Finally, Cletus brought the wagon to a halt. Felix looked up. They were parked right outside of the town church, where they’d all been earlier that day. “What are we doing here?” Felix didn’t understand what this had to do with a mail-order bride. Well, he knew eventually, he’d be going to the church to get married, if all went according to plan. But it was far too early for all of that.
“Let’s go!” Edna Petunia pushed Felix, and he hopped out of the wagon. She followed and rushed into the church.
Felix noticed that a few candles had been lit, and Pastor Micah and his wife, Sarah Jane, were standing near the front of the church. Sarah Jane was conversing with one of the most adorable women Felix had ever seen in his life.
“Who is that?” Felix whispered to Edna Petunia.
“Why don’t you meet her for yourself?” Edna Petunia retorted.
The day was getting stranger by the minute. Felix walked to the front of the church, still clutching his forgotten flowers.
The woman speaking to Sarah Jane had long, wavy hair and beautiful, light-colored eyes. She got quiet as Felix approached.
“Hello, I’m Felix,” Felix said, feeling self-conscious.
“I’m Amelia,” she replied, her face lighting up as she smiled. They both stared at each other for a long moment. Felix felt a special connection to her even though they’d just met.
“Surprise! You’re getting married today, Felix!” Edna Petunia shouted.
Felix’s heart began to pound. Amelia was his bride to be? It seemed too good to be true. Felix forced himself to say something to his intended wife. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Amelia tucked a piece of her hair behind one of her ears. “A pleasure to meet you as well.”
“How . . . how are you here?” Felix asked, feeling silly.
Amelia laughed. He loved the sound of it and vowed to try to make her laugh every day for the rest of their lives together. She looked at Edna Petunia. “It’s all because of this woman.”
Edna Petunia shrugged. “You asked me for a mail-order bride. I got you one. It’s not that complicated.”
“But how did she get here so quickly?” Felix continued.
“The train ended up being quicker than I thought!” Edna Petunia laughed. “Now, let’s get on with the ceremony. I’m sure Amelia would like something to eat!”
Amelia blushed. The train that had brought her to Nowhere had made eating full meals difficult over the past few days. But she didn’t want her new husband to think she was fussy.
Felix smiled. “Oh, yes. I’d like that. Are you ready?” He looked into Amelia’s eyes.
Amelia felt a fluttering sensation in her stomach. She couldn’t believe that in less than an hour, the man standing before her would be her husband. She knew they were going to get along wonderfully. Although they had barely exchanged a few sentences, she had a good feeling about it. “I’m ready,” she replied.
Micah Barton smiled. Edna Petunia and Sarah Jane took seats in the front row of the church. “We are gathered today to celebrate the marriage of Felix Gardener and Amelia Appleton,” Micah began.
The rest of the ceremony was a blur to Felix. He stared into Amelia’s eyes, almost unable to believe his good fortune. The next thing he knew, Micah was giving him a gentle nudge in the shoulder.
“What?” Felix whispered.
“You may kiss the bride,” Micah repeated calmly.
“Oh!” Felix leaned in and kissed Amelia on the lips. He loved the sensation he got from being so close to her. He couldn’t wait to be alone with his new bride.
Amelia pressed her lips back against Felix’s. His touch was gentler and more intriguing than she had anticipated. She wanted to fall into his arms and keep kissing him forever, but they were in the middle of church and surrounded by strangers. Amelia got a chill as she realized Felix was a stranger, too. What if things didn’t work out? What if he drank too much or gambled their money away, as her father had done?
“Is something wrong?” Felix whispered, seeing a look of concern flash across Amelia’s face.
Amelia cleared her mind and shook her head. “I’m just a bit tired,” she explained.
“Ah.” Felix nodded. “Would you like to go home?”
Amelia nodded. “That would be lovely.”
“Congratulations!” Sarah Jane rushed up to the newlyweds. She gave each of them a hug. “How does it feel to be married?”
Felix and Amelia looked at one another. Felix grinned. “It feels pretty great. But I think my new bride would like some rest.”
“I bet she won’t get any rest. You’ll be up all night playing in the marital bed!” Edna Petunia giggled.
Amelia laughed. She had never met a woman who was so frank. Although she was exhausted, she was also curious about her new husband. She wanted to learn everything there was to know about him. “It was lovely to meet all of you. Thank you for marrying us, Pastor Barton, and Edna Petunia, thank you for everything. I’m so glad to be here!”
Felix beamed with pride. Even though she had been traveling for days, Amelia still had the ability to be kind and courteous to those around her. Edna Petunia had picked the perfect bride for him.
Cletus, who had slipped inside the church during the ceremony, piped up. “I’ll bring the wagon around so Amelia can put her things inside.”
“Thank you, Cletus,” Felix said. His house wasn’t terribly far from the church, but it made more sense to drive so they wouldn’t have to carry Amelia’s bags. “Where are your bags anyway?”
Amelia pointed to a small carpetbag. “That’s it.”
Felix frowned. “Really? You fit everything you own into this bag?”
Amelia crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes. Why do you ask?”
Felix felt like he’d said the wrong thing. “No reason. I wanted to make sure we didn’t leave anything here.”
Amelia nodded. They both walked outside. Edna Petunia joined them, and Cletus pulled the wagon up to the front of the church. Felix put Amelia’s bag in the back, and then they all climbed inside.
Micah and Sarah Jane came outside and waved goodbye as Cletus set off for Felix’s house.
Once they arrived, Cletus waited for Felix and Amelia to step down and for Felix to grab Amelia’s carpetbag.
“We’ll leave you two alone for the evening,” Cletus said, winking at Felix.
“But I want to hear how it goes. And I expect some little bastards soon!” Edna Petunia called as Cletus drove off.
Amelia looked at Felix, confused. “Did she just say what I think she just said?”
Felix sighed as he opened the door to his house. “I don’t think I can explain Edna Petunia in one evening. That will take a whole lot longer.”
Amelia giggled. “I trust you. So what should we do instead?”
Felix grinned as he set Amelia’s bag down on the floor. “I have a few ideas . . .” Then he remembered part of the earlier conversation at the church. “Before we get into all that, though, would you like something to eat? You must be hungry after that long journey!”
Amelia nodded. “If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, I’d love some food. I don’t remember the last time I ate a complete meal,” she confided.
“It’s not too much trouble at all!” Felix headed into the small kitchen area and pulled out a frying pan. “You make yourself comfortable. Do you like eggs?”
“Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you, Felix!” Amelia chirped. She walked around the small house, taking everything in. “I love your home. It’s so perfect.”
Felix was pleased to hear this. “I’m glad you think so. And it’s our home now. Not just mine.”
Amelia laughed. “Goodness, you’re right! I think that may take some adjusting to.”
“How do you take your eggs?” Felix asked.
“Any way is fine for me,” Amelia replied, unpacking some of her clothes and folding them on the sofa.
“My mother always made them fried. It’s probably my
favorite,” Felix said. “How did your mother prepare eggs?”
Amelia turned away, feeling sad at the mention of her mother. She wiped it away, hoping Felix hadn’t noticed.
Felix could sense that once again, he’d said the wrong thing. “I’m sorry. What is it?”
“Nothing!” Amelia insisted. “I’m fine. I just . . . I don’t have a preference on how I take my eggs. I’ll take them however you’re having them.” Amelia took a deep breath. Although it had been years since her mother’s death, she still found it difficult to talk about. She hoped that one day she would be able to tell Felix the whole story, but she was exhausted and drained.
“Fried eggs it is, then.” Felix smiled. He knew it would take some time for Amelia to get used to living with him, so he told himself to be patient. A few minutes later, he brought a plate of fried eggs to the kitchen table. “They’re ready.”
Amelia stopped unpacking and took a seat at the table. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. I’m just happy you’re here,” Felix said. He was still in shock from Edna Petunia’s big surprise earlier. He had thought he’d be waiting weeks or even months for his mail-order bride to arrive. This was much better!
“I’m glad I’m here, too,” Amelia said. “The train ride was longer than I thought it would be!”
“I hope you get a full night’s rest tonight, then,” Felix said. He immediately blushed, thinking about the two of them spending the night in the same bed. There were so many questions he wished he could have asked someone before Amelia arrived.
Amelia grinned mischievously. “I am very tired, but I also don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep.” She paused. “With all this excitement, of course.”
Felix gulped. Was Amelia flirting with him? He had never been good at understanding women or the signals they were giving off. Then he realized that Amelia was now his wife. He reached across the table and took her hand. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep either,” he said honestly.
Amelia finished eating her eggs, feeling nervous. “Show me around, please!”
Felix relaxed a little. Amelia was so easygoing and charming. They would figure things out together. He stood up and began to clear the dishes. Amelia picked hers up, saying, “No, silly. I’ll get those later. You cooked, so I’ll clean!”
Felix smiled. “Okay.” He led Amelia around the small house. He pointed outside, though it was dark. “Out there’s the well where our water comes from. That’s also where I keep Rusty, my horse. I’ll introduce you to him in the morning. I mostly walk everywhere, but I do ride to work, because I work over in Bagley.” Felix could see Amelia’s confused expression. “Oh, that’s right. You’re not from around here. Bagley is the next town over. It’s not terribly far, but it would be a long walk.”
“I can’t wait to learn all about the area,” Amelia said.
“I hope you like it here,” Felix told her.
Amelia laced her hand into Felix’s and smiled up at him. “I think I already do.”
Three
Amelia woke early the following morning. She and Felix had tiredly stumbled into bed just before midnight. They had talked so much that her voice was hoarse. As much as she had wanted to take their marriage further, her body had been completely drained of energy. She didn’t think Felix had minded. She had heard him snoring as soon as his head hit the pillow. It had been a full but good day for both of them, Amelia thought.
Felix was outside the small bedroom with a cup of coffee. “Do you like coffee?”
Amelia shook her head. “I’ve never cared for the taste. But thank you. I’ll get started on breakfast.”
“You just got here. I don’t expect you to just take over everything right away,” Felix explained.
Amelia waved a hand. “Don’t be silly. This is my job. I’m your wife, remember?” She walked up to Felix and planted a kiss on his lips.
Felix grinned. “I could get used to this.” He took a seat at the kitchen table.
Amelia began to look through the cupboards. “Let me guess. Fried eggs and toast, right?”
Felix chuckled. “I suppose you’ve already learned my habits.”
“I could use a little help finding the frying pan,” Amelia admitted.
“Ah, yes.” Felix stood up again and walked over behind Amelia. He opened the highest cabinet and lifted her up. “I probably need to rearrange things.”
Amelia laughed as she reached for the frying pan, which was stored on the highest shelf possible. She grabbed it, and Felix gently set her down on the floor. She spun around to face him. “Now that I live here, a lot of things might need rearranging.”
Felix kissed her impulsively, amazed at how easy their relationship already felt.
Amelia pressed her lips against his, enjoying the lovely moment with her new husband.
When they finally paused for air, Felix grinned. “You can rearrange anything you want. I’m a lucky man to have you as my wife.”
“And I’m a lucky woman to have you as my husband,” Amelia echoed. When Mrs. Thatcher had first told her about the mail-order bride arrangement, she had been excited but anxious. She had heard stories about other situations with mail-order matchmaking where a young woman ended up married to a man who was either much older or who had many vices. So far, Felix seemed to be perfectly appropriate. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he was handsome.
“I wish I didn’t have to go to work today,” Felix sighed.
“Yes, it would be nice to have some time together, but it also gives me some time to unpack my things and settle in,” Amelia pointed out.
“But I’ll miss this while I’m away.” Felix kissed her again.
Amelia smiled. “I’ll miss that, too.” She looked at the clock. “I’m not sure what time you leave for work, but I’d better get started on those eggs.”
Felix nodded. “I have time to eat, but you’re right, I should leave fairly soon.”
Amelia put some butter in the frying pan and set it on the stovetop.
Felix sat down at the table, poring over a thick book.
“What’s that?” Amelia asked.
“It's my farmer’s almanac. I work on a ranch, so I like to read the predictions for the weather,” Felix explained.
“I see,” Amelia said. She appreciated men who read books and continued learning.
“Oh, I almost forgot! In all the activity of yesterday, I didn’t have a chance to tell my parents that you’re here!” Felix exclaimed. “They live just across the property. They’ll be thrilled to meet you. And my sister, too.”
Amelia nodded. “I’ll be glad to meet them, too,” she said as she cracked two eggs into the frying pan.
Felix noticed Amelia growing quiet. He wondered if she missed her family. “Does your family live in the Boston area?”
Amelia turned around and smiled brightly. “You’re my family now, Felix.”
Felix smiled back at her, but he felt conflicted. It seemed like Amelia had avoided his question. He decided to try again. “Do you have any siblings?”
Amelia’s pretty face clouded. “I’d rather not talk about that now.”
Felix leapt to his feet. “I’m sorry, Amelia. I didn’t mean to say or do the wrong thing.”
Amelia forced a cheery expression. “Don’t worry about it. Sit back down, and I’ll finish your eggs.”
“Okay,” Felix replied. He still felt badly. He tried to change the subject. “Remember the woman from last evening, the one who was our matchmaker?”
“Yes, Edna Petunia, right?” Amelia laughed at the memory of the eccentric older woman. Edna Petunia was unlike anyone Amelia had ever met before.
“That’s right,” Felix said. “She has fifteen daughters.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of daughters! And no sons?” Amelia asked.
Felix chuckled. “Well, they were adopted. The girls all lived in an orphanage in New York. They had to leave their home and move to Texas. There was some kind of mix-up, and they
didn’t have a place to stay as they had been promised. So Edna Petunia and Cletus—they were newlyweds at the time—agreed to adopt them.”
“Wow, that’s quite a story,” Amelia remarked. “The girls must be getting on in age now, then.”
“Oh, actually, they’re only a little older than you,” Felix explained. “Edna Petunia and Cletus married later in life. This all happened a little more than ten years ago. The reason I’m bringing it up is that I think you’ll find that their adopted daughters are very kind and friendly. In fact, you met one of them last night. Sarah Jane.”
“You mean the pastor’s wife?” Amelia asked, putting the finishing touches on the fried egg.
“That’s right,” Felix said. “All the daughters are now married and have children of their own.”
“That’s nice,” Amelia remarked. “A happy ending to a story about a group of orphans with no place to go.”
“That’s right. Some people may say our town is too small or doesn’t have enough excitement, but I think it’s a very welcoming place and a good place to raise a family,” Felix explained. He still was amazed at how easy it was to talk to Amelia. Before he was married, he often felt shy or tongue-tied around women. With Amelia, though, things felt just right.
Amelia served Felix his fried eggs. “I hope I made them the way you like them.”
Felix dug in to the food. “Mm. They’re perfect, Amelia. Thank you.”
Amelia began to clean the kitchen. “You’re welcome.”
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Felix asked.
Amelia nodded. “I’ll eat later. I think my body’s still a bit confused by the travel. I’m not hungry yet, but I’m sure I will be later.”
Felix finished eating and handed Amelia his clean plate. “I hope you’ll be back to normal later. There are a few things I could think of that might be fun to do together when I get home from work.”
Amelia giggled. “Good to know.”
Felix gathered his things and prepared to leave. “I’ll see you after work.” He kissed Amelia and headed outside.
Amelia stood in the doorway and waved goodbye as he rode away. She couldn’t believe that Felix was her husband and this was her house!
Amelia’s Arrangement: Madame Matchmaker Page 2
