Mail Order Mix Up

by Kirsten Osbourne

  They chatted the entire way back to the house about the children and the book Malinda was reading. When they reached the house, it was almost time for the men to arrive. “I want to change into a fresh dress before Patrick gets here,” Ellen told Malinda as she walked to his room.

  She took pains with her hair and dress that evening, knowing she was going to talk to Patrick and end the suspense. Yes, Malinda should have a say in how things were done, because she was originally engaged to Patrick, but he couldn’t be held to marrying a stranger when he had feelings for someone else.

  The only thing Ellen worried about was whether or not she’d find enough to do once they were married. She was certain she’d go insane if all she had to do all day was read books and plan menus. She’d been raised to keep herself busy and have a strong work ethic, and that wasn’t going to change just because she’d married a man who employed servants. She’d thought about asking him to let the servants go and taking over the household duties herself, but both women had similar stories that told her they’d been incredibly blessed by the jobs he’d given them, and she wasn’t going to take the jobs away from them.

  She walked down the stairs just before the men were due to arrive and immediately saw Malinda was still in her room preparing for their arrival. She’d been very disappointed in her sister during the time since they’d moved in with Harriett. Yes, she understood Malinda was worried about being poor for the rest of her life, but she also knew that Malinda had been raised to have a strong work ethic as well. Why did her sister suddenly think it was okay to sit around and do nothing just because there were others to do for her? Had her upbringing completely disappeared from her memory?

  Malinda came drifting down the stairs as soon as she heard the men’s voices. Ellen greeted Patrick with a kiss on the cheek and saw, from the corner of her eye, that her sister did the same with Wesley.

  After dinner, they separated as always with Wesley and Malinda taking over the parlor while Ellen went to the porch with Patrick. She moved to the porch swing to sit with him. He slipped his arm around her shoulders, comfortable with their routine by that point. Once they were sitting, she turned to him. “I made a decision today.”

  “What’s that?” His brown eyes looked into hers which were dancing with excitement.

  “I’m not waiting for Malinda any longer. If you want to marry me, let’s marry tomorrow. Whether our siblings marry or not, I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Patrick studied her face for a moment before his split into a grin. “Really?”

  She nodded slowly, wondering if she’d been too bold. She knew her father would think so, but he wasn’t there any longer.

  “Are you worried about what Malinda will say if we go ahead with it?” As much as he wanted to marry her, he didn’t want her to ruin her relationship with her only living relative.

  “She’ll be angry with me, but she cares for your brother. There’s no need for her to keep our happiness hostage while she tries to make up her mind. She’ll drag this out for another month or two if she can get away with it. She loves living in luxury. I don’t think she’d ever choose you to marry, but I don’t think she’s in a hurry to marry Wesley either.” She hated to admit it about her sister, but it was true.

  “Okay. Do we tell them or do we just marry and tell them after the fact?” He was prepared to argue with her if she thought they should just marry. He couldn’t imagine getting married without Wesley by his side.

  “I think we should tell them this evening. I want them at our wedding.” She stroked his cheek with her hand feeling the bristles from his beard growing in. “But if they’re not there, it won’t be the end of the world. I’ll marry you either way.”

  He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her lips. “Thank you.”

  She looked at him startled. “For what?”

  “For giving me a chance when you didn’t want to marry a banker. For being flexible about your future. For not making me keep waiting. For being you.”

  She brushed her lips across his, initiating a kiss for the first time. “I won’t be marrying Wesley, and you won’t be marrying Malinda, so what’s the point in waiting? I’m so glad I have the chance to get to know you and marry you.”

  He smiled into her eyes, obviously thrilled with the decision she’d made. “Do you want to tell the others now or wait?”

  “I want to put it off for as long as possible. Let’s talk to them right before you leave for the night.” She truly dreaded seeing the look on Malinda’s face when she told her what they’d decided.

  “Do you want a morning wedding?”

  She nodded slowly. “I think that’s for the best. I’ve asked Alice to prepare a special wedding lunch with a cake.”

  He smiled at that, pulling her head down to his shoulder and wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He made a mental note to talk to Alice as well and give her an estimate on the number of people who would be there for the lunch. “That sounds good. I’ll talk to my manager first thing, and see the preacher. How would you feel about ten for the wedding?”

  “That sounds perfect. I already ironed my wedding dress and hung up all my clothes in your room. I’m there to stay.” She’d loved seeing her clothes hanging beside his.

  He set the swing to rocking with his foot. “I like knowing you’re sleeping in my bed at night. When I’m lying on Wesley’s lumpy spare bed, I think about how you must look with your head on my pillow all stretched out in my bed.”

  She blushed. “Your bed is very comfortable.”

  “Do you sleep with your hair down? I want to be able to get a more accurate picture tonight. The last night we’ll spend apart.”

  “I usually put it in a braid so it doesn’t tangle during the night.” She wasn’t sure if she should be talking about her nighttime habits with him, but since they’d be married in twelve hours, she thought it would be okay.

  “I can picture that. How long is your hair when it’s down?” He knew it was longer than most because of how large her bun was.

  “It goes to mid-thigh.” She’d never cut her hair. Her mother had always said a woman’s hair was her glory, meant to be seen down only by her future husband.

  “I can’t wait to see it down.”

  She sighed rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. “I can’t wait until I’m your wife and I can kiss you as much as I want to.”

  “Are you complaining that I don’t kiss you enough? Because I can start kissing you more right now if you want me to.”

  She laughed softly. “Well, I like how much you kiss me, but it makes me feel like I’m doing something wrong now. After we’re married, kissing will be what we’re supposed to do, so I won’t have to feel guilty over them.”

  “You don’t have to feel guilty about them now. We’re getting married tomorrow.” He ran his hand over her back, happy that things were finally settled between them.

  “I know, but it doesn’t change anything. My father was very strict. He saw me making eyes at a boy across church one day, and gave me the whipping of my life. I was only thirteen, so it wasn’t like I was going to run off with him or anything, but Dad believed we shouldn’t even think about courting until we were twenty one. Most men consider women who are unmarried past twenty to be spinsters, but not Dad.” She shook her head as she talked about how strict her father had been about his girls courting.

  “I can see why kissing makes you feel guilty then. And about this boy. Why were you making eyes at him? Did you kiss him?” He put as much jealousy into his voice as he could muster for a boy she’d made eyes at seven years before.

  She laughed. “I’ve only ever been kissed by one man. Of course, he was a boy, so you never know.”

  He reached down and dug his fingers into her side, tickling her softly. “Oh really? I’ll never know? You won’t tell me?”

  She giggled and squirmed against him. “Stop!”

  “Tell me!”

  “I’ve only ever kissed
you.”

  His fingers stopped and he rested his cheek against the top of her head. “You didn’t even kiss Wesley?”

  She shook her head, tickling his nose with her hair. “Never. He tried to hold my hand, but that didn’t even feel right, so I didn’t let him.”

  “Good. That’s how it should be. You’re mine and I like it that way.” He drew her even closer to his side.

  They sat in silence for a while listening to the crickets chirp. “I like Colorado. It’s peaceful here.” Being so close to the mountains provided her with a beautiful view every morning.

  He nodded. “Your town wasn’t peaceful?”

  She shrugged. “It was in a different way. I like being so close to the mountains.”

  “Well, I’m glad you like it here. I’d hate to have to move back East because my wife didn’t like my home, but I’d do it for you.”

  “How did I ever get so lucky as to find someone like you?” She truly couldn’t imagine how life could get any better at that moment. She dreaded telling Malinda about their decision to marry, but she knew it was the right decision for everyone. Malinda would just have to get used to the idea of marrying Wesley or she could not marry anyone.

  “Are you worried about talking to Malinda?” he asked, as if he’d read her mind.

  “Yes, I am. I’ve never done something so selfish in my life as to decide to marry you tomorrow.” She sighed looking down at her hands. “I feel like I’m doing something I shouldn’t, but at the same time, I feel like I’m making the only decision that makes sense. I see no reason to make you wait because my sister is being fickle.”

  His hand stroked down over her arm, trying to soothe her. “It’ll all be fine. We’re doing the right thing for at least three of us, and probably the right thing for all four. The fact is, you’re not willing to marry Wesley and I’m not willing to marry her. Whatever decision she makes, will still end in me marrying you. So she may not marry Wesley, but whatever she does won’t affect us getting married.”

  “So why am I so afraid to tell her?” She sighed after asking the question. She really did hate the idea of upsetting her sister.

  “Because you’ve always done everything she’s wanted for your entire lives? Because you’re the older sister and think it’s your job to take care of her? Because you’re a caring loving woman who feels like she needs to keep everyone around her happy?”

  She laughed. “You already know me so well.”

  “Don’t sacrifice your own happiness just to keep her happy. Please.”

  She looked up at him and brushed her lips across his chin. “I won’t. I couldn’t. Because then I’d be sacrificing your happiness as well.”

  “Let’s go tell them.”

  Ellen sighed. “I don’t want to, but it’s probably better to just get it over with. I do want her to be at the wedding tomorrow. I want her to marry Wesley tomorrow if she will. I hate leaving her in a lurch, but I deserve to be happy too, right?” Would she be able to go through with it if Malinda refused to marry Wesley? Or would she feel the need to take care of her sister?

  “Right!”

  She stood up and he followed holding her hand for support. She led the way into the parlor and knocked on the door when she saw her sister and Wesley kissing on the sofa. “Excuse me.”

  Malinda looked up at Ellen. “Hmm?” Malinda’s lips were puffy from kissing. Ellen couldn’t help but wonder if the two of them talked at all or spent all their time wrapped in each other’s arms. She started to scold her sister, but realized she was just as bad with Patrick and had no room to talk.

  “Patrick and I have been talking, and we’ve made a decision.” Ellen watched her sister carefully as she began talking. She knew she was in for an explosion, but it was necessary to get the discussion over with.

  “What’s that?” Malinda’s eyes narrowed as if she sensed what the answer would be before Ellen even told her.

  “We’re getting married tomorrow morning. We’d like the two of you to be there with us.” She kept her voice calm as she watched her sister waiting for her reaction.

  Malinda’s eyes which had looked sleepy and confused just a moment before were suddenly shooting daggers at Ellen. “What do you mean you decided? I thought it was a decision for the four of us?”

  Ellen walked to one of the chairs across from the sofa and sat down so she’d be on the same level as her sister. “The fact is, I wouldn’t marry Wesley, and Patrick wouldn’t marry you. Whether you two get married or not doesn’t change the fact that Patrick and I will get married in the morning.” She looked over at Wesley. “I don’t mean to offend you. You’ll make a wonderful brother to me.”

  Malinda leaned away from Wesley and crossed her arms over her chest. “You can’t just announce to me you’re marrying him. He’s my fiancé.”

  Ellen shook her head. “No, he’s not. He’s my fiancé.” She took a deep breath for courage. “You don’t have feelings for him, Malinda. You care for Wesley. There’s no need for you to be upset if I marry Patrick.”

  Patrick moved to sit beside Ellen, taking her hand in his. “It’s true, Malinda. Having spent time getting to know you both, I know that the only woman I have any desire to marry is Ellen. I’m just not interested in you as anything more than a sister.”

  Malinda didn’t even acknowledge what Patrick said, and instead continued to glare at Ellen. She didn’t say another word, just continued to stare, so after a moment, Ellen got up and left the room, going back out to the porch. “I’m not going to put up with her pouting.”

  Patrick walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders rubbing them gently. “Whether it upsets her or not, we’re making the best decision for all of us. Why would I choose marriage to a woman I know I could never love when I can choose marriage to you?”

  She turned toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest so he wouldn’t see the tears that threatened to spill. She felt like she was betraying her sister when she knew she wasn’t. What was it about family members that could make you feel so torn about decisions you knew were right to begin with?

  Patrick dropped a kiss onto the top of her head. “I need to go. I need to get up early in the morning to let everyone know our plans.” He tilted her chin up so he could see her face. “Are you going to be okay?”

  She nodded. “I’ll be fine. It’s just a sister thing.” She knew Malinda would eventually forgive her, and she knew they’d work it out. That’s what they did.

  They walked to the front door together, stopping to let Wesley know Patrick was leaving. Wesley and Malinda were speaking in hushed tones, and Wesley just nodded. “I’ll see you at the house.”

  Patrick kissed her goodnight and shut the door behind him. “I can’t wait for you to be my bride,” he whispered softly.

  “Me neither.” She practically floated up the stairs as she thought about how wonderful her life would be after she’d married Patrick.

  Chapter Six

  Ellen didn’t wait for Malinda to finish talking to Wesley before going up to bed. She knew there was a confrontation coming with her younger sister, but she just didn’t want to deal with it. She was getting married in the morning, and she was determined she was going to be happy about it, no matter how Malinda felt.

  She quickly changed into her white summer nightgown. It was sleeveless and went to her ankles. The fabric was lightweight and perfect for sleeping in Massachusetts in the summer, but she’d found it was a little thin for Colorado. She’d had to tear up her winter nightgown for rags at the end of the winter, though, because it was too frayed to continue wearing. She was sure she could get another made before winter set in.

  As she braided her hair for the night, she thought about what Patrick had said about wanting to see her hair down. Quickly she undid the part of the braid she’d already done, and stepped in front of the small mirror above his dresser. She pulled her curtain of hair over her shoulder and looked at it in the mirror. It was lon
ger than even she had realized almost touching her knees. She thought so little about it she hadn’t noticed it getting longer.

  Quickly she rebraided her hair and slipped between the sheets. She was ready to sleep. It had been a long emotional day, and tomorrow would be another.

  Just as she closed her eyes, the door to her room slammed open, and she propped herself up on one elbow facing the door. “Yes, Malinda?” No one could make an entrance quite like her sister could.

  “Why couldn’t you have just waited a few more days for my decision?” Malinda yelled.

  Ellen lay back with her head on the pillows. They’d been over this so many times. Why couldn’t she just accept it? “Because I was going to marry him no matter what you decided. Why should I wait just because you can’t make up your mind?”

  “What am I going to do now? If I don’t marry Wesley, I have nowhere to go!”

  Ellen shook her head. “You do have somewhere to go. You can stay in the room you’re already in. Patrick isn’t going to care. Maybe you can just live with us and keep stringing Wesley along for a year or two.”

  “Stringing him along? I’m not stringing him along!”

  “What exactly are you doing then? You care for him. You obviously want to marry him, but you won’t tell him that. Why not?”

  Tears escaped Malinda’s eyes. “You really don’t understand, do you?”

  “No, I really don’t. I think you’re being unfair to three other people while you try to decide which is more important. Love or money. I assure you, love is much more important.” She sighed. “Are you going to be at my wedding or not?”

  Malinda sank down on the bed with Ellen, brushing the tears off her face with the back of her hand. “Of course, I’m going to be at your wedding. I wouldn’t miss it.”

  Ellen smiled, grasping her sister’s hand in hers. “I’m happy to hear it. For a while there I was certain you were going to ignore nineteen years of sisterhood over money.” Now that Malinda was calming down, Ellen knew they could talk openly and everything would be fine between them.