by Rye Hart
We held each other through the storm, ignoring the violent rattling as the door tried to shake off its hinges. I kept myself busy by wrapping his leg and trying to keep his mind off the pain with loving words and kisses.
Soon enough the storm passed and we made our way up the stairs, moving slowly but surely until we could push the doors open. The sun poured in and I actually had to turn away for a moment. I was surprised that it would be so brought after such a terrible storm.
The yard was torn up and cows were scattered around our plot of land, though they all seemed to be intact, munching on grass as if nothing had happened. Rick offered me a small smile and put his hands on his hips.
“I guess we better get busy getting our farm back together huh?”
“Are you in a hurry?” I teased softly.
“Of course I am. We’re going to need money for the wedding.”
Chapter Ten
Love was one thing, but a wedding was an entirely different beast. I hadn’t expected things to move so fast, but I wasn’t upset in the least about it. My life was finally coming together in a way I never imagined it could. I was in love and I was free.
The tornado that tore through our community left a wake of destruction, but it wasn’t anything we couldn’t bounce back from. The people of Boulder, Colorado were resilient and soon enough they’d picked their lives up and got back into the swing of things. It sounded crazy to say, but the tornado was one of the best days of my life. It was the day I really started living.
Rick’s leg was hurt pretty badly, but the doctor assured us that it would heal up just fine in time. I’d tried convincing Rick to wait until his leg was fully healed before we got married, but he would hear none of it.
“Springtime is the prettiest time of year here,” he said. “And I want to marry the prettiest girl in the world during the prettiest season.”
There was no way I was going to change his mind, so a few weeks after the tornado, we were married. It was a simple ceremony, though everyone in the small town showed up. Even Claire came, looking as angry and bitter as always. Part of me was glad she was there I wanted her to see that I’d won whatever game she thought we were playing. I had the grand prize.
My life was perfect. I was in love and I was living in the western wilderness, making my own path, and so far it was beautiful. We stayed in our house, cultivating the land and raising our livestock. We were an unstoppable team that would soon get bigger.
Soon after we were married I became pregnant and our world would change forever. Rick was the most nervous papa I’d ever seen in my life. He fretted over my every step and urged me not to work. If he had it his way, I probably would have been laid up in bed my entire pregnancy while he spoon fed me.
I couldn’t blame his fears, though. These were dangerous times for babies and mamas alike, though I had few worries. I was strong and I knew our baby would be strong. We’d survived so much and I wasn’t about to let this take me out.
Grace was born just as spring rolled around again. She had hazel eyes and a head of thick, fiery waves. The day she was born, I told Rick that we’d have to keep an eye on her. She was going to be a tenacious girl, just like her mama. I wasn’t wrong either.
I smiled and leaned against one of the posts that held our porch up. The same porch that me and Rick shared our first kiss under. There had been many more kisses and I was sure there would be many more to come. Rick and Grace were running through the tall grass, Grace’s bare feet kicking up dust as she squealed and hid behind a tree.
Grace was four now and she was challenging our little town every day. She was an outspoken girl but we never punished her for it. I wanted her to be loud and demanding. I wanted her to be a strong woman. I’d grown into one, but I wanted her to be strong from the start.
We never told her to be quiet and we never told her she couldn’t play with the boys. Many of the people in town questioned our parenting, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. My daughter wasn’t going to be a frail woman who fainted at the sight of blood, or who was too proper to care for the pigs. She was going to be the type of woman who cared for herself.
Grace squealed as her papa scooped her into his arms and kissed her face over and over again. I watched them with a small smile on my face and I sighed happily. I’d always questioned my future when I was younger, but I knew this was my destiny, and I couldn’t have been happier about it.
This was my happily ever after.
The End
Eden
Chapter One
Springtime had finally come to upstate New York. The maple trees were showing signs of life, and the crocus were popping out all around the flower beds. The gentle warm breeze carried the promise. The sun was beginning to rise as the sound of Mr. Duggan’s wagon was making its way up the street. Every Monday and Thursday, Mr. Duggan’s wagon would come up the street and deliver milk to the homes in the area. Mr. Duggan was a nice man, a widower for the past ten years. His wife Polly died tragically during the birth of their youngest son Michael. Luke and James were only boys themselves when she passed on, leaving Matthew Duggan the job of not only running his dairy farm, but of raising his sons. Every woman in town from twenty to forty had their eye on him, but Matthew only had eyes for my sister Rose.
Sarah Rose O’Bannon was the oldest daughter of the O’Bannon children. She was a red-haired beauty with emerald eyes that spoke to her Celtic heritage. Rose was nearing her twenty-first birthday and papa liked the idea of her settling down soon. Papa equally liked the idea that Matthew Duggan would likely ask for her hand in marriage. There was no question that Matthew was taken by Rose, as every time he saw her his face lit up like a candle. Unfortunately, Rose didn’t feel the same way.
Rose was fond enough of Matthew, but she did not look on him romantically. Rose wanted adventure and excitement, not the safe and stable life Matthew would offer. She wanted to travel the world and see all of the beauty the lands had to offer. One day she might like to settle down with a man of her own choosing, not one her father had picked out; certainly not one already saddled with three children. But our papa still held onto his old-fashioned ideas that he should be the one to say who was worthy of his daughters’ hands. Suddenly there was a light tapping at my door and I heard Rose’s voice.
“Eden, Eden are you up?”
I walked over to the door and opened it as Rose rushed in and plopped down on my bed. I took the chair across from her and raised my eyebrows.
“What is so important that you had to see me before breakfast?” I asked.
“Eden, do you know what the tenth of next month is?”
“Of course, it’s your birthday. If you’re hinting at a gift Rose, I told you I’m not telling you what I’m getting you.”
“Eden you don’t understand, papa is going to make me get engaged to Matthew. Oh Eden, I can’t go through with it. I don’t want to be forced into marrying an old man. I wasn’t meant for a dairy farm. This is not how I want to spend the rest of my life Eden,” she whined.
“Well don’t you think you should tell papa?” I asked. “Maybe you can change his mind.”
In truth, we both knew nothing would change papa’s mind, not even mama. I felt sorry for Rose, and for myself, as I knew that in two years’ time, I would face the same dilemma. Rose looked up at me, a strange smile on her face.
“I might have a better idea,” she said, grinning.
She pulled an envelope from her pocket, took out a letter and handed it to me.
“I’ve been writing to this gentleman in Colorado for the past six months now and he has sent me this letter. He has asked me to come out there and marry him.”
I looked at the letter than back to Rose, astonished.
“Marry you? Rose how? You know nothing of this man! Rose, what are you thinking?” I asked her.
“Just read the letter Eden.”
I looked down at the letter and began to read.
My Dearest Sarah, I am sad to know tha
t I will not be there to celebrate your birthday next month but I hope that you will soon be with me here in Colorado. I long to be with you and pray that soon you and I can be together. I anxiously wait for your response and joyfully make plans for your arrival. We shall be married soon after you arrive here. With love Jason.
I looked at her, my eyes wide. “Rose,” I began. “How exactly did you come to write to this man? Who exactly is he? What does he do for a living? And how on Earth do you expect to get to Colorado without papa stopping you?” “One question at a time Eden. His name is Jason Saunders and he lives in Colorado Springs. He was a miner but now works for the railroad charting out the route of the trains that pass through the towns in Colorado. I saw his advertisement in this paper, and that’s how I began to write to him,” she said, pulling a paper out of her pocket. The paper was called Mrs. Stallman’s Mail Order Brides and the advertisements were lists of men who placed articles about wanting a wife and an address where to write.
I look at Rose. “Rose you can’t be serious! How do you know he is telling you the truth?” I asked. “Yes I am serious Eden. His first letter told me all about himself. He’s twenty-eight years old. He was born in Wyoming and he went to Colorado where he worked in the silver mine until he decided that he would offer his expertise to the railroad since they needed someone who knew the mountains like he does. And I can’t tell you how, but I just know he is telling me the truth.”
“Have you seen a photograph of this man? I mean to prove he’s not an eighty-five year old man looking for a young wife?”
“Eden you are worse than papa,” Rose huffed.
She took out a small photograph of a handsome young man from her pocket. Still, I had my doubts.
“How do you plan on getting there?” I asked her.
“Well I plan to leave on the last train out the night that mama and papa have planned my birthday party,” she made it sound so simple.
I looked at her in disbelief. “You have truly lost your mind Rose. There is no way you can get out of this house with the party mama and papa have planned for you.”
“Oh but that’s where you come in Eden,” she winked conspiratorially.
“Oh no, you’re not getting me into this Rose,” I told her firmly.
“Oh Eden you have no idea what it’s like to have a man closer to my age who wants to marry me. Not an old man like Matthew who only wants me to be a mother to his children and help out on the farm. I wasn’t meant to be a farmer’s wife Eden. I was meant for something better than this life and I’m going to have it,” she said.
“But Rose what about papa? Don’t you realize how badly your plan with hurt him?”
Rose smiled and shrugged as if she didn’t care. She saw this as a way out of New York, and I realized the only thing for me to do was to help her.
“What do you want me to do Rose?” I sighed.
“Mama and papa have planned quite an event. There will be so much commotion here that no one will notice that I’ve slipped out until it’s too late,” she started.
From the bottom of the stairs we heard mama’s voice calling up. “Rose! Eden! Come on girls it’s time to get up.”
I opened the door and called down to her, “Be right down mama.”
I looked at Rose. “We’d better get downstairs but we will talk about this again later.”
As I headed out the door Rose grabbed my arm, “Not a word of this to anyone.”
I pulled my arm from her grasp. “Who do you think I’m going to tell?”
Chapter Two
Downstairs in the kitchen, Matthew Duggan was having a cup of coffee with papa. As Rose came into the room he stood and Rose briefly acknowledged him.
“Please sit Mr. Duggan, you don’t have to stand up whenever I walk into the room,” Rose said, with a hint of irritation.
Papa looked at her. “Sarah Rose that’s a sign of respect. You don’t see too many of the young men here do that these days.”
“Oh papa you’re so old fashioned,” Rose said, rolling her eyes.
Papa gave her a look that said he’d deal with her later. For now, he turned his attention back to Matthew who was placing his hat back on his head. “Leaving so soon Matthew?” papa asked.
“I’m afraid so Liam, I have to get these deliveries done. I’ve had a long enough break, but as always it is a pleasure.”
He looked at mama. “Mary, thank you so much for the fresh bread. The boys practically fight over it.”
“Don’t mention it Matthew, I’m happy to make extra for you and the boys,” mama said with a smile.
Matthew then turned his attention to Rose and me. “It’s been a pleasure Miss Eden, Miss Rose.”
I nodded and saw Rose did the same as papa followed him out the door. With papa out of the room mama looked at Rose.
“Rose, you really shouldn’t have said what you did. Your father is doing what he feels is best for you. He wants to see you have a secure future.”
Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut much longer and not wanting to shout at her mother, Rose simply nodded and left the room.
Nothing more was spoken about the morning’s events and Rose went off to her job at Miss Lillian’s dress shop. Though Rose was no seamstress, she did have the ability to sew the fine bead work on the gowns that we in fashion this season. Miss Lillian’s gowns were worn by the elite in society and Rose took pride in seeing them parade through town in her beadwork. I worked as a secretary on the other side of town for the law firm of Curtis and Baldwin. .
As I was heading out the door Mama stopped me. “Eden, do you think you could ask Mr. Curtis to stop by after work tonight? Your father wants him to look over some papers.”
“If he likes I can take them to work with me and have him look at them there?” I offered.
“No, your father wants to meet with him here.”
“Yes, mama,” I said, getting the distinct feeling that this request had something to do with Mr. Duggan’s approaching proposal.
On the home from work that afternoon, I passed a newspaper stand that held copies of Mrs. Stillman’s Mail Order Brides. One of the pages of advertisements was flipped open and I stopped to take a look, my curiosity piqued. As I leaned over to scan the page, I felt as if I was being watched. I quickly stood and smoothed my skirts as I caught the eye of Natalie Ferncliff, the town gossip.
Lord knows what she would say after seeing me read the ads. I had to think of something and fast. I turned and smiled at her.
“Afternoon Miss Ferncliff. Can you believe what they have now? Mail order brides! I tell you it’s like buying cattle at auction! Where is the romance and courtship?” I rambled, knowing that I was laying it on pretty thick.
I shook my head and walked away before Natalie Ferncliff could answer. I spent the rest of the walk home trying to see things from Rose’s perspective. Matthew Duggan was a nice man, but he was old, by our standards. He was forty, but his work and the strain of raising three boys without a wife made him look years older. His blonde hair had turned all white and around the edges of his blue eyes, you could catch a glimpse of what made him attractive twenty years ago. Now he just looked old and tired. Maybe Rose was right. There was a big world out there with much to be seen and done. As I was contemplating Rose’s plan, I came upon the house, noting that Mr. Curtis’ carriage was already parked out front. I slipped in the back door so as not to interrupt the meeting. Mama spotted me as she was bringing coffee from the kitchen.
“Eden, I’m so glad you are here. Mr. Curtis needs you to witness a document.”
I followed her into the dining room and smiled when I saw Mr. Curtis.
“Ah, there you are Eden. We need you to witness this document if you don’t mind.”
I walked over to the table and looked at the paper. Papa put his hand over the printing as he signed the bottom then handed the pen to me. I looked at Mr. Curtis.
“Don’t I have to read what I am a witness to?” I asked innocen
tly.
Mr. Curtis smiled. “Someone has been paying attention,” he said with pride. “Yes of course. Liam, let Eden read the document she is signing her name to.”
Papa lifted his hand and I looked at the document; it was a marriage contract for Rose to marry Matthew. I looked at Mr. Curtis than at papa.
“Papa I can’t sign this. I mean I will not sign this,” I said shakily.
He looked at me with shock that turned quickly to anger. “Eden Ciara O’Bannon, you dare to disobey me?”
I looked at him and for the first time in my life I stood up to papa. “I’m sorry papa, I just can’t do this. I can’t sign something like that. It’s not what Rose wants.’’
I ran up the stairs and to my room and closed the door. I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t condemn Rose to a life with a man she didn’t love. There was a tap on the door and I heard mama’s voice.
“Eden? Eden? Are you alright?”
I slowly made my way to the door and opened it. Mama could see I was crying as she put her arm around and walked back into the room.
“Why don’t we just sit down and talk about this?” she suggested.
“Mama there’s nothing to talk about. I will not sign that paper,” I said, defying my parents for the second time today.
“But why? It’s for your sister’s happiness, for her future.”
I looked at my mama. I couldn’t understand how she could agree to something like this.
“Mama, don’t you understand Rose wants a different future? She wants a young man that she chooses to enjoy life with, she wants the romance, the shared interests. Can’t you understand?”
Mama looked at me and offered a small smile. “I do understand Eden. I know all those feelings and longings; I had them once myself. I was much like Rose at that age. I was in love with a handsome young man-“ she stopped when she saw the shock on my face.
“But what happened? Why didn’t you marry him?” I finally found my voice to ask.