Train Station Bride (9 page)

“Get whatever you need, Julia. I imagine you’ll want to get some things for the house, too. Cramer’s sells furniture and rugs and such. Millie Taylor has a dress shop in town. Maybe she’ll have some ready-made things you’d like.” Jake put his hat on his head. “Get whatever you want. I’ll stop by and pay them next week.”

“I can pick whatever I want for the house?” Julia asked with a smile.

Jake kissed her nose. “Whatever you want.”

* * *

Julia bought blouses at Millie Taylor’s. Fabric for skirts at Snelling’s as well as melting chocolate and bright yellow material for curtains and a deep red and tan check for tablecloths. Old Mrs. Snelling had smiled smugly when she saw Julia. Julia pulled her list from her bag, and soon Jacob Snelling and his mother had to hurry to keep up with her demands. By the time she had ordered everything she needed, the Snellings and Inga were tripping over each other to pile her items on the worn wooden counter. She nearly filled Harry’s wagon at Cramer’s. Three colors of paint, flowered wallpaper, lamps and a round braided rug in gold and browns. Mr. Cramer was tallying up her order when Flossie came in the store.

“About ready, Julia? Harry’s itching to get home,” Flossie said.

Julia pulled on her lace gloves and turned to Flossie. “Oh, yes. I’m nearly finished.” She turned to the balding, rotund man behind the counter. “Thank you so much, Mr. Cramer, for all your help. And you think the chandelier will be here in few weeks?”

Morton Cramer was smiling and nodding. “Yes, yes, Mrs. Shelling. In fact when it gets here I’ll have my boy deliver it. Anything else you need, you just ask.”

Julia stood with Flossie on the sidewalk in front of Cramer’s watching Harry try to squeeze all of Julia’s purchases into his wagon. “Everyone was so nice. Even Old Mrs. Snelling.”

“Probably cause Jake never spent more than two nickels at a time in town,” Flossie said.

“Do you think he’ll be angry?” Julia asked. “He told me this morning to buy anything I wanted.”

“I don’t imagine for long, if he is,” Flossie replied.

Julia climbed up on the wagon seat after Flossie. “He did tell me to get anything I wanted or needed. And his house, well, it needs quite a bit of work.”

“Jake told you told get anything you need?” Harry asked. “Even at Cramer’s?”

Julia plopped her hands in her lap and smiled as she tilted her head to the sun. “That’s what he said.”

* * *

Jake came in from checking the south fields near four o’clock. He had trouble all day concentrating on the problems Slim was talking about. They needed rain soon to save some of the fields on higher ground. A bug of some kind was making headway into the stored corn for the pigs and cows. Two of the hands had run off leaving Jake mighty short-handed with harvest coming soon. But he found himself nearly running to get to the house when he and Slim pulled into the yard. Jake flew into the house, grabbed Julia from behind, swung her around and kissed her.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said.

Julia laughed. “Hardly with my hair pulled up and paint on my nose.”

Jake leaned back to look at Julia and then glanced around the living room. There were open buckets of paint and packages still tied with string. “What are you doing?”

Julia giggled. “Why painting, silly. What do you think?”

There was junk everywhere, and Jake didn’t smell anything cooking. He should have been mad but Julia was grinning ear to ear. “I see you got some things from Snelling’s store.”

Julia whirled around from item to item, showing her purchases to Jake and explaining her plans. “I know I should have put everything away first, but I couldn’t help myself. I just had to get started right away. I’m so excited I couldn’t wait.”

Jake chuckled. “I’ve never been excited about painting.”

Julia picked up her brush and itched her nose with the back of her hand. “Well, I’ve never done it before, and I think I’m going to like it. I’m only painting the trim around the windows. I’m going to wallpaper everywhere else.”

Jake turned around the room slowly. “Mother said she was going to wallpaper this room. I never got around to it after she died.”

“We’re going to have to order some furniture when I’m done, Jake. There’s hardly anything to sit on but these old chairs.” Julia studied the room. “And I think I want tall cupboards on both sides of the fireplace to hold pictures and books. What do you think?”

Jake watched her, hands on his hips. He didn’t know the first thing about decorations and such. “You do what ever you want, Julia.”

Julia ran to her husband and threw herself into his arms.

“Oh, Jake. Do you mean it? Anything I want? Flossie thought you might be mad I spent so much money, but there’s a lot to do.” She looked up at Jake. “I want to make your house a home. Where our children will grow up. Where Danny and Millie want to come and visit. Where we can sit in the evening and talk or read.”

The vision Julia painted slammed into Jake and broad-sided him. A roaring fire, children playing, his wife sewing and he lounging in a chair proud as punch of his family. It was far and away more than he’d envisioned for he and Inga. He pulled Julia close in his arms.

“I’m not mad. Flossie and Gloria have been after me for ages to do something with the homestead. I’ll admit I didn’t know the first thing about it. And I’m sure you do. Did you get yourself something to wear, too?” he asked.

Julia looked down at herself. “This thing is stained beyond repair. I’m going to make it my work dress. I got fabric for skirts and ready-made blouses at Mrs. Taylor’s. I had the most marvelous day.” Jake’s stomach growled. “And don’t you worry about dinner. You go on out and do what ever it is you do, and I’ll have dinner on the table at six.”

Six was later than Jake was accustomed to eating, but Julia seemed so pleased with herself, he didn’t say a word. “I don’t smell anything cooking. What are we having?”

“Mrs. Snelling had jarred mayonnaise for sale. I guess that’s quite a treat out here. I bought a jar and made egg salad. We’ll have sandwiches and soup for dinner. I bought a chicken, too, for Sunday dinner.” Julia cocked her head. “I don’t really know what to do with it, though.” She looked up at Jake wide-eyed. “It still has the feathers on it.”

Jake laughed and kissed her forehead. “I’ll clean it for you.”

“Oh, thank you, Jake.” Julia kissed his cheek and picked up her paintbrush. “Now you run along. I have lots to do.”

He had been summarily dismissed. His wife was busy painting, and he had to pluck a chicken. Jake didn’t care. When Julia smiled it lit up the room. Lit up his life. If fussing and papering made her happy, by God he’d see she could do it everyday. Julia was dabbing paint around the windows and humming. Jake headed for the bunkhouse. Cook’d be serving up stew about now.

* * * *

Julia worked everyday on the sitting room. She wandered around the rest of the house, imagining the colors she would use to brighten them. In the evening, she made intricate lace table scarves for Flossie and Gloria. If it hadn’t been for her sisters-in-law, she and Jake wouldn’t have had bread. Jake worked on his books or read as she sewed. Last night, Jake had helped her unroll the rug. The cream and white and green flowered paper looked beautiful on the walls. The dark green and tan braided rug matched perfectly. Julia sat pictures on the mantel and found a box of things that must have been Jake’s parents in a cupboard. She placed pewter candlesticks and a pipe that must have belonged to Jake’s father on the mantle.

Julia heard Jake come in the house. She had browned butter and fried the trout Danny had caught and brought to her. Julia loved when Flossie brought her children with her to visit. Millie followed her around like a puppy. They had practiced walking correctly with books balanced on their heads and had ended up on the floor giggling. Julia sighed. Life was near perfect. Jake came in behind her and wrapped his arms about her waist.

“Umm,” she sighed as she snuggled back against his chest. “I made fudge for dessert.”

Jake worked his nose through Julia’s hair. “I was thinking about something else after dinner.”

Julia giggled. That part of her marriage
was
perfect. Jake told her she was the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth. When he touched her and his eyes darkened as she imagined they were now, Julia believed it was possible. They made love every night, even when Julia thought she was too exhausted to move. Every time he touched her, she was convinced their loving could not get better. But it did. She was oddly not shy around him, and Jake seemed to enjoy that the most. She knew he watched her every morning pull on her stockings and every night unbind her hair. Even naked, Julia felt perfectly at ease. Occasionally, she would hear her mother’s voice in her head, chiding her for her lewd behavior. It grew increasing easier to ignore.

“Mr. Shelling, really. We haven’t even eaten.” Jake was whispering a bawdy comment in her ear when she heard a knock at the door. “I wonder who that is. And at the front door yet. I don’t think I’ve ever opened your front door.”

“Our front door, Julia. And I still can’t believe you painted it red, inside and out,” he said with a laugh.

“Oh shush. It’ll look beautiful when I get the hallway and the outside of the house painted white.” Julia pulled away from Jake, straightened her hair and went to answer the second knock.

The man standing there wore a checked suit and a bowler hat. Julia didn’t recognize him. But a sense of dread filled her.

“Hello. May I help you?”

“Julia Crawford?” the man asked.

Julia’s palms had begun to sweat and she swallowed. “Yes.”

The man swept his hat off of his head. “May I come in?”

Jake pulled the door open further. “Who is it, Julia?”

Julia’s perfect little life may well be crashing down around her ears in the next second. Her voice quivered as she answered her husband. “I don’t know.”

“Can I help you?” Jake asked.

“I’m here to see Miss Crawford. These papers will testify to my legitimacy. I need to speak to her alone,” the man said to Jake as he held out an envelope.

Jake put his arm around Julia.

“Miss Crawford is now Mrs. Jake Shelling. My wife. Whatever concerns her concerns me.” Julia grabbed his hand, and he squeezed it hard.

The man looked from one to the other. “May I come in?”

“We’re getting ready to have supper. Can only give you a few minutes.” Jake stepped aside with Julia under his arm. He pointed to the horsehair chair in front of the fireplace and seated Julia in the other. Jake stood behind her with his hand on her shoulder.

“What’s your name and what’s this all about?” he asked.

“Frank Smith. I’m a representative of Miss Crawford’s father.” The man sat back. “William Crawford.”

“Her name is Mrs. Shelling,” Jake said.

The man’s head tilted. “From what I heard in town, her name was nearly Mrs. Jacob Snelling.”

Frank Smith would report that entire humiliating experience to her parents. He was staring at Jake. “You’re mistaken, sir,” Julia said.

Jake squeezed her shoulders. “There was a mix-up at the station when my wife arrived. I’m thankful it happened.”

The man smiled thinly. He leaned forward and began to unfold the papers in his hands. “I’m sure you recognize your father’s signature.”

Julia accepted the papers with shaking hands and saw her father’s name boldly etched. “Yes. That is my father’s signature.”

Frank Smith clapped his hands together lightly and smiled. “There is good news, Miss Crawford. Your family is willing to accept you back.” He sat back, “With some conditions of course.”

Julia touched her hand to Jake’s hand resting on her shoulder. “I don’t want to go back.”

“Don’t be too hasty, Miss Crawford. Let me tell you what’s in these papers,” the man said.

“Her name is Mrs. Shelling. One more time wrong, and you’ll be out on your ear,” Jake replied.

Jake had not raised his voice, but the threat was clearly received by Mr. Smith. He addressed Julia as he handed her the papers. “Your inheritance will be intact, and family members will not be apprised of this unfortunate incident as long as you sign this final page.”

Julia swallowed and took the paper. She read till the last line.
Her promise to respect her family’s wishes. No more inappropriate or offensive behavior.
A lifetime spent with a bowed head and a broken heart as well. Tears blurred her eyes. Even with her past she’d never been so humiliated in all of her life. She was certain Jake was coming to like and respect her. She was worried she might love him.

“I don’t want to go,” Julia said and looked up at Jake in her misery.

Jake crouched down beside her and smiled. “Then don’t.”

“A half a million dollars seems worth it to me,” Mr. Smith said.

Jake drew in a breath and glanced from Smith to Julia. “You’re inheritance is a half a million dollars?”

Julia nodded, eyes downcast. “Please don’t make me go.”

“I’m sure the Crawford family would take into consideration anything you could do to make her see reason,” Smith said and stared hard at Jake.

Jake tilted Julia’s chin up and stared at her when he spoke to Smith. “I’ve got plenty of money. More than we’ll ever need. We don’t need her money.” He turned to fix a glare on Smith. “You go back and tell her family to stick their money. I’m not up for sale and neither is she.”

Julia’s shoulders shook and fat tears wandered down her cheeks. She had been scared to death of Jake’s reaction when he heard the amount of her inheritance. Her lip trembled. “Are there any personal notes with those papers?”

Smith snorted. “No.”

“You go back and tell your employer to mind his own business. She’s my wife. Tell them the marriage has been consummated, and no court in the land will interfere. Get out of our house, and don’t come back. Ever,” Jake said.

Smith rose slowly. Jake towered over him. He leaned in close to Jake. “Maybe you need to take some time to think on this. No telling how a man of Mr. Crawford’s stature could help a dirt-hoer in South Dakota. Maybe even a nice desk job with …”