The Easter Mail-Order Bride (Holiday Mail Order Brides, Book 11)

by Kit Morgan

  Garrett Vander ran into the room, his wife Ammy close behind. “Father! What you said is true! We ran into Morgan and he said Jess is feeling plumb awful! Maybe he did marry that girl because he was deluded with fever!”

  “Mm-hmm,” Betsy muttered to no one in particular.

  Mr. Vander stiffened, adjusted his jacket and reached for the pitcher of lemonade. “Present company excluded, of course.” He downed a glass and set it on the tray. “Betsy! Bring me –”

  “– your hat, sir.” She handed him his hat. Everyone glanced around. Where had it come from?

  “Thank you. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve had enough of this business! I’m going back to the office.”

  “Will you be home for dinner, dear?” Mrs. Vander asked.

  “That depends. Are you all going to be here, or are you going to be too busy spreading Mrs. Templeton’s business around town?”

  Mercy gasped. “How can you say such a thing? But if you like, we can meet you later at the meeting.”

  Mr. Vander put on his hat. “And that’s how I can say such a thing,” he grumbled as he left. He’d have to hurry to spread the news before his wife did!

  * * *

  Sarah hadn’t been at the Templetons’ for a full day, but she’d already swept and scrubbed the kitchen floor, dusted all the rooms, washed all the first-floor windows (inside and out) and cleaned her and Jess’s room top to bottom. And those were only the first few things on Mrs. Templeton’s exhaustive list of chores.

  Sarah examined her new bedroom, the one she would be sharing with her husband once he came home. It didn’t look much different than when she first started cleaning, but as least she’d done it. The room was the most orderly in the house, which told her he picked up after himself. At least she probably wouldn’t have to worry too much about him when it came to making a mess. But she couldn’t be sure – she hadn’t really spent any time with him.

  “Are you done in there?” Mrs. Templeton yelled up the stairwell.

  Sarah fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Yes, ma’am,” she called back.

  “Good – it’s time to go.”

  Go? Sarah wondered. Oh no! She must mean the town meeting! She didn’t want to go to that! She picked up a rag she’d been using to dust, hurried downstairs and found Mrs. Templeton filling a basket with various items. “Ma’am, if you don’t mind, I’d like to stay behind and finish the chores …”

  “No, you’re going. We’ll stop by Doc White’s and drop this off for Jess, then continue on to the meeting.”

  “But …”

  “No buts.” She turned to her. “This is your fault, so you should be there!”

  “What?”

  “You answered the ad for a mail-order bride! That makes you at least an accomplice, as I see it!”

  Was this woman out of her mind? “How can I be an accomplice? I had no idea someone in your town was sending in false advertisements!”

  “No, they send in advertisements in other folk’s names!”

  “Oh for crying out loud, how can that make me party to anything?”

  “Never mind, that’s for the sheriff to decide.”

  “The sheriff?!”

  “Are you ladies ready?” Mr. Templeton asked as he came into the kitchen. “Wagon’s all hitched up.”

  “Yes,” his wife told him.

  “No!” Sarah countered. She turned to him, hoping he’d see reason. “Mr. Templeton …”

  “Call me Pa.”

  “She will not!” Mrs. Templeton cried.

  “She will so,” he said with a calm determination that brooked no argument. “Let’s go.”

  “But Mr. Templeton …,” Sarah pleaded.

  “Pa.”

  She sighed. “All right … Pa, I would much rather stay here if it’s all the same to you.”

  “Don’t you want to find out who the culprit is behind your marrying my son?”

  “You make it sound like a bad thing,” she said with a grimace.

  “No, but it was certainly a surprise.”

  “Hmph! That’s putting it mildly,” Mrs. Templeton snapped. “Basket’s ready. Let me fetch my shawl.” She stomped out of the kitchen.

  Sarah stared at the place she’d been standing, then looked at her new father-in-law. “Mr. … I mean, Pa … I really don’t see why I need to go.”

  “Cause folks wanna get a look at ya. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.”

  “What?”

  “Your new ma has herself all worked up over nothin’. She’ll come around, you’ll see.”

  “She makes it sound like she’s going to have me arrested tonight.”

  He laughed. “No, but she’ll make a fuss at the meetin’. Me, I kinda like watching her get all riled up. Until it starts to make my stomach hurt – then I have to take measures to calm her down.”

  “Measures?” Sarah asked, perplexed.

  He looked over his shoulder, to make sure there was no sign of his wife. “I sometimes slip a little bit of Old Man Smith’s special ‘shine into her tea. Just a smidge, mind ya.” He winked. “Works like a charm!”

  Sarah could only stare. Perhaps she should have a cup of Old Man Smith’s moonshine - hold the tea …

  Mrs. Templeton came back into the kitchen and shoved Sarah’s shawl at her. “Let’s go.”

  Mr. Templeton held his arm out to Sarah. “Shall we?”

  She gave him a tentative smile, wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and slipped her arm through his. She still felt like a woman being led to the gallows as they left the house to go to the town meeting.

  * * *

  Independence wasn’t a big town, but it did have a city hall. The room wasn’t as big as the church sanctuary, so folks had to squeeze in where they could. By the time the Templetons and Sarah arrived, it was already packed like a railroad cattle car.

  Sarah had tried one last time to beg out, but Mrs. Templeton would not be deterred. She’d all but dragged her from Doc White’s place. Sarah hadn’t even gotten to see Jess – his mother had taken the basket in, given it to Mrs. White and left. Apparently Mr. Templeton hadn’t bothered to administer a dollop of Mr. Smith’s concoction – had he been in charge, he might have relented and let her stay with Jess for a visit while he and his wife went to the town meeting. But no such luck.

  “Mrs. Templeton,” a woman said in a low, ominous voice from behind them. “Is this your new daughter-in- law?”

  Mrs. Templeton turned to face her. “Hello, Maude. Yes, but trust me, she’s only temporary.”

  Sarah’s eyes narrowed – this was getting to be too much. No wonder she didn’t want her around Jess – he was probably feeling better, and was assuredly in his right mind! His mother was going to try to push her out of the marriage if she could. Maybe that’s why she’d worked her to the bone as soon as she got her home. Well, two could play at this game. “Hello, I’m Sarah Templeton,” she said pointedly, extending a hand to Maude.

  Maude took it graciously. “How do you do, I’m Maude Smythe. Welcome to Independence.”

  “Thank you.” Nice to have someone welcome me, she thought.

  Mrs. Templeton looked ready to bust a gut at the woman’s friendly greeting. Sarah smiled and turned to the nearest person, a petite woman with a blue hat. “Hello, I’m Sarah Templeton, Jess Templeton’s bride?”

  “Oh, you’re the one!” the woman gushed. “I’m Mercy Vander, Mayor Vander’s wife.”

  “How do you do?” Sarah said.

  “It’s so wonderful to meet you! I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone!”

  Mrs. Templeton scowled at the tiny woman. “Have you seen Eunice Caulder?”

  Mrs. Vander glanced around the crowded room. “Oh, I’m sure she’s around here somewhere, dear,” she replied, with a tone of voice that seemed to add, but maybe we’re lucky and she isn’t. “Oh! There’s Garrett!” She looked back at Sarah. “Garrett’s my son – his wife Ammy is about your age. I’m sure the two of you will get along fine. She wa
s a mail-order bride too.”

  “Eunice?” Mrs. Templeton cried over the din of the crowd.

  Sarah ignored her as Mrs. Vander pulled another woman alongside her. “This is Betsy, my maid, but she’s just like one of the family …”

  Betsy rolled her eyes and sighed. “Mm-hmm. She says that to everybody.”

  “And her husband is our butler!” Mrs. Vander added proudly.

  Sarah gaped. “You have a maid and a butler?”

  “Yes,” the woman said with a giggle.

  Sarah nodded, glanced at Betsy and smiled. “It seems everyone has turned out for this meeting.”

  “Isn’t it wonderful?” Mrs. Vander cried. “All because someone took it upon themselves to do a little matchmaking.” She leaned toward Sarah. “Personally, I hope they don’t unmask whoever it is,” she whispered. “I like the excitement it brings to town!”

  Sarah tried not to grimace. “Excitement,” she mumbled. She looked around and noticed that Mrs. Templeton had disappeared. In fact, there was no sign of Mr. Templeton either.

  The mayor’s wife tugged on Sarah’s shawl as a bear of a man walked up onto the dais to address the crowd. The town meeting was about to begin.

  Seven

  “There is a scoundrel in our midst!” Mayor Vander boomed.

  The crowd stared at him, awestruck, as they usually did when he spoke. He was a fine orator.

  His eyes raked over the crowd as he waited for his words to sink in. He suddenly pointed at them, and several women gasped. “You know who you are! I’m giving you a chance to step forward now and show yourself!” His eyes scanned his audience again as if hoping for any sign of movement from the perpetrator. The townspeople eyed each other with suspicion.

  Mayor Vander didn't miss a beat. “Yes, it could be any one of you. Your wife, your husband …”

  “… your maid!” some wag called from the crowd.

  “Betsy is not the mad matchmaker!” Mayor Vander boomed.

  “Well, that rules one person out!” another shouted. Some folks in the back laughed.

  Mayor Vander scowled at the hecklers. “Yes, but what about the rest of you? Someone among us is …” He paused for effect. “… GUILTY!” He added a little lunge at the crowd for emphasis. They jerked back in response as more gasps sounded around the room.

  “Now we've been very patient with this prankster up until now. But the most recent victim of this criminal is Jess Templeton.”

  No one seemed shocked at the news, which meant that everyone already knew. Sarah glanced nervously around to see if anyone paid her any mind, but thankfully they were too intent on the mayor.

  “And Mrs. Templeton,” he continued, “seems to think that her son, who at the moment was not sound of mind and body, succumbed to this culprit’s schemes.”

  “Succumbed and done what?” a woman in front asked.

  Mayor Vander looked at her like she was daft. “He done married her, that’s what!”

  “What's wrong with that?” another woman, holding a baby on her hip, asked. “I don't see anything wrong with a man getting married.”

  “He wasn't in his right mind!” Mrs. Templeton snapped.

  Sarah gasped as she latched onto her arm and began to pull her through the crowd. Good grief, the woman was mad as a hatter!

  She got Sarah to the front and yanked her up next to the mayor. “This woman married my Jess!” she lamented. “He didn't know what he was doing!”

  “Congratulations, little lady!” someone yelled.

  “About time that boy got hitched!” called another.

  Mrs. Templeton stomped her foot. “Will you be quiet! Can't you see what a problem this is?”

  “I don't see a problem, Mrs. Templeton,” a man in the middle of the crowd responded. “Your son married a right pretty lady.”

  “Mr. Edmonson, kindly keep your opinions to yourself!” Mrs. Templeton hissed.

  The woman with the baby bristled. “Don’t you talk to my husband that way!”

  Oh good grief! Enough of this! Sarah thought. She pulled her arm out of her mother-in-law's grasp and stepped away from her. “My husband was most definitely his right mind when he married me, ma’am, and you know it! If you can’t handle that he’s married, then that’s your problem.” Her sudden bravado surprised even her and, not being one to waste the moment, she turned to the crowd. “Think of how I felt coming here, all the way from New Orleans, with no family to rely on, and finding out my future husband didn't even know I was on the way!”

  “I know exactly what you mean,” a pretty brunette said as she stepped forward. “There have been several brides sent here under false pretenses – I'm one of them – but everything worked out for me. Personally I wouldn't mind thanking whoever it is that answered the advertisement.”

  “Be that as it may,” Mayor Vander barked, “it has to stop. You can all see how upset Harriet is over this. And while we’ve been fortunate so far, what if next time something happens that causes real harm?”

  “Real harm?” Mrs. Templeton squawked. “My boy marrying someone he never intended to isn’t real harm?”

  “Harriet,” Mayor Vander said as he turned to her, “it's all in hand. You can step down now.”

  “What about that girl?” she said, pointing at Sarah.

  “That girl, as you say, is as much a victim of this scalawag as Jess, or my son Garrett, or Julian Smythe. No one knows who sent for their brides either.”

  “But what about all that huffing and puffing you did earlier?”

  “I always do that at the beginning of my speeches.”

  Mrs. Templeton groaned. “You should be voted out of office!” she huffed before she stomped off the small stage and into the crowd.

  Sarah stared after her a moment, then realized everyone was looking at her, including Mayor Vander. “Don't you want to know who's responsible for bringing you out here, young lady?”

  She shrugged. “I suppose it would be nice, but I don't have to know. What's done is done. I'm here and I'm married and I'm not sorry for either.”

  “Well, then,” the mayor said, “glad to hear it. But whoever keeps sending off for these mail-order brides needs to stop before someone gets hurt. Now I'll ask one more time … will that person step forward?”

  No one moved, no one breathed, as Mayor Vander's words hung in the air. After a few tense moments, he sighed. “Well, I don't know what to tell you folks. Whoever it is isn't going to come out of hiding so easy.”

  “Maybe you should offer a reward,” someone suggested.

  “Yeah, then maybe folks would be more inclined to find out who it is!” another added.

  “What will happen to the mad matchmaker once he’s found out?” a third asked. “Are you going to arrest him?”

  Sheriff Walker maneuvered his way through the crowd to the front. “That will be decided later. There’s a few things the law says about signing someone else's name to a legal document.”

  “Forgery, of course,” Garrett Vander declared. As the town’s newest lawyer, his opinion carried weight; as one of the mad matchmaker’s victims, even more so. “The only contract I signed was my own wedding license. There really isn't anything against the law as far as the contracts go – it's not binding like a marriage license.”

  “That may be true, son, but it still wasn't right to send off for a bride in someone else's name.”

  Garrett nodded. “Yes, you’re right. And the fact that the letters were sent through the United States Postal Service – that could be construed as mail fraud. Between that and the forgery, this could carry a stiff penalty – and that’s before we get into whether or not it constitutes having a woman cross a state border for immoral purposes. That and mail fraud are federal offenses.” That wrung a few gasps from the crowd.

  “That being said, I think offering a reward might be a good idea,” the mayor concluded.

  Half of the crowd cheered while the other half stood dumbfounded, staring at Garrett. Sarah was one of the
latter. Federal offenses? Just how far were these people going to take this?

  “How much of a reward is it gonna be, Mayor Vander?” Mr. Edmonson asked.

  The mayor thought the moment. “We’ll take up a collection. Whatever we collect tonight will be the reward.”

  The townspeople looked at each other a moment then back at the mayor, nodding their agreement. A few started reaching into their pockets.

  Sarah watched, wondering if the crowd's reaction was a normal one for the town, then spied Pastor Luke looking bemused. Well, if it was normal, it probably didn’t do too much damage …

  Soon a hat was being passed through the crowd and money thrown into it. In a few minutes it made its way to the front and into the mayor's hands. He held it up like a trophy. “All right, I'm going to have our own Pastor Luke be in charge of the reward money. He'll count it up and let us know how much there is by posting a notice down at the mercantile. You don't mind, do you, Pastor Luke?”

  Pastor Luke shook his head and shrugged.

  “Excellent,” the mayor said. “Now, whomever can bring me proof as to who the mad matchmaker is, you've got yourself a hat full of money!”

  The townspeople cheered and immediately began to disperse. The sudden image of a bloodthirsty throng of people bearing torches to go on some witch hunt flashed before Sarah’s eyes. I don't know who you are, Mr. Mad Matchmaker, she thought to herself, but I think I'd be running for the hills if I were you.

  * * *

  “Good grief!” Jess said as Sarah straightened his pillows for him. “Whoever our mystery matchmaker is has got quite a mess on their hands. Can you believe Mayor Vander put up a reward? Seems rather ridiculous, doesn't it?”

  “I quite agree,” Sarah said. The morning after the meeting, she’d finally been able to get away from her in-laws long enough to return to Doc White’s house and visit Jess without interference. “And other than something Mayor Vander said, I really don't see the point of flushing the person out. They're not doing any real harm.”

  “What did he say?” Jess asked.

  “Well,” she said as she stood up, “he mentioned that someone might get hurt along the way.”