The Cowboy's Surprise Bride

“I built it for Margaret.”

Linette’s eyes widened. “But she said...” She looked about at the tiny quarters and shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“I wanted it to be a surprise. I see now I should have informed her about the house. But you can write and tell her how special it is. Once she knows, she’ll reconsider and come.”

She fixed him with a direct stare. “You really believe that’s all there is to her refusal to come?” Her gaze demanded honesty.

His neck knotted and he squeezed the back of it. He thought Margaret wanted to share his life. He still believed it. Surely what he had to offer was acceptable to Margaret. She only objected to meager quarters and that would soon be a thing of the past. He looked about the small room. “I obviously don’t need help running this place. And I don’t need or want a pioneer wife. My wife will have a cook and housekeeper to help her run the big house.” He returned to confront her demanding look. “But with winter coming on—”

“You’ll tolerate our presence until spring?” Her voice carried a low note of something he couldn’t quite put his thumb on. Warning? Challenge?

He scrubbed the back of his neck again, wondering how much more tension it could take before something snapped. Most of his time was spent with animals who had little to say but moo and with cowboys known to be laconic. It didn’t much prepare him to pick up on subtle nuances of social communication, but even a dolt would understand her question was more than mere conversation. “I expect we’ll have to tolerate each other, crowded as we’ll be in these quarters.”

Cassie spun away to stare at the door. “I should have stayed in Montreal.”

Linette gave her a tight smile. “You weren’t exactly happy there, if I recall.”

“Seems happiness is too much to hope for.”

Linette hurried to her side and wrapped an arm around the woman’s waist. “Of course it’s not. We’ll be happy here. About as happy as we make up our minds to be. All of us.” The look she sent Eddie warned him to disagree or make it impossible. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Gardiner?”

“I’m sure we can be civilized. After all, we’re adults.” Except for young Grady, and all eyes turned toward him. “I expect he’s the only one we need to be concerned about.” The child had been abandoned then put into the care of strangers. Which made Eddie that much more grateful to his father for the life he’d been given.

Seeing everyone watching him, Grady started to whimper. The boy’s fears vibrated through the room.

Eddie thought of stroking the child’s head to calm him but knew it would only upset him further. He was at a loss to know how to comfort the boy.

Linette knelt to face Grady squarely. “You’re safe here. We’ll take care of you.”

“I want my mama,” he wailed loudly.

Linette dropped to the floor, pulled the boy to her lap and crooned as she rocked him. “Mr. Gardiner, I believe Grady is hungry. Can you direct me to the food supplies and I’ll gladly make us tea.”

Food? He had no food to speak of in the cabin. “I’ve been taking my meals over at the cookhouse.” Would they like to go to the cookhouse, too?

Grady wailed louder, as if Eddie had announced they were all about to starve. Seems Grady had answered the question. He would not be comfortable among so many strangers. Best to let them eat here. “I’ll rustle up some supplies right away.” Grateful for an excuse to escape the cabin, crowded as it was with bodies and feelings, he grabbed his coat and hat and headed across the yard.

Dare he hope the weather would moderate long enough for the stagecoach driver to decide to venture back to Edendale or Fort Benton? If so, he would have that trio on their way.

But he knew that scenario was about as likely as finding a satchel full of money on the ground before him.

Another thought sprang to life. After less than an hour his nerves were strung tight as a drum. How would he endure months of this?

Chapter Two

Eddie told Cookie the whole story as he waited for her to put together supplies for the unwelcome guests. “I intend to rectify the situation just as soon as the snow goes.” With any favor from the Lord above, that would be sooner rather than later. Until then, he would simply make the best of it.

“She ugly?” Cookie demanded.

“She’s passable.”

“Cross-eyed?”

“No. Can you get things together a little faster?”

“I’m goin’ as fast as these old legs will go.”

Eddie let out a long, exasperated sigh. Cookie wasn’t old except when it pleased her to be so. The rest of the time she kept up a pace that would wear out a horse.

“Then she’s got those horrible teeth so many women have.” Cookie did a marvelous imitation of a beaver with protruding upper front teeth.

“Didn’t notice any such teeth when she smiled.” Though he did note how she carried herself with such grace. She hadn’t been raised to be a pioneer woman. Why would she choose it? “Now, how about some tea? You got lots or do I need to run to the supply shed?” Provisions for the winter months were stored in a tight outbuilding lined with tin to keep rodents out.

“I got tea enough to spare. Smile, did you say? So she has a pleasant nature?”

“Look, Cookie. I’ve spent only a few minutes in her company. It’s not enough time for me to form an evaluation of her personality.” Except to note she had a cheerful laugh and—it seemed at first meeting—an equally cheerful nature. Matched by a dreadfully stubborn attitude.

Cookie laughed boisterously and clapped him on the shoulder hard enough to set him forward a step. “Guess you won’t be able to say that after a winter together in that tiny shack.”

Her husband, Bertie, came in with a load of wood for the big stove. “Bertie,” Cookie roared. “There’s two women and a little boy in Eddie’s shack.”

Eddie groaned at the blatant pleasure wreathing Bertie’s face.

“Well, I’ll be hornswoggled and hog-tied. This is turning into a real homey sit’ation. Eddie, lad, you’ve surprised us real good.”

Cookie and Bertie grinned at each other like a pair of silly children.

“It’s all a mistake, as I told Cookie. They’ll go home come spring. I’d send them now only the stagecoach isn’t running, and with winter—”

“Eddie, lad, I’m thinking this opportunity is a rare one. Don’t be letting it slip through your fingers.” Bertie nodded and grinned.

“I’m of like mind, my love. I’m of like mind.” Cookie clapped her husband hard on the back.

Eddie wasn’t a bit sorry for the other man when he shifted under his wife’s hearty affections. “It’s temporary. Why can’t you accept that?” He grabbed the sack and stomped across the yard, their laughter echoing at his heels.

* * *

“He’s not happy to have us here.” Cassie’s observation was almost laughable.

Linette simply smiled. “Then it’s up to us to convince him otherwise.” She had not come this far and prayed this hard to give up at the first sign of resistance. Though she hadn’t expected to be resisted. No doubt his initial reaction was fueled by pain. It couldn’t be pleasant to know he’d been rejected.

Cassie snorted. “Don’t expect me to try to sweeten him up. If you ask me, I’d say the man is as stubborn as he is high.”

Yes, he was a tall man. And well built. And he had a smile that drove the clouds from her mind. None of which mattered as much as a single gray hair. All that mattered was she had the winter—God willing and the cold weather continued—to convince him a marriage of convenience suited him. She saw no other way out of her predicament. “I’d say he has high ideals. That could serve us well.”

Cassie stared as if Linette had suggested something underhand.

Linette sighed. Cassie seemed bent on seeing everything in some dreadful fashion. “I only mean that a man with honor can be trusted.”