Mail Order Calamity (Kansas Brides Series #4)

by Barbara Goss

  “I love you, Peter Mullins,” she said sleepily.

  Soon he heard her heavy breathing again.

  He was a satisfied, happy man.

  Chapter 15

  Pete couldn’t resist making love to her again in the morning. She was everything he’d ever dreamed of and more. He felt so much love for her he thought he might burst with it, but he tried not to frighten her with the potency of his feelings. It would scare her if she knew the degree to which he loved her, and then she’d be able to control him. He wanted a marriage that was fifty-fifty, not one like her parents had, where her mother had dominated.

  Now she was his, all his‒he thought himself the luckiest man alive.

  As they dressed, he suggested she accompany him to work so he could drop her off at Edna’s to collect her things.

  “You might want to stay there for the day, visit with her, and then ride home with me,” he said.

  “I’d love that,” she said. “But when we get home, we have a lot to talk about.”

  He looked down at her big, blue, concerned eyes. He kissed the tip of her nose. “And we shall…after I take you to Rusty’s for a meal.”

  “A deal!” she said with a big smile.

  “Sweetheart, there's nothing that can upset me today. I’m on top of the world.”

  She hugged him. “I am, too.”

  Elaina spent the day with Edna who started the visit with a reprimand.

  “You scared the daylights out of me! I woke up to find you gone and with that maniac on the loose? I sent Gordon next door to the constable’s office and the deputy there said he’d keep his eye out for you, but that he couldn’t leave the office,” Edna said, almost in one breath. “Then, when I told him that wasn’t good enough, he sent two men out looking for you. Of course, they didn’t find you.” She hugged Elaina. “Anyway, I forgive you. You did the right thing by going to see Peter, and I’m overjoyed that you are truly married and in love.”

  As Edna helped her pack her things, Elaina could tell she was sad to see her go.

  “Edna, I’m going to send for my best friend, Sarah. Would you let her stay with you when she arrives?”

  “Of course. You know I’d love the company.”

  “I’d have her stay with Pete and me, but not only are we still on our honeymoon, but I have a plan to try to get her and Brock together. I do like Brock. For a rich man, he sure is down-to-earth and personable.”

  “He is. He's a good Christian, too,” Edna said. “He and his father donate large sums of money to the church and to the poor families in town.”

  “I was sorry I didn’t have any feelings for him, but Pete had already stolen my heart. I just hope Pete and I can work out the living arrangements.”

  “You’ve been doing really well with the cooking,” Edna said.

  “I think I can cope with the cooking, but the house is old and drafty; the floors creak and they're uneven; the paint on the walls is probably thirty years old; and the furniture's awful. I’m also not fond of chickens, cows, or churning my own butter.”

  “Hmm, I see,” Edna said. “Well, let’s sit down to lunch and think up what we can do about that.”

  However hard they brainstormed, they could think of no solutions.

  Pete came for her in the late afternoon and took her to Rusty’s. While they waited for their dinner, Pete told her of a plan he had.

  “I’m thinking of selling the house, land and all, and using the profit to build us a new place. Since I have a good job, I don’t need a farm. We can buy our canned goods, as well as our butter and eggs. What do you think, my love?”

  “Pete,” she exclaimed, “I’d love that. I’d like to live closer to town, too. Edna lives just fine without all those farm animals.”

  “If that will make you happy, I’ll put the house up for sale tomorrow,” he said.

  “That house has been in your family for years, Pete. Will you be all right parting with it? We could always remodel.”

  “I’m more than good with it. The house and land is just a thing, but you are a person and I love every inch of you. I want a happy wife,” he said with a wink. “To be honest, I don’t think we need all that land and those animals, either. This is the nineteenth century‒we can buy all the things we need. I have a good job and don’t need to live off the land anymore.”

  Elaina studied him for a moment. How had she gotten so lucky as to marry the most wonderful man on earth after such a calamity? Her heart pounded with love for him.

  “Would it be considered bad manners to kiss one’s husband in public?” she asked.

  “Not if the person truly loved her husband, and it wasn’t such a passionate kiss that he’d grab her and run home with her without eating,” Pete said, all in one breath.

  She leaned over and gave him a quick smack of a kiss. “I love you so much, Pete. You are a most considerate husband.” She gave him another quick smack, just as the dinners arrived.

  “Do you two want to eat, first?” Rusty said in his gruff tone. He smiled and winked as he placed the plates before them. “Enjoy,” he said.

  When Elaina and Pete reached home, they had tea in the sitting room.

  “So, is there any more to discuss,” Pete asked, “or is the problem solved?”

  “I think we’ll be fine—more than fine, Pete.”

  “Until we sell the house, I’ll do all the cooking and work when I get home. I don’t want you to do a thing, except sew, or something,” he said, kissing her hand.

  “That’s not completely necessary,” she said. She hesitated, wondering if she should tell him or not, then decided they shouldn’t keep secrets. “Edna's been teaching me how to cook. Although her stove is better, I think I can handle it.”

  “Our stove should be in, soon,” he said. “Tell you what: if you want to cook, fine, and if you don’t, that’s fine, too. I just want you to be happy. It would be even harder now to have you walk out on me.”

  Elaina could see the pain in his eyes when he said that.

  “I promise I'll never walk out on you, Pete. If I have a problem with anything, I’ll tell you about it, and we can solve it together. Marriage is for keeps. I’ve learned a lot from Edna and Reverend Flannery.”

  Pete’s eyes brightened,

  “You met Flannery?”

  “Oh, yes! I forgot to tell you. I said the Sinner’s Prayer with him last Sunday afternoon.”

  “You did?”

  She nodded with a proud smile.

  “Praise the Lord! I thought preaching to you would be my next duty.”

  “I’ll be baptized in the creek in two weeks.”

  Pete reached over, and she thought he was about to give her a quick kiss, but hia lips felt so good she wouldn’t let him pull away. They ended up in a passionate embrace, their lips locked together.

  “To the devil with the tea—it’s time for bed,” Pete said when the kiss finally broke. He scooped his wife up and headed up the stairs, kissing her all the while.

  Pete welcomed Brock when he stopped by the office, but now that he and Elaina were solid, he wasn’t sure how he felt about him. Had he kissed her? Had he held her in his arms? He found himself feeling jealous. He tried to hide his feelings, invited Brock to sit down, and poured him a cup of coffee.

  “What’s up, Brock?” he asked.

  “I heard all the details about your capturing the bandits,” Brock said. “Are they still here?”

  “Yes, they’re locked up in the back. The Federal Marshal's coming for them in a day or two,” Pete said.

  “I came for another reason,” Brock said. “I heard from Cole that you’re selling your property, and I’d like to buy it‒fortop price, of course. How much are you asking?”

  “I was thinking thirty-five dollars an acre,” Pete said.

  “How many acres?”

  “Five hundred,” Pete said.

  Brock tapped his finger on Pete’s desk in thought. “Are you going to rebuild a home for you and Elaina?”
>
  “Yes, we’re truly married now,” Pete said, making sure Brock knew it‒ he’d wondered how he might fit it into the conversation.

  “I couldn’t be happier for you both,” Brock said.

  Pete thought he sounded sincere.

  “I’ll give you fifty dollars an acre.”

  “What? Why would you pay more than I'm asking?”

  “That’s what I planned on paying. It’s an excellent location.”

  “That’s not good business sense, Brock. Why pay fifty when thirty-five will make it yours?”

  “Because the other fifteen per acre is a wedding gift to you both,” Brock said. “Elaina’s also promised to bring Sarah to Hunter’s Grove and set it up in such a way that she won’t know I’m rich. I don’t want a fortune hunter.”

  “Thank you, Brock,” Pete said. “What will you do with the land?”

  “With more young families moving to Hunter’s Grove, the church has become too overcrowded to continue to be the schoolhouse. I want to build a school, with each grade in a separate room, and hire teachers for each class. I’m working with the council to make it a reality. If we can do this, our town will grow and bring what we need most: decent, law-abiding citizens.

  “At first, we’ll put two grades to a room, but we'll eventually have a separate room for each grade, a cloakroom, a lunch room, and a playground. We have big plans.”

  “And that’s where I come in, keeping everyone safe,” Pete added.

  “You've got it, my friend.

  “At least, I hope we’re still friends,” Brock said. “I had no idea when I escorted Elaina to the general store that day that she was married to you. I asked, and she told me the truth, but sort of insinuated that splitting up was a joint decision. Even so, I felt your feelings loud and clear when we met in front of the general store.

  “I’m looking forward to her helping me, and can only hope Sarah is as wonderful as your Elaina,” he said.

  “That'll be strange,” Pete said. “If she comes here, I’ll get to see what I almost had, since I originally sent her the tickets to come here and marry me. Although, I have a strong feeling God had his almighty hand in all this.”

  “I’m sure of it,” Brock said.

  Chapter 16

  Elaina waved goodbye to Pete as he galloped down the lane to work. What should she do today?

  Pete had instructed her not to cook.

  Maybe she’d do some work in the garden. She went into the barn, found a pair of gloves, and proceeded to the garden. Pulling weeds is one thing she had experience with, as she’d done it many times in their own small garden in Ohio.

  As she yanked and pulled around the cauliflower, she hummed loudly. It was a gorgeous day, she had a wonderful husband, and she was in love‒how much happier could she be? Even though she still worried about Pete while he was at work, she felt nothing could possibly spoil her day.

  She’d just finished humming the last verse of Sweet Violets, when she felt someone grab her from behind. She screamed, and then thought perhaps it might be Pete, giving her a scare. She couldn’t see behind her, so she looked down to see strange-looking hands around her waist. Then she smelled the odor of whiskey and tobacco.

  “Let me go!” she yelled, struggling with all her might.

  “I don’t wanna hurt you,” the man’s voice said. “I just want someone to love.”

  “Well, not me!” she yelled, finally pulling from his grasp.

  “Clyde!”

  “You’re so pretty. Just for once I’d like to be with a pretty girl. I hated the way your husband put me down in front of you at the general store. I need to show you I’m a real man,” he said.

  “Pete’llkill you, Clyde. You better go‒now!” Elaina said. Clyde had responded to Pete’s orders that time in the general store, so she thought she’d try it.

  “No.” He tried to grab her again, but she started to run, jumping over turnips and peppers.

  He was close behind her and he grabbed at her dress, and was able to pull her down to the ground.

  Elaina started to pray while the giant of a man fondled her hair.

  “So pretty,” he kept saying.

  Elaina had an idea. “Clyde, you’re a very handsome man, and I’d gladly be with you, romantically, if you took a bath.”

  “Huh?” he asked.

  “You smell. If you take a bath, I’ll let you romance me.”

  “Really? Where do I take a bath?”

  “There’s a large tub in the barn. I’ll fill it with hot water for you.”

  He crouched over her as she lay on the ground, and he was still clutching her dress in one hand and her hair with the other. He didn’t answer right away, but then he said, “All right.”

  He followed her to the barn and helped her take down the large tub. She left him in the yard just outside the kitchen door to put hot water on the stove, and she breathed a sigh of relief‒she had a reprieve.

  Pete sat in the office feeling bored. He wished he were at home with his wife. Things were quiet. He'd already finished his reports, handed over the three men to the marshal, and gone through the mail. Then Cole walked in.

  “How’s the married man doing?” he asked.

  “Wonderful. I couldn’t be happier.”

  “I have news: Agnes Wells was recently widowed, and she’s trying to support five children. Reverend Flannery told me about her and asked if I knew anyone needing a maid or cook. Naturally, I thought of you.”

  “Where can I find her?” Pete asked, visibly excited.

  “She lives out on Bailey Road, just past the bridge. It’s a ramshackle house in need of repairs. All the men from church will meet there on Saturday to help fix it up for her,” Cole said.

  “I didn’t hear about it,” Pete said.

  “The reverend said to let you enjoy your honeymoon.”

  “Would you mind the office while I go to see this Agnes?”

  “Certainly,” Cole said.

  Elaina filled every single pot she had with water and put it on the stove. Then she went out and told Clyde the water would be ready shortly.

  “You’ll have to remove your clothes, so I’ve brought you Pete’s robe. Once you’re in the water, you can throw it on the ground,” she said.

  Clyde took the robe, and as he started to unbutton his shirt, Elaina returned to the kitchen.

  Now, instead of thinking of the old stove as a nuisance, she patted the side of it gingerly. “Thank you, stove.” Its being always overly hot would come in handy today.

  She peeked out the window to see Clyde in Pete’s robe. She took her first pan of water out, the biggest pot. It was heavy, but she was determined for this to work.

  She set the pot down, threw a bar of soap into the tub, and then poured the water in. This pot of water was lukewarm.

  “Okay, Clyde, you can get in and sit down,” she said. “I’ll bring more hot water out for you. Be sure to lather up good.”

  She ran in and refilled the larger pot. She took the next biggest pot, and then the next, until Clyde’s water was hip-high. She averted her eyes from his personal parts and ran to get the largest pan of water.

  By now the biggest pot was boiling. She almost felt guilty for what she had to do next. She shrugged. What choice did she have?

  She walked out toting the heavy pot of boiling water, and poured it over Clyde’s head and upper body. He yelled like a coyote, jumped out of the tub, and began to run, but not before Elaina noticed his reddened skin.

  As perfect as his timing always was, Pete drove up at that moment in a buggy. He had a woman with him.

  Pete jumped out of the buggy to see Clyde run naked through the fields to where he'd tied his horse to a tree. He gave Elaina a puzzled look.

  Elaina ran to meet him. “Your friend, Clyde, tried to violate me while I worked in the garden, so I told him I’d cooperate if he took a hot bath.”

  “What?” he exclaimed.

  Before she could explain further, he was ru
nning toward Clyde, who was now on his horse.

  “Stop that horse or I’ll shot,” Pete yelled. He had his gun pointed at Clyde.

  Elaina handed Pete the robe.

  Pete walked over and handed the robe to Clyde. “Put this on and get down off the horse.”

  Clyde obeyed.

  Pete called to Agnes, “Come on down and meet Mrs. Mullins.”

  Agnes jumped down from the buggy and walked over to where Pete and Elaina stood. She looked like she wanted no part of their household.

  Pete turned to Clyde. “Get into the buggy and wait for me there.”

  Still holding his gun on Clyde, he introduced Agnes to Elaina. “This is your new cook and maid. You might want to go and show her around, while I lock up your friend, here.”

  Pete jumped up into the rented buggy and drove into town with Clyde.

  That night, when he came home to a delicious meal of chicken and gravy over mashed potatoes, he asked Elaina, “How'd you ever get him to take a bath?”

  “He was about to have his way with me,” Elaina said. “He smelled bad, and I told him if he bathed I’d let him romance me. He fell for it. I hated to burn him, but I really had no choice.”

  “His burns aren’t too serious. He'll just be red for a few days,” he said, and then laughed. “Well done, wife, but we’re going to be moving closer to town where it isn’t so isolated.”

  By the fall, Elaina and Pete had moved into their log cabin, just a half-mile from town. The house sat on five acres, which Pete thought was more than enough land. They sold all their livestock, and Pete bought a watchdog, which Elaina loved‒Pete was embarrassed one morning to feel a tinge of envy because he wanted all of her hugs and kisses.

  He loved Elaina with all his heart, and each day they grew even closer. As the Bible said, the two had become one. God had truly blessed their marriage.