Page 377 of Conveniently Wed
The all-too-familiar disapproving tone and set of her ma’s chin told Katie she was in for a fight if she tried to set her mother straight.
“I’m too young for him. What about the widow Laurie up the road? She’d jump at the chance to marry, with her brood of children and no husband to run the farm.”
Ma’s lips formed a tight ashen line, and her eyes narrowed. She moved in close, her voice hushed but stern. “You’d do well to remember that there’s a very influential man sitting on our humble porch. I will not have you embarrassing us with your haughty ways. All I know at this point is that the conversationconcerns you, and you will show nothing but respect. Do you hear me?” She clenched her teeth and wagged her finger so close to Katie’s face she could feel the fan of a breeze.
“Fine.”
She wouldn’t argue. But neither was she going to try to impress any man, especially Mr. Richardson, with whom she had nothing in common. When she did marry, it would be for love. Her heart would skip and melt like it once had for Charles.
2
As Josiah plodded along, the cadence of his horse’s hooves lulled him into deep thought. He leaned forward and patted the mane. “Home, boy.” Fireball picked up speed.
He had been hoping, no, expecting, more friendliness from Katherine. After rescuing her a second time, he’d thought she would show more than a rush to get out of his sight. She had even trusted him with a quick hug before. Why the coldness now? By the look on her face, she longed to be anywhere but in his presence.
Truth be told, since that day a month before, he had thought of little else. A thaw had begun inside his cold and protected core. She was in his head, under his skin, and had even wiggled her way into the heart he’d thought was boarded up and closed down. Could this be what people referred to as love at first sight? Did such a thing even exist?
He hoped his offer would be met with her approval. That she would be happy to get out of the cramped quarters they lived in, and help out her family at the same time. Obviously, if she had accepted a job to clean the saloon, things were pretty desperate. He could save her from such dire circumstances. Hecould give her a life she’d never dreamed possible, a life most every available girl in town would clamor for.
And since she was the first woman since Georgina who showed enough spunk to catch his attention, why not take the leap? His plan would solve a problem for both of them. She would have a home and future, and he would have a wife and family. Then, all his hard work in building the best horse ranch in the valley would have meaning. His cousin Tom back in Williamsburg didn’t fit as his beneficiary. His views on the plight of the black people were decidedly different than Josiah’s, and he couldn’t risk someone not loving Abe and Delilah as much as he did. No, the legacy he dreamed about passing down had to go to a strapping son, or a brilliant daughter, who would have the opportunity to learn anything his or her little heart desired.
He chuckled. With the likes of a spitfire beauty like Katherine, life would be anything but dull. He had better act fast before some younger man snatched her up. A nagging jab churned in his gut. Was he too old for her? He pressed down the worry.
Hewasfalling for the girl, there was little doubt. For the first time in a long time, he allowed a full grin to split free. He had the where-with-all to make it happen, so why shouldn’t he?
“He what?” Katie paused with the stack of dishes she was removing from the table to the washbasin. She swung around so fast the top plate went flying, landing on the floor with a thud.
“He wants to marry you.” Pa eyed her, his expression impossible to read.
“He doesn’t even know me.” She slammed the stack of dishes down and bent to retrieve the plate.
“He told me you’ve met a couple times, and he found you both intriguing and interesting.”
She straightened with the dish. “Since when do people marry for intrigue or interest?”
“His offer is generous.”
“Offer?”
“He would supply a house for our family and work for me farming his land. And, as a wedding gift, he’s offered the orchard and all the proceeds, so I can pay him back for the house in time. Do you understand what this means?” The excitement built in his voice. “You would live in luxury. A big house. Maids. Beautiful clothes. Anything your heart desires.” His toothy grin grew wide.
“Anything my heart desires except love.”
Pa’s smile dissolved like sugar in a teacup. His gaze hit the floor.
Katie turned from him. She would rather run down the streets of Lacey Spring naked than get forced into an arranged marriage. Mr. Richardson was too old for her. Had Pa lost his mind? No wonder he’d cleared the cabin of everyone so they could talk privately.
“So, that’s why he showed up out of the blue a few days ago, all friendly and sure of himself. I wondered what brought the high and mighty Mr. Richardson to our humble door.” She intentionally flashed Pa a stormy scowl. “Apparently, I was his reason.”
Katie slammed the last stack of dirty dishes into the wooden tub and grabbed the dishrag. She stomped to the table and scrubbed with all her strength. The walls of the cabin room pressed in around her, much like the marriage arrangement her pa had just presented. How could she give him the answer she knew he wanted? She drew deep breaths past the knot in herchest. A loveless marriage couldn’t be the only solution to their dire situation. There had to be another way.
“You’re twenty-one. Don’t you want to marry and have a family?”
“I want to marry, but not a stranger. I would’ve married Charles in a heartbeat.” The thought of the strapping young man she had kissed good-bye brought instant tears. She turned away and squeezed her eyes tight, refusing to allow the flow.
“Charles is gone.” Pa’s warm hand touched her shoulder.
She moved out of his reach. “I know he’s gone. But that doesn’t mean I’m free of him.” Heat filled her cheeks at admitting something so personal. “Besides, you and Ma have always talked about how important both friendship and love are in a marriage. I’ll have neither.”
