Westward Promises (8 page)

Chase used the reins to encourage Apache into a trot.  “Are you ready to meet the rest of my family?  My family can be a lot to take in.” 

“What do you mean?  I have met Lucy.  She was very nice.” 

“Well, you’ll soon find out.” 

Apache pulled up in front of a large two-story home.  Hannah was amazed at the size of it, especially for a small western town like Pine Valley.  It was located on the other side of town from Chase’s business and was surrounded by pine and aspen trees.  It was painted white with brown trim and had a wrap-around porch.  As Chase started to help her down, the door opened and a man burst through.   

“Hello, Chase,” the man called as he ran down the steps.  “I wanted to be the first to meet your bride.” 

As the man shook her hand, she glanced behind him and in the doorway clustered together were a number of people, including Lucy.   

“Brent, meet Hannah.  Hannah, this is my brother, Brent.” Chase quickly made the introductions.  “Let’s get inside and you can meet the rest of my family where it is warm.” Chase ushered her into the home while Brent took hold of Apache’s reins and led the horse and buggy towards the barn.   

Hannah’s cheeks heated as Chase swept her past the group of people.  She noticed that everyone was smiling at her in welcome.  She wasn’t used to so much attention.   

“We’ve been waiting a long time for Chase to marry,” an older man boomed in a loud but pleasant voice.  “We never thought a woman would have him.” 

“We are so happy for you both.” A woman stepped forward.  She had brown hair and green eyes and she greeted Hannah with a friendly smile.  “We are so excited to meet you.” 

“Yes, we are pleased to meet you.”  Another woman pushed her way forward and reached to draw Hannah towards the parlor.  There were so many people.  The men were tall and broad-shouldered like Chase and the two women who stood beside them were likely their wives.  She could hear children playing in the background.   

Hannah forced herself to speak.  She didn’t want to disappoint Chase on this first meeting, even though she felt very overwhelmed.  “Thank you for your kind welcome.  I am happy to be here, too.  I brought something for the dinner.” She thrust the basket at the nearest woman who took it with delight.   

“It smells good.” She pulled the towel away to see what was underneath.  “Biscuits!  They look delicious and will be a great addition to the roast beef we made.” She took Hannah’s arm.  “Why don’t you come into the kitchen with us?”   

“Yes, come join us,” Lucy seconded the invitation.  “We still have a few things to do and you can tell us all about yourself.” 

“I’m Ruth.  I’m married to Brent,” the woman who had grasped her arm told her.  “And that is Nellie.  She is married to Anthony.” 

“Let me have your coat, Hannah, and then you can go with the ladies if you choose.” Chase helped her remove her coat and hung it next to his in a closet.  Hannah knew he was letting her know he would stay next to her if she wished, like he had promised.   

Suddenly, Chase’s father reached her and gave her a big bear hug.  This was totally unexpected and at first Hannah didn’t know what to think of it, but as he leaned away, Hannah could see the same twinkle in his eyes that she had seen before in Chase’s.  “Welcome to my home, Hannah.” She could tell that he was sincere and she immediately started to relax.  “I can see that Chase chose well.”   

“I am fortunate that Hannah chose to marry me,” Chase announced to his family.   

“I think I was the lucky one,” Hannah was able to quip as the women led her away.  She glanced over her shoulder with a smile, letting him know she would be fine.   

****

“Where did she come from?” Brent asked as he shook his head.  “I didn’t know mail-order brides came like she did.” 

“What I would like to know is why she’s with you,” teased Anthony.  “She agreed to marry you?  I’m in shock.” 

“I know what you mean.” Chase meant his words even though he knew his brothers were teasing him.  He still remembered his first glance of Hannah standing against the train station wall, trying to keep herself out of the weather, anxiety showing on her face.  “I sure hope I can do all I need to, to deserve her.” 

“I thought she’d be older since she’s a widow.  She looks very young,” Pa commented as he lit a cigar and started to puff.   

Chase stood in front of the roaring fire to warm his hands.  How could he let his family know the expectations Hannah had inadvertently placed on their marriage?  He had always hoped for a good strong marriage, like his Ma and Pa had had.    

 ****

Hannah listened with interest as Chase and his brothers reminisced about their childhood.  They talked about climbing trees and how Brent fell out of one and broke his arm.  Anthony told a few stories of how they liked to jump out of the haymow, even though it scared their ma to death.  She watched how Chase and his family interacted with each other as if they loved to be together.  The in-laws were included in the joking and stories.  They all took turns helping the four children when they needed it.  When the last bite was taken, Lucy stood up to clear the table and Hannah immediately started to rise to help.  Chase stopped her with a hand on her arm.   

“I hope my family isn’t too much for you,” Chase whispered to her.  “Are you handling this okay?”   

Hannah nodded her head.  “I love hearing the stories about your childhood.” It was nice to hear that there were some children who had a normal childhood and were loved right from the day they were born.   She wanted that for her baby.   

Chase’s pa stood up along with the other men.  “Let’s go to the library,” he suggested, and then looked at Lucy.  “Unless you would like us to do the dishes?   

“Oh, heavens no,” Lucy retorted with a mock frown.  “The last time I took you up on that offer, there was water all over the floor.  It looked like it had been flooded and it took forever to get it to dry.  No, I believe its best you let us women tidy things up.  You go ahead and enjoy yourselves.  We will bring in the dessert in a while.” 

“You could watch the boys,” Nellie suggested to her husband, Anthony, and he nodded his agreement.  Hannah watched as they both exchanged a smile.  Soon the kitchen was empty except for the women.   

Lucy started to fill a basin with water and Ruth gathered up some towels for drying.  Hannah stood and started to gather up dirty dishes.  The other women continued their chatter, but Hannah started to think about the meal she had just shared with Chase and his family.  It was very different than what she had been used to.  There had never been conversation when she lived with Dr. Wilson.  Meals were always quiet.   

Jack sometimes would bring home men for her to serve a meal and entertain, but she was never asked to eat with them.  She had been required to stand and serve, making sure none of them ran out of coffee or whiskey.  Jack and his friends usually made such a mess, it would take her days to clean it all up.   

Chase is a better man than I hoped for,
she thought to herself.  She enjoyed the stories, but she enjoyed even more hearing Chase’s booming laugh, and his obvious happiness that he was spending time with his family.   

Ruth and Nellie would not allow her to lift any heavy dishes, so she finally appointed herself to dry the dishes with Lucy who couldn't do any heavy lifting either since she was also expecting.   

“I sure hope I’m having a girl this time,” Lucy announced.  “We need to add a girl to this family.” 

Nellie turned to Hannah.  “How about you?  What do you want, a boy or a girl?   

“How did you know?”  Hannah had wanted to keep it a secret for a while longer.   

“I didn’t tell them,” Lucy told her as she put away the leftover food.   

“Lucy made you ginger tea for dinner.  Anyone who wants that type of tea is most likely expecting,” Ruth explained with a grin.  “How far along are you?”   

“Probably about three months.” 

Nellie had picked up her crying son and started to nurse him.   Hannah marveled that Nellie handled her son so naturally.  She ran a hand over her son’s head lovingly.   

“I’m a widow,” Hannah wanted to make sure they knew Chase was not the father, that they hadn’t met before.   

“We know, dear,” Ruth smiled gently as she washed a dish and handed it to Hannah.  “Chase did tell us that.  He just didn’t tell us much else.” 

“There isn’t much else to tell.” Her past history with Jack was something she didn’t want to discuss with anyone, much less Chase’s family.   

“So, do you know what you want to have?”  Nellie asked again.   

“I haven’t thought about it,” Hannah admitted.   

“Well, if you have a girl, you will make Pa very happy,” Lucy quipped.  “He is so funny.  When I was pregnant with Charlie, Pa told me he wanted me to have a boy, but now after getting four grandsons, I think he’s ready for a girl.” 

“We are very glad you are here and that you married Chase,” Ruth told Hannah.  “He deserves a good wife.” 

“I don’t understand why he hasn’t married before now,” Hannah commented.   

“Living in a town this size, there aren't very many unmarried women to choose from,” Lucy explained.   

“Well, there was Susan,” Ruth said with a tease.   

Hannah was curious and was glad Lucy continued her story.   

“Yes, Susan grew up with Chase, but all she talked about was how she wanted to get out of Pine Valley and she did leave as soon as she graduated from school.” 

“She broke his heart,” Ruth showed sympathy as she picked up a basin of dirty water and threw it out the door.  “It took him a while to get over her, and by then all the other women his age had married or left.” 

“There was one time a single woman did come to live here, but she hardly gave Chase a glance and married someone else,” Nellie contributed to the conversation.   

“And then there are those women the Bridgers married,” Ruth commented as she put the last of the plates away in a cupboard.   

“I wouldn’t really count them,” Lucy said.  “It was destined that they married the Bridger brothers, all three of them.” 

“He’s been looking for a wife for almost ten years,” Ruth explained.  “He watched Lucy and his two younger brothers marry and start families.” 

“Why didn’t anyone want to marry him?”  Hannah wanted to know.   

“We don’t know.  He certainly is handsome and charming enough.  Maybe he was waiting for you,” Lucy said.   

“My guess is there was no one who clicked with him.  You know how it is.  You take one look at a man and you instantly know he is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with.” Nellie explained.   

“Yes, that is how it was with Brent,” Ruth agreed.  “Love is a powerful thing.” 

Hannah wished she knew what they were talking about.  A powerful click?  That definitely hadn’t happened with Jack.  And with Chase, she had been so nervous when she met him, that was all she felt.  Maybe the click only happened with people who had time to court and get to know each other properly.   

“We can tell Chase cares for you,” Lucy pulled out a cake that had been sitting on the back of the counter.  She carried it to the kitchen table and started to cut it in pieces with a knife.  Ruth brought some small plates to the table.  “We are so glad you are here.  Chase has been lonely for a long time.” 

“I…I just hope I can be the wife he needs,” Hannah stammered. 

 “You already are.” Lucy started to cut the cake.  The women quickly put a generous slice of cake on each plate, and then Lucy and Ruth picked up a few and left the kitchen in order to take the cake to the men in the library. 

 Hannah picked up two other plates and followed her new sisters.  She could hear loud laughter as they reached the library and her heart inadvertently jumped.  Were the men drinking?  When Jack brought men to the home, loud laughter was the first sign the men were starting to get drunk.  She wanted to turn around and hide in the kitchen, but she knew she needed to do her duty and serve the cake along with the other women. 

 “I sure love to hear them laugh,” Lucy commented with a grin at Hannah.  “They work so hard, it’s good to hear that they are relaxing.” 

               When Hannah entered the library, she quickly scanned the room.  There weren’t any glasses or bottles of whiskey anywhere.  Chase and his Pa were drinking coffee, but other than that, none of the men had glasses in their hands that would have been full of alcohol.  The other women handed out plates of cake and Hannah quickly gave Chase one of the plates she carried. 

“Are you having a good time?”  Chase asked her as he accepted the plate.  He tapped the place next to him, indicating she should sit next to him, so she did. 

“Yes, I am enjoying getting to know your family.” 

“Lucy, this cake is delicious,” Pa complimented her as he took a huge bite.  Hannah took a careful bite and noticed there were some berries in it.  It was very good. 

“I used up the last of my dried berries,” Lucy told everyone.  It is a good thing it is almost May.  I can’t wait until summer so I can replenish them.” 

“Lucy grows strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries,” Chase told Hannah.