Chase (Prairie Grooms, Book Four) (6 page)

“
Let us pray,” said the preacher as he bowed his head.

Lena blinked at the words. Had she been so caught up in thinking about Chase Adams that she didn't even hear the preacher's eulogy for poor Mr. Jamieson? Apparently so, as it was quite obvious the service was over.

His prayer done, the preacher looked at the tiny gathering and smiled. “Annie has some refreshments up at the house. Why don't you have some before you head on back to the Triple C?”

“You're too kind, Preacher Jo
,” said Harrison. “We'll do that.” He stood, pulling Sadie up with him, their baby in her arms. Lena watched as Colin and Belle followed suit and also stood, as did Imogene, her eyes glued to the grave in front of her.

“
Cousin Imogene,” said Lena. “Are you all right?”

“
Such a pity that the first event we attend in this town is a funeral.” She looked at Lena. “I was so hoping it to be one of your weddings, particularly yours, as you
are
the oldest.”

“
I don't think it matters what order we get married in. One wedding is as good as the next, isn't it?”

Imogene smiled at her. “Things are much better when there is order involved. I think you should be the first, followed by Fina, and then Apple.”

“
If you say so, cousin. I will not dispute it.”

“I think
that knowing things are to be a certain way, will make it easier on you and your sisters,” said Imogene.

“I will inform the others then
,” said Lena. “Including Sadie and Belle.”

“
You do that,” said Imogene as the little group headed toward the preacher's house.

They gathered in the parlor and soon Annie, the preacher's wife, was serving pie and coffee. Lena found an empty chair and sat while Apple went to get her a plate.

“
How are you holding up?” a voice spoke beside her. She looked up; it was Chase Adams. He took off his hat and peered down at her. “Not exactly the thing you want to have to deal with your first day in Clear Creek, is it?”

“
No, it certainly is not,” she agreed. She offered him a tiny smile. “How long have you lived in Clear Creek, Mr. Adams?”

“
A little over two years,” he said. “I came here from Oregon City at the request of Mr. Van Cleet to work on his hotel.

“
And decided to stay?” she prompted.

“Yes.
I like it here. The people are nice, the land is good, and you have everything you need.”

“
Indeed? I say, but I myself haven't found everything I need as yet.”

His brows rose in question at the comment. “Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you come here to get married?”

“
How ever did you know that?”

He chuckled. “Well, if you don't mind me saying so ma'am, pretty much everybody knows. This is a small town, and there ain’t many secrets that are kept in it.”

“Well for H
eaven sakes,” she said, indignant. “You would think there would at
least
be a few.”

“
If you don't mind me saying so, but in my experience ma'am, secrets lead to nothing but trouble.”

She studied him as Apple approached, a cup and saucer in her hands. Lena reached up and took the coffee from her, and gave a nod of thanks. “Mrs. King has two kinds of pie,” said Apple. “Cherry, and me!”

Le
na let out a small chuckle. “You'll have to excuse my sister, Mr. Adams. She is often exuberant about things.” She looked at Apple. “I'll take the cherry.”

Apple smiled and turned to C
hase. “I hear you rescued me from my dreadful faint and carried me off to a faraway land.”

“
Well I don't know about carrying you off to any sort of land, Miss Sayer, he said with a chuckle. “But I did carry you as far as the parlor.”

She smiled at him, spun on her heel, and went to get Lena her pie. “Do forgive her,” said Lena. “Apple can be very childlike for her age.”

“
How old is your sister?” asked Chase.

“Eighteen,”
said Lena. “And I dare say, that ten years from now she’ll be acting the same.”

“
Nothing wrong with that,” said Chase. “Seems to me life hasn't had a chance to spoil her yet.”

“
What do you mean by that?”

Chase shrugged. “Just that sometimes life has a way of darkening a person's soul. It hasn't touched your sister yet, ma'am. I hope it never does.”

She stared at him a moment, then without thinking asked, “Has it touched yours, Mr. Adams?”

He gazed into her eyes and she caught a hint of sadness in them. “Sure enough has, ma’am. Especially after today, it sure enough has.”

Four

Lena pondered Chase Adams and his words long after she arrived back at the Triple C. What did he mean; life had darkened his soul? How? He seemed such a kind man, gentle, yet stern. After all, she wasn't a complete novice when it came to reading men. She was twenty-four and dealt with her fair share over the years … until they stopped calling that is.

Considered “on the shelf” by her peers and the
ton
, she'd quite given up on marriage, and began to consider where she might spend the rest of her days, when the Duke of Stantham himself, came to call. According to him, marriage was not as far-fetched a notion as she thought. And so here she was, she and her sisters, all of them about to be married.

Of course, they had yet to meet their new husbands, the men whom Sadie and the Duke deemed suitable for the task. She wondered who they could be. The only man she’d had any dealings with so far was Mr. Adams. Were there other men like him in Clear Creek? In truth, he reminded her of some of her past suitors in London, their moods dark and brooding. His remark of how life had darkened his soul didn’t make him more so, but it did serve to make Lena more curious of how he got that way.

“
Oh Lena,” she said to herself. “Stop dramatizing everything.” It was her worst habit to do so. She often took every day things and imagined herself acting them out on a stage in front of an audience. In her eyes, the whole world was her stage, and she reveled in the thought of making it so, even if only in private, lest her sisters and mother think her foolish. Yet as foolish as it may seem at times, even to herself, acting gave her an outlet, and a chance to spread her wings.

“Lena!” said Fina as she
burst into the bedroom. “Come quick! Sadie wants to speak to you!”

“
About what? What's the matter?”

“
Cousin Imogene has convinced her that you should be the first to marry, so she's going to let us know who your intended is!”

Lena felt a shiver go up her spine. “Oh, of course, that is why we’re here, isn't it?”

“
Yes, yes, now hurry!” said Fina. “After she tells you about yours, maybe I'll find out about mine!”

“
And then Apple shall find out about hers,” added Lena.

“
Yes! Apple got so excited, she had to go use the privy!”

Le
na laughed. “Oh dear, if she's this excited now, what's she going to be like on her wedding day?”

“
We'll deal with that when the time comes,” said Fina. “Myself, I would very much like to know
who
she is to marry!”

Lena, who'd been sitting in a chair at a small desk near the window, finally stood. “Well then, I shan’t keep you waiting any longer. Let's go downstairs and find out who they are.”

“
Oh, I'm so excited! And I’m so glad to be done with this funeral business. What a horrible thing for our first day here.”

“
The second,” corrected Lena. “If one is to be technical about it.”

“
First day, second day, who cares? It was still a horrible way to start our new life in Clear Creek.”

“
I suppose so, but it's over now. Let's not think about it anymore.”

They went downstairs to the parlor where Sadie, Harrison, Colin, and Belle had gathered. “Please,” said Sadie. “Do sit down, all of you.”

Harrison, who'd been sitting on the settee, stood to make room for them. “Where's Apple?”

“She’
ll be along,” said Lena. She turned to Sadie. “You wanted to see us?”

“
Yes, it's time we talked about the reason you're here.” She held up a sheaf of papers. “I have the marriage contracts and original applications of the men responsible for bringing you here. These three men, the Duke and I took great care in choosing for you, and in time, once you get to know them, I'm sure you'll agree they are each a good match.”

Imogene glided into the parlor. “I'm positive whatever you and the Duke have decided will be sufficient for the young ladies. I found the Duke to be very wise and intelligent for his part, and I trust his judgment.”

“
Where
is Apple?” Sadie now asked as she glanced around the parlor.

“
Attending to her needs,” said Imogene. “I dare say, but did you hear a word I spoke?”

“
Every one,” said Sadie. “But it's very important that Apple join us.”

She's not the first to be married. Lena is,” pointed out Fina. “So tell us; who is Lena to marry?”

Sadie glanced at Harrison and Colin who both shrugged. She turned back to the other women. Lena looked at her expectantly. Would her future-husband be short or tall? Was he a happy sort? Would he sweep her off her feet and carry her to a far-off land as Apple suggested Mr. Adams had done? So many questions flooded her mind at once, that Lena missed what Sadie said.

“
Oh!” exclaimed Fina. “Isn't that wonderful? You've already met!”

“Wha
t?! Lena squeaked. “Whom have I met?”

“
Your future husband?” said Imogene. “Really Lena, one would think you didn't hear a word Sadie said!”

Lena
looked from one face to the other, her own now red with embarrassment. “I'm sorry to say this, but I didn’t.” She looked at Sadie. “Who then, is to be my husband?”

Sadie and Harrison glanced at each other
and smiled. “You, my dear,” said Harrison. “Are to be the wife of our town blacksmith.”

“
Town blacksmith!” exclaimed Lena. “Oh dear me, but isn't that a rather…
common
occupation?”

“
His occupation doesn't matter,” said Belle. “What does, is his character.”

“
And Chase Adams has one of the best characters you could ask for in a husband,” said Colin.

Le
na stood in shock and stared at her cousins. “Chase Adams?
He's
to be my husband?”

“Did y
ou find him not to your liking, sister?” asked Fina. “I found him to be quite handsome, myself.”

“
You mean the nice man who brought the news of …” began Imogene in recollection.

“
Yes,” said Harrison before she could finish. “He and Levi Stone took care of things, concerning poor Sam.”

“
They even helped dig his grave, and after we left Preacher Jo's house, helped to bury him,” added Colin.

Lena sat in the nearest chair. “Chase Adams,” she said to herself. If she wondered what life had dealt his soul before, she had little doubt that she'd soon find out. She looked at Sadie and the others. “What… What do I do now?”

“The only thing we can
do,” said Sadie. “We invite Mr. Adams to supper.”

“
I don't think it's fair that we only get to invite Lena’s intended to dinner,” complained Fina. “Couldn't we invite mine as well?”

“
Wouldn't you like to know who your intended
is
first?” asked Sadie.

“
You mean, you'll tell me now?” asked an excited Fina.

“
Of course,” said Sadie. “In fact, you were speaking with him after Sam's funeral.”

Fina's eyes widened. “I was? Well? Which man was he? No! Wait!” she blurted before Sadie could open her mouth. “Let me guess!”

Belle giggled. “Well, this isn't going to be much fun. There’s only one person you can guess at.”

  Fina
stood, one hand balled into a fist, and beat it against her forehead a few times as she then began to pace around the room. “Well now, let’s see. It certainly isn't the doctor. For one, he's far too old, he's already married,
and
he hardly paid any attention to me.”

“
Is that a requirement?” asked Lena.

“
Of course,” said Fina. “You would think any man getting married would pay
some
attention to his bride.”