Mail Order Bride - Westward Bound: Historical Cowboy Romance (Montana Mail Order Brides Book 3) Read online

  “Which really means that she’s glad I’ll be staying home,” Marcus thought. That did bother him a little because he would like to visit a college and see a graduation ceremony.

  Mama and Papa send their regards to you. They are very anxious for August to come since their newest grandchild will have been born. When we come to visit, would it be possible for you to not flirt with Mama so much? It’s very unseemly and bothers Papa so.

  Marcus’ smile was vicious as he said, “You think it’s been bad before? Just you wait. You haven’t seen unseemly, little girl. Geoff’s a grown man and he can take it.”

  I hope you’re enjoying the last package of books I sent you. I’m sure you’ll learn many new things from them. There are a lot of new scientific theories discussed, such as Gregor Mendel’s laws of heredity. Did you get to that particular subject? If so, what are your thoughts on it? I particularly found the studies he performed on the inheritance patterns of garden peas fascinating.

  “Garden peas?” Marcus said. “He studied the heredity of garden peas? This I gotta see, but not right now.”

  The house was toasty by now and Marcus was getting sleepy. He threw his coat on the small sofa in the parlor and slipped off his boots. He left a trail of clothes on his way to his bedroom and fell into bed.

  Chapter Two

  Claire O’Connor sat with her father Geoff in his study going over financial ledgers. Geoff had found a few discrepancies in one of the shipping accounts and wanted his daughter’s thoughts on where they had happened. Claire preferred to stretch out on the floor to work instead of sitting at a desk.

  Papers and ledgers were spread around her as she worked. She lay on her stomach, bending her legs up and down, a sign that she was deep in concentration. Geoff was getting nowhere with the ledgers he was looking at. Everything in them was spot on and added up, yet there was money missing. He took off his new pair of glasses, rubbed his tired eyes and leaned back in his chair for a moment.

  “Papa!”

  Geoff jumped at Claire’s excited cry. He leaned forward again and opened his eyes.

  “What is it?”

  Claire plunked a ledger down in front of him and pointed at one of the entries. “Look! Someone has altered these two figures here.”

  Geoff put his glasses back on. He hated wearing them, but sometimes it was necessary. They made him feel like an old man, but Maureen told him they made him look very distinguished. He looked where Claire had pointed and saw what she meant. The changed numbers added up to $2,178.00; a nice sum, indeed.

  Geoffrey stood up abruptly and began pacing back and forth. This wasn’t the first time it had happened, but he intended for it to be the last. “Thank you, Claire.”

  Claire knew exactly what this meant and was just as angry as her father. “Papa, we have to find out who is behind this. It cannot continue.”

  Geoff stopped his pacing. “No, Claire, I have to find out who’s doing this. But you are correct; it must be stopped.”

  “Why don’t you want me to help you?” Claire asked. “Together we would be able to get to the bottom of it rapidly.”

  “While I don’t doubt it, should it go to court, you would have to testify, and I don’t want that for you,” Geoff said.

  Claire’s temper flared. “I can take care of myself and I wouldn’t mind testifying if it meant whoever the culprit is would be punished.”

  “I appreciate that, Claire, but my decision stands. I thank you for your assistance as always, but I’ll take it from here,” Geoff said.

  He watched as Claire drew herself to her full height and knew he was in for a tongue-lashing. “I fail to see why it is that I’m good enough to help find the discrepancy but not to help find the guilty party. I would be a valuable asset in doing so since I know your employees. They consider me a child, as you do apparently, and do not see me as a threat. They might let something slip when they think I’m not listening. Do as you wish, Papa. However, I will not be offering any more assistance at this time.”

  “You know how much I appreciate your help, but I will not let you play at investigating at our corporation. It could become dangerous and I’ll not have another daughter hurt or worse,” Geoff said.

  He was referring to her sister Maddie being attacked several years ago by a former friend of the family.

  “So if you become angry with me, so be it. The subject is closed,” Geoff said. “And do not think that being cool with me will change my mind. I’ll not have it. Do you understand, Claire?”

  A little of the fight went out of Claire, “Very well, Papa. I won’t be cool with you, but I still am not going to assist any longer. I think you are being sexist.”

  Geoff’s eyebrows shot up. “Sexist? Me? I have three daughters of whom I am very proud. How could I possibly be sexist?”

  Claire’s chin rose and her cinnamon-colored eyes met his. “Can you honestly tell me that if I were your son instead of your daughter that you wouldn’t let me help you more?”

  Geoff was ashamed to admit she was right, but he felt justified after what had happened to Maddie. “Perhaps I am a trifle sexist after all, Claire, but for good reasons, as you well know.”

  “All right, I can understand your reasoning for not wanting me to play detective, but why will you not consider hiring me and letting me work with you? You know I would be useful and I would work harder than anyone else. If I was your son, you would have already been grooming me to take over when you decided to step down,” Claire said.

  Geoff realized that this was what she’d been getting around to all along. He hated it when she was able to trick him, and she did it often. She’d bested him again. “I concede your point, Claire. Again, this is for your protection. Do you really think that you would be treated fairly by your superiors? If I had had a son, I would have made him start at the bottom like everyone else and work his way up. I would constantly have to run interference for you. Would you want that?”

  “Do you have to run interference for me right now, Papa?” Claire said.

  Geoff was incensed by this point. “No, daughter. You are correct. In a lot of instances, you are perfectly capable of outwitting many people, including myself, but this is my company and I am standing by my decision. Call me sexist if you like, but that’s my final word on the subject.”

  Claire’s delicate jaw worked as she fought tears. She would not cry. “Fine. Then we are agreed. It is your company and I am not an employee. I stand by my decision in that I will no longer be helping you in your business matters. That is, unless you would like to hire me as a consultant. Should you want to do that in the future, we would need to discuss the terms and my payment. Have a pleasant evening, Papa,” she said, and left the study.

  Geoff stared after her for several minutes. While Tessa and Maddie had not been easy to deal with at times, Claire could be a nightmare because of her brilliant mind. One minute she was the sweetest, most lovable young woman, and then the next moment a formidable and infuriating creature.

  He looked down at the floor and realized that she’d left without cleaning up her mess. Angrily he began picking up the ledgers and papers.

  *****

  Claire left the study and found her mother in the parlor. “Good evening, Mama,” she said.

  “Hello, Claire. Are you finished helping your father?” she asked.

  “Yes, I am quite finished helping Papa, this evening or any other,” Claire said.

  “What do you mean?” Maureen asked with concern in her blue eyes that were so like Maddie’s.

  Claire said, “I might as well let you know that he and I are having a difference of opinion and so I will leave him to his business and I will not be involved in it any longer.”

  Maureen gave Claire an admonishing look. “Claire, what kind of attitude is that to have towards him?”

  “Mama, you don’t understand. I help him all the time. I help with the accounts, with correspondence and anything else he has ever asked me to do. Yet, he will not eve
n entertain the notion that I should be groomed to take over one day. He does not trust me enough to be strong enough to do so. My labors are fruitless. I should have been born a boy. If I had, he would want me to work with him,” Claire said. “I’m sorry, Mama, but that is the way I feel. I am going to bed.” She kissed her mother and left the room.

  Maureen called after her, “There’s a letter from Marcus on the table in the foyer!”

  Claire skidded to a stop and backtracked to the table. She smiled as she picked up the letter and ran up the stairs to her room. She jumped onto her bed to read the letter.

  My Dearest Claire,

  She narrowed her eyes. This was not an auspicious beginning. She knew she was anything but his dearest anything.

  I’m doing quite well. It’s very cold here right now. We had a blizzard about a week ago so the snow is very deep. I stay outside all night moving the herds every so often so they don’t freeze to death. It’s hard work, but it must be done.

  “Another jab that I don’t work,” Claire said. She thought about her father’s decision and realized that Marcus’ barb had hit its mark.

  I congratulate you on your upcoming graduation. Just keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll actually make it.

  That statement made Claire sit up. She seethed with fury at his insult.

  It’s okay if I can’t come to the ceremony. I know how close you are to Maddie and Seth, so I’m only too happy to take over for Seth while he’s gone. Tell me, does Maddie know how attached you are to my brother?

  “Oh! How dare he?” Claire shouted.

  The books are very informative and I thank you for sending them. I’m pretty much through with them, however. I look forward to the next ones you send me. Of course, after May there won’t be any more. Perhaps one of your male classmates who is going on to medical or legal school wouldn’t mind donating some to me?

  Her anger reached new levels. He was making fun of her for not being able to go on for another degree since there were no schools in Pittsburgh that accepted women applicants for doctorate programs.

  Now on to these studies by Mendel…

  Claire read his observations and his challenges to her views, composing her responses even as she read. As soon as she’d finished reading his letter, Claire grabbed pen and paper and sat down to write back. She meant to refute his points on heredity and come back with cutting insults, but that wasn’t what came out. Instead she wrote an angry composition that basically called him and every other male on the carpet.

  She didn’t realize it, but angry tears dripped down her face and landed on the paper. They were still there when she folded the three-page letter and put it in the envelope. She addressed it and went downstairs to put it with the other outgoing mail.

  Geoffrey was coming out of his study as she stomped across the foyer to the table and slapped the letter down in the mail basket. She turned, saw her father and just gave him a look filled with cold fury and stomped back upstairs.

  “Who else has gotten on her bad side?” he wondered, and walked over to the table. He saw Marcus’ name on the envelope and wondered what he’d done to upset her. That she was angry at someone besides him made him feel better. He was very curious about what the letter contained but wouldn’t intrude upon her privacy. Geoff had no interest in compounding his predicament by doing such a thing.

  Chapter Three

  A week later, Seth gave Marcus another letter from Claire. Seth enjoyed picking up the mail. He was always curious to see what came and from whom it came.

  Marcus was once again cooking breakfast. He turned around from the stove and saw Seth take the letter out of his coat. Marcus leaped forward and snatched the letter from Seth’s fingers before he’d barely gotten it clear of his coat.

  “Hey!” Seth objected.

  Marcus looked at him with glee. “I’ve been waiting on this,” he said.

  “You have? I thought you hated getting Claire’s letters.”

  “I do.”

  “But you’re happy this one came?” Seth asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m confused. It’s too early in the morning for your mood swings, Marcus,” Seth said as he sat down.

  Marcus said, “Your leg isn’t broken anymore, Seth. Get your food yourself. I wanna read this.”

  Seth just looked at Marcus for a moment, but Marcus just looked back. Pointedly, he opened the letter and shook out the pages with flair and began reading. Seth grumbled as he got up and filled a plate. He sat back down and began eating. At one point, he glanced at Marcus and did a double take.

  His little brother’s facial expressions seemed to be running the gamut of emotions. Anger, surprise, humor, and confusion flickered across his fine features in rapid succession as he flipped through the pages. As he finished, his face registered regret. His gray eyes roamed around the kitchen and Seth could almost see his mind working.

  “Marcus? What is it?” Seth asked.

  Marcus snatched up the letter and jammed it in his pants pocket. “None of your damned business, big brother!” he said and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

  Seth was so shocked that he turned and looked at the door for a moment. Dean came into the kitchen. “What the hell was that?”

  “Marcus.”

  “What did you do to him?”

  Seth shook his head and went back to eating. “I don’t think it was me. He got a letter from Claire.”

  Dean laughed. “Oh, is that all?”

  “I don’t know, Dean. He was really funny about it. Then he yelled at me and called me ‘big brother’,” Seth said.

  “Well, you are his big brother,” Dean said.

  “I’m aware, but he doesn’t ever call me that. Something weird happened, Dean. Mark my words,” Seth said.

  Dean sighed. “I’ll see if I can get it out of him later on.”

  He eyed Marcus’ coat hanging on a chair. Going over to it, he picked it up and put it on. It was incredibly soft and heavy. It was no wonder Marcus didn’t get cold when he wore it, Dean thought. “How does it look on me?”

  Seth considered for a minute and then said, “Like you got swallowed up by a wolf. You can’t pull it off. On him it’s perfect, but you? Nah. Sorry.”

  Dean took it off and just then realized that if Marcus’ coat was there, it meant that Marcus was riding his horse home with no coat. He shook the coat at Seth.

  “I think you’re right, Seth. Something is definitely wrong.”

  Seth got his meaning, sat back in his chair, and said, “Crap.”

  Chapter Four

  Dear Marcus,

  I would like to thank you for proving my point that all men are sexist. You and others have recently bolstered my opinion about this subject. In the male mind, all the female sex is good for is bearing children and keeping a house. When women attempt to improve their lives and become more than just property to be told what to do, they are knocked down or made fun of for being ambitious.

  It’s obvious from your last remarks that you do not think I have what it takes to finish my degree or that I am too flighty to do so. It’s also apparent that you think I am lazy and worthless because I do not have employment. I find this particularly offensive because if it were up to me, I would indeed find work. As it is, I am trapped and I can understand why Tessa ran away. She wanted to live her life on her own terms, and she has done that. I envy her and Maddie greatly.

  Men have been like this ever since time began and it seems that your sex has not evolved very much from the Neanderthals! You have no idea what it’s like to be a woman. To be told what you can and cannot do. That your dreams and hopes are meaningless and unattainable! Do you know what that does to a person? No, because you’ve always been able to do as you wish.

  Mark my words; I will graduate, and for your information, I’ll graduate with honors. Can you say that? No. How does that make you feel? Knowing your sharp intellect and thirst for knowledge as I do, I can imagine it does not feel good for
you to know that you are not able to attend college. Take that and multiply it by a thousand and you might come close to what I feel.

  I do not care to comment on the Mendel studies or anything else at this time and may never want to again. What is the point of learning when I can’t put any of it to use? I won’t be bothering you anymore.

  Goodbye, Marcus.

  Claire

  Marcus laid the letter down. He still couldn’t figure out what had happened. For three years, he and Claire had exchanged letters and while they’d argued, they’d never had such a disagreement. Something had happened to incite this kind of rage and he didn’t believe that all of it was directed at him.

  He reread the letter one more time. Claire said she would like to get a job, but couldn’t. It must have something to do with Geoff. Marcus knew that women of Claire’s station were not expected to work. It wasn’t considered good form for women to do any other work except helping with charities and domestic pursuits. Plopping his feet up on his kitchen table, Marcus pondered how to answer her.

  After giving it much consideration, he picked up his tablet and pencil and began to write.

  Dear Claire,

  I’m not going to pussyfoot around here. I know that we harass each other about a lot of things and that we’re always trying to best one another, but your last letter confused me and made me angry. I don’t think my comments to you were any worse than anything you’ve ever said to me, so I fail to understand from where all of this animosity is coming.

  We’ve been writing each other long enough that I can read between the lines. Something else must be fueling the fury contained in that letter and I think I deserve to know what it is. I know our relationship has been contentious from the beginning, but believe it or not, I’m actually a good guy and I get along with almost everybody. I’m willing to lend an ear, so to speak.

  So if you want to write back and tell me what’s going on, I’ll listen. If not, that’s your choice.