Mail Order Anna (Brides 0f Sweet Creek Book 1)

by Sarah Banks

  Anna quickly whipped up a batch of flapjacks and fried up some sausages. She had just finished setting the table when the front door opened and Jack walked in, balancing the heavy wooden tub on his shoulders. She was grateful that he offered to bring it in. She could have done it herself but she probably would have had to drag or roll it the entire way.

  “Thank you Jack,” she said. “Sausages are just about done. Can you stay for breakfast?”

  She expected him to make an excuse and was surprised when he agreed. He disappeared outside and she could hear the sounds of water splashing as he washed up. He returned, hanging his jacket and hat. He sat down in his usual seat at the end of the table. She poured him a cup of coffee.

  Anna took note that he added a generous amount of milk and lots of sugar. She turned, setting the kettle back on the stove, hiding her grin. He appeared to have just as much of a sweet tooth as his daughter.

  She sat down next to him. They ate a few minutes in silence. When he finally finished and pushed his plate away, she quickly refilled his cup of coffee so that he would stay just a few minutes longer. And before he could do it himself, she added milk and sugar.

  “Thank you,” he said, watching her quietly.

  “You’re welcome,” she said, smiling. Her stomach flip-flopped when he returned her smile before taking another sip of coffee.

  “I didn’t see a clothesline anywhere,” she started. “Would it be much trouble to put one in?”

  Jack shrugged. “It’s easy enough. I can put one in this afternoon.”

  “Wonderful,” she said, clapping her hands together.

  “Where do you want it?”

  Anna tilted her head for a moment, thinking, before answering, “Wherever it will get the most sunlight and cross breeze.”

  Jack nodded, finished his coffee and pushed back his chair. “Thank you for breakfast. It was delicious as always.”

  Anna felt herself blush. “Thanks Jack,” she said softly, looking up at him from her seated position. “I want to be a good wife to you.”

  He looked down at her. He seemed as if he wanted to say something but didn’t, he just nodded and walked to the door. He put his jacket and hat on and went back outside to his farm work.

  Anna cleared the breakfast plates, leaving Harriet’s place setting and covering up the flapjacks and sausages to keep them from drying out. She emptied the first pot of water into the bathtub and started a second.

  Harriet should be up soon. Anna started a couple loaves of bread, leaving them to rise while she took out her apron and began to work on it. It wouldn’t take long to finish and then she would be able to start on her new dress. She smiled in excitement.

  Harriet didn’t come down for nearly two hours. When Anna did finally hear the beginnings of movement upstairs, she packed away her sewing supplies and watched Harriet as she walked downstairs and straight to the table, after warily looking in the direction of the tub.

  “Good morning Harriet.”

  “Morning.”

  “I thought we might give you a bath today. I’ll have one too,” she added.

  Harriet’s eyes widened slightly, but otherwise she didn’t respond to Anna suggestion. She uncovered the flapjacks and sausages and took two of each. She wrapped the sausages inside the flapjacks and stuffed them in her pockets before grabbing a third of each, folding one around the other and taking a large bite.

  “No thanks,” she said, her mouth full. Harriet grabbed her hat and jacket and quickly headed out the front door, not even taking the time to put them on.

  Anna sighed.

  When Harriet didn’t come back for lunch, Anna realized how against the idea of having a bath she really was. Well, she wouldn’t let the water go to waste. She would try one more time to get Harriet into the tub today and if she couldn’t, Anna would still have her bath and start the laundry earlier than planned. She could dry it on the porch railing until the clothesline was installed.

  Anna finished her apron and then started the loaves of bread to bake while frying up some bacon. She swept the entire main floor while the bread was cooling and then made some simple bacon sandwiches for lunch, adding them to the pail with more coffee for Jack and milk for Harriet.

  Jack was a little farther out than before. He was still plowing and Harriet was nowhere in sight. Jack had discarded his jacket, the top two buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, his sleeves rolled up. He stopped when he saw her, wiping his forearm across his sweaty forehead. He started walking in her direction. She set the pail down next to his jacket.

  “It looks good,” Anna said, referring to his progress on the field. “I brought lunch.”

  “Thank you.”

  She nodded. “Have you seen Harriet? She didn’t stay for breakfast and she didn’t come back for lunch.”

  “Hiding perhaps,” Jack said in a light voice as he walked toward her. Harriet’s still the color of dirt so I imagine the bath didn’t go over too well.”

  “She’s as stubborn as her father,” Anna mumbled, her back to him. She shaded her eyes with her hand as she scanned the line of trees. She knew Harriet must be hiding. She was never far from her father.

  “What’s that?” Jack asked from behind her.

  She pivoted to him and blushed. “I, uh, nothing.”

  Jack stepped closer. “Stubborn am I?” He asked in a playful voice. Was he teasing her? She wasn’t sure.

  Anna took a deep breath. She hadn’t been this close to him since they took their vows. He smelled of soap, earth, fresh air and sweat and far too appealing for his own good. She was forced to look up at him as he stepped closer, her skirt brushing against his boots.

  Her eyes dropped to his lips for a moment and when they returned to his eyes, his expression had changed. The teasing glint had disappeared. Now he wore his usual closed off expression. He took a step back.

  Anna exhaled. She hadn’t realized that she was holding her breath.

  “Well, I’d better get back to work,” she said turning toward the house. She didn’t bother asking him to send Harriet to the house. Anna wanted to learn how to deal with Harriet on her own.

  Back at the house Anna ate her lunch. Harriet still hadn’t appeared and likely wouldn’t until it was dark and suppertime.

  Anna decided she would save the laundry until tomorrow. Jack should have the clothesline completed by then. But she didn’t want the water to go to waste and she hadn’t had a decent bath since leaving home. After traveling several days cross-country by train soaking in a hot bath sounded heavenly.

  She added the last pot of water to the tub. It was fuller than she would normally fill it but Anna had waited so long for Harriet, that she kept boiling and adding water to the tub to keep it warm. The last pot of water had filled the tub, the water steaming.

  She collected her small toiletry bag from the armoire in the bedroom along with her last clean chemise. There weren’t any more clean towels, so the chemise would have to do for now.

  Anna quickly stripped and stepped into the tub, sinking deep. She sighed with pleasure. It was the perfect temperature. The tub at her cousin’s house wasn’t nearly so deep and Anna never filled it this full. It was quite a luxury.

  She didn’t usually bathe during the day. It felt strange to bathe with the sunlight shining through the windows instead of by candlelight.

  After soaking in the water for a few minutes, she unpinned her chignon and dunked her head. She scrubbed her long hair with the last of her lavender-scented soap Tara had given her the previous Christmas.

  Anna washed her hair twice before soaping a rag to wash herself when she heard the front door open. She looked over her shoulder to see Jack standing frozen in the doorway. Her back was to the door but she leaned forward anyway, covering herself as best as she could. He might see a fair expanse of skin, her back, arms and her knees, but everything else was either underwater or covered by her arms. She shivered as the breeze brushed against her wet skin.

  He cleared his
throat. “I was going to show you the area I marked off for the clothesline and see if it’s to your liking. I have a couple of other spots in mind as well.”

  “I’m sure whatever you decide will be fine,” she said, her voice sounding high to her own ears. “But give me a few minutes and I’ll be right out.”

  Anna could feel his eyes dragging along her skin. She blushed and buried her face against her shoulder.

  When she looked up, the door was closed and he was gone. For such a large man, he sure could be light on his feet when he wanted to.

  Anna soaped and rinsed twice. She was pretty sure he wouldn’t reappear now that he knew she was bathing in the middle of the main room, but she quickly stepped out of the tub, grabbed her chemise and ran to her bedroom anyway.

  She quickly dried and redressed. Her hair was tangled and wet down her back. It would take more than a few minutes to get it untangled and pinned up. Jack was waiting for her. She decided to leave it down until she checked the spot he had chosen. Afterwards, she would start supper and dry her hair by the fire.

  She buttoned her leather boots but skipped her jacket and bonnet, her wet hair hanging halfway down her back. She found Jack on the side of the house with a shovel, several posts and a spool of line at his feet.

  Anna could feel his eyes on her. She avoided his gaze. She could still feel herself blushing from him having caught her in her bath.

  She looked up when he cleared his throat. His eyes ran over her face as the wind whipped her hair across her lips. She brushed it away.

  “What do you think about right here?” He asked.

  His voice sounded different.

  The afternoon sun shone warmly on her cheeks and the wind was strong, almost stealing her breath. She stepped closer to him for shelter, tucking another errant strand of hair behind her ear. It immediately ran loose again.

  “I think it’s perfect,” Anna said, surveying the spot. With the sun exposure and the breeze, the laundry would dry quickly.

  She jumped when Jack caught the errant tendril and curled it around his finger. She tried to take a step back, but was pulled short when he didn’t release her hair. She looked up at him questioningly. He took a step forward. His features were shadowed by his hat and the sun. He ducked his head. Was he going to kiss her? She felt her heart racing.

  Anna closed her eyes and felt the barest touch of his lips and then nothing. When she opened her eyes again he was several steps away. She could see his face clearly now. He was angry. With her? Why?

  She realized she wasn’t the only one breathing heavily. This was so confusing. Anna wanted him to kiss her. Why did he stop? And why was he so angry with her?

  Her hair whipped across her face and shoulders. Jack’s gaze held hers and she couldn’t look away. Her hands fisted in her dress. They stood and stared at each other silently.

  Anna saw Harriet out of the corner of her eye, rounding the corner of the house and coming upon them. It broke the spell and Anna was grateful for the interruption.

  “Are you ready for your bath Harriet?” Anna called out in a light voice over her shoulder, her lips twitching as she tried not to laugh.

  Harriet didn’t answer. She kept walking until she turned the next corner of the house and disappeared from sight.

  Anna began to laugh. She turned and smiled at Jack. He didn’t look angry with her anymore but neither was he laughing. His expression was once again closed off and guarded. She realized that he was holding back from her on purpose and it hurt.

  Her smile faded and she turned away from him, walking around to the front of the house, following the path Harriet had taken. When Anna turned the corner, Harriet was nowhere in sight but she could hear Jack the dog barking in the distance. Harriet must have started running as soon as she had turned the corner. The girl’s antics again made Anna laugh. Well, two could play at this game. She was already forming another plan to get Harriet into the tub the next day.

  Back at the house, Anna stoked the fire and sat on the rug with her brush and pins. She read her Bible until her hair was almost dry, then she carefully worked through the tangles and brushed it until it shone before pinning it up again.

  She wasn’t vain about most things, but she considered her hair to be her best feature, along with her eyes. Jack had been the first man to see her hair unbound since she was a child. It seemed so intimate. She pushed the final pin into her hair. Anna wondered if Jack thought she was pretty.

  The sun was low in the sky by the time she had finished. It was time to empty the bathwater and start supper.

  Chapter Seven

  The next morning Anna woke later than usual. She had trouble getting to sleep last night. She couldn’t stop thinking about her husband and the kiss they had shared. She touched her lips lightly with her fingers.

  Supper the previous night had been the usual affair. Once Harriet realized Anna wasn’t mad at her, she happily chitchatted throughout the entire meal. Jack once again read aloud by the fire while Anna did the dishes and then worked on her dress. It wasn’t long before Harriet fell asleep. Anna retired shortly after that and laid in bed for a long time, until she finally heard Jack bank the fire, let the dog out and back in and then carry Harriet upstairs.

  Long after the house had fallen silent, Anna continued to lie in bed and think about Jack.

  She flung the covers aside and rushed through her morning ablutions. She had a mountain of laundry to do but before that, a new plan to enact to finally get Harriet into the tub.

  On her way back from the outhouse Anna detoured around the opposite side of the house and saw that the clothesline had been completed. Six posts, three on each end spaced apart, with a dozen feet of line between each post. It was perfect.

  If she started early enough and the weather cooperated, Anna might be able to have the laundry washed, dried and put away by late afternoon. The only hiccup being she hadn’t thought to purchase any clothespins while at the mercantile. She would have to add them to her growing shopping list. In the meantime, she would just have to make-do without.

  Harriet still wasn’t up when Anna returned to the house, so she took a few moments to hide Harriet’s clothes. Anna hadn’t seen Jack yet and she hoped it stayed that way. She didn’t want to have to explain herself or have his interference. She wanted to learn how to deal with Harriet all on her own.

  Harriet’s clothes and boots hidden, Anna started the first pot of water. Then she started breakfast, fried bacon, scrambled eggs and buttermilk biscuits. She had a quick cup of coffee before pouring the first pot of water into the tub and starting a second.

  Anna packed the pail with a canteen of coffee, milk and sugar added, and a generous breakfast for her husband. She hoped Harriet wouldn’t awaken in the few minutes that it took her to deliver Jack’s breakfast although that pint-sized stepdaughter of hers did seem particularly motivated by food.

  Anna hurried, heading in the same direction as yesterday. Jack was plowing again. He stopped when he saw her but she didn’t wait for him to walk over. Instead she set the pail down near his jacket and water jug, gave him a small wave and returned to the house.

  She wasn’t a coward, she told herself. Anna just wasn’t yet sure what to say to him after yesterday even though she had thought about it for a long time last night. Besides, she didn’t want to miss Harriet.

  She breathed a sigh, a mixture of relief and disappointment that he hadn’t stopped her. When she neared the house she heard Harriet screeching. Anna winced. She glanced behind her and was relieved she didn’t see Jack come running. Maybe she would have time to take care of this matter on her own. Anna took a deep breath and ducked inside.

  “Where are my clothes?” Harriet hollered at her. She stood at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in one of her father’s old shirts that came down past her ankles, her dirty little toes peeping out from underneath the hem. Was that what she wore to bed? Anna wondered.

  “In the laundry,” Anna replied evenly. “Except for one
set which you may have back after your bath.”

  Anna sat down at the table and flipped open her notebook to her shopping list and added fabric to make a nightgown for Harriet.

  Harriet was speechless for a moment before marching toward the door, “Fine! I’ll just wear this!”

  Anna wasn’t at all surprised by Harriet’s reaction. While generally well-behaved, Harriet was slightly spoiled in the sense that she pretty much got to do as she pleased. Harriet wouldn’t challenge her father, but she would certainly challenge anyone else. It was best to get this out of the way early.

  Harriet stomped out the front door onto the porch, Jack the dog following at a much more sedate pace. Harriet tripped over the tails of her father’s shirt but didn’t fall. Once her dog was safely through the door Harriet made sure to slam it shut.

  The dishes rattled and Anna sighed. No doubt Harriet’s display would attract the attention of her father.

  Fifteen seconds later Harriet stomped back inside. “Where are my boots?”

  “With your set of clothes and your hat,” Anna replied sweetly. “I’ll give them back to you after your bath. Would you like some breakfast?”

  Anna brought plates, silverware and napkins to the table. She added a pan of bacon and eggs, a covered basket of biscuits, a small pot of butter and a jar of honey. She freshened her cup of coffee and took her seat at the table.

  Harriet threw herself into her father’s chair by the hearth and watched Anna silently from across the room, her arms crossed.

  Anna slathered a biscuit with butter and honey and began to eat it quite decadently.

  After a few minutes of being ignored Harriet ground out, “I’m not taking a bath.”

  Anna shrugged. She retrieved her sewing from the bedroom and began to work on her dress. She had many things to do today including a mountain of laundry. Anna hoped that she was not waiting in vain for Harriet to surrender.

  She heard Harriet’s stomach growl repeatedly from across the room until Harriet finally moved to her seat at the table and began to eat breakfast. After finishing her breakfast, she sighed multiple times trying to get Anna’s attention. It took every ounce of Anna’s willpower not to smile or laugh as she kept her head down and continued to work on her sewing.