A Bride for Blake Read online

  “We’re guests. Surely Constance should have a large room. Perhaps you should give her your room.”

  “No,” Blake answered. “Eliza is settled in my room. It’s her room. The upstairs room will do nicely for Constance.”

  Eliza laid her hand on Blake’s arm, sending that warm feeling into his chest that he felt earlier, and said, “I don’t mind, Blake.”

  “See,” Aunt Hortense said. “It’s settled. Constance will have your room, and Eliza will have the small room.”

  “Absolutely not,” Blake insisted. “Eliza is my wife, and she shares my room with me. That is my final word.”

  Aunt Hortense was silent the rest of the ride to the ranch. Blake turned to look at Eliza and winked. She smiled back and blushed.

  Chapter 9

  Blake rode back, slowly stopping occasionally to point out landmarks and where his ranch began. Aunt Hortense didn’t seem the least bit interested, and Constance kept sneezing into her lace handkerchief

  Sarah met them on the porch greeting the ladies, telling them that Ray had dropped off their luggage, and she told him to put it in their rooms. “I hope I got it correct because your names are on your luggage, and I had Miss Constance’s luggage taken to the upstairs room.”

  Sarah looked at Eliza, “I put all your packages on your bed. If you need help with them, just ask me.”

  Sarah hurried off to the kitchen to prepare tea, and Aunt Hortense looked at Blake and said, “Tell your servant to come back here right now. She can help Constance and I unpack.”

  Blake turned his head and said, “I know what you’re used to Aunt Hortense, but I don’t have servants. Sarah is my foreman’s wife. She graciously comes here and cooks meals to keep me from starving and cleans the house to keep me from living in a pigsty. I expect you to treat her with respect as a family member and certainly not a servant.”

  Eliza hurried into the house behind Sarah, not wishing to listen to any more of Aunt Hortense’s rant. Eliza apologized to Sarah and said, “I know she’s Blake’s aunt, but she is the rudest woman I have ever met. I think her visit will be taxing on both of us. I know she wants Blake to marry Constance and divorce me or annul the marriage. I understand now why Blake was in such a hurry to acquire a proxy bride.”

  Sarah shook her head. “I plan to ignore the woman. I know both you and Blake explained to me last night that she was difficult, but I had no idea she would refer to me as a servant. I suppose I could get angry, but it’s easier to ignore her.”

  “You’re a kind woman, Sarah, and I’m glad you’re my friend. I know I’m going to need one before Aunt Hortense leaves.”

  “I think we both will,” Sarah agreed.

  Blake hurried into the kitchen and took Eliza’s hand. “Come with me before Aunt Hortense and Constance realize we’re gone. You wanted to meet Barney, and now’s your chance.”

  “Oh, but what about Sarah. She’ll end up listening to your aunt’s anger,” Eliza said.

  “Not me,” Sarah said. “I think it’s time for my afternoon stroll. I’m going to walk home and have a cup of tea in solitude before coming back to prepare supper.”

  “I’ll help you with supper,” Eliza offered, and the three made a hasty retreat out the back door.

  “Barney will most likely be in the barn or behind the barn sleeping in the shade. He loves sleeping more than anything these days,” Blake told her as they walked toward the barn.

  Eliza noticed he still held her hand, and it made her smile. “You said he’s friendly. Are you sure he’ll like me? I’m a stranger.”

  “I think he will. He’s a good judge of character and only growls at something threatening like a mountain lion when we’re out on the range,” Blake said.

  When Blake opened the barn doors, a big yellow dog came bounding over barking and yipping. It stopped in front of Eliza and sat looking up at her with large brown eyes.

  Eliza ruffled the fur on Barney’s head, and Blake laughed. “He likes you. I knew he would.”

  “He’s sweet,” Eliza answered and sat on a nearby hay bale. Barney followed her and sat at her feet. “I never had a pet, this is wonderful.”

  “When the neighbor’s dog has puppies again, we can get a puppy, and you can raise it. Everyone should have a pet at least once in their lives,” Blake promised as he watched Eliza and Barney get to know each other.

  “A puppy that would be wonderful, but I couldn’t ask you to get me one. When I leave, it will break my heart,” Eliza said.

  Blake nodded, “I suppose you’re right. Do you ride?”

  “Ride? You mean horses?” Eliza’s eyes flew open wide. “No, I have never been close enough to a horse to even think of riding. They are huge, and I’m not sure I want to think about it now.”

  Blake laughed again. “I heard the same words from Amalie when she first came here. Deke taught her to ride, and when she thought she was putting him in danger, she took her horse and rode off to the next town alone. I think you can learn, too.”

  “She wrote me about that, but I think Amalie is braver than I am,” Eliza confessed. “I doubt I could ever get on a horse.”

  “I have an older mare that is gentle. You can get to know her first and make friends—offer her some apple or carrot and maybe a bit of sugar. In no time, she’ll love you, and we can try having you sit on her in the corral.”

  Eliza bit her lip. “I’ll try, but I won’t promise that I’ll ever sit on her much less go for a ride.”

  “That’s fair,” Blake said. “I suppose we should go back to the house and make sure my aunt hasn’t offended Sarah again.”

  “Maybe Sarah is still hiding at her house.”

  Blake shrugged. “That might be. In that case, we can be there when she comes back and offer her support. I’m afraid she’ll leave if my aunt calls her a servant again.”

  Blake held out his hand and helped Eliza from the hay bale, and they walked back to the house hand in hand with a happy Barney walking at Eliza’s side.

  Constance and Aunt Hortense were sitting on the back porch when Eliza and Blake approached the house.

  “Oh, you have a dog,” Constance said. “Is it friendly?”

  Before Blake could answer, Barney stepped in front of Eliza and stopped. He growled at Constance and halted any attempt that Eliza made to walk around him.

  “What is wrong with that mongrel?” Aunt Hortense asked. “You certainly don’t let him in the house, do you? He’s growling. Perhaps you should shoot him before he injures someone.”

  Blake reined in his temper and did his best to control his anger when he answered his aunt. “Barney is a good watchdog. He warns us of coyotes or mountain lions and any strangers that approach the house. He doesn’t know you.”

  “Then I should make friends with him,” Constance said and stepped off the porch.

  Barney growled louder and pushed back against Eliza’s legs.

  Constance pouted. “It seems your dog prefers your wife. I’m going inside to read and where it is peaceful.”

  Aunt Hortense scowled at Blake, and Constance walked into the house, muttering to herself.

  “I’m sorry, Blake,” Eliza said. “I didn’t do anything to make Barney act that way.”

  “No, you didn’t, and don’t apologize. For some reason, he saw Constance as a threat and protected you. I think he’ll be your friend for the rest of his life.”

  “Well,” Aunt Hortense spluttered. “It appears you don’t know how to treat guests. I want you to keep that dog tied up and away from Constance.”

  Blake shook his head. “Barney protects us, and he’ll remain free to roam where he wants. Tell Constance to avoid him. He may bark and growl, but he won’t bite her.”

  “You are a disappointment, Blake. I never thought you would choose a mongrel dog over a lovely creature like Constance. Still, then again, you did marry a common girl, didn’t you,” Aunt Hortense spat and spun on her heels before following Constance into the house.

  “I’m s
orry,” Blake said.

  “Don’t be,” Eliza answered. “I’m used to women like your aunt, and if Sarah is a servant and I’m common, then we’re better off than all the fancy ladies.”

  Blake nearly hugged Eliza. She wasn’t common. She was amazing, and he would see to it that his aunt treated her with the respect she deserved.

  Supper that evening was a tense affair. Sarah and Eliza had set the dining room table with the good dishes. Sarah served platters of steaks, fried potatoes, green beans, and fresh biscuits with butter before telling Blake that she and Jack would have their supper in the kitchen. Blake nodded his understanding.

  Supper was mostly a silent affair with Constance staring at her plate and occasionally muttering to herself. Eliza ate her meal, doing her best not to look at Aunt Hortense and ignoring Constance.

  Finally, Blake suggested that he could give Aunt Hortense and Constance a tour of the ranch the following day.

  His aunt laid her fork on her plate before she answered. “I don’t think either Constance or I would enjoy that. There seems to be a great deal of dust here. Perhaps you could arrange something more enjoyable. A party perhaps. You do know the important people in town, don’t you?”

  Blake did his best to smile. “Yes, I know everyone in town. It isn’t that large. Who would you suggest we invite to supper? The house isn’t that large for a party unless we hold a barn dance, and you said you didn’t like the dust, so I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “A barn dance,” Aunt Hortense said, looking shocked. “People here dance in barns. Isn’t there a ballroom in town?”

  Blake laughed. “No, we hold dances in barns and have get-togethers at the church after Sunday services. There’s a potluck coming up at church. You and Constance can meet more people.”

  “No, that won’t do. Who do you know of importance in town to invite to supper?”

  “The mayor, the judge,” Blake answered. “We don’t have any political figures unless you include the sheriff.”

  “I’ve never been to a barn dance,” Eliza offered. “It does sound different from the dances back in St. Louis.”

  “They are, but I’m sure you would enjoy them,” Blake answered.

  Aunt Hortense stood. “Constance and I will retire for the night. I will think of who to invite to supper. It will be a formal supper, of course.”

  Blake nodded, “As formal as we get in these parts.”

  “Good night then,” Aunt Hortense said, and Constance followed mumbling something neither Blake nor Eliza could understand.

  Blake whispered to Eliza, “They left without having dessert. After we enjoy ours, I have a few things to take care of outside. That’ll give you time to settle in our room, and then I’ll come in and sleep on the floor.”

  “That still doesn’t seem fair,” Eliza said.

  “There’s a lock on the door, and it’ll be our secret. No one will know,” Blake said, winking at her before leaving Eliza sitting alone at the dining table.

  Chapter 10

  The following morning, Aunt Hortense seemed to be in a worse mood than the previous evening. She huffed and lifted her teacup to her lips. When she set it back on the small table beside the chair, she glared at Eliza. “How can you possibly claim to love my nephew and be his wife when you can’t tell me anything about his family?”

  Eliza’s hands twisted nervously and answered, “We haven’t’ shared every moment of our lives. We haven’t been married that long.”

  “The more I hear about this marriage, the more I don’t believe it’s real. I think you must work in town, possibly in the saloon, and Blake paid you to pretend you are his wife.”

  “What?” Eliza spluttered. “How can you say that. I have never set foot in a saloon, let alone work in one.”

  Aunt Hortense stared directly into Eliza’s eyes and said, “You are a fake. How much money did Blake give you? Whatever he paid you, I will double it if you leave this house today.”

  Shocked by Aunt Hortense’s words, Eliza stood and hurried into her room. A few moments later, she returned and held out her marriage license for Aunt Hortense to see.

  Aunt Hortense looked at the document and smiled. “These can be forged. I’m sure Blake has enough money to arrange that, too.”

  Flustered and having no words to tell Blake’s aunt what she thought, at least not politely, Eliza left the room again to return her license to her room.

  Aunt Hortense smiled. She accomplished what she set out to do. A quick glance at the certificate told her all she needed to know. Eliza’s maiden name was Woodward, and the marriage took place in St. Louis. Now, she could find out the truth about the woman married to her nephew and put an end to the marriage quickly.

  Aunt Hortense sat and finished her tea. She didn’t want to give the impression that she wanted to go to town immediately after seeing the marriage license. When she set the teacup on the small side table, she rose with a grin on her face that would make anyone suspect she had wicked intensions.

  Turning to Constance, she said, “I need to go into town. Would you like to accompany me?”

  Constance bit her lip and then sighed. “I suppose it’s better than sitting here in the house all day. You should have told me it was so boring here. No parties or balls. Blake doesn’t care about me, and there are no other gentlemen worth my time.”

  “I think that will change, my dear. That woman is not a proper wife for Blake, and I am going to do something to convince him he made a terrible mistake. When he realizes his mistake, he’ll see what a treasure you are,” Aunt Hortense asserted. “I will make certain of that.”

  Aunt Hortense walked into the kitchen and addressed Sarah as if she were a commanding general. “See to it that the buggy is ready to leave in ten minutes, and whoever drives us, make sure he is clean and doesn’t carry the odor of horses or any of the other animals you have here.” She spun on her heels and left the room.

  Sarah looked at Eliza and said, “Who does she think she is? This is not a hotel, and I am not her maid.”

  Eliza shook her head. “I don’t understand her at all, but you’re busy. I’ll go out to the barn and see if I can find a clean ranch hand to take her wherever she wants to go.”

  Sarah laughed. “Good luck with that. The men on this ranch work hard, and I doubt any of them would pass her inspection.”

  “Then she can walk,” Eliza said, and both women laughed.

  When the carriage pulled up in front of the house ten minutes later, Sarah and Eliza watched Aunt Hortense and Constance climb into the carriage, wondering what words Aunt Hortense was spewing. From the look on her face, they couldn’t be complimentary.

  “I feel sorry for Ray. I’m not sure what that cranky woman was saying, but I’m sure it wasn’t kind. I doubt we’ll see much of Ray in the next few days. He’ll ask Blake to have him ride the back range to keep away from her,” Sarah said.

  “He didn’t look happy when I asked him to accompany them to town,” Eliza offered. “I think he would have preferred to do anything else.”

  Ray stopped the carriage at the edge of town and asked, “Where would you like me to take you, Ma’am?”

  “I need to send a telegram, go to the telegraph office first.”

  Ray nodded and continued their trip, stopping outside the telegraph office. He helped Aunt Hortense from the carriage and waited with Constance while she sent her telegram.

  Aunt Hortense pushed open the door to the small wooden office that sat next to the stage stop where she first set foot in town. She cringed at the condition of the office—wood floor, plain wood walls, a wooden plank for a desk. The room had no personality and nothing to make it enticing for customers.

  A small man seated at a table behind the wooden plank looked up and said, “Good morning, Ma’am, may I help you?”

  “I need to send a telegram.”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” the man answered, sliding a slip of paper and a pencil toward her.

  Aunt Hortense wr
ote out her message and handed the paper back to the telegrapher.

  When he read it, she snapped, “Do you have to read my personal message?”

  The man smiled. “If I don’t read it, how am I going to know what to send?”

  Aunt Hortense was forced to agree but scowled when the man questioned her.

  “We don’t have anyone in town named Eliza Woodward. I know everyone around here. Are you sure you have the right name? You don’t want to pay to send this all the way to New York if you don’t have the right name, and besides, why are you asking about St. Louis? We aren’t in St. Louis.”

  Aunt Hortense reined in her temper and did her best to smile. “If you must know, I met the young lady when I traveled through St. Louis. I want to know all about her before I offer her employment.”

  The man nodded. “That makes sense. I’ll get this out right away. Where do you want the answer sent?”

  “I will be in town for a while, and I will check back. If there isn’t any message for me then, you can send the messages to Blake Montgomery’s ranch.”

  He glanced at the message again for her name and said, “Yes, Ma’am, Missus Montgomery.”

  Aunt Hortense strolled back to the carriage, asking herself how anyone would prefer this town over the comforts New York offered.

  Ray helped Aunt Hortense back into the carriage and asked where she would like to stop next.

  “Is there a seamstress shop and a café in town?”

  “Yes, Ma’am. Our café is right across the road from the dress shop,” Ray answered.

  “Then take us to the seamstress shop and pick us up in two hours at the café,” Aunt Hortense instructed.

  Ray drove to the seamstress shop, helped both ladies from the carriage, and then headed back to the ranch as quickly as safety allowed.

  When Constance and Aunt Hortense entered the dress shop, Aunt Hortense looked around and shook her head. “I doubt they will have anything that you’re used to, but we will do the best we can to have them make you a dress for the supper I insisted Blake host to welcome us to town. He will see what a real lady looks like.”