Ruby: A Western Historical Romance (Old Western Mail Order Bride Series Book 2)

by Amy Field

  While Matthew was alive this was not a possibility and she tried as best she could to dissuade Leah from mentioning this in his presence. Now that he was gone, she was more willing to encourage her daughter to pursue her dreams. She still feared for her as she knew that being a mere school teacher would not be enough to challenge her daughter who had shown her displeasure in the role that females were relegated to in the community.

  Her views though plausible to Martha was not shared by many especially the men and was enough to pose a possible threat to her daughter’s standing in the community.

  “Well not entirely,” she answered “But Miss Yoder promised to teach me more than what I have learned.”

  As she spoke, Leah played with the food on her plate, using the fork to push the food around the plate absentmindedly. It brought Martha’s sight to her actions – observing. She usually did this when she was feeling anxious about what she had to say.

  “That would be wonderful,” Martha agreed and earned a look of surprise from Leah as she widened her sky blue eyes and her lips slightly parted.

  “But how will she be able to do this?” she asked.

  “Miss Yoder has a lot of books in the library at her home. She lets me read whatever I want,” Leah replied excitedly.

  Martha nodded her head, encouraging her to go on.

  “Did you know that she moved away from here when she was younger to live in the world of the Englischers?” her daughter asked getting more animated as she spoke about what she had been doing at school.

  “Yes, Sarah met a young Englischer who came to visit his aunt and ran away with him,” she offered. “When he died she moved back here.”

  “How do you know so much?” Leah marvelled.

  “Nothing goes unnoticed in this community, Leah. And this all happened before you were even born,” explained Martha.

  “Well she brought back a ton of books and school equipment when she came back and she lets us use them if we want,” Leah continued unperturbed.

  Martha watched as her daughter continued to speak about her time at the little school that Sarah ran from out of her home; her excitement growing with each word that left her mouth.

  “And have any young men at the school or the community caught your eye thus far?” Martha asked interrupting her daughter’s lively chatter about all she had learned thus far.

  This earned her a look of perplexity from her daughter before her features transformed into one of contempt.

  “Of course not mother," she replied, “the men in this town are so undesirable.”

  “Why do you say that?” Martha asked careful not to offer an opinion until she could comprehend her daughter’s thought pattern.

  “I don’t know,” she replied absorbed in her thoughts as she contemplated the reason for her indisposition towards the men of their community.

  “They just don’t peak my fancy.”

  When her mother made no move to respond she continued, “I read this book Miss Yoder has. It was a story about love. It was so romantic how the man did all that was in his power to make the female feel how much he loved her and it had me thinking that I want a love like that. The men here are only looking for someone who will become an obedient wife and bear them children, but in the book the women were able to speak their minds…”

  Realizing where her daughter was headed, Martha quickly interjected.

  “But these stories are not real Leah,” she reasoned. She then fixed her daughter who more and more reminded her of her youth with a pointed stare.

  “Our reality is that we must live a Godly life and marry Godly men that will provide for their family. You must understand that what you are saying will only cause trouble in the end” she finished with a sigh.

  Reaching her hand across the table she lightly curved it over her daughter’s cheek in a display of affection as she continued to stare intently into the blue eyes that mirrored hers.

  “There is so much that I want for you Leah, but I am also afraid for you because you remind me so much of myself when I was younger and naïve. You are allowed to make some mistakes at this age but I must also warn you that they usually come with a price that may be too high to pay.”

  Allowing her hand to fall away from her daughter’s face, she arose from her chair and proceeded to clear the table. Leah arose as well and in silence she helped her mother take the dishes towards the kitchen and rinsed while Martha washed.

  Martha’s heart ached with the knowledge that her daughter’s dreams and aspirations would not be attained – at least not if she remained apart of the community. She really wanted what was best for Leah and would have done anything to make it possible, but after witnessing countless persons returning to the community broken in some way or the other when life on the outside didn’t quite go as they planned she feared that this would be the same for her daughter.

  “Leave it, you’ll be late for school,” Martha instructed her daughter when she reached for the knife and started peeling the apples that Deacon Mark had dropped off.

  “I will do it,” she finished when Leah made an attempt to protest. “I also need to go to the market to get some groceries, so I will drop you at Sarah’s on my way.”

  After dropping off Leah at the little school that was on her way to the market, Martha steered her horse and buggy towards the market. After getting some fruits and ground produce Martha made her way across the street towards the small mercantile to purchase counter flour, rice, sugar, a cut of beef and pork chops. When she exited the store, her hands were full to capacity with the brown paper bags that housed her goods. She slowly made her way in the direction of where she parked her buggy.

  “Do you need any help?” came the familiar deep baritone voice of the deacon from behind her. Martha whipped around to see him with an inviting smile on his lips even as he eyed her packages.

  “Oh would you?” she asked, pleased that he was offering to help her.

  Without another word, he took the bags out of her hands leaving her arms feeling twenty pounds lighter. He then started to walk towards her buggy that was parked a few feet away and she fell in step with him.

  After placing her items into the passenger side he turned his full attention on her.

  Martha couldn’t help but admire how handsome Deacon Mark was. His curly blond hair, though cut in the traditional Amish style, was unruly even as it peeked from under his felt hat in tiny ringlets. His clean-shaven face provided her with a good view of his angular face and strong jawline that was bronzed from working long hours in the sun. He had green eyes that reminded her of the moss covered trees in the woods she used to frequent after it rained. It represented a type of peace and tranquillity that she felt only when she was there, isolated from the world around her.

  Today he did not wear a jacket over his plain blue shirt and suspenders and she was able to admire how broad his shoulders seemed to be. She couldn’t help the blush that reddened her cheeks as her vision took in the corded muscles of his arms that showed where he had rolled up his shirt sleeves.

  “Thank you very much Deacon Mark,” Martha said still looking anywhere but at the man before her fearful that he would see how affected she was by his presence.

  “It was no trouble at all, Martha and please just call me Mark,” he requested.

  At his petition for her to refer to him by just his first name and not the title Martha felt a little giddy with the implications of such an appeal.

  “Thank you then Mark,” she returned, liking the way how his name rolled off her tongue.

  “Did you receive my gift?” he asked smiling down at her as he was much taller than her 5ft 5inches.

  She looked at him confused by his question as she did not recall him giving her anything other than the apples he had delivered to her home the day before. It suddenly dawned on her that he was referring to it and she quickly replied.

  “Yes thank you. I was about to thank you for them but I guess you beat me to it,” she replied, releasi
ng a short laugh.

  After that it became awkward as neither knew how to proceed from there. Mark scratched the back of his neck which was a sign of his nervousness.

  “Well, uh, let me help you up,” he offered while gesturing to her buggy after some time of not saying anything.

  “Thank you,” Martha replied putting her small hand into his large calloused one that fit hers like a glove.

  The instant warmth of his hand sent a jolt of electricity up her arm causing her to raise her eyes to look at him. If he felt the current that just passed through her from their touch he didn’t show it as he kept his eyes focused on helping her up into the buggy. Once she was seated properly, she took the reins before turning to him.

  “Thank you so much for your help, Mark. It was a pleasure seeing you,” she spoke while plastering a sincere smile on her lips.

  Mark tipped his hat in acknowledgement before replying, “The pleasure was all mine Martha.”

  His moss green eyes held her blue eyes captive for quite some time before the honking of a horn drew them out of the trance like state they had found themselves in.

  “Goodbye for now, Martha. I’ll be hoping to see more of you soon,” Mark said, his voice exuding a confidence he didn’t have a few moments ago. It caused heat to travel up her neck and rest in her cheeks making them rose red for the second time since they met up. For fear that her voice would betray her, she provided a simple smile hoping he wasn’t focusing on how embarrassingly red her cheeks had become, She slapped the reins against the horse’s side and prodded him forward.

  As if a sixth sense was telling her that he was still looking in her direction, Martha turned to see Mark standing in the same position she left him, looking straight at her. She quickly ducked her head even as a broad smile made its way onto her lips and the feeling of butterflies in her stomach made her want to shout for joy.

  The feeling, though not new to her, was in a sense new territory as the only person who had ever elicited such a response from her was no longer a part of her life – she didn’t even know if he was still in the land of the living. No-one had heard anything fromSteven since he left.

  Perhaps it was better that way.

  Making her way to the pantry to put away the things she had bought at the market, her mind dwelt on her encounter with Mark. She couldn’t help the smile that was still spread across her features and she revelled in the feeling of regaining some semblance of her old self that was cruelly crushed by the harsh realities that her world had to offer.

  After putting away the goods, she decided to go out into the vegetable garden to do some weeding and keep her mind active as she no longer had a list of chores, or needy children to fill her time. She had not envisioned that she would have found herself missing such things, but here she was, with nothing much to do and more often than not it left her feeling empty.

  “Perhaps if I become Mark’s wife, I can once more feel needed. I will have a house to run, two children to take care of and a husband,” she spoke unaware of the path her mind had led her down. Realizing what left her mouth she laughed out loud as she sat on her haunches looking out across the farm lands that had not been tilled since Matthew’s death.

  Maybe she was reading too much into the Deacon’s actions, she thought to herself. Perhaps he was just being a good neighbour and was looking out for a poor widow. She would hate to entertain the idea of them becoming something more than neighbours, only to have it not be true and having him laugh in her face at her assumptions. In any event, she supposed the deacon could probably get anyone he so fancied, He was handsome and hardworking, while she on the other hand could probably be classified with the less than desirable things the community had to offer.

  She sighed deeply.

  After completing the task of weeding her vegetable garden, Martha decided that she still had energy to burn. So she dusted and swept every surface she could find in the house before making her way to the kitchen to prepare dinner for her and Leah. As the beef stew she decided on was simmering in the pot, she decided to finish what her daughter had started earlier that morning and proceeded to peel the apples for the apple pie she would be making.

  When she was finished, she went to freshen herself by taking a long shower and then releasing her hair from the bun to brush away the tangles. She felt refreshed and opted to take a short nap before Leah got home. Even as she tried to sleep her mind forced her to think about Mark and the possibility of them together. As such she drifted off into sleep and had a dream that starred her and the lowly deacon.

  “And do you promise to love and protect Martha?” Pastor Hans asked Mark who was staring directly into Martha’s eyes.

  The feeling of elation that washed over her when he responded positively to the question had Martha shooting hoops on the inside but just as she was about to respond to the same question posed to her by the pastor, a familiar voice interjected and interrupted the ceremony.

  “Wait!” came Stephens voice “You can’t do this Martha. You don’t love him; you love me.”

  She felt her heart constrict and when she turned to face the man who she had given her heart to so long ago, she became confused. Mark was patiently waiting by her side for her answer but none was forthcoming. As she looked from him to Stephen her irresoluteness between the two men highlighting the dilemma she had found herself in.

  Instead of providing either man with an answer she found herself lifting her skirt and running. The more they called after her, the faster she ran. With a start she awoke to sounds coming from the room opposite hers.

  Leah was home.

  The following Sunday was church and it was slated to be held at Pastor Hans’ home. Martha was anxious as it meant she would be seeing Mark whom she had not seen since their encounter five days ago.

  Martha had hoped he would have visited her and was put out when he did not. Even if he had simply stopped by to deliver more apples, at least it would be a clear indication that he was interested. Now as she fixed her straight blue dress her mind was on him and whether or not he would speak with her after service.

  It all was overwhelming, trying to determine whether or not the man had genuine interest in her or was as her mind had warned her simply being neighbourly.

  Fixing the prayer kapp securely over her hair, she smoothed down her dress once more before exiting her room and headed for the porch where Leah currently stood, looking out at nothing in particular as she waited for her.

  “What are you thinking?” Martha asked when she made no move to push away from the porch beam to which she currently clung.

  “Nothing in particular,” she replied simply when she finally focused on her mother before moving away from the beam.

  Martha suspected Leah was bothered by something but decided to let it be for now. Heaving herself up and into the driver’s seat of the buggy she waited for her daughter to join her before the two were off.

  Nearing the service venue Martha saw Mark before he spotted her but opted to keep out of his line of sight at least until service was over. She watched as he entered the large barn where everyone was currently gathering as service would begin soon.

  When she entered the barn, she decided to take a seat closer to the back where she would be obscured from view as the other women came piling in and sat before her blocking her presence. Mark was currently standing beside the preacher as he was slated to give a brief teaching before they received the main word from Pastor Hans.

  As he spoke, Martha found herself riveted by his deep baritone voice and by the charisma with which he spoke about Jesus’ teaching on loving thy neighbour as thyself – she thought the message was convenient and it brought her mind to her earlier thoughts. Perhaps he truly was being neighbourly and had no interest in her past that.

  As soon as service ended, Martha slipped out of the barn eager to get some fresh air and time to collect her thoughts before the usual chatter commenced as persons milled around while waiting for the afternoon meal that w
as being prepared to serve. She walked towards the small meadow that was behind the barn happy that no one had seen where she went and content to get some time to herself.

  Coming upon a small pond where a mother duck and her offspring were currently paddling across, she stopped and took a seat by the huge willow tree whose branches hung so low that some of the leaves were immersed in the water giving it the appearance of sapping up the liquid through its tips.

  She stared out at the scene before her, marvelling at how free the ducks were as they had the opportunity to come and go as they pleased – something she had never been privy to.

  “Beautiful isn’t it?” came the voice of the man that currently had her mind in turmoil.

  Whipping her head in his direction, she offered up a small smile.

  “Hello Mark,” she answered pleasantly.

  “Hello Martha,” he repeated her greeting after inserting her name.

  Coming closer he stood looming over her as she stared up at his smiling face even as his green eyes captured hers.

  “Do you mind if I sit Martha?” he asked her and she felt a sudden leap of her heart and butterflies gliding over each other in her stomach as her mind processed his request.

  “Ah sure, sure,” she managed to blurt out before scooting over so that he could take a position beside her.

  The two sat in silence for a while just staring at the ducks who circled the pond continually and on occasion half immersed themselves in the murky water before shaking themselves dry.

  “There is something I have been meaning to talk to you about,” he said suddenly causing Martha’s heartbeat to race at an alarming speed.

  “Oh yes?” she asked expectantly as she turned her attention to him.

  He simply nodded his response and she waited with anticipation for him to continue.

  “I have thought about this long and hard Martha and I know that I may be rejected by you but I feel I owe it to myself and to you to tell you how I feel.”

  Again her heart picked up speed as it beat erratically against her chest, the sound hammering against her ears.