Free The Unexpected Bride by Debra Ullrick

his.
    He helped her into the wagon and they headed down the road.
    The first mile was filled with a much-needed silence, giving him time to think about his mother’s words.
    “Haydon.”
    Holding the reins loosely in his hands, he glanced at her, then back at the road. “Yes.”
    “Have you always lived here?”
    “No. We moved here about four years ago.”
    “Where did you move from?” She tilted the parasol to her right, and he got a full view of her face.
    He turned his attention back to the road. “Back East.”
    “Where from back East?”
    “New York.”
    “I have never been to New York. They say it is a delight to see. What is it like?”
    “Like any other big city.”
    “Did you enjoy it?”
    “Some aspects of it, yes. But mostly no. I like it here much better.”
    “Why is that?”
    “The people here are friendlier, and they’re genuine. You can trust them to do what they say they will. It’s a nice change from New York.”
    “Do you regret moving here?”
    “Only because I lost my father.” An ache for his loss poked into his heart. “I keep thinking if we had not moved to Paradise Haven, he might still be alive. I understand only too well about the thistles and thorns.”
    She turned almost sideways to look at him, and his heart sped up. “What was your father like?”
    Haydon wasn’t sure if it was the question, her soft voice or her soft face, but he was having definite problems keeping himself in check. “He was one of the kindest, most generous men you would ever meet. He had a real zest for life and an adventurous spirit. In a lot of ways, I’m just like him.” He glanced over at her again. “Well, I used to be anyway.”
    “It is hard on the oldest son to have a father die. That is for certain.”
    Haydon yanked his gaze her way, but she had her face forward.
    “Back home, there is a young man whose parents passed away. At four and twenty, James knew it was up to him to be strong and to keep his family together. To provide for them. To be their protector. It was quite vexing for James to watch his mother and siblings suffer. His burden was great. And he, too, changed after his father’s death. It was as if the real James had been buried with his father.”
    Rainee’s words of understanding tunneled through Haydon with a gentleness he couldn’t ignore. No one hadever seemed to understand what he had gone through—and still went through. As the oldest, everything fell on his shoulders. And yet he wasn’t complaining. He couldn’t. He loved his family. But he could also relate to this James fellow. “I can relate,” he whispered, then looked at her.
    The softness in her eyes and the compassion on her face encouraged him to continue.
    “The first year was the hardest. My heart bled every time I watched or heard my family crying. I wanted to take their pain so they wouldn’t have to suffer. But there was no way to do that. And it tore me up inside.”
    She laid her hand on his arm, and he glanced down at it, feeling it clear to the inner depths of his soul. “Your family seems very well cared for and happy. You have obviously done a splendid job.”
    Her words were like a healing salve, as was her touch, and he desperately needed them both. “Thank you.”
    They both fell silent the rest of the way. When they arrived in town, people stared, but no one asked any questions. He helped her down from the wagon and into the general store.
    He watched as Rainee headed over to the post office section. She removed a letter from her satchel, handed it to the postmaster along with a coin, then turned and walked over to where he stood. “Well, you will not have to trouble yourself with me for much longer. I sent my post to Mr. Bettes, one of the other gentlemen who answered my advertisement. Soon, I will be gone, and that will be one less burden for you to bear.” She smiled at him, but no smile reached his lips.
    “Rainee, I—”
    “You do not have to say a word, Haydon.”