Angeline (Bride Brigade Book 2)

by Caroline Clemmons

  That lightened her mood. “I guess that’s really what happened since the garment’s been torn apart. I’m lucky you’re my roommate, Cassandra.”

  “Think nothing of it. We’re supposed to support and encourage one another, aren’t we? This will be just as pretty when you’re finished. You just have to remember to allow for growth.”

  Angeline paused and touched her expanding stomach. “Soon people will be able to tell. What will I do? Who’ll want to marry me?”

  Cassandra sent her a remonstrative glare. “Do you remember how many men met the stage? You’re a beautiful woman. I think we all are, in fact. There are more men who want us for wives than there are women to go around.”

  She waved off her roommate’s remark and resumed planning her alterations. “Wanting a wife is one thing, but accepting one who’s carrying another man’s child is quite different. Most men would prefer remaining single. And I could never marry a man unless I was sure he would be kind to my child.”

  “Angeline, Lydia promised she would only introduce us to men of that caliber. I believe her or I wouldn’t be here.”

  She paused and allowed hope to seep into her heart. “You’re right. Lydia did promise, didn’t she? Okay, if a man proposes, I’ll tell him about the baby. If he doesn’t withdraw, then I’ll accept.”

  “Okay, that’s settled. Regardless of your condition, I suspect you’ll have several men offer for you. Now, let’s get your wardrobe, such as it is, in shape.”

  ***

  Grady McIntyre left Matthew with Mrs. Gallagher and went to call on the elderly and ill of his congregation. In front of the mercantile, he met Lydia Harrison. When she saw him, she sat on the bench in front of the store and patted the seat beside her.

  Reluctantly, he joined her. He figured a lecture was on the way because he hadn’t accepted her invitation to her reception to introduce her girls to eligible men.

  Sure enough, her first words were, “Grady, why aren’t you coming tonight?”

  He exhaled the pain of his loneliness. “What’s the point? You know how many men want to marry one of your Bride Brigade.”

  “Why would that discourage you? Have you no sense of adventure and competition? Matthew needs a mother. I don’t think Mrs. Gallagher can keep up with him much longer.”

  “I agree Matthew needs a mother and also that he’s about exceeded Mrs. Gallagher’s energy. However, none of those beautiful young women would want to take on a man with a child when they have their pick of men.”

  Her gaze held sympathy. “Ridiculous. You at least owe yourself the opportunity to try. Come tonight, won’t you?”

  He shook his head and gazed at the distant hills. “I don’t think so. Lydia, I appreciate what you’re doing for the town. I hope this means there’ll soon be weddings and then new life in Tarnation.”

  “That’s my wish, too. But you’re one of the nicest men in town and I hoped you’d find one of the girls to your liking.”

  He couldn’t shake his dejection. “Thank you. Your saying so means a lot to me. I have to admit I’ve been doubting myself lately.”

  “Harlie Jackson and Ulys McGinnis still giving you a hard time, are they? Those two don’t approve of anything. I doubt they really even like one another.”

  He grimaced, agreeing with Lydia. “McGinnis thinks whatever Jackson tells him and Jackson has made it his mission to get rid of me as minister. I don’t know how long before he turns others against me.”

  She half-turned on the bench to face him. “Two people out of the town are not going to force you to leave. You keep being the good minister you are. And think about coming to meet the girls tonight.”

  “I met one, Miss Chandler. She almost fainted by where we’re sitting and I walked her to your home. Seemed like a nice young woman.”

  “She is. Actually, each of them is suitable. Otherwise, I’d have found somewhere else for them. I brought home only women I’d want for neighbors.”

  “Good planning.” He stood. “I’d better get over to check on Mrs. McAdams. She hasn’t been feeling well. Nice to see you, Lydia.”

  He strode quickly toward the McAdams home before Lydia could try her hand at more persuasion. Heaven knew he wanted to meet a woman who would share his life and love Matthew and him. But, if she’d just love Matthew, he’d take her.

  ***

  At the reception, Angeline lined up with the other girls to meet the men as they were presented. Several were really handsome, others passable, and all seemed nice. She glided around the room, talking to first one and then another.

  Panic hit her. Already she could see couples forming, yet none of the men singled her out. Handsome Mr. Buchanan had honed in on Josephine right away, although Josephine didn’t appear interested. What was wrong with that girl?

  Lydia spent her time talking to the sheriff. Angeline thought there was something going on between those two, but maybe they were just friends. This evening, she’d met a doctor, ranchers, cowboys, a carpenter. She’d also met owners of the bank, the livery stable, the saloon and the opera house, the freight office, the mercantile, and the newspaper. There were more businesses in town, but she supposed their owners were already married or deemed unsuitable.

  Adam Penders, the sheriff, made a blunt point of introducing her to Elias Kendrick, the owner of the saloon and opera house. Mr. Kendrick seemed nice, but apparently he didn’t feel any more spark for her than she did for him. She excused herself and he wandered off to talk to one of the other girls.

  She noticed the minister was not present. Didn’t he want a wife and mother for Matthew? Perhaps he meant it when he said none of the women would be interested in a man with a child. If the kind-hearted minister thought that, did that mean men thought the same way about a woman with a child? What chance for her then?

  She forced a smile and talked with every man there as pleasantly as she could, even those she didn’t think she would want, like Mr. Traveland. He was very gruff and she doubted he would tolerate a baby that wasn’t his.

  By the evening’s end, she was exhausted and her smile had frozen on her face. Back in her room, she removed the green skirt and blouse and readied for bed.

  Cassandra stormed in. “That was upsetting.”

  “So true, but why did you find it so? From where I stood you appeared to have found several prospective beaus.” Angeline pulled on her nightgown.

  “Sure, one was wealthy and one melted me with his smile. Unfortunately, not the same man.” Cassandra undressed for bed.

  Climbing between the covers, Angeline asked, “Are you determined to marry money? Why can’t you settle for melting you with his smile?”

  Cassandra lowered the lamp’s wick and pulled up the cover. “No, thank you. Lydia said there are wealthy men in this little town and I intend to marry one of them.”

  “I haven’t that luxury.” She rolled to her side and burrowed into her pillow.

  ***

  Grady shut the door on Mrs. Callahan who had come to extol the merits of a wife and suggest he meet the Bride Brigade girls. Spare him from the meddling of another matchmaker. This was the third well-meaning matron since Lydia had returned with the Bride Brigade in tow. He sat in his study trying to compose his sermon when a knock on the door sent him striding irritably to answer the summons.

  “Oh, Miss Chandler. Won’t you come in?” He smiled and gestured toward the parlor.

  She craned her neck toward the area where he’d set his son on her last visit. “Matthew here?”

  “Mrs. Gallagher took him to her house today. Take a seat.”

  Miss Chandler sat on the sofa but appeared uncomfortable. “You said I could come and talk to you again if I needed to do so.”

  He gave what he hoped was an encouraging smile. “I meant that.”

  She sighed, obviously relieved. “I wondered if you counsel people who are torn by indecision?”

  He sat down across from her. “Many times and I always do my very best to help. Tell me what�
�s bothering you.”

  She toyed with a handkerchief she’d pulled from her sleeve. “Well, what if a person has had something very bad happen to her and there are consequences she can’t change, things that society doesn’t approve? I mean, if someone proposes to me, and I’m honest with him, will marrying him be all right?”

  He had no idea what she was trying not to say. “Miss Chandler, I can’t counsel you on vague terms. However, short of murdering someone, there are no consequences that can’t be overcome. And even if you killed someone and genuinely ask God’s forgiveness, then He forgives you.” He raised his eyebrows. “You’d still have to deal with the laws of man, though.”

  She looked contrite. “I-I haven’t killed anyone. Well, I almost killed myself, but I couldn’t go through with it. Then Lydia found me and kept me from trying again.”

  His stomach hit his boots. This beautiful woman was so overcome by sorrow and guilt she had tried to kill herself? What terrible burden did she carry?

  He reached across and took her hand. “There’s nothing in this world worth killing yourself for. Nothing, do you understand? There’s always a solution to every problem. Sometimes deciphering the way to proceed is difficult. Whatever you feel you’ve done wrong can be resolved.”

  She clasped his hand in both hers as if he’d thrown her a lifeline. “You don’t think I’m doomed to unhappiness because of a mistake that happened before I came here?”

  “Did you ask God’s forgiveness?”

  She nodded. “Every night and several times a day.”

  He withdrew his hand from hers and leaned back. “You’ve come here to start a new life. Be optimistic about your future. Start with forgiving yourself.”

  She appeared startled at the thought. “Forgive myself? Oh, I’d no idea I should. I was stupid to give my trust to the wrong person. I’m not sure I can forgive my part in the… event, but I promise to try.”

  After she’d gone, he wondered what she had to forgive of herself. She looked to be about twenty or maybe a couple of years older. She didn’t have the drawl the other women had so she wasn’t from Virginia.

  With a shake of his head, he went back to writing his sermon.

  He knew when Lydia did her shopping and errands and he decided he’d make a point of meeting her.

  As he’d planned on the next day, Grady was waiting for Lydia as she exited the mercantile. He bowed and gestured to the bench.

  With a smile she took a seat. “Is this your new office, Grady? I must admit you have a lovely view.”

  He sat beside her and gazed beyond the dusty street to the blue-green hills rising above the town. Above them a deep blue sky promised a bright day with no rain.

  “I’m concerned about one of your Bride Brigade. I know you keep your counsel, Lydia, but what’s wrong with Miss Chandler?”

  Lydia pressed her lips in a line for a few seconds then met his gaze. “You know how I hate gossip but, well, you are our minister and you’re not judgmental. I suppose I can tell you. The problem is Angeline needs a husband. And she needs one soon.”

  He felt like an idiot. Why hadn’t he figured that out? “I see. That’s a shame. She seems like a nice girl.”

  “She’s delightful. But, you know one blemish is all that’s needed to ruin a young woman’s life even if she’d not to blame. She’s promised to explain her predicament before she accepts a man. The problem is, she’s so skittish that I doubt she’ll receive a marriage proposal until all the other girls have been spoken for. That may be too late for our purposes. I’ve assured her she’s not obligated to accept any proposal because she can remain with me as long as necessary.”

  “Thank you for sharing with me.” He wished he could help Miss Chandler. Who could he suggest for her? “She probably feels frightened and unlovable.”

  “That she does. And she’s in a panic.” Lydia rose and, with a pat to his shoulder, walked toward her home.

  In turn, he strolled toward the McAdams house to check on Fiona McAdams. When he arrived, Miss Chandler was just leaving.

  She looked fresh as the dew on a rose. “Good day, Reverend McIntyre. Mrs. McAdams is feeling a little better today.” She leaned near and whispered, “So am I.”

  He watched the young woman walk away before he entered the McAdams home. “Miss Chandler tells me you’re improving.”

  “Isn’t she the sweetest girl? Imagine someone her age taking the time to call on me.” Fiona laughed, something he hadn’t seen her do in a long time, and slapped her leg. “Lands sakes, I forgot you’re her age, but you’re my minister.”

  “Has Doctor Gaston been by yet?”

  “Not yet, but I don’t think he needs to bother with me today. I’m feeling better. Miss Chandler—she said I should call her Angeline—made me take my medicine. I hate that stuff, but she said it’s important for me to follow doctor’s orders.”

  “She’s right about that. Have you skipped your medicine often?”

  A sly look crossed her face. “I might have in the past. But Angeline made me promise I’ll take it faithfully now. She is such a sweet young woman.”

  “I’m grateful she extracted a promise from you. I’ll hold you to it. I want to see you up dancing at the next party.”

  She clapped her hands together. “Oh, I’ll bet Lydia will have a fancy dance soon. I sure don’t want to miss it.”

  He left and continued his rounds. Visiting the elderly and ill was something he enjoyed. Not that he was glad people were ill, but he felt a visit cheered them. In addition to the ill, people often forgot about elderly who couldn’t get around well.

  When he returned home, Mrs. Gallagher met him at the door. “Your son is getting to be too much for me. You know I love the boy and think a lot of you, but you need to find someone younger to look after him. While we can use what you pay me, I can’t tolerate this back ache or my shattered nerves.”

  Grady wanted to bang his head against the wall. He didn’t need this news. “He get away from you again?”

  “Yes, and headed for the road. I couldn’t bear if me being slow caused him to come to harm. You just need to find another sitter for him, someone younger than me. I’ll give you a few days, but that’s all.”

  Mrs. Gallagher left and Grady clasped his son to him. How he loved the boy. Matthew was a happy child, but so active he tired his father. No wonder Mrs. Gallagher was worn out.

  He’d ask around but there was no one else. That’s why he’d begged Mrs. Gallagher to stay on the job. She’d begun out of pity when his wife had died and continued for lack of a suitable replacement.

  Matthew had been easier to corral then. Grady had thought then the main problem was diapers. Mrs. Gallagher had raised four children and wasn’t put off by changing diapers or washing them.

  He’d known she wasn’t up to the task of chasing after a toddler. The woman was in her sixties, didn’t walk well, and he figured she was a great-grandmother by now. He sank onto the rocker and held his son.

  Why had his wife had to die? As a minister, he should have been able to handle that question. He still wrestled with why a lovely woman like his Georgia had been stricken with the painful and lingering effects of giving birth that stole her life.

  He rocked his son and cried silently against Matthew’s soft hair.

  Chapter Five

  Angeline enjoyed meeting all the people in town. Many of the women were older and had no children left nearby to visit them. She liked hearing their stories about pioneering in the area.

  She was amazed at how brave some of them were. With some of her precious coins, she bought a tablet and pencil and started recording the stories they told her. She thought they would make a remarkable book of local history.

  When they learned what she was doing, the people she visited were eager to tell her more stories. Each evening, she recorded what she’d heard that day. She described the memorabilia they showed her, things like clothes, sidesaddles, utensils, furniture and china carried across the country by w
agon. The little sketches of the items were to help her memory.

  She learned there was to be a performance at the Golden Crescent Opera House. How she wanted to attend. Lydia promised any girl not escorted could sit with her, the sheriff, and Sophie Gaston in Lydia’s box. How humiliating that would be, but she was reconciled to be there.

  The day before the performance, Elias Kendrick called at Lydia’s. His dark red hair was perfectly groomed and his warm brown eyes echoed the smile he offered.

  With her fingers crossed, she greeted him. “Lydia said you wished to speak to me, Mr. Kendrick.”

  “Would you do me the honor of dining with me tomorrow and then accompanying me to Miss Geraldine Chitwood’s performance at the opera house?”

  “I’d be delighted. I’ve never heard her perform.”

  “Then I’ll call for you at six.” He gave a mock bow.

  “I’ll look forward to the evening.” But she was perplexed because she would have sworn he was interested in another woman. Whatever the reason, she had an escort for the performance.

  In their room later, Cassandra grilled her as they readied for bed. “I saw Mr. Kendrick speaking to you. He’s quite a catch.”

  “You know he’s not interested in me, but I’m grateful I won’t be the only one of us sitting with Lydia and the sheriff tomorrow night.”

  “Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?”

  The next night, Angeline dressed in her remade velveteen suit and wore her pearls.

  Cassandra dressed in her best too. “I can’t believe how well our little sewing project turned out. You look like you stepped from the pages of Godey’s Ladies Magazine. Those pearls are the perfect touch.”

  “I was afraid I’d have to sell them and I still may. For now, though, they’re mine and they do look good with this suit, don’t they?”

  “I’ve helped several of the girls with their hair, now I barely have time to get ready.”

  “When I first met you, I thought you were snobbish and stuck up, and I apologize for thinking that of you. You’re really very generous with your talents.”