The Unexpected Wife (18 page)
“I do mean it.” He kissed her gently on the lips.
She closed her eyes, ashamed of her own actions. “I shouldn’t have overreacted.”
“Abby, look at me.”
She opened her eyes. She saw no traces of anger in Matthias’s dark eyes, only pain and sadness.
“Abby, I made you a promise and I broke it.”
“You don’t have to explain. You have worked so hard to make this place a success. And I said horrible things that I really didn’t mean.”
“None of it matters without you,” he said simply. “And I should have told you that.”
“Matthias, please don’t.” She didn’t want pity.
He cupped her face in his hands. “I love you. These last two days and nights, I thought I might lose you.” He swallowed. “It would kill me if I lost you.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she stared up at him. “Oh, Matthias, you will never lose me.”
“I love you, Abby Barrington.”
“And I love you, Matthias.”
May, 1880
H
ilda Clements was bone-tired. But it was a good kind of tired.
She had to smile as she eased her backside into the chair by her writing table. The light from her lantern glowed onto a freshly written letter on cream-colored paper, a half-full inkwell and pen.
This year was going to be her store’s most profitable. The railroad was bringing its rail line right past Crickhollow and soon the valley would be growing by leaps and bounds. Matthias and Abby Barrington’s ranch had turned a fine profit last year. Matthias, with Holden’s help, had rounded up his horses and sold them to the railroad. The Barrington horses were considered the best in the territory and
he received top dollar for them. Abby’s cooking had also turned their ranch into a prosperous stagecoach stop.
Two months ago they welcomed an addition to their family. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was one of the prettiest little babies she’d ever seen and there was no denying that Matthias, Quinn and Tommy doted on her.
Holden said that Matthias had nearly worried himself sick until the babe had safely arrived, but Abby had sailed through the delivery.
Hilda chuckled. She’d never seen a man more crazy in love with his wife than Matthias Barrington. Her matchmaking had turned out just fine. Fact, she doubted Matthias could have chosen a woman better himself.
Smiling, she dipped the nib of her pen into an inkwell.
Dear Rose—
I received your letter yesterday and enjoyed reading it very much. To answer your questions, I run the stagecoach line in Crickhollow, Montana. I’ve lived here for eight years and my business is thriving. In the last year alone, I’ve added two more coaches and drivers to meet the growing demand. Crickhollow is a
fine town, with a hotel, livery and a bustling mercantile. My life lacks only one thing—a wife, who’ll share my life with me.
Rose, I’d be pleased to hear from you.
Yours truly,
Holden McGowan
Hilda stared at the signature at the bottom of the letter, satisfied that it looked very much like Holden’s bold handwriting.
Holden was a good man who worked hard. Despite his success, he’d taken no time to move out of that shack he’d built behind the livery. He rarely had a proper meal and he’d grown too thin.
The truth was the man simply needed a wife, even if he wasn’t smart enough to see that.
So, she’d taken matters into her own hands. She’d placed an ad in the
San Francisco Morning Chronicle.
Hilda tapped her finger on the assortment of letters on her desk. She’d received three dozen letters from women interested in marrying Holden, but none had stood out like Rose O’Neil.
Yes, sir. Rose O’Neil and Holden would make a fine couple.
A fine couple indeed.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-4006-3
THE UNEXPECTED WIFE
Copyright © 2004 by Mary T. Burton
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