Mail Order Bride: Westward Winds by - (book club books TXT) 📕

“Let’s have a walk in the park before going to Stanton’s, shall we?”

Maddie gave Theo a smile. He was a handsome young man, only a couple of years older than her twenty-one years. He wore his dark hair slightly long and a lock of it fell attractively over his forehead. Theo Wilson and she had grown up together, and Maddie had always thought of him as a brother. His green eyes glinted with mischief and good humor.

“What are you up to, Theo?” she asked as she narrowed her blue eyes at him.

“Why do you think I’m up to something? It’s a pleasant night, and I feel like stretching my legs a bit, that’s all,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Maddie knew Theo’s penchant for playing pranks and was slightly leery of his motives.

Theo gazed at her with a serious expression. “Madelyn, I promise this is not a joke. I just feel restless, that’s all. I have my boards in the morning and my nerves are getting the best of me. Help a fellow out, huh?”

Maddie relented. She knew how much passing his attorney licensing tests meant to Theo; he’d been studying very hard and could use a respite.

“Since you put it that way, perhaps a walk would be good for you at that,” she said.

“Splendid! Murdock! To the park. Look sharp, man!” Theo called to the driver.

Murdock started the horse out at a fast trot, and they soon left the O’Connor residence behind. It wasn’t long before they reached the park, and Theo helped Maddie down from the carriage, telling Murdock to wait for them there. Murdock assured his young master that he would stay put.

Theo took Maddie’s hand and they walked along the lit path. Walking hand in hand was something they did sometimes, and Maddie thought nothing of it. She looked up at the stars and smiled as she found the Big Dipper. This was by far the best place to see the stars since there weren’t as many lights around to dim their brilliance.

Following her gaze, Theo found it as well and smiled. Maddie had always liked the stars. He looked at her in the moonlight, and her platinum hair looked even paler, more ethereal than it normally did. Madelyn O’Connor was one of the most beautiful and sought after women in the city, and it wasn’t unusual for several men to be crowded around her at balls and parties.

She turned to look at him and he smiled at her. “I see it. What is it about the Big Dipper that fascinates you? Surely there are more exciting constellations to look at,” he said.

“It’s because of Papa. When were little and came to the park at night to see the stars, we always imagined what would be in it. You know; is it milk? Coffee? We would choose one and he would make up a story about how it got there or who put it in there. I think Tessa gets her imagination from him,” Maddie answered.

Theo smiled. “How is our Tessa?”

“She’s quite well, actually. She’s very happy with her husband and their children. I wish they would come for a visit so I could meet them. I’m sure their little one is adorable,” Maddie said.

“Oh, yes. They had a little boy. What did they name him again?”

“Michael, but they call him Mikey. Dean started that, I believe,” Maddie said.

Theo nodded. They neared the bridge leading over the brook that ran through the park. He stopped her and held her hand a little tighter. “Maddie, I need to talk to you.”

Maddie turned to him and was intrigued by the serious expression on his angular features. “What is it, Theo?”

“I want you to know how much you mean to me,” he said. “We’ve known each other for such a long time, and I’ve enjoyed every minute we’ve spent together.”

Maddie smiled. “So have I.”

“I love you, Maddie. I always have,” Theo said.

“Theo, you know I love you, too.”

Theo could tell from her easy tone that she didn’t realize what he was saying.

“No, I mean I love you as a man loves a woman. I’m in love with you,” he explained before dipping his head and brushing his mouth against hers.

Maddie pulled away and laughed at him. “Theo! What are you doing? I knew you were trying to pull a prank on me. Now let’s go to Stanton’s and stop this silliness.”

“I’m serious, Maddie. I’ve been in love with you for so long, but never had the courage to tell you until now,” Theo said as he encircled her waist with his arms.

Maddie pushed at him as he brought his mouth down on hers. She turned her head to the side and tried to avoid his kiss. “Theo! Stop this instant! Let me go! We’re just friends.”

“That’s the problem. What I feel for you isn’t something one feels for someone who’s just a friend,” Theo informed her, and held her even tighter.

“I’m sorry, Theo, I didn’t know.”

“Can’t you see how perfectly suited we are? Our families are close; we share the same interests and have so much fun together. Why shouldn’t we be together?” Theo continued with earnest.

Maddie said, “Because I don’t love you in that manner, Theo. I’m not romantically attracted to you. Now I demand that you release me!”

Her high-handed attitude brought out an explosive anger in Theo. Maddie watched in horror as she saw Theo change from her good-natured friend into an evil-faced stranger. His eyes took on a furious gleam, and his mouth twisted in an ugly snarl. The first blow came so swiftly that there was no time for her to react. It made her head swim, and she reeled backwards.

Theo hauled her back to him and struck her on the other side of her face; Maddie felt her left eye begin to immediately swell. Self-preservation kicked in and Maddie began to fight furiously, scratching and kicking. No man had ever touched her in a violent manner, and she’d be damned if she was going take Theo’s abuse like some weak-willed woman.

Her further resistance infuriated Theo even more, and he hit her harder and faster. Maddie fell as her senses became muddled from pain and dizziness. Theo was on her, ripping her bodice and trying to do the same with her gown and petticoats.

“If I can’t have you willingly, I’ll take you any way I can,” he told her. His tone was hate-filled and his voice coarse with rage.

Maddie still struggled, although she knew it was futile and there was no way she could hold off Theo’s assault. Through the fogginess in her pain-riddled mind, she heard shouting.

“Hey! You there! Leave her alone!” a male voice came.

Theo looked up and saw the man coming at him. He gave Maddie a last shake that bounced her head off the trail and then ran.

The man knelt next to Maddie and was shocked to see the awful state she was in. The woman who was with him took her battered hand gently in hers. “It’s all right, Miss. You’re safe now. We’re going to help you. We have to get her to the hospital, John.”

John saw how badly Maddie’s bodice was