Chapter Three
Clyde stood at the edge of the train platform, watching as a few people got off the train. This was only a whistle stop, so only the people who would actually stay there in Mistletoe would be getting off.
His eyes stayed on the door as an older gentleman got off, then a middle-aged mother with two teens. Finally, a young lady with flowing blond hair climbed off, holding the hand of a little girl, followed by a woman with fiery red hair, holding a baby.
The second woman must be her. She’d said she had red hair. He’d imagined more of a strawberry blond, but this woman had hair a deep shade of red. She stood looking out over the few people who were gathered, and he could feel her gaze when it landed on him. He gave a slight nod and strode forward, wondering if the blonde was with her, and if not, where Adelaide was.
He walked to her and stared into her eyes, surprised at how pretty she was. Why would such a pretty lady want to travel so far to become a mail order bride? It didn’t make sense to him, but it wasn’t his job to make sense of anything. It was his job to accept his new family.
“I’m Clyde.” He said the words as if he were announcing something and immediately wished he could start over. First impressions were so important.
A small smile tilted the woman’s lips. “I’m Merry. This is Joseph.” She put her hand on the shoulder of the little girl. “This is Adelaide.”
“It’s nice to meet you all,” he said. He looked at the blond woman and when no one offered an explanation, he blurted out his questions. “Who’re you?”
“I’m Charlotte, but everyone just calls me Charlie. I came along with Merry as her traveling companion to help with the children.”
He was surprised by the answer, nodding after a moment. “It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.”
“I’m the matchmaker’s younger sister.”
“I see.” He didn’t mind that she was there, exactly, but it did seem strange to him. Shouldn’t he have been consulted? Was he expected to pay for her train fare?
Merry smiled at him, distracting him from Charlie. “Charlie’s going to stay for a week or so before heading home to Massachusetts. She’s never been out of the state, and wanted to come with me. She’s been a godsend.”
Clyde finally nodded. “Thank you for being willing to help out.”
“Of course. I’ll stay as long as I’m needed as well.”
He nodded. “I’ve arranged for you to get cleaned up before the wedding, which is going to take place in a little less than an hour.”
Merry nodded, smiling. “That sounds wonderful. After ten days on a train, I’d do anything to be clean.”
“The owner of the mercantile and his wife have said you could get ready there.” He looked down at the gifts in his hand. “Oh, and I got everyone gifts.” He gave Joseph the train he was holding, and the boy immediately stuck it into his mouth as he’d expected.
Then he knelt down so he was eye-level with Adelaide. “I got you a doll. Do you like dolls.”
She nodded, her face very serious. “Yes, thank you.” She took the doll from him, staring at her. “I’ll take good care of her.”
He smiled, happy to have found the right gift for the girl, before standing up straight to give Merry the bar of soap. “My gift for you is more personal. I hope you like the smell of roses.”
She nodded, taking it from him. “Thank you, Clyde.”
He led them across the platform to the Murphys’ house, knocking hard on the door. Mrs. Murphy opened it immediately. “Come in! We’ve been expecting you! I’m Doreen Murphy. I have a tub of water all ready.” She looked between the two ladies. “How many wives does one rancher need?”
Charlie grinned. “I’m just the traveling companion, ma’am. I came along to help with the babies.”
“I see. Well, let’s get everyone cleaned up.” Mrs. Murphy made a shooing motion with her hand. “Go get their things loaded on your sleigh. They’re mine for the next hour.”
As soon as he was gone, Merry smiled gratefully. “Can I let the baby lie down for a bit? He hasn’t had his nap yet.”
“Of course!” Mrs. Murphy reached out and took Joseph from her. “I have a bath set up in the kitchen. I won’t let anyone in the house, and I barred the door to keep even my husband out. You get your bath, and I’ll see to the children.” She reached a hand down to take Adelaide’s hand, and took both of the children into another room.
Merry looked at Charlie. “Do you mind if I bathe first?”
“I’ll wait until tonight to bathe. You’re the one getting married, so you go ahead. I’ll help you with your hair when you’re done.”
Merry nodded. Normally she would have given up the right to go first, but Charlie was correct. It was her wedding night and she did need to look, and smell her best. She carefully unwrapped the soap and set it on the edge of the tin tub. “I sure hope Clyde has a big bathtub.” She sighed. What did it matter if the man had a big tub? He was big, almost frighteningly so. Would she be able to submit to him?
After she’d bathed, Charlie fixed her hair into an intricate style, and she quickly pulled on the dress she’d brought for the wedding. It was more wrinkled than she would have liked, but she had no other choices at the moment.
Just as they were finishing, Mrs. Murphy came hurrying into the room. “I got the children cleaned up as best I could. We can’t really waste any more time. We’re already five minutes late for the wedding.”
*****
Clyde stood at the front of the congregation at the schoolhouse, trying to be still. The church was closed because it was being used as an infirmary, but he wouldn’t feel any less married if the ceremony was performed in a schoolhouse than he would in a church. He was a man of action and not moving was difficult for him. He checked his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes, before looking at Pastor Bart Nichols. “I hope she didn’t decide not to go through with it!”
“Women take their time getting ready for weddings. Don’t you worry. She’ll be here.”
“I hope so.” Clyde could see his former love, Miss Margery Dalrymple, staring at him from the third pew back. She was holding her baby and sitting awfully close to her husband. Clyde didn’t much care about who saw him get left at the altar, as long as Margery Dalrymple Black wasn’t one of them.
When the door at the back of the school opened, and he saw Charlie walk in with the children, he drew a deep breath of relief. She was coming. She wouldn’t have sent Charlie and the children ahead if she wasn’t.
Mrs. Murphy walked in, sitting beside Charlie. He assumed she was going to help with the children if they became unruly. He certainly hoped his new children would never be unruly. He frowned at the thought. He’d have to talk to Merry about that later, and get an idea of how well behaved the children were.
The door of the school opened again, and his bride began to walk slowly toward him. She didn’t hold a bouquet of flowers, which disappointed him until he realized there would have been no way for her to get her hands on flowers, unless he’d ordered them. She’d been traveling for ten days. How could she have even thought of such a thing?
When Merry reached him, he smiled at her, taking her hand and tucking it into his arm. Pastor Bart nodded for everyone to quiet down. “Dearly beloved…”
The familiar words of the wedding ceremony made Merry more nervous than she already was. She quivered visibly, and then was ashamed of herself. Poor Clyde. What must he think of her?
When the pastor said, “You may kiss the bride,” Merry turned to Clyde, peering up at him through her eyelashes. He was a stranger to her, and she was married to him. He was about to kiss her for the first time, and she wasn’t sure she was ready. Of course, that wouldn’t matter at all. She had to do her duty and kiss her new husband—for herself and for the children she’d agreed to care for.
She raised her lips, and closed her eyes as Clyde lowered his head, his lips brushing hers softly. He didn’t take advantage of the kiss, instead stopping with just that soft touch. She sighed with relief. She wanted her first real kiss to be without people watching her.
They walked together to the back of the school, where the children were, and Clyde got down on one knee so he could talk to them. “I’m going to do everything I can to give you the best upbringing I know how.”
Joey hit him on the head with his new toy train, garbling unintelligibly, while Adelaide stared at him with wide eyes. “Auntie Merry said you would be our Uncle Clyde,” she said very seriously, her words enunciated perfectly.
“I’m going to be your uncle. I’m going to be the best uncle anyone ever had. I will take care of you.”
“All right.” Adelaide nodded, putting her free hand in his. Her other arm still clutched the doll she carried.
Clyde looked at Merry. “I have the sleigh loaded. Let’s head home. I’ll introduce you to everyone after services on Sunday.”
Merry nodded, her eyes as serious as her niece’s. “That sounds good to me.”
He frowned as Charlie walked outside with them. He didn’t want her staying with them. He knew it was irrational and unreasonable. Merry would have had a very hard time making it all the way to Montana with two small children with no help. But they were his now, and they didn’t need Charlie any longer.
He led Merry out to the sleigh, still keeping Adelaide’s hand in his. When they reached the sleigh, he lifted up the little girl, and then offered his hand to her aunt. “I’m glad you came all this way to marry me. I can tell you’re going to make me very happy.”
“I hope so.” Merry sat down, sliding to the middle of the seat and pulling Adelaide onto her lap. Charlie handed little Joey to her and she snuggled him close. “We get to see our new home. Aren’t you glad?”
Joey was tired, and his eyes looked sunken to her. He’d lost a little weight since his mother had died, but she hoped he’d put it right back on. She worried about both of the children, because people around her always seemed to die. Sure, it was always in an accident, but maybe she was somehow causing it.
Charlie climbed in beside her, tucking the edge of the lap robe under her, and immediately taking Adelaide to hold on the way home.
Clyde slid into the seat on her other side, and he raised a hand in a wave to the people standing outside the school watching them. Mistletoe had been his home since he was a very young man, and he was happy to have the people he cared about surrounding him on such a special occasion.
Merry fought to keep her eyes open for the twenty-minute drive out to the ranch. She knew she should be making conversation, but she was so tired. There had been very little sleeping done on that train, stopping so often along the way.
Clyde started to ask Merry a question, but just as he looked at her, her eyes closed, and her head fell over to rest against his shoulder. Charlie didn’t look quite as tired as his bride, but all four of the travelers looked like they’d been through a lot. He’d let his bride sleep until they reached the ranch. There was time enough for talking. They had their whole lives ahead of them, after all.
When he pulled into the yard of the house, he took the baby from her, and saw that he’d fallen asleep clutching the toy train. He climbed out carefully, realizing he should have left the babe with her, but he was unwilling to admit defeat. “Merry, we’re home. It’s time to wake up.”
Merry woke with a start, staring at the huge house in front of her. She’d expected a small home, like she’d shared with her sister and brother-in-law, but this house was big! It wasn’t nearly as large as Elizabeth Miller’s, of course, but it was the perfect size for a growing family.
She got out of the sleigh and took Adelaide from Charlie, who was staring at the house herself.
Clyde watched his bride as she got her first look at the house he’d built for her, and smiled at her look of astonishment. He wanted to brag to her that he’d done it all with no mortgage, but he knew it wasn’t the time. Every stick and rock and brick was his, though, and he was mighty proud of that fact.
He led them into the house, still carrying the baby, and opened the front door. It opened into a nice large room that was a combination living and dining area. There was a wall, and the kitchen was on the other side. He was quite proud of the kitchen, knowing it would make any housewife happy.
“May I show you around?” he asked softly.
“Yes, please.”
Clyde gave the baby to Charlie, and took Adelaide from Merry’s arms, setting her onto the floor. He then took Merry’s hand and led her into the kitchen, showing her the nice stove and the sink with a pump for water. “You won’t have to carry water into the house. You can pump it right at the sink.”
Merry smiled. “I see that.” She hoped there wouldn’t be a lot of cooking for her to do, but she didn’t feel like she could immediately ask about the woman he’d said he’d hire for cooking and cleaning.
He opened the pantry to show her how well the food storage had been delineated. “I have food in the sleigh that I’ll bring in. I just want to show you around first.”
“Thank you. This house looks like a wonderful place to raise the children.” Her eyes fell on the ice box in one corner of the room. She’d seen them, of course, but her family had never been wealthy enough to own one.
He looked at her with a smile. “I hope to raise the two we already have and lots more here.” He caught her hand and pulled her toward him. “I want to kiss you again, without all of Mistletoe, Montana watching us.”
Merry was nervous, but she nodded. “Of course. You’re my husband.”
He grinned at that, his finger tracing her lips. “I guess I am. I’m going to keep you.”
She shook her head. “You don’t need to tell me that. Marrying me was enough.”
He lowered his head slowly, his lips brushing hers softly, and then his hands came to her waist, pulling her against him. She could feel his strength through his suit, and she felt more than a little overwhelmed by the sheer size of him. “You make me feel like I’m tiny.”
He laughed softly. “You are tiny compared to me.” Lowering his head again, he kissed her, the kiss deeper this time, and when he lifted his head, he could see that her eyes were not as focused. “I know you’ve had it rough, but from here on out, your life is going to be much better.”
She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.” She hoped he was right.