His Substitute Wife Read online

Shock froze his features. He spun about, stared. “Linda?”

  “Yes! Oh, yes, darling!” Linda ran down the hall and threw herself into Blake’s arms. “I’ve been waiting for you!”

  Blake turned his head, looked at her, his shock apparent.

  The sight of Linda in his arms was more than she could bear. She lifted her hands, rubbed at her temples and closed her eyes. “If you’ll excuse me... I’m not feeling well, and you two have a lot to discuss. I’ll just rest for a while...”

  “Audrey, wait. What’s wrong with you?”

  “Let her go. She’s only tired, Blake darling.” Linda cooed the words, smiled at Blake and rested her hand against the front of his shirt. “Let’s go into the sitting room, darling. I have so much to tell you.” Linda shot her a smug look, took Blake’s arm and walked with him into the sitting room.

  She started toward the dressing room, kicked something and looked down. Her packed valise was sitting by the railing, her blue Zouave jacket draped over it, her purse resting on the top.

  “Oh, Blake darling, it’s so good to be in your arms again.”

  Linda’s words floated out of the sitting room. It was too much. She could not stay here with the two of them another minute. She pulled on her jacket, picked up her purse and the valise and crept down the stairs and out onto the loading dock. There was no one in sight. She blinked her vision clear, hurried across the road and into the trees to wait for the next train.

  The air was warm but with that special autumn briskness to it. Audrey put her valise down close to the rutted road, wiped the tears from her face and took a deep breath. It was cowardly to run and hide, but the thought of Linda and Blake together was devastating. To see them in each other’s arms was shattering.

  She followed the path of trampled grass that led to the pool that fed Whisper Creek, her heart aching with a pain she didn’t think she could survive. But somehow she had to get through these next couple of hours until her train came. The distant, staccato beat of hammers played a steady accompaniment to the murmur of the waterfall. She rounded the curve, stopped and let the beauty of the wilderness pool soak in, folded the image within her heart. She examined the wild ferns and plants that meandered between the surrounding stones and boulders, then sat and watched the mist rise from the frigid water and form a cloud against the backdrop of the mountains.

  A lump formed in her throat. Her heart splintered in a thousand pieces. She rose and picked a yellow flower and a small purple one. She would press them in her Bible and keep this much of Whisper Creek with her always.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Linda.

  Blake looked down at the woman in his arms, shock warring with reality. Her hands slid over his shoulders and her fingers toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck, just as they had so many times in his memories.

  “You haven’t said you’re glad to see me, Blake darling.” Linda looked at him through her lashes and gave him a pouty smile. “You are glad to see me, aren’t you?”

  “I’m—surprised.” He raised his hands, grasped her wrists and lifted her hands away, took a step back. “What are you doing here, Linda? Visiting your sister?” Bitterness sharpened his voice. He didn’t bother to curb it. Anger was his best defense against the sudden flare of his remembered love for her. “Where’s your husband?”

  “Blake dearest, I don’t blame you for being angry. But don’t be cruel.” The pout deepened.

  “Save the endearments for the man you love.”

  “But, darling, I love you!” Linda reached out, rested her hands on the front of his shirt.

  “Stop it.” He pulled her hands away, stepped back out of her reach. “I’m not interested in playing your games, Linda.”

  “It’s not a game. It’s the truth. I love you. That’s why I had my marriage annulled.” She blinked her eyes; her lower lip quivered.

  His whirling thoughts jolted to a halt. “You had your marriage annulled?”

  “Yes. Oh, Blake darling, I made a terrible mistake! But you were gone, and I missed you so!” She rushed to him, laid her head on his shoulder. “With every letter you wrote me, my loneliness for you grew worse, until I just couldn’t bear it. And then—” her voice shook, broke “—and then Nigel came to visit my friend, and he was so kind and attentive and—well, I simply lost my wits and married him. But I soon came to realize it was only my longing for you, for your love, that drove me to marry Nigel, and I left him. I came here to you, as soon as my marriage was annulled. I’ve missed you so, darling.” She lifted her head off his shoulder.

  The invitation to kiss her was there in her eyes, in her slightly tilted head and parted lips. How many times had he wished to have her in his arms? But not now. It was too late. He took hold of her upper arms and set her away from him. “You made the journey here in vain, Linda. I’m married to Audrey.” Where was she? Was she all right? “I’m surprised she didn’t tell you.”

  “She did, darling. And that your marriage isn’t a true...union.”

  He stiffened. “Audrey told you that?”

  “Of course. She wanted me to understand, so I wouldn’t leave before you returned. She knows how much we love each other.” She gave him a coquettish look. “And she wants us to be happy together.”

  Audrey...mothering Linda and protecting him. Well, he didn’t want her protection! Or her mothering! He wanted—he wanted to see her. To talk to her. He glanced toward the hall, frowned. “She said she was going to rest because she wasn’t feeling well. Perhaps you should go and see if she’s all right.” He didn’t have the right to go into her bedroom. The thought rankled.

  “Audrey’s not ill, Blake. She only said that for an excuse to leave us alone so we could talk.”

  There was a trace of exasperation in Linda’s voice. He ignored it. This situation involved the three of them. “Well, I want to hear what she has to say. I’ll get her.” He pivoted, strode out into the hall. Linda ran after him, grabbed his arm.

  “She’s not here.”

  There was something in Linda’s voice... He turned, looked at her. “What do you mean she’s not here? Where is she?”

  Linda stepped close, shrugged her bare shoulders. “I don’t know, dearest. Perhaps the train station. She had me pack her valise so she would be ready to leave when you came home. She would have left before, but she said she couldn’t leave until you were here to tend to the store. I put her valise, jacket and purse there by the stair railing.” Linda smiled, touched his arm. “I’m sure she left because she didn’t want to intrude on our first meeting after being so long apart.”

  He glanced at the floor, strode to the bedroom and rapped his knuckles against the door. “Audrey...” He knocked louder. “Audrey, are you in there?”

  Silence.

  He twisted the knob and shoved the door open, glanced around the empty room, pivoted and hurried to the kitchen window and looked down the road to the train station. There was no one on the platform. Where was she? Was she saying goodbye to Mrs. Karl or—No, she wouldn’t do that. Audrey would not do something that might cast him in a bad light and cause him to lose the store.

  The store. Of course.

  “Stay here, Linda.”

  He trotted down the stairs, strode to the door that led to the store. “Audrey...” The store was empty. Where—

  He pivoted, stalked to the loading dock, glanced up at the ceiling. The porch. No, she would have heard him calling for her.

  She would stay out of sight.

  He looked toward the trampled path across the rutted road. A brown leather valise sat at the base of a tree. A chill chased down his spine. He put his hand on the railing, leaped from the dock and ran.

  * * *

  “Audrey... Audrey!”

  Blake! She squelched the instinct to hide, took a deep breath and gathered e
very ounce of inner strength she possessed. “I’m here, by the pool!”

  Boots thudded against the dirt. He burst into sight, ran to her and grabbed her upper arms. “You little fool! What do you think you’re doing?” He glared down at her, sucked in air. “I told you never to come out into these woods alone!”

  There was fear mixed with the anger in his voice and eyes. Her heart leaped with hope. She took firm control of her emotions. If she allowed herself to think the fear meant he cared for her in any special way, she was a fool. His love was waiting for him in the house. She lifted her chin. “I was careful. I watched for rattlesnakes.”

  “And what about the Indians?”

  She caught her lower lip with her teeth, looked down and kept silent. She couldn’t tell him she was so undone she hadn’t thought about the Indians. His fingers worked against her arms. He sucked in another breath, lowered his hands to his sides.

  “What are you doing out here anyway?”

  She held up the flowers, willed her hands not to tremble. “Gathering memories to take back to New York with me.”

  A whistle shrilled up the valley, giving notice of a train’s approach. An eastbound train. Her stomach knotted. “It’s time for me to go.” She swallowed hard, turned and started back down the path, fought not to be ill with every step.

  “Listen, Audrey, Linda—”

  She shook her head. “Please don’t say anything more, Blake.” She cleared her throat, plunged ahead before she broke down. “I’ve been thinking about this new...situation ever since Linda came. And, I think, I’ve thought of an acceptable solution.” She paused, reached for her valise. Blake was faster.

  “I need that.”

  “And the three of us need to talk, Audrey.” His gaze fastened on hers. “You and Linda have had time to discuss this situation—to think about it. I’m not over the shock of seeing—”

  “Your true love waiting for you.” She choked out the words, forced a smile. “I’m happy for you, Blake. Truly, I am. Now, give me my valise, or I’ll miss my train.”

  “You can catch the next one if you insist. I have no right to stop you. But first—”

  She shook her head, raised her chin. “I do not intend to spend another moment here in Whisper Creek. Surely, you can see how...untenable that would be.” Help me, Lord. Please keep me strong. She held out her hand. “Please don’t make me board that train without my valise.”

  The muscle along his jaw twitched. “You are the most stubborn, frustrating—”

  She turned and started for the train station, paused when he fell into step beside her. “I think it would be best if you stay here.” Her throat closed.

  His gaze fastened on hers. “You’re my wife. It’s strange enough that you are leaving for New York as soon as I return. Since you will not yield to my wishes, I’ll see you off. It would be expected.”

  He had turned her argument against her. She nodded, lifted her hems and started walking again. “It’s not a matter of stubbornness, Blake. It’s a solution. It’s not perfect—” she tried to laugh, failed “—I’m not sure there is such a thing for this...unique circumstance. But it’s the only thing I can think of that may allow us all to escape unscathed—and enable you to keep your store.” Unless Linda has her way. “I have to leave in a way that will seem appropriate and satisfy Mr. Ferndale—not to mention everyone else in town.”

  “Appropriate!” The word hissed from between Blake’s teeth.

  She hurried up the platform steps, reached for the purse dangling from her wrist and headed for the ticket window. Blake’s fingers closed around her arm, halted her.

  “At least allow me a husband’s right to buy his wife’s ticket.”

  “All right.” She focused on explaining the solution to control her tears. “I told you I haven’t been feeling well, Blake. And that is the truth.” She pushed out the words, not giving him a chance to speak. “You can tell Mr. Ferndale that my illness has become extremely painful the last few days, and that I have gone back to New York to try to find an...answer. After all, there is no doctor here to treat sickness.” There is no doctor anywhere who can help me. “And you can tell him that...that my sister, Linda—who has been visiting me these last few days—has stayed on to...to take my place.” The words pierced to the depth of her being. “And that, also, is the truth. You don’t have to lie.”

  “Good of you to be concerned with my honor.” His eyes locked on hers, dark, clouded. “I told you before, I don’t need you to protect me!”

  The whistle sounded the all aboard.

  He brushed by her to the window. “I need a ticket to New York City, Asa.”

  “You just come back. Something wrong?”

  The words floated out the window. Everything is wrong! She pressed her lips together, dug her fingernails into her palms to stop the sobs clawing at her throat.

  “The ticket is for my wife. She’s ill.”

  “Sorry to hear that, Blake. Mayhap one of them New York doctors can fix her up.”

  “Yes.” He took the ticket, turned and handed it to her, that small muscle along his jaw jumping.

  Her heart pounded. Tears threatened. She tucked the ticket in her purse.

  “All aboard!”

  Her legs were like sticks of wood, refused to work right. She started up the boarding steps, reached deep inside, found the strength to smile and held out her hand for the valise. “Goodbye, Blake. I wish you and Linda every happiness.”

  “You’re forgetting about Asa.” He tossed her valise through the open door, grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. Their strength crushed her against him, held her. His lips covered hers, claimed them; their searing heat branded what was left of her heart his forever. He stepped back, pivoted on his heel and strode away.

  She pressed her fingers to her lips and collapsed against the railing, unable to control her tears.

  “Let me help you, ma’am.”

  The conductor took hold of her elbow, helped her up the steps and to a seat. The whistle blew. “I’ve got to tend to my duties, ma’am. And I don’t suppose it will help much—but I want you to know those biscuits you gave me were the best I’ve ever eaten.” He put her valise on the seat beside her and walked away.

  The biscuits. Memories washed over her. A fresh spate of tears flowed into her eyes. She opened her hand, put the stem-crushed flowers in her valise, leaned back against the seat and fought down the impulse to sob out her broken heart.

  * * *

  Blake stepped into the hotel and followed the sound of hammering. “I need to talk to you, Garret.”

  Garret Stevenson glanced at him, nodded and motioned him back out into the hallway. “When did you get back?”

  “The afternoon train from Laramie.”

  “I’ll bet that beautiful bride of yours was happy to see you. She’s been working hard tending the store and shelving the supplies that came in while you were gone. Come on in to my office. It’s quieter there.”

  “Actually, I want to see one of your finished rooms.”

  “You mean my only finished room. All right. This way.”

  He ignored Garret’s curious look and followed him down a bisecting hallway lined with closed doors. “There’s been a lot done since I was last in here.”

  “It looks that way with the doors hung. But it is coming along. These rooms are being plastered. Here’s the finished one.”

  He stepped into a small, unfurnished room with a varnished wood floor, plastered walls and ceiling. The dusky light of evening shone in through a small-paned window set in the side wall. A wardrobe stood open against the end wall. An oil lamp sat on a wall shelf to the left of the door. “It looks good, Garret.”

  “It will look a lot better once it’s painted and the window has some sort of covering. And, of course, there will
be a rug and good furnishings. And dressing rooms with hot water and bathing tubs down the hall. When it’s finished this hotel will be so classy and comfortable, my customers will tell people about it all up and down the Union Pacific Line.”

  He closed the door, scrubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Garret, I have a problem.”

  “I’ve been waiting for you to tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Linda’s here.” He absorbed Garret’s stare.

  “Linda? Your betrothed who married another man Linda?”

  “Exactly. She’s been staying at the house with Audrey the last few days—they’re sisters. But Audrey just left to go home to New York City and—” He stopped at Garret’s long, low whistle, shoved his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath. “I can’t have Linda staying at the house with me. Will you rent me the room?”

  “I’d like to help you, Blake, but there’s no bed. Or necessary, or...”

  “I’ll take care of all of that.”

  “Then...sure. You can use the room. When—”

  “Right now. I’ll bring the things she’ll need over when it turns full dark.” He blew out a breath, stuck out his hand. “Thank you, Garret. I didn’t know what I would do if you said no.”

  Garret shook his offered hand, thumped his shoulder and grinned. “You could always take the next train out of town.”

  With the mess his life was in, the idea didn’t sound half-bad.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “This is the last of it.” Blake set the dressing table on the end wall beside the wardrobe, placed the bench seat he’d brought over earlier in front of it and looked around the room. The oil lamps sitting on the shelf by the door poured a warm golden light over the furnishings. He had brought everything but his dresser from his bedroom and added a blue-flowered washbasin, pitcher and necessary from the store. The lamp table served as a washstand.

  “Well, that dressing table adds some class.” Garret lifted one of the oil lamps Blake had brought over from the store and set it on the dressing table. “I guess that does it.”