Greta nodded.
“According to the annulment rules in Texas, you have a valid reason to void the marriage as you were coerced into it, and I’m sure the marriage hasn’t been consummated. I can get the paperwork in order and presented to the judge in two or three weeks’ time. Does that suit you?”
“It does. Thank you.”
~~~***~~~
Sam ran through the house, calling his wife. “Rhea! Rhea!”
“I’m here. What is it?” she said from the dining room where she was polishing silverware.
“Look at this.” He waved a telegram at her.
Rhea took the paper and focused on the words. “Glory be!”
“Look at the date,” Sam said. “It was sent three weeks ago. That means Adam should be docking in Philadelphia soon. He’ll catch a train and be here in a few weeks. Should we tell Greta? Where is she, anyway?”
Rhea examined the telegram again. “Why didn’t Harvey let us know sooner that we had a message?”
“Harvey’s on vacation. James Wright, the postal clerk, is doing both jobs, and he got a bit behind.”
“Of course,” Rhea said. “We’ll tell Greta. She’s been restless lately.”
“Where is she? I’ll go tell her,” Sam said.
Rhea frowned and scrubbed a silver spoon harder than necessary. “She went into town, but she couldn’t be shopping because she rode Venus instead of taking the buggy.”
“Do you think she’s seeing the fellow that’s sweet on her?”
Rhea shook her head. “No, she would never do that. I have a feeling she’s seeing an attorney about an annulment.”
~~~***~~~
Greta returned home, relieved that she’d made some headway into straightening out her life. She hated to disappoint the Sutherlands—they’d been good to her—but she had to find some happiness for herself. Life was too short to spend alone, and Bethany needed a family life.
Sam ran to greet her as she entered the house. “Guess what, Greta? Adam’s on his way home.”
The news shocked Greta. On the very day she’d started annulment proceedings, she’d learned he was finally returning.
“Really? Well,” she said, “he’ll be relieved to learn I’ve started annulment proceedings. He never wanted to marry me. He was coerced like I was.”
“No, he wasn’t. Not really. At first, he might have been shocked by our asking him, but he stepped up and agreed. He said it was the least he could do for Seth.”
“I heard you telling Rhea that he was angry about marrying me.”
“No, he was angry about having to return to land. He just loves being at sea.”
“Now, he can turn around and go back to it.”
Sam rubbed his forehead. “Please, give him a chance, Greta.”
“I love you and your wife, and I appreciate all you’ve done for me, but now I have to make a life for myself and Bethany.”
Rhea walked into the room. Greta knew as soon as she spoke that she’d been listening. “Greta! This is so unlike you.”
Tears ran down her face, but Greta stood up to Rhea for the first time. “I’ve had enough. I need a life.” She turned and ran up the stairs to her room.
~~~~***~~~~
Adam stepped off the train, picked up his satchel, headed for the livery, rented a horse, and rode home. On his way, he passed the church cemetery, stopped, tied his horse, and made his way inside the fenced burial ground where he searched for his brother’s grave. When he found it, he knelt down and prayed.
Adam whispered, “Hello, little brother. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner, but I’ll take over where you left off. Don’t worry—I’ll rear your child like it was my own. I love you, Seth.” He stood and stared at the tombstone. It was hard to believe Seth was gone. The last time he’d seen him was at Isaac’s wedding. He recalled how badly Seth’s health had been and how he’d been surprised when he heard he’d married.
He felt someone’s presence and swung around to face a lovely blonde woman. “Hello,” Adam said.
The woman cocked her head at him, turned pale, and fell forward in a faint, but Adam caught her by the shoulders and led her to a nearby bench. Her head lolled on her shoulder. He wasn’t sure what to do, as a woman had never fainted on him before, so he simply sat beside her and rubbed her hand.
She finally raised her head and said, “I’m sorry, I must have fainted...from the heat.”
“It’s actually cooler here than at some of the places I’ve been,” he said. Adam wasn’t impressed with her beautiful, creamy skin, or her thick, blonde hair which was pulled back in a braided bun. But it was her blue eyes that captured his interest; they looked sensitive. He’d seen beautiful women everywhere he’d been, but he’d never let himself be taken in by them. They were usually self-centered and spoiled, and he wanted a woman who had a good heart and believed in God. Her looks didn’t matter to him as much as her character.
He saw her look at his hand holding hers and he dropped it. “I hope you don’t think I’m being forward. I was rubbing your hand, hoping to bring you back to consciousness—I’m a married man.”
The woman looked stunned, and Adam hoped she wasn’t about to faint again.
“Your wife is fortunate to have such a devoted husband.”
“I hope so.”
“You hope so?”
“I haven’t met her yet. I was at sea, and we married by proxy. I can’t wait to meet her.”
The woman bit her bottom lip. “What if you don’t like her looks?”
“Oh, her looks won’t matter to me. It’s what’s on the inside that counts. She was married to my brother, and it’s my duty to take over for him. I trust that Seth married a good person.”
The woman stood. “I wish you
