No One's Bride (Escape to the West Book 1) (9 page)

He laid out the blanket he’d brought on the grass close to the shoreline then removed Stride’s saddle and bridle while Amy unpacked the food.

“He won’t wander off?” she said when Adam joined her on the blanket, leaving Stride to his tasty undergrowth.

“No, he always stays close to me. And we come here a lot so he knows the area. I could have left the saddle on, but he always seems happier without it.”

“You care about him a lot, don’t you?”

Adam glanced at the horse who, he had to admit, was probably his best friend. “We’ve been together a long time.”

She finished arranging their lunch and held out her hands, smiling.

Adam took them in his and tried to concentrate on being thankful for the food rather than for the opportunity to hold Amy’s hands again. “Would you like to say the blessing?”

She looked uncertain for a moment then nodded and closed her eyes. “Father, thank You for this wonderful place and for the beauty of Your creation. Thank You for Your mercy in bringing me here where I’m safe.” She paused for a moment. “And thank You for Adam and his kindness to me. Please bless him. Oh, and thank You for this food and all you give us. In the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.”

She darted glances at him as she unwrapped her sandwich. “Why are you smiling?”

He shrugged and tried to wipe the grin from his face. He was only partially successful. “It was a nice blessing.”

She was thankful for
him.

He would probably be smiling for the rest of the day.

They ate slowly, savouring the view, talking, enjoying each other’s company. It was comfortable and wonderful and ignited in Adam a feeling of warmth and peace he wasn’t used to lately. By the time they reached the dessert of apples and grapes, he would have been happy for their time at the lake to never end.

At the appearance of the apples Stride wandered over and Adam cut a slice and handed it to him. When he’d finished it he looked at Amy hopefully.

“Stop begging,” Adam said, reaching up to pat Stride’s shoulder and then gently pushing him away. “It’s unbecoming.”

Stride shook his head and wandered to the lake for a drink.

“How long have you had him?” Amy said, watching him lap at the water.

“Eight years, since he was a foal.” He remembered the ungainly young horse his father had entrusted to his care, a bundle of nervous excitement with legs that looked too long for his body. He’d bonded with the animal straight away. Just two or three years before that, he had been much the same. “My father gave him to me as a kind of peace offering.”

Amy didn’t say anything, but she gazed at him silently, obviously waiting for him to elaborate.

“I grew up here, in Green Hill Creek,” he said, looking towards the distant mountains. “My family lived in town and my pa worked at the smithy with Jesse’s father. But when I was seventeen my grandpa died and my pa moved us to live with my grandma and take over the farm. I didn’t want to go. I had my friends here, and there was a girl...” He glanced at her. “Well, my whole life was here. I could have stayed, but my pa needed help with the farm and my younger brothers were still in school. But I wasn’t at all gracious about it, to put it mildly. Me and my pa never did see eye to eye; he said I always had my head in a book and I thought he didn’t understand me. Anyway, not long after we moved to the farm, one of the horses gave birth to a foal and my pa gave him to me.”

“Did it help?” she said. “Between you and your father, I mean.”

He drew one leg in and hugged his knee. “Not much. I was still angry. And when I finally stopped being angry, we just didn’t speak hardly. I know he wanted me to take over the farm eventually, but I was never going to be a farmer. When my uncle, my ma’s brother, got sick and nominated me to take over as Postmaster two years ago, I jumped at the chance to leave. He always did understand me better than my pa did. My brothers were out of school so they didn’t need me anymore.” He lapsed into silence, staring, unfocused, at one of the napkins on the blanket.

“But?” Amy said softly.

He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “But my pa was furious. We had a screaming fight before I left. I’ve been home a handful of times since, but we barely speak. My ma comes to visit sometimes, but he doesn’t ever come with her. He’s stubborn.” He smiled slightly. “I guess I am too.”

Lost in thought as he was, he didn’t notice Stride walk up to him until the side of his face was nuzzled by a large black nose. He rubbed one hand over Stride’s muzzle and looked at Amy. He hadn’t meant to tell her his whole life story. Something about her made him want to be open and honest. He wasn’t used to the feeling.

“So Stride is just about my best friend,” he said.

She looked up at the horse and smiled. “I’d say you’re just about his too.” She paused. “So what happened with Daisy?”

His mouth opened in surprise. “How’d you know the girl I left behind was Daisy?”

She shrugged, the ghost of a smile on her lips. “The way you spoke to each other, familiar, like you were old friends. Like maybe you were more than friends.”

He never could get over how women seemed to know what was in his mind. Was he that transparent? “It was too far to keep seeing each other, especially with all the work I had on the farm. At the time I was devastated. I was in love, or as in love as I could be at that age. But I think that if we’d been meant to be together I would have done more to make it happen.”

“And now? You never thought, after her husband died, that maybe one day you two could...?”

He shook his head. “It was a long time ago. Everything’s changed. I’ve changed. We’re just friends now, that’s all.” He patted Stride’s neck and pushed to his feet. While he did want to be honest with Amy, he didn’t really want to discuss his relationship with the girl he’d come close to marrying. Given how he was feeling about Amy, it felt inappropriate. And very, very awkward. “How about we do some work on that getting on and off a horse?”

Amy took the hand he held out to her. “If you’re willing the risk to life and limb, I’m game.”

Stride showed endless patience over the ensuing couple of hours as Amy learned to mount and dismount. There was defeat and triumph, catching and falling, a few bruises, and most of all, laughter. Adam couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so much. By the time they finished, Amy could get into the saddle by herself, get back down mostly without falling, and even stay on when Stride walked slowly around the clearing.

Eventually they collapsed, exhausted, onto the blanket. Adam stretched out on his back, only wincing a little when he leaned on the hip he’d landed on more than once.

“Does it hurt a lot?” Amy said, her lower lip caught between her teeth.

He smiled and shook his head. “No, it’s fine.” Any pain was worth it, just to see the look of joy on her face as she rode by herself.

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for your patience. I must be the worst horse rider ever.”

The touch of her lips sent his heart thudding against his ribs. “Probably not
ever
.” He wondered what else he could do to make her kiss him again.

Climbing to her feet as she laughed, she wandered to sit on a large, flat rock at the water’s edge. Adam narrowed his eyes to slits, hoping she wouldn’t notice him watching her. She slipped her shoes off, laying them beside her on the rock, and glanced back at him. He immediately closed his eyes. When he opened them ten seconds later she was rolling one stocking off her foot. He snapped his eyes shut again, his heart pounding even faster.

When the rustle of clothing had stopped, and after he’d given it another half a minute just to make sure, he slowly opened his eyes a sliver. Amy was leaning back on her hands on the rock, her feet dangling off the edge into the cool water of the lake and her face tilted towards the warmth of the sun, her eyes closed. Her face glowed in the sunlight, its rays shining in her rich golden hair.

Adam felt his heart ache. He didn’t think he’d ever seen anything more beautiful. The mountains, the lake, the trees, the sky, everything paled in comparison. He said a silent prayer of gratitude to God for bringing her into his life. Even if sometime in the future she did leave, having her here now made Adam happier than he’d been in a long time. After just a few short hours of being with her, the loneliness he sometimes thought he’d carry with him for the rest of his life was gone, vanished in the sound of her laughter and the brightness of her smile. Even if he only had a short time with her, every moment would be worth it.

Somewhere nearby a bird began to sing, its melody mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves in the light breeze. Amy took a deep breath and smiled, her face a picture of perfect serenity.

Adam raised his head and tucked one hand behind it so he could see her better. “What are you thinking?”

She started, her eyes springing open.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I thought you were asleep,” she said, smiling. “Why do you want to know what I was thinking?”

He moved one shoulder in half a shrug. “You were smiling. You seemed happy.”

She looked back over the lake and swept one hand round to take it all in. “Just... all this.” Drawing her bare feet up from the water, she flattened them on the rock and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Before the journey here I’d never been out of New York. I couldn’t even have imagined so much beauty was out here. I’d seen pictures, but they didn’t come close to this. I
am
happy. I think coming here is the best thing I’ve ever done.” She gasped, her hand going to her mouth. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that lying to you and using you was the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Adam sat up and echoed her stance, pulling his knees to his chest and leaning his elbows on the top, his hands clasped loosely in front of him. He stared out over the lake for a few seconds, measuring his words before speaking.

“Friday, waiting at the station for you to arrive, I was more afraid than I’ve ever been in my life.” He smiled at her look of disbelief. “I’m not exaggerating. I got chased by a pack of coyotes once, when I was thirteen. Had to climb a tree to get away from them. But I wasn’t nearly as scared up that tree as I was waiting for you. Finding a woman willing to travel across the country to marry me seemed so romantic and exciting until it actually became a reality and all I could think was, what if you didn’t like me or what if I didn’t like you or what if we didn’t get along at all and the whole thing was a huge mistake or what if... you get the idea. I can’t even tell you how relieved I was Friday night, having got to know you a little and finding how much I liked you.”

Amy’s face sank. “And then I ruined it all yesterday morning.”

“But that’s the thing, you didn’t. I admit that I was shocked at first and angry and hurt, but when I think of all the ways this could have gone wrong, this isn’t so bad.” He gazed out at the lake. “I’ve been thinking about today for weeks, when I would bring you here, share the things that are important to me with you, and this is exactly how I hoped it would be. So I didn’t get a wife.” He shrugged and looked at the ground. Cornflowers dotted a patch of buttercups nearby and he plucked one from amongst the grass. “But I think I found a friend. I’m not wrong, am I?”

Amy was staring at him. He wished he knew what she was thinking.

“No, you’re not wrong,” she said, her voice soft.

He pushed to his feet, walked over to her and sat beside her on the rock. Hesitating for just a moment, he tucked the cornflower into the hair above her ear, resisting the urge to touch her face as he drew his hand back. The blue of the flower echoed the shade of her eyes.

“So I think, all things considered, this whole situation could have been a whole lot worse, but only a little bit better.”

She smiled slightly and nodded, looking out across the lake as her fingers touched the flower in her hair.

Adam dragged his eyes from her face and followed her gaze. He’d made a decision. He was going to do everything he could to convince her that she could be happy here. He would show her how good life could be if she stayed.

Because despite the very real possibility that he might fail and one day lose her, he knew he had fallen head over heels in love with Amy Watts.

Adam strolled along the street towards the bank, a smile on his face.

He was aware he probably looked like he’d misplaced a few of his marbles, but he didn’t seem to be able to make it go away. Ever since the picnic the previous day he’d found his face stretching into a grin whenever he wasn’t concentrating. Had he ever been this happy before? He didn’t think so, even with Daisy. Amy and he were meant for each other, he knew it. All he had to do was convince her of that, in as subtle a way as possible.

After a while he became aware he was humming. He briefly considered trying to stop, then decided to just go with it. It was easier that way.

He reached the bank ten minutes before opening time. As usual, Jesse was already at his desk in the back room. 

“You look cheerful,” Adam said.

Jesse leaned back in his chair and twirled a pencil through his fingers, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I’m not the only one. What was all that yesterday about Miss Watts needing a friend and not a husband?”

“We
are
friends.”

Jesse pointed the pencil at him. “That is not the face of a man who has just found a new
friend
.”

“I didn’t say I don’t want to be more,” he said, smiling. “So how’s it going with Louisa?”

It was Jesse’s turn to smile as he lowered the pencil onto the open ledger in front of him. “She’s agreed to give me two weeks. That’s more than any other girl has. And she’s amazing. She’s smart and funny and kind and she doesn’t speak to me like I’m different. I have a good feeling about this.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “You’ve seen her. Isn’t she the most beautiful woman you’ve ever laid eyes on?”

“Don’t you start,” Adam said. “First Dan claims Sara is prettier than Amy, and now you’re saying it about Louisa. Yes, Louisa and Sara are both pretty, but no one comes close to Amy. The two of you are obviously in need of spectacles.”

Jesse burst into laughter. “I think we were all matched right. Oh, by the way, Vernon wants to see you before you open up.”

Adam left Jesse still chuckling and made his way to his boss’ office. Rotherford Ransom, Mr Vernon’s middle-aged secretary who Adam was convinced hadn’t laughed since 1850, looked up from his desk in the small area outside the door to the office as he approached.

He drew a silver watch from his jacket pocket and flipped open the lid. “Opening time is in precisely four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, Mr Emerson.”

Adam resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Mr Vernon wants to see me.”

Ransom sighed and stood, knocking on Vernon’s door and then opening it. “Mr Emerson is here to see you.” He withdrew. “You may enter.”

Mr Vernon was seated behind his huge oak desk when Adam walked in, his eyes on a pile of papers in front of him. He waved for Adam to take a chair opposite and leaned forward, steepling his fingers over the papers. “I know you have to open up soon so I’ll make this brief, Mr Emerson. This situation with Miss Watts is deeply troubling to me.”

Adam frowned. This wasn’t what he was expecting. “Sir?”

“The public expect the employees of any bank to be honest, of sound character and beyond reproach. We are, after all, dealing with their hard-earned money. Nothing can be seen to besmirch the good standing of anyone who works here, so I’m sure you can understand why the living arrangement you currently enjoy with Miss Watts is disturbing in the extreme.”

“Sir, you were in the service yesterday when I told everyone what is happening. I assure you, I treat Amy, Miss Watts, with the utmost respect. Nothing improper is going on. She is simply staying in my house. I promise you, that is all.”

Vernon sat back, heaving a sigh. “Be that as it may, it is not necessarily the truth that people see, but what they believe to be true. You are a man and a woman living under the same roof unwed and unchaperoned, and that is something I cannot tolerate from one of my employees.”

Adam began to panic. “But, Sir, I...”

Mr Vernon raised a hand to cut him off. “I’m sorry, but I have no choice but to give one week for Miss Watts to find alternative accommodation. If she is still residing with you at the end of that week, your employment with the Green Hill Creek bank will be terminated.”

Adam’s jaw dropped. “But... you can’t... I need this job. I can’t live on the stipend from the post office alone. And Amy has nowhere else to go.”

“Those are my terms, Mr Emerson. It is your choice whether to follow them or not. Now, I believe the doors are due to be opened in less than a minute. I would rather they were not late.”

“But, Sir...”

“You are dismissed, Mr Emerson.”

Adam stared at him, too stunned to say anything more. Vernon had lowered his eyes back to the papers on his desk. Feeling numb, he stood and left the office. He didn’t even look at Ransom as he walked past his desk and back along the corridor to the room where Jesse was working.

“Adam? What’s wrong?”

He stopped in the middle of the room, not sure what he was doing. “I...” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “Vernon just told me that if Amy doesn’t move out within a week, I’ll lose my job.”

Jesse gaped at him in astonishment. “
What
? He can’t do that!”

“It’s his bank, he can do anything he wants. And he has.” He rubbed at his eyes. “Please don’t tell anyone, not even Louisa. I don’t want Amy to find out.”

Jesse slammed his pencil down and started to push back from the desk. “I’m going to talk to Vernon.”

“No, don’t,” Adam said. “I don’t want you risking your job too.”

“I’d like to see Vernon find another qualified accountant within fifty miles of this place.”

“He could bring someone in. It’s not worth the risk. He’s not going to change his mind anyway. I can find another job much easier than you can, you know that.”

Jesse shook his head, frowning. “It’s wrong. He shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it. It’s not easy for
anyone
to find work around here nowadays.”

Adam managed to dredge up a small smile. “But you need your job, especially now, what with you about to be a married man and all.”

Jesse snorted. “I know I’m charming, but even I need a little more time than seventy-two hours. But what are you going to do?”

Adam headed towards the front room to open the bank.

“I have no idea.”