[2016] Finding My Cowboy

by Christian Michael

  She nestled onto the bed and pulled the sheet up to her neck, staring at the ceiling.

  “It’s only a few hours until I will be on my way again. Anyone could survive for a few hours.”

  Chapter 7 – Texas Territory

  Amelia hardly slept that night. She tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling or the wall. Part of her wished she hadn’t slept so much on the coach, but she reasoned with herself that it was nerves keeping her up more than anything else.

  You have to stop this. The more you stress about him finding you, the worse this is going to be. Toby. Is. Gone.

  As the sun crept through the curtains, she pulled on her dress. She slept in her slip so she only needed to pull on her outer garment, and she was ready. The cold morning air felt good on her skin, and she didn’t mind at all the smell of the musty coach cabin. She was close to her destination, and freedom.

  It was smooth sailing into Texas. There weren’t any other passengers on the coach, so there wasn’t any reason to stop between Arkansas and Redstone. Amelia imagined that Redstone, Texas was going to be a slice of heaven on earth. She didn’t know much about ranching, growing up in the South caused her to grow used to the town life, but this new prospect excited her.

  Dust flew into the air with each step the horses took, and she felt lighter and lighter as they went along. Every now and then they crossed paths with another stage or rider on horseback, and each time Amelia sank back into her seat. She didn’t want anyone to see her, no matter who they were.

  Some of the riders stopped to talk to the driver, passing news on the area, but nobody said anything about a man looking for a young woman. Each time they asked the driver what the news was, Amelia felt her stomach drop, but each time the news always happened to be what the cattle rustlers were doing or the gold that was in the territory.

  Even still, Amelia counted down the miles. The sooner she was in town, the better.

  Suddenly, the stage stopped, and Amelia poked her head out the window.

  “What’s wrong? Why did we stop?”

  The driver was standing on the edge of the river bank, shielding his eyes with his hand as he looked across.

  “I think we can make it, but it might be a little rough in the middle. Chin up!”

  He smiled at her and slapped the rump of his horse, then climbed up in the seat. Amelia gulped and sat back, hanging onto the side of the coach. She had heard of stagecoaches sinking in rivers, or capsizing, or even the passengers getting swept away by the mighty current.

  The only thing she was grateful for was that she had forgotten about Toby. At least for the moment.

  Amelia could hear the driver shouting to the horses, and felt the stage plunge into the river. It slowed as they reached the center of the river, and she felt her stomach lurch as the stage was lifted off the bottom of the river. Though she couldn’t hear what the driver was saying, she could hear him shouting.

  Water started to seep into the coach, filling the floor and sloshing onto her skirts. The water was filling the coach, and the water line was right up to the base of the window. The horses were whinnying as they swam as hard as they could, and the driver was still shouting and cracking his whip.

  The roar of the water was too much. Amelia felt as though she was going to faint. Was she going to be lost in this river? Part of her wished she was back home again. Even a life with Toby would be an improvement to drowning in this terrible river.

  Amelia wanted to scream, but her voice was hoarse. She closed her eyes and jammed her fingers into her ears. The stage lurched and tipped from side to side, making her feel nauseous.

  Then, all was still.

  Amelia opened one eye first, then the other one. There was still water in the coach, but it was receding. She looked out of the window, and could see they were on dry ground once again. She poked her head out of the stage, and looked for the driver.

  He was up by the horses, soothing them and adjusting their straps. Amelia called over to him, and he hurried back.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was going to be that deep. Oh well! All’s well that ends, well, and there’s no harm to the coach or the horses. Redstone is about an hour away, and you will be home for good!”

  Amelia was still shaken, but she thanked him. She sighed and closed her eyes as he shouted to the horses and slapped the reigns on their backs. The coach plunged forward, and they continued on. Within half an hour she was dry inside the coach once more, and the air felt hot and dry.

  She could see farmhouses the closer they got to town, and more and more people were about. For the first time in her journey, Amelia didn’t feel nervous. She was excited. This was going to be her new home. These people were going to be her new neighbors, and this country was going to be her country.

  “We’re almost there, Miss! Just a few minutes longer!”

  The driver yelled down to her, and she waived up at him to show him she heard. The town was rising up in front of them, and there was the post office.

  She felt the stage rumble to a stop, and she felt giddy. She wondered what her husband was going to be like, and what she was going to say when she saw him. She tossed open the door and stepped outside.

  There, on the ground in front of her, wasn’t her new husband.

  It was the sheriff, and next to him stood Toby.

  Chapter 8 – Free at Last

  “That’s her!”

  Toby pointed up to Amelia, and she shouted as the sheriff grabbed her by the arm.

  “I’m sorry, but you are under arrest.”

  “On what charges?!”

  Amelia shouted indignantly. She couldn’t believe this was happening, or that Toby was here in front of her. How did he find her? How did he beat her here?

  “Robbery. You stole $200 from me, as well as some household goods. I have a list right here. Search her, sheriff.”

  The sheriff grabbed her bag and poured out the contents.

  “Yes, the things on the list are here.”

  “Hold on there! What is the meaning of all this?”

  A tall, handsome man pushed his way through the crowd, stepping in between her and Toby. Amelia knew in a moment that he must be Bird, and her heart fluttered.

  “Bird Hanes! What are you doing here?”

  The sheriff laughed and clapped the man on the back.

  “I was retrieving my wife, but it seems you have her detained for some reason. May I ask why?”

  “This young lady? Your wife? What are you talking about? This is a runaway from this man’s house. She has stolen money from him as well as supplies, and is heading away as fast as she can. I am here to stop her and see that justice is done.”

  Amelia could feel the color drain from her face. Of course Toby would have come up with such an elaborate tail to have her arrested. No doubt he would have her thrown in prison, or settle the account by taking her home with him. Either way sounded equally dreadful to her.

  “That is a bold faced lie! This woman is simply traveling to marry me. You see, I was searching for a wife, and looked back home to find one. She answered me, and as it appears, she wasn’t in the best of situations. But that money was hers to take by all my reckoning, and she is old enough to make her own decisions, so let her be.”

  Bird pulled the letter she had written out of his pocket, and unfolded it. He smoothed it flat against his chest, and handed it over to the sheriff. Amelia softly prayed that the sheriff would see her side of things and let her go.

  “Forget this nonsense! She is my daughter, and I have every right to take her home with me!” Toby had flown into a rage, and tried to yank the letter away from the sheriff, but he held it out of reach and placed his hand on Toby’s chest to keep him at bay.

  “I’m sorry, but it appears the young lady has done nothing wrong. It says right here that she used the money her mother left her, and no doubt she has a bank note to prove it. Do you, my dear?”

  He turned to Amelia, who nodded, and opened her satchel. Wate
r poured out of her bag as she opened it, and the note was wet and washed out, but the words were still visible on it.

  She handed it over to the sheriff who skimmed it, and looked back at the letter Bird had handed to him. He looked at the three who were gathered around him, and shook his head. Nobody said anything for a moment, then the sheriff finally broke the silence.

  “It all checks out here, Toby, so I am afraid there’s nothing I can do to help you. If she marries this man, she is his wife, and that puts her in his family. If she chooses to remain as she is, you have a bit more say, but not much. But really the choice is up to her.”

  Toby’s face turned bright red, and he slammed his hat on the ground.

  “She can’t do this to me! I won’t have it!”

  “That’s not your choice to make, Sir, and I must say I have fallen in love with your daughter.”

  He turned away from Toby, and looked down at Amelia. She felt her face turn red with a blush, and never before had she felt so vulnerable. She held his gaze for a few seconds, then she looked down at her feet. He cupped her head in his hands and lifted her face to look him in the eye.

  “Amelia, I think you are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on, and if you will have me, I would love to have the honor of making you my bride.”

  Amelia could feel tears in her eyes as she nodded, and the sheriff whooped.

  “Well doesn’t this just beat all? I thought I was out here to make an arrest, and instead I am making a wedding! I can perform the ceremony right now if you two would like!”

  They both laughed and Amelia nodded. Toby continued to shout his protest, but the sheriff motioned for his deputy to come over and assist Toby out of the way. Amelia smiled as she took her place beside Bird.

  Their ceremony was short and sweet, but it was perfect for Amelia. She often wondered what her wedding day would be like, but she never imagined it would be like this. Yet, it was absolutely perfect in every way. Bird held out his hand, and helped her up into his wagon.

  As they rode off into the sunset, Amelia was happier than she had ever been. She had found what love truly was, and she wouldn’t have changed a single thing. She was ready to be a wife, and she was ready for her happy ever after.

  Finally, the wait was over.

  THE END.

  Wandering Cowboy

  Mail Order Bride

  CHRISTIAN MICHAEL

  Chapter 1

  Little River, Montana

  Dora Sullivan stepped from the rickety stagecoach coated in dust onto the muddy ground. She felt grimy and exhausted but she’d made it. Smoothing a hand over the front of her skirt, she looked around. Men milled about or walked to-and-fro carrying various items but no one seemed to be looking for her, just at her.

  Worry knotted her stomach. She wasn’t sure what Hank Mills looked like, he’d only said tall with brown hair, but she was sure he would have recognized her—if only for the fact that she was the only woman who had exited the stagecoach.

  Taking a few steps forward, a hand landed heavily on her shoulder causing her to jump. “Sorry, Miss,” the coach driver said with a smile beneath his large moustache, “Just wasn’t sure where you wanted yer trunk?”

  Blinking rapidly, she looked from the trunk to the man then back to the trunk. “Is there a hotel nearby?”

  He nodded once. “Yup.”

  “Please take it there then.”

  “Sure thing.”

  He turned and left and she searched the crowd again before resigning herself to the fact that Hank wasn’t there. Or if he was, he wasn’t coming to claim her. A thought slammed into her chest. Was that it? Had he taken one look at her and wasn’t interested?

  But, looking into the gawking stares of the men surrounding her she didn’t think that was the reason. She was by no means the most beautiful woman, but she had a feeling men in the West took what they could get. Not that that thought was comforting.

  Stepping up to the ticket window she leaned closer, “Excuse me.”

  “Yeah,” a booming voice said from behind the bars.

  “Can you direct me to the local hotel.”

  “Down the street. Take a right. It’s on the right.” The man went back to his newspaper without another glance her way.

  Trying to shake off the rudeness of the man, she held her head high and pounded down the boardwalk. Just as the disinterested window clerk had said, the hotel appeared on the right and she entered, relishing the calm tranquility of the interior. It wasn’t as nice as places she had seen in Massachusetts but she hadn’t been accustomed to finery anyway.

  “Hello,” she said at the desk. “I’d like to reserve a room.”

  The clerk helped her, taking almost the last of her reserved money, then directed her to the post office where she hoped someone would know about Hank Mills—her fiancé.

  “Yeah, I knew Hank,” the post office worker said.

  Dora froze. Knew? “I’m sorry, what do you mean…knew?”

  “He passed away a few weeks back. Some kinda accident as I heard it.”

  Her heart pounded in her chest and the constriction of her throat kept her from answering.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “I—” her voice cracked, “I was to marry him.”

  The clerk’s mouth dropped open to form an “O” shape. “Really?”

  “Yes,” she said, feeling the shock morph to terror like a live thing in her chest. This couldn’t be happening.

  “I’m sorry ma’am. Real sorry, but he’s gone. I wasn’t sure who to forward his mail to. Heard about a brother he had and I just tracked him down the other day. Did you want to contact him maybe?”

  Dora tried to think through what the man was saying. Contact Hank’s brother? Why…but then she considered the fact that, if she didn’t contact him, who would? She had at least gotten to know Hank a little through their letter writing and, though she never thought she would truly love him, she had felt certain they would be happy. Eventually.

  “Yes,” she said, surprising herself. “I’ll write him a letter.”

  Nodding, as if to convince herself, she turned around and made her way back to the quite safety of the hotel. She couldn’t afford to stay for much longer as a guest nor could she afford to buy a train ticket back. Maybe, just maybe, she could gain work at the hotel until she figured out what to do with her life.

  All of her plans had fallen through and she was alone. Utterly alone.

  ***

  Raymond Ellis adjusted his seat in the saddle. He was used to riding long periods of time and today was no different. He had a lot of territory to cover if he was going to make it half way to his next job by dusk.

  The town sat ahead, the dusty streets busy with foot traffic and horses. He rode down the main street on his way to see the smithy. His horse needed a new shoe and he needed supplies. It would hopefully be a quick stop, but a necessary one.

  After leaving the horse to be tended to, he walked toward the general store, the list of provisions he needed fresh in his mind. There wouldn’t be another town for a few days so he needed to stock up. He jumped up onto the boardwalk and toward the door of the general store just as a woman barreled out—and straight into him.

  “Ouch!” she said, stepping back and nearly falling over.

  “Steady there,” Raymond said, reaching out rough and calloused hands to steady her.

  She stepped back, a wild, frightened look in her eye. “Don’t touch me.”

  He yanked his hands away, holding them up to show he meant no harm. “I’m sorry, miss,” he offered a small smile, “Just making sure you didn’t fall over.”

  Her black hair was pulled back into a sloppy bun but it was her vibrant green eyes that held him captive. They were stunning and beautiful, reminding him of dew on a prairie field in the light of dawn.

  He looked over the rest of her face, his eyes flicking to her lips briefly but always back to her eyes.

  She took another step back. “Th
-thank you,” she said, then spun on her heel and was gone.

  He stood watching her for a moment, breathless. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And he needed to see her again.

  Rushing to the corner, he peered around but was greeted with an empty street. She was gone, like the last rays of sunlight in the evening, and he was devastated to realize he may never see her again.

  He shook his head, feeling foolish. He was a cowpoke. A man without a home who rode the range—had been riding the range since he was a boy—not some lovesick boy who wanted to meet a girl and settle down.

  Yet the thought of settling down wasn’t as unattractive to him as it once had been. He’d spent years traveling, never settling into a place, but that didn’t mean the rest of his life had to be like this. Or maybe it did. What kind of husband could he be?

  Expelling a breath, he spun around and went back to the general store. He was thinking like a crazy man right now. One pretty girl and you’d think he’d been out in the sun too long.

  “Howdy,” the storekeeper said, smiling behind his counter. “Can I get you anything?”

  Raymond sidled up to the counter, weighing his options. He was acting a fool, he knew that, but what could it hurt just to see her one more time? A pretty face to remember as he rode off into the sunset that evening.

  “Got a question for you,” he said.

  “I’ll see what I can do to answer you.”

  “I just nearly knocked over a pretty little lady on her way out of here. I feel terrible and wanted to apologize. Might you know where she went? Rushed off in quite the hurry.”

  The shopkeeper narrowed his gaze. “What do you want with Dora?”

  “No, no,” he said, holding up his hands, “Nothing untoward. I just wanted to apologize—properly.”

  The man kept his narrowed gaze on Raymond for a long time before standing up, putting his hands on his hips. “Her names Dora and she’s a kind woman. Works in the hotel restaurant right now, but she’s only been in town a week or so. I don’t want to hear that you were over there pestering her.”