Mountain Christmas Brides

by Mildred Colvin

  Down in the kitchen, Song Li slowly stirred a pot of oatmeal and muttered in Chinese.

  “Did Daniel and Mr. Simms go looking for Chase?”

  “No. They go out to work. They say he not come back till he ready.”

  Annika slumped in the chair. Ready for what? To run the ranch? To marry her? Would he ever be ready?

  How could this happen? Hadn’t she prayed and asked God to lead her from the beginning? She’d stepped out in faith, trusting God, Mrs. Mayberry, and Chase with her future. And look where that had gotten her—stuck out in the middle of Wyoming, waiting to become the bride of a man who didn’t want her. Was she that unlovable?

  Tears stung her eyes, and she wearily pushed her long blond hair back from her face. She’d been so distracted this morning she hadn’t bothered to braid it and wrap it around her head as she usually did. She must be a sorry sight.

  But it didn’t matter. Chase was gone, and so was her hope of being a bride, a wife, and a mother. What would she do now?

  Song Li touched her shoulder. “Sorry Chase no like you.”

  Annika pressed her lips together. He meant to comfort her, but his words tore at her heart. It was true. Chase didn’t love her. He didn’t even like her. And there didn’t seem to be anything she could do to change his mind.

  Song Li huffed. “He foolish man. Very foolish.”

  Annika looked up.

  Compassion flowed from Song Li’s dark eyes. “You make good wife.”

  She swallowed against the tightness in her throat. “I’m not so sure about that.”

  He patted her shoulder. “Song Li see. Song Li know.”

  A strange moaning cry and a wild thrashing sound came from upstairs.

  Annika stared at Song Li, trying to make sense of the noise. Then she turned and ran up the stairs, following the frightening sound. “Mariah?” She dashed down the hall and into their room.

  Song Li’s steps pounded right behind her.

  Mariah jerked and thrashed wildly on the bed, eyelids fluttering.

  Annika gasped and ran to her. “What is it? What’s wrong with her?”

  Song Li shook his head. “I not know. Maybe falling sickness.” He bunched up the blankets around Mariah so she wouldn’t hurt herself.

  Her thrashing finally slowed.

  Song Li laid his hand over her forehead. “So hot!” He pulled off the heavy quilt and fluffed the sheet to let in some cool air.

  Annika dampened a towel in the washbowl and gently wiped Mariah’s forehead, but her face was still flushed and burning. “Mariah?”

  She moaned softly but didn’t open her eyes.

  “She need doctor,” Song Li said in a hushed voice.

  “I’ll stay with her while you ride out to find Daniel and Mr. Simms.”

  Song Li’s eyes grew large. “I not know where they go! I no ride horse! You go!”

  Annika shivered. Should she try to find the men or ride to town? The road to Laramie was snow-covered and most likely impossible for her to follow. But she had to get help for Mariah. “Keep her as cool as you can.”

  Song Li nodded and wiped the girl’s forehead.

  Annika grabbed her cape and ran down the stairs.

  Daniel shifted in the saddle and gazed out across the snowy hills. A chilling wind blew through the valley. He pushed his hat down and tightened his scarf. That stopped the draft down his neck, but it did nothing to keep his mind from the troubles surrounding his family.

  How could Chase take off again? There was no excuse for his brother’s heartless attitude toward Mariah and Annika. He didn’t deserve such a sweet bride or loving daughter.

  Memories from the morning filled his mind—Annika dressed in her long white nightgown with that blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders and her long blond hair flowing down her back. Watching her prepare that tray and light the candles almost did him in. If Mariah hadn’t interrupted him, he’d have told Annika exactly how he felt about her.

  He had no idea if she had feelings for him. Well, there was that quick kiss on the cheek in the barn the day he’d agreed to teach her to ride, but that seemed more out of gratefulness than anything else. Could she grow to love him the way he loved her? If she did, what would his pa say? And what about Chase? Well, he was tired of waiting for his brother to follow through on the plan to marry Annika.

  “Doesn’t look like there are any more strays out this way,” his father called. “Let’s head back to the house and get something to eat.”

  Daniel nodded. With a gentle nudge of his knees, he urged his horse forward. As they reached the top of the next rise, he spotted someone riding their way.

  His father tipped his hat back. “Who’s that on Lady Jane?”

  Squinting against the sunlight reflecting across the snow, Daniel pulled in a sharp breath. “It’s Annika.”

  “What’s she doing riding out this far from home?”

  Daniel kicked his horse to a gallop and rode toward her. His father followed.

  “Daniel!” Her blond hair blew in the wind as she raced to meet him. The crazy girl wore no hat or gloves. Her cheeks were wind-whipped red and her hands practically blue.

  “What’s wrong?” Daniel called, reining in his horse.

  “It’s Mariah. She needs a doctor.”

  “What happened?” His father demanded, pulling his horse to a stop beside her.

  “She had some kind of convulsion or seizure. She’s burning up with fever.” Tears flooded Annika’s eyes.

  “I’ll ride to Laramie for the doc. You two head home.” His father spurred his horse and galloped toward town.

  “I was so scared. I didn’t know what to do. Song Li said he couldn’t ride for the doctor. None of the men were in the bunkhouse, so I saddled Lady Jane, but I didn’t know the way to town. I followed your horses’ hoof prints and prayed I’d find you—” Her voice choked off in a sob.

  Daniel swung down from his horse and reached for Annika. She slid off the horse and into his arms. He held her close while she cried and shivered. “You’re freezing.”

  She sniffed and looked up at him, tears lacing her eyelashes. “I didn’t want to take time to dress any warmer. Oh, Daniel, I’m so worried about her.”

  “She’ll be all right,” he said, pushing the words past his clogged throat. “You did fine coming out here by yourself.” He took off his scarf and put it over her head, covering her ears and crossing it under her chin.

  “Come on. You can ride with me.” He tied her horse behind his then boosted her up in the saddle. He sat behind her and pulled her back against him. “Put your hands inside and tuck them under your arms.”

  With one arm wrapped around her, he held her close and rode toward home. Annika soon relaxed against him, and he breathed in the sweet scent of her hair. At last the ranch house and barn came into view.

  Daniel rode up to the house and dismounted, then helped Annika down. He tied the horse to the railing and followed Annika inside. “Why don’t you warm yourself by the fire? I’ll check on Mariah.”

  Annika headed for the stairs. “I’ll be fine.”

  They found Song Li in the bedroom hovering over Mariah.

  Lines creased Song Li’s brow. “You bring doctor?”

  “Pa went for him.” Daniel took off his hat and leaned over his niece. “Mariah?” But she didn’t answer. His stomach clenched, and he shot Annika a glance. “How’s she been, Song Li?”

  “She not talk. Fever still high.”

  Annika touched Mariah’s forehead and nodded. She drenched the cloth in water and gently wiped the girl’s face and neck. “Song Li, can you dump that water and refill the pitcher?”

  He grabbed the bowl and pitcher and fled the room.

  Annika looked up at Daniel. “We need to pray.”

  He nodded and bowed his head, but his throat felt too tight to speak. Annika slipped her hand in his, and new strength flowed through him. He pulled in a deep breath. “Father, we ask You to have mercy on Mariah. Please br
ing her fever down and heal her of this sickness.”

  Annika squeezed his hand. “Father, please watch over Mariah. Bring her back to good health. And help us trust You now and always. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  Through the next hour, Daniel paced the room, prayed, and watched Annika tenderly care for Mariah. Every few minutes he glanced out the window toward the road, searching for his father and the doctor. Surely he should’ve been able to reach Laramie and bring him back by now.

  Finally, he saw three riders approaching. “Here they come.”

  Annika crossed to the window and looked out. She gripped the windowsill. “Chase is with them.”

  They exchanged a glance, and Annika returned to Mariah’s side.

  Emotions stormed through Daniel. Mariah needed her father, but he hated to see Chase return. He quickly shook off that selfish thought. It was better this way. As soon as Mariah was better, he’d tell Chase how he felt about Annika.

  Chase pounded up the stairs. “Mariah!” He ran through the doorway and tore over to the bed.

  Pa and the doctor followed him in.

  “Oh, Mariah, I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.” His voice tore from his throat.

  “Step aside now, Chase. Let me take a look at her,” the doctor said.

  Chase moved back and turned to Annika. “Pa told me how you rode out to find him. Thank you.” He crushed her to him in a tight hug.

  She slowly lifted her arms and wrapped them around him.

  He held her close and rocked her slightly back and forth. “I’m sorry, Annika. So sorry.”

  Daniel stared at his brother holding Annika. His chest constricted, and he felt like a boulder rolled over him, crushing out his breath.

  He clamped his jaw, then turned and walked out of the room. There was no way he could stay here and watch Chase take Annika and make her his own.

  Annika spent the afternoon nursing Mariah, trying to keep her as cool and comfortable as possible. But Mariah’s condition didn’t change. Chase came in for a few minutes every hour, and Mr. Simms checked in often. It wasn’t until suppertime she realized she hadn’t seen Daniel for quite a while.

  As the room grew darker, she lit the lamp on the table.

  Song Li brought her a plate of stew and corn bread. “You not eat all day.” He scowled at her. “Eat now, or you get sick.”

  Annika took the plate and thanked him. “Where’s Daniel?”

  Song Li turned away and straightened Mariah’s covers.

  “Song Li, I asked you a question.”

  The cook spun around. “He go hunting.”

  “Hunting? In this weather?”

  Song Li shrugged and hurried out the door, a guilty look on his face.

  What was going on? Why would Daniel leave when Mariah was so ill?

  She set aside the plate and checked Mariah once more. She was still warm but resting peacefully.

  Annika hurried downstairs and passed through the quiet kitchen. Maybe Chase or Mr. Simms could explain where Daniel had gone. She heard the two men talking as she approached the sitting room.

  “I’m sorry, Pa. I know I should’ve said something sooner.”

  “How can you just up and decide to marry some gal you met in town when you’ve got a bride out here at the ranch waiting for you.”

  Annika froze. Surely she’d misunderstood them.

  “It wasn’t my idea to bring Annika here. That was all your doin’. If you’d let me pick my own bride, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

  Annika gasped then strode into the sitting room. “I can’t believe this. Who wrote the letters?”

  “That would be me.” Mr. Simms’s moustache twitched. “I’m sorry. I thought when he met you, everything would work out fine.”

  Chase stared at her, a pinched expression on his face.

  She grasped the back of the settee. “So you never wanted to marry me?”

  He hesitated then shook his head. “It’s nothing against you. I’ve been courting a woman in Laramie since September.”

  Suddenly, Annika remembered the young woman who had spoken to Chase that day they’d gone into town.

  “She’s a real sweet gal. Her pa died last summer. He was a miner. She’d already lost her ma years ago, so she came into town looking for work.”

  His father groaned. “Don’t tell me she works at the Silver Nugget!”

  “No, she works at the café, but that’s no life for her. We want to get married so she can live out here with me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me before?” Mr. Simms demanded.

  Chase straightened. “Her name’s Angelica Morales. She’s Mexican.”

  Mr. Simms’s face flushed. He turned away and braced his hand on the mantel.

  “She’s a good woman, Pa. I love her. It shouldn’t matter where her parents came from.”

  Mr. Simms turned to Annika. “I never should’ve written those letters.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead. “We’ll buy you a ticket back to Chicago tomorrow. That way you’ll be home by Christmas.”

  Annika stared at him. Home? She had no home in Chicago. She’d given up the room she and Sophia rented. Sophia and Lars lived in northern Illinois with another family until their parsonage could be built next spring. Her brothers lived in Sweden, and she had no money to pay her passage back to her homeland. Where would she go? What would she do?

  Chapter 8

  Daniel trudged through the snow to a small hunting cabin halfway up Grier’s Peak. He and Chase used it each fall when they hunted elk, antelope, or white-tail deer, but he’d never come up this late in the year. He wouldn’t be here tonight if there was anywhere else he could go to get away from Annika and Chase.

  But leaving the ranch didn’t blot out the image of Chase taking Annika in his arms. That tormenting memory sent a searing pain through him each time it returned.

  “Why, Lord? Why did I fall in love with Annika when she was promised to my brother?” He struggled against the unfairness of it as he built a fire and tried to warm his hands.

  It wasn’t right. Chase would crush her spirit and heap a load of burdens on her shoulders unless he changed. Closing his eyes, Daniel clasped his hands while he wrestled with his conflicting feelings. He had to stop thinking of himself and how he hated to lose Annika. If he truly loved her, it was time he put her needs first.

  He bowed his head. “Oh Lord, for Annika’s sake, help Chase become a better man and a loving and faithful husband. Protect her and bring her all the love she deserves.”

  A sense of calm settled over his soul. He’d won the first battle, though he knew many more would come.

  He could never stay at the ranch and watch Annika and Chase together. It would be too hard. He’d have to head west and make a new life far from Annika and the rest of his family.

  Song Li burst into the sitting room. “Come quick! Mariah wake up.”

  Annika hurried upstairs with the men right behind her. As soon as she entered the bedroom, she could see that Mariah’s coloring looked better.

  Chase rushed to the bedside, nearly knocking Annika out of the way. “Oh, darlin’, are you feelin better?”

  “Papa!”

  “That’s right, darlin. Your papa’s here, and he’s never leaving you again.”

  Mr. Simms and Song Li huddled around, while Annika stood back, no longer feeling a part of the family. But Mariah called for her.

  Song Li brought a bowl of broth, and Annika tenderly fed it to her. They left Mariah in her care, and not long after, the girl settled back in bed and fell peacefully asleep.

  Annika’s eyes burned as she tucked the blanket around Mariah. Would Chase’s new wife continue teaching her to read? Would she help her learn to knit or sew or bake cookies? Who would help her finish the Christmas gifts?

  And what about Daniel? Mr. Simms and Chase had no idea where he was hunting or when he would return. As she thought of never seeing him again, she felt like a flower crushed in the road by a hundred wagon wheels.

 
Oh Lord, this is too much to bear. Please carry it for me.

  With an aching heart, she lifted the lid of her trunk and began packing. They’d leave the ranch tomorrow morning by nine so she could catch the ten-thirty train headed east. Heaven only knew what would happen to her then.

  The jingle of sleigh bells filled the air as Annika and Mr. Simms sped down the road toward Laramie.

  Mariah had begged to go along and see Annika off at the station, but Chase felt it would be too upsetting for her, especially since she was still recovering. So Mariah and Annika said a tearful good-bye at the ranch. Chase and Mr. Simms stood nearby looking grim. Song Li cried and fled the kitchen, clutching a dishtowel to his mouth.

  She stared across the snow-covered landscape feeling as numb and frozen as the stream they’d just crossed. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours that she could barely take it in.

  How could she be leaving Wyoming? The thought of returning to the crowded, busy city weighed her down, but not as much as leaving without saying good-bye to Daniel. If only she could have seen him one more time.

  Mr. Simms flicked the reins, and the horses picked up their pace. He glanced up at the overcast sky as they entered Laramie. “Looks like we’re in for some more snow.”

  Annika lifted her face as the first few flakes drifted down in a lazy dance then flew past the sleigh. She pulled her coat more tightly around her, trying to keep out the cold wind.

  Mr. Simms rounded the corner and approached the train station. “Whoa, now,” he called to the horses, and the sleigh glided to a stop. They climbed down, and Mr. Simms made arrangements for her trunk. They walked inside, and he purchased her ticket.

  In five days she’d be back in Chicago. What would she do then? Who would take her in? Where would she find a job? A shiver passed through her, and she gripped her bag.

  Annika glanced toward the windows. “You don’t need to stay. I can wait in the station until the train comes.”

  Mr. Simms’s silver brows dipped. “I wouldn’t feel right leaving you here alone.”