When Jess got to the Mountie office that afternoon, she was surprised Theodore wasn’t there. In his place was a note that said, “I’ll be back tomorrow.” His signature was scrawled across the bottom.
Jess read the note once more, and then put it back on the desk. She didn’t know who it was meant for, but it obviously wasn’t for her. She’d be gone shortly after he came back from wherever he’d gone.
Dejectedly, she walked back to the cabin. She needed to get her things together and packed to go back to Ottawa anyway.
Just before suppertime, Joel strode into the cabin. “Did Theodore tell you where he was going?” he asked Jess.
She shook her head. “He didn’t say anything to me about it.” And that hurt, more than him simply not asking her to stay. He left without saying goodbye.
Joel sighed. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately.”
Miss Hazel looked up from her spot at the table, a book in front of her. “I do. He’s in love, and he has no idea how to behave.”
Jess made a face. “If he was in love, he’d have told me by now. I’ve told him I love him.” Truly there wasn’t a more contrary man in all of Canada.
Joel studied Jess for a minute. “Would you marry him if he asked?”
“You don’t know the answer to that question? Of course I’d marry him. I brought a wedding dress with me!” Jess shrugged. “It really doesn’t matter at this point, though, does it?” She would be alone for the rest of her life, always dreaming about Theodore. He was truly the only man she’d ever love.
“I guess not.” The other three Mounties trickled in, and they all sat down to eat. After supper, Kendall smiled. “I’m going to go get my guitar. We’re going to give you a proper send off, Jess. We’ll all have a singalong. Don’t worry, no dancing.”
Jess was reluctant to agree, but if Teddy wouldn’t be there, what difference did it make? She had to learn to have fun without him.
It was late when she finally climbed under the covers that night. The night had been filled with song and laughter. Miss Hazel lay in the bed beside her. “Do you think I’ll ever be able to move on?” Jess asked softly.
“I never could. I don’t exactly have suitors beating down my door at my age, but I wouldn’t have accepted a beau. Teddy’s father was the only man I’ve ever loved. I can’t imagine kissing another, let alone being married to someone else.”
“You were supposed to encourage me! Tell me that I will find someone else to love.” More than anything, Jess needed someone to tell her she wouldn’t always be alone, because at the moment, that’s where she felt like she was headed.
Miss Hazel sighed heavily. “I won’t lie to you Jess. I’ve seen you with Teddy. You two are…well, I believe he’s the love of your life and you’re the love of his. Maybe he’ll come to his senses and ride into Ottawa on his big horse, his scarlet uniform looking majestic as he rides. He’ll ride right up to you on the street, pull you onto his horse, and insist you ride off into the sunset with him.”
Jess laughed softly. “Miss Hazel? You are the most romantic woman I’ve ever met. You need to find something to do that will let you show that side of yourself.”
“Maybe I will.”
There were only four Mounties for breakfast on Thursday morning, and Jess had cooked for six. That was good, because Nolan declared himself “more peckish than usual” and made short work of the extra food.
Jess felt her heart sink even more when she realized Theodore wasn’t even going to be there for goodbyes. It was strange that he wouldn’t even say goodbye to his own mother, but what could she say? Everyone had been commenting on how strangely he was behaving of late.
After breakfast, she cleaned up the breakfast dishes and swept the floor. She wanted to make sure everything was in place when they left, because she wasn’t about to make his life any harder than it already was. In a few days, all signs of her and his mother being there would be gone.
Just before lunch time, she decided to go pick a few more berries and bake some muffins before the train arrived. One last act of love waiting for him when he got home.
She carried one pail with her as she walked out to the berry patch that was almost completely devoid of berries now. Every day she’d picked a few more for jam, pies, or muffins. She’d never seen a man who loved muffins quite the way Teddy did.
She picked a bucketful, and hurried back to the cabin. Her train left at two, and it was already after noon. She wanted him to come home to fresh-baked muffins filling the air with their fragrance.
Miss Hazel watched her as she rushed to bake the muffins, shaking her head. “You can’t not do kind things for my boy, even when you’re angry with him. Oh, Jess, I wish I could call you daughter!”
“I wish you could too, Miss Hazel, but that’s not the way things are turning out. No matter. I’ll move on with my life, and he’ll move on with his. Someday he’ll find a woman who he wants to marry. It just won’t be me.”
10
Jess and Miss Hazel left for the train station as soon as the muffins were ready. It was a short walk, and Jess was glad she’d decided to have the bulk of her belongings shipped later, instead of bringing a trunk with her. It wasn’t a big deal to carry her small suitcase the short distance.
She sat on the only bench in the station beside Miss Hazel, neither of them as talkative as usual. When the train pulled into the station, she took a deep breath and stood up. She knew that a piece of her heart would forever be in this small town…with Theodore.
She was walking toward the train, and she heard her name being called as if from a distance. She looked at Miss Hazel questioningly before she turned. There was Teddy, riding toward her. “Jessica, wait!”
Jess put her suitcase down, worried she’d miss her train. When he was close, he all but vaulted off his horse, stopping in front of her. “Don’t go.”
“Don’t go? But I thought you wanted me to go.” Jess studied his face, trying to understand what he wanted from her. Two days ago, his words would have made all the difference. “Where have you been?” She couldn’t just agree to stay without knowing why he’d disappeared, though she wanted to scream she’d stay with him forever.
“He was looking for me,” came another voice from behind Teddy. She hadn’t looked at anything but him, her eyes trying to memorize every line of his face. She’d draw him and exorcise him from her mind. It might keep her from going insane with missing him.
Jess looked at the man behind him, at first not recognizing him, but then she realized who he was. The pastor who had preached on Sunday. “Why was he looking for you, Pastor?” Her brows were drawn together in confusion.
Teddy took her hand, pulling her off the platform. “I’ll bring her right back, Mom.”
Miss Hazel was grinning from ear to ear. “Oh, I have a feeling you need her a great deal more than I do, son.”
Jess followed him around the side of the train station before she dug in her heels. “Exactly where are you taking me?” He was dragging her around like she was a rag doll, and he had to know that wouldn’t set well with her.
“I guess this is good enough.” He cleared his throat, thinking of all the speeches he’d practiced for the past twenty-four hours as he’d searched all three towns before finding the pastor in his home, which was near the first town he’d searched. “I realized yesterday that I had to stop being noble. I’ve given you every reason in the world to think that I don’t want you here, but the truth is, I need you, Jessica. Please stay here with me as my wife.”
Jess blinked a couple of times. “Why?” She knew it wasn’t the right answer to a marriage proposal, but her mind was spinning. Did he only want her to cook for him? Why the sudden change of mind?
“Because I love you. I go to bed at night, and I see your face as I close my eyes. I wake up in the morning, and you’re the first thought that enters my mind. I want you to be happy, and with no women around for friendship, I know that may be hard. A Mountie’s hours c
an be long and you may be alone more than you’d like.” He closed his eyes. “I’m giving you all the reasons you should say no, and that’s not very bright of me. I love you, and I want to wake up with your head on the pillow next to mine every single morning. Please, say you’ll stay and marry me.”
Jess watched absently as her train pulled out of the station. A slow smile crossed her face. “Well, I guess I have to stay now, because I just missed my train.”
He grinned, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. “I could lie to you and promise I’ll make sure you get on next week’s train, but…I’m keeping you.”
Her arms wound around his neck, and she looked into his eyes. “I want you to keep me. There’s nothing more I want in this entire world.”
He crushed his lips to hers, holding her close. “There’s a pastor over there, probably wondering if we’re ever going to come back. Will you marry me? Right now?”
Jess nodded emphatically. “I thought you’d never ask!”
“I thought you wanted to go back to Ottawa after you saw there were no women here!”
“I told you that I would be happy as long as I could spend the rest of my life with you!” Did he ever listen to anything she said?
“I can see there were misunderstandings. But you’ll marry me now?”
“Of course, I will. Let’s go talk to the pastor. What’s his name, anyway?”
Teddy wrapped his arm around her shoulders and steered her back toward the train platform where his mother and the pastor waited for him. “Where’s your mom going to stay for the next week?” she asked.
“I’m sure Kendall and Elijah will share a cabin for a week. Or something like that. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I just needed to get the preacher here so I could marry you, and you wouldn’t leave me.”
“You could have asked me to marry you and then gone for the pastor. That would have been all right.” Jess couldn’t believe he’d let her worry for an extra twenty-four hours when he could have put her mind at ease.
He shrugged. “It seemed smarter this way.”
“What would you have done if I’d said no?”
“I guess I’d have taken him back to his house. I’m glad I don’t have to figure it out.”
The pastor looked between Jess and Theodore. “Are you ready to marry now?”
Jess frowned. “I brought a dress to marry in, and I’d like for the other Mounties to be there. Can we get married this evening?”
Theodore nodded, seeming reluctant. “You’re not asking me to wait so you can run away, are you?” He was so afraid she was going to leave him there alone.
She laughed. “No, that’s not what I’m doing at all. I just have a pretty dress that will need to be pressed before I can wear it, and I’d really like for your friends to be there. I feel like they’re my friends now too.”
“Oh, they are!” Teddy smiled at his mom. “You’re going to have to go back to Ottawa by yourself. I’m keeping her.”
“I’m so relieved!” Miss Hazel said, hugging him tightly.
“Relieved? Why are you relieved?” Theodore asked, confused.
“Because I thought my only child didn’t have the brains God gave a goat. Now I know you’re not stupid, after all!”
He laughed, shaking his head. “My mother has so much confidence in me. Makes me feel good.” He turned to Pastor Robert Wilson. “Would you mind waiting for the other Mounties to get back to town for the day? You wouldn’t be able to ride out until seven or so.”
The pastor shrugged. “I can stay here for the night if there’s cake involved.” He looked at Jess. “I’ve heard marvelous things about your cooking, young lady. Is there cake involved?”
Jess laughed out loud, truly happy for the first time in days. “I think Miss Hazel and I can make a cake happen pretty quickly.”
“Then I’m staying the night. You ladies hurry off and get ready for this wedding. I’m ready for cake!” The pastor rubbed his hands together.
Theodore smiled at Jess. “Yes, you two go get ready. The other Mounties will be back in about two hours. Could you meet me at the church then?”
Jess nodded. “We’re off to bake a cake and get ready for a wedding.”
Theodore picked up both suitcases and carried them toward his cabin. “Is this all you brought?” he asked.
“Miss Hazel suggested I wait to have her ship the rest of my things out after we married. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I sure do now.” Jess looked at Miss Hazel who had an innocent look on her face.
“Where am I going to stay this week?” Miss Hazel asked. “I know I’m not staying in the newlywed cabin.”
Jess blushed as Teddy hurried to answer the question. “I’ll ask Nolan to share with Joel, I think. Joel will do it because we’ve been friends for a long time, and Nolan will do it because he knows he’ll get good food out of it. I’m not sure which of the men is neater, so you’ll have to determine that.”
“We can still have all our meals in your cabin,” Miss Hazel said. “You’ll have to work every day, so I don’t think any of us can pretend this is a real honeymoon.”
Theodore shrugged, pushing open the door. He didn’t really care if everyone ate with them, as long as they left after the meal. He stopped short just inside and dropped both suitcases, turning to Jess. “Even though you felt rejected by me, you made me muffins before leaving to go back to Ottawa.”
She nodded. “I wanted you to think of me after I was gone.”
“How could I ever stop?” He took two muffins, kissed her cheek, and left the cabin, closing the door behind him.
Jess looked at Miss Hazel, a look of panic entering her eyes. “We have a lot to do, and not much time.”
“I’ll start on the cake. You get your dress ready.”
Jess hurried to open her suitcase and air out her dress. She’d had it laid out most of the week, hoping that it would be worn, but she’d packed it the day before. It was a bit wrinkled, but nothing that a quick press with an iron wouldn’t fix. She went into the bedroom and laid it on the bed before hurrying out to Miss Hazel. “I’m going to fill the bathtub and wash my hair.”
“Oh, do you think you have time? With as long as your hair is, I don’t think there’s any way it’ll be dry before the Mounties get back from work.”
Jess frowned. “I want to look my best.”
Miss Hazel looked at Jess, obviously thinking. “Why don’t I style it? There’s a pretty hairstyle that was all the rage when I was younger, and I’ve never seen you wear it that way. I could hurry out back and cut some flowers to add to it.”
“Oh, yes, please, Miss Hazel! Hurry and get the cake in the oven, and then you can start on my hair.” Jess stood for a moment, wondering what she should do next. She hurried and put the iron on the stove, deciding that pressing her dress was the most important thing at the moment.
Two hours later Jess was ready. Her dress was a simple white day dress, and she had a white hat with lace hanging down on both sides of her face. It may not be the fancy dress she’d have worn if she’d married back in Ottawa, but she still felt she looked her very best. The white leather slippers she wore would be dirty by the time she reached the church, but that was to be expected when you married in a place that didn’t have proper streets.
As she walked alongside Miss Hazel, she sighed contentedly. “This is what I thought we’d do as soon as we got to town. I still can’t believe you tricked us both the way you did.”
“All’s well that ends well!” Miss Hazel said, happy as a clam. “I should find wives for the other Mounties here, don’t you think?”
“No! Miss Hazel, promise me you won’t do that unless they ask you to!” Jess didn’t want the kind of confusion that would come from more women showing up expecting to marry when there were no men planning to marry them.
Miss Hazel frowned. “It worked out so well this time!”
“Not for me! Not for Theodore! We had a very rough week.”
“I know. All right. I won’t find them brides unless they ask me to. Do you think they’ll ask me to?”
Jess had to laugh. “I’m sure if you can find a chef willing to marry Nolan, he’ll accept her on the spot!”
“I’m sure he would. Well, you talk to them and get them to ask me to find them brides. Then you’ll have friends.”
“How about we think about one wedding at a time?” They had arrived at the church, and Jess stood at the back.
Miss Hazel walked down the aisle in front of her. She’d insisted that it was necessary because she was both the matron of honor and the mother of the groom. As Jess watched her go, she thought about how much her life had changed in just six short weeks. Miss Hazel had taken her from her boring existence and brought her to the point where she was truly happy as she married the only man she’d ever loved.
Slowly she walked toward the front of the church, her eyes on Theodore. He looked so sharp in his Mountie uniform, and she realized it was the only thing she’d seen him wear since she’d arrived in Squirrel Ridge Station. When she got to the front of the church, he reached out and took her hand, and they both gave all their attention to the preacher.
Not twenty minutes later, they’d been declared husband and wife, and Teddy pulled her into his arms, kissing her in a way that made her toes curl. “Now you can’t go anywhere,” he whispered.
“I never wanted to be anywhere but here!”
Back at his cabin, Miss Hazel served the stew Jess had made for their supper when she’d been cooking on Wednesday. There was enough for everyone, because Miss Hazel had made biscuits to go along with it. Otherwise, Nolan never would have let part of his share go to the pastor.
RNWMP: Bride for Theodore (Mail Order Mounties Book 0) Page 9
