BRIANNA: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Mail-Order Brides Club Book 4)

by Ashley Merrick

  “Did you save any room for dessert?” Paul asked as Billy cleared away their dinner plates and set down dessert menus.

  “Yes, I think I may have a piece of pie.” Normally, Brianna never had room for dessert. But her appetite had grown and she had a feeling the baby would like pie.

  Paul chuckled, and then said, “The pies are good here. But so are the cakes.” When Billy returned, Brianna ordered a slice of blueberry pie and Paul got the cake. By the time she finished her dessert, Brianna was pleasantly full and looking forward to the show at the opera house.

  It was just a short walk from Donovan’s pub to the opera house, and after eating so much, Brianna was happy to move around a bit.

  “I’ve only been here once before,” Paul said as they walked into the opera house. “It’s still a very new building. It was only built about five or so years ago, and has been very popular ever since. There’s always one show or another coming through.”

  Brianna looked around once they were inside. It was a very pretty building, with high ceilings and beautiful decorations. There was also a sense of excitement in the air. It was a feeling that she recognized whenever she had gone to see a show in Boston. They settled into their seats, just a few rows back from the stage, and a few minutes later the lights began to dim, indicating that the show was about to start.

  For the next hour, Brianna lost herself in the magic of the musical. It was a romantic comedy, a show that she had never seen before, but with a story that was universal and entertaining. At the intermission, they got up to stretch their legs and walk around a bit.

  Brianna was having a wonderful time. It was a lovely evening, and Paul was very good company. She supposed that it might seem that he was courting her, but the idea of anyone doing so seemed absurd. It was too soon, much too soon for her to even think that way. She considered Paul a friend, a very nice new friend and someone that she did enjoy spending time with. She also knew that probably wasn’t exactly what Paul had in mind. It wouldn’t be enough for him, but for the time being, it was all she was able to offer. When the lights flashed, they moved back to their seats for the second half of the show.

  * * *

  Paul wondered what was going through Brianna's mind. He thought that they were having a wonderful evening. He enjoyed her company immensely. She was easy to talk to and smart. He also found her beautiful. He loved her pale, blonde hair that she wore tied back from her face. Tiny, delicate curls escaped and framed her face, making her even prettier. He knew that moving here was difficult for her and a big adjustment. He couldn't imagine how hard it must've been for her to lose her husband so early in the marriage, and from what she said, in a manner that was most suspicious. It made him want to protect her even more. He didn't think that she would be in any danger here, as Montana was a very long way from Boston, but still he hoped to put her fears to rest.

  ***

  It was the most relaxing, wonderful evening that Brianna had had in many months. The ride home was a pleasant one. She and Paul spoke about the musical and what they liked about it.

  "How is it that you haven't married yet? I think you would make someone a wonderful husband," she said impulsively and then instantly wished she could take it back.

  Paul chuckled. "I don't know about that. I'd like to think so. There aren't many women in this area, and the ones I have met, I just haven't felt like they were the ones. It's not something that I focused a lot of energy on, to be honest. But suddenly, it seems as though time is slipping by."

  "Are you hoping to start a family?" Brianna asked. She wondered how he felt about children. She could imagine that he might make a good father.

  "I'd love to have a whole house of kids, someday. I've always felt that when I met the right person, everything would fall into place. I think I still believe that."

  "That's how I always felt, too. And I was lucky, I met Ted and we had a wonderful time together."

  "It's terrible what happened to your husband," Paul said softly. And after a moment of silence, he added, "But at least you will have something to remember him by."

  "I know, I agree. I'm excited for this baby. It will be like keeping a piece of Ted alive."

  They rode in silence for a while after that. Brianna was lost in thought, remembering Ted. As they turned into the drive that led to Colleen's house, he spoke again.

  "Did Colleen and David mention the barn-raising tomorrow? It should be a fun day, especially if you've never been to one before."

  "A barn raising? No, I don't think they mentioned that, but they may have and I just wasn't paying close attention."

  "I am pretty sure that David mentioned that they would be going, so I hope to see you there. I think you will enjoy it."

  "That sounds fun. Speaking of fun, thank you so much for tonight. I really had a wonderful time. It was such a treat."

  "It was my pleasure. I look forward to getting to know you better." Paul jumped out of the buggy then came around to Brianna’s side to help her out. He led her to the front door and then wished her goodnight before she stepped inside.

  * * *

  When Brianna closed the door behind her, she saw Colleen curled up on the sofa reading a book. She looked up and smiled. "Did you have fun?"

  Brianna walked over and joined Colleen on the sofa. "Yes, it was a really nice evening. I think Paul and I will be good friends."

  "Well, that's certainly a good place to start."

  "You know that it's much too soon for me to think about anything more than that."

  "Yes, of course it is. I'm just excited for you, and I really like Paul."

  "I do, too. He's easy to like. He mentioned something about a barn-raising tomorrow. Are we going to that?"

  "Yes, David mentioned it to me a week or so ago and I forgot all about it until this morning. We were talking about it over breakfast."

  "Right. I think I may have walked in on the end of that conversation. No wonder I thought I heard the term before. What actually happens at a barn-raising?"

  "It's a fascinating thing to watch. It's like a big party, but a productive one. Most all of the men in town gather to work together and build the barn. The work goes very quickly with so many hands, and then at the end of the day when it's finished, everyone celebrates with a big potluck dinner. All the women bring food, and there's music and dancing. It's a festive, fun time. I think you'll enjoy it."

  "That's what Paul said, too. I am looking forward to it. But right now, I think I'm ready for bed."

  Chapter Eight

  Morning came quickly, and Brianna woke well-rested and ready for the day ahead. The barn-raising was to begin at 8:00 a.m., and David had already gone to meet the other men when Brianna strolled into the kitchen. Colleen was busy making tea and slicing bread for toast.

  "We'll go over there after lunch, later this afternoon. There's no point in going earlier because there won't be much for us to do. I'm going to do some cooking this morning, to make a few things to bring over."

  "What are you making? I'm happy to help."

  "I can definitely use your help. I have a lot of potatoes to peel. I'm making potato salad and some corn muffins."

  "Will Emma and Julia be going?" Brianna asked.

  Colleen handed her a mug of hot tea and then a plate of toast with the jelly on the side.

  "Yes, Julia mentioned at the pub yesterday that they would be going. Liam had Mrs. Johnson made a big batch of pulled pork."

  "That sounds delicious."

  "And I'm sure that Emma and Emily are probably making something, too."

  * * *

  At around three thirty, Colleen and Brianna started to load the buggy with the food. It took about a half hour to make the drive to where the barn-raising was being held. There was a good crowd there when they arrived. More than sixty men were busy building the barn. Brianna was surprised to see that it looked almost finished. The men were split into groups, with each handling a different function. Some were sanding, some painting, and o
thers were on the roof, laying shingles.

  The women were busy setting up the food. It was a beautiful day, sunny and clear. They added their potato salad and corn muffins to the collection of food that was already overflowing on the table. There were children everywhere, running and playing, but at a good distance from where the men were working. Julia and Emma were already there, and as soon as they set their food down, Colleen and Brianna walked over to them.

  “Have you been to one of these before?” Brianna asked her friends. They all nodded yes.

  “It’s common here,” said Julia.

  “It’s amazing, how everyone gathers and works together.” Brianna was fascinated by how efficient it all seemed.

  “Everyone helps, so the work gets done faster. They all do it for each other,” Emma explained.

  “The best part is coming soon, when the men finish, and the festivities begin,” Colleen said.

  Sure enough, less than an hour later, the men were completely done and the barn was finished. They made their way toward the table and loaded up their plates with food. Once all the men had served themselves, the women and children lined up to fill their plates. There was plenty of food, all kinds of delicious looking things, from Mrs. Johnson’s barbecued pork to roast chicken, an assortment of sandwiches, baked casseroles with cheese and vegetables, potato salad, and much more.

  Once everyone was done with dinner and nibbling on desserts, several of the men went to their buggies and then returned with musical instruments and started to play. The music was lively and soon people were dancing. Brianna decided to indulge in a second piece of the decadent chocolate cake that Emma and Emily had made. There were a couple of women standing by the dessert table, deep in conversation. They didn’t notice Brianna, but she recognized them from earlier when Colleen had introduced them. They were both about her age. Betty Sue was recently married, and Mabel still lived at home. Brianna remembered from Colleen’s letters that Mabel had been a bit of a gossip and had also once hoped to marry David. She knew that Colleen was not overly fond of Mabel.

  “Rumor is that she’s expecting. They say she’s a widow, but one never really does know the truth about these things,” Mabel said.

  Brianna froze in the middle of slicing the cake as she realized that they were talking about her.

  “I wonder how long she’s planning to stay with them,” Betty Sue said and then added, “They are newlyweds, and I know I certainly wouldn’t welcome another person in the house for long.”

  Mabel snickered and then said, “I know. If I was newly married to David, I would want him all to myself. That much I know.”

  They changed the subject after that, and Brianna scurried away with a piece of cake that she no longer had an appetite for.

  She felt terrible. Colleen had told her that she could stay as long as she liked, but Betty Sue was right. Colleen and David were newlyweds, and the last thing they needed was another person in the way.

  * * *

  When she returned to where Julia and Colleen were sitting, Colleen took one look at her face and asked, "What's wrong?"

  Brianna forced a smile. "Nothing. I just realized now that I took this piece of chocolate cake that I'm really not that hungry after all."

  "Well, pass it over here. I'll help you get rid of it," Colleen said.

  Julia reached for her fork. "I will, too. Emma's cake is the best."

  "Emily did most of it," Emma said. "She's becoming quite the little baker."

  Brianna smiled at that. "She's a sweet girl. She really seems to love you."

  "I know, I'm lucky," Emma agreed.

  After they finished sharing the piece of cake, David and Paul walked over and asked if they wanted to dance. Ethan and Liam were right behind them, and within minutes they were all dancing to the music. It was a lively beat and they danced for several songs before the music slowed. Paul pulled her closer to him and they swayed to the soothing melody. When the song ended, he took her hand.

  "Can we go for a walk?" he asked. "I'd like to talk to you."

  "Of course," she said happily as she followed him away from the crowd. He led her a short ways away to the bank of a small pond. There were several large rocks there, which had flat surfaces perfect for seating. Once they were comfortably situated, Paul took her hand again and had a serious expression.

  "I have a proposal to make. I want you to know my intentions. I would like to marry you. We’ve only just recently met, so it wouldn't be truthful for me to say that I'm in love with you, and I don't think you would respect me if I did say that. But, I think that I could fall in love with you. I like and admire everything about you that I've learned so far, and I have to admit, the moment I saw you I felt a stronger attraction than I’ve felt for any other woman. I would marry you tomorrow, if you would have me.” He hesitated for a moment, and then continued. “But, I know the timing may not be quite right for you, given your situation."

  Brianna was shocked. And it must have shown on her face, because Paul quickly added, "I also want you to know that if you would consider marrying me, we could take things very slowly. You could have all the time that you need. We could live as friends, good friends, until you decide that you want that to change. I know this must be coming as a shock to you, and I don't expect an answer today. But I felt very strongly that I needed to tell you how I am feeling."

  Brianna felt a mixture of dismay and delight. She had expected that she would probably stay with Colleen for at least several months before eventually deciding to marry. But, she realized that was selfish of her and that there was only one right and proper thing to do. She didn't need to think about it. It was quite obvious what her answer must be. She took a deep breath.

  "I will marry you. I appreciate the offer, especially your willingness for us to take things slowly. I can't truthfully promise you that I will ever love you as I once loved my husband, but I can promise you that I will make you a good wife."

  Paul looked disbelieving and then delighted. "That's all I could hope for. And you've made me the happiest man alive today. How soon would you like to marry?"

  Brianna thought about that. Now that she had decided that she would marry, she thought it best to do it as soon as possible, so that Colleen could have her house back to herself again.

  "Perhaps in two weeks?

  ***

  "Are you sure about this?" Colleen asked her softly when the others went back out to the dance floor and Paul had gone off in search of dessert. She had looked more worried than excited when Brianna and Paul came back to the group and shared their good news.

  "Yes, I'm sure. Paul is a good man. He is easy to be around and I think he will make a good husband."

  "Paul is great. But do you already know that you love him?"

  "I don't think that I really have the luxury of waiting to fall in love. The clock is ticking." She hesitated and then added, "And I'm sure you would love to have your house back to yourself."

  "Don't be silly. You're welcome to stay as long as you like, I told you that. I mean it." Colleen seemed sincere, but Brianna still couldn't help thinking about what those two women had said and she agreed with them. It wasn't right for her to stay longer at Colleen’s when she had the opportunity to marry.

  "I have made up my mind. I am going to marry Paul."

  * * *

  The dancing continued, and everyone was in a celebratory mood. Most of the students from Brianna's class were there, running around and playing in the grass. Millie and Peter were among the liveliest, and were playing ball with a large group of children. Peter threw the ball at one point, and his aim was a bit off as it hit a man on the sidelines square in the head. That man was not at all happy about the situation.

  "Who did this?" he screamed.

  Peter immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, Father. I didn't mean to."

  His father went from being upset to enraged. "Come here, now."

  Peter hesitated, and then walked over to where his father stood. As soon
as he was within reach, his father lifted his arm and then swung, hitting his son on the side of his head with all his might. Peter fell to his knees, and his father hit him a second time for good measure.

  "You're lucky we're not home, or you'd be getting the belt, too. It's time to go. Get your sister."

  Brianna and Paul watched the scene with horror, as Peter struggled to his feet and his sister ran to his side and helped him up. The crowd was mostly silent as the small family walked away, got into their buggy and drove off.

  "Those poor children. Isn't there anything that we can do?" Brianna asked.

  "Unfortunately, no," Paul said and didn't look at all happy about it. "He is their father, and has the right to discipline them as he sees fit."

  "I was warned about the two of them when I started at the school. Now I understand better why they may be difficult at times, given what they have to deal with at home." She told Paul about the fight Peter had gotten into that week and why.

  "It's gotten much worse since his wife died, from what I understand. She has been gone for five years now, and he gets mean when he drinks. He was drinking tonight with the men, and from what I gather, it's a rare day that he doesn't drink too much."

  Brianna's heart went out to those two children. Now that they’d lost their mother, who would protect them?

  Chapter Nine

  The next two weeks passed quickly. Colleen insisted on making Brianna a wedding dress.

  "Just something simple. It doesn't have to be elaborate or fancy. But you should have a new dress for your wedding. That will be my gift to you."