ROMANCE: MAIL ORDER BRIDE: The Other Man’s Baby (A Clean Christian Historical Western) (New Adult Inspirational Pregnancy Romance) (32 page)

As evening set in, Thomas decided he could no longer avoid going back to the cabin. He had skipped lunch and worked straight through the day, only stopping to give Tuck water breaks. Thomas couldn’t bring himself to go home. He had acted like such a fool, but he just couldn’t bring himself to be angry with Ruby. His mind wandered as he thought about her. There was just something about her small frame and her spunky personality that set him ablaze. He had caught himself thinking these thoughts off and on all day. This is a working relationship, he told himself time after time. You don’t even know this woman!

After returning Tuck to his stall and feeding the animals, Thomas headed for the cabin. As he approached he couldn’t help but notice the delightful smell of roasted chicken and potatoes in the air. His stomach growled, skipping lunch had not been one of his better ideas. He was starving!

Thomas, taking a deep breath, opened the cabin door and was taken aback by what he saw. The floors had been swept, the dishes had been cleaned and put away, his bed had been made and the list just went on.

Ruby walked over to him with an awkward smile on her face. She seemed a little nervous, as though she wasn’t sure if he was going to thank her or yell at her.

“May I take your hat?” she asked as she approached him.

“Yes, thank you, Ruby,” replied Thomas still looking around the place. He hadn’t seen it this tidy since his wife was alive.

“I hope you had a productive day. We certainly did here,” Ruby spoke as she put his hat on a hook and walked to the kitchen. She grabbed the supper she had prepared and carried it to the table. Then she pointed to his place at the head of the small table, “Come sit down.”

Thomas walked to the table. William was seated in his high chair and Emma was sitting on a chair. Thomas noticed that Ruby had tied a towel around the child’s waist and it held her to the chair so she wouldn’t fall off. He had to chuckle to himself about this. It reminded him of why he tied William to a tree. All in the name of safe keeping, he thought to himself as he looked Emma over. He hadn’t noticed what soft and subtle features she had. Little wisps of blonde hair lay over her head. Emma, like her mother, had brilliantly blue eyes and there were the slightest freckles appearing on her little round cheeks and on her button nose. She looked like a little doll. Thomas’s breath caught slowly in his chest. He suddenly felt a warmth he hadn’t felt since the first time he had held William. Emma was clearly younger than his son.

“How old is she?” asked Thomas suddenly looking from Emma to Ruby.

“Oh, she is just over six months,” replied Ruby smiling at the baby.

“She looks like you,” Thomas said. Just then Emma fell sideways. The towel sprang loose and just before she hit the floor, Thomas lurched forward and grabbed her. Emma let out a terrified scream.

“She’s okay!” Thomas reassured a startled Ruby as she came to grab the child, but Thomas held her. “She didn’t hit the floor, I caught her just in time.” He stood from his chair and handed the wailing baby to Ruby.

William who had also been startled let out a surprised and frightened little whimper, but then he decided everything was fine and chose not to cry. Thomas picked William up from his high chair.

“Maybe it would be better if Emma took the high chair from now on. William is big enough to sit in a chair,” Thomas said gesturing for Ruby to set Emma in the wooden high chair.

“Are you sure?” questioned Ruby, “I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” replied Thomas with a soft smile. He sat William on the chair and tied the towel around his waist. This time Thomas tied a double knot in it, just in case.

Thomas and Ruby took their seats at the table and began dishing up. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. They watched as William studied his plate. Clearly the toddler wasn’t sure exactly what this strange new food tasted like. He had rarely been fed anything but rubbery beans and burnt bread. Finally a thought came to Thomas and he had to ask.

“Where’s your husband?” he asked looking at Ruby. Surely she had to have a husband. He thought reflecting on the fact that it took two people to create a child.

“Oh… he umm… passed away,” Ruby said uncertainly, “The plague in London.” So that was where she was from. Thomas thought taking a bite of his chicken. It was delicious. Warm and juicy with just the right amount of seasoning.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he replied, “My wife passed away a few years ago. Smallpox.”

“Was she an Indian?” asked Ruby as though she wasn’t sure if she should.

“Cheyenne, from a tribe that winters nearby. I met her when I was out hunting one day. I’m not exactly sure how we ended up being married, but… her father agreed and before I knew it I was married and had a baby boy in my arms,” Thomas explained with a loving glance at William. The toddler still hadn’t decided whether to eat his food or throw it. Thomas picked up a piece of chicken and fed it to the child who took it cautiously. Then deciding he liked it, dug in and started pushing large chunks into his mouth.

“I probably shouldn’t have asked that about your wife,” said Ruby gently, “But he just… well…”

“Looks like an Indian?” Thomas questioned calmly.

“Well… yes. I’m sorry, I’ve just never seen one,” Ruby tried to explain.

“It’s quite all right. They can be kind people. They can be ruthless. Same as any white man,” Thomas explained while shoveling more food into his mouth.

“He looks like you too,” said Ruby looking at William fondly.

“Nah, he looks like his ma. He has her eyes and nose. He has her attitude too, come to think of it,” Thomas chuckled, watching as William’s cheeks were now puffed out from all the chicken he had stuffed in them. He resembled a nesting squirrel.

“May I ask what happened to his leg?” asked Ruby gingerly.

“He had smallpox as an infant. He and his ma both got it. She died, but for some reason the little tyke survived. Unfortunately it damaged his leg and now he will be crippled for the rest of his life,” Thomas explained watching a saddened reaction spread across Ruby’s face.

“That’s terrible. The poor little fella. Will he ever walk?” she asked still watching William eat.

“He can walk now… sort of. I built him a brace to wear on his leg. It helps to steady him and give a little support. He just prefers to crawl most days though,” replied Thomas, taking the last bite of his dinner. He hadn’t quite decided if he wanted seconds or not when Ruby jumped up announcing there was also apple pie. She had apparently found the apple trees that stood on the edge of the place. He hadn’t had a good apple pie in years, and after eating Ruby’s he hoped like hell she would continue making them.

After gorging himself on apple pie, Thomas decided it was time for the munchkins to be in bed. He picked up William and carried him to his crib, but then realizing there was nowhere for Emma to sleep, he decided William could sleep on the floor for tonight. He would make the toddler an official “big boy” bed tomorrow.

Again, not wanting to be too much trouble, Ruby hadn’t jumped at the offer for Emma to take over sleeping in the crib, but Thomas assured her that William was getting too big for it anyways. Ruby had given in and laid Emma in the crib. Then she grabbed what blankets she could find and created a small bed on the floor for William. She took him from Thomas’s arms and tucked the toddler into bed. Thomas couldn’t help but notice when Ruby gave William a brief goodnight kiss on the forehead, which William seemed to enjoy because he let out a little coo.

Thomas couldn’t help but think he’d have the same reaction if Ruby were kissing him on the forehead. Watching the motherly way in which Ruby tucked the babies into bed and hummed softly to them, he couldn’t help but feel like they were their own little family. It had happened so fast, too fast. Yet, something in Thomas told him that Ruby and Emma weren’t going anywhere.

As the weeks passed, Thomas, Ruby, William and Emma grew into what resembled a real family. Thomas would work the fields and care for the farm each day while Ruby would care for the house and the children. Their relationship grew stronger too. Thomas and Ruby would rise early in the morning and carry on conversation until the children woke. Then in the evenings they would chat over dinner and together they would put the children to bed.

Thomas couldn’t help but notice how his feelings for Ruby and Emma had grown over the past month. Emma was starting to feel like his daughter. He would cuddle her and carry her around. William even treated her like a sister. He too would try to play with her throughout the day.

Then there was Ruby. Thomas’s breath caught in his chest every time he looked at her. He had started having feelings of longing. Thomas wanted to take Ruby into his arms, to kiss her and to hold her. At times he found himself fantasizing about putting her into his bed, peeling her dress off of her and then taking her. His thoughts consumed him so much that on more than one occasion, he had to make up some excuse to leave the cabin.

These feelings also frightened Thomas to some extent. He was finding it hard to have feelings for Ruby while also having feelings of being unfaithful to his dead wife. She is dead! She is dead! He had to remind himself over and over. She isn’t coming back. She would want you to move on!

Thomas also had the feeling that Ruby wasn’t telling him everything about her past. There had been several moments during their long conversations when Thomas had asked Ruby more about her husband and she had completely changed the subject. He didn’t know if it was because she was dealing with the same emotions he was, or if there was more to it. Either way, he had decided not to pry. Ruby would tell him everything when she was ready.

It had been several weeks since Thomas had gone to town for supplies. Finally, they could hold out no more. They were completely out of everything. Thomas hitched up old Russ to the wagon, helped Ruby load the children into the wagon and then they were off.

The wagon jostled and creaked as it moved down the trail. Emma seemed to be enjoying the jiggling of her body from the rough terrain because every so often she would let out a little scream of delight and giggle. William sat on the bench between Ruby and Thomas. He looked around curiously and watched Emma every time she did her routine.

Once in town, Thomas tied Russ and the wagon to a hitching post outside of the Mercantile. He helped Ruby, who held Emma tightly, down from the wagon. Then he reached up and lifted William off of the wagon. Together, they walked into the store.

As they perused the aisles, discussing what they would be purchasing, Ms. Patty appeared from behind the counter. She eyed the little family with a slight grin of success on her face. Thomas couldn’t help but notice they were being watched.

“Good afternoon Ms. Patty,” Thomas greeted the old woman.

“Why hello there Thomas Baldwin, and who might these lovely young ladies be?” she smiled even more at Thomas as she approached them. Clearly she was itching to be introduced to the woman her letter had called for.

“This is Ruby McAlister and her daughter Emma,” Thomas introduced them cordially, “And Ruby, this is Mrs. Patty O’Neal. She and her husband own the store.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” said Ruby shyly.

“Well the pleasure is all mine!” chortled Ms. Patty, “You know, it’s about damn time that man found himself a new wife. I’ve been telling him for the last year that it was time to get on with things and find a mama for that boy of his.” Ms. Patty just kept going.

Thomas found himself to be blushing. He wasn’t sure why, maybe it was because of the sudden feelings he had been having for Ruby lately and the last thing he needed was some nutty old hen embarrassing him. Deciding to cut the conversation short, Thomas laid a stack of money on the counter. Thanked Ms. Patty for the supplies, and hustled Ruby and the children out of the store.

“Well she seemed very nice,” said Ruby with an awkward grin once they were all seated back in the wagon.

“Oh she is nice all right, and nosey to boot. She looked after William when my wife died. Ms. Patty has been after me to get re-hitched since last winter,” Thomas explained as he drove the wagon back through town.

They decided to stop by the Barber Shop on the way out of town. It had been quite some time since Thomas and William had received haircuts. Thomas’s hair was close to touching his shoulders and it was starting to drive him crazy.

After retying Russ and the wagon to a hitching post outside of the Barber Shop and helping Ruby and Emma down from the wagon. Thomas couldn’t help but notice a group of women huddled up. They seemed to be whispering to each other, casting quick glances back at himself and Ruby. He thought this was odd, however, he figured word had gotten out that he had received a mail order bride of sorts. The gossiping old hens, he thought to himself as he escorted William into the Barber Shop. Ruby had decided to window shop with Emma while they waited.

“Afternoon Mr. Danner,” Thomas greeted the barber.

“Hello there Thomas,” Mr. Danner replied, “I see there’s a new face in town.” He said gesturing to Ruby and Emma who were just outside.

“Yes, sir. That’s Ruby McAlister and her daughter Emma,” Thomas told the old man as he sat in the barber’s chair, “Ruby is helping take care of William and the homestead while I work the fields.

“I see,” said Mr. Danner as he began to cut off Thomas’s locks, “Thinkin of gettin hitched again are ya?”

“No, she is just the nanny,” Thomas explained wondering why everyone in this damn town thought he needed a wife.

“Well you never know,” pushed Mr. Danner, “You’ve been a bachelor for a long time now. You’ve only got one child, seems like you’d want to have a few more.”

“I think you’ve spent too much time talkin’ to Ms. Patty,” chuckled Thomas, although Mr. Danner wasn’t completely wrong. The thought of making love to Ruby hadn’t been the only thought to cross his mind. Thomas had also found himself thinking about the way Ruby’s body would look while bearing his child. The thought sent a little shudder of excitement through his spine.

“You know… I’ve heard a few things around town about that dame,” said Mr. Danner after a few minutes of silence.

“What do you mean? She only arrived here a month ago. How can anyone know anything about her already?” questioned Thomas earnestly.

“Well now, I’m not much of one for gossip, but it seems to me there was a man from New York City who came through awhile back. He said he was lookin’ for the lady who’d run off with his baby,” Mr. Danner stopped cutting and looked at Thomas, “If I remember correctly, he said the girl he was lookin’ for was named Ruby McAlister.”

Not wanting to call Mr. Danner a liar, and not believing his ears, Thomas allowed the barber to finish cutting his hair. When he was done, Thomas grabbed William, paid the man and left in a hurry.

Thomas found Ruby and quickly pulled her and Emma back to the wagon. He loaded them into it and without a word, turned the horse and wagon and headed out of town. He was in such a hurry, he was pushing Russ a little harder than he should have. The wagon was creaking and rattling as it bounced down the trail.

“Thomas?” asked Ruby nervously, “What is going on?”

“Tell me something,” Thomas said finally, “Did you steal that baby? Is she yours?” He couldn’t believe he was asking her this, but he had to know.

“What?” replied Ruby, there was shock and a little fear in her voice.

“Mr. Danner, the barber, said there had been a man come through town about a month ago. He said he was looking for a lady by the name of Ruby McAlister. Said she had taken his baby,” Thomas spat out the words as he drove. He was trying to keep his anger in check, but if she had been lying to him, she would have to leave.

“Well…I…” but she stopped. She grew silent for a moment. Then she began to speak again, “Yes. I am Ruby McAlister… I did take Emma away from that man, but he was horrible. He beat me and I wasn’t sticking around to allow him to beat Emma too. We were never married, it was all a big mistake, except for Emma of course.”

Thomas felt as though somebody had just punched him in the stomach. He couldn’t breath and he felt furious.

“So you lied to me!” he said gruffly, “You came to me, lied about a dead husband and then asked to nanny my son.”

“I didn’t ask you! I needed a job and you offered me one!” Ruby exclaimed back at him. Feeling the tension between the adults, William and Emma both began to wail. They were not used to hearing loud angry voices. Ruby tried to quiet both of them.

“As soon as we get back to the homestead I want you out!” Thomas barked bitterly. He couldn’t believe what he was saying, but at this moment his anger was too much for him to restrain.

When they finally reached the homestead, Thomas grabbed William out of the wagon and stormed towards the barn. He left Ruby to get herself down from the wagon, pack her things, and leave, but she didn’t.