Shane's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas #3) (6 page)

He smiled as he listened to Cecily giving Poor Boy directions on how to take a bath.  She was a kind and generous woman.  They sure made a motley crew he, Cecily, and Poor Boy.  He’d have Poor Boy take care of Jester as soon as he finished bathing.

When he heard Cecily’s footsteps, he began to push himself up into a sitting position but damned himself from to hell and back for being too damn weak.  Laying his head back on the pillow, he waited for help.  She set the coffee on the small table next to his bed.

“I know you’re impatient and you’re not the type to lay about, but stop trying to sit up by yourself.” She leaned down and wrapped her arms around his chest and gently pulled him up until he was sitting.  She smelled of vanilla and cinnamon, and her arms around him gave him a jolt he’d never felt before.  If he wasn’t so weak he’d have settled her into his arms and kissed her silly.

“Thank you, I appreciate all your help.” He waited while Cecily fussed with his pillows and then leaned back against them.  She handed him his cup of coffee, and he nodded his thanks.  “I think this is the first bath Poor Boy’s had in a year.” He loved the way her lips curved into a smile.

“Shh, keep your voice down.  We don’t want to embarrass him.  But I do think you’re right.  I bet he’s very handsome under all that dirt.” She took a sip of coffee.  “It’s very generous of you to allow him to stay.”

Shane shrugged his shoulders.  “It was all your doing.” He was surprised at the flash of panic on her face.

“If I overstepped, I’m sorry.  I just couldn’t say no.”

“Cecily, have a seat and relax.  You did nothing wrong.  I would’ve done the same thing if I had answered the door.  It’s funny…a few days ago this house was empty, and now it’s full.  I like it full better.  I was thinking he could take charge of Jester while I’m laid up.”

Cecily sat in the chair next to the bed and nodded.  “I wonder how long he’s been with Eats?”

“Hard to say.  The first time I saw him I thought Eats must be starving him to death but that wasn’t the case at all.  Eats gave him food and shelter and a job.” He grinned.  “Maybe you should go out there and make sure he’s cleaning behind his ears.” He laughed as quietly as he could as her eyes grew wide.

“Not until I know how old he is.  I’d hate to think what Edith would say.”

He reached out, took her hand and squeezed it, then loosened his grip but didn’t let go.  “Cecily… Don’t base anything you do on what Edith would think.  Don’t allow that woman to poison your mind.  I like you just the way you are.  Did you know you look awfully pretty when you blush?” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand before he let it go.

“You shouldn’t say things like that.” She covered her reddened cheeks with her hands and turned from him.  She was silent for a moment and then dropped her hands to her sides and faced him.  “I work for you and that’s all.  I don’t need compliments.  I know what I am and how I must look to everyone.  Somehow when people look at me they see a big stain on me.  It’s a stain that can’t be removed.  I don’t see it when I look in the mirror.  To me there is no stain, but there is a sad woman who looks back at me.”

His heart ached at her words, and the wounded expression on her face made him promise to himself that he would always protect her.  “I don’t know what other people see when they look at you, but I see a capable, pretty, young woman.  I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again.  You’ve got a lot of gumption.  Most women would have just laid down and died, and for what? Just because of what other women would think? Tell you what, let’s forget what other people think for a while.”

She bit her lip and nodded her head but he wasn’t convinced.  She looked so unsure of herself, and it wasn’t fair.

****

The next day Poor Boy came running into the house and into the bedroom practically out of breath.  He looked like a different person with his shiny clean face and hair.  Shane’s clothes were much too big on the small body, but at least they were clean.  She’d been right, he was younger than she had originally thought.  She judged him to be about twelve years old, but when asked he refused to answer.

“There’s some new lady that’s come to see you, Sheriff.  I ain’t never seen her before.  Do you want me to run her off or what?”

Shane’s brow furrowed as he glanced from Poor Boy to Cecily. 

“I’ll go see who it is.” Cecily stood.  “Don’t you dare try to get out of bed.” She gathered her wits about her and rushed to the front door feeling anxious.  There stood a stunning woman dressed in the highest of fashion in her dark green traveling outfit with a matching hat all trimmed in the finest lace and ribbon.  Her hair was dark almost black and her eyes were a lovely shade of brown.

“How do you do? My name is Lucy O’Connor and you are?” Lucy asked as she arched one eyebrow.

Cecily’s heart sank.  This must be Shane’s wife.  Why on earth hadn’t he told anyone he was married? Disappointment floated through her as she realized she’d probably be sent packing soon.  “I’m Cecily McGuinness I keep house for Sheriff O’Connor.” She stepped back from the doorway.  “Please come in.  I’m sure you’re worried about him, but he’s doing just fine.” Cecily led Lucy down the hall and motioned for her to go into the bedroom first.

Shane squinted then opened his eyes wide and smiled.  “Is that really you, Lucy? How the heck did you end up in Asherville? I’d wondered how you fared and now you’re here.  My father?”

Lucy took off her hat, handed it to Cecily and then she sat on the wooden chair next to the bed fussing at the skirt of her dress.  “Shane, I’m afraid I have bad news.  Your father died about a year ago.  I thought for sure you’d have been notified.”

Shane heaved a sigh.  “I had a feeling he was dead, but I didn’t think trying to contact him would be good for either of us.  When he told me to leave and never come back he meant it.  I can still hear him saying it.” Shane shook his head, his face looking drawn.

Cecily quickly glanced away from both of them, feeling like an intruder.  She motioned to Poor Boy to come with her.  She wondered if either she or Poor Boy would have a place to live since Mrs.  O’Connor was now home where she belonged.  She supposed she could take the boy and go back to Shannon’s house, but Shannon was so close to her time, Cecily didn’t want to cause any undue stress.  Both Shannon and Addy were excellent examples of Pioneer women.  They both worked with their husbands to build their ranches despite being in the family way.

“Why do you suppose she’s here?” Poor Boy asked.  “I guess I should look for another place to stay.” His shoulders sagged as he sat at the kitchen table.

Cecily placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.  “I’m hoping it won’t come to that.”

“Come to what?” Lucy asked as she joined them in the kitchen.

“Poor Boy and I were wondering now that you’re here to take care of Shane if we would have to leave.  I’m sure you want to be alone with your husband.”

“My dear, the house is a bit small, but I’m assuming you both work for the sheriff.  As long as you do your work to my specifications, you have a place to stay.  I would like some coffee now.  You, boy, go get my bags and put them into Shane’s room.” Poor Boy quickly got to his feet and practically tripped as he raced out the front door.

Cecily poured coffee into a mug and handed it to Lucy, who sat at the table staring at the liquid.  “You don’t have many social graces do you? Don’t you know enough to offer your guests cream and sugar with their coffee?”

Cecily’s face heated and she bet it was bright red.  “I do have a bit of sugar but there’s no cream.  Would you like me to get you the sugar?”

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want it, and what do you mean there’s no cream? Aren’t you responsible for keeping up the kitchen as well as the rest of the house?”

Cecily put her right hand over her pounding heart.  “Shane, did the shopping, and I guess he didn’t think we needed cream.”

Lucy’s eyes narrowed.  “To you, his name is either Mr. O’Connor or Sheriff O’Connor.  You need to learn to show your employers more respect.  Where exactly have you been sleeping?”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, and I’m waiting on your answer.  In fact, I’m still waiting on the sugar.”

Cecily felt as though she could hardly breathe-as if though the woman in the chair had taken all the oxygen out of the room.  She found the sugar bowl and set it in front of Lucy along with a spoon.  She stiffened as Lucy put four spoonful’s of sugar into her coffee took a sip and pushed it away.  Didn’t she know how much sugar cost? “As for your answer as to where I sleep, I sleep in my own room.”

Lucy stood and put her hands on her hips.  “Show me.”

Had Lucy been anyone else but Shane’s wife Cecily would’ve told her to get out.  She walked over to her room and opened the door.  “This is my room.”

Lucy shook her head.  “Nothing in this house belongs to you.  This is not your room it’s just the room you’ve been sleeping in.”

Upon hearing thuds and thumps coming from the front of the house, Cecily quickly turned away from Lucy and rushed to help Poor Boy with the luggage.  It took both of them to carry the trunk into Shane’s room.  They set it down against the wall where Shane would not trip on it.

“What’s that doing in here?” Shane’s frown was as big as Texas.

“Mr.  O’Connor, your wife instructed us to bring her belongings to your room.  She does have a lot of luggage with her, and I hope it will all fit in here.” Cecily didn’t wait for a reply she was still hurt because Shane had never mentioned his wife.  She grabbed another bag, brought it into the room and put it on top of the trunk.

“Cecily, I don’t want her bags in here.  And for the record, she’s not my wife.”

“Fine.” She grabbed the bag and hauled it back out into the kitchen.  Her mind was whirling.  What did he mean Lucy wasn’t his wife? What in the world was going on? “Poor Boy, let’s go grab the trunk.  Shane doesn’t want it in his room.” Poor Boy looked tired and annoyed, but he followed her.

“She ain’t your wife?” he asked, scratching his jaw.  “Are you sure cause she says she is.  Did you get married and forget? Think hard, try to remember your wife.  At least it don’t look like you forgot any kids.  Maybe you hit your head.” Poor Boy looked so serious as he tried to be helpful, but by the thunderous look on Shane’s face he wasn’t helping at all.

“Poor Boy, do you think you could give Shane and me a moment alone? Leave the door open.  I just have a few questions for him.”

Poor Boy nodded and left.

“If you ask me I think it’s Poor Boy who’s been hit in the head one time too many,” Shane said as he struggled to sit up.

“Oh no you don’t.” Cecily marched over and put her hands on his bare shoulders pushing him back onto the pillow.  “You are to stay in bed.  Would you like me to get you some of that laudanum? I heard it’s good for calming nerves.”

Shane stared at her his brow wrinkling.  “Are you saying I’m not calm? I’ll have you know I’m very calm, and no I don’t want any of that laudanum.  I need to keep my wits about me.  Now what’s this nonsense about Lucy being my wife?”

“That’s what she said, and I’m to call you Mr.  O’Connor or Sheriff O’Connor.  She also suggested that if we didn’t do our jobs we wouldn’t be welcome to stay.  Oh, and she likes cream with her coffee and lots and lots of sugar.” Cecily paused and swallowed hard.  “She wanted to see where I sleep so I happened to say my room and I was informed that it wasn’t my room it was just the room I stay in.  Is her last name even O’Connor?” Cecily sat down in the chair and crossed her arms across her chest.

“Hell if I know.  She’s someone I grew up with.  I want both you and Poor Boy to stay.  Don’t get it in your mind to run off.  I’ll have a talk with her and see what’s going on.  Have you got any food? I’m starved.” He gave her a smile of reassurance. 

She couldn’t help but return his smile.

****

If the situation hadn’t been so serious Shane would’ve laughed long and hard.  Imagine Poor Boy thought he’d forgotten he had a wife.  Such was the stuff that good yarns were made of.  He shook his head and wondered at Lucy’s audacity.  She probably took O’Connor as her last name when she was freed.  It was his understanding that many of the slaves had taken the last name of the people that owned them.

As though he conjured her up, Lucy came into the bedroom and stood next to his bed.  She tilted her head and sniffed as though she was upset. 

Shane got straight to the point.  “What’s all this malarkey about you being my wife?”

“It was the safest way to travel, as your wife.  No one wanted to mess with the wife of a sheriff.  Besides, I didn’t think you’d mind.  You did tell me one time you wished you could marry me.” She gave him what he hated most, a fake smile.

“Are you out of your mind? I liked you sure, but I never said I wanted to marry you.  Why didn’t you stop the ruse when you got to town? Why did you take it upon yourself to order Cecily and Poor Boy around? And why in God’s name did you think you were going to share my room?”

“Well, I never.” She grabbed a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed her eyes with it.  “And all this time I thought you were pining away for me.  That is why you left, isn’t it? Your daddy wouldn’t let you have me.”