Lonesome Bride (2 page)

She had been facing away from him, looking rather anxiously down the tracks at the departing train. Only when she turned, nearly falling into his arms, had he been able to really see her face.
And what a face!
Smooth, perfect porcelain skin with a delicate spray of freckles across her lovely nose. Long, dark lashes that cast smoky shadows on her cheeks when she looked down. Her hat mostly covered her hair, but the few tendrils he had seen had been a heart-stopping shade of auburn.

And her eyes!
Jed had only seen eyes as green as those in his own mirror.

He thought about the way she had felt in his arms and the way she had briefly pressed against him when he lifted her into the wagon, and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The clean scent of her wafted over to him on the breeze, and Jed nearly groaned. He had expected to find an older woman waiting for him at the station. An unattractive woman with wrinkles and maybe a little fat. The kind of woman who became a mail-order bride because she would have no other chance at a husband. He had not expected to find this girl, this chatterbox, whose touch had caused his heart to beat a little faster and his blood to heat.

"Life will be different at Heatherfield than what I'm sure you're used to,” he commented suddenly, not sure why he now felt compelled to speak. Maybe conversation would take his mind off the memory of her lush body and delicious scent.

"You have no idea what I am used to, Mr. Peters,” Caitleen retorted icily. She did not even turn to look at him, instead remaining poker-stiff in her seat, staring at the road ahead.

Jed risked another look at her. Her upright posture emphasized her shapely form. The generously cut traveling jacket did nothing to hide her full, firm breasts, and the gentle swelling of her hips. He shifted again, clucking to the horses to pick up the pace. Maybe the jostling would take his mind off the throbbing in his groin.

"May I ask at what are you staring, Mr. Peters?"

Jed blinked. Caitleen had turned to look at him, and was now glaring.

"You don't look like you're used to hard work, Miss O'Neal,” he said more roughly than he had intended. “You don't look like you could handle the workings of a ranch."

"Oh, no?” Caitleen replied, eyebrows raised.

"No."

"Then, pray tell me, Mr. Peters, of what I do look capable?"

Again, Jed nearly groaned. He couldn't begin to think of what she looked capable of.

"You look perfectly suited to lawn parties and afternoon tea.” Jed returned his gaze to the road ahead. He shifted uncomfortably again. Have mercy, the affect this wench was having on him! He blessed the full jacket concealing the growing bulge in his trousers.

"Then let me tell you something of my life,” Caitleen said coldly. “My mother died when I was four, Mr. Peters. It did not take my Da long to begin gambling away everything she had brought to their marriage. First to go were the excellent stables. Then went most of the grounds. In the last few years, more and more land and possessions have been lost to his gambling partners. Of course, we have had to let go most of the household staff as well. I learned very early on how to run an estate, Mr. Peters."

"An estate isn't a ranch,” Jed stated flatly.

"Mr. Peters, are you determined not to like me?"

"Can you think of one reason why I should like you?"

"Can you think of one reason why you should not?” Caitleen asked.

Oh, sweetheart, I can think of a dozen reasons not to like you, Jed thought.

"You're a chatterbox,” he said instead.

Caitleen pressed her lips by way of response, and turned to face the road again.

Again, the journey continued without conversation for several minutes. It's just as well we don't speak, Jed thought. Her voice was as lovely as the rest of her. The warmth he was feeling had little to do with the hot noonday sun. A trickle of sweat ran down from his brow, blinding him momentarily until he wiped it away.

From the corner of his eye, Jed caught sight of a flame. Startled, he turned to look directly at the lass sitting next to him. He could hardly control his gasp at what he saw. Her hair was like fire in the sun, glimmering and shining with a life of its own. Heaven have mercy, she had not even unpinned it! Even restrained in a sedate roll, her hair was glorious.

"What do you think you are doing?” Jed nearly yelped, managing to control his voice at the last second.

Caitleen turned to him, confusion plain in her eyes. “The day is so beautiful, I just wanted to enjoy—"

"What kind of lady removes her hat?” Jed exploded. It was all he could think of to say. Her hair had triggered a sensual response him that was actually becoming painful.

The sun on her hair had created a nimbus of light around her face, emphasizing her clear skin and those eyes, those stunning verdant eyes as bright as jewels. A man could lose himself in this woman's gaze for an eternity and neither notice nor care.

Looking away, Caitleen quickly pinned her hat back into place. Discreetly pretending to tuck some stray hairs underneath its brim, she wiped her eyes. Through the haze of arousal clouding his vision, Jed saw her perfect mouth was drawn down in dismay. Blazes, now he'd gone and made the girl cry!

Abruptly, Jed urged the horses to the side of the trail. Without a word, he hopped down from the bench and strode into the thicket of trees nearby. Once there, Jed forced himself to breathe deeply, pacing back and forth. Tarnation, but what this woman was doing to him! And seemingly without even realizing it. Jed was no stranger to the charms of women. In fact, he was rather used to women trying to catch his attention, but those were usually saloon girls, certainly not young ladies of higher breeding. Especially not a woman promised to marry his father.

"Jed Peters! What in heaven are you doing?” Caitleen's voice came from beyond the trees.

The fire in his groin was only partially subdued, but Jed strode out to the wagon nonetheless. Without a word, not trusting his voice, he motioned for her to get down from the bench.

Caitleen remained seated, obviously reluctant to attempt the climb by herself. “Why have we stopped?"

Her voice sent thrills through him. Low and melodic, it made him think of honey and chocolate, sweet and tangy all at once. Jed quickly reached up to the bench, grasped her around the waist and began to lift her down.

Taken by surprise, Caitleen fell into his arms for the second time since they had met. For a long moment their bodies remained pressed together, Caitleen's arms wrapped firmly around Jed's neck. Jed fought against crushing his mouth to hers. She was staring up at him, sweet pink lips parted so tantalizingly, and her bosom heaving so prettily. The fall had knocked her hat loose, exposing that glorious hair again. She felt so good in his arms, with her full breasts pressing against his chest.

"Why have we stopped?” Caitleen breathed. She was still allowing him to hold her. In fact, if anything, she was pressing against him even more.

Abruptly, Jed pushed her from him, fearing what he would do if he remained touching her for one more moment. Still not trusting himself to speak, he turned and strode toward the back of the wagon. Pulling a basket from among the other bundles, he headed to a clear spot in the grass.

"Mr. Peters! I am speaking to you!"

Jed turned toward Caitleen, whose dreamy look had faded. Now she was glaring at him again, green eyes sparking and auburn hair flaming in the sun. She had put both hands on her full, sensuous hips, a posture emphasizing her tiny waist.

"We are stopping to eat, Miss Chatterbox!” he snapped. “And put your hat back on. Are you some kind of hoyden?"

Caitleen gasped. Before Jed even knew what was happening, she had strode to him and slapped him soundly across the face. The crack echoed loudly around them, startling him further. The wench had actually struck him! His face tingled, the imprint of her fingers burned against his skin.

"You are the most insufferable, arrogant man I have ever met!” Caite raged, stretching to her full height. The top of her head came to just under his chin. “You knocked my hat off dragging me down from that wagon! How dare you accuse me of inappropriate dress or anything else! How dare you cast aspersions on my character!"

She slapped him again. Jed could only stare in amazement. In her rage, she was, if it was possible, even more breathtaking. Caitleen continued to rant at him, but he scarcely heard a word she was saying.

"Are you listening to me?” Caite cried angrily.

She moved as if to slap him a third time, but Jed quickly grabbed her upraised hand and held it in the air. The force of his grip caused her to stumble against him. Now, for a third time, she was in his arms. Thankfully, her temper was so inflamed she didn't notice the way his arms tightened convulsively around her, drawing her against his chest for a moment. She felt so dratted good in his arms, like she was meant to be there. The softness of her belly was a delicious torture against the throbbing bulge in his trousers, and Jed struggled mightily to keep from kissing her delectable, upturned mouth.

Furiously, Caitleen yanked her hand loose from his grip, forced herself out of his haphazard embrace, and stalked away. The two stood that way for a long moment, Caitleen facing away from him and Jed staring after her. Finally shaking himself mentally and physically, he strode to her and put his hand gently on her shoulder.

"Look, Miss O'Neal..."

Caite stiffened under his touch. “You may call me Caitleen, you know. Or even Caite. You need not be so formal."

"Caitleen..."

She turned to him abruptly. “After all, we are going to be a family now."

Her comment took Jed by surprise. Then he nodded. “Yeah, I reckon so."

"And families ought to get along, should they not?” Caite asked.

Jed laughed wryly. “I reckon so."

Caite smiled slightly. She held her hand to him. “Truce?"

Startled, Jed shook her offered hand. “What?"

"I call a truce,” said Caitleen. “Let us end this battle. We hardly know each other, Jed, but we're going to be stuck with each other for a long time. Shall we try to be friends?"

"Fair enough,” Jed answered. Glancing down, he realized he still clasped her hand. Smooth and white, it was half the size of his, but she gripped him with surprising strength.

"Very well then.” Caitleen released his grip, rubbed her hands together briskly, and stepped toward the wagon. “Now, what do we have for lunch?"

Just like that, Jed thought. He wasn't aware he was smiling.
She was furious, and now she's talking about lunch.

"Lunch, Jed? Or are we going to climb back up in that wagon and ride until we drop of hunger?” Caite's words were scolding, but her tone was light, and a smile tugged the corner of her lips.

"I had the Lonesome Hotel pack a basket for the trip,” Jed answered. “I reckon it won't be as good as our Cooky's back home, but it should be all right."

Caitleen's full smile nearly knocked him backward with the force of her beauty. If he'd thought her breathtaking in anger, she was doubly so when she smiled.

"See?” she said. “I knew we'd have something in common. We both like to eat!"

Jed watched as Caitleen busied herself spreading the cotton blanket on the ground and unpacking the food. As she pulled more and more items from the basket, she started giggling softly. Soon, as she pulled each item from the seemingly bottomless basket, she progressed to laughing out loud.

"What's so funny?” Jed asked, bemused by her reaction.

"I never saw so much food for two people in my life!” Caite laughed, emptying the last of it. “Fried chicken, biscuits, corn on the cob, roast beef, apple pie ... you have enough food here for at least a week!"

Jed thought of his expectations of what the mail-order bride would be. “I was expecting someone ... larger,” he stuttered awkwardly. The beautiful and slender woman before him was the complete opposite of what he had pictured.

"Larger? Why on earth?” Caitleen asked, thoroughly puzzled.

To his discomfort, Jed felt the beginnings of an embarrassed flush begin to spread up from his collar to his neck. “Well, I figured a woman who would consent to be a mail-order bride would ... well..."

"Would what, Mr. Peters?” Caitleen asked suspiciously, her marvelous green eyes narrowing.

"Well, have a healthy appetite,” Jed finished.

"Fat, you mean,” Caite added. “Fat, homely and unable to get a man."

"Yes, I thought that,” Jed admitted, bracing himself for her fury.

Instead, Caitleen smiled sadly. “There are other reasons why a woman would agree to marry a man she doesn't know."

"What are your reasons?” Jed asked before he could stop himself.

"So, you think I have reasons other than being large and homely, do you?” Caite teased gently.

"Homely! Have mercy, you're the prettiest—” He abruptly stopped himself, looking quickly away from her questioning eyes. He strode a few steps away from her, back turned. Guilt and anger warred in him, and he struggled to maintain control of his emotions. Was she deliberately teasing him?

"I believe I shall assume that was a compliment,” Caite said to break the short, awkward silence. Taking a deep breath, she declared bravely, “We're going to be a part of each other's lives for a very long time, Jed. I'm happy you find me acceptable."

"Acceptable!” Jed exploded incredulously, turning toward her. His green eyes, so like her own, blazed with a fire Caitleen misconstrued as anger.

Trying to placate him, Caite got to her feet and moved toward him. Meaning to apologize, she reached to touch his arm. “Jed—"

"Stars above, woman!” Jed cried. “You are the most gorgeous creature I have ever seen, I can barely keep myself from kissing you, and you are happy
I
find you acceptable!"

Jed knew if he said much more he would make her cry again. A woman's tears had always softened him, and he knew he could not afford to weaken where Miss Caitleen O'Neal was concerned. Abruptly, he buttoned his mouth and stomped away to force himself to cool down. This woman riled him so he could scarcely think and, given the current situation, that was very dangerous indeed.