A Groom's Promise Read online

  The man in his early twenties grinned. “Why, Archie, I’m surprised to see you.”

  “Doug, I’m not here for myself. I came on behalf of my hired help.” Archie pointed to Hugh. “Is Mr. Boyer in?”

  “Yes and no.”

  Archie’s brow furrowed. “I’m confused.”

  “The internal auditor is in to examine the books. I don’t know when he’ll be through.” The clerk paused. “I’ll tell him you’re out here and see what he says.” He tapped the office door.

  “Come in,” a hearty voice answered.

  Hugh shifted his foot from one to other, wondering if Mr. Boyer would, indeed, give him the loan.

  Within minutes, the clerk returned. “He’s finishing up with the examiner, so go ahead and take a seat while you wait.” The young man gestured to two chairs beside him. Archie sat down.

  Hugh straightened his spine against the chair’s stiff, wooden back as he tried to rest his elbows on its nonexistent arms. Scanning the room, he studied the mantel clock that read two o’clock, which sat on a bookshelf behind the clerk’s desk. Hugh’s eyelids closed. Knowing he could not be seen as being disrespectable, he squirmed in his seat to keep himself awake before he again focused on the clock. The minute hand had moved five notches. When would Mr. Boyer be done? Patience had never been Hugh’s virtue.

  Archie turned to Hugh and said, “I’m sorry. Usually you can go right in but, naturally, when you’ve got to discuss business, he’s busy,” he said in a low voice. “Do you want to stay or come back tomorrow?”

  Clearing his throat, he whispered, “We’ll stay. Surely he won’t be long.” Hugh would really rather go home and return another day, but Archie had work that needed to get done and wasting another day would not be right.

  Hugh fidgeted. He leaned toward Archie. The office door opened.

  A tall and muscular man with wavy-blond hair faced them. The bank owner directed his attention to Archie. “I’m sorry, but we’re running into an accounting error and are trying to find it. I really don’t know how long this is going to take, and the man is only here today.”

  “That’s fine, Alex. I don’t have no business with you.” He gestured to Hugh. “But, Mr. Warren here does.”

  “Glad to meet you.” The banker stretched out his arm.

  “You, too.” Hugh shook his hand.

  Archie continued, “Mr. Warren needs a loan to help him buy a portion of my land. He just arrived yesterday from Charles City, Virginia.”

  Alex shifted his gaze to Hugh and smiled. “You’re from Charles City?”

  “Yes.”

  Mr. Boyer’s eyes twinkled. “Well, I’m happy to make your acquaintance. That’s where my wife is from.” The clock chimed three. He turned his gaze to it then re-engaged his attention to Archie. “I see it’s getting late. I bet you need to get back home.”

  “Well …”

  “Enough said.” The banker scratched his scalp a moment before the corners of his mouth curled up into a broad smile. “Say, Opal would love to meet someone from her area. If you don’t care, Archie, why not let Mr. Warren spend the night with us and then we can discuss business?”

  “That’s a great idea.” His employer turned to Hugh. “Is this fine with you?”

  “Yes, but how will I get back home?”

  “Oh, I’ll take you. A bank owner has the liberty to come to work a little late.” He stepped to his clerk. “Take this as notice, Doug. I’ll be in late tomorrow.”

  “Yes, sir.” The clerk scribbled down a note and placed it next to his typewriter.

  The banker turned his gaze from his clerk to Archie and Hugh, smiled, spun around, and headed back to his office.

  Hugh gulped, just realizing he would have to come face to face with that Miss Winifred Preston once more. Oh no, could he ever free himself from her?

  ***

  Winifred followed Opal into the parlor and settled herself in a seat. “It sure is getting late. Does Alex often miss suppertime?” Winifred stared out the window.

  “Not usually but once in a while something comes up.” Opal rang the bell for Mr. Crowley.

  The butler entered. “Yes madam.”

  “I know you’re wondering about supper. Let’s wait ten more minutes to see if Mr. Boyer is home by then.”

  He nodded and exited the room.

  Opal wiggled in her chair. “Nothing is comfortable.” She laughed and patted her large stomach.

  Winifred approached and stood in front of her sister. “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked, her voice pitch taut.

  Sighing, Opal met her sister’s gaze then chuckled. “No, I just need for this baby to be born.”

  “I’m sorry you’re having so much discomfort.”

  “Don’t worry. This will end once the little one arrives.” She stroked Winifred’s icy hand. “Your hand is cold. Are you chilled? I could have Mr. Crowley start a fire in the fireplace. We haven’t gotten things ready for winter as of yet.

  “Oh Opal, don’t you remember my hands always are cold? I’m just that way.” Winifred studied her sister, her brunette hair flowing around her shoulders. Since Providence took their mother early in life, Opal in many ways became her and her siblings’ mother. She kissed their scrapes and met each child with appropriate discipline and soothing words of kindness.

  As a clamor of male voices reverberated inside the entryway, Opal released her hand from her sister’s.

  Winifred took a step backwards and spun around. Alex’s familiar voice echoed in the hallway, but another voice, one mellow with a Southern accent, also permeated the dwelling. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Why, it sounded like the man she met on the train. Oh, it couldn’t be him? She bit her lip as they approached. Yes, it was Hugh. That terrible man was here. What a sad ending to a beautiful day.

  They bustled into the parlor. Alex turned his attention to Opal. “How are you feeling?”

  She giggled. “I’m fine. No baby as of yet, you see.”

  He smiled as his seven-year-old daughter, Abigail, and his nine-year-old son, Theodore, ran into the room.

  “Papa, Papa, we wondered when you were coming home,” cried Teddy.

  He chuckled. “Were you really, or was it because you were anxious to fill that belly of yours?”

  Theodore lowered his face before smiling. “A little of both, I reckon.”

  Opal grinned and cleared her throat. “I reckon? Is that proper English?”

  Teddy shook his head then shifted his gaze from his ma to the dining room.

  “Theodore, would you inform Mr. Crowley that we’re having a guest for supper.”

  Shoe laces loose, the little boy spun around and raced for the dining room.

  Opal turned to her sister. “I’m always telling him to tie his shoes” She sighed. “But at least I’m making progress. He’s not going barefoot nearly as much as he used to.”

  Alex laughed before he glanced at Winifred. “I’m sorry I’m late. But the internal auditor examined the books today, and it took forever to find the error.” He gestured toward Hugh. “Opal and Winifred, I would like you to meet Mr. Hugh Warren.” He paused. “He’s a friend of Archie Smith.”

  Opal smiled. “Oh, Archie and Maybell are such wonderful people. I’m glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Warren.”

  “You may call me Hugh.” He stared at Winifred and took a long breath. “And, it’s good to meet you again, Miss Winifred Preston.”

  She examined the floor before meeting his gaze. “Yes, quite. I’m --- I’m glad to …” Winifred could not finish the sentence. She could not lie. He was the last person she wanted to see. Her skin prickled with disdain just at the sight of him. Clutching her hands together to keep them from shaking, she shot a look at her sister, silently begging for rescue when the dinner bell rang.

  Alex winked over at his wife and grinned. “I’ll escort you into the dining room. Why don’t you, Hugh, escort Winifred.” Taking Opal’s hand, he led her into the room and Abigail
followed.

  Hugh stood tall and muscular, his gaze meeting hers before he gave her that infectious grin of his.

  Her teeth chattered. She clamped her lips together. He grabbed her hand. The strength of his touch made her heart race. He annoyed her, yet she found an element of security in his grasp. She believed he would be a person of dependability. She shook her head. Couldn’t she just go in and eat without having these thoughts?

  ***

  Hugh pulled out a chair for Miss Winifred Preston. They sat side by side since the rest of the table was full. Pushing in her chair, he settled into his seat. It would be rough spending an evening next to this redhead. He studied the linen table cloth with embossed scalloped borders in front of him, not wanting to gaze in her direction. However, he could not avoid sniffing her lilac perfume. He loved lilacs and looked forward to them blooming in the spring and spreading their sweet smell, but her scent he hated. Why? He knew the answer because her presence made his pulse accelerate. He took a deep breath to calm himself.

  Alex bent his head in prayer, thanking God for the good meal they soon would eat. Reaching for the pot roast, Alex scooped out a hearty helping for himself, passed the plate to his left and then grabbed the bowl to pour some of the gravy over the sizzling meat, carrots, potatoes, and tantalizing onions. He put a forkful of the meat and vegetables into his mouth before he chewed and swallowed the substance. As the butler poured the coffee, Alex turned to his guest. “So how did you meet, Opal’s sister?”

  Hugh gulped down the food in his mouth. He relished the pot roast, but the bitter taste came with the mention of Miss Winifred Preston’s name. “We met on the train.” He cleared his throat. “I kind of bumped into her and squished her hat.”

  Opal giggled. “You smashed my sister’s hat?”

  “I’m afraid I did, and my brother and I are quite sorry about that.” He tightened his grip on his fork. The woman next to him grimaced.

  “Is this true, Winifred?” her sister asked. She took another sip of her coffee.

  “Yes, I’m afraid so, and it completely ruined the gift you sent me.” Her eyes bubbled up with tears.

  Scanning her sister’s face, Opal responded. “Don’t you worry about that hat. The important thing is you arrived safely, and it’s good to see you again.”

  “Thanks, Opal,” she muttered. She clutched her hands together underneath the table and stared at her plate. “I do want to add that Hugh made amends for the incident. He purchased me an extravagant blue hat at one of our last stops.”

  “Is that right, Hugh?” Alex chimed in.

  That woman got him in trouble again. Alex wasn’t going to lend him money if he thought Hugh bought expensive gifts. He shifted his attention from his dish to the banker. “Yes, she’s right. I wanted to undo the damage we caused.” He forced the words out.

  ***

  Opal put the children to bed, reading them a Bible story, saying their goodnight prayers, and giving them a kiss. Opal blew out Theodore’s light and closed his door before she stepped into the hallway and descended the stairs.

  Winifred followed her sister. “The children are delightful. I can see how they love you. I – I hope some day to have children, but I’m also a little apprehensive about the process.” They reached the bottom before Opal responded.

  “I am, too. This is the first child I’ll give birth to. Don’t tell Alex, but I’m as frightened as a mouse.”

  “Do – Do you have a problem of mice here?” Winifred gasped.

  “Yes and no.” She laughed then added, “Only when Mr. Theodore decides to bring one inside. I’ve put a stop to it, but I have to be a watchdog constantly for suspicious activity.” Opal released a sudden groan.

  Winifred grasped her sister’s arm. “You alright?”

  “I thought so but I had a sudden pain, right here.” She pointed to her abdomen.

  “Do you think it was something you ate?” Fear rose inside Winifred. Neck muscles tight, she rubbed them.

  “I think I’ll be fine once I get situated in a comfortable chair.”

  Winifred did not know if this would work. She grabbed her sister’s arm and led her toward a plush chair. Her gut told her this could be the beginning of birthing pains. Standing over her, she wondered if she should get Alex, who was conducting business with Hugh in the informal parlor, or stay here and soothe her sister.

  Opal grimaced.

  “Did you have another pain?”

  “Don’t worry, Winifred, I’m sure something disagreed with me.”

  “I’m here if you need me.” She tried to be reassuring. But observing her sister’s facial contortions and the way she cupped her hands over her stomach, Winifred could not see how food could be the culprit. Scooting up a chair next to her sister, Winifred sat down and reached for Opal’s hand.

  “It’s seems a little hot in here. Would you mind opening that window a crack?”

  “Of course not.” Rising to her feet, she scampered to the window and pulled up the sash. The cool-evening air circulated around them. She returned to her chair. Her sister’s ashen face worried her. Everything told her to disrupt Hugh and Alex’s conversation, but she hated to interrupt their talk if by chance it did involve something her sister ate.

  Opal stared at her. “I’m glad you came. God brought you to me at the right time.”

  “It’s wonderful to see you. I missed you.” She paused to force her voice from breaking up, then she added, “You’ve got a beautiful family, and it’s going to be difficult to return to Charles City.”

  “Really? I thought this desolate land would scare you like it did me.”

  “Not at all. You prepared me for what I encountered. Remember those homesick letters you sent last year? I reread every one of them, so I knew what to expect.” Winifred clutched her sister’s hand tighter as Opal released a loud groan.

  Winifred pulled her hand away and shot to her feet. “I really believe I should get Alex.”

  “Oh no, I’m fine. Really, I am. Please sit back down.” Opal gripped her hands on the chair’s arms.

  Oh God, what should I do? I don’t want to go against my sister’s wishes. Winifred shifted her feet from one to another. Opal clamped her teeth together but her pained face said it all. “I’m sorry, Opal, but I’ve got to get Alex. He – He needs to get the doctor.” As Winifred dashed toward the informal parlor, her sister’s pleas not to leave her side echoed after her. Oh why did I have to make this decision? Without knocking, she swung the door open to Hugh’s words: “That hat put me in the hole.”

  Why, you’re the one who insisted on purchasing that bonnet! Winifred bristled.

  Hugh turned to her from his seat in front of Alex’s desk. Hugh’s penetrating gaze scanned her countenance. He gave her a timid smile.

  She jerked her attention from him to Alex, who sat in front of Hugh. Clearing her throat, she faced her brother-in-law and gulped, “Opal is hurting. I think the baby’s coming.”

  Alex glanced up from the accounting book on his desk. He jumped to his feet, his hand striking the book. It clunked to the floor. Glimpsing to Hugh, he said, “Don’t worry. We’ll continue our conversation later.”

  Hugh nodded.

  “She’s in the formal parlor,” Winifred stated as Alex scooted around her and hastened from the room.

  ***

  Hugh stared at Winifred’s pale complexion. She avoided his gaze. Her body trembled. He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong, but before he could get out a syllable, she bolted from the room. Either Winifred’s behavior was in regard to her sister’s condition or it was due to his words about that hat. He shook his head. No matter what, he needed to assist Opal. Taking a long breath, he rushed to the formal parlor, finding Alex bent over his wife.

  Alex glimpsed toward Hugh. “What should I do?”

  “I think you should stay here and take care of your wife.”

  “Agreed. But we need to get a doctor.”

  Hugh nodded. But how would they do this? H
e rested his palm on his forehead a moment to think. After a moment, he smiled. “Perhaps Mr. Crowley could direct me to the doctor’s office, and you and Miss Winifred Preston could take care of – of the situation in case something develops while we’re gone.”

  “Good idea. Tell Mr. Crowley to hitch up the horses, and there’s a lantern in the barn which you can use to show you the way to town.” He just finished this sentence when Opal gave a high-pitched cry.

  Get the butler. Hugh ran to the kitchen and entered. Mr. Crowley had his hand on the kitchen’s pump. He pulled his hand away, spun around and gazed at Hugh. “Yes, sir?”

  “Opal is about to have that baby.”

  “I thought so. That’s why I got the teapot ready to boil.” He hurriedly pumped water into the kettle, which sat in the sink, placed the teakettle on a burner, and started the stove. Returning his attention to Hugh, he said, “I’ll get the horses harnessed, if you don’t mind, while you tell everyone to watch that teapot. They’ll need hot water to wash hands and clean up the baby.”

  “Sounds like you’re familiar with this.”

  “Yes sir, helped deliver nine babies when I was the butler for the Ramseys many years ago.” He grinned. “They had twelve children.” He grabbed his frock coat off the hook and dashed toward the back door. “You’ll need a coat and, I believe, there’s another one in the formal parlor. September nights can become cool around here.” He slammed the door behind him.

  Hugh returned to the parlor. Stunned. His brow wrinkled at the empty room. Where did they go? A series of moans drifted down from the upstairs. Oh, they were up there. Forgetting about the coat, Hugh took two steps at a time to reach the second-floor landing. Another groan. It came from the first bedroom on the right. Hugh rushed inside. Winifred leaned over her sister as she unfastened Opal’s boots. Alex stood next to them. Hugh faced his host. “I’m sorry to disturb you, but water is boiling in the kitchen to help with this – this matter.”