Blessed are the Merciful (30 page)

That evening after supper, Joseph was fairly sober, and Rachel told him in front of Esther about replying to the mail order bride ads, and that she had found the young man she was going to marry.

“You can’t be serious!” Joseph said. “Why not find a man here in Memphis and get to know him before you go off accepting a marriage proposal? How can you possibly know whether you want to marry this Adam Burke? You’re not even in love with him. You need to marry a man because you love him, not just because he offers you financial security.”

“But Daddy, Adam is going to put me up in North Platte’s finest hotel until we can get to know each other and have a chance to fall in love.”

“Well … maybe. But I still don’t want you heading off to Nebraska, of all places.”

“Well, I’m going, whether you want me to or not. I can’t stand it anymore seeing you drink yourself to death. I had hoped that moving here to Memphis would make a difference, but it hasn’t. I just can’t live like this anymore.”

On the day of Rachel’s departure, Joseph went to the railroad station with his sister and daughter. Tears ran down his face as he watched
his daughter climb aboard the train. Esther stood beside him, once again asking the Lord to bring Rachel to Himself, in his own way and His own time.

On Tuesday morning, June 4, 1878, Rachel’s train pulled out of Des Moines, Iowa. The sun was just peeking over the eastern horizon. This was the day! At four o’clock this afternoon she would meet the man she was sure was to become her husband.

It had been a beautiful trip so far, even though saying good-bye to her father and her aunt had been more difficult than she had imagined. But once the train pulled out of the Memphis depot, and she had time to settle in and compose herself, she found that she was looking forward to the trip with great anticipation.

As the train rolled across the Iowa cornfields, Rachel laid her head back and closed her eyes. Aunt Esther’s words kept running through her mind in rhythm with the clacking wheels: “Now it’s your turn … now it’s your turn … now it’s your turn …”

Soon they crossed the trestle that carried them over the Missouri River, and the train pulled into Omaha. After a thirty-minute stop, they were rolling westward once again.

Rachel became aware of a vast change in the terrain as the train raced across Nebraska. It was quite a contrast to Tennessee … even to Pennsylvania. In this land where trees were scarce, a person could almost see forever. She enjoyed the scenery and the touch of freedom the wide open spaces seemed to bring. Though she was a little weary, her spirits were buoyant, and excitement filled her veins. The train was moving at a good clip, but the time seemed to drag.

Rachel opened her purse, took out a book, and tried to read, but found that she couldn’t concentrate. She put the book away and took out pencil and paper to write a letter to her aunt and her father.

The train slowed and finally ground to a halt in Grand Island, and some passengers got off and others got on. Soon the train was on its way with three more stops before it reached North Platte.
Rachel closed her eyes and laid her head back. The rhythmic click of the wheels soon lulled her into a light slumber. She stirred slightly when the train stopped at Kearney, Lexington, and Gothenburg. But each time she went back to sleep.

Rachel was suddenly awakened when the brakes of the train squealed and the train came to a stop. She heard an excited child say they were in North Platte. She sat up, blinking, and rubbed her eyes. A few passengers around her were picking up their hand luggage preparing to leave the train.

“Oh, dear,” Rachel said to herself in a low voice. “How could I have slept so long? Now there isn’t even time to freshen up before I meet Adam!”

She used the window for a mirror as best she could, hastily patting her hair into some semblance of order, then put on her small straw bonnet and tied the pretty bow under her chin. She stood up and tried to shake out the wrinkles in her blue travel suit, then picked up her overnight bag.

She took a deep breath and said, “Guess I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”

Adam had arrived at the station a half hour before the train was due. He passed the time either pacing the platform or gazing down the track, eager to catch the first sight of the long-awaited train.

He had just answered a friendly greeting from a client who was passing through the depot when he heard the whistle and saw smoke billowing skyward. His heart started beating double-time.

When the engine hissed and the wheels screeched to a halt, Adam positioned himself so he could see the small platforms on each of the three passenger coaches. He was scanning every face when suddenly the face he had been searching for was directly in front of him.

He hurried to the side of the coach and stopped. Rachel was on
the bottom step, recognition showing in her eyes. Both of them stood stock still for several seconds, then smiles lit up their faces.

“Hello, Rachel. Welcome to North Platte.” Adam gave her his hand and helped her down onto the platform. They stood looking into each other’s eyes, not sure what to do next. Finally, Adam said, “Rachel, may I have permission to embrace you?”

She met his soft gaze and nodded. Adam’s strong arms went around her, and Rachel knew deep inside that he was the man for her.

Adam loaded Rachel’s trunks into his buggy and helped her onto the seat. “I’ll take you to the hotel in a little while,” he said, “but first I want to show you something.”

She smiled at him. “Whatever you say. What am I about to see?”

“Well, I hope you won’t think me too presumptuous since we agreed that we’d give it time before we marry. You know … see if we are really for each other. But I … ah … went ahead and bought some land to build a house on, and as you will see, they’ve started construction on it.”

“Oh,” she said, secretly pleased. “I’m sure it’s going to be nice.”

Rachel let her gaze roam over the town as they moved along Main Street, liking what she saw. Soon Adam guided the buggy onto a side street. After going two blocks, he swung up and stopped by the lot.

“This is it,” he said. “What do you think?”

The foundation of the house was finished and two sides were already framed. Several graceful cottonwood trees decorated the yard. The house fit nicely between two rows of trees so that none of them would have to be sacrificed.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Like you … only in a different way.” Adam reached beneath the seat and pulled out three large sheets of paper. “These are the plans. Let me show you.”

Rachel listened as Adam explained the detailed drawings. The house was two storied, not too large, not too small. Immediately,
Rachel started decorating it in her mind. Adam traced the outline of the yard with his finger and explained how it would look when it was landscaped.

“Oh, Adam,” she said in a voice just above a whisper, “I don’t think you’re presumptuous at all.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “How wonderful to have a home of my own. Thank you for being so thoughtful.”

“I’m so glad you’re here,” he said, touching her hand. “If this works out and you decide that you want to go ahead and marry me before the house is built, there are some houses for rent all over town. We can live in one of those until our house is finished.”

Rachel looked into his eyes and said, “I feel like I’m dreaming.”

“Yes, me too. Would you like to see my office before I take you to the hotel?”

“I’d love to.”

It was just before closing time when Adam pulled the buggy up in front of his office. As he was helping Rachel down, he glanced across the street and saw his father standing on the boardwalk. As usual, there was a pained look on Gordon Burke’s face, but this time there was also curiosity.

They headed for the office door, and Adam introduced Rachel to several people who happened to be walking by. Rachel was warmly welcomed by all those she met in North Platte.

The following week was a blissful one for Adam and Rachel. They enjoyed each other’s company, and after each time they were together they were even more convinced they were meant for each other.

One evening they were eating together at the hotel café, and Adam looked up to see Pastor Gann and his wife, Barbara, come in. The Ganns spotted them and headed toward their table. Adam introduced Rachel and explained that she had come from Memphis to marry him.

The pastor told Rachel in a light manner that he had been trying
to get Adam to visit the church but had been unsuccessful. He invited Rachel, suggesting that maybe she could get him there. Rachel smiled and said maybe she could.

The Ganns left then and went to their own table, and Rachel said how nice they were and that sometime soon she and Adam should attend a service as a courtesy to them. Adam agreed.

After supper, Adam and Rachel took a moonlight ride to their new property to see how the construction was progressing. They were happy to see the entire structure had been framed up and the roof was going on.

Adam brought Rachel back to the hotel and held her hand as they mounted the stairs to the second floor.

“Thank you for a delightful evening,” Adam said as they drew near her door. A sweet silence descended over them, and they looked deeply into each other’s eyes.

The pleasant touch of Rachel’s lips was still with Adam when he stepped inside the boardinghouse. He found Patch Smith talking to Wallace Melroy. Patch’s back was toward him, but Wallace saw him come through the door and said, “Here he is now, Patch.”

Adam’s father turned around.

“Patch was wanting to see you, Adam,” Wallace said. “I was just telling him I thought you’d be here soon.”

“Sure, Mr. Smith, come on to my room.”

When they stepped into the apartment and the door was closed, Adam said coldly, “What do you want?”

“I need your mercy, Adam. I’m begging you to forgive me. I’m your father. I want to be close to you.”

“You didn’t want to be close to me when you ran off with that Murray woman. You didn’t want to be close to my sisters or my mother. Receiving my forgiveness for what you did is impossible.”

Gordon turned to the door and took hold of the knob. “I heard that the young lady who came to town is here to marry you,” he said, looking back at his son.

“She is.”

“She’s beautiful, son. I hope you’ll be very happy together.”

When the only reply was silence, Gordon stepped out of the room, closed the door, and walked away. Tears ran down his cheeks unchecked.

B
Y THE FIRST WEEK OF
J
ULY
, A
DAM
B
URKE
and Rachel Mason knew they were deeply in love and it was time to set the wedding date. They agreed on July 17.

Construction on their home was coming along, but it was far from finished, so they rented a small furnished house to live in until construction was completed. The day after they set the wedding date, Adam spoke with the justice of the peace and made arrangements for the ceremony, then went to the rented house where Rachel had been scrubbing floors, cleaning the kitchen, and washing windows.

Rachel laughed when Adam took her in his arms to kiss her. “Are you sure you want to get that close? I’m awful dirty.”

“If the dirt is on you, it has to be clean and wonderful. I love to kiss clean and wonderful dirt!” They kissed three or four times, then Adam said, “It just came to me this morning as I left the justice of the peace that you might like to have a new dress for the wedding. There are a couple of dress shops on Main Street where you could get fitted and have them put a rush on getting it done.”

Rachel smiled. “I’m way ahead of you, darling. Before I left Memphis, Aunt Esther made me a beautiful dress for the wedding. All I need to do is go to the millinery shop and buy a hat.”

Adam kissed the tip of her nose. “Pretty sneaky, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You had your mind made up before you came that this arrangement was going to work.”

“Sneaky or not, the dress is ready. I saved some money from
working at the flower shop for my trousseau.”

“Oh, no, you don’t. Your groom is paying for that.” Adam took out his wallet and stuffed an uncounted wad of bills into her hand. “If you need more, just holler.”

“You’re such a wonderful man.”

“As long as I can keep you believing that, everything will be great.”

“Is it all set with the justice of the peace?”

“All set. The ceremony will take place in Mr. Waldron’s parlor at four o’clock on the seventeenth.”

“Oh, Adam, I’m so happy!”

“You can’t be any happier than I am!” They kissed again, then Adam said, “We need to talk about the honeymoon.” She looked deep into his eyes, waiting for him to proceed. “Since I’m the only lawyer in town and business is booming, would it be all right if we put off the honeymoon till later?”

“As far as I’m concerned, we don’t need a honeymoon. I’ll be as happy as possible just being Mrs. Adam Burke.”

The next day Rachel went shopping on Main Street, and people on the boardwalk greeted her warmly, which added to her happiness. She entered North Platte Clothiers and glanced at the young man who was busy with a customer at the counter. He excused himself to the customer and said, “Hello, ma’am. Looking for something particular?”