His Surprise Bride (Mail Order Matrimony Book 1)

by Sarah Banks

  Gabriel took her to the hot springs again that night. This time they didn’t talk hardly at all, but it was just as nice but in a different way, sitting side by side against the tree in companionable silence. And when she rested her head on Gabriel’s pillow that evening, she didn’t remember thinking a thing, immediately slipping into a deep sleep after a long, full day.

  “Breakfast’s ready!” Jane announced.

  Brandon was first at the table. “Wow, blueberry flapjacks!”

  “I thought you might like them.”

  “You thought right!”

  Gabriel was second to the table, eating without talking like he usually did. Both Gabriel and Brandon were dressed in their Sunday’s finest. She wondered how often they attended church. Their clothes were in very nice condition, much better than her own Sunday dress that was at least four years old and mended twice that many times.

  Jane sat down at the table and added two flapjacks to both her and Thea’s plates before Brandon and Gabriel claimed them all. Thea emerged from her bedroom in a pretty light blue dress.

  “You look lovely Thea,” Jane said looking up.

  “Thank you.” Thea tugged on the dress with a frown. “It’s a bit too small.”

  “A bit, but it’s not that noticeable. I wish I was handier with a needle and thread, I could make you a new dress.”

  “This one is store bought,” Thea told her. “It’s a couple years old.” She tugged on a ruffle. “It’s kind of babyish.”

  “I think it’s time to buy you a new dress Thea,” Gabriel interrupted.

  “Really Gabriel?” Thea asked excitedly and he nodded. “Do we have the money for that?” Thea frowned and so did he, and in that moment Jane had never seen as much physical resemblance between them as she did right now.

  “You let me worry about that.”

  “Oh, thank you Gabriel!” She gave him a tight hug around the neck and then sat down and picked up her fork. “Do you think you can fix my hair for me before we go Jane?”

  “Of course. If you help me with the dishes, we should have time to do both.”

  After breakfast, Thea helped her with the dishes and she fixed Thea’s hair. She smiled as Thea immediately ran to a mirror to admire her hairstyle while Jane woke Brandon up from where he had fallen asleep on the sofa after eating what had to be a record-breaking number of flapjacks.

  Gabriel came into the house to collect them. “Wagon’s ready.”

  Brandon and Thea went out first, but Gabriel stopped Jane with a hand on her arm. Her eyes met his and she cocked her head at the hesitation she saw there.

  “I’m not sure how I should introduce you. Dalton’s not that big of a town, people’ll naturally be curious about you.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. I already told the mercantile owner’s wife that I’m your cousin from back east,” Jane reassured him, stepping over the threshold onto the porch.

  Jane saw Brandon and Thea exchange a look. Gabriel dropped his head forward until it thunked against the door he held open and he groaned. She looked between the three of them. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “Christina, I mean Mrs. Turner is one of, no make that the biggest gossip in town. Nevermind, let’s go,” Gabriel said, closing the door and practically tossing the bewildered Jane onto her seat.

  Gabriel was right about the curiosity of the citizens of Dalton. They sat closer to the back of the church than the front and just about every head craned in their direction at one time or another, sometimes more than once.

  After prayer, the sermon and her favorite part, the lovely hymns, they filed out of the church and made their way back toward the wagon. Since they arrived only a few minutes before the church service began, their wagon was one of the ones that was parked the farthest away.

  Gabriel didn’t stop to introduce her to anyone, but Jane didn’t take it personally. Introducing her would probably raise more questions than answers and she sympathized with his predicament.

  They were almost out of the churchyard when Gabriel was stopped by Mrs. Turner from the mercantile.

  Her hand on his arm, Mrs. Turner asked, “Gabriel, do you have a moment? I wanted to ask you a few questions about that mare you sold us last week.”

  Christina was tugging him away from Jane, so she got the impression that her presence wasn’t welcome in the conversation so she continued onto the wagon, climbing into the front without assistance and arranging her skirt on the bench. The conversation from the back of the wagon drifted toward her.

  “Ugh, he’s talking to Christina,” Thea said.

  “Luckiest day of our lives when Gabriel decided not to marry her,” Brandon added.

  “I thought she refused to marry him.”

  “No, it’s the other way around. Doesn’t matter anyway. I’m just glad he didn’t.”

  “Me too,” Thea agreed.

  Jane stiffened and looked back at the children who continued to speak on the subject but she no longer heard the words. So, Christina was the woman Gabriel had almost married. Jane remembered feeling as if she somehow knew the woman when they crossed paths at the mercantile and now it all made sense.

  Her eyes searched the crowd and she found Gabriel and Christina. They were alone, standing several feet away from anyone else. She stood closer to him than was probably proper. Jane couldn’t tear her eyes away from Christina. Her beauty was undeniable. Any man would be proud to have her on his arm. She wasn’t a maid with a limp from back east.

  Jane couldn’t tear her eyes away from the pair. Finally, another man joined them who she also recognized from the mercantile. Christina’s husband, Mr. Turner. Christina took a step away from Gabriel when her husband joined them. Gabriel shook Mr. Turner’s hand and they continued talking. Jane’s eyes went back to Christina. At one time Gabriel had wanted to marry this woman. He had never wanted to marry Jane. She finally forced her gaze away and tried to ignore the children’s hushed conversation as best as she could.

  “Be quiet, he’s coming,” one of the children whispered.

  Gabriel climbed into the wagon. “What’s all the hushed conversation about?” He asked, reaching for the reins.

  “Nothing much, we were just talking about the woman you almost married,” Brandon answered nonchalantly.

  Gabriel’s hands tightened on the reins and the horses shifted nervously. He immediately soothed them with a quiet word. He was frowning when he looked back at his siblings. “How’d you know about that?”

  “We have ears!” Thea joined in.

  “So, what you mean is that at some point you were eavesdropping on a conversation that was none of your business.” Gabriel dropped the reins, knocked back his hat and tugged at his hair.

  “Sure it was,” Brandon insisted. “I mean, that’s why she didn’t marry you, right? Because of us?”

  Gabriel looked at Brandon in disbelief. “You know, I still haven’t punished you two for locking me in the cellar or falsely advertising for a bride using my name. Might as well add eavesdropping to your list of crimes.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t marry her,” Brandon continued as if his brother hadn’t spoken. “I’d rather you never marry at all than marry her!”

  “You could still marry Jane,” Thea piped up hopefully.

  “You two don’t get to decide who I marry, I do! And for the last time, I’m not marrying Jane!”

  Jane flinched.

  Silence echoed and when Jane finally looked up from her hands fisted and resting on her lap, she saw all of the remaining parishioners in the churchyard staring in their direction. Including Mr. and Mrs. Turner. She wanted to disappear.

  “Jane, I’m sorry,” Gabriel said quietly.

  “Don’t be sorry for speaking the truth. Although the volume, time and place could use some improvement,” she informed him, nodding in the direction of their fellow churchgoers.

  Gabriel followed her nod and then cursed.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’d like
to go now if you please,” she said quietly.

  Gabriel immediately complied. Replacing his hat on his head, he picked up the reins again, released the break and expertly turned the wagon around. It was a silent ride home. Supper was an equally quiet affair. Afterwards they didn’t play cards nor did she go to the hot springs.

  As Jane lay in bed that final night, she decided that maybe the way everything had ended was for the best. Maybe it would make leaving easier and her heart wouldn’t hurt so much.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Monday morning arrived and soon Jane would be on a stagecoach traveling out of Dalton. She didn’t sleep much and was packed and ready to go before the sun rose. She made breakfast because nothing seemed to make Brandon happier than a good meal. After dishes, she fixed Thea’s hair for the final time. The girl’s nose was red as if she had been crying.

  Jane gave her a quick hug. “Go wash your face and then you’d best be off to school or you’ll be late.”

  “But you won’t be here when I get back. I’ll never see you again,” Thea hiccupped, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

  It took everything within Jane not to cry too. But she had to be the stronger one. She pulled Thea into her arms. “Everything’s going to be okay Thea, I promise. I’ll write as often as I can. You write too and maybe it’ll seem like we’re together because we’ll know so much about what the other person is doing,” she said with an encouraging smile.

  Brandon stepped forward and Thea hugged him, longer than the last time. He finally pulled away, avoiding her eyes.

  “Thanks for teaching me how to fish. Maybe I can find a creek in Tumbury and practice. I’ll let you know if I ever catch anything.”

  Brandon smiled.

  Gabriel came in from outside. “Time for you two to get to school. Jane, I’ll be back in a couple of hours to take you to the stage.”

  Jane nodded, gave each child one last hug and whispered a few short words to Thea before stepping back.

  Gabriel ushered them out the door with a nod in her direction. After they were gone she turned in a slow circle. There wasn’t anything for her to do but erase any mark that she was ever here.

  ∞∞∞

  She didn’t come to the hot springs last night. Gabriel had waited all night just in case she changed her mind, but she didn’t. He was running on next to no sleep and wondered if he looked as bad as he felt. A thousand times since it happened, he wished he hadn’t said what he did yesterday near the churchyard. But an apology couldn’t take it back. Jane was leaving today and somehow over the past week she had become deeply rooted into their lives.

  He stood on the porch making sure his siblings got off to school on time. Brandon tried to take his sister’s hand and tug her along but Thea just stood there crying. Gabriel sighed and stepped forward. He put an arm on her back and dragged her to him. She sobbed against his jacket, not seeming to notice or care about the metal buttons digging to her face. He silently held her until her sobs turned to watery hiccups.

  When it was finally quiet enough that she’d be able to hear his words he said gruffly, “It’ll be okay Thea.”

  “That’s what Jane said too,” Thea hiccupped. She didn’t look as if she believed either of them.

  Gabriel tugged her to the water barrel sitting against one corner of the front of the house and retrieved his handkerchief from his pocket. He wetted it down and wiped away the tear streaks on her cheeks and then held it to her nose. “Blow.”

  “I’m not a little kid,” she mumbled but blew anyway.

  “No, you’re not,” he agreed. “You’re growing up.” He couldn’t help but ask, “What else did Jane say?”

  Thea sniffed. “She promised to write. Oh, and the last thing she said to me was not to be angry with you. That it’s not your fault that you didn’t fall in love with her.”

  Gabriel swallowed.

  “You’d best be getting going. Brandon’s patiently waiting and you don’t want to be late.” He held up his hands. “Rapped knuckles,” he reminded her.

  She handed back his soggy handkerchief and gave him a small smile. “I’ll run.”

  “Love you squirt,” he called after her when she turned away.

  Thea stopped and turned back. “You haven’t called me that in a long time,” she remarked quietly.

  “Maybe I haven’t said it out loud but I’m always thinking it.”

  Gabriel watched as she ran to catch up with her brother who was waiting halfway down the drive before he headed to the barn. He didn’t get near as much work done as he should have before returning to the house two hours later with the wagon.

  Jane was ready and waiting on the porch. It was a quiet drive to town. Jane didn’t look angry or sad, she just looked remote and since he didn’t know what to say, he said nothing at all. He passed the fenced pasture where he had taught her how to ride, saw the trees in the distance that held the hot springs he had taken her to almost every night and then they crossed the bridge where they had fished and picnicked. Too soon they were back in Dalton where the stagecoach was scheduled to arrive within the hour.

  It was much later than when he had dropped her off the last time, so it was busier. He parked the wagon, retrieved her bag and then helped her down.

  Jane looked up at him, the first time she met his eyes since yesterday afternoon and darn it all if he didn’t have the urge to kiss her then and there in front of all these people.

  “You don’t have to stay. I promise I won’t miss the coach this time. I won’t leave the bench,” she assured him.

  “I said I’d stay and I’ll stay.”

  The stagecoach was only minutes away from arriving anyway. Then he’d have to go straight home. He had a lot of work to make up for these past few days.

  They started walking toward the bench but then he stopped. “Wait, I have something for you.” He jogged back to the wagon and retrieved the picnic hamper they had used on Saturday.

  “I already packed a lunch but thank you anyway.”

  “It’s not lunch.” He flipped the lid and a fuzzy head popped into view. “It’s a kitten.”

  Jane laughed. “I see that. It’s Gabriel.”

  “Er, yes. I’m not sure if I want to know why you named him that but anyway, I’ve decided he’s yours. I don’t need four cats and I figured the cellars at Tumbury could use a good mouser.”

  She scratched the kitten underneath his chin as he tried to wriggle from the lined basket into her arms. “How do you know he’s going to be a good mouser?”

  “Look at that ferocious frown. The mice would think twice believe you me.”

  She laughed again and he realized how much he missed her laugh these past few hours. She picked up the kitten and nuzzled him briefly before placing him back into the basket, carefully replacing the lid.

  They continued their walk to the bench next to the mercantile. It wasn’t long before he heard the rumbling of the stagecoach coming round the bend. Soon it would be in view. Gabriel stood up and buried his hands in his pockets.

  Because he didn’t know what else to say he said the same thing to her he had said the last time, “Take care of yourself Jane.” He started walking backwards toward the wagon.

  And instead of just a wave this time she answered, “I will. You too.” She waved.

  He waved back.

  “I’ll miss your hot springs,” she called, a mischievous smile on her face.

  He smiled back. “And I’ll miss your cooking.”

  Jane threw her head back and laughed.

  And then the coach was there and a few minutes later, she wasn’t.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gabriel knew as soon as the coach left that he had made the worst mistake of his life letting Jane go. It was as if a light went out inside him the moment the coach disappeared from sight. Jane was that light he realized.

  He had no idea when he had fallen in love with her this past week. Maybe it hadn’t been a specific time or event. All he knew wa
s that it had happened. He loved Jane and he was a fool to let her get away. She had been willing to marry him before. Maybe she still would.

  He looked at his wagon sitting nearby, pulled by a pair of matched mares. It would take too long to unhitch them and besides, they weren’t as fast as Bandit whom he now regretted leaving behind but he had brought the mares as part of their training. There was no question in his mind that Bandit could have caught that coach. Gabriel’s eyes lit on the mercantile and he ran toward it, taking the stairs three at a time.

  He pushed through the door so fast and hard the bell overhead made a loud half-chime before flying off its chain and into the corner with a thunk and a rattle.

  The person he was looking for was right behind the counter.

  “Jake, you keep that horse I sold you last week at Gunnar’s?”

  Jake nodded. “Sure do. Most expensive stabler in the town but he’s the best.”

  “Can I borrow her?”

  “Sure.” Jake looked dumbfounded. Probably because Gabriel owned more horses than anyone else in town and here he was borrowing one he had just sold.

  “And if I’m not back in an hour, can you stable my horses there?” He asked, pointing to his wagon.

  “Will do.”

  “Thanks, I owe you one!” Gabriel hollered rushing back out the door. “Oh, and I owe you a bell too. Put it on my tab.”

  He ran to the stables and in less than a minute found the horse he was looking for. Aster was a beautiful horse. She was dark and lithe and he knew firsthand just how fast she was. She nudged him with her nose when she saw him. She was also spirited and ready to ride. “I missed you too,” he replied.

  The stablemaster found him bridling the horse and he quickly explained he was borrowing Jake Turner’s horse with permission and launched himself onto her back sans saddle. He didn’t need it and was probably faster without it.

  Gabriel burst from the stable onto the street following the tracks of the coach. He prayed he wasn’t too late to catch up soon. But even if he was, he’d just change horses as many times as he had to until he did catch up to her and if he had to ride all the way to Tumbury, so be it. He just wanted one more chance.