by Alice White
The little man behind the corner smiled at her. “Yes ma’am, let me check. How are you today?” he asked.
Clara smiled. She had come by every day for the past three weeks to see whether she had any answers yet. She felt like she knew the man. “I’m good, George. How are the wife and kids doing?”
“Oh they’re great, thanks for asking!” He smiled brightly. “Oh, it looks like you have something today!” He handed her the envelope.
Clara could feel her heart beat a bit faster. She hoped this was her way out. “Thank you, George.”
She didn’t open the letter right away; she wanted to be at home before she did that, just in case it wasn’t what she was hoping. Clara just knew that she was getting close to having a breakdown of sorts.
It had been hard holding onto her faith through these difficult times. But thankfully her congregation had helped keep her inside of God’s love. But Clara wasn’t sure if she could handle what was in the future if she didn’t find someone to pay off her debt by buying her hand in marriage.
It all sounded so sordid and wrong in many ways. Clara had felt almost dirty by offering herself to a man in this manner. But then she reminded herself that Mr. Jones had many more ideas in mind that were far worse. Not only that, but if she married a man, God would bless her in the long run. Clara had to keep her hopes up.
The walk home seemed to take far too long. The letter burned into her hand. There were a few times she almost stopped along the way and opened the letter.
Clara kept her composure and was shortly welcomed by the sight of her home. “Well, not mine anymore. It will be sold for his debts.” She muttered under her breath.
She didn’t want to hate her late husband, but there was a tiny residue of anger burning brightly. It would often lead her to think of Gerald in a bad way. Clara tried to remember the few good times between them. But as she searched her mind, she found it was harder than ever right now. She couldn’t remember one good time between them. Their relationship had often been strained to the point where she wondered why he’d married her. Clara had tried to be a good wife and do all her duties like God had asked, but Gerald had never really appreciated her much. He would come home late at night, smelling of liquor and cigars. She didn’t need to ask where he had been. She knew his habit of playing cards.
“It’s how he put us so far into debt.” Her anger was coming close to erupting. Clara looked up to the sky and prayed silently to God. She took a deep breath and felt better.
“I hope this is good news!” she said aloud as she sat down and opened the letter. She read the words through a couple of times before she could believe what she was seeing.
Her mouth fell open. She looked at the letter again to make sure she had read it correctly. Finally, because she couldn’t believe her eyes, she read it out loud.
Dear Mrs. Wilson,
My name is Todd Cody. I am 29 years old and my family owns a ranch in Arizona. I would like to have you travel to me on our ranch. My mother lives with me and she can be our chaperone until we are married. I attend church every week and am a God-fearing man. I have sent along a check to cover your transportation as well as the fees you requested.
Yours,
Todd Cody
She looked once more at the check to see if the numbers were all there. “That means I’ll have some money left over.” She smiled. But then she remembered it had only been one small pile of bills that he had told her to pay.
Clara tried to remember the total that Mr. Jones had told her was due. She still thought she might have a little bit of money left over after paying off Gerald’s debts.
“No reason to put this off.” She picked up the check and decided to go pay off Mr. Jones. At least that way she could relax during her last few days in town. As she walked to his office, she prayed to God.
Thank you God for answering my prayers. Thank you for taking care of me. Amen.
She was all smiles when she walked into Mr. Jones’s office. “Good afternoon, Mr. Jones. I have great news for you.” She smiled brightly.
He looked up from his desk, his eyes still showing disinterest. “Yes what is it?”
She pulled out the check. “It’s a paper check from a Todd Cody; he is going to marry me. I think you’ll find enough to cover the debts Gerald built up, as well as some left over for me!”
“Left over for you? No, Mrs. Wilson, you forgot that you have the other piles of bills, along with my fees and late charges. Well you have nothing left out of this money. I would appreciate it if you could sign this over now to me,” he said as he looked at the check.
“Are you sure? I didn’t think there was that much due,” Clara said.
Mr. Jones studied her closely. “Well it doesn’t matter what the amount was, all that matters is what I say it is.”
Clara saw an evil look cross his face. “Well, I’ll be. That’s very unChristian of you, Mr. Jones.”
“I never claimed to be Christian.”
She was too flustered to do anything. Clara just wanted to get out of his office as quickly as she could. She signed her name on the check and took the paper from him. She looked at it; the words PAID IN FULL were across the paper. “Thank you.” She gathered herself and almost ran out the door.
If she hadn’t known better she would have thought she was in the room with the Devil himself there for a second. She silently thanked God again as she walked away. At that point she knew that had she not gotten this check, her future would have been miserable.
She shuddered to imagine it. But now she had to focus on getting her things ready and getting on the next coach to Arizona. She had a new life and a new husband waiting for her.
Her heart fluttered with hope. It was the first time in years that she had pure hope for a good life ahead of her.
Chapter 4
“Samuel, I need you to go and meet the coach today,” Sally told her servant.
“Yes, ma’am. What will I be getting from the coach? Did you order another package from New York City?” The old man laughed.
“It is a package of sorts I guess. But you have to promise not to breathe a word of what I’m about to tell you to Todd.” Sally looked at him seriously.
“No ma’am, I won’t say a word to him about it. I promise.” He held his hand in front of his heart.
“I ordered a mail-order bride for Todd. She’ll be on the coach coming in today.” Sally smiled brightly.
“You did what, ma’am?” Samuel questioned.
“I ordered a bride for Todd. Now he can get married and have children!”
“I don’t think he’s going to be happy about this.” Samuel’s face fell. He could imagine the scene that might take place later on in this house.
“Well, someone had to get him a woman. He’s not trying at all!”
Samuel shook his head, but far be it from him to questions his mistress’s movements. He kept his further thoughts to himself.
Sally was proud of what she had done; she didn’t think it was wrong. She had asked God to show her a sign of who would be the right woman for her son and He had shown her. As far as the other steps she had taken, it was all for Todd’s good.
By the time he came home for dinner she should be here! Sally ran around the house trying to prepare everything for Clara Wilson.
She was excited and a bit worried. She knew Todd was going to be mad at her. But she had already accepted her fate when she wrote the letter to Clara and had put Todd’s name on it.
“What else was I supposed to do? He wasn’t doing a single thing about this!” she muttered.
Sally hoped that Samuel would return with Mrs. Wilson before Todd got back from his chores. That way she could at least explain to her what was going on, that she had been the one who had written the letter.
Plus, she wanted to meet the woman first, though she was pretty sure God had led her to this person. Sally wondered whether she would have a chance to talk to Mrs. Wilson first or not.
She shru
gged her shoulders and hoped it would all work out. Todd would be mad for sure, but the woman would possibly be okay with it. That is, after Sally told her how she had prayed and then found her ad in the paper. If she was a God-fearing woman like she’d said, she would see the clear signs in the matter.
Chapter 5
Samuel walked in with Clara Wilson behind him sometime later in the afternoon. He found Sally and let her know. “The young lady is here. I had her sit in the living room,” he told Sally.
Sally flew to the other room. She held out her hand and said, “Hello, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Sally Cody, I’m Todd’s mother.”
“It’s very nice to meet you as well.” Clara took her hand and shook it.
Sally studied her; she was a nice looking woman, plain, but pretty. “Was your trip nice?” she asked.
“It was long, but not too bad, honestly,” Clara stated.
Sally tried to think of how to bring up what she needed to tell Clara. “I have something to talk to you about,” she began, but then Todd walked into the room.
He looked at his mother and then the female in the room. Clara stood up to introduce herself to him. “Hello, I’m Clara Wilson.” She held out her hand.
Todd looked at her and took her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Todd Cody.”
Clara wondered why he didn’t seem more happy about meeting her. His reaction had been one of little interest. She would have thought he would at least welcome her. Maybe not with open arms, but at least with a warmer reception.
Sally sat there, her hands twisting in her lap. “Todd, this is Mrs. Clara Wilson. She’s come here from South Carolina.”
“Oh, what have you come to Arizona for?” he asked.
Clara looked at him, disbelief in her face. “I’ve come because you wrote to me. I’m a mail-order bride.”
“What?” Todd asked. His face growing red, he turned towards his mother. “Mother, do you have something to tell me?”
“Well, I have kept telling you that you need to settle down. But you’ve never done anything about it. You’re 29 years old, soon you’ll be too old to have children. I only did it for you, for your own good,” Sally stated. Her conviction growing stronger, she added, “If I hadn’t written to her, you would’ve grown old alone and I’d never have any grandchildren to spoil.”
“That’s not your place, Mother. It is my choice only,” Todd shouted. He turned to Clara and said, “I’m really sorry, but there has been a mistake here. My mother has overstepped her boundaries and lied to you. I will gladly pay for your way back home,” he said.
All Clara could think of was the life she had left behind. She had no money, no possession, and no home, nothing back in her old town. If she went back what would she do? Her life seemed to spiral in front of her. She felt her heart speed up, and her breathing increased.
“Are you okay?” Todd asked.
She had turned a deathly pale, and he was afraid that she might faint. He ran out of the room and brought back a glass of water.
“Here, drink this.”
Clara grabbed the glass, her hands shaking so much she could barely hold it. As she brought it up to her mouth, she spilled a bit on her dress. She swallowed the water and it stuck in her throat. Her life was crumbling in front of her and she didn’t know what to do. “I can’t go back,” she said softly.
He had heard her words, but could see that his mother hadn’t. Todd looked at her and wondered why she had said it, but didn’t know if he should ask. She looked too fragile to handle any questions at the moment. He sat down and thought, looking at the woman his mother had ordered.
He looked at his mother and shook his head. “Why did you do this?” Then he held up his hand. He already knew her answer. “I know why, because you feel I need to settle down.”
“Dear, would you like to lay down for a while?” Sally finally asked Clara. Her color was still very pale.
“If you wouldn’t mind, maybe it is the long trip that has caused me to feel so bad,” Clara muttered, though she knew the real reason.
Sally showed her to the room and helped her settle in. When Sally went back into the living room, Todd was waiting for her.
“Mother, you really shouldn’t have done this. Did you see the look on that poor woman’s face when she found out I didn’t send for her?”
“I saw it; she just might be tired from the trip, though.” Sally tried to think of a good excuse. “I don’t feel bad for what I did. God gave me a sign that she would be a good woman for you, so I did what you wouldn’t do and sent for her.”
“Mother, don’t you think it would have been a good idea to talk to me about it first?” Todd asked.
“You would have only told me no. She could be a really good mate for you. She’s older and more mature, but can still have some children. She goes to church every week, and she wants to be a wife like God wants her to be,” Sally explained.
“She may be a nice enough woman, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to settle down,” Todd commented.
“Todd, have you ever thought that maybe you would never decide to settle down? Perhaps you work too hard, and you only focus on that. You would grow old and be alone. Before you knew it one day you would wake up and find yourself all alone, especially after I’ve passed away and gone away to Heaven. I don’t want that for you. Being alone would be horrible,” Sally explained.
Though he wanted to be angry at his mother, he tried to look at it from her point of view. She was only trying to take care of him, make sure he was happy. He sighed heavily. “Mother, I just don’t know.”
“She’s a pretty girl as well,” Sally pushed.
“She’s nice looking, I will give you that,” Todd admitted. In the back of his mind he wondered about Clara’s reaction to his comment. She had looked fearful, like she was hiding something in her past. He wondered what that might be, and it nagged at his mind.
“You should at least let her stay and get to know her a little better. Maybe you’ll like her,” Sally finally said.
Todd shook his head. He didn’t like the idea, but something about Clara interested and intrigued him.
“Fine, I’ll not promise that I will marry her, or even like her. As far as spending time with her, I’ll fit it in when I can. But I am not going to give her all of my time.” Todd put his foot down.
His mother shook her head in agreement. “Well that’s better than nothing.”
Chapter 6
Clara sat up from her nap; she was disorientated and not sure exactly where she was. Then the memories hit her. She was in Arizona. Not only that, but the man she thought wanted to marry her hadn’t even known about her. It had been some sort of lie his mother had told. Clara wasn’t altogether sure what was going on. The last thing she had remembered was Todd offering to buy her a ticket back home.
Her body started to shake again as she thought about South Carolina, Mr. Jones, her late husband, and all the bad times. She had been so happy to escape a past that seemed to be closing in around her each day.
Clara wondered why she had been put through so much when she was younger. “Well, not that much younger. I had to go through it up until the time that Gerald died,” she muttered.
That life seemed so long ago; finally the bruises had almost completely healed. At least the visible ones. The ones scarring her insides were still there. She didn’t know if those would ever fully heal, but with God’s help she thought they would. She lowered her head in prayer and asked for God to help her through yet another difficult situation.
Please, Father, help me through this situation. It seems like I was lied to and brought out here without this man’s knowledge. I am not angry at his mother for this, only disappointed that I was not wanted. I feel like I should give the money back, but I don’t have it any more. I really don’t want to go back to South Carolina and face those demons of the past again. Put it in his heart to have mercy and maybe some compassion. Even if we will not be husband and wife, perhaps he can l
ocate someone in town willing to buy me from him. A nice man, though, someone who loves You. Or You could put it in his heart to find me compatible. I pray for Your Will in this, God. Please also calm my nerves and fears that are continually coming up. I know that I can count on You for anything. Nothing is impossible with God. Amen.
She was too worried to go find Mrs. Cody or her son. But she felt God’s warm embrace holding her, so she took the steps even though she was scared.
Clara poked her head out of the door and listened for noises. She heard them coming from her left, so she headed towards them. She walked into the room and saw the older woman and the young man that was supposed to be her future husband.
Neither of the two had seen her yet, so she stood and studied the man a bit. He was tall, quite a bit taller than her, and it intimidated her. He had a light blonde hair color and his hair hung down over his eyes, though you could still see the blue dots when he was looking at you. He seemed like a nice enough man, but she really didn’t know much about him.
She could tell he wasn’t too happy about what his mother had done. Clara didn’t know how to feel about that yet. She understood the woman’s side somewhat. The older woman simply wanted to have grandchildren and for her son to be happy. Clara had overheard the comments from the old woman. Sally was her name, she reminded herself.
Clara heard them talking about her and what should be done. When she heard him say that she could stay, her heart was happy. The fear that had been creeping in from the edges was washed away.
God had answered her prayers at least in some way. She would wait to see what would happen between her and Todd, but at least she didn’t have to go back there.
She cleared her throat finally, feeling guilty for eavesdropping on their conversation for so long.
“Oh, you look much better, my dear.” Sally came towards her. “How do you feel?” she asked.
“I feel much better now, thank you.” Clara smiled at her.