The Unexpected Bride (3 page)

He turned toward Jesse’s place, wondering where Abby was and what was taking her so long.

“Excuse me, please?”

As much as he didn’t want to, Haydon faced her again. “Yes?”

Her eyes locked on his for the briefest of moments before her lids fluttered, and she looked toward Jesse’s house. “Is Abby the only one who does not know why I am here?” She turned those wide innocent fawn eyes up at him again, and his heart lurched.

The last time Haydon saw a look like that was on a puppy he’d owned as a child. That puppy had won his heart and had gotten whatever it wanted. Haydon swallowed hard.
Rainee’s not a puppy. She’s a woman. And not just any woman. She’s the most dangerous kind there is. Sweet and innocent-looking, and beautiful.
“Miss Devonwood, I—”

“Haydon!” Abby’s voice carried across the yard.

Haydon wanted to hug his sister for saving him. He spun her direction and watched as she ran toward him.

“Jesse got hurted this mornin’ and he can’t come.”

His heart dropped to his boots. He had hoped Jess would at least feel well enough by the time he got back that he could deal with Miss Devonwood. Now what?

“How come I didn’t know he got hurted?”

“Hurt, not hurted,” Haydon corrected. “Because you, Mother and Leah were gone all day, remember?”

Abby hiked her little shoulder. “I forgetted.”

“I
forgot.”

“Did you forgetted too?” Her round eyes smiled up at him.

“No, I didn’t forget. You said… Oh, never mind. Why don’t you run along and go play now?”

“Okay.” She skipped back toward the corner of the house and disappeared.

Haydon turned toward the sound of Miss Devonwood’s twitter.

Her gaze lingered in the direction Abby had gone.

“Just what do you find so amusing, Miss Devonwood?”

Rainee reeled toward him and blinked. Amusement, not anger, fluttered across his handsome face. “Abby is lovely.” She stared at the spot where the little girl had disappeared. “To think that precious girl is going to be my sister is so—” Rainee’s eyes flew open and hot blood rushed into her cheeks. She pressed her fingertips to her mouth to stifle her gasp.

Merciful heavens! What is wrong with you, Rainelle? Since you got here, he has not mentioned the subject of marriage even once, and here you are talking about Abby being your sister. No wonder Mother had to rebuke you so often. Will you ever learn?
She gazed longingly at the forest of trees, wishing she could flee into their thickness and hide away forever.

She turned and retrieved her parasol, handbag and the flowers from the bench seat.

“Haydon. Where have you been all day?”

Rainee whirled toward the big two-story house. A tall, lithe woman strolled toward them and stopped directly in front of her.

The handsome blonde lady with powder-blue eyes looked up at Haydon and quirked one delicate eyebrow. “Sorry, I didn’t know we had company.”

“Mother, this is—”

When he stopped speaking, Rainee looked up at him, wondering why he quit talking. Obviously he was not going to say anything more, so Rainee took matters into her own hands. She turned her attention to his mother. “Good afternoon, ma’am.” She curtsied. “I am Rainelle Victoria Devonwood.”

“Good afternoon, Miss Devonwood. I’m Katherine, Haydon’s mother.” Katherine looked perplexed as she glanced from Rainee to Haydon and back again.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bowen.”

“Please call me Katherine. We don’t stand on ceremony out here. Feel free to address all of us on a firstname basis.”

Rainee looked at Mr. Bowen. Mother had always made it clear a man should never call a woman by her given name unless they had known each other for a long time or were courting. Neither one fit this scenario.

His jaw worked back and forth again, but after a few seconds, he glanced at her. “Mother’s right. Call me Haydon.”

Relief drizzled over her like a warm summer rain. One more detestable rule of etiquette she would not have to follow out here. Mother and Father would not approve of her choice to call someone by their first name, but Rainee loved it. It was much more personable.

“Thank you, Haydon.” Using his Christian name felt quite strange and yet lovely at the same time. “Please call me Rainee. I prefer it over Rainelle.”

“Rainee,” he acknowledged. “Rainelle is a beautiful name, though. I’ve never heard it before.”

Rainee blushed under Haydon’s compliment. “My father was British. It was his mother’s name.” Her gaze lowered and she noticed the flowers in her hands. She extended the bouquet toward his mother. “These are for you, Mrs. Bowen.”

“It’s Katherine, remember?”

“Yes, ma’am.” It would take Rainee a while to get used to addressing an elder by their given name but the very idea brought a smile to her face.

Katherine took the flowers, and her eyes brightened
as she smelled each one. “Oh, I love flowers. And these are my favorites. How very thoughtful of you to take the time to pick them for me. Thank you, Rainee.” Katherine smiled and again her questioning gaze swung between Rainee and her son.

The joy of the moment evaporated as quickly as it had come. A sinking feeling came over Rainee. Had this man not mentioned her to any of his family? What was going on around here?

Rainee’s blood flow slowed way down—either from all the heat she had endured the last several days or the realization no one seemed to know anything about her.

“Don’t just stand there, Haydon. Can’t you see Rainee isn’t feeling well? Help her inside and get her a glass of water.”

She wanted to protest, to say she was fine, but she never got the chance. Haydon was at her side, escorting her into the house and onto a comfortable sofa.

“You’d be more at ease, Rainee, if you removed your jacket and hat. May I?”

She nodded.

Haydon helped her out of her traveling jacket and set it on a nearby chair.

She removed the pins from her hat, wondering if she looked a fright.

He took her hat and set it with her jacket. “Would you like me to take your gloves too?” He extended his hand toward her.

She clutched her hands together and squeezed them until her fingers throbbed. “No. No, thank you.”

A quick nod her direction, and he left the room. Within minutes he returned with a full glass of water. “Here. Drink this. You’ll feel much better.”

When she reached for the glass, their fingertips overlapped. A warm tingling sensation started at the tip of her fingers and spread up her arm and into her body, causing her to shiver and very nearly drop the glass.

Haydon yanked his hand back, and she barely kept the glass upright between them. For a brief moment, he stared at her with a look of sheer horror. Then he whirled and disappeared through the doorway as if the house were on fire.

Had he felt what she had? Her heart was still fluttering from that one touch.

If he had, was it a bad thing or a good thing? If his reaction was any indication, it must be quite bad.

Too tired to ponder that, she tipped the water glass to her lips. The tepid water tasted almost sweet. She drank the whole glass of liquid within seconds, even though it was a very unladylike thing to do.

“Feel better?”

Rainee looked over at Katherine, who strolled into the living room and sat in a chair across from her.

“Thank you. Yes,” she answered even though she really did not feel better, but she hated any displays of weakness. Yet, sitting here on a comfy sofa, out of the hot sun, her eyelids felt heavy with fatigue. She struggled to keep her tiredness from showing.

An awkward silence filled the room.

Katherine rose. “Would you please excuse me for a moment? And please make yourself at home.”

After the woman left, Rainee folded her hands in her lap, not knowing what to do.

Her gaze roamed the living room. On the left of the fireplace were two wine-and-tan-colored wingback chairs. On the right was a matching high-back settee and a tan rocking chair. The wine-and-tan sofa she sat
on faced the fireplace. End tables with doilies and oil lamps graced each side of the sofa. The place reminded her of the spacious living room back home. Except this place had Queen Anne–style furniture, and back home the furniture was Chippendale. Sadness crawled inside her, but she shooed it away like an unwanted bug. Dwelling on home would do her no good. No good at all.

Weeks of traveling and being jostled about and the realization no one seemed to know about her had taxed her greatly. Her eyelids were heavy and her stomach was queasy from a lack of food. She really should have eaten something when Haydon had offered. But knowing she was penniless and seeing all those men in Prosperity Mountain leering at her, she just wanted to get away from them as fast as she could.

Her eyes slid shut, and her head bobbed. She sat up straighter, forcing herself to stay awake, when all she really wanted to do was to succumb to sleep and dream about what could have been. Finally she could fight sleep no longer and everything around her faded as she fell into its waiting arms.

H
aydon couldn’t get out of the house fast enough as he battled the feelings warring inside him. When Rainee’s fingertips touched his, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck nearby and he felt the effects of it, shocking every part of him. How could a woman, who he’d barely met, affect him so? Whatever the answer, he didn’t care. All he knew was he wouldn’t allow her or any other woman to penetrate the wall he’d built around his heart.

He glanced toward the house, wondering what was going on in there. Rainee looked so tired, he actually felt sorry for her. He shouldn’t have left his mother alone to deal with her, but he had to get away for the sake of his sanity. Besides, why should he feel bad? This whole unbelievable situation was all Jesse’s doing. Haydon had nothing to do with it.

Of all the idiotic things his brother had done, this one bested them all. The more Haydon thought about the situation and the sight of that poor exhausted woman sitting on his mother’s couch, the more he thought about confronting his brother. He whirled on his heel and headed toward Jesse’s house. The brisk walk across the yard felt good and helped relieve some of
his aggravation—but not nearly enough. He leapt onto the porch. “Jesse.” He banged on the door.

In seconds, the door slung open, and a very pregnant, very perturbed Hannah quickly stepped outside. She jerked her finger to her lips and shushed him. “Haydon Bowen, what is wrong with you? Jesse’s sleeping.” She closed the door behind her. “Although I’m surprised he can with all that banging you’re doing.”

That sent Haydon back a piece. “I’m sorry, but he’s just going to have to wake up. There are two ladies over there—” he jerked his thumb toward his mother’s house “—who need an explanation.”

Hannah planted her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “Listen here, Haydon Bowen. I know what Jesse did was wrong. I told him he should have talked to you before answering that woman’s advertisement on your behalf. I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to deal with it because right now Jesse needs rest. And not you nor anyone else is going to disrupt that. You hear me?” With those words Hannah opened her door and disappeared inside, closing it on him with the softest bang he’d ever not heard.

Haydon raised his hat and ran his hand through his hair. Never before had he seen Miss Timid Hannah act like that. Seeing no other course of action, he stepped off their porch, mumbling, “Must be something about a pregnant woman that makes them cantankerous. It definitely brings out their protective instincts.” Haydon slapped his dusty hat against his leg. “Women,” he harrumphed, then plopped his hat on his head and strode toward the main house.

He had just finished unloading the last of Rainee’s belongings onto the porch when his mother came out
and stepped up next to him. “Haydon. I want to talk to you.”

“Not now, Mother.” He hoisted his leg up to get into the wagon.

“Oh, no you don’t.” She grabbed the back of his shirt and tugged him back. “I want to know who that girl is and what she’s doing here. And I want to know
now.”

Haydon closed his eyes and blew out a long breath before facing his mother. “You’ll have to ask Jesse that question.”

“Jesse? What has he got to do with this?”

“Everything,” Haydon replied, climbing onto the buckboard. Making sure his mother was at a safe distance, he picked up the reins and tapped the draft horses, Lulu and Sally, on their backs.

By the time he pulled the wagon around to the barn and stepped down, his mother was standing at his side. “Haydon, what’s going on?”

He looked down at his mother but offered no answers.

“Where have you been and who is that woman? I will not wait until Jesse gets back from wherever it was he said he had to go today.”

“So you don’t know about Jesse either?”

“Know what about Jesse?” Her gaze slid toward the direction of Jesse’s cabin, then back at him. “I just got home about fifteen minutes before you did and no one was around. Smokey and Michael told me last night they’d be late for dinner. What’s going on around here?”

Haydon drew in a long breath. “I’ll put the horses up, and then I’ll tell you everything, okay?”

“You bet you will. I’ll be waiting. Right here.” She sat down on one of the wood-slab benches outside the barn door.

As he tended to the horses, Haydon prayed God would give him the grace to tell his mother all he knew. When he finished, he stepped out of the barn and sat down next to her. He leaned his arms on his knees and clasped his hands together. With his head down, he debated on where to start.

“Well, are you just going to sit there, or are you going to tell me what’s going on? And why is your nose so red?”

“Some guy in Prosperity Mountain punched me in the nose.”

“What! Why’d he do that?”

“Because I stopped him from assaulting Rainee.”

“What do you mean?” Shock rippled through her voice and across her face.

“When I arrived, some ruffian was trying to force his attentions on Rainee. We got into a fight and the sheriff hauled him off.”

“That poor girl.”

“Poor girl is right.” Only she wasn’t a girl, she was a woman. With curves in all the right places. A beautiful, feisty woman who brought out his protective instincts. The kind of woman he was a sucker for.
Oh, no, Haydon. Not this time. Just shove any notions about Rainee out of your mind. Don’t go getting any ideas where she’s concerned. Remember what happened with Melanie.
That was all the reminder he needed. Thoughts of Rainee vanished from his mind.

“Now, I want you to tell me why Rainee is here.”

So much for knocking her out of his mind. “Mother, you know how Jess is always doing stuff without thinking the whole thing through?”

“Yes, but he always means well.”

“That might be true, but some of the ridiculous things
he’s done, he shouldn’t have. This is one of them. Jesse answered an advertisement he’d seen…” He rubbed his chin. “I don’t know where he saw it. In a newspaper, a magazine or what. But Rainee must have placed an advertisement to find a husband.”

His mother’s brows rose and her chin lowered. “A husband?”

“Jesse answered her ad and encouraged her to come out here to become…” He swallowed hard before continuing, “my wife.”

“Oh, no, he didn’t.”

“Oh, yes. He did. I don’t know what was in the letter or her ad or anything. You’ll have to ask Jesse. But judging by our conversation on the way back to the ranch, she believes I’m the one who sent for her.”

Mother looked toward the house and shook her head. “That poor, poor girl. I can’t believe Jesse would do such a thing. What was he thinking?”

“That’s what I asked him. I was going to send her back to wherever she came from, but the stagecoach had already left. It’ll be three weeks before it comes through again. I just couldn’t leave her alone in Prosperity Mountain to fend for herself.” He thought about when he had arrived at the stagecoach stop and saw her bopping and kicking that man in the shins. Maybe they needed protection from her. He smiled. Then again, maybe he did, too.

His mother laid her hand on his leg. “You did the right thing, son. But why did you go get her if you didn’t send for her? Why didn’t Jesse go?”

“Because he’s laid up. That’s why.”

“Laid up? What do you mean?”

“He had an accident this morning.”

“An accident? Is he okay? What happened?” Al
though his mother was used to her menfolk getting hurt, it never stopped her from worrying or fretting over them.

“Smokey said he’ll be fine.” A fresh wave of shame washed over Haydon, even though he was still agitated with his brother. “It was my fault. I got so angry when I found out what he did that I needed to get as far away from him as possible so I could cool down. I decided to go for a long ride. You know, like Father and I used to do.”

“I remember.” Sadness shadowed her eyes.

“Jess came into the barn right when I was getting ready to leave. I never flank Rebel, but I did. Rebel was so startled he reared and knocked Jesse out.”

Her face paled. “You sure he’s going to be all right?”

“I’m sure,” he said with more confidence than he felt. “I feel terrible about what happened. But to be honest, Mother, I’m still angry with him. He had no right to do that to me or to Rainee.”

His mother shook her head. “You’re right, he didn’t. But unfortunately he did, and now we have to figure out what to do with her.”

“We?
Oh-h no. Not we. Jesse can figure that one out on his own.”

“From what you just told me, Jesse won’t be able to do much of anything on his own for a while.” She stood, and so did he. “I need to go check on him.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Why not?”

“Because Hannah said he needed his rest, and she didn’t care who it was, she wasn’t letting anyone wake him.”

“Hannah? Our Hannah said that?”

“Yep. She sure did.” They stood there for a second
staring at each other before they both shook their heads, chuckling.

His mother’s face turned grim. “What am I going to tell that poor young woman?”

“I don’t know.”

Rainee’s eyes fluttered open. She turned her head and started to raise herself, but her body rebelled with each movement. Not one to allow a few aches and weakness of body to stop her, she forced her creaking body into a sitting position, wondering how long she had been asleep.

A young teenage girl with buttery blond hair and powder-blue eyes came drifting into the room. “Hi, I’m Leah. Mother told me to offer you something to eat and drink when you awakened. Would you like some cookies and tea?”

“Tea and cookies sound heavenly. Thank you.” Before Rainee had a chance to introduce herself the girl disappeared. Rainee ran her hands over her wrinkled, dirty clothes, but the stubborn creases and dirt would not budge. She was most certainly a mess and not fit to be seen.

Leah returned and set the tray on the end table next to Rainee. She smiled and two dimples accompanied it. “I hope you like them. I made them myself.” Leah’s look of accomplishment curled Rainee’s lips upward.

“I am sure I shall. Thank you.” She picked one up, and when she bit into it, a flavorful blend of cinnamon, clove and apple delighted her taste buds.

Leah sat across from her with an expectant look.

Rainee dabbed at the corners of her mouth with the cloth napkin provided her. “One of the best cookies I
have ever eaten. You must teach me how to make them.” To prove her enjoyment, she devoured another cookie.

“I would love to.”

“By the way, I am Rainelle. Rainelle Victoria Devonwood. But please, call me Rainee.”

“Nice to meet you, Rainee.” Leah chewed on the corner of her bottom lip. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I saw you with my brother.” She squirmed and glanced toward the kitchen. “Are you and he…? You know?” She spiked her shoulder in a quick upward motion. “How do you know Haydon?”

“Leah. That is none of your business.” Rainee’s gaze swung toward Katherine’s voice.

Leah jumped up and lowered her head. “Sorry, Mother.” She glanced over at Rainee. “Sorry, Rainee.”

“No harm done.” She did her best to send Leah a reassuring smile.

The young girl gave a quick nod and then looked at her mother as if she were seeking approval.

“Leah, go see what your sister is up to.”

“Yes, Mother.” She gave a shy smile Rainee’s direction, then quietly left the room.

Katherine sat in the chair Leah had occupied. “Are you feeling better now?” Compassion, so like her own mother’s, floated from this woman.

Rainee had to look away. Heartsickness for her mother consumed her once again. She wondered if she would ever get used to the fact her mother was never coming back. That she would never comfort Rainee or give her words of wisdom again.

She plastered on a smile and faced Katherine. “Yes, ma’am. I am much better. Thank you.”

Katherine fidgeted with her hands and darted her gaze out the window, onto her lap, back out the window,
until it finally alighted on Rainee. “Rainee, I think there’s something you should know.”

Rainee braced herself for whatever was coming. From the tone in Katherine’s voice, it was not good news.

“Mother, I’ll handle this.”

Rainee swung her gaze toward Haydon, who stood filling the doorway.

Katherine’s chest rose and fell. Her hands quit squirming and finally rested in her lap.

“I’m afraid there’s been a huge mistake.” Haydon strode over and sat across from her next to Katherine.

“What—what do you mean a mistake?” Rainee felt the blood drain from her face.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to say it. I’m really sorry, but my brother Jesse sent for you, Rainee, not me.”

Blinking, Rainee fought not to react. “I—I do not understand.” She looked at Katherine, then at Haydon. “You told me Jesse is married.”

“He is.”

Question after question chased through Rainee’s mind about what this all meant. Surely these people were not one of those religious groups who believed it was okay to have several wives. The air in the room thickened. Just what had she gotten herself into? She stared at Haydon, waiting for him to continue, yet dreading it at the same time.

“He sent for you. But not for himself.”

Hearing Haydon say that at least put Rainee’s fears to rest about the numerous wives, but she still did not have a clue as to what was going on.

“He thought he was doing me a favor. And you.” He raked his hand through his hair.

Rainee closed her eyes as disappointment, concern and dread inhabited her body. The cookies in her stomach turned to stone. What would she do now? She did not need him to tell her the rest. She already knew. He did not want her here. Her solution had just evaporated before her very eyes.

Never before had she felt so alone.

Usually when a situation arose, memories of her mother’s advice came to her. But not this time. Even her mother’s words were as silent as the grave.

Grave. That one word always ripped at Rainee’s heart, and this time was no different, but she refused to cry in the presence of these strangers.