Mail Order Christine

by Patricia Pacjac Carroll

  Chapter 9

  Christine sat in the buggy beside him, but that was as close as they’d come since yesterday. Everett was distant and talked only about the ranch. A bull that had gone missing. Three cows that were sick. She didn’t care. She wanted her husband back.

  After the wedding, she thought everything was working out. Then Everett changed like a spring day turned cold from a storm. Everything about him had changed. He spent the rest of their time together in San Antonio, taking her around to different shops to buy her whatever she wanted.

  He’d asked what she wanted to talk about, but she’d never felt that it was the right time to tell him she had a child. Now, she wondered if there ever would be. Everett would not want Seth. As for Marvin, she hoped he’d not come looking for her.

  She sniffed into her hanky. Everything had been so perfect, yet in a matter of a day, her life was back to the loneliness. What had happened?

  They were just passing Margaret and Dusty’s house when she saw a different buggy in front of their house. She prayed it wasn’t the doctor and that nothing had happened to Seth. Whether she stayed married to Everett or not, she had to care for her son.

  But what she wanted was Everett the way he’d been a day ago. She almost asked for them to stop at Margaret’s house so she could check on Seth, but she wasn’t ready for that confrontation. Not until she found what she could have done wrong.

  Finally, they pulled up in front of their house. Everett helped her from the wagon and walked her inside. He brought in the items they’d bought. Some very expensive, none what she wanted. Still, she knew in his own way, he was trying to make her happy.

  But she wanted his heart. Not his money.

  Finally, Everett came in and changed clothes. In minutes, he was gone to the range and the work that made him comfortable.

  Dusty had just ridden in and was watering the horses. By the look on his face, he was waiting for her. “I figured you’d want to see your boy.”

  “Thank you, Dusty. Why can’t Everett be more like you?”

  Dusty frowned. “We all got our own demons to fight.”

  “I suppose so. I saw a buggy at your house?”

  He looked surprised. “They must have come after I left. Your son was fine this morning, so I don’t think you need to worry.”

  “I’m more than ready to see my son. Let’s go.”

  Dusty helped her in the wagon and then climbed in the seat beside her. He set the horse at a steady clip. “It must be hard on you to be apart from your kid.”

  “You have no idea. I thought for a moment that Everett might go along and want my son. Then he changed.”

  Dusty slapped the reins. “Well, don’t be too hard on him. He’s had some rough times.”

  She looked at the foreman, who was more like a friend than a worker to Everett. “Like nightmares?”

  Staring straight ahead, Dusty worked his jaw as if he were trying to decide what to say. Finally, he nodded. “Yeah. Real bad ones.”

  “He wouldn’t talk about it, but that’s when he changed.” She settled back against the wagon seat and wondered what she could do to help her husband. Before, she would have left him, but now, her heart was invested in Everett. She genuinely cared about the man.

  Dusty pulled into the yard and waved at a couple of the children playing in the yard.

  Christine didn’t see Seth. She climbed down from the wagon and knocked on the door before entering. “Margaret, are you in here?”

  With a big smile, the woman came from around the corner. “My sister and husband have come for a visit.”

  “Oh, I don’t want to impose. I just came to check on Seth. Where is he?”

  “He’s been following me around. I think he was looking for you.”

  Seth peeked out from behind Margaret’s skirt and then came running for her. “Mama.”

  She picked him up and held him close. “Oh, baby. Mama loves you so much.” She sat down and looked her son over. He was fine. A few scratches on his knees and dirt on his face and fingers, but happy and healthy.

  Margaret nodded at her. “I didn’t think, but I bet my sister’s rig gave you a scare. I’m sorry.”

  “Think nothing of it. I’m just so happy to see my son.”

  “Your wedding?”

  “Oh, Margaret, it was wonderful. Everett is a kind man. Or can be. The wedding and the first day and night were wonderful. Then he changed back to his old ways. I’m not sure what I can do about it, but I love him, Margaret.”

  The woman clapped her hands and held them in front of her. “I am so happy to hear that. My prayers answered. For years, I have prayed for a woman who would love Everett. He is a good man, but his heart is crippled. I think from his family. He never talks about them.”

  Christine held the baby tight, letting him play with her brooch. “I’ll have to trust the Lord. I got the feeling that I was supposed to marry Everett, and that He will work things out. Thank you for your prayers.”

  “It will be our secret. We will pray for that man to be healed.” She sighed. “The heart can be the hardest thing to heal.”

  “I think you’re right.” She kissed the top of Seth’s head, smelling his baby smell and his baby hair. She loved him so. How much longer could she leave him? “I know you’re taking excellent care of him, but I miss him so.”

  Margaret went to her and hugged her. “I believe it will work out. Mr. Everett needs you and Seth. He will see.”

  “I wish I could be as confident as you are. I have nothing I can do but trust the Lord to work things out.”

  Dusty knocked on the door. “You better leave now. Got a feeling Everett will back soon.”

  “All right, Dusty.” She handed Seth to Margaret and ran outside and climbed into the wagon.

  They had just arrived home, and she’d run into the house when Everett rode into the yard. He hollered for her. “Come and see what I found.”

  Christine wiped her eyes from the tears and put on a smile before going out the door. “What is it?” He sounded so excited she couldn’t imagine.

  He had the prettiest little colt, maybe a year old, prancing at the end of his rope. She couldn’t help but notice how much the horse looked like the mare in the corral.

  As if in answer, the mare started nickering, and the colt answered.

  Everett looked pleased with himself. “I knew she probably had a colt. I found him and brought him home to her. She looked kind of sad.”

  Christine’s heart lurched. How could the man care about the mare’s feelings and not have the sense to consider hers? She wasn’t sure whether to cry or slap him again. Then she looked at Everett.

  He was pleased and proud of what he’d done. She looked past her feelings and to his. She would enter into his joy. The mare’s joy. Her time would come. She knew it. She just had to wait and be patient.

  She stepped from the porch and went toward the colt. “He’s a beauty. Just like his mother.” Christine reached her hand out to the colt. “Aren’t you, boy?”

  The horse snorted but was curious. With tense muscles, he stretched toward her and sniffed her hand.

  “There you go, baby. Let me pet you.”

  Everett jumped down. “Better stay away from him, he’s wild.”

  She didn’t take her eyes from the colt. “He likes me.”

  The colt edged another step toward her.

  She patted his soft, silky nose, and was reminded of Seth’s baby hair. “Easy baby. We're going to get along just fine, aren’t we?”

  The colt sniffed her again. Then he looked toward the corral and ran as far as the rope would let him run toward the mare.

  “Oh Everett, let him go to his mother.”

  Everett shook his head. “Better if he doesn’t. He’s already weaned.”

  She faced Everett. “Please.”

  The hard look on his face softened. “All right.” Everett took the rope and led the colt to the corral. In minutes, the two horses were together, nuzzling one ano
ther.

  Everett nodded. “She missed him all right. The mare looks like a different horse.”

  Christine smiled. “Yes, she does.” Her heart warmed for the mare and colt. They could be together. Perhaps, in time, she and Seth would be.

  Everett couldn’t know about her baby right now, but someday she’d tell him. What would he do? She sighed. Seeing the horses enjoy each other would be enough for now. She’d have to keep praying. She’d take this as a sign that God was watching out for her and had a plan.

  Chapter 10

  Everett was pleased to see Christine so happy for the mare and having the colt did calm the mare down. She’d been a sad horse with no life in here until now. Watching them run together, side by side, with their heads up and tails in the air, brought joy to his heart.

  His wife was another story. She’d been happy on their honeymoon, but then things had suddenly turned sullen and sorrowful. He looked away from her. That had been his fault. The nightmare. He’d faced his own truth.

  If only he could forget about his father, things would be different.

  Christine tried to make him happy, but he saw her face when he said he was going to sleep on the couch instead of their bedroom. He’d let her down, shoved her away from him, and from his heart.

  He knew it, but he didn’t know what else he could do. He couldn’t take a chance on having children. He couldn’t and wouldn’t. She’d have to get used to it. She spent enough time down at Margaret’s with her kids.

  Christine’s excitement of seeing the black mare and colt together had lessened. In that time, she’d drifted away from him. Everett went to work on the mare. He’d still not named her, nor had Christine. No names fit the animal. Besides, he was giving her to Christine, and it was her job to name the horse.

  Soon, he had the mare running in a circle and stopping on his command. The colt went along with his mother, and soon he learned to stop when Everett gave the order. The mare was easy to train and smart. Just like he knew she would be.

  The horse was just about gentled. Soon, he’d let Christine work the mare. He was staring at the house and wondering about his wife when he heard Dusty yell.

  Dusty galloped toward him and reined his horse to a sliding stop in front of the corral. “Boss, we got trouble.”

  Everett took the halter off the mare and turned to him. “What’s the trouble?” Dusty wasn’t one for exaggeration, and by the looks on his face, this was bad.

  “You better come to my house.”

  Everett untied his horse and swung into the saddle, and the two men galloped down the trail to the small house. Everett had always meant to build them a bigger one for all the children. He’d have to talk to Dusty about that soon.

  A strange horse stood tied to the hitching rail. Everett regretted not having his gun and questioned if he should carry in his rifle, but Dusty was already at the door.

  Dusty barged in. “Margaret. We’re here.”

  Everett followed him inside and saw a man holding a young child. “Anything wrong, Margaret?” The first thing Everett noticed was the kid’s eyes. They were green, like Christine’s. And the little boy was holding a brooch that he’d seen Christine wearing before.

  Margaret pointed at the man. “This man, he is saying bad things about Christine.”

  Everett faced him, took the child from his lap, and handed it to Margaret. She took the baby and left the room. Everett faced the man. “What do you want?”

  “The kid. And the woman. They belong to me.”

  “What do you want with Margaret?”

  “No, not her. The one at your house. Christine Simpson was her name. I’m Marvin Simpson.”

  Everett felt the blood rush to his feet. The brother in law, but who was the kid? Hers? By the color of the eyes, Everett would have to say yes. By the brooch in his hand, another yes. The odd way Christine slapped him about the mare, all spelled yes. So that’s what she’d been trying to tell him.

  “What do you have to do with Christine?”

  “She was married to my brother. He died. The farm is mine, but he left it to his son. So, I need the boy and the mother. A pair, don’t you think?”

  “She’s my wife.”

  “Why is her son staying with this woman? I happened to stop by to ask where Christine might be, and I saw Seth. I knew it was him because he’s a dead ringer for my brother, except for his eyes, they’re all Christine’s.”

  Now it all made sense. Why hadn’t Christine told him? Anger churned his heart until he remembered he’d told her no children. He’d have sent her away if she’d brought the baby with her. He would have. Now, he couldn’t let her go.

  There was something wickedly familiar about the man. Then it hit Everett. The eyes. They were like his father’s. Hard, unforgiving, and reckless. Marvin would beat Christine and the boy. The man didn’t want them. He wanted her farm.

  Everett stood. “She’s my wife now. You can leave.”

  Marvin faced him. He was bulky and full of savage attitude that warned that he wasn’t opposed to a fight. “I’m the legal owner of that farm along with the kid.”

  Everett stood his ground. “She’s my wife.”

  “Why is her kid here?”

  Stunned, but knowing the man was right, Everett knew what he had to do. “I’ll take him home. He plays with Margaret’s kids.” Everett took the child from Margaret. “Thanks for watching—”

  “Seth is always welcome.” Margaret smiled at him and patted the boy on the back. “Tell Christine that I’ll come by and see how she is doing.”

  Marvin made a grab for the boy, but Margaret got in his way. “The child belongs with his mother. Doesn’t he, Mr. Everett?”

  Feeling caught, Everett nodded. Apparently, Christine and Margaret had come up with a scheme to hide the child from him. Later, he’d talk to Dusty about that. “Yes, of course.” What else could he say?

  Marvin held out a piece of paper. “This is from a judge back in Kansas. I have the right to that farm until Seth is old enough to take care of it. Best yet, give the boy to me. She doesn’t want him. Christine isn’t a good mother.”

  The man was lying. Everything in Everett told him that. The boy smiled at him and uttered some gibberish. He was a handsome child. Smart by they look in his eyes. Christina would have some answering to do when he got back.

  For now, he’d take Seth with him and give him to his mother. Then they’d have to talk and decide what to do. He didn’t want to give her up, and he knew she wouldn’t give up her son.

  “Don’t think you’re going to just walk out of here with the kid.”

  Everett regretted not having his pistol. Then again, he’d not want any gunplay around the child. He glanced at Dusty, who was standing by the door.

  Dusty had his gun out and nodded.

  “I don’t have a gun so, if you shoot me, you’ll hang. Me and Seth are going home. Christine will wonder where I’ve gone if I don’t leave soon.”

  Everett walked out of the house. Dusty stood guard and made Marvin stand on the porch. “I’ll keep this man here. You go and talk to Christine.”

  Marvin yelled. “I’ll find her. Wherever she goes, I’ll find her.”

  Everett mounted his horse and rode away though he wasn’t sure what he was riding into or away from. Christine was in trouble that he could see. That she had a baby, surprised him. That she’d not said, a word was even more surprising. A few things, Everett could guess. She couldn’t go back. Not if Marvin was after her for the farm.

  If Everett put her away and annulled the marriage, her brother-in-law would force Christine to marry him, and she’d be at his mercy. After one look at Marvin, Everett knew she wouldn’t have found any mercy. So, she’d had no choice.

  Everett understood that he had been her chance. And then he’d told her no children. What a fool he’d been. Now he knew why she’d become so angry with him when he talked about the black mare. The bloodline and her foals. Then, he’d brought home the mare’s foal to
make the horse happy.

  That must have dug into her heart. He held the child close to protect him. Cute kid. “Seth, is it? We’re going to have to have a few talks.” The boy wrapped his arms around his neck and laid his head on Everett’s shoulder.

  Then he saw his cabin. He’d have to add on another room if he was keeping Seth. And Christine. Now, he knew. If he told her Seth had to go, she’d leave. He either agreed to Christine and the boy, or he’d have no one.

  Everett stepped down from the horse and held Seth. Everett wanted to be angry, but the child had touched his heart. He wasn’t sure what he would do. He’d start with what he knew.

  “Christine, we need to talk.”

  Chapter 11

  Christine fastened the latch on the carpetbag. She’d left the things that Everett had bought for her. She only had one small bag and still had to put Seth’s items inside. After seeing the mare and her colt, Christine had known that she couldn’t go on this way.

  She hadn’t even told Everett about Seth, and her husband had already become so distant. This wasn’t going to work. She needed to move on before Marvin found them. She grabbed her shawl and stepped out of the bedroom and into the main room of the house.

  A shadow covered the door. With a start, she saw that Everett was home. The bright sunlight outside kept her from seeing him, but it looked like he was holding something. She didn’t care. He couldn’t buy her allegiance to make her stay.

  “Christine. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Mama.” Seth reached for her.

  He stepped toward her and set the boy down, and Seth ran to her.

  Christine dropped the satchel, gathered her son into her arms, and cried. She knew she had to go now. “I couldn’t tell you. I didn’t know you didn’t want children until I was leaving. Dusty told me you’d send me away, and we came up with the plan to let Seth stay at their house. That’s where I went every day.”

  “I can see that now.” Everett took the brooch from his pocket and set it on the table. “I found out today. By accident.” He looked at her, and a crack formed in the wall around his heart. He didn’t want her to go. Didn’t want her to be hurt. “By the way, you have a visitor. Marvin wants you and the boy.”