Page 18 of The Drifter's Bride
Addison laughed. “I may be new to town, but I’m not deaf. I hear whispering about you finding wives for the men. Is that what you are doing? Going to meet these prospective wives? Did you find a wife for Luk- I mean Mr. Arkin?”
Aunt Ingrid smiled at her gently. “Yes. I’m going to meet prospective wives. There are two coming today. One is grieving for her husband, and the other is looking for a man to take care of her.”
“I guess it must be hard out here without a wife.”
“It’s lonely.”
“Did you miss Uncle Weston when he left without you?”
“Of course, I did. That’s why I followed him out here.” Aunt Ingrid put her hand on her hip. “What are you getting at, child? Did something happen between you and Lukas?”
“Oh, no.” Addison wanted to correct anything that might be misconstrued. “Mr. Arkin was a perfect gentleman. I was just thinking it must be hard if you don’t have anyone to share your life with.”
“Your water is going to get cold. You must have gotten your head addled from being stuck in the rain. Now don’t you go thinking thoughts like that, Addy. Soon you’ll be returning home and you’ll get married to that nice young man.”
“He’s not nice.” Addison blurted, scarcely aware of the words escaping her mouth. She just knew if she kept them bottled up inside her, she would burst. “He’s ugly and crass, and is only after Papa’s money. I don’t even think he likes women. I don’t want to marry him, and no one can make me.” Once the words were out, she let loose a loud gasp and slapped both hands over her mouth. Aunt Ingrid pressed her lips together in disbelief. “Oh, Aunt Ingrid, you must promise never to tell Papa what I just said. It would break his heart.”
With a nod, the older woman grasped the handle of the washroom door. “I need to go, but we can discuss this later.”
With a swish of fabric, she left Addison alone in the small room. Quickly shimmying out of her undergarments, Addy dropped them on the floor before climbing into the tub of warm water. As she washed herself, she thought about how Mama would appreciate having hot water without having to heat it in pans. She would have to write and tell her about it.
She wondered how far her brothers were from Aunt Ingrid. They had settled in a town called Silver Creek. Perhaps one of her cousins might take her out there to visit. If she was lucky, maybe she could get Lukas to escort her to see them.
Giving the water a brief splash, she knew that wouldn’t happen. Uncle Weston had probably warned Lukas to stay away from her. At least she had time on her hands, and anything could happen between now and when she had to return in the fall.
Would it be wrong if she prayed the women were pox-scarred and unattractive? She asked God to soften her heart.
Yet, please don’t let Lukas fall in love with either of them, she hoped.
She needed to convince Aunt Ingrid that she had fallen in love with Flat River so that they wouldn’t send her home. Then if she and Lukas just ran into each other, so be it. He worked with Uncle Weston, so it wouldn’t be unusual for her to see him. And if they ran into each other enough, perhaps she could get him to fall in love with her?
Maybe even enough to marry her?
She had watched the way Uncle Weston treated Aunt Ingrid. It was so different from the way her parents interacted with each other. They would hold hands on the way to the barn. She saw him steal a kiss before he rode out to the pastures. Her aunt made sure he was well-fed before he headed out for the day. Addison even caught her aunt praying for Uncle Weston and all her children throughout the day.
They were constantly touching and whispering, even after thirty-five years of marriage. There was no doubt they loved each other deeply and Addison wanted a love like that.
She would have a love like that.
She lathered her hair, then rinsed the last of the mud from it, all the while continuing to plan.
First, she needed to write a note to Papa, letting him know how much she loved Nebraska and didn’t want to return to Boston. It needed to be enough of a letter to make sure that they would eventually come to see her.
Then she could work on Aunt Ingrid and Uncle Weston. How could they not be happy finding a wonderful husband for their niece?
Well, that might not be true for Aunt Ingrid. She had only said it was too soon for Addy to decide that she loved Flat River. Papa wanted her home in October, and Uncle Weston had clarified that she would be on the first train back to Boston after the apple harvest.
But what if she found a husband before then?
She needed to figure out how she could run into Lukas without them becoming suspicious.
She didn’t want to get him into trouble with Uncle Weston. It also wouldn’t be proper for her to go back to his cabin unescorted. Perhaps she could make him a basket as a thank you for rescuing her. She could get Aunt Ingrid to escort her to deliver it.
That was it!
It would be the polite and ladylike thing to do. He deserved something for keeping her safe.
Then she would see him at church.
