Amelia sat outside the train station, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the three orphan children , their letters clutched in her gloved hand. She forced her body to be still, and refrained from squirming, but inside butterflies tickled her stomach. They were to arrive in no more than thirty minutes, and in the moment they did, she would become their mother, and soul caretaker. It was a scary thought. As a widowed eighteen year old, she was hardly a candidate for motherhood, but she was lonely on the farm, no company, not even a dog to comfort her broken heart. A tear formed on her lashes as she thought of her late husband. Ben, what a wonderful husband he had been to her. Never had they shared an argument, only love and happiness. Then, just as they were planning on children, he was gone. The river outside of the property had flooded. He wanted to check the traps any way. The muddy banks couldn't hold his weight, and before he could cry out, the river sucked him away. The search parties never found his body, but they did retrieve his worn work shirt, shredded, and bloody lying on some river rocks, twenty miles out of town. She still missed him, two years later, and some days she wondered if the pain would ever go away.
The train whistle blared, and shook her from her remembering. The huge engine chugged toward the station, belching thick clouds of black smoke into the air. As it pulled up she could see the faces of three small children pressed to the glass, and she waved and smiled. Relief flooded her. They were finally here, and they were safe. Now they were her children, and she was their mother. This was a time when they would need her more than ever.
The passengers began filing out of the train. Two well dressed women stepped delicately into the Knightsville soil, their noses twitching at the sight of well worn dresses, and shabby looking shawls. Compared to the two Alexandria women, the towns women looked worn and dirty. Amelia knew from experience that they were mail order brides. Ezekiel Lotol, and Todd Twinner had both written to the to Alexandrian newspaper, looking for young women to come and care for their children. She knew in time, these two city beauties would settle down, and loose their city refinery, or they would run back to their families. Either way they would be alright. She turned to see the children jumping to the ground. She smiled, her heart going out to them. Two little girls, and a boy. She knew one of the girls was Amanda, and the other was Emily. Twins, actually, with fire red hair and big blue eyes. There brother Colin was almost thirteen. At first Amelia thought not to take him, but when the girls letters came the both begged her to take him as well. Apparently they were very close.
She swallowed hard as the three approached her cautiously. Colin spoke first.
"Are you Amelia Lynnstrom?" His voice sounded confident, but she knew better. She reached out and offered her hand to him.
"Yes, you must be Colin, how nice to meet you." She was rewarded by a strong grip, and a relieved smile. Colin was going to be a great addition to the farm, and probably a wonderful son. Not only was he strong he was also very sweet.
Next came Emily, obviously the outgoing one of the twins. She tugged on Amelia's full skirts and gazed up at her with eyes wide, and smile flashing.
