Sweet Wedding Read online

  Contents

  1. Clay

  2. Bethany

  3. Clay

  4. Bethany

  5. Clay

  6. Bethany

  7. Clay

  8. Bethany

  9. Clay

  10. Bethany

  About the Author

  Copyright © 20122 by Eliza Ester

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Created with Vellum

  One

  Clay

  Carson Valley could be the most beautiful place on earth when the weather played along, but when Mother Nature decided to have a little fun there was nothing the townsfolk could do but play along. Nature was a wild thing that couldn’t be tamed but Clay Young felt right at home in the great outdoors. He’d always been an outdoorsman at heart, and living and working on a ranch put him right in the middle of the fray, so to speak.

  The summer months had brought a lot of green but with it had come storms that nearly ripped the earth apart. In addition to their usual work, the workers on the Johann Ranch had their hands full repairing fences and roof barns and in general putting things back in working order after the latest storm hit.

  Now, in October, fall had arrived and the world was starting to transform again. Splashes of orange and red covered the landscape and the smell of snow was on the wind, coming from the mountains. It would be a while before the snow was driven down to the valley just yet, but it was pending, and on the Johann Ranch they had started preparing for the winter months ahead.

  Clay was on horseback, riding around the Johann Ranch, checking the perimeter fence for breaks. They had all kinds of cattle on the ranch and were working on building up the herd, and having any of them getting out wouldn’t do.

  The ranch was now owned by Ace and Annabelle Christianson, but they had decided not to change the name after buying it from the Johanns, who had moved back East. The Johanns had been wonderful ranchers, and Ace and Annabelle worked hard to keep the ranch thriving.

  Before Ace got married, he and Clay had bunked in the same cabin, and Ace was the head ranch hand. Clay was the head ranch hand now, a position he’d taken over when Ace had become the ranch owner. Clay loved his job. Ace taking over the ranch—and marrying Annabelle—was the best thing that could have happened to the Johann Ranch.

  Clay found a gap in the fence and hopped off his horse with a hammer and nails to fix it. Even without the storms, fences were always being torn apart, but Clay enjoyed checking them. He liked being out on horseback, far from the ranch house and the cabins where the help lived. He liked going through the motions that mundane jobs provided, doing the best he could. Excellence could be achieved in all things—big or small.

  Most of all, Clay liked being alone with time to think. He wasn’t like the other ranch hands—not as rowdy and outgoing—and sometimes he felt left out.

  After fixing the fence, Clay rode to the bottom of the ranch, where it touched the road that led toward Carson Valley. He pulled up his horse and looked into the distance, following the road with his eyes until it twisted and turned between the rolling hills, out of sight. He took a deep breath and sighed, content.

  Movement caught his eye to the left. He narrowed his eyes and searched for what he’d seen but nothing stood out. He was about to turn his horse around when something dark stood out to him. It looked like a wheel turning. But that wasn’t right, was it? He stared for a moment longer before he realized that it was indeed a wheel, and that the wheel must be attached to something.

  Clay turned his horse around and headed a short way away from the fence. Then he gently kicked the animal in the flanks. The horse jumped into motion, racing toward the fence, and with a graceful jump it cleared it. Clay sailed through the air for a brief moment before the horse’s hooves touched down on the grass on the other side. He spurred the horse on and as soon as he was on the dirt road he kicked his horse into a gallop.

  The closer he got the better he saw. When he pulled his horse up the dark brown stagecoach came into view, lying in a ditch with the one spinning wheel that Clay had seen. There was no sign of any horses and the driver lay on his side next to the coach with blood in his hair. He groaned, trying to get up.

  “Hullo! Are you all right?” Clay asked, sliding down the side of his horse and helping the man out of the ditch.

  “I’m fine, I’m fine. But the woman…”

  Clay didn’t need to hear more. He climbed onto the coach that lay on its side and opened the door. Inside, sure enough, a woman was slumped against the other side of the coach, which had now become the floor.

  “Ma’am?” Clay called but she didn’t respond. He lowered himself into the coach through the door, careful not to step on her. He crouched next to her and carefully touched her shoulder. When she didn’t move, he rested his fingers on her neck, checking for a pulse, and sighed with relief when he found one.

  She was unconscious but alive. A mass of raven hair covered her face and he brushed it aside. Apart from the blood on her temple she seemed unharmed, but until Clay could get her to Doc, he couldn’t be sure.

  He looked at her delicate face, dark eyelashes lining her cheeks, and thought she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. She looked young, delicate, almost like a doll.

  “Help me get her out,” Clay called when the driver’s head appeared above him in the door. Together, they managed to hoist the woman out of the coach and lower her to the ground on the other side.

  “I only have one horse and I need to get her to our doctor,” Clay told the driver.

  The driver nodded. “Go, I’ll be fine until you come back for me.”

  Clay nodded, and with the driver’s help lifted the woman up onto his horse. He climbed up behind her and held her against him. He kicked his horse into motion, riding toward Carson Valley as fast as he dared.

  Clay rode to the ranch house and yelled for Annabelle and Ace. They were both in the house and came out almost immediately. When they saw the woman, they rushed to the horse, and the three of them managed together to get the unconscious woman inside and in a bed.

  “I have to go back and fetch the driver, he’s hurt, too,” Clay said. He got on his horse and rode back to retrieve the driver. When he returned, Ace had sent another ranch hand to fetch Doc in town.

  The ranch hand soon returned with Doc and Sheriff Russ in tow. The sheriff had heard the news and came to find out exactly what had happened. He asked the driver a few questions about the accident while Annabelle took Doc to see the woman. Clay stayed in the living room, listening but staying out of everyone’s way.

  “The horses spooked—I’m not sure why—and I lost control,” the driver said. “The bracing broke and they set off. The coach ran into the ditch and tipped over.”

  Russ nodded.

  “I’ll head out with Edward and hunt down those horses. If they’re still harnessed they’re easy meat for a mountain lion or bobcat.”

  He turned, nodded at Clay, and headed out into the bright sunlight.

  Reverend Shreve knocked on the door and stepped into the house. He clutched his black hat in his hands and smiled at Clay.

  “Thank the Lord that you are all safe,” he said. He introduced himself to the driver, who said his name was Stanley, and commended Clay for the good job he’d done.

/>   “You headed back out now?” Reverend Shreve asked Clay after he discussed setting Stanley up in the hotel until they could repair the coach and find the horses.

  Clay shook his head. “I want to make sure the lady is all right.”

  “Such an honorable man,” the reverend said with a smile.

  Clay wasn’t just checking if she was all right because he was concerned about her health—although of course he was. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen and he didn’t want to leave her side until he at least knew her name, spoke to her a bit.

  Women like her didn’t just come through Carson Valley and he couldn’t get her beautiful face, her delicate features, out of his mind.

  Two

  Bethany

  When Bethany opened her eyes, it was to a strange room and she panicked. She wasn’t home and she couldn’t remember how she got to… wherever this place was. She sat up and her head throbbed angrily. She touched her fingers to her forehead to find a bandage in place.

  What had happened?

  She was starting to get out of bed when a woman walked into the room.

  “Oh, you’re awake,” she said and looked relieved. “Don’t panic, dear, you’ve had an accident. I’ll fetch Doc to check on you.”

  The woman had a kind face and a soft voice, and Bethany didn’t feel like she was in danger. She sagged back onto the pillows, her head aching terribly.

  An old man walked into the room and gave her a grandfatherly smile.

  “I’m Doc Murphy,” he said. “Everyone around these parts calls me Doc. You’ve had a bump to the head. How are you feeling?”

  Bethany shook her head. “It hurts. I can’t remember anything that happened.”

  Doc nodded. “It’s not uncommon, but your memory will return. The pain should go away after a short while. I bandaged you for the bleeding, the bandage can come off in an hour or so.”

  Bethany was relieved. It didn’t seem like she was too injured then.

  “Where am I?” she asked.

  The woman with the gentle smile stepped forward. “You’re at the Johann Ranch in Carson Valley. I’m Annabelle Christianson and you’re in my home. You’re welcome to stay until you’ve recovered.”

  Bethany smiled. “That’s very kind,” she said. “Thank you.”

  “What’s your name?” Annabelle asked.

  “Bethany King,” she answered, relieved that at least she remembered that.

  After Doc left the room, cautioning her to take it easy, Annabelle sat down on the bed next to Bethany.

  “The stagecoach you were in ran off the road. One of our ranch hands found you and brought you here.”

  “Oh yes.” Bethany nodded, the memories rushing back. “I was traveling to Montgomery.”

  “That’s about forty miles west of here,” Annabelle said. “The coach is damaged—we don’t know how badly—and the sheriff is out looking for the horses.”

  Bethany nodded. “I appreciate your hospitality,” she said, wincing. Talking made her head hurt worse.

  Someone knocked on the door and Annabelle got up.

  “Clay,” she said.

  “Doc told me she’s awake,” said a male voice from behind the door. “I just wanted to check if she’s all right.”

  “Of course, Clay,” Annabelle said and held the door open. A young man came into the room. He was well-built, muscular from physical work, and his skin was a dark tan color. His hair was a rich brown but it was his eyes that drew Bethany’s attention. They were bright green, resting on her face.

  “Bethany, this is Clay Young,” Annabelle said, introducing him. “He’s the man who found you.”

  Bethany smiled. “Thank you. I am in your debt.”

  Clay shook his head shyly, still smiling.

  “This is Bethany King,” Annabelle said to Clay. “You can keep her company for a bit while I prepare lunch for the men.”

  Clay nodded and Annabelle left the room.

  “How are you feeling?” Clay asked.

  “Better now,” Bethany said. “It was a shock at first when I woke up. I didn’t know where I was.”

  “You’re in the best hands,” Clay said. “That’s the most important thing. Ace and Annabelle will make sure you have everything you need.”

  Bethany nodded and smiled. She liked this man. Something about him was strong and confident and he was attractive in a boyish sort of way.

  “Oh—what happened to the driver?” Bethany asked, remembering Stanley.

  “He’s okay. He had a bit of a bump but nothing serious. Reverend Shreve has taken him to the hotel by now, I think. He wants him in town for when the sheriff recovers the coach and horses.”

  Bethany nodded, relieved. Besides the driver, she had been the only one on the coach and she was glad more people weren’t hurt. Clay walked to a chair in the corner and pulled it closer before sitting down.

  “If I may be so bold, ma’am,” Clay said. He hesitated, then said, “You are the most beautiful woman I ever laid my eyes on.”

  Bethany blushed. Her cheeks turned a rosy red and her head throbbed dully again. She raised her hand to the bandage.

  “Please, call me Bethany, or Beth.”

  “Where were you headed?” Clay asked.

  “To Montgomery, to visit someone. I traveled from Baltimore.” Bethany’s stomach churned with anxiety when she thought of Montgomery and what awaited her there, but she pushed it away and focused on Clay’s green eyes. She felt lightheaded as she looked at him, and she was sure it had nothing to do with the bump and her headache.

  “You work here?” she asked.

  Clay nodded. “I’m the head ranch hand.” He smiled as if he was proud of it. “I stay in one of the cabins at the far end of the ranch.”

  Bethany nodded and touched her own hair, suddenly conscious of what she might look like. Her hair had been untied to make room for the bandage and she was sure she must look a mess.

  Bethany lay back on the pillows, suddenly overcome by a wave of exhaustion. It had been a long day.

  “I will let you rest,” Clay said. “I wanted to see with my own eyes that you were unharmed and I am satisfied.”

  Bethany smiled. What a gentleman.

  “Thank you again for saving me,” she said.

  Clay smiled at her a little bashfully. “Just doing the right thing, ma’am. If I may, I’d like to check in on you again, later?”

  Bethany nodded.

  “I’d like that,” she said.

  Clay nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. Yes, Bethany thought, she would like that very much.

  Three

  Clay

  Clay walked out of the ranch house and headed for the stables. The day wasn’t over yet and he still had work to do. He would have loved to spend the whole day in that room, but Clay had seen how much the accident had taken out of Bethany and she needed rest.

  Bethany was lucky that she’d survived the accident with so little injury. She could have died. Everything could have gone a lot worse for her and Clay was glad that he had been able to help her—to save her.

  Bethany… what a nice name. It sounded sweet and innocent, like she came across. And she was as lovely as her name. Her dark hair framed a face with skin like milk. Her eyes were large and drowning deep—a dark green color Clay was not likely to forget. Her features were rare, the kind of beauty you only came across once in a lifetime.

  Clay couldn’t get her out of his mind. He wanted to get to know her better, to spend more time with her, before she traveled on to Montgomery. Somewhere deep down inside he wondered if it would be possible to ask her to stay.

  Ace was in the stable unsaddling his horse. He looked up when Clay came in. They were still good friends, even though Ace was now the owner of the ranch.

  “How is she doing?” Ace asked.

  Clay nodded. “Exhausted but I think she’ll recover. Annabelle is a good nurse.”

  Ace smiled. “She is,” he said. Since Ace and An
nabelle had gotten married Clay had never seen the man happier. Annabelle had been a mail order bride for another man who had fled town during a scandal. Annabelle had been stranded without a husband and an unexpected love had grown between two people who had never seemed destined to be together.

  “Have you spoken to Sheriff Russ?” Clay asked.

  Ace nodded, leading his horse into a stall. He hung the halter on a hook outside the stall.

  “Yeah, they found the horses spooked but all right, tangled up and unable to move much further. They’re at the livery in town.”

  Clay nodded.

  “And the damage to the coach? Do you think they’ll stay a while?”

  Ace glanced at Clay.

  “You want her to stay a while?” he asked, and it was obvious he was holding back a smirk.

  Clay nodded. He wasn’t going to deny it. “She really is something. She’s beautiful. I wouldn’t mind getting to know her better.”

  Ace let his smirk loose. “I know what that’s like.”

  Clay shook his head, smiling. Ace did know what it was like. And if he could find happiness and a life so much bigger than where he started, there was hope for Clay, too.

  Ace hadn’t answered his question about the damage to the coach but Clay wouldn’t push it. It wasn’t important right this second. He could always find out about that later.

  They went their separate ways and Clay picked up where he left off, mending fences and taking care of other duties around the ranch. When he was finished he had supper with the other ranch hands at Annabelle’s table—she provided three meals a day for them. Clay had hoped he would see Bethany at the table but he had been informed she was too weak to eat with the rest of them and Annabelle had taken her food to her room.