Reforming Elizabeth

by Lorin Grace

  Gideon took a menacing step toward the man. “Don’t you speak to my wife in such terms.”

  The good reverend reached Mr. Sidewall first and propelled him out the door, saving the groom from any misguided punches.

  Ebenezer closed the door behind them. “You were right. He didn’t care about my daughter.” He offered his hand.

  Gideon clasped it. “I will watch out for her.”

  “I know.”

  Elizabeth threw her arms around her father’s neck, and for the first time in years he hugged her back. “You’d best be on your way.”

  A mile south of town, the trees created a natural tunnel over the road. Gideon reined the horses to the side of the road.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Very.”

  When Elizabeth twisted to try to look at the wheels, Gideon placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her back to face him.

  “The buggy isn’t the problem.” He trailed a finger down the side of her face.

  Elizabeth turned to look at the horses. With the pressure of a single finger, he brought her face back to look at him.

  “The horses are fine.”

  “Then what is the problem?”

  He cupped her face with his hand, and she leaned into his touch.

  “The problem is, Mrs. Frost, I have tried to kiss you three times today. I only start”—he placed a very quick kiss on her lips—“to have it end.” Another feather-light kiss. “Before I am”—the third kiss was soft as his whisper—“finished.”

  Gideon took his time giving his bride a chance to respond. When she did, he lingered, drawing out the middle of the kiss as long as possible. When he finished, he was pleased to find her fingers buried in his hair and her breath coming in little puffs.

  He drew back. They needed to cover nineteen more miles tonight, and he had no intention of starting in the open conveyance that which was better shared in a more private setting.

  He pulled Lizzy into his side and set the horses back on the road.

  She sighed the smallest of sighs.

  Gideon prayed the horses would fly like Pegasus and his brother would be able to make room for them someplace other than the barn loft.

  Thirty-Four

  The cock crowed a second time. Gideon helped Elizabeth down the loft ladder.

  As they’d driven to Gideon’s brother’s last night, they’d determined they would leave as early as possible for Mina’s. With his Lizzy tucked at his side, Gideon looked out the loft window, searching for some sign of dawn.

  His Lizzy. He liked the sound of that. Yesterday, between their sudden marriage and news of Mina’s condition, she not once suffered from vapors or any other nonsense, though she’d shed her share of tears for her dear aunt last night as he’d detailed what little he knew. He cleared the miles the best he could without stopping the buggy.

  Lizzy’s reaction last night to his sister-in-law’s suggestion that the loft might not be a suitable sleeping place for a gentle woman warmed his heart.

  Gideon’s brother was willing to give up his own bed for Gideon and his unexpected new bride, but Elizabeth took one look at her sister-in-law’s rounded form and refused the offer. Emma had then offered for Elizabeth to share her daughter’s bed, but his Lizzy refused. “Thank you for the kind offer of the bed in your children’s room. I assure you I will be more than comfortable in the barn with my husband.” In the end, Emma had insisted on sending them out with two extra quilts. His brother suggested, with a smirk, that the east end of the loft had the freshest hay.

  As if reading his thoughts, Lizzy glanced at the loft, her cheeks pinking. She ducked her head. Gideon slid a finger down her cheek and lifted her chin. He whispered in her ear, and her blush deepened. When she turned her head and kissed him, Gideon deepened the kiss.

  When he pulled back, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Mrs. Frost, I think we should get going. Another kiss will delay us.”

  Elizabeth gathered the quilts and set them on the front porch. Gideon harnessed a none-too-happy Jordan to the light buggy, along with one of his brother’s horses. His brother had little need of the curricle with his growing family and gave it to Gideon as a wedding gift. Gideon would return the horse later.

  Lizzy stroked Jordan’s muzzle. “I know you are not happy about this, but we must get to Aunt Mina’s, and it would be hard on you to have us ride double all the way back.”

  Gideon doubted even a horse as smart as Jordan understood her words, but he did seem to calm. As he helped his wife up into the curricle, the morning chill lingered. Gideon slid closer to his wife, and they drove toward the turnpike as the first fingers of dawn emerged in the east.

  Elizabeth never wished a ride through Boston to go faster. The window displays held no interest for her. It seemed every delivery wagon in the city was determined to slow them down. She only grudgingly agreed to stop north of the Charles River so the horses might rest. The yells and noises of the city made it impossible to carry on a conversation with Gideon, who watched for darting errand boys. She let out a sigh when the houses started to thin and Gideon’s hold on the reins loosened. Only two more hours and they would be with Mina.

  Over and over Elizabeth repeated her prayers for her aunt.

  In time, the landmarks became familiar. Jordan seemed to realize they were near home, and his step became livelier.

  As they crested the hill, East Stoughton spread out before them. Gideon squeezed her hand and brought it to his mouth for a kiss. “So, if I were to give you a kiss here, which do you think would reach Mina first, the gossip or us?”

  “The gossips are not that bad, but I do prefer we tell her together. Perhaps you should wait on that kiss.”

  Gideon’s face fell, but his eyes continued to twinkle. “I think she will be the only one in town not surprised by the news.”

  “Well, in that case …” Elizabeth turned in her seat and gave her husband a very thorough kiss. She later learned the kiss had been seen by one of the Curtis girls, who told her aunt. An hour later when the news reached High Street, Mrs. Purdy had her own tale to add.

  Gideon lifted Elizabeth from the curricle. “I’ll be but a moment. I must get the horses unhitched.” The Purdy boys noted his arrival and came running to collect the coins that were their due. He instructed them on the feeding of the horses, then ran to join his wife.

  He found her standing outside of Mina’s room talking to Mrs. Purdy in hushed tones. He came up behind them and took Elizabeth’s hand. Mrs. Purdy’s eyes widened, but neither of them offered an explanation before going to Mina’s bedside.

  “Aunt Mina?” Elizabeth knelt by the bed, taking her aunt’s hand in hers. “I’m here.” She lifted her aunt’s hand to her cheek, where her tears bathed it. Gideon sat down in the chair behind Elizabeth and put his hand on her shoulder.

  Mina’s eyes fluttered.

  “Aunt Mina?”

  “Lizzzzbethh.” The left corner of her mouth turned up in a grin, the right side remaining slack.

  Elizabeth felt Gideon slide off the chair and move beside her, his arm coming around her waist.

  “Mina, I am afraid we owe you an apology.”

  Mina didn’t reply, but she pierced him with a glare.

  “We got married last night and didn’t invite you to our wedding.”

  There was no mistaking the joy on Mina’s face. She tugged her hand out of Elizabeth’s grasp and touched Elizabeth’s face and then Gideon’s hand.

  “We hoped you would approve.”

  “A-about time.” One corner of Aunt Mina’s mouth lifted, and her eyes sparkled.

  Elizabeth looked at Gideon and laughed. Gideon kissed her on the tip of her nose. “Yes, Mina, well past time.”

  “Now, what is this I hear about you refusi
ng to eat Mrs. Purdy’s food?”

  “Ocolate.”

  “Ocolate?” Elizabeth puzzled for a moment. “Oh, chocolate. She didn’t make it right, did she?”

  Mina rolled her eyes.

  “Shall I make you some now?”

  Mina closed her eyes for a moment. “Yes.”

  Gideon helped Elizabeth to her feet.

  Mina reached for Gideon and caught his trousers. “She pointed to the ceiling and made a sweeping motion. “Bed.”

  Gideon looked up. “You want me to move the bigger bed out of the storeroom and into Elizabeth’s room.”

  “Your room.”

  “That was my plan too.” Gideon dropped a kiss on the old woman’s brow. “I guess I should call you Aunt Mina now.”

  Mina gave him a half smile.

  For the next two days, Gideon and Elizabeth took turns sitting with Aunt Mina. To Elizabeth, it seemed like the times Aunt Mina awoke were further and further apart. And she stayed awake for only a short time, barely long enough to have a sip of her chocolate and give a smile before slipping back into slumber.

  In the darkest hours after midnight, Gideon convinced his wife to go rest upstairs while he took his turn in the bedside chair.

  Just after dawn, Elizabeth awoke to her husband’s kiss. Tears fell from his eyes. She didn’t need to ask. She clung to him and wept as well.

  There wasn’t a citizen who lived within ten miles who missed Mindwell Richards’s funeral. Being a fine day in May with not a cloud in sight, there was little to keep anyone away.

  Platters of food filled the house as friends told tales and remembered Mina fondly.

  Gideon wondered if a few hadn’t come to verify the rumors of his marriage as more than one question was asked regarding his nuptials. His wife stood in one of Mina’s modified old black dresses at the other end of the parlor, speaking to Widow Snow. He must warn her not to eat the pickled beets the widow had set on the side table.

  Mr. Butler approached, and Gideon stiffened, apparently the hefty fine was not enough to keep him away. “No wonder you tossed that punch. You wanted her for yourself. Tell me, was she good? Even a widowed former preacher should be able to tell.”

  Gideon fisted his hands. “I would thank you to not discuss my wife in such vulgar terms.”

  “The preacher and the strump—” Mr. Butler did not finish the sentence as a large man spun him around by the shoulder.

  “I believe Mr. Frost asked you to not speak of his wife in such a manner.” The man frog-walked Mr. Butler out the front door.

  “Who is that?” Gideon asked the postmaster.

  “That is Horald Becham. Lives west of here a bit. The gossips say Mr. Butler—er, um, Horald’s sister died in childbirth. She was only fifteen.” The postmaster’s face reddened. “Mina took the girl in during—er, the time.”

  Gideon didn’t need further translation.

  The man returned. “Sorry about that. Didn’t think he would have the nerve to come to Mrs. Richards’s home. She didn’t have much use for him.”

  “Thank you for your assistance. It would have distressed my wife if we’d come to blows. I don’t believe we have met. I am Gideon Frost. Mina’s niece is my wife, and I am the new cobbler.”

  “Horald Becham.” The men shook hands. “Thought you were going to be a preacher.”

  “Not anymore. Hoping to set up shop soon, but—” Gideon waved his hand at the room. “Mr. Butler owns the only storefront in Curtis Corners to be let. The Curtis’s do own a building I have been trying to look at, but the cousin who owns it has been out of town.”

  “Well, if you get a place, let me know. I make furniture and such.”

  “I will, Mr. Becham.”

  “Horald. Anything for Mrs. Richards’s kinfolk.” The man walked off in the direction of the food.

  As the crowds were thinning, an older gentleman came forward to shake Gideon’s hand. The man presented a card. “If you and Mrs. Richards’s niece would stop by tomorrow, I would like to discuss the will with you.”

  “Will?”

  “Yes, the will.” The old man tipped his head and left.

  Gideon turned over the card.

  Burton Samuels, Esq. Stoughton, Massachusetts.

  Thirty-Five

  Elizabeth bit her lip and stared into her cup of chocolate. With all the food in the house, it was the only thing she wanted. She’d made it perfectly. She dared anyone to taste a difference between hers and Aunt Mina’s. Yet she couldn’t drink it.

  Gideon laid his hand on her shoulder.

  “Come take a walk with me?”

  She stood, and he took her hand.

  They walked through the fields to their boulder. Gideon lifted her up, then used the stepping stone to sit beside her.

  “Shame the ridge hides the sunset.”

  Elizabeth nodded her agreement and nestled into his shoulder. “But it is a fair spot to watch the moon rise.”

  Gideon wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap. “I did quite a bit of thinking out here after you left. Whenever I missed you, I would come out to this rock.”

  “Is that why you can climb up so quickly?”

  He kissed the sassy grin. “Mina told me I was going to have to pave the path I was making.”

  Gideon wrapped his arms around her. “Any regrets, Mrs. Frost?”

  Her answer waited while he kissed the tender spot behind her ear.

  “Since we are still counting our marriage in terms of days, I am not sure I can have any yet.” The teasing lilt to her voice and the accompanying kiss were more of an answer than her words.

  The stars began to appear in the eastern sky. Elizabeth was not an astronomer, but she thought she recognized the few she watched through the barn’s loft window. Warmth flooded her at the memories they made there, and she tried to think of other things. A kiss placed behind her ear did not help. Neither did the accompanying whisper.

  “Next time we come out here, we should bring a blanket, and you should wear only four hairpins.”

  A shiver went up her spine, and she nodded in agreement.

  Elizabeth wore the same hastily made-over black dress she’d worn the day before for the funeral, to go to the lawyers. Wearing something of Aunt Mina’s kept her close. Gideon held her hand the entire way. He’d hitched the biddable mare to the curricle instead of Jordan, so the ride was slow and smooth.

  The address was for a handsome house. Above the side door, a shingle declared that Lawyer Barton Samuels practiced here.

  A clerk showed them to Mr. Samuels’s office.

  “Thank you for coming. Mrs. Richards called me out to the house about a month ago and initiated the sale of most of her land as well as changed her will, Miss Garrett.”

  “Mrs. Frost.” Elizabeth sat taller at her declaration.

  “Sorry, my apologies. All of the paperwork is in your maiden name. I have not had time to shift my thinking.”

  “Of course.”

  “Good. That will help move things along. You see, she signed the deed to the house and the remaining property over to you. Since you are married, you will, of course, add your husband’s name to the deed. Having her sign the deed before her death makes most of the transfer easier.”

  “She left me the house?”

  “And over fourteen acres. She sold off the other 106.”

  Gideon scratched his head. “Which fourteen? I can’t think of a block that makes sense. I’ve only been caring for about four.”

  “I have a map I will give you when we get everything else taken care of.” Mr. Samuels waved his hand at the papers on the desk.

  “Now, Mr. Frost, she took part of the sale of her land in trade for a building on High Street, deeding the propert
y to you. She was of the opinion it would make a good cobbler’s shop and has left the remainder of the money in a number of bequests. I took the liberty of combining your shares. He slid an envelope to Gideon.”

  Gideon promptly gave it to Elizabeth. The lawyer raised his brows but didn’t comment.

  “All that is needed is for you to sign the deeds.”

  “I would like Elizabeth on the store deed as well.”

  Mr. Barton Samuels swallowed. “That is somewhat unusual. Are you sure, sir?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Mr. Samuels added a line to the deed.

  When Gideon and Elizabeth signed the indicated spots, Mr. Samuels gave Gideon a set of keys. “These are to the store on High Street. I assume you have keys to the house. Also, I am to inform you both there are letters for you in her top drawer in a lockbox. Here is that key.” He handed Elizabeth a tiny key on a ribbon.

  “And the plot map?” Gideon shifted in his seat.

  “Oh yes, here it is. Mrs. Richards insisted on keeping the acres behind the barn up to the ridge. Mr. Collins, the buyer, thought this odd as the ridge land is unfarmable, at any rate.”

  Elizabeth studied the map. “She placed her finger on a point. Gideon?” He looked where she directed. “Did you know Aunt Mina owned that?”

  Gideon shook his head. He took her by the elbow and led her to the carriage.

  Elizabeth gave her bun the slightest tap and pocketed the hairpin. She peeked out the corner of her eye to make sure Gideon had not noticed her move. They stopped walking at the boulder. Gideon dropped his bundle on the lee side of the big rock, then lifted her by the waist and set her on top. He didn’t let go but stepped closer for a kiss.

  Elizabeth gave the practiced shake of her head, causing him to pull back a few inches. When she shook her head again, her hair tumbled down her back as it should.