Cinders' Bride: Mail Order Brides of Texas (4 page)

How in the hell had it happened? He’d already had one wife and didn’t have the patience for another. Charlotte had always wanted more than he could provide. She came from a family with money and she expected to be waited on. No matter how many times he told her his ranch was a working ranch where everyone had to contribute, she'd never stopped pouting. He loved her, of course. He wouldn’t have married her otherwise. But he'd had no inkling she would refuse to lift a finger.

It wasn’t as though she didn’t know before she married him what she was getting into. He treated her with kindness and love, but somewhere along the way their love started to dry up. Now he had a wife from a big city. From the East no less. Good Lord, what had he done?

He heard a horse riding up and turned. One of his ranch hands, Don, smiled at him.

“I hear tell you got yourself hitched!” He jumped from the horse and shook Cinders’ hand while slapping him on the back. “You deserve to be happy and I wish you all the best. When can I meet her?”

Cinders’ smiled at Don’s excitement. He was the type that found good in everything and everyone. He had blond hair and brown eyes and always had a female wanting to marry him but so far, he'd danced his way out of each prospect without any hurt feelings.

“She’s resting. It’s been a long few days for her.”

Don frowned. “What is it? I can hear it on your voice, something’s wrong.”

“She was supposed to be John Hardy’s mail order bride but he sliced her face with his knife when she refused to commit after meeting him.”

Don whistled low and loud. “He didn’t try to knife you too did he?”

Cinders shook his head. “No, but I did have to pay her traveling expenses and marry her to get her away from him.”

“Playing the hero again? I hope she’s a might better than your last wife.” He grimaced. “God rest her lovely soul, I mean.”

“You don’t have to tiptoe around me. Her name is Shannon and she’s from New York City.”

Don laughed. “You married a Yankee? I'll bet she has all kinds of trunks full of clothes with her too.”

Tilting his head to reflect on her arrival, his brows furrowed. “You know, she only had one little bag with her and the dress she is wearing right now is old-maid ugly. She doesn’t seem to know she’s lovely despite the bandage on her face. Oh and Polly came here—”

“What? Oh boy, I missed the fireworks.”

He shrugged. “Before it got out of hand, Shannon came out and told Polly I'd married her to save her neck and as soon as her debt was paid off she was moving on.”

“Very different than Charlotte. What did Polly say?”

“She wanted to pay me to have Shannon leave now.”

Don laughed. “Whew, you’ve had more female action in one day than I’ve had all month.”

Cinders threw back his head and laughed. “Ain’t that the truth.”

****

She tried to rest, really, she did, but it didn’t happen. Finally, she concluded she was too nervous to rest. She heard everything that woman had to say, and if she were Cinders’ type, they wouldn’t get on. Shannon wasn’t one to be mean or demanding unless she was backed into a corner. It took a lot of gumption to survive the slums of the city.

Cinders was just doing her a favor and that was all. He’d already said he didn’t want another wife. He must have loved her dearly. Shannon walked to the window and watched as Cinders talked and laughed with a tall, blond cowboy. She’d never seen him laugh before. He had deep laugh lines and his eyes crinkled in an endearing manner.

Not wanting to be caught spying, she walked from the window. His wife’s things were still lying in the bedroom trunk and yet he laughs with friends and already courted another woman. Strange behavior indeed for a man who had loved his wife, but who was she to judge?

Why had she listened to her neighbor Hazel about accepting John’s proposal? The whole mail order bride thing had been her idea. She’d never had reason to question the old woman—she’d always been a fixture in the tenements. After Shannon's parents died, she relied heavily on Hazel’s counsel since it was only a matter of time before she’d be forced to work in the brothels or worse.

Thus was the life of a young, unmarried woman without a protector. Her parents had fought long and hard to make sure she was fed and unharmed. Despite working fifteen-hour days in the factory, sewing, she barely made enough to keep herself alive, and without her mother there with her, the floor managers had started to get bold in the way they looked at her.

Thank God for Cinders giving her a safe place to reside even if it was only for a little while. What would it be like to go to sleep without having to worry if you’d be dead before sunrise?

The door opened. She turned to see who entered and her breath caught in her throat. Cinders was definitely the handsomest man she’d ever seen, even with a black eye. His powerful build awed her, as did his winter-sky blue eyes. He didn’t offer the speculative look in his eyes she was used to seeing in men, but then again, most of the men she’d known her whole life had wanted something.

He lifted his hat from his head and hung it on the wooden peg by the door. “I guess you didn’t want to rest.”

“You don’t need to worry about me, Cinders. Like I said, I’ll repay my debt and be on my way. Of course, you had a life before I plowed into it, and frowning at me doesn’t make a difference. I have eyes. Your lady friend’s hat cost more than I’d make in a year. I don’t fit into your life. You’re used to refined ladies and I’m not one of them. Don’t get me wrong, though. I take every chance I can get to learn and better myself but there haven’t been too many chances.”

The way he stared at her as though he was assessing her, was unnerving.

“Where did you work?” He held his breath like he worried about her answer.

“In a factory.” His sigh of relief confirmed her suspicions. He'd thought she'd worked as a whore and it cut deeply.

“A factory? What was your job?” The suspicion left his voice.

“Sewing. I worked there for over ten years. Mama and me worked together. They were long hours but we were glad to have jobs.”

“Please sit. The way you shift your weight from one leg to another is making me feel like I’m on a ship.” He waited until she sat at the table. “Over ten years? What about school?”

The warmth of a blush crept from her neck to her face. “No one we knew went to school. If you didn’t work, you didn’t eat. But I do know how to read some, and I can do a bit of figuring.”

Cinders poured them both some water and set the mugs on the table before sitting across from her. “City life sure is different. We work hard here too. I guess I just had a different picture in my head.”

“I’m not ignorant.” She put her hands on her hips.

“I didn’t say you were. In fact, I’d say you were far from it and a hard worker to boot. I think you could be a big help around here, so don’t be in such a hurry to leave.”

“But your lady friend—”

“Her name is Polly and she’s just a friend. I told her from the start I wasn’t going to marry her. She’s a widow and better off than most. I’m sure she’ll set her hat for some other fella.”

“If you and her—”

“Shannon, I think this a highly irregular to be jawing about another woman on our wedding day.” He grinned and held up his cup. “Cheers.”

Grabbing her tin cup, she raised it to his. “Cheers.”

She watched him through the fringe of her lashes as he drank his water. The silence wasn’t terribly uncomfortable yet it wasn’t comfortable either. It was going to take some getting used to she supposed.

“Did you get all settled in?”

She started to nod.

“Oh hell, Charlotte’s things are still in the bedroom. I didn’t think.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t know you were bringing a wife home.” She laughed to lighten the tension.

He gave her a rueful smile. “You got me there but just the same, I’ll pack up her stuff soon.”

Cookie marched through the door and stood near the table with his arms crossed, his feet planted in a widened stance, and he wore a big scowl. “Now listen, I ain’t gonna make the same mistake twice. I’m not your servant. I’m my own man and I will not cater to your whims or tea times.”

Cinders’ lips twitched. “Tea times?”

“Yes tea times,” he replied exasperated. “The first missus expected me to wait on her hand and foot and I’m just telling you right here, I’m plain not gonna do it. If you want something, ask. I don’t take orders.”

“Fine with me, Mr. Cookie. I don’t take orders either but if you want something feel free to ask. I’m going outside for a minute.” She stood and sailed by him while trying not to laugh.

She got to the door and heard him mutter, “It’s Cookie, just Cookie.”

She smiled all the way to the outhouse.

****

Cookie insisted on cooking and only allowed Shannon to set out the pile of mismatched plates on the table. He grumbled the whole time, but the glimmer in his eyes tempered each grumble. Shannon was almost sure he now had a soft spot for her, if he had soft spots. It was hard to know.

“How many men work here?” She watched from the window as several men rode in.

“Depends. I reckon this time of year we have five or so. Some men will ride a brand their whole lives while others drift.”

“Drift?”

Cookie scratched his belly and nodded. “It’s like an itch that can’t be taken care of. They ride from ranch to ranch, town to town looking for something, and I don’t think most of them knows what they’re lookin’ for.”

“Thank you for answering my question.” Talking was much better than listening to him grouch. “I’m going to go freshen up.”

“Don’t go to any bother, they probably won’t give you a second look.”

Her brow furrowed.

“I didn’t mean your face, Shannon. I meant you’re the boss’ wife and no one looks at the boss’ wife and gets away with it.”

Her shoulders relaxed a bit. “You’re right, I shouldn’t bother.” Gazing out the front window she watched as each cowboy washed up at the water pump, she counted five in all, and she’d already met Tramp, the abrasive one. Swiping at a few strands of hair that had escaped her braid, she turned to the door, waiting.

Cinders walked in first and took off his brown hat while the other men did the same. “Shannon, this is Don, Rollo, Bill and Adam. You met Tramp earlier.” As though he could sense her anxiety, he gave her an encouraging smile.

“It’s nice to meet you.” She nodded at the group and glanced away to avoid all pitying looks.

A tall man with blond hair and brown eyes took a step toward her and she quickly glanced at him. “It’s a pleasure, ma’am. I’m Don.”

“Nice to meet you.”

She did the same as each man introduced himself. Rollo was a slim man with jet-black hair and blue eyes. Though not as tall, Bill had a powerful build, red hair, and blue eyes. Adam nodded. His brown hair was long and his green eyes vivid. He appeared to be the loner of the group with his aloof stance. He kept glancing at the door signaling his need to get away.

Cookie whistled and got their attention. “Bring the plates back when you’re done.” He started ladling the stew out and handed each a plateful. “The bread is on the table. Make sure and leave some for the boss and his wife.”

Surprisingly no words were spoken, each man took his stew, grabbed some bread and went out the door. Cookie helped himself and lit out too.

“They don’t eat here?”

“No.”

She placed his plate before him. “Where do they eat?”

“In the bunkhouse.”

“Oh, wouldn’t it be easier if they just ate here?”

Cinders waited until he was done chewing. “Charlotte didn’t want them around the house. It’s fine. They’re used to it. You don’t have to worry as no one will bother you now.”

“Did they bother Charlotte?” She wanted to bite her tongue.

“She said they did. I never gave it much thought.” He shrugged his shoulder and went back to eating.

The thought of food didn’t sit too well with her. It was probably nerves from the silence lingering between them. Topics of polite conversation came to mind but she wasn’t sure what topics were off limits. Her father had told her more than once, she needed to think before talking and she decided it would be best. Still, the silence made her wary. Really, what did she know about this man, her husband?

“Is something wrong?”

“Wool gathering I expect. It’s been a full day for me, and you, too, of course. First the wedding and then you got into a fight with that Hardy character. Then you took me out here and Polly stopped by and I met Cookie—”

He covered her hand with his. “Hold up for a second. I was there too, and I know it’s been an unusual day. I gained a wife, and you gained safety.”

Her face heated and she snatched her hand back. She rested both hands on her lap. “I know I’m the winner, Cinders. I gained your name and protection, a roof over my head, and food to eat. I also know you lost money because of me. I will work to pay it off. I give you my word.” She sat up straighter, adverting her eyes. She didn’t want to see the truth -- that she was a millstone around his neck.