His Secondhand Wife

“What are you sayin’, girl?” Her mother raised a hand and pointed at Noah. “You sellin’ yourself off to this man now? He just wants free labor.”

“I got hands, lady, and I pay ’em well,” he corrected in a gruff tone.

The woman squinted in suspicion. “What do you need her for then?”

“Appears she’s the one needs me.” Noah turned his attention to the daughter. “Coming?”

Kate turned, grabbed a gunny sack and stuffed her meager belongings into it. She didn’t pause to see if she’d forgotten anything, neither did she stop to think or to reconsider. She plucked her coat and bonnet from the hook, worked her feet into her boots and walked to the door. “Goodbye, Mama. I’ll write.”

The big man followed her out, took hold of her elbow and guided her to a horse tied at the post.

“I have a wagon at the livery,” he said. “To carry the coffin home.”

She tied the limp ribbons of her blue gingham sunbonnet under her chin. “Of course.”

“For now, it’s the horse.”

“I’m fine with that.”

He placed one foot in the stirrup and, with a creak of leather, hoisted himself onto the saddle, then reached down to her.

“Katy, you crazy fool girl, don’t think you can come back here again after you make a mess o’ things one more time!” her mother cawed from behind.

Kate took Noah Cutter’s gloved hand, stepped on his boot and pulled herself up behind his massive form. He raised his coat and ordered, “Hold on to my belt.”

Kate did as told, first encountering his wide leather holster, then finding the warmth of his flannel shirt against her fingers intimate but comforting. He urged the horse into motion and she hung on.

“Katy!”

She didn’t look back. She’d been a dolt to fall for Levi Cutter, his handsome face and winsome ways. She’d made a fool of herself and he’d left her behind like so much used garbage. All her dreams for a better life and her hopes of leaving this place had been dashed. Taking a good hard look inside herself, she questioned if her heart had been broken or if her pride had simply been wounded.

The ache in her chest was more shame than hurt.

Maybe she was crazy for leaving with a man she’d never met before. Maybe listening to his promise of a home and setting out without a backward glance was rash.

But then again, this could be the best thing that had ever happened. Maybe there was still a chance for her and her baby to have a good life.

And she’d be crazy not to take a chance on that.

Chapter Two

The bearded giant was silent the entire ride to the livery, as well as while he prepared the wagon, tied his horse to the rear and ushered her up to the seat. The brim of his black felt hat shaded his face the whole while, so without deliberately staring, she still hadn’t had a good look at the man.

For several minutes Kate studied the plain pine box that held her husband before settling herself and determinedly looking ahead. She hadn’t had time to absorb all that was happening and still felt a little numb. She was sure reality would catch up with her later.

Finally, Noah Cutter climbed up beside her and took up the reins in hands sheathed by tanned leather gloves.

“How far is Copper Creek?” she asked.

“’Bout a day and a half’s ride west.”

“You mean, we’ll be traveling all night?”

“We’ll camp to rest the horses.”

She nodded and prepared herself for the journey and the new experience. Her stomach felt a little queasy now that she was going through with this. “I’ve lived my whole life in Boulder.”

He didn’t respond, so she took her last look at the city she detested, thought of all the miners’and well-to-do residents’ clothing she’d washed and ironed over the years, and said a silent good riddance.

Even if she had to do laundry for this man and his family for the rest of her years, it would be less of a burden than scraping out an existence on her own. “Tell me about your home.”

“Run several thousand head on the Rockin’ C. Good water and grazing.”

“What about the house?”

“My father built it. Two stories, a front porch. The hands eat in a separate building.”

“Do you have a family there?”

“Levi was my family.”

No wife or children? “Where will I stay?”

“Four rooms upstairs, one is mine. You can have one on the opposite end.”

“I will work for my keep, I was serious about that.”

She felt his gaze on her, as though he was sizing her up for her usefulness. She glanced toward him, but he looked away, hair and hat brim once again shading his face.

“Is the Rockin’ C where Levi grew up?”

He nodded.

“He never told me much about his family. I never knew where he was from. Does your father know about…about what happened to Levi yet?”

“My father’s dead.”

“Your mother?” she ventured.

“Mother, too. Wired Levi’s mother. She’ll be ex-pectin’ us.”

“You and Levi had different mothers?”

He nodded again.

Kate studied the countryside, weary of pulling information from the taciturn man. There was snow on the mountain peaks, but the conifers blanketing the lower regions were a dozen shades of vivid green. A craggy range blanketed in white caught her attention and she pointed. “Look how much snow is left.”

“Indian Peaks,” he replied.