by Rye Hart
She swallowed thickly and looked up at her friend, hands shaking. “Do you really think it could work? Do you really think I could do it?” she asked.
“Yes. I’ll help you,” Katherine offered.
Kathrine leaned back for a moment and rustled through her skirt pockets, pulling out a wad of folded papers and handing it over to Mari. It was clear that Katherine had been thinking this plan over for some time.
“These are all ads I’ve collected over the past few days. Write letters and send them out. Don’t let anyone see you give them to the postman. If they see you sending letters and you suddenly disappear, someone might put everything together and figure out where you’ve gone.”
Mari nodded, staring at the papers with wide eyes. It was like she was holding the keys to a whole new world. This was how she would escape this nightmare. She quickly tucked the papers away in her bodice and threw her arms around Kathrine.
“Thank you. Thank you Kathrine. You’re saving my life.”
Kathrine hugged her friend in return and nodded. “I can’t stand by and watch what he does to you. We’re going to end this now,” she said, cupping Mari’s cheeks gently.
Mari nodded and the settled back in the grass, continuing to mend the clothes they’d been working on before. Mari found it difficult to focus, however, since her hands were quivering with excitement. For the first time in years she had hope for a better future.
She went home that night, happy to see that Mitchel had passed out near the fire and was snoring away on the floor. A very small part of her secretly hoped an ember would jump out of the fire and burn the man in his sleep. That would be a just end for a man who took pleasure in beating his wife.
Mari snuck away to their bedroom, which happened to be the only separate room in the small shack. She pulled out a stack of parchment that had never been used and a pen and ink well. She answered each ad with a fevered desperation, sweat beading on her forehead as she continued to glance back at the door, making sure that she was still alone.
By the time she finished answering all the ads, the sun was starting to come up. Mari hadn’t slept all night but she didn’t really care. She had a pile of letters that were ready to send out and with them she had hope of for her and her baby.
Chapter Four
Mari managed to get out at least a dozen letters in a months’ time and within weeks she had already started to receive answers. Now, she was more than eager to get out of her home town, but she knew she had to choose her suitor carefully. She didn’t want to end up in a situation as bad, or worse, than the one she was trying to escape.
This decision wasn’t just about her anymore; it was about providing the best possible life for her baby. She didn’t want to put her child in harm’s way, so she knew she had to be very diligent when it came to finding her new husband.
She was careful not to give herself away as a married woman. She made sure to use her maiden name. Married women or women who were deemed ‘unclean’ often struggled to remarry. No one wanted a woman who’d already been tainted by another man.
She knew she had to act fast. If she waited too long her new husband would be able to figure out that the child she was carrying wasn’t his, so as much as she wanted to pick the perfect man, she knew she didn’t have much time. It was a delicate balance of choosing the right man and choosing him quickly.
All of the letters held some sort of promise. The men out west were doing a lot better than those in her home town. The stories seemed far too outlandish to even consider and she tossed them out readily, sure that the men were lying.
It wasn’t until she came to a letter signed ‘Mr. Williams’ that she gave pause. The last name brought back memories of her beloved. He’d been then man she’d always dreamed of marrying. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe it was a sign. Not only was his name Williams, but he seemed genuine in his writing. His story didn’t sound too good to be true. It just sounded good.
He warned her that the west was a strange and dangerous place. He didn’t claim to have a massive fortune, but assured her that she would be comfortable and well taken care of and at the end of the day that was all she could really ask for. She wasn’t after a millionaire. She just wanted to be with someone who would take care of her and her baby.
She signed the contractual agreement attached to the letter and reminded herself that she wasn’t going to go out west and find love. She’d given up on love the day Brian had walked out of her life.
Within a few weeks another letter arrived and this one had no note. All that was inside the envelope was enough money to cover her travel expenses and directions on how to take the train to the small town of Billings, Montana.
Her heart leapt into her throat and she held the envelope close to her chest, wide-eyed and hardly believing that the day had come. Of course she hoped that this would be her way out and she prayed that it would work, but there was always a little voice in her head telling her that it could all go wrong. She could fail and she would be stuck here forever.
Now that she was holding the money in her hand she felt a swell of relief. She knew she was going to get out of this ruined shell of a town and she was going to be free. It took every ounce of her strength not to burst into victorious laughter. She ran inside the house, made sure she was alone, and finally let the tears of joy stream down her face.
She kept her giddiness to herself, only telling Kathrine that she would be leaving by the end of the week. She had a small bag packed and ready to go, hidden under the bed, waiting silently for the escape that was only a few days away. She and her husband slept in separate rooms and she didn’t see much of him, though continued to do her wifely duties in hopes that he wouldn’t catch on.
Mitchel was none the wiser and continued to drink himself into a stupor every night. For the first time since she met him, Mari was thankful for his alcoholic tendencies. It made it much easier to sneak away and board the train without being noticed when Mitchel was black out drunk.
The man who took her ticket was from out of town so he didn’t look twice at her as she offered him the money. She settled into the seats that weren’t quite comfortable, she felt herself floating. She felt as light as a feather and the smile that crept across her face was one of the most genuine smiles she’d offered in a long time. She’d been so alone and so isolated for so long that she’d forgotten what it was like to feel happiness and relief.
Mari let out a little laugh and turned to face the window, watching the scenery pass by in a blur of greens and blues. It was more beautiful than she ever could have imagined. The world had a rosy glow to it that she could only attribute her to happiness. She put a hand over her belly and let herself doze off, falling asleep with a smile on her face for the first time in years.
The train ride was a lot longer than Mari expected. They made a stop in Chicago and people got on and off, bumping Mari and bustling past. In a matter of days, she was finally going to be in Montana.
She considered exploring Chicago but thought better of it when the thought of large crowds started making her nervous. She stayed on the train and waited the several hours until they finally pulled out of the station and set course for Montana.
Another few days passed and by the time they finally arrived in Billings, Mari was tired and felt very dirty. She also couldn’t help but think that it was worth it to finally be far from Mitchel and all of things that had been holding her back in Tennessee.
She stepped off the train and the hot air hit her like a wall, choking her just a little. She was used to the humidity back home and the sudden wave of dry air made her throat tighten and her eyes tear up. She grabbed her suitcase and all but ran inside the train’s platform, taking a deep breath of the cool air being circulated in by large fans powered by the wind.
Mari sighed and settled on a bench, thanking a young woman who walked over and offered her water.
“You must not be from around here,” she said.
Mari offered a half smi
le and laughed a little. “How in the world did you know?”
“Most people from the South stumble in here coughing,” she said with a smile.
Mari blushed a little and tucked some hair behind her ear. “Well, it is certainly much dryer than I expected it to be.”
“You’ll adjust in a few days,” the woman assured, offering her a second glass of water.
Mari took it gratefully and watched as the woman walked away, offering drinks to other passengers. She was so caught off guard that she didn’t notice a familiar, dark haired man approach her.
“Mari?”
Mari turned around and nearly fainted on the spot.
Chapter Five
The man sounded like he didn’t quite believe she was real. She glanced up at him and her eyes widened as she took in his familiar features. She’d seen that emerald gaze in her dreams every night. Her breath caught in her throat and she stood up so fast her water spilled all over her skirt, though she didn’t really care.
“Brian?” she whispered.
He walked over to her and quickly pulled out a handkerchief, starting to dab at her dress in an attempt to dry it. She grabbed his hands and yanked him up until he was looking her in the eyes.
“Brian, it’s you!” she whispered, reaching out to touch his face.
He stared at her for a moment, his own eyes wide and swimming with intense emotion. He opened his mouth a few times to try and speak put finally gave up and simply threw his arms around her dragging her close and holding her against his own body.
“Mari, is it really you?” he asked.
She nodded, tears starting to pour down her cheeks as she held onto him desperately. It had been so long since she’d last seen Brian and she’d honestly given up on ever seeing him again.
“When I got your letter I couldn’t believe it. It was your name and the letters came from Mt. Pleasant, but it all seemed too good to be true. I didn’t know if it was really you, but God I was hoping it was,” he rambled, cupping her cheeks.
She wiped at her eyes, trying to will the tears away as she sniffled and shook her head back and forth. “I saw your last name but I thought it was just a coincidence!” she gasped, wrapping her arms around him again.
He couldn’t help the smile that came to his lips as he pulled her closer and stroked her hair. “I told you we would be happy together.”
She let out a barking laugh and pressed their foreheads together, her heart aflutter. She could hardly believe this was really happening. He pulled her close and smoothed her hair out of her face, sighing softly.
“I can't believe you're here. My prayers have truly been answered,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head.
She melted into him, wanting to be as close to him as possible. He felt so strong and his scent was the same scent that had filled her dreams. It had been so long since someone had held her this close and peppered kisses across her face the way Brian did now. It had been so long since someone cared about her.
They held each other for a long moment and finally pulled away. He offered his hand to her and smiled, leading her away from the train station. He led her to a horse outside and she threw one leg over the great beast with ease. Growing up on the farm she'd ridden horses her whole life and was more than comfortable on the creatures.
Brian walked beside her and took the horse’s reins, leading them down a dusty path toward his cabin. For a moment neither of them said anything, but it was finally Brian who broke the silence.
“What brought you out here?” he finally asked, looking up at her.
Mari’s chest tightened with guilt and she chewed on her lip a moment, trying to come up with a good answer. She hated the idea of lying to Brian but she knew she couldn't tell him the truth. She was afraid that if she told him everything, it would destroy any chance they might have together and she wasn't going to let that happen. She took a deep breath and offered a smile, deciding that she wouldn't straight out lie to Brian, rather she would withhold some information.
“Mother and father passed on and the farm became far too great a burden after my sisters left. I didn’t know what else to do so I sold the it and bought a smaller home but everything fell apart after you left, Brian,” she whispered, looking out across the mountain scape.
“What do you mean? Everyone said things would get better with the railroad running through,” he said.
She sighed and shook her head. “They lied. Every one lost their jobs and all the construction made everyone sick,” she said softly. “I couldn’t stay there. I had to get out before it killed me too,” she whispered sadly, closing her eyes.
Brian frowned deeply. “I’m so sorry Mari. I wanted to send for you but I didn’t want to pull you away from your family. I wish I’d known sooner,” he said, his voice full of sorrow.
She looked down at him and shook her head. “It’s okay now. We’re together and that’s all that matters. We can be happy now, just like you promised.”
Brian nodded, bringing the horse to a stop in front of a decent sized cabin. It wasn’t a mansion by any stretch of the imagination but it was bigger than her home back in Tennessee and she was going to live there with the man of her dreams.
She slid off the horse and stared at it, wide-eyed as Brian wrapped an arm around her. “It’s not much,” he said, looking down at her.
She shook her head slowly, a bright smile coming across her features. She pressed herself against him and took a deep breath.
“It’s perfect. It’s everything I ever dreamed,” she whispered.
Chapter Six
Montana was everything she ever hoped it could be. She’d been here less than a month and everything seemed to be falling right into place. Brian was the same sweet soul she’d fallen in love with back home and Mari felt at home here. She felt like everything would be okay, that she could finally be happy.
The community accepted her with open arms and before too long she’d even managed to make friends among the locals. Even though she was forming friendships, most of her time was spent with Brian and for good reason. He was her best friend and she was eager to be his. She wanted marry him because she loved him, but there was also the baby growing in her belly. It was becoming difficult to hide her pregnancy and she knew that if she waited much longer should wouldn’t be able to claim it was his.
A part of her hated the lie she was living. She didn’t want to deceive the man she loved, but she was terrified of risking him leaving her because she was carrying another man’s child. It was the worst possible position for a woman to find herself in. If it had been anyone other than Brian she might not feel so bad about hiding the truth, but she hated deceiving her one true love.
The night sky in Montana was like nothing she’d even seen before. They lived on a hill that overlooked a clear field where Brian raised cattle. The vast field opened into sky in a way that she’d never experienced back home.
Mari looked up at the stars, contemplating everything that had brought her to this place. It all seemed liked chance but she couldn’t help but think that the universe wanted them to be together. There were too many things that had managed to fall into place to bring them back to each other.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Brian asked, settling on the porch beside her.
“It’s so amazing,” she whispered her blue eyes turned towards the sky.
He smiled and cupped her cheek. “My darling, soon we’ll be married,” he whispered, pulling her closer to him.
She put her head on his shoulder and smiled. “You’ve been very gentlemanly, letting me sleep in the bed while you sleep near the fire.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, darling.”
“We don’t have to wait until we’re married to share a bed. I wouldn’t mind,” she said softly, looking up at him.
He frowned and looked down at her, shaking his head back and forth slowly. “I respect you too much for that, my love.”
“And I thank you for that, but I love
you Brian,” she said, scooting even closer to him, chewing her lip and looking up at him with a heavy gaze. “I know you’re the one for me. So why does it matter if we wait or not?” she pleaded, arching herself against him.
Brian frowned and gently pushed her away, his fingers brushing through her beautiful golden hair. “I want to do this right. I already left you alone for so long. I left you suffer back home, and now you’re here and I still can’t get over it. It’s still so hard to believe you’re actually here. I feel like this is a dream and that I’m going to wake up one day, and I want things to happen a certain way. I want them to go perfectly. I want everything to be perfect,” he said, leaning in and pressing his lips to hers. “I know it seems silly, but I need everything to go perfectly.”
Guilt filled her again and she nodded slowly, looking away and swallowing as she took his hand. “You’re right,” she whispered. “You’re right, I want it to be perfect too,” she agreed.
“We’re only a week away from being married and then we can truly start our life together,” Brian reminded her.
She nodded and smiled weakly. Mari had insisted that their wedding be informal. They would sign the papers in the town hall and make it official. She didn’t want a big fancy ceremony, pointing out that they could use the money to get a head start on their winter crops. Brian seemed to like the idea and didn’t fight her on it. As long as everything went off without a hitch, she could still pull this off.
Mari stood up and smiled, taking his hand. “Come on, let’s lay in the grass together and watch the clouds. Like we used to,” she said, grinning and leading him through the lush field.
The fell into the soft earth together, laughing and holding each other close. They pressed soft kisses against each other’s lips and just enjoyed being close again. Suddenly Mari’s stomach lurched and she gasped as a hot stab of pain radiated through her lower belly. She felt a warm wetness on her thighs and she looked down to see blood staining her skirt and thighs.
