In the kitchen, she put on an apron, started the coffee, and began to make biscuits, using her mother’s recipe. Finding her way around the kitchen was easy enough since everything was exactly where she would have put it. By the time Hetty arrived, Sara was ready to bake the biscuits.
“Well, now, look who’s up bright and early! And got a start on breakfast, too! I’m not used to all this spoilin’!”
“Good morning, Hetty. I’ve been idle for days, what with all the traveling. It feels good to be doing something productive.”
Hetty started the bacon and eggs and told Sara about their church. Gus arrived next, in his Sunday best.
“Mornin’, Sara.”
“Good morning.” Sara watched as Blackie trotted over to greet Gus.
“Looks as if someone had a bath! You cleaned up real nice, little feller. Still scrawny, but I think there’s hope for ya! You give ’im a bath, Sara?”
“Must we talk about it? I never dreamed it would be such a trial! I’m not certain who looked sillier—Blackie or me!”
“I’d cast my vote on you.” Nathan stood leaning arrogantly against the doorway to the dining room.
Sara’s eyes darted to his as her mouth fell open. His face was serious, but something in his eyes hinted of mockery. Her mouth shut with a snap as color suffused her face. She made herself busy with the food. He must have watched from the window. She reviewed the episode in her mind and saw what he must have seen—her struggle, her drenching, her sprawling! Oh, the mortification!
Gus watched the heat spread across her cheeks. “That musta been some bath!”
“You two leave this poor girl alone! Breakfast is ready; now, take your seats.” Hetty served up the bacon and eggs while Sara put the biscuits on the table.
They seated themselves at the table, said grace, and turned their thoughts to food, much to Sara’s relief. Mostly, they talked about church and religious matters, so she remained silent and pretended to be interested in her food.
After Sara and Hetty washed dishes, they all boarded the carriage and set off for church. The short ride passed quickly, and soon Sara glimpsed the small white church. The sign above the door read, “Cedar Springs Church of God.”
As they entered the building, she noted that there were twenty or so people seated on the wooden benches. There were rows on both sides of them as they proceeded up the aisle and took their seats near the front. The interior was rather plain, compared to the other two churches she’d been in, with colorless windows on the east and west sides of the building. The pews were polished to a shine, but lacked the ornamental carving of the church where her mother had attended.
Nathan said hello to a few friends as he passed, but the quiet chattering completely ceased as they took their seats. Sara’s face grew warm as she felt the curious gazes pierce her back. Hetty had said she’d mentioned her to a few of the women, but it was obvious from the looks she was receiving that some were wondering who she was. Did they suspect she was Nathan’s new wife? Surely they didn’t know about the ad in the paper? Oh! Why didn’t I think to ask Hetty? She fought against the urge to squirm in her seat.
She kept her eyes focused on the pulpit until the song leader stepped forward. Hetty whispered that this was their neighbor, Luke. He was tall and thin, with wavy hair that matched his buckeye-brown eyes.
There were no songbooks, but Sara knew some of the words, so she attempted to sing along. The reverend stepped forward after the song. He had a medium build and thick, ashen hair that was cut above the collar.
Other than the man who had married them, Sara had only known one other preacher, and his sermons had been as tiresome and severe as he was. But Reverend Hill was as dissimilar from that as he could be. He told captivating stories, and he had a way of making one see things from a whole new angle.
He talked of God’s creation and how diverse and magnificent it was: a myriad of textures and smells, a rainbow of colors, sounds that ranged from high to low, and food that ran the gamut from salty to sweet. He spoke of how God could have made His creation bland and boring, but loved everyone so much that He gave His children the best—a creation people could enjoy and savor. Sara had never considered this before. She’d always imagined that God was detached and impersonal.
When the reverend stopped to say the closing prayer, Sara realized her mind hadn’t strayed once, as it always had in Boston. She was pleased that Reverend Hill was such a gifted speaker, especially since she would be required to sit through a sermon every week!
“Amen.” Nathan echoed the preacher’s closing word and the crowd rose to leave.
“How’d ya like the message, Sara?” Hetty asked.
“It was very interesting. Your pastor is a skillful speaker.”
“Don’t I know it! Why, I could just listen to him all day. Hello, Laura! I’d like you to meet Sara.”
A young woman had walked over to their pew. She held a hand out to Sara. “I’m pleased to meet you, Sara. It will be lovely to have someone else my age here in Cedar Springs to visit with.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind.”
“Laura’s a good friend of mine,” Nathan said. “We went to school together most of our lives.”
“I’ve got a story or two I could tell you, Sara!”
Nathan stretched up to his full height. “Laura Reed, don’t you go filling her head with a bunch of nonsense. . .”
“Excuse me!” A short, round woman bustled over to them. “Oh! You must be Nathan’s new wife; why, I’ve just been dyin’ to meet ya! Saw ya walk in, and I thought ‘that must be her.’ Everyone is just so curious about—”
“Ma, please! You’re embarrassing her.” Laura looked at Sara. “This is my mother, Mrs. Reed.”
Sara shook her hand. “How do you do?”
“Come on, Ma. We need to go ask Reverend and Mrs. Hill over for dinner.”
“But, I really wanted to—”
“Come on, Ma!” Laura nearly had to drag Mrs. Reed away. Sara was flustered by all the attention and hoped that Mrs. Reed would not be attending the shower!
Gus shook his head. “I don’t know how that woman managed to raise such a sweet child.”
“She means well. She’s just. . .curious,” Hetty said.
Gus snorted. “I think meddlin’ is the word you’re lookin’ for!”
“Now, that’s enough!” Hetty said. “Let’s make our way out, so Sara can meet Reverend Hill.”
Several people stopped them on their way out, including Mrs. Hill. She was a plump woman with silver-gray hair and rosy cheeks that accentuated her friendly smile.
The reverend stood at the door shaking hands with his congregation. “Hello, Hetty, Gus. Nice to see you. Nathan, introduce me to your lovely wife.”
“This is Sara, Reverend. Sara, meet Reverend Hill.”
“It’s a pleasure meeting you,” Sara said.
“The pleasure’s all mine, Sara. I hope I can look forward to your presence every Sunday.”
“Of course.”
“Wonderful! Well, I must go collect the missus. We’ve been invited to the Reeds’ for dinner.”
Gus chortled. “My sincere regrets!”
Hetty poked him in the ribs, and the reverend gave a delightful chuckle as he walked away.
Moments later, in the swaying wagon, Sara found herself unable to contain her contented smile. She loved the ranch with its rolling green hills and towering trees. The town of Cedar Springs was small and quaint, offering all the necessities with none of the commotion. Even most of the people she’d met were warm and engaging.
If only the strain between her and her husband would disappear. . .
eight
The next week Sara began to establish a new routine. She and Hetty prepared breakfast at dawn. After that, Nathan and Gus went out to work and usually didn’t return until s
uppertime. The women packed the men a lunch to eat out in the pasture so they wouldn’t have to ride back in for lunch.
During the day, she and Hetty cleaned, did the washing, made bread, mended, and did whatever else needed to be done. Much of it they did together, but Hetty went to her own home for some of the chores. This was just as well, since Sara had always enjoyed having time to herself.
By the end of the week it became clear to Sara that Hetty had been doing all the chores before her arrival—even all the meals. Therefore, Sara began to wonder why Nathan had sought out a wife. When she’d responded to his ad, she’d assumed he wanted a wife for the ordinary reasons—companionship and a helpmate. Certainly someone to cook and clean and to look after the home. She had come here expecting to carry out those duties.
Of course, it had become plain to her after meeting him that it wasn’t companionship he sought! At least not from her. She knew she’d failed in that way; she clearly was not what he’d wanted in a woman. She had come to terms with this in Wichita, and had anticipated the chance to make amends by being a proper helpmate. On the long drive to Cedar Springs, she’d pictured a house that needed loving care, holey socks that needed mending, and floors that needed scrubbing. These things she could do, and do well.
But those things had not even been neglected. Hetty had been taking care of Nathan’s home. And so, it was with all this on her mind that she decided to approach Hetty.
The day was pleasantly warm, with just enough breeze to keep the temperature perfect. They were finishing the washing in the front yard. Hetty ran the clothes through the wringer, while Sara hung them on the line to dry. They had been working in mutual silence.
“Hetty?” Sara asked.
“Umm?”
“Do you. . .that is. . .why did Nathan marry me?”
Hetty stopped wringing midturn and looked at her with raised brows. “What?”
“I mean. . .well, Nathan must have told you how we came to meet, right?”
“You mean the advertisement? Yes, he told us.”
“Well. . .a man doesn’t just place an ad like that without some thought. He must want a marriage—a wife—for some reason. . .don’t you think?”
“Of course he wanted a wife! He’d hardly have gone to all that trouble if he didn’t.”
“That. . .that’s what I thought from the outset, but. . .”
“What’s troublin’ ya, dear?”
“It’s just that. . . See, you’ve always done the cooking and cleaning for Nathan, haven’t you? Taken care of his home and everything?”
“Well, yes, that’s always been part of my job.”
“And you’ve seen the way Nathan. . .the way he doesn’t . . . Well, he plainly doesn’t even like me!”
“Sara! That’s just not true! Now, I know he’s been a little gruff. Okay, a lot gruff. But it’s not you, dear. You see, Nathan’s daddy died some months back, and he’s just not been the same since. Still grievin’, I guess. He’s never had a mama—she died birthin’ him. So, ya see. . .he’s got no family left. I expect he wanted a wife so he wouldn’t be all alone in the world. Oh, sure, he’s got me an’ Gus, but we’ve got our own family scattered across the country. Besides, it’s natural for a man his age to start wantin’ some young’uns.”
Sara flushed a deep red and hung a shirt on the line. She wasn’t even going to pursue that topic!
“I think, if ya just give ’im a little time, he’ll come around. He didn’t used to walk around in a snit all the time!”
They laughed and resumed the laundry. Sara felt she had a better understanding of Nathan now. He must miss his father the way she missed her mama. Maybe Hetty was right; she’d just give it some time.
❧
On Saturday Sara woke with a sigh of resignation. Shower day. All the women were coming around noon for a potluck luncheon. Even though they were planning to eat outdoors, she and Hetty had scoured the floors and put an extra polish on everything that shines in preparation for the guests.
Sara had tried to act excited about the event. She didn’t want to hurt Hetty’s feelings, after all, but she was really uneasy about being thrust upon this group of women whom she didn’t even know. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Mrs. Hill, the reverend’s wife, would be coming, along with Laura and her mother. She would just smile graciously and try to make small talk with the others—not one of her better abilities.
After Nathan and Gus finished their morning chores, they set up three tables outside in the shade of a large oak tree. Hetty fluttered about, covering the tables with her own tablecloths, while Sara wandered off to gather fresh flowers for the centerpieces.
When she returned it was nearly noon, and the men had made themselves scarce.
Hetty stood back and surveyed their work. “I must say, it looks like a right cozy setup. And the Lord surely did provide us with a beautiful day! Sunny and warm with just a little breeze to cool the skin.”
Sara was spared from having to answer by the clickety-clack of an approaching wagon. The first genuine smile of the day formed on her lips. It was Laura and her mother. At least she would know her first guests and be spared the awkwardness that hovered around when she was with strangers. How she longed for Helen’s buffering presence!
“Happy bridal shower!” Laura exclaimed as she alighted from the wagon with a small brown package.
Hetty and Sara approached them and Laura gathered Sara in an embrace. “What a perfect day for a party!” She extended the gift toward Sara. “Every new bride needs to have her own things! At least that’s what Mama’s always telling me.”
Mrs. Reed rounded the wagon. “Truer words were never spoken! Why, I’ve been sewing for years just to make certain my Laura has a fine supply of linens and such, but at this rate, our home will be overrun with them before she ever marries!”
Sara cringed inwardly as she watched heat spread over her new friend’s face.
Hetty broke the tension. “Good day, Mrs. Reed, Laura! Can I get you a nice glass of tea while we wait for the others?”
Hetty took Mrs. Reed to the food table and left Laura with Sara to chat a while. Before long there was a good-sized group of women mingling and laughing around the tables. Sara scanned the gathering for Hetty, thinking it was about time to start serving the food, but her eyes stopped on an approaching carriage. It was a phaeton, she knew—the kind her mother’s doctor in Boston had owned. Its folding top was up, shading the sole occupant from the afternoon sun. Sara wondered who in Cedar Springs owned such a fancy carriage.
Sara gave a tiny gasp when the woman alighted. She was a beautiful creature. The sides of her golden hair were swept up on top of her head and held by an elaborate hair ornament. The remainder of her glorious mane flowed down her back in a silken cascade.
As she turned to walk toward the group, her full skirt swished, drawing Sara’s attention to the woman’s body. She was taller than Sara and curvy in all the right places. The heaviness of her skirt made Sara wonder how she could stand it in the heat, but perhaps all the skin exposed at the neckline helped to compensate.
Sara watched as she approached Hetty, a covered dish in one arm and a gaily wrapped package in the other. Sara couldn’t stop the jolt of envy she felt. The woman was perfect in appearance—everything Sara wished she herself could be. Her skin was a delicate creamy color, unmarred by even a single freckle. Her long, graceful arms extended into a pair of white lace gloves.
After Hetty relieved the young lady of her burdens, she escorted her to where Sara was standing. “Sara, I don’t believe you’ve met Mara Lawton. Her family owns the carriage works shop in town.”
Sara’s smile faded slightly when she met Mara’s cold blue gaze. “Nice to meet you, Mara. It was so kind of you to come,” she repeated for the twelfth time.
Hetty called the women to order just then and offered to say grace for the meal. Sar
a was kept company by Laura and a Mrs. Leighton during the meal. She blushed profusely when she found out Mrs. Leighton was the post- mistress, and fervently hoped that the woman was not aware of the circumstances that prompted her letters from Boston.
During lulls in conversation, Sara found her gaze wandering to Mara. There was something in her eyes whenever she looked at Sara that made her squirm with discomfort. Why she felt this way Sara didn’t know, but she was certain Mara disliked her.
The meal was a pleasant blend of country dishes. It seemed everyone around these parts was an accomplished cook. Sara wasn’t accustomed to eating in a formal group setting, so she imitated the way the others handled their silver and napkins. She certainly didn’t want to embarrass herself or Nathan.
The afternoon heat drove the women inside, where Sara was to open her gifts. It felt odd to receive presents from people she scarcely knew, but as she opened the packages, the women seemed as delighted to be giving them as Sara was to receive them. Most of the gifts were of a decorative nature: napkin rings, a tablecloth, a sugar bowl. When Sara lifted Mara’s gift, a beautifully wrapped package tied with a satin ribbon, she knew by the shape and size that it was a book. She carefully stripped away the paper, thinking it was a shame to waste it, and held the copy up to read the title.
Everyday Etiquette: How to Conduct Yourself Like a Proper Lady. Blood rushed to Sara’s face.
“What is it?” A voice called. “A recipe book?”
“Oh, indeed! Every new bride should have one!”
“That’s what one’s female relatives are for, Mary dear.”
“Which one is it, Sara?”
Sara lifted the corners of her mouth in what she hoped resembled a smile. “It. . .it’s an etiquette book.”
“Oh! What a unique idea, Mara.”
“Yes, a useful tool, to be sure.”
Sara’s heart raced. “Thank you, Mara,” she squeezed out and met the woman’s gaze. Mara’s expression was neutrally polite, but those piercing eyes were laughing at her. One eyebrow suddenly hiked up and Sara quickly reached for the next package. Why did this woman dislike her so?
Stranger's Bride Page 5
