Pioneer Love: Damaged Hearts Head West: Mail Order Bride 5 Bundle (15 page)

Chapter 4

Each day the train, hissed, and puffed and shook as it sped across the landscape. It was a tiring journey yet David found Mary’s company exhilarating. They spoke of their favorite books. He having to admit that he loved The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and had read it five times. Mary’s tastes were more wide-ranging she had just finished Moby Dick and asked if she could borrow his copy of the Hollow. Saying yes gave David a thrill. They would stay in touch and he offered to bring it to a church service or perhaps he could bring it to her at home? Mary agreed but did not offer up her address and David felt a touch of disappointment. Maybe he was being a little forward.

Then they discussed politics and business. David found Mary had a fine mind and the more he got to know her the more he liked. Often they discussed other members of the church and how they had been so close for many years yet had hardly spoken at all. Other times they shared memories of their lost loves and to David it was freeing. Never before had he been able to talk so openly about his grief. Never before had he spoken to someone who understood exactly what he had been through.

Each morning he wondered if this would be the day that Mary left him and each night as they departed the train to sleep he gave thanks that he would spend at least some of tomorrow in her company.

After a long, tiring journey he knew his station was next. What should he say? How could he ask to see her again? The more he tried the worst it became and eventually he stared out the window at the long flat plains and the distant mountains. It looked dusty, which was a disappointment. Where was the snow? Finally, they reached the station where he was to get off. At every station that the train stopped, David had found himself dreading that one would be her stop. He could've just asked her and saved himself the misery but for some reason, he was afraid to know exactly when he would have to say goodbye.

When the train finally came to a stop, he stood. “This is my stop,” he said. He found that Mary too was unloading her luggage. David leaned forward to help her, abandoning his own luggage, all but the bag in his hand. He got her luggage off then went back for his own. When he got off, he was surprised to find her still standing, waiting for him to arrive. Her bags seemed to have magically vanished and David went to ask her if everything was all right and what happened to her bags.

He approached her and saw that she was looking at him, with her head propped to the side, a look of surprise and wonder on her face. "You are David Montgomery, father of Anna Montgomery?" she said a tone of surprise in her voice.

David looked at her in puzzlement, wondering how she knew his daughter's name. "Yes, she is my daughter. Why do you ask?"

"I am the agency lady who introduced your daughter to the Gellman’s. Apparently, a carriage has been sent for the both of us," she said, gesturing at the large carriage standing a little further behind her.

David looked at the carriage and then back to her, before breaking out into a huge grin. "My my, what a small world this is."

Mary couldn't help but grin back in response. "That it is Mr. Montgomery, that it is." And they both headed off to the carriage so they could finally meet the girl they had both come to see.

David sat back in the carriage and tried to stop a grin from spreading all over his face. It was wonderful that this woman was here. Wonderful that they would be spending more time together and maybe they could even travel back together. A laugh almost escaped him. Just two weeks ago he was unsure if he would be going home. Now a pretty face and an interesting mind had him looking forward to leaving already.

To hide his grin he glanced out of the window. The town was small, with false-fronted buildings right up to the street. There was a saloon, a livery, and a mercantile. Further down he saw a small church and his face lit up with a grin. “Look, Mary,” he said. “Look there is the church.”

“It looks like the best-kept building in town,” Mary replied.

She was right. David had been expecting something nice, from Anna’s letters so where was the Gellman’s property?

They passed out into the countryside and in the distance he saw cattle. Next to the track a cowboy sat upon a sorrel, he raised his hat as the coach passed and David waved back. The excitement was building inside him along with anticipation at seeing Anna again. How would she be? 

In the distance, he spotted snow on the mountains and breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe they would see some snow while he was here and maybe if that was true then the rest of her letters were too. Maybe Ian Gellman deserved his daughter.

Mary let out a sigh and David turned to her, a question in his eyes. She just shook her head slightly. "This place is more beautiful than words can describe,” she said. “Anyone who lives here must feel like the most blessed person alive."

David sat straight in his seat. "According to my daughter, it snows here more often than not and outdoors can be brutal at times,” David said. “I have to admit it worries me, leaving her here in this… this wilderness with a man I have never met. But I must admit it does look magnificent at the moment."

“Do not worry David,” Mary said. “I vetted Ryan Gellman most thoroughly.”

David’s eyes opened wide. “Yes, but just like my Anna. She chose the brother you hadn’t vetted.”

Mary just nodded her head in reply; her concentration was on something a little in the distance. David looked out the window to see what had captured her attention and was astounded to see a huge manor. It looked more like a castle than anything he had ever seen and it was fast approaching.  

The carriage drew to a halt and David couldn’t move. Part of him wanted to get out and to beat the footman in helping Mary alight, but his feet just wouldn’t move. A sign by the double door entrance said in swirling writing "Welcome to the Gellman Lodge.”

Mary was helped out and David followed. They both stood there, gawking at the massive house in front of them. David couldn't help but feel happy for his daughter and intimidated at the same time.

“They told me they had a handsome business,” Mary said, “but I never imagined this…” Her hand moved across her to indicate the huge house.

David could not find his voice and was still gawking when the door opened and out rushed his little girl.

"Father,” she shrieked out loud and limping down the few steps, she launched herself into his arms.

Chuckling he hugged her back and lifted her up and spun her around before setting her back down. Red in the face and smiling from ear to ear, Anna turned to Mary. "Hello, Mrs. Hawkins,” she said with a slight curtsey. “Thank you so much for making it to my wedding. I can't tell you how much I owe you for bringing all this happiness into my life."

Mary smiled at Anna with fondness. "Call me Mary, dear,” she said. “I didn't do anything really. It was all you that won over your fiancé, of that I'm sure."

"Well, she's right about that, sweetheart," said a man's deep voice from behind her. David and Mary turned to see a handsome man approaching them, a genuine smile plastered on his face. Anna turned and with her eyes shining, she introduced him. "Father, Mrs. Hawkins, I mean Mary, this is my fiancé, Ian Gellman. Ian, this is my father and this is the lady who helped bring us together."

Ian stepped forward and shook hands with David, bowing to Mary. "Thank you both for giving me this beautiful angel. She has been the best thing that has happened to me and I can't express my gratitude enough to the both of you. Please do come in and don't worry about your luggage, it will be sent to your rooms directly."

David liked the handshake. It was firm but not crushing. This man didn’t think he needed to prove anything. Ian seemed nice, tall, well muscled and his hands were rough from work. Maybe his prayers had all been answered, maybe Anna had found a wonderful husband and would live her happy ever after. As Ian turned with Anna to lead them inside, David put a gentle hand in the small of Mary’s back and they all entered the lavish living quarters.

Chapter 5

They were taken on a short tour of the place, Anna gushing about it the entire time and clinging to Ian while a never ceasing smile adorned his face. David had never seen his daughter so happy. It looked like she had found such a loving place to call her own.

Ian seemed to adore her, listening intently to every word she said and talking incessantly about how wonderful she was. Never once was her limp mentioned and that warmed David’s heart. It looked like her move had been for the best. As he watched the two of them, he noticed that even Anna paid no attention to her limp. She walked with a confidence he had never seen before. When they passed staff or guests, no one stared at his daughter and he found his heart singing with delight. Anna had found love and a home where people accepted her, who could ask for more.

Mary walked along just in front of him and every now and then he would guide her with his hand. It felt good to help a woman and he enjoyed watching how mesmerized she was as the tour continued. When they entered the library, she had such a look of awe on her face that David could not help but smile. He could see why, the library was quite impressive with shelves from wall to ceiling, packed with books of all shapes and sizes.

Next they went to the activity room. It was quite impressive as well and David thought that later he might be able to try his hand at a game of poker with the other guests.

“May I be excused, to freshen up,” Mary asked once the tour was over.

“Of course,” Anna said. “Linda,” she called. A young woman appeared from nowhere and whisked Mary away. David could not believe how confident his little girl had become. The frightened mouse he knew from home had transformed into a confident woman.

“I must go too, my love,” Ian said squeezing Anna's shoulder. “If you will excuse me, Mr. Montgomery, my brother Ryan needs a hand with a few hundred head of cattle.”

“Of course but it’s David, please call me David.”

With that Ian turned and was gone and David was so pleased to be alone with his little girl. He wondered if Ian had left just too allow them time to catch up. Nodding to himself he knew that was it. Yes, this man was going to work out just fine. “He is wonderful,” David said. “I can see why you love him.”

“Yes, he is,” Anna said. “Now let me take you to the private side of the house and we can sit down and catch up.” 

"The private side?" David asked, bewildered.

Anna laughed a delighted sound and spun around before him."Yes, all of this was the guest area,” she said. “It's for their entertainment and luxury. The family has their own private quarters, in the back and that is where you are going to be staying."

David was amazed at the amount of space this house had. The Gellman’s were perfect for his little Anna, and that was only the boarding. From what he could gather they had interests in cattle, sheep, and the wool business

Anna led him to the family library. There he sank down into one of the sofas, amazed at how lucky he felt. Never could he have imagined such a perfect suitor for Anna. She sat next to him and put her head on his shoulder. "Do you like it, Father?" she asked timidly.

"Like what, my dear?" he asked distractedly.

"The house, Ian, me, everything. Do you like it here?"

Rubbing her shoulder, he sat up and turned towards her. "I do like it here, child. The house looks very nice and comfortable, you seem very happy and Ian seems like a good man. He sure cares about you a lot and that is all that matters to me. He will look after you and keep you happy and content. What more could a father possibly want for his child."

Anna smiled contently and hugged her father. "I knew you would like him. You have to meet Ryan, Ian's brother. He is just as nice and he is taking care of all the arrangements for the wedding so Ian and I don't have to worry about a thing."

"He sounds like a splendid chap and I look forward to meeting him."

"Good, then you shall have dinner with us in the family room," Anna said excitedly.

"All right, my dear." He smiled at her. “Now tell me everything. We have been away so long and I want to hear every little detail.”

“Then so you shall.”

They spent the afternoon catching up. Anna was excited as she happily chatted about how she had arrived and the brothers didn’t know about her limp. Then how she started to fall for Ian and at last she told him how Ryan, her intended, had noticed and decided to give them some time to see what happened. When he heard this, David knew the Gellman brothers were the sort of men he wanted for her. For a man to do something so benevolent for someone he hardly knew showed real strength of character. Yet something worried him. Mrs. Hawkins had come across as a good woman, with integrity. Yet she had put his Anna in a difficult position. Leaning back against the sofa he knew he must have a strong word with her.