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

by Sarah Banks

  “Fine, I’ll take a bath.”

  Anna looked up and waited. Even though it had been over an hour, she hadn’t expected Harriet to give up quite so easily.

  “If…I can take a bath with my dog,” Harriet finished sweetly.

  Anna glanced from Harriet to Jack the dog sitting at Harriet’s feet adoringly, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, then she looked back at Harriet.

  “I’m all about making compromises,” Anna began, “but there is no way I’m bathing you with that dog. How about you take a bath first, and then we’ll give him a bath?”

  “What’s a compromise?” Harriet asked, charmingly mispronouncing the word.

  “It means making a deal.”

  Harriet tilted her head to the side, as if she was carefully considering the terms of the deal before finally answering, “Okay.”

  Harriet started to strip and Anna set aside her sewing. She poured the last pot of hot water into the tub and tested the temperature, perfect, not too hot.

  Harriet seemed to enjoy her bath although Anna was sure Harriet would most likely never admit it. Anna insisted on washing Harriet’s hair first after briefly considering cutting it off entirely it was such a mess of tangles. She washed it a second time before soaping a rag and washing Harriet’s back before she handed her the rag to wash herself. Anna retrieved Harriet’s clothes, boots and hat from the top of her wardrobe along with her toiletry case.

  “When you’re dry and dressed, come over to the fire and I’ll brush and braid your hair,” Anna said. She stoked the fire and then pulled a pair of scissors, a comb, brush and mirror from her toiletry case.

  Harriet settled in front of her on the rug and Anna patiently worked at the tangles otherwise Harriet would likely never let her close to her hair again. It took quite some time before she was able to get all of the tangles out. Thankfully Harriet didn’t seem to mind getting her hair brushed. Anna was relieved.

  “Can I trim your hair, just a little to straighten out the edges?” Anna asked.

  Harriet nodded and seemed fascinated with the scissors. Anna made quick work of the ends, shortening Harriet’s hair by a couple of inches. It was still quite long but now it would be easier to manage.

  Once Harriet’s hair had dried, Anna brushed it until it was shining and crackling. She parted the hair down the middle and made two braids before tying each braid with a pair of pretty mismatched ribbons Anna had since she was a child. She handed Harriet a tiny mirror.

  “What do you think?”

  Harriet carefully studied her reflection. She seemed in awe, slowly running her hand down each smooth, shiny braid.

  “Do you like it?” Anna asked.

  Harriet nodded speechlessly.

  Anna smiled. “You look very pretty,” she said. “Just like your Mama.”

  Harriet looked stunned. “I do?”

  Anna nodded.

  “I don’t remember her,” Harriet admitted softly.

  Anna didn’t know how long it had been since Harriet’s mother had died. Jack hadn’t imparted that information and maybe never would, but if Harriet didn’t remember her mother, than it had to have been at least three years.

  “Wait here,” she told Harriet before running upstairs. She opened the trunk at the end of Jack’s bed. She found the Bible she had seen the other day when she was taking inventory of their clothing. She hadn’t meant to be nosy. At the bottom of the trunk that contained mostly clothes had been a few books including a family Bible. The first page bore the names Jack and Deborah Tremaine. And there had been a photograph of his wife along with a small gold band. Except this time there was also Jack’s wedding ring. Anna stilled. It hadn’t been there before. When had he taken it off? And why now? She carefully set the rings and Bible aside and took the picture downstairs.

  Harriet was rooted to her spot by the fireplace when Anna returned, curiosity looming in her face. Anna knelt next to her and handed her the picture.

  Harriet stared at the picture for a long time without saying anything. Anna studied the picture over Harriet’s shoulder. It was a picture of Harriet’s mother. She stood in front of their newly built cabin with a small smile on her face, and she was holding an infant.

  Anna stared at the cut edge of the photograph. She hadn’t noticed that it was part of another picture until now. She reached up and grabbed her Bible off of the mantle. She flipped through the book until it opened to the spot where she had tucked Jack’s picture. She had stared at the picture for so many hours and she had never realized it was part of a larger picture.

  Anna held it up next to the picture Harriet was holding. It completed the picture of Jack, his wife and their daughter Harriet.

  “See,” Anna said in a whisper. “Just like you.”

  Harriet traced her mother’s outline with her finger.

  “Haven’t you ever seen this picture before?” Anna asked curiously.

  Harriet shook her head. Then she looked up at Anna, her eyes full of unshed tears.

  Anna pulled Harriet against her, holding her as she cried silently. When they finally pulled apart, Harriet wiped her eyes on her sleeves and tried to brave a smile.

  “You should ask your father about her, I’m sure that he would tell you all about her,” Anna said.

  Harriet shook her head. “I did once, but it made him sad so I never did again.”

  “Oh Harry,” Anna said, rubbing Harry’s arm.

  Harry looked up at her with a grin. “You called me Harry!” She exclaimed.

  “I guess I did,” Anna said with a smile.

  They talked a little while longer. It was late morning by the time they finished and almost time to start lunch.

  Jack must have really loved his first wife if it pained him so to talk about her years later, even with his daughter, Anna realized. She placed both halves of the picture back inside the Bible, along with both rings and closed the book.

  When she returned downstairs, she had hoped Harry had forgotten about the deal to wash Jack the dog but Anna wasn’t quite so lucky.

  The dog was even less keen on a bath than Harry had been and splashed everything within a three-foot radius as he shook water from his fur every ten seconds like clockwork and through multiple escape attempts.

  Harry had been solemn when they started to bathe him but the dog’s antics soon had her giggling. Anna thought it well-worth the mess.

  Anna put together another quick lunch of bacon sandwiches and sent them along with Harry. She watched from the porch as Harry ran off in the direction of the east field, her braids flying behind her. Then she groaned when instead of running behind Harry, Jack the dog stopped a few feet from the porch and rolled in the dirt.

  She was surprised when Harry returned to the house instead of staying out in the fields all day with her father. She informed Anna that her father liked her braids.

  “He said it would be easier to catch me,” she said with a giggle.

  They ate lunch together and afterwards Harry helped her empty the tub of disgusting dirty black water. They rinsed the tub and together, carried it back to the barn.

  When they returned to the house, she set Harry on the task of opening all the windows to air out the house while Anna swept up the hair. Then together they dusted and cobwebbed the whole main level before Anna swept the entire floor. Tomorrow she would try to squeeze in washing the floor in between laundry that she had put off for another day.

  Afterwards Harry helped her make a stew and biscuits and then peach pie, sneaking a couple pieces of sugared peaches as they rolled the dough for the pie crust. Anna put her hands on her hips, pretending to be mad but then Harry caught her sneaking a couple of pieces herself. They laughed, finished the pie and put it in the oven.

  When Jack returned to the house after dark, supper was hot and ready to serve and the main room was sparkling. Anna was finally starting to see the benefit of her hard work over the past few days.

  Anna set the table and added the food while Harry
filled her father in on the day’s events as he hung his jacket and hat.

  After everyone was seated at the table, Harry held out her hands for Grace. Anna smiled at her stepdaughter and took her hand and reached out her own hand for Jack’s. His warm hand enveloped hers. She snuck a quick peek at him before ducking her head and saying a quick, heartfelt prayer.

  After supper, Anna started to clear some of the dishes before serving dessert.

  “Anna said that she would brush my hair and braid it every night as long as I didn’t make a fuss anymore when it’s time to take my weekly bath,” Harry told her father happily, helping Anna clear the table.

  “Sounds fair,” Jack said, giving Anna a look. He had been looking at her peculiarly all evening. She felt her cheeks pinken under his stare.

  “A compromise,” Harry informed him, slightly mispronouncing the new word she had learned today.

  “Indeed,” Jack replied.

  Anna served the pie and was pleased to see them both dig eagerly into it. Harry moaned around her fork.

  “I think she likes it,” Jack said to Anna with a smile.

  Anna laughed.

  She did deny Harry’s request for a second piece. “That way we can have some tomorrow too,” Anna explained.

  Harry seemed satisfied with that response and helped Anna clear the remaining dishes.

  “Thank you Harry,” Anna said, taking the dishes from her, “for all of your help today.”

  “You’re welcome,” Harry replied happily. She skipped away, joining her father in front of the hearth.

  Anna smiled and wiped the table and then washed the dishes. She retrieved her sewing and sat on the sofa. Harry was sitting on her father’s lap, her head against his shoulder while he read aloud, his arm around his daughter. Anna worked on her dress, listening to his fine reading voice. She bet he had a wonderful singing voice as well.

  After a while Jack’s voice tapered off and Anna looked up from her sewing to see that Harry had fallen asleep in his arms. She smiled at him and continued her sewing.

  Jack went back to reading silently. She missed the sound of his voice, but it was nice to sit in silence too, together in front of the crackling fire.

  A moment later Harry mumbled softly, “Anna said I look just like Mama.”

  Anna’s hands froze mid-motion as she quickly looked up to see Jack’s reaction. He was looking right at her over Harry’s head, his expression inscrutable as always. Anna swallowed.

  “Yes, you do,” he replied softly, his eyes never leaving Anna’s.

  “She was very pretty, wasn’t she?” Harry asked sleepily.

  “Yes, she was.”

  Chapter Eight

  The next day Anna spent the entire day washing all of the dirty clothes and linens except the bedding which she would do the following week.

  She made oatmeal for breakfast, sandwiches again for lunch and a basic stew for supper, with leftover peach pie for dessert. The quick and simple meals and leftovers allowed Anna to get all of the laundry done and wash the floors as well.

  She pulled a dry shirt of Jack’s from the clothesline and buried her nose in the fabric. Anna loved the scent of clean laundry fresh off the line.

  Harry had spent the day with Jack after having breakfast with Anna. Anna had just finished putting away the clothes and making the beds when Jack and Harry came in for supper.

  During dessert, Anna asked Jack when they would be leaving for church in the morning. She was met with silence. Harry, her fork filled with peach pie midway to her mouth, froze. She glanced from Anna to her father back to Anna again.

  “We don’t go to church,” Harry informed her.

  Anna was silent for a moment as she absorbed that bit of information. “Well, I would like to go,” she replied carefully, looking at her husband.

  Jack avoided her eyes and mumbled something about needing the horses for plowing. He stood up, quietly set his plate in the sink and went outside instead of to his usual spot by the fireplace. Harry finished her pie silently.

  Anna was almost finished with the dishes by the time he returned and took his usual place in the chair by the hearth and began to read aloud.

  Anna decided not to work on her sewing tonight. She had had a long day. She used the privy and walked slowly back to the house, enjoying the countless stars and the cool night breeze upon her face. She returned to the house and bid them both goodnight.

  As Anna closed her bedroom door, she heard Harry ask her father softly, “Is she mad?”

  Anna couldn’t make out Jack’s reply.

  Not bothering to light the lantern, she quickly changed into her nightgown and slipped underneath the covers. She pulled the covers up to her chin and turned on her side, facing the wall. For the very first moment since she had arrived, Anna felt a bit homesick. She missed her parents, even though they had been gone for so long now, and her cousin and the familiarity of the city where she had grown up.

  Anna felt alone. She brushed away a tear, but didn’t allow any more. Instead she thought about the next day. Maybe she could spend the day reading the Bible. Finally she decided that just because her husband had no plans to attend church, didn’t mean that she couldn’t. Horse or no horse, she would be attending church tomorrow.

  Chapter Nine

  Anna woke early as usual and quickly performed her morning ablutions, taking special care with her hair. She dressed in her nicest dress, the same one she was wearing when she arrived in Sweet Creek.

  The main room was dark. Anna lit a second lamp. She put away the milk and eggs and pulled out a loaf of bread. She made jam sandwiches for breakfast and ham sandwiches for lunch. She added them to the pail with the usual canteens of coffee and milk as well as a few of the apples Harry had brought home the previous evening.

  Anna had no appetite so she skipped breakfast. She was nervous about the upcoming confrontation she anticipated between her and Jack.

  She took a lamp upstairs and sat it on the trunk at the end of Harry’s bed. She sat on the edge of Harry’s bed and shook the girl’s shoulder gently. “Harry,” she whispered.

  “Hmm,” Harry responded without moving or even opening her eyes.

  “I’m going into town, to attend church. I’ll be back this afternoon. I packed the pail with jam sandwiches for breakfast and ham sandwiches for lunch.”

  Harry didn’t respond.

  “Harry?”

  “Kay,” Harry responded.

  Anna smiled and ran her fingers down one of Harry’s braids, fairly certain that Harry wouldn’t recall any part of their conversation when she finally awoke. She pulled the covers over Harry’s shoulders and went back downstairs.

  She tore a piece of paper from her notebook and wrote Jack a quick note. She set it on top of the lunch pail before dousing the lamps and putting on her jacket and bonnet.

  When she stepped outside, it was just starting to get light. She had no idea how long it would take her to walk to town or even when church services started. It was best to give herself as much time as possible and make adjustments the following week.

  Anna didn’t mind walking the longer distance. She enjoyed the exercise and being outdoors. The sun was just starting to peek over the mountains in the distance, providing more than enough light to start her walk into town.

  As she continued down the long driveway, downhill toward the main road, Anna fully expected to be confronted by her husband. She was surprised when she made it all the way to the main road and several minutes had passed without interference. She fought the urge to look over her shoulder to see if Jack had seen her.

  She would forget about the tension between her and her husband for now. She would deal with the situation when she returned. For now, Anna would enjoy her peaceful walk into town as the sun rose higher, warming the cool morning air.

  Anna arrived to town much quicker than she had anticipated. The town seemed as if it was just beginning to stir. She continued around the bend to the church.

 
At the top of the church steps was a church bulletin board. Sunday services wouldn’t be starting for another hour and a half yet. Anna tried the doors anyway and they were unlocked. She let herself inside. She slowly walked up the aisle, running her hand along the smooth, dark wood of the pews. She sat in the second pew and picked up a hymnal. She was startled when the rear church doors opened and a pretty woman entered, spotting Anna.

  “Anna?” The woman asked tentatively.

  “Yes?” Anna replied setting the hymnal aside and standing.

  The woman smiled brightly and came forward. “I thought that was you,” she said. “My name is Lucy Spencer. I run Sweet Creek Mail Order Brides Agency.”

  Anna was surprised. She hadn’t given much thought about who ran the agency but she hadn’t expected it to be just one person, especially a young woman.

  Lucy ignored Anna’s outstretched hand and instead hugged her like they were old friends. When she pulled back she said, “I’m so sorry I haven’t made it out to Jack’s place yet to welcome you. How do you like the west so far?”

  “I’ve never been anywhere so beautiful,” Anna said honestly.

  Lucy nodded and linked arms with Anna, gently guiding her toward the rear of the church. “I adore the Colorado countryside but there just isn’t enough female companionship around here yet, although I’m working to change that. Have you eaten yet?”

  Anna shook her head.

  Lucy smiled. “Great, then have breakfast with me, my treat.”

  A few minutes later they were seated in the corner of the restaurant in the hotel where Lucy was staying. Lucy ordered a pot of tea and a small plate of pastries. When the tea was delivered Lucy poured them each a cup.

  Anna brought the steaming cup to her lips and sipped the delicious amber liquid, “Mmm, I haven’t had tea in weeks,” she said regretfully.

  “Oh, I couldn’t possibly live without tea,” Lucy exclaimed. “You don’t have any?”