by Alice White
“Jenny Mason, and yes, I’m the bride from Boston.” Jenny lifted up her sleeve and showed her arm. “No bite marks yet.” She laughed.
Uncle Caleb helped Jenny relax and Gavin seemed happy to see him as well. Aunt Nell gave a tour of the house. Jenny would share a bedroom with her husband but they had separate beds and she was shown a private changing area. Chicken stew was simmering on the stove and the home was spotless. The wood floor would need sweeping every day and there was less clutter than in Boston. Aunt Harriette’s books alone had to be dusted every day; it was a mystery why she kept them around because she didn’t read. Jenny was looking at a photograph of Gavin as a child with his parents, she assumed, when he walked into the parlor.
“I lost track of you, Jenny. I love that photo because it depicts my parents happy as they always were. Thought you already high tailed it back to Boston and I wouldn’t have blamed you.”
“Why do you say that? It’s not as if I had a plethora of opportunities back east.”
“The situation would be overwhelming for me, if the roles were reversed. Leaving home to cook, clean and bear children for a complete stranger is a lot to take on.”
Jenny was taken aback because her situation had been presented as a clean slate and not servitude. Before she could respond, the rumbling in her stomach sent her running to the water closet. She was thankful for indoor plumbing as she vomited in the toilet. As she wiped her mouth, she realized for the first time that she might be pregnant. Jenny couldn’t believe she hadn’t guessed her condition earlier. It seemed as if Leonard Fisk was haunting her from the grave. Gavin knocked at the door.
“Jenny, are you all right? Is it something I said? Aunt Nell is waiting for you in the kitchen to show you how to properly make dumplings and set the table. Should I tell her you’re on your way?”
“I think the excitement of my arrival proved too much for my delicate stomach. I’m going to retire if it’s ok with you.”
“No problem, Jenny. I’ll give you your peace and sleep in the spare room tonight. I’ll see you for breakfast in the morning. I prefer my eggs dry and my coffee strong. Alert Aunt Nell if there’s anything you need.”
“I’ll be good as new tomorrow,” Jenny lied. The thought of eggs made her sick.
“Good, because the justice of the peace will marry us tomorrow afternoon.”
Jenny was in a state of panic as she thought of a way to make this latest development work.
Chapter Three
Jenny lay in bed feeling her tummy to see if it had started to swell. Her cycle was off after Leonard’s shocking murder and before she knew it, she was on her way to Texas. She never suspected she was pregnant because she had only been intimate with Leonard one time. He came home drunk one night and it was against her will so she pushed it out of her mind. Jenny knew that things with Gavin had to happen fast or he would know the child wasn’t his. Lying was a hell of a way to begin a marriage but she saw no option. Jenny heard pots clanking in the kitchen, which was her signal to start moving.
“Good morning, Nell. Tell me what to do and I shall do it.” Jenny was cheerful to begin the day.
“By now we should have the bacon in the pan but you obviously aren’t accustomed to waking when the rooster crows. We have a brand new icebox that I don’t entirely trust and you’ll find milk on the top shelf. The milk came from the cow yesterday and we’ll replenish the supply today when we get back from saying vows.”
“Right, right. I’ll have to put on a proper dress to get married in,” Jenny said. She was wearing a drab green dress that she didn’t mind getting dirty for cooking and chores.
“What you’re wearing is proper enough. Caleb and I leave in a week and it’s my job to get you up to speed.”
“Things are moving so quickly and I still haven’t said but a few words to Gavin.”
“He’s a man of few words, but you weren’t brought here for conversation,” Nell said flatly.
Jenny was an emotional mess by the time Gavin and Caleb came to the table. She heard that pregnancy brought with it tears and delicate feelings. She vowed to try to suppress them as best she could.
“I hope you’re feeling better this morning, Jenny. I’ll give you a few nights to collect yourself in the bedroom alone because the last thing I want to do is scare you off. After our trip in to see the justice today, would you like to take a ride to the pond with me?
Aunt Nell gave Gavin a venomous glare.
“Oh, I’m surprised because you’re so busy on the ranch, but I would be delighted,” Jenny chirped.
“Gavin, you have ranch hands ready to start moving the cattle into more fertile grazing land,” Nell reminded her nephew.
“They’re capable of doing it without me. I think spending a Saturday afternoon with my new bride is called for,” Gavin insisted.
“She’s a mail order bride, Gavin, not Mary Horning.” Nell got up from the table and walked out.
Caleb rolled his eyes. “Ignore her, Jenny. She woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Come to think of it, she always wakes up that way. Bacon’s cooked just right and I hope you have a splendid day at the pond.” Caleb was the peacemaker. He was trying to make Jenny’s coming to Texas a success while Nell was doing everything in her power to make it fail.
“I don’t know who Mary Horning is or was and I don’t have time to care because I have to get ready to say my wedding vows. I won’t make a fuss and Nell told me there was no need to change clothes, but I’d like to at least change my dress.”
“That’s the spirit, Jenny. Nothing wrong with injecting a bit of sophistication into this household.” Caleb cleared his plate and left Jenny and Gavin alone in the kitchen.
“You must know by now that my Aunt Nell is a handful. Caleb is my father’s brother so I’m not related to Nell by blood – thank God. Nell has always doubted the existence of romance, and if you knew my parents, you’d know it exits. They had true love. Nell wished you to be a downcast and unattractive woman. But you are a lovely, clever woman who brings buoyancy to the ranch.”
“I’ll gladly accept your compliments when you know me better,” Jenny blushed. “I’ll be out in front after I change. Wouldn’t want to become Mrs. Gavin Hennessey in a grease-splattered frock.”
“I may as well put on a clean shirt for the occasion. I’ll hitch up the team and meet you out front.”
Jenny brought out her favorite blue dress, which had satin piping. It wasn’t brand new or too formal—perfect for the occasion. She pulled the sleeves on and it was perfect, but when she tried to fasten it, it was too snug. Jenny was beginning to think that marriage to Gavin wouldn’t be so bad. She almost forgot she was pregnant. Jenny thought quickly and did the best she could with the buttons. A blue duster would keep her back concealed and no one would see. Jenny pulled her hair up in a loose bun and walked out to meet Gavin.
“You look beautiful, Jenny, but aren’t you going to be warm? The coat can be left here because I’m sure it will only get hotter this afternoon.”
“No. It’s a matched set and I never wear one without the other,” Jenny said as if she knew the first thing about fashion.
“Suit yourself. We can sit on the bench in back and Uncle Caleb can ride the wagon with Nell next to him. In order to make the marriage official, we need two witnesses and they will fulfill the duty.”
“Perfect. You do know I was married once and that my husband died. I don’t know why I’m telling you this now. I have to learn to keep my mouth shut.”
Gavin smiled. “I had Mr. Kellogg at the mercantile find out all about you from your Mr. Galbo. I know you were wed to a crook and are lucky to be done with him. I had numerous women to choose from and I knew when it said you have violet eyes and you love to read that you were the one. Nell thinks I should have picked a woman with farm experience or someone who bragged about their cooking, but those things can be learned.”
“I’m relieved that you knew.”
“It’s not as if you’
re pregnant with your dead husband’s child,” Gavin laughed.
Jenny was relieved that they had arrived at their destination. She didn’t know how she was going to respond to Gavin’s comment. It was especially troubling because Jenny was beginning to feel as if Texas might work. Gavin helped Jenny out of the wagon and because he had nothing to compare it to he had no idea she had put on weight.
In a small town like Olean, Texas, they didn’t have a courthouse as Jenny expected there might be. The Justice of the Peace was also the sheriff, mayor and likely he held a number of other official duties in Olean. His office was used for events like weddings and it was connected to the jail. After a few words, a ring was on Jenny’s finger and Gavin was directed to kiss the bride. Gavin leaned in and Jenny expected a quick kiss on the cheek. Gavin was full of surprises: he put his hand behind Jenny’s head and pulled her in for a delicate kiss on the lips. Her knees were weak and this time it wasn’t a result of being pregnant.
“Well, that’s done with. We should return to the ranch immediately because there’s work to be done,” Nell said as she quickly ushered them back to the wagon.
“There’s plenty of day left. I told Jenny we would go down to the pond and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. We’ll stop in the barn on the way back to the house and Jenny can help milk the cows,” Gavin said as he helped the new Mrs. Hennessey back on the wagon.
“I can’t wait to milk a cow. I’ve never had the opportunity to be around farm animals, so I’m excited.”
Aunt Nell shook her as the wagon traveled the rocky road back to the ranch.
“I know you’re about to say something nasty, Nell,” Caleb said. “Let the newlyweds be happy for a moment at least.”
Jenny felt happy having the wedding part of the deal finished but she was unsure about having Gavin marry her without the facts. The longer she spent with him the more she thought that she would tell him the truth. To pass the baby off as his would be devious and Jenny would have to deal with the consequences that came with the truth.
Chapter Four
“I wanted to come down here so we could get to know each other, since we are husband and wife,” Gavin said. He rode them down in the wagon but it would have made a nice walk through the wildflowers.
“Good idea. It was a pleasant surprise when you suggested it this morning.”
“Nell didn’t think so. I’ll be happy when she and Uncle Caleb move into the city. It’s better suited for them because this was never really home to them. After my parents died, they promised to stay until I got me a wife.”
“That’s why you had to write away for one. But I’m curious, who’s Mary Horning?”
“I was planning to marry Mary Horning but she moved to the city. Ranch life wasn’t what she wanted, which was surprising because she grew up on a ranch outside of Olean. We were sweethearts for years but she was swept off her feet by a city slicker and the rest is history.”
“Did she break your heart?” Jenny asked.
“She broke it right in two, but thinking back we never could have been happy. I hardly know you, Jenny, but your positive outlook was visible immediately. It was apparent before you arrived because you traveled all this way without even knowing me.”
“I didn’t care what was in Texas because there was nothing left for me in Boston. On my journey here, I heard of horrible stories about bad things happening to women in the west. There were people on the train talking about rape or women being locked out of the house and made to sleep in the barn. When I saw you, I knew I had gotten lucky.”
Gavin picked a daisy, placed it in Jenny’s hair, and brushed Jenny’s cheek with his hand. She jumped and caught her breath.
“I’m sorry, did I hurt you? There could have been a thorn on the stem,” Gavin said.
“No, Gavin. I was startled and your touch was warm. I didn’t expect this to be so easy but as I spend time with you, all I can think of is being with you more. I never had this sense before.”
“We’re married, Jenny, and I think our feelings are like a stroke of good luck. Something I think we both deserve in our lives. I lost my folks, had my heart broken, and you were married to a crook. It’s meant to be that we enjoy this beautiful place together.”
Gavin put his hands around Jenny’s waist and held her tight as the midday sun beat down. Jenny was feeling absolute bliss for the first time in her adult life. Gavin was unexpected and she doubted she even deserved such happiness. Her feelings came to a halt as he rubbed his hands down her back and noticed the buttons unfastened.
“Your buttons have come loose. Let’s get this silly coat off and do something about this.”
Jenny jumped back and pulled her coat shut. “My dress doesn’t fit, Gavin.”
“Don’t be embarrassed, Jenny. We’ll buy you one that does fit. We’ll buy you an entire new wardrobe if you want; we’ll go to Huston and buy matching sets that are more appropriate for the warm weather. The only problem will be finding something as beautiful as you are.”
Jenny burst into tears and Gavin was confused by her sudden mood change. He crinkled his nose as he tried to understand what was happening.
“You’d have to buy two dresses in order to make one that will fit me.”
“Jenny, I think I missed something. You aren’t fat, in fact, I think you could gain a few pounds. Did that horrible husband of yours make you feel poorly about yourself?”
Jenny stood up as a bewildered Gavin sat on a log. “I’m going to have a baby, Gavin.”
“Yes, yes. We will have as many babies as you want but we can’t expect it too soon because I’ve only just kissed you. In order to have a baby, we…”
Jenny started to giggle through her tears. “I know how babies are made, Gavin. What I mean is that I’m pregnant now.”
“Oh.” Gavin took his hat off and raked his fingers through his dark hair.
“I only realized the night I got sick when you found me in the parlor. I didn’t mean to trap you, Gavin, and I will start my journey back to Boston tomorrow. I have a little money to get me started and I’ll sell my hair if I have to. I’ll leave and you’ll never have to see me again. At least Aunt Nell will have a good laugh.”
“I’m stunned by your revelation, Jenny. It makes sense now that you were queasy, but I never suspected because you are such a small thing. One thing I know for certain is that I’m not sending you back to Boston and you’re not selling your beautiful black hair.”
“Would it be possible for you to raise another man’s child as your own?”
“It’s not my willingness that’s the problem but what others would think. As time goes on and we have children of our own, others wouldn’t treat him the same. He would forever be the bastard child and I don’t think I could put that label on a person.”
“We don’t even share a bed together, Gavin. Nell would discover the lie and blame me for trapping you. It puts us in an untenable situation Gavin and going home to Boston is my only option.”
“Not to make you feel any worse, but your parents hardly want you either. I can’t imagine why they would castoff such a delicate blossom as you. The way you handle yourself with such grace in the face of the hardships. We’ll think of a way to make things right but I’ll need time to devise a plan.”
“I can help with that, Gavin, because I have a clever mind when it comes to getting out of jams. The only time I failed was when my late husband came home drunk and forced himself on me. Leonard was very large and even my genius excuses couldn’t help that night,” Jenny said as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
“Now, I’m the one who will be sick. If he were alive, I’d be tempted to put a bullet of my own in his head.”
“You’d have to stand in line, Gavin,” Jenny chuckled. “Leonard Fisk made a lot of enemies and I count myself as one of them. I don’t often speak poorly of the dead but for him I’ll make an exception. I have a solution: you should move into our bedroom.”
Gavin looked
surprised but not disappointed.
“I’m not making a play for you but if you decide to raise this child as your own, we’ll have to make it look right. Nell won’t be here much longer but she’s snoopy and I wouldn’t want her to hear of my condition.”
“We have to focus on the positive. Our secret can be kept for a bit because you are of tiny stature. It would be a problem if Nell and Caleb were staying in Olean but Houston will be their new home. I’m sorry Nell has been uninviting. I’ve met angry bulls who weren’t as mean as her and I don’t think I realized it until you came into the picture.”
“We can’t lose sight of taking care of our ranch, Gavin. You said today you’re gonna show me how to milk a cow.”
“Jenny,” Gavin smiled. “You just referred to this place as our ranch. I like the sound of that.”
They climbed into the wagon and headed for the barn.
Chapter Five
The barn was lopsided and some of the boards were rotten but it was charming in a way. Jenny had seen barns outside of Boston but this one was authentic. To the left was a pigsty with a half dozen sows bathing in the mud. They looked happy and the mud, little did they know that Jenny had just eaten their family members for breakfast. Gavin pushed open the squeaky doors and the smell of manure smacked them in the face.
“Oops, I forgot about your delicate stomach. Aim for the pigsty, they’ll love it.”
Jenny laughed. “I’m not going to be sick. I like the smell. Maybe my sense of smell is off because I’m pregnant but it’s a smell I can get used to.”
“Good thing, Jenny, because manure is one thing we’ve got plenty of around here. Grab a couple of tin buckets from the shelf over there and I’ll set you out a stool. It doesn’t take much except for pulling on a teat and if the smell in here doesn’t bother you, then the worst part of it’s out of the way.”