The Clerk's Bride: A Golden Valley Story (The Brides of Birch Creek Book 2)

by Laura D. Bastian

  “Where are we going?” Annabelle asked, glancing behind them toward the boarding house.

  “Back to my current house. I figured we could get some dinner going and get you settled. Michael will bring your trunks. There isn’t anything you need immediately is there?”

  “No.” Annabelle looked over at Susan then glanced back toward the train station. “I feel like I’ve just made one mistake after another.”

  “I’m sorry, honey. I know things look tough now, but I’ll help you every way I can.”

  “I know you will,” Annabelle said. “I was just hoping to be able to offer something to someone instead of being the one who needed saving. I thought I would finally be able to be useful. Be a wife who would cook, and clean, and care for a husband and a house, and eventually a family. But instead, I come here and mess things up.”

  “Don’t ever feel that way,” Susan said. “I was the one that suggested you should come out here. And I never would have thought Lester had it in him to send an advertisement. There are a couple homesteaders out in the valley that looked to be more the type. Or even Colten, really. Michael said he’d mentioned he might look into it. I sure had my hopes up when I saw you in the wagon with him.”

  Annabelle chuckled. “That will never happen. I’m sure. You should have seen the look on his face when he realized I had come out to marry someone, then the horror when he discovered it was Lester.” Annabelle shuddered. “What on earth am I going to do? Will Lester be a problem?”

  “I hope not. But I do think getting you married as soon as possible will be a good idea. That way Lester can’t force you by some unpleasant means or even by complaining to the mayor. The mayor is a bit of a stickler.”

  They continued on slowly since Susan’s increasing size made her walk gingerly. When they reached the little house, Susan shrugged. “It’s not much, but it’s sweet.”

  As the door opened and Annabelle stepped inside she smiled widely. “I love it. You have it set up so darling. And there isn’t anything cluttering it up or making it look uncomfortable.”

  “This is where Jessie has been staying,” Susan said, leading Annabelle to a door on the far wall of the main room open area of the cabin. She pushed the door open and inside was a small room, about five feet by six feet with a small bed and a trunk in the corner.

  “Who’s Jessie?” Annabelle asked.

  “A boy apprenticed to Michael at the smithy. He came to us not long after we were married. Such an incredible help. And he won’t mind at all sleeping in the shed with the horses. So this will be your room for now. Then once the boarding house is done, you could either move there with us as well, or you could possibly keep on at this place.”

  “I could never afford to rent this place,” Annabelle said.

  “Oh, you never know,” Susan smiled. “I’m pretty reasonable. Besides, maybe you’ll have a husband before long and he’ll be the one to pay the rent.”

  Annabelle laughed at the wink from Susan. “So tell me what you need me to do first. You should probably sit down and rest with that baby.”

  “How are you at cooking?” Susan asked.

  “I’ve done some. Not much recently, but I used to cook all the time at home before my parents fell sick.”

  “How about you give dinner a try. I’ll put my fat swollen feet up and let them relax a little.”

  “Sure thing,” Annabelle said. “When will the baby be coming?”

  “As far as I can tell, probably a few more weeks, but you never know with babies from what I’ve been told.”

  “I’m excited to meet the little one. And thank you for taking me in. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here.”

  Susan smiled. “You are more than welcome, Annabelle. But I’m sure you would have done just fine. You are a woman who knows how to take life by the reins and steer it where you want it to go. You’ll see.”

  ***

  Colten had only managed to unload the crates from the wagon and into the storage room, and was just preparing to open up the wooden slats before his mother descended on him.

  “What on earth did you do?”

  “What?” Colten asked, turning around.

  She stood before him with her hands on her hips, and a frown on her face. Colten looked away, hoping to play dumb. Surely she wouldn’t know anything about the mess at the train station.

  “There’s talk all over town that you got into a fight with Lester over a girl. Did you push him off the station platform?”

  Colten shook his head. “Of course not. Lester was too drunk to walk straight as usual. He fell off on his own.”

  “What about the girl? Why am I hearing that you were fighting over a woman?”

  “I wasn’t fighting over a woman. Some empty headed female agreed to come out here and marry Lester. I was just trying to keep Lester from disturbing the passengers. How was I supposed to know she’d come willingly?”

  “She wants to marry Lester?” his mother asked.

  “Of course not. Not now that she’s met him. Or not met, actually. He passed out before they talked. She’s with Susan and Michael. They’ll take care of her.”

  “They shouldn’t have to do that. Susan is going to have that baby any day, and they’ve already got Jessie there with them. I’m going to make sure this girl has a place to stay.”

  “No, Momma. Just let it be.”

  “Let it be?” his mother huffed, crossing her arms over her chest in another sure sign he was going to be in trouble. “We are not the kind of people to just let a poor girl be on her own. No sir, if I have to kick you out of your room to put her in there, I will, so help me.”

  “Annabelle will not want to live here with us, Momma. She practically told me to get lost.”

  Colten’s mother cocked her head to the side. “What did you do to deserve that?”

  “Nothing,” Colten said.

  “Um hmm.” She shook her head. “I know you better than that.”

  “I apologized.”

  “I should hope so,” his mother said. “Well, finish unpacking and then get up to your room to pack it up. I’m going to offer it to Miss Annabelle.” She turned around and left the storage room, allowing Colten to get back to his unloading.

  Colten knew better than to argue with his mother. He would just have to let things play out, but he hoped Annabelle would stay with Susan at her place. She’d be more comfortable there without his mother pestering her. If he knew his mother, she would latch onto the idea that Colten should be the one to marry Annabelle.

  He shook his head again. For some reason the thought wasn’t nearly as distasteful as it had been when it was first brought up.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Colten took his time unpacking the crates then helped his father around the stable with the wire that had arrived in their crates. When that was done, he worked around the store, making sure to take care of all the things that were on his mother’s to do list so he wouldn’t have to go up and start anything in his room. If the room wasn’t ready for a guest, he wouldn’t have to leave it, then the poor girl wouldn’t be forced to be in his presence. He doubted she’d enjoy living in the house with his parents. His mother would do everything she could to try to encourage a proposal.

  He knew the woman wanted grandchildren. Not that he didn’t want to be a father someday. He just didn’t think having someone else pick out a wife for him would be the best way to go about marriage.

  He wanted someone he could be happy with for the rest of his life. And leaving it to chance that a strange woman who’d shown up that day could be the one was just too ridiculous to consider. He wanted time to get to know a woman. He’d told Michael he’d been out of his mind when he’d agreed to marry Susan the day she arrived. Colten could not go back on his opinion. If he were to marry the girl, he’d want to get to know her first.

  Colten shook his head. What was he thinking? He was not going to marry Annabelle. He would just have to keep out of her presence and le
t the girl get settled in town. Then later on, maybe they could become acquainted.

  When the clock in the store indicated it was closing time, his mother still wasn’t home so he checked around for his father. “Did Momma tell you where she went off to?”

  “Went to deliver something that was found on the floor.” Colten’s father turned around and pulled out a pot from the stove. “She had soup on. Grab the bread?”

  Colten opened the breadbox and pulled out the loaf there and the knife nearby, then sliced some bread to go with their meal. The two sat down, and his father ate quietly as he always did. No extra conversation to be had since the woman of the house was gone. Colten hadn’t really thought much about what a different pair his parents were. His mother talked to anyone and everyone while his father was more sparse with his words. But even with their differences, Colten had always known they were fiercely in love.

  “How did you know Momma was the one?”

  Colten’s father’s head rose slowly from his focus on the bowl and he gave Colten a look that made him wish he’d just remained silent.

  “What brought that up?” he asked.

  “Never mind,” Colten said.

  They sat in silence for a few moments, then his father spoke. “She was the prettiest girl in the town. Also one of the only ones my age.”

  Colten nodded. So his father hadn’t had much choice.

  “She had lots of suitors. But for some reason she saw something in me.”

  “What made you decide to ask her to marry you?” Colten asked, knowing if he didn’t push the question now, he might not get another chance.

  “I didn’t like the idea of being alone. And she understood me. Wasn’t afraid of hard work either or moving out here when there weren’t many people.”

  “How did you two start the store?”

  “Little by little. Then brick by brick.”

  Though the words were simple, the idea was profound. Colten nodded his understanding as his father returned his attention to his meal. When he’d finished, he slipped out quietly to continue his work and Colten cleaned up the meal, returning the soup to the stove to keep warm until his mother got home to eat her share.

  As he looked up the stairs that led to his room he considered his mother’s words. Maybe Colten should go pack up his things and let the girl stay there. Colten could live in the back storage room. There was a cot there and room enough for him to be comfortable until they could find out the best thing to do with Annabelle.

  It would only be until the boarding house was finished anyway. And Colten would go over and help Michael with the building as much as he was able once his responsibilities at the store were done. His mother couldn’t complain either. Especially since she’d told him they were the kind of people to help others.

  He’d only gotten so far as to put his trunk in the center of the room to pack it up with his belongings when he heard his mother down below.

  Feeling like he ought to tell her he was doing as she’d requested, he headed down the stairs in time to see her putting the soup away.

  “Did you eat?” he asked.

  “I did,” his mother said. “I stopped at Susan and Michael’s. She had purchased some fabric, but one of the thread spools fell out so I took it over then stayed to visit a while. That baby is close to coming. Can’t wait to meet the little darling. But while I was there, I had some dinner that Miss Annabelle cooked. She’s pretty good, actually. Anyway, I almost offered her to come stay with us, but when I saw how much help she’d be there with Susan, I figured I couldn’t take her away yet. So you don’t have to clean out your room. Not that you would have, you stubborn boy.”

  Colten accepted the kiss on the cheek she gave as she fluttered by, still talking and cleaning as she went. “Miss Annabelle knows a fair deal about sewing, so we talked on that a while. I think she might be quite the thing here. If she can do some seamstress work, then people here could have some of the newer fashions. I’m excited to go back and visit again tomorrow.”

  Colten nodded and gave the hums and comments that she required, all the while wondering why he was so fascinated with what his mother was talking about regarding Annabelle.

  He’d never cared about all the news she shared when she came home from her other outings. In fact, he couldn’t remember her really being all that chatty about things since just after Susan arrived and married Michael. Maybe it was all just because Annabelle was new to town, and his mother wanted to just know everything.

  “So tomorrow, you should go help at the boarding house so they can get it finished before that baby comes. Not that her house is bad or anything, but just think how much better it would be if Susan and Michael could be settled in the boarding house before she has the baby.”

  “Good idea, Mother,” Colten said. “I’ll head out first thing in the morning. I think I’ll turn in so I can get the chores done here first. Have a good night, Mother.” Colten kissed his mother’s cheek then hurried up the stairs and out of her way.

  ***

  Annabelle was happy to be of assistance and made breakfast before Susan got out of bed. Michael had already left for the morning, taking Jessie with him and some bread and cheese so it was just the two of them to take things slow and look over the fabric and sewing machine in the daylight that came in through the window.

  Susan rubbed her lower back and stood to stretch. “Goodness he’s squirmy today. Maybe that means he’s getting closer to ready.”

  “Would you like me to stay close today?” Annabelle asked. “I don’t know anything about delivering a baby, but I could help you with your chores and things. Then I could run for help when it’s time. Is there a doctor here? Or a midwife?”

  Susan shook her head. “No, but my neighbor, Bessy, has delivered a bunch of babies. She’ll be the one to help me when it’s time.”

  Annabelle smiled, happy to know there was someone who knew what they were doing. She cleaned up after their breakfast and headed out to milk the cow and gather the eggs. It had been a while since she’d done any milking, but she got the hang of it soon enough. When she returned to the house, Susan had set out the fabric onto the table.

  “I don’t know anything about making a pattern for a baby sleeper. And I know most of the time the baby will just be wrapped in a blanket at the first. But I hope you’ll help me figure out how to make something for him to wear.”

  Annabelle looked at the fabric and nodded. “Do you have any paper? I could draw out the idea, then we could use that as the pattern. It’s easy enough if I know what you’re looking for.”

  Susan moved over to a shelf against the wall and pulled a wooden box down. She got a paper and pencil, sketched a fast image, then handed it to Annabelle.

  “This will be easy to do. Can I use the pencil to mark the fabric?”

  “Of course,” Susan said. “Do whatever you need. I’ll work on separating the cream while you do that. Then we’ll take lunch to the men and see how much progress they’re making on the boarding house. I made a wager with Michael that I’d be done with the baby before he was finished with the building. I’m curious to know who wins.”

  “I’m not even sure who I should root for,” Annabelle said. “You look rather tired and uncomfortable, but I’m sure you’d like the place finished.”

  Susan laughed. “Exactly. So it’s a race that I need to waddle my way through.”

  The two worked in companionable silence doing their own things, and by the time Susan had made a lunch, Annabelle had made one baby outfit for the new addition to wear.

  “You are incredible,” Susan said.

  Annabelle felt pride in her work as she held it up for Susan to examine. “Your machine is what did the hard work.”

  “But only because you knew how to run it. I think if you wanted, you really could do what Mrs. Howard suggested. You could sew a lot of the same types of clothes that you saw back east. Maybe not the exact style because of materials available, but if the women didn’t have t
o spend all their time making hand stitches, that would free them up for other things. She’s got those catalogs to order things for her store. You could just look at the styles and make your own.”

  Annabelle smiled. “You really think I could do something like that?”

  “Of course,” Susan smiled. “And if you will make me the clothes I need and the curtains and blankets and such I’ll need for the boarding house, then you can use the machine all you want for your own projects. Does that sound fair?”

  “More than fair,” Annabelle said. “I can’t believe I actually have a future here. Things seemed so bleak back east. Who knew that working in Mr. Staley’s factory would turn out to be such a blessing?”

  “Let’s go take this lunch to the men and we’ll go talk to Mrs. Howard. She’ll be thrilled to know her idea stuck.”

  ***

  Colten stepped back with Michael as they surveyed their work. The final row of bricks had been added to the top of the building. Once the mortar had settled and the bricks were good and solid, they would be able to put the roof on. Though he wasn’t sure how easy that would be. It was a good thing Michael had hired someone from another town that knew what they were doing when it came to big structures.

  Colten would help with adding the wooden porch and the inside walls and floors. If they made as much progress in the next few days as they did today, the building could be finished in two weeks.

  As the men moved over to a large cottonwood nearby to sit in the shade and take a quick rest, Colten heard the familiar whine of Lester. The man must have finally slept off his drunkenness and Colten wondered how much Lester would remember of the day before.

  “Where is he?” Lester asked.

  “Who?” Michael said looking him over.

  “Colten Howard.” Lester caught sight of him beyond Michael and walked over to the shade, coming right up to Colten’s face and poking him in the chest. “What did you do with her?”