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If this was to be her husband, she wanted to get to know him. But today he looked quite serious. Perhaps he'd changed his mind.
Was he regretting his decision? She hoped so.
Before she knew his intention, he took her hand and folded them into his. His thumb absently massaged her upper hand. It had a soothing effect. Her hand tingled, and she looked at her hand in his.
Beth's hand shook, now. No man had ever done that. And yet she knew he was trying to help her relax. Why would he bother?
That was the problem, Wade was a man, not a boy, he knew how to treat a lady. She'd never been around a man like him before.
Finally, as they came to stand under an oak, he stopped. "I thought we should get to know each other a little, since we are going to be married on Sunday. I know this is quite stunning to you. I wanted to give you a couple of days to think on it." The man was saying as Beth walked with him down into the meadow. His voice was low and melodious.
Unable to stand it any longer she whirled around on him.
"Why'd you pick me?" She asked stopping to look at him as they came to another old oak tree. It shaded them and Beth leaned against the trunk of it, staring at him.
"Many reasons, I guess. You're the oldest, and the prettiest." He smiled. "And I'm not at all sure why. I don't know why I'm attracted to you but I am. I'd hoped you liked me a little too. When a man sees a lovely woman, he doesn't ask why. There's something about you that draws me, don't ask me to explain, I can't."
His smile broke all over his face, and he suddenly looked younger. And not having all the answers pleased her.
Beth couldn't stop the blush that crept up her cheeks. "But you asked to marry me, without even knowing whether you like me or not. Don't you think that presumptuous?"
He bent his head and he considered the question a moment.
"Never thought about it. Men don't exactly see marriage the same way women do, Beth. But I knew your father wouldn't accept charity from me. Look Beth, I'm a man on the move all the time. I don't have time to court a lady regular. That's why I've never considered marriage seriously. I'm a gambler by profession. Although I've done other jobs just as well. Your family is nearly starving, because the crops weren't good this year. You may not be the only family with this problem but yours is exceptional because there are so many children. You have a big family. I wanted to help. And…I'm attracted to you."
"So you are marrying me to help my family?" She asked him as he leaned against the tree trunk. The slightly sarcastic tone warned him.
"No…not entirely. I'm attracted to you…a little."
"A little!" She shook her head and sent him a frown. "You'd marry a woman that you were attracted to a little?"
He looked into her eyes and Beth almost gasped. Right this moment he was enchanting her with a smile. "I'm very attracted to you or I would never offer marriage. Besides, I've watched you before, when you were working in the fields, I like a woman that isn't afraid of work. I was talking to your father. You are not a shy person. Your independent and a little sassy. I like those traits in a woman. You question things. I like that. You work hard too. I've seen that. You've captivated me, for some reason beyond my own comprehension. I've known many women, but there's something different about you."
"Perhaps you know more of me, than I do of you, then." She shot him a disdainful glance.
"Do you want to know about me?"
"If you don't mind, yes!" She answered her brows knitting in a fret. What was he thinking, of course she wanted to know everything about him.
"Alright, I'm twenty-five years old. I'm from Galveston. My father owned a river boat, and I learned to gamble there. That's what I do for a living mostly. I have been a town marshal too." He glanced at her. "I own that riverboat that belonged to my father. My father died and left it to me. I have no siblings. My mother lives on the boat with me. And if we marry, we'll live there too."
"Gambling is sinful."
"So is admiring a beautiful young woman, but I keep on admiring." He grinned infectiously.
"I know you probably won't want to admit this, but are you a flirt and tease with women?" She asked.
"I have been in my time, but I think those days might be over…"
This time she put her hands on her hips and dared him to lie to her. "I am sure there are many beautiful women on a river boat to admire. I seen some of them all guzzied up. Why come all the way up here? Why pick me? I got two dresses to my name. My hair's not fancy, my clothes aren't fancy. I'm not overly intelligent. So why me?"
"I got an uncle I visit off and on, he lives in Corsicana. Do you know where that is at?"
"Of course I do. I know almost everything about Texas. I read a lot."
"Well good. I'm glad. I'd say you might be very intelligent. I was over at a friend's house the first time I saw you. We were out in the fields. You were there picking wild strawberries. I thought it was an amusing pastime until my friend told me that you came from a very large family and the strawberries would be a real treat for your family. It intrigued me that a young and beautiful girl would spend her time doing things for her family. I guess that in itself told me a lot about you. You care about your family and it's welfare. Believe it or not, that one sentence told me a lot about you. You take care of your own. I like and respect that. Because I'm that way too. My mother has no one but me to see after her. So I do. I was brought up that way too."
"Oh," she nodded. "You felt sorry for me then."
