Amelia's Journey (9 page)

Ben headed back to his family's table after leaving Amelia. He wiped damp palms down his trouser legs, his nerves a wreck. So much he wanted to say to Amelia, but all they'd exchanged was that little bit about his dancing. A groan escaped his throat. His tongue had become thick as a slab of beef. Next dance he'd do better; he'd have to, or Amelia would never know how much he wanted her to come to Kansas.

He seated himself next to his grandparents and mother. His mother grasped his arm and leaned toward him. “I can see why you're so attracted to Amelia. She's beautiful tonight.”

“Yes, she is.” His throat filled, and he could say nothing more.

Ma squeezed his arm. “Please don't get your hopes too high. Like your father said once, Mr. Carlyle won't be inclined to let his daughter become involved with someone who lives in Kansas, even if our families are longtime friends.”

“I know that, but if Amelia returns my feelings for her, how can he keep us apart?”

“He will try, my son, he will try, and even as free-spirited as you say Amelia is, she won't go against her parents. She has too much respect for them to do that.”

Mary Beth returned with several other acquaintances, all giggling like schoolgirls, but each one stopped and composed herself before rejoining their families. His sister seated herself beside him, but his line of sight followed Amelia back to her table.

“Can't take your eyes off her, can you? She's been a wonderful friend these past few weeks and has introduced me as though we'd been best friends for a long time.”

Ben grinned and turned his attention to Mary Beth. “Well, our families have known each other a long time and been friends, even from a distance.”

“All I can say is, I hope you two get together. I'd love to have her as part of the family.” She grinned then held her hand toward the young man now claiming her for the next dance.

Ben gasped. How could she have known that's exactly what he wanted too? He blinked his eyes and glanced across the room to see Isabella Killingsworth staring at him. The music had begun, and he realized it was his turn to dance with her. He pushed back from the table and hurried to where she sat. He bowed and extended his hand. “I believe the next dance is ours, Miss Killingsworth.”

She placed her hand in his and stood. “Why yes, Mr. Haynes, I believe it is.”

He led her to the dance floor where he held her as he had Amelia. Because Isabella was petite in size, he had to keep his chin and eyes downward to talk with her. That kept him from spotting Amelia and her partner.

Two more to go and he'd be with her again. A finger tapped his arm, and he snapped back to attention with Isabella. She batted her eyelashes again and smiled. “Mr. Haynes, it is such a great pleasure to dance with you. We've enjoyed getting acquainted with your sister Mary Beth. It's nice that you could return to Boston to be her escort tonight.”

“Thank you. We've had a good time on this visit.” The musicians must have added an extra page or two in this number because it went on much longer than he desired.

“Tell me what it's like living on a ranch in Kansas. Are there still horrible Indian raids and massacres all over the place with girls being kidnapped and men scalped?”

“Farther west the settlers still have some trouble, but for the most part things are quiet around our part of the country. We're about a half hour from town on horseback. Of course Sweetwater Springs isn't Boston, but it's a nice-size town.”

Isabella's smile didn't reach her eyes, which held little interest in what he was saying. “How quaint.”

Quaint
wasn't exactly the word Ben would use to describe the town he loved, but Amelia may think of it in the same way. He must tell her more about the ranch and Sweetwater Springs when he danced with her again.

“I would think that after you visited your sister and saw all that the city has to offer, you would be loath to return to such a primitive setting.” Distaste laced her words and sent doubts racing through Ben's heart.

Amelia wasn't the snob that Isabella appeared to be, but he would be asking her to give up a lot if she consented to living in Kansas as his bride. He'd tell her everything, even the harshness of the winters and the spring storms that could wreak havoc in only seconds of time. Then if she came, saw for herself what it was like, and still cared about him, he'd have no qualms about her coming.

Mercifully the music ended, and Isabella returned to her table. He endured two more dances with young women who flirted and cooed with their wiles to draw his attention, but his wish was to be again with Amelia.

When her turn finally came, Ben resolved to make this time count. Despite his body complaining of all the activity in his formal clothes, no discomfort would keep him from his few minutes with Amelia. Then he remembered the night of Amanda's wedding.

“I see you've kept your shoes on tonight. They must be more comfortable than the ones you wore to the wedding.”

A grin lit up her face, and she giggled. “Not really, but I wasn't about to let anything keep me from this dance. I'd walk on hot coals if necessary to spend time with you.”

He brightened. “And I with you. I'm so sorry I didn't have time to write more before we came back. Pa kept me so busy, and then I wasn't sure how long it would take for a letter to get here. Mary Beth did send letters home, and the one with our invitation took a week to reach us. I promise to do better when I go back.”

He proceeded to tell her all about the town and its people just as he had Isabella. Amelia listened with interest that had been absent in her friend. “So you see, Sweetwater Springs has none of the conveniences of Boston, and the ranch is away from town, but it's a wonderful place with friendly people.” If she married him, they would have their own place on the ranch. He gulped and his eyes opened wide. He hadn't intended to think along those lines this soon, especially since he hadn't even asked her father permission to call on her.

“Oh, Ben, I'd love to see it.”

Now he'd opened Pandora's box, and he'd have to deal with the situation sooner than he had planned. “I'll talk to my parents about sending your parents an invitation to come visit next spring. Perhaps your parents will be willing to come west and visit old friends.” Between now and springtime, he'd have time to properly show his intentions, albeit by distance. Whenever he returned to Boston for a visit, he'd have to do everything he could to win the approval of Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle.

Chapter 9

A
ll through the night and even into the Sunday church service, Amelia replayed her time with Ben. He did like her and wanted her to visit his home. But Papa would never accept Ben as a proper suitor as long as he lived halfway across the country. God answered her prayer for Ben to care about her, but no answer came as to what to do with it or how to approach Papa.

The service ended, and Papa hurried Mama and her out to their carriage without his usual long conversations with other elders. After she and Mama were settled in their seats, Papa peered at her over his spectacles.

“We are headed to the Haynes's home, where we have been invited to have dinner. Mrs. Haynes and Ben will be leaving on Tuesday to return to Kansas.” He grasped Mama's hand. “This will give you time to visit with Elizabeth, my dear.”

Joy and excitement built within, but she kept her face void of any expression lest Papa suspect her feelings for Ben. He and his family had arrived late to church, so Amelia had no opportunity to talk to him before the service began. All through the sermon she was very much aware of his presence a few rows behind her.

It was almost as if Papa had not wanted her talking to Ben, but now they were on their way to his grandparents' house. She'd never understand the workings of adult minds, but that didn't matter now since they were going to spend the next few hours with them. Somehow she had to find some time to be with Ben without her parents being around. Perhaps Mary Beth could find some activity for just the three of them.

“Amelia, your mother and I are concerned with the attention you paid to Benjamin Haynes last evening. Are you attracted to him as more than a friend?”

Her father's blunt question hit her square in the chest and knocked the breath right out of her lungs. She could not lie. Not only would he see right through it, but God would not honor such a misstatement. She caught a breath and faced him eye-to-eye.

“Yes, Papa, we are more than friends.”

“I see. How far has this relationship gone without my approval?”

This time Amelia swallowed hard as though she could banish her fears to some remote place in her body. “We have been writing to each other, and he would like us to visit his home in Kansas.” The truth of the statement made her heart race and her hands shake.

Her father's eyebrows shot up, and her mother gasped with her hand just below her neck. Papa's frown did not bode well, as storm clouds gathered in his eyes. His mouth worked in the way she recognized when he didn't like a situation. Her hands became blocks of ice in her lap that even her gloves could not melt.

Finally Papa spoke just before they drove up to the Haynes's home. “When he's returned to Kansas, you will forget him and concentrate on the young men who have a desire to call on you here in Boston. I have already given my permission for Mr. Philip Barlow to call on you.”

Her worst fears had been realized, and she fought the tears threatening to rise to the surface. Papa would never tolerate her crying about such a thing and might turn the carriage around and head home, and she so desperately wanted these last hours with Ben.

Although her heart ached, she said, “Yes, Papa. I understand. I'm sure Mary Beth has something planned for us that will include her brother. I can't be rude and decline.”

“No, you can't. You may be friendly while he is here in his grandparents' home, but once they leave on Tuesday, I want to hear nothing more about Benjamin Haynes.”

Amelia could only nod. No words would pass the lump that sat in her throat like a piece of hard coal. An afternoon she had anticipated only minutes earlier now loomed as one that would break her heart and dash all hopes Ben may have had about speaking to her father. The time she had with Ben now became more important than ever if only she could get through it without breaking down in tears.

Papa had his say and remained quiet, but Mama sat staring out the carriage window holding her handkerchief to her mouth. Whether in sadness or sympathy for Amelia, she didn't know, but if Mama understood, then perhaps she could be an ally in the days ahead. Amelia sighed and resigned herself to the fact that was not likely to happen. Mama never went against Papa's wishes.

Ben followed Mary Beth into the parlor. “You have to come up with some ideas on how Amelia and I can spend some time together this afternoon. There's no telling when we'll see each other again.”

“I've been thinking about that. It's rather cool for a carriage ride, so we'll need to stay indoors this time. Grandpapa has some new pictures for the stereopticon, so we could look at those. I'm sure Ma, Grandmama, and Mrs. Carlyle will want to visit, as perhaps will Mr. Carlyle and Grandpapa.”

He hugged her. “I knew I could count on you to come up with something, and I do hope our mother has a lot to say to Mrs. Carlyle.” Even an hour would be better than no time at all, but he prayed it would be longer than that.

The doorbell sounded, and the butler greeted the Carlyle family. Ben and Mary Beth entered the foyer, and their mother descended the steps. Amelia removed her cloak and hat and handed them to the butler. She turned and a smile lit her face when her gaze met with Ben's.

“Good afternoon, Ben, Mary Beth. I didn't have a chance to speak with either of you at church, so I'm glad we'll have time to visit this afternoon.”

Mary Beth hugged Amelia. “So am I, and I'm still full of excitement from last night's ball.”

Amelia laughed. “I know. It was wonderful. Several girls didn't make it to church this morning, but Papa's rule is that if we can play on Saturday night, then we must worship on Sunday morning.”

Ben stepped forward. “And a good rule that is. Your father is a wise man.”

Before she could respond, his grandparents appeared, and the greetings began all over again. Ben took the opportunity to observe Amelia and her ease with people of all ages. Even now she smiled at something his grandfather said and hugged the elderly man. Grandpapa did have a way about him that brought smiles from everyone.

Grandpapa extended his hand toward Ben. “Come, my boy, and escort Miss Haynes in to dinner.” The twinkle in his eye gave evidence he wasn't simply making a polite gesture.

Ben moved to Amelia's side. “If I may have the pleasure.”

Amelia grasped his elbow, and Grandpapa beamed with pleasure as he and Grandmama led the way. Ben glanced at Mr. Carlyle. The expression on his face and the narrowness of his eyes didn't escape Ben. His heart sank like a lead weight. No permission to call on Amelia would be coming from this man today, or for a long time. Clouds of doubt shadowed his joy at being with Amelia, but not even a rainstorm of disappointment would mar this day and the few hours he may have left with the girl he loved.