Orphan Train Romance 1 - 5 (28 page)

Nine Years Later

Serena sighed as she watched Charlotte leave the house with her in charge in order to help Caleb in the bakery.  Serena had started to call them by their first names soon after she had arrived in Maple Grove.  They told her that Mr. and Mrs. Nelson made them sound like they were old. 

She had been living in Maple Grove for nine years now.  She sighed again and turned to help Rose braid her hair.  Life was not as she thought it would be when she came to live here.  She remembered how excited she was with the idea of a family of her own. 

Charlotte and Caleb were kind to her, but she soon discovered that they had really wanted her to help with their children.  She was allowed to attend school and church and she had been allowed to stay in touch with Anna and Katrina.  She saw them weekly and always after church.

Anna had been placed with the family who ran the general store, Mr. and Mrs. Davis.  Although they were not cruel to her, they had not treated her like a daughter and used her to work in their store.  A year ago, Anna left Maple Grove and traveled to be a mail-order bride.  She married a man who ran a large cattle ranch in Montana along with his two older brothers.

Katrina had been placed with the mayor and his wife.  She had been given many advantages that neither Serena nor Anna had.  She had been given a lot of clothes and toys.  She also had been sent away to school after she graduated from the town school and received her teacher’s certificate.  Katrina now taught the younger children at the town school.

Serena felt like she was a glorified nanny.  At first when Serena had arrived, Charlotte stayed in the home and helped her with the girls.  When she saw that Serena could handle the children fine and care for their needs, Charlotte started to spend more and more time in the bakery. 

Two more children had been added to the family since Serena had arrived, Jacob and Jeff.  She had long resigned herself to not getting her forever family like the one she had dreamed about for so long.  She had learned too late that dreams rarely came true.

Last fall, Anna had sent her a letter from Montana telling about her life with Alex, her new husband.  It was quite a long letter that told the story of her courtship with Alex.  Anna had gone to Montana to marry Alex’s older brother, Luke, but things had worked out that she had married Alex instead. 

On the last page of the letter, she explained that Paul, another brother of Alex, was interested in a mail-order bride and had asked Anna if she knew of someone who would want to come to Montana and marry him.  Anna had immediately thought of Serena as being a good match for Paul.  At first, Serena was very reluctant.  When Anna first arrived in Montana, she discovered that things were not what she had been told they were.  But eventually everything worked out and she had married Alex a few weeks later. 

Anna had also extended an offer to Katrina to be a teacher in a school the brothers were going to build for the children whose fathers worked on their ranch.  By the time the letter had arrived last fall, school in Maple Grove had already started, and so Katrina did not feel she could accept the job for that school year, but she secretly accepted it for the following fall.  It was now early summer and as soon as the school year ended, Katrina planned on traveling to Montana for her new teaching position.  She had not told the family who took her in for fear they would try to stop her, so plans were being made secretly.

When Serena first received Anna’s letter, she had rejected the idea of becoming a mail-order bride.  She had never given Anna her opinion of her plans to go to Montana to marry someone she had never met, but she personally felt it was not a smart idea.  After she had read Anna’s first long letter, she noticed another letter which had been addressed to her from Paul. 

Paul’s letter had greatly impressed her.  He talked about how nice it had been to get to know Anna and had written about some of the things he had talked about with her friend.  He described the ranch and what his responsibilities were, which were to keep track of the financial end of things and to run the cattle drives every fall.  He then wrote how he would like to have a wife, and if she was willing, he would send money for her to come.

Even though Serena had enjoyed that first letter, she had been very hesitant to leave Maple Grove.  Although she did not feel like Charlotte and Caleb where her parents or their children her siblings, she felt comfortable with her role among their family.  She was afraid if she left what she knew for a new life, she would again be disappointed. 

Serena wrote Paul back with the intention of turning him down, but instead she told Paul about herself and briefly wrote about her history of being an orphan.  She described her life in Maple Grove.  Throughout the next six months, Paul and Serena had written to each other regularly.  A month ago, Paul again had offered her marriage and Serena decided to accept.  She sent off her last letter to him a week ago.  She planned to leave with Katrina as soon as school ended. 

She wanted to talk to Charlotte that morning and let her know of her plans for her future, but Charlotte had left quickly to make her usual batch of bread in the bakery, and Serena did not know if she would get another chance to talk to her that day. 

Anna had left Maple Grove secretly without letting Mr. and Mrs. Davis know her plans for fear that they would stop her.  Katrina was also planning to do the same for different reasons, but Serena did not feel she could do this to the Nelsons.  Even though she did not feel like she was their daughter and they had not become her forever family like she had dreamed of when she was 12 years old, they had been good to her.  Her needs had been met and they were not cruel to her. 

After the older children had left for school, Serena quickly cleaned up the dishes from breakfast and then started to sweep the floor.  She had almost completed her morning chores when the youngest boy, Jeff, woke up for breakfast.  She knew she would need to wait until later to talk to Charlotte.

****

The opportunity to talk to Charlotte finally presented itself after all the children were in bed.  The small home that Serena had come to when she was 12 had been enlarged with a few more rooms, but she had been able to keep the small loft room as her own.  She loved the room and all the children had strict orders to stay off the ladder and out of her room. 

One time about a year after she had been living with the Nelsons, the oldest girl, Jenny, had snuck up to the loft and found her locket that had been given to her by her birth mother.  In her curiosity, Jenny had broken the locket pieces in half.  Even though Jenny had been punished, it was then that Serena realized she was basically a nanny to the children.  The Nelsons had not understood how important the locket was to her, although to be fair to them, Serena had not told the Nelsons the locket was from her mother.  Serena had thrown the broken pieces in the latrine in anger and disappointment.  She had regretted doing so afterwards, but it was too late.  She had lost the only tie to her birth mother. 

None of the children had ever gone up to her room again, but the event deeply hurt her and she distanced herself from the family from that time forth.  She did her work, took care of the children, and she was respected, but she did not feel they were her family.

Jacob and Jeff are finally asleep,” Charlotte announced as she walked into the small sitting room where they spent their evenings sewing, knitting or reading. 

“That’s good,” Serena absentmindedly replied as she reached her hand into a basket for a sock that needed darning, but instead of starting the job, she set it in her lap.  “I would like to talk to you, if now is a good time.”

Charlotte nodded and sat down in a rocking chair next to her and picked up another sock that needed mending.  “I have known for a while you had something to tell me.  What is it?”

Serena took a deep breath and prayed silently that Charlotte would understand her decision.  She had not confided to Charlotte about Paul at all, so the news would be new.  Serena quickly told Charlotte how she had been writing Paul since the previous fall.  She explained that he had asked her to marry him and she had sent an acceptance letter last week.  As she talked, Charlotte listened and Serena thought she could see sadness in Charlotte’s face.  She watched as Charlotte brushed a tear from her eyes, which puzzled her.  She knew Charlotte would not want her to go, but it did not occur to her that she would be sad.

“I knew this day was coming,” Charlotte admitted to her.  “I knew you were writing to someone other than Anna.”

“How did you know?” Serena asked, wondering if she had seen one of her letters. 

“A mother knows,” Charlotte replied quietly. 

“But you are not…” Serena started to say, and then stopped, not wanting to hurt Charlotte’s feelings. 

“I know I am not your mother,” Charlotte agreed and smiled through her tears as she used a handkerchief to wipe her face.  “But I think of you as my daughter.”

“You do?” Serena was amazed.  She had not known this.  She had thought of herself as a nanny for the children for so long, she had assumed Charlotte thought of her the same.

“Yes,” Charlotte said as she reached her hand out as if she wanted to touch Serena, but then stopped herself.  “Do you remember the day you came to live with us?  Do you know why we took you into our family?”

“You needed someone to help with the girls.”

Charlotte sighed and leaned back in her chair.  “We did need help with the girls, but that was not why we took you in.  We could have hired help if we really needed it. 

“I am going to tell you something that only Caleb knows.  A few weeks before the orphan train came to our town, I had a dream.  In the dream, I saw that a young girl had come to live with us.  I remember it as if it was yesterday.  She had brown hair and brown eyes and she had on a gray dress that was too small for her.  I felt a love for her just like I did with my own children.  When I woke, I knew that somehow we were going to have another child in the home who would be another daughter.  I did not know that the orphan train was going to come to the town until about a week later.  Even then, even though we got permission to take in a child, I did not know how we were going to get you.  Then when you walked in with the other children that day and I saw you for the first time, I recognized you from my dream.  I knew you were meant to be part of our family.”

Serena sat silently as she listened to Charlotte talk.  “Why did you not tell me this before?” she finally asked.

“I wasn’t sure you would believe me.  I have always been able to tell that you hold yourself back from us.  I did not want to scare you or put pressure on you.  You seemed to want to have the role as a nanny and since that seemed to make you feel comfortable, I didn’t push it.  I did try for a while to get close to you, but you pushed me away, and I finally stopped.  Maybe I shouldn’t have.  Maybe I should have kept trying.  You just seemed to be happier if I left you alone.”

For a while, the two women rocked in their chairs and sewed.  Serena thought about what she had just learned.  She wondered if part of the problem that she never felt close to this family was partly her fault.  Maybe she would never be able to feel close to others.

Charlotte finally broke the silence.  “I understand the need to have your own life.  If you want to go to Montana and marry Paul, then I will support your decision.  But I would like you to promise me something.  Promise me that you will always know you have a home with us if you ever need one.”

For the first time, Serena reached her hand out and touched Charlotte’s.  “I promise.”

It was now the middle of September and Serena was on the train with Katrina.  They had left a few months later than originally planned because of some events that had happened in Katrina’s life, but now they were on their way.  They would be arriving to Pine Valley, Montana in a few hours and she was starting to feel restless.

Katrina was sitting across from her asleep, with her face leaning against the window.  Serena did not understand how Katrina could sleep on the train.  They had been traveling for over a week and Serena had not been able to get much rest.  There was no place to lie down and, for a few days, the train cars were very crowded.  Every time she would drift off, something would wake her up, whether it was the train bumping over the tracks, a crying child, or the loud voices of a group of men playing poker nearby.

She started to think of the family she left behind.  After she had talked with Charlotte, things had changed.  She still had her jobs and responsibilities, but she no longer resented the need for her to help with the children and around the house.  She realized that she loved the children, especially Rose, whom she had bonded with when she first arrived in Maple Grove.  Rose was now nine years old and looked up to Serena as a big sister. 

She had also learned how to bake and cook over the last nine years and she knew those skills would help her as she started her new life on the ranch.  Tears were shed the morning she boarded the train with Katrina, with promises to stay in touch.

She was anxious for these last few hours to pass so she could start her new life.  She had read and reread Paul’s last letter.  In fact, she had reread his letter so many times, she had it practically memorized.  He was very excited she was finally coming.  He again described the small cabin he had built that they would live in.  He talked about his brothers and mentioned that Anna was expecting her first child in a few weeks, which gave Serena another reason as to why she was very excited to finally arrive. 

Serena looked out the train window and watched the new scenery go by.  Montana was very beautiful and green.  They had driven through some mountain ranges and forests that Serena had found fascinating.  She had never seen such large mountains before and was looking forward to living so near them.

Finally, Serena felt the train start to slow and she nudged Katrina with her foot. 

“We are almost there,” she told her friend when Katrina sleepily opened her eyes.  Her words woke Katrina up and they quickly started to gather their belongings. 

When the trained slowed to a stop, both girls quickly picked up their bags and stepped off the train.  Serena felt a little unsteady on her feet after being on the train for so long, but she immediately looked around for Anna.  She heard a squeal and saw Katrina run toward a woman and gave her a hug.  It was Anna and she looked different.  She had matured into a young woman and Serena could see that she definitely was expecting a child.  She had on a beautiful deep green dress.  There was a small girl who stood next to her, hanging onto her skirts. 

Anna reached for Serena and hugged her along with Katrina.  “It is so good to see you both,” she said with tears in her eyes.  “I am so glad you are finally here.  You will love Montana, I promise.”

There were three men standing nearby.  One of them came to stand close to Anna and placed his hand on her shoulder. 

“This is my husband, Alex Bridger,” Anna introduced him to Serena and Katrina as she linked her arm through Alex’s.  She then pointed to the other men.  “And this is Luke and Paul Bridger.”

Serena said hello to Luke, but looked at Paul, liking what she saw.  Anyone could see that all three men were brothers.  They had the same color of dark hair, although they kept the lengths different.  Paul’s hair was the shortest of his brothers and he was clean-shaven.  Luke had a short trimmed beard and Alex looked like he had not shaved for a few days, but it was well kept.

Paul walked up to Serena and held out his hand.  “Hello, Serena,” he said.  She grasped his hand and immediately a tingling shock went through her body, which surprised her.  It seemed to surprise him as well as his eyes widened at her touch.  She quickly dropped her hand and wiped it on her skirt in confusion.

“It is nice to meet you,” Serena stammered and smiled shyly at him.  She felt very nervous inside, but she also knew she had made the right decision in coming to Montana.  She had exchanged many letters with Paul and had gotten to know him throughout the last year.  She was anxious to start her new life with the man who stood in front of her.

“Who is this?” Katrina asked as she squatted down in front of the child who was still grasping Anna’s skirts.

“This is Sage, Luke’s daughter,” Anna introduced her.  “She will be attending your school when it starts.”

“Hello, Sage,” Katrina said to the child.  “How old are you?”

“Sage held up five fingers.  “Pa says I am old enough to go to school.  I can’t wait.  Aida can’t wait either.”

“Who is Aida?”

“My best friend,” Sage replied.

“I am looking forward to teaching you,” Katrina said and then stood up.  Serena noticed Luke looking at Katrina peculiarly and then turned away abruptly.  She soon forgot the incident when she realized Paul was speaking to her.

“I have made arrangements to be married before we go back to the ranch, like we agreed,” he told her.

Serena nodded her head in agreement and the men started to gather their trunks and bags and lifted them into a nearby wagon.

Luke swung his daughter into the back of the wagon, jumped in himself, and drove the horses down the street towards a church.  The rest of the adults leisurely walked.  Anna chatting excitedly with both Serena and Katrina, trying to get caught up with each other during the short walk to the church.  It was so nice to be together again after over a year apart.

****

Paul walked beside Serena and silently listened as she talked with Anna and Katrina.  He wanted to reach out and take her hand again, but restrained himself.  He wanted to pull her back from the other women and have a conversation with just her, but he again restrained himself.  He knew that he would have her alone eventually.  They needed to marry first and then head back to the ranch as soon as possible to be back in time for the evening chores.  The train had been very late, so he did not have time to talk to her alone before the wedding.

He watched Serena as they walked.  He thought she was very beautiful.  Her brown hair was swept into a bun and there were red tints to it as the sun shown on her face.  She had a beautiful smile and her eyes sparkled with joy.  Her dress was wrinkled and a little dirty, but he knew it was because she had been traveling so long.

Serena broke away from her friends to walk next to him.  “Will I be able to change before the wedding?” she asked.  “I brought a dress I would like to be married in.”

“Yes,” Paul told her.  “I am sure you can use a room in the reverend’s house if you wish.  I will ask for you when we arrive.”

“What will happen after we are married?” Serena asked.

“We need to get back to the ranch soon, so we will leave after the wedding,” Paul explained to her.  “I brought my own wagon so we can travel alone and get to know each other better.  The others will go back together in the wagon Luke is driving.”

“How far away is the ranch from town?”

“It will take about two hours if I go slowly enough,” Paul smiled at her and noticed his heart jumped as she shyly smiled back.

“I am glad I am finally here,” Serena told him. 

“I am glad you are finally here, too,” Paul repeated her words to her.  “I am looking forward to starting our life together.” 

When they arrived at the church, the men led the group to a small home located behind the white building.  An older man answered Luke’s knock and everyone was soon crowded into a small parlor.  Paul asked the preacher’s wife, Mrs. Olsen, if Serena could possibly use a room and some water to clean up before the wedding.  Mrs. Olsen agreed and soon Serena had left the room with Anna and Katrina following.

While the women were gone, Paul and Alex sat down on a sofa while Mr. Olsen left to open the church for the ceremony. 

“Are you sure you want to get married?” Luke asked him in a half-joking way. 

“Of course,” Paul scowled at him.  “Just because you don’t like the idea of marrying again…”

“I know, I know.  Forget I said anything.”  Luke got up from the couch and left the house while Paul continued to scowl at him as he left.

“Don’t let Luke get to you,” Alex advised him as he slapped a hand on his shoulder.  “I don’t think he really means it, deep down.”

Paul shook his head in disgust, but he knew what Alex meant.  Luke had been pretty bitter about the idea of marriage ever since his wife passed away almost two years ago.  He had been grouchy with everyone and hard to live with. The last few months though, he had been mellowing for some reason.  Paul wondered if he finally was over his wife’s death and had decided life was worth living, especially since he had a young daughter to raise.