Page 4 of Short-Straw Bride

“Hold still,” Travis barked, not wanting her to hurt herself. “I’ll fetch it.” He grabbed the beat-up pail and handed it to her. Meredith cradled it to her middle, and Travis decided that if he ever met this Hiram person, he’d find another pail and give the numskull a wallop or two upside the head.

Travis slid his arms around Meredith and lifted her from the ground. The little warrior never cried out, just tightened her grip on his neck as he pushed to his feet. He examined the ground for the smoothest path to the road, even when it meant going out of his way. It was crazy, really—this urge to protect her. He’d spent the two years since his father died building barriers to keep the outside world out. But when this slip of a girl looked at him with trust blazing in her bright blue eyes, all he could think about was protecting the one piece of the outside world that had found a way in.

When he made it to the border of his property, Travis halted and inhaled a deep breath as his gaze tilted up toward heaven.

Sorry, Pa. I gotta do it.

Then, with a prayer for his brothers’ safety resounding in his mind, he leaned forward and stepped off Archer land.

1

Palestine, Texas—1882

I don’t think I can do it, Cass.” Meredith peered up at her cousin through the reflection in the vanity mirror.

Cassandra pulled the hairpin from her mouth and secured another section of Meredith’s braided chignon. “Do what?”

“Marry a man who wants me only for the land I can bring him.”

“How do you know that’s all he wants?” Cassandra leaned down until her face was level with Meredith’s and winked at her in the mirror. “If you ask me, the man seems rather smitten, paying calls on you every Saturday night for the last month.”

Calls where he spent more time discussing the lumber industry with her uncle than conversing with her. Wouldn’t a man who was smitten spend his time talking to the woman he hoped to marry rather than her guardian?

Meredith sighed and turned to face her younger cousin. “I know I should be thrilled. Uncle Everett has told me again and again that Roy Mitchell is an excellent catch, and your mama nearly swooned when she found out he’d proposed. But something doesn’t feel right.”

“Maybe that’s because saying yes would mean letting go of a girlhood dream.”

Meredith squirmed under her cousin’s knowing look. Cassandra was the only person Meredith had ever told about her infatuation with Travis Archer. An infatuation based on a single encounter. It was silly, really. What girl would dream about a young man whose hunting trap had nearly taken off her leg? Yet something about Travis Archer had left a permanent impression upon her heart.

Cassandra understood that.

During holidays and family visits, the two cousins used to huddle together beneath the covers of Cassandra’s bed and spin romantic tales of the heroes who would valiantly rescue them from rockslides and stampeding cattle and even a polar bear or two when they were feeling particularly inventive. Meredith’s hero always wore Travis Archer’s face. Even now, she couldn’t stop herself from imagining what he must look like twelve years later. He’d been handsome as a youth. What would he look like as a man?

Standing abruptly and moving to the open wardrobe where she could riffle through her dresses instead of looking at her cousin, Meredith mentally crammed Travis back into the past, where he belonged.

“Goodness, Cass. I’m far too sensible to hold on to a bunch of silly daydreams. I put those thoughts from my mind years ago.”

Cassandra reached around her and took down the rose-colored dress Meredith only wore for special occasions. “You might have put Travis from your mind, but I think he still claims a piece of your heart.”

Meredith reluctantly accepted the polonaise and matching skirt and laid them on the bed. But instead of removing her wrapper to dress, she hugged her arms around her waist and flopped onto the mattress. “You’re right.”

And where did that leave her? She hadn’t seen the man once since that day. It was doubtful he even remembered her. If he did, the memory was probably a vague recollection of some scrawny kid who’d gotten caught trespassing. Not exactly a vision to inspire romantic feelings. Besides, none of the Archers ever stepped foot off their land. Waiting for Travis would be about as fruitful as waiting for a snowstorm in July.

“Give Mr. Mitchell a chance, Meri. Maybe he’s the kind of man who doesn’t know how to express his feelings.” Cassandra sat beside her on the bed and patted her knee. “It’ll be just the two of you today at lunch. Papa won’t be around to distract him with business talk. Get to know him. You might be surprised by what he can offer you.”

Meredith glanced sideways at her cousin, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. “You know . . . I’m supposed to be the wise one here, not you.”

“I may be three years younger,” Cassandra said with a wink, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t know a thing or two about men.”

“I can’t argue with that. You’ve probably collected more courting experience in the past two years than I’ve had in the last five.” Meredith smiled and nudged her cousin with her shoulder. “Look at the way Freddie Garrett follows you around.”

“Freddie Garrett’s barely fifteen, you goose. He doesn’t count.” Cassandra grabbed a pillow and swatted Meredith on the chin. Meredith, of course, had to retaliate. The two dodged and giggled until their sides ached so much they had to stop.

“I think you’re going to have to fix my hair,” Meredith said as she blew a loose strand off her forehead. The ornery thing fell right back across the bridge of her nose, which set the two girls to laughing again.

Cassandra gained her feet first. “Come on,” she said between chuckles. “Let’s get you dressed, and I’ll see what I can do about your hair.”

Twenty minutes later, dressed in her best polonaise with her hair artfully rearranged, Meredith stood by the window looking out over the street. Her cousin had kissed her cheek and wished her well a few minutes ago and left her to gather her thoughts before her suitor arrived. The only problem was, her thoughts were so scattered, Meredith was sure she’d never pull them together in time.