Second Chances: Aidan's Bride (The McKenzie Series #1) Read online

  LYNN COPPERSMITH

  Second Chances

  Aidan’s Bride

  Second Chances

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2016 by Lynn Coppersmith

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of excerpts consisting of no more than 2 chapters to be used for review or marketing purposes. To obtain written permission for any other uses, contact the author via email: [email protected].

  For all those who have had their heart broken and still have the courage to take a second chance on love.

  LC

  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 One

  Willamette Valley, Oregon

  Late August 1852

  Naomi Tisdale drew her horse to a stop and patted his neck absentmindedly as she surveyed her new home. She had wondered how much of a house and farm her thousand dollars would buy her, sight unseen. She smiled ruefully as she scanned her new home. Apparently not much, she thought dismally.

  Her horse, Shadow, gave a snort and waggled his head from side to side as if he were disgusted. She stroked behind his ears fondly.

  “I know,” Naomi said with a grin, “it certainly doesn’t look like what I pictured. Still, we will make it work for us.”

  The house was really not much more than a rustic, very small cabin. Still, it looked solid and sturdy, and she didn’t really need much space. It was just her, after all. The kind of space she needed was from pitying glances and disapproving frowns. She needed space to make her own decisions and to be an independent woman. She thought, perhaps, this place would provide the space she needed. She desperately hoped so.

  The cabin sat nestled beneath several majestic oak trees that would shelter it from storms and shade it from the summer heat. A covered porch ran the length of the front of the cabin, and there was a sturdy looking rocking chair angled to take in the view of the meadow. There was a river burbling nearby. A stone well, complete with a bucket and rope, stood in the front yard. At least it didn’t look like she would have to worry about having fresh water handy.

  What was once a large vegetable garden stretched out from the side of the cabin, and she could tell the soil was black and fertile even though the patch had mostly gone to weeds. On the other side of the cabin was a barn that looked like it was large enough to house a few horses and maybe a few cows. It had fallen into disrepair. One of the double doors was hanging askew, and several boards were missing from the sides. There was also a much smaller building nearby, and what looked like a smokehouse.

  A crude fence had been erected around the side of the barn, forming a corral. Naomi dismounted and led her horse into the enclosure.

  “Let’s get you more comfortable, Shadow,” she murmured, as she removed the horse’s bridle and scratched him behind his ears.

  The horse nudged her, burying his nose under her arm as he begged for more of her attention. Naomi laughed and obliged him by stroking his velvety nose and hugging his neck.

  “Yes, you are a good boy,” she cooed with an indulgent smile. “Let me get these bags off you, and then we can settle you into your new home.”

  Naomi untied two small suitcases and several saddle bags and set them beside the gate. Then, she unsaddled Shadow and placed the saddle, blanket and bridle inside the barn. She located a bucket and carried it down to the nearby river.

  She filled the bucket for Shadow and carried it back into the enclosure, careful to latch the gate. Shadow sank his face into the bucket and drank deeply. While he satisfied his thirst, she located another bucket for feed and filled it with oats. The oats were almost gone, and she would soon need to replenish her supplies. There was supposed to be a town a few miles further down the road. She would have to visit there within the next few days.

  Shadow ambled over to her and began happily munching on the oats. He was obviously content with his new abode. With one last pat on his neck, she retrieved her belongings and turned toward the cabin. It was time to see what her new cabin could provide in terms of comfort and shelter.

  Naomi opened the front door and stood in the doorway, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the gloom. The thought that there might be other creatures inhabiting the cabin made her shudder. As long as there weren’t any rats, she could handle just about any other kind of critter. The wood floor seemed sound enough, and she was relieved not to hear any scurrying sounds as she walked to the center of the room. The boards beneath her feet seemed sturdy, even if they were a bit squeaky.

  A small table with four rickety chairs stood in the kitchen area. There were a few cupboards built along the wall, and a cast iron cook stove took up one corner. A low bed with a lumpy cotton mattress occupied the opposite wall, making up the last of the furniture. A large wardrobe stood at the foot of the bed. It looked well built, with just a few scuffs and a broken piece of trim at the top edge. A rock fireplace was centered along the back wall of the cabin, and a small stack of firewood was piled nearby. Every surface was covered with dust, grime and cobwebs, and a sour, stale smell hung heavy in the air.

  There were four small windows, one on each wall of the cabin. They all had wooden shutters that were closed over them from the inside. Naomi opened the shutters and pulled open the windows. She was pleased that light streamed in, and a fresh breeze blew through the cabin, bringing clean, fresh air.

  So this will be my refuge, Naomi mused. She had come here seeking solitude, hoping to find some remnants of peace and happiness.

  It had been two years since her husband died. For two years she had agonized about all the ways she had failed him. She had failed to make him happy. She had failed to save him when the fever had him in its death grip. She had failed to give him the one thing that he had wanted most in the world.

  Given her many failings as a wife, she had decided that she would never marry again. It was far better to remain alone than to see her husband’s love for her die a slow death. She couldn’t bear to ever go through that again.

  She had travelled for weeks to get here from San Francisco. She had travelled alone, braving the wild, living rough and doing her best to avoid mankind in general. It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. However, she knew there were plenty of people, especially men, who would prey on a woman travelling alone. She didn’t want to take any unnecessary chances, and she certainly didn’t want to attract any undue attention. She just wanted to be left alone.

  Naomi had felt it would be prudent to dress as a man, so she could travel mostly unnoticed. She smiled, remembering the San Francisco shopkeeper’s raised brows when she had purchased breeches, shirts and boots for herself. A loose but lightweight coat and a wide brimmed hat had completed her ensemble. She had been pleased with the result. With her long auburn hair tied into a bun and tucked into her hat, she had passed as a young boy, at least as long as she didn’t come too close to others. She had also found it much more comfortable riding a horse in breeches.


  Once again, thoughts of her husband and his parents came to mind. They would definitely not have approved of her dressing as she was. But then again, his parents hadn’t approved of her no matter what she did. They had always viewed her as not good enough for their son. At least, here, she didn’t need to worry about what they thought. She had found a small refuge where she could assert her independence, and at the age of twenty four, she was more than ready to do so.

  The only good thing that had come from her husband’s death was that it led to her becoming self-reliant and resourceful. She had learned that if she wanted something, she would have to get it for herself. She could not depend on a husband or family. She couldn’t depend on so-called friends. They either disappeared into the woodwork when needed the most or tried to interfere too much. She had only herself. She would make her own way, and then she wouldn’t have to answer to anyone.

  By all appearances, it was good that she had become so self-reliant and resourceful. Those traits would continue to serve her well as she made this farm liveable. Everywhere she looked, there was work to be done, and the magnitude of the tasks threatened to overwhelm her.

  If only her husband hadn’t died. If only his family and friends had been more supportive. She would not have had to flee here if she had not been subjected to such contempt and disapproval.

  If only you had been a better wife.

  Naomi heaved a heavy sigh as she set her saddlebags and suitcases on a chair and began rolling up her sleeves. This was no time to get lost in morose memories. First things first, she thought.

  She might as well start cleaning. There was no way she was going to spend even one night in this filth. It was already late afternoon, so if she intended to get to bed before midnight, she had better make the most of the time she had.

  It took only a few minutes to get a fire going in the cook stove. She located a large pot and carried it outside to the well. She lowered the bucket into the well, happy to see that all appeared in good working order. It took only a minute before she retrieved the bucket, and she was pleasantly surprised that the water was clear, cold and smelled clean and fresh. She tentatively took a sip from a dipper hanging on the side of the well. It tasted delicious, and she sighed with pleasure as she drank her fill.

  She filled the pot, carried it back inside, and placed it on the stove to heat. Then, she located an old broom and thoroughly swept the cabin, moving furniture and sweeping cobwebs out from under the bed and from all the corners. By the time that was done, the water was warm. Naomi found a brush, some cloths, and a large bar of lye soap in the kitchen, and she set about scrubbing every surface. She removed what looked like years worth of grime and grease. When she was finally satisfied, every surface gleamed.

  Naomi turned her attention to the bed, and the pile of dusty blankets covering its surface. She sighed. For a few brief moments, she missed her comfortable home back in San Francisco. Her feather mattress, with its clean white sheets had been a haven. She would have loved to sink into it at that moment. Her back and neck were aching, and she would have liked nothing better than to have a comfortable and clean bed.

  She reminded herself that those creature comforts came at a price, namely her freedom and self respect. All things considered, she could manage to make a reasonably comfortable bed in her new home. But before she could get any rest, she would have to address the old, lumpy mattress and the filthy bedding. With a resigned sigh, she gingerly began to lift the blankets and carry them out to the porch.

  Chapter Two

  Aidan McKenzie hefted a large bag of flour and carried it to the counter of Thompson’s General Store. The owner, Mr. Thompson, was just finishing up with the banker’s wife, Mrs. Roberts. Mr. Thompson and Mrs. Roberts were chatting amiably, and Aidan was in no rush. He consulted his list, making sure he had remembered to get all the supplies he and his brothers needed.

  “It is such a pleasant surprise to see you, Mr. McKenzie.”

  Aidan inwardly groaned as he looked up to see Mrs. Roberts smiling at him. He nodded his head and smiled politely. “It’s nice to see you as well, ma’am. How is the family?”

  Mrs. Roberts preened. “Fine, fine. Especially my Sally. She just gets prettier every day.”

  Aidan gave a noncommittal grunt that could be construed as agreement and began to turn away.

  “We would love to have you join us for dinner, Mr. McKenzie. Are you busy this evening?”

  “Thank you for the invitation, ma’am, but I really have to get home. I have a lot of work to do this evening.”

  Mrs. Roberts gave a sad cluck of her tongue. “Well, another time then? We would really love to have you come whenever you are free.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. I’ll certainly keep that in mind.” Hell would freeze over before Aidan would accept her invitation.

  With a last smile and wave to Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Roberts made her exit. Mr. Thompson faced Aidan with a wide grin.

  “It’s the same story every time,” Mr. Thompson said. “It’s no wonder you avoid coming into town very often. The way the women fawn over you and your brothers, it’s like bees coming to honey.”

  Aidan shook his head with a puzzled frown. “It’s not as if we do anything to encourage them.”

  Mr. Thompson laughed. “You don’t have to. I hear the young women gossiping about you all the time. Let me tell you, all the young women, and their mamas, go on and on about the McKenzie men. You and your brothers are like the sweetest candies in the store, and the fact that you don’t even try to gain their favor only makes the ladies want you more. Why don’t you choose one so the rest of the young men in this town can have a fair chance?”

  “If only it were that easy,” Aidan said with a snort. “I can’t see spending the rest of my life with any of the young ladies I’ve met in this town.”

  “Don’t you find any of them attractive?”

  “Sure, there are quite a few really pretty ones. But then, when they start talking, with their simpering smiles and silly notions, I find my mind just starts wandering. The next thing I know, I’m thinking about what crops I’m going to plant in the north fields and how I need to prune the fruit trees in the orchard.”

  Mr. Thompson shook his head and laughed. “Oh to be young again,” he sighed with a teasing wink. “You’re not supposed to choose a wife based on her conversational abilities. Trust me … on a cold winter’s night, what a woman has beneath her gown is much more important than what she has between her ears.”

  Aidan chuckled and rolled his eyes. “I’m afraid I want both, my friend.”

  “Then you’re going to end up old and lonely. You know as well as I do that men outnumber women two to one here in Oregon. It’s not as if there is an endless supply of ladies to choose from. You’re going to have to settle for someone or be a lonely bachelor for life.”

  “Well, if settling means choosing someone like Sally Roberts, I’d prefer being a lonely bachelor.”

  Mr. Thompson raised his eyebrows in consideration, but he ultimately sighed and nodded his head in agreement.

  “I see what you mean about her,” he mumbled. “I wouldn’t want her mother as my mother-in-law either. Can you imagine dealing with that meddlesome old biddy for the rest of your life?”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Aidan said firmly. “Besides, my brothers and I aren’t lonely. We’ve got each other for company, and we’ve got our hands full with our farm. None of us are looking to get married in the near future. Maybe in a few years.”

  “By then, all the pretty young ladies will be married.”

  Aidan shrugged. “Maybe. I’ll take my chances. I’m not going to rush into the parson’s trap unless I find just the right girl.”

  Mr. Thompson shook his head. “Suit yourself.” He looked down at the items Aidan had collected. “Did you find everything you needed?”

  “Yes. What do I owe you?”

  Mr. Thompson added up the cost of the various items, and Aidan counted out the mon
ey. As Mr. Thompson bundled his purchases into a gunny sack, he continued talking.

  “Hey, did you hear someone bought old Mr. Hatcher’s farm?”

  Aidan frowned, feeling a stab of disappointment. “No. Who is the new owner?”

  “I’m not sure. I just know that it was sold recently. Far as I know, no one has moved in yet.” Mr. Thompson gave Aidan a wink. “Maybe the new owner will have a pretty young daughter, and she will meet all your expectations for a wife.”

  “That would be nice, but I’m not holding my breath,” Aidan said with a grin.

  Mr. Thompson looked over Aidan’s shoulder out through the store front window. “Uh oh,” he said with another grin, “looks like the female population heard you were in town. Brace yourself.”

  Aidan glanced over his shoulder and grimaced. A half dozen young ladies came bustling through the door. They descended on him en masse, and he was quickly surrounded by giggling, babbling, flirting females. They all began talking at once, and the noise of their high pitched chatter was enough to make him wince.

  “Why Mr. McKenzie. What a pleasant surprise!”

  “We haven’t seen you in ages!”

  “Where have you been keeping yourself?”

  “How are you and those handsome brothers of yours?”

  “What brings you to town?”

  They were talking over one another. None of them waited for him to answer. They simply kept exclaiming and chattering until he felt his head might explode from their nonsensical blather.

  Individually, they were proper young ladies. However, in a group, they were like a pack of hungry wolves slavering at his heels. He felt claustrophobic as they clustered around him, each trying to vie for his attentions and get as close to him as possible.

  He briefly locked eyes with Mr. Thompson, and his lips thinned as he noticed the shopkeeper’s mischievous grin.