Page 40 of Mail Order Bride

“I'm not stupid. And I'm not blind, either.”

There was a long silence. I'm not really sure what he can say that will make any difference.

But then he calls my bluff. “My daughter isn't going anywhere without me. Maybe I ought to go with you two and check things out. See for myself what Gina's getting herself into. There,” he says, brushing his hands together. “That's my price.”

“Are you even well enough to make the trip?”

“I’m as well as I’ll ever be,” he says stoically. “And if my daughter decides to do something stupid and marry you, I’m damn sure gonna be there or die tryin’.”

So this is how I end up regretting not driving straight on through. This is how I end up headed south with one passenger too many.

Chapter Thirty-One

Gina

Everything has been so out of sorts. First, Chad Hensley’s death, and then the men, my potential suitors, started dropping out. Men who had written to me suddenly stopped writing back. I didn’t understand why. Maybe I’d chosen the wrong men. Maybe they were too scared to come and see me. Or maybe they didn't like the idea of an arranged marriage, after all.

I couldn't help but notice that my father had been reading through the letters, just as he had been with all the others. But then something happened that I wasn't expecting: he started writing back to these men. I overheard him talking on the phone to one of the men, a man I'd written to. I didn't understand what was going on. I only knew my father was being sneaky.

Maybe he liked Joel more than he let on. My father has a reputation for being difficult.

I decide to use the drive down to Texas to have a serious talk with him. I want to know what is going on. He is too old to play games, and I want to get to the bottom of it. When Joel stops to make a phone call, I turn to Daddy, and say, “It’s time to talk.”

He looks tired, like the drive is taking a lot out of him. “What is it now?”

“You've written back to some of the men that responded to the ad. What gives?”

“What’s it to you?” he says. “You’re otherwise engaged, it seems.”

“I like Joel. He’s a good man.”

“What’s not to like?”

I don’t know how to answer him. Joel doesn’t put in that much effort, he doesn’t try too hard, and I like that about him. It means he won’t expect too much.

“I don't know,” I say. “But I guess I'll find out.” I reach over and pat his hand. “That's what this trip is all about.”

“Look at this old truck,” Daddy huffs. “It's a piece of junk. I doubt it'll even make it from here to Texas. And look at the way he dresses. He is not a man of means. What does he have to offer you?”

“He has a house on a lake.”

“It takes more than a roof over your head to make it in life, honey. Just think about it—you could have businessmen, men of industry. Politicians. Men with power and money. And you want a guy that digs holes for a living?”

“I am thinking about it,” I say. “I love him.”

“You don’t even know him. You might be feeling something, but it ain’t love, honey.”

“I know how I feel, and I feel Joel is the one.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he says, brushing me off. “Who can tell things about the heart—especially young and inexperienced hearts?”

“You’re the one always saying I have a gift! That I can use my mind however I want. That I can read people.”

“Even gifts can be wrong.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so against this—you’re the one who wanted me married. You’re the one who placed that ad!”

“I want the best for you, love. And he’s not it. It’s a short life, but marriage is a long road. It takes more than feelings.”

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