Mail Order Melody (Chapman Mail Order Brides: Book 3)

Mail Order Melody

Chapman Mail Order Brides: Book 3

Kate Whitsby

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Kate Whitsby

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

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Dedication

To YOU, The reader.

Thank you for your support.

Thank you for your emails.

Thank you for your reviews.

Thank you for reading and joining me on this road.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

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Chapter One

The door of the church banged shut.

On the steps of the church, Paul Chapman glared at Melody Hanson. Now what am I gonna do with this woman? he thought. She really did look spectacular in her pearl-studded wedding dress, but Paul hated her. He’d like to turn on his heel, mount his horse, and ride away, leaving her there by herself. He never wanted to see her face again as long as he lived.

But he knew he could never face his brothers if he abandoned her. No matter how Prescott ambushed him by running off with Maggie, he couldn’t go home unless he married Melody.

In fact, he hated Prescott for this prank more than Melody. She was as much an innocent pawn in this mischief as he was. And he hated Parker for cooking up this whole mail-order bride business in the first place.

He caught Melody’s eye under her veil. She gaped at him with wide eyes as he turned the situation over in his mind. Paul’s anger at his brothers flared again. They’d rejected her, one after the other, and in the end, they’d run off with their own sweethearts and dumped Melody on a man who didn’t want her. She was the real victim of this wedding catastrophe.

Paul could stomach marrying a girl he didn’t love for the sake of his brothers and their life together on their homestead. But maybe she wouldn’t. Maybe she wouldn’t want to marry him.

Before they left the homestead to get married in Boise, he told his brothers that he considered any obligation of his to these brides null and void. Because Marion, the mail-order bride assigned to him, decided to marry his brother, Parker, he no longer considered himself bound by their agreement to get married.

Now, the same applied to Melody. Should he ask her? Should he offer to send her home?

She hadn’t spoken since she arrived off the coach from Denver. Marion said she hadn’t spoke once since they left Cleveland together. She probably wouldn’t talk to him now, either. If she couldn’t talk, how was she supposed to give her consent to the marriage?

A demon of curiosity whispered in Paul’s ear. An insatiable desire to force her to speak, to drive her into a corner where she’d have no other choice but to speak, overcame any sympathy he felt for her or pity for himself.

He compressed his lips and scowled at her one last time. She really was frightened by all this. The fear that he would abandon and shame her must be oppressively brutal.

Paul shifted on his feet. He left home intending to remain single, but now he made up his mind. He walked over to the door of the church and pulled it open. He held it back and inclined his head toward it. Are you coming in?

A glorious smile of relief and gratitude swept over Melody’s face. She wasn’t half bad looking when she smiled, although he couldn’t remember seeing her really happy since he first met her. She only looked marginally less terrified by her predicament when she stayed close to Marion.

Paul closed the door behind her and sauntered into the church. The minister leaned over the podium, putting his books and Bibles away. He glanced up when Paul entered.

Can I help you? he asked.

Paul surveyed the church. He never put much stock in religion. This wedding stuff was really nothing more than a formality. I’m Paul Chapman. You just married my two brothers. Now it’s my turn. I’m here to get married.

Oh! the minister exclaimed. Your other brother—Prescott, I think his name is—said he didn’t think you were coming in. I’ll just get my Bible out again. Where’s the lady?

Paul stepped aside to give the minister a view of Melody standing at the far end of the aisle.

The minister gasped when he saw her. Oh, my goodness! Well, we’d better get started. Unfortunately, we don’t have a witness.

Do we really need one? Paul asked.

Why don’t you go ask one of your brothers to step in here? the minister suggested. I’m sure they’ll be glad to do it.

Actually, Paul replied. I don’t know where they are. I think they might be waiting for their brides to change their clothes. But I didn’t see them outside or in the rectory, so I can’t ask them. Can’t we go ahead without a witness?

We aren’t supposed to, the minister told him. But I guess it doesn’t really matter. He scanned Paul’s shabby work clothes. Are you going to change your clothes first?

Paul flushed and cast his eyes down to the floor. I didn’t bring any.

The minister opened his mouth to answer, then closed it. He frowned, then he stammered, Didn’t you…..aren’t you…but….

It’s complicated, Paul interrupted him. Can we just get on with the service? It’s snowing outside, and we have to find a place to spend the night after this. I’d like to get it done and get going—if you don’t mind.

Of course, the minister answered. If you’ll just step over there, and young lady, if you’ll just come on up here…

The minister waved to Melody, who glided down the aisle in her glowing gown. Another pang of regret stabbed Paul in the gut. She deserved better than this. She probably planned for Marion to walk her down the aisle and stand witness for her.

Then again, she probably planned to marry someone who wanted to get married. Come to think of it, only Marion had ever treated Melody decently. None of them even tried to speak to her, whether or not she spoke back. Marion talked to her and encouraged her the same way she did everyone else. She didn’t seem to notice or care that Melody never spoke back.

Paul would have liked to marry Marion. From her first night in Idaho, she proved herself a strong and resourceful woman. Paul admired the way she stood up to his brothers when she had an idea of her own about things. She’d almost completely taken over the leadership position from Parker around the homestead.

Then again, Maggie hadn’t done too badly, either. She’d certainly risen to the occasion when the fever laid them all low. She tended them all alone, and she saved their lives by riding to Twin Falls to bring the doctor. She saved them again when she warned him about that bear going after their horses. Only he knew about that. Considering her big city background, she’d overcome many more difficult trials than anyone else to take her place on the frontier.

And here was Melody. Paul faced her in front of the altar. The minister droned on in the background. Paul didn’t listen to what he said. He could guess what it all meant. This was the end of his life. He wouldn’t be running wild in Twin Falls the way he used to. He probably wouldn’t be able to spend his share of the trapping profits in saloons and gambling halls now that he was getting married.

He had to admit, Melody was just as strong and resourceful as Marion. Marion praised her skill and wisdom to the skies at every turn. She just didn’t speak. If only she did, if only he knew something about the person hiding under her silent exterior, Paul might esteem her as highly as Marion.

Paul pricked up his ears when he heard the minister reading out the vows. And do you, Paul, take this woman, Melody, as thy lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?

I do, he replied.

Now for the moment he’d been waiting for. He studied Melody as the minister read her the vows. She still looked timid and tiny. And do you, Melody, take this man, Paul, as your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, ’til death do you part?

Paul strained his ears to catch her reply, but he didn’t need to.

Melody lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. Her voice rang out and echoed through the empty church. I do.

Paul stared at her. Something about the way she pronounced the words sounded strange to him. But it was clear, plain English. At least he knew now that she could speak.

He ignored the rest of the service until the minister said, You may kiss the bride.

Paul took a hesitating step forward. Under her veil, Melody smiled at him but her eyes glistened with tears and her lips quivered. Paul didn’t have to wonder if the tears were tears of joy. They were married. Now came the hard part.

He still didn’t really want to have much to do with her. He’d gone out of his way to drive Maggie away, and she complied marvelously by running off with Prescott.

Now he’d gone and married Melody more out of curiosity than anything else. He’d tied himself to her more firmly than before. He definitely couldn’t turn his back on her now.

But