Ethan's Wild Rose Bride (Texas Frontier Brides Book 2) Read online

  The Forges had two sons, Luke and Ward, when they came to the Chance Creek area, as well as a small daughter, Lettie. Late November of 1850, there was a surprise Comanche raid on the entire valley and surrounding hills. A blood-bath for the settlers, as the local cemeteries testified on the old tombstones.

  During the incursion, Mr. and Mrs. Forge, along with their two sons, were killed. But there was no sign of Lettie. She was gone. Taken by the Comanche raiders. The daughter was 15 at the time. Mr. and Mrs. Forge, along with their sons, were buried out back in the woods, near the property line. Hallie had put flowers on the graves when she was a child, imagining what life had been like for them in the early years of the area.

  All the old stories told of a search party for Lettie, sent out some weeks later by citizens finally starting to recover, but to no avail. Lettie was gone forever. By then, folks had speculated, she was either dead, or a Comanche herself. If alive, she had been ruined and there would be no place for her in their civilized culture. Best leave her to the savages.

  Many nights, as a child, Hallie would stand at her window on foggy evenings and imagine she saw the ghost of Lettie Forge walking through the woods out back of the house, her tortured soul looking for her long-lost family. Mother, had of course, squelched such romantic ideas, and made Hallie read a few choice verses of scripture. After that it was prayers and the lamp blown out. She was forbidden to look out the window in the fog.

  Satin whinnied and pulled Hallie from her daydreams. She laughed. “All right, girl. We’re almost there.”

  Chapter 3

  Hallie stared in the mirror and ran her fingers along the puffy scratches on her face. They were nothing compared to the angry red welts on her arms. Her lips curved into a grim smile. It was hard to be a finished lady when you were wrestling with two calves in a patch of blackberry brambles. But at least they were safely back their small penned area. Which was where they were staying for awhile. She’d managed to round up the old ‘wet nurse’ cow that fed them, and penned her in with them, as well.

  And she had missed church due to the two motherless creatures. Those few hours she had each week to stand in the midst of other believers and worship God were precious, and now they were gone. Most of the time, she loved the solitude that the ranch afforded, but there were times when she craved human company. “And you’re really no substitute,” she said to the grey kitten that jumped on the dresser at that moment. Soon the kittens would be old enough to be outside for most of the time and the house would seem more empty than usual.

  Well, no more time to contemplate her injuries or isolated days; she had to get to town before tackling a few chores around the place. “Shoo!” She waved Tinker from the dresser top and herded him into the parlor, scooping up his sibling on the way. She inserted them into the little crate she kept for them when she wasn’t there for supervision.

  Both kittens began to yowl and scratch the boards. “Now you two hush. I’ll be back soon enough.”

  She smoothed her long, blue riding skirt, checked her reticule, and reached for the doorknob. Satin, tied to a small tree in the front yard, seemed to be enjoying the too tall grass that occupied the area.

  “I know it’s good and green,” she grinned, grabbing the reins and mounting the brown steed. “You’ll just have to wait until we get back to finish up. “Now, let’s go for a ride.”

  ***

  Red or blue? It was hard to choose. The red was splashed with bright yellow sprigs of flowers and the blue had lavender bouquets. Both were pretty. And last year, she’d had a blue dress for church. She sighed. Maybe this would be the year for green. There was a nice bolt of green calico just down at the end of the table. And she had promised Reba Barkley that she’d bring the fabric to her shop this morning so she could get started on the project.

  She looked across to Rosie, the clerk, and smiled. “I think I’ll take the green.”

  “Wonderful choice,” Rosie said, her eyes lighting in her thin face. “I think this piece is one of the prettiest we’ve received this spring. And it will compliment your lovely complexion.”

  Hallie followed the small woman to a table in the back and assisted her in unwinding the bolt. Rosie began to measure the yards, using her finger to mark each yard until another was measured. Hallie handed the scissors to her. “You can make such a straight cut, Rosie. Do you sew?”

  Rosie nodded and smiled. I did when I was a young girl. My aunt was a seamstress.”

  “I think you’ve missed your calling, spending time working in this store,” Hallie smiled.

  Rosie shrugged and began to fold the fabric. “The town has Reba Barkley. She knows how to work wonders with just about any piece of fabric, She keeps the women in this town well dressed.”

  Hallie nodded and watched as the woman wrapped the material in brown paper. “She is a wonder. But with so many new people moving in, you just might be able to pick up some business of your own.”

  In fact if she hadn’t already promised this project to Reba, she would be tempted to offer it to Rosie. The woman was shy and barely met anyone’s eye with her glance. She had only been in Chance for a few months. Her background was unknown, but Hallie had always sensed a bit of sadness in the woman’s face.

  At the counter, Rosie took her money. While she was waiting, Hallie handed a written notice to Mr. Stoner, busy with an accounts book, to add to the store bulletin board.

  “Looking for some help, are you?” he smiled as he tacked it to the board, near the top where it would be easy for interested parties to see.

  “I could use a little help with some of the heavier work,” she smiled. “I thought maybe some of the school boys looking for extra work might be interested.”

  “Stage is comin’!” A voice from the street yelled.

  Hallie was surprised to see Wally Stoner step from behind the counter. His long, bushy gray hair was trying its best to escape from the leather band holding it tight, and his beard was as wooly as ever. She’d always thought he had a face that might frighten a child that didn’t know his kind heart. He removed his apron, and stepped to the door. He glanced at Hallie. “Aren’t you curious?”

  She took her change from Rosie and picked up the bundle. “About what?”

  “Chip Howard’s new bride is coming today.”

  Chip Howard was getting married? That seemed unlikely. The man was a rude, hateful slob, and pretty much disgusting to be around. What woman would marry him? She offered a quizzical look to Wally.

  He grinned. “Mail order bride.”

  Well that explained the situation. She followed Wally out of the store and crossed the street. Despite the bright sun overhead, a crowd had already gathered. Their expressions of anticipation were equal to that of an Independence Day parade. Hallie smiled. It wasn’t often an event like this happened in Chance. Still, it seemed rude for everyone to show up and ogle the poor woman. She would have enough of a surprise as it was, once she met Chip.

  At that moment, she caught a glimpse of the soon to be groom, standing in front of the crowd of onlookers. Short, and rather stout, he appeared to have had a bath. And possibly a haircut. Or what passed for one in Royce’s barbershop. He had even shaved. In fact the man was quite unrecognizable. If not for the distinctive coal black hair with the white streak down the center, she wouldn’t have known him.

  Dressed in a wool suit, badly in need of pressing, his face was perspiring quite freely. The wilted bouquet of wildflowers he held in his hand had probably been fresh a few hours back, but now it hung limp and forlorn in his fingers.

  She smiled. For those who knew him, there would be no doubt that Chip Howard had made a monumental effort for the woman he was about to meet and marry. But what would his new bride think? That was the most important question of the day.

  Hallie had read several of the type of advertisements that this woman must have placed or answered. In each classified advertisement, every female described themselves as pretty and skilled as a homemaker.
The men described themselves as handsome and well to do. She smiled to herself. Those men could be counted on one hand in this small community. Was that how Chip had described himself? And what was this woman going to think of their little town when she stepped off the stage to see half of the citizens had turned out to gape at her?

  No matter, none of these thoughts stopped Hallie from joining the group. She had heard of men sending off for brides, but she couldn’t imagine what sort of woman would answer the advertisements in the paper. Well, here was her chance to find out.

  Someone bumped against her side and she turned just as Beulah Lewis began to apologize. The large woman was always friendly and jolly, a ready smile on her face. She apologized at once.

  “It’s all right,” Hallie laughed, holding a little tighter to her brown papered purchase. “I imagine we’re all going to be jostling into one another. The crowd is still growing.”

  Beulah nodded and grabbed hold of the straw hat perched on her gray head, as a small boy ran past. “The poor woman will probably be scared out of her wits when she steps down and sees a bunch of folks staring at her, as if she was a caged animal in a circus.”

  “If she stays, I figure it’s going to be Chip that’s the caged animal,” Hallie replied, her eyes focusing down the road.

  “It’ll be good for him,” Beulah nodded. “The man just needs a little bit of bossing and I think he might make something of that ranch of his. A woman’s touch. That’s what the place needs.”

  A brief picture of Chip’s ranch crossed Hallie’s mind. It would take more than one woman to get that place in shape, with its dilapidated buildings and missing fence rails. Mr. Howard preferred sitting in the saloon all day, engrossed in a game of cards or dominoes, leaving the ranch to care for itself. The woman on that stage certainly had her work cut out for herself.

  “There it is!” someone shouted.

  Hallie stood on tiptoe and barely made out a cloud of dust coming from the east. The stage always seemed to slow in that last mile. Maybe it was the anticipation of those waiting. Or maybe the driver, Toby Martin, was just about worn out that last mile to the town after his long journey from Austin.

  Hallie’s eyes opened wide as the horses rounded the bend into town. She felt her heart give a small leap of anticipation. It was silly of her, but not much happened in Chance. Besides, maybe a new friend was on the stage. Another female for quilting bees and church socials. A fresh face was always welcome.

  The stage pulled to a stop just up ahead of Hallie and Beulah. Toby, high on the stage, wiped his face with a large red kerchief, and removed his hat before jumping to the ground. His hand on the door handle, he stopped and looked at Chip, as if to say, “Are you ready?”

  The crowd quieted as Chip stepped forward. Hallie was of a mind to run up and snatch the pitiful bunch of flowers from his hands. Somehow, they made the situation seem more pathetic than it really was. For all anyone knew, Chip and this woman would be a perfect match.

  I don’t know this woman’s heart, Lord, but please give her courage and fortitude and help the two of them to remember that they need You in their marriage.

  Toby pulled the door open. Hallie held her breath in the silence as Chip stepped forward and held out his hand. Black-gloved fingers took his and a tall, spare, dark-headed woman emerged from the vehicle, stepping down. Her black shoes sent up a cloud of brown dust as they touched the ground. The gray skirt she wore seemed a perfect place for the swirls of dust to land. She looked to be about five inches taller than Chip. Her eyes, on her intended for a brief moment, turned to take in the crowd, a disapproving expression on her face.

  Hallie felt heat rush up her throat and to her cheeks. What had overcome all of them that they’d intruded on this couple’s first moment together? She glanced at Beulah and nodded. The two of them turned and pushed through the crowd behind them.

  Hallie clutched her package tight and stepped up on the sidewalk, turning toward Reba’s shop. She could see Mrs. Barkley standing behind her glass front windows, observing the gathering in the street.

  Glad to be away from the gawking onlookers, Hallie stepped inside the shop, Beulah close behind her. “Good morning, Reba.”

  Reba Barkley smiled and moved away from her view of the assembly. “It looks like Mr. Howard’s new bride got a nice greeting for her arrival.” Her eyes twinkled with merriment.

  Hallie laughed. “I feel embarrassed. I’m not sure what overcame me to want to stand out there and gape at her. I can imagine that if it was myself, the situation would be nerve-wracking enough without a whole town of people turned out to stare at you.”

  “She didn’t look too jittery to me,” Beulah shook her head and adjusted her reticule on her arm. “Looks like a woman with a lot of gumption, from the expression on her face. She’ll make Chip a fine wife. Probably put him right to work.”

  Reba smiled and took the package from Hallie. “I’m sure this marriage will be a subject of interest for a good while. Now, let’s see what pretty fabric you’ve chosen, Miss Hallie.”

  Chapter 4

  “Will that be all for you today, sir?”

  Ethan Kane nodded his blond head. “I think that’ll do me for a while. I’m not much on fancy meals out there by myself. A little coffee, along with some beans, bacon, and biscuits suit me pretty well,” he answered.

  Wally figured on his paper pad, his lips moving silently as he added. “That’ll be two dollars and twenty-nine cents.”

  Ethan pulled a small leather pouch from his pocket and began the slow task of counting out his money.

  The door of the store opened and the storekeeper spoke to the tall man that stepped inside. “Afternoon, Mike. How are things going for you?”

  Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. Mike would be a diversion for Wally while he figured the correct change, mentally adding and subtracting in his head. Something he had never been good at doing.

  Mike Enos shrugged and came to stand beside Ethan, briefly glancing at his task at hand. “Looks like I’m going to have to get some repairs done on my plow. You don’t know anyone wanting to hire some help, do you? I could use a little cash.”

  Wally adjusted his apron and nodded. “Matter of fact, Hallie Bolton was in yesterday and said she was needing some part-time work to be done out on her ranch. Can’t pay much, of course.”

  Mike shook his head. “Sounds like a long-term thing before I’d see any cash. Oh well, I’ll keep looking.” He laughed as he turned. “Besides, a woman for a boss doesn’t sound like a good thing to me,” he added, closing the door behind him.

  “I believe this is right.” Ethan handed the coins to Wally and waited while the store owner counted out the change.

  “That’s it exactly,” Wally smiled, opening the register and dropping in the jangling metal. “Have a good day, Mr. Kane.”

  Ethan stepped out of the mercantile and deposited his goods in the wagon. Enough coffee, flour, beans, and bacon for a month or two. Shopping was the next thing to torture, in his mind. Having to deal with clerks and counting out change was nothing but trouble for him. Especially when they started recommending some new brand of coffee or other food, showing off a nice tin of the product. It meant nothing to him and always made his decisions harder.

  Grabbing hold of the wooden seat, he began to pull himself up, then paused, putting his foot back on the ground. The long drive ahead had no appeal at the moment. He glanced around the street. Millie’s Restaurant was still open, but he felt uncomfortable sitting in there, sipping his coffee, among the families and businessmen that congregated at this time of evening.

  But that was no problem. Bailey kept a hot pot of coffee going in the saloon day and night. Ethan had never cared much for liquor, but a man could do with several cups of coffee a day. And there was always a game of dominoes, or cards to keep you entertained. He used to play himself, but not anymore. Someday, if he kept to his plan, his ranch would be successful. Too many men had been ruined by gambling and he intend
ed that he would not be one of them.

  The saloon was quiet when he stepped inside, the piano silent. Probably the man’s break time, he guessed. A pity, as he enjoyed the lively music. Ethan glanced around the room and noticed only one table occupied. A few of the locals that seemed to spend most of their time in there.

  “What can I do for you, Mr. Kane?” Bailey asked from behind the bar.

  A brief smile touched Ethan’s lips. Bailey knew he’d never purchased anything other than coffee. “A cup of your black brew will do me.”

  Bailey smiled and reached for a tin cup. He poured the dark liquid and handed it to Ethan. “So how are things out on your place?”

  Ethan shrugged and took the cup, blowing across the top of the steaming coffee before taking a sip. “About usual I guess.”

  The bartender, done with the niceties, nodded and turned back to polishing the bar.

  Ethan took his cup and tossed a few pennies across the polished surface, before he wandered over to the game of dominoes. Fred Harley was winning, as usual. What possessed the others to challenge him was a mystery. Ethan grimaced to himself. Loneliness. It was pure loneliness that sent a man begging for more punishment. Well, not him. No amount of solitude would drive him to give his hard earned cash away on a foolish game of chance.

  He stopped at the table just as Fred began a new conversation. “Guess you fellas heard about Chip Howard’s new wife.”

  Stumpy Stern shook his head. “Not me.”

  The others turned their attention to Fred.

  The man paused a moment for effect, waiting for their complete attention. “Got her out of the newspaper.”