by Faye Sonja
Austin got his own door and closed it behind himself. “When will that be?”
“I don’t know.” Orlando shrugged. “A month maybe.”
Austin sighed. “I don’t have a month. I need her now.”
“A month or nothing, Austin. You give me a month’s time to observe and watch you. Give me a month to see if you have really come to your senses. If I feel that you have, I’ll tell you where she is.”
Austin smiled. “A month. That means I’ll be able to see her by New Year’s!”
Orlando nodded. “Perhaps.”
“We’ll marry New Year’s morning.”
Orlando’s face was very serious. “Perhaps.” And that was all Orlando said as the driver took them out of The Grove and back into the city. Austin would pack his bags, the two men would grab Orlando’s bag, and then they’d be off to the train station to await the appearance of the mysterious June Boone.
* * *
2
Chapter TWO
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“ We’ll marry New Year’s morning.”
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June swayed with the movement of the train. She was bored. She, Orlando, and Austin were sharing her father’s private train car and so far, they’d been on their trip for a week and had only made one stop: Chicago. She’d never been to Chicago, but being there had reminded her too much of Detroit. It was a city. City was something she understood. What she wanted to see was something completely different, like their next destination; Aspen. June was making her first trip out of Michigan with a pair of strangers, but her father, the Judge, trusted him and she trusted her father, so she’d see where this little trip would lead, all the while, keeping in mind what her father’s true plans were. Judge Boone didn’t want June to find a husband on the road. Her father wanted her to marry Orlando. But she wasn’t going to tell Orlando that.
She peaked over the top of the latest issue of TIME Magazine, and glanced across the large private car at Orlando. He and Austin were huddled together at a table discussing business. Orlando had removed his navy blue jacket and folded back the sleeves of his cream colored button down, showing off the strength of his arms. June noticed it from all the way across the room. Orlando smiled and laughed. He was writing something down on a piece of paper while Austin spoke. The shape of his eyes reminded her of a large exotic cat and their color was just as unique. They were blue hazel. It was the only way she could describe them. Shades of blue with specks of gold streaming through. They were beautiful, almost too beautiful for a man. But, somehow, they managed to make the Bakely brothers look even more manly… yet dangerous. Orlando nodded his head and then stopped writing. He turned and looked at her. June froze before dipping her head back behind her magazine. Her heart raced.
She let out a breath and averted her eyes back to the magazine, but nothing seemed able to hold her attention better than the man sitting just fifteen feet away. Her father wanted her to marry him, but he wasn’t opposed to June marrying someone else that Orlando approved of. Sadly, what June wanted was out of the question. She just wanted to live.
The windows on each side of the car were frosted over from the weather, but even if June had been able to see past the frost, there was nothing to look at. There was nothing but white for miles. Movement made June put her magazine down. She turned to find Orlando sitting next to her, his face only inches away, his eyes were simply slits in his face as he smiled.
June sighed. “Hello.”
“Anything good in there?” His eyes floated towards the magazine that lay on the table before returning to her eyes.
June looked at the magazine. “I honestly wouldn’t know. I seem to find myself distracted.”
“By what?” Orlando brought an arm up on the back of the bench, but leaned back into the crook of the waist high wall and the bench cushion, giving June more space. The position was very casual and very masculine.
June smiled. “Sheer excitement, I guess. I can’t wait to get to Colorado.”
Orlando smiled. “Yes, that is what I came over to discuss with you.”
June frowned. “What would you like to discuss?”
“How our arrangement will work.”
“What arrangement?”
“Finding you a husband.”
June sighed. “I’m not ready to look.”
Orlando shook his head. “There will be some great suitors in Aspen.”
“Why?”
“There’s a meeting happening. There’s talk of turning Aspen into a ski resort. Investors are coming in for the talks. Many of them will be wealthy.”
“Is that why you’re going to Aspen?”
Orlando nodded. “I’ve been asked to attend.”
June asked, “How does your business work? I don’t understand how you make so much money with the way the world is.”
Orlando sat up. “Well, I’m not going to say that my company hasn’t suffered from the financial crisis that America has found itself in, but there are a few things that people still need in order to survive.”
“What’s that?”
Orlando smiled. “Guess.”
June looked out the window. “Shelter.”
“Definitely.”
“Food.”
“Of course.”
She shrugged. “What more could people want?”
“Entertainment, for one.”
June shook her head. “Not when you can’t afford to feed your family.”
“How many people do you think go to the movie theater every week?”
June narrowed her eyes. “A few hundred thousand.”
Orlando smiled, his blue hazel eyes shone with mischief. “Try millions.”
“No way.”
“Sixty to seventy million people go to a movie every week.”
June’s eyes widened. “That’s insanity.”
Orlando put his arms out. “The world is depressing. People are looking for ways to distract themselves from it.”
June sighed. “So then, how do they do that?”
Orlando went back to leaning against the chair, his body completely facing her. “Love.”
“Who can afford to love at times like these?” She smiled.
He laughed. “Who cannot? Marriage brings laughter, someone to join the struggle with, children to work the farms for no pay.”
June shook her head. “What about you? Are you in love with anyone?”
Orlando sobered. “No.”
“Why not?”
“I could ask you the same.”
June turned away. “You never told me how your business works.”
Orlando leaned forward again. He sighed. “Heart Arrangements is a mail-order-bride service. We bring people from all over the world together, while guaranteeing little surprises to those to can afford it.”
“How so?”
“We only deal with men and women whose identities have been verified. We match people based on lifestyle choices and interviews. We try and make sure that people are happy once the arrangement for marriage is made.”
“Have these men in Aspen been vetted on my behalf?”
Orlando shook his head. “They have not.”
Heat ran up June’s face. “So, you’re just going to pass me around and see who likes me more?”
Orlando narrowed his eyes. “Of course, not. Austin and I will vet, and then we will go from there.”
“Won’t you be busy talking about the resort?”
Orlando shrugged. “We’ll see, but I doubt it.”
“Why?”
“Even with the Neutrality Act that was passed this year stopping Americans from selling weapons to those in war with Germany and Japan, there are whispers of America entering the war ourselves. War will mean harder times for many… but other investing opportunities for those who can afford it.”
June sighed. “This world is so sad.”
&
nbsp; Orlando smiled. “But as they say, ‘love conquers all’.”
“So, I hear.” June looked at the hands that were in her lap.
“How many suitors have you had?”
“Three.”
“Were you in love with any of them?”
June stared at him. “The first, but I was young and stupid when we met.”
“He broke your heart.” It was a statement.
June nodded. “Yes.”
“Your father told me about the two who married your sisters. Were you ever in love with those men?”
June shook her head. “Not at all. They’d come around for me, but found themselves falling in love with my sisters.” She smiled. “I was happy—still am happy—for both of them. They’re like the brothers I never had now.”
Orlando narrowed his eyes, their color more blue now.
“What?” June asked.
“I’m still trying to figure you out.”
“What’s there to figure out?”
“Why a woman who’d been passed up for her sisters would be ‘happy’ with the arrangement. Were the men good looking?”
“Yes.”
“Have jobs? Money?”
“Oh yes.”
“Kind?”
June smiled. “They’re the sweetest men in the world.”
Orlando frowned. “But they passed you up.”
June looked away. “If you think so.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Did they or did they not leave you for your sisters?”
June sighed. “When is lunch?”
Orlando stared at her for moment. “I’ll call and see.”
June smiled as Orlando stood. He gave her a single nod and then went back to sit with Austin with all of the sheets of papers that were laid out in front of him. Love. She shook her head. What does a single man know about love? June picked up her magazine and tried again to read the words on the page, but failed. She peeked over towards Orlando and found him watching her. Her heart skipped. That was twice in the span of an hour and something that June hadn’t experienced in a long, long time. He was trying to figure her out, but June planned on doing the same with him.
* * *
3
Chapter THREE
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“ We’ll marry New Year’s morning.”
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Orlando stepped off of the train with some of the other passengers and took a deep breath of the cold air. It was snowing and the wind blew hard. A fog seemed to be over the land as well. The cold was so thick that Orlando could barely make out his hands. He didn’t have to wonder why everyone on the train hadn’t gotten off. The answer was obvious. No one wanted to get stuck out here in the snow, but June had wanted to stretch her legs, like a few others.
They’d made it to Colorado, but were a few hours away from Aspen. “Ten minutes and then we’ll go back to the car,” he said to June and Austin as they made their way into a general store that advertised warm meals to travelers only when the train was scheduled to come through. Everything was fine except for the fact the train hadn’t been scheduled to stop, but had had mechanical issues. It meant the train would be delayed. It also meant that there was no hot food ready to serve. Orlando kept his eye on June as they walked through the front doors of the small building, making sure she made it in safely. June walked in and wandered to a stand that held books. Austin went to the candy aisle. Orlando shook his head and went to the counter.
The older man spoke first. “How’s it goin’?” he asked. His shiny pale blue eyes smiled with his gapped teeth.
Orlando smiled. “Fine. I know this isn’t one of our scheduled stops, but was hoping you had something hot to eat.”
The man frowned. “Not here at the store, but my wife could maybe make you something at the inn we run if you are looking for a room.”
Orlando shook his head, already looking towards the other offerings on the counter. “No, that won’t be necessary. The train will be departing soon.”
The man’s frown seemed to deepen more. “I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean?” Orlando put a granola bar on the counter and slid it towards the man. He took a deep breath and quieted the panic that tried to grow in his chest. “We’re just having a little mechanical trouble. They said we’d be up and out within a half hour.”
The old man’s eyes widened. “Oh, did they?” He smiled. “Well, maybe you’re right.” The man checked Orlando’s purchase out. “You have a fine trip,” he said, smiling once again.
Orlando narrowed his eyes. “Why don’t you believe the train will be leaving in the hour?”
The man shook his head. “Well, this exact thing happened last year, but one mile back. The snow came down thick, and it piled up until it just couldn’t go forward or backward. The train wasn’t able to leave. The passengers were stuck for days.”
Orlando widened his eyes. “Days?”
The man nodded. “Oh yes! Weeks, actually.”
“Are you sure of this?”
The man laughed. “Me and my wife, Mary, let out every room that month. It’s been hard since the stock market crashed. We hadn’t known if we’d make it through the winter, but—” the man lifted his hands and gave them a quick shake. “Praise the Lord! The train had troubles and we had a packed house! We had guests sleeping in the sitting room as well, but had to turn down anyone else once we were out of convenient places for people to sleep.” Then he frowned. “But we did have to turn some people away. We were low on food. We never expected that many guests.” The man turned to look out the window. “And I don’t think the train was this full last year.”
Orlando narrowed his eyes. He opened his pocket and pulled out some bills. “How many rooms do you have?”
“We only had six rooms last year, but we built more rooms this summer, so ten.”
“I’d like to reserve three of them… just in case.” There was a possibility that Orlando would never see the rooms. There was also the possibility that the train would pull off without him having the time to get his money back, but he’d rather lose some money than be unprepared for the worse.
The man smiled and laughed. “I told two other men this same thing, and they both reserved rooms just like you did.” He took the money. “What’s your name?”
“Orlando Bakely. What’s yours?”
“Joseph. Joseph Norman. The inn is next door. It’s called The Bethlehem Inn.”
Orlando frowned. “Mary and Joseph run The Bethlehem Inn?”
Joseph laughed. “Yeah, me and my wife were fated from the beginning.”
Orlando smirked.
“Don’t believe in fate?”
Orlando shook his head. “No, just opportunity.”
Joseph smiled. “Maybe you’re right, but God is just full of the strangest opportunities.” His eyes drifted behind Orlando before returning to him with a smile.
Orlando looked back and caught June talking to a little girl with a dog. She was hunkered down so the girl was at eye level. The dog was white and miniature sized. The little girl was buried in layers that hid most of her form, but small wisps of blond hair snuck from under her hat. June turned and met Orlando’s eyes. She smiled at him and Orlando felt it hit his gut. Her large green eyes pulled at him, as though she’d tied him with a rope and were literally dragging him across the room. Orlando had taken a step towards her before he’d realized he’d done it. He turned back to Joseph.
Joseph laughed. “Yeah, Mary and I were the same way at first.”
Orlando frowned. “How do you know she’s not already my wife?”
Joseph narrowed his eyes. “Because, you’re both obviously fighting your attraction to one another. Married couples don’t, unless they're mad at one another. And if you were mad at one another, you don’t smile at one another like that.”
Orlando grunted. “You got all of that fro
m a three second observation?”
Joseph smiled slowly. “No, I was just messing with you. I know you’re not married, because you walked in here with two other people and reserved three rooms.”
Orlando frowned. “Oh, yes.”
June and Austin came up to the counter at the same time, flanking him on both sides. They both piled things on the counter and then looked at Orlando expectantly. Orlando sighed and paid for the entire lot.
“Who was the little girl?” Orlando asked as the group headed for the door just as a couple came in.
“Her name was Birdie,” June said. She was frowning. “Her father died last year. Birdie, her mother, and her aunt are moving to Denver live with her grandmother.”
Orlando helped June back onto the train. “I’m sorry the girl’s father died. I’m sure it’s tragic to lose your father at such a young age.”
June shook her head. “I lost my mother around her age. It is awful, but thankfully, I always had the Judge’s love.”
Austin brought up the back and closed the door. “I wonder what life would have been like if we’d really known our father.”
June paused and turned to Austin. “You didn’t know your father growing up?”
Orlando shook his head. “Not as well as normal children. We had trouble connecting with him when he was around, but most of the time he was gone.”
“What does he do?”
Orlando shrugged. “Something with the American Indians. He was an archaeologist.” They all took a seat at the dining table and pulled out sandwiches and granola bars that they’d bought from the store.
June frowned as she bit into her sandwich. “Archaeologist? That sounds interesting.”
Orlando shrugged. “Yeah, our mother let him take me on a trip once.” He smiled to himself. “It was a trip I’ll never forget.”
June smiled. “What happened?”
Orlando’s smile grew. “I was fourteen. Austin was four and too young to travel, so it was only me that went that year. Actually, my mother had made him take me, because I had started… acting out.”