Mail Order Mishap: Christian Romance (Kansas Brides Book 1) (11 page)

Chapter 13

Edna’s dizziness seemed to be getting worse the closer it got to Tuesday. Amber wasn’t excited about leaving Hunter’s Grove, and she didn’t quite know why. So postponing her travel plans was no sacrifice for her. She could have easily contacted Edna’s granddaughter to take care of Edna, yet she decided to stay at least for another week.

She supposed Hunter’s Grove was growing on her. She loved Edna and had made friends with the young minister’s wife, Mandy Flannery, who'd introduced her to her friend, Lily, when Mandy had invited her to have lunch with them all. Since Edna’s granddaughter had stopped by to visit Edna as she passed through town on her way to Topeka, Amber agreed to go along with Mandy. Amber met Lily’s husband, Gus, as well. She felt so at home with these simple, friendly people.

As she watched the affection between Mandy and James, and Lily and Gus at lunch, she felt almost as if she were missing something she’d once had for only a very short time, but when she thought about what Garrett had done, the feeling of missing him and his ardor disappeared.

Later that week, when Mandy joined Amber for tea at Edna's , she made a suggestion that made Amber wonder what it was Mandy wanted.

“I’d like for you to meet our new neighbor and church member, Forrest Monroe. He’s single and just under thirty. He’s pleasing on the eyes and a bit lonely, since he doesn’t know many people in the area yet. I could easily set up a luncheon date and invite you both, if you’d like.”

Did Amber really want to meet someone? She hadn’t even decided if she was going to stay in Hunter’s Grove or go back to Virginia on next Tuesday’s train yet. The only reason she even considered leaving was to avoid ever seeing Charles or Garrett Turner, ever again.

She knew Mandy was just trying to be helpful, so she agreed to the lunch date.

“I’d love to," she said, "but only if Edna's feeling better. She’s been having dizzy spells, and I’m worried about her, although she seems much better today.”

Mandy was a pretty woman with auburn hair, several shades redder than her own. She had the most inviting smile and a sparkling personality, and she made the perfect minister’s wife. Amber was also fond of Reverend Flannery, who was not as staunch a person as she’d thought he’d be. He laughed and joked, just like everyone else. Outside of the pulpit, he was just another person.

Fortunately, none of her new friends seemed to know she’d been falsely married to Charles‒in fact, no one mentioned him at all.

Edna had said that Garrett had moved across the street, above the barbershop, and that he called on her daily. She often saw him sitting in the window, staring at the Smith house. She had to be strong and resist him, for how could she ever trust him again?

Garrett was shown the routine at the livery and took over so that Cole could spend time with his father. Each day, Garrett stopped for a brief visit with Howard, as well, and he discovered the man suffered from a weak heart.

So now, Garrett was part owner of the livery that was called Johnson’s Livery. Cole had asked if he wanted to change the name, but Garrett refused. After all, his name rightfully should have been Johnson. Garrett Michael Johnson should have been his name‒maybe he’d see about changing it. After Howard had told him that Elmer was probably the one who'd shot his father, the thought of carrying the Turner name was revolting to him.

There were three employees at the livery Cal Edwards and Frenchie Beaufont who helped with the horses, mucked out stalls and cleaned up buggies and the night manager's Hugh Collins. They all accepted Garrett as boss without a problem.

Garrett enjoyed the work, and couldn’t believe how his life had been turned around for the better. He thanked God and gave him the glory for it all. His prayers had been answered—all except for one. He still didn’t know how to smooth things over with Amber and he feared his time was running out.

Now that he was able to keep his nest egg, he thought about helping Charles out with the hotel renovations, but then banished the thought. Were it not for Charles, he wouldn't be in this mess with Amber. Then another thought struck him: if it hadn’t been for Charles he’d never have even met Amber in the first place. So when Charles came to his apartment to visit him, he greeted him warmly.

“I need help,” Charles said. “The men working on the hotel are threatening to leave if I don’t give them at least half of what I owe them. If you loan me the money, I’ll pay you back, with interest, once the profits start rolling in when the hotel reopens.”

“I’ll get the money to you tomorrow,” Garrett said.

“You will?” Charles asked, surprised.

“But first I have a story to tell you that you have a right to know, but it can’t go further than this room,” Garrett said. “Is that a deal?”

Charles held up his right hand. “It's a deal.”

Garrett told Charles the story Howard Johnson had told him.

“But you’re still my brother,” Charles said. “We share the same mother.”

“That’s why I’m helping you,” Garrett told him. “I fear I’ve lost any respect Amber may have had for me through all this. She wants nothing to do with me, and I’m afraid I fell in love with her while trying to help you.”

“Ouch! I sort of thought you might have,” Charles said. “Is there anything I can do?”

“No. I’ll think of some way to at least get her to speak with me. I’ve tried several times, but each time I go to the Smith house, she refuses to see me.”

“I could try,” Charles offered.

“I’m afraid she wouldn’t see you, either. According to Mrs. Smith, she said she wanted nothing to do with either of us, and hoped never to see us again, and I can hardly blame her.”

Charles reached over and patted Garrett’s shoulder. “I am truly sorry.”

A man came into the livery a few days later and asked to rent the best buggy they had. Garrett pulled out a brand new coupe that had just arrived from New York. It was half the size of most buggies and designed for two passengers, although a small-hinged seat was hidden behind the cab to seat an additional passenger. The interior was elegantly decorated, with diamond-pleated burgundy satin, a mirrored vanity drawer, and a calling card case of rich, russet leather. The buggy had yet to be used, and the price to rent it was high, but the young man paid it without trying to barter for a better price.  He just drove off promising to return it the following day.

Cole was thrilled when he heard the price Garrett had gotten for the one-day rental. He’d also rented the man the most expensive horse to pull the buggy.

“You’re a fast learner, Garrett,” Cole said, slapping him on the back.

Amber immediately liked Forrest Monroe. He wasn’t nearly as handsome as Charles or Garrett, but he wasn’t an eyesore, either. His hair was almost the same shade of auburn as her own hair, and he had gray eyes, as opposed to Garrett’s blue ones and Charles’s brown ones. He had endearing dimples when he smiled that he claimed he hated. Perfect. He didn't remind her of either Garrett or Charles Turner.

She enjoyed their lunch, and when he asked her to have dinner with him that evening, she'd agreed.

To her surprise, he picked her up in a luxurious buggy. It was fancier than anything she’d ever ridden in. She was disappointed the eating-house was close by, which didn’t afford her enough time to enjoy the ride. He took her to Hunter’s Grove's only fancy eating-house, the Casa de Amigos. There, Forrest ordered them the most expensive steak meals on the menu.

Amber knew Forrest must be wealthy by his buggy and the expensive meal. After they had eaten, much to her delight, he asked if she’d like to go for a buggy ride. It was the smoothest buggy ride she’d ever had. It felt as if they were traveling on a big, fluffy cloud.

After a while, Forrest pulled over near the river, and they watched the ducks swimming as they talked. When Forrest leaned over to kiss her, she had no time to pull away. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers.

“I don’t believe in postponing the inevitable,” he said. “I know we share an attraction, so I should ask now if I may court you.”

Although he stated he was asking, it didn’t sound much like a question to Amber. She, however, was confused and didn’t know quite how to answer or how she felt about the kiss.

Garrett stopped at the hotel, paid Charles the money, and then went home and collapsed on the sofa. He loved his work at the livery, but getting up at the crack of dawn to open and staying until dusk was wearing him ragged. He was sure things would lighten up when Cole was able to help out more.

As he did so often, he gazed across the street at Edna Smith’s house, wondering what Amber was doing at that very moment. Just then, the fancy buggy he’d rented earlier that day to the gentleman, pulled up in front of the Smith house. He watched with interest as a young man went up to the door, and then escorted Amber into the buggy.

He felt like his heart had completely fallen out of his chest. His mouth went dry, and he felt like his world had come to a screeching halt. Had he known, he’d not have rented him such a luxurious vehicle.

Without much forethought, he got on his horse, and followed the buggy for a short distance to the plushest and most expensive steak house in town. He tied his horse about a quarter of a mile away, and sulked. Thoughts of Amber and that man, who was obviously wealthy, ran through his mind. He was sure she’d fall for him, for he could easily provide her with the kind of life to which she was accustomed.

After a while, he saw the gentleman put his hands on Amber’s waist to help her up into the cab of the buggy. His actions made him remember the feel of Amber’s waist through the filmy nightgown that night, and he started to sweat. He felt like punching something but then decided prayer might be more satisfying in the long run.

He hopped on his horse and followed the buggy, trying to be discrete, often veering off the trail when they turned a corner, so they wouldn't see him. He wasn’t surprised when the gentleman stopped in the area along the river, known to everyone in town as Lovers’ Lane.

He felt his hands clench into fists when he saw the man lean over and kiss Amber. It had been a long time since he felt tempted to swear, but he stopped himself before uttering a word. Swearing wouldn’t help any situation, but prayer usually did. He turned his horse around and galloped as fast as he could back to his apartment. The man didn’t seem to be forcing Amber, and she wasn’t fighting him, so he thought he’d seen enough, and he couldn’t watch anymore, besides‒it was too painful, given the memories of Amber's kisses haunting him.