Silence fell in the room. Adeline wiggled in her seat, picked up the newspaper and looked at the article again, “Alright, Father, but this one is for Mother!”
Chapter Two
Almost a week had passed, and Adeline had remained faithful to her promise not to go for her morning rides, or to leave the house unattended. Actually, she had not left the house in five days at all. She spent her days assisting her father with taking care of Agnes, and the rest of the time she could be found with her nose constantly in a book. She was not even able to recall how many books she had read so far this week.
Adeline was perched on the divan in her father’s study, when Carol, the head housemaid, came rushing into the room, with a newspaper in her hand, frantically shaking it to get Adeline’s attention, “Miss Adeline, you have to read this! You must! Another young lady was just found only two miles from here on old man John’s property! Dead! Tied to a tree, and, Lord Heavens, shot to death!”
Adeline peered up from the engaging book she was reading. She was not sure whether to laugh at Carol’s franticness, or to give her full attention. “Let me see the article, please, Carol. And please, by all means, calm down! You do not want to stir Mother! We just got her down for a nap. You know she needs more rest right now, and has been truly upset about all of this murder business!”
“Yes, Miss,” Carol replied, bowing her head, and straightening out the apron around her waist. “It’s just that this man will seem to never stop! And the sheriff and police seem to still have no trace of who this brute is!”
Adeline put the newspaper down, “You’re still raising your voice, Carol. Why don’t you go make us some tea, and come sit in here with me for a bit until you can calm your nerves?”
Carol smiled sheepishly, “Yes, Miss.” She slowly turned and exited the room, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Adeline pulled her long braid that Carol had made for her early that morning to the side of her shoulder. Carol had been with the Baxter family since she was just a tiny girl, barely walking. Carol was like a second mother to her, but Adeline was easily irritated by Carol’s excitement over matters. She would raise her voice in the kitchen at the cook when she felt he was using the wrong ingredients; she watched the other maids under her instruction as they cleaned, and corrected them if they made the tiniest error. However, she was a sweetheart to the Baxters, especially to Adeline, and she knew that is why Carol was so upset about this latest murder being so close in vicinity to the Baxter Estate. Carol could not help herself; she loved them all too much. There were times when Adeline felt smothered by her parent’s overprotectiveness, and Carol’s excited concern for her. Sometimes, she just wanted to have her own independence, and have to be the only one who would worry about her well-being.
Edgar interrupted Adeline’s thoughts, as he popped his head around the open study door, “Adeline, your mother will be resting until later this afternoon. I would like to have a word with you, please, dear.”
Adeline tucked the newspaper inside the book she was reading, and placed it on the table next to the divan where she had been lounging for hours. She stood, adjusted her dress and hair, and followed Edgar to the living room.
Edgar motioned for Adeline to sit across from him, “Angel, I have some terrible news. Another girl has been kidnapped, and was found shot just last night. There seems to be no stopping this brute, and your mother is becoming even more worried for you. I am afraid it is affecting her health at this point.”
When Adeline began to respond to her father, there was a heavy knock at the front door. Edgar waited for one of the servants to hear it but when no one came, he went to answer the door himself. Adeline followed him, out of curiosity.
“Ah, Richard, my friend! So good to see you!” Edgar exclaimed as he grabbed Richard’s hand in a firm handshake. “What brings you all the way out to Frailburg?”
“I had some business to attend to, so I thought I would drop in on my favorite family!” Richard replied, and continued to shake Edgar’s hand vigorously.
Richard’s eyes moved to the figure standing just behind Edgar, “Is that Adeline? My, my, you have become even prettier since last winter!”
Adeline curtsied in appreciation and walked toward Richard, “It is good to see you, too.”
Richard broke eye contact with Adeline, and looked back at Edgar, “How is my dear Agnes doing?”
Edgar’s illumination dimmed, “I am afraid her health has continued to decline, Richard. But I have the best doctors in Arizona looking after her, and she does like to get up and around some during the day. Right now, she is resting, but I am sure she will be delighted to see you when she wakes.”
Richard frowned, “I am sorry, Edgar. I know how hard this must be on you, but God will heal Agnes. He is just testing your faith right now.”
Edgar pointed to two leather wing back chairs in the living room which were in front of two softer chairs, the ones that Adeline and her mother preferred. “Please, have a seat, and I will have Carol get us something refreshing to drink.”
“I just sent Carol into the kitchen a little while ago to make some tea, Father. Maybe Richard would like a nice cup of tea?” Adeline smiled at Richard.
“Actually, Adeline, I would prefer something a bit stronger. Do you have any of that good whiskey, Edgar, that you keep for special occasions?” Richard sat down in one of the wingback chairs, “I just came out of a tough business meeting.”
“Of course, Richard! Anything for you!” Edgar sprinted over to the bar directly behind the wingback chairs, and proceeded to search for his special bottle of whiskey.
“I will let Carol know to bring the tea in here for Mother and me,” Adeline called out to her father, as she exited the room to the kitchen.
“Yes, yes, of course, Angel. Your mother should be rising any time now, now that it is getting to the cooler part of the day,” Edgar agreed.
Edgar poured two small glasses of his special whiskey, and approached Richard, holding one out for him to take, “To friends, old times, and new memories.” The two men clicked their glasses together, and in unison, drank down the whiskey.
“Ah, that is just what I needed, Edgar!” Richard said, as he put the glass down on the mahogany table next to him. “How is business, Edgar?”
Edgar followed suit, placing his glass down, “Well, business has been good at the stores, but I just don’t have the availability to oversee all of the bookkeeping like I did before Agnes…”
Edgar’s words were broken by the entrance of his wife. She was wearing a white stain robe that he had given her for their last anniversary. “Hello, Richard!” She spoke with a liveliness that neither Edgar nor Adeline had heard in quite some time.
The men stood up from their chairs, as Agnes entered the room. Richard turned toward her, “My dear Agnes! What a sight for sore eyes you are today!”
Agnes pulled the robe tight around her chest, “Well, this is not exactly the proper attire to receive company, but when I heard your voice from the bedroom, I was so excited, I just had to come right out and say hello!”
Adeline walked in behind Agnes, with Carol following her, holding a tray of tea and small round cakes, which were frequent afternoon treats at the Baxter Estate. “Here, Mother, why don’t we sit across from Father and Richard in the comfortable chairs you like?” Adeline pointed toward the large floral printed chairs, which were so soft, that they sunk down as one sat in them.
Agnes made her way to the chair opposite of Edgar, and Adeline followed, sitting across from Richard. Carol set the tray on the small table next to Adeline’s chair, and offered to pour tea. “No need, Carol. Why don’t you go get some rest, and I will take care of serving, for a change,” Adeline instructed.
“Richard’s here on business, Agnes, but he took the time to stop in. Isn’t this wonderful?” Edgar eagerly asked.
“A true delight, Richard,” Agnes spoke softly, giving the impression that she was a bit weak. “How long will you be in
Frailburg, Richard?” Agnes inquired.
Richard smiled a large, white smile, which made him look much younger than he actually was, “I will be here at least a few days, Agnes. I couldn’t stand the thought of not being able to spend time with my favorite family!”
“Then, you must stay here, in one of our guest rooms. No fuss. It is settled,” Agnes demanded.
“Well, that would be a delight!” Richard accepted.
Edgar stood up from his chair, “Can I help you bring in your things, so you can freshen up before dinner is served, Richard?”
“Yes, that would be helpful. I have some things I have brought for you all from Talon Peaks!” Richard laughed, as he motioned for Edgar to join him out front of the home.
After the two men had left, Adeline asked her mother if she would like some tea. Agnes agreed, and Adeline poured her half a cup of tea, and put two teaspoons of sugar in it, stirring it slowly. “Here, Mother, maybe the sugar will perk you up a bit more.”
“Thank you, dear. What a lovely surprise to wake up to! Maybe it will do your father some good to have a friend around for a few days.”
“Yes, Mother, it will,” Adeline nodded. “And it will do us all some good to have a healthy distraction from all of this terrible buzz going on about town regarding that monster!”
“Yes, Adeline, a nice distraction is just what this family needs,” Agnes spoke slowly, as she sipped her tea.
* * *
“I am so happy to be in the company of such good friends, on such a beautiful night in my old hometown of Frailburg,” Richard toasted to the group sitting at the dinner table, which was full of every mentionable delight.
“Here, here,” Edgar lifted his glass in agreement with Richard.
Adeline and Agnes lifted their glasses of wine, also, each taking a small sip before beginning to eat the roast and potatoes that Carol had the cook prepare specially for this reunion meal.
After everyone had completed their meal, they waited patiently for dessert to be brought out by the servants. Richard spoke up again, from his seat at the head of the table, “And on this special night, I have a gift for each of you from Talon Peaks, which has become my new home, and dear to my heart.” He lifted a leather bag from the floor next to his chair, and opened it, pulling out a velvet bag for Agnes, “Here, Agnes, let us start with your gift. This is something to help make you feel fresh and good again.” He handed her the bag, and she smiled and opened it to see the contents inside.
Agnes pulled out a jar of homemade lotion, and a bar of soap which had berries embedded in it, “How lovely! I need something to take away the dryness of my skin in this awful heat!” She smiled a gracious smile, “Thank you, dear, Richard.”
“You are most welcome, Agnes, and now for the other lady of the house,” Richard pulled out a thick black book, and handed it to Adeline, who was sitting to the left of him at the table.
Adeline opened the front cover to the title page and saw that it was a complete compilation of Greek mythology. “Oh, my, why, I have not read all of the myths from the Greeks, Richard. Thank you so much! This will give me plenty of hours of pleasure.”
“And give us plenty of hours of conversation about it, too, Miss Adeline,” Richard responded.
Adeline caught his stare, and noticed he had especially dark brown eyes, which twinkled when he looked at her. She immediately lowered her eyes back down to the book, “Yes, I, um, would like that very much.”
“Last, but not least, for my good, best friend, Edgar, here is something to help you invest some more inventory in your stores,” he handed Edgar a velvet bag, similar to the one Agnes had received.
Edgar shook the bag, and felt something jostle around inside. He noticed the bag was rather heavy, and he opened it up slowly, peering inside, “Oh, my word! Richard, what have you done?Are you sure about this?”
Agnes leaned forward, “Oh, please, Edgar, don’t keep us all in suspense. What is it?”
“A bag full of gold! Gold nuggets, Agnes!” Edgar exclaimed.
Richard Arnolds was a very wealthy overseer of a gold mining company in Talon Peaks, Texas, and had become very generous with his wealth of late. He was known to have become quite the philanthropist in his community, helping various churches, poor families, and his employees. This was one reason the Baxters held such respect for him. They had heard news of his good doings, and at every opportunity, would inform everyone that he was one of their closest and dearest friends.
Edgar did like to brag a bit about his associates, hoping this would improve his standing in the community. When Agnes had fallen ill, the stores in town he owned had taken a bit of a financial hit because he had to direct his attentions to his wife’s needs, versus his business. But, now, this kind gift from Richard would help him bring his business back up to its original prosperous state, which was responsible for the estate home they lived in, finely furnished, and the ability to maintain as many house servants as they did.
“Forever will I be thankful to you, my dear friend, Richard!” Edgar asked to be excused from the table, so he may go place the bag of gold in his safe in the study.
“You’re quite the friend, Richard,” Adeline said with a sharp smile. She was not sure at this juncture if his gift to her father was sincere, or a way to “buy” their friendship. She had always liked Richard, respected him. However, he was a man of wealth who did not feel the need not to show it off. This repulsed her in a way, but she was truly grateful for his gesture, no matter the motivation.
The servants brought in a fine chocolate cake for the dessert portion of the meal, and after everyone had their palates satiated, they retired to the living room, where Adeline began to read her book on mythology, while Edgar and Richard sat in the wingback chairs, reminiscing about the good old times they had together when they were younger. Agnes called for Carol to help her get ready for bed, and she politely excused herself from the room, bidding each one a special good night.
Chapter Three
“Good Morning, Edgar,” Richard yawned, as he entered the kitchen, hoping to get a fresh cup of coffee.
“A little too much wine for you last night, Richard?” Edgar teased, and requested the housemaid who was in the kitchen washing the dishes to pour Richard a cup of coffee.
“Thank you, Miss,” Richard said, as he accepted the cup of steaming black coffee. “How did you and Agnes sleep last night?” he asked, as a second yawn approached.
“Agnes was up a few times with some pain, but the latest medication the doctors have given her seems to help.” Edgar explained, closing the newspaper he had been reading when Richard walked in the kitchen.
“Any news today in Frailburg?” Richard smiled, as he tried to make morning small talk.
“Well, actually, Richard, there has been terrible news in our papers every day for over a month now. There is a murderer who is kidnapping and shooting young ladies, young girls around Adeline’s age. He calls himself the Wild Hog, and the sheriff has not caught up to him, yet.”
Soft footsteps could be heard entering the room. Agnes was in her white silk robe again, “And, Richard, we are terribly concerned for Adeline. Edgar has forbidden her to go for her morning rides, or to go out of the house unattended. She has not been out of this house in a week, and I am afraid the claustrophobia will eventually get to her. We are at a loss as to what to do, Richard,” Agnes sat down at the table with the two men and put her chin on her folded arms on the table.
“As you can see, Richard, this has Agnes terribly upset.” Edgar urged.
“This is terrible news, my dearest friends. I do not know what to say, other than I will promise to find a way to help you keep your daughter safe from this tyrant until he is caught.” Richard put down his coffee firmly on the table, “At all costs, I will find a way, I promise.”
Agnes lifted her head, “Thank you, Richard. Edgar has spoken to me about it, and he does not want to leave me here alone, and take Adeline away somewhere. We need to come up with
another idea.”
“We will, dear, Agnes, we will,” Richard picked up his coffee, tilted his head back, and drank the last of the contents.
* * *
When Richard returned to the Baxter Estate, the heat was almost unbearable. He was received by Carol at the front door, and he immediately asked for cold refreshment. After his business meeting, he wanted to think about other things than the prospect of gold mining. The house was quiet. He assumed that Agnes was taking her usual afternoon nap, and Edgar might have stepped out of the house for a bit. He surveyed the empty living room and continued down the corridor, until he passed by the study. Through the open door, he vaguely saw Adeline’s figure on the divan, holding the large black book he had given her as a gift. He tucked under the doorway. Often times, he found himself having to make physical accommodations for his height.
The Cowboy's Stolen Bride (Historical Western Romance) Page 2