The Mistaken Mail Order Bride

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “Plaid red and black shirt, denim pants, a black hat,” Caroline replied. “He hasn’t shaved in a couple days.”

  “I don’t see him.” Eric looked over at her. “It’s a small town. He won’t be able to blend in. You can stay here until I’m ready to leave.” He turned to Caleb. “I don’t have any games, but you can practice writing to help pass the time.”

  Caleb nodded, and Eric pulled up the chair so Caleb could sit at the desk. After Caleb started working on the letter M, Eric strode over to her.

  “Do you believe Charles wants to make sure you’re alright?” he whispered.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. He seemed pleasant enough when I was talking to him. He mentioned wanting to talk for a while. He even said he wanted to talk to you. But Caleb lied and said he had to use the privy, and it’s not like him to lie.”

  “No, it’s not.” Eric rubbed the back of his neck then crossed his arms. “Do you think he’s upset you married me instead of him?”

  “I don’t know what to think. I never imagined he’d come all the way over here. I sent the missive because Ida suggested it would be good idea to let him know I was doing alright. It made sense to do that since he’d been expecting me. I mean, wouldn’t you want Allison to let you know if she got stuck in the wrong town and married someone else?”

  “Yes, I would. As much as I hate to agree with Ida, I can see the wisdom in her thinking.”

  She bit her lower lip then asked, “Do you think I made a mistake in writing to him?”

  “No. There was no way you could have known he was going to come looking for you.”

  “I didn’t ask him to.”

  Probably detecting the worry in her tone, he patted her lower back in reassurance. “I know. All you did was explain the situation.”

  She nodded, relieved he understood. Never in a million years would she think to ask anyone to take her away from Eric. Now that she was with him, she couldn’t imagine her life with another gentleman. And who knew if anyone else would have been willing to take Caleb?

  If she had arrived at the right town, Caleb wouldn’t have wanted Charles to be his father, and if Caleb couldn’t have accepted Charles, then she couldn’t have, either.

  As Eric had told her, she came to the right town and married the right gentleman. There was no denying that now that she’d seen the way Caleb reacted to Charles. With a shiver, she put her arms around Eric’s waist and rested her head on his shoulder.

  He, in turn, wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes. I was just thinking of how close I came to marrying the wrong gentleman. If Caleb doesn’t like Charles, there has to be a good reason for it, even if I have no idea what it could possibly be.”

  “I’ll find out what he wants.”

  She looked up at him. “How?”

  “I’m not sure yet, but I’ll come up with something. Until then, I don’t want you and Caleb to be alone. We’ll stay here while I go over my notes on Lydia’s murder.”

  “Are you close to figuring out who did it?”

  “No. It’s going to take a while. I’ve watched men who were punished for things they didn’t do, and I’m determined I get the right person.”

  Person? “Does that mean you think a lady might have done it?”

  “It’s possible. Not likely, but possible. I’m sure a couple of wives weren’t all that happy to learn Lydia slept with their husbands.”

  Caroline gasped. “She didn’t!” Remembering Caleb was within earshot, she lowered her voice. “Surely, a lady wouldn’t do such a thing.”

  “Men aren’t the only ones who have affairs.”

  “Is this a common thing out here?”

  “No, it’s not, but one thing I’ve learned from living in several places is that people are people no matter where they live. There will always be someone who breaks the law, whether God’s or man’s. You can’t get away from it. All you can do is what you can to make things better.” Offering a smile, he brushed her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I love you, Caroline. You’re the perfect wife. You have a tender heart for others, and you live the kind of life that honors me as your husband. I don’t know what happened to Allison, but whatever delayed her was for the best—for me and probably even for her. I don’t believe in coincidence. I believe things happen as they’re meant to.”

  As much as she wanted to bask in the warmth of his praises, she couldn’t help but note his last sentence. “Do you think Charles’ coming here was meant to happen, to?”

  He paused then answered, “I know he’s here for a reason, and I suspect it’s not good. Don’t worry. I’ll figure out what it is.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder again, taking comfort in his words.

  Chapter Twenty

  After Eric came home with Caroline and Caleb, he closed all the curtains, blocking out any view Charles might have of them in case he was lurking outside. Since Charles hadn’t made it a point to come to the jailhouse to introduce himself, Eric gathered Charles’ sole interest was in Caroline. The line he’d given her about wanting to talk to him was probably a cover to get her to lower her guard down.

  To be sure he was right about Charles, he pulled Caleb aside while Caroline was trying her hand at a new recipe Lois had given her. He sat with Caleb on his bed and asked, “You remember that man you and Caroline saw today outside the general store?”

  Caleb nodded. “Charles.”

  “What was it about him that bothered you?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “That man who killed your mother… You didn’t like him when you first saw him, correct?”

  Caleb nodded again.

  “And you couldn’t figure out why you didn’t like him?” Eric asked, hoping he might pinpoint something tangible he could use to help him figure out Charles’ motives for coming here.

  “No,” Caleb replied.

  Alright. That avenue was a dead end. Maybe Eric needed to try a different line of questioning, something more specific. “Caleb, are there any similarities between the man who killed your mother and Charles?”

  “They’re both white.”

  It was getting closer to what Eric wanted, but he needed more. “What about the way they acted or talked?”

  Caleb’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  Eric thought over a couple good examples he might use before saying, “For instance, did they use any of the same words? Or did they walk the same way? Maybe the man who killed your mother gave her the same kind of look that Charles gave Caroline. Anything like that.”

  “Oh, well…”

  Caleb’s voice drifted off, and Eric could tell he was comparing the two in his mind, sifting through those subtle details that were important when deducting the good and the bad in people. Eric was beginning to suspect Caleb had a method for picking out such details without even thinking about it. What Caleb needed was for someone to help him become aware of that method so he could willingly use it in the future…and now.

  “They were too nice,” Caleb finally said.

  “Too nice?” Eric asked.

  “They wanted to be trusted.”

  “How did you know they wanted to be trusted?”

  Caleb stared at his hands for a long moment then said, “Their voices. They sounded different than other men’s.”

  “How were their voices different?”

  “They were higher.”

  “You mean, the pitch in their voice was higher than it normally would have been?”

  Caleb nodded.

  “Anything else?” Eric asked.

  “There was something in their eyes.”

  Figuring Caleb wouldn’t be able to explain what that something was, Eric ventured, “How did you feel when you looked at their eyes?”

  “Scared.”

  So maybe Caleb detected a predatory look in their eyes. “What kind of scared?”

  “I wanted to run and hide.”


  “Caleb, when Ida was here, did you feel the same things as you did with those men?”

  “No. Ida’s different. She had a strange smile on her face.”

  “A strange smile?”

  He nodded. “It made me think of a stray cat. Mama used to feed him. He scratched her when she touched him. Enough to hurt, but not kill.”

  Interesting. “If you were to compare the two men with an animal, what would it be?”

  “There was a dog by our apartment. It didn’t have a home. Mama and I passed it when we went outside. It seemed nice. Mama and I petted it. But then white spit came out its mouth one day, and it was mean. Mama said to stay away from it. I learned it killed two people. Then it was shot.”

  Eric was surprised the boy could come up with such great analogies to describe Ida and the two men. Just as he thought, the information was there, buried deep down in the boy’s mind. It was a matter of drawing it out to see how he came up with the conclusions he did.

  “Well, tonight I’m going to see if I can figure out what Charles is up to,” Eric said. “After we eat, I would like you to pretend to go to bed. Keep your clothes on and sit on the couch with Caroline. I don’t want Charles to have any advantage, and if I know you two are safe in this cabin, I’ll be able to focus on what I need to do.”

  The boy nodded, and Eric decided that was a good way to end this particular conversation.

  “I’m going to go help Caroline with the meal,” Eric said.

  “Can I help, too?” Caleb asked.

  Surprised he wanted to spend time cooking, he agreed. But who knew? Maybe Caleb had helped his mother with the meals.

  Eric smiled. “It’d be nice to have your help.”

  Together, the two went to the kitchen.

  ***

  Charles waited until it was dark before he made his way to Caroline’s new home. He had to get her. Every woman he didn’t acquire was money lost, and he had debts to pay.

  From the shadows of the trees, he watched the house. The curtains were drawn, so he couldn’t make out anything she and that new husband of hers were doing. Of all the times someone would end up in the wrong town, it had to be Caroline. If it hadn’t been for the little brat she’d brought with her, she would have been paying attention when the stagecoach driver called out the name of the town.

  Oh, who was he kidding? The woman wasn’t all that smart. Only someone lacking intelligence would end up in the wrong town. But it wasn’t her mind he was interested in. And who knew? Maybe her stupidity would be an asset.

  He settled on the ground and leaned against a tree, making sure he remained out of sight. He’d wait for as long as it took for her to come out. She couldn’t stay there forever, and her husband couldn’t be with her at all times, either. It was just a matter of waiting. And fortunately for him, he was a patient man.

  An hour later, the lights in the cabin went out except for a small one that was near the front door. Another hour later, someone stepped onto the porch.

  Squinting, he tried to make out whether it was Caroline or her husband. It had to be Caroline. He caught the bonnet on the person’s head and the skirt that swirled around the ankles. Yes, it had to be her.

  She sat on the chair and rocked back and forth, probably trying to unwind after a long day. Charles waited for a few minutes to see if the husband would join her, but he didn’t. Good. Now was the time to act. He removed the bottle of chloroform and the rag from his pocket. After making sure the rag was saturated, he slipped the bottle back into his pocket and rose to his feet, careful not to make a sound.

  He tiptoed to the side of the porch so he could come from behind her. The element of surprise was on his side, but he didn’t have much time. That husband of hers could show up at any moment.

  He crept up behind the chair, which continued squeaking as she rocked back and forth. Making sure no one was shuffling around in the cabin, he rose to his feet. And just as he was about to slip the rag around her mouth, she turned to him. Except she wasn’t a she. She was a he.

  “I knew you’d come for me,” the man said, imitating Caroline’s southern drawl before he punched Charles in the face.

  ***

  Once the man fell into an unconscious heap, Eric rose from the chair and threw off the bonnet and shawl and put them on the chair. Then he unpinned Caroline’s skirt and added it to the pile.

  “It’s safe to come out,” he called out to Caroline and Caleb.

  The door opened, and Caroline peered outside. “What happened?”

  “I got him.” Eric turned the man over and slid the handcuffs behind his back. They were a little tight, but it was better than being loose. At least this way, Charles couldn’t slip out of them. He rolled the man onto his back and glanced at her. “Bring out the light and tell me if this is the right man.”

  Caroline hurried to obey and stepped up to him. She held the kerosene lamp up and nodded. “Yes, that’s Charles. What do you think he was going to do?”

  Finding the wet rag beside the chair, Eric picked it up and sniffed it, noting the sickly sweet smell. “He was going to put this over your nose and mouth so you’d go to sleep. After that, he was probably going to haul you off to his town.”

  “But why?” Caroline asked.

  “That’s what I’m going to find out.” He glanced at Caleb. “It looks like your instinct was right. You do well to listen to them.” He turned his gaze back to Caroline. “I want you to stay with Abe and Phoebe while I take Charles to his hometown so I can find out what he wanted with you. Mind if I take the missive he sent you so I know where his home is?”

  “No, I don’t mind.” She rushed back into the cabin.

  “You don’t mind staying with Abe and Phoebe, do you?” Eric asked Caleb.

  “No,” Caleb replied then looked down at Charles. “I knew he was bad.”

  “You did, and I’m glad we listened to you.”

  “I wish Mama had listened to me.”

  Eric placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “As happy as I am to have you here, I also wish she’d listened to you. No one should lose a mother the way you did. I’m sorry, Caleb. I know no one will ever replace her. I just hope you can find some happiness here.”

  “You and Caroline are good people,” Caleb said.

  “And you’re a good boy,” Eric replied. “Your mother raised you right.” He saw a tear fall from Caleb’s eye, so he hugged him, choked up by the things Caleb had been through at such a young age. When he released him, he asked, “Will you take care of Caroline for me while I’m gone?”

  Caleb nodded.

  Caroline returned with an envelope. “The missive’s in there,” she explained.

  He took it. “Thank you.” Glancing at Charles to make sure he hadn’t woken up, he added, “I’m going to get a wagon. After I take you and Caleb to Abe and Phoebe’s, I’ll head out to Georgetown.”

  “But it’s late,” Caroline replied.

  “I know, but I won’t be able to sleep tonight so I might as well do something productive with my time.”

  “Don’t push yourself too hard. I want you coming back to us,” she replied.

  “I will. And when I do, I’ll be able to tell you what he was planning to do with you. Go on and get enough things for you and Caleb for a week then we’ll head out.”

  “Alright.”

  While she went to do that, he woke Charles up and then led him to the livery stable.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Almost two weeks later, Caroline was making soup. She’d been hesitant to do it, given her inclination to burn it, but Phoebe and her mother had promised her they’d stay with her the entire time. Though reluctant, she agreed, adding, “But if this doesn’t work out, I’m never trying it again.”

  Since Phoebe and her mother seemed happy enough with this compromise, Caroline worked on the soup. As she finished putting the last of the vegetables into the pot, Phoebe said, “That’s all there is to it.”

  “I’ve gotten t
his far before without any problems,” Caroline told Phoebe before she got her hopes up.

  Phoebe smiled. “You need to have more faith in yourself. If you can make pot roast, you can do this.”

  “Phoebe’s right,” her mother said. “It’s just a matter of letting the soup simmer for a couple hours.”

  “Well, you need to check on it every so often and add water from time to time,” Phoebe added. “I also like to put some salt in for extra flavor.”

  Caroline wiped her hands and set the towel on the hook by the cookstove. “We’ll see if your faith in me pays off in a couple hours then.” She turned to Phoebe. “I’m surprised you’re doing so much since you’re in the family way.”

  Phoebe glanced at her as she picked up the pitcher of lemonade to refill their glasses. “Why?”

  “Well, the ladies I was around would sit and rest as soon as they found out they were with child,” Caroline replied. “They were told to take things easy.”

  Phoebe’s mother chuckled. “I can’t remember a time when Phoebe ever took it easy. She’s always been one to work hard from the moment she wakes up to the moment she goes to sleep.”

  “I suppose things are different out here from the way they were when I was growing up,” Caroline thoughtfully replied.

  Caroline picked up her glass and took a sip of the lemonade. When it was her time to carry a child, she’d probably be doing all the household tasks she’d only recently learned. The war had changed so many things, and the South would never be the way it used to be. She would never be the way she used to be.

  While there were times she wished she could have one more day to spend with her family, doing the things she’d once taken for granted, she knew some things had changed for the better.

  She glanced at Caleb who was sitting on the couch, quietly working on the letter W. He was such a studious child. Besides her brother, she couldn’t think of anyone as dedicated to learning new things. They’d already started working on recording the memories he had of his mother. No doubt, when he was older, he’d go on to record more things as he encountered more people and gained more experiences.