A Perfect Bride Page 7

  “That had better be me,” she whispered, looking up at him. His golden eyes looked almost black in the darkness but the tenderness was he same. Her hand reached up and cupped his chin, marveling at how warm yet scratchy it felt.

  “I think I have waited for this forever,” he breathed, capturing her lips. His warm arms pulled her infinitely closer to him, holding her tightly. Firm lips that she had dreamt of, tasted sweeter than she had ever imagined. His sigh of happiness made her heart nearly leap out of her chest. Tenderly, he pulled away and put his forehead against hers. His eyes closed contently.

  “That was well worth the wait and better than I hoped for,” he whispered softly.

  “That was incredible,” she admitted. “Kiss me again.”

  “Absolutely, my Little Fire.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Having Daniel’s undivided attention was all encompassing. Each day they travelled, he spoke quietly to her as he held her against him. Cozied up to him in the saddle made her feel special, treasured. He would lean down and tell her wild tales from his childhood before he had been orphaned. He had grown up in South Carolina in a modest home, but small pox paid no attention the people it struck down. He was one of the lucky ones, or so he had been told. He had contracted a very mild case. However, it killed off his parents.

  “Family is everything to me,” he mentioned. “That is why I was so offended that you thought I could leave yours unarmed. I would have never left them, if I had the choice. At that moment, I had to get you out of there before the locals or the weather finished you off.”

  “You didn’t think I would make it?”

  “I was pretty sure you were dying. We all were,” he admitted.

  “I had never met Joel Taylor prior to us travelling and Hidd – uh – Maria was sick, too.”

  “Joel was bringing medicine and whiskey to Maria. I caught wind of it and insisted that he give you some as well. You don’t remember talking with him?”

  “No, I guess I was more feverish than I realized.”

  “I’m glad you are better now,” he admitted.

  “Me, too,” she concurred warmly and looked over where Maria was. It was odd to be calling her Maria after she had known her forever as Hidden Doe. But the name seemed to fit. With her hair free of grease, it was a stunning deep shade of brown. She had always thought that Maria’s hair was black and realized that it was the grease. Her tanned skin and dark eyes gave her an exotic appearance that seemed to suit Joel very well. He sat tall in his saddle, looking very content that Maria’s arms were wrapped around his waist. Her eyes were shut contentedly, as if she were basking in the sunlight.

  The brisk, cool winds were a constant reminder that winter was nowhere near over. They had crossed into the new country of Texas, but travelled at a careful pace. They were dressed as Army soldiers from another country with no papers as to why they were across the border. With both women in buckskin, it put a target on their backs for any Indians in the area. People did not take kindly to taking hostages and they were certain that others would shoot first and ask questions later.

  Shivering, she didn’t want to sound ungrateful but the temperature seemed to be dropping and the wind picking up. “Do you know how much longer we’ll be travelling?”

  Shrugging, he smiled. “I really didn’t have a destination in mind, other than get you safe and for us to have a fresh start. I will need to find work and shelter. I am assuming you’d care to stay with me.”

  It wasn’t a declaration of love but she hadn’t really been expecting one either. They just seemed to mesh very well together from the very beginning. She had a need, he had provided. She was in danger, he had protected her. Frankly, Little Fire couldn’t imagine not having Daniel nearby.

  “Only if you’d want us there,” she said casually and caught a wide grin out of the corner of her eye plastered across his face. “I’m assuming that is a yes?”

  “I’d prefer it,” he teased.

  “I think, maybe, we need to see about finding shelter and acquiring different clothing. Shelter first, if possible. I think there is a storm coming.”

  “You might be right, Colleen,” he said, testing the name with her. At his sideways glance, she felt embarrassed at how emphatic she had once been in denying that part of her. She was now forced into a place where she would have to embrace it, embrace who she once was. Nodding, she looked at his tired face.

  “Colleen is fine and will be accepted easier by others.”

  Chapter Twelve

  As they rode, the winds increased and whipped Colleen’s red hair about, forcing her to put it into a thick braid. It was getting extremely brutal and she felt herself clutching to hang on to Daniel as they rode.

  “We need to find shelter,” she announced.

  “I know. I’ve been looking,” he replied easily over his shoulder. “Joel, I don’t recognize any markings. Did we take a wrong turn?”

  “We couldn’t have,” he countered. “Cross the Red River and head south. Why do you ask?”

  “That’s not a Texas flag over there,” Daniel argued, pointing down at the valley below. “That’s not a Mexican flag either.”

  “We need shelter and whoever it is,” Joel said firmly, “is just gonna have to provide it. We can’t stay out here.”

  Riding slowly towards the buildings in the distance, she saw that several outbuildings looked to be abandoned. The large horse barn looked to be empty. As they drew closer, she saw that the house had been damaged in a fire. This almost made her gnash her teeth in frustration. She was tired, cold and exhausted.

  And then the snow started.

  Great big, fat flakes began to fall down out of the sky. They were sticking to her eyelashes as the wind whipped them around, making it virtually impossible to see much farther ahead. There would be no entering the small town, as passing it by without seeing it was now a real possibility.

  Daniel got down and disappeared not far from where she sat on the horse. She called out his name, but only had the sound carried away on the wind. Joel brought his horse closer to where she sat and grasped the reins in order to tether them. Colleen and Maria’s eyes met as they shared a thought. This was bad.

  Heavy snow, whipping winds and no shelter could mean death out in the open. They had seen it recently and had no desire to recreate any of the events. Just then, Daniel’s dark head appeared out of a cloud of white. She couldn’t hear what he was saying, but the gestures were indicating that they should follow him. Joel helped both of them down, making sure they held hands to form a chain heading inside.

  Once inside, she saw that the fire damage was not as bad as she had thought. While there was a hole in the roof, most of it was intact. Smoky stains showed that it had been a thick, sooty smoke, even though it had not burned much. It was simply good to be out of the conditions outside that were quickly deteriorating.

  “If you can try starting a fire, we are going to try to get to the barn and stable the horses.”

  “How are you going to get there? You can hardly see outside!”

  “We can’t leave them out there with no shelter. They certainly don’t fit in here,” Daniel teased. “I will be fine. Joel, come with me,” he ordered. Both men disappeared out of the door into the blustery white that was swirling outside. Staring, she saw that he had tied an end of rope to the large handle on the front door. At least if he intended to try and stable the horses, he was being smart about it. If he found the barn, he could return. If he didn’t before his line of rope ran out, he could still get back to shelter.

  Looking away from the door, she inspected her surroundings. The cabin had been abandoned, but for how long? She didn’t know. Several clumps of sage and lavender were still tied and hanging from the far side of the building, severely dried out and brittle. A rough broom was hanging on a peg on the far wall and not much else seemed to be present. Whoever had left, had time to get their things. Not much was left behind.

  Grabbing a few tiny pieces of kin
dling that were stacked where a large pile of logs must have once been, she put them in the empty hearth. Searching around, she found no other signs of wood except a few old chairs. Glancing at each other, they grabbed the chair in unison.

  “We always were of a shared mind, weren’t we?” she asked Maria, laughing.

  “Oh yes, I think we’d both rather have fire than a place to sit tonight!”

  “Let’s see if we can find anything else. If they left the chairs, maybe they left other things, too.”

  Nodding, Colleen worked the old joints on the chair, wiggling it and rocking it until they finally loosened and separated, causing it to come apart into pieces. Happily, she put these pieces into the hearth as well. A small flint stone sat on the mantel. She used it to ignite some of the kindling and bark shavings that she had scooped up. Seeing it catch, she smiled at the golden flare of fire that would keep them all warm this evening.

  Hearing a noise, she jumped to her feet expecting to see both men at the door. Instead, she saw Maria’s wide grin as she dragged a massive blanket chest out of one of the two bedrooms. “Look what I found!”

  “What is that? Is it full?”

  “Yes! I don’t know if they didn’t have room or what, but they left all sorts of items!” Opening the heavy, wooden lid, both stared at the treasure before them. The chest was not full of blankets as she had originally thought. Instead, it seemed to be a jackpot of things left just for them. Homespun dresses, a few cooking utensils, articles of men’s clothing as well as a few thin quilts.

  “Was there anything else?” Colleen asked, staring at the items.

  “Do you think they are coming back for this?” Maria asked, aghast at the thought.

  “No. Yes? I don’t know!” she cried, looking at Maria in shock. It never occurred to her that someone could return for this stuff and find them here. Squatting on their land, in their home. At that moment, the front door flew open with a loud bang. Both women jumped, screeching in surprise. Two large figures came bounding inside, slamming the door shut behind them and dropping saddles to the ground. Seeing them shiver, she ushered both men towards the fireplace.

  “My God, the wind cuts right through you,” Joel cried out vehemently. Daniel just nodded, his teeth chattering. Rubbing his hands together near the fire, she knew the exact moment he saw the chair leg in the fireplace as he started laughing.

  “No wood, huh?” he asked, glancing at her. His golden-brown eyes were full of mirth and pride. “Pretty resourceful, aren’t you? I guess the rest of the chairs are going to get it, if this keeps up.”

  “I don’t know… the table might be next,” she teased lightly, glad to see he was all right. Things were bad outside. It looked like great sheets of white were blowing past the small windowpane that was on the far side of the small room. She was glad the room was tiny, because it was somewhat easy to heat. She could imagine that if there wasn’t a hole in the roof at the corner, that it would be downright cozy.

  “Is the house abandoned?” Maria asked in a soft voice. Nodding, Colleen glanced over and met Daniel’s cautious, sharp glance just before he hid his concern. She knew then that he was trying to keep them from worrying.

  “I believe so. Did you find something of importance?”

  “Maria found a large chest full of clothing, blankets, and goods,” she explained.

  “But that doesn’t mean they are coming back.”

  “And it doesn’t mean they are gone either,” she retorted.

  “True. We’ll take shifts and keep watch. Joel? Barricade the door. We want no surprises, while we are warming up.” He grabbed the table and lay it on its side in front of the door. Grabbing the broom off the peg, he shoved it into the handle and against a pie safe that sat near the doorway. It wouldn’t stop someone from entering, but it would slow them down.

  “Do you know where we are?”

  “I think we are nearing Waterloo-on-the-River, but the flag I saw in the distance before the storm really kicked in, didn’t look to be Texian. When it clears, I will go into town and find out. Until then, let’s enjoy the warmth and peace for the moment.”

  “Of course.” She would not argue with him, she was just as tired as the rest must be. The fact was that she was inside of a somewhat warm building, near a fire and felt secure. This was a sensation she had not felt in months since she had left her home in Georgia.

  Maria looked to have it set in her mind that it was finders, keepers. She walked over to the open trunk with purpose and pulled the thin coverlet quilts out. Shaking them out, she handed one to Joel and the other to Colleen. Closing the bedroom door, she blushed and looked away. “It will keep all the heat to one room and keep us warmer.”

  Colleen wrapped the quilt around Daniel’s shoulders as he sat near the fire, still trying to warm up. He had once given her scarves, his outer coat, and blankets. The least she could do would be to give him the blanket so he could warm himself as well. Pulling the coat tight, she found herself lying down on the floor near the fire, exhausted. No one said a word, as they had all come to realize that they would take this moment of peace to center themselves and prepare for whatever came next. They had been on the run for so long, no one could even fathom what it would be like to simply stop and set roots down.

  At some point during the night, she had awoken. Her head lay in Daniel’s lap as he sat on the floor, his back against the stone hearth. Maria and Joel were nearby. The thin blanket lay across their torsos in order to be enough to cover them. Their feet were exposed, but it was an intimate sight, seeing them hold each other for warmth. Even fully dressed, it showed trust between the two and a growing affection.

  “Shhh,” he beckoned softly. “Sleep, Colleen. It’s still the middle of the night.”

  “The blanket,” she began as she realized that she was covered with the thin quilt.

  “You take it. I’m on watch,” he whispered. “Don’t wake the others. Just shut your eyes and rest.” His hand gently caressed her forehead and hair, comforting her. It was a gentle touch, just enough to feel like a feather brushing against the skin.

  “Aren’t you tired?” she finally asked, yawning and glancing up at him.

  “A bit, but I am pretty content right now,” he admitted, looking down at her. She grasped his hand, stopping the motion and holding it along the side of her face. They stared at each other for several moments in silence, the faint pop of the fire breaking the stillness. Taking his hand, she pulled it forward and kissed his palm tenderly. She placed it back on the side of her face where it had been. Seeing his warm, engaging smile and look of approval, she closed her eyes contentedly.

  “Same here,” she breathed aloud. “This is… right.” Listening to the faint popping and the whistling outside, she allowed herself to fall back asleep knowing she was safe. Just before drifting off, she heard his voice whisper silently.

  “It’s perfect.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  April 1839

  Time had flown by for Colleen and brought about changes. The winter storm that brought them to the house, had them sequestered for three days. It seemed that when snow, ice and high winds hit the area, no one left their homes. The men had attempted to ride down a pathway into town where they had seen the strange flag, only to turn back once they couldn’t see much ahead.

  When the storm had finally broken, the turbulent weather warmed to above freezing, making all the harsh, little, snow pellets and flakes virtually melt away. The town practically came to life not long afterwards with much success. The flag flown had been the new Texas flag for their new country.

  The men had found temporary jobs in town. They utilized the small bank in town in order to access their money they had accumulated with their military pay. That income would most certainly come to a stop now. Everyone prayed that the Army wouldn’t pursue where the withdrawal was performed, thus looking for the AWOL soldiers. Daniel purchased the house and land they were holed up in.

  It turned out that the p
lace had been abandoned after the owner had died in battle at Goliad during the war. His wife had left to return home to family in the east. The house had been dirt cheap due to a small fire, but it was well worth the purchase for the location it sat upon as well as the acreage that came with it. Daniel was the proud owner of nearly fifty acres of land with access to a stream. There was no reason he couldn’t have cattle or horses, other than they were costly to purchase and maintain.

  The first things they would need to do would be to establish and set up house. They couldn’t maintain their existences living off what they could scrounge up. Jerky, hardtack and jackrabbits only went so far. They needed to repair the roof, buy seed and establish a larder so that when winter came around again, they wouldn’t suffer… if she was here, she thought.

  Not much had been said since their first night at the abandoned cabin. It had promise, though. The cabin needed a severe cleaning. Instead of talking about it, Colleen and Maria had put themselves to work right away. For privacy’s sake, they took one of the bedrooms and put the men in the other one. Both agreed that neither had said a word regarding their sleeping arrangements or futures, so they decided how the household would arrange the rooms. One room had a full-sized bed complete with straw ticking. The other had a smaller bed and a hammock. Looking at each other, they came to the same conclusion.

  They took the larger bed.

  There had been no argument and no discussions regarding their choice either. It was as if Daniel were giving her space. But there was no mistaking Joel’s intentions. Each evening when he returned from town, he would show up with something for Maria. One time, he brought her a straw hat. Another time, he brought her ribbon for her hair. This had gone on for a little over three months. Joel was courting her and Maria was thriving under the attention. The once quiet woman with a shy, sweet soul now laughed aloud and spoke her mind.