Catalina’s Cause: The Alphabet Mail-Order Brides Book 3 Read online

  Catalina wrapped her arms around the girl, picking her up and setting her on her hip. She focused her attention back on the man before her. She’d been worried about not having told him about her heritage and hadn’t realized it until the moment she saw the little girl. Surely if he cared for her, he could care for Catalina.

  “Is it alright with your papa?”

  Catalina’s belly fluttered as Oliver smiled, reaching up to touch Minda’s face and once again brush the hair from her eyes. He nodded. “I’d like nothing better.”

  Oliver had been leaning far too heavily on the support the tiny hand he held gave him. His little Minda had been his only support for too long. Waiting and watching for the woman that would hopefully change all of that had his body doing odd things. He had been in more than his fair share of perilous situations as an Army scout, but nothing had made his heart pump the way it had as he’d seen Catalina step off the train. If asked, he wouldn’t have been able to tell someone how he’d known it was her, he just had. He’d felt it deep. He knew she’d be a perfect for him and a perfect for Minda.

  He’d watched her quietly before pointing her out to Minda, and the two of them made their way to her side. They’d watched as the woman she’d been talking to was twirled high in the air by what looked like the town doc. Minda had laughed happily beside him as her little hand tightened her grip and towed him toward their future.

  Now there they were, the three of them. His daughter on her hip with a smile so bright the rest of the world could have vanished and he wouldn’t have noticed. “I hope you don’t mind that I made arrangements for the ceremony to be today. The ranch is a ways out of town, and I thought you might like to be married before we share a home.”

  He held his breath, waiting for her smile to fade or for any other indication that she wasn’t as happy with him as he was with her, only allowing himself to exhale when she nodded. “I’ve only the one bag and a trunk.”

  Relief flooded through him. Oliver breathed deeply and exhaled hard as he leaned down to lift the trunk. “Let’s be off then.”

  Catalina wished she’d had more of an opportunity to clean herself up before she met her husband at the altar, but that wasn’t to be. She sat on a small stool while her new friend set to work on her hair. “I’m so glad you asked us to join you.”

  Catalina was glad she’d had the thought to ask Oliver if he’d arranged for witnesses and that since he hadn’t, Bethany and her husband were still at the station. They’d readily agreed. Joshua’s response to Oliver had eased a bit of her worry as well. Oliver seemed well known and respected in Shady Creek, between the way Joshua had received him as a friendly face and the folks they’d passed on their way to the chapel. Catalina’s nerves were far from settled though. They seemed to be changing faster than she could keep pace with. One moment she was nervous about what kind of person her soon-to-be husband was, and the next she was terrified at the prospect of becoming a mother.

  Minda had been a surprise. Something she’d not at all been prepared for, but she’d found quickly that the little girl had a huge heart, and though she’d never fancied herself to be wonderful with children, the girl had taken to her straight away. Catalina had enjoyed her time spent with the children at Wigg’s Home, teaching them to bake and often bringing them out to garden with Dorothy.

  Catalina had brought with her several dresses, most of which were simple and appropriate for teaching, all but one. She’d only ever worn it once before. Her friend Rebecca had made it for her. She’d made one for all the girls. Catalina loved hers. It was white with deep red flowers that Rebecca had stitched on it, covering the bodice. She’d not often had an occasion to wear it but thought it would be perfect for her wedding day. Oliver had brought her trunk into the back room of the chapel for her. She opened the trunk silently, hoping the dress was not too wrinkled to wear. She hadn’t thought they’d marry so soon, though the more she thought about it, the more naive she realized she was. Bethany gasped as Catalina pulled the dress from the trunk. “It’s stunning!”

  Catalina smiled. “Rebecca is amazing. She’s made some truly wonderful pieces. This one happens to be my favorite.”

  “I can see why.” The girl ran her fingers lightly over one of the embroidered roses. “Does she sell her work?”

  Catalina shook her head. “No. We often encourage her to, but she says she just enjoys doing it.”

  “It’s wonderful she loves it so much, but she’s hiding such a talent from the world. Women all over New York and beyond would be ordering from her all the time.”

  Catalina and some of the others had tried to get Rebecca to sell her work. To let others know how great she was. It would have given her more pocket money to make more dresses even, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She made dresses for those in the house and occasionally as gifts for others. She loved to teach.

  Catalina slipped behind the dressing screen and changed from her traveling clothes into what would now be her wedding dress. Once again thankful that Bethany was there, “Could you help me with these buttons?” She stepped back into the room, holding the fabric against her chest. “The one flaw with this dress is that you can’t put it on if you’re alone.” She laughed, looking up and finding her new friend’s face. “Rebecca said that she’d done that on purpose though. That a dress like this or the others she’d created were meant to be seen and that ladies shouldn’t go out alone.” She shook her head. “As if making sure we had someone to button our dress would help keep our reputations intact.”

  Bethany motioned for Catalina to spin around and give her her back. “Did it work?”

  Catalina shrugged but thought about it. “I suppose one could think so. I’m not sure if it was the dresses or not, but one could probably be convinced it was.”

  Bethany fastened the buttons, and with each one Catalina could feel the bodice tightening around her. Her breaths became shallow and hard. She couldn’t fill her lungs completely anymore, the stiffness of the fabric restricting the movement of her body. Catalina attempted to turn around but was too dizzy. Bethany caught her arm. “You should sit. Stay here. Hang on.”

  Catalina focused on trying to breathe as Bethany retrieved the stool she’d been sitting on and brought it to her. “Here. Sit.”

  “I’m alright. Just wasn’t prepared not to be able to take deep breaths. It’s been a while since I’ve worn such a tight bodice.”

  Catalina could tell Bethany was trying not to laugh. “It is something you need to be prepared for. Remember, slow, short, and in through your nose.”

  Catalina nodded, following her friend’s instructions. After awhile the dizziness began to clear, but her head was still buzzing. She found Bethany’s eyes with her own. “I’m doing the right thing?” She tried to make it a statement, but despite all her efforts, it came out more as a question.

  Bethany nodded. “I don’t know him, but Joshua does. He says he’s a good man. He’s what you came all this way for. Him, the little girl, the life you’ll have together.” She smiled softly and helped Catalina from the stool. “You’ll have a good life together.” She shrugged in a moment of pause. “And if not, you won’t be alone. I’m here.”

  Catalina laughed and hugged her friend. “I’m so happy to have met you. I do hope that you and Joshua can visit the ranch soon.”

  “We will. I promise. But first…you need to be married!”

  Oliver waited at the front of the church with the town doctor by his side. He had been thoroughly confused when Catalina had had a plan for their witnesses so quickly, but he was then immediately grateful, not only because they’d have someone to be there for their ceremony but because it seemed that the doctor’s wife had become her friend. Oliver wanted his new wife to be happy in Shady Creek, and having friends would be a large part of that.

  “Nervous?”

  Oliver shook his head. “Yes and no. I’m more nervous for this part than the rest of it.”

  Joshua laughed. “I suppose that’s a good t
hing. I wish I had some advice or something, one married man to another, but for almost as long as I’ve been a husband, I’ve not been living with my wife. I’m very thankful to have her here now.”

  “Thank you for taking time I’m sure you’d rather be spending with her, being here with us…” Oliver started but couldn’t finish, for the moment he looked up the women had come to stand in the doorway. Catalina was absolutely the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. When he’d placed the advert for a bride, he’d never in his wildest dreams imagined he’d end up with a woman that was as stunning and poised as the one he’d watched get off the train that afternoon.

  The men stood silent beside the reverend. Minda was sitting in the front, swinging her little legs from the pew, when she noticed them all staring. She turned and jumped from her seat, running down the aisle and into Catalina’s skirts. “You look pretty!” the little girl exclaimed as Catalina patted her on the head.

  “Thank you, little one.” She took the little girl’s hand and whispered something Oliver wished he could hear. Minda nodded enthusiastically, and the three of them finished their trek down the short aisle, Minda clinging to Catalina’s hand until the last moment where Bethany picked the little girl up and went to stand beside her husband.

  Oliver reminded himself to breathe as the woman who was about to become his wife stood before him. He was at a loss for words when the reverend began. His words seemed far away, an echo in the distance that only registered when he heard his name. “Oliver, do you take this woman to be your wife?”

  He nodded. Unsure of his ability to speak, he cleared his throat. “Yes, I do.”

  His stomach clenched as the reverend repeated the words but directed them to the woman in front of him. “Catalina, do you take this man to be your husband?”

  Relief washed over him as she answered, “Yes, I do.”

  Oliver felt himself smile broadly as the reverend began to speak again, but once again it drifted into the distance. He watched Catalina’s eyes dart between him and his ward, wondering what she was thinking. He could tell she already cared for his little girl, and a hope, deep and strong, took root in his belly that someday, and hopefully someday soon, she’d come to care for him as well. The reverend’s words once again came back into focus. “You may seal your bond with a kiss.”

  Oliver wasn’t sure what to do. He found himself wanting to pull his new bride to him and claim her fully but didn’t want to frighten her. They’d just met, after all. So he stepped forward, carefully watching his bride’s eyes. He reached for her hands, holding them in his own as he leaned forward and placed a soft and gentle, brief kiss on her cheek.

  Chapter Four

  Catalina took a shaky breath in anticipation of the moment she’d thought about so many times in her young life, her first kiss. This wasn’t how she’d pictured it. She’d had visions of courting, huge smiles, and stolen touches; a certain comfortableness before she was so close with someone. But Oliver was her husband. She’d never be closer to another human in all her life. She held her breath as he stepped forward. Catalina thought about closing her eyes but couldn’t. Oliver took her hands. They were rough but gentle. She squeezed his much larger hands within hers as he leaned forward.

  Catalina was surprised when Oliver pressed his lips to her cheek. Only, her surprise was not for him, but at herself. She exhaled the breath she’d been holding as her husband moved away, still holding her hands. She hadn’t known what to expect. She’d been nervous. Scared even, but never did she think she’d be disappointed. Panicking, she tried her best to smile. She didn’t want him to see and misinterpret her response, because truth be told…he’d been absolutely perfect.

  “Shall we go home?”

  Catalina stared at her husband, too many thoughts rolling through her head to allow her to focus on his words long enough to answer. Now that they were married, she had to be a wife. A mother. And that thought brought her back to the little girl sitting in the front pew, still swinging her legs with a huge grin on her face. The girl’s happiness was palpable. Even if Catalina hadn’t been happy, looking at Minda she would have had no choice but to be. She’d come a long way to fulfill the wishes of a woman that she considered her mother, though she hadn’t given birth to her. Madam Wiggs had loved and cared for her and her sisters like they were her own and taught them so much about teaching, but also about life. Now it was time for Catalina to pass along that knowledge, not only to the children she’d be teaching at her school as she once thought, but to a little girl whose story she had yet to learn but that had wide eyes and a big heart.

  Catalina returned her eyes to her new husband’s. She focused, trying to convey all that she was feeling without muddying it with the snarl of “what ifs” and “how can I do this” that was creating a storm inside her head. She nodded. “Let’s. All three of us.”

  They said their farewells to Bethany and Doctor Landry while loading her things onto the buckboard. Catalina hugged her new friend tightly. “Thank you for everything. I can’t wait to see you again. Next time we come into town, I’ll make sure to visit.”

  “Please do! We’ll have tea, and you can tell me all about the ranch and your new home.”

  Catalina pulled away with a smile. “I’m very lucky to have met you, Mrs. Landry.”

  Bethany returned her smile with one of her own. “And I you, Mrs. Wilson.”

  Together they laughed as little Minda ran over and began to tug on Catalina’s skirt. “Come on, new Momma. Let’s go.”

  Catalina bent down, picking up the little girl before settling her on her hip, noting how naturally the child fit there. “Will you show me your favorite places when we get there?”

  Minda nodded. “Mine and Issie’s.”

  Catalina set the girl on the buckboard before Oliver helped her up as well. “Who’s Issie?”

  Oliver laughed. “Isabel. The two of them are thick as thieves. Two halves of a whole that combine to create the perfect storm. Judith has her hands full most days.”

  Catalina settled into her seat between the two. “Judith?”

  Oliver nodded as he set the horses and they were on their way. “Our land borders the homestead of Judith and Nathaniel Harvey. I work their ranch as a hand, and Judith keeps an eye on Minda.”

  “And Issie is their…?”

  “Daughter. She’s the youngest and closest to Minda’s age. Judith is also very pregnant. Which is why they didn’t come to town to meet you today, but they’re waiting for our arrival I’m sure.”

  Catalina said, “That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to meet them.” But what she was thinking was more like a constant stream of panic. These folks seemed very close to both Oliver and Minda. Judith being a surrogate mother to the girl, what if they didn’t approve of her? What if they found her with faults? What if she couldn’t live up to the kind of wife and mother they wanted for their friends? She breathed deeply, focusing on the landscape, so starkly different from her home in New York, before they rode silently the rest of the way to the ranch.

  “Almost there.”

  Catalina looked over to where her new husband was sitting, Minda sleeping with her hand on her lap. He was smiling. She attempted to return it. Her nerves were getting the best of her. She’d tried to focus on other things. Think about the new school and what she’d have to do to get things set up and the word out, but all she could think of was how the Harveys would receive her. Oliver pointed to a spot in the distance. “I know it’s hard, but if you look closely you can see the shapes of the house and barn coming into view.”

  Catalina looked where he was pointing, squinting to try to make out what looked like shapeless lumps in the haze of heat coming from the hard-packed dirt they were traveling over.

  “Our place is a few miles from theirs. Certainly not a long walk and much shorter by horse.”

  Catalina’s heart sank once again. She was failing before she’d even gotten started. She sighed and focused harder as the lumps in the distance b
egan to take shape the closer they got. “Which comes first?”

  “You’ll be able to make out the barn before the house. Nate built the barn first, actually. He lived in the attached bunkhouse for a long while. He didn’t build the house until he’d married Judith.”

  Catalina thought that Nathaniel and Judith both seemed very sweet, and that they probably loved each other very much. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever have that. If she’d fall in love with Oliver, or more importantly, if he could ever love her. It was clear that he needed a mother for Minda. Someone to care for her and probably his home, but was he looking for a partner? Someone to share his evenings and nights with? Someone to build a life with? She couldn’t be sure. The urge to know something about her husband overwhelmed her. Madam Wiggs and her sisters had, on more than one occasion, cautioned her to think much longer before she spoke since she often times had a hard time with saying things before she should. Their voices floated through her head, but she drowned them out quickly. “How’d you meet Nathaniel?”

  “Before I left the scouts, me and Sam both applied for homesteads. After he was killed, Minda and I came to Shady Creek to claim them both. Nathaniel was already our neighbor. He’s been a great friend to me, and his family has been wonderful to Minda. They took us in and even let us stay in the bunkhouse while I built us a small place on our own land.”

  Catalina wasn’t surprised. She’d already decided that Nathaniel and Judith were wonderful people. She had no doubt that all the stories about them would be much the same. “So Minda is Sam’s daughter?”

  Catalina turned and watched Oliver as she asked him about Minda’s family. His smile faded. He nodded. “Sam was my partner for many years. I knew him better than anyone ever. Minda was his pride and joy. I’d never seen him happier than the day she was born.” He focused his attention back to the little girl whose sweet head was nestled in Catalina’s lap. “When her mother passed, Sam was devastated. He wanted to get out and build a life for the two of them. He wanted to make sure that they could stay in Arizona. He wanted Minda to know her heritage.” Oliver lifted his gaze to Catalina. His eyes were dark and his mouth in a hard line. “His life ended before he could leave. He was so close he’d let his guard down. We both had. We’d thought we were in the clear.” He shook his head as if to expel whatever had happened from haunting his thoughts. “I promised him I’d take care of her. That she’d have a good life and that I’d keep her close to her people. Shady Creek was the perfect place.”