Mail Order Bride - Westward Secrets: A Clean Cowboy Romance Novel (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 13) (2 page)

              “Wow,” Ryan said and inspected the badge.

              Chloe smiled and said, “I can’t be a deputy.  I’m a girl.”

              “Did you by chance see a very pretty blonde woman with a big belly?” Rick asked.

              “Yes.  She was just here,” Chloe said.  “She’s the sheriff’s wife.”

              “That’s right.  When she’s not going to have a baby, she’s a deputy.  And let me tell you, she’s as tough as they come and you don’t want to be a bad guy and have her come after you,” Rick said. 

              Chloe looked at Mitch who said, “That’s right.  My wife works as a deputy sometimes and she’s a darn good one, too.”

              Jack grinned and said, “When she follows orders, you mean.”

              “Shut up, Jack,” Mitch said.

              Rick took the badge from Chloe and pinned it to her dress.  Then he pinned Ryan’s to his shirt.  “There.  Now you’re both official Dawson deputies.”

              Gina studied Rick as he spoke to the kids.  He wore his light brown hair long.  It brushed his shoulders as he moved.  The way he moved was graceful and purposeful and the easy smile he flashed at the kids was very attractive and disarming.  He wasn’t overly tall, maybe five foot, eleven, she thought.  However, he was well-built and Gina thought he would definitely be able to overpower some criminal and bring him to justice.

              Jack put a cup of coffee in front of Gina, startling her out of her scrutiny of Rick.  He smiled at her and said, “I figured that might hit the spot.  How about some cold chicken sandwiches?”

              “Oh, I couldn’t—”

              Jack said, “Pardon me for interrupting, ma’am, but you have to be hungry if you just got off the stage coach.  I’m sure it’s been a while since you’ve all eaten.  It’s no trouble at all.”

              “Are you sure?” Gina asked.

              Rick said, “He’s sure.  Jack lives to cook and serve people food.  Well, that’s not exactly true.  He lives to cook, eat, and serve people food.  If you want to see someone eat twice his weight, Jack’s your man.”

              “Shut up, Rick,” Jack said as he turned his back on them and worked on the sandwiches.

              “I’m hungry enough to eat a bear,” Ryan announced.

              Rick said, “I’ll bet you could do it, too.”

              “Yep,” Ryan confirmed as he once again sat on Rick’s lap.  “You have long hair, but you don’t look like a girl.”

              Gina meant to correct Ryan but a laugh came out when she opened her mouth.  Ryan looked at his mother and laughed with her. 

Chloe giggled and said, “No, you don’t.”

“Well, that’s a good thing since I’m not a girl.  If you think I have long hair, you should see some of my Lakota friends.  They all have long hair,” Rick said.

“I’m so sorry,” Gina said, “but I can’t stop him from saying things like that.  The words are out before I can do anything about it.”

Rick shook his head a little.  “It’s fine.  I like it when little people are honest.  Most of them are.  I always enjoy the things they say.”

“Little people?” Gina said as Jack sat plates in front of her and the kids.

“Yeah.  Kids are people, just smaller.  So that makes them little people,” Rick reasoned as he stood up and sat Ryan down on the chair.  He pushed it in so Ryan would be close enough to reach his plate.

“Are you going to get me a cup of coffee, Jack, or just stand there trying to look pretty?” Rick said as he sat down at his desk and put his feet up on it.

Gina watched to see how Jack would handle Rick’s insult.  Rick noticed her surprise and said, “Miss Gina, I’m not being rude.  Jack is very attached to that stove and anything to do with cooking in general.  French master chefs in France have nothing on him when it comes to getting ticked off with people trying to do anything for themselves in the kitchen.  I made coffee last week because I was the first one here in the morning and I thought he was going to take my head off.”

Mitch laughed.  “It’s true.  That’s why I don’t bother cookin’ whenever he’s around.  He’s very particular about his coffee and if it’s not made to his liking, he’ll toss it out.  I can’t stand wastin’ it, so I just wait until he’s here to make it.”

Jack snorted.  “The swill you call coffee isn’t fit to give to my pig.  That’s why I don’t drink it.  Mama makes great coffee and so does Uncle Marcus.  He’s the one who taught me how to make coffee, so blame him for me bein’ fussy about it.”

Gina said, “Your coffee is very good, Jack.”

“Thanks.  See?  I like you.  You know good coffee when you drink it,” Jack said.

Ryan had already finished his sandwich.  “That wasn’t a bear, but it was real good.”

Jack laughed.  “I’ll have to get you some bear meat, I guess.”

“You don’t eat bear meat,” Ryan said.

“I sure do,” Jack said.  “My cousin and uncle hunt bear from time to time.  It’s very tasty.”

“Wow.  Are they gonna hunt soon?  I wanna taste some,” Ryan said.

Gina shivered.  “None for me, thanks.”

“Venison?” Rick asked.

“I’ve never had it,” Gina answered.

“Goat?  Horse?  Llama?” he asked.

“Eww,” Chloe said.  “You eat all of those?”

“Yes and they’re all very good, too,” Rick said.

“When did you ever eat llama?” Mitch asked.

“The last time I was in South America,” Rick said.

“When was that?” the sheriff asked.

“Four years ago, actually.  They’re a very unique animal and are actually good to eat,” Rick said.  “Not only that, but their wool is incredibly soft and absorbent.  Oh, that reminds me…”

Mitch watched him run out the back door and said to Jack, “Do you think that’s true?  That he’s been to South America?”

Jack shrugged as he gave Ryan another half a sandwich and poured more lemonade for the kids.  Gina saw what Rick meant about Jack liking to serve people.  He anticipated what people needed and served it without anyone prompting him.  “Who knows?  He says stuff like that all the time, but I can’t tell if it’s true or not.”

              Rick came back in and threw a package at Jack who barely caught it in time.  “Why don’t you warn me when you’re gonna do that?” Jack said crossly.

              “You’re a deputy, you should be prepared for anything at all times,” Rick said as he winked at Chloe and sat back down.

              “What is it?” Jack said.

              “Llama wool,” Rick said.

              “No, it’s not.” Jack’s voice held disbelief.

              “Go ahead and open it,” Rick said.

              Jack did and encountered a thick mass of wool that was wonderfully soft.  It didn’t feel like any sheep’s wool Jack had ever felt.  “What’s it for?”

              “Not what; who.  That’s for your Aunt Wind Spirit.  She wanted some to use for a new pair of moccasins,” Rick said.  “Don’t lose it.  I can’t just pull it out of thin air.”

              “Where’d you get it?” Mitch asked as he came over to feel it.

              “From my friend Miguel who lives in South America,” Rick said.  “I’m actually having a couple of llamas shipped here next month.  They’ll do well in this climate and then I can breed them and sell the wool.”

              Chloe said, “So you really did go to South America?”

              “I sure did.”  He cocked his head at her.  “You didn’t think I really did?”

              “I don’t know.  You could be just telling a story,” Chloe said with a shrug.

              “True, but I guess that llama wool there says I wasn’t.  Do you like stories?” Rick asked.

              “Yeah.  And plants.  I like plants,” Chloe said with a smile.

              “I like plants, too.  Especially the ones you can eat,” Rick said.

              Gina was happy for the chance to rest and to have the children entertained, but she had to think about where they were going to stay that night.  She put a hand to her forehead and rubbed it.  Rick noticed and said, “Gina, we’re not going to let you go without a place to stay, so don’t worry about that.”

              Gina’s eyes widened as she looked at the deputy.  “How did you know?”

              “Steve told me about a week ago that you’d be coming.  He was very excited about it, too.  He was a good man and would have done right by you.  You made the right decision in coming here.  It’s a shame it worked out this way, but don’t doubt yourself about moving here.  I’ve already talked to Elise and she isn’t ready to take on boarders since she’s trying to sell the house in a hurry.”

              Gina suddenly felt sick.  She was stranded in an unfamiliar place with her two children.  Calculating her funds, Gina knew she only had enough money for one or two nights at a hotel, which would leave her without money for food.  “Where will we go?”

              Rick said, “Hmm.  It’s a shame we don’t know anyone who has a big, huge house with lots of room for kids to run around and horses to ride.  Someone with a little girl already there to play with and a brand new baby to spoil.”

              Gina said, “That’s pretty specific.”

              Mitch laughed.  “He’s describing our mayor, Joe Dwyer and his wife, Lacey.  They own a huge horse ranch and their house is basically a mansion.  They only use half of the rooms.”

              “We can’t stay there.  I wouldn’t dream of imposing on someone like that,” Gina said.  “We’ll stay at the hotel and I’ll figure something out from there.”  She was determined to be independent.

              “Mommy, I wanna see the horses,” Chloe said. 

              “I know, sweetie, but we don’t know these people.  I’m sure they’re wonderful, but I don’t feel comfortable doing that,” Gina said.

              “Gina, around here you’re gonna find that we take care of each other.  Rick’s right; Steve was a good man and a good friend.  We’d be doing his memory a great disservice if we didn’t take care of you and the kids,” Mitch said.

              Gina’s brows drew together and she fought tears again.  She’d come to be fond of Steve through their letters and she felt some grief over him.  She also regretted that she hadn’t at least had the chance to meet him. 

She turned her thoughts away from that line of thinking.  She had to focus on finding a solution to their predicament.  Her first consideration was her children.  Going over her options, Gina realized she didn’t have many. 

              Mitch said, “I’d have you stay with us, but we don’t have enough room with the baby on the way and all.  We have two teenage boys and a four-year-old girl, so we’re pretty full-up.”

              Jack said, “Same here.”

              Rick said, “I live in a two room place out in the woods, so that wouldn’t work, either.”

              “Joe, however, would have more than enough room,” Mitch said.

              “How do you know they would take us in?” Gina asked.  It was inconceivable to her that someone, especially a mayor and his family, would open up their home to complete strangers.

              “Once you meet the Dwyers you’ll understand,” Jack said.  “I’ll go find Joe so we can get you settled.”

              Gina didn’t object as Jack put on his jacket and left the office. 
What other choice do I have?

              “Come on in, Ms. Silvetti.”

              Gina looked at the pretty brunette who stood at the open front door of an opulent ranch-style mansion.  She smiled nervously and said, “Thank you, Mrs. Dwyer.”

              As she and the children entered the foyer, a tall man dressed in a butler’s uniform came to stand in front of Lacey.

              “Lacey, you should not be out here answering the door.  It’s chilly,” he said.

              “Randall, I appreciate your concern, but a little cold air isn’t going to hurt me,” Lacey said as she smiled at his protectiveness.  “Randall, this is Mrs. Silvetti and her children, Chloe, and Ryan.”
              Randall gave his attention to their guests.  Giving them a slight bow, he said, “It is a pleasure to meet all of you.”

              “Likewise, Randall,” Gina said.  “Please call me by my first name.”

              “You talk funny, Randall,” Ryan said.

              Randall smiled and said, “That’s because I’m from England.”

              “Wow.  Where’s that?” the boy said.

              “Far away across the ocean,” Randall explained.

              Gina was too busy looking around at the expensive furnishings to pay much attention to their conversation.  While she found the house beautiful, she saw potential disasters everywhere.  There were many breakable things in the parlor alone and she could see she was going to have to watch Ryan closely.  He was the typical bull in the china shop.

              “Mrs. Silvetti, if you will follow me, I’ll show you to your rooms,” Randall said.

              Lacey said, “Once you’re settled, we’ll have some supper.”

              “All right,” Gina said.  “Thank you.  Once I find a job, I’ll reimburse you for everything.”

              “No, Gina.  We’re only too happy to help and we don’t need it.  Trust me,” Lacey said as she walked with them. 

              Gina smiled and said, “All right.”

              Randall led them down a long hall and turned left.  He stopped at the first room on the right. “This is for Miss Chloe.”

              Chloe went in the room and her mouth dropped open.  A canopy bed done in white and pink stood in the center of the room.  A beautiful white dresser, nightstand, and bureau matched the bed.  There was also a small white desk and more toys than Chloe had ever seen in one room before.  She turned and looked at her mother in wonder.

              Gina was just as astounded by the room as her daughter.  Everything from the wallpaper to the curtains was exquisite and perfect for a little girl.

              Lacey watched them and knew how they felt.  She’d been overwhelmed by the house when she and Joe had first been married.  “This was our daughter Emily’s room until recently.  We moved her to a different room since she wanted to be closer to the nursery.  She loves her little brother.”

              Gina smiled. “I’ll bet they’re both adorable.”

              Lacey said, “Yes, they are.  Even if I weren’t their mother, I’d say that.”

              Ryan looked at the room and said, “There’s too much pink.”

              Lacey laughed.  “Well, little girls like pink.”

              Gina said, “I am going to apologize in advance for anything that Ryan might say.  He means no harm, but a lot of the time he comes out with inappropriate things.  I’m just warning you.”

              “Oh, good.  He’ll get along with Emily then.  She’s just like Joe and usually says whatever is on her mind,” Lacey said.  “You’ll see.”

              Randall said, “We have a nice room for Master Ryan as well.  Follow me, please.”

              “Mommy, can I stay and play with the toys?” Chloe asked.

              “Yes, honey.  Go ahead,” Gina said.

              Chloe smiled happily and went to the large dolls house by the window.

              Ryan’s room was appropriate for a little boy.  The furniture was walnut and there were all manner of games and toys with which to play.

              Gina asked, “Do you have a little boy, too?”

              “No.  We have Emily’s friend Zach over quite a bit.  They became friends a couple years ago and always play together.  Zach is the son of the Bradburys who own the general store in town,” Lacey explained.

              “So he has his own room here?”

              “Joe’s idea,” Lacey said and smiled.  “He spoils everyone, including me.”

              “What if he comes over while we’re here?” Gina asked as Ryan started playing with some toy soldiers he found.

              “He doesn’t mind sharing,” Lacey said.  “It would be good for Ryan to have another boy close to his age to play with.”

              Gina nodded.  “Yes, it would.”

              “If madam will come with me, we’ll get you settled as well,” Randall said with a kind smile.

              Leaving Ryan to play as well, Gina trailed behind the butler.  She thought it was unusual that the Dwyers had a butler, but didn’t comment on it.  As Randall led her into the room across the hall from Ryan, she knew how Chloe had felt about her own room.  It was spacious with a four poster bed.  All of the furniture was done in dark cherry wood.  A Persian run covered the floor and lovely jade green drapes hung at the windows.

              A large armoire would more than accommodate her meager amount of clothing.  She noticed that there was also a desk in her room.

              “It’s amazing,” Gina said as she gazed around at it all.  “I’ve never seen a room like this.”

              Lacey said, “It was the same way when I came here.  I felt as if I’d walked into a fairytale or something.”

              “Yes.  I can see why.”

              “Daddy, I saw a coyote today,” came a little girl’s voice from down the hall.

              “You did?  Y’all mean here at home?” a male voice answered.

              “No, when we were with Uncle Reckless in the woods,” the girl said.

              As the pair came into view, the man said, “Oh, ok.”

              Gina saw that he carried two of her suitcases, which he put down in the hallway.

              “Joe, this is Gina Silvetti.  Gina, my husband Joe,” Lacey said.

              Joe stepped forward and offered his hand to Gina.  He smiled at her and Gina couldn’t help but return it as she shook it.  He was a very handsome man with his chestnut hair and hazel eyes. 

              “Pleased to meet y’all, Gina.  We’re happy to have y’all with us.  I’m sorry about Steve,  he was a good man,” Joe said.

              “Thank you,” Gina said.  “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what Lacey and you are doing for us.”

              Joe smiled.  “You’re welcome, but it’s no trouble at all.  Emily, come here, sweetheart.”

              Emily entered the room and went over to Gina.  “Hello.  I’m Emily Dwyer.  It’s very nice to meet y’all.”

              Gina noticed that Emily mimicked her father’s southern accent and smiled.  “I’m very happy to meet you, too.  You are very pretty.”

              Emily smiled and her hazel eyes twinkled.  “Thank you.  I saw a coyote today when we were in the woods with our Uncle Reckless and it was real pretty.  I’d like to have one, but he said that they don’t make good pets.  So I guess I won’t get one of those.”

              Gina laughed.  “Well, I guess not if they don’t make good pets.  I wouldn’t think they would.”

              “Probably not and it might poop on the rug,” Emily said and laughed.

              Joe laughed and said, “Yeah, we don’t need a coyote poopin’ on the rugs.”

              Gina laughed and said, “Yes, that sounds like something Ryan would say.”

              “Kids are honest,” Lacey said.  “Emily, why don’t you go say hello to Chloe?  She’s in your old room.”

              “All right, Mama,” Emily said.  On her way out of the room, Emily hugged her mother’s legs and then ran down the hall.

              “As you can see, she acts just like her father,” Lacey said with a smile.

              Joe kissed her and said, “Y’all wouldn’t have me any other way.”

              “No, I wouldn’t,” Lacey agreed. 

              Gina squelched the jealousy that rose within her at the sight of the happy couple.  She and Tony had been like that.  She still missed her husband.

              Joe said, “I’m not sure whose suitcase is what.  If you tell me, we’ll get ’em where they go.”

              “Master, I will see to that,” Randall said.

              “I guess I can handle some suitcases, Randy.  I know what you can do for me, though,” Joe said.

              “What is that?” Randall said.

              “Will you please go ask Cook if she’ll make that truffle cake she made last week?  I had a hankering for it on the way home,” Joe said.

              “Certainly,” the butler said and walked back down the hall.

              With Gina’s direction, Joe quickly put the suitcases where they went.

              “Now, if there’s anything at all you need, you just let one of us know, all right?” he said to Gina.

              She nodded and said, “I’m not sure how I’ll ever repay your kindness.”

              Joe chuckled.  “Don’t worry about that.  We’re just happy to help.  Randy will let you know when it’s time to eat.  I’m off to go see Timmy, our newest addition.”

              Lacey laughed as he hurried down the hallway.  “It’s so funny to watch him with the kids.  He never wanted kids until we got married and now he can hardly bear to be away from them.”

              Gina sat down on her bed and said, “He didn’t?”

              Lacey sat down on a chair and said, “No.  He was footloose and fancy free, I guess you’d say.  I was sort of a mail-order-bride like you.  But my situation was completely different.  I needed to get away from my abusive father and Joe helped me do that.  He’s my hero.”

              Gina said, “I’m sorry to hear that you were in a bad situation and I’m happy that it worked out for you.  I met Sammi Taylor earlier today.  She said there are a lot of brides around Dawson.”

              “It’s true.  Sammi and I grew up in Walhalla, North Dakota, along with our friend Jamie.  All three of us came here.  Jamie came first because she’s not afraid of anything and said she would let us know if it was ok here.  I came next and then Sammi. It was a good choice for many of us,” Lacey said.

              Gina’s eyes brimmed with tears and she couldn’t speak for a moment.  “Lacey, I don’t know what I’m going to do.  I can’t keep staying here and I don’t have any money.  I need to find work so I can find us a place to live.”

              Lacey sat beside her and took her hand.  “Gina, you don’t have to worry about that right now.  Just stay here at least a few days.  Give yourself some time to get familiar with the town and meet some of the people here.  Take it one day at a time.  I know that this has been a big shock, but things will be ok.  You’ll see.”

              Gina squeezed her hand back and said, “Thank you so much.”

              Lacey said, “That’s what friends are for.  Dinner won’t be long.”

              She left Gina then to go find Joe and their son.

              All alone, Gina looked around the room and felt that, for the time being, they had found a safe place to land.  By some miracle, she had encountered kind people who were generous.  It brought tears to her eyes again.  She shut her door and gave into her fear and grief for several minutes. 

Then she took a handkerchief from her pocket and dried her eyes and felt a little better.  Getting it out of her system allowed Gina to clear her mind and put a positive spin on things.  She and the kids had a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs and they would have food to eat.  She told herself that for her kids’ sakes she was going to have to put her pride aside and accept help for the time being.  Opening the door again, Gina squared her shoulders and went to check on the kids. 

              She had been expecting dinner to be a stately affair as would befit the first family of any town or city.  Instead, the meal at the Dwyer household was noisy and hilarious.  She was also surprised to see that the employees ate with the family.  Gina had never heard of such a thing.

              “Hey!  Addie!  Get your sweet fanny out here and eat!” Joe hollered in the direction of the kitchen.

              Gina’s eyebrows rose but her kids and everyone else laughed.  She was further surprised when Lacey got up and went out a door that led beyond the dining room to a large sunroom.  Lacey opened the door that led to the outside and shouted, “Eddie!  We’re not waiting on you to eat!  Stop what you’re doing and come to dinner!”

              She came back to the table and sat back down.  Lacey caught Gina’s surprised expression and laughed.  “I think it’s only fair to warn you that we’re pretty rowdy.  We’re very laid back, so please don’t be nervous.”