Lucille, A Lucky Bride (Brides for All Seasons Book 3)

by Hildie McQueen

  “For goodness’ sake, Tobias, it’s not that far of a walk.” Eleanor huffed and looked to Marcus, who studied Tobias with brows drawn.

  “I said no.” The biscuit lost its taste so he stood and went outside.

  It was bad enough Lucille didn’t care for his protection. But now everyone acted as if he were being unreasonable.

  “What’s been going on?” Of course, Marcus would get on to him and not stop until he either replied or punched his face. “Wilhelmina tells me Lucille has not visited her once since you two got married.”

  “I can bring her over. All she has to do is ask.”

  The long stare that followed bored into him and Tobias swung to look at his brother. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

  “Women are not like us. They need social interaction. You cannot keep someone like Lucille cloistered and expect her to be happy. Think about it, Tobias. Mama and Eleanor were always together, even though Eleanor used to live in the house you’re in right now. Mildred comes over at least once a week just to have coffee and talk. Aurora and Lucille rode out here often before she married you. She is from the big city and is not used to a quiet country life.”

  “That’s exactly it. What if a snake bites her or someone comes along and harms her? I’m not taking that chance.”

  Marcus shoved him backwards. “Of all the dumb things. I never figured you to be such an unreasonable idiot. Continue on this path and you’ll lose your wife.”

  Tobias stormed toward the stables. He had work to do and the sooner he finished, the sooner he could get back home. Lucille would be fine. Once she understood he was keeping her safe.

  “Thank you for dinner. It was very good.”

  Instead of a reply, Lucille stood and gathered the plates. She’d barely eaten and had only replied to remarks he’d made with one word or a nod of her head.

  Her dull gaze met his and she looked away. “Would you like more coffee?”

  “No, thank you. I can get it. Did you have a good day?” He reached for her hand, but she moved away.

  “Yes.”

  By her tone and swollen eyes, she’d had the opposite. He’d not push her. After a day or so, he hoped they could discuss his reasoning in a calm fashion. “I can bring you to the big house whenever it is you’re getting together for quilting. Eleanor and Wilhelmina were talking about it at breakfast.”

  As the last word came out, a dish fell to the floor and shattered to pieces. Lucille bent to pick up the shards and food bits, her hands shaking.

  “Let me get that,” Tobias said, lowering to the floor.

  “No.” Lucille grabbed for a broken piece only to cry out when she cut her palm. Despite the cut, she picked up the rest of the pieces and placed them on the table.

  When she grabbed for a cloth and wrapped it around her hand Tobias was next to her. “Let me look at it.”

  There was pleading in her gaze. “Please, just let me be. I just want to be left alone.” Shoulders rounded, she went to the bedroom and climbed onto the bed.

  The next day, she was in bed when he left.

  In the evening when he returned home, dinner was left for him on the table and Lucille was, once again, in bed fast asleep.

  Tobias ate and paced into the bedroom. He touched her shoulder. “Lucille. Are you sick?”

  “I’m tired. Need some rest.”

  He spent the most part of the evening sitting next to the bedroom window at his old desk sketching while Lucille slept. The next day was when the women were to get together. She’d not said anything about it and he wondered if she had forgotten.

  Finally, he carried a lantern to the night table next to the bed and slipped between the covers. Sleep evaded as he lay next to his slumbering wife. What if Lucille was not well? If she’d been ill and he’d thought her just tired, it would be horrible.

  Deep in his sleep, something woke him. Fear seized him and Tobias could not move. In his mind, he screamed for the ability to move his arm and touch her. His breathing came in gasps and beads of sweat sprung by the time he could finally move and touch Lucille’s shoulder. “Wake up.”

  She turned to him and mumbled something incoherent. Tobias shook her harder. “Lucille, wake up.”

  Pushing away from him, she sat up. “What?” Lucille looked around the room as if expecting something horrible. “Is something wrong?”

  Tobias touched her brow and cupped her face with both hands. “How are you feeling?”

  “At the moment not well at all.” Her words were clipped. “You just scared me to death. Let me sleep. I’m very tired.”

  “You’ve slept for two days. It’s not normal.” Once again he reached for her, wanting to hold her close.

  After a long breath, Lucille pushed his hands away. “You want me to stay in this house. I am not allowed to go anywhere. Now, you complain because I sleep. It seems no matter what I do, it doesn’t sit well with you.”

  “I offered to take you wherever you wish to go. I will not allow you to wander about unprotected, but I am not being unreasonable. If there is any place you wish to go or anything you want to do, just tell me. If I cannot take you, arrangements can be made.”

  Her loud groan echoed in the dimness. “I just want to sleep. That is what I want to do. If you can arrange to leave me be, I would appreciate it.”

  With a yank of the blankets, she fell back onto the pillow and, within minutes, was sound asleep.

  “What do you mean she’s asleep?” Wilhelmina walked into his and Lucille’s kitchen and gave Tobias a puzzled look. “How long has she been sleeping?”

  Just then, Eleanor walked in and Tobias knew things were about to grow worse. He’d woken to find Lucille had fixed breakfast. She’d refused to eat and had gone back to bed once he finished eating. After work, he’d come home to find the house dark and her still sleeping.

  “Three days. She gets up to cook and such, but insists on being tired when I try to get her to get up.”

  His sister shoved him out of the way. “Lucille has been abed for almost four days straight and you didn’t consider something was wrong?”

  Wilhelmina had already rushed past him to the bedroom and he followed with Eleanor.

  “Lucille?” Wilhelmina climbed onto the bed and shook his wife. “Wake up, darling.”

  Eleanor looked to Tobias. “When was the last time she ate?”

  He considered that she’d not eaten breakfast the last three days. And she seemed to play with her food and not eat most evenings. Actually the past two days, she’d not eaten at all.

  “Oh no, Tobias. What have you done?” Eleanor covered her mouth with both hands and went back to the kitchen. “She hasn’t eaten or drank anything in days has she?” Eleanor went to stand by the bed. “You didn’t find it alarming that the chamber pot hasn’t been emptied?”

  “I just got home. I came to check on her just as you two arrived.” His words echoed hollow. “I’ll go fetch Evan.”

  “See that you do.” Eleanor glared at him and turned to pour water into a cup.

  Chapter Sixteen

  It was no use, nothing mattered. As hard as she tried to gather willpower to care about what happened around her, Lucille found it impossible.

  Sleep, for whatever reason, was the only thing that brought solace and comfort. If given a choice, she’d sleep forever.

  “Lucille?” The voice permeated into the wonderful slumber with annoying loudness. “Wake up, darling.”

  It was Wilhelmina. How long had it been since she’d seen her? It was just yesterday. At least, that’s what she thought. Not that it mattered in the least. Why did her friend feel the need to disturb the rest she direly needed?

  Suddenly alert, she wondered at the state of her house. Lucille’s eyes flew open and she pushed up. “Oh, I didn’t know you were coming.” She pushed back at her mangled hair, a fruitless attempt.

  Both Wilhelmina and Eleanor exchanged wide-eyed glances. Her appearance must have been alarming. “I’m sorry.
I should get up and brush my hair. It’s just that I’ve been so tired lately. After doing work about the house, I rest for a bit.”

  “What exactly have you done today?” Wilhelmina looked about the messy space. “I just emptied the chamber pot.”

  Her eyes rounded and her cheeks flamed. “As I said, I was tired. If I had known you were coming…”

  “You would have cleaned up the kitchen, swept the floors and picked up the dirty clothing?” Eleanor’s pointed look to a pile of dirty clothes on the floor made Lucille cringe.

  Sobs erupted from deep within her with so much force it hurt. “I’m sorry,” she blurted between hard to achieve breaths. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Come, dear, let’s get you out of bed.” Both women helped her to stand and she weaved as the floor tilted.

  They walked her to the kitchen where warm soup in a bowl made her stomach turn. “I’m not hungry.”

  “You’ll eat.” Wilhelmina’s tone left no room for argument. She was pushed down into a chair and two pairs of eyes watched her intently.

  While she attempted to eat under Wilhelmina’s watchful eyes, Eleanor bustled about.

  A bath was poured and, as she washed up, the women swept and cleaned. Finally, hair brushed and wearing a clean dress, Lucille sat facing them in the front room.

  “Evan will be here shortly,” Wilhelmina informed her. “Meanwhile, there are a few pieces of clothes on the line. I imagine Tobias was in dire need of underwear.”

  Once again, her face burned with mortification. What had she done? She was a failure as a wife and housekeeper. “I’m so embarrassed. What has come over me?”

  “It’s not just you, Lucille. Understand this,” Eleanor explained as she rubbed Lucille’s arm. “It’s the fact Tobias has been unreasonable and practically kept you prisoner. I believe you’re having some sort of episode.”

  “Madness?” Lucille could not stop from gasping at the thought. “Oh no. Am I losing my senses?”

  Wilhelmina chuckled. “No, dear. I believe you are just sad and lonely. It is not in your nature to be kept away from others. Just days in town, you became fast friends with Gladys, attended bible study with the women in town and helped Gemina in the mercantile. You are the type of person that finds happiness in being around others.”

  “I don’t believe my presence is needed.” Evan’s rich voice startled the trio. Aurora rushed in, moving directly to Lucille. Tears began anew at her friend’s strong embrace.

  She’d only seen Aurora lose her temper a couple times in the many years they’d been friends. Her friend’s eyes were dark, her mouth pinched and nostrils flaring when she swung to face Tobias.

  Aurora pushed a sharp finger into Lucille’s husband’s chest and narrowed her eyes in fury. “I am taking her with me and there is not one thing you can say or do to stop it. If you cannot treat Lucille right and care for her, then you do not deserve her.”

  Tobias stepped back and crossed his arms, looking to Evan. Evan’s shocked expression told Tobias that he’d not seen Aurora mad either.

  Aurora was not done, she advanced toward Tobias. “Why have you allowed her to wallow in bed for so many days? Why has she not been to visit me, come to town in weeks?”

  Not waiting for a reply, Aurora whirled and disappeared to the bedroom, followed by Wilhelmina. Lucille assumed they went to gather her belongings. Torn, she looked from Evan to Eleanor, not sure what to say or do.

  “I tell her daily if there is anywhere she wants to go or anything she wishes to do, I will take her or arrange for someone to escort…”

  “Even to our home? To Wilhelmina’s just across the way?” Eleanor asked.

  Tobias looked to her as if for help. As much as it pained her to see him upset, she had to agree with the others. “Anything could happen. If she gets hurt or attacked, I will be too far away to help.”

  Eleanor neared her brother and, although dwarfed by his size, wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Tobias. With your unreasonable expectations, you will lose more people in your life. The harder you hold on to someone, the harder it will be for you and them. Understand that because of your inflexibility, you are about to lose your wife one way or another.”

  “Let me examine Lucille,” Evan said in an even tone. “Come, dear.” He took her arm and led her to the bedroom. Once there, he shooed the women out and asked Lucille to lie on the bed.

  In silence, he checked her pulse and pushed down on her stomach. Several times during his examination, his gaze met hers and she hated the lack of clues as to what he thought.

  A few minutes later, he helped her to sit and smiled at her. “You must not allow anyone, not even my willful wife, to force you into anything you don’t wish. You are dehydrated and need to drink plenty of liquids. Any lightheadedness comes from not eating. Start small, but eat something every few hours.”

  He let out a breath. “You are with child.”

  Her breath left and she automatically covered her stomach with both hands. “Truly?”

  “Yes.”

  A smiled curved her lips. “Is that why I am so tired?”

  “In part. You are also tired because you are depressed and lonely. I prescribe walks in the warm weather and visiting with Wilhelmina and Eleanor. I will speak with Tobias. I’ve known him since coming here. I believe he is unsure how to handle being in love for the first time. He is gripped by fear of losing you.”

  “I understand that. Now I’m afraid if he knows my state, things will worsen for me.”

  The handsome doctor smiled and patted her hand. “I’ll leave that news for you to share with your husband when you think the time is right. For now, you must decide what to do.”

  Evan leaned on the front porch post and watched as Tobias struggled with the consequences of his actions. How did it come to a situation where so many were now involved?

  “She’s my wife and this is my home. I am allowed to run things as I see fit.” Tobias maintained his stance, albeit the wind was gone from his sails. “What is wrong with protection?”

  His friend chuckled. “Nothing is wrong with wishing to protect your wife. However, Lucille is a smart young woman who’s used to a different life. How would you feel if you were forced to remain indoors all the time? As much as you love the open range, I can’t imagine how tortuous it would be for you.”

  The front door opened and Lucille walked out. In the sunlight, her paleness and drawn face became obvious. She looked very different from the woman who’d confronted him in the stables just a couple months earlier.

  “Here, sit down,” Tobias took her arm as Evan went inside to give them privacy.

  She pulled away. “No. I wish to remain standing. I’ve done enough sitting.”

  The wind blew red tendrils across her face and, for a moment, she softened. “It’s a beautiful day.” Her gaze went from the horizon up to the sky. “Beautiful,” she whispered.

  How long had it been since she’d left the house? He clenched his jaw. “How long have you been indoors? I never forbid you from coming outside.”

  Her green eyes narrowed at him. “You said not to leave the house unless you were home or Owen was about.”

  It was a true statement.

  “You misunderstood me.”

  Something in the distance took her attention, giving him the opportunity to study his beautiful wife. Lucille took his breath away, her graceful, slender neck and rose-colored lips beckoned kisses.

  “I’m leaving you.”

  It took several seconds for the sentence to sink in and then a few more to make sense.

  “I’m sorry. This was all a mistake. I am unable to be a good wife to you. There is nothing respectable about a woman who lies abed for days and allows the house to sink into such disarray. I am ashamed and cannot fathom continuing like this.”

  She was apologizing to him and it made little sense. The loud thuds of his heartbeats followed by dryness in his throat kept him silent.

  “Aurora has offered to pay for
my return to Philadelphia. I may accept. It’s too soon to make a decision.” Her hand lifted and she wiped away an errant tear. “I am not the type to give up. However, I am smart enough to know this is not going to work. I cannot live inside four walls day in and day out. We can get an annulment.”

  Tobias lowered and met her gaze. “I forbid it.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “You heard me.” He stomped off to the stables. Unable to keep the tears of frustration from falling, he mounted and galloped away from his house, knowing that when he returned it would be empty.

  Chapter Seventeen

  It had been almost two weeks since she’d seen Tobias and Lucille missed him terribly. Physically, she’d gained back normalcy. Her energy was restored and her appetite was healthy.

  Under Aurora and Evan’s watchful eye, she ensured to keep active, helping at the clinic and, once a week, at the mercantile.

  They’d explained to those who asked that she’d been ill and Aurora had insisted she come and stay with them for a few days.

  Gladys, the woman who worked with Evan at the clinic, was thrilled to have her friend back. Lucille had told her the truth about what happened between her and Tobias.

  “I am astounded that he’s stayed away for so long. Do you think he’s given up so easily?” Lucille placed her cup down onto the plate on Gladys’ table. “Then again, I was very clear in what I said.”

  Her friend’s warm smile softened the hurt. “He will come for you. Sometimes, it takes time for someone as stubborn as Tobias to realize his mistakes. It’s not easy for him. Been prone to brood since I’ve known him.”

  “Which I considered to be total opposite of me. I still cannot believe I sunk into such despair.”

  There was a knock on the door and a woman entered with her newborn girl. After greetings and pouring another cup of tea, they settled to discuss a church festival. Lucille gathered the baby from her mother and rocked it gently while chatting. Every once in a while, she’d glance down at the baby and wonder if hers was to be a girl.