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“You’ve always had good motherly instincts. It sounds like the perfect place for you to be.”
“I think so as well. You don’t mind that I’m leaving before we get the canning finished? I’ll help you do the fall cleaning tomorrow.”
“No, you won’t, and no, I think it’s wonderful you’re leaving for such an opportunity. I have fabric I bought years ago, thinking I’d make your wedding dress out of it. We’re going to make your dress today and tomorrow, and your sisters will help me with the housework, whether they like it or not.”
Jessica grinned. “I can just imagine Maisie trying to cook and clean.” Maisie was the next oldest of the Moore sisters, and she was fifteen. She simply had no work ethic. Jessica was glad she wasn’t going to be there to listen to the fits her sister threw as she had to take on some of Jessica’s duties.
“I’m not thinking about that yet,” Mother said with a grin. “Maisie will learn that there’s more to life than reading and daydreaming. And she’ll learn it quickly.”
“I hope so!”
“We’ll start a stew cooking for supper, and I’ll have Maisie cook the loaves of bread I made this morning. She’ll learn quickly, or she won’t. If she doesn’t, the pressure from her siblings will make her learn more quickly. Jackson is not about to eat burnt bread.”
Jessica smiled. Jackson was seventeen and the next oldest. He ate just about anything, and it was odd to see how thin he was. The boy never stopped eating as far as she could see.
The next two days were spent sewing. By the following evening, Jessica had her train tickets, and she tried on her wedding dress. It fit perfectly, and she was excited to wear it for her future husband. For George.
Elizabeth had sent a letter with Bernard saying she would meet Jessica at the train station the following morning. Jessica was excited to see the other woman one last time before she left. She had to thank her for what she’d done.
Before bed that last night in the only home she’d ever known, her mother sat in her room with her. “Do you have any questions for me?” she asked.
Jessica shook her head. “Should I?”
“Well, I wasn’t sure how much you knew about the wedding night.”
Jessica laughed. “I’ve seen cows and horses mating my entire life. I know how babies are made.”
Mother nodded and kissed Jessica’s cheek. “I know you’re going to be a wonderful wife and mother. I’m just sad it won’t be close so I can see you on a regular basis. Though Wisconsin is much better than moving to California or something. That would be much too far away.”
“It would,” Jessica agreed. “I’ll write to you, and we won’t lose touch with each other. I’m sure I’ll be asking for a great deal of parenting advice since I’ll have a ready-made family.”
“I’ll answer everything I can as quickly as I can.”
“Oh, I’m going to miss you so!” Jessica embraced her mother. “It’s hard to leave my mother and best friend.”
“It’s just as hard to watch you go. I do hope you find love in Wisconsin and find your place there.”
“Oh, I’m certain I will. It sounds like just the place for me. And his mother lives close by, so I’m sure she’ll be of help as well.” Jessica couldn’t imagine a mother being anything less than helpful when her son and grandchildren were involved.
“I hope you have as good of a mother-in-law as I did.”
Jessica nodded. “I hope so as well.”
Chapter Two
The entire time on the train, Jessica daydreamed about what it would be like to have George spot her and immediately know it was her, the woman who would spend the rest of her life with him and his children.
She knew the children would immediately know her for their mother and fly into her embrace. The baby, who had probably cried the entire six months that she was alive would see her and giggle for the first time. Oh, it would be wonderful this mail-order marriage of hers.
She met many different people on the train, and she told them all about the wonderful life as a wife and mother she was about to have. One woman—a retired schoolteacher gave her account of what happened when she’d gone west to be a mail-order bride.
“My stagecoach was robbed before we reached our destination. One of the thieves had a very distinctive scar on his hand. I made it to the church unharmed but much poorer than I’d been when I started out. When my betrothed took my hand in his, I saw the same scar that had been on that thief. I knew immediately, and I called a halt to the wedding. He was held there until the sheriff arrived and took him into custody. Then I had to return home, ashamed that I’d agreed to marry a man with no morals. I had the same dreams you do. Be careful.”
Though Jessica expressed sadness and empathy about what had happened to the older woman, she was certain it couldn’t possibly happen to her. No, George was a good man of fine moral character. She just knew it.
When her train arrived in Deforest, Wisconsin, Jessica stepped onto the platform, looking in every direction for the man who was supposed to be the love of her life. A farmer in dirty, old clothes spotted her and walked close. “You Jessica Moore?” he asked.
Jessica nodded. This man couldn’t be called handsome by any stretch of the imagination. “Yes? George?”
