Tempting Prudence: The Bride Train Read online

  Mrs. Childers shook her head in reproach. “You know better than to tangle with a bear.”

  “The bear got what was coming to him.” Arch showed no sign of regret.

  Prudence gnawed her lip, wondering if Arch would admit to why he’d fought with his brother.

  “Where are they?” Mrs. Childers asked.

  “Locked up in a rail car until the army decides what to do with them.”

  Her jaw came unhinged. “Because of a fight?”

  “No, the fight happened later. They got arrested for stealing Pru. Two weeks ago, they tied her up and brought her out here, said they’d done it so I could have a bride. Then the fools went and bragged about stealing a woman. When I took her into town, the lieutenant locked me up with them. She got me released by marrying me.”

  The fragmented explanation served to confuse his poor mother even more. She kept shaking her head with her mouth hanging open. “Well, I never… Why would they…? And you two got…” Her questioning gaze moved to Prudence. “Married?”

  Caught in the limelight, Prudence felt her face heat up. Her lips sealed like melted wax.

  Arch put his arm around her waist and pulled her against him as if they were already familiar, which made it look worse. “Pru didn’t do anything wrong, Ma. She tried to leave before but I wouldn’t let her.”

  His confession jerked her out of her daze. Whether he wanted this marriage or not, he wouldn’t spurn what he viewed as his responsibility. However, she refused to let him make it sound as if he’d forced her to take him. “Arch didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do.”

  He glanced at her questioningly, but then turned to unloading the wagon.

  His mother recovered from her surprise. “You two must be hungry. I’ll get some dinner on the table.”

  “I’ll give you a hand.” Prudence’s worries multiplied as she imagined what might be going through her mother-in-law’s mind. Mrs. Childers couldn’t be happy finding out that she’d been lied to and that Arch’s brothers were imprisoned. The difficult situation would be made worse the longer the men were in jail.

  Arch carried the trunks inside, one after the other, and then went back out to unhitch the horse. Rebel trotted after him. Abandoned by both, Prudence felt even more alone. She considered going after him and taking him aside privately. He might respond better to an affectionate touch if he didn’t have to focus on driving a wagon. However, she couldn’t walk off after telling his mother she would help prepare dinner, and she had some explaining to do.

  “I’m so sorry about what happened.”

  His mother went straight to the fireplace. “Don’t sound to me like you got anything to be sorry about.”

  “We should’ve told you the truth sooner.”

  Mrs. Childers used a thick cloth to remove a Dutch oven nestled among the smoking coals. She lifted the lid and the smell of freshly baked bread filled the air. “Bread’s ready. I’ll get the stew.”

  Prudence decided to drop the subject of apologies for the time being. The best peace offering would be to provide help with dinner. Plus, it would give her a chance to show Arch she wasn’t worthless in the kitchen. “Why don’t I make a pie or cobbler?”

  “No need. I can put something together real quick. You sit down and rest.”

  “Thank you, but I can’t sit. I need to keep busy.” Prudence went to the flour bin. She wanted to be of help. She wanted Arch to be glad he married her. How could she earn his appreciation, much less his love, if she loafed around and let his mother do all the work? “All I need is vinegar, butter, sugar and eggs. I can whip up a vinegar pie in no time.”

  “That’ll suit Arch. He loves vinegar pie.” His mother set an iron pot over the hot coals and picked up a long wooden spoon.

  “What are some of his other favorites?” Prudence would make sure she knew, so she could surprise him and cook them.

  “Blackberry cobbler, peach cobbler, raisin pie… Put sugar in anything and he’ll be happy. He has a fearsome sweet tooth.”

  “He doesn’t know I can cook,” Prudence admitted. Might as well come clean. “You see, at first, I was frightened…”

  “Imagine so. Who wouldn’t be?”

  “I thought if I could convince him that I would make a terrible wife, he’d return me. So I scalded the butter, burned the bread and put soap into the beans.”

  “Soap?” His mother laughed. “So that’s why he’s so eager for me to cook.”

  “I wish I hadn’t deceived him.” Prudence heaved a sigh. “I wish I’d handled things differently.”

  “Wishing won’t change anything. Sounds like you two need to have a long talk.”

  After preparing the pie, Prudence took a seat at the table to wait for it to bake. His mother had it right. Her mother would’ve advised the same. Hard as it might be to hear Arch tell her he wasn’t sure about his feelings toward her, if he had doubts, she needed to hear them.

  Mrs. Childers finished warming the stew. Her mood appeared thoughtful, almost pensive. She had to be worried about her sons being imprisoned and their future uncertain, or she might have questions about the odd circumstances surrounding her youngest son’s marriage. Possibly, she needed something more done. Prudence hoped for the latter, as she found it easier to tend to tasks than to engage in difficult discussions.

  “Is there something more I can do?”

  “Other than wait on that pie to cook?” Mrs. Childers said, wiping her hands on her apron. Her gaze rested on Prudence, turning speculative. “Honey, I ain’t one to pry, but there is something I’d like to ask.”

  Prudence tensed. Some subjects she’d rather not discuss. However, she needed to hear whatever his mother had to say if she hoped to restore and deepen their relationship. “Ask anything.”

  “Why did you marry my boy?”

  That was the easiest question.

  “I love him.”

  His mother nodded, as if the answer didn’t surprise her. “You ought to tell him.”

  Hadn’t she?

  No. Not in so many words.

  He hadn’t mentioned love, either. If she declared her love and he didn’t return her deep feelings, his rejection would crush her. Didn’t Arch deserve to know, regardless?

  Mrs. Childers retrieved an empty bucket by the sink and held it out. “You want to do something helpful? Go down to the spring and fetch us some water.”

  Prudence noticed a second full bucket. That water looked fresh. His mother was giving her an opportunity to talk to Arch, alone. What a dear, wise woman.

  “Thank you,” she said, and took the handle.

  Chapter 11

  Arch released the mare into the pasture. Soon as he’d shut the gate, he headed down the path toward the creek. Before the wedding, he had washed off the worst of the stench and had borrowed a fresh shirt, but he didn’t feel clean. Prudence hadn’t mentioned anything, but her eyes kept watering.

  He could get rid of the smell, but he couldn’t wash away all the things about him that offended her. For a brief while after she announced her intention to marry him and the soldiers escorted him away to get cleaned up, he’d been deliriously happy. He’d supposed she had changed her mind because she decided she couldn’t live without him. That delusion ended when the lieutenant told him he owed it to his wife to stay out of trouble, considering her sacrifice.

  His worst fears were confirmed after he joined her in the land office and she bawled throughout the wedding ceremony. Knowing he was the cause of her misery hurt worse than getting his head bashed. He stopped the ceremony to give her a chance to back out. She didn’t take it and he couldn’t shame her by refusing to marry her. Not after she went to so much trouble to save his sorry hide.

  Upon reaching the creek, he stripped off his clothes, tossed them over a bush, and waded into waist-deep water. His skin pebbled from the cold, but the water felt good with the air being so hot and humid. He rubbed a ball of soap over his chest. Felt bad that he’d showed up at his wedding smel
ling like an outhouse. Prudence deserved better than a hurried ceremony with a stinky groom. He’d find some way to make it up to her.

  A squirrel dashed into the bushes. Rebel barked and chased after the critter. The squirrel scrambled up a nearby trunk and then leapt from tree to tree. Rustling sounds and trembling leaves in the bushes gave away the dog’s position. Rebel couldn’t earn his keep as a hunting dog anymore. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. A good lesson, maybe?

  Arch scrubbed his hair, ruminating. Pru had a soft spot for a lame dog that wouldn’t give up. Could she love a bootlegger who might not ever amount to much, no matter how hard he worked?

  He rinsed his hair and sluiced off the water. Soapy bubbles clung to leaves and swirled downstream. Wasn’t as easy to wash away the guilt. He’d been eaten up with it ever since leaving that office with his new wife on his arm. He’d got what he wanted—and it had cost Pru her principles and the future she might’ve had with a better man.

  She thought it was her fault he got locked up, and she wasn’t the type to walk away. Regardless, she must have some feelings for him. She wouldn’t marry a man she didn’t care for. That didn’t mean she loved him, or would ever love him. She might even come to despise him.

  After he told her the bad news, what he had to do, she might decide she wanted to go to California after all.

  * * *

  Prudence followed the sound of barking down the path that led to the creek. Rebel stayed near Arch when he wasn’t with her.

  Two squirrels balanced a low limb scolded her, or maybe they were fussing at the dog. He loved to chase squirrels and rabbits even if he no longer had any hope of catching one.

  Rebel rushed up to her, his tail wagging and his tongue hanging out as he panted with obvious satisfaction.

  She leaned over and rubbed his head. “You are a dirty mess. Come with me and let’s get you cleaned up for dinner. I don’t know what Arch is thinking to let you come in the house smelling so bad. His nose isn’t as keen as yours. He needs a bath, too.”

  Sounds of rushing water came from behind the bushes. A flash of white and brown over a sumac caught her eye. Those clothes belonged to Arch.

  The dog gleefully sounded a call and bounded off.

  “Rebel!” Arch’s shout came from the direction of the creek. “Stop that racket! What d’you got there? You done chased all the squirrels into the trees.”

  Prudence jerked to a halt. What should she do? Run? Stay? Call out so he’d know he wasn’t alone? Rational thought scattered as the bushes parted and out stepped Arch without a stitch on.

  A gasp lodged in her chest, as she took in all at once her husband’s tanned, muscular body made more magnificent sheened by water.

  The bucket thudded as it hit the ground.

  She ought to avert her eyes, but not for all the tea in China could she tear her gaze away.

  He appeared equally surprised and didn’t move from his frozen position.

  Over the course of thirty years, she had seen few men undressed: her father when he’d been sick and old and needed taking care of and Peter, whom she’d caught skinny-dipping with her brother when she was little more than a child. They looked nothing like her husband.

  Light and shadow played across Arch’s broad shoulders and chest. Muscled ridges crossed a line of dark brown hair pointed like an arrow down his abdomen. His legs weren’t at all skinny, and his…private part…was much larger.

  “Oh my.” The whispered words came out with her breath.

  He made a grab for the trousers. His sharp movement broke her trance and she turned her back to give him privacy. She raised her hands to her face, her fingers cold against her hot cheeks. What on earth had she been thinking to stand there and stare at him?

  “Pru?”

  The soft rustling conveyed he was putting on his clothes. A very wanton part of her wished he’d leave them off. “Is everything all right?”

  What a question. He was oh-so-very all right. Perfect was the word that came to mind.

  “Your mother sent me for water.” She motioned at the bucket that had fallen over when she dropped it. “I’m sorry for surprising you. I should’ve called out.”

  “No reason to be sorry. We’re married now. That means we got a right to look.” His voice hinted at amusement.

  Her face blistered from the heat. Of course he’d noticed her gawking. Embarrassment caused her to respond in a sharper tone than intended. “Even married people don’t prance around in front of each other unclothed.”

  “They don’t?” He covered her shoulders with his hands. His touch penetrated her dress and the warmth settled in a low spot between her legs. The same response she had whenever he held her and kissed her. The heat would quickly turn to a needy ache.

  He brought his lips near her ear. “Perhaps you ought to teach me then, about what married folks do.”

  Her heart constricted painfully. She knew nothing about being married, as he was well aware. “Don’t tease me…not about this.”

  He sighed into her ear, making her shiver. “Sweet woman, you ought to know by now what I sound like when I’m teasing, and when I’m dead serious…” He brushed a kiss on her neck. She felt it clear to her toes. “Teach me Pru. Show me how to be the kind of husband you want.”

  His low voice reverberated, setting off flutters in her chest. As he’d suggested, his tone held no trace of humor. Strangely enough, he sounded anxious almost pleading. Not like a man who didn’t wish to be her husband.

  She’d misread his earlier mood, misunderstood why he’d been upset. She had misjudged a great many things, most of all herself.

  Her upbringing, as her name suggested, had schooled her to be prudent. With Arch, she was anything but prudent. With him, she’d become a reckless woman who took chances she had never dreamed she would take. With Arch, she could be her true self instead of the person others expected her to be. With her husband, her spirit could soar like the wild hawks that circled high above the tall grass.

  “You’ve taught me far more than I could teach you. Let me show you what you’ve taught me…” Turning, she looped an arm around his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss.

  Their lips melded as if they’d been made to fit together. Kissing him came as natural as breathing. His arms went around her waist and he pulled her closer. She slipped her free hand between them and with her fingertips learned the shape and textures of his lightly furred chest. His muscles tightened beneath her touch, signaling the effect she had on him. Perhaps more than she’d realized.

  She took the initiative and deepened the kiss.

  His eager response fueled her courage and fanned her desire into a roaring blaze. She slid her hand lower on his stomach, slipped her thumb beneath the waistband of his trousers, encountered the top button and flipped it open.

  He groaned into her mouth. His hands, having made several trips over her back, moved up her arms and his fingers closed in a tight grip. Did that mean he wanted her to stop, or continue?

  Her heart trembled from wanting him so desperately. More than that, she wanted to show him how perfect he was, just as he was. Thus far, she had followed her instincts, but she’d ventured into deep water and didn’t know how to swim. He might expect she did, considering her boldness. She’d make a fool of herself if she didn’t slow down and let him guide her.

  “This is all I’ve learned…so far. Will you teach me more? Show me how to please you?”

  He pressed a tender kiss on her mouth. “Aw Pru, you please me just by breathing.”

  His heavy-lidded eyes darkened with desire and something more, something so infinitely sweet and gentle it put a lump in her throat.

  Before they dove into the depths together, before he taught her all the things she’d wondered about and longed for, she had to tell him what he meant to her. He deserved to know he owned her heart before she gave him her body.

  “I love you, Arch. Teach me how to show you.”

  * * *

  Loving P
ru in the shade beside the creek, on a bed made from his rumpled clothing, proved far better than any fantasy Arch could’ve dreamed up. He shifted his arm beneath her neck to make her more comfortable. Her eyes were closed and she had a sweet, satisfied smile on her face, as he imagined Eve must’ve looked lying naked and flushed with pleasure in Adam’s arms.

  He could hardly believe his wife had been so bold as to come to him. Even more unbelievable, she’d fallen in love with him. Made no sense. Then again, much of creation didn’t make sense but that didn’t mean it was any less miraculous.

  Together, they’d found Paradise. It couldn’t last any more than it had all those eons ago. But for a little while longer, he wanted to linger and pretend he’d done nothing wrong. The illusion would be over as soon as he gave her the bad news.

  Leaning over, he kissed the tip of her nose. “What are you dreaming about?”

  Her eyes remained closed, but her smile broadened. “You.”

  “What am I doing…in your dream?”

  “Loving me,” she whispered.

  “Like this?” He caressed her breasts with his free hand. She had a body made for loving, all curves and softness and smooth skin that turned rosy when she was aroused.

  Her eyes fluttered open, wide with surprise. “Y-yes…something like that.”

  “Let me know if there’s a part I missed.” He continued the exploration with his lips.

  “Oh!” Her fingers plunged into his hair, drawing him closer. He gladly fulfilled her request for more attention. She’d alternately stroked and fondled and even pulled his hair while he’d loved on her. Her touch, however soft or painful, excited him beyond all measure.

  Her breathing grew ragged. Soon, she’d start making those adorable mewling sounds in the back of her throat.

  A real gentleman, like what she deserved, wouldn’t have taken all her sweet affection while letting her believe that he could give her the kind of life he’d promised. She claimed she loved him, but she might not realize what loving him would require. With a groan, he came to his hands and knees, putting a stop to their play.