"Of course you can, but why aren't you resting after all the excitement?" asked Emma.
"The excitement is the problem. I simply can't sleep so thought I'd see what you were up to down here. You have to let me help with the cooking while I'm here, especially with the wedding."
"Well I won't say no. I was going to make the cake tonight and ice it tomorrow, then bake some fruit pies and the other food after that. Rosie and I have been planning it. We'd love you to help."
Emma continued. "Millie will no doubt be over first thing in the morning with a dress to change up for you. She's a dab hand with the needle and makes some beautiful things, so you won't need to worry about that."
"I'm assuming the men will want to fix the parsonage windows tomorrow and Jeremy will want to help as well, so its best if I make myself useful here. Just tell me what you'd like me to do," said Abigail.
"Don't worry, I will. The County Judge will be arriving on the train tomorrow evening too, so we'll need plenty of food for the dining room... not just for him but I expect there'll be some townsfolk wanting to come here for their supper to get better acquainted with yourself and the Pastor. It's going to be a big day. Let's start with the cake for your wedding."
~#~#~#~
Jeremy met Abigail the following morning to escort her down to breakfast. "You haven't changed your mind then?"
"No, I haven't. Have you?"
"Certainly not. Do you mind the Judge marrying us? We could always do it again in a Church later if you want."
"We have a church already. Maybe the Judge could marry us there?" Abigail was timid in making this request but proud of herself for doing so.
"That is an excellent idea and I should have thought of it myself. I'll ask him. Surely he won't mind."
"Thank you Jeremy. You've made me so happy I can hardly find the words to tell you."
They had eyes for each other only while breakfast passed and all too soon it was time for Jeremy to go and see about repairs to the parsonage. Before he left, Jeremy gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek and she took his hand as their eyes met. Emboldened, he brought his lips to gently rest upon hers, then when she didn't pull away, put his arms around her to hold her protectively. As they broke apart, their eyes met again, both shining with words neither of them needed to say.
Outside, Jeremy met up with Deputy Bobby who had a buckboard laden with glass to repair the windows and lumber for the shutters. "I hope you don't mind Pastor but I picked up some paint as well. Those shutters will look good as new."
"No problem Bobby. Fortunately I can afford it. I want to have a serviceable home for Abigail, nothing fancy but a place where people feel happy to visit. Maybe I could hire you to do a little work for me before the winter, if you have the time that is."
"I'd be happy to Pastor Jeremy. Now let's get started and see what tools, if any, are hiding in your barn."
Back at the hotel, the kitchen was fairly humming with activity as Abigail, Emma and little Rosie cooked enough food for the hotel for two days and then some. Rosie proved herself invaluable running errands to the mercantile where Harald supplied her with everything that Emma required for her baking. The butcher was kept busy too, supplying joints of meat for roasting, chickens for frying as well as slabs of beef and lamb for stews, casseroles and pies.
Abigail saw Jeremy again when he came into the hotel dining room for lunch and it was obvious they had both been working hard. They sat in the kitchen to eat, not wanting to disturb the hotel diners. There was a small table there for them and Jeremy was stunned with the amount of food adorning groaning tables. "Is this all for the wedding?"
Abigail answered proudly. "Most of it is, yes. I made myself useful to help Emma and we made enough for the hotel dining room for a couple of days while we were at it. And Millie has organized a dress for me... she's finishing it off this afternoon. How are the windows at the parsonage?"she asked, aware she was dominating the conversation.
"Well, we've got around half of them fixed and with some more help this afternoon, we should finish. The shutters might not all be finished, but we'll see."
"Would you like me to come down later to help? Maybe with sweeping up the glass and putting the kitchen to rights?"
"Only if you are feeling up to it, but you know I love it when you're about. I find myself feeling a little lost without you."
Abigail met his gaze. "To be honest with you Jeremy, I feel the same way and I can hardly wait for tomorrow."
"Me too. The Judge will be here on the train this afternoon. He'll likely need to speak with Jeb and Jake about the men in the jail house, but I'll talk to him after that. Tomorrow, I think we can plan on moving back to the parsonage."
"In the morning? It's just that it feels like my home now and I miss being there."
Jeremy smiled at her, pleased that she was happy. "So long as you don't wear yourself out working before the wedding. You need to spend time with Millie, perhaps, to get dressed and do your hair... enjoy yourself. Then we can both go over to the church together."
The remainder of the day passed as they'd planned. However, while they were having supper and enjoying the company of the Judge and townsfolk, a man came in with the news that Emmaline Larson had just left on the train, accompanied by Jim Olson.
~#~#~#~
The morning of their wedding dawned clear and bright and the happy couple repaired to the parsonage, happy to be setting out on their new life together. "I hope Emmaline is going to be alright, but I'm so pleased she won't be around to interrupt our wedding."
Jeremy answered. "I have a feeling she will be just fine and will be pursuing the Reverend J.T. Miller, may God forgive them both. It's Harald we must try to help. And no doubt Jim Olson will only be gone briefly, to miss court today. But we can talk about that out later. Let me show you the repairs..."
"It's lovely Jeremy... the windows are good as new. Oh, and look at the shutters... with new paint. It's beautiful. I'm going to make flower gardens so this house will always look happy and cheerful."
"I'm pleased you like it my dear. Bobby is going to put up a picket fence around the house too... just to finish it off. And if you want to make any changes inside, please let me know. I want you to be the happiest woman in the world."
"I am the happiest woman in the world, Jeremy. Today I'm marrying the only man I could ever dream of marrying and I look forward to a life with you in God's grace."
"That makes two of us Abigail, my one and only love. May God guide us in the years to come as we work together to spread His word."
"Amen." They spoke in unison.
They stepped onto the back porch together, hand in hand, looking deep into each other's eyes.
"Welcome to our humble home, Mrs. St. John to be. Let's go get married."
END
About the Author
Trinity Bellingham has always been fascinated by the often intriguing lives led by frontier women and after discovering her great, great grandmother was wife to a rancher in Nebraska, has had personal reasons for writing about the lives of women of the West. She enjoys the simple things in life and has learned through the Grace of God, the benefits of living by Christian values.
Trinity loves spending time with her children and grandchildren as well as brightening the world around her by growing flowers. Writing inspirational historical fiction is Trinity's way of showing how lives can change for the better when God is added to the mix, as well as to pay tribute to the brave women who settled the West.
Other Books by Trinity Bellingham
Mail Order Brides of Hope Springs (Series)
Tillie: A Clean Historical Mail Order Bride Romance ~Book 1~
Millie: A Clean Historical Mail Order Bride Romance ~Book 2~
Abigail: A Clean Mail Order Bride Romance - ~Book 3~
Mail Order Bride for Christmas: A Clean Historical Mail Order Bride Romance ~Book 4~
Or pick up the boxed set for best value...
Wyoming Mail Order Brides
(Series)
Second Chance: A Clean Historical Mail Order Bride Romance ~Book 1~
Love Him Love His Mother: A Clean Historical Mail Order Bride Romance ~Book 2~
The Widow and the Widower: A Clean Mail Order Bride Romance - ~Book 3~
Two Miracles for Christmas: A Clean Historical Mail Order Bride Romance ~Book 4~
Or pick up the boxed set for best value...
Bonus chapter...Be sure to check out the entire first chapter of 'Second Chance' at the end of this book....
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If you would like to leave a review, simply click here and let me know what you thought about the story. I would really appreciate the few minutes it will take and reviews always make a difference to readers who might not be familiar with the genre as yet. Thank you for reading my books and I sincerely hope you enjoyed this one.
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Contact Me
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Chapter One
It was raining, more like pouring and the cemetery had long emptied, save for a solitary figure standing beside a freshly filled grave. Annie Duvall looked down at the permanent home of the man who had stolen her heart and given her twelve glorious months of love, while her tears mingled with the rain that was pouring down her head and face.
"James, why?" She sobbed silently, oblivious to the lightning and thunder which would otherwise have been frightening. As it was, the twenty two year old dark haired woman did not have time to feel frightened of nature erupting around her; her whole world as she knew it was lying underneath the dirt beneath her feet. Her hazel eyes were clouded with grief and her tall and slender form was bent forward with fatigue. She could not remember the last time she had rested, nor had a proper meal.
Annie could not believe that just two days ago she and James Duvall, her husband of one year, had shared the good news of her pregnancy, and now here he was, dead and buried - and probably already forgotten by most. She shook her head as if to dispel the horrible memories but they were stuck in her mind and she knew that for as long as she lived, that horrible, fateful day would forever be etched on her mind.
James had left for work that morning, promising to return early in the evening so they could celebrate her pregnancy. Annie had stood at the gate of their small two bedroom house in Plymouth, Massachusetts, one hand raised in a wave to her departing husband and the other placed on her womb, as if to tell the new inhabitant they were already loved.
Two hours later the whole town was abuzz with news of an accident at the docks. One of the new loading machines had slipped off its rails and crushed several workers to death. Annie, who was the seamstress for one of the town's fashion designers, listened to the news, dread filling her heart and when her employer saw that her mind was not on the sleeve she was stitching, allowed her to leave.
Annie joined the throng of people who were running towards the docks to find out if family or friends had been injured, or worse, dead. It did not take long for the dead to be identified and Annie collapsed in the arms of a matronly woman when James's name was mentioned among the dead.
Because of the nature of his injuries, the burial had to be done within the shortest time possible, hence her presence in the town's cemetery. Only a handful of people had showed up for James's burial because there were several other burials taking place on the same day at various parts of the city.
"James, why did you have to leave me," Annie dropped to her knees and clutched fistfuls of earth between her numb fingers. "Lord, what am I supposed to do with this baby and with my life? James was my whole life and now I have no one and nothing."
It was indeed true that Annie now had no one. James had rescued her from the horrible fate of becoming a twilight girl when she turned eighteen and the foundling home where she grew up decided that there was no more room for her. One of the workers at the home had deceived her when he told her he would get her a job as a governess, but that was subject to her providing him and his friends with favors that horrified her. She had fled and found herself alone and cold at the railway station where she had sought refuge, thinking about stowing away on one of the trains and leaving Plymouth forever.
James had been returning from visiting his sick aunt in Taunton when he saw her shivering on one of the benches on the platform, and approached her. At first she was terrified that he was just like the foundling home worker, but when he took her to his pastor's house and asked the Reverend Moses Williams and his wife Judith to provide shelter for Annie for a while, she began to believe that there were still good people left on earth.
They got married after a few weeks of courtship and for Annie it was as though her life was now complete and settled. However, that was not to be, and now with the death of her husband she had nowhere to go. James's aunt in New Jersey had been his only surviving relative and she had died when they were just two months into their marriage.
"Where will I go Lord?" She said, picking herself up and trudging wearily to the small house where she had lived with her husband. Already the landlord had come to request her to leave the premises because of unpaid rent. She had left such matters to James and it was only after his death that she realized they were doing poorly indeed. She would hand over all the money she made at her job as a seamstress, and with whatever he was making, she thought they were okay. However, when she approached his supervisor at work to find out if there was any money that would be paid, she was informed that James was deeply in debt and not only did he owe his employer because of the large advances he'd taken out against his salary, but the savings account in the local bank revealed a zero balance.
~#~#~#~
"There are many ways a woman can pay off her debts," said the large man with thick lips and a heavy moustache as he licked his lips lecherously. Annie felt sick to her stomach. Roger Bright looked formidable and she regretted coming to his house to ask him to reconsider evicting her from the house. She had tried to make a final appeal to her landlord to allow her to retain the house and perhaps ask one of the ladies at work to share with her, but he was adamant. She had to pay up almost six months' rental arrears or else be tossed out of the house at that very moment. He had already grabbed whatever possessions Annie and James had possessed because of the outstanding money owed to him, but still he demanded more.
"You are a pretty young thing and that will keep you in my good books for a while." He reached out a hand to touch her and she flinched, stepping hastily backwards. A frown marred his face. "So you think you are better than the rest of us?" He took a step forward and she retreated again but he crowded her and soon pressed her up against the wall, his evil intentions abundantly clear. Annie opened her mouth to scream but he clamped a huge palm over it and she almost fainted from loss of air.
"Oh Jesus, please help me," she begged, her eyes huge with terror, but the man was bent on sating his desires and Annie almost gave in, but then thought of her unborn child. No way was she going to allow this evil man to get the better of her and she fought him like a ferocious cat. He was forced to step back when she kicked him hard in the shin.
"Why, you..." he snarled at her, then took another threatening step towards her but this time she was ready. In the previous struggle her hand had reached out to the side and closed over a thick piece of wood which she now raised and brought down with all her might. It caught the man off guard and there was a surprised look on his face before he grunted and went down like a sack of potatoes, blood oozing from a deep wound on his head. Annie dropped the piece of wood
and fled, quite sure that she had killed the man and knowing that no one would believe her side of the story. She was a murderess and she could no longer stay in Taunton because the police would soon find out she was the last person to see Roger Bright alive.
Annie did not even return home to pick up anything. She had all she needed with her and got onto a buggy that was leaving Plymouth for Boston. Boston was large enough and she could hide there for a while, but she knew that it was only a matter of time before the law caught up with her. She was now a fugitive and had to find a way out of Massachusetts if necessary and as she thought on these things she happened to catch a glimpse of an advertisement in the newspaper that the man next to her was reading.
"Pioneer Farmer in Nebraska seeks wife from the East," the advert read. When the man saw how interested she was he plucked the page out and silently handed it to her then went back to reading the rest of the paper, brushing aside her gratitude.
Annie perused through the almost fifty adverts and an idea began to form in her mind. She had very little money left and she was on the run, but she would take time to respond to the advertisements and see which of the men would respond back.
~#~#~#~
Annie could not believe that she was finally stepping onto the train that would take her away from her past life and into an unknown future. It all seemed surreal and as though it had just happened yesterday, but two months had passed since she fled Plymouth for Boston. Finding work as a cleaning lady was not too difficult because she was a hard worker, and she hid her pregnancy well.
In that time she had communicated with more than ten of the men who had placed adverts for Mail Order Brides, and each time she was sure to mention her condition. "If a man is really serious then he will take me with my baby. I won't lie," she had told herself and for days she had waited anxiously for a response. Only one of the men responded, and he was from Wyoming.
Abigail (Mail Order Brides of Hope Springs 3) Page 7
