Adam tipped his hat. “Adam Greiner, Ma’am. Nice to meet you.”
Aunt Tess laughed out loud and wrapped Adam in a hug. “Nice to meet you, Adam. You must know Joseph since Gentle Falls is a small town.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Adam answered taking a step back.
“Wonderful. Please call me Aunt Tess. Everyone does,” she said and did her best to straighten her hat only to cause the flowers adorning it to tip forward over her eyes. She let out a warm laugh and pushed the flowers back.
“Mr. Karson hired Aunt Tess to be the hotel’s new cook,” Joseph explained. He picked up her bag and ushered her toward his father’s barbershop.
Adam felt relieved yet deflated. Where was his bride? He glanced back toward the train, and his heart skipped a beat. His eyes took in a vision in blue. Certainly, she must be an angel. Most of her light brown hair was hidden by her slightly askew hat, but a few loose wisps framed her face. Her beautiful face. He walked toward her, and she smiled at him. Her dark green eyes met his, and he was lost. This was his bride.
“Adam?” She whispered.
“Yes, are you Rebecca?” He managed to say without tripping or mumbling.
Rebecca nodded and lowered her eyes.
“She certainly is Rebecca, but you need to call her Miss Broadmoor,” came a gruff voice from behind Rebecca. Adam looked up into the eyes of a woman he could only describe as an unhappy spinster schoolmarm. This woman appeared even older than his Ma or the newly arrived Aunt Tess. Her dark brown traveling suit added to her stark appearance causing Adam to swallow deeply while trying to think of something to say.
Rebecca spoke, “Adam, this is my cousin, Winifred Broadmoor.” She smiled and leaned closer, “Just don’t call her Winnie.”
“Cousin? Why did your cousin accompany you and she looks old enough to be your Ma?” Adam scowled at the tall, thin woman glaring at him.
Rebecca turned and smiled at Winifred then turned back to Adam. “She’s the eldest child of my father’s eldest brother. My father was the youngest in his family, and I’m his youngest child. There are twenty years between Winifred and me, but she’s been like a mother to me for the past five years since my mother passed. I explained in my letters that she lived with father and me.”
“All right but why is she here? Don’t mail-order brides usually come alone? Am I missing something?” Adam glanced at Winifred who was still scowling at him.
Rebecca took Adam’s arm and walked several feet away from Winifred. “It was a last-minute decision. Winifred’s beau left her two days before their wedding, and she doesn’t have anyone else. We both lost our parents and don’t have any siblings living nearby. We’re not close to the rest of the family, and I couldn’t leave her alone with a broken heart. She had nowhere else to live.”
Adam was ready to complain that he was not going to share his home with a new wife and her shrewish cousin when he looked back into Rebecca’s eyes looking up at him. He’d agree to anything when he gazed into those green eyes. “Well, we’ll work this out, Miss Broadmoor.”
“I think we will and please call me Becca. Miss Broadmoor is too formal for a bride-to-be,” she smiled, and Adam knew he’d do whatever was necessary to accommodate his lovely almost-bride’s request.
“Adam Greiner, how nice to see you,” the voice floated to Adam and Becca as a willowy young woman made her way across the train platform. She strolled over to Adam and slipped her arm through his. “Please introduce me to your friend, Adam dear.”
Adam did his best to disentangle his arm from the young woman’s death grip and smiled at Becca. “Rebecca, this is Cordelia Willoughby. Cordelia, this is Rebecca Broadmoor, my future wife.”
Cordelia snorted. “Wife, truly Adam? You always make me laugh. This must be your sister. You know we’re meant to be married.”
Becca’s eyes flew open wide, and Winifred stormed straight to meet Cordelia eye to eye “I don’t know what is going on here young woman, but Rebecca is here to marry Mr. Greiner. You should run along home.”
Cordelia snorted again, “Who are you? Did that little wisp of a woman bring her mama along? How sweet, but you are mistaken. Adam is mine.”
Adam glared at Cordelia, took Becca by the arm and led her away from the discussion between Cordelia and Winifred.
“Becca, please do not believe a word Cordelia says. She arrived in town a few weeks ago to visit her aunt and uncle and for some reason decided we would eventually wed once she convinced me to court her. That will never happen. You are my bride.”
Becca’s eyes flashed to Cordelia and then back to Adam. “If that’s true, why would she insist you’ll be married?”
Adam closed his eyes and fought the urge to strangle Cordelia, opened them again and smiled at Becca. “I truly don’t know. Her uncle owns the bank, and she believes everything she wants is hers. It appears she wants me, but she can’t have me. I am promised to you.”
Becca pressed her lips together and looked into Adam’s eyes. “That you are. Now, let’s make sure Miss Willoughby knows that.” She slipped her arm into the crook of Adam’s arm, and they strolled back to where Cordelia waited with Winifred.
Smiling her best smile at Cordelia, Becca spoke to Winifred, “We need to help Adam find our trunks. We have much to do to prepare for the wedding.” She turned to Cordelia, “It was ever so nice to meet you, Miss Willoughby. Please be sure to attend the wedding.”
Winifred followed Becca and Adam leaving Cordelia standing with her mouth open.
Miranda Greiner had been watching the interaction between her son, Cordelia Willoughby, and the young woman she assumed was her future daughter-in-law. She turned to her husband and said, “Roy, I think we best go introduce ourselves and maybe we can stop a scene between Cordelia and our future daughter. That young woman has caused enough trouble in town. I won’t have Adam and Miss Broadmoor the subject of gossip.”
Roy did his best to keep up with a determined Miranda as she strode toward Adam and Becca. Sending a glare at Cordelia, Miranda stopped in front of Becca and wrapped her in her arms. “Welcome to Gentle Falls, I’m Adam’s mother, Miranda Greiner. Let’s get you home to our house.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Greiner. This is my cousin, Winifred,” she turned her head to smile at Winifred. “She came with me.”
Miranda took Winifred’s hand and said, “Welcome. You and Rebecca will stay at my house. We have a lot of room since Adam, and my daughter have moved into their own homes. Now, let Adam and Roy, he’s my husband, gather your luggage. I’m sure you’re hungry and tired. We’ll get you settled, a warm meal and bath.”
Winifred and Becca followed the whirlwind that was Miranda Greiner to her buggy. Roy shrugged at Adam. “Let’s put the ladies trunks in your wagon, and we’ll follow your Ma home. Looks like she’s taken charge of your bride.”
Adam rubbed his temple with his left hand, “Yeah, that worries me almost as much as Cordelia.”
Trying to stifle a chuckle, “You should have known your Ma would want to be here and would take care of any problems. She expected Cordelia to cause trouble. The entire town knows your bride would arrive today. It appears your lady has as much spunk as your Ma. She’ll keep your life interesting.”
Adam nodded and lifted one of the trunks into the back of his wagon. Roy set another trunk next to the first and turned to grab another one. Adam turned and looked at his father, “Six trunks? Who travels with six trunks?”
“Son, Rebecca and her cousin left their homes behind. These trunks most likely contain everything they own.”
“Yeah, I suppose. I just don’t understand why Winifred came along. I know Becca said her fiancé rejected her and Becca didn’t want to leave her behind, but how are Becca and I supposed to live as newlyweds with Winifred in the house?”
“You have two weeks to work that out, but I think your Ma will offer Winifred a room at our house until she’s settled somewhere in town,” he offered and hefted another trunk into the wagon.
“I hope.”
“Mr. Greiner, Mr. Greiner,” called the station master’s son as he ran toward them.
Both Adam and Roy answered, “What?”
“Pa told me to let you know that three wooden crates arrived with those trunks you’re loading.”
Adam looked up at the three large wooden crates sitting near the station master’s office. “Pa, I think they came with more than personal things. What do you suppose is in those trunks?”
Roy shrugged, “They’re women. It could be anything.”
Adam walked over to the station master and asked if he would hold the crates until he dropped the trunks at home and came back.
The station master answered, “Of course,” and Adam took another good look at the large crates wondering what they held. Maybe when he returned for them, he could guess what was in them by the weight or when he told Becca he would bring them later, she might offer him an explanation.
Adam and Roy followed the buggy as it headed toward the Greiner farm. Adam’s mind wandered to the letters he received from Becca. She never mentioned Winifred’s troubles or that she intended to bring crates of whatever with her. Not that he minded. His house was big enough to hold anything she had in the crates. Was he was being unreasonable thinking she should arrive alone and with just one trunk. His Ma and sister traveled with more trunks than anyone else. He felt out of sorts, and he knew it was because of Cordelia. He had a bad feeling that she would cause problems or try to come between him and Becca. It wasn’t Becca’s fault that Cordelia was infuriating and he vowed not to let his mood cause Becca any worries.
Chapter Five
The ride back to the Greiner farm took a little less than an hour in the buggy. Miranda spoke and answered questions before they were asked. She pointed out where the farm began and the trail that split off to Adam’s ranch. “Adam never loved farm work as much as his father does. We grew wheat until the crops were ruined by disease and bugs in the late 1850s. Roy did continue to grow wheat during the war for the troops, but after the war was over, we switched to corn, oats, and hay. We feed our animals, sell some, eat corn all winter, sell butter and milk along with the cherries from our grove. I have to admit I put up more cherries than I sell. I love cherry pie, and I bake them often.”
Becca giggled from a combination of nerves and excitement, “I make cherry cobbler. It is my best dessert. I told Adam in one of my letters, and he said he knows he would love it.”
“I am sure he will. There is a small cherry grove on Adam’s property which will give you more than enough to eat all summer and put up for dozens of pies in the winter. One of Adam’s favorite things to do, since he was old enough to pluck a cherry off a tree, is to walk through the grove and eat cherries. Be careful he doesn’t eat them all,” Miranda laughed as she pulled the buggy up around the back of the house.
“He wouldn’t,” Becca gasped.
“No, but he might try.” She patted Becca’s hand. “Adam loves to eat. I hope you love to cook.”
“I do, and I believe I’m a good cook. I hope Adam agrees. Will you share some of his favorite dishes with me? I’d hate to feed him something he dislikes the first time I prepare dinner.”
“That’s not a problem. If it’s meat, potatoes, gravy, biscuits, eggs, bacon, or dessert, he will be happy. He is not fond of vegetables, but I made him clean his plate growing up. I’m not sure you’ll have the same power over him as a strict mother has,” Miranda smiled at Becca.
Winifred who’d been quiet the entire ride home added, “There are other ways she could convince him.”
“That there are,” Miranda laughed, and Becca and Winifred joined her.
Cody hurried out of the barn to take care of the horses and buggy while Miranda ushered Becca and Winifred into the house. She stopped long enough to put on water for tea and then showed Becca and Winifred their rooms.
Miranda opened a door down the hall from their rooms, “We have indoor plumbing. There’s a water closet here and across the hall a bathing room.”
“How wonderful,” Becca exclaimed. “We had a privy back home on the farm.”
“I’ll explain about plumbing and Gentle Falls while we have tea. Please take your time freshening up. I’ll be in the kitchen,” Miranda said and then rushed back to the kitchen.
Winifred whispered, “This house is beautiful. I hope Adam’s home is nice and not a two-room cabin sitting out in the middle of a field.”
Becca shook her head, “Adam wrote that he has a three bedroom house. His parents lived there before building this house. His sister and her husband lived there for a while before they moved to their own farm. I doubt anyone lived in a shed. I suppose I shall see soon.”
~ * ~
Miranda, Becca, and Winifred were enjoying tea and molasses cookies when Adam walked in the back door.
Becca’s warm smile nearly stopped his heart. He forgot about his previous trunk and crate complaints and stammered, “Uh, I have the trunks, I mean your trunks. Where do you want them?”
Miranda laughed, “In the house of course. Becca will take your sister’s room and Winifred in the guest room.”
“Which trunks go in which rooms?” Adam asked and thought Did I just ask that? How stupid do I sound? “I mean whose trunk is whose?” He shook his head. That sounded more stupid than the first question. My mind turns to mud when I look at Becca.
Adam spun and walked out the door. Becca jumped up and said, “I’ll show him which trunks are mine. He looks tired.”
Miranda hid her smile and mumbled, “Smitten is more like it.”
Becca walked to the back of the wagon and smiled at Adam again. “These three trunks are mine.”
“Do you mind if I ask what’s in these?”
“No, I brought all my clothes. Your weather is similar to Ohio’s, and I knew I would need winter and summer clothes. My heavy coat, boots, dresses, two quilts. One I made and one my mother gave me before she passed away. Things I thought I’d need right away,” Becca shrugged. “I hope it’s all right.”
“Oh, of course, it is. I wasn’t sure since you also have crates.”
“The crates have things from my home, and Winifred’s that mean a lot to us. Winifred packed up one crate of her mother’s things she wanted to take to her new home when she married. Since she didn’t marry and came with me, I insisted she bring her things. The other two crates are full of memories from my home. My grandmother’s china, books, a few small paintings, memories, you understand?” Her green eyes melted his heart and any questions he had.
“Of course, I understand. You should have anything you wish. I can store the crates at my home so they will be there when we um…when we marry.”
Becca laid her hand on Adam’s arm. “Thank you.” She dropped her eyes feeling blessed that the man she would marry had a good heart.
Becca returned to the kitchen and Adam moved the six trunks inside. “I’ll go back and get the crates moved from the train station to the house. I don’t want them damaged. I should be back in time for supper, Ma. I’ll see you later Becca, Miss Winifred.” Becca blushed again, and Winifred stunned him with a bright smile. He stood and shifted his weight from one foot to the other as if he were going to say something more, but he just smiled at Becca and left.
Miranda smiled at her son’s retreating back. Yes, he was definitely smitten. She looked at Becca and said, “I’m sure Adam will want to take you to see the house. It’s clean, and the furniture is in good repair, but I’m sure you’ll want to add your own new curtains and little touches to make it yours. Right now, it has a privy outback and a pump at the kitchen sink, but you’ll have indoor plumbing before the wedding. Roy tells me the supplies should arrive any day.”
“Oh my,” Becca blurted. “Adam doesn’t have to do that for me. Does he think I’m spoiled or in need of special things? Not that I think Mr. Greiner spoiled you or that you…oh, I’m not sure what I’m saying.” Becca blushed and covered her face with her hands.
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“No need to feel upset, my dear,” Miranda soothed. “Let me explain about indoor plumbing in Gentle Falls as I said I would. The owner of the bank, Mr. Willoughby, has an extreme loathing for privies. He sits on the town council along with Judge Magarey who shares his view of privies. The town council passed a law that all new buildings and newly purchased buildings must have indoor plumbing within three months of purchase. It seems like a silly law, but when Roy and I transferred the property to Adam, he had three months to get the indoor plumbing finished. That was a month ago. Roy ordered what they need and will help Adam with it once it arrives.” Miranda sipped her tea and continued. “My story is a bit different. Roy had business in Chicago, and I went along. They had indoor plumbing at the hotel, and I fell in love with it. Before we left town, Roy had contacted someone about what needed to be done and ordered the materials. I believe Mr. Willoughby was jealous and once the law was passed, people wouldn’t think he put in the plumbing because Roy did. The Willoughby family is a bit high strung. I believe you experienced that today when you met Cordelia.”
Becca groaned. “She wants Adam. I hope I made it clear that she can’t have him. I invited her to our wedding. It was a bit presumptuous of me. Adam may change his mind.”
Winifred shook her head, and Miranda patted Becca’s hand, “Don’t worry. I know my son. You are exactly the young woman he needs, and he won’t let you slip away.”
Winifred added, “Your young man is polite and seems to already care for you. I believe this may work out better than I expected. I told you I would wait until I met him to decide and thus far, he hasn’t given me any reason not to believe he is a good match.”
Becca’s smile was as bright as Miranda’s yellow kitchen curtains which caught Becca’s eye. “I love your curtains. Yellow is a perfect kitchen color. Do you think Adam would mind if I put yellow curtains in our kitchen? It’s such a happy color.”
Adam's Heart Page 3