West For Love (A Mail Order Romance Novel) (1) (Anna & Thomas) Read online

  Chapter Two

  Anna stood at the table. She wore her best dress after sneaking inside to get changed. It was a powder blue dress and gave Anna the look of true innocence. William sat at the head of the table, drinking a cup of tea, his clothes pressed and expensive. His eyes were distant and the look on his face was that of a stern businessman. Nothing suggested romance, marriage, or family.

  This was strictly all business.

  Anna’s parents - Dorothy and John - were seated close to one another at the opposite end of the table. Abigail lingered in the room too and Anna wasn’t sure if she was there for support or to face the harsh truth waiting.

  “Anna,” her mother said, “will you sit with us?”

  Anna swallowed and pulled out a chair. She sat and folded her hands on her lap. She felt like she was in trouble. It almost reminded her of how Abigail used to sit at the table, right after her husband died. She had felt dead herself and that feeling started to sink its teeth into Anna.

  “Mr. Strewbren has been speaking with us,” her father said.

  Mr. Stewbren?

  That was definitely not a good sign.

  He wasn’t referred to as William or as Anna’s husband. It had the sentiment of when William would come over for dinner to talk business and banking, just before his demand to marry Anna.

  “Okay,” Anna whispered.

  “You are not with child, correct?” her father asked.

  His eyes were hurt. Anna looked at her mother, but it wasn’t any easier to look at her.

  Anna nodded. “Not this month.”

  Her mother bit her lip and looked away.

  “Okay,” her father said. “As you can imagine, Anna, it’s troubling right now.”

  “I need a family,” William cut in, his voice strong and commanding. “I cannot wait for the rest of my life. We aren’t given unlimited time...” William looked at Abigail, on purpose of course, for effect. “...something I’m sure we all can understand here.”

  Abigail turned and left the room.

  Anna felt her heart tear a little more. Abigail would surely go to her room and weep for hours now. Part of Anna wanted to slap William in the face for being so such a brute.

  “We’ve been married for a year, Anna,” William said. “A very fast year at that. Correct?”

  “Yes,” Anna’s father said. “The winter did drag though.”

  “But the snow melted, the sun warmed up, the frost went away,” William said. “The flowers began to bloom. The dirt has that lively smell to it. The air is clean. The town it back to life, back to normal... and I’m still without a family.”

  William stopped talking and stood from the table.

  That’s when Anna’s mother finally decided to join the conversation.

  “Just a little more time,” she pleaded. “I didn’t carry until summertime with both my girls. Ask John. Right John?”

  Anna’s father nodded. “Yes. The colder months were unforgiving in our attempts to have a family.”

  “So be it,” William said. “We had last summer. And look where we are now.”

  The contempt burned in William’s eyes, so much so that Anna had to look away from her husband. A moment later William reached into his pocket and produced folded up papers.

  Anna’s mother let out a cry and stood, rushing out of the room too.

  “Now, John,” William said, “We’ve had a great relationship and I hope that can continue.”

  “Of course... William...”

  “I prefer to permanently be called Mr. Stewbren going forward,” William said.

  Anna saw the pain come over her father’s face. She felt completely worthless.

  “I can’t undo the favors I’ve done for your family and property,” William said. “But I must say, and I truly hope it’s heard loud and clear, that the favors done will not be repeated. We are strictly back to a business relationship.”

  William dropped the papers on the table.

  Anna looked at them, her body shaking.

  “What’s happening?” she asked.

  “So glad of you to join the conversation,” William said. “It’s been a year, Anna...” He stood before her, looking down on her. Something of a metaphoric sight considering how the year of marriage went. “You’re a pretty young woman. I can only hope you find a man with a family to care for. That, to me, is your only chance of providing and fulfilling your duties as a woman and as a wife.”

  Anna opened her mouth but had no breath, no words. The pain in her stomach increased ten times over.

  William Strewbren was a terrible man.

  A year ago Anna had been married to this man in front of her parents. They held hands, Abigail smiled, and everything looked promising.

  Now...

  “We’re getting divorced, Anna,” William said.

  Anna whimpered.

  “I’ll cover all costs,” William said. “I’ll ensure that none of this becomes some kind of burden to you or your family.”

  “Except losing my husband?” Anna asked, sounding bitter.

  “I believe I’ve been honest and fair here.” William looked at Anna’s father. “If you had land, John, that couldn’t produce crops, what would you do?”

  Anna’s father nodded as he replied, his voice distant and cold. “I’d sell. Take my losses and move on.”

  “Why’s that?” William asked.

  “Because there’s plenty of land to find...”

  William snapped his fingers and laughed. “Perfect! There are more women than men right now. Women are actually moving west, going anywhere from Kansas to California, responding to ads for men. Of all things to happen. Can you imagine? I cannot waste more time.”

  Anna swallowed the massive lump in her throat. She knew breaking down and crying would only make matters worse. Not only would she have to agree to the divorce, she would the have to face her family after he left. That’s when she knew the real pain would come.

  Her parents had raised two girls into women who lost their husbands. How tragic. Only Abigail lost her husband because of an unfortunate death. Anna lost her husband because of...

  “I hope nobody feels blame,” William said, breaking up Anna’s thoughts. “But Anna, my pretty Anna, please look at me.”

  Anna did as told. Technically, they were still married. Maybe for another minute or so.

  “I’m being honest when I tell you to find a man with a family in need. If not, you will be alone and that would be a sad waste.”

  What a mean thing to say to a woman about to be divorced. And by her husband at that. Yet Anna’s father just sat there, his big hands in fists, holding back anything he truly wanted to say or do. Anna wanted to hate her father in that moment, but she knew if John did stand and give William a punch to mouth - which he most certainly deserved - that William would refuse business with John and his family ever again. Whether it be buying a piece of lumber, an egg, or going to the post office or the bank.

  That’s the kind of power and wealth William had.

  And that’s why when he chose Anna to be his bride everything looked so bright.

  “So, let’s get this over with,” William said. “I have an important meeting I must travel for. I promise you all, I will keep this quiet and it will fade. If anyone asks, you explain things didn’t work and change the subject.”

  Anna nodded.

  There was nothing else she could do.

  Her life had been dictated for so long now, what did it matter? She could see the look in her father’s eyes, telling her how disappointed he was. But Anna couldn’t control her body. If she couldn’t carry and birth a child, was that her fault? Was it her job to carry the guilt?

  Or maybe William was right... maybe she should just find a man with a family and become a wife and mother that way.