Prisoners of Love Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Hutton , Callie

  “I’m going over to Sadie Hanson’s house and have her spread the word to get some more women over here.” Bessie headed to the front door. “I’ll be back directly.”

  Once the woman was gone, Jed placed his bundle on the floor and took Mindy’s hand. “See, honey. There are helpful people.”

  Mindy wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “Yeah, I’m very grateful.” She freed her hand from his and crossed her arms, surveying the room. “You know, once this place is all cleaned up and our things are in here, this will be a nice home. Certainly better than anything I’ve ever had before.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way. I’ll keep unloading the wagon. With the help that Bessie is going to get us, we should have this place looking fine in no time.”

  He breathed a sigh of relief as he continued unloading. When they’d first seen the house, he feared Mindy was ready to jump back on the wagon and demand he return her to Dodge City. Truthfully, he wouldn’t have blamed her if she had.

  What the devil had Mrs. Peterson done in the way of welcoming them? All he’d seen so far was her judging his wife and finding her wanting. The very last thing he wanted Mindy to feel. It was important to him for the congregants to accept her, to make her feel better about herself than she had for most of her life.

  Over the next hour, as he walked back and forth lugging things into the house, Bessie had returned with two other women who she introduced as Mrs. Stevens, and her daughter, Miss Stevens. Several minutes later, two more arrived, Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Abernathy.

  Although he was fairly certain Mrs. Peterson was keeping watch out of her parlor window, since he’d seen the curtains in her front room move more than once, she never joined the group. Apparently, her idea of welcoming the new preacher and his wife was spying on them, and waiting for an invitation to tea.

  Then he chastised himself for his unkind thoughts. He was supposed to be patient and tolerant. Un-judgmental. He would have to spend extra time with his bible tonight to make up for the mean thoughts. This preacher work was certainly time consuming.

  By the time the wagon was completely unloaded, and all the garbage that needed to be hauled away piled into the wagon, the house had taken on a semblance of order. The place looked downright homey. Mindy seemed, happy, chatting away with the ladies as they worked. They’d also prepared a wonderful-smelling meal that he was anxious to dive into.

  “We are just about to leave, Reverend.” Bessie wiped her hands on her apron and approached him as he entered the house. “I think your wife should be able to take over from here.”

  Mindy joined the woman, looking tired, but happy. “Doesn’t it all look grand, Jed?”

  “Yes, it certainly does.” He turned to Bessie. “I can’t thank you enough for all your help.”

  The other women drifted into the parlor.

  “Thank you from both Mrs. Nelson and me for all your help.”

  “It was a pleasure, Reverend. We look forward to attending your service on Sunday.”

  With goodbyes and some hugs for Mindy, the women all departed. Jed rubbed his hands together, anxious to fill his belly with the food and then enjoy a night in their own bed with his wife.

  * * *

  It was Sunday morning and Mindy glanced again at the clock on the wall. Damn, another ten minutes had already gone by. She was still struggling with her hair, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get it into a neat, ‘preacher’s wife’ style. She knew how to get the curls to work with the feather she’d worn with the saloon girl outfit, and for church in Dodge City, she just pulled it back and tied a ribbon around it. But now she felt that she should have something more dignified. A bun, or one of them fancy things with the French name—chi, something or other.

  “Honey, aren’t you ready yet?” Jed entered their bedroom, his notes in his hand. He looked so handsome it almost hurt to look at him. The one curl that always fell on his forehead had broken loose from his slicked-back hair. His dark wool suit, vest, and white shirt gave him a very preacher-like appearance. She was so proud of him.

  “Almost. I can’t get my hair to behave. I want something that looks respectable.”

  He walked behind her and pushed her hair aside and kissed her on the back of her neck. “You look respectable right now.” He backed up and grinned. “Well, you will once you put your dress on that is.”

  Giving in to the inevitable, she pulled her hair back and fastened it with a ribbon. She quickly donned her dress and new bonnet and they were off. She clutched her bible in her hands as they took the short walk from the house to the church. “I’m nervous, Jed.”

  He took a deep breath. “So am I, but I know we’ll be fine. Just sit in the front pew so I can look at you when I feel the need to look upon the face of a friend.”

  “Am I your friend?”

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, hoping Mrs. Peterson was nowhere around, watching and judging. “You’re my best friend, Mindy. You always have been and always will be.”

  Mindy made her way to the front pew and settled right in the middle, so she could see her husband clearly. Slowly the church began to fill up behind her. She nodded and smiled at various members, but only one older couple joined her in the front pew.

  She remembered from her visits to Jed’s papa’s church that the first pew only seemed to be filled with Reverend Nelson’s family. Maybe that was a church traditional she knew nothing about, since she’d only attended church when she was old enough to get herself ready and out the door. She looked forward to the day when the front pew would be filled with her, and several of their fresh-faced, much-loved, children.

  A pretty young woman outfitted in a light blue and white polka-dot dress, with a blue bonnet, walked to sanctuary and sat at the piano. She began to play on the beautiful instrument, nothing like Mindy had ever seen before. The woman was very good.

  The church continued to fill as the music wafted over the crowd. Mindy always got a peaceful feeling when she was in church. Even though she’d received a lot of ribbing from the other girls at the Lady Gay, and smirks and nasty remarks from the members of Pastor Nelson’s church, she had never missed a Sunday. It had been a special time, all for herself. A time when she felt normal, like other people who didn’t drink, cuss, gamble, and fight.

  The music stopped, and a hush grew over the crowd. Jed came from the side door in the sanctuary and stepped up to the pulpit. He looked happy, friendly, and relaxed. She, on the other hand was a bundle of nerves.

  “Good morning, everyone. I am Reverend Jedidiah Nelson.” He waved toward Mindy. “And the lovely lady in the yellow dress is my wonderful wife, Mindy.”

  Mindy felt the heat rise in her face and wanted to crawl under the bench. He grinned at her and began the service. She sat, mesmerized as he spoke, and used his immense charm and humor to bring the Lord’s message to the congregation.

  They stood a few times to sing from the hymnal, and Mindy began to relax and feel the peace that always descended on her in church. When the service ended, Mrs. Peterson walked to the front of the church, and turned toward the assembly. Smiling brightly, she said, “I have arranged to have a small reception for the Reverend and his wife at my house right after the service. I hope you will all join us.”

  Jed walked to the front pew and took Mindy’s hand, escorting her down the aisle to greet the church members as they filed out of the church. She never shook so many hands in her life, or smiled so long. Despite the cool weather, she felt the sweat beading on her upper lip, and running down her skin under her dress.

  Tarnation, how could she fool all these people? They thought she was a respectable lady, married to this wonderful preacher, and here she was a no-account saloon girl. Her stomach cramped at the thought of how these nice people would react if they knew her background.

  Once everyone had left the church, and most of them took the short walk to Mrs. Peterson’s house, Jed bowed to Mindy. “Well, my dear, it seems we�
��re a hit.” He extended his arm for her to take as they strolled to the reception.

  Yes, we’re a hit, but what happens if these fine, upstanding church-goers find out that I’m a whore’s daughter, former saloon girl, and jailbird?

  7

  Mrs. Peterson’s house was small, and cramped with what Jed thought had to be hundreds of little plates, vases, cups, tintypes, and other things that made him nervous to move around, for fear of breaking something.

  At least fifty people were crowded into the space, so he was grateful when his hostess suggested they all move to the garden in the back of the house. The crowd filed through, and several women from the church bought out small sandwiches, lemonade, cakes, and tea.

  Almost as soon as they’d arrived, Mindy was snatched from his side, and was now busy chatting with a group of women. At least the women were chatting. His wife’s demeanor had moved from overwhelmed, too nervous in a short time. The women seemed to be firing questions at her. She kept licking her lips, and looking around, most likely searching for him to rescue her.

  He, on the other hand, had been held captive by a few of the church members who wanted to rehash the story of the previous preacher who ran off with one of the married congregants. It troubled him that so many of them seemed eager to discuss the scandal. He leaned more toward forgiveness and putting the matter to rest.

  However, for as many times as he steered the conversation to other matters, each time they ended up gossiping. He heard more complaints, details, and information about people he either had not yet met, or had recently been introduced to, than he would ever care to.

  “So tell me, Mr. Weber, how long have you been in Trinidad?” Jed turned to the man next to him.

  Tall, thin, and wearing wire spectacles that made his eyes look enormous, the man grinned, showing time-tainted teeth. “I been here, Reverend, from the time I was a lad. My folks came to Trinidad back in ’62 right after coal was discovered. They lived in Kansas Territory, but the fightin’ between those wanting slaves and those don’t wanting them made my ma nervous, so they moved on.”

  “Do you work the coal mines now?”

  The man rocked back on his feet, linking his thumbs onto his suspenders. “Yep, sure do. Been working there since right after Ma and Pa settled.”

  “I’ve heard working underground can be a bit dangerous. Does your employer have safety measures?”

  The man scratched his beard and shook his head. “Nah. At least none that I’ve ever seen. We just go down there, get the coal and send it on up.”

  Jed’s questions concerning using children in the mines was interrupted before he had the chance to ask.

  “Attention, everyone.” All eyes moved to Mrs. Peterson, who stood on a chair—Jed held his breath—clapping her hands. “I want to make an official welcome to Reverend Jedediah Nelson, and his wife, Mindy, who have come all the way from Dodge City, Kansas to minister to us. As you all know, we were left quite stranded when Reverend Simmons chose to abandon us and cause such a scandal with Mrs. Milltown. Why, it was no wonder poor Mr. Milltown was forced to leave us and take his lovely children with him.”

  Jed groaned, hoping that was the end of her comments on the previous reverend. He’d heard enough so far that he felt as though he’d been there.

  Unfortunately, she continued. “Now we have our new preacher, along with a wife, so we know that problem will never arise this time!” She paused, apparently waiting for an agreement, or comment. A scattering of applause brought a smile to her face. “Now I want all of you to enjoy yourselves.”

  A man standing next to her assisted her down, and she soon melted into the crowd. Jed wanted more than anything to grab Mindy and return home. They still had a lot to do with the house, and he wanted some time at least, to just relax with his wife and enjoy his Sunday. He glanced at her again, and she was beginning to look pale, and kept taking deep breaths.

  “If you will excuse me, gentlemen, I believe my wife is looking for me.” Jed placed his empty tea cup on a nearby table, then picked up a full one, and headed toward the group of women surrounding Mindy.

  “Here is your charming husband, now.” A woman who had introduced herself before the service as Miss O’Neill, the church pianist, greeted him with a bright smile. He moved next to Mindy, and she immediately gripped his fingers. Her hand was damp, and ice cold at the same time. He handed her the tea. “Have some tea, honey.”

  She took the cup with shaky hands. With this being a reception to welcome them, it would be rude to leave so soon, so he slowly slid his arm around her waist to lend support. Her body seemed to relax a bit.

  “Reverend, we were just getting to know Mrs. Nelson better.” An older woman with a hat on her head that resembled a birdcage patted Mindy’s arm. Something about the look in her eyes bothered him. Before he could say anything, Mrs. Peterson joined their group, her glance immediately going to Jed’s arm wrapped around Mindy’s waist. Her lips pursed in disapproval.

  Trying to head off any comment that might upset his wife, he said, “Yes, well I’m sure Mrs. Nelson would love to know more about all of you, as well.” If he could get them talking about themselves it might calm Mindy down. She obviously was not happy having questions thrown at her.

  “Mrs. Rogers,” Jed turned to an older woman on his right. “That is your name, is it not?”

  She tittered, waving a lace handkerchief like a young girl. “Yes, Reverend.”

  “Why don’t you tell me and my wife about yourself?”

  Thankfully, the woman kept up a steady stream of words about her, her husband, children, and farm, to give Mindy time to relax. The way she slumped against his side reinforced his promise to take care of her, and help her adjust to this new life.

  The girl had spent her childhood in a brothel, and since leaving school, worked in a saloon. She’d spent her life avoiding insults, scrapping in the school play yard, and dodging wandering hands while trying to earn a living. He’d heard from more than one drunken cowboy that she was destined to follow in her ma’s footsteps. The Mindy he knew would never do that, and it made her life a living hell, with everyone waiting for her to take the fall.

  He had to keep reminding himself of that, and while having his own church for the first time was stressful for him, Mindy’s complete life change needed his love and support. He glanced down at her while Mrs. Rogers continued on, and noticed Mindy looked more relaxed than she had all morning.

  Yes, then and there he made a vow to be more patient and loving with her.

  * * *

  “Mindy, I don’t understand why there are no clean shirts.” Barely past dawn three days later, Jed stood in the kitchen, glowering at her, a pile of clothes in his arms.

  Mindy looked up from the mess on the table that she was supposed to transform into a loaf of bread. She had no reason to believe she could, since every other attempt she’d made had failed miserably. “I don’t know why you have a problem understanding that. When you wear a shirt a few times, it gets all sweaty and you have to wash it.”

  “And?”

  She gritted her teeth. “You told me wash day was Monday.”

  “Monday was two days ago.” Jed fisted a shirt in his hands. “Did you do the wash?”

  Slapping the dough on the table, she began to knead, wishing it was his face she could plummet. “I did some of it. It takes up the whole day.” She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “I had other things to do, too. I’m sure you expected to eat that day.”

  Jed closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why didn’t you ask for my help?”

  She stared down at the lump of flour, water and salt. Lordy be, there must be something else that goes into bread. Otherwise it wouldn’t keep turning out like a rock. She took a deep breath and looked up at her husband.

  He might not believe it, but she was trying her darndest. The chatty Mrs. Rogers had offered to help out when she learned she was unskilled in household matters. When her brows rose in
surprise, Mindy had to come up with a lie that her ma was dead, and she never learned how to cook, clean, sew, or do anything else required of a wife. She’d told the woman she was raised by an uncle who had employed a maid.

  She’d also told nosy Mrs. Peterson that she had helped out in said make-believe uncle’s hardware store. Then when Miss Miller questioned her about the charities she’d worked with in Dodge City, Mindy mumbled something about widows and orphans. Each time she told a new lie, she’d broken out in a sweat. How was she going to keep all these fibs straight? Although some of the women seemed to be very nice, and were only curious about their new pastor and his wife, more than a few of them appeared to be looking for something to trip her up on.

  Every time one of them stopped over to ‘chat’ or ‘say hello’ she felt as though she was an animal on display at a zoo. She fumbled trying to prepare a decent pot of tea, and never had cookies or cakes to offer them, since she still struggled with trying to figure out how to make bread.

  She’d always thought bible-readers and church-goers were supposed to be kind, and nice to people. Follow the Lord’s example, and all of that. After the way she’d been treated at Pastor Nelson’s church, and the way some of the women here stared at her, constantly asking her questions that were—well no other way to put it—quite nosy, she began to doubt that.

  “Mindy?” Jed’s voice drew her from her mind wanderings.

  “Yes?”

  “Clean shirts?” If he’d been mad when he’d first entered the kitchen, something had changed, because the slight twitch of his lips told her he was trying to hold in a laugh.

  She pulled her hands out of the dough, and walked to the sink to wash her hands. “I’ll do them now, so you’ll have a clean shirt later.”