Mail-Order Bride Ink: Dear Mr. Weaver by Kit Morgan

hotel…”
    “No!” Ebba blurted. “That won’t be necessary!” A sudden picture of him carrying her down the middle of the street made her shudder. It was bad enough she’d gotten all those funny looks from the townspeople. She could just imagine what they’d think of her if they saw that.
    “Suit yerself,” he said. “But I’ll do it if I hafta.”
    “You won’t have to,” she said quickly. “I’m sure I’ll be fine after I rest for an hour or two.”
    “Ya sure?” he teased.
    “I’m sure,” she said with a bemused look.
    “Stop antagonizing the poor girl and let’s get going!” his mother barked.
    Ebba watched him press his lips together as he tried not to laugh. “Right away, Ma.”
    They left Hank’s and went up the street to a small hotel. All in all, the town was very charming – when she wasn’t being glared at – and Ebba found herself looking forward to spending more time exploring it after she and Daniel were wed.
    Once inside the hotel, they didn’t bother going to the desk but headed straight for a staircase. “We done already got the room and the key,” Daniel explained. “All ya hafta do is unpack what ya need for tonight and take a little nap ‘fore supper.”
    “Thank you for taking care of me,” she said. “One thing I’d better do is hang up my wedding dress. The poor thing probably looks a fright.”
    “You leave that dress of yours to me,” said Mrs. Weaver. “I’ll have it ready for the ceremony, don’t worry.”
    “Ma’s real good with a needle and thread too,” Daniel informed her. “She and my sisters-in-law, Charity and Samijo? They all make dresses and hats and sell ‘em in Aunt Betsy’s mercantile. My other sister-in-law Bella makes coats and real fancy dresses.”
    “And does she sell them at the mercantile too?” Ebba asked. Her confidence in her own sewing skills slipped a notch at his words.
    “Sure does. In fact, Bella makes her dresses so fancy, women from other towns come here to buy ‘em.”
    Ebba looked away as they reached her room and Daniel unlocked the door. “I’d love to see some of them.”
    “Don’t worry,” Mrs. Weaver said. “You will.”
    Ebba forced a smile. She hoped his sisters-in-law weren’t the competitive type. From what she’d heard so far, they didn’t sound the sort. But one never knew until one actually met the person. She pushed the thought aside as she suddenly realized something. “Where do your brothers and sisters-in-law live?”
    “On the farm,” his mother said. “Where else?”
    “You mean … you alllive in the same house?!”
    “‘Course not,” Daniel said with a laugh. “Can ya imagine all the noise?”
    Ebba glanced at his mother as if to confirm his statement. “Where do they live?”
    “On the farm, just like I said,” Mrs. Weaver indeed confirmed. “Arlan and Samijo got their own place and so do Calvin and Bella. Only Benjamin and Charity are in the main house with Daniel and me.”
    Ebba’s mouth twisted up into a crooked smile. “How many brothers did you say you had?”
    “Just the three,” Daniel replied. “But they’re more’n enough …”
    Ma Weaver ushered them into the room. “Never mind about that. Where’s that dress of yours?”
    Ebba opened her mouth to speak and gasped instead. “Good gracious! Where is my bag?”
    “Right there on the floor by the bed,” Daniel pointed. “Did you have Harlan take care of it, Ma?”
    “Sure did. Told him to give it to the hotel clerk and have it brought to the room. Now, your dress?”
    Ebba hurried to comply. She hefted the bag onto the bed, opened it and pulled out her wedding dress. She shook it a few times and grimaced at the wrinkles.
    “Don’t worry about how it looks now,” Mrs. Weaver said. “I’ll get it ironed and ready. My, but that’s a beautiful dress.”
    “Thank you. Mrs. Pettigrew gave it to me.”
    “The lady who owns the bridal agency?” Mrs. Weaver asked.
    “Yes. When she found out I