The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection: Nine Historical Romances Celebrate Marrying for All the Right Reasons (21 page)

The silence of the tiny room above the doctor’s office seemed to scream and ridicule him for his loneliness. No matter. In a few short days, he’d be standing in front of the parson getting married to Sadie. One way or the other, he’d make sure he chose her in the end.

The contest results might be private until the paper came out, but he knew her well enough to know when she had a hand in something.

Look out, Sadie Rollins, you’re getting ready to have a name change.

Chapter 3

O
h, Ma, I look ridiculous.” Sadie patted the pile of curls on top of her head. Ma had turned the dress into a work of art, but the woman in the mirror wasn’t Sadie. “We shouldn’t be doing this on a Sunday afternoon. It isn’t right.”

“Nonsense. You’re beautiful, and your father already printed a special edition of the paper. We can’t waste resources. You will present yourself along with the rest of the girls.” Ma clasped her hands under her chin. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Zeke won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

Sadie glanced at the cursed newspaper on the table. What a foolish idea she had had. A contest to marry off the town’s most eligible bachelor? Silliest idea she’d ever had, really, and it had come back to bite her in the backside.

“Stop frowning. You’ll create lines in your face.” Ma stabbed one more hairpin into Sadie’s scalp.

“Ow!” Sadie reached for the pin.

“Beauty is painful. Don’t you dare take out that pin.” Ma stepped back. “You’re as ready as you’ll ever be. Remember… head up, shoulders back, a demure smile on your face.” Ma handed her a parasol. “Twirl this.”

“It’s cloudy outside.”

“Twirling it will bring attention to you. Like this.” Ma opened the parasol, leaned it on her shoulder, and twirled with the speed of a snail. “Not too fast. You don’t want to poke anyone’s eye out.”

Sadie sighed and took the parasol, dragging it behind her as she exited the house. She might as well be headed for the gallows.

“Pick it up!” Ma admonished and stepped beside her onto the porch. “Wonderful. The other girls are already congregating in front of the doctor’s office. We’re making an entrance.”

Sadie rolled her eyes and twirled the parasol. Hmmm. An entrance. If it was an entrance her mother wanted… She loosened her grip on the parasol and a gust of wind blew it from her hands. She dashed after it, heedless of the resulting damage to her hairstyle, dress, and dignity, grabbing it as it came to rest in front of the hitching post outside Zeke’s office.

He grinned down at her. “Good morning, Sadie.”

“Doctor.” She propped the tattered parasol on her shoulder as if it were a rifle, and took a deep breath. “What would you have us ladies do now that we’re here?”

“Why are you here?” His mouth twitched.

“The morning paper said our current task is to parade in front of you in our finery. So, parade I will.” As a soldier marching to war, she paced back and forth while the other contestants preened and struck poses behind her.

Sadie stepped off the sidewalk, crossed the muddy street, then walked up the other sidewalk and back, making a wide circle of Main Street. She stopped in front of him once again and squared her shoulders. “Satisfied?”

“Very.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the building. “It isn’t every day a man gets to see such a sight. I’m very blessed indeed.”

“You’re enjoying this.” Sadie tossed the ruined parasol on the ground at his feet. “Are we finished?”

“Shouldn’t there be a bit more, considering all the trouble you ladies took to look so beautiful?” His eyes twinkled. “How am I supposed to award points when everyone looks so nice?”

She wanted to punch him. “There are no points today. It’s only for you to get a good look at your choices.” Not Pa’s best idea, in her opinion.

Zeke swept his gaze across the line of girls. “I’m glad. There is no way I could have awarded points to one beauty over another.” He winked at Sadie. “I gather I am only to take a look at the bevy of beauties vying for my hand?”

Sadie gave him a curt nod. “You need to write a statement for the paper.”

“Very well. I’ll get started on that right away. Ladies, until tomorrow.” He spun and ducked through the door of his office.

Ma grabbed Sadie’s arm. “I’ve never been more mortified in my entire life. What did you mean by galloping down the street after that parasol? You should have let Zeke fetch it and return it to you. Then, the march through the mud? May heaven help us all.”

“I suppose I’m not meant to be a proper lady.” Sadie marched toward home, anxious to don one of her comfortable calico dresses.

“Anyone can be taught proper behavior. I’ve failed you miserably.”

Sadie turned. “No, Ma, I’m sorry. I’ve ruined your wedding dress and embarrassed you.” She blinked back tears. “Please forgive me, but I wish you had never put my name in that box.”

“The dress will wash. Don’t you want a husband and family?” Ma cupped her cheek. “The love of a good man is one of life’s greatest rewards. You’ve turned down the few men that have come courting.”

“Not everyone is meant to have that life.” Sadie clomped up the porch steps and into the house, leaving her shoes at the door and undoing her buttons as she went. Tomorrow was the baking competition. Good thing. The only thing she knew how to make was oatmeal.

“I’m making my famous carrot cake for tomorrow,” Ma called down the hall.

Not that! “No, make something no one has ever tasted.” Ma’s famous carrot cake would give Sadie an unfair advantage over the other girls, one that Zeke would seize upon to hold her to her promise.

Once free of Ma’s gown, Sadie plopped across her bed and stared at the wood beams across the ceiling. She could very well win the competition and wind up marrying Zeke.

She groaned and got dressed. She’d better go see about that cake.

The moment she stepped into the kitchen, Ma tried to shoo her out. “This is foreign territory to you, daughter. I won’t have you messing up my plans.”

“I have to help. It won’t be fair otherwise. You win the baking competition at the town fair every year.” Sadie grabbed an apron from a peg on the wall and tied it around her waist. “I can do this. I’ve had a very good teacher. What would you like me to do?”

“Leave, but since you’ve refused to do so, crack those eggs into the bowl.”

Sadie smashed an egg against the bowl. Shells rained down on the yolk. She sighed and started to pick out the pieces…. Wait. She grinned. She was sure to lose if she kept the shells in, and… a magic ingredient. She dumped in a handful of salt. There!

Zeke finished binding a broken finger and turned to the next patient. Annabell beamed down at him. “What ails you?”

As if remembering she was in a doctor’s office, she clutched her stomach. “The stress of the competition has my stomach upset. Perhaps you can ease my suffering?”

He almost told her that if it was too tough for her to compete, she could always drop out, then he remembered Sadie’s silly rule. Who in their right mind expected Zeke to marry Annabell? She was little more than a child.

“I have some syrup that might help.” He moved to his cupboard and studied the medicines. He doubted she was actually ill. She needed something that wouldn’t harm her, but make her feel as if he were helping.

By the time he turned around, the other contestants, minus Sadie and Ruby, were crowding through the door. “Does everyone have an upset stomach?”

They all nodded.

He poured small vials of peppermint oil and handed one to each of them. “A few drops rubbed on your stomach should have you as right as rain.”

He waved away their gushes of thanks and practically forced them from the office. He could strangle Sadie. No more relaxing meals at the diner, and now false ailments bringing girls into his office. Life had taken a drastic turn, one he prayed would soon right itself.

When no more patients showed during the next hour, Zeke posted a sign saying where he could be found, locked the door, and grabbed his fishing pole. He needed an afternoon where he wasn’t surrounded by starry-eyed young ladies.

The walk through the trees soothed his frazzled nerves. The babbling of the creek greeted him before he parted low-hanging branches and stepped onto the bank. The sun sprinkled diamonds across the water. He froze, his mouth dropping.

Sadie, her skirt tucked into her waistband, stood knee-deep in the creek, casting her line expertly across the rippling surface. Zeke set his pole on a rock and watched as, with one flick of her wrist, she sent the line flying then jerked it back and repeated the motion. She’d always been a thing of wonder to watch while fishing.

His boot scraped the ground, loosening pebbles. Sadie shrieked and lost her footing. Arms flailing, she fell backward, landing up to her chin in the creek. Zeke laughed and rushed forward to help.

“Ha!” She grabbed his offered hand and pulled him in with her. “That will teach you to sneak up on a girl.”

He submerged and came up sputtering. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I only came to fish.”

“Find your own fishing hole.” She splashed her way to the bank.

“But we’ve always come here.” He followed, shaking water from his hair. “It’s big enough to share. Can’t we still fish as friends?”

She cast those amazing eyes on him. “You, me, and four others.” She glanced over his shoulder.

He took a deep breath and turned. Sure enough, the four other ladies stood on the bank, fishing poles in hand.

“We didn’t come prepared to swim,” Lucy said, “but, if that’s what you want, Mr. Phelps, I don’t mind ruining my dress. My father can order me another one.”

“I’m just here to fish. Sadie fell in, I pulled her out. Nothing more.” For pity’s sake. His afternoon was ruined.

“Well, I’m finished.” Sadie collected her pole from where it had washed ashore, and marched away.

The other four women stared after her then transferred their attentions to him. “We need help learning to fish,” Annabell said.

“I don’t.” Ruby baited her hook and perched on a fallen log. “You children ask for help.”

How could he get out of spending an afternoon teaching some frivolous young women how to fish? Zeke scratched his chin and stared at their expectant faces. He sighed and handed Lucy a shovel. “First, dig for grubs under those trees.”

“What?” Her thin brows drew together. “You mean worms?”

“Yes ma’am, along with other things.” He pointed to the bucket of bait. “In order to fish, you need bait, unless you want to pierce the hook through these minnows.”

Annabell swooned. Sally went to catch her then shrugged and let her fall. She grabbed the shovel from Lucy’s hand. “Don’t be such a priss. It’s only worms.” She marched to the nearest tree and attempted to dig. “This is the hard part, Mr. Phelps?”

“Nope.” He crossed his arms. “If you want to fish, you need to be able to get your own bait.”

“Is this part of the contest?” Annabell got to her feet and glared at Sally.

“No.” He picked up his pole and cast his line into the water. Would he ever have a moment’s peace again?

The girls must have decided against fishing, all but Ruby, who pulled in a nice bass. The others spread their skirts on the bank and watched every move Zeke made. If he could have left for the afternoon without leaving a sign stating where he was going, he would have. But a responsible doctor let his patients know where he could be reached.

“Doc!” A man burst through the trees. “Got an ax accident that needs tending to.”

“Hallelujah,” Zeke muttered. He grabbed his gear and followed the man who had momentarily saved his sanity.

Instead of a bleeding man, Sadie leaned against a tree. “You’re welcome.” She grabbed her pole and headed down the path.

“There is no accident?” Zeke trotted to catch up with her.

“No, I had pity on you. No man should be swarmed with vultures, if you get my meaning. Rubert is a friend of Pa’s. He didn’t mind telling a little white lie.” She cut him a sideways glance. “I’m sorry I got you into this.”

“You’re the best friend a man could have, Sadie Rollins.” And she would make a mighty fine wife, too. All he needed to do was convince her. Silly contest or not.

Chapter 4

P
a picked up Sadie’s cake and set it in the back of the wagon with the four other baked items he had gone door to door to collect. Not everyone baked a cake it seemed. She spotted a pie and cookies.

“Stop gawking out the window and get ready,” Ma said.

“I am ready.” Sadie let the curtain fall into place.

“No, you’re not. You will wear your Sunday dress. You are not going to appear at the competition in faded calico.”

“Zeke has seen me in worse. Besides, today’s points come from the baking, not the appearance.” Sadie grabbed a straw hat adorned with a green band and plopped it on her head. “Let’s get this over with.”

Oh, Lord, why had she proposed such an idea to her father? Really? A competition to marry off Zeke? The more time went by, the more she regretted her decision. Just as she wanted to be free to choose whom she would marry, Zeke should also have that choice. What had she done?

“Smile, dear. The entire town will be watching.” Ma plastered a grin on her face and sailed out the door and down the street to the diner, where this stage of the competition would take place.