"I always have time for you. What is it?" He leaned back in his chair, giving her all of his attention.
"I'm moving to Kansas," she said, just blurting it out. "I'm going to be a mail order bride to a rancher there."
David studied his middle daughter for a moment, his face unreadable. Finally he nodded. "I think that's the best thing you could possibly do at this point. Your mother is never going to let you get away from her otherwise."
Elaine nodded. "I know she's not. I love Mother, but she won't let me even take a walk outside without worrying I'm going to die. I need to be able to live my own life." She was thrilled her father agreed with her.
"Yes, you do." He sighed, leaning forward. "How can I help you make this happen? When do you leave?"
She swallowed hard. "Tomorrow. I thought I'd have more time after I got John's letter back, but it just arrived today." She shrugged. "Mother is going to be furious." She hoped he'd offer to tell her mother for her, but she would talk to her if she had to.
"Leave your mother to me. What time does your train leave?"
"Ten in the morning." She didn't ask for a ride to the train station, because she knew her father would be at work. She could walk. It would be good for her. She needed to get used to being on her feet more after all.
"I'm going to make some arrangements. I'll drive you to the station in the morning."
Elaine nodded with a smile, happy to have her father on her side. "Thank you."
"Are you all packed and ready to go?"
She nodded. "I've done everything." Everything except tell my family.
He opened his desk drawer and pulled out some money, handing it to her. "If you get there and anything goes wrong, I want you to know that you always have a home to come back to."
"Thank you." She took the money from him and stood up. "I'm going to go upstairs and take a bath before bed. I know I won't have a chance once I'm on that train." She limped quickly from the room, forgetting her cane against his desk. They had moved her bed into one of the downstairs parlors after she was injured, but she still had to go upstairs to bathe.
David looked at the cane and smiled, thrilled to see his daughter asserting her independence and not using it for a change. His wife had done her very best to smother the spirit of their most strong-willed daughter, and he was happy to see she hadn't succeeded. Elaine was going to be just fine.
*****
After her bath, Elaine sat in her room brushing her damp hair trying to dry it. She was in her nightgown, sitting at her dressing table, when the door slammed open. "Elaine Marie, what are you thinking? You cannot go to Kansas to marry a total stranger!" Her mother had her hands on her hips as she glared at her.
"I can't stay here and live a quiet life and never go outdoors, Mother. I'll slowly go crazy." Elaine kept her voice calm as she answered her mother.
"I can't let you go! What if you get hurt?"
Elaine shrugged. "Then I'll be hurt on an adventure. I can't sit here and stare at the walls for the rest of my life. Don't you understand that? I need to be doing something, and you've shown me over and over that if I stay here, you're not going to let me do anything. I feel like a prisoner in my own home."
Cassandra looked as if she'd been slapped. "I've just been protecting you. When I don't watch you, you fall out of trees and hurt yourself."
"No, Mother, I don't. I haven't fallen out of a tree in twelve years. I'm not sure that you've even let me touch a tree in twelve years. It's time for you to let me go. You thought Millicent and Beverly were getting too old to ever find husbands when they were twenty," Elaine said, referring to her older sisters. "I'm twenty-two and you won't even let me try to find anyone." She argued calmly, hoping her mother would actually listen to her.
"You're not well like they are."
"There's nothing wrong with me anymore. I'm not sick. One leg is just shorter than the other. I've learned to deal with that." Elaine sighed. "I'm leaving in the morning. Father has already agreed to drive me to the train station."
Cassandra had tears streaming down her face. "Will you at least promise to write so we know you're all right?"
Elaine stood and walked to her mother, hugging her tightly. "Of course, I'll write. I love you, Mother. I just need to be allowed to live."
Cassandra said nothing else as she clung to her daughter for a moment. "Do you need help packing?" she asked as she finally released her.
"It's already done." She pointed to the two carpet bags beside her bed.
Cassandra nodded once, her face still sad. "I guess I don't have a choice in the matter then, do I?"
Elaine shook her head. "No. You don't. I appreciate that you care enough to want me to stay, though."
*****
When her father stopped the family buggy at the train station the following morning, Elaine gave him a quick hug. "Thank you for driving me. I'll write as soon as I get there and let you know I'm safe." She wasn't certain how far John lived from a post office, though, so she couldn't say when that would be. She knew her father understood.
"We'd appreciate that." He jumped down to help her from the wagon and handed her bags to her. "Do you want me to wait with you?"
"No, thank you. I have a friend meeting me here." Elaine saw Elizabeth waiting on a bench for her.
David nodded. "You remember what I told you. You use that money and buy yourself a train ticket home if it doesn't work out for you. No need to stay somewhere you're unhappy."
"I'll be fine. I promise." She knew she would never come home. Even if John wasn't what she wanted, she'd simply find a job in Kansas. She was a hard worker, and she would do whatever it took.
The look he gave her told her he understood exactly what she was thinking. He pulled out his wallet and handed her all the money inside it. "Just be careful." He was obviously worried about her and not willing to see her work herself too hard.
She stared at the money for a moment before taking it and putting it into her purse. She might need it, and she wasn't too proud to accept help if she did. "Thank you."
He nodded, watching her as she limped away, a look of worry on his face.
Dropping onto the bench beside Elizabeth, she squeezed the other woman's hand. "Thanks for seeing me off." Elaine had been certain she hadn't needed the other woman there, but now that the time was at hand, she was very relieved to not be alone.
Elizabeth grinned. "Are you ready? Were your parents upset?"
Elaine shrugged. "Mother was, but Father told me that he understands why I'm doing it. He gave me money in case something goes wrong." She didn't mention how much money, but it was more than she'd ever carried at one time. She could live on it for months, and then even get home if she couldn't find a job.
"That's one of the reasons I wanted to meet you here. If something does go wrong, and you find yourself in a bad situation, don't stay. Get out. Come here or find a place to live there. Whatever it takes."
"I won't stay where I'm mistreated." Elaine didn't know a lot, but she knew she would never stand for that. She'd put up with being babied for too long. Never again would she stay in a situation where she couldn't be content.
"That's what I need to hear." Elizabeth nodded to Elaine's bags. "Do you feel like you have everything you need?"
"If I don't, my father gave me more than enough money to get it." Elaine sighed. "Does everyone get this type of treatment when they leave, or is it just me because of my lame leg?" She hated what she felt was special treatment.
"Absolutely everyone gets it. The woman I took over the business from had a lame leg as well."
Elaine looked at Elizabeth with surprise. "You didn't tell me that!" Elizabeth had seemed to take her leg in stride, and now she understood why.
"The thing was, with Harriet it just never seemed important. It wasn't overly important to her, so the people around her never thought it was important either." Elizabeth shrugged. "Without your mother around, maybe it will become less important to you as well."
The conductor called for everyone to get on the train then, and Elaine stood to hug Elizabeth. "Make sure you write to me as soon as you get there. I need to know you're safe, and everything worked out."
Elaine nodded as she walked toward the train. When she got to the steps, she waved over her shoulder before getting on. It was her first time on a train, and she was excited.
Chapter Two
Colin looked over the shelves in the mercantile trying to find something he could cook himself. His specialty was beans, but he was so sick of them he was ready to scream. He looked up at the merchant and made a face. "You got anything easy to cook?" He knew it was pointless even asking, but he had to try. He just wasn't sure he could eat beans for another week without screaming.
"Colin, you come in here and ask me the same question every week. Every week I say 'no,' and you leave here with more beans and crackers. You need to get yourself a wife." Mr. Judd was a middle-aged man who had once had a full head of black hair. It was now liberally streaked with gray and much of it was missing.
Colin wrinkled his nose. He was tall with dark hair and eyes, and wore his black cowboy hat atop his head. He wasn't all that particular about what he ate, as long as someone else cooked it. "I'll be back. I'm going to go to the restaurant and find myself something to eat before I buy my supplies. Maybe something will sound good then." He sighed. He was tired of eating at home, but the restaurant cost so much. He felt funny wasting his money on it, but he needed a decent meal for a change.
"Just find a wife." Mr. Judd grinned at him, his face understanding Colin's distaste with his own cooking. There were many other men in the area who felt the same way.
"Where am I going to get a wife? Do you know of any unmarried women around here at all?" Colin had been in Kansas City for long enough to know there were too many men for the number of women available. All of the women he knew were already married or else they were older than dirt.
"Well, no, but I know that some men are starting to send back East for brides. Have you thought about a mail order bride?" He pulled out a newspaper and pointed to an advertisement. "See? There are people who will find you a bride. You just gotta pay a 'small fee.'"
Colin thought about it for a minute. "I might buy that paper from you when I get back from lunch, but I'm hoping I can just walk into that restaurant and find a beautiful woman sitting there who wants to marry me and only me." He knew the other man was going to laugh at him for even dreaming that way, but he didn't care.
Mr. Judd laughed, his laugh deep and coming straight from his belly. He saluted Colin. "Sure you will, boy. Sure you will!"
Colin waved and walked down the boardwalk to the restaurant and found a table in the corner. If there was a lady to be found in the place, he was going to find her.
*****
Elaine was exhausted by the time she reached Kansas City and her leg ached terribly. She moved off the platform slowly, dragging her bad leg behind her. She looked all over for a man, but there was only one man by himself in the whole station. He was frowning in her direction.
She swallowed hard and walked over to him, stopping in front of him, her hand shaking with her nervousness. "Are you John?" she asked. She almost hoped he wasn't with the way he was scowling at her, but she had to ask.
The man nodded, looking her up and down. "Why are you limping like that?"
Elaine sighed. She really didn't want to get into a big discussion while standing on a leg that could barely support her. A hot bath would make all the difference in the world, but she couldn't have one just yet. "Is there somewhere we can sit down and talk about it? Maybe get some lunch?" She'd only eaten sandwiches for days on the train, and she was more than ready to eat some real food for a change.
John shrugged. "Sure, let's go talk somewhere." He turned and led away from the station, leaving her to carry her own bags, and not offering her his arm.
She had lost her cane somewhere on the train, and she badly needed it by that point in her journey. She limped along behind him and followed him into a restaurant, watching as he walked back to a table along one wall. She sat down and immediately rubbed her knee. "Thank you." She was relieved to be sitting down and have some leg room. The worst part about the entire train ride had been the lack of room to stretch her leg out..
"What happened to you?" His face was angry as he asked the question.
"When I was ten, I climbed a tree and the branch I was sitting on broke. I fell wrong, and my leg snapped in three places. They were able to mend it, but the leg never grew after that. It's the same length it was when I was ten. So now I walk with a limp." She watched his face, seeing that he was getting angry during her explanation. "I can do anything any other woman can do. It doesn't slow me down. I lost my cane somewhere along the way, and I just need to get a new one and take a hot bath, and I'll be ready to go." She wasn't sure she'd marry him, though. The way he was looking at her made her feel like he wouldn't be the best choice for a husband. She could move into a boarding house and take her time finding a husband.
He shook his head. "I said I needed a woman who could work hard in my letter. It's obvious you can't work."
"Why do you say that? It's not obvious to me. I happen to be a very good cook, and I know how to clean as well as anyone." She didn't know why she was defending herself to him. She could tell he'd never believe anything she said.
"You lied to me, and I really don't appreciate it." He stood up and walked out of the restaurant, obviously not intending to ever see her again.
Elaine took a few deep breaths and wondered what she'd do. She'd only spent a little bit of her father's money, because she hadn't needed more. Surely there was a boarding house around somewhere, and she could find a job once she had a place to stay. She wasn't about to go home with her tail between her legs. She knew she was a strong woman, and she was going to prove it, if only to herself.
A waitress came by and asked, "What'll you have?"
Elaine stared at the blackboard where the menu was neatly printed. "I'd like a glass of water and a bowl of stew please." She hoped there was fresh bread with the stew, because that would make it a delicious meal.
The woman nodded. "Comin' right up."
Elaine was so angry with the way John had treated her that she could think of little else. She wasn't hurt, because she had no feelings for the man, but she was angry that anyone would treat her, or anyone else, as he had.
"Excuse me?"
Elaine looked up at the man's voice and looked at him. "May I help you?" she asked. She really didn't have any desire to be around anyone at that point.
"Is it all right if I sit here, ma'am?" He was tall with thick dark hair and big brown eyes. He carried a black cowboy hat in one hand.
Elaine nodded, not sure what else to say. She didn't know him, but if he wanted to keep her company during the meal, she couldn't think of a reason not to let him. "Please do."
He put his hat on one corner of the table and raked his fingers through his hair. "I'm Colin Monroe."
She offered her hand. "Elaine Phillips." As she looked at him, she couldn't help but wonder what he wanted. She'd never seen a man who exuded so much...raw masculinity as he did. He made her want to just walk into his arms and let him protect her, which was exactly what she didn't want.
"It's nice to meet you." He looked at her for a moment as if he were trying to decide exactly why he was sitting with her. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with John."
She looked down, embarrassed that he'd overheard it. "So you know him?" What else could she say?
"We're neighbors. His land borders mine, and we share a fence." He looked at her, watching her face. It was obvious she was embarrassed by wh
at had just happened with John, but he didn't think she should be. "You didn't do anything wrong, you know."
"I didn't?" She peeked up at him through her lashes. This man, an example of male beauty if she'd ever seen one, had heard another man complaining about her faults. How could she not be embarrassed by that?
He shook his head. "I assume you came out here as a mail order bride?"
"Yes," she sighed. "I'm staying here too. I'll find a job somewhere. Do you know if there's a boarding house in town?" She wasn't going to let him pity her. Instead, she'd find a job and show them all that she was a hard worker. Eventually a man would come along who would appreciate her for who she was.
"I don't know, but I'll help you find one if you still want one after lunch."
She eyed him skeptically. "Why wouldn't I?" What did this man have up his sleeve?
"Well, I have a ranch, too, and I was just talking to Mr. Judd, the man who owns the mercantile. He told me I need a wife and was telling me about mail order brides. I was going to go to the mercantile after lunch and get a newspaper that had an advertisement from some mail order bride agency in it." He shrugged. "I think we'd be saving each other a lot of time and effort if we just go ahead and get married."
Elaine stared at him in open mouthed astonishment. "Why would you want to marry me?" He said he'd overheard her conversation with John, but if he had, why did he want to marry her? He'd never seen her work, so it couldn't be that. What did he see in her?
He smiled. "Have you ever looked in a mirror? You're one of the prettiest girls I've ever seen. I couldn't do much better, and I heard you telling John that you can cook." He sighed. "Honestly? Right about now, I'd do just about anything to be able to avoid cooking."
She grinned for the first time since she'd gotten off the train. "You would?" At least the man was honest.
"I hate to cook. All I know how to cook is beans. I eat beans and crackers for three meals a day. Do you have any idea how tired I am of beans?" He shook his head in disgust. "I swear, if I have to eat one more pot of beans, I'm going to break down and cry like a baby. You don't want to see a grown man cry, do you?"
Mail Order Misfit (Brides of Beckham) Page 2