An Appetite for Love

by Elaine Young

  “It is time you were married off, Tina,” replied Henry, her dad. “You are already 23 and we want to see you settled down and comfortable. You are not getting any younger.”

  “But I don’t like this whole thing, Dad. You know I want to marry someone that I love, not someone that you and Mom love. And besides, do you really want to see me marrying a total stranger?”

  “With this application you can be paired up with a suitable husband. They will likely come from a good family as well and have the necessary means to support you. It is a hard economy out there and, especially as a woman, it is hard to make end’s meat.”

  “I don’t want to fill out this application. I know Mr. Right is out there somewhere, I just haven’t found him yet.”

  “But how long do you plan on looking for Princess? Most of your friends have already settled down by now.”

  “I am not sure, I just know I need a little bit more time.”

  Henry took a moment to assess the situation further. He decided that arguing with Tina was going to get him nowhere. He decided to put his foot down. “Tina, I am not going to have this argument with you. You are my daughter, and living under my roof. You will fill out the application and we will see this matter come to an end.”

  Tears began to well up in Tina’s eyes. She looked at her father in consternation. Why is he being so unreasonable? She grabbed the application and stormed up the stairs to her bedroom on the second floor, slamming the door shut and then collapsing onto her bed. The tears began to flow and she started sobbing. She realized to herself that she was going to have to fill out the application and there was no other option. She considered running away for a brief moment. But that idea dissipated quickly as she had no place to go. Her dad was right about all her friends already being married off. She was the last single one. She did not want to become an old maid, but that seemed a lot better than marrying a stranger too.

  That evening at dinner she ate her food quietly and sullenly. Her mother and father were also quietly eating, not looking up and sharing only the occasional glance between them.

  “I am going to fill it out,” said Tina dejectedly.

  There was a pause of about half a minute from her parents. Her mother, Dorothy, looked at her and said, “We think it’s for the best, hun. Your father and I have only your best interests at heart. You can’t live with us forever until you became an old maid.”

  “Listen to your mother,” said Henry. “She is right. And we are glad that you are going to become a mail-order bride. Some lucky man will get your application and will take care of you and make you very happy one day. You just can’t see it now because you’re young and naïve. But believe me, one day you will thank us.”

  Tina still felt sick to her stomach. But she couldn’t fight both her parents at once, especially while they were still providing the roof over her head.

  That night she filled out the application and by morning it was delivered via post to the organization that handles such matters. It was only a waiting game now until she heard back from them regarding her new husband. She hoped he was at least decently attractive and had some money. She was not going to stop looking for the man of her dreams just because some guy wanted to marry her. She was going to continue hanging out with her friends and going out to the saloon to have cocktails and gawk at the beautiful men who stopped by to play poker and shoot the breeze.

  The phone rang. It was her best friend, Kate Wimbleton. She wanted to know if Kate would join her and her husband, Eric, on a boat ride that afternoon. Tina didn’t really feel like leaving the house as she was somewhat depressed about becoming a mail order bride, but she decided that the company and some fresh air would probably do her some good, so she said yes.

  Tina got ready by putting on a beautiful, cotton, white dress and used one of her best purses. She looked at herself in the mirror for a few moments to make sure she looked great. She did. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips full and pouty. Her slender physique was striking and her full breasts accentuated her look. She smiled to herself, secretly hoping that today would be the day that she found her romantic partner. Maybe someone on the boat? Who knows. Men did quite often come up and approach her to start a conversation. Maybe finally someone would come up that she actually had feelings for in return.

  Out on the boat, it was a cool afternoon with a slight autumn breeze. Tina, Kate, and Eric were standing on the outside deck marveling at the beautiful sights and sounds of being on the open water. The boat’s destination was a small island about ten miles out from the harbour. There, the threesome would set up their lunch and embark upon a beautiful picnic.

  “You look wonderful today, Tina,” said Eric to Kate, offering her a sincere complement. “What is new with you?”

  “I am being set up as a mail-order bride. My parents are arranging the whole thing. I am not too thrilled about it.”

  “That is ill news, Tina,” said Kate. “I know how you have always valued your independence and you are certainly striking enough to find your own match.”

  “Yes, but I am twenty-three. How long must I wait before Mr. Right comes along?”

  “Maybe we will meet him today,” suggested Kate. There were a number of very good-looking men on the boat. Tina had only to glance around to figure that out. There was one gentleman in particular who caught her eye. He was tall, about six feet, with a slim build and coarse, dark hair. He wore a moustache and goatee and had very kind, smart-looking eyes. Tina couldn’t help but look in his direction several times. Upon glancing at him for the third or fourth time, their eyes met. He seemed to look directly into her unabashedly. After a few seconds of eye contact she looked away into the horizon once more.

  When the boat docked on the beautiful, green island, the three friends walked off the plank and strolled merrily around the boardwalk. They decided they would look for a suitable place to have their picnic. After about fifteen minutes of walking they came to a perfect spot to set up. It was a well-kept grassy hill under the shade of large elm trees. Eric unpacked, setting out a checkered table cloth for them to sit on and set out their delicious meal. Kate broke their bread into three sections and passed it out. Eric applied caviar to his piece and ate it savouringly. Tina enjoyed the food just as much as her other two companions.

  About half-way through the meal she noticed that the dark-haired man who she had made eye contact with on the boat was walking in their direction. He became larger and larger until he was finally at their picnic. He held out his hand to introduce himself.

  “I am Jacob Farraway,” he said. “I couldn’t help but notice that you three were eating quite an exquisite meal. I have brought some sparkling champagne, and was wondering if I might join you guys? I have no food, but I can assure you my champagne is of the utmost quality.”

  The three friends looked at each other and they all seemed to agree that it would be a fine idea to have his company. Tina, in particular, blushed a deep shade of pink. She did not want to make eye contact with Jacob for fear that he would see right through her, to her womanly desire.

  “I am Eric. This is my wife, Kate, and our friend, Tina. It is a pleasure to meet you. Have a seat on our spread and join us! I think I brought a few glasses for us to enjoy your champagne with.”

  Jacob took a seat on the spread next to Tina. They exchanged another awkward glance, and then Jacob opened his bottle of champagne and poured everyone a glass. “To this beautiful fall we’ve been having!” he toasted. “And to new friendships.”

  The four of them sipped their champagne and let a few moments pass uninterrupted. A gust of wind blew by messing up Tina’s hair. They got to talking about the local news, the weather, and the state of the country’s economy. Jacob, it turned out, was a very knowledgeable and smart guy. He was an investor and spent his time playing on the stock market. He had a great relationship with his broker and the two of them – as he put it – were getting “really rich”.

  “What is it that you do, Tina?” asked
Jacob.

  “Well right now I am living with my lovely parents. My mother is teaching me to sew and on my spare time I like to go horseback riding in the pasture by my house.”

  “Sounds lovely. I too am a lover of the equestrian arts. Perhaps we could go riding tomorrow? I have the most delightful thoroughbred that I’d be thrilled to show you.”

  Tina blushed somewhat. She gave a glance to Eric and Kate. They were smiling very broadly at her. Tina felt mortified and hoped that Jacob did not see her friends’ reactions. “Sure,” she stammered.

  They finished up the rest of their lunch and then packed up everything into a convenient satchel that Eric carried effortlessly. They decided that they were going to go for a walk and so headed over to the boardwalk and began their circular journey around the island. Eric and Kate walked up ahead and Tina fell back with Jacob. Jacob and Tina made small talk, until their hands grazed. Tina wasn’t sure what to make of that simple and small gesture, but she felt electricity shoot into her body all the same. Then their hands grazed a second time. On the third time that their hands met, Jacob held on. Tina’s heart raced and now they were simply holding hands. Tina avoided eye contact but did not withdraw either. They continued walking in this fashion for some time. Finally, Jacob broke the silence. “I’d like to see you tonight.”

  “Sure,” responded Tina.

  “Can I come by your house?”

  “I think it’s better if we met in some other location. I am going through some stuff with my parents right now and I’m not too sure how they would feel if I had a male suitor at this time.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “I live on Pinecrest Road, the big white house with the large porch and tulip garden. You can’t miss it.”

  “Oh, I know that street. There happens to be a park about a mile east of there. It’s called Sunset Grove. Do you know it?”

  “Yes, I go walking there sometimes. Is that where you’d like to meet?”

  “Yes, how does eight o’clock tonight sound?”

  “Can we make it a bit later? I am going to have to sneak out and it would be best if I did so after my parents have gone to bed.”

  “Alright then. How about eleven?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “And then one day I can maybe show you around my ranch. I have a bunch of cattle, some chickens, goats, ducks, and of course horses.”

  “Are you a real cowboy?” said Tina mesmerizingly. She had always had a fantasy about having a romantic fling with a cowboy. She wondered silently to herself what her parents would think of this new relationship. They probably wouldn’t approve.

  “I have been called that before, ma’am but I am many things other than a cowboy. I have an interest in arts and culture, and perhaps one day I can share these passions with you as well. But for now, let’s concentrate on tonight.

  “Deal!” she said.

  The rest of the afternoon was spent walking around enjoying the scenery and making small talk. She did not tell Eric and Kate about her plan to meet Jacob later. She decided that secret was best kept just between the two of them.

  On the ferry ride back to the shore and away from the island, Tina was silent. Jacob had left them before they got on the boat to wander around a bit more. But Kate detected a slight difference in Tina’s disposition and decided to comment on it. “You look… different.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Tina nervously.

  “I mean you’re glowing! If I didn’t know better, I’d say that that Jacob made a bit of an impression on you. I know you like cowboys, and he was quite the gentleman!”

  “Well we’ll see. I know my parents won’t approve. They have their hearts set on me being a mail-order bride. The application has already been sent. I might bring it up with them later but I’ll probably just meet up with Jacob tonight and see how things go.”

  That night at dinner, Tina and her parents enjoyed another delicious meal. The topic turned to her mail-order bride application.

  “So we should hear back in a couple of weeks about that application,” said Henry, broaching the topic.

  “Yes I suppose we will,” responded Tina. “And if I were to find someone suitable on my own, would that mean that we can just give up on the whole ‘mail-order’ idea?”

  “Honey, you have been trying to find someone on your own all this time. And it hasn’t worked. I think the mail-order bride avenue is the best path to take. Also, we want to make sure you are taken care of.”

  Tina weighed to herself whether or not she should tell her parents about Jacob. For some reason she did not feel they would be too accepting of her new encounter. Jacob seemed like a perfect gentleman, and a nice guy, but he was a cowboy after all. He led a very wild and adventurous life – not the kind of life that her parents envisioned for her. So she said nothing.

  That evening as her parents went to bed at their usual time – 10:30 pm – Tina paced nervously in her large bedroom. She couldn’t decide what to wear. The clothes she had on during the day were nice but she thought that fresh attire might be more suitable. And as the fall was pressing on, she knew that it would be chilly outside. She picked out a green dress (to match her brown eyes) and some leather sandals. She also grabbed a shawl to drape herself with in protection from the cold. She quietly tip-toed down the marble stairs and made her way to the front door. It was locked. She felt in her pocket to make sure that she had the key with her. She did. She slipped out the door and started making her way to the park to meet Jacob. She arrived just in time and saw that he was there waiting for her.

  “I am glad you came,” said Jacob. “It is a beautiful night for a meeting.”

  “I am glad I came too. I don’t know what it is but I feel as though I can trust you. I can see it in your face.”

  “Let’s have a seat on this bench. You can tell me more about the problems you are having with your parents.”

  “Well…my parents want me to be a mail order bride. They have this idea that I need to be taken care of. But I don’t! I know I can make it on my own. I just need to find the right person to share my life with.”

  Jacob lent a sympathetic ear. “I understand. I hate being forced into things too. But it must be nice to have parents. My parents both died when I was really young. They were murdered while walking down the street. All for some pieces of jewellery and the money my Dad carried in his wallet. Life can be cruel sometimes.”

  Tina didn’t really know what to say to that. Compared to her problems, Jacob’s seemed a lot more serious.

  “I don’t mean to downplay the impact my parents have on my life,” Tina continued. “They are great people. But they don’t get where I’m coming from at all.”

  “Well if you would allow me to, I could accompany you from now on and we could see where things went. I don’t know if I could appease your father but I could certainly try.”

  It was a kind gesture, and one that Tina considered seriously. But she couldn’t get around the fact that he just wasn’t the type of suitor her parents had in mind for her. “We will see.”

  They discussed everything from the weather to the nature of the economy to Jacob’s horses. Jacob also owned a large collection of pistols and considered himself quite the shot. He wasn’t a violent man, but he liked to have firearms on hand in case he ever needed to defend himself or other loved ones. Before they concluded their meeting, Jacob invited Tina to go for a ride with him at his ranch some time in the following week. Tina said she was unsure but that she would get back to him. If her answer was yes, she would leave a note on this very bench saying so by the following Wednesday. If it was no, she would not leave a note. They agreed to part ways with this idea in place. Tina hoped that she would be able to say ‘yes’ but she was uncertain.

  That Sunday, after church, Tina entered the living room of her house to find her father reading a newspaper by the fire and smoking a pipe. The rich aroma of the Virginia tobacco filled the air and created a pleasant sensation.

&nbs
p; “Darling!’ exclaimed Henry. “I have some good news. We received a reply to your mail-order bride application. It looks as though a very well-established older gentleman who owns lots of property and manages several factories is interested in you. In fact, in his letter, he said that you were the most striking woman he had ever come across. Here is his picture.”

  Henry handed his daughter a letter which was written finely in cursive and signed “William J. Hornhill” at the bottom. The picture of the man was unflattering. He had short hair, a bushy grey moustache, and looked as though he were more than a few dozen pounds overweight. But most troubling of all was that he looked even older than her dad.

  “How am I supposed to marry this man?” said Tina, on the verge of tears. “He is older than you!”

  “Yes, but he can give you a very good life. His credentials are more than impressive. And when he passes on, you will inherit his wealth. You should be able to give him many children before that happens. And best of all, he lives right here in town, so you will be able to visit us often.”

  Tina hesitantly decided to go along with it. She wasn’t going to change her father’s opinion, and the strength of his opinion made her long for Jacob more and more.

  “Okay, Dad,” she said. “I will meet him. For you.”

  “Splendid,” he said. “I will arrange a meeting. This Tuesday should work well. He can come to our house and have dinner with us, and I am sure that you will see that he is not a bad guy. I pride myself on being a very good judge of character.”

  But no matter what Henry could say, Tina knew deep down in her heart that she would not be convinced. But she couldn’t argue with her dad at the same time – that always got her nowhere.

  The days whizzed by and Tina occupied herself with her sewing. She was getting pretty good at it, not in small part because of her mom’s tutelage. When Tuesday rolled around Tina got dressed in one of her best outfits – a white evening gown – and joined her family at dinner.