The Unexpected Bride

If only her mother’s words of wisdom would rise up in her, but they would not because Rainee had never encountered anything like this while her mother was still alive. How could either of them ever have envisioned this? The next-closest thing she had to a mother now was Jenetta. The older woman would know what to do. But she was not here. She was back home in Little Rock with her husband and three children.

Something Jenetta had said popped into her mind. “You hang on to that other Christian gentleman’s letter in case thangs don’t work out.” The other letter. Stems of hope sprouted through the darkness. She did have another option. Thank You, Lord.

Having received many responses to her advertisement, she had kept the two most promising letters. One she had responded to, the other, well, his letter was tucked securely in her trunk. Although it saddened her that things did not work out with Haydon, she would write the other man straightaway.

“It’s no trouble at all.” Katherine’s voice snapped her out of her musings. “I’ll start heating the water now. As soon as Haydon gets your things up here, you can come down and take a bath.” She smiled, stood and turned to leave the room. At the door, she stopped. With her hand still on the knob, she looked back at Rainee. “I really am sorry for what my son did. And I meant what I said about you staying here as long as you like.” Katherine’s smile seemed to hold a secret. But just what kind of secret Rainee did not know.

“Would you please take Rainee’s things up to Leah’s room?” Haydon’s mother pointed to the trunk he had placed on the porch when they had arrived. “She’ll be staying with us.”

His eyebrows slammed against the brim of his hat. “What do you mean she’s staying with us? For how long?” He could no more hold back the panic from his voice than he could hold back a raging river.

“For as long as she likes.”

Haydon recognized that smile. His mother was up to something. Just what, he wasn’t sure. But something.

He leaned over and grabbed the handles of Rainee’s trunk and hoisted it up. His mother opened the door and motioned him by. “Just what I need,” he spoke under his breath as he walked past her.

“She just might be.”

Haydon swung around so fast the trunk dropped from his hands and thudded onto his foot. He jerked his foot up, put it down, jerked it up again and put it down, all the while holding back the words he wanted to fling out in anger. Without looking at his mother, he snatched the trunk up again and tromped his way up the stairs.

“Haydon.” The sternness in his mother’s voice stopped him.

Halfway up the stairs, he balanced the trunk on his knee and turned his head toward his mother.

She shook her finger at him. “You be nice to my guest, and don’t you dare make her feel uncomfortable.”

Make her uncomfortable!

“Yes, ma’am,” he said as he turned and trudged up the stairs. This whole stupid mess stuck inside him like an infected splinter.

At Leah’s bedroom door, he stopped and called, “Rainee.” He made every effort possible to keep the irritation from his voice, when what he really wanted to do was take her and her trunk into town and drop her off at Mrs. Swedberg’s boardinghouse. But the older widow woman never had any available rooms. Besides, even if she did, his mother had already made it clear Rainee was her guest now, and that was that.

“Come in,” she said in that sweet Southern drawl of hers that drove clean through every part of him.

“I’m here with your trunk.” He pushed the door all the way open with his back and turned inside. “Where would you like this?” He refused to look over at her. Refused to let her get under his skin any further.

“Over here, please.”

He had no choice but to look now as she pointed to the end of the bed.

His gaze snagged on her hands. She still had on those lacey gloves. Why would she wear such fancy gloves in the house? This wasn’t some fancy ball.

Fancy balls.

Melanie.

Thoughts of his wife were always one careless notion away but exactly what he needed to keep from being drawn in by Rainee. For that, he was almost grateful to the memories. As fast as he could, Haydon set her trunk at the foot of the bed and turned to leave.

“Haydon?”

He looked back at her. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Thank you.” She put her head down and played with the tips of her fingers. “I want you to know that as soon as I can, I will be leaving. I am truly sorry for what your brother has put you through.”

“Put me through?” Haydon was instantly chagrinned at his uncharitable thoughts. Rainee was the real victim here. “What about what he put you through? You came all this way for nothing. When I think about what you must be feeling right now…” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe it. I’m really sorry, Rainee. Truly.” He found he meant it. No one deserved to be treated like that.

“It is okay, Haydon. I have a home for now. And one of the other Christian gentlemen who answered my advertisement offered me a home as well, so I am not completely without options.”

One of the other gentlemen? How many men had actually responded to her ad? Were there that many desperate men out there?

“I shall contact him as soon as I can send a post off and see if he still wants me.”

Haydon’s gut twisted into a hard knot. Who was this guy, and would he be good to her? Haydon gave himself a mental tongue lashing. What did he care what happened to her? He didn’t want her. What did it matter to him if someone else did? Then he made the mistake of looking into her eyes again. The vulnerability he saw there touched him deeper than he wanted it to. Although he didn’t want her, the truth was he hated the thought of this beautiful young woman, who was clothed with despair and innocence, traipsing all over the country to who knows where and into the arms of who knew what kind of man.

Against all rationale and his better judgment, right there, Haydon made up his mind to not let her go. To protect her from undesirables and to provide for her. “Rainee, I—”

“Rainee.” Leah burst into the room. “Oh. Hi, Haydon.”

He looked at his sister, then back at Rainee, who was gazing up at him with a tilt of her head as if she were waiting for him to continue. “I’ll—I’ll talk to you later.”

She gave a quick nod. “Thank you again, Haydon, for retrieving my trunk.” She offered him a sweet smile and to his utter surprise and horror his heart tipped like a schoolboy with a crush.

Chapter Five

Rainee climbed out of the tub and got dressed. Alone in the house and feeling refreshed, she decided to step outside. The late afternoon air surrounded her with warmth. Over by the corral, she noticed some of the spotted horses she had seen on the way here and decided to take a closer look at them.

She stepped up to the corral, and a reddish-colored horse with brown spots came trotting over to her and leaned its head over the fence. “Well, hello there.” She ran her gloves over the horse’s nose. The horse pressed into her hand and jerked upward. Rainee giggled. “Not only are you lovely, but you are feisty, too.”

“And she’ll take a chunk out of you if you’re not careful.”

Rainee swung her gaze toward the barn. Haydon stepped out of the shadow of the stall and into the sunlight of the corral. He came and stood next to the mare and patted the horse’s neck. “You behave yourself, Sköldpadda.”

The horse stepped back and turned her head into Haydon. He rubbed her cheek and scratched her behind her ears. “You be nice to this lady or no more treats for you, you hear?” Haydon glanced at Rainee but continued to pet the horse.

“Sköldpadda? I have never heard that name before.” Rainee tilted her head.

“It’s Swedish for a snapping turtle.”

“Why did you name your horse after a snapping turtle?” No sooner had the question left her mouth when the horse scuttled back and lunged toward Haydon with its mouth wide open. “Watch out!” Rainee yelled.

Haydon jerked sideways and Rainee watched as he dealt with the horse in the gentlest of manner.

When the horse calmed, Haydon faced Rainee. “Now you know why. Sköldpadda has a good heart and she’s a gentle mare, but for some reason I can’t seem to break her of this one bad habit.” He turned and put his arm around the horse’s neck. “You’re a good girl, Sköldpadda,” he whispered in the horse’s ear, but Rainee heard him and admired the gentleness he displayed with the horse.

He never once lost his temper as her brother had so many a time with their horses.

Thoughts of Ferrin and his cruelty sent spasms of pain throughout Rainee’s body. No! I shall not torment myself with thoughts of my brother. She forced her attention back onto the horse and onto Haydon.

Sköldpadda walked away and joined the other horses at the food trough. Haydon ambled up to the fence and planted one foot on the bottom rail and his arms over the top one.

“What manner of breed are these horses? They are lovely, and I have never seen any spotted horses like these before.”

“They’re Palouse ponies.”

“Palouse?”

Haydon explained their history with such zeal that Rainee got caught up in his excitement. “They’re lofty and really active. Plus, they’re great for hunting and their stamina is quite impressive.” He suddenly stopped and looked at her. “I’m sorry. I’ve gotten carried away. It’s just that I love these animals. They’re unlike any other horse breed I’ve ever been around. Especially Rebel’s offspring. If you think these horses are beautiful, you should see Rebel.”

“Rebel?” She tilted her head.

“My horse.”

“May I see him?”

“Sure. Meet me inside the barn.” Haydon headed through the corral and disappeared into the same stall he had come out of.

On the way to the barn, Rainee marveled at the difference between the stoic man who had picked her up from the stagecoach and this zealous, passionate horseman. The two were as different as a bird and a cat.

Haydon met her at the door. “He’s in the back.” His face glowed with pride.

They headed through the barn. Dust, hay and horse scent swirled around her, tickling her nose with delight.

Out the back door they headed. Behind the barn was a lone stall with a higher fenced corral.

Several yards from the stall, Haydon expelled two short whistle sounds.

A black horse poked its head out of the stall door.

“How you doing, Rebel Boy?” Haydon walked up to him and rubbed the horse on the nose, then patted his cheek.

Rainee stepped up next to Haydon and looked at the horse’s shiny coat. She peered into the stall and noticed white spots all over the horse’s rump. “Oh, my. What an exquisite animal. God has really outdone Himself on this one. May I pet him?”

Haydon stepped aside and Rainee ran her hand over Rebel’s head. “He seems gentle. Did you break him?”

“Yes.”

“Do you break all of your horses?”

“Most of them. Jess helps some.” He stopped talking and Rainee peered up at him. A shadow covered his face as he looked away. Rainee wondered what was wrong, then realized he had become still when he had mentioned his brother’s name. The very one who had sent for her.

“I’m sorry, but it’s getting late and I need to finish my chores now.”

Rainee knew she had been dismissed. But she understood. Haydon was having a hard time dealing with what his brother had done, and she did not blame him. This most awkward situation vexed her also. To ease his discomfort, she would try and find a new home as soon as possible.

Rainee forced herself not to fidget at the dining room table. Father always hated that sort of improper display, said it showed a lack of confidence and no Devonwood should ever behave in such an unbecoming manner. Because of their wealth and standing in society, they should hold their heads high and have impeccable manners.

As if any of that mattered to Rainee.

She detested all of the snobbery and insincerity that accompanied most people of high rank.

The kitchen door flung open, and in barreled a young man who resembled Haydon in every way, albeit younger and smaller. He stopped short when he saw her, then he hurried around to the opposite side of the table and sat down. His eyes locked onto her. “Who are you? And what are you doing here?”

“Michael!”

Rainee’s gaze flew to Haydon seated at the head of the table.

“I’m sorry. I apologize for my brother’s rude behavior, Rainee.” Haydon turned his attention to his brother and sent several silent but serious messages his direction.

The poor boy’s face matched the color of a scarlet ribbon Rainee once had. She longed to ease the young man’s embarrassment, but it would be highly improper for her to interfere.

“Rainee, may I present my brother, Michael. And the gentleman sitting next to him is our dear friend, Smokey.”

“Ma’am.” The man with the gray hair and gentle brown eyes nodded his head once.

“Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.” Rainee presented a polite dip of her head to Smokey, then turned her attention to Michael and offered him the same courtesy.

“And of course you’ve already met Abigail and Leah. Everyone, this is Rainee.”

Questioning stares made her want to shrink under the table and disappear out the door.

“Just so you all know, Jesse invited her out for a visit. I do not want anyone in this family embarrassing Rainee again. Is that understood?” His gaze went around the room, holding a moment on each member until they each nodded their assent.

Rainee wanted to hug the man for sparing her any further humiliation. Admiration for his sensitivity sent a strange swirling sensation into her heart.

Confused, questioning gazes fluttered her direction from around the table. She waited for one of them to ask her why she was not eating with Haydon’s brother and his wife, but not one person spoke even though she could tell they wanted to. They obviously respected Haydon’s authority. And him.

“Let’s pray.” Everyone bowed their heads as Haydon said a prayer over the food.

Dinner consisted of Swedish elk stew and cornbread. Laughter floated around the table and the lively conversation reminded her of family dinners back home. Only the conversations around her parents’ table were much more formal.

Much to her horror, a wide yawn attacked her without warning and escaped before she could catch it. She covered her mouth, but it was really no use. “Merciful heavens. Please forgive me. I did not mean to be rude. I fear I am overtired.”

“Of course you are. Traveling has a way of doing that to a person. Why don’t you head on up to bed?” Katherine’s look of understanding warmed her insides.

“If you do not mind, I think I shall.” She started to rise and found Haydon behind her, pulling out her chair.

When she stood, she turned to thank him, and their eyes connected.

The sound of Abby’s giggle reached her ears.

Haydon broke eye contact with a frown. Then he rushed toward the door, snatched his hat off a wooden peg, and disappeared into the night with only a “I’d better check on Rebel” floating out after him.

Rainee stretched her arms above her and allowed her eyes to adjust to the daylight beaming through the windows. The lavender curtains waved in the light breeze. She glanced over at Leah’s empty side of the bed and wondered what hour of the day it was.

Weeks on a train and stagecoach had taken their toll on her. Last night, after she had written her letter to Mr. Bettes and snuggled into the soft pillow, her eyes closed and she had fallen into a deep sleep.

She slid her legs out from under the quilt and placed her feet on the cool floor. Her gaze searched the room for a water pitcher and basin to wash her face. In that moment, it was as if someone had doused her head with a pitcher of cold water because once again she was forced to face reality.

Never again would there be water ready for her.

No maid to help button her dresses.

No Jenetta.

Rainee was certain she would either be dead or have gone mad by now had it not been for Jenetta and her kindness.

Jenetta had doctored her wounds, prayed with her and had even gone against Ferrin’s orders by continuing to fill Rainee’s water basin. In return, Rainee helped Jenetta with the extra chores Ferrin had heaped on her already-long list.

Rainee’s chest heaved. She needed to accept the fact this was her new home now. At least temporarily anyway. The burden of being unsettled hung over her like an ominous cloud.

Not knowing what her host expected from her, she decided to make haste and get dressed so she could go downstairs and find out.

Rainee walked to the end of the bed, knelt in front of the trunk and opened it. She pulled out her pale blue day dress and shook it out. Alone in the room, she slipped her gloves and nightgown off, thankful she nor anyone else could see the raised stripes across her back. A painful reminder of where she had come from.

Within minutes she had her corset on. She slid into her bustle gown and made her way to the mirror. In front of the looking glass, she studied herself, admiring the light blue dress with dark blue bows and layers of lace on the skirt, collar and sleeves. Although she preferred a lighter, simpler dress, sometimes she missed wearing such gowns. Since her parents’ passing, the only time she had been allowed to wear such finery was when company came. One old man in particular. An old man who made her shudder with repulsion. Rainee hastened to rid her mind of the despicable memories.

She glanced back at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was in complete disarray.

After she secured her hair in a chignon, she grabbed her fingerless gloves and slipped them on. Flipping her hands over and back, she realized how out of place the lacey gloves looked here. But she had no choice but to wear them. They covered up contemptible, embarrassing scars. Scars she did not want anyone inquiring about.

Rainee opened the bedroom door. Coffee and bacon aromas greeted her, making her stomach rumble. She made her way down the stairs. As she neared the kitchen, her gaze found Haydon, seated at the table with Katherine, each holding a coffee cup, and out of reflex, Rainee ducked back so they would not see her.

“I wish Jesse would mind his own business. He should have never sent for her.”

“Give her a chance, Haydon. You’ve got to let the past go.”

Indecision gripped her. She did not know whether to continue forward or to turn around and make her way back up the stairs. Eavesdropping was wrong, but she could not get her feet to move.

Haydon said something, but Rainee could not hear him because his voice was too low.

“Yes, you can. You can’t give up.”

“I haven’t given up, Mother. I keep this place running and even manage to turn over a profit.”

“That’s not what I meant. And yes, you do keep this place running. You’ve done an excellent job since your father died. I’m so proud of you, son. You pushed past the grief of losing him and took charge. Now you need to do the same with Melanie’s death.”

Melanie? Who was Melanie? Rainee wanted to ask, but she did not dare as they would know she was eavesdropping. Guilt took a swipe at her. She should move, should go forward or back, but her feet were not cooperating.

“Mother, we’ve had this conversation a million times already. It’s my fault—”

“It’s not your fault.”

Rainee wanted to know what was not his fault.

“You remind me of Nora’s brother, the one who’s coming to live with her. Nora said he’s still stuck in the past. Still hurting. What a tragedy that is.”

What in Haydon’s past was he stuck in? And why was he like this Nora woman’s brother? Had he been responsible for his father’s death? Or what? She strained to listen. She wanted to see if her unheard questions would be answered.

“Mother, I know you mean well, and I know what you’re trying to do, but you know I plan to never marry again.”

Rainee stuffed down the hurt his words inflicted. Although she knew he did not want her, it still brought an ache to her soul. One she could not cast off like she could a piece of unwanted clothing.

She glanced behind her, desperately wanting to dart back up the stairs, but she did not want to risk being heard.

What should she do?

Haydon’s words just now, and knowing he was not the one who had sent for her made her extremely uncomfortable, and she did not wish to be around him any longer.

With great care, she turned and made it up three steps before she heard, “Good morning, Rainee.”

Rainee closed her eyes and drew in a long breath. Forcing a smile onto her face, she turned and made her way to them. “Good morning, Katherine.”

She tried to look natural, not guilty of eavesdropping, wondering if they knew she had. If so, neither said a word.

Out of courtesy, she turned to greet Haydon, but the greeting never left her lips. His appearance was that of a person who had not slept for weeks. Her heart broke for him.

“Can I get you some breakfast?”

Rainee diverted her attention to Katherine. “Yes, that would be lovely, thank you.”

Rainee did not know if she would offend her host by offering to help. In the society she came from it would be a huge social gaffe to do so because the wealthy had servants to do that. But Rainee preferred helping—it made her feel useful, instead of like some ornament waiting to be handpicked by an acceptable suitor. Another rigid rule she loathed.

Just because her family had money, she did not believe that she or they were above anyone else. If her father knew she felt that way and had ever caught her helping, he would have been appalled. Back home, even though she had failed miserably, she had always tried to behave in a way befitting their social status. But here, she did not know the proper thing to do.

Should she offer to help, or should she sit down and allow her host to wait on her?

And did she really want to sit at the table with Haydon after overhearing the conversation with his mother?

His eyes that spoke of his confusion and discomfort locked onto hers. Rainee could not blame him for being uncomfortable. After all, this most perplexing situation was no fault of his. But then again, it was no fault of hers either. She thought the man who had sent for her wanted her—otherwise she would have never come.

He broke eye contact, rose and came to where she stood. He pulled the chair out and held it as she sat.

Haydon went back, sat in his chair and became engrossed in his untouched food.

Katherine grabbed a covered plate from the oven. She lifted the towel, revealing a mountain of thick bacon slices, scrambled eggs and biscuits and set them on the table, along with an empty cup. She filled Rainee’s cup with steaming coffee and sat in the chair next to her. “Go ahead and eat before it gets cold.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rainee nodded, then bowed her head and said a silent prayer. When she opened her eyes, Haydon was staring at her as was Katherine.

“You’re a Christian?” Katherine’s blue eyes beamed, and wrinkles gathered around her eyes and mouth when she smiled.

“Yes, ma’am. I am.”

“Perfect.” Katherine clasped her hands.

Perfect for what? Instead of inquiring, she picked up a piece of bacon with her fingers and bit off a piece.

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