Amelia's Journey (5 page)

The ranch would require much work in the days and months ahead to prepare for the winter season. He and his brother Gideon would help the ranch hands round up some of the herd to take to auction in Abilene, and the rest would be gathered into the winter pastures closer to the ranch house and barns. Pa had purchased two new bulls before they left home and was expecting their arrival on the ranch to coincide with the family's return.

That would mean new calves next spring and more work rounding them up and branding them. If things went well, one more trip to Boston before winter might be possible, but if not, then a return would be put off until early summer.

He settled Billy in the seat beside him. Gideon and Grace Ann sat across from him. Gideon narrowed his eyes and grinned. “I think you would have liked to stay behind with Mary Beth.”

Ben jerked his head back. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“Ha, that look in your eyes every time you're near Amelia Carlyle is a dead giveaway, brother.”

Grace Ann sighed. “She is so pretty, and she has such beautiful clothes. I wish I had a dress like that one she wore today.”

Ben shook his head and chuckled. “And just where do you plan to wear something like that in Kansas?”

She shrugged and lifted her eyebrows. “I don't know, but if I had a dress like that, I could think of somewhere to go…maybe a church social or one of the dances in town.”

Gideon punched her in the arm. “You're not even old enough to go to those yet. Pa said you had to wait until you're sixteen.”

Grace Ann blinked her eyes, but a tear still slipped down her cheek as she rubbed her arm. Ben poked Gideon to remind him not to tease his younger sister so much. Gideon shrugged and picked up a book to read.

Ben reached over and squeezed Grace Ann's hand and winked. That elicited a smile. Satisfied she was all right, he turned and gazed out the window as the train sped across Massachusetts. Farm after farm dotted the land as well as trees everywhere.

The white spire of a church steeple lifted its point toward heaven as they passed through a small town along the way. He would see many of those between here and St. Louis, where they would change trains to head across Missouri to Kansas. Many times he'd considered the first families to move west and marveled at the stamina it had taken to travel in covered wagons for such distances. He was thankful his father and mother had chosen Kansas, close to the Missouri border, for their final destination.

Now that he was older, he better understood the generosity of his grandparents who had helped Pa with the funds he needed for the ranch. He glanced now at his parents seated across the aisle. They talked with their heads together. His mother had given up so much to adventure out with Pa. Would Amelia ever do something like that for him?

Pa beckoned to him from across the aisle. “Come and sit with us, Ben. We'd like to talk.”

Ben settled onto the bench and waited for his father to speak his mind.

“We noticed that you took quite an interest in Amelia Carlyle this week. Is there something there we should know about?”

Ben gulped. There went his belief that he and Amelia had been discreet. If his parents noticed, hers were bound to have done the same. “I don't think so. At least not yet.” He lowered his head to make his confession. “But I do like her, and we've promised to write to each other.”

His father frowned. “Son, I understand how you could be attracted to a girl as pretty as Amelia. But you must understand her life is very different from ours. You are bound to have seen that this week.”

“I did, but I also sense a spirit of adventure in her.” The memory of her shoeless feet at the reception brought a smile to his heart. Life with Amelia would be one of fun and surprises.

Ma leaned over and grasped his hand. “Ben, it's more complicated than that. Her parents have certain expectations for her and have many plans for her future.”

“But you and Pa lived that life, and your parents were willing to let you and Aunt Clara go and have your own life. I just know Amelia would love it on the ranch.” He could see her riding across the range with him now, her silken hair flowing behind her.

Pa shook his head. “Her father is much more conservative than either of your grandparents. In addition, I have two brothers who went into business with my father, and a sister who married and stayed here. Your mother was the same, except she had three sisters who all married well. Amelia and Amanda are the Carlyles' only children, and to have one of them move so far away would be unthinkable for them.”

His father spoke the truth, but Ben could still dream and hope for Amelia's love to be great enough for her to want to live in Kansas with him. “If it's what Amelia wants, and she loves me, I don't see how her parents could stand in the way of our happiness. I wondered if we could ask her parents to come out to Kansas for a visit, so they could see how good it would be to live there. Then maybe they wouldn't object as much.”

Ma pressed her lips together and covered her mouth with the handkerchief she held in her hand. She turned her gaze out through the window, but not before he noticed the glisten of moisture in her eyes. Why would his desires make her so sad?

His father's voice became deeper, a sure indication of his concern. “Ben, you have to be sensible. Consider all the consequences and ramifications of your actions. You have nothing to really offer Amelia now. When you turn twenty next year, you will get a share of our ranch where you can build a house for yourself, and you'll find a girl in Kansas who will be only too happy to share it with you. That's the life you will have to plan for your future.”

Ben nodded without meeting his gaze, then rose and returned to his seat next to Billy. He'd expected opposition from Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle, but for it to come from his own parents rent his soul in two. Still, he would not be dissuaded. Only Amelia herself could stop him from pursuing her.

Chapter 5

A
melia breathed deeply and squared her shoulders before entering the dining room for breakfast. She had no desire to go through the social season and hoped to convince her parents that she didn't need to do so. Most likely she would lose this argument, but she had to try.

If only she could muster up the enthusiasm for such show as Mary Beth, who had talked about nothing else in the week since her family returned to Kansas. All the while Mary Beth talked about dresses to wear and whom she might meet, Amelia had been devising ways to get out of the entire ordeal.

No good plan had materialized, so now she had to face her parents and let them know she didn't really want to participate as one being presented. Attending wouldn't be a problem, but the parading of herself as a young woman now eligible for marriage created a bitter taste.

She pasted on a smile and entered the room. “Sorry, I'm late, Mama, Papa. My hair gave me fits this morning.” Not exactly the truth, but not a complete fabrication either for she had changed hairstyles twice.

Papa eyed her with a smile. “You look lovely, my dear.”

Mama didn't say a word but searched Amelia's face. For what, she wasn't sure, but it had happened the past several mornings. It was almost as if Mama was trying to read Amelia's mind.

After bowing her head and saying a short prayer of thanksgiving, she spread her napkin across her lap. Maeleen set a plate with eggs and bacon on the table. Amelia thanked the servant and followed her departure back to the kitchen with interest. Now there was a young woman who would turn heads. Even her servant's uniform could not hide her comely figure and attractive features. Amelia sighed and picked up her fork. Sometimes she believed she'd rather be a servant than a wealthy man's daughter.

Mama buttered her toast as she peered across at Amelia. “Don't forget we are to go for a fitting for your presentation gown this afternoon. I believe Mrs. Haynes is bringing Mary Beth for hers at the same time.”

Here was her opportunity to approach the subject of the cotillion. “Mama, do we have to have a presentation for me? Mary Beth could have it all to herself, and then we wouldn't have to be concerned with the cost of so many dresses and parties for me.”

If she had dropped a cannonball in the middle of the table, her mother's expression could not have expressed more horror. Even Papa's mouth skewed into a terrible frown. His forehead creased and his thick brown eyebrows formed a straight row across it. “Whatever gave you that ridiculous notion?” he said. “You're seventeen and just graduated from Mrs. Harcourt's finishing school. This is your season.”

Mama's hand gripped her napkin until the knuckles turned white. “Amelia Carlyle, I will not even consider such nonsense. You will go to each and every party given, and you will be presented with Mary Beth at the cotillion.”

“But it's such a waste of money.” No sooner had the words left her mouth than she wished them back.

Mama blinked her eyes and pursed her mouth. “The dates are set, plans are made, and invitations ordered.”

Papa pushed back from the table. “You will participate like the Carlyle you are, and I won't hear any more from you about canceling. Understood?”

“Yes, Papa.” Oh, she understood all right. The Carlyle name would be sullied if they backed out now. Anything to protect their precious reputation. Amelia pushed away her plate, her appetite gone.

When he had left, Mama leaned toward Amelia. “My dear, I know you don't really care for the social life like Amanda did, but this is what we do, and it's what is expected of you. You'll meet many nice young men who are all good prospects for marriage.”

“Oh, Mama, don't you see? It's like I'm being paraded like cattle to auction for the men to assess and evaluate my worth.”

Mama's eyebrows raised and her eyes opened wide. “Wherever did you get such a ridiculous notion? What do you know about cattle auctions?”

Heat rose in Amelia's face as she regretted her choice of words. She mustn't implicate Ben in any way. The less they knew about her feelings for him, the less likely they were to forbid a relationship. “I believe Mr. Haynes mentioned something about cattle auctions while they were here. He said they took herds to Kansas City where a price was determined by their size and appearance.”

“I see.” She tilted her head. “It's best you remove that idea from your mind and concentrate on all that lies ahead in the next month. We're going to be quite busy, and I need your full cooperation.”

“Yes, ma'am.” She laid her napkin on the table and stood. “I'll be ready when it's time to leave this afternoon.” Her sedate exit from the dining room became a mad dash up the stairs once out of her mother's eyesight.

She shoved the door of her room closed behind her and threw herself across the bed. It had already been made up, and she grabbed one of the lavender silk throw pillows and hugged it to her chest. So much for that little idea, but she had tried. When her father had that look she'd just seen on his face, no argument could change his mind.

The next few months loomed ahead as a dark blot on the horizon of her life. If only she could just go about her daily routine of reading, practicing the piano, and taking care of volunteer duties at the church. She had no taste for the luncheons and other social events in which her mother was involved.

In addition, all the other girls looked at the season as a time of competition for the most eligible men, and hurt feelings, jealousy, and resentment often resulted. She couldn't forget some of the things said about Amanda behind her back when Charles Bishop had proposed.

No matter what others had said, Amanda loved Charles with all her heart. She had confided in Amelia during those days when Charles courted her. Amanda dreamed of her life with Charles and the love they had. One only had to look at their faces when they were together to see that theirs was a love ordained by God. It spoke of purity, trust, loyalty, and faith not only in God but also in each other.

That's what Amelia wanted. God wouldn't show her the man of her future at some fancy dress ball. She'd prayed about it often enough to know that God would give her the best young man for her. Perhaps, just perhaps, Ben Haynes was that young man. One thing for sure, he'd at least get an invitation to the cotillion from Mary Beth, whether he was able to come or not.

Lenora glanced up from her writing when Isaac entered the bedroom and approached her. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Dear, that little outburst of Amelia's concerns me. She has a free spirit that doesn't enjoy being bound by the duties of her station in life, but we can't allow her to have free rein with her likes or dislikes.”

“I know, and we had a little talk after you left. She compared the cotillion to being paraded in front of the men like cattle at an auction.” A tiny smile passed her lips. “I never thought of it like that, but we are presenting her to eligible young men to see if they might choose her for their bride.” Of course Isaac would never see it that way, but she had an inkling of how Amelia felt as she had experienced her own introduction to society.