The week after week went by, and they settled into the some kind of a routine. One morning when he left to town a few minutes later Rose was surprised to find her friend at her door.
"Beth! Come on in! I'm surprised you are here this early."
"I saw your husband leaving. I wanted to talk to you alone."
"What is it? You look serious."
"Before you hear it in town and caught you off guard. Adam's father passed away and Adam is back to take care of the ranch."
Rose lost all of her colour and fell back on the chair behind her. Adam is back and she was married.
"Rose! That is not all. He is here with his wife. They say she is banker's daughter. I'm so sorry to come to you with a news like that. I didn't want you to find out unprepared."
Rose couldn't even pretend she wasn't upset. Her hands shook, and her voice was raspy when she spoke.
"Thank you Beth. You are my dear friend. How could he do that? He doesn't know I lost the baby and he got married."
"You knew Rose you were not in his rank. They are rich Rose and they marry the same."
"I was so stupid. How could I believe he felt something for me?"
"I know what I said Rose, but your husband seems nice. He is always pleasant when I come around. He sent for your mom when you needed her, and let her stay here with you. She is still talking how her son in law bought the best meat at the butcher's, there is always honey and sugar with the finest teas.
"I don't love him Beth. I would be lying to say I do."
"Give yourself a chance to love him Rose. Adam is out of the reach. I don't get what do you see in him anyway. He proved to be a cad. He seduced you, no he got you drunk and then he seduced you. No decent man does that."
"Oh Beth! Why did my life became so complicated?"
"You'll see everything will be fine. I can feel it in my bones."
"You talk like an old lady Anne. She could always feel everything in her bones. I never feel anything in my bones."
Beth stayed for breakfast and tea.
"Look at you. You are living in a mansion."
"Oh how I wish I was back home, and none of this happened."
"But it did happened Rose. Look at me I'll probably died old spinster. My family is not well off, I'm not beauty like you are, and on top of it my feet are too big."
"You are beautiful, your feet are not too big and you'll marry one day."
"I hate to see you like this. Now that Adam is back you'll probably refuse to go to town. He'll find out anyway you are married. This is not that big of a community to keep anything secret for too long."
Beth left with a promise to come for a visit soon and let her know of if she had hear any more news.
