He checked with Roger Boone, the stagecoach office director, to find his bride-to-be had already arrived over an hour ago.
His cheeks flushed. He had missed her arrival. He fumbled with his hat and moved steadily toward the waiting area.
He peered around the corner to see a thin female sitting, conversing with a gentleman younger than himself. She laughed and smiled at him as if they had known each other all their lives. Her voice rang out like the church bells on Sundays—feminine, clear, and true.
She moved as if she felt a shadow and turned her head. Her sunlit blue eyes met his. Max cleared his throat, and he moved to introduce himself.
“Miss Pickens?” he asked, assuming her to be the educated Lily Pickens he had conversed with these past months.
She stood and shook his hand. Meeting his eyes again, her smile glowed, warm and welcoming.
“It’s nice to meet you. Mr. Blackwell, I presume?”
“You are correct. I apologize for being so late.”
“Not your fault. We met our destination a little early. It was quite welcome, as my friend and I were able to explore a little of the town.”
“Mr. Timothy Lawrence,” the man said, shaking hands.
Max looked somewhat perplexed, and an awkward silence fell.
Lily jumped in to clear his confusion. “Timothy mentioned wanting to travel west himself. We knew one another in Philadelphia. When all was said and done, I didn’t feel comfortable traveling alone.”
“Well, yes, of course. How do you do?” Max stated, still somewhat leery of the handsome gentleman escorting his bride clear across the country, but their connection seemed merely friendly and appropriate.
“I suppose this is the end of the line for you, Miss Pickens,” Timothy replied, smiling at her sympathetically. There was a twinkle in his eye that told her he hoped she found this husband of hers quite appealing.
“I can’t thank you enough for everything,” Lily said, catching his hand.
He shook it and nodded, saying goodbye with his eyes.
“Good luck to you then,” Max chimed in. “You’re heading on with the stagecoach then?”
“Yes. To Oregon Territory.”
Max hoisted Lily’s bag and escorted her to his buck wagon across from the station tied to a walnut tree.
“He seems like a nice fellow,” Max said.
Lily didn’t answer. She felt more nervous than ever staring at the stranger before her.
He had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, even bluer than hers, and the contrast with his dark hair made them stand out even more. She laced her shaking hands firmly in front of her, smiled politely, and answered him the best she could.
She tried to remember what Timothy had told her. Stay in character. She was the retired school teacher from Philadelphia’s Lady’s College, and she had been employed to teach manners, etiquette, and correct conversation.
“I’m glad you had a safe journey,” he said, taking off to the nearby inn. “The farm’s a good long journey, and I know you long for some rest before making another tedious trip. Some of the church ladies and the pastor’s wife, Faye, have arranged a nice dinner for us—our last dinner before the wedding tomorrow. I wouldn’t want to take you back home without making things proper.”
“Of course,” Lily replied faintly. Her mouth felt dry and she swallowed as much as she could to keep her throat from clenching up. “Sounds wonderful,” she replied, staring at the rustic beauty of the territory.
They arrived at the Willow Boarding House a while later. The room was quaint but clean and cool. The summer heat was beginning to burn now as the late afternoon dragged on and warmed the valley. Max and Lily conversed over honeyed sweet tea on the porch.
“To tomorrow then,” Max replied, clinking glasses with her.
She returned the gesture but kept quiet.
Could she really do this? Could she really marry this stranger, this man she knew very little of—and who knew less about her?
She downed the tea as if it was a cure-all, but she prayed to God she’d have the strength to actually go through with the ceremony tomorrow.
Chapter 3
Two Years Ago
Max stood before the tall church doors. Sturdy and powerful, he knew once the mahogany doors opened, his future awaited. He was on the brink of a new venture, and for one moment, he wanted to bask in how happy he was. Love awaited him. He pictured what Penelope would look like—statuesque, beautiful, and glowing in white, waiting for him.
He was late—not his doing—but still, he didn’t want to keep his bride or guests waiting. He breathed in deep, pushed open the doors, and looked about, only to find the church empty.
His eyes dropped in confusion. Alone, Pastor Macklin stood in the aisle, waiting for Max.
“What is this? Where’s everyone? Where’s Penelope?”
Pastor Macklin didn’t say anything for some time. No words could express his condolences. Having cleared the chapel and everyone, he thought would save Max from further embarrassment and hurt.
“Penelope’s gone. She said she couldn’t go through with it. She begged me to tell you she’s sorry.”
It still felt like a dream. A cruel, twisted dream.
“No,” Max shouted, brushing off the pastor’s comforting grip on his shoulder. “She wouldn’t do that. We’re to be married—today. I had a horrible time getting here, but I’m here now, and she loves me. Penelope!”
“She’s gone, Max. She decided to head back to Wyoming with her sister.”
“But we’re in love—”
“There are many forms of love, Max. I have no doubt Penelope did love you, but clearly she felt her course in life led elsewhere. I’m very sorry.”
This didn’t make sense. They both had been looking forward to being man and wife together. Penelope had said so herself.
“I don’t understand, pastor,” he cried. “How could she do this? How could she just leave? I thought—” The tears and sobbing came suddenly and Max collapsed on the floor. Betrayed and alone.
Max brushed aside the horrid events of that day. Time had passed, and he was ready to commit himself to someone, although he vowed he’d never love anyone again like he did Penelope Cooper. Lily would be different. He wouldn’t let her break his heart because he wouldn’t give it to her.
Their arrangement was agreed upon. They’d be lifelong companions, comfort and support one another through all the twists and turns of life. They’d start and raise a family together.
He vowed that Lily would never have that much control over his emotions and desires. He was grateful she was a teacher as she could be pragmatic about this situation. She longed for a home and someone who would accept her. He longed to continue his legacy and pass on his land and farm one day to his children. He also didn’t want to grow old alone. Lily seemed to be of the same mind.
Chapter 4
Although Lily had agreed to the terms Max had insisted upon, she was worried Yes, she knew full well what she was getting herself into, but she didn’t want to be miserable the rest of her life.
She thought back to his last letter. It made her sad.
Dear Lily,
I am happy to hear you have agreed to come. We will get along nicely and devote ourselves to our future family. Nothing will make me happier than being a father and providing for my family. I am also glad you agree that love, in our instance, will be reserved for our children and our children only. It’s refreshing and a comfort to know you have no expectations for us in regards to love. I await your arrival happily.
My sincere respect,
Max Blackwell
As she stood before the mirror with Faye, Pastor Macklin’s wife, Lily’s breath trembled and her hands shook violently. The night had passed and the morning of their wedding had arrived.
Lily was wearing a fancy, lace gown, loaned to her by Faye. Wildflowers crowned her head and waited in a small bouquet on her dressing table.
“Don’t be nervous
, child,” Faye soothed. “Max is an honorable man. Quiet and reserved, but he’s been through so much. We’re mighty proud of him to be giving marriage another chance.”
“What do you mean?” Lily asked confused.
Faye caught herself. “Oh, never you mind. You will be well taken care of. Max always wanted a houseful of children.”
Lily smiled faintly. Yes, well, that does require some sort of affection, she thought. Would it be wrong to love without love? These sorts of fears kept Lily wondering if she was doing the right thing.
“I remember being in your exact same predicament.”
“You do?” Lily asked.
Faye stopped fussing with her veil and sat beside her on the bed.
“Yes, you see, I was a mail order bride. I was a poor Nebraskan girl, all alone. My mother had just died, and my cousin gave me that push to pursue being a mail order bride. I had no one, and I desperately needed somewhere to go. Jonathan and I began writing one another and at first, we both agreed, there would be no expectations. He was a young pastor and wanted a wife to help him share the Word of God. In time, however, things changed. You might be surprised at what a little time can do for a couple.”
“I’m not concerned about whether or not Max will love me,” Lily confessed.
“Oh, certainly. I don’t mean to pry. I just thought I’d share my experience to comfort you.”
Lily thanked her for her kindness. No, she wasn’t concerned about whether Max would eventually feel something for her, but what if she lost herself completely in him?
She had dreamt last night of his cool eyes. His manly, rugged appearance and the way he held his own impressed her greatly. She pushed those thoughts out of her mind and prayed she could go through with this. The grandfather clock down the hall struck again, and she realized they were running behind.
There was no more time to worry or think. Faye and Lily took one last look in the mirror and headed out to the wagon that would deliver them at the church. A curl of blonde hair fell in her face for a moment and she tucked it away. She breathed in deep, trying not to allow her nerves to show.
Chapter 5
As Max waited, the same feelings returned to him from years ago. Would she even show up, or would she leave him alone, embarrassed and exposed?
So much tension gripped his heart that he couldn’t breathe. The last thing he wanted to think about today was Penelope, but he couldn’t help it. This scene brought back so many memories, horrible memories.
Comparing Lily to Penelope was like comparing a sunflower to a rose. Both beautiful, both needed nourishment and tending, but something about Lily calmed him already. Her no-nonsense attitude and her ability to think and process things on a rational level appealed to him.
She would make a great partner and mother. He already had that inkling. He couldn’t understand the neglect from her father. If she had been in his life, she would have been hard to ignore. How could one ignore her comforting disposition? Still, she was no rose. She was not his Penelope.
Only he and Pastor Macklin stood in the church. Since being humiliated by Penelope, the thought of a grand wedding with eyes peering into the back of his head terrified him. With Faye as a witness, he felt more at ease. He imagined how much more awful it would have been to have the congregation staring at him the day Penelope abandoned him at the altar. The pastor’s good sense to send everyone away helped ease his humiliation.
“Where are they, Pastor?” Max said, wringing his hands and pacing.
“You need not worry. This will be a glorious day for you, Max. She’ll be here.”
“I hope so.”
“Perhaps the Lord knew what he was doing that day long ago. Perhaps he saved you from making a terrible mistake with Miss Cooper,” Pastor Macklin said.
“Perhaps,” Max replied. “Only time will tell and that can’t be undone, anway.”
Just then, the doors opened, and Lily and Faye stood at the beginning of the long aisle. Faye stood back, while Lily walked alone, toward Max. He looked down as she glided closer, unnerved by her sheer beauty and innocence. His heart beat so loud, he thought she could probably hear it.
Lily’s soft beauty in the lace dress was hard not to notice. Max cleared his throat, trying to appear indifferent but pleasant.
Pastor Macklin proceeded with the vows and ceremony.
Max intoned his vows coldly. He didn’t look at her even once throughout their entire marriage ceremony. If he did, he was afraid he’d be captivated by her beauty and by the gravity of what they were doing. He had to make sure his heart didn’t get in the way of their perfect arrangement.
It felt like a lie vowing to love, honor, and cherish Max, since they’d agreed that their marriage would not include love. She also knew so little about him. Even with four months of letter writing, she still felt as if he was a stranger.
She had no real future in Philadelphia, at least not anything that would be happy and joyous. Making a commitment to herself, she vowed to make a life elsewhere. No one would take care of her, so she did what she had to do to become his mail order bride.
The only way she could feel justified in taking these vows before God was to know in her heart that she was making the vows for herself. She would keep her promise and take care of Max, but she’d take care of herself, too.
She sadly thought back to her conversation with Faye. How had the woman believed feelings could someday grow between them? It didn’t seem likely as she looked over at his stony face.
Her fears about falling for him now seemed comical. He was dark and handsome, but his indifferent attitude definitely wouldn’t sway Lily’s heart anytime soon.
Chapter 6
After Max and Lily’s wedding ceremony, they ventured to meet Thomas and Sarah Jacobs, along with Corrine and Donovan Byrne, for a celebratory dinner. Faye and Pastor Macklin followed in their carriage.
Faye kissed her new friend on the cheek, congratulating her and casting her a teasing look. Lily didn’t feel like being playful. This was awful. She had hoped that perhaps Max would soften up once he met her and that they could be friends and maybe—maybe—something more someday, but hopes of that seemed futile now.
All she ever wanted in life was love, but that seemed as likely as a horse flying her to the moon.
“Thomas Jacobs is a dear friend,” Max explained.
“Yes, I’m aware. It was his happy marriage that made you decide to give this whole mail order bride business a go.”
“Sorry. Didn’t know I had told you so many times,” he replied. His curt response made her realize she was being a little curt herself. She may need to lighten up on her wedding day.
“I just have a good memory,” she sighed back, feeling light-headed and on edge. “They’re story is really very nice and I’m happy you shared it with me.”
“Corrine and Donovan will be there, as well. They've settled a little ways out of town. Corrine was supposed to be Thomas’s intended, but through God’s grace and interference, Sarah took her place, and everything has worked out for both couples.”
“How wonderful,” Lily replied.
Max’s complete indifference had turned her world upside down. She had looked as stunning as she possibly could for their wedding day, but yet he hadn’t once looked her in the eye or showed any sort of affection for her. Timothy had said most men would sell their right arm to be with someone as beautiful as her. Apparently not Max Blackwell.
Timothy also assured her that even if Max somehow learned she had lied about being a teacher or from a well-to-do family from Philadelphia, he’d forgive her for how beautiful and gentle she was. She didn’t believe herself vain, but she believed what Timothy had told her. He could have his pick of any young woman he set his sights on, so she counted him as a sort of authority on these things. She had to trust another man’s perspective, and Timothy had never lied to her.
What was Max’s problem? She was beautiful, gentle, submissive, compliant, and she had said and done
everything right since arriving here. Max simply couldn’t appreciate what he had in front of him, she decided, and therefore, she couldn’t appreciate him for being so blind.
They parked next to a grand maple and Max helped her out of the buck wagon.
How chivalric, she thought, glaring at him, kind enough to help his wife. It’s probably all for show.
She took his hand, anyway, even though she didn’t want to, and he escorted her inside a beautiful white farmhouse with a porch full of flowers. She tried to hide the sulk from her face, but imagined she was doing a poor job of it.
A few other neighbors had been invited to the celebration, and the main room had groups of people scattered around. Thomas insisted on having a few men with fiddles playing when the new couple entered.
Max slapped Thomas on the back, and they shook hands.
“Congratulations, old friend. Glad you took my advice,” Thomas said.
“Gentleman, ladies, this is Lily Blackwell,” he announced to his closest friends.
Sarah swept her into her arms. Her belly was quite large as her baby was due very soon. She felt like a warm, tender soul to Lily.
“We’re so glad to have you here. We mail order brides need to stick together,” she teased, introducing her to Corrine and Lottie Ridgefield.
Lily smiled wryly but felt her mood improve as Sarah and Corinne embraced her.
“Max talks an awful lot about you and Thomas,” Lily admitted to Sarah as she accepted a cup of fresh punch.
She sipped on it gladly, caught in the whirlwind of the day.
“Max is a wonderful man. And pardon me if I’m overstepping myself, but you don’t seem too excited,” Sarah said.
“Oh? I am,” Lily lied. “It’s just… I don’t know.”
“You don’t have to explain it to us. We both know what you’re feeling. Strange, nervous, not exactly sure what to expect. Even though you’ve written letters, you still don’t really know this person you’ve committed yourself to,” Corinne chimed in.
Christmas Miracles: Mega Mail Order Bride 20-Book Box Set: Multi-Author Box Set Page 37
