Dear Mr. Stone (Mail-Order Bride Ink Book 11)

by Kit Morgan

  “A man starts to think about a lot of things when he’s considering marriage …”

  She gasped.

  “What else do you think I’ve had on my mind all night? Great Scott, Beryl, I’m falling in love with you. I may already be there.”

  “What?” She stopped in mid-step, almost tumbling down the stairs. He caught her before she could fall and held her close.

  “I don’t know how it happened. We’ve only known each other a few days, shared a few kisses – very nice ones, mind, but still, neither of us should feel this way.”

  “But we do.”

  He nodded, gazed into her eyes, then kissed her tenderly on the cheek. “I can’t explain any of this. I’m not sure I want to.”

  “I know,” she agreed softly.

  He looked around, then stepped away. Though neither could deny their intense affection for each other, they also couldn’t ignore proper decorum.

  They strolled arm in arm to the café, Beryl doing her best to calm her racing heart. She wasn’t sure Ephraim was. If he was feeling anything close to what she was, his heart had to feel like a anvil being hit with a maul. In the café they took a corner table so they could have a little privacy.

  Darcy came out of the kitchen, saw them and trudged over. “Oh dear,” Beryl said. “She doesn’t look happy.”

  Ephraim sighed. “That would be my fault.”

  “Oh, that’s right – you spoke to her father.” she whispered.

  “Good morning Miss Branson, Dr. Stone,” Darcy said emotionlessly. “Coffee?”

  “Yes, please.” Ephraim exchanged a quick look with Beryl.

  “The special this morning is steak and eggs. But you know how Mr. Gruber always burns the steaks.”

  “Yes, I know.” He shuddered. “I think I’ll have pancakes and eggs. Beryl?”

  “The same.” She studied the girl. She looked so forlorn.

  Darcy nodded, turned and headed back to the kitchen.

  Ephraim shook his head in dismay. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. Who knows what her father said when he talked to her?”

  “You don’t think he’ll make her quit her job, do you?”

  He shook his head again. “I have no idea. Maybe I’ll ask her a few questions, see how she’s doing.”

  “Do you think that’s wise? I know you’re the town doctor, but isn’t it poking your nose into someone else’s business at this point?”

  His eyebrows rose. “Beryl, being the town doctor, poking my nose into someone else’s business is part of my job. I think she knows I have her best interest in mind. She just needs a little guidance, that’s all.”

  She nodded in understanding. In truth, she was poking her nose in other people’s business too – namely Katie’s.

  Ephraim grew quiet after her last remark, and she knew him well enough by now to know he was thinking on the matter. Thinking, in turn, would lead to more talking. She just hoped it wouldn’t lead to trouble too.

  “I can understand your concern. But doctoring isn’t only about physical ailments. And I can’t seem to stop trying to help people in other areas. It’s just my nature.”

  She sighed in relief. “I understand. It’s who you are. I recently had it pointed out to me how passionate I am about things and how it affects those around me.”

  “Is that a nice way of saying you’re stubborn?”

  She laughed. “I suppose it is, isn’t it?”

  He smiled as Darcy brought their coffee, then cleared his throat. “How are you today, Darcy?”

  She shrugged. “Fine.” She walked off.

  Beryl noticed her lack-luster expression. “Well, at least she didn’t inquire after ‘you know who’.”

  “Yes, but I wonder what will happen when ‘you know who’ comes back to town.”

  “If he does.” Of course the man would return, but Mr. Markhel made her nervous. He probably made a lot of people nervous. Yet there was something familiar about him.

  They ate their breakfast and chatted about this and that. Beryl noticed their quiet conversation helped to keep her heart from racing. Though when it did, it was in a wonderful way.

  They were about to ask Darcy for their check when the door to the café opened. Ephraim looked up, turned white as a sheet and gasped. Eyes wide, Beryl turned and saw a handsome middle-aged couple looking directly at them. “Ephraim, who is that?”

  He gulped. “Great Scott. It’s my parents.”

  Ephraim couldn’t believe it. What on Earth were his parents doing here? He watched his mother elbow his father, say something quietly to him, then fix her eyes on Beryl.

  “I take it you weren’t expecting them?” Beryl said.

  “No, I wasn’t. This is a pleasant surprise. I hope.” He stood and waved to them. “Mother, Father …”

  His father Levi Stone ran the bank in Clear Creek. His mother Fina, an Englishwoman who’d come to Clear Creek as a mail-order bride and whose eyes were still fixed on Beryl, smiled.

  His father reached them first. “Ephraim, it’s good to see you, son.” He shook his hand, then hugged him.

  Ephraim met his mother’s gaze, hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. She immediately went back to staring at Beryl. “Son, are you going to introduce us?”

  “Mother, Father, this is Miss Beryl Branson.”

  His mother arched an eyebrow at him. “Your mail-order bride, I take it?”

  Ephraim watched Beryl’s jaw drop. How on Earth did they know? “Not exactly. I’d ask what you’re doing here, but I guess you just told me.”

  “Indeed.” His father reached into his pocket, pulled out a telegram and handed it to him.

  Ephraim took it, his jaw tight, and read: AS ONE CONCERNED PARENT TO ANOTHER YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR SON HAS A MAIL-ORDER BRIDE AND IS GETTING MARRIED STOP. BERTRAM HAVERDASH.

  “Who is this Haverdash,” Father asked, “and why didn’t you tell us you’d ordered a bride?”

  “Because I didn’t,” Ephraim said in his defense. “This town’s Mad Matchmaker did. I’m just their latest victim.”

  “Then why did we receive that telegram?” Mother asked. “Not that I’m arguing – for Heaven’s sake, I’m not about to miss my baby boy’s wedding.”

  Ephraim turned red before he spoke again. “Mr. Haverdash had no business sending you this telegram. I planned to send you one myself.”

  “When? You know how I feel about weddings,” Mother lamented.

  He fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Yes, Mother, I do know. However, as you can see, I’m not married yet.”

  His parents’ eyes went straight to his left hand. Beryl held hers up for good measure.

  “Are you engaged?” Mother asked.

  Ephraim looked at Beryl. He hadn’t asked her yet, though he’d thought about it. Still, he wanted to court for a time, make things special for her, not get ahead of her or her heart. “No, Mother, though we are courting.”

  “Then what’s this telegram about?” Father asked.

  Beryl sighed. “Mr. Haverdash is the father of a friend of mine. He’s also a man who likes to twist the world to his ends.”

  “Oh – one of those,” Father grumbled. “Wait until he finds out about …” He stroked his aquiline nose.

  Ephraim winced – he hadn’t even thought about that. How would Beryl react? You never knew until you brought the subject up, as he’d learned the hard way when he was studying pre-med in Boston. “Maybe you two can have a seat and I’ll explain.”

  Mother glanced between them. “What’s to explain? You wound up with a mail-order bride you didn’t order but now you’re courting her. That’s good enough for me. Though I do wish you’d keep us better informed. Having to hear it from a complete stranger – really, Ephraim.”

  He half-smiled. “Well, now that you’re here, I hope you plan to stay for a few days.”

  “Of course we do,” she said. “Your brother and sister send their love, by the way.”

  “Asher? When did you speak with
him? Is he in Clear Creek?”

  “No, he’s still in Boston. But we did receive a letter just before we came here. He told us to pass the message along – he hadn’t had a chance to write you yet.”

  Ephraim notice Beryl’s face was full of curiosity. He hadn’t told her much about his family yet. “And Luce?”

  “Lucinda is fine. Now.” She looked at Beryl. “Tell us about yourself, dear.”

  Beryl stared at her. “My, Ephraim didn’t mention you were British.”

  “He often doesn’t, but I’m used to it. Now, about you?”

  Beryl glanced nervously at Ephraim, who nodded in return. His mother often came across like she was interrogating a criminal. His aunts were much the same. “Well, I came here as a mail-order bride, as you know. But that was a ruse – I mainly came to help a friend who lives here now.”

  “I’m sure it must have come as a shock when you discovered our son didn’t send for you.” Ephraim’s mother looked at him. “When will that sheriff of yours arrest this mischievous matchmaker? I’m surprised he hasn’t found out who it is yet.”

  “He’s had other things to contend with of late, Mother.”

  She rolled her eyes and turned back to Beryl. “So tell us about your family, dear.”

  Beryl froze. He knew his mother could be intimidating, but Beryl wasn’t the type to cower. Was something wrong? “Well … I’m recently from Denver … and as I said, I came here to help a friend.” She forced a smile.

  “Beryl, are you feeling all right?” Ephraim asked.

  “Oh, my – my stomach.” She put her hand over her belly. “It must’ve been something I ate. Perhaps I should return to my hotel room?”

  His brow creased. She was nervous, and clearly looking to dodge … something? He couldn’t blame her – he might be nervous too if her parents showed up out of the blue, wondering why she was getting married. “Mother, why don’t I take Beryl back to her hotel room to rest? Then I’ll return and the three of us can have a nice visit.”

  She turned to his father. “What do you think, Levi?”

  “Sounds fine to me. I have some things I’d like to discuss with Ephraim.”

  “Quite so,” she said, then turned back to Beryl. “We’ll all walk you to the hotel.”

  His parents stood. Ephraim quickly paid their check and followed his parents and Beryl out the door.

  At the hotel, his parents checked in, waited for him to escort Beryl to her room, then walked with him to his office. “The town hasn’t changed much since we were here last,” his father said.

  “No, like Clear Creek, change comes slowly.”

  “Speaking of Clear Creek,” Father continued. “There’ve been some interesting things happening in town.”

  “There always are.”

  “Colin and Harrison have an automobile,” Mother added.

  “What? The Cookes bought one of those noisy contraptions?”

  “Yes, and driven it to town twice. Your mother and I are contemplating purchasing one.”

  “Why? A horse and buggy can get you around just as well.”

  “Let’s not talk about that now,” Mother said. “Let’s talk about your bride.”

  “Mother, we’re just courting …”

  “Nonsense. I saw the way you two looked at each other. Now about the wedding, when do you think you’ll be setting a date? If you set one for later, your father and I could return to Clear Creek and make arrangements for more family to attend.”

  Ephraim entered his office and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Mother, you’re rushing things.”

  “I’m trying to organize. You can’t expect me to sit back and do nothing!”

  “Mother, I’ve only known Beryl a few days.”

  “I barely knew your father when I married him. If anyone knows about this mail-order bride business, it’s me.”

  “And your sisters,” Father added.

  “And my cousins.” She sighed. “We just want to see you happy.”

  “And you want to plan my wedding.” Ephraim crossed his arms.

  “Well can you blame me? You are our youngest. It’s my last chance.”

  Ephraim sat behind his desk, motioning at two chairs. “I appreciate you wanting to help, but don’t you think my bride might want to have a say?”

  “So you are getting married!” His mother clapped. “How delightful! Didn’t I tell you they were getting married, Levi?”

  “When did you tell him that?” Ephraim asked in exasperation.

  “Oh, silly boy – the moment we stepped into that café and I laid eyes on her.”

  Now his father crossed his arms. “She did. And I must say, son, she’s certainly pretty.”

  “But does she come from a nice family?” Mother asked.

  Ephraim held up his hands. “One thing at a time.”

  “Does she?”

  “She …” Ephraim’s brow furrowed. “That is, she … we haven’t talked about it,” he confessed.

  “How much does she know about us?”

  “They haven’t had much time, Fina,” Father studied Ephraim. “Still, what do you know about her, son? If you’ve spent several days together, surely she’s told you something about herself.”

  He sat, thinking. What did he know about Beryl? She was beautiful, passionate, stubborn and strong, but he didn’t know where she was from other than Denver. He knew nothing about her parents or the rest of her family, nor had he asked.

  Finally he said the only thing he could at that point. “This is why we’re courting.”

  His mother sighed in resignation. “Very well, court the girl, fall in love, but if you don’t let us know the wedding date, then, Ephraim Stone, I’ll …”

  “She’ll have an apoplexy,” his father cut in. “And I have to live with her, remember.”

  Ephraim laughed. “Very well. Why don’t you two stay a few days? We’ll have a nice visit and get to know Beryl together. Does that sound like a good plan?”

  “Excellent,” Mother said. “Now if you don’t mind, I’m rather tired after our journey.”

  “Did you take the train?”

  “Of course – how else do you think we got here so quickly?”

  Ephraim realized they must have come on the morning train, which meant they left Clear Creek a day and a half ago. Mr. Haverdash probably sent a telegraph not two days ago. Which meant if he did the same to Beryl … he shook his head. Despite his parents showing up unannounced, he was happy to see them. He just hoped Beryl was as happy as he was if hers showed up.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Beryl paced her room. What a disaster! She wasn’t ready to tell Ephraim about her family. Yet what if he knew about her father already? She was sure his parents did – they would’ve been about Ephraim’s age when her parents met in Clear Creek. Rufina Cucinotta was a dark-haired Italian beauty and hard to miss. She and her Aunt Bella were the talk of the town for quite some time after their visit – she knew because her father told her so. Carlyle “C.J.” Branson had married Rufina, and nine months later along came Beryl.

  “Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear,” she muttered. She shouldn’t worry so, but couldn’t help it. She’d had so many men try to push themselves on her, attract her attention, attempt to woo her, and she’d wanted nothing to do with any of them. She wasn’t ready for a beau. But she was ready for Ephraim, and didn’t want anything to sway his heart from falling in love with her and her alone, and not what came with her.

  She’d had far too much of that over the last few years. Prominent families from New York, Philadelphia, Boston and her hometown of Baltimore had been trying to arrange marriages between her and their sons for the last three years. Now that she was eighteen, bids for her hand flooded her father’s correspondence.

  She sat on the bed with a sigh. If Ephraim knew who she was and how many rich men were at this moment vying for her hand, would he be so keen on wanting to court? Let alone marry her.

  She left the bed and went to the window.
Independence was a far cry from the big cities she’d visited. It was peaceful here, quiet, serene. Could she live here? She’d asked herself the same question a few days ago, and the answer was yes, but would she become bored and want to return to the big city? As Ephraim’s wife, she had to be where he was. Would he mind if she visited her friends and parents alone? Would he be willing to relocate if she couldn’t stand the quiet?

  These were things she had to think about when it came to marriage. She’d just happened to get lucky and was falling in love besides, but she didn’t want this to turn into a circus. She also didn’t want Ephraim’s parents pushing him to marry her because they knew she came with a fortune. Though her parents told her the people of Clear Creek were nice enough, they didn’t know everyone. How could they? Neither was from there.

  “I have to tell Katie,” she said aloud. Besides, she was curious to find out if Jace had spoken with Mr. Haverdash yet.

  She grabbed her reticule, checked her hair in the mirror and left her room. She felt bad about telling Ephraim she had a sour stomach, though he seemed to know it was a lie and didn’t mind. Her stomach, in fact, was doing somersaults – it often did when she was nervous. It was hard enough dealing with the strange emotions and sensations of her attraction to the man. Now she had his parents to contend with.

  She left the hotel and went straight to Katie’s house. “Beryl, I’m glad you’re here,” Katie said as she opened the door.

  “I have news.” Beryl entered and went straight to the sofa. “Ephraim’s parents are in town.”

  “They are? How lovely!” Katie headed for the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “Yes, fine.” Beryl followed her. “I haven’t told him who I am.”

  Katie stopped at the stove. “I know how you feel about that. It’s only a matter of time.”

  “No, you don’t understand. He and I have such intense feelings for each other, I don’t know where to begin.”

  Katie smiled. “You do?” She went to the hutch, grabbed a couple of cups and saucers and put them on the table. “That’s wonderful!”