Page 6 of A Letter to Adaya
Jesse snorted, practically choking himself.
“Maybe we can find something else for Mrs. Arden to be unhappy about?” He shot Beau a warning glance. Mrs. Arden owned the mercantile with her husband and didn’t approve of the women that worked at Miss Marcy’s. “Don’t forget they’re still human beings.”
“I know. But there’s a difference betweenpeople,” Beau paused, emphasizing that word, “and my brother. My job is to keep you safe.”
They both turned back to the fire as Bogey called for dinner. Something was shifting and changing between the brothers, and Emily’s face flashed in Beau’s mind once more.
“One more thing,” Jesse paused, turning to stand toe to toe with Beau. “Don’t make Emily cry again, or Bass won’t be the only one you have to deal with. No woman should ever cry in our house. Not because of us. Never.”
Jesse shoved his shoulder and then went to chat with Bogey. Beau stood there staring into the distance, his brother’s words a punch to the gut.
He’d never meant to make anyone cry.
ChapterTwo
September 1880, Chicago, IL
Thup-thup!
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Adaya Breckenridge pulled her cloak tightly around her as she watched the gray landscape race past them. The rhythmic patter of rain against the window and the rhythmic sound of the wheels racing against the tracks lulled her into a hypnotic state.
Children were asleep on their mother’s laps and others rested their heads against the vibrating walls as they tried to find a comfortable position to catch a few minutes of rest. Adaya couldn’t sleep, however. She was counting down the minutes until she arrived home after spending four months with her grandmother in Richmond, Virginia.
It surprised her that Grandma didn’t pay for a private or semi-private car, but the older woman insisted that Adaya needed to travel home via third-class. She was terrified of falling asleep while traveling by herself in the crowded car. After witnessing the theft of a woman’s reticule, she hadn’t been able to close her eyes since. It was hard not to close them now, while the rain beat a steady cadence against the window.
With a whoosh, the compartment door opened, and a gust of chilled, damp air rushed into the dimly lit car. She turned her head from the window to see a uniformed man enter and shake the rain from his cap. He moved swiftly through the car, holding onto the back of the benches as the car shifted on the tracks. “Chicago!” he bellowed before moving to the door nearest to Adaya and opening it. Another gust of cold air and pelting rain entered the compartment as he vanished into the darkness.
Leaning back, she pulled her cloak tighter, as if protecting herself from the damp weather. It was good to be back in Chicago. She enjoyed her visit with her grandmother, but the trip was one Adaya didn’t need to repeat anytime soon.
She’d been pampered and groomed until her skin itched to be back on the family horse farm in Illinois.
The parties were interesting at first. She did like meeting new people, but inevitably, there was one forward gentleman who wouldn’t accept no for an answer. Some girls appeared to like the attention, but they were looking for husbands. The men strutting around like banty roosters made her stomach turn. Adaya didn’t want to be committed to their crowing, locked up as a housewife or tucked into a townhouse where it felt like she was living on top of someone else for the rest of her life.She’d rather be a spinster.
Passengers started to stir and gather up their belongings as the train pulled into the station. She waited until the train came to a complete stop before standing. Collecting her satchel and basket, she glanced out the window, looking for her father. Instead, her eyes settled on Walter, her father’s man, standing at the boardwalk’s edge, watching for her.
The doors to her train car snicked open and Adaya ducked her head to follow the woman seated next to her out the door onto the platform. The step scraped lightly against the side of the car as the trainman lowered it to the ground.
She waited her turn, thankful that the people in front of her were blocking the rain. The trainman accepted her satchel and took her hand to help her down the step. Before taking her satchel back, Adaya shook out her skirts, thanked the man, and stepped forward so that others could exit. The rain was stinging against her skin as she hurried to the middle of the platform to escape the driving rain.
Where was her father?
Swallowing the disappointment clogging her throat, she plastered on a friendly smile and approached the older man who had been part of their household since before she was born.
“Walter, it’s wonderful to see you.” She softened her smile. She loved the older man. It wasn’t his fault he was not the one she’d hoped to greet.
“Miss Adaya.” Walter bobbed his head, reaching out to take the things in her arms. “Welcome home. Is there any other luggage?”
“I have two trunks this time.”
“Only two?” he teased, offering her his arm, but she shook her head, gripping her skirt with both hands to avoid the puddles that littered the ground ahead.
“Would you prefer more?” she grinned. “Grandmother has stored things at her home and says I’ll be back in the spring anyhow.” She couldn’t ignore the unease any longer and reluctantly posed the question she had been dreading. “Where is Father?”
His steps faltered for a moment, and the unease increased. “He’s away. I believe you’ll find a letter at the house.”
There was a lull in the rain as if God knew it would be an easier ride without the Heavens pouring down on them for the ride home. Reaching the carriage, Walter held the door open, offering her a hand up. Adaya hoisted herself in, her mind on his words. It wasn’t the words themselves, but the tone of them. It wasn’t the first time Walter told her that Father was away, but his tone today did nothing to relieve her concern.
