The Black Widow Bride (Mail Order Matrimony Book 3)
Page 9
Will threw back his head and laughed. “I think you’re getting ahead of yourself sweetheart. George and Alice are only fourteen years old.”
“Charles is seventeen.”
“And more interested in books on science and mathematics than girls at the moment.”
“Yes, but look how quickly the past three years have gone by.”
“I know, but our home will never be empty Elizabeth,” he said softly, sweeping a gentle hand across the swell of her stomach. “And if it makes you feel any better, I promise to do my best to see that they stay in town whomever they decide to marry.” His eyes glinted with humor.
“I suppose that’ll have to do,” she said grudgingly.
He took Martin from her arms, giving him a smacking kiss before swinging him up to sit on his shoulders. He clasped her hand and together they began the walk down the hill they had done hundreds of times before.
When they entered the saloon, the mess from the previous evening hadn’t yet been touched. The tables and bar top still needed to be wiped down, the floor swept and glasses washed. The saloon would be open soon. Usually it would be cleaned by now, but they had spent the morning loading all of Margaret’s things into the wagon and delivering them to her new residence. Afterwards, they all ate breakfast there together before heading to the church for the wedding.
All three of her siblings stood staring at the wall where the risqué painting, that unfortunately hadn’t burned in the fire, still hung. Will usually turned it around each evening but perhaps last night he had forgotten.
There was minimal damage from the fire. It was discovered quickly enough thanks to Kitty and put out by the townspeople. They and others also helped with the repairs needed and within a week, the saloon had reopened. Except for the lighter wood of the new floors, one would never know that this place nearly burned to the ground three years ago.
Elizabeth took Martin from her husband and settled him on a blanket in the corner with a few wooden toys. He would be content for the moment. She stalked toward her siblings.
“For pity’s sake, I’m getting rid of that painting once and for all,” Elizabeth declared. She gently pushed between Charles and George and froze.
“It’s not that other painting Lizzie,” Alice said, turning to look at her sister. She pointed, “It’s you.”
“I, ah, see that.” An oil portrait of her sat in place of the old painting. She had never posed for a portrait in her life, but this painting was like looking in a mirror. Except it positively glowed, her eyes, her skin, her hair. It was beautiful.
She turned to look at Will. He looked just as surprised as her.
“Don’t look at me,” he said. “I’ve never so much as picked up a paintbrush but I’d like to shake the hand of the man who did. It’s absolutely stunning Elizabeth.”
“So you don’t know who did this?”
He shook his head. “This is the first time I’ve seen it.”
“It’s signed,” Charles pointed out. “Well, initialed. J.F. Who’s J.F.?”
“I can’t think of anybody with those initials,” Will offered. “Not off the top of my head anyway.”
“It’s probably Mr. Foster,” Alice said matter-of-factly, looking back at the portrait. “I never knew he could paint. I wonder if he would teach me.”
“Who’s Mr. Foster?” Elizabeth asked.
“Mr. Foster, you know…Shorty.”
“Shorty’s name is Mr. Foster?” Elizabeth repeated.
Alice nodded.
Elizabeth looked at her husband. He shrugged. “He’s been Shorty as long as I’ve known him.”
She turned back to her sister. “How did you learn his name was Mr. Foster?”
“I asked him,” Alice replied simply.
“She asked him more than that,” George said with a roll of his eyes.
Alice put her hands on her hips. “How can you learn an answer if you don’t bother to ask a question?” She turned back to Elizabeth and wrinkled her nose. “It was a long time ago. I thought I told you.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m pretty sure I’d remember that.”
“Oh. Well, he’s here sometimes in the morning when we clean before school and—”
“What!” Will interrupted. “How does he get in?”
Alice shrugged. “I don’t know. I never asked him that.”
“I swear, he must have a key. Now I’ll need to change the locks,” Will grumbled.
Elizabeth didn’t bother pointing out that if Shorty did indeed have a key, he’d obviously had one for years. She didn’t see the point in changing that now as no harm had ever come from it.
“His first name is James,” Alice continued. “Besides collecting and reading newspapers, he likes to cook. Just like you Lizzie. Did you know he used to be a cook on cattle drives?”
Elizabeth slowly shook her head.
“And that he used to be married and had a daughter with blue eyes, just like mine. They died,” she informed them sadly.
Elizabeth stood speechless. She hadn’t known any of that. Shorty had apologized shortly after Will’s attack and her subsequent arrest. He had been there every single day to help repair the saloon. While Elizabeth had forgiven him for believing her to be the Black Widow Bride and further spreading the rumors, they hadn’t talked much since the incident beyond polite greetings.
“I didn’t know any of that,” Elizabeth said hollowly, her heart breaking at the thought of anyone losing their wife and daughter and spending the rest of their life alone. No wonder he spent so much time at the saloon.
“Neither did I. Every once in awhile I’d ask him something about his past, but he always managed to steer the conversation in a different direction. Crafty old man,” he muttered.
Elizabeth looked back at the lovely portrait. She couldn’t help but think this painting was an apology as well, but so much more heartfelt. The time he must have spent on it. He made her look almost angelic. Was that how he saw her?
Elizabeth pulled the watch from her husband’s pocket and flipped it open. “We only have twenty minutes left to clean this place up,” she announced. The children scattered to tend to their chores. She turned to Will. “Margaret and Thomas are coming for supper tomorrow night. I think I’d like to invite Shorty as well. Would you extend the invitation when you see him this afternoon?” She wanted to thank him for the portrait and perhaps start over and get to know him better.
Will looked surprised at her request. “If you want. Do you think he’d come?”
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “But life is full of surprises.” Like her marriage to Will. It had been a marriage of convenience and her third one to boot. All she had been focused on was taking care of her siblings. She never thought she’d fall in love or that such happiness even existed.
Once she lamented on her bad luck. Now she couldn’t help but think she was the luckiest woman in the world.
“I love you Will.”
Will cupped her cheek and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I love you too Elizabeth.”
The End
Also by Sarah Banks
Brides of Sweet Creek
Mail Order Anna
Mail Order Becca
Mail Order Charlotte
Mail Order Matrimony
His Surprise Bride
Almost a Bride
The Black Widow Bride