Katie: Bride of Virginia (American Mail-Order Brides 10) Read online

  “I'm trying, help me.”

  “Eloise's death was shocking. It's in the past. I don't want to talk about it.”

  Katie stood and went to her husband. She laid her palm on his arm. “I have high hopes for this marriage. When I came here I wanted to create a union with a man I didn't know. I hope to have children with you and for us to have a life filled with bad and good times. But it's all based on trust and you don't trust me. You showed me that this morning, when you thought I had stolen money.”

  “I'm trying to trust you. But I trusted my first wife and I shouldn't have.” Daniel ran his hand through his hair. “I don't like talking about Eloise because everyone in town thinks I murdered her.”

  He turned and walked away, leaving Katie staring at his retreating back. She sank onto the sofa. Her stomach clenched with fear and she gazed at the man she had grown to like and even care about. Could he have killed his first wife? What made people think he was her killer?

  #

  At daylight, Daniel woke to find his wife's side of the bed empty. Rolling over he was shocked at how quickly their marriage had spiraled into trouble. All marriages had peaks and valleys, but they were still newlyweds and they were having issues.

  When he'd seen her on that train platform, he thought she'd seemed like a ray of sunshine. For over a year he'd been needing someone or something to brighten his days. And Katie did. He couldn't wait to get home and see her smiling face.

  In the time she'd been here, he'd even seen a change in his mother. If he were honest with himself, he was the one causing the problems in their marriage. The girl was smart enough to recognize he was not being honest.

  If he didn't tell her the truth, someone sooner or later was going to give her their version and how could he blame her for getting upset. He had to find the time to tell her what happened between him and Eloise.

  There was a rapid fire knock on his bedroom door. “Mr. O'Malley, wake up, sir.”

  He jumped out of bed and opened the door to see one of his workers, standing before him. “Sorry, to disturb you, sir, but there is a herd of cattle out in the vineyard. I need help rounding them up.”

  “Dear God,” he said grabbing his pants. “Where the hell is Jack?”

  “I don't know, sir,” he said. “I saw them when I was walking to the shed.”

  He paid his foreman a decent salary to make certain the vineyard was protected, the hands did their work and the wine was produced. Sure Daniel was involved in all the day to day activities, but he had a foreman because the man was in charge of his workers.

  “You go on and I'll catch up to you. Who the hell's cattle is it?”

  “I don't know, sir,” he said running down the stairs.

  If they trampled the vines, he was ruined. Everything he'd worked so hard to achieve would be for naught.

  “Do you need help?” Katie said appearing in the doorway.

  “Yes, pull on a coat and boots and grab a blanket to shoo them away with,” he said.

  No, he didn't want his wife out in the vineyard herding cattle, but if the vines were trampled, they would have nothing. They all had to work to keep them from destroying their future crops.

  Hours later when they returned to the house, Katie turned to him and sank down at the table. They had saved most of the vines, but there were some the cattle had not only trampled, it appeared they'd been running through his field. Thank goodness it was not his older grapes, but the newer ones and he thought he could save the cuttings, though he would have to do a lot of work.

  Katie turned and stared at him. “Do not blame this one on me.”

  He laid his head back against the chair rest. “If only I could, because then I would know who had created the problem. My gut is telling me this was deliberate.”

  But who would be trying to destroy him?

  She stared at him, her big eyes wide and bright. “But why? Who would want to ruin the vineyard? You're just starting to make money.”

  Shrugging his shoulder he shook his head. “I don't know.”

  “Is there anyone who wants you to fail?”

  How could he answer that question? Everyone in town thought he'd murdered Eloise. Could this be a vigilante act? Someone thought they were getting even with him for murdering his wife and maybe even marrying again? It seemed farfetched.

  “I don't think so,” he said and glanced at her. “Thank you for helping me and the other workers. There would have been far more damage without you chasing the cattle. But I have to tell you, there were times you had me laughing as you shooed them away and other times I was holding my breath you wouldn't get hurt.”

  “That one heifer wanted to chase me,” she said giggling. “I thought she was going to run me over.”

  He chuckled. “I looked up and all I could see was you running through the field, trying to get away, and that ole heifer not far behind you. Your green eyes were as wide as I've ever seen them, your hair flying out behind you.”

  His wife had been amazing. She was a partner, there at his side helping him save the grapes. And when that cow had been chasing her, for a moment fear had his heart racing and his legs moving at the thought of her being injured.

  “Instead of vines being smashed, I feared it would be me,” she said shaking her head. “But then you diverted her attention.”

  She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

  Placing his hand on her head, he squeezed her. “My pleasure.”

  Resting, they sat in comfortable silence as they realized how close they'd come to losing everything. Daniel still had to go back out and repair the hole in the fence they'd found. It looked like someone had cut his fence and his neighbor’s cattle had been driven through. If his worker hadn't found the damage right away, it could have been disastrous.

  Katie had been there the entire day, protecting the vines, shooing cattle away and even guarding the broken fence. And yet he didn't want to admit to her the way the town had treated him after Eloise died. How he'd kept the knowledge of her leaving him secret, not even telling Frank until the other day.

  He'd loved Eloise. Sure they were different. She wanted a rich luxurious house and he couldn't give her what she wanted. He'd watched his wife flirt with other men, but never suspected her of having an affair.

  Now every time he saw a man on his property, he wondered if he was the one who she'd fornicated with. And still he didn't talk to Katie. Just this morning he'd made the decision to discuss what happened with her, but now, now he didn't want to drag up the past and expose himself and his weakness to his new wife.

  No man wanted to admit his wife had found someone else.

  “In the past, I've made mistakes, Katie. I know I have. I don't want to repeat those same blunders with you, but I'm not ready to talk about Eloise and what happened. I blame myself. So please, give me a little more time. I know I'm asking a lot. I know you deserve to hear the truth from me. I'm just asking for a little more time.”

  The day had been rough and just thinking about telling Katie about his first wife was more tension that, at this moment, he didn't need. Yes, he was being selfish, but today was almost a complete disaster. Now was not the time for him to think rationally or answer her questions with a calm head.

  “Will time solve the problem?”

  “No. She's dead. Today has been an unpleasant day, and frankly, I just don't want to think about that problem right now. I guess, I need a break. I want to enjoy being with you. Sitting here, looking around at the wonderful changes you've made to the house. You've turned it into a home. And how you helped me save the vineyard I've worked so hard for. I just want to rest and enjoy being with my lovely wife.”

  Picking up his hand, she squeezed it hard. “And I enjoy being with you. But sooner or later you've got to tell me everything. As your wife, I'm entitled to know.”

  #

  Two weeks later, Katie wore her best dress, a chiffon blue silk that accentuated her green eyes and dark hair. She felt like a pr
incess wearing the gown and clung to her husband's arm as they made their way through the throng of people who had arrived to celebrate the holidays and their new wine.

  Martha was in the kitchen filling the goblets and soon they would all toast to the new venture. Tonight Daniel had secured two new restaurants, a liquor store, and possibly the church. That one was still being discussed.

  When people first arrived, she knew many of them had come to check out the newest Mrs. O'Malley, but she didn't let that deter her one bit. She still didn't know what had happened to Eloise, but her husband was a good man. Any doubts she'd had about him killing his first wife were gone. She'd seen the hurt on his face when he mentioned her name and couldn't believe a killer would feel that emotion.

  “I'm going to make certain everything is ready,” she said slipping her arm from Daniel's. She walked toward the kitchen, passing Frank on her way.

  Even Mother O'Malley was decked out sitting in her wheelchair, talking to people. She caught her eye when she passed and the older woman seemed happy. She even smiled at Katie as she passed.

  Katie hurried into the kitchen and when she rounded the corner, she gasped at the sight. Five bottles lay broken, the wine puddling on the floor. Martha was staring at the scattered glass in horror.

  “What happened?” Katie asked rushing into the room and closing the door behind her.

  “I went downstairs to get another bottle and when I returned I found this glass shattered,” she said almost in tears. “I don't know what happened. Who would do this?”

  Uneasiness settled over Katie. No one could know about the wine being destroyed, but there was no doubt someone was deliberately trying to harm the vineyard. Whoever it was, they wanted to cast a pallor over tonight and she would not let that happen.

  “The guests are waiting. I'll run down to the cellar and get more. You start opening and pouring the wine. After we serve, I'll come back and help you clean up.”

  “No, ma'am. You'll get your dress dirty. I can handle the cleanup I just didn't want you to think I'd done this.”

  The thought had crossed Katie's mind, but she'd quickly pushed it aside. Martha was too stunned to have done something like this and she would be the person cleaning it up. It didn't make sense.

  She hugged the woman to her. “No, I don't think you did this, but was there anyone in the kitchen before you went downstairs?”

  “No one. Whoever did this had to be quick.”

  “As I serve the wine, I'm going to see if anyone has wine on their clothing. I don't know how they could keep from being splattered.”

  Katie hurried down the wine cellar and quickly chose two more bottles. Glancing around she made sure everything downstairs was secure. Then she all but ran upstairs. When she reached the kitchen, Martha had found one bottle that they hadn't destroyed. She had one tray of glasses poured.

  “I'll take this to our guests while you pour the rest.”

  Entering the main area of the house, she quickly passed around glasses.

  “Do you need help?” Daniel asked.

  “Oh no, I can handle it,” she said, not wanting to ruin the party for her husband. Once he learned that someone had broken some of his best Chardonnay, she knew he would be upset. Why spoil the event he'd been looking forward to.

  As she handed out the glasses, she tried her best to check everyone's clothing.

  Going back into the kitchen, she took the last tray of glasses.

  “Don't leave the kitchen,” she warned. “If they destroy the wine in the cellar, we will be out of business.”

  “I'll stay right here.”

  Passing out the last of the wine glasses, she was no closer to knowing who had caused so much destruction than she was before. No one had wine or red stains on their clothing and everyone seemed to be in the best of spirits.

  Daniel took a letter opener and clinked against the side of his goblet. “Can I have everyone's attention. I'd like to make a toast tonight to the two best things in my life. First my lovely new wife, Katie, my own ray of sunshine. She's brought new light and life into his old house and turned it into a home. And then to the O'Malley vineyard and the first Chardonnay we've produced. Thank you for being here tonight. Cheers.”

  Katie followed along with everyone and lifted her glass, “Cheers.”

  Her husband's toast was nice, but part of her wished he'd made some kind of declaration of love. But she was quickly learning that Daniel O'Malley was a kind, gentle man who didn't like showing his emotions or talking about them. She was certain that was the reason she'd yet to learn the story of Eloise's passing.

  She took a sip of the wine and for the first time, she savored the different flavors and even enjoyed the tangy taste of the liquid on her tongue.

  A woman adorned with jewels and a gorgeous dress, walked up to her. “Dear, I have to tell you that you have made such a difference in this house. Betty looks better, the house is beautiful and even Daniel seems happy. I'm glad he married you. He'd become such a hermit after Eloise died so tragically.”

  The woman was nice, but Katie didn't want to talk about Eloise. She wanted to hear from her husband what had happened. She glanced at Daniel standing in a group of men, talking.

  “Why, thank you. He's made me very happy,” Katie replied. Maybe she could slip away from her now.

  The woman leaned in close to her. “Did you live around these parts?”

  “Oh no, I'm originally from Lawrence, Massachusetts.”

  The woman drew back. “How in the world did you two meet?”

  Katie glanced at her husband again. They had agreed that telling everyone she was a mail-order bride would seem scandalous, so they'd come up with a plan that was a slight version of the truth.

  “We met through mutual friends. We corresponded back and forth and finally decided to marry.”

  “Oh my,” the woman said. “And you came to Virginia without meeting him in person? Did you know what happened to Eloise before you met him?”

  Katie wanted to scream. And now she had to answer this woman's question, while wanting to get to the kitchen and check on Martha.

  “Daniel explained her death and I believe him,” she said. “Excuse me, I must check on the kitchen.”

  Hurrying away, she wished her husband would tell her his version of what had happened to Eloise, so she could answer these confusing questions. Oh, who was she kidding. She just wanted to hear the truth from his lips.

  Chapter Seven

  Daniel was shocked at how many people had shown up for the party. Katie's idea of blending the holidays, the debut of their Chardonnay and their wedding into one big event was a huge success. He'd feared no one would come and yet the house was full of laughter, people drinking wine, and celebrating their happiness.

  All because of Katie. He watched his wife flitting from group to group, and he couldn't help but feel blessed. She'd come to Virginia, knowing nothing about him and chosen to spend the rest of her life with him.

  If he could believe what people were saying, the wine was a huge success and now he just needed to push the product to more restaurants, liquor stores, and maybe enter a few competitions to see if it was as good as people were telling him.

  The town banker, Joseph Bruhn walked up to him. “Excellent Chardonnay. I would like for you to send me a case, just let me know the cost. Want to get it before it's gone.”

  Daniel smiled. “Of course, Joseph. I'll get that delivered to your place tomorrow.”

  What did the man mean before it's gone? Was there a possibility of them selling out right away? Is that what people were saying. A thrill of excitement and success rushed through him.

  He'd known for years he wanted to do something with his hands. Some type of farming or agricultural and when he'd read about Thomas Jefferson's vineyard in college, he knew he'd found his calling.

  “All the talk I'd heard in town said you were going to be successful. That you were doing all the right things to make a good vineyard. I thought ma
ybe you would be the one to break the curse of Thomas Jefferson.”

  Shocked, he stared at the banker. “I am. I hope to have the first successful winery in the state of Virginia.”

  “Then why are you selling?”

  Stunned, Daniel stared at the banker, his heart leaping into his throat as his stomach clenched. “I'm not selling. Who told you that?”

  The banker looked surprised. “Someone is double crossing someone. I have buyers coming to look over your property and see about a loan. They think the place is up for sale.”

  “What?”

  Fear trickled up his spine and he thought about his conversation with Frank. Was he trying to sell the vineyard?

  “Who told you I wanted to sell?”

  “Why, Frank, of course.”

  Daniel clenched his fist to control the anger roaring through him.

  “There's a tobacco company buying up land all over Virginia. They're coming to look at your property,” the banker said, an uneasy expression on his face. “I'm sorry, Daniel. I thought you were looking for a buyer.”

  “I'll make you a promise. I'll contact you before I let anyone else know when I'm ready to trade. But let's just say you'll probably be making that transaction from heaven or hell, depending on where you plan on spending eternity.”

  Knowing it wasn't the bankers fault didn't make his anger any less, when he thought of how Frank had people coming to look at the land after he'd told him no. Daniel wasn't selling. Or at least it appeared Frank was trying to negotiate a deal on the land. If he hadn't mentioned it at dinner the other night, he might have gotten away with everything. And then what would Daniel have done?

  “Again, I apologize.”

  “No apology necessary. But O'Malley Vineyards is not on the market. We're doing well and soon we're going to be doing great.”

  Anger spiraled through Daniel like a forest fire out of control. Was Frank double crossing him? Could his best friend be trying to work a deal behind his back. They'd been friends a long time. Daniel trusted him and he'd been beside him during his darkest days.