Elaine didn't believe him, but she said nothing. "I need to write a couple of letters home tonight. I promised the owner of the mail order bride agency and my parents I'd write as soon as I got here."
"Tomorrow's Sunday, and the post office is closed, but I can give them to Mr. Judd to mail for me. He won't mind." He let the topic drop, knowing that it upset her. He wished he hadn't let the other man into the house, but he'd really wanted to show him what he'd missed out on.
Chapter Four
Elaine dressed carefully for church the following morning. She wanted to look her best her first time in the new church. When she was ready, she stepped out of the bedroom, her hair piled atop her head with a few strands of curls falling down.
When Colin looked up at her, he smiled. "You look beautiful." He walked over to her, kissing her softly. "I'm going to have to fight the other men off with a stick." He didn't say anything about it, but it was on his mind that tonight was the wedding night she promised him. He would be able to hold her and love her for the first time, and he was more than a little anxious.
She smiled, shaking her head. "You're the only one who doesn't mind getting a broken woman." She couldn't believe he actually claimed he thought someone would try to steal her. Obviously he was trying to spare her feelings.
"You're not broken. You're special." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately, trying to make her forget her feelings of inadequacy. Wishing John had chosen a night when she was more confident to stop by, he stroked her cheek softly.
Elaine leaned against him, happy for his comfort when she was feeling down. "I hope the people in church are kind. So often everyone stares at the way I walk." She didn't care for herself, but she worried he would be embarrassed of her if too many people commented on it.
"Let them. If they think less of you for it, then they're just plain stupid. You're a good person, and if they can't see that, they don't deserve your time." He smiled at her. "Do you want to eat at the restaurant in town today? That way you don't have to worry about hurrying home to cook." He preferred her cooking to the restaurant any day, but he wouldn't tell her that. He didn't want her to have to rush to cook that way.
She nodded, thankful for the offer. "That would be really nice. I'd love to make chicken for supper. Would you mind killing one for me?" She was used to someone going to the butcher to bring home meat that was already prepared. Having to ask her husband to kill their supper was a new experience for her.
He shook his head. "We have a pullet that's ready."
"That sounds good. I'll make some fried chicken for supper tonight, and then boil the rest for chicken and dumplings tomorrow. How does that sound?" She hoped he enjoyed chicken and dumplings, because it was one of her favorite meals and the first thing she'd ever learned to cook.
"Like I'm going to get fat just thinking about your cooking, but I'm not going to mind one single bit." He grinned. "It's a good thing my job is so physical or I'd be walking around as round as a ball within six months." He sighed. "It's so worth it."
She laughed. "I'm glad you like my cooking. I'm sure that makes it worth it to be married to me." She was glad to have some redeeming qualities.
He sighed. "I wish you could understand that you have nothing to make up for. I think you're perfect just the way you are. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. I really do." How could she not see how special she was?
She rested her head on his shoulder, hoping he still felt that way when he saw her bare leg. She was worried about it, because there were a lot of scars where the bone had poked through the skin. He was so handsome and so whole that she felt like he'd really settled for someone who wasn't as good as he could have married. "What time does church start?"
He glanced at the clock over the mantle. She liked that he had both the cook stove and a fireplace, because she felt it made the house seem cozier. She was used to her big sprawling house in Beckham, but she was quickly adjusting to the size of their small house. "We need to leave. I want to get there a little early so I can introduce you around." He seemed genuinely proud of her.
Elaine was pleased that he wasn't embarrassed for her to meet his friends. One of her big worries had always been being with someone who was embarrassed of her limp. It didn't seem to bother him at all. She was amazed by him; he really did seem to see her as more than a hurt leg. "Let's go then."
He'd already hitched up the wagon and led her outside, carefully helping her into the wagon. Once she was seated, he ran around and got up as well, driving toward town. "You don't have to worry about seeing John at church," he told her. "I don't think he's been since he moved here."
Elaine breathed deeply at that, truly relieved she wouldn't have to see the man that morning. "I'm so happy I didn't marry him. I would have been miserable." She'd included in her letter to Elizabeth what John had been like, hoping the other woman wouldn't send another bride out to him.
He wrapped his arm around her, holding the reins in his left hand. "And I'd have been in jail."
She looked at him in surprise. "Why would you be in jail?" What was he saying?
Colin kissed her forehead. "I'd have had to kill him the first time he mistreated you."
She threw back her head and laughed. "You wouldn't have thought about me twice if I'd married him."
"Are you sure about that? When I saw you walk into the restaurant with him, all I could think was that I hoped you weren't going to marry him. I wanted you for myself from the first moment I saw you." He shook his head. "I'd have spent the rest of my life dreaming about the beautiful woman I'd missed out on."
"You did not. You married me because you felt sorry for me."
He took a deep breath, trying not to get angry with her. "No, I didn't. I hope someday you'll realize that I'm telling the truth about this."
She looked down at her hands in her lap, feeling bad for not believing him, but how could she? No one had ever looked at her as if she was special. No one had really paid much attention to her except to tell her what she couldn't do since the day she'd fallen from the tree. She didn't believe there was anything worth looking at her twice for. Her cooking and cleaning would have to make up for what she was lacking physically. "I'm sorry."
He sighed. "I know you believe what you believe, and there's no way I can change your opinions of me, but I did take one look at you and know I wanted you to be my wife."
"I hope you don't think that I'm calling you a liar, because I'm not. I just...I can't see anyone looking at me and seeing someone that they want to marry. Especially with the way I'm sure I looked when I came into town on Friday. I was hurting, dirty, and really not at my best." She knew she had looked pitiful, and she couldn't believe he kept claiming to have fallen for her on sight.
"You were beautiful. Your hair was falling from your bun, and there were a few pieces that were clinging to your face. I could see that you were tired, but you kept your head high as John said some pretty ugly things to you." He kept his eyes on the road as they entered town. "I wanted to hit him, but I was pretty sure it would upset you, so I kept my fists to myself." He wouldn't have for much longer, though. He knew that even if she didn't.
"You really wanted to hit him?" She looked at him in surprise. No man had ever wanted to hit another man over her before. For some reason, it made her feel special.
Colin looked at her in surprise. "Of course I did. I was raised to respect women. All women. He sat there with the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen and treated her like she was inferior. Like she was some sort of damaged goods because she had an injury that was clearly bothering her more than usual." He shook his head. "I won't ever let anyone treat you that way again. If he ever says anything unkind to you, I will hit him. I don't care what you think about it."
Elaine gaped at him for a moment as he stopped the wagon in front of a small church, set the brake and jumped down. Never in her life had she known someone who was willing to defend her so strongly. She asked herself once again what sh
e had done in life to deserve such a good man. "Thank you."
He helped her down, ignoring her thanks. "You need to take your cane in. I know you don't like it, but I don't want your leg to feel worse." He took it from where it rested at her feet and handed it back to her.
She nodded. "I will. I know it will be better for me to go ahead and use it."
Colin led her into the church with her clinging to his arm with one hand and holding her cane in the other. He was pleased to see her using it, knowing it would be better for her in the long run. As they walked into the church, he introduced her to many of the people they passed. "This is my wife, Elaine," he said over and over, his voice full of pride.
One lady, close to Elaine's age, stopped and smiled. "I'm so glad there's another woman my age around. When did you two marry?"
"Friday," Elaine said with a smile, while the pretty red-head gasped. She liked her very much and hoped they could become friends.
"Friday? Really? I didn't even know that Colin was seeing anyone."
Elaine shook her head. "He wasn't. I was a mail order bride." She didn't add that she was there to marry another man. She wasn't sure if she'd ever be ready to admit that aloud.
"Oh, really? I've read about mail order brides but never actually met one. Are you happy you did it?" She seemed genuinely interested.
Elaine looked up at Colin and grinned. "Do you actually need to ask that?" She reached for his hand and he took hers automatically. "What was your name?"
"Rebekah Armstrong. I'm married to Abel. He's up front talking to the preacher."
Elaine looked at the man who was talking to the nice pastor who'd married her to Colin. He was mid-twenties with short blond hair. "What does he do?" she asked.
"He's a wheat farmer. We live just a mile or two down the road from you and Colin. Maybe we could get together some day. It's not too far to walk." Rebekah seemed to genuinely like the idea of getting together with her.
Elaine made a face. "It would be a little too far for me. I'd love for you to come visit me though. I could make lunch for us." She held up her cane so the other woman would understand that she really couldn't walk that far.
Rebekah nodded eagerly. "That sounds wonderful." She eyed the cane in Elaine's hand. "What happened to your leg anyway?"
Elaine told the story about falling from the tree. "It just never grew after that, so my right leg is shorter than my left. I wish there was a way to fix it, but I have no idea what that way would be." She shrugged as if it didn't matter.
"It looks like you still get around well, and that's what really matters," Rebekah said, dismissing the injury.
Elaine smiled. She liked Rebekah a lot and had from the moment she saw her, but her dismissal of her injury made her like her so much more. "We're going to be good friends," she said. "I can see it already." She couldn't wait to have the other woman over.
Rebekah smiled. "I can use a good friend. There aren't enough women in this area, and it seems as if there aren't any who are our age." She made a face. "It's hard staring at the same four walls every day and not having anyone to talk to other than my husband."
"Well, I'm glad we'll have each other then. How long have you been married?"
"Three years."
"No children?" Elaine asked. She'd assumed the other woman must be a newlywed like she was.
Rebekah pointed across the church. "Do you see a woman around forty with a little girl in her arms? That's my mother and my little girl, Leah." Leah turned and waved to her mother then, and Rebekah waved back.
"Oh, she's beautiful! You'll bring her with you when you come for lunch?" Leah had her father's blond hair and looked to have light eyes, but it was hard to tell through the crowd.
"I'd love to, and Leah will be thrilled." Rebekah looked toward the front of the church as the pastor cleared his throat. "We'll set up a day for Leah and I to walk over after the service." Impulsively she hugged Elaine. "I can't wait to spend time with you."
Elaine followed Colin who led to a pew. "You didn't have to stay with me," she whispered. "I was fine." She didn't want him to feel like he had to be with her every moment they were in public. He could go and talk to his friends if that's what he wanted to do.
He squeezed her hand with a grin. "I like being beside you."
She stood proudly beside him and shared his song book as they sang the same hymns she'd been singing since childhood. She wasn't a good singer, but she made up for it with loudness and enthusiasm.
Sitting quietly beside him, she did her best to listen to the sermon, but her mind was too busy thinking about all the new people around her in the church. She felt like she was finally being accepted for the first time since her accident. It was wonderful to have a new home.
After the service, she and Rebekah met up, and she met Abel and Leah. Rebekah looked at Abel. "Leah and I are going to walk over to the Monroe ranch and have lunch with Elaine one day this week. Which day would work best for you?"
Abel looked at Colin and shook his head. "I like that. This is what I'm going to do, but you may give your opinion about when I do it. What happened to the good old days when women knew their place?"
Colin shrugged with a grin. "Elaine is still acting like everything I say matters. I give it another week or two before that stops." He ignored Elaine when she glared at him.
Abel sighed. "Enjoy it while you can."
Rebekah looked at her husband. "What day would be good?" She wasn't going to listen to him complain about her disobedience by the look on her face.
"Wednesday? And what am I going to do for lunch while you're out running around the countryside with your new friend?"
"I'll leave some soup on the stove for you." Rebekah looked back at Elaine. "I swear, you'd think he would starve to death if I wasn't there to feed him every few hours."
Elaine put her hand over her mouth to try to conceal her giggles. She loved the way the other couple interacted with each other. "Will you come around noon?" she asked, wanting to have everything ready.
"That sounds good, and you can plan on us staying for a few hours. I'll put Leah down to nap there, and we'll just spend some time getting to know each other."
Elaine nodded happily. "I'd love that." Mentally she was going over all the things she wanted to have done before her friend arrived. She wanted to have the curtains on the windows and the tablecloth finished, and some nice fall flowers if she could find some. She would have to ask Colin if he knew where any were.
Rebekah held up a hand in a wave as she walked toward the door. "I'll see you on Wednesday then. My mother has us over for lunch every Sunday after church. It's nice not to have to cook one afternoon a week."
"Two this week," Elaine reminded her.
"That's right. Two whole days where I only cook two meals per day. I hope I don't get spoiled and forget how to work," she joked as she walked toward the door at the back of the church.
Elaine looked at Colin. "What will you do for lunch on Wednesday? Should I pack you a sandwich to take with you?" She was more than willing to do whatever he needed.
"Are you saying I'm not allowed to eat lunch with you and your friend? Are you embarrassed of me or something?" He gave her a mock frown.
She laughed. "You know that's not true. I just don't think you'll enjoy listening to us talk about women's things." And honestly, she wanted time alone with her new friend.
She started to bend over to get her cane, but he got it for her. "There's no need for you to ever bend when I'm here. It's my job to take care of you."
Elaine thanked him, accepting the cane from him. Her leg was tired, but it was not terribly painful. She took the arm he offered and walked with him out to the wagon, stopping to talk to the pastor at the door. "Thank you for your sermon today. I really enjoyed it," she said.
Pastor Samuels smiled. "We're happy to have you as part of our congregation."
"I'm very happy to be here." She squeezed Colin's arm a bit tighter as she said the words. She couldn'
t believe just how quickly she'd gotten used to having him around and started relying on him so strongly.
After he helped her into the wagon and climbed up himself, Colin turned to her. "So how was our church compared to your church at home?" he asked.
She shrugged. "It was the same but different." She laughed at herself for a moment. "The service was pretty much exactly the same, but at home, I always had to sit between my parents, because my mother was certain if I didn't someone would bump into me and hurt me." She tried to think of the right way to say what was on her mind. "I guess the biggest difference is that here I was allowed to be an adult, but at home I was always forced to be a child, no matter if I felt like one or not."
"So is it better to go to church as a child or as an adult?"
"I'll take doing anything as your wife over doing it as a child any day of the week." She emphasized the word 'your' so he would understand that being another man's wife wouldn't hold the same appeal.
"I'm glad." He kissed the top of her head as he left the churchyard and headed toward the house. "I gave your letters to Mr. Judd, and he promised to get them mailed off first thing tomorrow."
She smiled. "Thank you." She looked down at her hands for a moment. "I didn't tell my parents what happened when I arrived. I had never told them John's last name, so I just kept referring to you as 'my husband' in the letter. I hope you don't mind."
He thought about that for a moment as he navigated the busy roads. "Well, did you not tell them because you were afraid they'd worry about you, or because you think you made a bad decision by marrying me?"
"How can you even ask that? Of course, I was afraid they'd worry. My mother would be on the next train out here if she found out I'd married 'the wrong man.'" She hated the idea of her mother coming there and disturbing her new marriage. She knew eventually she'd see her again, but she wanted to be a great deal more confident in herself first.
Mail Order Misfit (Brides of Beckham) Page 6