 The Scarred Bride

©2019 by Stella Clark

All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, events or locales is completely coincidental.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

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Chapter 1

The outskirts of Boston offered little in the way of potential job options for a young eighteen-year-old woman. Kate Grady had already suspected this for some time, but after her third month of not being able to find employment, she was beginning to wonder if it was truly impossible.

With a sigh, she grudgingly returned to her family’s home. As she tugged off her jacket, she could hear the sound of her younger sister, Tessie, singing as she worked in the kitchen. The smell of black beans drifted through the hallway.

She hated black beans.

Kate rubbed her hands for warmth as she followed the smell. “Hello, Tessie,” she offered. “What more needs to be done for supper?”

The redheaded girl glanced at her with a smile. “Don’t you worry, I have this handled. Why don’t you take a seat? You look tired.”

“It’s all right. I want to help.” Kate rolled up her sleeves. “Really. What can I do? Prepare the table?”

Footsteps hurried down the hall. “No!” Their littlest sister, six-year-old Rebecca, hurried out with her doll. “That’s me. I have the table! Tessie said so.”

Tessie shrugged when Kate glanced at her. “I’m afraid so.” Awkwardness settled in between them.

“Oh. Well … I’ll find some flowers then,” she tried a moment later. “To make it look nice.”

When no one stopped her, Kate went back outside. It was a foolish comment to make since they didn’t have flowers. But she didn’t know what else to do.

With seven kids, the Grady family was full. They only had three bedrooms and with the growing children, Kate slept on a makeshift lump in the corner of the girls’ room. She was an adult with no bed and no job to help the family feed itself.

Her stomach growled as she walked. She was supposed to have taken bread with her during her job search, but she’d given the last of it to Trevor. He was a growing boy and always hungry.

And it was her fault. She wasn’t contributing to the family.

Both of her parents worked in the nearby factories. That left Tessie now in charge of the house as Kate was supposed to bring in money to help them. Trevor helped at the barbershop six days a week and the twins, Mark and Luke, sold newspapers before school. Even Jane, only ten years old, read to Mrs. Crocker for a few pennies each week.

It was embarrassing not being able to work and support her family. She wanted to help out and do what she could, but no one would hire her. They wouldn’t even give her a chance. Though she had considered asking that she take care of the house and Tessie search for work, that would mean she had failed.

Then she’d never get a job or leave.

Kate kicked a rock in frustration. She was tired of being a burden to her family. Tugging her hair over her shoulders, she walked along the river as she thought about her options. Perhaps she had forgotten some shop or a family friend who might know of some work she could do to support her family.

After all, if she couldn’t support her family, then she could never support herself. Most of her friends were already married or were close to it. And yet she’d never had a suitor.

One glance at the river’s reflection was a harsh reminder.

When she was four years old, she had tripped with a candle in her arms. The result was a scar across her cheek, an ugly thing on her face that people either stared at for too long or couldn’t bear to look at her at all.

No one would call her beautiful. No one had ever wanted her. The idea of marriage had always been a lovely and fanciful dream. But as much as she wanted it, Kate had told herself not to be foolish. No man would ever love her. Not with that terrible scar.

Her eyes drifted down the river and she paused. Yards ahead was a young couple around her age walking along the edge and holding hands. They looked close. And very, very happy. The smiles on their faces made Kate’s heart ache.

She wanted that. Someone who wanted her, who loved her.

But even a loveless marriage was unlikely. Kate shook her head and left the river in frustration. Her feet led her down the street, past a few shops as she tried to keep her thoughts from wandering.

Yet marriage was back on her mind. A loveless marriage. They weren’t a rare thing. The world needed to keep moving along, after all.

There were scores of unattached women in Boston. Kate wrinkled her nose. Even the unattached women would be seen as a better choice for men over her damaged features.

Her steps slowed down as she came upon the general store. It had grown to twice its size in the last ten years. Now they even had goods displayed outside of the shop. She looked over the children’s toys, knowing how much little Rebecca would enjoy all of them.

Then there were magazines and newspapers.

Picking one up, Kate felt hopeful that the day’s paper would distract her from her aching heart and pitiful thoughts. But as she found herself looking at the advertisements, something else came to mind.

The lightest ray of hope was born as she looked a little further and found the Matrimonial Times. She had heard of it before, Kate thought, though she couldn’t remember where. Her heart skipped a beat as she started to read the advertisements.

A man writing to marry a strange woman meant he had few options. If women were scarce, then he would be less choosy. Kate thought about that carefully. Even if it was a marriage of convenience, at least she would have someone.

And she could be useful. Somehow, someway.

Hope continued to grow in Kate’s heart as one notice stood out to her. There was a man, aged thirty, who owned a ranch in Oregon. He needed a wife to tend the house and cook for his ranch hands. A dozen men.

Licking her lips, she tried to imagine such a life. She wasn’t even certain she knew where Oregon was, but a ranch sounded lovely. There were stories about how big and beautiful those were. And wild, too, but Boston was wild in its own way.

Kate bit her lip. If she proved herself useful, maybe he wouldn’t care about her scar. Maybe he would take her as she was.

She took the advertisement home and tucked herself away in the back corner of the house during supper. She didn’t want to have to tell her parents that once again she hadn’t been able to find work. Her stomach growled several times, but she told herself she would eat in the morning.

There was a letter that needed to be written. As she started it, Kate wanted to be honest and true as much as possible. But she couldn’t bring herself to describe her features. Only that she was fairly tall with blue eyes.

It was sent out the next morning. Her heart wouldn’t stop its crazy beating for the rest of the week as she tried to comprehend what she had just done. As she continued looking for work, Kate wondered what sort of fool she was.

A hopeful one, she decided.

Chapter 2

It was a beautiful day. There were blue skies with round white clouds. Though cold, the grass was green and there were trees that went on for days. The valley outside his house was a sight he would never grow tired of seeing.

But Cooper Potter couldn’t help but groan as he watched Mrs. Botterson and her niece head down the lane and then out of view.

That was his fifth housekeeper this year. At least it was winter, he tried to console himself, and that meant new possibilities in the new year. That’s what he told himself. Shaking his head, he glanced around to try and consider his options.

He didn’t need to worry too much about his own house. It was a good-sized house and used for little else but his sleeping quarters. Just beside his barn was the bunkhouse with the attached mess hall for his ranch hands. That was what he worried about. A dozen men in that enclosed space meant plenty of room for a mess every day.

Now he didn’t have anyone to clean up after them or cook. He scratched his neck and tried to think. Mrs. Botterson had been his last hope in Multnomah County. Everyone else had their own property and homes to tend to, no longer interested in working for others. Or they did work for others and didn’t want to work for him.

“You scared off another one, huh?” Richie asked once Cooper made his way down to the mess hall to wake his men for their shift. The man pulled on his boots and shot him a look. “What did you say this time?”

Cooper shot him a look. “I didn’t. She decided this was no place for an old woman and a child. Her words,” he added after a second.

Another man, Rafe, laughed loudly. “You’re the boss, boss. Just tell them what they can and can’t do. You have to take charge with the ladies.”

“Especially if you ever want to get married,” Wagby added with a wink.

Cooper frowned and pointed at him. “Go make everyone porridge. Then it’s time to head out. Richie, the fire. I’m going to check on the others from the night shift.”

He swept out the door before anyone could complain or protest. Not that they would, of course. His ranch ran smoothly because he was willing to put in the hard work alongside his men. They obeyed his orders, though he tried to make sure they could all operate without his help.

Most of them were decent men. And they could all handle themselves in the saddle around his longhorns, which mattered the most. Running a ranch was hard work and he couldn’t do it alone.

Help was necessary. But it was hard to find hired help and it was getting even harder lately. Climbing onto his horse, Cooper got to thinking as he rode out onto the range.

A wife. Wagby wasn’t one of his favorite hired hands by any means. But Cooper wondered if the man had a point.

The ranch was everything he wanted. He didn’t like people just wandering around like he felt women were wont to do. Love wasn’t real and women usually wanted more than what could be given. At least, that’s what he’d heard.

Love. Love only lived in the stories. If love really existed, it would have saved his mother.

He still remembered the sound of her head hitting the stone hearth when his father had pushed her. Cooper still wasn’t sure what had driven the man to drink so much, if it was his work or his family or something else. But it didn’t matter. It hadn’t stopped the man from pushing the woman he had married, and it hadn’t stopped him from blaming the dead woman for leaving the brat behind to raise alone.

A sour taste settled in his mouth.

Love. A terrible idea. There was no such thing. Even if he knew he could treat someone better than his father had, Cooper didn’t know how he would treat a woman he was supposed to call his own.

Whistles rang out, drawing his attention elsewhere.

“There’s the boss!”

“Look who finally woke up!”

“Bring us any goods, boss?”

He raised a hand in greeting to his rowdy cowboys. Even after the hard work, his men always had more than enough energy to cause a little chaos. He liked the energy and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.

After catching up, Cooper joined them on their way back to the mess hall as the others made their way out to the longhorns. There was always work to do on a ranch, after all. He fixed the shoes for a horse back at his barn and prepared a few orders to take into town.

It was as he was carrying the last of the oats to his wagon that a magazine caught his eye. The advertisements in the Matrimonial Times, to be exact. He meant to set the oats down and head out, but something convinced him to turn back inside for just a moment.

Curiosity got the better of him as he picked up the paper and glanced through it. A strange notion, to be sure. Strangers agreeing to marriage with one another? That was asking for disaster.

But then words caught his eye: marriage of convenience.

Cooper wasn’t sure what happened after that. But he managed to send out an advert of his own and soon he was picking up mail from the postmaster that included more than letters about his cattle.

There were three women who reached out to him. Not certain of what else to do, he responded to all of them. Only two responded. After his next round of letters, only one was still reaching out to him.

A couple of months passed before he knew what had gotten hold of him. Sending out the final letter, Cooper wondered what had caused him to offer marriage to a woman all the way back in Boston.

She wouldn’t come, he told himself. It was practically the other side of the world. The woman wouldn’t come, and he would have to keep looking for another housekeeper and cook.

A tingle ran down his spine as the letter was sent off. He had to wonder what would happen if she really did come. There was an uncomfortable sensation settling in his stomach.

Cooper had sworn he would never get married. And now he had just sent off a proposal.

With a shake of his head, he returned home and prayed that the Lord knew what He was doing.

Chapter 3

Her stomach churned as a wagon wheel rolled uneasily over yet another rock. She hadn’t expected anything so bumpy. Carriages weren’t known for rolling along the ground smoothly, but she certainly didn’t think this could be normal.

Trepidation flooded over her as they went over another rock. She grabbed onto the seat, hands clenching the curtain as though it could help her be still. But it did little to help.

Oregon was a place that existed in only stories. Yet somehow, she found herself traveling and leaving the life she had always known to go to Multnomah County. Her stomach clenched as she forced herself to let go and pretend she was comfortable in the stagecoach.

Kate kept her eyes down. Keeping her hair curled and the bonnet on helped hide the disfigurement on her face, but it wasn’t a perfect cover. It wasn’t something she could hide for long. She could feel the eyes trailing back to her once in a while for the other riders to satisfy their curiosity.

Across from her sat an older couple in their fifties with their young son who was antsier than herself.

The seat beside her was empty except for another young lady who had buried her hands in her dress and kept looking outside the window beside her.

“Where are you headed?” The boy spoke up when Kate glanced his way. “We’re off to Oregon City.”

She hesitated, wondering if he was going to lead into saying something about her face. Most folks did. A basic greeting, and then they’d dive right in to ask her all about what had happened. Though she had grown used to it, she didn’t like putting up with those conversations.

Swallowing, Kate struggled to smile. “I’m off to Oregon as well.”

“That’s far,” the other woman piped up. She had bouncy blonde hair as she glanced around at everyone. Kate believed the girl to be around her same age, and she looked as nervous as she felt on the inside. “I’m only going to Wyoming.”

The boy whistled. “That’s where I wanted to go. It’s where all the buffalo are. Father said I can be a cowboy, but I can’t if there aren’t any buffalo in Oregon City.”

“Well,” Kate tried, “you’ll never know until you get there.”

There had to be something out there. She thought back to the letters that her husband-to-be had sent her. He owned a ranch, after all. She wasn’t certain if that meant he only had cows or if he had buffalo as well. She wasn’t certain she knew the difference.

Cooper Potter. That was his name. For the last couple of weeks, she had run it through her head time and time again. Cooper Potter on the Circle Seven Ranch. He said it was right outside of Oregon City in Multnomah County. Then he said he would pick her up when the stagecoach reached the end of the line.

She hoped so. But her heartstrings tightened as she attempted to imagine meeting him. Though no one in the stagecoach had said anything about her face, it was one experience to spend a few days with her and another to commit to a life with her and the scar.

He could always turn her away. Kate’s stomach churned again. That wouldn’t fare well for her. What would she do if he refused her?

For so long, she had seen the looks of horror and disgust and dismay when people saw her for the first time. She could see it in their eyes.

Every part of her brain told her that she should have told Mr. Potter about her face. But she couldn’t bring herself to do that, too ashamed. At the time, it had felt like the right thing to do. But now, she had to deal with the fear of how he would react when he saw her for the first time.

“Rita.” The other girl cleared her throat. “I’m Rita Mayhorn. I’m from just outside Boston. Headed to … well, what’s your name?”

“Kate Grady,” Kate answered and then noticed how the girl was wringing her hands. When she looked up, the girl looked petrified. She hoped it wasn’t because of her face. “Are you all right?”

The girl tried to smile. “Who, me? Oh, I’ll be fine. I think. Only I might be in over my head. You see, I’m off to get married. But it’s to a stranger, and now I think I might have made a mistake.”

Kate blinked, surprised to find another bride beside her. Reading between the lines, she asked, “Are you a mail order bride as well?” Rita nodded. “So am I.”

The boy glanced between them curiously. “What’s that? Is there a bride catalogue?”

Both of the women hesitantly explained. Kate shared her story and Rita shared hers. But the other girl was younger, and she only grew more nervous along the way.

“My parents said I shouldn’t do this, only I didn’t have any prospects back home,” Rita explained as they arrived in the Dakota territory. Her eyes skirted the town they arrived in, ready to pick up one passenger and change out horses.

Everyone stepped out to stretch their legs.

Kate stood beside Rita, glancing around. There were a few established shops and the like. With the sun setting, everything had a pink and purple hue. It was beautiful. Or perhaps she was just tired of seeing the brown prairie everywhere.

The young woman beside her inhaled sharply. Then she shook her head. “I can’t do this,” she announced. Taking small, sharp steps she headed around to the driver. “Can you pull that bag down? I-I’ll be staying here. I’m getting off.”

“You are?” the man asked in surprise. “I thought we have a few more stops before—”

Rita pointed to her bag. “That one, sir. I can’t—I won’t—Can you please just get it for me? I told you, I’m staying here. That is, I’m going back. But I can’t …” Her eyes went over to Kate’s. They were wide and anxious. “I can’t do this.”

Kate went over to her. “Are you sure?” she asked hesitantly. “You’re already so close.”

But Rita wouldn’t listen to her or anyone else. She took her bag and started to the café as she called over her shoulder, “This is all nonsense. I’d do the same if I were you.”

Shocked, Kate numbly returned to her seat as the driver called for everyone to board. An older woman took Rita’s place on the other side of the bench.

Her heart pounded in her chest as they started off again. Committing to a strange life with a strange man was worthy of getting cold feet. She wasn’t that foolish. Or was she?

Kate’s breath caught as they bumped over another rock. Was she foolish for staying or would she be foolish for leaving? Too scared to make a decision, she stayed in the stagecoach.

There weren’t any other options. Her family couldn’t keep taking care of her and she couldn’t find work or a husband back east. She had run out of chances and hope. Though there had been a tearful goodbye, she had seen the relief in her parents’ eyes. One less person to worry about.

There weren’t other options. Kate forced herself to sit up straight. Even if he did end up refusing her, she had to try. She pushed her misgivings to the side and looked back out the window. They would reach Oregon City before she knew it.

Chapter 4

Cooper wiped his damp hands on his jeans as he looked around the station. The stagecoach had just arrived. It would be the stagecoach with his bride, if she had made it all this way.

There was a herd of horses galloping on his insides. He wasn’t sure how he felt, but he sensed that much. And he wasn’t thrilled. His eyes darted around in concern he had missed something. They weren’t getting out of the cart. Why weren’t they getting out?

His uncertainty was premature. The driver came around and opened the door. Cooper’s stomach churned again.

An old woman with gray hair stepped out. He paused in confusion. Thinking back to the letters, he tried to remember how young his bride was supposed to be. Nearly thirty himself, he thought she had mentioned being fairly young but of marriageable age.

Then a similarly aged man stepped out, following the older woman. And a boy that hung close by them.

Cooper realized his mistaken assumption and relaxed his shoulders. Spending all morning in the sun could do things to a man. Again he rubbed his hands against his thighs.

When he glanced up, there was a young lady stepping out of the stagecoach. Soft brown hair curled around a bonnet. She had mentioned having brown hair. Cooper hesitated as he watched her look around and then help another woman out of the stagecoach, an older woman who was welcomed by the Oregon City blacksmith.

Then the brunette belonged to him.

That sounded wrong. A lump formed in his throat. He tried to think about how he was supposed to talk to her. Before this, it had been easy enough to write to a woman he had decided to make his wife. Talking to cooks and housekeepers had been easy.

But the idea of going over and introducing himself to her now made those horses in his stomach go crazy like a dust storm.

Only after he looked again to find her clutching a bag did he gather his resolve. Taking a deep breath, Cooper collected himself. He pushed his shoulders back and then started across the lane.

“Miss Grady?” He nodded when she glanced his way. It was her.

When she turned, he almost paused in his step when he got a closer look at her. Miss Kate Grady had a soft oval face that brightened upon finding him.

There was a scar. It was clear to see in the daylight, though it looked like she had attempted to hide it with her hair and bonnet. It covered a good half of her cheek, thinning as it climbed up to her eye.

He remembered her writing that she had blue eyes. But Cooper knew he would have remembered if she had mentioned a large scar. Memorizing her face, he noticed how she smiled hopefully at him. His eyes caught how her scar tugged at her cheek.

Other than that, she looked nice enough. Besides, outward beauty wasn’t necessary for what he was looking for in a wife. He needed someone to handle his house and the work that needed to get done. While he was glad that she wasn’t old, her looks didn’t matter as much as her cooking skills.

“Mr. Potter?” she asked. Her big blue eyes studied him.

Fixing his jacket, Cooper nodded. “It’s just Cooper. Welcome to Oregon City,” he added after a moment of silence. “I … Well, I suppose we should go.”

Hefting up her bag, she nodded. “Certainly. Yes. To—to your ranch?”

Cooper wondered how he was supposed to interact with her. Even though they were about to be wed, it was still a marriage of convenience. As he studied her face, he tried to think about how they were going to work this out.

Maybe they should talk before driving to the ranch. He glanced around and then nudged his head towards a nearby restaurant. “Let’s get some food. They cook their potatoes well. I’m sure you’re tired?”

She shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

The two of them made their way to the other side of the street. Inside the restaurant, they found an empty table and ordered brisket and potatoes. She drained her water glass in seconds before offering a flushed smile his way.

Drumming his fingers on the table, Cooper gave her a nod. He wasn’t sure how to address her. “How was the journey?”

Kate gave him her second smile. Her eyes crinkled and he saw the lines scrunch up around her eyes. That only made the blue in her eyes shine brighter, so blue a man could almost drown in them. “It was long. That was my first time in a stagecoach. Though the view was beautiful, I’m not used to sitting for so long.”

He chuckled, surprising both of them. He hadn’t expected something like that to escape her mouth. But those words made for a good transition. Cooper straightened up and took a deep breath.

“You don’t have to worry about that out here,” he informed her. “There’s always a lot of work to be done. I’ve had a few housekeepers, but it hasn’t worked out. Like I explained in my letters, I need someone to help keep my house so I can keep my ranch. There’s a lot of work, and I need a strong helping hand.”

She nodded seriously. “Yes, Mr. Potter.”

“Cooper,” he corrected her. “While we’ll keep our—our relationship one of convenience, we can do away with a few of the formalities. I’ll join you for meals when I can, and you can consider my ranch yours as well. But love is a foolish notion and I have more important work to do. I’m not looking to build a family. We should both be comfortable to—to address our concerns. When I have the time, we’ll attend church together. But that’s it.”

Kate Grady took a deep breath before offering him another nod. “Of course. That’s what we agreed upon.”

Chapter 5

Her heart pounded so loud in her chest that it gave her a headache. Kate clenched her hands tightly together in an attempt to stay calm and collected. She didn’t want to give her future husband any reason for concern.

The tone he used to explain his expectations for their future together reminded her of the teachers she had back when she went to school. He was factual, polite, and reiterated a few points to remind the two of them why they were there.

Kate thought back to her youth, back when she used to talk about the boys in town with the few friends she had. Stories could be found about sweet romances and how beautiful a marriage could be for two people.

But that wasn’t for her.

She sat up straight like the student she was, nodding as she tried to remember everything he was telling her. But Kate understood the gist. They were partners. He handled the ranch and she handled the house and food. If they could complete their duties, then they would have a happy marriage.

He was very frank. She appreciated his honesty, but it hurt. All her life, she had dreamed of something more than this. Of finding someone to love and adore her for who she was.

Yet every time she glanced in the mirror, she knew that would never happen. Not really. Every dream she once had was just that, a dream. A dream and nothing more. Deep down, she knew she had never really believed that anything was possible for her.

“I would appreciate that,” she agreed when he said that he’d show her around the ranch in the next couple of days.

Her eyes trailed over his face as he dug into their food. After the constant bumping from the stagecoach, her stomach still wasn’t quite settled. Though she picked up her own fork, she wasn’t quite ready to eat.

Besides, she wanted to get a good look at him. Cooper had hair a few shades lighter than her own, cropped close to stay out of his face. There were a few dark lines from his work in the sun. He had a sloping nose and dark brown eyes.

They were nice eyes. Honest eyes that hadn’t jerked away or widened in surprise when he saw her. It was the strangest, nicest thing. She had nearly made herself sick when they rolled into town. Surely the man was angry with her for deceiving him about her looks.

But he had yet to say anything. Though she caught him studying her curiously a few times, he didn’t say anything about her face, and he hadn’t turned away from her.

That had to count for something, she told herself.

Hoping they could live peaceably together, Kate forced herself to take a few bites of food. They ate quietly until he was finished. She set her fork down and pushed her plate away.

“Are you finished eating?”

She nodded. “Yes. It was a bumpy stagecoach,” Kate added when he didn’t say anything else. “Everything is well.”

Cooper stood up. “Good. Then if nothing else is keeping us, we had best get married.” He paused as she considered once again the situation she had gotten herself into. The young lady she had met days ago, Rita, hadn’t been able to make it to the man she had agreed to marry. But Kate had.

She still wasn’t sure if either of them had made the right decision. Not knowing what else to do, Kate stood as well. “Where to, Cooper?”

Though she couldn’t be certain, it looked like his mouth twitched when she said his name. She hoped that was supposed to be a good thing. Swallowing hard, she allowed him to lead her out of the restaurant and down the street.

In a few minutes, she was in the back office of the church with the pastor, the justice of the peace, and their wives. Her traveling bag sat on a spare chair and the pastor shared a Bible verse about clinging to one another in hardships.

Once she signed her name, she was married. Mrs. Kate Potter.

“Thank you for your time.” Kate forced herself to smile as the women congratulated her. She wondered if Cooper had explained anything to them before her arrival. From the sound of it, they didn’t understand it was a marriage of convenience.

That was fair. Kate hadn’t explained that part of the agreement when she told her parents. It had felt like the safe choice to make as she agreed to marry a stranger far off in the West. A marriage of convenience allowed them to still be themselves, to both have a roof over their heads and the occasional company. But that was all.

Cooper picked up her bag before leading her out into the street. “Here we are. This cart just to the side is ours,” he pointed out their wagon. Walking up to it, he put her bag in the back alongside some boxes and barrels. “I’m afraid I need to pick something up in the general store. I’ll only be a minute. Are you all right to stay here for a minute?”

She nodded, not certain of what else to do. Though he didn’t cringe when he looked at her, and he was still polite towards her, Kate felt a tense wall being built between them.

Her eyes followed him into the store beside them. Slowly she pulled herself up onto the wagon to sit and wait. It took all her strength to ignore the stares she received. Keeping her head down, Kate prayed for freedom from the fear clutching her heart.

It was going to be difficult, she understood that. But she couldn’t stop shaking and she didn’t know what to think. Her stomach was all in turmoil and all she wanted was a friend. Someone to talk to.

Cooper Potter was her husband, but she knew that meant little for them. She took another deep breath and tried to pull herself together before he returned.

Knowing better than to hope for more than kindness from him, Kate tried to tell herself to be content with whatever she had. It was probably all that she would receive.

Chapter 6

He didn’t need anything. Cooper just wanted a moment to himself. Glancing around the general store, he nodded at those who looked his way. He would have to take something out with him, so he forced himself to move around.

Though he had just been married, he didn’t feel any different. Just a little more tense and uncomfortable around her. While he was glad that Kate understood his expectations, Cooper didn’t know how things would work out for them. He knew he should treat her in a more polite manner than his housekeepers, but not to the point of suggesting romance or anything so nonsensical.

But he just didn’t know how to do something like that.

A married man. There had been time in the last couple of months to get used to the idea, but he wasn’t certain when he would ever be comfortable with the concept. It was strange and unfamiliar.

Marriage was a concept he didn’t understand, and he wasn’t certain he wanted to. After his rough youth, he knew how dangerous it could be. Though he was trying to make it work in his own way, in a manner he prayed was safe and not problematic, he knew that life could spin around and trip folks up.

Picking up a bag of sugar, he took it to the front and paid. He couldn’t leave Kate out there forever.

“Sorry about that,” he volunteered when he returned to the cart.

She was already seated with her shoulders back and her hands in her lap. “It’s all right.”

After fixing up the horses, he joined her on the bench. They were awfully close then, almost touching. He wondered if he would need to make a bigger wagon. Or perhaps he could teach her to drive the wagon and he could stick to riding. Considering his choices, he called to the horses and they headed out of town.

They rode silently together. Moving his focus to the animals, Cooper hardly glanced her way until they had slowed down upon arriving at the barn. When he jumped down onto solid ground, he saw Kate’s tight expression.

Her face was pale and he noticed the shaky hands as he went around to help her down. There were a few things he recalled about being a gentleman.

“Are you all right?” he asked cautiously. The idea of marrying a woman only for her to die on him wasn’t something he wanted to deal with. While he knew they handled more ailments than men typically did, Cooper wasn’t certain how to broach the topic or what to say.

She nodded hurriedly as she took his hand. “It was just a rough ride, I think. Thank you. I’ll be fine. This is your ranch?”

Cooper hesitated. “Well, it’s yours now too, I suppose. But yes.” He fixed his hat and then glanced at the wagon. “Let’s get your bag inside and then I’ll show you around.”

Once she’d seen the back door to the kitchen, Kate began to carry the items from the wagon inside. That allowed Cooper the time to unharness the horses and brush them down before putting his wagon away.

They met on the steps and he directed her down the lane. “You won’t need to travel too far. Just from the house to the hall here. We have a cart to carry heavy things back and forth. I can’t think of any reason you’d need to mess with the horses, so you don’t need to worry about them. But we’ve got a few cows that need tending to, as well as a chicken coop. Those will be your responsibility, along with the house.

“Down here is the mess hall. There are about twelve hired hands at a time, sometimes twenty. They sleep in that half of the building, but you won’t have any reason to go back there.”

He paused to look her way. Kate looked very serious, her lips pressed together and her eyes wide as she appeared to be trying to memorize the area around them. For a minute he found himself hesitating, wondering if this had been a mistake. Though she had agreed to a marriage of convenience, she would be surrounded by plenty of men who might want otherwise. What if she changed her mind?
“The other half,” she spoke up when he said nothing. “That’s where I’ll feed them?”

Cooper swallowed, appreciating her focus and distraction. “Twice a day. Bright and early—before 7:00 at least—then around sunset. If you can keep a few things on hand as well, that would be best. I’ve been trying to keep bread and fruit, some vegetables, whatever I can. It’s a lot of hard labor the men do, after all. Everyone’s always hungry.”

“Of course,” Kate said agreeably. “I shall do my best.”

“Then I suppose it’s time I introduced you to my men,” he realized as they headed towards the building. Fixing his hat, Cooper cleared his throat and didn’t say anymore until he had opened the door to let her walk through.

The day had flown past them with it already being evening. Dusk had set in and the men were eating the bread and cheese he had left behind for them. There were loud noises everywhere as eight of the men sat around to talk and eat. But as he stepped through, they looked up and noticed their boss had arrived with a new guest. After some nudging, everyone quieted down.

Cooper tipped his hat up. “Evening, men. Make sure to leave some goods for the next shift.” He took a deep breath as he glanced at Kate. The color had since come back into her cheeks. “I’d like to introduce you to the newest resident at the Circle Seven Ranch, Mrs. Kate Potter. My wife.”

He had spent most of the ride home practicing that last bit. His wife. He was married. He had a wife now.

Chaos erupted. Men stomped their feet and clapped their hands and hollered.

“About time, boss!”

“Whooee!”

“Good for you!”

“Where can I get me one of those?”

He waved a hand. “All right, just settle down. She’ll be tending to our meals and the house from here on out. I expect each of you to treat her with respect and listen to her like you listen to me. Is that understood?”

The men nodded, talking amongst themselves as they assured him they’d behave around a lady. Cooper nudged his head at Kate to follow him across the room. There would be plenty of time for her to be introduced to everyone. But mostly he wanted her to know his foreman, Richie Benson.

Just as they passed Wagby on the bench, the man furrowed his brow at Kate. “What kind of wife did you get yourself, boss? This one’s all messed up.”

Cooper stopped, feeling something flare red-hot inside him. His hands in fists, he studied his man carefully. “Did I ask for your opinion, Wagby?”

“No, but look at her. She’s all—”

“She’s my wife,” Cooper repeated himself from earlier, raising his voice slightly. “And you will treat her with respect. I won’t have any talk like that here. If you don’t think you can behave, then you can stay out on the range with the coyotes. Is that understood?”

Wagby glared at him for a moment before grunting. He dropped his head, choosing not to fight this. Cooper almost wished he had. Nothing sounded better than beating the man down to the ground.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to rein in the anger. Killing the flare, he took a deep breath. He loosened his fists and glanced quickly at Kate. But he couldn’t read the still expression on her face. Her head had dropped so her chin nearly rested on her chest.

Not knowing what else to say, Cooper shook his head and continued across the room to Richie. Once they were introduced, he took her back to the house and showed her everything he could think of.

“This is all yours,” Cooper reminded her when they returned to the kitchen. “If you need anything, you just let me know. I need to know two days in advance about any trips into town if you want me or my men to go. With time, you’ll be able to handle that on your own. But I want this space to be all yours. As long as you can keep everything running smoothly then we’ll be just fine. I’d appreciate your help and support. So, if you need anything, just—just tell me. Understood?”

Her fingers ran slowly across the mouth of the sink before nodding. “I understand.” She turned to him with a hesitant nod. “Shall I prepare us supper?”

Cooper licked his lips. “Nothing for me tonight. I’m afraid I have to go check on the cattle. Find something for yourself, and I’ll be back in a few hours. I-I want you to get comfortable here and I’d rather not be in the way.”

She opened her mouth to say something but decided against it. Cooper glanced at her one more time, wishing he could find something to say to fix Wagby’s rude comment from earlier. The scar was undeniable. He wondered what had happened. But he knew it wasn’t his business, just like he knew she didn’t deserve to be treated like that. Looks meant little enough about character.

The girl was a pretty one all the same. She had a slim build and those deep blue eyes. Cooper found himself hoping that she would like it here and not run off like his last housekeeper.

Not knowing what else to say, he turned around and left.

Chapter 7

Her heart pounded as she watched Cooper walk out of the house and down the trail. Everything was happening so quickly that she still hadn’t had time to take a deep breath and get a good feel for the place.

As she followed his movements up the path, her hand crept onto her left cheek over the scar. She remembered the searing pain it had once caused her. And she still remembered all the terrible comments people had said upon seeing it.

But what she didn’t remember was someone defending her like that. Usually her family told her not to listen to other people. That was all.

But she wasn’t dumb. She’d tried to leave those mean comments alone and focus on the good people around her.

It was confusing. Somehow she had found herself someone, a man who was now her husband for better or for worse, who didn’t react with aversion towards her scar. He didn’t stare or shy away, and he could even look her in the eye without acting like he was trying to avoid looking at her cheek.

The skin wasn’t as smooth as it should have been. It wasn’t pretty.

But Kate didn’t need to feel pretty. She had been working to let go of that desire for a long time. The one thing she knew she could be was a good wife.

Dropping her hand, Kate turned to study the kitchen. Her kitchen. No Tessie telling her everything was handled. No parents exchanging glances when she couldn’t find a job. No more jokes from her siblings, no more anything.

It was hers.

A small giggle escaped Kate’s lips. She covered her mouth, still grinning. It was a larger kitchen, nearly twice the size of her family’s. Though Cooper had mentioned not having much, the man had plenty of supplies and goods.

She got to work cleaning and cooking.

***

Afterwards, Kate went back through the house to have a slower tour on her own. It was a rather bare house without any curtains. But she could work on that. Perhaps a few rugs as well.

Overall, it was a promising home.

“Kate?”

“Oh!” She stepped back in surprise only to run her back into the wall.

Cooper appeared at the bottom of the stairs. His face was in shadow, but she could tell he was frowning. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Kate rubbed her head sheepishly as she hurried down the stairs to him. “Yes, I’m fine. I-I didn’t hear you come in. Are you all right?”

He took a step back when she reached him. “Yes, fine,” he answered. “I was wondering where you went. You weren’t … sick, were you?”

“No.” She hesitated, wishing the flush in her cheeks would go away. “Earlier today, I … I’m afraid I don’t travel well. But I’m just fine. And I prepared porridge,” she added quickly. “In case you’re hungry?”

“Huh,” he nodded, seeming to forget he had said he wouldn’t be there for supper. “I could use a bite.”

They sat down at opposite ends of the table. She poured them both a good heaping and then took her seat. Though she picked up her spoon, she waited for him to eat first.

He did. Then he glanced at her. “What’s in this?”

“Mushrooms and dried herbs. Is it all right?”

“Yes, it’s fine. It’s good. It—it has flavor.”

Restraining a laugh, she bit her lip. “I like food best when it has flavor. After your long day, I thought something simple would be best.”

Cooper nodded slowly before taking another spoonful. Then he offered her a smile. “You’re right. Thank you.”

He had a nice smile. Kate’s heart warmed as she watched him turn back to his food. The man was polite and kind. Already her fears and uncertainties were fading. Though she told herself to be careful, there was something in his eyes that made her curious.

Unable to help herself, she asked him questions. She asked about his ranch and learned how hard he worked. The man was committed to the land, to his cattle, and to his men. When he talked about Oregon, she remembered his long descriptions in his letters. He really loved the home he had established.

“I wasn’t certain,” Cooper confessed that night as they walked to the bedroom, “if it would be proper to have a separate room. There is space, of course, but it’s easier with one and if we ever have guests …”

She understood. Carrying her bag, Kate met his hesitant gaze. “Then we would want to ensure enough space for them. Anything will be fine.”

After another moment of mulling over it, he opened the door and let her in. Seeing one side of the room was empty, she went and set her bag down. Nice and cozy, she decided. Much better than sharing with all of her sisters.

After the long trip, it was hard to imagine sleeping in a bed again. But it was glorious. She slipped away to put on her nightclothes and when she returned he was under the blankets and she could hear his every breath in the darkness. Carefully, Kate slipped in on her side of the bed. Though he kept tossing and turning beside her, the man never touched her or said a word. Eventually, his breathing deepened.

It was going to be a strange life, Kate decided, but hopefully a good one.

***

She spent the following days getting familiar with her new chores. Cooper stuck with her the first day to walk her through how to properly milk cows and handle chickens. He spoke fondly of the creatures and patiently answered her questions.

Though he was hesitant to stand close or touch her, Kate found themselves growing comfortable around one another. He was honest and polite, even kind. In a way, she hoped that he saw them as friends.

After all, he didn’t want love. The man had written her in the beginning explaining that he would never love her. He didn’t believe in love and didn’t want such foolishness to distract them. Besides, he had really brought her here to tend his house and act as a cook for his ranch hands.

Those men made her nervous. But Cooper didn’t.

He started teaching her to ride a horse, and that movement didn’t make her sick like the wagons and stagecoaches.

When he was around in the evenings, Kate eagerly asked him to share his stories about the day. She rarely had one to share, but on occasion she could make him laugh over something that had happened with the chickens or some silly story she had heard once.

And at night, he always tossed and turned. She grew used to it.

Kate became comfortable with her new life on the Circle Seven Ranch. She liked her new life and she liked Cooper.

When she found herself giggling too hard over one of his horse stories, she realized she was in trouble. She thought of his sweet eyes and kindness too often. There was something in her heart that constricted every time she thought of her husband.

Something inside her wouldn’t let her let go of him.

Chapter 8

“You ready?” Cooper studied Kate as she clutched the reins of his Appaloosa horse. The old mare wasn’t good for the long runs out with the cattle anymore and she was slowing down with age, but he hadn’t been willing to part ways with her.

But Kate wanted to learn how to ride, and it was time she went on a ride by herself into town. She hated the wagon, often having to take time afterward so her stomach would settle. He’d heard of folks getting sick on things like that but couldn’t imagine what it was like. He was just glad she did well on a horse.

And she learned fast.

“I think so.” Kate took a deep breath as she gave him a winning smile. It made her face brighten up like the sun. He couldn’t help but smile back.

“You think so? Or you know so?”

She straightened her shoulders with a short laugh. He liked how there were freckles sprinkled across her face. They popped with her smile. “I know so. I think. I can do it,” she nodded as though she was still convincing herself.

Cooper was already convinced, but he was patient. In the last three months, Kate had proved herself indispensable. There was always food on the tables and the house was always tidy. She’d even organized the mess hall. The animals were tended to and she always had a smile just for him.

The only problem was that she didn’t believe in herself. She doubted her abilities and when she hesitated, she lost her chance. One morning he had been heading out just as five chickens escaped the coop. He stayed behind with her, trying to collect them.

But usually it was fine. Nothing they couldn’t fix together.

He grinned, tugging lightly on the reins. The horse gave him a look, but Kate let out the breath she had been holding. “You’ll be great,” he reminded her. “And if you’re not back by nightfall, I’ll come for you.”

“Promise?”

Chuckling, he nodded. “I promise. Don’t forget those peaches, Kate. Now, off you go.”

With another deep breath, Kate clucked her tongue. His Appaloosa had a sweet spirit and wouldn’t keep a gallop for more than a few seconds. Kate had made plenty of trips to town so far, and just because it was her first one riding a horse, she didn’t need to be so shy.

But he didn’t mind. She was sweet and caring, always ready to help out. There were soups when his men fell ill, and a cake at the end of the month to celebrate their hard work. The home had grown cozier with her homemade rugs and curtains. Kate was a good woman, and he was lucky to have her.

His heart thumped as he watched her go. Her back was straight, and she looked just like a lady. He couldn’t help but grin, a little proud.

They worked well together.

The concerns Cooper once had about marriage had faded away. Working hard during the day, the two of them often came together in the evenings to have a quiet meal to themselves. Quiet meaning they weren’t surrounded by his men. But lately, the two of them always had something to say. He found himself eagerly sharing stories about the ranch and listening curiously as she had her own stories to share.

She had grown up with several siblings, an idea he could hardly imagine.

But when she talked about teasing her siblings and the jokes she used to play with them, he could see that. The young woman had a bright energy to her whenever she talked. Her smile was a sweet one and he was always eager to return home for the night.

The sudden thought of her as a mother struck his mind. She’d know how to raise a couple of good children.

Cooper frowned. He shook his head and returned to the pen for his own horse. He wanted to check on the cattle as he was preparing to send part of his herd to Texas for sale. If he left now, then he could make it back early to ensure Kate had returned safely.

His morning passed quickly before he turned back to the house. He arrived just as she was emptying the last of the saddlebags on the pack horse.

Cooper stepped up, grabbing the bag of flour. “Let me get that for you.”

“Oh!” She didn’t flinch this time but grinned. “I was wondering if I might see you again. Before supper, I mean,” Kate added. “And thank you. I’ll take the horses to the barn, then.”

After he set everything inside, Cooper joined her in the barn. “How was your ride?” he asked.

“Good.” She peeked over the horse’s back to catch his eye. “Pastor Davis asked about you. I think it might be good if we attend church this month. What do you think about tomorrow? Is that too soon?”

His lips quirked. They both liked to attend church, as did half his men. But the ride was far and there was always work to be done. Most of the time, he joined her for an early break to read the Bible together. But every once in a while, they went to church. Especially when their pastor purposefully liked to guilt them.

“That should be fine,” he assured her with a chuckle. It wasn’t funny, but Kate always made him feel light and hopeful. Though he knew it was ridiculous, he liked the way his chest tightened around her. “Church would be a nice break from this.”

She beamed. “Perfect. I’ll iron your shirt after supper.”

Nodding, his eyes skirted towards the mess hall. Richie was waving. Cooper sighed and Kate peered at the sight. “I should go see what’s happening,” Cooper said, finding himself reluctant to leave her side.

“Go on. I’ll see you this evening.”

Cooper went to see Richie. They handled a problem with the planned cattle route and then they stayed out to discuss business, slowly making their way back to the mess hall.

“Suppertime!” Kate called as she rang the triangle. That was a recent installation of hers. Though the boys had first complained about the racket, everyone stopped once they had tasted her cooking.

Cooper walked a little faster as his stomach growled. Watching his men gather around as she set up her food inside, he frowned at them.

“What is this?” He gestured. “Tuck that shirt in. You’re in front of a lady. Who hasn’t washed his hands? Ty, you need to wash your face. Go. Once you’re presentable for my wife, then you can eat. Get!”

“Aw boss,” Ty groaned. “What kind of highfalutin business is this?”

He frowned at Ty, one of the newest ranch hands. “What kind of manners were you raised with, boy? Stand up straight and wash your mouth out for talking like that.”

Most of his men grumbled as they went to wash up. Richie laughed, having washed his hands beside Cooper earlier.

Another one of his men spoke up, shaking his head. “Boy, what a man you’ve become. Soon you’ll be wearing ties every day of the week. Your woman sure has you wrapped around her finger, doesn’t she?”

“What are you talking about?” Cooper frowned, not understanding, as he glanced at his wife.

Richie answered the question. “No need to be ashamed,” his foreman elbowed him. “She’s a right good woman and we’re all better for her service. No one thought you’d be so quick to settle down, that’s all. You’re sweet on her.”

Cooper didn’t have a response, too incredulous at such an idea. Him? Sweet on someone? In love? That was impossible. That didn’t happen. It couldn’t. Love didn’t exist.

His eyes flitted toward Kate who blushed as one of his men complimented her food. She nodded, thanking him. When she smiled, Cooper felt his chest tighten again. Now he couldn’t help but wonder if he had misunderstood something about marriage.

Chapter 9

“What are you smiling about?”

Kate jerked over to see Cooper riding beside her. He sat straight and tall in the saddle, looking handsome as ever. With his hat off, his hair ruffled in the breeze.

“I’m sorry?” she asked, not certain she had heard him right.

“You’ve been smiling since we left church. What’s on your mind?”

They asked each other that sometimes. Usually, their answers were typical—about responsibilities and projects. But every now and then, they had a memory or dream to share.

There had been a dream that had made her smile. She’d been in a wonderful mood all morning. Especially when Cooper complimented her muffins and whispered a few inside jokes during church.

But it had reminded her of a dream where she’d been on a picnic with Cooper on a green hill before a lovely field of flowers. Everything had smelled delightful, and they hadn’t even eaten anything because they were so entranced with one another. In her dream, Cooper had called her beautiful.

Pulled back into the real world, Kate felt a blush come over her cheeks. She couldn’t tell him about that. Not wanting to lie, however, she searched for the right thing to say to her husband that she told herself she definitely did not have particular feelings toward.

“Church was exceptionally good today,” she managed to choke out. “That’s all. What—what did you think of the sermon?”

The conversation switched lanes and they discussed the sermon during their ride home, keeping their horses at a comfortable pace since they weren’t in a rush.

It was a beautiful day and she didn’t want to waste it. She invited him to join her for a walk, but he declined. Her hope wavered, but she wasn’t surprised. The man was always hesitant about leaving his men behind for too long. He cared for his ranch and his team, always wanting to be there for them.

That was just one of the reasons that she knew he was a good man. Over the last couple of months, the list of reasons had grown. It made her heart ache if she thought too long and hard about him. When it got to be too much, she worked.

After enjoying a walk, Kate prepared supper. She hummed as she worked on the corn, rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands into the spices.

The work was hard, handling laundry and large meals and animals. They were considering buying goats and she couldn’t imagine how to take care of them. But Cooper was hopeful, and she couldn’t deny him anything.

Once the food was prepared, she put on her apron and set everything in the handcart to make the trek down to the mess hall. It was tedious work, walking back and forth to load and unload the heavy pots and other items. It often left a fine line of sweat across her brow.

But she didn’t mind. This was something she had agreed to. She wiped away the sweat on her brow with her forearm as she began setting up the food. Once everything was ready, she rang the triangle and prepared to serve the men.

“Delicious as always,” Richie commended her with a broad smile.

She shook her head at the man who constantly complimented her. “You haven’t even tried a bite, Richie. How can you say that?”

“I’ve smelled it and that’s enough for me, ma’am. There’s always something delightful and my chops are watering. It’s going to be good; I can tell.”

The next man in line agreed, nodding eagerly as he waited for her to serve him. Behind him, however, was a hairy man who grumbled. She remembered the man’s unfriendly demeanor and her heart sank.

“It’s good,” he admitted to the man behind him. “Which is more than I can say for that torn-up face. How do you think he manages to look at her every morning? I’d be tempted to smother her with my pillow. Bet the boss does, too.”

The ladle clattered into the corn, making kernels fly. She jumped in surprise, her heart thudding. As blood drained from her face, Kate tried to think. But all she could hear were those words over and over again.

After all, they had to be about her. She was the only woman and the only one with such a hideous face. It took all her energy not to let the tears flood down her face. Her eyes misted over as she choked up.

“Ma’am?” Richie stood up from his nearby table.

“Here,” the man before her scooped his own corn and offered the ladle back. “Easy mistake. It’s a little slippery.”

Struggling to collect her thoughts, she took the ladle back. Somehow, she managed to serve the hairy man, and then the man after him. She didn’t know if she was supposed to have heard that remark, but she had, and now she couldn’t get it out of her head.

There were looks in town, but no one said anything. Folks out west were a mite more polite than those back in Boston. Over two months had passed since anyone had said anything to her like that.

Her stomach grew queasy as she struggled to feed the rest of the men. Everyone had been kind. Were they too kind? Cooper had defended her once, but what did that mean?

Kate wasn’t certain she wanted to know. When she started to pack up the remains of the meal, not having seen her husband yet, doubts flooded in. He had never said anything to her but maybe that was because he couldn’t.

A lump formed in her throat. That man was probably right. Her husband would never care for her or love her. Even if he changed his mind about a marriage of convenience, he wouldn’t stand for someone like herself. For all she knew, they didn’t go into town often because he didn’t want to be seen with her.

It could be disgust or even pity that he hid. She couldn’t tell.

***

Kate hurriedly put out a meal for Cooper as dusk set in, realizing she had taken too long. She was furiously scrubbing dishes, her hair down to hide her face, when Cooper stepped inside.

“Something smells great,” he said. “What are we having tonight?”

Kate hesitated, dread flooding her senses. “Corn and some pie.” She froze, not certain she could sit with him through supper in her state. But she didn’t know how to step away. So she sat down.

He dove in after saying grace. “Mm,” Cooper nodded. “You know how to feed a man, Kate.” He took two more bites before pausing. “You’re not eating. Are you all right?”

She gulped. “Yes. Yes, of course. I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.”

Her husband studied her. “You’re not looking too well. How about you go to bed and rest? I’ll tidy up tonight.”

“Are you sure?” Kate turned pale.

He didn’t want to be around her. Maybe the hairy man had been right. Cooper couldn’t stand to look at her.

Nodding, he waved a hand. “I’ll check on you later.”

She didn’t know what else to do but obey. Kate shakily stood and made her way up to their room. But the nerves kept her from being able to sit still, let alone lie down. Pacing back and forth, she wrung her hands.

If he could hardly stand her, then she wasn’t sure if they could be married forever. Surely he would get tired of seeing her face every day. Nausea roiled in her stomach as she tried to think of something to make him see that she was worth it, no matter how she looked. The emotions she felt for him hid in the shadows with the ache in her heart as she tried to think.

He never came to check on her. When Kate was too exhausted to move, she collapsed under the blankets.

Peach cobbler. They always kept peaches on hand for him. In the morning, Kate resolved with a yawn, she would make the perfect peach cobbler, no matter how many tries it took. Then he would see that she wasn’t so ugly and useless.

Chapter 10

Cooper left his wife in bed sleeping, not wanting to wake her. In the morning light, he could see the circles under her eyes. At least she looked much more peaceful than the night before.

When she was in the kitchen, the woman was a whirlwind of movement and flour. He’d stayed behind to talk with her one morning, watched her work. It was like a dance that only she knew, working the fireplace and food as she hummed.

Unfortunately, there weren’t a lot of opportunities for him to bide his time with her. He had to keep an eye on his team. They were down a few hands with the cattle drive in Texas. Though he was originally supposed to go, Cooper had decided against it. He didn’t like the idea of leaving Kate alone.

Dressing quietly, he made his way outside. Even if he had the time to spend with Kate, Cooper thought to himself, he knew it was a bad idea.

Richie’s words from the other day still bothered him. That had been a silly thing to say. Love didn’t exist. Maybe he was fond of her, but only in a friendly way. Kate was his wife and it was important that they got along well. But sweet on her? Those words implied something more. It made his chest tighten, a sensation that now made him uncomfortable.

He kept walking, looking for his ranch hands so he could find a distraction. Right outside the men’s house, he found Richie and Tom washing and shaving for the day.

“Morning, boss,” Tom chimed up first.

“We don’t usually see you this early,” Richie commented. “Is the missus up now, too?”

Cooper hesitated. “No, she’s sleeping. Kate needs some rest. She might be falling ill, so it’ll be bread and apples for you boys this morning. Nothing fresh.”

As Tom groaned, Richie turned to give Cooper a careful look. The man’s mustache twitched. “Is she all right? It’s not about what Wagby said last night, is it? Nobody should listen to him anyhow.”

“Wagby?” Cooper frowned. He still remembered what the man had said when Kate first arrived. The man had been told to keep his mouth shut. But he was stubborn, and Kate was too nice to accuse anyone of trouble. “What did he say? What happened?”

The two men exchanged looks. “It wasn’t anything crude,” Tom sighed. “But it certainly wasn’t kind. Said something about her scar and … being smothered. I’m trying not to remember the particulars, boss, if that’s all right.”

Gritting his teeth, he shook his head. “I get it. Where’s Wagby?” That man had been left on too loose a rope. He’d had a few warnings lately and Cooper wasn’t about to let this pass as well.

Especially when it was something about his wife. It made sense then, how she had looked ill that night after enjoying their morning at church. His hands balled into fists as Richie told him that Wagby was in the far west pasture.

“Thanks,” Cooper snarled and stomped off to retrieve his horse.

Though his first thought was to beat the man into the ground, the long ride helped him cool down just enough that his blood was no longer boiling. Cooper was angry, but he grew more patient. A man couldn’t fight another man based off someone else’s words. He had to hear it for himself.

Forcing a smile, he waved to Wagby who was sitting in his saddle chewing tobacco as he kept an eye on the longhorns. “How was the night?”

“Peaceful.” Wagby nodded when Cooper pulled up. “The dogs scared off a coyote, but that was it.”

Cooper eyed him warily as he tried to think. “That’s good, I suppose. Just wanted to come around and check on everything around here. Say, you’re not married, are you?”

The man scratched his thickly bearded chin before shrugging. “Naw, there ain’t a woman I’m looking to settle down with. Don’t see no reason to.”

“No?” Cooper’s hands tightened on his reins, ready for action. One reason, he told himself. Just one reason and he’d beat the man black and blue. Wagby had caused a few problems in the past, but his work had been good enough that Cooper didn’t want to fire him. But the man had said enough in the past that he was ready. “There’s no one in town that you’re interested in? You don’t want a wife?”

Shrugging, Wagby popped some more tobacco in his mouth. Cooper could smell the thick scent from his saddle. He waited, hoping the man would take the bait.

“I don’t see no reason to,” Wagby said as he nudged his horse. “Women aren’t important enough, I don’t think.” Then he started off around the cattle when the dogs started to bark.

Gritting his teeth, Cooper glared at the man’s back. He still considered himself something of a gentleman. There wasn’t any way he was going to attack the man out of nowhere. He couldn’t beat him for what Tom had said Wagby had said. If he would just say something more, then Cooper had enough reason to at least punch him.

That’s all he was asking for. One good, solid punch.

“Stampede!”

Cooper came to attention. The dogs’ barking changed, and he saw several longhorns blustering through the herd. Something had happened. Tightening his hands on his reins, he found another problem that demanded his attention.

With a curse under his breath, he nudged his horse. “Get moving,” he ordered Wagby as he passed, trying to find the beginning of the running cattle. “I need you on the left!”

If he could find the bull leading the charge, then he could try to redirect and slow the animals down. It was a dangerous job, but it wouldn’t be the first time he or his men had handled such an incident. As long as they worked together, they could fix this before anyone got hurt.

As his horse charged, Cooper pulled out his rope and swung it into a lasso. His stomach moved uneasily. But he forced himself to keep moving. There was a herd of twenty on the run and he didn’t want the other peaceful lot to get mowed down or join them.

He found the lead. Riding alongside the party, he patted his horse’s neck. Glancing around for his men, Cooper found Marty near him on the right with Harold in the back. He prayed Wagby had made it to the left of the herd, and then he dove into the mix.

If he could get the lasso on and slow the lead bull down, everything would be just fine.

Chapter 11

Taking a deep breath, Kate fanned her face as she looked at her open window. There was a thick sill with her three pies resting there. One had a crust that crumbled too much. One had peaches that hadn’t softened right.

But the third one was good. She just knew it.

Then she realized how ridiculous she was acting. Her shoulders slumped as she fell back against the kitchen table with a groan. Food filled a man’s stomach but that didn’t mean it would change his heart.

He had been so clear in his letters. It was a marriage of convenience. The man hadn’t even kissed her to seal the deal at their wedding. He had squeezed her hand with a short nod.

She gave a short laugh of disbelief.

“Such a fool,” she muttered to no one in particular.

And she had thought the pies would fix everything. Kate collapsed in her seat in frustration. Nothing would be enough. After all these months, she had only been digging herself into a deeper hole.

Coming to Oregon was supposed to give her a secure life. It had. She had found happiness and peace there. But now everything had become complicated. Keeping her heart protected against Cooper’s smile had become difficult.

She scowled just as footsteps ran up to the back door. Kate jumped at the banging before stumbling over to open it in bewilderment. Richie was gasping for air breathlessly as he leaned against the door.

“Richie!” Kate opened the door completely, her brow furrowed. He rarely came up to the house, usually waiting until mealtime if he needed something. “What is it? Are you hurt?”

Shaking his head, he pointed behind him. “It’s Coop.”

That made her heart drop.

It took all her strength to keep her knees from knocking. Kate was frozen as she squeaked, “What?”

There was another squeak, this time the familiar sound of a wagon scrambling over the flat path. Kate watched as three ranch hands pulled the wagon up to the house.

She could smell the blood. When her husband’s arm moved, proving he wasn’t dead, Kate managed to breathe again. She dropped her hand from her heart and ran to help.

Richie grabbed her arm before she could do anything. “We have him. But I wanted to warn you before …” he didn’t have to continue.

The men glanced at her as they came to a stop. A lump formed in her throat. Cooper wasn’t conscious. He hardly looked alive. A hiccup escaped her mouth and she clapped her hand over it. Then she nodded, letting them know she was all right. She had to be.

It was all they needed. Richie stayed beside her, offering a comforting arm as they picked up her husband. Cooper was still. And so bloody.

“In the house.” She realized they would need to put him somewhere. Finding her strength, she glanced at Richie. “Find the doctor,” Kate instructed. Grabbing towels, she ran to find a resting place for her injured husband.

Biting her lip, she piled all the rugs and blankets to create a makeshift bed by the fireplace. They followed close behind, carefully setting him down. Kate knelt beside Cooper as he groaned. But his eyes never opened. Her hands shook as she tried to think about what to do.

There was so much blood. There was an injury somewhere, but she couldn’t bring herself to look any deeper. Her gaze was focused on his face, praying he would wake up.

Around her, the men tidied up and brought her hot water with more towels. Then she let them go, waiting impatiently for Richie and the doctor. And she prayed for her husband to wake up.

He didn’t. Dr. Heathrow arrived and said Cooper’s left ankle appeared sprained, but the main injury was where he had been ripped up on the right side of his chest by a bull’s horns. He needed to be tended to around the clock for the night, but the doctor had other patients to tend to and left.

“I’ll stay with him,” Kate said.

“Are you sure?” Richie asked her as night set in.

Rubbing her hands together, Kate nodded. She wasn’t really sure, but she didn’t want to keep the man trapped in the house any longer. “We’ll be fine. We’ll … please tell the men I’m sorry there’s no supper. You can take two of my pies with you. Hopefully that’ll appease them.”

“Don’t worry,” he shook his head. “We’ll live off tree bark if we have to until he’s healed. Coop’s a good boss. I’m sure he’ll pull through.” He put his hat on and walked out.

Her heart hammered as she found herself alone with her husband. The silence grew heavy. Kate knelt, her knees thudding against the ground. It hurt. But she appreciated the pain as it pulled her from the daze.

“What happened?”

“Oh!” Kate jumped, grabbing her heart in surprise. Looking down, she saw Cooper with his eyes open. He was tight-lipped, but his voice was clear. Her eyes widened in relief. “Cooper, I …”

He groaned, trying to move. Kate grabbed his arm, holding him still as she shook her head. “Kate? What is it?”

She attempted a smile. “You tell me. Your men brought you here all banged up.”

His hands trailed slowly to his chest. The man had lost his shirt and now wore one made of bandages. Still, she saw much of his shoulders and arms. She flushed but didn’t turn away.

Cooper spoke thickly. “There were … there was …”

“We can worry later.” Kate squeezed his hand. “The important thing is that you’re going to be just fine, all right? By tomorrow, you’ll be back in our bed, and—and you’ll probably be walking by next week.” Her throat constricted. “You’ll be just fine.”

The tension in his shoulders slowly loosened. Cooper nodded, trusting her. His eyes closed as he relaxed.

Not knowing what else to do, she stayed right there as he fell back asleep, pain etched into his face. Kate did what she could to help, keeping food and water handy. Then she brought down their pillows and settled in the rocking chair to keep an eye on him through the night.

A fever overtook him quickly from the infected wound. Kate worked to keep him warm and hydrated. Cooper was hardly conscious and a reluctant patient, but she worked tirelessly until two days later when the fever broke.

By then, he was good enough that with help, he made it up the stairs to their bed. Only then did Kate feel comfortable enough to leave his side for a few hours. He was improving. Even the doctor said his healing was marvelous.

That evening, Kate was finally able to give him some peach cobbler, and they held a conversation for more than five minutes.

Afterward, he slept again. Kate washed the dishes and then crawled into bed beside him. She took a deep breath and then reached out when he tried to turn. With his bandages, Cooper couldn’t sleep on his side yet. He stopped at her hand, however, and relaxed.

Silence settled in, though she could hear her heart pounding. After what they had just been through, she still wasn’t done talking to him. “Cooper?”

No answer.

Scooting up, she glanced at him in the moonlight. The last couple of days had been the most stressful in her life. As exhausted as she felt, Kate found herself studying him carefully. Just to make sure he was fine.

“You’re going to heal,” she whispered, knowing he wouldn’t hear her. But she had to let the words out. After what they had lived through, she couldn’t keep her feelings pent up any longer. “You’ll be just fine. You have to be. I … I can’t lose you. Not after everything we’ve been through. I love you.”

Chapter 12

Everything hurt.

Cooper wanted nothing more than to fade into the blackness. The last couple of days had been drenched in pain. Everything throbbed and ached.

The only thing that kept him going was Kate. Her voice crept through the dark to bring him back every time. She had gone above and beyond as his wife. When everything went wrong during the stampede, the first thing on his mind was the fear of losing her.

He knew he tossed and turned at night. It was something he had always done, unable to just be still on the bed. Unable to sleep through the pain, he often found himself in a fog and barely conscious. That happened several times with the fever.

Cooper was in a foggy daze when he tried to turn, forgetting about the wound. He hadn’t realized Kate was so close. Her small hand was firm as she stopped him, and he relaxed. When she said his name, he meant to speak up. But his tongue felt thick. He expected her to sleep.

She talked instead, whispering in the night.

It took all his strength not to react when she confessed her love for him. Hearing that was so unexpected that he didn’t even know how to react. Feeling his heart thudding in his chest, Cooper forgot about the pain as she talked.

“I know—I know I shouldn’t,” Kate continued with her hand slipping off his chest. “I’m sorry. It’s—this marriage we have—I understand what you want and why you want it. I didn’t mean for this to happen. But you’re partially to blame.” She gave a small, helpless laugh.

Cooper tried not to breathe loudly. He told himself to either fall asleep or let her know he was awake. But before he could decide, she was talking again.

“You’ve been so good to me. Every day, you treat me with respect and—and you see not just who I am, but who I can be. It makes me want to try harder and be better. You do that for me, every day.

“I look forward to every morning and evening. Our conversations are always a highlight, even if we’re just talking about the weather or—or about peaches. You and those peaches.”

She was quiet for a minute. Cooper held his breath. There was a tug at the covers before she covered his chest. “I’m sure your men will tell you eventually, but I made three pies. I just wanted them to be perfect for you.

“You make me happy, Cooper. You make me excited for each day. Every morning is an adventure. I never know what will happen and you’ve helped me to enjoy that. Back in Boston, I always felt invisible. But with you, I never do. Not once.

“And when you smile at me, my heart starts pounding like it’s going to pop right out of my chest. I can hardly breathe. I don’t know a lot about love, but I know enough that I love you. So you can’t die on me, Cooper. I need you too much. I love you.”

As Kate talked, Cooper’s heart started to pound louder than ever before. He realized that it was beating so hard it felt like it would climb right out of his chest. Just like she had said hers was doing.

Slowly the truth dawned on him. All that tightness in his chest, all the times he found himself smiling at her, everything that he felt inside was more than what he assumed it was.

Love. It was more than fondness.

At first, the idea gripped him with fear. He didn’t want to love anyone. He hadn’t wanted to get married because of what had happened with his parents. There were still restless nights when he remembered what his father had done.

It had been rough. Cooper had left home as soon as he was old enough, swearing he would never make the same mistake. What if, by loving Kate, he was sealing a terrible fate for her?

The fear fled as he realized he knew he would never treat her in such a manner. If he had already loved her for longer than he realized, then love could be a good thing. He never touched alcohol and he never wanted to hurt her.

Hope sprang in his chest. Every word she said brought a wave of joy. When she described her love for him and how it affected her, he realized that his love for her affected him as well.

He liked his mornings with her. And his evenings. Especially his Sundays when it was just the two of them going to church. He liked her strong spirit and her bright smile. He enjoyed their conversations, their adventures with escaped chickens, and washing dishes with her after supper.

If that’s what love was, Cooper realized, then he loved her.

“I do,” Kate was wrapping up her thoughts with a shaky breath. “I love—”

Cooper opened his eyes to find her leaning towards him, resting on one arm to partially sit up. The moonlight shone on her face. It shone right on the scar. The scar that she didn’t talk about. The scar that pinched when she smiled. It pinched often. The scar that she tried to hide and that she believed made her hideous.

He couldn’t take it anymore. “Kate.”

“Oh!” His wife gasped loudly, jerking back to hit her head on the wall. He wrinkled his nose sympathetically as she put a hand to her head. “Cooper? You’re awake?”

Stretching up with his uninjured arm, Cooper took her hand in his and kissed it. She smelled like peaches. When she leaned closer with her big blue eyes, he managed a half-hearted smile. “I love you too.”

She was speechless. They stared at one another until she hiccupped. “You mean it,” Kate murmured in wonder. “You’ve never lied to me.”

“And I never will,” he reminded her firmly.

Scooting a little closer, she leaned forward on her pillow. “Can … can you say that again?”

He considered teasing her. His heart felt so light all he wanted to do was laugh. But Cooper knew what she meant. He squeezed her hand and agreeably told her again, “I love you, Kate.”

A look of wonder passed over her face before she smiled. It was a big toothy one, the smile he liked on her most. Reaching up, he touched her cheek. The one with the scar. She didn’t flinch. “I love you too,” she told him.

“I know.”

Then she frowned. “How long were you awake? You should have said something before I hit my head.”

That earned a short chuckle before he groaned. Alert again, the pain returned. He tried to shift but she put a hand on his shoulder. It had become a quick habit of hers, he assumed.

Cooper reluctantly answered her question with a sheepish grin. “For all of it.” He stole her hand before she could cover her mouth in embarrassment. “And I’m glad I was.”

She thought about it. “Me too,” she gave a grudging smile. Kate shook her head with a wry laugh. “Everything’s always a surprise with you.”

Chapter 13

The healing process was a slow one for Cooper.

Kate didn’t mind. Having him trapped in bed meant having him to herself. She handled the chores in the morning, prepared one meal a day for the men, and spent the rest of her time with her husband.

The hardest part was having Cooper learn to let go. He had a capable foreman in Richie. Wagby was fired for his poor management of the stampeding cattle—he very likely had caused the stampede, it turned out—and they hired Richie’s two cousins who were almost as capable as him. The men continued to work hard, and Richie stopped by to provide daily updates.

As Cooper began to heal up, he learned that he wasn’t as needed as he liked to think. It was a hard lesson, but Kate didn’t mind. That just meant the two of them had more time together.

She cheered as they made a lap around the house without stopping. No longer using a cane, Cooper gave her a proud grin before laughing and pulling her into his arms. She was careful not to touch his side since the ribs were still healing.

“You’re doing wonderfully,” Kate informed him happily. “You’ll be on your horse before the next storm, I just know it.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re a little overeager, darling.”

“Since when do you play it safe?” She raised her eyebrows. “You’re the one who took the Oregon Trail on your own at fifteen. If you can do that, you can do anything.”

After confessing their love, neither of them slept. Instead, the two of them lay there together and whispered their secrets. She had never felt so vulnerable or so safe in her life.

But he told his story about losing his mother during one of his father’s drunken fits and running away a few years later. He left Kansas and made his way west, doing anything he could for a bite of bread before staking the land and working to earn a penny here and there. Little by little, he spent the next ten years building up the Circle Seven Ranch.

And she shared her story. The eldest of seven children, unable to help her family survive in the poor part of Boston. She had few friends and even fewer people willing to hire a scarred woman. Kate told him about the fire and the fears that had plagued her ever since.

Soon there were no more secrets. Yet they never ran out of things to talk about. Kate nestled closer into Cooper’s arms as a chilly wind passed through them.

He tugged her shawl closer around her shoulders and again she wondered how she had been so lucky. There was nowhere else she wanted to be. Craning her neck up to get a better look at her husband, she grinned at him.

Cooper raised an eyebrow at her. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” she told him simply. “I just adore you.”

He gave her a quick squeeze. “Good. I love you too.”

They said that every day, in one shape or form or another. Even if it wasn’t said until they were crawling into bed together, they still made sure to mention it.

All the stories in her youth were wrong. They all said love didn’t exist or that love could fix every problem. The second one was close, but not right. Instead, Kate decided, love was the way she lived with her husband.

It was the comfort that wrapped around her heart like a cozy blanket in the winter. Love was the soaring feeling she felt when he held her close. It was the way she created new peach dishes for Cooper to show her feelings for him, and how he arranged for her to have a garden of her very own.

“We’re very lucky, I think,” Kate announced decidedly as she melted into his arms.

He stood tall and straight, keeping her close. “Oh? Why do you say that?”

She leaned back to study his face. His eyes shone like he was ready for a joke. But it wasn’t a joke, the way she felt for him. It pained her that it had taken him being gored by a bull for them to realize their feelings for each other.

Yet she was so glad that they had. Kate wasn’t sure where they would be if she hadn’t confessed and if he hadn’t heard her. She couldn’t wish for a better life now than the one she lived with him.

“Because,” Kate told him, “We have each other. We don’t have to be alone ever again.”

He smiled. It still put butterflies in her stomach. The man was still the same person who had written those early letters. He was still the same person who had told her how much he valued decency, honesty, and hard work. He was still the same man who had defended her after their short wedding.

“We are lucky,” Cooper echoed. And because he said it, she knew it must be true.

He did so much for her. Kate could hardly believe her fortune. Though she tried to explain it sometimes, words could never do her emotions the proper justice.

He had given her a life that she never would have had in Boston. The open air, the large ranch, the beautiful valley, and even all the scenery was hardly the beginning of her wonderful life. A ranch, a house, a husband. Kate would never have imagined she would be where she was.

She nodded. So lucky. He showed her every day how much he loved her.

There were many things he did. But one of her favorites was how he gave her those extra kisses. Cooper gave her a grin and leaned forward, kissing her lips as if he knew what she was thinking. And then his lips trailed over her, soft against her cheek.

He planted a kiss directly over her scarred skin like it was nothing. Because it was nothing. Kate felt the blush only rise hotter on her cheeks. Touching his face, she redirected him towards her lips. They were very lucky, Kate knew, to have a life together.

She couldn’t wait for what might come next for them.

The End