Mama Was A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Bride Series Book 14)

by Susan Leigh Carlton

  “When I complete the program, I will have had more than twenty-five concerts. I will be a certified master of music. It’s my dream, Mama and it’s coming true.”

  “Is there a midterm break?” her mother asked.

  “There is a break of a month over Christmas, but we go on through the summer. I’ll come home for Christmas, but I’ll probably sleep through the entire time.

  “I’ve got to go. Give everyone a hug for me, and tell them I love them. I love you too.”

  “We love you too baby. Abby… do save some time for yourself. I worry about you.”

  “I will, Mama.”

  * * *

  The Abby that stepped off the train in Cheyenne on December 18th looked different from the Abby that left in September. She was thinner, and had dark circles under her eyes. She looked tired.

  Her entire family was there to greet her; Laurie, just in from school in Laramie was the first.

  “I’ve missed you so much, I can’t tell you,” Laurie said.

  “I miss you too, Sis,” Abby said. She hugged her mother, and held the embrace.

  “Michael, how many girlfriends do you have now?”

  “Just one,” he said. “And that’s enough. I couldn’t handle any more.

  Her father took her in his arms. “Punkin, I’m glad you’re home. The Lazy K is not the same without you.”

  “I miss you too, all of you,” she said.

  Part three

  Chapter 1

  Christmas At Home

  “My apartment is nice,” Abby said to her mother. “My landlords are Italian, and about your age, Mama,” I rented a piano, but actually, I don’t think I really need it. I can’t play very late because it might disturb the other tenants, and I’m usually studying.”

  “What do you do about meals?” her practical mother asked.

  “I have a small stove, and an icebox. I pay Mrs. Mangano to keep ice in it. I don’t cook much, and there’s a deli right down the street. I eat lunch at school when I have time.”

  “In other words, you aren’t eating properly?” Amanda said. “Honey, that’s not healthy. You’re working so hard, you need fuel. Consuela’s going to be on your case.”

  “I know, Mama, but some days there just isn’t time to eat.”

  “Would you have time to be sick?”

  “Not really,” Abby said. “I’ll try to make time, Mama. I promise.”

  “What are the classes like?” Amanda asked.

  “Exhausting,”

  “I have two hour sessions with my music professor three times a week. Those cover everything, technique, timing, mechanics and structure. The classes are on theory and composition. I never knew there was so much mathematics in music. We also have ear training, and we have to check the tuning of the piano before each lesson.

  “My advisor tells me next term, and next year will be more of the same. The faculty members are all master musicians, and I don’t think I’ve had one that didn’t have his doctorate. They are really intimidating. All of them have had performances all over Europe. Two of mine have had performances before the King of England and the King of Spain. When they talk, you listen. When they play, it is incredible.”

  “You’ve had four concerts?”

  “Yes and my next one will be the week after I get back, so I’ll need to get some time in while I’m here.

  “Can we talk tomorrow? I really want to get some sleep.”

  “Of course, darling, but first, you have to eat. Consuela has been waiting to cook for you. “

  Abby started to say something, but her mother stopped her. “You have to eat something, now don’t argue.”

  “I will, Mama, but I’m not a little girl.”

  “You’re my little girl,” Amanda said.

  Abby laughed. “Papa said the same thing when I left for school.”

  “If you’re really lucky, like I was, someday, you’ll know what it’s like to be a mother. You are always a mother. I’m still my mama’s little girl, and I always will be. It’s kind of comforting to know that. Now, let’s eat.”

  Abby was still asleep at ten o’clock.

  “Is she all right?” Laurie asked.

  “I think she’s just worn out,” Amanda said.

  “Is it okay if Doug comes to dinner?” Laurie asked.

  “Again?” Michael said. “He eats here more than he does at his house.”

  “Mind your own business,” Laurie said.

  “That wasn’t nice, Laurie, Of course it’s okay, but tell Consuela.”

  “I will. I’m going riding,” she said.

  “Be careful,” Amanda said.

  “Always,” Laurie said, and headed for the stable.

  It was eleven when Abby came downstairs.

  “Come sit down and I’ll get your breakfast.” Consuela said.

  “That’s all right, I’ll just wait until lunch,” Abby said.

  “No Señorita. Not in my kitchen. You sit,” Consuela said.

  “Yes ma’am.” She sat.

  A steaming plate of scrambled eggs and bacon was placed before her. “That’s too much,” she said.

  “Eat,” was the command.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  “I see you have an appetite this morning,” her mother said as she walked into the kitchen and took a chair.

  “It’s not my idea,” Abby replied. “She pointed a fork at Consuela. “It’s this tyrant’s idea.”

  “At least you’re eating. Maybe we should send her back with you.”

  “You would too, wouldn’t you?” Abby said, and then smiled. It’s good to be home. Consuela, I’ve missed your cooking too.”

  “What are your plans this morning?” her mother asked.

  “I’m going to practice for a while, then I’ll take a nap.”

  “Good, I’ve really been looking forward to hearing you play.”

  When she had finished eating, she went to her room and returned with a tuning kit.

  “This hasn’t been tuned since I got it for Christmas,” Amanda said.

  “A concert piano’s tune is checked midway through a performance. I’ve seen some of the masters get really angry if they find an instrument out of tune,” Abby said.

  Her mother laughed. “Your Papa would never know the difference. Laurie either.”

  “It’s part of the course. The intervals have to be right or the piece doesn’t have the correct sound.”

  Abby adjusted her seat and began to play one of her mother’s favorites, Dvorak’s Symphony Number 6.

  “Beautiful,” Amanda said. “Just beautiful. I don’t know whether it’s your playing or the tuning, probably a combination, but I’ve never heard that piece played so well.”

  Two years later…

  December 11, 1908…

  Now twenty-four years old, and a master musician, Abby clutched her diploma in her hand. With the phone in hand, she placed a call to the Lazy K.

  “Lazy K, this is Rance,” the voice said.

  “Papa, I have it. I just left the school, my course is completed. I’ve signed for a concert tour of Europe for next year. Will you meet the train Tuesday? Better bring the wagon, I’ll have all of my stuff.”

  “I’ll be there, Punkin, if I have to wade through hip-deep snow.”

  “I can hardly wait. Is Laurie going to be home?”

  “I believe she’s coming in on the eighteenth,” he said.

  “I have to run Papa, give Mama and Consuela my love.”

  “I will. Abby… congratulations. I’m so proud of you, I could bust.”

  “Love you, Papa. Bye.”

  * * *

  Sunday, December 27, 1908…

  The gray haired cowboy assisted his lovely wife and two extraordinarily beautiful daughters from the carriage and made their way to the church. They sat in their usual spot on the left side, half-way back. Rance stepped aside to let two of his girls be seated. The third, Abby went to the front and took her place at the new piano her father had
donated to the church. She began playing the Introit.

  Her father moved to the end of the pew to make room for the Pierce family. Doug sat next to Laurie, his sister Becky beside him and then his parents.

  Clem Hutchison, pastor of the church for the past thirty years, moved to the center of the pulpit, raised his arms, widespread, and said “Shall we pray?”

  After the opening prayer was offered, Clem read the announcements.

  “We are blessed to have our own Abigail Kendall, providing our music. Abby has just concluded her studies as a Master Musician, in New York City, and is home for the holidays. Welcome home, Abby.”

  She turned on the bench, and smiled. It was good to be home.

  * * *

  Lazy K Ranch…

  “Papa, I’ve been thinking, after my concert tour, I intend to make Cheyenne my home between concerts. I’d like to modernize the Rocking R and make it my home. What do you think?”

  “Well, this will always be your home, and I personally would like to have you here, but it’s your decision. If you want to use that as your base, I would suggest you get one of the architects in Cheyenne to take a look at it to see what can be done. We’ve taken care of it all these years, so it’s in reasonably good shape.”

  “I would like to put it to some use, Papa,” she said.” I will be doing this from the trust.”

  “We’ll go see the architect whenever you’re ready.

  The two of them stopped to visit Cheyenne’s only architect on Monday. He met with Abby at the Rocking R the next day. By the end of the week, they had agreed on plans for the revision of the ranch house.

  Abby sailed for England aboard the RMS Lusitania to begin her initial concert tour in February of 1909.

  A week later, she began her career as a concert pianist at the Royal Albert Hall to rave reviews.

  The tour continued…

  Part four

  Chapter 1

  Laurie Kendall 1

  Laurie Kendall Backstory…

  Laurie Ann Kendall was the only daughter of Rance and Amanda Kendall. She wasn’t the only child in the family, however. She had a sister, Abby, who was adopted, and a brother, Michael.

  Laurie was the image of her loving mother. With an outgoing personality, in contrast to that of her sister, Abby, she was well liked by everyone. Especially Doug Pierce, the son of a neighboring ranch owner. Their parents were best friends to each other.

  Laurie and Doug were both in the elementary school taught by her mother. In high school, they were in the same class again.

  * * *

  Sixteen Years old…

  “Mama, Doug asked me to the Church Social Friday. Is it okay?”

  “Of course, just be careful.” Amanda said.

  “Doug is always careful when I’m with him.”

  “And I will always tell you to be careful,” her mother said.

  The Cheyenne First Methodist Church held a social each month for the sixteen to eighteen year old members of their church except for the dead of winter months. The social was held in the basement of the church. Most of those in the age group attended the socials, since Cheyenne offered little more in the way of entertainment.

  “Doug, are you going to college?” Laurie asked.

  “Nah, I don’t see where it will do any good,” Doug said. “You don’t need to go to college to work on a ranch, and that’s what I want to do.”

  “Becky went,” she said.

  “And what good did it do?” he asked. “She’s just a teacher.”

  “My mama is a teacher, and she’s not just a teacher, the way you said it. She’s a good teacher. I’m going, and I’m not going to be just a teacher. I’m going to be a Teacher”

  “You don’t have to get all huffy about it. You asked the question,” he said.

  “I didn’t ask you to insult teachers.”

  “I didn’t. You just took what I said the wrong way.”

  “I don’t like your attitude. I would like to go home.”

  “Aw, come on Laurie. Don’t be that way,” he said.

  “I would like to go home. Are you going to take me or do I have to ask one of the other boys to take me.”

  “I’ll take you, but I think you’re being silly,” he said.

  “Never mind. I’ll get someone else,” she said and started to walk away.

  “Laurie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you mad. I’ll take you home, if that’s what you want.”

  “It is.”

  The trip to the Lazy K was made in silence. When they arrived, Laurie jumped from the carriage before Doug could help her. She went into the house without saying good night to him.

  “You’re home early,” Michael said.

  “I had an argument with Doug,” Laurie said.

  “What was it about?” her mother asked

  “Oh, he’s just being stupid as usual, I asked if he was going to college, and he said it wouldn’t do any good, he was going to be a rancher, and you didn’t need college for that. I reminded him Becky went, and he said it didn’t do her any good. She’s just a teacher. That made me mad, because you’re not just a teacher. He said I was being silly, so I asked him to take me home.”

  “It’ll be all right, her mother said. “He’ll apologize.”

  “He did, and I didn’t accept it. He didn’t mean it. I could tell by the way he said it.”

  Sunday at the church…

  The worshipers headed for their normal seats in the sanctuary. Rance stood to the side to allow the others to enter the row of seats “Let me go first, Papa, I want to sit next to you today,” Laurie said. He looked at her strangely, but he let her enter the row first.

  Jennie Pierce sat next to Amanda, with Cal and Doug to her side.

  Jennie leaned toward Amanda and asked, “What’s going on with those two?”

  “They had a spat at the social,” Amanda said.. “Doug made a disparaging remark about teachers and it made Laurie mad.”

  “I’ll talk to him about it”

  “Don’t do that. It will blow over.”

  It didn’t.

  Laurie did not go to the next social. The following month, one of the town boys asked her to go with him.

  Doug was furious. “Too good to go with me?” he asked.

  “You know what your problem is, Doug?” she asked.

  “I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” he said.

  “You can’t fix stupid,” she said and walked away.

  “What does that mean?”

  She didn’t answer.

  The only time they saw each other after this was at church. Neither spoke to the other. Doug no longer went to the socials.

  Relations remained strained for the next school year and the ensuing summer.

  Laurie sat in the first car on the train for Laramie. Her courses were set and she would be rooming with her sister, Abby, now in her junior year.

  “May I sit here?”

  She looked up, to see Doug standing in the aisle”. If you like,” she said and resumed looking out the window.

  The train left the station. After a few miles, Doug asked, “Can we be friends again?”

  After a pause, Laurie said, “I’d like that.”

  “Good.”

  “What changed your mind about school?” she asked.

  “I learned there’s a lot more to running a ranch than I thought. Papa showed me some of the things he kept track of. I didn’t know anything about them. He goes to the Cattlemen’s Association and keeps telling me about all of the new things they’re doing. He convinced me there are a lot of new things we need to take advantage of to stay profitable.

  “Laurie, I’m really sorry. I was stupid and what I said was uncalled for.”

  “I accept your apology, Doug, and thank you.”

  “Thank me for what?”

  “For being man enough to admit you were mistaken,” she said.

  She extended her hand. “Want to shake on it?”

  He t
ook her hand. It was warm and soft. And so smooth He wondered what the tingling was he was feeling, but decided not to mention it. He didn’t let go of her hand either.

  Laurie turned to face him. She didn’t try to remove her hand.

  Part four

  Chapter 2

  Laurie Kendall 2

  He walked Laurie to her dorm. At the entrance, he said, “I’d like to have dinner with you.”

  “I’d like that too,” she said.

  “Why don’t I meet you out front at seven?” he asked.

  “I’ll be ready,” she said.

  Abby had been on the campus several days, for piano lessons. After they hugged, she said, “Why are you looking so smug.”

  “Doug and I made up. We’re going to have dinner.”

  “It’s about time,” Abby said.

  “I thought so too.”

  Sitting across the table from Doug, Laurie looked around the room. Doug is more handsome than any man here, funny, I never noticed it before, He’s always just been plain old Doug, who used to pull my pigtails. She smiled at the thought.

  “What’s funny?” Doug asked.

  “The silliest thing just popped into my head. I remembered how you used to pull my pigtails.”

  “I never did that,” he protested.

  “Did too, and I’d tell Mama about it and she’d tell you to play nice.”

  He took her hand, There was that tingling again. “I would never hurt you, Laurie.”

  Back at her dorm, he looked into her deep blue eyes, and said, “I want to kiss you.”

  “I don’t see anyone holding you,” she said.

  He agreed, so he kissed her.

  “How was your evening, little sister?” Abby asked.

  “It was great. We had a nice dinner and he kissed me goodnight.”

  “I’m happy for you, He’s always seemed like a really nice boy to me,:” Abby said.

  * * *