A Husband for Margaret

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  A Husband for Margaret

  Ruth Ann Nordin

  Ruth Ann Nordin’s Books

  Springfield, Nebraska

  A Husband for Margaret - Smashwords Edition

  Published by Ruth Ann Nordin at Smashwords

  Copyright © 2010 by Ruth Ann Nordin

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold. If you would like to share this book with another person, please do. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover Photo images Copyright Getty Images (www.photos.com). All rights reserved – used with permission.

  Chapter One

  April 1869

  Two weeks after Tom and Jessica got married

  Margaret Williams adjusted her hat for what seemed to be the hundredth time. She took another good look at her reflection in the mirror before she glanced at her newly married friend, Jessica. In no way, did she share the blond’s outstanding beauty.

  Jessica Larson lifted the pearl necklace from Margaret’s jewelry box. “This will look nice with the white ribbon in your hat.”

  “It’ll do.”

  She turned so that Jessica could slip it around her neck and fasten it. Afterwards, she spread Margaret’s brown hair around her shoulders. “You look perfect!”

  Perfect? Not quite. But she did look pretty. At least, she thought so. Hopefully Paul Connealy would think so. She wondered if it was wise to ask Jessica to join her and her parents when he was due to come into the train station. What if he saw Jessica and was disappointed when he realized he’d be marrying Margaret instead? But Jessica was her dearest friend, and there was no way she could face this day without her.

  Margaret’s mother knocked on her bedroom door.

  She glanced at the clock on her wall. Was it time to leave already? Wiping her sweaty hands on the skirt of her dress, she said, “Maybe posting an ad for a husband wasn’t a good idea.”

  Her mother opened the door while Jessica offered a reassuring smile. “You’ll be fine. We’ll be there.”

  “Will Tom be coming?” Margaret asked. Maybe if Tom was with Jessica, Paul wouldn’t pay her much attention. Then he wouldn’t be busy comparing Margaret to her friend.

  “I already told you he can’t. He’s planting corn. It’s busy this time of year.”

  Of course. Just her luck. Jessica should have married after planting season. But she couldn’t fault her friend for wanting to marry sooner rather than later. Margaret had been anxious to meet Paul. He seemed like a nice man from the two letters he’d sent. Now that the day was here though, she had the urge to hide back in her bed and forget this whole thing.

  Her mother came in and picked up the two letters from the dresser. “You may need these.”

  Margaret directed her gaze to her. “Oh, I told him I’d be wearing blue, and that I’d be with my family and friend.”

  “Alright.” The older woman set them back on the dresser. “It’s up to you. Your father, sister and I will be out front.”

  Margaret nodded and picked up the brush to make her hair look just a little bit better.

  Jessica laughed. “I know what you’re going through.”

  She glanced at her friend. “You knew Tom before you married him.”

  “Fine. So I don’t know exactly what you’re going through, but you’re not marrying Paul today. You’re going to meet him.”

  “Yes, that is true.”

  “Everything will work out.”

  “It’s easy for someone who’s not in the situation to say that.”

  “Well, we already know he’s got great taste. He had the sense to answer your ad.”

  She chuckled. It was no wonder why she wanted Jessica there. Her friend knew the right words to make her feel better. “And he does sound like a nice man, don’t you think?”

  “I sure do.”

  “He’s a farmer too. Is it hard to be a farmer’s wife?”

  “I don’t think so. They work hard, but then again, what woman doesn’t?”

  Margaret nodded. Being married was good for her friend. Jessica seemed to blossom under the love Tom gave her. Did love do that to every woman? But did asking for a husband in the unconventional way she had promise love? She glanced at the letters. Paul seemed like the kind of man she could fall in love with. But would he love her?

  Things would be much easier if one of the better men in Omaha would have simply taken note of her. Then she’d at least know that she’d be marrying someone who loved her already. She pushed aside a flicker of irritation and turned to the door.

  “I suppose we should go,” Margaret said.

  Jessica smiled and gave her a quick hug. “It’ll be fine. Try not to worry too much.”

  With a slight eye roll, she joined her friend and departed from her room.

  ***

  Joseph Connealy grunted as his three-year-old son jumped on his lap to slap one of his brothers across the head.

  The wounded brother, of course, let out a high pitch wail.

  Brother number three promptly smacked the three year old, and the youngest brother barely stirred from his slumber, proving that two year olds could sleep through anything as long as they spent most of the night running up and down the aisle.

  A very tired Joseph barked out, “Enough!” and the three boys immediately stopped their bickering. Joseph had no idea the train ride would be this long. Sure, it didn’t seem like it’d be much when he packed their things and lugged them all to the station in Dayton. But now that they’d been traveling for what seemed like years, he was ready to get off the train, hand them to Margaret Williams, and hightail it right back to Ohio.

  Of course, he wouldn’t do that to the poor woman. They were his children, after all. But they sure did need a mother in the worst possible way. And he needed them to have a mother as well. He could only pray she’d be willing to marry him instead of his brother.

  “Are we there yet?” Doug, the seven year old, asked.

  “Almost,” Joseph mumbled, closing his eyes. His head hurt.

  “But you said that an hour ago,” Doug whined.

  “Compared to when we started, we were almost there.”

  “And now?”

  “We’re even closer.”

  “How much closer?”

  “Five minutes,” he guessed. At least, based on the itinerary, they should be ready to pull into the Omaha train station. Dear God, let the itinerary be right. My sanity depends on it.

  “How long is five minutes?” Bob, the six year old, asked.

  “I don’t know,” Joseph said.

  “How come you don’t know?” Doug asked.

  “I do know. I just don’t know how to explain it so you’ll understand,” Joseph clarified.

  “Is five minutes long?” Doug asked.

  “No.”

  Then Charles leaned his head back and knocked his father in the jaw.

  Joseph grumbled and rubbed the sore spot. “Alright. Five minutes is long.”

  “Longer than an hour?” Bob pressed.

  The train finally—mercifully—began to slow, and Joseph breathed a loud sigh of relief. God did answer prayers!

/>   “We’re here!” Doug cried out and jumped up on the seat.

  “Sit down!” Joseph yanked on the boy’s collar until the lad obeyed. “The train hasn’t stopped yet. And remember what I said. Stay with me. You can’t go running off with all these people. I might lose you.”

  Doug groaned but stayed seated.

  Bob shook a sleeping Ben. “We’re here!” he yelled in his brother’s ear.

  “He’s not deaf,” Joseph said, pressing his hand over his own ear to get it to stop ringing. How a little kid could manage that high of a pitch, he’d never understand.

  “I can’t wait to meet our new ma,” Bob told Doug. “You think she can make cookies?”

  “Course she can. All mothers make cookies,” Doug said. “And pies.”

  “Ooh! Pies. Pa, is she gonna bring a pie?”

  Joseph shook his head. “She’s not even expecting us. She’s expecting your uncle Paul. Now, I want you all to be on your best behavior. If you act up, she might not want to go through with this.” Good Lord, the last thing he needed was to scare the woman off.

  “Don’t she know we’re coming?” Doug asked, his eyes wide.

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  He glanced at the child who, in many ways, looked just like his mother with his blue eyes and blond hair. He was curious like her too. Joseph shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought it was best this way.” Which wasn’t entirely true, but he saw no sense in explaining that to a child. The situation was complicated enough without trying to go into detail about it. “Look, your uncle can’t be here.”

  “Cause he’s dead,” Bob said.

  “Right. So I figured if this nice woman is looking for a family to care for, who better than you boys?” He really hoped she’d understand and be willing to go through with this because if she didn’t... He glanced at his four boys who were busy shoving at each other and laughing. One, predictably, got hurt in the play and started bellowing. If she didn’t marry him, he might go insane. There was no way he could keep raising these kids by himself. One year was one year too many.

  The train came to a stop and Doug bolted out of his seat, nearly tripping a man who was walking down the aisle.

  “Stay with me, boys,” Joseph ordered.

  Doug’s shoulders slumped as he returned to the seat.

  “Take your toys.” He pointed to the floor and seats which had ‘Kids were here’ written all over it. “And watch out for other people,” he added.

  The other passengers struggled to squeeze around the seven and six year olds who scrambled to get in the aisle to grab the toy trains that had rolled under the seat. Well, he couldn’t blame the boys for trying. He set Charles next to Ben who looked as if he could easily go back to sleep. Except, Charles wouldn’t let him. He sat on Ben’s face and giggled.

  Margaret Williams is going to take one look at these kids and order me back on the train. I just know it.

  He grabbed the bag which contained enough clothes and supplies for the kids and a change of clothes for himself. Then he pulled Charles off of Ben and set him on his feet next to Doug and Bob whose arms were full of toys.

  “Watch Charles so he doesn’t run off,” he told Doug and Bob. With the travel bag in one hand, he scooped a still sleepy Ben into his arm and motioned down the aisle. “Go.”

  The boys turned and, probably because they were eager to be off the train, actually walked in single file to get off.

  Well, here goes nothing, Joseph thought as he followed them down the aisle.

  Chapter Two

  Margaret’s heart beat refused to slow down as people were quickly coming off the train. Paul would be among them...unless he decided not to come at the last minute. And if he did that... She didn’t want to think about it. Finding a husband had been hard enough without something like that happening. No. She would be positive. Paul would be coming off that train. She’d marry him, and they’d start a life together. They’d have children and grow old with their grandchildren coming to visit. The plan was simple. There wasn’t anything that was going to mess it up.

  She took a deep breath as the station filled up with a sea of unfamiliar faces. “I didn’t realize it got this busy,” she whispered to Jessica.

  Jessica shrugged. “Me neither. My pa once said that it was the hub of railroad activity, but I thought he was exaggerating.”

  “I’m bored. When is he going to get over here?” Margaret’s thirteen-year-old sister asked.

  Margaret glanced at her parents. “Why did we have to bring her?”

  Her mother sighed. “This young man you’re going to marry should meet everyone in the family.”

  “But all she’s done since we left the house is complain,” Margaret said.

  “Your sister has a point,” her father told Charlotte. “This is a big day for Margaret. Be good.”

  Charlotte rolled her eyes but stopped whining.

  Jessica nudged Margaret in the side. “Maybe that’s him. He looks like he’s searching for someone.”

  Margaret turned her attention to a good looking man holding a child. “No. Paul doesn’t have any children.” Her gaze swept the room. A part of her got dizzy from the swarm of people buzzing around them.

  To her surprise, a boy ran over to her. “Are you Margaret Williams?”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. “Uh...yes. Do I know your parents?” She didn’t recall ever seeing him before. Not that she made it a habit of being around children.

  The boy waved to someone in the crowd. “Pa! She’s over here!”

  Her eyes grew wide. Pa? She’s over here? Whatever did that mean? Paul made it clear that he had no children. So who was this child and why did he pick her out? She glanced at Jessica who looked equally uncertain about this.

  The man holding a child saw the boy and motioned to two children before heading in their direction. As soon as he reached them, he said, “Doug, I told you to stay with me.”

  “Sorry, Pa,” he replied, appearing to be appropriately contrite. “I saw the blue dress and hat. It’s her.”

  A knot twisted in Margaret’s stomach. This couldn’t be Paul. He decided not to come. She just knew it! Even her parents and sister seemed apprehensive about this.

  The man focused on Margaret and offered a smile. “Pardon me, but are you Margaret Williams?”

  “Well...” She took in the four boys who stared at her with a mixture of hope and curiosity. The knot grew tighter. Just what did this man and these kids want with her?

  “Yes, she is,” Jessica finally said.

  The statement startled Margaret so she gave a slight jerk. Clearing her throat, she added, “Yes.” She took a deep breath. Something wasn’t right. Did Paul lie to her? “I’m her.”

  “My name is Joseph Connealy. I’m Paul’s older brother. You see, Paul was going to come but-”

  Oh great. Here it came. Margaret braced herself for whatever excuse he’d give her.

  “Paul’s horse got spooked and he fell off.” He glanced at the children. “I’d rather not go into detail, but we had to bury him two weeks ago.”

  It took a moment for his words to sink in, and when they finally did, her countenance fell. So Paul couldn’t come, even if he wanted to. She supposed she should feel better. It wasn’t like Paul rejected her or anything. He died. There was no way he could come now.

  Joseph cleared his throat.

  Breaking out of her thoughts, she directed her attention to him.

  “Anyway, my wife passed away a year ago, and I knew Paul was coming out to meet you so I thought maybe you’d be willing to marry me instead.”

  The first thing she did was lower her gaze to the children. There were four of them—if she counted right—and they were all staring at her with wide smiles on their faces. She couldn’t be sure, but it seemed as if they had rehearsed this moment.

  “What adorable boys,” Jessica said, breaking the awkward silence. “What are their names?” she asked Joseph.

  “This is Do
ug,” Joseph began. “He’s seven. That is Bob, and he’s six. Then Charles is three, and Ben is two.”

  “Those are fine names,” Jessica replied. “It’s a shame they had to lose their mother.”

  Margaret caught Jessica’s sad expression and knew her friend was pleading with her to marry this man. Margaret broke eye contact with her friend and glanced at her family who looked equally sorrowful over his story. She wasn’t sure what she should do. True, Joseph losing his wife who left him with four boys was heartbreaking in its own way, but there were four boys he was asking her to be a mother to. Being a mother right away wasn’t something she anticipated when she posted the ad. And even if these boys seemed well behaved and friendly, she didn’t know the first thing about being a mother. Not really. Though her sister was considerably younger than her, she didn’t raise her sister.

  “Oh, do it,” Jessica whispered in her ear. “Those poor boys need a woman to care for them.”

  Margaret gave her friend a ‘hush’ look before she studied the boys who remained quiet and still. She wasn’t sure what to make of them. They just kept smiling at her, and as innocent as they seemed, she sensed that she was being set up for something. Surely, kids didn’t behave this well on a regular basis. She wiped the sweat off her forehead. Was she really up for this?

  “Maybe you should think about it,” her father told her. “After all, you didn’t plan to marry Paul today.” He looked at Joseph. “We were going to arrange for the wedding first. We figured we’d wait a week.”

  A flicker of disappointment crossed Joseph’s features but he nodded. “That’s fine. What do you think, Margaret?”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. A week. In that time, she could possibly adjust to this situation. Maybe. She examined the four boys. Or maybe not. Then she looked at Joseph who was a handsome man who obviously cared for his children and would probably make a good husband. So maybe. Then one of the kids named Bob or Doug—she couldn’t remember which—sneezed into his hand before he wiped it on his brother’s shirt. She cringed. Or maybe not.