Rocky Mountain Dawn (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 1) (3 page)

Again, his smile crinkled his eyes, and he offered her his arm. After a moment, she took it, although she wasn't sure how she felt about being near him. No man had ever said such things to her—a strange mix of critique and compliment. In fact, in all her nineteen years, no one had criticized her so thoroughly at all.

Dr. Shepherd didn't seem perturbed by her silence. "I must say, it heartens me to see you in plain dress, working. Although, if we married, I will ask you to stop climbing trees. Or at least leaping out of them from such high branches. You might break your ankle and then where would we be?"

He smiled down at her, causing Esther's heart to flutter wildly. Confused, she watched him turn to greet her siblings.

It was a much less formal Mr. Shepherd who sat beside her at dinner. He made her mother laugh, and entertained her father with news from Boston, where he had studied, and Philadelphia, where he'd lived as a boy. When the dishes were being cleared, he asked if he might help Esther with the chore of washing them.

"No, you are a guest," Mrs. Richardson said in horror.

"But if all goes well, I will be family."

Unfortunately, her mother relented, and Esther found herself next to her tall suitor, who hummed cheerfully to himself as he rolled up his sleeves and started scrubbing out the biggest pot.

They were halfway done before he leaned down. "You're very quiet."

"Isn't that what you want?" Esther wiped down a plate as roughly as she could without breaking it. "A quiet wife who's plain and works all the time?"

He sighed. "I didn't mean to criticize. Time is short and we must speak honestly."

She handed him a clean plate for him to dry.

"Besides," he said. "When you are my wife, you will understand why I take you in hand and offer correction. As your husband, I will lead you, and it's my responsibility to help you become the best woman you can be. I intend to do that with firm discipline, as necessary."

Head spinning, she forced a laugh. "Of course, Mr. Shepherd. If I would be your wife, I would give you as little cause to discipline me as possible."

"It's a serious matter, Esther," he said, putting his hand on hers. Her heart skipped a beat at his touch, and at the use of her name. "We will be journeying together, and hard put upon. We need to act as one, and for you to follow my lead."

She stared up at him, confused. Was he telling her he wished to marry her?

"Do you understand?" His deep brown eyes were mesmerizing, and she had to shake herself out of her stupor.

"Of course." She pulled her hand away. "I would submit to you, and any suitable correction, though I'm sure there will be no cause for it."

"Good." His secret smile appeared again.

Esther fell silent again, her head swimming. He told her he wasn't sure of marrying her, then joined her in her chores. Like every other man before him, he told her she was beautiful, but he made a compliment almost into an insult. And now he spoke of marrying her as if it was a sure thing.

When the dishes were done, she bid him adieu in the parlor, with her mother and Mattie listening outside the door, she was sure.

"Dr. Shepherd, I thought on what you said. And I want you to know, I'm ready for adventure. All these pretty things—" she indicated the parlor, "mean nothing to me. I want to serve." She lifted her chin, standing as tall as she could to look him in the eye. "I can be a good wife to you. I promise."

"I'm sure you will be," he said, gazing down at her in a way that made her skin heat.

"Does that mean...you wish to have me?"

Again, the subtle smile. "I do. Will you let me ask your father for your hand?"

"Of course." She blushed. "He's in his study. Right that way."

With a full grin, Dr. Shepherd strode to the side room, hat in hand, leaving Esther to realize she'd just proposed to a man she'd met yesterday.

*****

Their wedding day came quickly, too slow for Esther and too soon for her mother.

On the dawn before the church, Esther climbed her tree and said good-bye to the orchard. The eldest child of ten, she found solitude precious. But she wasn't too surprised when she caught a glimpse of her tall intended, weaving his way to her tree.

"Morning, Dr. Shepherd," she called down.

He grinned up at her.

"You're the only bride I've met willing to climb a tree the morning of her wedding." He held out his arms, and she slid into them, telling her heart not to beat faster as he easily set her on the ground. "Do you remember what I told you about broken bones caused from climbing trees?"

"Of course," she said pertly, setting off for home.

Her fiancé fell easily into stride beside her. "You know, your father has given me a list of things to discipline you for. Apparently he's been keeping it since you came back from seminary and he thought you'd soon find a husband."

She held her breath. That would be quite a long list.

"I must say, Esther," he caught her hand, and faced her, "that as of now, the slate is clean. But if you insist on crossing me, I will not hesitate to take you in hand. God set the man to be the head of the household, and I take my duties very seriously."

"Of course," she said, leaning closer.

"So you are prepared to vow to obey me in all things?" he murmured.

That brought her up short.

"I suppose so. Within reason."

He chuckled and kissed her forehead. "I promise to always be reasonable."

Taking her hand, he pulled her along. It took a few moments for her to find her feet. The skin of her forehead burned where his lips had touched it.

*****

In keeping with the Richardson tradition, Esther's wedding dress was black to symbolize grief at parting from her family. Indeed, her mother cried so hard during the minister's speech, anyone watching would think the ceremony was a funeral.

Afterward, they all ate a great table in the orchard. Esther couldn't resist climbing up one last time to shake down white blossoms for her siblings, only coming down when her new husband approached, shaking his head.

Before alighting into the hired coach, Esther kissed her whole family, knowing it may well be the last time she ever saw them. Once settled beside her new husband, Esther leaned against the side of the coach with a sigh. Tonight they would travel to an inn, then onto Boston by train. From there another train to St. Louis, then a covered wagon all the way to the far side of the Kansas territory. It had all seemed so exciting when she wrote the letter to the Mission Board. Now, with her journey underway, the adventure seemed daunting.

"Tired, my dear?" Her new husband sat swaying across from her in his fine wedding suit. His shock of brown hair waved in the air, almost touching the roof of the coach.

Gulping down sudden tears, she nodded.

"Come here." He held out his hand and helped her across. Before she knew it, he'd thrown an arm around her and tucked her into his side. His other hand took out his handkerchief.

"I feel so silly," she sniffled. "I never cry."

"You're not silly at all. It's natural." He dabbed carefully at her face with the white cloth. "There. Good as new."

She gave him a watery smile. He tucked his kerchief into his pocket, then put his other arm around her. Sighing, she leaned against his chest, surprised at how good it felt to nestle close to his long body.

"Sleep now, Esther," he murmured, and she did, but not before she felt his lips press a kiss onto her hair.

*****

She heard voices murmuring around her, and then cool night air on her face. Stirring, she realized she was in her new husband's arms and he was climbing unfamiliar stairs.

"Where are we?"

"Almost to bed. You slept all the way here."

He carried her all the way to the room and laid her on the bed.

"I'll be back," he told her, before leaving her alone on her marriage bed.

She yawned and stretched, feeling more awake after her long nap.

Her stomach rumbled and she was grateful when her husband came back into the room with a pitcher of water and a cloth wrapped around some bread and cheese. They'd arrived too late for dinner at the inn, but Esther tore into the coarse loaf like it was a fine feast.

From the corner, her husband chuckled, removing his jacket and unbuttoning his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Esther asked with alarm, just as he pulled off his shirt. The lamplight molded to his taut chest and muscular arms. She'd never suspected his stiff, dark clothes hid such a fine, strong body; no wonder he hadn't any trouble carrying her.

He turned in surprise. "Undressing for bed."

"You mean to sleep here?" She sat up straight, her mouth suddenly dry. Of course they would be sharing a room. They were married now.

A smile played around his lips. "Shy, wife?"

"No." She slid off the bed, tossing her hair back proudly. "But I require privacy when I'm undressing."

"Very well." He still looked amused. "I had them carry your trunk into the luggage room. Tomorrow morning we must go through your things and choose the items for you to take."

"What?" She thought of her full trunk, every choice agonized over by her with her sister and mother.

"I'm sorry, Esther. I should've told you before you packed. The wagon West charges by the pound. You're better off reducing your things now, while I can send the trunk back to your parents."

Nodding, she felt like crying all over again.

In the adjacent luggage room, she picked out her new nightgown, a gift from her mother "for her wedding night." She'd never really thought of what her first night with her husband would entail, and now trepidation filled her.

Mr. Shepherd was already in bed when she returned, reading with the light on. Facing the corner, she drew off her layers slowly, and let the nightgown fall over her head, grateful it came down to her ankles.

It wasn't until she stepped into the pool of light by the bed that she realized the fine gossamer fabric was almost see through.

"Oh no," she said, blushing. She glanced up, hoping her husband wasn't looking, only to meet his heated stare. This was not a good way to prove she wasn't a flirtatious woman. She looked like a seductress.

But her new husband said nothing to chastise her, only moved to one side of the bed and held up the covers for her to climb under. She did so, gratefully, drawing them up to her chin.

Shutting her eyes, she tried to sleep, but her long nap and the strangeness of the room had energy coursing through her.

Beside her, she could hear Mr. Shepherd turning the pages of the newspaper. Shifting to her side, she faced away from him, but still felt his heat at her back. She scooted away from him, settling on the edge of the bed. After a few minutes, she flopped onto her back again.

Mr. Shepherd leaned over and turned off the lamp. Sighing to herself, Esther rolled away from him again—and, slipping off the bed, crashed right to the floor.

A few second later, her husband relit the lamp.

"Esther," he was at her side, "are you all right?"

"Yes." She grabbed at the blankets, pulling them around her for modesty's sake.

"Esther." Her husband caught her hands. "I'm a doctor, and we are now married. You do not need to hide from me."

"I do not mean to tempt you," she said, flushing. "I know our marriage is in name only, for the purpose of doing God's work."

Her words rocked him back onto his heels. "You think that?"

"Isn't that what you wanted our arrangement to be?"

"I want a partner, yes, and a helpmate. But, Esther, you are my wife. We are to be joined in every way."

Now her cheeks were really burning, not only from his words, but his nearness. Still holding her hands, he drew her up. His gaze swept down her front, and her knees suddenly grew weak.

"Besides," he continued in a hoarse voice. "You are a lovely woman. Only a blind man would be able to ignore your charms."

He picked her up and set her on the bed, his fingers smoothing down her arms, caressing her through the silky fabric. Her head tipped back of her own volition, and her breasts felt suddenly heavy and full. She leaned forward, aching to be touched.

Her husband's body moved between her legs, and she felt something press against her, only to realize he was only wearing his drawers. With a startled cry, she shot back across the bed.

"Mr. Shepherd, please," she gasped. "This is unseemly." Her new husband's head bent, and she watched his shoulders shake a little before she understood what his response was. "Are you laughing at me?"

His chuckle filled the room, and he shook his head before climbing back in bed. Again Esther scooted to the far side of the bed.

"My dear wife." Mr. Shepherd dried his eyes. "Has no one told you what goes on between a man and a woman on their wedding night?"

Esther opened her mouth, then closed it. Her mother had once sat her and Mattie down to explain this, but both she and her sister had come away more confused than ever before. Other than that, she could only guess.

"It's all right," her tall husband said. "I shall enjoy teaching you."

He put his hand on her knee, and she stiffened, but he only patted it.

"Not tonight. We can wait until we know one another better."

He blew out the lamp again, and she felt him lie down.

Careful not to get too close to the edge of the bed, she curled into a ball, wondering at the tumult of feelings inside her, the greatest of which was disappointment.

*****

In the morning she rose before dawn, but Mr. Shepherd had already risen. He left a note for her, saying he was downstairs leading a prayer service for the inn's residents.

Sneaking into the luggage room, she pulled out the contents of her packed trunk, and began to choose what she would wear into her new life. In the end, she had four gowns, only one fine enough to wear on the streets of Boston. The rest of her clothes she repacked to send back to her sister, Mattie.

Feeling sorry for herself, she found the servant's staircase and slipped into the yard behind the inn. Behind her she could hear the guests breakfasting, but she had no desire to join them, or see anyone. Finding a tree, she climbed up a sturdy limb and leaned against the trunk.