by Kit Morgan
The drive to town was chilly yet Elle welcomed the cold as she and Summer huddled together in the back of the wagon. They sat atop some folded blankets and had the added warmth of a quilt to cover them, but the cold bit through Elle’s clothing and she shivered something awful. At least it distracted her from thoughts of Spencer!
“You’re not used to this kind of weather yet,” Summer said stating the obvious.
“I’m sure…totototo get used… used to in eventually,” Elle said with chattering teeth.
Summer leaned over to whisper in Elle’s ear. “Once you’re married you won’t ever be cold at night anymore!”
Elle’s eyes widened. “Summer James … Oh! I mean Riley! Don’t say such things.” For one, the thought of lying in Spencer’s arms on a cold winter’s night was too much to bear, and for Heaven’s sake! What if Clayton and Mrs. Riley heard what she said?
Summer giggled at the scold and adjusted the quilt around them. It wasn’t long before they got into town and pulled up in front of Quinn’s Mercantile. Clayton set the brake and hopped down then helped the women out of the wagon. Elle’s feet were freezing and it hurt when they touched the ground. She lifted them up and down to get some feel back in them.
“Don’t worry, you’ll adjust to the cold in time,” Clayton said. “I’m going over to the Sheriff’s office to see what Spencer’s up to. You ladies take your time. Oh, and mother?”
“Yes dear?” Mrs. Riley asked as she headed for the steps to the mercantile.
He smiled and looked right at Elle. “Spencer said spare no expense.”
“Oh!” Mrs. Riley exclaimed as she spun to him. “Well now, this may turn out to be quite the adventure!”
Clayton’s jaw tightened as he smiled. “Try to contain your excitement mother. You’ll scare people.”
“I’m not scared.” Summer quickly replied.
“Nor am I,” added Elle, sensing the other two women’s delight.
“But I am!” Clayton barked as he turned on his boot heel and headed down the street to the sheriff’s office.
Mrs. Riley and Summer laughed at his retreat. Both knew Clayton watched over the farm’s finances like a mother bear guarding her cubs. Spencer simply tossed his earnings into the pot so to speak. For Spencer to say “spare no expense” meant just that! If Clayton said it, it usually came with an “up to this amount” tacked on. Both brothers were incredibly generous with those they loved, but Clayton was the more practical one.
Mrs. Riley and Summer both knew that Clayton wanted Spencer and Elle’s wedding to be special and so was giving his blessing where the spending of the farm’s money was concerned.
Mrs. Riley all but ran up the stairs to the mercantile doors.
“Why hello there!” A tall, thin, grey haired woman behind the counter called to them as they entered.
“Good morning, Mrs. Quinn!” Mrs. Riley called back as she wiped her feet on a small rug by the door. “We have lots of shopping to do this morning!”
Mrs. Quinn’s fact lit up at what she obviously deemed a call to action. Her mouth formed into a bright smile as she clasped her hands together in front of her. “Wonderful! Where do we start?”
Mrs. Riley went straight to the store counter. “Let’s start at the top and work our way down!”
“Brilliant!” Mrs. Quinn agreed and hurried around the counter to where Elle stood. “Now, off with your coat and bonnet so we can get started.”
“My coat and bonnet? Why do I need to take them off?”
“Now don’t ask questions, dear. We’re experts at this sort of thing.” Mrs. Riley said.
“Experts?” Summer laughed. “I don’t recall this much excitement when I went shopping for my wedding things.”
“That was on account of your injury, dear. We didn’t want to tire you out.” Mrs. Riley explained.
“Oh no, that would never do!” Mrs. Quinn added. “We went easy on you.”
Elle and Summer glanced at each other, concern on their faces. The two older women looked like a couple of contestants in a race that was about to start.
“Now do as Mrs. Quinn says dear and take off your coat, bonnet, and gloves while you’re at it.”
Elle stood and stared at Mrs. Riley for a brief moment before she began to comply. How could she let Spencer spend money on her? What if they couldn’t be married? How was she going to weasel out of this? She didn’t want Mrs. Riley to go through all this trouble if …
“If I decide I don’t care for something we’ve purchased, can it be returned?” Elle suddenly asked as she began to unbutton her coat.
Mrs. Quinn and Mrs. Riley went stock still as if she asked the most ludicrous question in the world. “Why, yes …” Mrs. Quinn began hesitantly. “If you really think it’s necessary. You can exchange it or I can return your money…”
“Oh but come now, Miss Barstow … Elnora … I’ve made up my mind to start calling you that from now on,” Mrs. Riley said. “We’re here to buy your wedding things, why in Heaven’s name would you even think to return something?”
Elle swallowed and offered a weak smile. “What if something doesn’t match?”
“Well that’s why we’re all here to help you dear, so that we get it right the first time!” Mrs. Riley explained.
“Oh, yes… of course. But I do need to get to the telegraph office, maybe I should take care of that first … oh dear!” Elle suddenly exclaimed as Mrs. Riley and Mrs. Quinn came at her at once.
“No time for that now!” Mrs. Quinn said as she pulled Elle’s coat off.
“You can do it when we’re done!” Mrs. Riley added while she whisked away her bonnet. “Now, let us take a good look at your hair … what color ribbons, do you think?”
“I have just the thing!” Mrs. Quinn said excitedly as she turned and hurried to a shelf behind the counter.
Elle sighed in resignation and looked to Summer who stood doing her best not to laugh. “Was it like this for you?” Elle asked.
“Oh no, they were much calmer when I was here to get my wedding things!”
“Wonderful,” Elle mumbled under her breath. Wonderful for everyone but her that is. She wanted to be able to enjoy the moment, but her only thought was to get to the telegraph office.
The door opened to pull Elle out of her lamenting. She turned and sucked in a breath at the handsome man that came into the mercantile.
Spencer!
Oh she couldn’t deny her attraction now! He was gorgeous! Beautiful (if one could use the word in conjunction with a man) and sauntered into the mercantile like he owned the place. “Hello ladies,” he drawled. “Having fun yet?”
“We’re just getting started,” his mother said. “What are you doing here?”
“Can’t I come say hello to my future bride?” He asked and went straight to Elle. “Hello sweetheart,” he said in a low voice and tipped his hat.
Elle’s entire body grew hot. Sweetheart? He’d not used any endearments when addressing her before. This was a first, and she hoped not the last as her back tingled with delight at his words. “Hello,” she said shyly.
Ohhhh but she shouldn’t be enjoying this so much!
He stepped closer and looked down into her eyes. “Find anything you like?”
Elle’s breathing stopped.
“Spencer, I told you we’re just getting started,” his mother scolded. “Now if you don’t mind, why don’t you come back in an hour and check on things then.”
Spencer continued to look deeply into her eyes. “Hmmm …” he began, his voice rumbling in his chest as he drew closer. “Blue I should think.”
Elle tried to breath, she tried to swallow, but all she could manage was a tiny gasp.
Spencer reached up and wrapped a tendril of her blonde hair around one of his fingers. “Blue would go so well with your eyes,” he whispered as his own eyes roamed her face.
Oh God … Elle felt her knees grow weak. He was so close she could smell the masculine scent of him. Not soap, not lea
ther, not the wind and chill of the air outside. But him. She licked her lips in response. He smiled as his eyes darkened. He leaned toward her even further.
“Spencer!”
Spencer and Elle jumped apart at his mother’s voice.
“Get out of this store and come back in an hour!”
Spencer’s jaw tightened but his smile remained. He tipped his hat once more to Elle before he turned and left the mercantile.
“Ah young love! The sight warms this old heart like nothing else!” Mrs. Quinn said dreamily. “I can’t wait until my Matthew comes home and …”
“Land sakes! Let’s stop wasting time and get to work! Spencer will be back in an hour!” Mrs. Riley said, cutting her off. Elle caught the warning glare in her eyes directed at Mrs. Quinn and pondered what it was about when the door once again opened.
“Oh, it figures…” Mrs. Riley said under her breath as Mrs. Quinn came around to the front of the counter, several boxes in hand.
Abbey and Charlotte Davis came in and brushed snow from their coats near the door. Abbey looked up and took in the women. “Summer! I’m so glad to see you! Hello Mrs. Riley, Mrs. Quinn!”
“Good morning girls,” Mrs. Quinn said happily. “Here to see the new fabrics I have in?”
“Yes, we are!” Abbey said as she happily walked over to a table laden with bolts of cloth.
“I have more in the back. I haven’t had time to bring it all out. I’ve been trying to get Matthew’s room ready. He comes home soon you know.”
“He does?” Abbey asked. “Isn’t school finished in the spring?”
“He’s home early on account he’s done finished all his studies!” Mrs. Quinn said with pride. “He’s the smartest boy in his class!”
“Life’s going to seem incredibly dull here for him compared to Boston,” Charlotte added dryly. “Why on Earth would he want to leave an exciting city and come back to Nowhere?”
“Because he has kin here, girl. Why else?” Mrs. Quinn said as she opened up a box.
Mrs. Riley stood and glared at Mrs. Quinn but said nothing and instead turned to Charlotte. “How’s your mother, dear?”
“She’s home sick with a cold. She sent us to get her a few things.”
“Oh isn’t that nice,” Mrs. Riley said relieved. “Oh, I mean, not that she has a cold, but that you’ve come to get something for it.”
Summer and Abbey both giggled at her slip. Charlotte didn’t, but neither did she appear upset by it. She instead began to examine the bolts of cloth in front of her.
Summer cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. “Ladies, may I present Miss Barstow, Spencer’s intended. Elle, this is Abbey Davis and her sister Charlotte. ”
Elle took in the two girls. Summer had told her Abbey was a real peach but that Charlotte could be trouble like her mother. She’d shared some of her own experiences with the Davis family and though her exploits with them were laughable now, they certainly weren’t at the time.
Elle smiled and nodded to Abbey who grabbed one of her hands and shook it enthusiastically. Charlotte on the other hand didn’t so much as look at her.
“Charlotte, say hello to Miss Barstow.” Abbey told her as she also caught the aloof attitude of her sister.
Charlotte glanced to Elle, sighed, gave her a simple nod in greeting, then stiffly returned her attention to the fabric.
Abby rolled her eyes. “Never mind her. She’s been like this the last couple of days.” Abbey leaned toward Summer and whispered. “It’s been wonderful really! She hasn’t been this quiet since Clayton dumped water on her the first time she faked a swoon in front of him!”
Summer stifled a giggle then looked to Elle. “Definitely the blue, like Spencer said.”
Elle stared at the beautiful blue ribbons Mrs. Quinn held out before her. “They’re lovely.”
“They’re yours!” Mrs. Quinn happily said and returned them to their box. She set the box aside then quickly followed Mrs. Riley to examine the bolts of cloth Charlotte was looking over.
“Are they going to pick out everything?” Elle asked astonished.
“No, you’ll choose what you want. I think they just like the process more than anything else. They certainly did with me!”
Elle smiled but thoughts of the telegraph office kept entering her mind. She needed to get her message sent!
“What’s the matter?” Summer asked.
“Nothing,” Elle said quickly.
“You don’t look like you’re having a very good time.”
“Oh but I am!”
Summer took her by the elbow and steered her over to a display of shoes while Abbey joined the others. “Elle, are you sure you want to marry Spencer?”
Elle swallowed hard. This could be her one chance to gain more time. Even if she got her message out today, how long would it take for Mrs. Ridgley to get back to her? “I … I ... I’m not sure.”
Summer faced her. “Being a mail order bride isn’t like getting married the normal way. There’s not much courtship, no months of getting to know one another. It’s two people who agree to make a life together so they can survive. Like the good Book says, things are better with two. When one falls down the other can lift them up. Two can stay warm better than one …”
“I know that, but I’m … overwhelmed.” Considering she didn’t know if she’d be arrested by her future husband, it was an understatement.
“Yes, but you can’t put him off either. You signed an agreement. Clayton and I had a few weeks to get to know each other because of my injury. Whether you wait another week, a month it doesn’t matter. Elle, you signed a contract. Personally I don’t know why you have cold feet. I can see you’re attracted to Spencer.”
Elle looked over her shoulder at the others who were all admiring a bolt of cloth Spencer’s mother was holding up. “I know I signed a contract. I just need a little more time. I … I really need to … to let Mrs. Ridgley know I got out here all right.”
“You aren’t going to wire her to tell her you want to go back are you?”
“Of course not!”
Summer’s shoulders slumped as she relaxed. “I’m glad to hear it. I know you’ve been worried about getting to the telegraph office.” She took Elle’s hands in her own. “Please promise me you’ll give Spencer a chance. He’s a good man and the Riley’s are a wonderful family. Don’t be hasty and make a wrong decision.”
Elle felt a chill go up her spine. If only she could tell her friend what happened but she didn’t dare. What would she do? They’d been taught at the orphanage to always do right by others and to protect those they loved. But in this case, whom would Summer protect? Elle didn’t want to put her friend in that sort of position so it was better she remained quiet.
“I promise I’ll give him a chance,” Elle said, her heart in her throat. She hoped and prayed that Spencer Riley would do the same for her if it came down to having to tell him what she’d done.
Six
Spencer walked slowly. Should he ignore his mother’s request and go back to the mercantile? But she said they’d be done in an hour. He could wait an hour, couldn’t he?
Oh for Heaven’s sake! He was acting ridiculous! He was a grown man not some idiotic schoolboy with his first crush! But that’s what he began to feel like when in Miss Barstow’s company, and it was only getting worse. She was beautiful, she had spirit, she was a little odd at times, spontaneous, but he liked her that way. He didn’t know what to expect from her and it kept him on his toes. Given a little more time he could easily fall in love with her. She wasn’t anything like he expected a mail order bride to be. He was expecting someone calmer, more reserved. After finding she’d come from the same orphanage as Summer he also expected her to be … well … more in need of a hero? A man? But Elnora Barstow would probably get along just as well without one to a certain extent. No woman in his experience could be long without a man’s protection so that made him feel good! And of course she’d need his provision. For now.
Gads! With her gumption she could reject him, find herself a job, learn to use a gun, and be fine on her own! The thought sent a sliver of worry coursing through Spencer’s veins. What if she didn’t fancy him? She acted as much so far. She was polite, she was cordial, she even laughed at his jokes, but he sensed she was holding back considerably. There was a stiffness about her, as if she knew she wasn’t staying. One moment it was there, in the set of her jaw, the determined look in her eye, as if she was battling with herself over him. Then it would be gone and she would be more relaxed and light hearted. Spencer decided not to think on it further, let go a long sigh and entered the Sheriff’s office.
“Howdy, boss!” Billy said. “Beautiful day, ain’t it?”
Spencer looked at Billy his other deputy. He was seated behind the desk with his feet propped up on it. “You’re certainly happy this morning.”
Billy removed his feet from the desk and sat up straight. “Got good reason to be, I’m courtin’ Miss Abbey Davis. It’s official! Asked her pa and everything!”
Spencer smiled. Billy had been sweet on Abbey since before Thanksgiving. “Well now, that’s wonderful news! How’s Mrs. Davis taking it?” Everyone knew Nellie Davis wanted her daughters married off to the wealthier families in the area. Her plan to marry Charlotte off to Clayton was thwarted by Summer’s arrival, and ever since Clayton and Summer’s wedding at Christmas, Mrs. Davis had plunged herself into a new campaign. Namely, marry Abbey off to Spencer, but that was stopped before it even got started. Abbey only had eyes for Billy. She became sweet on him sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas!