by Sarah Banks
∞∞∞
Once the town of Dalton and Gabriel were out of sight, Jane could no longer hold back her tears. She shared the stage with only two other passengers at the moment, both men, but she knew that was just temporary. It would be just a matter of time and a few more stops before the stage was filled uncomfortably full. For the moment they each had their own space but when she started to cry, the first man had quickly opened a newspaper and moved to the farthest corner of the coach. The second man offered her a handkerchief and also scooted a little distance away. Jane half-sobbed, half laughed and buried her face in her hands.
She would just have this one good cry she told herself and then she would never cry again. But she knew that was a lie. Her heart hurt so much. Maybe staying three more days hadn’t been the best idea after all. She had gotten a glimpse into what life would be like with a husband she loved and children she adored. But she couldn’t regret it. Even though it hurt terribly now, she knew she would treasure the memories for the rest of her life.
The coach lurched and Jane found herself flying through the air. The man that had offered her the handkerchief tried to catch her but only managed to slow her momentum some. Both she and he ended up on top of the man holding the newspaper by the time the coach shuddered to a stop.
“Is everybody okay?” She asked breathlessly.
“Y-yes,” the first man answered, wide-eyed. The man with the newspaper groaned but eventually nodded.
She righted herself and moved back into her seat. “What do you think happened?” She asked.
“Broke a wheel,” handkerchief man replied while newspaper man said simultaneously, “Robbers.”
Jane’s eyes widened and the next thing she knew the door flew open hitting the side of a stage with a bang and a man wearing a red neckerchief was framed in the doorway. One of the men behind her, she didn’t know who, shrieked but Jane wasn’t scared. She recognized the eyes that immediately sought her own.
“Gabriel,” she breathed.
“Jane.” His eyes roved over her before his eyebrows drew together. “You’ve been crying.”
She nodded.
“Why?”
She smiled and a tiny sob escaped her lips. “Because I didn’t want to leave.”
“So don’t. Stay here. Marry me Jane.”
Jane’s heart skipped a beat. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, touch him, hold him but instead she knotted her hands in her lap and forced herself to stay still. “You don’t want to marry me Gabriel. You said so yourself. I’m just a maid with a limp,” she said sadly.
“No, you’re the woman I love! I want to spend the rest of my life with you Jane.”
“Hold it right there!” A voice demanded from behind Gabriel.
All four of them froze and Gabriel slowly lifted his hands into the air.
Jane realized it was the coachman who had shouted, and he was pointing a rifle at Gabriel’s back. She tried to push past Gabriel, “Stop, don’t shoot!”
Gabriel caught her, holding her firm, shielding her from the gun. He glanced over his shoulder and then back to Jane. “Will you please tell them I’m not robbing the stage?”
She reached up and pulled down the neckerchief he probably forgot he was wearing to keep the dust out of his mouth. He had chased down her coach she realized. He had asked her to marry him. He said he loved her. Her mind was spinning.
“He’s not robbing the coach. He’s the man I’m going to marry,” she said breathlessly.
Gabriel grinned.
He lowered the rifle. “That’s all well and good but I’ve got a schedule to keep.” The man waved his gun from the stage to the ground. “On or off?”
“Off!” They both said and then they both started laughing. Jane jumped and Gabriel caught her.
∞∞∞
“Oh, my kitten! Wait!” Jane called before the stagecoach could pull away. She tried to wriggle from Gabriel’s embrace.
“I’ll get him,” Gabriel told her. He took a step toward the now closed door of the stage. It quickly sprung open and Jane’s bag and basket were shoved into his arms before the door quickly swung shut again. The coach moved away shortly after and he and Jane were left alone on a dusty road with a single horse, no saddle, two riders and two pieces of cargo.
“I guess I should have thought this through,” Gabriel said, looking at the horse and then her helplessly.
Jane raised a brow at him and gave him one of her mischievous smiles. “We’ll manage. Any regrets?”
“Never,” he replied fiercely. He set down the basket and bag and pulled her into his arms and kissed her how he had wanted to kiss her for the past week.
When he finally broke the kiss, he was supporting both his and Jane’s weight. “Oh my,” she whispered. Her eyelashes fluttered and her cheeks had turned a becoming shade of pink. It just made him want to kiss her again but first things first.
“When do you want to get married? This weekend? Next?” He asked.
“Today.”
“Today?”
She nodded. “Yes today, as soon as the children get out of school if the preacher is available. I don’t want to wait. I want to be your wife Gabriel.”
“But what about a fancy dress and a bouquet of flowers?”
“I don’t need any of that. Well, maybe we’ll pick some flowers on the way, but our Sunday best will do just fine.”
She was perfect. How had he almost let her get away? He had been a fool not to see what was right in front of him. He dropped his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. “I don’t deserve you Jane.”
“I say you do,” she whispered, brushing her thumb across his cheek until he opened his eyes and stared into hers. “Besides, maybe I’m just marrying you for your hot springs.”
He smiled, touched his lips to hers and said, “Maybe I’m just marrying you for your cooking.” And then he kissed her.
∞∞∞
They made it back to town although at a much slower pace. They stopped at the preacher’s house first and made arrangements for an afternoon wedding. Then he exchanged Jake’s mare at the stable for his own horses and wagon. They returned home just long enough to wash up and change into their Sunday best and gather the children’s clothes as well. Jane looked so pretty when she emerged from his room he just wanted to kiss her again, but he didn’t let himself or he knew they’d never leave.
They shared her lunch on the way back into town stopping only once to pick flowers for two bouquets, one for her and one for Thea. Next stop was the mercantile.
He hopped down from the wagon. “Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks for letting me borrow your horse and stabling mine Jake,” Gabriel said, walking up to the counter.
“No problem at all. Did you find what you were after?”
He looked over his shoulder and saw Jane out the window sitting in their wagon. She was wearing her bonnet, her nose buried in the bouquet of flowers they had just picked. He’d never seen a prettier sight. “Indeed I did. May I see your wedding bands please?”
“Of course!” Jake replied, his expression full of surprise.
He reappeared with a small box from a back room that contained only about a dozen rings. They were all very simple, but he supposed that didn’t matter as much as the meaning behind it. Hopefully Jane would like it, but if she didn’t, he’d save and send away for a better one.
He held the ring he had chosen out to Jake. “I’ll take this one. Put it on my tab.”
“Done,” Jake replied, flipping through a book and making a notation. “And congratulations to you sir. May I inquire when the lucky day will be?”
“Today. In about thirty minutes,” Gabriel replied with a grin. “Thank you.” He left with a wave and hopped back into the wagon, patting the pocket of his jacket.
“Find what you needed?” Jane asked.
“Sure did.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before taking up the reins.
Her cheeks turned pin
k. “Gabriel,” she whispered before discreetly looking around to see if anyone had noticed.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
She rested her hand on his arm. “School will be out any minute. Let’s hurry. I don’t want to miss them.”
Hand in hand in the shade of the oak tree they waited for school to end and when it did Thea burst out of the schoolhouse with a squeal and threw herself into Jane’s waiting arms. “You’re still here! Did you miss the stage again?”
“Not this time. I got on it and your brother…eventually,” she added, “got me right back off. He asked me to marry him and I said yes. I hope that meets with your approval.”
“Oh yes!” Thea gushed. “We’ll practically be sisters.”
“Yes, and the very best of friends,” Jane added, hugging her. She handed them each a bundle of clothes. “Come on, it’s time you two changed. We’ve an appointment with the preacher in fifteen minutes.”
Fifteen minutes later, when Gabriel repeated his vows at the front of the church, his hands holding Jane’s, he realized words had never passed his lips that he meant so much before. Jane teared up and smiled at the same time. He slipped the ring from his pocket onto her finger and he kissed her.
“It’s lovely. Thank you.”
“It’s the best I could do under the circumstances,” he began to explain.
“Stop, it’s perfect. I love it and I love you,” she whispered.
He pressed another quick kiss to her lips. The preacher cleared his throat and they followed him over to a desktop and each signed the marriage register. Once Jane set the pen down, he swung her up into his arms and strode down the aisle of the church. “Gabriel Aaron Campbell! You silly man, put me down!”
“I will, once we’re over the threshold of our home.”
Brandon ran ahead and held the door open for them and Thea ran after them laughing.
Regretfully, Gabriel had to put her down sooner than that because as they emerged from the church there were already people gathered to congratulate them. News travelled fast in Dalton.
As much as he wanted to get Jane home, he took the time and made the introductions. He wanted everyone to meet the woman who had consented to be his wife and he also got the opportunity to inform them that Jane was not his cousin.
Jane was still laughing about that after supper. “I don’t know why that bothers you so much. Who cares what anyone else thinks? We know the truth and that’s what matters,” she said as she began to clear the table.
“It doesn’t bother me anymore now that I set the record straight.” He came up behind her at the sink and wrapped his arms around her. “Are we going to the hot springs tonight?” He asked in a low voice.
She glanced at Brandon and Thea who were still sitting at the table, eating seconds of dessert. “I would love that,” she murmured. “After the children are asleep.”
“I was so mad at myself for ruining our last night together Jane.”
She turned in his arms. “It’s okay, because it didn’t turn out to be our last night.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and touched her mouth to his. He immediately deepened the kiss.
Brandon started making gagging noises.
“Brandon! The noises you’re making are worse than the kissing!” Thea yelled at her brother.
Jane smiled as Gabriel reluctantly released her and went to break up the bickering.
Once the children were abed Jane emerged from the house where he was waiting for her on Bandit’s back. He took her to the hot springs but this time he didn’t leave her alone, following her around the bend. He stripped and slipped into the pool first and held out his hand. Pink cheeked Jane removed her own clothes and followed. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. They took turns washing each other between kisses and then he made love to his wife on a bed of pine needles covered with their towels and dry clothing. Not the most comfortable bed but neither seemed to notice.
He took her home and held her in his arms as she slept. Gabriel had wanted to make love to her again but there was plenty of time for that. This was only their first night together as husband and wife. He had a lifetime to look forward to with her, both days and nights.
His arms tightened around her. “I love you Jane,” he whispered against her hair.
Jane murmured something unintelligible and turned in his arms. Eyes still closed, her fingers crept around his neck and she pulled his mouth to hers. He was so damn lucky he realized. He made love to her again, much slower this time and in an actual bed. His final thought as he fell asleep was that if this was a dream, he never wanted to wake up.
Epilogue
The Next Year
“I knew it would work,” Brandon said smugly, watching Gabriel saunter from the barn to where Jane was sitting, weeding the garden she had planted earlier that spring. His brother could never stay away from his wife for long.
“You knew what would work? What are you talking about?” Thea asked from the shade of the porch beside him. She was dragging a string back and forth across the floorboards and his clever cat was pouncing on it with murderous intent.
It was mid-morning on a Saturday the following summer after Gabriel and Jane got married. Their morning chores were done and they were just waiting on Gabriel and Jane. They were going fishing today. Since Jane married his brother, she declared one Saturday a month for fishing, weather permitting.
Jane was pregnant and even though she looked ready to give birth any day now, she insisted again just this morning she still had one more month to go. Brandon wasn’t so sure about that. She was as big as a heifer giving birth to her first calf but he knew better than to say so, now at least, after getting a playful swat on the back of the head from Jane for saying that within earshot of her just last week.
“I knew that if we could just find the right bride and bring her here that he’d marry her.”
“You did not! Besides, they almost didn’t get married. Jane got on the coach and actually left town before he went after her. It was so romantic.” Thea sighed.
Brandon made a gagging noise that he knew irritated Thea. Sure enough, she kicked his boot with her own. He smiled. He’d never forget the day he and Thea came out of the schoolhouse and Gabriel and Jane waited for them hand in hand. Next thing he knew he was wearing his Sunday best and standing at the front of the church with his brother and his bride, his sister by his side.
If Brandon ever married, and he wasn’t planning on it, but if he ever did, he would want to marry somebody like Jane. She was always working hard whether in the house, garden or even helping Gabriel with the horses. She made the best desserts, she was always thoughtful and affectionate with all of them, quick to laugh and she turned out not to be such a bad fisherman after all. Well, after lots of practice. She didn’t let her limp hold her back. Brandon hardly even noticed it anymore. What he did know was that Jane loved his brother and he had never seen his brother so happy as he was since he had married Jane.
Brandon watched as Gabriel reached the garden where Jane currently sat amid thick bushes of green beans. “Jane, you shouldn’t be doing that.”
“My leg’s fine,” she insisted.
“I’m not talking about your leg.” He pulled her to her feet and swept her into his arms.
“Gabriel Aaron Campbell, put me down!”
Gabriel pretended to stagger under her extra weight and laughed.
Jane swatted him playfully.
He carefully set her on her feet.
“But I am glad you’re here. I’ve been done weeding that spot for ten minutes. I couldn’t get back up,” Jane admitted.
“Jane! Why didn’t you call me or ask Brandon or Thea for help?” Gabriel asked in exasperation.
“Because I knew you would come.”
“Yes, Jane. I’ll always come for you.”
“Eww, they’re kissing again,” Thea warned.
Brandon closed his eyes and felt the warm summer breeze blow across his face. “They’r
e always kissing.”
“Want to go inside? Jane baked a pie this morning.”
Brandon’s eyes popped back open. “She did? What kind?”
“Does it matter?” Thea asked with a laugh.
“Nope,” he replied with a laugh of his own.
He jumped to his feet and followed Thea into the house. His cat abandoned the string and followed him inside. He followed him everywhere. Brandon had to leave him in the house with Jane when he went to school. He even slept with him in a room that Gabriel had added onto the main house as soon as he learned Jane was expecting. Either he or Thea would have to share their room depending on if it was a boy or a girl. Brandon wished for a boy, most of the time.
Just as he was reaching to pick at the pie’s buttery crust the door flew open.
“I didn’t touch it!” He insisted, quickly pulling his hand back.
Thea snickered.
“Never mind that,” Gabriel said, crossing the threshold with Jane in his arms. “I need you to go to town and bring back the doctor.”
“The baby’s coming?” Thea asked, clapping her hands together in excitement.
“The baby’s coming,” Gabriel confirmed.
“Aww, but he’s not supposed to be here for another month,” Brandon protested. “Jane said so. We were supposed to go fishing.”
“Go get the doctor,” Gabriel repeated, teeth clenched.
Jane lifted her head from Gabriel’s shoulder and patted his cheek affectionately. “Everything’s going to be okay Gabriel,” she said softly. She turned to Brandon. “I’m sorry we can’t go fishing today. Maybe next weekend.”
Gabriel rolled his eyes.
Jane ignored him and continued, “How about to make it up to you…” She tapped her chin thoughtfully and then held up her finger. “You can have leftover pie for breakfast!”
“Jane, don’t you ever take anything seriously?” Gabriel complained.
Jane laughed. “Well, I probably won’t feel up to making breakfast after giving birth to your child.” She traced his lips with her fingertip. “I love this little frowny mouth. Reminds me of my kitten.” She leaned up and pressed a light kiss to his lips.
