Mail Order Bride: A Bride for the Doctor (Bozeman Brides Book 4) (4 page)

BOOK: Mail Order Bride: A Bride for the Doctor (Bozeman Brides Book 4)
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Chapter 7


Y
ou are most welcome
,” Margie Jefferson enthused as she welcomed Kate into her home. “We are very glad to meet you. Geoff has been singing your praises since you’ve arrived.”

Kate felt a blush threatening to rise, but was nonetheless pleased to be welcomed in such an effusive manner.

“Now, now, my dear,” Theodore Jefferson mildly rebuked his wife. “Let them come all the way in before overwhelming the poor girl. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Buchanan. I’m Theodore Jefferson and this is my wife Margaret.”

Kate murmured some pleasantry, thankful she was rendered entirely mute by this warm couple. She noticed that his introduction indicated that she should be less formal, so she decided to reciprocate.

“Please call me Kate,” she invited, eager to make a good impression, and was rewarded with broad smiles.

“And you must call us Theo and Margie,” her hostess responded. “I hope you don’t mind too much, but we rather have a full house. Come let me introduce you.”

Before Kate could utter another word, she was whisked into the front room where two other couples chatted lightly.

“Everyone, this is Katherine Buchanan, the savior of Geoff’s surgery,” Margie announced with no small amount of enthusiasm.

“I think that might be putting it a little generously,” Kate protested, but without much force. She felt buoyed up by the lavish praise. “I merely help out a bit.”

Smiles and chuckles rounded the room.

“That’s not how I hear it,” one attractive man replied. “Geoff here says that you have made all the difference with the people in this town. I’m Jackson, by the way, Margie’s brother, and this is my wife Charlie.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Kate said with a sincere smile. How could she feel anything else in the face of such admiration?

“And this is Wesley Clark and his wife Claire.” Nods were exchanged, and Kate found herself ushered into a seat near the window in the waning sunlight.

“We’re all delighted that you chose to stay in town despite the…misunderstanding,” Charlotte began, leaning forward and smiling broadly. “You are a brave woman to come this far, and then stick it out. I don’t know if I could do that.”

“My situation is different from all of yours,” Kate acknowledged to every woman in the room, “but from what Dr. Wil…uh, Geoff has told me of your stories, I think you are all very courageous. It takes a lot of bravery to leave your home and marry a man you’ve never met.”

Claire looked at her with amusement. “I didn’t set out to do that,” she declared. “Geoff is probably too polite to tell you this, but I stole my husband away from his bride-to-be.”

Kate was astounded, but everyone else laughed.

“What Claire forgot to point out,” her husband added, “is that my bride-to-be was nonexistent. So, I was more than glad to find Claire in her place.”

Although she longed to hear more of the story, she felt it would be nosy, so she merely smiled and waited. Sure enough, bits and pieces came out and she soon understood that Claire happened to be in the right place at the right time.

“It was all part of God’s design,” Theo proclaimed. “He orders the steps of the righteous man.”

“Well, I wasn’t too righteous,” Claire admitted with a look of mock chagrin. “But I guess He knew how to turn that around.”

Kate was amazed to hear how comfortably they all spoke of God. He’d always been a distant entity to her. She further wondered at the friendly banter of the three couples for a moment before looking around and catching Geoff’s eye. He smiled softly as their eyes met, but she looked away quickly, terrified that he might see the longing that must surely be reflected on her face.

Thankfully, dinner was ready soon and they all proceeded to the dining room. She was surprised to see three children already seated there. They were introduced to her as Elizabeth, Martin, and Robert, Margie and Theo’s children. Although they were polite and cheerful, Kate was uncomfortable. Children always made her uneasy. They were so vulnerable, so fragile. Of course this was never reflected in her professional life, but in social settings, she avoided them.

After they were all seated, Theodore extended his hands to the people on either side of him. “Shall we pray?”

Everyone held hands, and Kate found herself awkwardly putting one of her own into Geoff’s and the other into Jackson’s. One hand felt a little uncomfortable, but the other burned and tingled. As good-looking as Jackson was, his touch didn’t stir her. The warmth from Geoff’s hand caused shivers to course up and down her arm. She bit her lip and tried to focus on Theo’s words.

“And we are very grateful for Kate, Father. Thank you for sending her to Bozeman, even if it was a misunderstanding. We know that You don’t do things accidentally, and we pray a blessing over her life that she may come to know You better through being here. In Jesus name, Amen.”

A chorus of amen's echoed after and everyone released hands, but Kate felt that Geoff was reluctant to let hers go and held on a fraction of a second longer than anyone else did. Jackson had certainly released her immediately. When she looked into Geoff’s eyes questioningly, she received another shock. The longing she saw there caused her insides to quiver. How could he look at her like that after she’d made her intentions so clear? Perhaps accepting this invitation hadn’t been such a good idea after all.

When her hand was free, she accepted the dishes as they were passed to her and then attacked her food with great relish. The food at the boarding house, while tolerable, was nothing compared to the feast set before her now.

Light conversation and a bit of friendly repartee interspersed with a few chuckles dominated the room, but it wasn’t overwhelming. When there was a bit of silence, it wasn’t cold or uncomfortable. The whole experience was entirely foreign to her. For as long as she could remember, each meal had been a form of torture in her house. People either ate in stony silence or bitter words were exchanged, sometimes heatedly. The pleasant ambience almost undid her.

She watched as both Theo and Margie took special pains to include their children in the conversation. The love they felt was so evident that Kate almost cried. Why had she been robbed of this during her own childhood?

The main part of the meal concluded and was followed by a rich dessert. It was too much for her, though and she merely nibbled the edges of the heavy chocolate cake.

“Not much of a sweet tooth?” Geoff asked quietly from her side. He hadn’t spoken much during the meal, but she’d been aware of his eyes on her from time to time. In an effort to dissuade his interest, she’d all but ignored him.

“I, uh, like a good dessert, but I’m afraid I enjoyed my dinner too much.” She didn’t add that the loving familial atmosphere had slowly robbed her of her appetite.

“Well, after we finish eating, perhaps we can go for a walk?”

His suggestion was so tempting, but she knew his intentions. He was hoping to woo her, make her change her mind. Still, she could use the time to more fully explain her earnest intentions and make herself understood once and for all.

“I would like that,” she responded politely.

The family finished eating, and the adults retired to the front room. The children went back up to the nursery with their nanny.

“Kate and I are going out for a walk,” Geoff announced. “Please excuse us. Your dinner was too delicious,” he said to Margie. Kate murmured something similar.

The adults were very agreeable, but Kate was sure she saw a knowing look pass between Theo and Geoff. She really had to set things straight as soon as possible.

Once they were out on the street, she began to speak before she lost her nerve.

“Dr. Wilson,” she started, well aware of his change in demeanor at her formal address. “I think that coming to Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson’s house tonight was a mistake. I somehow gave the impression that I’m open to a more personal relationship than I am. What I said to you yesterday was the truth. I will not ever marry or even consider a romantic involvement.”

Geoff didn’t reply immediately, but strolled along beside her. He wasn’t distant, but merely thoughtful. “So,” he said finally, “you are rejecting my friendship then?”

A shock ran through her. He made her sound so cold, so rude. “I don’t want to, but I’m worried that if I don’t, you will take it to mean something more. I am really sincere in my stand on marriage.”

“If it’s not too presumptuous of me, could I ask you why? I haven’t forgotten all you told me yesterday, but I have to say that many people come from an unhappy home and still manage to find someone to love.”

She sighed and realized that there was no alternative unless she wanted to leave Bozeman. She had to tell him the whole truth.

“My parents’ marriage wasn’t always bad. In fact, I have some happy memories of going to the beach and enjoying picnics. My father was kind to my mother and she doted on him, but then something happened.” Other memories assaulted her, and she had to stop talking for a moment. She pushed past the hurt and continued. “But then, when I was six years old, my younger brother died. It was some sort of sickness. After that, my parents became quiet and withdrew from each other’s company. I didn’t realize how much I would miss the silence, but I soon longed for it. My father began drinking, and my mother began spending money like crazy. That’s when the fighting began, and it has never ended. Even on the night before I came, they were screaming at each other.” She did stop talking now. It was too hard to go on.

Geoff cradled her elbow in his hand, led her over to a boulder near the side of the road and helped her sit down. He said nothing but sat close to her, his body pressed up against her enough to feel his heat.

Instead of shirking from the contact as she would have in the past, she leaned into it, seeking comfort from the contact. Without quite knowing how it happened, she nestled into his embrace and wept against his chest. His hands stroked her back in soothing circles, much like how one would comfort a child.

There was nothing intimate in the gesture, but Kate felt herself melting against him. His touch was like a balm to her tattered soul. She soaked it up. When he ceased his actions, she turned her face up questioningly. In that moment, she suddenly realized how close they were, how their lips were only a few inches apart.

Like two magnets, they were drawn to each other. Her head arched up a fraction, and his lowered the tiniest bit. When their lips touched, it was like a bolt of lightning. But she didn’t shy away. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the embrace, completely unaware of what she was doing. It was an instinctive need to be close, to have contact with this warm, kind, wonderful man.

Geoff didn’t protest. He cupped the side of her face with his free hand and pushed his fingers into her hair. The pins that held it so firmly in place slid out and her hair tumbled down.

Within a minute, Kate suddenly gasped and put both her hands on his chest, pushing him hard. He drew back, his eyes bewildered.

“I’m so sorry,” she whimpered. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I tell you I don’t want to get involved in any kind of personal relationship and then I practically throw myself into your arms! I’m so sorry!”

He regarded her calmly. “I’m not sure if you noticed, but I didn’t mind catching you.” His eyes moved over her unbound hair. “I never realized how long it is,” he murmured softly. He reached out to touch it, but she moved away and attempted to replace the pins. Too many had fallen into the dirt, and she had to leave it.

“I’d better go,” she said, a catch in her voice. “I can’t…I don’t…”

Without another word, she jumped up and scurried away.

“Kate,” he called, after her. “Don’t run away. Please.” Her short strides were no match for his long ones, and he soon caught up with her. But when he tried to talk, she shook her head and avoided eye contact.

When they arrived in front of the boarding house, he reached out and caught her hand.

“Don’t,” she protested. “I just want to be alone right now. I can’t imagine what you think of me.”

“I think,” he started in a soft voice, not letting go of her hand, but instead pulling her toward him, “that you are the loveliest woman I ever met, and that you are in pain. I also think that God sent you here for a reason, and that reason might be to be with me. Would you please think about that?”

He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a light kiss on the inside of her wrist.

When he released her hand, she slipped inside wordlessly and closed the door, wishing fervently that she could shut off her mind as easily.

She raced up the stairs and managed to get inside her room without running into anyone else. Throwing herself on the bed, she wept violently for a long time. When her tears were spent, she lay there motionless for a while before sitting up. Wiping her eyes, she spotted the large black book that Geoff had given her yesterday.

With a heavy sigh, she walked over to where it lay on the small desk.

“Okay, God,” she murmured aloud. “I give up. I can’t do this my way anymore.”

She picked up the big book and brought it to the window seat, opening it with the intention of reading in the soft evening light. She had heard from a previous friend that if she ever did read the Bible, she should begin in the book of John.

After locating the book past the middle of the Bible, she began to read. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and Word was God.” The words didn’t make much sense, but she persevered. Over the course of the next few hours, she read about Jesus, the miracles He did and how He’d taken compassion on the weak. She was outraged at how the Pharisees tried to trick Him, and cried when he was killed even though he’d never sinned. She read about His resurrection and how He’d come back to His disciples and reassured them.

As she finished the book of John, the sun began to set and her eyes felt heavy, but her heart felt light. Despite the tears that stained her face, for the first time in her life, she felt that God was real and present. And she then she did something she’d never done in her entire life.

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