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

by Amy Field

  After paying Liza for the week, he went to take a shower while she waited for her husband to come for her. Hope was already asleep which he was glad for. When he was finished he came back downstairs just as there was a knock at the door. After exchanging pleasantries with Liza’s husband the two were off leaving David to get his supper.

  After supper he had a short devotion before checking on his little girl and then headed for his own bedroom.

  The next morning he had the task of preparing Hope for Service. After a messy feeding that saw him getting clumps of the thick oatmeal in his beard instead of inside her mouth, he gave her a bath. He then proceeded to look for something for her to wear. Luckily Liza had placed the little girl’s outfit neatly on the little dressing table for him to see. Otherwise, he would be looking through the drawers aimlessly not being able to decipher what would be proper. Again he thought about how much he would miss Liza when she left.

  He wasn’t able to get her to sit one place while he prepared himself so he placed her in the high chair praying that she wouldn’t be able to climb out.

  He made a quick dash for his room thankful that he had thought to shower before getting her ready. He was happy to see that she remained in the seat he when he came back out.

  “Papa up,” she requested when she saw him.

  Honoring her request he lifted her out of the high chair while reaching for the child friendly seat he had made to use when she travelled with him.

  He then proceeded outside to the buggy that was parked by the side.

  After placing the bag in the back he put Hope to sit in his seat to secure her seat. He then placed her in it stretching the leather strap across her torso and fastening it on the other side, to keep her in place. He then went for the horse and made quick work of harnessing him to the buggy. They were off shortly after that.

  He directed the horse towards the pastor’s house where the service would be kept. Not many persons were outside when he arrived and he greeted those he saw graciously. They eagerly returned his greetings with a few of the older women who were widowers themselves inching even closer to play with Hope. He allowed it because at a time like this, he figured it would be appropriate to find a suitable mother for Hope.

  Soon however the bell that called service into session was rang and David along with the others made their way inside.

  He chose to sit at the back just as the singing began. He joined in but had difficulty focusing as Hope kept fussing when he prevented her from drawing his beard.

  He could see Josef up front his head bobbing in time with the rhythm of the song. Josef’s son was beside him while his wife and daughter’s sat on the opposite side of the aisle. There was a female sitting with them but he couldn’t quite make out her face. He only got a glimpse of her side view when she turned to smile at one of the little girls. In any case, he could say he wasn’t familiar with her.

  After singing the pastor preached a sermon about the prodigal son before informing the congregation that a lost sheep had returned to the fold and would be committing herself to the church.

  “Please accept Ruth Graber, daughter of Josef and Martha Graber who has returned to God’s will,” he commanded. He then gestured for the female in the front to stand for all to see her.

  Slowly she got to her feet and turned to face the congregation.

  So this was the daughter Josef had told him left more than three years ago?

  He could tell that she was nervous by the way she wrung her hands together while her wide blue eyes flitted from one side of the room to the next.

  “Go on dear,” the pastor urged her to say something even as she stood there with her full pink lips opening and closing.

  Something stirred in David and it wasn’t out of concern. It felt more like an interest. A wave of guilt came over him and immediately he averted his eyes as he willed his thoughts to come under subjection.

  “Hello everyone,” she started in a soft silvery voice. “I guess most of you know who I am but for those who don’t, I’m Ruth. I would like to commit my life to the church; to keep its ordinances and uphold its standards. I now confess that I was a sinner and have begged the forgiveness of our Lord God,” she said before taking her seat.

  A chorus of “Amen,” erupted through the barn and he saw the girl’s mother place a comforting hand over her shoulder.

  “Thank you Ruth. You are welcome to become a member of the church,” the pastor commended. He then informed the gathering that her committal service would be the following Sunday.

  David racked his brain trying to remember the girl who had just risen to speak but nothing came to mind. He had been a part of the community for nearly half his life and he still wasn’t familiar with everyone there so it was possible he didn’t really know her.

  As soon as service ended persons stayed back to fellowship and eat. A few of the women joined the pastor’s wife in preparing the meal while the others mingled and chatted.

  “David, it’s so good to see you,” Josef spoke as he drew near. Reaching for the man’s extended hand; David shook it while balancing Hope on his hip with the next.

  “I see you’re not travelling light today,” Joseph said, taking in Hope at his side.

  “Not today my friend,” David replied with a short laugh.

  “No fishing trip then?” Josef asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Yes, I am still game for that. My niece will be taking Hope for the rest of the evening,” he explained.

  At this Josef’s eyes lit up with excitement.

  “Great because we have a lot to catch up on,” he said.

  “Indeed we do,” David confirmed, and then added, “Including the fact that your daughter is home and you didn’t mention it."

  “She’s been back only a week,” Josef replied. “I haven’t seen you a week now,” he further excused.

  “No matter,” David replied.

  Just then his niece showed up and reached for Hope.

  “I will see you later,” Josef told him, walking off after Liza greeted him.

  Later that afternoon the two men met for fishing. It was a secluded area that was rarely used by anyone else. This made it a suitable area to sit in silence as they waited for the fish to bite. Their moments of silence were usually interrupted by sporadic conversation before they reverted back to not speaking.

  As the two sat comfortably on the grass by the bank of the river, they each threw out their lines and waited.

  David was the first to catch a fish and Josef followed in short order.

  “How’s business?” Josef asked David as he swung his line back into the water.

  “Business is good,” he answered. “The orders keep coming in. I did two shipments this week alone,” he continued beaming.

  “You?” he asked Josef.

  After some time Josef answered. “Business isn’t as it used to be but I’m thankful.”

  “That’s true,” David acquiesced. “If you ever need any help don’t hesitate to ask me though,” he offered.

  “It won’t come to that,” Josef affirmed, being the proud man that he was.

  David didn’t comment further.

  “How’s little Hope?” Josef restarted the conversation. “She looks bigger every time I see her.”

  “Hope is great,” he replied. “I can’t imagine my life without her, especially now that…”

  David trailed off not able to complete the sentence. Josef however knew what he was about to say and he gave him a light pat on the back.

  “Praise God for leaving you this precious gift,” he implored David.

  “I am grateful,” he countered. “I just wish she was here to share in the joy. I’m not bitter anymore but it still hurts sometimes when I think about her,” he confessed.

  Again Josef patted his back before bringing his attention back to his pole.

  After some time Josef spoke again.

  “I hear that Liza will be leaving with her new husband.”

&nb
sp; “Yes,” David acknowledged. “And it means I’m out of a babysitter as well.”

  “Have you tried asking around to see if anyone would like the job?” Josef asked.

  “No I haven’t; most of the females are too young, already married or about to get married,” he replied.

  “Well I hope it works out soon for you,” Josef offered and David inclined his head in response.

  The two remained quiet for the rest of their time fishing. When they were satisfied with their catch, they packed up and walked back to the main road. There they parted ways as they lived opposite ends of the community.

  Ruth’s committal ceremony passed without a hitch and she was now a member of the church. She was happy and hopeful that everything would now fall in place. However, the euphoric feeling she felt quickly died away when she overheard two women who were supposedly her mother’s friend talking about her.

  “It’s a shame she put her poor family through such grief,” one woman said in a voice filled with disdain.

  “I can’t imagine the things she must have done while out there,” the other woman joined in referring to her time out in the English world.

  “And she was gone so long. Something must have happened that’s the only reason she returned,” the first woman said.

  “I for one know that my Nathan could never think of taking such a girl to be his wife,” she continued to say.

  “I would have a heart attack if Jacob ever had that intention towards her,” the other said laughing.

  “No one in their right minds allow her to taint their son with her worldly ways.”

  Unable to take anymore, Ruth rounded the corner catching them off guard.

  “Oh, hello dear,” the woman who had spoken first greeted, when she recovered from her surprise.

  Ruth couldn’t bring herself to return the greeting.

  “Excuse me,” she said instead pushing past them and heading for the house.

  “She’s rude too,” she heard the other woman try to whisper to her co-conspirator.

  Even at service it was no better. The persons in her age group barely spoke to her and if they even tried they got stern looks from their parents. She didn’t stay back at the after service sing alongs, opting to go home with her parents. The only friend she had was Mary, but Mary wouldn’t understand her plight because she believed in the innate good of everyone. When she wasn’t working herself to exhaustion trying to help her mother with everything, she spent most days in the barn talking to their cow Bessy while she wrote in her diary.

  Her father became worried, as he knew something was wrong but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was. He thought she probably needed a new setting to get away from the house some times.

  That is when the idea of her becoming Hope’s babysitter popped into his head.

  Donning his straw hat and coat, he decided to pay his friend a visit.

  “Josef, this is a surprise,” David spoke after embracing him. “What brings you here?”

  “I found a babysitter for you,” Joseph replied excitedly.

  David knitted his eyebrows in confusion.

  “What? Who?”

  “My daughter, Ruth."

  “Your daughter?” David was surprised at this.

  “Yes. I think she needs something to do. She has been cooped up in the house since she came home. She doesn’t interact with the people her age, I’m worried."

  David pondered all that he just said for a few moments. He had noticed how reserved the girl had been. When others in her age group congregated, she was never in the midst. His eyes usually sought her out and he would see her sitting by herself or around her mother. He had found it odd but hadn’t put much more thought into it.

  When he pondered his friend’s offer, he realized that he couldn’t pass it up, not now anyway. Liza was set to leave by the week’s end, which meant he was between a rock and a hard place.

  “Ok,” he conceded reluctantly. “She can start next Monday. Liza is leaving the Saturday. But I’ll manage until then.”

  “Thank you David,” Josef responded, relieved.

  He returned his friend’s smile as they shook on it.

  Ruth knocked on the door as she patiently waited for her new employer to admit her. To say she was anxious would have been an understatement. Her palms were sweating profusely and her heart rate was far from normal. Had she known her father would have gone and set her up with a job like this, she would have implored him not to. It wasn’t that she was opposed to getting a job but she didn’t think she had the skill-set to take care of a toddler. Yet it seemed it would be the only job that she would be getting in town. It was even more important now that there was another mouth to feed at home (hers) and her father’s tanning business wasn’t doing too well.

  For this reason she chose to endure it. She didn't know the man she was about to meet, but from her father's description he seemed nice enough.

  Just then the door flew open and Mr. Yoder stood before her.

  “Good morning Mr. Yoder, I am Ruth, my father sent me,” she introduced herself with a shy smile.

  “Yes I know,” he replied his smile much broader than hers. “Please come in,” he said moving aside so she could enter.

  Ruth stepped inside and waited for him to close the door and lead the way.

  “This way please,” he said warmly. He led her to a living room that was filled with the finest furnishings she had ever seen.

  “Please have a seat,” he offered when she stood awkwardly by the entrance.

  Graciously accepting his offer, she sat in a high backed armchair while he sat across from her.

  The man stared at her for a few moments without saying anything. This made her uncomfortable as his steel grey eyes peered at her as if he was trying to see into her soul. She felt like squirming – shrinking even under his gaze but somehow she remained upright and unmoving.

  “Hope is asleep at the moment,” he said, to break the ice.

  She smiled in response, not quite certain what to say.

  “Do you have any experience taking care of a toddler Ruth?” he asked still watching her intently.

  “Ohm,” she started nervously, fidgeting in her seat. He was making her so nervous; she couldn’t think what to say. Removing her gaze from his, she attempted an answer once more.

  “No, I don’t have much experience with taking care of toddlers. Though I did assist my mother when I was younger with the other two girls,” she answered, sounding hopeful.

  She turned her head to face him and to see his response, and saw him shaking his head as if in consideration of her answer.

  “Fair enough,” he responded. “And what are your expectations of your wages?” he asked.

  She was surprised by the question. Usually the employer stated what he expected to pay.

  “I didn’t have a figure in mind,” she answered timidly feeling even more inadequate with the role she was called to play.

  “No worries,” he answered with a bright smile picking up on her nervousness.

  “The pay will be $400 per fortnight,” he said.

  Ruth couldn’t believe what heard. She stared at him in surprise. So much so that she almost missed the rest of his statement.

  “You will be here from seven to five every evening except Sundays. If you have errands to run, I give you permission to take Hope with you and if you have an emergency at home just let me know beforehand."

  Rising to his feet, he extended a hand to help her out of her seat.

  “Let me show you where Hope’s room is,” he said.

  Ruth gently placed her hand into his upturned palm and immediately felt an unfamiliar warmth travel from her palm that was connected to his and straight up her arm. She turned her eyes up at him wondering if he had felt it but he wasn’t looking at her. As soon as she was up, she removed her still warm and tingly palm from his.

  “This way,” he instructed walking ahead of her.

  When they made it to the ro
om that was located on the second floor, Ruth was bowled over by everything. There was a big mahogany crib to the far side of the room. There was a changing table to one side and a small chest beside it. There was also a small cot in the middle of the room adorned with a pink comforter and a few teddy bears neatly laying on top. There was also a chest at the foot of the bed.

  This was more than she or any of her siblings had grown up with and she was at a loss for words.

  “My wife wanted her room to be special. She designed it all,” David spoke when he saw the look of awe on her face.

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Yoder,” Ruth offered her condolences.

  “It’s okay,” he said before turning his attention to the crib where the little girl lay asleep on her belly.

  Bending over the crib, David gently shook his daughter.

  “Hey Hopey Dopey,” he spoke gently. “Time to get up.”

  Ruth’s insides tingled at the sweet gesture.

  The baby’s eyes fluttered open. Bringing herself into a sitting position she began to rub her eyes. David stood by the crib watching his daughter. When she was more oriented, her eyes landed on him and she smiled.

  “Papa up,” she said raising her hands.

  David obliged the little girl taking her into his arms. Like every other morning he threw her in the air, much to her happiness before catching her. Squeals of enjoyment escaped her little mouth and when he stopped she held tightly to his neck.

  “More papa, more,” the little girl requested and he obliged her once more.

  Ruth stood to the side with a smile on her face as she watched the happy exchange between father and daughter. Without warning, her mind conjured images of her past reminding her of what she had lost.

  She quickly averted her eyes that had started burning with her near tears. She didn’t want to break up the happy moment with her own drama.

  “Papa, girl,” she heard the little girl say in her sweet little voice.

  Lifting her head she noticed the little girl pointing at her and David looking in her direction.