RNWMP: Bride for Theodore (Mail Order Mounties)(6)

“I never said any such thing!”

She frowned at him. “I can read between the lines. You said that you missed my cooking, and you’d marry if there were women available.”

“That I did not say. I said I knew you’d tell me to marry, but there were no women available. Those are two very different things!”

“Maybe so, but I taught Jess to make all your favorite meals. She’s a lovely young lady, and I think if you’ll take the time to get to know her, you’ll adore her as much as I do.” She shrugged. “I always figured that if I could choose my own daughter-in-law, I’d choose her.”

“But, Mom, you don’t get to choose your own daughter-in-law. Of all the crazy schemes you’ve come up with, this is by far the worst! I’m not marrying someone just because you think I should.”

Jess couldn’t stand there another minute. She was humiliated. She walked over to Theodore and offered her hand. “I see you remember me. Your mother told me you’d agreed for me to come. I thought you wanted to marry me. I’m very sorry for the confusion.”

Theodore frowned. “I did agree for you to come. As her traveling companion. Nothing was ever said about marriage!”

Jess couldn’t believe it. How could Miss Hazel do this to her? “Well, you know what? If you feel that strongly about not marrying me, then I’ll just take the next train home to Ottawa. I’m sorry to have inconvenienced you this way.” She walked over to a bench on the boardwalk in front of a small store, plopping her bottom onto it. “When does the next train come through?”

Theodore removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “Thursday.”

“Well, that’s perfect then, isn’t it? It’s Thursday.”

“It is Thursday. And the train that would pick you up just left.”

Jess sighed. “I guess we’re stuck with each other for the next week then.”

“I guess we are.”



The whole time they were getting settled into the cabin, Jess said nothing to Miss Hazel. As much as she loved the woman, she’d crossed a line. Jess had traveled for days thinking she was going to meet the man she loved and spend the rest of her life with him. He’d had no idea he was expected to marry her.

She sighed as she started a fire in the stove. She was sure there was another bachelor in the small town who would marry her, but she couldn’t bear to spend the rest of her life living that close to Theodore, knowing he felt nothing for her. She put a pot onto the stove and added the chicken so it could boil. Theodore had the ingredients for chicken and dumplings—his favorite meal—on hand so his mother could cook. She’d help. That was why she’d learned to make it, after all.

Miss Hazel walked up behind Jess and put her hand on her arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Jess shrugged. “I’ll survive.”

“I didn’t know you were in love with him.”

Jess closed her eyes, embarrassed beyond belief. “Was it so obvious? Do you think he knew?”

“Oh, no. He wouldn’t have known…but he’s a man, and he doesn’t know you like I do. If I’d asked you to marry someone else, would you have agreed?”

Jess shook her head. “How can I marry someone else when I’ve been in love with Theodore since I was ten years old? It’s just not possible.”

Miss Hazel pulled her down into a hug. Jess was tall for a woman, and Miss Hazel wasn’t. Her back hurt a little by the time the older woman released her, but the hug had felt good. Motherly. For all of her years expecting to spend the rest of her life a spinster, she’d never felt as completely alone in the world as she had since she’d set foot in Squirrel Ridge Junction.

“I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you so. I’ll make it right. I promise.”

Jess laughed. “How on earth do you think you can make this right? He doesn’t love me, and he’s angry with me for being here. Of course you can’t make it right!”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Don’t. Please. Don’t try to throw us together. Don’t try to make him love me. If he can’t see what a gem I am, then he’s not worthy of my affection.” Jess said the words lightly, trying to sound as if she was joking. The tear trickling down her cheek gave her away, though.

“All right, dear. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”



Theodore stood outside the door to his own cabin, feeling like a heel. He’d hurt Jess’s feelings, and he knew it. He hadn’t meant to, but the shock of his mother bringing him a bride—well, it was too much even for him to bear. Now he had to be extra kind to Jessica to keep from feeling even worse.

He knocked twice on the door, and his mother opened it wide. “Teddy, come in. Jess was just finishing up supper. She made your favorite.”

He winced. His mother was going to keep trying to throw them together. He could feel it. That was the last thing he needed. “Thank you for cooking for me, Jessica.”

“Please, call me Jess. No one calls me Jessica except my mother when she’s angry with me.” Her eyes didn’t meet his, but she didn’t seem upset. That was a good start.

“Okay, Jess. Supper smells wonderful.” He’d brought over a couple of extra chairs from the office so there would be a place for them all to sit. “One night while you’re here, you’re going to have to cook for all of my friends, Mom. We all miss home cooking, and their moms cook for me when they visit.”