A Perfect Forever (Leap of Love Series, Book 1) (11 page)

He was proud of himself because his first assignment had gone well. Jonathan even left town, and word was that he went back to Boston. Amelia's lawyer McGill filed some paperwork barring Jonathan from touching her money or asking for any of what he claimed was his inheritance. There was no evidence to support Jonathan's claims, so he was court ordered to leave the Smith family alone.

At first, Ben felt sorry for the man. If Jonathan's story was true, he was owed a stake in the claim. Unfortunately, his mother had chosen the wrong time to clear her conscience, and there was no way to support her claims, so they ended up with nothing.

Ben, on the other hand, hit the jackpot. He'd won the girl, and completed the job. Things could not be better in his universe.

He had a plan that he thought could benefit him and Amelia both. Ben just hoped that Amelia would agree.

Ben arrived by carriage to pick up Amelia. The night was cool and crisp, and he wanted to take her on a carriage ride to propose his idea.

She was waiting on her doorstep when he arrived. Dressed in an elaborately detailed skirt and an overcoat, she was a vision of beauty.

"You look stunning." Ben stepped out of the carriage, and offered his hand to help her inside the coach.

"Thank you."

Her smile warmed him and he knew that what he was going to propose would be best for both of them.

The carriage was off, and they rode through the streets of the city. The carriage stopped at the pier.

"Our favorite place," Amelia exclaimed.

"Yes. And candies for my sweet."

Ben handed her the candies and one single red rose.

He kissed her hand as he held it so she could step down the steps of the coach. She held on to the rose and the candies as they strolled.

"I have something that I would like to propose to you."

"Really? Tell me more."

Ben squeezed her hand tightly. He turned her around to face him.

"I have gotten my next assignment. I should be leaving in the next two weeks."

The look in her eyes made him want to kiss her.

"Oh. I had no idea."

Ben tried his best to reassure her. "It will be okay. I will be in California. Actually, the Pinkerton office decided that I could head up some of the operations in the west here. I told them that I have found a reason to stay west."

Her expression softened.

"So I think I have something that will benefit both of us."

Amelia was staring at him with her soft brown eyes, melting Ben's heart.

"I want to marry you, Amelia."

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. When she did not speak, Ben scrambled to find the words.

"I just thought that if you were a married woman, that would offer you some sort of protection and I could know that you were safe. And besides, you need to be married according to the trust your father left you, so I thought it would benefit us both. Give us both peace of mind."

The words flowed so quickly as he pled his case.

"And Amelia, you can rest assured, this marriage would be in name only if that is what you prefer. Either way, I do not want to lay claim to your money. I will sign paperwork to state that fact. I love you."

And then she spoke the words that Ben had been waiting to hear.

"Ben Abbott, my answer is yes. Yes, I will marry you."

Two months later….

Amelia could not believe she had agreed to become Mrs. Benjamin Abbott. In the past year, life had sure sent her on a whirlwind of emotions. From dealing with the death of her parents, to moving to San Francisco, to starting Ms. Amelia's Finishing School for Girls, life had been a myriad of emotions.

Now she was set to marry Ben, the man who had come in and swept her off her feet. He was like a knight in shining armor. Not only had he helped her clear her situation with Jonathan Montgomery Smith, he had come in and shown her unconditional love.

Love was something that Amelia had not anticipated to happen. Just a few months ago, she was willing to live life with Alfred Sharp. A life void of love, and nothing more than a business arrangement. She just assumed that she would grow to love Alfred, and that he would grow to love her.

When she thought of that situation, it seemed like it had happened ages ago. She was elated that it was over, and that she no longer had to deal with Alfred. She was not sure how things would have turned out if she had married Alfred. Her life would have been completely different for sure.

Amelia had sent word to Mr. McGill that she had found the man that she was to marry. She gave him all of the details, and Mr. McGill and her uncle did their own investigation on Ben Abbott. When he came back clean, both Mr. McGill and her uncle gave their blessing and agreed to come to San Francisco to witness the nuptials.

Ben's proposal was unconventional. Then and again, Amelia and Ben led quite unconventional lives. Now she understood that she could grow to love Ben because she already loved him. There was no forcing the situation or making love appear from nothing like it would have been with Alfred. Being with Ben was completely natural. She did not have to work hard at it.

He made her laugh. They could talk to each other so easily. Although they both came from completely different upbringings, they had much in common. They had goals and dreams and they were the type of people who went after those goals and dreams.

She felt so protected with Ben. Not necessarily because he was a lawman, but because he was so manly. He had already come into her life and taken care of so many things for her, and was that not what a man was supposed to do for a woman?

Mary had been helping with all of the wedding planning. Ben and Amelia agreed on a small ceremony with only their closest friends and family. Amelia knew that if her parents were alive, her wedding would have been the social event of the century. But Amelia did not feel that she should spend money frivolously on such things. To her, having a large wedding and spending money on photos and other unnecessary things did not make for a strong marriage.

The only thing she splurged on was her wedding dress. It was going to be a vision, and she could not wait for Ben to see her in it.

The wedding would take place in the garden at the finishing school, and Mary had taken care of the guest list, the decoration, and the food.

Amelia was more than anxious about everything. Especially because she had not heard from Ben. He had been away on a job, and had not been able to send her a wire to let her know that he was all right. Some days, waiting to hear from him were completely agonizing. Knowing that he was out there, somewhere in the Wild West here dealing with something unknown was at times too much for her to bear.

Thinking about seeing those deep blue eyes and feeling his arms around her saved her in those moments. She knew in her heart that he would be back all in one piece, so she continued planning the wedding.

Mary had already gotten married to her beau a month ago. He was a good man who made her happy, and Amelia was ecstatic to see love right in front of her. Watching Mary floating on the clouds and giddy with contentment made Amelia want some of that for herself. Mary was looking forward to having babies and making a life for herself and her husband.

"You and George are great role models for me, Mary."

Mary smiled. "Why thank you, Amelia. I had no idea."

Amelia shuffled some papers on her desk. She had signed all of the tuition contracts for the new group of students who would start the springtime enrollment.

"The only role models I knew for marriage were my parents. And although they did like each other, I'm not sure they were in love. I never saw passion. I never saw my father kiss my mother or have that look of desire in his eye when he talked to her or talked about her.

"All I've ever wanted to feel was the love of the poetry I've read. The passion in the books that I've read."

Mary chuckled. "I'm not sure if George and I have that passion that you speak of, but love is more than enough for both of us. The companionship makes a difference. George is a good man, and that is all I've ever wanted. A good man who will make a good husband and a good father. He is even all right with me continuing my work here at the school. That is, until we start to have children."

Amelia gently rubbed Mary on the shoulder. "I know. I will hate to see you go. But starting a family is so very important. You will make a sensational mother. I just know it."

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Amelia. It is a bit terrifying to think of myself as a mother. But when the time comes, I want to be ready. And what about you? Are you ready to become Mrs. Benjamin Abbott?"

Amelia clasped her hands together. She got up and twirled around the table. "Fantastically ready. I cannot wait."

Amelia grabbed Mary by the hand and humming a song, she waltzed Mary around the office. They giggled like two school girls, completely caught up in the moment. Twirling each other, dancing around the room, Amelia enjoyed the time with her friend.

"Thank you for making me laugh, Mary. I needed that."

Mary held her hand to her chest and tried to stop laughing. "Of course. We can all use a laugh now and then. And I know that you have been patiently waiting for Ben's return. He will come back to you safely, Amelia. I know it."

Amelia nodded. "I feel it in my heart too."

*

The wedding was set for three o'clock the next day. Ben was still not home. He sent a wire saying that he would be home the day before the wedding, but when the train arrived, he was not on it.

Amelia was going crazy. She was not sure what was going on, but she knew in her heart that Ben would not miss their wedding. He was in love with her, and she believed what he said to be true. Nothing was going to stop her from being Mrs. Benjamin Abbott.

Mr. McGill and her uncle would arrive by train the first thing in the morning. All she needed was her groom. She just wished that he would send her word of where he was so that she would know he was safe.

She knew that she had signed up to be the wife of a Pinkerton detective, so she would have to have patience and know in her heart that her husband would come back to her just as he promised.

She stared at her dress hanging on her wardrobe. It had an elaborate train and was silk covered with a lace overlay. Her veil was the same material and Mary was going to pick the lilies from the school garden fresh in the morning.

Amelia had no clue what time she went to sleep, or what time it was when she heard the noise outside of her window. Something was tapping her glass, and she had no clue what that could be because her bedroom was on the second floor. She slipped on her robe and skipped over to the window.

Her heart raced when she saw the sight below.

Ben.

She could see his crooked smile even in the shadows of the street light.

Tying her robe closed, she lit her lamp and tried her best to pull her hair back and make sure she looked presentable enough.

The steps creaked as she went downstairs and ran to the front door. As soon as she opened it, Ben took her into his arms. She was off of her feet and he was swinging her around in the air, holding her tightly.

"Ben, you made it."

"You say that as if you thought I wouldn't."

"I was a bit nervous. After all, I can't show up at the wedding with no groom."

He kissed her, erasing all doubt.

"There is no way that I would let that happen. I would go through hell and high water to get to you, Amelia. I want you to know that."

She rested her hands on his chest. Being in his arms made her feel so secure.

"It's late, but would you like a cup of coffee before you go home?"

"I would love a cup, but I hear that it is bad luck to spend the night with the bride the night before the wedding."

"I did not ask you to spend the night."

He tilted her chin up so he was staring her in her eyes. "Woman, if I step foot inside I could not be responsible for what I would do to ravage you. It is enough that I have to stand here and be on my best behavior while you are wrapped in that silk nightgown."

He ran his hands through her long brown hair. "The one thing that is keeping me sane is knowing I am going to wake up to you every morning for the rest of my life."

Amelia bit her lip and smiled. Hearing those words was like music to her ears. She wanted to feel Ben next to her in her bed, but she knew that he was right.

"I can't wait to become Mrs. Benjamin Abbott."

When his lips touched hers, the inferno began.

"It does not take a wedding for that to happen. You have been Mrs. Benjamin Abbott since the day you said yes. I will see you tomorrow."

He pulled her to him, his hard body pressed against hers. A moan escaped her lips, and she knew that it would be practically impossible to fight through the craving she felt for the man that would be hers officially tomorrow.

*

The string quartet that played for the finishing school open house came back and played for the wedding. It was a clear, cool day in San Francisco. The humidity was low and flowers were in bloom. The fountain and the garden were the perfect backdrop for the wedding.

Mr. McGill and Amelia's uncle Harold were there as they promised. They were practically the only family she had left. It was nice to see familiar faces.

Amelia stayed in her office, away from any of the guests. She did not want anyone to see her. Standing in the mirror, she wondered what her mother would say if she could see her now. Lulu la Rue would have probably told her to wear a bit more rouge. She would have probably given her tips for the wedding night on how to satisfy her new husband. Lulu, most importantly, would have been happy for her daughter. Amelia truly believed that. She knew that even through their strained relationship, her mother loved her. She just never verbally expressed it, and now Amelia knew it did not mean that Lulu did not love her.

Her father would have been just as proud. She was not marrying a wealthy man by far, but she was marrying a good man that would take care of her and provide for her. Amelia was sure that her father would have been able to relate to Ben in that respect. She could not wait to see what her uncle and Mr. McGill had to say when they met Ben.