Bid for a Bride

by Nordin, Ruth Ann

  Addy nudged Eliza. “Don’t be shy, you two. Have a seat and I’ll serve up some cookies.”

  Brian pulled out a chair for Eliza and waited until she sat down before he pushed it in. He turned toward Addy.

  “Go on and sit,” Addy told him. “I’ll be up and down getting things as they’re needed.”

  He nodded and sat next to his mother, which happened to be directly across from Lucy.

  It was unnerving that he stared in her direction. He seldom blinked or moved his eyes. Lucy shifted in her chair so that she didn’t have to look at him.

  “Brian’s my adopted son,” Eliza spoke up while Addy set a plate of cookies in the middle of the table. “John and I found him when he was eight.”

  Unsure of how to respond, Lucy picked up a cookie and bit into it. She didn’t know why Eliza would share this information with her. They’d just met after all, but she suspected Eliza’s intentions were good.

  “John and I couldn’t have a child together, so finding Brian was an answer to our prayers,” Eliza continued.

  Lucy’s hands trembled so she quickly set the cookie on the plate Addy set out for her and smoothed them on her dress. A child? Her heart raced with dread. What would she do if her time with Adam resulted in a child?

  From across the table, Brian’s eyebrows furrowed, and she struggled not to bolt from the room. He couldn’t know what she was thinking. No one could read another person’s mind. But he sensed her unease. She was sure he did.

  Addy poured more coffee into Lucy’s cup before making her rounds to everyone else’s cup. “John is mute, so John and Brian had to work out a system to communicate. It took awhile, didn’t it, Eliza?”

  “A good year.” Eliza nodded and turned back to Lucy. “We had to learn sign language. John signs the words and Brian touches his hands so he knows what John is telling him.”

  “Quite clever if you ask me,” Addy said as she finally took her seat and picked up her cookie.

  “Well, to be fair, your daughter knew a man who could teach us,” Eliza told Addy with a smile.

  “It works well,” Brian spoke up. “I rarely misunderstand what Pa means.”

  “Those two are close,” Eliza said. “They make furniture together out at our place. It’s quiet and simple out there.” She chuckled. “Though I suppose with me chatting away, it’s not so quiet. As you can tell, I talk a lot more than Brian.”

  Lucy offered a slight smile, finding the comment amusing since she could already tell Eliza enjoyed talking.

  A knock at the door caused Addy to stand up. “I’ll get that,” she said and swallowed the bite of cookie before she wiped her hands on her apron and hastened to the door.

  “It sure is busy at Addy’s house,” Eliza replied. “You’re in good hands with her, Lucy. She’s got a heart of gold.”

  “Yes, I can see that,” Lucy agreed.

  “Brian likes to come for the tasty treats.” Eliza giggled. “I’m afraid I’m not very good at cooking.”

  “You do fine,” Brian said finally glancing in his mother’s direction.

  “It’s edible,” Eliza replied. “I haven’t killed anyone yet, and that counts for something.”

  At that, Lucy laughed, but her laughter died when she saw the preacher and another man following Addy into the kitchen. She tensed, barely aware that Brian shifted in his chair in response.

  “Mrs. Nilles, ma’am,” the preacher said, taking off his hat. “This is the marshal.”

  Lucy gripped the edge of the table and stood. This was it. They were going to put her in jail. Brian stood as well, but she ignored him. She forced her attention on the two imposing men who had grim looks on their faces.

  The marshal stepped forward, and she resisted the urge to step back. “We have a private matter to discuss with you, ma’am. I hope you don’t mind coming with us.”

  She wanted to say no, but she knew she couldn’t.

  Eliza stood and held Lucy’s hand. “Would it help if one of us went with you?”

  Lucy glanced from Addy to Eliza and nodded, purposely avoiding Brian who continued to stay back and observe everything.

  “I’ll go,” Addy said and put her arm around Lucy’s shoulders. “It’ll be alright. You don’t have anything to worry about, Lucy.”

  Lucy’s lower lip trembled. That was easy for Addy to say. She didn’t just commit bigamy.

  “The marshal and preacher are good men,” Brian spoke, startling her. “They won’t hurt you.”

  “He’s right,” Eliza added. “You’re in good hands with these two.”

  Not at all reassured by any of the people in the room, Lucy reluctantly followed the marshal and preacher. Addy held her close and went with her. Had it not been for Addy’s strength, Lucy thought she might collapse. The entire day had been a nightmare, and this was one horrible continuation of it. How different things looked for her only a week ago when she exchanged vows with Adam and departed from Minnesota, saying good-bye to her family.

  At the doorway, Addy stopped and handed her the bonnet which Lucy mechanically put on her head. Addy followed suit with her own bonnet and placed her arm back around Lucy’s shoulders. They went with the men to the jailhouse, and Lucy felt her stomach toss and turn. As she went through the entrance, she feared she might lose her supper and prayed it was nerves and not a baby that made her sick. Women didn’t experience sickness so early in pregnancy, did they? She struggled to remember everything her mother taught her but her mind drew a blank.

  The marshal pointed to the seats in front of his desk. “Have a seat, ma’am, Mrs. Garrison. I’ll be right back.”

  After he left, the preacher smiled reassuringly at them. “There’s nothing to worry about. We’ll get this mess straightened out.”

  Lucy fell into the chair, her shoulders sagging. Fresh tears fell down her cheeks.

  Addy sat down and reached for her hand. “You’ll be alright. You’re not in trouble.”

  “She’s right, ma’am. You have nothing to worry about,” the preacher said.

  “I don’t?” Lucy asked, peering up at him.

  “No. This isn’t your crime. It’s Adam’s,” he replied.

  “But…but I married him,” she cried, taking the apron Addy handed her so she could wipe her eyes.

  “You didn’t know he was married, did you?” he asked.

  Appalled, she shook her head. “No. Of course not. I would never have married him if I’d known.”

  “Then you are innocent in this crime. You didn’t know he was married. The marshal’s going to send out word for Adam’s arrest. In the meantime, we’ll get the marriage annulled.”

  It took her a moment to register the fact that she wasn’t in trouble after all, and when she did, she cried even harder but this time with an overwhelming sense of relief. She wasn’t going to jail. They weren’t going to lock her away for life. Her hands shook as she dabbed her eyes.

  The marshal returned to the jailhouse and brought another man with him. “You’re in luck, Mrs. Nilles. The judge is making his round through our town this week.”

  She glanced from one man to another, not sure she understood their meaning.

  The judge had some papers in his hand, and he tipped his hat in her direction. “This won’t take long, ma’am. The marshal explained the situation, and we’ll get the paperwork started to annul your marriage. It’ll be like the marriage never happened.”

  “You can do that? I mean, it’s that simple?” Lucy asked.

  “It’s the United States’ law,” the judge said. “The man you married is the one liable for the crime. Not you. I just need your help filling out these forms, and we’ll get things taken care of, alright?”

  She nodded. The tension in her stomach eased as Addy rubbed her back, and she proceeded to tell the judge everything he needed to know.

  When he was satisfied with the information she gave him, he handed her a piece of paper. “This states that your marriage to Adam Nilles never happened due to ground
s of bigamy.”

  “Just like that?” she asked, slowly taking the paper from him.

  “Everything I need you to do is done.” He stood up, collected the sheets of paper, and tucked them under his arm. “I’ll take care of these when I get to Sioux Falls, but yes, it’s pretty much a done deal.”

  “And I’ll notify the other marshals to be on the lookout for Adam Nilles, if that’s his real name,” the marshal said.

  Lucy blanched at the thought he hadn’t even used his real name. “That’s the name he put on the marriage license. We had a small wedding, and it was rushed.” Her voice grew softer as she continued. “Now I know why he was in a hurry.”

  Addy patted her shoulder. “There’s no way you could’ve known.”

  “That’s the truth of it,” the preacher agreed. “Don’t trouble yourself over the past. The important thing is you move on.”

  “That’s right.” The marshal offered her a kind smile. “We know what Adam Nilles looks like, and we’ll get a drawing of him posted. If we can, we’ll bring him to justice so he doesn’t do this to someone else.”

  “In the meantime,” the preacher began, “you might want to think about finding a legitimate husband.”

  “That shouldn’t be too hard,” the marshal said. “We know all the men and which are married and which aren’t.”

  “Oh, Marshal,” Addy replied with a grin, “no man in this town would dream of committing bigamy.”

  He smiled at her. “I realize that but I thought Lucy might like the assurance, and I agree with the preacher.” He glanced at Lucy. “You’d be hard pressed to make a living out here. No one needs governesses, and we have a school teacher already. Your best bet is to find a husband.”

  Lucy sighed, not liking that particular option at this point.

  “Or you could return home,” Addy suggested. “We’d chip in for your fare on the stage coach.”

  The thought of returning home after what happened with her sister made Lucy’s stomach do another turn. “Um…no. I can’t go back.”

  The silence hung in the room, and Lucy contemplated her options. Not that she really had any. Even if a teaching position had been opened, her education was limited. Beyond knowing how to keep a home, she had no skills that would endear her for any kind of employment.

  “It’s something to keep in mind,” the preacher finally said. “Take some time to think about it. You’ve been through enough today.”

  Lucy knew the reprieve from any decision making was temporary, but she welcomed it. The preacher was right. She’d been through so much that her head was spinning. “I’ll think about it.”

  Addy nodded and helped Lucy to her feet. “You can stay at my house for the time being.”

  “Oh, that reminds me.” The marshal went to the front door and opened it. “I brought back the buggy and your belongings seem to be in it, Lucy. I’ll take them to Addy’s house, and you can sort through them at your leisure.”

  The last thing Lucy wanted was a reminder of Adam, but she’d need her clothes and having a buggy might prove useful, should she ever need one. “Thank you, Marshal.”

  “There,” Addy said. “Things are looking up already.”

  Lucy dutifully indicated her agreement because she was expected to, not because she believed it. She walked with Addy out of the jailhouse and down the street, pulling the sides of her bonnet further out so she didn’t have to see the people who turned and stared at her while she and Addy strode back to the house.

  As the marshal promised, he took the buggy to Addy’s house and brought the carpet bag into the parlor while Addy went to the kitchen.

  He set Lucy’s belongings on the floor by the fireplace and turned to her. “You’ll be just fine here, ma’am. Addy will take good care of you, and if you’d like my opinion, the men will be more than happy to take you as wife. There aren’t enough women in these parts, and my eldest daughter is thirteen so she has a couple of years yet before the gents come courting.”

  Lucy knew he meant to be comforting, but she didn’t feel like hearing about any of the men in town. At least not now. But she knew she’d be rude if she didn’t thank him so she did.

  He seemed pleased and headed out.

  Addy came down the hallway and peered into the room. “Did the marshal leave already?”

  Wiping her hands on her dress, Lucy said, “Yes.”

  “What a shame. I’d have offered him something to eat or drink for getting that judge to take care of the mess for you.” Addy shrugged and smiled. “Eliza and Brian left while we were gone. They even cleaned up the kitchen for me.” She laughed. “You’ll learn that the Evans go above and beyond for their friends. Well, come along. You can sleep in my daughter’s old room.”

  Not knowing what else to do and wishing to lie down and rest, Lucy picked up her bag and followed Addy up the stairs.

  Chapter Three

  The next morning, Brian touched the smooth surface of the table he was sanding in the work shed. He felt a rough spot and rubbed the sandpaper over it. Then he traced the area with his fingers and was assured that the table was ready for staining.

  After he finished with his part of the job, he grabbed his walking stick and stood up. He stopped when he heard the sound of footsteps. Turning, he faced the open doorway and smiled at the familiar scent of peppermint. “Good morning, Preacher. Did you come to ask my pa and me to make you some furniture?”

  He sensed Preacher Davis’ smile. “Maybe next time. I wanted to talk to you about that woman who arrived in town yesterday. Lucy? You remember her?”

  “It’s hard to forget a stranger in this small town.” He motioned to the chair his pa usually sat in. “You want a seat?”

  “I’d be much obliged.”

  Brian returned to his chair and waited for the sound of the preacher sitting before he asked, “You want to talk to me about Lucy?”

  “Yes. About her…” He cleared his throat. “She’s been through a rough time.”

  Brian nodded. He already surmised as much. From the trembling of her hand when he shook it and the slight shakiness of her voice, she hadn’t been having a great day. But then, what could be expected from a woman deserted in a strange town?

  “You see,” the preacher continued, “the man who ran off had married her, but he already had a wife and children.”

  “Oh?” Brian blinked in surprise.

  “We’re not sure where he went or even where his wife and children are. But that’s not why I’m here. I came to ask you if you’d consider marrying her. The judge has annulled her marriage before he headed out to the next town. I tell you, God’s timing was behind that one. Had she gotten here today, she’d have to wait for him to return.”

  Brian tried to focus on the details of what the preacher was telling him, but he kept going over the thought that he might marry her. His heart raced with an unexpected excitement at the prospect. He thought he might take a trip to town with his mother again to pay Lucy a visit but planned to wait, to give her time to get used to being in town.

  “Anyway,” the preacher continued, “she has no one to provide for her, and I’m afraid with what’s happened…you know, with the annulment and all, that she might be expecting a child. She was with Adam for a week.”

  His mind went back to the preacher. “You don’t think the other men will treat the baby well?”

  The preacher sighed. “There may not be a baby. It’s too soon to know, and she surely doesn’t know yet. If she’s not with child, then there’s no problem. She can marry anyone, and all will be well. But if she is expecting, there’s no telling if the other men will want to raise a child who doesn’t belong to them. With you, however…considering what you’ve been through…Well, I can’t think of a better man who’d welcome an illegitimate child as his own. And if you married her sooner, rather than later, then no one would assume the child was someone else’s.”

  Brian nodded. “That would be the wisest course of action.”

 
“I’m glad you think so. I thought of all the men who’d understand how delicate the situation is, it’d be you. This might be a good community, but there are some who have their prejudices.”

  “Yes, I know.” Brian was all too aware of how some people could be, and he didn’t like the thought of Lucy having to bear the brunt of their gossip. They wouldn’t care what the circumstances surrounding a child’s birth was, and if he could prevent a child from feeling unloved, then he’d do his part. “I suppose it’d be wise to call on Lucy this afternoon then.”

  The preacher exhaled. “That’d be best. If she agrees to marry you, just come by my house. My wife can be a witness.”

  Brian nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  Brian heard the preacher’s chair scraping back and felt the vibration on the floor as the preacher stood. He followed suit and stretched out his hand which the preacher shook.

  “God bless you, son,” the preacher said.

  “You too, sir.”

  Brian waited until he heard the preacher head out on his horse before he left the work shed so he could talk to his mother about going into town.

  ***

  Lucy walked beside Addy who insisted on showing her around town. Lucy joined her out of a sense of obligation. The woman had been most kind to her, and Lucy didn’t want to upset her. But what she really wanted was to hide in bed and wait for her life to end.

  Even if Addy, her husband Frank, the preacher, the marshal, and the judge assured her that she did nothing to be ashamed of, she still tightened the bonnet around her face to hide it as much as possible. People stopped and stared anyway, and Addy made it a point to introduce her to every single one. If Lucy was any good with names, she would have remembered who was who, but as it was, all the names and faces became one big blur. The young men seemed especially interested in her, for they lingered about the longest and offered to stop by and see her later in the week. These offers made her inwardly cringe.

  Addy laughed as another young man walked off. “There’s no fighting it, Lucy. You’re beautiful and men like that kind of thing in a woman.”