His Substitute Mail-Order Bride Page 4

  She caught her lower lip between her teeth. “If you want to read Susannah’s letter, I can drive the mule.”

  The change of subject piqued his curiosity. Each time he asked a personal question, she turned the tables on him.

  “Reading the letter won’t change anything,” Russ said. “Your explanation seemed clear enough.”

  Two months before, Will had convinced him to send for a mail-order bride. The mayor had decided to run for the Senate and had convinced Russ to campaign for the local office in his place. Voters preferred the stability of a married man over a bachelor, and Russ was ready to settle down and start a family. After corresponding with Susannah Lowe, he’d finally sent for her. Their letters had been cordial. They’d both agreed to a marriage of mutual convenience. Russ had needed a wife to legitimize his political career, and Susannah had been looking for a husband.

  For the second time, his fiancée had left him for another man. At least with Susannah, they’d never actually met in person. Charlotte’s betrayal had been more difficult to bear. Especially since he suspected that Charlotte had only been encouraging him to make another man jealous. A colleague had hinted at the rumors, but Russ had ignored the warning. His frustration at Charlotte’s behavior had been directed as much at Charlotte as at himself. He’d seen what he wanted to see. A fault that ran in his family.

  Nine years before, a drought had struck his hometown of Big Bend, Missouri, and the ranchers had fallen upon hard times. A ruthless entrepreneur, Zane Ogden, had appeared with a charming smile and a friendly offer of assistance. With a seemingly endless supply of money, he made loans to various ranchers. The initial deals had seemed too good to be true. They were. The fine print required ruinous interest payments and stiff penalties, including the loss of the ranches put up as collateral.

  Russ’s father, Gilbert, had been the unofficial leader of the local ranching community, and he’d warned people to stay away from Ogden. When several friends became entangled in Ogden’s web, his father had agreed to speak with the man and see if anything could be done. Those were the facts that Russ knew for certain. The subsequent events were filled with conjecture and guesswork, a mystery that had torn a rift between his two brothers, Seth and Adam.

  As far as anyone knew, their father had gone to Ogden’s home late one evening and had never returned. To everyone’s shock, despite his advice to others, their father had taken out a loan. When he couldn’t repay the balance, he’d fled from his debts and his responsibilities. Russ had initially been skeptical, but Zane had produced paperwork containing a signature from their father, with the sheriff as the witness, showing that he’d taken out a substantial loan. Russ figured his father must have lied to his friends about borrowing the money because he was ashamed. Unable to pay back the loan, he’d abandoned his family.

  Initially, Russ had struggled with the truth. The man he knew as his father was forthright and honorable. He’d never abandon his family. Over the years, Russ’s opinion had shifted. There were people in this world who could sell sand in the desert. There were people who could steal the pension from a widowed grandmother without blinking. There were people who made their living off the misfortunes of others. His father, like so many others before and after, had merely fallen prey to a charming swindler.

  By working around the clock to squeeze out every cent of profit, his older brother, Seth, was able to pay off the loan in full, saving the family ranch from foreclosure.

  Seth was convinced their father had never signed the paperwork and was killed, though the body had never been found. Russ believed their father had signed the paperwork and abandoned the family. The difference of opinion had driven a wedge between the brothers.

  His father’s shame had compelled Russ in his law career to assist those being swindled or left out in the cold due to flaws in bureaucracy. He’d made a name for himself fighting for veterans’ rights after the Civil War, which put him in correspondence with various former soldiers, including the leaders of Cowboy Creek.

  Eventually, Will Canfield invited him to come out and open a law practice in their booming town. Russ had accepted, and when he saw the endless opportunities in the area, he’d encouraged his mother and Seth to sell the ranch and buy land in Kansas. Though Russ had his own house and business in town, at least they’d all be closer. Last autumn, they’d taken him up on the offer.

  He’d put the incident with Charlotte in the past, or so he’d thought. Apparently, the past had just caught up to him. Anna’s unexpected arrival along with Susannah’s defection had stirred up all the old feelings. He was as much embarrassed for the man he’d been as for what had happened. There was too much of his father in him. He’d run from Charlotte’s betrayal rather than face the humiliation.

  There’d be no running this time.

  “Did Susannah confide in you?” he asked.

  Susannah’s letters tended to be unfocused and rambling. He might as well get to the heart of the matter rather than wade through a sea of frivolous words.

  “Just what you already know,” Anna said. “Susannah wanted me to send her sincerest apologies. She didn’t mean to fall in love with someone else. It just, well, it just happened.”

  “Just happened, huh?” Russ didn’t bother to disguise the bitterness in his voice. “I’ve heard that before.”

  How could he fault his father for running from his mistakes when there were times when Russ wanted nothing more than to do the same himself? Cowboy Creek was a fresh start, but now he felt like the boy he’d been all those years ago, his pride wounded.

  No matter his own feelings, Susannah’s change of mind didn’t explain Anna’s unexpected appearance. While Susannah’s letter might shed light on the matter, Russ wanted to hear what Anna had to say first.

  This time, he wasn’t falling for a change of subject. “How do you know Susannah?”

  “She’s a friend.” Anna twisted her hands in the material of her skirt. “More of an acquaintance, really.”

  “And you hand-delivered a letter, traveling hundreds of miles across patches of hostile territory, from an acquaintance?”

  “The social groups in Philadelphia overlap. Surely you remember how things were? When Susannah fell in love, she came to me for advice. Since you were once engaged to Charlotte, she thought I might be of help.”

  “I see.”

  He didn’t understand anything. Why compound the betrayal by introducing someone from his past?

  “I borrowed Susannah’s ticket,” Anna said. “I hope you’ll excuse the imposition, but I’m unable to reimburse you for the fare right away. I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

  “A train ticket is the least of my worries.”

  He wasn’t a struggling law clerk pinching every penny anymore. While his heart wasn’t involved, there were practical decisions to consider. How was he going to explain to his mother and brother that he’d been jilted yet again? Seth might have laughed at him before, but now that he had a family of his own, he was eager for his brother to follow suit. Adam, if he were here, would probably call him foolish for sending for someone he’d never met in the first place.

  There was also his political career to consider. Married men were considered more attractive candidates to hold public office. He’d set his plan in motion to run for mayor, and single men didn’t win political races.

  Anna glanced at him from beneath her eyelashes. “Susannah mentioned that you were quite successful in Cowboy Creek.”

  A prickly sensation raised the hairs on the back of his neck. “Business is going well.”

  “Considering our past connection, I was hoping to ask a small favor of you?”

  His heart beat a strange, uneven rhythm. “Other than using my fiancée’s train ticket?”

  Anna’s already pale complexion turned ashen. “It was nothing.”

  “I’m sorry, Anna.” Russ scrub
bed a hand down his face. All the tattered feelings had come rushing back. He’d been looking forward to starting a new life and raising a family and hadn’t yet adjusted to the disappointment. Having the sister of his former fiancée staring at him like a lost waif wasn’t helping matters. “For Charlotte’s sake, I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

  “You have every right to be angry with me.”

  “I’m not angry, Anna. I’m frustrated. Have you ever been traveling along a path, only to find that nothing is turning out the way you expected?”

  “I’ve had that sensation. Yes.”

  A jolt spiked through him. That’s all he felt. Frustration. Not sadness or disappointment. Not heartbreak. If anything, he was annoyed. He and Susannah had struck a deal, and now she was changing the deal. He’d approached their relationship as though he was approaching a contract negotiation. They both wanted something the other had: Susannah had craved the security a husband could provide, and he’d wanted a family and children. While emotions were best left out of contract negotiations, they seeped into personal matters.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. The weary note in Anna’s voice sent a pang of regret through him. “I shouldn’t have asked. You’re not in the middle of this any more than you were in the middle of what happened between Charlotte and me.”

  “You don’t have to apologize.”

  He’d been so young and naive with Charlotte. Anna had been even younger. They were a thousand days and a thousand miles from who’d they’d been all those years ago. He’d approached his relationship with Charlotte as an eager schoolboy, and he’d kept a level head with Susannah. Neither approach had saved him from disappointment.

  Rehashing the past wasn’t doing either of them any good. “You said you needed a favor. How can I help?”

  There was an exhausted slope to Anna’s shoulders that reminded him of the battle-hardened soldiers he’d met during the war. Her eyes spoke of a soul-deep sorrow, and his heart softened.

  “I need a job.” She rushed ahead. “I’m a hard worker. I can cook and clean. I even assisted my late husband in his law office. I heard there’s a new hotel in town. Perhaps they need a maid? You must know people.”

  He barely managed to hide his shock at her request. What catastrophe had forced her on this path? Her family had been quite well off. Had she fallen on hard times before or after her marriage? Why did that even matter? She was here now. Here and in need. Plenty of men had gained and lost fortunes while the country rebuilt. Following the war, more than one man had made imprudent investments.

  “You’re exhausted,” he said. She was in no shape to clean hotel rooms. “We’ll settle everything after you’ve had a chance to rest.”

  “Never mind. I shouldn’t have imposed.”

  Russ flipped back the edge of his coat and planted one hand on his hip. The throbbing in his head intensified. He wasn’t putting her off. He was truly concerned about her current state. Why did she insist on reading the worst into his innocent words?

  The deep creases around Anna’s eyes spoke of too little sleep and too much worry. She was fatigued beyond a lengthy train journey.

  Russ looked at her for the first time. Really looked at her. A thousand tiny clues added together. Anna was widowed. She was riding the train on a borrowed ticket. She was too thin. She was desperate for a job but hadn’t gone to her sister for help.

  Something had gone terribly wrong in her young life.

  She was evading the real question, and though it pained him to push her, he craved answers. “I could better help you if you told me the truth.”

  Chapter Three

  Why did Russ have to be so perceptive?

  Pursing her lips, Anna pointed at the distant horizon. “Is that Cowboy Creek?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s larger than I expected.”

  “The train route helps. We have a thriving depot.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “I promise I only have your best interests in mind,” Russ said. “If you reconsider, and you’d like a friend, I’m here for you.”

  She was desperately trying to evade his questions. Most men enjoyed talking about themselves. Why must he keep turning the conversation back to her?

  “You know the truth.” She twisted a bonnet ribbon around her finger. “I’m a widow. I borrowed Susannah’s ticket. I need work. You know everything there is to know about me.”

  Her pulse thrummed in her ears. Though she longed to confide in someone, she caught the words before they escaped. If he knew what they were saying about her in Philadelphia, he’d never agree to help. At best, he’d treat her with pity, at worst, derision. This was her one chance to start over. She didn’t have any other choice but to remain silent.

  “Anna,” he began, “I don’t feel I know you at all. Not anymore.”

  “All I need is a job reference,” she said. “Finding work benefits both of us. I’ll be able to repay the cost of the ticket sooner. Unless you’re uncomfortable. We haven’t seen each other in years, after all.”

  “I’m happy to give you a reference. I’ll do whatever I can. You have to know that you can count on me for help.”

  Anna narrowed her gaze. What if she was making a terrible mistake? Trusting the wrong man had led her down the path of destruction once before. What if he wanted something in repayment for helping her? She didn’t have much to give. Perhaps he was being charitable, or perhaps not. These past few years had her questioning everyone’s motives. Though he must know she had nothing to offer, she’d best be on her guard.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I didn’t mean to sound surly.”

  She’d take him at his word that he’d help her find a job. Nothing more. Cowboy Creek was her best chance at living free of the scandal, and she most certainly wasn’t confiding in anyone about her recent troubles. Especially Russ. With his past connections in Philadelphia, he could rip open the story before she had a chance to escape again.

  “I understand pride, Anna.” He glanced at her askance. “Just remember that pride often comes before a fall.”

  “Pride is not the problem.”

  She had more important things to consider. Things like surviving to the next week, the next month, the next year. Pride was the least of her worries. The news in Philadelphia had shredded whatever vanity she might have possessed.

  “Then I won’t press you,” Russ said.

  Her heartbeat slowed to a normal rhythm once again. “Thank you.”

  “We’re almost there. I’m sure you’ll want to rest after we’ve visited the doctor.”

  For now, she’d be grateful for the things that had turned out well. At least she wasn’t stranded in the next town over. At least she’d made it this far. At least he didn’t know about the scandal. Yet.

  He was suspicious of her. Sooner or later that skepticism was going to get the better of him, and he was going to make inquiries. He’d sent to Philadelphia for a bride, after all, which meant he kept in touch with people he knew there. How long could she hide? Once he mentioned their renewed acquaintance to his friends back east, someone was bound to share the salacious gossip. After all, it had only been three months since Edward’s death had made her a widow.

  At least letters traveled slowly in this part of the country. Perhaps by the time he discovered her secret, she’d have enough money to relocate to another town.

  “I don’t need a doctor,” she grumbled. “I just need a little rest.” She stifled a yawn. Lately, it felt as though no matter how much she slept, she still needed another hour or two.

  Russ touched the gash on his forehead. “The doctor is for me.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean...”

  “Relax, Anna. I’m teasing you. I’m trying to put you at ease. You used to enjoy my jokes.”

  She tugged at a loose button on the wrist of h
er glove. “That was a long time ago. A lot has happened since then.”

  He rested his hand over hers, dwarfing her fingers in a brief embrace before pulling away. “You have my condolences on your father.”

  His touch stirred up long-dormant feelings. The statement was a diplomatic concession considering the treatment he’d received from her father following the jilting.

  “His death was painless.” Her stomach dropped. Russ knew her father had passed away, therefore he must keep in touch with people back home. People who might share the circumstances of her husband’s untimely death. “He didn’t suffer.”

  “Losing a loved one is never easy.”

  Her heart pounded against her ribs once more. He was going to discover the truth, and then what? Would he keep her secret?

  “He always seemed invincible.” She tugged on the loose thread. If she lost the button on her glove, she’d never find a match. She’d have to replace them all. “He was always such a powerful presence, I somehow thought he’d live forever.”

  “I suppose we all think our parents are invincible when we’re young.”

  A memory tugged at the edges of her recollections. There was a hint of scandal surrounding Russ’s father, though she couldn’t recall the exact circumstances. She’d been too young at the time, and whispered conversations had come to a halt when she entered the room.

  She yanked the button free. What did buttons matter? What did any of this matter anyway? There was no use delving into either of their pasts. After today, she doubted she’d see Russ again. He probably wanted to be rid of her just as quickly as she wanted to escape his company.

  Disappointment warred with relief. The less he saw of her, the less likely he was to consider her past.

  If only he was the ogre she’d invented over the past five years instead of this handsome, solicitous savior. Then again, nothing else had gone as planned; why should her experience with Russ be any different? She’d missed the train, she’d been accosted by outlaws, and Russ wasn’t the cruel villain she’d invented after he’d jilted her sister. The more she knew about him, the more he challenged the assumptions she’d brought forward from all those years ago.