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Chapter Two
When Miriam got word that a young lady by the name of Cassandra Arnold was going to be there the third of July, she didn’t bother to tell Cameron. No, she could sense that it would be better for everyone if she introduced him when the lady in question arrived.
Miriam was excited to not only have someone to help in the garden and around the house, but to have a daughter-in-law, who would someday be the mother of her grandchildren. She could already picture herself in her favorite rocking chair with the baby on her lap. Life would be glorious if she didn’t have to work in the garden and she could rock grandbabies. So glorious!
On the morning of the third, she asked Cameron to hitch the team up for her. “What do you plan to do?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m going to Cauldron Valley for a few hours. I need to go to the mercantile, and their selection is better than the one in Mountain Home, and I want to call on a friend or two.” She would do those things, so she wasn’t lying, but truthfully, she was there to pick up her new daughter.
Cameron nodded. The request wasn’t unusual, as she went into Cauldron Valley a couple times every summer. She had always preferred the shopping there to the shopping in Mountain Home. “I’ll see to it,” he said, eating the last of his breakfast, and pushing the plate away. “I’ll go do it now. I need to get to work.”
Miriam smiled, happy he wouldn’t be taking the day off work to drive her. He’d done that a few times when he’d needed to get something in town as well. “What do you want for supper tonight?” she asked. “I’ll pick up what we need while I’m there.”
He thought for a moment. “Nothing in particular, but I’d sure love some cinnamon rolls for breakfast.”
She wasn’t surprised. Cinnamon rolls had always been one of his favorite things. “I’ll make it happen. Let the men know.” When she made the cinnamon rolls, she always made enough for his men as well. It was a rare treat, and they all looked forward to it.
“I will.” He got to his feet and grabbed his hat. “Wagon will be ready before you finish the breakfast dishes,” he told her, going outside. “Will you be home to cook the noon meal?”
Miriam shook her head. “No, I made a few sandwiches and put them in the ice box.”
“Thanks, Ma.” And the door closed behind him.
Miriam was glad he was already gone because she was having a hard time keeping her face straight. She was so happy that Cassandra would be there that evening, she was ready to dance a jig. But if she started dancing, Cameron would know that something was happening that he didn’t know about. No, it was easier to wait and introduce him to his bride, rather than trying to convince him it was a good thing she’d sent for the young lady.
She did the dishes, and then went upstairs to the guest bedroom to make sure it was ready for her new daughter. The bed hadn’t ever been made up, but now it held a nice new quilt and pillows she’d gotten from plucking the feathers off of some of her pullets. The previous day she’d put a vase with a single red rose in it. To her, it was perfect, and she was certain her new daughter would be pleased.
Since there was room—and a chaperone—she had readied the spare room. There was no need for them to marry the day sweet Cassandra arrived when they could wait for a few days and have a real wedding.
Miriam headed down the stairs and outside to the wagon. Why, she was more excited to meet Cassandra than Cameron was! If he knew she existed, he might be a little more excited, but Miriam knew with everything inside her that it was best that he not know what was happening in advance.
When she reached town, she was thirty minutes early for the train, so she headed to the parsonage to visit with Mrs. Cauldron. She enjoyed spending time with the other woman, and she had told Cameron she would go visiting.
When Mrs. Cauldron came to the door, she threw it wide, smiling. “My daughter-in-law is here with two of my grandsons. You must join us!”
“I’d love to. I only have a few minutes to visit, but I’d love to see the boys.” Miriam stepped into the house and followed Mrs. Cauldron into the parlor, where her daughter-in-law was trying to convince her sons not to try to climb the curtains.
“You know we can’t visit Grandma if you keep breaking her things.”
Mrs. Cauldron laughed softly. “Nonsense. Grandma raised two boys just like them. Of course they’re breaking things. It’s a Cauldron boy’s way.”
Miriam thought for a moment about how her husband would have reacted to Cameron misbehaving the way the twins were, and she knew it was a good thing he hadn’t been anything like these boys.
After a nice visit, cut short by the need to go and fetch Cassandra, Miriam said goodbye to her friend and to the younger Mrs. Cauldron, whom Miriam didn’t envy one bit. It was hard enough to be a young mother, but to be a young mother of twin boys who were the worst hellions around? The poor girl.
She drove the wagon to the train station, and sat watching until the train pulled into the tiny station. Cauldron Valley was just a whistle stop, and the train wouldn’t be there for long.
When two passengers got off the train, she immediately knew it was the first person she was looking for, as the second person was a man, who looked to be hoping for ranch work.
She got down from the wagon and walked over to the young lady who seemed to be looking around her nervously. “Cassandra Arnold?”
The woman smiled, holding out her hand. “Yes! Are you Mrs. Royal?”
“I am. It’s so good to meet you.” Miriam ignored the hand and pulled the girl in for a hearty embrace. “If you’re going to be my daughter, you’ll call me Ma, like Cameron does, or Miriam. We’re not standing on formality.” She hated to be called Mrs. Royal because the name was…well, it wasn’t her married name.
“Didn’t Cameron come?” Cassandra asked, looking around once more.
“No, he had to work today, so I offered to come and fetch you,” Miriam fibbed. She’d have to tell both of them the truth within a few short hours, but it was better if she waited until she was home.
