It was decision time, and she had no idea what to do. For the first time in her life, she took a leap of faith and nodded to the preacher. “Yes, sir, I do.”
Reverend Moody smiled down at them. “Then with the power invested in me by God the Father Almighty, I pronounce you husband and wife. Josiah, you may kiss your new bride.”
Josiah gave her a reassuring smile and cradled her face in his hands. He took a step toward her, and she fell into his dark gaze, which never left hers. Mesmerizing was a good word to describe him. She held her breath as he slowly moved toward her. Her heart beat painfully against her ribs with each measured movement until she wanted to scream. The moment his mouth met hers, all thoughts disappeared, with her only focus the softness of his lips.
Somewhere close by, she heard a throat clear. Much to her dismay, Josiah pulled away, leaving her feeling somehow bereft and alone, although why she had no idea. She had just met the man.
The preacher reached over the altar and held out his hand, which Josiah took with his own and gave it a brisk shake. “Congratulations, young man. May you and the missus have a good marriage.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Hear you had a house raising this week in preparation for today. Best get Mrs. West on home so she can tell you what she wants and where. If I know women, and I do with four sisters, one wife, and three daughters of my own, you need to let her make the final decision on anything house related or you will never hear the end of it.”
Mia couldn’t help but smile at his jubilant expression. She liked Reverend Moody and hoped they would be attending this rural church. He was personable, which wasn’t at all like the priests she was used to back in New York City. There, she only attended the local Catholic church where they tended to be a bit on the proper and stuffy side. The only way to talk to someone had been in a confession box. Even the few nuns she had seen hadn’t been very welcoming. Maybe she had attended the wrong church all those years and never knew it.
They said their goodbyes and once back in the wagon, started the drive toward Eufaula. Mia sat in silence, watching the scenery pass. In the short partial day she’d been here, it had somehow grown on her. She liked the openness, yet at the same time there were enough trees to give the landscape a bit of color and beauty as it rolled from hill to valley to hill. Dotted here and there, she saw only a few simple homes, with one even tucked in among the trees. After that, there was nothing else for several miles.
“You never answered my question in the church.”
“I know.”
“Fine, be stubborn. Tell me about yourself. I know you’re a preacher—Methodist, correct?”
“Yes.”
Mia gave him a frustrated scowl. “Is it always going to be this difficult talking to you? I’m not asking hard questions. I’m asking things most people already know about each otherbeforethey get married.”
“What about you? Would you be so willing to share personal information if I asked you questions?”
She shrugged, certain she could answer anything he asked.
“Why do you keep rubbing your arm?”
“I don’t.”
“You’re doing it right now.”
She glanced down with a frown and pulled her hand away from her arm. She hadn’t even been aware she had been rubbing the old break, which told her she was more stressed than she realized. “When I was five years old, the owner of the Foundling home where I worked found me on the front doorstep with a note pinned to my blanket.”
“What did the note say?”
“Madam Wigg told me by the time she was able to get it out of my grasp, most of the graphite had been rubbed off or smudged, but from what she could still make out, she thought it said my name was Mia Bradley and that my arm had been broken in a terrible accident. Sometimes when I’m agitated, worried, or the weather changes, it bothers me and I rub it because it aches a bit.”
“So you were an orphan and then became a teacher?”
“I was. The Foundling home was a good place to grow up. Madam Wigg, Wiggie as we all knew her, is the school’s benefactress. She made sure we were all well taken care of, and most of the original girls she took in all stayed on as teachers.”
“Did you have any close friends?”
“Over the years, quite a few, but my closest friends are Jessamine, Katriona, and Leanna. As far as I know, they are all three still at the school but will soon choose their own letters.”
“They will become mail-order brides, too?”
Mia nodded. “Wiggie is in failing health and believes this is the best solution for all the teachers. That way, she knows we will all be taken care of.” She said a little prayer that Wiggie would recover from whatever malady she suffered. She glanced over and noticed a large, newly painted two-story home.
The covered porch drew her attention. It ran along the entire front of the home and along both sides. There were two large windows on the front and at least as many on one side of the house, which pleased her immensely. There was nothing worse than living in dark rooms, which was something she’d disliked about the school. For her, there had never been enough light.
“This is your home?” she asked, noticing the brief flicker of apprehension that crossed Josiah’s face.