Here she lay where she had for the last fourteen days. Knowing that he would be gone much longer than the few weeks he promised her if he actually took the job; she found she didn’t have the energy to even get out of bed. Instead she had retreated to her room and refused to even eat.
The door opened and Marta walked up to the window and threw open the curtains, letting the sunshine in. “This has gone on long enough, Aileen McRae.”
“Leave me alone, Marta.”
“No; I’ve allowed you to have your pity party but as Scripture says for everything there is a season. A time to mourn and a time to rejoice. You’ve had your mourning; you may not rejoice but you aren’t going to hide away in here feeling sorry for yourself. This is what is going to happen. You are going to get out of that bed and get clean clothes. Then you are going to go into the bathing room and get in the tub that has been filled for you, because frankly, YOU STINK!
“While you bathe I will air out this room and strip your bed. After you’ve washed and dressed in clean clothes you will come out and have breakfast with me and the children. They are worried about you and need to see that you are alright.
“After breakfast you will help them with their lessons and when that is done you need to go into town. Mister Jorgenson sent word yesterday that the furniture for Sterling’s house is ready and you need to show him and his men where to put everything.”
Aileen gasped and sat up. “I can’t do that, Marta, it’s not my house.”
“Poppycock! It is your house! Everyone who was at your sister’s wedding knows Sterling said he was going to marry you as soon as your house was finished. It’s your house and you need to tell the men where to put the furniture.”
Aileen sighed. “Fine. But I don’t know what good that will do. Sterling is still in Cheyenne and I haven’t heard anything from him since he left.”
“So write him a letter!”
Aileen looked at her friend. “What?”
“You told your brother you were an independent woman, didn’t you?’
“Yes.” Aileen said with confusion in her voice
“Then act like one. Stop waiting to hear from Sterling. He’s a man; they don’t think about things like letters. Write him and tell him you didn’t mean what you said. Tell him the house is ready and that you are ready for him to keep his word and come marry you.”
“That’s not going to work, I don’t know where he is.”
Marta shook her head. “You do know that he went to Cheyenne to meet with Mr. Durant about building him a hotel, right?”
Aileen nodded. “That’s what his letter said.”
Then you send it to Sterling McCormick in care of Mr. Durant, Cheyenne, Wyoming. If he’s working for Mr. Durant I would assume that the man could get Sterling a letter. Once you write to him he will probably write you back. That is,” Marta grinned at Aileen, “Unless he hops a train and rushes back here to marry you instead.”
Aileen wasn’t so sure, Marta hadn’t seen his face when she talked about calling off their wedding. He may write her back but then again he might still be upset with her. Either way she needed to do what was expected of her. She’d get clean, help with the children and get the furniture moved into his home. Then she’d think about writing to him. One step at a time, she told herself. With that she grabbed her clean clothes and headed for the warm bath waiting on her.
Sterling had been lost in his own thoughts since he got on the train in Denver. He prayed that nothing happened to delay the train. He prayed that he’d be in time to save Aileen. He prayed that she would still want to marry him. He prayed that somehow he and Edwin could put aside their differences so that Aileen wouldn’t have to choose between them. He was just getting ready to start his prayer over from the beginning when his attention was caught by a commotion at the front of the car.
An obviously pregnant woman was waving a ticket and arguing with the porter. “It couldn’t be helped, I tell you, my brothers were sick and we were delayed in Denver. I was told this ticket was good anytime.”
The porter was nodding “Yes ma’am, it guarantees you a seat but not a private sleeper. We don’t have any empty ones. The best I can do is offer you a seat here in this car. I’m sorry.”
The woman’s face crumpled. “But I’m with child, I need to be able to lay down and rest.”
Sterling had a private sleeping berth. He’d been in such a hurry he hadn’t even realized that the ticket agent had stuck him with the more expensive berth until an hour after they got underway when the conductor offered to show him to his berth. He hadn’t been tired, so he told the man he’d retire after supper. Now he knew why he’d had the berth. Because this woman needed it.
He stood and walked up to the porter. “Excuse me, I have a private berth, C7.”
The porter looked relieved to not have to deal with the woman for a few minutes. “Yes sir, berth C7, that’s in the third car from the locomotive. Shall I show you to your berth, sir?”
Sterling shook his head. “No, you misunderstand me. I’d like to offer the lady my berth. I believe she needs it more than me.”
The porter shook his head. “I can’t do that sir; that berth was sold to you, not her.”
“I don’t think you’re getting my intentions, mister. I paid for that berth, correct?”
“Yes sir.”
“Then if I want the lady to use it to rest, I can do that, correct?”
The porter thought about it. “I don’t see why you can’t, sir, as you said you paid for it. But I won’t have another one for you, sir.”
“That’s alright, I don’t mind sitting up for a day. I can sleep almost anywhere and I’m only sleeping for one.”
“Thank you, sir. I don’t know how I can repay you.”
Sterling smiled at her. “Not necessary, ma’am. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation,” he said as he escorted the woman toward the sleeping berth. “You said you were traveling with your brothers and they got sick?”
“Yes, I had to leave them in Denver. They both will return home after they’re well.”
“Well, I’m glad I could help. Now you rest here and when you wake, why don’t you come sit with me in the common car. I’m not your brothers but I promise I’ll see that you aren’t accosted, at least until tomorrow when we get to Creede. That’s where I’m getting off.”
“Oh! Me too. Do you know a Reverend Bing?”
“Yes ma’am, I sure do. I know Callum, his wife Celeste, and his sister, Millie. Why?”
The woman looked around to make sure no one was near. “I was supposed to arrive last week but with my brothers sick we got delayed. I need to get to Reverend Bing. A friend of mine arranged for me to say at Celeste’s House until my baby comes.”
“Ah! Well I know several people that could help you get to Celeste’s House. I’d take you myself, but I have an appointment shortly after I arrive. I’m Sterling McCormick, by the way.”
“Oh, how rude of me, I’m sorry. I’m Carol Brown.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Brown. I promise I’ll see you safely to Creede and arrange for someone to take you to Celeste’s House as well.”
“Thank you, Mister McCormick; you’ve been a real Godsend.”
“Glad to help, ma’am. You get some rest now. I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
“Yes, thank you again.”
He smiled and walked away. “Think nothing of it, Mrs. Brown.”
Eight
Aileen climbed out of bed the next morning still feeling down and confused. She knew that Marta was right, she needed to write to Sterling. He had told her he’d give her time and space to decide when she wanted to marry him. If she didn’t let him know, he might stay away for quite a while. But what did she say? Yes, she wanted to be his wife even if it meant never reconciling with her family. Yet at the same time she wanted Edwin and Sterling to make things right. On top of that, how did she ask Sterling to come home and marry her when he’d be giving up w
hat had to be a very profitable project?
She, like everyone, had heard of Mr. Durant and knew that he was very wealthy. If he asked Sterling to come design a building for him, he had to be paying top dollar. She’d be proud to be the wife of a man in such high demand. A hotel probably wasn’t a small project. It would take a long time to build and her home now was in Creede. Was it fair to ask him to come home and marry her now and give up that project?
She needed time to think of what to say and how to say it. She needed to decide if now was the right time for them to marry or should they delay until he finished this project? Maybe those were the types of decisions they should make together.
She knew what she’d do. She’d pack some stationary and a pen and inkwell into a saddle bag, and after the younger children went down for their nap, she’d see if Marta would mind if she took a ride down by the river. She’d go to that special spot Sterling had shown her on the one and only picnic she’d been able to talk him into going on with her.
She couldn’t help but smile at his nervousness as they rode out to the hidden clearing beside the river. He explained his history with disastrous picnics and she had laughed all the way to the spot. Thankfully their picnic had been without disaster and the passionate kisses they’d shared had helped Sterling overcome his fear that picnics were cursed for him.
Yes, that’s what she’d do, go walk down in their secret spot and figure out what to write him. But first she needed to get back to work doing the things the Clarks paid her to do. Helping Marta with chores and her abundance of children.
Sterling’s thoughts were conflicted. Aileen’s Da had been so adamant that he needed to get to Creede in two days’ time or Aileen would die. He’d told him how she’d die but not where along the river she’d fall. How was he supposed to save her if he didn’t know where she’d be?
Then he also had promised Mrs. Brown that he’d see her safely to someone he trusted to get her to Celeste’s House and Reverend Bing. How was he going to do both of those things?
If nothing else he could take Mrs. Brown to the telegraph office and put her in Arthur and Beatrice Jameson’s care. He knew they would help out. They were firm supporters of Reverend Bing and Arthur was one of the men on the courtship committee of Celeste’s House. With that decided he turned his thoughts back to Aileen.
Where would she go to think along the river? The only spot he could think of was the hidden clearing he’d shown her where they had their picnic. He couldn’t help but smile at the way she’d teased him about all his picnic disasters before theirs. He also couldn’t stop before remembering how they had kissed and the passion that had almost gotten away from them beside the river.
His thoughts were interrupted by Carol Brown. “You must really love her.”
He looked up, confused to be sitting on the train beside the pregnant widow when the memories of Aileen had seemed so real. “The look on your face just then. You were thinking about your fiancée, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was.”
“She’s a very lucky woman to be loved like that. I’d give almost anything to have someone look at me like that just once.”
Sterling shook his head. “I’m the lucky one, Carol. Lucky that she is willing to marry me. Don’t give up; you could still find a love like that. I told you some of my story. Aileen isn’t the first woman I attempted to court, there were a few others as you know. But in comparison they were all wrong. You could still find that man who will love you beyond compare.”
She shook her head. “I doubt it, not after the baby comes. Most men don’t notice a woman with a child.”
“Well, I’ll keep praying that the one God created for you will come along to help you on your new start. I do know this: where you’re going that baby and you will be loved and that baby spoiled. You just wait and see.”
She smiled a nervous smile “I hope you’re right. I’m just glad Fiona knew about this place.”
“Well, she should, she was sent out by them to her new start as well.”
“I think I knew that. I think she told me that before giving me my ticket.”
Sterling opened his mouth to reassure her again when the conductor walked into the car. “Next stop Creede, Colorado. Creede, next stop.”
“Well, Mrs. Brown, it’s time to take that first step to your fresh start and for me to take the next step to my marriage. Are you ready? I know I am.”
She stood and took his arm in one hand and her carpetbag in another. “I am, Mr. McCormick, again thank you for your generosity and protection.”
“Least I could do, Mrs. Brown. Wish I could take you to Celeste’s House and introduce you to Reverend and Mrs. Bing myself, but I have a pressing appointment.”
She smiled at him as the train slowed to a stop at the depot. “I understand, Mr. McCormick I’m just grateful I ran into you.”
Sterling directed her to the depot floor and looked up to see Millie McRae standing just a few feet away. “Oh, what luck. Come with me.” He directed Mrs. Brown toward Millie. “Hey Millie, just the person I needed to see.”
Millie frowned at the woman on Sterling’s arm. “Sterling, I think you have some explaining to do.”
Sterling chuckled. “This is Mrs. Brown. Fiona sent her to Celeste and your brother. I need to get going, can you see she makes it to them safely?”
Millie’s whole demeanor changed. “Oh! Mrs. Brown. Callum and Celeste were expecting you two weeks ago.”
Sterling left the widow in Millie’s capable hands and practically ran toward Otto’s livery.
He tore through the doorway. “Otto, I can’t explain, I just need your fastest horse and I need him now.”
Otto nodded. “He’s already saddled, Sterling. I was getting ready to exercise him.”
“Thanks, I’ll get him back to you as soon as I can.”
Sterling vaulted into the saddle and kicked the gelding into a gallop. He flew out of the stable and headed out of town, pushing the horse as fast as it could go, racing death and praying he’d win.
Nine
Aileen almost missed the hidden path that led to the secluded clearing that Sterling had brought her to those few months ago. She thought it might have been because she was coming from the opposite direction from last time. But she had found the path and turned her mare down it. Sure enough, soon she was in the clearing where they had picnicked and talked and sparked. She blushed as she thought about what had almost happened, how they both had gotten too carried away. Sterling’s lips had been on hers and then along her jaw and her neck and his hands had been working on the buttons of her dress when he jumped up and apologized. “I’m so sorry, Aileen, love. I almost got too carried away there.”
She blushed even harder thinking of her response. “I don’t mind, Sterling.”
He’d looked at her. “I do. I respect you too much to jump our vows, Aileen. When I take you to my bed you’ll be my wife, not before.” He turned his head while she buttoned herself back up. When she stood and wrapped her arms around him he’d kissed her a few more minutes, then pulled away blowing out a frustrated breath. “I’d better get you back to town before I make a liar out of myself.”
He’d picked up the quilt and gathered up the picnic supplies putting them all in the basket before offering her his arm and walking her back to the buggy he’d rented from Otto. Then he’d kissed her once more and helped her up into the buggy.
Aileen realized as she sat there looking out over the water, that was when she’d realized she loved him. Oh, he had caught her attention before that and he’d excited her before that. But right then when he refused to take what she would have freely given him because it wasn’t his to take, that was when she knew she loved him.
She thought about Edwin and his repeated accusations that Sterling was nothing but a womanizing rake, a cad of the highest order. But she knew he wasn’t. A rake would have known she was willing and taken advantage of her lapse in judgement, never once considering what it would have done
to her reputation and prospects. Sterling had realized the temptation they were both about to succumb to and had removed them from it. Protecting her not only from his desires but her own as well. With that thought she knew exactly what to write to him.
She slid out of the saddle and pulled the stationary, pen and inkwell out of the saddle bag, and after checking the nib of the pen, filled its reservoir with ink and began to write.
My Dearest Sterling,
Thank you for writing and letting me know you had business out of town and would be gone a few weeks. I wish you’d told me in person so that I could have said goodbye and maybe kissed you. I understand why you didn’t. I confused you as much as I confused myself.
What you overheard, my love, was not me trying to back out of marrying you but a woman torn between the man she loved and the family she had poured herself into for a lot of years. I came after you when you left but I couldn’t find you. I wanted to tell you then that I had chosen you, but you were gone.
I hope your business in Cheyenne is going well. I know Mister Durant would be lucky to have his hotel designed and built by you. Speaking of building, Mr. Jorgenson came to see me the other day. He wanted me to show him and his workers where to put our furniture.
As we’d discussed, I did meet them at the house. It’s ready, my love, for us to move in. When you’re ready to come home to me I’ll be waiting. Ready to walk down that aisle and say I do. Ready to become Mrs. McCormick, ready to be your wife. Hurry home to me, Sterling
Your loving bride,
Aileen.
She placed the bottle of ink on the corner of the letter to hold it down while the ink dried, and she walked over to the edge of the bank looking out over the river and up at the mountains beyond. Thinking of Sterling’s lips on hers and wishing he was here to make her dream a reality. She heard a noise like a horse moving fast down the path behind her and turned to see who it was.
Adoring the Architect Page 6
