RNWMP: Bride for Theodore (Mail Order Mounties Book 0)

by Kirsten Osbourne

Jess stared at the door after he’d closed it. First he didn’t want her, and now he wanted her and got jealous with everyone who looked at her. She worried about his mental health.

  Turning back to the basin, she finished washing the dishes, then started boiling the water again for laundry. It was going to be a busy day, but she would leave her mark on his cabin after she left. Every time he slipped into his bed with the clean sheets, he’d think of her. Every time he wore a sock that didn’t have a hole in it, he’d think of her.

  She hurried to start her day. He’d be home for lunch in four and a half hours.

  When Theodore left the office for his lunch hour, he was reluctant to see Jess. He felt like he’d made a fool of himself with the way he’d acted at breakfast time. She’d said she’d forgiven him, but she shouldn’t have to put up with jealousy from him. She’d given him no reason to think that she was interested in any of his co-workers.

  When he got to the house, she was out back, checking the laundry on the line. He stepped inside and shook his head in amazement. All of the curtains were off the windows and hanging on the line. “You worked hard this morning.”

  She shrugged, hurrying into the house. “I always work hard. I can’t bear to sit around idly.” She hurried to the stove, dished up a big bowl of soup for him, and cut him a piece of fresh bread. They’d eaten every bit of the loaves she’d made the previous night, so she’d made twice as much for today. Maybe the men could take some for their lunches the following day.

  She got her own lunch and joined him at the table, smiling when he took her hand for their prayer. “Thank you for getting so much done,” he said softly. “I had no idea this place could look so good. It was dirty when I moved in, and I’ve done little to help it over the years.”

  “Oh, that’s not true. I could tell you’d swept it out nicely before we came.”

  “And you’ve scrubbed the floors since. I appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”

  She hoped she was doing it for both of them, but she didn’t say that. She didn’t want him to know how strongly she was hanging her hopes on him asking her to stay as his wife. “Tomorrow’s Sunday. Are there church services?”

  He nodded. “It’s our weekend for a preacher. There aren’t enough ministers in the area, but we have one that comes in every fourth week. We Mounties take turns the other weeks. Well, not Kendall yet. He’s too shy to speak in front of others.”

  “He does seem shy. He plays guitar well, though? I have a hard time reconciling the shy young man I’ve met with someone who plays guitar in front of others.”

  “It’s odd, but he seems to forget he’s in front of other people when he’s playing.” He nodded toward the bedroom. “Is Mom in there?”

  “No. She went looking for more blackberries. She thought it would be nice if we could make enough jam for all five of you men before we go. And more muffins, of course. When I offered everyone muffins for their lunch, I was shocked at how quickly they disappeared.”

  Theodore laughed. “I wasn’t. It was exactly what I expected to happen. I almost shouted that they needed to leave the muffins for me, but I knew that wouldn’t go over well.”

  “How long does the preacher stay when he’s here?” she asked, wondering if he would even be around to marry them if they did decide to marry. She may have to go home to Ottawa at the end of her week there, just because she couldn’t marry. She knew Mounties were able to take the place of clergymen often, but not in the case of marriage.

  “He’ll be here through Tuesday, then leave again.”

  “I see.”

  “So tell me what it’s like to work for a bank?”

  She shrugged. “I enjoy the other women I work with. We talk when it’s not busy. Mostly it’s just a lot of work.”

  “But you still find time to do things with the ladies’ group at the church. Mom talks about you being there all the time.”

  “I work, have friends, and I volunteer at the church. It keeps me busy.” Jess had found that being busy was one of the most important things to her. She couldn’t abide sitting around idly. It made her crazy.

  “Why hasn’t there been a man in your life? I know I asked that before, but I didn’t feel like I got a real answer.”

  Jess bit her lip for a moment. She thought about avoiding the question, but she decided to just be honest with him. If it scared him and he ran away, then he wasn’t worthy of her anyway. “Because even though men asked me out regularly, none of those men were you. I always felt like I should be waiting for true love in my life, and to me, that meant waiting for you.”

  He swallowed the bite of food in his mouth and slowly wiped his lips with his napkin. “Do you mean to say if it had been another man my mother asked you to travel to marry, you wouldn’t have agreed?”

  She nodded. “I wouldn’t have. I only agreed because you were the one at the other end of the train. I used to follow you around at recess because I had a terrible crush on you. I followed you home from school that day because I was daydreaming, and I just kept walking, my eyes on you. When I realized that you’d seen me, I was mortified.”

  “Does my mother know all of this?”

  Jess shook her head adamantly. “She didn’t know I had feelings for you until you rejected me at the train station. She guessed then. I’ve never said a word to her.” She shrugged. “I’ve always liked Miss Hazel. She’s felt like a friend to me. My relationship with her was always separate from my feelings for you. I would love to have a mother-in-law like her one day, but I would never become friends with someone so I would have a chance with her son.”

  Theodore frowned. “Well, I didn’t think you’d become friends with her just to get closer to me. I—I’m not exactly sure how I feel about all this. I mean, I know I have feelings for you now, but I certainly didn’t all those years ago.”

  She nodded. “You left town when I was still a girl. The fact that you stayed in my mind as the only man I could ever marry was something that you couldn’t have known. I did want to scratch Judy’s eyes out of her head.”

  He laughed. Judy was the girl he’d squired around town just before he’d left to join the Mounted Police. “You already mean more to me than she ever did, if that helps your feelings at all.”

  Jess smiled. “It doesn’t really matter how you feel about her. She’s married with two small children now. She seems happy.”

  “I didn’t realize she’d married, but I haven’t really thought of her in years, so I guess that doesn’t matter to me a great deal.” He stood. “I have to get back to work.”

  Jess nodded, standing up to clear the table. “What would you like for supper tonight?”

  “You don’t have to feed us every night you’re here.” He didn’t want her to think that he was taking advantage of the way she felt about him to get meals for him and his friends.

  “I know I don’t. I enjoy cooking.”

  He stepped toward her, gripping her shoulders. Just as he started to lower his head to kiss her, the door slammed open. “How was lunch?” Miss Hazel asked.

  He squeezed her shoulders in farewell and turned to his mom. “It was delicious. Jess could give you cooking lessons, Mom.”

  “I know. She’s always been better than me. I pretended to teach her to cook though.” She put the basket of berries onto the table and linked her arm with his. “I’ll walk you back to the station. I haven’t had any time alone with you since I got here.”

  Jess watched them go with a look of longing on her face. She so badly wanted to be part of their family, but would he ever be able to trust her again after she’d told him she’d had a secret crush on him for years and years?

  She looked down into the berry basket. She could make muffins a couple of more times with that amount of berries, but she wouldn’t be able to make jam. She’d go out herself on Monday and see what she could find.

  Once the dishes were done she brought the clothes in from the line and started the long process of mending. Jess was
good at most domestic tasks, but she hated sewing. She could do it with the best of them, but she’d rather poke the needle into her eye than spend hours and hours sewing garments. Better to get it over with.

  When Miss Hazel returned thirty minutes later, she sat down across from Jess and picked up the next garment that needed mending. “I love sewing, don’t you?”

  Jess didn’t answer. She just kept sewing on buttons.

  It wasn’t until church on Sunday that Jess realized just how isolated she would be if she stayed in Squirrel Ridge Station. There was one older woman in the congregation, and everyone else was male besides her and Miss Hazel. She’d really thought that Theodore must have been exaggerating about the lack of women in the area, but he wasn’t.

  After the service, there was an entire line of men waiting to meet her, and Jess wanted to disappear into the floor. It wasn’t that she was shy, she just wasn’t interested in meeting a new man. Theodore was the only man she’d ever want.

  Finally, he had introduced her to the last man. “There really are no women here,” she said to him.

  He nodded. “Could you handle it?”

  She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I think I could, but I’ve never been in that situation, so I can make no promises.” She knew if she had just one female friend to be close to it would be easier for her, but she would just pray for the other Mounties to find wives.

  “You’re wise to hesitate. It’s hard for us, and we have each other.” He offered her his arm, and they walked together out of the church. “Everyone is planning to get their own lunch, so you’re off the hook for that, but we’d all appreciate it if you’d make supper again tonight.”

  “I was planning to do that. Any idea what you want?”

  “How about a thick, hearty beef stew? With big chunks of potatoes and carrots. And fresh bread.” Theodore broke off. “I’m practically drooling thinking about it. If I don’t stop, you’ll think I’m Nolan.”

  Jess laughed. “I think I know the difference between you and Nolan now.”

  “I hope so!” He smiled at her, wondering how it was going to feel to be alone again. When she got back on that train for Ottawa, she’d be taking his heart with her, but he didn’t know how she’d do in their little hamlet with no other women. It wouldn’t be right for him to ask her to stay.

  “Am I fixing you lunch today?” she asked.

  “Would you mind? I’d really rather not have to eat my own cooking any more than absolutely necessary.”

  She shook her head. “I’d be happy to. How would you feel about breakfast foods? They’re quick and I can have something on the table in a few minutes.”

  He shrugged. “I’m sure if you make it, then it will be absolutely delicious.”

  “You have more confidence in me than I do.” She led the way into the house, immediately stoking the fire so she could cook. “You know, it’s easier to cook over coal.”

  He laughed. “I’m afraid a coal stove is a bit too pricy for a Mountie’s budget. I make do with what I have.”

  Jess was surprised by his words, because she knew his family had money. Surely he could just ask for what he needed, but he was a man. She knew there was probably pride involved. “I understand. I learned to cook over a wood stove, but my mother upgraded when I started working at the bank, and there was more money in our household.”

  He sat at the table watching as she pulled on an apron over her Sunday dress and got to work. He could watch her cook all day.

  7

  Jess spent all day Sunday with Theodore. They went on a long walk, he watched her cook, and they just talked and got to know one another better. It was a day that was filled with joy for her, because she was spending time with the man she loved.

  Monday morning dawned, and Jess couldn’t believe how sad she was. She knew her only chance to spend a full day with Theodore was over. He had said nothing else about her staying, so she had a feeling he was going to put her on the train on Thursday—a feeling that made her heart hurt.

  She cooked a large breakfast of French toast, eggs, and bacon for the Mounties. Nolan's eyes lit up when he walked into the cabin. He was obviously very excited about the big breakfast. “Are you sure you won't stay? I’d do just about anything to keep you!”

  Theodore shook his head. “Stay away from my girl! You only want her for cooking anyway.”

  Elijah looked at Theodore. “Are you sure about that? She's awful pretty! Maybe he thinks he can steal her from you.”

  Jess looked at Elijah with surprise. That was the most she'd ever heard him say, and his eyes were filled with mischief. “Don't poke the bear!” she told Elijah.

  Theodore put his hands on his hips, towering over Jess. “So now I'm a bear?”

  Jess patted Theodore's chest right in the middle of his scarlet Mountie jacket. “Yes, dear, but you only growl occasionally.”

  Elijah laughed. “She's got your number.” He walked over to sit down at the table, winking at Jess, who giggled.

  Theodore just shook his head. "I'm not going to let you bother me. Jess will only be here for a few more days, and I'm making the most of it. I'll growl after she's gone."

  Jess smiled sweetly at Elijah. "I'll make sure you have my address so that you can let me know if he really did."

  "You're not going to be giving your address to my friends. Why would you even say that?" Theodore asked.

  "You're the one threatening to act like a bear."

  "Just for that, I may not let you fix me lunch today."

  Jess laughed. "Is fixing your lunch a privilege? I really worry about you sometimes, Teddy."

  “My mother always said that feeding me was a privilege. Are you saying that you don’t think it is? You don’t have a burning desire deep inside your soul to feed me three meals a day?” His eyes were wide, as if he couldn’t believe she didn’t want to feed him constantly.

  “Oh, I do have that desire. Please, will you let me feed you lunch today? I’m so sorry that I was rude and said I would give my address to your friend.”

  Theodore frowned for a moment, but then nodded. “I will allow you to feed me. I forgive you for your transgressions.”

  Jess shook her head at him, noticing that all the Mounties were watching them as they ate their breakfasts. “You should probably sit before Nolan eats your share of the food.”

  “I’m a growing boy! I haven’t stolen any food since…Friday morning!” Nolan protested.

  Theodore sat at the table, carefully moving his plate away from Nolan. “How many strips of bacon did you give everyone?”

  Jess smiled. “Only six.”

  “I only have three!” Theodore turned to Nolan, noticing all the bacon was gone from his plate. “How can you be an officer of the law if you’re constantly stealing from others?”

  Jess laughed. “I gave everyone three. I just wanted to see what you’d say.”

  Elijah smiled at Jess. “I really like you. Have I told you that yet? I think you should stay.”

  “I don’t know about staying.” Jess was sad just thinking about it. Theodore would have asked her to stay by now if he wanted her to, right?

  After breakfast, Theodore walked up behind Jess as the other men left for the day. “You’re not really going to give the men your address, are you?”

  She shook her head. “Of course not. I’ve told you before. There’s only one man I’ll ever love. There’s no point in making another man think there’s a possibility of something more.”

  “Good. I think it would break my heart if you started a correspondence with one of them.” He kissed her cheek and walked out the door to start his day.

  Jess watched him go with tears in her eyes. He wasn’t going to ask her to stay. He’d all but told her he wasn’t.

  Miss Hazel came out into the kitchen and sat at the table watching Jess for a moment before saying anything. “Don’t lose hope.”

  Jess dashed away a tear that was drifting down her cheek. “I’m trying not to, but he’s n
ot going to ask me to stay, Miss Hazel. I know it.”

  “I’m not so sure. He has feelings for you, Jess. There’s no doubt in my mind. I’m curious as to why he isn’t being more forthcoming about asking you to stay, but he will be. I know it.” Miss Hazel walked over to hug Jess before taking her plate from the work table. “It is really nice to be able to sleep late and have my breakfast waiting for me when I get up. I’m starting to get used to being pampered by you.”

  “I’m happy to oblige.” She finished up the dishes, leaving the water in the sink so Miss Hazel could wash her own. “I’m going to go berry picking. I’ll be back in time to make Theodore his lunch.”

  She took two of the pails that were beside the door. They were metal and similar to the pails a school child would take their lunch in. She wandered away from town, not really knowing where she was going, but knowing she needed some time alone to think. And what better way to think than to walk through nature?

  She walked around the lake and found a large berry patch. She quickly picked as many as would fit in the buckets…and then a few more for her mouth, because they were perfectly ripe and delicious. She found both blackberries and raspberries, which pleased her. She’d come back after lunch for another bucket of each. The men would be thrilled with the jams she made from them—and of course she’d make more muffins for Theodore before she left.

  As she walked she thought about going home. Would she move back in with her parents? Or would she and Miss Hazel set out to travel the world again? If Theodore didn’t want her to stay, she would be free to do as she pleased.

  She promised herself she’d bring it up to Miss Hazel as soon as she returned to the cabin—but when she arrived, Miss Hazel was nowhere to be found. There was no telling what the older woman had gotten up to, so she washed the berries and made sure all the stems were removed.

  Then she made a simple lunch of leftover stew from the night before. She marveled that there was anything left after Nolan had eaten his share, but she’d deliberately made twice as much as she thought the group would eat. Enough for lunch today had been her plan.