“Christmas?”
“Yes Emmitt, it is Christmas eve.”
Angela’s words haunted Emmitt that night as he tried desperately to forget the things she said. Am I trying to replace Margaret? Would she really be ashamed of me?
He had been grieving long enough to know that these thoughts would pass just as the long nights do before the sunrise. The one thought that he could not stop from thinking had nothing to do with Margaret at all though. He could not stop himself from wondering about Rachel.
Would Rachel really love me if I did not have this home, this farm, or any of the financial assets that I do? And what good are these things if I cannot share them with a wife who will love me?
***
December 25
Emmitt barely slept that night. He could not imagine going on with life without truelove to lean on in good times and bad. All he could think was, I need to escape it all.
Rachel was planning to cook a full breakfast for Emmitt and herself on Christmas morning. She woke early and made her way from her pink room to the kitchen. She had gathered the bacon, eggs and sausages while the water boiled for tea. The note was left on the kitchen table for Rachel to see when she began to prepare breakfast that morning. She was unsure of what it was. Maybe a clue that will lead me to a surprise Christmas present, she thought. Her heart sank as soon as she read the first line.
Rachel,
I thank you for everything you have done for me these past weeks since you came into my life. You have been lovely and kind to me. I am leaving you this home and the farm because I have no desire to keep them. My possessions are keeping me from knowing if I could be loved without them.
I will be travelling by train, to where I do not know. I must search to find a new place to call home, for I am unsure where my heart belongs here with you.
Please ask one of my sisters to take care of Pally.
Emmitt
Rachel dropped the letter and ran to the barn faster than she had ever run in her life. She was still in her nightdress with nothing on her feet. The sun had yet to rise fully at this point in the morning. She intended to take one of the horses to the train station in an effort to find Emmitt before it was too late. She had no idea how to ride a horse properly, but that was a thought that had not even occurred to her at this point. All she knew for sure was that she had to get to the train station. Who knows if he has left yet or not?
As she rushed into the barn she was alarmed to find Emmitt about to saddle one of the horses. She was immediately struck by the sadness in his eyes. His entire demeanor was different. He looked defeated, but Rachel still recognized the man she loved behind weakened physical appearance. It’s not too late, Rachel thought to herself.
“Emmitt, wait please,” she shouted aloud, “take me with you.”
Her shouting startled Emmitt but the sound of her voice woke him out of his sad hazy state. Hear she was, outside and barefoot on Christmas morning, showing concern for him. Still, he was skeptical of what he was hearing her say.
“Take you with me?” he asked.
“Yes!” she shouted, near hysterical at this point.
Emmitt was stunned and confused. He briefly wondered if he was having another feverish dream but abandoned the thought when he saw Rachel shivering.
“You would leave all this behind for me?” he asked.
Rachel took a deep breath and without batting an eye declared, “Yes. My heart belongs to you now.”
Emmitt could feel his heart expanding as though her love was projecting directly to it. Rachel began walking steadily towards Emmitt. A smile was forming on her face as tears rolled down her cheeks. She took another deep breath in effort to steady her voice and said, “Wherever you go I will be with you.” She put her hands to her chest over her heart and said, “My home is with you.”
Emmitt dropped the saddle as he and Rachel rushed toward one another. He could see the tears streaming down her face as he reached his arms out to catch her as she jumped into his arms nearly knocking him backwards into a small stack of hay.
“I love you Emmitt Townshend,” she whispered into his ear. And at the sound of those words Emmitt pulled his head back to look Rachel in the eye before passionately kissing her, as though this act of affection would erase all of the loneliness he had felt since being widowed.
After this kiss concluded Rachel placed her hands on the sides of his face and pleaded, “please be my husband.”
Emmitt was so emotional that he could not speak. He held her tight and nodded his before kissing her again. He then quickly and smoothly swept her up off her feet and into his arms as he began to carry her back to the house.
***
The sounds of laughter began filling the house as Emmitt carried Rachel through the front door. The happy couple went to the living room where the sisters had decorated a small Christmas tree while Emmitt was still ill. Pally was found to be lying happily before the fireplace this Christmas morning. As Emmitt bent down to pet his dear dog Rachel was already in the kitchen preparing the morning tea.
“I am so sorry dear that I don’t have any presents for you this Christmas,” said Emmitt. “As you know I have been a little under the weather.”
“Don’t be silly,” she responded as she placed two steaming cups on the living room coffee table.
Emmitt held his cup for a long silent moment before raising it up and outward, a move that immediately roused the attention of his wife. She was happy to be back inside of the house with Emmitt where it was warm but she was still a little nervous due to his emotional state. He looked calm and at peace for maybe the first time since he had picked her up at the train station. And so, with his cup already raised in the air, he stood up and placed his other hand over his heart.
“I would like to propose a toast,” he began. “To my beautiful wife, Rachel, the most wonderful gift I could receive this Christmas.”
“And I would like to propose a toast as well,” Rachel added. “To my wonderful husband, Emmitt, the man who showed me the meaning of true love. Merry Christmas.”
The happy couple smiled at one another, savoring the fact that the future ahead of them looked bright. Rachel had thought of a gift she would love to share with Emmitt next Christmas. She was fairly confident that he would approve and that it would bring him joy as well. She wondered, is it too soon to bring it up? Of course the answer was no, it was never too soon for Rachel to be honest. She decided that she would bring it up during dinner that night.
“Emmitt,” she said. “I have something I want to tell you and you don’t have to say anything back right now if you are not ready to.”
Emmitt was unsure of how to respond. He nodded for her to go ahead and speak.
“Emmitt, I would love for us to adopt a child next Christmas,” she said. “Perhaps we might find one named Margaret.”
“Nothing could make me happier Rachel,” Emmitt said immediately as he felt tears in his well up in his eyes.
“Are you sure? I didn’t mean to upset you dear.”
“No Rachel, you don’t understand. These are tears of joy,” he exclaimed.
The couple stayed up until midnight by the fire before retiring to bed together. They found that even after all the time they had spent together, building a bond in the last month, they still had so much to learn about one another. They were now ready to share in their lives together, as husband and wife, and to provide a loving home for a child. Some would call this true love, but to Emmitt and Rachel it was their own Christmas miracle.
*****
THE END.
Love Unexpected
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1
Belle Lane felt as if her hands were tied and, in a way they were. Her brother had practically sold her off as a bride to some wealthy man out West and now she was on a train headed West without one notion as to what to expect. How could John do this to her?
The train was nearing its desti
nation and she had run out of options. She’d tried in vain to think of a clever way out of the situation, even going so far as to consider getting off at one of the stops before she reached her destination, but then she hadn’t known what she would do. She had no money, no resources, and no real skill aside from caring for children and cooking.
Besides, the stories she’d heard of the West were frightening. It did not sound conducive to a single woman living on her own.
So here she was, still on the train and about to meet the man she would marry.
Her hopes of one day falling in love and marrying a man who would care for her sunk lower in her stomach. Any man would willingly purchase a bride from their brother could not be on the up and up.
Could she protest in town? Perhaps beg the sheriff to have mercy on her and find her a better situation. The notion had weight, but she wasn’t sure how she would even find the sheriff’s station with her husband-to-be finding her first. John had said Dennis Gaston would be waiting for her at the train depot and he had her photograph so he would recognize her.
Wonderful, she thought. She wouldn’t know what he looked like until the moment she laid eyes on Denis, and she had a feeling he would be old, bald, and ugly.
She bit her lip to keep from laughing.
If her brother hadn’t spent every last ounce of their inheritance money this never would have happened. And yet Father had still insisted on naming him beneficiary despite the fact that Belle was older by a year. Hadn’t Father seen his coming? All of Mother’s pleadings hadn’t done any good either and here they were.
The train slowed and she collected herself. She was a lady of poise and determination. She loved to read and she would pass her time as this man’s wife living out her days reading and caring for his house, even if she never cared for him. That was most likely.
“Right this way, Miss,” the train attendant said. He directed her to the end of the car and held her elbow firmly until she stepped off onto the platform bustling with men and a few women walking to and fro.
Her eyes rose and she searched the faces looking for passengers. Her eyes rested on an elderly looking man who held her gaze.
I was right, she thought, and made her way toward him.
“Hello,” she said with a bland but determination air. It was better to get this over with now so she could face up to her future. “I’m Miss Lane.”
“Howdy,” the man said, his eyebrows rising and his eyes taking in every bit of her.
She shuddered and swallowed past the lump in her throat.
Just as she was going to say they might as well make their way to the church a voice behind her said, “Miss Lane?”
Startled, she turned and her eyes collided with a tall man, his fair completion showing off ruddy cheeks and reddish hair that had been tamed at one point that day but now flew in all directions after being held captive by his hat.
“I’m sorry, you are?”
“Dennis Gaston. Your future husband.”
Her eyes rounded and she looked back to the older man, amusement in his eyes. “I’d marry you in a second, darlin’ but I think this fellow has prior claim.” The man shuffled off and Belle admitted to herself that she was pleasantly surprised by Mr. Dennis Gaston.
***
She’d thought she was marrying Otis? He wanted to laugh out loud but there wasn’t time for that. Instead he tilted his head in the direction of his wagon. “Shall we? The pastor is expecting us.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You were informed we are to marry immediately, were you not?”
She cringed and he realized he’d sounded more like a businessman and a fiancé. “That is, your brother told you?”
“He did,” she admitted, “I suppose I just didn’t think right away meant the minute I stepped from the train.”
“Well, it does,” he said. His tone was even, but his words had the desired effect.
“By all means, lead the way.”
Her sensed her sarcasm but didn’t acknowledge it. If she wanted to make snide comments he’d allow that, for now. It would appear neither of them were pleased about this union and yet here he was, marrying again. If it could have gone any other way…
But no, his hands were tied. He was a slave to his company and, as far as his future business associate still knew, he was married. That persona needed to be upheld if he were to gain favorable ground.
The silence between them stretched on and he wondered if he should say something. He ground his molars instead. This was going to be more difficult than he thought. Just looking at her made him think of Maddie…
No, he couldn’t go there. Her death was over a year ago and they had moved on. They’d had to.
Mercifully, the church came into view and he was distracted by the process of marrying the woman he’d paid an arm and a leg for. He cringed. When he thought of it like that it made him feel like a scoundrel. Some man who had to buy a bride. But then again, her brother had said she was happy to come be his wife.
Looking down at her, her light brown hair framing an oval shaped face with ruby red lips and eyes downcast, she didn’t look happy.
They said their vows in a quiet way that would almost be considered reverent but was more likely due to the fact that neither of them were very happy about this situation. It would have been almost comical if he hadn’t been the one living it out.
Then, when they had signed the documents making everything legal they set out for his wagon out front.
He helped her in, feeling a strange sensation as her hand rested light in his, and then he climbed in next to her.
“Do you live far out of town?” Those were the first words she’d spoken to him aside from their vows in the past few hours.
“Not too far.”
They rode on in silence until he turned down the long dirt road that led to his ranch.
“Oh,” she said. He knew she was surprised at the grandeur of his house. He felt the prick of pride but squashed it down. None of this would matter if he didn’t sufficiently impress Thomas Sullivan.
When he pulled up in front of the house a ranch hand came over immediately to take care of the wagon and he led Belle inside. She stood just inside the doorway and stared around at the large, lodge style entryway. It was meant to impress and he could see that it had sufficiently done its job. She was stunned.
Then the sound of feet running his way drew his full attention. “There you are, Minnie-girl.” He swung is daughter up into his arms then turned to face Belle.
The look of complete shock on her face struck him as odd. In the interest of full disclosure, he’d told her brother John all about his daughter. He assumed the man had relayed that information, but the look on her face said otherwise.
“Let me guess, your brother also didn’t tell you about Minnie.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. Then, recovering quickly, she looked up at Minnie still in his arms, “Hello. My name is Belle.”
“I’m Minnie. I’m six.” She grinned and he could see his daughter’s magic smile was already working wonders on Belle’s heart.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Remember how I told you that Belle would be coming to stay with us?”
“Yes,” Minnie said.
“Well, here she is.”
He put Minnie down and turned to Belle. “We can discuss…logistics later. But for now I need to go check in with my men. Minnie and Cook can show you around.”
Belle nodded but didn’t say anything so he turned and left, hearing her strike up conversation with his daughter.
The familiar hurt entered his chest again, but he squelched it. Belle wasn’t Maddie and this wasn’t the past. He had to remember that.
Chapter 2
Belle couldn’t sleep. She’d laid down for a nap earlier in the day while Minnie rested and now it had completely thrown off her schedule. How was she supposed to adjust to a new life like this when so much continued to be a surprise? At one
point she had imagined the best-case scenario. That the man she would marry would be kind, understanding, and have a desire to get to know her. Now she realized she had built up too many hopes.
Slipping from the covers her stomach grumbled. Dinner had been tense with Dennis arguing with Cook about something inconsequential as she’d tried to distract Minnie. Was Dennis always in a bad mood? Either way, she was hungry now. Maybe a trip to the kitchen was in order.
She pulled a shawl tightly around her shoulders and opened the door. It creaked a little but not in a way that would wake anyone, thankfully. Then she walked down the hall and made her way downstairs to the kitchen.
Finding a loaf of bread, she cut off a hunk and slathered butter over it, relishing the yeasty, sweet taste. She looked around the kitchen and then wandered back into the front room. The vaulted ceiling was something she’d never seen before and she still couldn’t get over the shock of it.
Everything about this house—about Dennis—screamed out for attention. It wasn’t in a completely arrogant, opulent way, but she could tell that appearances meant everything to him.
She finished off the bread and dusted her crumb-encrusted fingers on her nightgown. One last look around the entryway confirmed her earlier thoughts and she was about to head back upstairs when she saw a door on the other side of the room that she’d missed. Cook and Minnie had given her the formal tour but they hadn’t showed her this room.
[2016] Finding My Cowboy Page 36
