Julia: Bride of New York (Amercan Mail-Order Bride 11) by Callie Hutton Page A

been away from them for a few years, she missed them. The sweet baby smell of a newborn, the first few stumbling steps as a toddler walked, the bright smiles, and arms lifted to be held and cuddled close.
    Was she prepared to only be mother to a girl already past the baby and toddler stage? She studied Fletcher and saw a quick flash of uncertainty there. He was saying one thing, but she believed he could be swayed.
    “Um, I don’t know how to say this.” She felt the heat rise to her face. Oh, Lord. How could she ask?
    “What is it?”
    “Well…I know how babies are made. Are you telling me our marriage will be…um…that there will be no… Whew! I’m not sure what to say next.” She raised her eyes to the sky, hoping all the blood gathered in her cheeks would dissipate.
    “Are you trying to ask me if we will refrain from intimate relations?”
    She nodded her head vigorously. “Yes, yes. That’s it. That’s the question.”
    “There are ways,” he started off slowly, “that children can be prevented. But for the time being, let’s not worry about that.”
    Julia detected a definite smirk on Fletcher’s face, and all the heat that had begun to subside started up again. “Right.”
    “So?” He looked at her questioningly. “Do you accept that?”
    “Not all of it.”
    “Why am I not surprised? Go on.”
    “I am happy to be a mother to Patty Ann, but I wish to leave the question of additional children open.”
    He stared at her, his lips tight, probably sure she wouldn’t change his mind.
    She stared back, sure she would.
     
     
    “This is very exciting. I’ve never been to New Jersey. What is Foxtail Grove like? Is it a big city?” Julia settled in her seat on the train and adjusted her skirts to leave room for her new husband to sit alongside her.
    Her new husband .
    She glanced at the gold band on her left hand, proof of the vows they’d spoken earlier in the day. Mr. Nelson had driven them to the train station in one of his buggies. He stood outside the train as it started up, moving in short jerks before it slid into a smooth run as they left the town of Wickerton, New York, behind.
    Fletcher had graciously allowed Julia to sit next to the window, and she was enjoying watching the town slip away in the later afternoon sky, seeing the numerous farms they passed by as the train picked up steam.
    “Foxtail Grove is a small town. Catherine owns a house left to her by her husband—she’s a widow. You know, I’m surprised you’re so thrilled with the train ride. You came by train just a while ago from Boston to Wickerton.” Fletcher took the basket of food the ladies had made up for the trip and slid it under the seat.
    “Yes. But that wasn’t a pleasant ride. I spent the entire time worrying about the man I was supposed to marry.” She turned in her seat and regarded him. “It’s very scary being a mail order bride, you know.”
    “I imagine it would be. To be honest I don’t think I would want Patty Ann to hie off somewhere far from home and marry a stranger.”
    “Most mail order brides have no choice. Men don’t realize how difficult it is for a woman to make her way in the world. Would you hire a female deputy? Would most people feel comfortable going to a female doctor? Lawyer? Accountant? Outside of marriage there isn’t a lot a woman can do to support herself. Except maybe teach, but there are only so many schoolhouses.”
    Fletcher rubbed his chin. “I guess I never thought about it like that. Most women I know live with their family until they marry. Then their husband takes over.”
    “And if you have no family? Or if, in my case, there are far too many mouths to feed, so your absence helps the family?”
    “I don’t have all the answers, Julia. Maybe one day things will be better for women. All I can do now is take care of you and Patty Ann.”
    Julia sighed. “I’m sorry. After the disaster at the sewing factory, I’ve come to realize that there are a lot of