Gabrielle: Bride of Vermont (American Mail-Order Bride 14) (3 page)

It’s quite unusual for a man to seek a wife simply for companionship, and I must tell you, it’s quite unexpected to have this request before me now. Even more surprisingly, I find myself delighted to have received a letter from a woman in whom you might be interested. Clyde’s letter and hers arrived on the same day. In light of the contents of both letters, I believe this wasn’t a coincidence, but more of a divine appointment, if you will.

In the interest of time, I am forwarding Miss Gabrielle Petersen’s letter along with this one, as I want there to be absolute clarity of her intention. If you find yourself in agreement, please respond directly to me with the funds for passage by train from Beckham, Massachusetts, to Dallas, Texas, and also by stagecoach from there to Wiggieville, Texas. I will make further arrangements and notify you of Miss Petersen’s expected date of arrival should you both be willing to proceed. My fees and other financial consideration are listed on the attached ledger.

Your response must be in the form of a letter to Miss Petersen, which I will read first. I implore you to be just as candid as she is. You both have unusual stipulations and must be in complete agreement before I will make any arrangements for travel. Please respond immediately, advising me of your decision, as I expect Miss Petersen at any time. If all goes as expected, you will receive a telegram from me informing you of her travel departure and expected date of arrival.

Most sincerely,

Elizabeth Miller

“Do you know what this is, Clyde?” Boone asked nervously.

“I didn’t read it, but Elizabeth told me what it’s all about.” Clyde looked at his friend. “Are you just gonna sit there, or are you going to read the letter from the young woman?”

“I’ll read it. I just didn’t expect to hear something so quickly. And if I’m telling it like it really is, then I gotta say I didn’t expect to get an answer at all! I thought I’d made it near impossible for God to work out the details on this one.”

“Our God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. This just might be one of those things.”

“What’s the address of that one? Ephesians?”

Clyde nodded and gestured toward the other note, which was still folded and held by Boone.

He looked down and slowly began to unfold the letter, his pulse picking up a beat or two. The handwriting was attractive, with flourishes and a beauty that reminded him of the scrollwork he frequently used while working with leather.

Dear Miss Miller,

I find myself rather shocked to be writing this letter. I was living in Lawrence, Massachusetts, when a terrible fire burned down the textile mill where I worked for years. The mill closed down immediately, and I was unable to obtain employment anywhere. Of course, you know of the event, as I’ve been told you’ve been helping several of my friends locate husbands.

Being a diligent and hard worker, I was dismayed at being unable to find employment in the weeks that followed. This was a great disappointment to me.

I decided I would move to Blackwood, Vermont, to live with my mother and find work there. Unfortunately, that plan ended devastatingly. Therefore, I am now seeking your services.

I will go wherever I need to go, and I’ll work tirelessly. I am adaptable. It would please me greatly to find a man as far west as possible who’d be willing to support me. I’ve read of wide prairies, distant sunsets, and wild horses, but I’ve lived and worked in crowded cities my entire life. I long to be free of the chaos that surrounds me.

I’m looking for a partner more than a husband. That is to say, I want a husband in name only. I’m sure there must be a fellow out there who has need of a true helper. I would be content to assist a man in raising his children if he’s a widower. I am not picky.

I must be honest from the beginning and emphasize that I want nothing more than to work and to be safe. It wouldn’t matter to me if the man were old or homely. I will work hard for a roof over my head and food on the table. I doubt you can find a man who’d take a woman who has no need of affection, but that is who I seek. I would prefer something more like a business arrangement than a marriage. 

I have dark hair and blue eyes. I am tall and maybe a bit thin, but I am a strong woman, nearly thirty years old. I would be able to travel with little or no advance notice.

Respectfully,

Gabrielle Petersen

Boone quickly glanced over the rest, which was more about contact details. Next, he read the letter aloud for his friend’s benefit. When he was done, he looked at Clyde with raised eyebrows and a smile. “What do you make of that?” he asked slowly.

Clyde stared at him and grinned, astonished at what the letter had said.  “More importantly, what do
you
make of it?”

Boone stood up quietly and walked to the edge of his porch, staring out across his land at the horses running playfully in the corral. He pointed.  “Would you call that a prairie?”

Clyde joined him, reaching over and placing a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “I’d call it pretty darn close.”

*******

Dear Miss Petersen,

I’m Daniel Boone Dillingham. Folks call me Boone. I live a few hours, by stagecoach, southwest of Dallas, Texas. I own several acres of land, where I raise and sell horses, outside of town. That’s Coltonville, by the way. I also make saddles, which is my primary livelihood.

I’ve been a widower for a long time and have decided that I’d like a woman to come and live out here with me. I’m willing to take care of a wife, providing food, shelter, and a safe haven. I have plenty of room in my house, though it’s probably not as clean as a woman would appreciate, so I could use some help there.

I want someone to enjoy life with, maybe passing the time watching the sun set from my front porch from time to time. I need someone to work alongside me on my ranch, occasionally. I won’t lie. I’ve been a bachelor for a long time and I’m just plain wanting someone to talk with now and then. I’m not interested in romance so I’ll just say that right now and be clear about it. I know it’s an unusual request, but that’s what I’m committed to. A companion partnership. Nothing more, and nothing less.

I’m respected in the community and I guess I’m not too bad to look at, if it matters any to you. With a marriage based on the commitment to work side-by-side, I don’t reckon looks are too important, anyway. It’s who we are on the inside that matters, isn’t it?

From what I read in your letter, it sounds like we might have a mutual understanding between us.  If you’re willing to join me on the terms I’ve mentioned, then I’ll look forward to meeting you in Wiggieville when Elizabeth Miller says you’ll be here.

Best wishes,

Boone Dillingham

Boone hurriedly rode to the post office in town and mailed the letter before he lost his nerve. He was fairly certain that once Gabrielle Petersen it, she’d probably reconsider, seeing as how he wanted a marriage in name only. Thankful that Elizabeth Miller would decide whether or not the woman should join him, he felt a sense of relief. If Preacher Clyde trusted Elizabeth’s judgement, then so would he. Boone determined to put it out of his mind and trust in the Lord for the outcome. That’s what he’d been doing for the last eight years, and things had worked out all right.

CHAPTER THREE

Beckham, Massachusetts

Gabrielle’s palms were sweaty in spite of the frigid air. She stared at the closed door in front of her. Could she do it? Would she be able to step through the doorway and start a life that would be completely different from what she’d ever imagined? Thoughts and misgivings swirled through her mind. Even though she knew the answer, she still wondered with dismay how it had actually come to this.

Once she knocked on Elizabeth Miller’s door, she knew she’d follow through with the ridiculous path she’d started on. Taking a deep breath, she knocked firmly, keenly aware that her knuckles seemed to have a mind of their own. She felt strangely detached from her body. Her thoughts flew in several directions and her body felt numb, but she was driven to complete this mission.

A nicely dressed gentleman greeted her warmly when he opened the door. “Good afternoon. May I help you?”

Gabrielle bit her bottom lip and stared, wide-eyed. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words were forthcoming. Her heart raced, but and she wanted to respond, so she tried clearing her throat.

Still, no words.

He smiled patiently and asked, “Are you here to see Elizabeth Miller?”

Gabrielle nodded once, her blue eyes wide and nervous. Apparently that was all the information he needed since he opened the door widely and gestured for her to enter. “Miss Petersen?”

She found her voice as she stepped into the well-appointed home. “Yes. Thank you. I’m Gabrielle Petersen.”

He led her to an office with a small sofa and gestured for her to sit. “Miss Miller will be with you directly.”

Gabrielle sat and breathed in and out deeply. She exhaled slowly once more as a nicely dressed woman with a warm smile stepped in and introduced herself.

One glance at Gabrielle and she knew just what was needed. “It’s rather chilly outside, Miss Petersen. I’m going to have a cup of hot tea. Will you join me?"

Gabrielle nodded and watched as the woman stepped into the hall and asked someone to bring tea and cookies. Elizabeth stepped over to her desk and picked up an envelope. “I’ll be right back. In the meantime, here’s a letter that just arrived for you.” She smiled at Gabrielle before leaving the room.

When Gabrielle saw the return address, tears stung her eyes and she quickly opened the envelope from one of her previous roommates in Lawrence.

My Dearest Gabby,

I can’t tell how grief-stricken I became when I received the sad news of your mother’s passing. I know how much you loved her. It brought home the fact that if I were to stay on with my parents any longer, my mother might quickly suffer the same fate, if by more violent means. That very night, I answered an advertisement from the
Groom’s Gazette
Roberta gave me when you all left Lawrence. There was nothing else I could do…or rather, *would* do. You will never guess where I will be going with my new groom, Matthew Turner: ALASKA!

You must remember how much I’ve longed to see the great glaciers described by John Muir. On top of that, my “husband” has even less interest in being married than do I. This is my dream come true! I arrived in Seattle yesterday, and we were married scarcely minutes after that.

I hope for your sake that Miss Miller found you a gentleman just like Matthew. Although very handsome, in a snooty sort of way, he has no apparent interest in me whatsoever. What a relief. Our steamship to Sitka leaves in the morning. I will write again once I’m settled, but in the meantime, please continue to send correspondence to my mother.

I miss all of my roommates so very much, but I’m also terribly excited about this amazing adventure!

With Love, Poppy

Gabrielle was thrilled to hear from one of her roommates. She missed them all, though she and Poppy were most alike. Neither wanted to marry. And here was Poppy preparing to move to Alaska. Gabrielle couldn’t believe it. She read it again before a maid appeared and placed a tray down on a small table.

“May I call you Gabrielle?” said Miss Miller as she came into the room.

“Yes, and thank you for the tea, Miss Miller. And for the letter. It’s so good to hear from Poppy.” Gabrielle took the proffered cup gratefully.

“You’re quite welcome. I’m happy it came in time for you to receive it. Now then. Please, call me Elizabeth. You needn’t be as nervous as I can clearly see that you are. Gabrielle, you’ve made no commitment yet and can still change your mind. Now, what questions do you have for me?”

“Is it that obvious?” Gabrielle laughed nervously.

“Nearly every woman who has ever come to me for help has felt just about the way you do right now. It would be strange if you didn’t have some reservation.”

The kind look in Elizabeth’s eyes, and the tone of her voice had a calm and soothing effect. Gabrielle immediately relaxed and decided to enjoy her tea. She was in control of her life. She could still change her mind, couldn’t she?

“Well, I do have a question. What if I get there and can’t go through with it?”

“What is it that you want, Gabrielle? I mean, from Mr. Dillingham. What are your expectations? You must be sure, right now, of your reasons for going, or you’ll change your mind before you get there.” Elizabeth reached for a file on her desk and found the one with Gabrielle’s name on it. She opened it and waited for Gabrielle to answer the question.

“I don’t want to have to worry where my next meal is coming from. I want someone whom I can count on to protect me if needed and who’ll keep a roof over my head so I don’t have to wonder where I’ll be sleeping that night or a month down the road. I want to work for my keep and have nothing private expected of me in return. If I can have a mate who becomes my good friend, I’ll take that as a bonus. I just want a civil partnership with a trustworthy person.”

Elizabeth looked into Gabrielle’s tired eyes. There was pain there, although the woman had not shared much with her about her past. She knew that Gabrielle was alone in the world and had come to her by way of Roberta McDaniel following the textile factory disaster.

“Well, I can see that you’re determined. You read Mr. Dillingham’s letter and have decided you want to go, or you wouldn’t be sitting here now. Is there something that is making you second-guess your choice?”

Gabrielle was silent. If she told Elizabeth of her fears, would she stop her from going to Texas? The woman certainly had the power to stop her simply by not giving her the train ticket and the information on Boone Dillingham. She chose to be honest.

“I still want to go, but I’m afraid. My mother was married to my step-father for many years. He provided for her in terms of a place to stay and such, but he wasn’t as good a man as he wanted the world to think he was. Mother stayed with him because she’d taken a vow. I guess I’d do the same. If I make a vow, then I’ll be committed.” Gabrielle paused and waited to see if Elizabeth would give any response.

“Are you saying that you would stay married to a man no matter what?”

Gabrielle was cautious with her answer. “I think I feel that way. In theory, anyway. But—” she hesitated.

Elizabeth waited until Gabrielle looked at her again. When they had eye contact, she finally spoke with clear intention. “My dear, no woman should ever stay with a man who would physically harm her. Staying married, or not, is an issue of no concern if a man beats his wife. That can be dealt with later. In the unlikely instance that were to happen, you get away. There’ll be enough money for your ticket and travel expenses if you go. You just make sure you keep enough to telegram for help if you need it, and I’ll make the arrangements. All right?”

Gabrielle nodded. Tears threatened to make their way to the surface, but she wouldn’t allow them. She was not one to cry easily.

“Furthermore, you are going to a place where there are good people. I have personal friends in Coltonville whom you can count on for anything you might possibly need. Clyde and Mattie Williamson have been like family to me for many years. My mother and Mattie’s mother were close friends, and I took care of her mother before she passed. They are precious people.” Elizabeth slid a piece of paper across her desk to within Gabrielle’s reach. “Here are their names and address. You can trust them completely. Does that help?”

Gabrielle exhaled. She felt like she’d been holding her breath forever. "Yes, this helps. Thank you.”

“I knew it would. Now, on to the next big thing and please pardon my frankness, but I must ask. I’m sorry, but there’s really no way to be delicate here. Are you prepared to live a life of celibacy?”

Gabrielle laughed out loud and then quickly covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I thought you were going to ask me something hard!”

Elizabeth looked at Gabrielle with raised eyebrows, clearly questioning her response.

“I’ve remained pure. I have no desire to be otherwise. To tell you the truth, when I read Mr. Dillingham’s letter I felt as though I’d been given a gift. I have no need of romance or physical affection. My mother married a man who had charmed and delighted her when they first met. He turned out to be something other than the image he portrayed in their early marriage. Nothing could please me more than finding a man who will understand my desire for… well, let’s call it a desire for peaceful companionship, with a clearly marked boundary for appropriate physical distance.”

Elizabeth shook her head and shrugged. “I’ve been a matchmaker for many years and have seen many ladies come and go. I don’t think I’ve ever matched a pair who both so clearly express a desire against physical intimacy. It makes me wonder what your outcome will be. I do hope you’ll stay in touch!”

The women spent another half hour chatting and discussing arrangements before Elizabeth accompanied her to the train station to purchase a ticket to Dallas, Texas. “Do you want to leave tomorrow, or would you prefer to wait another day?”

“Tomorrow is fine. I’d leave today, if it were possible.”

“When you arrive in Dallas, you’ll need to make arrangements to ride the stagecoach into Wiggieville. There’ll be one going out that same afternoon.” Elizabeth tried to remember anything else she should tell Gabrielle. “You’ll have an overnight rest in the city of Topeka, Kansas. The Brody Hotel is a good place to get off the train and enjoy solid ground for a night. It’ll give you a chance to freshen up. You’ll be more than ready for it by then.”

Elizabeth gave Gabrielle the ticket, as well as money for her trip. She offered to meet her early the next morning and walk with her to the train station, but Gabrielle declined. Most young ladies were nervous or fearful the day before their travel, but not this one. Gabrielle seemed to have worked her way through whatever misgivings she had and was ready to meet her destiny head on.

“Any last-minute questions?” Elizabeth smiled warmly at her newest mail-order bride when she shook her head. “I guess that’s it, then. You’re all set to go. I wish you all the best.”

Elizabeth started to lean in for a quick hug, but gently clasped the hand Gabrielle offered instead.

“Goodbye, Elizabeth. Thank you for everything. I’ll be in touch.”

Gabrielle turned and walked away. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, raising her chin just the slightest bit, exuding a sense of confidence that she didn’t quite feel.

*******

Standing outside of the church building, Gabrielle waited for some kind of signal. She thought she’d hear someone tell her it was time to meet her groom. But she waited and waited, and nothing happened. She peered inside, shocked to see that the church was not anything like she’d expected. There were bolts of cloth leaning against the walls, from the back of the room all the way to the front. Her groom waited, but she couldn’t see his face. It was covered in a shadow of some sort.

Suddenly she heard her name being called. “Gabrielle! Come now or you’ll be too late.” Panicking, she flung open the door to hurry inside. She couldn’t disappoint her groom on their first meeting! She heard a tearing noise and felt a tugging at her waist. Looking down, she realized her dress was unraveling. It had gotten caught on a nail in the doorway, and the seam on the waist was at this very moment ripping apart.

“Come to me, woman.” Her groom’s voice sounded loud, even though he was far away.

“But my dress,” Gabrielle called out. “It’s tearing.” Tears ran down her face.

“Come anyway, friend. I don’t care what you look like. I have some trousers you can wear if need be.”

“No! That’s not right. I have to look my best. Please, just wait a moment longer,” she pleaded.

Gabrielle sat straight up in the bed. Her hands throwing off the blankets, she scrambled to feel the cloth at her waist. Where was the seam? She frantically felt for the ripped material only to discover that her nightgown was bunched up and twisted around her middle.

It took her a moment to get her bearings. She was in the room of a conservative boardinghouse. There was no wedding ceremony. She climbed out of bed, great relief sweeping over her as she realized it had only been a dream. She rubbed her cheeks with the palms of her hands, trying to shake the nightmare. It was only a dream about a torn wedding dress. She wasn’t leaving for Texas until tomorrow morning.