A Mail Order Bride for the Miner (Love by Mail #2)(4)

“Yes, my brother is more than happy to have brides stay with us,” Claire added.

Sarah placed a hand on her chest. "Oh, that’s - that’s good." Color had gone back to her cheeks. "I’ll be glad to meet the preacher."

Claire peered up at her. "Are you all right?"

Hank cleared his throat, but Claire raised a brow at him.

"We better get going. There are so many people we want you to meet!"

“My bags…”

Hank immediately swooped in to take them.

"Th - thank you, Mr. Welton," she stammered.

"Start calling him Hank." Claire linked her arm with Sarah’s and winked. "Should get used to it, lass."

And with that all four proceeded to the pastor’s house. As Mercy explained to him, Sarah would stay there a few weeks, as needed, so the two of them could get acquainted. But Hank wasn’t sure if that was ample time for Sarah to get to know him or enough time for her to change her mind and call off the wedding.

*

"I’ll sand this down tonight and get it ready for the wedding." Cole looked up at Hank and put aside his tools. "What’s wrong?"

Hank shook his head and fiddled with the blocks of wood on the table. He knew he could count on Cole for intricate woodwork. But coming here left him exposed to questions like this.

"You’re worried about something." Cole crossed his arms, then he threw his head back and laughed. "Of course you’re worried about something! You’re getting married!"

Hank glared at him and weighed the pros and cons of hitting the local undertaker with his own tools. "H-how…" He sighed. "How’d you handle it?"

Cole pocketed his hands and leaned against the cabinet. "I prayed."

"You? Praying?"

Cole smirked. "Well, Mercy and I did - together. I had some issues, and my wife and I sorted them out through prayer." He patted Hank on the shoulder. "I was nervous, too, and the rest of the town wasn’t even welcoming to Mercy when she first came here."

"Undertaker’s bride..."

Cole nodded. "But she was brave. She didn’t back down."

"But - Sarah," Hank began, "what if –?"

"She came here, didn’t she?" Cole dusted his shirt and patted his friend on the arm. "‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding’." He grinned at his friend. "The cabinet will be ready. Go home and rest. You’ve got a long few days ahead."

“But – but I haven’t told her.” Neither about my condition, nor Mercy’s help, he thought. She must think I’m some inconsiderate mute.

Cole stopped, and turned back to Hank. “Nothing good comes from keeping secrets.”

“I – I know.” Hank shook his head.

"Well, when will you tell her?"

"In time."

Hank stepped outside the shop and started walking towards his house. Sarah did most of the talking when they met, and with all the family arriving and a chaperone always present there never was a good time. So he had just smiled and replied with the well trained phrases. Then he remembered the last wedding he’d been at – the long speeches and declarations of love. Hank gulped and changed direction.

He had to ask the Reverend a favor. He wanted, he needed, his wedding to go as planned.





Chapter 3


“So, we heard from Hank that you’re from Louisiana?” Claire handed Sarah a cup of hot chocolate.

Mercy placed a plate of cake on the table. “I’ve never been there before."

Sarah took a sip before looking up at Mercy. "Where are you from, Mrs. Beckett?"

"Oh, call me Mercy. I’m from Missouri."

Sarah cleared her throat and placed the cup and saucer back on the table. "Um, Mercy, I was wondering…"

Mercy sliced the cake and placed one on each of their plates. "Hmm?"

"Well, your agency placed the ad for Hank and you seem to have experience with these things…” Sarah blushed. “I’ve come to like Hank just from his letters, and I’ve grown fond of his quiet presence during our walks near the lake, but…"

“Yes?” Mercy nodded and placed a small piece of cake in her mouth.

Sarah took a deep breath. "Do you think he regrets writing back to me?"

Mercy coughed, thumping her chest. Claire scampered to get her a glass of water. "Here, drink this."

"I’m so sorry! I’m sorry!" Sarah said. She fanned Mercy’s red face with a towel.

Mercy gulped down the water. After that, she took deep breaths. Sarah gulped. Mercy touched her arm. "I’m fine."

The three of them settled back down.

Claire chuckled and handed Sarah a plate of cakes.

"What in the world makes you think that?” she asked. “Why would Hank regret writing to you? You two are getting married in a week!"

Sarah hung her head. "Well, he hasn’t said much since I arrived. After the long letters I thought…" She looked at Mercy. "Is that normal? Was Mr. Beckett - Cole - also like that?"

Mercy blushed and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. "Cole’s a jolly person. Too jolly for his own good sometimes. He smiled a lot."