The Unexpected Bride (The Brides Book 1) (17 page)

“Do you think it will work?” she asked.

“You’ll never know until you try. In any case, you may plant a seed in his mind. He’ll start thinking of the possibilities... I know it.” Meggie gave Becky’s hand a final pat for emphasis.

Will walked up to then. After an introduction from Meggie and an exchange of greetings, he climbed up next to his bride. He seemed a quiet young man. Practical. Hard-working. He wasn’t talkative by any stretch, but he had kind eyes, which Becky found reassuring. As the worn wagon trundled off down the road, Meggie turned around in her seat and waved. Then she folded her hands in prayer, lifting them high for Becky to see.

Her message was clear: she was going to pray for her.

Becky’s eyes smarted with tears. She definitely needed her friend’s prayers. Waving back, Becky watched until the wagon disappeared over the crest of a hill. Blotting her eyes on the cuff of her sleeve, she entered the general store.

Isaac had left her with instructions to collect any supplies she needed for herself, mentioning fabric specifically, to her surprise, and groceries for the kitchen. Thinking he might need new clothes himself, she selected a length of red cotton for a summer work shirt, denim for new trousers, a couple of spools of thread, and some white linen for new underthings for herself. She then collected a selection of canned goods, along with sugar, flour, and other necessities for the pantry. She’d just finished arranging her purchases on the counter when Isaac strode through the front door and came to her side. He looked over her selection with a slight frown.

“I don’t really need the linen,” she hurriedly said and picked it up to return it to the shelf.

His hand covered hers, and he gently guided her to drop the fabric onto the counter with the other things she’d set aside to purchase.

“It’s fine. I want you to get everything you need.”

After scanning the counter again, he walked over to the display of cloth and took down a couple of bolts of cotton fabric: a cheerful yellow one and a creamy white one with sprigs of green leaves and vines. He laid them on the counter and, after getting her nod of approval, had the clerk cut a nice long yardage of each.

“How are you for soaps and such?”

She felt her cheeks grow warm at the somewhat personal question. “I could use some.”

“Get what you need.”

She could hear him instruct the clerk to box their purchases while she selected her toiletries. As she picked out what she needed from the limited assortment, she gulped at the prices. Isaac was spending an awful lot of money on things for her today.

She stepped up to the counter and handed her personal items to the clerk to be wrapped in paper and added to the boxes.

“I really don’t need this much.”

Isaac ignored her protest and lifted a box under each arm. “Could you get the door?”

“Of course.” She rushed over to prop it open for him and called her thanks to the clerk. Scurrying after Isaac, she helped him arrange the boxes on the skid hitched to his bay. Her gaze caught and held on a plain brown package lying on top of one of the crates. Not recognizing it, she puzzled over its contents. With a shrug, she accepted Isaac’s assistance to mount Siren and followed him on the long trip back up the mountain. The whole way, she wished she’d never told Isaac she rode sidesaddle.

***

Isaac waited until after supper that night to present Rebecca with his gift. He didn’t know what had prompted him to buy it for her.

“This is for you.” He pushed their plates aside and laid the package on the table in front of her. He’d kept it under his chair the entire time.

“What’s this?” Her voice held a note of suppressed excitement. Her fingers traced the surface of the brown paper, her face lit with curiosity.

“See for yourself.”

She flashed him an uncertain smile and untied the knot in the twine. Pulling back the paper, she gasped in wonder as she revealed the small Bible inside.

“A Bible?”

“I noticed how you liked reading mine in the morning.”

“You noticed.” Her simply spoken reply held a hint of question. Her eyes were bright and watery.

“Not tears again?” he begged.

“Thank you, Isaac.” She clasped the Bible to her chest, hugging it close, like a child with a beloved doll. “Thank you.”

Her sincere thanks moved him, and he felt an uncomfortable burning in his own eyes, realizing he’d bought it as a farewell gift. Unable to bring up the unpleasant topic of her leaving just yet, he resolved to tell her in the morning.

Later, as he prepared for bed, he remembered how Rebecca had sat at the table for hours poring over the pages of her new Bible, how she’d meet his eyes now and then and smile one of those bright smiles of hers, the ones that warmed his insides. She appreciated the Good Book more than anyone he’d ever known. He sat in bed propped against the wall with the covers pulled up to his chest. He was reading a few pages of scripture himself when Rebecca’s soft feminine voice made him sit up straighter.

“Isaac?”

“Yes, Rebecca?”

He couldn’t have been more surprised when she pushed aside the potato-sack curtain and poked her head hesitantly around the edge.

“May I speak with you?”

He cleared his throat and tried to sound offhand. “Of course.”

She perched on the edge of his pop’s empty bed. As she settled on the lumpy mattress, he took in the crisp white cotton nightgown she wore, noticing how it was gathered in a bow at her neck, how the cloth fell loosely about her. She propped her heels on the bedrail and tucked her feet quickly under the folds of material with one hand, hugging her Bible to her stomach with the other. Only her dainty little toes peeked out from under the hem. Covered neck to toe in white, she seemed again like an innocent bride on her wedding night.

He shook off that image. She was in love with another man, he reminded himself.

“Isaac.” She started hesitantly and stopped. She moistened her lips as if she were nervous and took a deep breath.

“What is it?” he asked, her anxiety making him anxious too.

“Isaac, I’d like to talk with you about something.”

He nodded mutely.

“The past couple of weeks...” Her words seemed to hang in the air for a moment. She cleared her throat and continued, “The past couple of weeks, I’ve come to like and respect you. I know we got started the wrong way, but I’d like to try to set it to rights. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you. I know you only married me out of respect for your father—”

“I—” He sat up straighter. He wanted to deny it, but that wouldn’t be the truth, and she interrupted him anyway.

“Wait. Could I please say my piece?” she asked softly, fingering the thick reddish-gold braid that was draped over her shoulder and fell to her waist.

He nodded and sank back against the wall.

“Your reasons for marrying me and my reasons for marrying you seem moot now. We’re married. And, well, I’d like to make the best of it. We have the start of a friendship, I think.” She paused and waited for his brief nod before going on, “Can we build on that, do you think?”

“And what about this Jack fellow?” He forced his voice to remain level, but his heart started pumping fiercely in his chest. “Do you have it in your heart to—to try to make amends with the man?” He set his Bible on the old trunk next to his bed and crossed his arms over his chest. Looking over at her, he noticed how quiet she was, not moving, not even seeming to breathe as she watched him with a wide-eyed expression.

“Jack?” she whispered, clearly alarmed that he would mention the man. “No. There’s no making amends with Jack, not ever. He’s married. There was...it ended up there was someone else. Another woman. And a baby on the way. So, no. There’s no ‘making amends’ with Jack. He’s married now, and
I’m
a married woman now too.” She looked at him searchingly, as if wondering how he—Isaac— could have forgotten such an important detail. “What I wanted to say is I have every intention of being a good wife to you, Isaac Jessup, but I need to know if you want me for a wife?”

“Wait.” He swallowed. “Jack’s married?” The room seemed brighter all of sudden. His heart beat a little more steadily against his ribs.

“That’s right.” Her voice was soft, subdued. “And about the other?”

She didn’t repeat her question, but the flash of uncertainty in her eyes told him his answer had the power to devastate her. She’d been jilted. That much was evident from what she’d said, but more so from what she hadn’t said. He had no intention of adding to her pain.

“I’d like to make a go of this marriage too,” he stated firmly and noticed how the stiff line of her body loosened ever so slightly.

She closed her eyes briefly, and he had the distinct impression she’d worked up her courage to ask him and was relieved at his answer.

“Isaac”—her voice was a bit strained, which immediately made him wonder what she could possibly say next—“there’s one more thing. I’d like to know— That is, what were you thinking— I mean, are you planning to...” Her words trailed off in a mortified whisper. She could barely make herself look at him, that much was clear. “When are you planning to come to our bed?” she finally blurted out.

What a question!

A heady warmth flooded Isaac. He wanted to be next to her. He wanted to kiss her right then and there, maybe even tell her
tonight
. His pulse took off at an alarming rate. It was all he could do to stay where he was.

Slow down
. Just this morning he was thinking about sending her away. It was all too sudden.

“It may take some time for us both to come to terms with—with everything,” he said. “For now, it just doesn’t seem quite right to share a bed.” He suddenly felt like a bumbling seventeen-year-old, all flushed and gawky.

If his men could see him now... Well, it didn’t bear thinking about.

Her gaze fell from his, and she ducked her chin low. He wondered why that made him feel so guilty. You’d think she’d be relieved. Somehow, he’d crushed her feelings. He didn’t like the sensation. So he pushed his covers aside and crossed over to her, sitting next to her—close but not touching. He took her hand and squeezed it.

“It’s not that I don’t want that. Given time, of course.” He pressed a chaste kiss to the back of her hand. It would have to be enough for now. Earlier that morning, he’d been set to ship her back home. Now, he just felt confused.

Rebecca’s brow furrowed fleetingly, then cleared, and she offered him one of her full, knock-him-over smiles. “Fair enough.” She stood, landing lightly on her feet. “Well, then, goodnight,” she said.

Her smile dimmed bit as she walked out of his grasp, letting his hand fall to the mattress. He watched as she disappeared around the edge of the curtain.

The door to the back room soon clicked shut. Closing his eyes, he fell back against his father’s bed and finally gave voice to the groan he’d been holding back. Even now, he felt drawn to her.
Liked
her. He’d been all set to stifle his growing feelings and send her back home, but now she’d turned the tables on him by telling him Jack was married.

Her directness had surprised him. She hadn’t promised him she could come to love him someday. She’d extended her friendship and no more. She’d spoken plainly with him—painfully so. Her honor drew him like no other feminine charm could have. Well, no, that wasn’t quite true. He definitely found her attractive. Her unexpected question about their marriage bed had only served to remind him that he was a man and she was a woman. His heart was still pounding uncomfortably fast.

He’d have to be satisfied for now with a relationship based on companionship. Later, if she showed signs of letting go of Jack—and perhaps when his pride didn’t sting so much—they could become man and wife in a real sense. On that unsettling thought, he returned to his bed, turned down the lamp, and rolled over to try to sleep.

***

Becky paced her room, going over her conversation with Isaac again and again in her mind. He’d accepted her offer of friendship, which was a relief, but he’d drawn a line of sorts between them as well. The only possible explanation was he wasn’t sure if he wanted her for a wife. His words were coming from a feeling of duty and commitment—nothing more. Though she didn’t have the right to expect it, part of her felt the tug of wanting more. She couldn’t afford to be so fickle-hearted, she told herself. She’d offered her friendship. He’d accepted. End of story.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she decided to focus on what she could do to forge a new beginning between them. With a determined lift of her chin, she unpacked the red cotton fabric she’d bought for a work shirt for him and set about cutting out the pattern and piecing it together. She wasn’t much of a seamstress, but she kept the lines simple, and before long she was sitting cross-legged on her bed trying to make neat, even stitches. The repetitive task of pushing the needle in and out of the fabric brought a feeling a peace she hadn’t felt during all her pacing and fretting.

There was a form of contentment in doing what she could and not worrying about the rest.

***

After several days of newfound peace with his bride, Isaac could now go about his work without feeling guilty about it. Each evening after dinner, Rebecca sewed while sitting in the rocker and softly humming her waltz. Although the tune was an uncomfortable reminder of Jack—the man she loved—he admitted to himself that he enjoyed the domestic scene. He liked the way her hair would have loosened from its knot by the end of the day, how the reddish-gold strands curled about her face and neck.

He found himself thinking about just such a scene one morning as he stood in a recently cleared area with his father. They were supposed to be organizing their next swath for felling, but Isaac couldn’t concentrate fully on the map. Thoughts of Rebecca brought up other concerns.

“Harper said there’s a mean grizzly running loose,” Isaac said, speaking his worries aloud, sharing the news as if he had no more than a casual interest. Rebecca was a city girl. She wouldn’t know what to do if she came upon a bear. He absently worried a loose cord on his vest.