ROMANCE: Mail Order Bride: A Sheriff's Bride (A Clean Christian Inspirational Historical Western Romance) (New Adult Short Stories) (5 page)

Chapter Three

Along the way to his home, we made small talk and discussed his life in Texas and my own in Connecticut, though I tended to keep most things simple and undetailed. I learned that he owned a large ranch, on which sat an estate and some external homes for staff, along with a guest house. He had been born and raised in Texas, and the constantly changing tides in his state were always a point of discussion. In particular, the discussion was surrounding the education system, and how schooling would change as new laws were enacted. I wondered what interest he would have in this topic considering it wouldn’t affect him much.

It wasn’t long after our discussion had begun that we pulled into his home. The entry to it was large and vast, with hefty amounts of fertile land, and long tracks of space for his cattle and horses. The home itself sat perched amidst beautiful landscaping, and its regal appearance was unlike anything I had seen back home. This caught me off guard considering the fact that the rest of Texas seemed very humble by comparison.

He noted the wonder in my eyes and smiled as he stepped out. “This is my home, and soon to be yours as well.” He explained. He walked around to help me off of the coach, and gestured towards it. “Well, do you want to have a look around?” he asked.

I didn’t hesitate to nod my head before we were quickly moving towards the house. “It’s nothing like my own back home! It’s so open and large!” I exclaimed. I thought my own house was quite magnificent, but it paled in comparison to this one. He smiled, “It was built sturdy by my great grandparents. Can you imagine this used to be a one room cabin? Now it’s a huge estate.” He said.

I was in awe at the sheer magnitude of work this must have taken. “That truly is quite a feat.” I said as he opened the door. When we stepped inside, he was properly greeted by staff as well as myself. The home was large and empty otherwise, and I could see how one man could grow lonely in a place like this. Everything was made of thick wood, and the furnishings were quaint, but fit the home’s appeal. Cow skin rugs, and the horns of animals sat proudly about the home. By all measure, it was tastefully decorated, but no doubt a man had done this all himself. I also had never been used to such a primal way of adorning one’s home. It fit his appearance though, and I was beginning to imagine myself proudly walking the halls as the lady of the house soon.

“Well, what do you think about my little slice of heaven?” he asked me with a broad grin.

I walked up closer to him and looked around once more. “It certainly is lovely. It’s nothing like what I am used to, and I find it refreshing.” I said honestly. “Lawrence would have never liked something like this, but then again, he was a product of his raising. I personally love it.”

“Good! I’m glad a woman can appreciate it. My sister always has some sort of complaining and carrying on to do about how I choose to keep it.” He said.

I could only laugh at that, “So you do have siblings and other family?” I asked.

He nodded, “Yes ma’am. I have my sister Jocelyn, who you’re sure to meet before I even kick a bucket her way. There’s also my brother Joseph, but he’s in California, so not much of a chance we’ll be seeing him anytime soon.” He said.

“You’re lucky then. I never had any siblings, but I always begged for a sister. My mother said God had given her me, and me alone, and she was never going to question him for that.” I said in response. She had lost the ability to have more children after an accident, but I could always see in her eyes how she felt inadequate afterwards. She wanted more kids, and I oftentimes wondered if she cried when I wasn’t about. I suspected as much. I had always hoped to have multiple children because of this.

“Sometimes one is all you need, but in regards to that, I do have one other family member you should know about.” He said looking at me.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. I was worried yet again. “What do you mean Brandon?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but as if right on cue, a little girl with bouncing blonde curls and the same vibrant eyes as her father came bounding out of a room. She was being chased after by a frazzled nanny who was obviously worried she might be in trouble for not taming her.

With a quick motion, he hoisted the young girl up in his arms and proceeded to spin with her. She giggled and smiled, her bright expression lighting up the room like a thousand suns might. I could only stare in awe as realization dawned on me.

He finally sat her down and fixed her dress once more before addressing me with his answer, “Vanessa, this is Ruth, my daughter.” He explained.

I looked from him to the young girl, now speechless. “A daughter…?” I said without realizing it.

Ruth smiled up at me, and it made my heart nearly melt. She couldn’t have been any more than 5. “Hello Miss Vanessa! It’s really nice to meet you.” She said.

I delivered a smile right back and crouched down to her level. “Well it’s very nice to meet you too Ruth. I hope we have lots of fun together.”

She giggled, “Do you sew?” she asked curiously as she rocked on her heels.

“I do! I sew very well, and perhaps I can teach you. What do you say to that?” I asked.

She seemed to get very excited, “I can’t wait Miss Vanessa!” she said.

I stood back upright and patted the young girl on the head before she was ushered back to her room by the very apologetic nanny. Brandon assured her it was perfectly fine before he turned back to me and gave me a weak grin, “I guess neither of us is completely perfect then, now are we?” he asked.

“No, but I don’t consider something like this an indicator of imperfection.” I said softly. We were close, and the natural attraction between us was growing stronger by the moment. It seemed like we truly were made for one another. We were two lost souls, both longing for acceptance, and coming together in a world that was built to scrutinize. I was shocked that he had a child already, but it only made what could be between us much better.

His lips met mine, and soon I was in his arms as he gave me a soft, and succinct kiss. The small gesture held so much electricity and energy that I could feel my heart swell more, and my stomach felt fluttery. He parted from me and took my hands in his once more, “I think together we can mend the broken pieces of our lives. Maybe when we’ve had some time to settle, we can talk about those pasts, but for now I’d like for you to focus on getting our wedding together. I’ll have a few of my staff show you around the house and to where your room is, and then maybe you and Miss Taft would like to go and start getting everything together. My sister will be here tomorrow to help.” He said.

I assumed he had business in the fields to attend to, so I left him to his work and was left in the hands of the gracious staff of the home. I was even more certain and assured of my decision now. Emily had been wrong about this man. Nothing could go wrong to ruin what was budding between us.

Chapter Four

The very next day, I was sitting with Olivia in what was my room for the time being. All night I had been too jittery to sleep because I couldn’t stop thinking about Brandon. Occasionally my thoughts drifted to Ruth, and my own unborn child. The thoughts were so pleasant I could barely contain my excitement about anything, and it took everything I had to keep from waking Olivia just to blather on about it all.

Today, she was brushing my hair for me. I was already dressed and prepared to meet Jocelyn, but as I observed the morning glow in Texas, Olivia spoke up. “You will be a mother more than once.” She said.

I nodded my head lightly, “Indeed I will. I’m happy about it honestly.” I said with a bright grin.

“Yes, but what do you think of more then?” she asked curiously.

I giggled and blushed like a schoolgirl, “Now let’s take this one step at a time. I’m sure if he wishes to have children with me, it is something that will happen. For now, we have two angels that we can focus on.” I said.

There was a sudden knock at the door, but then before I could say a word, it burst open. In bounced the most gaudily dressed woman I had ever seen. She was somewhat heavyset, with thick makeup on her face, and ostentatiously dressed. “Oh my! I’ve seen your face around before sugar, I’m sure of it!” she said.

I was very startled by her, but tried to remain polite. I was certain she was Brandon’s sister, which was hard to believe even though I knew it was true.

“You must be Jocelyn.” I said with a smile.

“Sure am…And you’re that Cromwell woman they’re talking about all in the papers today.” She said. “Honey, have you seen the paper?”

I looked confused. This town, separated by acres and acres of land between neighbors, certainly couldn’t have found out much about me. Why was I in the paper? I shook my head incredulously, “Well…No.” I said, “Are you certain it’s me?” I asked the robust woman.

She looked me over closer and then nodded her head, “Yes darling. It’s definitely you. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” She said. “You should go check it. It’s national news.”

I looked at her worriedly before skirting off down the stairs to the foyer where sure enough, a paper laid menacingly atop the console table.

When I opened it up, I immediately spotted my face. The paper read, “Widowed and Pregnant Wife Runs to Texas for Love.”

I was immediately hurt. How had anyone found out about this? How did anyone know that was what I had done? As frustration, anger, and hurt settled in, I realized it could only be one person. My blood ran cold just thinking about it. “Emily.” I stated.

Olivia walked up behind me and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, “She was envious…She didn’t understand how a widowed woman with child could find a husband a second time while she had yet to find even one. She wrote to Mr. Hynes and didn’t hear back.” Olivia explained.

I turned to her quickly, “When did you know of this!?” I asked shocked.

“It is only recent knowledge. She came to me drunk one night in my own home. She said that you didn’t deserve love, and that was why she would slander you across the country. She was drunk, so I didn’t think she would go through with it. I’m sorry for not telling you.” Olivia said. She had a look of deep regret on her face, “I only wished not to hurt you.”

I sighed despite my fury at my friend, and the annoyance I had with Olivia for not going ahead and letting me know, “It is unreasonable for one to think that someone drunk isn’t just spewing crock out the side of their neck.” I stated after some contemplation.

“T-there is one other thing…” she said quietly, as she pointed to the paper.

I looked where she was pointing to and noticed more damning language, “It was alleged that Mrs. Cromwell’s husband was having an affair with a close family friend, and the jealous rage prompted her to kill her husband. The alleged murderer may not be mentally well or stable…?” I read aloud in disbelief. Emily was subtly trying to tell me she’d had an affair with my late husband…I couldn’t believe the nerve of the girl, and it took every ounce of me to regain my composure and not give in to her. She wanted this to go poorly for me all along! How had I not noticed?

I felt another presence behind me, and this time it was Jocelyn and Brandon. Both had somber expressions on their faces.

“Please tell us none of this stuff is true sweetie. I haven’t even known you for a split second, and all of this…” Jocelyn said. “I only worry about your safety.”

I looked at Jocelyn, then Brandon, and finally Olivia’s sullen expression. I couldn’t do this again. If I was going to have to leave behind what I had just found, so be it. I supposed I would just be alone forever, left to be some old croon who had no one, potentially not even my own child. I ran off outside, and heard Brandon’s voice behind me. “Vanessa!” he called after me.

I didn’t stop. I just wanted to run forever. The flat horizon ahead of me made me feel sick to my stomach, and the flat earth saddened me to the core even more. There was nowhere I could run from my past, and the view before me was the imagery of my predicament. Now everyone would think I was a murderer, insane, and some washed up woman who would bear the shame of having her child fatherless, not to mention couldn’t keep her husband satisfied enough to not commit adultery. I knew they were following me, but I kept running. This wasn’t the life I asked for, and I had done everything right. I did just as mother said and kept my legs closed until marriage. I did as father said and paid attention to my studies, honored my family before enterprise, and loved my country. Why was everything so terrible for me now?

I felt dizzy, and my vision began to blur. Everything had happened so fast…

My head felt like it was floating, and soon all I saw was the spinning sky above me.

“Vanessa…”

I heard a masculine voice and the soft ticking of a clock…It had to be a grandfather clock with that distinct rhythmic ticking. I felt warm, yet my head was pounding. Did I sleep too long?

Suddenly my memories came flooding back in. I remembered what had happened and I sat up with a start.

Brandon was instantly wrapping his arms around me to still my movement. “Vanessa!” he said relieved, “Thank God you’re alright.”

I looked at him, still dazed and confused, “What happened to me?” I asked softly.

He scratched the back of his head, “You passed out, and took a pretty nasty fall. The doctor we had by said you seemed to be in shock. He wants you to rest so we can monitor the baby.” He explained.

I remembered the red hot anger I felt when I discovered that my best friend had betrayed me in favor of vengeance. I was disturbed that it could happen, but more than that I was hurt. “What will become of me Brandon? I’m not fit to be your wife with such an ugly reputation.” I explained sadly, “And no one is going to believe a word I say. It’s a world filled with gossip-hungry beasts.” I said as I felt the tears began to pour down my cheeks.

Brandon embraced me tighter, “Vanessa, you’re a great woman, and I can feel that from you. No amount of slander is going to convince me otherwise without some firsthand proof, and I just don’t take you as that kind of person. You’re fun and full of life…Ruth loves you. Begged her nanny to help make cookies for you for when you got back on your feet.” He said with a gentle smile.

I couldn’t help but smile at those words. Sweet little Ruth… “I am eternally grateful for that.” I said, though I still felt a miserable sadness.

“We’re still getting married Vanessa. You aren’t the only one with dark spots in your past. Besides, that Emily girl that was your friend? Olivia told me all about her, and yes she did send me a letter, not long after you did. She sounded staged and immature unlike you. She lacked passion. I didn’t want a woman like that, one who’d leave me lonely in a week for my money.” He said with a wry grin. “Rest assured that the people here are only concerned that somebody up in the Northeast is so hell bent on destroying somebody else’s happiness. She can have her fun up in Connecticut husbandless.” He said hugging me close.

His words were comforting to me. They reassured me that Brandon was a good man, one willing to be fair and gentle. I couldn’t see myself without such a down to earth man in my life, and now I questioned how I had ever been satisfied with Lawrence.

I smiled at him and we engaged in yet another loving kiss. This time, I let my arms drift around him to pull myself closer. I felt like a loved woman in his arms.

That was when we heard an innocent giggling from the doorway. We abruptly turned around to find Ruth standing there with her hand pressed firmly to her lips as she tried to contain a smile. The nanny stood behind her with the tray of cookies spoken of earlier and shook her head.

Brandon and I couldn’t help but laugh at the whole situation. Things really were going to be okay.