“I should have known better than to confide in you—“
“No, you should have known me better than to send me away out of fear over my pity. You should never have sent me away.” She knew her voice was too loud. She knew she was too emotional. Her father would tell her to check her emotions.
She did not want to. She wanted to let them rage and she wanted them to rage at Simon, all the hurt and humiliation and pain she’d felt and smothered, buried under the next patient and the next. Only Simon had never been a patient to her.
She left the room without another word. There was a thud against the door after she closed it, and she could not help but smile as she imagined Simon throwing something in his anger at her. How her feelings could run so quickly from anger to humor for him was beyond her. Surely Hannah would be able to explain it to her.
Chapter 9
Cora stood at the large picture window downstairs in the lobby watching the children play next to the street, chasing each other. Her mind was muddled and she felt physically drained from sparring with Simon first thing in the morning. They had eaten breakfast and lunch separately which had made her miss him. And missing him had made her angry at herself for caring.
“Cora.”
She closed her eyes, not wanting to turn around.
“Cora. We need to talk. We can’t keep on like this. We’ve always talked.”
She twisted around. “Once, a long time ago, we always talked. But you’ve changed,” she charged.
“And you think you have not?”
Cora felt her mouth open.
“Ah, I see you think not.”
She snapped her mouth shut and turned away, but he grabbed her arm, his grip gentle, and turned her around. “You think I like seeing you like this? Ready to be a “mail order bride” for my brother? The strong, opinionated woman I grew up with, the one who bravely traveled with her father? Saw things that grown men couldn’t stand, grown men would turn away from? This bowing, grateful girl?” he twisted the words until they were an insult.
“What would you have me do?” she whispered. “Papa is not here to make me strong.”
“Your father did not make you strong,” Simon yelled. “He was not there all the time when we were children. You were strong then, simply because you were.” He closed his eyes, breathed out through his nose. “Cora, Nurse Cora, he saw in you what you already had. Strength. Kindness. Intelligence. The strength to use your kindness and intelligence to help others. That is why he taught you. His teaching did not make you strong. “
“No,” she breathed.
“And this, this travesty of which you were--this marrying for security female. Well, I simply don’t recognize you.”
“How dare you?”
“How dare I not? After all we’ve known of each other. And Matthew is my brother. How dare I not?”
“You think your brother does not wed well?”
“I think my brother knows nothing of you. And you of him.” He turned away. “But I think my brother weds very well. He could not do better,” he finished.
Cora’s cheeks warmed and she covered them with her gloved hands. “Then why?”
“I believe you, Cora, can do better.” He walked away then before she could say another word.
She dropped into a chair, exhausted. Was sparring with Simon always so exhausting? Or had the stakes never been so high before? What did it all mean? This churning in her gut? This bleeding of her heart? Simon awakened the emotions that she’d had to shut down during the war. Had to shut down after Papa had died. What was she to do?
Was he right? Had she been strong before Papa had leant her his hand, his ear, his confidence? Had he chosen her to train because he saw that strength Simon spoke of?
And Simon, blessed, damnable Simon. What was she to do about him? She knew him right. Knew that marrying his brother was as soulfully wrong as she could possibly be. She did not know him. Did not love him. And more than anything else, she wanted to marry for love.
She caught a glimpse of Simon crossing the street, his limp pronounced. But she could never marry for love when she was quite certain she loved Simon with all the heart she had to give. But did she have the courage to tell Simon the truth? She bowed her head to ask God for strength when she remembered Simon’s words. “You’ve always been strong.”
She had been, hadn’t she? Maybe it was time to prove it, but first, she needed to talk with Elizabeth.
Chapter 10
After talking with Elizabeth, Cora hurried to the post office. She had an important telegram to send.
She had just finished when she met Simon at the door. She drew back in surprise, not expecting to face him so soon. But she remembered her strength and squared her shoulders. “Simon, could I talk with you?” Her voice didn’t sound strong. It sounded insecure and scared.
Simon glanced toward the line inside the Post Office, then back at her. “Yes, I suppose.”
Still angry with her. She sighed as they sat down on one of the benches out front.
He leaned back and folded his arms across his chest, his expression unreadable.
“I can’t marry Matthew.”
Simon sat up then, his eyes sharp on her face. “Why not?”
“It wouldn’t be fair to him. I don’t love him, and I don’t believe I ever can. Because…” She closed her eyes and lowered her head. Strength.
She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Simon stood up before she could say another word. “There’s no line now. I need to go,” he said. “Stay right here. I’ll be right back.”
He walked away. Disappointment pressed into Cora’s chest. Had he known what she was going to say? Had he known and been repulsed? Of course he had; she had been so obvious. He couldn’t get away fast enough. Her heart breaking, she hurried back to the hotel.
Chapter 11
In her room, she gasped air into her lungs. What had she done? Sent a telegram to Matthew refusing his proposal. Then to Simon, revealed her undying love. She was so foolish!
How could she ever face him again? Now she was truly alone. In St. Louis, far from home, like the unfortunate Mary. She had enough money to see her home, but what then? Return to her brother. No! She could never do that.
But did she want to leave St. Louis? She could perhaps ask for a job at the hospital. Her time spent nursing at her father’s side during the war might count as sufficient experience.
Someone knocked on her door. Cora jumped. Elizabeth?
She pulled open the door. Once again, Simon stood on the other side, this time breathing heavy, his forehead creased in irritation.
“Whatever is the matter? Did you run the entire way?” she asked.
“Yes, yes I did. I ran the entire way because you were supposed to wait for me.” He shook his head. “Why didn’t you wait, Nurse Cora?”
Cora dropped her gaze to his shoes, to the carpeted floor, to the hem of her dress, to anything, anything but his inquisitive blue eyes. Then his fingers were touching her chin—gently—pulling it up so that her eyes met his again.
“Why, Cora?”
She wanted to sink into the floor, her embarrassment was so great. She pulled away from his hand and turned her back on him. “Because you don’t love me. Because I confessed my feelings and you don’t return them.” She whipped back around. “You knew what I was trying to say, but you rushed away as quickly as you could to mail a letter.”
“I never said that. I wasn’t mailing a letter.” He waved the piece of paper. “I was checking for a telegram.” He moved closer until very little space separated them.
“A telegram?”
“Yes, a telegram. I’ve been waiting for it since our arrival in St. Louis. I sent one to my brother last week during one of our train stops.”
She shook her head. What did a telegram have to do with anything? Hannah? She clutched at his arms. “Hannah? Mama O’Leary, they’re okay?”
He smiled. “Oh they are well. Very well and very happy I’m gues
sing.” He held out the telegram. When she didn’t take it, he nodded encouragingly. “Read it.”
She opened the paper: Cora STOP was STOP always STOP meant STOP for STOP you STOP
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Simon smiled and took her hands, leading her to the sofa where they sat down. “I followed you hear because I couldn’t let you marry my brother unless I was certain you loved him more than you could love me. At her gasp, he smiled. “But the longer I spent with you, the more I knew even if you did love him, I was determined to have you for myself. I sent Matthew a telegram asking him to relinquish you.” He waved the telegram. “This was his reply. Apparently, Mama set this up, hoping we would find our way to each other.”
“I cannot possibly live without you. I must fight and laugh with you all the days of my life. You must put me out of my misery and marry me.”
Cora began to cry.
“No, no, Cora, you may not cry. Not my strong and splendid Nurse Cora.” He swiped the wetness from her face, kissed one cheek and then the other.
“Tell me yes now,” he whispered fiercely,” So I can kiss your beautiful mouth.”
“Yes,” she breathed.
And then she had to wait as shock and happiness battled across his face. He breathed a sigh just before his warm mouth touched hers.
Epilogue
Cora and Simon settled into the stage coach that would carry them most of the way to the Colorado territory. A piece of land awaited them, one adjoining Matthew’s ranch. The next year would be a busy one as Simon divided his time between building their home and editing the local newspaper.
As they left St. Louis, Simon grasped Cora’s hands and smiled down at her. “You asked me once why I didn’t report on the war. Remember, it was that first night on the train?”
She nodded, trying to concentrate on his words instead of his hands holding hers.
“I had planned on reporting it,” he admitted quietly. “But I came downstairs one evening before supper and heard you talking with Hannah.”
“Always an eavesdropper,” she teased.
He smiled. ‘You said to her, ‘It’s the responsibility of every human being to fight for the rights of the wronged Negro.’ Right then and there, I knew I could not merely report on the war.”
“Simon! I never meant you. Reporting would have been fighting, too. The power of the pen is every bit as strong as the gun.” She frowned and shook her head at him.” You foolish, foolish man.”
Simon ducked his head. “Well I couldn’t let my favorite girl best me, could I? You were headed into the battlefields alongside your father. I felt driven to do my part.”
At the mention of her father, Cora’s eyes watered. “I would have followed him anywhere,” she whispered.
Simon squeezed her hands. His eyes were sad. “I never told you how sorry I was that Dr. Hammond died. He was a good man.”
She nodded, her throat too thick with tears to speak. Her father would be happy with her decisions of late. She smiled. “I’ll follow you anywhere, too, Mr. O’Leary.”
“You have some catching up to do, since I’ve already proven I’ll definitely follow you anywhere, Mrs. O’Leary.”
THE END.
Butler Love
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1 – It’s Duty
“Thank you, Brahms, that will be all.”
Charles Brahms bowed and closed the door behind him. He had finally reached the top of the line. He was the butler in his own mansion. Well, in his master’s mansion. He was the butler for one of the wealthiest families in the countryside, and it felt great.
Most of the time, anyway. There were still times when Charlie felt as though there were other things in life he would rather have. Today he helped Sir Hanes to dress for his wedding ceremony. Charles had been friends with Sir Hanes as a boy, and now they were both grown, and Sir Hanes was getting married.
Charlie liked the girl his friend and employer was marrying. She was kind, pretty, and new how to handle herself well. She was just the kind of girl Charles hoped to marry himself. But of course someone that was going to marry Sir Hanes was not the kind of girl that was going to marry a servant.
Sir Hanes was the heir to a great mansion. He had more money than anyone else in the entire region, and he had the favor of countless more. Sir Hanes was attractive, wealthy, and charming.
Brahms, on the other hand, was charming. Only charming. Some might say that he was also attractive, but any of his good looks faded out when he donned his butler apparel. Though he was as kind as his friend, and as charming as any of the fine young men in the countryside, he was constantly looked over because of his occupation in life.
The best he could hope for was that a kind young woman would gain her own employment in the house, and that he might fall in love with her, and she with him. The only trouble was, he wasn’t around the new recruits. When there was someone new in the house, it fell to the maids to train them.
Even the young men that started were trained and instructed under the women, after all, he was the butler, and as such it was his duty to mind the mansion and the family that lived in it, and not be hindered by the servants and their petty jobs.
“Ah, I say there, Brahms! Is Sir Hanes ready?”
Charles stopped to speak with Gregory. He was Sir Hanes’ uncle, and the only one standing in between Hanes and his fortune. Sir Hanes got along with his uncle well enough, but Gregory wasn’t pleased with Hanes choice of a bride. He wanted his nephew to marry a young woman with a fortune of her own, not a young woman that could take his fortune from him.
Charles didn’t care for Gregory. He thought Gregory was greedy, and two faced. He feared that there would be issues with Gregory once Hanes had a son, but as the butler Brahms knew it wasn’t his place to say such things, even though Sir Hanes was his friend. He smiled and nodded, then retired to the back room.
Charles watched the proceedings of the wedding out the window. The bride looked beautiful, and his friend looked pleased to see her walk up the aisle to him. Charles thought they made a smart match, and was genuinely happy to hear them announced as husband and wife, but he felt a pang of solitude as he motioned for the maids to make the reception hall ready.
There was something missing in his life, and he knew what it was. He wanted a wife. He wanted someone that he could love and hold and cherish, but that wasn’t going to happen here. He was a butler, and he was destined to stay a butler for all of his days. Charles glanced back out the window before he placed all of his attention back to the reception hall.
Outside, he could see his friend Sir Hanes holding his new bride, and talking to her. Though Charles couldn’t hear anything anyway, he knew that nobody outside could hear what they were saying. He wanted that, too.
Here, he had to share what he was thinking with most. Here, he had to follow rules and ensure that others did, too. Here, he wasn’t going to get a bride. Here, he was doomed to the life he thought he wanted. And right now, he was afraid he was going to be stuck in that life for good.
And he would be.
Unless something changed.
Suddenly, Charles stopped. Did he really think what he thought he was thinking? Was it possible he wanted to leave here and go out into the world to find his own way in life? Should he really take the chance of working his own home with his own wife and his own responsibilities?
“Sir Brahms! The bride is going to come in here soon, we must make ready the cake!”
One of the maids hurriedly pushed the doors of the kitchen open, then disappeared back behind them as quickly as she had been there. Charles snapped back to work. He could let his thoughts wander later on, right now he had his duty to attend to.
After all, brides weren’t something that he should be worried about. Right now, he was at the top of his world. A butler in a fine house, and now he was in charge of the wedding reception for his master. If he were to ever have his own
wedding, it was going to have to wait. Right now his mind was on one thing, and one thing only, and that was his duty.
Chapter 2 – It’s Made for a Maid
“Don’t be silly, you are going to wear pink! It goes perfectly with my sash.”
Fanny sighed and held out her arms, while Miss Jasmine piled the dresses high on top of her. They were gathering the dresses for the bride’s maids, and Fanny was given the role as the most important.
It wasn’t a surprise to her, she had been a favorite of Miss Jasmine’s since she had started working for her father, and she had accompanied Miss Jasmine on many of these shopping trips. Fanny often wondered what it would be like. Not just having such money to spend on anything, but to be loved by a man, and know that you were going to spend your whole life with him.
Miss Jasmine never said much about love, she only talked about the trips she and her new husband were going to take, and the parties they were going to have, and the people they were going to impress. There were times when Fanny wondered if Miss Jasmine even loved the man she was marrying, or if she was in love with the rich life.
Miss Jasmine had chosen an elaborate gown, with a soft pink sash about the waist. It was her dream to be attended by a group of girls that were all dressed to match her own, and she felt she had found just the dresses.
The two girls had been all over town this morning, in and out of various stores, discussing various dresses with various tailors. Miss Jasmine was trying to find the perfect set of dresses, but it seemed that nobody had what she wanted. Until they had come into this store.
Fanny didn’t mind shopping with Miss Jasmine. She liked to see all of the different things that were for sale on the racks, but today it was getting old. They had been in and out of so many stores, and Fanny had seen so many things she wished she might be able to buy but knew she couldn’t.
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