Amelia, An Autumn Bride (Brides for All Seasons Book 7)

by Hildie McQueen

  With a reluctant shrug he agreed. “In a couple years, we’ll have our house built and they can live here if they wish.”

  Amelia smiled widely. “We can start building it right away.”

  “I suppose there is enough money to pay for workers to start.” He scratched his head and considered the amount in his savings account.

  “We have more than enough to build it and furnish it completely.” Amelia stood. “Wait right here.” She rushed out of the room and returned with a ledger. “When my parents died, I inherited their money as well as the money from the sale of our home and everything in it.” Opening the book, she placed it in front of him. “This is our money for a new house and our future.”

  The amount was astounding and Gerard had to blink to clear his eyes to ensure it was the amount he first saw. “You’re a rich woman.” His words were stilted as he had yet to comprehend what it meant.

  “I suppose I am,” Amelia agreed. “There is enough for us to build a house and to purchase whatever livestock we need. Even then, there will be plenty left for us to live quite comfortably.”

  A part of him felt unworthy of her and the other half in awe of her. “You didn’t have to marry. You could have done anything you wanted. Why did you marry me?”

  Her face softened. “If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m disappointed in you.” With a kiss to his cheek, she pressed hers against it. “I never cared about the money. It only served to remind me of what I’d lost. My parents deserved to grow old and enjoy it. I always felt guilty spending any of it and have lived off the interest only.”

  Almost as if a weight had been lifted, Amelia let out a long sigh and leaned against him. It was an awkward position with both of them sitting, so Gerard stood and pulled her up so he could hug her tightly. “It seems we’ve both been burdened with guilt.”

  “Seems so.” Amelia laid her head on his chest. “But now I have a purpose. I want a large house so we can fill it with children and laughter. I want to live life to the fullest and not just exist for however many years we have. When we’re old, our grandchildren will be welcomed into our home whenever they need a safe harbor.”

  A knot formed in his throat and Gerard could only nod. The words she’d spoken out loud had been on his mind since marrying her.

  “And so,” Amelia continued. “At the most, it will only be until spring that we live with your mother and brother. Once our house is complete, we will only see them when either they visit or we visit them. What will your brother do?”

  “He is a carpenter and also a blacksmith. We were both taught by our father.”

  They walked into the front room as he continued. “We moved to Wyoming in search of gold and fortune. My father had promised my mother a brighter future than the bleakness of living in the slums of Philadelphia. Not even a year after arriving, not only had the gold dried up, but my father was killed by another prospector. The man owed my father money.”

  “That is horrible. Whatever did you do after that?” Amelia asked.

  The memory of those days was something he’d not visited in a long time, but he was glad to share with Amelia. “Thankfully, both my brother and I could get work blacksmithing and doing carpentry. We were able to support our family.”

  Amelia looked up at him. “Isn’t it strange how life’s twists and turns bring us to a certain place where we belong?”

  He nodded. “When a job was offered in the newly settled Ranchester, I moved here from southern Wyoming.”

  Now with his beautiful wife in his arms, he understood. Not only did he come there to learn humbleness and servitude, but also to be a better husband when the right woman entered his life.

  “I don’t want to use all your money. You should keep some for whatever you need,” Gerard told Amelia. “It doesn’t feel right.”

  She chuckled. “I was just telling Sarah earlier I expected you would rebuff my offer. I do have a sum put aside. It will be for a rainy day. However, as husband and wife, what belongs to me is yours and I know you feel the same way. So I ask that you never repeat that statement.”

  “I suppose the prospect of not living with my mother is more than enough incentive not to.”

  Amelia looked up at him. In her eyes, there was the promise of a wonderful life together and a future filled with love. “So we’ll lose the spontaneity we’ve been growing used to.”

  “Mmm hmm,” Gerard replied and pressed his lips to her while walking her backwards out of the kitchen.

  Amelia ran her hands up his back. “I will miss it.”

  Gerard took her mouth with his, the entire time progressing toward the bedroom. They would eat a late supper, but he didn’t mind one bit.

  Chapter 16

  A month later, it was finally autumn in Ranchester. The ground was covered in leaves. The kaleidoscope of brown, yellow and orange was breathtakingly beautiful.

  Amelia took time to appreciate it as she and Gerard walked back from a meal at Mrs. Wilkes’. They kept a slow pace as both enjoyed these times together. Upon reaching the corner, there was a small covered wagon in front of their house. Sarah and Robert, her husband, stood in the street speaking to a woman and man.

  “They’ve arrived.” Gerard’s tone was less than enthusiastic and Amelia couldn’t help but chuckle and bump him with her shoulder.

  Her handsome husband’s worry-filled gaze met hers. “Looks like Mother is already making friends.”

  Georgia Cullen was of medium stature with a solid frame and wore a brown calico dress and brown hat. She motioned with both arms while talking. Sarah and Robert both nodded in unison at whatever she said. By their expressions, she was complaining. Probably about the ride.

  Sarah looked toward where she and Gerard were and pointed. The woman turned to them and waved.

  When Gerard didn’t walk faster, Amelia tugged him forward. “I’m sure they need help and your mother could probably use a cup of tea.”

  Just an hour later, they sat around the table. Her mother-in-law sat across from her. “Thank you for going and fetching us something to eat,” she told Gerard. Once they’d settled, he and his brother had gone to Mrs. Wilkes’ to get food as Amelia had not cooked that day.

  “We’ve made it a weekly practice to eat there on Fridays,” Amelia told the woman. “Not sure why, but it gets us out of the house.”

  The woman nodded, but didn’t smile. “Yes of course, it makes perfect sense. Do not feel that I am judging you. I know you didn’t know when exactly to expect us as we kept changing our minds about the best date.”

  Jessup Cullen, Gerard’s older brother, lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t believe I had a say in when we left, Mother.”

  “True, however, you were not ready when I finally made up my mind.” His mother waved his words away. “Never mind. We’re here now.”

  The brothers exchanged knowing looks.

  Amelia was astounded at how much the men looked alike. Although both had dark hair and blue eyes, Jessup had a stronger jawline. He was a bit shorter than Gerard, but had the same build.

  Someone who didn’t know Jessup was in town could easily mistake him for Gerard. That was how similar they were.

  “I have to say,” Amelia started, “you two look like twins.”

  “So many people have insisted they are,” Georgia explained. “They are two years apart. But once they grew up a bit, I was often asked if they were twins.”

  Her mother-in-law grinned. “Now, let’s get this cleaned up. I want to know where I’ll be laying my head tonight. I have to unpack...” the woman continued talking as she walked toward the kitchen

  Jessup looked to Amelia. “Mother rarely runs out of words.”

  “...oh just look at this wonderful kitchen. I must say, it will be a joy to cook here...”

  Gerard looked toward the kitchen. “It doesn’t matter if anyone replies or is even in the same room obviously.”

  “...perhaps a cup of tea would suit. I do have to unpack...at least whatever I’
m sleeping in...”

  Letting out a fortifying breath, Amelia stood and picked up Jessup’s empty bowl. “I should make sure she’s all right. You can show Jessup his bedroom.” She met Gerard’s warm gaze and when he smiled, her heart skipped.

  “I could never insult you by comparing you to the woman Gerard had the misfortune of marrying first. The woman was terrible.”

  Amelia looked up from her sewing. “So you visited while they were married?”

  “Yes, I came to help. Although Mrs. Shaw did what she could, the woman had a family to look after. So I came here and stayed for a few months.”

  It was strange that Gerard had not told her his mother had lived there before. “I’m sure it was much appreciated.”

  Her mother-in-law’s eyes bulged. “Oh goodness no. Brenda was awful...just awful to me. Complaining and insulting everyone around her was how she spent her last days. Why, poor Gerard rarely stepped foot in the bedroom where she slept. She would call him such horrible names.”

  “Do you think she was like that always?”

  “From what I gathered. At first, she was sad and missed her family. Eventually, she blamed Gerard for separating her from them. She’d often demanded they move to Montana. But when she became ill constantly, he was afraid she’d not survive travel.”

  “It makes sense.”

  Her mother-in-law pursed her lips. “I don’t know how Gerard withstood it. My poor son. It was a miserable time for him.” She clapped her hands loudly making Amelia start. “But enough of that. Things are definitely much better now. You suit him nicely and are the sweetest thing.”

  Amelia could only smile when Georgia stood and went to the window. “Will you look at that? Looks like a procession of low class.”

  Across the street, walking from the stables were a group of women Amelia had not seen before. They wore colorful dresses and had feathers in their hair. With loud conversation and even louder laughter, they did look like some sort of odd procession.

  “I believe the working girls have returned from a ride,” Amelia said, joining her mother-in-law at the window. Across the street, Sarah peered out of her window and met Amelia’s gaze with a smile and a shake of her head. “My aunt will be beside herself, upset at this display.”

  “Should we go to her house?” Georgia, who Camilla had yet to warm up to, suggested with lifted brows. “Although I’m not sure my presence will help.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Amelia said, touching her forearm. “I think it’s a grand idea. If nothing else, she’ll have someone to complain to about it.”

  They hurried to get their shawls and proceeded down the street. On both sides, people were either at doorways or looking out windows as the group of colorful women headed toward the brothel.

  “Why ever would they be dropped off at the stables instead of brought directly up the hill?” her aunt called out from her perch on the porch. She was fanning her flushed face. “I have never seen such a horrendous display of sinful-natured people.”

  Amelia swallowed to keep from laughing. “How about a cup of tea to calm you down Aunt Camilla?”

  The woman waved her concerns away. “What we need is a meeting. The people of this town need to come together and demand they be run out of town immediately.”

  “They do live on the outskirts. I am sure this is a one-time occurrence meant to advertise their opening or something.”

  Her aunt gave her an incredulous look. “And to think you are now newly married. Doesn’t it worry you they may have had dialogue with Gerard while at the stables?”

  “I’m sure Gerard treated them just like he treats everyone else. My son is too kind for his own good.” Georgia huffed and frowned in the direction of the women, who’d paused at the corner of the street just past the mercantile to stand near the apothecary.

  Brothel girls were often good customers of apothecaries, as they counted on herbs and mixtures for whatever ailments came.

  “Poor Charlene will be overrun by them any instant.” Camilla leaned forward to look. “It may be a good thing Randall is incapacitated or else he would be tempted.”

  “Aunt Camilla!” Amelia said shaking her head. “Don’t say such things.”

  Just then Sarah arrived. “I see we had the same idea.” She looked from Amelia to her mother-in-law. “Mother Fields, would you like to have a cup of tea. “

  “What we need is to gather everyone immediately. Let’s make our way to the mercantile. Georgia and I will go there while you and Amelia gather Olive, Eudora Wilkes, I suppose we should probably get Cornelia as well,” she said referring to the disagreeable and disliked hotel owner’s wife.

  Amelia and Sarah remained on the sidewalk as Aunt Camilla held on to Georgia’s arm and hurried toward the hotel.

  “This will keep her busy for days,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “Do you think Olive and Eudora will be interested in having anything to do with this?”

  “I doubt it,” Amelia replied. “However, we may be in luck and Mrs. Wilkes has some of her famous pound cake.”

  A week later, her aunt continued to have meetings, which her mother-in-law attended without fail. Amelia counted it as a blessing as it gave her several hours a day to herself.

  Jessup began working with Gerard as plans began for him to take over the shop once they moved out to the land outside of town.

  Amelia spent most of her days making items for the new house. It would take her the rest of fall and all of winter to finish making curtains, pillowcases, doilies and such.

  She stood and stretched after a long hour of sewing. A shadow crossed the window and she went to the door and opened it, only to yelp as Gerard stood there. He rushed to her, lifting Amelia in his arms and ran to the bedroom. “We don’t have much time.”

  Amelia gasped, unable to fathom that he would take a chance they’d be caught. “I am not sure when someone will return. We really shouldn’t.”

  “Yes, we should.”

  When he lowered her to the bed none-to-gently and began undressing, Amelia could only watch, enthralled. The sight of his body was something she’d never tire of. Each ripple and hard surface was wondrous and so different from her softer curves.

  “Gerard, what has you in such a mood?” She giggled when he motioned for her to undress.

  He gave her a devilish smile. “I was thinking about you and then when I heard the women were meeting again, I knew you’d be home alone.”

  She bit her bottom lip. “You were thinking, hmm? What about?”

  “You and me, like this.” He neared and pulled her to stand, immediately working the buttons of her dress. “Except neither of us is dressed.”

  When he pressed his lips to the juncture of her neck and shoulder, Amelia shivered. “Oh.”

  It wasn’t an hour later, both lay in bed cuddling. Amelia wanted to move, she really should. Her mother-in-law would return any moment and there would be no way to explain.

  “I think someone’s here.” Gerard lifted his head to listen. “Do you hear scratching?”

  Amelia laughed. “It’s Sunny. He doesn’t take well to being locked out of the bedroom.”

  “It’s best we get up anyway,” Gerard said without moving. “Although I would have preferred a lazy afternoon in bed.”

  She agreed. Soon, once they had their house built, she hoped to spend many long afternoons in bed. For the time being, she would enjoy the moments alone at night. Amelia wanted children, but hoped not to become with child for a bit yet. She wanted to enjoy married life for just a bit longer with just them.

  Still undressed, Gerard opened the door and Sunny rushed in just in time while two people stared at them with eyes wide and mouths open. He then shut the door on their astounded faces.

  Equally horrified and amused, Amelia did her best not to laugh as she scrambled to get dressed. “I told you it was not the best of ideas.”

  By the time she dressed and smoothed her hair, Gerard was dressed as well. However, he’d not made to go out the d
oor.

  Amelia wasn’t exactly ready to face her mother-in-law either. Hopefully, Georgia would pretend it never happened. She opened the door and went out toward the empty front room and on past to the kitchen. It was time to start dinner.

  Her mother-in-law stood by the stove. When she turned to Amelia, her lips were pressed together and her brows were drawn. “I’m so sorry. I know you’re newlyweds. I should have waited a bit longer before coming.”

  “Nonsense. It’s best you came when you did. Otherwise you would be crowded at your daughter’s house through the winter. Besides, you said Jessup needed to leave and go far away.”

  The carpentry shop where Jessup worked at was sold and the workers were not kept on. The house where Georgia and he lived, behind the shop was not theirs, so they were forced to move in with Gerard and Jessup’s sister.

  Having three children, it had been crowded. From what Georgia told Amelia, there was something between Jessup and the shop owner’s daughter, which had caused a rift between him and his boss. So it didn’t help the situation.

  The woman had chosen to leave with her family instead of staying with Jessup, which had broken his heart.

  Although Amelia thought Jessup to be just as quiet as Gerard, he didn’t seem sad or forlorn in the least. Then again, some men were good at hiding their feelings.

  “I am so happy you two are well suited,” her mother-in-law said with a twinkle in her eyes. “However, it was disconcerting to see my son naked as the day he was born.” As usual the woman changed subjects without warning.

  Amelia giggled. “I imagine it was. Gerard is mortified.”

  “That’s nonsense. I changed his nappies. There’s no part of him I haven’t seen.” Still talking, her mother-in-law went in search of her son while Amelia looked around the kitchen deciding what she’d fix for supper.

  Moments later, she heard laughter and knew they’d found the humor in the situation. It would be a long winter with many days being stuck indoors together. Amelia decided to take advantage and make memories. One never knew how long it would be before someone left this world.