Martha (The Marriage Market Book 5)

by Stevie MacFarlane

  “No, it has not,” Jane admitted. “You’ve only kissed me a few times, and while they were lovely, there was not much passion in them.”

  “Perhaps that is because I am a man and not a randy boy,” he shouted. “I will not start something I cannot finish. It’s called self-control. Possibly you’ve heard of it?” he demanded, stalking closer to her.

  Jane backed up a step.

  “I have,” she agreed, twisting her hands in her skirt.

  “It might also interest you to know that, as a doctor, I am aware you are still young enough to have a child. Would you like one?” he asked harshly.

  “I haven’t really thought about having more children,” she said quietly.

  “Well, had I been the kind of man you apparently want, you could be having one whether you ‘thought’ about it or not!”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  Thomas ignored her apology and moved closer.

  “So, you want to be kissed, do you, and with passion? Well, that can be arranged, after we take care of a few other issues. Go to the kitchen, Jane. It will offer a modicum of privacy, but not much,” he said, shaking his head. “Then we will figure out what to do about the children. I pray they arrive safely.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t discuss my plans with you, Thomas,” she said, quickly backing up.

  “So am I, but I am most saddened by your lack of faith in me. The kitchen, Jane, now!” he ordered, pointing at the door.

  Jane gave one last embarrassed glance at the occupants of the parlor and sailed through the door.

  For a moment, there were three blushing women and two men trying to hide their grins in the parlor. Ethan broke the silence

  “What did she do?” he asked.

  “She sent back east for her two children,” Martha replied.

  “What is so wrong with that?” Lucas asked.

  Clara answered. “I think he’s mad because she didn’t accept his help. He’d offered to pay their passage and arrange everything several times, but Jane’s pride wouldn’t let her accept unless they were married or at least engaged.”

  “Jane couldn’t find anyone she knew to escort them, so she put an advertisement in a newspaper and corresponded with a woman who agreed to make the journey. I understand Dr. Martin’s concern,” Martha said, continuing the story. “I’ve been uneasy about it myself and they should have been here a week ago. I guess she finally had to tell him. She’ll need to report them missing.”

  “No wonder he’s angry,” Lucas growled. “She’s put her children at great risk.”

  “Jane is a smart and level-headed woman,” Clara shot back, defending her friend. “I’m sure she missed them terribly, and if he was to slow to make his intentions known, what was she to do, pine for her children for another six months?”

  “You have a point, little woman,” Lucas replied gently. “Aren’t you glad I made my intentions known so quickly?” he asked with a smile as he picked up her hand and kissed it.

  “Oh shut up.”

  “What intentions?” Martha and Mary demanded in unison.

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” Clara snapped, yanking her hand away. “He asked me to marry him, that’s all.”

  “And she said yes,” Lucas added with a laugh.

  “I did not! Why are you such a liar? Didn’t your parents teach you anything?”

  “As a matter of fact, they taught me a great deal. They taught me to set a goal and not to rest until I’ve achieved it. You, little woman, are my goal,” he teased, pulling her from her chair and onto his lap. “Oh look, you’ve been compromised,” he cried. “Now you’ll have to marry me.”

  “Well, congratulations, I guess,” Mary said.

  “Thank you,” Lucas replied.

  “No, I’m not marrying him,” Clara insisted, freezing when she heard strange noises coming from the kitchen.

  It was the sound of flesh striking flesh, followed by smothered wails. The women looked at each other, all of them aware of what was happening.

  “Ethan, go and stop him,” Martha pleaded.

  “It is not our concern. I would think you of all people should know that what is between a man and his woman is private.”

  “This is hardly private,” Clara protested. “Lucas, you go.”

  “Not me, I’m trying to learn something,” he answered with a smile. “You never know what will come in handy.”

  “Oh for heaven’s sake, I’ll go myself,” she snapped, rising from his lap.

  Instantly he pulled her back down.

  “No you will not,” he stated calmly and firmly, without a touch of a smile. “Stay out of it, Clara. I mean it.”

  Clara looked at him strangely. It was the first time she saw him completely serious and his words caused a flutter in her tummy. Thankfully the stalemate was broken by the sound of shattering pottery coming from the study and they all turned their attention to that.

  “Don’t you dare touch me,” Ellie screamed as she flung open the study door and made a mad dash for freedom. She might have gotten away had she not skidded to a stop staring at the shocked faces in the parlor.

  “Oh shit,” she yelled.

  “Watch your language, young lady,” Clayton Ferguson ordered as he grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder. “No wife of mine will…” the slamming of the door cut him off. Even though he was a man with a much more robust voice, it did not carry through the heavy wood. No, all they could hear were Ellie’s screeches which in a short time turned to pleas for mercy.

  “Oh my,” Mary said, daintily wiping the sweat from her brow with a lace trimmed handkerchief. “It’s much later than I thought. I think it’s time I retired to my room. Good night.”

  “I agree,” Martha said rising. “Ethan, I’ll see you to the door.”

  Ethan rose and followed her, taking his slicker from a hook.

  “Come on, Lucas,” Clara sighed, rising and pulling him from the chair. “The evening’s instruction is over,” she insisted as she steered him to the door.

  Taking her shawl from the stand by the door, Martha tossed it over her shoulders and Ethan pulled it close. She walked with him onto the porch where she turned her face up for his kiss.

  A moment later Lucas came out rubbing his cheek and smiling ruefully.

  “Good night, Miss Martha. I hope there are no hard feelings about this afternoon.”

  “I’m sure I’ll forgive you, in time,” she retorted with a small smile.

  “I’ll look forward to that,” he countered with a slight bow. “Will you tell Clara I’ll pick her up tomorrow at seven for dinner?”

  “I’ll tell her. Good night, Ethan. When will I see you again?”

  “Tomorrow after work we will go and talk to the priest. After that, perhaps we can join Lucas and Clara for dinner at mama’s restaurant.”

  “I’d like that,” she replied as she stood on the stoop.

  “Go inside now and lock the door,” he said, nodding his blonde head at the door.

  She smiled. They almost never locked the door, but on this night, for this man, she would. Closing it behind her, she turned the key, moved to the window and watched as he and Lucas walked down the drive.

  Upstairs she got ready for bed and brushed her hair before tiptoeing to Clara’s room and knocking softly on the door. Clara opened it and quietly closed it once Martha entered the room.

  “Are you all right?” Martha asked. “He didn’t… you know?”

  “No, I’m fine, but I swear, he’s the most annoying man. Imagine him saying I was going to marry him,” Clara said with a laugh as she got on her knees on her bed.

  “Are you?”

  “Of course not,” she replied, looking away. “Martha, he’s been listening at the wall for weeks. I can’t even imagine everything he’s heard. It’s positively scandalous.”

  “I know.”

  “And besides, he has a strange fascination with the idea of a man spanking a woman. You should have seen how much effort h
e put into trying to listen to you and Ethan.”

  “Could you hear everything?” Martha asked, biting her lip.

  “No, I gave him such a hard time and it was all he could do to hear himself speak after I boxed his ears,” she said with a giggle.

  “You didn’t,” Martha gasped.

  “I certainly did, and I bit him too. It was great fun,” Clara insisted.

  “Oh Clara, I can’t believe he didn’t spank you after all that,” Martha said.

  “He threatened too, but he didn’t, thank goodness. He did kiss me though, quite thoroughly,” she admitted with a blush. “As much as it galls me to admit it, it was kind of nice.”

  “Oh dear, he didn’t take further liberties did he?”

  “No, I think he might have, but I let a couple of tears fall and started blathering on and on about how he’d ruined me and no man would want me now. You should have seen him; it was all I could do not to laugh. As if I would let a gossiping tongue influence who I would marry. Anyway, that’s why he proposed to me. I guess it was kind of sweet now that I think about it. Imagine the owner of The Bucket of Blood being worried about my reputation.”

  “Well,” Martha said, sitting down on the side of the bed. “I guess our temperance movement is over. They’ll never let us continue now that they know everything. I hope Effie, Grace and Tempest are all right. I don’t worry so much about Amelia, she’s with child and Charlotte, well I know she can take care of herself.”

  “I’m sure they’re fine, but the movement is not over, at least as far as I’m concerned. I intend to continue. I understand why you won’t be able to help, but I’m not married and I’m certainly not going to let a bunch of other women’s husbands dictate what I do.”

  “Oh Clara, I don’t know how wise that is,” Martha sighed.

  “It may not be wise, but it’s the right thing to do, I know it is,” she answered yawning.

  “I’ll let you get some sleep,” Martha said rising. “I heard Jane and Ellie come up a few minutes ago, so things should quiet down now. Oh, Lucas asked me to tell you he’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night for dinner. Ethan and I thought we’d join you at his mother’s restaurant.”

  “The overbearing man didn’t even ask me; he merely tells you to tell me. What nerve!”

  “Well, if you don’t want to go, I’ll tell him you have other plans for the evening.”

  “No, I guess it will be all right as long as you and Ethan are along. I’ll go.”

  “Good, now I need to get some sleep.”

  “Martha, was it horrible?” Clara asked softly.

  They both knew what she was asking about and Martha hesitated for a moment before answering.

  “No, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I imagined, although I’m not sure I would have said that at the time,” she admitted with a wry grin. “Mostly he hurt my pride.”

  “So he didn’t really mean it; he was just trying to save face in front of Lucas and the others,” Clara said with relief in her voice.

  “Oh, no, he meant it and I won’t sit easy for a few days, but he wasn’t mean or vicious about it, and he wasn’t trying to hurt me in any significant way. In fact, I’d have to say he was trying not to hurt me, if that makes sense.”

  “Then why do it at all?” Clara asked, confused.

  “To make a point and establish his husbandly authority over me is my guess. Ethan is a man, and he needs to know I see him as one. He wants to know he will be the head of our household and that I’ll respect him. Everyone has a boss of one sort or another, Clara, whether you are working, or it’s a customer, or your parents, there is always someone you must answer to at some point. Ethan wanted me to understand he sees that as his role and when he asks me not to do something, something he feels is wrong or dangerous, I will listen to him, or pay the price over his knees.”

  “That sounds barbaric to me,” Clara admitted. “Even though I know most men feel their wives are like children and must be supervised, I still don’t like it. I’m surprised you still agreed to marry him.”

  “Truthfully, I’m glad he spanked me, happy it’s over. It was much worse in my mind than it truly was in reality. I think I’m sort of settled about it now that I know what to expect and maybe a little relieved,” she continued with a slight grin.

  “How can you be relieved?”

  “Relieved that Ethan is the man I always thought he was, relieved that I know he will put me and my safety first. Oh, I don’t know how to explain it, but I’m sort of proud of him.”

  “Martha, you do need to get some sleep,” Clara sighed, flopping back on her bed. “You’re not making much sense and seem like a completely different woman from the one who was helping me with banners this afternoon. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Good night, Clara,” Martha said with a smile as she let herself out of the room.

  Chapter 10

  It was a very subdued group of women who met around the dining room table the next morning. Effie, Grace and Amelia arrived with Tempest. Charlotte rode over on her horse and even Molly rode down from the camps.

  Jane and Ellie were a bit red around the eyes and Martha was thankful she hadn’t received what they obviously had from their men, although she suspected a good deal of Jane’s crying last night had been because she was worried about her children. On the other hand, if the sounds coming from the kitchen were any indication, Dr. Martin had not gone easy on her and he was a good sized man.

  Martha offered to help Jane with the tea, but she was politely refused. Apparently, Jane would prefer to stand.

  “So,” Tempest said, rapidly stirring her tea. “It is my understanding that all hell broke loose last night, est-ce vrai?”

  “Oui, Ma Ma,” Amelia replied. “Even Hugh was outraged and he almost never raises his voice to me.”

  “Yes, and Sam was beside himself,” Effie added. “Even this pillow is not enough,” she sighed, indicating the thick cushion she was sitting on. “Your son, Madam, is a complete brute!”

  “Oui, ma petit, but you knew this when you married him, vous n’avez pas?” Tempest asked.

  “I did,” Effie admitted, blushing. “It is a good thing his attributes compensate for his flaws.”

  Tempest laughed.

  “And you, ma petit Charlotte. Did you weather the storm well? If Cole was overly harsh with you, I will no longer feed him when he comes to call.”

  “Cole warned me not to get involved in any more temperance activities and let it go at that. He spent most of the night with Dr. Martin and Jonah trying to decide what to do about Jane’s children. Oh, Jane,” she continued, “I’m so sorry. I had no idea what was going on or that you’d sent for them. Cole tells me they should have been here a week ago.

  “When Thomas stopped at our house he was absolutely irate. I was relieved when they decided to go and talk with Jonah.”

  “And that is what saved me,” Grace inserted. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to receive company before. Jonah was just getting started on the grandfather of all lectures, and I knew where it was heading. When Dr. Martin and Marshal Hadley arrived, they all disappeared into Hugh’s office. I could hear Effie and Sam going at it and decided it would be an excellent time for me to go to bed. I was asleep when Jonah came upstairs. Thankfully he didn’t wake me and he was gone before dawn this morning. I hope his temper has cooled by the time he returns.”

  “Jane, what can we do to help you?” Molly asked, rising. Jane stood by the sideboard and Molly put a hand on her shoulder in sympathy. “You’ve been so good to all of us, there must be something,” the small red-head said with a sigh.

  “There’s nothing,” Jane replied, a tear slipping down her pale cheek that was soon followed by another and another. “I’ve made a terrible mistake. At least the children were safe back east, even though we missed each other dreadfully. Now they are in the hands of a stranger, one I only know through a few letters and a telegram. They could be anywhere.

  “If
something happened to delay them, she should have wired me, but she didn’t. I suppose it’s possible something has happened to her and the children are alone, but that scares me almost as much. While Toby knows enough to go to the authorities, Caroline is much too young, and if they became separated, well, I…” Breaking into sobs, Jane sagged against the buffet, her teacup falling from her trembling hands. Tempest and Martha sprang up and helped her to a chair. Putting her arms on the table, Jane buried her head in them as pitiful cries wracked her body.

  “Mon Dieu, we must do something to recover the bebes,” Tempest insisted as she gently patted Jane’s back.

  “But what?” Grace asked.

  “We must offer a reward,” Amelia chimed in, “a big one, in return for the children’s safe return. Have you a recent picture, Jane?”

  “Yes, yes I do,” Jane said, lifting her head for the first time and brushing at her tears. “My friend sent it to me only two months ago. It was taken this year.”

  “We could have someone take it to San Francisco and put it in all the papers. Perhaps Dalton and Suzanna are still there.”

  “They are,” Effie added. “She said she would send me a telegram when they left for Georgia and I haven’t received one, so I know they are still there. I’m sure Dalton has connections all over the country; he’ll be able to help. Don’t worry, Jane. Between Jonah’s contacts with the Pinkertons, Dalton’s business connections, and the money Amelia and I will get out of Sam and Hugh, someone will come forward with information.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t take money from the Jordons,” Jane gasped.

  “Oui, you can and you will,” Tempest asserted. “After all, I did not go to France this year, so Duncan has saved much money. He will give some up. Find the photograph, Jane, and we will send someone to San Francisco toot suite on the next tide.”

  “Thank you,” she said grasping Tempest’s hand. “I’ll get it right away. It may not do any good, but at least there’s a chance someone has seen them.” Hurrying from the room, Jane wiped her face with her apron.