Mail Order Bride: Westward Christmas Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides, Book 11) (17 page)

              “Thank you, because I don’t think I could,” Sasha said.  “I have a question for you that is slightly off topic.”

              “Go ahead, sugar,” Ben said and gave her his full attention.

              “Should we get married, would you invite your parents to the wedding, since you are estranged?” Sasha asked.

              Ben chuckled, but it was a mirthless sound.  “Well, my father is dead, so no, I won’t ask him.  He committed suicide about four years ago.”  He looked up at her sharp gasp.  “I’m so sorry, Sasha.  I shouldn’t have sprung that information on you like that.”

              Sasha said, “How awful!  I had no idea.  Rebecca has never said anything.”

              “As you can understand, it’s not something we discuss.  Actually, other than her and Jake, I’ve never spoken about it to anyone,” Ben said.  “Until now.  Yes, my father thought it was best to end his life, rather than live with the shame his illegal actions caused him.”

              Sasha heard the cruel bent to his voice and thought that she did not like this side of him.  Understanding that it had nothing to do with her, she said, “I can understand why you are still angry with him.”

              Ben grunted as he cut another piece of ham off.  “Furious is what I still am and—” he broke off as he thought better of saying the cutting words he wanted to about his father.  “He ruined my mother’s life.  Rebecca and I recovered and have gone on with our lives, but she has had a terrible time of it.  Still, she wouldn’t leave him and defended him to the hilt.  I will invite her, but I do not expect her to attend.  The fact that Rebecca and I did not support our father in what she considered his time of need turned her against us.”

              Sasha’s heart went out to Ben.  It seemed that he had suffered far more cruelty and neglect than she had.  She couldn’t blame him for his bitter, angry attitude towards the people who were supposed to have cared for and protected him and his sister.  She admired Ben’s courage to rise above all of the hardship that had come his way.

              “She doesn’t deserve good children such as you and Rebecca,” she said.

              Ben smiled at her statement.  Her support meant a lot to him.  “Do you know how good you are for me?”

              Sasha blushed.  “I’d like to think I am.  You are very good for me, Ben.”

              Ben’s gaze never wavered as he said, “I knew we would make a good match, Sasha.  Sometimes there are things that are meant to be and you and I certainly are.”  It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her to marry him, but he wanted his proposal to be special, so he held back those words.

              Sasha’s smile made his heart beat faster.  She said, “I believe that, too.  I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you feel the same way.  When I left Nebraska last December, I never dreamed I’d meet someone like you.  Someone who appreciates me and…”  Sasha couldn’t continue for the sudden constriction in her throat.

              Ben watched her eyes brim with tears and was out of his seat in an instant.  He knelt by her chair and gathered her in his arms.  “Shh.  Don’t cry, sugar.  Everything’s all right.  You’re here with me now and that’s all that matters.”

              Sasha held on to him as she struggled to get her emotions under control.  Then Ben took her face in his hands and kissed away her tears.  When his lips met hers, Ben’s kiss was gentle and told her how much he loved her.  Sasha responded in kind and tried to convey her feelings to him. 

              The kiss ended and Sasha whispered, “Make love to me, Ben.”

              Ben’s answer was to pick her up and take her to his bedroom.

              “You’re doing what?” Sammi said to Rachel as they sat in the huge parlor of their house.

              Rachel cleared her throat and tried to meet Sammi’s eyes as she said, “I’m going to live with my Aunt Amelia in Canada.”

              “Like hell you are,” Sammi said.  “Why would you want to do that?”

              Rachel lifted her chin and said, “I’m twenty now and can make my own decisions.  I don’t need anyone’s permission to go.  I don’t want to stay in Dawson any longer, Sammi.”

              Sammi looked into the brown eyes of the young woman who’d become a daughter to her.  “You mean because of Reckless.”

              “Yes.  I need to get away from here and start over,” Rachel said.  “It’s too hard seeing him around town or when he comes into the store.”

              “Rachel, that’ll fade over time.  You felt the same way about Jack,” Sammi said as she took Rachel’s hand and smiled.

              Rachel pulled her hand away and said, “No, it won’t.  Besides, Jack was just a crush.  I still love Reckless, but we can never be together and after what I did… I have to go.  You don’t need me around anyway.  You’re going to have another baby and with the boys and Skye you have your hands full.”

              “What about your brothers?  You’re just going to up and leave them?” Sammi said as she searched Rachel’s eyes. 

              Rachel shrugged.  “They’re getting older and don’t really need me anymore.  I’m going and there’s nothing anyone can say to change my mind.  I have the money for the trip and Aunt Amelia said that she would help me with anything I might need when I get there.”

              Sammi heard the determination in Rachel’s voice and knowing how stubborn the girl was, Sammi believed that Rachel wouldn’t be deterred from leaving.

              “When were you planning on leaving?” Sammi asked.

              “Next week,” Rachel said, and prepared for the worst. 

              Sammi sat quietly, so profound was her shock.  “You’re not gonna stay for the holidays?”

              Shaking her head, Rachel said, “No.  I need to go now.  Let’s face it, Sammi.  You and Mitch only took us in because you felt sorry for us.  I appreciate everything you did for us, for me, but it’s time for me to set out on my own.  I’ll never be able to repay you and I’ll always love you for it, but I have to do this.”

              “Sure we felt bad for you, but we loved all of you right off, Rachel.  Haven’t we shown you how much we love you all?” Sammi said as she felt her heart drop.

              Rachel sighed as though tired of the subject.  “Yes, you have.  This isn’t personal, Sammi.  It’s not about you and Mitch.  It’s about me and what I want for my life.”

              “So there’s nothing we can say or do to change your mind?” Sammi asked. 

              “No, there’s not.  I’m sorry, Sammi, but this is what I have to do,” Rachel said.

              Sammi didn’t respond.  She got up and left the room.  Sammi went outside and crossed the yard to the carriage house.  Going inside, she went to the overstuffed chair that had been Mitch’s only piece of parlor furniture when Sammi had first met him.  It was her refuge in times of crisis and this applied.  Sammi curled up in it and let the sobs loose. 

              Her heart was breaking.  Hadn’t she and Mitch done everything they could for Rachel and her brothers?  Ever since they’d brought the children to live with them, Rachel had been a little standoffish from time to time.  It was understandable.  She was afraid to get close to anyone for fear that they would be taken away from her.

              She’d been a sweet girl then, but as she’d gotten older, something had changed in Rachel and Sammi just couldn’t fathom what that was.  The way that she’d lied about Reckless told Sammi that there was a whole other side of Rachel.  A slightly cruel and vengeful side, Sammi now knew.  From Rachel’s attitude just now, Sammi could see that Rachel was thinking only of herself.   Deeply wounded, Sammi sat in the chair and wondered where they’d gone wrong with the girl.

              Sasha’s furniture and other possessions were delivered and Ben’s prophecy about her being busy was fulfilled.  She decided on an arrangement of the furniture in each room that pleased her and Ben helped hang pictures and with other jobs that required more strength than Sasha possessed. 

              She moved out of her hotel room and was relieved to be in her new home.  The house was indeed cozy and the fireplace in the parlor and the cook stove in the kitchen heated the house nicely.  Raven had started his job with her and had made sure there was plenty of wood on hand. 

One night as she and Ben sat on her sofa together enjoying the fire in the hearth, Sasha said, “I have something for you.”

“Oh?” Ben said.

Sasha felt shy as she reached into her dress pocket and pulled something out of it.  “Hold out your hand.”

Ben smiled and did so.  He was surprised to see her put a key in his palm and looked at her with questions in his eyes.

“That is your key for my house so that you can come and go as you please,” she said, and looked him in the eyes. 

“Are you sure?” Ben said.  “That’s a big step.”

“I’m sure.  I’m ready for it,” Sasha said.

Ben grinned.  “Thank you.”  He pulled out his key ring and put the key on it.  Then he pulled Sasha closer and said, “Don’t be surprised if I wake you up in the middle of the night.”  His smile had turned roguish.

She arched an eyebrow at him and said, “How do you know that’s not what I was hoping for?”

Ben laughed and the sound made Sasha feel as if she would melt.  “It seems as though I have a seductress on my hands.”

“Well, you’re always telling me I’m a she-devil.  I think it’s time I live up to that nickname,” Sasha said as she undid the top button of his shirt.

Ben said, “Why, Ms. McCall, whatever are you doing?”

The fiery desire in her eyes made his heart race.  Her answer was to slip her hand inside his shirt and kiss him.  Ben was happy to forgo conversation in lieu of a more primal form of communication.

The next night, Ben took Sasha to the Watering Hole after dinner at Wolfe Point.  When they entered the bar, they were greeted warmly by Jake and Rebecca and Gus, who flirted with Sasha.  Ben gave Jake their drink order and they went to sit down.  Joe and Jamie, accompanied by Seth and Luke, sang and the place was a little rowdy as a result.

When their song was over, Ben went up and spoke to Joe, who then smiled.

Sasha wondered what was going on when Ben came to her and held out his hand.  She put hers in his and let him lead her up on stage.  He sat her down on the piano bench of Rebecca’s baby grand piano with him.

“I want to play, but  I need a little moral support, if that’s all right with you,” Ben said with a smile.

“Of course.  I would love to watch you play,” Sasha said, and settled in for the treat.

Joe announced that Ben was going to play and the room quieted.  Ben flexed his fingers and settled them on the piano keys.  Closing his eyes, Ben listened for the melody in his mind and recalled the notes that he hadn’t played in so long. 

Once he was ready, Ben opened his eyes and began playing Beethoven’s
Sonata in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2: III. Allegretto
.  The piece was tender, joyful, and passionate by turn and Sasha couldn’t take her eyes from Ben’s hands as they moved expertly over the keys.  She closed her eyes and visions of their lovemaking rose in her mind. 

The music flowed and ebbed around her, creating a spellbinding, sensual cocoon in which she was willingly trapped.  Her breath came a little quicker and when she opened her eyes, she found Ben looking at her even as he played and the intense love and passion for her in his sea green eyes astounded her.  She’d always dreamed of having someone look at her like that, but thought it was just that; the stuff of dreams.

Yet, here he was, the man of her dreams, playing for her, telling her with the music he created of his love for her.  As the notes grew louder and the melody soared, so did her heart and she couldn’t prevent the tears that filled her eyes.  They were tears of joy and wonder.

Ben saw the effect his playing had on her and tried to convey all that was in his heart for her.  Tears trickled from her eyes and he had to turn his attention to the keyboard for a moment while he reined in his emotions a little so that he could continue playing.  Then he looked back at her.  She had closed her eyes again.  Her lips were parted slightly and her quick breathing made her chest rise and fall.  Sasha’s cheeks were flushed and her hands clenched in her lap.

Ben then knew she felt all the love and desire for her he was pouring into the beautiful sonata.  As he neared the end of the song, Ben gentled the piece a little more, perhaps, than it was written because more so than passion, what he wanted her to remember last was the tender love he felt for her.  When he stopped playing, Sasha opened her eyes and locked onto Ben’s gaze.

Joe was doing his part and kept the audience quiet.  Ben slid off the piano bench onto one knee and took out a ring box from his suit jacket.  He opened it and Sasha gasped at the stunning cushion cut diamond ring.  It shimmered in the bright lamp light.

“Sasha, you are the most enchanting, beautiful, intelligent, and brave woman I’ve ever met.  You have captured my heart and soul and I know that I cannot live my life without you by my side.  Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?” Ben said eloquently.

Sasha’s breath caught in her throat and she couldn’t speak for a moment, so she nodded vigorously and then got out, “Yes!  Yes, I’ll marry you, Ben!”

Elation filled them both and Ben slipped the ring on her finger.  Ben picked her up and spun her around on the stage as the bar erupted in applause.  They kissed as Ben sat her on her feet and they didn’t care who saw or what anyone thought.  Sasha shed tears and Ben wiped them away with his thumbs and held her close for a few moments.  Then he took her hand and led her from the stage, where they were congratulated by their family and friends.  Jake got out some very fine champagne and popped the cork.  He poured it and then raised his glass in a toast to the happy couple.

  The rest of the night, Sasha felt as though she’d slipped the bonds of reality and that she was walking through the most wonderful dream of her life.  She and Ben barely looked away from one another and held hands as much as possible.  Sasha adored the ring Ben had given her and she could tell that he’d put much thought into choosing it. 

The women present all complimented Ben on picking such a lovely ring.  It made Ben very happy that Sasha loved the ring so much.  He’d bought it because he thought it captured her essence and he thought the ring looked perfect on her finger.  She was his now and the ring was an outward sign to everyone of how much he loved her. 

“How very romantic!” Maddie exclaimed the next day as Sasha told her friends about Ben’s proposal. 

Tessa said, “It certainly sounds wonderful.  To have a man play such a lovely song for you before proposing?  That is the kind of thing that we women dream about.”

Sasha’s smile was radiant as she said, “I felt as if I was in a dream.  I still do.”  She looked at her ring.  “I can’t believe that helping Sparrow escape would lead to all of this.”

Sparrow laughed and said, “So, you really have me to thank for you getting engaged.”

“I suppose I do, don’t I?” Sasha said. 

“Yes,” Sparrow said.  Her dark eyes reflected her amusement. 

Dean came into the kitchen and said, “So I hear congratulations are in order, Sasha.”

She blushed and said, “Thank you, Dean.”

He came over and looked at the ring.  Dean let out a whistle.  “That’s some ring, all right.  Well, at least if Ben is stealin’ away my other woman, he’s doin’ it in style.”  Then he kissed her cheek and said, “I’m very happy for you.”

“Thank you.  And along with Sparrow, I am grateful that you invited me here for the holidays last year.  If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met Ben,” Sasha said.

“Well, I didn’t really do much, but you’re welcome,” Dean said, and then grabbed his wife and proceeded to kiss Tessa senseless.  When he released her he said, “That’s so you don’t get jealous,” and walked back out the door again.

Tessa’s eyes were slightly unfocused and the women laughed at her dazed expression. 

              She fanned herself and said, “Oh, that man.  All these years later and he still has the power to make me dizzy when he kisses me.”

              Sparrow said, “He’s so serious most of the time that when he does things like that, it’s such a surprise.”

              Tessa cleared her throat and said, “It seems as though he’s mellowing with age and I confess that I’m enjoying it.”

              Maddie said, “So are we, when he does things like that to you.”  Her blue eyes held mischief.

              Tessa swatted her sister.  “Hush, Maddie.”

              Footsteps sounded on the stairs and Mike trotted into the room dressed in his new suit.  He said, “What do you ladies think?  Will I be presentable enough when I go to school next month?”