The Unexpected Bride (9 page)

What a sweet man he was to think of her comfort.

A tug on each end of her shawl, and she managed to pull it closer to her. She had not noticed the chill until his warm hands had touched her. “Thank you.” Her heart melted at his thoughtfulness.

“You’re welcome.”

Rainee waited for him to leave, but he did not. He stood there, staring up at the stars.

What an enigma this man had turned out to be. There were times when he was kind to her, times when he barely spoke to her, times when his gaze was soft and others when he looked at her as if he were deathly afraid of her or even outright angry with her.

She could not blame him for his actions or even for his behavior. Though they saddened her, she must not allow the sadness to work its way into her heart. She must accept the fact she had to find another suitable husband. That was best for all involved. Still, this moment, standing here under the stars was not to be wasted, even though it could not last. “Is it always this beautiful out here?”

“Nope. Sometimes it’s even better.”

“Better than this?”

“Doesn’t seem possible, does it?”

“No.”

A comfortable silence stretched between them as they continued to gaze at the sky. This place might be in the middle of nowhere, but it was truly extraordinary.

“Is it always this peaceful?” She had not experienced this kind of serenity in a very long time.

He looked down at her. Their eyes connected, searching and probing and her heart responded with a flip.

He turned his head upward again. “Most of the time.”

Most of the time, as in, before she arrived?

“I never tire of the night sky.” Reverence floated through his voice.

“Nor do I.”

“I can’t believe God took the trouble to place the stars into various shapes. Like the Big Dipper.” He pointed
to it, and she followed the direction of his finger until it landed on the pattern of those stars.

“And the Little Dipper,” she said. “Slaves used the Little Dipper and the Big Dipper to point to the North Star. They even sang a song about them…‘Follow the Drinking Gourd.’”

“I’ve never heard that before. Did your family have slaves?”

Rainee tensed. If only she could avoid answering everyone’s questions about her family until she wed, then she would be free from her brother’s controlling clutches. “Before the war my parents had slaves, but they did not treat them cruelly. And after the war ended, they gave them the option to leave or to stay on with a small wage and room and board. How about you? Did you have slaves?”

“No, my parents did not believe in slavery. We had hired servants.”

“Is it hard not having servants here?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Does your mother mind not having servants to help her?”

“Nope. She loves to cook and clean. She said it’s better than sitting around all day doing nothing.”

Rainee agreed.

“I’ve offered to hire her some help many times, but she won’t hear of it. It really bothers me watching her work as hard as she does. But she keeps telling me she loves it, and says that if she ever feels it’s becoming too much for her she’ll let me know so I can hire someone to help her. Speaking of help…” He glanced over at Rainee. “I really appreciate you helping my mother with the baking and cooking. Thank you.”

“You are most welcome. I was delighted to do it.”

Haydon looked away and the only sounds to be heard were a chorus of frogs and insects. Moments later, Haydon heaved a heavy sigh. “Well, it’s getting late and I have to get up early. Let me walk you to the house.”

They turned and headed back to the main house.

He opened the door for her.

She slipped past him and then turned. “Good night, Haydon.”

“Good night, Rainee.”

She closed the door and watched his retreating form until he faded into the darkness beyond, like the moon and stars on a cloud-covered evening. Men were complex creatures. And he was the most complex of all. She had no idea what to expect next with him. In a way that was pleasant and in another way, frightening. Too bad she could not stay long enough to sort it all out.

“N
ow, where is he?” Since his father’s death, brother problems seemed to follow Haydon around the ranch like persistent yapping dogs. Between Jess and Micheal, Haydon wondered if he would ever have a moment’s peace again.

Haydon checked inside the barn and the woodshed. Chickens flapped their wings, squawking and scattering as he trudged his way through the coop. Inside the filthy pen, the stench assaulted his nose. Frustrated and aggravated the hens and rooster hadn’t been fed yet and the eggs hadn’t been gathered either, he stomped out of the pen and panned the area for Rainee, knowing Michael would most likely be found in close proximity to her.

Since that night under the stars, he had made it a point to be polite to her, but he had also done his best to avoid her whenever possible. Those few moments felt far too good to him. She radiated a quiet softness by starlight that drew him to her.

Haydon continued looking for his brother and Rainee but didn’t see either of them anywhere. He jerked his hat off and raked his fingers through his hair, then slammed
his hat back in place. Ever since Rainee’s arrival three weeks ago, Michael had slacked on his chores, and the animals were suffering because of it.

Haydon’s boots collided with the hard-packed ground as he made his way across the yard. Hearing voices, he thundered around the backside of the house.

Just like he knew it would be, there stood Michael, handing clothespins to Rainee as she hung sheets up on the line strung from one tree to another. His brother could help her, but he couldn’t manage to get his own chores finished.

“Michael.” He didn’t care if anger rolled out of him.

Their laughter and chatter stopped.

“What?” Michael turned disgusted eyes onto Haydon.

Rainee yanked her gaze at him and then at Michael. She put her back to Haydon. Dressed in a light blue dress and matching bonnet, she snatched a sheet from the laundry basket, shook it out and tossed it over the clothesline.

“I need to talk to you.”

“Anything you say, you can say here.” Michael knew Haydon normally dealt with matters privately so as to not embarrass anyone. Only it wasn’t embarrassment reddening Michael’s cheeks—it was anger. Shock rippled through Haydon. Michael had never rebelled against his orders before. Father informed his family if anything happened to him Haydon was in charge and they were to do whatever he said. And Michael had…until Rainee showed up.

“Did you forget to feed the chickens and gather the eggs again?”

“Why do I have to do it? Leah can gather the eggs.”

Haydon couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
Lord, help me out here.
“Because that’s your job.”

“Not anymore.” Michael puffed his chest out and separated his feet.

Rainee snatched up the empty basket and scurried around them. She fled toward the back door without a backward glance. Haydon didn’t blame her. This was about to get ugly. He ground his teeth in frustration. Once again he was left to clean up the aftermath of one of Jesse’s schemes.

“When was the last time you cleaned the coop?”

“I cleaned it yesterday.”

This whole mess was getting worse by the minute. His brother had never been one to lie before, and here Michael was, doing just that. “That coop hasn’t been cleaned for quite some time. You need to go do it, and do it right.”

Michael didn’t move or say a word. He just stared at Haydon as if he didn’t care, daring him to call him on his lie.

Haydon opted to try a different tactic. “Michael, Jesse did not invite Rainee here for you to follow around like a lovesick bull. She is a guest in Mother’s house and you need to treat her as such.”

“I’m not doing anything wrong. I like Rainee.” Michael darted a quick glance at Haydon. “And I think she likes me. Besides, you aren’t my father. I don’t have to do what you say.”

Haydon sighed, and his chest constricted. He had wondered when this day would come.
Dear Lord, I’m in way over my head here. Give me wisdom beyond my understanding in how to deal with this.

“You’re right, Michael. I’m not Father, and I wish he were here to handle this. He would know just what to
say to you, and you would do it. But he isn’t, and I am.” He ran his hand down his face. “I know I can’t make you do anything, but I’m asking you to get your chores done to help out around here. I can’t run this place without your help. And as for Rainee, you’re right. She does like you.”

Michael’s face brightened.

“But not the way you think. She doesn’t look at you the way a woman does when she has romantic feelings for a man.”

“What do you mean?”

“Does she look at you with stars in her eyes?”

Michael shook his head.

“Does she touch your arm and smile tenderly at you? Hang on to your every word?”

Michael’s gaze dropped to the ground, and he shook his head. “No.”

Haydon didn’t know what else to say, so he remained quiet.

“Sorry I haven’t been doing my chores. I’ll go do them now.” Michael walked a few steps before he stopped and turned. “Thanks, Haydon. I’m sorry about what I said. You’re the closest thing to a father I have. I won’t give you a hard time anymore.”

“Thanks, Michael. That means a lot to me.”

He watched his brother head to the chicken pen. Pride welled in his chest. Today, his brother had taken a step down the path to becoming a man. That thought made him sad and happy at the same time.

Haydon headed toward the barn. Inside, he grabbed the pitchfork and forked hay into the horses’ stalls. With each toss, the tension of the morning lifted.

Dust danced at his feet and blades of hay floated like big raindrops from the pitchfork.

One major problem created by Jess’s stupidity had been solved. Only one remained—what to do about Rainee. The little woman aroused feelings in him he never wanted to feel again. So before he did anything stupid, like give into those feelings, he wanted her to leave.

But where would she go? Who would take care of her? The guy she had mailed the letter to? Had she heard back from him? Haydon’s head started to hurt, and the muscle in his neck ached as the tension returned. None of this was his problem, but he couldn’t ignore it. After all, she was a person who needed help. And that he couldn’t ignore. He jammed the pitchfork into the hay, trying to take his frustrations out on the dried grass.

“Mornin’.”

Haydon’s pitchfork hit the top board of the stall with a thud.

“How you doing, Haydon?”

“How do you think I’m doing?” he grunted his reply and stepped over to the next stall. He started tossing hay into it, hoping Jesse would take the hint and leave him alone. But knowing how stubborn his brother could be, he knew that wasn’t likely to happen.

“Look. Are you ever going to forgive me? I said I was sorry. What more do you want from me?”

“What more do I want?” Haydon reeled around. “I’ll tell you what I want. I want you to take care of the mess your careless thinking created. I want you to get that woman out of here so things can get back to normal. That’s what I want.”

A loud gasp near the barn door snapped Haydon’s attention in that direction.

Rainee stood in the doorway with her hand over her
mouth, blinking wide eyes at him. The moment froze around him, and then she whirled and fled from the barn.

“Feel better now?” Jesse shot a look of disdain at Haydon coupled with a quick shake of his head, then bolted after her. “Rainee, wait!”

Haydon closed his eyes and let his head drop backward. He stared at the ceiling as disgust with himself drizzled over him like the particles of swirling barn dust.
“You’re a poor excuse of a man.”
Melanie’s words pierced his soul for the millionth time since she’d first said them. She was right. He was a poor excuse for a man. No real man treated a woman that way even if he thought she was out of earshot.

But then again, he hadn’t done it on purpose. How was he supposed to know she was standing there? He hadn’t heard her come in. Still, right was right and wrong was wrong. And he was wrong. Although he would love nothing more than to have Jesse deal with this, he knew he needed to go and apologize to her himself. He had been the one who hurt her.

“I’m so sorry, Rainee. I’m sure Haydon didn’t mean it.”

Without any resistance, Rainee let Jesse guide her toward his house. Sadness pulled her into its embrace, numbing her mind and heart. To actually hear Haydon say he still did not want her here hurt more than it should have.

Though he had already made that perfectly clear, she had held out hope over the past three weeks, praying that maybe he was starting to change his mind because she had seen the looks he had given her when he thought she was not looking, and she had thought she
knew what they meant. Obviously, she was very wrong. It was clear he had not changed his mind about her.

The stairs groaned as they made their way up them. Jesse opened the door for her and she preceded him inside.

Hannah stepped through the bedroom door and her eyes widened. She waddled over to them like a baby duckling hurrying to keep up with her mother. Her gaze slanted between the two of them. “What’s the matter?”

“Haydon is what’s the matter.”

Rainee caught the frustration in Jesse’s voice.

“I know he’s my brother and all, but sometimes the man needs to think past his own selfishness.”

Hannah’s forehead wrinkled. “What did he do now?” She placed her arm around Rainee and led her to a simple tan-and-blue Victorian settee.

“I’ll get some tea and then leave you two ladies alone.”

Rainee did not miss the look of understanding that passed between them.

Hannah reached into the pocket of her dull gray apron and pulled out a clean, folded hanky. She pressed it into Rainee’s hand. Rainee wiped her eyes and nose.

“Here you go.” Jesse handed them each a cup and saucer filled with a pale yellow brew.

He leaned over and kissed his wife’s cheek. When he rose, he looked down at Rainee with compassion. “Don’t let what Haydon said get to you, Rainee. I know he didn’t mean it. He’s not a cruel man. He’s just— I’m sorry.” He shrugged, then gave a small smile before he stepped outside.

Just what? She wanted to scream at him to complete his sentence. The need to know what Jesse had been
about to say pressed in on her, but he obviously did not want to finish whatever it was.

With a weighty sigh of acceptance, she took a sip of the weak tea and set the cup back in the saucer.

“Now tell me, what did Haydon do to upset you?” Hannah’s soft brown eyes blinked with concern.

Rainee looked down at her lap and ran her fingers over the hanky, folding and refolding it. “He said he wanted me out of here and for things to be back to normal.”

“Well, I never. Wait until I get a hold of that man.” Hannah started to rise, but Rainee put her hand on top of her arm.

“Please, Hannah, do not. He is right. I must away. My presence here obviously causes him great distress. And he should not have to feel that way in his own home. Besides, there is another gentleman who answered my advertisement and I—”

Hannah interrupted her. “You’re not going anywhere, Rainee. Ever since—” Hannah stopped abruptly. “Never mind that. You can move in here with Jesse and me. If Haydon doesn’t like it, well, too bad. This is our ranch, too.”

Rainee did not wish to cause any more trouble in this family. She had caused quite enough already.

Her Aunt Lena was right when she did not want to get involved with Rainee’s troubles. These people should not have to either. If only she would have thought of that before she had posted the advertisement.

Her heart stung at the thought that she should have just graciously accepted her fate at the hands of her brother and Mr. Alexander. A shudder ran through her spine. At least then, these good people would not be made to suffer as well. “Thank you, Hannah, for your
generous offer, but I cannot accept it. I expect a post any day now from Mr. Bettes.”

“Mr. Bettes. Who’s that?”

“The gentleman I told you about. The other man who responded to my advertisement with whom I felt comfortable contacting. He is a Christian, and he did not sound as terrible as some of them.” She shivered at the memory of some of the contemptible letters she had received.

“Rainee, I don’t want you to go. I’ve enjoyed our visits. Besides, I have a feeling about you and Haydon.”

The smile came very close to touching her heart. “I, too, have enjoyed our visits, Hannah, but truly, it is clear I must take my leave. I came here to get married. And it is quite obvious that is not going to happen. So I must away as soon as possible. Haydon does not want me here. And I shall not stay where I am not welcome.”

Haydon tossed his pitchfork into a pile of loose hay and headed out into the bright sunshine, which was the complete opposite of his mood. He needed to find Rainee and apologize.

When he stepped onto Jesse’s porch, through the open window he heard Rainee say she would not stay where she was not welcome. He felt horrible. Without hesitating, he opened the door without knocking. “You don’t need to go anywhere, Rainee.”

Both of the ladies’ attention swiveled to him standing in the doorway.

“Haydon Bowen, how dare you barge in here?” Hannah rose, but he held up his hand to silence her.

“I’m sorry, Hannah. But I—” He glanced over to Rainee, embarrassment shrouded her face.

She immediately looked down at her lap, and remorse for his behavior punched his gut.

“Rainee. Can we talk?”

She raised her head and tilted her chin. “I do not believe there is anything to talk about, sir.” She rose with the grace of a queen. “Now, if you will excuse me. I have things I must attend to.” She faced Hannah. “Thank you, Hannah, for the tea and for your most gracious offer.” Shoulders squared, she glided toward him and brushed his shoulder on the way out the door.

He turned to follow her, but Hannah grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. He looked down at her hand and then at her face.

Fury shot from her big brown eyes. “Don’t you dare hurt that woman, Haydon Bowen. You have no idea what she’s been through.”