Amelia knew that the expressions on her face and that of Bethany matched perfectly. It was a look of complete consternation.
"I had always dreamed of coming out West. It always seemed to me that the life out here was the best anyone could find. What you may not know is that I have a brother who came out West. He went to Helena, here in Montana. He has done very well for himself. He married and settled down and has the most wonderful, peaceful life with his family. Sadly I never married, as you both know. But I had my girls at the school to make up for that absence. And you all did. But I always hankered after the kind of life my brother enjoyed."
"So you came out to Montana to seek that kind of life?" Amelia asked.
Miss Hardie nodded. "I did. What may have seemed an odd decision had a very solid foundation."
"Have you found what you wanted out here, Miss Hardie?" Bethany asked quietly and respectfully.
Miss Hardie glanced at Bethany and smiled. "I have found what I wanted, Bethany. And more. Now that you both are here, it just became even more perfect. In fact, if I could have my dearest wish come true, it would be that all my special girls could come out here and join me."
Bethany glanced at Amelia. Her friends eyes were wide with surprise. Amelia was sure her own eyes revealed a similar amazement at Miss Hardie's revelations.
"And that brings me to the reason why you have come here, dearest Bethany. Tell me. What are your first impressions of Montana Falls?" Miss Hardie asked settling her hands in her lap, looking more composed now that she had shared her thoughts with the girls.
Amelia looked at Bethany and could read her friend's mind.
"I think the town is beautiful, Miss Hardie," Bethany said. "It's so pretty. Not at all like I thought it would be."
"And what did you think it would be like?"
"I don't know. Small. Basic."
"But it's not like that at all. Is it?"
"No. It's so very pretty. It's like a little paradise on the plains."
Miss Hardie laughed. "I see you're still reading those romance novels about cowboys."
Amelia saw Bethany flush. "You always told us to continue our reading."
Miss Hardie's brows crinkled into a good-natured frown. "I don't think I quite had those kinds of stories in mind when I suggested you keep reading. I was thinking more along the lines of the classics. But, I suppose some of those dime novels do have some value."
Amelia gasped. "Really? I would have thought you of all people would disapprove of such silliness."
"They aren't all silly stories, Amelia," Miss Hardie stated. "Some of them contain home truths about good living."
"Good living?" Amelia asked.
"The folks who live in Montana Falls haven't been corrupted. They don't live degraded lives devoted to greed and profit, like you find in so many towns out West. The families who live in Montana Falls all believe in wholesome values. Everyone here is devoted to one thing. Building a solid, happy community where children can grow up safe and strong. A place where marriages can be fulfilling without the temptations of city life intruding. It's a place where you get ahead by the sweat of your brow and the honesty of your character. Not by how sly or foolish you can be."
Amelia could feel the passion in Miss Hardie's voice. She truly believed in what she was saying. Amelia could see that in the brightness of her mentor's gaze, hear it in the firmness of her voice.
"I had no idea this place meant so much to you Miss Hardie," Amelia said.
Miss Hardie sighed and nodded. "It means a great deal to me, Amelia. Which is why I proposed to Bethany that this might be a fit place for her to find a new life for herself."
Bethany smiled at Miss Hardie. "I am very excited," she admitted.
"Do you want to know a little more about the young man in question?" Miss Hardie said with mischievous grin.
"Of course I would," Bethany declared.
Amelia looked at Bethany and saw the expectation on her face. "Is it true he is from a family of ranchers?" Amelia asked.
"He is from such a family. And a very fine family they are two. At least most of them," Miss Hardie said glancing down.
"Most of them?" Bethany asked. "What do you mean?"
"The Monroe family have quite a reputation in these parts. Almost as substantial as the Dunbar family. They're also another ranching family. All the men in that family got married recently. It was such an exciting thing. But, the Monroes and Dunbars don't quite see eye to eye on a lot of things."
"You mean they're at war with each other?"
"Nothing like that. Such nonsense doesn't happen here. That's the kind of stuff you will find in your beloved dime novels. The two families don't fight. They just don't happen to get on about most things. But it never comes to blows. Not as far as I'm aware, anyway."
"And Lucas?" Bethany asked eagerly. "What's he like?"
Miss Hardie drew in a deep breath. "Lucas is the darling of his mother's eye. And his father's pride and joy. He lives at present on the ranch with his parents. He has a sister, Eloise and a brother Landon. But we try not to talk about Landon."
Amelia frowned. "Why not?"
Miss Hardie shook her head. "You could say Landon is the black sheep of the family. He had a disappointment in love recently and took it rather badly. He had hopes to marry a young woman who lived with her father up in the high country. She captured wild horses and brought them to town to trade. Anyway, Landon got it into his head that this girl, Kate, was the only woman for him. He tried to court her, but her father wouldn't hear of it. Kate wound up marrying Landon's rival Gage Dunbar. Landon didn't take it very well, and left town soon after. We don't really know where he is. The rumor is he's in California."
Bethany gasped. "How dramatic!"
"Yes, it was rather dramatic," Miss Hardie agreed. "Gage and Kate are very happily married now. It does still rankle with the Monroe family though."
"I can imagine it would," Amelia said.
"But, what is Lucas like?" Bethany insisted.
Miss Hardie stood and walked to the desk and opened a drawer. "I have a likeness which you might find interesting. Would you like to see it?"
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bethany shifted nervously on the sofa. Amelia smiled at her friend. Bethany had always had such natural enthusiasm for life. Amelia couldn't imagine how excited she must be right now.
Miss Hardie drew out a small, sepia colored piece of card and came to the sofa. Amelia shifted to the end allowing Miss Hardie to squeeze onto the sofa. Bethany was jammed tightly in between Amelia and Miss Hardie. Amelia saw Bethany's hands shaking with nervous anticipation.
"You understand this isn't a recent likeness. It was taken before Lucas spent some time in Minneapolis during the past year."
Miss Hardie handed the photograph to Bethany.
Amelia watched Bethany take the likeness and examine it. "Oh, my. He is so handsome," Bethany said quietly.
Amelia leaned in close and peered at the image. Lucas Monroe was indeed very handsome, Amelia thought. In the image Lucas was posing in what was obviously a photographer's studio. He was finely dressed in a dark, elegantly cut suit, and he wore a neat hat. He had even features, bright, clear eyes and a determined jawline that spoke of a firm nature.
"What a very handsome looking young man," Amelia observed.
Miss Hardie looked at Amelia. "He is. But more importantly I have it on good authority that his character is second to none. His parents have brought him up to believe in all the virtues I spoke of earlier. The meetings I have had with him lead me to believe he is a fine, upstanding young man."
"How much does he know about me?" Bethany asked her voice filled with sudden concern.
Miss Hardie smiled reassuringly. "He knows everything that's important about you, Bethany. I showed him the likeness you supplied me with and he was most impressed, I can tell you."
"Truly?" Bethany gasped.
"Yes," Miss Hardie said. "And I had a long conversation with him during whi
ch I did everything I could to impress upon him the simple fact that you would make an ideal wife for him."
Amelia saw Bethany's face color red. There was a glint of moistness in her friend's eyes. Amelia reached across and laid a hand gently on Bethany's arm. "He looks wonderful, Bethany," Amelia said.
"You think so?" her friend asked.
Amelia nodded.
Bethany clutched the photo closer to her and looked at Miss Hardie. "Why have you done this? I hardly deserve such kindness from you."
"Nonsense, my dear. You are precious to me. You are all like the daughters I never had. Every one of you deserves all the happiness in the world."
Miss Hardie glanced down at the image. "That young man could be a suitable husband for you, but ultimately it is a decision you will have to make for yourself. I can only do my best to suggest this to you and do my utmost to ensure he is the right person for you. As far as I can tell he would be a fine match for you, Bethany. That's why I asked you to come all the way here."
Amelia drew in a slow, deep breath and tried to contain the emotion she was feeling. She and Bethany had been through so much. Their lives back in Boston had been filled with trouble and disappointment. And now Bethany was being given a fresh chance to build a new life. Amelia was suddenly very happy for Bethany. She was pleased that at last something good had come her friend's way. She deserved this.
Miss Hardie stood and made her way to her chair by the fireplace. She took a moment to compose herself and then spoke. "I have taken the liberty of arranging a meeting between yourself and Lucas."
"A meeting?" Bethany exclaimed. "When?"
Miss Hardie smiled. "No need to worry, my dear. It isn't until tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Bethany ejaculated. "But I have only just got here."
"I know you need a little time to rest and prepare yourself. That's why I've asked him to come to my house tomorrow evening."
"For dinner?" Amelia asked. Maybe this whole affair would be resolved sooner than she'd thought it would. The prospect of taking an early train back to Boston was suddenly appealing. Of course she would have to stay for the wedding. However, judging by the pace of everything and how quickly Miss Hardie had arranged all of this, it looked like a wedding would be taking place quite soon.
"I thought an evening tea would be more appropriate," Miss Hardie explained.
"Who else is coming?" Bethany asked.
"Just Lucas," Miss Hardie replied.
"What am I going to wear? My things are still on their way. I have some of my personal belongings, but not what I'll need for such a meeting," Bethany said looking suddenly out of sorts.
Amelia patted her friend on the arm. "I'm sure we can come up with something. Isn't that right, Miss Hardie?"
"There is a lovely dress shop in town. It's run by one of the Dunbar wives. I'm sure she can help us out. We can go over there in the morning and see what we can find."
Relief swept across Bethany's features.
"In the meantime, I think you girls would benefit from an early night. You've had a very long journey and you have an important day tomorrow."
They all finished their coffee and stood. Amelia and Bethany said goodnight to Miss Hardie. Amelia and Bethany made their way up to their room. Amelia closed the door behind her and turned to Bethany who had sat down upon her bed. She was clutching the image of Lucas Monroe close to her chest. There was a broad smile across her face and her eyes were the brightest things in the room.
"Well?" Amelia said.
Bethany looked at Amelia. "Well what?"
"What do you really think?"
"Of Lucas?" Bethany asked.
Amelia sat down on the bed beside Bethany. "Who else would I be talking about?"
Bethany looked at the image and then back at Amelia. Suddenly she let out a scream so loud Amelia thought it would bring Miss Hardie racing up the stairs to see what was wrong.
Bethany drew in a deep breath and sighed contentedly. "I think he's wonderful."
"He certainly is handsome," Amelia said.
"Isn't he," Bethany agreed.
"And Miss Hardie thinks very highly of him."
"And that's important," Bethany said and then glanced at Amelia. "Isn't it?"
"Of course, it's important what Miss Hardie thinks but it's also about you and what you think. What you feel."
Amelia looked at the image and then at Bethany. "You do feel something. Don't you?"
Bethany's eyes widened, but she didn't utter a word in reply. She simply nodded, obviously struggling with the emotion she was feeling.
"It's all been very sudden," Bethany said quietly. "I mean. Only a few weeks ago you and I were wondering what was to become of us back in Boston. And then, this came out of nowhere. It gives me hope that I can be happy, Amelia."
Amelia wrapped an arm around her friend's shoulder and pulled her close. "I have no doubt that you will be happy, Bethany. I can tell from everything that Miss Hardie has said that this young man holds a great deal of promise. And if he doesn't turn out well, then didn't Mr. Armstrong tell us there was a shortage of women out in Montana?"
Bethany looked at Amelia as if she found what her friend had said utterly scandalous. "You're not being serious, Amelia. You do think Lucas will ask for my hand, don't you?"
"Of course he will. He will take one look at you and fall head over heels in love."
"Love? You really think so?" Bethany asked urgently.
Amelia nodded. "I truly believe so, Bethany. "Now, we best be getting ready for bed. I don't know about you, but I'm very tired."
Amelia stood between the two beds and examined their positions. "Did we already decide who was sleeping in which bed?" she asked with a grin.
Bethany blinked in surprise. "I don't think we did."
"Do you prefer to sleep nearest the wall, or nearest the window?"
Bethany gave it a moments thought and then replied. "I don't really care either way."
"Let's arrange it the way we had it back at the school," Amelia said. "I do recall that I slept next to the window so that I could fight off any young men who crept in through the window during the night. Isn't that right?" Amelia said laughing.
Bethany giggled. "I suppose that makes sense. Although the chances of a young man breaking into Miss Hardie's house are pretty slim, I think."
"I agree. Pretty slim," Amelia said. "But you never know. It happens all the time in those dime novels you read."
"How would you know that?" Bethany said. "You always told me you never read them."
Amelia hesitated. "I...don't read them," she replied, realizing she did not sound entirely convincing. "You've told me so much about them, I feel as if I've read dozens of them." She sighed. "Anyway, let's get ourselves ready for bed."
They prepared themselves as quickly as they could and were soon tucked up snug in each of their beds. Amelia turned down the small lamp and darkness descended inside the room.
"Goodnight, Bethany," she said.
In the darkness she heard the already sleepy voice of her friend. "Goodnight, Amelia," Bethany murmured.
After a few minutes the only sound in the room was Bethany's steady breathing. Amelia glanced out the window, Through the curtains she could see the glow of the full moon light up the roofs of the nearby houses. In the darkness of the room, Amelia had a sudden sense of just how far she had travelled to get to this strange, distant wilderness. It hadn't been as awful as she'd anticipated. In fact, there was something strangely appealing about the sweet town and its virtuous inhabitants.
Amelia wondered if what Miss Hardie had described could possibly be the case. Surely people couldn't be so good. Not in this day and age. Boston had shown her a darker side of life. People there were so competitive, so selfish, so driven by greed and the desire to be better than the next person. Maybe Miss Hardie was right. Perhaps the only solution was to turn your back on such a life and seek out a place where true, wholesome values existed. Was Montana Falls such a place? Am
elia had no answer to that question. Not yet, anyway.
And then there was Mr. Wilder Armstrong. He was certainly a man of mystery. Amelia realized that he hadn't really answered her questions about why he was coming to Montana Falls. Perhaps she had no right to ask those questions. He had every right to keep his own affairs private.
He had been a mildly infuriating man, even if he had gone out of his way to help Amelia and Bethany. But, even though he had annoyed Amelia on occasions, there was no doubting the simple fact that he was just about the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on.
Those eyes, in particular, were his most compelling feature. There had been times on the train journey when Amelia had felt the intensity of his gaze upon her. It had been as if he were appraising her, assessing her in some way which was almost inappropriate. On more than one occasion she had shifted uneasily in her seat when she had seen how he had been looking at her. He had not paid the same kind of attention to Bethany, a fact which Bethany had quickly accepted.
She didn't believe Wilder Armstrong was a bad man. In fact, she was convinced that he was a man with strong values and decency.
Amelia had had gentleman friends back in Boston. But those in Boston had been superficial encounters, usually taking place in formal, stuffy events held in the houses of the better class of people in Boston.
Amelia had always tried to fit in during those occasions. Miss Hardie had schooled her girls well in the etiquette of such encounters. Amelia had done her best to follow that instruction, making the best possible impressions she could. But, all through those encounters there had been the nagging doubts about whether she really, truly fitted in to such society.
There was also the fact that she felt she was often being judged as somehow not worthy to be a part of the social set. Her uncle had provided for her to the best of his ability, and she had always been grateful for the support he had given Amelia. But always there was that quiet voice in the back of her mind. The one that whispered that Amelia Crawford just didn't fit in.
Amelia's Montana Wedding (Love In Montana Falls Book 1) Page 6
