Violet: Bride of North Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride 39) (16 page)

Behind her, she heard curses and running footsteps, much closer than she’d hoped.

Perhaps she couldn’t outrun him, so she would hide. She quietly pressed herself against a tree. In the darkness, he shouldn’t be able to see her.

She tried to still her ragged breathing so he wouldn’t hear her, and her heart pounded ferociously—loud enough she feared James would hear the sound. She heard his footsteps pound closer, and closer, and closer—and then she saw his shadow as he ran past on the road, his curses loud as his breath grew more deep as he ran.

Fear overtook her. Fear—and anger! Rage, even, burned within her.

After a long moment, she carefully stepped back from the tree.

What now? Did she run back to the cabin, climb onto the bench of the carriage, and push the horses back into town? If she did, would he jump into the wagon as she passed and overcome her?

Did she stay where she was, staying hidden long enough to give Daniel a chance to find her? Oh, how she hoped he would find her! But did he even know she was gone?

The wolf howled again. Was it her imagination, or was it closer now?

The carriage it was, then.

I was caught between the man who’d kidnapped me and the wolves I could hear howling closer and closer.

(Journal Entry, Violet Keating, December 5, 1890)

AS QUIETLY AS SHE COULD, and keeping to the shadows of the woods, Violet made her way back through the woods toward the cabin.

Another wolf howled. That one was definitely closer! Shivering, she stepped onto the road and ran toward the carriage. She glanced back but couldn’t see James for the curve in the road.

She climbed up and saw the handgun on the bench seat. Ignoring it, she took the reins and flicked them. The horses stepped, but the carriage didn’t move.

And then she realized her mistake!

He must have taken the time to set the brake!

Quickly, she jumped down. She didn’t know how to do it, didn’t even think she had the strength. But she would try. She had to.

Then, from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of movement. It was James! And he was moving rapidly toward her!

Her heart jumped until Violet thought it would leave her chest altogether. She pulled on the brake, but it didn’t budge.

He was going to capture her again! She would not let that happen!

She grabbed the gun and held it in shaking hands, pointing it at him. She stood, slowly, her heart pounding but her mind suddenly clear from the surge of adrenaline. “Stop there, Mr. Evans.” Surprised, she found her voice did not falter but rang out clearly in the cold air.

And he did stop. Breathing hard, he ran his hand through his hair. “You should put down that gun, Violet. You could hurt someone.”

“You are misbehaving, Mr. Evans. I want to go back to town.”

The clouds shifted then to reveal his face. He didn’t look as frightening as she thought he would. He was, just as he’d claimed, very handsome. But he was also, as he had never mentioned, exceedingly immature.

He crossed his arms. “You are my bride. I bought your ticket here. And now I have brought you home. We made an agreement.”

“I
was
your bride. We did make an agreement—and then you broke it by leaving me standing at the train station.”

“I was just overwhelmed with the prospect of caring for a wife. I know that is hard to understand.”

“Perhaps not so hard, as I, too, was overwhelmed at the prospect of leaving everything and everyone I know behind to travel nearly two thousand miles to marry a man I had never before met.”

He stood, silent, for a long moment. “You’ll see reason in the morning. Why don’t we go inside where I can light a fire and make us warm.” He motioned to the cabin. “This is the house I told you about, the one I’ve been preparing for my bride. For
you
.”

“Mr. Evans—”

”
James
. We are to be wed. The least you can do is use my name.”

He stepped closer, more slowly and less threatening, but she took a step back, and steadied her hands. “Do not force me to shoot you, Mr. Evans. I thought you to be an honorable man.”

“I am, my darling. I am going to marry you and make an honest woman out of you and father your children. Oh, sweet, beautiful Violet.” He knelt. “Violet Keating, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

She looked down upon him—and all she felt was disgust and revulsion. Softly, she said, “James, while you have been gone, I have fallen in love with someone else.”

“Name the cad.”

“Daniel Lund. His family has sheltered me since you left me.” Another wolf howl. “To the wolves, as it were.”

He tightened his grip on her hand. “I shall call out the man.”

“He has done nothing wrong. He has been a complete gentleman, rescuing me from being homeless in a strange town.”

“But Daniel is far too old for you. The thought of you with him is positively repulsive. And he will always be a bachelor.”

She looked into his eyes. “I wondered, after you returned, if we could still make a marriage work between us.”

“We can—” he began, but she held up a hand and silenced him.

“I do believe we both need to look elsewhere. I will work to repay you for the ticket.”

Looking chagrined, he shook his head. He let out a breath and seemed to deflate, to become a smaller man. Perhaps he had given up, finally. “No, that is not necessary.”

But she thought it was. “It will make everything clear between us.”

Again, he shook his head. “No, my darling Violet. I was wrong to have left you. It eats at me that I did. It’s what brought me back to you. In the hopes that there was any chance at all...”

He trailed off and they stood silent. Then he drew in a deep breath. “Has he proposed to you?”

She shook her head. “Not yet.”

“And he will not, for he is a confirmed bachelor.”

“I still will not marry you. I want that completely clear between us.”

“May I make a proposal of a different sort?” He ran his hand through his hair again. “You have come all this way to marry me. Now you want to marry Daniel, but I do not believe that will happen. May I propose that I give you the ticket I sent you as a wedding gift—whether you marry me or Daniel. I will step back and see if Daniel proposes. And if he does not, will you then marry me?”

“No more kidnappings? Ever?”

“No more. It was rash of me to do so.” He drew in another deep breath, more manly than a sigh, but in the same vein. “And to show that my intentions are honorable, I will buy you a return ticket that you may use at any time.”

She paused. That sounded fair enough, though she would never marry James, no matter how many tickets he purchased. “Agreed.”

“How long do you need before you are convinced Daniel will not propose? A month?”

Surely that would be long enough. She nodded.

He put out his hand. “May we shake on our deal?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Let me take you home.”

“I have a better idea. You take off the brake, and you stay here in this house while I ride back to town. I will send back the carriage tomorrow morning.”

“I cannot let you go off by yourself. People will talk.”

“I suspect that they are talking now. And that perhaps you are hoping talk of scandal and ruin might force me to marry you, after all.”

After a long silence, he nodded. “Climb in, and I will take off the brake.”

Was he really going to let her go? Or did he still have plans to grab her and take her inside?

Since her only other choice was to run with the wolves, she clutched the gun and climbed into the carriage.

I have never seen a more beautiful sight.

(Journal Entry, Daniel Lund, December 5, 1890)

His horse was breathing hard, but Daniel kept pushing him. He
had
to find Violet before it was too late!

Every cell of him was filled with rage. He would find Violet, rescue her—and then pound James into the ground.

A killing rage, berserker hot and wild, filled him, and each hoofbeat drove him on.

If even one hair of her head had been damaged, he would
kill
James.

He turned a curve—and his horse jumped, as did he.

A carriage bore down on them from the other direction! Was it James? Or someone else? Even with the flickering northern lights overhead, it was hard to make out.

Until he drew closer and then he saw—Violet was driving the carriage! And she seemed all right!

Oh, thank all the angels in heaven, she was safe!

He urged his horse forward as she pulled on the reins and pulled the carriage to a stop beside him.

He jumped off his horse and crossed to the carriage, climbing in beside her and taking her hands.

He pulled her into his arms and she clung to him. Her curves, the scent of her, her tears—

“Did he hurt you?” He released her and got hold of himself. He
would
kill the man.

“No.” She shook her head and took his hand. “He did not hurt me. And he’s going to leave me alone now.”

“Just like that?”

“We came to an agreement.”

His heart went cold and he pulled back. “Will you be marrying him then?”

“Oh, heavens, no.”

“You don’t want him?”

She looked into his eyes and smiled. “No, I don’t want James Evans.”

And with those words, relief blew his rage away. She was safe. She would not be marrying James. Everything was great.

Except it wasn’t, because she had to marry someone.

And, looking at her, he realized that someone couldn’t be him. He still was the inappropriate choice for her.

“Then I won’t kill him.”

She laughed shakily. “That’s probably for the best. Thank you for your restraint.”

“I will just maim him.”

“Promise me you will leave him alone. He is a mere boy playing at being a grownup.”

He blew out a breath and willed himself not to take her in his arms again, not to run his fingers through her tousled hair, not to kiss her inviting lips...

There was no hope for him.

“Daniel?” she said, questioningly.

“Yes.”

“I feel I must declare myself.”

Confused, he nodded.

She took a deep breath, then a second. “I have to tell you this.”

But then she didn’t say another word. The tension between them was so high he could barely stand it. “What?” What, my love, my beautiful Violet?

“I believe that I am...” Another breath. “Falling in love with you.”

Stunned and shocked—and panicked—he tipped his head back. His heart clenched and then did double time, heating him up in the cold night air. “What did you say?”