The Blacksmith's Mail Order Bride

by Cindy Caldwell

  “This is a disgrace, Wilma Stanton, and you know it. Why, to interfere in a family like this is—”

  “Excuse me, Dorothy Samson, but it’s my family you speak of and I’ll have none of this disharmony in my home. What’s done is done, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet the charming woman in the center of the issue. You’d be well to make her acquaintance, lest you want to cause further turmoil.”

  The Widow Samson’s mouth had hung open while Joe’s grandmother spoke, and she snapped it shut quickly as she narrowed her eyes at Joe, ignoring Olivia completely.

  “Joe, I’ll have you know that your mother is distraught. She may be smiling, but it’s through tears of grief. How could you do this to her?”

  Joe stood and opened his mouth to speak.

  His grandmother held up her palm him and said, “Dorothy, do you mean to her or to you? I know all about that Jasmine you had picked out for Joe, and it just won’t do. Joe can choose his own bride, for his own reasons.”

  The Widow Samson blanched and pounded her cane once more as she turned her steely eyes on Mrs. Stanton.

  Joe snuck a look at Olivia, her eyes wide as she watched the exchange. He’d have to explain as soon as he could, and he hoped she didn’t feel responsible in any way. His family had always been fairly at odds, the reason he and Will had chosen to remain quiet as much of the time as possible. But now, he wanted her to know that they were wrong.

  All in all, it had been a good day. He’d admired her greatly, and the Double Barrel Ranch was—or once had been—something mighty fine, with a happy family residing on it. Would that be him, someday? They were already married, of course, but he hoped that someday he could win her heart, and make it truly his. And his aunt standing there, sputtering, made him want it even more.

  Chapter 27

  Joe’s Aunt Dorothy certainly had been formidable, and Olivia had felt like a rabbit in a gun sight the entire time she’d been there. She hadn’t known any of these things...about how Joe’s grandmother felt toward his mother, that his mother had been so very upset about their marriage or that the Widow Samson had already had a bride chosen for Joe.

  The widow had stormed off and they’d taken their leave of his grandmother as the sun began to set. They needed to get closer to town before dark, and as Joe kissed his grandmother on the cheek and bid her goodbye, Mrs. Stanton waved and apologized to Olivia.

  A wave of exhaustion swept over her, something she was accustomed to at the end of a long work day, but today had been exhausting in a different way. She wasn’t ordinarily surrounded by so many people. She found it more challenging than working a full day at the ranch.

  As they neared town, she suddenly thought of Sadie and the baby. Joe mentioned that no baby had come yesterday when he got home from the blacksmith shop, but that it still wasn’t clear what was going to happen.

  “Joe, I know it’s late, but would you mind if we stopped in to see Sadie?” She gestured in the direction of Sadie’s house which was directly on the way to their own.

  Joe rolled his shoulders back and rubbed the back of his neck. He looked tired to her, and their day had been rather long and trying.

  “Of course, if you don’t want to, I can step over tomorrow but I thought maybe there might be a baby to see.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Joe said as he nudged the horses in the direction of Sadie and Tripp’s house. “If all is well there, I might take a quick trip over to the blacksmith shop and see how things went today. You wouldn’t mind, would you?”

  “No, not at all,” Olivia said.

  Several buggies dotted the drive to Sadie’s house. Olivia’s stomach clenched at the thought of what she might have missed. Living out on the ranch, she hadn’t had much occasion to see or hold a real baby. Hawks, goats and calves—yes—but not a real live human baby.

  Joe tied up the buggy and came around, helping Olivia step down. “Would you like to come in?” she asked.

  Joe looked around at the buggies. “I’m not much for big crowds,” he said as he shifted his weight from boot to boot. “Why don’t you go in and see what’s going on? It might be that they’re not prepared for many more people than they already seem to have.”

  Olivia nodded and untied her bonnet, shaking off some of the dirt of the day. “I won’t be a minute,” she said as Joe turned, touching the brim of his hat and nodding before he headed toward the blacksmith shop.

  Olivia climbed the steps of the porch, nodding her head toward the door before she knocked. It wasn’t always good things that happened when babies were coming, and she didn’t want to interrupt.

  Laughter tumbled through the open kitchen window, and she took a deep breath. Certainly that was a good sign. As she lifted her hand to knock, the door opened, Suzanne smiling broadly at her. Olivia smiled herself as her friend grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.

  “Olivia, I’m so glad to see you. You left in such a hurry the other night.”

  She hung her hat quickly on the hook by the door as he pulled her inside the kitchen, pushing the door open and letting it swing closed behind them.

  Olivia stopped in her tracks at the sight of Sadie sitting at the table, a cup of tea poised in midair. She quickly looked down to Sadie’s belly — it was as big as the night she’d left.

  “False alarm,” Sadie said as she rubbed her hand over her apron. Her eyes twinkled as she looked up at her husband.

  Tripp leaned against the counter and shook his head. “This baby sure is giving us a run for our money.” He crossed over to Sadie and placed his hands on her shoulders.

  Sadie rested her cheek on his hand. “I would have to agree with you on that count. But we all know the baby wasn’t supposed to come yet, so it’s a blessing.”

  Suzanne wiped her forehead with the back of her hand in an exaggerated sigh of relief. “It was quite nerve-racking there for a little bit, but it was a good thing Sage was here. She has such a level head. Had she not been here, I don’t know what we would have done when the doctor never arrived.”

  “Yes, it certainly was helpful that she was available.” Tripp frowned as he ran his hand through his hair. He exchanged a quick glance with Suzanne, but his smile returned as he sat down in the chair beside Sadie.

  “Would you care for a cup of tea?” Suzanne asked Olivia. “Things are much calmer this evening and would love for you to stay a bit. How have things been at your new home?”

  Olivia took the cup and saucer of steaming tea that Suzanne held out to her. She sat down slowly in the chair that Suzanne gestured to, reaching for a spoon and placing two teaspoons of sugar in her tea.

  “Olivia?” Sadie asked as she leaned forward. “Is anything wrong?”

  Olivia certainly didn’t want to rain on their parade. After all, it had been Suzanne and Sadie who’d convinced her to marry Joe in the first place. And she certainly couldn’t complain about Joe. He’d been quite helpful on the trip out to the ranch, even if he had left her shotgun behind.

  She shared the events of the day with them, especially the perplexing information that all of her inventory has disappeared, even the equipment.

  “You mean you think it might have been stolen?”

  She shook her head slowly. “I don’t really know. Joe and I looked for Percy, but couldn’t find a thing. From what I could tell, most of his clothes were still there, along with his personal belongings. I can’t imagine he would have stolen it all and run.”

  “But you’re positive that the inventory didn’t just burn with the fire?” Suzanne said as she stood and paced the kitchen floor.

  “Fairly. I can’t be certain, but there was no trace of our equipment or packaging. And there wasn’t an overwhelming scent of burning bacon,” she said with a weak smile.

  Suzanne rested her hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “This must all be awful for you. I’m so sorry for all your trouble—with Joe’s mother, also.”

  “I’m still hoping that everything will work out,” Olivia said as she stood.
“I know that I’m not exactly what Joe’s mother hoped for. We do come from very different worlds.”

  While she’d been stunned that he had taken both of them all the way out to the Double Barrel Ranch without – well, without a double-barreled shotgun, she couldn’t blame him, really. With the agreement made about no guns in the blacksmith shop, and the fact that he lived in town, he wouldn’t understand how important it would be to have protection out in such a wild place at the ranch.

  She didn’t want to worry her friends. They’d vouched for her with Joe, and salvaged what was a really bad situation.

  But what she’d heard from his aunt, combined with the response she received from his mother, had shaken her. How would she be able to live in a home with someone who refused to acknowledge her, let alone speak with her?

  Suzanne’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Olivia?” Suzanne said as she looked from Sadie to Tripp. “You know, if you haven’t consummated the marriage, it could be annulled.”

  Olivia’s eyes flew open wide and heat crept up her neck. “Oh, goodness. I—well, there’s not been—oh, I don’t want an annulment.”

  Suzanne’s eyes sparkled. “You have feelings for Joe?” she asked, her hand resting on Olivia’s.

  Olivia’s cheeks bloomed to full crimson as the thought of being without Joe knotted her stomach. She hadn’t known him long, but he’d been very kind and she’d grown accustomed to his laugh.

  But the memory of the worry lines that creased his forehead each time they spoke of his mother troubled her.

  “I do,” she said finally. “I’ll just do my best to make her happy.”

  “His mother?” Sadie said with a frown as she shook her head. “She’s not warmed up to Carol. I think that may be a tough row to hoe.”

  Olivia stood and squared her shoulders. “I’m going to give it my best. She might come around. Although after speaking with his aunt today, it may take a little longer than I’d hoped.”

  Sadie and Suzanne exchanged quick glances. “Oh, that woman!” Suzanne exclaimed. “Olivia, I applaud your resolve, but please know we are here if you need us.”

  Chapter 28

  Silence roared through the dining room as it had each and every evening for the days Olivia had been married. In the beginning, she’d tried to make conversation with her new mother-in-law but her queries seemed to fall on deaf ears. Not only had Mrs. Stanton not replied, she’d begun to even avoid looking at either her son or her new daughter-in-law.

  No matter that Olivia had tried her best to create suppers using the wonderful vegetables that were placed in a bowl on the kitchen counter after Mrs. Stanton had spent the day in her beloved garden. Even the compliments on her fresh tomatoes this evening, which she and Joe ooh-ed and aah-ed over—they really were delicious, so fresh and flavorful—had been met with no response.

  During the days while Joe was at the shop, she’d busied herself in the kitchen, making herself familiar with the supplies and sometimes heading to the mercantile to fetch something she needed. Each and every time, Suzanne asked, “Has she spoken to you yet?” And each time Olivia had shaken her head slowly.

  There had only been three of them for the most part on the ranch as she grew up, but it had been much more lively than this. She’d enjoyed reading to her parents in the evening, after the sun had set, as they sat by the wood stove. At least she and Joe had taken that up, and she spent her days looking forward to that time in the evenings.

  After a few days, she’d explored every inch of the house, all while sneaking peeks at Mrs. Stanton. If she wasn’t tending to her garden, she was in her room—presumably reading. Her heart ached to sit down to a cup of tea with her and find out more about Joe, more about the family, but she’d stopped hoping days ago.

  The silence was getting to her. At least at the ranch she’d been out all day with tasks to accomplish. And in the final years, she’d had Percy—he wasn’t good for much, but he was always ready with a good joke. Her heart ached for human contact—irony that wasn’t lost on her. She’d agreed to come to town fearing it might be too much for her. Strange that it wasn’t enough.

  After yet another silent supper, Olivia cleared the table, glancing up at her mother-in-law as she swept from the room. She peeked out the door off the dining room and her heart pinched as Mrs. Stanton’s bedroom door closed with a thud.

  She’d tried everything she could think of. She’d asked about the weather. She’d asked about her garden. She’d asked about Joe but each and every time had been met with a wall of chilly silence.

  Lightning flashed through the parlor windows as Olivia settled in what had become her armchair—at least it had in her thoughts. Too warm for a fire, she opened the window and looked at the flashes in the distance. The squall would be there soon, but for now, the scent of the coming rain cleared her head.

  She’d learned that Joe wasn’t the most talkative man in the world, either, but he’d always chatted with her in the evenings.

  “How is everything at the blacksmith shop, Joe?” She hungered for information about anything in the world other than how much flour was in the larder.

  “Things have been busy. Very busy, actually.”

  Olivia looked up from her project, just noticing that she’d gotten her stitches off yet again. It wasn’t exactly something she enjoyed or was very good at, but it was better than nothing at all.

  “Oh? Even with both of you there? You and Will?”

  “Yes, even with us both. And Will informed me today that he’s leaving with Carol for Tucson. They’ve got an appointment with a doctor.”

  “Oh, not a doctor here in town?”

  Joe glanced quickly up at her. “I’m not sure, but I believe there’s a reason they wish to see another, different doctor.”

  Olivia’s eyebrows rose as she recalled that the doctor hadn’t arrived at Sadie’s house when needed.

  “Is she all right?” she said as she frowned. She glanced at Joe and his brows were furrowed as well.

  “Yes, I’m sure she is. I am worried about all the work we have to do, though. Not sure how I’ll manage on my own.”

  Olivia’s heart about leaped into her throat. She glanced at the horrible cross stitching she’d done and her hands grew damp.

  “Joe?” she said as she stood and crossed the room, taking a seat beside him on the settee. “You know, I have a lot of experience fixing things. I ran the ranch virtually on my own. I’d love to help.”

  Joe set the book he’d been reading on his lap and met her eyes. “I don’t think that would be a good idea, Olivia. It’s dangerous in there. Many things could go wrong, and—”

  “Joe, that’s nonsense. What could happen in the shop that hasn’t happened out on the ranch? We had unexpected things come up all the time and we had to make do.”

  “Make do is right, but you haven’t been trained...”

  Joe pulled at his collar as he averted his eyes.

  “You said yourself that the horseshoes I’d made were some of the best you’d ever seen,” she said, raising her eyebrows at him as she pulled his chin toward her, forcing him to meet her gaze. She couldn’t bear one more moment in this silent house, and he knew she was good enough to help in the shop. It would be a change for him, but she just had to get out and be useful.

  “Well, I suppose it would be only temporary. Will expects to be gone only for a week. I imagine we could give it a try. If you’ll just keep to the simple things, it might help a great deal.”

  Simple things? Olivia had spent very little time in the shop but had no doubt whatsoever that she would be able to do much more than simple things. Joe still sounded a little unsure, so she chose to keep her plans to herself.

  Maybe this was just the solution she’d been looking for. She’d get to the shop, show him how much she could do and would never have to spend an entire day in this silent house alone again.

  Chapter 29

  Olivia straightened the sheets that had been crumpled at her fee
t when she’d awoken after a night of tossing and turning. The cause had not been worry but excitement, and she hopped out of bed at the first touch of orange light through her bedroom window.

  She made coffee for Joe and herself, taking care to set a cup on the table for her mother-in-law. When Mrs. Stanton came in for a cup of coffee and never even looked in Olivia’s direction, her decision was confirmed. She couldn’t wait to get out of this house.

  She glanced back over her shoulder once as Joe steered the buggy toward the blacksmith shop. Mrs. Stanton was in her usual position, bonnet intact as she reached over the chicken wire to pull weeds from her garden. Olivia’s heart sang as she turned and looked forward to her day.

  The morning rushed by as Joe took time to explain things to Olivia. She had paid close attention and wanted to jump right into helping, as much as he would let her. She was bound and determined to prove her value in the blacksmith shop.

  Joe reached for his leather apron after showing her around the shop, but hesitated a moment. “Oh, I forgot. I’m expecting a parcel at the mercantile. Suzanne ordered some nails for me, a new type that is advertised as non-rusting. I’ll run over and pick them up,” he said as he reached for his hat.

  “Oh, might I go, Joe? I would be pleased to see Suzanne again, and it might be that someone’s heard something about the ranch.” Her eyes clouded at the memory of the empty smokehouse. “I still don’t know what happened to all the inventory. Or Percy.”

  Joe nodded and reached for his apron instead. “All right. That’s fine. I’ll start on these horseshoes, then.”

  Olivia smiled and reached for her bonnet. As Joe tied his leather apron behind his back and reached for his iron tongs, she looked about the room. The small shop could use a bit of tidying up—it was obviously the domain of men—and she was pleased that she could do that for them. They’d make a good team.

  “I’ll be back shortly,” she said over her shoulder as she gave him her best smile.