Sarah, A Festive Bride Read online

  It could still be a great adventure, a life she’d create. After meeting with Robert Fields, she’d find a place to live and begin life in the west as a single, independent woman.

  Over breakfast the next morning, Sarah explained her plan to Lilah.

  Her new friend’s wide eyes and open mouth were a clear indication Sarah’s thought process was, indeed, outside the norm.

  “I am not sure life here is geared toward being alone as a woman. I have been warned to ensure to keep company with other women to ensure I am not seen to be alone. Not without some sort of sponsor. Also, the sheriff has a deputy who will be patrolling the schoolhouse regularly.”

  The schoolteacher looked around the dining room as if expecting someone to agree with her. “Besides, what will you do if neither of your plans work out?”

  “Something will. Let’s not dawdle,” Sarah said, waving her right hand dismissively. “You must accompany me to visit with the owner of the apothecary. It will look better if I walk in with the new schoolteacher. He or she will assume we traveled together and I came as your companion and friend.”

  “You are my friend and I am happy for it,” Lilah said with a sincere smile. “However, I find this plan of yours quite...disconcerting.”

  They stood and Lilah shook her head. “Let’s hurry. I have to be back in time to meet with Olive Withers. You must meet her as well.”

  Chapter 3

  Robert waited for his mother, Camilla, to finally descend the stairs to the dining room. He’d almost left to see about his bride-to-be, but decided it would be best to wait and find a way to distract his parents.

  That they’d arrived on the same stagecoach had been a horrible coincidence. He’d not received a letter from Sarah Michaels since sending the money for her train fare. As a result, he’d assumed she’d not left yet. How was it she’d come so soon?

  And, now he’d made the worst impression at not greeting her. Hopefully, she’d understand once he explained, it was best she not been subjected to his mother just yet.

  Camilla Fields came down the stairs while holding a handkerchief to her brow. “My head still reels at the discomfort of traveling yesterday. I will insist your father purchase a coach before I travel again. Why your sister had to move to that dreadful town in Montana, I’ll never understand.” She waited for him to pull the chair away from the table and proffered her cheek for a kiss.

  “Good morning, Mother,” Robert said. His cousin, Amelia, entered with a teapot. She wore a serene expression as always.

  “Bless you, Amelia,” his mother exclaimed. “I do require strong tea this morning.”

  His cousin had come to live with them a year ago. Having her hair pulled back into a serviceable bun at the nape of her neck did not distract from her pretty face. As a matter of fact, in Robert’s opinion, it suited her.

  Usually quiet, she was like a sister to him, as they’d grown up together. From the loss of her parents and only sister when she’d been young, her life had been a series of tragedies.

  Once Amelia joined his mother at the table, Robert cleared his throat. “I must leave now, Mother. I have much to do today. I will check on my house since it is almost finished, except for the furnishings. I plan to spend most of the day at the bank. Send someone if you require anything. Father should return from his morning walk momentarily.”

  His mother looked around the room as if noticing for the first time her husband was not about. “Indeed. He must have left rather early.”

  Bernard Fields had been most delighted to be reunited with his dogs upon arriving and had not be away from them since. His mother had long given up on his preference for them over her and, as a result, they kept separate bedrooms as Bernard allowed the hounds to sleep in bed with him.

  His mother’s narrowed eyes scanned over Robert. “Are you sure everything is well? You seem nervous. Is something amiss?”

  Damn it.

  He let out a slow breath. “I have a lot of work. I needed to be there early, but first I wanted to ensure you were well...and to hear what it was you wished to speak to me about.”

  Why had he not left before she’d gotten up?

  She’d insisted the day before that he wait for her that morning, but it would have been easy to plead having forgotten. Now, he waited for an announcement he was sure she’d draw out.

  Putting down the cup, his mother looked to Amelia with a wan smile then to him. “I received a letter just before leaving from our dear friends the Lewistons. Their daughter, Elena, is quite pleasant and of marrying age. We discussed perhaps you going to visit and courting her for marriage.”

  “No.” Robert did not keep the anger from his voice. “I have other plans when it comes to marriage. I will not allow you or anyone to choose whom I marry.”

  Amelia’s sparkling eyes darted between him and his mother, her lips pressed together as if stifling a smile.

  “I will see you this evening, Mother. Write them back and tell them I am not interested.”

  “Robert?” When his mother’s mouth fell open, he took the opportunity to dash from the room.

  Things could not be more complicated. Robert stalked down the porch steps to the walkway while scanning the street. He’d stop at the hotel first and repair what damage he’d done by not greeting his future wife.

  Hopefully, the woman would not be so put out as to not receive him. His mother was an impediment when it came to marriage. She’d find something wrong every step of the way. That fact made him consider that, perhaps, he should marry without letting her know.

  They could go to the pastor’s house and get it done. That way, when he introduced Sarah to the family, it would be too late for them to intervene. Truthfully, he doubted his father would have any opposition to it. But his mother, on the other hand, would make a scene.

  It was a warm morning, telling the day would become quite hot. He couldn’t complain about the cloudless sky as the warm weather was welcome after the long winter.

  The heat of the sun permeated through his jacket as he stepped onto the wooden walkway that lined both sides of the main road. His shoes barely made a sound except once in a while when walking over a loose board.

  Once reaching the overhang of the hotel, Robert could finally stop from squinting. He paused just a moment to collect his thoughts.

  Again, he had to hesitate once entering the hotel to allow his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. He then crossed the carpeted floor to a long desk where the hotel owner, Charles Bloom, stood.

  “Miss Michaels is not here,” the man informed him. “She and Miss Adams left quite early this morning.” Charles looked around, no doubt, to ensure his wife, Cornelia, was out of earshot.

  “Quite pretty the both of them. Have you seen them?”

  He ignored the question. “Did they say where they were headed?” Robert scanned the dining room, finding only a couple of people eating.

  The man behind the counter shrugged. “No. Guests don’t normally inform me of where they go.”

  “Yes, of course,” Robert replied halfheartedly.

  Upon exiting, he donned his hat and looked from one end of the street to the other. Perhaps the ladies had gone to the schoolhouse. One of them was the new schoolmarm. No doubt, the woman would be anxious to visit where she’d be working. He strolled toward the east end of town, squinting into the sunlight.

  Robert arrived at the bank an hour later. He’d not found the women after searching the schoolhouse, the mercantile and asking the mayor about their whereabouts. According to Judge, they were to meet later in the early afternoon and he’d promised to send a boy to collect him.

  “Ah, there you are.” His father stood in the doorway of Robert’s small office, his dogs at his sides. “You mother was quite upset when I joined her for breakfast.”

  Although he would have preferred not to discuss marriage to someone back east, Robert was curious as to his father’s take on what his mother had planned.

  He went to a small, cast iron
stove and poured coffee from a pot. “Mother makes herself upset. She wants me to marry, I understand. However, I prefer to do things myself.”

  “Oh that,” his father said, waving his words away. “I’m sure you’ll find someone. Although...” his father looked around the bank as if expecting a future bride to appear out of thin air. “There aren’t many single women in Ranchester.”

  “I placed an ad. My future wife has arrived. I can’t find her at the moment, but she’s here in town.” Robert lowered to his chair and let out a breath, waiting for his father’s reaction.

  “Well, I’m sure she’ll turn up,” his father replied, not seeming to take in the full announcement Robert had just made.

  Robert looked to his father. “Did you hear what I said? I’m marrying a mail order bride.”

  There were many times Robert had wondered how his father dealt with his willful wife of so many years. This morning, he was reminded. Bernard Fields took most things in stride. He rarely lifted his voice, nor was he prone to overreacting, as evidenced now by his shrug.

  “Good on you, Son. Every man should have a wife.” His father looked down to the dogs. “Come, boys. Let’s get a bit of fresh air.”

  “Where are you going?” Robert asked with a frown.

  His father looked around the empty bank. “You can handle business for a few minutes. I’m going to the mercantile to pick up some tobacco for my pipe.”

  No sooner did his father leave than the first customer walked in.

  When his father returned, there were several people in the bank. A rancher and his partner wanting a loan to purchase cattle sat at Robert’s desk. Otis Sullivan, the mercantile owner, who stopped by daily to visit with Bernard, stood by the stove pouring a cup of coffee.

  Teddy, a young, red-faced boy, rushed to Robert’s desk, ignoring the men who sat across from him. “Mr. Fields, Mayor Withers sent me for you. Said to tell you he’s at the hotel.”

  “Thank you, Teddy. I’ll be there shortly.” Robert handed the boy a coin.

  “I do apologize, gentlemen. But this is most urgent. My father will help you with whatever transaction is necessary.” He got to his feet.

  After discussing the pertinent information with his father, Robert hurried out of the bank with his hat in his hand.

  For a moment, he hesitated, mentally kicking himself for not having a gift of some sort. Thankfully, the mercantile was just past the hotel, so he went there first.

  Two women had arrived the day before, one the new schoolmarm, the other, Sarah Michaels. From what he noticed the day before, both women had been of similar height. One lady had light brown hair, the other one darker. The dark-haired woman had been quite disheveled and alarmingly flushed. He’d hoped, the more presentable was Sarah, as his mother would, no doubt, find it easy to find fault with the other.

  Hopefully, he’d be able to put his mother off and insist she treat his new wife with respect. But Robert was not so naïve to think it would be of help in his absence.

  One of the reasons he’d not married yet was that the scare single local women were put off at the thought of Camilla Fields for a mother-in-law. Poor Sarah did not have the privilege of knowing what she faced.

  This time of day, the sun seemed brighter. Robert’s hat barely helped him see as he walked to the hotel.

  Once again, he hesitated at the doorway. This time, he was collecting his thoughts.

  Inside the entry, Charles Bloom wordlessly motioned to the restaurant. The hotel owner then returned his attention to whatever paperwork was spread on the surface of his counter.

  Robert’s chest tightened as he considered it would take a great deal to change his future wife’s first impression of him.

  When he looked into the dining room, he instantly spotted the group. Judge sat at a table with a woman on each side of him. They were joined by Judge’s wife, Olive.

  The lighter-haired woman looked up following the mayor’s line of sight and took him in. She was quite pretty, but did not resemble the description of Sarah.

  A moment later, the other woman, the one he’d wished not to be his wife, first looked to the mayor before slowly shifting in his direction.

  At seeing her face, Robert inhaled sharply. Would it be too much to ask that this beautiful woman be his future bride?

  Chapter 4

  Sarah ignored the speeding of her heartbeat to study Robert Fields. He was an attractive man who, at the moment, stood as if waiting to be invited to join them. He held a hat in his right hand against his hip and looked from her to Lilah and finally to the mayor.

  “There you are, Robert. Please join us for coffee. I’d like to introduce you to my lovely companions.” Judge Withers smiled a bit too broadly and sweat beaded on his upper lip. Obviously, the man was as unsettled by the situation as she was.

  The mayor motioned first to the woman on his right. “Miss Lilah Adams, this is Robert Fields. He and his father own the local bank. Robert, Miss Adam will be the town’s new schoolmarm.”

  Lilah tipped her head, her eyes narrowing. “Mr. Fields.”

  “And may I present Miss Sarah Michaels? I believe she is here to meet you, at your request.”

  Other than a slight curve to his lips, Sarah could not decipher what Robert Fields thought. There had been a slight widening of his eyes when she’d turned to see him, but a neutral expression had quickly covered his thoughts.

  Robert leaned toward her. “Miss Michaels. I owe you a huge apology for yesterday’s unfortunate circumstance.”

  Sarah turned her nose up and studied him. She ensured to match his neutral expression. “Yes, Mr. Fields.” Ice dripped from each pronounced word. “I believe you do.”

  Judge Withers shifted uncomfortably while the schoolteacher kept her narrowed gaze trained on him. Robert hoped to be alone to apologize. The scene now could not be more awkward. When he looked to his right, the diners at the adjacent table also watched him with hawk-like focus.

  He cleared his throat. “My mother...and father returned on the same stagecoach as you. I wasn’t aware you were here until...well. When I realized it...I couldn’t...”

  At Sarah’s soft huff, the woman at the next table giggled and Robert glared in her direction only to be met by yet another set of narrowed eyes. This was turning out to be a rather difficult situation.

  “What I mean to say is that I apologize for not coming immediately to greet you. I didn’t wish to expose you to what could have been a very unsettling situation.”

  “Not being greeted by my future husband was an unsettling situation, Mr. Fields,” Sarah replied. Despite her obvious anger, he liked the sound of her voice.

  Whiskey-colored eyes met his and she arched a brow. “No matter, I have changed my mind.”

  Both Olive Withers and the people at the other table gasped. The mayor’s eyes rounded and the schoolteacher coughed, covering her mouth with both hands.

  “Excuse me?” Robert lowered to the empty chair across from the mayor and on Sarah’s left. He lowered his voice. “What do you mean?”

  “I will not marry you, Mr. Fields. It is obvious to me that you are finding a way to withdraw your offer. I accept your withdrawal.”

  Sarah was proud of how stable her voice remained. Her lungs demanded faster breaths as her accelerating heart beat against her breast with force. At the moment, she had to appear strong and unwavering. Although the owner of the apothecary had only offered her work for a couple days a week, she was sure it would not be a problem to find a second income stream and make enough to live on in this town.

  Before Robert Fields’ arrival, she and Lilah had been discussing her helping at the school several days a week and were about to present it to the mayor.

  Now, as Robert looked down at her, uncertainty in his gaze, she was surprised not to see relief.

  “Miss Michaels, may I have a word in private with you?”

  He took her elbow as she stood, his hold firm. After excusing herself and promising to join them in a f
ew minutes, Sarah allowed Robert to guide her through the wide doorway to the outside.

  Once on the walkway, she expected he’d release her. Instead, he switched to stand on the road side and took her other arm. “There are a couple of benches under trees in the square.” Robert motioned with his free hand to the center of town.

  She remained quiet, not exactly sure what to say. Instead, from under her brows, she cast looks up toward him. A full head taller than she was, he cut a good figure. Robert Fields was a well-dressed man. Since he was a banker, Sarah assumed he had to dress for work. A couple of women strode past them. Both women greeted Robert and then cast curious glances toward her.

  He did not introduce her. That, she found, was a clear indication her assumption he wished to withdraw was right.

  “Mr. Fields, how much further are we walking?” They passed a bench and he finally guided her to one that was not only shaded, but also partially secluded from people walking along the street.

  When she lowered to sit, he followed suit. The bench was narrow, so there was little space between them.

  Not sure what to do, Sarah looked out across the square, noting a small chapel and a pretty, white-washed house beside it. She assumed the pastor lived there with his family.

  “You are breathtakingly beautiful,” Robert said. She jerked to look at him, at once noticing his eyes were a light blue with darker blue specks.

  “Is that why you brought me here to this corner? To discuss my features?” Sarah knew she was not being kind. At the moment, she would not be so easily swayed to ignore the insult of the day before.

  Upon closer inspection, she realized that Robert Fields was more than just attractive. He was quite handsome.

  She’d considered him attractive the day before. But now, up close, she noted his smooth complexion, slightly crooked nose and firm chin. He wore his almost black hair a bit long, which suited him. With a dusting of whiskers on his chin and upper lip, he looked more like a rancher than a banker in her opinion.