Ashley Merrick - India: Bride of Indiana (American Mail-Order Bride 19)

by Ashley Merrick

  “You like the fish?” Richard had an amused look and India felt a blush creep across her face. She knew she must have looked like she was in heaven with her first few bites.

  “It’s delicious. I haven’t had anything this good in some time.”

  “Do you like to cook?” he asked as he cut into his fish.

  “I do, actually. My sister hates it, but I love the rhythm of it, the cutting and dicing, stirring and tasting. It’s relaxing to me.”

  “That’s good to hear, because my skills are limited. My mother has been sending food home every week and I have a housekeeper that comes in every now and then to help with the cleaning. I have an account at the local mercantile, so you can buy whatever you need for food and supplies.”

  “Really? That’s very generous of you.”

  Richard chuckled. “Not really. You’ll be feeding all of us, and I like to eat well.”

  India’s mind swirled at the thought of being able to buy whatever she wanted for food. She couldn’t wait to make a chicken potpie or beef stew, two of her favorite dishes. It had been a long time since she’d had either.

  “Well, you won’t go hungry, then. I really do love to cook.”

  Richard looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, and then said, “I’m glad to hear it.”

  They continued chatting easily, much to India’s surprise as they finished eating their lunch.

  “Do you have room for dessert?” he asked as the waiter cleared their empty plates.

  India hesitated for a moment. She knew the ladylike thing to do would be to decline dessert, but she did have room and she loved dessert.

  “They have a wonderful apple crisp here. I’m going to have one. Would you join me?”

  “All right. That sounds lovely.”

  By the time they finished the dessert, India was well and truly full. Richard Blake wasn’t as bad as she’d feared. He was actually quite pleasant and the situation as he described it sounded close to ideal, if one had to be a mail-order bride. She imagined it could be a lot worse. He could be a mean person, or poor, or both.

  She shuddered at the thought. Richard seemed to be exactly as he described, a good man. He said he was close to his family, which seemed like a good sign and he spoke of his children with fondness. While it might not be the marriage of her childhood dreams, it at least seemed like a bearable situation.

  “Well, shall we go?” Richard stood and waited for her to join him. He’d already paid the bill when India saw Henry Davis walking toward them.

  “If you could please excuse me for a moment, I need to speak to Henry.”

  “Of course.” India watched as Richard walked over to Henry. They spoke briefly and then Henry walked off toward the exit.

  Richard returned to her side and they walked outside.

  “I’ll be driving you back, as Henry is busy on another project for me this afternoon,” Richard said as the hotel valet brought his buggy over to them. Richard helped India into the passenger side and then settled in himself, taking the reins. They were both quiet during the ride back to her apartment building and India grew nervous. What if he didn’t think their meeting had gone as well as she did? What would she do if he didn’t propose? She had very little money left and although Beth had said she could send her money to help in a pinch if she needed it, she didn’t want to do that if she could help it.

  When Richard pulled up outside her building, India swallowed hard and stared into her lap. She looked up hesitantly at the sound of his voice.

  “I think our meeting went well. I hope that you feel the same?” he asked and India nodded.

  “If you are agreeable, I’d like us to marry tomorrow morning at the town offices and then be on the noon train.”

  India breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t even realized that she’d been holding her breath.

  “Yes, that sounds like a good plan.”

  Richard smiled slightly. India was sure she was imagining it, but for a moment she’d thought he looked a bit nervous, too.

  “Very good. I’ll come by at nine a.m. sharp to collect you. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

  “Thank you.”

  Richard hopped out of the buggy. He came out to her side to help her climb out and then held the door to her building open.

  “See you in the morning, India.” Richard closed the door behind her and she watched for a moment while he returned to the buggy, climbed in and then drove off. She smiled to herself as she started up the stairs to her apartment. She was getting married in the morning!

  Chapter 3

  Richard Blake breathed a sigh of relief as he drove away from India Mitchell’s home. He’d been reasonably certain that she would accept his proposal. There was still the glimmer of a possibility that she might have had a change of heart, though he supposed even if she was less than enthused with the idea of marrying him, she was practical enough to recognize the opportunity that presented itself. He frowned, though, and felt a bit guilty at the arrangement she was agreeing to. It was hardly fair to her. She should be marrying a nice young man instead and preparing to start a family. Instead, she was stuck with him.

  And she was a beautiful girl. That had startled him at first. He supposed it shouldn’t have, but it did. He simply hadn’t thought about her enough to have formed any kind of an image, but even so, she surprised him. She was a lovely girl and even though he couldn’t ever give his heart to another woman again, he wasn’t dead yet and he could appreciate a woman’s beauty.

  She was the very opposite of his wife. Where Amy had been a delicate blonde beauty with clear blue eyes and a smile that melted his soul, India’s brown hair was so dark that it almost seemed black and her eyes were a deep, chocolate brown. Every emotion was reflected in them, he’d noticed, from fear and hesitation to joy and warmth when she spoke about her family and her love for cooking. India seemed like a gentle soul. There was a calmness about her that was soothing and he was grateful for it. He sensed that in time, they could perhaps develop a friendship of sorts.

  A knock on his hotel suite door got his attention. When he opened the door, Henry stood there holding a stack of papers.

  “Did you run into any issues?” Richard asked. He was pleased with Henry’s work so far. He had been referred to Richard by the hotel, and they’d arranged for his services to assist as needed for any business matters during his visit.

  Henry smiled. “None at all. You just need to bring these papers back in the morning with your signature and you can be married in the town clerk’s office. She’s a beautiful girl, if you don’t mind my saying so.”

  “I don’t mind at all. Thank you very much, Henry. This has been a huge help.” He took the stack of papers that Henry handed him and set them on a side table.

  “Is there anything else that you need me to do today?”

  “No, I don’t think so. You’ll drive us in the morning? To the town hall and then to catch the train?”

  “Of course. It would be my pleasure.” Henry nodded as he closed the door behind him and Richard returned to his thoughts of India. It was settled, then. All the paperwork was in order. All that remained was for them to show up in the morning and get married.

  Chapter 4

  “So, tell us all about him! What is he like?” Michelle asked eagerly as India and her roommates gathered around the kitchen table. When India had arrived home after lunch, the apartment was eerily quiet. Her roommates were out and she had the place to herself. After an hour of doing nothing, she’d felt stir crazy and needed to do something to focus and get her mind off the fact that she was getting married the next day. She was both excited and terrified at the same time.

  Impulsively, she decided to splurge and dip into her meager savings. She went to the local butcher and bought a large chicken. She then stopped for a handful of vegetables and spent the rest of the afternoon making her signature dish—a fragrant chicken potpie, scented with rosemary and sage and topped with a flaky pastry crust. The girls had all
arrived home at about the same time, just as India was taking the pie out of the oven. They were all excited to hear her news and to enjoy a good dinner for once.

  “I’ll tell you in a minute. Let’s all sit down to eat first.” India quickly made plates of pie for everyone and then they prepared to eat, letting their dinner cool while they waited to hear what India had to say.

  “He seems nice enough. We had a nice lunch at his hotel.”

  “Where is he staying?” Dacey asked.

  “The Northbridge.”

  “Impressive!” Chevonne said as she lifted a bite of steaming pie and blew on it to cool it off. India had given Chevonne the biggest helping. She was a tiny little thing—very pretty, with blonde hair and an upturned nose, but she was always hungry and no matter how much she ate, she never put on even a bit of weight.

  “What does he look like? Are the scars bad?” Della asked the question that no doubt the rest all wondered and India smiled. Leave it to Della. She wasn’t afraid to say what was on her mind and it was a quality that she loved about her.

  “Not as bad as I expected, though I haven’t seen his body, of course, and he said his whole right side was burned. He does have some scarring on the side of his face, and there is a slight droop to his eye.” There was a sudden quiet around the table and India nervously added, “It’s not as bad as it sounds. He’s a very nice man.”

  “You like him, then? Enough to marry him?” Michelle looked worried for her. India smiled and hoped to put her mind at ease.

  “I have a good feeling about him, about this. He speaks warmly of his family and that’s important to me. Oh, and he said I can buy whatever I want for the kitchen, any food or supplies.”

  “Anything? You can buy anything? Is he wealthy?” Chevonne asked.

  “I don’t know if he’s wealthy, but I think he’s comfortable enough that I won’t have to eat cabbage soup ever again, unless I get a craving for it,” India said with a chuckle.

  “Cheers to that!” Michelle held up her glass of water and they all tapped their glasses together.

  “Will you get married before you leave for Indiana?” Della asked.

  “Yes, tomorrow morning actually. He’s coming for me at nine and then we’re going to take the noon train.”

  “Tomorrow is going to come awfully fast. I can help you pack,” Michelle said quickly and then her voice quivered and her eyes watered. “I just hate to see you go so soon. You know I’m going to miss you something awful.” She dabbed her eyes with a cloth napkin and India suddenly felt the need to do the same with her own napkin. She’d held herself together all afternoon, but seeing her best friend cry set her tears flowing, too.

  “I hate to leave all of you.” She looked at Michelle. “You’ll be next to go possibly, or maybe Chevonne or Della or Dacey. We’re all going to go our separate ways and do what we have to do. I hope that you all find happiness and I want to hear all about it. Promise me that you’ll write?”

  The girls all nodded, and Michelle was still dabbing at her eyes. India forced a smile.

  “I don’t want my last night to be a sad one. Let’s celebrate our futures. Who wants a second helping of potpie?”

  Chapter 5

  India hardly slept that night. She had packed earlier and spent most of the evening, laughing and remembering all the good times with her roommates. They drifted off to bed and it was just her and Michelle, and the two of them stayed up until the wee hours, talking and laughing and occasionally crying at the thought of losing their best friend. Finally, they’d hugged and said goodnight. India still tossed and turned for a bit before finally drifting into a restless sleep. She woke early, feeling both exhausted and energized from nerves at the same time. She heated up enough water for a quick soak in the tub and scrubbed herself clean. She knew that they’d be traveling on the train for three to four days and wanted to start the trip as fresh and clean as possible.

  Once her bath was done, she dressed in her favorite dress. It was a simple, blue cotton one that was comfortable and flattering. She’d made it herself and it was a well-made dress that she’d repaired several times so that it still looked relatively new. India didn’t mind sewing. Sometimes she actually liked it, depending on what she was making. It was more fun to make dresses for herself and her sister than to sew in the factory. Her sister Beth had hated sewing. The job at the factory had been a terrible fit for her.

  India’s roommates were just waking up when India brought her two large bags into the living area. She had packed everything she owned and that was dear to her in those two bags. But she didn’t have much. A few simple dresses and books, shoes and her toiletry items. And pictures of her family, of course. Though they weren’t with her any more, she could at least keep their photos nearby. She looked forward to their letters and to writing to the girls and learning about their new lives. A crisp knock at the door made her jump as she was lost in her thoughts.

  Michelle was up and had a big gray sweater wrapped around her nightdress as she opened the front door and then stepped back to let Richard in.

  “You must be Mr. Blake,” she said sleepily.

  Richard smiled and held out his hand. “Please call me Richard.”

  “Michelle. And this is Chevonne and Della. Dacey is still sleeping.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you all.” Richard’s gaze found India’s. “Are you ready?” His voice had softened just a bit. India smiled and tried to push the nerves away.

  “Yes, these are my two bags right here.”

  “Please take good care of her. India is very special to us,” Michelle said to Richard and then ran to give India a final hug good-bye.

  “I will, you can be sure of it,” Richard promised and India felt grateful for the reassurance.

  “I think it will be all right,” India whispered in Michelle’s ear.

  “If it’s not, just let me know. Write to me and we’ll figure something out.” Michelle was serious and India nodded. “I will.” She hugged the rest of the girls good-bye and then gave Michelle a final hug before following Richard out the door. He had both of her bags in hand and was carrying them as if they were filled with feathers.

  “Your friends seem very nice,” he said as they settled into the back seat of a larger carriage that Henry was driving. Richard had put her bags next to his in the rear of the vehicle and then they were on their way.

  The service at the town hall was oddly fast and efficient. Henry stood with them as their witness and India did gasp just a little when Richard slid a gorgeous diamond ring onto her finger. Henry then handed her a gold band for her to give to Richard and before she knew it, they were married and Richard was instructed by the elderly court officer that he could kiss the bride. His lips brushed hers lightly and India was surprised to find his kiss not unpleasant. It was over before it began, though, and Henry brought them back to the hotel for an early lunch since they were leaving on the train at noon.

  After they ate, Henry brought them to the station and they boarded at a quarter to noon. India was intrigued to learn that were riding in style in a first class Grand Trunk Sleeper car which would take them through New York and Montreal and then to South Bend en route to Chicago.

  “It’s actually quite nice,” Richard said as they settled into their car, which had a plush sitting area and two slim beds.

  Nice turned out to be an understatement. The train was so much more elegant than India could ever have imagined. She was fascinated sitting by the window and watching the world flash by outside. It was amazing to her that they’d be in another part of the country in just a few days’ time. And this train went so fast. Richard had said it averaged forty-five miles an hour for most stretches.

  Even more impressive was the food. The first class dining cars were relatively new, Richard had said, and were something the railway was especially proud of. India enjoyed every bit of it. She was still so grateful to be eating well and on her way to what she hoped would be a new home that she would gr
ow to love.

  She was a little disappointed that Richard was so quiet for most of the trip, though. He had books with him and spent most of his time either buried in a book or writing letters. He spoke some at meal times but seemed preoccupied and distant, and India wondered if this was how it was going to be in South Bend, too—him in his own world while she attended to the children and cooked and cleaned.

  She sighed. It was fine. It was what she’d signed up for, but he had seemed a bit friendlier and more interesting at their first meeting. She hoped that eventually, that person would make an appearance again.

  Finally, three and a half days later, the train pulled into South Bend, Indiana, just a bit before five in the evening. The sun was on its way down and there was a chill in the air. Thanksgiving was just a week away and then before she knew it, Christmas would be right around the corner.

  “We’re here.” Richard had an energy to his voice that got India’s attention. She glanced up and saw him looking out the window, scanning the crowd for familiar faces. And then she saw his expression change when he saw them. He smiled and it reached his eyes as he turned to India. “Let’s go. They’re waiting on the platform for us.”

  India followed Richard outside and over to a small group that was huddled together—two small children and an older woman and man that India guessed were Richard’s parents and his children. The children were standing close to his mother, until they caught sight of their father and ran over to him.

  “Daddy!” they both exclaimed as they barreled into him.

  “My favorite little monkeys!” Richard bent down and gathered the small girl and boy in for a big hug and then asked them, “Have you been good for Grammy?”