Walker's Wedding Read Online Free PDF Page A

monogrammed travel bag that Sarah’s father had bought her when she traveled with him to the opening ceremony for the first California railway station on the line. Land, that child’s excitement before the trip was contagious. She’d laid her best dresses in the trunk at the foot of her bed.
    â€œImagine,” the girl had said with a sigh as she twirled around, a green silk evening gown clutched to her chest, flaming hair in wild disarray. “Just imagine all the prospects! Handsome young cowboys with spurs and guns. Dangerous men on fast horses.” Pausing, Sarah had carefully laid the dress with the others. “I know he’s there, Wadsy. He has to be. I couldn’t bear coming home without having met my future husband.”
    â€œCalifornia ain’t Boston, doll. Menfolk out there ain’t seen a woman in years. Dirty, nasty men ain’t gonna touch my baby girl.”
    â€œOh, Wadsy, I’ll never get married if the man has to meet your and Papa’s standards. I think it’ll be wildly exciting out West!”
    But, as always, Sarah had returned unbetrothed.
    Wadsy picked up the untouched tray, worried now. Mr. Livingston was gonna be powerful upset when he learned that Sarah was missing. She dreaded telling him that his daughter’s bed wasn’t slept in the night before, partly because of the news itself and partly because she knew she would be reprimanded for taking tea to the pouting girl.
    â€œBaby girl, you’re gonna get your mammy in a mess of trouble,” she muttered, closing the door behind her. “A whole mess of trouble.”

Chapter Four

    L owell started at Wadsy’s knock, his leather chair squeaking. “What is it?” he asked, swiveling to face her. The nanny came in, carrying a tray of biscuits and tea. “Has Sarah come out of her room yet?”
    â€œNo, sir, she ain’t.”
    â€œAh…tea. Thank you, Wadsy, but I’m busy.” He turned back to the mound of papers littering the desktop.
    She set the tray on the polished desk and wrung her hands in her apron. “I know you ain’t gonna like this, but…she’s gone.”
    Lowell kept writing. “Who’s gone?”
    â€œI know I wasn’t suppos’ta go up, but I did, and the window was open and the bed ain’t been slept in all night.”
    Sighing, Lowell looked up. Sarah’s rebellion was hardly newsworthy. The chit sorely tested his patience, but he refused to give in to this recent show of defiance. He shuffled a stack of papers for a moment and then irritably shoved them aside. There were days when he would give his railroad to have Laverne back to deal with their only child.
    â€œWhere is she this time, Wadsy? Should I send Abe over to her cousin Eleanor’s to see if she’s hiding out there?”
    â€œI don’t know, sir. Do ya think she’da left for good? She was powerful upset.”
    â€œCertainly not. She’s just out of sorts.” He ran a finger along the inside of his heavily starched collar. “I can’t buy her a proper husband, soI can’t make her happy. She has to settle down and have patience until the right man comes along.”
    He glanced at the nanny, who had been staring at the tray since she’d set it on the table.
    â€œGive her until evening. If she doesn’t come home by then, we’ll start looking.” He reached for a pencil. “Take the tray when you leave. I’m not hungry.”
    â€œSir…you didn’t touch your breakfast this morning. A body got to eat…”
    â€œRun along, Wadsy. We both have work to do.”
    Picking up the tray, the old woman shuffled toward the doorway. Before she could leave, Lowell spun the chair back to face her.
    â€œI’ve tried, Wadsy. The good Lord knows I’ve tried.” His face crumpled, bravado slipping. “What more can I do?”
    â€œYou’re a good papa, sir. Baby