Stephen was still smarting from the lecture Daniel had given him. His big brother thought he was an idiot for agreeing to marry a woman he knew nothing about. Pointing out that Daniel knew nothing about Rosie when he moved into her house was quickly dispelled by his comments that he had spent weeks with her before they married.
Eventually, his brother had wished him well and reminded him he was always welcomed back, and if Stephen needed any help to send word. He and Calliope still held hands as he walked her around the farm. They passed the barn, the cold cellar where Rosie kept the vegetables and fruits she’d stored for the winter, now almost depleted, and Daniel’s newly added horse farm.
Calliope commented on the smoke house, the ice house, and chicken coops. Once they entered the apple orchard, he saw definite amazement in her eyes at the size and productivity of the farm.
“It’s amazing what they’ve done here. They are completely self-reliant. When we return home, I need to start thinking about doing more of this. Maybe adding an orchard and smokehouse.” She turned him, her eyes bright. “Those are things I badgered Papa about for the past few years, but he only saw profit in corn and wheat.”
No, he’d not been crazy to marry Calliope. The excitement in her manner told him she was truthful about what she owned, a point that Daniel had made. He said perhaps there was no farm, no man trying to take it over, that maybe Calliope’s story was made up.
The sun was beginning to set behind the trees when Stephen and Calliope returned from their walk. The house had quieted down, with Jace and Lucy already in bed and Chandler and Amelia busy with their homework. Rosemarie occupied her favorite chair near the window where she worked on mending for the family. As usual, Daniel sat at the large desk near his wife and went over the ledger book and correspondence.
“We will be leaving in the morning at first light.” His brother and sister-in-law looked up from their work at Stephen’s words.
“How are you traveling to Johnson County?”
“I bought tickets for the stagecoach when we were in town earlier.”
“What about your horse?” Daniel removed the pipe he’d had clamped in his mouth and laid it carefully on a small dish on the desk. “Topaz is yours, I gave him to you.”
“I would very much like to take him with me. I can ride alongside the coach, or tie him to the back for part of the way. It’s not that long of a ride, only about six hours.”
Daniel nodded and returned to his work. Rosemarie smiled at the two of them. “I wish you both well. And if you need anything, please write. Also, we would love a visit now and then.”
“Thank you so much for your hospitality, and I do hope we will be able to visit each other.” Calliope returned her smile, and allowed Stephen to escort her to his bedroom.
Although he’d spent two years in this bedroom, he’d never noticed how small the room was, and how much space the bed took up. The bed they both would sleep in.
“Where will you sleep?” Calliope twisted her fingers and shifted her gaze from the bed to him.
“Here.” He waved at the bed. Damn, it didn’t look so big now that he imagined him and Calliope both lying there. Hopefully once they got to her farm there would be better sleeping arrangements until she decided she was ‘comfortable.’ He sure as hell wasn’t comfortable now.
Just picturing her spread out on that bed, naked, with her hair cascading over the pillow, her arms outstretched, reaching for him, had the lower parts of his body stiffening.
“Can’t you sleep on the floor?” She continued to stare at the bed while she chewed her lips. Plump lips. Red lips. Ready-to-be kissed lips.
“No.” He barely got the word out.
“Why not?”
Stephen took a deep breath, trying to get his body under control. Damn, he only met the woman a few hours ago, and here he was ready to jump on her. She was an innocent girl, obviously frightened to death to find herself with a strange man behind a closed bedroom door. “Because tomorrow we begin a six hour journey which I don’t intend to start with aching muscles.”
She fisted her hands on her hips. Rounded hips, below full breasts. Lord the room had gotten hot all of a sudden. “That’s not very gentlemanly.”
He began to unbutton his shirt. “No, it’s not. But I already told you we would not engage in normal martial relations until you’re comfortable. I intend to keep my word.”
God help him.
Her eyes grew wide. “What are you doing?”
“Getting ready for bed.” He removed his shirt and tossed it over the back of a chair near the bed, the union suit underneath his shirt and pants heating him to where he wanted to remove every stitch of clothing and lie naked on the bed. Next to Calliope. Also naked on the bed.
No chance of that happening.
“I thought we would sleep in our clothes.”
“Honey, you can sleep in all that finery if you want to, but I will at least remove my pants and shirt. It can get pretty hot in here.” And tonight it will be hotter than ever.
She studied him, then glanced at the bed. “Well, maybe I’ll take this silly wedding gown off. I suppose I can sleep in my chemise and drawers. But the petticoats and corset will have to go, too.”
The more she mentioned the various items of clothing she intended to remove, the more interested he became in the conversation. “Can I help?”
“Yes, I suppose I will need your help. Ordinarily I have the woman who works for us at the farm as a housekeeper and cook help me dress. Bertha is a dear person, and I hope I haven’t caused her too much worry.”
Calliope removed her white bonnet and turned. “Can you unbutton the gown, please?”
He was startled to see his fingers shaking as he undid the long string of buttons on Calliope’s wedding gown. And were there a lot of buttons. Why the devil would someone make a wedding gown with so many obstacles for the new husband?
As the buttons opened, the sight of her smooth skin under his calloused hands had him breaking into a sweat. He hurriedly finished the rest of the buttons. “I’ll go for a walk while you get ready for bed.” Hoping he didn’t scandalize Rosie by fleeing out the front door in his trousers and Union suit, he raced from the room.
They’d been on the road toward Calliope’s farm in Johnson County since barely after sunrise. Rosemarie had packed a lunch for them to eat on the road since the stagecoach wouldn’t make another stop until they reached their destination. They’d finished that off two hours ago, and from what Stephen could tell by the position of the sun they would be close to arriving within the hour.
Calliope had sat, staring out the window almost the entire trip. They were crowded into the space with three other men. He and his wife sat side-by-side, crammed together with a bulky man sharing their bench. Even though Stephen had planned on riding Topaz part of the way, once he realized doing that would leave Calliope with three strange men, he decided to stay in the coach. Consequently, he was stiff and sore and not in the best frame of mind.
“We’re almost there.” Calliope’s soft words drew him from his musings.
“Yes, I thought we were getting close.”
She took a deep breath and fiddled with the folds of her dress. Stephen placed his hand over hers to still her movements. “Are you nervous?”
“Yes.” She licked her lips and cast him a slight smile. “You have no idea how intimidating Rupert can be.”
“Rupert is no longer your concern. I will deal with him and make sure he doesn’t come near you again.” After four long years fighting for the lost Confederate cause there wasn’t much he was left fearful of. He’d seen friends shot in cold blood, men dragged by spooked horses, horses shot from underneath their riders who fell and were trampled.
No, there wasn’t a whole lot of things that rattled him anymore. In fact, he was anxious to settle this problem with Melrose and get on with his life. He had plans for the farm that would increase their profit once he could establish a horse breeding venture. No bully would stand in his way. He and Calliope were legally married, he was here to protect her and her farm, and anyone who got in his way would suffer the consequences.
***
Calliope grew more anxious the closer they got to home. It had been so easy to run, to avoid marrying Rupert, but now that she thought about facing him with what she’d done, it was almost as bad as facing Papa when she’d gone against something he’d ordered her to do, or not do. But, she kept reminding herself of Stephen’s words.
Rupert is no longer your concern. I will deal with him and make sure he doesn’t come near you again
If only she could believe that, but truthfully, she didn’t know Stephen all that well. He seemed to be a nice man, and he certainly was liked and respected by his family. She would have to learn to trust herself. Trust that he would take care of her, but at the same time, not attempt to take over her life.
The stagecoach left them off in town. Stephen released Topaz from the coach and strapped his satchel to the back of the saddle. Then, to her surprise, he scooped her into his arms and mounted his horse, settling her on his lap.
He winced as he shifted her. “Are you all right?” His face paled and he seem to hold his breath.
“Yes. I have an injury in my hip from the war, and some types of movements hurt.”
“You shouldn’t have lifted me onto the horse. I could have mounted myself.”
“It’s fine.” The warmth from his body and the welcoming scent of something spicy and comforting radiated from him as he turned the horse and they headed out of town at her direction. The sun hung low in the sky, and a soft breeze blew, the moisture in the air warning of rain sometime soon. As a farmer, she always looked forward to rain.
The house looked exactly the same as it had when she’d run yesterday morning. It was hard to grasp that only one day had passed since she’d abandoned her groom who must have been waiting for her at the Judge’s home. She shuddered at how close she’d come to being tied to that man for the rest of her life.
“Are you cold?” Stephen asked.
“Maybe a little.” She just weary, just wanted to walk into her very familiar house, take a hot bath and go to bed. But first she would have to deal with Bertha, who had driven her to town so she could catch the stagecoach. The cook and housekeeper had lectured her the entire way, asking her what she planned to do when she got wherever it was she planned on going.
She hadn’t any plans at that point. All she wanted to do was get away. The idea of finding a substitute husband came to her while she rode the distance between Sterling and Bartlett Creek, as far as the ticket she’d purchased took her. There she found Stephen McCoy.
Her husband.
Bertha opened the front door, wiping her hands on the white apron wrapped around her middle with a huge grin on her face. “Thank the good Lord, Miss Bender is back.”
Calliope slid from the horse before Stephen could even assist her and ran up the steps, giving Bertha a big hug. “Yes, I am home. But guess what?”
Bertha was looking over her shoulder, frowning. “What did you do?”
She released the older woman and took Stephen’s hand, who had followed her up the stairs. “Bertha, this is my husband, Mr. Stephen McCoy.”
“Husband!” Calliope was sure there would be no reason to notify Rupert what she’d done because most likely he had already heard Bertha’s shout.
“Yes. Stephen and I were married yesterday afternoon.”
Bertha regarded him as though she’d found something nasty on her shoe. “You ran like your tail was on fire yesterday morning to keep from marrying Mr. Melrose, and you come back with another husband? Lord, girl, have you lost your mind?”
Calliope drew herself up. “Mr. McCoy is an upstanding man, who was vouched for by the sheriff of Bartlett Creek. He has a wonderful family, whom I met, and I am married, so there is no need to complain about it.”
Stephen stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Miss Bertha, I am more than pleased to meet you. I can assure you I am sober, honest, and a hard worker. Furthermore, I intend to make Calliope a fine husband who will take care of her and the farm.”
Not easily won over, the older woman narrowed her eyes. “Well we will see about that, now, won’t we?”
Instead of the anger Calliope had expected, Stephen burst out laughing. “Miss Bertha, you remind me of Mammy who raised my brother and me on our farm in Kentucky. She made sure Daniel and I read the Bible daily, washed behind our ears, and never cussed in front of a lady. When my mother was feeling poorly, which was a great deal of the time, Mammy made sure we did our school work and helped with the horses.”
Amazingly, Calliope could see Bertha softening toward Stephen. But being the suspicious person she was by nature, she sniffed. “Mr. McCoy, you may bring your things in. I will show you to Miss Benders—rather you wife’s bedroom.” With a flounce of her blue cotton dress, she turned and lumbered up the stairs. Stephen winked at Calliope and followed the housekeeper into the house.
The three trooped up to the bedroom. Calliope was tempted to ask Bertha to open Papa’s old room for Stephen, but didn’t want to answer any questions that would result from that request. Better to work things out with her husband than to set Bertha the bloodhound on them.
“I’ll have supper ready in about an hour,” Bertha said as she closed the door and left the room.
Calliope studied the bedroom she’d slept in since the day she was born. Now it was occupied by her and a man. A man who had every right to toss her on the bed and do what it was married men did with their wives. Being raised on a farm, she had a pretty good idea what that was, but since she’d gotten Stephen to agree to wait, it would be best to get things straight right from the start. “As you can see, there is only one bed.”
“Yes.” He dragged the word out and eyed her with a mixture of curiosity and humor. “So where will you sleep?”
Her jaw dropped. “In my bed, of course.”
“Which is where I will sleep, as well.” He dropped his satchel on the floor and rested his hands on his slim hips. “Look, honey, you already have my word that I will wait. I’m not going to pretend I’m happy about it, but I don’t go back on my word.” He moved closer to her, causing her to back up. The predator gleam in his eyes had her stomach fluttering.
“What?” She chewed her lip. Whatever it was he wanted to do to her, if it was to make her feel like she was his next meal, it had worked. She took another step back as he took one forward.
“I’m sure you would not object to kissing?”
“Kissing?” One more step back.
One step forward. “Yes. Kissing.”
She scooted around him, taking a deep breath as she reached the door. “I’m going downstairs to the bathing room. I’ll see you at supper.” She was at the top of the stairs when she heard his chuckle.
The next morning they shared a typical breakfast Bertha fixed of fried ham, biscuits, and a bowl of stewed vegetables. After supper the night before she climbed into bed while Stephen did his bathing and was sound asleep whenever it was he’d come to bed. Since he was already up and dressed before she arose, the only way she knew he’d slept alongside her was the indentation in the second pillow.
She was still a little stunned at her reaction when he questioned her about kissing. He’d given her a polite, chaste peck on the lips after the wedding ceremony. Given the look in his eyes when he’d stalked her around the bedroom, she didn’t think that was the sort of kiss he had in mind. The entire episode had left her shaky and flushed.
“I’ve already spoken to your manager, John, and he’s going to give me a tour of the farm today.” Stephen pushed aside his empty plate and drew his coffee cup closer.
“I should be the one to give the tour. It’s my farm.” Was he already trying to cut her out? Take over the entire operation and leave here sitting home knitting socks?
Almost as if he’d heard her thoughts he added, “Bertha told me this morning you always help her with the laundry on Thursdays.”
Damn the laundry. The last thing she wanted to do was start off this ‘marriage’ with her in the house doing laundry and him out in the fields with John. “I’ll ask her to put it off until tomorrow. I will be riding with you and John.”
His grin irritated her more than his request for a kiss last night. It appeared she would have no peace in her life with Stephen McCoy in it.