Adam's Heart Read online

  Adam was finally able to disentangle himself from Cordelia’s grip and said, “I have to get home. I need to talk to my Ma and work on my house. Goodbye, Cordelia?” He turned and began to walk away.

  “Oh, Adam. Did you get us a house?” Cordelia’s words followed him. Adam picked up his pace and headed for the livery hoping he could ride out of town before Cordelia followed him. What was he going to do to keep Cordelia from assuming he’d marry her? The woman was deluded, and he’d starve before he had dinner with her and her opinionated aunt and pompous uncle.

  Adam managed to get out of town before Cordelia could corral him again. He planned on heading home but thought it might be a good idea to let his Ma know about Nell’s twins. His mother had practically adopted Nell when she came to town only to find her supposed groom had left her high and dry.

  Cody, one of his Pa’s newest hands came up to meet him as Adam rode up to the barn. “Hi, Adam, I’ll take care of your horse if you want to see your Ma. You’re Pa’s out in the cherry orchard somewhere.”

  Adam dropped off his stallion and handed the reins to Cody. “Thanks, if my Pa comes back, let him know I’m here.”

  “Sure will,” Cody answered and led the horse to the barn.

  Adam pulled open the back door of the large farmhouse and called out, “Ma, are you in here?” He walked into the bright kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove. Yellow curtains fluttered gently in the breeze blowing through the open windows. The coffee wasn’t hot, but warm enough for him. Settling down at the kitchen table, he heard his mother hurrying down the stairs.

  “Adam, I thought that was your voice.” She hurried to his side to hug him almost before he could stand. “What brings you over here? I didn’t think we’d see you for a while since you’re busy getting the house and barn in order.”

  “Ma, you know the house is in good order as is the garden and flower beds. You always make sure it’s ready for unexpected company or stranded travelers.” He drank his coffee down all at once.

  “The way you drank that, it can’t be hot. Let me make a fresh pot.”

  “No, Ma, I’m fine. I had enough coffee with Cal this morning.”

  “Did you stop at Cal’s for breakfast? How’s Nell feeling.” Miranda asked as she bustled around the bright, cheery kitchen.

  “That’s why I stopped by. Nell had her baby.”

  “It’s a bit early. I hope she’s all right.” Miranda frowned.

  “Actually, she had twins according to Minnie Masters.”

  “That’s wonderful and explains why she had them early. Do you know what she had?”

  Adam shrugged, “One’s a boy. I left town before I found out about the other.”

  “I’ll go into town tomorrow and find out. This is wonderful. Nell and Cal must be so happy. I knitted her a yellow baby blanket. I should start another one,” Miranda spoke as she hurried around the kitchen placing cookies on a plate and making fresh coffee. Adam couldn’t help but smile at his energetic mother, and of course, he thought, she’d make a yellow blanket. Yellow was her favorite color, and she used it in each room of the big farmhouse. His house wouldn’t have any yellow in it. He was sure of that.

  Adam spoke again when his mom placed the sugar cookies on the table. “I suppose, but Cal was a wreck this morning. He told me not to get married. He said I’d be sorry because then there’d be babies and well, he was worried about Nell screaming.”

  “Twins would be difficult. I’m glad you were there to talk to him.”

  “I was at Sarah’s when Cal stumbled in. Sarah suggested I take him for breakfast at the hotel. It helped him a little, I think.” Adam tried to smile wondering if Cal was happy at the moment or still nervous and whether or not he would be as bad when he became a father. A father? He didn’t even have a wife yet. Could he do this?

  Miranda reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “Are you all right, son? You don’t look well.”

  “I’m not sure,” he answered running a hand through his hair again. “I answered the letter I received from a possible bride this morning. Cal made me wonder if it’s all worth it.”

  Pulling out a chair, Miranda sat and looked at her son. “Tell me all about the young lady and what you think.”

  Adam explained and as he finished his father walked into the kitchen.

  Miranda popped off her chair, “Sit, Roy, I have fresh coffee. Let Adam tell you about his bride. Her name is Rebecca, and I hope she’s sweet and lovely. Of course, she’ll stay here with us while they get to know each other. There’s no need for her to stay in town now that Adam is staying at his own house. It’ll be wonderful having another young lady stay here. I’ve missed having Nell and then Sarah here with us.”

  Roy just nodded and smiled as he accepted the cup of coffee from Miranda. Adam wondered once again if his possible bride-to-be would be quiet or outspoken like his Ma. His Pa always looked happy so having an outspoken wife must be all right. He wouldn’t trade his Ma for anything. Yes, things would work out, he hoped.

  Adam was pulled back to his parent’s conversation when he heard his Ma tell his Pa about Nell’s twins.

  Roy stirred sugar into his coffee and picked up a cookie from the plate on the table. “That will certainly keep Cal and Nell busy. I suppose Cal might hire someone to help out in the restaurant.”

  Miranda nodded, “Grace Masters works there on occasion when Nell is too tired or not feeling well. Minnie said Grace would continue to help out in the restaurant and with the baby. Of course, we only thought there was one baby then. Twins are so exciting.”

  Roy glanced at Adam and thought his son looked ready to bolt out of the house with all the talk of babies and brides.

  “Don’t worry Son, whatever life brings a person, they get through it. A little help from family and friends, faith in the good Lord, and love will overcome any problem a person faces. Cal and Nell will find a way to live with two new babies, and you and your bride will face whatever obstacles that may arise. Just be sure before you say ‘I do’ that you genuinely love the young woman.”

  Adam silently agreed that was the best advice he’d heard, but how would he know if he loved her? More importantly, how would he know if a woman truly loved him back?

  Chapter Three

  While Adam enjoyed coffee with his parents, Sarah and Molly closed the seamstress shop early and made their way across the street to Callahan’s Restaurant. The restaurant looked empty, but the door was unlocked. The bell above the door jangled and a flustered looking Grace Masters appeared from the kitchen.

  The seventeen-year-old girl had flour on her nose, and her hair had slipped from whatever style she fashioned that morning. Her white apron was covered in splotches of what looked like gravy and biscuit dough.

  “Oh, good it’s you. I was worried you were another customer. I told Cal we should close the restaurant, but he said there was a huge pot of vegetable soup already on the stove and I could sell soup and the biscuits he had left from yesterday. He didn’t think the place would be busy. Well, I ran out of biscuits and made more, but everyone said they weren’t as good as Nell’s and the men kept staring at me when I served them. Cal told me I could get him if it became too busy, but my Ma said he was sleeping and I should leave him be since Nell would need him tonight and he needed sleep. We’re out of soup and biscuits. The last customer insisted I scramble a few eggs and fry a ham slice because he was hungry. He refused to go to the hotel to eat. I don’t know what else to do,” she explained rapidly and then dropped into a chair and let tears stream down her cheeks. “I’m exhausted, and I don’t know how to cook for so many people at once. I’m a failure.”

  Molly hurried over to hug her, and Sarah put the “closed” sign in the front window and locked the door.

  Sarah answered, “The restaurant is closed now, Grace, don’t worry. I think you did well on your own. Go home and take a nap. You deserve it. Molly and I are going upstairs to visit Nell and the babies. Oh,
your mother told us she had a boy. Do you know what the second one is?”

  Grace nodded, “A little girl. The babies are beautiful.”

  Grace left through the back door, and Sarah and Molly climbed the stairs to Cal and Nell’s apartment above the restaurant. Sarah knocked on the door quietly, and Minnie answered with her index finger over her lips.

  “Cal is sleeping. He was awake all night, and he’s exhausted,” Minnie explained.

  “What about Nell,” Molly asked. “She must be exhausted, too.”

  “Of course,” Minnie fussed. “But we all know women are strong. Come, let’s see if she’s awake.”

  Sarah reached out her arm to stop Minnie and whispered, “I sent Grace home. She ran out of food, and she’s exhausted. It seems half the men in town stopped in just to watch her run around serving them.”

  Minnie’s eyebrows shot upward, “Her father will have a word with every man that comes into the mercantile to see if they were in the restaurant this morning. I feel sorry for those who were.” She walked down the hall and peeked in Nell’s room. She waved Sarah and Molly forward.

  Nell appeared asleep but opened her eyes when she heard the door open. A bright smile crossed her face when she saw her friends waiting to see her. Her blonde hair was brushed back off her face but hung loosely around her shoulders. Her red eyes let Sarah and Molly know she had a long, painful night.

  “We won’t stay long,” Sarah assured her. “I had to see if you were all right and see the babies.”

  “Please come in and visit a bit and meet my babies, Amanda Lea and Elliott James. Elliott is in the cradle Cal bought for me, and sweet little Amanda has to sleep in my laundry basket for now until we get a second cradle.”

  Sarah picked up Elliott and Molly cradled Amanda in her arms while they spent some time with Nell. Sarah asked Nell how difficult her night was and since Sarah was just a few months away from giving birth, Nell explained but left out the most difficult part. Dr. Winters told her that her labor was more difficult because she had twins and Nell didn’t want to frighten her best friend.

  She smiled at Sarah and added, “You know, I can’t remember exactly how I felt. I just feel excited and tired now.”

  Sarah kissed Nell on the cheek and told her that she’d visit again tomorrow. Molly promised she’d visit again soon and gave Amanda one more close snuggle before placing her back in the basket. Molly’s heart yearned for her own child, and Dr. Winters had assured her that many women wait longer than five months to conceive. She prayed it would be soon.

  ~ * ~

  A week later Adam received a response to the letter he sent to Rebecca.

  Dear Mr. Greiner,

  I received your reply to my letter and was pleased the new rail line near my home brings mail quickly. Our Post-Master told me it takes as long for the letter to travel by coach to the railway station as it does to travel to Gentle Falls. I am constantly surprised by the way people and mail travel quickly now.

  I should share more about my life with you. I am the youngest of five children. My older siblings are all boys, well, men now and are married and have farms of their own or working on buying one. My mother passed away when I was thirteen, and my cousin came to live with us and help my father raise me. All of my brothers had left home by then since I am six years younger than my closest brother. My father passed away six months ago, and my eldest brother inherited the farm. He has his own farm in the southern part of the state and has no interest in keeping this farm. I find myself needing to find a place to live since my brother has decided to sell the land. I believe it is more my sister-in-law’s idea, but I’d rather not write about her. My cousin will be moving soon, and although I could find employment near here, I do look forward to marriage. After my father passed, I did have a few young men show interest, but I was not ready to court anyone. When my brother decided to sell the farm and these same young men discovered that I would not inherit the farm, they seem to have lost interest. I sincerely wish to meet a man that is interested in me for myself and not any property I may own.

  Since I helped my father work on our farm, I am well versed in farm work. I can do the usual chores, milking, gathering eggs, cooking, cleaning, gardening, and sewing, but my father taught me to lend a hand when needed. I can help plow, ride a horse, muck out stalls, and other jobs that need doing. I am not afraid of hard work.

  I do enjoy riding horses, being outside in the sunshine, and reading. I am as comfortable on horseback as I am in the kitchen. I enjoy baking and cherry cobbler is one of my favorite desserts to make and eat.

  I am strong although I don’t look it since I am not overly tall and of average build. I don’t know what else to say about myself.

  I do hope you write back.

  Sincerely,

  Rebecca Broadmoor.

  Adam read the letter three times. It sounded as if Rebecca would make a good ranch wife. She can take care of the house, work outdoors, and loves horses. Yes, Rebecca made Adam’s heart beat a bit faster, and he hurried to answer Rebecca’s letter.

  Dear Miss Broadmoor,

  I enjoyed reading your letter and am sorry to hear you met men who were only interested in your farm. I am not interested in your financial situation since I have my own ranch. As of right now, it is small. My sister and I will inherit my parent’s farm someday, and when I told them I wish to find a bride, they gave me one-half of my inheritance or a quarter of the farm. It is more than enough space for me to begin my horse ranch. One day I will inherit the other half of my share of the property, but I do hope it is far in the future since I am close to my parents. My sister and her husband own their own farm a few hours from here and are not interested in keeping her share of the farm when that day comes. I will buy her half and own the entire farm. I only tell you this so that you will know that our future will be secure and not to brag.

  You said you love to bake and cherry cobbler is a specialty. I forgot to mention that there is a large cherry grove on the property. There is a second grove near the house my parents live in. We have cherries all summer, and if you like to cook, I imagine you will put the cherries up for winter use the way my Ma does. I do love cherry pie and am sure I will love your cherry cobbler.

  I enjoy reading, but I don’t have much time for it lately. I do try to read the Bible for a while each night before I go to sleep.

  Our weather here is similar to your weather in Ohio, I think. The summers are beautiful, and the winters can be cold and snowy, but the house is solid and stays warm. I live less than an hour from town which is convenient for shopping and attending church. Gentle Falls is a quiet and safe town. It is large enough to have a hotel, a restaurant, a mercantile, of course, a church and school, and the new town hall is being built now. The train stops just outside of town, and there is a seamstress shop owned by a good friend of our family.

  I am not sure what else to say. Talking in letters is more difficult than in person. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

  Yours,

  Adam

  It had taken him five minutes to decide exactly how to sign off, but if he was going to court Rebecca in letters, he had to take a big step. Adding, ‘Yours, Adam’ seemed a nice touch without being too forward. He didn’t want to frighten her.

  Over the next month, Adam and Rebecca exchanged letters sharing hopes, dreams, funny facts about their childhoods, and bits of information about their lives. They were on a first name basis in letters and shared ideas about the ranch and their future. Both agreed they wanted a big family and Rebecca was excited to meet Adam’s mother. Rebecca shared with Adam all the details of her cousin’s upcoming wedding. When Adam asked Rebecca to come to Gentle Falls, she readily agreed and told him she would travel right after her cousin’s wedding. Adam purchased a train ticket for Rebecca and mailed it off with a bank draft to cover any unexpected expenses. Worrying about the mail, she sent a telegram letting Adam know she would arrive on Monday’s train.

  Adam held the tele
gram in his hands reading it twice. She would be there in three days. He was happy and nervous. This was it, his bride would soon be on her way. He wasn’t a drinking man, but he certainly could use one right then. He shook his head and strode back to his horse. He needed to let his Ma know she would have a house guest soon and wanted to ask his Pa if being this nervous was normal. Maybe one of his Pa’s hands had a bottle of whiskey in the bunkhouse, and he could get a drink and talk to his Pa.

  Chapter Four

  Adam Greiner stood on the train platform trying to keep his hands still. His palms were sweaty, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t seem to control it. He decided to stuff his hands in his pockets and pace. He heard the train whistle in the distance. The train holding his bride was on its way. She’d be there in a few minutes. He swallowed and paced faster. When the train came in to view, he stopped and watched it pull into the station. The brakes screeched, and the engine released steam as it ground to a stop, but all Adam noticed were the faces in the windows. Which one was Rebecca?

  A few people alighted and were met by friends or family. Where was she? He saw the conductor step down and hold out his hand to a woman. Was this his bride? She was nearly as tall as him, and he was sure she could pick up her trunk as easily as he could. She looked as old as his Ma. This couldn’t be the woman he wrote to and who answered his letters with sweet words. Had he been deceived?

  She glanced around, strode straight toward Adam, and held out her hand, “Hello, you must be…”

  Both turned their heads when they heard Joseph call out as he ran toward them, “Aunt Tess. I’m sorry I’m late. I’m happy you’re here. Dad is waiting for you at home.”

  Adam stammered, “Aunt Tess?”

  Joseph walked up, and Aunt Tess wrapped him in a bear hug. Her voice carried across the platform. “Joseph. You have grown up into a handsome young man. You have your mother’s brown eyes but then so does this other young man I thought was you.” She turned her attention back to Adam.