Glory’s Groom: The Alphabet Mail Order Brides Book 7 Read online

  “What happened to you, Max? You’ve turned into a gossipy old woman,” Willis teased. “If this is what marriage is all about you can count me out.”

  “But you get a house if you marry,” Parker told him.

  “No house is worth taking a wife. The thought makes me shiver.”

  Kent’s mouth formed a grim line. “You were so competitive when we were seeing who could get a wife the quickest. If I’d known you weren’t serious I wouldn’t have bothered. There is value in freedom.”

  “We might as well head back,” Parker instructed.

  Chapter Five

  Glory took a quick bath, praying the whole time that Kent wouldn’t walk in. She got out and realized she didn’t have anything clean to put on. Kent had a couple shirts hanging in the wardrobe so she took the blue one and shrugged it on. Kent was obviously bigger than her but by the way the shirt swallowed her up, he was bigger than she thought. Rolling up the sleeves was an effort but it covered most of her legs.

  Teddy was still napping. He was so angelic in his sleep not that he was bad when he was awake. She had a feeling that he’d be a handful when he learned to walk. It wasn’t anything she’d never done before. She’d chased down many toddlers at the school.

  Next she went to the sofa and stared at the piles of wrapped items. Kent worked hard and it wasn’t right he’d spent so much money on her. Hopefully most of it was for Teddy. Upon opening the packages she found readymade dresses that she held up to her in delight. They were in lovely colors. There weren’t as finely crafted as the ones Faye made but they pretty.

  She carefully laid them the over the back of the sofa. Next she found lots of clothes for Teddy and her heart filled. She blushed when she found a few nightgowns for her. They were oh so soft. Her blush deepened when she opened the underclothes. Max had picked it all out. She groaned. How can she ever look at him? He’d know what she had on underneath.

  She found the material for clothes and for diapers. There was even a straw hat for her. She wanted to cry when she opened the bar of soap that smelled like flowers. She held it to her nose for a few minutes.

  On the bottom she found toys for Teddy. A wooden wagon that had wheels that turned. There was a spinning top and wooden blocks. No one was more generous than her husband. She stared at the pretty material and the sewing items. She did know how to thread a needle. Tonight they’d use up the rest of the food from the wedding and come morning. She shivered.

  Would he think her inadequate? All women knew how to cook and sew. She had the chance to learn but she foolishly read about healing plants.

  She started to put the items away. There was one more package and it held ribbons for her hair. Her hair was the bane of her existence. No matter how hard she tried to never appeared tidy. Perhaps the ribbons would help.

  She was just finishing hanging her dresses when she heard the door open. She quickly went out to see Kent. When she saw the look of surprise he wore her face heated.

  “I forgot I borrowed you shirt after my bath. I’ll go change.”

  “Glory, come here.”

  She went to him. “Did you need something?”

  “Actually do you see the latch on the door? I want you to use it when you are in the house alone.”

  “Yes, Kent. I can do that. Well, I’ll be right back.”

  Before she could turn, Kent took her into his arms and pulled her close. There was so much comfort to be drawn from her husband. His arms were strong and when he pulled her even closer she could feel that his chest was well muscled.

  “Look at me,” he whispered.

  She raised her gaze to his face. There was a spark in his eyes that she wasn’t familiar with and before she had time to wonder about it some more, he lowered his head until his lips met hers.

  His masculine lips were soft. He angled his head and kissed her harder and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. He broke off the kiss and stared into her eyes. What did he see? His eyes were filled with some type of wanting. He captured her lips again and his tongue went into her mouth.

  It felt so intimate and she couldn’t imagine what a wedding night would be. His kisses made her body hum and she wanted more kisses which he provided. He hands stroked her back. He stopped kissing and held her tight.

  “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt in the woods. I was so focused on the man who did this I gave little thought to what I would do if I lost you.”

  She shivered in his arms. “I’m fine.” He sounded like he cared for her and she couldn’t think of anything else to say. She laid her cheek on his chest and she heard his heart beating. She should tell him about her flaws. How she couldn’t cook or sew and she was clumsy.

  Teddy woke up and gave a soft cry.

  Kent eased away from her. “I’ll get him so you can put some clothes on. You’re too tempting in my shirt.” He turned and went to Teddy.

  Stunned she stayed frozen in place. She was tempting? Either Kent was lying or he didn’t have good vision. She wished she was pretty like Faye, Harriet and Imogene. Was he toying with her? She’d been the object of a few taunts now and again. Maybe he meant it that way? No, Kent wasn’t mean.

  Kent carried a freshly changed Teddy into the room. He set him on the floor and his eyes opened wide and then filled with joy when Teddy started to crawl around. “Well I’ll be.”

  She smiled back at Kent sharing his joy. “I’ll go get dressed. Keep an eye on him he’s fast.” She hurried into the bedroom and she heard Kent chuckle as she closed the door.

  She put on her new under items and chose the pink dress to put on. It fit perfectly. Next she brushed her hair and brushed it again, tying it back with a pink ribbon. It wouldn’t stay she just knew it. Walking in front of the mirror was awkward. She didn’t quite look like herself. The color pink seemed to soften all of her sharp angles that made up her face. Her hair was actually cooperating, imagine that. Perhaps she wasn’t as ugly as a toad after all.

  She slowly opened the door. What if Kent didn’t notice she actually looked nice? Her thoughts were cut short by Teddy crawling to her as fast as he could and he screeched in delight. Kent was on the floor crawling after Teddy. Kent kept filling her heart. One day it would be filled to the top.

  Kent caught Teddy and tickled him. After their laughter died down Kent held Teddy so that they were both watching her. “Doesn’t Mama look pretty?” Kent gave her one of his heart-stopping grins.

  Tears filled her eyes but she managed to keep them from falling.

  “Glory, what’s wrong?”

  “No one ever called me pretty and being someone’s mama is a huge deal. I wasn’t sure what he’d end up calling me. I like mama.”

  Kent titled his head. “I like being his pa.”

  “I’ll get supper on the table.” She hurried away from Kent’s intense stare. He must have something wrong with his eyesight.

  There was still fried chicken, biscuits and potatoes. She heated them and then placed them on the table. “It’s time to eat.” She held her hands out to take Teddy so she could feed him. He certainly was cuddly today. She put him on her lap after she sat at the table.

  She started to feed him small bits of chicken and he was happy to eat it.

  “Would you look at that? He’s eating chicken. I figured you’d have made porridge for him.”

  Glory smiled, feeling proud of her accomplishment. “I cut the chicken into the smallest of pieces earlier and he liked it. I bet he’d like most things as long as I make his food into tiny bites.”

  “I got lucky to have married a woman who is good with children. Not every woman would have welcomed him as their own. I do thank you for that, Glory.” Kent’s eyes softened.

  She glanced away for a moment and then she continued to feed Teddy. “When he likes the food he can sure eat a lot.”

  “That’s good right?”

  She gazed at Kent and found him watching her. “Yes, he needs to gain a bit of weight. I’m just sorry for all he’s gone through. We’l
l probably never know what happened.”

  “We have a pretty good idea. He’ll never be neglected again.” Kent stood and took Teddy from her. “You need to eat too.”

  “Thank you,” she said without looking up. She didn’t know how to act around him. His compliments and his willingness to help with Teddy made her feel uncomfortable. She thought that the women did all the child care and men couldn’t be bothered. She finished eating and stood to clear away the dishes.

  “That’s the last of the food that was brought over to us.” Dread washed over her. Breakfast was usually eggs with bacon or sausage and biscuits. Who was going to make it? She already knew the answer to her own question. She’d have to try and hope for the best.

  “You can impress me with your cooking in the morning.” He didn’t look too hopeful. The coffee she’d made was awful. She couldn’t even drink it.

  “The coffee at the school was made for a lot of people. I really don’t know how much to use for a coffee pot this size.”

  “Don’t fret about it. I can show you in the morning.” He sat on the floor again and showed Teddy how to put the blocks on top of another. Teddy liked watching Kent and then would push the blocks so the all fell down. Kent laughed loudly and suddenly stopped. “I can’t remember the last time I laughed like that.”

  She dried her hands and smiled. “Children can bring laughter and joy into one’s life.”

  His eyes wandered from her hair to her shoes. “A good woman can do the same.”

  Glory crossed the room and sat on the soft sofa. “Are you sure you don’t mind that I’ll be working at the school?”

  He frowned. “Why should I mind? It’s a service to the community and I think it’ll make you happy.”

  “This isn’t how marriage is supposed to work.” She furrowed her brow. “I never thought I’d marry but I did pay attention when it was discussed by the other girls at the school.”

  His lips twitched. “Oh? How is it supposed to work?”

  “The husband is in charge. He goes and makes sure that his family has food on their table and a place to live in. The husband sets the rules and never does any work that is women’s work. I do know a husband can beat a woman and the law can’t take him to jail.”

  Teddy squealed as he knocked the blocks down again.

  “I don’t beat women so you’re safe. I’d be mad if you spent all our money without talking to me. If you’d made arrangements to work without us discussing it, I would have been angry. But like I said I already knew what you planned to do. I just didn’t know the details. But just to be safe, if you think you need to discuss something with me than you probably should. We’ll get better at all this as time goes on. We’ll learn to trust each other.”

  “What about the women’s work?” She stared at him trying to remember everything he said.

  “I don’t mind helping, especially when it comes to Teddy. Don’t dwell on it. Everything will fall into place for us. None of those girls had been married or lived in a house with married people right?”

  She nodded her head.

  “Then how do they know what married people do? I don’t think in this case they are most reliable source.” He cocked his brow.

  He was right—

  She jumped as she heard breaking glass and dropped to the floor. “What was that?” she whispered.

  “Come here and hold on to Teddy while I extinguish the lamps. And see if you two can crawl safely under the table.”

  She got Teddy to crawl with her and suddenly they were plunged into darkness. He whimpered and she rocked him while patting his back. She heard Kent moving around and as her eyes got used to the dark she could see him with rifle in hand going from window to window.

  Her heart thumped painfully against her chest the whole while.

  A knock at the door startled her.

  “Kent it’s me and Willis.”

  Kent opened the door and pulled them in latching the door behind them.

  “What’s going on?” Max asked. “We heard the window break.”

  “Someone threw a rock at the bedroom window. I haven’t gone out there looking yet.”

  “We didn’t see anyone,” Willis said.

  “Let’s get Glory and Teddy to Parker’s first before we do hunting,” Kent said.

  Her heart was in her throat as the men escorted her and Teddy to Parker’s. She expected someone would shoot them. They quickly went into Parker’s house without knocking. Once she started shaking she couldn’t seem to stop. They were going to think she was a ninny.

  “Let’s settle you on the sofa,” Georgie said gently as she put her arm around Glory’s waist.

  Glory sat but she kept her gaze on Kent. It was too dangerous to go into the woods. It became difficult for her to breathe.

  Georgie gently took Teddy from her. “Take slower breaths. That’s it, nice and slow.”

  Glory felt a bit better. Kent came and stood in front of her. He leaned down and gave her a deep kiss. “I’ll be right back.” Before she could say a word the men were gone. All except Walter Green and he always seemed to be at Georgie’s house.

  Walter closed the door and locked it. He closed the curtains and put out much of the lamps. He turned the remaining one low. Sonia joined them in the sitting room.

  “You’ve had an eventful day,” Walter observed. “Don’t worry about Kent, he can handle himself. He’s a good man to have with you in a fight.”

  “A gun fight?” Glory felt the color drain from her face.

  “I bet they are long gone,” Sondra said.

  “I agree,” Georgie reassured her. “I would suggest boarding up that window. Or putting bear traps along the back of your house.”

  “It’s my fault. I stirred things up talking about the school. Maybe things should just stay as they are.” Glory’s voice quavered. She was emotionally exhausted.

  “I’ve found in life nothing ever stays the same,” Sondra commented. “The people of Joy are counting on you. How are they supposed to make a better life for themselves if they aren’t able read or do sums? How do they know what they just signed with their X or if they are getting the right pay?”

  “She’s right,” Georgie said. “They are being cheated left and right. It must be hard not knowing who to trust. Besides, I can’t wait until they build the school.”

  “It’s all right to be frightened. We all are at one point or another,” Sondra added.

  “Do you know how to handle a rifle?” Walter asked.

  “No I don’t.”

  “Kent probably has that at the top of his list.” Walter told her. “Get down!” he shouted as someone kicked in the back door.

  Sondra immediately tipped the table on its side. “Glory you and the children stay behind the table.”

  Glory scrambled as Georgie and Sondra quickly grabbed rifles they had near them. Glory hadn’t seen the rifles when she came in. She shook as she sheltered the two boys with her body. There were two rifle shots and she covered her mouth to keep from screaming. Who was shot? She could hardly breathe.

  “Bring him to the front room,” Glory shouted. “I’ll guard the back door and stay down!”

  Staying low Glory peeked around the table. Sondra was practically dragging Walter then she slumped she had him in the front room. Sondra had tears streaming down her face.

  “Where was he shot?” Glory asked.

  “Out back.”

  “No, Sondra, where on his body is the bullet?”

  “His side. He’s losing a lot of blood. I’ll need to get the bullet out,” Sondra’s voice trembled.

  “Do you know how?”

  “Of course not,” Sondra snapped at Glory.

  “I do. Sondra come and switch places with me and I’ll tend to Walter.”

  Sondra shook her head.

  “Do it now!” Glory exploded. “Take the rifle with you just in case.”

  Sondra did as Glory wanted and went back behind the table. She spoke quietly to the two littl
e ones.

  Glory immediately ripped Walter’s shirt. Then she took two diapers and pressed down hard on his wound. She waited a few minutes the raised the cloths to see how bad off he was. The bullet had gone in and then out the back. She grabbed more clothes and put pressure on both bullet holes. At least he wouldn’t have to suffer from her digging out the bullet.

  Walter groaned. “I need to protect you women.”

  “Not now, Walter. You need to stay still until we can turn on the lights,” Glory gently told him.

  “But—”

  “Walter, stay put! Don’t make me come out there and hit your head until you understand!” Sondra shouted.

  Glory smiled. Walter seemed stunned but he relaxed his shoulders

  “Georgie, how’s it going?” Walter yelled.

  “I don’t think they are out there anymore. I’m not going get too close to the broken door to check.”

  “Good plan,” Walter called. The pain was now evident in his voice.

  The blood was clotting and Glory hoped there was whiskey in the house to clean the injury and for the pain of stitches. At first light she’d get some alder bark and make a poultice for the wound. Funny how she could stitch a person up but couldn’t sew cloth.

  A knock on the front door followed by Parker asking to be let in startled Glory and she jumped before she rose and opened the door. Parker stared at her. “Where is my wife and child?” His eyes narrowed.

  “Georgie is guarding the back door and Douglas is behind the table with Sondra.” Glory told him. He didn’t acknowledge her but instead he raced to the back.

  Kent came in looking tired. There were circles under his eyes. Maybe they were from worry. He hugged Glory to him but as soon as he saw Walter, he went to his side.

  “Sondra is there any whiskey in the house? I’ll need a needle and thread.” Glory knelt next to Kent.

  “Is he going to be all right?” Kent asked.