Adam shook his head. “I have rooms at my farm. You may use one of them. But I am unhappy that I was not told of this from the beginning.”
Lilly felt regret wash through her. “I am sorry, sir. It was not my intention to anger you. I was just trying to do something for my friend.”
“By deceiving others. This is not what God has in mind.”
“I am sorry.” Lilly’s face dropped at his mention of God. She didn’t want to anger God, either. “I did pray about this and it just…I just thought I should…”
“Come with me,” Adam said abruptly, cutting her off. “We will go back to the farm and discuss this.”
Chapter Four
The uncomfortable silence on the ride to Adam’s farm made Angelica feel a little sick to her stomach. She had been working hard to learn the language and act like an American. She was naturally shy and didn’t try to draw attention to herself. Her first impression of the man they had met was a good one. She liked his dark eyes and dark wavy hair. He was built strong and solid and had nice hands.
She could see that he was unhappy and perhaps a little angry at the deception. She didn’t hold Lilly at fault, though. Her friend had been looking out for her since they met in New York, where they had met at a boarding house they were both working for. Lilly had never been dishonest with her and had never tried to hurt her.
She felt as though God was making something good from the deception. He must have a plan, or they wouldn’t be there, riding in the wagon going toward a new home and a new life.
Angelica took Lilly’s hand and squeezed it. Lilly looked worried and afraid. It seemed strange that she was feeling so confident when Lilly was usually the one in that position. Lilly looked at her. A feeling of peace filled her when she looked in her friend’s eyes.
Perhaps things would be all right once they reached the farm.
Adam was staring straight forward, stewing in his mind. He hadn’t asked for an additional burden. What was God doing? He instinctively shook his head at his own thoughts. Two foreign women had deceived him and now he felt obligated and responsible for them. He didn’t see how this could turn out well. He didn’t like the feeling of uncertainty he had.
By the time they reached the farm, it was dark. The lanterns on the outside of the house were lit, and the flames brightened the steps so they could see as they went up. Adam tied the reins to a hitch and followed the women up to the door.
It opened, and Cody stood there, staring at the three of them.
The women stopped and stared back at him.
His curious eyes settled on Adam. “Adam?” he asked and didn’t finish the question.
Adam nodded. “Ladies, this is Cody. Cody, this is Angela and Lilly.” He gestured to each of them when he said their names. They nodded at Cody.
“Hello,” Cody said, his voice and face still filled with confusion.
“Let’s go inside, shall we?” Adam said in a gruff tone. Cody stepped aside hurriedly and let them in. “Follow me.” Adam led them into the sitting room, directing them to set their bags down in the hallway to take to their rooms later. “Please sit. We will need to talk.”
The ladies both sat next to each other on the couch, and the men took seats nearby. Adam sat forward, his face stern. “I feel I have been deceived. I don’t want to scold you ladies, as you are not children. But this is not a good way to start a relationship. I had set values I wanted in the woman I brought here, and I am unsure that those values can be found in you seeing as how this was done.”
“Please don’t hold it against us, sir…” Lilly began.
He cut her off, lifting his hand and shaking his head. “Please call me Adam. I am not your master, and you are not my servant. Go ahead, you were saying?”
Lilly swallowed her anxiety. “As I said at the station, I have been traveling with Angel and her father for some time. Her father passed away about a month ago, and she was left with no one to care for her. I did not want to see her left behind if I should go. And I knew that I could pay my own way if I bought my own ticket and she was able to come.”
“But you lied in your letter.”
“I didn’t lie,” Lilly said in a pleading tone. “She is who I said she is. She’s beautiful and smart and all the things you asked for.”
“What about believing in the Lord?” Adam asked. “That is very important to me.”
“I know my deception may not make it seem like it, and I do hope that you forgive me for it. But we are both firm believers in God, and that is not a lie.”
Adam looked at Angelica. “You are also a believer?” He thought she was brave to stand up to him when she first arrived. He couldn’t tell if she was truly all the things he was looking for or if her beauty was only skin deep. It was true that she had a stunningly beautiful countenance. If he were simply looking for a trophy to ride on his arm and make him look good, Angelica would be it. But he was looking for more than that. His experience with them so far had not shown him that those qualities were there.