Theresa (Orlan Orphans Book 15) Read online

  “I'll be back to visit you tomorrow, Theresa,” Cody said. He leaned in closer and kissed her on the lips.

  Theresa couldn’t focus on anything but the feeling of Cody’s mouth against hers. She felt lucky that she had met such a kind, caring, and strapping man. She couldn’t wait until she saw him again. Each time any part of Cody grazed her, Theresa felt ripples of electricity shoot throughout her entire body. Even though she knew she couldn’t, she imagined engaging in improper relations with Cody. She had gossiped with some of her sisters about marital activities, but she had never understood the appeal before. Now, it was practically all she thought about when she thought of Cody.

  Cody gave her one last kiss on the forehead, then exited the Sanders’ house.

  Theresa returned to the formal parlor, where she found Dorothy balancing both babies and rocking them back and forth.

  “They were both a bit fussy,” Dorothy explained. “Why was the Constable here? I don’t think I’ve ever seen that man before. He can’t be the Constable for Nowhere.”

  Theresa sighed. “It’s a long story. Can I tell you later? I’m exhausted.”

  Dorothy’s eyes widened with sympathy. “Oh, Theresa! Of course you can. Are you getting much sleep?”

  Theresa shook her head. “As soon as I get one baby down, the other one wakes up. As soon as one baby is full, the other one needs a diaper change.”

  “I’m sorry, Theresa. In all my excitement about the babies, I never thought about how much work they must be for you,” Dorothy said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Not that I can think of. But thank you,” Theresa said gratefully.

  “Well, I’m sure that soon we’ll find the family these little sweethearts belong to, and they’ll be on their merry way. Then I’m sure you’ll be able to get some sleep!” Dorothy suggested cheerfully.

  Theresa felt her heart sink as she imagined handing over the babies to someone else. Even though she hadn’t given birth to them, she felt the babies were her own. It was her duty to love and protect them.

  Dorothy noticed Theresa’s face fall. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s nothing,” Theresa said with a grimace. “I need to prepare more infant food for Gabriel. Please excuse me.”

  Dorothy frowned as she watched her sister walk out of the room. She could tell something was wrong—but what was it?

  Five

  Cody knocked on the door to the ice cream parlor, hoping this visit would prove more fruitful than the past five. Throughout Nowhere, everyone seemed reluctant to purchase insurance from him.

  He reminded himself to ask Theresa if she thought he was doing anything wrong. Cody had enjoyed success in towns throughout the country. His easy demeanor, charm, and intelligence often made people feel open and comfortable around him, willing to purchase insurance to protect their homes and their loved ones.

  But in Nowhere, everyone seemed suspicious. He hadn’t signed a single client since arriving in the town. It wasn’t the money he cared about. He had done so well on his previous assignments, he could have afforded to stop working and enjoy himself for several months or even years. But Cody would never be able to do that. He valued an honest day’s work, and there was nothing that would stop him from doing his best.

  He thought about his failed marriage proposal to Theresa. How would he be able to prove to her family that he was worthy of her if he couldn’t even make a single sale in Nowhere?

  An older woman opened the door to the ice cream parlor. She regarded him with suspicion. “We’re not open yet.”

  Cody put on his cheeriest smile. “Good morning, ma’am. Are you the proprietor of this establishment?”

  She shook her head crossly. “I told you, we’re not open. Come back at noon if you want ice cream.”

  “I’d like to speak to you about your insurance needs,” Cody explained. “Are you the right person to talk to?”

  The woman folded her arms. “No. The owner is my husband, and he’s not here. You best get out of here unless you want to make him angry.”

  Cody nodded hastily. “Yes, ma’am. I understand. I hope to come back when your husband is here.”

  The woman slammed the door in his face. Cody sighed. He had hoped that his luck would change with the ice cream parlor, but instead it had just been a repeat of the other businesses he had tried.

  All week, Cody had been working up the nerve to pay a visit to Cletus Sanders. He had learned from Mrs. Winchester that as a practicing lawyer and the town judge, Cletus had his own office on Main Street in Nowhere. Before he visited, though, he was hoping to have a few sales under his belt. If he could come to Cletus Sanders with a list full of clients from Nowhere, Cletus might trust him more. If other people were willing to do business with him, maybe Cletus would allow Cody to court his daughter.

  Cody knew he was running out of time. As he trudged away from the ice cream parlor, he realized that there weren’t many businesses left in Nowhere. He needed to stop avoiding Cletus Sanders.

  Cody decided to pay a visit to Cletus that very day. He was tired of sneaking around with Theresa. He wanted everyone to recognize and respect his intentions. Theresa was unlike any woman he’d ever met before. She was strong-willed and spirited, unafraid to confront him if she didn’t agree with him. He liked the way she teased him. Most of all, she made him want to be a better man.

  He didn’t know of any young woman who would willingly take on two infants without a partner to support her. He hated to think of Theresa growing into an old maid, unable to find a husband because she was too busy caring for the twins as they grew. Instead, he saw himself bursting into the picture, helping her, earning a stable income that they could use to buy a house together and watch the twins grow up.

  He had no doubt that Theresa would be a very capable mother, but Faith and Gabriel needed a strong man in their lives, too. They needed a father. And he was certain he was the right man for the job.

  Cody was fired up as he walked over to where Cletus’s law office was located. He knocked on the door, feeling energized and ready to conquer anything.

  “Hello!” Cletus answered the door with a big smile on his face. It turned into a grimace when he saw Cody. “Oh, it’s you.”

  Cody refused to let Cletus’s dismay cloud his cheerful mood. “Good day, sir. I’m here to talk to you about two things. Your insurance policy, and your daughter.”

  “I have four insurance policies and fifteen daughters, so you’re going to have to be a lot more specific,” Cletus responded irritably. He walked toward his desk and plopped down, leaning back and folding his hands across his stomach. “Tim’s out to lunch, so you may want to save half your energy for later.”

  Cody ignored Cletus’s remark and took a seat opposite Cletus. “I believe I can help make sure your policies truly cover you in the case of an accident or natural disaster. And I’d like to court your daughter, Theresa.” Cody opened his briefcase and pulled out some materials. “I’ve done the research on your land and the properties you own, and you may want to consider additional coverage—”

  Cletus waved his hands around. “I’ve heard enough. I don’t know who told you that I was a fool, but you’re sorely mistaken if you think I’m going to fall for your sweet-talking words. Around here in Nowhere, we trust each other and do business with each other. We don’t need city folk to tell us what to do with our hard-earned money.”

  Cody’s heart sank. He wasn’t ready to give up. “Sir, I would like to talk to you about insurance, but if you’re not interested, I can respect that. I am truly serious about my feelings for Theresa. I’d like to marry her.”

  Cletus shook his head. “You must think that if you marry into my family, I’ll want to do business with you. Well, that’s not the way I operate. Please, take your business and move along to the next town on your map. I have work to do.”

  Cletus stood up and ushered Cody to the door. Before Cody could react, he was out on the doorstep. What was he going t
o do?

  He had been sure that if he could talk to Cletus, man to man, he would be able to convince the older man that his intentions were pure. But Cletus hadn’t been willing to listen to him.

  Maybe Cletus was right. Maybe he should give up on his romantic notions of courting Theresa and move on to the next town. There were other women he could grow to love.

  As he thought about Theresa’s face, a searing pain shot through his leg. He looked down at his shoe. He had stepped on a rusty nail. Groaning, he pulled the nail out of his shoe and limped away. Gasping in pain, he searched for a bench so he could take his shoe off and examine his foot properly.

  Instead of a bench, he saw something better—a sign for a doctor’s office! Dr. Harvey & Dr. Bennett were listed outside a small office. Cody limped toward the front door and knocked on it.

  “Come on in!” a young woman’s voice called. Cody stepped inside gratefully. “What seems to be your trouble, sir?”

  Cody gestured toward his foot. “I stepped on a nail, and I’m worried that I might have a bad cut on my foot.”

  “Oh, my! I’m sorry to hear that. Let me find Dr. Bennett. He’s in today.” The girl disappeared into the back of the small building.

  A tall, friendly man hurried out to greet Cody. “Hello. I’m Dr. Stephen Bennett. I understand you’ve had a little accident?”

  Cody nodded as Dr. Bennett gripped his hand in a firm handshake.

  “Follow me,” Dr. Bennett instructed.

  “I hope you feel better, sir,” the girl called as Cody trailed Dr. Bennett into the small examination room.

  “Have a seat.” Dr. Bennett pointed to the table, and Cody climbed on top of it, trying not to call out in pain.

  “How does it feel?” Dr. Bennett asked kindly. He eased Cody’s shoe off his foot.

  “Not good,” Cody told him, gritting his teeth. Dr. Bennett peeled Cody’s sock off, and Cody saw that it was stained with blood. Cody looked away.

  Dr. Bennett gingerly lifted Cody’s foot up so he could get a good look at it. “Looks like a nice clean puncture. I’ll stitch you up, and you should be good as new in a few days’ time. You’ll have to watch out for infection, of course, but you should be fine.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Bennett.” Cody appreciated the doctor’s quick and efficient manner. He took deep breaths to distract himself from the thought of Dr. Bennett sticking a needle into his foot. To keep his mind on a happier thought, he pictured Theresa. She would probably be putting the babies down for a nap at that moment. He hoped he’d be able to see her soon.

  “Are you all right?” Dr. Bennett’s expression was concerned when Cody finally came to attention.

  “What’s wrong?” Cody asked.

  “I’ve been calling your name for a few minutes. I thought you were about to pass out!” Dr. Bennett seemed relieved.

  “I’m sorry, Doctor. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately,” Cody admitted.

  “That’s all right. I’m nearly done. Do you live around here? I don’t recall seeing you, and Nowhere’s a small town,” Dr. Bennett responded.

  “I’m boarding with Mrs. Winchester. I’m in town on business,” Cody explained. “I sell insurance policies. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here, though.”

  “I see. What do you think of our town? Nowhere takes some getting adjusted to. I moved here to work for my aunt’s medical practice and ended up meeting my wife here!” Dr. Bennett told Cody.

  “It certainly seems like the townspeople are, well, close to one another,” Cody said politely. He didn’t want to offend Dr. Bennett.

  “That’s right! We take care of one another. But sometimes, it can be hard for an outsider,” Dr. Bennett admitted.

  “It’s good to hear you say that,” Cody replied. “I thought it was just me.”

  “No,” Dr. Bennett laughed, clipping the thread with a small pair of scissors. “It’s not just you. I’ll bet you’re having a tough time selling policies, though.”

  Cody was surprised. “How did you know?”

  “Like I said,” Dr. Bennett continued, “We take care of our own. If people don’t know you, they’re less likely to trust you. And if there’s no trust, there’s no money. Heck, my father-in-law is the perfect example of that! Old Cletus . . .” He trailed off in amusement.

  “Did you say Cletus, as in Cletus Sanders?” Cody asked eagerly.

  “You’ve met him?” Dr. Bennett tied off the stitch. “Quite the character, isn’t he? I’m married to one of his adopted daughters, Hope.”

  “You are?” Cody’s eyes widened.

  Dr. Bennett chuckled. “I am. And I’m all done. How does it feel?”

  Cody wiggled his foot a little. “Feels fine. Thank you, Doctor!”

  “You’re welcome,” Dr. Bennett said kindly. He went into the cabinet and found a clean pair of socks. “I keep a few extra sets of clothes in the office in case I need to change. You can keep them.”

  Cody accepted the socks. “Thank you, Dr. Bennett. I appreciate it. The reason I was curious about Cletus . . . well . . .” He trailed off, unsure if he should say any more.

  “What is it?” Dr. Bennett leaned in, curious.

  “I met Theresa, and I—” Cody didn’t know how to summarize his feelings for the woman.

  Dr. Bennett sat back, a twinkle in his eyes. “Say no more, my friend. You’ve fallen for one of the Sanders sisters.”

  Cody sighed. “I’m afraid I have.”

  “Why so glum? Does Theresa know how you feel about her?” Dr. Bennett asked.

  “She does,” Cody replied. “It’s her parents that are the problem.” He explained the entirety of the situation to Dr. Bennett.

  Dr. Bennett nodded. “Hm. That’s a tough one. But maybe Cletus and Edna Petunia would start to come around if you could demonstrate that you had made some sales.”

  “I agree,” Cody said. “But no one is buying.”

  “It just so happens that our policy is about to lapse,” Dr. Bennett explained. “We usually renew through the mail, but in this case, let me talk to my aunt. Maybe we should explore some of our other options.”

  Cody felt hopeful for the first time in days. “You’d do that for me?”

  Dr. Bennett grinned. “I’ve been in your shoes before, Cody. I feel it’s my duty to help you out. After all, if things work out well, maybe you’ll be my brother-in-law one day!”

  Cody couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you, Dr. Bennett.” He pumped the doctor’s hand enthusiastically, then opened his briefcase and pulled out a few papers. “Here’s some information you can show your aunt. I’m happy to review any of it with you, too.”

  Dr. Bennett took the papers. “Great. I’ll show these to her. Where can I find you if we want to move forward? You said you’re staying at Mrs. Winchester’s?”

  “That’s right, but I’ll make it easier for you. I’ll come meet you here in three days’ time. Will you be able to speak with your aunt by then?” Cody asked.

  “That seems reasonable. I’ll see you then. And in the meantime, watch out for broken nails!” Dr. Bennett warned.

  Cody laughed. Things were looking up!

  Six

  Theresa Sanders rocked the babies back and forth, swaying as she tried to figure out what her brothers-in-law were up to. Everyone waited for Sunday services to begin, but the young men of the family were acting in a peculiar fashion. Stephen, Lewis, and Will—the newest brother-in-law—were whispering furiously and pointing toward the back of the church. The other brothers-in-law were crowded around them.

  Usually, each family sat together, alternating couples and children in various rows. This time, the men had left their wives and children to clump together as a group. Theresa was certain that something was going on, she just didn’t know what it could be.

  Suddenly, there was a commotion in the church as the men’s whispers changed into downright laughter. The only brother-in-law who wasn’t in the throng was Pastor Micah. He walked to the front of the church,
looking every bit as confused as Theresa felt. He stopped when he approached the men. Theresa saw him whisper something in Lewis’s ear, then turn around.

  Theresa turned around to see what Micah was looking at. In the back of the church was Cody Witherspoon, wearing a suit that seemed brand-new and a wide-brimmed hat. He took the hat off and scanned the pews before his eyes came to a rest on Stephen.

  Cody strode confidently through the church and took his seat next to Dr. Bennett. In just a few days, Dr. Bennett had helped him turn his luck around completely. Not only had Dr. Bennett and Dr. Harvey purchased an insurance policy, but they’d also introduced him to all of the other husbands of Theresa’s sisters.

  Cody was amazed at how many businesses and properties were owned by the Sanders sons-in-law—from a book wagon to a fully stocked mercantile, the husbands certainly stayed busy. In less than a week’s time, Cody had more business than he knew what to do with.

  It wasn’t about the money, though. He knew that the only thing that mattered was convincing Theresa to accept his marriage proposal—again. He still hoped for Edna Petunia and Cletus to give their blessing, and Dr. Bennett had told him that the brothers-in-law had devised a plan.

  Cody took his seat, surprised to realize that he felt nervous. He rarely felt worried about anything, but he knew what he felt for Theresa was important. He didn’t even want to think about losing her.

  “Just follow our lead,” Dr. Bennett instructed Cody. “We have a plan.”

  Cody nodded but still felt apprehensive.

  At the front of the church, Micah began services.

  From their seat a few rows behind where Cody was sitting, Edna Petunia and Cletus exchanged glances. “Something’s going on,” Edna Petunia noted. She knew her sons-in-law got along well, but this seemed ridiculous. They had formed some sort of gaggle and even invited Cody Witherspoon to sit with them. Something awfully strange was occurring.

  “Harumph,” Cletus grunted. He tried to focus on what Micah was saying. He respected the man, but there were occasions where Micah droned on for what felt like hours. He hoped that wouldn't be the case on that day.