Mail Order Anna (Brides 0f Sweet Creek Book 1)

by Sarah Banks

  Harriet was sleeping in front of the fireplace, her head pillowed on her dog’s furry stomach. Anna smiled. The dog opened one eye to look at her curiously. A growl escaped his lips that sounded remarkably like a snore, before he closed his eye again. Anna realized she didn’t even know the dog’s name but it was certainly Harriet’s dog, it never left her side.

  She had forgotten to ask Jack about the household budget. It was an important detail that would make a difference in her shopping the following afternoon. She quickly made her way to the porch, closing the door quietly behind her. Jack was halfway to the barn.

  “Wait,” she called.

  Jack stopped and turned, waiting for her to catch up.

  Anna was breathless as she stopped before him. “I need to ask you something,” she said, tilting her head back so she could see his eyes in the moonlight.

  Even in the moonlight she could see his face close off and she couldn’t help but wonder what she had gotten herself into, marrying this stranger who didn’t really seem to want a wife at all.

  “What’s my grocery budget?” She asked. “The household is in need of quite a few things and as I mentioned before, there’s probably much more that I’m not yet aware of.”

  His face relaxed. “I’m neither a rich nor poor man Anna. Use your good judgment and that should be fine.”

  Anna shivered in the cool night breeze and crossed her arms. “Alright.” She started to bid him goodnight but then remembered something else.

  “Oh I have one more question I keep forgetting to ask. What’s the dog’s name?”

  He paused a moment before responding, “Jack.”

  Anna tilted her head, looking at him in confusion.

  “Harry named him,” he explained. “When she was three years old. I couldn’t talk her out of it and believe me, I tried.”

  She gasped in low laughter, “The dog’s name is Jack?”

  Jack nodded.

  Anna slapped her hand over her mouth, unsuccessfully trying to suppress her laughter on what must be a sore subject.

  When he smiled at her in the moonlight, she felt her heart skip a beat. Her laughter faded. It almost felt like he had touched her again. She had never felt this way before. Why was she reacting this way to him?

  “Well, goodnight,” she said.

  “Goodnight,” he replied.

  Anna was grateful for the moonlight since she had forgotten to bring a lamp. She used the privy before returning to the house. As she passed by the dimly lit barn she resisted the urge to peek inside as Jack tended to his before-bed chores.

  When she reached the house, she stood on the front porch for a few minutes, staring into the darkness. With the nearly full moon she could see quite far and it was breathtaking.

  She shivered again. The temperature had dropped considerably once the sun had set and Anna had forgotten her jacket inside in her haste. She wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. She didn’t want to go inside yet. She wanted just a few more minutes breathing in the cool night air and looking at the stars.

  Tears filled her eyes. Maybe her marriage hadn’t started out exactly perfect but she loved it here. She had only been here one day and she already knew this was where she wanted to grow old.

  Just as she was about to go back inside she glanced toward the barn and saw Jack leaning against the doorway watching her. She waved and went inside.

  Anna grabbed the small lantern from her nightstand. She should have left the door open to her room earlier. Even though it was late spring, the evenings were still quite cool and her room was much colder than the main room. She would have to remember to leave it open from now on.

  She lit the lantern at the fireplace. She briefly considered waking up Harriet but decided against it. Jack would take care of her. He had up until this point. Besides, she was new to Harriet and Anna didn’t want to startle her.

  Closing her door, Anna realized she still needed to unpack. She sighed. She was so tired. She would do it sometime the following morning after making breakfast and finishing the remaining dishes.

  Anna quickly undressed and washed at the basin before changing into her nightgown. She unpinned her hair and briefly massaged her scalp before braiding her hair.

  She crawled between the cool sheets, pulling the sheets and quilt up to her chin. She had never slept in such a large bed. It felt odd. She scooted to one side, closest to the lantern, leaving the second half empty.

  Anna felt a wave of sadness but couldn’t really put her finger on the reason why. It almost felt like loneliness which didn’t make any sense because she wasn’t alone. Perhaps she was just overtired. Although she was tempted to leave the lamp running because she was sleeping in a strange place for the first time, she doused the wick and lay in bed.

  It wasn’t long before she heard Jack return to the house. She could see the light from the fire around the edges of her closed door. She listened to Jack quietly speak before letting Jack the dog outside. Then it was quiet for a few minutes. She wondered what Jack was doing. When she heard whining at the front door, Jack let the dog back inside and this time when he shut the door, he locked it.

  Jack was speaking again and this time she heard Harriet’s sleepy mumbling in return. The light began to dim and Anna realized he was banking the fire.

  The little remaining light from a lantern slowly faded away as they made their way upstairs. She heard footsteps and brief conversation overhead without hearing the exact words and then the squeaking of a bed as her husband laid down and then nothing. It was eerily quiet. It was never this quiet in the city. Anna thought she might not be able to sleep but she fell asleep almost instantly.

  Chapter Four

  It was just starting to get light when Anna finally awoke. If not for the low moo of a cow and the urgency of needing the privy, she probably would have slept until mid-morning. Anna was surprised she slept so well. She didn’t remember anything after Jack and Harriet went to bed and she didn’t awaken at all during the night.

  She quickly washed her face and brushed her teeth before dressing. She pinned a watch onto her dress, her mother’s, the only jewelry Anna wore. She put on her boots and jacket before rushing outside to use the facilities.

  It was a much more leisurely walk back to the house. She washed her hands in the wash bucket and stood on the top step of the porch.

  It was so quiet here, just the sound of the wind rushing through the tall grass and the occasional noises from the animals. The sweeping landscape was stunningly beautiful in the early morning light. She would be waking up to this view for the rest of her life she realized. The thought filled her with happiness.

  Anna went inside. A basket of eggs sat on the table along with a bucket of milk. So Harriet had already done her chores. Anna wondered where she was now. Did she spend all day with her father in the fields? What about school? Surely there were enough children in Sweet Creek for a schoolhouse. Anna was decently educated and wouldn’t mind teaching Harriet herself, but Harriet should be around other children.

  Anna took what she needed and stored the remaining eggs and milk. She made a large pan of scrambled eggs. She only had enough flour for half a batch of biscuits. There was no butter, jam or honey. Plain biscuits would have to do for now.

  She was frying the ham when she heard some noises upstairs. Soon a sleepy Harriet made an appearance followed by her dog.

  “Good morning Harriet,” Anna greeted.

  “Morning,” Harriet replied as she seated herself at the table, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

  “Breakfast is almost ready. Is your father still upstairs?” Anna asked over her shoulder as she finished frying the ham.

  “Nah, he’s been gone a couple hours. He wakes me up when he gets up so I can do my chores. Then I go back to sleep for a little while. I always meet him in the fields later.”

  “What about breakfast?”

  Harriet shrugged, reaching for a biscuit. “He usually makes extra supper and that’s what we take wi
th us for breakfast and lunch.”

  Anna added the plates of fried ham and scrambled eggs to the table. She poured Harriet a glass of milk and herself a cup of coffee before sitting across from Harriet. She felt badly. There had been no leftovers and now her husband was doing hard farm work on an empty stomach.

  “There are no leftovers from last night’s supper, but I’ll put together a pail of food for your father’s breakfast. Can you deliver it for me?” Anna asked.

  Harriet nodded and took a big bite of biscuit. Her cheeks puffed out and she smiled. “Mmm, you make good biscuits,” she said with her mouth full.

  Anna laughed. “I’m glad you like them. Would you like to say Grace this morning?” She asked, reaching for Harriet’s hand.

  Harriet shook her head but took Anna’s hand. Anna said a quick prayer before filling Harriet’s plate and then her own.

  During breakfast Anna verified that Harriet did indeed spend the entire day with her father in the fields, or at least nearby. She helped her father when he needed it, otherwise she and Jack the dog played until the sun started to set and it was time to go back to the house. Harriet didn’t attend school and seemed wary of the idea when Anna asked.

  Anna skipped the biscuits so there would be enough for Jack and Harriet. She packed eggs, ham, biscuits and coffee in the pail. “If you come back in a few hours, I’ll repack the pail with lunch.”

  Harriet took the pail. “Okay. What’s for lunch?” She asked curiously.

  “I’m not sure yet,” Anna replied. “I’ll see what I can scrounge up. I’ll be able to make better meals once we’ve gone to the store.”

  “I like what you’ve made so far,” Harriet said, buttoning up her jacket and reaching for her hat from the higher peg.

  “Thank you Harriet. Don’t forget to come back in a few hours.”

  “I won’t forget. Even if I did, I think my stomach would remind me,” she said with a laugh.

  Anna smiled. “I think you might be right about that.”

  She watched from the porch as Harriet and Jack the dog ran past the barn and out into a field. Anna couldn’t see Jack from her vantage point but Harriet seemed to know exactly where he was.

  The morning passed in a blur. She cleared the breakfast dishes and washed them as well as the pots and pans she had soaked overnight. After the dishes were dried and put away, Anna began to prepare lunch. She was happy when she found two small potatoes and a wilted carrot in the cellar and added them to the ham and bean soup. It was simple fare but a hearty and satisfying meal. She wished she had enough flour to make bread or biscuits, but it would have to do for now.

  It was still a bit cold outside even though the sun was shining but Anna opened all of the windows on the main floor anyway, airing out the house and filling it with the sweet spring air.

  She finally unpacked which didn’t take long considering her meager possessions. Anna couldn’t wait until she could buy some fabric to make herself a new dress and an apron since she had forgotten to pack hers. She needed to take inventory of Jack and Harriet’s wardrobe as well to see what kind of clothes they might be in need of. She would do that on laundry day.

  After checking on the soup, she began to take stock of the kitchenware. She ended up pulling out everything and scrubbing the cabinets, shelves and cubbies clean before putting things back in a way that she preferred. She had gotten lost in the task and was surprised when Harriet returned for lunch. Anna glanced down at her watch, surprised at how quickly the morning had passed.

  Harriet was rosy-cheeked and immediately drawn to the smell of the stewpot hanging over the hearth. Anna grabbed a rag and carried the pot over to the counter. “Give me just a few minutes and I’ll pack your lunch,” Anna said over her shoulder.

  Anna packed more coffee for Jack and milk for Harriet. She set aside a small bowl of stew for herself and sent the rest along with Harriet.

  She turned to Harriet who was watching her from the table. “This is pretty heavy. Do you think you’ll be able to carry it?”

  Harriet stood and nodded.

  “It’s very hot, so please be careful,” Anna warned, handing the pail over to Harriet.

  “I will,” she promised, taking the pail and making a beeline for the front door. The child had boundless energy. Harriet’s typical pace was closer to a run than a walk. That would explain why she fell asleep so soon after supper and slept late in the morning.

  Harriet skidded to a stop halfway out the door before turning and saying with a smile, “Papa said to thank you for breakfast.”

  Harriet disappeared out the open doorway. Anna smiled and closed the door behind her. She hugged herself. It felt wonderful to be needed and appreciated.

  Anna finished rearranging the kitchen. She was satisfied with all of the dishes, pots and pans and utensils Jack owned. She couldn’t think of anything else she needed in that respect and she was happy with the way she had reorganized it all. It made more sense to her. She knew where everything was and it was easily accessible. Now it felt like her very own kitchen. And although not perfect, it was so much cleaner than before.

  Anna poured herself the remaining coffee and sat down to eat her lunch before tackling her next project.

  Chapter Five

  Anna was washing the second to last window when Jack reappeared mid-afternoon. His eyes immediately went to her then around the house and back to her. When he didn’t say anything about the improved appearance of the house Anna tried not to let her disappointment show.

  She glanced at her watch. She had been caught up in her latest task and had lost track of time again and she still had to fix her hair and clothes before going into town. Anna smoothed her skirts self-consciously.

  “I lost track of time but I can finish the last couple of windows tomorrow,” she said, squeezing out the rag into the bucket of now dirty water sitting at her feet.

  “No finish,” Jack insisted. “I still have to hitch up the wagon. Can you be ready at three?”

  Anna glanced at her watch again and nodded. That would give her a half hour. Enough time to finish the last couple of windows and freshen up before they went into town.

  When she finally appeared on the porch, she had changed into a dry dress, her last clean one, and had fixed her hair. She tied the strings of her worn bonnet underneath her chin. She felt a little embarrassed. All of her clothes were in sorry shape but she reminded herself to be patient. Anna could already tell that her husband would be able to provide for her. With time she would no longer have to wear dresses that should have been turned into rags long ago.

  The wagon was ready and waiting in front of the house, Harriet and Jack the dog sitting in the back. As Anna stepped off the porch, Jack jumped down from his seat and easily lifted her into the wagon before jumping back in and resuming his seat next to her. He waited until she was settled before he released the brake and urged the horses forward. Soon they were turning from their long driveway onto the main road that led into town.

  “Did you get everything done that you had planned for today?” Anna asked her husband.

  Jack nodded. “I did. I’m sorry I was late. I had planned on leaving earlier but there was a lot to do and I lost track of time,” he explained.

  “That’s alright, so did I,” Anna said with a smile.

  She could hear Harriet humming softly from the back of the wagon. Anna smiled.

  “It’s so beautiful here. I just love it,” Anna said, tilting her face up to the sunlight. A few freckles would be worth it she reasoned, as the warm spring breeze blew gently upon her face and the tendrils of hair that framed her face, still damp from her window-washing efforts.

  “I’m glad,” Jack said softly.

  Anna blushed when she realized Jack was looking at her intently. She looked down again, allowing her bonnet to hide her features. She wondered if she would ever feel comfortable in his presence.

  ∞∞∞

  Shopping for supplies took even longer than Anna thought it woul
d. Jack had other errands to attend to and he took Harriet with him. Anna was pleased to be able to do the shopping without anyone looking over her shoulder and she was glad that her husband seemed to trust her judgment. She retrieved the two folded pages of her shopping list from her purse, took a deep breath and walked into the mercantile.

  “Well hello,” an older gentleman greeted her from behind the counter.

  “Good afternoon,” she replied.

  “I don’t think we’ve met. I’d remember. My name is Nathan Martin, my wife Jenny and I own Sweet Creek Mercantile.” He pointed to the ceiling. “We live upstairs with our daughter and son-in-law. You’ll meet them sooner or later, they help run the store. Welcome to Sweet Creek.”

  “Thank you very much. My name is Anna Ry-,” she started to say her maiden name before catching herself. “Anna Tremaine, Jack Tremaine’s wife.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Is that so? I didn’t know Jack had gotten himself hitched again.”

  “Yesterday,” she said. She was a little embarrassed to admit she was a mail order bride but it was the truth. She had nothing to be ashamed of. “I’m a mail order bride from Chicago. I arrived yesterday by train. Jack and I were married yesterday afternoon.”

  “Well, if I would have known that mail order brides back east were so beautiful, I would have ordered one myself,” he teased.

  “Nathan you stop your flirting right now,” a woman ordered playfully, descending the stairs with a pleasant smile and shining eyes.

  “You must be Anna. It’s so nice to meet you. I wasn’t sure when I would get a chance to clap my eyes on Jack’s new bride. My name is Jennifer Martin, you can call me Jenny of course. Molly Brown stopped by this morning and told me all about your lovely wedding to Jack. Congratulations,” she said enthusiastically.

  Anna’s cheeks pinkened. “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “Why no one could believe it when they heard Jack finally remarried. Oh I’m sorry, that was rude of me. It’s just that after he lost his wife a number of years ago, a few of us gals got together and tried to find a suitable woman for him to marry, on the account that he had such a young daughter and all. Well, to say that he was not at all interested is an understatement. Jack made it clear up, down and sideways that he had no interest in remarrying.”