Mail Order Bride- Illinois

Chapter 17

Jesus Jonathan felt like such a pr*ck. Abby walked off and he was too ashamed to follow her. Jonathan simply hung his head.

“I told your wife a widow arrived in town looking for a job, if you want to come to town I will introduce you to her.” The doctor told him as he collected his supplies.

“Yes doctor I will be right behind you. James will you get the buckboard together, I’ll go ahead and get supplies while I am in town.” James didn’t say anything, he was pissed at Jonathan too. Jonathan couldn’t blame him, He was a shitty husband. Jonathan went looking for his sons to let them know what was going on. Jonathan quickly found them in the barn with Zip.

“Hey boys.” Devin and Cullen looked up at him.

“Hey Dad,” they chimed in unison.

“Boys, I have to leave to go to town today, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Can we come?” Cullen asked.

“Not this time, I have to find some one to help Abby, she’s sick.”

“Is the baby making her sick?” Devlin asked in a small voice.

“Yes and no, it’s hard to explain. But if you need anything ask uncle James or Buzz for help okay?” The boys nodded, “and stay either in the barn or in the house. I’ll see you soon.” Jonathan started to walk off.

“Bye daddy,” they said to his back as Jonathan came out of the barn to see the buckboard hitched and ready for him.

“The boys are in the barn, I let them know to come to you if they need anything.” Jonathan stated and James simply nodded at him. Jonathan climbed up in the buckboard and snapped the reigns to get the horses moving. The trip to town was a long one he had to get moving before it was too late to get back home this evening.

Jonathan was able to make the trip in decent time. He pulled up to the doctors office, it looks like he just arrived as well. Doctor McNally wasted no time with niceties,

“She’s staying in the hotel, come along I’ll introduce you.” Jonathan followed the cantankerous doctor who lead him to the hotel down the block. It seemed that luck was on his side as the woman was eating lunch at the hotel restaurant.

“Look that’s her right there, remember what I said Mr. Smith, full bed rest.” Doctor McNally pointed to a woman and teenage boy while giving him firm instructions on his wife before walking off in a huff. Well he definitely wasn’t winning any favors with anyone today, not that he could blame anyone.

Jonathan saw the woman and the boy and approached them slowly.

“Hello ma’am, my name is Mr. Smith and the doctor let me know that you are looking for a job?” Jonathan asked the woman in front of him. The woman looked to be a few years older than him, but it was hard to tell, her face was weathered. Jonathan wasn’t sure if it was the prairie sun or just a hard life, it could be either in the West. The woman gave him a smile,

“Yes that’s right, I haven’t been having much luck, though the doctor told me you are looking for some one to hire, he didn’t tell me the job though.” Jonathan gave a smile,

“Oh I can explain rightly enough, my wife sadly was put on bed rest for the last month of her pregnancy. So we are needing some one to feed my men three meals a day, we need laundry to be done. Those are the most important things, Abby I think can give the children lessons from bed, but I don’t know, she was just put on bed rest today and I don’t want her to have to worry about anything.”

“What a wonderful husband you are,” the woman said with adoration in her eyes. It was time to squash that fast, he backed up a pace.

“Sadly that’s not true, she shouldn’t have been doing all she was doing. I should have gotten her help a long time ago, so will you be able to help?” Jonathan asked the woman coldly.

“Well can my son come?” The woman said pointing to the boy next to her and Jon nodded.

“Of course he can, how old is he?”

“He’s fourteen.” The boy looked at him with shy eyes and a small smile.

“I can do you one better if you wish it I can offer him a job as well.”

“Really?” The woman said and the boy looked surprised, yet hopeful.

“Yup, it’s a ranch, there are always jobs to be had. Though there is only one spare room in the main house, so if you don’t want to share then he will have to sleep in the bunk house.” The woman waved him off,

“I’m sure he would prefer it actually. He’s at that age ya know. I’ll take the job.” The woman stated with a firm nod.

“Okay, can I get your name, doctor McNally didn’t give me your name.” The woman laughed trying to sound seductive,

“How silly of me, Sarah Baker and my sons name is Elliot.” The woman put out her hand so he would kiss it, but Jonathan gave it a firm shake. He could tell she was surprised at that, but he didn’t pay it any mind.

“Okay mrs. Baker collect your things and come back here in about an hour or so if you can. It takes a few hours to get back to my ranch. I need to pick up some supplies while I’m in town.”

Jonathan quickly went to the mercantile to pick up the supplies he needed. Unfortunately he spent longer in there than he wanted to as Mrs. Kline was manning the register today and talked his ear off about Abby and the baby. It’s like some kind of cosmic joke that he couldn’t especially the guilt he felt. When she found out that Abby was put on bed rest she went in a tizzy. She tried giving Jonathan the whole store saying he needed it, and it was on the house.

“Mrs. Kline I appreciate it, but I don’t think I can take all of your inventory from you for free. You won’t make a profit.”

“Oh silly me, but you must take something, we didn’t even get you a wedding gift.” Jonathan looked to Mr. Kline, not sure how to feel about it.

“Go on son, it’s the least we can do.”

“All right, I will take two items.” Mrs. Kline smiled wide and handed him some items free of charge. He still felt a bit guilty, but he knew Abby would love it.

Jonathan was headed to the post office when he caught sight of a man. First he was a stranger, so that was suspicious. There wasn’t anything special about his appearance, but it was the way he held himself that made Jonathan take notice. He slowly started to approach him.

Jonathan quickly assessed him as he walked close,he noticed that he tied his g*n down on his holster. Not the average men did this, that made Jon’s instincts take notice. Jonathan only saw the man from the side, so when he finally turned around he stopped in his tracks.

“God damn it! Jonathan Smith! You look just like our father,” his brother told him.

“Jaime?” Jonathan asked. Jonathan could tell it was his brother he just couldn’t tell which one. He hasn’t seen his brothers in almost ten years now. They definitely don’t look the same as they did when they were in their late teens early twenties.

“Yeah it’s definitely been a long time hasn’t it?” They gave each other a brotherly hug and pulled away.

“Yeah too long,” they stood there in awkward silence for a moment before Jaime broke it by saying.

“Well let’s head to your ranch.”

“Yeah, I just got to check the post office, and pick up some people.”

“People?” Jaime asked.

“Yeah, I’ll explain on the way.” Jonathan couldn’t help the huge smile that came over his face at seeing his brother again. This was a day full of surprises.