Josie: Bride of New Mexico (American Mail-Order Bride 47) (4 page)

She had
no
idea the meaning of the unfamiliar word
anecdote
, but writing letters sounded like one way to ease the pain of separation from her only family member.

Really, did she have a say in the matter at all? Wives did what their husbands directed. She’d known that, weeks ago when she’d made the best choice she’d known how and insisted Lessie respond to Adam Taylor’s advertisement in
Groom’s Gazette.

Lessie swept Josie into an embrace, a tight squeeze that brought tears to Josie’s eyes.

“I don’t want to leave you.” Josie’s throat closed with a wash of emotion.

Lessie, ever the more stable of the two, said, “I don’t want you to go.”

“We were supposed to be able to stay together.” Responsibility for this fix fell to her— she’d insisted on answering Mr. Taylor’s advertisement. She’s coaxed, defended, insisted.

And now she and her sister would be far apart. For
months
. Until now, they’d never been apart overnight. Not once.

Maybe Adam Taylor’s reasons for choosing to take her to New Mexico Territory were as simple as he’d stated— he wanted to make a wedding trip. Maybe he did want to spend time alone with her and come to know her better.

Those were not poor reasons and she couldn’t fault him for not understanding the pain she felt at leaving her sister.

But ultimately, a wife had to go where her husband did. She’d known the rules of the game when she’d insisted on answering his advertisement, if not all of the forthcoming details. And she did believe Adam Taylor and Richard Cannon to be good men. She had to trust— she
would
trust— that Lessie and she would be well and cared for in their husbands’ care.

With a breaking heart, Josie kissed her sister goodbye. When her husband took her by the elbow and said, “Darling, we really must be going. That was the last call for our train’s departure,” she allowed him to lead her through the station, out a set of doors and onto the platform.

Chapter Four

With few minutes to spare, Adam escorted his bride down the platform toward the rear of the train where the private cars were connected. They hadn’t much time until the train departed. The moment he saw Josie safely on board, his anxiety diminished significantly.

Home.

The private rail car had been in the Cannon family for a decade, and Adam had traveled far too many hours in the coach with Grandfather, his parents, sometimes with his younger sister Lucinda, with Richard— sometimes for business and sometimes for holiday.

But this trip, though both business and pleasure, would be the first of a kind.

He let out a huge sigh, smiled, and kissed her cheek. “Welcome aboard, Darling.”

A quick glance about the space, the soft sounds of movement in the galley told him the crew was on board and preparing their repast as instructed. He had no doubt everything was fully in order, including the trunks he’d brought along for himself and for his bride, in anticipation of her needs.

Every detail always ran smoothly with the staff who manned the rail car.

And right now, his wife needed his attention more than he needed to ensure belongings made it on board.

“Come, my dear, and have a seat. I haven’t rushed like that in a long while.” With his fingers trailing at her back, he walked her to two upholstered and soft chairs on the East side of the train, out of the evening’s direct sunlight.

“May I bring you a cold drink? Chilled lemonade? Milk? Wine?”

“No, no. Thank you.” Tears filled her eyes, and simply witnessing her sadness filled him with regret. She apparently sought a handkerchief in her pocket, her sleeve, and upon not finding one, he quickly pulled his out of his pocket and offered it to her.

She patted her eyes and, in the feminine way only ladies can manage, blew her nose.

He waited, gave her a few minutes to gather herself.

She’d arrived, been married, separated from her sister, and hadn’t eaten— all in the space of a few hours. Her attention flitted from the windows and curtains, paneling and light fixtures, to carpets and the layout of this dining room portion of the rail car, and Adam couldn’t help but recognize that this homey space, so very familiar to him wasn’t to her. In fact everything but the wife was as familiar as the back of his own hand.

“I’m quite at home in this car, Darling. In fact, if it hadn’t been for the—” he’d been about to say
insanity at work
, but caught himself just in time. “Uh… if it hadn’t been for the demands on our time, Richard and I might have taken this car and made the journey to Massachusetts where we might have met and briefly courted you two there. We could have married there, among your friends before returning home with you two.”

But then, had it not been for the crises at work and their need to try something drastic, he and Richard likely would not have sent for the women at all.

But now, they were an answer to prayer, a carefully executed business decision, and Adam intended to make his marriage the very best it could be.

Her lovely face registered shock. Her mouth opened in an O. She seemed to gape at the opulence he could see when looking at it through her eyes.

“Josie, what is it? Tell me what the trouble is.”

She shook her head, then seemed to think better of it. “I miss my sister. Already.”

He’d known she would. He nodded.

“Is it just us?” Her melodic, sweet voice sounded so quiet, as if she didn’t want to be overheard. “Are we alone in this car?”

“Other than the stewards, yes. They’re preparing a repast and we can eat soon. If you are hungry, I’ll go find you a piece of fruit.”

“No… no, I—”

Coming to know his wife, to easily read her moods, her expressions, would take time.
Patience
. “Josie, I want very much to make you comfortable and feel at home. Everything I have is at your disposal. I don’t want you hungry or thirsty or in need in any way.”

Her smile trembled and his heart broke a little. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. What can I bring you? What do you need?”

She shook her head in a helpless gesture. “And this car is just too much. I’m… I’m overwhelmed. I thought we’d ride in a passenger car like I did with Lessie. I thought we’d sit side by side, you and I. I thought we’d be surrounded by many other passengers.”

“Those cars are connected, near the locomotive at the front of the train. They’re connected by vestibules.” He considered teasing her, offering to buy her passage on one of those cars if she’d really prefer it but immediately squelched the thought. He wanted her here, with him, where they’d have an opportunity to speak freely and become acquainted. He could offer significantly more comfort here than in the public cars.

Her innocence touched him in ways he’d not expected. Her awe mesmerized him. She glimpsed this small portion of the Pullman Private car— life as he knew it— and was apparently overcome by a kind of awe he doubted he’d ever known.

He’d planned to give her a tour of the car and all the amenities, but that seemed a poor idea now. She needed time to acclimate, and they did have plenty of time. No sense rushing her.

He’d show her around once the shock had worn off.

So he smiled, relaxed into this chair beside her, and met her gaze. “I’m thirsty. I’ll go get us both a cold drink, and we’ll watch the city and view of the mountains go by.”

Her hesitant smile was the only approval he needed.

Moments later, he returned with tall glasses of frosty lemonade with crushed raspberries and the rims of the glasses decorated with sumptuous autumn berries and a slice of lemon. Newly available paper straws adorned the glasses.

He set his drink upon a cork coaster on the small table situated between them and offered her a glass.

Josie’s eyes filled with wonder. Again. “It’s so cold.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “We carry ample ice for beverages, but mostly to keep the fresh food in the ice box. Rail stations have plentiful ice for sale as so many cars carrying perishable food come through, especially along the transcontinental route.”

She nodded, fingering the straw. Another simple thing she may have never enjoyed.

Karl, the lead steward, came into the dining area, just near enough to catch Adam’s eye.

Adam nodded, granting permission to set the table for their light meal. He really did like Karl and Milton. The pair worked together splendidly and did superior work.

The men opened the drop leafs of the table, spread a pristine tablecloth over it and began with place settings. They moved in and out of the dining area in silence, allowing Adam and Josie’s conversation to continue uninterrupted.

“Give it a taste. I’d like to know if you’re fond of lemonade.”

“Oh, I am.”

“With raspberries?”

“I’ve never tasted a raspberry.”

“You haven’t?”

That earned him a genuine smile. “I’m from cranberry country. And I know blueberries, but not raspberries.”

He imagined raspberries
were
available, at least by rail, but doubted the sisters’ finances had allowed such delicacies. Adam ached to spoil Josie, to offer the best of tempting menus, foods she’d not tried, beverages she would delight in.

She put the straw to her lips and pulled. He couldn’t help but watch the movement of her lips and throat.

Who knew a straw could be such a sensual experience, at least for a new husband?

“Oh, that’s good. Very good.”

“Not too sweet?” Adam had to clear his throat.

“No.”

The train had begun moving, pulling away from the depot and heading south. On the east side of the car, out of the sun, they didn’t have the best view of nearby Rocky Mountains. “If you’d like a better view, Darling, we might sit on the opposite side of the car. I can close the curtains at our backs to keep the heat out.”

“I think I would enjoy that. Thank you.”

Within a minute they were well situated, this time on a small sofa that would have been Adam’s whole motive if he’d thought about it. He quite enjoyed sitting so close to his wife.

“I want to hear all about you,” he told her. “Tell me about growing up in northern Massachusetts.”

Karl and Milton brought out the serving dishes, covered, and waiting on a service cart. Milton locked the wheels with care.

The men retreated to the galley and would return for the dishes and remains of the food when they’d finished. Why would anyone want to eat in the dining car when they had the ability to enjoy a private meal?

“Do you know Lawrence?”

“Not much. The parts that interest me are those that intersect your life.”

Perhaps because of her shyness, Josie’s well-mannered responses to his questions revealed little about herself.

If she didn’t think much of herself, he could fix that.

Perhaps a husband’s greatest enjoyment came from building his wife’s confidence, helping her to see what a lovely person she truly was.

“Would you care to have a seat at the dining table? Our meal is ready.”

She nodded, so he rose and took the glass from her hand, leaving it on the side table. He seated her at the dining table, holding her chair and bending to kiss her crown.

It seemed the best possible way to tend to her self worth. He would show how much he valued her.

Adam removed the lids from the serving dishes and, having shown her each dish the stewards prepared, served her ample portions of her selections. “You’re welcome to more. We have plenty.”

“What about the others? Will they be joining us?”

The glimpse of her awareness of others in the car pleased him inordinately. “Karl and Milton,” he intentionally avoided disclosing Mrs. Bushnell’s presence… yet, “have kept their portions in the galley. They’ll eat at their table. I love that you notice and care about them.”

She smiled, lowering her eyes as if his praise made her shy.

Adam filled his own plate and took his seat.

The conversation lagged as they ate, enjoying the passing view beyond the window. Yet the conversation continued in a comfortable fashion.

“I have a question for you, one I’d very much like an answer to.”

That pleased him. “Ask. I’m eager to please you.”

“Whose rail car is this? Cannon Mining’s?”

“Not particularly, though Richard and I travel in it for business, just as Grandfather did.”

“Oh.”

He felt driven to give her a better answer, open the door more and allow her to see inside. He wanted her to know him as well as he wanted to know her.

“This car has been in my family for many years, approaching a decade, I believe.”

“You speak of your grandfather as if he has passed on.”

“Yes. Nine months ago. He lived a long and happy life. My grandmother died years ago, and he missed her terribly.”

“So now your family is only Richard and you?”

Did she look for commonalities between her family and his? “Richard’s parents are deceased, and he had no siblings. But my parents live in Denver and I have a sister who is seventeen and still at home. She’ll be eighteen in December.”