The Unlikely Wife

by Debra Ullrick

  “None taken. Weren’t any teachers around when I was younger. Two years after Ma died, one came to the mountains from some big city back east. I was too busy providin’ for my brothers and pa to go to school, but I made sure they went. Jacob didn’t wanna go. He wanted to help. But I made him go.” She leaned closer to Michael, anxious to hear more. “Now, is that all he said?”

  Michael’s eyes dropped to the paper.

  We sure would appreciate hearing from you. So, Michael, if you are reading this, would you drop a line, letting us know how our sister is doin? We’d be mighty grateful. Thank you kindly.

  Zeke and Zach said to tell you hi and that they love you and miss you.

  We love you too, Selina, and miss you heaps. Come for a visit whenever you can.

  Love,

  Jacob and Sarah and the boys

  “Do you want to reply to it now?” Michael asked.

  “No. I want you to read me the others first.”

  She listened as he read the letter from Eli and his wife, Bobby Sue, and now from Peter and his wife, Bella.

  Dear Selina,

  I just wanted to let you know that Pastor Hickens and I were thinking about you and praying that all is well with you. Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Albin send their love. Just so you know, you can stop worrying about both of them now because they are being taken care of almost as well as when you were taking care of them. Aimee has been helping them. She…

  At the mention of Aimee’s name, she jerked her attention onto Michael to see his reaction. Wrinkles lined his forehead but he kept right on a reading. Only Selina didn’t hear another word, she was too busy wondering what he was feeling.

  There was one letter left. She watched as Michael ran his finger under the seal and removed the letter from its envelope. The muscle in his jaw worked back and forth and his brows furrowed. Whoever it was from had him mighty worked up. Only she couldn’t tell if it was anger or something else. He excused himself to get some firewood and was gone for almost an hour. She could hardly wait to see who the letter was from.

  Ever since Selina had arrived, Michael had shoveled his anger at himself and her friend into a deep hole, burying and hiding it as well as he could. But seeing the signature on the letter he held, all the bitterness, resentment and anger resurfaced.

  He sucked in a deep breath and willed none of those things to show while he read to Selina. Selina felt bad enough about the whole situation and he didn’t want her feeling worse. Living with her had proved she wasn’t capable of the deception that had led to their ill-begotten marriage.

  To deal with the anger he had toward himself and Aimee, he had taken it out on the firewood when he split it, pounded harder than necessary on the nails when he repaired the corrals, and shoveled the muck in the barn with a vengeance. The stench of it was as bad as the stench of his anger, anger that needed to be purged like the dung in the barn. When none of those things worked, and actually exacerbated things, he had finally turned to prayer. That was the only thing that helped him deal with it enough to go back inside the house. He offered up a quick prayer and then turned to the letter.

  My dearest friend,

  I hope you and Michael are settled into your new life together. I’m so happy for you, Selina. I only wish I could find someone as wonderful as your Michael seems to be. You are so blessed to have someone like him, as is he to have someone like you. Both you and he deserve the best, and I wish you both all the happiness in the world.

  Michael continued to read, his voice monotone even though a gamut of emotions stirred inside him. Emotions he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

  Things are not the same around here without you. Rather boring, actually. Father is planning another party. I so hate those things. Everyone here is so phony. Unlike you, Selina. You are the one and only genuine person I know. Don’t ever change. For anyone. You hear me. Oh, before I forget, Bosley had her puppies. Seven of them. I think of you every time I look at them. They’re so sweet and loving and accepting. Just like you, my dear friend. You are truly one of a kind. I am planning a visit real soon as I cannot wait to see you again. I love you and miss you terribly.

  Give Michael my love.

  No thanks. He wanted no part of the deceptive woman.

  Your forever friend,

  Aimee

  Michael folded the letter and put it back into the envelope. Though the room was quiet, the ticking of the grandfather clock and Selina’s breathing roared like a violent stampede.

  Selina set the rocking chair into motion. “I sure don’t understand her.” He barely heard her, her voice was so soft.

  “You don’t understand what?” he asked equally as quiet.

  “She acts like she ain’t done nothin’ wrong.”

  That’s what he was thinking, too. Aimee seemed to think that he and Selina deserved each other. Why would the woman think he would like Selina? He’d told her what type of woman he was looking for. And Selina was far from it.

  Would he ever be able to truly forgive Aimee for deceiving them?

  And would he ever be able to love Selina the way he had loved who he’d thought she was?

  Selina struggled with Aimee’s letter. It surprised Selina that Aimee acted like Michael and Selina belonged together. If only she had kept Michael’s letters, then she’d have asked Rainee to read them to her. To find out what they really said. But she hadn’t kept them because she couldn’t read them herself anyway.

  Aimee said she was coming for a visit. Truth was, Selina didn’t want her to come. The very thought of it tied her stomach into knots. Especially after all those words about how wonderful Aimee thought Michael was. Sounded as if Aimee loved him, too.

  Like a flung rock to the head, reality smacked her. Dear Lord. She is, isn’t she? Aimee’s in love with Michael.

  Selina pondered how Aimee was more Michael’s type than she was. Aimee was unmarried and a real looker, too. Would Michael fall for her once he laid eyes on her and saw how sweet and kind she acted?

  With Michael and her being married in name only, would Michael get their marriage annulled so he could marry Aimee? That thought frightened her more than anything ever had in her life before. Well, there was no way she would let that happen. She had to figure out a way to win Michael’s heart—and fast. She’d have to work harder to learn how to write so she could write Aimee and tell her she wasn’t welcome here. If not, she feared she would lose Michael forever.

  That night Selina wrestled with her sheets. Long before the sun peeked over the mountain, she got up, flew through breakfast and chores and then hurried over to Rainee’s.

  A surprised Rainee greeted her at the door.

  “What am I gonna do, Rainee?” Selina blurted before she even stepped inside. “I can’t have her show up now…”

  Rainee opened the door to let her in.

  Emily and Rosie looked up from the table and their puzzle, then rushed over to Selina and hugged her.

  “You want to help us put our puzzle together?” Rosie asked.

  Selina glanced at the wooden puzzle pieces scattered on the kitchen table. Normally she would love to spend time with the girls, but today she had too much on her mind and really wanted to talk to Rainee.

  “Not today, girls,” Rainee said. “I want you to go find Esther and stay with her until I tell you it is okay to come back inside, okay?”

  “Yes, Mother,” they both said with disappointment.

  Selina hated disappointing them like that, but she’d make it up to them later.

  When the girls were out of sight, Rainee looped arms with Selina and led her to the living room. A tray with a pot of tea, cups, the small plates she learned were called saucers, and all the fixings for tea were set on the round table between them.

  Rainee fixed them both a cup of the dark brew. “Now, tell me what this is all about. Who is coming to see you?” She held the cup to her lips.

  “Aimee. She says she’s comin’ for a visit. She’s real purty, Rainee. And Mich
ael fell in love with the woman in them letters. The letters were more her than me. I’m so afraid when he meets her and gets to know her, he’ll send my hide packin’.”

  “Michael would never do that, Selina. He is a man of his word.”

  “Maybe so, but I ain’t takin’ any chances.”

  Rainee seemed to be studying Selina for a moment. Her tea cup tinkled when she set it down. “I have an idea. Come with me.”

  Selina followed Rainee into one of the rooms. There stood the same kind of treadle sewing machine that Selina had at her house but didn’t know how to use.

  Rainee showed her how to use the machine. Selina caught on fast, and the two of them commenced to sewing.

  That evening, Selina couldn’t wait until Michael got home. With supper on the stove, she sat on the sofa, watching the door.

  The boards on the steps creaked.

  Selina hurried to stand in front of the fireplace.

  Footsteps sounded on the porch, then stopped at the door.

  Selina held her breath.

  The door squeaked opened.

  Michael stepped inside and stopped when his attention landed on her. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “Se-Selina? Is that—is that you?”

  Michael was certain his heart had stopped beating. The vision in front of him could not be his wife. “What happened?”

  She frowned. “What do you mean, what happened? Ya told me you wanted me to make dresses, so I did. Well, one at least anyways.”

  “That was days ago, and you made it clear you weren’t going to wear dresses.”

  “A woman can change her mind, can’t she?”

  “Guess so. But, you said you weren’t changing for anyone.”

  “Ain’t changin’ who I am, just what I’m wearin’.”

  Boy was he ever glad she did. She looked great in a dress. He ran his eyes down the length of her. Her molasses, copper-and-honey-colored hair hung to her waist in waves. The woman really did have a shape to be envied by any woman.

  The vision of loveliness standing in front of the fireplace was more of what he had in mind when he pictured the woman he had married.

  His heart picked up its pace as she glided toward him, looking and walking every bit the lady. Her pink skirt swished with each step she took, and he found he couldn’t peel his eyes away from her.

  Only a foot separated them now.

  He got a whiff of something sweet.

  Her brown eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. “What do you think?”

  “I think I like it. You—you look beautiful. I could get used to coming home to this.”

  “Could you?”

  He slid his attention to her hopeful, beautiful eyes.

  Eyes that suddenly seemed to be pulling him into their depths.

  He inched his body closer to her.

  She took a small step toward him.

  His heart beat faster, and his body trembled.

  She looked up at him, blinking.

  His arms reached out to her, pulling her to him.

  His gaze lowered to her slightly parted lips, lips that invited his to join them.

  But just to make sure he wasn’t mistaken, when he leaned his head down, he searched her face for permission.

  Her eyes slid shut. That was all the permission he needed. He covered her lips with his, drinking in their softness, enjoying the feel of her. His heart yearned to draw her even closer, so he did.

  “Anybody home?”

  Michael whipped his head toward the door, letting Selina go. “Jake? What are you doing here?” Michael’s insides groaned. Of all the times Jake had to stop by, why did he have to pick now?

  “I was on my way home from town and thought I’d stop by and tell Selina thanks again for saving my life.”

  “Come on in,” Michael said, even though he really wanted to ask him to come back another time.

  The screen door squeaked as it opened and closed. Jake stepped inside and his eyes bulged. “Woo wee. You sure look beautiful this evening, Selina.”

  “Thank you kindly.” Selina glowed under his praise.

  The look of approval on Jake’s face bothered Michael, so he tucked Selina under his arm. “She sure does.”

  “Would ya like to stay for supper?”

  Please, please say no.

  “I’d love to.”

  Michael inwardly groaned again.

  “Well, have a seat and I’ll fetch another plate.”

  Jake sat in the chair across from Selina’s. Michael noticed Jake was well-groomed and smelled of soap and shaving cream. Even his clothes were pressed, not very well, but they were pressed nonetheless. Just who was he trying to impress? Selina?

  Selina brought an extra plate and glass and set it in front of Jake. He followed her with his eyes as she headed to the stove. “She sure looks nice, Michael,” Jake whispered. “I’m sorry about what I said about her when she first came. I was wrong.”

  Those words meant a lot coming from the one person who never seemed to speak a kind word about anyone.

  Selina’s shiny mane shifted from side to side at her waist as she headed back to the cook stove. He’d never seen her hair down before and it was definitely a sight to see. She was a sight to see. He only hoped she would wear her hair down more often and start wearing dresses all the time.

  She brought a covered basket, a plate covered with a towel, a saucepan, and the Dutch oven kettle and set them down.

  His heart stopped, fearful of what was in the pan. Some bizarre food?

  He held his breath when she removed a lid exposing creamy mashed potatoes.

  Michael breathed a sigh of relief. So far so good.

  She filled both men’s plate with a generous portion and a small portion for herself.

  Anxiously he watched as she raised the lid on the saucepan. Steam and the smell of gravy rose.

  Whew. Thank You, Lord. Michael kept his smile hidden.

  She filled a ladle and made a hole in their mounds of potatoes and filled it with the smooth, rich, brown gravy.

  He glanced at the towel-covered basket—he wasn’t worried about that one. It either had biscuits or bread. As for the covered plate, that one had him worried. Who knew what was under that cloth? Just so it wasn’t crawdad tails, fried snake or some other crazy food.

  She raised the cloth to reveal something fried.

  His breath held. It sort of looked like chicken, but he wasn’t sure.

  “What piece of quail would you like, Jake?”

  “Quail? That’s quail?” Michael asked somewhat relieved.

  “Sure is.”

  “Where did you get quail?” Michael asked.

  “Killed it myself.”

  “You hunt?” Admiration filled Jake’s eyes.

  “Been huntin’ most of my life.”

  “I’m impressed.” Jake seemed to be impressed with a lot of the things Selina did. And that bothered Michael.

  Selina tilted her head and looked surprised. A piece of hair fell across her cheek. Michael longed to move it out of the way just so he could feel her soft skin underneath.

  She loaded their plates with quail. “Y’all want regular biscuits or cornbread ones?”

  “I love cornbread,” Michael said. “I’ll take three of them and two of the regular biscuits.”

  “Me, too,” Jake added eagerly.

  After she handed them out, they bowed their heads and prayed.

  “What else can you do?” Jake scooped a large forkful of mashed potatoes and shoved it into his mouth, then put a slab of butter on his biscuit.

  “The same stuff everyone else does, I reckon.”

  “No, not everyone. I don’t know anyone other than Doc who can sew cuts like you. And this food is delicious. As delicious as the meal you cooked for me. That was the best meal I’d had in a long time.” He looked at Michael. “Your wife is one fine cook.”

  “She sure is.” That is, if a person didn’t count the fried snake and crawdad tails, but
Michael kept that thought to himself.

  “Thank you for your kind words about my vittles. How’s the head doing?”

  Jake smiled. “I’m doing well, thanks to you.”

  Hey, I was there, too. If it weren’t for me taking her over to get a puppy, she wouldn’t have even seen you to help you. Just where did that come from? It wasn’t like him to be jealous. Especially over Selina.

  “Iffen you want me to, I can check it and change your bandage before you go.”

  “That’d be great. Thanks.” Jake drank half a glass of milk and wiped his mouth. “I was wondering something. Out here, you need to be a strong woman to survive. You got any friends back home just like you?”

  Michael sucked in a piece of quail, completely blocking off his air supply. He grabbed his throat. Selina jumped up and shoved his head to his knees. Air whooshed from his lungs and a piece of quail flew from his throat and landed on the floor.

  He rasped and wheezed, “Thank you, Selina.”

  “You’re welcome.” Her eyes raked over him with fear. “You all right now?”

  He took a generous drink of his milk. “Yes. Thanks to you.” Hadn’t he just heard those same words from Jake?

  Michael couldn’t believe that the man, whose main goal in life was to taunt people, actually wanted someone just like Selina.

  They went back to eating and Jake and Selina talked the whole time, leaving Michael to wonder why he and Selina didn’t have conversations like that.

  Jake hung on Selina’s every word as she talked about Kentucky and the Appalachian Mountains.

  Michael watched her eyes light up, heard the sweetness in her melodic voice. His gaze fell to her lips as she talked.