Boaz's Wager Read online

  Eva watched as Boaz opened his arms and let the boy run into them. “How are you doing, Leroy?” he asked.

  “Good. We got pie at lunch!”

  “Pie? What kind?”

  “Don’t ‘member but it was good.”

  Boaz lifted him up and carried him over to Eva’s side of the wagon. “All pies are good, aren’t they?”

  “Yep.”

  Boaz extended his hand to help her down and she accepted.

  “Who’s she, Pa?” the boy asked, scanning her up and down with interest.

  “I’ll tell you when we find your sister.”

  From where Heather sat on the porch, she waved to Eva—which Eva reciprocated—and set the blanket on the small table next to her chair.

  “Hannah’s over there,” Leroy said, bringing Eva’s attention back to the little girl who was watching them from a few yards away.

  “You mean over there?” Boaz pointed to a butterfly that wasn’t too far from her.

  “No, she’s a person, not a butterfly,” Leroy corrected.

  “Oh. Then she must be over there.”

  When Eva saw him gesture to the flowerbed, she covered her mouth so no one would hear her laugh. The game Boaz was playing, silly as it was, was absolutely adorable.

  Leroy let out a long groan. “That’s not a person. It’s a daisy.”

  “Maybe you ought to remind me of how your sister looks. Then I’ll find her.”

  “She’s got long hair and a dress.”

  “There she is,” Boaz called out in excitement as he motioned to Heather.

  “Not her. Her!” This time Leroy leaned forward and directed Boaz’s arm so he was pointing directly at Hannah.

  “Oh that’s Hannah. I remember her now.”

  Still chuckling, Eva followed Boaz to the little girl who seemed intent on studying her. She couldn’t blame the girl. The girl hadn’t seen her before, after all.

  Once he closed the distance to his daughter, Boaz knelt down and hugged her. Though her eyes stayed on Eva, she hugged him back. “Leroy and Hannah, I got good news,” Boaz said as he released both of them and stood up. “I got married to this good woman over here.” He motioned to Eva who offered them a smile. “Now you can come home with me, and we’ll be a family.”

  Heather waited on the porch for them while a man just a bit older than Boaz came out of the house. “That’s my brother Mitch and his wife Heather,” Boaz told her. “Would you like to meet them?”

  She nodded and to her surprise, he took her hand and led her over to them. She almost pulled her hand out of his. It seemed to be too soon to touch him in such a familiar way, but then she reminded herself he was only guiding her up the steps.

  “Mitch, Heather,” Boaz began as they stepped up on the porch, “this is Eva. We got married yesterday.”

  Heather smiled and approached Eva. “I’m so happy to meet you. If there’s anything you need—anything at all—don’t hesitate to ask. Mitch and I will be happy to help you.”

  “Thank you,” Eva replied.

  “So you got a woman to answer your mail-order bride ad?” Mitch asked Boaz.

  “It’s a long story,” Boaz replied. “But Preacher Higgins married us yesterday, and we’re ready to take Leroy and Hannah home.” Boaz turned to the children. “Remember what I said about taking you home with me as soon as I got you a mother? Eva here is your mother now.”

  Unsure of what to do, Eva offered another smile, hoping it eased their uncertainty about her, even by a little bit.

  Leroy fidgeted for a moment then asked Boaz, “Can we take our toys and clothes with us?”

  “Of course, you can,” Boaz said. “We got enough room in the wagon to bring all your things to your new home. I got a bedroom for you and your sister. You’ll have everything you need. Eva…your ma…will be there during the day to take care of you while I’m at work. She’s real nice. You and Hannah will be happy.”

  “You two are just in time for supper. I hope you’ll stay and eat with us,” Heather offered.

  Boaz glanced at Eva, and it took her a moment to realize he was asking for her permission. Surprised but pleased he considered her wishes, she nodded. “We’d be much obliged.”

  “Wonderful,” Heather cheered. “I’m excited to learn more about you.”

  “We will get Leroy and Hannah’s things together while you’re here,” Mitch added. “Eva, you’ll also get to meet Ma. She’ll want to see you.”

  “Is she feeling well enough to receive visitors?” Boaz asked.

  “She’s been resting,” he replied as he opened the front door, “but believe me, she’ll be upset if she doesn’t get to see the newest member of the family.”

  Boaz nodded and turned to Eva. “He’s right. Knowing Ma’s determination, she’ll insist on making a trip to town if you don’t meet her tonight.”

  Mitch held the door open and when Eva realized they were all waiting for her to enter the house, she hurried inside. What was even more noticeable than the spacious interior of the house was how comfortable and warm it was. It had the feel of a husband and wife who loved each other and had built a safe and happy place for the children to be raised in. She wondered if she and Boaz could offer the same thing for Leroy and Hannah.

  Heather motioned toward the couch. “Have a seat. Supper will be ready in about half an hour.”

  Eva did as she requested and sat down as Heather hurried to another room. Boaz sat beside her but the children insisted on standing in the middle of the room and stared at her. Feeling sorry for their unease, she said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I look forward to being your mother.” It was hard to say that since she wasn’t sure they would ever accept her as their mother, but she didn’t know what else to say. She couldn’t tell them she’d be their teacher, like she’d told other children in the past.

  Mitch patted Leroy and Hannah on the shoulders. “Why don’t we gather your things?”

  Though the boy looked hesitant, he followed his sister and Mitch up the stairs, leaving Eva and Boaz alone.

  “I’m afraid they’ll need some time to get used to me,” she told him.

  “That’s to be expected. It’s a big adjustment for all of us.” A moment passed before he added, “I appreciate what you’re doing. You know, allowing me to bring them home and be a real family.”

  “There’s no reason why I wouldn’t let you bring them home,” she whispered, placing her hand over his, something she never thought she’d have the courage to do with any man. “You love them so much. It’s truly a beautiful thing to watch you with them. I grew up with a father who loved me and my sister and brothers the same way.” She squeezed his hand. “Children need their father. I’m glad I agreed to marry you.”

  His eyes glimmered with tears. “Thank you, Eva. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

  From the kitchen, she heard Heather gathering plates and utensils. “I can’t stay out here while Heather does all the work. It doesn’t feel right. Do you mind if I help her with supper?”

  “No. I don’t mind.”

  Nodding, she hurried to the other room where Heather was pouring stew into a row of bowls on the worktable. “May I help you?” Eva asked.

  “It’s nice of you to offer, but really, it’s no bother to do this,” Heather replied with a smile.

  “I know but I’m not used to sitting around and letting others wait on me. It’d help if I had something to do.”

  “In that case,” she set the pot and ladle down after she poured stew into the final bowl, “would you mind giving me some plates so I can set a slice of pie on each one?”

  “I’d be happy to.” She picked up a plate and waited for Heather to put the slice on it before she carried it to a tray resting on the table. Returning to Heather, she gathered another plate. “I don’t do well with sitting still.”

  “I understand. Being women, we’re always doing something.”

  “Especially with children around to care for.” At leas
t that was what her mother often said. “Boaz said you’re due to give birth in February. Are you nervous?”

  “A little. I’ve never been through it before. I’ve helped Mitch deliver some calves, so I’ve seen the process.”

  “But when it’s you, it’s different,” Eva filled in for her when she hesitated to continue.

  “Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, but it’s not always an easy process and some women don’t survive the experience. If something happened to me, I know Mitch would be able to go on.” She chuckled and set another slice of pie on the plate Eva was holding. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m morbid, talking about death and all.”

  “I don’t know if I’d say it’s morbid. I’d say it’s trying to be realistic about the possibility of something happening. But even so, most women live through childbirth.”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  Eva grabbed some folded cloth napkins and utensils to put on a tray. “I suppose what you can do if you’re worried about something happening is figure out what you can do to adjust to it. Having a plan in place if the unfortunate does happen is smart. Don’t you think?”

  “I hadn’t thought of it like that, but yes, I agree with you. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best. I think that’s a good way to look at things.”

  Pleased the woman chose to give her a compliment, she shyly smiled at her. “Thank you. I love literature and art, but deep down, I’m not much of a romantic. I like being more realistic about things.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that, and living in Lewistown which doesn’t have many comforts, you need to be realistic. I haven’t been back East, but I hear life there is much easier than it is here.”

  “Oh, I didn’t come from back East. I’m from Omaha.”

  “Really?” Heather asked. “I thought Boaz sent ads back East for a mail-order bride.”

  “He did. I came here because my stagecoach was robbed and when the outlaws didn’t get the money they hoped for, they decided to sell me and my friend to whoever would buy us in this town.”

  “And Boaz…?”

  “He got me and someone else got my friend.”

  After a moment, Heather turned from the worktable and faced her. “I think I understand why he did it. He’s been trying to get a wife for awhile now. He was beginning to think he’d never get one.” She bit her lower lip and brushed her hair over her shoulders. “I hope you don’t regret marrying him. He’s a good man. You can trust him to do right by you and the children. He had a rough time there for a couple of years, but he’s changed his life around.”

  “He loves his children very much. I’ve been a teacher for several years, and I can’t recall seeing any of the fathers as devoted to their children as he is.”

  “He is, and I’m glad he can take them home so he can truly be their father.” Heather’s lips curled up into a smile. “I think you’ll be good for him. You seem to be able to look past who he’s been and see him for the person he is now. Not many around here do that.”

  Appreciating yet another compliment, Eva thanked her and helped her finish getting supper ready. Just as she retrieved the pitcher of tea from the worktable, Boaz and his mother came into the kitchen.

  Heather offered her a smile before she left the room.

  “Eva, I thought you might like to meet my ma,” Boaz said.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Grady,” Eva replied, taking a deep breath as she approached the woman in the small room.

  “Thank you for marrying my son,” his mother said as she hugged her.

  “Oh, well, there was really nothing to it.” She glanced at Boaz, wondering how much he told her.

  “I told her you agreed to marry me so that Leroy and Hannah could come home with me,” he said. “I also added that the circumstances surrounding the marriage weren’t ideal, what with the men auctioning you off and all.”

  “You poor thing,” his mother said. “You must have been terrified.”

  “Actually, I was more angry than scared,” Eva admitted. “That is to say, I was scared at first but then the men got all excited about how much they were going to sell my friend and me for, and my fear turned to anger.”

  “That’s understandable.” She clasped her hands around hers. “Have you been able to write to your family to let them know you’re alright?”

  “Yes, I did that earlier today.”

  “Good. I hope you know you’re a welcome addition to our family, and we’re grateful to have you, even if the situation that brought you here wasn’t ideal.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Grady. I appreciate that.”

  Mitch came into the kitchen. “I don’t think the children are going to be patient much longer.”

  His mother gave Eva’s hands a gentle squeeze then released them. “We shouldn’t keep them waiting. I’m just glad I got a chance to say I’m happy to meet you.”

  “I’m happy to meet you, too,” Eva replied.

  She liked Boaz’s family. They were a group of friendly people. Thankfully, when the men sold her and Rachel, the men who won the bids were good ones. She’d hate to think of the kind she and Rachel could have ended up with. If for no other reason than this, she had a reason to be happy with her new marriage.

  Chapter Seven

  By the time they arrived home, the children had fallen asleep. Eva had been the youngest in her family and while she had helped to care for her nieces and nephews, she wasn’t sure how she should act around Leroy and Hannah. Did she give them time to adjust to their new home? Did she jump right in and try to make them feel as if they were a part of a real family?

  Not that they hadn’t been part of a real family before. Mitch, Heather, and their grandmother were very sweet people, the kind of people who were wonderful for children. But she wasn’t sure how she and Boaz would do together as a mother and father. Would the children miss being with Mitch and Heather? Would they resent her for trying to step in the role of their mother?

  Pushing aside all the questions whirling in her head, she picked up a sleeping Hannah and followed Boaz, who carried Leroy, into the house. The children only shifted slightly when they were placed in their beds. She marveled at how well they could sleep through everything. If it’d been her, she would have woken up and probably been up half the night.

  She went to the kitchen and heated up a pot of milk while Boaz brought in the children’s things. She poured him and her a cup then went to the parlor where he had set out his pillow and blanket. She wondered about it but then figured since she hadn’t wanted him in bed with her the previous evening, he decided to wait until she was ready to consummate the marriage. And right now, she still wasn’t ready. She needed more time to adjust to her new life, much like she suspected the children would.

  Secretly relieved he wasn’t going to force the issue of intimate relations with her, she sat on the chair by the couch and placed his cup on the table. A minute later, he came into the room and stopped when he saw her.

  With a chuckle, she motioned to the cup. “I hope you don’t mind. I like to have some warm milk before I go to bed and thought you might enjoy a cup, too.”

  He smiled and sat on the couch. “That’s very nice of you.”

  She shrugged. “It’s not much work to warm it up.”

  “Do you usually read while drinking the milk?”

  “Usually, yes. But since I don’t have my spectacles, I can’t. It’s too much of a strain on my eyes to read without them.”

  “If you want, I can read to you until they come in.”

  “I didn’t get the impression you like to read literature.”

  “I’d only read it until you get the spectacles.”

  She took a sip of her milk as she considered his offer. “What if it puts you to sleep?”

  “Are they that bad?”

  “No. It’s just that a lot of people I talk to prefer dime novels.”

  “Well, I don’t like to read at all, and that includes dime novels.
”

  As he drank some of his milk, she shook her head. “If that’s the case, then why offer to read to me at all? It seems like it’d be more of a chore than anything else.”

  “I don’t know. I suppose it’s because it’s something you enjoy.” He gestured to the bedrooms. “You’re willing to be a mother to my children, you wake up early just to fix me something to eat, and you’ll spend a good amount of your days cleaning this house. The least I can do is read to you.”

  “While that’s very noble of you,” she commended, “I don’t wish to make you do something you won’t enjoy.”

  After a moment, he leaned forward and looked at her, his expression surprisingly tender. “I know how marriage is for a woman. You won’t benefit from this arrangement like I will.”

  Not sure if she’d like where this was going, she pressed, “I won’t?”

  “Of course not. You have to clean, cook, and do laundry. I might spend the day out working, but when I get home, I got it made. I’ll have a hot meal waiting for me, children to spend time with, and clean things. It makes me wonder why women get married at all if that’s how things are, really.”

  She thought over his words with great care before she answered him. “Well, I suppose that’s all true when you point out the division of labor. As the man, you’ll go out and earn a living. I’m guessing you work hard?”

  He nodded.

  “I’m also guessing some of the people you work for aren’t always nice to you and the horses you train aren’t always in a good mood.”

  “You’re right,” he replied.

  “And from time to time, I venture your job can be challenging.”

  “It can be, but I love it and wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

  “I don’t see how my role as a wife and mother are that much different. I’ll also work hard, there’s no denying that. On some days the children won’t be in a good mood. I was a school teacher for four years. I know how children can be. But even so, I love being with them. Leroy and Hannah are sweet children. I know some days will be better than others, but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve always dreamt of being a mother and now I have the chance. Sure, I’ll be spending my days cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry, but I’ll finally have a family. As much as I enjoyed teaching, I wished I had children of my own to care for and now I have that.”