Aaron's Annulment Bride (Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs Book 3)

by Zina Abbott

  Desdemona Brinks, known to family and friends as Desi, looked up at him and smiled. After a second of silence, she spoke sweetly. “Did you get enough to eat, dear? It’s a long work day for you, and I wouldn’t want you to start out hungry.”

  “Yes, Ma. Breakfast was wonderful, as usual. I thought I thanked you for breakfast, but in case I forgot, thank you again. And thank you for packing my lunch. Was there anything else?”

  Desi continued to smile at her son.

  Aaron sighed, then leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Sometimes, Ma, I think you treat me more like I’m nine instead of twenty-nine. Satisfied?”

  Just want you to be in practice to treat your new bride right. Every young bride appreciates a husband who kisses her and thanks her for the hearty breakfast and good lunch she’s packed for him before he leaves every morning.”

  Aaron eyed his mother suspiciously. “And what makes you think there will be a young bride?”

  “Ohhh.” Desi ignored her husband’s chuckle and kept her words casual as she flipped the eggs. “It might be because you have been receiving letters from a Miss Catherine Everett and a Miss Delia Brownlee. And, if I am not mistaken, you have responded in kind to them.”

  “I’m sure you’re not mistaken, Ma, since I’m sure you have gone through the outgoing mail to see who is mailing what to whom before Pa takes the bag over to the train station. There are some distinct disadvantages to having your mother be the postmistress.”

  “It’s not like I’m reading the letters, Aaron. I have been waiting patiently for you to share your news with us. Unfortunately, my patience is not being rewarded.”

  Aaron rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. “Courting is not a family affair, Ma. Besides, anything I say I can expect to be shared with the entire town, thanks to the tendency you two have to talk to everyone who comes into the store.”

  Simon Brinks straightened up in his chair, a look of indignation on his face. “Say, Son, I’m not sure I appreciate that remark. It sounds like you’re accusing us of spreading gossip.”

  Aaron shook his head. “I know, you’re just being neighborly, Pa. But sometimes I would rather my news not be shared unless I do the sharing.”

  Simon grumbled into his coffee cup. “Just so you aren’t accusing me of being a gossip. That’s for old women who don’t have anything better to do with their time.”

  Aaron bit the inside of his cheek to hold back a laugh. “No, Pa, I’d never think that of you. If you two must know, yes, I did sign up and pay my share to be one of the ten miners to get one of the brides that Royce and Clive Bainbridge at the Prosperity Mine have contracted to come in through that agency in Denver. The woman who runs it pairs up potential partners using handwriting analysis. Yes, I have been writing to the two women she thinks will be the best matches for me based on her study of our handwriting. But, I don’t want one word said about it to any of your customers. From their letters, both these ladies seem nice. However, I’m not making any decisions until I meet them in person. And I don’t want the town speculating at my expense.”

  Desi answered in a voice soft and serious. “Aaron, first of all, when you marry, that young woman will become part of our family. Of course we’re interested in who will spend the rest of her life with our son and not only give him children, but give us grandchildren. Second of all, we will not talk about something like this with others. Please give us enough credit for having a sense of loyalty to you. However, we know the first brides are coming in this Friday, and we were told weeks ago you signed up as one of the ten men vying for them. We have just been wondering when we would hear about it from you.”

  “I’m sorry, Ma. I guess I should have said something earlier. I just didn’t want to have the issue talked to death before I get a chance to meet the women in person. You know how I don’t like being the center of attention and having everyone discussing my business.”

  “Thank you, Aaron. And we will honor your wishes and keep your business within the family. I do look forward to meeting the young ladies you have been writing to.”

  Aaron leaned forward and kissed his mother’s cheek again. “If you and Pa are real good, I’ll introduce you to one or both of them at the church picnic on Sunday.”

  Desi laughed. “That would be nice, especially since we will be there. Maybe I’ll meet them Friday night since I’m helping with refreshments for the parlor games social. Also, since the weddings are scheduled for July 4th on Monday before everyone returns to work, I’d love to meet your bride before you say your vows.”

  “If I do say my vows next week, Ma. I heard there is a shortage of brides, so some of us will need to wait until the bridal agency lady brings up another batch. Don’t get your hopes up too high, or I’ll think you’re trying to get rid of me. Now, truly, I need to go or I’ll be late for work.”

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  DENVER, COLORADO – June, 1881

  CHAPTER 4

  ~o0o~

  Andrea rested her head against the window glass even though the bumping and swaying of the train taking them Denver made doing so uncomfortable. She had experienced unimaginable relief once she realized she and Cat had been able to escape Ellsworth without being found out by her father and dragged back home. During the trip, she said very little to Catherine who played with a half-grown gold and white tiger-striped kitten she had named Sunny and brought along. Catherine didn’t seem to mind the train ride. Full of excitement for her future, she chatted with whomever she could find to talk to that wasn’t put off by her bringing along a sometimes yowling pet in a wicker hamper.

  The entire train journey to Denver she had studied the scenery of increasingly dry grasslands as they followed the Smokey Hill River towards Denver. Andrea had half-expected to see her father ride up to the side of the train and demand the engineer stop the iron behemoth in order to pull her off and take her back home. However, it had not happened.

  Once they arrived at Denver, she, Catherine and Aurelia Northcliffe, a young woman they had learned was also a bride going to Jubilee Springs, were met by Lizett Millard. She soon realized there were four of them at the station. The matchmaker appeared to not be much older than she was. Andrea considered her a lovely, sophisticated woman. Her beautiful lilac dress and the white hat with a small plume perched on top of her chestnut hair gown was nicer than anything Andrea had ever owned. Her vibrant coloring and brown eyes spoke of liveliness. She was such a contrast to Andrea with her drab, mousy brown hair and gray eyes. She struck Andrea as being far too young to be widowed and forced to run a matrimonial business. Yet, Mrs. Millard seemed to enjoy her work.

  They all squeezed into a Hansom carriage for the ride to Lizett Millard’s home. A part of Andrea noticed the busy city of Denver so different from what she was used back on her father’s ranch and the small town where they went for supplies. She should have been in awe. Unfortunately, Andrea felt so drawn within herself, too conscious of her own misery. The closer they came to their destination, the more nervous she grew. Would Mrs. Millard see right through her and realize she was not the right kind of woman to be a bride for a man who had in good faith paid a substantial amount of money for a good wife?

  It was all Andrea could do to keep her jaw from dropping open when they turned into the drive and pulled behind the two story dove gray Victorian house with its white gingerbread trim. The place was a mansion. She wondered why Mrs. Millard needed to work if she had enough money to afford such an upscale house.

  Once inside, Andrea and Catherine were shown to a room with a double size bed on a beautiful wrought iron frame. She waved good-by to the other two women. Aurelia was shown to another room next to theirs. Andrea puzzled over the frown on her new friend’s face. Did she prefer to be cramped into a single room with her and Catherine? Or maybe she didn’t wish to give up being able to enjoy the kitten’s antics when it was awake.

  Mrs. Millard seemed to notice Aurelia’s reluctanc
e. “Come, dear. You will shortly have a roommate and another new bride you can also befriend. All of you ladies will become close friends and neighbors after this coming weekend. Isn’t that exciting?”

  Andrea wondered if she was the only one who heard Aurelia’s muttered response. “I don’t share a room with anyone.”

  Andrea dropped her eyes to her shoe tops and entered the room with Catherine, glad her friend was distracted with trailing a string for Sunny to chase along the dark red Persian rug next to the bed. Would they all be good neighbors for each other? Or, after her situation was found out, would she be sent away? Worse yet, even if she stayed, would she be shunned if any of the new brides found out about her and Lloyd McCreary? She didn’t dare tell anyone, not even Catherine.

  Soon the kitten tired. It hopped on the bed and curled in a ball next to the outside pillow. Catherine laughed as she gave her pet one last stroke across its head and down the tail to where it was tucked beneath paws. “I guess this is my side of the bed. You don’t mind, do you, Andrea? It will mean you sleep practically next to the wall.”

  Andrea smiled and shook her head. She didn’t mind at all. It was best Catherine stayed where she could take care of Sunny. Besides, it would give Andrea an opportunity to study the beautiful floral pattern on the wallpaper. Also, it placed her close to the window that looked out over the back yard and into the trees bordering the neighbor’s property. Hopefully, the scene would calm her.

  Aurelia poked her head into the room and announced. “Your turn, Cat. Lizett wants to see you in her office downstairs, and after you, she’ll see Andrea. It’s just down the stairs and to the right. She said to walk right in.”

  Andrea pulled a chair to the window while she waited for Catherine to return. As she gazed out the window, she felt at a loss. There had never been time back on the ranch for her to sit and do nothing. Seldom did she even indulge in embroidering the pillowcases and dishtowels, for her father insisted such activities were a waste of time. Now, sitting in the room and doing nothing while she waited for her turn, she considered pulling out some needlework to keep her busy.

  The sound of someone plopping their body on the edge of the bed caused Andrea to jerk her head towards the intruder.

  It was Aurelia. “Your turn for the inquisition next. I’m glad that’s over. I think in spite of all that graphology business she touts as a means to match up brides and grooms, she wants to get a feel for us as people by talking to us face to face.”

  Andrea had to stop herself from slumping her shoulders and pulling her arms close to her body. An inquisition? She could not bear up under too close of a scrutiny by anyone, especially a stranger. She studied Aurelia’s face. Based on the woman’s frown, it must have been awful.

  “You don’t talk much, do you?”

  Andrea looked down and shook her head. “No. I don’t get around people very often, and I can’t always tell if they’re teasing or being serious. My father doesn’t like to talk much, at least not with me.”

  “If you don’t see people often, what do you do?”

  Andrea shrugged. “Work. My father has a ranch. I’m the only one left at home to take care of the house and yard, plus I cook for his men. At least I used to.” Andrea grew self-conscious as Aurelia studied her.

  “That doesn’t sound like much fun. What did your father think about you leaving to get married?”

  Andrea could barely choke the words out. “He doesn’t know.” She cleared her throat. “I mean, I’m sure he realizes by now I’m gone, but I didn’t tell him I was leaving or where I was going. I had to get away. After Cat told me she was coming here to be a bride, I asked her to help me so I could come too.”

  Aurelia looked away and heaved a sigh. “So, you’re running away. I’m sure you aren’t the only woman who has run from something, and hoped running to a husband might be the answer.” She looked at Andrea, a calculating expression on her face. “Who did Lizett pair you with?”

  “I don’t know. I…I sent her a letter like Cat told me to, but I didn’t have time to exchange letters with any of the men.”

  “Oh. That’s too bad.” Aurelia shrugged, her tone void of concern. “If nothing else, Lizett said she doesn’t have enough brides for all ten men this weekend. I suppose that means you are bound to have several men to pick from, even if you haven’t written to any of them and started figuring out who you favor.”

  Andrea looked down without speaking. She wasn’t worried about finding a man she would be willing to marry. She was worried they would all take one look at her and tell Mrs. Millard they’d wait until she could find a better choice for them, especially if they guessed at the extra problems she might be carrying into the marriage….

  Aurelia interrupted her thoughts. “What are you wearing when you get married?” Aurelia eyed the work dress Andrea had worn on the train. Her calculating eye didn’t miss the faced color or the frayed cuffs. “Show me.”

  Shaken, Andrea shook her head. She had not considered what she would wear to get married in. “It’s…well, I don’t have anything special for the wedding. I guess I’ll wear my best dress I save for when I can get away to church. It’s just a plain gray linsey-woolsey dress. But I did fancy it up with a white collar and cuffs.”

  Aurelia raised an eyebrow and leaned away from Andrea. “Gray? You’re going to get married in a gray dress?”

  Andrea’s lips quivered and she answered defensively. “It’s the best I have. When I told my pa a year ago I needed a new dress, at first he didn’t want to put out the money for fabric. But, the gray was on sale, so he let me buy it. I felt lucky to have it.”

  “Does it have any lace on the bodice or the collar, or maybe some pearl buttons down the front?”

  Andrea looked down and shook her head. “Oh, no. Pa never would have let me waste money on something frivolous like that. I won’t be the prettiest bride there, but the gray is in better shape than my two work dresses, and that’s all I have. I just hope the man I end up with won’t be too disappointed.”

  Aurelia looked away, but not before Andrea noticed a smug smile on her face. “Well, that will never do.”

  Just then Catherine bounced into the room. “Hello, Aurelia.” She turned to Andrea. “Lizett is ready to see you now, Andrea.”

  Andrea wondered why everyone kept calling her Lizett instead of Mrs. Millard. Her father would have strung her up for being too familiar like that. She offered the two a weak smile as she returned the chair to where she had found it and left the room. The moment she had been dreading—one of the many moments she had been dreading—was now upon her. She would need to answer to Mrs. Lizett Millard. She would soon find out if the woman was going to let her continue on as a bride. If she said no, Andrea would end up on the street in a strange city with no money since she spent what little she had for food on the train.

  Andrea slowly descended the stairs and made her way to the office. She stood in the doorway, waiting for an invitation to enter. Her eyes zeroed in on the piles of paper scattered all over the desk surface. She had no idea running a matrimonial business created so much paperwork. Next she looked into Lizett’s face and realized the woman had been studying her.

  Andrea dropped her eyes in response to the woman’s scrutiny. She wondered if she measured up to the standard Mrs. Millard expected of her brides. If Mrs. Millard knew the full truth of Andrea’s situation, Andrea knew the woman would not consider her suitable. Yet, Andrea could not bring herself to confess. Besides feeling humiliated about what she had allowed to happen, she had to escape Lloyd McCreary and his plan to marry her.

  Andrea and Catherine had already met all the other brides also scheduled to go to Jubilee Springs. Andrea realized these women would be her neighbors in her new life. She needed to befriend them and get to know them. Hopefully, they would never know the truth about her.

  Her new life, assuming one of the men would choose her. She had listened as the women had talked and gossiped among themselves about the men they had
been writing to the past two months. Andrea hadn’t written to anyone. She had listened avidly as the others shared what they had learned about the men from whom they had received letters, because after they made their choices of who they wanted as husbands, Andrea would need to have an idea of those who were left who would be a good match for her.

  The more Andrea thought about it, the more depressed she grew. How selfish of her to wonder who would be a good match for her. The truth of the matter was, she would not be a good match for any of the men. Once they found out how Lloyd kept touching her, they would probably turn their backs on her. By rights, she should confess her failings before a man grew too interested to consider her for marriage. But, could she? She didn’t think she would have the courage to tell anyone, especially a strange man?

  Andrea’s nerves nearly caused her to collapse when Lizett motioned her into her office to speak privately. Andrea sat in the chair she had been directed to. Lizett sat behind her desk. The oversized piece of furniture nearly swallowed the short, rounded figure of the woman. Lizett laced her fingers together on top of the surface and leaned forward. “I read your letter, Miss Dalton. May I call you Andrea? I prefer first names, especially with my brides. Please call me Lizett.”

  Andrea offered a shaky smile and nodded. “Yes, please do.”

  Lizett straightened in her chair. “I just wanted to take a few moments to get to know you better since I only had the one letter from you. I want you to know how happy I am to have you join us. I’m just sorry we haven’t had more time to become better acquainted.”

  Andrea smiled but said nothing. She dreaded what might be coming next.

  Lizett began shuffling papers on her desk. “My practice is, I keep the letters the prospective grooms send to me for reference and hand-writing analysis. It’s the science of graphology. I recopy the letters and make as many copies as I need for the prospective brides I think would be good matches based on the handwriting of their letters. Since it is my belief most women are more apt to write about themselves a second time once they receive a missive from one or more potential grooms, I instruct them to respond to each letter that interests them based on the contents, once again sharing about themselves so the two can get to know each other better.”