Mail Order Mishap: Christian Romance (Kansas Brides Book 1) (13 page)

“I’m sorry, Forrest,” was all she said.

“I see,” he said. “Are you telling me in a kind way that you don’t wish me to court you?”

“I am. It’s not personal, it's just that I’m neither here nor there, these days. I don’t know what I want, or what I’ll do next,” Amber said. “Perhaps we can just put our relationship on hold until I figure where my life is going.”

“I understand. You know where to find me, should you change your mind,” Forrest said as he left.

Amber watched him disappear down the street. He was walking. She wondered where his luxurious buggy went, but then it dawned on her—he’d rented it, and probably from Garrett! So Garrett must know about her going to dinner with him. He probably watched her get into his buggy, the one he'd rented to Forrest. Poor Garrett. She scolded herself again for feeling sorry for a man who'd deceived her and couldn’t be trusted.

Cole was once again working beside Garrett, so he wasn’t as tired at night anymore, as they now shared the workload. On Friday, the man who’d reserved the luxury buggy came in and canceled his reservation.

“You were going to rent it for tomorrow, right?” Garrett said.

“Yes, but the lady I wanted to take out has refused. Is it possible to get a refund?”

Cole came up just then and said, “We can’t do that. Someone might have wanted to rent it and we may have turned them down, owing to your having reserved it.”

Garrett knew no one had wanted to rent it, but he knew those were the rules of the livery. If you reserved a horse or a buggy, there were no refunds. Yet, Garrett felt so elated that the woman had turned him down, he felt generous. He felt like jumping in the air and clapping his feet together.

“Cole can I talk to you a moment?” Garrett asked.

Garrett led Cole a few feet away and he told Cole the whole story of this man and Amber.

“I don’t know this man, but I’ve seen him in church,” Garrett said, “and Amber turned him down; he’s not taking her out.”

“I suppose we could break the rule this once. It would be good for business to be generous,” he winked at Garrett. “Go ahead and give him back the money, which was way more than he should have been charged in the first place.” Cole laughed and slapped Garrett’s back. “I’m glad we’re partners,” he said, “I knew there’d never be a dull moment with you here.”

Garrett went back to the man, feeling strangely hopeful about things. He felt the Spirit of God in him so strongly, and he was so happy that Amber had turned the man down, he could afford to be generous.

“My partner and I have decided that since you’re a member of our church, we’ll give you the refund.” He counted out the money to the man. “By the way, I’m Garrett Turner, and my partner over there's Cole Johnson.”

“I appreciate your token of goodwill,” he said. “I’m Forrest Monroe. I'm fairly new to Hunter’s Grove. It’s a pleasure to meet you, and you have no idea how much I appreciate your generosity. I couldn’t afford that buggy, but I got myself deeply in hock to impress a lady. It wasn’t a smart thing to do, since sooner or later, she’d have discovered I wasn’t really wealthy.” Forrest put his hand out in friendship.

Garrett took it and firmly shook hands with him. “I hope to see you in church,” he said.

Chapter 15

Amber had just sat down to tea with Edna one afternoon, a few days after she’d turned down Forrest’s dinner invitation, when there was a knock at the front door. Edna jumped up.

“I’ll see who it is,” Edna said. “You can pour our tea, dear.”

She came back with an odd look on her face, and Amber’s heart gave a slight leap. Was it Garrett again? Whatever would she say to him?

“It’s Charles,” Edna said. “Shall I tell him you’re not in?”

“Charles!” Good grief, what could
he
want? “Yes, tell him I’m not in.”

Edna left the room again. When she came back she was wringing her hands nervously. “He insists on seeing you. He said he won’t leave the porch until you see him, and that it’s a matter of life or death.”

“Let him stand out there, then. I refuse to see him,” Amber said.

They both peeked out the window periodically to see him still sitting there on the porch, on a rocking chair, calmly relaxing.

“He’s not leaving, Edna.”

“No, he said he wouldn’t.”

“But I can’t leave the house without passing him,” Amber said.

“Maybe you should go out there and let him say his piece. Just listen to him, nod, and then leave,” Edna said.

Amber sighed. “All right, but could you listen at the door and pop in if I need help getting rid of him? You could threaten to call the constable, or something.”

“I will. Now go on,” Edna urged.

Amber went out, onto the porch.

“I’ll give you five minutes, Charles.”

“Fair enough.”

Amber took a seat on the other rocker. “Your time starts now.”

“I don’t have any words to say how sorry I am, and I readily admit this whole thing was my fault. All I ask of you is to look at this paper.”

He handed her a paper that looked like a legal document.

She took it and scanned it carefully. “What is this?”

“When I asked Garrett to, you know, consummate my marriage for me, he refused several times before relenting. Before he agreed, he made me sign this contract that will show you he was looking out for you. He never meant to cheat you or hurt you.”

Amber swallowed, hard, as she read Garrett’s stipulations to the agreement. He'd demanded Charles put away a certain percentage each month until he'd returned to Amber every penny of her dowry. He also added that when the amount had been returned to Amber that she be told the complete truth and set free.

“Can I keep this?” she asked. When Charles nodded, she put the contract into her pocket.

“Garrett ended up doing the right thing, but he was still wrong to ever agree to your scheme. What you both did was wrong. How could I ever trust either of you again?” she asked. “How do I know Garrett wasn’t in on the whole mail order bride plot with you?”

“He didn’t know. I told him only hours before you arrived,” Charles said. “That’s why he was so grouchy when you arrived. He hadn’t yet gotten over the shock of my preposterous and dishonest scheme.”

“I’m now living openly with Clint. As you probably figured out, and have been for a few years now. I was the culprit in this whole plot. Garrett had nothing to do with it until I got my foot caught in my mouth and begged him to help me. He’s my big brother, and has always bailed me out of any trouble I might've gotten into through the years.

“Getting him to agree wasn’t easy. I even told him he could live in the house as long as he wanted, if he did that one favor for me. He hated having to leave home; he knew he had it made living with me. I twisted his arm, and the fact that he was already in love with you at the time made it easier for him to agree. Besides, what normal man in his right mind would refuse to make love to someone as beautiful as you, and who he was already in love with?

“However much Garrett loved you, he still made me sign this contract to make sure you’d get every penny back and learn the truth. And then, in the end, he loved you too much to go through with it anyway. I came here today to try and set things right for Garrett, because he doesn’t deserve to have a broken heart on my account. I’m the fool who set this horrible plan into action, and he’s the one suffering for it.

“That’s all I came for.” Charles stood and walked down the steps. He turned and waved before heading toward the hotel.

Amber sat there for several minutes thinking about all he’d said. She heard Edna come out and sit in the chair Charles had just vacated.

“What will you do now?” Edna asked.

“I don’t know. I’m more confused now than ever, Edna.”

“Come in, then and we’ll finish our tea, and consider your options.”

“The tea's still hot,” Edna said, passing a cup to Amber. “I put a touch of mint in it. Tell me if you like it or not. The mint grows profusely along the west fence in back, and I’m trying to find uses for it.”

“Hmm, yes, it’s lovely,” Amber said. “I love it.” Her head was still on Charles and the contract she carried in her pocket. She pulled the contract out, read it again, and then handed it to Edna.

“Charles gave me this,” Amber said. “Garrett made him sign it before… well, what he'd asked Garrett to do for him.” Amber then told Edna about her night in bed with Garrett.

Edna took the contract, but before reading it, she said, “I had no idea about Charles and Clint. You must believe me, Amber. I would have told you if I’d have known.”

“I know you would have.” Amber patted Edna’s hand, the one that was holding the contract. “Read it.”

After Edna had read the contract, she pressed her thin lips together in thought. “I think Garrett meant well. What do you think?”

“I don’t know what to think.” Amber set her cup down and sighed. “I want to trust Garrett, but this could all be another one of their wild schemes.”

Edna took a long sip of her tea, set the cup down, gently, in the saucer and studied Amber.

Amber awaited her next words with raised eyebrows. She could tell by Edna’s expression that she had something on her mind and she was wondering if she should dare ask.

“How do you feel about Garrett? Don’t think about anything he’s done or anything you think he did. Just think about how you feel about him.”

Amber picked up her cup and traced the rim over and over with her fingertip. “How can I not think of what he agreed to do?”

“Just think of how you felt about him before you knew about it.”

“I was extremely fond of him, and wished I were married to him, instead of Charles,” she admitted sheepishly. “I did! I also enjoyed his kisses and almost hated him for destroying it all in those few moments when he told me the truth.”

“Hmm,” was all Edna said.

“Why did you ask, and what are you thinking?” Amber asked.

“Of how I can best help you,” Edna said. “I’ve become fond of you, and I’d really love it if you stayed in Hunter’s Grove. You have friends here, now, and you’ve got a place to live for as long as you’d like. I want you to stay.”

“Thank you, Edna, but—”

“You know, dear, we are all sinners, and when we ask for God to forgive us, he does. The Bible says He wants us to be more like Him. Why can’t you forgive Garrett his sin?”

“Oh, Edna, I
have
forgiven his sin,” Amber said. “I know how persuasive Charles can be, and being his younger brother, I can understand. It’s trusting him again that stands in the way of my running to him, throwing my arms around him, and telling him that I love him.” Tears ran down Amber's face and Edna handed her a handkerchief.

“So, you do love him?”

Amber nodded as she wiped away more tears. “More than I can say,” she sobbed.

“So the next time you tell a fib or gossip and ask God to forgive you, He’ll say, Okay, Amber, I forgive you, but I won’t ever trust you again, so don’t bother me anymore.”

Amber gasped. “God would never do that!”

“No, He wouldn’t. I was just trying to make you realize that people can make a mistake, be sorry and never make that same mistake again.” Edna moved closer to Amber and hugged her shoulders. “Just pray about it tonight, won’t you?”

Amber nodded, still wiping tears from her eyes.

Chapter 16

Cole and Garrett were sitting in the office eating lunch when Mr. Wilcox knocked on the open door and walked in. Garrett and Cole greeted Ted Wilcox, who worked at the apothecary, next door to Edna.

“Have a seat, Ted,” Garrett said.

“No, I can’t stay. Edna asked me to deliver this note. I have to get back.” He handed the paper to Garrett and scurried out of the livery.

Garrett’s heart skipped a beat. Could something have happened to Amber? He turned the folded paper over in his hands for several minutes. He knew what it would say. It was Tuesday and she was telling him that Amber was gone. He didn’t want to open the missive because once he did, it would break his heart all over again.

“Aren’t you going to read it?” Cole asked.

“I don’t want to. I was in such a good mood until now. I just know it’s not good news.”

“Open it,” Cole ordered. “It might surprise you.”

Garrett unfolded the note and read it. “It isn’t exactly bad news, but not exactly good news, either.” Garrett handed the note to Cole.

“Edna wants you to come over about seven tonight. What for?” Cole turned the paper over, thinking he’d missed something.

“I don’t even want to think about it. It could be good, but it could also be bad. It depends on who'll be there besides me,” Garrett said.

“Like a party?” Cole asked.

“No, I don’t think a party. I’m thinking maybe some type of announcement. I really don’t even want to think about it. I’ll find out tonight, I suppose.”

“If it’s anything too dreadful, come here and we’ll find a way to make things better.” Cole stood and slapped Garrett’s shoulder.

“C’mon, we have to shine a buggy up for Forrest Monroe. It seems he’s rented another one for tonight. Not the luxury one, but a nice one,” Cole said.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” Garrett asked with a frown. “I’m sure that’s it then! Forrest is taking Amber out again. Maybe there'll even be some type of announcement about them.” Garrett rubbed his forehead. “I think I’d rather groom the horses. You can shine the buggy for the man who’s stealing Amber from me.”

“Don’t be silly. Things couldn’t possibly have gotten that serious with Forrest and Amber already. Perhaps Edna wants to talk to you while Amber isn’t at home, maybe that’s what it is.”

“What time is Monroe coming for his buggy?”

Cole grimaced. “Half past six.”

“Dinner already, Edna?” Amber said. “It’s not yet six.”

“Well, as it happens, the meat was done earlier than I expected and I didn’t want it to sit. It’s a meatloaf, and you know if you let it sit it often gets hard. Besides, it’s only fifteen minutes early,” she said cheerfully. “C’mon, enjoy”

After they’d eaten, Edna jumped up to clear the table. Amber, as usual, dried the dishes as Edna washed them. As she dried the plates she noticed Edna’s preoccupation with the clock in the hall.

“Are you expecting someone or going somewhere, Edna?”

“Oh, dear me, no,” she answered. “It’s just that as fall approaches I've noticed the days getting shorter. The sunset today will be earlier. I know how you love to watch it while you swing, and I don’t want you to miss it.”

“You know, Edna, you are the sweetest and most considerate lady I’ve ever known. You’re like a mother to me.” Amber put her dishtowel down and hugged her.

“Now, I’ll finish these few dishes, you go out and enjoy that sunset,” Edna said.

“Will you come out and join me?”

“You know, I just might,” she answered. “Now, you get going.”

Garrett fretted all afternoon over what might await him at Edna’s. Finally, Cole told him to go home because that he was of no use to him—though he said it in a good-spirited way. He loved Cole and hoped one day he’d meet someone again. He’d been lonely since his wife and unborn baby had died. Now with his father gone, he would surely be even more lonely. He’d been so wrapped up in his own misery, he hadn’t given a thought to Cole’s pain. He made himself a vow to do something to help Cole.

When he got home, he washed, warmed up some soup he’d bought the day before, ate it, and then paced the floor. He kept looking at the window shade and was tempted to raise it and watch Amber get into Forrest Monroe’s buggy, but then thought better of it. What he didn’t see couldn’t hurt him.

Garrett kept checking his pocket watch. Wasn’t it seven, yet? He tapped on his watch and put it to his ear, thinking perhaps it had stopped, as it hadn't seemed to move much since the last time he checked it.

He did more pacing until finally it was five minutes before seven. He made his way across the street and wondered if Edna had wanted to tell him something good or bad. He prepared himself for the worst.

Edna opened the door the moment his foot hit the first step of the porch. This must be important, he thought. She held the door wide and invited him in.

“I’m sorry to drag you out after you've worked all day, Garrett, but I do need a favor from you, after all.”

Garrett felt relief. There wasn’t any bad news‒she just needed a favor.

“Consider it done, whatever it is, Mrs. Smith.”

“You can call me Edna.”

“That doesn’t seem right. You’ve been Mrs. Smith since Charles and I were this high.” Garret held his hand up to his knee.

“Whatever is comfortable for you, then,” she said. “I have a tree branch that fell from that big oak in the back, and for the life of me I can’t lift it to move it out of the way. Do you suppose you could push it off into the field beyond my property? You’d have to heave it over my fence, and it’s fairly big and heavy.”

“I’ll take a look. If it’s too heavy for me to handle, I’ll get Cole here to help,” Garrett said.

Edna smiled and led him to the back door. After Garrett stepped out, she slammed the door shut, and locked it from the inside.

As soon as Garrett heard Edna slam the door and lock it, he swung around in surprise. Why had she done that? He then looked around the yard for the fallen branch and froze.

Amber! She was sitting on a swing with as much surprise on her face as he must have had on his.

“What’s going on?” he said to her.

“That’s what I’d like to know,” she said. She jumped off the swing, walked to the back door, and tried to open it. When it wouldn't open, she started pounding on it.

“Edna! Edna, open the door. It’s locked.”

Edna didn’t answer.

Amber crossed her arms in anger. “I have no idea why she’d do that.” She looked up at him. “How did you come to be here?”

“She invited me. Then when I got here she claimed there was a branch from the tree she needed removed, but all that’s out here is you.”

She stood there staring at him, and all he could think of was how beautiful she was, and how strange it was that the first time he’d met her, he’d thought her on the plain side because she wasn't wearing makeup like the saloon women. She was beautiful, though, with her large, almond-shaped, green eyes, and her auburn hair. A face like hers needed no cosmetics.

The night he’d crawled into her bed, she’d had her hair down. It came to below her waist, and he’d had the pleasure of running his fingers through it. Now it was pulled tightly back into a bun.

“It’s obvious that Edna wants us together for some reason,” she said.

“I had nothing to do with this,” he said.

“What are we supposed to do now? How long will she leave us out here?”

Garrett shrugged. “It might be a while. Mind if I sit on the swing with you?”

Amber looked at the swing. It was made for two, and she supposed it wouldn’t hurt to at least sit beside him. She nodded and moved to the swing. She sat, and he sat down beside her. They moved the swing back and forth slightly.

“So, how do you like working at the livery?” she asked.

“I love it. Cole’s great to work with,” he said. “Have you ever met Cole?”

“No. I never have. Has he been a friend long?”

“Since I was knee high to a frog,” he said with a chuckle. “He’s my best friend and my cousin, too.”

“So you’re a partner in the business?”

“Yes. We share the work and the profits equally. His father died very recently, and his wife died in childbirth almost two years ago. He lost the babe too.”

Amber must have shown sympathy on her face because Garrett added quickly, “But he’s fine now. He’s tough and he has a strong faith in God.”

She sneaked peeks at his face now and then as he spoke. He was so handsome and just being this close to him again made her feel strange inside, sort of like there was something live in her belly, moving around every time he looked her way.

Amber had finally figured out what Edna had done. She’d purposely asked her how she felt about Garrett and then planned this confined confrontation. In a way, she felt happy about it, but in another way, she felt angry. She liked being with Garrett, but she still felt resentment for his part in Charles’s scheme. He’d apologized, and she knew he’d meant it, so why couldn’t she get over it?

They were silent for several minutes before Garrett said, “You know, Amber, I could easily jump that fence if you want me to leave.”

Amber looked at the waist-high fence and smiled. “So could I.”

“So neither of us is really confined here,” he said.

“No, I suppose not,” she said.

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked, in an almost whisper.

When he asked in that whisper-like voice, it reminded her of his whispers that night, and she felt herself remembering his kisses and his embrace.

“No, I don’t,” she answered.

She heard him let out the small breath he’d been holding.

He turned to look at her and touched her cheek lightly. “I still love you, you know.”

She grabbed his hand and pressed it tighter against her cheek. “I’m so confused, Garrett.”

“Despite Edna’s locking us out here, I’ll not pressure you to feel anything you aren’t ready to feel.”