Chapter Two
Mercy Creek
It didn’t feel like two weeks since Rachel’s life had been turned upside down. Now she was packed with all her belongings, bundled up in a carriage, and almost to Mercy Creek.
She might see it as a good thing eventually, but at the moment it was as if she’d been thrown away by everyone who cared about her. Even Miriam, who’d made a solemn promise to look after her.
Rachel didn’t think she could feel more abandoned than she did right now.
She clutched her mother’s old recipe book to her chest, rocking with the coach as she watched the snow-covered trees go by.
What was this Nate Calloway going to be like?
Was he going to be a decent man, kind and gentle like he claimed in his letters, or would he turn cold the moment she had nowhere else to run?
Miriam had only given a brief description, and Rachel had read the letters to try and figure out what Nate was like.
She was still stunned that Miriam wrote to Nate as if she were Rachel. She knew Miriam’s heart was in the right place, but this was too much.
Tears pricked at her eyes, and she blinked them away. She’d done enough crying. This was no time for her to feel pity for herself. She needed to compose herself before she met her soon-to-be husband.
Finally, they entered the outskirts of Mercy Creek and pulled to a stop just outside the stagecoach station. Rachel felt the carriage rock as the driver jumped down, and then he opened the door, sticking his head in.
“We’re here, Miss Bell,” the driver declared. “I’ll get your luggage down.”
“Thank you, Clarence.”
He helped her out, waiting until she got her feet steady underneath her, and then he collected her two suitcases from the back of the coach.
Holding the book to her chest and huddling in her thin coat, Rachel looked around.
Everything was thick with snow, the sun shining high above.
It was cold, showing no sign of the snow melting.
The sidewalk was a little slippery, and Rachel was nervous about moving.
She didn’t want to go anywhere, but she couldn’t stay standing like a statue.
“There you go, Miss Bell,” Clarence said, placing the luggage down, his cold red cheeks blotchy under his sparkling blue eyes. “Is there anything you’d like me to help you with? Does anyone know you’re coming?”
“I believe Mrs. Isabelle Mercer is going to come here to meet me. She said she would be here…” Rachel looked around. “Is there a clock around here?”
“On the town hall over there.” Clarence pointed. “It says it’s ten-twenty-five.”
Rachel’s shoulders dropped.
“Oh, no. I’m here early. We were going to meet at one.”
“Well, we made good time. You never know with this weather, and we were quite lucky.” Clarence then pointed at the restaurant opposite. “Why don’t you go in there and sit for a while? Then when Mrs. Mercer arrives, I’ll let her know where you are.”
“That would be very kind of you, Clarence. I think I should get inside before I end up freezing.” She flexed her hands in her gloves. “I think I’m going to have to buy new gloves. These are getting too old.”
“Well, there’s Mrs. Maplethorpe’s dress shop just beyond the town hall. She does all sorts of garments and clothing for young ladies. There will be plenty for you at a reasonable price.”
“That would be much appreciated.”
Rachel didn’t know where to start. She’d ventured into town close to the orphanage a few times, but she mostly stayed within the boundaries of the place she knew as home.
Now she realized how much of a bad idea that had been; she should’ve been a bit more independent and stepped outside of her comfort zone.
There was no time like the present, but she was very nervous. Her hands were stiff inside her gloves, and she was shivering hard. Her teeth were even chattering.
“Look, why don’t I bring your luggage into the office with me?” Clarence suggested. “You go and have something to eat, and then come back at one when Mrs. Mercer arrives. You can get yourself warm and some food in your belly.”
“Thank you, Clarence.” Rachel managed a smile even as she tried not to bite her tongue with her chattering teeth. “You’ve been very kind.”
“I’m glad that I could help. Now, you go and warm up. Poor thing, you’re going to shiver yourself to death.”
Rachel watched the coach driver pick up her suitcases and carry them into the office. He had to be about her age, and he seemed to treat her as if she were even younger. Maybe she was; he looked like he’d been through a lot and had a lot more life experience.
She ducked into the restaurant, sat at a table by the window, and looked out at the almost-deserted street. It was quiet, very few people venturing out. But there were quite a few people in the restaurant, the conversation light and happy, with everyone eating heartily.
A young woman in black, her raven hair tied at the nape of her neck, walked over and gave Rachel a warm smile.
“Good morning, miss. Can I get you anything?”
“Is it too early to have anything to eat?”
“Of course not! We do cook breakfast here as well. Would you like to see the bill of fare?”
Rachel nodded, using her teeth to take the gloves off as she laid the book on the table. The woman arrived back a moment later with a menu, which she handed over.
“You’re new here, aren’t you? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“Yes, I’ve just arrived. We made good time on the stagecoach.” Rachel hurried on to say. “I’m Rachel. Rachel Bell.”
“Susie Whitfield. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Rachel.” Susie grinned. “If you need anything, just ask. We’re all happy to help you with whatever you need.”
“So I’ve heard from Clarence.”
Susie sighed. “Oh, that darling man. Clarence is such a sweet man. I can’t wait to marry him.”
Rachel blinked. “You two are engaged?”
“Yes. We’re just waiting for the spring when the blossoms are falling, and then we’ll get married in our chapel.
I can’t wait!” With a wistful look on her face, Susie stared across at the stagecoach station.
Then she realized what she was doing and shook herself.
“I’m sorry, I need to concentrate when I’m working. What would you like?”
Rachel chose eggs Florentine—the description made it look interesting—and a pot of tea. That would do for now. She’d had her breakfast really early, and she didn’t want to fill her stomach more than she had to. Her main focus was getting warm.
As she ate the food, which she had to admit was very delicious, she looked through the recipe book again.
It had been read from cover to cover so many times she could probably recite it without opening it, but Rachel couldn’t help herself.
She just wanted to cling to something vaguely familiar, something that reminded her of her home.
Would she ever see it again? Perhaps Miriam wouldn’t want to see her again. She might think this was a good idea, but Rachel had her doubts.
And hopefully she wouldn’t look like an absolute fool when things went wrong.
It was nearly one when Rachel decided to go back across the street and join Clarence at the station. At least she would be close by if Isabelle did choose to come along now. As it was, there was no sign of anyone. She was probably running late due to the weather.
Rachel stuck her head into the station and saw no sign of Clarence. A note scrawled on the desk said that he’d taken the stagecoach around the back and he would be back shortly. Not wanting to bother him, Rachel saw her suitcases by the door and picked them up. She could do that herself.
Her hands were still stinging from the cold as she carried them outside, and suddenly one of the suitcases fell open, scattering her clothes across the sidewalk.
She stared in horror at the sight. How could this have happened now?
She crouched and began to pick up whatever she could, the snow and cold seeping into her knees.
Then she heard crunching footsteps, right beside her.
Moments later, she felt someone bump into her, hearing a cry of surprise, followed by a thud.
Her side hurting and her back sore, she looked up to see a fair-haired man sprawled on the ground, his Stetson on the ground nearby.
He groaned and rolled onto his back with a grimace.
Then he scowled at her, green eyes practically glowing at her.
“What are you doing, woman?” he demanded. “Why are you sitting there in the middle of the sidewalk?”
“I’m sitting in the middle…” Rachel felt her outrage building. “Why don’t you watch where you’re going? You wouldn’t have fallen over if you had watched where you’re going. I can’t believe someone doesn’t pay attention…”
Then her eyes fell on the badge glinting on his jacket.
Oh, no. This couldn’t be happening. Of all the people to trip over her, why did it have to be the town’s marshal?