Lonesome Bride Read online

  "Yes, I'm Buck,” the man holding her hand said at last. He placed his other hand on the dark-haired woman's shoulder. “And this is Sally Miller. Sally Peters now. She's my wife."

  CHAPTER 9

  The smile melted from Caitleen's face like wax from a burning candle. A vast and unrelenting buzzing filled her ears. While she was certain people were talking around her, she could not make out their words. Numbly, she pulled her hand from Buck Peters’ grasp and felt it fall woodenly to her side.

  "I see,” she managed at last to say through a mouth that suddenly felt filled with dust.

  "Caitleen, I'm real sorry,” Buck Peters said gently. “I didn't get the telegram saying you were coming. We owe you a mighty big apology."

  "Heavens, don't be absurd. You had no idea I was coming. You had every right to do as you pleased,” Caite heard herself say, forcing a smile onto her face. She clapped her hands briskly together to disguise her embarrassment. “I shall just go and pack my belongings."

  Turning, she left the kitchen before anyone could stop her. She expected to feel tears as she hurried down the hallway to Buck's room, but instead, her eyes felt as hot and dry as an oven. She hurdled through the door, immediately seeking out her trunk. She began to toss her belongings inside carelessly, wanting only to keep moving. Anything to keep herself from thinking about the humiliation she had just endured, and the predicament in which she found herself.

  When she heard the soft rap on the door behind her, Caite's first thought was to remain silent. Perhaps whoever had decided to intrude upon her shame would take the hint and go away. She did not think she could bear to hear well-meant advice, or worse, words of consolation.

  "Caitleen?” she did not recognize the musical voice, but Caite knew whose it was.

  "Yes?” she asked brightly, turning from her trunk to face Sally.

  "I came to see if you are all right,” the dark-haired woman explained quietly.

  Caite laughed hollowly. “Certainly. I shall be all packed up in a few more minutes..."

  Sally crossed the room on cat feet and placed her tanned hand across Caite's much paler one. The women locked gazes. Sally's cornflower-blue eyes were filled with compassion. At the sight of such obvious sympathy, Caite felt the cursed fickle tears spring into her eyes.

  "You don't have to leave,” Sally said gently.

  Caite laughed again, bitterness tingeing her voice this time. “Of course I have to leave, Sally. The man I came to marry has a wife. There's no place for me here."

  "Still, you're welcome to stay,” Sally replied calmly, moving aside to allow Caite to finish throwing garments into the trunk. “That is, if you have no place else to go."

  At those words, Caite sank wearily down onto the bed. The bed, she realized too late, which Buck would share with Sally. She did not have the strength to rise.

  "I do not have a place to go,” she said quietly. “But I cannot stay here."

  Sally sat down next to Caite and took her hand. “Of course you can.” She gave a gentle smile. “Buck tells me there's plenty of space at Heatherfield. There's a lovely room just off the kitchen. It isn't as large as this room, but I'm sure you'll like it."

  "You would not find my presence ... awkward?"

  Sally's brow furrowed in curiosity. “Would you feel awkward?"

  I certainly would, Caite thought, but not for the reasons Sally might think. “I don't know Buck Peters, even though I had intended to marry him. I certainly harbor no jealousy toward you, if that is what you're thinking. In fact, I'm happy for you both."

  "I know how strange and terrible this must seem to you."

  Caite shook her head. Now that she had time to think about the situation, she was really quite relieved. She had been more apprehensive about marrying a stranger than she had thought. “Strange, yes. Terrible, no."

  Sally clapped her hands gleefully like a child, and gave Caite a swift hug. “Then you'll stay?"

  "I can't impose on you..."

  "Buck signed a contract that said he would provide for you,” Sally interrupted. “When we found out you were here, he was very certain he wanted to hold up his end of the agreement."

  "But he signed that contract long before he knew I was coming!” Caite protested. Already she knew Sally would not take no for an answer. Despite her delicate appearance, this woman was as tough as shoe leather.

  "He signed the contract saying he would provide for the woman Pastor Jonas sent. Here you are."

  "Buck is a good man,” Caite said. “But he is really under no obligation to me at all."

  Sally chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. “Stay then until you have a place to go."

  "Pardon?"

  Sally repeated herself. “When you have a place to go, then make plans to leave. Until then, you are welcome here, Caitleen."

  Caite thought hard for a moment. Staying at Heatherfield meant staying close to Jed. Could she endure the torture of being so close to him and remembering what had passed between them, yet knowing he did not care for her? What were her choices? Returning home meant marriage to Drake Hammond. Since she could not very well go off to pan for gold, she supposed being an old maid school teacher was her only option.

  "I shall stay,” she decided suddenly. “But only until I have a place to go."

  She would just have to make sure she found a place soon.

  * * * *

  Jed's excitement burbled in his chest like a stream running through a meadow. His father had a wife! Buck no longer needed a mail-order bride. Jed paced the length of the front porch, his long legs eating up the floor. He reached the end and turned back, his thoughts keeping pace with his strides.

  Jed had been just as surprised as everyone else when Buck had arrived at the ranch with Sally beside him. And, like everyone else, his thoughts had turned immediately to Caitleen and how she would take the news. Unlike the others, however, Jed's thoughts took a different twist.

  Sure, he supposed Caite might be upset and embarrassed. But heck, she'd get over it. Especially once she saw, as he did, that the situation couldn't be more perfect. Once she saw that now they could be married.

  Jed stopped his pacing, and leaned on the porch railing. Married? Did he really want to marry the little firebrand?

  "Heck, yes!” he whooped, unable to keep the excitement bottled up inside him any longer.

  Caitleen O'Neal was everything a man could want in a woman, and more. She was smart, passionate and beautiful. She was strong-willed, but so was he. He thought of the way she had moved beneath him and felt the stir of arousal in his groin. She was a sensuous lover, a great hand at checkers, and her appetite proved she would always set a good table. He'd be a fool not to marry the woman. Besides, he had taken her virginity. It was his duty.

  "Caite has decided to stay on with us,” his father's new wife told him from the doorway. Jed turned.

  "Just until I find a place to go,” Caite added. Her smile was not as bright as Sally's.

  "We just finished telling the others,” Sally told him. “We wanted you to know, too."

  "I'm glad to hear it.” Jed's heart beat faster at the sight of Caite's lovely green eyes flashing at him. He needed to talk to her alone.

  The women had turned to go back inside the house. Without wanting to seem too obvious, Jed followed close behind. He managed to grasp Caite's elbow just before she followed Sally into the kitchen.

  "Can I talk to you for a minute, Caite?"

  "You go ahead,” Caitleen told Sally. “I shall be in directly."

  "Don't be too long,” Sally smiled. “My mouth is watering to try some of your bubble-up bread!"

  When Sally had gone inside, Caite turned to Jed. Her jaw was clenched firmly. “I've decided to become a school teacher. I shall do my best to secure a post in Lonesome or Staghorn as soon as possible. I promise I will not be here much longer."

  "That's not why I wanted to talk to you.” Jed couldn't keep the foolish grin from spreading across his face like syrup on a