A Mail-Order Christmas Bride Page 21

  5/19/89 I cannot believe I’m graduating. The entire semester has been like walking in the fog—so much to do. Exams are posted, and I finished Summa Cum Laude! I got myself up and out for the ceremony. I even washed my hair. My hair is so thick, it took several hours to dry and fix, but it was worth it. I am so glad IT’S over. I’ve been thinking about New Mexico more and more.

  Annie wondered what other thoughts Sarah never mentioned. Did she, in fact, become a mail-order bride?

  5/21/89 I was already packed and ready to leave New York when I received a letter from Dean Hutton. My name had been suggested as a tutor for his daughter. Since I had little hope of ever publishing or working at the university level, I felt this was a good opportunity to acquire some experience in teaching so that I might be hired when I returned home. The job will last until the end of September. I said yes.

  Annie sat, lost in thought. She had just read the diary of a young woman whose life was very similar to her own—more than one hundred years in the future. Annie was scholarly, interested in the same area of study as Sarah, and recently had been jilted by someone she had cared about.

  “Sarah! Come join us for dinner, please,” her mother called. Overwhelmed by what she had just read, she had a difficult time adjusting to who she was and where she was.

  “Sarah—er, Annie, please come down,” her mother called again.

  “I’ll get her,” Robert hollered and started bounding up the stairs. He knocked on the door so hard Annie was afraid he’d put his fist through it. His loud knocking shook her out of her deep thoughts and she laughed.

  “Okay, Robert, I’m coming!”

  “Are you decent?” he asked.

  “Yes, I wouldn’t be coming if I wasn’t,” she answered. She opened the door and joined him as they went downstairs.

  Dinner was boisterous and delicious. The same people, minus the doctor, joined them. Adele and Mathew were polite and not demonstrative. Robert was loud and adorable. He had Annie laughing at everything. Mr. and Mrs. Mills talked about the harvest and the help.

  After dinner, Annie insisted on washing the dishes with her mother. Everyone else went into the great room, where Mr. Mills took out a guitar and played some ballads.

  “Honey, did your diary help you recall anything at all? Friends? Teachers? Studies?”

  “No, M-Mother,” Annie stammered. The name was unfamiliar to her lips, but she was determined to fit in here. “I was wondering—what did I want to do with my life?”

  “I don’t understand what you mean by ‘do with your life,’ dear,” her mother responded, confusion in her voice. “You went to college, you’ll probably teach for awhile, and when you meet a nice young man, you’ll become a good wife and mother.”

  Aware that she was in a different time, a different place, and she probably had asked enough questions this evening, Annie just smiled and helped put away the dishes. Maybe she could find out more about “herself” tomorrow. She couldn’t help but wonder what had become of Sarah Mills…Was she somewhere in the future, trying to come to terms with an odd, new existence just as Annie was? There was nothing neither of them could do, Annie thought, but make the best of it.

  ****

  After the first few days, Annie settled in comfortably with the family. She knew the chores that needed to be done on a ranch, and jumped in to help eagerly. Every morning, she found herself wondering if she would wake up in this time she was growing accustomed to, or in the time she’d been born into.

  Life wouldn’t be too bad here if it wasn’t for the lack of a shower and the long skirts she had to wear daily. Though she had riding skirts, she missed her jeans and t-shirts. She ate all her meals with the family, including Mathew, and wondered what her other self ever saw in this sweet young man.

  “Annie, where are you? We’ve been talking to you for the last minute or so.”

  “So sorry, Mother,” she answered.

  “Well, as I was saying, why don’t we invite that lovely Dr. Thomas and his sister out for the weekend? They were so kind to you, Annie, and…he seemed to be interested in you, dear.”

  Annie was caught off-guard, but she quickly responded, “That would be delightful. They were exceptionally kind to me.”

  “I’ll be heading into town with Robert for some grain and some supplies for your mother in the next couple of days or so. What if I stop by and ask them both?” Mr. Mills said.

  Maggie Mills looked at her husband and smiled. “Thank you, John. That would be very nice.” She turned to look at Robert. “Robert Mills, you are to be on your best behavior in town. No shenanigans!”

  Annie looked at Mrs. Mills. Her mind drifted to her studies, and she realized she hadn’t seen any of Sarah’s work or books.

  “Mother, did I send my books and research back home?”

  “Yes, dear. I think we received everything you sent, and it’s all in the study. Some boxes arrived right away, while others arrived just before you did. I hope everything is there.”

  “I’ll check tomorrow—if you don’t need me to do anything on the ranch,” Annie added quickly. “I’m a little curious to see what I studied.”

  “Go right ahead, Annie. We won’t need you. Adele can help you sort and organize your schoolwork,” her father said. Annie looked over at Adele and caught her rolling her eyes.

  “Father, tomorrow Mathew and I were going to ride the south canyon and look for strays.” Adele turned her head toward Annie. “Do you really need help just looking at books and stuff?” she asked, rather curtly.

  “No, I’ll be just fine,” Annie responded with a smile, glad her sister wouldn’t be around, and hoping the relief wasn’t evident in her face. “I would rather go through everything thoroughly and take my time. I’m sure that would be boring for anyone else,” she quickly added, hoping that no one would be around when she unpacked the books and any letters she may have written and received. Then, she remembered the earlier conversation about asking the Thomas siblings for dinner. “When will you be going to town, Father?”

  “Most likely, the day after tomorrow, Wednesday.”

  “That will give them enough time to plan. Mother, you and I will need to start thinking about what to serve.”

  “Annie, I haven’t ever seen you this excited about planning a meal. I think that makes me as happy as anything ever could. Yes, let’s start deciding what to serve.”

  Annie walked over to this kind woman who cared so much for others and gave her a hug. As she left the room, she heard Mathew, Adele, and her father discussing the allocation of tasks and jobs to be done by the hands.

  ****

  The next day, Annie entered the study for the first time. She had been so overwhelmed at working and learning about a nineteenth-century ranch, she hadn’t had the time to explore the house thoroughly. Though it wasn’t large, she hadn’t seen every room—besides, she still didn’t feel that it was her home.

  Now, she sat happily at a small table with ink and pens and some stationery. The room was bright, catching the morning light through its large, deeply inset window. The walls were plastered adobe, with insets and ledges for plants and figurines. The thick walls were cool for summer and warm for winter.

  The room was large by pioneer standards. In it was a large desk belonging to her father, the table where she sat, and some bookcases. In the bookcases were almanacs, a family Bible, and some volumes of classics. As there was no local store selling books in Albuquerque, these books must have come west with the Mills family, or been ordered. The titles were Little Women, The Count of Monte Cristo, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, and Les Miserables. In the corner was Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon, and Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea.

  Annie picked up several of the books and found her name in all but one of them. Robert claimed Journey to the Center of the Earth. Somehow, she found the fact that the nineteenth-century Annie read science fiction reassuring. Maybe her transition into the later times
would be less traumatic, knowing that science could make the impossible possible.

  She settled herself at the table and unpacked one wooden crate after the other. She smiled as she found references to letters and articles duplicate to her own line of study. However, gathering all this information, and requesting articles, letters, and speeches from their original sources must have been time-consuming and frustrating. In addition to researching and acquiring all the information, Sarah then must have had to copy everything by hand.

  Annie silently thanked goodness for the conveniences her university had afforded her: its computers and its organized collection of periodicals, microfilm, and microfiche. In her own time, many sources of information and data had been available that students from 1889 never even dreamed of, of course.

  She found Sarah’s examinations from the past four years, neatly tied together. As she read the papers from her doppelganger, she felt as if she were reading her own research—with similar sources and a similar style of writing. How bizarre… But then again, being shuttled back in time over one hundred years was bizarre, too.

  Annie found a stack of letters from the family from the past year tied with a bow. Most of them were from Sarah’s mother, though a few were from her siblings and her father. Only two letters were from Mathew. They were impersonal and held information about the ranch: new horses, sick cattle, and the weather. The dreaded letter from Missy was not there. Had she received it and thrown it away? Or had she never received it at all, since there was no comment in her diary?

  She couldn’t bring herself to read the other letters. She felt guilty after reading the diary and violating Sarah’s personal thoughts. Reading her private correspondence was unnecessary right now. Maybe later they could provide some insight. She found nothing more on becoming a mail-order bride, so she sighed a breath of relief and continued to read the four years of research packed in the crates.

  Annie took a break for lunch and used the outdoor facilities. She then went back immediately into the study to delve into her research. By dinner, she had examined each of the boxes of information, and she rose slowly to dine with the family, who were all just coming in from chores.

  Adele and Mathew were dirty and tired after spending the day rounding up strays, but both were in good humor. Mr. Mills and Robert had spent the day making repairs on the barn for the upcoming winter. Dinner was hot and tasty—beef stew, with green chili peppers and corn bread.

  “Sar—um, Annie, you had mentioned that you wanted to discuss dinner with the Thomases. Maybe we should do that now so that we can make a list for your father to take to town.”

  Annie looked up from her plate. “Yes. What do you suggest?”

  “I’d really like some fried chicken with some mashed potatoes,” Robert suggested.

  “I don’t remember asking you, Robert,” Mrs. Mills responded, trying to hide her smile. “But that’s not a bad idea. How about fried chicken, calabacitas, and apple pie for dessert, Annie?”

  “I’d like that very much. I can make the calabacitas, but I need to watch how you make everything else,” Annie replied.

  “We’ll make a list of items for your father, and we’ll have a couple of days to discuss cooking and baking. Adele, would you like to join us? It’s time you learned how to cook and bake, too. You will be somebody’s wife, soon.” She gave her younger daughter a wink.

  “No, thank you, Mother. I feel pretty confident about cooking and baking. I’ve watched and helped while Annie had her nose in a book.” She turned and smiled at Annie to show she had no hard feelings. “But, I’ll stay close and help around the house.”

  “Glad to know my fiancée can cook, Mrs. Mills. I’ve been wondering,” Mathew teased as he looked over at Adele. “Please make sure she knows how to whip up those great shortcakes you make on Sundays!”

  Adele cuffed him lightly with a smile on her face.

  Again, Annie sighed with relief. She would not have been happy with this handsome cowboy who only had eyes for Adele. Sometimes, life worked in mysterious ways.

  When dinner was over, Annie and her mother cleared the table and washed the dishes. Then, they sat down and relaxed with a cup of coffee and some cookies left over from dinner.

  “Sa—Annie…is this a friendly dinner invitation, or…are you interested in the doctor for personal reasons beyond friendship?” Mrs. Mills asked. She looked closely at her daughter for her response.

  Annie wasn’t sure how to answer. After her experience with Josh…she wanted to be careful. But oh, Drystan had the most beautiful eyes, the most sincere way of looking at her…She thought a moment and then answered the best way she knew how. “I really don’t know. So much has happened in only a few weeks. However, it would be nice to see the first people I met after my accident. They were so kind to me. I just want to repay them, some way, for the care they gave me.”

  Mrs. Mills looked at her daughter skeptically. “All right. I just want you to know that I’m not opposed to romance in your life…only, that I’m not sure you’re ready for something in that respect. At least, not until you get your memory back.”

  “Mrs. Mi—I’m sorry. Mother, am I very different than how I was before the accident? Have I changed drastically?” Annie asked.

  “Actually, yes—you’ve always enjoyed reading and being alone, except for your rides with Mathew, but we could see that he was no longer holding your interest. Annie, you’ve always been—how shall I say this? A bit of a loner.” She stopped, and tears filled her eyes. “But I’m just so concerned. I’ve never heard of amnesia, and now here you are, my oldest child—not even remembering me—” She broke down and cried, her hands over her face.

  Annie let her cry out the frustration and sadness. Then, she put her arms around this special woman who had held back her own grief and fears, and hugged her. Mrs. Mills sighed, pulled back and wiped her eyes.

  “I’m so sorry to cause you so much grief,” Annie said. “Selfish me, I hadn’t even thought about how you would feel…Mother. Regarding our relationship, yours and mine, I have to say, if there was any mother in the world I could choose, I would choose you.” Annie looked at this woman and realized how lucky she was to have a second chance at having parents.

  But what about the other Sarah? She would awake in a strange world alone, without the family she loved so dearly. Annie knew that she was the lucky one, not the other Sarah, who must have taken her place in the future.

  ****

  Wednesday evening, Mr. Mills and Robert arrived home with the wagon filled with sacks of feed, apples, flour, and sugar as well as other goods. Everyone came out to help unload it. Annie found Robert to be particularly quiet and helpful. No jokes, no excuses—just helpful and quiet. She noticed that their mother had picked up on it, as well.

  When Mrs. Mills approached her husband, she subtly pointed to Robert with an inquiring expression. Her husband looked at her and broke out in a grin. “Honey, your son is all right. He’s just in love. The Thomases are coming to dinner Saturday, and I think Robert has his own plans for the evening—courting the lovely Miss Thomas.”

  Annie and Mrs. Mills both laughed. Robert, in love. “Well,” Annie said, relieved, “that’s one way to keep him quiet!” This time, they all laughed. Annie felt more like a part of the family at this moment than she had ever felt before.

  If this only lasts for the next few days or months, I’ll be the richer for having been part of this family—for a little while. She had been lonelier than she realized.

  The plan was that if Dr. Thomas could get away on Friday, they would leave about noon and stop at the Ortara family’s home on their way. Mrs. Otara was expecting her first child. If all was well, they would be at the Mills’ family homestead by mid- to late-afternoon, around four o’clock.

  They would stay for dinner and spend the night. The next day, they would go for a ride and picnic, stay another night, and after breakfast, leave for home.

  Both Annie and Robert were getting more excited
as the day and time of the Thomases’ arrival came closer. Adele and Mathew watched the siblings, and teased them. As for Annie and Robert, they just smiled back and let no amount of teasing overshadow their enthusiasm.

  Saturday finally arrived, and Robert worked on cleaning out the tack room with his father while Annie and Adele helped their mother in the kitchen. They had spent the morning learning the fine points of making crust, used for so many foods besides fruit pies. Adele watched and tried it; Annie watched, took notes, made her own crust, and then added more information to her notes.

  “Annie, you know you’re not going to be tested on the pie crust.” Adele snorted. “Can’t you just relax and do something without writing a book about it?”

  Annie looked at her, not sure how to respond. How would Sarah have responded? “You’re right, of course, Adele. But people learn differently. You do great by just watching and doing. I need to watch, do it, and then write it down to reinforce the information.”

  Adele just shrugged and then turned toward their mother. “What’s next, Mother?”

  “How about the chicken, girls? Freshly killed and cleaned this morning. Adele, get the cleaving knife and let’s cut the chickens into pieces, ready for frying.” She then got out the rest of the ingredients, the huge skillet she used for just about everything, and the lard for frying. They all worked on the meal together. They broke about noon to serve a lunch of sandwiches and fruit. They cleaned up, set the table, and decided a good wash would help them all feel better. Luckily, the biscuits wouldn’t be cooked until the guests had arrived, so they vacated the kitchen for the washing room where a huge cook stove sat. The water pump, as in the kitchen’s, came directly into the washing room.