Mail-Order Bride Ink: Dear Mr. Weaver (18 page)

“Would you like some more tea?”

Ebba jumped in her chair. “Oh, Charity! I’m sorry – yes, please.”

Charity took the cup from her and went to refill it. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. I’m also glad that nothing else happened.”

Ebba shuddered at the thought. Thank the Lord Daniel had come along when he did. “I just don’t understand men like that. How they can …”

“I know,” Charity set Ebba’s tea cup back in its saucer. “I’ve … been through something similar.”

Ebba turned in her chair to face her. “You have?”

Charity nodded. “It was a horrible ordeal, but the good Lord brought blessing out of it.”

Ebba gaped at her. “What good can come out of something so horrible?”

Charity glanced at the ceiling. “My son.”

Ebba could only stare. “Sebastian?!”

“Yes.”

Ebba’s hand flew to her mouth “Oh Charity … I had no idea …”

“No one but the family knows.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. Benjamin and I have a beautiful son that we’re raising. In fact, if it weren’t for Benjamin and this family I don’t know what I would have done.”

Ebba continued to stare. “I … I can’t imagine …”

“And you don’t have to,” Charity took a chair and sat. “Be glad Stanley Oliver didn’t get the chance. It would have caused a horrible chain of events …”

“What do you mean?”

Charity looked her in the eye. “Daniel and his brothers
would
have killed him.”

Ebba’s eyes bulged. “No!”

“Sheriff Riley will see that Stanley Oliver is dealt with. I just can’t get over that he would do such a thing with so many people around …”

“I can.”

Both women turned to see Nellie Davis standing in the doorway. “What do you mean?” Charity asked. “What he tried to do is in excusable.”

“That would depend on who he was doing it with, I suppose.” Nellie turned her attention on Ebba. “I told you I wouldn’t see this family harmed. Now look what you’ve done.”

Charity jumped to her feet. “Mrs. Davis, have you no decency? How dare you talk to her like that! Ebba has done nothing wrong!”

Nellie eyed both of them coolly. “Hasn’t she?” Without explanation, she marched out the back door.

Ebba gripped the edge of the table. “I don’t understand that woman! She keeps throwing those barbs at me, and I don’t know why! What did I ever do to her?”

“Never mind her – she’s always been that way.” Charity reached out and patted Ebba on shoulder.

The door opened before Ebba could reply, and Spencer and Clayton Riley returned to the kitchen, followed by Daniel. “The judge will be passing through town next week, Mrs. Weaver,” Spencer told her. “I’d like you and Daniel to come to town and testify.”

“Testify?” Ebba said weakly.

“Yes,” Spencer said. “I’ve arrested Stanley Oliver for attempted rape.”

Ebba sank in her chair. How had her life taken such a turn in only a few hours?

“It’s all right, sweetie,” Daniel said as he stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I’ll be right there with ya.”

“But he didn’t actually …” Ebba started to say.

“But he tried,” said Clayton. “That’s against the law too.”

“And we want to make sure he doesn’t try again,” Spencer added.

Ebba put her face in her hands. “Oh dear …”

Daniel bent down and hugged her. “It’s gonna be okay, honey, you’ll see. But that man’s gotta be punished. We cain’t let him get away with something like this.”

“The Davises just left,” Ma said as she entered the kitchen with Sheriff Hughes. “I must say that Nellie was acting …” Ma stopped when she saw the looks on everyone’s faces. “What’s going on?”

“Harlan, did you tell her?” Clayton asked.

“I was about to. Not everyone knows.”

“Nellie does,” Charity said flatly.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Spencer said, glancing at Clayton.

“Tell me what?” Ma asked sharply.

“Ma,” Daniel said softly, “Stanley Oliver done took Ebba into the barn and … tried to have his way with her.”

“WHAT?!”

Harlan was immediately at her side. “Calm down there. Daniel made sure the varmint didn’t do nothing. Ebba just got a little shook up is all. Isn’t that right, Ebba?”

Ebba nodded, but couldn’t look Ma in the eye. She suddenly remembered the weight of Stanley’s body on top of hers and cringed.

Daniel helped her up and held her in his arms. “There now, sweetie, it’s all right,” he cooed.

Ma waved Harlan off. “On my farm? In my barn? A man tried to … dagnabit!” She turned this way and that, her face locked in helpless rage.

“Mary, Ebba’s all right,” Harlan said.

Ma spun on him, stopped, then shut her eyes tight as if that would make it all go away.

“Ma,” Daniel said. “Sheriff Riley’s gonna see to it the low-down snake gets what’s comin’ to him. Everythin’s gonna be all right.”

Ma opened her eyes and met Harlan’s, her lower jaw trembling. “Yes.”

Harlan glanced around the room, then back to Mary. “Yes what?”

“Yes, Harlan, I’ll marry you.”

Harlan took a step back as everyone else stared in shock. “Wha?”

Ma’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t go through something like this by myself, Harlan.” She looked at Ebba and Daniel. “I can’t be all I need to be for these younguns alone.”

“Ma …” Charity began. Ebba looked at her and shook her head. Charity took the cue and went silent.

“Mary,” Harlan began, “I understand this is a shock, but don’t let this situation decide for you. I want you to want to marry me because you …”

“I do!”

“… love me,” he finished weakly.

She nodded, tears in her eyes. “I do,” she repeated. “I do love you. Now stand here by my side and help me get through this.”

Harlan took her in his arms and held her tight. “I’m here for you, Mary. I’m not going anywhere.”

Ebba looked into Daniel’s eyes, smiled, then glanced at Charity. “Blessings out of tragedy?”

Charity smiled back. “Exactly.”

O
ver the next
couple of weeks the Weaver clan developed a new routine. Chaotic breakfasts were followed by Bella’s siblings gathering in the main farmhouse parlor for lessons with Ebba. After giving it some thought, she’d told Calvin, Bella and Daniel that she’d be willing to be their teacher – on a provisional basis. “We’ll see how it goes” were her exact words.

And the first thing she’d taught them was that no pranks would be tolerated. A small frog turning up in her teacup seemed hilarious to the kids … until Ebba told Ma and Ma declared there would be no pie for any of them at lunchtime. The snails in Ebba’s apron pocket resulted in Gabby (the perpetrator) having to scrub the porch steps. And when Alfonso and Leo let loose in the house the bunny they’d caught that morning, they were the ones who had to catch it again – while everyone else got to have some of Charity’s fudge brownies.

By the end of the second week, all seven were giving her their utmost attention and were so well behaved that Bella went out of her way to praise Ebba’s discipline. And they hadn’t even tried to tie her to anything. At least not yet.

But the best part of Ebba’s new life was her time with Daniel. They too had developed a routine, and no frogs or snails were involved. Bunnies, on the other hand, might show some resemblance. Ebba wondered if she’d be with child before long at that rate.

“Happy?” she asked Daniel one evening as they sat on the porch swing, each with a cup of tea in their hands.

“Sure am. You?”

“Yes. And … thank you.”

“For what, sweetie?”

“For coming up with the idea that I teach the children. Between my time indoors and Ma’s teas, I’m not sneezing half as much as I used to.”

“I still think it’s the kissin’.”

“Kissing?” she said in shock. “What does kissing have to do with anything?”

“Remember when I kissed ya on our weddin’ day and it made yer sneezin’ stop?”

Ebba had to think a moment. “Oh yes, you’re right.”

Daniel smiled and put an arm around her. “I try to be.”

She smiled back and studied his face a moment. He was so handsome and strong, yet so tender. “I think I feel a sneeze coming on now,” she teased

“Do ya? Well now, we can’t have that, can we?” He leaned toward her for a kiss.

“Daniel!”

They pulled back to see Tom Turner bring his horse to a skidding stop. Daniel stood, spilling his tea. “What is it?”

“Judge is in town,” the deputy declared. “We’re gonna need Ebba to come testify against Stanley for what he done.”

Ebba stood, her hand at her chest. “Oh dear … do I have to?”

Daniel put his arm around her. “If’n we want to make sure he don’t do it to no one else, then yeah.”

She nodded. “I understand. It’s just … I’m not looking forward to it.”

Daniel kissed her tenderly. “I’ll be right there with ya the whole time, ya hear?”

She nodded again, but said nothing.

Daniel turned to the deputy. “Ya hungry, Tom? There’s some stew left.”

“Much obliged, Danny boy.” Tom tied his horse to the hitching post in front of the house, took the porch steps two at a time and went inside.

“He certainly makes himself at home,” Ebba remarked.

“He should – he’s spent enough time with us over the years. That man tells the best yarns of anyone I know. Tarnation, I’m gonna miss him when he’s gone.”

“Gone?”

“Ain’t ya heard? Now that Harlan’s gonna marry Ma, Tom’s gonna be the new sheriff in Clear Creek.”

“He’s leaving Nowhere?”

“‘Fraid so. Ma wants to organize a party for Tom and Rose ‘fore they make the move. Harlan’s asked Tom to be his best man at their weddin’.”

“She’s almost done with her wedding dress. I’m sure she’ll finish it tomorrow.”

“Looks like we’ll be headin’ to Nowhere for more than just a weddin’ in a day or two. I just hope Ma ain’t upset we have to deal with bein’ in court at the same time.”

“What if we have to be away longer than a few days?” she asked.

He pulled her down onto the swing with him. “Then we deal with it. The rest of the family don’t need to be there ‘less they’re witnesses. I’m the one that came lookin’ for ya and found that no-good Stanley …” He took a breath. “I just get so mad thinkin’ ‘bout it, I wanna hit somethin’!”

“Why were you looking for me right then?” she asked. She’d never thought to ask until now … probably because she was too busy trying to forget the whole thing.

“A gut feelin’.”

Her mouth slowly fell open. “You mean … that’s it? You went into the barn because of a feeling?”

“Well, it’s the same feelin’ I get when one of my brothers is in trouble.”

Ebba sat up straight and stared at him. “You knew I was in trouble …”

“No. But my gut did. Either that or the good Lord directed my steps right to ya. Gotta be one of the two.”

She smiled. The Weaver men were all big and strong, but with a childlike innocence that couldn’t be denied. “I think it was a little of both.”

“Most likely,” he agreed, pulling her closer. “Ya sure yer ready for this?”

“No. But I’ll do what I have to do. What if the judge only holds a hearing?”

“I’m thinking this’ll have a jury and everythin’. Everyone in town knows Stanley – they rely on him to shoe their horses and fix stuff for ‘em. For the most part he’s well respected, and some folks in town might side with him. I respected him too, ‘til he called you a …” He snapped his mouth shut.

“Called me a what?” she asked, her head cocked to one side.

“Nothin’.”

“Daniel … no more hiding things from me. What did he … Daniel?”

Daniel had removed his arm from around her and was standing up. “Oh my …”

Ebba was alarmed by the blank look on his face. “Daniel, what’s wrong?”

“That’s it. That’s why he thought he could … dagnabit! Why didn’t I think of that before?”

“Think of what?”

He sat down again and turned to her. “Ebba darlin’, I didn’t want to tell ya ‘bout this, but there ain’t no help for it now.”

“Help for what? Daniel, you’re talking in riddles.”

He sighed heavily. “There’s a rumor in town that … well … I dunno how it got started exactly, but …”

Ebba put her hands on her hips. “But what?”

Daniel swallowed hard. “There’s folks in town that were sayin’ you were a …” He swallowed again. “… a whore.”

“What!?” she yelped. “Are you serious? Who on Earth would start such a … oh. Ohhhh …” She fell silent as her eyes narrowed.

Daniel leaned toward her. “Ebba, ya okay?”

“Nellie Davis,” she said through gritted teeth.

Daniel was confused. “Nellie Davis? What’s she got to do with anythin’?”

“Possibly everything. So that’s why she was treating me so awfully! And maybe why everyone else was, if she’s the gossiping type.”

“She is,” Daniel said sourly.

“But why would Mrs. Davis think I’m a … a … you know.”

“I don’t like sayin’ it any more’n ya do, sweetie. And I’m afraid I ain’t got no answer for ya. Unless she’s just tryin’ to stir up trouble like she used to.”

Ebba fell back onto the swing. “Why? Why would she do such a thing?”

Daniel shrugged. “She’s always been that way. Charlotte was too for a while, ‘til she realized no one wanted to marry a girl like that and shaped up. She changed, married cousin Matty, and she’s been a peach ever since.”

“But why me?”

“I cain’t say, sweetie.”

Ebba sighed. “I’m sorry. I never meant to cause the family any trouble.”

“Ya didn’t cause no trouble. Nellie did if’n she started that rumor. Stanley did, and now he’s gonna have to suffer for it. But ya didn’t cause nothin’ but my happiness.” He drew her close and kissed her hair.

Ebba smiled and snuggled against him. “But what about Nellie? What’s to keep her from doing something like this again?”

Daniel rubbed her back absently. “Ya know … that’s a real good question.”

T
wo days later
, in Nowhere …

J
udge Henry Whipple
was a bear of a man who didn’t tolerate any nonsense in his courtroom. Or in this case, Hank’s restaurant, as Nowhere didn’t have a courthouse and everyone thought the meetinghouse would be too large for the proceedings.

They were wrong about that. Hank’s was stuffed to the rafters with people, half of which were there to defend Stanley’s character. The other half were waiting to see if he’d survive the proceedings, considering all the Weaver men were present. If there was one thing that particular half liked, it was a good old-fashioned brawl.

Hank had shoved a couple of tables together at one end of the restaurant for the judge to use and placed the others against the walls. The chairs set up in the middle of the room were already taken, so the rest of the townsfolk leaned against or sat on the tables, much to Hank’s dismay.

The Weavers were the last to arrive and had to stand where they could. There wasn’t room for all of them, of course, so only Ma, Harlan, Benjamin, Calvin, Daniel and Ebba were able to squeeze in. The rest of the women and the children had to wait outside with everyone else unable to claim a space. Arlan was nowhere in evidence.

Ma and Harlan were dressed in Their Sunday best as they were hoping to get married afterwards. All Ma would have to do is change into her wedding dress. Harlan would already be in his wedding clothes.

Harlan looked at his future bride and smiled. Ma’s hat kept sliding off to one side of her head, making it hard for her to see what was happening. “Where’s the judge?” she asked. “I don’t see him.”

“My guess is that there’s the new judge sittin’ behind them tables, Ma,” Benjamin said.

“What? What happened to Judge Houston?” she asked. “He’s been coming through here for years.”

The brothers exchanged glances. “Don’t rightly know Ma,” Calvin said.

Ma craned her neck to see. Not an easy thing to do at her height. “I wish some of these people would move out of the way.”

A sudden rapping on a tabletop caught everyone’s attention. All faced forward and noted Judge Whipple’s scowl. “This court is now in session,” he bellowed, and then waved Spencer Riley toward him. “Let’s make this quick, Sheriff. I got me a bellyache.”

A few folks chuckled at the remark. The judge picked up his gavel and rapped it on the table again, which made Hank cringe. “I’ll have order in this court if you don’t mind.” He looked at Spencer again. “What have we got?”

Spencer nodded to Tom Turner who marched a handcuffed Stanley Oliver through the crowd to where the judge sat. “This is the accused, Your Honor,” Spencer said. “Mr. Stanley Oliver was caught in the act of attempting to defile a young lady.”

Judge Whipple’s face twisted up in disbelief. “Defile? You mean he tried to rape her?” A few women in the crowd swooned at the word and almost fell out of their chairs. He rapped his gavel on the table again. “If you women can’t take this sort of thing, then get out! This is a courtroom, not a quilting bee!” The women quickly straightened up and sat still.

The judge rolled his eyes and shook his head, then looked Stanley over. “How long have you lived here, son?”

“A little over a year, Your Honor, sir,” Stanley stated as his eyes darted around the room.

Judge Whipple kept looking him up and down. “Uh-huh.” He looked over the crowd before his eyes fell on Spencer again. “And where’s his accuser?”

“Right here, Your Honor!” Ma cried from the back of the room. She, Harlan and her sons shoved their way through the crowd, with Ebba in the middle. When they reached the table Ma sighed in relief. “Whew, made it.”

The judge seemed confused. He looked at Stanley, at Ma, back again. “Son, you attacked this poor old woman?”

Spencer’s jaw tightened in an effort not to laugh. “Mrs. Weaver is not Mr. Oliver’s accuser, Your Honor.”

Judge Whipple glanced at a paper on the desk. “Says here she is.”

“I’m not the Mrs. Weaver he attacked,” Ma said as she maneuvered Ebba forward. “She is!”

The judge nodded. “I see. You want to tell me what happened, little lady?”

“Well,” Ebba said as she wrung her hands in front of her. “I was handing sandwiches out to …”

The judge belched long and loud, cutting her off. He struck his chest a few times with his fist. “Pardon me. Indigestion.” He glared at Hank, who shrank back into the crowd.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry,” Ebba said apologetically.

“You and me both. You were saying?”

She swallowed hard and tried again. “I was handing out the sandwiches and ran into this man here near the barn on the Weaver property.”

The judge struck his chest several more times and cleared his throat, his face turning red. “The accused has a name, miss. Use it.”

“Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Oliver was coming out of the barn when I offered him a sandwich.”

“That ain’t all she offered him!” came a shout from the crowd.

The judge brought the gavel down hard upon the table. “Order!” He looked at Ebba “And?”

“He grabbed me and pulled me into the barn.”

“Didn’t you think to scream or something?” the judge asked and belched. “Pardon me.”

Ebba and everyone else within a few feet of the man wrinkled their noses. Whatever Hank fed him earlier obviously had a lot of onions in it. “I couldn’t, sir. He put a hand over my mouth.”

The judge eyed Stanley disapprovingly. “Did he?”

Stanley blanched. “I demand a lawyer!”

“There are no lawyers around these parts, boy,” the judge said. “I’m all you’ve got – deal with it.”

Stanley’s jaw tightened but he said nothing. The judge nodded in satisfaction at the silence and turned back to Ebba. “Then what happened?”

“Well …” she said, wringing her hands once more. “He dragged me into a stall, threw me on the ground and pinned me there.”

Several women swooned again, one of which managed to carefully fall onto the floor.

Judge Whipple rolled his eyes and groaned. “Somebody get them out of here! A man’s liable to trip over one of ‘em!” He turned back to Ebba. “Then what?”

Ebba was momentarily distracted by the fainting women’s husbands ushering them through the crowd and out the door. The one who’d hit the floor had the audacity to pretend she was out cold, but Ebba caught her peeking at the crowd as she was dragged away. “Um … I tried to fight him, but he was too strong. And then my husband stabbed him with a pitchfork in the … the, uh …” She reached behind her and pointed at an area below her waist.