by Dalia Wright
“I am Eric. This is my wife, Kate, and our friend, Tina. It is a pleasure to meet you. Have a seat on our spread and join us! I think I brought a few glasses for us to enjoy your champagne with.”
Jacob took a seat on the spread next to Tina. They exchanged another awkward glance, and then Jacob opened his bottle of champagne and poured everyone a glass. “To this beautiful fall we’ve been having!” he toasted. “And to new friendships.”
The four of them sipped their champagne and let a few moments pass uninterrupted. A gust of wind blew by messing up Tina’s hair. They got to talking about the local news, the weather, and the state of the country’s economy. Jacob, it turned out, was a very knowledgeable and smart guy. He was an investor and spent his time playing on the stock market. He had a great relationship with his broker and the two of them – as he put it – were getting “really rich”.
“What is it that you do, Tina?” asked Jacob.
“Well right now I am living with my lovely parents. My mother is teaching me to sew and on my spare time I like to go horseback riding in the pasture by my house.”
“Sounds lovely. I too am a lover of the equestrian arts. Perhaps we could go riding tomorrow? I have the most delightful thoroughbred that I’d be thrilled to show you.”
Tina blushed somewhat. She gave a glance to Eric and Kate. They were smiling very broadly at her. Tina felt mortified and hoped that Jacob did not see her friends’ reactions. “Sure,” she stammered.
They finished up the rest of their lunch and then packed up everything into a convenient satchel that Eric carried effortlessly. They decided that they were going to go for a walk and so headed over to the boardwalk and began their circular journey around the island. Eric and Kate walked up ahead and Tina fell back with Jacob. Jacob and Tina made small talk, until their hands grazed. Tina wasn’t sure what to make of that simple and small gesture, but she felt electricity shoot into her body all the same. Then their hands grazed a second time. On the third time that their hands met, Jacob held on. Tina’s heart raced and now they were simply holding hands. Tina avoided eye contact but did not withdraw either. They continued walking in this fashion for some time. Finally, Jacob broke the silence. “I’d like to see you tonight.”
“Sure,” responded Tina.
“Can I come by your house?”
“I think it’s better if we met in some other location. I am going through some stuff with my parents right now and I’m not too sure how they would feel if I had a male suitor at this time.”
“Where do you live?”
“I live on Pinecrest Road, the big white house with the large porch and tulip garden. You can’t miss it.”
“Oh, I know that street. There happens to be a park about a mile east of there. It’s called Sunset Grove. Do you know it?”
“Yes, I go walking there sometimes. Is that where you’d like to meet?”
“Yes, how does eight o’clock tonight sound?”
“Can we make it a bit later? I am going to have to sneak out and it would be best if I did so after my parents have gone to bed.”
“Alright then. How about eleven?”
“Sounds good.”
“And then one day I can maybe show you around my ranch. I have a bunch of cattle, some chickens, goats, ducks, and of course horses.”
“Are you a real cowboy?” said Tina mesmerizingly. She had always had a fantasy about having a romantic fling with a cowboy. She wondered silently to herself what her parents would think of this new relationship. They probably wouldn’t approve.
“I have been called that before, ma’am but I am many things other than a cowboy. I have an interest in arts and culture, and perhaps one day I can share these passions with you as well. But for now, let’s concentrate on tonight.
“Deal!” she said.
The rest of the afternoon was spent walking around enjoying the scenery and making small talk. She did not tell Eric and Kate about her plan to meet Jacob later. She decided that secret was best kept just between the two of them.
On the ferry ride back to the shore and away from the island, Tina was silent. Jacob had left them before they got on the boat to wander around a bit more. But Kate detected a slight difference in Tina’s disposition and decided to comment on it. “You look… different.”
“What do you mean?” asked Tina nervously.
“I mean you’re glowing! If I didn’t know better, I’d say that that Jacob made a bit of an impression on you. I know you like cowboys, and he was quite the gentleman!”
“Well we’ll see. I know my parents won’t approve. They have their hearts set on me being a mail-order bride. The application has already been sent. I might bring it up with them later but I’ll probably just meet up with Jacob tonight and see how things go.”
That night at dinner, Tina and her parents enjoyed another delicious meal. The topic turned to her mail-order bride application.
“So we should hear back in a couple of weeks about that application,” said Henry, broaching the topic.
“Yes I suppose we will,” responded Tina. “And if I were to find someone suitable on my own, would that mean that we can just give up on the whole ‘mail-order’ idea?”
“Honey, you have been trying to find someone on your own all this time. And it hasn’t worked. I think the mail-order bride avenue is the best path to take. Also, we want to make sure you are taken care of.”
Tina weighed to herself whether or not she should tell her parents about Jacob. For some reason she did not feel they would be too accepting of her new encounter. Jacob seemed like a perfect gentleman, and a nice guy, but he was a cowboy after all. He led a very wild and adventurous life – not the kind of life that her parents envisioned for her. So she said nothing.
That evening as her parents went to bed at their usual time – 10:30 pm – Tina paced nervously in her large bedroom. She couldn’t decide what to wear. The clothes she had on during the day were nice but she thought that fresh attire might be more suitable. And as the fall was pressing on, she knew that it would be chilly outside. She picked out a green dress (to match her brown eyes) and some leather sandals. She also grabbed a shawl to drape herself with in protection from the cold. She quietly tip-toed down the marble stairs and made her way to the front door. It was locked. She felt in her pocket to make sure that she had the key with her. She did. She slipped out the door and started making her way to the park to meet Jacob. She arrived just in time and saw that he was there waiting for her.
“I am glad you came,” said Jacob. “It is a beautiful night for a meeting.”
“I am glad I came too. I don’t know what it is but I feel as though I can trust you. I can see it in your face.”
“Let’s have a seat on this bench. You can tell me more about the problems you are having with your parents.”
“Well…my parents want me to be a mail order bride. They have this idea that I need to be taken care of. But I don’t! I know I can make it on my own. I just need to find the right person to share my life with.”
Jacob lent a sympathetic ear. “I understand. I hate being forced into things too. But it must be nice to have parents. My parents both died when I was really young. They were murdered while walking down the street. All for some pieces of jewellery and the money my Dad carried in his wallet. Life can be cruel sometimes.”
Tina didn’t really know what to say to that. Compared to her problems, Jacob’s seemed a lot more serious.
“I don’t mean to downplay the impact my parents have on my life,” Tina continued. “They are great people. But they don’t get where I’m coming from at all.”
“Well if you would allow me to, I could accompany you from now on and we could see where things went. I don’t know if I could appease your father but I could certainly try.”
It was a kind gesture, and one that Tina considered seriously. But she couldn’t get around the fact that he just wasn’t the type of suitor her parents had in mind for her. “We will see.”
They discussed everything from the weather to the nature of the economy to Jacob’s horses. Jacob also owned a large collection of pistols and considered himself quite the shot. He wasn’t a violent man, but he liked to have firearms on hand in case he ever needed to defend himself or other loved ones. Before they concluded their meeting, Jacob invited Tina to go for a ride with him at his ranch some time in the following week. Tina said she was unsure but that she would get back to him. If her answer was yes, she would leave a note on this very bench saying so by the following Wednesday. If it was no, she would not leave a note. They agreed to part ways with this idea in place. Tina hoped that she would be able to say ‘yes’ but she was uncertain.
That Sunday, after church, Tina entered the living room of her house to find her father reading a newspaper by the fire and smoking a pipe. The rich aroma of the Virginia tobacco filled the air and created a pleasant sensation.
“Darling!’ exclaimed Henry. “I have some good news. We received a reply to your mail-order bride application. It looks as though a very well-established older gentleman who owns lots of property and manages several factories is interested in you. In fact, in his letter, he said that you were the most striking woman he had ever come across. Here is his picture.”
Henry handed his daughter a letter which was written finely in cursive and signed “William J. Hornhill” at the bottom. The picture of the man was unflattering. He had short hair, a bushy grey moustache, and looked as though he were more than a few dozen pounds overweight. But most troubling of all was that he looked even older than her dad.
“How am I supposed to marry this man?” said Tina, on the verge of tears. “He is older than you!”
“Yes, but he can give you a very good life. His credentials are more than impressive. And when he passes on, you will inherit his wealth. You should be able to give him many children before that happens. And best of all, he lives right here in town, so you will be able to visit us often.”
Tina hesitantly decided to go along with it. She wasn’t going to change her father’s opinion, and the strength of his opinion made her long for Jacob more and more.
“Okay, Dad,” she said. “I will meet him. For you.”
“Splendid,” he said. “I will arrange a meeting. This Tuesday should work well. He can come to our house and have dinner with us, and I am sure that you will see that he is not a bad guy. I pride myself on being a very good judge of character.”
But no matter what Henry could say, Tina knew deep down in her heart that she would not be convinced. But she couldn’t argue with her dad at the same time – that always got her nowhere.
The days whizzed by and Tina occupied herself with her sewing. She was getting pretty good at it, not in small part because of her mom’s tutelage. When Tuesday rolled around Tina got dressed in one of her best outfits – a white evening gown – and joined her family at dinner.
“Mr. Hornhill should be arriving presently,” said Henry jovially. “In the mean time let’s have a little champagne to celebrate.” He uncorked a bottle and poured Tina and Dorothy a glass. A few minutes later and the doorbell rang. Henry got up and went to the door, opening it and letting Mr. Hornhill in. William took off his overcoat and closed his umbrella. Evidently it had been raining hard outside.
“Henry!” exclaimed William. “It is good to finally meet you in person! Let me just say that your reputation precedes you. I have heard of your politics and that you are a very well-to-do businessman.”
“How great of you to say, William. We were most impressed by the rapidity of your reception of our application and myself, my daughter, and my wife are extremely pleased to have you join us tonight. We were just indulging in some champagne. May I pour you a glass? Here, let me take that coat from you.”
“Champagne would be lovely, thanks,” said William, who proceeded to hand Henry his soaking coat. Space was made for William at the table and a place was set for him next to Tina. Tina noticed that he was a rather tall and stern looking fellow. He didn’t seem to have the same laugh lines that Jacob had, and she doubted if anything funny ever came out of his mouth.
It was remarkable, to Tina, how little William said to her over the course of the dinner. He seemed to pay most attention to her parents, as if he were trying to win them over first before capturing Tina’s heart. She could not see spending her life with this man. He was too proper, too formal, too unyielding. And he wasn’t a cowboy. After they finished their main course, Tina excused herself from the table and speedily made her way up to her room. She began scribbling out a note as fast as she could that was intended for Jacob. She signed it at the bottom and folded it in half. She used a fetching red envelope to seal the letter in and put it in her handbag. Then she made her way back down the stairs and waved goodbye to the three adults. “I am going for some fresh air, I will be back soon,” she said.
The hastily made her way to the park where she and Jacob had had such a pleasant time together. She took out the red envelope, and with a piece of tape, secured it underneath the bench in question and gave it a jostle to make sure it was on tight. The essence of the letter was that she was really looking forward to meeting Jacob again on Wednesday.
When she returned back home, the three of them were still engaged in conversation at the dinner table. “Come join us!” exclaimed Henry jovially. “We were just about to put away the rest of the meal and have some brandy. It turns out that Mr. Hornhill is quite the connoisseur.”
Tina felt invigorated by her initiative in setting out the letter, so she decided to sit down and indulge. They poured her a brandy and her dad even offered her a cigar. She lit it up and puffed mightily, sending out a ring of smoke into the centre of the table. “So, Tina,” continued her father. “The arrangements for the marriage are all set. We will have it at the St. Paul’s church near the orchard a month from tomorrow. All of our friends and nearby family will be in attendance. What do you say to that, daughter?”
Tina felt backed into a corner once again. She didn’t really feel like she was in a position to disobey her father. As he said himself, he is putting a roof over her head and supplying her with food and clothing. But in the back of her mind, she wished she could just elope with Jacob. Tears welled up in her eyes once again. But she managed to give a nod in assent.
As they wrapped up the night, William gave Tina a warm hug. He had strong arms, and she felt relatively safe being held by them. But she didn’t feel a spark of electricity the way she did with Jacob. She tried to get a read on William’s personality by looking into his eyes, but they were icy cold. She got the feeling he was mainly a man of business and not a man of love. It would be awkward to marry this near-stranger. She could not picture being his wife and hoped that she could figure something out before the wedding.
The days flew by and Tina spent most of her time knitting and talking with her mother. Her mother was so proud of Tina for going through with the mail-order bride plan and was so reassuring that she was going to have a nice life with William. Tina did not let on that she was very disappointed and had this secret romance with Jacob. When Wednesday finally arrived, she made her way to the park at the appointed time and found Jacob waiting for her, reading a novel. As she approached he heard her footsteps and looked up at her. They made eye contact for a while, and then she approached and sat down next to him. “It’s good to see you, Tina,” said Jacob.
“Likewise! I had butterflies in my stomach the whole way over here. Jacob, it’s awful. My family is making me marry this cold, old man who has a lot of money but is not very nice.”
“Well they probably just want what’s best for you,” he responded. “But I know how it is to feel as though you have to do something when you don’t want to.”
“When I’m around you I don’t feel as though I am being forced into anything. I am with you because I want to be. That wonderful day we had with my friends and the picnic was one of the best days that I can remember. I just want more of those in my
life.”
“Well let’s not lose touch. Even if you do end up marrying this fellow, you and I can still have meetings like these. Although we will have to be very discreet about it, otherwise things could get ugly.”
“What if we made our affair public. I know that you can’t support me right now, but what if, after I married William, you showed up on the scene. Then you two would have to duel, would you not?”
“Yes, if I showed up after you two were married things would likely end in a duel. But I think I could best him. I am very quick to the trigger and I have won many duels in my life.”
“So why don’t we go through with it? Why don’t I marry him and then find some of his money and bring it out to you? And then when we’ve cleaned him out substantially you can make your interest in me public, and then William would have to have a showdown with you. Once you beat him, you and I could leave town and have a nice little life together.”
“It’s an interesting plan. Let’s see if we can make it work.”
The two of them spent the evening in each other’s arms on the bench, watching the leaves fall. At one point they got up and walked around the park a little bit, seeing the squirrels and birds run about. Then Tina asked, “Are you a good duelist?”
“I have been in over 25 duels and needless to say I’ve won them all.” Tina was impressed.
That night in her bed Tina thought about Jacob. She thought about his strong arms and imagined them hugging her. He imagined the two of them lying in bed together, sharing an intimate moment. She knew that her plan would work, and that they would be able to get rid of William shortly after they were married. She was not looking forward to consummating the marriage, however. She thought maybe she could get William drunk enough so that he passed out before the deed could be done.
The next morning at breakfast, Tina, Dorothy, and Henry sat at the table eating porridge. Henry and Dorothy were still very content at their meeting William the night before. They thought that things were wrapped up quite nicely in a neat little package. Their daughter was going to marry a rich, successful man who could provide for her. Little did they know of her own plans that she was hatching underneath the surface.