Heart of a Lady (Book One of the Red River Valley Brides) Read online

  Heart of a Lady

  (Book One of the Red River Valley Brides Series)

  By Rita Hestand

  Heart of a Lady

  By Rita Hestand

  Copyright© by Rita Hestand 2014

  Smashwords Edition

  Heart of a Lady

  All rights reserved

  Digital ISBN # 9781311740670

  Other books in this series:

  Dancing With the Preacherman

  Last Bride, Last Man

  Winning the Lady

  Maggie's Dreams

  License Notes

  This book Heart of a Lady is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. Please purchase an additional copy for each person you share with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

  This book Heart of a Lady is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty Six

  About the Author

  Rita's Other Books

  1880

  Just past the Red River into Texas

  Chapter One

  "Jo Ella you are a whore. That's all you are." Randal Thomas frowned, his green eyes reflected a hint of annoyance and air of snobbery she hadn't expected from him.

  Jo Ella cringed, but hid her reaction. The rumpled sheets they had lain on just minutes ago, now slipped like ripples of water through her hands.

  "That's all you will ever be. What do you expect me to do?" Heavy with sarcasm he shook his head as though he didn't understand her.

  Jo Ella wanted to beat his chest with her fists, she wanted to slap his arrogant face but she knew that would be stooping to his level. Instead she listened with a loathing building inside her. Her heart was broken, her ego trampled by this man who professed to love her only minutes ago in the heat of their lovemaking.

  She grimaced at the drawn shades and the seclusion in which he always sought to make love to her.

  He'd been a good lover. He was a clean and patient lover. But he was airing dirty laundry now.

  "I can't marry you; you know I'm a married man. I'm married to the banker's daughter, a real lady. A lady, with a reputation I won't smudge. She's given me everything, including her trust." He saw her lip tremble, her eyes close. "You've got to live in the real world. You're nothing but a whore, and I can't marry you. You knew that, you knew, I never lied to you. I'm already married." Randal Thomas declared, his hands going in the air dramatically.

  "I thought you had more guts than this. I thought you knew that what we've had, is lust. Not love. It could never be love. We please each other, the way no one else can. We are good together, but this routine you go through every so often makes me wonder if you see things the way they really are. I didn't want to be this blunt, but you force me to it every time. You're my whore, and that's all you are. I'm your lover, and that's all I am to you. Understand?"

  His words were the truth, and they cut to the core of her heart. Why had she deceived herself into thinking it was more?

  "Look, it's as simple as this, Charlotte found out about me comin' here on Saturday nights. She had me watched. So now I gotta quit seein' ya or she'll leave me. I cain't let that happen. Whatever would I do for money? I've become accustomed to that money. You've become accustomed to that money."

  He seemed to let that soak in before he spoke again.

  "I will not leave her…not even for you." He rubbed the back of his head with both hands. "And that's saying somethin', 'cause our Saturday nights together is the best thing in my life. So don't ruin this for me, or for yourself. You gotta understand, Jo Ella, I'm livin' a good life, and no whore will change that."

  Jo Ella took in her hurt and protected it from this man that was bent on belittling her. Her pride asserted itself.

  "Look, I don't mean to hurt you, you know I love ya. We got nothing but good between us, but…"

  That was enough. She couldn't bear it any longer.

  "Maybe I am…just a whore." She tossed her dark curls behind her and slanted him a disproving glance. "And maybe that's all I'll ever be. But it's not for tryin'. Now you git out of here and don't ever come around me again…you hear?" Jo Ella raised her voice and eyes at the same time. "You've used me for the last time. I don't need you tellin' me what I am or who I am. Up until now you've treated me like a lady. I won't deny it. But now…"

  Her rage consumed her. She flashed him a look of pure anger with her eyes.

  Admittedly, Randal captivated women with his golden hair, probing green eyes, and his easy smile. Jo Ella thought him the cleanest and best smelling man around. In her books that meant a lot. At first, she burst into her life like a gentleman prince, but she learned differently fast. It took her a while to admit it, but he was no different than any other man she'd met at Al's.

  She'd faked most of her best moments with him, caught up in a world of lust and love-making it had become easy. What she felt, or thought she felt, died today in his thoughtless words.

  She'd learned that cleanest and best smelling didn't make him the best man. No, Randal Thomas was a snake in nice clothing. Using her like all the rest, his only difference was he had a comfortable living, a rich wife, and most people respected him.

  Oddly enough she wanted to learn from him how to be a real lady, but he was a complete façade. He was a phony, how could she learn anything from him?

  He lived off two women, his wife for money, and her for love, or was that sex?

  Even the expensive sheets on her bed, that she had ordered from one of the finest in New York, didn't impress him. The expensive gowns she had bought to please him, he tossed quickly in the air, as though they meant nothing to him.

  He still ranted now…

  "You ought not to take on so. You knew I was married. I never made a secret of it. What did you expect? Look, I'll be back after the talk dies down. You know I will. We got somethin' good between us, and I ain't about to let you go nowhere. You know you're my woman. But right now…Charlotte has something I want…money and that's something you can't give me. I will sneak away every chance I get, I promise."

  "That might have been good enough before today. But… not any longer."
>
  Jo Ella shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, she filed her nails as though what he said wasn't bothering her a bit.

  "Aw now honey, look, I can't rile her, she might leave me. And take her fortune with her. Where would I be if she left me? Where would you be. I happen to spend my money on you."

  "Oh we wouldn't want that, would we? You might have to work at that bank if she left you." Jo Ella craned her neck to look Randal in the eye. His tallness suddenly irritated her. "Maybe you should have thought of that before you came up the stairs with me that first time. Maybe you need some time to figure out what you really want."

  "Well, good heavens Jo Ella. I can't help it. She might not be as pretty as you, but she's richer. And a man can't go anywhere without money. What do you expect? Now you got no room for complaint. I treated you good. I never been mean, nor hit you. I sure spent the money on you. You know I love to touch you and look at you."

  "You hit me today…with your fancy words. You hit me with your name calling. I didn't expect nothin' from you. And less now. Please, just get out of here." Jo Ella cried.

  "Fine, I don't need ya. I can get another just as easy…" he huffed his face turning red. "You're all the same, cheap whores!"

  Randal slid into his shirt covering his pale skin, and stout build. He was a handsome gentleman on the outside, on the inside he was a coward, depending on a woman for his future. Funny how easily Jo Ella could see that now.

  "Then get another one." She whispered under her breath, and slammed the door after him.

  Jo Ella refused to be reduced to tears. Her anger seethed within her. 'Just a whore'.

  "That's what he thinks." She slammed her fist into the pillow on the bed as she sat down to think of her next move. For a second she indulged in hitting the pillow. It sunk in the middle. "This is your face… Just a whore."

  That's what they all thought. But it wasn't true. She had more in her than that and she'd show them.

  God, I'm better than this, you know I am…

  Deep down, there was a heart of a lady, and somehow, someway, she was going to become one if it killed her.

  That's when she started reading the paper from Dallas. She could barely read, but if she took her time and tried hard, she could manage to figure out what it was saying.

  And reading led her to the ad.

  It was in bold print, kind of stood out on the page from everything else, like it was written just for her. She'd read and reread it many times. Every time some low life put his hands on her.

  "Females wanted. Brides needed for men of the west." It read.

  Old Al the bartender shook his head and laughed, as he shined the glasses with his rag. "You ain't seriously considerin' doin' that? Are ya?" Al glanced at the tattered paper and the ad that was set in bold type.

  "Look around you Jo Ella. This place ain't that bad. Ain't you got no respect from where you came from? This is a step up from that, ain't it."

  "It isn't the place Al. This saloon is the nicest I've worked in, that's true. But, I don't want this kind of work no more. I'm better than this." She glanced over her shoulder at Al.

  "But you're a whore!" he exclaimed. "They want ladies…."

  "So? They don't know that. Besides, I can be just as much a lady as anyone." Jo Ella cried out. "We're all born alike. We are all women first. A lady can be made, Al."

  "You ain't that good an actress." Al shook his head.

  "You just wait. I'll show you. I'll show this whole town…" Jo Ella reread the ad, soaking it into her mind.

  "Sure you will you and all the rest of my girls." Al laughed.

  "Maybe we'll surprise you." Jo Ella sighed.

  Al shook his head and came to stand in front of her; his big belly rubbed the bar and made a dark mark on his white shirt and apron. He ran a hand through his grease slicked hair. "Now look Jo Ella. You are as pretty as anyone I know, and smart too. Probably the smartest gal I got workin' here. Why you can actually read and write. But it takes more than that to be a lady. You ought to get that fool notion out of your head. You get paid, I don't mistreat you. What you got to complain about?"

  "When a woman is content doing this, there is something wrong Al…" Jo Ella affirmed. "I want more…"

  ~*~

  "Did you see what we're carryin' this time, Sam?" the hired shotgun rider laughed.

  The stage driver nodded as he kept a steady pace with the horses, as he spit into the thin air. "I seen 'em. Five of the prettiest things this side of the big Red. All mail order brides."

  "Is that what they are up to?" Jacob glanced around the back of the stagecoach even though he knew this would be an easy run, he took no chances on anyone sneaking up on him.

  No one followed the coach Jacob sighed contentedly, he returned his attention to the front, as he spit his tobacco to the dirt. "Glad we ain't got no gold shipments or money bags this trip."

  "I was wonderin' why they wanted a shotgun, but I guess to protect the ladies, what else?"

  "I reckon so. I'm just a little too old and little too married to be interested in this freight."

  "Naw ain't that, but they are a friendly bunch if I ever did see 'em. One of them was sure makin' smiles at me."

  "She must have been blind to smile at you." Sam laughed. "Or the men back east aren't worth much."

  Jacob shook his head, "That's what I mean; they must not have men back east 'cause they act like they haven't been around one in a long time."

  "You always were a nosey cuss. But you forget one thing, Jacob; they are all ladies, lookin' for husbands. And rift-raft like us don't mess with ladies."

  "Aw, I ain't messin', just lookin' is all. How many times we get a load like this?"

  "Not many, well, maybe not at all. Man this road is a mess today, must have been some hellova storms through here." Sam shook his head as he tried to dodge the debris in the road. "I ain't been feelin' too good lately either. Didn't want to make this run, but Toler said he didn't have anyone else to do 'er."

  "What's wrong?"

  "Got a lot of pain…in here," he pointed to his heart. "Reckon my ticker ain't doin' so well."

  "Maybe you better let ole doc check you out next time we're back home."

  "Maybe…"

  "Be careful 'round that big bend on the next rise, someone told me it was washed out, could be dangerous driving through that. Maybe we should've taken the long route."

  "I'm always careful." Sam shouted above the noise of the horses. "I've done this route for nearly ten years, I know it better than you…"

  Suddenly Sam grabbed his chest, made a face and keeled over, falling away from the stage onto the dirt road with a thud.

  Jacob glanced once at Sam as though he couldn't believe he just keeled over. "Sam!" he called and then grabbed the reins and tried to halt the horses, but they were on a run now and all he could do was try to stay in the ruts of the road. He was worried about that bend in the road. Could he take it? He usually just rode shotgun, never was a whip. Never had to be, Sam was as dependable as they come.

  ~*~

  "Does that driver have to hit every bump in the road?" One of the girls asked, adjusting her hat as the stage bounced from every bump.

  "Oh quit fretting Trish, it's not like back home where the roads are well made and the buggies have some springs to them. We'll get by." Sarah smiled, adjusting her hat once more, as she pushed her brown-blonde hair away from her face.

  "Sarah, how would you know? I hope these cowboys are worth this trip." Maggie gaze shifted from one to the other. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this." She glanced at Jo Ella. " I don't know why I let you talk me into this mail-order bride business. We have no idea what we are getting ourselves into. At least with Al we knew what to expect."

  "Well it is better than whorin' ourselves down at the saloon, don't you think?" Jo Ella inserted.

  "Mail order brides, do you really expect them to believe us?" Nadine, the black girl asked with a sultry deep voice.

  Jo Ella ey
ed her a minute, as if considering what she asked. "Look girls we can pull this off. Just remember you are a lady, that's all. Just try to remember how your mama's acted." Jo Ella instructed. "You don't have to be prim and proper all the time, but you do have to behave like a lady. Let the men open doors for us, fix our chairs for us, and for heaven's sake watch out how you sit down, put your legs together. And mind your manners, don't cuss."

  "I ain't done that in years, "Trish snickered. "Put my legs together that is. You make it sound easy. But if I never have to lay down for another man I'll be happy."

  "How you figure on that, Trish. Married men want it too. And regular."

  "Maybe I'll find me some old coot that don't care about that any more." Trish giggled.

  "We are mail order brides. We do this right we'll all be married inside a month I would gamble. The only difference I see is we are tradin' many men for one."

  "Just hopin' they are gonna be worth it." Trish concluded her red blonde brows coming together against her peachy cream complexion. "You do realize they could be wife beaters, don't you?"

  "Always so negative." Jo Ella shook her head with disgust. "It's up to you to pick a good one."

  "This is the most exciting thing I've ever done. I can't wait…" Maggie cried out. Maggie fanned herself as the heat and dust was stifling. Her blonde curls bounced at every bump in the road. "Look, if you want this bad enough, you can pull it off. There ain't no difference in us except we got more experience, that's all. But think of it this way, we got a year to find a man we want to live with, and we can pleasure that man better than most. At least we know how. Just remember once you are married, you know how to treat a man and he won't be goin' to a saloon for his pleasure, unless you want him to. The trick is to look for a man that treats you well and really likes you. So be yourselves and find the man of your dreams. Don't settle for some old coot."