Romancing Adrienne Read online

  So how am I going to get Adrienne and Clark together? he wondered, forcing his thoughts back to his play. He didn’t have long to make his plan work. He would be gone in a month. He wondered if he could talk her into going out to the Howard farm. It would be nice if she could get Bonnie and Trudy off his back for a day. They were unbearable with their constant attention and hinting with him that he should marry one of them and take her with him to New York. He gagged. Like that will ever happen.

  He went to sleep before he came up with an idea to get Adrienne to go to the Howard farm with him. When he woke up, an idea occurred to him. Bonnie and Trudy wanted to impress him. If he took Adrienne out there to teach them how to cook, perhaps she would spend some time with Clark during lunch. Trevor wasn’t sure how he was going to talk her into it, so he decided he would go with the conversation at the breakfast table and work his way into the topic.

  He dressed in typical farm clothes: a plaid dark blue and green shirt, brown slacks, and brown boots. He would wear his hat once he was outside. Entering the dining room, he greeted Mr. Gallows.

  “The women will be bringing breakfast out in a minute,” the old man informed him. “Adrienne wanted to learn how to make waffles. She’s quite amazing. It’s like she can’t learn how to cook recipes fast enough. I don’t know how she keeps all the foods straight in her mind. She must have an excellent memory.”

  “She is an outstanding cook,” he admitted. He didn’t particularly enjoy complimenting someone who intentionally put down his work but he had to give credit where credit was due.

  “Mrs. Gallows and I just learned that our oldest daughter is expecting her first child in a couple of weeks.”

  “Congratulations. I bet you’re excited.”

  “We can’t wait. This will be our first grandchild.”

  Mrs. Gallows and Adrienne came out of the kitchen carrying a plate full of fresh waffles and sausage. He noted that Adrienne looked especially nice in the purple dress with small white polka dots on it and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Clark will be pleased.

  “Adrienne, we’re going to miss your fine cooking when you leave,” Mr. Gallows told her.

  Adrienne blushed. “Thank you,” she smiled as she sat down. “You and your wife have been most kind to me.”

  He marveled that she could be pleasant to other people. As long as they’re not me, she’s nice.

  “Will you be working at the restaurant today?” Mrs. Gallows asked her.

  “No,” she replied. “Mr. Owen only wants me there during the weekdays when the customers come into town to work.”

  Perfect. Trevor sat up straight and cleared his throat. “Do you remember Bonnie and Trudy Howard?”

  Adrienne’s eyes grew wide in surprise. Apparently, she hadn’t expected him to speak to her.

  “I introduced her to them,” Mrs. Gallows inserted.

  “Well, they want to learn how to cook, and I can’t think of a better person to teach them than Adrienne. What do you think, Adrienne? Are you up for the challenge?”

  She looked uneasy. “I don’t know. They don’t seem like the kind of women I naturally get along with.”

  “But you’re a great cook. They need a lot of help.”

  “What a wonderful compliment,” Mrs. Gallows said. “I do believe you two may work through your lover’s quarrel after all.”

  He sighed. No matter how many times he tried to make it clear to the Gallows that he and Adrienne were never romantically involved, they refused to listen. “What do you say? Will you join me for a day at the Howard farm so you can help those poor women out?”

  “Why are you so interested in me all of the sudden?”

  He couldn’t tell her that he was interested in her because he was basing one of his characters on her, so he had to come up with another reason. “Bonnie and Trudy can’t cook well. I have to eat what they make when I go out there six days a week. I’m not interested in you. I’m interested in my taste buds.”

  “Oh go ahead,” Mrs. Gallows urged. “I’ve tasted their cooking and he’s right. It’s decent enough but not as good as your cooking.”

  Again, she seemed pleased by the compliment. “I suppose I could. Are they expecting me?”

  “No, but that won’t be a problem. I’ll explain things to them when we get out there.” He knew they were eager to make a good impression for him so they would do whatever he asked them to do. He should have been pleased by such knowledge but he only found it annoying. They only wanted a husband. They weren’t necessarily interested in him.

  “You sure do a lot of good around here,” Mrs. Gallows told her.

  He noticed her smile widen. Every woman likes to be complimented, but it has to be a sincere compliment. Ma was right. Women want to be appreciated. That made perfect sense. Didn’t everyone like to be appreciated? It would be nice if she showed some interest in his writing. Women apparently weren’t the only ones who wanted to be appreciated.

  Chapter Seven

  After breakfast, Mr. Gallows led Trevor and Adrienne to the stable to get their horses.

  “Oh, a horse.” She halted in her tracks.

  They turned to look at her.

  “I never rode a horse before,” she softly explained. “I thought we would walk.”

  “It’s too far of a trip to walk,” Mr. Gallows said.

  “Can we take a buggy?”

  “I’m sorry but the path is too rough. You have to cut through a lot of trees and a hill. The Howard farm is far out of town.”

  “It’s no problem. She can ride with me,” he said. He wasn’t going to let something as unpleasant as riding with her deter him from his work. Sometimes a writer had to suffer for his art.

  She cringed. “I don’t know. Maybe Bonnie and Trudy can come to the inn.”

  He forced himself not to roll his eyes. Was the thought of touching him disturbing to her? It wasn’t enough that she ridiculed his writing but she was also critical of him as a man?

  “They don’t get a chance to come into town much,” Mr. Gallows told her. “That’s why they haven’t found a husband yet. Men don’t go out there.”

  No wonder they’re on me like bees on flowers. Trevor felt a little better knowing this. He really wanted to get them away from him for the day and he wanted to watch her with Clark, so he decided to compliment her, though it pained him to do so after she showed such blatant repulsion of him. “You are the best cook I’ve ever met. I have to endure those women’s cooking for the next month. A month can be a long time to a man’s stomach.”

  She eyed him warily.

  He sighed. “I’m being honest, alright? I wouldn’t tell you I liked something about you if I didn’t mean it.”

  Her expression softened. “I’m sorry. I guess I didn’t expect it coming from you.”

  He felt better. It was the first civil word she spoke to him. He nodded and put the saddle on the horse. “Willow is a good mare,” he told her. “She’s gentle and calm. You don’t have to worry about her bucking you off.”

  “What do you mean by ‘bucking’?” she asked.

  “She won’t throw you off.”

  She hesitated as she stared at the horse. “I didn’t know horses did such things.”

  Despite himself, he grinned at her apprehension. “Don’t worry. She’s a good animal.”

  “I see you two are beginning to get over whatever argument you had.” Mr. Gallows smiled. “It’s nice to see you two getting along again. Perhaps that wedding will happen after all.” He left before they could say anything.

  “Are you telling people that we are courting?” she asked him.

  He couldn’t tell if she was curious or mad. “Of course not. They assume we’re together because you dragged me off the train.”

  “That was an accident.”

  “I know. If you were going to intentionally drag someone with you, you would have picked someone you liked.” He finished getting the horse ready and hopped up on the animal. “Take my hand, put
your foot in the stirrup and hop on. You can sit sideways in front of me. I’ll hold you.”

  She took a deep breath and did as instructed.

  He was surprised that she got up on her first try. He tried to ignore how good she felt in his arms. I’m doing this for the play. I have no interest in her at all. He cleared his throat as he urged the horse forward.

  She gasped and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  He hid his irritation at the thought that it felt even better with her pressing as close against him as she was. He was aware of how nice her body felt against him. Maybe this is a bad idea.

  Before he could talk her into staying behind, she spoke. “I didn’t expect the ride to be so bumpy. Am I hurting you?”

  He smiled at her concern. “No. You’re fine.”

  “I am sorry about knocking you off the train, and I’m sorry about destroying your play.”

  His jaw dropped. He hadn’t expected this.

  “I was trying to get off the train by myself.”

  He suddenly realized that she needed someone to talk to about what happened. Feeling much better now that she had apologized, he was willing to listen to her. “What happened to make you want to run off the train in the middle of nowhere?”

  Willow trotted out of the town and onto the path in the forest that would take them to the Howard farm.

  “Well, almost two weeks ago my father arranged for me to marry a forty-eight year old bachelor who wanted someone to bear his children. I begged my father to let me work, even if it meant I would be a spinster. I didn’t want to marry Mr. Parker, but my father wouldn’t change his mind so my mother arranged for me to leave for New York on the train. I was supposed to meet my aunt who would introduce me to Mrs. Rochester who needs a nanny. After the thieves took our money, I saw my father on the train coming for me, so I ran from him. I didn’t see you in front of the train door. I bumped into you by accident and tripped on the step. I reached out for something to steady my balance, and it turned out that I grabbed you. So when I fell off the train, you went with me.”

  “I hope you don’t mind my saying that the way we ended up falling out of the train was funny, if you think about it.”

  She softly giggled. “I’m sure the image of your papers flying everywhere was just as humorous.”

  “Most likely, it was.” He did see how it might appeal to an audience. Turning serious, he said, “For what it’s worth, I don’t think what your father did was right. No woman should have to marry someone she doesn’t want to be with. I know I wouldn’t want to be stuck with a woman who only wanted me so she could have kids. What kind of life would that be?”

  He felt her relax against him. “I hadn’t considered that neither men nor women want to be used.”

  “Perhaps men and women aren’t so different after all. Sure, we have some things that are different but if you think about it, all people want to love and be loved for who they are.”

  “You’re right.”

  She tightened her grip and gasped as Willow leapt over the stream in the path.

  “Don’t worry. You’re safe with me.”

  “This is a whole new world to me. I must admit that I like it here. For the first time in my life, people are being kind to me because they want to be kind. In San Francisco, people were nice to me to get something from me since I was wealthy. I notice that a lot of men are after a wife for various reasons. Some want to leave behind children to carry on their name, some want someone to cook and clean for them and some want money.”

  “You forgot the other kind.”

  “What’s that?”

  “There are men who want a companion who will walk with them through life, to share the good and bad times. Remember what God said about Adam in the Garden of Eden: He said it wasn’t good for man to be alone so He made Eve to be his friend and lover.” He would have to incorporate that into his romantic comedy. Turning his attention back to her, he asked, “Is that why you’re opposed to marriage, because you think every man around you wants something from you?”

  “I would rather be alone than be in a loveless marriage.”

  “I can see your point.” He paused to express what was deep in his heart but decided to, even if she laughed at him. “I hope I get married. I don’t want to live my life alone. I’m glad God made woman. I’ve seen two of my siblings get happily married and want the same for myself. It gets lonely in the room at the inn. I grew up surrounded by siblings. There was always something fun to do with someone. I want a companion I can share everything in my life with.”

  “You shouldn’t have any trouble with that. You have plenty of admirers in this town already. I’m sure you’ll win a lot of women over in New York too.”

  “She can’t be just anyone. I have to be selective, just like you have to be selective, if you ever decide to give marriage a try.”

  “Oh, I’m not interested in marriage. I’m happy to be where I’m at.”

  “I didn’t think a woman wouldn’t want marriage to the right kind of man. Don’t you want to marry a good man and have children?”

  “I could live without those things just fine as long as I’m the one making those decisions for myself.”

  “I don’t think I could be happy unless I did marry and have children.”

  “So you’re one of those men who want children to leave behind a legacy.”

  He frowned. He thought they were having a good conversation but he didn’t like the direction her thoughts were going. “Children aren’t just a legacy. They are a blessing from the Lord. I love my nephew and niece. I hope to have more of them. But sometimes I get jealous when I hear them call out ‘Pa’ to my brother or brother-in-law. I want a whole bunch of kids to run up to me and call me ‘Pa’.”

  “Just how many is a ‘bunch’?”

  Was she offended? He stiffened. “I always thought a large household is a happy household. The more kids, the better. If my wife and I can’t have kids, then that’s God’s will, but I do hope that God intends for me and her to have about eight or so kids.”

  “Eight?”

  “Well sure. Then we can play lots of games together. I would like them to be closer in age than my siblings were so they can actually grow up together.”

  “Is your wife going to be a baby producer?”

  “Of course not,” he snapped. “I don’t know where you’re getting your ideas from. Didn’t you hear me tell you I want a companion?”

  “Whose sole purpose is to pop out your babies.”

  He shook his head, greatly annoyed. “You’re amazing, you know that. Most women would be thrilled to have a man who wants a woman to be his friend and lover, whom he will be very happy every time she announces she’s pregnant again. There are men out there that consider children to be a burden. Would you rather have one of those?”

  “I wouldn’t want either. I don’t intend to marry. But Trudy and Bonnie told me that they will be very happy to give you lots of children.”

  He gagged. They were nice enough but he had no such attraction for them. “They’re just eager to get married to anyone.”

  “It sounds like you are too.”

  “Give me a break. Didn’t you hear me say that I plan to be selective?”

  “Are we at the farm yet?” She struggled to move away from him, but considering the saddle and horse’s pace, she couldn’t.

  “Almost. We’ll have to bear with one another for the time being,” he grumbled. He was usually a good-natured person, but with her around, he wasn’t pleasant at all.

  They rode the rest of the way in silence. By the time they got off the horse, he breathed a sigh of relief. How could she be so insensitive? He poured his heart out to her and she rejected him. It was worse than when she rejected his writing because now she was rejecting him. He couldn’t stand her. He hoped she would end up with some miserable old coot who would use her.

  He reluctantly helped Adrienne down from the mare, refusing to make eye contact with her. He groaned
when Bonnie and Trudy ran out of the house to greet him.

  “Oh, good morning, Adrienne,” Trudy slowly said. “I thought you said that you and Trevor weren’t together.”

  “We’re not,” he quickly replied. “Where’s Clark?”

  Adrienne shot him a startled look.

  “I work with him in the barn,” he snapped at her.

  “You’d better mean that,” she hissed back. “I don’t need anyone fixing me up with anyone.”

  “You and Clark?” Bonnie asked, laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” she demanded.

  “It’s hard to imagine you with any man. You clearly don’t like them.”

  “If you went through what I did, you would understand. But no one knows what it’s like to be wanted for what I can provide instead of who I am.”

  “You’re not exactly a peach to be with, sweetheart,” he retorted.

  “I hate you,” she spat. “You constantly criticize me and make me out to be a horrible person.”

  He shrugged.

  “I am here to teach you two how to cook,” she told Trudy and Bonnie. “He said that your meals are mediocre.”

  They looked shocked.

  “That was just a ploy to get you out here,” he quickly covered his tracks. “I want them to teach you how to be a nice woman for a change.”

  They snickered at her.

  “You are a sorry excuse for a man,” she huffed before she stormed into the house.

  “No wonder you ended your engagement with her,” Bonnie replied. “She is absolutely dreadful.”

  “And did you see the way she walks? She’s completely unfeminine,” Trudy added. “We’ll see what we can do, Trevor.”

  They followed her into the house. He could hear her banging pots and pans on the counter in the kitchen as he walked past the open window so he could take Willow to the barn.

  No, she’s not completely unfeminine. He had watched her enter the house and hated the fact that he was intrigued by such a simple action. The Howard sisters were nowhere as attractive as she was, and that greatly irritated him.