MAIL ORDER BRIDE: ARISTOCRAT: The Duke’s Engagement (Historical Victorian Duke Romance) (New Adult Romance Short Stories) (7 page)

Chapter Eight:

Scott caught up with her in the hallway, but he knew better than to put his hands on her.

“Catherine, please wait,” he said. “I need to talk to you.”

She spun around in the hallway just outside her bedroom door. “Now?” she asked scathingly. “Now you want to talk to me? Where was all that in the gazebo? Or any of the rest of the time we’ve spent together?”

“I...” He couldn’t even honestly say that he’d wanted to tell her, because he’d hoped that somehow she’d never find out. It seemed idiotic to think that now.

“You what?” she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest, holding herself in. “You hoped I’d never know?”

Scott pushed his hand through his hair. “Yes. I hoped you’d never know.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard!” she exploded.

“I know!” His voice had gotten louder than he wanted it to. She flinched back just slightly and he took a step away. Intimidating her was the last thing he wanted to do. He swallowed and took a deep breath. “Catherine, I know it wasn’t smart. But...but we don’t really know each other that well yet.”

She scoffed and turned away. “You know me well enough to take me to bed. And to make me feel sympathetic for your poor family farm.”

“Hey,” he said. “Come on. It wasn’t like that. You know--”

“I know that every man in that room was there for money,” she said coldly. “You said it yourself.”

He reached for her, unable to stand the desolation in her eyes, but she stepped back.

“So fine,” she said. “You know my plan and I know that you want to help your parents. Let’s just get the wedding over with and I’ll get them back on their feet. Then we’ll go our separate ways.”

“I don’t want us to go our separate ways,” he said. “Just give me a chance to explain!”

“You had your chance to explain!” she said furiously. “Every night while we sat out there talking about the life we were going to build! Every time I asked you about your military career! Every minute of every day was your chance to explain!”

This time when he stepped forward she held up her hand. “Don’t. Whatever we had...it’s over now. You’ll get what you wanted out of me. Just like everyone else.”

Tears sparkled in her green eyes as she turned away from him and ducked into her bedroom. He heard the door lock. Scott put his back to the door and slid down, leaning his head against the wood. He could hear her crying, even though he could tell that she was trying to do it quietly.

He put his face in his hands. He couldn’t get the look in her eyes out of his mind.

“You’ll get what you wanted out of me. Just like everyone else.”

He was no better than her parents. Manipulating her and keeping her from the truth just so that he could get what he wanted. He stood up and headed back to his room. He might not have started out with the best motives, but he didn’t have to keep hurting the woman he’d come to love.

He packed his things quickly, leaving everything that the Cargill’s had bought to help him play his part. Once his clothes and books had been shoved carelessly into his duffle bag and his big military issue backpack, he slid open the nightstand drawer. There was a sheaf of paper for guests there, emblazoned with the Cargill’s name and the address.

He sat down at the small desk in the corner and put pen to paper.

Catherine,

You’re right. I should have told you before. I know that nothing I can say here can make that right and that hurts more than I can say.

The assault happened on a mission. We had a new guy and I never liked him. Not even when I first met him. There was just something...off there. Anyway, there was a woman in the town. A prostitute. He’d been visiting her, but one night he was drunk and he decided that he shouldn’t have to pay. I heard her scream and saw that he was threatening her with his gun.

I lost my temper and beat him up. She ran, so it was my word against his, and he had the injuries. So I was out. I shouldn’t have done it, but I can’t say that I wouldn’t do it again.

I should have told you.

I can’t marry you for the money. Not when I’m in love with you. I hope you find a way to have your freedom.

Love,

Scott

He slid the note under her bedroom door and walked away. The butler spoke to him, but the expression on Scott’s face must have warned the man that Scott wasn’t in the mood.

“Family emergency,” Scott lied in order to get past the camera crews and Catherine’s parents. “I’ll be back in a few days.”

Chapter Nine:

His own parents had been surprised to see him turn up on their doorstep in the middle of the night, but they hadn’t asked questions. He’d been working from before sunup to well after sundown since he got home. If he ran on about 4 hours of sleep, he was too tired to be tormented by her memory.

He couldn’t do anything about how often he saw her in his dreams though. He woke up reaching for her more often than not and he never bothered to try to go back to sleep after those dreams. He either took a cold shower or went out to work.

He knew that Linda was worried about him, but he’d heard his father advise her to let Scott work through it. He was grateful for that. He didn’t want to have to explain.  He only wanted to find a way to get through the pain.

He was mucking out stalls, up to his ankles in stuff he didn’t really want to mention when he heard the door open. He glanced up and dropped the shovel.

“Hi,” Catherine said softly, her eyes on the ground at first.

“What...what are you doing here?”

She looked up at him, her eyes scanning his work worn jeans and his sweaty chest. He remembered her kissing her way down his body, murmuring how much she loved the way he felt and he had to catch his breath.

“I came to find out if you really meant what you said in your letter.”

He nodded. “Yeah. You can verify it with military records--”

“Not that,” she said. “I hired someone and they confirmed your story. Turns out that you should have been dishonorably discharged. But they processed it differently due to your distinguished career.”

He nodded, wondering what she’d meant. Catherine stepped a little closer.

“I mean the part about loving me.”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I think I’ve been in love with you since your speech about money back in the gazebo.”

She smiled, her expression brightening so fast that he was struck speechless by her beauty. He wanted to touch her, but he was filthy. She didn’t seem to mind. She stretched up and put her arms around his neck, kissing him. He kept his hands to himself, but he took the kiss deeper, feeling her moan against his mouth.

“God, darlin’, I’ve missed you so damn bad,” he said against her lips.

“Will you marry me?” she asked, pulling back.

“Hell yeah, get in the truck.”

Catherine laughed joyously. “You might want to take a shower first.”

“Yeah, and I probably should introduce you to my folks before we go on down to town hall.”

She looped her arm through his and they walked to the farmhouse. Linda was on the front porch and Scott waved.

“Mom,” he said, “This is Catherine Cargill.”

Linda swept her with a glance. The girl was lovely and she was dressed well. And she was leaning against Scott who was shirtless and sweating. Linda was a rancher's wife, so she knew exactly what her son smelled like after a morning of mucking out stalls. Catherine was smiling up at him, looking for all the world like Scott was dressed in his best and clean as a whistle.

“Come in,” Linda said warmly.

Scott headed upstairs for the shower, leaving his mother and Catherine to talk. He wasn’t worried, but he didn’t linger either. His hair was still wet when he jogged back down the stairs. Catherine was sitting at the kitchen table laughing. His mother was laughing too, but she hurriedly tried to sweep the photo album off the table before Scott saw it.

He sighed resignedly. “Get it all out of the way,” he said. “I’m planning to marry her as soon as we’re done here, so she might as well know the worst there is.”

Catherine grinned. “You were an adorable little cowboy.”

He grinned back and they looked over the photo album together.

Of course, they couldn’t get married right away. The license had to be applied for and there was a short waiting period. It didn’t really matter. Catherine loved the ranch. She worked almost as hard as Scott had when he was trying to forget her, but she did it because she loved the work.

She was good at it too. She had good instincts with animals and she’d done some research on crops. She talked Eric into planting some soybeans. The market for them was enormous, according to her.

Scott had known that his parents would like Catherine, but she admitted that she’d been terrified of them. Her own parents were furious with her, texting and calling so frequently that she’d shut her phone off for good the day after she’d arrived.

The next Monday, they went to town hall and said their vows in front of his parents. Scott had been worried that Catherine would be disappointed, but she had smiled.

“Everyone I care about will be there. What more could I want?”

They left the courthouse arm in arm and ran right into her father.

“Where have you been?” Andrew asked angrily.

“With me,” Scott said, standing just slightly in front of Catherine.

“Why haven’t you answered your phone?” Andrew continued.

Catherine raised her chin and pushed out from behind Scott. “I didn’t want to talk to you. You should be happy. I got married.”

Her mother approached in time to hear that last sentence. She sighed. “More things to reshoot. At least you’ve gotten the legal issues out of the way, I guess.”

“Thanks for the congratulations,” Scott said dryly.

“And I’d like that transfer,” Catherine said. Her voice only wavered slightly. Scott put his hand on the small of her back. She’d chosen a pretty floral print sundress that he couldn’t wait to get off of her. “Right now. I know you can do it from your phone.”

“Why so impatient?” Andrew asked. “You’re not...”

“No,” she said. “I’m not pregnant. But there are some things I want. And now that I’ve given you what you want, I think I deserve them.”

“I am happy that you saw sense,” Mavis said. “One little assault charge doesn't matter much.”

“It ended my entire career,” Scott said tightly.

“But now you’re rich,” Mavis answered with a knowing smile. “I’m sure you figured that out for yourself.”

Catherine’s phone beeped. Money had appeared in the joint account her parents had set up for her. A few presses of the buttons and the money disappeared again. Andrew stared at her.

“Where--”

Catherine smiled. “We had a contract,” she reminded him. “The money was going to an account that you had no access to.”

Color flooded Andrew Cargill’s cheeks, but he didn’t speak.

“Fine,” Mavis said, obviously displeased. They’d never thought that Catherine would set up an account that they couldn’t access. Especially before they could put a freeze on the joint account. “Let’s go over the wedding--”

“No,” Catherine said easily.

Everyone stared at her. Even Scott. He’d figured he was stuck in that reality show.

“What?” he asked.

She looked up at him. “You don’t want to do that show do you?”

“God, no!” he said firmly.

“Good. Then, sorry, we’re not doing it.” She watched as her father tried to figure out what to say. “You should have gotten a contract.”

Eric, who was standing behind Scott and Catherine, laughed. Andrew Cargill turned his glare on him.

“What’s so funny?” he demanded.

“My new daughter’s a real spitfire,” Eric said proudly. “Now, you’re not gettin’ what you want, so maybe you could get out of our way. We’ve got a ranch to run.”

Chapter Ten:

Catherine stretched and rolled over. Scott was already getting dressed, or trying to. It was still dark.

“You’re already up?” she asked unnecessarily.

“Yeah,” he said, going over to kiss her on the cheek. “Thought I’d put in a few hours on the house before I hit the fields.”

She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him back down into the bed with her. “Not yet.”

Scott laughed and kissed the side of her neck, deliberately tickling her. She squealed and pushed against his chest. He let her gain the upper hand for the pleasure of having her on top of him.

They’d been married for three months and, other than the stuff that got under every couple’s skin, he knew it wouldn’t have mattered if he married her after a month or after ten years. Catherine Cargill...now Catherine Lawson, was his soul mate.

She raised her arms in victory and then kissed him on the cheek. “If you’re going to the house, I’m going too,” she said when she’d untangled herself from the sheets that had wrapped her up in their wrestling match.

“You could get a few hours of sleep,” he said. “They’re working on the roof today, but they won’t start for a little longer.”

In addition to building their own house at the other end of the ranch, Catherine had started repairs on the farmhouse. The roof, the siding, some new appliances and other things that had fallen through the cracks with the weight of larger repairs over their heads.

Eric and Linda had tried to protest, but Catherine had asked for a share in the ranch. That had surprised them, but she explained that she wanted to buy half of it for herself and for Scott so that she’d have something to call her own. In return, she’d help bring things up to date since she wasn’t exactly the greatest at raising crops.

She was selling herself short, but it had worked in the end. Scott pulled a jacket on. The fall weather was chilly until the fog burned off in the morning sunshine. He put his arm around Catherine’s shoulders and they walked to the frame of what would be their house in a few more months.

“It’s coming along so well,” she said. She helped most days, but she hadn’t seen the latest additions. “So this is the porch?”

“Yeah. It’s gonna run the length of the house,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee. “Plenty of room for a porch swing and some rocking chairs for our old age.”

She bit her lip. She had news and she wasn’t exactly sure how he’d take it.

“What’s the matter?” he asked, sensitive as always to the changes in her expression.

“Nothing,” Catherine said quickly. “So...with rockers and a porch swing, do you think there’d be room for a baby swing?”

“Yeah, I’m sure we could--” Scott stopped, realization dawning. He stared at her for so long that she was chewing her nails before he managed to put words into a sentence. “A baby?”

She nodded. “I know that we didn’t exactly plan this, but you know, we haven’t been quite as careful as we could have been and--”

Scott wrapped his arms around her and spun her in a circle. Then he set her gently back to her feet, grinning sheepishly. “Sorry. I’ll be more careful.”

She laughed in relief. “I was afraid you’d be mad.”

“Mad?” Scott looked down at her, framing her beautiful face with his hands. “I love kids. And I love you. Seems natural to me.”

“It’s kind of fast,” Catherine ventured.

“That’s just how we do things,” Scott said, kissing her until she flung her arms around him.

The sun came up to their east, but neither of them noticed it. They were too busy planning the life they couldn’t wait to lead. A life of their own with no secrets and no restrictions.

*** THE END ***

Saved By a Cowboy

By: Stephanie Hunt

Tina hated being forced into things.  All her life she valued herself as an independent woman who could make her own decisions.  When it came to love and romance, especially, she liked going after the guys she wanted and not the guys her parents suggested for her.  She came from a good family and was well educated.  Men found her attractive and she was fairly confident about her looks.  But now her parents were forcing her into the position of being a mail-order bride, which meant that she would have to get with a total stranger.  She didn’t care who it would be, she had always believed in love and wanted to be with someone that
she
chose.

When her dad put the mail order bride application on the table in front of her one Saturday evening, she almost vomited.  “Do you really think this is for me, Dad?” she asked.

“It is time you were married off, Tina,” replied Henry, her dad.  “You are already 23 and we want to see you settled down and comfortable.  You are not getting any younger.”

“But I don’t like this whole thing, Dad.  You know I want to marry someone that I love, not someone that you and Mom love.  And besides, do you really want to see me marrying a total stranger?”

“With this application you can be paired up with a suitable husband.  They will likely come from a good family as well and have the necessary means to support you.  It is a hard economy out there and, especially as a woman, it is hard to make end’s meat.”

“I don’t want to fill out this application.  I know Mr. Right is out there somewhere, I just haven’t found him yet.”

“But how long do you plan on looking for Princess? Most of your friends have already settled down by now.”

“I am not sure, I just know I need a little bit more time.”

Henry took a moment to assess the situation further.  He decided that arguing with Tina was going to get him nowhere.  He decided to put his foot down.  “Tina, I am not going to have this argument with you.  You are my daughter, and living under my roof.  You will fill out the application and we will see this matter come to an end.”

Tears began to well up in Tina’s eyes.  She looked at her father in consternation. 
Why is he being so unreasonable?
  She grabbed the application and stormed up the stairs to her bedroom on the second floor, slamming the door shut and then collapsing onto her bed.  The tears began to flow and she started sobbing.  She realized to herself that she was going to have to fill out the application and there was no other option.  She considered running away for a brief moment.  But that idea dissipated quickly as she had no place to go.  Her dad was right about all her friends already being married off.  She was the last single one.  She did not want to become an old maid, but that seemed a lot better than marrying a stranger too.

That evening at dinner she ate her food quietly and sullenly.  Her mother and father were also quietly eating, not looking up and sharing only the occasional glance between them.

“I am going to fill it out,” said Tina dejectedly.

There was a pause of about half a minute from her parents.  Her mother, Dorothy, looked at her and said, “We think it’s for the best, hun.  Your father and I have only your best interests at heart.  You can’t live with us forever until you became an old maid.”

“Listen to your mother,” said Henry.  “She is right.  And we are glad that you are going to become a mail-order bride.  Some lucky man will get your application and will take care of you and make you very happy one day.  You just can’t see it now because you’re young and naïve.  But believe me, one day you will thank us.”

Tina still felt sick to her stomach.  But she couldn’t fight both her parents at once, especially while they were still providing the roof over her head.

That night she filled out the application and by morning it was delivered via post to the organization that handles such matters.  It was only a waiting game now until she heard back from them regarding her new husband.  She hoped he was at least decently attractive and had some money.  She was not going to stop looking for the man of her dreams just because some guy wanted to marry her.  She was going to continue hanging out with her friends and going out to the saloon to have cocktails and gawk at the beautiful men who stopped by to play poker and shoot the breeze.

The phone rang.  It was her best friend, Kate Wimbleton.  She wanted to know if Kate would join her and her husband, Eric, on a boat ride that afternoon.  Tina didn’t really feel like leaving the house as she was somewhat depressed about becoming a mail order bride, but she decided that the company and some fresh air would probably do her some good, so she said yes.

Tina got ready by putting on a beautiful, cotton, white dress and used one of her best purses.  She looked at herself in the mirror for a few moments to make sure she looked great.  She did.  Her cheeks were rosy and her lips full and pouty.  Her slender physique was striking and her full breasts accentuated her look.  She smiled to herself, secretly hoping that today would be the day that she found her romantic partner.  Maybe someone on the boat?  Who knows.  Men did quite often come up and approach her to start a conversation.  Maybe finally someone would come up that she actually had feelings for in return.

Out on the boat, it was a cool afternoon with a slight autumn breeze.  Tina, Kate, and Eric were standing on the outside deck marveling at the beautiful sights and sounds of being on the open water.  The boat’s destination was a small island about ten miles out from the harbour.  There, the threesome would set up their lunch and embark upon a beautiful picnic.

“You look wonderful today, Tina,” said Eric to Kate, offering her a sincere complement.  “What is new with you?”

“I am being set up as a mail-order bride.  My parents are arranging the whole thing.  I am not too thrilled about it.”

“That is ill news, Tina,” said Kate.  “I know how you have always valued your independence and you are certainly striking enough to find your own match.”

“Yes, but I am twenty-three.  How long must I wait before Mr.  Right comes along?”

“Maybe we will meet him today,” suggested Kate.  There were a number of very good-looking men on the boat.  Tina had only to glance around to figure that out.  There was one gentleman in particular who caught her eye.  He was tall, about six feet, with a slim build and coarse, dark hair.  He wore a moustache and goatee and had very kind, smart-looking eyes.  Tina couldn’t help but look in his direction several times.  Upon glancing at him for the third or fourth time, their eyes met.  He seemed to look directly into her unabashedly.  After a few seconds of eye contact she looked away into the horizon once more.

When the boat docked on the beautiful, green island, the three friends walked off the plank and strolled merrily around the boardwalk.  They decided they would look for a suitable place to have their picnic.  After about fifteen minutes of walking they came to a perfect spot to set up.  It was a well-kept grassy hill under the shade of large elm trees.  Eric unpacked, setting out a checkered table cloth for them to sit on and set out their delicious meal.  Kate broke their bread into three sections and passed it out.  Eric applied caviar to his piece and ate it savouringly.  Tina enjoyed the food just as much as her other two companions.

About half-way through the meal she noticed that the dark-haired man who she had made eye contact with on the boat was walking in their direction.  He became larger and larger until he was finally at their picnic.  He held out his hand to introduce himself.

“I am Jacob Farraway,” he said.  “I couldn’t help but notice that you three were eating quite an exquisite meal.  I have brought some sparkling champagne, and was wondering if I might join you guys? I have no food, but I can assure you my champagne is of the utmost quality.”

The three friends looked at each other and they all seemed to agree that it would be a fine idea to have his company.  Tina, in particular, blushed a deep shade of pink.  She did not want to make eye contact with Jacob for fear that he would see right through her, to her womanly desire.

“I am Eric.  This is my wife, Kate, and our friend, Tina.  It is a pleasure to meet you.  Have a seat on our spread and join us! I think I brought a few glasses for us to enjoy your champagne with.”

Jacob took a seat on the spread next to Tina.  They exchanged another awkward glance, and then Jacob opened his bottle of champagne and poured everyone a glass.  “To this beautiful fall we’ve been having!” he toasted.  “And to new friendships.”

The four of them sipped their champagne and let a few moments pass uninterrupted.  A gust of wind blew by messing up Tina’s hair.  They got to talking about the local news, the weather, and the state of the country’s economy.  Jacob, it turned out, was a very knowledgeable and smart guy.  He was an investor and spent his time playing on the stock market.  He had a great relationship with his broker and the two of them – as he put it – were getting “really rich”.

“What is it that you do, Tina?” asked Jacob.

“Well right now I am living with my lovely parents.  My mother is teaching me to sew and on my spare time I like to go horseback riding in the pasture by my house.”