The Mistaken Mail Order Bride Read online

  He figured having a wife would make things busier for him, but he didn’t quite expect to feel rushed this soon. With a deep breath, he hopped up into the wagon and released the break.

  “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way,” he told her as he urged the horses forward, “but after I take you to your new home, I have to head right back out to take care of a few things. You think you can handle getting the bath ready for you two on your own?”

  “We’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I’m glad you’re as kind in person as you sounded in your letters.”

  His face warming from the compliment, he smiled at her. “I could say the same about you, especially for taking in a little boy. No child should go without the comfort of a good home.”

  “No, he shouldn’t.” She rubbed the boy’s back, but she smiled at Eric, and Eric couldn’t help but be glad he ended up with her after all.

  Chapter Two

  Once Caroline Benton was done helping Caleb wash up, she wrapped him in a clean towel and assured him he’d soon have some new clothes to wear. Then she quickly bathed and put on one of her dresses. It wasn’t anything as nice as what she used to wear when she was on the plantation, but that life went up with the fire the Union soldiers had set to the house. Had her family’s former slaves not taken her in, she didn’t know what she would have done.

  Her gaze went to Caleb, who was sleeping on the small couch. He hadn’t been as fortunate as her. Even if she’d chosen to stay in South Carolina, she would have had a place to stay, as poor as it was.

  She crossed the distance of the small room of the cabin and tucked the blanket more securely around him. The air was cooler up here in the mountains. While they weren’t all that high up, they were around the base of them. The group of trees that hung over the cabin just on the outskirts of town blocked out most of the sunlight, too.

  The man she was about to marry had a nice little place. Before the war, she never imagined she’d end up in a cabin far removed from civilization. But the war had changed everything, and it took so many lives, including that of her parents and older brother.

  For better or worse, this was her new life. She didn’t think her soon-to-be husband was all that pleased with her looks. She’d told him in their correspondence she wasn’t as pretty as most young ladies her age. But despite her warning, she’d noticed the flicker of disappointment that crossed his features all the same. It was the same look other gentlemen had given her when her father introduced her to them at balls.

  At least her intended had been able to make a quick recovery of his initial reaction. Not all gentlemen were able to do that. Since he was marrying her, he’d give her a chance to show him she wasn’t all that bad. Yes, she had a lot to learn about taking care of a home, but as long as she was willing to do it, that had to count in her favor.

  And he’d seemed like he understood the situation when she’d warned him of it in the letters they’d exchanged. She’d taken great care in selecting him for this very reason. She wanted to do everything possible to increase her odds of a happy marriage.

  The few young ladies she knew who’d chosen to answer mail-order bride ads rather than live in continuous poverty said they weren’t all that concerned with whether they’d be happy or not with their husbands. Caroline couldn’t blame them. The condition they were in left little thought to the pleasantries they’d once enjoyed. But even as desperate as her situation had been, she still wanted love.

  Such foolishness, Caroline, one of the ladies had said as they wrote their letters for the ads they’d chosen to answer. Happiness doesn’t put food on the table, clothes on your back, or a roof over your head. What good is being happy if you’re cold and hungry? I’m tired of it myself, and I won’t go back to this hard life. I’m marrying the richest man I can find.

  Caroline couldn’t blame her childhood friend, Matilda, for feeling that way. Nor could she blame the other five ladies who’d agreed with her. They’d all lost loved ones and were forced out of their homes.

  Her new home, however, wasn’t so bad. She’d been prepared for a cabin. It had two bedrooms. One was considerably smaller than the other, and it didn’t have a bed yet. They’d have to rectify that soon. Caleb couldn’t spend his life sleeping on the couch or the bedroom floor. To be fair, her intended hadn’t expected her to bring him. But she couldn’t leave him all alone. She’d seen enough people dying to last her a lifetime. She wasn’t going to let the same happen to this little boy if she could help it.

  The door to the cabin opened, and her intended came into the room. He hadn’t been what she’d expected. She was sure he’d said he was average height, but he was taller than her by a good six inches. He did, however, have brown hair and a slender frame. She couldn’t be sure if he had mentioned his eye color in the letters, though she had expected them to be gray. They were a deep, warm brown instead.

  She was probably thinking of someone else when it came to the eye color. As for height, that was relative. What one person considered tall, another considered average. Besides, he was a handsome gentleman, especially when he smiled. And he’d been willing to take Caleb in, which meant he had a good heart.

  “I’m sorry to leave you alone for so long,” he said. “Things took longer to deal with than I expected.”

  “You didn’t take long at all,” she assured him, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering around in nervous excitement. It was to be expected, she supposed. Except he didn’t seem the least bit nervous about this whole thing like she was. She cleared her throat and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “Caleb fell asleep right after the bath.” She gestured to the couch where the boy was wrapped up in a blanket.

  “Oh, I forgot to get him some clothes,” he said, lowering his voice. “I had business to take care of with two men, and then I asked the preacher and Lois to come over.”

  “There’s a lot happening at once,” she assured him. Then she added, “I washed his clothes and hung them in the second bedroom to dry. But I suppose more would be good, especially at a time like this.”

  “I’ll go to Mike and Ida Conner’s and see if they have spare clothes. They have ten children, six of which are boys, so I’m sure they’ll have plenty of clothes on hand.”

  Just to make sure she heard right, she asked, “Ten children?”

  The corner of his lips turned up. “Not to be crude, but he says the only way to get her to shut up is to take her to bed. Considering they’re in their mid-thirties, you can guess how often he’s had to do that.”

  Her cheeks warmed.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be so blunt. It’s been years since I was back East. I forgot how different things are back there.” He paused then added, “I should warn you that people are more bold in their speech out here. We tend to say whatever’s on our mind.”

  “Not everyone back East was careful with their speech,” she replied, her mind unwittingly going to some of the things the soldiers had said before they killed her mother.

  “People are people wherever you go, but some places encourage them to watch their tongues better than others.”

  “I’ll get used to it.”

  He glanced over at Caleb then turned his attention back to her. “The preacher isn’t here all the time. He travels to the towns in the area, and he’s been waiting for your arrival. He plans to head out right after we marry. Do you mind if we exchange vows before I get Caleb some clothes?”

  “He didn’t sleep much on the way here. I suspect he’ll be asleep for a while yet.”

  “I’ll take him to our room and close the door so we won’t wake him.”

  The way he casually mentioned their room made her blush, a fact she hoped he didn’t notice as he carried the swaddled child to the bed.

  Once he shut the door, he said, “I should be back soon.”

  She indicated she understood and took the time during his absence to get a better look at her new home. It was small, but it was clean and free
of clutter. Her husband-to-be was considerate enough to get the place ready for her, and he was a man who wasn’t given to excess. That was a strong contrast to the world she’d grown up in. The days of elaborate gowns and small luxuries were long gone.

  But, she’d have more than she did after the war ravaged her father’s land. There was plenty of food, and though she had much to learn about cooking, she was thankful for the fact she’d have food to cook. After going through a year of endless hunger, she didn’t think she’d ever take food for granted again.

  The front door opened, and she turned away from the shelves lining the kitchen walls, unaware she’d let her mind drift to the barren land she’d come from. She hadn’t expected that being in her new home would make her think so much of the one she’d left behind. But mixed in with the excitement of having a warm place to live, plenty of food, and a kind husband, she also experienced a wave of sorrow.

  The matter of coming out West seemed like such a simple thing when she answered his mail-order bride ad. Now that she was here, a part of her wondered just how well they’d get along. Would this be one of those marriages her friends had mentioned—the ones they were willing to settle for in order to be comfortable? Or might this bear the fruits of love?

  Her intended walked into the cabin first, the old preacher following close behind. “It didn’t take as long to find him as I expected,” he told her, gesturing to the preacher. “He was on his way here.”

  The preacher came over to her and took off his hat. “Two weddings in one visit,” he said. “This is a good month. Did he tell you I married Abe Thomas and Phoebe Durbin not too long ago?”

  “No, sir,” she replied, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress the best she could. “I’m afraid there wasn’t much time to talk, given all the excitement.”

  “Oh, well, it’s no wonder. You’re a lovely bride, just as Phoebe was. I tell you, it does this old heart good to see two people united in marriage. Few things are more beautiful.” He took out the handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes. “You’ll have to forgive me. The older a man gets, the more sentimental he becomes. It comes from years of seeing the good and bad, and let me tell you, you appreciate the good so much more as you get older.”

  “I’m sure you do.” She knew she already felt that way, and she was only twenty-four. But then, war had a way of making people grow up faster than they otherwise would have. Forcing the thought aside, she said, “It’s very kind of you to wait for my arrival before leaving town.”

  “I’m happy to be here.” He slipped the handkerchief back in his pocket and waved her intended over. “Don’t be shy, son. We can’t do this without you.”

  “Don’t we need a witness?” Caroline asked.

  “I got that taken care of,” her intended assured her. “Lois said she’d be right over.”

  As if on cue, an elderly lady came into the cabin. “I got a pie in the oven, so don’t get longwinded, Preacher. I know you can talk a person’s ear off if they give you a chance.”

  Despite the exasperation on the preacher’s face, Caroline couldn’t help but be amused. Lois struck her as a fun lady, still full of energy and life. It was like seeing her grandmother all over again, and she was glad for it. Having something, even something this small, that was familiar would help her adjust to her new life much faster.

  “I promise not to ramble,” the preacher said then glanced at Caroline’s betrothed and winked. “Alright. Go on and get over to your bride before Lois scurries on out of here for that pie.”

  Lois did her best to look offended, but the slight smile on her lips betrayed her.

  Caroline’s intended went over to her, and her heart did a sudden flip-flop. Now that the moment had come, she wished she’d brought some smelling salts. It suddenly struck her that she was promising herself to him. Yes, she was well aware she’d be marrying him when she took the train out West, but that knowledge was all in her head. It was something to be done out of necessity, and those kinds of decisions seemed so black and white when she made them.

  Now she was standing next to a stranger, and the thought kept going through her mind that she’d overlooked something important. But for the life of her, she couldn’t imagine what that was.

  “If you’re inclined, you may join hands,” the preacher began.

  Her intended reached for her hand, and she placed her hand in his, realizing—much too late—her palms were sweaty. She offered an apologetic smile and prayed he wouldn’t notice. She should have wiped her hands on her skirt. That would have been the appropriate thing to do. It’s what her mother had taught her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Goodness, but the war had taken so many lessons from the softer world she’d grown up in away from her.

  “Marriage is a beautiful thing,” the preacher began, “and it is my pleasure to bring together two people who are in the springtime of youth. Two people, might I add, who have years of love and laughter to look forward to. There will undoubtedly be trying times. All marriages have them. However, I offer a word of encouragement I hope you’ll remember from time to time in the years to come. It’s not the circumstances that define what kind of marriage you’ll have; it’s what you choose to do with those circumstances. Marriage is work for both husband and wife. Yes, some years will be better than others, but if you remember to put the other before yourself, you’ll be much better off than most out there.”

  Lois groaned. “I told you I only have five minutes to do this.”

  “I’m getting to the heart of the thing,” the preacher told her. With a smile at Caroline and her intended, he continued, “I encourage you to stick with it. The first year is one of the best, but it’s also the one of the hardest. You’re getting to know each other. There’s bound to be fights. Both of you are used to doing things a certain way, and now you’ll have to learn to adapt to each other. My advice is to compromise. Marriage is give and take. It’s not always easy to bring together two lives and make it one, but in marriage, you’ll be seen as one.”

  “You’ve been rambling far too long,” Lois interrupted. “Get on with the vows already.”

  “Alright, alright.” The preacher shook his head. “I did promise her five minutes. Do you,” he turned to the gentleman, “take her,” he gestured to Caroline, “to be your wife. Will you love her and honor her, keep her in sickness and in health, through good times and bad, for richer or for poorer, all the days of your life, forsaking all others as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” her intended replied.

  The preacher glanced at Lois, who was looking at the small clock above the fireplace mantel, probably counting the exact minute she needed to bolt for the door. He then turned to Caroline. “Do you promise to do the same with him?” he gestured to the gentleman holding her hand.

  “I do,” Caroline replied.

  “Great!” Lois cheered. “My work here is done.” She hurried over to Caroline and hugged her. “You married a good man. He’s honest, decent, and easy on the eyes. If I was younger, I’d be fighting you for him. I hate to rush, but I don’t want to burn a pie after spending all morning cutting apples and getting the crust just right. I’ll see you again, and next time, I promise I won’t be so rude.” She ran for the door, calling out, “I’ll see the rest of you another time!”

  The preacher’s gaze went heavenward, but the gentleman next to her chuckled. “Lois doesn’t like anything to go to waste, especially food,” her new husband told her. He looked over at the preacher. “That’s all we really need to get married, isn’t it?”

  The preacher sighed. “It is. The ceremony doesn’t have to be long. I’d just hoped it would have been more special. It makes for a nice memory.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mind at all,” she assured him. “I thought it was lovely.”

  “I did, too,” her husband agreed. “The important thing is you were here to do it.”

  Though their words were meant to sooth his disappointment, he still didn’t seem satis
fied with the way Lois bolted on out of the house. To his credit, he offered a smile and said, “Let me get the marriage license, and we’ll sign it. In all the excitement, I forgot to bring it in.”

  Her husband waited until the preacher left before he turned to face her. “I hope you really didn’t mind. Lois is a good woman. It’s just that sometimes her hands bother her, so cooking isn’t as easy as it used to be. There’s a lot more that goes into making pies than the preacher realizes.”

  “How do you know so much about pies?” she asked. “Have you made them?”

  “No. One time when I broke up an argument between a man and his wife, the wife went into a long list of all the things she’d done for him, and in this list were the pies she’d made for him. She went into detail on those. All I kept thinking was that I’d never take another pie for granted.”

  “What about the husband? Did he have any complaints about her?”

  “Well, after she went on for a good thirty minutes about everything he’d ever done to upset her, I asked him what he was arguing with her about. He said he couldn’t remember. His mind had gone blank during the whole time she talked. She said they’d been fighting because he refused to move the couch to the other side of the room.” With a grin, he shrugged. “If you’re guessing they started fighting all over again, you’re right.”

  “Did you tell them to stop?”

  “Nope. I know a lost cause when I see it. I just put my hat on my head and left the restaurant.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. “The restaurant?”

  “Those two came in when they saw me eating.”

  She chuckled but quickly covered up for it by coughing. “I’m sorry. I imagine it must be hard when people think it’s up to you to handle their problems.”

  “Unfortunately, people think a sheriff can step in and settle arguments like a judge does.”

  Sheriff? She thought he was a blacksmith. Before she could ask him about it, the preacher came back in with the paper.