The Convenient Mail Order Bride by Ruth Ann Nordin Page A

so
fast? He glanced at her to see if she was serious. Eric had brought
her out on his wagon, and those horses were moving faster than his
were.
    Since her face was an even brighter shade of
red than it’d been before, he decided to let the observation pass.
Instead, he said, “There’s no reason you should be afraid of me.
I’m not going to do anything I shouldn’t.”
    “I know,” she replied, the slight waver in
her voice betraying her.
    “Phoebe, if we’re going to be living in the
same house until the stagecoach arrives, we can’t dodge the issue.
I don’t know what happened, but ever since you went up on the barn
roof to help me, you’ve been avoiding me. The next few weeks will
go a lot smoother if you just come out and tell me why.”
    She took a deep breath. He thought for sure
she wasn’t going to say anything, and he was ready to give up when
she said, “Alright. There is something troubling me.”
    Good. They were finally getting somewhere.
“What is it?”
    “Do you wish me and my mother weren’t
white?”
    “No. You and your mother can’t help being
white.”
    “But if we were Indian, would we be
better?”
    Surprised by the question, he thought over
his response before answering. “You and your mother are white, and
since there’s no changing it, I don’t wish you and your mother were
Indian. It just is what it is.” When she frowned, he added, “I
don’t hate white people. There are some nice ones. Eric Johnson is
one of them. There’s Travis Martin, too. Granted, Travis keeps to
himself, and because of that, he’s never caused any trouble. But
then you have the likes of Carl. Those types, unfortunately,
outnumber the good ones. Most white people, especially the men,
aren’t any good. You can’t trust them. If they’re being nice, it’s
because they want something, and when that happens, you better
watch your back.”
    “It’s not fair of you to say that about all
white people.”
    “I didn’t say all white people. I said most,
and I singled out the men, but some white women aren’t so nice,
either. Sure, they aren’t out grabbing land and stealing goods from
an Indian, but they act like anyone who isn’t white is out to rape,
murder, or steal from them. Watch the way the women act around me
when we’re in town. Then you’ll see what I’m talking about.”
    “But you look white.”
    “I’m a half-breed. As far as they’re
concerned, I’m full-blooded Indian.” He shook his head. “And more
than that, I’m a bastard. Are you telling me in Ohio, the fine
white people readily accept bastards?”
    She shifted uncomfortably. “No. It’s
preferable if everyone is born in wedlock, even if there is a last
minute wedding before the baby is born.”
    “Exactly. I have two things against me, and
those are two things too many. Now, I don’t blame you for any of
this. You and your mother seem like nice women. I’m not going to
hurt either one of you. All I want is to live my life in peace, and
I want what’s rightfully mine. There’s nothing wrong with that, is
there?”
    “No.”
    “Good. So maybe we can get along until it’s
time for you to leave on the next stagecoach.”
    “I already said I’m not leaving on it.”
    “By the time you see how things are in town,
you’ll change your mind.”
    She shook her head, but he decided she’d
find out how right he was soon enough. Phoebe, he was quickly
learning, had a stubborn streak in her. Once she set her mind to
something, she did everything in her power to make it happen. But
even a strong-willed woman wouldn’t be able to stand against the
majority of people in town.
    “If nothing else,” he continued, “it’d be
nice to get along while you and your mother are here. Since you two
are willing to stay with me, obviously you aren’t like other white
people. You don’t need to worry I’ve lumped you in with them. I
haven’t. So, what do you say? Can we be friends?”
    “Yes, we can.”
    “Thank