Westward Promises (3 page)

“This is the reverend’s wife, Mrs. Doris Brown, and their daughter, Helen.” Chase introduced the new arrivals.  “They are going to witness our marriage.  “  

Helen smiled at Hannah. “Welcome to Pine Valley.  I hope you will be happy here.” 

Mrs. Brown was a large woman who smiled widely at Hannah and threw an arm around her shoulders.  “That storm is getting worse.   We'd better speed things up so you can be on your way.”  She walked as quickly as her body allowed to the front of the chapel and scooted onto an organ bench.  She immediately started to play vigorously “Amazing Grace," a hymn that normally was meant to be played quite a bit slower.  Helen took her place close to her father with a smile.   

Chase came up, stood beside her, and took her hands in his own.  “Are you ready to get married?”   

Hannah nodded her head in agreement.  They both faced the reverend.    

Mrs. Brown kept playing as if she wasn’t aware the short ceremony was ready to start.   Finally, the reverend cleared his throat, and the organ music stopped abruptly.  Hannah heard a slight giggle.   She turned towards the sound and saw that Helen was trying not to laugh.  She smiled at Hannah with a twinkle in her eyes.   Hannah smiled back.

“You may now kiss the bride,” Reverend Brown announced in a booming voice.    A gust of wind from outside shook the windows and Chase could almost feel the cold air on his face.  The reverend had not started a fire in the wood stove and the chapel was quite chilly.   

Chase hadn’t pictured the marriage ceremony to be like this, but the train had been late, and he had promised Hannah in his last letter to her that he would marry her as soon as she arrived.  He had hoped to allow her to clean up and give her a meal when she arrived, but because of the late hour and the coming storm, the marriage needed to happen quickly.   

He still held Hannah’s hands in his own and he could feel that she was shaking.   He wasn’t sure if she was trembling because of the cold chapel or because she was nervous.   He concluded that it probably was a combination of both.   He looked down at her, noticing her cinnamon-colored hair that curled about her face.  She had high cheekbones and a dainty nose.  He had not expected a woman who was so beautiful, or, he had to admit, one so young.  She couldn’t have been any older than twenty.  For some reason, age wasn’t something he had asked about in his letters to her.   

At the reverend’s ending words of the wedding ceremony, he wondered if she would allow a kiss.  He bent down and quickly placed a soft kiss on her forehead.  He heard her sigh as if in relief and he frowned slightly as he recognized the look in her eyes.  He had seen that look many times as he worked with horses and other animals that had been subject to man’s whims and thoughtlessness as he did his work as a blacksmith.   

He wanted to say something to her, to help her relax around him, but he couldn’t think of the right words.  He hoped he would be able to show her that she had no need to fear him through his actions.  Maybe in time she would understand that some men keep their promises.   

Chase kept her hand in his as he turned towards Reverend Brown.  “Thank you for performing our ceremony.”  He reached out and shook the reverend’s hand.  He nodded at Mrs. Brown and Helen in a show of respect.  “We should all head home before the worst of that snow storm hits us.” 

Goodbyes were said as the reverend quickly put out the lamps and the small group stepped into the wind.  The reverend and his family headed in the direction of their house and Chase led Hannah to their buggy and quickly helped her inside.  He uncovered his horse and soon they were heading towards his home.   

“We should be home in about ten minutes and then you can get warm,” Chase had to shout above the wind to be heard.  “I can give you my coat if you need it.” 

Hannah shook her head. “No thank you.  I’m used to the cold.” 

“Here.  At least put these on.”  He tossed her a pair of mittens.  She held them as if she wasn’t sure what she should do, but then slid them over her hands.  Chase inwardly sighed with relief.  He knew that she was colder than she admitted.   

****

Hannah felt uncomfortable when she had just sat in the buggy while Chase uncovered his horse and folded the blanket.   She was used to helping when a man worked, helping her husband work.   When Chase had sat down next to her and asked about her comfort, she had tried to keep the panic from rising through her chest.   

When she put the mittens he had given her on, she felt the smooth gold band he had slid onto her finger.  It felt cold against her skin.  Jack had not provided a ring when she married him.  His excuse had been that he didn’t have the money, but he always seemed to have enough coins to keep himself supplied in whiskey.   

The marriage to Jack and this new marriage to Chase started out remarkably similar.  She remembered how Jack had been on his best behavior until they had arrived at his farm.  She wondered if the same thing would happen when she was alone with Chase in his home that he had built.   

The two years she had been married to Jack had gone by slowly and she had been very unhappy.  The only time she had felt contentment was when he would take off with his buddies.  Sometimes he would be gone for days at a time.  Hannah had learned to enjoy the time by herself even though she had to do all the farm chores.   

She glanced at her new husband and promised herself she would handle this marriage differently.  At least she knew that fairytales weren’t real.   She no longer believed in the fiction part of romantic love.   

Chase seemed kind and pleasant.  So far, he treated her well, and he definitely treated his horse with care.  She shook her head slightly.  She had to be realistic.  She had to prepare herself for silent evenings with her husband’s anger and displeasure, along with long days of hard physical work.   

Night had fallen, making the nearby trees that lined the dirt road look almost frightening in the strong wind and snow.  She heard a wolf howl in the distance, reminding her she was now in mountain country.  Every mile they passed reminded her how quickly her life had changed.  The wind was starting to blow even harder, making conversation impossible.    

They finally arrived on Chase’s land and he guided the horse right up to the barn.  Chase jumped down and reached for Hannah.  “I will help you into the house and then I need to take care of Apache and the chores.” 

Hannah shook her head. “Let me help.”

Chase seemed to hesitate and then nodded his head in agreement.  He opened the barn door and gestured that she should go inside.  He turned to quickly unhitch the horse.   

“Apache seems glad to be home for the night,” Chase commented as he led the horse into his stall. “I’ve spoiled him.” 

“Really?  How can you spoil a horse?” Hannah asked with curiosity.   

“Apache isn’t used to standing in the snow,” Chase explained with a grin.  “He’s also always in the barn before dark.  This is the latest he has ever been out since last summer.” 

Hannah heard humor in his voice but tried not to smile.  “Have you owned him for a long time?”   

“I don’t own him.  He has been in my life since the day he was born.  I raised him from a colt.  He is like a brother to me.” 

“What do you mean, a brother?”   

“Well, a horse brother.” Chase chuckled and the sound tried to reach her heart, but she again ignored it.   

“When you meet someone, sometimes you just know.”  Chase continued the conversation as he handed her a horse brush and then started to scoop feed into Apache's trough.  “Has that ever happened to you?”   

Hannah started to brush Apache, hoping she would be able to show him she knew how to care for a horse.   She thought of her years with Dr. Wilson.  The doctor had been kind to her and had treated her well, but she had not been close to him.  “No.  I really haven’t been close to anyone or to any animal.” 

“What about your family?”   

Hannah really didn’t want to have this conversation, but she might as well tell him her history.   

“I don’t have a family.  I was abandoned by my mother as a baby and was raised in an orphanage.  When I was nine, I traveled to Texas on an orphan train and was taken in by a doctor and his unmarried daughter.” 

Hannah paused as she kept brushing Apache.   Would he really care about her past?   Did he really want to hear about it?   Jack had never asked.   

“Are they still in Texas then?” Chase asked as he spread some hay on the ground of the stall. 

“Dr. Wilson died two years ago.  Nancy and her family are still there, but I have not had any contact with them since the doctor died.” 

 “I’m sorry.”  Chase seemed not to know what to say.   

“I lost my mother a few years ago,” Chase commented as he leaned on the pitchfork and looked at her.   

“Dr. Wilson was not like a father,” she stated the fact in a flat voice.  She had no idea what it would be like to lose someone close to her, but she knew it wouldn’t be like what she felt when Dr. Wilson had died and definitely not the relief she felt when Jack passed on.  She didn’t know how to explain about her life with Dr. Wilson.  Her physical needs were provided for, but she never received caring or love.   

Hannah laid a hand on her stomach.  She promised herself that she would never allow her child to feel unwanted like she had felt her entire life.   

She handed the brush to Chase.  “I can milk the cow.”  He nodded his agreement and she quickly performed the chore.  After the chores were done, Chase carried the bucket of milk and grasped Hannah’s elbow as he led her to his cabin a short distance away.  He opened the door and soon they were both inside the small home.  He stomped his feet to remove the snow from his boots and Hannah did the same.   

Hannah looked around and was pleasantly surprised.  They were in a large kitchen.  She saw a strong wood table with four chairs surrounding it.   There was a wood stove and Chase immediately started to feed cut logs into it.  She could see a well-stocked pantry and a sink with a water pump nearby. The wood floor had been sanded smooth and there were a few braided rugs on the floor, one in front of the sink, and one near the wood stove.  There was a door that opened up to a room that Hannah guessed was a living room since she could see a sofa through the doorway.   

“It’s not much,” Chase sounded apologetic as he brushed his hands together after he shut the door to the stove.  “I have an account at the general store and Mrs. Clements knows you have my permission to purchase anything you need, for the house and for yourself.  I remember how my ma and my sister were always stitching something to decorate their homes.” 

Hannah looked at him with interest.  “You have a sister?”   

“Yep, a sister and two brothers, along with four nephews." 

“Do they live nearby?”    

Chase stood and watched as his new bride looked carefully around the kitchen.  He was glad that she was curious enough about his family to ask questions. “Yep.” 

“Are they older than you?”   

“All of them are younger than me.  I am the oldest.”  He wondered if she had expected a younger man than himself and for the first time since she had arrived, he started to question his decision.  He had hoped she would instantly like him the moment he met her, that there would be some spark or recognition between them, that there would be a sign he had made the right decision.   

He had made the decision to marry her impulsively and he didn’t want either of them to regret it.  He looked around his plain cabin and wished that he had taken his sister up on her offer to sew a few curtains and other frills for him.   He wished he had been able to build a bigger home for Hannah.   

He decided to voice his thoughts.  “I know you will want to decorate the place to your liking.  My sister offered to help with that, but I figured you have your own way of doing things.  I want you to make this your home, too.” 

“I think I’d like that,” Hannah admitted as she walked to the doorway that divided the kitchen and living room.  He watched her as she gazed at the comfortable flowered sofa he had ordered from a nearby city.  He hoped she would enjoy sitting on it while she sewed.  The rest of the furniture in both the kitchen and living area were things he and his pa had made years ago; the sturdy kitchen table and chairs, the rocking chair in the corner that his Ma had used with each of her children, and the window seat in the living room that opened up and held quite a few books.  Chase was an avid reader and liked to collect good books that he would read over and over again during the long cold winters.   

“There are two other rooms which are the bedrooms,” Chase gestured towards his left.  “We have enough room to grow and we can add on if needed.” 

Hannah blushed and looked down at her worn coat.  Noticing her embarrassment, he remembered the advice his sister had given him and those words moved him to approach her.  He needed to treat her well so she wouldn't regret marrying him.  “Why don’t you sit by the stove and warm up.” He held his hand out to her but waited for her to come to him.  “You have had a long journey and you need to rest.” 

“Rest?   I can’t rest.  I need to make dinner.”  Hannah started to walk towards the pantry to see what food there was available as she took off her coat. 

“You should warm up first.”  Chase took the coat from her to hang it on a peg near the front door.  He noticed many patches on her dress that had been sewn on carefully.  She had not exaggerated that she was in great need of a husband and home.   

“I’m not the best cook,” Hannah felt the need to confess.  “Although we won’t starve.” 

“I am sure whatever you can cook will be fine.  It will be nice to not have to eat my own cooking for a change.”  He bent down to add one more piece of wood to the stove.  “But you won’t need to worry about dinner tonight.   My sister brought over a meal.  It just needs to be warmed up.” 

“That was nice of her,” Hannah commented.   Chase again encouraged her to sit at the table.  “You have a nice home.” 

Chase grinned at her. “It’s yours now, too.  Why don’t you see what the rest of the house looks like?  You might as well start planning on any changes you might want to make.” 

Hannah didn’t say anything.  Chase walked towards the door.  “I have a few more things to get done. I will be back soon. Make yourself at home.”