able to pin a charge on me, but I won't hesitate to stick you with trespassing. Men, see that Junior gets back to town. I need to tend to my wife."
Turning, I took Caroline's hand and led her inside, steering clear of Meecham. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw two of my men each take an arm and drag the man toward the stables. Walking would take too long to be rid of the bastard. No doubt horses were being readied for the ride.
The air was cooler inside, the sun not yet having come around to the front of the house. My housekeeper met us at the door.
"The man spent the night. Just marched on in after waiting for you and picked a room," Mrs. Campbell muttered. She was in her fifties, a rotund woman who did not keep her feelings to herself. "I had Frank spend the night here in the house with me. I don't trust Mr. Meecham as far as I can throw him." She humphed her dislike.
I made introductions. "Mrs. Campbell, this is my wife."
The woman, at first surprised, smiled broadly at Caroline. "Aren't you such a pretty little thing?"
Caroline only smiled back, most likely unsure of how to respond to that.
"I know Thursday is the usual day to go into town for supplies, but would it be too much trouble to make the trip today instead? Caroline came in on the stage yesterday, and got separated from her bag. She has no other clothes but what is upon her back. Besides retrieving the bag - most likely Stevens has it - could you go to the Mercantile and select some things she might need?"
The older woman nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "Of course. Poor dear. Life on a ranch can be hard on a woman, especially without any of her things about her. I'll get you squared away in no time. If it's all right with you, perhaps I'll spend the night in town with my sister, while the supplies return with the men."
This was one of the many reasons why I loved the woman; she always had an insight into what I needed before I even asked. This time, it was privacy. She treated me like a son, although she had four grown ones of her own.
"I'm sure your sister will be pleased for the extended visit." They saw each other every week, however not often overnight.
She reached behind her and untied the apron about her ample waist as she smiled at Caroline. "Let me get my hat and I'll track down one of the men."
I was relieved she did not ask more questions. Surely she had plenty as I'd left the ranch yesterday and returned with a bride in tow today. From the way she eyed us, she saw my lack of patience and did not linger for idle chitchat. Meecham had wasted precious time that I could have spent alone with my new wife.
"Let the men with Meecham leave first. You should not be around him at any time. Be careful in town," I warned.
She grimaced. "I'll steer clear of the likes of him. I'll have to burn those sheets he slept on." She retreated toward the kitchen, grumbling to herself about Meecham. I ran my hand over my face. A shave was past due, but it could wait. Everything could wait. I took the opportunity to tug Caroline up the steps before we were waylaid by anyone or anything else.
***
"What did Mr. Meecham mean when he said you married me for the inheritance?"
While I undid the buttons down the front of her dress, my wife questioned me. We were in my – our - bedroom, the door closed, sunlight streaming through the two large windows. They were open to the fresh air, the simple curtains moving in the slight breeze. The sound of horses came from a distance, hopefully meaning the departure of Meecham.
"His father did not have a will, it seems, which means that you, as his bride, inherited."
I didn't want to tell her she was now the owner of the man's large house on the western edge of town, the bank and a large share in a silver mine in Virginia City. It didn't matter at the moment. All that mattered was getting her naked.
"Mr. Meecham, Jr. didn't inherit?"
I pushed the dress off her shoulders and worked it free of one arm, then the
Turning, I took Caroline's hand and led her inside, steering clear of Meecham. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw two of my men each take an arm and drag the man toward the stables. Walking would take too long to be rid of the bastard. No doubt horses were being readied for the ride.
The air was cooler inside, the sun not yet having come around to the front of the house. My housekeeper met us at the door.
"The man spent the night. Just marched on in after waiting for you and picked a room," Mrs. Campbell muttered. She was in her fifties, a rotund woman who did not keep her feelings to herself. "I had Frank spend the night here in the house with me. I don't trust Mr. Meecham as far as I can throw him." She humphed her dislike.
I made introductions. "Mrs. Campbell, this is my wife."
The woman, at first surprised, smiled broadly at Caroline. "Aren't you such a pretty little thing?"
Caroline only smiled back, most likely unsure of how to respond to that.
"I know Thursday is the usual day to go into town for supplies, but would it be too much trouble to make the trip today instead? Caroline came in on the stage yesterday, and got separated from her bag. She has no other clothes but what is upon her back. Besides retrieving the bag - most likely Stevens has it - could you go to the Mercantile and select some things she might need?"
The older woman nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "Of course. Poor dear. Life on a ranch can be hard on a woman, especially without any of her things about her. I'll get you squared away in no time. If it's all right with you, perhaps I'll spend the night in town with my sister, while the supplies return with the men."
This was one of the many reasons why I loved the woman; she always had an insight into what I needed before I even asked. This time, it was privacy. She treated me like a son, although she had four grown ones of her own.
"I'm sure your sister will be pleased for the extended visit." They saw each other every week, however not often overnight.
She reached behind her and untied the apron about her ample waist as she smiled at Caroline. "Let me get my hat and I'll track down one of the men."
I was relieved she did not ask more questions. Surely she had plenty as I'd left the ranch yesterday and returned with a bride in tow today. From the way she eyed us, she saw my lack of patience and did not linger for idle chitchat. Meecham had wasted precious time that I could have spent alone with my new wife.
"Let the men with Meecham leave first. You should not be around him at any time. Be careful in town," I warned.
She grimaced. "I'll steer clear of the likes of him. I'll have to burn those sheets he slept on." She retreated toward the kitchen, grumbling to herself about Meecham. I ran my hand over my face. A shave was past due, but it could wait. Everything could wait. I took the opportunity to tug Caroline up the steps before we were waylaid by anyone or anything else.
***
"What did Mr. Meecham mean when he said you married me for the inheritance?"
While I undid the buttons down the front of her dress, my wife questioned me. We were in my – our - bedroom, the door closed, sunlight streaming through the two large windows. They were open to the fresh air, the simple curtains moving in the slight breeze. The sound of horses came from a distance, hopefully meaning the departure of Meecham.
"His father did not have a will, it seems, which means that you, as his bride, inherited."
I didn't want to tell her she was now the owner of the man's large house on the western edge of town, the bank and a large share in a silver mine in Virginia City. It didn't matter at the moment. All that mattered was getting her naked.
"Mr. Meecham, Jr. didn't inherit?"
I pushed the dress off her shoulders and worked it free of one arm, then the
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