Eye of the Beholder Read online

  “Felt sorry for her too?” the man asked as he took the coin.

  Dave raised an eyebrow. “I was thinking more along the lines of respect and admiration. It’s not every woman who can hold her own against the likes of Neil Craftsman.”

  Once he purchased a copy, he returned to her and handed it to her, surprised that she was still standing.

  “Thank you, sir.” She accepted the paper. “I should allow you the space on the bench.”

  “Please stay. I wish to speak to you and it’d be easier to do that if I’m sitting next to you instead of yelling at you from across the room.”

  A small smile turned the corners of her lips up. “I can’t argue with that logic.”

  So she had a sense of humor. That was nice to know. She sat down and he sat beside her, careful to keep a respectful distance between them in case people talked.

  “What is it you wish to discuss, Mr...?”

  “My name is Dave Larson.”

  “Oh. I’m afraid I missed that when you told me the first time. I must be having one of those days.”

  In more ways than one, he thought as he recalled her conversation with Neil. When he realized she was waiting for him to continue, he cleared his throat. “I’m not graceful at this sort of thing, Miss...?”

  Her eyes grew wide. “I’m sorry, Mr. Larson. My name is Mary Peters.”

  “Miss Peters, the truth of the matter is that while I overheard you and Neil talking, it occurred to me that you’re the kind of woman who would make a man a good wife. Now, I know it’s strange that we just met this way and you’re likely to think I’m crazy, but you’re the kind of woman I’ve been looking for. You’re kind, strong, and generous. You told Neil you were hardworking and dependable. I’m sure you have other admirable qualities as well.”

  She stared at him, as if not believing her ears. Finally, she shook her head. “Surely, there are other women in town that are more to your liking.”

  “You’d be wrong to assume that. The women I know who are of childbearing age are already taken, too young, or a relative. I need a wife. It can be tough to keep up a farm without help. In fact, I was trying to come up with an ad asking for one.”

  She glanced at the paper resting in her lap. “I don’t know, Mr. Larson. I really am not what you are looking for.”

  He realized he needed to find another way to convince her to marry him. “I’m forced to write an ad since you said no. Would you help me figure out what to say? I want to make sure I have the right woman. There’s no sense in sending for her if she can’t handle what I need on the farm.”

  “Alright. I can do that.”

  He searched his pockets. His cheeks grew warm. “I didn’t bring anything to write with or to write on.”

  She picked up the paper and sorted through it. Finding a blank space on the paper, she tore it and handed it to him. “I do have a pencil you can use.” She opened her purse and took it out. Giving it to him, she waited for him to begin.

  He grinned at her. “You’re the kind of person who’d take the shirt off her back for a fellow in need.”

  She blushed.

  “I beg your pardon, ma’am. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I was quoting an expression my father uses. It means that you help others out without a thought to yourself.” Wishing to ease her embarrassment, he motioned to the paper in his hand. “What words do you figure will best attract a woman who won’t shy away from life on a farm?”

  “I’ve never lived on a farm. What would she have to do?”

  “Obviously, I need someone to keep up my house. I don’t have much time to clean, do laundry or cook. As it is, I don’t eat much besides jerky.”

  She frowned. “A man needs a better diet than that.”

  “Exactly. I may be twenty-two but I burn everything I attempt to make. It’s rather sad. Do I write that I want someone who can cook and clean?”

  She nodded. “If you work outside all day, you’ll need your energy, and you’ll need a variety of foods for that.”

  “I do need some help with the few animals I have. Sometimes, I don’t get around to milking my cow until mid-day and again past sundown. Can you imagine how uncomfortable the poor animal is during the day? It would be a big help if she’d do it for me. I don’t mind showing her how to do it. I just hope she’s willing to learn.”

  “What type of farm do you own?”

  “I grow corn and beans. Besides a cow, I have a stallion, two geldings and a mare. The mare is due to foal in a week or two. I would like help in the delivery in case something goes wrong. Most of the time, mares deliver without assistance but you never know until the birth is done. Do you think a woman would be willing to do that?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Women throughout history have helped deliver human babies into the world. I don’t think an animal would be much different.”

  He appreciated her agreeability to learn new skills, even when it was clear that she had no farming experience. “Where did you come from?”

  “From a small town in Maine. My father owned the grocery store, and my brothers helped him with it. My sisters married as soon as they turned sixteen or seventeen. I worked at a restaurant.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Nineteen.”

  As he took another moment to examine her, he noted that her eyes had the most amazing color. At times they looked green but at the moment, he swore they were blue. She certainly had a lovely smile and straight, white teeth. Her hair was braided under her bonnet but several strands broke free, which he found charming. Her frame was certainly pleasing to behold. She had curves everywhere a woman ought to have them. He couldn’t understand why someone else hadn’t married her yet, but their loss was his gain, if he could get her to go with him to the judge.

  “You’d really help me out if you save me the time in placing this ad and marry me.”

  “You may want someone who is more acceptable to look at.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with the way you look.”

  She seemed stunned by his announcement. “Well, I’m not thin.”

  “Considering the intensity of the Nebraska winds on some days, a thin woman could easily get blown away. At least I wouldn’t have to run after you to keep you safely on the property.”

  She laughed.

  He chuckled. She had a nice laugh. “I’d like to get back to my farm and make sure everything is fine out there. If you’re willing to be my wife, I’d like to marry you right away.”

  “Is there no one to help you?”

  “No. I’m all by myself.”

  She glanced at the travel bag sitting at her feet. “You are serious, aren’t you?”

  “Of course. However, if you’d rather return to Maine, I’ll post the ad and hope you’ll answer it. Then you can come back out here. I’d prefer to skip that and just marry you now.”

  She nodded. “Alright. I’ll help you in any way I can on the farm.”

  She definitely impressed him. He stood up and took her luggage. “The courthouse is on the way home. I know Judge Johnson. He’s my brother-in-law, so he’ll see us right away.”

  He led her to the wagon and placed her bag in it. He looked over at her and found her missing. A quick scan of the area notified him that she picked up a bonnet that had blown off a little girl’s head. The mother thanked her and tied the bonnet back onto her daughter’s head. He shook his head. What was Neil thinking when he let her go?

  He stepped to the side of the wagon. “If you’re still willing to marry me, we can do it over there.” He pointed to the courthouse down the street.

  She looked startled by his words.

  “I’ll take the fact that you aren’t protesting as a yes. May I walk you to the building?” He held his arm out to her.

  After a moment, she nodded and gave a slight grin. “I can’t get married alone.”

  “Neither can I. It’s a good thing we’re together.” His smile widened as she put her arm around hi
s and walked with him on the boardwalk. “How long did it take for you to get here?”

  “Nearly a week.”

  “What do you think of Omaha so far?”

  “It’s big, and there are a lot of people.”

  “Overwhelming?”

  “A little. The town I came from was smaller.”

  “Well, it’ll be just us at the farm so you might miss the crowd. Of course, I have a handful of relatives you’ll get along great with, so you won’t be confined to my presence all the time.”

  “It hardly seems like being alone with you will be a bad thing. You strike me as an honest and good man.” She looked away from him as she said it.

  “I reckon that we’ll get along just fine.”

  They reached the front entrance to the courthouse so he opened the door for her. She thanked him and went into the building. The thought flashed through his mind that her hips would serve nicely to put his hands on during lovemaking. He hadn’t considered that part of the equation until that moment, and he found that he couldn’t wait to enjoy this aspect of marriage.

  Chapter Three

  Mary didn’t know what to think as she walked with this stranger. The old and faded blue shirt and brown pants didn’t detract from his strong masculine appeal. His dark blond wavy hair reached down to his collar, evidence that he didn’t visit the barber often. His new beard was rough and short, so he apparently took time to shave at least once a week. His easygoing and friendly demeanor drew her to him, so obviously, she wanted to marry him.

  But why would he want to marry her? Surely, the qualities he mentioned that he liked about her weren’t enough to grab his attention. After all, didn’t most women, prettier ones, have the same characteristics? They didn’t belong together. While she was plain, he was handsome. Why hadn’t he found a wife yet?

  The courthouse was filled with activity. People scurried around, doing whatever it was they came there to do. Some appeared happier than others, and a fat man who huffed by them looked annoyed. Apparently, he wasn’t having a good day. They passed a young couple, the tired woman holding a newborn. The man said a polite greeting which they reciprocated. Mary’s head spun as much as it had in the train station from all the unfamiliar faces. She knew more people lived in Omaha than in her small Maine town, but being swarmed by them unnerved her.

  She sighed with relief when Dave held her arm to keep her safe by his side. He led her to the front desk where a middle-aged skinny man with glasses read a book.

  “Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you?” The man folded the page in his book before closing it and looked expectantly at Dave.

  “Good afternoon. Miss Peters and I wish to be married,” Dave replied. “Is Judge Johnson available? He’s my brother-in-law.”

  The man grinned. “I’m sure the judge has time for kin.” He dug out several pieces of paper from a drawer under the counter and handed them to Dave. “Let me check and see what he’s doing. Go ahead and fill this out.”

  Dave turned to her and winked as the man left. “We’ll be hitched soon enough.”

  She anxiously wet her lower lip with the tip of her tongue. “Mr. Larson, are you hiding a deep, dark secret I should know about? Did you kill someone?”

  He stopped writing on the paper in front of him and looked at her. “Did you just ask me if I committed murder?”

  “Perhaps that didn’t come out quite right. It’s just that you are an eligible bachelor. You could easily find a woman.”

  “I did. You’re standing in front of me. I think it took all of ten minutes. Of course, if I had gotten you to agree to my proposal the first time I asked, then it would have been done in two.”

  She softly laughed. “You do have a way with words.”

  “You have a great laugh. I think being married to you will be lots of fun.”

  He had a way of unnerving her. No man had ever seemed sincere about even talking to her unless he wanted to find out about other women. She half-expected that he would tell her he was joking and leave but he returned his attention to the papers. She felt self-conscious, standing next to him and not knowing what to say.

  She examined her surroundings with closer scrutiny than necessary. She counted the stars on the American flag, studied the picture of the president, and counted the number of people passing by the front door until she got bored of that. She turned her attention back to the counter, noting the title of the book the man had been reading. It seemed odd that such details should be of such interest to her when her entire life was about to change.

  I came here for a change. I expected to get married today. I shouldn’t be surprised to be here. But I thought I’d be with Mr. Craftsman, not Mr. Larson.

  The man returned with a smile on his face. “The judge said he’d be delighted to marry you, Mr. Larson.”

  Dave smiled. “He probably wants to get a look at who I’m marrying.” He handed her the paperwork and pencil.

  She gingerly held them in her hands. Glancing at him, she asked, “Are you saying that there aren’t any single women in town?”

  “None that suit me. You’re doing me a tremendous favor. There are plenty of men who know a good thing when they see it. I’m just glad I got you before someone else did.”

  He had no idea how wrong he was, but she realized, with surprise, he honestly believed it. Neil’s blatant rejection had been soothed by Dave’s kindness. She vowed that she would be the best wife she could possibly be for the wonderful man standing next to her. She turned to the papers and filled them out.

  Dave gently took her hand and led her to the judge’s chamber where they would marry. She tried to swallow the nervous lump in her throat, but her mouth was too dry to obey her command. His hand felt warm and strong in her smaller, shaking one. When they were in the room, he turned to her and smiled.

  “I hope this is as good as a church wedding,” he told her.

  She struggled to respond but a wave of dizziness came over her. Giving up on a normal voice, she simply nodded, aware that he was still holding her hand. She’d marry him anywhere. No man as kind and sincere as Dave Larson ever crossed her path before.

  Judge Johnson, a tall, slender man with neatly trimmed brown hair and a mustache, brought in two witnesses. “Dave, you sly devil, you.” He grinned as he reached to shake his brother-in-law’s hand.

  Dave let go of her hand so he could oblige the older man. “Hello, Rick. This is Mary Peters. Well, she won’t be Peters for long.”

  She marveled that he could be so casual about getting married. Her stomach flipped and flopped like crazy.

  “Good afternoon, ma’am,” Rick warmly greeted. “These are Danny and Richard Smith. They’ll be here to witness the event in case you decide to run off and leave poor Dave high and dry out there on the farm.”

  She realized he was joking since the other men chuckled. She wondered if they laughed because they knew there was no way she would leave Dave, though he might leave her. After all, he was too good looking for her.

  “Now Rick,” Dave began, “Mary and I are going to spend the rest of our lives together. We’re going to be very happy.”

  How Dave could know that, she didn’t understand. They barely knew each other.

  “How did you two meet?” Danny asked him.

  “I posted an ad for a bride and she was the best of the three replies I got,” Dave responded.

  Her jaw dropped at his lie.

  “Why didn’t you tell us you posted an ad for a wife?” Rick wondered.

  He shrugged. “If she didn’t come, then it would be embarrassing. This way, it’s a joyous event with good news all around.”

  His brother-in-law nodded and turned his attention to the vows.

  She should thank Dave since he had just saved her from humiliation. Though no one knew Neil had been the one who sent for her, she was fortunate Dave happened to pass by, needing a wife to help him at the farm. She wouldn’t have been offered a marriage any other way, and she understood their marriag
e would be a partnership. In exchange for his protection and home, she would keep the house clean, care for him, and give him children. Love, at least on his end, would not factor into the equation, and she was content with that.

  The judge’s words interrupted her thoughts. “Do you, Dave Larson, take Mary Peters to be your lawfully wedded wife from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?”

  Dave, who held her hand, widely grinned and said, “You bet I do,” which earned a couple of chuckles from their audience.

  She realized that optimism and cheerfulness were his key personality strengths. Whether or not he would enjoy her company, she didn’t know, but she already enjoyed his. Being near him was akin to stepping out into the warm sun after a long, cold winter’s night.

  Rick Johnson turned to her. “And do you, Mary Peters, take Dave Larson to be your lawfully wedded husband from this day forward, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” she said.

  The judge asked for the ring.

  Dave glanced at her sheepishly. “I knew I forgot to buy something.”

  Rick shook his head. “You’ll have to forgive him,” he told her. “Dave has a tendency to forget things.”

  “It’s true. I forgot to mention that fact about myself.”

  She shyly smiled. “It’s lucky for you that I have an excellent memory.”

  “This is why I chose her,” he told Rick. “Can we still get married even though we don’t have a ring?”

  “Here, Dave.” Danny handed him a piece of string that was tied in a circle large enough to slip on a finger. “My daughter handed me this today. It’s a ring she made for herself that she wanted to give me. You can widen it so it can fit her finger. It’ll do until you buy a real one.”

  “It’s perfect,” she assured him, touched.

  Dave slid the pink string on her finger and warmly pressed his lips to hers for a simple kiss. No man kissed her before. Her stomach fluttered and her lips tingled from the action. She reminded herself that this was not a love relationship.