“The sheriff wouldn’t even come out here after Jefferson took Ella.” Mother’s tone betrayed her anger. “Jefferson could have added her to his list of victims, and the sheriff wouldn’t have lifted a finger to help us.”
“Exactly. We will probably never again be able to count on his protection,” Robert replied. “And even if he’s replaced because of his part in all of this, I don’t think people are going to be quick to forgive.”
“Then what are we to do?” Mother asked.
Ella met Phillip’s gaze and smiled. “There’s plenty of land for sale in Montana.”
twenty-five
You suppose Henry will hire us back on, since we’re late getting back?” Phillip asked in a teasing tone.
Ella shrugged. “I honestly don’t care one way or the other. I mean, I love performing, and I think another year or two of trick riding would suit me just fine. But I won’t be bullied. I wanted to attend Abe and Mara’s wedding and celebrate with them.”
Phillip looked across the room to where the bride and groom were happily greeting their guests. “I think you managed that quite well.”
She smiled. “I think 1903 will be a wonderful year for weddings. What about you?”
He looked down at her and laughed. “Are you proposing to me?”
“Well, what if I was?” she asked. “Seems one of us ought to.”
Phillip hooked his arm through hers and pulled her along. They exited the back of Mara’s church and walked a little while before Phillip spoke his mind.
“I didn’t want to rush you. You went through a lot with Spiby, and you deserve to take as much time as you need.”
“I’ve had as much time as I need. Jefferson plays no part in this, and I won’t give him the satisfaction of delaying my happiness.” Ella stopped and looked up at him. “I love you, Phillip. I love you, and I want to marry you.”
He chuckled. “That sounds fine to me, because I want to marry you too. Maybe we should go back to the church and see if Mara’s pastor can do the job here and now.”
“Mother would never forgive me,” Ella said, shaking her head. “Besides, Robert said Father will be home at the end of the week. That ought to be time enough.”
Phillip looked around. The street was empty except for one old man loading a milk can onto the back of his wagon. Phillip pulled Ella close. “Care to seal it with a kiss?”
“Not until you ask me officially,” she said with a smile. “I won’t have it said that I forced the issue, but a gal likes to be asked.”
“You want me down on one knee?”
“No. Just like this—with me in your arms.”
“In the cold morning air with the taste of snow on the breeze?”
“Exactly.” She giggled as he tightened his hold on her.
“Miss Ella Fleming—”
“Luella,” she corrected. “The official name is Luella.”
He nodded. “And we want this to be official.”
“Indeed.”
“Miss Luella Fleming, will you marry me? Will you love me forever and go where I go? Will you promise to always speak your mind and hear me out when I speak mine? Will you forgive me no matter how many mistakes or messes I make?” He bent down until his lips were just an inch away from hers. “Will you?”
“I will,” she said, putting her arms around his neck. “Will you?”
“Most assuredly,” he whispered. “What comes my way, comes your way too. We’ll face it together, and with God’s help we’ll be just fine, you and me.”
He kissed her then, leaving no doubt of his affection.
“Now, come on. It’s freezing cold out here, and we’re missing the cake.” He pulled her back toward the church. “And you ought to know by now that Phillip DeShazer is never one to miss the cake. Although I would prefer we serve pie at our wedding. I’m partial to pie.”
On Friday, Ella wore her mother’s wedding dress, marveling the entire time at the way Mara had been able to make it fashionable. Ella’s parents had married in the early 1870s when the bustle was all the rage. Mara had managed to remove that feature and save the integrity of the gown. With a few snips here and there, she had maintained the front of the gown’s original styling and yet given it a fresh new look. Ella was delighted, and so was Mother.
Phillip wore a store-bought suit that Mara had also altered. Robert had taken him shopping, and while her brother reported they were somewhat snubbed, their money, on the other hand, wasn’t. The mercantile owner was happy to sell them what they needed, although he drew the line at alterations.
It was of no concern, however. Mara was happy to lend her expertise, and Ella even got into the act and hemmed the trousers. Together, Ella thought they made a very fetching couple.
The wedding was small but very satisfactory, as far as Ella was concerned. She had never wanted a large wedding with hundreds of people. So long as Phillip was at her side, the rest of the world could be a million miles away.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the minister said with a smile. “Phillip, you may kiss your bride.”
Ella smiled up at him as Phillip pushed her veil aside. He tenderly held her face and gave her a rather chaste kiss. Ella turned to see her parents smiling in approval while Robert clapped. Mara and Abe, who stood opposite Ella’s family, did likewise.
“Well, now we’ll have to do it all over again for Henry and the show,” Phillip said as he straightened.
Ella laughed. “I don’t mind as long as you’re the one I’m marrying.”
“I’d better be. You try this with anyone else, and I’m afraid I won’t be very friendly about it.”
“Congratulations, you two,” Robert declared. “I don’t mean to rush you, but you do have a train to catch, and I know Ella planned to change out of that gown before you made your way to town.”
“I’ll help you change,” Mara offered.
“Oh, I wish you had allowed for more time, Ella,” her mother said. “We can’t even throw you a wedding breakfast.”
“No one but us would come to it anyway,” Ella said, smiling. “But even so, don’t fret, Mother. This was the perfect wedding, as far as I’m concerned. I wish my sister could have been here, but even without her, it was lovely.”
“Come on now,” Mara encouraged. “The fellas will finish loadin’ everything in the wagon, and we’ll head to town as soon as we get you changed. We just have time if we hurry.”
Ella hiked her skirts and dashed up the steps in an unladylike fashion.
The depot wasn’t very busy when Robert stopped the wagon. They’d beat the train into town, and that was a great relief to Ella, who felt as if she’d been running the entire day.
Phillip jumped from the wagon and then turned to help her down. Instead of just assisting her, however, he pulled her into his arms and cradled her for a moment.
“Put me down. Someone will see us,” she protested.
“And you would honestly care?” he asked, leaning down to silence her answer with his lips.
Ella sighed, put her arms around his neck, and returned the kiss.
“Enough, you two. The train is coming in,” Robert said, chuckling as the whistle blasted.
Phillip lowered Ella to the ground. “Remind me later to pick up where we left off.”
“Like you’ll need to be reminded.” Ella thought her heart might burst with love for him. How thankful she was for all God had done to bring them together. “Hand me my bag, please.” She pointed back to the wagon, and Phillip retrieved her carpetbag.
“You’d better let me hang on to this. It weighs a ton,” Phillip said, pretending to be overburdened.
Ella yanked it away from him. “It does not.”
“What do you have in there?”
“Not much. A book, a few toiletries, a change of clothes.”
Phillip laughed. “Not much at all.”
The men managed the trunks while Mara made certain the tickets were in order. Ella, meanwhile, stood on the pla
tform, contemplating the future. She turned back toward the main part of town, knowing she might never return. There was nothing to keep her here. Even Mother and Father were contemplating moving to Montana, and Robert had already agreed that he and Virginia liked the idea of relocating. Ella knew the Brookstones would be more than happy to assist them should they decide to settle in the Miles City area, and it gave her great peace of mind to think of them all being so close together.
“What’s on your mind, little sister?” Robert asked, joining her on the platform.
“I was just saying good-bye to this place and to my childhood.” She smiled. “I’m not sorry to leave it. There are a lot of bad memories here.”
Robert shrugged. “Some good ones too.”
“Yes, but I can’t help thinking they were good only for my benefit, while others suffered to make them so. I can’t look back on them without wondering what price was paid.”
“I hadn’t considered it that way, but you’re right. I suppose now we must look to the future and put the past behind us.”
“That’s exactly what I intend to do.” Ella put down her bag and hugged her brother. “I hope we shall all meet again very soon.”
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I hope so too, little sister. I hope so too.”
Phillip joined them and stuck his hand out to Robert. “Until next time.”
Robert shook his hand. “In Montana.”
“I think that would suit us all just fine,” Phillip replied. “Ella and I figure this will be our last tour with the show, because we intend to have a whole passel of kids.”
“Phillip!” Ella felt her cheeks warm. “Hush!”
“Why should I?” he asked, grinning. “It’s true, and your brother understands. He’s got a passel himself, what with that new baby boy.”
“Mr. Fleming,” a deep male voice called.
They turned to find the same Pinkerton agent Ella had talked to a few days earlier coming across the depot platform.
Robert went forward and met him. They spoke for a moment in hushed tones, then rejoined the group. The look on Robert’s face was grave, and Ella felt a lump rise in her throat.
“This is Mr. Richardson, as you no doubt remember,” Robert began. “He’s come with news about Jefferson.”
Ella reached for Phillip’s hand and felt a sense of reassurance as his fingers closed over hers. “What has happened?”
“We were able to capture Mr. Spiby, ma’am,” the agent declared.
“Thank the good Lord,” Mara said, shaking her head.
Ella let out the breath she’d been holding. “Where is he now?”
Mr. Richardson exchanged a glance with Robert. “On his way back here.”
“Here? But why? You aren’t letting him go, are you?” Ella could hardly believe they would turn him loose.
“No, ma’am. You see, he refused to be taken alive.”
“Jefferson is dead?” Ella said in disbelief. She looked to Phillip, and he put his arm around her for support.
“What happened?” Phillip asked.
“We caught up to him, and he wouldn’t give up. He tried to run for it and shot at our men. They returned fire, and he was killed. I received a telegram just a short time ago and planned to ride out to your farm to let you know, but someone told me you were here.”
“Yes,” Phillip replied. “We’re heading back to rejoin the wild west show.”
Ella felt weak in the knees. It wasn’t that she didn’t feel relief knowing that Jefferson would never again be a problem to her, but the shock of it was more than she had anticipated.
“Thank you for letting us know, Mr. Richardson,” she murmured. “I’m afraid I need to sit down.”
“I’ll get her on the train,” Phillip said, moving her that direction.
“My bag!” she cried, suddenly remembering that she’d left it on the platform.
“I’ll bring it, Miss Ella,” Mara called after them. Then, like Phillip, she asked, “What in the world did you pack in here?”
Phillip chuckled. “I told you it was heavy.”
He helped Ella up the steps and past the conductor. A porter stepped forward and directed them to their seats.
“All aboard.” The conductor’s muffled cry came through the closed window.
Mara and Abe brought the tickets and handed Phillip and Ella theirs. “We’re set, all the way to Richmond. Abe and I will be in the black folks’ car if you need us.”
Ella looked at her lifelong friend. “I’ll always need you, Mara. God gave us to be friends knowing we’d always need each other.”
“I ’spect He did, at that.”
The train jerked to life, and Ella reached for Phillip’s hand with a sigh. “I’m so glad to be on our way. Glad too that Mother and Father plan to sell the farm and leave the state. I can’t bear the idea of them being treated poorly.”
Phillip stretched out his legs as far as he could. “I just want you happy. You deserve to be. You’ve put up with a great deal these last couple of years. Including my bad behavior.”
“But you’re changed now. I can tell. I could see it in your eyes the day you found me.”
“A lot of folks who knew me before won’t believe the change, but I guarantee you, I’m not going back to being the drunkard I was when you first met me. I promise you that.”
Ella turned to better see his face. “I know God has totally transformed you. Now I need him to do the same for me.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about? You’re perfect.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you knew the thoughts in my head. Being with Jefferson made me realize I can be quite heartless. I hated him so much, Phillip. I honestly thought about finding a way to kill him. I’m not sorry he’s dead.”
“But that stands to reason. He was holding you against your will.”
“Yes, but I didn’t pray for his soul or that God would help him change. I just asked God to punish him—to hurt him as he’d hurt me. I wasn’t kind, and I certainly didn’t care that if he died, he’d go to hell. I just wanted him to die.” She looked down at her lap. “I’m so ashamed of myself.”
Phillip took his time replying. It made Ella nervous to think she might have changed his heart toward her. Finally, he touched her chin and raised her face to meet his gaze.
“You have to give it to God, Ella. Let go all your fears and regrets. Let go of the anger and hate. Like you told me about forgiving—God expects us to forgive in order to be forgiven.”
Ella nodded. “That’s true. I never gave much thought to forgiving Jefferson for what he did to me.”
“Believe me, I wanted him to suffer too. I also thought about killing him, and I’ve never wanted to kill anyone. It scared me, I have to admit.”
She nodded. “Me too. I didn’t like thinking that I might be capable of such a thing.”
“I don’t think you would have been,” Phillip said, touching her cheek. “Stop dwelling on it and give it to God. He’ll help you to forgive Jefferson Spiby. I know this, because He’s helping me forgive.”
“I know you’re right. But I don’t think it will be easy. Despite what you think, I’m not perfect.”
He grinned. “You’re perfect for me, Ella DeShazer, and that’s all that matters right this moment.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “That’s all that matters.”
Epilogue
The new season was going as planned and seemed to be awakening an entirely new generation of children to the wonder of the wild west show and all it had to offer.
Ella watched from the sidelines as Mary and Chris finished their act and took their bows. She was glad they had decided to stay with the show and continue the act. Mary was such a dear friend, and Phillip and Chris were plotting out an idea for another book Chris might write about cowboys who roamed from ranch to ranch, looking for enough work to see them through another year.
Lizzy and Wes were no longer part of the troupe, of course, but the occasional letter
came with news about the baby and the ranch in Montana. According to Lizzy, she had already taken Cora on several horseback rides, and the baby seemed to love it. No doubt Lizzy would one day teach Cora every trick she knew.
Phillip had told Ella that he hoped they would one day end up back in Montana at the Brookstone ranch. Ella liked the idea as well. She liked being part of a large family. Maybe that was why she enjoyed the show so much.
As Mary and Chris exited and made their way toward Ella, the next act was announced, and Ella knew she had only a few minutes before she’d be called to perform.
“You two were, as always, amazing,” she told them. “I find myself holding my breath every time you shoot at him, but especially when you turn your back and use the mirror.”
“I do too,” Chris admitted with a grin. “But I keep reminding Mary that if she kills me, she’ll be a poor woman. I’m leaving all my worldly goods to charity.”
Mary laughed. “He can leave his money to whomever he chooses, as long as I get him.” She gave him a quick hug.
Ella watched as the other teams of Roman riders started their routine. She wouldn’t be up for another few minutes. “Did you read my father’s letter?” she asked Mary.
“I did. I’m glad there will be some help for those people who were wronged.”
“I am too. Father said that since Jefferson had no family, the judge arranged the sale of all Jefferson’s properties and for the money to be used to help relocate and settle those who were forced to indenture themselves to Father and Jefferson. I didn’t tell you this, but Father decided to match the amount of Jefferson’s monies. The judge said this showed Father’s regret, and he weighed that heavily in showing mercy toward him.”
“Money is poor consolation for the time and lives lost to their schemes,” Mary replied.
“It’s unusual that the judge or anyone would show concern for the victims, since they’re black,” Chris said with a shrug. “I, for one, am glad.”
Ella nodded. “As am I.”
Mary looked out across the arena. “It won’t bring any of them back, but hopefully the families who’ve lost, as I did, will comfort themselves in knowing that decades of wrongdoing are over. I know August died trying to do what was right. I take comfort in that.” She looked back at Ella. “Now, you need to get your focus on the show and your performance. I hear there’s going to be a little something special tonight.” She winked.
What Comes My Way Page 25
