“We’re in Arkansas, Ma’am. We’ll stay here for the night, but don’t you worry, you will be where you need to be by tomorrow at this time!”
Amelia thanked him and reached into the coach to grab her satchel. She wondered why they had stopped up here in Arkansas. If they had headed west the entire way, they could have entered the state from the eastern side. She shook her head and grumbled to herself, assuring herself that there must have been a reason, though she wasn’t sure what it was.
She picked up her bag and turned to scan the town. There were few people out on the streets, but this town was small. Amelia didn’t know if this was a good thing or not. If there were a lot of people she could have blended into the town more, but odds were Toby would have expected her to do that very thing.
She chided herself for thinking of him again, and told herself that there was no way he was going to catch up to her. She was going to be in Texas the next day, and married shortly after that.
Then let him carry on as he wishes. I am going to be a married woman, and the only man I will need to pay any mind to is my own husband.
With a sudden surge of resolve rushing through her veins, Amelia headed toward the hotel on the far side of the street. It looked small and out of the way, just the kind of place she would be able to stay in until the stage left once more at dawn.
Once she was in her room, Amelia looked around the sighed. It was small, furnished only with a small washbasin and a bed. She had slept most of the say away so she wasn’t tired, but the sound of the saloon going in full swing made her rethink her decision to go out and explore the town.
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. Water 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.
About the Author
Christian Michael is head of Purely Publishing, a digital publishing company that solely releases clean romance stories.
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[2016] A Bride's Journey Page 54
