She did and smiled when she realized it fit perfectly.
“I was hoping I was right when I estimated your ring size,” he said. “You have no idea how hard it was to not take the ring out and make sure I guessed right.”
“You did a wonderful job,” she replied and kissed him. “Thank you, Al. It’s a lovely gift.”
“When you look at it, you can think of us.”
“I will. And I love it.” Especially the reason he got it. No wonder he was so excited about it.
“Can I open my gift?” he asked.
“Of course, you can.” She retrieved it from under the tree and gave it to him. “I don’t think it’s as good as the one you got me.”
“Nonsense. It will be because you were thinking of me when you got it.”
“Well, to be fair, Aunt Betty helped me with it,” she said as he tore into the paper. She nudged him in the side and laughed. “Are you that impatient to see what it is?”
He shot her an amused look. “I don’t see the point in taking forever to unwrap the paper like you do.”
“I like the suspense of waiting to see what it is.”
“I guess so. I think it took you an entire minute to unwrap my gift. And that was a small one.”
She shook her head but didn’t protest as he finished ripping into the brown paper. When he pulled out the brown leather belt with the gold buckle on it, she said, “I had Aunt Betty’s help in tanning the belt and then attaching the buckle to it.”
“It’s great. Thank you.”
He leaned toward her and kissed her, bringing her into his arms. In the short time she’d been Al’s wife, she’d discovered how pleasant it could be to be intimate with a man. She had no idea kissing didn’t always have to lead to the bedroom. She also had no idea that the bedroom was something she could look forward to. She thought it was solely for the man’s pleasure, but she’d come to discover it was also for the woman’s pleasure. With Al, all things were new, and it was like the past never happened. In many ways, it was like a fairytale where all her dreams came true.
When he ended the kiss, he gave her waist a gentle squeeze. “Are you ready to get Gilbert up so he can open his gift?”
She nodded and helped him to his feet. They went to his room and she softly opened the door and saw Gilbert was stirring in the crib. “I think he’s ready to get up,” she whispered and crossed the small room. She rubbed the boy’s belly, and his gaze went to her. A smile lit up his face and she picked him up. “You’re such a happy thing, aren’t you?” She glanced at Al who was getting a cloth diaper ready on the small table. “If we have another baby, do you think he or she will be as good-natured as Gilbert?”
Al shrugged. “I don’t know if all babies are like him or if it’s just who he is. Aunt Betty says some people are born looking for the best in everything and others seem to be skeptical as soon as they come into the world. Even in the same family, you get kids who are different.”
She placed Gilbert on the table, pulled off his clothes and started with the process of changing his diaper. “When will Gilbert be one?”
“Well,” Al leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, “I found him on March 19. Aunt Betty guessed he was born right around that time, judging by how small he was.”
“You have no idea who his parents are?”
“Nope. I didn’t see anyone around the area, and I didn’t know if a woman in town had been expecting a child. But then I don’t go to town during the winter months and pretty much keep to myself.”
“Aunt Betty didn’t have any ideas?”
“Her best guess is that it was someone traveling through the area,” he replied.
Sadie finished pinning the new diaper on Gilbert who was squirming around and giggling. She glanced at Al. “Do you want to celebrate his birthday on the day you found him?”
“Yes. I think it fits close enough to when he was actually born.”
She sat Gilbert on the table and put on the day clothes Aunt Betty had given them. “It works. March 19 is a good day to celebrate his birthday.” After a moment, she asked, “Do you plan to tell him the truth? About how you found him and all?”
“I’ll have to. I don’t think it’ll be easy for him, but I think telling him the truth will be best.”
“Maybe.”
“You don’t think it’s a good idea?”
“I’m not sure what the best thing to do is,” she admitted as she buttoned Gilbert’s clothes. “It’s bound to be painful when he discovers his parents abandoned him.”
“Probably, but it might be worse if we led him to believe you had him and he finds out later on we lied to him.”
“Is it really a lie if you don’t tell him anything at all?”
“Yes, not telling him anything would still be a lie.”
She picked Gilbert up and he wrapped his arms around her neck. She hesitated to say anything else, especially in light of the enjoyable morning they’d shared, but she had to ask, “What if you told a lie because you knew the person wouldn’t like the truth? What if you knew that person would hate you if you told them?”
“I don’t see why Gilbert would hate us when we tell him the truth. Sure, he’ll be hurt to learn his real parents left him, but I think he’ll be glad we took him in and raised him as our own.”
He missed the point of her question. She’d been asking about lying in general, but he assumed she was still talking about Gilbert. And she didn’t have the courage to clarify what she’d meant.
He kissed her. “It’ll work out. He won’t hate us. We’ll tell him when he’s old enough to understand the situation.” He patted the small of her back. “Come on. Let’s show him his present.”
Sadie had no doubt that Gilbert would understand when he learned the truth. Sure, he’d be hurt, but he’d also realize that she and Al loved him. But from time to time, she wondered if Al would—or even could—love her if he knew she wasn’t really Hazel. He had such a high standard on what was right and wrong. She didn’t think he’d understand why she lied.
She made her decision back in Omaha to be Hazel, and that was something she’d live with until the day she died. But did it really matter? She was her real self with Al. She might be able to assume a different name with a shadowy past, but that was all she was doing. When it came down to her day-to-day actions, she was her real self. That was the important thing. And she loved him. There was no deception in any of that.
Deciding to let the matter go, she went to the tree and sat down, setting Gilbert on her lap. Al sat next to her and retrieved the two gifts for him.
“This is from me and your ma,” Al said, holding them out to the boy.
Gilbert took them and put one in his mouth.
“You’re not supposed to eat it, silly,” Sadie protested, laughing as she took it out of his mouth. “You’re supposed to open it to see what’s under all this paper.” She demonstrated by carefully ripping a small piece of the paper apart. She handed it back to him. “There. Now you do it.”
Gilbert tore apart the paper in a hurry and almost flung the wooden horse across the room, but Al caught it. “You’re pretty strong there, boy,” Al said. “You’ll need that strength for chopping wood when you get older.”
She rubbed Gilbert’s back as he leaned forward and hurried to open his other gift. “He’s already gotten so big since I came here. When Aunt Betty said babies don’t stay babies for long, she wasn’t kidding.”
“Bear said it was good they don’t stay little for long. He said he was relieved when he no longer had to worry about changing diapers.”
“He? I don’t recall hearing that he ever changed a diaper.”
“Alright, it was Aunt Betty who did all that, but he remembered the way the cabin smelled.” Al scooted closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Did I ever tell you that I’m glad you change the diapers now?”
She grinned. “No, but I figured it out when you started bolting out of the cabin whenever G
ilbert needed a new one.”
“I don’t bolt out of the cabin when he needs a new one.”
She shot him a pointed look.
“Well, not every time,” he clarified.
“Setting a new one on the table isn’t the same as doing the whole thing. But,” she added and kissed him, “I have no desire to cut up and preserve animal meat. I’d much rather stand back and hand you things you need.”
“We make a good team, don’t we?”
“We do.” She looked down at Gilbert and saw he was chewing on the wooden person. Taking it out of his mouth, she said, “That’s not food. It’s a toy.”
Gilbert tossed aside his wooden toys and grabbed the paper which he then tore into smaller pieces.
Al chuckled. “I think we should have asked Aunt Betty what a child Gilbert’s age should play with.” He collected the wooden horse and man. “I’ll put this away until he’s older.”
“I didn’t think he’d try to teethe on them,” Sadie said.
“I didn’t either. But as Aunt Betty says, being a parent is a learning experience. We’ll do better next time.” Al kissed her then rubbed the boy’s hair before he stood up with the toys. “I’ll get breakfast this morning. You sit and watch Gilbert enjoy the paper.”
“What about the animals?” she asked as he headed for their bedroom.
“I took care of them before I woke you up.”
She wondered just how early he got up that morning. She had no idea anyone could get so excited about a present, but she had to admit the ring was the best gift she’d ever received. Taking a good look at it in the morning light that filtered through the window, she smiled. Every time she looked at it, she would think of him and the wonderful life they shared. This Christmas was the best one she’d ever had. And better yet, there would be more Christmases just like it in the future.
Chapter Fifteen
It was May when the stranger came. Al had just finished tending to his garden when he saw the man ride up to his property on a horse. From the looks of it, he was well-to-do, what with his fancy suit and all. The dust from town had gotten on his pants and shoes, but the man didn’t seem to notice.
Al set down his hoe and hurried to meet him. “Are you lost?” he called out as he wiped his hands on his handkerchief.
The man scanned him up and down then smiled as if he was amused by something no one else saw but him. “That depends. Does Hazel McPherson live here?”
The man’s gaze went to the cabin, and Al couldn’t be sure, but he thought the man snickered. Shifting a bit, he tucked the handkerchief back into his back pocket. “She goes by Hazel Grover now.”
The man looked back at him and his eyebrows rose. “Then I’m not lost.” He got off the steed and handed Al the reins. “I’m Hazel’s cousin. My name is James McPherson.”
Al’s eyebrows furrowed. Her cousin? But he had a different accent from Hazel. “Where do you live?”
“Atlanta, Georgia.”
Yes, that was where Hazel was from, but he didn’t sound anything like her. “All your life?”
He chuckled and nodded. “Yes. I gather she didn’t tell you about me.”
“No,” he slowly said as he tied the horse’s reins to a post. “She didn’t.”
“A shame. We were close, you know. We played together as children. I thought she would have at least mentioned me, even in a passing conversation.”
“She doesn’t like to talk about her life in Atlanta.”
“Oh, well, there you have it.” He chuckled again and patted him on the back. “She’s a rather secretive devil, isn’t she? You know, she didn’t even tell us she was coming up here to be a mail-order bride. Her ailing father found your ad in the fireplace. I suppose she thought it burned up.”
Al considered James’ words. So she not only didn’t want to tell him about Atlanta, but she also hadn’t told anyone in Atlanta about him. Why?
Al turned to face James and forced a smile. “I should tell her that you’re here.” He hesitated then added, “Maybe you should stay out here. I want to make sure the house is ready.”
Since James cordially agreed, Al went to the cabin and softly opened the door. His gaze went to Hazel as she was stirring the stew.
She looked over at him and smiled. “Lunch will be ready soon.”
“It smells good.” He glanced back at James who gave him a slight wave.
“Gilbert’s taking a nap, and the stew will be good for a while on its own. Would you like to go to the bedroom and have a little fun?” she offered, her tone playful.
“Right now’s not a good time.” He stepped into the cabin and motioned for her to come over to him, leaving the door only open a crack so James wouldn’t see them.
“What is it?” she asked as she came over to him.
“Do you know him?”
“Why? Who is he?”
He gestured for her to look outside, and she leaned toward him to get a good view of him. “He says he knows you.”
She started to speak but then coughed and hurried over to the pitcher on the worktable. She coughed again and pointed to her throat. “Water,” she managed to say before she coughed again and poured water into the cup. She took a big gulp of it but couldn’t seem to stop coughing.
“Should I invite him in?”
She shook her head and drank more water.
“When you stop coughing, do you want to come out and see him?”
She nodded but coughed again.
“Alright. I’ll let him know you’ll be out to say hello.” He went over the threshold and closed the door. “She’ll come out here,” he called out as he headed for James. “The house isn’t fit for company at the moment.”
“Or maybe she doesn’t want to see me,” James replied, a contrite smile on his face. “I’m afraid we didn’t leave on pleasant terms.”
That explained why she didn’t rush right out to welcome her cousin, and he was sure it had something to do with the reason she never talked about her life in Atlanta. But it was still strange that she didn’t sound like him. They should have sounded alike since they were from the same area.
Pushing aside the question in his mind, he turned when he heard the cabin door open. Hazel came outside, wearing a hat and covering her nose and mouth with a cloth. She was still coughing. Keeping her head low, she walked over to them.
“Oh dear, is she sick?” James asked Al.
“No, but she did come upon a coughing fit.”
“Hazel, it’s certainly a pleasure to see you doing so well.”
She glanced up and waved at him before she coughed and lowered her head again.
Since Hazel didn’t say she didn’t recognize him, Al assumed that James really was her cousin. Otherwise, she would have told him this man was lying. But she didn’t want to spend any time with him. That much was obvious. And that meant James was only pleasant on the surface.
“Maybe this isn’t a good time,” Al finally told James.
“Understandable,” James said. “I came unannounced. I did send a letter, of course. Did you receive it?”
“No. Nothing came in the post office for us.” That much was true. Al made it a point to check the mail every time he was in town.
“What a pity. Now I feel especially bad for catching you both by surprise. May I come by at a more convenient time?”
Al glanced at Hazel who hesitated but then nodded. “Sure. Um…tomorrow at noon?” He studied her to see if that worked for her and she offered another nod. “Yes, that will work.”
“Tomorrow at noon.” James tipped his hat. “I look forward to it. Nice to see you again, dear cousin.”
She waved again and muttered a good-bye before launching into another coughing fit.
Al frowned as he watched James leave. He turned his gaze back to Hazel who was making a hasty retreat back to the cabin. Something was wrong.
With a sigh, he went to the cabin and opened the door in time to see her pouring stew into two bowls. She wasn’
t coughing anymore. That was suspicious, wasn’t it?
She glanced up at him and offered what he thought was an uncertain smile. “Are you still hungry?”
“Yes,” he replied, though at this point he didn’t have much of an appetite, even if his stomach was telling him it was time to eat. “Hazel,” he began as he shut the door and walked over to the table, “should I be wary of James?”
She picked up the bowls and took them to the table. “Oh, um…I didn’t expect to see him. If I’d been able to talk, I would have welcomed him inside.” She cleared her throat and let out an uneasy chuckle. “I feel so embarrassed. All that coughing, you know? It wasn’t very ladylike.”
He debated different things he could say but finally settled for, “Well, he’ll be back tomorrow.”
She hurried to grab the spoons and cups. “Yes. I’ll get to talk to him then.” After she sat at the table, she looked up at him. “Are you going to eat?”
With a nod, he pulled out his chair and sat across from her. He watched her as she dipped the spoon into her stew. If he was right, her hand was trembling as she lifted the spoon to her mouth. He placed his hands on his thighs and leaned forward. “Hazel, what aren’t you telling me?”
She paused and slowly chewed the contents of the stew before swallowing. A long moment passed between them before she finally spoke and when she did, he knew she was lying. “Nothing. There’s nothing I’m not telling you.” She gestured to his bowl. “Eat up before it gets cold.”
Realizing he wasn’t going to get her to talk, he decided to go ahead and eat. Maybe she’d tell him later. He needed to give her a chance. And if she wouldn’t, then he’d have to talk to James tomorrow to find out what was going on.
***
Sadie had to tell Al the truth. As much as she didn’t want to, she knew she had to. Because if she didn’t, then Hazel’s cousin would. Yes, she’d gotten away with covering most of her face and pretending to cough, but that ploy would only work once. She couldn’t do it again.
After she put Gilbert down for the night, she went out to the barn where Al was checking on the animals. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could do this. She had to do this. If she didn’t and James exposed her, it’d be much worse. She stood a better chance of gaining Al’s sympathy if she came to him first and pleaded her case.
The Mail Order Bride's Deception Page 12