Rose wrinkled her eyebrows together. "Do you really think I can make him happy? Even if I can't do the basic tasks a wife should know how to do?"
Hazel patted her hands, then stood up. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll be able to hold your own in the kitchen. Tilly has also offered to give you some help, if you'll let her."
As she walked to the door, Hazel stopped and turned back to smile at her. "And, dear, I have no doubt you can make Elijah happy."
Rose watched her leave, then sat staring at the closed door. If Miss Hazel believed she could do it, then Rose knew she had to keep trying.
She just hoped Elijah was a patient man.
Chapter 3
Elijah Thorpe had never really been known for being patient. It irritated him that they'd had no luck finding the thief who'd stolen from the mercantile, even after chasing him all day. He seemed to have vanished into thin air. And now, as he rode along the trail with his fellow Mounties, his thoughts started to wander to the woman he was supposed to be marrying when he got back to town tomorrow.
How had he ever let himself agree to this? The more he thought about it, the more he started to question his own sanity.
Miss Hazel could be very persuasive, though. And she'd decided the Mounties who worked with her son Theodore needed to be married. The next thing he knew, he was waiting for a woman to arrive and become his wife. A woman he'd never met.
He had to admit in getting a bit caught up in the excitement of Theodore and Jess falling in love and getting married. He was thoroughly enjoying having someone cook delicious meals for them every day. The thought of having his own wife to do that for him was the one thing that helped him believe it might not be such a bad idea to go through with this crazy plan of Miss Hazel's.
Nolan and Kendall rode ahead, talking about their own future brides. He preferred to stay back a bit and not join in the conversation. He didn't even know what he was feeling, so making idle chatter with the other men seemed pointless to him.
They'd been tracking the mercantile outlaw for a few hours already, and he knew the women would be arriving any time now. He wished he could have been there to meet the train and see her for himself to be sure he was doing the right thing. He hoped when he saw her for the first time, he'd have some kind of feeling that would tell him she was going to be suitable.
His eyes scanned the land around him as he tried to imagine a woman coming from the city to live in the wilderness of British Columbia. He wasn't sure of many details about the woman who was coming here to marry him, but he hoped she was capable and had experience she could bring with her to help her adjust.
The mountains loomed in the distance, casting a shadow on the grassy land around them as the horses picked their way along the path. There were so many places for the outlaw to lose the men who were trailing him, so they needed to keep their wits about them as they continued their search.
But the way the other men were going on about the brides they hadn't met yet, had him believing the outlaw could walk right out in front of them and not be noticed.
He reached up to push at the curl that always managed to work its way out from under his hat, no matter how hard he tried to keep it tucked away. He'd heard on more than one occasion to just cut it off, but it wasn't something he was able to do. That curl was something he always remembered his grandma telling him how special it made him when he'd complain about it as a young boy.
He'd been a quiet boy who would rather read a book than play baseball, so he sometimes imagined that curl hanging down was the only thing that made him different.
He knew how silly it was now, but he still wasn't prepared to get rid of it.
"Are you two going to spend all day swooning over women you've never even met? Or could we try to catch this thief so we can get back and actually meet the women who've come all this way to marry our sorry hides."
Kicking his horse forward, he decided it was time to get this job done so he could meet his future wife.
The sound of the whistle blowing as it rounded the corner made her jump. She'd been terribly uncomfortable the whole ride west, and the farther she'd gotten from Ottawa, the more doubts had managed to work their way into her head. She was thankful for the company of the other women, including Miss Hazel.
Now, as the train pulled into the station, Rose could feel every heart beat pounding against her chest. What if she couldn't manage out here? What would her new husband think of her?
So many unanswered questions and worries, and there was no going back. With a hiss, the train stopped and people started to stand up to get off. Frantically, her eyes moved around the car, and Miss Hazel smiled at her as she stood. The woman came and patted her hand.
"Have confidence in yourself. I wouldn't have chosen you as a bride for Elijah if I didn't think you’d make a good wife for him. Just trust me. I'm never wrong." Hazel winked at her as she grabbed her bag from the seat and turned to start shooing the women off the train.
"Come on, girls. You have men waiting for you!"
Smoke filled the air around them as she stepped onto the step and out to the platform. Once she could see past the haze, she couldn't stop the gasp that came from her mouth. Everything around her looked so primitive, but behind the buildings was the most beautiful scenery she'd ever imagined.
There were trees everywhere, and as she slowly turned to take it all in, she finally saw the mountains in the distance. She'd grown up in the city with nothing that resembled anything like what she was seeing here. For a moment, panic began to rise in her chest again.
She vaguely noticed Miss Hazel running to hug her son, Theodore. Rose remembered him from church, as she did Jess, his new wife. But she didn't see any other men standing there with the rather dashing and handsome red jackets like the one Theodore was wearing.
Had the men had a change of heart?
After days of riding out here, she was tired. All she wanted to do was find somewhere to lie down and rest without the constant motion and noise of the train. If Elijah wasn't here, where was she expected to go?
"Well, it would seem that the men, except for Joel, have been called out on assignment. Jess is taking JoAnn over to Kendall's place, so Theodore has offered to help me get the rest of you to your new homes. Honestly, you'd think men would have more common sense than to disappear when they have women coming to marry them."
Rose had to smile at the way Miss Hazel was tutting and clucking her tongue, obviously seriously annoyed at the lack of welcome the women were receiving, as if frontier men could just pick and choose their assignments. Truthfully, Rose was almost grateful for the chance to freshen up a bit and hopefully get her nerves under control before meeting the man she'd come here to marry.
Theodore was talking to some men about bringing their trunks, so Rose let herself have more time to take in the sights of her new home.
As she marveled at the beauty around her, her eyes stopped at movement just past the edge of the building up the dusty street.
What was that creature with the large horns sticking from his head?
If she didn't know any better, she’d almost swear that animal was shaking his head at her and laughing. She blinked hard, sure she was seeing things. When she looked again, it was sauntering off while people moved out of its way.
"Oh, and be sure to stay away from any wild animals you see around here, especially that nuisance of a moose that is always in town." Theodore walked back over to the women, bending over to pick up a couple of the bags he could carry himself.
"You mean him?" Rose pointed in the direction of the beast walking away from them.
Theodore's eyes followed where she pointed, then rolled as he shook his head. "Yes, that's him. He's always hanging around, and while he might look cute and harmless, you never know with a moose. So make sure you all stay clear of any animals you see."
Rose couldn't take her eyes off the animal. If that's what people around here considered cute and harmless, she’d be terrified to
meet the ones they considered beastly and dangerous.
Chapter 4
"Surely you aren't serious?" Rose's voice was barely more than a whisper as she slowly moved her head to take in the shack she had just walked into. She swallowed hard to keep the scream from making its way out of her own throat. "I knew things would be more primitive out here than back home, but I'd expected it to be just a bit more civilized."
The other girls were waiting outside to be taken to their own homes, which by the looks of those lined up around her own, weren't going to be much better. Miss Hazel reached out to take her shoulders and turn her to face her.
"I know it's not as fancy as what you're used to, but a home is only what you make it. And now this is your home to make your own. When Elijah comes back from working this case, think about how wonderful it would it be for him to walk into a nice, clean house. He's been living here on his own, and considering he's a man, I have to say this place is much cleaner than most I've seen." Miss Hazel was looking around and nodding in agreement with herself.
Rose didn't want to even try speaking in case she started to cry. Every time she’d start thinking she'd done the right thing coming out here, something else would slam into her. And she would start questioning everything again. Miss Hazel had taught them all how to clean and do laundry, along with the other wifely tasks like cooking. But she was sure even the great Miss Hazel wouldn't be able to make this into a comfortable home.
Rose had never had to worry about the cleaning or decorating. Everything was always done for her. Now she realized just how much she'd taken for granted.
Well, if this was to be her home, then she was just going to have to do her best. Maybe if she got to work, she'd be able to get rid of the nagging worry that kept creeping in.
She took a deep breath, and smiled at Miss Hazel. "I can do this. At least it isn't a big house I have to clean." She had to find some kind of positive thoughts from this whole situation.
"That's the spirit, dear. Now, I'm off to take the others to their homes. We’re all close together here, so you'll never really be alone. And we'll all meet for dinner this evening."
With that, Miss Hazel turned and walked out the door, closing it loudly behind her. The sound seemed deafening in the now empty room as Rose turned to look back at her new home.
The entire house was smaller than the parlor in her parent's home in Ottawa. There was a door off to the side, which she assumed led to a bedroom. She went over and opened the door slightly to peek inside. A large bed filled the center of the room, but there wasn't much else. A chair in one corner had some clothes slung over it, and a washstand sat on the other side.
Walking back into the main room, she looked for the door to the water closet. The only other door seemed to lead to the back of the home, into a central area between all the Mounties’ houses. She walked over and opened it, smiling when she realized the other girls would be so close.
Outside, the lines stretched out for her to hang the laundry. But where was the water closet? She walked back toward the front of the house, and noticed a small building outside the window a ways from the house.
Surely she wasn't going to have to use an outhouse!
She opened the front door and looked at the rundown building. It looked like it was ready to blow over in the breeze. She quickly closed the door and fell back, leaning against it. She'd never had to use an outhouse before, but she'd heard of them. There was no way she could do this.
First, Theodore tells them to stay away from wild animals. Then these men expected them to use an outhouse, which required walking alone outside, where any of these wild animals could eat them alive.
"All right, Rose. You can do this. Miss Hazel wouldn't have brought you here if she didn't think you could do it. Remember what your other options are." Rose talked out loud to herself, hoping her voice could offer her some sort of reassurance.
No matter what, she wasn't ever going to go back and be stuck marrying Robert. He had tried to ruin her reputation and force her into the marriage he knew she didn't want. The marriage her parents wanted her to go through with.
Well, she'd shown them all. And now she had a chance to find something more with a man who could possibly love her for who she was. Seeing how Theodore had looked at Jess today had given Rose hope for her own future.
Miss Hazel seemed to know what she was doing, so she had to trust her.
For better or worse, this small little shack was now her home. So it was time to start making it hers.
She was sure she had blisters on top of her blisters. Her hands had never known such work, but for some reason the pain didn't seem to take anything away from the pride she was feeling.
She'd started cleaning yesterday, then after having breakfast with the other girls this morning, she'd gotten right back to cleaning. She'd even taken all the sheets off the bed and washed them just like Miss Hazel had taught her. Last night, while trying to sleep in her new surroundings, she'd felt like an intruder sleeping in someone else's bed. The scent of the man who lived here had remained on the pillow, and she'd found herself smiling as she imagined what he looked like.
She'd taken all the clothes she'd seen lying around and washed them, then hung them out to dry. While she'd been hanging them on the line out back, her heart felt full as she’d listened to JoAnn sing from her own back door. All of the girls had formed a special friendship, and Rose was grateful to have them with her.
Of them all, Tilly had become the closest to her. After that day at Miss Hazel's, Tilly had stepped up and helped Rose every chance she got. She knew how to cook anything, and she made sure to share any secrets she could with Rose.
Even though Tilly didn't seem as excited about the notion of coming out here to marry as some of the other girls, Rose was sure she had her own reasons for doing it.
Rose stood now and looked around the room. Everything was clean, and she'd even picked some flowers she found just outside the door and set them in a glass on the table. She hoped Elijah would appreciate the job she'd done. Especially since she knew once she had to cook for him, he was going to be wishing he'd had a more suitable woman chosen for him.
Yawning, she reached behind and pushed on her back. Scrubbing floors on her hands and knees was even harder than she'd imagined. But as she looked around at the work she'd done, she felt a sense of accomplishment she'd never experienced before.
Wiping her hands on her apron, she decided to go and rest for a few moments on the bed. Then she'd get herself cleaned up and ready in case Elijah came home soon.
She would just rest her eyes for a moment…
Chapter 5
Elijah stood in the doorway of his house, unable to move. He'd never really thought of himself as an untidy man, but seeing how clean everything was now, made him realize maybe his opinion of himself had been a bit off.
There were even flowers sitting on the table. He appreciated the effort, even if he could tell they were a bouquet of Common Tansey weeds that grew around this area. Someday, he might have to mention the fact they were a noxious weed if she continued to pick them for their table.
Guilt had eaten at him while he'd been out chasing the outlaw, knowing the poor woman had come all this way to marry him, and he hadn't even been here to greet her when she arrived. He wouldn't blame her if she was spitting mad and had decided not to go through with the wedding.
He still wasn't even sure what he was feeling about the marriage himself. He hoped when he saw the woman, he'd just know if it was right or not. But he figured that was just wishful thinking. He could easily end up married to an angry shrew who made his life miserable.
He wondered where his new bride was, then figured she must be with the others. That would give him some time to get himself cleaned up before meeting her.
Quickly, he opened the door to the bedroom as he pulled off his red jacket with the other hand. Stopping in his tracks, he had one arm out and one still in as he realized there was a body lying in the middl
e of the bed. And that body was snoring louder than a drunk sleeping off a night of carousing in the jail cell.
But what his eyes were seeing had pushed the noise to the back of his mind. The woman lying on the bed was beautiful, with dark hair poking out from beneath a small kerchief she'd tied over it. Her face was covered with smudges of dirt, which looked out of place on her white skin beneath. She wore an apron over a fancy dress, and he wondered why she’d worn something so pretty to clean the house.
As he stood staring with his arm still tangled in his jacket, she stirred. Feeling like a kid with his hand caught in the candy jar, he tried to back out of the room before she caught him staring. However, his booted foot caught on a dustpan she'd obviously forgotten to move during her cleaning. It clinked hard against the floor, causing the woman to bolt upright in the bed.
He'd never been so embarrassed in his life as he realized he was standing stock-still in horror, staring at the once sleeping woman with his coat half off.
"You must be Rose."
He squeezed his eyes shut briefly and groaned to himself. That wasn't the most romantic greeting he could have given her.
She struggled to get off the bed, obviously mortified at the situation. As she did, her feet got tangled in her skirt, and he watched in disbelief as she started to fall forward. He jumped into action and managed to reach her before she landed face down on the hard floor. Grabbing her arm, he took the brunt of it, falling backward with her on top of him.
If anyone had walked in, he was sure they'd have been horrified at what they were witnessing. A half-asleep woman lying on top of a man with his coat hanging off.
She lifted her head, and the breath flew from his lungs. Her eyes were as dark as her hair, and they seemed to be too large for her face as she looked at him. He could see the wetness of tears that were threatening to fall from embarrassment.
RNWMP: Bride for Elijah (Mail Order Mounties Book 2) Page 2
