Katie: Bride of Virginia (American Mail-Order Brides 10) (2 page)

“Nice to meet you,” she said. “I've been looking so forward to this day. Did your mother come with you?”

He shook his head. “No, I didn't tell her about your arrival.”

“Oh, why not?”

He glanced at his friend frowning, his brows drawn together, not responding.

“She’s not very mobile,” Frank replied for her husband.

“I’m so sorry,” Katie said wondering about his mother. “She won't be attending our wedding?” she frowned at him. “I can’t go to your home without us being married.”

She didn't want to make a scene, but the girls had all agreed they wouldn't step into the men's homes without a marriage license in hand. It could ruin their reputations and the man wasn't getting the milk for free.

“No,” Daniel said his body rigid. “There’s not going to be…”

He gazed at her, hesitating for a long time, mouth open like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t.

“Time,” he finally responded. A smile graced his dark face, his blue eyes warming as he nodded. “We don’t have time to ride out and pick her up and come back to town.

“I thought we would take care of the wedding, if you're ready, right after lunch. You must be famished from your train ride.”

Frank glanced at Daniel and smiled.

Her pulse raced at the way he was gazing at her and joy filled her. Sure, her knees were knocking, but everything was falling into place. And her new husband to be was quite dashing. He took her carpet bag from her hand and offered her his arm and her heart leapt in her breast

“Let's get you fed, then we'll go to the courthouse and get married, Miss Maverick,” he said, gazing down at her.

Warmth and excitement overwhelmed her. Yes, she was definitely blessed to be marrying such a gentleman.

“Afterwards, I have a bottle of champagne chilling at my office right across the street. We can celebrate your wedding day with a glass of the bubbly before you head to your new home,” Frank said grinning at them.

“Thank you. That will help make the day special,” Katie said nervous at the thought of marrying this stranger, yet knowing this is why she’d answered the ad.

“I can't wait to meet your mother,” she said, wanting to get lost in his gaze. No man had ever had her feeling this way. No one.

“Oh, I'm sure she will feel the same,” he said, glancing at his business partner who promptly turned his back. A dart of uneasiness flittered through Katie, but she was not going to let that niggle of doubt ruin her wedding day. She was about to become a bride.

She smiled brightly at him. Her mother had always said that a smile helps any situation and she tried to remember those loving words. “Shall we?”

Chapter Two

D
aniel stared at the beautiful young woman, sitting beside him in the buggy, who had become his wife. They'd said their I do's in front of Frank and a witness they'd pulled into the room. It was completely unlike the big society wedding he had with Eloise and yet it felt real.

Walking to the train station earlier, he’d been intent on Frank telling her it was all a big misunderstanding and that Daniel had not sent for her. He’d even made Frank purchase a return ticket on the next train.

But then he’d seen Katie standing on that platform and while part of him knew it was wrong, the lonely man inside him was drawn to the smile on her face, the happiness that radiated from her. She needed a husband and he needed a breath of sunshine to come into his dreary world.

He resisted for all of five minutes before he thought what the hell. He deserved a chance at happiness.

No, it wasn’t fair, given she had no idea about the suspicions clinging to him, but he’d been drawn to her the moment he saw her and unable to fight the despair alone any longer. It was selfish and he knew it, but one look at Katie and he’d felt hope for the first time in a year.

He'd been hard since she stepped off the train and he'd learned she was the mail-order bride Frank had ordered. And now he couldn't stop gazing at how lovely his new wife was with her big green eyes, full sweet, tempting mouth and hair that seemed to go on forever. What had he done to get so lucky? Why hadn't some man snatched her up before now?

“Why did you become a mail-order bride,” he asked curious as to what would drive a woman to give herself away to a man. “You're beautiful. Weren't there any young men in Lawrence?”

She smiled at him coyly. “Thank you. And yes, there are plenty of young men in town, but none were interested in me. I was a factory girl, until the plant was torched by the owner.”

“Wow. That's not right. But what about your family?”

She sighed. “In 1880, when I was ten, my family died in a yellow fever epidemic. Somehow I was spared. I was sent to live at the orphanage. The only people I have in the world are my two best friends Genny and Julia and now you,” she said with a smile brighter than the noonday sun.

For some reason every time she smiled, his chest warmed and his groin tightened. He'd never had such a physical reaction to a woman before. And if she was as cheerful and warm as she appeared, he couldn't believe his good fortune, but what if it was all a big front? What if she were like Eloise?

“I'm so sorry to hear you lost your loved ones. That's tough.”

“I feel fortunate to be alive.”

For a moment, he felt guilty about marrying her and expecting her to take care of his mother and his house. But then he realized, he'd probably helped her escape a really bad situation.

Funny, he had intended to meet her at train with no intention of marrying her, but when she'd stepped onto the platform and turned her smiling face towards the sun, he'd been enamored of her beauty, her grace and that smile. It went clear to his toes and back.

He'd kissed her politely on the lips at the wedding ceremony, but he couldn't wait to get her home, get his mother situated, and the two them could escape behind the door to their bedroom. He wondered if she was ready to become his wife in every sense of the word. And would she be a virgin?

“Tell me about your vineyard. I've never known anyone who made wine before.”

“Do you like wine?” he asked.

She tilted her head in a way he already adored. “I don't know. The only wine I've had is church wine.”

There was such an innocence about her that he hadn't been prepared for. Her clothes were clean and nice, but they were not the latest fashion. She just seemed to have a glow about her and a zest for life that Eloise had never shown. For a woman who life had not showered with advantage, she seemed unaware she was not rich. She seemed genuinely happy and grateful.

“Well, tonight we'll open a bottle from the vineyard and you'll have your first sip of what I hope will someday make our vineyard well known,” he said, and also get them out of debt. If not, he could soon be searching for a new occupation and place to live. At least his new wife wasn't accustomed to riches, therefore, she wouldn't miss what they didn't have.

She shivered and immediately he realized he hadn't put the blankets in the buggy before he left, since he'd planned on returning before the sun set.

“Are you cold?” he asked, thinking he wouldn't mind if she sat closer to him. Katie was a delightful young woman and he felt so fortunate to marry her.

Her green eyes gazed at him twinkling like a star in the night sky. “Actually, I'm very nervous about meeting your mother. It's been an exciting day.”

Thinking that now was as good a time as any to scoot next to her, he moved until their hips were touching. “My mother can be challenging. She's ill and she has a tendency to take out her frustrations on those around her.”

“Oh, I'm so sorry.”

“Yes, for six months she's spent more and more time in her chair. I hate to see her health declining,” he said softly the sound of the horse trotting on the road crisp in the cold night air.

His mother had never been gentle. She'd always been a woman with a sharp tongue who was quick to wield it.

“Well, we'll just have to see if there is some way to cheer her up and get her moving again,” Katie said with determination.

For a moment, he wanted to shield the young woman from the vitriol his mother could spew. He'd been a witness to it, since the day his father died and she'd dried up faster than a spring during a drought. “You don't understand. She's difficult.”

Even in the darkness, he could see her turn and raise her brows at him. “You don't think I've handled difficult people before, working in a factory? Living in an orphanage? Working with the Sisters?”

He chuckled. This woman seemed too good to be true. There must be something in her past, something that had kept another man from marrying her.

“You're Catholic?”

“Yes,” she said. “What religion are you?”

He gave a short laugh. “Catholic.”

“We share the same religion, that's wonderful. I can't wait to get involved in the church and meet your friends,” she said smiling at him. “I'm just so happy to be your wife.”

He stared at her. Eloise had said those same words to him only a week before they were wed. She couldn't wait to be his wife and was so happy. And the wounds from that marriage had yet to heal. Would Katie hurt him the same way?

Turning the buggy down the road to his home, he knew she was about to face the reality of his situation.

#

As they rode down the lane, Katie stared at the house. The grandeur of the old place filled her with awe. There was so much potential in the home and yet it needed loving care. A shutter hung haphazardly, the paint was peeling and there were no lights shining from the windows. In fact, it appeared dark.

“This is it,” Daniel said as he pulled the buggy to a stop in front of the home. “The house needs some work.”

“But it has great potential,” Katie said gazing at the two-story building. “I can't wait to see what it looks like inside.”

Compared to the dingy apartment she'd lived in, this was a mansion. A place where she could make the house into a home, where someday her children would play.

He chuckled. “You're going to be disappointed. That needs work as well. When I bought the place, no one had lived in the house for quite some time. I just haven't had the time or money to put into fixing the inside, yet.”

She nodded. “Well, now you have a wife. I can take on some of those jobs.”

And at this moment, she wanted to be the best possible partner for Daniel. She didn't want to ever do anything that would make him regret marrying her.

Even in the darkness, she could see there was so much work that needed to be done around the house, but she had never been afraid of work and this was her home. This big, old house where she would birth her babies, and watch them grow until her time on this earth was done.

A sense of purpose and belonging overcame her and she couldn't wait to get inside. She couldn't wait to start on creating her family.

Daniel jumped down from the buggy and then turned back to help Katie alight.

“Why is the house dark?”

“I don't know. I guess mother didn't light the lamps.”

Taking her by the hand, they walked to the entrance and he opened the door. He started inside and she pulled him back. He glanced at her. “What?”

She sneaked a curious look in and then gazed at her new husband. “It's good luck to carry your bride across the threshold.”

All she could think about was how it would feel to be in his arms, so close, body against body.

She held up her hands. Shaking his head, he reached down and scooped her up cradling her against him. The feel of his arms beneath her buttocks and being so close to him had her breath catching in her throat.

“Oh my.”

Her heart was racing like a runaway steam engine and warmth was filling every nook and cranny in her body. Tonight was her wedding night and she thought her lungs were going to stop breathing.

Licking her lips, she gazed up at her husband and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Welcome home,” he said, staring down at her as he carried her across the threshold into the house.

Being in his arms felt heavenly and she was suddenly looking forward to tonight.

“Daniel,” a woman screamed. “Is that you, Daniel? Get in here.”

The sound of the woman's crass voice screeching had her stomach tensing. Was that his mother?

His face tightened and he dropped his arm and let her slide down the front of him. She felt his body tense and knew that must be his mother. “Coming, Mother.”

Taking her by the hand, he glanced at her, his eyes sympathetic as he led her to the back of the house. As they walked into a bedroom large enough to have a sitting area, Katie got her first look at his mother sitting in a wooden wheelchair, staring out the darkened window with no gas lamp burning in the room.

The gray haired elderly woman didn't look frail, but almost maniacal with her face tightly drawn.  Now Katie could see why he was warning her. The woman would be daunting to help.

“Where have you been. I've been waiting for you all afternoon. I've been worried sick,” the gray-haired dried-up woman demanded. “The ser--”

Katie felt her stomach tighten at the demanding way the woman was talking to her husband. He walked around her chair and lit the gas lamp.

Suddenly she saw Katie, her eyes narrowed and she glared at the girl. “Who is this?”

“Mother, I'd like for you to meet my wife, Katie Maverick O'Malley. Katie, my mother Betty O'Malley.”

The old woman's mouth dropped open. “Married. Who is she? And where did she come from?”

Swallowing the fear that threatened to consume her, Katie stepped up and tried to shake the old lady's hand, but she wrenched it away. She could see why her husband had tried to warn her. This would be challenging. “I'm from Lawrence, Massachusetts.”

Gasping she stared. “You married this girl. How did you meet her? You have terrible taste in women. Why didn't you introduce us before you were married? Are you expecting, girl?”

“Oh,” Katie couldn't help the exclamation that flew from her opened mouth. How could she even think she was pregnant. They'd just married.