Bid for a Bride

by Nordin, Ruth Ann

  She stayed at Eliza’s through supper, her mind drifting back to the place where Brian would sit, and she’d wonder how far he was from their town. Did he and John already reach the train station? She had no way of knowing. She wasn’t overly familiar with South Dakota. All she knew was that Sioux Falls was east of them.

  When evening came, Eliza offered to let her stay the night, but Lucy wanted to sleep in the bed she and Brian shared so she could smell the scent of him on the sheets and pretend he was lying beside her. Eliza also offered to walk her to her home, but she declined, choosing instead to stroll along the property and recall the many walks she and Brian took together. She lit the kerosene lamp as soon as she entered the house and noticed how empty the place was.

  Lucy scanned the house with its light colors, pretty curtains, nice tablecloth, and rugs. Even with all the creature comforts, it was a lonesome place without him there. She went to the bedroom, changed into her nightclothes, and curled up in the bed. After she turned the knob on the kerosene lamp so that the room was dark, she wrapped the blankets around her and pretended she was in Brian’s arms. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and smiled. If she pretended hard enough, she could almost feel him next to her.

  She wondered if he was thinking of her. Did men dwell on such things or did they just focus on what they needed to do and that was it? She thought of their time together by the creek where they spent many summer late afternoons after supper with a book. He had enjoyed Treasure Island, as she thought he might. Though the weather would be turning too cold to go to the creek anymore, she figured she could curl up with him on the couch in the parlor by a crackling fire and read to him.

  Anticipating being with him again, she soon fell asleep. At first, her dreams were of the ordinary sort. There were images of white puffy clouds where she tried to guess which shapes she could see in them. A few fish swam in a lake on an early spring day. Green leaves on the tree branches rustled in the breeze.

  It took her awhile to figure out she was back at her childhood spot in Minnesota. This was her favorite spot, the one place she could go to whenever she wanted to be alone. No one ever bothered her here.

  Except for one night.

  In her sleep, Lucy frowned, willing the pleasant dream to remain pleasant. But it wouldn’t obey. It took on a form of its own, forcing her to relive a night she struggled to forget. The night before her wedding to Adam. The night that was a culmination of years of her sister’s antagonism. The night where her brother was off on his honeymoon, far from them and unable to intercede. Her brother regretted he could not be there for her wedding, but Lucy was anxious to marry Adam and leave Minnesota so she opted to marry him as soon as he proposed. She tried to describe Adam to her brother, to spur his memory since Adam had been at her brother’s engagement party, but her brother didn’t remember what Adam looked like. Considering her brother was busy entertaining other guests, she wasn’t surprised.

  The thought often occurred to Lucy that if her brother had been able to attend her wedding, he would have been there that night. She’d been tired from all the wedding planning and chose to rest in her favorite spot after supper. The early April air was warm enough where she could stay out for a good length of time.

  She chose to bring a book along to read, and at some point, she fell asleep. It wasn’t until she heard footsteps approaching that she realized she’d stayed out well past dark. She rubbed her eyes and struggled to wake up. Just as she sat up, a pair of hands clamped on her shoulders and pinned her back onto the grass.

  Alarmed, her eyes flew open and she screamed. She screamed and slapped at her attacker, but no one heard. When she focused on her attacker, she found herself staring into eyes very much like her own. Meredith brought her hands to Lucy’s throat and squeezed. Lucy tried to pry her sister’s hands off of her neck, but Meredith dug her fingers in harder and snarled at her.

  Gasping, Lucy let go of Meredith’s hands and fumbled for anything she might use to force Meredith off of her. Finally, her hand settled on her book, and she whacked it across her sister’s head. It worked. Meredith relaxed her hold on Lucy’s neck long enough for Lucy to push her aside. Lucy stumbled away from her, but her sister came up behind her and shoved her into the lake.

  Lucy surfaced from the water in time for Meredith to leap on top of her and force her head back under it. Holding her breath, Lucy struggled, kicking and hitting any part of her sister that she could, in an effort to get away, but her sister’s hold was firm. Lucy finally reached out and grabbed Meredith’s hand and bit into it.

  Meredith howled and, once again, Lucy was able to get away. This time she kicked at Meredith’s backside so that she went toppling into the water. It gave her enough time to climb out of the lake and run to the house.

  A loud boom through the night sky jolted Lucy awake. She brought her hands up to her throat and screamed, not realizing for a full minute that she was no longer by the lake or in the water. Gasping, she fumbled in the dark for a match to light the kerosene lamp. Lightning flashed and lit the room, making her jump. Rain pounded against the window and another round of terrible thunder shook the house.

  Her hands trembled as she struck the match and lit the lamp. She turned the knob for maximum light but found it wasn’t adequate. There were far too many shadows in the room and the open bedroom door revealed a sea of darkness, only lit up by another flash of lightning.

  She grabbed the blanket and threw it over her head. It was too easy to imagine horrible things emerging out of the thick darkness that clung to the shadows in this house! Another rumble of thunder made her nearly jump out of her skin. How she wished Brian was here right now. There had been thunderstorms—many of them—during the summer, but with him right there beside her, she had no reason to fear anything.

  Something rapped on the kitchen door and Lucy whimpered. It couldn’t be her sister! There was no reason for her sister to find her here. Her sister thought she went to Oregon with Adam. Whatever was outside the house, banging on the kitchen door, had to be something else. A tree branch perhaps? But the porch protected the door from fallen branches.

  It’s just my imagination. It’s not real.

  Lucy huddled deeper into the blanket and recited a prayer she learned as a child. How she hated this! Hated being alone and having to face her past without Brian there to comfort her. It never once occurred to her that her sister wanted to kill her, and she still didn’t understand why.

  More thunder rumbled and Lucy could swear she heard something moving inside the house. Tears came to her eyes. No. There isn’t anything there. It’s just my imagination. She had a nightmare, a memory from her past. That was why she was thinking she heard things moving about in the house. That was all it was. It’s just my imagination!

  She tucked the blanket closer around her body and squeezed her eyes shut tight. If she could pretend Brian was here, then she could get her nerves back. She tried to inhale, to smell him on the blanket, but the blanket was damp from her sweat. Through the pounding in her ears, she heard footsteps.

  In her mind’s eye, she saw her sister standing above her, the same look of fury on her face that she had when she tried to kill her by the lake. Trembling, Lucy peeked through the blanket and screamed when she saw that someone really was standing by the bed.

  Eliza leaned forward and touched her shoulder. “Lucy?”

  It took a long moment for Lucy to figure out it wasn’t Meredith hovering over her. She blinked several times, her mind grasping to separate her fears from reality.

  “Lucy? Are you alright?” Eliza asked, her eyebrows furrowed in concern.

  As soon as Lucy understood it was Eliza, she cried out in relief and hugged her. “Oh, thank God.”

  Eliza sat by her on the bed and returned her hug. “Lucy? What happened? You’re shaking. Are you hurt?”

  “I-I was scared. The thunderstorm and…” She clung tighter to Eliza, thinking she’d never been happier to see anyone in her entire life.
/>   “I knocked on the door and called your name. You must not have heard me over the thunder.”

  The thunder boomed again, but this time Lucy didn’t jerk in response. She held onto Eliza, suddenly realizing that Eliza was soaking wet from having made the journey out to her house—something Lucy was relieved she did.

  “I…” Lucy cleared her throat, aware her heart was still beating wildly in her chest. “I thought you were my sister. S-she tried to kill me. Right before I married Adam.”

  “Your sister tried to kill you?”

  She nodded and sniffed. “She tried to strangle me, and when that didn’t work, she tried to drown me. It was the only time she tried to kill me. She’d been upset with me before, but she never tried to kill me.”

  “Why did she try to kill you?”

  “I think she wanted to marry Adam. He didn’t pay any attention to her, no matter how hard she tried to get it. I was ready to marry him, and she chose the night before the wedding to do it.”

  Eliza rubbed her back and gently rocked her. “Is that why you don’t want to tell your parents about the baby?”

  “I can’t have my sister finding me. I don’t trust her.”

  “And your parents? Did they know what happened?”

  “I wanted to tell them, but…” Lucy swallowed the lump in her throat and pulled away from Eliza so she could wipe her eyes. “Well, I figured I was marrying Adam the next day and would soon be in Oregon. Then I’d never see her again so it wouldn’t matter. And she’s no threat to them. They adore her. I’m the only one she doesn’t like.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I asked her one time, but she just left the room. Most of the time, she wouldn’t even acknowledge me.”

  Eliza rubbed her back. “I’m sorry. That’s terrible.”

  She took a deep breath and brushed her hair back from her face. Her nerves were finally settling down. “I’m glad you came.”

  “Brian mentioned you didn’t like thunderstorms, so I thought I better come and see how you were doing.” She glanced around the room before she continued. “Would you like me to stay here tonight?”

  “I’d rather not be alone. I thought I could handle it just fine. I know I’m safe out here, but…” She shrugged and crossed her arms. “I got so used to having Brian here. It’s not so bad during the day when the sun is out, but here in the dark… Too many memories come to mind.” With a tentative look at Eliza, she asked, “Did you mean it when you offered to let me stay with you while the men are gone?”

  “Of course, I did. Would you rather go to my place? It sounds like the storm is passing. If you wear a blanket over your head, you shouldn’t get too wet.”

  Lucy nodded.

  Eliza stood up and held her hand out so Lucy accepted it and got to her feet. “Let’s pack a few of your things and be on our way.”

  “Thank you, Eliza.”

  Smiling, she said, “Anytime. If you ever need anything or someone to talk to, you can come to me, alright?”

  “Alright.”

  Feeling much better, she got her things ready for her stay at Eliza’s place. This house just wasn’t the same without Brian, and until he was back, she’d feel restless. It was a relief she had Eliza to occupy her mind until she could be in Brian’s arms again.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Three days later, Brian and John stood in Michael Taggart’s parlor with John’s youngest brother, Shawn.

  “Boy, the furniture you two made will go over real well with Taggart,” Shawn whispered. “I don’t recall you being that good, John. I mean, I saw you did fine work, but that out there on those wagons is better than I remember.”

  Brian waited for John to sign into his hand before he spoke for John. “Pa says you didn’t pay good enough attention.”

  Shawn gave a hearty laugh. “Nah. You just got Brian here. He’s the real talent.”

  Haha, John signed. Your uncle thinks he’s a comedian.

  Brian chuckled.

  “What?” Shawn asked.

  Ask him how his wife and children are doing, John signed into Brian’s hand.

  “Pa wants to know how your family is doing,” Brian said.

  Shawn grunted. “You two have no business doing those personal messages back and forth. Other people are in the room, you know. But since you asked, they’re doing great. In fact, Molly is expecting again. That’ll make three blessings come into our home.”

  Tell him your news, John signed.

  “I married a good woman in April,” Brian said. “She’ll have a baby in March.”

  Brian felt a pat on his back. “Mine’s due in February. Hey John, that makes you a grandpa. Don’t you feel old now?”

  Other men my age have grandchildren, John signed.

  “He says other men his age have grandchildren,” Brian said.

  “Maybe,” Shawn consented, “but your pa has a couple of gray hairs. He’s getting old. You should buy him a pipe for Christmas.”

  “Why a pipe?” Brian asked.

  “All old men have pipes, don’t they?” Shawn replied. “That or you can get him a cane.”

  Brian felt a vibration along the hard floor before he heard footsteps. He turned his head in the direction of the sound and straightened his shoulders.

  A man cleared his throat and stepped into the parlor. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. I’m Michael Taggart.”

  Brian mentally categorized the man’s voice and handshake as the introductions were made so he’d remember Michael if he ever happened to meet him again. The man also had a faint musky scent about him. “Nice to meet you, sir,” Brian said after their handshake. Then he returned his hand to his walking stick while keeping his other hand over John’s.

  “I take it that’s your furniture out there in those wagons,” Michael said, his voice seeming to be directed at John.

  I’m nodding, John signed to Brian.

  “Shawn, you were right,” Michael said. “Your brother and nephew do fine work. Those pieces will be a fine addition to this home.” Footsteps echoed as Michael walked away from them and stopped on the other side of the room. “I’ll be happy to pay the full amount. Will you men be bringing them in?”

  Shawn cleared his throat. “I’ll help John. Brian’s blind so he can’t.”

  “Very well,” Michael replied.

  I’ll be back soon, John signed to Brian before he released Brian’s hand. The sound of footsteps notified him that John and Shawn were leaving the room.

  “I hope you don’t mind if I sit,” Brian told Michael.

  “Oh, please do,” Michael replied. “I’m gathering the money to pay you and your pa.”

  Brian tapped the floor with his walking stick until it hit something solid. He reached out and felt soft fabric covering a chair. He sat down and waited for John and Shawn to finish bringing the furniture into the house.

  After they were done, Michael paid John and the three men left. John held Brian by the elbow as they walked down the sidewalk. John stopped so Brian halted his steps.

  “What’s wrong?” Brian asked.

  John slipped his hand under Brian’s and signed, Nothing. I see a hat I think your ma would like. There’s a nice shawl that will match Lucy’s favorite dress. Ask Shawn if Molly needs something.

  “Pa wants to know if Aunt Molly needs anything,” Brian told his uncle.

  “I don’t know,” Shawn replied.

  Tell him to come in the store with me, and we’ll see what we can find for her. I owe him for helping us with the furniture.

  “He wants you to go in the store and pick something out for her. It’s a thank you for helping us,” Brian told Shawn.

  “Alright,” Shawn replied.

  Do you want to come in? John signed.

  “No. I’ll stay out here. Is there somewhere to sit?” Brian asked.

  Yes. I’ll lead you to it.

  John took Brian by the elbow and led him forward, so Brian followed. When John stopped, Brian reached out, felt t
he metal bench, and sat down. “I’ll wait for you and Uncle Shawn.”

  John let go of Brian’s hand, and Brian set the walking stick on his lap. He sat back, listening and taking in the smells around him. Sioux Falls was noisy compared to what he was used to. He heard the jostling of buggies and the pounding of horses’ hooves on the brick street. The air was cooler on his upper body than on his feet, so he surmised he was sitting in the shade. People chattered as they walked past the bench.

  His mind wandered to Lucy and he smiled. A couple more days and he’d be with her again. He couldn’t wait. He recalled the feel of her soft skin, the sweet smell of lavender in her hair, and the soothing tone of her voice whenever she talked.

  Then a familiar voice jarred him out of his pleasant thoughts. And in that instant, he knew who was passing by. It was his real father. In an instant, his mind flashed back to the past which he’d carefully buried so deep he no longer gave it any thought. The images of his childhood up until he was eight came crashing down on him, and though he fought to suppress them, they demanded his full attention.

  “Your father wasn’t always this way,” his mother had whispered to him as she held him in her arms. He felt her shaking as his hair became damp from her tears. “It’s the moonshine. If he’d only stop drinking…”

  But his father didn’t, and every time his father came home drunk, his mother would cry and hold Brian once his father’s rage died down. Brian hated those times. His mother always told him to hide under the porch and put his hands over his ears.

  “Keep your ears covered until I come and get you,” she’d tell him.

  He obeyed until one day when he was eight—when he knew his father came home drunk and found that his favorite pair of leather boots had gotten wet. While his father yelled about the stains, his mother gave Brian the familiar nudge that told him he needed to go to his hiding place under the porch.

  Brian hastened to do so and as he crept out the open window, he heard his mother say, “I can take care of those. All I need is some saddle soap or vinegar. They’ll be good as new. Just give me the money and I’ll pick up what I need in town.”