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

by Laura D. Bastian

  “Why do you call it a quilting bee?” Annabelle asked.

  Mrs. Howard laughed. “Because when everyone is sitting together talking as they stitch, the humming and buzzing sounds like a hive of bees.”

  Annabelle smiled. “That sounds so much nicer than all the work in the factory. There was just the sound of the sewing machines going up and down. We weren’t allowed to talk to each other.”

  “That’s too bad,” Mrs. Howard said. “We all think it’s so much more productive to have fun while you work. Though maybe there are times when we didn’t get as much done as we could have. But we sure enjoyed ourselves. We’ll have to do another one soon. I think I’ll have you pick out what fabrics you want for your own quilt. You and Colten should have a wedding quilt.”

  The two spent the next little while going through the fabric and deciding what to use. There were sections that didn’t have very much yardage since they were the scraps and ends of the bolts of cloth the mercantile had sold over the years. Mrs. Howard took out a paper and sketched some patterns. A few looked like stars, others looked like flowers or circles, and some were just simple checkered patterns. As Annabelle looked at the colors of cloth and the different patterns, ideas began to flow and she thought maybe, just maybe she might be able to come up with something worth making.

  And if it turned out poorly, then it would be the one she kept to keep her warm at night.

  The door to the store opened, hitting the little bell that was placed over it and the two women looked up to see Colten enter the store.

  “Hello, ladies. What are you working on?”

  “We’re going to make a quilt,” Annabelle said. “What kind of pattern would you like?”

  Colten smiled. “I don’t care what the top looks like. I just want it to be soft and warm.”

  “Never ask a man’s opinion on beauty my dear. They just don’t have the same understanding we do.”

  Colten shook his head. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. I find I appreciate beauty for what it is.”

  Annabelle knew with the way he was looking at her that he liked what he saw. Warmth flooded her cheeks again, and he smiled even wider. Without taking his eyes off her, he spoke to his mother. “Am I free to take my lovely wife now, or is she still needed here?”

  “We can stop any time,” Mrs. Howard said. “Please, go enjoy your outing. I’ll keep looking at the fabric and send someone to see if Susan can stop by later today. How long will you be?”

  Colten shrugged. “Not sure. Depends on how much touring Annabelle wants to do. But unless you packed enough for dinner, we’ll be back in time to eat.”

  Colten took a few steps and offered Annabelle his hand. “Would you join me? I’ve got the horse hooked up to the wagon. I also grabbed the axe and thought I’d get a few of the fallen trees for firewood.”

  “Good idea,” Mrs. Howard said. “The lunch is packed and in the house. Have a wonderful afternoon you two. Don’t hurry back on my account.”

  Annabelle looked at her mother-in-law, wondering at the expression she gave her son. It was still too soon to know the woman well, but Annabelle almost thought his mother was encouraging him to do something.

  ***

  Colten helped Annabelle into the wagon and then walked around and climbed up into the driver’s seat. He took the reins and clicked his tongue as he flicked his wrists and the horses moved forward. Though not too quickly to throw Annabelle off balance this time.

  As they worked their way past the different buildings and toward the larger creek where the cottonwood and birch trees grew in abundance, Colten gave her a little of the history of the town. How it was settled around forty years before by people coming through the area toward California for the gold rush in the 1840s.

  The establishment of the railroad and building a train station for a stop here had made it grow a lot in the last five years. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it continues to grow rapidly. Susan insists it will, and Michael seems to believe her. That’s why they’re building the boarding house.”

  “I think it’s a good idea,” Annabelle said. “In New York, I lived in a boarding house. The woman there took in a lot of money. People need a place to stay and not everyone is able to put up permanent roots right away.”

  “Makes sense,” Colten said. “I know there have been a few more homesteaders coming here lately. It takes time to clear the land and get it ready to grow crops on. That’s why there have been a lot of men come alone to do the work it takes to prepare the land. But then once they get the crops in, they need a partner to help them run the house and animals and harvest the crops.”

  “Susan said she wanted to maybe send for more women to come out for reasons like that. But she wanted to make sure there was a safe place for them. Just in case some of them find themselves coming out for a man like Lester, but not having a man like you to step up right away.”

  Colten took her hand, but didn’t say anything. Before long, they reached the shade of the trees and he guided the horses into the grove. The path was wide enough the wagon could maneuver through the trees for quite a while.

  “Do I hear water?” Annabelle asked.

  “We’re almost there.”

  They pulled up near a group of birch trees, their white bark with black spots always made him think of shadows through the leaves.

  Annabelle looked around. “This is a lovely area.”

  “It is,” Colten agreed. He hopped off the wagon and tied the horse’s reins to a tree then moved over to help her down. He kept hold of her hand and picked up the basket in his free hand. “This way.”

  They walked quietly through the trees and Colten pointed out to Annabelle how the birds slowly began to make noise again. “They know we’re here and are checking to see if we’re a threat. If we stay quiet enough, they’ll start singing again.” The creek ahead of them wasn’t huge, but the water flowed strong still.

  “It’s bigger than I thought.” Annabelle looked up and down the creek.

  “We had a good winter this year,” Colten said. “The water has been flowing nicely. There was a poor winter a couple years ago and this creek was down to a trickle. A few of the other creeks stopped running all together. Made for a hard growing season, but thankfully everyone made it through.”

  “I never really thought about how much everything out here depended on the weather and the water. It will take a little getting used to.”

  “You seem to be adjusting well.” Colten squeezed her hand again, then released it and set the basket down on a rock nearby. “Let’s eat, then there’s something I’d like to show you.”

  She helped him unpack the picnic basket and the two sat side by side with their backs against the trunk of a tree. They ate and talked about simple things, and more about Birch Creek, but he kept thinking about last night and her dream. He wanted to make sure she was comfortable with him, because after holding her close last night, he realized he had enjoyed that immensely and wanted to help ease any worry she had about the two of them.

  But bringing up her fears would only remind her of them so he decided to keep the conversation light and easy, sharing the types of things he did as a young boy and how the town children would come to the grove of trees to play while the adults filled barrels of water from the creek before the water pumps were installed in most of the houses. Then when he was a bit older and could come out here without his parents, he and Michael would come to the creek to fish or swim.

  “You fished?”

  “All the time,” Colten said. “If you’d like, I could teach you.”

  “I would like to try it I suppose. Though I wouldn’t know what to do with a fish if you caught it. I don’t know what to do with any kind of meat besides chicken.”

  “Most of the meat work is done by the men when they get the deer, or if it comes time to butcher a cow. I heard talk that there’s a butcher in another town that has a couple sons. Someone said they asked him about sending one boy up here to start a shop. Might be
something nice after a while.”

  Annabelle laughed. “Well, if he doesn’t bring a wife with him, I’m sure Susan will do her best to help him get one.”

  Colten laughed. “You know, I think you might be right. She kept telling me I needed to send for one. I don’t know why she thinks all the men out here need a mail order bride, but even though I didn’t send for you myself, I’m right pleased you’re here.”

  Annabelle leaned against his shoulder and her head rested against his chin. “I am too.”

  He put the mug he’d used for his drink down to the side and turned to face her. She shifted as well, and turned in toward him, lifting her lips to accept his kiss.

  More. That was what he wanted and she gave it willingly. Colten reached for her and somehow, without losing touch of her kisses, he moved her onto his lap in order to hold her close. “Annabelle,” he whispered against her lips after a moment.

  “Hmm?” she replied.

  “I want…” he paused, not even sure what he wanted. “I want things to be good between us.”

  Annabelle placed her forehead against his. Her eyes were closed but she nodded. “I do too.”

  “Did I scare you last night?” he asked.

  “No,” Annabelle said softly. “It wasn’t you.”

  His chest tightened. “Did someone else hurt you?”

  “They tried to,” Annabelle said. “But I got away.”

  “I’m sorry that happened. Is that what you dreamed of?” Colten asked.

  She nodded once more. “Those dreams don’t happen as often anymore. I’m not sure why last night it came back.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help you?” he asked.

  Annabelle looked into his eyes and smiled. “Exactly what you’re doing already. Taking things slow and showing me how good a man can be.”

  “I’ll do my best,” Colten said. “But I find myself in a bit of trouble.”

  Annabelle tilted her head to the side. “What kind of trouble?”

  Colten touched her lips with his own and whispered his answer. “You are so incredibly beautiful and tempting that if we keep doing what we’re doing, it will be difficult to keep moving slow.”

  Annabelle slid off his lap and adjusted her skirts to allow her to kneel to the side of him. “I’m sorry.”

  “Oh sweetheart, don’t be sorry. I just wanted to be up front with you. But I have an idea. How about we only kiss when we’re not in my room. That will help, I’m sure.”

  “But we aren’t in your room right now.” Annabelle said, looking up at the trees.

  “I know. And maybe we ought to only kiss when we’re standing.”

  Annabelle smiled and a playful look filled her eyes. She stood slowly and reached for his hand. “That is a good idea.”

  When he stood up, she looked at him. “We’re standing. Maybe we should try out a kiss and see how it goes.”

  Colten couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up inside. She was incredible. And she was his.

  “How did I get so lucky?”

  ***

  Annabelle wondered if her legs would still work when he let go of her. She wanted to just lean against him, but she knew it was time to pull back. Otherwise, they’d have to make a rule against kissing while standing as well. And that would never do.

  He had somehow taken the thought of being with a man from a terrifying ordeal to something she thought she might actually tolerate. If it was anything like his kisses, she would be all right.

  Colten picked up the picnic basket and returned it to the wagon, then took her hand and led her to the edge of the creek. They walked along the creek bed and he showed her where the best place to put a fishing line would be.

  “They like to hide in those little spots where the edge of the ground hangs over a little. So when we come fishing, I’ll show you how to do it.”

  “Could we come tomorrow?” Annabelle asked, thrilled at the thought of being alone with him out here again.

  “I think we could manage that. Depends on if Michael needs more help on his building. In fact, we probably should head back to town. The sooner we can get that boarding house finished, the sooner we could get started on something of our own. And we’ll be in our own little place at Michael’s cabin.”

  “I can get started on the quilt your mom has planned.”

  Colten squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry too much on the patterns and things. All I want is it to be soft and warm. But I’m sure you’ll make it lovely anyway.”

  Annabelle shrugged. “I’ll do my best.”

  But the blanket itself wasn’t what occupied her thoughts. The blanket on Colten’s bed was warm and soft, but nothing like the way he had held her. She didn’t care anything about the blanket.

  They left the grove of trees and made it back to the store in time for Annabelle to see Susan enter it. She moved slowly as if the baby was making her uncomfortable. Annabelle didn’t know much about birthing babies, but she doubted it would be much longer.

  “I’ll let you get out here in front, then I’ll take the wagon around back to unhook it before going to the boarding house. I’ll see you at dinner.”

  “Thank you, Colten. I really enjoyed this today.”

  Colten tipped his hat and smiled. “I did too.” He kissed her softly, then helped her down so she could enter the store. When she walked inside, both Susan and Mrs. Howard looked at her and the two burst into twin smiles.

  “Looks like you had a lovely time.”

  Annabelle smiled again but didn’t answer. She would keep her happy secrets. They were so much nicer than the frightful ones. Annabelle moved over to Susan and gave her a hug. “You ready to talk quilts?”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Colten waved a quick acknowledgment to Michael who was talking to a man in front of his blacksmith shop. Colten pointed to let him know he was headed back to the boarding house to return to work. The boy working as Michael’s apprentice brought a load of wood from the side of the shop and Colten realized he’d forgotten to gather some wood for his mother. He’d try to remember to do it tomorrow. But as he thought of the time spent with Annabelle, he knew he wasn’t going to have an easy time staying focused tomorrow either.

  But going fishing during the hotter part of the day wouldn’t produce much for luck either. He hadn’t told her the best time to fish was early in the morning.

  When he reached the boarding house, he grabbed his tools and got right to work. It wasn’t difficult work, but he hadn’t spent a lot of time building before. Of course neither had Michael, but they did their best and so far, things were turning out well. Colten worked hard on the house and finished up the stairs before hunger pangs told him it might be time to head back home. But he wasn’t ready. Well, that wasn’t true either. He wanted to see Annabelle again and talk with her more. And steal a bunch of kisses as well.

  Yet if he wanted to actually have his own house, he had to get this other one finished. Since the stairs were done, and Michael hadn’t been able to return yet to finish the wall he’d been working on, Colten moved over to that. The sound of footsteps brought his attention to the doorway and instead of seeing Michael, he saw Annabelle again.

  This time, she held the picnic basket.

  “I hope you don’t mind. And if you want to leave, that’s okay too. But since you were talking about working on this all day, I thought it would be a good idea to bring you some dinner here. We could eat it together.” The hope in her voice made Colten smile.

  “That sounds wonderful. I was getting hungry and part of me wanted to quit and come home, but I also wanted to work until I couldn’t anymore. This floor is almost finished. There are a few rooms on this floor that will need walls put in, but the main part where they will be living is close to done.”

  “It looks amazing,” Annabelle said. “And you’ve done a lot since I was here earlier.”

  “Some parts move fast, other parts are slow.” Colten put the hammer down and joined her. “Where do you want
to eat? Inside here, or should we go outside under a tree?”

  “It might be cooler under the tree with the breeze,” Annabelle said.

  Colten took her hand and the two walked outside and about twenty feet to reach the largest tree. He pulled off the small blanket that was on top of the basket and laid it out, then the two sat down on it and started pulling items out of the basket.

  “What kind of house do you want?” Colten asked after a few minutes.

  “Oh, I don’t know. A strong one, I suppose.”

  “Would you like wood, or brick?”

  “I know the brick ones in New York helped keep the hot air out in the summer and the cold air out in the winter.”

  “Brick it is,” Colten said. “How big?”

  “Large enough to hold a family.”

  “How many children do you want?” Colten asked.

  “I never really thought a lot about that. I lost my only brother when he was a baby. But I always thought it would be nice to have brothers or sisters. I guess I want as many as the good Lord will give me.”

  “I never had brothers or sisters. Momma always felt sad about that. But I guess some things just are the way they are. I hope we will have lots of children so they can have a grandmother that will dote on them all.”

  “She will make a wonderful grandmother,” Annabelle said.

  “She’ll probably keep them really busy too,” Colten said. “I always thought it was unfair that I was the only one that was there to do all the chores and the jobs at the store. Until I made the mistake of telling her she should have had more kids so I didn’t have to work so hard. That’s when I realized it wasn’t by choice I was all alone.”

  “That’s sad,” Annabelle said.

  Colten nodded. “And also part of the reason she was so eager for me to get married. She wanted a daughter and grandchildren.”

  “I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have a mother again,” Annabelle said. “She has been so kind and welcoming. I sometimes can’t believe my luck. And it almost didn’t turn out so well.” She reached for his hand and he took hers and squeezed it, then leaned over and gave her a soft kiss.