Marnie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 4)

by Shanna Hatfield

  At the end of the brief but heartfelt ceremony, Lars’ eyes twinkled with mischief when Pastor Whitting gave him permission to kiss his bride.

  He took a step closer to her, wrapping a brawny arm around her waist while his other hand caressed her cheek. “The first of many kisses between man and wife,” he whispered, and lowered his head.

  “Give her a good one, Lars!” Noah cheered, making everyone laugh.

  Lars glanced down at the boy and winked. “I plan on it, son.” True to his word, Lars kissed her ardently, making it clear he was wholly entranced with his bride. Finally, he raised his head with a cocky grin.

  Pink blossoms bloomed in Marnie’s cheeks as some of the men whistled and clapped.

  “Please join us for a delicious meal,” Lars said, inviting the attendees to tables set up on the side of the house beneath the shade of the trees.

  After the meal was eaten and most of the cake had been consumed, Marnie and Lars walked around the yard, speaking to each guest, thanking them for coming.

  Much to her surprise, Lars had invited her friends from Miss Clementine’s place. Gertie, Daisy, Lewis and Miss Clementine herself arrived just before the ceremony began. Pleased to see them, Marnie hugged them all again.

  “I dun tol’ ya, sweet pea, ya jes needed to look in the right place to find the right man.” Gertie grinned and hugged Marnie again. “Look what a fine one ya dun found.”

  Marnie looked up at Lars with her heart in her eyes. “I certainly did, Gertie.”

  “We must get back to town, but I am truly happy for you, Marnie. May you have a lifetime of happiness together,” Miss Clementine said, giving Marnie another hug and handing Lars a paper-wrapped parcel. “That’s a little gift from me to you, Mr. Thorsen.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” Lars tipped his head to Miss Clementine.

  Together, he and Marnie watched them leave. Before long, the rest of the guests departed. Noah went with Caterina and Kade while Aundy and Garrett took Sadie and Sophie home with them.

  Soon, Marnie and Lars were alone at Dogwood Corners. Shea and Arthur Meade volunteered to stay at Marnie’s apartment in town for the night, leaving the entire house to the newlywed couple.

  Eager to make the most of their time together, Lars swept Marnie into his arms and carried her up the broad steps to the front door.

  “Welcome home, Mrs. Thorsen,” he said, toeing the door open and stepping inside the grand entry foyer.

  Marnie wasn’t sure she’d ever grow accustomed to living in such a luxurious house, but she looked forward to the opportunity.

  “I can’t quite believe this is all real,” she said as Lars used his boot heel to close the door.

  A bouquet of fragrant flowers filled the air with a spicy scent from a round table near the door. Marnie looked around, admiring the shiny wood of the stairs to the gleam on the polished floors. “Arthur and Shea certainly do a wonderful job of caring for Dogwood Corners.”

  “They do,” Lars agreed. He took a step toward the stairs then stopped. “Do you need anything to eat, something to drink?”

  “No, sugar, I’m just fine.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m so, so happy to be here with you.”

  Flames flickered in Lars’ blue eyes. “In that case…” He hurried up the stairs with her.

  Marnie laughed and lightly tapped his shoulder. “You crazy man! Put me down before you injure yourself carrying me up all these stairs.”

  “You don’t weigh as much as a sack of feed and I kind of like having you snuggled up close in my arms.” Lars used his elbow to push open the door to the master suite and stepped inside.

  Marnie had taken a quick look through the house the previous day, but she’d been so excited about marrying Lars, she hadn’t paid any mind to the bedrooms.

  Now, though, as Lars carried her into the expansive room, she sucked in a gulp of air at her exquisite surroundings. The room was bigger than the entire apartment above Ilsa’s store.

  White curtains billowed in the breeze blowing in the windows and open door that led to a balcony. Soft carpeting covered the floor. In addition to a huge bed covered in expensive cream-colored linens, there was a desk and chair, a sofa, a rocking chair, tables and lamps. A bookshelf sat against one wall with Marnie’s bright pink chair beside it.

  “You brought my chair?” She turned her gaze from the room to her husband.

  “Sure did.” Lars set her on her feet and grinned. “Like I said yesterday, it won’t take long for you to fill all the bedrooms with youngsters. We’re gonna need a place to get away from all the craziness of this house and running an orphanage. I want this room to be our haven, a place where we can escape the world and rest in each other.”

  “I like the sound of that,” Marnie said, standing on her tiptoes and pulling Lars’ mouth down to meet hers.

  Lost for several long moments in the fervent exchange, he raised his head and grinned at her. “You might want to check out the rest of our haven.” He pointed to a door across the room.

  Marnie opened it and fought back the urge to clap her hands in glee. The large bathroom held the biggest bathtub she’d ever seen, along with every modern convenience anyone could want. “Oh, Lars, this is amazing.”

  He slipped his arms around her waist from behind and kissed her neck. “I think we’ll put that tub to good use.”

  Nearly overcome with emotions, with her longing for the gentle, caring man who’d changed her life, Marnie turned around and smiled at him. “Are you going to open the gift from Miss Clementine?”

  Lars had left the parcel on a table downstairs. The last thing he wanted to do was leave her long enough to retrieve it. “Can’t it wait until later?”

  Marnie shrugged. “Don’t you think it’s odd she said the gift was for you? I’m just curious to see what it could possibly be.”

  To humor his bride, Lars nodded his head. “I’ll fetch it, but don’t you dare run off anywhere.”

  “I won’t move an inch,” Marnie said, offering him a flirtatious smile as he raced out the door. Giggles burst out of her as she listened to him thud down the stairs. His boots clattered across the entry floor then she heard the sound of him charging upstairs.

  He rushed into the room, only slightly winded, holding the present in his hand. At the wild look in his eyes, she laughed. “I dare you to do that when the children are here.”

  “Maybe I will,” he said, casting a teasing smile her way as he walked across the room and handed her the paper-wrapped parcel. “You open it.”

  “Nope. Miss Clementine said it was for you.” Marnie shoved her hands behind her back and shook her head. “You open it.”

  Lars yanked off the ribbon and tore away the paper. The pale pink lace and satin creation in his hands brought a broad smile to his face. He held it out and took a step closer to Marnie. “Well, sweet thing, now I know why she said this was for me.” Waggling his eyebrows, he held the outfit out to her.

  “My gracious!” Marnie said, shocked at the gift. She’d sold all of her working girl outfits, determined to put every bit of that life behind her. The scandalous piece of clothing Lars held in his hands was nicer than anything she’d ever owned in her days as a harlot, and much more revealing. “No proper lady would be caught dead in that!”

  Lars chuckled. “That’s why I’m extremely glad you’re alive and well, Marnie. I look forward to seeing you wear this, when it’s just the two of us here in this room.” He tossed the outfit onto a chair and took a step closer to his wife. “However, right now, I’m much more interested in seeing you without that gorgeous dress on.”

  Despite the years she’d spent as a soiled dove, Marnie blushed at Lars’ words and the look of pure wanting in his eyes.

  The moment she ducked her head, he tipped her chin up with his index finger and grinned again. “Don’t you go getting embarrassed, wife of mine. Not now. Not ever. I love you for who you are, who you’ll become.”

  He turned her around and slowly unfastened the button
s on the back of her gown. “I love you, Marnie, with my whole heart.” He pushed her dress off her arms, watching it slide to the floor before he stepped around her and gave her a roguish smile. “And I greatly look forward to loving every bit of you.”

  “Lars,” Marnie whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a deep, passionate kiss. “You’re far, far better than any dream I’ve ever had, and I promise to spend the rest of my life loving you with all my heart. Thank you for giving me the gift of your love, sugar.”

  “I’m just getting started, sweet thing.” Lars swept her into his arms again, into the beginning of their future together.

  Coconut Cake

  In an effort to provide you with an authentic cake recipe from the early 1900s, I went on a quest for a delicious recipe. I scoured online offerings, referred to a handful of cookbooks I inherited from Captain Cavedweller’s grandmother, and gathered ideas. After baking approximately half a dozen cakes and forcing my beloved to try them all, we arrived at the conclusion we are spoiled by today’s light, airy cakes. All the recipes I tried seemed so heavy and dense. Rather than share one of those disappointing recipes, I’m instead giving you one of my favorite cake recipes. Even though it uses a boxed mix, I think Lars and Marnie would approve.

  Coconut Cake

  1 white or vanilla cake mix

  3 eggs

  1/2 cup oil

  1 1/3 cups water

  3 cups of freshly whipped whipping cream

  1 tsp. vanilla

  1/2 cup powdered sugar

  1/2 cup raspberry jam

  14-ounce bag of shredded, sweetened coconut

  Fresh raspberries

  Mint for garnish (optional)

  Preheat oven to 350.

  Mix cake mix, eggs, oil and water, following cake mix package directions. Pour into three 8-inch cake pans that have been greased (or sprayed with non-stick spray). Try to get the layers as even as possible.

  Bake until cake bounces back when touched lightly or toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (about 18 minutes or so).

  Remove from oven and let cool completely.

  Whip whipping cream until stiff. Add in vanilla and powdered sugar. Stir in gently.

  Place first layer of cake on a cake stand or serving platter. Spread a thin layer of whipping cream then a nice layer of jam on the cake layer. Repeat with the second layer then top with the third. Generously cover the entire cake with the whipping cream.

  Freeze the cake until ready to serve. This is particularly handy because you can freeze it well ahead of time. When you are ready to serve the cake, remove it from freezer with enough time for it to thaw (an hour — or get out the night before and leave in the fridge).

  Generously place coconut all over the cake. When buying the coconut, give the packages a little squeeze. You want the coconut to be really soft and fresh. This is very important. Do not use dried-out coconut. It should feel moist when you take it out of the package.

  Once the cake is completely covered, top it with raspberries and a garnish of mint. Be prepared for rave reviews!

  Author’s Note

  When I began my research for the Pendleton Petticoats series and discovered the town had thirty-two saloons and eighteen bordellos during the early 1900s, I knew those two details would work their way into at least one story.

  Marnie first made an appearance in Aundy, as a good-natured saloon girl who saw through Aundy’s disguise as a cowpuncher. She made a brief appearance in Caterina, then turned up a few times in Ilsa. She needed to have her story shared and what better man for her to fall in love with than Aundy and Ilsa’s long lost brother, Lars Thorsen.

  Pendleton has such a rich and fascinating history, especially during the first decade of the 20th century when it experienced a swell in population and almost unfathomable growth for a small western town.

  In 1904, Pendleton really did install paved streets using the macadamizing process. They were the second city in the state to have paved roads. It was at this time they removed the old boardwalks with grates (that men could peep through from the Underground tunnels) and installed cement sidewalks with glass prisms that are now purpled with age.

  My inspiration for Miss Clementine’s place comes from the Cozy Rooms, an actual brothel run by a woman named Stella Darby. She was a well-liked madam in Pendleton who donated to various charities during the years she was in business. In the 1950s, an effort to run all the “soiled doves” out of town resulted in not just the closure, but boarding up of Stella’s business. Years later, her former business became a fascinating stop during the Underground Tours. As one of Pendleton’s most popular brothels, legend states the stairs leading up to her business were referred to as the “31 Steps to Heaven.”

  Electricity, the city water and sewer system, and a telephone office were just a few of the modern conveniences that brought growth and excitement to the thriving town.

  If you ever find yourself in Pendleton, make sure you visit the Pendleton Underground Tours. The tour takes you through the city beneath the city where opium dens, secret gambling lairs, card rooms, saloons, and working girls added colorful flair in the early 1900s. If you do take the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the brothel where Stella Darby reined as well as the card room where you’ll hear about a bartender who lined his pockets picking gold-embedded mud off his boots.

  For more details about Pendleton’s past, I recommend Keith F. May’s book Pendleton: A Short History of a Real Western Town.

  As for the little everyday details in this series, I rely heavily on my 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue. I’m always surprised when I start searching through it for specific items, like baby teething rings, to find they had so many things back then we might consider modern.

  If you haven’t read President Roosevelt’s speech to the students at Groton School, it really is quite interesting.

  As for those chocolates Lars ordered Marnie from Texas, my absolute most favorite chocolate candy in the world comes from a company based in Texas. If you’ve never tried them, the truffles from Sweet Shop USA are beyond delicious.

  Thank you for reading Marnie. Now that you’ve finished the book, won’t you please consider writing a review?

  I would truly appreciate it.

  Reviews are the best way readers discover great new books.

  Never miss out on a new book release!

  Sign up for my newsletter today!

  Shanna’s Newsletter

  It’s fast, easy, and only comes out when new books are released

  or extremely exciting news happens.

  Lacy (Pendleton Petticoats Book 5) — Eager to make her own way in the world, Lacy Williams leaves behind her family on the Umatilla Reservation and accepts a job in town at the telephone office as an operator. The work she takes in stride, but dealing with the unfamiliar, unsettling feelings stirred by the handsome banker across the street is an entirely different matter.

  Grant Hill wants a wife. Not just any wife will do. If that were the case he’d make an announcement at the mercantile and cause a stampede to the church. No, he wants a woman who will look beyond his material wealth and see into his heart. All but given up on the possibility, he runs into the lovely Lacy Williams.

  The two of them have to discover if the bonds of love are stronger than the bonds of tradition in this sweet historical western romance.

  Turn the page for an exciting excerpt…

  ~ LACY ~

  Chapter One

  1906

  Pendleton, Oregon

  A blast of arctic wind crackled down the sidewalk, whipping frigid currents in its wake. All but the most determined or foolhardy scurried indoors, out of the glacial air.

  Grant Hill turned up the collar of his wool coat and tugged down his hat in a futile attempt to defray the cold breeze bent on circling his neck with icy fingers.

  Despite the pain it inflicted on his lungs, he sucked in a deep breath and set a vigorous pace
as he headed toward the Pendleton Bank and Trust.

  Gone longer than he anticipated, Grant assumed his assistant could handle a random customer or two until he returned to the bank. Anyone with a lick of intelligence remained huddled next to a warm fire rather than traipsing about in the nearly unbearable January weather.

  Ol’ Marvin Tooley swore up and down they were in for a blizzard when he visited the bank the other day. The temperatures continued to hover in the single digits, yet they hadn’t seen a speck of snow. If the wintry spell continued, Grant hoped the insulation he’d wrapped around the pipes at his house would keep his indoor plumbing from freezing again. When a cold snap froze all the house pipes the previous winter, he’d spent two months hauling water from the pump in his barn to the house. At least the pipes hadn’t burst.

  Grant counted that as a blessing as he took his morning stroll around town to clear his head and stretch his legs. After a decade spent managing the bank, he should be accustomed to the tedious hours of sitting behind a desk. Instead, he grew increasingly restless and antsy.

  He longed for… what he wasn’t exactly certain. Something just beyond his grasp, beyond his ability to comprehend.

  What he really needed was a woman.

  In particular, a wife.

  Short on both satisfactory prospects and patience, he’d about given up on finding one.

  Perhaps it was his lot in life to remain unwed. Not everyone needed to experience the wonder of wedded bliss. However, the happy marriages of his close friends highlighted his pitiful, single existence.

  Any number of unwed women, and a few who were married, would eagerly jump at the opportunity to become his bride. If he opened the door to the mercantile on a busy day and asked if someone wanted to marry him at that precise moment, a dozen females would stampede anyone blocking the path in their haste to get to the church.