Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) (2 page)

“I think it will make less of a scene if we take her to my office,” the doctor said.

“No! You’re not taking her anywhere. I’m taking her home. She’s going to be all right, when I get her home,” Luke said.

“Can we do that, Doc?” asked Jed.

“I don’t see why not,” the Doctor said. “I don’t think he will bury her here in town.”

“Luke? I’m going to get the wagon. We’ll take her home, okay?” Jed asked.

Raising his head, tears still pouring from his eyes, Luke nodded. “Thanks, Jed.”

“I’ll bring the wagon to the back,” Jed said.

Luke simply nodded.

Jed pulled John aside. “We’re going to take Clara home. I’m going to get the wagon and get a coffin from the undertaker. Can you and Grace come?”

“Of course, Jed.”

Running once more to the livery stable where they had left the horse and wagon, Jed paid the stable hand, hitched the wagon and drove to the undertaker’s place. Rousing the owner from his nap, he said, “I’m in a hurry. I want the best coffin you have and I want it now.”

“Who’s going to pay for it?” the man asked. “It costs $100.”

“My best friend’s wife just got shot. Now you either get me the coffin now and I’ll pay you next time I’m in town or you pick one out for yourself because you’re going to need it in about five minutes.”

“Okay,” the man whined. “Okay.”

When it was loaded on the wagon, Jed drove back to the rear door of the bank and knocked. The door was opened, and Jed went to Luke. “I’ve got the wagon out back. We can take her home now,” he said.

His eyes red and swollen from crying, Luke gently lifted his wife and carried her through the back door to the wagon. “I have a coffin for her Luke. It will make for an easier ride.”

“No,” Luke said fiercely. “I’ll hold her.”

He held her in his arms, crying softly through the ninety minute ride home. No one said anything during the long ride to the Twin Bar H.

When they arrived at the Twin Bar H after the somber ride home, Luke carried Clara’s body into their bedroom and put her in their bed. Jed and Sarah went in with them. “Luke, what about the boys?” Sarah asked.

“What about them? What do you mean,” he asked, his voice raspy and his eyes red.

“Aren’t they here in the house?” she asked.

“Hetty probably has them at her house.” [Author’s note: Hetty, their housekeeper and nanny had a small house near the main house.]

“Won’t they come back here when they know you’re home?” she asked. “You don’t want them to see their mother like this. You have to tell them, but they can’t see her until after I get her washed and dressed.”

“Oh God, how can I tell them their mother is dead and they can’t see her?” He completely broke down again.

“Would you like for me to go over there and tell them?” Sarah asked.

“No, that is my job to tell them. I’ll go do that in a few minutes,” he said.

“Luke, you’re not alone in this. We’re your friends. We were her friends too. Let us help. I’d like to wash her and get her dressed in one of her pretty dresses. Would that be all right with you?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, of course, Sarah, if you would please. First, just give me a few more minutes alone with her.”

“Any particular dress you would like for her to wear? I was thinking of the blue one with the yellow flowers. Is that okay with you?” she asked.

“That one will be good. Now if I could…?”

Sarah and Jed left the heartbroken and heartsick man alone with the body of his beloved Clara.

In the other room, Jed embraced Sarah. “I don’t know if I could handle the loss of you. Just so you know, you are my whole life and I could never do without you.”

“Let’s hope you don’t have to, my darling.” She kissed him. “The hard part is going to be telling the boys. Neither is old enough to understand the concept of death. To be without a mother at their age is going to be extremely difficult.. I don’t envy him the job of telling them.”

She sat on the sofa, with Jed beside her. She was not looking forward to the job of bathing and dressing Clara. It was just something neighbors and
friends did for each other. Life on a ranch was a hardship and there were many deaths to cope with. It eventually became a part of their life.

Luke came out of the room. He had washed his face, but his eyes were still red. “I’m going to tell my sons about their mother,” he said. “Sarah, would you see to Clara for me, please? I’d appreciate it.” He left the room and the house.

When Luke returned, he said,  “The boys are going to stay with Hetty tonight,”

“Jimmy is too young to understand, but how is Will?”

“He cried, but Hetty is comforting him. I don’t think he totally understands. I told him his mother was in heaven now and he wanted to go see her. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do including burying my brother. I just don’t understand the ways of a God that will take the most important thing in mine and my two boys lives. It doesn’t seem right.”

“Clara is ready now. She looks beautifully serene,” Sarah said. “Do you want us to stay tonight,” she asked.

“No, that is not necessary. You go on home and hug your children extra tight. You never know what tomorrow will bring. I’ll be all right.”

“John and Grace will be out tomorrow. I assume you’ll want to have services?” Jed asked.

“Yes… no… I don’t know what I want. I’m going to put her next to Will. She came out here to marry him and now she’s joining him a lot sooner than we all thought. I will be put next to her and all three of us will be together..”

“Luke, don’t talk that way. You have to be strong. You have to be both mother and father to your sons,” an alarmed Sarah said.

“Yes, well, right now, I’m not sure I’m up to the task,” he replied.

“”Listen to yourself, Luke. You have to go on. It’s what Clara would have wanted. She trusted and loved you and she gave you two sons. Now it’s up to you to take care of them for her,” Jed said, as he embraced him “Luke, even though you’re just a few years older than I am, you’ve been sort of a father figure to me. I’ve modeled myself after you. Lean on us, we’re your friends.

One or both of us can s
tay if you want, if not we’ll borrow your wagon and go on home, but we’ll be back in the morning.”

“Jed, Sarah, thank you for all you’ve done. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate it. I’ll see you in the morning.” He went to Sarah, hugged her and said, “Thanks for taking care of Clara tonight. I know it wasn’t easy for you. I know how much you cared.”

“It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t unpleasant.” Sarah said. “I’m afraid I got tears on her dress, but they were tears of love. Good night, Luke. Don’t forget to say your prayers. She’ll be hearing them tonight.”

The next morning…

When Jed came over the next morning, Luke wasn’t in the house. Hetty said he was up on the hill. The family cemetery was on the hill. Jed walked up to where Luke was digging the grave into which he would put his beloved Clara later. “Let me spell you, Luke. Take a breather.”

“No! This is something I have to do myself,” and he continued digging.

“Luke, she was my friend too,” Jed said.

“I’ll do it myself,” Luke said angrily.

Recognizing the outburst for what it was, Jed said no more. He went over and sat under the tree that protected the graves of Luke’s parents and his brother. After awhile the grunts coming from Luke stopped, and he climbed out of the grave. He was sweaty and dirty. He sat down with Jed and said, “I’m sorry, Jed. I had no right to take my anger out on you. It is anger too. Do they know who the men were?”

“Someone said they were part of the Hole In The Wall Gang. They’ve been responsible for a lot of problems around here recently. What happened, the guard drew his gun and shot at them. I understand he hit one of them too. They began shooting back and Clara was caught in the crossfire. It wouldn’t have happened if the guard hadn’t fired first. It all seems so unnecessary.

Hand me the shovel and let me dig for a while.”

Luke handed him the shovel, and said simply, “Thanks, Jed.”

It was two hours before the grave was deemed suitable. They walked back down the hill and found Sarah in the kitchen. When she looked at her husband, he saw her eyes were puffy and her cheeks were tear stained.
“Are you all right, Honey?” he asked.

“Yes, but it has been a very bad day for me.”

“I know what you mean,” he said, draping his arm across her shoulders and pulling her in close. “The only consolation is, for us, this will eventually pass.”

At first, it seemed Daniel Sanders had an ordinary cold that wouldn’t go away. His wife,
Martha, prepared hot soup and hot tea for him. “I’m so tired, I don’t have the energy to spit,” he said. His sneezing continued and he developed a hacking cough that seemed to shake his whole body.

Martha placed her hand on his forehead. It was very warm. She wet a small towel and placed it on his brow. “I’m going to get the doctor,” she said. She returned after thirty minutes with the doctor. He took Daniel’s temperature, listened to lungs, then made his diagnosis. “I believe he has pneumonia.” He prescribed a treatment, emphasizing heavily that Martha wear a mask, and take great care in handling his clothes and to not breathe air around him after he had just coughed, lest the disease be transmitted to her. “His room must be kept ventilated and should be exposed to the sun to the fullest extent possible.”

Two days later, Daniel died in his sleep. Martha was a widow at 28. Her mother came to help her disinfect her house by scrubbing all of the surfaces in the bedroom Daniel had slept in. They burned his clothes and the bed linens and buried the ashes in a pit in the back yard.

They had not been blessed with children so Martha was alone. She asked her mother, “What should I do, mother? I can’t continue to pay rent for this house, since my library job doesn’t pay well enough.”

“You have to come live with us,” her mother said. “Your old room isn’t used, and we can get you moved right away.” It was the only solution, so Martha moved back home and continued working in the local library. Her mother told her, “After a proper mourning period, you will begin looking for a new husband. There’s this nice Mr Thielke who would make a good husband.”

“She’s doing the same thing with me she did with Sarah. She’s going to start playing matchmaker,” thought Martha. That evening Martha composed a letter to her sister Sarah Barnette, in Wyoming. Her sister picked up the letter in the local post office the same day Clara Hastings, her best friend was shot during a holdup of the bank in Laramie. Sarah did not read the letter until two days after she picked it up.

* * *

J Bar B ranch…

Sarah remembered the letters she had picked up, got them out to read. She decided to read the one from her mother first, it was chatty, remembering their visit the past year and looking forward to the next time they would see each other.

Martha’s was different and much sadder. It deepened the sadness she was feeling over Clara’s death. Jed came in from the corral. “What’s the matter honey? You’re looking sick.”

“I had a letter from Mother and one from Martha yesterday. I didn’t read them until this morning. Jed, Martha’s husband died from pneumonia. Mother said they had to burn his clothes and everything. Martha is staying with Ma and Papa until it’s safe for her to go back into her home. Since they had no children, she’s alone now. She was such a comfort to me and now I can’t help her.” She leaned on Jed’s shoulder, secure in his arms. “She’s staying with Ma and Papa since she has no need for a house any more. She said Ma is already starting to hint about her finding another husband.”

“Your mother will never forgive me for this, but why don’t we invite her out here?” Jed asked.

“That would be wonderful, but we’ll have to send her the ticket. I’m sure she can’t afford it,” Sarah said.

“I agree, but we can, remember?” he said.

“She had a major part in helping me escape the matchmaker that is our mother. You’re going to love her,” she said.

“I already do. She’s your sister.”

“Well said, sir. That’s why I love you so much. Would you like to make love to me right now? The children are asleep.”

“Yes. Lets, and we’ll get her ticket the next time we are in Laramie.”

She took his hand, “Come with me,” she said, and led him to their bedroom.

* * *

The ticket was sent, along with a nice long letter.
Also mailed at the same time was a letter to her mother. In the letter to her mother, she mentioned the death of Clara, whom her mother had met, but without the horrible details.

Two weeks later, Sarah had two letters, one from Martha and one from her mother. Her mother expressed her shock and sorrow about Clara. She acknowledged the fact Martha was coming for a visit. Then, just before the closing, she mentioned “Luke is such a nice man, be sure to introduce him to Martha.” After reading the letter, she showed it to Jed. “She didn’t waste any time playing matchmaker did she. It’s a terrible thing to say, but I’m glad she isn’t going to be here. She would drag poor Luke to the altar.”

“Now be nice, Sarah. She is your mother. She only wants the best for poor Luke.” He dodged the swing Sarah took at him.

Martha arrived two days after Sarah received her letter. Sara, Jed, John Lucas and Sarah Catherine were standing on the platform waiting when the train arrived.

Sparks flew from the sliding steel wheels as the train braked to a stop. The conductor stepped from the train and placed a wooden step beneath the bottom step on the train. He was followed by the usual drummers and their cases. Then an attractive young woman dressed in black stepped from the train to the wooden platform of the depot. Sarah dropped the hands of her children, and squealed, “Martha!” She ran toward her sister so hard, she nearly bowled her over. Her eyes overflowing with tears, she said, “I can’t believe you’re here. It has been so long and I have missed you so much it hurt at times.”

“I missed you too, Sis,” Martha said. Sarah was hugging her so tight, Martha could barely breathe. Finally, she relaxed the embrace, took Martha’s hand and said, “Martha, this handsome man is the most wonderful husband in the world. It was his suggestion we invite you.”

“Jed opened his arms and Martha stepped into them. “Thank you so much for making it possible for me to see my sister again.” She hugged him tightly.

Sarah said, “Marty, this beautiful girl is Sarah Catherine, this heartbreaker is John Lucas. Say hello to your Aunt Martha children. She is my sister, just like Sarah Catherine is your sister.”

“Hello Aunt Martha,” they chorused. “Aunt Martha, did you ride in the train?” John asked.

“I sure did,” she said.

“Where did you go to the bathroom?” he asked.

She laughed, “They have a really s
mall bathroom on the train.”

“Really?” he asked.

“Yes, really. You sure are a handsome little boy.”

“I know. Ma says that all the time.”

Sarah Catherine was clinging to her mother’s dress. Jed said, “Martha, help me identify your luggage and I’ll load it onto the wagon.”

She walked with him to the baggage car and pointed out her trunk. “Jed, thank you for your Papa in this. I really needed to get away.”

“Sarah needed to see you. She had just lost her best friend the same day she got your letter. She was so busy making things go right for Luke, she didn’t read it for two days. When I saw her face, I knew I had to do something. She’s often talked about how much she missed you. Now I sometimes don’t understand her, but I knew enough to know she needed you. So I suggested it. Your sister is a wonderful, giving person. She took over the handling of the food and guests at Clara’s funeral. Luke was and is, so emotionally broken up over her death, he couldn’t have done anything. We will be going over tomorrow or the next day to see how he is doing. The nanny is taking care of the kids.”

Jed retrieved her trunk and loaded it into the wagon. “John Lucas, Sarah Catherine, would you like to go see Uncle John and Aunt Grace before we go home?”

John asked, “Can Aunt Martha go too?”

“Yes, she can go, and your mother can go too.”

“Papa, you’re being silly,” John said.

“Marty, John and Grace Carruthers are the ones he’s talking about. They are just about our closest friends outside of Luke and Clara. John is the preacher. He married us, and as a matter of fact, he married Luke and Clara. After trying for a long time, she and John were finally able to have a little girl. Her name is Rebecca. She’s about a year old and is a darling. John and Grace are two of the nicest people ever.”

“When Jedadiah and I were corresponding, and before I agreed to come to Laramie, he asked them to write a letter telling me he was a good man. It was a warm, nice letter. Luke wrote one also. I think I may have shown them to you.”

They found John, Grace and Rebecca at home, somewhat of a surprise, since John was usually at the church during the daytime. They welcomed Martha warmly, telling her how pleased they were to finally meet after hearing so much from Sarah about her.

John asked, “Jed, have you seen Luke since the funeral?”

“We went over the next day and found him in bad shape. I plan on going over tomorrow to see if he needs anything. I’m not looking forward to it though.”

“ I think Grace and I might ride out tomorrow,” John said. “He may not want to see anyone, but he needs to. I also want to see how the boys are.”

The ladies talk…

“How long are you going to be here, Martha,” Grace asked.

“I really don’t know,” Martha said. “I have an open ended ticket, so there’s no set plans.”

“If I had my way, she wouldn’t go back,” Sarah said. “We have plenty of room. I would love to have my favorite sister just stay here.”

“You haven’t told me anything about that,” a surprised Martha said.

“I just did. Jedadiah and I have talked about it and we think you would be better off here, than back in Owego, and we would love to have you.”

“It would be nice to have you as Papa of our congregation, though we don’t see Sarah and her family here often enough,” Grace said.

“I agree with you, but it is a real chore getting the children ready and driving in. It makes the day really long.”

“John Lucas, tell your Papa we need to get things moving if we’re to get home before dark. We need to stop in at the store, also.”

John did as his mother requested and they began getting their things together.

With the wagon loaded, they rode to the store. Sarah introduced her sister to Asa Thompson and then proceeded to gather the things she needed for home. Finished, they bade Asa goodbye and headed for the J Bar B and home.

Martha said, “I really liked Grace and John, and Rebecca is precious.”

Sarah replied, “They’re special people. Jedadiah has known them since John got out of seminary. I stayed with them after I got here until the wedding.”