by Barbara Goss
Eden nodded without smiling. Good grief! How was she supposed to stand beside Catherine while she married Andrew?
“Eden, let’s you and I go inside. I’ll show you your room. Do you have a valise?” Addie asked.
Eden glanced quickly at Andrew.
“She doesn't have a valise. She’ll explain, Addie,” he said. “Thank you.”
As Addie led Eden into the house, Eden turned to get one last look at Andrew, and her heart thumped wildly when she discovered he was taking a last look at her, too.
Addie took Eden by the arm. “I want you to feel at home here, dear. You’re shaking. Are you unwell?”
“I’m fine. I’ve been through a lot lately, and I’m so thankful for your gracious hospitality. I just need a place to stay until I can make it on my own,” she said.
“You found yourself the right friend in Andrew,” Addie said with a smile. “He’s a wonderful, caring man.
“He was very kind,” she said.
Addie swung one of the many doors on the second floor open. “Here you go. This was my other son’s room, so it’s a bit masculine, I'm afraid, but it's comfortable. Would you like to rest up before dinner?”
“I would love to. Thank you.”
As Addie turned to leave, Eden added, “I want to help around the house to earn my keep.”
“If it will make you feel more at home here, I’d love for you to help out. Catherine will be leaving as soon as she and Andrew are married. I’m no spring chicken anymore and would welcome help around the house so I can work more with the cattle and ranch hands,” Addie said. “Now, you rest up, and I’ll come back for you when it’s time to eat.”
After Eden left, Andrew focused his attention to Catherine. She was a bit on the plain side, but her poise seemed to make her more attractive. Dressed in what Andrew thought was an expensive dress and with her head held high, she looked almost regal. Unlike Eden, she had brown eyes and brown hair—he’d have to stop comparing her to Eden.
“I was very disappointed that you didn’t meet me when I got off the train, Andrew, but I’m sure it was unavoidable,” Catherine said.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” he asked. “I’ll tell you all about it.”
He escorted her down the steps, and he walked her down the lane to the main road. “I went to Hunter’s Grove, a place about a hundred miles west of here, to visit my elderly mother. When I got there, she didn’t have a delicious meal ready for me as she usually did, because her stove was broken. She’d been cooking on one burner for weeks, and the oven door was hanging on its hinges. I just had to go into town and buy her a new stove. Since I’m not known in her town, I had to pay cash, but I made sure to leave myself enough for my trip back to Hays.
“That was my intention, but other necessities popped up, and I only had enough left to get me to a place called Kinsey. I wanted to wire Ross for money, but that town didn’t have a Western Union, so I had to buy an old nag of a horse and ride to Great Bend. When I finally arrived, there wasn’t a train leaving for two days, but I did wire Ross for money,” he paused to take a breath. “And here I am.”
“What about Miss Jamison? How does she come into the story?”
“Oh, Eden—we sat together on the train and she…well, that’s her story to tell, but she’d had a tragic experience, had nowhere to go, and no money. I knew Mrs. Jordan would help her. Of course, I never gave it a thought that you were already staying with her.”
“She’s a very attractive young woman,” Catherine said.
Andrew began to sweat a bit.
Catherine continued, “But I’m glad to have the female company. I’m sure we’ll get along amicably until you and I marry and move into your place.”
“Would you like to marry right away, or get to know one another a bit better first?” Andrew asked. He prayed silently she’d choose the latter.
“I’d like to be courted, so we can see how well we get along,” Catherine said.
Andrew grabbed her arm and pulled her back suddenly. “Careful, there’s a snake!”
Catherine pulled her arm free and looked at it carefully. “Why, it’s just a grass snake, Andrew. They’re very good for the environment.”
“You aren’t afraid of snakes?” he asked.
“No. I’m a teacher, remember? I teach science as well as other subjects, but science is my favorite subject. I love bugs, too.”
Andrew sighed. “I was so afraid you’d freak out when you saw it. Most women do.”
“You’ll find I’m not like most women,” she said with a smile.
“All right. I’ll court you. I’m sort of exhausted from all the traveling,” he said. “Would tomorrow night work for you? I could take you to dinner.”
“I’d love that. Thank you,” she said. “I’ve been enjoying my stay with Addie and Martin. Martin’s been giving me Bible studies, and I hope you’ll approve of me continuing with them after we marry. He’s such a good teacher.”
“That would be fine, since religion's an important part of my life, and I’d like you to share that with me while raising our children in the faith,” he said.
“Rearing our children in the faith would be what I’d want too,” she said.
Andrew felt as if he were in a schoolroom and he’d just been corrected by his teacher. “I never liked that phrase: rearing children. It sounds to me like something a horse does when it’s scared.”
He could already tell that Catherine was an extremely independent woman who didn’t really need anyone to protect her. Andrew liked the feeling of having to protect a woman, as he'd done with Eden.
Andrew turned around. “Shall we walk back now? I want to head home—a home I haven’t seen in weeks. I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed again.”
“Martin showed me around town, and he showed me your house. It’s very cute.”
Cute? He didn’t consider his house cute. It was a two-story farmhouse and a bit plain, but he hadn’t had a chance or a reason to do much to make it attractive.
“It needs a woman’s touch,” Andrew said.
“Oh, yes. A coat of paint, new shutters, and flowers all over would make a world of difference,” she said.
“I’ll leave all that to you, then,” he said, leaving her at the porch of the house. “Shall I call for you about seven tomorrow?”
“That would be perfect,” Catherine said.
All the way home, Andrew wondered how he could get out of marrying Catherine. She’d seemed softer and more feminine in her letters, but she wasn’t his sort, at all. She was bookish and very much reminded him of his old school teacher, Miss Handley.
He already missed Eden. She’d looked so forlorn as Addie had led her into the house. The last look she’d given him made him stifle the urge to pull her back and never let her go.
When he went into the livery in the morning, he was warmly greeted by Ross, who immediately handed him a cup of coffee.
“Ross, you have to help me. I don’t really want to marry Catherine. How can I get out of it?”
“What’s wrong with her?” Ross asked. “I thought her nice enough.”
“She just isn’t my type, is all.”
“Well, then, tell her,” Ross said.
Andrew sipped his coffee and grimaced. “It’s too strong again, Ross.”
“It's yesterday’s. I just got here and haven't made fresh coffee yet.”
“Yuck!” Andrew set the cup down. “I can’t just tell her I don’t want to marry her. I need a plan.”
“Well, you could act like a dull and boring person and maybe she’ll be the one to call it off.”
“Ross!” Andrew exclaimed. “What a brilliant idea, though I might not have to act at all—I think she already sees me that way.”
Chapter 13
Eden woke up early, went downstairs, lit the fire in the stove, brought in several buckets of water from the well, and made coffee. She wanted to start breakfast, but she wasn’t sure where the root cellar was, or if s
he were overstepping her bounds.
The smell of coffee must have aroused the whole house because after it had brewed for ten minutes, the kitchen filled with a sleepy-eyed Addie, Catherine, and Martin.
“Eden!” Addie exclaimed. “How wonderfully thoughtful of you. The coffee smells heavenly.”
“I hoped you wouldn’t mind. I want to carry my weight around here,” she said. “If you show me where the root cellar is, I’ll start cooking breakfast.”
Addie seemed deep in thought, was silent for a few moments, and then smiled. “You are heaven sent, Eden. I sure could use the help. Come, I’ll show you the root cellar.”
Catherine and Martin both smiled at her as she passed them to go out the back door.
Later that day, Eden scrubbed the floors, dusted, and started making soup for dinner. Addie had told her she’d take full advantage of her help and tend to the cattle with Martin and the ranch hands.
Everyone raved about Eden’s breakfast, which made her feel warm inside. After all those years of cooking for her stepmother and stepsister, she’d never gotten a word of thanks or praise, but she had received plenty of criticism.
Eden liked Martin and Addie. She realized Andrew had been right: they made her feel right at home.
At lunch, Catherine asked Martin if they could do their Bible study right after they ate because she was going out to dinner with Andrew. Martin agreed readily. Eden hoped her face hadn’t noticeably dropped when she heard of Catherine’s plans.
Catherine addressed Eden, “Would you like to join our Bible study?”
Addie answered before Eden could reply: “Eden and I plan to go into town and we might not be back in time. She has soup on the stove for you, Martin. I’m going to treat her to dinner at Rosie’s. She sure deserves it for all the help she’s been.”
“I admire you,” Catherine told Eden. “It’s amazing how you know what to do and exactly when to do it. How do you know so much about housekeeping?”
“After my father died, my stepmother and stepsister sort of made me the housekeeper, maid, laundress, and messenger.” She smiled slightly. “It was one of the reasons I ran away.”
“You ran away?” Catherine and Martin said in unison, and then smiled at one another.
“Yes, that’s how I met Andrew. I used the last of my money to get on the train where we met. He took pity on me and offered to introduce me to his friends,” she said.
“How brave!” Catherine said.
“Indeed,” Martin agreed.
“I’m so glad he did,” Addie said with a wink. “Now, let’s get these dishes washed and put away, and we’ll go to town and buy you some clothes.”
“Oh no, you mustn’t—”
“Listen to me, young lady,” Addie scolded, “you’re working hard and I aim to pay you in the most practical way I can think of. If you dare argue with me, you’ll be sleeping in the barn.”
Everyone laughed, knowing Addie’s sense of humor. Eden silently thanked God for landing her where she felt at home and useful.
Once in the buggy, Addie asked Eden, “Do you mind if I invite my new daughter-in-law to join us? You and Fiona are about the same age. Maybe my son, Sam, will be home and you can meet him, as well.”
“I’d love it,” Eden said. She had a feeling they’d be as warm and welcoming as Addie and Martin had been. So far, Catherine had been friendly, but a bit quiet, as if she were studying Eden. She felt uncomfortable being that close to Catherine anyway, since she had what Eden wanted more than anything in the world: Andrew.
After the introductions, Fiona agreed to go into town with them. Eden thought Fiona to be one of the loveliest women she’d ever met, with her strawberry blonde hair and big blue eyes. Fiona called her hair red, but it was more of a golden-orange color, which looked lovely, given her clear complexion and eyes.
She could tell Sam adored Fiona by the way he'd touched and smiled at her. Both she and Addie turned toward the buggy when Sam gave Fiona a kiss goodbye because it was more than a quick peck. It made Eden think about the intense kisses she'd shared with Andrew. He had to have felt the same, she knew he had—at least at the time.
Within two hours, Eden had five day dresses, two church dresses, two nightgowns, and more underthings. When Addie picked up a cape, Eden tried to stop her. “That’s enough, Addie,” she said.
“Listen here: since Fiona left to marry Sam, I’ve had no help at all around the house. I’m getting up in years, and you have no idea how much I appreciate all you do. If I hired a maid, I’d have to pay her a lot more than what I’m buying for you, so you hush.” She held up a red cape. “Do you prefer the red or the gray?”
Eden smiled. “The red; it’s lovely.”
The three women were sitting at a table in Rosie’s eating stew when Fiona said, “I have something to tell you both; I can’t keep it quiet any longer.”
“What is it, Fiona?” Addie asked.
“Sam and I are increasing!”
Eden could see the joy in Fiona’s eyes. “Congratulations!” she said.
“Oh, I’m just speechless,” Addie cried. She wiped a few tears away. “I’m going to be a grandmother…finally.”
“When will the new little Jordan be arriving?” Eden asked.
“Not for another seven months. I don’t know how I’ll wait that long.”
“Be patient, Fiona, and enjoy every moment spent with Sam alone—it'll be over twenty years before you have time alone again,” Addie said.
“I hadn’t thought of that, but I will,” Fiona said.
When they dropped Fiona off at her home, they continued slowly back to Addie and Martin’s. “Eden,” Addie said as she trotted the horse, “do you have a soft spot for Andrew?”
Eden was stunned. “I-I…what makes you ask?”
“Oh, I don’t know. When you’ve been around as long as I have, you sense things. I noticed Andrew’s eyes soften when he looked at you, and I saw the yearning in your eyes when I led you into the house that first day. I just had a feeling, is all.”
Eden remained silent. She had no idea how to answer Addie.
“I just wonder how that'll make you feel toward Catherine,” she said.
“It’s not her fault,” Eden said.
“So, it is true,” Addie said with a sly smile.
Eden nodded. “But nothing happened. I mean, it was…I’m still a virgin and all.” She thought that the best way to explain.
“I understand. I was young once,” she said. “Just between you and I, I think you’re much more suited to Andrew than Catherine is.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I like Catherine, but she’s just not Andrew’s type, so I wouldn’t worry too much. I have a feeling they won’t marry at all.”
“Really?” Eden felt hopeful.
“I could be wrong,” Addie added, “but that’s what I think. Let’s just keep it our little secret, shall we?”
“Of course.”
Addie pulled the buggy up to the front porch. Martin came out and assisted Eden down from the buggy.
“I have an errand to run. I’ll be back within the hour,” Addie called to them. She flicked the whip lightly onto her horse and left them standing there.
“I wonder what she’s up to,” Martin said.
“Maybe she forgot something at Sam’s,” Eden said.
The two of them walked into the house.
“Where’s Catherine?” Eden asked.
“She’s getting ready for her dinner with Andrew.” Martin smiled. “It’s just you and me for supper, Eden.”
“I’ll heat up the soup. How about if I toast up some homemade bread to go with it?”
“That sounds fantastic. What kind of soup did you make?”
“Pea soup. Your mother already had the peas dried. All I had to do was soak them overnight. I saw the canned pig's knuckles in the root cellar and knew what I’d use them for.”
“I can’t wait,” he said.
Addie reined in her horse i
n front of the small farmhouse. She was relieved to see his buggy all hitched up and ready to go which meant he was still home—perfect.
She slid from the buggy, marched up the front steps, and knocked on the screen door.
“Coming,” she heard him yell out from somewhere in the house.
“Addie!” Andrew exclaimed. “I was just getting ready to head out to your place.”
“I know.” She stepped inside when he opened the door for her. “We need to talk.”
“Sure,” Andrew said, a look of curiosity evident on his face. “Come into the sitting room.”
Once they were both seated, Andrew offered her tea, which she refused.
“I need to ask you a very personal question, and I expect an honest answer. Can you do that? It will remain completely confidential.” Addie stared at him while she removed her driving gloves.
“Of course. I don’t have any secrets,” Andrew said.
“We’ll see,” Addie said.
She folded the gloves on her lap carefully, which gave her a chance to think of how she'd begin, then she just blurted, “Do you fancy Eden Jamison?”
Addie watched his expressions carefully. First he looked shocked by her question, but then he bit his lip and looked down at the floor.
“You do,” Addie said. “It’s all right, Andrew—your secret is safe with me.”
“I need help, Addie,” he said. “I don’t think Catherine and I will suit. How do I get out of the arrangement without hurting her feelings?”
“I just might have some ideas,” she said, smiling slyly.
Chapter 14
Eden set a bowl of soup in front of Martin.
“Hmm, it smells delicious,” he said, inhaling the aroma.
Catherine paced in front of the screen door. “Where is Andrew?”
Martin scooped spoonfuls of soup into his mouth, one after the other. “This is the best soup I’ve ever tasted, Eden.”