The Cowboy's Surprise Bride. Linda Ford

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      Linette hated the thought of being at his mercy, but it was true. But only to the degree she allowed it to be. “Then let’s be grateful he appears to be honorable.” At least he hadn’t left them out in the cold.

      They stepped back into the other room. It took only two dozen steps to circle the whole house, but as Linette pointed out, it was safe and Eddie was an honorable man so far as she knew. Lord, keep us secure and help Cassie find peace. And help Eddie to change his mind before spring. She had no doubt it could happen. Didn’t the Word say “with God all things are possible”?

      Grady shuffled toward the stove and stared at the black surface.

      Cassie studied Linette with narrowed eyes. “Were you really prepared to marry Mr. Gardiner, a complete stranger?”

      “Yes.”

      “Why?”

      Before she could reply, a cold draft shivered across the floor and up Linette’s shins. She turned to see Eddie standing in the doorway, three chairs dangling from one arm and a bulging gunnysack from the other. He kicked the door closed with his foot and stared at Linette.

      “I’d like to hear the answer to that.” His gaze burned a trail across her skin, making her cheeks burn.

      She ignored the question and her reaction to his look, grabbed a chair and planted it beside the stove for Grady. Simply by turning it about, she could pull him up to the table.

      Eddie dropped the other chairs and indicated the women should sit then turned the last chair to the heat.

      At his approach, Grady pressed to Linette’s side and whimpered. She wrapped her arm around his tiny shoulders. “Hush, child. You’re safe here. Nice and warm.”

      Eddie dug in his pocket and withdrew six perfectly round stones and an assortment of interestingly shaped pieces of wood. Two were round knots. Four resembled crude animals and the other two were smooth lengths. “Grady, here’s some things you can play with.”

      Grady buried his face against Linette’s shoulder and wailed.

      “It’s not personal. He’s feeling lost. He’ll soon enough realize he’s safe.” It was her daily prayer. The boy had been inconsolable since his mother’s death. She reached for the objects. Eddie dumped them into her palms. They were warm from his touch and her throat pinched tight. She told herself it meant nothing and she dropped them to her lap. “Look, Grady. This one looks like a cow.”

      The boy wasn’t interested.

      “Perhaps later.” She turned away knowing natural curiosity and abject boredom would overcome fear in short order. “Thanks for bringing the chairs.”

      “There’s food and other things I figured you might need in order to survive.” He indicated the sack he’d dropped on the floor.

      “Thank you.” She started to edge away from Grady’s grip. “I’ll see to tea.” Please let there be something in that sack I can prepare.

      Eddie signaled her to remain seated. “First, I’d like to hear the answer to Mrs. Godfrey’s question.”

      Linette shook her head and did her best to look confused, as if she didn’t recall.

      The way Eddie quirked one eyebrow she knew she hadn’t fooled him. Nevertheless, he repeated Cassie’s question. “Why would you cross the ocean and most of North America to marry a stranger? Surely there are interested men in England.”

      Linette’s shudder was sincere. “Of course, and my father made sure all the men I met were suitable in his estimation.” She tried to keep her voice strong but suspected everyone heard the tremor that came from the pit of her stomach. She swallowed hard and forced back her revulsion. “He agreed to a marriage between myself and a distant relative who to all accounts is rich in land and money.” She clamped her teeth together to keep from revealing how disgusting she found the idea then released them to speak again. “He is a fat old man.”

      “How old?” Eddie’s voice rang with doubt.

      “He’s fifty-one.” Did he think she’d made up the age difference? Even that wouldn’t have been so bad. It was the way the man looked at her, his eyes undressing her as he licked his lips like a hungry dog. Realizing she clutched at her upper arms as if to protect herself, she lowered her hands to her lap.

      “How old are you?” He still sounded unconvinced.

      “I’m twenty.” She tipped her chin proudly. “Some might think I’m old enough to welcome any sort of a marriage, but I’ll never be that old.”

      Eddie chuckled.

      “You wouldn’t find it amusing if you were in my position.”

      Cassie sniffed. “Men are never in that position.”

      Eddie sobered though his eyes continued to spark amusement. “I’m trying to guess what you said or did to convince your father to let you travel West.”

      “Your good name and your letter were enough.” She ducked her head. “I also pointed out the nearness of a convent where I knew I could find shelter and protection.” Her father had vowed all kinds of damage to the convent if she had actually gone there, so it wasn’t really an option.

      Grady edged a hand to Linette’s lap and gingerly explored the largest rock.

      “Do you know my age?”

      She returned her gaze to Eddie. “Margaret said you’re twenty-five.” How must Eddie feel to be turned down by the woman he expected to become his wife? It hurt to think about it. “I’m sorry for your disappointment.”

      He held her gaze for a heartbeat. She read a distant hurt, then he blinked and let only his disapproval reveal itself. She would assuredly make a far better rancher’s wife than Margaret ever would. But of course, the heart did not always see what the head knew was best.

      “I was married at sixteen,” Cassie said, rocking slowly, pulling Linette’s attention to her. She wished she could erase the pain from the woman’s expression. “We worked hard to save enough money for our passage. Then we worked in Ontario. I wanted to stay there. We had a nice house, but George heard there was good land along the North Saskatchewan River. He saved enough to buy an outfit and settle in the Northwest. We sold everything. But George got sick in Montreal.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “I thought I’d die when he died. I used the last of our savings to have him buried,” she moaned. “He deserved far better.”

      So did Cassie, but Linette didn’t say so, knowing far too well the woman was given to bouts of discouragement and defeat.

      Cassie gave the stove a bleak look. “Here I am not yet twenty-five, a widow. I’ll be alone the rest of my life.”

      “God has a plan for your life. He says His thoughts toward us are of peace, and not of evil.” She spoke of a verse she thought to be in Jeremiah.

      “I’ve seen little reason to believe God wants to do me good.” Cassie’s voice shook. “Until I see otherwise, I think I’ll trust my own resources.”

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