Finding Hope (Mail Order Bride: Brides And Promises Book 1) Read online

  * * *

  The meal passed quietly enough, with both Thomas and Mary praising Grace for the sweet cakes she’d set out for them, along with the freshly roasted coffee. Thomas sat back with a sigh, his stomach full and heart content.

  “So, my aunt says you came here on the train,” he said, looking over at Grace. “Did you just happen to stop by here?”

  Much to his surprise, Grace looked away, the smile gone from her face and her skin paling a little.

  “Thomas!” his aunt chided. “You need not pry.”

  “No, it’s all right,” Grace replied, shaking her head. “I don’t want to hide things. Besides, he’s going to hear from folk in town soon enough, I’m sure. Back home, news like this would spread like wildfire until you couldn’t find the truth for all the rumors getting in your way.”

  Thomas frowned, wondering what it was that was bringing such a look of embarrassment to Grace’s cheeks. Something swirled in his chest, something uneasy, as though he didn’t really want to hear what she had to say.

  Grace drew in a deep breath, looked at him, and tried to smile. “I was a mail order bride,” she said, softly. “I wanted a new life. I was alone back in my hometown, with no family to speak of and certainly no close friends.” Her smile grew sad, as she shrugged. “They all got married, you see.”

  Frowning, Thomas shrugged his shoulders. “Ain’t no shame in it, Grace. There are more than a few mail order brides out here.”

  “But her husband didn’t want her,” Aunt Mary interrupted, shooting a warning look in his direction. “That’s why I took her here with me.”

  “Didn’t want you?” Thomas repeated, a sharp piercing anger thrusting through his chest. “Why?”

  Grace opened her mouth to speak, but Mary shook her head, holding up a hand. “That’s not important.”

  “I can’t blame him,” Grace said, her eyes darting from him to his aunt. “He wanted something different from what I am.”

  “And that there’s the end of it,” Mary finished, reaching to pour some more coffee. “Do you want some more?”

  Thomas nodded and held out his cup to her, his eyes still on Grace. There was something she wasn’t telling him, but he knew in his heart he had no right to pry, even though he was angry that a man had turned her away. That must have been terribly painful to have had to endure, and he couldn’t imagine the shame and embarrassment that came with it.

  “Goodness, Thomas!” his aunt exclaimed, drawing his attention. “Whatever happened to your shirt?”

  “My shirt?” he mumbled, putting down his coffee cup and twisting his arm to look at it. “Oh, that.” There was a large tear in his shirt where he’d caught it on some wire earlier that week. “I haven’t got round to fixing it yet.”

  “You can’t be wearing that!” his aunt exclaimed, still sounding horrified. “The bugs will get in at you for one.”

  He chuckled, remembering how he’d had to slap something near his armpit only that very morning. “They already are.” He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. “I’ll get round to it sooner or later.”

  “I can do it for you.”

  Glancing up, Thomas saw Grace smile at him, looking a little uncertain.

  “I mean, that’s what I used to do to bring in a bit more of an income,” she continued. “It won’t take me long at all. In fact, I’d be happy to do whatever darning you need.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Grace,” his aunt interrupted, “but that’s a lot for you to offer.”

  “No, it’s not, not when you’ve been so kind to me,” Grace replied, with a soft smile. “You’ve been so welcoming, and I already feel at home here.” She pressed her hand to her heart, her eyes sparkling with a shimmer of tears. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me.” She looked back at Thomas and smiled. “I’d be more than happy to do that for you. I do enjoy it, so it wouldn’t be a burden.”

  Thomas didn’t know what to say, her kind and compassionate nature shining through. His aunt had fallen on her feet finding Grace as her companion and friend. Although, he did not want to take advantage of such a sweet character.

  “I’d be truly grateful,” he said, clearing his throat as his aunt glared at him for taking so long to respond. “It would be a big help to me, I’ll acknowledge that.” He gave her a half smile, shrugging his shoulders. “I guess I don’t want to lay too much on your shoulders, especially when you’re only just finding your feet.”

  She smiled back at him, appreciation in her eyes. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I truly enjoy darning and sewing. It’ll make me more than content to sit here in front of the fire and do some darning in the evenings, I promise you.”

  “If you’re quite sure,” he repeated, seeing her nod. “I can bring some by tomorrow.”

  His aunt clapped her hands briskly, getting to her feet. “Very good. Now then, let’s get this table cleared and the dishes washed up. I, for one, am looking forward to sitting by the fire for a bit, especially now that the nights are getting a little colder.”

  Thomas helped to clear up the dishes, insisting that he wash up the rest of them. He saw the uncertainty in Grace’s eyes as he did so. Clearly, the woman was not used to having folks help her out. Well, that was going to change. As much as she’d help him, Thomas was determined to do the same for her, in whatever small ways he could—even if it meant washing up the dishes so that she didn’t have to.

  7

  Two weeks later and Grace was beginning to settle in. She had her daily routine of rising with the sun, going out to feed the hens, and—if she could find it—feed the cat. Then she’d go in to start on breakfast, and think about what she’d make for dinner, mentally going over the preparations she’d need to do.

  Mary had risen by the time breakfast was ready, and together they said their grace and ate. It was a lovely way to start the morning, spending it in someone’s company. Grace discovered more about Mary and found that her strong, determined character was something she wanted to emulate for herself. Mary loved fiercely and cared deeply, but wasn’t afraid to stand on her own two feet and do it all by herself when needed. Grace had never had that resilience of character but found that she was suddenly determined to develop it in herself.

  The more she spent time with Mary, the more Grace began to realize that she didn’t need George Stubbs to make her life filled with purpose. A husband and children of her own was a dream Grace wasn’t quite able to let go of, but she threw herself into her new life with a determination to make each day a success.

  Thomas came by every day for dinner, and Grace began to look forward to his visits, enjoying the extra conversation that came with his presence. He was the same as Mary—strong and resolute—although she saw the sheer exhaustion on his face by the time the end of the week came. The man was working himself to the bone, and Grace was glad she was able to help with his burden just a little bit. Good, hearty meals filled his belly and gave him the strength he needed to get up and carry on the next day, and her darning meant he didn’t have to worry about having the rips in his shirts or trousers fixed.

  If she had a quieter morning or afternoon, Grace would head on out to the fields, her hair carefully pinned under a scarf, and offer to help him with whatever he needed. At first, he’d given her only small jobs to do, things that didn’t require a great deal of physical labor. She’d appreciated that initially, but soon found herself wanting to prove to him that she was able to do more than he expected.

  The moment she’d expressed that to him, he’d stared at her in surprise, before bursting into laughter, chuckling that it was clearly Mary’s influence that had her speaking to him like that. Grace had colored furiously, thinking that he was chiding her, only for him to shake his head, catch her hands, and apologize for not seeing her as the strong, capable woman she really was.

  There had been a lightness in his eyes that had made her wonder whether or not he was truly serious, but sure enough, he had started giving her a few more difficult t
asks. It was, at times, backbreaking work, but Grace was determined not to complain. He’d even taught her how to use the ax properly, which meant she sometimes was busy chopping wood for both his stove and Mary’s.

  It wasn’t something she was used to, given that back home she was able to buy herself a pile of chopped wood for her stove. But things were different in Montana, and there weren’t the same conveniences. Grace had to admit, even as sweat trickled down her back, that she enjoyed the more challenging work, the kind that forced her to learn and forced her to push herself harder than before. On occasion, she’d pause and look up, only to see Thomas watching her with a strange expression on his face. He’d always look away, appearing a little embarrassed, before carrying on with whatever else it was he was meant to be doing.

  * * *

  “How about we go out and watch that sunset?” Thomas suggested one evening, leaning back in his chair and looking at Grace and Mary expectantly. “It looks like it’s going to be a spectacular one!”

  Mary smiled and shook her head. “Not for me. I’m going to turn in, I think, but don’t let me stop the two of you heading on out!”

  Grace picked up the plates and began to clear the table, hoping Thomas wouldn’t see the blush in her cheeks that came with the thought of being alone with him.

  “Grace? How about it?”

  She almost dropped the plates when he lifted one eyebrow, a wide grin settling on his features.

  “I’d sure like some company instead of watching it alone,” he continued, as she began to stammer. “Come on now. Leave those dishes until later.”

  Mary got up from her seat at once, the chair scraping across the floor. “Go on now,” she chuckled, taking the plates from Grace and shooing her away. “I can do these. You’ve worked hard enough today without needing extra chores. Go and enjoy the sunset.”

  Grace didn’t know what to say, her face flaming with color.

  “You’d best go get your shawl though,” Mary continued, making her way towards the counter so she could start washing up. “It might be a bit cold.”

  Excusing herself, Grace rushed to her room to pick up her shawl, taking a moment or two to draw in a deep breath and calm her frantically beating heart. She’d been alone with Thomas plenty times before, so why was she suddenly so nervous about going out with him now? Was it because this was the first time they’d having nothing to focus on except each other? Or was it because, deep down, she wanted him to like spending time with her—with just her? Cursing her foolishness, Grace glanced in the mirror, smoothing one hand over her hair, only to stop short.

  She looked different.

  There was a lightness in her eyes and a glow in her cheeks that made her look so very different from the drab, miserable lady who had left her hometown. Smiling at her reflection, she saw the change even in that, seeing how it rose to her eyes, making her entire countenance one that seemed to exude happiness. Was it because of Thomas?

  “Hurry up!” came Thomas’ teasing call. “How long does it take to pick up a shawl?”

  He was laughing, as she hurried back through the door, mumbling an excuse under her breath as he grinned at her. Holding the front door open for her, he waited until she’d gone outside. She threw one quick look over her shoulder at Mary who was, much to her surprise, dancing a little jig in front of the washstand.

  * * *

  “Beautiful, ain’t it?”

  Grace leaned on the wooden fence and looked out across the unploughed fields, a slow smile spreading across her face as she took in the painted sky. “It’s breathtaking,” she replied quietly. “I mean, I’ve seen plenty of sunsets in my time but there’s something about this one…” She trailed off, not quite sure what she meant.

  “Maybe you’re in a happier place now, so this one just looks all the more stunning,” Thomas suggested, propping one arm up on the fence and turning to look at her. “Are you happier, Grace?”

  Her stomach tightened as she looked at him, seeing the easy smile on his face. “Much happier, yes,” she said, honestly.

  “And no regrets about leaving your little town?”

  Grace couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head fervently. “No, not in the least!” she exclaimed, truthfully. “I wouldn’t even try to compare you and Mary to that dusty, old place.”

  “You were pretty lonesome, huh?”

  The laughter left her face as she bit her lip.

  “I don’t mean to be rude,” he said quickly, as though aware of the sudden tension between them. “I just meant—”

  “Yes, I was,” Grace interrupted, looking away from him and towards the fiery sunset. “My friends had all gotten married and moved away. My closest friend, Clara, she was the last to go. I had no one then.”

  He gave her a small smile, moving closer to her. “You’ve got us now,” he murmured, slipping one hand around her waist. “Don’t think that we’re going anywhere.”

  Grace looked up at him, her breath catching in her throat. There was something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite make out, as though he wanted to say more to her but couldn’t quite find the words. His hand burned through her cotton dress, searing her skin and making her whole body burn with heat.

  Not sure what else to do, Grace turned her head away and continued to look out at the sunset, trying to concentrate on the red and orange hues that spread across the sky. Thomas stayed exactly where he was, his hand tightening just a little as the sun finally began to sink below the horizon. Nothing more was said between them, a comforting peace growing in its place.

  Grace felt herself slowly begin to relax, even though she was more than aware of his closeness. There was something comforting about his embrace, something reassuring about his presence. Tentatively, she lifted her arm and settled it on his shoulder, feeling the muscles jump beneath her fingers. He didn’t say a single word, only glanced down at her with a smile. The sun continued its journey, and soon, the only thing that remained was the last of its light, already beginning to fade.

  “We’d best go back inside,” Thomas said, as Grace dropped her hand. “I don’t want Mary to worry.”

  Grace looked up at him and smiled. “I can make my own way back,” she said, hating that he dropped his hand from around her waist. “Thank you for this evening, Thomas. It was nice to spend some time with you.”

  He nodded and touched her chin lightly. “I hope we can do it another time.”

  Grace felt her throat constrict, as her feelings rose like a swell of water. Saying a swift goodbye, she turned on her heel and began to hurry away, not quite sure what was going on in her heart.

  “Another time,” she whispered to herself, one hand over her heart as she glanced back over her shoulder, seeing him standing there, watching her go. He wanted to spend more time with her and that could only be a good thing, couldn’t it?

  8

  Grace sighed and looked at her reflection in the mirror, aware of just how weather beaten she looked. She’d been out in the fields most of the morning, helping Thomas and Mary pick out the larger stones from the plowed ground. It had been grueling work, and her back ached from the number of times she’d had to bend over and pick up the stones. No matter how many they found, there always seemed to be more.

  “Don’t worry about that,” Thomas had told her, wiping away a smudge of dirt from her cheek. “Anything we take away will help, I promise you.”

  Grace sighed and ran her fingers lightly over her cheek, remembering how such a small gesture had made her heart jump in her chest. She’d looked into his eyes and seen the warmth there and had cursed her foolish heart.

  She could not allow herself to have feelings for Thomas. That was a sure-fire way to meet disaster head on. She didn’t want to risk losing the life that she had found with Mary and Thomas. No, she must just look at Thomas as a friend.

  Slowly pulling out the pins from her hair, Grace winced as the tight knot slowly uncurled from her head. She’d tied hair back a little tighter today in order to
work in the fields, so it was something of a relief to let it down. Running her fingers through her long, dark hair, Grace tried not to wish that she’d been blessed with something more than just plain brown. She had to be grateful for what the Lord had given her. Her character was worth more than what she looked like, and that had to be what she clung to.

  “Grace?”

  The knock at the door startled her, and without thinking, she opened it to find Thomas standing there, his eyes widening as he saw her.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled, looking away. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “You’re not interrupting,” Grace assured him, wondering why his face was growing a little red. “I was just about to braid my hair before I start fixing dinner.”

  “Oh.”

  He managed to glance back at her, and still a little confused as to why he looked so embarrassed, Grace quickly brushed her hair and plaited it, letting it hang down her back instead of tying it up. After all, she was meant to consider Mary and Thomas family, so leaving it like this wasn’t in any way improper.

  “Now,” she said briskly, turning back to him. “What can I help you with?”

  Thomas shrugged, looking even more embarrassed. “I ripped my shirt quite badly this afternoon,” he mumbled, not quite looking at her. “I was putting in posts to build the fence and managed to snag it on something.” He turned his back to her, and Grace saw one large tear running from the bottom of his shirt to about half-way up his back. “I was closer to here than to my own cabin, so I thought you might be able to fix it for me, especially since I’m here for dinner.”

  Grace hid a smile at his embarrassment. “Sure, I’ll be able to get that done in a few minutes—although you’re going to have to help me with the dinner if you’re wanting to wear this shirt to the dinner table!”