Bartered Bride Romance Collection (37 page)

“Corrie, when we set out, I told God I trusted Him to find me the right mate. I must have faith that He will direct my path.” She tugged at the covers then muttered, “But so far, it’s seemed like a rocky path on a moonless night.”

Corrie giggled.

“Hey, you!” Bess called from the room next door. “Hush up and go to sleep!”

“It’s Matty’s fault!” Corrie sang out.

When Matty stopped laughing at that ridiculous fib, she whispered, “You told a lie. You have to say the bedtime prayer tonight.”

Corrie fumbled and grabbed Matty’s hand. She said a sweet prayer and asked the Lord to bless her baby’s health and for Him to provide good men as grooms for each of her sisters. “And, Father, please give each of them a sense of assurance when You put that man in her path.”

After Corrie was fast asleep, Matty still lay there and remembered thinking she wanted to marry a man like the one who rescued her at the train—even before she knew he was James Collingswood. He was a good, solid man, strong and honest. From all of the time she’d spent with him, she knew his gruffness hid a heart of gold. Other men here had become her pals—just like back home, but James Collingswood was different.

Lord, what Corrie said is starting to ring true. I never felt this way about a man before. If Jim’s the man for me, You’re going to have to change his heart, because he’s all but shoved me out the door
.

Clyde Kincaid rode up at the crack of dawn. Jim stood in the doorway of the stable and squinted at his neighbor as he dismounted. The wind carried the reek of his bay rum.

“Mornin’.” Clyde swaggered over. “Gonna be some day, huh?”

“Not till noon. Men all have work to do before they socialize.” Jim stuffed his hands into a worn pair of leather gloves. “I expect you’ll be coming back after you’ve tended to chores at your spread.”

“Naw. I can afford to take a day off. I’ll marry up with one of the gals, and we can catch up on work tomorrow.” Clyde tilted his head toward the house. “I seen them all at Sunday worship. Robust women. Able to pull their weight.”

“They’re women,” Jim ground out, “not draft horses.”

Clyde chuckled. “Soon as they’re hitched, they’ll be brood mares.”

“Kincaid, you’ve got ten seconds to get clear of my property before I level you.”

The dust hadn’t settled from Clyde’s hasty departure when Luke sauntered by. “I’ve seen friendlier-looking thunderclouds. What’s gotten into you?”

“You and your idiotic barbecue, that’s what.”

“Come on, Jim. You don’t want the women here. It’s a good way to introduce them—”

“No.” Jim glared at his brother. “If you think I’m happy about stuffing those sweet women back on a train, you can guess again. Fact is, it’s the lesser of two evils. I’d never buy me a bride like I was bidding on livestock. This whole thing is a nightmare, but the best I can do is send them somewhere decent. There aren’t a handful of men in the whole county who are fit to marry them.”

“It’s not up to us to judge that. You’re gonna have a revolution on your hands if you interfere or send the Craig sisters away.”

Jim took a step closer and gritted, “Clyde Kincaid was just here.”

“He’s about to lose his place.” Luke roared in outrage, “What does he think he’s doing, trying to get one of our gals?”

“Our gals?” Jim poked him in the chest. “Since when did you decide they were ours?”

“We can’t let those kind of men around the Craig girls.”

“That’s the problem. Just you watch today. We’re going to be overrun with every man in the county, and we’ll be lucky if even one is able to provide decently. To take it a step farther, just how many of the leatherhands around here know how to treat a lady?”

Luke leaned back against the stable wall and banged his head on the boards as he moaned, “What have I done?”

“I started the whole mess, not ordering the bridles from the feedstore.” Jim kicked at the earth and stared at Matty as the kitchen door banged behind her. Humming and swinging a bucket, she headed toward the milk cow. “Little brother, we’re gonna have to bird-dog those women all day and scare off the undesirables.”

“What a catastrophe.”

“Here’s the plan….”

Chapter 8

M
atty tried not to wiggle as Corrie used the curling iron to help her finish her coiffure. They’d studied the pictures in
Godey’s Lady’s Book
and decided this one would suit her. “You look beautiful,” Corrie proclaimed.

Matty laughed. “Somehow, it never seems quite right for us to say that to each other.”

Bess finished pinning Mama’s cameo to her bodice. “All we need is to convince the men to rent us the jail. Then we won’t have to jump into any marriages.”

“Jumping behind bars instead of over a broom.” Bertie laughed as she swiped a finger around the base of a cake and licked off the icing.

The kitchen door opened. Jim stood at the threshold and scanned the room. He shook his head. “Bess, take off that jewelry. You don’t want anyone thinking you’re an heiress. Bertie, get your hair out of that—that—” He spiraled his forefinger in the air in a gesture of masculine hopelessness. “Put it in plaits.”

“Plaits! I’m seventeen!”

Jim strode across the kitchen, his boots ringing on each plank. “Too young to get married, and that’s exactly what we’re telling the men.”

Matty scooted free from her twin’s fussing. “What about Corrie?”

Jim stared at her then glanced at Corrie. He looked back at her. “Try your best to make Corrie look drab—plainest widow’s weeds, and be sure she’s wearing that mourning brooch.”

Bess leaned against the table. “James, I do believe I like the way you think.”

Still, he continued to keep eye contact with Matty. She felt her cheeks growing hot under his scrutiny. He growled, “Do you remember what I told you before we went to church?”

“Smile and nod?” she said in a strangled tone.

“Well, I don’t want you doing either today. For once in your life, try not to befriend everyone who talks to you.”

“But how am I going to find a husband if—”

“Woman, when God’s good and ready, He’ll put a man in your life. Until then, use sense instead of smiles. It’ll keep you outta trouble.” He started to walk away but turned back around. “One more thing: wash off that flowery-smelling stuff you dab on. It’s enough to drive a man daft.”

The kitchen door closed behind him, and everyone stayed quiet for an embarrassing stretch of time. Matty drew in a breath then tried to sound breezy. “Well, how do you like that? The oil worked. The door doesn’t squeak anymore.”

Corrie shot her a knowing look. “It’s not the hinges that matter—it’s a secure latch.”

A secure latch …
Corrie’s words echoed in Matty’s mind as she wandered across the barnyard at noon. She’d never seen so many men in one place. Every last one of them tried to capture her attention.

“Miss, yore purdy enuff to make a man dizzy.”

“Your collar’s too tight, Nitwit,” the man next to him said as he elbowed him out of the way. “Miss Matilda, I’ve got me a right fine piece of land and a good start-up herd.”

“He’s lucky if he’s got a dozen head,” Mr. Smit hooted. From what Matty gathered, he’d been an original settler and boasted a fair spread and a sizable herd.

Not five minutes later, Matty saw Mr. Start-Up over by Corrie. She hastened over to rescue her sister.

“A right fine place. Forty acres—”

“Excuse me,” Matty interrupted. She got up on tiptoe and whispered, “My sister is newly widowed.”

“Then I s’pose she’s mighty lonesome.”

To Matty’s relief, Jim wrapped his arm around that persistent man’s shoulders and led him off a ways. He murmured something, and the guy cast Corrie a terrified look then hastened toward Bess.

If a man ever kept busier than Jim did, Matty hadn’t met him. She saw him stride toward the knot of men surrounding Bertie, elbow his way in, and playfully yank one of her plaits.

“Okay, baby girl, you’ve had a chance to talk with the grown-ups for a while. Scamper off to the stable now and go play with your kitties.” He gave her a meaningful look. “Scotty’s there. He’ll keep an eye on you.”

The men all complained. “She ain’t no baby,” one protested more loudly than the others.

“Why, Mr. Squires,” Matty cooed as she hastened to Jim’s side, “I’m certain you’re not disagreeing with our host, are you?”

“She come out here as a bride,” the feedstore owner groused.

“You’re right,” Matty agreed. “But that was before we understood what it would take to be a bride out here in a rugged man’s world.”

“You’re not going to fight over me, are you?”

Matty wanted to pinch her sister for sounding thrilled over such an appalling prospect.

“You’re worth a fight,” the blacksmith, Amos Freeling, said as he twisted the end of his handlebar moustache.

Jim took Bertie by the shoulders, turned her toward the stable, and gave her a tiny push. “You run along now, squirt.” He glowered at the men. “Stop scaring her. Poor thing. How’d you like it if a bunch of men chased after your kid sister?”

Baffled and shamefaced, the men muttered to themselves. Matty took pity on them. “I do hope you men are helping yourselves to the barbecue. It smells delicious.”

“I’d be honored to escort you to the table.” Hank proffered his arm.

Before she could reply, Jim grabbed her. “Sorry. Go on ahead, and Matilda will try to catch up with you. Her sister needs her.”

Matty craned her neck to look for Bess. Jim didn’t wait. He started hauling her toward the pump. “What—?”

“Trust me,” Jim gritted. “This man is a scoundrel. Bess deserves better.”

“Matty, this is Clyde Kincaid,” Bess said as soon as they approached. “He owns the cattle ranch next door.”

“Mr. Kincaid.” Matty nodded to him coolly.

“Collingswood, it’s about time you let us all have a chance at these women.” Clyde waggled his brows. “I know I’m not alone, saying I’m ready to take ’em off your hands.”

“Actually, there is an alternative—an excellent alternative.” Bess squared her shoulders. “My sisters and I have decided to ask you kind gentlemen to take a community vote, since it seems the entire township is here today. We’d like to rent the jail and live in town. That way, we can have time to get to know all of you and—”

“Why bother?” Clyde slashed the air with his hand. “Only four of you. I say, those of us who speak up first get you.”

“I agree.” Jim gave a curt nod.

Matty almost fell over from the shock.

Jim reached over, snagged Bess by the waistband of her apron, and gave her a tug. At the same time, he clenched his arm around Matty and dragged her so close to his side, she couldn’t have wedged a broom straw between them. “I spoke first. They’re mine—all four of ’em. They’re not going into town. Until I give my approval, they’re not marrying up with anyone.”

Clyde stomped off, and Bess turned on Jim. “Whatever got into you? How dare you foul up my plan?”

“Bess, look around. You’re a capable woman, and I don’t doubt for a minute that you’d be able to manage in town.” As he spoke, Jim let go of Bess and absently stroked Matty’s shoulder. She fought the urge to lean into him as he continued to speak. “But think of your sisters. Bertie’s far too naive and will get into a peck of trouble, and Corrie needs to be sheltered.”

“Matty and I can—”

“You will both stay here with your sisters until other arrangements—safe, wise arrangements—can be made. I—”

A commotion over on the porch made them all turn around. Luke smashed his fist into someone’s face and knocked him clear over the railing. By the time Matty and Bess caught up with Jim, Luke already had Corrie in his arms and was carrying her to the door.

“What happened?” Bess breathlessly jerked open the door.

“Yahoos and idiots, the whole pack of them,” Luke muttered.

“Corrie—” Matty rushed in and wet a cloth. She blotted her sister’s wan face.

“Fainted again. I’ll carry her upstairs.”

“Bess, Lanky’s right outside the door. Have him go alongside you to the stable and drag Bertie back in here,” Jim ordered. “I don’t want her out there with that pack of woman-hungry wolves.”

Luke headed up the stairs, Bess scurried outside, and Jim stood with his arms akimbo as he glared at Matty. “I can’t for the life of me figure out what I did that got God so all-fired mad at me that He dropped you in my lap, but He did. As long as He stuck you here, you’re corralled here on the Rough Cs, and I expect you to keep your sisters reined in.”

Matty shoved the damp towel in her hands at his chest. “If you’re done listing your woes, I’ll go see to my sister now.” Without waiting for a response, she dashed from the room.

Jim tossed the wet rag onto the kitchen table, grimaced, and headed outside. He stood on the porch and looked over all of Lickwind’s residents. The savory smell of barbecue hung in the air, but Jim knew good and well the dishes the men wanted weren’t on the table. Lanky strutted along between Bess and Bertie, trying to skirt around the edge of the yard; but even then, they couldn’t go two steps without someone trying to waylay the women.

Jim had hated to leave Matty’s side for even one moment today, fearing all of the men would flock to her. The woman didn’t understand just how beguiling men found her. Just looking at her could make a man’s heart gallop, but the sound of her laughter—well, his heart just melted then. Jim wouldn’t allow it. No, he wouldn’t. She deserved far better than any man Lickwind had to offer.