Martha (The Marriage Market Book 5)

by Stevie MacFarlane

  “Perhaps. She did say she thought Lucas was attractive, but she detests his highhanded ways. I didn’t know what to do. I went to the marshal, but he was no help at all. In fact, he said she deserved what she got and if the situation were reversed and it was a man who compromised a woman, he’d be forced to marry her.”

  “He would feel that way,” Effie said, nodding. “Especially after nearly being forced to marry Suzanna.”

  “Speaking of Suzanna,” Amelia said, “has anyone heard from her and Dalton?”

  “Yes,” Effie said smiling. “I got a telegram and they are returning to Seattle very soon. I didn’t mention it because I think they missed the courier with Jane’s message and I didn’t want to worry her any more than was necessary. Sam was taking care of it, but now that Jane’s heard from the children’s traveling companion, I don’t see why I need to keep it a secret.”

  “What happened to their wedding trip to Georgia?” Amelia asked.

  “From what I understand, it’s been canceled. Suzanna said she’d explain everything when she arrives.”

  “I know,” Grace whispered softly.

  “You know what?”

  “I know why she’s not going to Georgia.”

  “How could you possibly know?” Effie demanded, eying her friend.

  “I ran across some papers on Jonah’s desk and read them,” Grace said proudly.

  “And you didn’t get caught?” Effie asked in stunned surprise.

  “No, I was very careful to put them back exactly as I found them.”

  “Oh,” Effie said with a laugh, “I’m so proud of you. To Grace,” she continued, raising her glass.

  The others giggled and joined in.

  “Now, tell us what you know.”

  Slowly and quietly Grace revealed all she’d learned going through Jonah’s papers. She told them about Suzanna’s childhood in Georgia, her mother’s questionable mental stability, her father’s untimely suicide and the fire that claimed her grandmother’s life.

  Some of it Effie already knew. She and Suzanna were very close, and during their near death experience, Suzanna revealed many private things about her life. However, she did not know Suzanna’s mother was suspected of setting the fire that killed her grandmother. No wonder Dalton would not take her to Georgia; the danger was too great. Effie was extremely grateful Suzanna would soon be back in Seattle where she would be safe, and heaved a sigh of relief.

  That sigh was quickly replaced by a rush of cold, heart-stopping fear as Grace continued.

  “Jonah got another packet of correspondence a few days ago,” she informed them in a whisper. “I thought I’d lose my mind before he went with Sam to check on something up the mountain. When I read it, I nearly vomited. It seems the authorities in Georgia are very concerned about Suzanna’s safety.

  “Suzanna’s mother is now considered a suspect in not only her mother-in-law’s death, but her husband’s and parents’ as well. There are people who never believed Mr. Jeffries took his own life, and his mother was one of those people. She’d been encouraging the authorities to look closely at Marguerite Jeffries’ story regarding her activities that day. Some even think she murdered her own parents to gain control of her inheritance.

  “The letters warned Jonah that Suzanna’s mother might be heading in this direction as she knows her daughter came to this area of the country to wed a rich man.”

  “What did you say her name was?” Jane asked weakly.

  “The same as Suzanna’s, Jeffries,” Effie replied, watching the color slowly drain from Jane’s face.

  “No, her first name?” Jane demanded.

  “Marguerite. Why?”

  Jane got up and pulled a letter from her reticule. With shaking hands, she passed it to Effie.

  It was signed Marguerite Judson, the handwriting bold and written with a distinctive flourish. Her reasons for answering Jane’s advertisement clearly stated she was making arrangements to travel to the Northwest Territory to visit her daughter.

  “Oh my God, do you think they could be the same person?” she gasped, sinking onto a chair. “I had no idea about any of this. Never knew Suzanna’s story or why she decided to become a mail order bride. Heavens, is it possible my children have been in the company of a murderess all this time? Oh, Lordy, what have I done?” she cried, before collapsing at the table.

  The women rushed to catch her and laid her carefully on the floor. Jane had fainted and Grace looked for smelling salts as Effie got a cold rag for Jane’s neck.

  “Wife,” Thomas Martin bellowed from the parlor. “Enough visiting. I’ve come to take you home.”

  “Dr. Martin,” Martha screamed, rushing through the door. “Come quickly, it’s Jane.”

  It took Thomas a while to get the full story with everyone talking at once. Grace was terribly upset; worrying that by revealing the details of Jonah’s private correspondence, she had not only caused grave injury to Jane, but likely sealed her own fate with her husband and possibly compromised the investigation into Suzanna’s mother.

  When Jane came around, he’d already moved her to the couch and raised her feet. She was crying pitifully as he patted her hand.

  “Now, now, Jane, you must stop this. We’ll get to the bottom of things soon enough. From what I understand Suzanna and Dalton will return soon and she’ll surely be able to identify her mother’s handwriting, if it is her mother. Until then you’re worrying for nothing. We’ve already heard the children will be here presently. It may all be a silly coincidence, brought on by a little too much celebrating and a few very active imaginations,” he finished with a scowl at the others.

  “Once you get a little more color in your cheeks I shall take you home. A little bit of soup and it’s to bed with you for the rest of the day, and I don’t want to hear another word about it,” he finished when she opened her mouth to complain.

  “This is what happens when you mix a group of chatterboxes with alcohol,” he said, shaking his head. “Grace, I don’t imagine Jonah will be too pleased when he hears of this,” he scolded.

  “No, he won’t,” Grace admitted.

  “Are you going to tell him, or shall I?”

  “I’ll tell him,” Grace said, twisting her handkerchief in her hands. “Are you sure Jane is going to be all right?”

  “She’ll be right as rain after she gets a little rest. Once the children arrive, all will be well, but I don’t think any more should be said about this, especially outside this room. Jonah may have things in place you know nothing off and this sort of thing, if it gets out, could cause a lot of damage. Someone’s life could even be at risk,” he insisted. “Now I want assurances from all of you that you won’t discuss this with anyone else,” he demanded firmly.

  “Except for you, Grace. You must tell Jonah as soon as you get home.”

  “I will, Dr. Martin,” she said, sniffling.

  “Good, now go and make Jane some sweet tea and dump the rest of that wine. My goodness, when did women start to drink for every occasion?” he asked no one in particular as he checked his wife’s pulse.

  They all scurried to the kitchen and quickly set up a tea tray, nearly knocking each other over in the process.

  “Jonah’s going to kill me,” Grace sobbed.

  “No, he’s not,” Effie replied putting the kettle on. “But I expect you won’t be sitting comfortably for a few days,” she continued sadly. “If I could take your place, I would, but there’s no way Jonah could be as hard on you as Sam would be with me. Simply tell him clearly and calmly what happened. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

  “Effie, don’t you think we’ve been friends long enough that I can tell when you’re lying through your teeth,” Grace snapped.

  “I’m only trying to help.”

  “Well don’t. I got myself into this with my big mouth and I’ll deal with the consequences!”

  “Well, pardon me,” Effie sniffed.

  “Please don’t fight,” Amelia pleaded. “Haven�
�t we had enough shocks for one day? I’m going home to lie down before Hugh decides to check on me. As it is, his list of my misdeeds is growing longer by the second.”

  “I’ll ride with you,” Grace said, wiping her hands on a towel. “Effie, are you coming?”

  “No, I’ll walk home later. I want to talk to Martha when things quiet down. You two go on, I’ll be along.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re planning something?” Amelia asked, picking up her wrap.

  “Probably because we’ve been best friends for so long, but don’t worry, I won’t involve you. Unless you want me too, of course,” she added with a grin.

  Amelia laughed and Grace finally smiled.

  “Since when do we not support each other in every way? If it’s a good plan, you can count on me.”

  “Where the hell is that tea?” Dr. Martin bellowed.

  “Oops, talk to you later,” Effie said as Martha picked up the tray and headed toward the door. “Going out the back?”

  “Yes, seems safer,” Amelia said, shooing Grace out before her.

  Chapter 15

  As soon as Dr. Martin settled Jane in his rig and tucked the carriage blanket around her, Effie and Martha returned to the house.

  “Can you believe this day?” Martha asked, collapsing onto the sofa. “It’s been a nightmare.”

  “That’s why I stayed,” Effie replied as she curled up on the opposite end. “Do we need to go rescue Clara? I’m not opposed to getting involved.”

  “I’m not sure she wants to be rescued,” Martha said thoughtfully. “At first I was convinced the marriage was totally against her will. I suggested having her examined by Dr. Martin to see if Mr. Armstrong was telling the truth.”

  “That seems reasonable,” Effie nodded in agreement. “A man of medicine should be able to tell if she’s um… intact,” she continued. “Of course her reputation would still be ruined simply by spending the night with Armstrong, even if nothing happened. Perhaps that’s why she went along with the wedding. It would be embarrassing, but worth it if the scoundrel was simply trying to manipulate her.”

  “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter now. She’s married him and there’s nothing that can be done. If he did lie, she’ll know soon enough I suspect.”

  “Yes, she will and it will be that very act that seals her fate. It all seems pretty contrived to me. He gives her more wine than she can handle. Instead of taking her somewhere proper to be looked after, he takes her to his saloon where he informs her the next morning that he’s had his way with her. Yet she has no memory of it. These are not the actions of an honorable man, in my opinion.”

  “I agree, but he does seem to genuinely care for her, and I never could picture her married to anyone. She really didn’t seem very interested in matrimony in general. I often wondered why she answered Hugh’s advertisement at all.” Martha rose and began to slowly wander the room.

  “Perhaps she had her own reasons for leaving Maryland,” Effie suggested. “We really only know what others are willing to share, and even then we have no idea how truthful they are being. Look at the horrible things Suzanna hid about her past,” she said sadly. “Had we not found ourselves near death she would never have divulged her secrets and we wouldn’t have understood the demons that haunted her or what made her so nasty. Thank goodness we now accept and love her for who she is and not the image she presented to us.”

  “Do you think Clara has secrets, reasons for agreeing so readily to Armstrong’s proposal?”

  “I don’t know, we may never know, but I do think it was somewhat underhanded the way Armstrong trapped her so neatly,” Effie replied. “He really shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it. I must confess I have the urge to get even with him in some way,” she said.

  Martha looked at her and a small smile tilted her lips.

  “Me too,” she agreed. “Are you hatching a plan, Effie?” she asked with a grin.

  Effie ignored her question.

  “Tell me, are they going away on a honeymoon? Did either of them mention a trip?” she asked thoughtfully.

  “Not today, but I do know Lucas is leaving for Texas soon. His brother is getting married. I imagine he will insist Clara accompany him.”

  “And he was afraid to go off and leave The Bucket of Blood unattended,” Effie surmised. “That’s why he was in such a hurry to marry Clara,” she declared, rising suddenly. “He knew she was going to do everything possible to shut him down. If he married her, she’d be out of the way, off to Texas with him and no harm would come to his little gold mine. What a scoundrel!”

  “Effie,” Martha gasped. “Do you really think that was his plan all along? What if he doesn’t love her or have any tender feelings for her whatsoever? She’ll be miserable her entire life. Oh dear, what should we do?” Martha asked.

  “There isn’t much we can do to prevent him from taking her to Texas,” Effie snapped, “but I’m sure we can arrange a little surprise for Mr. Armstrong’s return to Seattle,” she stated firmly. “Yes, there is definitely something we can do about that, and it will benefit you as well, Martha.”

  “What is it?”

  “Let me talk to the others first and see who is willing to help,” Effie said, pulling on her gloves. “I’m sure we can count on Tempest. Grace will help but we’ll need some of the others too, especially Charlotte.”

  “I haven’t seen Charlotte in days,” Martha said dejectedly. “Ever since her husband got wind of the Ladies Aide Society, she’s been strangely absent.”

  “Perhaps you should ride over and check on her.”

  “Yes, I will, but not until tomorrow. I still need to make another trip into town and take Clara some of her things before nightfall.”

  “Then you’d best hurry along,” Effie said, looking at the clock. “I’ll give this some more thought and you find out all you can from Clara. See when they will be leaving for Texas and how long they’ll be gone. It’s imperative that he closes the saloon while they are away, so do what you can to steer them in that direction. If he cares for Clara at all, she might be able to influence him. At least let’s hope so.”

  “Effie, what are you planning?” Martha asked, nearly breathless.

  “Let’s just say I think The Bucket of Blood needs a bit of renovation,” she said with a wink.

  “Oh my.”

  “I’ll go by the homestead on my way home and speak with Tempest. Tonight, I’ll find a few minutes alone with Amelia and Grace. You find out what you can and I’ll be back in the morning. We can go and see Charlotte together.”

  “All right. I’ll hurry and pack a few things for Clara now.”

  “Will you be all right here alone?” Effie asked as though suddenly realizing Martha was now the only bride in the house. “Would you like to come home with me? I’m sure Amelia and Hugh won’t mind.”

  “No, I’ll be fine. Ethan is supposed to come calling tonight and I’ll lock everything up tight before he leaves. I imagine no one will think it’s improper since we’ll be married in a few days.”

  “I should hope not,” Effie said staunchly as she pulled on her coat. “Ethan is such a gentleman, not like that scoundrel I married,” she sighed, shaking her head. “Sam couldn’t behave for a moment given the same circumstances, but Ethan can be trusted. I’m sure no one will mention it, even if they do hear of it. Don’t you worry, and if you change your mind about staying alone, have him bring you over,” Effie insisted, bussing Martha’s cheek before sailing out the front door.

  Martha hurried upstairs and pulled a valise from Clara’s closet. She selected Clara’s prettiest nightdresses and underthings and gently placed them inside. Adding two very nice dresses, some petticoats and stockings, she then set her personal items on top, her hairbrush, hairpins and some dusting powder. Closing the case, she sat for a moment on the bed.

  It was true. She was alone. It was a might embarrassing to be the last bride settled, but she had no one to blame but herself. Ethan would have mar
ried her months ago.

  Funny, until this morning she hadn’t given much thought to the wedding night, but seeing little Clara nearly naked in Lucas’s bed changed all that. She certainly didn’t seem to have suffered any ill effects, if indeed Lucas had bedded her during the night.

  Then again, Clara had been intoxicated. She might not recall the more animalistic side of mating, which in Martha’s opinion would be a very good thing. Perhaps she should get drunk on her wedding night, although she doubted Ethan would allow it. Allow it, what strange words they were. Ones she never thought she would be concerned about. What would her husband allow? Yes, strange indeed for a young woman who’d always been so independent.

  Amelia had been drunk on her wedding night. She’d told them so. Martha suspected Effie was as well, even though they’d all known Sam took her well before they were married. Effie wasn’t ashamed of it either. How lovely to be so free from the constraints of public opinion as well as the ones most women placed on themselves.

  Grace’s main concern was something about whether Jonah had hair on his backside, or some such nonsense, but that was Grace. She was always a bit different and seemed to love not only her husband, but the intimate acts of marriage. Martha hoped she would enjoy it as well.

  It had not really become a concern until the night Ethan spanked her. Until that moment, the idea that he would or could spank her had been uppermost in her list of worries. Now that it had occurred, she no longer dreaded it so much. The tears in his eyes proved to her he did not like hurting her.

  The marriage bed might prove to be an entirely different story. He would see the claiming of her virgin body as his right, his duty, and judging from his recent behavior, she knew he intended to do it often. Since he’d bared her bottom and spanked her, he seemed to have a different attitude toward her person. In fact, he could barely keep his hands off her, often pressing her close to him, so close she could feel him through her skirts.

  His size never really intimidated her prior to that night. He was always gentle, always respectful, and even though he was an exceptionally large man, she hadn’t worried. That was before she had a true idea of his strength. Ethan had handled her so easily that night, despite her struggles to get away. She’d fought him as ineffectually as a child, completely unable to stop him from doing as he pleased. Some small part of her worried their wedding night would be much the same way. He could take what he wanted.