Rose waited for a couple of hours before four riders came closer and it seemed they were heading straight towards her, but then they changed direction and turned left riding back towards the path to the farm. One of them was Adam.
She can't let him get away. She needed to talk to him. Once he knew why he'll make it all better. She ran out on the road.
"Adam!!!!!!" She called, but without any result. Soon they were too far to hear her, or she thought that. One of the Cowboys turned around and saw her. Rose noted that he nudged his horse to catch up with Adam, but instead of stopping they continue on.
She sank down to the ground, she never thought Adam could do that to her.
He loved her. He said so. Isn't he suppose to stand by her right now? Ask her to marry him. She hit the ground with her fists until they hurt. Tears hung from her eyelashes. Rose just realized she was a fool. She fell for someone without conscious and regards to anyone but himself. He knew why she wanted to see him, and then he ran as fast as he could leaving her with the consequences.
It was clear to her that Adam heard her calling and that is why he never turned back, but for sure his companion did tell him that she is there.
Now, she had to face her family. All alone.
As she expected it didn't go well.
"You disgrace this family. We'll have to find you a husband and soon. Of course, there is a question who will want you with another man's baby in your belly."
"I don't want a husband."
"How are you planning to support yourself. You think you have a choice? It will be a miracle to find such a man." Her mother didn't spare her the finery.
Her father washed his face and dried it with a towel before he spoke.
"I know who might agree to have her."
Her mother turned towards him, waiting for the answer to her prayers.
"Who?" Her voice full of disbelief there was a such man.
"Samuel Bolton."
"How didn't I think of that. You'll have to go and talk to him." Her mother now got anxious.
They were talking like she wasn't present in the room.
"I'm not going to marry Samuel. He is way older than me and a cripple. How can you do that? You can't ask that from me."
"Oh, we can ask. You will if he will have you. Did you ever stop and think about your younger sisters. No one would marry them if this got out."
Rose couldn't believe what was happening to her. All her dreams were shattered into tiny pieces.
"I don't want Samuel!"
"That thought should enter your mind when you were rolling in the hay with that boy. Whoever he was. I can't pry it out of you, but if you think you have a choice now think again. It isn't just you I'm thinking of. I have two more daughters."
Rose was getting the idea that everything and everyone was against her. Just then the bile rose in her throat, and she rushed to reach the lavatory.
A week later her father came home not too pleased.
"I've heard rumours that you were sending messages to Adam Hedrich. If it is so I have to tell you. He is long gone. His family sent him east to college. It is not likely you'll see him anytime soon."
Then he added pointy looking at Rose. "Samuel is a decent man."
"He is ten years older, and I don't love him." Rose was ready to argue against her better judgement.
"No, I reckon you don't, but this got nothing to do with love. You made your bed now you lay in it."
Rose knew a lot of it was the truth, but Samuel Bolton. How will she explain that to her friends.
"I'm going to town tomorrow and I'll pay a visit to Mr. Bolton."
Rose finally realized there was no going back. Whatever her parents planned, she's most likely have to get along with it. It was the reality. She did have younger sisters, and her having a child out of wedlock would damage their reputation as well.
"Maybe I could leave town. Go and move someplace else."
"Prey to tell me how will you support yourself. It isn't just you anymore. Seven months from now you'll have a child to take care of."
