Mail-Order Bride Ink: Dear Mr. Weaver

by Kit Morgan

  “I’m sorry I ain’t asked ya yet,” Daniel said, “but how was yer journey?”

  “Very tiring, but I managed to get some sleep at the last couple of stage stops.”

  “Did ya stop at the Gundersons’?” he asked. “It’s the last stage stop before ya reach Nowhere. We sell fruit to Mrs. Gunderson every year.”

  “Yes, we did. That’s where I met Sheriff Hughes.”

  “Harlan’s a right fine fella. But I already told ya that.”

  “He certainly is. I … hope he and your mother are able to spend time together, like he plans.”

  “Bein’ as how he was so quick to offer his assistance earlier, it’s a good bet they will.”

  “She was going into a saloon – of course he would offer.”

  “Yes, but around here everyone knows Ma.” He winked. “And I’ll let ya in on a little secret.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Ma don’t need no escort. Once she starts givin’ orders, the menfolk ‘round here jump to get things done.”

  “Really? Why is that?”

  He shrugged. “Always been like that, for as long as I can remember. She may be little, but she’s got more bark to go with her bite than most armies.”

  Ebba laughed. “I’ll be sure to behave myself around her. I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side.”

  “Not much chance of that ‘less ya do somethin’ real stupid. Trust me, I know.”

  “Oh dear. I can’t imagine what you could have done to bring about her wrath.”

  To her surprise, he cringed. “Just don’t mention wells ‘round Ma and ya’ll be fine.”

  “Wells?” she asked. “I don’t understand.”

  He chuckled. “Ya will if’n ya mention ‘em, especially if’n my name is in the same sentence. Try it one day and see what happens.”

  She smiled lopsidedly. “I’m not sure I should, not after listening to you.”

  He was about to reply when his mother walked into the kitchen. “There you are!” Mrs. Weaver crossed the room to where she stood, a glass in her hand. “Here you go, child. Swig this down and you should be fine.”

  Ebba dried her hands on her dishtowel and stared at the glass. “What is it?”

  Mrs. Weaver swirled the brownish liquid around a few times. “My own invention. But I’d better not tell you what’s in it ‘til after you drink it down.”

  Ebba took an unconscious step backwards and gave the glass a worried look. “Maybe you shouldn’t have told me that.”

  “There’s nothing bad about it, child. It might taste a little funny, but trust me, it works.”

  Ebba steeled herself and reached for the glass. Once she had it in her hand she sniffed at the contents, grimaced and coughed. It had an odd smell that she could not identify – not terrible, but not exactly pleasant either.

  “Maybe ya oughta hold your nose when ya down it,” Daniel suggested.

  “There’s an idea,” Ebba agreed. “Are you sure this will work? I’ve seen more than my share of doctors, Mrs. Weaver, and none of their tonics have done much for me.”

  “This ain’t some tonic made by a quack. This here is good wholesome … ingredients.”

  “Best just drink it, sweetie,” Daniel said.

  Ebba brought the glass to her lips and took a tentative sip. It didn’t taste any better than it looked, but it was drinkable. She looked at Mrs. Weaver. “There are herbs in here. I can taste them.”

  “Yep – several, in fact. Now drink up. Won’t do you any good while it’s still in the glass.”

  Ebba exhaled, took a deep breath and downed the contents in one shot. She coughed and sputtered a few times, almost dropping the glass in the process. “Thank … you …”

  Daniel patted her on the back. “Maybe she should drink some water now, Ma.”

  “No, that stuff needs to coat her throat – it’ll help with the coughing. You don’t want her hacking all night, do you? Poor thing looks as if she hasn’t had a full night’s sleep for a week as it is.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Weaver,” Ebba managed. “I hope it helps.”

  “It will, you’ll see. Now let’s get you to the hotel and settled. Then you can rest a while before supper.”

  “The hotel?” Ebba said. “I don’t understand why we’re spending the night in town.”

  “It’s on account of everyone who can’t attend the weddin’,” Daniel said. “Not everyone can make it all the way out to our place, so this way they get a chance to meet ya before we leave.”

  “Oh.” Ebba looked between Daniel and his mother. “We’re to be married at your farm?”

  “Yep! It’ll be a lot nicer than having it in some stuffy old church …” Daniel stopped, then quickly corrected himself. “I mean, not that the church here ain’t nice or nothin’, but the weather’s been right fine lately and I thought it might be nicer to get hitched in one of the orchards.”

  Ebba smiled as she pictured the two of them standing beneath blossoming apple trees. “I think I’d like that.” Provided I can breathe through it, she mentally added.

  The man actually blushed! “I was kinda hopin’ ya would.”

  A tingle ran up her spine at the boyish look on his face. “Do you have a lot of apple trees?”

  “An orchard usually does,” he said with a laugh.

  Now it was her turn to blush. “I suppose what I meant was, do you have a lot of orchards?”

  “Sure do,” he said as he studied her face.

  “Ahem,” Mrs. Weaver said. “The hotel?”

  “Oh! Sure, Ma.” Daniel offered Ebba his arm.

  A sudden shyness came over her and she hesitated to take it. When she finally did, a rush of heat hit as if pulsing through his arm to hers, then through the rest of her body. She’d never felt anything like it and wondered if there was something wrong with her. Maybe his mother’s concoction had a few side effects. She blinked a few times to make sure she could still see straight.

  “Is somethin’ wrong, sweetie?” Daniel asked. “Ya ain’t getting’ sick or nothin’, are ya?”

  “No, not at all. I just felt a little … funny for a moment.”

  “Best get her to the hotel, son,” his mother suggested. “She’s going to need to lie down.”

  Daniel looked from Ebba to his mother and back again. “That right, sweetie? Do ya need to lie down quick-like? If so I can carry ya to the hotel…”

  “No!” Ebba blurted. “That won’t be necessary!” A sudden picture of him carrying her down the middle of the street made her shudder. It was bad enough she’d gotten all those funny looks from the townspeople. She could just imagine what they’d think of her if they saw that.

  “Suit yerself,” he said. “But I’ll do it if I hafta.”

  “You won’t have to,” she said quickly. “I’m sure I’ll be fine after I rest for an hour or two.”

  “Ya sure?” he teased.

  “I’m sure,” she said with a bemused look.

  “Stop antagonizing the poor girl and let’s get going!” his mother barked.

  Ebba watched him press his lips together as he tried not to laugh. “Right away, Ma.”

  They left Hank’s and went up the street to a small hotel. All in all, the town was very charming – when she wasn’t being glared at – and Ebba found herself looking forward to spending more time exploring it after she and Daniel were wed.

  Once inside the hotel, they didn’t bother going to the desk but headed straight for a staircase. “We done already got the room and the key,” Daniel explained. “All ya hafta do is unpack what ya need for tonight and take a little nap ‘fore supper.”

  “Thank you for taking care of me,” she said. “One thing I’d better do is hang up my wedding dress. The poor thing probably looks a fright.”

  “You leave that dress of yours to me,” said Mrs. Weaver. “I’ll have it ready for the ceremony, don’t worry.”

  “Ma’s real good with a needle and thread too,” Daniel informed her. “She and my sis
ters-in-law, Charity and Samijo? They all make dresses and hats and sell ‘em in Aunt Betsy’s mercantile. My other sister-in-law Bella makes coats and real fancy dresses.”

  “And does she sell them at the mercantile too?” Ebba asked. Her confidence in her own sewing skills slipped a notch at his words.

  “Sure does. In fact, Bella makes her dresses so fancy, women from other towns come here to buy ‘em.”

  Ebba looked away as they reached her room and Daniel unlocked the door. “I’d love to see some of them.”

  “Don’t worry,” Mrs. Weaver said. “You will.”

  Ebba forced a smile. She hoped his sisters-in-law weren’t the competitive type. From what she’d heard so far, they didn’t sound the sort. But one never knew until one actually met the person. She pushed the thought aside as she suddenly realized something. “Where do your brothers and sisters-in-law live?”

  “On the farm,” his mother said. “Where else?”

  “You mean … you all live in the same house?!”

  “‘Course not,” Daniel said with a laugh. “Can ya imagine all the noise?”

  Ebba glanced at his mother as if to confirm his statement. “Where do they live?”

  “On the farm, just like I said,” Mrs. Weaver indeed confirmed. “Arlan and Samijo got their own place and so do Calvin and Bella. Only Benjamin and Charity are in the main house with Daniel and me.”

  Ebba’s mouth twisted up into a crooked smile. “How many brothers did you say you had?”

  “Just the three,” Daniel replied. “But they’re more’n enough …”

  Ma Weaver ushered them into the room. “Never mind about that. Where’s that dress of yours?”

  Ebba opened her mouth to speak and gasped instead. “Good gracious! Where is my bag?”

  “Right there on the floor by the bed,” Daniel pointed. “Did you have Harlan take care of it, Ma?”

  “Sure did. Told him to give it to the hotel clerk and have it brought to the room. Now, your dress?”

  Ebba hurried to comply. She hefted the bag onto the bed, opened it and pulled out her wedding dress. She shook it a few times and grimaced at the wrinkles.

  “Don’t worry about how it looks now,” Mrs. Weaver said. “I’ll get it ironed and ready. My, but that’s a beautiful dress.”

  “Thank you. Mrs. Pettigrew gave it to me.”

  “The lady who owns the bridal agency?” Mrs. Weaver asked.

  “Yes. When she found out I didn’t have one she was kind enough to give this to me. I believe it belonged to her.”

  Mrs. Weaver studied the garment. “It’s not really a wedding dress, but it can definitely be used as one.”

  “Anything is better than what I had, ma’am. Which was nothing.”

  “All I can say is Mrs. Pettigrew must be a very generous woman to part with such a frock,” Mrs. Weaver stated as she brushed at the skirt. “This is some fine material. Just look at the intricate stitching.”

  Ebba watched the woman admire Mrs. Pettigrew’s gift. The gown was white and ivory with elbow-length sleeves trimmed in lace. Five big bows ran down the front of the bodice. Her benefactor had even given her a pearl necklace to wear with it. “You are right Mrs. Weaver, Mrs. Pettigrew is very generous.” If a little odd, she thought to herself. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if she had not given me this.”

  “We’d have found you something, though nothing like this,” she said. “Just wait until Bella sees it. She’ll be green with envy!”

  “Yeah,” Daniel agreed. “Then she’ll wanna make one just like it.”

  “She will?” Ebba asked in surprise.

  “For the challenge, mostly,” Mrs. Weaver said. She stopped fussing with the dress and turned to her. “Now I want you to do me a big favor.”

  “What’s that?” Ebba asked.

  “From now on I want you to call me Ma.”

  Ebba smiled and blushed. “All right … Ma.”

  “There now – that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

  Ebba shook her head. “No.” She looked away, surprised at the tears in her eyes.

  “What’s wrong, dear?” Ma asked.

  “I’m sorry … it’s just that I recently lost my parents. They haven’t been gone for very long.”

  Without warning Ma pulled her into a hug. “Well now, if you need to let loose some tears you go right ahead. It isn’t easy losing your parents. Daniel and his brothers know that. They lost their pa quite a while ago, but we all still miss him something fierce.”

  “Ma’s right,” Daniel agreed. “I miss him all the time. There’s no shame in missin’ yers.”

  That did it. The tears spilled down Ebba’s cheeks as Ma’s arms tightened around her. “I’m so sorry … I don’t know where this is coming from …”

  “Of course you do, child. Who wouldn’t be crying? Your parents are gone, you’ve come West to start a whole new life, you met a passel of new people as soon as you got here and you’re plumb tuckered out. Land sakes, I’m surprised the waterworks didn’t start hours ago!”

  “Maybe I oughta leave the room,” Daniel turned toward the door.

  “We’ll both leave so you can rest,” Ma said. “If you need us we’ll be down at the mercantile. I’ll send Daniel to fetch you come suppertime.”

  As Ma let her go, Ebba wiped at her tears. “Thank you, Ma. You too, Mr. Weaver.”

  “Don’t ya think ya oughta be callin’ me Daniel? We’re gonna be married in a couple of days.”

  Ebba started at the comment. “A couple of days? I thought we were getting married tomorrow.”

  “Heavens no!” said Ma. “Not unless you want to get hitched in the dark.”

  “Dark? What do you mean, in the dark?” Ebba asked.

  Daniel chuckled nervously. “I did tell ya in my letters where we lived, didn’t I?”

  “Only that you lived outside of town. You never said where exactly.”

  Ma put her hands on her hips and eyed him. “You mean you didn’t tell her how far out?”

  “I said outside of town,” Daniel protested.

  “How far?” Ebba asked cautiously.

  “A full day’s ride,” Ma said. “Sunup to sundown. Two days if the weather is bad.”

  Ebba’s legs went weak and she sat down on the bed, hard. “Two days?!”

  “It ain’t as bad as it sounds,” Daniel replied lamely.

  Oh yes it is! she thought to herself. A sudden vision of never seeing another living soul crashed down upon her. Would she go crazy seeing the same handful of people day in and day out with no other social interaction? “I … I did not expect this. I thought you were maybe a mile or two out of town, not a day or two.”

  Ma sat next to her on the bed. “Now, it’s not as bad as all that. Charity and Bella and Samijo were all from big cities and they adjusted fine. In fact, they like it better.”

  “Two days,” Ebba muttered.

  “Well, if you keep thinking about it that way, then of course it’s going to bother you,” Ma chastised.

  Ebba closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m sorry, it’s just not what I expected. I’m sure the farm is wonderful.”

  “You know what’s even more wonderful?” Daniel asked.

  “What?” Ebba said.

  “Ya ain’t coughed or sneezed since ya drank Ma’s remedy.”

  Ebba stared at him in shock. Good heavens, the man was right! Now that she thought about it, even her throat felt better. Had this tiny woman been able to do what no doctor in Denver, Chicago or New York could? “Thank you!” Ebba enthused and threw her arms around Ma. “It’s a miracle!”

  “No, it’s just an old recipe.” Ma said. “The miracle will be getting all the wrinkles out of that dress of yours.” She pried Ebba’s arms off and stood. “Now you get some rest. I want my new daughter-in-law to be pretty as a picture on her wedding day! And I’m sure Daniel does too, don’t you, son?”

  “I think she’s pretty as a picture now, Ma,” he said. “In fact, I think
Miss Knudsen here’d look pretty no matter where or what she was doin’.”

  Ebba felt her cheeks grow hot with the complement. “Thank you … Daniel.”

  He closed the distance between them and took her hand in his. “Rest now,” he said gently. “The last thing I’d want is for ya to start coughin’ durin’ our ceremony.”

  Ebba’s heart sank. Did he have to say that? She’d thought of it so often during her long journey West that she’d exhausted every horrid scenario she could possibly think of. Now she’d probably dream about it, and whatever nightmares she had would be stuck in her head when they stood before the preacher. “I’ll do my best,” she said. And hoped her best would be enough.

  Chapter 6

  A soft knock sounded at the door. Ebba opened her eyes slowly, not sure if she’d heard anything.

  No, there it was again. Ebba sat up, unsure of where she was. The room wasn’t her own, unrecognizable …

  “Miss Knudsen … er, I mean, Ebba?” came a male voice from the other side of the door.

  Daniel! Now she remembered where she was. Hurriedly she got up, smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt and answered the door.

  Daniel stood there with a big smile on his face. “Did ya get a nice rest in?”

  She nodded. “Maybe too nice. I forgot where I was.”

  He smiled. “So long as ya didn’t forget me.”

  Ebba blushed. “No, I certainly didn’t.”

  “Aunt Betsy has supper about ready, so Ma figured I’d best come fetch ya. Are ya hungry?”

  Before she could respond verbally, her stomach growled. Her hand flew to her belly. “Oh my goodness!”

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” he laughed.

  She laughed too. “Give me a moment. I must look a mess.”

  He sobered. “I don’t think so. I think … well, shucks, yer about the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, if’n ya don’t mind me sayin’ so.”

  His words sent a tingle up her spine. “No, I, I don’t mind at all.”