Chapter 2
Amanda looked out the window of the train to get her last look of South Carolina. She was leaving here to make a new life for herself out west; a life that included a husband and responsibilities. She had no idea how it would feel to be the wife of a cowboy and a rancher, but she was ready to find out. She managed to stifle the tiny bit of fear that rose in her throat to remind her that her life was going to drastically change.
The further the train travelled from South Carolina, the warmer the climate became. She knew that they went through many states because the train would stop at different stations and pick up new passengers. Once they crossed into Oklahoma the land was dry and flat with clouds of dust swirling across the bare plains, reminding Amanda of a story her mother once read to her about ghosts. The ghosts endlessly roamed the land, having no place to go. Amanda imagined the torment of never having a place to call home and nobody to go home to. Thankfully, she would not have to find out what it was like to be homeless. Mr. Latimer had accepted her as his intended bride and soon she would start a very new and different journey.
Amanda shook her head, trying to clear it of her musings. At the young age of 18 she had never been exposed to much hardship in life. Her parents had always taken care of her and they had never pushed her toward marriage. She supposed they felt they had plenty of time, but fate intervened and now she was left to face an uncertain future with a stranger she had never met. She had no idea what would be expected of her, but she knew that she must be strong if she did not want to prove a disappointment to Mr. Latimer.
The train started to slow and Amanda noticed they were coming into another station. A large sign welcomed the travelling guests to Broken Arrow. She took a deep breath and tried to gather her thoughts. The hour had finally arrived and she was about to meet the man who she would spend the rest of her life with. She tried hard to swallow the sudden lump of fear she felt in the back of her throat.
The conductor was unloading the bags of the passengers who were getting off the train. Amanda stepped down onto the sidewalk, looking both ways to see if she could spot a lone man. From behind, she heard a deep voice call her name. When she turned she looked up at a man with skin that was darkened from hours in the sun. As her eyes adjusted, she saw that he had dark eyes, deep smile lines around his mouth, and a cowboy hat covered his dark locks.
“Yes, I am Amanda Luther,” she said. “Are you by any chance Ernest Latimer?”
“That would be me, mam,” he said. “Why don’t we collect your bags and find a place where we can get something cold to drink and we can get acquainted?”
Amanda watched as Ernest retrieved her bags. She was a tall woman, but Ernest was a good six inches taller than she was. His body was muscled and lean with obvious signs of hours spent working in the sun. His cowboy hat sat low on his forehead, but Amanda could still see that he had kind eyes. He was not strikingly handsome, but he was not repulsive either. She supposed that she could have done a lot worse.
Ernest was also having thoughts about the woman he was going to marry. In her missive to him she had told him that she was not very pretty, but he found her to be attractive enough. She was tall for a woman, but that didn’t bother him in the least. She looked like she could hold up to do the work that was needed around the ranch, but her youth and innocence bothered him a little. He needed a woman who could jump right in and take over the chores of the house without supervision. He hoped that Amanda was up for the task because he had already wasted enough time searching for a mate.
Ernest led Amanda into a small café that was situated in a corner near the center of town.
“We can stop here and get something cold to drink,” Ernest said. “I imagine that you are tired after your long journey.”
“It was a long trip, but the train was fairly comfortable,” Amanda said. “I brought my bible with me and read that for much of the way. When my parents were alive they insisted that I spend time every day studying God’s word. It helped me pass the time and gave me comfort too.”
“I understand that you are a bit apprehensive about all of the changes that are taking place in your life,” Ernest said. “I am sorry that you lost your parents and that loss forced you into this decision, but I think that you will be happy here. I own a large cattle ranch just south of here and I have a very comfortable home place, but I fear it needs female attention. The church where I attend is about a three hour ride from the ranch but there are many times when I am too busy with the cattle to go. The nearest neighbors live only a mile away, but at this time of year we rarely have time for visits. It is time for planting and in just a few days the cattle will start giving birth to the new calves that come with spring. Perhaps you will enjoy seeing the young when they arrive.”
“I am sure that everything will be perfect,” Amanda said. “I look forward to seeing your ranch and I am ready to get to work. The weather here is much warmer than South Carolina, but I will adjust.”
“Well, you will see your new home very soon,” Ernest said. “I have arranged for us to have a civil wedding ceremony with the Justice of the Peace in about an hour. Once the ceremony is over, we must leave immediately for the ranch. When we get past the spring births then perhaps, we can come back to town and seek out some type of enjoyment. I have enough supplies at the ranch right now, but perhaps you can make an assessment and when we return we can pick up the supplies that you need.”
Amanda sipped her tea, enjoying the cooling comfort as it slid down her throat. The air here was hot and stifling, but she was not about to complain. Her stomach was tied in knots and she feared that she might faint. Ernest had said the ceremony was scheduled in an hour. After that, her life would never be the same. She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer that God would give her guidance in her new venture.