Josie: Bride of New Mexico (American Mail-Order Bride 47) (18 page)

That wouldn’t be the end of it, he knew. But they’d continue the investigation at each and every mine until they had them all.

No one would get away with murder. Not on his watch.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Please come to my parents’ home tomorrow night for supper. They want very much to meet you.”

Adam had just returned from visiting his parents, who'd not understood why he hadn’t brought his surprise bride with him. “I told them I’ve married the most wonderful girl in the world.”

Josie sat on the sofa, frozen, the state she reverted to whenever his parents were mentioned. “What did they say? Are they okay with your choice to wed, especially me? They hate me, don’t they? They think I’ve ruined your life.”

“Josie Anne Taylor, I love you. You’re my wife, my heart, my life.”

“Oh, my goodness, you didn’t deny it. They’re
not
all right with our marriage. They hate me already.”

“My parents will see us together, see how gloriously happy you’ve made me, see—” his hand settled on her abdomen, “that we’re a family—”

“
No
. Absolutely not.”

“No?” His gut clenched. She’d been tender-hearted, a little moody since the pregnancy began. But to deny they were a family—

“We can’t tell them about the baby. Not yet. I don’t want them accepting me for the sake of our child. I don’t want them to know.” She gazed up at him. “You told them already, didn’t you?”

More tears. More doubts. 

He’d always thought that as a man, pregnancy wouldn’t be his problem, that the condition wouldn’t affect him. He shook his head at how deluded he’d been.

He eased down beside her. The last thing he wanted was to upset her. He gently pulled her into his arms and she twisted to sob against his chest. “Well… I tell everyone. I tell the grocer, the florist, the boy who delivers the paper. I’m proud as can be, Josie. I didn’t know it was to be a secret. I want to shout it to the world.”

“Well, it
is
a secret. Lessie has to be the first to know.”

Adam chuckled, kissed the top of her head, and held her tight. She’d been concerned about meeting his parents before her pregnancy. Now, it seemed likely they would never meet.

Maybe, if lucky, she’d consider meetings his parents when the child turned eighteen. 

Or perhaps at the occasion of their child’s wedding.

Perhaps
then
Josie would be ready…

The next evening, she wondered how she’d let Adam persuade her into dinner at his parents’ house, of all things. Like she’d be able to eat a bite.

She almost changed her mind. If she faked being sick, Adam would take her home. But then he’d worry, and no doubt all for a doctor. She didn’t want either of those things.

As Adam helped her out of the hired carriage, she lifted her chin. So what if they hated her? Maybe she’d hate them too.

She released a breath. She really wanted them to like her. She’d rarely admitted it, even to herself. But to have parents again, even by marriage… her heart ached.

Family had meant everything to her, had been one of her big reasons for choosing to become a mail order bride. Lessie had been her entire family, until their husbands had brought so much more to the meaning of the word: family.

She knew they weren’t excited about him marrying at age twenty-four. Adam had admitted it. They’d wanted him more mature, more settled in his career, operating the family business.

Adam’s mother probably had someone better in mind for her son.

Adam ushered her inside, and she prepared for their scorn. She would not allow anything they said nor any condescending facial expressions affect her.

An older couple rushed forward as if they’d been lurking about, waiting to greet them in the foyer.

They looked nervous, their gaze darting as they looked at her, at each other, and finally at Adam.

“Mom, Dad, this is Josie.”

His father’s hair was still a rich black, with much silver at his temples, and still looked young. “May I take your coat?”

Adam helped her off with her coat and she gave it up without a word.

His mother was beautiful, and Adam favored her. “Welcome to our home. It’s so nice to meet you.”

Josie remained stiff. “Thank you, Mrs. Taylor. It’s a pleasure.”

Adam had his arm around her back, supporting her. “I’m glad you could all finally meet.”

Adam’s mother shot him a quick glare. “If you’d let us know about the wedding we’d have been there.”

Josie bowed her head, though she didn’t know why she was embarrassed. “It was very quick.”

Adam grinned. “It’s true. I had to rush her to the altar before she got away. I locked her down before someone else saw her and she realized she had other options.”

Josie elbowed him.

“I have something for you.” The older lady pulled out a baby bootie, still attached to a knitting needle. “It’s not finished yet, but the yarn is quite lovely. I thought yellow, but if you prefer another color, I’ll begin another set as well. What do you think?”

Adam
tisk-tisked
. “Oh, no. Now she’ll never know if you like her for herself, or just for the baby, Mother.”

“Adam!” All three turned to chastise him.

His father looked confused. “Of course we like her. In fact, we love her already.”

Josie swallowed as her throat tightened. “Adam told me that right after we met. That he planned to love me, right away. And he did.”

Mrs. Taylor took Josie’s arm and walked her into the living room. “Of course he did, my dear. I can tell you’re very easy to love.”

Josie glanced back to see Adam smiling. Maybe she’d viewed everything all wrong. Maybe his parents weren’t primed to hate her, after all.

“We’ll eat as soon as our daughter arrives. She’s a bit late as usual, but she’s really excited to meet you. Adam said you love chicken, so that’s what I made.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Taylor.”

“Oh, no. You must call me Mother.”

“And me, Father.” Adam’s father was quick to insert.

Tears welled in her eyes and she nodded, startling both parents who looked to Adam. 

Adam wrapped an arm around her once more. “Don’t mind her. She does that all the time.” 

“Adam, I do not.” Wiping her eyes, she turned to Adam’s parents. “I don’t.”

Adam leaned down to whisper in her ear. “What excuse will you use after the baby is born?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why, my poor deceased husband, of course. He died from teasing his wife once too often. It was so very sad.”

Adam laughed, and his parents joined in. 

Maybe they weren’t so bad after all. 

Chapter Twenty-Three

Christmas in Denver, at the home of his parents and younger sister, was destined to be the reunion he’d been looking forward to.

Adam helped his bride down from the hired carriage, and stood with her at the base of the walk toward the house he’d called home— until ‘home’ had taken on a whole new meeting. Home had become his life with Josie.

He ducked beneath her hat, kissed her cheek, and made sure she was steady on her feet.

“Ready to go inside and see your sister?”

He couldn’t wait to reunite his wife with her twin. The previous months had been a challenge, but also a time of bonding and connection.

A time when their own family had become his entire focus.

Perhaps those months in the desert had been a blessing.

CONFLICT:

Carolers made their way along the street, their merry tunes mingling and bringing a joyful Christmas Spirit to his heart.

Someone had cleared the walk of every bit of snow and salted the ice. But he ensured Josie had a firm footing and with one arm about her and his hand at her elbow, he made sure she wouldn’t fall.

Expectant mothers needed to take care, exercise caution, and do all they could to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

At his parents’ door, carolers finished singing
Here We Come A-Wassailing
, and begun a joyful rendition of
Joy to the World
just as Lucinda answered the door— her bright blue eyes and hair every bit as black as Adam’s own— a sight that filled him to overflowing with a sense of homecoming.

He wanted so badly to create this type of family, home, belonging when he’d sent for his wife… and now that he was finally home with the bride his parents had never met, he couldn’t wait to introduce them.

The many letters and explanations had helped to smooth the way. His parents knew Adam and Richard had married identical twins, and just yesterday before Richard and Lessie arrived, Adam had paid his parents a visit, leaving Josie to nap at the hotel. She needed her rest and he’d needed a chance to speak to his parents.

No matter what happened, his wife came first— and if an uncomfortable lecture were to occur, it would have happened for his ears alone. To his relief, his parents had hugged him close, embraced him, urged him to bring his bride home for Christmas.

He’d brought his bride, Josie, to supper the previous evening. They’d laughed and visited and embraced Josie with all the warmth Adam could have asked for.

DISASTER:

Tonight was about reuniting the brides.

His father stood in the doorway, blue-eyed and handsome, his hair more streaked with gray than the last time Adam had been home, well, except for yesterday.

Father ushered them inside to the tunes of the carolers singing joyful verses of the familiar carol.

Adam watched his wife expectantly, knew she smiled with warmth and reunion at his father as Adam helped her off with her coat and hat.

Then Josie was laughing, the melodic tunes warm and sparkling and full of life and vitality.

She pulled her twin to her feet and the women embraced with joyful tears.

Adam reached for Richard’s hand. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you.” Richard shook but pulled Adam in for a back-slapping embrace. “I thought you couldn’t make it home in time for the holiday.”

Adam’s grin stretched even wider. He tipped his head in Josie’s direction. “She wanted so much for this to be a surprise. It was our little secret.”

Richard’s gaze took in the women together, his expression so full of love and abandon he couldn’t withhold it.

“I see, cousin, you’ve learned love is a wondrous thing.”

“She’s… amazing. Perfect. Better than perfect. The most gloriously imperfect woman, the best match for me.”

Adam chuckled. “I do know what you mean.”

REACTION:

His bride, his wife, turned to him then, slipping easily into his arms and with merriment shining in her eyes, stepped into his arms. As they’d done so many times in the past weeks, he swept her into the steps of a dance.

DILEMMA:

His parents listened to the carolers, enjoyed the well-wishes of their neighbors.

Adam glanced at Richard, noticed his focus so wholly on his wife. “Look at them,” he urged Josie, “do you suppose they’re half as in love as we?”

“I do hope so.”

Emeralds set in gold sparkled on Lessie’s finger and Adam recognized the setting immediately as Grandmother’s. Richard had done it, then. He’d presented his bride with the gift Grandfather had pressed upon him with the charge to ensure he found the love of his life and put the ring on her finger within the bonds of matrimony.