Contract to Wed (4 page)

“Let’s just let her get settled, and then maybe we’ll see.
But listen to me, Melinda,” he said and held her chin in his hand. “This is all
going to be new to her. Give her time and don’t pester her to death.”

Chapter Five

Jolene had never minded train travel,
but after ten days of it with a three-day layover in Memphis, she was certain
she had no desire to board another locomotive again in her life. She was
looking forward to being away from the crush of cities and train cars and
finding some peace and quiet at her new home. She had reserved a private car
for herself for much of the trip and a sleeping berth and a seat for Alice in
second class. She spoke rarely to anyone she met in dining cars or in hotels, but
Alice made acquaintances, and Jolene allowed her to socialize most evenings. It
left Jolene quite a bit of time, perhaps too much time, to think about what
she’d done.

She’d stared out the window, mile after mile, thinking about
this massive change she’d begun that day that Eugenia and Calvin had come to
visit her and told her about Eugenia’s brother. It had seemed so tidy and
satisfactory and far away at the time. And it had been. She had yet to know how
it would turn out. In any case, she was an independently wealthy woman,
regardless of what occurred in the future. She wondered if this is what her
sister Julia had felt like when she took the train all those years ago to South
Dakota. Julia had written her a letter a few months ago, and Jolene had it in her
bag still. She’d read it many, many times but had as of yet not answered it.
She took the envelope from her reticule, stared at it for a moment, pulled the
letter out, and unfolded it.

Dear Jolene,

I hope I find you well. Jake and the children are doing
fine and so am I. As you know, we are now five with Jillian, Jacob, now three,
and Mary Lou, just six months old. We continue to socialize with Jake’s sisters
and their families and with a few friends from our little town.

Jennifer has written me that you have married a man from
Texas that you have never met! I could not be more shocked if you told me you
had shredded Mother’s Belgian tablecloths. But more than my surprise, I am so
glad for you and praying that this man will be kind. I am hoping that when you
are away from Mother and from Boston, you will find a reason for happiness,
even if this person that you have married is not everything or even anything
like what you imagined.

For years I’d been afraid of you and Mother and of what
everyone thought of me. And while I was no longer afraid, I harbored resentment
towards you and Mother after bringing Jillian here with me. Jake convinced me
that the only person I was hurting was myself by making myself miserable. I
implore you, whether you find yourself angry, or afraid, or sad, or grieving, give
into happiness. Give yourself a chance to be happy. Our money, our situation,
our homes – none of it will matter in the end. I am certain that the only thing
that will matter is if we have loved and found joy in that love.

I have never liked you particularly, Jolene, and I doubt
if you liked me much either. I found you manipulative and cruel, and I’m sure
you found me embarrassing and weak. But that does not mean I don’t care about
you. Our history brought pain to both of us, I believe. You are my sister. You
are also a woman grown and independent. Make your own decisions as to how your time
on this earth will be spent.

Julia

Post Script ~ Jennifer has relayed that Mother was
particularly angry that you have done this. God forgive me, but that gave me
some sweet satisfaction.

Jolene let herself smile at her sister’s remarks. How very
much the letter sounded like Julia. The door to her private car opened, and she
looked up.

“I believe you’ll want to be changing Mrs. Crenshaw,” Alice
said when she came through the door. “The Dallas station is only a few hours
away.”

“Yes,” Jolene said. “Lay out my blue traveling suit, Alice.
I am leaving off the mourning clothes. Convention be damned. I suppose you’d
best begin calling me Mrs. Shelby.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

* * *

Max shaved and dressed with care.
His boots had been polished and his Stetson brushed clean. He left his
collarless shirt open at the neck and carried his suede jacket. It was still a
fairly cool March morning and by afternoon it’d be plenty warm, but he planned
on wearing his jacket and adding a little formality to this meeting. Truth be
told, he was near sick on the stomach. He couldn’t eat the breakfast that had
been placed in front of him and just sipped on some coffee. This marriage had
always seemed far away, both in time and distance. Now it was here, and if he
was honest with himself, he’d admit he was leery, wary, oh hell, he was
terrified of what it would be like to meet his wife.
His wife!

He wasn’t looking forward to the two-hour ride from town
either, but he was guessing his new bride would be expecting something fancier
than a saddle to ride home on. Pete had waxed the carriage till it shone, and
by the time he’d hitched the horses and said it was ready for Max to take,
there was a crowd gathered outside the barns. It seems everyone wanted to see
him off. Melinda begged to come along until Maria pulled her away with promises
of treats from the kitchen.

Max had gotten to town early, did some shopping for Melinda
and stopped by a few of the ladies’ stores before heading to the station. Maybe
it wasn’t necessary, but he thought a few gifts for his bride and her maid
might be in order. He was sitting in the shade of the train station porch
reading a Beadle’s Dime Novel when the depot manager came out and walked to the
tracks. He stared east and turned to Max.

“Train’s coming.”

Max stood, pulled on his jacket and watched the train
approach from far in the distance. This was the beginning of the rest of his
life.

* * *

Alice stood near the window, peering
out at the city as the train slowed in its approach.  Jolene sat at the
edge of the settee, back straight, her hands folded in her lap. She was
alternately excited and terrified as her journey wound down to its last miles. Her
luggage and trunks were stacked near the door to her train car.

“Are you looking forward to this change, Alice?” Jolene said
suddenly.

Her maid turned in some surprise, surely because she had
never asked Alice her feelings or opinion, except on one notable occasion.

“I am, Mrs. Shelby. Thank you for asking,” she said.

Jolene drew a breath through her nose and closed her eyes as
the train lurched to a stop. She was here. She waited patiently while Alice
directed porters with the handling of their luggage. Fifteen minutes later,
Alice came back into her traveling car.

“Mrs. Shelby? Everything is unloaded. Are you ready to
depart?” she said. “May I get your parasol for you, ma’am. It is quite stifling
outside.”

Jolene stood, looped the satin ribbon of the parasol that
Alice had given her over her hand with her reticule and stepped on to the small
metal platform between the cars. The conductor reached a hand up to her to
guide her down the three steps.

* * *

Max walked slowly to where a woman,
dressed in black, was directing several porters stacking multiple trunks and
luggage. It was a detail he’d not thought of. He turned to the depot manager
who was watching the porters himself.

“Can you get word to the Shaw Brothers to get over here with
one of their wagons?”

The manager nodded and hurried to his depot, and Max turned
back. Apparently finished, four porters stood behind rows and stacks of luggage
and trunks, staring up at the train. The woman dressed in black was waiting, and
the conductor stood to the side of the metal steps between the cars. He lifted
his hand up and at the top of those three steps appeared a tall, slender woman.
She was dressed from head to toe in the palest blue, starting with the tilted,
wide-brimmed hat, to her jacket trimmed in black roping to her bustled skirts.
She extended a foot shod in a pale blue satin slipper and accepted the
conductor’s outstretched hand.

At first glance, she was stunning and sophisticated and sure
of herself. And he was certain she was his wife. He walked to her and held out
his hand.

“Mrs. Jolene Shelby?”

She turned her head slowly. “Mr. Maximillian Shelby?”

He bowed his head and touched his hat. “At your service,
ma’am.”

She put a gloved hand in his, and he was immediately
aware
of her. He could smell a musky rose scent and felt the pressure of her hand in
his as she came down the last two steps.

“Welcome to Dallas. There will be a wagon coming for your
trunks in just a moment. Can I get you and your maid out of the sun and under
the depot porch until he arrives?”

She turned her head to where he was gesturing. “Thank you,”
she said and hooked her arm through his. Max led her to the seat he’d vacated.
She lowered herself to the edge of the plank bench and folded her hands in her
lap.

“How was your trip?”

“Exhausting, but my train car was comfortable. We laid over
for a few days at the Memphis Hotel for a much needed break,” she said.

“I’m glad that you have arrived safely.”

Jonas Shaw pulled a wagon up to the platform and hopped out.
“Hey, Max. Heard you needed some hauling.”

The men shook hands and Max turned. “This is my wife, Jonas,
just arrived from Boston.”

Jonas pulled his hat from his head and nodded, wide-eyed.
“Pleasure, ma’am.”

“She and her maid have some trunks and what-not that need to
come out to the Hacienda. Can you get it all there today?”

Jonas turned and looked at the stack still sitting on the
platform. “I can. I’ll have to get a bigger wagon and some helpers. I think we
can have it all there by evening.”

“I’ll have the station manager watch it till you get back.
Thank you, Jonas.” Max turned to his wife. “Are you ready to head to the
Hacienda?”

“Would it be possible for me to have a glass of water?” she
asked.

“I’m sorry,” Max said. “I don’t imagine you’re accustomed to
this heat. Let me take you across the street to the Windsor Hotel. I believe
the lobby there is cooled.”

Max found the depot manager, handed him a coin, and told him
he was to stand beside the luggage and trunks until Jonas Shaw returned. Max
held his hand out to his wife. She stood and took his arm and nodded to the
stoic maid standing behind him. He guided her across the street to the Windsor
Hotel and inside. The grand hotel’s lobby was blessedly cool.

“Have you eaten today?” he asked.

“No. I have not. I wasn’t fond of the diner car’s offering.”

“We could have something in the dining room here. The food
is always very good,” he said.

“Something light would suit me. Yes. Thank you,” she said.
“Let me make arrangements for Alice.”

“She can eat with us,” Max said.

“I doubt that would be any more comfortable for Alice than
it would for you or me.” She walked to her maid, spoke to her, and turned back
to Max.

Every head in the room turned as they wound their way
through the dining rooms. He caught a glimpse of her profile in the gilded
mirrors on the walls. Had he not known better, he would have thought she was
royalty. She removed her gloves, ordered, and faced him.

“Tell me about Dallas, Mr. Shelby. It is larger than I
imagined,” she said.

“No need to be so formal, do you think?” he asked with a
smile. “I’m just Max.”

“I suppose that it would be odd in our daily dealings with
each other to continue with mister and mistress. You may call me Jolene. Tell
me about Dallas, Maximillian?”

Max smiled and gave her a brief history of his adopted city.
He looked at his watch and then at Jolene. “Are you feeling better? I think
we’d best be going. We want to be home by dark.”

“Yes. I am ready,” she said.

The ride home in the carriage was done in near quiet. He
made some attempts to converse, but Jolene had little reply to make, and the
maid in the back seat said nothing unless he asked her a direct question. He pulled
into the Hacienda courtyard with its shady trees and brick driveway. Nearly
everyone in his employ was standing outside the main entrance. They were all
waiting to meet his bride.

Pete took the reins, and Max stepped down and came around to
help Jolene from the carriage. She looked at the Hacienda from side to side and
up to the second floor balconies with their red adobe trim and planters filled
with spring flowers and cactus. She slowly looked from one end of the staff to
the other. “Who is the head housekeeper, Maximillian?” she asked.

“I would say that is Maria, but I’ve never called her the
housekeeper,” he said. “But she runs things and all the inside staff.”

“I’d like to meet her now, if I may,” she said.

“Yes,” Max hurried to say, “Yes, of course. And I want you
to meet the ranch manager, Zebidiah Moran.” Max motioned. “Zeb, Maria.”

Maria hurried forward. “Welcome, Mrs. Shelby! We are so glad
you are here!”

“Thank you, Maria. Would please see that a hot bath is made
ready for myself and my maid?” Jolene turned. “Mr. Moran. I’m sure we’ll have time
to become more acquainted in the next few days.” She looked at Max. “I’d like
to be shown my rooms now, if you please.”

Jolene took his arm, and he took her inside. Melinda was
waiting for them in the two story, open air entrance way. Her hair was braided
in a neat plait, and she had on one of her few dresses, with stockings and high
top shoes.

“Hello,” Melinda said. “You must be my new mother.”

Jolene slowly turned and looked at Max. “I was to understand
that your daughter was in need of help with her come-out. That she was of that
age.”

Max shook his head. “No. Melinda is twelve. Melinda, this is
. . . what do you think she should call you?”