Anna_Bride of Alabama Read online

  Franklin guided the horse around a circular drive and pulled on the reins once they reached the platform made for passengers in the carriage to get in and out. When he pressed the foot break on the Surrey, she stared at him, confused. “Am I to meet the owners of the main house first?”

  For a man so old, Franklin was swift of foot. He jumped to the platform, then down to the ground, and held up a hand to help her from the Surrey, the smile on his face one of mischief.

  “This way, Miss Anna. All will be clear in a few moments.”

  Anna let him help her to the ground and stood staring at the massive home in front of her as Franklin grabbed her bag. Her curiosity was getting the better of her and her desire to see what lay behind those double doors led her up the steps with little complaint.

  She would be the first to admit her new adventure hadn’t thrilled her to begin with. The arrangement was made out of necessity. The thought of trusting her life with a complete stranger was terrifying but she’d had little choice given the circumstances. Her initial fear had diminished somewhat. Franklin had put her at ease on the trip from town by telling her of the homes they passed and a bit of the history in this region of the country. She’d seen very little of this strange place she’d be living but so far it had been one small surprise after another.

  Franklin escorted her up the steps leading to the porch. She soon realized looks were deceiving. What had appeared so pristine from the road was anything but. The yellow paint on the house was chipping. The shutters were broken in places and the white chairs were covered in dirt. Grass and leaves littered the porch and those images she’d had of a southern lady entertaining guests died in an instant.

  The double doors opened with a creak and Anna stopped on the top step as a woman nearly as old as Franklin appeared, her apron covered in bits of flour and dough. “Well come on in. I ain’t got all day.”

  Franklin laughed under his breath. “Don’t pay her no mind. She was born cranky and age has only exasperated her ill mood.”

  “I can hear you, old man.”

  “I know you can, Ruthie.” Franklin laid a hand on her elbow. “This way, Miss Anna.” He shut the door behind them. “That there is Ruth, my wife,” he said as they followed her down a long corridor deeper into the house. “You need anything she’ll be the one to get it for you.”

  Ruth stopped at a door halfway down the hall and turned to look at her, arms crossed over her stomach. Her gaze ran the length of her from head to toe then back up again. She gave a series of slow nods, a look of concentration on her face before standing her full height. “I think she’ll do nicely.” She put a hand on the doorknob but paused before opening it. “Miss Julia stepped out but she’ll be along shortly. You can wait here in the parlor. I’ll brew up some tea for ya.”

  Anna stepped threw the doorway and stopped once she made it to the center of the room. Like the outside of the house, the opulence she was expecting wasn’t there. It was as if the light had been dimmed in the house and the darkness that lurked in the corners spread to every surface. The rich tapestry furnishing seemed dull. There wasn’t any dust that she could see but something was off.

  She turned to Ruth, the look on the woman’s face telling her she knew what she was feeling. Anna smiled to put the woman at ease. “Thank you, Ruth. Tea would be nice.” She looked around the room. “I’ll admit to being a bit weary from my trip and more than a little confused.”

  “Confused? About what, dear?”

  Anna turned to face her again. “Well, why I’m meeting my groom here? Does he work for the owner of the house?”

  Ruth raised an eyebrow and shot a quick glance to Franklin. He stood by the door watching them both. “I’m not sure I follow,” Ruth said. “Where else would you meet Mr. Montgomery?”

  “In our own home, perhaps.”

  Ruth stared at her long moments before throwing another glance at Franklin. The man cleared his throat and took a step into the room. “This is to be your home, Miss Anna.”

  Anna’s heart thumped inside her chest so hard she raised a hand to hold it still. “I think there’s been a mistake,” she said, her eyes widening as she took in the room again.

  “How so?”

  “Well, this is all wrong.” She dug into her reticule for the letter she’d received, opening those crinkled papers again and scanning the text. “It says here my groom owns a modest home and income.” She glanced around the room again. “There isn’t anything modest about this home.”

  “Depends on who you ask, I suppose.” Franklin blushed then shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t fret Miss Anna. Every thing will be fine. Once Julia gets back she’ll explain everything for you.”

  Anna had no choice but to accept the explanation. Franklin and Ruth left her in the parlor with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company. She didn’t move until Franklin’s words whispered through her head again and she realized her new groom wasn’t a barely-getting-by farmer like she’d expected. He was a born and bred southern gentleman with a entire cotton plantation. And he wanted to marry her.

  She backed up until her legs hit a chair, then sat, the last several months running through her mind again. She hadn’t looked when Roberta laid down the Grooms’ Gazette. She’d just picked one, smiling when she saw she’d selected Alabama. She would be close to Constance, her one friend from the factory having selected Florida to find a groom. At least neither of them would have to endure bitterly cold winters anymore.

  She didn’t expect much from her new groom and had hoped whoever he was, that he’d be kind. The whole ordeal seemed like a grand adventure when it was first introduced. She’d get to see a bit of the country and make a life so completely different than the one she’d been living. This was different, all right. She shook her head, her gaze drawn to the window and the trees beyond. She had no clue what sort of man Gabriel Montgomery was but if he were half as amazing as his home, he couldn’t be all that bad.

  * * * *

  Gabriel braced his feet, his arms crossed over his chest, and didn’t blink. He’d played this game before and he wasn’t about to loose again. Ruth didn’t tell him what the latest catastrophe was but whatever Julia had done would have to wait.

  “But you have to!”

  Her voice was gaining that shrill quality he hated to hear. It gave him a headache and today was no exception. “Whatever it is, Julia, it will hold until this evening.”

  “No, it can’t.” She planted her hands on her hips, her chin raising a notch. “Its nearly time for lunch. Do you plan on skipping that today? Can’t you stop a bit early and come up to the house? I’ve not seen you in over a week, you know.”

  He opened his mouth to answer but she lowered her head and peered up at him through her lashes, the look one he was quite familiar with. She’d been using it since she was old enough to know it would get her everything she wanted. He looked toward James, the old man laughing as he bent down to push the wheel they’d been fixing back into place.

  “Please, papa. It will only take a few moments.”

  She blinked, those demanding green eyes silently pleading to do her bidding just one more time. He cursed under his breath and shook his head. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, James.”

  James laughed. “You’re going to have to learn how to tell that girl no, Gabe, before she tricks you into trading your house for a new pony.”

  Gabriel grinned and readjusted his hat before following Julia toward the house. She was skipping across the yard, her dark curls bouncing along her back. She turned and smiled at him, the sight so foreign his wide stride faltered, his steps slowing until he nearly stopped completely. Whatever she wanted to show him pleased her. He hadn’t seen her smile with such joy in years.

  She was waiting for him by the door when he reached the house. Her smile was still in place but something in her eyes told him she was worried. He chucked her under the chin with a finger and opened the door. “Go on in and show me what you’ve done this time.”
/>   She grinned and darted into the house, hurrying down the hall past the kitchen. He paused and glanced into the room as he passed it. Ruth was busy as always, fluttering around covered in flour and dough. The scent of the sweet tarts she made for the tenants children filled the air and he hoped he could talk her out of one before he headed back to the field.

  She straightened when she saw him. “Lunch will be ready soon.” She raised an eyebrow and nodded her head toward the hallway Julia ran down. “Best brace yourself for this one. Yell for me if you take a notion to strangle her. You’ll need a witness to what really happened.”

  Ruth wasn’t known for making light of any situation so her warning caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand up straight. “That bad, huh?”

  Ruth snorted and shook her head. “You won’t believe it until you see it.” She shooed him away with a flick of a hand towel. “Go on. She’s been waiting for longer than you have.”

  Gabriel headed down the hall as Julia stepped out of the parlor, pulling the door closed behind her. The room was rarely used now unless they had a guest. His spoiled little daughter was smiling as joyous as he’d ever seen her and he knew someone was waiting on the other side of that door. He was too afraid to ask who.

  He wondered if he was presentable enough to receive company. He’d been in the fields since he returned home. Mucking around in the mud with James, dragging old wagons and wheels into piles to burn and fighting with that old mule to get her out of the vegetable garden had left him covered in dirt and sweat.

  He glanced down to take a look at his clothes. He’d presented himself better but judging the look on Julia’s face, she wasn’t going to wait around for him to change. “Okay, make this quick,” he said. “I still have more work to do today.”

  She ran a quick look over him then frowned. “You should probably change.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’ll make a better impression if you do.”

  “And who am I trying to impress?”

  “I can’t tell you yet. Just trust me. Go change, please.”

  “Julia—“

  “Please, papa.”

  She pouted. Gabriel cursed under his breath and stared at her, trying to come up with any sort of reply that would end this ordeal quickly. When she gave him that pleading look she was getting too good at, he sighed and headed for the stairs. “This better not be another one of your schemes to get a new wardrobe full of dresses.”

  She grinned. “Its not. Now hurry.”

  Gabriel took the stairs two at a time, asking himself again why he let her manipulate him the way she did. He grinned as he neared his room. “She’s spoiled just like everyone says she is.”

  He washed best he could on such short notice and hoped whoever was on the other side of that parlor door wouldn’t get close enough to tell. He made quick work of changing, throwing on the clothes he’d been wearing that morning and running his hands through his hair to get the creases from his hat to settle a bit.

  Returning to the parlor, he held out both hands when he approached Julia. “Will this do?”

  She looked him over again and nodded before grabbing the doorknob and giving him a stern look. “Now promise not to embarrass me, papa. You can yell at me later, in private.”

  That trickle of fear that crawled his back when Julia was up to something caused a cold sweat to break out on his flesh as she opened the door. Whatever it was she’d done was sure to be unpleasant.

  He followed her inside the parlor, halting just inside the door. Of all the things he’d imagined waited for him inside that room, the woman from the train was not one of them. She recognized him if her wide-eyed expression was any indication.

  “Papa, this is Anna Davis.” Julia grabbed his hand and pulled him across the room, stopping a short distance from when Anna stood. “And this, Anna, is my father, Gabriel Montgomery.”

  She blushed, her pale complexion turning rosy red in an instant. “We’ve met.” She smiled and raised a hand to him, her fingers shaking as she said, “Its a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Montgomery.”

  Gabriel took her hand and in a gesture he’d seen his father perform so many times it became second nature, lifted and kissed the back of it. Her blush deepened, those pretty pale blue eyes lowering moments before she pulled her hand away. “The pleasure is all mine,” he said, throwing a glance at Julia.

  His daughter watched them both closely, the smile on her face never wavering. She turned to the chairs and said, “Let’s all have a seat.”

  Gabriel waited until Anna and Julia sat down before he did the same. He looked toward Julia. Her back was straight, her feet crossed at the ankles, her hands clasped in her lap. He waited for her to say something but for once, she was quiet as a door mouse.

  Anna Davis mimicked Julia, although the look on her face held more confusion than anything. He took the time to study her features, her eyes once again drawing his notice. The contrast of her dark hair seemed to make her eyes shine unnaturally. Her lips were a soft pink, her cheeks still flushed. She was even more lovely than he thought she was on the train.

  She glanced his way and cleared her throat. “You have a very beautiful home.”

  “Thank you.” He looked around the room and wondered if her eyesight was poor. The wallpaper was peeling near the ceiling. The carpets so dull he had a hard time remembering what color it was supposed to be. “Its in need of repair.” She turned her head to take in the rest of the room, Gabriel’s gaze tracing the line of her slender neck, her ruffled collar leading to a row of neat white buttons that ran down the front of her chest.

  “Are all the rooms as large as this one?”

  Her question drew his attention. “Most of them are. A few of the bedrooms are larger.”

  “Oh? How many are in the house?”

  “Bedrooms? Six in all.”

  She nodded, her lips pursed and Gabriel noticed she was wringing her hands. She was nervous. Were the questions about the house a result of that or was she genuinely interested?

  Julia had yet to say a word and he turned his attention to her. What was she up to? Why was Anna Davis in his home? He sat up and cleared his throat. “So, Miss Davis, what exactly brings you by today?”

  She gave him a wide-eyed look and glanced toward Julia before looking back. Confusion clouded her features but she managed to say, “I answered the ad you placed,” before her voice cracked. Gabriel couldn’t recall anyone mentioning an ad. Anna’s questions about the size of the rooms and how many there were told him everything his daughter hadn’t. Julia had hired a new house keeper.

  He didn’t think they needed one but he knew very little about what it took to run a house this size and it was no secret there were things being neglected. Not that he blamed Ruth for that. She was getting on in age. It was time someone younger helped her out a bit. And as luck would have it, the intriguing woman from the train would be taking the job.

  She blushed again as he sat staring at her and he had so many questions she’d probably think him insane if he started asking them. There was time for that later. Besides, he’d left James at the stable by himself and needed to get back to him soon.

  He smiled and stood, the pressure on his chest releasing now that he knew Julia wasn’t up to something sinister. “Ruth and Julia can help familiarize you with the house and get you settled into a room. I don’t know much about how things run inside these walls, so I won’t be much help if you ask. I look forward to talking with you later but for now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do.”

  He had so many questions, he didn’t know where to start but didn’t have time to ask them, especially with Julia in the room. His luck of late was dire but seeing the lovely woman from the train, the one he’d tried to find in town, sitting in his house? Maybe his luck was about to change.

  She stood as he turned to leave the room, the rustle of fabric from her dress loud in the stillness. Julia was on his heels as he reached for the doork
nob and pushed her way in front of him, leaning against the door so he couldn't open it.

  “You can’t leave yet.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you got it all wrong.”

  “What did I get wrong?”

  Julia’s shoulders slumped and her voice lowered. “The reason Anna is here.”

  He glanced over his shoulder. She was standing again, a small bag clutched in her fingers, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. He smiled at her, pleased when she blushed prettily. “And why is she here?” he asked, using the same hushed voice Julia had.

  “Promise you won’t get mad?”

  “Mad about what?”

  “I can’t tell you unless you promise.”

  He met Julia’s gaze and wasn’t sure if he should be mad or amused at the look on her face. “And I can’t promise unless I know what I’m promising.”

  Julia sighed dramatically. “Why are you always so difficult?”

  “Because you make everything difficult.” He held back a chuckle when she rolled her eyes. For all her meddling, her heart was always in the right place. He had no doubt, whatever was going on, it was done out of love and not mischief. “I’m waiting, Julia. What did I get wrong?” He resisted the urge to glance back at Anna. “What am I not understanding?”

  “Anna isn’t here to help Ruth clean. She’s here for you.”

  “For me?” he blinked, his heart punching his ribcage in one hard thump. “What do you mean?”

  Julia sighed again and looked toward the opposite side of the room. “She’s here to be your new wife.”

  Chapter Three

  Something was wrong. Anna watched Julia and Gabriel speak in soft whispers by the door. Her new groom kept looking back at her, his expression giving away nothing.