Cora: Bride of South Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride 40) (8 page)

“I was unhappy but I had my best friend, Millie and her family. At least I had them until they moved to Sioux City a year ago. Her parents tried to protect me. They even asked father to let me live with them but he refused. He said I had no right to be happy after the way I’d destroyed his life. I didn’t have any other close friends I could turn to after Millie left so I had to put up with whatever he dished out.”

“Is that why you were in Sioux City? Did your brother help you to go to Millie?”

“Yes. He doesn’t know I’m here. He doesn’t know I’ve become a Mail Order Bride. Until recently, we would barely speak. I was surprised when he offered to help me.”

“John surprised her by gently caressing her lips with his own. A feeling of want that she didn’t understand, rippled through her.”

“I promise you’re safe now. No-one will ever hurt you again. Now, how about that nap before you face my curious family tonight?”

She nodded.

He lay her back on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

“Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?”

“Of course, I will.” He placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

Within minutes, she had drifted off.

***

John knocked on the door at five minutes to seven.

Cora heard his sharp intake of breath and watched his jaw drop when she opened the door and stepped out. She had worn her prettiest dress, apart from the one she planned to marry in. This one was a pale lemon color with puffed sleeves reaching to just above the elbow. The wide neckline rested on the tops of her arms revealing the rise of her breasts. It was cinched at the waist by a wide white ribbon which tied at the back in a large bow. The skirts were full, barely revealing the matching lemon slippers she wore. Her hair had been brushed until it shone then swept up at the sides and fixed in place with combs adorned with pale lemon ribbon. She’d pinched her cheeks until the right amount of pink had appeared. Her lips were full and naturally rosy. John obviously appreciated how she looked. She waited for his mouth to close and for him to speak.

“Damn, beggin’ your pardon, sweetheart. If I thought you were pretty before, now you look downright gorgeous. What on earth did I do to deserve you?”

Cora giggled, reached up and ran her fingers down the length of his scar. She frowned when he flinched and turned that side of his face from her. She gently turned his head back around.

“Don’t ever hide from me, John. Your scar doesn’t affect how I look at you or the type of man you are. I feel in my heart and I know from your actions today, you’re a good man.”

“Thank you,” he kissed her cheek. “I’ve been stared at, called ugly and deformed so often since my accident, I guess it’s affected my confidence.

Cora drew his face down to hers. She peppered his scar with tiny kisses.

“Darlin’, if you keep that up, I won’t make it until we get married. I’ll be draggin’ ya into my bed tonight. Heck, we might not even make supper.”

Cora giggled as she released him.

“I love the musical sound of your laugh. It makes me feel good to know you’re happy. I’m gonna make damn sure you stay that way.”

“I am happy, John.”

He grasped her hand and led her downstairs to the dining room and his waiting family.

Chapter Eight

The noise in the dining room carried along the hallway and Cora became increasingly nervous.

A scene of absolute chaos greeted them. Children chased each other in circles, two boys rolled around on the floor as they wrestled each other and a baby on one woman’s hip was kicking and screaming.

John squeezed her hand to give her confidence before releasing it. She felt the loss of warmth immediately. She glanced up in time to see him position two fingers in his mouth and let out an ear piercing whistle. Cora jumped and placed her hands over her ears.

Everything stopped, even the baby sat on her mother’s hip quietly now. Everyone spun towards the doorway and Cora felt the scrutiny of what felt like a hundred eyes boring into her. John’s arm circled her waist and he moved her into the room.

“Everyone, this is my bride to be, Cora. Now, she’s pretty nervous and scared about meeting y’all. She thinks she won’t measure up so, please, take it easy on her until she figures out we’re a pretty nice bunch. Introduce yourselves but don’t expect her to remember all of ya. Especially you triplets. The manager said supper will be served in about half an hour.”

Cora smiled at the curious faces who continued to study her. An older version of John approached first. He patted his son on the back. “Whoowee son, ya sure know how to pick ’em.” He lifted Cora’s hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. “You sure are a beauty. Welcome to our family. I’m sure you’ll make our son real happy.”

“Now, Josiah. Let the poor girl go and stop embarrassin’ her. Look how you’ve made your face turn beet red.” John’s mother removed Cora’s hand from her husband and held it in her own.

Cora studied the woman without being rude. She was small woman, not much taller than herself. Her black hair showed streaks of silvery grey. Her skin was as creamy and unblemished as that of a twenty year old girl. She had John’s striking blue eyes and her whole face radiated warmth.

“I’m Sarah. My husband was right when he said you’re beautiful. Please don’t be afraid of us. We’re surely loud but we don’t bite.”

Cora giggled. “Thank you for your warm welcome Mr. and Mrs. Franklin. I’m so happy to be here but John’s right, I am nervous.”

“No, no, no, that will not do.” Sarah said sternly. “If you’re to be the wife of my darling son and the mama of my grandbabies, then you’ll call us, Mama and Papa.”

“I agree,” Josiah said.

Cora couldn’t speak. Her own father had never allowed her to use the endearment – Papa. He had told her papa was for men who loved their children. Only Peter had been allowed to address him that way, for her, it was always – father.

A renegade tear escaped her eye. These people had shown her more warmth and kindness in a few minutes than she’d had in a lifetime. She felt the beginning of love!

Sarah noted the tears and became concerned. “Have I upset you? You don’t have to call us Mama and Papa unless you want to. After tomorrow, we will think of you as another daughter and we’d love for you to feel like you’re a part of the family.”

Cora buckled. She spun herself into John’s arms, burrowed her face into his chest and burst into tears.

She heard the worry in Sarah’s voice. “John?”

“She’s alright, Ma.” He patted her hand. “Cora hasn’t had much kindness in her life and I think it’s a bit overwhelmin’. She’ll be fine.”

John cradled Cora in his arms. He loved the way she felt pressed against him and he tightened his hold. His heart broke for the type of life she’d had up until now and he silently vowed to show her, every single day, she was loved and needed. Instinct insisted, he would fall deeply in love with this beautiful, sensitive woman, and he would never regret placing that Ad in the Gazette.

***

Cora pulled herself together and stepped from the warmth and comfort of John’s arms. His sisters and their husbands introduced themselves and their children.

John had been right. The men were identical and she had no idea how she would ever learn to tell them apart. All three were the same height – tall, but not quite as tall as John. They had dark, wavy hair and brown eyes. Thankfully, they had worn different colored clothing because try as she might, she couldn’t find anything else that separated one from the other. They were indeed handsome men.
But, not as handsome as my John. My John, she loved how that sounded
.

John’s sisters were also identical and they could have easily passed for triplets. They were a good six inches taller than her, glossy black hair hung down their backs and their eyes, although blue like their brother’s, weren’t quite as stunning as his. All three girls were beautiful and they had extremely pretty children. While John closely resembled his father, the girls were younger versions of their mother.

Opal’s one year old daughter, Rita, snuggled into her father’s chest. She watched Cora closely while making a meal out of her thumb. She appeared to be the only shy child amongst the youngsters. The other children had either confidently shaken her hand or asked her to bend down and then kissed her cheek. Cora stroked the little girl’s arm as she spoke with Opal and her husband, Carson.

Cora tickled the baby’s ribs, she chuckled and said, “more.” She did it a few more times and took great delight in the child’s laughter. When Rita leaned forward, held her arms out and said, “up,” Cora wasn’t sure what she should do.

“Up!” Rita shouted.

“Do you mind?” Cora asked Opal.

“Not at all. She never goes to strangers, half the time she won’t even go to her uncles, so it’s pleasantly unusual. She obviously likes you.” Opal said.

Carson handed his daughter into Cora’s arms. She tangled one tiny hand in Cora’s hair, while sucking on her thumb with the other. She watched Cora intently. Holding her on her hip, she ran her hand up and down the baby’s back.

“My, you’re a pretty little gal. I bet you’ll have dozens of boys chasing after you as soon as you’re old enough.” She placed a kiss on Rita’s forehead and swayed with her as she returned to the conversation with her parents.

Opal said, “Carson swears the girls are gonna be locked up at the ranch as soon as they turn twelve. He insists, they’re not marrying until they’re at least thirty!”

They all laughed.

Sarah, Pearl and Ruby joined Cora and Opal while Carson moved to join the men.

“You’re a natural with Rita,” Pearl said. “Do you plan on having lots of children?”

Cora thought for a few minutes. “I don’t really know. I hadn’t thought anyone would ever want to marry me so I’ve never given children any consideration. I’ve never been around children before so it didn’t enter my mind.

The sisters’ mouths dropped open and they stared at her in disbelief.

“What?” Cora asked.

“Why on earth would you think no-one would want to marry you?” Pearl asked.

“My father said I was too plain and fat to interest any man.” It was painful for Cora to admit this to strangers but if these women were to become her mother and sisters after her marriage, she wanted an open and honest relationship with them from the start.

Ruby had taken a mouthful of her drink and almost choked. Sarah rubbed her daughter’s back until the coughing fit settled and she spoke. “Plain! Your father said you were plain and fat? What sort of an ass is he?”

“Ruby,” Sarah said sharply.

“Mama, look at her. She’s beautiful and I would give almost anything for her figure.” Ruby retorted.

Pearl and Opal voiced their agreement.

“I’m glad your father told you that and you thought it was true.” Sarah held her hands up to silence her daughter’s protests. “She wouldn’t be here and about to marry our John if things had been different.”

Cora laughed, dispelling the tension. “That’s true. I’m very glad I’m here.”

“I still don’t understand why men didn’t flock to you.” Opal said.

Sarah addressed Opal and then Cora. “My darling. Men wouldn’t have gone near her if they’d been warned off by her father. I suspect that is what happened. With beauty like yours, Cora, it’s the only reason men would stay away.

Cora frowned.
Is that what happened? Did father threaten them to make them stay away so I’d have no choice but to marry, Ernest?

It was beginning to make sense. Maybe she wasn’t plain after all.

***

John stood on the other side of the dining room with his father, his friends and two of his brothers in law. He wanted Cora to feel relaxed with his family but he closely watched her every movement. She was chatting with the youngest of his sisters and her husband. He saw Rita being handed over and was surprised when his niece settled into Cora’s arms without protest.
She’s a natural Mama.

“John, will you peel your eyes away from your fiancée for two minutes?” Sam said.

“She’s got him all googly eyed and she’s only been here a few hours.” Frank complained.

“Yeah, he’s gone. Gonna be just the three of us hittin’ town now. Can’t say I really blame him though. She’s mighty easy on the eyes and those curves……” Henry saw John’s head whip in his direction and the glare darkening his eyes. He didn’t finish the sentence. He was a fan of self-preservation.

“You did real good, John.” Charles, Pearl’s husband complimented.

“Real good.” Colt, Ruby’s husband agreed.

Carson walked over and joined them. “That’s one real sweet gal you’ve got there, John. I can’t believe Rita actually wanted to go to her. I bet Cora will be wantin’ kids of her own as soon as you’re married bein’ as she’s such a natural.” He winked at his brother in law. “You’ll have all kinds of fun givin’ her one too.”

“Men, leave my son alone. Stop teasin’ him and pokin’ yer noses in where they don’t belong.”

John clapped his father on the shoulder. “It’s okay, Pa. I’m man enough to take it.”

“I must say, she’s a real treat, son. I reckon you’re both gonna be happy if she adjusts to ranch life like I think she will.” Josiah said.

The comments raised doubts in John’s mind and he focused on his father. “I’m worried, Pa. She seems…. Delicate. She’s been raised in the big city. She don’t know what it’s like to be confronted with a coyote or a rattler. Hell, she can’t even ride a horse. And, she’s been all kinda weepy today.”

Josiah pinned his son with his gaze. “Son, you forget, all three of your sisters were raised here in town and they make damn fine ranchin’ wives.”

The triplets vocalized their agreement.

“Good point,” John admitted.

Josiah continued. “Give her time to learn, she won’t let you down. Remember, the gal has had a long journey on her own, she’s been accosted by three good for nothin’s and now she’s had all of us forced upon her. It don’t surprise me that she’s been a bit weepy. If she can cope with the kind of father she’s had to put up with, she’ll cope with the changes.”

His father’s words made a great deal of sense and John felt the tension ease from his body. “Thanks, Pa.”

The waiters entered the room with several rolling trolleys piled high with platters of food.

John moved to be with Cora while the others scrambled for a seat at the table.

Cora placed Rita into a highchair and after checking it was okay with Opal, handed her a biscuit. John held out a chair and after she was seated, he sat beside her. He reached for her hand under the table.

“Are you coping?” he whispered in her ear.

The warm breath on her face sent flutters straight to her belly.  She smiled before whispering back. “Your family is wonderful.”