“My beau is a widower,” she explained, carefully folding up the letter and placing it neatly back into the envelope for safe keeping. “He just happens to be a widower with a good sense of humor that he has just begun to show me.” She smiled. “He has two little boys and he owns a shop in town. I think that he will be quite fun to spend time with, if he will have me.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Margaret said. “I am so happy for you. It is truly amazing to me how fortunate we have all been. I am doing my best to just enjoy it.”
Eliza and Virginia were soon crowing about their engagements. Margaret seemed to be a bit saddened by the prospect of the two of them leaving, but Dorothy took her hand in comfort. “Patience,” she said. “I know it sounds odd coming from me, but patience is important in matters such as these.”
Dorothy knew that she must do her best to stick by that, even as the letters—and the days—grew longer.
****
It was quite rewarding to Dorothy to know that Clint Edwards was working so hard to ensure that she would have plenty of opportunities in Missoula Mills. She would not want for much of anything there.
Dear Mr. Edwards,
Honestly, sir, you are too kind! Thank you ever so much for all of the preparations you have performed to make sure that I have things with which to keep busy and learn. I think that your town sounds delightful, and I do so long to live there whenever possible. I know that I shall never be bored, and that time with you, Hank and Sam will be my favorite part of it all. Never you fear about that.
I will be more than happy to mend Sam and Hank’s clothing. I do know how little boys can be when it comes to playing rough. As long as they do not hurt themselves or each other, I bet it is quite amusing to see.
The mail takes so long to come to me, and to send to you, I am sure. My friends and I have been so eager to receive all of our letters, and now it would seem that at least two of them are soon to depart. But what luck! We are all set on going to Missoula Mills, so I shan’t have to part with them for too long. It is a miraculous circumstance! I do not mean to pry with my impatience, but I need to know: may I expect an invitation from you soon? My mind is always with you and I fear I may burst if I do not know if I am going soon or not. I have become green with envy towards my friends who have already been asked to join their beaus. It is not normally like me to become so jealous, but I must confess that I am not known for having the most patience.
Oh, please write to me and say that you are nearing your decision!
With Hope and Fondness,
Dorothy
She placed this letter into an envelope and carefully sealed it inside. She was not sure if this tactic would help her in any way, but Clint was not a shy person, and he had seemed rather enthusiastic and excited about having her come to his town. He had done everything short of giving her a formal invitation. Dorothy regarded her friends with envy as they proudly gossiped about their proposals and train tickets. They went to the train station together, and one by one, said goodbye for now to their friends. Eliza went first, followed by Virginia.
Dorothy took some solace in the fact that Margaret was still there with her, though sure enough, she received her invitation to Missoula Mills. There was something so politely shy about Margaret. She never boasted the way Virginia and Eliza did. Dorothy knew that they meant no offense; they were just excited. Still, it was nice to have quiet Margaret with her now.
“I am sure you will receive an invitation shortly,” Margaret told Dorothy with a small smile. “And anyway, mine is only an invitation. It’s not a proposal. My doctor does not seem quite ready for that. He wrote that he wants to get to know me better.”
Dorothy returned her friend’s smile. “Oh, but I am sure that he will act soon,” she said. “He will love you the moment he sees you.”
Margaret beamed and blushed. “Thank you. I hope you are right.”
A few weeks went by before Dorothy received a new letter from Mr. Edwards. Meanwhile, Margaret was busily packing up her things and readying herself for her big journey.
Dorothy let out a squeal when she quickly read through her letter, reading through it again immediately afterward to make sure she had not read something wrong.
Dearest Dorothy,
Forgive me for not coming right out with it. I am usually not the nervous sort, but I must confess that this is the first time I have done something of this nature. I believe it is your first time writing to a gentleman like this as well, so I do not know why I have been so bashful.
Yes, I want nothing more than to have you here with me and the boys. I have enclosed a train ticket for you to come to Missoula Mills post-haste. Would you do me the honor of marrying me? I will not rush you into it; I can allow plenty of time for you to be settled and comfortable here with me. But please say that you will be my wife?
Of course, I do not expect a reply to this letter. I shall know your answer once you arrive here. Oh, please hurry, my love! I cannot wait for our life together to begin!
Love Always,
Clint
Dorothy could not stop herself from hopping up and down when she read this letter. At last, Clint had proposed to her! And her answer would be in the form of her arrival in Missoula Mills as soon as possible.
She told Margaret, and her friend was ecstatic for her as well. Dorothy went with Margaret to the train station, feeling much more confident and excited than she had been before. She was to be the last of the friends to leave for Montana, but she was going with the knowledge that her handsome and sweet beau wanted to marry her.
****
Now that she had her ticket in hand and a plan for her future, Dorothy could not wait. She went to the train station to bid farewell for now to her dear friend Margaret, comforted by the fact that she was going to be joining her soon. Saying farewell was not quite as difficult as it had been when Eliza departed. She had been in Missoula Mills the longest and would likely know a useful thing or two about the town by the time these two girls arrived.
“I will see you soon,” Dorothy said as she hugged her friend. “We shall find each other at the orphanage, if not before.”
Margaret nodded, tearful to be saying goodbye to her remaining friend. “We will see each other again soon,” she said in agreement.
Once Margaret was aboard her train, Dorothy went back to their apartment building; now it was only hers, and only for one more night. She was going to take a train the following morning. She was hoping that she might perchance arrive at about the same time as Margaret. How wonderful that would be!
Sleeping was difficult that night. Dorothy kept wondering if she might have forgotten to pack something. She did not possess too many things, and that would prove useful when it came time for her to carry her suitcase out to the carriage in the morning. She wondered what sort of workers there would be on the train, and she hoped that at least one of them would be able to help her carry her things. Dorothy was simply giddy with anticipation. After so long telling herself not to get too excited since nothing was ever certain, her pragmatism at last melted and allowed her to be nearly completely optimistic and imaginative. When she thought about what the future held, all she could let herself believe now was that it would be greater than she could have ever expected, for she had found Clint Edwards and he was going to be such a dear, loving husband for her. It was not going to be long at all now until she had a whole new family of her very own.
****
The morning finally arrived. Dorothy quickly dressed and took up her suitcase, bidding goodbye to the home she had shared for years with her best friends. She hoped that where she was going would make her feel so comfortable and free.
When she arrived at the train station, she felt so nervous and hoped that the nerves would soon turn to excitement. Dorothy had never ridden a train before, and she did not think that nervousness and jolting trains would go together very well.
Once the train arrived at the platform and was ready to board, Dorothy w
as helped on board by a kindly conductor. He took her gloved hand and helped her up the steps before directing another conductor to carry her suitcase onto the train behind them. He led her to her compartment and she gratefully sat in her cushioned, red-velvet seat once she was able to.
Dorothy gazed out of the window, silently saying goodbye to Boston as the train slowly began to chug away from the city. The train’s jostling was even stronger than she expected, but she soon grew used to it—at least enough to not fret about it anymore.
Now that she was well and truly on her way, Dorothy tried her best to imagine what Montana would be like. She thought that it must be a beautiful place, full of opportunities and captivating challenges; otherwise, there would have been no reason for men to travel there and try and conquer it. She got the feeling that Clint had not exactly been hoping to conquer it, however. He seemed more the sort of gentleman who hopes to chip in and help to make something amazing. After all, he had a general store, so it was evident that he enjoyed being the small town’s provider.
Dorothy thought about what he and his sons must be like. She imagined that they lived quite a humble life there, although things were of course marred by the passing of his wife. Dorothy then realized that he never even mentioned his late wife’s name in all of his letters. Possibly, it was still too difficult for him to discuss her. Dorothy hoped that she would not be seen as an intruder to either him or his sons. She hoped that Clint had really thought this through; she would so hate to arrive, only to feel like he was not ready to remarry at all.
Thoughts such as these did little to help her fall asleep. The train’s slow rocking was making Dorothy drowsy, and she knew that, even though she had become used to the way the locomotive moved down the tracks, sleep was going to be no easy thing for her to find.
Will you be waiting for me at the station, Clint, my love? How will you even know when I have arrived? Oh goodness, so much is uncertain… But at least you and I both know that I certainly adore you. I hope I will be a good wife. I may have good experience with sewing and the right attitude to become a mother, but how does one know if one is going to be a good wife? They do not write rulebooks for that sort of thing. Well, at least I have never seen one…
Dorothy’s thoughts anxiously swam through her mind, but eventually, she was able to calm them down, focusing on nothing at all but the gentle rocking and the soft, comfortable seat of the train.
****
Missoula Mills, Montana - 1887
As Dorothy’s train slowly pulled into the station, she looked out the window with renewed excitement. Her enthusiasm had dwindled as the days grew long while she was aboard the train, but now that she had arrived in Missoula Mills, all she could be was excited. She grinned as she looked out at the rolling fields of green and the mountains off in the distance. She was amazed and impressed to see so much natural beauty in person.
When the train stopped, she stood up and stretched. A train attendant came to her compartment and helped her unload her suitcase, taking her hand in order to help her disembark. Dorothy had chosen to wear a gray dress with a black velvet bodice; simple, but pretty, nonetheless. She wanted to show that she took care in how she looked, but she was not trying too hard to be flashy. She got the feeling that her Mr. Edwards was not after a flashy bride, but rather a kind and thoughtful one who took more care in her attitude than her appearance.
Dorothy stood on the platform at the train station, her bag at her feet, and looked around for the gentleman she had come all that way to meet. Just then, the door to a shiny black carriage that was parked nearby opened up and a tall, slender man came out of the back seat. It was none other than Mr. Edwards! Dorothy was sure of it. His sandy-colored hair appeared to have been carefully combed and he had bright eyes that were a hazel hue. He was lanky, just as Mr. Edwards had described himself to be. Unlike in the portrait, he was wearing a suit. Dorothy smiled at him; he had worn his best attire for her arrival.
He came from his carriage towards her, a smile growing on his tanned face. He was so handsome that Dorothy was left quite speechless at first.
“Miss Aldridge?” he inquired.
She nodded, still smiling.
He bowed towards her and offered his hand, which she accepted. Then he gently kissed it, his lips brushing against the back of her palm and sending a little buzz of excitement up her spine. “It is such a pleasure to meet you at last,” he said. “I am Clint Edwards, but please do me the honor of calling me Clint. We are engaged to be married, after all.” He grinned at her with a handsome smile that also showed off one dimple in his left cheek.
Dorothy gazed at him, enraptured by his appearance. Not only was he handsome, he was adorable. She could not believe how lucky she was.
“It is wonderful to meet you,” Dorothy replied. “You may, of course, call me Dorothy. I am so glad that I am finally here!”
Clint picked up the bag at her feet, chuckling a little when he felt how surprisingly light it was. He knew that women liked to own collections of dresses, and he was impressed that Dorothy had exercised some restraint in that area, though she did not have to. “I shall take you to my housekeeper’s home right away if you are ready. I hope that you are not too tired from your travels; I know that my boys cannot wait to meet you.”
She was pleased that he had thought to have her stay in his housekeeper’s quarters for the time being. It would not do for her to live in his home before they were married. “That sounds lovely,” she said. “Once I am a bit settled in, I would love to meet them as well.” At that, she gave a slight yawn and realized that she could use a brief nap as well before getting into playtime with the little boys. Clint noticed her yawn and smiled adoringly at her.
They took the carriage together and Dorothy gazed out of the windows, admiring the landscape and the buildings of the town. It was impressive, how it had all been built up from nothing by men who had decided to move out there in search of gold and other riches. The land had been claimed and it appeared to be put to good use. Short buildings made of wood lined the road on their way, and at last, the carriage stopped in front of one such building. Dorothy realized that it was the home of Clint’s servant. She realized, too, that there did not appear to be any real mansions in town, certainly not like the ones she had seen back in Boston. There seemed to be a real sense of equality here. That made her feel happy and even more capable of achieving her own dreams.
****
Clint descended from the carriage and assisted Dorothy out of it as well, carrying her suitcase as he led her to the front door of the home. He knocked lightly, and after a few moments, a middle-aged woman answered the door. She was a stout woman with graying hair that was kept in a neat bun. She had a pleasant look about her, especially when she smiled, which she did readily.
“Hello,” the woman said. “You must be Miss Aldridge. Oh, I’ve heard so much about you. My name is Mrs. Shields. I am Mr. Edwards’ housekeeper. Please, come inside.”
Clint let Dorothy go ahead of him as they entered Mrs. Shields’ home. The place was nicely decorated with furniture that was not fancy, yet it was comfortable-looking. Much of the home was furnished with fine oak fixtures, such as tables and shelves. There was a small sitting room, a kitchen and two bedrooms of just about equal size.
“I have taken the liberty of placing new linens on the bed in your room,” Mrs. Shields told Dorothy brightly, “though, of course, if you would rather stay in the other room, I can manage that as well.”
Clint placed the suitcase down in the hallway near the door of Dorothy’s new bedroom and cleared his throat. “I shall leave you ladies to it. Please come over to my house for dinner a little later on, so the boys can meet you, Dorothy.” He smiled at her and nodded his head faintly to Mrs. Shields.
The housekeeper nodded back to him and then he took his leave. Dorothy went into the offered bedroom and sat on the bed, noting its fresh softness. There was a desk in the room, a boudoir and a fully-stocked bookshelf. Most of the
books appeared to be written about historical times; they were not the sort of thing that Dorothy liked to read, but it still pleased her that there were books in this home. She would have to check later on and see if any of them might be suitable to take to the orphanage and share with the children.
The bed on which she was sitting had a frame of cool brass. It was not a particularly large bed, but Dorothy was not a large woman. She smiled appreciatively at Mrs. Shields as the older woman lingered there in the doorway, making sure that everything was all right. “I think this shall do quite nicely. Thank you so much for all the trouble I’m sure this must have caused you.”
Mrs. Shields shook her head. “Oh, it is no trouble. I am delighted to see Mr. Edwards so happy. It will be good for him to have a sweet young wife again.” She smiled. “Now you get some rest. The train ride must have been exhausting. I will rouse you when it is time to go to Mr. Edwards’ house for dinner if you do not wake before then. If you do happen to rise before we must depart, all you have to do is holler and I’ll be here for you. My room is right down the hall.” Mrs. Shields gestured to the other bedroom’s door several feet away and on the opposite side of the hall from where Dorothy now sat.
With that, the kindly older woman went on her way to her own room, likely to have a bit of a rest before she was to go to Clint’s house and prepare the evening meal. Dorothy felt privileged that Mrs. Shields had already prepared a bedroom for her as well as tidied up and offered her own home to the girl, who was a complete stranger, after all. Dorothy had not expected such a courtesy. She thought that the people she was to live amongst were some of the sweetest people she had ever met, not including her dear friends from back home, of course.
As Dorothy lay back on her bed, she thought about her friends. She wondered how they were getting used to Missoula Mills and hoped that things were starting out as happily for them as they were for her.
Annie: A Bride For The Farmhand - A Clean Historical Western Romance (Stewart House Brides Book 3) Page 40