Mail Order Mishap: Christian Romance (Kansas Brides Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter 10

Amber didn’t go to the bank, and didn’t plan to either. She needed time to think about the situation carefully and consider what her next move should be. There was no room for error here. She had to be smart about this.

She’d fallen in love with Garrett, yet it bothered her that he’d agree to this farce. How could he be an upstanding and honest Christian man if he’d consented to something as dishonest and sinful as consummating his brother’s marriage for the dowry? She’d certainly misjudged him.

Should she seek advice from the minister? It was an embarrassing situation, and she’d have to admit having responded to Garrett’s lovemaking, and she couldn’t do that. There was only one solution: she’d pack up, leave, and find a good solicitor. Edna would take her in until she could make the arrangements and return to Virginia.

Oh, how she’d hated facing Margaret and telling her how right she’d been.

Amber dragged out her trunk and began to pack.

Garret had gone to work, but he couldn’t concentrate on his job. Today, the foreman had them building a fence and he kept hitting his thumb with the hammer. He needed to quit this job. He was being sent to Abilene to pick up a bull next week, and he would be away for several weeks. He had mixed feelings about going. If he went, it would save him from the uncomfortable situation at home, but then he’d not be around to see to Amber’s safety and well-being. Just thinking of how he’d nearly ruined her made him shake with anger. He hit his thumb again and threw the hammer down, walked off the job, mounted his horse, and rode away. He could find another job almost anywhere.

As he rode home he tried to sort his feelings. He stopped his horse and sat down beneath a tree. He closed his eyes and remembered how Amber had felt in his arms. He could almost feel the sweetness of her kisses again, which made him feel uncomfortable and disgraceful at the same time.

What in heaven’s name had he done by agreeing to help his brother? How would he ever live with himself? He held his head in his hands. He loved Amber, but when she found out what he’d done she’d hate him, and rightfully so. It seemed to him, judging by her actions at breakfast, that she'd believed it was Charles. She was prepared to hand her dowry over to him, and he’d helped in stealing her money. He wasn’t even sure the contract he’d made Charles sign would hold up in a court of law, since it hadn’t been witnessed or drawn up by a real lawyer.

Garrett prayed like he never had before. He begged God’s forgiveness and asked for His undeserved help. He sat there for quite a while, waiting for some type of answer to come from God, so he’d know what to do next. Whether it came from God or from his own conscience, he wasn’t sure, but he knew exactly what he had to do.

He mounted his horse and galloped back home.

When he walked into the house, Amber was in the process of dragging the heavy trunk from her bedroom.

“Here, let me help,” he said without thinking. Then he stopped and asked, “You’re leaving?”

“Yes. I’ve had enough,” she said simply and continued to drag the trunk.

“Stop, please!” he said. “I need a word with you first, and then I’ll help you carry the trunk wherever you want it to go.”

Amber considered his plea. He’d helped her so many times, and it would be interesting to hear what he had to say.

She sat down on her trunk and crossed her arms over her chest and said, “five minutes.”

Garrett knelt so he could look her in the eyes and hesitated several seconds before blurting out, “It wasn’t Charles last night. It was me. I’m so sorry.”

“I knew it was you the moment you walked into the room,” she said without emotion.

“You did? Why didn’t you stop me?”

“Why did you do it?” she countered.

He shook his head. “I’m so sorry I let my brother convince me that it was the only way out of his predicament. I’ve been saving him from trouble his whole life, so it came naturally for me to help him, despite the fact I didn’t like the idea one bit.”

“Why are you confessing to me now?” she asked.

“Because I feel dreadful. I sinned against God and against you. I’m thankful that I came to my senses in time to stop—I can’t even think of how much worse I’d feel had I completed the act.”

“What stopped you?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“When you responded so sweetly and innocently, it got to me. I didn’t want you to make love to me thinking I was Charles.” He hesitated and looked her in the eyes. “I wanted you to make love to
me
and not someone you thought was Charles. I also knew it was wrong and a sin. I felt God’s frown directly aimed at me.”

She sat up straighter. “I thank you for having a conscience and for stopping, but it was still wrong. Charles is not getting my dowry and I’m going back home.”

“Don’t leave yet,” he said.

“I no longer have a reason to stay,” she said. “I know now that Charles prefers men—specifically, Clint‒and I know you are as deceitful as they are. I just need to find a good lawyer and obtain an annulment as soon as possible. I thank you for making that possible, for had you continued last night, that would no longer be an option.”

“No,” he said piercing her with his eyes, “you don’t need a lawyer or an annulment.”

“I’m
not
staying married to him.”

“You aren’t really married to Charles. The wedding was a hoax.” Garrett swallowed hard. “The minister wasn’t a minister at all.”

Amber gasped. “Are you joking?”

He shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

“And you went along with it?” she let the tone of her voice show her disgust.

“I just found that part out a few days ago myself.”

Amber stood. “I’m going now.” She started to drag the trunk, and when Garrett moved to help her, she held up her hand. “Stop! I can do it myself. I want no help from you or your brother.”

She managed to drag the trunk out of the house, across the street, and all the way to Edna Smith’s house.

Garrett sat and rubbed his temples, but no ideas on how to extricate himself from this mess came to him. He pounded the wall. Why had he ever agreed to it?

He’d never hold Amber in his arms again, or feel her warm, soft body against his. He’d never enjoy the pleasure of her responsive kisses. He felt the same as when his mother died—as if he’d lost his best friend. He'd never see her again, once she'd returned to Virginia. He had to find a way to keep her there, where he’d at least see her, and know she was all right.

Sometimes, walking helped him think. He paced up and down Hunter's Grove's main street, deep in thought. He suddenly became aware that Amber had left Edna’s and was walking toward the bank—or was her destination the train depot? He took this opportunity to try and talk to Edna Smith.

Edna answered the door, but she didn’t greet him as cheerfully as the last time. She must know what he’d done.

“I need your help, Edna,” he said.

“Come in, but just for a minute. Amber will be right back and I don’t think she’d be pleased to find you here,” she said.

She led him to the sitting room. “What can I do for you, Garrett?”

“I’m in love with Amber. I need you to help keep her in Hunter’s Grove, some way. Please.”

“She wants to go home,” Edna said. “She’s on her way to the depot now, to buy her ticket.”

“If she stayed here in town I’d at least know she was all right, and I’d get to see her from time to time. I can’t bear the thought of never seeing her again.”

“I can’t think of what I can do to stop her from leaving, Garrett.”

“Did she tell you the whole story?”

“I believe she did.”

“Did she mention last night?”

“I don’t think what she told me happened last night, though she may have discovered the whole thing then. She just told me that the marriage wasn’t real, she isn’t married, and that she wants nothing to do with you or Charles. She said you knew about the fake marriage, and so she considers you an accomplice.”

“That’s true, but I’m so, so, sorry. If she stays, maybe I can make it up to her somehow. I fell in love with her somewhere along the way, Mrs. Smith.”

“All I can say is, I’ll think it over,” she said. “So, you really fell in love with Amber? You mean her no harm and no more tricks? If she forgives you, will you propose?”

“Yes, and I’m praying for that chance. I’d marry her in a heartbeat.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said, but her smile gave Garrett hope.

After leaving Mrs. Smith’s, he wondered that Amber hadn’t told Edna about what happened between them the night before. More than likely she was embarrassed about how she'd responded to his overtures.

The response! His heart beat faster just thinking about it. How will he ever forget her sweet and willing response, especially now that he knew she’d responded knowing it was him and not Charles! She knew the whole time! The thought gave him hope, as well as a sore heart.

He had to think of a way to win her back. He craved Amber like nothing he’d ever desired before. He replayed that night over and over in his mind and he knew he had to have her.

He waited by the general store, where he'd have a good view of the short distance Amber had to walk to get from the depot to Edna’s house. He wanted to make sure she got there all right. After he saw her disappear into the house, he went back home.

Chapter 11

Amber made her way to the train depot and inquired about the train schedule to Richmond, Virginia. To her surprise, only one train a week connected to the southern rail leading to Virginia, which meant she’d have to stay with Edna until Tuesday. The ticket would cost her twenty-five dollars here and another fifteen when they reached Cincinnati, Ohio, and she connected with the southbound train. She’d need to visit the bank in order to buy the ticket, so she decided to simply wait until Tuesday to purchase it.

She walked slowly back to Edna’s. Why had Garrett pretended to be Charles? What was in it for him? Were he and Charles going to split the dowry? No, Garrett didn’t seem money-driven. Why would he agree to the scheme? If he hadn’t, though, how would she know how much she cared for him? She’d been strongly affected by his kisses, and would have gone along with it to the very end, she knew she would have. She'd never have had the strength that he had to stop it, and she had to admire him for that. It couldn’t have been easy for him to stop, especially after she’d so avidly responded. He did have a conscience, yet she couldn’t get over why he'd agree to do it in the first place, and the fact that he’d known she wasn’t really married to Charles.

As soon as she reached Virginia she’d forget all about Garrett Turner. Once she was back home, in a different place, her feelings for Garrett would disappear, they had to. There was no way she could possibly love a man who’d agree to help his brother swindle her.

Edna was about to serve tea when Amber walked into the sitting room.

“I saw you coming and got tea ready. You must be ready for a cup after that hike,” Edna said.

“I’d love a cup. It’s very warm out and I wore the wrong shoes for hiking,” she said, rubbing her heel.

“Happens to me all the time.” Edna poured their tea.

Amber dropped a bit of sugar in hers and took a sip. “Excellent brew, Edna.”

Edna smiled. “I’ll get us a few scones. I baked them this morning.” She stood and took a few steps toward the kitchen and stopped. She put her hand to her chest and grabbed onto the wall. “Oh, dear!” she cried.

“Edna!” Amber called. She raced to where Edna was standing, afraid she was about to faint. She held her up, and propped her onto her shoulder, and walked her back to the sofa.

“What’s wrong, Edna? Are you all right?” she asked, helping her to settle onto the sofa.

“I got so dizzy. I’m sorry, but I need to lie down. Can you help me to my room?”

“Of course.” Amber helped Edna to her room, glad it was only a one-story house, because as tiny as Edna was, she was nevertheless heavy, dead weight.

“Shall I help you out of your dress?” Amber asked.

““No, dear. Just loosen the collar, and I’ll be fine. I just need rest,” Edna said.

“All right.” Amber loosened her collar and left her to rest.

Garrett walked into the livery and found his friend, Cole Johnson, at work, under a carriage.

“That you, Garrett?” he said as he slid out from under the buggy. “There’s something wrong with the brake on this one. Can’t figure it out. I’ve tried everything. Care to take a look?”

“Sure,” Garrett said, and he slipped under the buggy. He fiddled around until he found the loose connection, reconnected the lines, and then slid out. “Try her now.”

Cole pushed the buggy out of the livery. “I’ll put the brake on and you try to push it.”

Garrett got behind the buggy, and when Cole gave the signal, he pushed as hard as he could. The brake held.

“Dang!” Cole said. “You’re good.”

“Naw,” Garrett said. “You’re always looking for something complicated when it’s usually something simple.”

“Probably so,” Cole said with a chuckle.

“You’re not working today?” Cole asked.

“I quit. I’m sick of working on that ranch. I need to find a job that’s a bit more stimulating, and more thought provoking. I had good marks in school, so I should be able to do more than herd cattle to market and mend fences.”

“You always got better grades than me in school. I just lucked out because this business was handed down to me by my father.” Cole wiped his hands on a cloth and then handed it to Garrett.

Garrett wiped the grease from his hands. “I have a bit of money socked away and I thought about starting my own business, but can’t for the life of me figure out what kind of business.”

“Really? I might have an idea for you. Come back tomorrow and I’ll let you know for sure.”

“All right,” Garrett said. “I’ll stop back tomorrow. Right now I’m house hunting. I’m going to leave my brother’s house and rent a place.”

“I heard the apartment above the barbershop is still available, or at least, it was a few days ago. One of my employees tried to rent it, but he said the rent was too high,” Cole said.

“How much does he want for it?”

“Twenty-five a month.”

Garrett whistled.

“I’d invite you to stay with us, but my father is ailing. I think this might be it for him.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve always liked your father,” Garrett said. “You’ve had a lot to handle the last few years with your wife and all.”

“Yep, always something. Good thing they’ll all be heaven. I didn’t lose them, they’ve just been repositioned—to Heaven,” Cole sighed. “But for us, life goes on.”

“If there’s anything I can do—”

“There might be, but we’ll discuss it tomorrow,” Cole said. “Now about that apartment, I guess the place is completely refurbished, and Pete said it was beautiful but much too expensive for him.”

“I’ll take a look at it. I didn’t expect to pay more than twenty, but if it’s really nice, I may take it. I should really look for a job first, though.”

Cole laughed. “Come back tomorrow, I have something in mind for you, but I need to talk a bit more with my father about it.”

“See you then,” Garrett said as he walked out of the livery.

He headed for the barbershop to meet with the owner, Harvey Coiner, who showed him the apartment. It was perfect. It had one bedroom, and another room that could be used as a second tiny bedroom or for storage. The sitting room was small, but the kitchen was large. All the furniture was brand new. What he loved most about the apartment was that it was exactly across the street from Edna Smith’s house, so he'd be able to keep his eye out for Amber.

He fell in love with the place. It had plenty of windows, was bright, and the wallpaper was cheerful without being gaudy. Since the barber downstairs worked days, he’d have the building to himself all night. He paid the first month’s rent and headed home to pack his things.

His impulsiveness shocked him. If he had to use the money he'd saved to pay his rent, how would he have enough left to buy his own business? Well, at least he had one month to enjoy it. If he didn’t find a job or a business by then, he could always move back out.

Garrett was in the process of packing up his things into a crate he’d found outside the hotel when Charles walked in.

“What are you doing?” he asked from the bedroom doorway.

“What does it look like? I’m moving out.”

“Moving? Why?”

“Ask your
wife
.”

Charles walked into the sitting room and then into Amber’s bedroom, before returning. “What’s going on? Where’s Amber?” He stood in the doorway of Garrett’s room. “What happened?”

“Looks like she’s left you.”

“But she was so happy this morning. I meant to thank you for doing such a good job. She told me how great I was last night. She smiled and even wanted a kiss goodbye. I can’t believe she left.” Charles peered out the kitchen window to see if Amber might be in the yard.

“She knows the truth—all of it,” Garrett said, pushing the crate to the doorway. “Excuse me‒I need to get this crate out.”

“How did she find out?” Charles asked, his face slowly paling.

“I told her.”

“What?” Charles raised his voice. “Why would you do that? And before I got the money!”

“My conscience was bothering me. And, incidentally, she was playing with you this morning, because I never did the deed. I almost did, but I just couldn’t be that dishonest to such a lovely and sweet woman. I would have ruined her, Charles.”

“What am I to do now? I have contractors to pay.”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” Garrett said.

“C’mon, big brother,” Charles tried to cajole him like he always used to, in order to get what he wanted. “You’ll help me; I know you have money saved.”

“Goodbye, Charles.” Garret toted the crate out the kitchen door, continued out to the road, and carried it to the barbershop. When he got the crate to the door of his apartment, he discovered Charles had followed him.

“So, you rented a place. I wish you luck cooking and doing laundry. Oh, and don’t forget to make your bed and dust regularly,” Charles said.

“I’ll manage.” Garrett unlocked the door and pulled the crate in after him.

“Wait!” Charles said. “I’ll help you carry that upstairs.”

“Suit yourself,” Garrett said.

Charles lifted one end, and Garrett lifted the other, and together, they managed to get the crate up into the apartment’s bedroom.

“Thank you, Charles.”

Charles gazed around. “This is pretty nice, but I can’t wait to see it after you’ve lived here a week or so. How will you manage without me?”

“I have no choice. I can no longer stomach you after what you tried to do to Amber, and after what you talked me into doing. Now she’ll have nothing to do with me, either, and I feel terrible about it all. I just want out of your place and out of your life—at least, for now, anyway.”

“I’m your brother.” He swore, and then said, “Brothers are for life, Garrett.”

“Maybe so, but I don’t have to live with you, or even like you. There’s the door, Charles. You might as well start living openly with Clint—everyone knows about you two anyway. At least, everyone except poor Amber.”

Charles looked at his brother long and hard, then shrugged and left.

Garrett put his clothes away and settled his possessions where he thought they should go. He’d be fine. He’d grab a bite at the eating-house and find a laundress. He was sure there was someone at church who took in laundry. As far as cleaning, if he found a business to invest in, he’d hire a cleaner. There were ways to survive and he’d find them.

When, on the following day, Edna felt no better, so Amber suggested calling a doctor.

“No, dear. He’ll just put leeches on me and bleed me. I’m sure it’s just a bug, and I’ll be right as your arm in a day or two,” she said.

“I hope you’re better by Tuesday, because I can’t leave you like this,” she said. “Is there anyway you could stay with your granddaughter?”

“No, her children would never give me any rest. I’m feeling a bit better already,” Edna said. “In fact, if you’ll help me to the front porch, I feel like I need some fresh air.”