Conveniently Wed

Chapter 2

2

C autiously opening her eyes, Aundy tried to recall where she was, what was happening.

She remembered the runaway wagon and shifted her gaze upward. The floor of the wagon loomed above her head while her back rested on the base of the broken wagon seat. Swiftly realizing the wagon was upside down, she felt grateful the seat had kept her relatively safe.

After taking a quick inventory to make sure she could feel her toes and fingers, she discovered her left arm throbbed painfully, but everything else seemed to be in working order.

Carefully turning over, she hoped Ilsa would forgive her for completely ruining the travel suit she had painstakingly remade from some of their mother’s clothes.

Mud oozed through the fabric of her skirt and into her petticoat as she scooted forward over the front end of the wagon. Cold and slimy, it made her shiver as she climbed from beneath the wagon and pulled herself upright.

The horses were both still on their feet, hooked to the wagon. Blood trickled down the hindquarters of the one nearest her. Nervous and antsy, each time they moved, the wagon creaked and shifted. Afraid of them spooking again, Aundy looked around, wondering where Erik had gone.

Two of her trunks sat upended in the road, a little muddy but none the worse for wear. The third rested at an odd angle with the lid hinges broken. A pile of frothy white unmentionables floated in the mud near her bedraggled coat. Hastily gathering her soiled clothes, she rolled them in her coat and set the bundle on top of one of the unbroken trunks.

Upset, she craned her neck, hoping to catch a glimpse of Erik, when she heard a deep moan. She walked around the end of the wagon and drew in a sharp intake of breath. A corner of the wagon bed rested on her husband’s chest, pinning him in the mud with his head twisted to one side.

“Erik,” she whispered, hurrying to him. Aundy dropped to her knees and lifted his head to her lap. “Erik, can you hear me? Please, Erik. Please wake up.”

Another deep moan answered her pleading. Pulling a handkerchief from her pocket, she wiped at the mud on his face and begged him to wake up. His eyelashes fluttered and he finally opened his eyes.

“Aundy?” Erik raised his eyes to hers. Pain and despair filled their blue depths.

Tears rolled down Aundy’s cheeks. “Erik, what can I do? How can I help you?” She had no idea what to do. Nothing helpful came to mind. She certainly couldn’t move the wagon herself and was afraid to get near the horses.

“Unhook the horses,” Erik said, clenching his teeth as the animals moved nervously and the wagon shifted on top of him.

Aundy carefully lifted his head from her lap. She spied Erik’s hat lying a few feet away and slid it beneath his head to keep him out of the mud.

“I don’t know how. What do I do?” Aundy straightened her spine and turned to look at the horses as they took another nervous step, dragging the upended wagon across Erik, causing him to gasp for air.

Finally regaining the ability to speak, Erik gave her instructions using as few words as possible while Aundy swallowed down her fear. She unhooked the horses, just as Erik told her, and hurried back to him. The team took a few forward steps then dropped their heads to graze on the side of the road, unaware of the havoc they created with their wild run.

“Get Garrett,” Erik whispered as she bent down beside him. His voice grew weak and he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Who’s Garrett? Does he work on your farm?” Aundy racked her brain for the name Garrett. Had Erik mentioned anyone named Garrett in his letters? Not that she could recall.

“Neighbor. Garrett Nash.” Erik slowly turned his head in the direction of town.

“Garrett Nash,” Aundy repeated. Erik had pointed out the Nash farm about a half-mile down the road. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Erik didn’t answer but he opened his eyes and blinked.

Aundy grabbed her mud-soaked skirts in one hand while she held her injured arm close to her side and started running down the road, sending a steady stream of prayers heavenward for Erik to be fine. By the time she reached the turnoff to the Nash farm, her lungs burned and she was convinced she’d accumulated so much mud on her shoes and clothes, it added an extra twenty pounds of weight.

She topped the little rise in the Nash’s lane and took in a massive barn and corrals. A big two-story farmhouse offered a welcoming porch that wrapped all the way around. She hated to go to the front door in such a state, but she didn’t know what else to do. After racing up the steps, she rapped sharply on the door, trying to catch her breath.

The door swung open as she raised her hand to knock again. She looked into the cheery, round face of a small woman with dark hair and silvery gray eyes.

“My gracious, dear. What brings you to our door? I don’t think I’ve seen you around these parts before.”

“Wagon wreck,” Aundy managed to say as she struggled to draw air into her lungs. If she hadn’t been wearing her hated corset, she’d have been able to run to the house with no trouble.

“Wagon wreck? Where? On the road?” The woman stepped out on the porch and gazed in the direction of the road.

“Yes, not far.” Aundy moved back, mindful of getting mud on the woman’s spotless white apron or lavender dress.

“Is anyone hurt?”

“My husband. He’s pinned beneath the wagon.” Aundy tamped down her growing sense of panic.

“What’s your name?”

“Aundy. Aundy Thor… Erickson.” Aundy corrected herself at the last moment, remembering her name was now Erickson.

“Are you Erik’s bride?”

When she nodded her head, the woman bustled across the porch and picked up an iron bar. She beat it against a triangle hanging from the porch eaves.

Aundy breathed deeply as air filled her lungs. “The pastor married us earlier today. The horses spooked and the wagon flipped over on Erik.”

“Oh, my gracious. The boys will be here soon and they’ll take care of everything.” The woman motioned for Aundy to sit on a chair by the door. “I’m Mrs. Nash, but I hope you’ll call me Nora. I’ll run in and telephone the doctor. You’re welcome to join me.”

“Thank you, Nora, but I’ll just…”

Nora disappeared inside the house, unable to hear the last of Aundy’s words. She was gone only a moment and returned to the porch just as Aundy heard pounding feet racing toward them.

“What’d you ring the bell for, Ma?” An extremely tall, incredibly attractive man took the porch steps in one long stride and stopped next to Nora. He noticed Aundy standing off to the side and gave her a brief perusal before turning to his mother with a quizzical expression.

“Aundy, this is my son, Garrett.” Nora made a brief introduction. Turning her attention to Garrett, she pointed her finger toward the road. “Erik Erickson was in an accident. According to his new bride, the wagon is just down the road on top of him. I think you better get down there and see what you can do. I tried the doc but no one answered my call, so we should send someone to fetch him.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Garrett jumped off the porch and ran in the direction of the barn.

“Why don’t you come inside, dear, and we’ll see about getting you cleaned up.” Nora reached out to grasp Aundy’s mud-covered hand.

Aundy pulled back and began moving down the steps. “Oh, no, ma’am. I couldn’t bring this mess inside your home and I promised Erik I’d be right back.”

“I wouldn’t mind, honey. You’ll catch your death all muddy and cold like you are,” Nora said, taking a step toward her. Before her hand could reach out to the wide-eyed girl, Aundy turned and started running down the lane.

Garrett hustled out of the barn on his horse, accompanied by Tom, one of the ranch hands. Stopping at the porch to speak with Nora, Garrett motioned Tom on down the driveway.

“Go on and get the doc and the pastor if he’s home,” Garrett instructed then turned his attention to his mother. “I asked Jim to hook up the wagon. Maybe you could bring some blankets and whatever medical supplies you can round up. I don’t know what kind of shape we’ll find things in, but it might be a help.”

“I will, son. Go on, now, and see what you can do. I’ll be there as quick as Jim’s got the wagon hitched and I let your father know where we’re going.” Nora gave Garrett’s leg a pat before he urged the horse forward.

Garrett hurried his big bay horse down their lane to the road. Caught off guard when he answered his mother’s summons, he never expected to see a woman standing on the front step covered in mud from head to toe.

A hat that had probably been the height of current fashion perched on her head like a dead bird and mud-streaked blonde hair fell down around her ears, trailing along her back. The dress she wore was finely made, but he doubted she’d ever get all the mud out of the burgundy wool.

He tried not to think about her eyes, the same shade of blue as the sky overhead, or her extraordinary height. Under all that mud, he would bet that Erik’s new bride was quite striking in appearance.

She certainly didn’t rattle easily, since she hurried to their house for help even though they were all strangers to her.

Near the end of their lane, he spotted Mrs. Erickson doing her best to run in the mud. It sucked at her feet and pulled her off balance but she continued at a brisk pace. He watched as she glanced over her shoulder at him then came to a stop.

“How about I give you a ride?” he asked, holding out his hand for her to mount behind him.

“I don’t want to get you or the horse dirty,” she said, shaking her head. “But thank you for the offer.”

“Come on, we’re wasting time discussing it.” Garrett wiggled his gloved fingers her direction, motioning for her to take his hand.

She walked over to the horse and looked up at him, noticing his eyes were the same silvery shade as his mother’s. “I’ve never been on a horse, so tell me what to do.”

Garrett recalled Erik saying his bride-to-be was a city girl, so he offered her an encouraging smile. Since her skirt wasn’t full enough for her to ride astride, she’d have to sit in front of him. He had no doubt she’d think the proximity to him highly inappropriate.

“Just stick your foot in the stirrup and I’ll pull you up.” He was impressed that she didn’t put up a fuss, instead showing a strong, practical nature when she nodded her head.

Garrett held her left hand to steady her while she gathered her skirts out of the way with her right. He caught her wince.

“Why didn’t you tell me your arm was injured?” he asked, leaning over and grabbing her around the waist, lifting her in front of him. The mud-flecked feather on her bedraggled hat smacked him in the face and he fought the urge to grin.

“It’s fine.” Aundy swallowed back a moan. The throbbing in her arm made her feel lightheaded, or maybe it was the impropriety of riding across a stranger’s lap. With Erik injured, what society deemed proper no longer seemed very important. She stiffened her posture and tried not to think about Garrett’s arms around her as he urged his horse through the mud.

“Sure it is. If I was a betting man, I’d wager it hurts like the dickens.” Garrett observed the woman possessed an obvious obstinate streak. He studied the road in front of him, attempting to ignore the feel of the woman held so close to him as he kept an eye out for the wagon. After rounding a little bend, the wagon was easy to spy, turned over in the middle of the road. It was hard to miss Erik trapped under the back of the wagon, his face a ghostly shade of white beneath the mud coating his head.

Garrett stopped Jester, his horse. He gently held Aundy by the waist and set her feet on the mud-slicked road. Easily swinging a leg over the back of his horse, he dropped to the ground.

“Erik? Can you hear me?” Garrett knelt by his neighbor and friend. Although the man was more than ten years his senior, they often talked over the fence about farming, ranching, and life in general. Erik had been a guest at the Nash dinner table many times over the years and they were all pleased for him when he announced his plans to wed.

Erik didn’t move and appeared to be barely breathing. Garrett took off his glove and felt along the man’s neck finding a pulse, although the beat was faint.

“We need to move the wagon.” Garrett stood and pulled on his glove. He looked around, expecting to see Erik’s team. “Where are the horses?”

“Erik instructed me to unhook them before I went to get you,” Aundy said, sitting next to Erik, holding his head in her lap again. “He said they’d find their way home.”

“They’re probably already at the barn, waiting to be fed.” Garrett had no idea how badly Erik was injured but getting the weight of the wagon off his chest needed to happen immediately. Taking stock of the situation, Garrett noticed for the first time Aundy’s trunks scattered on the ground near the wagon. He strode to where they rested in the mud, picked up the first one, and carried it to the back corner of the wagon. He did the same with the second, placing it next to the first trunk.

“We’re going to have to work together to do this, Mrs. Erickson,” Garrett said, looking into her scared face. He surmised she was much younger than he first guessed. She wore confidence in an easy manner, but currently looked very young and frightened.

The accident was a terrible way to welcome Erik’s bride to Pendleton.

When she nodded, he motioned her to stand at the end of one of the trunks. “I’m going to lift this corner of the wagon. When I do, push that trunk beneath it to hold it up. We’ll do the same thing with the second trunk. As soon as it’s secure, I’ll pull Erik out.”

Aundy nodded her head, frightened by the thought of the wagon falling back on Erik or trapping Garrett as well.

“Don’t you dare use that arm.” Garrett stared at her left arm, still held tightly against her side. “Get down like this and push with your back and shoulder.”

He demonstrated how he wanted her to move the trunks and she got into position, lifting her sodden skirts out of her way as best she could by placing the hem in her injured hand.

Garrett grunted and strained, putting all his strength into lifting the wagon. Finally, he hefted the corner of the wagon off the ground high enough the trunk would fit beneath it. “Now!” The muscle in Garrett’s jaw worked as he bore the weight of the wagon. Aundy quickly slid the first trunk into place, followed by the second.

With a speed borne of fear, he hurried to take Erik by the shoulders and move him from beneath the wagon.

“Get back from there, please, Mrs. Erickson. I don’t know if the trunks will hold it or not and I don’t want you to receive more injuries,” Garrett said, pulling Erik a safe distance away.

If Aundy had two good hands to work with, he would have had her pull Erik out from beneath the wagon when he lifted it. Her injured arm, combined with Erik’s deadweight, meant there was no possible way she could have moved her husband using one hand, no matter how hard she tried.

Curious as to what kept his mother and their hired hand, he turned to mount Jester and ride back to the ranch. The jingle of harness let him know his mother approached.

Jim drove Nora right up to where Garrett and Aundy kept watch over a motionless Erik. Prepared to jump down into the muddy mess, Jim’s restraining hand on Nora’s arm kept her from leaving her seat. “Just stay here, Mrs. Nash,” Jim said, setting the brake and handing her the reins.

“My gracious, Garrett! We’ve got to get that poor man home,” Nora said as Jim and Garrett carefully carried Erik to the back of the wagon and gently laid him on some old blankets she’d spread in the wagon bed. Jim climbed up to the seat while Garrett tied Jester to the back of the wagon then swung Aundy into his arms, setting her close to Erik.

She glanced at Garrett, uncertain his behavior was appropriate, especially since she was now a married woman. His touch made a jolt zing through her from the top of her head to her mud-covered feet. Surprised by his strength, Aundy thought Garrett acted like she weighed no more than a bag of flour and she knew for a fact she was taller and sturdier than many men.

Carefully cradling her left arm against her chest with her right, Aundy continued her prayers on Erik’s behalf while Jim urged the wagon toward Erik’s farm. Only by staring intently at her husband’s chest could she see it barely rise and fall. That had to be a good sign, at least she hoped it was.

The wagon turned and she looked up to see a house in the distance along with a big barn and several outbuildings. While not as big or impressive as their neighbor’s abode, Erik had what appeared to be a solid one-story home with a porch across the front and back, and a yard with a nice fence. His horses stood at the barn dragging the reins of the harness behind them, waiting to be relieved of their burden.

Jim pulled the team to a stop at the edge of the front walk and hurried down to help Garrett carry the injured man.

Nora hustled out of the wagon and ran inside the house before Jim and Garrett made it to the porch steps. Aundy trailed along behind, uncertain what she could do to help.

“Bring him in here,” Nora called from a room off the large living area.

Heedless to the mud dripping from all their clothes, the men carried Erik into the bedroom and carefully placed him on an oilcloth Nora had yanked from the kitchen table.

“That should keep the bedding from being ruined,” Nora said, watching as Garrett and Jim removed Erik’s boots and the outer layers of his muddy clothing. Erik groaned. Though still unconscious, his hands tightened into fists. When he coughed, drops of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Nora grabbed a rag from the basket of supplies she set by the bed and wiped Erik’s face. Shaking her head, she left the room and took Aundy along with her while Jim and Garrett removed the rest of Erik’s muddy clothes. Quickly stoking the stove in the kitchen, Nora filled a big pot with water and set it on the stovetop to heat. She returned to the sink and began filling another large pot. After she set it on the stove, she moved the teakettle to the front to heat faster. When Garrett and Jim entered the room, she filled a bucket with warm water.

“I’m afraid to do too much more until the doc gets here,” Garrett said, nodding toward Aundy. “Maybe you can help her get cleaned up, Ma, and see about setting her arm. Looks to me like it’s probably broken.”

“What?” Nora spun around. Aundy held her arm against her side, her face pale and pinched with pain. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? I would have set your arm before we ever left my house.”

“We need to see to Erik first.” Aundy’s legs felt weak beneath her and dizziness started to overtake her. “I’ll be fine.”

“My lands, child,” Nora said, taking control of the situation. Gently placing her hand on Aundy’s muddy shoulder, she directed her to sit in one of the kitchen chairs. “Garrett, you and Jim take this water and these rags and see what you can do about cleaning Erik. Just be careful. We don’t know what might be injured.” Nora handed Garrett the bucket full of water while Jim took a stack of rags and a couple of towels.

Aundy began to shiver, whether from the shock or her cold, muddy clothing she didn’t know. White-faced, she sat in the chair and pinched her lips together in an effort to keep from fainting. Other than being knocked out when the wagon wrecked, she didn’t plan to lose consciousness again.

Anxious to focus her attention on anything other than her arm and Erik lying injured in the other room, she noticed a basket packed with food on the counter. It was most likely the cold supper Erik mentioned Nora prepared.

“It was nice of you to provide supper for us.” Aundy used her good hand to motion to the basket.

“My pleasure. It’s not every day a new bride moves into the neighborhood. Erik was so excited about you coming, he nearly burst his buttons.” Nora smiled as she filled yet another kettle then set it on the stove. “We hope you’ll enjoy being a part of our Pendleton community. The town is definitely growing and we need good families to help lead it in the right direction.”

“I didn’t have the opportunity to see much in town, but it looks like you have a nice variety of shops and stores.”

“Yes, and if there’s something you want that’s not available in town, the mercantile can order just about anything.” Nora decided Aundy had to have a bath before she could do anything with her arm.

Garrett and Jim returned with a pile of dirty rags and damp towels. Quietly opening the kitchen door, Garrett stepped off the porch and dumped the water on a nearby bush then rinsed the mud out of the bucket before setting it on the end of the counter.

“How is he?” Nora asked, watching Garrett.

“Same. I think we got rid of most of the mud. We wiped down the oil cloth and put one of your old blankets over him.” Garrett leaned over and whispered something to Nora, causing her to nod her head with a grim expression.

Nora rolled up the sleeves of her dress to her elbows. “Can you boys run back down to the wagon and get Aundy’s trunks? She’ll need clean clothes to wear and I doubt Erik has anything here fit for her to put on. You had better take care of Erik’s horses, too. We’ll pray the doc shows up soon.”

“Yes, Ma,” Garrett said, opening the door. “I think Erik gave all the hands orders to stay away from the house the rest of the day, so I don’t know that any of them will be around to offer assistance. Once we get the horses cared for, I’ll see about rounding them up.”

“Good.” Nora pointed toward the back door, indicating it was time for Garrett to get out of the kitchen.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, honey. Garrett helped Erik put in a bathroom recently, once he knew you were coming. Not too many farm wives have indoor plumbing, but Erik wanted to make sure you had every convenience he could provide. He thought it might be hard for you to get used to country life and wanted to do what he could to make you feel at home.”

Astonished by Erik’s thoughtfulness, Aundy couldn’t speak. She nodded her head mutely and blinked back her tears.

“I’ll run the bath water then we’ll get you out of those muddy clothes,” Nora said, bustling out of the kitchen and down a short hallway. Aundy heard water running and looked forward to getting out of her filthy clothes and scrubbing away the mud.

Nora returned to the kitchen, carrying one of the old towels she brought from home.

“Take off your muddy clothes, honey, and wrap this around yourself, that way you won’t be dragging all the mud along with you.” Nora set the towel on the table while Aundy got to her feet and tried unsuccessfully to unbutton her dress with one hand. Nora helped remove her clothes and wrapped the towel around her.

Embarrassed to be in need of assistance, and from a complete stranger, Aundy’s pink cheeks flamed through the mud splattered on her face.

“Go soak a while and by the time you’re ready to get out, the boys should be back with your things.” Nora pointed toward the bathroom.

As the woman hurried down the hall, Aundy glanced at her arm, glad to see the bone didn’t poke through the skin. Maybe it was just sprained.

Eyeing the wonderful bathtub, Aundy closed the door behind her and used the old towel to wipe off as much mud as she could before sinking into the steaming water.

While the hot water relaxed her sore, abused muscles, she continued to send up prayers on Erik’s behalf. She couldn’t hear what Garrett whispered to Nora, but by the looks on both their faces, it had to be bad. She felt guilty soaking in a tub of hot water with a bar of fragrant rose soap Erik had no doubt purchased for her scenting the air while he lay unmoving in his bed. As soon as she was clean, she’d go sit with him and hold his hand. It was the least she could do.

Frustrated by her attempts to wash her hair one-handed, she was relieved when Nora knocked and stuck her head around the door. “Need any help?”

“If you don’t mind, I could use some with my hair,” Aundy said, looking chagrined.

Nora soaped Aundy’s hair, maintaining a running conversation while she worked. “Did Erik say you were from Chicago?” Nora busied herself massaging Aundy’s scalp.

Aundy didn’t think anything had ever felt so good and closed her eyes to savor the experience. “Yes, ma’am.”

“He said something about you being a seamstress. Is that correct?”

“I worked as a seamstress in a factory that made ready-made clothing. Our mother taught my sister and me to sew when we were quite young.”

“Did your sister work in the factory with you?”

Aundy shook her head. “No, thank goodness. Ilsa has a rare talent with a needle. She works for my aunt, creating gowns for some of Chicago’s most elite clientele. I would not have allowed her to work in the factory.”

“Oh? Why not?” Nora asked, unfamiliar with what factory work entailed.

“The hours are long, the pay is poor, and the working conditions are less than pleasant,” Aundy said, managing to suppress a shudder.

Her beautiful, delicate younger sister wouldn’t have lasted a week in the factory. Some of the male supervisors weren’t above making life miserable for the pretty girls who turned down their attentions. On top of that, the work was backbreaking, sitting in front of a sewing machine for hours on end with insufficient lighting. Aundy never had any problems because she wasn’t perceived as one of the young, attractive girls. Instead, she was lumped in with the matrons who went unbothered, for the most part.

Determined to make a better life for herself, and eventually her sister, Erik offered Aundy the opportunity when he asked her to marry him.

Educated and intelligent, Aundy hadn’t been able to secure any suitable work when she found herself desperate to earn an income, which was why she took the job in the factory. Her family needed the money and didn’t have the luxury of waiting for a good job to come along.

“Does your sister still work for your aunt?”

“Yes, she does.” Aundy’s tone took on an edge as she thought about the cruel woman who held her sister’s fate in her hands. “I was hoping to eventually bring Ilsa out here to live on the farm. Erik mentioned in one of his letters that he wouldn’t mind. He just asked that I wait a few months to give us time to get used to being married. Now, I…”

Nora placed a gentle hand on Aundy’s head as the girl struggled to keep the tears filling her eyes from rolling down her cheeks. Erik’s bride seemed to be a levelheaded, capable girl who took things head-on and without a lot of fuss. She would make any rancher or farmer a good wife, especially someone like Erik who was older and somewhat set in his ways. “Everything will work out just fine, Aundy. Don’t you worry.”

“Thank you, Nora,” Aundy whispered, squeezing the woman’s hand in her right one.

Nora laughed as she noticed Aundy’s fingers looked shriveled from the water. “Let me see if I can find something for you to wear until Garrett and Jim get back with your clothes. We need to get you out of there before you melt into the water.”

In a rush, Nora left the room but soon returned with a warm flannel robe in a dark shade of blue. She handed Aundy a towel then turned her back, giving the girl some privacy.

“I appreciate your help,” Aundy said as she briskly rubbed her skin dry with a rough towel then pulled on the robe. A masculine scent clung to the fabric and she knew it must belong to Erik.

After watching her struggle to dry her long, blonde tresses, Nora took over, using the towel to squeeze out the excess water.

A noise from the front room sent Nora scurrying out the door while Aundy waited in the bathroom. She heard the clomping of boots in the hallway, going past the bathroom door, and the sound of something heavy being set on the floor in the next room.

The men’s footsteps thudded toward the front of the house as a knock sounded on the bathroom door. Nora opened it and motioned Aundy to follow her to the bedroom next door, where her trunks sat against one wall.

“The boys used some burlap at the barn to get your trunks clean, although I think that one,” Nora pointed to the trunk with the broken lid, “is sadly beyond saving. I’ve got your dirty clothes soaking so we can get that nasty mud out of them.”

Nora unfastened the straps and latches on the trunks, pushing up the heavy lids and watching as Aundy dug inside, taking out clothes. The sensible girl chose a dark green dress she could wear without a corset. Although wrinkled, it was clean and serviceable.

Nora smiled, admiring the fine stitching that made the dress unique. “Did you or your sister make this dress?”

“Ilsa made it for me. As I said, she’s the one who’s talented with a needle. I can run a sewing machine with the best of them, but Ilsa makes things lovely,” Aundy said while Nora helped her dress.

Nora studied the bruising on Aundy’s injured arm. She didn’t like the looks of a knot that formed under the skin. “Where’s your hairbrush, honey? I can help you with your hair.”

Aundy pointed to a bag sitting next to the broken trunk.

Nora took out the hairbrush and a length of black ribbon. “Come sit here and I’ll brush it for you.”

Aundy quietly sat in the chair Nora indicated while the woman brushed her long hair. Although not curly, it wasn’t exactly straight either, and most often took on a life of its own. Nora brushed until she was satisfied with her efforts then pulled it back and tied a ribbon at Aundy’s nape to hold the hair out of her face. Enjoying Nora’s efforts at pampering her, Aundy couldn’t think of the last time someone brushed her hair. It was probably Ilsa back before their parents died.

“Your hair is lovely, honey. So long and thick, and such a pretty color.”

“Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate you helping me.” Aundy rose to her feet and dug in a trunk for a pair of slippers. She slipped them on, instantly warming her cold toes. “May I sit with Erik, please?”

“Certainly,” Nora said, smiling at Aundy and patting the girl’s cheek. Traveling across the country to marry a man she’d never met had to be frightening. To have the horses spook and wreck the wagon before they even got home from the wedding must be terrifying. She was very impressed with Erik’s bride. Although her arm had to ache, she hadn’t uttered a single word of complaint.

Together, they walked down the hall to the front room. Aundy looked up when Garrett opened the front door.

“Ma, I thought…” Garrett lost his ability to focus as he noticed Aundy, clean and fresh, with her blonde hair hanging in golden streamers down her back.

“You thought what, son?”

“Um… I… we might need a couple of sticks for a splint for Mrs. Erickson’s arm.” Garrett handed Nora two thin but sturdy sticks, recalling why he’d come to the house. He hadn’t counted on Erik’s bride being so young, tall, or attractive. Garrett gave himself a mental shake and reminded himself the woman just married one of his very good friends.

“I was hoping to wait until the doctor arrives, but maybe we should go ahead and set it,” Nora said, eyeing Aundy’s arm.

“I can wait.” Aundy wasn’t anxious to have anything done to her arm. She’d seen plenty of accidents at the factory. It was going to hurt like everything to pull her arm back into place if that was, in fact, what needed to happen.

Still carrying the sticks, Nora led the way to Erik’s bedroom where he rested, pale and unmoving, on the bed.

Aundy stood at the door, listening to his labored breathing. His chest rattled with every effort he made to draw in air. Although a blanket covered him to his waist, she could see Nora tried to bandage the multiple scrapes and open wounds that were bleeding. A red spot soaking through the blanket on his thigh indicated more wounds. Aundy hoped the doctor would soon arrive.

She approached the bed and gratefully sank down on the chair Garrett placed behind her. Gently, she picked up Erik’s hand.

“Erik, it’s Aundy.” She lightly rubbed her fingers on the back of his hand. Garrett and Jim did a good job of removing the mud that covered him from head to toe. Even his fingers were clean and he smelled faintly of soap. “Please wake up. Please?”

Aundy felt a hand on her right shoulder and lifted a teary gaze to meet Nora’s. The woman nodded her head, indicating Aundy should keep talking to Erik.

“If you’d told me you were going to plan so much excitement for my first day here, I might not have been so willing to come.” Aundy tried to add a touch of humor to her voice, although she fought down her tears. “Next time, I’d appreciate a little warning before the horses run off like that, if you please. I’d at least take off my best hat before it ended up looking like a plucked chicken.”

Garrett chuckled and took his mother’s arm, pulling her out of the room.

“Let’s leave her be until the doc comes,” Garrett whispered as he and Nora returned to the kitchen. Jim rode out on Jester to see if he could find any of Erik’s hands. The ranch foreman, an older man everyone called Dent, didn’t usually get too far from the home place.

Nora prepared a cup of tea for Aundy and handed it to her. Aundy had just taken a sip when they heard the jingle of a harness. Garrett greeted the doctor and pastor at the door. Tom took the doctor’s buggy and horse to Erik’s barn for a little feed and rest after the trip out to the farm. The sun was nearly set and the night looked like it would be dark and cold.

The doctor removed his coat and hat, hanging them on the hall tree near the front door as he spoke. “Tom wasn’t sure what happened, just there had been an accident.”

“Erik’s horses spooked, flipped the wagon over on him,” Garrett said as the pastor shook his hand and followed the doctor to Erik’s bedroom. “This is Aundy, Erik’s bride. We think she’s got a broken arm, but haven’t been able to talk her into letting us set it yet.”

“Mrs. Erikson, it’s nice to meet you, although I’d prefer to have done so under other circumstances. I’m Doctor Reed, but everyone calls me Doc.” The doctor set his bag on the end of Erik’s bed and rummaged inside.

When she got to her feet, the doctor looked at her in surprise, not expecting her to be taller than his average height.

“Thank you for coming,” she said, stepping aside so the doctor could get close to Erik.

Pastor Whitting put his hand on Aundy’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Why don’t we wait in the front room while Doc takes a look at Erik? Garrett will help him.”

Aundy nodded her head and followed the pastor to the front room where Nora set a tray laden with cups of tea and a plate of cookies on a low table. Aundy accepted a cup and sipped the flavorful brew. For the first time since she walked inside the house, she noticed the nicely furnished room, done in shades of brown and tan. Although masculine, the space was inviting and welcome heat filled the room from a large fireplace.

Pastor Whitting and Nora chatted while Aundy waited for the bedroom door to open and the doctor to give her some good news.

From the moment she realized Erik was hurt, a gnawing sense of foreboding clawed at her mid-section and filled her with dread. She had no idea what she would do if something happened to Erik. He wasn’t just a man who’d sent for a mail-order bride. Through their letters, he had become a friend. One she cared for even if she couldn’t profess to love him.

When the door opened and the doctor stepped out, followed by a grim-faced Garrett, Aundy set her cup on the low table in front of her and stood.

“Mrs. Erikson, perhaps you should sit down,” the doctor said, taking her right hand in his. When she shook her head, looking at him wide-eyed and fearful, he took a deep breath. “I’m terribly sorry, but Erik isn’t going to make it.”