by Indiana Wake
With such widely different men how could she make a choice? Closing her eyes, she put her hand on the silver cross at her throat and imagined each of the men. Gradually she saw the hotel owner a man named Ryan Gellman and she had made her choice.
With a barely concealed smile on her face, she handed the paper and all the forms back to Mrs. Hawkins.
“What a brilliant candidate. He did seem the most suitable for you,” Mrs. Hawkins exclaimed. “I shall contact him at once and as soon as I hear something from him, I will send for you. Hopefully, if all goes well, within a month or two, you could be in Montana. How wonderful would that be?”
Anna nodded, lost in thought over how far away she had agreed to go. Moving to a small town called Redemption, in Montana sounded very scary. Then she thought about it Redemption, maybe it was what God wanted. But could she leave? She would have to say goodbye to her father and her best and only friend. Thinking these dark thoughts, she stood, thanked the lady and left the office.
Over the next few weeks, Anna kept visiting the agency and responding to the letters she had received. Her chosen potential had come through and after a few stilted letters he sent that he would be rather interested in getting to know her and that he wanted her to visit him.
With a heart full of both fear and anticipation, Anna had explained to her father. At first he was distraught. How could she leave him? But soon he understood her need to start afresh and they promised to keep in touch and that he could visit. She knew he would be fine. As a school teacher he was always busy and had plenty of friends within the church.
By the end of the month, it was time to go. Tears rolled down her eyes as she said goodbye and Jolene made Anna swear she wouldn’t forget her and that she’d write every day. Gathering her meager possessions, kissing her father and Jolene farewell, Anna got into the carriage that was going to take her to the train station.
This was the first time she had been alone for an extended period of time. Usually, her father or Jolene was always there with her and this new experience unnerved Anna. She couldn’t believe she had taken such a huge step by herself and was venturing all alone out into the world.
The train ride was uneventful, albeit tiring, loud and a little nerve racking. About half-way she met up with a family. They were also traveling to Redemption and they chatted as the miles rolled by.
As she crossed into Montana, she couldn’t help but wonder at the amount of snow. The country seemed breathtaking. Rolling hills of white as far as the eye could see. She began to worry, as she didn’t have many winter clothes with her. What would her prospective husband think when she turned up in her city clothes? It did not matter it was too late to worry now and she had saved enough to buy a few thicker dresses and a good coat. She was a survivor and she could manage a little cold.
With the scream of a whistle the train stopped. Smiling at the family she walked out, slightly shivering in her thin coat. This was it and she stopped on the platform and looked around her breath held, her hand on her chest.
Scanning the crowd she looked around for anyone who was there to receive her. A nudge in her back sent her stumbling forward and a rough looking cowboy grabbed her arm apologized before turning away. Startled she spun around looked straight into the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. The eyes stared back at her and she saw recognition flash in them and a hand reached out to her.
Chapter 4
Anna stood mesmerized but as those gorgeous eyes moved closer; she couldn't help but notice the face around it. A strong jaw, full lips, and wavy brown hair adorned the man. Right, then he appeared to be an angel sent down from heaven to wreak havoc on earth.
His hand still stuck out before him as he stood in front of her, bowing slightly. "Are you Miss Anna Montgomery?"
Curtsying in response, Anna noticed the hand. She reached out to shake it and realized that her fingers were freezing beneath her gloves.
"Yes, I am. You must be Ryan Gellman."
"You are freezing. Let me get you into a warm carriage.”
“Mr. Gellman?”
“I’m his brother actually. I'm Ian Gellman, Ryan's younger brother. Now, if you'd follow me, we have a carriage waiting.”
Ian turned and she noticed he was tall and strong with broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. “Is there a problem with Ryan?” she asked. Thinking how could this have gone wrong already?
“I’m Sorry Ryan couldn't make it today. He got called out to see to a few customers at the last moment. He sends his apologies." And with that he led her towards the carriage. Anna limped after him and could not help but notice that the minute she began to walk, his eyebrows shot up and a frown marred his perfect features.
Noticing her looking at him, he quickly smoothed his expression and led her towards the carriage. With an extravagant bow, he offered her his hand and helped her in.
It was warmer inside, but Anna felt the frigid wind of prejudice. This was what she had traveled to avoid. Her main reason for becoming a mail-order bride was to get over such prejudice. It made no sense that he had reacted that way, for she had clearly mentioned it on her form. In the disabilities box, she had put that she had a pronounced limp. That was when she remembered Mrs. Hawkins erasing something, she groaned inwardly. Apparently, the woman had thought she was doing her a favor, but Anna knew from experience how these things turned out. Would she be going home soon? Would she have to return in shame the marriage proposal withdrawn?
In the carriage, Ian looked her up and down a few times, not in a degrading way but rather in a thoughtful one. Anna felt embarrassed under such scrutiny and turned to the window. The view from the carriage of this white and stark world was completely mesmerizing. A shiver ran through her as the carriage turned a corner.
"You're cold,” Ian said and he shrugged out of his coat and handed it to her.
She looked up at him confused, his eyes capturing hers.
He cleared his throat slightly and said, “We wouldn't want you to catch a cold on your first day here, so umm you better take my coat."
Anna blushed red and taking the coat, thanked him. She put it on and could smell him on it. He had a unique, manly scent that set her entire body a tingling and she wanted to keep sniffing his coat but knew that would be highly inappropriate. What was wrong with her? Ian wasn’t even the man she was coming to see, but at that moment she wondered what Ryan would be like. Would he be as attractive as his brother? Would he be as courteous?
"So, Miss Montgomery, I hope your journey wasn't too bad,” Ian asked his laughing green eyes seemed to stare through her. “Traveling such a long way can be tiring. I hope you didn't have that difficult a journey."
Anna felt heat hit her cheeks. This was probably the longest conversation she had had with a man in a long time. "It wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be,” she managed. “It was a bit tiring but not overly so and I met some nice people on the way. Thank you for asking."
Ian’s lips crinkled into a smile. "Is there anything so far that you find to be really different than from back home?"
"Yes, the snow. There is so much of it everywhere. We used to have snow sometimes back home, but I have never seen so much in one place before. I guess I am ill-prepared for the weather here." She shrugged her shoulders in apology.
"Oh, well you don't have to worry about a thing. We can arrange anything you need; clothes, boots, coats, and gloves. In fact absolutely anything. All you have to do is ask for it," he replied.
Anna noticed he seemed to be staring at her. In fact, he had been looking at her a lot since they had started to talk. There was a shine in his eyes and it was making her stomach swarm with butterflies. Yet as the horses trotted along and the carriage rocked from side to side she was beginning to feel more comfortable around him. "What is it that your brother does,” she asked. “It was mentioned that he had a lodge and there was something about tenants, but I didn't quite understand."
"Oh, my brother and I run a lodge together.
People traveling, who need a place to stay come stay at our lodge. We have one of the best reputations for service and most luxurious accommodations within these parts and lots of rich folk come to get away for a while and escape the hot weather. Then there are business men and cattle traders in the summer. We also keep cattle and sheep and trade in the wool business."
Anna was impressed by their business, but she couldn't help but notice that he hadn't mentioned his parents. She remembered reading that he didn't have parents and only one sibling. She was just about to ask him about his parents when the carriage came to a stop and Ian got off. Extending a hand, he said, “Welcome to your new home, Miss Montgomery."
Chapter 5
Anna could not move when she saw the lodge. She had pictured something rustic and like an inn. With her mouth open she tried to comprehend the magnificent building before her. It was massive. Surrounded by a lake of snow it looked more like a small mansion or castle, rather than a lodge.
“The staff’s quarters are round back,” Ian said, as he led her around the side, he pointed out a building that was the size of her old house.
Ian was watching her reaction and she looked so comical that he burst into laughter. Blushing with embarrassment, Anna quickly closed her mouth and began to move towards the entrance of the lodge. Ian asked one of the servants to bring the luggage inside and went ahead with her.
He opened the door with a flourish. "We have around forty rooms for guests. The west wing on the second floor is for family only and no one is allowed in there but us. One of the rooms we have for our family guests had been set up for you. Linda here will take you to your room so you can freshen up and rest for a bit. I'll send someone for you once dinner is served and my brother is home."
Linda was a black girl, in her teens. She stepped forward and smiling, led Anna up the flight of stairs to her room. She was a chatty girl and soon she was rattling off about the cook, the maids, the stable boys, the guests and the masters that ran it all.
Anna listened with deep interest, especially when Ryan and Ian were mentioned. Linda gushed over them and said that they were great masters who treated their staff well and were fair and just. Ian seemed to be the one Linda was more excited to talk about and though he was twenty-four, it hadn't stopped the girl from developing a crush on him.
Anna smiled at the enthusiasm of the girl, as she chattered about and unpacked her stuff, putting things where they ought to be and helping Anna with her preparations and getting over the journey.
Soon, it was time for dinner and Ian personally came up to her room to tell her that Ryan had arrived and wanted to meet her. Feeling nervous about meeting the man she was destined to marry, Anna went downstairs with Ian.
She entered a room deep within the house. A table of ten was set up, but only one man sat at the head of the table. Upon hearing the door open, he stood up, a smile already in place. Anna limped in and couldn't help but notice that the man in front of her looked an awful lot like Ian. He had the same jaw structure, same eyes but straight brown hair instead of wavy.
Blushing she limped into the room and walked over towards him and curtsied. She looked up to notice that the smile had been replaced by a frown and he looked like he had just swallowed something sour.
"You must be Miss Montgomery,” he said his voice dripping disdain.” I'm Ryan, but you must've already guessed that much. Please sit so we can eat."
Embarrassed by the sudden change in his demeanor and humiliated by being shunned so abruptly, she dropped down into the nearest seat. She knew she should say something, but her deepest fears had come true. After all her waiting after the long journey, she had arrived to the same prejudice that she had faced back home. She wanted to curl up into a little ball and hide, but instead something cracked inside her. She had nothing to be ashamed off. She was a good Christian girl and she deserved to be loved. Straightening her spine she looked up.
Ian was watching and he scowled at his brother, but Ryan just rolled his eyes and sat back down. This was going to be hard, but she had survived worse and she would survive this. Mrs. Hawkins had made it abundantly clear that if things didn’t work out she would be provided with the train fare home. A lump formed in her throat, could she do that? Could she return home in shame? Swallowing she knew that if necessary she could. The people who loved her most were there and they would not judge her.
A servant came in and served them their food and then retreated to a corner.
As they began to eat, Ryan turned to her. There was malice in his eyes. "So Miss Montgomery, what brought you to this side of the country?"
Anna ignored the look he gave her and stared into his eyes. She was a lady and he would treat her with respect. "I applied at an agency for marriage. You were a potential and I chose to come meet you,” she said feeling uncomfortable saying all this out loud. It was embarrassing and she couldn't comprehend why he would bring it up when he knew her answer. Straightening her shoulders she looked directly into his eyes. “Perhaps I chose poorly."
The shocked look that crossed his face brought a smile to hers.
"Yes, it was something my brother insisted I do. In fact,” Ryan said. “I think he filled out the forms for me too, didn't you brother?"
Ian looked embarrassed at being called out, but he nodded and went back to his plate.
"Anyway, I did read your form and it was I who chose to meet you too but I don't remember reading about your limp anywhere in there. Why do you think that is?" He had a tight smile on his lips as if he was only being friendly, but his tone sounded more accusatory than anything to Anna.
Anna felt the color crawl up her cheeks and she wished that she could remain cool. "I made it abundantly clear on my form that I had a disability. The last thing I wanted was to come this far and meet the prejudice I found back home. I'm guessing, Mrs. Hawkins, the agent lady erased it from my form."
"And why'd you think she'd do that?" Ryan asked, looking at her. He seemed more curious than anything. At least the disgusted look had gone from his face.
Anna had left her shyness as she got angrier with his questions. So, he didn't know she had a limp. That still didn't give him the right to question her like she was some criminal or mastermind liar or something.
"I guess she felt sorry for me,” She replied in a curt voice. “Maybe she thought you were a decent man that you would not be prejudiced against me and that it did not matter. Or maybe she thought I'd have a better chance of meeting someone if they didn't know about my disability. I had a hard time catching anyone's eye back home. And it seems like her plan didn't work either. Perhaps I should board the first train home."
Chapter 6
There was silence at first as both brothers jaws dropped as they listened to her outburst. Anna wanted to just melt into the furniture and not exist. She never lost her temper, nor had she ever been so brazen and bold in her life. If she was honest, this was the first time she had stood up for herself.
After a few seconds of silence and gaping, both brothers broke into grins. Ian actually laughed.
"Well said, Miss Anna. You certainly put my brother in his place," Ian said.
Eyes twinkling, Ryan replied, "That she has little brother that she has." Turning back towards Anna, his face relaxed. "I'm sorry for how I reacted. I don't like to be lied to or to be played games with and so I assumed... I shouldn't have and for my previous behavior, I apologize. Please do not be hasty and leave us before you have gotten to know us properly." His eyes seemed much gentler and he was smiling at her.
Anna felt more heat flooding her cheeks. The brothers were most attractive when they were charming and she really shouldn’t have lost her temper. "I apologize for my behavior," she said quietly. “I will stay and perhaps we can start anew?”
The two men nodded and returned to their food. Anna pushed the lamb stew around her plate. Her appetite seemed to have left her and now she was merely playing with the food.
"What, if you don't mind me asking, happened
to your leg?" Ryan said, in as gentle a tone as he could.
Ian reproached his brother, but Anna looked at Ian with a smile and a look that said it was all right. She knew this would come up and didn’t mind talking about it. "I was in an accident when I was a child. I was learning to ride and the horse reared up and ran away with me. It came to a big fence and stopped abruptly. I fell and the horse turned and in its panic, stomped on my leg before running off. My leg was badly broken. The Doc did what he could and said it may heal. Luckily it did and now all I have to show for it is a limp, which is way better than a crutch, a wheelchair or death."
Ian looked devastated by her story and Ryan himself looked a bit sick. He apologized once again for his behavior and they went back to their dinner. After a few minutes of eating in silence, Ian spoke up. "Miss Montgomery, if you'd like I could show you around the Lodge. You could meet the guests and see how we run things here. If you are tired though, you should rest and I'll show you around the day after or whenever you'd like." He seemed to be mumbling towards the end and a blush had crept up his neck. His brother looked at him with interest.
Anna looked at Ian thankfully and replied, "That would be most enjoyable. Maybe tomorrow thank you. And please if there is anything at all I can do to help around here, please tell me. I want to pull my weight here and not be a burden on you."
"Oh, I'm sure we could find something for you to do," Ian replied cheekily. "But please, don't feel like you have to do anything. You are not a burden at all and we'd like you to stay as long as you want, don't we brother," he said, turning to his brother.
Ryan smiled at Anna and said in a sugary voice, "Yes if you do want to stay, we'd like that very much." Anna blushed at both the brothers' comments and thanked them for their generosity.