Last Bride, Last Man (Book Three of the Red River Valley Brides Series) Read online

  Last Man, Last Bride

  (Book 3 of the Red River Valley Brides series)

  By Rita Hestand

  Last Bride, Last Man

  (Book Three of the Red River Valley Brides Series)

  Rita Hestand

  Smashwords Edition

  Last Bride/Last Man (Book 3 of the Red River Valley Brides)

  Copyright © 2014 by: Rita Hestand

  ISBN: 978-1310236112

  Cover by Su Halfwerk

  Licensed Note

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without express written permission of the author. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy or copies. If you did not purchase this book or it was not purchased for your use, please go to Smashwords.com to purchase your personal copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Last Bride, Last Man is a work of fiction. Though some of the cities and towns actually exist they are used in a fictitious manner for purposes of this work. All characters are works of fiction and any names or characteristics similar to any person past, present or future are coincidental.

  Books in this series "The Amory's"

  Heart of a Lady

  Dancing With the Preacher Man

  Last Bride, Last Man

  Winning the Lady

  Maggie's Dreams

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Rita's Other Books

  1881

  South of the Red River

  Chapter One

  For six months Nadine walked the streets of Vada, not once seeing a prospect for a husband. It certainly hadn't been her fault that nearly every black man in the community was under age or already married. Her contract was getting harder and harder to fulfill.

  So Nadine tried other things. She'd joined the sewing circle, joined the local church, and helped Sophia Carver with her new bakery, and nursed Gerty Brown during her sickness. All of this accomplished only after Jo Ella insisted upon treating her like the lady she was. Being a woman of color the town took exception, but when Jo Ella explained she was a mail order bride, they consented; besides, she was a very good seamstress and nurse they conceded, and her muffins at the bakery were popular. She'd even gotten a job working as a cook in the hotel kitchen for a short time. Her chicken fried steak was mouthwatering and people would come from all over to taste it. Little credit did she get for that!

  But finding a man as a suitable husband was a losing battle for Nadine. There were a few black families on the outskirts of town and Nadine made it a point to get to know them all, but no singled black man of her age in the entire area of Vada. Her hopes began to sink, and she had thoughts of moving back to Sourdough.

  Nadine couldn't help but be discouraged.

  So when Gerty Brown got sick, she went to nurse her back to health. Nursing was one thing she was good at and she liked Gerty.

  Gerty's place was several miles out of Vada and Nadine like the way she had it fenced off and taken care of. Of course the land itself was in dire need of help, as no one had tended it for some time. Gerty's husband being dead a while hadn't helped. Gerty hadn't been strong enough to do anything outside the home.

  Inside the house was fixed up rather nice, Nadine acknowledged. There were green curtains in the front room and blue in the bedroom. The kitchen had no window so cupboards lined the walls. But Gerty always had a small vase with flowers in them on the table. It brightened the room considerably. After preparing a few meals Nadine realized that Gerty's kitchen was well stock, she had canned so much and put so many food ups that there wasn't a lack of food, even the though the garden outside had dried up some time ago.

  As they sat on the porch together, Gerty shot Nadine a glance Her eyes rested gently on her, with some inner longing shining through.

  "I wish my brother were here, Nadine. He'd see to this place. You and my brother would get along fine." Gerty stared out onto the countryside now, a wistfulness in her expression.

  Shrugging her shoulders she smiled, obviously in fond remembrance of better times, Nadine decided.

  Nadine flashed her a look of concern. She had become her best friend. But Gerty didn't thrive and Nadine feared the worst for her.

  "Where is he?" Nadine questioned one afternoon as she glanced about the small farm. A farm that needed a man's hand. She couldn't quite keep the annoyance from her voice. Even though she considered herself capable of almost anything, she was reluctant to take a hand in the farming. Gerty didn't need to be alone right now, she quickly decided.

  Gerty's eyes got that faraway look in them as they often did, and she shook her head. "I don't know." Her voice took on a faraway note, the sadness within her leaking out. "Not for sure at least. I ain't heard from him in a long time. I wrote him a couple months back, but I don't even know if he's still alive." Gerty frowned and coughed, her hands shaking in her lap.

  Nadine saw immediate that this distressed Gerty greatly and she wanted to put her at some ease.

  Nadine went to get the kitchen to get the medicine the doctor had given her to give to Gerty. Doc Frazier trusted Nadine to help out the colored community. Despite the fact that the doctor never had time to administer to them himself, Nadine didn't mind helping where she could. She couldn't expect a white doctor to put the colored community above the white.

  "Well, that's okay, Gerty. I'm here, and I'll take care of you." Nadine tried to comfort her. "We get along all right, don't we?"

  Gerty's dark brown eyes brightened for a moment and she smiled.

  Nadine wished she would smile more often. She wished she could say something that would make a difference to Gerty, make her want to fight to live.

  Gerty was in her forties however the consumption had made her look sixty. Her body had withered the storm of sickness and made an invalid of her. She had fragile look about her.

  Nadine had become fond of Gerty and wanted to do more. Gerty had been one of her first friends in Vada and she cherished their friendship. But other than cook and clean and wash for her, she wasn't sure there was anything that would help her. She had lost the will to go on. With no family about her, there was little to keep her here on this earth. The poor woman wasn't going to last much longer and Nadine wished with all her heart that Gerty's brother would return to help out. Maybe give her the moral support she needed to go on.

  Every day Nadine walked to the farm house on the edge of town and helped Gerty with whatever she could. She cooked for her constantly and Nadine had to admit, the fact that Gerty was getting no better, wore her down. But as long as there was any hope, Nadine clung to it.

  Then one day a stranger rode into t
he farm yard. Nadine had just put Gerty to bed, to rest. She stared out over the horizon, seeing the dust kick up. She wondered who it might be, so she sat herself in the rocker on the porch and waited to see if the man was going to stop off.

  He came directly into the yard, the chickens scattered, flapping their wings and making a noise as he reined his horse in.

  He was a handsome buck, Nadine acknowledged. Tall and broad shouldered and built like a strong brick that wouldn't blow away in the wind. He wore a gun on his hip, which caught Nadine's eye immediately. Most black men did not wear a gun on their hip, if they had one at all. He looked like a gunslinger, but something in his expression told Nadine he wasn't as dangerous as he looked.

  His warm brown eyes surveyed her from the distance, going from the top of her head to her feet. His expression was unreadable. He neither smiled nor frowned.

  Nadine boldly assessed him too. Liking the way his body moved as he dismounted. The man was sensual in his confident stride, in the way he held himself, and in those all seeing brown eyes. She smiled, he didn't.

  She couldn't take her eyes off his lazy eyed glance, nor the sinuous mouth that pouted at her. He exuded a sexual pull that Nadine recognized as all man. The urge to get to know him niggled in the back of her mind, but first she had to find out who he was, and what he wanted.

  Nadine couldn't stop the fantasy of running her hands over those big muscles in his arms, or how his sinuous mouth might cover hers in a kiss she was sure she'd remember. She felt herself react to his every move.

  She felt the heat from her own body, and the excitement he stirred beneath the surface of her façade. At last, a man that could be a candidate. Maybe all that praying worked.

  His narrowed frown marred the excitement of his arrival, as though he could not or would not smile. This man was different from most of the colored men in the community. He exuded a worldliness that had Nadine imagining all kind of things.

  He was dressed neatly as though he took pride in his appearance, another unusual quality. He wore black pants, and a white shirt and leather vest over the massive chest. She wondered for a moment what it might be like to run her fingers over that chest. It stirred her.

  The man was not like most of the folks that lived here. He carried himself proudly, with an arrogance about him that puzzled her. She seldom seen a black man with such confidence.

  Nadine waited until he dismounted before she spoke. "Good morning." She greeted him without expression, aware of his scrutiny. She wondered how she measured up, as his eyes took her in.

  The man eyed her speculatively, as though he might have a few fantasies of his own. "I'm looking for my sister."

  His words held no greeting. But Nadine was not deterred. She suddenly sat up straight and eyed him with new precision.

  Nadine's mouth fell open. This was Gerty's brother?

  "What's her name?" Nadine questioned curiously, wanting to be sure of her instinct.

  "Her name is Gertrude Brown and she used to live here." He said still eyeing her with precision as though she were the intruder.

  Nadine's heartbeat quickened.

  "So you're her brother?" Nadine mumbled the words as though to herself.

  He adjusted his black hat, and gave her another bold stare. "That's right. They call me Gabriel, after the angel. Gabriel Martin Lewis."

  His sensuous mouth gave a slight quirk.

  If he expected a smile, he didn't get it. Nadine stared now, not only was he big and impressive, he had a way of walking and talking that aroused Nadine. It irritated her that he could so easily arouse her. Not many men did that to her. He could too easily control her…and reject her. Still the thought of being in his arms held a tempting thought.

  "But you can call me Gabe. Now…where is my sister?" He frowned at her.

  "She's here. She's resting. I'll wake her in a bit."

  "Resting? This time of day?" He asked, twisting his head as though he found that statement strange.

  "I guess you didn't get her letters. Gerty's very sick."

  "Sick?" He repeated, with another frown. "How bad is she?"

  "Bad enough that she needs me, everyday." Nadine answered.

  "What's wrong with her?"

  "Consumption." Nadine said not realizing the sadness that leaked from the word.

  "Can I see her?" He asked, his tone of voice changing to one of concern.

  Perhaps he didn't like strangers, but there was love in his concern for his sister. "You can peek in on her, but please don't wake her. I've had her up most of the morning, sitting out here getting a little fresh air, and she's very tired." Nadine cautioned.

  He nodded. But as he started to go inside, he turned to look at her once more. "Who are you?"

  Nadine rose from the rocker and stood just behind him.

  "I'm Nadine Williams, a friend of your sister's."

  "You've been taking care of her?" He asked, as his glance went around the place.

  "That's right."

  "Much obliged." He nodded and went inside.

  He peeked through the door of the bedroom and saw his sister. His shoulders rolled with tension. He stared long and hard at her, and then joined Nadine in the kitchen at the table. Just the way he sat down emitted a huge disappointment in the air.

  He glanced back at the closed door.

  "Want some coffee?" She offered.

  "Yes, thank you. I've been riding all morning, get's a might thirsty out on the trail." His eyes took on a faraway look, but her bringing the coffee to the table jolted him. "She's aged…and she's so thin." His voice lowered, his disappointment showed as his expression changed to one of concern.

  "She has aged, but most people do when they are sick…" Nadine reassured him. "Now that you are here, maybe she'll get better."

  "How long have you been looking after her?" He asked as he sipped the hot coffee.

  "About six months." Nadine sat at the table with him, trying not to stare. Gerty was one of the fist in the community that I met."

  "Community?"

  "Yes, the black community."

  His wide-eyed glance spoke volumes. "Has she had a doctor?"

  Nadine shrugged. "There's one in town, but he don't treat colored folks. He gives me medicine and tells me what to do for her. He says he don't have the time to tend everyone. But that's just an excuse."

  "Is he that busy?" Gabe asked his brows knitting.

  "No, but please don't judge him. He's a kind man. I have a distinct feeling that his customers in the community wouldn't like him looking after the colored folks. But he has given me much instructions on handling this kind of thing. He seems to appreciate me giving her the medicine. He has genuine concern. Besides, he's the only man that has offered to help her. So I wouldn't go judging him so fast." She warned him.

  The man stared at her, his eyes becoming bigger as though he had some thoughts on that subject. But he seemed to grasp something else from her outburst about the doctor.

  She expected him to lash out from the flash of his eyes, but he kept his peace.

  "Where's her husband?" Gabe asked as he looked out the window. "Who's taking care of this place, it looks pretty run down."

  "It is. Her husband died three months ago, of consumption. She sort of gave up when he died." Nadine said her voice going husky. "She was hopin' you'd return. She said she sent a letter."

  "George is gone?" Gabe looked shocked, as he ignored her comment.

  "Yes, has been a while now."

  "Then nobody is tending this farm?" He asked, his continued gazing out the window at the unattended fields made her suspicion that he was more than a little concerned about the place.

  "No…no one. I would have, but Gerty seems to need me…to talk…to assure her that someone cares. Otherwise she would be so alone. And I don't think she needs to be alone right now." Nadine glanced outside and saw the fields overrun with weeds instead of crops. She had thought at one time she might try to farm the place for Gerty, but Gerty had been so
sick, Nadine had no time to tend it. Besides, the little she knew about farming wouldn't have done much good.

  "Then I reckon it is my place to take up where George left off. I'll tend it."

  Nadine stared at him. She heard the strong sense of pride in his voice. "I gathered you were a drifter from the way Gerty talked. That gun on your hip hints at something else you might be."

  His eyes narrowed on her, his mouth wore an unwelcomed frown. "I might be." He eyed her again. "Look, I was raised on a plantation, I know how to farm." He glanced at her again. "You live around here?" He asked curiously.

  "I live in town, for now." Nadine said, wishing he wasn't quite so nosey and yet liking the fact that he was interested enough to ask.

  "I appreciate you seeing after her. And I could use the help for a while, until I get things under control here, if you could come as often as possible and see to her." He asked.

  "Sure, I can do that." Nadine nodded. "I care for Gerty a lot. She's been nothing but kind to me." Nadine's voice grew husky.

  "I can't pay you right away, but you are welcome to vitals and such when you are here."

  "Thank you." Nadine drank her coffee quietly. She suddenly realized that his appearance here had changed things and that she couldn't presume her welcome.

  "You aren't from around here?" He asked staring at her now.

  "No, I moved to Vada with the intention of finding a husband. I'm a mail order bride." She stated proudly.

  "A what?" His nose wrinkled as though he'd never heard the term.

  "I'm a mail order bride. I came to Vada to find a husband, a home for myself." She turned an arrogant glance on him.

  "And have you found one?"

  "No…black men here are either married or too young. But that's the chance I took."

  "You must've been pretty desperate to take a chance like that. I mean some towns don't have many colored folks."

  "Life is a chance, isn't it?" Nadine stared at him now.

  A slight smile curled his lips.

  A couple of young men came to throw rocks at the house and Gabe bristled as he jumped up and looked out the window. "Who are they?"