ROMANCE: BIKER ROMANCE: Werewolf Rider (MC Shifter Pregnancy Romance) (New Adult Paranormal Romance Short Stories) (133 page)

              Still, Daisy made no complaint. She followed Austen into the church as her resolve firmly cemented itself in the choice she had made. There was no time for doubts and no turning back now.

“Hello Austen,” a soft voice greeted as they entered the church.

Daisy looked to her side to find a tiny little nun with an aged face and youthful eyes. She turned her gaze on Daisy and her smile grew wider. “Is this your long awaited bride Austen?”

“Yes,” Austen replied. “This is Daisy.”

“Daisy,” she repeated. “I am Sister Agatha. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“And you,” Daisy said awkwardly, trying to straighten her skirts.

“When did you arrive?” sister Agatha asked.

“Just now,” Austen answered before she could.

“Austen,” Sister Agatha’s tone was gently chiding. “The girl hasn’t even had time to rest.”

“I want to get home before it gets dark,” Austen replied bluntly.

Sister Agatha shook her head at him. “There’s plenty of time. You wait out here. I’ll have your bride freshened up and ready for a wedding in no time.”

              To her surprise, Austen didn’t argue. He sat down in one of the back pews as Sister Agatha gestured for Daisy to follow her. The little nun led her to a small back room that was complete with a water basin.

“Why don’t you clean yourself off my child,” Sister Agatha said. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

              Daisy smiled gratefully and went into the room. She stripped off her outer garments and using the rough cloth by the water basin, she scrubbed her hands, legs and face clean and instantly, she felt better. She looked through the dresses she had brought with her, realizing that none were fit for a formal occasion. Unconcerned, Daisy chose a thick grey dress with a cream bodice that was the closest thing to presentable she could find.

              She checked her reflection in the mirror. Scrubbing her face had made a significant difference. She gathered her hair up and wound it around in a loose bun at the back of her head. A few careless crimson strands hung loose around her face. At that moment, Sister Agatha walked in.

              “Ah, now that’s better,” she exclaimed as she looked at Daisy. “Much better. I brought you some white flowers from the consistory garden. We had enough for a small bouquet and the remainder we can wind them around in your hair.”

“Oh thank you sister,” Diana said. “But I don’t think I’ll be needing the flowers.”

              The nun ignored her as she stood on her tiptoes to pin the flowers to Daisy’s hair. Resigning herself, Daisy bent down a little until Sister Agatha was done.

“There, you’re ready.”

              As they reached the little chapel, Daisy started to feel her heart rate race upwards. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that there was no turning back. Then she started walking towards her new future.

Chapter Four

              The land stretched out before her like an empty canvas of dark browns, violent oranges and steely umbers. There was beauty there, but it was a different kind of beauty, one that was harsh, severe and intoxicating in its barrenness.

              Daisy could see the mammoth mountain range soar up above her like a living thing. Everything in its path was encased in shadow, including the sprawling ranch that sat right at its feet. Right in front of the simple little manor was an enclosure that sported one dapple-grey horse.

“How many horses do you have?” Daisy asked searching for others.

“Just the two,” Austen replied.

“Only?”

“I sold the rest of them earlier this year,” Austen replied bluntly.

Daisy nodded, sensing an edge to his tone. “Do they have names?” she asked keeping her tone light.

“This one here’s Bodie,” Austen replied. “And the mare in the pen is Shelly.”

“Are they the only animals you have?”

“Yes,” Austen replied. “We used to have a dog though.”

              Daisy had to crane her neck, but she could still see only part of his face. He spoke without much expression and that made it hard for Daisy to read him. There was a small part of her that was relieved. His personality made it abundantly clear what was expected of her. Daisy had no doubt that they would share the strange marriage that Austen had described in his ad.

              Daisy got out of the buggy without difficulty and watched as Austen removed the saddle and bridle from around Bodie’s mouth, allowing him to enter the pen with the graceful mare. He worked slowly but precisely and Daisy couldn’t help notice how gentle his large and callused hands were. She followed him into the little cottage manor without a word.

              Daisy could imagine how beautiful it might have looked in its early years, when age and neglect hadn’t taken its toll. As it stood, everything had been thrown into disarray. It was certainly the home of a bachelor, Daisy thought as she walked through the rooms of the house. At the kitchen, she stopped waiting for Austen to show her to her room. He stood by the door, looking awkward and uncertain.

“I’d really appreciate a lie down,” Daisy said. “I’ve been travelling forever and my bones need a rest.”

He nodded. “Yes. Follow me.”

              The room was roomier than Daisy had expected. There was a double bed pushed to one corner that lay just underneath a large window that overlooked the red-brown mountains of Nevada. There was a chest of drawers to one side of the room and a large, oval mirror that hung over a dressing table in the other corner. The walls of her room were a soft, pastel blue that made her feel strangely lighter. It was nothing like the rest of the house. In fact, it was clean and orderly. Daisy realized that Austen must have got the room ready for her and she felt an instant rush of gratitude that she had not expected to feel.

“This is lovely,” Daisy said honestly.

              She turned, but Austen was nowhere in sight. He must have abandoned her after she had crossed the threshold. Unable to suppress her smile, Daisy closed the door and collapsed into her new bed. It was thin and hard but she had a feeling it would bring her good dreams. She felt a sense of calm settle over her as she let her new reality sink in. She was no longer a prisoner to her father’s every whim and command. She was a free woman who was embarking on a new journey.

              The freedom engulfed her and she let herself enjoy the moment. It was a heady feeling, the knowledge that she would never have to see Blake Adams for the rest of her life. The last few words struck an internal cord and Daisy looked down at her left hand. The ring there was plain and silver and strangely, it felt heavy on her finger. Daisy sat up and stared at it trying to process the enormity of the decision she had just made. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a noise from outside her window.

              Daisy rose and peeked outside. She saw Austen appear on the periphery with both horses walking behind him. He began brushing down both horses and tending to them with a sensitivity that caught her unawares. She watched as he started talking to the horses. From her distance she couldn’t understand what he was saying. All she knew was that his words came easier around Bodie and Shelly than anyone else. Daisy watched him for a long time and she came no closer to figuring him out.

“Strange man,” Daisy whispered to herself, but then, she conceded, she was plenty strange herself.

Chapter Five

              The next day, Daisy woke up feeling refreshed and well rested. She hadn’t slept so well since she was a little girl and her endless optimism had led her to believe that it was possible her life would change for the better. It took her a moment to remember where she was and when she did, another wave of relief sped through her. Just under its heels however, there was a small nugget of worry and doubt.

              She had committed her entire life to a man who was a complete stranger to her, but their relationship was more complicated than just that. They were not the typical married couple, which led Daisy to wonder exactly what kind of couple they were. Legally they were tied together, but according to Austen’s ad that bond didn’t extend to a physical relationship or apparently an emotional one. Daisy was fine with that, marriage had never been a priority for her but she just wanted to make sure that she had understood the boundaries of their unusual partnership.

              She dressed and walked outside. The house had been cast in rays of orange-gold light that was streaming in from its many open windows. Daisy walked through the space, examining all the rooms and crevices trying to determine what needed to be done in order to make the house more livable. That was when it struck her. The house with the exception of her room, looked as though it had been recently abandoned. There was nothing to suggest that anyone was living there.

              After she had been around the house once, Daisy realized that Austen was nowhere to be found. She went outside to see that both horses were missing. Immediately, Daisy set to work. She found a small, dust filled cupboard that held a soap bucket, a broom, a brush and a mop. She started with the kitchen considering that was where she would need to prepare meals. Within an hour she had the kitchen gleaming. She sorted through the cupboards and found an assortment of different foods, some of which she was forced to throw out.

              Then she cut up the usable vegetables and put a pot on the fire to make a stew. While her stew was brewing and everything in the kitchen was organized she moved into the living room and started working with single-minded purpose. She was so engrossed in her task that she didn’t even hear Austen enter the room. She turned to start sweeping and almost did a double take when she saw him standing there in the threshold of the door.

“Dear Lord,” Daisy exclaimed. “I didn’t see you there.”

Austen said nothing; his eyes scanned the room as though he were seeing it for the first time. “You’re cleaning,” he said unnecessarily.

“Well… I thought it needed some tidying,” she said.

              Daisy had always been a good judge of character. She had watched all manner of men traipse in and out of her father’s saloon and that had given her keen insight into the male psyche. So it made her uncomfortable to realize that she wasn’t able to read Austen. Even now, she could not discern if he was impressed by the transformation she had made of his house in such a short span of time or if he was irritated by it.

“I made some stew for lunch,” Daisy said.

Austen dipped his head down in reply.

“I’m almost finished here, we can sit down to eat soon,” Daisy went on.

“Alright,” was all Austen said before he moved into the kitchen.

              A few moments later, Daisy joined him there. Her stew was almost done so she got out two bowls and some wooden spoons. She saw Austen retrieve some bread from a cupboard in the corner that she had overlooked. He set it down on the table and sat down. A moment later, Daisy joined him. They spent the first few minutes of their meal in silence, with Daisy shooting calculated glances in his direction. She had to admit that he had a lovely face, but there was something about him.

              The lines of his face were calm, almost serene, but there was something lying just beneath the surface, an expression that was contained underneath a mask of emotionlessness. His blue eyes made his face somehow brighter and the dark brown of his hair complimented its brightness. 

“Austen?” she said tentatively, breaking the silence.

“Yes?”

“I have a few questions.”

His brow furrowed slightly. “About?”

“Well… my duties around here,” Daisy replied. “Your ad stated that hard work was required.”

“It is,” Austen nodded. “I need someone to help work my land, look after the house and the horses now and again. You will not be alone, I will help in everything but…”

“I understand,” Daisy nodded. “There is a lot to do around here.”

“There is,” Austen replied. “Are you… ready for it?”

              Daisy smiled. “I grew up working under the whip of a hot tempered gambler for a father and a saloon full of drunks. I know what hard work looks like and I’m happy to do anything that doesn’t involve me having to sacrifice my pride or dignity.”

“Well that at least I can promise you,” Austen said.

Daisy nodded. “Thank you for getting my room ready,” she said.

He looked down as though he was embarrassed. “You’re welcome.”

“Your land is beautiful,” Daisy said changing the subject.

“It’s been in my family for three generations,” Austen replied.

Daisy sensed a tiny kernel of pride beneath his tone, but it was so subtle she almost missed it. “I let you sleep in this morning,” Austen said. “But I’ll need you to be up at five o’clock each morning.”

“Daisy bristled slightly. “You could have woken me up today as well.”

“You had a long journey,” he said shortly, putting an end to the conversation as he rose from his seat.

“Where are you going?” Daisy asked.

He seemed surprised by the question. “I need to tend the horses.”