The Unexpected Bride

He took her hat and set it with her jacket. “Would you like me to take your gloves too?” He extended his hand toward her.

She clutched her hands together and squeezed them until her fingers throbbed. “No. No, thank you.”

A quick nod her direction, and he left the room. Within minutes he returned with a full glass of water. “Here. Drink this. You’ll feel much better.”

When she reached for the glass, their fingertips overlapped. A warm tingling sensation started at the tip of her fingers and spread up her arm and into her body, causing her to shiver and very nearly drop the glass.

Haydon yanked his hand back, and she barely kept the glass upright between them. For a brief moment, he stared at her with a look of sheer horror. Then he whirled and disappeared through the doorway as if the house were on fire.

Had he felt what she had? Her heart was still fluttering from that one touch.

If he had, was it a bad thing or a good thing? If his reaction was any indication, it must be quite bad.

Too tired to ponder that, she tipped the water glass to her lips. The tepid water tasted almost sweet. She drank the whole glass of liquid within seconds, even though it was a very unladylike thing to do.

“Feel better?”

Rainee looked over at Katherine, who strolled into the living room and sat in a chair across from her.

“Thank you. Yes,” she answered even though she really did not feel better, but she hated any displays of weakness. Yet, sitting here on a comfy sofa, out of the hot sun, her eyelids felt heavy with fatigue. She struggled to keep her tiredness from showing.

An awkward silence filled the room.

Katherine rose. “Would you please excuse me for a moment? And please make yourself at home.”

After the woman left, Rainee folded her hands in her lap, not knowing what to do.

Her gaze roamed the living room. On the left of the fireplace were two wine-and-tan-colored wingback chairs. On the right was a matching high-back settee and a tan rocking chair. The wine-and-tan sofa she sat on faced the fireplace. End tables with doilies and oil lamps graced each side of the sofa. The place reminded her of the spacious living room back home. Except this place had Queen Anne–style furniture, and back home the furniture was Chippendale. Sadness crawled inside her, but she shooed it away like an unwanted bug. Dwelling on home would do her no good. No good at all.

Weeks of traveling and being jostled about and the realization no one seemed to know about her had taxed her greatly. Her eyelids were heavy and her stomach was queasy from a lack of food. She really should have eaten something when Haydon had offered. But knowing she was penniless and seeing all those men in Prosperity Mountain leering at her, she just wanted to get away from them as fast as she could.

Her eyes slid shut, and her head bobbed. She sat up straighter, forcing herself to stay awake, when all she really wanted to do was to succumb to sleep and dream about what could have been. Finally she could fight sleep no longer and everything around her faded as she fell into its waiting arms.

Chapter Three

Haydon couldn’t get out of the house fast enough as he battled the feelings warring inside him. When Rainee’s fingertips touched his, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck nearby and he felt the effects of it, shocking every part of him. How could a woman, who he’d barely met, affect him so? Whatever the answer, he didn’t care. All he knew was he wouldn’t allow her or any other woman to penetrate the wall he’d built around his heart.

He glanced toward the house, wondering what was going on in there. Rainee looked so tired, he actually felt sorry for her. He shouldn’t have left his mother alone to deal with her, but he had to get away for the sake of his sanity. Besides, why should he feel bad? This whole unbelievable situation was all Jesse’s doing. Haydon had nothing to do with it.

Of all the idiotic things his brother had done, this one bested them all. The more Haydon thought about the situation and the sight of that poor exhausted woman sitting on his mother’s couch, the more he thought about confronting his brother. He whirled on his heel and headed toward Jesse’s house. The brisk walk across the yard felt good and helped relieve some of his aggravation—but not nearly enough. He leapt onto the porch. “Jesse.” He banged on the door.

In seconds, the door slung open, and a very pregnant, very perturbed Hannah quickly stepped outside. She jerked her finger to her lips and shushed him. “Haydon Bowen, what is wrong with you? Jesse’s sleeping.” She closed the door behind her. “Although I’m surprised he can with all that banging you’re doing.”

That sent Haydon back a piece. “I’m sorry, but he’s just going to have to wake up. There are two ladies over there—” he jerked his thumb toward his mother’s house “—who need an explanation.”

Hannah planted her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “Listen here, Haydon Bowen. I know what Jesse did was wrong. I told him he should have talked to you before answering that woman’s advertisement on your behalf. I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to deal with it because right now Jesse needs rest. And not you nor anyone else is going to disrupt that. You hear me?” With those words Hannah opened her door and disappeared inside, closing it on him with the softest bang he’d ever not heard.

Haydon raised his hat and ran his hand through his hair. Never before had he seen Miss Timid Hannah act like that. Seeing no other course of action, he stepped off their porch, mumbling, “Must be something about a pregnant woman that makes them cantankerous. It definitely brings out their protective instincts.” Haydon slapped his dusty hat against his leg. “Women,” he harrumphed, then plopped his hat on his head and strode toward the main house.

He had just finished unloading the last of Rainee’s belongings onto the porch when his mother came out and stepped up next to him. “Haydon. I want to talk to you.”

“Not now, Mother.” He hoisted his leg up to get into the wagon.

“Oh, no you don’t.” She grabbed the back of his shirt and tugged him back. “I want to know who that girl is and what she’s doing here. And I want to know now.”

Haydon closed his eyes and blew out a long breath before facing his mother. “You’ll have to ask Jesse that question.”

“Jesse? What has he got to do with this?”

“Everything,” Haydon replied, climbing onto the buckboard. Making sure his mother was at a safe distance, he picked up the reins and tapped the draft horses, Lulu and Sally, on their backs.

By the time he pulled the wagon around to the barn and stepped down, his mother was standing at his side. “Haydon, what’s going on?”

He looked down at his mother but offered no answers.

“Where have you been and who is that woman? I will not wait until Jesse gets back from wherever it was he said he had to go today.”

“So you don’t know about Jesse either?”

“Know what about Jesse?” Her gaze slid toward the direction of Jesse’s cabin, then back at him. “I just got home about fifteen minutes before you did and no one was around. Smokey and Michael told me last night they’d be late for dinner. What’s going on around here?”

Haydon drew in a long breath. “I’ll put the horses up, and then I’ll tell you everything, okay?”

“You bet you will. I’ll be waiting. Right here.” She sat down on one of the wood-slab benches outside the barn door.

As he tended to the horses, Haydon prayed God would give him the grace to tell his mother all he knew. When he finished, he stepped out of the barn and sat down next to her. He leaned his arms on his knees and clasped his hands together. With his head down, he debated on where to start.

“Well, are you just going to sit there, or are you going to tell me what’s going on? And why is your nose so red?”

“Some guy in Prosperity Mountain punched me in the nose.”

“What! Why’d he do that?”

“Because I stopped him from assaulting Rainee.”

“What do you mean?” Shock rippled through her voice and across her face.

“When I arrived, some ruffian was trying to force his attentions on Rainee. We got into a fight and the sheriff hauled him off.”

“That poor girl.”

“Poor girl is right.” Only she wasn’t a girl, she was a woman. With curves in all the right places. A beautiful, feisty woman who brought out his protective instincts. The kind of woman he was a sucker for. Oh, no, Haydon. Not this time. Just shove any notions about Rainee out of your mind. Don’t go getting any ideas where she’s concerned. Remember what happened with Melanie. That was all the reminder he needed. Thoughts of Rainee vanished from his mind.

“Now, I want you to tell me why Rainee is here.”

So much for knocking her out of his mind. “Mother, you know how Jess is always doing stuff without thinking the whole thing through?”

“Yes, but he always means well.”

“That might be true, but some of the ridiculous things he’s done, he shouldn’t have. This is one of them. Jesse answered an advertisement he’d seen…” He rubbed his chin. “I don’t know where he saw it. In a newspaper, a magazine or what. But Rainee must have placed an advertisement to find a husband.”

His mother’s brows rose and her chin lowered. “A husband?”

“Jesse answered her ad and encouraged her to come out here to become…” He swallowed hard before continuing, “my wife.”

“Oh, no, he didn’t.”

“Oh, yes. He did. I don’t know what was in the letter or her ad or anything. You’ll have to ask Jesse. But judging by our conversation on the way back to the ranch, she believes I’m the one who sent for her.”

Mother looked toward the house and shook her head. “That poor, poor girl. I can’t believe Jesse would do such a thing. What was he thinking?”

“That’s what I asked him. I was going to send her back to wherever she came from, but the stagecoach had already left. It’ll be three weeks before it comes through again. I just couldn’t leave her alone in Prosperity Mountain to fend for herself.” He thought about when he had arrived at the stagecoach stop and saw her bopping and kicking that man in the shins. Maybe they needed protection from her. He smiled. Then again, maybe he did, too.

His mother laid her hand on his leg. “You did the right thing, son. But why did you go get her if you didn’t send for her? Why didn’t Jesse go?”

“Because he’s laid up. That’s why.”

“Laid up? What do you mean?”

“He had an accident this morning.”

“An accident? Is he okay? What happened?” Although his mother was used to her menfolk getting hurt, it never stopped her from worrying or fretting over them.

“Smokey said he’ll be fine.” A fresh wave of shame washed over Haydon, even though he was still agitated with his brother. “It was my fault. I got so angry when I found out what he did that I needed to get as far away from him as possible so I could cool down. I decided to go for a long ride. You know, like Father and I used to do.”

“I remember.” Sadness shadowed her eyes.

“Jess came into the barn right when I was getting ready to leave. I never flank Rebel, but I did. Rebel was so startled he reared and knocked Jesse out.”

Her face paled. “You sure he’s going to be all right?”

“I’m sure,” he said with more confidence than he felt. “I feel terrible about what happened. But to be honest, Mother, I’m still angry with him. He had no right to do that to me or to Rainee.”

His mother shook her head. “You’re right, he didn’t. But unfortunately he did, and now we have to figure out what to do with her.”

“We? Oh-h no. Not we. Jesse can figure that one out on his own.”

“From what you just told me, Jesse won’t be able to do much of anything on his own for a while.” She stood, and so did he. “I need to go check on him.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Why not?”

“Because Hannah said he needed his rest, and she didn’t care who it was, she wasn’t letting anyone wake him.”

“Hannah? Our Hannah said that?”

“Yep. She sure did.” They stood there for a second staring at each other before they both shook their heads, chuckling.

His mother’s face turned grim. “What am I going to tell that poor young woman?”

“I don’t know.”

Rainee’s eyes fluttered open. She turned her head and started to raise herself, but her body rebelled with each movement. Not one to allow a few aches and weakness of body to stop her, she forced her creaking body into a sitting position, wondering how long she had been asleep.

A young teenage girl with buttery blond hair and powder-blue eyes came drifting into the room. “Hi, I’m Leah. Mother told me to offer you something to eat and drink when you awakened. Would you like some cookies and tea?”

“Tea and cookies sound heavenly. Thank you.” Before Rainee had a chance to introduce herself the girl disappeared. Rainee ran her hands over her wrinkled, dirty clothes, but the stubborn creases and dirt would not budge. She was most certainly a mess and not fit to be seen.

Leah returned and set the tray on the end table next to Rainee. She smiled and two dimples accompanied it. “I hope you like them. I made them myself.” Leah’s look of accomplishment curled Rainee’s lips upward.

“I am sure I shall. Thank you.” She picked one up, and when she bit into it, a flavorful blend of cinnamon, clove and apple delighted her taste buds.

Leah sat across from her with an expectant look.

Rainee dabbed at the corners of her mouth with the cloth napkin provided her. “One of the best cookies I have ever eaten. You must teach me how to make them.” To prove her enjoyment, she devoured another cookie.

“I would love to.”

“By the way, I am Rainelle. Rainelle Victoria Devonwood. But please, call me Rainee.”

“Nice to meet you, Rainee.” Leah chewed on the corner of her bottom lip. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I saw you with my brother.” She squirmed and glanced toward the kitchen. “Are you and he…? You know?” She spiked her shoulder in a quick upward motion. “How do you know Haydon?”

“Leah. That is none of your business.” Rainee’s gaze swung toward Katherine’s voice.

Leah jumped up and lowered her head. “Sorry, Mother.” She glanced over at Rainee. “Sorry, Rainee.”

“No harm done.” She did her best to send Leah a reassuring smile.

The young girl gave a quick nod and then looked at her mother as if she were seeking approval.

“Leah, go see what your sister is up to.”

“Yes, Mother.” She gave a shy smile Rainee’s direction, then quietly left the room.

Katherine sat in the chair Leah had occupied. “Are you feeling better now?” Compassion, so like her own mother’s, floated from this woman.

Rainee had to look away. Heartsickness for her mother consumed her once again. She wondered if she would ever get used to the fact her mother was never coming back. That she would never comfort Rainee or give her words of wisdom again.

She plastered on a smile and faced Katherine. “Yes, ma’am. I am much better. Thank you.”

Katherine fidgeted with her hands and darted her gaze out the window, onto her lap, back out the window, until it finally alighted on Rainee. “Rainee, I think there’s something you should know.”

Rainee braced herself for whatever was coming. From the tone in Katherine’s voice, it was not good news.

“Mother, I’ll handle this.”

Rainee swung her gaze toward Haydon, who stood filling the doorway.

Katherine’s chest rose and fell. Her hands quit squirming and finally rested in her lap.

“I’m afraid there’s been a huge mistake.” Haydon strode over and sat across from her next to Katherine.

“What—what do you mean a mistake?” Rainee felt the blood drain from her face.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to say it. I’m really sorry, but my brother Jesse sent for you, Rainee, not me.”

Blinking, Rainee fought not to react. “I—I do not understand.” She looked at Katherine, then at Haydon. “You told me Jesse is married.”

“He is.”

Question after question chased through Rainee’s mind about what this all meant. Surely these people were not one of those religious groups who believed it was okay to have several wives. The air in the room thickened. Just what had she gotten herself into? She stared at Haydon, waiting for him to continue, yet dreading it at the same time.

“He sent for you. But not for himself.”

Hearing Haydon say that at least put Rainee’s fears to rest about the numerous wives, but she still did not have a clue as to what was going on.

“He thought he was doing me a favor. And you.” He raked his hand through his hair.

Rainee closed her eyes as disappointment, concern and dread inhabited her body. The cookies in her stomach turned to stone. What would she do now? She did not need him to tell her the rest. She already knew. He did not want her here. Her solution had just evaporated before her very eyes.

Never before had she felt so alone.

Usually when a situation arose, memories of her mother’s advice came to her. But not this time. Even her mother’s words were as silent as the grave.

Grave. That one word always ripped at Rainee’s heart, and this time was no different, but she refused to cry in the presence of these strangers.

“Rainee.”

Her eyes drifted toward the woman who emanated compassion.

“Jesse meant well. But my son has a tendency to not think things through before he acts.”

“That’s for sure.” Anger sliced through Haydon’s tone. “When he saw your advertisement, he decided to send for you. But unfortunately, he didn’t mention it to me or anyone else.”

That much was obvious. So now what?

Seeing the lingering question in Katherine’s eyes, Rainee plucked up her courage and looked directly at her. “I know you must think it quite strange a woman would advertise for a husband, but please believe me when I tell you I had to.” She glanced at Haydon, then back at Katherine. “You see, my parents died and I…” Her courage vanished. Rainee could not bring herself to share the sordid details of her life with these people. “I just had to.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss. If I hadn’t had my sons to take care of me when my husband passed away, I’d have probably done the same thing. I think what you did took a lot of courage.”

Courage was not what propelled her to write the advertisement. Fear had.

Afraid they would see the moisture forming in her eyes and start asking questions, questions she did not want to answer, Rainee stood and forced one shaky leg in front of the other as she walked to the window.

No one could find out she had a brother back in Little Rock. For she could not risk being sent back. Neither could she risk Ferrin finding her. The only thing that could save her now was to get married right away. And based on what she had just heard, there was not going to be a wedding here in Paradise Haven.

Scenario after scenario about what she could do now ran through Rainee’s mind. With each one, the air thickened with fear. The idea of going back home to that monster tied her stomach into knots and breathing became difficult.

With her back to them, the question she hated to ask but knew she must slid past her lips in a choppy rasp, “Where—where does that leave me?” Spots danced before her eyes, and her body swayed, then blackness pulled her into its embrace.

Chapter Four

Haydon leapt to his feet but could not make it to the window fast enough to catch Rainee. Her small body slumped to the floor. Her vulnerability tugged at his heart. The anger and frustration he’d had toward Jesse came back full force.

Willing himself to feel nothing, Haydon slipped his arms under her knees and back and hoisted her up. She didn’t budge but hung as limp as Abby’s rag doll. She looked helpless, alone and frail. He tucked her closer into his chest. Her vulnerability and the feel of her feminine frame and soft hair draping over his arm touched something deep inside him. Something he never wanted to feel again rose in him. He shoveled away the unwelcome feelings and buried them deep in an unmarked grave.

“Oh, Haydon, that poor girl. Wait until I see Jesse. I am going to give that boy a piece of my mind. What was he thinking?”

That’s what Haydon had been trying to figure out, too.

“Take her up to Leah’s room and lay her on the extra bed. I’ll get a cool cloth and some water.” His mother scampered into the kitchen.

On his way up the steps, he noticed the stains of tears on her cheeks. Protective feelings flooded through him like a massive gulley wash, but he refused to let them take possession. No! I don’t want to feel anything. However, when he lowered her onto the bed, rather than walking away, he gazed down at her, wondering what would become of her once they sorted the whole muddled issue out.

The stairs creaked. He shook out of the thoughts and strode toward the door. He took the water basin from his mother.

Thinking was dangerous. He held the bowl while his mother dipped a cloth into it and laid it on Rainee’s forehead.

The young woman stirred and slowly opened her eyes.

Haydon’s breath hitched at the sight of those beautiful fawn-colored eyes—eyes he had avoided the whole way home. Eyes a man could get lost in if he wasn’t careful.

Dread and confusion emanated from her.

He hated seeing her like that. His arms ached to wrap her in them and comfort her. To tell her everything would be okay. That he would take care of her and protect her.

What was he thinking?

Fear slugged into him like a fist. He jerked his gaze away and quickly set the basin on the nightstand, sloshing a small amount of water over the side. Without bothering to wipe it up, he spun on his heel and called over his shoulder, “If you need me for anything else, just holler.” Haydon skipped steps as he barreled down them. Out the front door and into the fresh air he flew. He refused to give heed to the feelings Rainee aroused in him. Feelings that scared him to death. From now on, the farther he stayed away from her, the better.

Rainee sat up. She would love nothing more than to bury herself with the yellow patchwork quilt underneath her, but that would solve nothing. All her well-laid plans were falling apart around her. She had no money and no place to go. And no future husband.

“Rainee?”

Her vision trailed toward Katherine, who smelled of baked bread and wood smoke.

“I am truly sorry, Mrs. Bowen. I am not normally one given to fainting spells. But this news has come as quite a shock to me. I am at a loss as to what to do next. All I know is, I cannot go back. I simply cannot.”

“It’s Katherine, and please don’t apologize for fainting. I certainly understand. I’d probably faint too under the same circumstances.” Katherine sat on the bed next to her and took her hand. “I am more sorry than words can say for what my son did. I want you to know you’re welcome to stay here as long as you wish.”

Once again, questions chased other questions through Rainee’s mind. Should she stay? Should she go? Should she take Katherine up on her offer until she had time to figure out what to do? The way she saw it, she really had no other choice.

She searched the woman’s eyes, seeking something. Reassurance perhaps? That all would be well? What she saw was a kind woman offering her compassion and a place to stay. Her chest heaved, expelling some of the tension in her body. “Are you sure you do not mind?”

“I’m positive. Now, why don’t I have Haydon bring up your things? I’m sure you’d like to clean up before dinner. I’ll heat some water so you can take a bath.”

“No, no. Please, do not trouble yourself on my account,” Rainee said even though a bath sounded heavenly. She did not want to give this woman any reason to send her back. And while she would not take advantage of Katherine’s kind offer and hospitality for long, she was grateful for the time to come up with another plan.