Mail Order Bride: Westward Winds, - [best free ebook reader for android .txt] 📗

Tessa and Dean avoided each other the next day and it was apparent to everyone but the children that there was something wrong between them. Geoffrey tried to figure it out, but couldn’t. No one seemed inclined to fill him in, either. Finally, in the afternoon as Seth was showing him around the property, Geoffrey asked about it.

Seth said, “Geoffrey, it’s not exactly my place, but I don’t think you’re gonna get an answer from either of them at the moment, so I’ll tell you.”

“All right.”

Smiling, Seth said, “As you can tell, Dean and I are not all that book smart. Pa was, but we’re not. Letter writin’ isn’t exactly our strong suit. Marcus, though, he’s sharp as a tack. I’ve read some things he’s written and only understood half of it. So, Dean had Marcus help him answer Tessa’s letters. I’ve never read any of her letters and it’s none of my business what’s in them. I’m curious, but I wouldn’t read them.”

Geoffrey chuckled. “That’s only human nature, Seth.”

“No, I got a bigger dose of curiosity than most people. Anyhow, Tessa didn’t know Marcus was doin’ this and her feelings are hurt because she feels like she doesn’t really know Dean. Thing is, everything that was in the letters is true, but it’s not how Dean would say it. You see what I mean?”

Geoffrey could indeed see what was wrong between them. “And now he is angry that she didn’t tell us about marrying Dean. I could tell that yesterday when I arrived.”

“Yeah. I get why she didn’t send a letter back to your family, though,” Seth said.

“Why?” Geoffrey asked.

“C’mon, Mr. O’Connor. Be honest here. If Tessa had told you where she was right away and that she’d run away to the West to marry a rancher she didn’t know, what would you have done? Just what you did. You’d have come here and tried to stop the wedding,” Seth said with a direct gaze at the other man.

Geoffrey sighed. “Yes, I would have. Tessa was sneaky all the way around and I’m very angry with her about it, but I also understand why she did it. I’m afraid I didn’t listen to her like I should have,” he admitted.

Seth’s curiosity got the better of him. He intended to keep Geoffrey talking until he got the full story. “Oh? What about? I’m sorry. It’s none of my business…”

“No, I’d like to tell you,” Geoffrey said.

“Okay. If you’re sure,” Seth said.

“Yes. Truthfully, it’ll be good to get an objective opinion about it all,” Geoffrey said.

“Geoffrey, then how about we sit down in the barn out of the sun?” Seth said and led the way.

Once they’d settled on a couple of hay bales, Geoffrey said, “Women in our society are expected to perform certain duties.”

Seth arched an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“Attending parties, making their husbands look good by being pretty and obedient. Charming guests and always being a lady,” Geoffrey explained.

Seth frowned. “That sounds boring as hell.”

Geoffrey laughed. “That is just what my daughter kept saying, but no one really heard her, I’m afraid.”

“Why?”

“Because we thought we knew what was best for her,” Geoffrey admitted.

Seth didn’t want to appear critical but he said, “So you don’t want women who know their own minds? You’d rather have some kind of a puppet that you can make dance whenever you want to?” Seth heard what he’d just said. “Hey, that was pretty good. Sounds like something Marcus would say.”

Geoffrey smiled, despite the sting he felt from Seth’s words. “I think you’re smarter than you think you are, Seth.”

“Maybe I am,” Seth said doubtfully. “But I meant it. It sounds to me like you didn’t want to hear what Tessa was sayin’ because it went against what you thought she oughta want.”

“I didn’t think I was that kind of father, but now perhaps I see that I am. You see, our youngest daughter, Claire, is very intelligent and enjoys anything to do with education. I see nothing wrong with that. In fact, she has actually been helpful to me in business dealings. Sometimes she sees things that I have not. She’s only just turned sixteen, by the way.”

“Holy smokes,” Seth said. “I guess, too, she’s smart.”

“I allow her to go to the office with me and there are times when she is smarter than some of the people who work for me and it makes me very proud. This is why I thought I was more… tolerant of women who were intelligent and who perhaps didn’t completely fit in with societal norms for women,” Geoffrey said.

“But?” Seth encouraged.

“I failed Tessa in that regard. Part of my anger is directed at myself because I didn’t listen as carefully as I should have. We didn’t really consider her feelings,” Geoffrey said.

“Mr. O’Connor, this’ll sound funny, but I’m glad in a way that you didn’t.”

Geoffrey raised an eyebrow at Seth.

“Dean has hurt for a long time and Tessa makes him happy. I know they’re fightin’ right now, but I have faith that they’ll work it out. A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I have a romantic streak, at least where other people are concerned,” Seth said. “I haven’t seen Dean this happy in I can’t remember when. So at the risk of you sluggin’ me, I’m glad Tessa ran away and came here. Dean’s not the only one who’s happy she’s here. The rest of us are, too. Make no mistake about it, we all appreciate your daughter.”

Geoffrey ran a hand over his face. He started laughing. “She really was smarter than us when it came to her life. I don’t think anyone ever said that about her much in our circles. I’m envious of all of you because I think you know the real Tessa and I do not.”

Seth said, “Then it’s time you get to know her. She’s one heck of a lady.”

When Seth rose from his seat, Geoffrey stayed where he was. He wanted to be alone to ponder the things they’d discussed.

Poker that night was a loud, humorous event that made Geoffrey realize how much he sometimes missed his younger days when such games were a regular event in his life. He found it amusing that the ranchers played for toothpicks instead of money. It was a smart alternative to losing cash and it didn’t dampen the level of competitiveness at all. It actually made them a little reckless, which added to the hilarity.

Tessa was as good of a poker player as the men and thoroughly enjoyed herself. Marcus was the worst player because he had no poker face and they could always tell how good of a hand he had. He wasn’t even aware of his facial expressions half the time, which made it easy to know if he was bluffing or not.

Even though she and Dean were on the outs, Tessa was not going to miss out on spending a fun evening with her father and brothers-in-law. Seth and Marcus told raunchy stories, which made Geoffrey’s protective streak about Tessa come out after a little while.

“Papa, I have heard much worse in Pittsburgh. I’m not offended in the least,” she said.

Geoffrey’s stare was stern. “Just what kinds of things were you doing when you snuck out of parties and balls?”

Tessa said, “A lady never reveals her secrets, Papa. You should know that.”

“Aw, c’mon, Tessa,” Seth said. “Tell us.”

Dean said, “Yeah, Tessa. Tell us.”

Tessa’s gaze turned cool as she looked at Dean. “Perhaps another time.”

Seth scowled. “Well, I’m not gonna let you get out of it. I’ll keep askin’.”

Tessa chuckled. “I know you will. I’ll tell you about my wild days if you tell me about your evening out last week.”

Seth grinned. “Who said it was an evening out?”

Dean smacked the back of Seth’s head. “Knock that off!”

Marcus laughed. “Loosen up, Dean. Tessa’s a grown woman.”

“It’s not polite to talk about that kind of thing in front of women,” Dean said.

Geoffrey said, “Perhaps we should get back to the game?”

“Yeah. Good idea, Geoffrey,” Dean said.

“Papa, Dean, let me remind you that I do not need protecting. After all, I got to Montana just fine all by my weak little self,” Tessa said as