The Mail Order Bride's Deception Read online

  Sadie blinked back her tears and nodded. “She did. I have a lot to be thankful for because of her.”

  The woman brought Sadie into her arms and gave her a warm hug that let Sadie know everything was going to be alright. She really wasn’t going to hold anything Sadie had done against her.

  “Thank you, Aunt Betty,” she whispered.

  The woman laughed as she released her. “Al’s like my nephew and you’re like my niece. You’re family. And in this family, we all take care of each other.” She cupped Sadie’s face in her hands and brushed her tears away. “Now, I won’t have any more crying. I came to bring you some things I thought you could use.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know, but I wanted to.” She turned to Gilbert and tapped his nose, an action which made him laugh. “I got something for you, too, mister. Come on.”

  She gestured for Sadie to follow her, and Sadie did. Sadie opened the door and set Gilbert on the chair, but as she suspected, he crawled over to Aunt Betty who sat on the couch.

  “I thought you’d be tired of me by now,” Aunt Betty said. When he reached for the basket, she chuckled. “How silly of me. It isn’t me he’s interested in. It’s the basket of goodies.”

  “You’re much too kind, Aunt Betty.” Sadie sat next to her. “You’re going to spoil us.”

  “I’m not doing anything I wouldn’t do for anyone else in my family. And besides, it keeps me busy. I can’t stand to sit around when I could be doing something. An active mind is a healthy mind.”

  “I can’t argue that one.”

  She lifted the lid from the blanket and glanced around the cabin. “Is Al in the barn?”

  “No. He went to town. He’s sending Hazel’s father a letter explaining what happened to her.”

  Aunt Betty patted Gilbert’s back as the boy held onto her leg to maintain his balance. “Al said Hazel probably died because her cousin poisoned her.”

  Sadie nodded. “James said she inhaled the poison. Whether or not that’s true, I don’t know, but I was there when she died, and she was in a lot of pain. It was horrible.”

  “I bet it was.”

  “I hate for her father to get the letter because it’s bound to devastate him, but he needs to know.”

  Aunt Betty clasped her hand. “Yes, he does. Even though it’s painful, he should know what happened to her. You and Al are doing the right thing.”

  Sadie placed her hand over Aunt Betty’s and squeezed it. “Thank you.”

  She released Sadie’s hand and turned her attention back to the basket. “I got Al something, but it’s nothing he needs to eat right now.”

  “You made him something to eat?”

  “Just some candy. Licorice mixed with toffee.”

  “Sounds like an interesting combination.”

  Aunt Betty laughed and took out a bowl with candy in it. “It’s a favorite in my house. I had to fend my husband away from this bowl so he wouldn’t eat all of it.”

  Sadie giggled at the image of Bear trying to sneak all the candy for himself.

  “You ought to try one. It is a good treat,” Aunt Betty said as she handed it to Sadie.

  She accepted a piece of the tough candy and bit into it.

  “You might want to let it melt in your mouth a bit before chewing,” Aunt Betty said.

  Sadie decided to do just that and watched as Aunt Betty dug through the basket.

  “Now,” the older woman began, “I know these are old blocks, but Gilbert played with them the whole time he was at my home. I hope you don’t mind if I give them to him.”

  “That’s very thoughtful of you,” Sadie replied despite the sweet candy in her mouth.

  “It’s nothing. One of my boys makes them.”

  “Your family seems to know how to do everything.”

  Aunt Betty grinned as she took ten wooden blocks out of the basket and showed them to Gilbert. Gilbert let out an excited cry and grabbed them. Some of the blocks tumbled onto the floor. He quickly sat down to gather them.

  “It helps to be able to take care of yourself when you live all the way out here,” Aunt Betty said.

  “I can see that.” Sadie took a good look at the blocks and shook her head. “Let me guess. The teeth marks were from Gilbert?”

  “You can’t blame a baby for teething. It’s something they all do.”

  “And he puts everything in his mouth.”

  “That’s normal. So, how does the candy taste?”

  “It’s good.” Sadie was finally able to chew it with ease. “I can see why Al likes it. I’ll put it on the table before Gilbert gets into it.”

  As she went over to the worktable to set the bowl down, Aunt Betty pulled out a bonnet. “This is for you.”

  Sadie returned to her and sat down again. “It’s lovely.”

  “It’ll keep you cooler in the summer. A hat is fine, of course, but a bonnet is better when the air is warmer. Your hair won’t be so sweaty. I don’t know about you, but I hate it when my hair is pressed down with sweat on my head because of a hat.”

  “It isn’t the most comfortable feeling in the world.”

  “Exactly. That’s why we have bonnets.” She handed it to Sadie then picked out curtains. “I hope you don’t mind. I made these while you were gone. It helped me believe that I would see you again.”

  Sadie took the curtains and unfolded them, exposing the pretty color. “They’re blue. Like the sky.”

  “I remember you said you loved blue because you kept watching the sky when you came up here to marry Al. While I was sewing them, I imagined you and Al were coming back on the stagecoach, and I kept thinking that you were looking at the sky.”

  “That’s lovely, Aunt Betty. Now when I look at them, I will think of coming up here with Al.”

  “Good.”

  Sadie clasped the woman’s hand and smiled at her. She was very fortunate to have such a good friend. “Thank you. For everything.”

  “Anytime, Sadie.” She squeezed her hand. “Anytime.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  By late August, Sadie knew she had conceived. She held off on saying anything until she passed the first couple months of her pregnancy. Her other pregnancies hadn’t lasted beyond the second or third month because Jefferson took measures to make sure she’d miscarry. But she wouldn’t be forced to miscarry this one. Al wanted this child. He’d be happy with the news, what with all his talk about giving Gilbert a brother or sister.

  She smiled from where she stood by the sink as she glanced over at Gilbert who was walking around the main room in the cabin with a pan and spoon. Despite the noise he made as he banged them, she had to admit it was cute that he could so easily entertain himself.

  She finished washing the dishes from their late breakfast and set the last plate on the towel to dry. Even with the window open, the little cabin was hot. She wiped her forehead then went over to the door and opened it. “Come on, Gilbert. Let’s go outside.”

  He headed over to her, still holding the pan and spoon.

  Chuckling, she gestured for him to put them down. “Leave those here. You can play with them when you come back in.”

  Though she meant for him to put the things down on the chair or table, he dropped them right on the floor and ran to the door. She laughed and caught him before he got to the porch. “You’re certainly quick, aren’t you?” She kissed his cheek and he rewarded her with a laugh. “You can’t get too far from me. I need to make sure you’re safe.”

  “Mama,” he said and wrapped his arms around her neck.

  This time her face warmed from pleasure instead of the early afternoon heat. “Yes, I’m your mama. And you’re my little boy. There’s nothing that will change that.”

  She kissed his cheek and thought to carry him down the porch steps, but he wiggled out of her arms. With a sigh, she set him on his feet, thinking of the times he used to be content to let her hold him. Now it seemed all he wanted to do was run off to explore the
world around him. She gathered her skirt in one hand and held his other hand to help him down the steps. Then she released his hand and walked with him, letting him take his time touching blades of grass, a couple of leaves, a few rocks, and even a grasshopper that quickly jumped away from him.

  After about fifteen minutes, Gilbert stopped to look up and called out, “Papa.”

  She turned her gaze in the direction he was heading and saw that Al had returned from town. He waved at them and slowed the horses until they came to a stop. “You two out enjoying the day?” he asked.

  “Yep,” she replied. “I see you got quite a few things.” She gestured to the back of the wagon that had some crates full of staple items in them.

  “I did. I also got a letter from Hazel’s father.”

  She hesitated but asked, “What did he say?”

  “I don’t know yet. I didn’t want to open the letter until I got home. Thought I’d read it to you.”

  “Alright. I think it’s time for Gilbert’s nap. I’ll take care of him, and then we’ll see what the letter says.”

  “I’ll bring in the crates while you’re doing that.”

  Sadie picked Gilbert up and took him into the house. She took a deep breath and went through the process of changing his diaper then settled him into the crib. Al had sent Hazel’s father a letter as soon as they got back from Omaha, but even so, she hadn’t expected an answer this quickly.

  But it was here now and as anxious as she was to hear what Hazel’s father had to say, she was also dreading it. What if James got away with it? What if her father would never believe what Al wrote? What if her father thought she killed Hazel in order to marry Al and had lied about the whole thing?

  Wiping her sweaty palms on her skirt, she went to the window and pushed the blue curtains aside so the breeze could come into the room. She’d put blue curtains in every room. She wasn’t going to do it at first, but after seeing them in the main room, she quickly decided she wanted every room in the little cabin to have them. And now, as she looked at the curtains, she was reminded of her journey up here with Al.

  Al had seen firsthand what Sadie’s life had been like at the brothel. He’d talked to the doctor. He knew she was telling him the truth about the day she met Hazel. That was what mattered.

  Reassured, she left the room. She caught sight of the pan and spoon on the floor and picked them up. While she set them on the table, Al came into the cabin with a crate and put it on the worktable next to the other three crates.

  “That’s the last one,” he said then wiped his hands on his bandana. “Is Gilbert sleeping?”

  “His eyes were getting heavy when I left his room. He’ll be asleep soon. Did you want to go outside?”

  “It’d be cooler out there.”

  She accepted his hand, and they walked out of the cabin. He shut the door and motioned to the rocking chairs he’d put there earlier that summer. She was ready to sit in the one next to him, but he wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her onto his lap.

  Giggling, she shifted so that she was comfortable and kissed him. “Did you miss me?”

  “I did. I’ll have to see if Aunt Betty will watch Gilbert while we go into town again. I like going there with you and having you all to myself.”

  “I like it, too.” She brushed his cheek with her fingers, noting the hint of stubble on it. She lowered her head and kissed him, this time letting her lips linger on his for a few seconds. When she lifted her head, she caught a mischievous spark in his eye. “What’s going through that mind of yours?”

  “I was just recalling what we did the first time we were on our way to town.”

  Her eyes grew wide as she fought back the urge to smile. “What did we do?”

  “You know…you pulled my pants down and had your way with me.”

  “Had my way with you? You were the one removing my shirtwaist and chemise.”

  “You invited me to do it.”

  “I did?”

  “Yes. I don’t recall your exact words, but you said something along the lines of, ‘Make love to me.’”

  “Hmm…” She shook her head. “I don’t recall saying such nonsense.”

  “Nonsense?”

  Catching his bewildered expression, she giggled and kissed him. “I was just teasing. Of course I remember it. I remember everything about that day. The way the trees looked, the way the air smelled, how blue the sky was, and how cool the air felt on my back.”

  “We made love for the first time and all you can remember is the forest?”

  “I remember other things, too,” she assured him and kissed his cheek. “I remember how warm your hands were on my breasts, how you brought me to completion, and how good you felt as you moved inside me.”

  “Now that’s better,” he replied and kissed her. “I’d hate to think you got more enjoyment out of being in the woods than making love to me.”

  “I enjoy the woods as much as I do because we made love there. Just as I enjoy our bedroom and the worktable and a couple other places where we’ve been intimately engaged.”

  “We haven’t done it in the loft of the barn.”

  “I’d like to.” Especially since she’d never done it there with anyone else. It’d be another new experience, and she loved those most because they connected her to him—and only him.

  “Before we venture over there, I want to read the letter.” Securing his arm around her waist, he shifted so he could pull out the folded up envelope in his back pocket.

  “Alright,” she began as he settled back into the chair, “but before you read it, I have something important to tell you.”

  “What is it?”

  “Gilbert will be getting a baby brother or sister at the end of February.”

  A grin spread across his face. “He will?”

  “Yep,” she replied, returning his smile. “Are you happy?”

  “Of course I’m happy. We get another child and Gilbert gets someone to play with. It’s wonderful news.” He kissed her and gave her waist a gentle squeeze. “And just think, we already know how to change diapers and everything else.”

  “Gilbert’s done a good job of preparing us.”

  “He sure has.”

  That news aside, she took a deep breath and pointed to the envelope. “I guess you should read it.”

  With a nod, he pulled the letter out of the envelope. “You know, I ought to teach you how to read this winter when there’s not much else going on. Then you can finally read those dime novels to get a break from me and the children when we get on your nerves.”

  “Oh stop.” She playfully nudged him. “I love being in this cozy little cabin with all of you.”

  “Just wait until after the baby is born and it’s constant chaos.”

  She shook her head as he opened the letter. She just couldn’t believe she’d ever want a break from him and their children, no matter how sure he seemed of it.

  Al turned his attention to the letter and started reading it. “‘I feared the worst when I never received a letter from Hazel. I was aware she wasn’t happy but didn’t know the details. It’s unfortunate she didn’t feel safe enough to come to me and tell me her misgivings about her cousin James. No one would have suspected he was capable of hurting anyone, but after confronting him, he confessed to poisoning her and then abducting your wife. He said he did it for the inheritance. His father, who is my brother, lost all his money after the war. I suppose the thought of losing everything was too much for James to handle. Shortly after his confession, he hung himself. I don’t know whether to be relieved or not that the truth has come to light. I loved Hazel. She was my only child. I had loved James, too. He was my brother’s only son. I used to think money would make me happy. But right now, I’d give up everything just to have Hazel back. Thank you for telling me what happened. I wish you and Sadie the best.’”

  Al set the letter down and sighed.

  Sadie swallowed the lump in her throat. “I suppose there was no
way the letter could have had good news in it.”

  “No, I guess not.” Al rested his head on her shoulder and tightened his hold on her. “I love you, Sadie. Nothing’s going to change that. But I sure wish things hadn’t turned out the way they did for Hazel and her family.”

  Sadie closed her eyes and kissed the top of his head. “I wish things had turned out better for them, too.” She didn’t feel sorry for James. But her heart ached for Hazel who’d done all she could to escape and for her father and uncle who’d never get their children back. “Life can be full of pain.”

  “Parts of it will be painful. That’s why you have to make the most out of the good times.”

  He was right. And she vowed she would because that was what Hazel had wanted for her when she told Sadie to take her place as Al’s mail-order bride. She had wanted Sadie to be happy. She released her breath. She would always remember Hazel, and she would always be grateful to her for the life she’d given her.

  ***

  On the first of March, Sadie held her newborn daughter in the rocking chair by the window as the sun set for the day. She couldn’t help but marvel at how perfectly formed she was. Ten little fingers and ten little toes. She had Al’s nose and chin and her hair color. A perfect mix of her parents.

  She was only three days old, but Sadie still couldn’t get over the fact that she was really there. Though Aunt Betty had warned her to get as much sleep as possible, she’d gotten very little rest since her daughter’s birth. Tonight, she’d be good and go to bed as soon as the little girl fell asleep.

  But for now, the little girl was still awake, her eyes wide as she examined everything in the room. Gilbert, who’d been playing with the wooden horse and rider she and Al gave him over a year ago, came over to her. He was almost two years old now, and he looked so much like a little boy instead of a baby.

  She smiled at him and rubbed his shoulder. “Did you want to see your sister?”