MAIL ORDER OLIVIA Read online

  He picked up his newspaper and went into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

  “Well, that makes two of us,” Olivia said softly, as she turned off the lamps and went to bed.

  It seemed to Robert as if he’d never actually closed his eyes, when he became aware of someone shaking him awake. At first, he thought he was dreaming.

  Livie!

  She smelled just the way he remembered. In his dream, he reached for her and tumbled her down atop him the way he had times past, delighting at the familiar feel of her soft breasts cushioning his chest. He ran his hand up her back and tangled his fingers through her hair.

  “Robert!”

  In seconds he was awake, releasing her as he struggled to sit up.

  “It’s Chloe! She’s running a fever. She never gets sick,” Olivia added, wringing her hands in anguish.

  Robert pushed aside the thin cover and rose, only to see Olivia’s eyes widen. Drat! Since returning to Arizona, he had taken to sleeping in the altogether. He grabbed his pajama pants from the foot of the bed and stepped quickly into them.

  “Any visible sign of a rash?” he asked, as he followed Olivia into the room she shared with her daughter. The lantern on the highboy shed a dim light into the corners of the room. He could see a tangle of bed covers on the narrow bed where Livie spent her nights. From the look of the linens she wasn’t sleeping any more soundly than he was.

  “Can you fetch my medical bag from the parlor?” he asked, as he lifted Chloe from her wee bed.

  Olivia was back in seconds, and adjusted the lamp so there was more light.

  “She’s warm, all right,” Robert said, as he lay the baby down on Olivia’s bed to conduct his examination. He looked in her ears, down her throat, and listened to her lungs. Her eyes shone up at him, wide and bright with the fever, and for once she didn’t roll about in an attempt to play.

  “I seem to recall seeing her drinking from a cup,” he said.

  Olivia nodded.

  “Good. We’ll get some clear fluids into her. There is fresh-pressed apple juice at the back of the icebox that she should like. I’ll have Mrs. Franklin make some clear chicken broth tomorrow. In the meantime, give her as much water and juice as you can coax her to take.”

  “I thought it was just because she’s teething,” Olivia said. “But when she woke and refused to feed, I knew it was something else.”

  Robert put his stethoscope back into his bag. “I suspect it’s Roseola. If it was measles, she should have white spots in her mouth and throat, and be quite a lot fussier from the discomfort.”

  He smoothed a hand over Chloe’s warm head. “It’s rare to see this passed to an adult. I suggest you take her into bed with you tonight. That way you’ll know if her fever climbs dangerously high. If it is Roseola, the fever will abate in a few days and turn into a rash, but it won’t bother her much. In less than a week, she should be back to normal. Shouldn’t you, poppet?”

  Chloe watched him solemnly, then tucked her thumb into her mouth. Her eyes started to close, eyelashes the same color as Livie’s all but brushing her chubby cheeks. Robert straightened and faced Livie. Her cheeks glistened with tears. Her lips trembled.

  “Are you certain she’ll be all right? I couldn’t bear it if—if anything happened.”

  Robert resisted the urge to pull Livie into his arms and comfort her. Between them would always be Harry’s child, Livie’s link with the man . . . “I’m convinced she’ll be right as rain in a few days. For now, we need to keep her quiet and hydrated.” He rested his hand reassuringly atop Livie’s shoulder. “I won’t let anything happen to her. To either of you. I promise.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Call me if her fever climbs. I doubt she’ll sit still long enough for me to check it with the medical thermometer I use, but you should be able to tell from touch.”

  Livie nodded. Robert left the room, uncomfortably aware of the fact that his wife wore nothing beneath her thin cotton nightdress, the lamp’s illumination accentuating the curves and shadows of her limbs every time she moved.

  As Robert predicted, Chloe’s fever broke and was replaced by a fine red rash on her trunk and limbs. Luckily the rash didn’t seem to be itchy, and faded in a matter of days.

  Olivia adored her time tending her daughter, but in truth she was anxious to return to the clinic and work with Robert, to be in a place where she could spend time with him and feel useful at the same time.

  “The night that Chloe took ill,” Robert said, when they were between patients. “I’d been to see my father’s solicitor earlier in the day.”

  “Oh,” Olivia said.

  “It occurred to me, while I was there making arrangement for—for other family members, that I ought to also make arrangements for you and Chloe. In the unlikely event something should happen to me.”

  Olivia looked up and caught her breath. She couldn’t bear it should anything happen to Robert. But she couldn’t tell him that.

  “Thank you,” she said stiffly. “That’s most thoughtful.”

  Seeing how he looked at her, the same way he had done years earlier, words started to spill from her lips, and once started, she was powerless to stem the tide.

  Chapter 4

  Olivia pressed her lips together. “Just so you know, I couldn’t bear to lose you a second time.”

  “I didn’t mean to upset you. You’ve recently lost Harry and—”

  Olivia couldn’t stand it any longer! She placed her finger against Robert’s lips to stop whatever he intended to say.

  “I know he was your friend, Robert. And at first, he was kind to me, after—after I received that telegram. But it didn’t last for long once we were married. Soon, he began to stay out most evenings, into the wee hours. Pieces of my—my mother’s jewelry that she left me when she died disappeared, and he tried to convince me I had mislaid them. His boss fired him. His own family disowned him.”

  “I had no idea.”

  “How could you? He was obviously aware you were still alive. I don’t know how he managed to intercept your letters to me, let alone send you a letter pretending it came from me. At any rate, he blamed me for what he termed his “bad luck.” I began to fear for Chloe. He lost his patience when she cried, and I couldn’t keep her quiet all the time.”

  Robert’s eyes grew dark with anger. His fists clenched at his sides. “Did Harry hit you?”

  Olivia lowered her eyes. She knew the shame was not hers and yet . . .

  She glanced up. “So, you see, it was a relief when Harry died. I no longer had anything to fear from him. Except then those men showed up. They were scarier than Harry. I knew I had to leave, to go someplace they would never find me. Then I came across your newspaper ad in the pocket of Harry’s winter coat. He must have torn it from the paper so I wouldn’t see it.” She shrugged. “I sent you a telegram, sold the last of my mother’s jewelry, and took the first train out of town.”

  Her story over, Olivia felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

  “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

  “You need to realize, when I sent that telegram signed as Olive Brown, I had no idea why you never returned for me. Or why I had been told you were dead. For all I knew you never wanted to see me again. I had to be sure. Not just for my sake, but for Chloe’s as well.”

  Robert’s shoulder’s slumped. “I wish I had known all this sooner.”

  Olivia lifted her chin. “I wasn’t sure you would believe me. And the last thing I wanted was your pity.”

  After what seemed like forever, as if Robert first waged an inner battle with himself, he drew Olivia into his arms. After the briefest hesitation, she nested against him, absorbed the familiar smell and feel of his embrace. As she felt the reassuring way his heart thudded loudly in his chest, she experienced a sense of security and love that she’d only experienced each time she’d been tucked against Robert in this exact same way.

  His hands trembled as h
e traced the length of her spine. “You told me you want more children. Is that still the case?”

  She smiled up at him. “After seeing how wonderful you were with Chloe when she was ill, more than ever.”

  “In that case, I suggest we go home and send Mrs. Franklin on a lengthy errand with Chloe while we move your things into my room. Make that our room.”

  “Are you certain, Robert?”

  “I was never more sure of a single thing in my life.”

  The next weeks flew by in a happy blur. Olivia had never been more content, as she divided her days between helping Robert at the clinic and spending time with Chloe. Her girl was thriving in her new environment, toddling everywhere, chattering up a nonsensical storm, and charming the townsfolk when they were out shopping or doing errands.

  They attended Sunday worship as a family, and Olivia was proud of the way Chloe seemed to understand that the church was a quiet place. The rare occasion when the youngster let out a squeal of delight, or clapped her chubby hands, those seated around them sent an indulgent smile their way.

  When one weekly sermon touched on the topic of deception being the work of the devil, Olivia couldn’t help but think the minister spoke directly to her. The mutual affection between Chloe and Robert had grown so naturally since their arrival, she sometimes forgot Robert didn’t know the truth.

  As Robert’s wife, Olivia was readily accepted into the congregation, and before she knew it, she was helping organize the annual church bazaar and social. Seeing Robert’s proud smile when she left for a meeting with the other church ladies, Olivia’s happiness knew no bounds.

  The day of the social dawned sunny and clear. Townsfolk not only took over the park near the river, they spilled into the town square and beyond. Ring toss had been set up, along with other games for the youngsters, not far from a tug of war for the young men. The church bazaar, where the ladies presided over tables of donated goods and baking, being sold to raise money for the church and the Sunday school, was across the square.

  Olivia took her turn at the table selling toys and doll clothes that the ladies’ auxiliary had knitted and donated. Seeing Robert, so tall and distinguished among the crowd, with Chloe atop his shoulders, warmed Olivia’s heart. She loved him more in that moment than she would have believed possible.

  “Doc Robert sure did take a shine to that little one of yours,” said Mrs. Beadle, who was presiding over a nearby table of used china and kitchenware for sale.

  Olivia opened her mouth to say, “why shouldn’t he take a shine to his own daughter,” then snapped it shut again. She fully intended to tell Robert the truth. She was simply waiting for the right moment, and it was not something he needed to hear from the town gossip.

  She answered with a happy smile. “Chloe adores him.”

  Mrs. Beadle nodded, which set her many chins wobbling. “Lucky she’s too young to remember her real pa.”

  “Lucky,” Olivia said, aware it was past time to tell Robert the truth. She’d thought, once she had news to share of a second one on the way, would be the ideal time to bring it up, but so far that happy occasion had not happened. And the longer she waited, the more difficult the disclosure would be.

  It felt like her time behind the toy table stretched on interminably until one of the ladies came to relieve her and she could go join Robert and Chloe. The town square was crowded, and she was delayed time and again by folks stopping to chat and offer her a belated welcome to town. She received innumerable invitations to tea and a visit.

  When she finally spotted Robert in the distance, with Chloe still on his shoulders, he was talking to the woman from the clinic. The one he called Marianne. Determinedly, Olivia increased her pace to reach Robert’s side. Once there, the woman’s unkind gaze raked Olivia from head to toe, before, without a word, she turned on her heel and left.

  “Who is that woman?” Olivia asked. “That day at the clinic, she said she was family, but I know you’re an only child. Is she a cousin?”

  Upon catching sight of her mama, Chloe wiggled until Robert set her down and Olivia took hold of her daughter’s hand. “No running off, little one. You stay here with mama and papa.” Olivia looked up at Robert. “Well?”

  “My only cousin, Laura, left town years ago, and I lost track of her,” Robert said.

  “And Marianne?”

  “Marianne surfaced shortly after my father passed away. She claimed to be his mistress, and said he had sired her two children.”

  “Is that true?”

  Robert shrugged. “Quite possibly. I remember overhearing my parents fight. They had separate bedrooms by then, and my mother told my father to amuse himself if he must, but not to embarrass her among their friends.”

  “Did your father ever admit it to you or anyone else?”

  “His solicitor believes it is true. He says my father gave her a sum of money to disappear, which she did for a while. After he died, she resurfaced, demanding a share of his estate. There was no mention of her in his will and I thought she would be satisfied with the family home, but old Hicks told me it was the worst thing I could have done. That she’ll never go away, but keep demanding more.” Robert shook his head. “What can I do? There’s a chance those poor children are my blood.”

  “You always were an honorable man. You’ll do the right thing.”

  “I hope so. Come on. There’s someone over here I want you to meet.”

  Robert’s hand rested possessively against Olivia’s back as he guided her through the crowd to the side of a handsome dark-haired man near the steamship dock.

  “Daniel Chambers, this is my wife, Olivia and—” Robert hesitated before he added, “—this is Chloe.”

  “Our daughter,” Olivia added quickly.

  After shaking Olivia’s hand, Daniel gained her admiration when he squatted down to Chloe’s level and addressed the girl seriously, as if she was an adult.

  “Nice to meet you, Chloe. Are you having a fun time with your mama and your papa?” Daniel asked.

  Chloe reached out and touched the colorful handkerchief peeking from the breast pocket of Daniel’s jacket.

  “Chloe, don’t touch,” Olivia said quickly.

  “That’s okay,” Daniel said. He pulled out the hankie and passed it to Chloe, who took it and rubbed it against her cheek. “It’s clean,” he reassured Olivia with an engaging smile, before he rose back to their level.

  “Any news on what we talked about last month?” Robert asked.

  Daniel turned to Olivia. “Robert was telling me how well things worked out for the two of you. He convinced me to order up my own mail-order bride. She should be here in a few weeks.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Olivia said.

  Robert smiled fondly at his wife. “Olivia will take her under her wing, won’t you, dear? Introduce her to some of the other ladies you’ve met.”

  “I’ll do everything possible to make her feel welcome,” Olivia said.

  “Daniel is the one who purchased my father’s shipping business,” Robert said. “Which makes him the biggest shipping magnate on the river. Isn’t that right?”

  “So they tell me,” Daniel said. “Nice meeting you, ma’am.” Placing his hat back on his head he reached down to pat Chloe’s shoulder. “And you, young lady.”

  “What a nice man,” Olivia said.

  Robert nodded. “He confided that he grew up in an orphanage, and the thing he wants most is a family of his own.”

  “It sounds like his wish will soon come true,” Olivia said. She tucked her arm through Robert’s and turned to the steamship dock where the boat was unloading its passengers.

  Suddenly she felt faint, as she caught sight of the first two men to disembark.

  Chapter 5

  At his side, Robert felt Olivia freeze. “Livie, what is it?”

  “I—I suddenly don’t feel well. Plus, it’s past time for Chloe’s nap.”

  “It won’t hurt her to miss her nap just this once,” Robert said. H
is hands atop her shoulders turned her to face him. “I know you. I can tell when something is wrong, and we’re not moving until you tell me what it is.”

  Olivia swallowed thickly. She inclined her head toward the steamship dock. “From the boat. Two men.”

  “What about them?”

  “How did they know where to find me?’ she murmured.

  Robert ran a comforting hand up her back. “You’re not making any sense. Who found you?’

  “Those men. The ones who came around, sent by Harry’s creditors.”

  Robert frowned. “Are you sure?” He looked around. “Where are they now?”

  “I didn’t see which way they went.” She clutched his arm. “Robert, I’m scared. They’re not here to check out the weather.” She scooped up Chloe and hugged her so tightly the little girl yelped and held out her arms to Robert, who rescued her from Olivia.

  “It has to be some sort of coincidence,” Robert said in soothing tones, resting his free arm across his wife’s shoulders, aware of the way she trembled beneath his touch. “If it will make you feel better, we’ll go find the sheriff. You can give him a description and he can keep his eyes open.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “We can’t have ruffians showing up in town and frightening you into next week.”

  “Thank you, Robert. There’s something else I need to tell you.”

  “There, there. I’m sure it can wait. I see the sheriff on the other side of the town square. Let’s go talk to him first.”

  By the time they spoke to the sheriff and returned home, Olivia had changed her mind about talking to Robert. In light of everything that happened today, it seemed prudent to wait for a more opportune time. At the moment, she was far more worried about those men, and the fact that Chloe might be in danger. She hated to think that by coming to Yuma she had put Robert into harm’s way.