[2016] Finding My Cowboy

by Christian Michael

  “There’s one here for you Roger,” he said. Roger turned and saw Hughes was holding up a letter. He recognized the envelope immediately, it was from her. He hadn’t even thought to look at the pile the postman had given him even though his mail was often delivered to the ranch instead of his home. He got the letter from Mr. Hughes and put in his pocket. He felt self-conscious at the idea of opening it in front of his boss.

  All through lunch, he found himself fingering the paper as he ate. He had to force his hand away and hope that none of the other ranch hands would question him about the letter, and why it seemed so important to him. As luck would have it, he was assigned to work with two other men for the rest of the afternoon. He would have no chance to look at the letter at all until he got home.

  When at last, he was in the private safety of his home, he pulled the letter from his pocket and carefully opened the envelope. He was delighted to read that Melissa would soon be on her way. It suddenly felt much more real to him what had been going on between them this last while. He found that he was actually giddy at the thought of his future wife getting on that train and winging her way to him.

  Roger began to work on the house and making the improvements he had told her about in one of his earlier letters. He knew that he wouldn’t get everything done before she arrived but would do his best to finish a small room that she could call her own until they got to know each other better as man and wife. The work was hard and tiring after his long days at the ranch but there was a sense of purpose to him now like nothing he had ever known. This was the first thing in his entire life that ever had real meaning, real substance. He wanted Melissa to be happy, not just with him, but also with where she would now live. He understood that rural living was going to be quite a change from her city life in New York. He could recall his own first forays into the West, and how different he had found things all those years ago.

  Not long after receiving the letter, there was another one on his porch waiting for him one evening as he came back from the ranch. This time, he did not recognize the envelope and he was surprised to find that it was from Melissa. He read through the letter and was shocked by its contents. Melissa told him that she had been in arranged engagement to a horrible man she could never love and that she was fleeing her home to marry Roger without her parents’ consent. They would not even know where she had gone until she wrote them a letter from Roger’s home. There was worse news in the letter, however. Melissa told him that the man she had been engaged to had somehow found out where she was going and had confronted her as she changed trains some distance from her home. She had managed to give him the slip, but at the cost of missing her train and as such she would arrive a day or two later than she had anticipated. Melissa said that she was sorry she had not been more honest with him and that she hoped he would still feel the same way about her. She added that she would understand if he did not.

  Roger was completely taken aback by this news. He had never even considered such a thing as this could be going on. He had to admit that he was a little peeved that she had kept such a problem from him, but when he put himself in her place, he thought he might have done the same thing. It did not diminish his love her and it only made him want to see her more so that he could protect her.

  About a week after receiving this letter, Roger was in town one day when he saw a man getting out of the Stagecoach. He had never seen this man before but he just had a feeling this was the Mr. Turner from Melissa’s letter, the man who had pursued her across the country. He was an older man than Roger had expected, and as Turner looked about the town with disdain, Roger could see his sour demeanor and the meanness in his eyes. It was unfortunate, he thought, that this man had arrived in town before Melissa had. Roger toyed with the idea of going over to this man and telling him who he was and that he thought Turner would be better off leaving town right away. This felt wrong to Roger, however. He did not feel he had the right to run him out of town, and if he had been in Turner’s position, he would feel that he deserved to have his say with Melissa having travelled all this way in the hope of taking her back home.

  Roger knew that Melissa would probably not like this decision, but he also knew that when she thought about it later, she would be able to respect why he had done it. At least, that was what he hoped. He watched as Mr. Turner walked into the hotel. Things were going to get messier before they got better.

  Chapter 7

  Melissa’s stomach tumbled and lurched despite the slow, gentle progress of the Stagecoach as it rolled towards her destination. It was nerve-wracking enough to be meeting the man she was going to marry for the first time, but know she had the added complication that Mr. Turner could be here too. If he hadn’t made it to town before her, he would surely be hot on her heels. She also had no idea how Roger would have taken her last letter, written in great haste just after she had escaped the clutches of her forced fiancé. She had felt at the time that it was better for her to come clean about everything rather than letting Roger hear some alternate version from Turner. It was quite possible that Roger no longer wanted anything to do with her and that she would be alone in a town where she knew no one and had no money to support herself.

  Her fears were allayed, however, when she stepped out into the sunlight and a pleasant voice asked her,

  “Melissa?” She shielded her eyes and looked at the man who had asked, a handsome, tanned blond man in cowboy style dress.

  “Roger?” she answered and he nodded with a large smile on his face.

  “It’s so good to finally meet you,” he said.

  “And you, I didn’t know if you’d be here or not after that letter I sent you,” she gushed.

  “Don’t worry about all of that, but I think I better warn you, I think the man you spoke about is in town. If it is him, he arrived yesterday,” Roger said. Melissa blushed but she didn’t have time for any other reaction than this,

  “There you are!” Turner’s harsh voice rang out as he appeared beside them. He looked hot and sweaty; this was clearly not the climate for him. He grabbed her by the arm but just as quickly Roger pulled Turner’s arm from her,

  “Take your hands off the lady,” he said with a stern look.

  “Who do you think you are, cowboy?” Turner said staring at him in disbelief; it was possible that Roger was the first person who had ever stood up to him.

  “I’m Ms. Thomas’s intended,” Roger said. Melissa was surprised at his language but too worried to focus on it just then.

  “Well that’s funny because the last time I checked, she was getting married to me,” Turner said.

  “I know all about how she was forced into that arrangement by her father,” Roger said, “And it doesn’t interest me in the least.”

  “You have no honor then,” Turner said.

  “I am very honorable, but I don’t take any part in forcing people to do things against their own will.” Turner waved a dismissive hand in the air and turned back to Melissa.

  “That is quite enough of this nonsense; it’s time for us to go back home,” he said.

  “I am home,” Melissa said taking a side step so that she was beside Roger and showing Turner that she meant what she said.

  “You would rather live in this flea infested sweat hole with this cowpoke, than in luxury with me?” Turner asked incredulously.

  “I am in love with this man, I am not in love with you and for that matter you are not in love with me either,” she said.

  “Love, what on earth does that have to do with anything? I can give you everything, this guy looks like he has nothing to his name at all!” Turner said.

  “I may not be rich, but I can provide for a wife and family should I be blessed with one,” Roger said. Turner started to laugh.

  “This is getting more ridiculous by the second,” he said. “Melissa, think of you parents, of the scandal you will be causing for them,” he then said in a placatory tone, as if he were talking to a misbehaving child.

  �
�That is unfortunate,” Melissa said genuinely feeling bad as she knew this would be the case, “But I can't go against my heart.” Turner laughed out loud again and shook his head. He took his hat off and wiped his brow; he was very uncomfortable in the afternoon sun. He looked to Roger and said, “You two are welcome to one another cowpoke,” and with that he stormed back off to the hotel to get into the shade. Melissa and Roger watched him walk away and she couldn’t believe that it was all over, just like that.

  “That went much better than I would have thought,” she said to Roger.

  “I think the heat was getting to him,” he replied, “I won't be too surprised if he comes looking for you this evening when it is cooler to have another go at persuading you to go back with him.”

  “Well, you know that I’m not going to be leaving,” she said and he nodded.

  It so happened that the hotel Turner was in was the only hotel in town so Melissa also had to take a room there. It would not have been proper for her to stay in her new home until she and Roger were married. It was not ideal to be sharing a roof with Turner but there was no avoiding it.

  “You go and settle in and rest for a while and I’ll come by to see you this evening to show you around the town,” Roger said when Melissa was all booked in.

  “Thank you, a little wash and a nap might be in order after the day I’ve had so far,” she smiled. They said goodbye and she went to her room.

  A couple of hours later, but earlier than she had expected, there was a knock on the door and the porter told her that Roger was waiting for her in a carriage outside the hotel. Melissa checked herself in the looking glass and then went downstairs. There was a carriage out on the street but to her surprise, Roger was not standing by it waiting to help her in. She walked out and looked inside. Just as she did the door opened and a hand came out and pulled her inside. The carriage was moving before she was able to right herself. When she finally was able to pull herself up onto the seats, she turned and saw that it was Turner who was in the carriage.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “No more talking, no more nonsense, we are going home,” he said back to her.

  “You can’t kidnap me!” she shouted at him. glancing outside she could see that the horses were moving too fast for her have any hope of jumping out; she would seriously hurt herself.

  “I’m not kidnapping you, I’m rescuing you from yourself,” he smiled wickedly.

  Chapter 8

  Roger arrived at the hotel and asked the porter to go up and let Ms. Thomas know that he was here.

  “But, she already left with a man called Roger,” the porter said looking very confused.

  “What are you talking about?” Roger asked.

  “I went up to tell her Roger was waiting in a carriage outside and she came down and got into the carriage; actually got in is being generous, he was very rough with her, he practically yanked her off her feet and into the back with him,” the porter answered.

  “What did he look like?”

  “A tall man, in his fifties, very gruff.” Roger knew immediately that this was Turner and he had tricked Melissa to the carriage and then forcibly taken her away. He ran outside leaving the porter even more bewildered than ever and pulled the trap from his horse and then jumped up on its back. The horse enjoying not pulling anything behind it flew off the direction Roger directed. He knew that Turner would be taking her to the nearest town with a train station. That would take them overnight to get there and he had the advantage of being one man on an otherwise unencumbered horse. It was growing dim out but the sky was clear and he was sure the light of the moon would let him see the carriage even at a distance.

  At last, the dust trail was perceptible in the distance and Roger knew it was only a matter of minutes before he caught up with them now. He fought the urge to spur his horse on; he was sure she was tired enough already without adding to her troubles.

  He got alongside the carriage but he couldn’t see inside so he rode up to the driver and shouted at him to stop the horses.

  “I’m under orders not to stop until I get to the train station,” the driver said.

  “What’s going on out there?” Turner’s angry voice came from the window. “You!” he said when he saw Roger bouncing on his horses back.

  “Roger?” Melissa’s voice called out but she could not see him.

  “I’m here Melissa, don’t worry, we’ll get you sorted soon,” Roger called back to her.

  “Driver, make sure you don’t stop this carriage for anything or it will be your head!” Turner shouted.

  Roger looked at the driver and saw that he was going to do as he was told. This left Roger with no choice. He got closer to the carriage and then leapt across so that he was clinging to the side of it as his horse ran off free, still keeping pace with the carriage.

  “Get off there!” Turner shouted and he swung his heavy fists outside to try to knock Roger off. Roger evaded his blows and clambered up onto the roof. He lay there on his chest for a moment and considered what to do. He gripped onto the bar that ran along the side of the roof and with a heft let himself swing down and he came feet first through the window. Turner had been leaning out the other window at the time and by chance, Roger caught him square in the buttocks with both feet. The pressure made the door fall open and Turner tumbled out and onto the rapidly passing ground. The driver turned in shock and seeing the man rolling he pulled up the horses.

  Roger and Melissa jumped out and ran to Turner. He was a little dazed, completely covered in dust, but apart from that, he seemed to be fine. Roger helped him to his feet but Turner pushed his hand away,

  “Get away from me,” he said visibly shaken by his ordeal, “You two are as crazy as each other and as far as I am concerned you are welcome to each other!” He stormed back to the carriage and got in and shouted at the driver to continue on to the station.

  Melissa and Roger never saw Turner again, and in time, after the wedding her parents came to visit and all was forgiven. They liked Roger and the loved the new place Melissa lived. A year after the wedding Melissa fell pregnant and they had twins, one boy and one girl. Roger had well finished the housing improvements by this time and Melissa had never been happier or more content in her life. Years later she would still always remember the day she found that newspaper, the paper that led her to meet her husband. How strange and wonderful fate could be.

  THE END.

  The Frontier Widow

  Mail Order Bride

  CHRISTIAN MICHAEL

  Chapter One: Gold Rush

  Shasta, California 1850

  Mark Hamilton stepped out onto his wide porch and set his hat on his head. He tucked his shaggy, mahogany colored locks behind his ears. A cup of coffee in his hand he surveyed the land that would soon be planted with corn and wheat. Cows mooed in the distance, greeting the morning as the sun crested the horizon. He inhaled deep as light streaked bright purples and brilliant blues. Mixed with radiant reds, it reminded Mark of the old saying for men who worked the turbulent waters. Red skies in the morning, sailors warning. Red skies at night, sailors delight.

  He could only hope and pray that meant that rain was on its way. He’d done well over the last year, sifting gold from Stillwater Creek. After turning it over, he’d been paid handsomely and then purchased the thirty acres he now lived on. The house he occupied had been little more than a shack when he’d bought the property. He’d stayed in it during construction of the ranch house. The shack he’d turned into a spacious bedroom that he hoped would eventually be used for guests who might stay over while passing through.

  Unfortunately, he only knew people who already lived in the small town he’d become a resident of. Word on the street was that California was destined for statehood and as a resident of the territory, he couldn’t wait to see it happen. Making California the 31st state of the United States would be something to see for sure. Mark’s only wish was to have someone to share that moment with, someone h
e could share all of his life with.

  He’d thought that perhaps a woman would pass through town who might be available and a good fit for him. So far though, there were still a vast majority of men for every even seemingly available woman. That certainly wouldn’t get Mark any closer to finding a wife, of that he was certain. A couple weeks back during his annual monthly run into town, he’d heard some men speak of mail-order brides. Men would place ads in eastern newspapers for women to come west in hopes that marriage would be forthcoming. At first he’d laughed off the possibility of finding a wife by advertisement, but two weeks later he was contemplating just that sort of move.

  He still wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but saw little choice in the matter. If he wanted to settle down and find a wife; he’d need to go where the women were. That he knew from experience, was back east. So, he saddled his horse, Trinity, and rode into town to have the ad placed.

  “Howdy Mark,” Tad, the postman said in his usual way.

  “Hey,” Mark replied. “You know much about posting ads in newspapers back east?”

  “Sure do,” Tad returned. Tad was a man in his mid-thirties who’d moved to Stillwater a year before just after the first discovery of gold. He’d managed to amass enough to give his family a nice living, but preferred to keep working in spite of his finding. He always exclaimed over the faith his wife Hattie had in him to bring their two young children and follow him on his dream. He, of course, was thankful that it paid off. “You gonna send off for a mail-order bride? Lots of men doing it these days.”

  “You know anyone it’s worked for?”

  “Some,” Tad grinned. “Thaddeus Berkeley caught himself a mite pretty lady six months back. They were just married last week. Settled just outside Stillwater from what I hear.”

  “Huh,” Mark responded. “Well, at this point I figure it can’t hurt. There’s little prospect here for a wife. Not many men brought their eligible daughters with them when they struck out to find gold.”