Chapter Nineteen
Excerpt from Ch 18
"Why don't you go see Brian while I go get us a couple of rooms at the boarding house and talk to my brothers." Nick turned his head in order to look at Mariah and smiled. "We can talk some more later."
The train station yard was surprisingly uncrowded as Heath and Jarrod carried Brian onto the train. The light from the sun cast more than one long shadow; it gave the place a somewhat peaceful-yet sober-feeling. Jarrod and Heath made their way to the private car Jarrod had secured for the trip. Mariah and Nick, who carried the one bag Mariah and her brother had brought her followed. When it came to Phillip and Eliza, they were already in another part of the train with Sheriff Madden.
Soon Mariah stood in the private car looking around. The cool air and quiet, quite the welcome change from the hustle and bustle that was still taking place outside. The private car was amazing. The seats were soft and appeared to be made of velvet; the wooden paneling simply shone-probably had been polished recently. She watched while Heath and Jarrod lay Brian down on the bed. Once the gentleman was comfortable, the two brothers excused themselves, saying they were going to go talk to Fred.
Once his brothers had left, Nick sat down on a 'bench' that was attached to the wall. Mariah sat down on the edge of the bed where her brother lay. Nick felt more than awkward. For, while he and Mariah had talked quite a bit the night before, Brian had not been awake to hear any of their discussion.
"So," Brian, who wore a serious look on his face-even if he was already laughing hard inside, started speaking. "Mariah told me everything. Are you two sure you want to go through with this? I mean, if I were you, after kicking myself hard-I'd be throwing a few punches when it came to any 'friend' of mine who dared pull such a stunt."
Nick couldn't help but allow a smile to spread across his face. "I freely admit, I have, and am still, considering that possibility." That confession lightened the mood that seem to hang in the air for a moment. He then grew serious. "As I told Mariah last night, as I told our foreman before we knew a search was going to be necessary, I may not be old, but I'm not getting any younger either. I am impressed by everything I've been told and..." he paused trying to think how to say what he was thinking-without giving the impression it was the most important thing on his list.
Brian, who pretty well figured knew what Nick was thinking, smiled at his sister. "And you like what you see?"
"Brian!" Mariah, who was more than embarrassed by her brother's words, sat up straight and shot him a reprimanding look-even if she was more than flattered at the idea Nick liked her appearance.
Nick, who had been sitting rather stiff, relaxed and nodded. "Yes, from everything I've heard and seen, I look forward to introducing the two of you to my mother and sister."
His mother! Now it was Mariah who went slightly stiff. With everything that had happened, she was startled to realize she'd never really taken the time to wonder what her new mother-in-law thought of this.
Nick seemed to read her mind and leaned slightly forward. "Mother did question the wisdom of my going through with this arrangement, but she is backing me up on it. She won't bite; I promise."
Brian, as much as he might want to continue talking with his new brother-in-law, was tired. "Why don't the two of you go elsewhere on the train and get to know each other better. Think I'm going to try and get some sleep." The gentleman closed his eyes and turned his head towards the wall.
While Brian slept, Nick and Mariah made their way out to the platform between the private car and the rest of the train that carried other passengers. The wind blowing through the air felt wonderful to Mariah as she held onto the railing attached to the platform. Nick too held to the railing, though he kept his eyes on Mariah. "I was serious when I said you wouldn't have to worry about Mother. I've heard some call her intimidating only, the majority of the time, it's simply because she 'had the nerve' to stand her ground and give the other party justified piece of her mind."
"Sounds like my mother." Mariah kept her face forward, still enjoying the wind in her face. "That is when it came to other people. With father?" She chuckled. "Mother always said the two of them would sit down and discuss any issue that arose, and that ninety-five percent of the time they would actually 'be on the same page'-as it were. The other five percent? She'd defer to father's decision and then wait for one of two things to happen."
Nick was curious. "And what would those two things be?"
Mariah chuckled again. "Mother's exact words were 'I'd either be extremely grateful he'd made the choice he did, or I'd be sitting back with the smile of a Cheshire cat on my face knowing he was eating Crow for dinner'." She paused and turned her face towards Nick. "I have no problem with the idea of doing the same. I mean, as long as you're willing to sit down and openly discuss matters with me and sincerely listen to how I feel-then I have no problem with deferring to your decision if we don't agree. That is, as long as you can accept I'll be sitting back and doing the same as my mother."
Nick reached out and wrapped his arm around Mariah's waist. "I have no problem agreeing to do just that." He said as he pulled her closer and lowered his head.