********
The next morning dawned bright and sunny and bitterly cold. Neither Cora or Ulrick spoke of what had transpired the night before. Cora felt like a fool for throwing herself into the arm of a man who would never love her and Ulrick realized just how long it had been since Sarah had been on his mind.
There was a tangible electricity in the air, and even though their days played out in the same manner that they always had, there was a change in the way they interacted with each other. Instead of Sarah’s face ever before him, Ulrick found himself thinking about Cora as he went about his work.
********
The sound of sleigh bells rang through the frigid air. Who could be out in this weather?
There was a knock at the door and Ulrick was greeted by his mother’s round smiling face.
After warming up by the fire for a few minutes, Ulrick’s mother revealed the reason for her visit. Ulrick’s older brother had taken sick and was unable to do the chores at his mother’s farm. His mother had kept up with the chores as best as she could, but there was a bit of carpentry work to be done on the north barn door.
It was decided that Lil would stay with Cora at Ulrick’s place and enjoy some time with her wee granddaughter while Ulrick took the sled back to his parent’s farm and did the necessary repairs. Ulrick would leave at first light and hopefully return three days later.
********
Cora had dreaded having another woman encroaching in on her territory but soon found that Lil was too enraptured in Katherine to pay much mind to anything else. In fact, Lil’s tending to Katherine made it easier for Cora to get her chores done. The days passed quickly. Lil was a wonderful storyteller who didn’t hesitates to share tales of Ulrick’s childhood. Cora felt closer to him just listening to her.
Lil took a deep breath and paused, clearly weighing her words before she said them, “Cora, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I was completely against my son sending away for a mail order bride from the get go, but I have to say that I haven’t seen him this happy or in love since he lost Sarah.”
Cora couldn’t believe her ears. Surely, his mother knew that this was a marriage in name only, a sham really. Yes, Cora had feelings for Ulrick, but she’d made peace with the fact that they would never be returned.
“Lil, you do know that our marriage is…. well.... more of a business arrangement than a love match, don’t you?”
Lil crossed the room and looked her raven-haired daughter in law in the eye. “Cora, I’ve seen my son in love and I say he’s very deeply in love with you.”
*******
Two days after Ulrick’s mother left, it was Christmas. A blanket of glittering snow had fallen the night before and enveloped their little world in glittering white. The day seemed magical.
After the morning chores and a hearty breakfast, Ulrick took down the worn Bible and began to read the Christmas story to his little family. It was as though she was hearing the words for the first time as Cora listened to the familiar story. God Himself, becoming flesh and coming to earth as a helpless baby, all so He could make a way for the people He loved so dearly to go to Heaven for generations to come.
Cora’s mind forwarded from the helpless infant in the manger to the Man on the cross. Once again, she was in awe of the love that her Savior had for her.
Next, they gave sweet Katherine her gifts. Cora had remade her cloak into a small cloak and muffler for Katherine. She had embroidered red cardinals and holly berries all around the edge of the edges of the fabric. The little muffler was also adorned with the same design as the cloak, it was truly beautiful.
Ulrick had made wooden blocks for her. He had saved bits and pieces of wood throughout the year and sanded them smooth. Katherine squealed with delight as Ulrick showed her how to build towers and houses and knock them down.
Ulrick butchered their fattest goose for dinner. Cora made a sage and onion stuffing to go with it. They feasted on creamy mashed potatoes and acorn squash along with all of the cookies and pies Cora had been making for weeks.
The little family took Katherine outdoors for some fresh air and to play in the snow. They came into the sod house, rosy-cheeked and laughing. Cora settled Katherine down for a nap with her new doll and set to work making a pot of hot coffee and getting a plate of cookies for her and Ulrick to share.
In all of the excitement over Katherine’s gifts, she had forgotten to give Ulrick the muffler she had knitted for him. She debated all day about when the right time would be to give it to him and quickly decided that there was no time like the present.
Cora set the table with the treats and laid a package on Ulrick’s plate. After checking on the stock, he came in the door, a gust of bitterly cold air following him.
“I have some Christmas treats laid out for us and a fresh pot of coffee on the table.” Cora was suddenly shy, what if Ulrick didn’t want to get a gift from her? What if she’d been too forward in making him something so personal?
Ulrick hung his coat and sat down, startled to see a package at his place. He carefully unwrapped the gift and smiled at Cora.
“Thank you, this is just what I needed to keep out the cold air. Hang on a minute, I have something for you, too”
He returned to the table with a package that had been wrapped in plain brown paper at the mercantile. Cora unwrapped the gift to find a vanity set, on the back of each piece were her initials, CEW.
Cora had never owned anything so fine in her life. Back in Kentucky, there had been no room for frivolous purchases.
“It’s absolutely beautiful, Ulrick. Thank you! You even had them engrave my initials on it!”
Ulrick took a deep breath and said, “About that. I’ve been thinking, Cora. I want you to be my wife.”
“Well, the certificate in my bureau drawer says that we’ve been married for quite some time.” Cora giggled.
“What I mean is… Cora, I love you. I don’t know how or when it happened. All I know is that I’m completely in love with you. You’re the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing on my mind as I fall asleep. After Sarah died I thought that I could never love again, but you came along and proved me wrong. I love you, Cora Witmer and I want to share my life with you.”
Smiling through the tears of joy that ran down her face all Cora could manage was a soft, “I love you, too”
Slowly, Ulrick bent down and kissed her softly. It was the best Christmas that either of them could remember.
*****
THE END.
Sisters Find Love for Christmas – Book 2
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
St. Louis Missouri
October 1876
Ida Darcy stood at the altar beside her betrothed, desperately trying to keep back her tears. Her fiancé, Mr. Asher Blaine, while handsome as she’d pictured, with his black hair and sky-blue eyes, was not as she’d hoped.
When Ida and her older sister, Cora, had left their home in Briarwood, Kentucky, she’d held a romantic image of her future. Bachmann’s Brides, a bridal agency, had found a fiancé for each sister. The two made their way to St. Louis where Ida was to meet Mr. Blaine, and Cora was to continue on to North Dakota to meet Mr. Wittmer, her own fiancé.
Ida had to watch her sister go, the only family the eighteen-year-old had left. And Mr. Blaine had neglected to make an appearance. As a result, she’d had to beg a room from an old, stern man in a run-down boarding house.
Looking at Mr. Blaine, she could see no trace of remorse. Just an impatience, which, if she was honest with herself, was quite understandable. He’d been away from his home for a month by this point. He had a nice homestead in Silver Bell, Arizona, which he was progressively turning into a “fine ranch”, as he’d described in his letter.
“Do you, Asher John Blaine,” said the preacher, a stout middle-aged man with a large mole on his chin. “Take Ida Louisa Darcy as your lawfully wedded wife?”
Mr. Blaine looked down at Ida,
and her breath caught. He was a handsome man; despite the way he’d treated her. While she knew she had to be wary in trusting him, she also knew they were stuck together, now.
“I do,” he said. As the reality of the situation hit Ida, tears fell from her eyes, coursing down her face. She was alone, well and truly. Cora had gone, her parents were dead, and the only person she had was a complete stranger.
“And do you - oh, dear.” The preacher placed a grandfatherly hand on her shoulder. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, of course,” Ida replied, though her voice shook like a sapling in a storm. “Please, continue.”
“Do you, Ida Louisa Darcy, take Asher John Blaine to be your lawfully wedded husband?” A sob worked its way out of her, startling both the preacher and her fiancé.
“I - I do,” she managed as sobs shook her body. Ida had wanted so badly to be strong as Cora would have been, but it was not to be.
“You may, um, kiss the bride?” This brought on further tears, as she’d never kissed anyone, and certainly not a stranger.
“Maybe not,” Mr. Blaine said, his face red. His eyes wandered around the room, looking at anything but his crying bride. “I think we should leave. Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome. Take care.” The preacher’s words followed them down the aisle and out the door.
Mr. Blaine had an arm wrapped around Ida’s waist, guiding her towards his wagon. She wished she’d kept herself together, but never, in all her life, had she been alone.
Once she was settled on the wagon bench, the sound of the wind playing with the wagon cover raging behind her, Mr. Blaine dashed around to his side, settling in beside her. His arm was right against hers, and she wanted to move away, but she couldn’t, unless, of course, she wanted to fall off the wagon.
“Are you alright, Ida?” She sniffled, then turned to look at him. He seemed more uncomfortable than anything else.
“Yes, I suppose. I’ve never been alone before. Thus far, I don’t like it.”
“You aren’t exactly alone.” A smile came to her tear-streaked face.
“You’re right, Mr. Blaine. I do have God.” He frowned.
“I don’t know that God cares a wit about anyone. What I meant was that we’re married, so we’re together.” Ida’s eyes widened as she took in the words.
“Do you mean to say that you are not Christian?” He nodded. “But Mr. Bachmann assured Cora and I that he’d chosen good, God-fearing men!”
“I suppose this tells me all I need to know about you.” Mr. Blaine guided the wagon into the road, then slapped the lines against the horse’s rump. “You’ve trusted two strange men with the rest of your life. You can’t be terribly clever.”
********
Asher didn’t know where the hurtful words had come from. Really, he was tired, angry, and embarrassed by his bride’s display of emotion. Still, it wasn’t his to outright insult people, especially women. Maybe it was all of her God talk.
“I’ll have you know, Mr. Blaine, that I am more clever than you. At least, I managed to be where I promised to be when I promised to be there.”
He winced, feeling guilty. When he’d left Arizona last month, he had thought he’d have plenty of time. But the axle on his wagon broke and he’d had to fix it. It wasn’t his fault he’d been late, but he didn’t like imagining wispy little Ida searching St. Louis for a room.
Glancing over, he noticed that her crying had started up again, this time silently. She didn’t look at him, choosing to fix her eyes on the landscape. The wind played with red her hair, making it look almost like fire. Her skin was pale, a stark contrast with his own tanned skin. She was a soft, delicate woman. What one earth had he been thinking?
“I’m sorry that I was late.” He didn’t say anything else, because what he wanted to do was ask if she would stop crying. Something, be it the way she'd reacted to previous statements or what little conscience he had told him that she wouldn’t appreciate that.
“I forgive you, I suppose. It would be a long, grudgeful lifetime otherwise.” He smiled, returning his eyes to the road. Perhaps she would toughen up some, after all.
********
On their third day of travel, Ida decided it would be best if she walked alongside the wagon. The main reason for this was that Mr. Blaine was new and strange to her. Everything he did was a puzzle. One moment, he would be kind and patient, not caring when she burned their supper. The next, he would make a rude comment on her intelligence.
“Are you sure you want to walk? You aren’t . . .” Ida looked up at him from her place beside the wagon and winked.
“If you’re about to inform me that I’m not hardy enough for walking a distance, you’re quite wrong, Mr. Blaine.” He blinked, seemingly unsure of what to say. She shrugged in return and began walking, refusing to look at him again.
“Someone is in a mood,” she heard Mr. Blaine say. “And you shouldn’t call your husband by his surname, Ida.”
“Alright, Asher. It’s nice to make your acquaintance.” After a long moment of silence, she said, “What is your life like in Silver Bell?”
“Oh, well . . . It’s nice. The land is beautiful. It’s all dusty and nearly golden, but near the creek that runs through the property, there’s so much green, it seems impossible. And I love it when the rain falls. The smell clings to everything. It’s a quiet life, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
A glance her husband showed just how much he loved the land. “It must be easy to feel close to God in a place like that.”
“Not for me.” His face tightened. “If God is there, I’ve never seen Him.”
“Maybe you just haven’t been looking.” Ida’s hand snatched a prairie rose from the ground, raising it to her nose and taking a deep breath. “I’ve always found it easiest to see God in His creation. Every time I see a sunrise or watch birds fly, I know He’s there.”
“You’re lucky in that.”
As the day wore on, Ida’s feet began to burn. She supposed it was blistering. Instead of climbing into the wagon to give her feet rest, she continued walking, not wanting to sit in awkward silence beside her husband.
After a time, she began to sing, cheerful little tunes she Cora had liked as children. When they stopped so the horses could take water, she pulled her shoes off, throwing them into the wagon bed.
Unfortunately, this exposed the blisters on her feet. At Ida’s ankles and heels, there was bleeding, broken skin that stung from touching the air. As she moved towards the little creek the horses drank from, she winced in pain.
“Is something wrong, Ida?” She glanced over at Asher and shook her head, pasting a smile to her face.
“I’m alright. I was just going to wade around and cool my feet some.” He shrugged, accepting her answer. She sighed in relief, then, lifting her skirts, stepped into the cold water.
A shiver ran up her spine, but the water felt wonderful, pulling the burn from her skin. Ida watched as the blood rinsed from her feet. fish swam past her, flicking their tails, propelling their shimmering bodies along.
The sound of footsteps rustling the grass behind her took Ida by surprise. That could not compare, however, with her surprise when none other than Asher sat on the riverbank just behind her. She glanced back and saw him fiddling with a long piece of grass, twirling it around.
“Getting tired of that bench, I see,” she said, stepping out of the river to sit beside him.
“Well, it does get a mite uncomfortable. Besides, some company sounded nice.”
Ida adjusted her skirts over her feet, hiding the blisters from view. The last thing she needed was for him to think she was delicate. Her entire life, everyone - her parents, her sister - had treated her like a china doll. Lovely, but not useful.
“You’ve been walking for a while,” Asher said. She nodded. “You’re probably tired.”
“I suppose, but not enough to complain of.”
“Most people would acquire some blisters from such a lon
g walk. Do you happen to have any?”
“No, but thank you for your concern.” Ida felt her face burn red, and she couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. That was one thing she’d never been able to do; lie.
“I noticed that you threw off your shoes at the first chance to present itself. Then you go out into the river, an action I wouldn’t think you would perform. And now, you’re hiding your feet under your skirts, hoping I won’t notice.”
“That’s not true.” Ida stood, heading back to the wagon, intending to escape her husband. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll get out of the sun for a while.”
[2016] Widow Finds Love Page 38