Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) (8 page)

“It wouldn’t be fair to them. You’re absolutely right,” Martha agreed. “I’ll think about it.”

The Barnettes sat in the pew alone. Luke had eaten breakfast in the hotel cafe and driven home just after daylight. After the services, Grace said, “I thought Luke was coming to the services with you this morning.”

“There was a change in plans,” Sarah replied.

“Did something happen between them?” she asked with a nod toward Martha.

“I think he saw a ghost,” Sarah said.

“That’s too bad. I think they make a nice couple.”

“I do too,” Sarah said.

Save for the clopping of the hooves, the ride home was quiet.

All evidence of the storm had passed and Monday arrived right on schedule and Martha had prepared the room for the beginning of the school day. Her students came, some showing more enthusiasm for school than others. Will Hastings was brought to class by Hetty.

Luke did not put in an appearance until the end of the school day. He was the last of the parents to come for their child. He tied his horse to the hitching post in front and came into the classroom. “Do you have a few minutes to talk,” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, laying aside the paper she had been grading. “What would you like to talk about?”

“You know what about. The other night at the dance,” he said.

“Are you sure you want to have this conversation with your son present?” she asked.

“I guess maybe that wouldn’t be such a good idea. Would you mind stopping at the house as you leave or would you rather I came to your place?” he asked.

“I’ll stop by, I just want to be home before dark,” she answered.

“How soon will you be leaving?’

She said, “I’ll be finished after I grade these papers. I want to return them to the class tomorrow.”

He invited her into the living room, when she arrived at the big house, “Would you like anything?”

“No thank you, I’m fine,” she answered.

“I might as well jump right in. The other night, I don’t understand what happened. The dance ended, you didn’t want to dance any more and you left all of us standing there. I was dumbfounded,” he finished.

“If you think back, I told you I wanted to go back to the hotel. Apparently you didn’t want to escort me, so I escorted myself. The next morning, you left without saying anything to anyone. That is not the behavior of a gentleman.”

“I’m lost. One minute we were fine and the next you wanted to leave…”

“And you didn’t offer to take me after I asked,” she said.

“But why did you want to leave?” he questioned.

“That’s not germane to the discussion,” she said.

“Look, Clar… I’m sorry, I apologize. Martha, I’m just a plain old cowboy, and I’m not schooled in the manner of eastern customs. I have no idea what your problem was or is.”

“Don’t talk down to me, Luke. You’re a successful rancher and businessman. I’ll tell you just what was wrong, and for your information, you hit the nail on the head just then.”

“I don’t understand. How did I hit the nail on the head,” he asked.

“You came very close to calling me Clara. The other night, you were wishing I was Clara. Every time we touched, you recoiled.”

“Clara was my wife and I loved her as much as any man could love a woman. She’s gone and I miss her. Is that so wrong?”

“It’s not wrong,” she said. “It’s been more than six months since she died. I loved Daniel. I miss him every day, and I honor his memory, but it’s time for me to move on. It’s what he would have wanted for me. I like and respect you, Luke. A lot. I cannot compete with a ghost. Nor will I try,” she finished with a rush.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked.

“That’s up to you. It’s not what I want you to do. It’s what do you want to do. Now, I have to go.”

“Can I call on you?”

“Toward what end,” she asked.

“I would like to see you,” he said simply.

“You know where I live and work, at least for a while. Now I really must be going.”

She started for the door, he jumped ahead and held it open for her. “I’m sorry, Martha. I really am.”

“I am too,” she said so softly he could barely hear.

* * *

Jed and Luke were riding in to Laramie for a meeting with Henry Calhoun, their attorney. “Jed, she’s your sister-in-law. What’s wrong with her?”

“If you have to ask, you have a bigger problem than you think.”

“Surely she doesn’t expect me to just forget Clara?” he asked.

“I will be the first to tell you, I’m no expert on women. She doesn’t expect you to forget
your late wife. Luke, that’s the operative term. She’s your late wife. When you’re with another woman, Martha or anyone else, she wants to be the center of your focus. She told Sarah you came close to calling her Clara. That’s a prime example of what I mean.”

“I did,” Luke said ruefully. “I apologized, but apparently that wasn’t enough.”

“Look, I won’t presume to know what your intentions are and if you tell Sarah or Martha I told you this, I will deny it to my last breath. She’s received letters from two people in response to her ad. I don’t know if she answered them or not. She also told Sarah she is going back to New York when the present school term is out. She was going to do it immediately, but delayed it until school is out. And it was for the kids she’s staying that long.”

“You’re kidding?”

“No, I’m not. If she does go back, you’re going to be on Sarah’s shit list big time.”

“Does anyone really understand the female mind?” Luke asked.

“Not that I’ve ever met,” Jed answered with a grin. He flicked the reins to pick up the pace.

* * *

The next day, Luke brought Will to school, where as usual, Martha stood in the door, greeting each child individually as they arrived. If they had been brought by a parent, she chatted with them briefly.

“Would you mind if I sat in the classroom for a while today? I promise I won’t be a disruption, he asked.”

“I have no objection to your being there. It is your building after all. I’m sorry, Luke. That was uncalled for. I don’t mind. You or any of the parents are welcome to observe the class activities any time.”

“Thank you.” For the next two hours, he sat in the back of the room, watching and listening intently. He saw the interactions with the children, the acknowledgment of a correct answer. He saw the way the children responded to her. He particularly watched Will and his actions. “She really likes the children, and doesn’t treat them like kids. She is different with each one,” he thought to himself. He stayed until she let the children out for recess and the opportunity to relieve themselves.

“I’d better get back to my work,” he said. “Thank you for letting me watch. You’re really good at this and you enjoy it.”

“I guess I am rather good at it. I had a really good teacher and some of it rubbed off. I enjoy it because I like children and it always amazes me to watch them work out a problem..”

She rang the bell to call the students back to class and Luke turned to leave. His son grabbed his leg. “Papa, you can’t go yet. That was just recess.” Her laugh was genuine and melodious.

“You tell him, Will. I’m glad you stayed. It was nice having you, I almost called on you, but didn’t want to embarrass you.”

“I appreciate that.” He tipped his hat, and left.

Lounging in the late autumn sun, Luke saw the door to the school open and out came 12 children, anxious to get on with what little of the day was left. He stood, yawned and stretched. Then he walked to the door, well aware
Martha was watching. “Well, hidee do, you glad to be rid of your brood for the day?” he asked.

“Mixed emotions,” she said. Toward the end of the day, you can see their interest flag, and their unspent energies just waiting to be released. One of these days, I’m going to step in front of them and see what would happen.”

“Don’t do that. I’ve been in a stampede and it’s not a pretty sight,” he said, then, “I would like for you to go to church with me Sunday,”

“I would like that,” Martha said. What time will you pick me up?”

“Would eight be too early? It would allow for a nice leisurely ride in and might give us time for a cup of coffee at the cafe. Sound good to you?” he asked. “Will and Jimmy will be going too.:”

“Good, I’ll look forward to it.” She put her hand on top of his. “Thank you for asking me.”

Sunday came with a warm sun shining, not a cloud in sight and a slight breeze coming from the western mountains. It was a nice day for a drive. Hetty had dressed the boys in their Sunday finest. Their hair was slicked down and their rosy cheeks looked to be freshly scrubbed.

For his part, Luke was clean shaven, with one unruly lock of hair peeking from under his black Stetson hat. He looked every bit the dapper, successful rancher he was. Martha came to the door wearing a pale green dress, a matching green bonnet trimmed in lace. “You look real pretty, Miss Martha,” Will said.

She hugged him and said, “And you look very handsome today, Will. You too, Jimmy.”

“Yes Ma’am,” he said. “Hetty gave me a bath last night.”

“You look nice too Luke. Did Hetty give you a bath also?”

Luke coughed to hide his embarrassment. “Aw, Miss Martha, Hetty doesn’t give Papa baths,” Will said.

“May I change the direction of this conversation?” he asked. “Martha, you are stunning. The dress is beautiful and really sets off your eyes. You’ll be the prettiest girl in church, won’t she boys?”

“Papa, Miss Martha ain’t…”

“Isn’t” corrected Martha.

“—isn’t a girl. She’s a teacher,” Will said, as if the interruption hadn’t happened.

Inside the church, the children went into the Sunday school class. Luke introduced Martha to those of his friends who were in the congregation. Before church, John and Grace welcomed them warmly, making no mention of Luke’s unexpected absence on the other occasion.

During the services, they sat in the middle of the pew, so they wouldn’t be bothered by having to stand to allow latecomers access to seating space. As they sat, Martha placed her hand atop his, feeling no onrush of tension on his part. Rather, he turned his hand over and clasped her small hand in his big left hand. Martha allowed a smile to creep onto her face.

Following church, with the two boys walking in front of them holding hands, they did the same as they went to the cafe for lunch. Martha placed her napkin in her lap and was pleased to see the boys do the same. After lunch, they walked around town before heading home. Luke related some of the history of his town. It had started as a tent city along the Overland Stage Route. It didn’t really grow until the rails came in early May 1868. “I was just about five years older than will is when the first train came. It was a big event. Most of the early passengers were drummers and miners, When Clara came out, she rode the stage.”

“That must have been very uncomfortable. My trip was a long dirty ride and I wound up with cinders all over my clothes.”

“But, even so, I would like to go to San Francisco. I have heard so much about it that I now want to see it, That would make me a coast to coast traveler. I think it could be nice to have that distinction. I would love to see San Francisco”

“Then I shall take you, milady,”

“Will you really?” she said.

“Yes, I’ll take you to San Francisco.”

“Then I am looking forward to going. Don’t tease me Luke,” she said.

“I’m serious and I’m not teasing here,” he answered.

“Are we going somewhere, Papa?” Will piped up from the rear of the carriage.

“We’re just talking about going to San Francisco,” Luke answered.

“Could we go too, Papa?”

“What do you think, Martha?”

“By all means,” she answered. “It will be a good educational experience for them,” she said.

Where Are We…

Lunch was over, Luke and Martha had strolled the length of Grand Street, they walked to the livery stable, where Luke hitched the horses to the carriage and they began a leisurely ride home. The afternoon could not have been better. With a temperature in the mid seventies, and a light breeze from the northwest, they chatted amiably about school, the ranch, the mines and wondered if there would be any more trouble with the Lakota Sioux.

Martha tapped Luke on the arm and pointed to the back. Both boys had fallen asleep. “The innocence of youth; isn’t it wonderful?”

“It’s a shame it’s wasted on the young though. They don’t appreciate it,” Luke said.

“Oh, I don’t know, sometimes I’m amazed how perceptive they are. Just when you think you understand them, they’re off on another track.”

Luke pulled back on the reins to stop the carriage in front of Jed and Sarah’s home. “Sit with me for a few minutes, would you please?”

“Of course, what is it?” she asked.

“Jed told me you are thinking about resigning from teaching and returning to New York. He also told me you’ve placed an ad in The Matrimonial News. I was shocked to hear you’re thinking about leaving. I thought you liked it here,” he said.

“I do like it here, I’m just not sure my future is here. I want to get on with my life. I want to be a mother, and I want a family. I’m not sure it’s going to happen here,” she said.

“What about us? I thought we might have a future together,” he said.

“Is there an us? I don’t want to be part of a threesome. Pure and simple. I don’t know that you are ready for what I want. I don’t know that you’ll ever be ready.”

He took her hands and clasped them between his. “I want there to be an us. I want you to be a part of my life and my boys lives. I can’t promise to forget Clara. She was my life and she is the mother of my boys. I can only promise my dead level best to try and show you every day, how much you mean to us. The boys adore you. When I was watching you in the classroom, I saw how you are with the children and how they respond to you. Give us a chance. Give me a chance.”

“I would like to believe what you say is true,” she said.

“What do I have to do to convince you?” he asked.

“Be yourself. Let me into your life, with no dark corners,” she answered.

He released her hands and pulled her into his arms. He looked into her eyes, and tilted his head. When his lips touched hers, he felt the warmth from the soft lips fill his body. His tongue traced the outline of her lips, probing, asking. She sighed and parted them and allowed him entry. Gently, he explored the interior of her mouth, eliciting soft moans of pleasure from her as she kissed him back.

The spell was broken when from the back came, “Ewww,” from Will.

They broke apart, Martha was choking in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid laughing. Luke started laughing also. “I didn’t realize we had a live audience, grading our performance,” she said.

“Nor did I,” Luke agreed.

“To answer your question, that just went a long way to convincing me of a future,” she said.

“Then I’ll just have to do that more often,” he said.

“Please do. I liked it,” she said.

“I guess you need to be getting back to your work. Ranchers don’t get a day off, do they?”

“Not really,” he said. He stepped down from the carriage and helped her down. When her feet touched the ground, she moved easily into his arms, and looked into the deep blue pools that were his eyes. She hooked a hand around his neck and pulled him down into another kiss. When they broke, she said impishly, “I just wanted to make sure it was there. And it was.

Bye boys, Be sure to get your homework done, Will, and I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll see you too, won’t I, cowboy?”

“Count on it,” Luke said. “Thanks for one of the nicest days I’ve had in some time.”

“You’re very welcome and I would say the same,” she said.

* * *

Once inside, Sarah came into
Martha’s room. “Okay Sis. Out with it. Tell me all about your day.”

“He and the boys picked me up, we went to church, then had lunch, walked around Laramie a bit and we came back home. Oh, and John preached a very nice sermon about sin. He is against it.”

“You’re not getting off that easy. Come on, give with the rest of it.”

Martha smiled and said, “That blabbermouth husband of yours told him I was planning to go back home and I had put an ad in the paper for a husband.”

“And?”

“And, he doesn’t want me to go.”

“And?”

“And, I told him I would like to go to San Francisco.”

“And?”

“He’s going to take me. His sons are going also.”

“Getting information from you is like pulling teeth,” Sarah said.

“He kissed me twice. Will interrupted the first one when he said, “Eewww”. We thought they were asleep.”

“We’re going to try, which gives me hope again. I think we’ll make it if the kiss is any indication.”

“That’s more like it. I’m so glad you’re working it out,” Sarah said. “I think you two belong together. So, you’ve given up on the idea of going back to New York?”

“I didn’t say that. I think it’s a lot less likely than it was a few days ago.”

Sarah embraced her sister. “I’m really happy for you. It’s about time something good happened for you.”

“I hope so. I do like him and I adore his boys,” Martha said.

“Could you raise them as your own?”

Martha replied, “I believe I could. I do want one of my own, though.”

“Three would be a big load,” her sister said.

“Well, I have twelve now,” Martha said. “With Hetty, I would have more help.”

“I have my fingers crossed for you.”

“Thanks, Sis.”