Page 5 of Mail-Order Millie (A Mail-Order Mystery #1)

Five

W hat was he doing?! Bram never should have told her his real first name. Now he’d have to keep up the name ruse in case any of the Double K men or their boss, Mr. Kameyer, heard her use it.

After dinner, he escorted her back to the room and told her he had work to do on the house and the varmint to chase out. Thank goodness Quincy took care of Krantz and planned to give him a decent burial in another town somewhere.

But Bram still had to play his part. That meant making an appearance at the local saloons and looking for a game. So, if Bill Krantz was an avid gambler, then he’d be tempted to leave his new bride and try to find a card game, even on his wedding night.

Bram straightened things up at Krantz’s house erasing any signs that a scuffle took place the night before, then headed for the nearest saloon. He’d start there, then work his way to the next and find out what he could about the last game Krantz took part in.

Bram got into a game right away and told the other players he couldn’t remember the games he played the night before. As soon as he did, the other men started talking at once, and boy, did he get an earful! By the time he dragged himself to Krantz’s house late in the evening, Bram pieced together what happened.

Krantz got caught cheating at cards. The man he cheated, a Mr. Winston, threatened revenge, and Bram and Quincy were the only ones that knew Winston got it. No one had seen him since, but it had only been twenty-four hours. Who knew if he was still in town or had vamoosed to the next? Bram figured this Winston was gone. What idiot sticks around long enough to get himself arrested?

Bram entered the bedroom, stared at the bed, then went into the kitchen and sat at the table. In the morning, he’d pull the bedding off and take it to a laundry service in town. It was the least he could do for Krantz’s new bride.

“That poor woman,” he muttered to himself. Mr. Kameyer gave him three days before he had to report to work. That was three days wasted, plus he’d have to pretend to be married! He thought of Millie’s beautiful face and figure and cringed.

She would have to be one of the loveliest creatures he’d ever seen. He could have pulled off the whole “let’s court first,” ruse, then tell the young lady they wouldn’t suit, make sure she was well compensated, then send her on her way. But now that they were “married,” she’d expect them to do what married people did. Great Scott, if he so much as held her too long, he might have a problem. And if he kissed her?

Bram ran his hands through his hair and groaned. He supposed it couldn’t be helped. Even if Charlie and Monty hadn’t shown up when they did, Mr. Kameyer and his associates would expect him to marry at some point, and getting hitched was the only way to avoid suspicion.

He heaved a sigh. “Millie Krantz. What are you going to do when you find out I’m not Bill Krantz?” Bram closed his eyes in resignation. There was nothing he could do except avoid his new bride as much as possible.

His mind made up, he went into the small parlor, flopped onto the couch, and fell fast asleep.

Millie awoke the next morning to an empty bed. Where was her husband? Had he not returned last night?

She got up, went through her usual morning routine, then donned her favorite dress: a pale-yellow day dress with tiny blue flowers. It was the last thing her mother made for her. She hoped Bram liked it.

Millie checked herself in a mirror on the wall. At least she didn’t look as tired as yesterday.

She left the room, went downstairs, and peeked in the dining room. There was no sign of Bram.

Millie found a small table, took a seat and ordered coffee and breakfast. If Bram didn’t show up soon, she’d make a few inquiries and find out where he lived. For all she knew, he spent most of the night fixing up her new home. Between opening a new business in town, getting a place to live, and a new wife, she should give him some leeway. And she should help.

Her decision made, she enjoyed her breakfast, drank her coffee then left the hotel. She’d visit the church first. Surely Preacher Barton would know where to find him.

“Why yes,” Preacher Barton said when she saw him. “Your husband got himself a little house at the other end of town. It’s at the end of Second Street I believe. Last house on the right.”

“Thank you, I do appreciate it.”

Preacher Barton followed her to the church door. “We’d love to see the two of you here on Sundays, and as you’re newly married, the missus and I understand how difficult starting out can be.

She sighed. “You mean the fact that I was a mail-order bride?”

“Yes,” he said honestly. “If you ever need a listening ear or some advice, you know where to find us.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” Millie gave him a nod and left the church.

She found the downtown area, cut through it, and soon found Second Street. The homes here were small, and she assumed workers from the sawmill outside of town lived here, along with other folks from Baker City’s lower class. Well, Bram never said he was a man of means.

She walked to the end of the street where it dead ended and looked at the little white cottage. There was a picket fence around it that needed whitewashing. The house could use a new coat of paint, and she noticed one of the parlor windows had a crack in it.

Millie studied the weeds growing in what were once flowerbeds, and tried to imagine the house fixed up, the yard with fresh green grass and flowers. “Oh, Bram. There’s a lot of work here.”

She opened the rickety gate and went up the walk. Millie knocked on the door and waited.

No answer.

She knocked again.

Nothing.

She looked around, tried the doorknob. It turned, and she opened the door and stepped inside.

“Bram?” She went down the hall and peeked into the parlor. The furniture was old and dingy, and the curtains needed a good washing. Millie examined the rug. It would have to be taken out and beaten. She sighed and entered the dining room. A bay window let in plenty of light, as did the bay window in the parlor. With some new curtains, both rooms would look better.

She inspected the kitchen next. “Oh, dear, looks like he didn’t get to this room yet. There were dirty dishes in the sink and the floor needed to be swept and mopped. At least the area around the kitchen table looked clean.

Millie went to inspect the bedroom. She knocked before entering and found it empty. There was a bed, but it had been stripped. A dresser graced one wall, an armoire another. There was also a small vanity. Millie sighed as she looked around. “Home sweet home.”

She took off her hat, pulled off her gloves, and set them on the dresser. Out of curiosity, she opened the top drawer of the dresser. There were a few of Bram’s shirts inside. She pulled one out, curious if anything needed mending, and held it up. “Hmmm, this looks awful small.” She set it aside and pulled out another. “This one too.”

Millie shrugged, folded the shirts, and put them away. Maybe Bram had put on weight. Did that mean he didn’t have enough money to buy food at one time?

Millie pushed the thought aside, went into the kitchen, and decided to tackle the dishes first.