Читать книгу The Marriage Bargain - Angel Moore - Страница 13
ОглавлениеEdward tossed his dirty clothes into a pile by the bedroom door. His cabin wasn’t grand, but it wasn’t small. If he’d built it himself, it would not have had two bedrooms, but the house was part of the deal when he’d bought his blacksmith shop from the previous owner. As soon as he was old enough, he’d moved out on his own to escape the stepmother his father had brought home shortly after his dear mother had died. She’d given no affection to him or Jane. Time and again he’d wished his father had never married her. Finding work as an apprentice to the town blacksmith had given him a purpose and place in life.
Eventually he’d nurtured a vague hope of one day having a family of his own. But over the years, he’d found it safer to retreat alone at night into the sanctuary of his home. His mistrust of women in general was based on years of watching his father’s wife take advantage of his father. Her sweet facade had quickly faded after she’d convinced his father to marry her. She’d never truly loved him and had been horrid to Edward and Jane. Nothing they did was ever good enough for her. She’d settled into their home as mistress and ordered them about in her aloof manner, as though she felt them beneath her care or attention. Jane had been too young when she married, but until Wesley had whisked her away to Santa Fe, Edward had thought it was for the best.
Edward stripped the linens from the bed and added them to the pile by the door. A small crate from the back porch would suffice for his personal items. He put his shaving cup and brush in and then tossed in the small mirror from the top of his chest of drawers. He pulled a rag from his back pocket and took a swipe at the dust on top of the furniture.
Backing up in the doorway, he took a last look around. Not what he’d have done in normal circumstances for bringing home a wife, but it was the best he could manage in the half hour she’d allotted him. He stowed the small crate in a corner near the stove and gathered up the laundry. He tossed it onto the workbench on the back porch and headed back into the front room.
A light rapping sounded on the door, and his breath caught. He was doing this for Ellen. She needed a mother. Life might be upside down, but that little girl would always have a home with him.
He lifted the latch on the door and pulled it open. Lily stood in the street at the bottom of the porch steps. She must have knocked and backed as far away as she could.
He dragged his palms down the sides of his pants. “Hi.”
Pink color soaked into Lily’s cheeks. She really was a beautiful lady. At this moment, she must be just as nervous as he was. “Hello.”
Edward stepped through the doorway. “Did you get everything packed?”
“Everything I’ll need until we can move the furniture.” She didn’t look at him.
He reached inside the cabin and took his hat from the peg by the door. “Okay. I’ll go get everything, then.” He pushed the hat onto his head and walked down the porch steps.
She hesitated. “Would you mind if I took a look inside first?”
“Inside the cabin?”
“Yes. I want to see how much space there is, so I can decide what to bring and what to leave behind.”
“Oh.” He took the hat off again. “That makes sense.” He shrugged his shoulders and lifted an arm to invite her up the steps. He heard a thump and turned to see the door of the livery open. Jim Robbins stood in front of his place and made no effort to hide his interest in the goings-on at Edward’s house. Edward turned and looked up the street. Mrs. Winters was sweeping the sidewalk in front of the post office. He pivoted and saw Will Thomas in the doorway of the lumber mill.
Edward put his hat back on and took Lily by the elbow. “It seems we’re being watched.”
She followed his gaze and saw the obvious interest their neighbors were showing. She giggled like a schoolgirl. It was a light sound, like water over rocks in a stream in summertime. “You’d think there was a fire or something.”
He chuckled. “One would think so.”
“What should we do? Wave? Or ignore them.”
He drew in a breath. “Do you trust me?”
“I believe I’ve proved that already. After all, I did marry you less than an hour ago.”
Mr. Croft walked by on the street and tipped his hat. He made a show of greeting Mr. Robbins when he arrived at the livery.
Edward leaned in close. “What goes on here will affect us all. How well your business does, and how well our marriage is accepted. All of it could have consequences for us and for Ellen.”
Lily looked over his shoulder and nodded. “I’d say this town is very interested in us at the moment. I hope it will fade in time. Quickly, would be my preference.”
“Then I say we do our part to keep the busybodies from having anything to talk about.”
“How do you propose to do that?”
“By living the part of a normal married couple.”
Lily’s eyes grew wide.
He gave her elbow a slight squeeze. “What I meant to say is if we give every indication of being a normal married couple, when we’re outside the cabin, no one looking will have any reason to question our relationship. The best way for them to concentrate on someone else is for there to be nothing to see here.”
“I think I see what you mean.” Her face relaxed.
“Good. So we’re agreed?”
She nodded.
“Here we go, then.” Edward leaned close and, with one hand behind her back and another behind her knees, he scooped her off her feet.
Caught unawares, she gave a tiny yelp and wrapped her arms around his neck. She whispered close to his ear. “What are you doing?”
“I’m carrying you across the threshold.” He climbed the steps and walked into the cabin. He turned in the doorway and kicked the door closed with his foot.
Lily laughed. “I think I may have married a deranged man.”
Edward laughed and set her on her feet. He put the distance of the room between them. “Not deranged.” He closed the shutters across one of the front windows. “But never happy to be the center of attention.” He closed the other shutters and dropped into a chair at the table.
Lily stepped to the cabinet next to the stove and looked out of the window that faced Main Street. “Then why did you make such a scene? Mr. Winters has joined his wife on the sidewalk, and they’re talking to Mr. Croft. Mrs. Winters is smiling and looking in our direction.”
“Close the shutters.” Edward leaned back in the chair and stretched his legs out in front of him.
“It’s the middle of the afternoon.”
“I know. But if you don’t want them walking by on this side of the street and trying to peek in the window, you’ll close the shutters.”
Lily swung the shutters closed. The dim interior of the room was lit only by the fire. He marveled again at how gracefully she moved.
He went to the stove and set the coffee to warm. “Why don’t you sit by the fire? You’ve got to be bone tired.”
A slight shrug of her shoulders was the only response.
“It’s not the day either of us planned.” He opened a tin of cookies Mrs. Dismuke had brought for Ellen. His niece might not want him to share her treats, but he’d deal with her later.
Lily sat on the edge of a chair facing the fire. “Nothing has gone like I planned for most of my life.” He watched the back of her head as she shook it slowly back and forth. “I’d so hoped things would be different in Pine Haven.”
Edward poured two cups of coffee. “Do you drink coffee?”
“Yes.” She didn’t turn away from the fire. Her shoulders slumped forward.
He brought a cup to her and set the tin of cookies on the table by her chair. “This might help you.” He retrieved his cup and sat on the bench in front of the fire facing her.
She sipped the brew, and her face twisted. “Oh, my.”
“Not to your taste?”
“Is it to yours?” She looked up at him.
“Not really. But it’s the best I’ve been able to do.”
She sat up straight and set the cup on the table. “Did you bake the cookies?” A wary eye told him she was being cautious when it came to his efforts at cooking.
“No. The preacher’s wife brought them for Ellen. They’re quite good.”
“Do you think Ellen will be upset with you for sharing them with me?”
He grinned. She’d only been in town a couple of days, but she’d already figured out Ellen’s personality. “Probably. So consider it her wedding gift to you.”
She took a cookie and nibbled at it. Then she took another bite and picked up a second cookie.
“Have you eaten today, Lily?”
“I don’t remember. Everything has happened so fast.” She stared into the fire again. “I think I had some lunch.”
“Eat another cookie, then, and we’ll get some things figured out before we go get your trunks from the shop. I’ve got to take care of the wagon, too.”
She put the half-eaten cookie down and stood. “I’m sorry. I forgot about the wagon.”
“Relax.” She was like a frightened colt, jumping at every noise. “We need to wait a bit before we go outside again. If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to talk for a few minutes.”
She paced to the fireplace and back to the chair. “What are we doing?”
Edward stood and set his coffee on the table. “We’re making life better. For you. And for Ellen.”
Blue eyes looked up then. “We are, aren’t we?” She seemed to calm a bit.
“Yes.” He’d have to guard against those eyes. They were the kind of blue that could pull a man in against his will. Like a gorgeous sky that demanded attention. He took a step back. “Would you like to look around? Ellen’s room is through that door.” He gestured to the door closest to the fireplace. “I’ve cleared some space for you in my room.” He pointed to the other door on the back wall of the room.
Lily stiffened. He didn’t see it, but as soon as he said the words he knew it happened.
“Your room?”
“What I meant to say is, you’ll have the other room.” He nodded toward the fire. “I’ll be sleeping out here.”
“But I couldn’t take your room.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep my clothes and such in there, but I brought out my shaving things and stripped the bed. I thought you might have fresh linens you’d like to put on it.”
“Really, we can bring the settee from my rooms at the shop. I can sleep there.” She wrung her hands. “You’d never fit on it.” She lifted one hand to indicate his height. “You’re much too tall.” She pointed to the center of the room. “We could move the chairs back and...”
She was talking so fast he had to break in. “That won’t be necessary.” He pointed to the floor. “This is where I slept when I came here as an apprentice. The former owner took me in.”
“But now you’re the owner, and a man ought to sleep in his own bed.” Her voice became higher, and she was wringing her hands again.
He reached out and caught her hands in his. “Lily. Stop.” He kept his tone calm. If she maintained this pace, she’d work herself into a frenzy. “It’s going to be fine. I’ll sleep out here. Ellen goes to bed early. She’ll never know. You will take my bed. It’s the best I could do with the time I had.”
She withdrew her hands and put them to her cheeks. “It is all happening rather quickly, isn’t it?” She lowered her hands and met his eye. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually the sort of person to panic.”
“Anyone would be unsettled under the circumstances.”
“You don’t seem to be.” She tilted her head to one side and drew her brows together. “Why is that?”
“I told you. I’ve been considering marriage for the sake of Ellen.” He smiled at her. “Granted, I had thought to have more time for making the decision, but I was pondering it.” He moved to the bedroom door and opened it. “If you’d like to take a look around, I’ll see what I have that we could eat for supper.”
“Thank you.” She walked by him, and he went to see how much bread was left.
He had planned on making pancakes for Ellen and himself. It hardly seemed a fitting wedding supper. Even if they weren’t in the throes of young love, they were married today. His bride deserved a fine meal.
Something banged on the floor in his bedroom.
Lily called out. “Sorry. I tripped on the broom.”
He walked over and stood in the doorway of the room. “I shouldn’t have left it there. It’s usually on the back porch.” He’d never hesitated about going into his own room before. But it wasn’t just his anymore.
“Thank you for doing such a nice job of preparing for me.” She stood in the center of his room with her hands clasped in front of her. “It’s very nice.”
“I’m sure it’s not what you’re accustomed to.” He backed away from the door.
“Really, it’s fine.” She stepped into the front room again. “Let’s go get my things. I’d like to close up the shop. There’s a lot to do this evening.” She had walked to the front door while she talked. “Did you find anything to eat?”
Edward grabbed his hat from its peg. “Nothing fit for a wedding supper.” He opened the door. “I think we’ve earned a treat. Let’s get your things and go to the hotel for supper.”
* * *
Lily laid her hairbrush between the comb and mirror in the satin-lined box her father had given her for her last birthday and closed the lid. She ran her hand across the wooden box and marveled at its uniqueness. The beauty of the ornate dresser set made her smile every time she used it. It reminded her of her father’s love.
Every woman deserved to feel special. She’d come to Pine Haven to bring beautiful things to the ladies in town. It was one thing she could do well. She knew what ladies liked and how the smallest treasure could brighten even the most menial life.
Now, three days into her new adventure and she was preparing for bed in a home she shared with a husband she just met.
Dinner had been delicious. The thick slices of ham served with the fluffiest potatoes were as fine as any she’d eaten. They’d dined at the hotel her father was buying and would run with her sister Jasmine, when he arrived in a few weeks’ time. If it hadn’t been her wedding supper, she knew she’d have been able to enjoy it more. Never had she dreamed her wedding would be a hasty affair orchestrated to prevent the demise of her good name in a town of strangers.
Lord, I don’t know why all this happened. Help me to handle it in a way that pleases You. Please bless and protect Edward and Ellen.
She lowered the wick, and the lamp went out. Lying in bed and staring at the moonlight that shone around the shutters brought no calm to her rattled soul.
A rap at the door startled her. “Lily? Are you awake?”
Lily sat up in bed and pulled her mother’s quilt under her chin. “Yes.” Her voice was so low she wasn’t sure Edward could hear her.
“I hate to disturb you, but I left my Bible by the bed.”
“Just a minute.” She climbed out of the bed and slid into her dressing gown. This time she cinched it securely. A loose robe would never happen to her again. Of course, the only time it mattered had already passed.
She barely opened the door. “Do you have a lamp? I put mine out and don’t know where the matches are.”
“Yes.” Edward retrieved a lamp from the table by his chair near the fireplace and handed it to her. “I’m sorry to bother you. I’m having a bit of trouble getting to sleep. I usually read the Bible at night.”
“I understand.” She turned into the room and found the well-worn book. “I was just saying my prayers.”
A smile lit his eyes. “I hope you said one for me.”
Glad for the relative darkness, she passed the lamp back to him as her cheeks flamed warm. “I did. And for Ellen, too.” She handed him the Bible and backed away from the door.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She looked over her shoulder into the room. “I guess I’ll turn in now.”
He nodded. “Well, good night, then. I’ll see you in the morning. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“Yes. I’ll be ready.” She closed the door and leaned against it. How would she ever get to sleep tonight? An exciting adventure into independence had turned into the journey that would last her lifetime. She prayed God would give her the strength to make it.
When she awoke the next morning, the cabin was quiet. She dressed without delay, grateful she’d thought to bring her pitcher and bowl with her. The privacy of Edward’s bedroom shielded her from having to face her new life before she was alert. She opened the shutters over the window to be greeted by a sun much higher in the sky than she’d expected. How had she slept so late?
Opening the door into the front room, she braced for her first encounter with her husband. Her husband.
God, give me strength.
This was quickly becoming her constant prayer. God must be showing His sense of humor today, because Edward was nowhere to be seen. She took a peek into Ellen’s room. Everything was just as it had been the night before.
Sunlight streamed through the windows in the front room. No time for breakfast now. She went back to her room and snatched up her hat and coat. This was no way to begin her new life. What would Edward think of her shirking her responsibilities on their first day of working to repair the shop?
Lily walked across the street without seeing anyone. She found the shop empty, too. Where was Edward? She hung her hat and coat on the hall tree and got to work. A full hour later the front door opened. Edward came in carrying a package wrapped in brown paper. He propped it in the windowsill and shrugged out of his coat.
“Oh, good. You’re here.” He hung his coat next to hers. “Did you sleep well?”
“Where were you?” Lily’s stomach growled in hunger.
“Excuse me?” Edward went to the front door and started to remove the wooden trim from around the window he’d broken so he could get into the shop on the night of the fire.
“I’ve been here for over an hour. I thought we were going to work together this morning.” Why didn’t he look at her? Was he as uncomfortable as she was?
“I’ve been working for several hours, Lily.” He dropped the trim pieces into a pile at his feet and scrubbed the end of the hammer along the edge of the frame to remove the remaining bits of broken glass.
“I wish you’d awakened me.” Lily had established a comfortable working relationship with Edward as her landlord. But today he was also her husband. She didn’t know how to behave toward him.
“I knocked on the door.”
“I didn’t hear you. You could have made certain I was awake.”
He dropped the hammer into the small box of tools near his feet and turned to her. “Really?”
“Of course.” She backed up a step from him. “I wanted to be here early. I don’t know when I’ve slept so late.”
“How was I supposed to respect your privacy and wake you without coming into the room?”
Lily looked at her feet. “Oh. I see.” She walked to the glass display case and picked up the rag she’d been using to wipe the soot from the furniture. Edward must be as off balance by their situation as she was.
She heard him tearing the paper from the package he’d brought with him.
“Will you hold this glass steady while I nail the trim work back into place?”
She dropped the rag and brushed her hands together. “Certainly.”
Edward set the pane on the lip of the frame and held it steady. “Put your hands here and here.”
Lily followed his instructions. He stooped to pick up the first piece of trim and slid it between her and the door. She stretched as far as possible to one side, so he could hammer without hitting her. He worked with several small nails between his lips. Each time he hammered one into place he retrieved another.
Talking around the nails, he admitted, “I knew you hadn’t slept the night before. You needed the rest.”
“I’m sorry.” She shifted so he could put the next piece of trim on the opposite side of her, all while holding the pane of glass. “I wanted to help you.”
“There was nothing you could do this morning. I was picking up the supplies we need.” He tapped the last piece into place, and she backed away. It was difficult to be so close to him working, knowing neither of them had intended to be working together at all, much less as husband and wife.
“Well, all the same, I’d have been here if I were awake.” Her stomach rumbled again.
“Let me guess.” He picked up the box of tools and headed for the workroom. “You didn’t eat breakfast.”
She followed to retrieve the broom and dustpan. She might not have gone with him to buy the supplies, but she would clean up the mess. “No. I wasn’t sure where you were. I was late enough as it was.”
He dropped the box onto the workbench. “Lily, we need to establish some kind of expectations for our relationship and act accordingly.”
She stilled, broom in hand, and leaned against the doorway between the shop and the workroom.
Edward exhaled as if he were gathering his nerve. “We were able to work together in a friendly manner before the fire. I’d like for us to continue to do that. We’ve both been on pins and needles since we decided to get married. We both did it for noble reasons. Do you think you can relax? I declare, the more nervous you are around me, the more nervous it makes me.” He stopped and drew in a deep breath.
A rumbling laugh bubbled up in her throat. She tried to swallow it but couldn’t. “You’re so right. We’re no different than we were two days ago.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Maybe a little different.”
She did laugh then. “Yes, but we’re the same people. With the same goals.”
“Some of the goals are different, too.” He scrunched up his face a bit.
“You know what I mean.” She stepped forward and put a hand on his arm. “I agree with you. Let’s continue as the friends we were becoming before the fire.”
“Good.” He looked at her and then at her hand on his arm.
She dropped her hand. “I’m glad we got that settled.” She turned to go back into the shop and sweep up the glass.
Edward followed her. “Would you like some lunch?”
“Yes, I would. As soon as I sweep up this mess, I’ll go upstairs and put something together for us. All my food stores are still here.”
“All right.” He nodded toward the workroom. “Then I’ll get to work in here.”
“Okay, then.” She swept up the glass, wondering what her life would be like now. Everything she’d envisioned was like the glass at her feet. Shattered. Beyond repair. Replaced by something new. The new glass served the same purpose, but the old glass would soon be forgotten. Could she forget her dreams of independence? Would her new life afford her the same fulfillment? Establishing her shop would make her financially independent. That would be a comfort to her as she watched the rest of her dreams disappear. Tonight Ellen would return, and Lily’s new role as mother to the young girl would begin.
Lily knew opening a new business would be a great challenge. She was certain winning Ellen’s trust would be greater.
