Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) Read online

  “I sent her a telegram too, but I didn’t hear back from her,” he said.

  “I didn’t know you did that,” she said.

  “I got the address from Sarah and sent it at the same time. I wanted it to be a surprise for you.”

  Pulling him closer, she wrapped her arm around his waist and said, “One of the reasons I love you so much. You’re so kind and thoughtful.”

  It's Our Wedding Day…

  On this Sunday, dawn peeked through the curtains of Martha’s bedroom in the Barnette’s home. She stood, yawned, and stretched. She padded over to the window, pulled the curtains aside and raised the shade. She saw a few thin, wispy clouds, brightened by the rising sun. “It looks like a perfect day for a wedding,” she said to no one.

  Three miles away, Luke Hastings had risen over an hour before. He had gone to the barn, checked out the carriages and harnesses. He gave his brace of horses, some oats and hay. From the well, he got water and filled their water trough. He went back into the house, where Hetty was busily preparing breakfast. He went to Will and Jimmy’s bedrooms and rousted them. “Time to get up and get started. Today’s the day we’re going to get you a new mother.”

  “Yippee,” said Will.

  “Yay,” echoed Jimmy.

  Back in the kitchen, he said, “Well Hetty, you get another mouth to feed and a little more work.”

  “Mr Luke, today is not about more work. Today you get what you need and that is a wife. It will be a happier place. It means a lot to me too.”

  “You are coming to the wedding aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Land sakes, Mr Luke. If you want me to come, I have to change to my church going dress. You boys hurry. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

  Luke got dressed, and then helped his sons dress while Hetty hurried to clean the kitchen and change into her churchgoing dress. He was wearing his best dress pants, a dress shirt with a string tie. He had his newest white Stetson hat. In a separate bag he had his wedding clothes.

  Several days earlier…

  Catherine had carefully packed her wedding dress in their trunk in hopes Martha would wear it. He had gotten it out and carefully ironed the wrinkles from it. “Martha,” she had asked, “What are you going to wear for your wedding?”

  “I thought I would wear my nicest dress to church and then to the wedding, why?” Martha asked.

  “Come look, you too, Sarah, and tell me what you think,” Catherine said. Laid out on the bed was the beautiful white wedding gown. “What do you think?”

  “Mama, you brought your wedding dress,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “Mama, this is the nicest gift you could have given me.” She hugged her mother and whispered, “Thank you,” in her ear and hugged her again. The dress fit with only a few minor alterations and the replacement of some of the old threads.

  They hung the dress in the closet in anticipation of the wedding day, when it would be taken to the church and changed into for the wedding.

  Getting to the church on time…

  Luke, his sons and Hetty left for town and church, passed the road that led to the J-Bar-B ranch, about half an hour before the Barnettes and Martha left, allowing the dust to settle before they passed. The family filling the Barnette’s carriage was ebullient. This was to be a happy day in their lives. One of their own would be putting her lonely days behind her and moving into a new role as wife and mother.

  Luke had arranged previously for a room at the hotel where he could change and Hetty could freshen up the boys. He left his wedding clothes in the room and walked with his boys and their nanny to the church. Warmly greeted by John Carruthers at the steps of the church, and his many friends among the congregation, Luke led his family and Hetty to the front row on the right side of the church.

  Grace was playing a traditional hymn as Martha and her family came in and were seated. Martha peered around Jed, caught Luke’s eye and a smile as bright as the sun lit her face. Luke nudged his sons, who turned and waved. “I love you,” mouthed Martha. Luke answered in kind.

  John led the congregation in prayer, there was a hymn by the worshipers and John made his announcements. “At 2:00, this afternoon we will have a ceremony in the sanctuary uniting Martha Sanders and Luke Hastings in holy matrimony. For those who haven’t met Martha, she is the sister of Sarah Barnette. Following the wedding there will be a reception in the Laramie Hotel. The congregation is invited to attend the ceremony and the reception.

  Now let’s all lift our voices in hymn number 78.” Grace began playing Abide With Me and the formal services began. After the sermon, Martha and Luke met in the aisle and held hands as they exited the church. Outside, they were the center of attention. Luke was from an old Laramie family and well thought of in the community, even though his ranch was some twelve miles from town. Friends crowded around, introducing themselves to Martha and saying hello to Luke and his sons.

  Sarah smiled at Jed and said, “Isn’t this wonderful? Now, I will always have my sister, and our best friend is her husband.” She squeezed his hand and added, “I love you Jedadiah. Without you, none of this could have happened.”

  “I can’t take credit for all this, but I love you more than I can tell you,” Jed said.

  As the crowd thinned, Luke told Martha, “The boys and I are going to have a light lunch at the cafe and then go to our hotel room. Would you like to join us?”

  “I’d like to join you in the hotel room, but not with the boys there,” she said.

  “Soon enough honey, soon enough.”

  “Grace has fixed a cold lunch for us. You could come too.”

  “I think not, it would crowd us for time. I’ll see you at our wedding,” he said, then kissed her on the cheek. Turning, he said, “Come on boys, let’s go.” And they walked down the street to the hotel.

  The Ceremony…

  The first notes of The Bridal Chorus rang throughout the church. The guests turned as one to look for the bride.

  When Martha stepped around the door and looked toward the altar, she saw her husband-to-be at the altar with his best man and the preacher, John Carruthers. Luke was standing there, resplendent in his blue frock coat, with a flower in the lapel. His waistcoat was white, and his trousers were lavender doeskin. His best man, Jed in a frock coat also, though in a more subdued tone stood by him. She was momentarily stunned. As she looked at him, she felt a feeling of peace and love wash over her. “I will never be alone or lonely again. God, I love this man,” she thought.

  John Lucas Hastings walked slowly towards the altar, carrying a ring on a small pillow. The bride was three steps behind him on the arm of her father. Luke felt a lump in his throat as he caught his first glimpse. “She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he thought. As she caught his eye, she gave him a mind blowing smile. Bathed in the rays of the sun, it was as if she were glowing. She was a vision dressed in a white wedding gown he had never seen, and carrying a bouquet of roses. The train was carried by Sarah Catherine Hastings.

  The procession moved slowly toward the front of the church. Jacob took her hand and placed it in Luke’s. When John asked, “Who gives this woman to be married?” Jacob answered in a strong voice, “Her mother and I do.” He turned and moved to a seat by his wife in the first pew. The ring bearer stepped to the altar and stood by the groom.

  The ceremony proceeded, with the bride and groom holding each others hand. As they recited their vows, their eyes never left each other. They both said “I do,” in loud, clear, certain voices. Luke took the ring from John Lucas and placed it on her finger, and John said, “Luke, you may now kiss your bride.” Luke lifted the veil and kissed her gently on the lips. They turned to face their guests as John intoned, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Mr and Missus Luke Hastings.”

  From the first row on the groom’s side of the church Will and Jimmy rushed toward them. Will said, “Mama,” with outstretched arms. His new mother hugged him fiercely and did the same with Jimmy.

  Gr
ace began the recessional and the bridal party moved to the rear of the church. Martha’s parents, her sister, her niece and nephew followed them. When they passed through the door, Sarah grabbed her and squeezed her tightly. “What a wonderful ceremony,” she said, “and you were gorgeous, Sis.” Her mother had tears in her eye. If you looked very closely, you might have seen a tear in Jacob’s eye also.

  Catherine hugged Luke. “Thank you for making my daughter so happy, and thank you for making it possible for us to be here. It means more than you’ll ever know.”

  Jacob shook Luke’s hand and said, “Welcome to the family, son.”

  Jed shook Luke’s hand heartily. Sarah threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. “I love you, Luke Hastings. I’ve never had a brother before, but now I do.”

  From the steps of the church, Martha threw her bouquet over her shoulder, but was unable to see who caught it.

  After signing the necessary papers with John, Martha changed clothes in Grace’s bedroom. She and her new family then walked down the board sidewalk to the Laramie Hotel where between 75 and 100 guests awaited them. After several champagne toasts and helpings of finger sandwiches and cake, Luke led Martha off to the side and said, “I have a room upstairs where I changed. It’s ours for the night. I’ll have one of the hands drive Hetty and the boys home.”

  Taking his hands, and looking into his eyes, she said, “If it’s all the same to you, I would like to go home with my husband and my sons and spend my wedding night in my new home. Do you mind?”

  “Mind? No, I don’t mind at all. I think that is very thoughtful of you. Now the boys can share in our happiness from the beginning.”

  And so it was. The Hastings family rode slowly back to their ranch.

  My Wedding Night…

  The evening was spent with Will and Jimmy never straying very far from Martha’s side. Each kept asking if she wanted anything. Luke watched this with a loving eye. His sons were the happiest they had been since their mother’s death. For that matter, so was he.

  The boys finally wore themselves out. Luke asked Hetty to take them to bed. First, they both had to hug Martha and say, “Goodnight, Mama.” As they padded off to bed, Luke saw the tears in Martha’s eyes.

  “Are you happy, honey?”

  “I can’t tell you how much,” she answered. She plopped into his lap and said, “Can we do that ‘kiss the bride’ bit again?”

  “Yes we can. I think I can do a better job this time.” The kiss was long and filled with passion. When they broke apart, Luke stood, took his bride in his arms and carried her down the hall to their bedroom and across the threshold. Inside, she stood, and said solemnly, “Would you undress me, slowly, please?”

  She stood before him as he slowly removed each piece of clothing. When she was fully revealed to him, he stood back and admired her body with wonder and awe as she pirouetted in front of him. She then undressed him. When he was fully nude, his manhood standing stiffly in front, she moved into his arms. Holding her with her breasts mashed against his muscled chest, he slowly turned her so they could see their reflection in the mirror. As she watched, he slid down, kissing her cheek, her neck and then her breasts.

  He took the nipple in his mouth, eliciting an audible gasp from her. Manipulating the nipple with his tongue, he then took as much of the breast as he could into his mouth. Moving to the bed, he slowly lowered her to the turned down bed. He switched breasts, then took both into his mouth. As she lay on her back, his hand had slowly moved down her chest and abdomen and caressed her mound, moving the lips apart, he moved a finger into the recesses of her body and began rubbing it, increasing her passion. She was very moist and inviting.

  He moved his head slowly down her chest, kissing and licking as he went. She put her hands on the sides of his head as he moved. She was moving as he traced the outline of her belly button. Her movements increased as he separated the folds with his fingers and began moving his tongue around the edges.

  Moving, and undulating her hips, Martha thought, “What is he doing to me? It’s going inside me. Ohhhh, I can’t stand it. A little more over, that’s it, darling, that’s it.” And she lost control of her body. Holding his head tightly she thrust her hips upward, higher, higher with each wave that coursed through her.

  Spent, she lay limp, and released his head. He slowly retreated down the same path he had taken. Reaching her mouth, he possessed it, moving his tongue across the ridges of her mouth, and around the edges of her tongue. When her tongue touched his, she could taste herself. She moved her hand and took his shaft in her hand and guided it to her place of treasures. Rubbing it around the edges and then pulling it inside, she released her hand and elevated her hips to get the length of it. Her hands on his hips encouraged him to push it further. He did so as she came up to meet him. He felt her tension increase and felt another climax take her. He could feel her relax, but she kept moving rising and falling to match his rhythm as he pushed his manhood in and out. He felt her tremble as another climax approached. “Wait for me,” he urged. “”Wait for me.”

  “You had better hurry,” she panted. His speed increased. “I can’t hold it anymore. It’s coooommmming…” She felt his body tighten as his release came. He pounded her into the mattress as he pumped his juices into her. “I can feel you,” she said as she tightened her muscles and released them as if she was milking him to get the last drop. He collapsed on top of her, their sweat slicked bodies touching from head to toe. His member still inside. For an indeterminate length of time they stayed this way until he felt her begin to move beneath him very slowly. As she continued to move, he felt himself rise to the occasion and moved his hips up and down pushing into her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and held him tightly against her as they climbed this mountain of ecstasy together. As they reached the top and went over the edge, he began filling her cavity as she once again lost control of her body.

  Totally spent, they lay beside each other, her head resting against his shoulder. They fell asleep this way. Neither could say how many times they made love that night, but they were totally sated when they fell asleep for the last time,

  The next morning as Luke awakened, he opened his eyes to see Martha propped on an elbow watching him. “How long have you been awake,” he asked.

  “I don’t know, not too long. I loved watching you sleep,” she said. She took him in her hand and guided him to the magical place. Massaging it until it became erect, she inserted it into her vault and began to move. “Ummm, that feels good,” she said. “Join me?”

  “I believe I will,” he said. Ever so slowly they made tender love and finished in a final frenzy together. “You were right. That did feel good,” he said and pulled her against him and then kissed her tenderly. “I love you, Mrs Hastings.”

  “And I love you. Now we had better get up before you arouse me again.”

  “That would be bad, how?” he asked.

  They dressed, each watching the other, then went to the kitchen where breakfast and their sons were waiting.

  “You sure slept a long time, Mama,” Will said.

  “We sure did, she said as she kissed him and his little brother. “We were really tired.”

  Luke stifled a laugh.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN SAN FRANCISCO

  It’s the last day of school. The door opens and Martha stands in the door bidding each student a personal goodbye for the summer. As Clayton Vintner, the last student to leave, save for Will, started out the door, Martha had more of a message for him. “Clayton, I want to compliment you on all of your hard work. I don’t know of any student who worked as hard as you did. You have come a long way since school began. I look forward to the fall term and having you as a student again.” She hugged him and patted him on the shoulder. “You have a good summer and if you need something to read, you come see me.” He colored at the attention and thanked her. She was alone with Will.

  “Well, he’s the last except for you. Are you ready to go
home too?” she asked.

  “Yes, Mama,” he said. She retrieved her things, closed and locked the door. He took her hand, and they walked the short distance home.

  That evening at dinner, Luke said, “I have some news for you. We leave for San Francisco one week from today. Can you boys be ready by then?”

  “Yes, Papa,” they chorused. “We’ll be ready. Miss Hetty has been getting our things ready.”

  “Mama, will you be ready?” asked Will.

  “I don’t know,” said Martha. I have so much to do. If I’m not ready you can go on without me. I’ll be all right here.”

  “Mama, you have to go. You promised,” said Will.

  “Maybe your Papa can help me and I’ll be able to make it,” she said with a smile.