Bethany patted her friend’s shoulder with a reassuring hand and offered comforting words. “You will get over this, Addie. I know something beautiful will happen to you in the near future. I prayed for you this morning and I am sure my prayers will be heard. Don’t forget what we learnt about the trials of Job.”
Adeline’s gaze wandered to the chipped mantelpiece littered with tattered books. The bible—the only pristine book in the entire lot—stood like a pillar in the flickering shadows.
Only that morning, she read that precise passage on Job before the doctor’s visit, and still the outcome caught her off guard. “I know what you mean. Maybe I will be blessed in the end but it is so hard to deal with this right now. I have felt ill for three months and I hoped that Robert had left me a part of himself. But now—”
When she dissolved into another bout of weeping, Bethany ran to the modest kitchen to brew a cup of strong tea. She had to help her friend and the sooner, the better.
Chapter 3
Bethany met with Ruth, a dear friend from Ireland. Ruth’s speckled gray hair, weathered face and ancient eyes proclaimed a woman who had seen it all and lived to tell the tale.
Huddled together on a dilapidated front porch, they discussed Adeline’s future. The children on the street greeted them with cheerful chatter and Bethany relaxed tense shoulders. The worry on Adeline’s pale face and tearful eyes could not be dismissed easily, but for the moment, she enjoyed the children’s antics in the fading sun.
Ruth didn’t think the Lower East Side of New York was a good place for Adeline to recover. “She is not used to living like this. Things have been getting worse every month on this street, especially a few row houses down. I don’t know how many more people can fit in this neighborhood before we’re overrun like a shanty town.”
Bethany agreed. More immigrants arrived from Europe and Asia in a never-ending flow. Once open and elegant spaces now lay abandoned by the upper echelons of society. And each day, throngs of people flowed in waves to the shores of freedom, only to find their dreams churned into nightmares.
“Can’t she live in her husband’s house?”
Bethany shook her head and filled in the missing details. “Her husband had a mortgage with the bank. When he died, whatever funds she had dried up in lost payments. Then the bank took the house and left her on the street. She came to me for help and I couldn’t turn her away.”
A bird chirped overhead and flittered from limb to limb with a sweet song trailing in the air. Ruth sighed and her soft gaze lingered on the bright feathers. “If only we could find freedom like this lovely bird; now that would be something. So, she’s alone; where are her parents?”
Bethany grimaced. “They died when she was very young. Fever. They left nothing behind.”
Ruth shifted uneasily and smiled without mirth. “Lord have mercy. I certainly hope the future is full of brighter lights for this poor child.”
Bethany agreed with hopeful eyes. “I am praying desperately for her but do you have any ideas—maybe a job somewhere to keep her busy? She loves children and she loves to read. Perhaps a teaching job? That would be perfect.”
Ruth pondered over her words with narrowed eyes. Then she gasped and clapped her hands. With a sudden twinkle, she exclaimed, “I think I have the answer to your problem!”
Bethany nearly fell off the chair in anticipation. If Ruth thought of something, it was good enough for her. “Oh, please tell me what it is.”
The older woman took a deep breath, mentally scratching her head to get the details right. “Last night, our bible group had a new visitor by the name of Sally Henderson. And she’s from Wyoming of all places—some place called Cheyenne. She is here for a short time to get some goods to take back home—they have a mercantile back there—and she told me those frontier men are eager to find brides from the East Coast. She even asked if anyone in the group was interested in becoming one of their mail order brides. I think this is the perfect solution to Adeline’s dilemma.”
Bethany blinked in surprise mulling over the details. A mail order bride? Such a thought never crossed her mind. “What about highwaymen or Indian cross-country raids? I can’t send Adeline into danger and we don’t know anything about these men.”
Ruth jumped to her feet with youthful vigor, her thoughts a mile ahead. “Come on. Stop finding excuses. We will talk to our visitor and get the details. She may even know someone personally who is looking for a wife and can give references. Come quickly!”
Ruth scurried away with happy chatter leaving Bethany with a dumbfounded look.
Was this the answer to her prayers?
Chapter 4
“Adeline, Adeline, I have news! Come quickly, please.”
Bethany’s muffled cry spurred Adeline to her feet with an anxious gaze. Had something happened? Dear God, I just cannot bear any more bad news.
She wrapped a scarf around her shoulders to temper the evening coolness and rushed from the bedroom. Her feet barely made a sound as she skimmed the floor with her heart in her mouth.
She found Bethany with a curious smile on her face and a white envelope in hand. She ushered her over to a chair and declared on a hopeful note, “Adeline, I know things are hard for you now, but I believe my prayers have been answered. This—” the white envelope waved under Adeline’s upturned nose, “—is a letter from a man with problem, and I think you are the just woman who can provide the solution.”
Unsure of what Bethany was getting at, Adeline struggled to understand. “What are you talking about?”
“Marriage, Addie. Marriage,” Bethany’s cheerful cry echoed in the shadows.
Adeline rose to her feet, wondering if she had fallen asleep; when she pinched herself, the resulting sting indicated otherwise. “Marriage to whom?”
Bethany ripped out a sheet of crumpled paper and scanned the contents with bated breath. “He’s a widower by the name Alexander Raymond, and he lost his wife to fever two years ago. He is longing for another companion to help him set up a library in Cheyenne, Wyoming. All he asks for is a patient, loving and kind woman for a lonely, hardworking bachelor. What’s better than that?”
When the truth of the offer hit her, Adeline staggered backwards. “Bethany, I cannot travel to heaven only knows where to marry a man I don’t even know. He could be a ruffian, villain or worse.”
Bethany shook her head vigorously and stressed the issue, “No, Addie. He is well known. The woman at my friend’s bible group, Sally Henderson, says she knows this widower personally and that he is a good man. Of course, he keeps to himself and the townspeople think he’s a bit odd, but that’s only because he loves the outdoors and he loves to paint. He’s perfect for you.”
Adeline rejected the thought immediately, shocked at the insensitive offer. “No, he is not perfect. My Robert was perfect and now he’s dead, do you hear me? Dead—just like my hope for having a child.”
With a curled fist stuck in her mouth to stem the howl that threatened to rip her apart, Adeline rushed back to her bedroom in a wail of tears.
Robert, your promise will never come true.
Chapter 5
A discreet knock an hour later found Adeline devouring the pages of the Psalms to find some degree of comfort. When she called out, Bethany entered with a contrite gaze. Before Adeline could apologize for her dramatic reaction, Bethany rushed to speak.
“Addie, I am so sorry for my impromptu offer. I want you to know how much I care for you; you are like the sister I never had and it hurts me to see you in pain. I just ask that you please give some thought to the offer; you could start a fresh, new life. Think of open plains, towering mountains, bright white clouds and starry nights. This widow sounds like a nice man, and I forgot to mention he asks for marriage in name only, so you will not have to let your Robert go. Help him and you just might end up helping yourself as well.”
Adeline’s thoughts scrambled to assimilate the new details of the marriage offer. In name only? No other involved
emotion on her part? Then maybe—just maybe—it might work. “Are you sure it’s in name only?”
Bethany crossed her heart with a solemn nod. “Sally swore he will keep his word. She met with him herself and it seems her husband grew up with him, too. I believe he’s a frequent guest at their house.”
At Adeline’s doubtful look, Bethany begged, “Just try it out for a short time and if it doesn’t work out, you can always come back here. It is not the best of places, but the door will always be open.”
Adeline took a steady breath and calmed her senses. A change of scenery might be just what she needed. “I am so sorry for my outburst. I didn’t mean to lose my head. It’s just that I—”
Bethany hugged her in a firm embrace and brushed aside her apology with ease, “No need to explain between friends. Just don’t go being angry with me—please?”
With heartfelt laughter and some sense of relief, Adeline agreed.
Chapter 6
Two months later—after all the arrangements had been made and letters exchanged—Adeline completed the long journey and arrived in Sweetwater County.
The station—a rustic sandstone building with sod roof— was only one of many on the east to west trail, where horses changed and riders could rest before the journey continued.
The dark interior seemed rather foreign and inhospitable, so Adeline decided to stay outside. She watched her fellow passengers hurry along and wished Bethany had accompanied her. Anxious eyes skimmed the dusty distance in search of her ride, but no one called her name.
She struggled to hold on to her traveling bag with numb fingers and prayed someone would come soon. One week of unrelenting travel by train and stage over rugged terrain, spacious plains and sweeping hills had left its mark. A bed and a cup of tea would be ideal.
When all passengers departed after furtive glances in her direction, Adeline collapsed on a sturdy bench, tears pricking at her eyelids. Where could her future groom be?
“Adeline, Adeline!”
The cry of an urgent female voice offered immeasurable relief and Adeline jumped to her feet. Ignoring the ache that coursed through every pore of her body, her wide gaze clung to the figure in pink muslin rushing towards her.
Sally hugged her with a warm embrace and plucked the bag from her hands with surprising strength. “I am so sorry I’m late. I told my husband the coach would come early today but he didn’t believe me. This line is notorious for being late, but it happened to be on time today. Are you ready?”
Ready for what, exactly? Adeline thought.
Her blue skirt had long rumpled and the bright yellow top withered in the dusty heat. Even the bright bows around the neckline fell in limp bundles, much to her dismay. “Yes, I think so. I only came with one bag. I was hoping to get what I needed out here.”
The words reflected some doubt at the possibility, but Sally grinned. With bright cheeks and wide, green eyes she measured Adeline’s bedraggled appearance and nodded. “Of course you can. This little station doesn’t look like much, but wait ‘til we get to town. Please don’t worry about anything; I am here to help you every step of the way. Now I know you are tired, but let’s meet your groom and get you both acquainted. Then, tomorrow, we can make further arrangements. Come along now; the buggy is waiting.”
Chapter 7
The sparsely populated town with countless makeshift saloons left Adeline with a sense of unease. She couldn’t help but notice the rambunctious throngs of cowboys eager to enter such questionable establishments and the giggles of the female crowd joining them.
Sally overheard her horrified gasp and rushed to explain. “I must admit this is somewhat of an outlaw town, which is why a library is a great idea. We need to get people involved in more than just drinking, and believe me when I say there is a lot of it going on around here. Did you know we have more than twenty saloons in this town? Probably another one built by now. Not to worry, though; some of the most prominent members are getting together to shake things up.”
Adeline couldn’t believe it. What had she gotten herself into? Blocking out the scene, she focused on her destination.
Sally lived in a rustic, two floor house with large, square windows and a sign that read: Henderson’s Mercantile.
She hurried Adeline through the main floor and steered her to a cozy living room decorated in white and gingham blues with cheerful lamps. “I will get you something sweet to drink. It will revive you for a moment and then you can rest. You will stay with me until the wedding, but Alexander wants to meet you this evening. Be right back.”
Alexander Raymond. Adeline had almost forgotten his name. Her future groom—in name only.
When solid feet ambled along the hallway, she rose with a discreet smile, prepared for the best. But the man that appeared engendered a wealth of emotions she did not expect.
Over six feet of a well-gifted body stepped into the light with tousled, dark waves falling over a broad forehead. Slate eyes with amber striations surveyed her with a curious nature, and his sculpted lips tilted in a semblance of a smile. Adeline noted the smile did not reach his fascinating eyes.
His manly physique reminded her of the Greek heroes and warriors she had read about and she stepped back in surprise. Like a wilted flower in the wake of a resplendent specimen, she said the first thing that popped into her head, “What color are your eyes, sir?”
His perfectly arched brows rose and he replied, “Sir? You are not planning to call me that, right?”
His words poured out like warm honey with a husky tone she found immensely distracting. Caught off guard, she smoothed her hair over her right shoulder, unaware of a nervous tick near her right eye. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. My name is Adeline Brandt, widow of Robert Brandt.”
He nodded as though aware of the situation. “Yes, of course. Sally filled me in on your story to some extent. Adeline—Mrs. Brandt—I am an artist with the innate desire to make a library for the good of the town. I sorely need help to gather my books and maybe sometimes, we can talk under the stars when I get lonely. My homestead is about a mile away from the town, but it is next to the mountains with a nice stream running through the back land. I trust you will share this journey with me.”
His no-nonsense business-like attitude and declared statements hit Adeline sideways. Now she understood why he wanted a marriage in name only; he could be talking about cow patties or horse fodder for want of better words.
With an inaudible sigh and somewhat resigned, she stepped forward and extended her hand. When he engulfed it in his warm, calloused palm, she froze at the blossom of awareness that raced through her.
She jerked her hand back as though stung and put it behind her rumpled skirt. Her actions gave the wrong impression and he frowned. His eyes cooled and his lips curled in a hint of irritation. “There is no need to fear my touch, Mrs. Brandt. This is a business arrangement and it was only a handshake.”
Only a handshake.
Struck dumb at the sensation igniting her senses, Adeline nodded and sat down in a rush. A crimson tide rose from the tips of her toes and flooded over pale cheeks much to her chagrin. At a loss to understand the ragged emotions, her gaze clung to the floor. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear Sally’s cheerful chatter with a customer and their hearty reply.
Alexander observed her pitiful mute state and continued, “You probably know Sally will keep you here for a few days for decorum purposes. I will get the license we need and let you know when the wedding will be. I suggest one week from today.”
One week. Dear God.
Recovering her lost voice, Adeline’s troubled eyes collided with an unyielding gaze, “But I just got here. We can wait for much longer—if you don’t mind.”
He flexed broad shoulders and rejected her plea with a firm reply. “One week, Mrs. Brandt. No more.”
Adeline’s head spun in anticipation of the event and she rejected the notion of such a rushed arrangement. He probably thought a quick solution was
best, but she couldn’t handle such a forceful man. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can—”
“Did I hear wedding plans in the air so soon? What a wonderful idea.”
Sally’s eager voice filled the room with cheer and goodwill, much to Adeline’s dismay. Trailing behind Sally was a kind faced gentleman with a shock of red hair and spotted freckles—Joshua Henderson, Sally’s husband. He beamed at them both and slapped Alexander on the back with a grin. “Wonderful news! You can get everything you need right here at the Mercantile for the wedding. I think Sally has some nice wedding gowns from one of those newfangled catalogues she loves so much.”
Sally nudged her husband with a chiding look and turned to Adeline with wide eyes. “He’s such a cowboy, but he’s right. I have some lovely dresses that would look great on you. Let’s run upstairs right now and try one on. The seamstress is just two buildings down and can fit it to your exact size. Better yet, we better call her here; we don’t want everyone to know what is happening. People here are in everyone’s business you know. Joshua—darling—can you please call her to the house? You’d better take something nice from the store to sweeten the pot.”
Adeline reeled at the speed of Sally’s arrangements. She sensed the situation slipping out of her hands and fought to regain a foothold with a shaky reply, “I didn’t actually say yes.”
Sally froze like a child caught in the cookie jar and looked to her husband for support. He turned to Alexander and both men seemed to pass some sort of secret message between them that no one else could understand. Certainly not Adeline.
Frustrated after such a long journey and spent on her feet, she decided enough was enough. “May I please be shown to a bed where I can rest for the night? I am dead weary.”
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