The Bride Price (37 page)

“We need to talk about what we’re going to do
once we’re married. Where will we live, what will we do for work?
Can you stay with the army and actually make a living?”

Jamie chuckled. “One question at a time,
love.”

Sophie growled.

“I see your wheels turning, Ten-Cow. Let’s
not borrow trouble, all right?”

“Jamie, we’re in a strange place in a strange
time. I don’t know how any of our skills will translate to the
nineteenth century. We’re really good at a few specific things,
namely computers, which don’t exist here. It’s not like I can go
into human resources when no one has ever heard of it. You don’t
have the Internet to tap in this century, so what are we going to
do?”

Jamie raised his hands in surrender. “Sophie,
stop. I’ll talk to Andrew tomorrow about options. Christine would
be a great resource for you, especially considering she knows the
whole truth. She’s smart, honey, I know she’ll have some great
ideas.”

“Despite your irritating logic, I can’t help
but be worried. You have always been the glass half full guy.”

Jamie laughed. “Sophie Jane. You were dying
and God made you whole in an entirely different century.
Then,
He made it so I joined you, and you’re worried about a
little thing like money? You don’t think He’s going to take care of
us?”

Sophie sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right.” He kissed her nose.
“I’m always right. Now, let’s go to bed and concentrate on other,
much more pleasant things.”

* * *

Before breakfast the next morning, Jamie went
to Michael’s office. “You wanted to see me, Michael?”

“James. Good morning. Yes, please sit down.”
Michael indicated a chair.

Jamie entered the room and sat in one of the chairs
facing Michael’s desk.

“As you may or may not be aware, I have plans
to sell off a portion of my property to the east of the lake. I
have always felt the land we have now is too much to take care of,
and I’d like to offer you the option to purchase that section of
forty acres. I’ll give you a fair price, and we can work out
payment details that will work for you.”

Jamie’s eyebrows went up in shock. “Thank
you, Michael. I’ll definitely speak with Sophie about this, and let
you know quickly.”

“Now, I have one other request. You have been
instrumental in the training of the men, and Nona and I’d greatly
appreciate it if you and Sophie would live in our home for as long
as it takes to build yours.”

Jamie took a moment to breathe. “Michael,
this is very generous of you.”

“Nonsense, you would be doing us a great
service. When we built our home, we thought it would be filled with
family, however, the war and life have changed things slightly, and
Nona and I feel as though we’re rattling around in wasted space. We
have both come to view you and Sophie as our family and would very
much enjoy the company.”

“Are you sure, Michael?”

The doctor laughed and rose to his feet. “I
promised Nona that I’d somehow convince you, and she will not be
happy if I come back with a ‘no.’”

Jamie stood and shook Michael’s hand,
suddenly at a loss for words. They walked together down to the
dining room and found the ladies waiting for them. Once the meal
was over and the rest of the group dispersed for their various
duties, Jamie pulled Sophie into the library.

“What?” Sophie whispered.

“You are never going to guess.” Jamie relayed
the conversation with Michael.

“What does this mean, Jamie?”

“It means, my sweet pessimist, that
apparently God has plans for us. So, do I accept?”

“Well, gee, Jamie, I don’t know. What do you
think?”

Jamie chuckled as he pulled her into his arms
and kissed her breathless.

* * *

The next few days were a blur of Nona and
party planning. Sophie felt as though she’d worn a hole in every
carpet in the house with the amount of pacing she’d done in an
effort to stop herself from pulling her hair out. She wasn’t
allowed to lift a finger and it drove Sophie nuts. Waking on the
morning of her “reunion, slash, engagement” party to an empty bed,
she punched the pillow in frustration.

I don’t even have my husband to distract me,
today.

She sat up and noticed several boxes neatly
stacked in the corner of her room. Climbing out of bed, she made
her way to the pile and knelt down to investigate. Before she could
open the first box, a knock sounded on her door. “Come in.”

“Good morning.” Christine poked her head
in.

“Hey there, what are you doing here so
early?”

“Early? Have you forgotten how long it takes
to wash your hair?”

Sophie laughed. “Good point.”

Christine laid a large box on Sophie’s bed.
“Betty is arranging baths for both of us.”

Sophie leaned over to investigate the
delivery. “What’s this?”

“Have a look.” Christine stepped away from
the bed.

Sophie opened the box, and inside was yet
another exquisite gown. Ivory chiffon with tiny green flowers
embroidered into the fabric. Sophie lifted it out and let out a
quiet whistle. “You guys are spoiling me.” She hugged Christine.
“Thank you.”

“I can’t take the credit.”

“You can’t?”

Christine shook her head. “Read the
card.”

Sophie located the card just as Betty came in
with a few of the male staff carrying the large copper tub.
Christine directed the filling of the bath and then left her alone
to read her letter.

Christine returned to find Sophie in tears on
the edge of her bed. “Sophie, what’s amiss?”

“I’m just married to the most amazing
man.”

Christine smiled. “In that case, are you
ready for your bath?”

After her bath, Sophie let Christine assist her with
her hair before leaving her again to get ready next door. Sophie
worried she would be late to her own party, but no one else seemed
concerned, so she tried her best to relax. Her stomach clenched
with nervousness, and she felt a little under the weather.

Christine returned to help with her corset, and then
Sophie stepped into the hoops, petticoats, and finally her gown.
Sophie put the finishing touches on her hair, leaving it to hang in
flowing waves. Just the way Jamie liked it.

Christine gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You
look beautiful.”

Sophie looked in the mirror and felt her
heart swell as she stared at the gown that was almost identical to
the one she used to wear for reenactments. Sophie ran her hands
over the fabric and sighed. Jamie remembered every detail, down to
the size of the flowers, and the feeling of the overlay. Once
Christine’s hair was styled, the girls made their way downstairs.
Jamie paced the foyer, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

“Jamie? What’s wrong?” Sophie reached for his
hand.

Christine left the couple to enter the
ballroom.

“Nothing. I just hate that I couldn’t run up
the stairs and get you myself. Too many people around.” Jamie
leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You look incredible, love.”

“Thank you for the dress. I can’t believe you
remembered all the details.”

Jamie chuckled. “I’m observant. Did you
forget?”

Sophie slid her hands under his jacket and
kissed his neck. “Never.”

“I also put it on you a hundred times.”

“And took it off me a hundred times, if I
recall,” Sophie said with a secret smile.

Jamie kissed her quickly and then presented
his arm. “Are you ready to face our new families, Ten-Cow?”

Sophie slipped her hand into the crook of his
elbow and leaned against him for support. She covered her mouth
with her fingers, took a deep breath, and squeezed her eyes
shut.

He squeezed her hand and she heard the
concern in his voice when he whispered, “Honey, are you okay?”

“Just feeling a little sick.” She dropped her
head onto his shoulder. “I think I got a little overheated
today.”

“Can I get you anything?”

She took another deep breath and forced a
smile. “No. It’s passed. Let’s go.”

They found Nona and Michael standing by the
ballroom doors waiting to escort them in. Sophie’s nerves seemed to
get the better of her, and she clung to Jamie for support. He
kissed her cheek and whispered, “Relax, baby. I’m right here.”

The moment the foursome entered the ballroom,
they were confronted with a sea of faces.

“Surprise!” everyone shouted in unison.

She looked at Jamie. “What did you do?”

Before he could answer, the butler came in
with a cake and twenty-seven candles.

“Make a wish, sweetheart.” Jamie pushed her
gently forward.

“There’s only one thing that would make this
life perfect.” She closed her eyes and blew out her candles. They
fluttered out after one blow, and the crowd applauded as Jamie
kissed her and helped her cut the cake.

“Thank you, everyone! This is a wonderful
surprise.” Sophie beamed at the crowd. “Please,” she motioned to
the dance floor, “dance and enjoy.”

The musicians took her cue and started up a
lively quadrille. Jamie took her hand and squeezed it. “How are you
feeling?”

Sophie grinned. “Perfectly fine.” Her nausea
had gone as quickly as it had come.

“Your ladies are waving you over.”

Sophie glanced at the tables by the French
doors and waved back. Elizabeth and Christine were giggling and
conspiring like teenagers, motioning for her to join them. Jamie
kissed her cheek and whispered, “Join them, love. I’ll find
Andrew.”

She made her way to the table. “What are you
two conspiring?”

Christine laid her palm on her chest.
“Us?”

Sophie smirked as she took a seat between
them and thanked the man who laid a piece of cake in front of her.
Before she could take a bite, however, Michael pulled her aside and
handed her a piece of paper.

Sophie raised an eyebrow in question. “What’s
this?”

Michael smiled. “It’s a transfer of
ownership.”

She let out a quiet gasp. “For what?”

“Have a look.”

She unfolded and read the note, and her eyes
filled with tears instantly. “Michael, I can’t accept this.”

Michael gave a little chuckle. “Sophie, you
have to accept this. You have ruined him for anyone else. I have
been told that he pines when you’re not around, and I can’t have a
horse that doesn’t act like a horse.”

Sophie leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“This is incredible. I love that horse more than you could ever
imagine. Thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure. And, of course, I hope
you’ll keep him in our stables until you can build your own,” he
said.

Sophie saw Jamie and Andrew approaching.
Jamie’s face showed concern, so she wiped her tears and plastered a
smile on her face. Jamie reached her side and Sophie handed him the
note. Michael excused himself and Sophie noticed a smirk on
Andrew’s face. “Did you know about this?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact I did.” Andrew
chuckled. “I almost let you in on the surprise the other day. Did I
cover it up well enough?”

“I had no clue, Andrew. You did well.”

Andrew lifted her hand and kissed her fingers
before leaving them to find his siblings.

Jamie pulled Sophie into one of the alcoves
for a moment of privacy. “What are you doing, Mr. Ford?”

“I am accosting you, Mrs. Ford.” Jamie leaned
down and kissed her.

“Sophie?”

Hearing Christine’s voice calling for her,
she dropped her forehead into Jamie’s chest. “Just when it was
getting fun.”

“Give me a second before you answer her,”
Jamie requested.

Sophie grinned up at him. He got half a
second before they were pulled from their hiding place at the
insistence of Christine. “Time to toast the happy couple.”

Nona waved the couple to the center of the
room and insisted on a few speeches. Sophie blushed under the
wonderful things everyone had to say and generosity of their gifts.
The family spent the next few minutes congratulating them, and then
it was time for everyone to leave and the group made their way to
the door.

Sophie followed the group out onto the porch,
Jamie’s hand firmly linked with hers. They waved as the buggies
disappeared down the drive. Andrew and Christine stood with them,
intending to stay for a bit longer. The evening grew cooler as the
sun set and Sophie sighed as Jamie guided her toward the front
door. “Time to go, sweetheart.”

“Just one more minute? I don’t want to go
inside just yet.”

Jamie shook his head. “Ten-Cow, it’s not
safe. Come on inside.”

“Fine.” Sophie huffed and pulled away from
Jamie to follow him inside. As she turned, she heard a sudden
whoosh, then excruciating pain in her arm, and the sound of her own
voice screaming.

“Sophie!” Jamie threw her to the ground and
covered her body.

Andrew jumped over the porch railing and ran
in the direction of the threat, as Christine knelt beside Sophie
and cradled her head in her lap. “What was that?”

Jamie climbed off Sophie to assess the
situation. Blood oozed from her arm. He pulled out his handkerchief
and pushed it against the wound.

“Jamie,” Sophie moaned. “What happened?”

“You’ve been shot,” he replied as he
frantically tried to get the bleeding to stop.

Sophie pulled away from his hand. “It
burns.”

“I know, baby. Christine, can you get
Michael, please?”

Christine nodded and rushed inside.

“Sophie, I need to get you in the house. I’m
going to lift you, okay?”

“I think I can stand.”

Jamie’s eyebrows puckered. “Are you
sure?”

Sophie nodded and braced her uninjured arm
around Jamie’s neck. With his hand around her waist, he lifted her,
stopping when he heard her whimper. “I’m going to be sick.” Jamie
held her until her stomach settled. “This really,
really
hurts.”