“I thought I might find you out here.” Elizabeth’s voice floated on the air.
Miranda turned and smiled. “You have such a beautiful garden, I could stay out here forever.”
“I enjoy it, but I don’t spend as much time in it as I’d like to.” Elizabeth crossed to a corner of the garden where a pair of wrought-iron chairs and a small glass-topped table sat in the shade of a large elm tree. “Come and sit down,” she said. “A letter arrived from John.”
Miranda’s heartbeat stuttered. Could this be the letter that would change her life, or was it another rejection?
She crossed the garden and joined Elizabeth at the table. Elizabeth took the envelope out of her pocket and slid it across the table to Miranda. As Miranda reached to pick up the envelope, Elizabeth rested her hand on top of Miranda’s. “I hope it’s an acceptance, but don’t worry if it isn’t. I’m sure there’s a husband out there who’d be happy to have you as his wife. And you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need to. Now I’ll leave you alone to read the letter. I’ll be back in a few minutes and we’ll talk.”
Elizabeth got up and walked back to the house, leaving Miranda alone.
Her fingers trembled as she opened the envelope and withdrew a piece of paper and something else - a ticket for a train leaving Beckham to take her to Austin, Texas in two days.
Dear Miranda,
You seem like the perfect woman to make me and my girls a family again. I’m enclosing a train ticket that will bring you to Austin. I’ll close the diner for the day and meet you there and bring you to Sapphire Springs, which is about two hours away. The town is small and we don’t get to the city often, so I hope that’s not going to be a problem for you.
If you don’t mind, I’d like to get married right away. I do have to warn you that the girls are worried that you’ll force them to eat vegetables and that you you’ll put them to bed far too early. My aunt (who’s been helping me for the past few months) doesn’t approve of me remarrying, so I only ask that you be patient with her until she gets used to the idea.
I’m enclosing some money for you to buy whatever you need for your trip, and so you’ll be comfortable when you get here. There’s only one mercantile in town and my aunt tells me there isn’t much selection of ladies’ clothes. It’s very hot here, so you might want to buy some thin dresses before you get here.
I’m anxious to meet you, and I’m looking forward to a wonderful life with you as my bride.
Your future husband (hopefully),
John
Miranda folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope. Her heart was galloping in her chest, and her fingers quivered. She was really going to do this! She was going to travel to a town in Texas she’d never heard of, marry a complete stranger and become a mother to two little girls.
Trepidation swirled inside her, yet she couldn’t help feeling as if this was the answer to every prayer she’d ever said. Somehow, deep inside, she sensed that by going to Texas, all her dreams would come true.
Elizabeth came back as Miranda laid the envelope on the table. “Is the letter the response you hoped for?”
It was, but at the same time, it was terrifying to leave everything she’d ever known behind and go off to a strange place where she knew no one. Still, she had nothing left in Beckham, and she was convinced a fresh start would be the best thing that could happen to her. “He wants me to come to him. He sent a train ticket. It leaves in two days.”
“That’s not much time,” Elizabeth said with a smile, “but I’m sure we can get everything organized in time. We’ll go shopping in the morning.”
“I don’t need anything—”
“Of course you do,” Elizabeth countered. “Every new bride should have something pretty to wear on her wedding day.”
Miranda stood up, feeling a little shaky. “I’d hoped I’d have time to make a new dress or two, and perhaps even to sew a wedding dress.” She let out a short laugh. “I can sew quite well, but even I can’t make a dress in less than two days.”
“I’m sure we can find a suitable dress tomorrow.”
Miranda nodded. “Then it looks like it’s settled. I’m leaving for Texas the day after tomorrow.”
***
“Are you ready to leave?” Elizabeth asked two mornings later when Miranda came down the stairs from her room.
Miranda was carrying her carpetbag holding the new dress she’d bought the day before as well as all her other possessions. “I suppose I am,” she replied, forcing some cheerfulness she didn’t feel into her voice. After all, her whole life was going to change in a few hours.
“Good,” Elizabeth said. “I’ll walk with you to the station and see you off.”
Miranda shook her head. “That’s really not necessary,” she said. “You’ve already done so much for me—”
Elizabeth waved away her objection and slid a glance at her watch. “Nonsense. I want to go with you.”
It was a fairly short walk to the train station, and when they arrived, the two women sat together on the bench on the platform.
Miranda’s heartbeat thundered inside her chest. She’d never been on a train before, and the thought of spending ten days inside the monstrous machine screeching into the station made her stomach twist into a knot. Well, that and the thought of marrying a man she’d never met.
Still, what choice did she really have?
“I made you some sandwiches for the trip,” Elizabeth said, getting up and handing Elizabeth a paper bag. “They won’t last long, but you’ll be able to save a little money by not having to buy food today.”
Miranda wanted to tell Elizabeth how grateful she was for everything the woman had done for her, but she couldn’t find the right words. “I ... thank you ...”
Elizabeth patted her hand. “You’re very welcome,” she said. “Now there is one more thing I want to say to you before you leave.”
Miranda peered at her. What hadn’t Elizabeth told her?
“I want you to write to me as soon as you get to Texas so I know you arrived safely.”
“Oh … of course I will …”
“And then, I want you to write to me again once you’re settled, maybe two weeks or a month later. Not all men are the way they appear to be in a letter,” Elizabeth went on. “If you find that John isn’t the man you thought he was, you’re not obligated to stay with him. I don’t want you to feel that you’re stuck if you find yourself in a situation where you might be hurt ... either physically or mentally.”
Miranda nodded. “I won’t.”
“Good.” Elizabeth smiled. “If you aren’t comfortable with the situation in Texas, you need to come back immediately.”
“I have nothing left here—”
“You have a friend,” Elizabeth said. “Me. And if you want to come home at any time, you’re welcome to stay with me for as long as it takes for you to find a job and a place to live.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth. Knowing I have somewhere to go if I need to eases my mind a lot.”
“All aboard!” The conductor’s voice filled the small station.
The two ladies hugged. “Don’t forget to write to me when you get there and let me know you’re all right and that you’ve met John.”
“I will.” Tears stung Miranda’s eyes. She wasn’t used to such kindness. Mercy, even her own mother had never been so affectionate and worried about her.
“Now you’d better get on the train before it leaves without you.” Elizabeth walked with her to the steps. A porter waited there to help her into the car.
After another quick hug, Miranda climbed the steps and found a seat inside. A few minutes later, the whistle blew. The train began to move slowly as it left the station.
Miranda looked out the window and waved to Elizabeth until she was out of sight, then settled back in the seat.
Fear and excitement filled her, although she couldn’t say which she felt more. This was an adventure of a lifetime, and she was determined to be positive. She l
ooked around as the train picked up speed and left Beckham behind. This train would be home for the next ten days.
Chapter Four
John climbed out of the buggy in front of the train depot at the edge of town. He wanted to make a good first impression on his bride so he’d put on his Sunday clothes. It wasn’t even noon yet, but with the sun already beating down, it didn’t take long before he realized he’d made a mistake. Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down his back.
The train was a day late because of a freak summer storm, which meant he’d had an extra day to worry about the decision he’d made.
His aunt had made her disapproval of his plans clear, and with every negative comment she’d made, his worry had grown until he’d been almost ready to send a telegram to Miss Miller and cancel. But, he’d reasoned, if he did that, what would happen then?
Every day Ruth was in charge of Hope and Ellie, they grew more and more despondent. He appreciated his aunt’s help and didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but something had to change. If he had a new wife, there wouldn’t be any reason for Aunt Ruth to stay. Surely she’d see that and a confrontation could be avoided.
But what if Miranda didn’t want to marry him when she got here? What if she didn’t like children, and what if the girls didn’t like her? He couldn’t decide which would be worse.
It was too late for worry now, though, he thought as he gazed toward the horizon and saw the smoke billowing from the train’s smokestack.
He wasn’t alone on the platform, but he’d bet he was the only one who was planning to marry a woman coming in on that train. A woman he’d never seen before.
All too soon, the train’s wheels screeched as it slowed down. With a last belch of thick smoke, the train stopped, the doors opened and the passengers began to disembark.
He was surprised at how many people were getting off in Austin. The town had grown since the last time he’d been there three years ago. It was too big, as far as he was concerned. He liked the size of Sapphire Springs – big enough that it had a school and a doctor and a church and a mercantile. He didn’t need much else. And it was still small enough that he knew his neighbors and they knew him. It did mean everybody knew everybody else’s business, too, but he was all right with that. It meant that if somebody had trouble, there was always help.
He watched the people getting off the train, wondering how he would recognize Miranda. He wasn’t sure exactly what she’d meant by brownish-red hair, but he figured it wasn’t the dark brown hair he saw on a young woman who gave him more than a passing look as she walked by.
The depot emptied. A lone woman sat at the other end of the platform, a carpetbag at her feet. She looked lost, sad. That couldn’t be Miranda, though, he said to himself.
This woman was pretty, her hair a rich coppery-gold color. A few tendrils had escaped the severe knot at her nape and framed her face in curls. And where Miranda had said she weighed too much, this woman was perfectly proportioned. He wouldn’t want a woman who was stick-thin. This woman had curves in all the right places and enough meat on her bones for a man to hold onto. But overweight, definitely not.
He hoped the woman wasn’t Miranda, but since they were the only two people left on the platform, it looked like she was his new bride.
He swore, but luckily he was still far enough away from her that she couldn’t hear him. Where was the woman with the frizzy hair, the woman who’d led him to believe she hadn’t missed many meals?
As if she sensed someone staring at her, she lifted her head and looked in his direction. Her green eyes speared him and she gave him a tentative smile as she rose and started walking toward him.
“Mr. Weaver?” she asked in a voice barely more than a whisper.
“You’re Miranda?” He hadn’t meant to sound so surprised, and felt a little guilty that he hadn’t hidden it better.
Her cheeks pinked and she lowered her gaze. “I ... am.”
He swore.
***
Miranda’s eyes widened at the muttered curse that slipped from her future husband’s lips. Was he the kind to swear often? She hoped not. She supposed many women lied about their appearance in their letters. She’d told the truth, so she hadn’t expected him to be surprised that she looked exactly the way she’d described herself. He didn’t have to make his disappointment quite that clear.
She wasn’t beautiful. She wasn’t slim. She wasn’t any of the things that turned men’s heads. And as if that wasn’t enough, after ten days on a train, she was a mess. After all, she hadn’t been able to do more than wash herself with a cloth and a basinful of tepid water since she’d left Beckham. Her hair held the dust of ... how many miles had she traveled anyway?
“Sorry, ma’am, that slipped out,” Mr. Weaver said.
“I understand I’m not what you hoped for, but I did warn you –”
“No, it’s not that,” he began.
She waited, expecting him to tell her exactly what his problem was if it wasn’t her appearance.
“Never mind,” he went on. “I’ll deal with it. Is this all your luggage?”
She nodded.
He picked up the carpetbag. “You travel light,” he commented. “I sent money for you to buy some new things so I expected you to have a trunk at least. Why didn’t you spend the money I sent?”
“I did spend some,” she replied. She’d bought a few toiletries, one dress to be married in and gifts for the twins, but she still had most of the money he’d sent in her reticule. She’d return it to him once they reached Sapphire Springs. “I thought it might be better to wait until I got here to see what I’d need since it’s you said it’s so much warmer here,” she replied. “Which it is,” she added with a smile, fanning herself.
“I’m told the mercantile doesn’t have much selection.”
“I’m sure there’s plenty,” she said. “After all, the other ladies in town manage, don’t they?”
“I suppose they do …”
“As long as my clothes are practical, I’m satisfied. I may need to buy a thin dress if mine are too warm, but that’s all.”
He smiled. “You can buy more than one. I’m not rich, but I do earn enough in the diner that you and the girls don’t have to do without the necessities.”
She gave him a smile. “I don’t need much, so I promise I won’t drive you into the poorhouse.”
He grinned. “I can’t ask for more than that. The wagon’s over there. We’d better get going. It’ll take us about two hours to get to Sapphire Springs, and I expect you’ll want a little time to prepare for the wedding.”
“That would be wonderful. In fact, I’d love to take a bath if there’s time.”
“The wedding’s set for four o’clock,” he said. “I thought you might want to take a bath after being on the train for so long, so I arranged for one to be ready for you when we get there.”
She was surprised he was so thoughtful. Only one other man she’d ever known had been kind, and that was her father. The only other men she’d really known were the Tolliver men, and kindness wasn’t something they knew anything about.
Surely a man who would think about his bride’s comfort was a man who would be kind in other ways as well.
“How was your trip?” he asked after he’d helped her into the wagon and they were on their way to Sapphire Springs.
“Long,” she said with a grin, “but interesting. This country really is so beautiful and I did enjoy the journey. I do admit I’ll be happy to lie down in a real bed tonight, though.” When her brain caught up with her mouth, she felt herself blush. Heavens, what must he think of her even mentioning a bed. Would he think she was anxious for the wedding night? “Oh ... I apologize ... what I mean is ...”
He slid a glance in her direction, his eyes twinkling. “There’s no reason to be shy. We’re going to be married by tonight and I hope we can be comfortable enough with each other to talk about anything we want to, even beds.”
She nodded sli
ghtly to show him she agreed, even though she couldn’t imagine ever being anything but embarrassed to talk about some things.
“The bed might not be the most comfortable bed you’ve ever slept in,” he went on, “but I can guarantee it won’t be moving.”
She giggled. “That will be quite a change after so long on the train.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes. The sun beat down, and Miranda couldn’t remember ever being so hot. Summers in Beckham could get hot, too, but not like this. Now she understood what he’d meant about wearing thin clothes. She’d have to make a trip to the mercantile as soon as she could.
Trying to take her mind off the perspiration trickling down her back, Miranda studied the flowers blanketing the fields as far as the eye could see. “What kind of flowers are those?” she asked. “I’ve never seen them before.”
“I’m not sure,” he told her. “but they bloom every year at this time. I think they only grow in Texas, too.”
“Do they grow in Sapphire Springs?”
He nodded. “Outside of town.”
“Lovely. The Tollivers always had fresh flowers in the house. They brightened the rooms and made them feel very welcoming. I’ll pick some for your house if you don’t mind.”
He looked over her, his expression serious. “It’s going to be our house,” he pointed out. “You can do whatever you want to so that you feel at home there.”
Miranda felt very lucky that she’d found a man who seemed to be eager to make their marriage a good one.
“I’m curious.” John’s voice filtered into her thoughts. “Why did you decide to become a mail-order bride? Surely you had offers to marry from men back east.”
She shook her head. “Not one.”
“I find that hard to believe,” he said with a grin.
Miranda shifted in her seat to face him. “It’s the truth,” she said. “I was in service to a wealthy family. I worked at least fourteen hours every day except Sunday. ”
“You only got Sunday off?”
She let out a short laugh. “Heavens no, we didn’t get the whole day off. “We were allowed four hours on Sundays, enough time to go to church and to take care of any personal needs. We got an entire day off once a month.”
Mail-Order Miranda (Brides of Beckham) Page 3
