The Secret Admirer Romance Collection

by Barratt, Amanda; Beatty, Lorraine; Bull, Molly Noble

  “Of course, they are. I heard some women talking at the mercantile the other day about what exquisite dresses you sew. And I’m number nine, correct?”

  Meredith took a deep breath. Nine dresses she had sewn for her friends and members of the Ellis Creek community. Nine dresses she had sewn for happy brides-to-be who had found the love of their dreams.

  Would she herself ever know the joy of wearing such a dress?

  With great care, Roxie removed the quilt from around the wedding dress. “It’s breathtaking,” she gasped.

  “I’m thrilled you like it.”

  “Like it? I love it! May I try it?”

  “Of course.”

  Meredith waited in the parlor while Roxie tried on her dress. Then, presenting herself for Mrs. Goff and Meredith, Roxie entered the parlor and twirled around as though a princess.

  “Meredith, you really do fine work. Such a gift you have with the needle and thread,” declared Mrs. Goff.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Goff. It was my pleasure. After all, Roxie has been my best friend all these many years.”

  “And you have been such a dear friend to me as well.” Roxie paused for a moment as if the realization Meredith had already contemplated finally settled in her heart, too. The thought that soon, after Roxie married Perry, things would change between them, and Roxie’s time would be spent as that of a rancher’s wife and, within a year, likely a mother.

  Meredith pushed from her mind the speculation. She refused to let dismal thoughts ruin this special moment together with her best friend.

  Roxie left the room and changed back into her everyday dress, all the while chatting about the wedding dress Meredith had sewn.

  “Would you like some lemonade on the porch?” Roxie asked.

  Meredith smiled. “That sounds delightful.” How many times had she and Roxie shared lemonade on the Goff’s porch? Too many to count.

  Within moments, Roxie reappeared with two glasses of lemonade and took a seat beside Meredith. “Before you know it, you’ll be stitching a wedding dress of your own, Meredith.”

  “That’s decidedly unlikely.” The words left her mouth before she could pay them any mind.

  “God has someone planned for you, Meredith. I just know it.”

  “If you’ll recall, I was the one everyone thought would marry first out of all of our friends, and by the age of eighteen, no less. Mind you, that definitely was not in God’s plan.”

  “Who would guess that Idella would fall in love with Richard practically the day she met him during his visit to Ellis Creek?”

  Meredith laughed. Idella and Richard had already been married nearly three years. They brought new proof to the old adage that love might just happen at first sight. “True. They do have a wonderful story to tell their daughter when she grows older.”

  “You do know that we will still be the best of friends, even after I marry Perry, right?”

  “I know things will change, Roxie.”

  “They will change. Perry will be my main priority, after the good Lord, of course. But we will still pay each other visits, chat about the goings-on of this town, and sit and drink lemonade on the porch. We haven’t been friends for all these years to suddenly stop.”

  Meredith smiled at her dear friend. “You’re right, Roxie. We shall remain grand friends, no matter what.”

  “True. And don’t you let the fact that God hasn’t sent the man He aims for you to marry bother you. His timing is different than our timing. Isn’t that what the reverend always says?”

  “Yes, and I know that the Lord knows and sees everything, but sometimes I wonder if He may have forgotten that in a few short months I’ll be twenty-one years old. A spinster by any standard, especially in Ellis Creek.”

  “Fiddlesticks! The Montana Territory may be behind the times a bit. But in less than twenty years, we’ll be entering a new century. Spinsterhood will be considered much later. Maybe even into a woman’s mid-twenties.”

  “Well, whether or not that’s true,” said Meredith, taking a sip of her lemonade, “how can a girl find a man to marry when there are no options? And not just no options, but absolutely no options.”

  “Perhaps there are options we aren’t seeing. Options right there before us.”

  “Please, Roxie, do give an example.”

  “Well, let’s see. There’s Mr. Griggs.”

  Meredith shivered at her friend’s suggestion. “Mr. Griggs might be a worthwhile choice were it not for his lack of teeth and failure to bathe.”

  “I do suppose that Mr. Griggs is, shall we say, rather disheveled.”

  “Disheveled, indeed.”

  “Mr. Norman from the post office would make a fine choice.”

  Meredith giggled at that suggestion. “If it wasn’t that he is at least ninety years old.”

  “Marvin Pratt?”

  Meredith held out her forefinger and thumb with only a small space between the two. “Only one inconsequential problem with Marvin Pratt: he will likely insist we live at his parents’ home since he doesn’t understand the verse in the Bible that states ‘therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.’”

  “Give poor Marvin time. He’s only thirty.”

  “Any other suggestions, Roxie?”

  “What about that new banker in town, Leopold Arkwright? He’s quite sought after by some of the young women in Ellis Creek.”

  Meredith wrinkled her nose. The arrogant man had tried to court several of the young women in town, to no avail. “I dare say that Mr. Arkwright is quite one to put on airs. Also, wouldn’t he be perturbed to know we weren’t addressing him by his full name, Leopold Lawrence Arkwright III?”

  “He would indeed. But don’t you find him the least bit dapper?” Roxie winked teasingly at her friend.

  “Not in the least.”

  “He is one of the wealthiest men in Ellis Creek.”

  Meredith shrugged. “Riches are not all there is. Give me a poor man with a strong faith in the Lord and a kind and gracious nature over a wealthy one possessing Mr. Arkwright’s personality any day.”

  “All right. I’ll not press on about the notorious Leopold Lawrence Arkwright III. Hmmm.” Roxie put her finger to her lips. “Gabe Kleeman?”

  “Gabe Kleeman?”

  “Yes, Lula’s older brother?”

  Meredith thought for a moment. Lula was the best friend of Meredith’s younger sister, Tillie. Did Lula have a brother?

  “Remember, Meredith, when we were in school? He was a head shorter than the rest of the boys—and the girls. A strong wind could blow him away, if I correctly recall.”

  “I think I remember him. Didn’t he go to Minnesota to help his relatives?”

  “Missouri, I believe.”

  “I recall he would retrieve Tillie from our home and from school on occasion. But it’s been several years.” Meredith pondered for a moment. “Oh, yes, I do vaguely recall him. Such a sickly fellow. It seemed he missed a lot of school.”

  “Yes, a nice boy, not like the others in school always pulling on our braids or teasing us.” Roxie thoughtfully tapped her chin. “I do believe I heard from Mother, who heard from Mrs. Smith, who heard from Mrs. Plunkett, that Gabe has returned to Ellis Creek.”

  “I don’t think there’s anyone for me in Ellis Creek, Roxie. I may have to travel to the distant corners of the Montana Territory and beyond.”

  “Don’t give up yet, Meredith. God has a plan.”

  Meredith offered a weak smile. She hoped God’s plan didn’t include spinsterhood.

  Chapter 2

  Gabe Kleeman stood in the field and, turning, gazed in every direction. The Madison Range in the distance, the plentiful ranch land, and the numerous trees gave testimony to how blessed he was to have acquired such a fine piece of land. He couldn’t have done it, of course, without Pa’s help. Adjacent to his parents’ property, the spread had come up for sale when the Potter family had moved to Iowa. Pa had suggested Gabe
take out a loan on the property and start his own ranch.

  From the beginning, that had been Gabe’s dream—to own his own ranch.

  Now, after three years, he was back in Ellis Creek. Not that he had minded traveling to Missouri to assist his aunt and uncle after his uncle’s accident. The years spent there drew Gabe and his extended family closer, giving Gabe the opportunity to help ensure that his aunt and uncle didn’t lose the farm they had worked so hard to keep.

  God had answered the prayers of Gabe’s entire family throughout the past couple of years. Gabe was stronger and healthier than he had ever been, and the days of his rough start in life as an ailing youngster would forever be in the past.

  Gabe’s return to Ellis Creek sealed the fact that he belonged here. Always had. His family, the land, the cattle, the beautiful summers, and the crisp winters would always beckon him to the place he had lived since a young lad. He had missed much since his time away and was glad to be back.

  Three days later, Gabe sat in church, awaiting the sermon. He hoped the reverend would preach another convicting sermon as he had done last week when he spoke of allowing God to take all your worries. The reverend had reiterated that the Lord cared for the smallest of sparrows. Gabe would need to remember that as he started this new chapter in his life, operating his own ranch.

  The Waller family sat in the fourth pew from the front. A fine location for the family in Gabe’s humble estimate, as it afforded him ample time to take in the fine beauty of one Miss Meredith Waller. Not that Gabe wasn’t listening to the goings-on at the church service and particularly the sermon, for indeed he was. But there was just something about the woman who had captured his attention all those years ago during their early school days. She hadn’t known he existed then, and she certainly didn’t know now.

  Meredith might never know if Gabe didn’t figure out how to use the mouth God gave him to actually speak to her.

  Old Mrs. Plunkett began playing a hymn on the piano, and Gabe focused on his hymnal. When the song concluded, everyone took their seats to listen to the announcements. Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe had a perfect view of Meredith. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back in what Lula would call ringlets. She had expressive, pale blue eyes that he remembered from school when she appeared to be looking his way once. More like looking past him while in a daydream, but Gabe still recalled her sparkling eyes.

  Meredith looked back over her shoulder, and Gabe redirected his attention to the front of the church. It wouldn’t do to have Meredith discover he was staring at her. Did she realize he had returned from Missouri? Had she even known he had left?

  When Meredith faced forward again, Gabe’s eyes wandered once again to gaze upon her beauty. What would she say if she ever knew he fancied her? Would she laugh? He had attempted once several years ago to speak to Meredith by asking her to a barn dance. When Gabe had finally forced the words from his mouth, he’d been horrified with embarrassment when he realized he had asked her to a yarn bance.

  If only Gabe hadn’t been born shy, maybe he would have a chance with the prettiest girl in Ellis Creek.

  He could talk to just about everyone else in town, but when it came to Meredith, his tongue got tied into hopeless knots. Better not to say anything at all than embarrass himself again, as he had with the “yarn bance” incident.

  A nudge to his rib cage drew his attention from Meredith to his younger sister sitting to his right. A sly look in her eyes told him he’d been caught. “What is it, Lula?” he whispered.

  “I saw you.”

  “What?”

  “I saw you staring at Meredith Waller. You are supposed to be listening to the announcements.”

  Gabe felt the warmth travel up his neck. He shook his head. Why was it that his parents decided to have another child when Gabe was ten? Couldn’t he have remained an only child? Not that he didn’t love Lula with all his being, but a pesky sort she was, especially at times like these.

  “I could listen if you weren’t talking.”

  Lula narrowed her eyes at him. “I know you fancy Meredith Waller.”

  “She seems nice enough.”

  “Maybe I should tell Tillie.”

  “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Lula merely shrugged, her long brown braids bobbing as she did. She stuck her chin out and focused her attention on the reverend, acting as though she had been listening intently to the announcements all along.

  In all his shyness, and there was plenty of it, Gabe would die an early death if Lula ever breathed a word of her suspicions. He would have to purchase more of those jawbreakers she had grown so fond of and bribe her with one each week to keep her conjectures to herself.

  Chapter 3

  Tillie Waller couldn’t wait until recess to speak with her best friend, Lula Kleeman. If lunch recess didn’t arrive soon, she might be forced to sneak over to Lula’s desk during arithmetic and let her know all about the grand plan she had concocted in her head while doing her chores last night.

  But that would never do. Miss Apgar would tan her hide for sure if Tillie dared speak out of turn in class.

  So instead, Tillie sat, attempting to do her best at listening to reasons why she had to learn double-digit multiplication, although Miss Apgar’s reasons clearly lacked merit. Tillie prided herself on being more of a word-girl than a number-girl.

  She removed her spectacles and rubbed her tired eyes. Arithmetic had a way of boring her. If she lasted the next hour without drifting into a deep sleep, it would be nothing short of miraculous. Tillie quietly drummed her fingers on the desk and every so often glanced Lula’s way, hoping to catch her eye.

  Finally after what seemed like a multitude of hours, Miss Apgar announced that lunch recess had arrived. “Now pupils, as always, please, eat your lunch first then play.”

  Tillie and the rest of the students chorused, “Yes, ma’am.” For as smart as Miss Apgar was, she certainly never provided a variety of words to her standard “eat first then play” speech.

  All of the students clamored for their tin pails on the shelf in the back of the class-room with youngest going first and elders toward the back. Tillie tapped her toe on the floor, attempting her best to be patient. Finally, her turn came, and she grabbed her tin pail and bolted out the door.

  “Lula!”

  “Tillie!”

  The two embraced as if they hadn’t seen each other just yesterday. Such was the case with best friends, Tillie supposed.

  “I have the grandest plan in all the West.”

  Lula stared at Tillie with wide eyes. “Really?”

  “Yes, I must tell you or I fear I shall be unable to endure the rest of the day.”

  “Let’s go sit under the tree, and you can tell me all about it.”

  Tillie followed Lula to the large tree at the edge of the schoolyard. “What is it?” Lula inquired.

  “You know how you and I were discussing that your brother is so lonely since returning from Missouri and that my sister is so distraught over everyone else having a beau?”

  Lula removed a sandwich from her tin pail. “Yes?”

  “Well, while I was doing chores last night, I had the most splendid plan.”

  “Do tell!”

  “Why don’t we arrange for your brother and my sister to fall in love?” Finally, Tillie had set free the words of her heart. Surely Lula would see the importance of the plan, just as Tillie had when the idea had popped into her head.

  “Do people arrange for people to fall in love?” Lula asked.

  “Well, sure.”

  “All right. So what is your plan?”

  Tillie placed her apple back in her tin pail. Who could eat at a time like this? “I’m glad you asked, Lula. You see, we could write love letters.”

  “Love letters? Wherever did you ever get that idea?”

  “I overheard Mama telling Papa that during the war, Grandmother and Grandfather wrote letters back and forth to stay in touch. Mama said that Grandmother was
a fright, wondering if Grandfather would return from fighting for the North unscathed.”

  “You and your big words, Tillie.”

  “That’s why I do well in writing but not in arithmetic. Anyhow, we write love letters, and soon Meredith and Gabe fall in love, get married, and we’ll be sisters forever.”

  Lula absentmindedly placed a finger to her lips, seemingly pondering the thought. Tillie had known her best friend since they were little. She just knew Lula would see the importance of such an endeavor.

  “We’re only eleven. How could we possibly help two people fall in love?” Lula asked.

  “It’s been done before. Besides, we’ll both be twelve soon.”

  “How do we deliver the letters to them?”

  Tillie scrunched her nose. “I hadn’t thought of that yet. I only thought about composing the letters.” She refused to allow this complication to hinder her plans. “There has to be a way. Say, what about mailing the letters?”

  “That would get mighty pricey. Have you seen the price of a stamp lately?”

  “True. Perhaps we could ask someone to deliver the letters for us.”

  “And risk that person telling either Gabe or Meredith that we are behind this scheme?”

  “Lula, you are always so pragmatic.” Couldn’t Lula be a dreamer like herself, just once?

  “Not pragmatic, just realistic. We mustn’t allow anyone to find out it is us writing the letters. Our plan would never work then.”

  “There has to be a way.” Tillie decided just this once to eat her dessert before her sandwich. Taking a bite of her cookie, she closed her eyes in quick prayer. Surely the Lord saw the importance of the situation, didn’t He?

  “Are you sure Gabe and Meredith want to fall in love?”

  “They do. They just don’t know it yet.” Tillie spoke with her mouth full of cookie, glad that Mama wasn’t around to witness her appalling breach of manners.

  “I’ve never heard Gabe say he wants to fall in love.”

  “Do boys even talk about such things?”

  Lula shook her head. “Not that I know of. You have a brother. Does he ever swoon over any girls in town?”