by Rye Hart
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 innocently.
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.
“Well his family didn’t approve of me and had him sent back to England.”
“Oh,” was all I could think to say. All of my life I never saw my parents as being anything but just that: my parents. Of course, they’d been young once too. Maybe mama did understand.
“I heard later that he married the daughter of a lord as his parents had wished.” There was a sadness in her eyes and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. I knew in my heart that had made a happy life with papa but what if she could’ve chosen something different for herself? “Mama we all have to make our own choices,” I said softly.
She put her hand gently on my cheek. “I know dear but you also have to have to trust that we are doing the right thing for both you and Rose.”
She gently kissed my forehead. “You’ll understand when it’s your turn.”
She left the room and I just stood there in shock. What did she mean when it was my turn? Suddenly that mail order bride newspaper didn’t sound so bad. I walked over to the window and looked out. The days were getting longer and the bells of Saint John’s were ringing the eight o’clock hour. Was I destined to also be given in marriage to a man who papa felt worthy? I began to see why Rose did what she did and almost wished I had the nerve to leave like her.
Nothing was said at the supper table that night and though I was allowed to sit with my family, papa wouldn’t look at me. For the first time in my life I felt like a stranger in my own home.
The next evening after I had gotten ready for bed, I sat in my room looking at a copy of Mrs. Stillman’s Mail Order Brides that I had picked up on a whim on my way home from work. There were so many advertisements from men from all over the country seeking wives. I placed the paper under my pillow when a heard a knock on my door.
“Eden?” Rose called.
I had to tell her what papa was up to. I opened the door and pulled her into my room.
“Does anyone know you’re up here?” I whispered.
“Don’t be silly Eden, no one cares.”
I looked at her. “You didn’t hear about what happened earlier this evening did you?”
“Oh that, mama said you and papa had an argument. Though I admit it’s a bit unusual for you, it doesn’t seem like anything to worry about,” she said dismissively.
“An argument? Oh Rose he wanted me to sign and witness the marriage contract for you and Matthew Duggan. It was set to be given to you as a birthday gift.”
The smile left her face as she looked at me.
“I was afraid he would do something like this. Eden I need your to do me a favor.”
“If I can, I will,” I promised.
“I need you to send a wire first thing in the morning to Jason. Tell him I am leaving tomorrow for Colorado.”
“Leaving tomorrow?” I said, taken aback.
“I have to do it now Eden, the longer I stay here, the closer I get to being sold off like a head of cattle. ”
I didn’t know what to say. Rose was leaving tomorrow and I’d probably never see her again. I was filled with sorrow and regret.
“Oh I wish there was another way Rose,” I said, though I knew there wasn’t.
“There is no other way Eden. I don’t want to leave, but if I stay papa will force me into a marriage I don’t want.”
She was right. I nodded and tears threatened to spill from my eyes. Not only was I going to miss my sister, but I knew my turn to be married off would come sooner than later.
“I’ll miss you Eden, but I promise I’ll send for you as soon as Jason and I have settled .I won’t let papa do the same thing to you,” she said as if reading my thoughts.
She hugged me as we both started to cry. We knew this would be the last time we would see each other for who knows how long. Within a few minutes she slipped out the door and off to her room.
Early the next morning I sent the wire knowing I would not see Rose that evening at supper. Papa looked for her but to no avail. He asked me to tell him where she was but I claimed to know nothing. I wouldn’t let him drag her back. A few months later, Rose sent word to me that she and Jason were married and I asked her to let mama and papa know for mama’s sake. A week later a letter came for them with no return address.
Dear Mom and Papa,
I’m sorry if I caused you to worry but I just couldn’t marry Matthew. I wanted to see more of life than New York. I hope you can forgive me and know I love you both. Give my love to Eden and tell her I miss her. Love, Rose
Mama looked at papa, her eyes filling with tears. “You drove her away Liam! You and your old fashioned ways!”
Papa looked at her, stunned. Never in their twenty five years of marriage had she ever raised her voice to him.
“Eden go to your room,” he said softly.
I looked at him and mama shouted, “You’ll lose this one next Liam. And if that happens, I’ll leave too!”
On my way to work the next morning I stopped at the post office and checked my box. There was a letter in it from Rose I rushed out of the post office and sat on the nearby bench. I began to read the letter, hungry for information on my sister.
Dear Eden,
I hope you are well. I’m doing fine and wanted to tell you that you are going to be an aunt. I would love to have you come out and stay with me until the baby comes. If you can make the arrangements, it would be a great comfort to me. I know it’s a lot to ask and if you can’t I’ll understand. I miss you my dear sister.
Love, Rose
Rose was going to have a baby! Now that she was with child, there was no way that papa could force her to come back. That night at supper, I broke the news to my parents.
It took quite a bit of convincing on my part but, papa finally agreed after a few days of lengthy discussions with mama. Within a week, I was
ready for my long journey to Colorado. Mama was at the train station to see me off while papa remained at home. As the train pulled away from the station, I settled in near the window and opened a book.
Chapter Three
Eden decided to make a journal of her trip; something she would be able to look back on and enjoy in later years. Sitting in the dining car, she wrote of her journey thus far and felt a pair of eyes on her.
“Excuse me for staring but are you a writer?” a young man asked. “I mean I see you are taking notes.”
“No, I’m just keeping a journal of my visit to my sister in Colorado,” I answered politely.
“That’s a beautiful place,” he says with a smile. “I’ve been there many times.”
“This is my first time away from my home in New York,” I admitted.
“I promise you will enjoy it. May I sit down?” the man asked.
Though I didn’t know this man from Adam, he seemed pleasant enough and we were surrounded by a train car full of people. “Yes, do sit,” I said.
He sat across from me and a waitress came over and smiled. He looked at me. “Would you like to order something?” he asked.
“Just coffee please,” I said to the waitress.
“Two coffees,” he said and the waitress shuffled off to fetch our drinks.
I looked at him, at once eager to know more about him. “Are you from Colorado?” I asked.
I suddenly realized I hadn’t even introduced myself to him. I extended my hand and said, “I’m sorry, I seemed to have forgotten my manners. I’m Eden O’Bannon.”
He gently took my hand in his and the touch of his palm made my nerves hum. “A pleasure to meet you Eden O’Bannon, I’m Clayton Reeves.
“So tell me Miss Eden, where are you from?” he asked.
“From upstate New York. And you Mr. Reeves?”
“I was born in Boston, my grandfather was in the newspaper business. My father married the boss’ daughter and kept the business running after grandfather passed.”
“And are you are following the family business?”
“No, not it that sense. I started my own publishing firm.”
He took out a card from his jacket pocket and handed it to me.
“Reeves Publishing,” I read aloud
“If that journal your writing is half as interesting as I believe it will be, maybe we can make a deal,” he said with a smile.
I looked at my writing tablet then back to him.
“Well that’s very kind of you but I don’t think that anyone would be interested in my ramblings.”
“Oh you’d be surprised Miss Eden.”
The waitress came over with the coffee and I put the journal away.
Clayton looked over at me still smiling. “So tell me, what made a young lady from New York leave the east coast for Colorado?”
“Well as I said, I am going to see my older sister Rose. She’s having a baby in November and asked me to come out and be with her for the birth.”
”And how did Rose come to find herself out west?” he asked, placing his elbows on the table and leaning in to hear more. I shrugged my shoulders and took a sip of my coffee. “She was a mail order bride,” I said matter-of-factly.
“A mail order bride? Now that would be an interesting story,” he mused.
“Mr. Reeves are you fishing for a story?” I asked, trying to mask my disappointment. Clayton was a very attractive man and I’d been hoping that his interest was in me. Not wanting to put myself through any more humiliation, I stood and excused myself, feigning exhaustion.
After six days on the train, the last leg of my trip to Colorado was to be by stagecoach. During those next few days, I made the acquaintance of a Mrs. Clara Palmer. She was a delightful lady of eighty years who had more vitality than some women half her age. I enjoyed her company immensely and told her the story of my travels. It was late afternoon when the stagecoach arrived in Colorado Springs. I stepped off the coach and heard my name.
“Eden! Eden!”
I turned and saw Rose running toward me.
“Rose!”
It had been a little over a year since she’d left but it felt like an eternity. Hugging my sister again was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Rose stepped back and smiled.
“Let me look at you. Oh Eden you look so grown up.”
I had to say Rose looked beautiful, and there was a glow about her. I was so excited about seeing my sister, that I forgot my manners. I turned around and saw Mrs. Palmer standing back where we got off of the coach.
“Rose, I want you to meet someone.” There was a smile on the older woman’s face as the two of us approached her.
“Mrs. Palmer this is my sister Rose. Rose, Mrs. Palmer was with me for the last part of my journey. I told her about you coming to Colorado and getting married.”
“Well I hope Eden didn’t bore you Mrs. Palmer,” Rose said laughing. “I’m hardly a pioneer.”
The older woman smiled. “Not at all, I found the idea of a mail order bride very exciting. In fact I may try it myself,” she said with a wink.
Rose absently patted her stomach and the old woman smiled again.
“You sister told me you are expecting. You must be very excited.”
“Yes, we are. Oh but listen to me going on and on. You must be tired after your journey. Please allow me to you take you to the hotel?”
“That would be very kind of you,” Mrs. Palmer said.
“Alright we’ll take you there but only if you promise to come to dinner at our house this evening. Shall we say eight?”
The older woman smiled,
“Eight would be wonderful.”
Chapter Four
The guest room Rose had set up for me was as beautiful as the rest of her house. Rose had brought a woman’s touch to the rustic design and softened it. It had been a welcome change. Rose herself seemed to have changed also. She elegant and charming, not one bit the restless young woman she had been only a year ago.
Jason was not at all what I expected. In my mind I had pictured a rough and ready cowboy type complete with hat, boots, and spurs. Instead I found a tall, handsome blonde man in a three-piece-suit. He was warm and welcoming and I liked him instantly. The adoration in his eyes when he looked at my sister made my heart sing for her.
“Eden?” came Rose’s voice at my door.
I opened the door and found her holding a beautiful dress in her arms.
“I wanted you to have something fancy to wear your first night here,” she said, offering me the dress.
She placed the beautiful russet colored dress on my bed. I had to admit it was beautiful.
“Oh Rose you didn’t have to. This is all just too much,” I said, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Though our parents were not poor, we had grown up modestly. I had never worn such a dress.
“I’ll hear nothing like that. You are my sister and have come here to be with me, so I intended to spoil you. Now hurry and get ready, Jason has gone to get Mrs. Palmer.”
I walked over to the bed as Rose continued talking. “This Mrs. Palmer, is she from back East?” Rose asked.
I looked over to her as I began to change.
“I never really asked her. I do know she has traveled quite a bit.”
Rose helped me into my gown, fastening the buttons at the back.
A short while later as Rose and I were sitting in the living room, the carriage with Jason and Clara drove up. Martha, the housekeeper, opened the door to greet them as Jason helped Clara out of the carriage. Martha smiled at him.
“Miss Rose is in the great room waiting for you.”
“Thank you Martha. And may I introduce to you Mrs. Clara Palmer.”
“Hello Martha!” Clara said with gusto.
“Ma’am welcome to the Saunders home,” Martha said graciously.
Jason escorted Clara into the great room where Rose and I were sitting.
“Eden my dear you look lovely,” she boasted heartily.
> Jason smiled and looked at me. “I agree with Mrs. Palmer, Eden you look beautiful.”
I thanked them for their compliments, feeling my cheeks burn slightly at the attention.
“Shall we go in for supper?” Rose said.
The conversation at the table was a mixture of a variety of subjects from the railroad coming to Colorado Springs, to politics back east. It was Jason who finally asked Clara why she was here in Colorado.
“So Mrs. Palmer, we know you’ve traveled all over, what brings you to Colorado may I ask?”
“You may ask, Jason. I plan on starting a business out here,” she said simply.
“A business?”
I perked up at this. “Clara, you never mentioned this while we were on the coach,” I said. “What time of business?”
“Well funny enough, I plan to open mail order bride business here,” she said.
I was shocked at her revelation. “A mail order bride business?” I echoed.
Clara smiled at me. “Well you have to admit it worked out well for your sister.” “Oh I understand that, but why here in Colorado? I mean the men are here and the women are mostly back east.”
“Yes the men are here out west, but there are women out here also; daughters of the first settlers in the area. So why confine it to western men looking for eastern women? There are plenty of men back east who want to try their hand with the land out here but don’t have the means to do so. Let the women here call to them!” she finished with a flourish.
“That’s absolutely brilliant Clara!” I exclaimed.
“I admit I was a bit skeptical about it until I met you and heard your sister’s success story. You gave me the conviction to go ahead with the idea.”
I smiled and shook my head, reluctant to take credit for Clara’s decision.
“Clayton said you would be too humble for your own good,” she said with a wink.
My head snapped in her direction. I couldn’t have heard her correctly. “Clayton?” I asked, sure I had misheard. A smile spread across Clara’s face. “Yes, Clayton Reeves. He seemed quite taken by you, I must say.”
I felt a blush color my cheeks as I remembered the handsome publisher I had met on the train.
“How is he?” I found myself asking.