.” He said clumsily. “I am starving. I can’t wait to dig in!”

Breakfast was served, and the three of them hungrily started to eat. Although Owen was given slightly more than half the slap-jacks that were made, the women splitting the rest, he was the finished eating long before the women were even close to being done.

“So tell me, Miss Russell, where are you from?” Owen asked, and then finished his glass of milk with one final, satisfying gulp.

“Well, I was born in Bristol, Massachusetts, but for most of my life I have lived in Boston.” Grace answered.

“That is a long way from here, what brings you to Montana?”

“Don’t you worry about it, Owen.” It was his sister that spoke.

“No, no. It’s alright. I am happy to answer.” Grace said in reply. “I was engaged to be married, and was supposed to be meeting him in town yesterday.”

“Huh. Oh.” Owen said, disappointed with her answer. “Well I guess congratulations are in order then. But why are you staying with us?”

“Would you stop with all the questions?!” His sister sounded annoyed, but again Grace waved her off.

“No, it’s alright. Everything will come out eventually, I guess I’d rather just get it out in the open now.” Grace set her fork down on her plate. She looked down and fidgeted with her fingers a bit before continuing. “When—when I arrived I found out that my fiancé had passed, and your sister offered me a place to stay until I could figure out what to do.”

“Oh no! I am so sorry. My sister is right, I am asking too many questions. Is there anything that I can do for you?” Owen felt even worse for the way he had treated her the previous night.

“No, I’m fine—I mean, I didn’t know him that well. It doesn’t affect me the same way as it would if I had known him better.”

“But you were engaged to him?” The words came out of his mouth before he could stop himself. This time his sister did not protest though, and Grace didn’t seem to mind answering.

“I am what is sometimes referred to as a mail order bride. Basically, Mr. Maxwell Stevens and I met through a correspondence magazine and after exchanging several letters he proposed to me and I accepted.” Grace looked up at him she finished the statement, as if she was gauging his reaction.

“That doesn’t seem like any way to meet a woman.” Owen said, then thinking about the name she had just given him, “Did you say Maxwell Stevens?”

“Yes she did. And she already knows. The attendant at the train station told her all about the posse.” His sister said, obviously the most uncomfortable one in the room with the conversation.

Owen was relieved. He was happy that neither he nor his sister would have to fill in the details for Grace about what had happened to her fiancé, but he was mostly relieved that this beautiful person with such a kind soul would not have to endure marriage to such a man. He wondered if she knew what she had narrowly missed out on, but this time had the common sense not to ask.

“I am really sorry, Miss Russell. I really don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything. What is done is done, and like I said already, I really didn’t know him that well.” She said somberly.

“Well everything tends to work out best in the end,” Constance interrupted, “I, for one, can say that I am happy that you are here with us.”

“Thank you.” Grace answered, after finishing the last bite of her breakfast. “I just want to make sure that you are benefiting by my being here as much as I am, so if there is anything that either of you need help with, please let me know.

“Well, you could help me repair the fence for the back pasture.” Owen suggested.

“Oh—um, yeah. I can do that.” Grace answered, unsure of what she could do to help. “I’ve never worked on a fence before, so you’ll have to tell me what to do. Do you want to get started now?”

“Naw. I have to run into town for some more lumber first. I have enough wood to repair the damaged section, but while walking the line I noticed quite a few more boards are ready to go. If I put the livestock in the pasture, they’ll most likely end up leaning on one of the boards and break free.” Owen said.

“Owen, do you think you can put it off a week? I forgot to mention that they said your tools would most likely arrive next week.” Constance interjected. “And it’ll be about time to pick up some flour and other necessities. You could combine trips.”

“It would make sense to wait.” Owen said after considering if he should put off using the pasture another week or so. He didn’t want the pasture the livestock was already on getting too stressed from over-grazing. “I guess we’ll work on it next week then.”

“In that case, I think my first order of business should be to clear the table, and get these dishes washed up.” Grace said cheerfully, as she stood and began to collect as many of the unused dishes from the table as she could carry.

Owen began to collect the rest of the dishes to take to her in the kitchen. “I’ll bring you the rest.” As he did, Grace prepared the water to wash the dishes with, and began humming softly to herself.

Even in her situation, she finds a reason to be happy.
Owen thought to himself. He brought the rest of the dishes to the kitchen and set them down on the counter next to the basin where Grace was washing the dishes. She looked up at him and gave him a quick smile before turning back to the task at hand, warming Owen’s heart. He had to admit that her positive attitude was contagious.
Maybe having her here is going to work out for the best.

CHAPTER 3

September 25, 1896

Constance hurried outside to make sure that Owen had not already left. She was relieved when she saw that the wagon was parked outside the barn, with only one horse in harness. Owen was not the type to want to wait, once he was all set and ready to go. She walked into the barn and found him putting the harness on the second horse.

“I’m glad that you are still here.” Constance said. “I’ve asked Miss Russell to go along with you to pick up some items from the general store that I need.”

“Lucky for you I’m slow this morning. I should have been long gone by now.” Owen teased. “I thought that the list you gave me last night had everything on it.”

“Well, I forgot that I needed some fabric, threads, and other sewing supplies.” Constance answered.

Handing her the sheet that Constance had given him with the grocery items listed, Owen said, “Here, just write it on here and I’ll pick them up too.”

“Oh, you don’t want to take her with you?” Constance asked, concern in her voice.

“I don’t mind, and in fact it would be nice to have the company.” Owen answered. “But I don’t really think it is necessary. I can pick up whatever you need, just write it down.”

“Well—, it’s just that,” Constance said, trying to choose her words wisely, “it’s just that you are a guy, and—well, I’d just rather leave fabric choices up to a woman. I’d go myself but I really need to get some butter churned today, and Miss Russell has never made butter before. It’s not something she should do by herself.”

“Okay, that’s fine then.” Owen said, sticking the list back into his pocket. “I’ll take her to the general store when I get in town, and give her my list too. That way she can have everything ready to go when I am done at the mill.”

“Thanks! I’ll go let her know that you will wait for her!” Constance said as she headed out the door toward the house, at close to a run.

Owen was glad that Constance was sending Grace along. In the week since she had moved into his house, the two had already become good friends and Owen enjoyed her company a lot. Sometimes he felt that he enjoyed it too much, but decided that he could be “just friends” with her, and even find her attractive, and that didn’t take away from his feelings for Nina.

His friendship with Grace did trouble him however. Though he tried hard to keep the thoughts at bay, he had been finding that he had been questioning whether or not his feelings for Nina were based on reality, or on a fantasy as Constance had told him several times in the past. Before Grace had shown up, he had not even entertained the thought that Constance could be right.

As he lead the second horse to the front of the wagon, and began to hitch it up beside the other, Grace emerged from the house. Owen looked up and gave her a quick wave, noticing as he did that Grace had the same heart-warming grin as he had grown accustomed to seeing her with, and had really grown quite fond of. She was wearing a nice red dress with a subtle flower print on it. She wore a dark bonnet that complimented the dress perfectly, and had her hair pulled back into a bun. Owen had not seen her wear the outfit before, and assumed that she wanted to make the best impression while they were in town.
She looks so beautiful!
He thought, allowing himself to appreciate how attractive she really was.

“Are we about set?” Grace asked as she approached near the wagon. “You haven’t been waiting long, have you?”

“Not at all. I just finished getting the horses hitched up.” Owen answered. “We’ll be ready to go in a minute.”

“Good.” Grace said, and then waited for Owen to come around to help her into her seat, which he was more than eager to do.

A shift in the breeze as he lifted her into the wagon, brought an unfamiliar, but very pleasing, scent of perfume to Owen’s nose, and he couldn’t help but to take a deep breath to savor the fragrance. “I love that scent you are wearing. I don’t think you’ve worn it before.”

Grace laughed. “I usually don’t wear a fragrance to do housework. But I thought it would be nice to smell good today.”

“Well, mission accomplished.” Owen said with a wink in her direction. Turning he saw Constance standing on the porch with a huge grin on her face.
I wonder if she is up to something here.
He thought to himself. He gave her a wave goodbye, and then got the horses started.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the list that Constance had given him earlier. “Constance said to give you this list. You can get these things together while you are at the general store, then I’ll pick you up after finishing at the mill.”

“That sounds good to me.” Grace said, then added, “I appreciate your taking me with you.”

“Happy to have you along.” Owen said with all sincerity, taking in a couple deep breathes to savor the fragrance that Grace had on, again.

For a distance they drove along with little more said, Grace looking out at the mountains in the distance, and Owen simply enjoying having Grace sitting so near beside him. Every jostle of the wagon on the rocky road, would cause the two of them to bump into each other lightly.

“I don’t think I could ever get used to it.” Grace said, snapping Owen from his blissful thoughts.

“Get used to what?” Owen asked, curious.

“The view of the mountains. They make me feel so peaceful.” Owen looked up at Grace, and thought to himself that she had the look of perfect serenity, as she spoke.

Arriving in town, Owen dropped Grace off at the store and headed over to the mill to buy the lumber that he needed to fix the fence. It didn’t take long for the lumber to be loaded into the back of the wagon by the operator and his assistant, so when Owen arrived back at the general store and joined Grace, she had only finished ordering the food items and had only begun to go through the fabric.

“Oh good, you’re back.” Grace said as she saw Owen approaching. She then turned and quickly retrieved a very nice printed fabric and draped it over herself. “Your sister asked me to pick out a fabric so she could make herself a dress that she could wear on special occasions. I think this one would look good on her. How do you think it looks?”

Owen looked at the fabric, which had conformed itself to every curve of Grace’s body. He was breathless, and could not find the words, as he continued to run his eyes over the fabric, taking it all in.

“I, um—it’s”, Owen managed to say, as he tried, but failed to look away.

“You don’t like it then?” Grace asked, sounding disappointed.

“No. No, not at all.” Owen answered, still looking at the fabric. “I think—, I think it’s perfect.”

Owen was not at all convinced that he was talking about the fabric, and hoped that Grace would not suspect what had been on his mind. He finally succeeded in forcing his eyes away, and a wave of guilt came over him for having such thoughts of her. He felt ashamed of himself, ashamed that he didn’t have enough self-control to keep his thoughts from taking off.
But you are only a man, and she is such a beautiful woman.
The thought was not as consoling as he had hoped.

“Great! Then I think we are finished here.” Grace said, folding the fabric back up. “I hope that your sister will like it as much as we do.”

Owen was certain that Constance would approve of Grace’s choice of fabric. It certainly was nicer than anything that Constance had ever picked out before.

Grace hadn’t seemed to notice anything, and was her normal, cheerful self for the trip home. Owen admired her. A butterfly landed on her skirt and sitting there for a few moments, causing a delighted squeal to erupt from Grace. She took such pleasure from the simple things of life. He was growing fonder of her by the day, which excited him, and also frightened him. At that moment though, he put the thought out of his mind, preferring instead to simply enjoy the rest of the ride home with her.

***

October 2, 1896

“I’ve volunteered to help set up the stands for the Pumpkin Festival tomorrow. Mrs. Metzger cornered me.” Owen laughed.

“Oh, it’ll do you some good to help out. You know what it says in the good book—‘And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap.’ Besides, you’ll have fun.” Constance answered.

“What is the Pumpkin Festival?” Grace asked, intrigued. “It sounds like fun.”

“Actually it is a lot of fun.” Owen offered. “We do it every for the children every fall. There are tons of activities, but the one the children love the best is the pumpkin painting.”

“Yes. They love that.” Constance agreed. “They get to paint the pumpkins however they want, and then they take them home to decorate for All Hallows Eve.”

“That does sound like fun. Is there anything that I can do to help?” Grace asked.

“Funny that you should ask.” Owen said with a mischievous grin. “I told Mrs. Metzger that you would be thrilled to help out also. She’ll be thrilled to have help setting up the tables and chairs.”

Grace was happy to help out, and was looking forward to the opportunity to get to know more of the people from the area. She had only been in Montana for just over two weeks, but she already knew that she didn’t want to ever leave.
Besides, this is where Owen is.
She thought.

She was happy to work with Mrs. Metzger, but what she really had hoped that she could do was work more closely with Owen. She and Owen were really began to warm up to each other, and she looked forward to any opportunity to get to know him better.

Grace gave Owen a quick jab in the shoulder. “You are just lucky that I am such a good person,” she teased, “or you’d be showing up alone, mister.”

“Oh, is that right? So you are a saint now, huh?” Owen laughed, rubbing his arm in an exaggerated fashion. “I’m sure you’ll get your just reward!”

As he said that he reached out suddenly and grabbed Grace around the hips, and held her still while he tickled her stomach. She wiggled, and twisted, trying to get free. Owen prevailed however, and struggle as she might, she was entirely at his mercy.

Tears began to gather on Grace’s cheeks, as she laughed uncontrollably. Only then, did Owen free her from his grasp. She sunk down to the ground as she felt his grip loosen and looked up at him. She loved to see his grin, always so warm, always making her feel special.

“Oh, my—.” Grace said after finally beginning to catch her breath after laughing so hard. “You’ll get yours sometime. Mark my words.”

“It’s settled, then. Be ready to go early tomorrow. I want to get there as early as I can so that I can start assembling the stands.” Owen said, extending his hand to help Grace back to her feet. Turning to Constance, he said with a wink, “I volunteered you too, big sis.”

“Figured.” Constance answered, her smile giving away her willingness to help despite her refusal to admit it.

Grace watch as Owen walked away toward the paddock, his muscles flexing slightly as he moved. She admired the man. She had only known him for a few, short weeks, but had already come to respect him. She had noticed that her thoughts turned to him more often than she would admit, even to herself.

One thing that she felt certain of—Owen had also begun to notice her too. When she had first arrived, he had seemed distant. Deliberately distant. She hadn’t understood why, but assumed it was because he was embarrassed that he had been so rude that first time they met. He had apologized, but still it seemed that he avoided her as much as was possible.
Thankfully, it’s not that easy since we live under the same roof.
She grinned at her own thought.