Boston,
Massachusetts, 1871
Keira Cameron’s lips formed a firm line
as she listened to her cousin, Alec Fraser, natter on about how she should
marry his Montana friend by proxy. Alec might as well have told her she was
unwanted and unlikely to be a wife without his help. Staring out the window at
the busy Boston street scene, she refused to shed the tears stinging the back
of her eyelids.
In the six months she’d been here, she’d
begun to lose hope of ever having her own home and children. Finding a job had
been hard. Apparently her brogue and height were off putting to most.
Finally she’d been hired as a nanny but since
then the children’s mother had decided she was not needed. No doubt the woman
had seen the lecherous looks the children’s father sent toward Keira. The man’s
leers and double entendres made Keira want to rush and scrub her entire body.
Although polite, none of the men Alec
had introduced to her displayed an interest in courting her. She’d asked him to
stop dragging home men to meet her. She didn’t need the humiliation compounding
her rejection.
Keira wished she’d stayed in their small
Scottish village after the deaths of her parents. True, there were no marriage
prospects for her there but at least she knew the neighbors. She could have
stayed in her family home and… and what?
She threw up her hands. “Fine, I’ll do
it.” She agreed if only to get Alec to stop talking. In truth, though, she
didn’t see she had much choice.
A wide smile appeared on his face. “You
won’t be sorry. Gideon is a fine man, none finer. He, Darren McVie, Travis Bruner,
and I served together in the war.” His voice carried excitement. “Gideon is the
bravest man I know.”
She turned her back so he wouldn’t see
the tears she could no longer hold at bay and she brushed away. “You might as
well make the arrangements. The sooner it’s done the sooner I’m out of your
hair.”
Gently, he turned her to face him and
held her shoulders. “Keira? You can’t mean that the way it sounded. Surely you
know you’re welcome to stay here forever if you wish.”
She shook her head, still unwilling to
meet his gaze. “That’s not practical. You’ve always been very kind to me, Alec.”
She raised her head. “I realize now I had unrealistic expectations when I
came.”
His eyes held both sympathy and
fondness. “For all that we’re only cousins, I’ve always thought of you as a
dear younger sister. I wouldn’t willingly let you go so far away to anyone but
Gideon. You know Rory’s middle name is Gideon after him.”
His arm hugged her shoulders as he moved
to stand beside her. He ushered her to stand in front of the fireplace where a
small fire burned in the grate in spite of the fact the calendar indicated they
were in late summer.
“Let me tell you more about Gideon. As I
said, we served in the war together. The call came to retreat but Darren and I
were pinned down and under fire. We were both wounded and trapped. We were in the open and couldn’t get back to
our unit.”
She gasped. She’d known he was injured
in the war, but no details. “How frightening. What did you do?”
“Do? We could do nothing except pray. You
can be assured I did plenty of that.”
“Apparently your prayers were answered,
but how?”
“Neither of us could walk well enough to
escape. Gideon is a big, brawny man who stormed in and carried Darren to
safety. He got shot in his cheek, but he didn’t let that stop him. Gideon pressed
his handkerchief to the wound and tied another kerchief around his face and
came back for me.”
“What a courageous man he must be.”
“If he weren’t so brave, I would have
died that day. That he didn’t die from blood loss or infection is a miracle.
Medical care in battle was often as dangerous as no treatment.”
She brushed a lock of her cousin’s from
his face. His hair was darker red than hers now but had been fiery when they
were children.
“Then I will be eternally grateful to
him, dear cousin. I would wed him because he saved your life if for no other
reason. If you say I should marry him, then I’ll take your advice.”
His broad smile emphasized his approval.
“You’ll never meet a man more honorable. Gideon’s sister Orla is married to our
friend Darren. You’ll not only get a fine husband, but you’ll enjoy his sister and
brother-in-law.”
She twisted her handkerchief. “I don’t
mean to sound ungrateful for all you’ve done for me. I can’t help feeling
unwanted, Alec.” She didn’t want him to think she found fault with him. “You’ve
been very kind. But, I thought I’d have made more friends, found a job to
support myself and find rooms somewhere, maybe even have found a beau by now.”
“Please, don’t trouble yourself further about
your current situation. You’re a clever woman and a pleasure to know. You’ll get
on well with Gideon.”
He took her hands in his. “Trust me,
won’t you? Gideon, Orla, and Darren love living in Montana Territory and it
does sound a good place. If Millie wasn’t so tied to her mother here, then we’d
already have moved there.”
She forced a smile. “You’re a fine man
and you’re generous to let me stay with you and your family.”
Her feeling unwanted in this home wasn’t
her cousin’s fault. His wife, Millie, wasn’t happy having Alec’s relative
living with them in their small home. No, not even when Keira could contribute
to the family coffers.
Now that Keira was out of work and had yet
to find a new position, she’d have to use her savings. Millie’s harridan of a
mother visited daily and made snide remarks when Alec wasn’t within hearing. Better
Keira should move on as he suggested.
“I’ll ask Millie to go with you tomorrow
to buy a wedding ring. The groom sent the fare for you but didn’t know how to
choose a ring and get it here in time. He sent the cash to buy one, though.”
How romantic—she had to choose her own
wedding ring. At least Millie would enjoy their shopping expedition, especially
since it meant Keira would soon be gone.
Haverhill, Montana
Territory
“Can you not understand I’m done talking
or thinking or acting on the subject?” Blacksmith Gideon Ross hammered a piece
of metal into shape, his Scots burr thickening with his annoyance. Normally he
thought of himself as a gentle soul in spite of his formidable size. Today he
would like to hammer sense into his best friend, Darren McVie, the man who also
happened to be his brother-in-law.
Darren edged around to see Gideon’s
face. “I tell you, this is the perfect solution.”
Gideon dipped the red hot metal into the
water, sending steam hissing into the air. “Apparently I need to remind you
that is exactly what you said about a mail-order bride. Now I’m a laughingstock
to the whole town.”
“No one is laughing at you, Gideon. No
one blames you because that fickle woman up and married Alfred Price.”
Gideon turned slowly to face his friend.
“If you’ll recall, Ella Trigg didn’t just ‘up and wed’ Alf. First, she had to
tell me and anyone who’d listen that I was too ugly, too big, and too scary
looking for her. I didn’t appreciate that, especially with half the town listening.”
His friend had the grace to look
sorrowful. “You’re right and that was her sad mistake. I accept that part of the
blame is mine for encouraging you to send for a mail-order bride. What nerve
she had to come here last week and ask if you’d take her now if she divorced
Alf. You put her in her place by shaming her and sending her scurrying.”
Gideon offered his most solemn glare,
not that it had much affect on Darren. “Remember you’re not to tell that to
anyone. As much as I dislike the woman, I’ll not be party to anyone spreading
tales. I should have known any woman would be afeared of me.”
“Now that’s simply not true. Anyway, this
time, I have a guarantee, see? Our friend Alec Fraser has a cousin over from his
wee village in Scotland. The thing is, she’s only about six inches shorter than
your six foot five inches. For all that she’s pretty as a picture, the men in
Boston think she’s too tall. The lass has wide blue eyes, thick and shining red
hair, with skin white as alabaster and smooth as satin.”
Gideon pumped the bellows and called
over his shoulder. “There’s a catch in there somewhere, Darren. If she’s that
pretty, men would overlook her being tall.”
“Well… Alec wrote she’s a mite
plainspoken and has little patience with foolishness.” Darren danced back from
the furnace’s increased heat. “Even though I think both those traits are good, mind
you, her manner puts off some folks.”
“You’re saying she’s a shrew, a nag, a
harpy. No thank you.” He took out his frustration on the metal laying across
the anvil.
“Alec says she can be as sweet as sugar
and is a grand cook. I’m saying this girl is willing to marry you by proxy,
see. Then, when she arrives, you’ll be married to her and she can’t back out.”
Gideon gaped at Darren. “What if I’m the
one who wants to back out?”
Missing the sarcasm, Darren scratched
his jaw. “I don’t think you can because the vows are binding. I suppose you can
get an annulment, but that would take time. Never you mind, Gideon, you won’t
want to part with her, of that I’m positive.” Darren strutted around in front
of Gideon. “So what do you think about Keira?
Following Darren’s conversations was
always a winding road. “Who?”
“Keira Cameron, the girl I’ve been
telling you about, who else?” Darren rubbed his hands together expectantly. “Shall
I set up your part of the proxy wedding this afternoon?”
Gideon leaned on the anvil. “Are your
ears plugged then? I said I’m not interested.”
Darren pulled off his cap and wrung the
thing in his hands while a worried expression hovered on his face. “Well, you
see now, Gideon, there might be a problem with you saying no.”
Gideon stood with his hammer in one hand
and stared at his best friend. With Darren and Orla’s scheming, he had no need
for enemies. “What have you done this time?”
Darren’s eyes widened and he backed up
two steps and held up a staying hand. “Now take it easy, Gideon, until you’ve
heard me tell it all. You see, Keira’s done the proxy wedding on her end and is
on her way here.”
Gideon laid down the hammer and tongs
and stared at his friend. Surely he’d misunderstood Darren’s prattling. “She’s
what?”
“She’ll be on the five o’clock stage
today.”
He hadn’t gotten the wrong idea, drat
his luck. “Auch, the time must be near four now.”
Darren pulled out his pocket watch.
“Aye, half past three. We’d better get you wedded on this end before she
arrives.”
Gideon advanced on his friend. “What the
devil is wrong with you, man? How could you let this situation get so far out
of control before you told me? What do you intend to do when this woman arrives
and there’s no groom to meet her?”
He stabbed a finger in Darren’s chest. “You’d
better decide fast.”
Darren’s wheedling tone of voice changed
to demanding. “Now look here, Gideon Ross. Don’t be mistreating the nice lassie
because you’re put out with me. It’s coming on cold weather and you’ll be happy
for a wife to warm your bed. Plus, having a wife in your arms at night may stop
your nightmares.”
He shook his head, sorrow claiming him.
“I doubt anything will make the night terrors cease. Nothing even makes them
less.”
“You’ll be surprised. Having Orla next
to me has done wonders. Besides, you admitted you wanted a wife and a family.”
He exhaled. Would the man never shut up?
“Maybe I’ve changed my mind.”
At six feet to Gideon’s six foot five
inches, Darren stared up into his face. “You know you haven’t. Don’t let your
stubborn pride prevent you from marrying the one lassie perfect for you. Alec’s
description sounds like you and Keira are well matched in height and
temperament and the other things you enjoy.”
Gideon couldn’t resist leading on his
friend. “Is she going to help in the smithy then or does she repair guns?”
“Don’t be daft, man. You know I mean
things you do when you’re not working.”
When would that be? Lately he was
working from can to can’t. “Such as?”
“She likes to read and play chess and go
outdoors for walks and such. She wants a home and children and the security of
a good man. How can you fault her for that?”
“Auch, I’m not faulting her, you idiot. You’re the one whose
neck I’d like to wring. I’ll bet your wife—my own little sister—knew about this
and conspired with you against me. Am I right?”
Darren wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Orla and
I might have talked the possibilities over between us. Listen, Gideon, the idea
came to us only because we think so highly of you and want you to be happy.
Orla especially worries about your well being.”
The truth of what his friend said
softened his anger. “Well, you’re in a fine mess now, aren’t you? How did this woman
come by the funds for the train and stage fare?”
Darren grimaced. “Um, well, you see, Orla
took the money from her inheritance, the money from your grandparents’ estate.
She said there was no better use for it than seeing her dear brother happy.”
Gideon hated that his sister had used
part of her money on his behalf. What was Darren thinking to let her? Gideon
took a deep breath. Auch, what was he thinking himself? There was no “letting” Orla
do anything. His sister was stubborn as a stone once she’d made up her mind.
He frowned and pointed at his friend. “Through
no fault of her own you’re bringing a woman over two thousand miles under false
pretenses.”
“But, don’t you see? They’re not false
if you wed her by proxy before she arrives. Orla is waiting at the parsonage
until you and I show up. She’ll stand in for Keira and I’ll be a witness. Come
on, Gideon, you won’t be sorry.”
“What’s the point? She’ll soon be here
and I can marry her then if I wish.”
Darren did a few fast steps to get in
front of him. “No, can’t you see that won’t work? Think about the situation.
She’s already married you by proxy in Boston and believes herself properly wed.
You have to do the same before she arrives, else I don’t know what will happen.
Don’t let being peevish with me cause you to hurt Keira.”
Gideon found himself weakening. In truth
he would like a wife to come home to each day. He admitted he’d been depressed
since Ella had publicly rejected him six months ago. Was he that unlovable? Her
privately recanting her criticism recently had done little to soothe his hurt
even as it made him glad he wasn’t married to the fickle woman.
He looked down at his leather apron tied
over his grimy work clothes. “Did you not think I might like to look a little
better on my wedding day? Did you not consider that this Keira might appreciate
coming to a clean home?”
Darren tugged on his arm. “Come to the
church parsonage now. While you’re at the stage stop, Orla and I will nip over
to your house and tidy it a bit.”
Recalling the state of his home, Gideon
shook his head. “A ‘bit’ won’t do the job. You know I’ve been rushed with jobs
and working all hours for months. I haven’t cleaned in… well, it’s been a
while. Unless I’m mistaken, I don’t even have a clean shirt. Once again, you’ve
created a mess with your meddling.”
Darren refused to be daunted. “Don’t
give it a second thought. Orla and I will make things presentable while you’re
meeting the stage.”
Resigned to Darren and Orla’s
manipulation, Gideon removed his apron. He must be losing his mind. He told
himself he was only agreeing to spare this Keira the humiliation he’d
experienced.
Fact was, not only curiosity fueled him.
He admitted he was lonely. He looked forward to a wife sharing his life.