Pioneer Love: Damaged Hearts Head West: Mail Order Bride 5 Bundle (30 page)

“I will,” he said, and the words whispered across her face giving her strength. Pulling away from her he continued, “When you go back, don’t tell anybody anything. I have things in the pipeline and I’ll come for you. Do you get it, Lauren? I will come for you. Do you trust me?” he asked her.

She nodded because she did.

“Good, I won’t let you down. I promise,” he said “You’ll be with me this Christmas Eve, Lauren.” He placed a small kiss on her forehead. “Just hang on until then, and remember you are too ill to... too ill to work until after Christmas.”

Chapter 9

Lauren walked out of the hospital with fear in her chest but hope in her heart. Troy was a good man and she believed in him. Lilly and Henry surrounded her but never said a word until she was back in their saloon. Then they told her of all their troubles. They made sure that she knew how much her incident had cost them. They had to pay the old man his money, and some more, or he threatened to bring his sons to burn the place down.

“And all the time you're earning us nothing,” Lilly slung at her.

Lauren swayed a little and let herself look weak. Raising her hand to her mouth, she coughed but she never shed a single tear all the time they shouted at her.

I will come for you
.

These words were her talisman. She was holding to the promise of Troy, and praying that his word was true.

Hannah and Teresa both comforted her when they came back to the room that night. They sat together and talked. Later she prayed that she had made the right choice. That whatever Troy was planning would help get them all out of here.

The following day Henry came into the room and demand that she go with him. Her heart skipped a beat and her legs froze. Henry grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet, dragging her from the room.

I will come for you
.

Tears formed in her eyes, but she fought them back. Troy would come but would he be too late? Then she was in the bar, and Henry was explaining about the drinks. How much to pour, what to charge and who to give the watered down liquor too. It dawned on her that she was safe… at least for a little while.

I will come for you
.

She was counting the days until Christmas Eve. It was just two more, and they passed so slowly. Hannah and Teresa had become good friends, and every night she wanted to tell them to hold on. That help was coming, but she knew she could not. If Henry got a warning then maybe the plan wouldn’t work.

Working the bar was hard and tiring. The men were rude, loud, and insulting, but every time things got too bad she heard Troy’s voice.

I will come for you
.

As the days counted down, every minute and every second dragged as if it would never end, but she clung to her hope with both hands, and kept his sweet, angel face in her mind.

Then the day she had been waiting for came. She stared out the window. It was the twenty-forth of December, the Christmas Eve. It was cold, and snow was falling steadily. Troy had promised that she would be spending the day with him, but as the day slipped by she began to have her doubts. Maybe he had got caught in the bad weather? Maybe he had changed his mind? Maybe he couldn’t get her out? Or maybe it had dawned on him what a monster she was?
No
, she shook her head she would not doubt him, he would come.

But what else could she think? Why would a person like Troy have any interest in a girl like her, one who was a monster, with half her face burnt away?

As the day passed, her heart lost all the hope, so she prayed. Quietly she prayed while the girls sat on their beds but still nothing happened. By evening, she felt utterly hopeless. Troy had played her. She thought she was beginning to fall in love with that man, and he had ditched her just like everyone else in her life.

Henry was holding a big event that Christmas Eve night. All of them got ready and headed downstairs. Lauren wanted to curl up in her bed and cry all night but she couldn’t. Lilly would tear her limb from limb if she as much as took a break.

When the girls arrived at the bar, the party was in full swing. Lauren went behind the bar and started to work. She was serving drinks and trying to stay at a reasonable distances from the men’s roaming hands. That’s when Emily told her that Henry was calling her.

It filled her heart with dread. She didn’t want to go. What if he had a client waiting for her? But she had no choice. She went to find him. There he was, standing in his office counting his money. When he saw her, he stuffed the money in his pocket and spun around grabbing her by the jaw.

Lauren tried to flinch away but he held her too tight and his fingers dug painfully into her throat.

I will come for you
.

Tears almost sprang to her eyes, but she fought them back. Maybe that was her last dignity, that she would not let them see her cry. If this man tried to touch her she would hurt him, so help her God she would hurt him as much as she could.

“A man paid a hundred dollars for a night with you,” Henry said as he squeezed tighter and stared into her eyes. Then he pushed her away.

Lauren gasped for breath and rubbed at her neck.

“If you dared mess this up, I swear I will kill you with my bare hands,” he threatened her and before she could protest, he called his guard who dragged her by the elbow towards the end of the corridor and up the stairs.

“Please don’t do this,” she begged him but he was as ruthless as his employer. Opening a door, he pushed her inside and closed it. She banged on the door, but it didn’t open.

“Lauren, it’s me, Troy,” a small whisper came from behind her.

She turned. It was really him, Troy Ramsey, was standing in the middle of the room. He had come for her and he looked like an angel of rescue. In one stride he closed the distance between them and hauled her into his arms.

“Troy, you came,” she cried.

“Hush, don’t cry,” he whispered, “Of course I came, I promised you, didn’t I?”

She just sobbed in his arms.

Troy held her for a moment, hugging her close and comforting her as best he could. “We need to get out of here before we end up in jail,” he said softly into her ear.

She pulled back and looked at him in surprise.

Troy grinned.

“I told you things were in the pipeline,” he shrugged, and then turned around to pick up a large trench coat. Gently he wrapped it around her shoulders. “Wear this, it’s cold outside.”

She fastened it around her small frame and then stepped out of her high heels to wear the flats he had provided.

“Ready to elope?” he asked her.

Lauren froze, and her eyes widened. Had he just asked her to marry him? Then she laughed, of course not, this was just an escape. Quickly she nodded.

“Yes, I did mean that,” Troy said as he took her hand and led her to the farthest end of the room. “But we can talk more when we are out of here.” There was a small window at the side of the room. Troy opened it and whistled twice. Seconds later a rope ladder came through the window. Quickly securing it he helped her up and then followed himself. Lauren looked down to see two men were standing below.

“They are my friends. Don’t worry, they are here to help,” Troy said.

Minutes later she was inside a fully covered carriage and was taken far away from that hideous place.

She rested her head on Troy’s shoulder and he curled his arm around her protectively. In her whole life, she had never felt that secure, not ever.

“What did you mean by ending up in jail earlier?” she asked.

“I might have a few contacts with the US Marshal’s,” he shrugged nonchalantly but couldn’t help but smile at her.

She stared at him in shock for a second and then asked, “What will happen to Hannah and Teresa and the other girls? They are all innocent,” she was worried about them.

“They’ll be taken good care of,” Troy said. “They may spend a night in jail, but the Marshal’s know they are not the criminals here.”

Lauren hugged him furiously as if he had given her the world. “I love you, Dr. Troy Ramsey,” she whispered in his ear. Then shock stopped her breath. Had she really said that and what would he say in return?

Troy pulled away from her and turned her so that they were facing.

Lauren’s heart was breaking, he was about to tell her that he did not see her like that.

There was a warm glow from his eyes and he smiled. “I have loved you since the moment I first saw you, Lauren.”

Lauren let out her breath. “Really?”

“Yes really. I love you so much, you are brave and strong. You are kind, and beautiful, and I want to spend my life with you. I said earlier that we were eloping. Would you like to do that? Would you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”

Lauren tried to speak, but no words would come out. Did he mean that? Had this handsome doctor just asked her to marry him? “I… I… yes, yes I would love to be your wife,” she finally managed.

“Can we go wake the preacher and get married now?” he asked.

Lauren looked at his face, his beautiful face and it was exactly what she wanted, but she was wearing… “My clothes.”

Troy nodded and shouted at the driver. “Take us to Sister Jane’s house.”

Epilogue

As the horses trotted through the snow, Troy explained. Sister Jane had come here and married four years ago. After her husband had died, she had joined the order and become a nurse. Since then she had been working at the hospital and they had become good friends.

“So why are we waking her up tonight?” Lauren asked.

Troy refused to say and when they stopped, he left her in the coach and ran to the door of the small wooden house.

Soon Sister Jane was helping her down from the carriage. Once inside she pulled her into her arms and hugged her tight. “I am so happy for the both of you,” she said. “Now Doctor, you best go wake the preacher and send the carriage back to us. Go on now, off you go.” Jane shooed him from the house, but before he left, he rushed over to Lauren.

“I love you,” he said, and he briefly touched her lips with his.

Lauren muttered it back, but she could not talk for her lips were on fire and sizzled from his touch. Yet this was not the brain searing fire she was used to, this was a soft warming glow that filled her with love and hope

Now let’s see what we can find,” Jane said, and went into the bedroom. “Come on,” she called.

Lauren followed her and watched as she opened a trunk and rummaged through. Then she pulled out a paper-wrapped parcel, and untied the string. Lauren could see tears sparkling in her eyes as she shook the dress out.

“Oh my,” Lauren gasped.

It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. It was perfectly white with a high neck and long flowing lines. There was a lace trim over the shoulders, and when Jane held it against her, it looked almost a perfect fit.

“I couldn’t,” Lauren said, but she really wanted to wear that dress.

“Yes you can,” Sister Jane said. “My husband and I would be honored for this to be worn again, and by such good people. Please Lauren; it would make me so happy.”

Lauren nodded, but a hand went to her scars.

Sister Jane took her hand away and held it tightly. “You are not ugly,” she said. “Something terrible happened to you, but like many of us the good doctor sees past that. You are more than your scars and the Lord has brought you here. Listen to your heart, and be strong for soon you will be married. I for one cannot wait to work with you in the hospital. You will love the children, and they will love you.”

Lauren nodded as her eyes filled with tears of joy. How could she have been so lucky to meet these wonderful people? Then it came to her, her prayers had been answered. God never abandoned her. He had been with her all along, guiding her to this place.

Soon the dress was on and they were back in the carriage. It was a magical ride through the falling snow and Lauren had never been so happy in all her life. For once she had forgotten about her scars. All she could think of was this beautiful dress and the amazing man she was to marry. “Thank you, God,” she whispered as the carriage pulled up at the church, for this was the best Christmas present ever.

Troy rushed out and opened the carriage door. “Well I say, Miss Lauren, you look magnificent.” He picked her up by her waist and lifted her high into the air before putting her on the ground. His fingers lingered on her waist, and felt like a gentle fire through the silken material.

The preacher cleared his throat.

Troy winked and let go. Taking her hand, they walked together into the church.

While the snow fell outside and just as Christmas Eve came to a close and Christmas Day began, they said their vows. Sister Jane and the preacher’s wife were their only witnesses.

As it came to the part of the ceremony where rings were required Troy froze. He looked at the preacher and then back at Lauren his eyes full of apologies.

“Here,” Sister Jane said and handed him two rings.

“I… We could not,” Troy said.

“Please take them, and honor my husband and me,” she said.

Troy nodded and he slipped the ring onto Lauren’s finger. His hands were shaking, but it went on easy and fit perfectly.

Lauren looked at the ring and felt full of love. This wonderful woman had done more for her than her own family. She knew that she loved her so much. Turning she whispered a thank you, as she took the other ring and put it onto Troy’s long slender finger. It was a tiny bit too big, but it looked wonderful.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the preacher said. “You may kiss the bride.”

Lauren wanted to let out a squeal of joy. Then she realized it was a long time since she had felt joy in her life, but she knew there was much more to come. Instead, she turned to her husband and looked up into his eyes. They were the color of coffee and just as warming. Troy was moving closer and for a second she panicked. He was going to kiss her.

Troy smiled. “It’s all right,” he whispered into her ear and then his lips found hers.

The kiss was sweet and filled her with something she had never felt before. It was warmth and butterflies in her stomach and heat on her skin. Overall it felt wonderful, and too soon he was pulling away, she hoped that would be the first of many kisses to come.

Together they walked out into the falling snow. Sister Jane cheered, smiled, and clapped. Troy helped them both into the carriage and they took her home.

When they were alone Lauren got nervous.

“Do not worry,” Troy said. “I will not share your bed until you are ready. I understand the trauma you have been through.”

Lauren leaned against his shoulder, and could not believe what a wonderful man she had married. “Could I help with the children?” she asked.

“The children?”

“In the orphanage, Sister Jane told me about them,” she said.   

“That would be wonderful,” he said. “I know they would love having someone who could talk to them or play with them. You must understand that many of them have been through a lot.”

“Then I guess we can relate,” she said, and she snuggled into his arms. Now she had everything she wanted, a wonderful man, children to help, and soon maybe a family of her own. What’s more the women from the saloon were safe. It looked as if God had put her in exactly the right position to help out the most people. Maybe it was a Christmas miracle.

Lauren’s story had found a beautiful end with Troy Ramsey. Or maybe it was just a beautiful beginning.