*****
Her tea with the women went better than she’d expected. Ten women came, and though some had to sit on the floor, she thought they all had a nice time. She spent Wednesday baking to prepare, and had cakes, pies, and cookies to offer them. “Please, take more,” she urged them. “Samuel and I will be eating them for a week otherwise.”
The other women laughed. She sat on the floor with a group of younger women. “Are there no unmarried ladies in the congregation?” she asked with a frown.
Adelaide shook her head with a big smile. “That’s why the pastor had to send off for you!”
Kristen grinned. “Well, I’m glad there are no unmarried ladies then, because he’s a good husband to me.”
Adelaide sat on the floor beside her. “We’re the only two ladies in the congregation who haven’t been married at least five years.” She shrugged. “Well, Mary’s widowed, but since her husband just died last month, she’s not exactly eligible to marry anytime soon.”
“Really? That surprises me!”
Adelaide pointed out the next youngest woman. “That’s Mary. Her husband was killed in a logging accident last month. She has two little girls three and five.”
Kristen frowned. “That’s sad. I hope everyone is taking them meals.”
Adelaide looked at Kristen in surprise. “Why, I don’t think anyone’s thought of it.” She looked almost embarrassed.
“Where are her girls today?”
Adelaide shrugged. “She probably left them with a neighbor.”
“Are her parents close?” Kristen couldn’t imagine trying to raise two young girls on her own without her parents around.
Adelaide shook her head. “No, it’s just her.”
“Excuse me.” Kristen walked over to Mary, who was sitting apart from the others, her eyes sad. “Mary?”
When the other woman nodded, Kristen sat on the floor beside her. “Adelaide just told me about your husband. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
Mary just nodded stoically, but her eyes were filled with tears. “Thank you.”
“Is anyone helping you? How are you getting by? I understand you have two daughters.”
“I have some food left from my kitchen garden. I’ve sold off the cow, and we have eggs from the chickens every day.” Mary shrugged. “We’ll make it.” Her voice was bold, but Kristen could see the fear in her eyes.
Kristen shook her head. “Is no one helping you?”
Mary shook her head. “No.”
“Would you mind if I organized some meals to be brought to your house? Like they were doing for my husband before my arrival?” And after, but Kristen left those words unsaid as she concentrated on how she could help the young mother.
“I don’t want to be anyone’s charity project.”
Kristen sighed. “You’re not a charity project. You’re in mourning and you have two little girls to take care of. Where are they today, anyway?”
“My neighbor’s been watching them while I look for work. She said it would be fine if I came to this tea before I go get them.”
“Well, would you and your girls care to join my husband and me for dinner tonight? We’d be happy to have you!” Kristen had cooked a large bowl of stew with the intention of having some left for lunch the following day, but she could just as easily cook again.
Mary looked at her in surprise. “You wouldn’t mind? I don’t want to be in the way.”
Kristen smiled sweetly. “I’d love to have the three of you for a meal.”
By the time the women left, Mary had agreed to come back at six for the evening meal. Kristen had baked three loaves of bread earlier that she added to the menu for the night, and she’d serve one of the pies she’d baked. Even after pushing her baked goods off on anyone who would take them, there was enough left for dessert.
When Samuel arrived home, she asked him about Mary. “Why is no one helping her?”
Samuel shook his head. “I just assumed someone was. I guess I should have asked around.”
Kristen sighed. “That’s why you needed a wife.” She brushed her lips across his cheek, which was covered with stubble. “I’ve invited her and the girls for supper tonight. They don’t have a lot left. You can see the fear in her eyes.” She wasn’t sure how to really get the bad situation the other woman was in across to her husband, especially when Mary had never come right out and admitted how bad it was.
Samuel frowned. “I wish I’d realized. I’d have done something.” What he didn’t know. It was usually the women who arranged things like that in the congregation. He’d never really considered that until now.
“Well, I’ll get it all taken care of. They’re going to be here at six, so I’m going to hurry and finish getting everything ready.” She had already scrubbed the floors after everyone left, and was making sure everything was as perfect as it had been before the women arrived.
When Mary and her girls arrived, Samuel welcomed them heartily, making it clear that they were thrilled to have them. The girls went to Kristen automatically, helping her in the kitchen. She gave them each small tasks, and Samuel smiled at how well she got on with them.
Mary stood off to the side, saying nothing, but watching Kristen with the girls. After a moment, she introduced them to the pastor’s wife. “The older girl is Edwina and the younger is Beatrice.” Both girls had blond hair and blue eyes. They were pretty as could be and Kristen felt her heart go out to them.
Kristen smiled down at the girl presently carrying the bread on a plate to the table. “Hello there, Beatrice.”
Beatrice smiled up at her, but didn’t respond. Once they were all seated, one girl on either side of Kristen, Samuel said the prayer for all of them, making sure to add a special prayer for Mary and her girls.
Mary helped Kristen with the dishes after the meal. “That was a fine meal, Mrs. Benner.” Mary seemed shy with Kristen as if her status as the pastor’s wife put her above Mary.
“Please, call me Kristen.”
Mary nodded. “You’re a good cook, Kristen.”
“Thank you. I enjoy cooking.”
Mary gave a half smile. “I’ve heard something about that.”
Kristen sighed. “I’m sure you have.” She washed the dishes quickly and Mary dried them, leaving them on the work table to be put away. When they were finished, she stepped outside into the fresh air with her new friend.
“You’re really good with my girls,” Mary told her.
“I enjoy children a great deal. I volunteered at an orphanage back in Dallas before I got married.” Kristen shrugged. “I really miss having children around. If you need someone to watch them while you do your shopping or while you look for a job, you just let me know.”
Mary nodded. “I will.” She stared out at the street for a moment. “May I ask a favor of you?”
Kristen turned to the other women and nodded. “You can ask me for anything.”
“Well, I’ve been thinking…now that my John died so suddenly, there’s nothing really that would keep me from doing the same. I don’t want my girls in an orphanage, and I never really made friends here. I mean, it’s my own fault. We were newlyweds when we moved here, and my whole life was my husband, but the girls came so fast, and then my whole life was my family…” She shook her head. “Anyway, what I’m trying to ask is if anything happens to me, would you take care of my girls? If you can’t keep them, would you make sure that they go to good homes and not some orphanage somewhere?”
Kristen felt tears pricking her eyes, feeling bad for Mary with her lonely existence. “I will. I don’t know if Samuel would let me keep them, but if not, I’ll make sure they get good homes. I promise.”
Mary reached over and clutched Kristen’s hand, and for the first time in years, Kristen didn’t worry about what the other woman had touched before touching her hand. She simply squeezed the other woman’s hand in return. “No
thing’s going to happen to you, though.”
“Maybe not, but it’s always best to be prepared.” Mary sighed heavily. “I have to interview for a job as a maid for the rooming house tomorrow. I need to be there at ten in the morning, and then I need to get a few things from the mercantile. Would you watch the girls for me?”
Kristen nodded eagerly. She was so glad Mary trusted her so quickly with her girls. She would love to take care of them for her. “Absolutely. You’ll bring them at what? Half past nine?”
Mary nodded. “Around then. Thank you. I’m not sure how long I’ll be. Would it be a problem if you had them at lunch time?”
“Not at all. I can keep them all day if I need to.”
Mary stood then and called to the girls who were playing on the lawn. “It’s time to go home, but Mrs. Benner said she’d watch you both while I go to my job interview tomorrow. Would you like that?”
Both girls clapped happily. It was obvious that they liked Kristen.
Bride of Paradise: Book 1 in Mail Order Ministers Page 19
