Text Order Bride (4 page)

character to start with. Stephanie vouched so highly for you that I was able

to trust you before I ever met you.”

She could understand that. “Okay. What were the other reasons?”

He sighed. “I’m ready to have a family. I thought I’d found the perfect

woman, and she took off. I didn’t want to have to start over from square

one. I wanted to meet someone else, who felt they were ready to start

married life, and would be more amenable to a quick wedding.”

“Stephanie told you I was willing to get married quick?” she asked. She

knew she’d talked about how unsettled she felt, and how much she wanted

kids in some of the emails she’d sent Stephanie, but she hadn’t realized

just how much Stephanie had read between the lines.

“Yeah. Does it bother you she told me that?”

Amanda shrugged. “I’m not sure. I mean, it’s true, but it feels funny to

know that you knew that before we ever spoke.” She kicked at a clump of

dirt on the ground. “What other reasons?”

“I don’t really have time for a real courtship to use an old-fashioned word. I

work a whole lot of hours, and don’t want to have to drive somewhere to

see a girl all that often. I mean, I know every girl in these parts. I don’t

want to have to drive all the way to Madison three times a week to see

some girl. Does that make any sense?”

She nodded. “It makes a lot of sense. With me, you can talk if you have

time, or not talk if you don’t. You have to pick up the phone, but don’t have

to make the long drives. Well, except this weekend, of course.”

He stopped walking and turned to her. “This weekend was necessary for

me. I needed to meet you and find out if we were compatible. I think we

are. What do you think?”

She looked up into his big brown eyes. She was already half in love with

him. What could she say? “Yeah, I think we are.”

He smiled. “I’m glad.” He cupped her face in both hands and leaned

slowly toward her, brushing her lips with his. When she leaned toward him,

he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her more firmly against

him. His tongue traced the line of her lips, and she parted them, giving him

access to her mouth.

She wrapped both arms around his neck and pressed herself up against

him. How had she lived all her life without his kisses?

After a moment, he broke off the kiss. Both of them were breathing heavily

as they faced one another. Her cheeks were tinged pink with

embarrassment, but she wouldn’t turn away from him. “What would you

think about getting married this summer?” he asked.

Her eyes grew wide as she stared at him for a minute. “This summer?

Like August?”

He smiled. “I’m thinking more like June. When is school out?”

She swallowed. “The last week in May.”

“How about the first Saturday in June then?”

Was this what she wanted? She wanted a family. She needed a change

so desperately. But was that enough reason to marry? If she agreed, they

wouldn’t see each other again until right before the wedding. She’d have

no time to get to know him or to get used to his kisses.

“I wasn’t expecting you to ask me that. Not yet, anyway,” she said

honestly.

He smiled, his thumb rubbing her lower lip. “I don’t want to wait. I want

you in my life.”

She stared into his eyes. She wanted to say yes. She really did. She just

wasn’t sure if she was ready to agree. Shouldn’t she know him better first?

He lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers again. “Please?”

She rested her head on his shoulder. Why was she even debating with

herself? She wanted children, and so did he. She found him incredibly

attractive. Why not? She lifted her head up and nodded. “Yeah. I’ll marry

you.”

“Really?”

She smiled. “Really.”

He kissed her again quickly, and slipped his arm around her as they walked

back toward the house talking as they went.

She told him that she’d already resigned her position with her school,

knowing that she was going to do something outside of her small town.

“I’m not sure if I even want to keep teaching. I have some money saved.

Enough that I could take a year off and it wouldn’t hurt me too badly. I’ll

probably apply at Stratford High, but I’m not even sure yet. Maybe I can

just teach some quilting classes or something.”

“I make enough that you don’t have to work if you don’t want to. I’d

probably rather you didn’t once we have kids, but we can talk about that

later.”

She shrugged. “Maybe I’ll spend a year not working and see if I can handle

it. I may go insane.”

He laughed. “Hopefully not. I’m sure you could sub if nothing else.”

She nodded. “That may be the best solution. If I sub, I can work when I

want and not work when I don’t want to. I’ll call the school system here on

my break on Monday and see if I can get an application. Or check out their

website. I’m sure it’ll have the information I need.”

“I’d like to see you with something to do if you want to do it. You might get

bored just being a farmer’s wife.”

She laughed. “I doubt it. I’d love to get involved in the church. Maybe

work with the children’s ministry. That’s always been a passion of mine.

There are so many books I want to catch up on. I love to quilt. I enjoy

making quilts and selling them. I don’t get bored.”

He grinned. “Sounds good to me.”

They were nearing the house by this time, and he suggested they drive into

town for lunch. “I’d invite you to eat with me, but honestly? There’s nothing

fit to eat in my house. I pretty much live off of sandwiches and microwave

dinners. Oh, and frozen burritos. I’ve never been much of a cook.”

“I love to cook. That’s part of the reason I became a homemaking teacher.”

They went inside so she could get her purse from the counter, and got into

his truck. “The church isn’t big, but it’s big enough for a small wedding. Do

you want Bob to marry us?” he asked.

“He’s the only minister we both know, so yeah, he’s it. I’ll talk to Stephanie

about it. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to take care of most of the plans for me.

She loves bossing people around. We can email about flower

arrangements and that kind of thing.”

He sighed. “I’m going to have to wear a suit, aren’t I?”

“At least a suit. I’d prefer a tux.”

He nodded. He didn’t want to, but he’d do it. “You gonna wear one of

those long white dresses?” he asked.

“Yeah. I should have time to make one between now and then. If I don’t

have enough time, I’ll turn my classroom into a sweat shop.”

He laughed. She loved how his deep chuckle filled up the cab of the truck.

“That works for me.”

By the time he’d dropped her off that evening, they had talked through the

important things. She and Stephanie would worry about the details. He

kissed her goodbye in the driveway. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

Time flew by once Amanda was back home in Texas. She put her house

on the market, knowing that she could stay with her friend, Beth, if the

house sold before she was ready to move. She got everything packed up

and went to work on her dress. Every evening she talked to Jason. They

laughed and joked. She felt closer to him every day. And more nervous

about marrying him.

She closed on the house the day after school was out, but they gave her

three days to vacate. In those three days, she’d be in Wisconsin. She

came home after signing the papers and slumped onto the couch. She’d

just sold the only home she’d ever known. Was she doing the right thing?

She called Stephanie, and didn’t even wait for her to say anything. “House

is sold. Everything is packed. Movers are coming tomorrow, and I’ll be

flying up there. Am I insane?”

Stephanie laughed. “You’re not getting nervous are you? Jason’s a great

guy. You’re doing the right thing.”

Amanda felt tears prick her eyes. “I’m moving a thousand miles for a man

I’ve met once. Once! My father would kill me.”

“It’s going to be okay. Everything is ready here. I’ll probably be picking you

up at the airport on Friday afternoon.”

“I thought Jason was picking me up?”

“He’s having some tractor issues. He has to get them taken care of before

the honeymoon.”

Amanda sighed. “Am I even going to get to see him before the wedding?”

“Probably not. You’ll get to see him during the wedding, though.”

“I’m so nervous. I was hoping he could talk me down from the emotional

ledge I’m perched on.”

Stephanie smiled as she looked at the phone. Amanda was usually so

calm about everything. These pre-wedding jitters were amusing her to no

end. “He said he’d call you tonight.”

“Well, that’s better than nothing, I guess.”

After they’d hung up, Amanda went into her bedroom and stroked the dress

hanging in her closet. She’d worked so hard on it. She knew that it

showed her slim figure off to its best advantage. Hopefully Jason would

like it.

Hours later, her phone rang. She checked the caller ID and answered it.

She was determined not to sound like a hysterical idiot. “Hey there.”

“Hi, sweetheart. How did the closing go today?”

She sighed. “It went well. It’s all done. I’ve sold the only home I’ve ever

known.” She dashed the tear off her cheek as she said the words. She’d

planned to sell the house anyway. It wasn’t his fault, so why was she half

mad at him for it?

“You doin’ okay?”

“Not really. I’m in the middle of an emotional crisis. I keep asking myself if

I’m doing the right thing.”

“And how do you answer yourself?”

She laughed. “I don’t know. That’s the problem. I can’t figure that out. It’s

not that I don’t want to marry you. It’s really not. It’s just that I’m moving so

far away from Texas. And I’m going to be having sex with a man I barely

know.” She put her hand over her mouth as soon as she realized what

she’d said. She hadn’t meant to bring that up.

“Is that the problem? Are you worried about the wedding night?”

She blushed. “That’s part of it.”

“Why does that make you so nervous?” he asked.

“Well, it’ll be a new experience, and I don’t feel like I know you well enough

yet. Not really. Maybe we could get married, but wait a week or two?”

He’d figured she was a virgin, but she hadn’t come right out and said it until

now. “It’s going to be okay. I’m not willing to wait, but it’s not going to be

some horribly traumatic experience. I promise. You’ll enjoy it.”

She sighed. “I hope so. I know it’s not fair to even ask you to wait. I’m

sorry. I’m just a little messed up right now. Too many changes too fast.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. Once we’re married, everything will settle

down, and things will be easier,” he promised.

“I hope so.”

*****

that Jason wasn’t going to meet her. She needed some time with

Stephanie before she had a mental breakdown.

Most of her things had been sent ahead, so she only had her overnight

bag, one suitcase, and her wedding dress with her. Everything else was

already here. Jason had told her the night before that the moving truck had

arrived and where he’d put everything. She picked up the only suitcase

that she’d checked and searched the people around her again.

She was looking for Stephanie, so was surprised to be caught in a bear

hug by Jason. She pulled back and looked up at him her eyes showing her

happiness at his presence. “You made it!”

“I couldn’t not meet you with how freaked out you sounded the other night.

My friend, Steve, is dealing with the tractor.”

She grabbed him in another hug. “I’m so glad you came.”

He tucked his forefinger under her chin and lifted her face up to his. His

lips descended slowly, kissing her softly. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too. I can’t believe that we’re going to be married at this

time tomorrow.”

He picked up her suitcase and started toward the truck. She carried her

garment bag and her overnight. When they reached the truck, he stowed

them behind the seat and they climbed in. He immediately caught her

hand and pulled her close, kissing her passionately this time. They were

both panting by the time he broke off the kiss. “I’m looking forward to not

stopping at a kiss,” he whispered.

She blushed. “I’m really nervous about that.”