Katie: Bride of Virginia (American Mail-Order Brides 10) Read online

  There is so much potential here. If he would just open up and trust me, we could make this place into a magnificent home that sold great bottles of wine.

  I'm trying not to get discouraged, but tonight, I'm feeling low. At a dinner party, my mother-in-law screamed out that my husband's wife was cheating on him and I'll cheat too. I was mortified. And then the old bitty wanted me to put her to bed. If I wasn't a good Christian woman, I would have smothered her.

  The weather in Virginia is cold this time of year, but it's not miserable like in Massachusetts. I'm hoping my next letter will tell you that I'm blissfully happy, expecting my first child, and things couldn't be better. But for now, keep me in your prayers, like I keep you in mine.

  Please write and tell me how you are. I hope your situation has been better than mine. I miss you all so much, I can hardly stand it.

  Much Love,

  Katie

  #

  The next morning, Daniel expected to leave for town before Katie was up. Opening the cash box, he realized there was money missing. He'd had close to one hundred dollars for household expenses. Money he needed to purchase more wood to build stands for the new barrels that would soon arrive. Katie didn't seem the type to steal, but it concerned him money was missing. Did she even know where the cash box was kept?

  Closing the box he tried to determine what to do. He didn't want to ask Frank for more cash, but what little was left in the bank, he really didn't want to take out. Hopefully, he would soon start to see profits coming in. If not, he could be in trouble within six months.

  Putting the box back in his desk, he glanced around at the office. It didn't appear to have been cleaned and she'd been busy in every other room in the house.

  Stepping out the door, he almost ran smack into Katie.

  “Good morning,” she said. “I hope you slept well last night.”

  She was so damn bright and cheery in the mornings. He loved that about her and yet it took some getting used to. “Very well, thanks. What about you?”

  He was asking because he knew she wanted to talk about Eloise, but after last night he'd felt drained. She was in the past and he wanted to leave her there and not spend so much time digging up old hurts. First Katie, then Frank and even his mother seemed to hang on to that dreadful situation. Why couldn't they all just think about today and not concentrate on the past.

  “Great! I'm fixing eggs for breakfast. How many would you like?”

  “None. I need to get on the road.”

  “Oh, where are you going?”

  “I'm going into town to buy lumber for new racks for the barrels that will be arriving soon,” he said trying to think of a way to bring up the missing money.

  Katie's eyes narrowed and she frowned. The memories of Eloise getting mad because he'd forgotten to ask her to go to town with him, returned. Obviously, he'd not learned his lesson. And now his current wife was going to be upset with him.

  “It would have been nice to know you were going to town. There might have been some things I'm needing or I might even like to go with you,” she said.

  He frowned, knowing once again he'd not thought of his wife. “Would you like to go?”

  She shook her head, walking towards the kitchen. “No, thank you. But I will create a list of items I need and could you please go to the post office for me. I have two letters to mail.”

  “Of course,” he said feeling guilty. “How about if I promise the next time I'm going into town we'll make a day of it?”

  She smiled. “I'd love that.”

  Now he was back in semi-good graces, when moments before he'd worried she had taken the money. But if she wasn't going to town with him, what would she do with the cash if she stole it? Could she be mailing it to someone in one of those letters or both?

  But what if she had nothing to do with the missing money?

  “Someone has been in the petty cash,” he said blurting it out, hoping to see her reaction.

  She turned from making her list, her brows raised to stare at him. “And you think it was me?”

  “I don't know what to believe, but almost a hundred dollars is missing from the cash box,” he said knowing this wasn't going well for him. Why did it seem that since their wedding night, he'd done one wrong thing after another and still she hadn't yelled at him, but quietly gotten her point across.

  She shook her head. “I don't even know where you keep the cash box. Do you need money? I brought fifty dollars with me in case I needed to return to Lawrence. I'd be happy to give it to you.”

  Eloise would have screamed and yelled at him. But Katie smiled, and then shot an arrow of logic straight into his heart that made him realize he'd screwed up. The woman was kind and logical, and damn, but that hurt worse. He could tune out a raised voice, but that smile of hers twisted him in knots.

  Now he really was the worst husband ever. His wife was offering to give him money when she learned someone had stolen his cash. And he knew she couldn't have much or she would never have become a mail-order bride.

  “Thanks, but there are more funds in the bank. I just hadn't planned on stopping there today,” he said.

  “You're welcome to use my cash, if you need to,” she said giving him a big smile.

  “That's okay,” he just wanted to get going. “I know we need to talk, but if you don't mind, I want to get on the road.”

  He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “See you tonight.”

  “Sure,” she said. “Just don't wait too long, Daniel. Secrets should never be between a husband and wife.”

  #

  When the back door to the kitchen opened, Katie looked up from cleaning to see a strange man enter. He removed his hat. “Mrs. O'Malley, Jack Edwards, foreman, Mrs. O'Malley. Is Mr. O'Malley around?”

  A curl of uneasiness spiraled through Katie, but she drew her shoulders back and smiled at him. “I'm sorry, but he's gone into town. I'm surprised he didn't say something to you. He went for lumber for the new racks he's going to build.”

  “Oh, that's right. I completely forgot.”

  She wanted him to leave. Her husband didn't want men in the house while he was gone and she didn't need Mother O'Malley telling Daniel he'd been here. She would tell him when he came home.

  “I've heard you're doing a lot to the old house. Are you certain the first Mrs. O'Malley would approve?”

  Katie gazed at the man her uneasiness growing. “If you're referring to Eloise, she's dead.”

  “Yes, I know. But what about the older Mrs. O'Malley?”

  What was the man trying to say to her? What was he doing? “As Mr. O'Malley's wife, I am in charge of the household. Is there something else you need?”

  Katie wanted him out of here.

  “I just wanted to check on Mr. O'Malley. Nice to meet you, ma'am.”

  “Yes, you too,” she said and watched him go out the same door he'd come in. He didn't even knock, but rather just opened the door and came in. He was probably a perfectly nice man, but she didn't want anyone just opening the door and walking in.

  An hour later the kitchen door opened again and her handsome husband walked through the doorway. He hadn't been gone as long as she'd expected.

  “You're home early.”

  Funny normally she didn't see much of him during the day, but just knowing he wasn't out in the fields, she'd missed him more today than usual. But after her guest, she was glad to see Daniel home.

  “It didn't take as long as I thought,” he said kissing her on the cheek. He glanced around the room. “It looks so much better. Just cleaning it made the difference?”

  “I did rearrange the cabinets a little and gave everything a good scrubbing. In the spring, I'd like to start giving the walls a fresh coat of paint,” she said, pushing back a stray lock of hair that had fallen onto her face.

  “How's Mother been today?”

  What could she say? Your mother is a mean-spirited woman who I've tried to be nice to, but I'm reaching the end of my reser
ves? Or did she just nod her head?

  “Good. She's been in her room most of the day, but that was because I threatened to let her help me with the cleaning.”

  He laughed. “You're good for her.”

  Katie smiled. “Feeling sorry for yourself only brings yourself and everyone around you down. I want our home to be a happy place for us and our children.”

  If they ever had children. She kept reminding herself that she should allow her husband his rights if she wanted babies. And yet, she wasn't quite ready. Soon.

  Pulling her into his arms, he stared down at her. “I think we should get started on creating these babies.”

  Feeling his body against hers, felt right. Spirals of warmth were trickling through her and she laid her head on his shoulder. “In time.”

  She leaned back in his arms. “I better get busy or you won't have any supper.” She stepped out of his arms. “I need to tell you that I had a visitor this afternoon.”

  “Who?”

  “Your foreman, Jack Edwards, came through the back door without knocking. Does he normally do this?”

  Daniel frowned. “He's never done it while I'm here.”

  “Maybe he got confused because he was looking for you.”

  “Maybe,” Daniel said. “I told him I was going into town.”

  “I wanted to tell you since I knew how you felt about me being alone in the house with a man. He stayed about five minutes. He asked to see the changes to the house that I was making, but I told him today was not a good day.”

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “He's a strange man.”

  “But he knows vineyards and that's why he's here.”

  Maybe he was good with wine, but right now, Katie felt weird with him around.

  “I better get started on supper.”

  “Oh,” he reached back behind him and pulled some envelopes out of his back pocket. “These were at the post office for you.”

  Taking the envelopes from his hand, her heart started to race and she squealed. “It's letters from Genny and Julia.”

  Quickly she stepped away from him, sank down in a chair and ripped the first envelope open and began to read.

  November 1, 1890

  Dear Katie and Julia,

  I hope you don't mind that I made the letter to the two of you. I also hope that this reaches you and finds you both well and happy.

  My new husband, Stuart MacDonnell, is kind and very handsome. I couldn't figure out why a man like him would send for a mail-order bride. He said he needed someone quickly and didn't want to have to court someone for two years and pretend to be in love. I suppose that makes sense, but it seems to do so to him.

  I don't know if I believe him or not. But he didn't waste any time marrying me. It happened in a judges office about thirty minutes after I arrived.

  Stuart told me he doesn't want any more children. Had I known before I wouldn't have come, but he does have two beautiful children that I've fallen completely in love with. Three-year old Billy is a rascal and adorable. He has blond hair like his mother and his father's gorgeous blue eyes.

  Lucy is six-months old and the most wonderful baby I've ever known. She took my heart as soon as I saw her. She has brown hair that's in soft curls all over her head and again her father's blue eyes. She's so funny. Babbles all the time and laughs like she's just told you a funny story.

  And that's my new family. I already adore them, including I'm afraid, their father. If he would just let me in, we'd have such a wonderful marriage and a good life. I don't know what I'm going to do if he won't let me in. I don't know if I can live in a situation without love or at least the possibility of gaining it someday.

  I keep telling myself that it's all right. I don't need love. But it's a lie. I do need it to survive. I need it for my very soul to be nourished and happy.

  Thank you both for letting me carry-on so, though I know you didn't have any say about it. I miss you both so much and hope you have found the loves of your life and that they love you back.

  I guess that's the problem. I have found the love of my life and he doesn't love me back.

  I hope to hear from you both soon.

  My love to you both,

  Genny

  After Katie had read the first one, she sighed and ripped open the second letter, from Julia.

  Dear Katie and Genny,

  My dearest friends, I already miss both of you so much. I have arrived safely in Wickerton, New York. I wish I could tell you it went smoothly, but unfortunately, my intended groom took an issue with my limp.

  I was mortified to have him leave me at the train station, with the poor sheriff stuck having to tell me Mr. Johnson didn't wish to marry me, after all.

  Since that time I have come to be rather grateful the man didn't want to marry me. The sheriff has been kind enough to give me a job at the jailhouse until I can find other employment.

  Please know that my love and thoughts are with you both.

  Love,

  Julia

  Katie choked up as tears pricked her lids. Poor Julia had suffered so much due to an unfortunate accident that left her with a limp. She worried about the poor girl and if she could, she would immediately send for her and find some type of work for her here.

  But that was impossible, given the state of her marriage to Mr. O'Malley. Hopefully it would soon improve and then she would invite her friend to come to Charlottesville. But if not, she could be joining her in the near future.

  Chapter Six

  Katie sat next to her husband at the dinner table that night, her mother-in-law across from her. She'd been civil all day and Katie hoped they could get through one meal without her starting something new or revealing another of Daniel's secrets.

  She was tired from cleaning, though in the last two weeks she had worked until the house sparkled from top to bottom. Now she was going to start on going through the linens.

  “When do you think you'll start selling the cabernet?” his mother asked.

  She seemed better today. There was a calmness that had been missing before and Katie wondered about her. What had changed besides Katie talking to her?

  “Anytime. I think the first batch of wine is ready. Katie and I had part of a bottle the other night.”

  “Who will be your customers,” Katie asked.

  There was so much about Daniel's business she wanted to know. She wanted to understand what her husband loved about creating his own wine. They’d been married less than a month and she was still learning about her husband, both the good and the bad.

  “Restaurants, clients, and liquor stores. I'd really like to get a distribution deal that would ship our wines across the country.”

  “Have you named the wine?”

  “O'Malley's,” he said quietly. “This way I can just name the type of wine and people will know it came from our vineyard.”

  “Well, Mr. O'Malley, I think you have overlooked one big possible client.”

  “Who?”

  “The Catholic church. Wine is used every Sunday at mass. You might want to see who supplies their wine. It seems to me that supporting a local vineyard would certainly be better than hauling the stuff from the liquor store.”

  “That's a great suggestion.”

  An idea begin to form in her mind and she could barely sit still from the excitement. From what she could see, Daniel had very little interaction with the people of Charlottesville and that had to change.

  “I think that we need a party to debut our wine. We could not only serve it, but give everyone a small taste of what we're doing here at O'Malley's Vineyards.”

  His mother made a hrrmphing sound that she couldn't tell was for or against her idea.

  “No one would attend and you know why,” she said glancing at her son, her brows raised.

  Daniel, cut his meat and placed a bite in his mouth. While he chewed, Katie could see the wheels turning in his head. “You don't know that, Mother. They may come out of curiosity.
”

  What were they discussing? It was like they were talking a secret language only they understood. This probably had to do with Eloise.

  “They may attend because they heard you have a new wife,” Katie said. She knew what she was doing. She was urging her husband to come and talk to her, let her know his past. But so far that had not happened. And with each passing day, she grew more curious.

  She watched her husband contemplating her idea. “The holidays will soon be here. We could make it a Christmas party. Decorate the house, food, company and introduce my beautiful wife to the community.”

  “And launch your new wine,” she said. “We could give our guests a gift when they left, a bottle of Chardonnay.”

  Katie didn't know if the Chardonnay was ready, but it was a suggestion. A taste of their wine. A chance for the vineyard to finally start to be profitable in the coming year.

  His mother sat back watching the two of them shaking her head. “If you'll excuse me. I'm going to bed. Just the thought of a party, tires me.”

  While Katie cleared the table, she thought of all the preparation and how much time she would need. For their first big social event, she wanted everything to be just right.

  Her husband came into the kitchen carrying dishes. “You don't have to do that. I know you're tired.”

  “I know.”

  After he helped her clear off the table, he pulled her to the parlor and sat her down. “Are you certain you want to hold a party? I mean the house is looking better than ever, but I know it's a lot of work.”

  “It's all right. I can't wait to meet other people in the community. I want to be your partner and help your business. I want to be a good wife to you,” she said reaching out and taking his hand. “But you have to help me. You have to be honest with me.”

  Maybe tonight he would finally tell her about Eloise's death. She'd given him time, she'd been patient. But her resolve not to badger him was beginning to wane. He would do well to tell her. Now. Tonight.

  He pulled his hand from her, stood and walked away. “You don't understand.”