Aaron's Annulment Bride (Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs Book 3) Read online

  As Aaron approached the buggy, his mother smiled her greeting at Andrea. Aaron felt grateful it looked like one of his mother’s genuinely welcoming smiles. Then again, if she didn’t like Andrea, all she would have had to do was offer her excuses and declined to come as a chaperone. Aaron had his book under the seat, but knew with his mother along there would be no reading. However, it was worth it to be able to have Andrea with him for the afternoon.

  Desi grabbed Aaron’s sleeve as he drew near. “Son, go wake your father and help him to pack up our picnic basket and take it home. You can fold the quilt and bring it here to take with us. I’ll stay here with Andrea.”

  Aaron offered his mother a suspicious look. She was up to something, but he had no idea what. He needed to get married and out from under his mother’s roof soon, or she never would stop treating him like he was nine instead of twenty-nine. For the time being, he did as she requested.

  As soon as Aaron was out of earshot, Desi, a big smile on her face, turned to Andrea. “How are you doing with all this courting business, Andrea?”

  Andrea sighed. “Fine, I guess. I’ll be glad when it’s over.”

  “Have you decided on who you want to marry yet? You young women are in a pretty good position since you have several men to choose from.”

  Andrea looked down and shook her head. “No, I don’t know who I’m going to marry. Picking someone is harder than I thought. I almost wish someone else would make the decision for me.”

  “You don’t want that. You have no idea how many women in the past were forced to marry someone they didn’t know or like because their father or guardian wished it for political for monetary reasons. They would have given anything to be in your position.” When Andrea didn’t respond, she continued. “What do you think of all this handwriting matching?”

  Andrea jerked her head up and stared in Desi’s eyes. “I…I don’t know. It sounds reasonable. It’s just that….”

  “It may be the newest, most fancy-dancy fad, but I believe in the old tried and true method, myself.”

  Curious, Andrea canted her head. “What’s that?”

  “Pray about it, then listen to your heart. There’s nothing wrong with listening to the advice of others, but there comes a point where you have to feel right about it yourself. Have you ever had someone say they want to marry you, but you just didn’t feel right about it?”

  Andrea shivered. Lloyd McCreary’s face flashed through her mind. “Yes. I’ve had that happen.”

  “You only have one more day until they expect you to make your choice, Andrea. I hope after listening to everyone around you, whoever you decide on, it is your choice, one you feel good about inside. I hope you feel the man you end up marrying is someone who is the best husband for you, someone you can grow to love even if you aren’t sure you love him the day you say your wedding vows.”

  Andrea stared at Desi Brinks as her mind mulled over her words. Was she right? Should she listen to her heart first? Or, was Lizett right? Since she had so little time to get to know the men from whom she must choose a husband, should she let the wonders of science make the decision?

  Did it matter since she planned to seek an annulment within the month?

  “I hope you aren’t trying to scare Andrea off by telling stories about me, Ma.”

  Both women turned at the sound of Aaron’s voice.

  Desi smiled mischievously. “Now would I do that? No, I was just giving her some sound motherly advice. You can thank me later.”

  Aaron rolled his eyes. “That’s what I was afraid of. Pa’s on his way home with the basket so he can sleep the afternoon away up on the divan and I have the quilt I’ll tuck under the seat. Are you ready to go?”

  “Did you pack water and something to eat in case you get hungry?” The expression on Aaron’s face told Desi he hadn’t. “Take me by the store first. You don’t go anywhere this time of year without water.” Desi turned to Andrea. “You have to watch him when it comes to things like this.”

  An eyebrow raised, Andrea turned to study Desi’s profile since the woman had quickly turned her head until she faced forward.

  Why is she telling me this?

  Aaron stopped at the back of the mercantile and climbed down so he could help his mother down. She entered, ran up the stairs, and returned a few minutes later with the picnic basket reloaded. She handed it to Aaron who found room for it under the seat and helped his mother back up in her seat with Andrea between them.

  “Now Aaron, be sure you drive past the park again, nice and slow, so everyone sees us. Then head down towards Church Street and don’t stop until you get to the far side of the cemetery.”

  “That’s the way I planned to go, Ma. Why do you want to stop at the cemetery?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Aaron did as his mother requested until they arrived at the far side of the Masonic Cemetery.

  “Stop the buggy, Aaron. This is where I get off.”

  Aaron pulled the horse to a stop. “What do you mean, you’re getting off?”

  “I need to visit a few friends.”

  “At the cemetery?”

  Desi had climbed halfway down her side of the buggy before Aaron could step down and get around to help her. “No, silly. I’m visiting friends on Church Street. You two can go on from here.”

  “Ma, you said you would come along and chaperone us.”

  “No, I said I would chaperone you as long as you need me. You don’t need me to go with you from here. And when you come back and drop Andrea off at the boarding house, if anyone asks why I’m not with you, you just tell them you dropped me off first. You’ll be telling the truth.” Desi reached over and patted Andrea’s forearm. “Don’t you worry, Andrea. My son is an honorable man and you will be perfectly safe with him. You two go and have a good time this afternoon. And Aaron…” Desi turned to her son and shook her finger at him. “Don’t spend the whole time reading.”

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  CHAPTER 10

  ~o0o~

  Neither Aaron nor Andrea spoke much as he guided the horse at a leisurely pace along the narrow dirt road that followed the south side of the Arkansas River before it bent back to the north. Occasionally Aaron glanced at Andrea. Each time she seemed to be turning her head and body to take in the scenery around her. At least she did not seem bored.

  They reached the spot Aaron had in mind and he pulled the buggy off the road. He carried the quilt and basket to his favorite tree, situated everything and helped Andrea sit down before he went back and unhitched the horse, led it down the bank of the river to drink, then brought it back up and hobbled it to graze. When he rejoined Andrea on the quilt, his book in his hand, he noticed she had opened the cloth that looked like it was an apron. Inside were an old Bible and some skeins of colored thread like the kind they had at the mercantile for ladies who liked to embroider. Andrea looked up and smiled as he approached.

  The sight of her smile almost stopped Aaron in his tracks. She usually wore no expression on her face, or had the hint of a worried look. But when she smiled, it lit her face. Her clear, unblemished skin glowed. How had he ever thought she was mousy-looking?

  Aaron lowered himself within a couple of feet from her and rummaged through the basket his mother had sent. He found two quart jars full of water, two apples and a tin of shortbread biscuits. He placed everything on the blanket between them. “Andrea, would you care for anything?”

  Andrea eyed the tin of shortbread with interest. “I’m still full from the picnic. I’ll take some water, though.”

  Aaron handed her a jar of water and put the food back in the basket. He watched her take several sips from her jar while he downed several swallows from his own, grateful for his mother’s foresight. He had a whole river of water a few feet away, and when he was by himself he usually climbed down the bank and scooped handfuls of water. Having water in a jar for Andrea so she didn’t need to worry about dirtying her d
ress or her boots climbing up and down the bank in order to quench her thirst was a good idea.

  Aaron looked over at the solid gray linsey-woolsey dress with its white collar and cuffs and studied it for the first time. It was different from the faded calico dresses she had worn before, one of them with a carefully mended corner tear on the sleeve. “That’s a very attractive dress on you, Andrea.” When she turned to him with a blush on her face, he worried he had been too forward.

  In for a penny; in for a pound.

  “The color brings out the gray in your eyes.”

  She looked down and resumed her needlework. “Thank you. I made it. Aurelia thinks it’s too plain to get married in, but it’s the best dress I own.”

  Aaron desperately wanted to ask her who she planned to marry, but didn’t dare. After hearing Stanley say he wanted to talk to her this afternoon, he suspected his co-worker intended to propose. Aaron sighed in relief that he had already arranged for Andrea to spend the afternoon with him, or she could be an engaged woman by now. He intended to enjoy spending time with her as long as he could.

  “I think that is a fine dress to get married in.”

  Andrea looked up and smiled. “Thank you.” She turned back to her needlework. “Were you going to read? Please don’t feel you need to change your plans on my account.”

  “I don’t want you to feel like I’m ignoring you, Andrea.”

  “You won’t. I’ve been surrounded by people for days. I’m not used to it. Being able to sit and not think about what people expect me to say is a relief.”

  “All right. Just so you don’t think I’m ignoring you.” Aaron studied the red and pinks she was stitching on what looked like a cluster of flowers. “What are you working on, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  Andrea looked at him and blushed. “It’s just some flowers I’m using to decorate this pillowcase. My mother taught me how to embroider, but I haven’t had time to work on it very much so I’m not very good. This is thread she left behind when she died. I need to buy some darker green before I can finish.”

  “I’m sure my folks have what you need at the store. Maybe we can get you some this week.”

  Andrea looked up at him strangely, and Aaron turned away. Why did he say that? If she chose to marry someone else, she could still come to the mercantile for the thread, but she wouldn’t come with him. He picked up his book and scooted back until he leaned against the tree trunk before his opened it.

  “What are you reading?”

  “It’s an adventure book called Treasure Island. I read it several years ago, but decided it was time to read it again.”

  “I think I remember hearing about that story when I was still able to go to school, but I never read it. My teacher used to let us take books home to read, but that all ended after Ma died and my pa needed me to stay home and help my sister around the ranch. Next thing I knew, she up and left and I had to take care of the home place by myself.”

  Aaron studied Andrea. Here alone with him, away from the crowd of preening miners and flirting brides, she talked more openly. “What do you like to read now?”

  Andrea glanced at him and blushed. “If I have time, I read my Bible. Ma left it to me and it’s the only book in the house. Or was, while I was still on the ranch. Pa always said it’s a waste of good money to buy books when there was so much that needed to be done around the ranch. I’m reading about Samuel now.”

  Aaron was beginning to think he didn’t like her father very much. He realized keeping a ranch going required a lot of work. Surely the man should have allowed his daughter some free time for herself in the evenings and on Sunday afternoons. “I like that story. Are you in the part about when he was a boy living at the temple, or after he became a prophet?”

  “When he was a boy and his mother left him at the temple. Go ahead and read. I don’t want to ruin your afternoon.”

  “You aren’t.”

  Aaron turned back to his book and began reading to himself. The next thing he knew, he felt Andrea’s arm behind his shoulder and the side of her torso pressing against his arm. He turned to look at her only to find her face mere inches from his. Her eyes were glued to the pages of his book. His eyes followed her free hand as it reached up and brushed wisps of hair that had escaped her chignon back behind her ear closest to him. He wanted to reach up and brush back the loose strands of hair on the other side of her face, but didn’t dare. He felt his heart beat faster and his skin begin to warm and prickle. He realized she was so focused on the pages of his book and had no idea of the effect her nearness had on him. He would stop breathing, if he could, just to keep from accidentally scaring her away.

  Then she looked up and their eyes met. All Aaron could see were her gray eyes. She had beautiful gray eyes, light in the center with a darker outer ring. They looked at him without guile, trusting, and he realized she was not aware of how her physical closeness to him might be construed by others. It thrilled him that she felt so comfortable being this close to him. He ached to kiss her. He dare not, any more than her dare not say a word, even if he could have with the lump in his throat.

  “Storybooks look so different from the way they print a Bible, don’t they? They aren’t divided in verses and numbered.” She reached over and used the tip of her finger to separate a page. She rubbed the paper between her finger and thumb. “Even the paper is different. The style of the letters are different, too. The way it is written is different, like the writer is talking more into today’s language instead of an older kind of English like in my Bible.”

  “Yes, it is different. Perhaps after you’re married, you’ll be able to read other books besides just your Bible.”

  Andrea leaned away from him and picked up her needlework. “I suppose. If I have time and my husband doesn’t mind. I imagine it will take a lot of work to fix up and take care of the house. I’m used to not having much time to read.” She turned and looked at him again. “Do these houses have enough land for a garden and a chicken coop?”

  “I believe so, although anyone who wants a garden would have to put up a deer fence to keep what they grow from being eaten by the critters coming down from the hills. Same for chickens—they’d need a sturdy enclosure.”

  “Same way on the ranch for the chickens. We didn’t use a deer fence for the garden, though.”

  The two lapsed into silence. After a few seconds, Aaron cleared his throat. “Andrea, I’m only on the second chapter. Would you like me to read to you? I can tell you what takes place in the first chapter before I start so you don’t feel lost.”

  Andrea looked up, a smile brightening her face. “Would you? I’d like that.”

  “Certainly. And maybe sometime you can read to me from your Bible.”

  Aaron turned away. Why did he say that? If she decided to marry Stanley, they wouldn’t see each other again except to nod and exchange greetings at church and socials. He took a deep breath and shared a short summary of the first chapter, then began to read Treasure Island from the beginning of Chapter 2.

  Aaron read the chapter, constantly aware that Andrea continued to embroider in silence except for the few times she looked up and watched his face for several sentences. He found reading aloud parched his throat. When he finished the second chapter, he stopped and brought out the water and tin of shortbread again and offered them to Andrea. She took her water and this time she accepted two of the cookies.

  After reading one more chapter, Aaron checked the position of the sun. Disappointment enveloped him as he realized it was time to get Andrea back to town so she wouldn’t miss her supper. As much as he regretted to have the afternoon end, the last thing he wanted was trouble with Mrs. Millard. Reluctantly he told Andrea it was time to go. She packed the picnic basket and folded the quilt while he hitched the horse back up to the buggy.

  As they drove back, his jumbled thoughts rebelled against returning Andrea to town. Did this have to be the last time he could be with her? He had to know what she planned to do
. If he had any chance that she would choose him, he had to ask her now before she got back around the others, especially that Mrs. Millard with her graphology theories who would try to discourage Andrea from accepting his proposal.

  Aaron pulled the leads to stop the horse in the middle of the road. He turned to find Andrea’s face with its puzzled expression turned towards him. “Andrea, has Stanley Turner asked for your hand in marriage?”

  Andrea looked away and shook her head. “No. I think he plans to, but he hasn’t yet.”

  “Do you plan to accept?”

  Andrea looked back at him, her lower lip quivering.

  “Forget I asked that. I had no right. I know Mrs. Millard places a lot of faith in her graphology, and I know what she thinks her conclusions say about us, but…” Aaron shook his head. “What I mean is, in spite of everything, would you consider marrying me instead?” He turned back to gauge her reaction.

  Andrea swallowed. “I don’t know how to answer that. Are you asking if I would consider marrying you, or are you asking me to marry you?”

  Aaron wiped the palm of his hand down his face. “I guess I’m not very good at this. Andrea, I’m asking you to marry me. Let’s see, I know there’s a formal way to do this.” He turned to her. “I don’t dare get down on my knee in case the horse decides to bolt, but Andrea Dalton, it would be a great honor to have you for my wife. Would you consent to marry me?”

  Andrea bit her lower lip and turned away for a couple of seconds. She turned back and looked Aaron in the eye. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes. I have nothing against Lizett and the handwriting study she uses. And Stanley is a very nice man. But, your mother told me she prefers the old-fashioned way. She suggested after I listen to what everyone else has to say, I need to listen to myself and follow my heart.”