Introduction

She is staking her future on a man she’s never met. Can love carry them through? When Catharine Olsen steps off the train in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Peter Andersen is thrilled to see that she is delicately beautiful and everything her letters made her out to be. But he is a bit perturbed by what she failed to mention in those cherished letters—that she would be bringing her two sisters with her from Holland when she came to be his bride.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1

Cheyenne Territory, Wyoming

Spring 1887

Catharine Olsen sipped the last of her tea from the bottom

of her cherished Blue Willow teacup, then carefully placed

it on the saucer on the table next to her. She leaned back on

the settee, shoving her curls away from her face, and slipped a

letter out of her Bible. Though she knew the words by heart,

she reread the letter, now worn and discolored from time.

Catharine,

It is hard for me to contain my joy that soon we shall

meet and you will be my bride. I feel like I already know

you well from our correspondence. I pray you will have

safe travel on the Union Pacific. You should have a day

to rest after the long, arduous journey. I will promptly

call for you at the hotel the next day. Until then, I remain

affectionately yours,

Peter Andersen

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Had it been just yesterday when she stared from the train's

window at the prairie that seemed to stretch as far as her eye

could see? The relentless wind whipped the unending gold-

tipped grass, and there was not a tree in sight . . . just open

fields with an occasional cabin dotting the landscape and

perhaps deer or elk grazing in the distance. Peter had told

her to keep a lookout for them, and maybe a herd of bison.

She wondered how she would adjust to such surroundings

after leaving her beloved Amsterdam with its lush meadows

and myriad of tulips . . . and the memories, not all of them

good. An image swam before her eyes, and her heart tight-

ened. I can't think about it today or I won't be able to go on

. . . What purpose could it possibly serve?

Would her heart ever heal? A single tear slid down her

cheek, but she hastily swept it away before her sisters could

see. She sighed and glanced over at them sitting with their

heads together, reading a newspaper they'd picked up at the

last stop. She prayed silently that all would work out as she

hoped, but she knew from experience that only the Lord

could see what was in store.

"Next stop, Cheyenne!" the conductor announced as he

walked the aisle. He lifted his pocket watch from his waist-

coat. "In about ten minutes." Passengers began to gather

their reading materials, satchels, and personal belongings in

preparation for their arrival.

True to the conductor's word, the train slowed its approach

at the Union Pacific depot. Catharine decided that it was one

of the most beautiful railroad depots she'd ever seen. The

impressive structure looked fairly new with its multicolored

sandstone, stone arches, and steeply pitched roofs that re-

sembled a castle. Peter had written in his letters that the stone

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was quarried from west of Fort Collins, Colorado. Along the

opposite side of the train, the rail yard was a profusion of

trains narrowly wedged between one another, which could

make disembarking dangerous.

Finally, with a squeal of metal on metal and a belch of

steam, the engine halted, then passengers immediately scram-

bled to the exits, happy to have arrived in Cheyenne.

"Finally! I'm ready to get off this train," Greta exclaimed,

but she lowered her voice after a stern look from Catharine.

"Stay close to me, girls. The train tracks are really close

together, and walking could be treacherous." Catharine led

the way, and the conductor assisted them after reminding

them to take care as they stepped off. The wind howled,

scattering dust and debris and threatening to rip their skirts

from their slight forms in the bright April morning.

All three paused a moment amid the throng of people and

soldiers and looked about wide-eyed. A foreign soil and a

foreign city. The contrast here in life and in customs would be

hard at first, no doubt, Catharine thought. Straightening her

shoulders, she motioned to her sisters to follow her into the

depot. Greta and Anna struggled with their heavy satchels,

huffing and puffing.

Catharine stopped to watch them, shaking her head. "I

told you not to carry too much on the train. Will you two

ever listen to reason?"

Greta laughed, and the vibrant sound echoed throughout

the vast waiting room. "We will, dear sister, just as soon as

you have something sensible to say. You're such a worrier."

"Don't be mean, Greta," Anna scolded her sister. "I wish

I hadn't stuffed all my paint into this satchel. I hope nothing

leaked out. But I just couldn't leave it behind." The youngest

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Maggie Brendan, Deeply Devoted: A Novel,

Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2011. Used by permission.

Deeply De vot eD

of the three hiked her bag up to her chest and used her other

arm to support it.

"Okay, let's find out where we're to go," Catharine said,

looking around the large room. "Peter has a room wait-

ing for me at the hotel. I'll just need to ask about further

instructions."

The waiting area was filled with travelers, some being

greeted as they arrived and others bidding their goodbyes

before their respective trains departed. Catharine and her

sisters stood stock-still to admire the beautiful room with

its large fireplace, making it appear homey and restful for

the many travelers who milled about. The depot was enor-

mous, and no expense had been spared on the elegant fixtures.

Catharine admired the pine and red-oak carved woodwork

and ample windows that flooded the room with bright light.

A group of soldiers in army uniforms stood milling about

near the ticket window and openly admired the three young

women. One offered to help with Greta's bags, but when she

started to say yes, Catharine stayed her by the arm. Greta

smiled at the soldier and he shrugged with a grin, but his

eyes followed them. Greta glanced back with a flirtatious

tilt of her head.

Peter wouldn't arrive until the next day, which would allow

Catharine a chance to rest before their meeting. He would not

be prepared for her sisters in tow as well. That was one little

detail that Catharine hadn't told him about, for fear of rejec-

tion. Peter had paid for her travel fare, and by closely watching

her budget after her father's shipping business failed, she'd

managed to save enough funds for her sisters' fares as well.

Her parents' untimely death at sea six months ago, during

a buying trip to the Indies, caused catastrophic loss for his

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shipping company, and it hadn't helped the situation when

Catharine scrutinized the ledgers and found that her father's

accountant had embezzled most of the profits, leaving them

with very little to live on.

She tightened her lips in a fine line and looked around the

busy depot for someone to ask about directions to their hotel.

Over a window with metal bars across it was a sign that read

Information, so Catharine spoke to the clerk there. "Excuse

me, sir. Can you tell me where the Inter Ocean Hotel is?"

The clerk looked up and smiled at her and her sisters,

straightening his bow tie. "The hotel's one block north on

Sixteenth Street, ma'am. Will you need assistance?"

"If you would be so kind, I would be most grateful. We have

two large trunks that need to be transported." As Catharine

gave him her name to make arrangements for their luggage

to be taken to the hotel, the clerk's pen paused as he squinted

over his spectacles at her. "So . . . you're Miss Olsen." He

leaned toward the front edge of the window, then scrutinized

her with an approving gaze.

"Yes, sir, I am, and these are my sisters, Greta and Anna."

Greta and Anna bowed their heads slightly in his direction,

and his smile broadened.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you ladies. Name's Joe Willis."

He bobbed his head. "I'm to tell you Peter Andersen has a

carriage waiting to carry you the short distance to the hotel

. . . but I don't think he mentioned any sisters." He studied

the three of them, his eyes sweeping from one to the other.

"Maybe I can be of assistance with your carpetbag there."

Catharine smiled back. "I believe we can manage. If you'll

just see to it that our trunks are delivered, then we'll be going."

"Will do. You'll enjoy your stay at the Inter Ocean. It's one

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Deeply De vot eD

of our finest in Cheyenne, and I reckon Mr. Andersen spared

no expense on your behalf. Welcome to Cheyenne, ladies."

So here they were enjoying all the comforts the fine hotel

had to offer while Catharine waited anxiously to meet her

future husband. She had been mildly surprised but pleased

that Peter had reserved a room for her at such an opulent

hotel. That made her wonder about him. Isn't he just an

ordinary farmer?

Greta strode over to Catharine and plucked the letter out

of her hands, rattling the Blue Willow china cup and bringing

Catharine sharply back to the present. She gasped in horror

and quickly reached to steady her prized china to keep it from

tumbling to the floor. It held sentimental value for her, and

she had always admired the Blue Willow pattern.

"Alstublieft, for goodness' sake, Catharine!" Greta said

with a pointed look at her older sister. "Pull yourself together.

How many times are you going to read that letter? You'll be

meeting your beloved Peter in the flesh any moment now."

"Langzaam aan! Slow down! Honestly, Greta, you act as

though you were raised in a barn with the milch cows."

Greta flounced over to the chair next to Anna. Her younger

sister barely glanced up from the book she was reading, shook

her head, and watched as the letter fluttered onto the rug.

"Just leave her alone, Greta. If she wants to read it until

it disintegrates, then let her." She picked up the letter and

handed it to Catharine.

Catharine glanced at her sisters and sighed. She folded the

letter and placed it back in its proper place in her Bible. Lord,

how am I going to be both mama and papa? Greta, for all

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M aggie BrenDa n

her impatience and impulsiveness, was a bright, pretty, but

not always logical seventeen-year-old. Anna, fifteen, was in

her usual oblivious state to what revolved around her, being

content to ramble outdoors, read poetry, and let others wait

on her. It wasn't that Anna thought they should, it was more

that she felt she had much better things to do than the mun-

dane. That included just about everything.

But Catharine held fast to her decision that no matter

what, she would care for her sisters. She absentmindedly

pushed back a curl from her eyes that had escaped its pins.

Now that they'd left Holland, she hoped that she could keep

a tight rein on Greta's adventurous spirit and offer motherly

guidance to sweet Anna.

"I'm sorry!" Greta tucked her skirt under her bent legs.

"It just seems that you can't know the real Peter just by the

letters he wrote." She sniffed. "Ha! He could be an old wid-

ower with a bent back and a brood of children. I wouldn't

believe anything that was written to me in a letter. Best wait

until you're actually in his home and can see for yourself. On

the other hand, maybe he's a wealthy farmer, or he wouldn't

have put us in this grand hotel. This may not be as bad as I

thought after all."

"Don't you have any faith at all?" Catharine answered

gently. "I'm sure Peter is who he says. The truth comes out

in what we write or say."

"Did you tell him that you'd been married before?" Greta

pursed her lips until the corners of her mouth lifted.

"Greta, it's none of your business what we discussed in

our correspondence these last couple of months." Catharine

started to say more but clamped her mouth shut. She hadn't

meant to speak so sharply to her sister, and she wasn't in

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Maggie Brendan, Deeply Devoted: A Novel,

Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2011. Used by permission.

Deeply De vot eD

the mood to argue with her today. She had more pressing

matters on her mind.

Anna gave Catharine a quick squeeze about the shoulders,

smoothing her red curls. "I thought we were going to read

from Hebrews this morning. It does seem so appropriate,

considering . . ."

Catharine opened her Bible. "I suppose there's a little time

before he arrives." Catharine patted the spot next to her.

Anna snuggled up close, and Catharine's heart warmed at

the trust her sister placed in her. She must not fail her sisters,

and she wouldn't. They were depending on her.

She slid her finger to the passage marked by the lace cotton

handkerchief that had once belonged to her beloved mother

and read, "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out

into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance,

obeyed; and he went out, not knowing wither he went--"

Greta cleared her throat, interrupting her sister. "I have no

idea what that means, but I'm sure you'll be able to explain

it to us."

"I know!" Anna jumped up and leaned forward, hands

on her hips. "It means Abraham obeyed the Lord without

knowing where he was to go, ja?"

Catharine looked fondly at Anna's maturing, round face

and shining eyes and answered with a smile, "Ja, you are ex-

actly right. I feel like we are doing the same thing as Abraham,

stepping out in faith where God leads."

"You mean you are stepping out and dragging us with you!"

"Nee! No. And I don't appreciate the sarcasm or your

tone of voice, Greta. Whatever is the matter with you? We

discussed this thoroughly when I saw Peter's ad for a bride,

and we were all in agreement that we might have a better

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Maggie Brendan, Deeply Devoted: A Novel,

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M aggie BrenDa n

future in America." Catharine stared at Greta, who squirmed

under her scrutiny. "As I recall, Greta, you were hoping for

a bit of adventure."

Greta's small mouth twitched at the corners. "Ja, ja! I

know, but now that we are here, I'm having doubts. Why,

there's nothing here but brown prairie, dust, and cattle. It's

dreary, flat, and drab!"

"I'm sure it's not that way year-round. We'll miss our home,

but I believe the Lord has led us all here for a fresh start."

Catharine reached over and patted her on the hand. "We

must trust Him."

Anna sat back down. "And we should pray that we can

take the same faith that Abraham demonstrated to follow

God's leading--"

A sharp rap on their hotel room door made all three of

them jump, and Anna giggled.

"He's here!" Catharine hopped up, placing her palms to

her burning cheeks. "Do I look all right?" She fussed with

the hair pinned at the nape of her neck.

"You look wonderful, especially with the flush on your

cheeks," Greta said.

Catharine smoothed her skirts and bolted to the door to

swing it open. "Hallo. You must be Peter." Anna and Greta

stood behind her.

Peter whipped off his brown hat, revealing a head full of

thick, sandy brown hair with eyes the color of the ocean they'd

just crossed. He had a mustache cropped close to his full upper

lip, and he smiled back timidly at the three women assembled

before him. "Good morning, ladies. Yes, I'm Peter Andersen."

Catharine's heart leaped to her throat, and her corset

seemed to be cutting off all of her air supply. She pressed her

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Maggie Brendan, Deeply Devoted: A Novel,

Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2011. Used by permission.

Deeply De vot eD

hand to her abdomen as though it could pump the much-

needed air into her midsection. Why did her stomach feel

strange? Would he know she was hiding something by the

look on her face?

Catharine swallowed hard. He was deliciously handsome

and tall, with eyes that pierced right through her. She chided

herself for having foolish notions about falling in love. It was

really all about Peter, who needed a wife. And she needed a

new beginning. Simple as that. Best not to entertain such

thoughts about him.

Peter shifted his weight in the awkwardness of the moment.

"May I come in?"

Greta hastily stepped aside. "Pardon, forgive my manners."

Catharine's legs felt as stiff as peppermint candy sticks,

but she was finally able to move forward to greet the man

who was to become her life partner. "Peter! It's so good to

meet you at last," she said, suddenly feeling reticent as she

extended her hand.

But Peter stepped closer to her and tightly grasped her

hands in his. "My dear Catharine, I'm so glad you've arrived!"

His chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath. Was it

in anxiousness or agitation? Catharine couldn't be sure and

was almost afraid that he was going to bestow a bear hug

on her, which would be unseemly since they'd just met face-

to-face. She felt heat touch her face and flash down her neck

as her eyes traveled up his towering frame. His warm smile

was inviting, and the small cleft in his chin lent charm to his

sharply defined jaw and tanned face. He swallowed, and she

noticed his Adam's apple move.

"Oh! Where are my manners? Do have a seat," Catharine

said, leading him to the nearest chair. She looked nervously at

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Maggie Brendan, Deeply Devoted: A Novel,

Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2011. Used by permission.

M aggie BrenDa n

her sisters, fully aware that his eyes were following her. "Can

I take your hat?" Her hand shook as she reached for the black

Stetson hat, then placed it on the hall tree. Glancing back,

she stifled a laugh at his hair flattened from the hat, which

created a natural band all around his head. He seemed a tad

uncomfortable in his dark suit with matching string tie. His

wedding suit, perhaps? She doubted this was true farmer attire.

The suit coat hugged his body, and it was easy to see he was

well-muscled. "Peter, these are my sisters, Greta and Anna."

His eyes held an expression of surprise, but he only bowed

stiffly in their direction. "I'm happy to make your acquain-

tance."

"Greta, was there any more tea, or do we need to ring for

room service?" Catharine asked, trying to divert his question-

ing look for now. He would find out about her sisters soon

enough. She hoped he would be in agreement to take them

into his household as well, since he'd told her in their letters

that his farmhouse was large.

Peter sat down and folded his long legs under the edge of

the chair. "Please don't go to any trouble for me. I thought

perhaps we could go have some lunch. We've a lot to discuss

before we marry." His eyes held hers with a level gaze for a

long moment, then traveled discreetly down her form.

Catharine's heart thudded against her ribcage. Was he

pleased at the way she looked or sounded with her accent?

Maybe he didn't like her freckles or red hair! More impor-

tantly, could she do this again?

Why were these doubts plaguing her now? She had felt so

confident through their correspondence. But what if Greta

was right? It had been a long time since she'd given her heart

to a man, and she had made a terrible mistake before . . .

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Discussion Questions

1. Catharine and Peter begin their lives together with many secrets. Have you ever tried to maintain a relationship with someone while withholding the most important parts of yourself like your stories, your hurts, or your fears? What was that like? How well did it work? What did you learn from that experience?

2. Women chose to become mail order brides in the late 1800s for a variety of reasons and many of Catharine’s reasons are easy to understand. What do you think motivated Peter to seek a mail order bride? How could Catharine and Peter know simply through their few months of correspondence that this relationship could succeed? Is there a modern parallel to their situation?

3. Why did Clara choose to investigate Catharine and her sisters? Why did she choose not to talk to Peter about his decision? Have you ever been blinded by what you thought was best for someone and failed to see, or take into account, that person’s thoughts or feelings on the subject? Were you right? What might we discover if we choose to listen before making a judgment?

4. Do you think that Mac truly cared for Clara? If he did, why was he unable or unwilling to change his lifestyle for her, by doing things like going to church with her, or contemplating marriage, or even limiting how much he travelled? Was the difference in their faith and beliefs to blame? Does such a difference in faith or religious belief always spell the end of a relationship?

5. Peter knows in his heart that Catharine is the woman he believes her to be. His instincts and intuition and even his prayers tell him that he made the right choice. Why then is he unable to confront Catharine with his mother’s accusations or to believe the best of Catharine despite his mother’s questions? Have you ever believed gossip or rumors about someone you care about even when the actions described were completely out of character for that person? What did you do with your suspicions?

6. What is the significance of the Blue Willow china for Catharine? Is there an object in your life that holds that importance for you? What is it and what does it mean to you?

7. Anna develops a special relationship with Clara. How is she able to disarm Clara and bypass all of the walls of judgment and suspicion that Clara reflexively erects? Have you ever met someone like Anna?

8. Greta and Bryan seem to have developed a mutual bond in just the few moments of meeting at the station in Cheyenne? Is this bond merely physical attraction or do you think they truly love one another? Were these feelings of love instantaneous or did they develop over time? If their feelings were more than just physical why did Greta hide her relationship with Bryan from her family?

9. Catharine and Peter continue to write letters to one another even after they are married. Why do they choose to do this rather than to talk about their concerns and feelings? Is the written word more powerful than the spoken word? Which do you prefer and why?

10. If the next two books in the Blue Willow Brides series center on Greta and Anna, what do you think will happen next in their stories?

Weblinks

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»	Author Maggie Brendan's web site

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