Debra Ullrick - The Unexpected Bride

“Yes, Mother.” She gave a shy smile Rainee’s direction, then quietly left the room.

Katherine sat in the chair Leah had occupied. “Are you feeling better now?” Compassion, so like her own mother’s, floated from this woman.

Rainee had to look away. Heartsickness for her mother consumed her once again. She wondered if she would ever get used to the fact her mother was never coming back. That she would never comfort Rainee or give her words of wisdom again.

She plastered on a smile and faced Katherine. “Yes, ma’am. I am much better. Thank you.”

Katherine fidgeted with her hands and darted her gaze out the window, onto her lap, back out the window, until it finally alighted on Rainee. “Rainee, I think there’s something you should know.”

Rainee braced herself for whatever was coming. From the tone in Katherine’s voice, it was not good news.

“Mother, I’ll handle this.”

Rainee swung her gaze toward Haydon, who stood filling the doorway.

Katherine’s chest rose and fell. Her hands quit squirming and finally rested in her lap.

“I’m afraid there’s been a huge mistake.” Haydon strode over and sat across from her next to Katherine.

“What—what do you mean a mistake?” Rainee felt the blood drain from her face.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to say it. I’m really sorry, but my brother Jesse sent for you, Rainee, not me.”

Blinking, Rainee fought not to react. “I—I do not understand.” She looked at Katherine, then at Haydon. “You told me Jesse is married.”

“He is.”

Question after question chased through Rainee’s mind about what this all meant. Surely these people were not one of those religious groups who believed it was okay to have several wives. The air in the room thickened. Just what had she gotten herself into? She stared at Haydon, waiting for him to continue, yet dreading it at the same time.

“He sent for you. But not for himself.”

Hearing Haydon say that at least put Rainee’s fears to rest about the numerous wives, but she still did not have a clue as to what was going on.

“He thought he was doing me a favor. And you.” He raked his hand through his hair.

Rainee closed her eyes as disappointment, concern and dread inhabited her body. The cookies in her stomach turned to stone. What would she do now? She did not need him to tell her the rest. She already knew. He did not want her here. Her solution had just evaporated before her very eyes.

Never before had she felt so alone.

Usually when a situation arose, memories of her mother’s advice came to her. But not this time. Even her mother’s words were as silent as the grave.

Grave. That one word always ripped at Rainee’s heart, and this time was no different, but she refused to cry in the presence of these strangers.

“Rainee.”

Her eyes drifted toward the woman who emanated compassion.

“Jesse meant well. But my son has a tendency to not think things through before he acts.”

“That’s for sure.” Anger sliced through Haydon’s tone. “When he saw your advertisement, he decided to send for you. But unfortunately, he didn’t mention it to me or anyone else.”

That much was obvious. So now what?

Seeing the lingering question in Katherine’s eyes, Rainee plucked up her courage and looked directly at her. “I know you must think it quite strange a woman would advertise for a husband, but please believe me when I tell you I had to.” She glanced at Haydon, then back at Katherine. “You see, my parents died and I…” Her courage vanished. Rainee could not bring herself to share the sordid details of her life with these people. “I just had to.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss. If I hadn’t had my sons to take care of me when my husband passed away, I’d have probably done the same thing. I think what you did took a lot of courage.”

Courage was not what propelled her to write the advertisement. Fear had.

Afraid they would see the moisture forming in her eyes and start asking questions, questions she did not want to answer, Rainee stood and forced one shaky leg in front of the other as she walked to the window.

No one could find out she had a brother back in Little Rock. For she could not risk being sent back. Neither could she risk Ferrin finding her. The only thing that could save her now was to get married right away. And based on what she had just heard, there was not going to be a wedding here in Paradise Haven.

Scenario after scenario about what she could do now ran through Rainee’s mind. With each one, the air thickened with fear. The idea of going back home to that monster tied her stomach into knots and breathing became difficult.

With her back to them, the question she hated to ask but knew she must slid past her lips in a choppy rasp, “Where—where does that leave me?” Spots danced before her eyes, and her body swayed, then blackness pulled her into its embrace.

Haydon leapt to his feet but could not make it to the window fast enough to catch Rainee. Her small body slumped to the floor. Her vulnerability tugged at his heart. The anger and frustration he’d had toward Jesse came back full force.

Willing himself to feel nothing, Haydon slipped his arms under her knees and back and hoisted her up. She didn’t budge but hung as limp as Abby’s rag doll. She looked helpless, alone and frail. He tucked her closer into his chest. Her vulnerability and the feel of her feminine frame and soft hair draping over his arm touched something deep inside him. Something he never wanted to feel again rose in him. He shoveled away the unwelcome feelings and buried them deep in an unmarked grave.

“Oh, Haydon, that poor girl. Wait until I see Jesse. I am going to give that boy a piece of my mind. What was he thinking?”

That’s what Haydon had been trying to figure out, too.

“Take her up to Leah’s room and lay her on the extra bed. I’ll get a cool cloth and some water.” His mother scampered into the kitchen.

On his way up the steps, he noticed the stains of tears on her cheeks. Protective feelings flooded through him like a massive gulley wash, but he refused to let them take possession. No! I don’t want to feel anything. However, when he lowered her onto the bed, rather than walking away, he gazed down at her, wondering what would become of her once they sorted the whole muddled issue out.

The stairs creaked. He shook out of the thoughts and strode toward the door. He took the water basin from his mother.

Thinking was dangerous. He held the bowl while his mother dipped a cloth into it and laid it on Rainee’s forehead.

The young woman stirred and slowly opened her eyes.

Haydon’s breath hitched at the sight of those beautiful fawn-colored eyes—eyes he had avoided the whole way home. Eyes a man could get lost in if he wasn’t careful.

Dread and confusion emanated from her.

He hated seeing her like that. His arms ached to wrap her in them and comfort her. To tell her everything would be okay. That he would take care of her and protect her.

What was he thinking?

Fear slugged into him like a fist. He jerked his gaze away and quickly set the basin on the nightstand, sloshing a small amount of water over the side. Without bothering to wipe it up, he spun on his heel and called over his shoulder, “If you need me for anything else, just holler.” Haydon skipped steps as he barreled down them. Out the front door and into the fresh air he flew. He refused to give heed to the feelings Rainee aroused in him. Feelings that scared him to death. From now on, the farther he stayed away from her, the better.

Rainee sat up. She would love nothing more than to bury herself with the yellow patchwork quilt underneath her, but that would solve nothing. All her well-laid plans were falling apart around her. She had no money and no place to go. And no future husband.