His Convenient Wife Page 6

  Harriett’s cheeks grew warm. That was exactly what she’d been hoping, but she could tell it wasn’t what her mother was going to do.

  “Harriett, you weren’t there for the first three years of her life. You’re going to have to accept what her father and Stan already said. All you can do is be the mother her real one chose not to be. It might be difficult, given her history. And keep in mind, she’s only three. She’s not old enough to reason things out. All she will go by is what she experiences. My advice to you is to be patient, kind, and firm.”

  “What do you mean by firm?”

  “She’s going to test her limits. All children do it. They try to figure out how much they can get away with. When you set rules, stick with them.”

  “Well,” Harriett began, thinking about supper yesterday. “I was going to ask for your opinion on how to best handle things when she refuses to eat something I make, like vegetables or fruit.”

  Her ma chuckled. “That’s a common problem mothers have. One thing you can do is mix the vegetables and fruits into her meals so she doesn’t realize she’s eating them. She just ate strawberries in that tart and didn’t notice.”

  “I thought she ate it because you made it,” Harriett admitted.

  “No, it was because it was in a treat. Why do you think I make so many pies?”

  “I thought you enjoyed making them.”

  “That’s partly true. I do. But it’s also a good way to get others to eat fruit.”

  “Alright. I’ll do that. But it won’t work for every meal. What should I do then?”

  “You have a couple options. You can withhold dessert if she doesn’t eat the main course. You can make her stay at the table until she eats what’s on her plate. Or you can let her go to bed hungry. I withheld dessert from Rose until she finally ate what I offered.”

  “I don’t remember that.”

  “You were only two at the time.” She drank some of her hot chocolate and smiled at Harriett. “I didn’t make anything you, your brothers, or your sisters hated, but I did try to give you a good meal. Also, I’d make enough side dishes so there was something for everyone, but that works best with a big family.”

  Harriett decided she should ask Stan what kinds of foods Maggie liked and go from there. “Thanks, Ma. I’ll keep those ideas in mind.”

  Harriett took a long drink of her hot chocolate and relaxed. It was strange to think she’d be going back to Stan’s house. This was part of the process of growing up. She always wanted to be a wife and mother. She hadn’t figured it would come about the way it did, but it was still better than being a spinster and living with her parents for the rest of her life.

  “Alright,” her mother said as she set her cup on the table and turned toward her. “I’ve been wondering how things are going for you. You don’t have to tell me, of course, but I am your ma, and I worry about you.”

  Harriett smiled at her concern. “Are you asking me if I regret my decision to marry Stan?”

  “Well, it was sudden. Things we do in haste can have some unpleasant consequences.”

  She carefully thought over whether or not she regretted marrying Stan before answering. “I don’t know yet. It still doesn’t seem real. He and I didn’t share a bed last night.” Realizing her voice went lower at the admission, she cleared her throat and shifted in the chair. “It’s like having a brother.”

  “You do know that’s not what marriage is supposed to be like, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I know. But I don’t want to get close to him. I’m only doing this to help with Maggie.”

  “And when Maggie grows up and leaves home, then what?”

  “I hadn’t gotten that far. Nor do I have to for a long time. She’s only three.”

  “She’ll be eighteen a lot sooner than you think. The time will pass fast.”

  Harriett knew her ma was right, but at the moment, the time still seemed a long way off. She felt no reason to concern herself with the future. Right now, her biggest challenge would be getting Maggie to behave. She could worry about Stan later.

  Chapter Seven

  Stan didn’t see the fancy carriage right away. He’d just gotten back from feeding the cattle when he saw it in front of his house. The thing looked sorely out of place on his land. When he finally got the two-story home built, he’d been so proud of it, thinking it’d be a nice place for Rose and their future children. As foolish as it’d been, he’d entertained daydreams of how excited she’d be when he showed it to her for the first time.

  Such fantasies, however, didn’t pan out, but he’d still thought it was a good, solid place to raise Maggie. Now, though, as he compared it to the carriage with gold wheels and trim, it no longer seemed so impressive.

  But what could someone who owned such an expensive item want with him? The carriage didn’t look like it broke down. In fact, it looked brand new. Despite his hesitation, he rode the horse up to the house to find out who’d be paying him a visit.

  When he got closer, he realized a woman, with a gray hat and matching wool coat, was knocking on his front door. He tipped his hat to the carriage’s driver then led the horse right for the porch.

  “May I help you?” he called out.

  The woman turned, and his jaw dropped. Rose? When she told him she was marrying Kent Ashton, he had no idea Kent was so wealthy. He knew Kent had money, but he’d grossly underestimated how much. No wonder she didn’t want to be with him. What woman could resist someone who could provide her a fancy carriage and clothes? Stan couldn’t afford any of those in his wildest dreams.

  “Hi, Stan,” she said and headed over to him. “Is Harriett here?”

  It took him a moment to find his voice. Even now he had trouble speaking around her, and it didn’t matter that he’d put aside his feelings for her. Something about her still intimidated him. She definitely wasn’t right for him. What had he been thinking when he thought they’d be a good fit?

  Forcing aside the observation, he gestured in the direction her parents lived. “She went to see her parents. I mean, your parents. I mean, both of your parents.” Good grief. If this wasn’t awkward, he didn’t know what was. “She’s still there.”

  Good. That was better. Maybe she’d leave, and he could stop feeling like an idiot.

  “Thanks, Stan. I’ll go over there,” she told him and bounded to the carriage in typical Rose fashion.

  It seemed every time he saw her, she was running from one thing to another, and this was no different. But that suited him just fine. The sooner she left, the sooner he could go back to feeling like his usual self, even if his usual self was probably boring.

  How ironic it was that last year, he would have given everything to have her come to his house, and now that she was here, he was glad she was leaving. It hadn’t occurred to him that being married to Harriett meant he would have to see Rose, but there was little he could do about it. With a sigh, he pulled his horse’s reins, directing his steed back to the barn.

  ***

  “Thanks for everything, Ma,” Harriett told her mother as her mother tucked Maggie’s hair under her hat. Maggie hadn’t once raised a fuss this time. What special talent did her mother have that she didn’t? “I wish I could make things go so smoothly.”

  “Give it time. You will.”

  “Want Pa,” Maggie said then ran over to the door, reaching for the doorknob.

  “She wants to go home,” her ma whispered, patting Harriett’s shoulder reassuringly. “That’s why she didn’t put up a fuss.”

  That made Harriett feel a little better.

  Before she could open the door for Maggie, someone turned the doorknob. Harriett pulled Maggie back while the door swung open.

  “Oh good,” Rose called out as she waved at the carriage driver. “I hoped I didn’t miss you on your way back to Stan’s.”

  Harriett felt her stomach clench. “You didn’t go over to his place, did you?”

  Her sister chuckled. “Sure, I did. That’s where you liv
e now, isn’t it? Stan told me you were here, so I came right over.”

  “You talked to Stan?” Just what Harriett needed. For Stan to talk to the sister he preferred.

  “It was only for a second. He only told me that you were here.”

  “Well, come in and hang up your coat,” their mother said. “Invite the poor carriage driver in. I’ll get everyone something hot to drink.”

  “I can’t stay any longer,” Harriett replied as their ma headed to the kitchen. She glanced at Maggie, noting the way the girl was edging to the door. “Maggie wants to go home, and I don’t think she’s willing to stay here any longer.”

  Rose stuck out her lower lip in a familiar pout. “But I came all the way over here to see you.”

  “I’m sorry about that, Rose, but I have a little girl to think about. I had a hard enough time getting her to come out here.”

  “Well, if that’s all…” Rose leaned down and smiled at Maggie. “Are you tired of being stuck inside this boring old house?”

  The girl nodded. “Uh huh.”

  “How would you like to go for a ride in that carriage?”

  Maggie turned her gaze in the direction Rose pointed to and let out a squeal of excitement. “Can I?”

  “Sure. You’re my niece now, and if I can’t spoil my niece, then what good is being an aunt?” Rose straightened up and winked at Harriett. “It’ll be fun to go for a ride in the carriage. It’s so much more comfortable than a buggy.”

  Harriett watched in dismay while Maggie bolted out the door and headed for the carriage.

  Rose laughed. “She sure is full of joy. I bet you love being her mother.”

  Harriett resisted the urge to remind Rose that a girl darting for the carriage wasn’t a proper way for her to behave, but what good would it do? Rose did the same kind of thing when she was a child and thought it was just fine if Maggie showed the same lack of restraint.

  By the time their mother returned, Rose was halfway to the carriage to help Maggie into it. “Doesn’t Rose want anything to drink?” her ma asked.

  Harriett looked at the two cups in her mother’s hands and shook her head. “You know how Rose is. One minute her mind is on one thing. Then the next, she’s already thinking of something else. It’s hard to keep her in one place for long unless there’s work to be done. Then it’s hard to get her to budge from one spot.”

  “Yes, I know exactly how she is,” her mother replied with a chuckle. “Will you please give this to the poor driver? I’d hate to think of how much he’s gone through while Rose was looking for you.”

  “Alright, Ma.”

  She took the cup but decided not to take the one for Rose. She hurried out the door before her ma could stop her. Yes, it was rude. She should have taken the other cup, but it irked her that Rose went over to Stan’s house when Rose knew how insecure Harriett was about Stan’s past feelings for her. It was just how Rose was, thinking of herself first and others second. If she wanted something, she went after it, regardless of how others were affected. And Harriett was tired of it.

  By the time Harriett reached the carriage, she gave the driver his cup of hot chocolate then stepped inside. “I need to take the buggy back home,” she told Rose. “If we must go for a ride, it has to be a quick one. You might have a servant who does all the cooking for you, but I don’t.”

  “You have no need to worry,” Rose assured her as the carriage moved forward. “It’ll be quick. I only wanted to see how things are going.”

  “They’re fine,” Harriett replied, her tone more curt than she intended.

  But Rose didn’t notice. She was tapping Maggie’s nose and making the girl giggle. “You look just like a doll I saw in a catalogue the other day. Kent gets these catalogues from back East, and oh, Harriett! They have the loveliest things in them. I should bring one over sometime. You won’t believe how many things they make back there.”

  “You aren’t planning to come on over to my house again, are you?” Harriett asked. Good grief. All she needed was for Rose to come by often, constantly reminding Stan that he married the second-best sister.

  “You’re my sister. I don’t want to stop seeing you.”

  “I’ll come see you instead. There’s no need to take this gorgeous carriage all the way out here. Plus, I’m sure the driver has better things to do.”

  Rose shook her head. “No, he doesn’t. The poor man gets bored. He told me so. Besides, I’d go to the ends of the earth to see my favorite sister.”

  Harriett knew her sister meant that as a compliment, but at the moment, she would have preferred it if Rachel had taken the slot instead of her. But no. Rachel was in Montana with her own family.

  Rose turned toward Maggie. “What do you think of this carriage?”

  “It’s fun!” the girl said as she touched the soft seat beneath her. “And soft.”

  “It’s the best in the area,” Rose told her. “You know what I do when I’m in here?”

  The girl shook her head.

  “I pretend I’m a princess going to see my prince. Have you ever heard about princesses and princes?”

  “No,” Maggie replied.

  “Oh, they get the best of everything. They have servants who do their bidding whenever they want. They get to go to large balls where people dance in beautiful gowns and elegant suits. They’re very happy and very much in love. And when they have children, those children are just as cute as you.”

  Rose hugged Maggie. Harriett couldn’t believe it when Maggie didn’t push her away. If Rose had married Stan, Maggie would have called her ‘Ma’. Maggie wouldn’t have fought her or refused to eat anything she made. She would have done what Rose wanted.

  Harriett rolled her eyes and looked out the small window. Rose’s life was a fairytale. True, she didn’t marry a prince, but she did marry a man who turned out to be wealthy beyond measure, and what was more, he loved her. She didn’t have a marriage of convenience. She’d had her choice of several suitors, and she married for love. She had everything she ever wanted.

  It wasn’t often that Harriett envied her sister, but right now she could feel the green-eyed monster sneaking up on her.

  “Sometime soon,” Rose continued, slipping her arm around Maggie, “your ma will bring you to my house, and you can see just how grand it is. And you know what?”

  “What?” Maggie asked in excitement.

  “Because you’re my niece, you get to enjoy some of the things I have. I can get you candy and ice cream. I can give you toys and lots of other things. I plan to spoil you silly.”

  Rose tickled the little girl, who looked as if she’d never had so much fun in her entire life. And for all Harriett knew, she hadn’t.

  “I can see why you married Stan,” Rose told Harriett. “It’s hard to resist such an adorable girl.”

  Maggie didn’t seem so adorable when she got along with everyone except for her, but Harriett kept the thought to herself.

  “I hope you don’t mind I came by to see you,” Rose continued. “I spent all yesterday wishing I’d been there for you. It was hard to stay away knowing you were getting married. I used to think we’d get married together in a double wedding. That would have been so romantic.”

  “Things worked out the way they were meant to,” Harriett finally spoke up.

  “Yes, you’re right. And I understand why you wanted a private affair yesterday. But even if I wasn’t with you in person, I was with you in spirit. You do know that, don’t you?”

  Harriett nodded. At the moment, she would have preferred to have had this conversation in spirit as well. She immediately criticized herself for thinking such a hateful thing. It wasn’t like her to resent her sister so much. She’d long ago made peace with the fact that Rose was more appealing to others than she was. And it was still fine if most people thought that way. All she really wanted was for two people to like her more than they liked Rose, but Stan and Maggie wouldn’t ever do it.

  “Rose, I need to get back home,” H
arriett finally said when she’d decided she’d had enough. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to say something she’d later regret, and she didn’t want to do that. Because, even if she was irritated at the moment, she still loved her sister. “Can you please have the driver take us to Stan’s buggy?”

  “But we hardly got to talk,” Rose replied, a hurt tone in her voice.

  “We can talk some other time. It’s not like I’m moving away from here.”

  After a moment, Rose nodded. “You’re right. I just missed you, that’s all.”

  Rose tapped the top of the carriage, and the driver pulled the horses to a stop. When he opened the door, she instructed him to go back to the house. The driver said he would and shut the door. Shortly, they were moving again.

  “You’re princess,” Maggie told Rose in awe.

  Rose chuckled. “I am like one, though I’m not really royalty. But if you find the right man to marry someday, he’ll make you feel like one, too.”

  “She’s only three, Rose,” Harriett said. “There’s no need to fill her mind with such nonsense.”

  “It’s not nonsense. I used to dream of getting married when I was a little girl, and if I recall correctly, you did, too. The men in our dreams were always kind, good looking, and completely devoted to us.”

  “Those were dreams. They aren’t real life. The sooner Maggie learns that, the better she’ll…”

  Harriett’s voice drifted off the moment she realized what she was doing. She’d just argued with Stan and her mother that the girl should be sheltered from the real world. And when Rose pretty much argued the same case, Harriett suddenly understood how silly the whole thing was. Because real life wasn’t a fairytale. Sometimes people didn’t get married. Sometimes they had children and abandoned them. Sometimes they married out of necessity, not for love. Sometimes they had a sister who had everything while they stayed in the shadows and took whatever was left over. Just what good was it going to do Maggie later in life if she wasn’t prepared ahead of time for disappointment?