Mail Order Mishap: Christian Romance (Kansas Brides Book 1) (7 page)

Then she thought about her marriage. What was she supposed to do? Charles wasn’t one bit interested in her, of that she was sure. Why had he married her then? She frowned when the realization struck.

For the dowry! She wondered if he had plans to consummate the marriage any time soon. She’d done her best to encourage him in her own meek way, but if she behaved too boldly and he'd dismissed her, she’d feel worse than she did now. What was she to do?

Margaret had warned her, and now she was stuck in a loveless marriage, would never be loved, and would never have children. She felt tears forming in her eyes and reached into her pocket for her handkerchief. As more tears fell, she gave up trying to hold them back, and wept into her handkerchief.

Amber felt someone watching her so she quickly stopped sobbing and dried her eyes. She looked up to see Garrett watching her from the hotel bridge, just standing and staring at her. She felt mortified that he'd caught her at a weak moment.

“Are you all right?” he asked in a bit more than a whisper.

She nodded. “I’m fine. Just homesick, I guess.”

He hesitantly sat down beside her as if he wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’ve forgotten your name.”

“Amber Wakefield—I mean, Turner.”

“I’m sorry you’re homesick.”

“Richmond, Virginia,” she said, “is a different world from Hunter’s Grove, Kansas.”

“I’m sure it is,” he said.

“I apologize for having such a weak moment,” she said.

“No need to apologize. I just wish there were something I could do—you know—to help you feel better, I guess.”

“You have, just by just being here with me,” she said. “Being married to Charles has turned out to be a bit lonely,” she blurted out, before she'd thought better of about it. After she’d said it, she wanted to pull the words back. It wasn’t a good idea to say such a thing to the brother of her husband. Much to her surprise, instead of being offended, he laughed a bit.

“Tell me about it. I’ve been living with him my whole life.”

Amber gave him a shy smile.

“I’m not as outgoing as Charles, and I’m not as good with words as he is, but if you need someone to talk to…I mean, I know I’m not Charles, but I’d be happy to keep you company—when you need to talk to someone, I mean.”

Amber knew he was having a hard time saying what he wanted to, but she knew exactly what he was offering.

“I may do just that. I think you’re a very pleasant person to talk to and I feel better already. Thank you, Garrett.”

He stood, nodded, and went into the house. Amber stayed outside until she saw Charles walking over the bridge with their dinner. She walked into the house with him.

Amber couldn’t help but wish all during dinner and even while lying in bed that night that she were married to Garrett instead of Charles. Garrett had feelings, she could tell, but Charles didn’t seem to care about anyone other than himself, his hotel, and Clint.

Chapter 8

Garrett was getting dressed for the day when he overheard Amber telling Charles she was going to the general store to buy the things she needed for the garden. He was shocked when he heard Charles tell her it was fine.

Fine?

Walking alone in Hunter’s Grove was not a thing an attractive woman should do. Ever. He opened his door and gave Charles a look of displeasure.

Amber had already walked back to her bedroom, and Garrett stood with his hands on his hips to confront his brother.

“You’re going to escort your wife to the store, right?”

“She’s a married woman and it’s daytime. She can walk herself,” Charles said, not looking up from his eggs.

“Where’s Clint?”

“He’s already left for the hotel. Won’t you be late for work?” Charles asked.

“I’m on my way, but I’m going to escort your wife to the store first. Heaven knows how she’ll get back home, not that you give a care.”

“It’s none of your business, Garrett.” Charles picked up his dishes, put them in the sink, picked up his bucket, and moved to the door.

“I hate what you’re doing to that poor woman,” Garrett said.

“I treat her well. She has a nice home and doesn’t have to do any housework. Some people would say she has it made.” Charles slammed the door behind him when he left to go to the well for some water.

Amber came out of her room, dressed for the store.

“I’m going right past the general store. I’d be happy to escort you there safely,” Garrett offered.

“Thank you,” she said, with relief evident in her voice.

Garrett walked with her while leading his horse. At the store, he bid her a farewell with a wave of his hand, and he hopped onto his stallion. He rode across the road and down the street a little ways to Edna Smith’s house, dismounted and went to her door and knocked.

When Edna opened the door, she said, “Why Garrett, this is a surprise.”

“I need a favor,” he said.

“I’d be happy to help if I can,” she said.

“I just escorted Amber to the general store. Could you possibly see her safely home?”

“I’d be happy to. Let me get my shawl.”

Garrett proceeded on to work, happy that he’d been able to help Amber out in some way. Women Edna’s age could walk the streets alone, but attractive young women, even married ones, couldn’t do it as safely.

Amber selected the items for her garden and was at the counter telling the clerk to put them on her husband’s account when Edna came in and greeted her.

“Edna! How nice to see you.” Amber said, returning the greeting. “Are you shopping today, also?”

“No. I’ve come to walk you home,” she said.

“You have? That’s very kind of you, but how did you know I was here?”

“Garrett stopped to see me on his way to work and asked me to escort you safely home,” she said.

Garrett? How thoughtful. Here she’d thought him so uncouth, but he turned out to care more about her than her dear husband. Garrett’s kindness warmed her heart. How could one brother be so sensitive and thoughtful while the other was cold and unfeeling? She regretted that she’d certainly chosen the wrong brother, but she'd have to make the best of things now.

“Let’s go then, I’m ready,” Amber said, carrying her parcel in one hand, and linking her arm through Edna’s with the other.

As they walked, Edna said, “How strange that it would be Garrett who asked me to escort you and not Charles. I suppose Charles must have put him up to it since he’s so busy with the renovations at the hotel.”

“That must be it,” Amber said, but she knew it wasn’t true. Garrett, bless his heart, had taken it upon himself to see to her safety. She’d have to thank him, yet again.

“You can tell me to mind my own business,” Edna said, “but you don’t seem happy for a newly married woman. Is there a problem? Is there anything I can do?”

“I’d never tell you to mind your own business, Edna. You're the closest friend I have here in Hunter’s Grove. I just…I just can’t get used to Charles’s obsession with Clint and the hotel. I hardly ever see him, and I’m just a bit lonely. I’m sure I’ll get used to it in time, though.”

“I’m glad it’s nothing serious. I’m sure when the babies start coming you won't miss your husband as much. You know you’re always welcome to visit me.”

“Thank you, Edna.” Amber squeezed her eyes shut to keep her tears from falling.

Amber spent the remainder of the day working in the garden. She painted the bench, cleared dead roses out of the leaning trellises, which she straightened. Then she planted the miniature roses she’d purchased. She knew it would take time for them to climb their way up the trellises, but by the look of the way her life was headed, she’d most certainly be there to see it happen.

She planted more flowers around the yard, and then almost sat on the bench she’d just painted, but caught herself just in time. When she'd recovered, she went into the house, made a sign that warned of the wet paint, and pinned it to the tree behind the bench.

Edna’s words came back to haunt her. She knew there'd be no children for her and Charles, and she felt herself begin to tear up once more. She couldn’t let Garrett catch her in tears again, so she went into her bedroom to have a cry, and cry, she did. She cried her heart out. There was nothing she wanted more than a happy marriage and babies, and she'd ended up with neither.

When she was done, she dried her tears, fell to her knees, and prayed.

When Garrett came home from work he found Charles stirring a pot on the stove.

“Your favorite tonight, Garrett: pork roast with gravy,” Charles said.

“I’d like a word with you,” Garrett said sternly.

“Can’t it wait? I don’t want the gravy to burn—”

“To blazes with the gravy! Take it off the stove!” Garrett demanded.

Charles pulled the gravy from the fire. “What is so important?”

“Where's your wife?” Garrett asked in a whisper.

“She’s visiting Edna. I believe she’s having dinner with her. Why?”

Garrett pointed to the kitchen chair. “Sit.”

“Yes, sir.” Charles sat down across from him.

“I want this foolishness to stop—now!” Garrett said.

“What foolishness?”

“You need to be a husband to that unfortunate woman who married you in good faith. She promised you her dowry, and you treat her like a sack of potatoes. What’s wrong with you? Honestly, you remind me more of our father each day.”

“
Our
father?” Charles asked. “I distinctly recall my father accusing our mother of having an affair with someone who he thought was
your
father.”

“And mother swore to me on her death bed that it wasn’t true,” he said. “Mother said I arrived early, and I believe her. Father loved to bring the question of mother’s fidelity up each time they fought.”

“Since she's my mother, too, I tend to believe her,” Charles said. “I was trying to rile you up, is all.”

“But my paternity is neither here nor there. The subject is about you and the treatment of your wife, so stop changing the subject.” Garrett pounded on the table to make his point. “It has to stop.”

“Actually, I was going to ask you for a big favor regarding the situation. Will you help me, if it helps Amber in the long run?” Charles’s voice softened as it usually did when he wanted something.

“What?”

“It’ll bring you pleasure, and at the same time it will help me out of this self-imposed dilemma,” Charles said.

“Well, spit it out. What do you want? I’ll do anything to help that poor woman. I caught her in the garden the other day, sobbing her eyes out. She’s lonely, Charles.”

“Ah, so you have a soft spot for her. That’ll make what I need easier. I need you to take my place and consummate the marriage.”

“What?” Garrett stood so fast that the chair fell over behind him. “How can
I
consummate
your
marriage?”

“You know
I
can’t do it,” Charles said.

Garrett sighed and shook his head. “I can’t do that. It’s called adultery and it's against the Bible. She married
you
!”

“Actually, she’s not,” Charles said with a grimace.

“What do you mean, she’s not?”

“Clint’s cousin, the would-be minister who married us. It isn’t legal; he was only posing as a minister. But Amber doesn’t know it, and she now refuses to give me the dowry until the marriage is consummated. I’ve already hired the construction crew, and the work is underway.”

Garrett moved in and stood nose to nose with his brother and shouted, “Are you mad?” Garrett never felt more like choking his brother than he did at that moment.

“I had to do something.” Charles backed away from him and put his hands in a praying position. “Please, make love to her for me.”

“You’re crazy!” Garrett picked up the chair he’d knocked over.

“It’ll make her happy and she’ll stop crying. The room will be dark and she’ll never know it isn’t me,” Charles pleaded.

“I won’t do it.”

“If you agree to do it I’ll make sure you have a home here for as long as you want,” Charles said. “You know you have it made here, with meals, laundry and a clean room.”

“Why not just tell her the marriage was a sham and let her go back to Virginia?”

Charles laughed. “Are you serious? I need that dowry. I’ve already spent it.”

Garrett sighed again. “Let me think about this. There must be another way.”

“Don’t wait too long, I feel like Amber is about to come right out and ask me to…you know.”

“What if she gets with child?” Garrett asked.

“All the better. It'll make her happy. Do think fast, dear brother. For good measure I’ll even promise not to ever mention your doubtful paternal parentage ever again.”

“Gee, thanks,” Garrett said. He let the kitchen door slam behind him.

As Garrett walked to the livery to visit his friend, he saw Amber leaving Edna’s house. It was nearly dark and she was about to walk alone. He changed his direction and met her as she approached the street.

“I’ll walk you home,” he said.

Amber looked up at Garrett and thanked him. She gave him an enormous smile. It did something strange inside his chest and he didn’t know why. He walked her across the street and along the walkway to the hotel, where they walked the path between the hotel and the hardware store. He'd often thought the alleyway would make the perfect place to assault a young woman, and Charles had no care. He reminded him more and more of his father, who'd treated their mother in the same, callous way.

“Say,” Garrett said, “you painted the bench. It looks beautiful.”

“Thank you. I planted the roses, too.”