Annie's Chance (Mail-Order Brides Of Prairie Meadow 3) Read online

  Nodding at Annie, he added, “And Miss Sampson has agreed to stay on to help out here as long as you need her.”

  Emily looked at the two with tears in her eyes. “I don’t know how to thank both of you.”

  Annie smiled and said, “I told you I didn’t want to leave. Now you won’t be able to get rid of me for a long while.”

  “All right Emily. I’m going to head out now and let the men know what happened,” said Jed with a tip of his hat.

  “I think I should stay here with Emily for now,” said Annie with a worried glance at her. Now that the news had sunk in, Emily looked to be on the verge of collapse. “We need to get you to bed, Emily.”

  Looking over at Jed, Annie asked, “Can you bring the stew along with you for the men’s supper? It’s been simmering most of the day so it’s ready.”

  Jed agreed and started putting the huge kettle of food into the back of the wagon along with bread and a few other things.

  With Emily safely back in bed. Annie came outside to see Jed off. He told Annie to let Emily know that he would be by the next morning to check on things and see if she needed anything else.

  “Thank you again for all you did today, Mr. Nickels. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Annie said.

  “You don’t have to thank me, Miss Sampson. It’s what friends do for each other,” Jed replied with a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Annie stood outside, watching until Jed’s wagon disappeared in the distance. Despite everything that had happened today, she felt content. And she couldn’t help looking forward to seeing Jed again the next day. They had been a good team today.

  Jed was having much the same thoughts as he made his way back to his own farm.

  Chapter 10

  As promised Jed arrived early the next morning driving Annie’s wagon filled with the supplies she’d picked up in town the previous day. One of the men had followed in another wagon to take care of chores and bring Jed back to the crew.

  Annie had insisted that Emily stay in bed to rest up. In truth she was happy to do so. Henry’s accident had taken a lot out of her.

  Jed talked to Annie about the arrangements for the next few days. They decided that it would be best if one of the men came to pick up the meals that Annie prepared. That way Emily wouldn’t be left on her own, and once Henry came home, he would need lots of help anyway. Jed promised to come by each evening to talk things over with Emily, and with Henry once he came back home.

  Some time after Jed left, Annie got started on the midday meal and then went to unload the wagon. After carrying everything in, she noticed the mail. She hadn’t taken the time to even glance at it the day before. There were two letters for Emily and Henry, and two for her as well.

  She laid the mail aside until later since she still had to pick some vegetables from the garden, and besides, Emily was napping. The day passed in a flurry of activity. She had barely gotten the noon meal ready when one of the men arrived to pick it up. Annie wasted no time in getting supper bubbling on the fire. She also had to bake a few pies for dessert. No doubt the men would be expecting it since they’d had to do without yesterday and at noon today.

  The afternoon sped by. When one of the crew members arrived to pick up the evening meal, Annie breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t stopped all day. After she and Emily had supper, Annie suddenly remembered the mail. She went to retrieve the envelopes. Emily was delighted to receive letters from her mother and sister.

  Annie decided to save hers until she had cleaned up after supper. One letter was from her good friend Margie, but the other had no return address. Curious she opened that one first. After reading it, she inhaled sharply and dropped it on the floor as if it had burnt her fingers.

  Emily looked up in alarm and asked, “What is it Annie?”

  “Oh no, this can’t be happening!” Looking horrified she said, “It’s my father. He’s coming out here to bring me back home. He found out that I never married and he’s determined that I’m going to go back home with him. He said that old Mr. Wagner still wants to marry me.”

  Annie got up and started pacing. “What am I going to do, Emily? I can’t go back there.”

  Just then they heard the sound of hooves. Looking out the window, Annie saw that Jed had arrived.

  “You can’t say anything to him, Emily. Promise me!”

  Reluctantly, Emily said, “If that’s what you want, Annie. I won’t say anything.”

  As Jed was coming in, Annie brushed by him and rushed off towards the garden. She had to think.

  Bewildered, Jed turned back to Emily and asked, “Was it something I did?”

  “No, Jed, nothing like that,” Emily replied. She hesitated and added, “Annie got some upsetting news from home.”

  The next few days passed quickly. Johnny rode out at Dr. Roberts’ request to let Emily know that Henry was almost ready to come home. He’d been at Dr. Roberts’ house for close to a week and she couldn’t wait to see him. Jed and Annie were going to go into town to bring him home in a couple of days. Jed would drive the wagon while Annie would sit in back with Henry to keep him comfortable.

  Annie had been very quiet since she’d gotten the letter from her father. As they drove into town to get Henry, Annie was deep in thought.

  Jed kept glancing over at her, concerned, and finally asked, “Is there anything I can do, Miss Sampson? I don’t mean to be nosy but you’ve been awfully quiet the past few days. Is something bothering you?”

  Startled, Annie said, “Oh, I’m sorry for being rude Mr. Nickels. But I’m not sure there’s anything anyone can do. When you changed your mind about marrying me, I told you I didn’t want to go back home. Well, it looks like home is coming to me.”

  Mystified, Jed said, “I’m not sure I understand, Miss Sampson.”

  “My father is arriving soon and he means to take me back home with him.” Stricken, Annie looked over at Jed and said almost in a whisper, “I can’t go back. I just can’t.”

  “But surely he can’t force you to go back if you don’t want to?”

  “You don’t know my father Mr. Nickels.”

  Annie lapsed into silence after that and Jed didn’t interrupt her again. But what she’d said troubled him.

  Henry looked a lot better than he had when Jed and Annie had brought him to Dr. Roberts and he said he was feeling a whole lot better too.

  “I can’t wait to get back home and see Emily. How has she been since I’ve been gone?” he asked anxiously.

  Annie smiled and said, “She’s caught up on her rest that’s for sure. She’s spent a lot of time in bed resting up so she can be ready for your return.”

  Dr. Roberts shook hands with Henry and told him he’d be out in a day or two to check up on him. “I don’t want to hear that you’ve been out of that house either,” he scolded. “You need to give yourself time to recover.”

  “Thanks for everything Doc. I hear you. I don’t think I’d have the energy to move around much yet anyway,” he chuckled.

  With Emily in back to keep Henry from getting jostled, Jed turned the wagon around and headed for Henry’s farm. As they were leaving town, the train arrived. There seemed to be some kind of commotion on the platform, but they were too far away to see anything. In the back of Emily’s mind though, she wondered if her father was the reason for that commotion.

  Jed drove slowly to make the ride as smooth as possible. Even so, by the time they arrived at Henry’s place, it was obvious that he was in some pain.

  Emily rushed out and tearfully hugged Henry and then went to hold the door open while Jed and Annie helped Henry get inside. They made straight for the bedroom where Henry gratefully laid down. Emily covered him up and then sat on a chair beside him. Jed and Annie hadn’t even left the room before Henry was asleep.

  Annie hurried to gather the food for the men for supper and helped Jed load up his wagon.

  “Do you need help with anything before I leave,” Jed asked Annie
.

  “No, I think we’re okay for tonight. Will you come by in the morning to check, though?” Annie asked.

  “Sure, I can do that. I’ll take care of the chores in the morning instead of sending one of the men over.” Jed tipped his hat. “ See you tomorrow then, Miss Sampson.”

  After Jed left, Annie peeked into Henry’s room to see if he or Emily needed anything. Emily had crawled up on the bed beside Henry and was fast asleep, so Annie quietly closed the door and went back to the kitchen.

  What she’d seen at the train station played on her mind. She had a bad feeling that it involved her daddy. With her stomach in knots, she needed comfort so she grabbed her mama’s Bible, then poured herself a cup of coffee and went outside. She knew she was going to have a fight on her hands when her father found out where she was. Opening up the Bible she read a few passages from Psalms and thought about how much she missed her mama.

  Annie slept fitfully. She was happy to launch herself into the day in order to stop thinking. Following Dr. Roberts’ instructions, Henry was going to be staying in bed for a few days. Annie brought a breakfast tray in for him and Emily to share. Jed arrived a short time later and went to talk to Henry to bring him up to date on what had been happening while he was out of commission.

  Annie stayed busy getting bread baked, pies made and the noon meal ready for the men. It was quiet with Emily spending the day with Henry, so Annie was very aware of every little sound. She half expected her daddy to show up that very day, but he didn’t.

  Nor did he come out the next day. Annie was just beginning to relax and think that she had been mistaken about her father having arrived. The train from Philadelphia only came through Prairie Siding once a week, so maybe he wouldn’t get here until next week.

  That hope was dashed when a familiar voice boomed across the room.

  “Well, well, lookie who I found.”

  Annie dropped the bread pan on the floor and backed up until her back was against the counter.

  Emily came hurrying into the kitchen. She looked from Annie to the man in the doorway.

  “And who might you be sir?” Emily demanded.

  The man took off his hat and said, “Beg your pardon Ma’am. Why I’m Annie’s daddy.”

  Annie still had not said a word.

  “Ain’t ya going to introduce us, Annie?” he smiled.

  “So it was you who caused that big ruckus at the train station the other day,” Annie said flatly.

  “Just a little misunderstanding, that’s all. But it’s all cleared up now. When I told the sheriff who I’d come to see, he let me out. As long as I’m on the next train back to Philadelphia, he’ll forget everything.”

  Walking over to Emily, he stuck his hand out and said, “I’m Tom Sampson, Ma’am. You’ll have to excuse my daughter. It appears she’s forgotten her manners.”

  Emily reluctantly shook his hand and said, “Emily Parker. Won’t you sit down Mr. Sampson?”

  “Why thank you Ma’am. That’s right neighborly of ya. Annie and I have a few things to discuss,” he said looking over at Annie. “Don’t we Annie?”

  With gritted teeth, Annie said, “I have nothing to say to you, Daddy.”

  “That might be the case, but I have a few things to say to you,” he replied. “It’d be best if we talked in private,” he added, looking over at Emily meaningfully.

  Emily stared back at him and then asked Annie if that was all right with her.

  Annie sighed and said, “It’s probably best if Daddy and I talk on our own.”

  As Emily left the room, she said, “Just call out if you need anything, Annie.”

  “Well ain’t this cozy,” her father said nastily, once Emily had left the room. “Here you go and sneak off to get married, but I don’t see no husband.”

  Annie stuck her chin up. “No I didn’t end up getting married, but then you already know that.”

  “Well then, there’s no reason why you need to stay on here any longer. You can come back home with me and marry old man Wagner like you was supposed to in the first place.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you. I like it here and I plan on staying.”

  “Oh no you’re not,” Tom said loudly pounding his fist on the table. “I’m your daddy and you’re going to do what I say. Legally you’re still mine.”

  Tom got up and started pacing.

  “You almost got me killed by up and leaving me in the lurch like that. I made a promise to old man Wagner and when you took off, well let’s just say he reminded me of my promise. I owe him and I intend to pay him. And that’s where you come in.”

  Annie paled. “Do you really expect me to marry that old man just to pay off your gambling debts?” she asked incredulously.

  Her daddy stopped pacing and sat down beside Annie. He looked down at the floor.

  “I know I’ve made a real mess of things and since your mama died I haven’t been much of a father to you,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry to have to do this to you Annie, but if you don’t come back with me, he’ll kill me. “

  Looking up at her he added, “My life is in your hands girl.”

  Annie was silent for a few moments as she thought about what he’d said. Even though he was a sorry excuse for a father, Tom Sampson was still her daddy and he was all the family she had. She knew she couldn’t live with herself if anything happened to him because she refused to help.

  “All right, I’ll come back with you,” she said with tears in her eyes.

  When Tom tried to hug her, she backed away.

  “I’ll do it, but it has to be on my terms,” she said.

  “Sure, whatever you want Annie, honey,” Tom replied.

  “First, I can’t up and leave Emily and Henry without anyone to help them. You’re going to have to postpone our trip home for a week or two so they can get a replacement.”

  “All right, I’ll send Wagner a telegram to let him know about the change in plans. What else?”

  “Second, I don’t want to see you again until it’s time for us to get on that train,” she said flatly. “I’ll meet you in town to buy the tickets, the night before we’re going to leave.”

  “Where am I supposed to stay until then?” her father protested.

  “That’s not my problem. Sort it out for yourself,” Annie replied.

  Her daddy looked at her and nodded.

  “So I have your word that you’ll be at the station on time.”

  “Yes, you do,” Annie replied coldly. “Now please leave.”

  Sometime later, Emily came into the kitchen. Annie was still sitting where she’d been when Tom left. She looked up when she heard Emily come in. The look of despair on Annie’s face said it all. Emily walked over and gathered her into her arms and let her cry.

  Later Annie explained what she was going to do.

  “You know you don’t have to leave Annie. Henry and I feel like you’re part of our family. You can stay with us for as long as you want to,” Emily said.

  Annie looked at Emily with grateful eyes. “It means everything to hear you say that Emily. With all my heart I want to stay.”

  Fresh tears sprang to her eyes. “But I can’t turn my back on my daddy.”

  The two women sat together long into the night, each thinking their own thoughts.

  Chapter 11

  The next ten days passed far too quickly. It was hard for Annie to pretend that everything was fine when she talked to Jed. She realized just how much she was going to miss him. Even though they had never married, she and Jed had become good friends. She was really going to miss their conversations. Jed had even been hinting lately that he might not sell off his parents’ farm and move away after all.

  Annie had asked that Emily not tell Jed what she was doing. Leaving was going to be hard enough. But she didn’t want him to feel that any of this was his fault.

  The day before she was due to go back to Philadelphia with her father, Annie said her tearful farewells to Emily and Henry. A
distant cousin had been persuaded to come and stay with them until Henry was up and about, and the baby arrived.

  “I’m going to miss you both so much. Be sure and write to me when the baby comes. I can’t wait to hear whether you have a boy or girl. Thank you for everything,” Annie said with the tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Emily was so upset she could only hug Annie tightly. “Take care of yourself, Annie.”

  Johnny had come to bring Annie back to town. She was going to stay with Mrs. Gregson one last time. She was another person Annie was going to miss. She turned and waved sadly one last time, looking back until the farmhouse and Emily were out of sight. Johnny could sense that she didn’t want to talk so he was quiet on the way back to town, only saying as he helped her down from the wagon. “It’s been a real pleasure meeting you, Miss Sampson. Best of luck to ya.”

  Her father was standing in the doorway of the saloon. He nodded at her but kept his distance as he’d promised. Relieved that she was keeping her promise, he went back inside and ordered another mug of beer.

  Jed looked forward to his conversations with Annie every evening. They had gotten into the habit of having a cup of coffee together on the porch after he spoke to Henry. So he was expecting to do the same thing when he arrived that night.

  He was shocked to discover that Annie wasn’t there. He badgered Emily until she finally told him what was going on.

  “I guess it can’t hurt to tell you now,” she said.

  Jed was shocked to hear the reason for Annie not being there. He sat there stunned, covering his face with his hands.

  Finally he looked up at Emily and said, “I’ve been such a fool Emily. I’ve let the best thing that ever happened to me walk right out of my life. All because I was too stubborn to admit how much she meant to me.”

  Emily put a hand on his arm. When he looked up she said, “Maybe it’s not too late.”

  “What do you mean Emily?”

  “Well Jed. She doesn’t get on that train until tomorrow at noon. Why not go and talk to her and tell her how you feel?”