Mail-Order Grooms: The Complete Boxed Set Page 17

“Well, it’s not that, really. Mrs. Pierce is a little gone up in the head and generally only speaks to herself these days, but the real reason Mini doesn’t like going is because she can’t go inside her cabin. It’s really run down and the Harringtons have been imploring Mrs. Pierce for months to leave it for another empty cabin on their ranch, but she refuses. She’s a widow and that cabin is where she and her husband watched all their kids grow up.”

  Betsy wiped down the table with a wet cloth, cleaning up the mess Mini had just made eating apples and jam. “So anyway, the kids don’t mind Mrs. Pierce, but Mr. Harrington has forbidden them from setting foot inside her cabin. He’s afraid the roof’s going to come down. That means the children have to stay outside. They get bored.”

  Roderick stared out the window at the vast ranchland. He understood why Mrs. Pierce didn’t want to abandon her home. Many people saw a house as just a utilitarian structure, but to him—and to Mrs. Pierce, it seemed—a house meant much more. It held memories and represented security.

  “Nothing can be done to fix her cabin?” Roderick asked.

  Betsy came to his side and slipped an arm around his waist. He wrapped his around her shoulders. “I think it’s pretty run down,” she said. “Just an old bundle of logs that probably wasn’t constructed well to begin with. The cabin the Harringtons are offering her is much nicer, not to mention less dangerous.”

  “I see,” Roderick said, feeling sympathy for Mrs. Pierce, though he’d never met her.

  He continued to stare out the window, deep in thought about his own house in New York. After some time, he became aware of Mini doing a sort of dance next to the hut and yelling. She flapped her arms and ran around in a short circle. What a strange child, he thought at first. When she continued to twist and run around, all the while screaming, he grew alarmed, “Betsy? What’s Mini doing?”

  Betsy gazed out the window lazily. Upon seeing Mini, her face assumed a perplexed expression. She leaned toward the window. “What the blazes?”

  “I think something’s wrong!” Roderick exclaimed. Without stopping to think what, he ran out the door in Mini’s direction, with Betsy quick at his heels. As they came upon her, Mini’s cries became louder, and the sound of buzzing filled his ears. Swarming around and stinging the young child was an angry swarm of hornets.

  Roderick grabbed Mini into his arms and ran back in the direction of the cabin, getting stung multiple times himself in the process, but nothing compared to what Mini had already endured. The insects were still crawling all over her bare arms and legs, attacking with vengeance. Poor Mini was sobbing and screaming unintelligible words, while Roderick tried to slap them off of her.

  Betsy appeared with a torch fire billowing with thick smoke and waved it around her. As they became agitated by the smoke, the hornets soon flew away to avoid it. Roderick carried Mini inside and laid her on the sofa. Fear gripped him. The girl looked swollen to twice her size, and her face was so bloated he couldn’t see her eyes.

  “What do we do, Betsy?” he asked, panicked. Mini was still screaming, but it was morphing into a feeble moan, and the sound of her anguish drowned out all rational thought from his head.

  “I think you should get the doctor in town,” Betsy said, her voice urgent. “I’ll stay here with her and try to get the swelling down.”

  Roderick headed for the door. He ran to the barn and saddled a horse faster than he ever had before, silently thanking Betsy for teaching him how. Now that he couldn’t hear Mini’s cries, he was able to focus. He set out for town at a gallop. He knew that a disturbed hornet’s nest was a danger to a full-grown man. To a child, even more so. He tried not to think the worst, but the state of Mini’s fragile body and her screams of pain filled his mind.

  By the time he returned from town with the doctor, a deathly quiet filled the space around the Harringtons’ house. As they hurried to the door, Roderick felt a tightening in his chest. It was too quiet. Belatedly, he wondered if he should have stayed behind in town after sending the doctor. Adam and Susannah were likely at the blacksmith’s or the mercantile, but he hadn’t thought to fetch them. What if… He tried not to finish his thought as he walked inside.

  The doctor rushed to the sofa, where Mini lay, swaddled in strips of clothing from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, with only space open for her eyes, nose, and mouth. Caleb sat on a chair next to the sofa arm, reading out loud from a book, and Betsy knelt in front of her on the floor. She scrambled out of the way when she saw the doctor.

  Mud was drizzled over the floor around the sofa and spilled out of a bucket nearby. Betsy walked to Roderick and buried her head against his chest. Her hands wrapped around his back, smearing mud all over his shirt, which he didn’t notice until much later.

  “You mud-wrapped her?” the doctor asked, though the answer was obvious.

  “Yes, as fast as I could.” Betsy’s voice wavered, and Roderick squeezed her tight against him.

  The doctor spoke to Mini in a raised voice. “Hi there, Mini. It’s Dr. Edward. Can you hear me, darlin’?”

  Mini nodded her head slightly. “Yes, doctor.”

  A giant whoosh of air left Roderick’s lungs. Before that moment, he hadn’t been sure if she was dead or alive.

  “You did a real good job,” the doctor said to Betsy. “She’s awake and I’ll bet the swelling will go away in no time. I’ll just check her heartbeat.”

  The doctor removed a knife from his bag and cut open the cloth around her chest. He donned his stethoscope and pressed the chestpiece against her heart. The room was silent as they waited for the doctor’s verdict.

  “Her pulse is normal,” he reported after a few minutes. Addressing Mini, he said, “You’re a brave girl, and you’re going to be just fine.”

  Her eyes fluttered open. “I don’t like mud. It’s dirty,” she told the doctor in a small, sad voice.

  The doctor smiled sympathetically, as did Roderick and Betsy. Caleb took one of her small, swaddled hands in his. “After you get out of the mud, I’ll take you fishing, Mini. Would you like that?”

  “Yes please, Caleb.”

  “And I’ll give you all my peppermint sticks.”

  “Peppermint sticks!” the doctor exclaimed in an excited voice, clearly for Mini’s benefit. “Now that sounds like the perfect treat for such a brave girl. How about one right now, darlin’? Would you like that?”

  “Yes,” Mini said, her voice sounding slightly less sad.

  Caleb jumped up to retrieve the candy. When he returned, he placed the stick in her mouth and held it steady for her.

  The doctor stood and closed his bag. Betsy and Roderick saw him to the door and joined him outside, where his well-trained horse stood patiently next to the hitching post without having been tied. Addressing Betsy, he said, “She’ll be fine, thanks to your quick thinking. The mud helps remove the poison from the hornets’ stings, and it has soothed her pain as well.”

  Roderick slipped his arm around Betsy’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “I’m so proud of you.”

  After the doctor left, they took comfort in each other’s arms a moment before Betsy exclaimed, “Oh! I haven’t been able to take Mrs. Pierce her supper. She’s probably starving!”

  “Yes, how thoughtless of you,” Roderick said wryly. “Neglecting Mrs. Pierce in order to save a child’s life.”

  Betsy grinned at him.

  He grinned back. “I’d be happy to deliver it, if you like, while you stay here with the children.”

  Chapter Eight

  Betsy accepted his offer to deliver supper, so Roderick headed to Mrs. Pierce’s house on the horse he’d previously ridden to town. He reflected on Betsy’s ability to know what to do in a crisis situation. She’d always charmed him, but in this instance she had also impressed him. His heart filled with pride that she was his girl. When he thought of his future, he could only see Betsy in it.

  Roderick called out his arrival before hitching up his horse. “Hullo, the house!�
�

  A little old lady appeared in the weathered doorframe, and he quickly introduced himself. “Hello, Mrs. Pierce. I’m Roderick Mason, Betsy’s beau, and she’s been held up so I’ve been sent to give you this.” He held out the basket of food.

  She took the basket and invited him inside, mumbling about the weather and how loud the birds chirped in the morning. She seemed only to be talking to herself and not expecting a response, which gave Roderick ample opportunity to observe the structure of the small house. Immediately he saw why the Harringtons wouldn’t let anyone inside of it and why they were urging Mrs. Pierce to leave.

  The roof bowed downward, looking like it was about to crash in on their heads any moment. The paneling and rafters were cracked and even broken in some places. But Roderick’s keen architect eye noticed something that the others hadn’t. The reason for the bowing of the roof was simple. When it was originally constructed, holes had been drilled into six places, where a crossbeam and two girders should have gone. He didn’t know why they weren’t there, though he suspected it had to do with money. A cabin could stand for some time without those expensive reinforcements. As time weathered the wood, however, the support became imperative. Providing it would eliminate the need for Mrs. Pierce to leave the cabin for safety purposes.

  Knowing there was such a simple solution raised Roderick’s spirits. Later that day, he made quiet plans with the town carpenter, who built the materials needed and installed them inside her house. He paid for the materials and labor, of course, and word got around town about his minor good deed. He would have preferred for no one to make a fuss, but when Betsy found out about it, she acted like he was a hero.

  She stopped by his hotel room and wrapped her arms around his waist for a hug, which he returned, enjoying the floral scent that wafted from her hair. Betsy took the liberty to hug him often, which drove him wild. She would innocently press her breasts against his chest and inspire all kinds of wicked thoughts about what he would like to do to her body.

  Releasing her hold, she beamed up at him. “You were so kind to do that for Mrs. Pierce. Why didn’t you say anything. I could have—“

  He held up his hand to stop her. “It was nothing, darling. I’ve been trained and I have experience in architecture, that’s all. What you did with Mini? That was a truly heroic act.”

  Betsy shook her head emphatically. “The way I see it, you saved Mrs. Pierce’s life. I think she might have died of grief if the Harringtons removed her from her house. And I think they were just about to do it for her own safety.”

  Roderick sighed with mock exasperation. “Fine, we’re both heroes. Satisfied?”

  She grinned at him. “Mostly. Now can you please be my hero and get rid of Johnny?”

  As soon as she said the name, Roderick sobered completely and his mood grew dark. “Why? He hasn’t contacted you again, has he?”

  Her face clouded as well, looking regretful over having brought it up. She let out a sigh. “Not directly.”

  “What does that mean, ‘not directly’?”

  She looked down at her shoes. “He’s been in my room again a couple times while I wasn’t there. He stole the brooch and shawl you gave me.”

  Roderick clenched his jaw. ”Didn’t I say you were to tell me if he bothered you again?”

  “Yes,” she said, her voice small. She wouldn’t look at him, and he watched a pink tinge creep over her cheeks. “I didn’t want to tell you because after he stole the brooch, I thought I’d lost it and felt ashamed. But then when the shawl disappeared too I realized what likely happened.”

  Frustration grew inside of him, and his rage over Johnny daring to set foot inside Betsy’s room made him want to punch a wall. He turned and strode to the window to look outside and gather his thoughts and cool his temper. He felt inclined to yell at Betsy, and didn’t want to take his anger out on her. She deserved a good scolding for not telling him about Johnny’s harassment, but Johnny deserved the brunt of his wrath.

  Betsy joined him by the window. “I’m sorry, Roderick. I should have told you.”

  “Yes, you should have. I can’t protect you if I’m not kept apprised of all the facts. We must report these thefts to the marshal.”

  “But it won’t work! There’s no proof that he stole the items, and if Johnny finds out we told the marshal, he’ll only get angrier!”

  Roderick knew she was right. Reporting it would do little good. He would have to think about a better way to solve the matter. In the meantime, there was one thing he would take care of, and that was Betsy’s disobedience.

  He glared at her and pointed at the sofa. “Go bend yourself over the arm of the sofa. You’re getting three licks with my belt for your delay in telling me the latest information about Johnny.”

  Her eyes widened, and she visibly gulped. “But Roderick, I wasn’t sure at first. I didn’t want to upset you unnecessarily if I didn’t have to.”

  “That’s not how our relationship works, Betsy. Your problems are my problems, and I’d rather be upset than have something happen to you because I wasn’t aware of everything going on.”

  She fidgeted and stared pleadingly into his eyes.

  He had no patience for her reticence. “It’s five licks now,” he said. “Further dawdling will make it ten.”

  She finally felt compelled to obey and rushed to the sofa. As she bent over it, he removed the belt from around his waist.

  He flipped up her skirts, revealing her white drawers, and considered parting them so she would feel the chastisement on her bare skin. He decided against it, however. The licking over her thin underclothes would be painful and enough of a deterrent. He folded the belt in his hand. Without pause, he whipped her five times. She cried out and kicked up both her feet, but did not stand from her bent-over spot on the sofa.

  As he put the belt back around his waist, she peered back at him with a watery gaze. “I’m sorry,” she said with a whimper. “Forgive me?”

  “Of course, darling. Come here.”

  She lifted herself off the sofa and fell into his embrace. He stroked her hair and held her close, enjoying the feeling of having her safe in his arms for the time being. He wished he could keep her in his arms always.

  Ensuring that Betsy would always tell him everything that happened with Johnny was only a fraction of the problem. Johnny shouldn’t be contacting her at all, and Roderick decided he would do whatever necessary to prevent it from continuing.

  ***

  Betsy found out that Roderick had paid Johnny an unfriendly visit the next day while she was feeding the chickens. Her bucket empty, she walked to the barn to fill it with more grain. On top of the sack was a folded letter. Tears immediately stung her eyes. She knew who it was from.

  With trembling hands she opened the note. Inside were two pinned butterflies. One was complete, the other broken in half with shredded wings. Written in red were words that brought a new fear into her heart.

  Tell him to fly away before he gets caught in my net.

  She ran to her horse, slipped a bridle over her head, and rode the horse bareback directly to Roderick’s hotel. She took the stairs two at a time, panting. As soon as she saw him appear in the doorway, she flew into his arms, relief overcoming her.

  “He’s threatening you now!” Betsy cried, breathing hard. “Look at this,” she exclaimed, shoving the note into his hands. “What if he hurts you, Roderick? I couldn’t bear it!”

  Roderick read the note slowly, then folded it and placed it on his dresser. “I know the feeling, darling, as I feel the same about you. But I don’t believe I’m the target. He’s only trying to scare and intimidate you further with this. You’re the subject of his thoughts and the person who’s in danger.”

  “You don’t know that for sure,” she responded firmly. “This could be a serious threat against you.”

  “It could be,” he admitted. “Who knows how his loony mind is working?” His jaw clenched. “I guess my having words with him yesterday hel
ped absolutely nothing.”

  “What can we do now, Roderick? It’s only getting worse, and now I’m even more scared.”

  He rubbed his chin. “One thing is to make sure you’re safe in your cabin. I don’t think he’d be so brazen as to break in at night while your pa is there, but I’m going to hire the carpenter to reinforce your windows and doors.”

  “But what if he goes after you?”

  His eyes slowly turned to stone. “I hope he does. It’ll give me an excuse to kill him.”

  Chapter Nine

  Roderick and Betsy continued with their courtship, taking care to remain vigilant for any more signs of Johnny’s harassment. Like before, Roderick reported the letter to the marshal and, like before, the marshal said he could do nothing to help them.

  Roderick scarcely spent a moment out of Betsy’s presence. When he wasn’t around, he made sure she was with her parents or the Harringtons for the sake of her safety. As they spent more time together, it grew more difficult for Roderick to keep his desire for her at bay. She was so perfect and innocent, and a primitive part of him wanted to destroy that and show her what it meant to be loved as a woman. Still, he never engaged in anything sexual with her, wanting to protect her reputation as he’d promised Mr. Harrington. He knew that he wanted to marry her, but until it was official, he planned to keep himself from taking her into his arms passionately.

  Conversation between them flowed easily, for the most part. The one subject that proved difficult was the place where they would live. Several times Roderick brought up the possibility of them moving to New York together, but Betsy always managed to steer clear of any discussion at length about that topic. He knew the thought of moving was uncomfortable for her, but he didn’t realize how much she feared it until the day he proposed.

  One of their favorite things to do together was something simple: a picnic. The wide-open space among trees and grass was something Roderick didn’t often get to enjoy in the bustling city life, so he made good use of it. They relaxed together one chilly spring day, having just finished eating sandwiches out of a basket that Betsy had packed for them.