Rose's Mail Order Husband - (Montana Brides #3)

Chapter 1

Rose only got up in the morning because she was hungry. Oh, and the wedding.

The gnawing in her stomach drove her to get out of bed, get dressed, and go downstairs to breakfast. Her sisters, Violet and Iris, already sat at the table when Rose entered the dining room.

They didn’t show any surprise at seeing her, though. They didn’t know, or didn’t want to know, that she couldn’t care less about seeing them.

You look nice in that dress, Iris, Rose greeted her.

Now, that did surprise them. Their eyes flew open. Thank you, Rose, Iris replied.

I don’t think I’ve seen you looking so nice as I have the last couple of days, Rose went on. Being in love agrees with you.

Iris gasped in surprise, and her eyes welled up with tears. Thank you, Rose. That means a lot coming from you.

I guess you changed your mind about marrying Mick McAllister, didn’t you? Rose asked. I thought you would. You two are made for each other.

Rose took a piece of toast from the plate. The thought of putting it in her mouth and chewing it up made her stomach turn, but she had to eat something now. If she didn’t, she would fall over during the wedding ceremony.

No one noticed she hadn’t eaten yesterday. They were all too preoccupied with their own troubles. Maybe Jake Hamilton noticed, but her fiancé wasn’t around that much. He didn’t mention it if he did notice. Would her appetite come back after the wedding? Maybe she wouldn’t be able to look at food again.

Rose nibbled the toast and spotted Violet observing her on the sly. That would be just like Violet to notice a person not eating. Rose tried to smile at her, but it came out wrong and turned into a grimace instead. The last thing Rose wanted was her oldest sister hovering over her and worrying about her. She could handle anything else today but that.

By the way, Violet asked, what do you want to do about your dress?

What about it? Rose asked.

It’s still in my room, Violet told her. We haven’t laid it out for you yet. Do you want me to bring it to your room?

I don’t care what you do with it, Rose replied. Do whatever you want.

Rose! Iris exclaimed. What’s the matter with you? You know Violet went to a lot of trouble to make our dresses. You might show a little more appreciation.

I didn’t ask Violet to make the dress, Rose shot back. I don’t even know if I’ll wear it.

Rose! Iris cried. How can you be so cruel!

What’s the matter? Rose asked.

Have you changed your mind about marrying Jake? Violet asked.

Rose cocked her head on one side. No. What makes you say that?

You said you might not wear your wedding dress, Violet repeated. I thought you might be reconsidering the marriage.

No, I’ll marry him, Rose replied. I just haven’t decided what I’m going to wear. I don’t have to wear the dress Violet made. I might wear something else.

Iris gasped again, but Violet kept calm even when Rose saw her wince in pain. Like what?

Rose shrugged. I don’t know. I’ll have a look through my closet later and decide.

But you saw the dress Violet made for you, Iris pointed out. You were happy with it before. What happened to change your mind?

You know what happened, Rose replied. For one thing, I met Jake Hamilton, and that alone changed everything.

Don’t you want Jake seeing you in the dress Violet made? Iris asked.

Jake doesn’t care what I wear, Rose declared. I could get married in my bath robe and he wouldn’t care.

How can you be so sure? Violet asked.

He told me so, Rose told them. All he cares about is that we get married.

Doesn’t he care that you wear your wedding dress? Violet asked. That seems odd.

There’s nothing odd about it, Rose maintained. He loves me, and he’s not marrying a dress. It’s no different from Mick loving Iris in her work clothes.

Maybe he has some reason for only caring about making the marriage official, Iris suggested. Maybe he wants to get his share of our fortune before any of us finds out anything about him that could change your mind.

Rose gave an exasperated gasp. All three of these men want to get their share of our fortune. Jake’s no different from Mick and Chuck in that.

But don’t you think…Iris began.

Rose shoved back her chair. I should have known better than to come down here when you two were here. I should have known you couldn’t keep your suspicions about Jake killing Cornell to yourselves. Now I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’ll see you both later when the minister gets here.

She stomped out of the room. She would have liked to eat some more. The bacon on the tray looked good, and it didn’t make her queasy the way other food did. Maybe she’d sneak down to the kitchen later and get some.

She just couldn’t stand those two meddling in her life. They didn’t understand why she wanted to marry Jake—why she had to marry him.

She ran back up to her room and shut the door on the world. The ranch world kept turning outside her room, and she even heard the men shouting out by the barn. She would hide in here, away from it all, and come out only in time for the wedding.

She sat down at her dressing table and looked at herself in the mirror, but she’d only just arranged her skirts around the stool when Violet came in.

Chapter 2

Violet laid Rose’s wedding dress out on the bed and smoothed the wrinkles out of it. Here you go, darlin’.

Thank you, Rose replied without turning around. I’ll have another look at it later when I’m ready to get dressed. Then I’ll decide what I’m going to wear.

Just don’t leave the decision until too late, Violet told her. The minister should be here around eleven, so you’ll need to make your decision before then. I can come in later and help you with your hair and tightening your corset, if you want me to.

Thanks, Rose shot over her shoulder. I’ll let you know.

I won’t mind if you don’t wear this dress, Violet went on. As long as you’re happy with how you look, that’s all I care about. Don’t listen to Iris. You won’t hurt my feelings if you decide to wear something else.

That’s good, Rose replied. You shouldn’t be upset, because it’s a beautiful dress. You did a wonderful job making it.

Violet stole a glance at her youngest sister’s face in the mirror. What do you see when you stare at yourself like that? I declare, you do little more than sit there and stare at your own reflection all day long. I don’t know what you see in that mirror.

Rose sighed. I don’t know what I see, either. Maybe that’s why I have to keep looking, so I can figure it out.

What is there to figure out? Violet asked. You’re Rose Kilburn. Who else could you be?

I don’t know. Rose closed her eyes for a moment, and then she opened them and examined her reflection again. I don’t know who I am anymore. I don’t know this small, dark girl. I don’t know who Rose Kilburn is, either. The person inside my head is nothing like that girl in the mirror. I’ve changed so much in the last couple of days that I don’t know who I am or what I’m going to be when this wedding is over.

Violet stared at her. What are you saying?

Rose shook her head and closed her eyes again. But they wouldn’t stay closed. As much as she might want to look at something other than her reflection, she couldn’t drag her eyes away from it. I don’t know what I’m saying. I know it doesn’t make sense.

If you don’t mind my saying so, Violet remarked, you don’t seem all that happy about this wedding. You don’t seem as excited about it as you were before. You know you can tell me if anything happened.

I appreciate you saying that, Rose replied, but I don’t want to talk about anything. I’m marrying Jake. That’s all there is to know.

You keep saying that, Violet told her. But you don’t seem very happy about it.

You just don’t understand, Rose maintained. You and Iris assume Jake wants to get the formalities of this marriage out of the way for his own selfish reasons. You don’t understand that I have my own reason for wanting the wedding over and done with.

What is that reason? Violet asked.

I want Jake Hamilton bound to me, for better or worse, she told Violet. I want to hear him take an oath before God that he’ll stand by me, no matter what, in life and death, against all obstacles and every kind of trouble.

She glanced over and saw Violet gaping at her in horror. Something’s wrong, isn’t it? You’re in some kind of trouble, aren’t you? Is it Jake? Did he kill Cornell? Has he got something over on you? Is he holding you to some kind of ransom if you don’t marry him? Tell me now! If he’s threatening you, I’ll rip his head off!

You don’t understand, Rose repeated. He didn’t kill Cornell, and if anybody’s holding anybody to ransom, it’s me. Now will you please drop it? I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

Okay, Violet agreed. We won’t talk about him anymore. Just tell me what you want to do about the dress. If you want me to take it away, I will. Or I could help you go through your closet and decide what you want to wear. Would you like to do that?

Rose fixed Violet with such a withering stare that Violet squirmed. You just won’t leave, will you?

Can you blame me for wanting to spend the little time we have left with you? Violet asked. In a few hours, we’ll all be married and busy with our separate lives. We may never get another chance to sit and talk to each other.

I think we will, Rose replied. We’re not exactly moving away from each other. We’ll all still live together at Rocking Horse Ranch. I’m sure we’ll get together for meals and celebrations and just to talk. You know how it is when sisters live near each other. Nothing will change between us.

They already have. Violet put her hand over her mouth and burst into tears. "I