by Jaclyn Hardy
“Yes, I need to travel to the west and I’d prefer to leave tonight.” Madeline pulled her purse out of her bag. It was full of money that Nathaniel had sent her for the trip.
“It is best to wait until morning, Miss. The fare will be cheaper, and it won’t be quite so dangerous to be out on the road.” The man went back to his books.
Madeline mumbled under her breath and dropped a handful of coins on the counter in front of her. “I’d like to go now, please.”
The man licked his lips and slid the money into his hand. “I’ll get Patrick to take you. He’s our best driver and will make sure you’re safe.”
“Thank you.” Madeline straightened her hat and sat on the bench to wait. It was only a few minutes before a large man stumbled into the office, looking as though he’d been asleep moments before. Madeline stood. “Are you Patrick?”
“I am.” Patrick took her things and put them into the stagecoach. “We will keep to the main roads, and I’ll stop at each town to see if you’d like to stop for the night.”
Madeline took his hand and climbed up into the stagecoach. “That won’t be necessary. But if you feel that you need to sleep, we can stop.”
Patrick chuckled and picked up the stool. “Very well. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me why you’re in such a hurry to leave?”
“Let’s just say that the west offers me more than what I have here and leave it at that.” Madeline settled into her chair. “And thank you for being willing to leave tonight.”
He tipped his hat and closed the door. The stagecoach shifted as the man climbed up into his seat, and Madeline breathed a sigh of relief as the streets of New York City disappeared behind her. She’d miss parts of this town, but couldn’t wait for the new adventure. And if all went well, she would have quite the story to tell for the newspaper.
Nathaniel’s letter sat just inside her bag. She pulled it out and unfolded it. And even though she couldn’t see the words on the paper, she had the letter practically memorized. He’d wished that they would have the chance for further correspondence before she came, but because of the impending weather, he hoped she would come sooner. Which worked out perfectly for her.
Madeline had written back immediately and the next thing she knew, she was here on this stagecoach, starting a whole new life. It was a possibility that things wouldn’t work out between them. They didn’t know enough about each other to determine how compatible they were. But there was talk of being able to purchase her own land if she moved to the west, so it was worth the risk even if it didn’t turn out.
Patrick had the horses going at a brisk pace, but even then the drive seemed to drag on. Perhaps waiting until morning so she had scenery to look at would have been better. They stopped at the next city as he’d said, but it was only long enough to swap horses and purchase food. This continued until the sun began to rise. He stopped at an inn and climbed down.
“I do apologize for having to stop, but I must sleep for a few hours. If you don’t have enough for a room, I can use some of my earnings—”
“There is no need. I have enough.” Madeline climbed out of the stagecoach and followed Patrick into the inn. He ordered two rooms for them and wouldn’t let go of her bags until they were safely in her room.
He stopped at the door. “I will be ready in a few hours if that is all right with you.”
“Sleep as long as you need. I could use the rest as well.” Madeline set another coin in his hand. “Thank you for coming as far as you did last night.”
She shut the door and stretched, trying to get rid of the aches from bouncing up and down in the stagecoach for hours. The room was small but well cared for and it provided a place for her to wash her face and sleep on a comfortable mattress. Even though it would take another several weeks to reach her destination, the weight of everything that had happened back home was finally lifted from her shoulders.
***
Madeline did her best not to stare at the small man sitting across from her. Patrick had taken on a few extra passengers along the way and while some were pleasant to talk to, others were ornery or strange enough that she tried to keep to herself. This man fit the second category as he went through his bag for the hundredth time muttering about the different items. She supposed he was a merchant, but there was no way to know and she certainly wasn’t going to ask him.
It had been a long few weeks, but Patrick had assured Madeline that they would arrive in the Idaho territory in the next couple of days as long as the weather held out. She shuddered at the memory of the storm they’d run into the week before. They'd gotten stuck in a snowdrift and it had taken almost a day to get them out. The small family traveling with her at the time had suffered more than she had, even after she’d offered their little girl her scarf and gloves. Their plans to travel west had changed after that trip and they'd decided to wait until spring.
The man's ramblings pulled Madeline from her thoughts as he shouted about a flask that he'd lost. He looked up and glared at her. “Have you taken it?”
“Excuse me?” Madeline glanced outside to see how close they were to any town, but there was only dirt, trees, and sagebrush.
“My flask. It was here just moments ago. You were the only one here. I know it was you.”
Madeline sighed and nodded to the seat next to him. “You mean that one?”
“No, not—” He glanced down and picked it up. “When did you put it there?”
“I didn’t.” Madeline perked up when the stagecoach began to slow. That meant it was time for a break, and hopefully a chance to get away from the man.
As soon as the stagecoach came to a stop, Madeline opened the door. Patrick jumped down and wiped his hand on his pants.
“We won't be here long. I just need to switch out the horses. Then one more leg of the trip and we'll be at your destination.”
“Wonderful. Thank you.” Madeline sighed and closed the door. So much for having some quiet time. At least the man had gone back to talking to himself.
They moved again after several minutes and Madeline’s stomach twisted in a knot. The last leg. It had taken so long to get here that all of the excitement had worn off and Madeline worried that her rash decision would get her into something she didn't want.
She stared out the window at the rough landscape, turning away only when she had notes to write in her journal. Traveling to the west wasn't necessarily on her list of articles to write, but she could add it to her mail order article if needed.
By the time the stagecoach slowed to a stop a couple of hours later, Madeline already had a good start to her article. She would finish it and send it to the newspaper as soon as she was settled. She just hoped the postage wouldn’t be too expensive.
The sun was high in the sky when Madeline finally emerged from the stagecoach. Her bags already sat on the landing while Patrick grabbed the last of the other passenger’s things. She pulled out her small coin purse and turned to Patrick.
“Thank you for bringing me across the country. It couldn’t have been easy leaving your family behind for this long.”
Patrick tipped his hat. “I couldn’t let you come alone. Besides, I have no family in New York, so this got me out of the house for a few weeks.”
Madeline raised her eyebrows. “You’re not married?”
“No, I never found someone willing to wait for me to get back from these trips.” Patrick took the coins that Madeline handed him.
“You should move here then. Nothing is keeping you in New York.” Madeline pulled off her gloves. It was warmer than she’d expected for the late fall. “Or at least use the mail order bride system to find a wife.”
Patrick chuckled and climbed back up on the stagecoach. “No thank you. I’ll see you around sometime.”
Madeline doubted that, but she just waved and turned back to the station. There was no physical description of Nathaniel, so she hoped he would have something to let her know he was here.
“Madeline?” A man’s v
oice came from behind her.
Madeline whipped around to find a man about her age in worn clothes and a cowboy hat. His eyes were a bright blue and he had a crooked smile that gave him a sort of mischievous air. She nodded. “I’m Madeline. And you’re Nathaniel?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He took her hand when she held it out and shook it. “I trust everything went well with your travels?”
“There were a few bumps along the way, but I made it.” She glanced around. “This isn’t quite what I was used to back in New York.”
Nathaniel cleared his throat. “It’s much smaller than that, I’m afraid. I hope that it won’t be a problem for you.”
Madeline smiled, feeling a freedom she hadn’t had for years. “This is wonderful. It is nice to get away from the big city.”
“If you want to get away from everything, this is definitely the place to be.” Nathaniel pointed to her bags. “Are all of these yours?”
“Yes. I knew I wouldn’t be going back. I hope it’s not too much.”
Nathaniel picked up her bags and stepped off the station ramp. “My house is rather small, but we will make it work.”
Madeline held in a sigh and followed him away from the station. “How far do we have back to the homestead?”
“It will take us about an hour. But first, we need to go see the priest.” He stopped and Madeline nearly ran into him. “And you’re sure you want to go through with this? We can wait if you’d like. There’s a place for you to stay—”
“I’m sure.” Well, she wasn’t quite sure, but she didn’t want to mess this up. She was determined to do this for her research and possibly gain a good relationship in the process.
Nathaniel studied her for a moment before nodding. “Very well.”
He set her bags inside his wagon and crossed the street, pausing to make sure that she had followed. Madeline smiled at him and sped up to avoid a horse and buggy. The inn they stopped at was small, but it was well maintained inside. A few people looked up when Madeline and Nathaniel entered, then either went back to their food or waved. Apparently Nathaniel was known here. Madeline was content to let Nathaniel talk. She’d never been shy, but this was a completely different situation, and she didn’t want to step on toes. Besides, she wanted to see how he interacted. It would give her more insight on what kind of man he was.
A man near the back of the inn stood and smiled. He was clearly a priest by the way he was dressed, and Madeline self-consciously checked her hair and dress to make sure she looked all right. It had been a long few weeks of travel and everything she owned was wrinkled and needed a good washing.
Nathaniel turned and took Madeline by the elbow, sending a shiver through her. He smiled down at her before addressing the priest. “Philip, this is Madeline. We wish to be married. Madeline, this is my friend and the priest who will be marrying us.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Madeline smiled at the informality of the two men. It put her at ease. “Do you perform these weddings often?”
“No, I’ve only done this a couple of times. I was quite thrilled when I found out that Nathaniel had decided to try. Being out away from everyone was making him into a hermit.”
Madeline raised her eyebrows. Hermit? One could say the same thing about her while she was in her writing mode. “Then it sounds like it will be good for us.”
Philip gestured to someone behind them and they were soon joined by a man who had to be the innkeeper. “We would like to use one of your rooms for the wedding if possible.”
“The rooms are all booked, but if you prefer more privacy, you’re welcome to use my cabin. It’s around back.” The innkeeper eyed Madeline as he walked past.
Philip blinked. “I suppose that’s what we’ll do. Unless you want to have the marriage here in the common room?”
“No, his cabin will be perfect.” Madeline didn’t like all the stares they were getting by that time.
They weaved their way through the tables and out the back door to the cabin. An older woman looked up from the bread she was kneading. She was covered in flour, but her smile lit up the room.
“Ah, Philip. Another wedding?”
“Yes, Petunia. I hope you don’t mind.” The priest held up his Bible.
“Well, well, Nathaniel Poulton. I never thought I’d see the day that someone finally tamed you.”
Nathaniel laughed. “I didn’t either.”
Madeline glanced between them. Was Nathaniel friends with everyone?
Petunia waved a hand, sending flour in every direction. “Go right ahead. I’ll sign as a witness like last time.”
Philip nodded. “Thank you.”
Madeline moved closer to Nathaniel. Such a strange place to be where everyone was so . . . friendly to each other. So different from where she lived before this. She jumped when Nathaniel took her hands and she realized she’d missed the instructions from the priest.
The ceremony was short and sweet with sniffles from Petunia as they exchanged vows. Madeline’s stomach was tied in knots as the reality of what was happening struck her. She was getting married to a complete stranger. Right now. They’d exchanged exactly two letters before she left, and she was marrying him.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Madeline met Nathaniel’s eyes, holding her breath. This was it. Nathaniel reached up and ran a finger along her jawline, then leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. Everything disappeared in that moment. The cabin around them, the exhaustion from the trip, the ache from her fiance leaving her. All of it was gone as his lips lingered on hers. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck, but having the priest standing there kept her from deepening the kiss. She finally pulled away and forced herself to breathe.
“Oh, you two are so perfect for each other.” Petunia clapped her hands together. “Please. Take some of this bread and some of the pastries I made as a wedding gift.”
“Don’t you need these for the inn?” Madeline looked down at the bread that had been shoved into her arms. The smell of the newly baked bread made her stomach growl. Her last meal had been hours ago.
Petunia shook her head. “I’m making more right now, so there’s no issue. Oh, where do I sign?”
Philip held out the paper for her to sign, then handed it to Nathaniel. “I wish you both the best of luck. And Madeline, I hope you learn to love our little community.”
Madeline nodded and allowed Nathaniel to guide her out of the cabin. Her arms were too full to open the door herself anyway. “Wonderful people, aren’t they?”
“Some of the best.” Nathaniel set the pastries and bread in a small compartment of his wagon.
He helped her up, then set the stool in the back of the wagon. Madeline settled herself on the seat while Nathaniel prepared to leave. Having the cool breeze on her cheeks was much better than sitting inside the stuffy carriage.
“Ready to see your new home?” Nathaniel clicked his tongue to get the horse moving.
“I am.” Madeline ignored the stares from below as they left the settlement. No more. She could enjoy the solitude of their home and write to her heart’s content. As long as Nathaniel had paper to write on, at least.
Nathaniel glanced over at her. “I won’t be inside much for the first couple of weeks. I have potatoes and a few other crops to harvest and prepare for winter.”
“That’s all right. I can work inside. And we have evenings together.” Madeline cringed. That didn’t really come out right. It would be strange living with him, but not really if he was gone all the time. That’s how it had been at the boarding house. She’d only see the other patrons in the evenings.
“There will be things for you to do outside if you’d like. I could also use some help if you’re willing.”
Madeline glanced at him in surprise. “You’d let me do that?”
Nathaniel laughed. “Of course. Things would get done quicker that way and then we could actually have the chance to spend time together.”
“I’
d like that.” Madeline grinned. She’d been stuck in a world where everything was done by the men and now she could finally do something without hiding behind a pen name.
Nathaniel turned in to his homestead and pulled Lucky to a stop. He still couldn’t believe this was real. When he’d seen the beautiful woman with the dark hair and brown eyes at the station, he wasn’t sure if she was the right one. And now she was his wife.
He’d thought getting married would be the part he was nervous about, but now that they were in front of his house, it seemed so tiny. And he should have added the shutters at the beginning of spring. Now there wouldn’t be time before winter hit. And the painting . . . he’d hoped to have that done as well.
Madeline beamed as she stood to climb down. “What an adorable house. Did you build it on your own?”
“A few neighbors helped, but I did most of it. They’re all busy getting their own homes finished.” Nathaniel helped her down, then took her bags from the wagon. “Could you please get the bread?”
Madeline went to the back of the wagon and picked up the loaves of bread. Her bags were heavy, but Nathaniel refused to take them inside until she was right there with him. He wanted to see her face when she walked inside.
He took the two steps onto the porch and opened the door. Nathaniel set her bags down and looked over his shoulder at Madeline. She stared at the room in front of her with wide eyes. “I know it’s not much, but—”
“It’s wonderful,” she said, interrupting him. “That stove is bigger than the one in my boarding house. And did you make those quilts?” Madeline set the bread on the table and went to the couch to examine the quilt that was laid out across the top.
“My mother did. She sent them with me when I left California.” Nathaniel leaned against the door while Madeline walked slowly around the room, examining pictures and a few items he’d pulled from storage. The bare walls from just a few weeks ago were covered with whatever paintings and pictures he could find that would make this less of a man’s house.
