Mail Order Becca (Brides 0f Sweet Creek Book 2)

by Sarah Banks

  She wished she had a better dress for church. She had finally broached the subject of purchasing sewing supplies with Alex the previous evening. He had assured her they could afford a few needles and yards of fabric and had promised to take her to the mercantile after church. She had a long list of things she wanted to sew and she couldn’t wait until she had a new dress for church and other special occasions.

  Becca enjoyed the service immensely and she could tell from the smile on Casey’s face that she did too. It was a much smaller church than they had attended back east. Everyone seemed to know everyone else. And even though she missed the girls from the orphanage terribly, it was nice not to be distracted by twenty-four young charges during services.

  After church Alex first walked her over to the post office where she posted her first letter to the girls at the orphanage. She hoped the letter made it into the girls’ hands and that they would find some way to write back. After posting the letter, they continued a short distance to the mercantile where Alex told her he’d wait outside while she purchased everything she would need to start her sewing.

  “I won’t be long,” she promised him, ducking inside.

  Becca had nearly finished her purchases when she heard, “Oh there you are. We thought we missed you. Your name is Becca, right?”

  Becca turned and smiled. “Yes.” She recognized the two women from church. They looked so much alike that they were clearly mother and daughter. The younger woman was about Becca’s age and held a sleeping baby in her arms.

  “My name is Jenny Martin and this is my daughter, Laura and my granddaughter Leah.” She waved her hand toward the man standing behind the counter wrapping Becca’s purchases. “You’ve already met my husband Nate. We’ve heard all about your marriage to Alex from Lucy Spencer and Molly Brown. We wanted to welcome you to Sweet Creek.”

  “Thank you very much,” Becca replied.

  “Also, a few of us ladies are having a quilting bee this Tuesday, just upstairs. Please say you can come.”

  “I would love to.”

  Jenny clapped her hands together. “Wonderful. Everyone brings a dish and we’ll eat lunch before working on the quilt. Afterwards, we’ll have tea and coffee. Can you bring something for dessert?”

  Becca nodded.

  Jenny continued, “No need to bring any fabric, we have plenty. And Laura found a wonderful star pattern we’re excited to get started on.”

  “It sounds lovely.”

  “See you Tuesday then, about eleven?”

  Becca left the store with a smile on her face and smiled even wider when she saw her handsome husband waiting for her, leaning against a post. She wanted to hug him with the happiness she felt but stopped herself inches away. She blushed, hoping he hadn’t noticed.

  He took her purchases. “Find everything you needed?”

  “Yes thank you. And Jenny Martin and her daughter Laura invited me to a quilting bee on Tuesday,” she told him happily. Becca was so excited, she had never had friends outside the orphanage before.

  Alex smiled. “I’m glad,” he said softly.

  Then she remembered. “Oh wait, I don’t know how to drive a wagon. I don’t even know how to ride a horse. Perhaps I can walk,” she continued quickly. She looked up at Alex eagerly. “How long do you think it would take?”

  He raised his brows. “A long time,” he answered dryly.

  Her face fell in disappointment.

  He nudged up her chin with a gentle hand. “Don’t worry Becca. Billy or I can take you into town, at least until you learn how to drive a wagon. I can give you lessons each Sunday on our way home from church.”

  Becca smiled brilliantly, linked her arm with her husband’s and squeezed excitedly. When her eyes met his, she blushed at the intensity she saw there. How did he manage to jumble up her insides with just a look? She slowly pulled her arm from his and they walked quietly side by side back toward the church.

  They returned to their wagon parked underneath a large oak tree near the church where Billy and Casey waited. Casey hadn’t been allowed to go around town because of her punishment and she was doubly upset when she learned that Becca would be attending a quilting bee without her in a few days. A look from Alex quickly put an end to Casey’s pouting and they raced the rain home.

  Chapter Sixteen

  On Tuesday, Becca awoke before dawn for the first time since she had arrived. A mixture of nervousness and excitement kept her from sleeping any longer. Today she would attend her first social event, a quilting bee at Jenny Martin’s home. She stared at the dark ceiling thinking about the upcoming day until Alex started to stir next to her, startling her from her thoughts. She had almost forgotten he was there beside her. He was usually long gone by the time she awoke.

  Becca closed her eyes and feigned sleep. She felt him stretch next to her as he gradually awakened. He lay still for a few moments but she still kept her eyes closed. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt his fingers gently link hers and he held her hand for a few minutes in silence. Had he fallen back asleep? He lightly brushed his thumb across her wedding ring before gently pulling his hand from hers. She was stunned when she felt him press a light kiss against her clothed shoulder. Finally he pushed back the covers, the floor creaking underneath his feet as he began to dress. When the bedroom door closed softly behind him, she let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

  She opened her eyes. The room was still dark but she could see a little. She looked at the closed door. Had he known she was awake? Did he hold her hand every morning? And kiss her shoulder? She blushed.

  She listened to him move around downstairs quietly and soon the scent of coffee filled the air. Not long after she heard the front door softly open and close.

  Becca pushed back the blankets to begin her day. She wouldn’t be able to sleep anymore. She might as well get a jumpstart on her chores until it was time for Billy to take her into town.

  She completed her morning chores, including making breakfast and the cleanup afterwards and even had a stew simmering for lunch, all done well before it was time to go into town. Becca forced her eyes away from the small clock on the mantel, sat on the sofa and began to work on her sewing. She smiled. It had been a few weeks since she had sewn anything and she missed it. Usually it was only mending at the orphanage, but it was a task she truly enjoyed and she would certainly have more than enough time to devote to it now. She looked forward to it.

  Becca spent the next two hours with a needle and thread, mending clothes that belonged to Alex and Billy that she had set aside after washing that needed repair: a torn pocket, a loose hem and various holes. It was a satisfying task. Once she finished the mending she planned to start on a new dress for Casey with the fabric she had picked up in town on Sunday. The fabric was beautiful, a dark gray that would bring out the blue in Casey’s eyes. She knew Casey would love a new dress. Becca would sew one for herself afterwards.

  She looked up as Casey came inside. She had been helping Alex and Billy again, seemingly to much prefer outdoor chores to inside ones. Becca smiled. She couldn’t help but notice that Casey looked healthier and happier than Becca had ever seen her at the orphanage. Her cheeks had filled out a little, her complexion had more color, her eyes were brighter, even her hair looked shinier. Becca wondered if her appearance too had changed. Perhaps later she would take a peek in Alex’s shaving mirror to see if she noticed any differences.

  “Billy’s hitching up the wagon,” Casey informed her. “He said he’ll meet you out front in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Thank you. I just need to finish a couple of stitches and I’ll be ready.”

  Casey slowly walked over to the sofa and plopped down with a sigh, bouncing Becca. Becca missed the stitch and almost got her finger. She gave Casey a look.

  “Sorry,” Casey mumbled.

  “It’s alright,” Becca replied, fixing the stitch. She tied off the thread and clipped it. She folded the pants, added them to the completed pile
. “Is everything okay Casey?”

  “Yeah, I just wish I could go. I really, really want to go. And I don’t even like sewing,” Casey declared.

  Becca smiled but didn’t say anything.

  “I even asked Alex, just in case there was a teensy chance he might have changed his mind about my punishment and all he did was give me a look. Kind of like this,” Casey said, making a comically stern face.

  Becca bit the inside of her lip and tried not to laugh. She patted Casey’s arm sympathetically. “I know you want to go and soon you’ll be able to. Just not this time.”

  Casey sighed and nodded with a resigned look.

  Becca put away the mended items and gathered her sewing supplies along with the applesauce cake she had made for the quilting bee. She gave Casey finishing instructions for the stew and biscuits she had started for lunch. When she heard the wagon out front, she put on her jacket and met Billy outside.

  Billy jumped down and helped her into the wagon. While he secured her stuff in the back, she settled into the seat and rearranged her skirt. She looked toward the barn to see if Alex was there but she didn’t see him and she felt a flash of disappointment. Becca hadn’t seen him since breakfast. She should have finished her sewing a little bit earlier and then walked to the barn to see if he was there to say goodbye.

  Billy jumped back in the seat next to her and picked up the reins. “Ready?” He asked.

  She nodded nervously. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  He grinned and released the brake, the wagon lurching forward. She watched as he turned the wagon back down the driveway with ease. She wanted to study everything that he did so that she would hopefully learn faster.

  Becca caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Alex step out of the dim depths of the barn. Even though she couldn’t see the expression on his face from this distance, she felt his eyes on her. He lifted his hand in a wave. Both she and Billy waved enthusiastically. As the driveway began to slope down, she turned again and he was still standing there watching them. She waved one last time until the barn slowly disappeared from sight.

  ∞∞∞

  Jenny’s daughter Laura met Becca outside of the mercantile just as their wagon pulled up. “I’m so glad you could make it. Everyone’s already upstairs. Come on up and I’ll introduce you,” Laura said, linking arms with Becca. Becca managed a quick wave to Billy before Laura pulled her into the mercantile and up the stairs.

  Everyone was gathered in the sitting room which was fancier than anything Becca had ever seen before. She tried not to gawk as she stepped inside the room and Laura took her around for introductions.

  She was pleased the see the familiar face of Molly Brown, the pastor’s wife who greeted her enthusiastically with a hug. “I’m just so glad you could come my dear. You look just wonderful, marriage certainly agrees with you.”

  Becca blushed. “Thank you. It’s wonderful to see you again Mrs. Brown.”

  “Please call me Molly. We’re all on a first name basis around here,” she added with a smile.

  Next she was introduced to Lucy Spencer, a pretty blonde woman with a friendly smile who ran the Sweet Creek Mail Order Bride Agency. Becca was most surprised to make the acquaintance of another recent mail order bride by the name of Anna Tremaine. It had never occurred to her to think of the other brides that must be travelling west. Anna arrived in town a few months ago and was already expecting a child with her husband Jack. She sat next to Anna during lunch and Becca could plainly see the love in her eyes when she spoke of her husband, her stepdaughter Harry and the child she was expecting.

  After lunch, they returned to the sitting room to work on the quilt and the afternoon passed quickly with their sewing and socializing. Halfway through the afternoon they took a break for coffee and tea along with her cake and the cookies Molly had baked.

  Everyone was very friendly and asked her all kinds of questions. Becca filled them in on her life back east, growing up at the orphanage and her work there. She expected pity and was grateful when there was none. She was also glad that all the conversation wasn’t focused solely on her because she got to learn a little bit about each woman and how they ended up in Sweet Creek. Every one of the women had different backgrounds and challenges they had had to overcome and Becca realized for the first time she wasn’t all that different.

  Becca was disappointed when the clock over the fireplace chimed three and the women began to gather up their supplies.

  “Is everyone available again next Tuesday?” Laura asked, bouncing little Leah on her hip who had recently woken up from her nap. “We’re more than halfway finished with the quilt and I just know we could finish it in one more afternoon.”

  They made plans to meet again the following Tuesday at the same time and place.

  Becca collected her empty cake tin, sewing supplies and said her goodbyes. She took one last glance at the quilt they were making before going downstairs. It was a wonder how much five women could accomplish in just one afternoon of working together. The quilt was already a beautiful piece of artwork and it was only half-finished. She would sew one for her new home, she decided. No, two. First for their bed, and then one for Billy’s. Special touches like that would really help turn their house into a home.

  She found Billy waiting outside for her right where she left him. Becca felt badly that more than half of his day had been devoted solely to driving her around and waiting on her. She decided that she needed to learn how to drive a wagon sooner than later and that she would ask Alex for more than just once-a-week lessons.

  Billy helped her into the wagon and eyed the empty cake tin with disappointment. After she had settled in, he released the brake and flicked the reins, heading out of town.

  “You know I made a second one for us to have after supper,” she told him.

  He urged the horses faster in response. She gripped the seat tightly and laughed.

  Chapter Seventeen

  They reached home in record time. Becca felt a surge of pleasure as they approached the end of the long driveway and she spied her husband walking from the barn toward the house.

  Billy stopped the wagon in front of the house and Alex reached up and helped her down. His hands lingered for a moment on her hips as she stood toe-to-toe with him. Her eyes met his and she couldn’t help but blush. Would she ever be able to not blush around him?

  He slowly dropped his hands. “How was your day?” He asked her.

  “Perfect,” she replied happily. “Everyone was so nice. And the quilt is really coming together. We’re planning on getting together again next Tuesday to finish it if that’s alright.”

  Alex shrugged. “I don’t see why not.” He looked past her. “Billy you can take the wagon to the barn now.”

  Billy nodded.

  “Wait,” she said to Billy, holding up her hand. She turned to Alex. “I was hoping that you might be able to take me out for a driving lesson. That is, if you have time. It’s not fair that my little get-togethers are taking Billy away from the farm for so long and I was hoping to learn sooner.”

  “I have time now,” he replied softly, holding out his hand. Becca smiled and took it.

  He helped her back into the wagon as Billy jumped down. Alex settled in the seat beside her. She nervously reached for the reins, listening carefully as he began to give instructions. Alex leaned close, his hands lightly holding hers as she held the reins. He reached over releasing the brake and soon Becca was driving the wagon back down the driveway under Alex’s careful guidance.

  At the end of the drive, they went right instead of left, away from town and Becca got to see more of the beautiful Colorado countryside in the setting sun. That is, when she had the nerve to look up from the reins, horses and the road quickly unfolding in front of her.

  Once the sun started to set and the clouds turned pink they turned around. Becca learned a lot in the past couple of hours but was nowhere near ready to take it out on her own to the next quil
ting bee.

  Back in the barn she sighed as Alex lifted her down from the wagon.

  “Don’t be discouraged,” he said gently. “You can’t expect to learn it overnight. You’ve never been around horses before. You’re improving. We just need to continue your lessons.”

  “I know you’re right,” she said, trying to smile. “I just feel badly taking Billy away from the farm. And it doesn’t seem fair that he should have to wait around for me. I should send my regrets until I can drive myself.” Even though she really wanted to see the quilt finished.

  Alex gently gripped her shoulders. “Nonsense. You’re going to the quilting bee next Tuesday. I can spare Billy now and again. You’ll be able to drive a wagon by next spring and that’s when it will really matter. I wouldn’t be able to spare him then.” He smiled. “Besides, I think Billy enjoys the break.”

  He was looking down at her, his hands still on her shoulders and when he smiled, she felt her heart skip a beat. “Thank you,” she murmured.

  He kissed her then, just one long, deep kiss and when he pulled away she practically fell over before she found her bearings. She knew her cheeks were red and not just from the cold.

  Alex moved a couple feet away, leaning against a post and she could tell that he was just as affected by their kiss. His color was high, his breathing was uneven. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling.

  They stood and stared at each other for a few moments before he finally cleared his throat. “Why don’t you see how much you remember about unhitching the horses,” he said huskily.

  She nodded, smoothed her skirt with her shaking hands and tended to the horses under his watchful eye. This was the easiest part and she remembered nearly everything in the proper order. It was like a puzzle and she had always liked puzzles even though she was intimidated by the large magnificent animals standing before her.