by Danni Roan
“Mr. Bowlings, Anderson,” Prim’s words were a mere whisper. “I too have feelings for you. I don’t fully understand them, but I’d like to. If it’s God’s will, I know it will work out.”
Anderson looked over at the beautiful woman next to him and smiled for the first time in what seemed forever. “Will you allow me to continue to see you then?” he asked. “I’d like to get to know you better because I feel that you are the woman I’ve been looking for my whole life.”
Prim blushed taken aback by the man’s words. She didn’t know how to reply so stayed quiet as they walked along the street.
As they turned back toward the Hampton House, Anderson spoke again. “Do you think Mrs. Hampton could spare you one afternoon to come over and see the progress on the house?” he asked. “The windows should be here in a few weeks and I’d like you to see the whole place.”
Prim was surprised by the question but nodded. “I think I’d like that,” she said. “I could prepare a picnic lunch or something special if you’d like.”
Anderson smiled amazed that the first thing Prim thought of was what she could do to make the day more pleasant for him.
“We’ll ask Mrs. Hampton what she thinks when we get back,” Anderson continued taking his time as they walked through the sunny day. He couldn’t place the reason, but he felt like the most important man in the world walking along with the young woman from Tennessee, and his heart whispered a thank you to the God he finally understood loved him.
Prim walked back to her place of employment examining the tall building with new eyes. She hadn’t planned on any of this when she replied to the ad for a mail-order bride, but she was happy she had come to Needful.
Searching her heart she paused for a moment and Anderson stopped next to her. “Mr. Bowlings I need to know one thing before we continue this relationship,” Prim said. “My sister and mother are still back in Tennessee, and I have written them to come to Needful. I’ve been saving for enough money for them to join me here at the Hampton house. Does it bother you that my family will be coming to join me?”
Anderson turned looking down into Prim’s lovely face but before he could reply Prim continued.
“My mother had an accident several years ago and is an imbecile of sorts. Mama was kicked in the head by an old cow, and after a few days, she had a stroke. She can’t speak, or do much but hum.”
Anderson was taken aback by Miss Perkins words. Was he willing to take on an invalid and sibling as well as a wife? His house was big enough for everyone, but what would it be like to have these strangers living with him.
Prim’s eyes were full of hope, worry, and doubt as she studied Anderson’s handsome face. Would he tell her no? They were only beginning to know each other, and she couldn’t help but worry that her words could ruin everything, but she had needed him to know before things went further.
“I don’t know what I think about this,” Anderson answered truthfully, “but I know I care for you Primrose, and even though these people are strangers to me, they are your family. I’m sure that in time I would learn to care for them as I do you.”
Happy tears sprang to Prim’s eyes at the pronouncement and her heart soared. “Oh Anderson,” she sighed using his Christian name for the first time. “Thank you.”
Something zinged to Anderson’s heart and he couldn’t breathe. He wanted to kiss Prim again, but standing in the middle of the street was not the place to do that.
Stepping out again he walked calmly to the Hampton House and pushed open the door. He had plans to make as hopes he had never fostered before sprang to life. “I’ll see you again very soon,” he said brushing her cheek with a kiss then turning to leave.
Prim practically floated through the rest of her day and no matter how busy the Hampton House became, or how much work she had to do, her heart sang.
***
It was two days later that Anderson came to collect Prim and take her on their outing. The sun was high but the air cool as he helped her into the wagon Orville had provided.
“It’s a lovely day,” Prim commented as the horse trotted down the street, shying slightly as two bleary eye cowboys stumbled from the front stoop of the saloon.
“Something should be done about that,” Anderson said absently as he steered clear of the staggering men. “Decent women like you shouldn’t have to see such things on a daily basis.”
Prim smiled touched by the man’s care. She had heard Daliah and Spencer talking several times about the loud, rowdy behavior of some of the single men in Needful. “Perhaps if they had something else to occupy their free time,” Prim suggested. “I’m sure there isn’t much to do other than work in town.”
Anderson nodded turning the idea over in his mind. “What could they do?” he finally asked as he let the horse drift along the road toward his spread.
“What do cowboys like to do?” Prim asked. “Back home women got together for quilting parties. I’ve even heard of people who meet on occasion to discuss books or news. Wouldn’t it be nice if they had a place like that for men to go to?”
Anderson nodded liking the idea and thinking of the tea shops and coffee houses in England were men or women met regularly to discuss current news and events. The problem was that Needful only got the news when Mr. Scripts went for supplies.
“That’s a clever idea,” Anderson said. “Perhaps we should bring it up at the next town meeting.”
Prim smiled amazed that this sophisticated man would take what she said seriously. “I think Mr. Hampton has ideas for getting the stage to stop here in Needful as well,” she said, “and Olive said that Mayor Dan has already applied for the stop. We would get mail more regularly and people traveling by stage would no longer need to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere,” she added with a giggle.
Anderson’s bright smile lit up his whole face as they both thought back to the day they had met.
“I don’t know,” he mused, “If you hadn’t been dropped off on the trail that day I never would have met you.”
Prim looked over at the man she knew she had fallen in love with and her heart seemed to swell. He was nothing like the kind of man she had believed would be right for her. He was a man who had been raised with much, where she had little. He was someone who understood society and privilege while she had known pain and loss.
“Anderson, are you sure you really want to bother with me?” she asked sorry for her words as his face fell. “I do care for you,” she hurried on laying her hand on his arm as she turned to look at him. “It’s just that I come from nothing, and you’ve had a very different life.”
Anderson pulled the horse to a stop and turned to face Prim. “Primrose,” the name rolled off his tongue so sweetly that Prim shivered. “I may have been raised in another land with plenty about me, but I was never content. I got myself into trouble on a daily basis and was always pushing for something new or exciting. In truth, I was bored. My life seemed meaningless and empty until I came to Needful. Even once I had started the ranch and was working, I knew I wanted something more. When I met you, it didn’t take long until I understood that you were what I wanted. It took a little while to sink into my thick skull, but I’m sure of it. I’m new to so much, but I’m beginning to learn that God even has plans for a man like me.”
Prim’s eyes filled with tears and Anderson couldn’t help but gather her into his arms and kiss away the tears.
When he finally released her after several breathless moments, Prim pushed her hair back into place as a warm blush colored her cheeks, and she knew she loved Anderson Bowlings.
Anderson scooted a little further from Prim doing his best to resist the urge to pull her back into his arms and started the horse moving once more. His Primrose deserved everything good in this world. He had never met such a humble, caring woman before, and he determined to build her an empire all her own. This week’s town meeting was going to be full of new topics if he had anything to do with it.
Prim gazed o
ut over the prairie feeling a soft peace fill her heart even as her body seemed to tingle to life in the oddest way. For the first time she could see a future for herself that included more than a life of work and care. She could envision so much more as she sat beside Anderson; a future, a family, a life of purpose. Ducking her head she whispered a prayer of thanks that this man had come into her life.
In only a matter of minutes they were pulling up to the big house that had changed even more from the last time she had seen it. The outer shell was covered in neat siding and trim work graced the front door.
“You’ve done so much more,” she gasped looking at the tall house that now had simple, yet, elegant trim work around a front and back porch.
“We’ve been working on it pretty steadily all week,” Anderson replied climbing down and hurrying to help Prim from the wagon.
“William Scripts is headed down to the river this week and will be bringing back windows and paint for the place,” Anderson said with pride. “He’s getting windows for his store front at the same time, and I think Orville has an order in for the Hampton House as well.”
“Oh my,” Prim gasped, “that is a great deal of very fragile glass.”
“I think it will be all right if they take their time.” Anderson said taking her hand and leading her up the front stairs and through the door.
Prim gazed around her looking at the well-constructed house. Directly before her stood a tall stairwell and to her right a room with a fireplace, while the room on her left was large and had several openings for windows.
“This is the parlor,” Anderson said indicating the room to their right. “I think it will make a nice family room, while the one on the left can be more formal,” he finished leading her into the room on the left. “Prim, he continued dropping to one knee. “I know it hasn’t been that long, but my affection for you is true and I’d be honored if you would marry me?”
Prim gasped shocked at the man’s sudden proposal. She hadn’t expected anything like it, and now didn’t know what to do as she stood in her best, if slightly worn dress in the grandest house she had ever set foot in.
“I don’t know what to say,” she stuttered.
“Say yes,” Anderson implored. “I don’t want to wait. I want you to be my wife, and when your family arrives, they can move in here,” he finished gesturing at the room with one arm.
Prim smiled looking down at Anderson as her heart fluttered. “Yes,” she finally said.
Anderson sprang to his feet pulling her into his arms and kissing her soundly. When he’d gotten his emotions back under control, he stepped back twirling her around in the room with a happy laugh.
“Now comes the hard part,” he teased, his dark eyes bright. “Now you have to think about how we’ll decorate.”
Prim laughed her heart full of joy and hope. Today something had happened between her and the Englishman that could never be taken away, and she knew that this was the start of their future together.
The tour of the house was a dream as Anderson led Prim into the kitchen; one-step down from the formal parlor with a large stone sink and tall shelving then turned walking into a pantry that stepped out into a drafty dining area with a large fireplace at the far end.
“You’re putting windows on both sides of the room and both sides of the fire place?” Prim asked in shock.
“I wanted a space that was bright and comfortable,” Anderson said. “I imagine some high-backed chairs here in front of the fire,” he said
walking in front of the stone monstrosity and sketching it out with his hands. “Then we’ll have a long dining table behind that near the wall to the kitchen for easy service when we have guests.”
Prim could picture the lovely image immediately and smiled with a nod. “It’s very grand,” she whispered shyly as he led her back through the family room and around to the stairs.
“It isn’t much by some standards,” Anderson said. “But as long as you’re the queen, it will be a castle to me.”
The tour was a whirlwind of rooms on the upper floor with one space dedicated to a bathing room. Prim had never seen the like and was amazed at how convenient the space would be even if one had to carry water up the stairs. Anderson promised a large galvanized tub just for bathing and the thought gave her shivers all the way down her spine.
“I hope you have ideas for how you’d like to paint or paper,” Anderson said as they headed back outside collecting their picnic basket and spreading an old blanket on the front porch.
“I’m sure I’ll come up with something,” Prim said her head still reeling from the day. Not only had she become engaged she had toured the house she would live in. The shack she had spent so much of her life in would have fit in the dining area of Mr. Bowlings’ house, and yet he wanted her as his wife. It was almost too much to take in.
Prim laid out cold fried chicken, hard-boiled eggs, potato salad and pickles along with a few apples.
“It’s so much to take in,” she admitted as she handed a plate to Anderson. “I can’t seem to settle my mind. I’m just a country girl from the mountains. I can’t seem to believe this is all real.”
Anderson reached out taking her hand and kissing it softly. “I know it will take time to adjust,” he said “but I’ll be here with you every step of the way.”
Chapter 23
Rosa was still in a bad mood the next morning when Prim tied her apron around her waist and started serving breakfast.
It hurt Prim’s soft heart to see her friend so unhappy. Although Rosa knew that Raul worked hard, she still wished he could be home more often and didn’t understand why other punchers stayed near the ranch while her husband traveled back and forth across the long trail to Mexico.
Prim had spent the evening telling Olive everything that had happened with Anderson the day before, and the older woman had immediately started planning the wedding, making both Orville and Prim laugh with some of her ideas and notions. The older woman seemed to have a head filled with romantic thoughts.
“We haven’t even chosen a date yet,” Prim had protested, but to no avail, Olive was off and running and there was no way of stopping her. Prim decided it was probably easiest to go along, and since she knew that Olive cared so much for her, it was easy to let her have her head.
“When will Mr. Scripts come with all of the glass?” Rosa finally asked after they had closed the dining room that night. She seemed to let go of her irritation and smiled at Prim who bustled about the kitchen in constant motion.
“I believe they’ll be back later this week,” Prim said. “I’m not really sure how long it will take carrying so much heavy glass.
“Perhaps you will hear from your family this time when the mail comes as well,” the petite black haired woman said. “Then you will know when they will be able to be here. It would be so good for them to be here for the wedding.”
“I’d like that,” Prim admitted. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen my sister Peri or Mother, but I don’t have enough money saved yet.”
Rosa smiled sadly looking over at her tiny daughter. “I cannot imagine being separated from my Christina,” she said. “It will be good when your family comes.”
The rest of the day continued as usual with punchers, miners, and workers of all types coming in to eat, while Prim and Rosa cooked or served, joined by Olive when the load grew heavy.
At about two in the afternoon everyone was shocked though when the rattle and clink of heavy harness sounded outside the Hampton House, and they hurried through the door to see the stage stopped by the front porch.
“Is something wrong?” Prim asked concern filling her heart as she looked up at the stage driver.
“No ma’am’,” the grizzled man replied. “Just making the first stop here in Needful. Seems some fella called Gaines contacted the company, and we’ll be stoppin’ here from now on. “Where are the horses we were promised for a fresh team?”
Prim looked back at Rosa who stared at her a
s bewildered as she was. “Dios Mio,” the woman whispered.
“I’m comin’, I’m comin’,” Orville called leading a heavy team of four horses around the back of the Hampton House. “We’ll need a Livery, I ‘spect,” the old man grumbled as the driver swung down and opened the door.
Prim’s scream made everyone jump, and Olive came racing outside a heavy cudgel in her hand.
“Peri!” Prim squealed again as the stage door opened and her sister stepped out. “How did you get here? I haven’t heard anything from you,” Prim sobbed embracing her sister in a tight hug.
“Don’t strangle me Prim,” Periwinkle laughed as happy tears stung her eyes. “Help me get Mama,” she added pulling back with a grin.
Together the sisters stepped back up to the stage and reached in to take the work-worn fingers of their mother, leading her down the step carefully.
