Delightfully Deluded

by Barbara Goss

  Rachel took everything so casually, Eden could tell Rachel thought she was worrying for nothing.

  When the conductor called out, “Dodge City,” Eden was unable to swallow since the lump in her throat was so large. Both women tried to spot the brothers as they waited for the train to come to a complete stop. They spotted them, leaning against the depot, smoking cigars.

  “Oh, no!” Eden exclaimed. “They’re smoking!”

  “I think that’s manly,” Rachel answered. “They look so handsome.”

  “I don’t care for the smell of cigars, and I wouldn't want to kiss the lips of a cigar smoker, either,” Eden said with disgust.

  Rachel took hold of Eden’s shoulders. “Eden, not everything here will be perfect. We need to adjust and realize this is still better than what we had in Defiance.”

  Eden smiled at her friend and sighed. “Of course. You’re right. I’ll try.”

  The women disembarked with the other travelers getting off at Dodge, and Eden saw one of the brothers nudge the other, and nod their way. No sooner had Eden’s feet touched the ground than Max was standing beside her. Fortunately, both had discarded their cigars.

  “Welcome to Dodge City,” Max said.

  The very first thing Eden noticed was how short the brothers were. Max was a bit shorter than Jake. She’d imagined Max as being taller, which only served to add to her list of disappointments.

  Though Eden could see he tried hard not to, he looked her over pretty thoroughly. She also noted Jake checking out Rachel. When they were done, both men smiled, seemingly happy with what they saw.

  “I’m ready to get hitched right now. How about you, Max?” Jake asked.

  Rachel smiled as usual, but Eden halted her walk toward the baggage that was being unloaded. “That wasn’t the agreement we made,” she said in a nervous voice. The agreement had been that they spend a day together to get acquainted before the marriage would take place, if they were both in agreement.

  “Aw, you gonna hold us to that?” Jake asked.

  So far, Max had been silent. “Of course, we’ll keep our agreement,” he said finally. "One day spent with us'll convince you, I’m sure. We’ll marry tomorrow.”

  “Yeah,” Jake said. “Wait until you see our place.”

  After Jake and Max had grabbed the suitcases, they led the women to a large buckboard. Max helped her up onto the driver’s bench, while Jake threw their bags into the wagon, and helped Rachel into the bed of the wagon, where they sat leaning on a stack of hay. Max whipped the horses, and they barreled along at a speed that made Eden uncomfortable.

  Eden grabbed onto the back of the bench for support. Max laughed and slowed down a bit. “Sorry, Eden," he said, "I often forget I have to slow down when I have a passenger.”

  Eden glanced at Rachel in the back and noticed she and Jake were already holding hands.

  Eden was impressed with the large, two-story house, as well as the barn and stables. It looked to be an extremely prosperous ranch. When Max helped Eden down from the wagon, she noted a large herd of cattle in a field to the right of the house.

  Once on the ground beside Max, she realized they were almost the same height, but so far he’d been personable and thoughtful, so she decided to reserve her judgment. Even if he was short and had a hairy face, he could still be a loving husband.

  Max grabbed her hand and led her toward the house. Eden looked behind her to be sure Rachel and Jake were following.

  “The house needs a woman’s touch badly, so don’t mind the disorder. I’m sure you two will have the place spotless in no time,” Max said.

  Eden smiled, but she could smell the cigar he’d smoked earlier, and she didn’t much like his beard or mustached face. She steeled herself to be patient and give him a chance.

  The house looked enchanting to Eden. She liked the large, pillared front porch, which she assumed led to the sitting room, but she’d have to wait to see, since Max had led her around to the side door, leading into the kitchen. That she'd recognized the stove was the only way she knew it was a kitchen. The room looked as though a tornado had hit it. When she viewed the sink, she saw at least a week’s worth of dirty dishes, maybe more, stacked precariously inside. Were they waiting for maids or wives? She supposed the two to be synonymous in their eyes.

  Max led Eden to a bedroom and set her valise down. "This will be our room," he announced. Eden turned and saw that Jake was showing Rachel the other room.

  “But not until tomorrow, right?” she asked uneasily.

  “We’ll see,” he said and then winked. “We might just hit it off before tonight.”

  “But we agreed—”

  Jake cut in, “He was joking, Eden. Lighten up.”

  Eden looked from one brother to the other. The look in their eyes sent chills down her spine. “We came to an agreement in our letters, and I expect you both to honor it,” she said.

  “Hey!” Max said. “You gals settle in and maybe find us all something to eat. The root cellar’s behind the house, on the right, by the fence.”

  Both men left the room, and Eden heard the kitchen door slam shut.

  “Rachel, what have we gotten ourselves into?” Eden said stiffly.

  “It’s fine. Some mail order brides marry right off the train. Stop worrying. They are two honorable brothers who need wives,” Rachel said. “Now, move your suitcase into my room. We’ll both sleep there tonight, whether the men like it or not.”

  Eden felt better and did as Rachel suggested before asking, “Do you want to wash or dry the dishes?”

  Rachel rolled her eyes. “It could take us a week,” she said with a giggle. “I’ll wash.”

  Chapter 3

  The kitchen was soon in fairly neat order, and Eden and Rachel braved the root cellar to pick something out for dinner. It was only about three in the afternoon, but they thought they had better get started with something.

  “What’s this?” Rachel said, pointing to a jar.

  “I think those are pears.”

  “What about this one?”

  “Tomatoes.”

  The women continued to look over the goods until they found a slab of bacon and a ham. “What do you think, Eden? Ham and eggs for supper and bacon and eggs for breakfast?”

  “Sounds good, but where are the eggs?” Eden asked.

  Rachel scoured the shelves. “Oh, here’s a basket of eggs on the bottom shelf, but there are only five of them.”

  “Take them. We can scramble them with small chunks of ham, and I can add some butter and cream to make them go around.” Eden continued to search, looking for something else to add to their meal. “Here are a few potatoes. We can pan fry them. I don’t see any bread. I think we’ll have to make some tomorrow.”

  Their supper planned, the women gathered their supplies and returned to the kitchen. They didn’t prepare it yet, as it was still too early in the day.

  “So, how do we pass the time until five or six?” Rachel asked.

  Eden shrugged. “Dare we take a peek at the sitting room?”

  “Might as well,” Rachel answered.

  They were surprised to see the sitting room in almost perfect order. They straightened a few doilies and dusted a few things, but it seemed presentable.

  “Hmm,” Eden said. “The bedrooms were spotless—it seems our men have only one thing on their minds.”

  “Let’s go for a walk around the place,” Rachel suggested. Eden knew Rachel had purposely changed the subject.

  The women moved to the side door and met the men as they came back in.

  “Well, well, well,” Max said, looking over the room. “You girls did a fine job.”

  “Thank you,” Rachel said. “What time do you two usually eat supper?”

  “Six,” they both answered in accord.

  “That leaves us plenty of time to get acquainted,” Eden said. “Shall we move to the sitting room and talk a bit?”

  The four young people moved into the sitting room. Max esco
rted Eden to the sofa. Jake sat on the armchair and patted the arm of the chair to indicate where Rachel should sit.

  When they had all been comfortably seated, Max said, “So, what do you want most from our marriage, Eden?”

  The question stunned her, and she realized she hadn’t given it much thought. “I don’t know. I suppose companionship, kindness, and eventually children. I want a happy home, filled with love and laughter.”

  “How about you, Rachel?” Jake asked.

  Rachel thought for a moment and then replied, “Pretty much the same, but add fun into the mix. I love riding and dancing, and I’d love to learn to shoot, too.”

  When Jake and Rachel began an animated conversation, Max turned to Eden, “Would you like to learn to shoot, too?”

  “No, I’m afraid of guns.”

  “Really? They’re only as scary as the person holding them, you know.”

  Eden nodded. “What is it you expect from this marriage?”

  Max smiled. “Honestly? I’m looking forward to the physical relationship. Having your own wife, you can make love just about anytime you want.” When he saw the shocked look on Eden’s face, he added, “That’s after companionship and children, of course.”

  Good grief—was that all this man thought about? Was that all he wanted from a wife?

  “Of course,” she murmured. “How many children would you like to have?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I’ll just take them as they come, I guess. Seems to me it isn’t something you can control.” He gave her a look from her neck to her knees. “I think we’ll have lots of children.”

  More and more, Eden was dissatisfied with Max. The more she thought about it, the more she was sure he wasn't the man for her. What could she do now? How would she get out of this dilemma?

  The men seemed to love the simple meal Eden and Rachel had cooked, and they gobbled it down quickly. By the time the dishes had been washed and the men had finished their evening chores it was dark outside. That’s when Max escorted Eden upstairs and pulled her into his bedroom. Jake and Rachel didn't follow them. Eden pulled her arm from Max's grip, and said firmly, “I’m not sleeping in there tonight.”

  “Oh, but you are, Eden.” He tried to pull her close, and she smelled alcohol on his breath—he must have been drinking somewhere at some point in the day.

  “No, I’m not.” She pulled free and walked to the door, but Max reached over her head and pressed his hand against the door before she got there.

  “I don’t want to marry a woman I’m not compatible with in the sack, my love,” he whispered into her ear. “I’ll know, for sure, by tomorrow morning if you please me, and if so, then we’ll marry.”

  Eden knew she was trapped. There was no way out, still, her mind whirled as she tried to think of ways to escape. She checked the room over thoroughly with her eyes. He might be short, but he was muscular, and she was no contest against him as far as strength went. She'd have to find a way to outsmart him instead.

  “All right,” she said, “you win, but I'll need privacy to undress. How about you go out and come back in ten or fifteen minutes and I’ll be waiting for you in bed.” She smiled in an attempt to make her suggestion more believable.

  Max smiled widely. “I can do that,” he said, opening the bedroom door. He continued, “I’ll see you shortly,” and left the room.

  Eden put her ear to the door, and when she’d heard him go down the stairs, she flew into action. She locked the bedroom door and moved a large Victorian armchair in front of it, wedging the back under the doorknob, before pulling out drawers and searching his closet.

  She was thankful Max was short because his britches fit her perfectly. She was even able to wear his underwear. She picked out a flannel shirt and slid her feet into his boots, but they were too big, so she stuffed one of her stockings into the toe of each boot and slipped her feet into them once more. She grabbed a wide-brimmed hat, tucked her golden hair beneath it, and looked at herself in the mirror. It wouldn’t do; her bosom was too big. To cover her breasts, she threw on a black vest and a black woven jacket that Max probably wore to church.

  Eden checked the mirror one more time, nodded with approval, opened the window, and stepped out onto the roof covering the front porch. She slid down one of the support posts, inched herself to the ground, and she ran like a bear was chasing her.

  It was dark. It was something Eden hadn’t figured on in her quickly formed plan, but she knew she had to get away before Max came looking for her. If he got on a horse, he’d find her in no time at all. She glanced around looking for a place where she might hide; running into the dark forest was not an option. Then she saw the tree. Its branches were perfect. She could boost herself up onto the lowest branch, climb up just one more branch, and then the huge leaves would cover her. She got into position just in time, for she soon heard the pounding of a horse’s hooves, and she sat as still as she could until the dark figure had whizzed past her.

  Eden made herself comfortable in the tree by stretching out her legs. She knew that, after a time, Max would be back when he hadn't found her. She’d have to wait until he went back home to sneak down and go—who knew where? Anyplace she could in order to get away from Max and his before-the-marriage bed.

  Eden hummed a song, tapped her feet, and stretched, trying hard not to fall asleep. It wasn’t too much longer before she heard the horse and its rider returning, only this time it was at a slower pace than before. She thought he was searching both sides of the lane for her, knowing she couldn’t have just disappeared.

  “Eden!” she heard him call. “Where are you? Come out this instant. I’ll wait until tomorrow night, as promised—I swear,” she heard him say as he trotted back toward the house, carefully scanning both sides of the lane for any sign of her.

  The house was barely in view from where she sat, but when she finally saw all of the lights in the house go out, she climbed down and ran as fast as her legs would carry her away from the Walkers' ranch. She tried not to think about Rachel and the fate that might have befallen her. At that moment, it was each to her own. Rachel had seemed fond of Jake, besides.

  Eden tried to find the railroad tracks, since she knew from her long trip, they would eventually lead to a town. She walked along the outskirts of Dodge City and heard piano music coming from the saloons. Eden easily found the train depot, which was still open. She walked in and asked the clerk when the next train was expected in.

  He looked down at his schedule and said, “A train is due in soon from Denver. Are you expecting someone on that train, young man?”

  “No, I’d like to get on it. Where's it headed?” It suddenly dawned on her that her money was tucked away in her reticule, which was still at Max’s place.

  “It’s bound east for Kinsey, Great Bend, Ellsworth, Abilene and goes all the way to Kansas City,” he said.

  “Thank you. I just wondered.” She turned around and stepped smack into a huge figure standing right behind her.

  “Excuse me, sir,” she said, looking up at him.

  The man nodded and moved around her to get to the ticket counter. “I need a ticket to Kinsey,” he said. The clerk handed him the ticket. The man paid and then sat down.

  Eden walked past him, fretting about what she’d do next.

  “Where you headed, young fella?” the man asked.

  Eden shrugged. “I was going to catch the next train, but I seem to have lost my money, and I don’t know what I’ll do,” she said.

  “If you’re headed home to Kinsey, I’ll buy your ticket and you can repay me when we get there.”

  Eden thought about his offer. She hated to lie and say she lived in Kinsey, but she actually had little choice in the matter. Eden had to be long gone before morning or Max was bound to find her.

  She cleared her throat and lowered her voice a few octaves. “That’s mighty generous of you.”

  A train whistle sounded in the distance. The man stood, bought another ticket, and handed it to E
den. “Looks like our train is here. I’m Andrew Mayfield.” He put his hand out.

  Eden had never shaken hands with anyone before, but she was fairly sure she should use her right hand, so she put her hand in his and they shook. “I’m…um…Eddie.” She saw his eyebrows rise when she’d stumbled over her name, so she added, “My name's Edward. I never know if I should tell people I’m Edward or Eddie. I prefer Eddie, though.”

  “Oh, I see,” he said as they walked out to the platform. My parents have called me Andy as long as I can remember, but I much prefer Andrew. I outgrew Andy with my short pants.”

  When they had boarded the train, he sat beside her as if he were afraid he’d lose sight of her and his train fare. He was a clean-shaven man with a pleasant face. She wondered if Max had looked more like this man if she’d have been more anxious to—on second thought, she knew she wouldn’t have. How could you be intimate with someone you hardly knew and didn’t love?

  As the train rolled down the tracks, her mind went just as fast trying to think of what she’d do when they reached Kinsey and he realized she didn’t have the money to repay him. What would he do then? Since he thought her to be a young man, he might punch her. The thought of it made her cringe.

  “Are you all right, Eddie?” Andrew asked.

  “I’m fine. I just had a cramp in my leg, is all.”

  “Do you want to walk in the aisle a bit?” he asked.

  “No, it’s gone. Thank you.”

  Andrew pulled a newspaper from his pocket and read while Eden gazed out the window. She couldn’t see much in the darkness, but each clickety-clack of the train's wheels took her further away from Max, which relieved her, but she still worried about having to pay Andrew back.

  Chapter 4

  When the porter called, “Kinsey,” Eden still hadn’t any idea as to what she would do, or how Andrew might react when he discovered she didn’t live in Kinsey and hadn’t a cent to her name.

  Andrew followed her closely as she stepped down from the train and onto the railway platform