Montana Bound: A Sweet Mail Order Bride Historical (Mail Order Bride Journeys Book 2) (6 page)

“You should be able to find a good man to marry out here.” Owen suggested, changing the subject off of himself. “Men outnumber women by huge numbers here. As soon as word gets out that there is a beautiful single woman staying with us, they’ll come knocking at the door to introduce themselves to you.”

I think I may have already found a good man.
Grace thought to herself. “And what about you? Do you ever plan to marry?” She asked, trying to sound like she was just making conversation.

“Actually, there is someone back home in Virginia that I promised that one day I would return for.” Owen answered.

Remembering the rumor that she had heard from Mrs. Metzger a few weeks earlier, Grace felt herself becoming tense, but tried not to let it show. Though she feared that his answer would confirm that the rumor was actually truth, she had to find out. “Why haven’t you gone back yet? Do you still intend to marry her?”

“I planned to, but when my brother-in-law came down with the fever and died, I couldn’t just abandon my sister. I’ve stayed to help her with the farm because she doesn’t want to leave and wants to hang on to it.”

Grace admired Owen’s loyalty to his family. It was a quality that she valued more than any other in a man. “So then you would have gone back already if it were not for your brother-in-law’s death?”

“I think so.” There was a bit of uncertainty in the way that Owen answered.

Grace was afraid to push for more detail, thinking that perhaps Owen didn’t want to talk about it. She decided to shift the subject, “Has your sister had any suitors?”

“She has had a few, but none of them have worked out. There are a lot of men out here, but most are not the type of man a woman would want to marry.” He answered, and then added, “But she does have a suitor now that she seems pretty interested in. You’ll get a chance to meet him soon, as he’ll be along for another visit soon.”

“Good! I look forward to it. And maybe you’ll be able to return home for your girlfriend soon then.” Grace tried her best to sound happy and encouraging, but inside she felt that she had once again had hope ripped away from her. It worried her. It wasn’t that she had fallen in love with him, but she was interested in him. It worried her that she should feel so drawn to Owen, so quickly.
Maybe it isn’t real. Maybe I am just getting desperate.

“Maybe we should be getting along soon.” Owen suggested. “If you are still wanting some of those apples, we better go pick them now.”

Grace nodded her assent, and Owen left to retrieve the horses. Once he returned with them in hand, they saddled up and rode across to the field to collect the apples that she needed. Then they took off again.

Grace wondered what it meant that Owen had not responded to her suggestion that he would be able to return to his girlfriend if Constance married soon.
Don’t assume it means anything other than that he doesn’t want to talk about it.
She tried to convince herself.
The rumor has a ring a truth to it now.

As they rode along, they suddenly came upon some wild flowers growing on a sunny knoll that they had just ridden upon. She commented on how beautiful they were, and without missing a beat Owen lept from his horse, and picked a few, which he then presented to her.

“A beautiful woman deserves to have beautiful flowers.” Owen said as he held them out to her, a proud grin spread across his face.

“Thank you, but you didn’t have to.” Grace said, confused that he would have even thought to have picked flowers for her after the conversation that they had a short time ago.
He tells me that he wants to marry someone else, and then gives me flowers? Can’t he tell how hurtful that is to me?

Owen hopped back into his saddle, looking satisfied, and they rode on. Grace didn’t talk too much on the rest of the ride home, though several times Owen attempted to engage her in conversation. Soon the homestead came into view, and arriving, Grace did not wait for Owen to come around to help her dismount. He looked surprised to find her on the ground as he approached. She handed him the reins to her horse, and spun on her heals without a word, her skirts flying up around her. She walked at a brisk pace toward the house, and didn’t respond when he called out to her, asking if he had done something.
How dense can a man be?

CHAPTER 7

What got under her bonnet?
Owen thought to himself, as he watched the door shut behind her. He thought they had just had a very enjoyable time, and he was really glad that he had the chance to get to know her better.
Women can be so fickle sometimes. Happy now, miserable later!

He just couldn’t shake the feeling. He knew he shouldn’t have it, he was already in love after all, but something about her caused him such confusion. He found himself wishing at times while on the ride, that he girlfriend would quit creeping into his thoughts because what he really wanted to do was to focus on Grace. That just made him feel guiltier. He thought accusingly of himself…
I shouldn’t even be thinking of another woman for a second. What kind of man does that make me?

He led the two horses to the barn and tied them both up outside their stalls. Grabbing two bags from hooks on the wall, he filled them with fresh hay and hung them over the stall doors so each horse had something to munch on while he brushed any burrs from their fur before they had the chance to work themselves in deeper. He then used a small metal pick to remove any rocks and debris from their hooves, and finally checked over each horse for any sign of injury or irritation.

Both looked fine, so he put them into their respective stalls and sat down on a bale of hay, leaned back against the wall and let out a sigh.
Why do women have to be so complicated?
He thought to himself as he recalled the day’s events. One moment Grace seemed on top of the world, the next she seemed as if she was upset with him for something.
Only I haven’t done anything
.

“I guess I should let it go. It doesn’t matter anyway.” He said in the direction of the horses. “I really shouldn’t care either way.”

“Care about what?” Owen turned and saw his sister standing in the open doorway to the barn.

“Oh nothing.” Owen swallowed. “It’s nothing.”

“Well it can’t be too much of nothing.” His sister said. “First Grace walks in with this distant look on her face and when I ask how the ride went, she says, ‘alright.’ And now I walk out here to find you talking to horses. What did you do?”

“Why do I have to have done something?” Owen did not like the accusatory tone. “I didn’t do nothin’ at all!”

“Well you must have done something. That girl left here in high spirits and returned in a sullen mood. And you don’t look any better than she does.”

“Look, I didn’t do nothin’. All we did was ride around the area and take a quick break over by the creek. Everything seemed fine until we started heading back. I think it’s just a woman thing.” Owen said, tired of the direction the conversation was heading. “What did you come out here for anyway?”

“Mainly just to check on you, but also to let you know that supper is already ready.”

“Wow! It’s that late already? I didn’t realize.” Owen scratched his head, wondering how so much time could have passed already.

“Well you two were gone for a really long time. I was starting to think I better go look for you.” His sister answered with a disapproving tone.

“We just lost track of time. Anyway, I’ll be in shortly.” Owen got up and began to gather all the tack that they had used for the ride, and put them away. His sister left without another word, leaving him to his thoughts.
So she
is
upset with me. What possibly could I have done?

***

November 2, 1896

Grace sensed the change in Owen. Since that day the two of them had gone on the trail ride, two weeks had passed, and the two of them had spoken nary a word to each other except for simply pleasantries out of politeness. The tension was heavy, and she was confused by it.
Why should there be tension at all?
We are only friends, and he has a girlfriend back home that he loves.

Deep down, she found that she still yearned for him. He would walk into the room, and she would feel her mood pick up. If they made eye contact, her heart would flutter. On those, now rare occasions, that he would spend more than a few minutes in conversation with her, she would positively flush.

This morning there was a bit of excitement in the air. Word had reached them that Constance’s boyfriend was expecting to arrive in town, and would be stopping by. He lived about a day’s ride north of the house, and didn’t often get the chance to travel down to visit, but when he did he would usually stick around for a few days.

Grace had overheard Owen and his sister talking about her boyfriend’s arrival, and both felt that if he planned to propose it would be this visit. With winter quickly approaching, he would not have too many more opportunities to propose, and he would want to have enough time to prepare for a wedding and to move in together before the weather took a turn for the worse.

“Good morning.” Grace was startled by Owen’s voice behind her. He rarely was quiet enough getting out of bed that she wasn’t aware of his being awake long before he emerged from the loft.

“Good morning Owen. Sleep well?” Grace asked with a warm grin.

“Yes, as a matter of fact. Like a baby.” Owen answered and then sat down at the table across from Grace. “My sister isn’t up yet?”

Grace stood, walked into the kitchen, and retrieved a mug from the cupboard. After pouring a cup of coffee, she returned and handed it to Owen, and then sat down. “Haven’t seen or heard anything from her yet.”

“Thank you.” Owen said as he lifted the mug to his lips. “That is surprising. I thought she’d be the first one up since Walter is stopping by today.”

“I know! She is really nervous about is visit. I tried to tell her to let happen what happens, and not to worry about the rest. If it’s meant to be, then there is nothing that could stand in the way.” Grace said, her thoughts moving toward the awkward relationship that she and Owen had developed for a moment, then she pushed it out of her mind and refocused on Constance.

“You are right.” Owen looked as if he might have more to say, but stopped himself short.

As the two of them sat in silence, Grace found herself yearning to hear him talk, and wondering what had happened and why he had suddenly taken to such an aversion to her. She didn’t ask though, and instead reminded herself, as she always did, that it was for the best anyway. She really could not open herself to him and even hint to him that she might be interested in him. He was in love with another, and that would only spell disaster for her. She was glad that there would soon be another face in the crowd, maybe she and Owen wouldn’t have this many uncomfortable moments alone together.

Grace was thankful when she heard the door open to Constance’s room. She looked up and saw her emerge from the hallway still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Why didn’t you guys wake me up?”

“I figured you wanted your beauty sleep, big sis.” Owen said with a chuckle.

“What I needed was to get up hours ago to get everything ready around here. I want everything to be perfect.” Grace answered unimpressed with her brother’s humorous take on the situation.

“I’ll help you any way that I can. The place will look great.” Grace offered. “Just point me in the right direction.”

Constance didn’t seem to hear Grace, as she began to run a broom across the already very clean looking floor with a frantic effort.

“Relax sis! The house looks great already. Ever since Miss Russell moved in and took some of the pressure off of you, I don’t think that the house could look any better.”

Grace blushed, and then got up and retrieved a rag from the kitchen started wiping down the kitchen counters, which also didn’t have a spot on them. “Now Owen, the house needs to be at its best. I’m sure that you’d feel the same if your gal from back east was expected to arrive today.”

It was the first time that Owen’s girlfriend had been mentioned by either of them since the day of the trail ride. Grace noticed the color leave Owen’s face in an instant, and his smile just as quickly turn into a frown.

“That’s true. I would want it to be perfect.” Owen said, his entire mood suddenly very somber.

Constance had walked out the front door to sweep off the porch and missed the exchange. Upon coming back in she noticed her brother’s sudden change of mood. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I’m sorry that I mentioned her, Owen.” Grace interjected. “I know that you miss her.”

“It’s not that. I mean it is, but it ain’t.” Owen swallowed hard. “I just don’t want to talk about it, if that’s ok.”

“Did you she write you back?” Constance asked, ignoring her brothers desire to end the conversation. “Did she say something?”

“I told you I didn’t want to talk about it.” Owen said more loudly than before, his patience growing thin. “But if you have to know, I haven’t heard anything back from her. But that is not what’s bothering me, and I think you know that.” With that said, he slipped into his boots and went out the front door.

Grace had not known that he had written to his girlfriend.
It’s none of my business anyway.
She thought, but still found herself filled with curiosity and felt guilty for having mentioned the girl to him. She kicked herself for doing that.

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to upset him. I only mentioned his girlfriend in passing.” Grace said, her stomach in knots.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not your fault.” Constance said.

“I just didn’t realize it would upset him.”

“What exactly did you say?”

“I just said that he would want the house to be perfect, also, if she were showing up today.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong. He is just upset because he is conflicted, and he was hoping to hear back from her by now, hoping that would help set his mind at ease.”

Grace felt confused.
What could he be so conflicted about? He loves her.

Clearing a lump from her throat, she hesitated before asking, unsure if she really wanted to know the answer. “So he wrote to her then?”

“Yes, the day after your trail ride. I’m not sure what he said in the letter since I didn’t read it, but he told me that he was going to put the thought out there to her that he might be able to return since you are here. He wants to find out how she feels about that.”

“Is there any doubt about how she feels about it?” Grace tried not to show her optimism about the chances that the girl might not feel the same about Owen as he feels about her. “They love each other, right?”

Constance stopped the house work that she was doing and turned her attention squarely on Grace. “They were a couple before we left for Montana. They’ve known each other for a long time, and I know that she would have married him in a heartbeat had they both been just a little older. But time and distance can change a person.”

“So he has doubts that she still loves him then.” Grace said, only vaguely aware that her thoughts had become spoken words. Inside, she felt guilty for feeling good about another person’s interior turmoil, but she couldn’t help herself.

“Actually, no.”

Constance’s blunt response instantly brought Grace back to reality and she chastised herself yet again for desiring someone so strongly, that she knew she could never have. She wished that she had never started this conversation.

“Listen Grace,” Constance said, interrupting her thoughts. “I have known my brother for a long time and I have never broke his confidence before, but I can tell you are hurting.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Grace asked, almost afraid of what might be coming next. “I’m not hurting. Why would you say that?”

“Oh come on, Grace.” Constance gave Grace a consoling look as she spoke. “We are both women, and we pick up on these things. I know that you have fallen for my brother.”

Grace was shocked at her words.
Have I been so obvious?
She thought. She struggled to figure out how to respond, but came up with nothing.

“There is no use denying it, Grace. It is obvious in the way you hang on his every word, and your eyes give it away every time he walks into the room.”

“Fine, I’ll admit it. But I’ve done everything that I can to stifle my feelings ever since I found out about her. You have to believe that. I hope I haven’t done anything to be the cause of his confliction unknowingly.”

“I do believe you.” Constance said. “Look, it’s not my place to say, and like I said before, I’ve never violated a confidence with my brother before, but you may not intend to be a source of confliction for him, but you are.”

“Oh my.” Grace had a million thoughts running through her mind. “He told you that he is conflicted because of me? I’ve tried very hard to hide my feelings. I really don’t want to be a point of confliction for him, and to be honest, I am not eager to get my heart broken either.”

“It’s not your fault. You see, he told me that he had never had a moment of doubt about how he feels about his girlfriend until that day that you first showed up. He said that every day he is around you his doubts grow, and it has been worse for him ever since the trail ride. He wrote to her because he was hoping that hearing from her would put to rest the doubts that he is having, but he still has not heard back from her.”