Indiana Goes West (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 1)

by Ruth Hartzler

  “I am certain that is the case, but it doesn’t free her from obligations that will determine her future and social standing,” Mrs. White went on.

  Morgan had been so lost in his thoughts of Indiana that he had no idea what Mrs. White was talking about now. Nevertheless, she was staring at him intently, clearly wanting him to respond. “Are there no men in the city who deserve such a lady? Perhaps your daughter is reluctant to leave San Francisco,” Morgan said, looking down at his untouched coffee. He figured that such a question would reveal whether Indiana had a distaste for the ranching way of life.

  Mrs. White shook her head. “As Indiana is refusing Mr. Hollway, I need to find her another suitable match,” she said, a half-smile showing on her lips.

  Was the lady hinting at something? While Morgan already felt a strong affection for the beautiful Indiana, he worried about admitting such a fact aloud, even in a situation as serious as the one in which he now found himself. Even if his feelings for her were accepted by those he told, he worried about what Indiana would think and how she would react. “I wish there was something I could do to assist you,” he said carefully.

  “There might well be,” Mrs. White whispered, before sipping once more from her delicate coffee cup. She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms, yet her eyes stayed focused on him.

  Morgan could feel a strange awkwardness setting in over the table at that very moment, and it seemed as if he had to wait an eternity just to hear her next line of thought.

  “The man she is set to marry is Mr. Cade Hollway, a well-to-do rancher from Texas. Alas, and please forgive me for saying so, he was not quite the gentleman I had hoped.” Mrs. White lowered her gaze. “Perhaps if we found her a more suitable match…” she continued, her voice trailing away.

  Morgan’s heart leaped. Was she suggesting what he thought she was suggesting? “And by more suitable, you mean…?”

  “Yes, you, Mr. Chase.” She raised the cup of coffee to her lips, and looked at him over the rim of her cup.

  “I’m sorry?” he managed to say, the words falling from his lips as he tried to speak calmly.

  “I am sorry to speak so boldly, but our situation is an urgent one,” Mrs. White said with a catch in her voice. “I think it is far more likely that Indiana would agree to marry you rather than Mr. Hollway.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I just want to save my family before it is too late.”

  Hearing it put in such a way was much more than Morgan could bear. Someone he cared about was about to lose everything, and so was her entire family. “What exactly are you asking of me?” he asked quietly, shielding his voice from a group of people as they passed by.

  Deborah smiled weakly. “I think you already know what I’m going to ask you. Would you be interested in marrying Indiana?”

  So that was why Mrs. White had waited for him in the hotel. But would Indiana agree to such proposition? She already denied one man vehemently, so who was to say that she wouldn’t reject him as well?

  Morgan swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in his throat. He stared at her as his chest tightened. He was unable to speak.

  “Unfortunately, you are my only hope,” she continued. “If you do not agree to this, then Indiana will have to marry Mr. Hollway, after all. There is no other option.” Mrs. White’s voice was grave.

  Morgan paused to collect his thoughts and slowly calmed himself down. He then looked back up from the table and nodded slowly. “Do you believe that Miss Indiana will agree to such a proposal?” he asked.

  Mrs. White took a deep breath; her eyes focused steadily on his. “I cannot presume to know what Indiana might think or say, but I do not think her response will be anything like it was for Mr. Hollway.”

  Morgan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting his thoughts focus on the appropriate words to use next. He slowly looked up and spoke sincerely. “If it will save your daughter and your family, then I will certainly consider it.”

  Relief flooded the lady’s face. “You must consider it quickly then, because time is running out. Mr. Hollway is only in town for a short time before he returns to Texas, and I am sure he will refuse to return without her,” she said, “not unless she’s already married to someone else.”

  Morgan took a few moments to think things over, but he just wasn’t sure how to respond. While marrying Indiana sounded like a gift from God, the answer to his prayers, he felt that it might not work out as well as he hoped it would. What would Indiana think of her mother asking him to marry her like that? Such a matter was sure to cause tension between them. “If I am to agree to this marriage, then there is one request that I must first make.”

  “Of course,” Mrs. White said, an obvious look of relief on her face.

  “I do not wish Indiana to feel pressured into this marriage like she was with Mr. Hollway. She has to want this and agree to it of her own accord. I will not marry her against her own will,” he said.

  Deborah took another sip from her coffee. “That is fair.”

  Morgan glanced down at his still-full beverage, its steam barely noticeable now. “I do not wish to become the man she dislikes, before I have a chance to be the man she loves,” he explained, earning a nod from Deborah. Even though he wouldn’t have thought so moments earlier, maybe she did understand where he was coming from.

  “I assure you that Indiana will not be forced to accept your proposal, but if she rejects it, she will have to marry Mr. Hollway.”

  “I understand,” Morgan said, “but please do not put it to her like that. Even if she consents to marry me, I do not want her to feel she has no option.”

  “Mr. Chase, there is one thing that you have to do in return as well,” she shot back.

  “What is it?” he asked, another lump forming in his throat as he waited for her response.

  “You must not tell Indiana of my involvement in this, not at all. Even if she were to be completely enamored with your proposal, she cannot know my hand in this. She might be happier if she thinks it all happened naturally,” Deborah said.

  Reluctant to lie to the woman he cared for so much, Morgan sighed loudly. “I cannot agree to that,” Morgan said, “but I will ask Indiana to marry me. The rest is in her hands, however.”

  Chapter 12

  As midday approached, Indiana was in her bedroom, frantically searching for something to wear. Of course, she had a closet full of dresses, but she had yet to find the perfect one.

  “I don’t have anything to wear!” the young woman groaned as she fell backward onto her bed, wearing her smallclothes and corset. Her friend and maid, Misty, was with her, standing before her spacious closet. She pushed dress after dress down the pole on which they hung.

  “Are you joking?” Misty asked. Although Misty was a lady’s maid, the two had become close friends over the time that Misty had been in service.

  “Well, I have those things, if I want to look positively hideous!” Indiana said, covering her face with her hands. “It’s hopeless! I’m going to have to cancel.”

  Misty laughed. “My sweet, you are always far from hideous. Pick a dress, put it on, and let’s get downstairs, because that young man is going to be here at any moment, and if you’re not ready to go and have lunch with him, I will.”

  Indiana giggled as she sat up. “Fine, but you must choose. I simply cannot. I’m far too nervous. I never thought in a million years that Mr. Chase would ask me to accompany him out.”

  “The few times I’ve even seen the man, his eyes are always on you,” Misty said, somewhat enviously. “Of course he was going to ask you.” As she spoke, she pulled out a dress, mostly white with light blue lace and trim. “Here, in this one you’ll be quite a sight.”

  Indiana stood up. “All right,” she said. She lifted her hands above her head as Misty came forward and pulled the dress down over her body. Then they went to the mirror, and Indiana watched as her friend and servant tied up the back of the dress, with laces which started at mid back and went up. A smal
l flap was then affixed over the laces.

  “Are you sure he won’t run in terror when he sees me?” Indiana said.

  “He might run in terror, but it will be because of your personality and certainly not your looks,” Misty joked.

  “I can still have Mother dismiss you, you know,” Indiana said with a laugh.

  And then, downstairs, the bell on the front door rang, a noise strong enough to reverberate through a large portion of the massive mansion in which Indiana and Misty lived, though for how much longer, neither could say.

  “I must answer that, now that there is no butler,” Misty said, and she swept out of the room, holding up the hem of her own, much less expensive dress as she did so.

  Indiana waited a few moments before following her. As she stepped lightly down the grand staircase which emptied in the foyer, Mr. Morgan Chase came into view. He was dressed as sharply as he had been the first night Indiana had met him, at dinner. He wore a suit and jacket, and had a top hat tucked under his arm. It was almost strange to see him without his cowboy hat. He smiled when he saw her, and walked to greet her at the bottom of the staircase.

  “Miss Indiana,” he said, as he pulled his free hand out from behind his back. He was holding a dozen roses, bright red and plump.

  “Oh, they’re beautiful,” Indiana said, taking the flowers and holding them just below her nose.

  Misty came to take the flowers. “I’ll put them in water,” she said as she headed for the kitchen.

  “Ready?” Morgan asked, offering his arm.

  Indiana took it and nodded.

  “I was thinking we could go to Golden Gate Park,” he added as they headed for the door. He pulled it open and let her out first, following behind and shutting it. In the drive stood a handsome covered carriage, with a driver waiting for them at the reins. They made their way to the carriage and the driver hopped down, opening the door for them and offering his hand to Indiana. She took it and stepped up into the carriage, and Morgan followed behind her. The driver shut the door and returned to the front of the carriage, climbing up onto the small bench which sat as high as the cabin roof. He took up the reins once more and cracked them against the flank of the two bay horses harnessed to the carriage, and with a creak of the large wooden wheels, the carriage started forward.

  “I’m sure you’ve been to the park many times, but I haven’t had a chance to go since I arrived in town, and people keep telling me I have to see it.”

  “It is beautiful,” Indiana said, “yet I myself have not been too many times.”

  Morgan smiled. He was sitting across from her in the carriage, his back to the front of the cabin. The carriage started through Nob Hill, and then down toward the park.

  “We shall be late for lunch, but I believe I heard about a tea shop in the park?”

  “The Japanese Tea Garden,” Indiana confirmed with a nod.

  “That’s what I’m after, then,” Morgan said, patting his stomach, and Indiana laughed.

  Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the main entrance to Golden Gate Park. When the driver opened the door and held out his hand, Indiana took it once more and stepped down carefully in her heeled boots. The ground was wet, with puddles here and there due to a brief shower early that morning, but the sky now was clear and blue, with nary a cloud in sight. Seagulls swooped here and there, heading in from the sea.

  “I didn’t know your friends would be joining us,” Indiana teased as she pointed out the birds to Morgan.

  “And here I am without my shotgun,” the rancher said with a grin. He offered his arm once more and the two set off into the park, after Morgan slipped money to the driver of the cab and instructed him to wait for them.

  The park was indeed beautiful, all lush greens and blooming flowers. It had been built with the idea to compete with New York City’s famed Central Park, and while it certainly wasn’t as large, it definitely was just as beautiful, if not more so.

  “Oh, I love this bridge!” Indiana said, pulling away from Morgan and hurrying to the drum bridge. It rose sharply, almost a perfect half circle, and ran over a small stream with water rushing quickly enough to hear it easily. There were steps in the bridge, and it made most Indiana feel somewhat like a child again, as they marched with purpose over it.

  “It doesn’t make much sense to build a bridge like that, does it?” Morgan said with a laugh.

  “I think it was built this way just because of how much fun it is to cross,” Indiana countered, turning when she was halfway over it to look at the man. “Come on, sir. The tea shop is just over here.”

  “Sandwiches and tea can be had just about anywhere,” Morgan said. “Though I have to confess to preferring a steak and a big mug of black coffee.”

  “That might do out on the range, but here in civilization, it’s much more common for a light touch at lunch time.”

  Morgan laughed. “Civilization? Where exactly do you think I’m from, again? It’s not another country—it’s only about six hundred miles away.”

  Indiana laughed and turned when Morgan caught up with her.

  The tea house wasn’t quite so busy an hour after normal lunch time, so they selected a small table outside, near a green bush covered in red berries. A tall man served them, bringing them a kettle of tea along with two small mugs, and a tray of delicate finger sandwiches.

  When he had left, Morgan held one up. “This is food, right?”

  Indiana giggled and then sipped her tea.

  “So how long would it take us to walk around the perimeter of this park?” Morgan asked.

  “A couple of days in my shoes,” Indiana said. “It’s rather large. I heard there were over a hundred thousand trees in the park alone.”

  “And here I am with just my one back home,” Morgan said with an exaggerated frown.

  “Maybe we could loan you a couple,” Indiana said.

  “That would be nice,” Morgan said.

  They spent more time looking into each other’s eyes than eating, and it was apparent to both that there was a mutual attraction there, and that it was strong. Finally, their meal was over and they strolled through a section of the park, keeping to a winding path that was near the tea house and drum bridge.

  They spoke of many things, starting with their childhoods, and ending as they returned to the front entrance with the amazing technological advances that were being made all around them. Morgan was particularly impressed with how powerful and fast locomotives were getting, while Indiana was excited to see people tackling the dream of flight. The first flight had been just three years ago, and already others were continuing the work done by the Wright brothers from Ohio.

  The carriage driver had parked a bit down the street. When they came out, he was reading a paper. He must have had one eye on the entrance, because as soon as he saw them, he folded the newspaper and slid it under his thigh. He took up the reins and got the horses moving. He stopped in front of them and climbed down once more to open the door to help Indiana into the carriage. Without something holding the newspaper, the soft breeze caught it and sent it to the ground, where it blew away. The man cried out, but he was still helping Indiana up, so Morgan gave chase, running down the paper half a block away and stamping on it with his foot. He scooped it up and jogged back, handing it over to the driver. Then he climbed into the carriage and they started back for Nob Hill.

  The ride home was a bittersweet one for Indiana. She and Morgan had spent a few hours together, exploring and talking, but she didn’t want it to end. They talked more while the carriage climbed up toward her mansion, but she could hardly pay attention. Instead, she looked into the man’s eyes, and found herself day dreaming.

  Then they were home, and the driver was there, opening the door, his paper tucked under his arm. Indiana stepped out with his help, and turned to see Morgan climbing out as well. He took her hand and pressed it to his lips.

  “Thank you for accompanying me this afternoon,” he said.

  “T
hank you for a wonderful lunch.”

  “Until next time?” Morgan asked.

  “Yes, until next time,” Indiana said. She smiled up at Morgan and turned, and then headed inside.

  Chapter 13

  Indiana was met by Misty as soon as she walked through the door. She shut it with her body, leaning back against the heavy oak. Outside, Morgan was in the carriage and she listened to the horses’ hooves echo on the stone drive as they pulled the carriage, and the man, away.

  “How was it?” Misty asked.

  “Wonderful!” Indiana cried. She happily walked up the stairs, pulling her dress up and over her head as she did, stretching out the still tied laces. She flopped down on her bed for the second time in the day. But there was another booming at the door, and the silence was chased away.

  Indiana got up quickly, and found her dress that she had left in a crumpled heap by her door. She pulled it over her head and went out barefoot to the landing. She peered down the stairs, where she could just see Misty as she pulled the door open.

  Cade Hollway was standing at the door. He was in a foul mood. Indiana could see it from where she stood. His large face was a shade of red, and his eyes were narrowed.

  “Good evening,” Misty said.

  “It certainly is not! I would speak with the mistress of the house,” the large man said all at once. He stepped in without being invited to do so, and Misty shut the door behind him.

  “I believe Mrs. Smith is in the parlor. I shall announce your arrival,” Misty said in an even tone.

  “I know my way,” Cade said, and he stormed off toward the parlor.

  As Misty came up the stairs, Indiana hurried to her room and pulled on her shoes.