The Mistaken Mail Order Bride (25 page)

Caleb looked up from his chalkboard, and
Caroline encouraged him to join her as she headed for the door. She
thought Phoebe and her mother might follow, but they lingered
behind, probably wishing to give Caroline and Caleb a few minutes
alone with him.

Caroline opened the door for Caleb, and
Caleb darted across the yard to Eric. Eric slid off his horse and
tied the reins to the post before he turned to Caleb and picked him
up.

Caroline’s steps slowed when she saw Caleb
wrap his arms around Eric’s neck. It was such a sweet scene, and
one she hated to interrupt, but Eric made eye contact with her and
smiled.

She picked up her pace and called out, “It’s
nice to have you back.”

“
It’s nice to be back,”
Eric replied.

When she reached him, he put his arm around
her waist and drew her to his side. He gave her a kiss that let her
know how much he’d missed her.

She’d missed him, too. Missed him so much,
in fact, that she’d had a hard time sleeping at night. She hadn’t
realized how safe she’d felt with him next to her in bed until
she’d slept on the couch. Yes, Caleb had slept on the floor nearby,
but she was used to watching over him. With Eric, however, she’d
been able to let her guard down and let him watch over her.

She wiped her eyes, surprised welcoming him
back should make her want to cry. But these were tears of joy, so
she didn’t mind them so much. They were much better than the other
kind.

“Did you find out what Charles wanted?” she
asked once she could trust herself to speak without crying.

“I did.” He let go of her and set Caleb
down. “Will you leave us alone for a few minutes? There are some
things you’re too young to hear.”

Caroline was sure the boy had to be curious,
but to his credit, he nodded and went over to the porch where
Phoebe and her mother were sitting.

Eric turned back to her and pulled her in
his arms again. “You feel good,” he whispered, burying his face in
the nape of her neck.

“You do, too.”

Something in the way he held her told her
his trip hadn’t been pleasant. Not that she thought it would be,
but she hadn’t thought it’d be as bad as it’d been.

“What is it?” she asked, pulling away from
him. “What did you find out?” He seemed reluctant to tell her, so
she added, “I’ve been through the war, Eric. I lost everyone in my
family. Whatever Charles wanted, I can handle it. Don’t keep it
from me just because I’m a lady.”

And that was yet another thing that had
changed recently. While growing up, it was expected that ladies
would be sheltered from the harsher realities of life, given their
delicate constitutions. But, again, she wasn’t that person any
more. Now she wanted to know what was going on.

Taking a deep breath, she took his hands in
hers and squeezed them. “Eric?”

“You were lucky you got off in the wrong
town,” he told her, his voice soft. “The others weren’t so
lucky.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Others? Are you
telling me Charles posted other mail-order bride ads?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Caroline,
he was posting those ads with the intent of selling the women into
prostitution.”

At first, she didn’t think she heard him
right, so she asked, “Did you say prostitution?”

He nodded. “He had already tricked three
women into coming to him. I was able to track them down and release
them from their,” his eyes went heavenward, “employers.” He
released his breath. “I found a nice couple who agreed to house
them and find real, respectable marriages for them. Charles is now
in jail, so he won’t be able to do this ever again.”

It was still taking her time to process
everything he was telling her. She’d thought nothing worse could
have happened to her when she left South Carolina. She had been
uncertain about the future. Maybe even afraid when she contemplated
leaving everything she’d ever known behind. But never once did she
think Charles was the kind of gentleman who was planning to sell
her into prostitution.

“It was bad enough to see the condition
those three women were in,” Eric began, “but when I thought one of
them could’ve been you…” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’m
so glad you got off at the wrong town.” He wrapped her in his arms
again, holding her tightly, once more burying his face in the nape
of her neck. “I love you, Caroline.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered.

The reality of what would have happened to
her had she not married Eric was finally beginning to sink in. She
closed her eyes and clung to him. What had been a terribly
embarrassing mistake had really been a blessing.

And to think if she hadn’t had Caleb with
her, throwing up and crying, she might not have been distracted
enough to get off the stagecoach when she did. Then when Charles
came up to her, seeming to be very much a gentleman, she would have
gone off with him.

She opened her eyes and glanced at Caleb,
who seemed content to hold a frog while Phoebe and her mother
talked to him. Phoebe reached forward to touch the frog, but her
mother refused to do it. Caroline’s gaze went back to Caleb. He was
smiling and studying the small creature in his hands. It was ironic
that the day she decided to protect him by taking him to Colorado
with her, she had ultimately been ensuring he’d be there to protect
her.

When Eric let go of her, he wiped the tears
from her face. “The best day of my life was when you married me.
I’m sure Allison will make a good wife to the man she ends up with,
but I have no doubt you’re the right wife for me. That’s why I was
waiting for a bride when you happened to come here. You were meant
to be with me.”

She smiled, even as more tears came to her
eyes. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Abe stepped out of the barn and called out,
“I hate to ruin this moment, but there’s smoke in the kitchen.”

Caroline looked at the cabin, and sure
enough, smoke billowed from the kitchen window. She hurried after
Phoebe and her mother as they rushed into the house. Caroline
wished she could say she was surprised, but to be fair, she had
warned them. Soup was one of those things she’d never be able to
make, no matter how hard she tried.

***

Despite the soup mishap, everyone had a good
supper, and Eric took Caroline and Caleb home that evening.

The next day, Caroline took Caleb to the
general store to check for mail and was delighted to see that Bee
had sent her a missive. Well, one of Bee’s friends had written the
letter on her behalf, but Bee had told her friend what to write. As
Caroline quietly read the missive, Caleb was content to chew on the
licorice she’d bought him.

Caroline was glad to see Bee and her sons
were doing well. They’d come together with other former slaves to
start farming.

It’s slow going,
Caroline read.
But it’s
progress, and progress is all we can ask for. Things take time to
get better. We just need to take each day as it comes and be
thankful each step of the way. And one thing I’m thankful for is
that you got a good man. We’ve all had our share of sorrows. It’s
looking like we’re coming into better things. Keep your head up,
Miss Caroline. The best is yet to come.

Caroline took out her handkerchief and
dabbed the tears from her eyes.

“Why are you crying?” Caleb asked. “You
don’t seem sad.”

“I’m not sad. I miss Bee and the others, but
their lot in life is improving and that’s good.” Not sure she did a
good job explaining why she felt a mixture of joy and sorrow after
reading Bee’s letter, she folded the paper and slipped it into her
pocket. “Life is complicated. So few things are completely
wonderful or horrible. There seems to be a mix of both at any one
time.”

“Excuse me,” Daniel said, coming over to
them. “I forgot to give you this. It’s for your husband.”

“Oh, thank you.” She took
the envelope from him and saw
Allie
Jones
written at the top of it. From the
looks of it, it had ended up in the wrong town before finally
making it here. She glanced at Caleb. “We should take this to your
father.”

Caleb nodded and left the general store with
her. Fortunately, Eric was at the jailhouse. Sometimes he wasn’t
there. She’d learned he’d walk around town or be asked to break up
an argument from time to time. Her curiosity was getting the best
of her, and she wanted to find out the contents of the missive
right away.

She opened the door and led Caleb in before
following him inside.

Eric looked up from a paper he was writing
on. “Ah, my two favorite people. To what do I owe the pleasure?” He
rose to his feet, circled the desk, and walked over to them.

“Allison wrote to you,” Caroline explained,
presenting the envelope to him. “I thought you might like to read
it.”

With a nod, he opened the envelope. “I have
been wondering what happened to her. I hope she’s alright.”

Caroline hadn’t considered something bad
might have happened to her. She held her breath as he pulled the
paper out and unfolded it.

He read through the contents of the missive,
and she patiently waited for him to tell her what was in it. By the
expression on his face, she could tell he was surprised. However,
he didn’t seem upset, so that had to be good. At least, she hoped
that’s what it meant.

When he finally put the missive down, he
said, “She was delayed because she saw a murder.”

Caroline’s eyes grew wide. “She did?”

“It happened on the train, and she was asked
to stay in Missouri to testify at the trial,” he replied. “The
judge has seen to it that she’ll be provided for the rest of the
way here, so she has everything she needs. She’ll be here in a few
days.”

“It’s good she’s not hurt.”

“That is good.” After a moment, he added,
“It’s a shame she didn’t see who pushed Lydia down the ravine. I
sure could use the help.”

“It’ll happen. Just keep your ears and eyes
open.” She kissed him.

“You know what I love most about you?”

“What?”

“Your faith in me.”

Pleased, she smiled and gave him another
kiss. “You don’t make hasty decisions, and that’s a good thing. It
helps when you keep a clear head.” She put her arm around Caleb’s
shoulder and told the boy, “Just like you. You’ll do good things,
too.”

Though Caleb shrugged, she detected the hint
of a smile on his face from the compliment.

“So, what are you going to do about Allison
since we’re married?” she asked Eric.

Eric tapped the missive in his hand for a
moment then smiled. “I know who’ll make her a good husband. I think
she’ll agree to it, but he’s going to be harder to convince.”

Now her interest was piqued. “Oh? Who’s
that?”

“Travis Martin. It’d do him some good to
have a wife, especially one who’s willing to stay and testify in a
trial. She’s the type who does the right thing when the time calls
for it, and he could use someone like that.”

“Travis seemed terribly shy when Caleb and I
went to get you the day Lydia was found dead.”

“I know, which is why getting him married
won’t be easy. But, just because something is difficult, it doesn’t
mean it’s not worth doing.” He put the missive on his desk then
came back to her and Caleb. “I’m in the mood for a walk. I’ve been
sorting through this thing with Lydia too much. I think I need a
break. Want to join me?”

Caroline and Caleb nodded, and the three
left the jailhouse for a nice, relaxing walk.

Author’s Note

I don’t often leave a loose
thread hanging in a story like I did with Lydia’s murderer still
free. In this case, however, I felt it necessary for the sake of
the series to leave this open. The guilty party will be discovered.
(I know who it is, and I have introduced that character in this
story.) I believe the killer’s identity will be exposed in the next
book,
The Accidental Mail Order
Bride
. I’m not a plotter by nature. I can
only know the story as I’m writing it.

Coming September 4, 2016!

The Accidental Mail Order Bride

Eric Johnson’s real mail order bride shows up
later than expected, and she quickly learns he is already married.
Now Allie Jones is stuck in a small Colorado town with no way to
leave. She must either marry the only remaining bachelor or risk
being sold to the saloon’s owner to be one of the soiled doves.
Seeing she has no real choice, she agrees to marry the
bachelor.

Not being much to look at and overweight,
Travis Martin is content to live alone, sheltered in the wooded
area of the mountainside, free from the town’s endless gossip. So
that’s why the last thing he expects is a preacher when there’s a
knock on the door. With great hesitation, he agrees to the
marriage. He can’t confine her to the saloon, but he knows the
marriage won’t be a happy one for her, not when she could have had
someone so much better.