“Stay here,” Ben ordered and put the shelter of the trunk over her and Tricia. The men were able to walk through what walls remained as they went out to check on the horses.
When at last it was over, the sun peeked through the gray blinds of clouds that remained. Tricia clawed her way to standing and helped Laura to her feet.
They followed the men into the yard and were amazed at what they saw. Two of the giant trees had been toppled, as if a giant’s hand had pulled at them in play. However, God had a hand in this as well. He had let the trees fall to the side of the rickety barn, holding the walls up and keeping the structure from collapsing. The horses, as well as the stage, were standing there in the yard. The horses were clearly still upset, the whites in their eyes huge as they looked about for comfort. The stage, luckily, was completely intact and the driver and the men harnessed the horses to it and loaded their belongings. Finally, Ben came for Laura, picking her up and carrying her directly to the coach seat.
“There’s a little inn down the road. We’ve got enough daylight to make it and we’ll get rooms and somethin’ hot to eat there,” he explained and climbed in beside her.
There was no more pretense or formalities between the four people in the coach. A brush with death tended to make those meaningless. Laura sat sideways in Ben’ arms, as Tricia did with Gerald. The women were shaking and the men knew it was shock from the trauma of the storm. The sooner they could put their women to bed with a hot meal, the better off they’d be. Ben worried about the babe, but knew that Laura was strong. She was built to be a woman of the West; of that there was no doubt.
Chapter Eight
They crossed Kansas over the next two days and the sign marking the line into Colorado spelled sadness for Laura. She knew she was in serious trouble. Despite her best efforts, all her piety and all the social amenities she had observed, she was completely in love with Ben.
She chastised herself. How could I do this to Rory? she asked herself. Is it not enough that he takes me on as the widow of a worthless man, heavy with babe…I have to betray him emotionally with another man even as I travel to him at his expense?
Laura made up her mind. She could not do this to Rory—it wasn’t right. When they arrived in Colorado, she would tell him she changed her mind. She would find a job, even if it meant scrubbing floors in a saloon; as long as it was enough to keep the baby and herself alive, and to pay Rory back for his investment. It was the only honorable thing she could do under the circumstances.
The coach was nearing the end of its journey and the cool breeze coming in through lowered windows felt marvelous, even if it was tinged with a swirl of dust now and then. Tricia and Gerald were becoming excited, re-packing their bags and straightening their appearances. Laura was sitting rather dejectedly on her seat, not looking out the window but watching Ben from the corner of her eye. She knew the time was approaching that she would never see him again. What a mess I’ve made of things! she thought to herself.
At that moment, the baby kicked and she let out a small, startled gasp. Ben, sitting opposite her was instantly leaning forward. “What’s wrong?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Nothing. Just a little kick…telling Mama what a fool she has made of herself.”
“Fool? Why?” he asked, his handsome head cocked in question.
Laura looked up at him, her eyes filling with tears. “Nothing, never mind,” she whispered.
Ben motioned to Tricia to trade seats with him so he could sit down directly next to Laura and put his arm around her. “Tell me, what’s the matter? What’s wrong?”
Laura couldn’t stand the caring and compassionate tone of his voice – it was magnifying the cruelty of the situation she’d gotten herself into.
“I can’t,” she said simply.
He turned her to face him and looked her straight in the eye. “Laura, you better tell me right now what’s wrong. I can tell you’ve been weepy all day and I’m guessin’ it has something to do with our reachin’ the end of the trip.”
Laura glanced toward Tricia and knew this was too personal to talk about in front of others. So, she just shook her head mutely and fished around in her satchel for a handkerchief. Ben leaned back and pulled her against his sheltering arm. His hand patted her arm in an attempt to reassure her.
Chapter Nine
Ben was watching out the coach window and hugged Laura one last time with a hard grip and then stood and leaned out to shout to the driver. The driver, acknowledging that Ben’ stop was coming, slowed and eventually he turned off on a side track, lined on either side by fencing. They travelled some time down the track but eventually a very large ranch house appeared before them and the driver pulled up to its front porch.
The house had a wide, covered porch and barrels with flowers poured out onto the lawn. Mature oaks smothered the house, giving it shade and keeping the porch cool and inviting. Laura looked at longing at the house and then tried to forget how she’d gotten there. It would be too miserable to know where Ben could be found, and not yet pursue him there.
Ben opened the coach door and jumped out, stood straight and stretched, pushing his hat back on his head and surveying the house. He had all the demeanor of a man coming home to his castle. He walked around the coach and went up to the door, pushing it open before entering to check things out. All appeared well as Laura saw windows popping open all around the house exterior wall.
Tricia and Gerald descended next. Laura knew they were probably taking a short break to freshen up, but somehow she felt suddenly excluded and lonely. Visions of herself, heavy with child while bent scrubbing floors and washing dishes flooded her brain. But before even that…she would have to confront Rory. She would have to admit what she’d done, and thought, and hope he wouldn’t beat her when she told him she couldn’t be with him, but would have to repay him the money she’d spent.
Even the driver climbed down and lowered their luggage to the ground. It all seemed so normal, so wholesome. Laura cringed in self-defeat.
Tricia and Gerald walked around the coach and walked right in through Ben’s open door. Laura marveled at how close they had all grown toward one another.
As she watched, the driver began to unharness the horses and lead them around the side of the house toward what appeared to be a barn. Laura wondered if one had thrown a shoe, or whether they needed to be watered. Now she sat, alone, in a horseless stage. Had she misunderstood? Was she supposed to catch another stage to her destination? Why had no one told her? They had put her luggage on the ground. Was that supposed to be her signal?
At that moment, Ben emerged from the house and came around to the coach, opening the door and leaning in.
“Come on,” he said simply and held out his hand.
Laura’s brow went up in confusion, but she leaned forward and let him help her out of the coach. “Ben, I’m sorry. There must be some mistake. I thought this coach would take me all the way into Denver, where I’m expected. I see you are all disembarking and the horses being even taken away. Did I miss a sign? Should I have said something? Is my ticket marked wrong?” She was beginning to panic a bit at the idea of being stranded here. Surely Ben would help her out, get her into town or maybe lend her a horse?
Ben didn’t answer her. He must be really angry with me…that I’ve put him out like this. “Ben, I need to talk to you…privately. There are things you don’t know about me. I’m not here by accident – I am supposed to be meeting someone in Denver. Someone who advanced me the travelling money to come out here. He’ll be waiting for me.” She tried not to tell the entire story; it was simply too painful. She believed he had feelings for her, as well, and it would be hard for him to hear how she had disgraced herself.
“Come with me,” he repeated and ushered her into the house through the open doors.
At this point, Laura was completed confused. The room they entered had vaulted ceilings and thick, Turkish rugs covered the floors. Sturdy, beautifully-carved wood furniture
, upholstered in tapestry fabric was set in groupings but something looked out of place.
On the far wall sat a long table and it was covered in a white linen tablecloth. There were matching silver candelabras and bowls of fresh flowers trailed down the table’s center. A man in a white coat stood next to the table and he nodded and smiled at her. Tricia and Gerald stood to one side and Tricia’s face held a huge smile as well.
Laura looked up to Ben’s face in bewilderment. He smiled down at her and then suddenly bent and dropped to one knee. “Laura, will you marry me?” he asked, holding out a beautiful diamond-encrusted ring.
Laura’s face fell and her world came crushing down upon her. This was not happening. “I can’t, I can’t…” she whispered. “I’m promised to someone else,” she barely managed the words and if it hadn’t been for Ben holding her hand, she would have fled from the house entirely.
“I know,” he grinned. “To me,” he said simply.
Laura shook her head. “No, no, you don’t understand. I’m a mail order bride! I’m engaged to a man named Rory Newton. He’s waiting for me in Denver. He paid my way here. I gave him my word…took his money! I never counted on meeting you, Ben. I swear, I don’t know what happened, but you made me feel safe and cared for; it was the first time in my life…” she was sobbing now, pulling away from his hand.
Ben stood, but he was not angry. He put his arm around Laura, drawing her hard against him so she couldn’t escape. He looked at Tricia and nodded. “Tell her, Tricia.”
Tricia’s smile grew even bigger and she walked toward Laura, stopped and look first to Ben and then into Laura’s eyes. “Laura, please allow me to present Mr. Ben Dallas, sometimes also known as Mr. Rory Newton.”
Laura stared, uncomprehending. “I don’t understand,” she managed to get out.
Ben nodded and drew Laura over to a sofa. “Here, I think you need to sit down and let me explain. This isn’t exactly fair to you.” Laura sat down but Ben continued to hold her hand.
“My dear Laura… my real name is Ben Dallas. I put the ad using the name Rory Newton for privacy. The coach is mine and the driver works for me. I put the ad in the paper out East to find a cultured, pleasant woman who would bear children for me and could school them here at home until they’re ready to help me on the ranch or go out into the world. I own a few thousand acres and most of it is for the cattle. I don’t like livin’ alone and that was another reason I wanted a wife. When you answered, it seemed the perfect arrangement. I knew you could bear children because you were already with child.” He stopped and let the words sink in.
Laura sat there, her head shaking at what he was saying.
“I wasn’t completely convinced and this is a big step, of course,” he began again. “So, I came out East and arranged to be next to you on the train, so I could get to know you without pressure on either one of us. I couldn’t be more happy and even if you weren’t my mail order bride, well I’d ask you to marry me. You’re beautiful, cultured, sweet, lovin’ and everythin’ I would ever want in a woman. But…you understand, I had to be certain. A lifetime is a long time. Don’t be angry…”
Laura’s mouth opened and she realized he wasn’t the sort of man who was used to asking for forgiveness. “I’ve been feeling so guilty because I knew I was falling in love with you and it wasn’t something I was free to do. I belonged to someone else, even though when I realized I loved you, I made up my mind to tell Rory I refused and to pay him back for his travel expenses. I can’t be angry with you, sweetheart…how can I be anything but in love with you?” She hugged him then with both arms around his neck.
Laura looked at Tricia, “You knew about this?” she asked.
Tricia nodded and laughed. “Ben is my brother. Gerald and I came along because I have a medical background; in fact, I’m a midwife. He wanted to be sure you would have someone with you in case anything happened during the journey.”
Laura was amazed. “I don’t know what to say,” she began.
“Well, you might want to start with ‘I do’ because Sam, over there, is a preacher as well as a chef and as soon as he marries us, the guests will begin arriving for the wedding barbecue, Ben teased her.”
An hour later, Laura, dressed in a beautiful, full-skirted white wedding gown Tricia had shown her in the closet, walked out into the shade of the oak trees in the back of the house. Ben waited for her and held out his hand. Preacher Sam married them and no more were their “I do’s” uttered, then the wagons began rolling up. Tricia and Gerald had served as their witnesses and their only guest was the driver of the coach.
Ben was evidently quite well respected in the community because the wagons and horses rolled in by the dozens. Somewhere musicians began playing, a huge bonfire was lit and tables laden with food were set all about the yard.
Laura sat with Ben, held in his embrace as he introduced her to hundreds of neighbors whose names she would take time to remember. Lighted lanterns hung in the tree branches and it was hours after the bride and groom retired before the last guest left.
Chapter Ten
Laura’s face was damp with perspiration and flushed from the effort of pushing. Lilly was born into Tricia’s skilled hands and once bathed, placed into Laura’s loving and welcoming arms. Ben stood by, proud papa and nodded in approval.
Laura had never felt such joy as she did in that moment. Her life was complete. So much lay ahead; babies with Ben, learning to be a rancher’s wife. One thing she knew…she couldn’t wait!
THE END.
Looking For Love
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1
When the train whistle blew, Cora abandoned her seat on the sofa and hurried to the window. She pulled back the heavy burgundy drapes and sighed deeply. In the dusky light, she could just discern the locomotive as it snaked its way across the tracks toward the Alexandria station. “Look, Hannah! Isn’t she beautiful? I haven’t traveled by train in ages. I’ve quite missed it. And oh my, how the Potomac has risen since the rains! We must walk by the river tomorrow.” She glanced over her shoulder.
Her dearest friend Hannah sat on the sofa in the O’Leary family parlor, her red hair gleaming in ringlets about her shoulders, her freckled face bright with happiness, not much different than when the two were children.
“A walk sounds lovely, although it does make me sad to see how much the waterfront has changed since the war. I scarcely recognize it, even these three years later.”
“I’ve hardly been anywhere in the past three years. Papa was so sick with the consumption. All I could do was nurse him. But memories of our adventures here in Alexandria helped revive me, especially on the very difficult days. Did you think of those times, too?”
“Of course, dear. I remember how you and that twin brother of mine consistently lead me into trouble. Or more often, each other.”
Cora laughed. The sound startled her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed. Certainly not since the last time she had visited the O’Learys. Was that six months ago? Nine?
“Do you remember when Mama spanked you both on the train for playing in the engine car in all that coal dust?”
“Oh, stop. That isn’t a pleasant memory!” Oddly though, as she said the words, Cora laughed again. Even the humiliation of that public spanking was a better memory than the war years that came after.
Hannah joined her at the window, tucking Cora’s arm into her own. “It’s good to have you back again, if only for a week. But you’re changing the subject yet again.” She drew back. “Why, you’re positively shaking! Whatever is the matter? And don’t tell me it’s my imagination because I simply won’t believe it. You’ve been here for over two hours, hardly spoken, picked at your supper. And now this--mooning over trains and shivering as if you’ve caught your death. Come back to the fire and tell me what this is all about.”
Cora allowed Hannah to arrange her on the sofa in front of the crackling fire, a br
own velvet cape thrown over their laps.
“Is it that horrid half-brother of yours? What has he said of his promise to allow you to apprentice as a nurse?”
Cora’s heart leaped at the words. To apprentice as a nurse was all she had wanted for so long--all her father had wanted for her--that she couldn’t imagine life without it. She closed her eyes momentarily. But forget it, she must. She opened her eyes and nodded. “Yes, it is Edward.” She twisted her gloves in her hands. “He says there is no money to provide for me while I apprentice, that it has all been spent or promised.”
“No money. But your father had plenty upon his death.”
“I know, Hannah, I know. But he left me in my brother’s care. I have no money of my own, except a small inheritance from my mother. Very small, likely not enough to cover my needs.”
“And what does he expect you to do instead? Marry?” Hannah smiled at her own joke for she knew Cora had no designs to marry.
Cora searched for space within her thickened throat to speak. She swallowed hard, then whispered, “Yes.”
Hannah gave a start. “What? You to marry? And whom has your brother found worthy of you?” Her voice was shrill.
Cora shook her head. “It’s too horrible to say aloud.”
“Mr. Jeremiah Bladen. It is him, isn’t it?” At Cora’s nod, Hannah slapped her hands over her cheeks. “My word! I won’t allow it. We can’t let this happen. He was pawing at you when you were little more than a child. He’s evil.”
“Don’t speak of it, Hannah.”
“And what of Mr. Bladen’s marriage? I remember a few years back, you were relieved to hear of his nuptials?”
“He lost his wife to influenza a month after dear President Lincoln’s death. He has three horrid daughters. Oh Hannah, whatever will I do?”
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