Love in Independence (Holiday Mail Order Brides) (15 page)

Winnie groaned. “Oh, no … I
forgot all about that. What day is this?”

“July the second
.”

Winnie gasped. The celebration is the day after tomorrow?”

“Yes; you’ve been out at the Edmonson’s place for nearly a week, and taking care of me for almost that long beforehand.”

Winnie smacked her hand against her forehead. “I can’t believe the time slipped away from me.”

“You were doing more important things, but now you have this. Best go down there and tell her you’ve got it covered. She’s come ready to pick flowers and with baskets to spare.”

Winnie grimaced. The thought of picking flowers all morning with Mrs. Brock didn’t hold a lot of appeal. But she did need to
take care of this one last thing. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

“I’ll let her know. She said Mrs. Gelsinger and Mrs. Caulder are on their way.”

Winnie nodded and reached for her dress.

Downstairs, a very impatient Mrs. Brock waited in the parlor. “Finally! I’d expect someone like you to be more prompt!
“Sorry, Mrs. Brock, but I’ve had a very long week, and slept longer than expected. Are you ready?”

“Yes, I brought baskets. I want you to know, my Eva had to do all the work to set this up. The least you can do is help us gather what we need.”

“I apologize, and appreciate the fact Eva picked it up, but I had more important things to attend to this week.”

“Like taking care of that Edmonson brood? Woman breeds like a rabbit.”

Winnie’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Mrs. Brock!”

“Well, if she’d stop having children, she’d be able to keep track of the ones she’s already got! No wonder you had to go out there and help her all week!” She got up off the settee, grabbed the baskets she’d brought, and headed for the front door.

“How did you know where I was?” Winnie asked as she followed her.

“Who doesn’t know? News travels fast in town
; takes longer for it to get out to a place like the Edmonsons’.” She went out the door onto the front porch. “Which is why you probably haven’t heard about Eva and Pastor Adams,” she purred.

Winnie rolled her eyes. She didn’t
want
to hear about it, especially not from Mrs. Brock. “Yes, I’m aware,” she said in the hopes the woman would drop the subject.

Mrs. Brock smiled in satisfaction. “They make a lovely couple
; I’m going to see to their wedding plans right away.”

Winnie took a deep breath, and stiffened. “I’m sure they’ll …
b,b,b, … be very happy.”

Mrs. Brock turned to her. “Are you going to cry? Well,
you’re certainly a sore loser.”

Winnie’s jaw tightened
; and she couldn’t help but glare.

“Oh
, come now; I saw how you looked at him when you first arrived. But you didn’t stand a chance against Eva, no one does. I’m not trying to be mean, just stating the facts.”

With that she stepped off the porch and into the street
, just as Mrs. Gelsinger and Mrs. Caulder approached.

Winnie balled her hands into fists in an attempt to hold her anger at bay. She’d finish her commitment to the Fourth of July celebration, and then that was it!  She was done! The sooner she left Independence, the better.

Fifteen

Luke wa
sn’t surprised when he discovered that Winnie had left the Edmonson farm the day before. He was, however, disappointed that he didn’t get tell her what was on his heart, and probably came across like a blithering idiot. The fact that he could preach a sermon like nobody’s business, and then got tongue-tied when it came to his own affairs, irked him.

He stayed at the farm until late afternoon
, counseling and talking with Mr. Edmonson, and felt the couple was on their way to recovery. They would renew their wedding vows during the Fourth of July celebration, as a public display of their commitment to each other and their children. It would top off the day perfectly, and then they would have the fireworks.

Luke pushed himself away from his desk and sighe
d. He planned to let Winnie know of his intentions that day, and if she’d still have him, court her. Maybe, even just up and marry her! If she’d been a mail-order bride, they’d already be married! He sighed again. Too bad he hadn’t sent away for her; then he wouldn’t have to worry about her changing her mind and backing out of the relationship once they started courting.

He went behind the church where tables had been set up so the women could sit and sort through the many flowers they’d picked. He watched in silence as they worked, and paid special attention to Winnie. She was quiet while the other women chatted up a storm around her. He wished Eva had been able to help with the flower gathering and sorting, but she was busy working on organizing the
last-minute food and prizes for the celebration. If she were here, Winnie would at least have someone to talk to. Eva adored Winnie and he was sure Winnie felt the same way about Eva.

He stepped away from the building and approached the tables. “Hello, ladies. Hard at work
, I see. Are we making progress?”

“We’d make better progress if my Eva
was here!” barked Mrs. Brock.

“She’s doing her part, and is working just as hard as the rest of you,” Luke said in return.

He gazed at Winnie, and fought the urge to stand directly in front of her. “Are you feeling better, Miss Longfellow?”

She stopped, but didn’t
look up at him. He took a step toward her, then another; but she did nothing to acknowledge his movement, even though he
knew
she could see him. He was too close not to.

“She should go home
; she’s hardly said a word all day!” Mrs. Brock complained. “If she’s sick, I don’t want to come down with it!”

Luke took the opportunity Mrs. Brock
had just given him, and stood directly in front of Winnie. “Are you not feeling well? Would you like me to escort you home?”

She stopped sorting, and
finally looked at him. Their gazes locked. A jolt of heat shot through him, and he thought he’d have to grip the table to keep his balance. But as quickly as it came, it was gone the moment she broke eye contact. She looked away, shaking her head in a polite dismissal, and returned to work.

What could be wrong? She was upset, and something else. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. There was a
n odd sadness about her, a sort of despair. What could have caused it? Of course, the only way to find out would be to speak with her, but she didn’t act like she wanted any conversations with him today. Then it hit him.

Mrs. Brock.

What if Mrs. Brock was still telling people that he and Eva were courting? If so, what if Winnie thought … Luke eyed Eva’s mother as she proceeded to tell Mrs. Gelsinger that she was weaving her daisies all wrong. It would be just like Mrs. Brock to make sure Winnie heard the rumors. Hmmm, what to do about it? Though he’d like to just blurt out that he was courting Winnie, he couldn’t. For one, he wasn’t, at least not yet, and two, he didn’t want to make Mrs. Brock out to look like a complete fool in front of everyone. That wouldn’t do either. Tempting as that might be …

“Miss Longfellow, may I speak with you?”

Her head snapped up, and she stared at him, her face blank.

“Now, if you please.” She looked at the other women
; only Mrs. Brock watched with interest. Winnie got up from her chair and came around the table. “Thank you; we can speak in my office.”

“What?” Mrs. Brock screeched. “You can’t take her into your office alone!”

“No? Well then, would you like to come with us?”

Mrs. Brock glanced to the ladies on her
left and right, and then pushed herself up from the table. “I will! Someone has to make sure things stay decent!”

“Are you saying our
pastor isn’t decent?” asked Mrs. Caulder.

“I said nothing of the kind.
Besides, I wasn’t talking about him.”

Winnie let
out a small gasp, tightened her jaw, and balled her hands into fists. Luke put a hand on her back to let her know it was all right, and began to guide her toward the church building. Mrs. Brock stomped her way around the table and followed them.

“Now we’ll get down to business,” he heard her mutter as she brought up the rear.

“Yes, we most certainly will,” he said, just as Eva came down the path that ran along the side of the church. “Ah, you’re just in time.”

“There you are!” Mrs. Brock said, her voice suddenly sweet. “Pastor Luke has been waiting for you.”

  Eva ignored her and looked at Winnie. “Oh, my goodness; what happened? You look like you need to lie down.”

Winnie closed her eyes, and Luke stepped directly behind her, his hand still on her back, and whispered in her ear, “Are you sure you d
on’t want me to escort you home? I don’t want you to become ill.” She shook her head, and Luke knew she was avoiding having to speak because of her stutter. He’d watched his father do the same thing. “This won’t take long,” he reassured as he moved alongside her and opened the door to his office. Once they were all inside, Luke closed the door and faced the three women. 
Well,
he thought.
Here goes.

* * *

  
Winnie walked to Luke’s desk and leaned against it. She had no idea what this was about, but wanted nothing more than to leave. If he was going to tell her about Eva and himself, he was a little late. Mrs. Brock had been gloating all morning as they picked flowers, and made a point to make sure no one else was around every time she decided to disclose the details of their relationship. As if she wanted Winnie all to herself to do it.

“Now, let’s get started, shall we?” said Luke. “Eva, I believe you have something to tell your mother.”

Eva paled. “Yes; I’ve been putting it off, and I’m sorry.” She gave him an apologetic look, and then faced her mother.

Mrs. Brock looked from her daughter, to Luke, and back again. “Well, what is it?” she asked, her face lit with a smile.

Eva stood straight, and clasped her hands in front of her. “Mother, as much as you’d like to think otherwise, I have to inform you that Pastor Luke and I mean absolutely nothing to each other.”

Mrs. Brock’s face fell. “WHAT
!?”

Eva smiled
sweetly, and said nothing more.

Luke smiled as well, and turned to Winnie. “Miss Longfellow … Winnie …
I have to inform
you
that I’d like to have you continue to help me with the church after the celebration is over. I know it’s a commitment, and the pay isn’t very good, but very rewarding. What do you say?”

She stared at him, almost with as much angst as Mrs. Brock, who was opening and closing her mouth with indecision as to what to screech next. That was it? He wanted her to be his assistant? Did she mean nothing to him?
Had the kiss they’d shared meant
anything?

She suddenly noticed he’d not taken his eyes from her, and she looked him up and down, wondering why he was staring at her like that. “What?” she asked, her voice weak.

“I must warn you, the position calls for long hours; we’ll … ah … have to spend a lot of time together.”

A chill went up her spine. What was he saying?

He took a step closer. “There will be lots of things for you to do, paperwork, organizing, helping me with the sick, and the poor …” He took another step, and they were now much closer than propriety would allow. “And if you’re going to be spending that much time with me, then, well, I thought it would make things easier if we just started courting.”

“WHAT
!?” Mrs. Brock blurted again. “What are you talking about? Don’t tell me you’re asking this woman if you can court her?”

Luke turned to Mrs. Brock and flashed
gave her his most dazzling smile. “That’s exactly what I’m asking.”

Winnie sucked in her breath, as her hands flew to her mouth.

Luke gave his attention back to her. “You see, there was never anything going on between Eva and me; and if you heard something other than what Eva and I have just said, then it was probably spoken by Mrs. Brock here, who saw fit to tell
everyone
in town a lie. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Brock?”

Mrs. Brock turned white, as her eyes bulged. She
then pressed her lips into a firm line, and narrowed her eyes at him.

“So, you see,” he continued as he closed the distance between them and put his hands on Winnie’s shoulders. “I’d like to pick up where we left off.”

Winnie shook; she felt light-headed, and wasn’t sure she’d heard him right. “Where did we leave off?”

He looked down at her, and tucked a finger under her chin. “Right here,” he said, and ever so gently brushed his lips
across her own.

Mrs. Brock went positively berserk. In fact, she was so upset, she couldn’t talk! She fanned herself, she turned in circles,
and she even grabbed Eva and acted as if she were having a heart attack.

“Oh
, mother,” Eva said in disgust. “Get a hold of yourself!” Instead, Mrs. Brock got a hold of the doorknob, and escaped outside. Eva rolled her eyes. “I’d better go keep an eye on her. She’s liable to tell everyone you stood by and let her faint onto the floor.”

Luke laughed as Winnie stood in shock. Did he just kiss her? Good heavens, yes! He did! Eva joined his laughter, hugged Winnie, and left the office. They were now alone.

“Well, that went better than I thought,” he said with pride.

Winnie stared at him. “What … what
was
that?”

He pulled her against him. “That, Miss Longfellow, was
me correcting a wrong done to you, Eva, and myself. That woman has been spreading rumors all week, and had it in her head that Eva and I were getting married.”

“You mean none of it
’s true?”

“Of course not. If I’d had a chance to talk with you, you would have known.”

She bit her lip. “I … I thought you …” she put a fist to her mouth. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I thought I meant something, then nothing … and that … I came out here, played along with everything they wanted, and went through all this only to be tossed aside …”

“What? Never!” He pulled her into his arms and held her. “We’ve had misunderstandings since we
first met, and I’m sorry if I didn’t make myself clear …” 

He stopped, and she knew what he was thinking.
Uh oh …

“What was that you said?” he asked. “You played along with everything
they
wanted? Who wanted? Played what?”

She swallowed hard. Did she dare tell him?
But wasn’t he trying to clear things up between them and start over? But she’d promised Martha, Mercy, and Maude that she wouldn’t tell anyone. Did that include Luke as well?

“Winnie?”

“Ah, you see … I … I…I … oh, bother!”

He looked her right in the eye. “Take your time, and go slow
ly. What are you trying to say?”

She took a deep breath, shut her eyes tight, and blurted. “I was your
mail-order bride!”

* * *

“My
,
what?
” he blurted right back. What in the world was she talking about?  How could she be his mail-order bride? He’d never sent for one! “Winnie, explain yourself!”

She shook her head. “I can’t
t,t,t,t tell you, any more than that.” 

“So you’re
saying, you came out here as my
mail-order bride
?”

She cringed and
nodded.

  “I never sent away for … h
ow could you possibly be my …” He snapped his mouth shut as he slowly turned to the door leading outside. “No; I didn’t send for you, which means…”

  He spun on
her. “Who? Who thought I needed a mail-order bride?”