by Natalie Dean
Even before he disappeared, Lizzie led Rosa back to the wagon where Billy was waiting.
The horse’s ears immediately perked up at the sight of Billy, and she gave a small whinny of approval as the young man stepped down to greet her.
He moved right under Rosa’s head and placed both hands on the side of her neck. Almost immediately, Rosa put her head down on his shoulder in a kind of embrace.
“It’s all right girl,” he crooned to the horse. “It’s all right now. We won’t let them take you again.”
A moment later, he stepped back, and Lizzie helped him tie Rosa’s lead to the back of their own wagon.
That done, she again accepted Billy’s help in lifting her into the wagon’s side seat.
This time, she smiled at the warmth of his hand on hers. It was equaled by the warmth in his eyes when he looked down at her.
“Thank you,” he said gently, placing a hand on her cheek.
She tried to say something about there being no need to thank her. She tried to tell him that it was, truly, her, Lizzie who should be thanking him.
But, in the end, the words got lost somewhere in his eyes.
Before she could find them again, his thumb caressed her cheek. She closed her eyes as he met his lips with hers.
That was the moment she knew the curse had been broken.
Epilogue
“Mama, up!” the little voice said.
Bernadette opened her eyes to see her two-year-old Amelia sitting on the floor under the pew of the church and lifting her little arms in a clear indication that her mother should pick her up.
With a sigh, Bernadette reached down to do just that.
“She doesn’t let you rest or pray for a moment, does she?” Lizzie Peters who was seated beside Bernadette in the pew asked with a slight chuckle.
“Oh, I still pray,” Bernadette said. “I just do it throughout the day. And mostly it’s things like ‘Lord, give me strength.'”
“That’s good enough for me,” Lizzie said with a slight chuckle.
“Speaking of praying, I think that might be about all the silence we can expect for the day,” Lizzie said. As though on cue, Amelia let out an excited cry and pointed to the open door of the church.
“Mama! Butterfly!” she cried out happily as a late spring yellowtail butterfly fluttered past the church doors.
“That’s right, darling,” Bernadette said gently to the little blonde haired girl in her arms. That’s a butterfly.
Amelia began squirming until she had disentangled herself from Bernadette. Immediately, the girl climbed down the pew and ran towards the church’s open doors.
The women stood and immediately went after her. They caught up with her just outside the church where Amelia was laughing happily and was, indeed chasing the yellow butterfly she had seen earlier.
“Take my hand Amelia,” Bernadette said. Before waiting for the little girl to answer, she took hold of the two-year-old’s hand and led her down the street.
“I don’t suppose those new calves just born give you as much trouble at the ranch,” Bernadette said to Lizzie.
“You would be surprised,” Lizzie said. “I had no idea how much goes into keeping a calf alive for the first few months. I’m lucky I have Billy to show me or half our herd would be dead before we’d even made it to our first summer.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s not true,” Bernadette said gently as they passed the bank building. “You were always good with animals. I remember when we used to have horses at the boarding house. There wasn’t a better caretaker anywhere than you.”
“Horses and cattle are different,” Lizzie reminded her. “And, besides that, I don’t think I’ll be able to do nearly as much from now on as I have been doing.”
“Why is that?” Bernadette asked, turning to her friend, interested.
To her surprise, Lizzie blushed and looked down at her hands.
“Well, to tell the truth…It’s still early days…. but…I…may be…”
Bernadette gasped and nearly dropped Amelia’s hand. She stopped walking and, with her free hand turned Lizzie to face her.
“Lizzie, are you saying there’s a little one on the way?”
The beaming, red-faced smile on Lizzie’s face told Bernadette all she needed to know.
With a loud cry of triumph, Bernadette put her arms around her sister-in-law. Causing a jealous cry of “Mama!” to come from Amelia.
“Oh, Mama’s sorry, Amelia, dear,” she said a moment later, letting go of Lizzie and bending down to pick up Amelia. “It’s just…oh, I’m so happy for you, Lizzie.”
“I hope you have reason to be,” Lizzie said. Her face now paled slightly, and Bernadette had a feeling she knew why.
“Have you told Billy yet?” Bernadette asked as quietly as she could.
Lizzie shook her head ‘no’ and began to walk again towards the hotel.
“I wouldn’t want to disappoint him…later,” she said.
If the issue were not so serious, Bernadette would have rolled her eyes at her sister-in-law. Everyone in town knew how much Billy adored Lizzie. She could no sooner disappoint him than the sun could decide to set in the east instead of the west.
“Tell him,” Bernadette said gently. “He will be overjoyed. And, if something happens…you’ll want to have him there to comfort you. Trust me. It’s better that way.”
Lizzie gave a small glance to Bernadette as they reached the hotel’s front door. It had become a custom for the girls to come into town once a week and have lunch with Mrs. Matthews before picking up their mail.
“I suppose you’re right,” Lizzie said as they moved from the hall into the kitchen. “I’ll tell him when I get back to the ranch tonight.”
“Tell me what?”
The light, tenor voice made both ladies jump.
“Billy!” Amelia’s voice cried as she immediately abandoned her mother in favor of her favorite uncle.
“There’s my girl!” he said opening his arms to receive a hug from the two-year-old.
“Billy! Up!” Amelia cried out.
Billy chuckled and lifted her onto his knee before turning back to the women still in the hallway.
“Sorry to surprise you,” he said. “But, Sam has the new herd taken care of. So, I thought I’d stop by for lunch. Mrs. Matthews said it was all right. She’s in the kitchen.”
“Well, we’re happy to see you, of course, Billy,” Lizzie said apparently trying to keep her voice as light as possible.
“Good to know,” Billy said with a chuckle. “Now what was this you wanted to tell me when you got back to the ranch?”
Lizzie bit her lip and looked over to Bernadette who clearly understood the silent message given.
“I think I’d best go help Mrs. Matthews with the lunch,” Bernadette said. “Amelia, come with me.”
She picked up the slightly reluctant two-year-old who squirmed in her arms as she was led away.
Before she made her way into the kitchen, Bernadette looked one last time at Lizzie.
The older woman met her eyes once and gave her a light, appreciative smile.
As the kitchen door slowly hid her sister-in-law from view, Bernadette couldn’t help but smile too.
God had found a way to bless them both.
THE END
THE SECRETIVE BRIDE HEADS WEST
THE SECRETIVE BRIDE HEADS WEST
A Western Romance Short Story
Book Description
Agatha has finally found true happiness. But now her past is back to haunt her...
After Agatha's mother died, life hasn't been kind to her. Mistreated both at her factory job and at home, she's decided to make the brave journey out West to become a mail order bride.
Elijah Rhodes, a handsome pastor, sees plenty of couples falling in love and starting families. He's happy for his friends, but all this love in the air is starting to make him feel like his life is missing something.
After Elijah answers an ad
Agatha placed to be a mail order bride, it's love at first site. But...Agatha has a dark secret she's hiding. If exposed, it could ruin everything.
Now her secret is falling apart...and Elijah is going to get to the bottom of this. Will he still want to be with her when he finds out what she did?
Chapter One
“It’s a boy!”
Billy Proctor immediately stood up from his seat as his sister in law, Bernadette came out of the room with the happy news. Billy crossed the small wooden floor in two steps and, with a smile of relief, Pastor Elijah Rhodes moved to follow him.
“How is she?” Billy asked anxiously after his wife. Both he and the pastor had stayed in the hallway as Lizzie Proctor’s pain-filled screams filled the farmhouse.
Even now, the pastor rubbed his hand where, during a particularly forceful scream, Billy had grabbed hold of the pastor and squeezed in sympathy for his wife.
“She’s fine,” Bernadette assured him. “The doctor’s still with her.”
“Can I see her?”
“Doctor Smith says only for a moment,” Bernadette answered. “Both she and the baby need rest.”
Without looking back at the pastor, Billy rushed into the room and out of sight. As soon as he left, Bernadette turned and gave Elijah an apologetic smile.
“Thank you, Elijah,” she said. “I know he doesn’t always show it, but I know you being here means a lot to Billy.”
Elijah returned Bernadette’s smile and gave her a slight nod as he sat back down in his chair.
“Don’t worry, Bernadette,” he said. “I didn’t expect a great show of gratitude. He’s focused on his wife and son right now. As he should be.”
Not a moment later, the door to Lizzie and Billy’s room opened once more. This time, Doctor Smith, an older man with graying hair and a generous pot belly appeared.
“Well, I must say, that was one of the most difficult labors I’ve experienced since I came here,” the doctor said taking a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping his brow which was, indeed dripping with sweat.
“But, they’ll be all right, won’t they?” Bernadette asked anxiously. “Lizzie and the baby?”
“They will be,” the doctor said heavily. “But, your sister will be weak for a few days, Mrs. Jacobs. It would be good if someone could stay here for a day or two and help her. I know Mr. Porter will have his hands full.”
Bernadette nodded.
“My husband has already agreed to look after Amelia for two days on his own while I see to Lizzie,” she said. “That shouldn’t present a problem.”
“I’ll be happy to look in as well,” Elijah cut in, eager to be of assistance. Now that Billy was ensconced with his wife and child, the Pastor found himself feeling quite useless.
“I’m sure they’ll be glad of that, Pastor,” Doctor Smith said with a kind smile laced with pity. Elijah had become used to seeing such pity from members of his flock. And, he knew why.
It was unusual for a pastor to be unmarried. When he first arrived in Laramie, most assumed that he was a widower, like many of the men in town. It came as a greater shock to them to learn that he had never married at all.
Before coming out west, he had simply never found the time. His studies at the seminary had left little time for courting. And, even when he did have the chance, the women back east seemed to find him either awkward or dull.
He preferred to discuss deeper subjects than the weather or who was marrying whom. And, back east, it seemed there were few women either willing or able to discuss the topics he found of interest.
Of course, in Laramie, there were even fewer women. Those who made the trek out west tended to be of nobler stock. But, these women were all married or too old to think of marriage again.
And so, the good pastor had remained a bachelor.
He had not minded this at first. His duties kept him too busy to think of his own concerns. But, as the years dragged on, as he saw children being born and happy families moving together to their town, he could not help but feel a hint of envy.
And, though he understood them, the pity filled smiles from his flock were becoming more than an annoyance.
“Both of you should stay for a bit and have a cup of tea,” Bernadette said. “I’m sure Billy will want to thank you for your help once he’s seen to Lizzie and the baby.”
“Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Jacobs but, I’m afraid I can’t,” Doctor Smith said. “My wife will be expecting me home for supper. She tends to worry if I’m not home before sundown.”
With a hurried goodbye to Bernadette and Elijah, the doctor moved to the front door and headed out into the night.
“I don’t suppose you can stay, Pastor?” Bernadette asked hopefully. Elijah gave her a smile that probably looked as tired as he felt.
“I would be happy to, Mrs. Jacobs,” he said. He thought about adding a reminder that he had no one waiting for him at home. But, he knew that would make him sound even more pathetic than he felt.
Bernadette led him to the farmhouse kitchen where he sat down at the large, dark wood table as Bernadette set about making the tea.
“I’m glad to hear that Mrs. Proctor made it through her labor okay,” Elijah said.
“I’m sure that she is too,” Bernadette answered. “Though, I know Lizzie will be even more pleased that the baby survived. After so many years, she did not think it likely that she would be able to have a child at all.”
“Proof that miracles happen every day,” Elijah said. He looked over to the stove, and Bernadette turned from it to smile back at him.
“It’s very kind of you to look after your sister,” he said. “I know it can’t be easy leaving your own family behind.”
“I don’t mind,” Bernadette said easily as the teapot began to boil. “Truth be told, I was almost happy to be away for a bit. Amelia is going through a bit of a phase. She’s biting everything she sees when she doesn’t get her way. I’ve had my share of bite marks on my arm. I think it’s Matt’s turn to have a few as well.”
“I suppose all children go through such phases,” Elijah said even though he had no direct experience raising a child. He had helped with more than his fair share. And, while he knew Amelia Jacobs to be a…spirited little girl…there were far more difficult children in Laramie.
“I suppose so,” Bernadette said now taking the pot off the stove. “But knowing that doesn’t make it easier when you’ve got a rambunctious little one running around,” she said with a laugh.
Bernadette poured two mugs of tea and began to bring them over to the table.
Though she complained of feeling overwhelmed as a mother, Elijah could see the gentle smile on her face, the spring in her step, the lightness that had come into her since marrying Mattathias Jacobs and giving birth to Amelia. It had not been there three years before when she had first come to their small town of Laramie, Wyoming.
Despite what she said to the contrary, Elijah could see that Bernadette’s family gave her great fulfillment. As she set his mug of steaming black tea in front of him, he could not help but wonder if a family of his own might bring him such fulfillment.
“Lizzie and I have been wondering, Pastor,” she said sitting down at the table across from him. “Have you thought about getting married yourself?”
Elijah felt his cheeks grow warm as he looked up at her. It was as though she had reached into his thoughts and read them.
Quickly, he looked back down at his cup of tea.
“Not lately,” he said finally. “I’m afraid I’ve been too busy with the church. The town is growing very rapidly.”
Hoping to avoid further questions, he took a large gulp of tea and regretted it immediately. The water was still far too hot and burned his throat on its way down.
“I would think that a wife might help to ease that burden,” Bernadette continued undeterred.
Elijah felt his cheeks warm again even as a wry smile crossed his face.
“But, seeking out that wife would pu
t a greater burden on my shoulders than is there now,” he said. “Here, finding a woman willing and able to marry is a chore in and of itself.”
Suddenly, as though she were waiting for Elijah to make this argument, Bernadette reached into the pocket of her apron, pulled out a small booklet and handed it across the table to Elijah.
After only a moment’s inspection, he realized what it was. Heaving a heavy sigh, he read the title: The Hand and Heart.
“This method worked wonderfully for both my husband, Matt, and Billy,” Bernadette said. “Perhaps you should try it yourself.”
“Forgive me, Mrs. Jacobs,” Elijah said. Arguments to this line of reasoning already half prepared. “But, both Billy and your husband had land, a home and opportunity to offer their brides. A pastor makes very little in the way of money. And everyone knows the work that comes along with being a pastor’s wife. Particularly in a small town.”
“Am I to believe, Pastor,” Bernadette said with a thoroughly disbelieving smile. “That you do not believe one woman anywhere would be willing to become the wife of a pastor?”
“I’m saying that it is unlikely,” Elijah said. “Girls in that booklet are looking for opportunities. I can’t offer them any.”
“You would be surprised,” Bernadette said. “Some are looking for a good deal more than money. At least look through it. For my own peace of mind if nothing else.”
Elijah shook his head and returned to his tea.
Though there was no more talk of marriage or writing for a bride that evening, Elijah took the booklet home with him.
When he arrived in his small cottage just behind the church, it was well past dark.
Before the lamps were lit, the house looked cold and lonely. Even after he lit the lamp in the parlor, the small room did not improve.
Even this tiny cottage had begun to feel large and empty within the last year or so. He’d blamed it on the strain of his growing flock but, now, after speaking to Bernadette, he realized it was more than that.
