Wild Western Women Ride Again: Western Historical Romance Boxed Set, Page 2
Kirsten Osbourne
Chapter Two
Bernard took his seat in the regular car of the train beside a man who carried a box with him. He was surely a peddler of some snake oil or another, and Bernard considered getting up and moving to another seat. Hopefully he wouldn't make too much of a nuisance of himself during their journey. Maybe the peddler would get off at the first stop, and Bernard wouldn't have to worry about him.
He and Elizabeth would travel all the way to St. Louis before changing trains and heading south toward Texas. He wanted to be beside her every minute of their long journey, wanting to see her face as she watched the changing terrain. She was an accomplished businesswoman, and she'd never been outside Massachusetts. He wanted to show her the world.
He briefly wondered, again, if he'd ruin her life by marrying her. She may not have been born with money, but she'd done very well for herself with the mail order bride agency and subsequent newspaper Grooms' Gazette. Men throughout the country placed ads in the paper, and women in the East chose men and corresponded with them. She had matchmakers in every part of the country working with her to make it happen and had for over five years.
She'd come a long way in the years they'd worked together. When he'd first met her she'd been an uncertain young woman, who had been raised on a farm, and had done her best to keep her younger siblings in line. Now, she was a beautiful confident woman, and every time he looked at her, she took his breath away. He had no idea when his feelings for her had started, but he knew he was going to spend the rest of his days loving her, whether she returned the sentiment or not.
He already planned to spend every available minute of their journey with her, knowing that she was unsure of herself when it came to this trip. Maybe it would give him the advantage he needed to capture her attention.
*****
Elizabeth sank down on the narrow bed in her car, wishing she could understand what had just happened with Bernard. In the almost ten years they'd worked together, seeing one another daily when he wasn't traveling and investigating some potential groom or another, she had never seen him act like he saw her as anything other than an employer. Was he finally seeing her as a woman?
She sat for a moment shaking her head before feeling the train start to move. She'd never been on a train before, and she jumped up, running to her window to watch the train pull out of the station. She couldn't count the number of times she'd gone to the Beckham train station and to finally leave on a train, well it was a dream come true.
A few minutes later the excitement of travel had left her, and she sank into the chair provided for her, looking over the letters she'd received recently from her matchmaking counterparts across the country. Even as many of them had worked together to stop the white slavery prevalent throughout their glorious nation, they had banded together to help one another investigate men needing wives. Bernard had been able to travel less and less. Truly he hadn't needed to come on this journey. Investigating a man in Fort Worth was easy enough with three different matchmakers close by.
Pastor Clyde Williamson in Coltonville and Sally Jenkins in Dallas were both nearby, as was Stanley Littlejohn. They could easily investigate if necessary, but she liked the idea of meeting the man herself and seeing if he made a good potential groom. Yes, she wanted to see her sister badly, but traveling with Bernard and helping him investigate a potential groom were even more important to her.
She lost herself in the work at hand and looked up startled when there was a knock at her door two hours later. "Come in!" she called.
Bernard slid her door open, a frown on his face. "You didn't even lock the door? Inquire who was there before just calling them in? What if I'd been here to rob you? Or worse?"
"Worse? What could be worse than robbing me?" He'd already stolen her heart. He could have anything she had to give.
Bernard shook his head at her. He knew she wasn't that naive. "I'm on my way to the dining car and wondered if you'd care to join me."
She nodded, carefully placing all of her things on the small table beside her chair. "I'd love to." She stood and walked to him, taking the arm he offered, thankful for the steadying touch. The train never seemed to stay in motion for long, stopping frequently to let some passengers off and take on others. Train travel was certainly the most efficient way to travel around the country, but it wasn't nearly as exciting as she'd expected.
The train lurched to a stop just as they stepped into the hallway, and she fell into him, grabbing his waist, clutching him under his suit coat, to keep her balance. In all their time together, she'd never seen Bernard without his suit coat, and she was surprised at his strength when she touched him. She blushed and apologized. "I'm so sorry!"
His free hand shot out and caught her around the waist, pulling her against him. "Are you all right?" He concentrated to calm his arousal at having her so close.
Elizabeth swallowed hard, closer to him than she'd ever been. Her green eyes met his blue. "I think so." She felt his breath on her forehead. Wanting nothing more than to raise on tiptoes to kiss him, she took a step back, releasing her death grip on his waist. "We should go to the dining car."
Bernard watched her get all flustered and smiled. It was as if she felt something for him as well. He hoped it was true. Taking her hand, he again placed it on the curve of his arm. "I wonder what they're serving for supper this evening."
She took the change in subject without argument. Her heart was still beating too quickly from being thrown into him, but she couldn't complain. Being close to Bernard was her own little piece of heaven on earth. Why, she'd rather fall into him than anyone else on the train! In the whole world!
When they reached the dining room, they sat at a table beside the windows. She looked around and realized every table was beside the windows because of the shape of the car. No matter, she still liked the window seat. Bernard smiled at her just before he picked up his menu. Elizabeth wanted to get things out in the open and ask him if he had feelings for her as well, but she just wasn't certain she could find the courage. What if he didn't feel anything for her? She would feel stupid.
Once they'd requested their food, Elizabeth struggled to find something to talk to Bernard about that wasn't related to their business. "I know very little about you," she finally said. "What did you do before Higgins found you?" Higgins was the butler who had worked for her predecessor, Harriett Farmer, though she'd been Harriett Long when she'd run the mail order bride service.
Bernard smiled. "I would have thought they'd tell you that. I was a Pinkerton agent. I went to work for Pinkerton when I was just eighteen."
Elizabeth tilted her head to the side, eyeing him carefully. "And how old are you now?" It was amazing she could know someone for as long as she'd known him without knowing very basic things about him.
He studied her for a moment, knowing he was at an advantage. He knew everything about her, but she knew nothing of him. It was one of the benefits of knowing how to find information about others. "I'm thirty-two."
Elizabeth nodded. That wasn't so great a difference she would worry about it. "What's your favorite color?" she asked, a grin lighting her face.
"Green," he said, thinking of her eyes. She had the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen, and he thought of them constantly.
"Really? I like purple. Lavender actually. There's something calming about it for me."
"I know." There was little he didn't know about her. He had discovered everything he could over the years, needing to feel closer to her as he did.
"You do?" Her eyes met his, and she felt herself drowning in their blue depths. His eyes were the exactly color she'd seen on paintings of the ocean. She knew if she ever saw a large body of water, the color would match his eyes.
He nodded. "I know a lot more about you than you think I do."
She didn't question his statement. He always knew a lot more about everything than she thought he did. Instead, she resumed her endeavor to learn more about him. "How many siblings do you have?"
"You seem like you'd be the oldest child. Who's next?"
"After me is my brother Steven, who is married with four children, farming our father's land now that Pa's too old to push a plow. My brother Joseph is next. He moved to the city and manages a factory. He's married with two children. And the youngest is Patricia. She lives about a mile from the farm we all grew up on, and she's married with two children and has another on the way."
"Do you ever see them?" she asked. She knew he didn't take a lot of time off work, but he traveled so much that he could see them regularly and she wouldn't know.
He shook his head. "No. I haven't seen them in years."
"Is that your choice? Or because I keep you too busy?"
He laughed softly. He couldn't tell her the real reason. "Mostly my choice. I don't travel as much as I used to, as you know, but I feel like I should stay close to Beckham." And you. How can I guarantee your safety if you're far away from me?
"Do you write to them?"
He nodded. "Often. My father is a Swedish immigrant, and he doesn't read English, so my brother reads my letters to him."
"What about your mother?"
"She died years ago. I was still young."
"I'm sorry." Elizabeth rested her hand over his on the table between them. "I may not spend a lot of time with my mother or always agree with her, but I can't imagine her not being there. I know if I want to I can make the walk out to the farm at any time, and I'll be welcomed with open arms and invited to stay for a meal. Why, even the demon horde are old enough now that they don't bother me too much." Her lips quirked as she remembered her young siblings painting their cow lavender but making sure the newspaper was on the floor under her, so they wouldn't mess up the barn floor.
Bernard looked down at her hand over his, and turned his over, so he could lace his fingers through hers. He didn't need comforting, but if she was offering it, then he was going to take it. "I've always loved that your younger siblings were called the 'demon horde.' It has such a rich connotation to it."
She shook her head. "You wouldn't have loved growing up with them. I was frequently left in charge of them while my mother was at work and my father was in the fields. There was nothing they dismissed as too dangerous or too stupid to try. Seriously, if it popped into their heads, they were doing it!"
"Like?"
"Well, they were constantly into mischief. One of them would say, 'Let's hitch up the horses and drive into town and buy all the apples we can. Then we'll sit in the trees that overlook the road and throw apple cores at people. They'll never guess where it's coming from!' But people did guess, and then I'd get in trouble for letting them take the wagon to town and not keeping a better eye on them. We won't mention the fact that there were usually at least two in diapers to deal with, and I'd be cooking meals and keeping the house clean. It would have taken a woman with eyes in the back of her head to watch them all." She leaned forward as if to impart a secret. "I think they all multiplied as soon as Mama left for the day."
Bernard laughed at that, the sound filling up the dining car. He'd only really seen Elizabeth in work mode before, never just seen her be herself. He liked her this way. "It sounds like they may have multiplied when your mother left. Too bad you couldn't have taken a photo to prove it."
Elizabeth enjoyed seeing him laugh. She wasn't certain if she had ever really seen him so uninhibited before. "I love your laugh."
Bernard grinned at her, and before he could think better of it, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. He knew better. He should respect her as his employer and take care of her, but he couldn't seem to help himself. It was different now. They were no longer at the house, their place of business. Instead, they were on a train rushing toward Texas. He could think of nothing but pulling her into his arms and kissing her. Would it be so wrong? Would she slap his face? Or kiss him back?
Elizabeth was surprised at the kiss, but she didn't complain or tell him to stop. She liked that the walls that kept them apart were no longer there. A change of scenery may have been just what they needed to grow closer. Oh, how she hoped that was the case, because if it wasn't, she'd become a mail order bride. She was finished being alone.
Their meals came then, and he dropped her hand guiltily. He kept expecting someone to jump out at them and yell at him for holding his employer's hand. It felt so right, even while it felt wrong.
Chapter Three
Elizabeth couldn't stop sneaking looks at Bernard as he walked her back to her room that evening. She wanted to invite him in so they could continue talking, but without the servants she had milling about at home, would it be proper? Did she even care if it would be proper? She wanted to kiss him.
He stopped at her door, opening it for her, his eyes drawn to her lips. How would she react if he kissed her? Would she slap him? Or would she return the affection? He wanted to know, but he was afraid to find out.
Elizabeth turned her face up to him, seeing that he was staring at her lips. Surely he would kiss her. She could see he wanted to.
Bernard rubbed his sweaty palms on the fabric of his slacks. "Good night, Miss Miller."
Elizabeth shook her head. "Don't you mean, 'Elizabeth?' You promised to use my given name."
Bernard swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Elizabeth. Forgive me. It's hard not to return to the old formalities." Especially when he was so nervous.
Elizabeth decided if she waited for him to kiss her, she'd have to wait forever, so she took a step forward, and slipped her hand around to the back of his neck, touching his soft blond hair. She stood on tiptoe and pulled his head the rest of the distance down to hers, touching her lips to his.
Bernard grasped her hips, pulling her closer as he parted his lips, his tongue moving out to trace hers. When she didn't immediately open for him, he leaned back, looking at the picture she made, her head still turned up to his, her mouth moist. He could feel her breath against his skin, and he wanted nothing more than to lift her and take her into her train car, laying her down for a slow leisurely kiss.
He leaned down and brushed her lips against his once more, nibbling at her lower lip.
"Excuse me!"
Bernard lifted his head to see an older gentleman with laughter in his eyes, watching them. "Oh, pardon me. Didn't mean to block the passage."
"I don't blame you! You have a lovely bride, and she's obviously made for kissing. You should take her into your room, though. This is no place for what you obviously have in mind!" The man winked at Bernard before moving around them on his way.
Elizabeth blushed, wishing she knew what to say to him. She was mortified to have been seen, but even worse that he assumed they were married. She stepped back into her room, catching Bernard's hand and pulling him in with her.
Bernard closed the door behind him, his eyes never leaving Elizabeth's face. "I'm sorry," he muttered softly. "I didn't mean for things to get out of hand."
Elizabeth blushed, embarrassed that she was discovered kissing him, but not ashamed of the act itself. "I'm not sorry we kissed. I'm sorry we were caught, but I've been wanting to kiss you for a long time." She knew it wasn't lady-like to just blurt out her feelings, but she didn't care. She was finished playing games.
Bernard studied her face carefully. "Are you sure? I know we were both born farmers' children, but you've made something more of yourself. You don't have to settle for kissing me."
She shook her head. "Don't be absurd. There's no man I'd rather be with." She sighed, knowing things were progressing too quickly between them. She should be acting shy, as if she couldn't believe she'd kissed him, but that wasn't how she did things, and she wasn't about to start now.
"I'm going to let you think about things. I don't want to be seen coming and going from your room. Or kissing you in the passageway either." He cupped her face in
his hands, kissing her softly one last time. "Dream of me," he whispered against her lips before turning and leaving her room, closing the door behind him.
Elizabeth sat down heavily on the chair in her room and stared off into space for a minute. How could she think of anything else? Bernard, the man she'd loved her entire adult life, had just kissed her. Nothing would ever be the same again.
*****
Bernard sat in his seat, staring out the window throughout the night. Now that he'd kissed her, and they'd touched for the very first time, would he ever be able to go back to just being her butler and bodyguard? He didn't know. He wasn't certain if he even wanted to find out!
All through the night, all he could think about was how soft her skin had been under his touch. How sweet her lips had tasted. How badly he wanted to make her his. He'd done fine over the years as he'd stayed at arm's length, but now? He needed her to be his.
Could he even make it through the rest of their trip without trying to get her into his bed? He chuckled when he realized the fallacy of his thinking. He had no bed. She did. He wanted to get into her bed!
As the hours ticked by, he formulated a two-part plan. Her reaction would tell him what he needed to do.
*****
Elizabeth spent the night tossing and turning, thinking about her sweet Bernard. She couldn't believe how good it had felt to finally touch him. To kiss him. She knew she was rushing things, but she wanted to marry him immediately. They didn't need to court for three years. They'd known one another for ten!
She woke early and made certain to look her best. Her dress was rumpled, but she tried not to mind as she twisted her hair up into a knot atop her head. She knew the hairdo was much more becoming for night time, but she didn't care. Looking her best for the man she loved was all that really mattered.
