Love in Independence (Holiday Mail Order Brides) (16 page)

  She sucked in a lungful of air. “I promised not to tell!”

He threw both hands up in the air and started to pace the room. “I don’t believe this! Who in their right mind would take it upon themselves to order me a bride? Am I not capable of choosing my own wife?”

Winnie backed into the desk and almost fell over. He grabbed her before she did, and held her tight. “Who, Winnie? Who did this?”

She shook her head again, her eyes pleading with him.

“Who would do such a thing?” he wrapped an arm around her, anchoring her in place, forcing her head to tilt back. “Who knew I felt the way I did? That I couldn’t stand
to be apart from you once I’d spent time …” his words faded as he drank in the sight of her. “Oh, Winnie, who knew? Who knew this would happen?” His eyes became riveted on her lips, and he could stand it no longer. He kissed her, kissed her with all the longing he thought to keep hidden from the world and himself. Kissed her to let her know she was so much more than a helper to him, that she was something he wanted, and oh, so desperately needed in his life.

When their lips finally parted
, he looked deeply into her eyes. “Whoever did this, Winnie, I want to thank them.”

* * *

The next day dawned clear and bright for the Fourth of July celebration. Excitement filled the air, and everyone in town was chattering and carrying on as they lined the streets to watch the parade. The Edmonson family attended in their Sunday best, and folks gave them curious stares as they made their way down the boardwalk to find a spot big enough for all of them to watch.

“Lookin’ good there, Amos.” Mr. Tindle called from the mercantile with a wave.

Amos smiled, waved back, and ushered his family along.

Martha joined her husband at the mercantile doors. “Today’s gonna be special
; I just know it!”

“Of course it is.
Pastor Luke said it would be.”

“I don’t mean just the
Edmonsons; something else is going to happen, I can feel it in my bones.”

“Amos coming back
to his family is good enough for me, that’s a miracle right there.”

She smiled. “Yes, but something else …”

He looked at his wife. “You wouldn’t happen to know about anything I don’t, would ya?”

“Me?” she said innocently. “Why, no
; of course not.”

He eyed her. “Hmmm, we’ll see then, won’t we?”

Martha forced a smile, and tried not to gulp back her apprehension, lest she give herself away.

Thankfully, the
Vanders strolled up to join them. “Good morning!” Mercy said. “Isn’t it a beautiful day for the celebration?”

“Yes, it is!” said Martha as she grabbed her and pulled her into the mercantile. She took her to the counter, while speaking in a loud voice, “Let me show you the new fabric I got in before the parade starts!”

“What fabric? When did you get something new?” asked Mercy.

“I don’t,” Martha told her in a low voice. “Octavius suspects something!”

Mercy blanched. “Oh
, dear; who do you think spilled the beans?”

“No one, but he’s sharp. We’d better make sure Pastor Luke and Winnie fall in love by the end of the day!”

“What? How are we going to do that?”

“I don’t know, but we
’d better come up with something!”

“Oh, dear, oh dear! Maybe Maude will have an idea!”

“You’re right; let’s go find her!”

They went back to their husbands. “Oct
avius, Mercy and I are going to fetch Maude and Jonathan. I’m sure they’d like to watch the parade with us.”

“You’d best hurry
; it’s about to start,” he told her.

“Mercy,” Mr. Vander boomed.
“You be back in time to get in that wagon! It’s leading the parade, you know.”

Mercy gave him a smile, nodded, and the two of them
hurried down the boardwalk in search of their counterpart, who at that very moment happened to be in her home, just putting the final touches on Winnie’s hair.

Sixteen

“There; it’s perfect, if I do say so myself,” said Maude as she admired her handiwork.

“Thank you. I don’t think my hair has ever looked so good,” said Winnie. “Do … do you think Luke will like it?”

“He’ll love it!”

Winnie smiled
with relief and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She still felt heady from the day before when Luke kissed her in his office, and her feet still hadn’t touched the ground. She’d almost made a foolish mistake by leaving town, and would have lost a love she might never find again. How had she not seen it? How had she not known? Then again, how could she have? She’d spent so many years servicing others and attending to their needs, that she’d forgotten that hers were important, too. Her self-sacrificing had almost cost her a chance at love. After yesterday, she decided to make sure she took as good care of herself, as she did of others. Never again would she allow herself to get so out of balance.

“Are you watching the parade with him?” Maude asked.

“No; he said he had to take care of something, but that he’d stop by before the parade started.” Before she could say another word, there was a knock at the door. Winnie’s stomach started to flutter.

“That must be him now,” said Maude as she left the bedroom to answer it.

Winnie followed her downstairs and sure enough, Luke was standing on the porch as the door opened. “Oh!” Winnie exclaimed. “How beautiful!”

A wagon festooned with garlands of flowers was parked in front of the house. It was one of the most incredible things Winnie had ever seen. “I had no idea you were in the parade.”

“Yep, and so are you.”

“Me?” she asked.

“If you’ll do me the honor of accompanying me; then, yes.”

Winnie let out a squeal of delight. “Of course!”

“Then, shall we?” he asked as he extended his arm to her.

She took it, and he led her off the porch,
and then helped her onto the wagon seat. Maude came to stand and watch them as Luke climbed up. “You two have fun! I’ll be waving at you as you go by!”

Luke smiled, flicked the reins, and they were off. Mercy
and Martha gawked at them as they rolled by, before descending on Maude. “Will you look at that,” said Martha.

“Don’t they look lovely together?” sighed Mercy.

“Yes, they certainly do,” added Maude.

“Which is why we’re here!” exclaimed Martha. “Octavius is suspicious! He’s liable to figure things out before the end of the day if we’re not careful! Luke and Winnie have got to fall in love!”

Maude put a finger to her chin and tapped it a few times. “Hmmm, maybe we won’t have to worry; Winnie’s been mighty happy since yesterday. But when I asked her why, she didn’t say a word. Just smiled and shrugged at me.”

“I wasn’t with her yesterday
for the flower sorting, were either of you?” asked Mercy.

Maude and Martha shook their heads.

“Well, we’d better make sure they have every opportunity to fall in love today, or we might have to fess up!” said Mercy.

“But what are we going to do about Eva and Mrs. Brock?”
asked Maude.

“Oh dear
; I hadn’t thought of that. Mrs. Brock has the whole town thinking Eva and Pastor Luke are courting!” said Martha. “We’d better come up with something to make sure they don’t interfere with Winnie and Pastor Luke today!”

The other two nodded their agreement and
, together, they began to work out a plan. Little did they know, they were blissfully too late. Winnie and Luke were already in love.

* * *

  Their plan set, Mercy, Martha, and Maude each took their positions along Main Street, Mercy taking hers in a chair in the back of a wagon carrying Mayor Vander. She felt guilty having to be in the parade, but at least she’d have a good view and be able to spot Mrs. Brock and her daughter Eva. As long as they knew where they were, and could keep them away from Winnie and Luke all day, the townsfolk would see that Mrs. Brock’s boasting about a courtship between her daughter and Pastor Luke was nothing but hogwash.

Mercy craned her neck and looked at the spectators as the parade got started.
She didn’t see Mrs. Brock or Eva anywhere. They must be watching the parade further up the street.

“What are you gawking at?” Mr. Vander boomed.

“Oh! Mercy!”

“Indeed you are
; now what are you gawking at?”

“I meant
you startled… oh, never mind. You know what I meant. Nothing, just trying to see who’s here.”

“
Well, that’s easy. Everyone.”

Mercy sighed. “Yes, I can see that.” At this rate, she m
ight not be able to spot Eva or Mrs. Brock, and hoped Martha and Maude would have better luck. She turned and looked behind her. Pastor Luke and Winnie waved from their wagon, huge smiles on their faces. Both wagons were covered in flowers, but Luke and Winnie’s carried some children in the back dressed as angels to represent the church, while the Vanders’ wagon simply carried the Vanders.

Mercy and her husband waved and
smiled at the townsfolk, as was expected of them, and were halfway down Main Street when she spotted Mrs. Brock. She was wearing an enormous hat. Perfect! They’d be able to keep track of her!  Eva, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen.

She heard Winnie’s laugh from
the wagon behind them, and it bolstered her courage to see the day through. Soon, they were winding their way toward the church, and would so stop and park the wagons in the field near the hillside beyond. It was the perfect place to hold the day’s festivities. Several trees dotted the gentle slope behind the church, and would offer shade. Later in the evening, folks would settle here and there, and have a perfect view of the fireworks. Between now and then would be food, games, laughter and prizes. A perfect day! So long as Mercy and the others could pull it off.

“Mercy!” her husband boomed again. “Where’s my speech?”

“Oh, dear!” she said and began to dig through her reticule. “Here it is!” she said, relief in her voice. She handed him a folded piece of paper and quickly scanned the area for Mrs. Brock’s hat.

“Aren’t you coming?”
he asked as he stood and prepared to leave the wagon.

“Oh, ah, of course,” she said, her eyes still darting back and forth.

He studied her with one eyebrow raised, but said nothing. Soon they were out of the wagon and seated on a small stage set up for the occasion. It took awhile for the town’s people to gather around, but once done, Mr. Vander stood up and got right to it.

“Citizens
of Independence!” he began with a flourish and raised both hands in the air.

Mercy, still seated, peeked around her husband. “Where is that darn hat?” she muttered.

“It is with great pride that we gather here today to celebrate our freedom!”

A cheer went up, followed by several folks laughing as they pointed at the stage. Mr. Vander looked around, until his eyes landed on his wife. Mercy had crept to his side, and, shading her eyes, was peeking out over the crowd from
beneath his armpit.

“Mercy!” he hissed. “What are you doing?”

“Oh,” she said as she looked up at him. “Nothing, dear.”

He shook his head in annoyance and
, ignoring his wife’s antics, continued his speech.

* * *

  Winnie laughed at the mayor’s wife along with Luke, as they watched her slink back to her seat behind him. “What was that about?” she asked.

“I don’t know
; and I’m not sure I want to find out.”

“Maybe she’s looking for Mrs. Smythe and Mrs. Tindle. They’re the best of friends, you know.”

He inched his body closer and looked down into her eyes. “Are they now?”

She could feel the heat coming off him, and swallowed hard. “Yes, very much.”

He took another step. “And they don’t believe all those rumors Mrs. Brock started, do they?”

She shook her head, unable to speak, her knees growing weaker by the second.

“I’m glad to hear it. I’d hate to think they fell for them.” He glanced around. “By the way, where
is
Mrs. Brock? I want to make sure she doesn’t take the stage when Mayor Vander is done with his speech.”

“What? You mean …”

He nodded. “I never got the chance to tell her she couldn’t make one. No time for it. We’ve got to move onto the games right after the mayor is through.”

Winnie glanced around. It gave her a chance to collect herself. “I haven’t seen Mrs. Brock since the parade.”

“Neither have I, but you can’t miss her. Did you see the hat she was wearing?”

Winnie giggl
ed. “Yes, I did. It was monstrous!”

Luke stared down at here. “I … Winnie … I know
my actions yesterday may have come as a shock …”

She shook her head. “No, don’t. Let’s not go through this again.”

“You know I meant it when I said I’d court you, how can I not? Good grief, if Mrs. Brock had seen us, she’d have had us before a preacher last night!”

Winnie looked away
as Mrs. Brock’s threats of running her out of town came flooding back. “No; I think she might have done something more drastic.”

He took her hand. “She’ll do nothing unless we let her. That type of person always does. Once they know they can’t bully you, they leave you alone.”

“How do you know?”

“I had to deal with a lot of folks like that in Chicago. Men mostly, but she’s no different. She just wears a bigger hat.”

Winnie giggled again, and sighed against him. Catching herself, she stepped away lest anyone think her improper.

He closed the distance between them. “Don’t go
; stay next to me.”

“But, it’s hardly …”

“Proper? On the contrary; if we’re to be married, I see nothing wrong with standing close to each other. For Heaven’s sake, we’re not even holding hands.”

“What did you say?”

“I said we’re not even holding hands.”

“
Be,be,be,be …oh blast!” She sucked in some air. “Before that.”

He smiled. “You’re beautiful
when you stutter.”

She blushed
, and looked away.

He tucked a finger under her chin, and brought her around to face him. “Ohhhh
; are you asking what I said before the part about holding hands?”

She glared at him through her smile.

He smiled back, that same devilish smile she’d seen before. Without warning, he took both of her hands in his, and got down on one knee.

Winnie gasped, as did several people who were standing nearby. They turned away from the mayor’s booming voice, and watched.

“Winnie Longfellow, you’d make me the happiest man …”

“Quiet!” someone yelled behind him.

Luke turned and arched his brows at the man. It was Mr. Smythe. “Do you mind? I’m trying to propose.”

“I can see that
; which is why I’m yelling at the mayor to be quiet. I want to hear this!”

A hush settled over the crowd as the mayor droned on, but soon he noticed
that he no longer had everyone’s attention. It had become focused on something going on in the back of the crowd.

A soft murmur r
ippled its way through the throng of people to the stage, and reached a man standing next to it. He smiled, looked up at the mayor, and winked.

“What’s going on? Is someone hurt?” Mayor Vander asked with concern.

“No, sir; Pastor Luke is proposing!”

“WHAT?” The mayor jumped off the stage and began to make his way through the crowd. Mercy popped up from her seat and, with a squea
l of delight, hurried to follow. By the time they reached the focus of everyone’s attention, Winnie was blushing a furious red.

“What’s going on here?” Mayor Vander boomed.

“Isn’t it obvious?” asked Mr. Smythe.

“Oh, ah, quite,” the mayor agreed as he stared at the couple.

Luke turned to him. “I didn’t mean for this to interrupt your speech.”

Mayor Vander scratched his chin. “Yes, well …” He glanced out over the crowd,
and then gave his attention back to Luke. “Well, don’t just kneel there and not say anything! Get on with it!”

“Yes, sir,
Your Honor!” Luke turned, and looked up at Winnie who, by now, had tears in her eyes. “As I was saying; Miss Longfellow … Winnie, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Winnie’s knees gave out, and she began to collapse to the ground, but not before Luke sprang to his feet and c
aught her. He stood her up and, without relinquishing his hold, looked deep into her eyes. “Well? What do you say?”