by Indiana Wake
With a permanent smile etched on his face, he began making plans in his head. He had some things that needed taking care of. Some business that needed attending to, but he hoped to have that completed by the end of the week. Then he would be on a train and his daughter would be, once again in front of his eyes. Then he could check out this Ian person for himself. Anna leaving like that had been a strange and devastating blow. Now all he wanted to do was see if this Ian was good enough for his little girl. Taking out a pen and paper he quickly wrote his reply. Oh, if only he could be there now?
A week later David walked into a carriage on a train heading West. Finally, he was on his way to see his daughter. A decision still hadn’t been made about his teaching position, but maybe this trip would help with that. How could he come back home and leave Anna? What did he have to come back to? His thoughts had been ranging from the euphoria that his little girl was so happy to dread at what he would find. What if this Ian was a rogue? What if he could not look after Anna?
Entering a further carriage he stowed his carpet bag beneath the seat. How things had changed in the last few months and even though he missed Anna he had to admit that this may be the best thing for her. She had longed for marriage and a family of her own, but the local men merely made fun of her limp. If not for him and her best friend, Jolene she would have been completely alone. Now she had a fiancé and a new family and he would make sure that he was happy for her.
His thoughts strayed to his long deceased wife, Elizabeth and how proud and happy she would have been if she were alive to see her daughter married. Thinking of his wife always made David feel sad but alive at the same time. She had passed away from an illness many years ago, but David still had a hard time forgetting her. Often, he would find himself daydreaming about one time or other. There was one day when they had taken a picnic down by the river; they had felt like the happiest people alive.
He was deep in memories of his wife, when a lady, with a sweet face and neat brown curls piled up high on her head, walked into the carriage. Her case caught on the door and she struggled to pull it free.
“Ma’am let me,” he said and took the case from her. Lifting it with ease despite its weight he placed it at the side of the seats before sitting back down.
“Thank you, that was most kind,” she said. Smoothing out her skirts she sat down opposite him and pulled a book from out of a smaller bag.
It looked like some form of ledger to David and he watched with fascination as she stared down at it. In a neat hand, she began to add up columns of figures and David almost laughed. In her concentration, her tongue was sticking slightly out the side of her mouth as she puzzled over whatever it was she was looking at.
For some reason, David could not help but look at the woman seated in front of him. Her curly brown hair was all piled on top of her head and she had the cutest nose he had ever seen. What was wrong with him? He moved his eyes away but they were instantly pulled back to this woman. Though around his age, maybe a little younger she had the prettiest face he had seen in a long while. Her dress was finely made and complimented her figure perfectly.
She turned around and caught him staring. She had eyes the color of honey and they silently admonished him. Feeling heat flame his cheeks, he quickly looked away and cleared his throat slightly to hide his embarrassment.
He was looking out the window, watching the houses race by and hoped the woman would leave him alone. The last thing he wanted was to talk.
"Hello, I'm Mary Hawkins,” she said with a light sweet voice that pulled his head towards her. “Since we're going to be traveling together, I think it's only fair we get acquainted."
David managed a slight smile, he supposed it was inevitable. "Hello errm Mrs. Hawkins, my name is David, and I am at your service. So, what brings you on this train and where is your husband?"
Did he see sadness, like a shadow, shroud her face in darkness?
Chapter 3
Mary managed a smile despite the pain that question caused. She had no husband and did not wish to talk about such things. Maybe she would be better saying she had, would it be safer? But then she recognized this man in front of her. She had seen him a few times at church, but it seemed that he hadn't recognized her. He was handsome for a man in his fifties, with a firm jaw, calloused hands, and piercing blue eyes. He seemed to come from a good family and had an air of sophistication about him. Turning back to the question he had just asked, she bit down the sigh that wanted to escape.
“My husband passed many years ago,” she said. "I am traveling because a friend invited me to visit her. She is getting married soon and wanted me to be part of it."
"I am so sorry to hear that, but what a coincidence. I myself am traveling to attend a wedding. My daughter's wedding to be exact," he said and smiled in reply.
That was marvelous, Mary thought. "Oh, congratulations. If you don't mind me asking, where is the mother of the bride? Has she already headed off for the wedding?" She asked, blushing slightly at her brazenness.
David’s eyes seemed to see into a distance beyond the wall he was staring at. The smile stayed on his face, but it no longer looked right. "No, she isn't already at the wedding,” he said. “You see she passed away a long time ago."
Feelings of embarrassment, guilt, and shared sorrow overwhelmed Mary. It seemed serendipitous that two people with so much in common should find themselves in the same carriage. "I'm so sorry to hear that,” she said. “You must have been really close to her."
David looked up at her, surprised by her line of thought. "What made you think of that?"
She looked at him with a knowledgeable expression. "When I asked about your wife, your eyes glazed over, your smile went away suddenly, and you are still wearing your wedding ring. This all just indicates that you must have been very close and that you still love her."
David looked impressed by her skills of observation. Raising his eyebrows and smiling at her, he nodded his assent. "Yes, I loved my wife very much and probably always will. She was a magnificent lady. But if I may say so… you too still wear a wedding band."
Mary fiddled with the gold ring on her finger. It was small and scratched, but it was perfect and beautiful in her eyes. A deep understanding seemed to pass between them and she felt a respect for him that she had not felt in a long time. To still love one's wife after so many years was a show of what true love was all about. "If you don't mind, how did she die?" Her mouth opened in shock. Why had she asked such a question?
"She was sick, but we didn't know for the longest time,” he said as he rubbed a hand through thick hair. “She always pretended that she was well and that her entire body wasn't always hurting. Later the doctors said that it was something in her brain, that it had spread throughout and there wasn't anything any of them could do. Towards the end, she was too sick to even get off the bed. I used to spend as much time with her as I could, making her laugh, reading to her, talking about the future and our dreams for our daughter. I like to believe that she was happy before she died. However, eventually the sickness got to her and she died right there in my arms." David stopped with a feeling of utter exhaustion. He had said much more than he had ever planned on saying. For some reason, this woman made him feel comfortable enough around her that he had ended up telling her all about the last days of his wife's life.
Feeling awkward, he turned away and started to look back out the window. After a few minutes of silence, Mary said with a gleam in her eyes that made her look very strong, "I'm sure she was very happy. You did the best you could and she must be looking down from heaven and glad to know that she was married to such a caring and loving man. She was very lucky, not everyone gets someone who loves them the way you seem to have loved your wife."
David turned to her and smiled thankfully at her words. They were kind words and they spoke to him on a different level, for unknowingly, she had reached a root problem of his. It was that he blamed himself for not realizing earlier that she was ill and n
ot getting her the help she needed, in time. He felt that if he had only been a better husband, taken better care of her, she would've been alive to watch their little girl get married.
Mary's words seemed to quiet down the monster inside him that was always shouting at him for not saving his wife. "Thank you for your kind words, they mean a lot to me. How, may I ask, did your husband die?"
Mary went very still, but she held the smile on her face. "I meant every word,” she said, “and I hope that you will believe in them and not blame yourself for anything. My situation was very different to yours. My husband was a soldier. All I know is that he died in battle and I received that knowledge in a simple letter."
“I am so sorry,” David said. “It seems as if we have been brought together by tragedy and now by a joyous union.”
Mary nodded and found herself mesmerized by David’s blue eyes. Although they had just met, she found herself rather comfortable in his presence and it appeared he felt the same. Maybe it was because they attended the same church. Well, when she went they did. Maybe that was why it felt as if she had known him for quite a while now.
After a few minutes, David cleared his throat and looked out the window. Mary refocused her attention on her ledger and they sat together in companionable silence. Somehow her deep sadness had gone. Perhaps the fact that someone else had gone through the same made the pain more bearable?
Chapter 4
Each day the train, hissed, and puffed and shook as it sped across the landscape. It was a tiring journey yet David found Mary’s company exhilarating. They spoke of their favorite books. He having to admit that he loved The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and had read it five times. Mary’s tastes were more wide-ranging she had just finished Moby Dick and asked if she could borrow his copy of the Hollow. Saying yes gave David a thrill. They would stay in touch and he offered to bring it to a church service or perhaps he could bring it to her at home? Mary agreed but did not offer up her address and David felt a touch of disappointment. Maybe he was being a little forward.
Then they discussed politics and business. David found Mary had a fine mind and the more he got to know her the more he liked. Often they discussed other members of the church and how they had been so close for many years yet had hardly spoken at all. Other times they shared memories of their lost loves and to David it was freeing. Never before had he been able to talk so openly about his grief. Never before had he spoken to someone who understood exactly what he had been through.
Each morning he wondered if this would be the day that Mary left him and each night as they departed the train to sleep he gave thanks that he would spend at least some of tomorrow in her company.
After a long, tiring journey he knew his station was next. What should he say? How could he ask to see her again? The more he tried the worst it became and eventually he stared out the window at the long flat plains and the distant mountains. It looked dusty, which was a disappointment. Where was the snow? Finally, they reached the station where he was to get off. At every station that the train stopped, David had found himself dreading that one would be her stop. He could've just asked her and saved himself the misery but for some reason, he was afraid to know exactly when he would have to say goodbye.
When the train finally came to a stop, he stood. “This is my stop,” he said. He found that Mary too was unloading her luggage. David leaned forward to help her, abandoning his own luggage, all but the bag in his hand. He got her luggage off then went back for his own. When he got off, he was surprised to find her still standing, waiting for him to arrive. Her bags seemed to have magically vanished and David went to ask her if everything was all right and what happened to her bags.
He approached her and saw that she was looking at him, with her head propped to the side, a look of surprise and wonder on her face. "You are David Montgomery, father of Anna Montgomery?" she said a tone of surprise in her voice.
David looked at her in puzzlement, wondering how she knew his daughter's name. "Yes, she is my daughter. Why do you ask?"
"I am the agency lady who introduced your daughter to the Gellman’s. Apparently, a carriage has been sent for the both of us," she said, gesturing at the large carriage standing a little further behind her.
David looked at the carriage and then back to her, before breaking out into a huge grin. "My my, what a small world this is."
Mary couldn't help but grin back in response. "That it is Mr. Montgomery, that it is." And they both headed off to the carriage so they could finally meet the girl they had both come to see.
David sat back in the carriage and tried to stop a grin from spreading all over his face. It was wonderful that this woman was here. Wonderful that they would be spending more time together and maybe they could even travel back together. A laugh almost escaped him. Just two weeks ago he was unsure if he would be going home. Now a pretty face and an interesting mind had him looking forward to leaving already.
To hide his grin he glanced out of the window. The town was small, with false-fronted buildings right up to the street. There was a saloon, a livery, and a mercantile. Further down he saw a small church and his face lit up with a grin. “Look, Mary,” he said. “Look there is the church.”
“It looks like the best-kept building in town,” Mary replied.
She was right. David had been expecting something nice, from Anna’s letters so where was the Gellman’s property?
They passed out into the countryside and in the distance he saw cattle. Next to the track a cowboy sat upon a sorrel, he raised his hat as the coach passed and David waved back. The excitement was building inside him along with anticipation at seeing Anna again. How would she be?
In the distance, he spotted snow on the mountains and breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe they would see some snow while he was here and maybe if that was true then the rest of her letters were too. Maybe Ian Gellman deserved his daughter.
Mary let out a sigh and David turned to her, a question in his eyes. She just shook her head slightly. "This place is more beautiful than words can describe,” she said. “Anyone who lives here must feel like the most blessed person alive."
David sat straight in his seat. "According to my daughter, it snows here more often than not and outdoors can be brutal at times,” David said. “I have to admit it worries me, leaving her here in this… this wilderness with a man I have never met. But I must admit it does look magnificent at the moment."
“Do not worry David,” Mary said. “I vetted Ryan Gellman most thoroughly.”
David’s eyes opened wide. “Yes, but just like my Anna. She chose the brother you hadn’t vetted.”
Mary just nodded her head in reply; her concentration was on something a little in the distance. David looked out the window to see what had captured her attention and was astounded to see a huge manor. It looked more like a castle than anything he had ever seen and it was fast approaching.
The carriage drew to a halt and David couldn’t move. Part of him wanted to get out and to beat the footman in helping Mary alight, but his feet just wouldn’t move. A sign by the double door entrance said in swirling writing "Welcome to the Gellman Lodge.”
Mary was helped out and David followed. They both stood there, gawking at the massive house in front of them. David couldn't help but feel happy for his daughter and intimidated at the same time.
“They told me they had a handsome business,” Mary said, “but I never imagined this…” Her hand moved across her to indicate the huge house.
David could not find his voice and was still gawking when the door opened and out rushed his little girl.
"Father,” she shrieked out loud and limping down the few steps, she launched herself into his arms.
Chuckling he hugged her back and lifted her up and spun her around before setting her back down. Red in the face and smiling from ear to ear, Anna turned to Mary. "Hello, Mrs. Hawkins,” she said with a slight curtsey. “Thank you so much for making it to my wedding. I can't tell you how much I ow
e you for bringing all this happiness into my life."
Mary smiled at Anna with fondness. "Call me Mary, dear,” she said. “I didn't do anything really. It was all you that won over your fiancé, of that I'm sure."
"Well, she's right about that, sweetheart," said a man's deep voice from behind her. David and Mary turned to see a handsome man approaching them, a genuine smile plastered on his face. Anna turned and with her eyes shining, she introduced him. "Father, Mrs. Hawkins, I mean Mary, this is my fiancé, Ian Gellman. Ian, this is my father and this is the lady who helped bring us together."
Ian stepped forward and shook hands with David, bowing to Mary. "Thank you both for giving me this beautiful angel. She has been the best thing that has happened to me and I can't express my gratitude enough to the both of you. Please do come in and don't worry about your luggage, it will be sent to your rooms directly."
David liked the handshake. It was firm but not crushing. This man didn’t think he needed to prove anything. Ian seemed nice, tall, well muscled and his hands were rough from work. Maybe his prayers had all been answered, maybe Anna had found a wonderful husband and would live her happy ever after. As Ian turned with Anna to lead them inside, David put a gentle hand in the small of Mary’s back and they all entered the lavish living quarters.
Chapter 5
They were taken on a short tour of the place, Anna gushing about it the entire time and clinging to Ian while a never ceasing smile adorned his face. David had never seen his daughter so happy. It looked like she had found such a loving place to call her own.