Unexpected Vows In A Frontier Town Chapter 03

Unexpected Vows In A Frontier Town Chapter 03

I shot to my feet.

She looked at me with a half-smile.

“Afraid I’ll tell Mr. Wolfram all about your past?”

With that, she turned and curtsied to Sebastian, who sat by the fireplace.

“My poor Wren,” she began. “No parents, no family, she had to go up into the hills with the young cowboys to scrape together wild onions to eat. Every time she came back, she’d be drenched in sweat, hair a mess, her skirt covered in weeds and mud.”

“I’m her teacher’s wife. It broke my heart to see.”

Sebastian, settled deep in his high-backed chair, frowned slightly.

I shot to my feet again.

“What are you talking about?”

She gave a little laugh.

“What do you mean? I’m your teacher’s wife. Why would I ever hurt you?”

“I only want Mr. Wolfram to understand what a hard life you’ve had.”

She turned to Sebastian.

“Sometimes Wren went out with one cowboy, sometimes two, even three or four at a time.”

“That girl’s got a real gift for pleasing men.”

She paused, her tone turning soft and honeyed.

“Mr. Wolfram sent sixty-six crates of engagement gifts to marry her. I wonder if she’s really worth that price.”

The words were filthy.

Every line hinted that I was some small-town girl who’d run wild with cowboys before marriage.

And yet, I had no way to defend myself.

I’d been so starved I had to scavenge wild greens just to get by, How could I have the luxury of playing the lady? I didn’t even own a dress that was truly mine.

Could Sebastian understand that?

A man like him, steeped in aristocratic bearing, would still want me?

I was shaking with rage.

Then, a hand closed around mine.

Sebastian didn’t look at me. His voice was flat.

“I don’t care about Miss Calloway’s past. As long as she’s willing to marry me now.”

Martha’s smile froze.

She hadn’t expected that a man would react this way after hearing this.

“Mr. Wolfram is so understanding. Wren is very lucky.”

She paused, her face shifting to a troubled expression.

“There is one more thing, though. I almost hate to mention it. But I’d be failing my own conscience if I kept quiet.”

She glanced at me, as if wrestling with herself, then steeled herself and went on.

“When Wren was little, she fell into the river in winter and damaged her health terribly. The doctor told us… it’ll likely be extremely difficult for her to bear children later on.”

“I hear families like yours place great importance on heirs. I hope Mr. Wolfram won’t hold it against her. Perhaps you’ll have to adopt.”

Sebastian didn’t even look up.

“Then we’ll adopt one.”

Martha’s face twisted completely out of shape.

“Mrs. Pike’s tired. Please escort her to rest.”

I waved a hand, signaling a maid to escort her out.

Martha tried to protest, but the moment she met Sebastian’s dark, stormy stare, she shrank back at once.

I gave my instructions in a low voice. “Lock the guest room door from the outside. Mrs. Pike’s had a long journey. She needs a good rest.”

If she insisted on following me to Whisper Valley, she couldn’t blame me for what came next.

The maid hesitated, but one glance at my face told her I wasn’t joking. She nodded quickly and hurried off.

I turned to face Sebastian.

“Mr. Wolfram. For our wedding, I have only one request.”

I looked him straight in the eye, speaking each word clearly.

“On the wedding day, not a single drop of alcohol passes your lips.”