Laurel: Bride of Arkansas (American Mail-Order Bride 25) (4 page)

Laurel found herself wanting to run from the yard, such was her mortification. What was he doing? He’d purposely embarrassed her and he’d been so nice until now. All the way back to their room, she pondered the wisdom of confronting him about his behavior. Had he no manners? Didn’t he know how important a reputation was in any town, especially a small one?

Once they were upstairs, he unlocked the door and followed her inside, but remained by the open door.

“I’ll go over to the saloon while you get ready for bed.” He removed his coat and hung it on the back of the chair. “How long do you want me to stay away?”

She stood facing the window that looked out onto the street, her thoughts in turmoil. She knew what he expected from her, she wasn’t naïve about the wedding night. But, after his ungentlemanly statement in front of their hosts and guests, how could he assume her to be willing? Her situation might be dire, but she wasn’t that desperate. She had to let him know from the start that he couldn’t treat her badly and receive privileges.

“Laurel?”

“I think, Mr. Benning, you should find another place to sleep tonight.”

“Excuse me?”

“I didn’t appreciate your comment this evening. It was crude, embarrassing, and unnecessary.” She jumped slightly as the door closed with a thunk.

“Aren’t you being a little over sensitive?”

“Am I?” She straightened her shoulders, folded her arms across her waist, and turned around. “We don’t know each other, so I don’t know if you were tired, trying to be funny, or just plain cranky. Whatever the issue, you put me in an untenable position for being new in Flat Rock Point.

“My reputation has to be established and be above reproach for you, your daughters and myself. I’m not a prude and I enjoy a joke as much as anyone, but some things, be they direct or implied, should remain between you and me.”

He examined his work boots and raised his gaze to meet hers. “All right, I apologize. I’ll think about what you said, and I’ll find a card game that’ll last most of the night. Sleep well.”

“Won’t you try to sleep?”

Glancing toward the window, he said, “Like you, I have a reputation to uphold. My friends at the saloon are expecting me to bed my wife and I can’t do that if I’m not here.”

She gave that a thought and realized he was right. “I take your point, Griffin. You may sleep here.”

Giving her a wicked smile, he grabbed the coverlet and a pillow off the bed and threw them in a pile on the floor beneath the window. He removed his boots, tossed his hat onto a chair, laid down and faced the wall. “Good night, Mrs. Benning.”

He couldn’t have surprised her more if he’d wrapped the curtains around his head and danced around the room. She’d expected him to try to charm his way into her bed and, if she’d allowed herself to dwell on it, she might have been a little disappointed he didn’t. He was a handsome man and she was admittedly curious about the things young ladies weren’t supposed to think about.

She sat on the edge of the bed, slipped off her shoes and unfastened her blouse. It would be a slice of heaven to escape the confines of her corset, but she was simply too tired to manage it. She’d change her clothes tomorrow. Resting her head on the pillow, she closed her eyes and thought about her new home, her new husband, and her new life.

***

Griffin balanced the tray of ham, eggs, biscuits and gravy on one hand as he opened the door to the hotel room. He’d awakened an hour ago with his face drenched in morning sunlight, his neck stiff as a log, and his stomach grabbing onto his backbone. Laurel was still sleeping, so he tried to keep the noise down as he entered.

He poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot and stuffed a slice of ham into a biscuit and settled in to watch his wife sleep. She was as pretty asleep as she was awake and he sent another thank you heavenward for his good fortune. He hoped she was as pleased with the hand she’d drawn.

She stretched and yawned, and looked about the room as if to gain her bearings. When she caught sight of him, she sat straight up in the bed and shrieked.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s just me.”

“You startled me is all, I forgot where I was.” She stood, straightened her clothes, and joined him at the table. “This looks delicious. I could almost eat that napkin I’m so hungry.”

“Take my advice and stay with the eggs and ham, they have more flavor.” He chuckled and fixed her a plate, along with a cup of coffee.

She took a few bites and leaned back in her chair. Looking over at the make-shift bed on the floor, she asked, “How did you sleep last night?”

“I’ve slept in worse places.” He angled a glance across the table and rubbed the back of his neck. “Are you feeling guilty?”

“Not enough to change my mind.”

“Duly noted.” He found he liked her spunk and backbone, and would be wise to watch himself in the future if he didn’t want a repeat of last night. “Shall we get ready to head for the house?”

CHAPTER FOUR

Laurel watched the countryside roll by as Griffin drove the two horse team and wagon to his home. Her new home. She could hardly wait to see it. So far their time together hadn’t allowed her the opportunity to ask him anything about his place, so she grabbed this chance while they were alone.

“This is beautiful country, Griffin.”

“That it is.” He held the reins loosely laced through his fingers. “Even with the drought we’ve had, the trees and grasses are a deep green.”

“I’m surprised to see mountains here. Is there much snow in winter?”

“Some, but we’ve not been snowed in since I’ve lived here.” Shifting in the seat, he worked the reins to direct the horses around a few ruts in the road. “I imagine you’re used to a lot of snow where you’re from.”

“Oh, yes.” She beamed. “I love the snow. The air is so invigorating, and everything is beautiful and magical.”

He angled a glance at her and grinned.

“You’re laughing at me.”

“No, I’m not.” He shook his head. “I like your enthusiasm. Too many people do nothing but complain, and it’s tiresome.”

She wondered at his bitter tone if he was referring to something or someone specific. “Sometimes life is beyond my control, but I do my best. I much prefer to be happy.” Lately, there hadn’t been too much to be happy about. By coming here and marrying a stranger, she hoped to drastically turn her life around. What kind of a fool was she?
The sad and pitiful kind, if you rely on someone else for your happiness
. “Tell me about your house. What does it look like?”

“The house is sturdy, built of logs, with large rooms and windows to let in the light.” He applied the brake to slow the wagon as they started down a hill. “There’s plenty of room for you and your things, and you’re welcome to decorate anyway you want. I know women like to make nests.”

“That’s nice of you to offer. I did bring a few of my things to help me make the transition to my new home. I have some linens and curtains, and a few of my favorite trinkets.”

“Good. I want you to feel at home. If there’s anything you need, just let me know and I’ll do what I can.”

“There is something I’m curious about.” She glanced down at her hands while waiting for him to answer.

“Sure, shoot.”

“I’m very excited to meet your daughters, and you have yet to mention much about them.” She was terrified, but she couldn’t let him know that. She’d led him to believe she could take care of his children and she would. After all, she’d been a girl, how hard could it be? “Will they be at the house when we get there?”

“No, it’s next to impossible for me to take care of my children being by myself. They’ve been living with their grandparents in Little Rock, for a while now. They’ll be home for Thanksgiving.”

“Good, that will give me more than enough time to get settled in and work out any inconsistencies with the staff. I’m looking forward to working with everyone.” She stole a quick glance his way, but kept her side of the conversation moving. She wanted him to know she could handle most any household situation. “I’m familiar with the ins and outs of running a house. If there are any special meals you want, I’ll be sure to have them on the menu.”

“Laurel, I think you may have misunderstood  . . .”

“Oh look!” As he drove the wagon around a bend in the road, the most beautiful valley she’d ever seen came into view. “Griffin, this is more gorgeous than I could’ve imagined, the river, the land, the house. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For asking me to be a part of this with you.”

“You’re welcome. I just hope you continue to feel that way after we get there.”

“Well, of course, I will.” She slipped her hands around his arm and squeezed. Barely able to contain her excitement, she asked, “How much longer before we’ll be there?”

“Maybe a half an hour. It’ll take us some extra time with the narrow road and the extra weight in the back.”

He’d mentioned her trunks several times since he’d loaded them into the wagon at the train station. She didn’t care. In just a little while, she’d be home and that was all that mattered.

***

“Whoa, there.” Griffin said to the horses. He set the brake and tied the reins around the handle, and then jumped to the ground from the wagon seat. He reached his hands around Laurel’s waist to help her down beside him. His thumbs and fingers nearly touched, emphasizing her petite size. The small trees he worked with were larger than she.

She rested her hands on his forearms, looked up at him and smiled. “Is it all right if I go inside and look around?”

“Yes, but I’d like to say something—”

“Hey, Boss, you’re back!”

His foreman’s sons raced over to them from the direction of the barn. He’d told them to find someplace to be when he came back with his bride. Since they were still here, he assumed they hadn’t done that or anything else he’d asked them to do. Reluctantly, he removed his hands from Laurel’s waist and introduced her.

“Clem and Otto Hailstock, this is my wife, Mrs. Benning.”

“Hello, I’m pleased to meet you both.” She offered her hand in greeting, but each one picked her up and spun her around instead.

“Howdy, I’m Clem.”

“And, I’m Otto.”

Griffin rescued her and set her at his side, before Otto passed her back to Clem. “She isn’t a rag doll, boys.”

“Thanks,” she said under her breath, as she straightened her jacket and skirt. “How wonderful that you’re twins. Be patient with me while I learn who goes with which name.”

“Oh that’s easy, I’m Otto and I always wear a plain shirt, while Clem, he wears a plaid shirt.”

“That is easy,” she agreed.

“Yeah, unless we want to trick you.” Clem slugged his brother in the shoulder and the two heehawed their delight.

“You won’t be trying to trick me, now, will you fellas?”

“Um, no ma’am.” The boys hung their heads and answered in unison.

Griffin covered a grin at the boys’ immediate change in demeanor. He’d wondered how Laurel would be with children, but if she could handle the eighteen-year-old Hailstock twins so easily, with their rough and tumble nature, then his girls should be a piece of cake.

“Did you two do the chores I asked you to?”

“Yessir,” Clem answered.

Otto gulped. “Well, partly.”

Uh, huh, that’s what he thought. They were supposed to have cleaned the inside of the house before he brought Laurel home. If it looked even remotely like it did when he left yesterday morning, she would likely start running toward town and not wait for the wagon.

“Why don’t you go ahead and finish up that job, while I show Laurel around the yard and barns. We’ll join you in a little bit.”

“Yessir!” Both boys took off running toward the house and disappeared inside.

“Come on, I’ll show you what made me fall in love with this piece of land.”

“I can’t imagine anything more beautiful than what I’ve already seen.”

‘You’ll see.” He walked her by the first barn and corral for his horses, milk cows, and chickens. “Now, this second, smaller barn will eventually hold hay plus farm and ranch tools. It will give me the room I need to purchase and house more stock for the farm.”

“I don’t know anything about the timber business or logging, but how do you plan to do both, logging and farming, and why do you need to?”