Faith (Goldwater Creek Mail-Order Brides 1) by Leighann Dobbs Page A

eyes on you. He could have backed out. Suck in your breath.” Maisie snugged the waist of the dress tight and jabbed a row of pins into it.
    “But why did he send away for a bride? If he could have the pick of women here?” Faith asked.
    Maisie jabbed another pin in.
    “Ouch!” Faith frowned at the older woman.
    “Sorry. I guess Mr. Jax didn’t fancy any of the women here. And, well, he wasn’t always an upstanding member of the community. He’s tryin’ to rectify that.”
    Faith frowned. “What do you mean he wasn’t always an upstanding member of the community?”
    Maisie shrugged. “Drinkin’. Carowsin’. Him and that Ryder Devlin. ‘Course they were younger then. And that was before—”
    Maisie stopped abruptly, then backed away, taking in the dress from a few feet away. “I think that will do it. Take it off and I’ll fix it up to fit you like a glove. Now try on the shoes, though there's not much I can do if those don't fit.”
    But Faith was curious about what Maisie had been about to say. Was it something about the gold mine?
    “Before what?” she asked as she lifted the silky shoes out of the box. She noticed they were embroidered with the same gold thread—not very practical but good enough to wear to a party. She slipped them on. Perfect fit.
    “Oh, nothing.” Maisie waved her hands in the air. “Before he straightened up and became the man of the ranch. Before his daddy died and left him in charge. Now, up with your arms and I’ll help you get this off.”
    Faith raised her arms. Maisie’s explanation made sense, but she still felt that there was more to it. Whatever it was, she wasn’t going to get that out of Maisie today. If she’d learned anything about the old woman, it was that she was stubborn.
    “I have to say Mr. Jax surprised me with this one. You know I been tending to him since he was a little boy. His momma, God rest her soul, died when he was only ten.”
    Faith’s heart pinched and she made a murmur of sympathy.
    “Anyway, ain’t never seen him buy a dress for a woman before, but I guess he’s got good taste. This is a right pretty dress and it looks beautiful on you.”
    “Thanks.” Faith leaned over to pick her gray dress off the bed and the key, still hanging from her neck on its brown velvet ribbon, glimmered in a ray of sunlight as it swung away from her body.
    Maisie nodded at it. “I see you’re guarding that key. After Mr. Jax sees you in this dress, you gonna have to guard it even closer.”
    Maisie bustled off, laughing as Faith grabbed the swinging key, turning it over in her palm. Jax had never once indicated he wanted to get into her room. She was sure seeing her in the dress wouldn’t change that. At least she hoped not, didn’t she?
    Her stomach fluttered as she slipped her plain old dress over her head. She hadn’t spent much time with her new husband and now she would have to attend a party with him. What would he expect of her?
    She had no idea, but the fact that he’d bought the dress just for her and heeded Maisie’s advice made her realize he wasn’t the ruffian that she’d thought he was. Sure, he’d been wild in his youth, but he’d settled down, according to Maisie. And the way he treated the old woman, with respect and caring, said a lot about him.
    Of course, there was the way he’d practically ignored her since the moment she’d gotten there. And he’d run straight from their wedding to the saloon and then acted so strange in the library. But she didn’t think he had been drunk. Then again, maybe he just handled his booze better than Charles.
    On the other hand, he was thoughtful. He could have let her wear her old dress to the party, but he hadn’t. Faith knew the dress he’d picked was expensive. He hadn’t just pulled the first thing off the rack. She’d have to remember to thank him for it.
    There was more to her handsome husband than first met the eye and Faith had to admit, if the circumstances were different and