New Beginnings Spring 20 Book Box Set

by Hope Sinclair

  “Yes, we will,” Simon replied, leaving the living room as well.

  Once back in the confines of her room, Agnes crawled back into bed. She thought about all she’d just witnessed, and her desire to bring “balance” to Simon’s life grew even stronger, with thoughts of softening his hard demeanor keeping her up for some time.

  Yet it wasn’t just thoughts of Simon that kept Agnes awake. It was also the emptiness she felt in her stomach. She’d snacked on the baked goods Benjamin had bought in town, but she’d slept through dinner. Now her body was craving food.

  Agnes tried to ignore her hunger pangs, hoping they’d subside. But it seemed the more she tried to think them away or ignore them, the worse they got. She knew that she would not be able to sleep if she didn’t have something to eat.

  Agnes got out of her bed and slowly opened her bedroom door. She tiptoed out into the hallway. The house was dark and silent, and she figured the coast was clear.

  Agnes made her way to the kitchen. She didn’t know about the leftovers Mrs. White had left on the stove for her, but she figured she’d find something. And as soon as she stepped into the kitchen, sure enough Agnes found something—but it wasn’t food.

  “I thought you were supposed to be sleeping,” Simon said in a slightly muffled voice. He was sitting at the kitchen table with a single candle set out in front of him. It illuminated his rugged features, as well as the bowl of food he was eating from. Agnes was tempted by all she saw. I hope his characters is as honorable as his looks. She swallowed hard.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” she answered. “I slept through dinner and need something to eat.”

  “There’s a pot of leftover stew on the stove,” Simon replied. His voice was still a bit muffled by the food he was eating, but Agnes managed to understand him just fine.

  “There are some bowls in that cupboard there,” Simon went on. “And some forks and spoons in that drawer.”

  Agnes went to the cupboard and drawer he had indicated and got the wares she needed to eat. Then, she filled her bowl with the savory food, took it over to the table, and sat down to eat. Before digging in, Agnes bowed her head in silent prayer. Once her prayer was done, she started eating her food. She wanted to devour the stew Mrs. White had prepared, but she forced herself to exercise restraint and employ good manners.

  Agnes and Simon sat there in the candlelight, in silence, and ate their food. When her bowl was half empty, Agnes set her spoon down and gazed across the table at Simon. She took a deep breath and readied herself to speak.

  “I know that my letter only got here a day before I did,” she said, “and that you have commitments you want to see through. But rest assured, I don’t want to interfere with your work. If you need to go on this cattle run in three days, by all means, go. I’ll still be here when you return.”

  Simon felt a warmth in his stomach that he could not attribute to the room-temperature food he’d just eaten. She had sounded, exactly like you would expect a wife to. He wanted to smile, but he refused to let his lips curl upward.

  “Thank you for your consideration,” Simon replied instead, spearing his fork into a hunk of meat. “But unfortunately, my father does not agree with you. He wants me to stay here and send my men out to do my work.”

  Simon brought the piece of meat to his mouth and took it in. It was quite tender, and he chewed on it just a few times before sending it down his throat.

  “The cattle run would have me away for more than a week, possibly as long as 10 days,” Simon explained. “And, my father doesn’t want me to be gone that long. He wants me to spend that time here, getting to know you, and to marry you next weekend.”

  “Well, I’ll talk to him and tell him I’m fine with you going,” Agnes replied. She was a bit confused why a grown man like Simon was taking orders from his father, but she reckon it was because he was such an obedient son.

  The light from the candle was not that strong, yet Simon was able to see Agnes’s smile, and it tugged at his heart.

  “There’s no talking with him,” Simon said humorlessly. “When his mind’s set, it’s set. He wants me married as soon as possible. Now that you’re here, he doesn’t want me to wait much longer. I guess he’s afraid I’ll scare you off.”

  “Not likely,” Agnes laughed. “I understand that my arrival was a bit unexpected, and I figure that’s why you’re in such a bad mood. But I believe that underneath your bad mood, you’re a good man with a good heart. Your advertisement and letter told me as much.”

  Simon bowed his head and stared down into his empty bowl, averting his eyes from Agnes.

  “And I’ve come here to marry that man,” Agnes went on, unperturbed by Simon’s behavior. “It doesn’t matter to me if we marry in one week or two—or if we marry right now.”

  Simon looked up from his bowl again. And despite whatever else he was feeling, he couldn’t help but smile.

  “We can’t marry right now,” Simon said. “But you’ve given me an idea. If Father wants me wed sooner rather than later, and if you don’t mind when we take our vows, perhaps we should get married on Sunday. My father will be appeased, and I’ll still be able to leave for my cattle run on Monday.”

  “Sunday?” Agnes asked. “You mean this Sunday?”

  It was Friday when Agnes arrived in Coloma, and it had been just after midnight when the argument between Simon and his father stirred Agnes from her sleep—which meant that it was now Saturday. Sunday was but one day away.

  “Yes,” Simon smiled. “I mean this Sunday.”

  Agnes’s heart pounded inside her chest. She gazed across the table at Simon and stared into his dark blue eyes.

  “All right,” she said with a giggle. “Let’s do it. Let’s get married tomorrow!”

  “Wonderful!” Simon cheered. “I’ll tell my father first thing in the morning.”

  Simon stood up from the table and took his empty bowl to the counter, and after eating a few more bites, Agnes did the same.

  “I look forward to our exchanging vows, Simon,” Agnes said, coming up beside him. She was speaking honestly and from her heart, and Simon could feel the warmth of her as she stood at his side.

  “I know our life together won’t really start until you’ve returned,” she went on. “But soon enough, we’ll be living the life we both dreamed of.”

  Simon felt a pain in his chest, and he glanced down at Agnes. She was so innocent, so young and delicate.

  “Indeed,” Simon said, turning away from his bride-to-be. As innocent as she was, it pained him to look at her.

  “Well, then,” Simon added, stepping away from the counter, “I guess we should go back to sleep for now and talk about this more tomorrow.”

  Agnes smiled and nodded.

  “Goodnight,” Simon said. He turned and walked out of the kitchen. His spirits were lifted a bit but his head hung low, for he was burdened with secrets that Agnes did not know.

  EIGHT

  Not even 36 hours later, Agnes Thompson and Simon Clark were married in the church at Blue Stream. The ceremony was performed following the afternoon services and was kept quite small and short. Only the bride and groom, Benjamin, Mrs. White, and the minister and his wife were present for it, and there was no celebration afterwards, due to the timing of it all.

  Even though there was no celebration or party in town, Mrs. White had managed to prepare a small feast for the couple back at their ranch, and Benjamin had bought nearly every pie, cake and pastry in the bakery to complement the meal. He’d been awfully surprised when Simon came to him and told him that Agnes wanted to marry so soon; nevertheless, he was pleased with their choice.

  The foursome ate heartily that afternoon, and their small celebration carried into the early evening. But as it began to get dark outside, Simon was reminded of his obligations the next day. He bid goodnight to his father, chaperone, and new wife, then went to his room to get ready for sleep.

  As Simon lay in his bed, he could hear laughter and pleasant
conversation from the main parts of the house. Apparently, the party had gone out without him. Despite the noise, he was happy that the others were having fun. Yet the happiness he felt only went so far. He was still burdened by the secrets he held so tightly, and they came to haunt him in his dreams.

  Simon tossed and turned all night. Luckily, since he’d gone to bed early enough, he managed to get sufficient rest and didn’t feel entirely drained when morning came.

  But that’s not to say the next morning was an easy one for Simon. It took him a little longer than usual to get out of bed, and a little longer to get himself together. Eventually, he came to his senses, left his room, and headed to the kitchen to get some breakfast. It would be the last bit of “real food” he’d have for at least a few days, as per his usual custom, he’d packed only tinned and pickled foods for his journey.

  As soon as Simon got to the kitchen, much to his surprise, he found Agnes busily working. He hadn’t even thought she’d be up yet, since it was barely after dawn.

  “I figured you’d need a hearty breakfast for your trip,” Agnes smiled as she slid five slices of bacon onto the plate she was holding, which already contained three eggs and two large crusts of bread. She set the plate down on the table and smiled at her husband.

  “I’ve also packed some leftover baked goods for you and prepared a few sandwiches for you and your men,” Agnes went on. She went back over to the counter and picked up another plate, which contained her breakfast. It was meager as compared to Simon’s, but still more than ample.

  “The sandwiches will likely only last a day or two,” Agnes continued, taking her plate over to her seat. “But the baked goods should carry you a few days.”

  Simon looked on the counter and saw the large basket of food Agnes had readied for him. That must have taken her a great while to prepare, he thought to himself. He turned back to the table and sat down, unable to speak, for he was at a loss for words.

  The couple ate their breakfast at the table for a few minutes before Mrs. White and Benjamin entered the kitchen as well. Emily stood and offered to fix them both breakfast, but Mrs. White said that she would do it instead, and Benjamin urged the young woman to sit down and spend more time with her husband before he left.

  While Mrs. White started fiddling with the pots and pans and Benjamin went to the pantry to get a few things, Agnes sat back down and finished her meal with Simon, though neither one of them said much.

  Once Simon was done eating, he stared out the window. “Thanks for breakfast,” he told Agnes. “And thanks for the basket you prepared. But now I really should be on my way. I’ve lost a bit of daylight already.”

  “Of course,” Agnes smiled. She stood up and cleared their plates from the table as Simon took hold of the basket.

  As Simon made his way out of the kitchen and through the living room, he could sense Agnes walking behind him and glanced over his shoulder at her.

  “I’ve got to see you out, don’t I?” Agnes giggled when their eyes met. “That’s what a good wife would do.”

  Without even realizing it, Simon found himself chortling as well. “I reckon it is,” he smiled.

  Simon made his way outside, with Agnes at his heels. He placed the basket Agnes had prepared in the back of his wagon, along with the other things he’d packed. Then he turned and smiled at his wife. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he assured her.

  “I know,” Agnes replied sweetly. The sound of her voice was like music to Simon’s ears.

  The next thing Simon knew, Agnes was stepping toward him. She held her arms out and walked into his embrace.

  “I look forward to starting our lives together properly, soon,” she whispered softly. Simon’s heart felt like it was going to melt, and he tried to put forth an icy demeanor to cool it, and himself, down.

  Just as he pulled away from Agnes’s hugs, he was met with another surprise. Agnes was moving her face closer to his, and her lips were puckered in the most beguiling way. Simon was overcome with conflicted emotions, and he bowed his head to deal with the heady thoughts in his head. The kiss that would have landed on his cheek ended up brushing against his lips.

  Agnes gasped, her face turning a shade of red. Simon was enchanted. He should not have stolen a kiss, but how could he not, when she was now all his, in front of God if not man. The scent of her would likely haunt him for the next 10 days. Before she could take another breath, Simon stepped aside.

  “Goodbye for now,” he said. Without saying anything else, he walked to the front of his wagon, got behind the reins, and commanded his horses to move on out.

  Agnes thought nothing of the way Simon brushed her off. She assumed he was still a bit “shy” as they’d only been married less than a day and only known each other for two. She smiled and waved goodbye to Simon as he drove off, then went back into the house.

  NINE

  The first two or three days that Simon was away were the hardest on Agnes. Though she barely knew the man, she missed him and longed for them to start their life together. Every night she prayed, that the unexpected feelings she had developed was a gift from God and that Simon and their future would move forward under His Grace. Soon enough, her loneliness subsided and surprisingly, time started to pass rather quickly, thanks, in part, to Benjamin and Mrs. White.

  Early on, Benjamin gave Agnes some money and told her to go into town to get whatever she liked.

  “I figure this house could use a woman’s touch, as far as the decorations are concerned,” he explained. “And, I figured you might need some new clothes, seeing as how you came from a place where the seasons are very different than they are here.”

  Agnes graciously accepted the money and went to town later that same day. She had a great deal of fun exploring her surroundings, and even more fun buying knickknacks that would make the house, and her, more appealing for Simon upon his return.

  Indeed, Agnes shopped in town on two other afternoons, and she became familiar with some of the women that worked in the shops. She found them quite nice and envisioned firm friendships with them in the future.

  Just as Agnes’s days were filled with fun times, so too were her evenings. She got to know Benjamin and Mrs. White better during these times, and they told her many tales about Blue Stream, Coloma and Simon.

  Benjamin told Agnes about how his wife and Simon had both come down with a horrible fever some 15 years ago. He spoke of how dreadfully ill Simon was, and how miraculous it was that he survived, unlike the late Mrs. Clark, who was claimed by the illness. He told Agnes about the time Simon got a black eye as a teenager, when he stepped in to stop two other boys from attacking a third. “The third boy wasn’t a boy though,” Benjamin laughed. “It was a scarecrow taken down from its post.”

  Mrs. White chimed in too. She used to nanny for Simon after his mother passed, and she told Agnes about many of his other childhood shenanigans, including the time he cut himself after trying to be a “real man” and shave like his father, and the time he asked Mrs. White if he could kiss her just so that he could boast to his friends about how “mature” he was.

  Even though Simon was away, Agnes continued to learn a great deal about him, and she became even fonder of him than she already was. When he finally came back home after a full 10 days away, Agnes’s heart swelled and when she saw him coming, she rushed out to greet him before he could even dismount from his wagon and make it to the door.

  “I’m so happy to see you!” Agnes exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. Out of respect for propriety, she didn’t run to him and hug him like she wanted to.

  “I’m happy to see you, too,” Simon replied, stepping down from his wagon. “It’s good to be home. The cattle run was successful, and all went well. But I’m tired, sore, dirty, and hungry as all get-up.”

  “Well, luckily, supper’s almost done,” Agnes smiled. “In no time, you’ll be able to take care of at least one of your pains.”

  Simon smiled and followed Agnes into the house and u
pon entering, his jaw dropped. He immediately noticed the items she’d purchased in his absence, and he was moved by how everything looked. She hadn’t gotten much, mind you. But she’d gotten some more ornate linens for the window, some decorative pieces from Ester Carrington, a small landscape painting from young Mr. Allen, and a few other knickknacks that really brought the place to life.

  “The house looks amazing,” Simon said. He wanted to tell Agnes that she looked amazing too, but he couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

  “Thank you,” Agnes replied.

  Just then, Benjamin and Mrs. White came into the room. They greeted Simon warmly and chatted about his travels for a bit. Then the moment Simon had been waiting for came—Mrs. White announced that supper was ready to be served.

  The foursome went to the dining room table and had a marvelous meal filled with lively conversation. Simon noticed how well Agnes was getting along with his father and Mrs. White, and how much they’d “bonded” while he was away, and he was quite impressed.

  Despite how impressed he was, when the meal came to an end, Simon excused himself to go tend to his other needs. After he’d cleaned himself up a bit and lay down for what he intended to be a “short rest,” he wound up falling into a deep sleep and slept straight through until morning.

  When he awoke the next morning, he found Agnes in the kitchen with Mrs. White. The two of them had prepared breakfast and were waiting for the men to join them. Benjamin came into the kitchen a few minutes later, and the foursome proceeded to share another delightful meal.

  Though a dedicated worker, Simon had taken the day off to recuperate from his journey and tend to a variety of other neglected chores on his land. After breakfast was done, he went out to do them. Much to his surprise, Agnes followed to help.

  As the couple worked on their land together, they didn’t speak much. But their silence spoke volumes. As it turned out, Agnes was quite good at outdoor chores, and she loved the environment, so she was a very pleasant work companion, and she didn’t shy away from getting her hands dirty or doing what many other city women would consider heavy, bothersome labor.