Forced into Marriage Read online

  They reached the general store, and he opened the door for her.

  As she went into the store, she asked, “What made you pick California? Why didn’t you choose some other place?”

  “I want to be close to the ocean. I once saw a painting of the ocean in California. The painter came to the mercantile to sell it, and it was so beautiful that I had trouble believing such a place really existed. He assured me that he painted exactly what he saw. Anyway, I agreed to sell it. It stayed in the mercantile for three and a half months before someone bought it. Every day that it was there, I would look at it and imagine what it would be like to live by a place like that. After the divorce, the memory of that painting gave me hope when nothing else did. As soon as I found out there was a wagon train heading for California, I signed up to help lead it. That way I didn’t have to pay for the trip.” They stopped at the counter, and he turned to face her. “I think it’ll be a wonderful place to raise our son.”

  With a quick glance around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear, she asked him, “You really think of this baby as your son?”

  “Sure, I do. I know we didn’t marry under ideal conditions, but you’re my wife. Because of that, that boy is my son.” After a moment, he added, “A father is a man who is dedicated to doing everything he can to protect a child, and I promise that I will do everything I can to keep both of you safe.”

  The owner of the general store came over to them. “Mr. Herman, it’s good to see you again.”

  Brandon turned to the man. “It’s good to see you, too, Mr. Burk. I’m here to pick up the order.”

  Mr. Burk nodded. “Let me get it from the back.”

  Rubbing the baby’s back, Lokni studied Brandon’s profile. He was a good-looking man. He was also pleasant. She couldn’t understand why his first wife wanted someone else. Brandon wasn’t cold like Lokni’s first husband had been. Brandon actually cared about her and her feelings. He cared about her son, too. He was considerate and kind. He would never hurt her like Orson and his friends had.

  There were so many people out there who seemed to take pleasure out of using others to get what they wanted, but Brandon wasn’t one of them. He thought of others and was considerate of their needs. She wished all people could be like that. The preacher and Wilma were. But those people were so few and far between. It seemed that when one came across people like that, then the best thing they could do was stay around them.

  Mr. Burk returned and set an assortment of items on the counter. The boots, one pair for her and one for Brandon, were there, as she had expected. But there was also a man’s belt. She picked it up from the top of the pile. It was made from good quality leather. Noting the brass buckle, she turned it over, surprised to see letters on it.

  “That’s my full name,” Brandon told her as he sorted through the other things on the counter. “Brandon Clint Herman.”

  “Why did you have your name engraved on it?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “It was free. I figured I would take advantage of the offer.”

  “It was part of a sale the maker was doing,” Mr. Burk told her. “I suggested he do it since it didn’t cost anything. Besides, the belt itself was expensive enough.”

  “Yes, but it’ll last for years.” Brandon removed his old belt which was falling apart. “I should have gotten another one a year ago, but at the time, I couldn’t do it.” With a glance at her, he added, “It was a gift.” He looked back at Mr. Burk. “Where can I throw this out?”

  “I’ll take it,” Mr. Burk replied as he took it and went to the trashcan.

  Lokni bet the belt had been a gift from Brandon’s first wife. And now, by replacing it, he was officially putting the past behind him and looking toward the future.

  When her tribe had been raided, she hadn’t been able to take anything with her. The soldiers had caught her before she could do that. She often wished she’d had something to connect her to the past. Everyone she’d known was dead or in another part of the territory. In one day, everything had been taken from her.

  She could understand why Brandon had held onto the belt as long as he had, so the significance of him throwing it out was obvious. It was an unspoken declaration of his intention to stand by the vows that had brought them together as husband and wife. He would never leave her or her son. His intention was to stay with them, and as he’d put it, keep them safe. He wasn’t thinking of going on ahead to California without her. He had every intention of staying with her, and more than that, he was going to be a father to her son.

  After he secured the belt, Brandon placed her boots in front of her on the counter. Then he picked up a shawl and showed it to her. “In the catalogue, it said this will last forever unless you take a knife to it and cut it up.”

  Surprised, she asked, “The catalogue said that part about the knife?”

  He chuckled. “No. It didn’t actually say that. The advertisement said this was the best quality shawl a woman can get and that nothing will destroy it. Obviously, there are some things that can destroy a shawl, no matter how well it’s made. No item of clothing is permanent. But it will last for years. I also got you a bonnet, a shirtwaist, and a skirt to match it.” He gestured to the neatly folded clothing that had been under the shawl. “They should be as durable as the shawl. There’s a nice jacket to go with it, too, but it’s too hot to use that for now.”

  “How do you know they’ll fit me?”

  “I used to order clothes all the time when I worked in my own store. After a while, I started to figure out a woman’s size just by looking at her. There was one woman who always ordered a size that was too small. I would warn her about it, but she would ask me, ‘Are you saying I’m overweight?’ To which I would say, ‘No, ma’am, but that size has never worked for you before, and you end up returning the item for a larger size.’ She would insist the smaller size would work.” He rolled his eyes. “And when it came in, she would return it.”

  “How silly of her. Why go through all of that hassle when she already knew it wouldn’t fit?”

  “She swore up and down that she was the right size and the seamstress could never make it right. There are some customers who believe they are right even when they aren’t. Short of lightning striking them, they will never admit it.”

  She smiled at him in sympathy. “It must not have been easy to own a store.”

  “There were parts of it I liked and parts of it I didn’t. But you can say that about anything. I’m sure I got your size right. In case I didn’t, we have time to return them for a full refund as long as they don’t get soiled.”

  “I’ll try them on as soon as we get to the hotel.” Then, eyebrows raised, she added, “Is that why you wanted to come here before lunch? So I could try them on and see if they fit?”

  “No. I’m sure I got the size right. I was just excited to get them to you. The clothes are a nice dark brown color. I think the shirtwaist will complement your skin tone and your hair. You’re a pretty woman. The outfit will call more attention to your beauty.” His face grew pink, and he lowered his gaze back to the counter.

  By the way he blushed, she knew he’d just offered her a term of endearment. And by the way her heart skipped a beat, she realized she’d enjoyed receiving it.

  “I also got something for our son,” he continued, interrupting her thoughts. “It’s a gown he can wear to keep him warm at night. I know it’s warm in the hotel room, but once we’re back out on the trail, it’ll be cooler.” He picked up two more baby outfits. “These are for the day. I ordered them bigger than what he needs. He’ll quickly grow into them, though.”

  Mr. Burk returned, and Brandon hurried to pay him for the items.

  Lokni glanced at her son who was starting to wake up. Her son would probably want her to keep going to California so they could stay together as a family. If he was old enough so she could ask his opinion, she thought he would tell her that he didn’t want to stay in this town. Brandon would be a good father. He al
ready was a good father.

  And she could be happy with Brandon. All she needed to do was take the chance in staying with him to see where things might go. The night they had married, they hadn’t had a choice. But deciding to continue on with him to California was a choice she had. He had already made the decision to take her with him. All she had to do was agree to it. Agree to take the chance on something wonderful.

  No such opportunity had ever presented itself to her before. Up to now, she’d had to do what others wanted. For the first time in her life, she got to make the decision. She had no doubt that Brandon would let her stay here if that was what she wanted.

  But she no longer wanted it. She wanted to be with him. She wanted to know what it was like to be cared for and, perhaps, even loved.

  Mr. Burk handed him the change, and Brandon gathered everything together. With a glance at her, Brandon asked, “Are you ready to go?”

  She knew he was asking her if she was ready to go back to the hotel with him, but when she answered, she was really telling him that she was ready to go to California. With a smile, she said, “Yes,” and went with him out of the general store.

  Chapter Thirteen

  That evening after Lokni fed her baby, she decided to tell Brandon the name she had finally picked for him. How was the best way to tell him the name she’d finally chosen? Did she just come out and blurt it out? Was there a perfect time for doing this kind of thing?

  She turned her gaze to Brandon. At the moment, he was sitting on the bed and taking off his boots

  She brought the baby into her arms and patted his back to help him burp. Once he did, she continued to sit in the chair, softly rocking him back and forth.

  After a moment, she decided to come out and say it. “I finally picked out a name for the baby.”

  She’d almost said my baby, but as he had pointed out, there was much more to having a baby than conceiving one. A real father was there to raise the child. Since he was going to do that, then she needed to start thinking of the baby as his. And it would make things easier in the future when the boy grew up. He would think of Brandon as his father because Brandon would be there with him every step of the way, doing what he had promised to do—providing for and protecting him. Those were the kinds of things a father did for his child.

  Brandon’s eyebrows rose in interest. “What name did you pick?”

  “Clint,” she replied, her face growing warm. Now that she was coming out and saying it, she felt a sudden shyness wash over her. In a louder voice, she forced out, “I decided to name him Clint.”

  “Is that because it’s my middle name?”

  Her face grew hotter. “Yes.” She cleared her throat. I wanted to give him a name that represented everything I hope he’ll grow up to be, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have him be like than you.”

  A pleased smile crossed his face. “Thank you, Lokni. That’s a big honor. I can’t think of a time when anyone’s done anything so nice.”

  She relaxed. Good. He liked it. He hadn’t considered her foolish or stupid. Her father would have wanted her to pick the name of an ancestor who accomplished some miraculous feat. Her first husband would have wanted her to pick the name of a strong animal. Both would have thought her silly to choose a name after a man who was, as they would put it, common. But she liked the name because of all that it represented. Brandon wasn’t common to her. She wanted her son—her and Brandon’s son—to be like him.

  Brandon stood up from the bed and walked over to her. “Do you mind if I hold him until he falls asleep tonight?”

  “No, I don’t mind.”

  In fact, it was nice that he wanted to hold Clint. Not that Brandon had ever refused an opportunity to do so. From the day Clint was born, Brandon had been attentive to his needs. But this was the first time he had asked to hold the child.

  She got up from the chair and waited for Brandon to get settled in before placing Clint in his arms. She stepped away and watched the two of them together. Clint took more after her side, so no one would look at Brandon and Clint and assume Clint had a different father. Which was good. She didn’t want to go to California and put up with a lot of questions over who had been responsible for Clint’s birth.

  She smiled as Brandon rubbed the boy’s back and rocked him in the chair. There was no doubt the two were comfortable with each other. Clint snuggled right up against Brandon and closed his eyes, fully trusting in him. It was a very touching scene.

  Opting to leave the two to themselves, she got ready for bed. With the evening breeze drifting in, the room was cool enough where she could slip under the thin blanket. Once she was settled, she glanced over at Brandon and Clint. Brandon’s eyes were closed, but there was a hint of a smile on his face, letting her know how much he was enjoying this moment.

  Content, she closed her eyes. A couple months ago, she couldn’t have imagined ever choosing to be with another man. She wasn’t even sure when she started to care for him. They’d been so concerned about the day-to-day struggle for survival as they made their way to this town. Somewhere along the way, her feelings had changed. She no longer wanted to be on her own. She wanted to be with him. The fact that he cared so much for Clint had only sealed her decision.

  Was it possible that Brandon could ever come to care for her? Would there be a day when he would look at her and be glad they had been forced to be together? Because now, as she rested on the bed in this small room they were sharing together, she was actually glad he’d been the one Orson and his men had brought to the preacher’s for her to marry.

  Just as she was beginning to drift off to sleep, she felt Brandon get into the bed next to her. Usually, she would turn her back to him, but tonight, she opted to do something different. She turned toward him.

  After a moment, he put his arm around her and drew her to his side. She hadn’t expected him to do that, so she waited to see what he would do next. Which turned out to be nothing. She dared a glance up at his face and saw that he had closed his eyes. Realizing he wasn’t going to make a move to do anything else, she snuggled up to him and relaxed.

  She’d never just slept with a man before. Once her first husband had been done, he’d left her bed to return to his. And after Orson and his gang had taken their turn at her, they left her alone. She had never wanted to go to sleep with any of them, so she was relieved when they left.

  With Brandon, it was different. It was actually pleasant to be with him in bed and rest. He never pushed her for anything she wasn’t comfortable doing. He was patient and considerate toward her at all times. Was it really any wonder why she liked him? Was it any wonder why she could actually enjoy sleeping next to him?

  She closed her eyes and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

  ***

  Two afternoons later, a wagon train pulled into town. At first, Brandon thought it was Joe Otto’s group, but he quickly dismissed it. Joe’s group had had a head start on him and Lokni. His group was probably close to Nevada.

  He paused on his way to Wilma’s laundry business. If he and Lokni could continue on with this wagon train, then it would lower their risk of running into a dangerous situation. As long as no one else came across him and Lokni, they were fine, but if they encountered the wrong people, they were vulnerable. As Joe had said when they left Omaha, there was safety in numbers.

  He stopped walking toward Wilma’s and made a beeline to the wagon master, who was currently giving his group the same spiel Joe did, telling them how long they would be in town and what they should buy.

  Once he was done, Brandon walked up to him. “Sir, may I ask where your group is heading?”

  “We’re heading for the Washington Territory,” the man replied. “Are you looking to tag along? We have enough men leading the way to take on another family. You can stop off at any town we come to. Not everyone is planning to live all the way out there.”

  Brandon hesitated. Both the Oregon and Washington Territories bordered the Pacific Ocean. I
t probably wouldn’t be all that different from California, except they would be further north. Either way, they would still live by the ocean.

  “Let me think about it.” Not only did Brandon have to figure out what he wanted, but he had to consult Lokni about it.

  “We’ll be in town for two days. I’ll be staying in that hotel.” He gestured to the hotel further down the street from the one Brandon was staying in. “Just ask for Donald Jones.”

  “Thanks.”

  Brandon continued on his way and found Lokni finishing up with a shirt she was folding. Clint was lying on a blanket close to her, looking around him in contentment. He still couldn’t believe she named the boy after him. Every time he thought about it, he got a warm feeling in his heart that stayed there for a good hour. It was nice to know she thought so well of him, and he wouldn’t ever take that for granted.

  Clint looked over at him and cooed.

  Smiling, Brandon went over to him and picked him up. “How are you doing, little one?”

  Clint cooed again, and Lokni chuckled.

  Brandon’s gaze went to her.

  “He likes it when you’re around,” she said. “His face lights up, and he starts waving his arms and legs in excitement. It’s sweet.”

  His smile widened. “I like it when he’s around, too. He’s full of joy.”

  “All babies are,” Wilma spoke up.

  He turned to the other woman as she carried a pile of neatly folded clothes to the table.

  “It’s in their nature,” Wilma continued. “Whenever a little one is around, the entire place seems happier.”

  “It does,” he agreed then turned his attention back to his son.

  Once Lokni was finished, she went over to Wilma and gave her a hug. The two whispered to each other. He could only make out fragments of what they were saying. Wilma was wishing Lokni a good and safe trip to California. Lokni was thanking her for all she’d done for her. He frowned. He and Lokni weren’t supposed to head out until the end of the week.