A Mail Order Bride for the Undertaker (Love by Mail #1)(5)

“Almost two months. She’s a very kind woman.”

“I’m sure.” The Reverend placed a hand on Cole’s shoulder and steered him towards the dais. “Listen, Cole, we haven’t talked much since your father’s death –“

Cole chuckled. “I’m right as a trivet, Reverend. I’m gonna be a married man. In fact, I was hoping for you to preside our wedding in a few days…”

“Few days?” Pastor Shepard paused for a moment, but Cole just kept smiling.

“Uhm, of course, a wedding is a wondrous celebration, a union of two souls under God’s blessing, but you and Mercy… Perhaps you should spend a week, or two, together before tying the knot.” The pastor squeezed Cole’s shoulder.

“What’s she like, your bride?”

“She grew up in an orphanage managed by the Sisters of Charity and Father Hector, a Jesuit.”

Pastor Shepard smiled. “A Jesuit? I think I might’ve met him before, then. What does Mercy do?”

“She’s just turned eighteen a few months ago, and already she’s taken on the role of a teacher. She’s been helping around the orphanage a lot.”

“’He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord’.” The Reverend clapped Cole on the arm. “I hope to meet Mercy soon.”

They grasped each other’s arms and Cole left with a light heart.

*

His shirt was a bit smudged near the first button, but aside from that he was clean – well, as clean as one could be in the sunbaked West. He raced to the station holding down the hat, to keep it from falling. The boots he had brushed so carefully were now caked with soft earth. He knew he was late when the church bell rang. The coach was to arrive at eleven.

He wanted to hit himself on the head. How could have he forgotten? It wasn’t like he could rely on anyone else in town to remind him.

Late to their first meeting. What was she going to think? Would she refuse to marry him? He wondered if that was his fate, if he was being punished for what he did last fall. Everyone in town seemed to think so.

He rounded the corner and his heart thumped hard against his chest. She was as she described in the letter. Lithe and pale, and dressed in a light reddish petticoat, she looked out of place, like a red rose in the desert. Everything else around her so dull and plain.

He coughed into his fist, wiped sweaty palms on his pants, took off his hat, and approached her.

“Cole, there you are!”

He jumped at the touch on his arm. Claire appeared out of nowhere right beside him. He almost forgot he asked her to be their chaperone for the first meeting.

“Oh –Claire!”

She rolled her eyes, then turned to Mercy with a smile. “Looks like your groom’s finally here.”

Mercy blushed and eyed Cole for a second, before throwing her gaze to the floor. Cole gripped his hat and took a few steps towards her. He held out his hand. “Cole Beckett. It’s nice to meet you, Miss.”

Mercy took his hand. “Mercy Elkwood. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“What is this, spring dance?” Claire blurted out. “It’s not like you don’t know each other’s names. Well, c’mon now, let’s get you settled, Mercy. Get the bags, Cole!”

Claire’s order jarred Cole out of his trance. He picked up Mercy’s luggage and out tumbled a tiny rag doll.

Mercy made a small cry. Her face had turned red. Cole took the doll and handed it to her. “Is this yours?”

“No. Yes.” She hid her face behind her hands, then shook her head, and sighed.

“Sorry,” She continued. “It was a parting gift from Amy, one of the kids in the orphanage. She wanted to make sure I wasn’t lonely on the road.” Mercy hid the doll in the small satchel she carried. “It’s a bit childish, I know…”

“No, no,” Cole said, “it’s actually… That was very nice of her.” His heart fluttered in his chest, as if it were an excited butterfly trapped within his rib cage. He felt so giddy, he worried he might burst into song any minute.

“Well, c’mon, now. People are startin’ to gawk. The gossipmongers here are like vultures.” Claire linked her arm with Mercy’s, and the three of them walked to Pastor Shepard’s house.





Chapter 3


Mercy smiled wanly at Claire. The woman had taken a liking to her, apparently, and had decided to accompany her to the town shops. Cole had given Mercy some money for wedding shopping, and now she felt like a road agent carrying three sacks of gold. This was the first time she had such a large amount on her.

“You have such lovely curls, Mercy,” Claire began. “I think I know the perfect pin for you!”

She grabbed Mercy’s hand and they trooped inside a dress shop, whose floorboards creaked with every breath they took. “Helena!” The shop shook.

A withered woman with silver hair pinned tight behind her head in a neat bun appeared before them. “Good day, Claire, what brings you – oh, who’s this?”

“Hello, I’m Mercy Elkwood.”

The woman took Mercy’s hand with a pinched smile.

“Mercy’s looking for some great pins for her hair. She’s getting hitched!”

Helena’s faint eyebrows rose. “Oh. Well, we’ve got a lot of new ones over here.” She led them to the shelves at the back.