Mail Order Bride- Illinois

Chapter 3

Abby could hardly contain her excitement; she was leaving for Oregon today! The past few days had been a whirlwind of activity. Abby spent most of her time shopping, she spent more money in the last few days than she had in her whole life. Abby couldn’t have been more surprised when her new husband told her to pick out fabrics for three new dresses for herself. Abby had never had so much money spent on her before! Jonathan continued to surprise her when he got her a new pair of boots, ribbons, and anything that she wanted. Abby choose a new stove for herself, as her husband informed her that he didn’t have one in his home.

Abby remembered the flare of surprise in his eyes when she said she wanted an oven. Jonathan informed her that he was going to buy one anyway, and said I should pick something else. Abby went back to the fabrics and picked out another design, she said it was for her, but she was going to make him two new shirts with it instead. Jonathan picked out three new boots for the boys, one several sizes bigger for when Cullen had grown into them. Jonathan also pick several fabrics to make the boys new shirts and pants from. Jonathan picked himself some new boots, and bought himself the new Colt pistol with several boxes of ammunition.

Jonathan also bought all kinds of medicine, foodstuffs, and furniture. Abby couldn’t believe the amount of money he was spending. Jonathan quickly informed her when she made a comment about it that he was not rich. Jonathan told her that he was given this money when he turned in a fugitive to Chicago police. That was when she got up the nerve to ask him what he did for a living. Jonathan informed her that he was a U.S. Marshall, and that he was soon going to be retiring to become a rancher. Abby was vastly relieved by that news, she didn’t want her husband shot, or killed. She was starting to care for him, a great deal. Jonathan was a sweet and caring man.

Zip started to bark and brought her back to the present. Abby shook herself, and looked up to see Jonathan and Zip come down the road. Abby started laughing as Zip caught sight of her, his tail started wagging furiously and ran straight for her. Abby leaned down to greet her pup when he plowed her over. Abby sat in the ground laughing as her dog tried to lick her everywhere.

“I missed you too,” Abby said petting the dog like crazy. Abby looked up as Jonathan approached with a small smile on his face. “Thank you so much for getting him.”

“It was my pleasure.” He told her. Abby stood and asked,

“How did it go?”

“Good, I got a milk cow and few chickens. I also picked up a younger horse, as much as I love Rebel he’s getting on in years and I don’t think he will be able to make the trip with me on him.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” Abby said and patted his hand. Abby started to pull away from him, suddenly feeling awkward when he grabbed her hand.

“Thank you,” he said and gave her a small kiss on her lips. Zip didn’t like Jonathan kissing her and started barking. Jonathan backed away, and Zip ceased barking.

“Zip stop that, I’m sorry he’s never like anyone being close to me.”

“I can’t say that I blame him,” Jonathan stated with a small smile. Jonathan pulled out his watch, and told her, “We have to get going we are schedule to leave in one hour.”

.

The next week was hard on Abby, Jonathan started to feel bad that he had brought her on the trail. He should have sent her on the train, and had her wait for him. Abby worked from before sunset until after sundown, and she didn’t complain once. Jonathan admired her; she woke up tended the animals, made breakfast, sometimes she would drive the oxen while he rode his horse or sometimes she would walk along side. Abby cooked, cleaned, and made clothes with a smile on her face. Jonathan had never met a woman like her. Caroline would cook, but she couldn’t cook like Abby could. Caroline wouldn’t clean the house; his house had always been a disaster. While Abby wasn’t the perfect housekeeper, she still kept the wagon clean. He was amazed by her ability to appreciate the little things in life. Life was hard, but that didn’t stop his wife from stopping to smell the flowers.

Literally. Abby always had to stop and smell the flowers. She’d let out a little smile at the smell and continue on as if nothing had occurred. She baffled him.

The people on the wagon trail were often rude to Abby and Jonathan as well.

They weren’t necessarily rude the wagon train was predominantly a Quaker Church that were moving to Oregon looking for a place to found their church. They were good people, but wary of outsiders as they had been prosecuted for their beliefs in the past. So they were wary of strangers.

Jonathan was aware and understanding of the situation at hand, but he didn’t think Abby fully understood. Abby was naive in a lot of ways, but she had been sheltered most of her life.

Despite the barrier Abby was able to make a few friends. Abby watched people walk around the camp at night, chatting freely. She didn’t understand why making friends never came easy to her. Abby didn’t understand if it was because they joined the wagon train late, or once again it was her personality hindering her.

Abby didn’t have time to dwell on it, as there was always something to do on the trail. She tried to keep her optimism in place as the wagon train was a harsh reality.

They were finishing supper, which was amazing, and Abby came and gave him another serving of the stew. Abby filled the leftovers in a glass jar and collected the dishes. Jonathan could tell Abby was sore by the way she walked. She still hasn’t got used to live on the trail. It was a hard life and it wasn’t for everyone. There was a reason hundreds of people died on these trails. The trails are now well worn. While that was good, but it made them more open to Indian attacks.

“Here let me help you,” Jonathan said as he quickly ate the rest of the stew. Jonathan gathered all of the dishes and walked down the stream with her.

“Jon you don’t have to help me, I can do it,” Abby said.

“I know you can, but I feel like helping you tonight.” Jonathan told her sincerely.

“Why?” Lili asked with pure confusion.

“I don’t know, I just remember how washing dishes was my least favorite chore and thought to help you if you feel the same.” Abby giggled,

“I loathe doing the dishes! I can’t believe your mother made you do dishes.”

“She didn’t.” He said flatly.

“Your wife?”

“Yeah, Caroline never washed dishes, or any house cleaning. If I wanted my house to be clean I did it myself.” Jon said bitterly.

“Oh, was she sick?”

“No, she was too busy trying to find other men to sleep with.”

“Oh.” Abby said and had no idea how to respond to something like that. Jonathan mentally kicked himself, why did he tell her that.

“I’m sorry I said too much,” Jonathan said and continued washing dishes.

“No you didn’t, you took me by surprise is all,” Abby said shyly.

“Why’s that?”

“Well you so rarely talk about yourself, and I have been dying of curiosity.”

“Really? What do you want to know?” Jonathan couldn’t believe he was asking her this. He rarely opened up to people, he never opened up to Caroline and here he was, wanting his wife of two weeks know everything about him.

“I want to know what you want me to know. I don’t want to pry and open up bad feelings for you, but I am your wife I want to know you. I want to make you happy, I always have.”

“Always?” Jon was almost flabbergasted at what she said; he guessed she would ask him question after question about Caroline, he never expected this.

“The second I saw you, I knew that something was troubling you, you looked so sad and I knew that I wanted to be the one to make you happy. I’m afraid I’m not doing a good job of it though.”

“You want to make me happy?”

“Of course I do, I’m your wife. Don’t you want to make me happy?”

“Of course.” Jonathan finished doing the dishes, so he tossed the dirty water in the stream and came back for Abby. “How about we go to bed early tonight?”

“Okay.” Jonathan could tell that she was a little nervous. Abby normally went to bed after the dishes were done as she was so exhausted from her day. Jonathan would often stand guard over the wagons. However, tonight the wagon master; Zane had guard duty.

After settling down into their makeshift bed Jonathan started to tell her about who he was.

“I was born and raised in Texas. My father and his brother raised cattle. I had six brothers, and a sister whom I was very close to. When I was thirteen cholera swept through the ranch; my mother and sister both died.” She could feel his pain with every word.

“I am so sorry, I couldn’t imagine it,” Abby interrupted. She was such a loving person that he had to smile.

“It took me awhile but I moved on, and so did my father. My Father passed the reins over to the ranch to my uncle and became a preacher. He would travel constantly and I never saw him. I stayed on at the ranch with my brothers, until I turned twenty.” Jonathan paused, “When I was twenty two the war broke out, I was the oldest so I enlisted and told my brothers to stay at home. They did stay at home for a while, but they eventually all enlisted.The war raged on for years…We lost Jameson in Shiloh and then we lost Garrett at Gettysburg.”

Jonathan stopped speaking as he felt Abby grab his hand. Jonathan squeezed it tightly and continued, “When the four of us came back home we soon realized that we had no home, it was burned down to the ground. We had no idea where our father was or what happened. The three of us went in different directions, I ended up in Oregon and I met Caroline. I thought she was a good woman and I married her. It turned out that she was far from it, she started sleeping with any man that caught her fancy, I honestly don’t know if Devlin and Cullen are mine. I treat them as such and they will never know that I doubt that they are mine. Then about six months ago she was in a wagon on her way to meet one of her lovers when it overturned and she broke her neck.” Jonathan stopped talking; he looked down not wanting to look at her yet. He didn’t know what her reaction might be. Then he heard it, she was softly crying.

“Oh Jonathan,” Abby said before she hurled herself into his arms. She was crying softly, “You should have never had to go through that, you didn’t deserve any of those horrible things, you are such an amazing person.”

Jonathan was speechless, no one since his mother had ever cried over him. He started to hope that his wife did care about him, even a little. There was no one on this earth that would consider him a decent human, let alone an amazing one.

“I’m not a good person.”

“Yes you are, you are caring, consider, and thoughtful. You want to make me happy; most men don’t care if their wives are happy or not. I consider myself lucky to be your wife.” Jonathan could only stare at her, and he watched in fascination as she slowly leaned up and started to kiss him.

Abby pulled away from Jonathan suddenly feeling awkward and ashamed. Jonathan snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Abby gasped as his lips met hers. He started to kiss her savagely. Abby loved the feeling of being in his arms, the feeling of being wanted. His hands moved lower to grab her derriere and pressed her into his hard arousal. Abby gasped at the feeling of being so close to him. Jonathan pulled down her nightgown and ran his hands reverently over her breasts. She loved the pleasure his touch created. Abby felt the pleasure heighten and travel down her body as he took one of her breasts in his mouth. He laved and sucked her breasts until she was writhing in pleasure. “Jonathan!”

“It will be fine Abby, trust me,” Jonathan said as his hand slid beneath her nightgown and up her thigh. He didn’t stop until he found her center, and stroked it reverently.

“Jonathan!” she gasped in shock and pleasure. Jonathan smiled and continued to lave her breast while he stoked her center. He was quickly rewarded by her low keening cry that signaled her c****x. Before she had time to register what was happening he laid between her thighs, and slowly started to enter her. God she was tight, and indeed a virgin as he was met with a barrier blocking his way.

“Abby, this will hurt a bit, but I will do what I can to make it as painless as possible.” Abby opened her eyes, and gave him a little smile.

“I trust you.”

Jonathan could no longer hold himself back from her, he sheathed himself fully in her with one thrust. She gave a small cry, and he held himself still while he tried to make it up to her by kissing her. He kissed her until she started mewling with pleasure, and then he couldn’t stop himself from moving inside her. She groaned in pleasure and tried to match the slow even rhythm he created. He was unable to hold out for long, she was so tight and such a passionate woman he felt his c****x build. With no warning he blew his seed deep into her. He collapsed on top of her.

“Sorry, you took my breath away, give me a minute and I will move,” Jonathan said as his breathing started to come back under control. Abby’s arms tightened around him.

“You will do no such thing, I love the feeling of you on top of me, inside of me.” God, just her words made him swell inside her. He pulled his head back to look at her, God she looked so beautiful. She leaned up to kiss him, their tongues dueling and he swelled even larger.

“Honey are you sore?” He said as he tested the possibility by pulling out and pushing into her slowly. She gave a small moan of pleasure and he took that as a no. He kissed her as they made slow passionate love.