Chapter 1
Montana Territory, 1878
“Explain the situation to me again, darlin’,” Tom McCallister said patiently to his bride-to-be, Jenny, all the while rubbing his whiskered jaw and staring at the dusty, dirty, scowling figure that stood beside her. Why, she didn’t look nothin’ like a woman, although Jenny claimed that she surely was – her twin sister, Annie, in fact. Annie glared back at him with open hostility from beneath a dust-covered Stetson.
“Of course,” replied Jenny calmly. At her voice, Tom turned his eyes on her and was glad for it. She was a beauty this one, and a welcome contrast to her sister. Although Jenny had sent him a picture of herself in one of her letters, that picture didn’t even do her justice. If Tom thought she was fetching in that photograph, it was nothing compared to her in the flesh. And that was a problem. Right now, she could probably say that this here “woman” standing next to her was the spawn of Satan himself and Tom would just say “Sure, I’ve got plenty a room at the ranch for an extra guest; any relative of yours and the devil’s is a relative of mine.” Jenny had the kind of beauty that could do that to a man, make him lose all sense.
“Annie and I both arranged to meet husbands out west,” Jenny explained, in a soft, husky and altogether pleasing voice Tom imagined he could stand to hear for the rest of his days. “We both wrote and exchanged letters. We were hoping to find two men in the same town, but when that didn’t work out, we settled for as close as possible. Annie’s future husband was at the stop before this one.” Jenny stopped at this point and cast a sidelong glance at her sister. She wasn’t sure she wanted to continue.
“And?” Tom prodded.
“And he took one look at me and turned tail and ran!” Annie spit out, saving Jenny the trouble of having to say it. “Which suits me just fine anyway,” she continued, “seein’ as I didn’t really want no husband anyway. Plus I got to come along here and make sure you’ll do right by my sister. She’s the one who’s wantin’ a husband and home and babies.”
“Annie, please!” Jenny seemed more embarrassed than angry as she attempted to silence her sister. She turned to Tom. “I know that you weren’t expecting her, but would it be all right if she stayed at your ranch until we can figure out what to do?”
Damned if she wasn’t the sweetest and prettiest thing he’d seen in a long time. How could he refuse her? “Of course, darlin’, of course, seeing as she’s family and all. And it’s your home now too.” Tom smiled at her. Jenny melted. He was even better looking than his picture. Tall and strong, with sandy hair and an easy smile.
“Thank you, Tom. You’re being so understanding.” Jenny was comforted by her future husband’s kindness and acceptance of this unexpected situation that had been thrust in his lap. The way he was dealing with it showed her what kind of man he was. Not easily ruffled and not easily riled, either. Although, Jenny thought to herself, time would tell better, since Annie had a way of riling even the calmest of men and starting trouble wherever she went. She knew her sister would try hard to control herself for Jenny’s sake – Annie knew how important this was to her – but sometimes she couldn’t get out of her own way. Jenny decided she would worry over it anyway.
“Let’s get your things loaded in the wagon, then we’ll go find the preacher – if that’s all right with you.” Tom looked to Jenny. “I’d liked to get things squared away with us all proper and legal before we head out. It’s a long trip to town and I don’t make it very often.” Jenny smiled and nodded her agreement. She was already aware that was how these things usually went. And why not? She didn’t come here for afternoon tea. She came here to wed this man, be his wife and, God willing, have his babies.
“Well, all right then.” Tom
Montana Territory, 1878
“Explain the situation to me again, darlin’,” Tom McCallister said patiently to his bride-to-be, Jenny, all the while rubbing his whiskered jaw and staring at the dusty, dirty, scowling figure that stood beside her. Why, she didn’t look nothin’ like a woman, although Jenny claimed that she surely was – her twin sister, Annie, in fact. Annie glared back at him with open hostility from beneath a dust-covered Stetson.
“Of course,” replied Jenny calmly. At her voice, Tom turned his eyes on her and was glad for it. She was a beauty this one, and a welcome contrast to her sister. Although Jenny had sent him a picture of herself in one of her letters, that picture didn’t even do her justice. If Tom thought she was fetching in that photograph, it was nothing compared to her in the flesh. And that was a problem. Right now, she could probably say that this here “woman” standing next to her was the spawn of Satan himself and Tom would just say “Sure, I’ve got plenty a room at the ranch for an extra guest; any relative of yours and the devil’s is a relative of mine.” Jenny had the kind of beauty that could do that to a man, make him lose all sense.
“Annie and I both arranged to meet husbands out west,” Jenny explained, in a soft, husky and altogether pleasing voice Tom imagined he could stand to hear for the rest of his days. “We both wrote and exchanged letters. We were hoping to find two men in the same town, but when that didn’t work out, we settled for as close as possible. Annie’s future husband was at the stop before this one.” Jenny stopped at this point and cast a sidelong glance at her sister. She wasn’t sure she wanted to continue.
“And?” Tom prodded.
“And he took one look at me and turned tail and ran!” Annie spit out, saving Jenny the trouble of having to say it. “Which suits me just fine anyway,” she continued, “seein’ as I didn’t really want no husband anyway. Plus I got to come along here and make sure you’ll do right by my sister. She’s the one who’s wantin’ a husband and home and babies.”
“Annie, please!” Jenny seemed more embarrassed than angry as she attempted to silence her sister. She turned to Tom. “I know that you weren’t expecting her, but would it be all right if she stayed at your ranch until we can figure out what to do?”
Damned if she wasn’t the sweetest and prettiest thing he’d seen in a long time. How could he refuse her? “Of course, darlin’, of course, seeing as she’s family and all. And it’s your home now too.” Tom smiled at her. Jenny melted. He was even better looking than his picture. Tall and strong, with sandy hair and an easy smile.
“Thank you, Tom. You’re being so understanding.” Jenny was comforted by her future husband’s kindness and acceptance of this unexpected situation that had been thrust in his lap. The way he was dealing with it showed her what kind of man he was. Not easily ruffled and not easily riled, either. Although, Jenny thought to herself, time would tell better, since Annie had a way of riling even the calmest of men and starting trouble wherever she went. She knew her sister would try hard to control herself for Jenny’s sake – Annie knew how important this was to her – but sometimes she couldn’t get out of her own way. Jenny decided she would worry over it anyway.
“Let’s get your things loaded in the wagon, then we’ll go find the preacher – if that’s all right with you.” Tom looked to Jenny. “I’d liked to get things squared away with us all proper and legal before we head out. It’s a long trip to town and I don’t make it very often.” Jenny smiled and nodded her agreement. She was already aware that was how these things usually went. And why not? She didn’t come here for afternoon tea. She came here to wed this man, be his wife and, God willing, have his babies.
“Well, all right then.” Tom
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