Instant Prairie Family (Love Inspired Historical) (10 page)

“Since she came wrapped in such a nice package with nobody to defend her.” The pastor looked pointedly at Mr. Hopkins again.

“I was the one who got her all mixed up in this mess—I’ll be responsible for my actions. But I did not, in any way, compromise Miss Stewart.”

“I know that. But it’s not enough just convincing me. If she doesn’t marry today, they are threatening to ask the church to vote to excommunicate you both from among us. I don’t think they will get enough to vote in their favor, but it will still be humiliating for all of us and leave a shadow of doubt in some people’s minds.”

“And her having to marry today won’t leave the same doubts?” Even with Mr. Hopkins’s voice pitched low, his fury was still evident.

“I can’t say there won’t be those who will see her as having been forced to marry and think the worst, but many will be more open-minded. They’ll probably assume that marriage was always your intention, and that this Sunday was your first opportunity. Most of the people around here know you, Will, and they’ll take your word that nothing happened between you two.”

“So, what are you suggesting?” Will looked pointedly at the pastor, but Abby groaned as she put the pieces together.

“That you marry Miss Stewart today,” Pastor MacKinnon answered in a matter-of-fact tone.

“You want
me
to marry
her?
Today!” Mr. Hopkins tried to keep his voice low, but Abby was sure that he could have been heard in the next state.

By the time she had applied to work for the Hopkins, she had already given up on marriage. No man had ever come courting. She never believed she was overly beautiful or graceful, but when she was younger she had harbored dreams that someday she would find a man who would love her for the woman she was...maybe not a priceless jewel but a woman who could care for him and his home and make his life comfortable and fulfilled. After seeing all her friends, even some of the more homely ones, marry and start families, she resigned herself to the fact that she was not marriage material. She repelled eligible men. Certainly Mr. Hopkins had no interest in marrying her. She remembered little things he had said since she had arrived. That he hadn’t wanted to have a young housekeeper because it would complicate matters. A man who didn’t wish to marry at all would never want to marry
her.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hopkins. You can just take me to the train and I’ll head back somewhere. Maybe there’s work I can do in Chicago,” she reassured him. “I was hysterical the day I arrived. I didn’t think about what I was asking of you or your family.”

Both men turned to stare at her as if just remembering that she had been listening to the conversation.

“No, Miss Stewart. The blame lies at my door. I was the one who should have made other arrangements for your housing. Or maybe I could have looked for a companion for you. I sent for you and made the decision to bring you to my home. I will fix this somehow.”

Pastor MacKinnon stepped in closer, speaking directly to Will. “I don’t think you understand the seriousness of the accusation. If Miss Stewart refuses their option, the Scotts boys are ready to take this to the church elders and demand a vote on whether either of you can be allowed to stay in the church. Even if Miss Stewart were to leave the area, you would still be held responsible, Will.”

“But, Colin, you know that’s blackmail,” Mr. Hopkins rasped.

“I know. And I’d like nothing better than to be able to give you a different answer, but I would hate to see you turned away from the gathering of the brethren and Miss Stewart turned out of a safe home. I know you will be a good provider. I know you love God and would provide a godly lifestyle, bringing her with your family to church on a regular basis and leading the family in Bible study. I can’t say the same for either Elvin or Herbert.” Having mentioned their names, the pastor glanced at the duo and shook his head.

Turning back to Mr. Hopkins, he hesitated a moment before he started the conversation again. “As for Miss Stewart, you know her better than anyone else here. Is she a believer?”

“Yes, Colin. Her faith is real. I shared the letter she wrote about her conversion with you.”

“Then on the basis of that, I would encourage you to consider this as God’s opening a door for you. Your boys need a woman’s touch in their lives. So do you.” Pastor MacKinnon said the last part in a quiet voice, holding Mr. Hopkins’s gaze.

“But we both know how that worked out last time,” Mr. Hopkins muttered, his hand brushing though his already messy hair, standing the sandy-brown strands straight up in the back.

“You don’t have to sacrifice your freedom for me, Mr. Hopkins. I have caused you enough discomfort and irritation as it is. If you could just find a way to get me to Twin Oaks—” she tried to appeal to him once again.

“That is out of the question, Ab...Miss Stewart,” Mr. Hopkins interrupted, tripping over her name. For some reason, to hear her given name on his lips, even if unconsciously stated, made her feel a second of peace and belonging. “You don’t know anyone in Chicago.”

“But I didn’t know anyone here before I came. If God brought me here for a purpose, then why is it causing all this trouble? If it weren’t for my insistence, you would have sent me back East as soon as I arrived and you wouldn’t be having this problem now. If you won’t take me, maybe Pastor MacKinnon could see his way to getting me to the train station. Surely he has a wagon, as well.”

“Miss Stewart, I think you need to see there are other issues here. Can you tell me if there is a reason you cannot marry Will?”

“He doesn’t want to marry me.” Humbling as it was, it was the only reason.

She realized the first day she laid eyes on him how handsome a man he was. As each day passed she became more aware of his love for God and for his family and his dry humor. He was a good man, and she was sure he would be a good husband. But he didn’t want her. What kind of a marriage would it be to force a man to marry, only to have to live out the rest of her days with him, loving him, but not being loved by him? Surely if she continued to live in close proximity to him, she would quickly grow to love him, while she held no hope that any man would ever love her.

“I think his opposition to my suggestion comes from his issues with marriage itself and what he went through in his first marriage, not with you personally. Is that right, Will?” he clarified, turning to Mr. Hopkins, who just glared at him and then mumbled something resembling a yes.

“Now, are you engaged or do you have an understanding with a beau?” Pastor MacKinnon continued his questioning.

“No, sir,” Abby answered, humbled all the more to have to admit it before both men.

“Is there anything we should know about your character that would impede you in being a godly wife and mother?”

“I don’t think so….”

“Did your church excommunicate you for unrepented sins?”

“No, sir. Of course not!” She felt her cheeks glow red with embarrassment under their scrutiny.

“I have it on good authority you make a great chicken soup with dumplings and pot roast. You also don’t burn the oatmeal for breakfast and you made the boys very comfortable even when they had ‘the pox thingys.’ Even Jake is coming out of his shell. I have a hunch God put you in their home so you can bring them happiness and complete this family. This day was designed by our Lord because God knew it would be the only way Will would marry again.” Pastor McKinnon patted Mr. Hopkins on the shoulder and actually chuckled at the angry look Mr. Hopkins shot him.

“Why don’t I let you two talk it over for a few minutes?” he suggested as he headed toward the Scotts, who were looking a little less smug than they had been before.

The pastor guided the men out of the chapel, leaving Abby alone with her employer. Mr. Hopkins began pacing the aisle next to her. The man took one more pass, huffing like the big bad wolf about to blow the little pig’s house down. The poor man was in this mess because of her. Would it be better to marry one of the Scotts boys and let Mr. Hopkins off the hook?

She had come to care deeply for Tommy and Willy. The idea of leaving and not seeing them again...it broke her heart. It was different than the pain she had felt when she left her nieces and nephews. They had been staying in a home where all their physical needs were met and where others in the community were on hand to look out for their spiritual and emotional care. But Mr. Hopkins didn’t seem to be able to even cook a filling meal, much less see to the care and education of his sons
and
make a go of the farm at the same time. What would he do with the garden she had just planted and the lessons the boys had begun? It was too much for him and Jake to take care of on their own.

“Ahem...” He broke into her thoughts. She hadn’t noticed that Mr. Hopkins had stopped pacing and was standing next to her, watching her face. “Could we discuss this for a minute?” he asked, his humility surprising her.

“Of course. Do you have any other suggestions?” She looked up hopefully. His look was a mix of frustration and tenderness. It took her off guard after his anger a few minutes before.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t handle any of this very well. Colin is right.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair once again. “If I were looking to marry anyone, I would be looking for a woman like you. Colin’s also right that the boys already see you as part of the family and I don’t know what I would do if you had to leave. You have been a blessing to my family and I’m grateful. I just wish keeping you with our family didn’t have to involve marriage. For me, the covenant of marriage isn’t something to be taken lightly—it’s a commitment for a lifetime. And my first go-around wasn’t pleasant. In fact, you should know...” He looked away for a minute and then gazed into her eyes, swallowing as if he were swallowing his pride. “You deserve to know that my first marriage...”

He gripped the end of the pew and she instinctively shifted over on the bench so he could take a seat. Whatever he had to say, it was obviously hard for him. Without thinking about what she was doing, she covered his clenched fists with her own small hands.

“My first marriage had a lot of problems.” He said it so softly that she wasn’t sure she heard him correctly. What should she answer to that? Who was she to judge? She looked down at her hand atop his and bent her fingers around his fist, wishing she could make everything better. He loosened his fingers, turning his palm up to let her hand rest in his. She looked up to find his eyes on their intertwined fingers. Hers were so much smaller and lighter than his, which were so strong and sun-bronzed.

“Caroline didn’t like the prairie. She wanted to go back to Philadelphia—but I couldn’t leave. Not when I had just started to see my dream and Mathew’s become a reality. I worked as hard as I could to give her everything she wanted, but... I don’t even know what it was. It was as if she were a plant that just shriveled up in a drought. I tried to be a better husband, father... I did everything I could think of. Everything except go back East. But in the end, she just couldn’t survive out here.” As he explained, his grip tightened. Abby flexed her fingers and he let her hand go.

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” His concern was sweet, as he rubbed his thumbs over the backs of her hands. She remembered the night he took out all of her splinters. How could hands so strong and callused caress her with such tenderness?

“No, you squeezed a little but I think they’re still attached.” She smiled and wiggled her fingers in the air to prove her point. The gesture brought a half smile from Mr. Hopkins.

“My mother would have boxed my ears for squeezing a girl’s hand that tight.” He ducked his head and studied his hands, flexing his fingers out and curling them up.

“Then it’s a good thing she wasn’t here to see you,” Abby quipped.

“That’s for sure.” They both sat in silence for a moment, both occupied with their own thoughts. Abby’s were spinning in her head so fast that she couldn’t make sense of anything. Could she really be contemplating marrying a man whom she barely knew? And one who didn’t want to marry her or anyone else? Could she pass up this opportunity to marry a Christian man who would do right by her?

All she wanted was a home where she belonged—a family that she could call her own. Was this her chance to finally claim her dream...or would this contrived marriage keep her from ever finding what she sought?

Chapter Seven

H
ow could the day have gotten off to such a beautiful start and end up a disaster? Will sat in the pew next to Abby wondering what must be running through her head. She hadn’t dropped his hand when he had confessed his failure as a husband, but maybe she still was too shocked to process it all.

She was bright and pretty. He realized the morning he found her sleeping between the boys’ beds just how much he had come to expect a smile and a soft greeting with the cup of coffee when he entered the house each morning. To think that she wouldn’t be there anymore...

The boys would be devastated and it would be his fault. His fateful ad had started this whole mess. He had paid her train fare; picked her up—well after they finally realized the mistakes that had brought them together—and brought her out to the homestead. It was his fault she was in this position and there was no way he was going to let either one of the Scotts brothers have her. She deserved better. Even when they were in church, they eyed her like a dog salivating over a T-bone.

If he had never been married before, never seen what it was like to watch a woman fade away in front of his eyes without any way to stop it, he would have jumped at the opportunity to marry a woman so caring and capable. Her cooking was excellent and the house had never been as clean. Even when she was tired, she kept a cheerful disposition and was always willing to do one more task. She was responsible and quick-witted. The boys adored her and she already had Tommy writing his alphabet. Both boys insisted she tuck them into bed each night, craving her kind words and warm affection. He would be a fool if he let her walk away from his family now, but would he be able to give her what she needed?

What would she do once she saw there were no fancy balls to go to on the holidays or stores where she could get the latest fashions? How would she handle the brutal challenges of a prairie winter, or the daily struggles of a farmer’s wife living far from civilization? How could he ask her to promise her life to him when she didn’t yet know all the shortcomings that life entailed?

Marrying her was the only way to protect her at the moment, but he realized he would have to keep things the same as now—just marry her in name only and continue sleeping in the barn. When the time came that she had her fill of the prairie and the life out on the frontier, then she could ask Colin to annul the marriage. She could go back East and find a place to work. Maybe he could write his mother and ask her to find suitable employment for Abby for the fall.

“Listen, Abby. If we’re contemplating marriage, I think we should use our given names. Please call me Will.” Wide-eyed, Abby nodded, so he continued. “I know most women dream of their wedding day and being courted and all that, but the situation isn’t going to give us a chance. I want to do the right thing, and protect you. In order to do that, I think what we need is a marriage of convenience, in name only. It would protect your reputation and give you a place to stay where you’d be safe—at least until you have a chance to find a different employment back East. Then we could annul the marriage.”

Words flowed one over the other, and he wondered if what he had said made any sense. He lifted his gaze to see disappointment for a fraction of a second before she dropped her gaze to the floor, effectively closing him out of her feelings.

Unable to resist contact with her, he lifted her chin with his fingertip. He reasoned to himself it was to get her to respond and let him know if she was even open to the idea or if she was offended by the whole mess. Her eyes shimmered and a tear hung suspended by two eyelashes, slowly losing the battle against gravity. It slipped down her porcelain pink cheek and slid to a stop next to her rosy lip. Will couldn’t tear his eyes away from her face, so perfectly combined by God to make an adorable picture. But the picture was contorted in pain and he had the sinking feeling he had caused it. As if it had a life of its own, the finger that had lifted her chin gently traced a path to the tear and swiped it away. If only he could wipe the pain from her heart with the same ease.

“I think what I was trying to say is that I would be honored to marry you, Abby. I’m sorry I made such a mess of all of this.” He felt suddenly anxious. He waited, holding his breath without realizing it, for her to answer.

“I’m sorry. I could still go to Chicago....”

Will fought a wave of disappointment. “Is that what you really want? You want to leave the boys and the farm and all this work you’ve done and go to a place where you’ll be alone?”

“I might be alone here even if I stay,” she murmured.

“What do you mean?” he asked, confused. Did she understand he was offering a way for her to stay with him and his family for as long as she wanted?

“Um...” Colin’s voice interrupted their silent stare. Will dropped his hand from Abby’s cheek as if it had been burned. She straightened her spine as if she had been poked with a cattle prod. “Are you about ready to give us your decision?”

Why couldn’t he have just waited for a few more minutes? Will barely kept from growling at him, knowing that Colin was just trying to keep this from getting ugly. Will didn’t envy him the task. Abby turned her big blue-green eyes on him as if to ask him to make the decision for her.

“I have just asked this fine young lady for her hand in holy matrimony, but I believe she is still thinking through her options.” He called to Colin without taking his eyes off Abby. When this discussion had started, he had not wanted to even consider marriage, but now he was sure that he would be crushed if Abby didn’t accept his suit, feeble as it was.

“Are you sure?” she asked, clearly confused.

“Yes. I want you to stay with us. You belong at the farm. We need you to stay.” As he said the words he realized how true they really were. They did need her at the homestead and he didn’t want her to walk away, especially if she would be walking away as the new Mrs. Scotts. He clutched her hands, and his heart turned in his chest when he felt how cold they were.

“You won’t hate me later?” she whispered. He leaned closer to hear her and caught the aroma of her clean hair and the rose-scented soap she used. It made his nose quiver, and his stomach clenched at the idea of having a woman once again at the house for a prolonged time. This time she would be his wife to protect and provide for but not to touch. Could he do it?

He squeezed her hand once more, gently this time, and tried to flash her his most reassuring smile. “I doubt I could ever hate you,” he answered honestly. It wasn’t her fault they were in this mess. If anyone needed to shoulder the blame, it was him. “Let’s go,” he encouraged her. “We’ve got a wedding to get to.”

“So, has she given you an answer or is she holding out for someone better looking?” Colin teased, the tension from a while ago still lingering in lines around his eyes.

“She can’t get much better than what she’s got here in front of her. But she still has me on pins and needles,” he volleyed back, hoping to help Abby relax. If only she would smile, even just a little bit, he knew that they would be able to get through the rest of the afternoon. Her wan look did little to reassure him, but he figured that she hadn’t run the other way yet and her fingers still clutched his.

As if she could read his thoughts, she looked down at their hands together and then searched his eyes as if she could find some sort of answer there. “Are you sure you want to saddle yourself with me? I could still go.”

“I’m not saddling myself with anyone, Abby.” Will turned his full attention on her face once again.

If only she knew she would be such a blessing. If only she would be staying forever. She was already becoming a good friend. She took away some of the loneliness he had felt since Matt and MaryAnn died. But he was sure that one day she would grow tired of the hard life in the prairie and choose to go back East.

When that day came, she would leave yet another gaping hole in their lives. He had tried to avoid all this by bringing out someone older. If he wasn’t careful he was going to be back to asking the “why” questions again. The questions God chose not to answer last time. Questions he and Colin prayed over and grappled with for the better part of a year after Caroline’s death.

“You are a lovely young lady and I would be pleased to have you for my wife. I don’t want you to feel pressured, but I don’t really see any other way around this. At least God is supplying you with a safe place and a better option than Elvin or Herbert.” After he said the words, he realized how arrogant that sounded. “Not that I—”

“No. You don’t need to explain. I do thank the Lord that you’re offering, but I know you don’t want...” She turned her face away and he saw the tears pool against the edge of her eyelids.

“It’ll all work out. You’ll see.”

“Would you do me a favor?” she asked tentatively without looking directly at him.

“What would you like?” He would consider doing just about anything to help fix this for her.

“Would you pray with me about this? Would you pray for God to give us both peace with this decision?”

It humbled him that she had asked for prayer. He should have been the one leading in prayer without being prompted. It was one more reminder why he didn’t deserve a godly wife.

“Dear God.” It was easy to start, but what was he supposed to say? God knew what was going on in his heart and mind and just how little peace he felt at the moment. Well, he could pray for his future wife. “Guide us and bless this day. Give Abby peace and comfort her.”

Colin slid up closer to the pew they were sitting in and rested a hand on Will’s shoulder. Will was glad for a good friend to stand with him. When Will ran out of words, Colin took over. “God, we give You honor today, and take solace in the knowledge that You’ve brought all this together for the best for both Will and Miss Stewart. You have a plan for them and for the family You will form with them today. I pray You will be always the center of their marriage and their home. May Your name be blessed by the way they live and serve You together for the years You give them.

“Be with us as a congregation and teach us to live in a way that is above reproach and a testament to Your faithfulness. We pray for Your peace in our midst today and especially with Miss Stewart. May Your Spirit comfort her and guide her in her new roles as wife and mother. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”

Colin clapped Will on the shoulder and grinned. “Well, I sure didn’t foresee you marrying this morning when I woke and greeted the Lord. I guess you can never tell what the good Lord has in store for a body from one minute to the next. I’ll go let the people know there’s to be a wedding today. Maybe Mrs. Ryerson and Mrs. Phelps can come and help Abby get herself arranged. We’ll have a short ceremony and then let everyone go home since there were no plans for a picnic.” He chuckled and Will was torn between punching the man of God in the middle of the church and begging him to stay a moment longer and forestall the inevitable.

Colin must have sensed Will’s mood because he moved away but held out his hand in a handshake. “Let me be the first to congratulate the groom. God’s seen fit to give you a lovely bride even though you’re the ugliest thing He’s placed this side of the Mississippi. Congrats.”

“Thanks,” Will croaked out. He stood and shook Colin’s hand, then turned back and offered a hand up for Abby. She stood and he waited for a moment more to see if she had anything else she wanted.

“Are you going to be okay? Do you need anything?” His mother’s lessons about how to be a gentleman were rusty, but he determined to put them to use, starting that instant. How he wished his mother were there. She would know how to help. She would have hugged Abby and reassured her that everything was going to work out.

Abby shook her head without looking up at him. What he wouldn’t give to know what was going through her head at that moment. But then again, it might be better he not know what she thought of him. There was nothing either of them could do about the situation now.

Before he could say anything else, the door at the back of the chapel opened. Mrs. Ryerson and Mrs. Phelps entered, gushing about how they were going to help Abby fix her hair and get ready for the wedding. They cackled and pecked at him like a couple of hens and he was quick to obey their orders to “get out until his bride had been made ready.”

Abby was beautiful just as she was, so he wasn’t too concerned about them taking too long with the hair and such...but he did wonder if they knew a way to get both the bride and groom “ready” for a wedding that they had not anticipated or wanted. Getting “made ready” might take a bit longer than they had anticipated. He doubted if they would have been as excited if they knew what had caused all the last-minute plans.

Stepping out into the bright sunlight, he stood still for a minute while his eyes adjusted. Clapping erupted and he looked around to see they were all looking at him. Neighbors, old and new, congratulated him, some men calling out encouragement. Obviously Colin had already announced the ceremony about to take place.

“Pa, Pa!” Tommy’s excited voice caught his attention as he started down the stairs. “Is it true? Are you making Auntie Abby my new ma? I told you she’d make a good one. She’s nice and smells good and even—”

“Yes, Tommy. I’m marring Auntie Abby, but she’s...” He glanced up to see the Scotts brothers standing to the side of the church, not nearly as smug as before. It gave him a sense of satisfaction that he had thwarted their plans. He shuddered at the idea of Abby marrying one of them.

“I just knew it! Yeeppie! I get a new ma!” Tommy went running off to tell Willy. Will searched around the yard and spotted Jake standing next to their wagon, a goofy grin on the teen’s face. From the nod he gave Will, he radiated pleasure. Before Will could walk over to talk to him, Mr. Phelps stepped forward to shake his hand.

“It’s about time you found yourself a new wife. A young man like you needs a helpmate to keep the farm going and someone to give you a passel of kids. I’ll bet you’re as pleased as punch.”

Will tried to be polite and pay attention, but his mind drifted off to worries about the boys and how they would react when Abby left in the fall. How would
he
react in the fall? Was there anything he could do to convince her to stay for good? If only their marriage could be for real and not for show. If only he could find some kind of faith that a woman could adapt to the life of the prairie farmer and enjoy it….