August 11, 1893
She looked up from her journal to watch the scenery through the window. Mile upon mile of flat grassland rolled by, only occasionally relieved but a grove of trees or a small farm. This was the longest train ride that she had ever been on, but she was no longer in awe of the massive train. It has simply been too long since she had had a decent nights sleep and a thorough bath. It was the middle of summer, and the sun heated the train cars and the miserable people traveling across the countryside. She wished that this part of the trip was over.
She stopped watching the flat horizon and looked down at her threadbare dress. It was one of only two that she owned, both given to her by the nuns in the orphanage. She had her only possessions in a worn carpetbag, her slim wardrobe and the only three letters she had ever received in her lifetime.
She came to the orphanage one day when she was almost three. A preacher and his wife on an evening drive had seen smoke in the distance. Upon investigation, they found a little girl standing in the yard of a small farmhouse. âWhereâs your parents?â they had asked. All she could do was point into the charred mess. They took her home and fed and bathed her, and the next day she was taken to the orphanage. When they asked her name, she said, ââManda.â They figured that she had just had a hard time saying Amanda, so Amanda she was. No one knew the family name, so they called her Amanda Rain. The Orphanage was in New York City, somewhere sheâs never been. Over the fifteen years that she was placed there, she never ventured outside of the walls. Her lessons, dormitory, and church were all located inside, so there was no reason for her to venture into that sinful world, as the nuns had told her.
She, when she realized that she would soon be released, sent out letters to employment agencies that only hired women. She figured that she could nanny for someone; she always was good with the children that were brought into the orphanage.
The first, and only letter that she received was from a company in Colorado. She read the letter several times:
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Amanda Rain,
I have been contacted by an employment agency in regards to your letter. It seems that they believe that you would be a good candidate for a position in my business. Further questions need to be answered before I can be certain. Are you, or have you ever been married? Do you know how to use bookkeeping records? Are you trained in culinary skills or housekeeping? Do you play any instruments or sing? What are your measurements for seamstress purposes? What is your coloring for clothing requirements? Failure to answer any of these questions will result in not being awarded a position.
Sincerely,
Dalton, Inc.
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As she was told, she answered all of the questions, even if somewhat hesitantly. She even included a small likeness of her that one of her roommates had done on scrap paper.
The second letter was from the orphanage stating that she had one month to decide whether to join the convent or to leave the only home she had ever known. To become a nun was encouraged.
The final letter carried in her bag was from her future employer, Dalton, Inc. Included with this letter was a one-way ticket to Colorado, and some extra money. The letter had further instructions telling her to meet Mr. Jon Freedman on the platform of the station. âMr. Freedman should be able to recognize you from the likeness that you sent.â She hoped.
She said goodbye to her âsistersâ that were in the orphanage with her and the nuns that she had come to think of as her many mothers. She gathered her few possessions, and was on her way. She looked back at the forgotten journal; she didnât seem to be able to concentrate on it.
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She lifted her head off the window and realized that she was at her station. She gathered her belongings, and walked out onto the platform. There was mass confusion and dust hanging in the air. She walked around trunks and crates to try to get to a point where she could be seen. Suddenly, a strong hand clamped down on her arm. She turned to look at the person, to tell them that they were hurting her. She looked into the cruelest face that she had ever seen. She opened her mouth to scream, but his other hand clamped down on her mouth and nose. Thankfully, she lost consciousness.
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âWell, I see that someone has decided to join us,â said a voice from far in the distance. âCome on Amanda, itâs time to get up,â the voice now losing patience.
Amanda opened her eyes. She immediately gasped. She was in the most beautiful carriage that sheâd ever seen. When she looked in front of her, her mouth fell open. Sitting there, smiling at her, was the most handsome man that she thought could possibly exist. Light brown hair with a few mixed in grays, strong build, tanned skin, and beautiful blue eyes. That mouth, it was so wonderful, seemed to be carved by God.
âWhere⊠am I?â she finally asked.
âFor starters, youâre in Colorado. You are in my carriage on your way to my home and business. This is where you will both work and live. We are three hours from the nearest town by carriage, which you have traveled two and a half leaning against Mr. Freedman. Kindly right yourself; I detest slovenly behavior.â She did as she was told. I am Steven Dalton; you can call me Mr. Dalton or Sir.
âYes, Sir. You didnât tell meâŠ.â
âI told you all that you needed to know. Now, may I suggest that you enjoy the view?â
She bent her head to look at her lap, feeling defiant. She was shocked to see that her skirt was tore from hem to hip. Worn petticoats showed through the gash. She made to pull the sides together when the now silent Mr. Freedman ordered âLeave it beâ. Once again she obeyed, but still felt enough defiance to try to adjust her legs so that minimal undergarments could be seen. She was so nervous. The only men she had ever been around had been the priests and parishioners that came to the church. Now, she was alone with two men that she barely even knew, and they wanted to stare at her underwear.
âWeâll be arriving at my ranch very shortly. Maybe you should prepare yourself.â She didnât know what she was supposed to do, so she did nothing. âWhy donât you try fixing your hair a bit.â It wasnât a question.
She reached for her bag to get her wooden comb. With a frown, she looked up. âWhere are my belongings?â
âThere was nothing in there that you need other than your journal and the letter stating that you are now eighteen. I removed the letters and your journal, but I had the rest disposed of. You seem surprised. Why else do you think that I asked for your seamstress requirements?â
She did the best she could to her hair, but ended up just taking it down, so it hung freely to her waist. âLeave it like that.â
He was amazed by the way her hair hung, beautiful, soft, multifaceted. He definitely liked it. It made her look younger than eighteen, but he didnât mind.
When they arrived at the ranch, really a small town, she was shown to her room. A hot bath had been prepared for her. She disrobed and stepped in. When she was immersed, the maid came in and took her clothes. She washed everything at least twice, and enjoyed the feeling of being clean. Soon, the water began to grow cold, so she stepped out into the room. A plush towel awaited her. With nothing else to wrap in, she settled for the towel, and went in search of a hairbrush. The brush was on the vanity, and the vanity in front of the wide window in the room. She stepped over to it and began brushing the tangles out. If her hair wasnât kept in a bun, it became so unruly. She glanced out the window to see people busy at the dayâs work. Directly across from her window was a barn. Standing just inside the door was a man with out a shirt. He had a well-carved body, and nice stature⊠It was Mr. Dalton! Blushing, she turned from the window to the door, where the maid and Mr. Freedman stood.
Slowly, Mr. Freedman walked forward. He took the brush from her hand, and turned her again to face the window. His hands were at her back pulling at the towel that was wrapped around her. âLet it go.â She shook her head no, staring directly into her employerâs eyes, but no one else paid attention. From the ground, Mr. Dalton nodded his head, and the man behind her ripped her towel away. Everything was exposed. She tried to use her hair as a shield, but Mr. Freedman took the mane and wrapped it in his fist. âNo!â she said. But she couldnât do anything. She moved her arms to cover her body, but they ended up held behind her back. The maid was helping him! She closed her eyes and was rewarded with a swat on her ass with the hairbrush.
âYou know you want him to watch you. Just look at him. See that? He likes watching you naked.â Indeed, her employer was smiling.
She began crying; she just couldnât help but wonder why these people were doing this to her. Below, Mr. Dalton gave one final nod, and the curtains were closed. âItâs time to get ready for dinner, Miss Amanda.â
The dress was handed to her, along with black stockings and no undergarments. âIsnât there any underwear?â She was handed a black corset, which was then laced as tight as she could wear it and still breath. She had never needed a corset before, and could not think of why she needed one now. The dress was on the verge of being too small. A quarter of an inch lower in the bodice, and her nipples would be showing. âI believe that the seamstress didnât follow the measurements sent to her.â
Chuckling, the man that she was beginning to despise said, âShe followed them perfectly, and I wouldnât worry about it.â
She was led to the dining room, where she was the only female but the maid who was serving the three people. It seemed that Mr. Freedman took care of everything for Mr. Dalton. She was seated next to her employer, very close to him. She waited until the two men were eating before she picked up her napkin and placed it in her lap. After a few bites of dinner, and a few sips of wine, the day began to catch up with her. She felt a hand graze her lap, but thought nothing of it. Suddenly, she felt a very cold hand touch the inside of her thigh. She jumped and looked at her employer. He told her to continue eating. She drank her wine instead.