A Bride for Deke

by Marianne Spitzer

  “That’s a beautiful home and quite large,” Amalie said.

  Deke said, “Our parents built it, expecting to have a large family, but they only had Nate and me, so we have room to spare.”

  “Ma and Pa always expected us to fill the house with children, but that didn’t work out too well either,” Nate said and then wished he hadn’t when he saw the look that crossed Deke’s face.

  Nate stammered and then continued, “I think you’ll like it. We have cattle and horses, and there’s a big garden and some fruit trees.”

  Amalie found her voice again. “Tomorrow is Sunday. I saw a church in town. Will I be allowed to attend services? I wasn’t able to every Sunday because of my job.”

  Deke pulled on the reins to stop the wagon and turned to look at Amalie. “You are free to do anything you wish as long as it’s within the law,” Deke answered, smiling at her. “I don’t expect you to do anything just because we’re married. You’ll be living at the ranch, and it would be nice if you cooked since I’m not a good cook. Our ranch cook’s food isn’t bad, but it’s predictable.”

  “I can do that. I can keep house, too—I worked as a maid at the hotel. Cleaning is easy for me. I’m just grateful you offered me your name and protection.”

  “Don’t mention it. I should add that you don’t need to do any laundry—I’m not home enough to warrant trying to wash my things, so I take them to a nice widow woman in town. It helps her, and it helps me. The men do their own. You can do yours, or you can take them to the widow, too,” Deke explained.

  “That’s one thing I’m not sure I’m good at. The hotel washed my uniforms, and I paid the laundress when I needed something personal washed. At the orphanage, I rarely had laundry duty. They seemed to think I was a better cook than a laundress,” Amalie told him.

  “Orphanage?” Deke inquired.

  “I was left on the orphanage’s doorstep as an infant and grew up there. I never knew who my parents were.”

  “You have a lovely name—did they give it to you at the orphanage?” Deke asked as they pulled up to the ranch house’s back door.

  “No, that was one thing my parents gave me. There was a note wrapped in my blanket that said, ‘Her name is Amalie. Please take care of her. I can’t.’”

  “That must be hard, but at least you know someone cared enough for you to name you.”

  “That’s true,” Amalie answered. “When I was in my teens, I asked around to see if anyone knew a family that might have heard of the name, but all I could learn is that it’s of German origins. There was a kind, elderly German lady that operated a bakery near the orphanage, and she donated bread and rolls quite often. She’s the one who told me about my name, but she said she’d never heard anyone use it before me, and she didn’t know anyone asking about a person with that name.” She drew in a long breath, not believing she had spoken at length or revealed something personal.

  Deke hopped off the wagon and looked in the rear. “Did you lose your trunk on the way here? All that’s in the back are two carpet bags.”

  Nate grabbed the bags, saying, “One of the bags is mine. This was all she had.”

  Deke raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have anything else?”

  Amalie shook her head. “I had uniforms for working and two dresses, one for every day if I left the hotel, and one for Sunday.”

  Deke grunted. “That’s not acceptable. Next week, we’ll go to town to buy you some clothes. You’ll also need boots and a warmer coat.”

  Amalie began to argue, but Deke insisted. “You’re my wife, and I’ll not have people think I’m not treating you well.”

  Amalie nodded.

  Nate smiled at his brother and Amalie as if to say that he’d made the right decision to protect Amalie and bring her home. While Deke walked the horses to the barn, Nate whispered to her, “My brother is very protective. You’re safe here.”

  Chapter Five

  Nate escorted Amalie into the house and invited her to sit in the parlor while they waited for Deke. Amalie noticed the house was well-furnished and had a woman’s touch, presumably from their mother or Deke’s wife. Amalie made a mental note not to move anything out of place. She had no idea what memories might be connected to the objects.

  She noticed a framed sketch of a young married couple in wedding attire, sitting on the fireplace mantle.

  Nate commented, “That’s Deke and Sarah on their wedding day. Her sister, Laura, loves to draw and is quite good. She drew that, and Sarah framed it. It appears Deke hasn’t moved it since the day Sarah placed it there.”

  “Thank you for telling me,” Amalie said, “I will be sure not to move it.”

  Amalie turned from the mantle and walked a few steps to peer into the next room. It was a small dining room with a hutch filled with beautiful white dishes. She thought the door beyond the dining room might lead to the kitchen, but she didn’t want to appear as if she were snooping, and she just stood there, gazing through the large dining room window.

  Nate interrupted her musings. “I’m not sure what arrangements Deke has made for you. When I left home, we used only two of the bedrooms on the second floor. They were the rooms we’ve used since we were boys. Ma and Pa had the big room on this floor, and there’s also a guest room. Upstairs are three more rooms. Ma used one of them for sewing.”

  “Any room would be an improvement over the small rooms we had at the hotel. They were comfortable when the elder Mister Caldwell ran the hotel, but his nephew built a wall down the center of mine to make a second room for another maid. The only window in the room was shared by the two of us, and Faith never liked to have it open,” Amalie shared.

  “You won’t have to worry about that here. Each room is ample-sized, and the master bedroom has two windows,” Nate told her.

  Amalie’s face turned a bright shade of red. “Oh, goodness! Do you mean I have to share a room with Deke? Surely, he used that room after he married. I’m not sure about this. I never considered what being married meant as far as…umm…sleeping arrangements.”

  Nate shook his hands and head at the same time, “No, no, of course not. Deke would never. I mean, he’s a gentleman, and this marriage is in name only to protect you—unless the two of you agree to change that. Just…don’t worry. I’m sure this will all work out.”

  Amalie couldn’t think of a response, and her heart began to beat rapidly when Deke entered the house. “You didn’t need to sit here and wait for me. Nate can show you to the guest room, Amalie. Your room is still the same, Nate—I never changed it. I had someone in last week to clean the entire house. You should both be quite comfortable.”

  “Thanks,” Nate replied, and he picked up both of their carpet bags. “I’ll show you the guest room, Amalie.”

  “Oh, wait a minute,” Deke called after them. “I did make some changes to the house after all. There’s a bathing room next to the kitchen pantry. Please feel free to use it anytime.”

  “Thank you,” Amalie answered before following Nate to find her room.

  ~ * ~

  The scent of bacon wafted through the house as Nate hurried down the stairs. He met his brother as he was coming out of his room and commented, “I smell bacon.”

  Deke nodded vigorously and added, “And biscuits.”

  When they got to the kitchen, they found Amalie humming and mixing batter in a bowl. “Good morning,” she greeted them. “I hope you like hotcakes because that’s what I’m making. There’s also bacon, and in a few minutes, the biscuits should be ready. Are you hungry?”

  Nate and Deke both assured her they were famished, and they sat down at the table. Amalie poured them each a cup of coffee and then set the pot in the middle of the table. A small vase with a few wildflowers that grew along the side of the house adorned the center of the table.

  Amalie set a plate of bacon next to the coffee pot, followed by a plate of fresh biscuits and a platter of hotcakes. “I couldn’t find any cream for the coffee,” she said.

&n
bsp; “Joey, our youngest hand, normally milks the cow, but he takes the milk to the cookshack. I’ll have him bring some here in the mornings, too,” Deke said as he drizzled honey onto his hotcakes.

  Nate spread blackberry jam liberally on his hotcakes and asked, “Is this from the blackberry patch out back?”

  Deke merely nodded as he continued to eat.

  “You put up blackberry preserves?” Amalie asked with a questioning look.

  “Not me. I take the berries into town, and Joey’s mother makes jam for us in return for half of the berries,” Deke said, taking just long enough to speak before filling his mouth with more hotcakes.

  Nate took a sip of coffee and then asked Amalie, “Can you put up vegetables and preserves? We have a nice garden.”

  Amalie shrugged. “I’ve never tried. The only time we had fresh fruit or preserves was when someone from one of the local churches contributed them. Normally, the cook dropped a bit of honey on the hotcakes when she made them.”

  Deke studied the beautiful woman sitting across the table from him. She certainly seemed to have had a difficult time in life, and he vowed that he’d do whatever he could to make her life happier from here on out. He had no idea how long the marriage would last, but he had taken a vow to protect and cherish her—that, at least, he could and would do.

  Trying to lighten the conversation, Deke asked Amalie, “Do you ride?”

  “Ride?”

  “Horses.”

  A look a terror spread across Amalie’s face. “When I was ten, I was nearly run down by one of those beasts pulling a wagon, and I haven’t gone near one since.”

  “That was the driver’s fault, not the horse’s. Living on a ranch, you need to learn how to ride,” Deke explained. “We have a gentle, old mare named Honey. I think she would work out well for you.”

  “You still have Honey?” Nate said. “I can’t wait to see her.”

  “We still have Buck, too. I’m sure he’ll remember you. He used to follow you around after you decided to quit riding.”

  Nate dropped his eyes to his plate. “You know I can’t ride.”

  “No, I don’t,” Deke insisted. “Pa said you wouldn’t, not that you couldn’t. After your leg healed, you should have tried again. It was a youngster’s foolishness that caused that horse to throw you, not the horse. Now that you’re home, you need to get back on a horse. You and Amalie can ride together.”

  “I don’t think—" Nate began.

  “Nonsense,” Deke retorted. “Buck would never have thrown you, and you know Pa sold the horse that did. You don’t have any excuses.”

  Amalie must’ve worried she’d started a family argument. She asked to change the subject, “What time is church? I made breakfast early because I wasn’t sure.”

  “Eight o’clock. The pastor likes long sermons, and if services start any later, many people won’t come. We’ll get out of church before eleven, just in time for lunch. I usually eat at the café when I’m in town. I think we should do that today. We need to go into town this week to buy more supplies,” Deke explained.

  “Are the chickens just for eggs, or can I cook one?” Amalie asked as she cleared the table.

  “Yeah, we eat them, too. I’ll kill you an older one after we get back from church,” Deke said.

  “Thank you. I’m not sure I could kill a chicken. We always got our chickens from a butcher’s shop or from donations,” Amalie said, wrinkling her nose.

  “I could teach you how to do it,” Nate offered. “It isn’t hard.”

  “If one of you will kill them for me, I’d be grateful. I don’t think I want to try.”

  Nate laughed. “All right. One of us will bring you chicken, and if we’re not here, the bunkhouse cook can always accommodate you.”

  “Thanks,” Amalie responded. “I’m happy to hear that.”

  Deke carried his plate to the sink and asked, “What are you planning on making for supper with that chicken?”

  “Chicken and dumplings—is that all right?”

  “Yup, that’s more than all right,” Deke said, looking at his brother, who was grinning. “We like chicken and dumplings.”

  Nate added, “We sure do. I’d be more than happy to bring you a chicken or two whenever you want to make it.”

  Deke offered, “I’ll bring the wagon around, and we can leave. The sooner we leave, the sooner we get back for supper.”

  Amalie laughed.

  Deke smiled. He didn’t smile often, but the thought of chicken and dumplings brought a broad smile to his face. And he’d continue to smile as long as Amalie continued to make good meals.

  On the ride to church, Nate and Deke quizzed her about the meals she liked to cook and whether she’d ever had anything more exciting like rabbit stew.

  Amalie cringed at the thought. “No. And if it’s all right with the two of you, I’ll stick to chicken, beef, or deer, if you shoot one. I don’t think I’m adventurous enough to cook rabbit or squirrel or whatever else people eat here.”

  Nate and Deke laughed at her concerns. Deke told her that the only time he’d eaten rabbit was out on the trail when he didn’t have much else except for jerky or hardtack left to eat.

  Amalie seemed pleased with that knowledge.

  Chapter Six

  The service was just a bit longer than Amalie expected, but she didn’t mind the lengthy sermon. She had always found peace in church, and the pastor’s sermon on acceptance and forgiveness was welcome. Her life was not what she had expected it to be even just a short month ago, but she was grateful to have been accepted into the Sperling family, and she was trying hard to forgive Mister Caldwell for what he tried to do.

  When the service ended, Deke took Amalie by the arm and guided her back down the aisle toward the double doors. They passed by the pastor who was standing just outside the doors, greeting his parishioners on their way home.

  Deke stopped to introduce Amalie to the kindly, elderly pastor. Pastor Dawkins congratulated Amalie and Deke on their marriage and welcomed Amalie to the town and his congregation.

  As Deke and Amalie stepped away from the pastor, they noticed several of the townsfolk staring at them. Deke whispered in her ear, “Don’t let them worry you. They’re just trying to figure out who you are. I’ll introduce you to a few of our neighbors, and the gossip will take care of the rest. By suppertime, the entire town will know that we’re married.”

  Amalie gripped Deke’s arm a bit tighter and smiled up at him. “I hope I don’t embarrass you. People are going to wonder who I am and where I came from.”

  “That’s none of their business. All they need to know is that you’re my wife,” Deke insisted, but Amalie saw several young women giggling and pointing in their direction.

  Before Deke and Amalie had the chance to leave the church grounds and head to the café for lunch, one of the young women came toward them. It was the same young woman that had approached them at the wagon the day before. Amalie remembered Deke explaining that she was his wife’s sister, Laura. “I can’t believe you would come to church and sit there, bold as brass in front of everyone,” she said. “I thought better of you, Deke Sperling.”

  Deke glared at the young woman and said, “If you don’t have anything decent to say, Laura, I would suggest you go home before you cause more problems than you can handle.”

  Laura tightened her hands into fists and rested them on her hips. “Is that a threat?”

  “No one is threatening you, Laura,” Deke retorted. “I just think you should keep your thoughts to yourself before you hurt someone’s feelings.”

  Deke turned to guide Amalie toward the café, and Nate followed them.

  The young woman stamped her foot and called out to their retreating backs, “You’ve made bad decisions before, Deke, but this one is your worst.”

  The Sperling family ate their lunch in peace and quiet. None of them seemed to wish to bring up the situation with Laura or the possible cause of her anger for Deke. The ride home
was equally silent, with all three of them lost in thought.

  Deke broke the silence as he pulled the wagon up to the rear of the house. “Nate will bring you a chicken. While it’s cooking, please come out to the barn. I think it’s time you met Honey,” Deke told Amalie.

  Amalie bit her lip, hoping he would change his mind. She didn’t like horses, and they scared her. It didn’t matter if everyone living on a ranch needed to know how to ride; she didn’t want to learn. Amalie gathered all her courage and did her best to push her fears aside. “All right. I’ll come out to the barn a bit later.” She jumped from the wagon and hurried into the house before either Nate or Deke could say a word.

  Nate looked at his brother. “She really is frightened of horses. You know that.”

  “Yeah, but she needs to overcome that fear and learn to ride, even if she rides only Honey. The mare is gentle, and you need to set an example and get back on a horse, too. How can we teach her if you’re more afraid than she is?”

  Nate stammered for an answer. He knew Deke was right, but he hadn’t been on a horse since his accident, and he felt as strongly about not riding as did Amalie. Rather than say this to Deke, he just nodded and walked off to find a plump chicken for supper.

  ~ * ~

  Two hours later, Amalie lost the battle with herself to remain in the house and hide, and she pulled her shoulders back and headed for the barn.

  Deke smiled when he saw her enter the barn. “Is the chicken cooking? I want you to get to know Honey, but I’m looking forward to that chicken and dumplings.”

  Amalie returned the smile. “Yes, the chicken is cooking, and I have a little time to meet your horse.”

  “She’s your horse,” Deke insisted.

  Deke took Amalie by the hand and led her to a nearby stall to a beautiful, dark brown horse. It stood in the stall, its chest pushed against the stall door, trying to get closer to Deke.

  Amalie took a step backward, and Deke tugged her hand gently to draw her closer to Honey. She cringed when Deke ran his hand down Honey’s head and neck.