Violet: Bride of North Dakota (American Mail-Order Bride 39) (13 page)

She realized she recognized some of these men, that they’d come in before to meet her.

What on earth was going on?

The young man stepped forward. He was the spokesman, then? He seemed young for the job, as many of these other men were older, in their thirties, forties, fifties. One older man had white hair and beard.

“Miss Violet Keating?” the young man asked with a deep, resonant voice that made her think he must have a beautiful singing voice. His brown eyes were flecked with nervousness.

“Yes?” she answered, tentatively. Why was he asking for her, and not one of the Lund men? “I am Violet Keating.”

“I am...” He paused, gulped, and then went on in a rush. “I am James Evans. Your groom.”

All the air seemed to leave the room.

James? Her groom? Her
runaway
groom?

She couldn’t speak, but her eyes widened and her lips parted in shock.

He stepped forward—and all the other men did, too—so she must have paled enough that they were concerned she would fall off the stool.

“I owe you an apology, ma’am,” James said. “I have been a fool, and I hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me.”

James Evans?
The man she should already be married to—and would have been if he hadn’t left her at the station?
That
James Evans?

“Will you, ma’am? Forgive me?”

“I...” She stammered. “I need to think.”

“I understand. I want you to know that I would be honored to take you to the pastor’s house right now and marry you.”

She might be in shock, but she wasn’t crazy. Narrowing her eyes, she said, “I am afraid it is past time for that, sir.”

“I thought it would be so, and I realize I will need to court myself back into your good graces. We will need to get to know each other. Would you honor me by attending the Christmas festival with me tomorrow?”

She’d made plans to go with Daniel’s family and was hoping to spend some time with Daniel.

Still in shock, she wondered what her duty here was. James had paid for her ticket. Yes, he had run—but he had now returned and was ready to honor his commitment.

But did that mean
she
still had to honor their agreement? Or had he forfeited that when he’d first broken it?

“Please, ma’am.” He lowered his voice. “You see all of these men?”

She looked around the room at the others, watching avidly, wondering what she would do. She wondered, herself.

“Please find it in your heart to attend the festival with me. It will allow the townsfolk to see that I am trying to make up my mistake to you, and it will show them that you are a woman of grace. Please say yes.”

She looked into his eyes, unable to speak, still confused about her responsibility here.

“Please, ma’am,” he said in a whisper. “I’m begging you.”

She found herself saying, “Yes.”
What on earth was she doing?

He drew in a deep breath of relief. “Thank you. May I pick you up at 11:00? At the home where you are staying, the Sven and Amelia Halvorson home, is that correct?”

She nodded, avoiding the eyes of the other men.

James stepped forward and took one of her hands. “Thank you, Miss Keating. You are as beautiful as I imagined you from your letter. I will leave now, so these men can follow me out and mock me, as I’m sure they will.”

Her insides were chilled as she watched him leave. The other men followed him, each stopping by the door to look back at her. Her smile was frozen on her lips.

When she was alone, she bit back a curse word that normally never passed her lips. It didn’t pass them this time, either, but it did run through her mind.

James had the worst timing in the world. First, he hadn’t been there when he should have been. And now he was here when she wasn’t sure she wanted him to be.

She needed to talk to Daniel—but how could she possibly talk to him about this?

A fool begged killing today.

(Journal entry, Daniel Lund, December 4, 1890)

As Daniel approached the shop, he saw men pouring out of it.

What was going on?

Martin Nelson, the Hansen brothers, a full dozen more. All men he knew. Some customers, some not.

And then he saw James Evans, stuffing his hat on his head with a grin. As if he’d never turned tail and run.

Anger sparked through Daniel, white hot and overwhelming.

How dare James show up after hurting Violet as he had?

James caught sight of him, and took a step to the side, tipping his head. “Afternoon, Daniel.”

Daniel took a step closer. “What were you doing at the shop, James?”

“Making some things right.”

“Some things can’t be made right.”

James must have sense his hostility, for he put up his hands as the other men formed a semi-circle, watching them. They were probably looking forward to a fight. Daniel was looking forward to one, as well.

“I apologized to the lady.”

“You are a coward.”

“I am.” James nodded. “But I’m hoping to make it right. She’s going to the festival with me.”

Shocked, Daniel repressed the urge to punch the other man’s face. It took everything he had—every bit of strength he had—to get himself under control. Then he said, “Sounds like the lady is far too forgiving.”

“Thank goodness for me.” James grinned again and turned back to the other men. “Good show?”

Some nodded, others looked nervous and stepped back, perhaps recognizing the rage burning within Daniel. Idiots, all of them.

Jealous and furious, he pushed through them and into the shop, without another word.

Violet looked at him. She stood behind the counter, back against the wall, as if huddling.

Instantly, his anger faded and his protectiveness toward her took over. “Are you all right?”

She blew out a shaky breath. “I’m not sure. I’m in shock.”

“I saw James leaving the shop. I nearly punched him.”

“He asked me to go to the festival with him, and I was so confused, and all those men were watching, and I...” She faded off. “I’m sorry, Daniel.”

Skirting the counter, he went to her and took her hands. “It’s understandable. I was shocked to see him. Maybe if he’d invited me to the festival, I’d have gone, as well.”

She smiled at that, and his heart pinged. “Thank you, Daniel. You are my best friend and you always seem to know what to say to make me feel better.”

Just when he’d opened himself up to the possibility of loving this woman, his heart broke within him, and he wished for things he could never have. Especially now that pretty boy Evans was back in town.

He didn’t feel he could pursue her now that her original groom had come back.

My dearest Darby,

I have been worried about you, fearing that your Rand might have learned of your... secret. I will not name it here in the event he has not. Regardless, you have been in my thoughts. I hope Rand is everything his letter stated, and that you are happy. My groom is everything he stated—and so much more than I could have ever imagined. My life here has certainly been different from single life in the boardinghouse. Please write and let me know how it goes with you.

(Letter from Violet Keating to Darby McClintock, written November 21, 1890)

Violet stumbled through the door of Amelia’s home.

The other woman rose from the sofa where she sat embroidering. “Are you unwell, Violet? You are so very pale.” Amelia set down her embroidered work and took Violet’s cold hands. “Why, you’re freezing! Why are you out by yourself?”

Violet choked out a shaky laugh. “My groom has returned.”

Amelia tipped her head, surprised and smiling. “Has Daniel declared himself, then? Oh, that is wonderful news. I am so thrilled to have you for my sister.”

Violet shook her head, tears threatening. “Not Daniel.”

Amelia’s eyes grew wide. “Another man in Minot?”

Violet fought to control herself. She did not want to cry. “James Evans.”

Amelia gasped and put her hand to her heart. “No!”

Violet nodded.

“Please sit down,” Amelia said.

Violet dropped like a sack of potatoes onto the middle section, and Amelia sat back down beside her. “He came to the shop, followed by a dozen or so men looking for some entertainment, I suppose. He said he was ready to take me to the pastor’s house immediately.”

“No!” Amelia shook her head.

“Yes.”

“The nerve of him! After abandoning you so cruelly when you first arrived.” Amelia sat down again and took Violet’s hand. “What did you tell him?”

“That it was past time for that.”

“It certainly is.” Amelia studied her. “My dear, what are you going to do?”

“I am confused. Am I still committed to marrying him? He did pay for my ticket, but I feel perhaps he negated that by leaving me at the train station, practically at the altar.”

“I agree. You owe him nothing.”

They sat in silence for long minutes. Finally, Amelia said, “Do you wish to marry James?”

“At this moment, I don’t know what I want. I am stunned.” Violet sighed deeply. “He asked me to go to the festival with him. I said yes. It was all those men watching. I felt unable to refuse. And then Daniel came in and I told him what happened—and he didn’t give me any hint that he was disturbed by James returning. I thought he was interested, but now he doesn’t show that he is.”

“My brother is such a dolt.”

“How do I get out of it?”

“Perhaps you don’t,” Amelia said, appraising.

Violet raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Go to the festival with James.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Go and see if there are any sparks with this man. See if you still want to marry him. And if you do, then marry him.”

“It is just so sudden.”

“Your coming to town was sudden. Your decision to become a mail-order bride was sudden.”

Violet frowned. “I’m just not sure what I want anymore. When I first came here, I was thrilled to become James’s bride. But that’s changed, of course.”

Amelia smiled. “But he came back. So he may be growing up.”

“What about making Daniel jealous?”

“Yes, about that. I think you going to the festival with James will certainly accomplish that end.” She cleared the table and poured them each a glass of warm cider. “I think you and Daniel make a striking couple. But I am certainly biased toward my brother.”

“I am biased toward your brother, as well,” Violet confessed. Her heart starting to pound, she put her hand to her forehead. “I don’t believe I have ever been so confused.”

“Then I do advise you to go to the festival with James. You can get more of a sense of whether you could see yourself as his wife, but if spending time with James makes Daniel come to his senses, perhaps you can still have Daniel. It’s a hard decision. I cannot make it for you.”

Violet smiled ruefully. “Unfortunately, I don’t feel qualified to make it for me, either.”