Time passed, and eventually Fanny decided she was going to eat without him. Still more time passed, and it started to get dark. Fanny cleaned up dinner, leaving Charles’s meal on the table for him. It seemed like an eternity before he finally opened the door and came in.
“I chose half a dozen hens. I think that will be plenty to start with. They are out in the house now, and with any luck we’ll have eggs before the week is out.”
Charles sat down in front of his meal, and ceremonially laid out the silver. Fanny expected him to tell her where he had been, but he didn’t say anything on the matter. In fact, he didn’t say anything at all. The silence was getting to be unbearable, and Fanny wondered if she out to say something.
“Did you enjoy your trip into town?”
The question hung in the air awkwardly, and Charles completely ignored her until he finished his meal. When he was done, he slid back his chair and placed his hands in his coat pockets. Fanny couldn’t shake out of her mind the butler that took charge of the last mansion she had served.
Alarmingly, Charles seemed to be the same way.
“That was delicious my dear. Thank you. I am going to retire now, and I suggest you do the same soon. Tomorrow is going to come soon enough, and there is much to do.”
He rose and kissed her on the forehead, then went back to their room.
Fanny sat in the same chair she had been, ignoring all of her feelings, and watching the fire crackle away.
Chapter 7 – Making a Move
Fanny spent her days much the same. Between cleaning, cooking, and going to town for the errands, she was busy most of the time. Three weeks had gone by since her arrival, but she felt like it had been months. Every now and then she would think about that woman on the stage, but she would do her best to get rid of the thought before it lingered.
Charles spent most of his days in town. Fanny didn’t know how to ask him if she might join him on his trips, but he never invited her unless he was going to church. Fanny had always enjoyed going to church when she had the chance, and she made an even bigger effort to do so now that it was her only time to see Charles.
She would dress in her best dress and sit tall and proud next to him, but she never felt as though she had his attention. She always felt as though he was the butler of the house and she was in charge. Their time spent together was often spent talking about ways they could improve the house, but it was always to impress the guests.
With each passing day, Fanny felt as though she was getting close to her breaking point, and she didn’t like it. She wanted to feel like she was part of the family, not the maid, and she wanted to feel as though Charles was her husband, not her butler.
She knew something had to change, or it wasn’t going to work. Finally, the day came that pushed her past her breaking point.
Charles had told her it was his birthday, a few days before, and Fanny had determined to make it a special one. She carefully planned the cake she would make, and scraped together the bit of money she had managed to make in the past few weeks from the eggs she had sold.
After bartering and taking some money on loan from her friend, Fanny managed to convince the shop owner to sell her a watch. It was a beautiful watch with gold overlay on the front of it, and a wind up face on the inside. Fanny was so proud of the watch, and she couldn’t wait to give it to her husband.
This was going to be the changing point for her relationship. Once Charles saw the watch, he would realize how much she loved him, and stop seeing her as the maid of the house and see her as his wife. She just knew it.
The day before Charles’ birthday Fanny spent baking his cake, and carefully frosting it with vanilla cream frosting. Fanny had done a lot of jobs in her day, but baking was definitely her favorite. She was proud of the cake, and carefully hid it in the back of the cupboard to surprise her husband the next day.
“Happy birthday my dear!”
Fanny beamed as Charles came into the room, looking for his breakfast. He looked surprised, and somewhat agitated that there wasn’t his usual breakfast waiting for him. Fanny noticed, but tried not to show it as she pulled out the box from under her apron.
“I got you this!”
She smiled as she set the box down in front of him, and pulled out the cake from the pantry. Charles looked at the cake and the box, then slowly opened it. He seemed both confused and agitated about the box, then he forced a smile.
“Thank you, my dear. I appreciate it. Now, I am going out, and will be back again tonight. Would you mind getting the sheets washed and maybe wash the walls, too?”
Charles rose and kissed her on the cheek, then walked out the door. Fanny stood with her hands on the table, looking out after him. She didn’t know what to do. He treated her like a maid, he acted like she was the maid, and he seemed to even believe that she was the maid.
“Well, let him think what he wants! I am not his maid, and I am not going to be treated like it! I don’t know what I am going to do… maybe Miss Jasmine will take me back into her service.”
Fanny stormed into her room and grabbed her bag, then started shoving her dresses inside.”
Maybe I should keep going west. I hear there is a lot of opportunity out in California. Maybe I should go home, or maybe I’ll go further east and end up in New York.
Her thoughts were coming so quickly she didn’t know which one to go with. All she knew was that she had to get out of here and move to where she was happy. Maybe that lady on the stage was right. Maybe she would be happier when she was on her own. Maybe she just needed another change.
Fanny paused after shoving the lid closed on her bag. She briefly considered stopping, and changing her mind on what she was doing, but when she saw the bed that still needed to be made and the walls that still needed to be washed, the determination returned.
The clock on the mantle chirped, and Fanny snapped back to reality. If she hurried, she could make it to town in time for the stage coach.
“That’s it then. I am going home.”
Chapter 8 – What Goes Around Comes Around
Fanny didn’t think of how far it really was to the stage until she was half-way there. Her bag didn’t seem so heavy when she first started out, but now it felt like it weighed one hundred pounds. Fanny felt sweat bead on her forehead, and brushed it away angrily.
She didn’t care if she had wanted so desperately to marry. She didn’t care if Charles came home tonight to find the house empty and the work not done, and she didn’t care if she got into trouble when she got back to Georgia. Miss Jasmine would be married by now, and have more money than she knew what to do with.
Fanny was certain she could convince Miss Jasmine that this was a good idea, though it turned out to be a mistake, and she had to jump on the chance while she could. If she had to, she would tell Miss Jasmine she left as she had to spare her the trouble of saying goodbye so close to her wedding, and it was really for Miss Jasmine that she had gone.
Miss Jasmine is pretty easy to convince of such things. I don’t think this is going to be an issue. I might have to pay her something for breaking the contract, but even that is better than living like this.
“Fanny?”
Fanny jumped at the sound of her own name. She had been so absorbed in her own thoughts that she hadn’t noticed the figure that was walking towards her on the road. Now she stood face to face with her husband, him looking very confused and her looking embarrassed.
At first, Fanny wanted to make excuses, and to tell him this wasn’t want it looked like, but suddenly, something overcame her. She had spent her whole life making excuses to everyone around her, now she was going to stand up for herself. She was leaving anyway, so she didn’t have anything to lose.
“Charles, I am afraid I have to break another contract in my life, and move on. I’m going home.”
She wasn’t sure how she was going to phrase it, but that seemed to work. Charles looked at her from head to toe, and was at a loss for words. Fanny wished he would say somet
hing, anything.
Finally, he did,
“Why?”
It wasn’t what she thought he was going to say, and there was something about it that made her walls melt away. In all of her life, nobody had ever cared enough to ask her why she was doing something. They would ask her why she did something a certain way, but nobody cared to ask her why she felt the way she did.
Tears formed in her eyes, and rolled down her cheeks. She suddenly wasn’t able to hold his gaze anymore, and she looked down at her shoes.
“I’m not happy here, Charles. When I moved out here, I was moving out of the service. I wanted to be your wife, and I wanted to make a home together. I feel like you are looking for a maid, and you still think you are a butler with no master. Let me tell you something. You may be a butler, but I am no maid. I am a wife, and I am going to find someone that will treat me like one.”
The words came out so quickly, Fanny could hardly keep up with herself. By the time she had finished her speech, her chest was heaving, and she had tears pouring out of her eyes. Charles didn’t say anything for a moment. He looked at her inquisitively, then he turned around.
He took a few steps away from her, then she heard him sigh. He finally turned back around to face her.
“Fanny, I am sorry. I can’t let you go like this. Yes, I am acting like a butler, and I may have been too harsh in treating you like a maid, but that is all I know in life. I have never known what it is like to think for myself, and to live for myself, and to love someone.
When I saw you for the first time, I knew you were the woman I wanted to marry. I could see in your eyes that you are caring, hardworking, and that you deserve the world. Please stay with me Fanny, please. I will treat you right, and I will treat you like my bride. I can’t do this alone. I just can’t.”
Fanny didn’t know what to do. This wasn’t’ the reaction she thought she was going to get out of him, and part of her wanted to believe him. The other part of her wanted to keep going, and tell herself that this was a trick to get her to come back, only so she could keep working.
“I’m sorry.”
She said this with another sudden surge of resolve, and tried to push past him, but he caught her by the arm and looked down into her eyes. She looked up at him, and she could see that there were more tears in his eyes that wanted to form, but he wouldn’t let them.
“If that is what you need to do, then I will let you go, but I want you to know that I love you, and if you ever come back, you will be welcome.”
Charles leaned down and kissed her, the first real kiss the couple had shared. As he did so, something melted away out of her, and Fanny realized for the first time this was what she had been looking for. She wanted love, she wanted a husband, and that was what this man was.
She suddenly felt weak, and her knees started to shake. He held her up, and pulled her in close. The tears started falling again out of her own eyes, and all she could do was whisper in his ear.
“I love you, too, Charlie, can we go home?’
He pulled back and looked down at her, giving her the most beautiful smile she had ever seen. He nodded and picked up her bag, and put his arm out. She placed her hand in his, and they turned around.
They were heading home for good.
THE END.
Love Never Fails
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1 – Mary Needs a Mother
The rain pattered against the window of the schoolhouse, and Jason twisted his hat in his hands. His daughter, Mary, sat on the bench beside him, letting her legs dangle freely. She swung her feet carelessly back and forth.
“Mary sit still,” her father said in a low voice.
“But why Papa? I’m so bored!”
“Because you need to act like a lady.” Jason would have continued his speech, but the door to the back of the school opened at that moment, and he stood to greet the teacher.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Shoats, but I’m afraid the weather made travel a little difficult.”
“It’s quite all right Mrs. Johnstone. I trust you have a ride home in the rain?”
Mrs. Johnstone smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Mary.
“I have some cookies left over from lunch in my bag. If you want to go wait in the coatroom you may have them. I will only be a minute with your father.”
“Yippee!” Mary shouted as she leapt off the bench and ran down the aisle.
“Mary! You must walk while indoors! You –“ Jason sighed and shook his head.
“I’ve been trying my best to teach her some manners, but it’s hard when she’s in school all day then has to wait at my brother’s shop while I finish up. I know Jack doesn’t have to time to teach her while he’s trying to run the store, and a stable is no place for a little girl.”
Mrs. Johnstone held her hand up to stop him.
“No explanation needed, Mr. Shoats. It’s quite all right. I know that you have a lot to do with the stable and trying to keep a roof over your heads, but Mary’s manners aren’t what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s her schooling.”
Jason looked down at the floor, nervously twisting his hat in his hands as he listened. He hated these discussions with the teacher. Always had, even before it was just him and his daughter. Now, without the support or help of his wife, he felt even more pressured by the teacher.
“What about her schooling? She’s here every day, and I hear her reciting her lessons at the dinner table…”
“She may recite something, but they certainly aren’t her lessons.” Mrs. Johnstone replied curtly, and a pang ran through Jason’s heart as the teacher continued.
“She is falling behind in her reading to be honest, and I don’t think she’s even trying. She seems to have lost all interest in schooling or any academic subjects at all for that matter.”
“Well, she has been through a lot-“ Jason began, but once again he was cut off by Mrs. Johnstone.
“I am sorry for your loss, Mr. Shoats, and I can only imagine what losing a mother can do to a child, but that was months ago, and your daughter isn’t getting any better in her studies. Now, I am afraid she is going to hold up the class if we don’t do something about this.”
Anger welled up inside of Jason, but he held his tongue. The last thing he needed to worry about right now was making the teacher mad and getting his daughter expelled.
Life had been a struggle the past few months. His wife, Lucinda, had passed away with fever. He had done everything in his power to help her recover, and in spite of taking her to every doctor in the area, she finally succumbed to the illness.
Jason had worked long hours at the stable, trying to catch up on the doctor bills and keep himself and his daughter fed and clothed. The payments for the house were due to the bank, and he didn’t have time to help her in school. In fact, Mary had been spending the afternoons after school with her Uncle Jack in his little shop while Jason finished up his work at the stable.
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted with Mary poking her head into the room.
“Papa! The rain’s letting up! Can’t I go out and play in the puddles? Please Papa! Please please please please please!”
Jason turned to face his daughter, and said firmly, “Honey, I have to talk to your teacher right now, I need you to wait out in the other room, and I’ll be right there.”
He struggled to keep his voice low, trying not to yield to his frustration, although he felt right at his wit’s end at this point.
“But Papa! This is taking forever! I’ll be right outside! Please Papa! Please?” Mary was running around in circles by the door, waving her arms around and yelling.
Finally, Jason couldn’t keep his voice down any longer.
“All right!” He yelled, “But stay right outside where I can see you out the window. And don’t get all muddy, you hear?”
“Yay! Thank you, Papa!”
Mary turned and ran out the door, compl
etely undeterred by her father’s outburst, and began jumping in every puddle she could find.
Jason watched her go, then took a deep breath in before letting it back out slowly.
“I’m sorry for that, she gets excited, and forgets that she has to wait her turn.” Jason turned back to the teacher, hoping she didn’t mind the exchange.
The teacher just looked at him and shook her head.
“Look,” Jason continued, “I know Mary needs to learn some manners, ok?”
“What the girl needs,” Mrs. Johnstone sighed. She hesitated for a moment, then said in a lowered tone, “is a mother.”
Jason exhaled sharply, sat down, and looked out the window. He sat there a second, watching his daughter jump from puddle to puddle in the rain as he still twisted his hat in his hands.
Finally, he nodded.
“Yes, indeed she does.”
Chapter 2 – Alone in the World
Amy Anne sighed and put the towel over the rack in the kitchen. She listened to the clamor in the other room, but didn’t pay much attention to what was actually being said. She figured they were all talking about some picnic or garden party or something like that.
The youngest child in the family of 5 children, Amy Anne never felt like she fully belonged. She wasn’t a blood relative to the sisters in the other room, she had been adopted by this wealthy family when she was just a child.
They had been kind to her, but they hadn’t let her forget the fact she had been adopted, or that their mother and father weren’t her mother and father. Amy Anne’s adopted parents knew nothing of this talk, and had always treated Amy as their own, but regardless of this Amy Anne still felt that she was alone in the world.
Suddenly, the voice of her sister Jane called into the kitchen.
“Amy Anne! We are talking of having a garden party! What do you think? We should invite all of the young ladies and gentleman in town… especially the eligible young gentleman!”
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