A Bride for Adam Read online

  A Bride for Adam

  Barbara Goss

  Copyright © 2019 Barbara Goss

  All rights reserved.

  Ebook cover by Virginia McKevitt

  Audiobook cover by Samantha Fury

  All Scripture is quoted from the King James version of the Holy Bible.

  All the characters described in this story are fictional. They are not based on any real persons, past or present. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, is coincidental and unintended.

  A Clipper ship similar to Adam’s ship “Eve.”

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Epilogue

  Chapter One

  Greta Hanson walked down the aisle of the church, wishing it was Adam Sutherland waiting for her at the altar instead of his brother, Seth. She felt guilty when Seth smiled lovingly at her, but she smiled back. At the altar, Seth took her hand and squeezed.

  Reverend Holloway stood before them, reading from the Bible and Greta’s mind wandered. Ever since she’d arrived in Fort Worth, her heart had throbbed for Adam. He was tall with hair as black as chimney soot. His mother was Greek and he’d inherited her coloring, while Seth, thin and with brown hair, looked more like his American father.

  As the minister read, she thought about how she’d ended up in Fort Worth and at this altar. Her parents had died in a train accident along with her brother, James. At age thirteen, her grandmother, Tilde Hanson, brought Greta to Fort Worth to live with her. Tilde just happened to be the housekeeper for the Sutherlands, the wealthiest family in Fort Worth. Greta kept house and cooked for her grandmother so that when she came home from a hard day at work, she could relax.

  Reverend Holloway recited the vows, and Greta concentrated on repeating them as sincerely as she could. Seth did the same. Before she knew it, Seth kissed her, as the minister had instructed. They turned to face the congregation and the entire Sutherland family congratulated them. Rhea Sutherland crushed Greta with a hug, while Samuel clapped his son on the back.

  Greta knew the family could be smothering, but she also recognized it was exactly what she needed. Rhea and Samuel ran the family like their shipping business: forcefully.

  “We must hurry back to the house. I have a party waiting there for you newlyweds,” Rhea said, pushing Greta forward. “You’ll stand in the parlor doorway, and I’ll have everyone walk past you and Seth for a greeting.”

  Greta stood with Seth greeting people she didn’t know and would never remember, wishing Adam were there. Seth’s two brothers, Isaac and Levi, had come from Philadelphia with their wives, but Adam was somewhere out in the open sea, captaining one of the family’s ships.

  Greta was hustled back and forth for hours, meeting people and grabbing bites of the delicious food her grandmother had prepared the day before whenever she could. Fortunately, the Sutherlands had allowed Tilde a day off to attend the wedding. Greta scanned the room for her grandmother and found her sitting alone by the French doors leading out to a patio, and she hurried over to sit beside her.

  Tilde was wearing her church dress, an orchid chiffon with a lace collar.

  “Why are you sitting here all by yourself, Grandmother?”

  “Hmph,” Tilde said. “I guess these people all think they’re too good to sit with the housekeeper.”

  “I often feel that way, too. How fortunate that Seth proposed to the housekeeper’s granddaughter. I’ll see that you’re taken care of, Grandmother.”

  Tilde patted Greta’s hand. “You did good, child. I want you to show them all that this housekeeper’s granddaughter happens to be better than any of them.”

  Greta nodded, causing a few stray golden curls to fall from the fancy up-do the French maid had given her. “I’ll show them, Grandmother.”

  Tilde tried to put the stray hair back into place. “I’m serious, child. I taught you everything I learned while working for these rich people. You can rub elbows with any of them.”

  “Thank you, Grandmother.”

  Tilde pointed to her left. “Isn’t that your new husband running out the back door? His face is white as a sheet. Is he all right?”

  “Oh, dear,” Greta moaned. “I hope someone didn’t pour whiskey in the punch again.” Greta stood. “I’d better check on him.”

  Greta found him behind the outhouse, vomiting. She could see it now: a wedding night of horrors.

  “Seth? Are you all right?” she asked, keeping a safe distance in her white satin dress.

  Before he could respond, Rhea was lifting his head and wiping his face. “Come, Seth—I’ll take you up to your room.”

  “But it’s my wedding night,” Seth replied.

  “Not tonight, it isn’t.” Rhea gave Greta a sympathetic look. “You can wait one night until Seth is feeling better, can’t you?”

  Greta let out a breath of relief. “Of course. Seth’s health is more important.”

  As Greta undressed for bed in the spare room, she thought about how she’d come to Fort Worth six years prior.

  It had always been Adam for her, even at thirteen, but he’d hardly noticed her. His younger brother, Seth, had begun to pursue her when she turned sixteen. She thought that if she allowed Seth to court her, she’d be able to get closer to Adam, but that didn’t happen—Adam had left for Philadelphia to captain one of the family’s ships soon after her courtship with Seth had begun.

  Rhea Sutherland had inherited her father’s shipping company in Philadelphia, but the weather there hadn’t agreed with her and Seth’s delicate health. They both suffered from asthma, and the winters there were cold and damp. Isaac and Levi stayed on in Philadelphia to run the business so that Rhea, Samuel, Seth and Adam could live in Fort Worth, Texas where the weather was mild and warm. Rhea did well in Texas, but Seth continued to suffer, since the dust and humidity bothered him. Adam left Fort Worth to captain a ship. He hadn’t even returned for the wedding. Greta wondered if she’d ever see him again.

  Little by little, Seth’s pursuit had worn Greta down. Tilde had nudged her along, too. “Think of it,” she’d tell her, “you’d be set for life and want for nothing.” Greta doubted the family would accept her once Seth had proposed. Surprisingly, they were happy with his decision. Then again, maybe they were just happy because Seth was elated; Seth had been coddled by both of his parents.

  To be honest, Greta had a soft spot for Seth, even if she wasn’t in love with him. He was honest, loving, and a good Christian man. He worshipped Greta, and he made her feel like a princess. She had to admit it felt wonderful to be treated like that and to be loved so deeply. She thought, perhaps, she might be in love with Seth’s love for her.

  Greta knew his family was possessive and controlling, but she felt fortunate to have been accepted into the close-knit family, and she didn’t mind. She’d married a man who worshipped her—how could she not eventually love him back? And as her grandmother kept reminding her, she’d want for nothing.

  Seth and his father had already started to build the newlyweds a home on the far side of the Sutherland’s forty acres. The plan was for them to live with Seth’s parents until their home was finished.

  Greta brushed her hair, thinking about how relieved sh
e was that her wedding night had been postponed. She was too tired to even think about what that entailed.

  Greta crawled into bed and fell asleep almost immediately—the day had been an exhausting one.

  Seth looked better at breakfast the next morning, and he apologized profusely for his sickness.

  “It’s all right, Seth,” she told him. “We have a lifetime ahead of us.”

  “Let’s go on a picnic for lunch,” Seth said. “I’ll ask Tilde to pack us a basket.”

  Rhea came into the room in time to hear Seth’s plans. “Oh, no! Not today, Seth. Your brothers and their wives are leaving today. We have to see them off at the train depot.”

  Greta was disappointed. She’d much rather have gone on a picnic with Seth.

  “However,” Rhea said, putting her hands on Seth’s shoulders from behind him, “your father and I have been invited to the opera house with Ira and Phyllis Madison, so you two can have a romantic dinner and celebrate your wedding night undisturbed. The house will be yours until the wee hours of the morning.”

  “Thank you. We’ll put the time to good use.” Seth winked at Greta.

  After a candlelight dinner prepared and served by Tilde, Seth led Greta upstairs to the bedroom that had been assigned to them. It wasn’t the master bedroom, but it was large and lavishly furnished.

  Seth winked at her. “I’ll go downstairs while you get ready for bed, sweetheart.”

  Greta nodded shyly. She watched him leave the room, twisting her handkerchief so hard she tore it. Greta took several deep breaths in an effort to calm herself. Every wife in the world since biblical times had gone through this, and so could she. She could, she could, she repeated to herself.

  She slipped into the nightgown Tilde had made for her, thinking about how wonderful her grandmother had been to her.

  Greta crawled into bed, drew the comforter to her chin, and waited. She heard Seth cough as he came up the stairs. The weather had been unusually muggy that day, and it always caused Seth problems.

  Seth walked into the room. “Are you all right?” she asked.

  “I’m fine. The stairs often give me a problem when it’s so humid.” He closed the door behind him and turned off the lamp. “Nothing will keep me from tonight. I’m going to finally make you mine. I’ve been dreaming of this night since I first met you six years ago.”

  She heard the rustle of clothing being shed, and Seth joined her in the bed. “I love you more than life itself, Greta,” he said, taking her into his arms. Through slow kisses and tight embraces, Seth chased all of Greta’s fears away.

  During and especially afterward, Seth’s breathing grew hoarse and rough.

  “Seth, where’s your medication?”

  “I left it downstairs in my haste,” he said, panting. “In the dining room, on the side table.”

  Greta thought the physical excitement and exercise of making love might have worsened his condition. She jumped out of bed, threw on her nightgown, and sped down the stairs, where she grabbed the bottle of eucalyptus oil and one of his handkerchiefs. Greta scurried back up the stairs and found Seth in worse shape than she’d ever seen him before. Not only was he gasping for breath, but his lips had turned blue.

  Greta wasted no time pouring the eucalyptus oil onto the cloth and pressing it gently to his face. Instead of seeing its usual relief, he worsened. Seth gasped, “I can’t breathe.”

  She hugged him, not knowing what to do next, praying the attack would subside. Besides his medication, there was nothing she could think of to do.

  “Doctor,” Seth gasped.

  Greta kissed him. “I love you, Seth.” She wasn’t entirely sure why she’d told him that except that she’d felt it true at that moment.

  She ran from the room and out to the stables where she woke the groom. “We need a doctor, right away—Seth’s bad,” she told him before returning to the bedroom.

  Seth’s struggle to breath had worn him out. His gasps weren’t coming as quickly, and he looked exhausted. Greta wished his parents were there. They’d know what to do. All she could do was to kiss his forehead and stroke his hair. She wanted him to know that she was there, and she cared about him. Greta murmured over and over, “Hang on, Seth—the doctor is on the way.”

  Dr. Finch barged into the room and rushed to Seth’s side. He dug into his bag, removed a scalpel, and cut Seth’s throat open.

  Greta gasped and turned away.

  The doctor inserted a long tube into his neck, and the room suddenly went silent.

  Dr. Finch stood. “I’m sorry. I did everything I could. He’s gone.”

  Chapter Two

  The Sutherlands went into a long and despondent bereavement. They wore black, and the house felt like a cold, weeping hunk of stone. Greta had been sure Rhea and Sam would blame her for Seth’s death, but they remained silent in their weeping and never said a word to her about it. Greta felt invisible. She could walk into a room and everyone was too busy weeping to look up or speak.

  Greta was heartbroken. To have made love to a man only to have him die minutes later was heart-wrenching. She did love Seth, in her own way, and she was glad she’d told him so. At least he’d died having made her his and hearing her say she loved him.

  Two months later, Greta thought she’d go out of her mind in the grief-stricken house. She wondered if she was still welcome there, since she wasn’t married to their son anymore, but she couldn’t get up the nerve to ask them if she should return to Tilde’s cottage.

  Then, it started: the throwing up each morning. Some days she couldn’t leave her bed until it was nearly noon.

  Tilde came upstairs on one of those mornings with a tray of toast and tea. She felt Greta’s forehead. “What’s wrong, child? Is it still the grieving or have you come down with something?”

  “I don’t know, but I feel like my insides want to come out and stay there.”

  Tilde frowned. “Does it last all day, or is it just in the morning?”

  “I feel fine around noon.”

  Tilde rolled her eyes. “Oh, dear.”

  “What, Grandmother? What’s wrong with me?”

  Tilde patted her hand. “Have you missed your courses?”

  “Why, yes. I think it might be from the grief.”

  Tilde gave her a knowing smile. “No, child. You’re increasing.”

  Greta sprang up to a sitting position. “But we only...it was just the one time.”

  “It happened that way for me, too. If the good Lord wants to bless you, He will.”

  Greta laid back down. “What will I do now?”

  Tilde let out a slight laugh. “Dear girl, your husband is dead, and you’re carrying his child. Do you have any idea how thrilled the Sutherlands will be to have a living memorial of Seth’s life?”

  “I’m not ready to become a mother. Especially not without a husband. I’m frightened, Grandmother.”

  Tilde hugged Greta. “You’ll be twenty by the time the babe comes, and the Sutherlands will take excellent care of you. Don’t be afraid—you’re a Sutherland for life, now. You need to tell them as soon as possible. It will lighten their grief.”

  Greta waited for a good opportunity, and one presented itself the very next day. Tilde called her down to the sitting room in the afternoon to inform her that Rhea and Sam wanted her to take tea with them.

  She gingerly took a seat, wondering if they’d planned to dismiss her since she was no longer married into the family.

  Rhea cleared her throat after pouring the tea. “Dear Greta—we haven’t forgotten you, but in our grief, we just needed some time alone. We wanted to let you know that we don’t blame you for Seth’s death. On the contrary: we blame ourselves. I knew it was a muggy day, and I should have stayed home and cancelled the wedding night, yet again—”

  “It was my fault,” Sam said, cutting his wife off as he broke into the conversation. “I told her to stop babying him and let him enjoy his wedding night. He’d waited long enough for it.”

/>   Rhea wiped the tears from her face. “It seems we all feel some guilt, but we’re happy that Seth got to enjoy his wedding night. If he had known it would kill him, he’d have done it anyway. That was Seth. He loved you so much, dear. I’m glad he had you in his life.”

  The couple looked at her as if expecting her to say something, and Greta knew what she needed to tell them, but she didn’t know how to break the news.

  “I’m glad we had the wedding night, too,” she finally said. “You see, it was meant to be: God has blessed us all—I’m increasing.”

  Rhea gasped. She looked at her and asked, “Are you serious?”

  Sam went over to hug Greta. Rhea followed. “We’re overjoyed,” Rhea said, “and we don’t want you to worry. We’ll take care of you.”

  Tears rolled down Rhea’s face. “How do you feel, dear?”

  “I’m sick most mornings, but other than that I feel just fine.”

  “Wonderful,” Rhea said. She looked at her husband. “Our God is wondrous. He has truly blessed us.”

  Greta agreed and said, “I’m just a bit afraid of having a baby without a husband at my side.”

  Both of Seth’s parents embraced her. Rhea told her, “We’ll be here for you all the way.”

  Greta was babied incessantly after that day. She enjoyed it at first, but she eventually wished they’d just leave her alone. They checked in on her constantly and called a doctor from Dallas to examine her. They wouldn’t let her do a thing except read and sew.

  Sam left for Philadelphia on business. It was something he often did to check on things at the office. When he returned, Greta was about to enter the dining room when she overheard Sam and Rhea talking.

  “What do you mean, Adam refused,” Rhea said.

  “He’s in love with the sea and refuses to leave it.”

  “You need to talk to him again,” Rhea said.