Texas Brides Collection (72 page)

I
want a recipe for roast?” Lydia walked two steps ahead of the sheriff, stalking off her irritation. “Do you think I can’t make a roast?” Caleb shrugged, a grin forming. “Can you?”

She made her way around a puddle, then turned to head for the boardinghouse. “That’s beside the point.”

He came up beside Lydia, then stepped in front of her. “What
is
the point, Lydia?”

Lydia stopped short then tried to walk around him. The persistent sheriff caught her elbow and whirled her around. This time when she looked into his eyes, she saw no hint of teasing.

“That contract—is it real?” He blinked hard. “What I mean is, did you actually come all this way to marry me?”

Her heart thumped against her chest. “You’re not funny, Caleb. Not at all.”

The moonlight cut a slice across his face. “I wasn’t trying to be.”

“You’re the one who sent for me,” she managed. “I never asked to be here.”

Caleb’s expression softened. “Care to explain?”

“No.” She turned to go, then thought better of it. What did it matter if she told him?

“What’s your story, Lydia? I’m not going to ask again.”

“Miss Lydia, that you, chile?”

She glanced over her shoulder to see May sitting on the porch. “Yes, it’s me. I’ll be right in.”

“See that you do. You ain’t hitched t’this man yet, and your mama would have my hide if ’n something were to happen.”

“I was just leaving.” Caleb turned his attention to Lydia. “You let me know when you’re ready to finish this conversation.”

As it turned out, the next day Caleb was too busy to finish any conversations. His first full day as sheriff was spent helping Ed Thompson and Elmer Wiggins fetch a wagonload of supplies from Millsville. The lengthy trip gave them plenty of time for conversation, much of which Caleb only listened to.

Occasionally Ed would ask a question of him or make a comment that required an answer, but most times Caleb drove the wagon and let the older men do their jawin’. Round about an hour from Dime Box on the return trip, Elmer fell silent. Caleb glanced over his shoulder to see the red-haired man sound asleep leaning against the pile of supplies.

“Mind if I join you, son?” Ed asked as he climbed up on the seat beside Caleb. “I’m of a mind to give some advice. You of a mind t’listen?”

“I suppose,” Caleb said.

Ed stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back against the seat. “I’m wonderin’ something, Sheriff Wilson.”

A dry wind blew dust across Caleb’s face, and he lifted his bandanna to cover his mouth and nose. “What’s that?”

“I’m wonderin’ what your intentions are toward Miss Bertrand.”

Caleb gave Ed a sideways look. “What set you to wondering about that?”

The older man shrugged. “You didn’t fool me,” he said slowly. “I know you and that girl are complete strangers.” He clapped a hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “Oh, don’t worry. Amanda and me are the only ones who’ve figured it out.”

“Figured what out?”

“Figured out you mail-ordered your bride from back East.” He shook his head. “Now there’s nothin’ to be ashamed of. Why, that’s how I got my Amanda.”

“It is?”

He nodded. “They’s some fine women who start married life as a stranger to their husbands.” Ed paused. “And they’s some husbands who don’t cotton to gettin’ hitched to the gal they paid for. I reckon they figure they can do better elsewhere, but I say you stay with what God brings ya.”

“What are you trying to tell me, Ed?”

“If I ain’t makin’ myself clear, then I don’t figure I ought t’keep talkin’.” He crossed his arms over his chest and got comfortable. “Wake me up when we reach town, would ya?”

“Yes, sir, I will.” He chuckled. “And, Ed?”

He lowered his hat, then lifted one eyelid to regard Caleb with a sleepy gaze. “Yep?”

“You’re making yourself crystal clear.” He tightened his grip on the reins. “And thanks for saying what I needed to hear.”

“Question is, what’re you gonna do about it?”

“I don’t rightly know.”

He crossed his legs at the ankles. “Well, maybe I ain’t done with my advice. Maybe you got some wooin’ t’do with your bride-to-be.”

Caleb shook his head. “Ed, I don’t even know if I want her to be my bride. She’s the most exasperating woman I’ve ever had the displeasure to know.”

“Well, that settles it then.” Ed straightened up and set his hat back on his head. “Marry her. That’s love if I ever heard it.”

“I don’t think you were listening, Ed. That woman drives me to distraction.”

Ed tipped his hat back down over his eyes. “I don’t think you were listening to me, Caleb. If a woman drives you to distraction, it’s a sure sign the Lord must’ve put her in your life. I don’t know why that is, but that’s how I’ve seen it work out.”

Caleb pondered on Ed’s words for four days straight. Rather than face Lydia directly, he took his meals at the office or out on the work site. Each time he saw her, he pretended he hadn’t. He felt pretty sure she did the same.

Every time one of Dime Box’s citizens addressed him as Sheriff Wilson, he felt a little more uneasy. He jumped whenever someone called his name, because he figured someone had found him out.

Each night he pestered the Lord about his predicament. What he got back scared him.

God wanted him to have a new start, but Caleb had taken the timing into his own hands. Clean hands didn’t come from a life built on lies.

Caleb chewed on Ed Thompson’s advice almost as hard as his situation with the sheriff ’s office. Much as he hated to admit it, Ed’s words mostly rang true.

The only thing he couldn’t figure was whether Lydia had been sent by the Lord or had become his punishment for not telling the truth. In either case, he had a woman on his mind and a serious danger to his heart. If he kept the truth to himself, he’d get to keep her without a doubt. If he told the truth, she might get away.

Trouble was, Caleb didn’t know which way he preferred things to go. He decided to do as Ed said and take to wooing his bride-to-be. That way, if the Lord released him from his obligations, at least he could part ways with Lydia knowing he’d done his best.

The next evening, Caleb arrived at the boardinghouse with a handful of penny candy he’d picked up in Millville. He’d thought to keep the sweets in his desk and savor one or two when he felt the urge. Instead, he’d gone against good sense and made a present of them.

“I hope you like them,” he’d planned to say when he saw her. “I brought them from Millville,” he might add.

But when she swept into the parlor smelling like flowers and wearing a dress that made her look fresher than springtime, he lost all ability to be clever. He thrust the handkerchief he’d carried them in toward her, then took a step backward.

“For me?”

He nodded.

“Thank you.”

Again he nodded.

Lydia popped a sour into her mouth, then made a face. A puckering face. At that moment Caleb was horrified to realize he wanted to kiss her square on her puckered lips.

L
ydia offered Caleb a piece of candy, but he couldn’t look at anything except those pretty puckered lips. “No, thank you,” he finally managed. “In fact, I can’t stay. I just thought you might like a sweet.”

“Thank you.”

She took his hand to shake it, but he brought her fingers to his lips instead. An awkward moment passed between them until Caleb released his grasp.

She walked to the window and lifted the lace curtains. “A lovely evening for a stroll, don’t you think?”

Caleb rocked back on his heels. “Stroll?”

“Do I need to spell it out? I’m going for a walk, and I’d like you to accompany me.” She paused to let the curtain fall back into place, then turned to face Caleb. “That is, if you’d like to. I’m quite capable of going out alone.” Without waiting for his answer, Lydia reached for her shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“Hold on there, darlin’.” Caleb grabbed his hat and set it back on his head. “You don’t have to be in such a hurry.”

“I do if I don’t want to lose my nerve.”

“Your nerve?” The screen door slammed behind him, and Caleb hurried to catch up. “What’re you talking about?”

She pointed to the garden, the same place where he’d seen her crying what seemed ages ago. “I’ll be honest. I lured you out here to tell you my story without fear of being overheard.”

Caleb nodded. “I appreciate that you trust me enough to share it.”

Lydia stopped short and looked up into his eyes. “It’s not you I trust. It’s God.” She swallowed hard. “I need to tell you about me, Caleb. About why I’m here in Dime Box.”

He gave her a sideways look. “All right. Why’s that?”

She took a deep breath and prayed the right words would come. “I’m an only child and quite a disappointment to my parents. You see, I—”

“Who’s out there?”

Lydia saw Mrs. Sykes standing at the garden wall in her dressing gown. “It’s me—Lydia. I’m with the sheriff.”

Mrs. Sykes waved and disappeared inside the rooming house. Lydia stepped away from the wall, and Caleb followed. Somewhere between the garden and the street Caleb slipped his hand around hers.

She walked beside him in silence, allowing Caleb to lead the way. Before long they were strolling down the sidewalk toward the sheriff ’s office.

“We can keep walking or talk in here,” he said.

Lydia peered inside the office, then nodded. “Here’s fine.”

Caleb bustled around lighting lamps and putting on a pot of coffee while Lydia watched. Before she knew it, he sat across the desk from her with a pair of mugs in hand. He set one in front of her, then leaned back in his chair.

The time had come. Lydia watched the steam rise from the black coffee, then began. “As I said, I’m an only child.” She lifted her gaze to meet Caleb’s stare. “I’m sure my father expected more from his daughter. My mama, well, I know she did.”

To his credit, Caleb remained silent.

“Mama was from a distinguished family. Old money, I guess you could say. Papa, well, he is a preacher. He loves the Lord and my mama.” She paused to take a sip of the best coffee she’d tasted since leaving New Orleans. “He loves me, too, but I’m afraid I disappoint him regularly.”

Caleb looked concerned. “How so?”

“Silly things to you, I suppose, but to Mama my antics have been an embarrassment.”

“Antics?”

Lydia felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “Yes, you see I’ve been in boarding schools since I was ten. Mama felt it would be good for me to broaden my experiences, but all I wanted was to go home.” She sighed. “I soon learned that fine line between misbehaving and things that could get me sent home.”

Caleb leaned forward. “Like?”

She shrugged. “Like dipping my slippers in the punch bowl or dancing a jig in the town fountain.” Before he could speak, she held up her hand to silence him. “I was modest about it, I promise.”

His grin disappeared. “So how did you end up in Dime Box?”

“Well, actually, this was Mama’s doing. With Papa’s approval.” She blinked back tears. “She—or rather, they—felt it in my best interest to send me away to find a husband.”

“I see.” He steepled his hands and stared hard into her eyes. “And how do you feel about this?”