Page 521 of Conveniently Wed
“I have an idea.” He jumped up and hurried through the door.
He soon returned with a length of blue ribbon in his hand. He deftly pulled her hair back and tied it at the nape of her neck with the streamer. Memories of how rough her father had beenwhen he combed and braided her hair after her mother died contrasted with Franklin’s gentleness. She felt him tie a bow and wondered what it looked like. It didn’t matter. With most of her hair up off of her neck, she was even cooler.
As they finished eating, people started bringing gifts to their table. Lorinda opened each one and thanked the giver. More embroidered sheets, pillowcases, and towels than she’d ever imagined owning. Some people brought baskets filled with their own specialties–jams, fruit breads, a handwritten book of family receipts so Lorinda had more choices of what to cook, cuttings from fruit trees, seeds for flowers, so many things she almost couldn’t keep up with them.
Mrs. Oleson had arrived near the beginning and made notes of who gave which gifts. Lorinda looked forward to expressing her thanks to the generous people with the thank you notes she’d been told about during the wedding preparations.
Soon the owner of the Arlington House hotel stood before them. “I’ve got a gift for your wedding night.” He gave a smug smile. “I know you’ll enjoy it.”
Lorinda hoped so. So far every gift had been special to her.
“Franklin, remember when I turned two of the rooms into a special suite for those men from back East that were coming out here to see about buying the larger mines for their companies? I fixed it up real fancy for them.”
“Yes, you showed me after you’d finished it. Looked real nice.”
Lorinda wondered where this was leading.
“Well, you and your pretty wife–” He smiled straight at her. “–can spend your wedding night there, free of charge.” He put his thumbs under his suspender straps and rocked up on his toes and down again.
Wedding night?That’s what they got for not telling the truth about their marriage.In a hotel alone with Franklin overnight?No...no…no...never!
16
Lorinda waited for Franklin to give a good excuse for why they couldn’t stay in town overnight.
“Thank you.” Franklin stood and shook hands with the owner of the hotel. “We’ll be pleased to accept your offer.”
The man turned away with a smile and almost ran into Mrs. Oleson and Stella, who was carrying Michael. After apologizing, he went toward the table where the schoolteacher was serving the lemonade.
Lorinda tugged on Franklin’s sleeve. “We can’t stay at the hotel tonight.” She tried to keep her voice low enough so no one else could hear her comment.
He stared at her. “I didn’t want to offend him by refusing.”
She didn’t care if it would offend the man. She was not going to spend the night in that hotel room. Panic filled her like a flock of birds roused from the trees by a runaway wagon.
Stella reached her side. “This little boy is wanting his mother.”
Lorinda pulled Michael into her arms and kissed his forehead. Why couldn’t her new husband be more aware of her feelings on this matter? She knew the real reason.Because he doesn’t love me as Michael does.
She turned toward Stella. “Did you have any trouble with him?”
“No. He’s been very good.” She glanced at Franklin, then leaned closer to Lorinda. “I fed him a while ago.”
“That’s probably why he’s not fussing now.” Lorinda knew she didn’t want to wait much longer without nursing him.
What if she leaked and ruined her new clothes? Now that she was trapped in town for the night, what would she do for something to wear? Everything had been going along smoothly. Now their lie had created this situation that was about as comfortable as sitting on a cactus. Her heartbeat was as erratic as her breathing.
Mrs. Oleson stopped in front of Franklin. “What did Arnie Holcomb want?”
“His gift is for us to spend our wedding night in the luxury suite on the top floor of his hotel.” Franklin glanced at her, his gaze lighting another blaze inside her.
Lorinda frowned. “We can’t do it. I need to take care of Michael. That will be easier at home.” Anything to get out of spending the night alone with a man who could stir her senses into a frenzy, but didn’t love or want her.
“Nonsense,” Stella insisted. “I can keep him. You only have one wedding night, and you don’t need to be worrying about your son. We get along really well together.”
Mrs. Oleson clasped her hands in front of her waist. “That’s a perfect solution! Don’t you think so, Franklin?”
“That’s mighty nice of you, Stella.” He glanced down at his new wife. “Don’t you think so, Lorinda?”
