by Annie Lane
“Mornin’, ladies.”
Charlotte guessed that Gabe’s fine mood was most likely a direct result of the letter he had clutched tight between his fingers, and recognizing Mrs. Fredrick’s distinctive mauve stationery, she made certain to congratulate him forthwith. She asked fondly after his new bride, and Gabe spared no time in spinning around an empty chair and resting his arms against the back of it.
“I most likely appear a right fool carrying this thing around with me everywhere I go, but I just can’t help it. I reckon I’m about as happy as a bear cub come up on a honey hive.”
Charlotte smiled. “I’m sure no one thinks you a fool, we’re all so very pleased for you, Gabe. When can we expect the young lady’s arrival?”
“The train pulls in to Helena tomorrow afternoon. I’ll head across and pick her up myself. Alice … Alice Hamilton’s her name,” he said, glancing over at Beth. “I believe you two were friends back in Seattle. She spoke so fondly of you in her letter.”
Charlotte gasped and turned to Beth. “Alice … the Alice? The one you told me about?”
Beth managed only a small nod. “Oh yes, Bert’s niece, a … a lovely girl. I’m sure the two of you will be very happy together.”
Gabe beamed as bright as the moon, thrilled with the impending arrival. “I can’t wait to meet her, and the fact she already has friends in town is a blessing from above. I couldn’t have finagled it better myself.”
Beth groaned then and covered her mouth with her slender hand. Her expression soured when her throat tightened and her belly rolled for the third or fourth time that day. A fresh wave of nausea washed through her body and she cringed. “I hope that rattlesnake rots in hell for all the trouble it’s caused.”
Her arm was still a little tender to touch and there was still the occasional night she woke up in a cold sweat, but other than that she was of the opinion that she was on the mend. Lately though, she wasn’t so sure. Her head was pounding most days and her skin was pallid and sticky to touch. Whatever poison was still rushing around in her veins, it certainly had a tight hold of her and didn’t plan on letting go any time soon.
“Are you sure you’re not coming down with something?’ asked Charlotte. “You’ve hardly touched your morning tea and we’re only halfway through our correspondence. I’m dying to know how Mistress Belle and the baby boys are faring in our absence. I bet they’ve grown so much since we’ve left the orphanage.”
Mistress Belle had sent each of the girls a long, heartfelt letter the previous week and it was the first opportunity they’d both had to swap stories and share anecdotes.
Charlotte delighted in receiving news from Seattle and she was more than grateful that Mistress Belle never cared to mention … mention the name of that man that had caused her so much distress. The name that she and her husband, Thomas, had decided to never mention again.
Beth was altogether indifferent for some reason though. She seemed distracted and Charlotte couldn’t quite narrow it down. She leaned a little closer and took her friend by the hand, a small frown creasing her pretty face. “Are you not feeling well again?”
“There’s no need to worry,” assured Beth in a resolved voice. “Earl does enough of that for all of us. I’m perfectly fine … just a little off-color is all.”
Charlotte folded her letter in half and placed it back into her purse. “The man worries because he loves you. Now let’s hurry and write a joint letter back to Seattle, inviting Mistress Belle to come and visit us soon. I miss her terribly and I can’t wait to see her again.”
Beth nodded. “Yes, the sooner the better. I’m sure she’ll adore Junior just as much as the rest of us. I mean … what’s not to love after all? The boy’s as sweet as a slice of your apple pie.”
“And who doesn’t love my apple pie?” Charlotte agreed, giggling. “Then when we’re done, we’ll head over to the mercantile. I don’t want to miss out on first pick of the fabric. This delivery seems to have taken forever to come in.”
A new shipment was due to arrive and Charlotte couldn’t wait to get her hands on it. Hours of her time had been spent making curtains, and ruffles, and tablecloths to match, but there was still one job she wanted to attend to before the weather turned so nasty she wouldn’t be able to leave the ranch. Thomas needed some new shirts, and it had been hinted at by a few of the church ladies that some lovely checked flannel was coming all the way from Vancouver — the fancy brushed sort for extra warmth — and Charlotte wanted to purchase a yard or two before it all sold out. She was keeping it as a surprise from her husband and instead told him she needed to bring their buggy to town to pick up some groceries.
Having just broken out in a thin sheen of sweat, Beth reached into her purse and pulled out a handkerchief. Gabe noticed her flushed face. “Hate to be the one to break it to you, Miss Beth … but you look positively dreadful.”
Beth glanced up from under her lashes. Her fiery nature broke through and she said in the most sarcastic of tones, “How very polite of you to notice, Gabe.”
“No offense intended, but it’s the truth. I’d be gettin' myself to the Doc’s quick smart.”
Charlotte took the handkerchief from Beth’s hand and dabbed it against her friend’s forehead. “Oh yes, Beth. You really do look dreadful. Gabe’s absolutely right. I’m making you an appointment with Doc Lawson for first thing tomorrow morning and I won’t hear another word about it.”
Beth gingerly nodded her head. “As you wish, Charlotte.”
“Good, I’ll head over there immediately. And then we will make our way back home. A nice warm bath and a good lie-down will have you feeling better in no time.” Gabe jumped to his feet and swiped his hat from the rack. “No need to leave town early, Charlotte, not if you’ve still got things to do. The wagon’s parked right outside and I’ve a few minutes to spare between jobs, so I’ll gladly drive Miss Beth home. I only called in quickly to tell Ma about my plans tomorrow…”
He turned his eye toward the empty counter and noticed for the first time that his mother wasn’t running all about in her usual manner. His brows knit together. “Speaking of which, either of you two ladies know where she is this morning? I’ve been here a good fifteen minutes and she hasn’t once got on my back about nothin’.”
Charlotte nodded. “An emergency of some sort upstairs. We could hear the Sheriff squealing like a little baby all the way from the street. Louise says he cut himself peeling an apple and she needed to see it got strapped just right.”
“Oh, well … in that case,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I guess there’s nothing I can do to help the ol’ buzzard. Come now, Beth, before things get any worse. Earl will be beside himself when he gets a look at your face. You look absolutely drea … uh, well … let’s not worry about how you look right now and just concentrate on getting you home.”
Chapter 10
“Ouch, Louise … that hurts!”
Henry squirmed all about, clutching the meaty part of his injured thumb.
“Oh, Henry, cut it out!” exclaimed Louise, “You’re worse than a child sometimes. I need to bathe the wound before I can even think about covering it in gauze.”
“It’s fine, Louise. It’s nothing … barely a scratch.”
“It’s not fine, you might get an infection.”
Henry rolled his eyes in a fashion that was sure to send Louise right over the edge. “For goodness sakes, it was a paring knife … not a hunk of rusty pipe.”
Louise leaned over her husband as he hunched at the kitchen sink. She pried his hand away again so she could examine the incision. “Henry, take a look at it. I think it might be too bad even for a strapping … I’m guessing it’ll need stitching. Though you’ll never get in to see the Doc at such short notice, he’s as busy as a centipede skipping lately. Must just be a bad time o’ year I guess? I’ll make an appointment for you first thing tomorrow morning.”
Henry’s patience ran dry. His morning had stretched on long enough as far as
he was concerned and he needed to get to the office before the mountain of paperwork he’d deliberately ignored for the last few weeks, came to life and swallowed him up whole.
So he spoke his next words without thinking. “I don’t need your fussing, and I don’t need your help, and I don’t need you kickin’ up a stink. I’ll manage just fine on my own thank you very much.”
Louise spun on her heels and left the room in a flurry of bustles and skirts. She headed straight down the hall. Her eyes stung with rejection and the terrible ache in her heart took over her entire being. Before she knew it, there were hot, swollen tears rolling down her face and she let free a heavy sob that came from a place deep inside her.
And then she collapsed face-first into the mattress, and stayed there for a solid hour, not caring one way or the other that she still had a diner full of hungry customers downstairs all waiting to be served.
Chapter 11
Dear Diary,
Day Three of my journey East.
I know it sounds like I’ve possibly gone a little loco, and if truth be told, I’m not entirely sure that I haven’t, but here I am … well into day three of a five day journey to marry a man I’ve never met before.
What was I thinking?
I don’t know what’s worse. The jittery nerves I’m leaving behind me for fear of being caught by my past or the new ones I’m acquiring with every mile that brings me closer to my future.
Could Gabriel Calhoun be as wonderful as he made out in his letter? I certainly hope so, but I can’t be sure until I get there. And by then it will be too late to turn around again. How do I trust someone I’ve never met before? How do I trust anyone?
I’m so tired. I’m stiff and sore and terribly uncomfortable. What wouldn’t I do for a washcloth or a cup of chamomile tea.
This constant stopping and starting is so very jarring and I haven’t had a wink of sleep.
Thankfully, dear Uncle Bert packed me some sandwiches and a little bag of sweets, which have made the journey bearable. But only just. The poor man was sick with worry when I told him I was leaving. I’d never seen so many lines wrinkle his forehead before. He said he understood my predicament though, and his only wish was that I’d talked to him sooner, before it was too late. He had no idea I was running away. He had no idea how I had spent the past year of my life and it saddened him terribly. He assured me he would cover my tracks if anyone dared to ask after me.
He even gave me this lovely new diary to start afresh. We burned the old one … set it on fire right there below the chimney and watched it go up in flames.
We prayed together. He wished me luck.
I sure am going to miss Uncle Bert.
Oh great, another bump! Just what I need. My head just bounced against the window, rattling all the way through my cheek and cracking my teeth together. I’m trying my best to ignore my aching body, but I’m growing more irritable by the minute.
What a wonderful first impression I’ll make!
Is there such a thing as mail order husbands? I can’t imagine so … I’d fear there’d be a great number of heartbroken women left stranded at the altar if it were the case. I don’t believe there is a man I know who’d be willing to put himself through this torment, not for all the gold in the hills or oil in the ground.
Day Four of my journey East.
Well, here I am, chugging my way through the foggy mountains of Montana. We’re traveling at a snail’s pace due to last night’s heavy snowfall. The scenery sure is breathtaking though. What was once green and golden is now draped in white. I feel like a carnival toy in a Christmas scene, chasing myself around a thousand different Christmas trees all sprinkled with sugar and spice and all things nice.
Sulphur Springs sure doesn’t look this pretty, not at any time of year, let alone in the middle of winter. So I suppose not all is lost. Perhaps I will come to enjoy living a quiet life. Who knows? As Uncle Bert always says … ‘only time will tell.’
And right now, time is something I have an abundance of.
Anyway, I guess that’s all I have to say … I promise to write again as soon as I arrive in Conrad.
Love from,
Alice.
Chapter 12
It was just after lunch when the train finally pitched to a halt in the small town of Helena, Montana, and Alice felt like she’d been traveling two lifetimes.
The snow had stopped falling an hour or so earlier, and now the sun was trying to break through the scattered clouds. There wasn’t much strength left in its rays, given that the day was so short this time of year, but at least Alice didn’t have to squint as she stepped out onto the platform and peered around.
At first she didn’t notice anyone who gave the impression to be looking for her. Somewhat of a relief as it provided her a few minutes to straighten her skirt and pinch a little color back into her ashen face. She felt dirty and unkempt and she really wasn’t in the mood to be meeting her future husband for the very first time.
But after a moment, she spotted a man standing over by the ticket booth. He was the only person not accounted for. Everyone else was either welcoming loved ones or waving passengers off as the sluggish train lurched forward again and slowly disappeared from sight.
While Alice couldn’t clearly make out the man’s face — being that he was leaning back against the wall with his ankles overlapped and his hat tilted off to one side — she felt his presence tumble thick through the air, knocking the breath clean from her lungs. She couldn’t explain it, but the man’s casual poise was captivating.
She caught a glimpse of his white shirt, made of the finest-spun linen, and a pair of cuffed tan trousers — clean, neat and pressed just right — and Alice delighted in the fact that he’d bothered to dress up for the occasion. His coat was bulky, but even so Alice could still make out the broadness of his chest beneath. “Excuse me?” she said, extending her hand in introduction. “I’m Miss Hamilton. I’m hoping you might be Mr. Calhoun?”
Gabe looked up slowly, in absolutely no rush whatsoever as he pushed himself off the timber slats. At first Alice thought he was being deliberately aloof, but then on closer inspection she realized he wasn’t doing it on purpose at all. It was just him.
Gabe smiled in a most charming manner. “And what if I’m not?”
He knew right well he was being cocky, but the sudden mirage of fair and blue and pretty and sweet all wrapped up in one perfect parcel, was enough to make any man want to blow his own trumpet. He couldn’t believe his luck. There must be something in the water over there in Seattle … for not one, not two, but now three beautiful brides had come Conrad’s way.
“Then I’ve just wasted an enormous amount of my time,” said Alice, looking him up and down. “As it seems I might be doing with this very conversation.”
Gabe’s laugh was deep and gravelly. “Time’s a precious commodity, Miss Hamilton, and I don’t care to waste a minute of it.” He stretched out his arm and took Alice’s tiny hand in his own, shaking it gently. “I’m most definitely Gabriel Calhoun, but please call me Gabe. I’m very happy to meet you.”
“Well in that case…”
Alice giggled nervously. She didn’t mean to do it, it just came out. She most definitely wasn’t a giggler, but there was something about the way Gabe watched her so intently that made her cheeks blush. Never had she stood so close to a man before that she could feel the heat radiate from his body.
If she wasn’t so overwhelmed by the whole ordeal, she might have taken a moment to enjoy just how nice it felt to be holding Gabe’s hand — strong and calloused, yet warm and supple all at the same time — but when the unusual scent of leather, and metal, and what might possibly be pinewood trickled through her senses, she suddenly found herself a little dizzy as a result.
“I’m very happy to meet you too, Gabe. Thank you for sending for me.”
Gabe nodded his head, blinking slowly. The sound of Alice laughing made his throat swell and for the very first time in hi
s life, it seemed he was at a loss for words. He felt like a simpleton the way he was just standing there not saying anything, but Alice sure was beautiful and he couldn’t make his brain work in conjunction with the rest of his body.
It was then that Alice realized she, too, was smiling, for Gabe was a very handsome man. Not quite how she’d imagined him from his letter … more rugged perhaps … but either way she couldn’t stop stealing glances of him. His hair was a little long and could probably do with a wash, but it was nothing she couldn’t fix with a pair of scissors and a fresh cake of soap. “Is that the only luggage you have?” he asked.
Alice nodded politely and handed Gabe her small travel bag. He slung it up over his broad shoulder and then walked toward the street, hoping with everything he had inside him that Alice was following right behind him. On faith alone, he stretched his arm back without looking and, somehow … perhaps by the grace of God … Alice slipped her fingers between his and they slowly made their way back toward the wagon.
Chapter 13
Louise coughed, catching Gabe’s attention.
He paused and faltered mid-step. He’d been so caught up in Alice’s arrival that he’d almost forgotten his mother was still hovering somewhere in the shadows. Why she had insisted on accompanying him to the train station was anyone’s guess. He still couldn’t fathom it … but he was so sick of the relentless squabbling that he simply gave up in the end and let her get her own way.
“I, uh … I suppose I should make some introductions. Alice, this is my mother, Mrs. Louise Calhoun.” He looked solemnly over at Louise, silently begging her not to make a scene. “Mother, please meet Miss Alice Hamilton, all the way from Seattle, Washington.”