by Annie Boone
Olivia and Simon
Colorado Matchmaker Series Book 4
Annie Boone
Contents
Copyright
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
It’s not quite the end!
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Copyright
Copyright 2018, Annie Boone and Sweet River Publishing
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without written approval by the author, except for short excerpts used in a book review.
All characters, places, events, businesses, or references to historical facts are fictitious and products of the author’s imagination. Any references to actual people, places, or events are purely incidental.
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Chapter One
Rocky Ridge, Colorado; 1881
Bedsheets, check. Curtains, check. Pillows, check. Fresh pot of flowers by the window, check. Susannah Jessup rocked back and forth on her feet, reviewing the room one last time. One last time for the day, anyway.
With a critical gaze, she surveyed the set up and tried to imagine coming here for the first time, and that she had never set foot here before. Would she be comfortable, feel safe? Finally satisfied here was nothing else she could do, Susannah closed the door behind her and checked on the next room.
The boarding house had six rooms, meaning that six young women were able to reside there, to live and adjust and create a life. There were four on the ground floor, with two in the attic. After glancing in the last room, Susannah stared at the hall, pausing reflectively.
“It’s going to work,” she whispered to herself firmly. But this wasn’t a concern of hers. She believed with all her heart that soon this house would be bustling and full of life, of people learning and growing. It wasn’t quite the same thing as children, she acknowledged, but it would still be lovely. And she was happy.
Lost in her thoughts, Susannah went to her new office where she found her files, wanting to make sure she hadn’t forgotten a thing. Shuffling through them, the folders were resorted once again as she changed her mind on who to focus on next. After Jeb Harbin, it was hard to decide which man to start with, especially since she didn’t have any other women there yet.
The new file on top was Simon James. It was one of the newest ones, for he was a friend of Jeb’s and she had practically promised him everything before finishing his portfolio. A good young man, he used to work on the railways before coming out west to start over again. Though he lived with his sister and her family, he was clearly working hard to make his own way. Jeb had mentioned the man to her several times before Mr. James ever stepped over her threshold.
Hopefully, Susannah prayed, there would be someone there for him soon. The man had been through his share of troubles, and she wanted him to find something good in life. And finding love would be a very good thing.
What could be better than love? To find someone to cherish through the sunlight and the dark nights, someone to laugh with and cry with, someone to build a fuller life with. The world was complicated enough and if she could help, Susannah would do whatever she could to bring people together. Now that she had Simon James on the string, she just needed to find someone right for him.
With the evening progressing, she returned to the kitchen to finish up the supper she had left on the stove. Humming, she brought out the hot cast iron pot and turned, setting it just on the table as her husband, Lucas, walked in.
It was nearly impossible to hear him until he showed up in the room, but she was slowly getting better at not jumping. Heart hammering, she took a deep breath and tossed the nerves aside. Giving him a look, she set the food down and closed the stove. “There you are. You’re a little late, aren’t you?” She paused, noticing he was limping. Hastening to his side as he sat, Susannah frowned. “Whatever happened?”
She pulled out her towel at the sight of blood. Below his knee, the pant leg was soaked in it. The only reason she didn’t scream was because she was used to his occasional injuries, and he didn’t look to be in too much pain.
“It was just a horse,” he informed her hurriedly. More than anything, he sounded irritated as he shifted in his set and sighed. “He was nervous, and the bridle was too tight. I fixed it.”
She gave him a look. “But you didn’t fix yourself.”
“I did,” he frowned, and pulled up his pant leg for her to find a bandage, already blood-soaked but he raised an eyebrow not understanding how his effort fell short. “See?” He was dangerous enough for people, but apparently he was also dangerous to himself. His days of being a Texas Ranger had taught him to bind injured body parts, but there was little finesse to it. “See? Nothing to worry about.” But he stopped as she went to a corner cabinet, pulling out fresh bandages.
“You and your horses,” she murmured, returning to his side. “You and your trouble. Was there no one to help you?”
Lucas watched as she started pulling the bandages away. “Yes, half the town. But nobody goes after a horse racing down the streets. It was Farmer Calloway’s new stallion, just arrived from Texas, apparently. He spent a fortune but didn’t know how to treat him.”
Sighing, Susannah dumped the bloody bandages in a bowl and started running them under the sink. The fresh cut was nasty but it was hardly bleeding and that was a good sign. She tended to it and cleaned it as he told her the story.
“Oh, and we had mail,” he finished it off with a flourish, pulling out two bent letters from his pockets.
For a minute he toyed with them, preventing her from grabbing them. She reached out, but Lucas danced them around her. Susannah laughed, shaking her head at him before lightly punching the knee on his unhurt leg. It would have no effect on a man of his stature, but he played off a wince and handed over the papers.
Climbing up to her feet, she put the towel down and wiping her forehead, glanced them over curiously. There was something about mail, about having it arrive and wondering who it could be from and what it said.
One was from her aunt in Boston, and Susannah beamed. She was about to open that one first until the other caught her eye. She didn’t recognize the handwriting and it was addressed to the Jessup Boarding House for Women. Gasping in delight, she took a seat and let Lucas off to go change his pants as she opened the letter from a young woman in Vermont.
To the Jessups of the Boarding House in Rocky Ridge, Colorado:
Greetings to the Jessups, and I pray all is well. I am a woman from Vermont in need of a place to stay out in the western territories. I am hoping there is space available in your boarding house. Unfortunately, I’ve already begun my journey and will follow my letter soon after.
There is reason for me to leave town suddenly and I am booked to leave on the first train. If there is not space available when I arrive, that is understandable.
Here are the details about me in case I will be welcomed. My name is O
livia Foster, and I have lived in Vermont all my life. My parents grew sick soon after I was born, and I was raised by my grandmother. She taught me everything she knew, and I am skilled in a few basics such as sewing, weaving, and cooking. For the last five years, I’ve worked under the employment of the town’s doctor as a nurse. Soon after my grandmother died, I became betrothed to a good man, but he suffered a terrible accident. Now I fear I have become a burden to his family. I feel a need to be where I am wanted, or at least needed. I believe that your advert offers such, in so many words.
I have a little to pay my way, and I can work hard to earn the rest as I go along. I only pray that my good friend is able to send this off in time and that the post runs quickly. My hope is that I don’t arrive before my letter.
May God bless you.
Olivia Foster
Susannah had read it three times before Lucas returned, his hair wet from a quick wash and wearing clean pants that didn’t have a spot of blood on them. Her heart pattered as she looked up, having mixed feelings about the contents of the letter. The moment she caught her husband’s gaze, though, she forgot everything in his smile.
Strolling over, Lucas took the seat beside her. “Hello.”
“Hello.” Susannah let him kiss her cheek before the plates were put in front of them.
“Who was the letter from?”
She waited until he said Grace to answer his question. “A young lady. Miss Olivia Foster,” Susannah announced. He looked up at her, fork in hand, and waited for her to continue. His gaze was unreadable. “She is already on her way here. She sounds skilled, and is in desperate need of a new home.”
“Then it’s good a thing we have one here for her,” he commented lightly, filling her mug with hot tea.
She set a large piece of cornbread on his plate and pushed the pot of butter towards him. “Indeed it is,” Susannah nodded, smiling. She stood up to go to him and leaned down to kiss him when she was close enough. He hadn’t shaved that morning, so his scruff was coming in quite nicely and was prickly against her cheek. Rubbing a hand over it lightly, she shook her head at him. “I thought you were going to stay clean shaven this summer?”
Kissing her hand, Lucas leaned back. “We’ll see. I thought you liked the beard?”
Winking at him, she picked up her fork. “We’ll see. Now, about Miss Foster. I was thinking she could take a room on the ground floor? And perhaps I’ll make some muffins in preparation of her arrival. Trains move so quickly now, so I think she’ll be here before the week is out.”
Chapter Two
The memory was vague. Hazy. A kind face, framed with soft curls and the sweetest smile. There were wrinkles in her face and the curls were white, but she could clearly see the love in those eyes. Clinging to the memory, Olivia Foster remembered her grandmother’s sweet face and pondered what the woman would think of her now.
A tear escaped, and she hurriedly wiped it away. Sniffling, she closed her family’s Bible, after stopping to read her favorite passage. The book went into the bag, along with her other shawl. By then, her valise was full and she clasped it shut. Buttoning the cloak she wore, the young lady marched over to the door and gave one final sweeping gaze around the place she had so recently called home.
Even then Olivia could recall the first day she had arrived, light with hope and joy. It was a sweet home filled with good people at the time, people who she had thought cared about her. Strange how time changed things. Swallowing hard, she closed the door quietly and walked down the hall until she was outside. Winter was ending, but these mountains had hardly noticed. A chill entered her bones and she shivered, but kept moving. She couldn’t stop now.
The sun was getting ready to rise, and she was late.
Wrapping her arms close around herself and clutching the bag tightly, she made her way down the street and over several blocks. Her eyes darted around everywhere, soaking it all in for the last time. Walking quickly, soon she was out of breath and panting before she made it to the stage coach. Too north for anyone to care, Vermont lacked trains and she would need to catch a ride to New York to reach one.
“Hold up!” She called, seeing the horses geared up and ready to go. Waving an arm, she shouted in the streets, her heart leaping out of her throat. “Please!” They stopped and the driver glanced back. “I’m coming!” Her breath came out in white puffs as she hastened to reach the wagon.
“You’re holding us up,” the man said gruffly, eyeing her critically. He glanced at the road and then sighed, hopping down. “Come along, now. It’s a nickel through each station. Have you any bags? We have a schedule to be on.”
She shook her head, and handed over a quarter. “I’m going to New York. This is all I have. You can take me there, right? Where I can find a train?” Though she tried to smile politely, she was too out of breath.
He stroked his beard and then shrugged before climbing back up into his seat. “Most likely. Get in, then.” There were only three other people inside, but they opened the door and she clambered in. It was stuffy and bumpy but it would get her to safety.
Olivia looked around, still gasping for breath as she glanced at the people and then outside where the town was rolling by. It was the entire life she had known, rolling away and soon to be gone forever. She could hardly imagine such a thing. These folks must have come from the border themselves and were headed down to the larger cities to find work. At least that’s what she’d heard they did when they came to America. But there were so few that left her small Vermont town.
She gulped and settled back in her seat. She was doing this for a new life. For a safe future, she told herself. She wanted to, and she had to. Trying to ignore the lump forming in her throat, Olivia sorted through her plan again. It wasn’t much of one, but it was still better than what had been in store for her.
There was a lot of time to think over the next few days as she made her transition from stagecoach to train, and it was still another five days to reach Colorado. Olivia Foster reflected on all those that she was leaving behind, everyone resting in Elder Grove. Her family, her fiancé, she was leaving them all behind.
“Forgive me,” she mouthed quietly, and leaned back in her seat on the train. Tightening her grip on her valise, Olivia shifted and then stared at her hands. They were scratched and pricked, but white and clean. She was good at that much. Rubbing the dry and flaking skin away, she sighed.
If anything, she would also miss Dr. Hadley and his practice. The man had taken her in five years ago to act as a nurse in the office, teaching her valuable skills and bringing in a small income for her and her frail grandmother. Dr. Hadley was a good man who was growing in his years with a healthy sense of humor and generous nature. He had been kind to drop the letter off for her yesterday afternoon, before she had returned home to pack.
He had listened carefully as she had explained her plan. It was risky and may not work, but it was better than nothing and better than what was in store for her there. “But they can’t force you to marry someone,” Dr. Hadley had looked at her with a creased brow. “Surely they want what is best for you, my dear?”
With a strained smile, she had handed him her letter with a nickel. “I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that. We’re not family, we never had the chance to…“ Olivia had swallowed hard and tried not to say anything mean. They were a good family, just misled. She was certain of it. When Jack had been around, nothing like this would have happened.
Her friend wouldn’t understand what this meant, for he was just another man who could control his destiny. Men had it more easily in their world, and she accepted this. But they wouldn’t control hers, unless she had exhausted every effort first. Of course the Hendersons were a nice family and they had offered her a place to live when her grandmother had died. Had Jack survived, they would have been married and there would be no trouble at all.
But Jack had died in the accident, and the Hendersons thought differently now. She couldn’t blame them, but it meant she had
to change things before they made plans that she didn’t want to be a part of.
“Can you please send this off before you reach home?” She had asked him again. “And I’m sorry for providing such short notice. But I do believe Mrs. Rachel Hyland will be most helpful in replacing me here. She’s a wonderful midwife and could use the extra income.”
Sighing, Dr. Hadley had gone through his drawers, and pulled out his wallet. “Then the least I can do is ensure your safe arrival. Here is your pay, along with a bonus. You have done more than enough work here, and as good as Mrs. Hyland is, I don’t think she’s nearly as tidy as you are. I hope you taught her your tricks.”
Olivia blushed, and grudgingly accepted the bills. She swallowed hard. Frowning, she shook her head. “Oh, sir, that’s too much. Please, I’ll be just fine.”
He patted her shoulder and smiled through his thick mustache. “You may need it, Olivia. You’ve been so good, I don’t want anything to happen to you, dear. You deserve better than this, after everything you’ve been through. You’ll be safe, won’t you?”
Swallowing hard, she had nodded several times. “Yes, yes of course. Thank you so much, Dr. Hadley. You’ve been so good to me, truly. Thank you!” She hugged him one last time, and left through the door.
It broke her heart. Leaving the only life she had ever known, she wondered if it was the right choice. But to count everything she had and everything she had lost, it was clear that she had little else to keep her in Vermont. The familiarity was all she had, but little comfort. Besides, if she stayed, there was little of that familiar life that she would be able to keep if things went the way that the Hendersons had decided upon.
