He reached toward the horse she stood in front of, rubbing a hand over its head. “This is Clem. He’s old and slow but he’ll get you where you’re going. He’s mine. I’ve had him a long time.”
Rebecca tentatively reached out and rubbed the horse as Caleb had, the old gray lowering his head to allow her to. “I’ve never been on a horse.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “I—” She snapped her mouth shut right before she said, there wasn’t a chance to do so living in the orphanage. Her heart started pounding. She had no idea what Diana Hale had told Caleb about her life. Spilling any detail about hers might clue him into the fact she isn’t who he thinks she is.
“You what?”
She smiled in an attempt to not look as if she was about to lie to his face. “I’ve always been scared of them.”
“Nothing to be scared of.” Caleb rubbed his hand over Clem’s head again. “Maybe when the weather gets warm, I can teach you how to ride.” His voice lowered as he said, “That is if you decide to stay.”
Rebecca met his gaze and froze. How did he know she’d thought about leaving?
Caleb cleared his throat and glanced at Amanda before lowering his voice. “I know we’d discussed waiting until the new year before deciding if getting married was something we still wanted to do or not, but I can already tell, Amanda will be heartbroken if you leave.”
Rebecca stared at his profile, noticing a small curl of hair by his ear. The sandy blonde strand stood out and her fingers itched to brush it down like the rest of his hair.
She’d not had time to get to know her bridegroom and now she may not get a chance to. If she didn’t misunderstand what he was saying, he and Diana had an agreement to wait before getting married. She hadn’t known that. Not that it mattered. She’d not yet decided if she really wanted to stay but knowing he might send her away left her feeling—adrift. Where would she go? With no money to leave, she would be as homeless here as she had been in Charleston and even though the last two days were filled with hard work, she’d had hot meals and a warm, dry place to sleep at night. It was a nice trade-off, even though none of it was fun. She’d be stupid to give that up. Besides, she liked these people. She knew very little about them but they seemed kind. She’d not heard a hateful word from any of them. Caleb didn’t appear to have a lot of money, but his food pantry was full enough they’d not starve.
A fine dusting of blonde whiskers lined his jaw and his eyes were so green, they reminded her of the summer grasses and fields in Charleston. Her gaze lingered on the features of his face. He really was a handsome man. And he wanted to marry her.
No, he doesn’t. He wants to marry Diana Hale.
She looked away. Would he still want her if he knew who she really was?
The desire to tell him was strong. Every time he called her Diana, she wanted to correct him but fear kept the words from spilling out. There wasn’t any harm in him continuing to think she was Diana. None that she could see. All she had to do was convince him she was the woman he’d sent away for. That shouldn't be too hard. She just needed to figure out what he’d wanted in a wife and make sure she lived up to his expectations. She had four weeks to prove to him she was wife material. All she had to do was learn how to cook, be a proper mother, and make her future husband happy.
Telling Diana that he’d already decided that he was ready to marry her today was on the tip of his tongue, but Caleb held it. He didn’t want to pressure her. It had only been two days and with his luck as of late, sounding too eager might scare her off.
She looked pretty today. Not that she hadn’t been the past two days, but her pale lilac dress complemented her fair complexion and her dark hair, which was in a loose braid, the tail falling over one shoulder. He couldn't stop staring at her. She was lovely, his soon-to-be wife. More lovely than anyone else he’d seen in some time.
“Well, who do we have here?”
Willie’s booming voice had all three of them turning around. He was smiling, his gaze locked on Diana’s as he crossed the stable. “This must be your new bride,” he said, hurrying to their side. “Well, as soon as you two tie the knot. I still don’t know why you decided to wait but it ain’t none of my business.” He gave Diana a quick glance before grinning. “I’d not let this pretty little filly get away, Caleb. Hogtie her if you have to.”
His face heated at the remark but he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t thought the same thing. Keeping Diana there was his only concern now. He just didn’t know how to go about doing it. How did one woo a complete stranger? He didn’t know what sort of things she liked or disliked.
Then you need to find out.
“I hadn’t planned on sending her away,” he said. “I never would have sent away for a wife if I didn’t need one so I’ll do my best to keep her here.”`
“Good, good,” Willie said. “I knew you were a smart man.” He laughed before turning toward the front of the barn when someone came inside. He faced Diana again and tipped the front of his hat up at her. “Nice meeting you Ma’am.” He nodded toward Caleb. “He’s a keeper. Hard worker and a perfect gentleman. He’s worth staying around for.” Willie reached out and pulled on one of Amanda’s curls. “This one ain’t so bad either.”
He walked away before anyone could reply. Diana was smiling when he looked over at her. “If there’s one thing to know about Willie, it's that he’s about as blunt as any one person could be.”
“I could tell.”
Caleb leaned against the stall rail. “So, what have you two been up to this morning?”
“Nothing much, Pa. We just got into town. Diana saw you walk in here so I brought her over to show her where you work.”
He looked around the stable. “It’s not the best paying job, but it keeps us fed.”
“That’s all that matter's end of the day, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I suppose it is.”
Amanda was getting bouncy, popping up on her toes and Caleb knew she was getting twitchy. The girl never could sit still for long. He put a hand to the top of her head, ruffling her hair, grinning when she squealed. “I’ve got to get back to work. I’ll see you two at supper.”
Diana was staring at him when he lifted his head. “I’m here every day so if you ever need me, this is where I’ll be.”
She nodded and smiled down at Amanda when she grabbed her hand and started dragging her away. He watched them leave, the desire to go with them strong. They'd not had a chance to talk since she arrived. With the long hours he worked, sunup to sundown most days, there wasn't time. Maybe he could cut out earlier now that she was here.
She glanced back over her shoulder and smiled at him as they exited the barn. Something in his chest tightened at that smile. It eased the loneliness he’d felt since Ruth died, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, he looked forward to going home. He loved his daughter and mother but that love wasn’t the same as the love a man had for his wife. That special bond married couples shared left a hole in his heart when Ruth left him and he wanted nothing more than for Diana to fill it. He missed the closeness, knowing that someone supported him and needed him and would listen to his woes without judgment. Missed feeling the touch of another against his skin and warm, slow kisses and whispers spoken in the dark. He missed feeling loved and wanted.