Chapter 7

Hattie

Hattie watched as the pastor walked away. She turned and started walking toward the church, as the tears fell from her face. Oh, for the first time, she wished she was not Hattie Long the orphan, but Haddie Long the pastor’s daughter and intended bride. Her heart was breaking for the love she knew wasn’t hers.

He was everything she could have imagined the perfect man to be; exceedingly handsome, funny, authoritative, and he was her best friend’s, not hers. Once she explained everything, then he would treat her just like he did all the other brides, as someone under his care and protection.

There was a part of her that wanted to lie and just say “Yes, I’m Haddie Long, your intended” and get married before Haddie could recover. But she knew that was wrong on so many levels. So, she sat in her normal spot in the church, the last row, and waited. To have to make her confession in front of another person was going to be hard.

At least I hadn’t declared my love to him. How could it be love, anyway? She argued with herself. I just barely set eyes on him. Yes, but something happened, I know it did. Don’t deny what he does to me, how he makes me feel. It doesn’t matter. He isn’t for me. He is Haddie’s. Sweet, kind, lucky Haddie.

Before she could get herself under control, the sound of people coming up the steps sounded in the empty sanctuary. She did her best to dry her eyes. Then she glimpsed him, and the waterworks started again.

The woman with him moved to her and placed a hand on her arm, lifting her out of the pew and pulling her into an embrace. “Are you alright, my dear?”

Hattie looked up into the kindly face and nodded. “Yes, please don’t mind me. It’s just been a rough few months for me. I’m sorry, it all got away from me.”

The woman patted her back before releasing her. “I understand. The trip alone would be enough to stress a young lady to tears.”

“Oh, no, that isn’t it. I loved the trip, it was such a wonderful adventure.”

Joshua moved over beside the woman. “This is Mrs. Williams. She will stay at the Bride House with all you ladies. She has appointed herself your local mother, I guess you would say.

“Now, you said you needed to speak to me and you’ve yet to tell me who you are. I’m sure I’ve figured that out already. No other woman approached me, so you have to be Haddie Long.”

Hattie shook her head. “I’m sorry, Pastor Bryce, but I’m not the girl you’ve been writing to. My name is Hattie Long, but I’m not your Haddie Long. I’m the friend she wrote to you about.”

“I don’t understand. If you’re her friend, how can you be Haddie Long?”

“We have the same name, but aren’t related. I’m actually a year older than Haddie. She spells her name H-a-d-d-i-e, mine is spelled H-a-t-t-i-e. We have been friends and almost sisters since we met because of it. I have been asked by her to explain why she isn’t here.”

Joshua moved up to the next row of pews and sank into it, facing towards the women. “You’re the friend. But you have the same name. Why isn’t Haddie here? Did she change her mind? Did her father deny her permission to come? I know he was not happy with our correspondence. I should have handled that better and written to him myself.”

“Oh, no! It’s nothing like that. She was, and still is, looking forward to coming to meet you. She got very sick right before the train was to leave. The doctor said it was scarlet fever. When we left for the train, she was still in danger of possibly succumbing to the illness. But she sent word, by her father, for me to come because of my situation. She also asked that I explain things to you.”

“Hattie, you don’t know if she’s alive, do you?”

Hattie’s tears fell again, and she whispered out the word. “No. I don’t know if she is alive. I pray she is.”

But in her heart, she wished for something different, and was shocked at her thoughts.

Joshua

When Hattie had explained why she wanted to talk to him, his heart had broken into a million pieces. He didn’t realize how smitten he had become to this strong and beautiful woman. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t his. His was back east, possibly even dead. Which did nothing to fix his problem.

When the deacons caught wind of this, they’d force him to marry Ernestine Lyman, the worst possible choice for him. A marriage without love and without support. No, he had to do something else and then, from one of those shattered pieces of his heart, came an answer. One that filled him with hope. But it shouldn’t, it really shouldn’t.

He heard himself ask, “Hattie, you don’t know that she is alive, do you?”

He heard her intake of breath and knew the thought had never crossed her mind. “No. I don’t know if she is alive. I pray she is.”

Joshua looked at Myrtle and then at Hattie. What he was going to suggest would only work with both their support.

“Okay. First things first. Let’s get you to send a telegram to Pastor Long, to let him know you arrived and to check on Haddie. Also to tell him we are praying for her. Then we can talk some more, after we get his answer. Until then, we leave things just as they are.”

“You are Hattie Long and the brides all look to you as their leader. That is obvious. So, you will continue to be their leader and will work alongside Mrs. Williams here, as head of the Ladies’ Aid Society. If Haddie didn’t survive her fever, then I will officially start courting you. You need a husband and I need a wife. One who will be a leader to the women of the community and you are already that for those just arriving.”

“But I’m not your Haddie, and I don’t want to keep my friends in the dark about who I am.”

“I’m not asking you to keep them in the dark. If Haddie is alive, we will have to talk again, because there are things happening here you don’t understand, as well. But first steps first. Let’s find out about Haddie and get you settled in the Bride House. Three of the brides are to marry this afternoon, so we can talk again after that.”

Myrtle looked at him. “Joshua, you need to explain to Hattie why you are pushing on this. She is concerned for her friend now, not just for the illness but for her marriage prospects, too.”

Joshua sighed. Of course she was concerned. Anyone with a heart like hers would be. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry. I was not thinking about that side of the issue, just my own.”

Myrtle patted Hattie on the arm and smiled at her. “He may be our pastor, but he is a typical man. He sees a problem and charges to fix it, without thought of the damage it may do.”

Hattie looked back and forth between them, confused. “I don’t understand. What problem?”

Joshua sighed. “Hattie, the reason why I started writing to Haddie to begin with, is that the deacons here are unhappy that I’m unmarried. They feel that the position is better filled by a married man. To turn away temptation and to protect both my reputation and any single woman I may need to counsel or visit.

“There are only two young ladies in my acceptable age range, who would fit the bill, and I’m kin to one of them. The other is unsuited for the position. So, I took a chance on this mail-order bride thing and asked my good friends, the Jacksons, to help me find a suitable candidate. They gave my letter to your friend, Haddie.

“However, if the deacons find out that she didn’t come, the reason won’t matter. Either they will force me to choose another woman from your group, or take the local girl who isn’t suited. So, if I have to choose to do one of those, I’d choose you. Simply because you have already exhibited the qualities I desire for the church side of the equation. Your care and concern for your friend and the other brides show me you are also a wonderful choice for what I want in a wife.”

He saw Hattie consider everything he’d said before she answered. “Yes, but if Haddie is on the mend, then she will arrive in the spring, expecting to court with you and possibly become your wife. I don’t want to make her mad at me.”

Oh, he loved this woman’s heart. She was the perfect choice. How could he tell her he was half in love with her already? He was working up the courage to do just that, when Mrs. Williams interjected.