Mail Order Meddler

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Tracy nodded, feeling strange that he would automatically introduce her to other wives instead of girls in school. Yes, she was a wife, but she had been a girl in school just a couple of weeks before. It was odd how her life had changed so quickly.

  He made the rounds with her introducing her to the five women who attended the church. There were at least fifty people there, but as he’d said, most were ranch hands. There were a few children, which balanced things out a little. Tracy found herself the center of attention with man after man coming over and letting her know that if she got tired of Andy they would be waiting.

  As soon as they went to their seats, she leaned over to whisper, “Don’t they believe in marriage?”

  “Yes, they do, but they want a wife, and don’t know how to find one.” His lips against her ear sent a shiver of passion through her body. She immediately felt guilty about feeling that way in church, but she didn’t know how to stop it. God had given her feelings of passion, hadn’t He?

  Mattie sat down in the pew next to Tracy. “I’ll give them Elizabeth’s address.”

  “Who’s Elizabeth?” he asked.

  “The owner of the mail order bride agency that placed me with you.” She watched as Arthur and Francis slipped into the pew on the other side of Tracy.

  The sermon was short and sweet, and Tracy was shocked when at the end, she was welcomed into the community and invited to stand by the pastor. She stood, blushing, wishing he hadn’t done that but at the same time understanding she’d get to know people faster that way.

  One of the women she’d met before, Abigail, a girl near her age with a baby on her hip, rushed to her side after the sermon. “Would your family like to join ours for Sunday dinner?”

  Tracy looked at Andy who didn’t give any indication that he cared one way or the other. “I have a pot of beans on the stove cooking. Maybe next week?”

  Abigail nodded. “We’d like that. I’ll see you then.”

  After several minutes of visiting with others, Tracy followed Andy to the wagon. He helped her up onto the seat, and the kids climbed into the back. “The people here seem really nice,” Tracy said to Andy.

  “Oh, they are. I think you’ll like it here. It’s just like any small town, though, so don’t tell anyone anything you don’t want the entire town to be talking about next week.”

  Tracy smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

  *****

  The man impeccably dressed man with shiny black shoes caused a sensation as he stepped off the train in Nowhere. He went straight to the mercantile, because that seemed the place to get information.

  George, the proprietor, looked up from his dusting. “What can I do for ya?”

  “I’m looking for a woman who I am told has just moved here. Her name is Tracy.”

  George frowned slightly. “What about her?” He was wary as he asked the question, his eyes darkening and he immediately looked unfriendly.

  “I’ve been hired to find her. Do you know where she is?”

  While the town was small, and constantly talking about their own, they didn’t do so to strangers. Tracy may have been a newcomer to Nowhere, but she was also one of their own now that she’d married Andy Harvey. “Never heard of her.”

  “So you’re saying that no young woman has moved to this town?”

  George shrugged. “I couldn’t say.” He turned his back and made it clear the conversation was over. When he got a chance, he’d send his son who helped him in the store out to let the Harveys know someone was looking for Tracy. They could decide what to do with the information.

  *****

  Mattie looked up from her sewing at the sound of horse’s hooves. “Someone’s here.”

  Tracy set down her own sewing and walked to the door. The man in the yard didn’t look familiar to her, but that wasn’t surprising. She’d met so many people the two Sundays she’d made it to church that there was no way she could possibly remember them all. She stepped out into the yard and shaded her eyes, looking up at the man still atop his horse. “Can I help you?”

  “I need to talk to Andy. He around?”

  “He said they were moving the herd today. I’m not sure where they are, though. Can I help you with something?”

  The man shook his head. “Nope. My pa said I need to talk to Andy and no one else.” He tipped his hat to Tracy and Mattie, who had slipped up behind her, and rode off, obviously looking for Andy.

  Tracy looked down at Mattie. “Do you know who that was?”

  Mattie nodded. “He’s George’s son.”

  “Who’s George?”

  Mattie smiled. “He’s the man who owns the mercantile.”

  Tracy shrugged. It must be something to do with business then. “This second dress is almost done. Just needs to be hemmed. Are you ready to go try it on?”

  Mattie smiled happily. “Yes, please.”

  The two made their way back into the house, and Tracy dismissed the man from her thoughts. She had more important things to do. If whatever he was there for was important, Andy would tell her.

  *****

  Andy looked worried when he came home that night, but he didn’t say anything to Tracy about what was wrong. She waited until the others were in bed before walking up behind him and rubbing his shoulders. “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  The almost two weeks since they’d first gone to church together had passed quickly. They spent their days working and their nights loving one another. There was no doubt in Tracy’s mind that she’d done the right thing by marrying Andy and deciding to stay. She was happier than she’d ever been with her new family in Texas. Andy still hadn’t said he loved her, but that was fine. They’d only known one another for two weeks after all. It was enough that they enjoyed being together.

  Andy shook his head. He wasn’t sure if he should tell her about the man in town looking for her, but he decided against it. In his experience, people who were looking for strangers were never up to any good. He opened his mouth to tell her, but decided against it at the last minute. Hopefully the man would just move on.

  “Nothing’s wrong except that I had to spend the whole day away from you.” He caught her around the waist and pulled her into his lap, kissing her enthusiastically.

  Tracy giggled. “Not here. I’m always afraid someone will wander down here and see us.”

  “They all know I kiss you. What’s wrong with seeing it?”

  “It just wouldn’t be proper.” She got off his lap and sat beside him in a chair. “Would you like another piece of cake? A glass of milk?”

  “That would be great.” He watched her as she got the milk and cake for both of them. “Did you know any rich people back in Massachusetts?” he asked.

  Tracy shook her head. “Only Elizabeth Miller, the woman from the mail order bride agency, and I really didn’t know her. Just met her a few times.” She set the food on the table in front of Andy. “Why do you ask?”

  “Just curious. I’ve never really known a rich man.”

  Tracy rolled her eyes. “Are you going to turn into one of those men who can think of nothing but money?”

  “Not at all. I would like to provide a good home for my family, though.”

  She smiled, her hand rubbing his arm. “You already do that.” Taking a bite of her cake, she pointed to his with her fork. “There must be something wrong. That cake has been in front of you for an entire minute, and there’s not a bite missing from it.”

  He just shook his head, obviously lost in thought. “No, nothing’s wrong.”

  Tracy worried as she finished her cake and washed their plates. “I’m going to go get ready for bed,” she said.

  He stood up. “I’ll come with you.”

  Tracy smiled, taking his hand and leading him toward the bedroom. Hopefully she could distract him from whatever was wrong.

  *****

  Two days later, as they were heading to church, Andy still seemed nervous to Tracy. She couldn’t put her finger on the probl
em, but it was obvious there was one. He had seemed very distracted around her and was really only himself when they made love.

  “I can’t wait to see Abigail today. I want to ask her to make a couple of bows for Mattie’s hair. She does such a great job with little Deborah’s bows.” Deborah was her new friend’s eight month old daughter.

  Andy just nodded absently. “You don’t mind if Mattie and I go see her one day this week so she could teach me to make them, do you?” She loved the idea of being able to make bows for Mattie.

  “That’s fine.”

  “Do you want me to make a cake for dessert tonight? Or a pie?”

  “That’s fine.”

  Tracy frowned at Andy. “I’ll make a pie and frost it with cow manure then.” He obviously wasn’t listening to her.

  “That’s fine.”

  Tracy sighed. “Have you heard one word I’ve said to you, Andrew Harvey?”

  Andy looked over at her in surprise. “What?”

  She shook her head sadly. “That’s what I thought. You’re not listening to a word I’m saying!” He was even more distracted that morning than he’d been the past few days. Something was definitely wrong.

  “I’m sorry, Tracy. I’m just…thinking.”

  “About what? Rich men?”

  When Andy didn’t respond to that, she knew that’s what he was thinking about again. “Andy, there is no way I’d take a rich man over you. Now stop worrying.”

  Andy looked at Tracy like she’d grown two heads. He wasn’t worried about her running off with a rich man. Why would she even think such a thing? “I know that.” He kept staring off into space, finally pulling up in front of the church. As he helped her down, he looked around for a well-dressed man that he’d never seen before, but he didn’t spot one. He still kept Tracy as close to him as he could.

  Once they were inside the church and sat down, Tracy felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and smiled up at the stranger behind her. “Can I help you?”

  He stared at her with wide eyes, as if he were looking at a ghost. “Is your name Tracy?” he asked.

  She nodded, her eyes wide. How did this stranger know her?

  Andy left his hand on her shoulder, indicating she should stay in her seat, before getting up and grabbing the man’s arm, pulling him out of the church. “Who are you and what do you want with my wife?” He’d been waiting to confront this man since he’d heard he was in town.

  The man sighed. “I’m a private detective. Tracy’s mother hired me to find her.”

  “Tracy doesn’t have a mother. She was left on the doorstep of a church.”

  The stranger indicated a bench in front of the church. “My name is Steven Chandler. Tracy’s mother came to me a month ago, and told me the whole story behind what happened. When Tracy was a week old, her father was killed in a fire. Their house was destroyed, and she and her mother were left penniless. Her mother searched for someone to take them both in, but couldn’t find anyone. Finally, she took a job in Boston as a maid, but one of the requirements of the job was that she not have a child.”

  Andy looked at the other man, listening to him. He didn’t want their lives to change. “Go on.”

  “She decided to leave Tracy on the doorstep of a local orphanage with a note, saying she would be back for her. She had every intention of going back a month or two later, but the months turned into years. To make a long story short, her mother has married again, and her husband has agreed to let Tracy come and live with them. She’d have money and a life of leisure.”

  Andy shook his head. “No. She’s my wife.” Why would the man even think such a thing was possible? Women didn’t just leave their husbands for better opportunities.

  Steven sighed. “She could have so much more than this life. Her mother is married to one of the wealthiest men in Boston. She could have a real life there.”

  Andy stood. “She has a real life here. Go away.” He walked back into the church and sat down beside Tracy, his mind going over and over the words Steve had said in his mind. Should he let her go? Shouldn’t she at least meat her mother? But what about Mattie? Mattie would hate him if he let Tracy go.

  After church, he grabbed Tracy’s arm and hurried her out of the church, helping her into the wagon. He told Francis to get the other two and get into the wagon immediately. He needed to tell Tracy what had happened, but he wasn’t about to do it in the churchyard with everyone listening in.

  As they drove, he told her what the other man had said, and Tracy sat worrying the skirt of her dress. “I don’t want to leave,” she said in a whisper. But inside, she couldn’t help but wonder what her mother was like. Her whole life she’d dreamed about what it would be like to have a real mother. And now she was being offered one? Now when she was finally with a family who loved her?

  She didn’t want to leave, but she wanted to meet the woman who had given her life. Why had she left her on the doorsteps? And why hadn’t she come back for her as she’d said she would? Why was she looking for her now?

  She asked Andy those questions, and he gave her the story Steve Chandler had told him. Tears streamed down her face. For the first time in her life, there was more than one person who wanted her, but they lived in different states.

  When they got home, Tracy served the roast she’d had in the oven while they were gone, but she just toyed with her own food. The children had no idea what had happened, but they could tell something was upsetting her. After lunch, she did the dishes with Mattie as always, and then announced she needed a nap.

  Mattie watched the door close with Tracy on the other side. “Tracy never takes naps, Andy. What did you do?” Her voice was filled with accusation. She obviously blamed Andy for Tracy’s upset.

  Andy shook his head, not knowing how to answer that. Truly, he’d done nothing wrong, but his sister wouldn’t see it that way. After a moment, he followed her into the bedroom and sat beside her on the bed, stroking her back. “Do you want to meet your mother?” he asked, feeling as if his heart was being pulled from his body as he asked.

  Tracy turned toward him on the bed, her eyes bloodshot with tears. “Of course, I want to meet my mother. How could I not want to meet her? But I don’t want to leave you or the boys or Mattie.” She sat up and threw herself into his arms. “I truly don’t know what to do.”

  Andy sighed. “If I could leave the ranch, I’d go with you, but I can’t just leave my brothers and sister.”

  “I know. I’m not asking you to do anything. I’m just telling you how I feel. All my life I’ve felt rejected, like I wasn’t good enough to be loved by anyone, and now suddenly I have a mother who wants me, and a husband who wants me to stay. What can I do?” She felt torn between her mother and her new family, but she knew deep down that her responsibility was to her new family, not to the woman who’d given her birth and abandoned her.

  Andy just held her close, letting her cry. “Why don’t you write to your mother? We can give the letter to Steve Chandler tomorrow.”

  Tracy considered that for a moment before nodding. “I can do that.” It seemed like a good solution. It wouldn’t be meeting her, but at least she would know that Tracy cared to meet her. She loved the idea of corresponding with her mother.

  That evening, after the children were in bed, she carefully penned a letter to her mother. She didn’t even know how to start the letter. “Dear Mother” seemed way too familiar when she hadn’t seen the woman in over eighteen years. What was the right thing to do?

  Finally, she settled on, “Dear Mother, I’m not sure exactly what to say to you. I’ve waited for fifteen years to finally meet you and now that you’re ready, I’m newly married with a family to take care of. My new husband has three younger siblings that he cares for, and a ranch he can’t leave, so I really can’t make a trip out to Massachusetts to meet you right now. My heart breaks as I write those words, because I so desperately want to sit and talk to you and ask you all the questions that I’ve wondered about for year
s. I’ve married a good man. His name is Andrew Harvey and his younger siblings are Francis, age sixteen, Arthur, age ten, and Matilda, age seven. Mattie is my little shadow and does everything with me. I truly wish I could come see you, but I can’t abandon the family I’ve come to love. I would be happy to correspond with you, though, and I’m glad to finally be able to do that. I will give this letter to Steven Chandler tomorrow, and I hope that you’ll respect my wishes and write me in return. Sincerely, Tracy.”

  Tracy set the letter on the work table and left it there. “I need to get some things from the mercantile tomorrow anyway, so I’ll go ahead and take it to town then.”

  Andy walked up behind her and rubbed her shoulders, his hands soothing her. “I’ll go with you. There’s no reason for you to face him alone.”

  Tracy turned into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around her husband. The children were there, but for once she didn’t care. She kissed him softly. “Thank you. I was hoping you’d offer.”

  *****

  The long drive to town the next day had Tracy wiggling in her seat. “You have ants in your pants?” Andy asked, his eyes filled with mischief.

  Mattie, sitting between them, said, “She doesn’t wear pants, Andy. She’s a girl!”

  Tracy laughed as the words broke the tension she’d been feeling since he’d told her who the man was. Once they got to town, they went to the mercantile. Andy went straight to George. “Do you know where the man who’s been looking for Tracy is staying?”

  George nodded. “He’s been at the boarding house.”

  Andy took Tracy’s letter. “You do your shopping. I’ll give it to him.”

  Tracy smiled with relief. She really didn’t want to have to tell the man why she’d decided to stay in Texas, instead of taking a train to meet her mother.

  Andy went to the boarding house for men and knocked on the door. When Mr. Jones, the proprietor answered the door, Andy smiled. “I have a letter for Mr. Steven Chandler. Is he in?”