Capital Bride Read Free Page A

me.”
    “You’re quite welcome, dear girl. Quite welcome, indeed.” Agnes hugged her back like she’d never let her go. It was going to be especially hard to say goodbye to her. Agnes had been Sarah’s rock since Aunt Gertrude died.
    Sarah took MaryAnn’s hand and they walked down the stairs where Peters waited with their coats and hats.
    “Thank you, Peters. Please remind Mrs. Adams that she is having Sunday luncheon with us. It will be served at one o’clock.”
    “Yes, Miss. I shall endeavor to remind her and will escort her myself.”
    “Wonderful, you shall join us as well.”
    “Oh no, Miss. It’s not done. I shall return here and wait until it’s time to come back and retrieve my mistress.”
    Sarah nodded. “Very well. We’ll see you on Sunday.”
    As they walked home MaryAnn asked, “Where is Colorado Territory?”
    “It’s west of here a very long way. It’s going to take us many days to travel there. Do you think you can be an especially good girl for Mama while we travel?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I heard you say he has a little girl. Will she be my sister if you marry her daddy?”
    “Yes, I guess she will. Do you think you’ll like having a sister?”
    She thought about it a minute before answering. “I think I will. It’ll be nice to have someone small to talk to.”
    Sarah smiled. “Yes, it will, won’t it?”
    They reached the house and went inside. The fire William built was burning low. Sarah added more wood.  
    In front of the fireplace were two wing chairs. MaryAnn sat in one of them. She looked so small. Her eyes, the pale blue of Sarah’s own, sat in stark contrast to the inky black hair and eyelashes she’d inherited from her father. Except for the eyes, MaryAnn was a miniature of Lee. Everyday Sarah was reminded of the man she loved, whose face would be faded from memory if not for her daughter. MaryAnn kept him alive. Even so, his strong jaw and boisterous laugh were all but gone.
    In manner, MaryAnn was totally unlike her father. He’d been fun loving, teasing and always joyful. She was solemn and thoughtful. So much like her mother.
    “Mama, why are you crying?”
    She hadn’t realized tears trickled from her eyes. Sarah sat in the other chair. “I was just thinking about your father. Come here and let me hold you.”
    The little girl dutifully got up and went to her mother, sitting on her lap and relaxing in her arms.
    “He was a good man, your father. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently.”
    “I won’t. How old was he when he died?”
    “He was twenty-two, just like me. We’d been sweethearts for as long as I can remember. We always knew we’d get married, but then the war started and he went off to fight. I didn’t see him for so long. He came home wounded. Shot in the shoulder, and we decided as soon as he got out of the hospital we’d marry. We set the date for the following Sunday. He was called back on Friday. We only had a few hours together before he left again. We made the most of them. We made you.”
    “Why does it make you sad when you look at me?”
    “Oh, my darling, I’m not sad when I look at you. I’m so happy to have you and love you so much. I sometimes cry because I know your daddy will never get to know you.”
    “Will I have to call this new man, Daddy?”
    “No, not if you don’t want to.” She squeezed her daughter. “Now enough serious talk. Let’s go to the kitchen and make luncheon. I’ll even make us some hot chocolate. What do you think about that?”
    Sarah saw her eyes sparkle before she scooted off Sarah’s lap. “I’d like that very much please.”
    “Good. Let’s see what we have to eat with that.”
    Sarah watched her little girl skip to the kitchen, their serious talk forgotten with the prospect of a sweet treat.

CHAPTER 2

    Sarah hoped some day to publish a book of recipes. That’s why she’d written down all of Cook’s recipes. But it wasn’t just to make a book, which she still planned to do,