Mail Order Devastation (Montana Mail Order Brides, Book 4) (7 page)

“
Miss Quinn, do you think you’d want a telephone line installed at home, so that you could call me at the shop if there was an emergency?”

The question brought a reality to their situation
—if all went well, they truly would be a married couple, sharing a home.  Mollie felt the awkwardness that filled the air for a moment, and suspected that the weight of the topic had just hit him, as well.  She was touched that he was thinking of her well-being already.

“
I think that would be very thoughtful of you—” she began, then froze. 
If I could telephone him, then he could telephone me, too…and realize that I wasn’t at home
.
 
“Uh…that is…” she swallowed “…at some point in the future, it would be something to consider.  But you just spoke of improvements you want to make—and that you don’t even have a line in your watch shop, yet.  Improvements cost money, and we’ll be buying a house.  So perhaps we should do all those things first, and worry about a second phone line at the house at a later date.”

He frowned. 
“It’s true that I don't have a phone line yet, but I just hadn’t considered it a necessary expense.  Until now, Mother and I have worked together almost every day, and I’ve lived with her, too.  I saw no need for it, because we’re always together.  But since most businesses along Main Street have installed a telephone line, and they are spreading like wildfire throughout the town and even to nearby farms, I could lose business to another shop that has a telephone.  I’m not the only shop that sells watches, as you can imagine.  In fact, one can buy clocks in a mercantile or watches in one of the jewelry shops in town.  I must admit that the more the town grows, the more important it is for me to keep with the times.” 

“
Exactly.  If you had a telephone line, a customer could telephone you with a question, before they make a trip down to the store.  You wouldn’t want to lose out to the competition, who does have a line in their business.”

“
You’re right.  I can’t risk that.  But then, if I’m putting in a telephone at the shop, why not install one in our home as well?”

“
True, but there’s still the expense of a new house to consider.”

“
Actually, there isn’t.”

Mollie blinked, surprised. 
“There’s not?” 
Please, please don’t tell me we’ll be living with your mother!

“
No.”  He shook his head, with a broad smile.  “I hope you don’t think it bold of me, but I…I’ve already bought us a new house.  It seemed so unfeeling to force my new bride to spend her days after our wedding sharing a home with her mother-in-law.  I feel bad enough that I can’t take you on a real honeymoon trip—I just can’t leave Mother for so long, running the shop alone.”

“
That’s alright, you warned me of that, and I truly understand.  I’m just…so surprised!”

“
Good!  I
wanted
to surprise you.  I moved into it last week.  It’s all ready for you to move in and make it our home.  That is, if…” he reached across the table and took her hand “…you’re ready to be my wife.”

She stared at him in shock. 
“I can’t believe you went to all that expense, before we even married—before I even arrived!   A new house,” she breathed.  “You bought a
house
, for me.”

“
For us.”  He winked at her.  “If you’ll have me.”

Mollie gasped. 
“Of course I’ll have you!  Oh, how wonderful!”  It was the happiest she’d been since Nell had been taken.  Her incredibly generous bridegroom had thought of everything.  She had assumed they’d have to spend at least a week with his mother while they looked for a new home.  Perhaps longer—she didn’t know how long such things took.  Instead, they could marry and she’d move in right away…and that meant finding Nell all the sooner.

“
You’re happy, then?  I was worried you’d be upset that I bought one without consulting you.”

“
Not at all.”  Mollie shook her head, blinking back tears.  “I just want to be settled and start our new life together.  I trust that you found a home that will work for us.  And if there is anything about it that isn’t a good fit, we’ll find a way to make it work.”

“
I’m so glad you feel that way.  I was worried you’d be hurt.  But don’t worry—I’ve only picked out a bed and a dining table.  The rest of the home is a clean slate.  You can choose the rest of the furnishings, the coverlet, the curtains, everything.”

“
That sounds perfect!”

From behind her, Mollie heard the sound of someone clearing
her throat.  Then Madeline Porter appeared at their side, and she and Mr. Jamison pulled let go of each other’s hands as if they were on fire.  Mr. Jamison jumped up and pulled out Mrs. Porter’s chair, then pushed it in as she sat down.

Mollie blushed, and he kept his eyes downcast as he sat down again.

“Really, Mr. Jamison!” Mrs. Porter whispered, her eyes narrowed.  “I was only gone a minute, and you’re holding her hand in a
public restaurant?
  And you men wonder why I insist on chaperoning you until the wedding?”  She clicked her tongue and shook her head.  “
Really
.”

“
I apologize, Mrs. Porter.  I just got carried away.  I told Miss Quinn my surprise—I bought us a house already.”

Mrs. Porter
’s eyes widened.  “Oh, Mr. Jamison…” her eyes flicked to Mollie.  “That’s a lot of pressure to put on a young lady.  It’s pressure enough on the girls that the men have taken on the costs of the journey here!  I told you both,
either one of you
is free to call things off if it doesn’t feel right.  And now you’ve bought her a house…”

“
It’s alright, Mrs. Porter,” Mollie interrupted.  “I don’t mind.  Really, I’m glad.  I had already decided that if Mr. Jamison was ready to marry me, then I was ready too.  The house doesn’t change anything.  I’m very eager to become Mrs. Noah Jamison.”  She smiled at him.

“
Really?” Mr. Jamison appeared relieved.  “I’m so glad to hear that.”  He turned to Mrs. Porter.  “I was going to wait until I walked you across the street, after dinner, but…I’d really appreciate it if we didn’t have to dilly-dally with the wedding preparations.  I know enough about Miss Quinn to know she’s what I’m looking for.  I knew that from her letters.  All I needed to learn was what her demeanor and moods were like…whether or not they matched up with her descriptions of her personality.”  He smiled at Mollie.  “And they exceed her descriptions.  I’m very pleased with this match, and I don’t want to waste any more time, when I already know she’s the one.”

“
Oh!”  Mrs. Porter looked back and forth between the two.  “I don’t know…”

“
Please, Mrs. Porter, I feel the same way,” added Mollie.  “Why let poor Mr. Jamison incur additional expense of putting me up in a hotel for weeks on end, when we already know all that we need to know about each other?”

“
I understand your eagerness, really I do.  I was so eager marry my husband.  But we had to wait at least a month, because we were married in a Catholic church.  Surely you know about the tradition of announcing the banns—that the priest always announces the impending marriage at Mass on the three Sundays prior to the wedding.  You’re both Catholic, getting married in a Catholic church, and the banns will have to be announced.  That’s why I’ve scheduled your wedding for four weeks from today.”

Mollie was crestfallen.  Four weeks?  That might give her extra time to look for the Demings, but what would she say when she found them?  Her only chance to get Nell back was to convince them that not only should Nell never have been taken from her in the first place, but
also
that Mollie also was capable of raising her, and giving her everything she needed.  She couldn’t do that until she was Noah’s wife. 

“
Fortunately, that won’t be a problem.” Noah leaned forward.  “You see, I spoke with the priest this morning.  I explained the situation, and requested that because of the unusual circumstances, he dispense with the banns, in this case.”

“
Surely Father O’Brien didn’t agree—”

“
On the contrary.  You see, when we changed the plans to have Miss Quinn come out now, rather than in spring, none of us thought about the fact that Ash Wednesday is a week from this Wednesday.”

Mollie gasped, in union with Mrs. Porter.

“No!” Mrs. Porter whispered, “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it.”

Mollie tensed as the weight of Mr. Jamison
’s words impacted her.  “The priest can’t marry us during Lent,” she whispered, “not from Ash Wednesday until Low Sunday.
”
Two months hence!
The meal she’d just finished lay like a lead weight in her belly.

Mr. Jamison nodded. 
“But don’t worry.  Although he said they rarely suspend the banns, but in this case, they could, because of the unusual circumstances.  Lent begins in little more than a week, and with the Lenten preparations, we’ll be very busy in that week leading up to Ash Wednesday.  Therefore, he agreed to let us marry this week.”

“
This week!” Mollie felt the tension leave her body in a whoosh.  He truly had thought of everything.

“
He wants to speak to you himself, Miss Quinn, to make sure you’re willing, before he agrees officially—”

“
Oh, I am!” Mollie interrupted, happily.  She could scarcely believe her luck.  What a brilliant, thoughtful man Noah Jamison was!

“
Perfect!” he exclaimed.  “Father said he could fit us in either Tuesday or Wednesday.  We can take you to speak with him tomorrow, and if he agrees, we could marry the next day.”

“
Well, I—” Mrs. Porter was flustered “—I suppose that’s fine, if it’s alright with Miss Quinn.  Are you sure you want to rush things like this, dear?”

Mollie nodded. 
“As Mr. Jamison said, what else can we do?  If we don’t wed this week, we’ll have to wait until Lent is over.  More than that, I don’t want to wait.  I don’t feel rushed at all.  I want to start my new life.”

“
Then I suppose it’s settled.  Let’s meet in the lobby tomorrow morning at nine o’clock, and Mr. Jamison will take us to the church, to work things out with Father.”

They ordered dessert and chatted about less serious things, but Mollie couldn
’t keep track of the conversation.  She was giddy with excitement.  Things were working out exactly as she wanted.  They would marry Tuesday, and if all went well, her little Nell might be back in her arms by week’s end!

Chapter 11

Tuesday, February 3, 1891

Kneeling at the communion rail, Mollie’s thoughts whirled.  She could feel the heat of Noah’s arm against hers as they knelt side by side.  She felt a bit constricted inside the corset that Mrs. Porter had tightly laced for her, so that the fine dress Noah had bought for the wedding would fit its best.  As soon as Mrs. Porter realized Mollie had no suitable attire for the wedding, she’d arranged things with Noah so that she and Mollie could go choose an appropriate dress.

Despite Mrs. Porter
’s strong recommendation to get something fancier, Mollie had insisted on a more practical—a green and burgundy plaid skirt with a burgundy bodice and a dark green velvet jacket.  The jacket made the outfit fine enough for church, but without the jacket the outfit could work for a simple trip into town. 
I wish she hadn’t laced me so tight! 
She couldn’t take a reasonable breath.  It was worth it, though.  She knew she looked fetching—Noah’s eyes had widened as she had come down the aisle and joined him at the communion rail.

When Madeline Porter had suggested that Noah ask his mother to join her and Mollie when they shopped for a wedding outfit, Mollie had been surprised that he suggested that Mollie choose the dress on her own.  She was supposed to meet Mrs. Jamison just before the nuptial Mass, but Noah said she was occupied with preparing the reception refreshments.  She arrived only moments before the ceremony.  Mollie felt odd about taking vows without having spoken with her husband
’s mother yet.  Was Noah hiding something?

The priest stood before them, decked out in his long black cassock, covered by the white alb and the embroidered chasuble, with matching brocade stole around his neck.  He leaned forward, reading
Latin words from the Missale Romanum. 

The Latin words flowed over Mollie, whose thoughts were occupied with Noah
’s presence beside her…feeling the warmth of his arm against hers…stealing sideways glances at him and admiring his profile.  How had such a handsome man escaped marriage for so long?  She had seen the way the girls had looked at him on Sunday when they had met at church—the longing glances from several girls of marriageable age, which told her that Noah Jamison had at least a few attractive options for betrothal right in Helena.  Why did he want her, instead?

He
’d said that none of the local girls interested him—that they were all too young and silly.  One thing Mollie wasn’t, was silly.  She’d been quite the serious sort for most of her life.  She had to—she’d been expected to work her whole life.  Even when she was in school, she was given loads of chores to do when she got home, and was expected to find ways to earn money as well, so she could hand it over to the family.  She hadn’t had much of a childhood.  Was it destiny, then, that she’d grown up needing to be so serious and responsible—so that she could now become the wife that Noah Jamison needed? 

She tried to focus on the foreign words as the priest droned on, but her thoughts were drawn back again and again to Noah.  Would he be kind?  Or would he expect her to work from sun up to sun down, as her mother had?  Mollie had rarely had a moment to spare, her whole life long. 
Her mother had planned every moment.  It was dedicated to chores or school or work.  Sleep had been a blessed relief at the end of each day.  But it would surely be different with Noah…wouldn’t it?  She stole another sideways glance.  He would love her.  Or at least, she would make him love her.  That was what he wanted, wasn’t it?  A wife of his own to love and cherish?  She would be that for him, and so much more. 

She was good at keeping house, and an excellent cook.  She was decent at mending, despite her failures at lace making.  She had all the basic skills a wife needed.  So if she showered him with affection, and pleased him in all the ways a man needed pleasing, then how could he not love her?

Unable to stop herself, Mollie stole another glance at Noah, and this time caught him gazing down at her.  She smiled, holding his gaze a moment, before she blushed and looked away.  Did he think her bold?  Or did it really matter anymore?  They were moments away from being entwined together for life.  The time for blushing was nearly over. 

It struck her, then, that she hadn
’t thought of Nell since she had left for the church that morning.  Surprise was soon replaced with a wash of guilt.  It was the longest she’d gone, since Nell’s disappearance, without thinking of her missing child.  How could she be thinking of such foolish, trivial things when her baby was out there, in the arms of strangers?  How could she be entertaining thoughts of love and happiness without Nell in the midst of those imaginings? 

I
’m a terrible mother,
she thought.  And yet, she still couldn’t pull her thoughts away from Noah.  He’d captured her heart already, without the two of them having spent a single private moment together. 

When she glanced at him again, he was smiling at her.  But when their eyes met, his smile melted into a frown of concern.  Her vision was clouded with tears, and she realized he must have seen them.  She looked down at her folded hands, eager to hide her feelings.  But then he laid one of his hands over hers, and the warmth of it through her thin wedding gloves melted away the guilt and the sadness, until all that remained was warm feelings for Noah.

A few minutes later, their vows were exchanged, and their marriage was sealed in the eyes of God.  Then the wedding Mass began in earnest.

The Mass stretched on for ages, and Mollie was eager for it to end, so she could enjoy her first day as Mrs. Noah Jamison.  But she would later recall that the reception at Noah
’s mother’s house would feel far more interminable.