Wagon Trail Bride Read online

  “Then it’ll be even better since you can have me and your business.” Noting the pleased expression on his face, she kissed him. “It’s time you let someone do something for you for a change. I want to do everything I can help you.”

  She kissed him again, and this time she chose to trace his lower lip with her tongue, a silent way of asking him if he wanted to be intimate with her. Because of his gentleness with her, she found it easier and easier to make love, and she found the more she was with him, the more she anticipated their times together—something she hadn’t ever thought possible right after what happened with Mr. Price. But Richard had rescued her in so many ways, and one of those were her ability to enjoy the most personal thing a person could do with someone else.

  Before long, she and Richard were undressed and in their bedroom. He prompted her to get on top of him, as they’d always done whenever they had intercourse. However, something she couldn’t explain prompted her to let him be on top this time.

  Maybe she needed to go through this final hurdle in order for the last part of her past to stop haunting her. It wouldn’t completely erase it. Nothing would ever fully eliminate the past. It would always be a part of her. But it didn’t have to be the part that won. She wasn’t going to let it hold her back from enjoying everything she could have with Richard.

  “It’s alright,” she whispered, encouraging Richard to get on top of her. “I want you to be on top this time.”

  After a moment of hesitation, he nodded and did as she wished, careful to support his weight on his elbows. Even when fully aroused, he was mindful of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and took him into her. With a moan, he began the familiar rhythm that would eventually ensure his climax.

  She chose to watch him, something she did from time to time when she wanted to remind herself she was with him. She traced the strength in his arms then brought her hands to his behind to guide his thrusting. Lifting her hips to take him deeper into her, she realized his erection stroked her in a way that felt pleasurable.

  She rocked her hips in rhythm with his, finding it encouraging when the pleasant sensation only increased. He’d often gotten her to completion with his hand, and she’d assumed they would do that once he’d climaxed. But as he continued making love to her, she forgot about everything except him and the way he was making her feel.

  She urged him to move faster, rising her hips to meet him with each thrust until she couldn’t take it anymore. With a cry, she reached her peak and grew still. Her core clenched around him, and he let out a groan and released his seed.

  After he was spent, he collapsed on top of her, and she held him. She closed her eyes and sighed in contentment. In so many ways, her life in Omaha was so much better than she’d hoped when they left New York, and she owed it all to Richard.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Toward the end of October, on the way out of town, Richard stopped the buggy and turned to Amanda, his eyes lit up with excitement. “I wasn’t going to do this today, but I can’t wait. Would you close your eyes?”

  “Close my eyes?” She laughed at the wide grin on his face. “What mischief are you up to?”

  “Close your eyes, and you’ll see.”

  She studied him. She couldn’t recall a time she’d ever seen him this excited.

  “Come on,” he encouraged. “I want to surprise you.”

  “Alright.” She closed her eyes. The least she could do was comply. After all, if he was that happy about it, it had to be good. When the buggy didn’t move forward, her eyebrows furrowed. “Are you waving your hand in front of me to see if I’m peaking?”

  “Guilty,” he said, his breath warm on her cheek.

  Having not expected him to be leaning so close to her, she gasped.

  He kissed her then patted her hand. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I won’t do that again.”

  The buggy went forward, and she resisted the urge to open her eyes. She hadn’t realized how much she’d taken it for granted when she could see where she was going. She did well, however, and managed to keep her eyes shut until the buggy came to a stop and he said she could open them.

  When she did, she was surprised to see he’d taken her to an expanse of vacant land. She glanced behind her and saw a few houses in the distance.

  “This is where I’ll build our home,” he said, gesturing to the spot in front of them. “Other houses will go up as well, but we’ll live right here. You see the stakes I put in the ground? That’s the size of our lot. There’s plenty of room for you to have a garden if you want one, and if we do have children, there’s room for them to run around and play. I’ll build a fence, so you won’t have to worry about them running into the street. One thing my mother often complained about was not having a yard for her children to play in. I want to make sure you don’t have the same problem.”

  Smiling, she took his hand and squeezed it. “I love the house already.”

  “I want you to tell me everything you want in it. How many bedrooms? How big do you want the kitchen and parlor? What kind of porch and windows?” He snapped the reins, urging their horse forward. “We need to see what the other houses are like around here. Then you can tell me what you like and don’t like.”

  “You want to do that now?”

  He shot her an amused grin. “I would, actually, but I promised my parents I’d go out to their place today to help finish their house.”

  Richard had been working on it since they’d gotten to Omaha when he had the time, and the Larsons’ efforts were paying off. She guessed in about two weeks, they would be done with the house.

  “At least it wasn’t as difficult to get the lumber as you feared,” she said.

  Richard nodded. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Joe introduced me to the man who handles the shipments that come from back east. The connection came in handy when you encouraged me to go into business for myself.” With a chuckle, he added, “While we were on the trail, Joe used to do everything he could to discourage me from coming out here.”

  “He did?” Why hadn’t Richard told her this before?

  “He’d say things while we were keeping the lookout together.”

  “What kind of things did he say?”

  “Things like the railroad not coming directly to Omaha, and how difficult it’d be to get supplies like lumber and brick.” He rubbed her back. “I didn’t know why he was doing it at the time, but the other day when the new shipment of lumber came in, I realized he did it because he thought I was forcing you to come out here with me. He thought if he could make me give up on the notion of going to Omaha, he could rescue you.” He shrugged. “You can’t blame him. From his perspective, things didn’t look very good.”

  “As soon as he learned the truth, he did everything he could to support us,” she whispered, touched Joe had cared enough about her to let her go. She snuggled up to Richard and rested her head on his shoulder. “I hope he finds a woman who’ll enjoy being outdoors all the time. He needs someone who doesn’t want to be stuck at home. He wouldn’t have been happy with me, not for a lifetime.”

  “I think he’ll understand that in time.” Richard kissed the top of her head. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re with me instead of him.”

  “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

  They spent the rest of the ride in silence. When they arrived at his family’s farm, she saw Tom running after Joel, who was holding a piece of paper close to his chest. Sally had her hands on her hips and was yelling at them to stop. Neither one paid her any mind as they ran into the sod barn. Sally groaned and threw her hands up in the air in exasperation.

  With a chuckle, Amanda said, “I can see why your mother was anxious to get out of the apartment. At least this way, Tom and Joel aren’t in the house.”

  “And you can see why I was eager to get my own place,” Richard replied.

  He led the buggy up to the front of the house that looked complete from the outside. At this poin
t, the men just had to finish the upstairs.

  “It’s a good thing my pa saved so much money in New York,” Richard said. “I doubt this house would’ve been built so soon if he hadn’t.”

  “It helps that his oldest son knows what he’s doing when building a house, too,” Amanda replied.

  “And that his daughter-in-law was able to get a discount on the lumber,” he added.

  Amanda shook her head. “I don’t know how much credit I can take for that.”

  “Are you kidding? What man can resist such a pretty face?”

  “When it comes to money? I’m sure plenty can. I think it helped that I agreed to only do business with him and that I buy in large quantities.”

  “You’re right. You’ve got good business sense. But it also helps that you’re pretty.” He kissed her. “You’re a big help to me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.”

  She could tell him the same thing. In fact, she was about to when Jenny yelled for Tom and Joel to get into the house so they could help their father and Dave with the upstairs.

  Richard winced and shook his head. “Jenny’s got a scream that can wake the dead.”

  Amanda laughed. “Well, considering how much Tom and Joel like to get out of working, she needs it. It’s a shame poor Dave ends up doing the bulk of the work with your father. Sometimes I feel sorry for him.”

  “I do, too. I’m sure he can’t wait to get his own place. Then he won’t have to worry about having to make up for their laziness all the time.”

  Mrs. Larson stepped out onto the porch and waved to Richard and Amanda. “Come on in and warm yourselves up a bit,” she said. “The fireplace you men built works great.”

  Richard helped Amanda out of the buggy and walked her up the porch.

  “Your house looks wonderful, Mrs. Larson,” Amanda said. “It’s just like you said you wanted it.”

  “We have Richard to thank for that,” his mother replied, giving Amanda and then Richard a hug.

  “I think I’ll get Tom and Joel,” Richard said. “Poor Jenny’s no match for them.”

  As he headed for the barn, Mrs. Larson turned to Amanda and smiled at her. “Thank you for making Richard happy. I know it’s a ways off for you, but someday when you have children, you’ll worry about their future, especially who they’ll marry. I suppose since Richard was my first, it was harder to watch him grow up and leave home. But seeing you two together sets my mind at ease. I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter-in-law.”

  Amanda’s face warmed as Mrs. Larson hugged her again. “Richard’s a good husband, Mrs. Larson. You raised him right.”

  When Mrs. Larson pulled away from her, she dabbed her eyes. “I’m sorry your parents couldn’t be here with us. They were good people.”

  Amanda nodded. “They were. But I think they’re looking down on us and are happy. I like it here in Omaha, Mrs. Larson. It’s better than I dreamt possible.”

  “I’m glad. I don’t want to give you any reason to regret making the trip out here with us.”

  “I don’t regret it one bit.”

  Tom and Joel came out of the barn, followed by Richard and Jenny. This time Tom had the paper in his possession.

  Mrs. Larson crossed her arms and gave a pointed look at Joel. “I told you Becky’s letter is Tom’s. You have no right to take it from him.”

  “I wasn’t going to keep it,” Joel argued.

  “What do you need with it anyway?” Richard asked as they came up the porch steps.

  “He doesn’t believe Becky wrote it,” Tom said, glaring at his little brother. “He thinks it’s my handwriting.”

  “Well, it is odd she’d tell him he’s clever and good looking,” Joel replied, gesturing to Tom. “Who here would say he’s any of those things?”

  “I would,” Amanda said. Poor Tom needed someone to come out and defend him to his little brother. She liked Joel, but he was relentless.

  “I agree with Becky, too,” Mrs. Larson added.

  While Tom smiled, Joel rolled his eyes. “Ma, you’re only saying that because he’s your son,” Joel said. Looking at Amanda, he added, “And you’re nice to everyone.”

  “Get inside.” Richard nudged Joel toward the door. “You can fetch everyone water today for giving Tom so much grief.”

  “What?” Joel nearly shrieked.

  Tom smirked at Joel then hurried into the house.

  Shoulders slumped, Joel followed.

  Jenny shook her head. “Those two are hopeless.”

  “See what you got yourself into when you married into this family,” Richard told Amanda, a chuckle in his voice. He kissed her. “I’ll go see how Dave and Pa are faring.”

  Amanda smiled as he went into the house and up the stairs with Tom and Joel.

  Mrs. Larson waved Amanda into the house. “I promise it’ll be much more peaceful with all the men upstairs.”

  With a chuckle, Amanda stepped into the house. Yes, the Larsons had their share of troublemakers, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. It was nice to be a part of their family. Taking her coat off, she joined the women in the kitchen to get things ready for dinner.

  ***

  November 1865

  “Richard, this is silly,” Amanda said, grinning despite her protests as she kept her eyes closed.

  “I know, but I don’t want you to see your new home until we get there,” he replied.

  The buggy swayed gently from side to side, threatening to upset Amanda’s stomach, but she didn’t mind. This time she was carrying Richard’s child, and that being the case, she’d gladly accept all the upset stomachs she’d have to, just as long as this baby was born. She’d try not to focus on the possibility of having a miscarriage. It’d happened with Mr. Price’s child. It could very well happen again. And her sister had multiple miscarriages.

  Amanda could only guess if her sister had successfully carried a subsequent pregnancy to term. When Amanda left New York, she’d left everything behind. From time to time, she’d wonder how her sister was. Once, she even wrote a letter, but it came back. Amanda hadn’t been sure of what to make of it. Either her sister wasn’t living at the apartment anymore, or her husband had forbidden her sister to see the letter. Either way, it meant Amanda had to sever all ties to her past. Maybe that was just was well. She had a good life here. She didn’t need to dwell on the old one.

  The buggy came to a stop, bringing her attention back to Richard and the house he’d built for them. “Can I open my eyes now?” she asked.

  “In just a moment.”

  She felt the buggy shift as he stepped out of it. She couldn’t help but chuckle at his excitement. “I don’t recall ever seeing you so happy.”

  “You didn’t see me when I told my parents we got married,” he called out as he went around the side of the buggy. “But this is a close second.” This time when he spoke, he was right next to her. He took her hands and guided her out of the buggy, waiting until she was standing next to him before he said, “Alright, you can open your eyes now.”

  She did and gasped. The house was even better than she’d imagined when she explained what she wanted. It was a two-story green home with a white picket fence lining the front and back yards.

  “I wasn’t sure if you wanted a garden in the front or back,” he began, “but either way, you can come out here and tend to it while our child plays. Or, if you just want to sit and rest while our child plays, I put some chairs on the porch.”

  “Let’s see how things go with the child before we make plans,” she replied. “I only recently found out I’m expecting.”

  “Alright, I won’t get too excited,” he promised as he led her toward the fence. “And I won’t say anything to my parents until March.”

  “It’s just easier to wait. I know you want to tell them now, but if something bad happens, I don’t want to give them bad news.”

  “I know.” He unlatched the fence and smiled at her. “But between you and me, I think everything will be
fine.”

  She did, too, but she didn’t want to jinx things in case she was wrong. “It won’t hurt to wait a few months. I just found out about little Mark or Anthony.”

  “You’re so sure we’re having a boy?”

  “No. I just don’t know what I’d call a girl if we have one.”

  “What about Annabelle?” he suggested.

  She rolled the name over in her mind several times and decided it was a nice name. With a nod, she said, “Annabelle it is, if we have a girl.”

  He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her to the small brick walkway that would take them to the porch. He paused and motioned to the bay window to the right side of the house.

  “I’ve decided the bay window will be my special addition to the houses I’ll build unless the customer doesn’t want it,” he said. “It was one of the things you wanted, and after the men and I constructed it, I realized it enhances the design of the home. Plus, it adds more space in the parlor. I already put it in a couple houses down from us.”

  She scanned the newly built homes in the area.

  “Every time I do them, I think of you,” he added. “I call them Amanda windows.”

  She turned her gaze back to him and shook her head in amusement. “You don’t.”

  “Well, not to anyone else, but it’s what I think when I see them.”

  “Richard, you give me far too much credit.”

  “Nonsense. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have a business.” He nudged her toward the porch. “Come. I want to show you inside.”

  “Did you already put the furniture in here?”

  “Yes. We can move our things out of the apartment any time you want.”

  They stopped on the porch, and she turned to him, thrilled to finally be in her own house, especially one as lovely as Richard had built. “Let’s do it today.”

  With a grin, he kissed her. “As you wish, it shall be done.” Then he opened the door and led her inside.

  Epilogue

  June 1866

  Richard walked back and forth on his porch, mindful that his mother and Sally were assisting Amanda as she labored.