The Mail Order Bride's Quilt (3 page)

“Yes, John.  We’re having a baby. You’re going to be a father.”

He sat down on the bed besides her, smiling as wide as his mouth allowed. “If you hadn’t just passed out, I’d pick you up and swing you around,” he exclaimed.

“So you’re happy?” she asked him.

“How could I not be happy? I have a wife I love, a place to call our own and now a little one that we created on the way. I don’t think life could get much better than this.”

“You love me?” she
queried softly.

“Of course I love you sweetheart. You mean the world to me.”

“You’ve never said the words before.”

“I’m so sorry my love.  From this
day forward, not a day will go by that I won’t tell you I love.” He leaned over and kissed her gently. “But we’re still taking you to see the doctor.”

“Can it wait until tomorrow? I’m so tired
, and I have something else to tell you.” She sniffed, and he saw a tear roll down her cheek. 

“Jenny, sweetheart, why are you crying?”

“I’ve been hiding a secret from you?”

John paused for a moment.
He couldn’t imagine what she could hide from him that could cause her such distress.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I have a good sum of money in the bank back in Pennsylvania. Before I knew who you were, I didn’t want to tell you in case you weren’t the man I thought. Then we realized who we were, or are, and I got so excited I forgot. And by that time I didn’t want to tell you and risk hurting you because you thought I didn’t trust. But that’s not true. I trust you completely and love you…”

John thought Jenny was adorable with her rambling, but he wasn’t about to tell her that when she was so worked up. He’d been around some pregnant woman before and knew the least little thing could upset them. So he just did his best to put her at ease.

“Sweetheart, it doesn’t upset me that you didn’t tell me right away.  A woman can’t be too careful when she is moving across the country to marry a man she only knows through letters. What matters is you told me now, and we’ll have no secrets.”

“I love you, John.”

“And I love you too, Jenny.”

“When we go
to town tomorrow I’ll wire the the bank to transfer the money.”

“There’s no hurry sweetheart. That money is yours. Maybe you could use some to bring the
Murdocks out for a visit. I know you’ve been missing them something fierce.”

“Really
, John? Oh that would be wonderful. I’d be so happy to see them again,” his wife exclaimed clasping her hands together. “You will love them. Remember the Millers?  They remind me a lot of them.”

“I already love them, because they took care of you when you needed them,” he told his wife lovingly. His smile widened again; partially due to his wife’s happy state and partially in amusement to her rapid mood swings. From what he understood, he’d be seeing a lot of that in the upcoming months, but he’d welcome them all.

Epilogue

Seven Months Later

John stood outside his house, pacing back and forth on the newly added porch. Mr. Murdock came up and placed his hand on his shoulder to still him.

“Everything will be fine, Son,” the older man tried to offer comfort.

“But she’s in so much pain.”

“It’s all a part of the process.  Mrs. Murdock says once the baby comes, the pain is forgotten.”

John wasn’t so sure about that. All he knew was his beloved wife was screaming and moaning in the bedroom.  The doctor had arrived a few hours ago and was in there with her, along with Mrs. Murdock. Being a single woman, Abigail wasn’t permitted
in the birthing room, but was assigned to the task of keeping water boiling.

Just when he thought he would lose his mind, John heard the tiny cry of a baby. He went bursting into his house and into the bedroom. Jenny was propped up in bed, h
olding a tiny bundle. Her hair was damp with perspiration and her face pale from her labors, but she was smiling and he thought his wife had never looked so beautiful.

“You have a daughter,” she told him, handing the bundle towards him.

“She’s perfect,” he proclaimed looking at her tiny fingers and button nose. “What shall we name her?”

“I was thinking Mabel Elizabeth after our mothers,” Jenny said.

“I love it. Hello, Ms. Mabel Elizabeth,” he greeted his daughter.

“We’ll leave you
two new parents alone to get acquainted with your daughter,” the doctor said, excusing himself and Mrs. Murdock.

Alone in the
ir bedroom, John sat next to Jenny, pulling their mothers’ quilts over them. He wrapped one arm around his wife, who has holding their daughter again.

“I’m so glad I answered your letter,” John whispered to his wife.

“Me too,” Jenny replied and snuggled closer to her husband as they stared in amazement at this beautiful little girl that joined them together forever.

The End

Dear Reader,

              Thank you for joining me into this first foray of a historical romance. I have long since been fascinated by stories of mail-order brides, both in fiction and reality. I hope you’ve enjoyed this story.  Keep an eye out for Abigail’s story coming in August.

Always,

Leah