Page 293 of Conveniently Wed
“My gracious, dear. What brings you to our door? I don’t think I’ve seen you around these parts before.”
“Wagon wreck,” Aundy managed to say as she struggled to draw air into her lungs. If she hadn’t been wearing her hated corset, she’d have been able to run to the house with no trouble.
“Wagon wreck? Where? On the road?” The woman stepped out on the porch and gazed in the direction of the road.
“Yes, not far.” Aundy moved back, mindful of getting mud on the woman’s spotless white apron or lavender dress.
“Is anyone hurt?”
“My husband. He’s pinned beneath the wagon.” Aundy tamped down her growing sense of panic.
“What’s your name?”
“Aundy. Aundy Thor… Erickson.” Aundy corrected herself at the last moment, remembering her name was now Erickson.
“Are you Erik’s bride?”
When she nodded her head, the woman bustled across the porch and picked up an iron bar. She beat it against a triangle hanging from the porch eaves.
Aundy breathed deeply as air filled her lungs. “The pastor married us earlier today. The horses spooked and the wagon flipped over on Erik.”
“Oh, my gracious. The boys will be here soon and they’ll take care of everything.” The woman motioned for Aundy to sit on a chair by the door. “I’m Mrs. Nash, but I hope you’ll call me Nora. I’ll run in and telephone the doctor. You’re welcome to join me.”
“Thank you, Nora, but I’ll just…”
Nora disappeared inside the house, unable to hear the last of Aundy’s words. She was gone only a moment and returned to the porch just as Aundy heard pounding feet racing toward them.
“What’d you ring the bell for, Ma?” An extremely tall, incredibly attractive man took the porch steps in one long stride and stopped next to Nora. He noticed Aundy standing off to the side and gave her a brief perusal before turning to his mother with a quizzical expression.
“Aundy, this is my son, Garrett.” Nora made a brief introduction. Turning her attention to Garrett, she pointed her finger toward the road. “Erik Erickson was in an accident. According to his new bride, the wagon is just down the road on top of him. I think you better get down there and see what you can do. I tried the doc but no one answered my call, so we should send someone to fetch him.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Garrett jumped off the porch and ran in the direction of the barn.
“Why don’t you come inside, dear, and we’ll see about getting you cleaned up.” Nora reached out to grasp Aundy’s mud-covered hand.
Aundy pulled back and began moving down the steps. “Oh, no, ma’am. I couldn’t bring this mess inside your home and I promised Erik I’d be right back.”
“I wouldn’t mind, honey. You’ll catch your death all muddy and cold like you are,” Nora said, taking a step toward her. Before her hand could reach out to the wide-eyed girl, Aundy turned and started running down the lane.
Garrett hustled out of the barn on his horse, accompanied by Tom, one of the ranch hands. Stopping at the porch to speak with Nora, Garrett motioned Tom on down the driveway.
“Go on and get the doc and the pastor if he’s home,” Garrett instructed then turned his attention to his mother. “I asked Jim to hook up the wagon. Maybe you could bring some blankets and whatever medical supplies you can round up. I don’t know what kind of shape we’ll find things in, but it might be a help.”
“I will, son. Go on, now, and see what you can do. I’ll be there as quick as Jim’s got the wagon hitched and I let your father know where we’re going.” Nora gave Garrett’s leg a pat before he urged the horse forward.
Garrett hurried his big bay horse down their lane to the road. Caught off guard when he answered his mother’s summons, he never expected to see a woman standing on the front step covered in mud from head to toe.
A hat that had probably been the height of current fashion perched on her head like a dead bird and mud-streaked blonde hair fell down around her ears, trailing along her back. The dress she wore was finely made, but he doubted she’d ever get all the mud out of the burgundy wool.
He tried not to think about her eyes, the same shade of blue as the sky overhead, or her extraordinary height. Under all that mud, he would bet that Erik’s new bride was quite striking in appearance.
She certainly didn’t rattle easily, since she hurried to their house for help even though they were all strangers to her.
Near the end of their lane, he spotted Mrs. Erickson doing her best to run in the mud. It sucked at her feet and pulled her off balance but she continued at a brisk pace. He watched as she glanced over her shoulder at him then came to a stop.
“How about I give you a ride?” he asked, holding out his hand for her to mount behind him.
“I don’t want to get you or the horse dirty,” she said, shaking her head. “But thank you for the offer.”
