Love For Lenore (3 page)

Moments later, Lenore stood in
disbelief as she heard the words, "I now pronounce you husband and
wife." The rosy-cheeked preacher slapped his Bible closed with a
hearty grin.

Lenore stiffened across from her new
husband.
Husband?
Her knees weakened again. But she didn't
chance falling. Heston's arm came around her and pulled her toward
him for their first kiss. She had never experienced this type of
affection. Of course she'd often wondered what it would be like,
but under far different circumstances.

Fear encased her as his lips neared
her own.

And then there was peace. Like a storm
that suddenly passed, Heston's assured calm spread to her limbs and
gave her strength. It was just a simple touch between their lips,
but she didn't want it to end. When he pulled back, her own
surprise reflected in the green depths of his eyes.

Congratulations went up from the crowd
as people came forward to shake their hands. It occurred to Lenore
how strange it was that some of the townsfolk had braved the
weather to attend this small event. But as voices carried their way
in the air, perhaps it wasn't strange at all. It would seem that
most of them had hoped the property would stay in the hands of
Heston. Exactly what type of family was she getting with this
disreputable cousin of his?

The answer came in the form of a
swaggering, shaggy-haired man with an equally untidy woman and
child. "Well, cous', I bet you didn't think I'd make
it."

He reeked of sinful drink. Lenore
shrunk behind Heston as the man tried to near her side. Heston
blocked his approach by stepping into his path. "Back off, Lucas.
I'm married, the place stays mine."

A hint of his quick temper revealed
itself through his voice. Lenore hoped this-Lucas-would be smart
enough to back off.

"Just wanting to welcome your pretty
new bride to the family." His sneer sent shivers up her spine. She
noticed her hand had unknowingly gripped Heston's shirt, she let it
slide to her side.

Heston turned toward her and clasped
her hand in his. He stared into her eyes before speaking. "For
once, I couldn't agree with you more, she certainly is
pretty."

Lenore felt a blush claim her cheeks
despite the frigid weather. The crowd began to disperse leaving her
staring at her feet. Heston pulled her toward the cabin. "Let's
warm up before we start our journey. I imagine you're
hungry."

Hunger was the last thing Lenore had
thought of. Trepidation at the thought of being married silenced
her tongue and stiffened her movements. Heston closed the door
behind her and took her hands in his.

His voice softened as he spoke near
her ear. "Relax. We'll let nature take its course. Right now, we
need to eat and get as early a start as we can."

Lenore looked up and met eyes full of
earnest compassion. Did he realize what fears she faced? His thumb
rubbed across the top of her hand only to confirm her unspoken
question.

Heston released her and gestured
toward the table. "Why don't you get breakfast started, I've got
some things to bring in."

Lenore nodded in agreement but
wondered at what things he meant. How would they travel to her
family? Lenore knew nothing about his man. This man whose name she
now bore. Lenore Miller.

Her eyes began to sting with unshed
tears.

Chapter Five

Lenore's disappointing thoughts over a
loveless marriage were interrupted by Heston's return. He paused by
the bed and deposited a large wrapped parcel. Lenore stopped her
food preparations and looked his direction. He waved her over.
"It's not much, but I got you a wedding gift."

"Wedding gift?" The whole idea of
their marriage still seemed too surreal. She stepped closer until
Heston's hand was on the small of her back, urging her
forward.

"Go ahead, unwrap it." His eyes shone
with a hopeful expectancy that she'd be pleased.

Lenore pulled at the string. Her
curiosity grew as the string fell to the side and loosened the
wrapping. Tearing it away, Lenore first saw material, then fur.
Neatly folded on top, was a new shirt, then long underwear, and
wool trousers. She laughed out loud and turned to face her
husband.

He returned her humor with a large
grin. "I know it's not what you were expecting, but I can't let my
help-meet freeze."

Help-meet.
She'd heard the term
coined by her pastor once. He had referred to a marriage where two
people equally worked together, in perfect
companionship.

Heston nodded toward the package.
"That's not all."

Lenore shuffled through the extra
garments and found at the bottom, a new pair of fur-lined boots. A
gasp escaped her as she covered her mouth with her hands. She knew
their expense. For they were very similar to a pair she had boldly
asked her father for before their trip but was denied.

She turned to him. "Heston . .
."

A gentle smile met hers. "So you're
pleased?"

"Very much. Thank you."

His eyes darkened and he lingered in
front of her as if he wanted to kiss her again. Lenore battled what
she should do. Before the decision needed to be made, he backed
away.

Heston moved toward the door with
hesitant steps. Did he want to stay inside with her? "I'll ready
the pack mule and the horses."

"You have horses?" Pleasure over not
having to walk filled her voice.

He nodded, his eyes still settled on
her with serious contemplation. "It now seems I have everything I
need."

Lenore shifted her gaze to the floor.
A man's attention was something new to her and she didn't know how
to receive it. She didn't want to appear ungrateful, but how did
she deal with the embarrassment it caused. Was it embarrassment, or
excitement? She couldn’t determine which and busied herself with
breakfast as an excuse not to give more time to her
thoughts.

***

Heston smiled to himself for his
recent blessings. He'd prayed for a wife most of his life. And
though his marriage to Lenore had been spur of the moment, he
didn't feel he'd settled for second best. No, he was sure Lenore
would prove to be the exact woman his prayers had centered
on.

She rode next to him with barely
contained excitement. Her thrill over the fur-lined boots he'd
purchased, still hadn't worn off. He watched as she pointed her
toes away from her mount to stare at them again. Each time she did,
a smile would stretch across her face as bright as a
sunrise.

"We're coming up on my first trap.
I'll need to check each one as we pass, but I don't expect to find
anything yet."

Lenore nodded, still smiling from her
boots. She looked as attractive in her new men's-wear as she did in
her dress. Perhaps because she represented an end to his lonely
life. Heston had lived alone for so long he'd forgotten how much he
enjoyed companionship. But life with Lenore would change that. He
found her youthful energy almost as attractive as her physical
beauty and looked forward to learning more about her.

"So tell me about this town you were
headed to."

Lenore stopped smiling and shrugged
her shoulders. "My father was promised a good job, my step-mother
has family there, and my brother will have a better
school."

Her words sounded as if she were
reciting a paper for school. "What did you have to look forward
to?"

She gave him a mock look of pleasure,
"Meeting a cousin that wouldn't write back."

"Sounds exciting."

A half giggle escaped her. His gifts
had broken a barrier between them. They were now blessed with a
comfort zone that would normally only come from time spent
courting. "There was also talk of marriage." She tipped her head
shyly and looked at him.

Heat rushed to Heston's face.
"Marriage?" He raised his voice. "I thought you said you weren't
spoken for?"

Had he stolen someone else's
betrothed? A dishonest betrothed, at that?

"I'm not. Or, I wasn't." She matched
her tone to his. "What I meant was my step-mother mentioned there
would be possible suitors."

She tossed her head as if to shake off
a fly. "Oh bother, you do have a temper, don't you?"

Heston tipped back his head and
laughed. She certainly would be good for him. He knew he had a
temper, but she'd be able to hold her own and rein him in when
needed. The momentary tension fell away and they soon resumed a
comfortable air.

"My first trap is around this bend.
I'll dismount and leave you in care of my horse, while I check it
out."

He watched Lenore nod in agreement. If
she was nervous at the prospect of him shooting an animal, it
didn't show. His chest swelled with pride.
Thank you,
Lord.

A few hours passed and again Lenore
waited as Heston peered around the tree to note the condition of
his last trap. Just as he had expected, empty as the others,
perhaps on their return they would boast of bounty.

He turned to follow his steps back to
Lenore. When she came into sight, he paused and stared at her in
awe. A shaft of sunlight broke through the trees and bathed her in
a golden hue. Her soft skin took on the radiance of a happy new
bride, excited about her future.

But she wasn't, was she?
The
thought hit him hard in the chest. Heston had forced her into a
marriage she wasn't prepared for. In a few short hours, she would
be saying good-bye to the most secure part of her being–her family.
What would she think of him then?

Lenore caught sight of him on the path
and held a finger to her lips. He followed her gaze and saw she'd
been watching a herd of deer. They stretched their necks toward
boughs of trees, desperate to satisfy their winter
hunger.

Heston didn't want to ruin the moment
for her, but her family could probably use the venison. Unable to
gain her attention, he readied his shotgun. As he pulled a bead on
a fattened doe, Lenore kicked her heels into her mount and scared
the deer away.

A gasp sounded from her lips. "What
were you doing?"

Her patronizing tone grated against
him. "Most likely, your family could've used the
venison."

"You were going to shoot them without
warning me?"

Heston ran a hand over his face. Had
he really wanted this? "I'm not going to explain myself to a silly
woman. We need to make tracks if we're going to get to the pass
before night-fall."

He caught the fall of her face and
tried to convince himself he didn't care. He didn't owe her an
explanation and to start now would only train her to be a nagging
wife. He was the head of their house-hold, and she didn't need to
question him.

But regret still soured his
stomach.

Chapter Six

Lenore shifted in the saddle to put as
much of her back to Heston as possible. Silly woman- ha! He hadn't
thought she was silly when he pulled her outside in front of the
preacher. The nerve of the man.

She pictured his arrogant red head,
purposefully refusing to acknowledge his eyes. Father had always
told her to steer clear of red-heads. Ruled by their tempers,
they'd never be able to offer her the life he felt she deserved. He
about to be disappointed.

They broke through the last stand of
trees as the sun was setting and her family's wagon came into view.
Lenore let out a whoop and kicked her heels into her mount.
Heston's growl toward her actions was thrown aside as her little
brother came into view.

Lenore pulled her horse to a halt and
jumped down. Henry was in her arms in seconds. Holding him had
never felt so good.

"Let me look at you." Lenore knelt to
the ground and took in his every feature. "It seems like a
life-time since I left."

"Ah, Sis," the six-year old pushed her
hands away from his face with embarrassment. "You've only been gone
a couple days.

Lenore nodded her head solemnly. "Yes,
well a couple of days can cause a lot of change."

She glanced behind her and noted
Heston. He'd stopped a distance away to give her this time with her
family. Did he expect her to explain him to her parents? If so,
he'd soon learn, she could act like a red-head, too. This whole
marriage was his idea. He could be the one to tell her
father.

With the thought of her father he
appeared, limping the same as when she'd left for help.

"Lenore!" He encased her in his burly
arms. "You made it back, and with help."

Lenore followed the gesture of his
hand to Heston who began walking toward them. "Father, this is
Heston Miller."

If her father felt ill toward the man
because of his hair color, it didn't show. He shook Heston's hand
with a good-hearted nature. "I'm, Castle, and I thank you for your
assistance. I was so worried I'd made a mistake allowing Lenore to
leave."

Heston's eyes trailed to Lenore as a
knowing smile followed. "You made no mistake, rest
assured."