The Unexpected Bride (12 page)

He laid his hand on Rainee’s arm and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Kitty can’t get out. I promise.”

She looked at him, unconvinced. “Why—why is she penned up so close to the house?”

Kitty wasn’t all that close, but he’d let that part of the question go. To Rainee, having the pig anywhere within eyesight would be too close. Once again he whispered in her ear to protect her from any kind of embarrassment she might encounter in front of his neighbors. “If I didn’t pen her, she would be joining us in the yard like she often does. I locked her up this morning because I didn’t want her frightening you again.”

“That is so sweet of you, Haydon. Thank you. You will never know how truly grateful I am for your thoughtfulness.” She glanced toward the pen again and back at him. “Are—are you sure she cannot get out?”

“I’m sure. Don’t let her digging get to you. She’d have to dig a huge hole before she could slide her fat belly under the fence. You’re perfectly safe. Trust me.”

Could she? Could she trust him when he didn’t even trust himself anymore?

She nodded and then picked up her drinking cup.

“So, tell me, miss.” Tom shoved a huge chunk of ham into his mouth. “How do you know the Bowens?”

Haydon’s insides stilled and his smile vanished.

S
unday evening, after everyone had gone to bed, Rainee draped her shawl around her shoulders and headed downstairs. She stepped out onto the porch to think things through and to pray for guidance about her situation. She tucked her robe around her and lowered herself onto the porch swing. Using the balls of her feet, she put the front porch swing in motion.

Stars glistened like precious gems in the endless inky sky, and a chorus of frogs filled the silence. Rainee leaned back in the swing and closed her eyes, sighing, relieved this day was over.

Sitting at the table with all those men at lunch asking her how she knew the Bowens had been quite daunting. She had been prepared to answer anyone if they asked why she was there but not how she knew them. Why, if Haydon had not spoken up when he had, diverting their attention away from the topic, Rainee shuddered to think what would have transpired.

Because of her love for the Bowens, she had prayed fervently the night before the church service that God would work everything out and spare them any humiliation her being there might cause.

God, in His tender mercy, had once again answered her prayers. Even when Katherine had introduced Rainee to her neighbors as her guest, the questions lingered in their eyes, but none put a voice to their curiosity, much to Rainee’s relief.

Rainee smiled as contentment wrapped itself around her. Though she had only been here a few weeks, she felt at home because of the kindness of these people. Especially Haydon, who kept her in a constant state of confusion. He wanted her to leave, then he protected her from the onslaught of male neighbors. Somehow he had even managed to keep the conversation off of her and onto other things.

Against her better judgment, she admired everything about him. How he protected and took care of not just his family, but her, too.

His obvious love for the Lord.

His kindness and compassion toward his neighbors.

His deep love for his family. Well, except Jesse, perhaps. She noticed he avoided him.

She also admired his physical attributes.

Eyes the color of sapphire gems.

Teeth as white as freshly fallen snow.

Hair the color of winter wheat.

Strength in his masculine jaw.

And muscular arms Rainee longed to feel, to see if they were as solid as they appeared.

Rainee’s cheeks heated at that thought. If Mother knew she was thinking about a man’s muscles, she would surely give Rainee a tongue lashing. Before her mother’s words had a chance to formulate in her mind, Rainee blocked them. Proper or not, she found she did
not want to stop thinking about him. He represented everything she desired in a man.

Gentle yet strong.

Kind but bold.

Sure and steadfast.

A man who under all that gruff exterior had a heart as big as the Idaho Territory. A man she now greatly esteemed, perhaps even loved.

A conversation she and her mother had shared about that very thing strolled through her mind.

“Mother, how will I know when I am in love?” Rainee had asked.

Her mother had stopped working on her tapestry and gazed at Rainee. She wove her needle through the fabric and rested her hands in her lap. “Trust me, Rainelle, you will know.”

“But how?”

Mother rang the bell and asked for tea. “The day I met your father, I knew he was the one for me.”

“How did you know?” Rainee had asked again.

With a smile, she looked at Rainee. “The truth is, the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew.”

“You knew that fast?” That idea completely astonished Rainee.

“Yes.” Her mother straightened and gave Rainee a stern look. “It does not happen that way for everyone,” Mother had cautioned her, then relaxed her austere facial expression. “But it did for me.”

“Did Father return your affection?”

Mother’s sweet laughter had filled the room. “No. He told me he did not even notice me as more than a businessman’s daughter until one day when I was gathering roses for the table. I was so engrossed in their beauty and lovely scent I did not hear your father approach.
When he said my name, I whirled so fast, I tripped over my flower basket and landed on my backside. Your father said when he offered me a hand to help me up, the second our hands made contact he felt a strange, unexplainable attachment to me.

“When I stood, he kept hold of my hand. Our eyes connected and held. And it was as if we were the only two people in the world.” When she looked at Rainee, her eyes had sparkled with love for her husband. Rainee hoped and prayed she would someday know the special kind of love her parents had for each other.

“Before I knew what was happening, he had taken me in his arms and kissed me. That very same day he asked Daddy if he could marry me.” Stars had filled her mother’s eyes.

They had silently finished their tea, each lost in their own thoughts. She and her mother shared many precious moments like that. How she longed to hear even just one more tale of her mother’s life.

After reliving that memory, Rainee opened her eyes and sucked in a sharp breath. There, standing with his arms and ankles crossed, resting against the porch post was Haydon, staring at her. “When—when did you get here?”

“A few minutes ago. Sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you or disrupt your thoughts. You looked like you were a million miles away.” He uncrossed his ankles and arms and walked toward her. “May I?” He pointed at the swing.

Rainee could not find her voice, so she nodded and moved over as close to her side of the swing as possible. But even that was not far enough because his broad shoulders covered a major portion of the swing. Rainee found the open space and endless sky did not appear so
vast anymore. In fact, it seemed to be crowding in on her closer and closer.

Soap and peppermint filled her senses.

“Would you like a piece?”

“What?” She blinked. “A piece of what?”

“Of peppermint.” He reached inside his leather vest pocket and pulled out a small pouch and opened it.

It had been a long time since Rainee had enjoyed any peppermint. She reached inside the bag and removed one stick. “Thank you.” She bit off a piece.

Eyes closed, she savored the feel of the hard candy in her mouth and the clean fresh sensation. She opened her eyes and found Haydon watching her. Embarrassment flooded into her cheeks. “I—I am sorry. It has been years since I have had peppermint. Mother used to buy it all the time.”

Haydon broke off a section of candy before he closed the bag and slipped it back into his vest pocket. “Did your mother give you candy often?”

Rainee wrapped her hand around the rope holding the swing. She planted her feet firmly and gave the swing a shove, repeating the process until Haydon finally slowed it down. “Mother always made sure we had special treats. And my father often had candy shipped over from England. He wanted us to know the delicacies and delights of his country, too. I sure miss them.”

“I miss my father, too.”

Rainee swung her gaze his way. Astonishment trickled through her. She could not believe once again Haydon was opening up to her. She only prayed he would continue.

Haydon stared into the darkness, amazed he was sitting out here on the porch with Rainee. For a man who
was trying to avoid her, he wasn’t doing a very good job of it.

“Tell me about your father. What was he like?”

He barely heard her request. He glanced over at her silhouette. She wasn’t looking at him but straight ahead. An air of serenity radiated from her, a serenity he had never felt around a woman before.

“My father was a kind, caring, generous man. He loved us all so much. It was my father’s dream to move out West. He said he might have been born a city boy, but he belonged out here. I feel the same way. He was never comfortable with city life, and neither was I.

“My father detested all the hypocrisy of his acquaintances and how they flaunted their wealth with extravagant parties instead of helping those less fortunate. Out here, he loved the freedom to be himself. Loved the outdoors.

“He and I used to go for long rides and talk about what we could do to build up the ranch. To make it a better place to raise a family. This place has so much lumber, and the volcanic ash soil is so rich you can grow just about anything.

“He had such great plans for this place, but he didn’t get to enjoy it for very long. Two and a half years after we moved here, a tree fell on him and crushed his chest.” Haydon pressed his eyes shut to blot out the horrific memory.

“I am so sorry.” She gently laid her hand on his arm.

He glanced down where her gloved hand rested, then up at her.

She plucked her hand from his arm, and he immediately felt a sense of loss.

“Thank you,” Haydon whispered.

Rainee nodded. From what little he could see in the dark, compassion was the only thing he noticed on her sweet face.

“How did your parents die?”

In the shadow he saw her chest rise and fall. “My family and I attended a neighborhood ball. Mother, Father and a few other guests were standing under a second-story balcony. No one knew it would not hold the weight of so many guests.” Her voice hitched. “It collapsed, killing six people, including my parents.”

Losing a parent was a terrible thing to endure. And she had lost both of hers at the same time. In that instant, his heart softened toward her another notch. “I’m sorry for your loss, Rainee.”

Though darkness surrounded them, he saw the stars reflecting from her glistening eyes. He couldn’t turn away from them, and as he looked into those eyes, he didn’t want to. Rainee surrendered all fears in a soft gentle glance that begged him to do the same thing. For one tingly moment, he did, and they shared a breath. He broke eye contact, blinked to regain control and asked, “Do you have any other family?”

Rainee stopped rocking. She knew she could not avoid his questions forever, but she could control what information he did receive. “Yes.”

“And they wouldn’t let you stay with them?”

“My aunt Lena died three months back.”

“I see. I’m sorry, Rainee.”

She picked her gaze up and studied his profile. Boldness overtook her. It was not her place, but she wanted to know just the same. “Jesse sure looked miserable today. He and Hannah went home early.”

Haydon pushed with his feet, setting the swing into
a rocking motion. “Well, that’s not my problem. He should’ve left well enough alone.”

“With me.” Her gaze slipped out into the darkness. His silence gave her the answer she already knew. “I understand how you feel, but Jesse meant well even if he did not go about it the right way.”

“I don’t recall asking for your opinion.” At his bluntness, she whirled her head toward him and squared her shoulders.

“No, you did not, but I am going to give it anyway. Family is extremely important. And even when they do vexing things to us, things that are hard to forgive, refusing to forgive hurts not just them, but us also. I am truly sorry my being here has caused a rift between you two,” she said with a softer tone. Their eyes, shadowed by the darkness, locked. “Will you at least consider forgiving Jesse?”

“You don’t give up easily, do you?”

“No. I do not.”

When he nodded, there was almost a laugh attached to it. “I’ll think about it.”

For a long moment, that seemed to be the end of the conversation, and Rainee would not have been surprised to see him stand up and leave.

“Rainee?”

She swallowed back the apprehension that rose in her throat at the soft hopefulness in his voice. “Yes?”

“Would you like to go for a horseback ride tomorrow and see the rest of the ranch?”

Rainee’s mouth fell open. It was a very unladylike thing to do, but she could not help it. Of all the things she thought he might ask, that was not one of them.

Through the darkness, she tilted her head and tried to
study his face but could not see it well enough to judge his expression.

Why would a man who made it clear he wanted her to go back home protect her from his neighbors, sit and visit with her and then invite her to go for a ride? Whatever his reasons were, they did not matter. She wanted to spend more time with him, to get to know him better. And this was her chance to do so. “I would love to.”

Haydon rose and faced her. “I’ll have Mother pack us a picnic lunch then.”

“No need to bother her. I can do that.” She stood. “When would you like to leave?”

“After I finish my chores.”

Rainee tilted her head and placed her finger against her lips, then smiled sassily. “Kitty will not be there, will she?”

Haydon laughed. Rainee loved the deep rumbling sound.

“Only if you want her to be.” The teasing in his voice caused Rainee’s lips to tip upward.

He walked down the porch steps. “See you tomorrow, Rainee. Good night.” Off into the darkness he went, heading toward his house.

In the secret garden of her soul, hope sent up a new shoot. She could scarcely contain her excitement at the idea of spending more time with Haydon. Tomorrow seemed as far away as the stars.