Mail-Order Bride Ink: Dear Mr. Weaver (14 page)

“Not what the women are. But they’re not telling me much either. A couple of them were sitting at a corner table in Hank’s the other day, saying how lucky they thought Daniel was.”

“Lucky? How’s marrying a woman with loose morals, if that’s what they’re insinuatin’, lucky?”

“I’d like to know why Nellie started such a rumor in the first place,” Clayton mused. “I thought she’d gotten past that sort of thing. The only thing I can think of is because Ebba’s new in town. But that’s no reason. Nellie wouldn’t do something like that just because she was bored.”

“Ya sure of that?”

Clayton looked at Arlan for a moment before reluctantly replying, “Not entirely.”

Arlan offered Clayton his hand. “Regardless, I’m much obliged ya told me.”

Clayton gave it a shake. “It’s been on my mind, Arlan. I just figured you ought to know so you can tell your brother before he makes any trips to town with her.”

Arlan nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell him. The rest will be up to him.”

“
A
nd if Benjamin
and Charity don’t want to build their own house,” Daniel said, “Ebba and I can build one on the back acres near the creek.”

Harlan and Mr. Davis listened intently to Daniel’s plans. “I would think that your brother Benjamin would want to build a house,” said Mr. Davis. “After all, he and his wife already have children. They obviously need the room more than you do.”

“True enough, Mr. Davis, and they might just do that,” Daniel glanced at the sheriff. “‘Course, a lot depends on how many folks’ll be livin’ in the main house.”

Harlan cleared his throat and shifted his weight. “That old house has had a lot of people come through it lately.”

Daniel grinned. “Sure enough has, Sheriff. This here’s a mighty fine place to work and live. And, for folks like my brothers and me, a great place to raise younguns. ‘Course, it’s also a nice place for a gentleman of yer … maturity to settle.”

“Are you referring to our age, Danny boy?” Mr. Davis said with a laugh. “A fine thing when all you young men are doing the work.”

“Yeah, we’re doin’ the work, but there’s other work to be done too. Take Ma, for example …”

The sheriff cleared his throat again and stuck his hands in his pockets. “Your mama is one of the hardest-working women I’ve ever met.”

“That’s just it,” Daniel said. “It’d be great if she had someone around to help her out.”

“She has all of you boys,” Mr. Davis pointed out. “And your wives.”

“I mean someone to keep her company. Make sure no lowdown snake comes sneakin’ into the house to do her harm. Someone she can go to town with and who’ll look after her.” Both he and Mr. Davis looked at the sheriff.

Harlan glanced between the two. “All right! If you must know, yes, I asked your ma to marry me!”

“Ya don’t hafta tell me, Sheriff,” Daniel said. “Anyone with half the brain of a squirrel coulda figgered that out.”

The sheriff blanched. “How did you know …?”

“‘Cause Ma was actin’ funny around ya come supper time. Me and my brothers figgered if’n she was tryin’ to avoid ya, she must really like ya!

Mr. Davis slapped the sheriff on the back. “Congratulations, Harlan!”

“Don’t congratulate me yet,” he said.

“Why not?” Daniel and Mr. Davies asked at once.

“Because she hasn’t said yes. And for all I know, she never will.”

E
bba tossed
and turned all night. She’d barely drifted off when Charity knocked on her door, opened it and poked her head inside. “Best get up. We have a lot to do before we get you into that dress.”

Ebba sat up and stretched. This would be a long day. She knew more people were arriving, but couldn’t remember who. Was it more relatives? Probably, but whom did they belong to – the Quinns, the Weavers or the Rileys? And she still didn’t know what Nellie Davis had been nattering on about. Brazen? She was about as brazen as a nun!

Well, no hope for it. She’d just have to get up, get ready and face the day. She’d find out when she found out.

She went to the washstand and started her morning routine. After she dressed and braided her hair, she wrapped the braids around her head and pinned them in place, then studied herself in the washstand’s small mirror. “Ebba Knudson, by tonight you’ll be Ebba Weaver.”

A sudden commotion downstairs caught her attention. It sounded like a herd of buffalo was coming up the stairs. Bella and Calvin must have arrived.

Ebba looked back at her reflection. “Lord have mercy on me,” she said just as Bella’s younger siblings ran into her room, some of them colliding into each other in the doorway and falling in instead.

Gabby climbed over Arturo and Leonardo, then ran to her. “I want to see your dress, I want to see your dress!”

Ebba pointed to where it hung from the armoire. “It’s right there.”

The children turned and gawked at it. “It’s so pretty,” Mel said in awe. She looked at Ebba. “Bella could make one just like it. She’s very good at it. I hope I’m as good at sewing as my sister one day.”

Rufi burst into the room, clearly out of breath. “I’m … sorry, Ebba … but they got away from me.”

The boys cringed and backed up a step. Ebba caught the action and eyed them. “What did they do?”

“They tied Rufi to a tree!” Gabby squealed and laughed.

Ebba gasped. “That’s terrible!” She immediately looked at Rufi to confirm the accusation.

Rufi rolled her eyes and halfheartedly threw her hands in the air. “At least they don’t know how to tie good knots.”

Ebba spun on the boys. “That was an awful thing to do!”

“We didn’t mean to do it,” Leo said in their defense.

“Oh yes, you did,” Gabby countered.

Lucia, the one sibling of Bella’s Ebba hadn’t spoken with yet, smiled shyly before making a face at her brothers.

Ebba folded her arms in front of her. “You can’t
accidentally
tie someone to a tree. So … what do you have to say for yourselves?”

“We just wanted to see how fast Rufi could get loose,” Alfonso said, winked at Lucia.

“He’s lying,” Mel said flatly. “They thought
Nonna
made cinnamon bread this morning because it’s your wedding day and wanted to get to it before it was all gone.”

“Yeah,” Gabby agreed. “They knew Rufi would make us wait until all the grown-ups had theirs first.”

“But we weren’t sure there’d be any left!” Arturo whined. “Nonna’s cinnamon bread is so wonderful, it practically melts in your mouth! We love it!”

“So you thought that if you tied your sister to a tree, you’d get some before anyone else?” Ebba asked, trying to keep her scowl in place.

The younger children nodded and giggled.

The older ones looked at Rufi – and realized she’d blocked their only escape route. She was standing in the doorway, feet apart and hands on her hips. “Well, what do you have to say for yourselves? You know you shouldn’t be pulling these sorts of pranks on Ebba’s wedding day!”

“We’re sorry, Rufi,” Arturo said, his head hung low. “We won’t do it again.”

“That’s right you won’t,” she said. “Because I’m telling Nonna.”

The look of terror on the boys’ faces emboldened Ebba. “And so am I. I’m also telling her you ran into a woman’s room without knocking.”

“No! No!” Alfonso begged. “We’ll be good the rest of the day! We promise!”

“You better,” Rufi warned. “Today is not the day for childish pranks.”

Ebba felt a sudden tugging of her skirt. She bent down and looked at Gabby. “What is it?”

“Don’t worry, Ebba, we won’t tie you to a tree,” Gabby said innocently before kissing her on the cheek. “If we did, you couldn’t marry Daniel.”

Ebba laughed despite herself. “I’m relieved to know that. And don’t tie Daniel to a tree either, or there still won’t be a wedding.”

“Does that mean you won’t tell Nonna on us?” Leo asked hopefully.

Ebba pursed her lips as she starightened. “Maybe.”

“All right, downstairs, all of you
facinorosi
!” Rufi began to wave the children toward the door. “Get some breakfast. Then I’m sure Nonna will have some work for you … I hope.”

Ebba watched the children file out the door, but stopped Rufi before she followed. “Did they really tie you to a tree?”

“It’s not the first time. And I
am
telling Nonna, because I’m tired of it, especially on a day like this. Besides, they’re starting to get good at it.”

Ebba’s eyes widened. “Oh my goodness!’ she said with a laugh. “Well, I’ll back you up, don’t worry.”

Rufi shook her head. “They get more mischievous by the day. I would hope the older ones would have grown out of it by now, but
Zii
Benjamin and Calvin teach them things.”

“What kinds of things?” Ebba asked as she headed for the door. She knew they couldn’t linger for much longer. It was her wedding day, after all.

“The little ones, they hide my shoes. The older boys, they put frogs in my bed and pepper in my tea.
Buon Dio omnipotente!
”

Ebba tried to imagine the patience the girl must have. “Don’t Calvin and Bella discipline them?”

“Bella is busy with her children. Calvin is out working all day. That leaves me to look after them,” Rufi concluded tiredly.

“What about school? Lessons? Doesn’t that occupy most of the day?”

“It would, if there was someone to teach them.” Rufi’s eyes drifted to the floor. “I can teach a few things but … I don’t read and write as well as I should.”

“I’m sorry, Rufi. I didn’t realize the burden you had with them. Maybe I can help.”

“But of course you will. Calvin and Bella said so.”

“They … did? What did they say?”

“That you’re going to teach me and the others how to read, write and speak better English.”

“What?” Ebba said and took a step back. “When did she tell you that?”
And why didn’t they tell
me
that
, she added mentally.

“After Daniel told Bella what you put in your letter, that you could read and write well and do your numbers.” Rufi’s eyes went to the floor again. “I’m not very good with numbers at all. But you’ll help me, won’t you?”

Ebba saw the starry expression on Rufi’s face. She shook herself as the girl’s words sank in. “I’ll have to speak with Calvin and Bella about this. No one told me I was expected to be a school teacher.”

Rufi’s face fell. “You mean, you didn’t know you were going to be our new teacher?”

Ebba closed her eyes at the first sting of anger. “Let’s not talk about it right now. I’ll discuss it with Daniel later.”

“You look upset,” Rufi pointed out.

“I’m … let’s just not talk about it right now.” Ebba continued downstairs, fuming. First the size of the family, then Nellie Davis’ insinuations, and now this. What else had Daniel not told her?

T
he rest
of the morning was a blur. Ebba barely knew if she was coming or going. She knew she needed to talk to Daniel – about a lot of things – but wasn’t sure when she’d have a chance. Everyone was busy preparing for the ceremony, including her. How was she going to get this straightened out before they said their vows?

The more she thought about what Rufi said, the more upset she became. Daniel hadn’t told her about his family, about doing farm work, about having her step in as a schoolteacher, about … whatever Nellie Davis thought. She hadn’t gotten the truth from him about a lot of things. Who knew what else had “slipped his mind”? Did they expect her to deliver the mail to the Gunderson stage stop too?

“That’s it,” she said to herself. “I should write a letter to Mrs. Pettigrew and tell her what’s going on.” Had she known about this? But if she did, why didn’t she tell her? Ebba wiped her hands on her apron, glanced around the busy kitchen and slipped out of the room. Maybe if she penned a quick note to Mrs. Pettigrew she’d feel better, not to mention figure out what she’d say to Daniel. She loathed the thought that her future husband might be lying to her, but what was she supposed to think?

Once upstairs in her room, she found some paper, pen and ink and set to work. The letter was short and to the point, but included everything, including the hellion children. What would she do if they tied
her
to a tree? She shuddered at the thought as she signed her name at the bottom, folded it and stuck it in her apron pocket. As soon as she could find an envelope, she’d get it ready to post. She was sure Sheriff Hughes would be more than happy to mail it for her once he got back to Nowhere.

She was about to leave the room when she heard the distinct sound of a wagon approaching. Lovely – more guests. “Who could that be?” she asked aloud. She went to the window and saw a young couple arriving, but had no idea who they might be. She shook her head, guessing she’d just have to go downstairs and find out.

Taking a deep breath, she patted the letter in her pocket and headed for the door. She had to admit, writing Mrs. Pettigrew did make her feel better. Writing her thoughts always did. Besides, Mrs. Pettigrew promised to answer any letter a bride sent to her.

Who knows what might happen between now and when she heard back, though. She certainly hoped she and Daniel would have their misunderstandings cleared up. She also hoped she didn’t find herself the victim of the children’s antics. The thought of a frog in her bed didn’t set well.

“There you are!” Leona hurried to the bottom of the stairs. “Where have you been? We’ve got to get you into your wedding dress right away!”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Ebba said. “I was upstairs taking care of a few things.”

“Well, now it’s time to take care of the most important thing. You turn around and get right back up there. Mary, Betsy and I will be up in a moment to help you.”

Ebba sighed. Would she ever get the chance to speak to Daniel before the wedding? Would she have to marry him with all this unresolved? She hoped she wasn’t going to regret this. She’d known of misunderstandings that turned into something more serious. The last thing she wanted was a wedge in their relationship. He was willing to overlook her ailments for the sake of their marriage. Surely she could overlook this. Why did it gall her so?

Because he should’ve told you,
she thought. He should’ve told her before they ever came out to the farm. Before she ever got on the train in Denver.

“Don’t just stand there!” Leona said. “Get up those stairs and get that dress on!”

Ebba jumped. “I’m … I’m sorry. I’m going now!” This so-called misunderstanding was bothering her more than she thought.

She hurried back to her room, closed the door and placed the dress on the bed. She glanced in the mirror and realized she looked a complete mess. Thank Heaven help was on the way. She would need it.

Just then, Leona came in with Aunt Betsy trailing behind her, a comb and brush in her hand. “Let’s get to it,” Betsy said with a smile. She stopped short and looked Ebba over. “Oh my, this might take a while. Maybe we should’ve started earlier, Leona.”

“We were so busy downstairs, we lost track of the time,” Leona replied. “No help for it now. Where’s Mary? She has the veil.”

“She’ll be along in a minute,” Betsy told her. “Now you sit down, Ebba, and let us take care of everything!”

Ebba was about to reply when two sets of hands grabbed her and hauled her towards the nearest chair. Before she knew it, she was sitting, a comb stuck in her hair while Leona and Aunt Betsy started to pull and tug at her clothes. “I can undress myself!” she cried. “For Heaven’s sake, we’ll never get anything done this way.”

“She’s right, Betsy,” Leona said. “Let the poor child get out of her work dress – then we’ll help get her into the wedding dress.”

“Don’t you think she ought to wash her face first?”

Leona took a closer look at Ebba. “Heavens, yes! Whatever is that goo on your cheek?”

Ebba looked in the mirror. Gabby had given her a kiss there, so it could be anything. “Let me do that first,” she groaned. “Then I’ll get into my dress and you can fix my hair. Would that be all right?” It came out testier than she intended.

“Yes, yes,” Aunt Betsy waved her towards the screen. “Just hurry up. I knew we should’ve started an hour ago.”

“Stop fussing, Betsy, and go fetch Mary,” Leona ordered.

Betsy grumbled something unintelligible, left the room and headed downstairs.

Ebba sighed, went to the washstand and washed her face. She dried it with a towel, then turned to Leona. “I saw a young couple drive up. Who are they?”

“Warren and Bernice Johnson. Nice folks – you’ll like them. Bernice comes all the way from Independence, Oregon. She was a mail-order bride too.”

Ebba’s brow furrowed. “Oregon? That doesn’t seem very far.”

“Oh, it really doesn’t matter where the bride comes from dear, so long as she gets here. Now hurry up and get out of that dress.”

Ebba didn’t argue, just went behind the screen to change her clothes. Leona handed her the wedding dress and helped her put it on. By the time she stepped out again, Aunt Betsy had returned with Ma. “Just look at you!” she said with a tiny clap of her hands. “Why, you’re prettier now than you were the first time I saw you wearing this.”

“That’s because it’s her wedding day,” Aunt Betsy remarked. “Brides always look prettier on their wedding day.”

“She’ll look a lot prettier if you get her hair ready,” Leona quipped as she handed her a comb.

“Don’t rush me, I’ll see it done.” Aunt Betsy shoved Ebba back into the chair. “Oh dear, where should I begin?”

“Anywhere,” Leona said. “Everyone’s gathering in the orchard.”