Read Amelia's Journey for Free Online

Gideon to remind him not to tease his younger sister so much. Gideon shrugged and picked up a book to read.
    Ben reached over and squeezed Grace Ann’s hand and winked. That elicited a smile. Satisfied she was all right, he turned and gazed out the window as the train sped across Massachusetts. Farm after farm dotted the land as well as trees everywhere.
    The white spire of a church steeple lifted its point toward heaven as they passed through a small town along the way. He would see many of those between here and St. Louis, where they would change trains to head across Missouri to Kansas. Many times he’d considered the first families to move west and marveled at the stamina it had taken to travel in covered wagons for such distances. He was thankful his father and mother had chosen Kansas, close to the Missouri border, for their final destination.
    Now that he was older, he better understood the generosity of his grandparents who had helped Pa with the funds he needed for the ranch. He glanced now at his parents seated across the aisle. They talked with their heads together. His mother had given up so much to adventure out with Pa. Would Amelia ever do something like that for him?
    Pa beckoned to him from across the aisle. “Come and sit with us, Ben. We’d like to talk.”
    Ben settled onto the bench and waited for his father to speak his mind.
    â€œWe noticed that you took quite an interest in Amelia Carlyle this week. Is there something there we should know about?”
    Ben gulped. There went his belief that he and Amelia had been discreet. If his parents noticed, hers were bound to have done the same. “I don’t think so. At least not yet.” He lowered his head to make his confession. “But I do like her, and we’ve promised to write to each other.”
    His father frowned. “Son, I understand how you could be attracted to a girl as pretty as Amelia. But you must understand her life is very different from ours. You are bound to have seen that this week.”
    â€œI did, but I also sense a spirit of adventure in her.” The memory of her shoeless feet at the reception brought a smile to his heart. Life with Amelia would be one of fun and surprises.
    Ma leaned over and grasped his hand. “Ben, it’s more complicated than that. Her parents have certain expectations for her and have many plans for her future.”
    â€œBut you and Pa lived that life, and your parents were willing to let you and Aunt Clara go and have your own life. I just know Amelia would love it on the ranch.” He could see her riding across the range with him now, her silken hair flowing behind her.
    Pa shook his head. “Her father is much more conservative than either of your grandparents. In addition, I have two brothers who went into business with my father, and a sister who married and stayed here. Your mother was the same, except she had three sisters who all married well. Amelia and Amanda are the Carlyles’ only children, and to have one of them move so far away would be unthinkable for them.”
    His father spoke the truth, but Ben could still dream and hope for Amelia’s love to be great enough for her to want to live in Kansas with him. “If it’s what Amelia wants, and she loves me, I don’t see how her parents could stand in the way of our happiness. I wondered if we could ask her parents to come out to Kansas for a visit, so they could see how good it would be to live there. Then maybe they wouldn’t object as much.”
    Ma pressed her lips together and covered her mouth with the handkerchief she held in her hand. She turned her gaze out through the window, but not before he noticed the glisten of moisture in her eyes. Why would his desires make her so sad?
    His father’s voice became deeper, a sure indication of his concern. “Ben, you have to be sensible. Consider all the consequences and ramifications of your actions. You have