She felt a sad resignation waft over her. Was it acceptable to God to marry a man for the sake of anything other than love?
“Lord, You know the situation, and I’ve been praying for a solution. This would definitely resolve the matter, but is it all right?” She almost immediately thought of stories from the Bible where marriages were arranged. People did marry without being in love. It gave Marybeth a sense of peace and assurance that she wouldn’t be going against God if she moved forward with Edward’s proposal.
If they married, she would commit herself wholly to him, and if the time ever came that he wanted a marriage in deed as well as word, she would willingly give herself to him. But could she live her entire life without the true love of a husband?
She looked at her little sister. Carrie deserved security, and Marybeth wanted no further threat of losing her. Surely that was worth the price of giving up on falling in love.
3
“I’m glad you came out to see us,” Inga said, bringing Edward a large slice of cake. “I made this a couple of days ago when I made the cake for Marybeth and Carrie.”
“Hello, son. What brings you out here?” his father asked, coming into the kitchen.
The family farm wasn’t that far from town, but it had been a while since Edward had graced their doorstep. Inga and George had taken up residence here with Father and seemed quite content to raise their family here, while a part of Edward always felt odd in returning to his childhood home. With Mother gone, it never felt quite right to him.
“I need to tell you both something.” He took the cake and fork that Inga offered and put them down on the kitchen table. “It can’t wait.”
“Sounds serious,” his father replied.
Inga put another piece of cake on a plate and handed it to her father. Then she grabbed the coffeepot with a potholder. “Sit, Pa, and I’ll pour you a cup.”
He did as she said, and she saw to it that he and Edward each had a steaming mug to go with their dessert. Once thatwas done, she sat down beside her father. “So what’s this all about?”
Edward took a sip of the hot coffee, then put the cup down before speaking. “I had a letter from my old commanding officer, Major Henderson. He wants me to come west to Cheyenne. It’s a new town in the Dakota Territory. The transcontinental railroad is going to go right through there as they build west. He wants me to work for him policing the town.”
His father held the coffee to his lips but hadn’t yet sampled it. “Seems a long way off to go for a job when you’ve already got one.”
“They’re planning big things for Cheyenne, and they want married men with families.” Edward held up his hand. “I know what you’re going to say but hear me out. Marybeth is having no end of trouble with some folks who want to take her sister away from her. I want to marry her and give her and Carrie protection and the ability to stay together.”
“Who would want to take Carrie away from Marybeth?” his sister asked.
“Pastor Orton. He’s been talking to Thomas Wandless, and apparently he and his wife want to adopt Carrie. Pastor even got a judge to come talk to Marybeth. Scared her to pieces. I figure if I marry her, then the matter is resolved. Pastor is worried she won’t have any way to provide for Carrie and herself, but if she’s married to me, she’ll have provision. Carrie knows me as well as she knew her own pa, and I figure I can be a good father to her.”
“Sounds like you’ve given this quite a bit of thought,” his father said, finally taking a long sip of the coffee.
“I have. Prayer too. You know I’ve wanted to go west for a long time. This opportunity can’t happen for me unless Ihave a family. Major Henderson stressed the need for married men with families. With Marybeth and Carrie, I get a wife and a child.”
“But I thought you were never going to marry again,” Inga said in a whisper.
“I wasn’t. It’ll be a marriage in name only, and Marybeth understands that. I won’t be the cause of another wife dying.”
“Son, you know that isn’t always the way it works. You can’t go blaming yourself for Janey’s death. There was obviously something wrong with the boy. The doctor said it sickened Janey as well. That was why she died.”
“I know what he said, but I won’t risk it happening again.”
“I’ve had four boys, Edward,” his sister spoke up. “I would risk my life over and over, if necessary, but all went well, and we came through it without harm. That’s the normal way of things. The way God put us together.”
“Well, it didn’t work out that way for Janey and the boy, but that’s beside the point. Marybeth must have a way to keep Carrie safe, and this will solve the matter for us both.”
“But Marybeth shouldn’t have to give up the love of a husband in order to save her sister,” his father said, frowning. His brow knit together as it usually did when he was considering a difficult situation. “Have you thought of the sacrifice you’re asking of her—giving up love?”
“Never expected my father to be the romantic of the family,” Edward said with a shrug, “but the fact is, she won’t be without love. I’ve loved her for a long time. She’s like family to me. Carrie too. It may not be the kind of love a husband gives a wife, but she’ll have it, and I’ll see to it that she has everything else she needs.”
Pa shared a look with Inga, then shook his head. “One day you’re gonna see it won’t be enough. I hate to thinkabout what it will do to the both of you when that time comes.”
Edward ignored the sense of truth that came with his father’s statement. He couldn’t offer Marybeth more. This would just have to be enough.
“You know you’ll be alone out there. No family to help you along.” Inga reached over and gave his arm a squeeze. “You’ll only have each other.”
