Pony Express Christmas Bride

by Rhonda Gibson

  He rode his horse up to the porch and slid out of the saddle. Tying the reins to the railings, he said, “I’m so glad I found you. It is freezing out here.” His boots pounded in the night air as he climbed the stairs a short distance from her.

  Josephine’s heart raced in her chest with such force she was sure her uncle would see it under her dress. “Come in.” Was that her voice? Why was she inviting him inside?

  When he passed her, Josephine thought she smelled liquor on his breath. She followed him inside and shut the door. “What do you want, Uncle?”

  He turned. “Is that any way to treat your guardian?” His black eyebrows rose in question.

  He’d definitely been drinking. Josephine had known this day was coming. She knew he’d find her, but she’d hoped that Thomas would be home when he did. “You aren’t my guardian any longer. I got married.” Her voice shook, but she raised her chin and stared him straight in the eyes.

  “Married, huh?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “How long?” He rubbed his chin.

  Josephine leaned against the wooden door. “Long enough.”

  His gaze dropped to her stomach. “I see.”

  She hadn’t intended for him to assume that she was carrying a child, but, since he had, Josephine decided not to correct him. It might just keep him from pressing her to leave. “I am a married woman now, so you can’t marry me off to Mr. Grossman.”

  Her uncle dropped into the rocker closer to the fireplace. “What am I going to do now?” he moaned. “If only I had the gold your father found all those years ago.”

  Josephine straightened from the door and shook her head. “What gold?”

  He ignored her question. His gray eyes looked up at her. “Where is this husband of yours?”

  It never occurred to her to lie to him, but it was obvious from his expression that that was exactly what he thought she was doing now. “He went to town to get supplies for the Pony Express.” She walked to the stove and poured a cup of coffee. “And I don’t know what gold you are talking about.”

  “The gold your father found that helped him and your mother get rich.”

  He’d had too much to drink if he thought her parents were rich. She’d never heard of her father finding gold. Josephine carried the hot coffee back to her uncle. “Here, drink this. It will warm you up.” And hopefully sober you up, too, she thought. Josephine crossed her arms over her chest.

  He took the drink. “Thank you.”

  “Uncle, I think you are mistaken. My parents never told me of any gold. Papa worked hard at the factory to make his living.” She sank down into Thomas’s favorite rocker.

  He laughed. “But how did he come to own the factory, if he didn’t have money?”

  Josephine shook her head. “He worked hard, and when the old owner died, he willed the factory to Papa. Remember?” The more he talked, the more she was sure her uncle was sick or drunk. Her parents’ home was nice, but they were far from truly wealthy.

  He studied her face. “Perhaps you are right. But, Josie girl, Mr. Grossman isn’t a man to be trifled with. I’m sure we can get you out of this marriage.” He stood.

  “I don’t want out of my marriage.” She stepped away from him. “For the first time in a long time, I’m happy.” Josephine realized what she was saying was the truth. She was happy with her life here at the Pony Express relay station.

  He frowned. “Josie girl, you would be so much better off with Mr. Grossman. He has money, a fine house and lots of wealthy friends.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not leaving my husband, Uncle.”

  “Then you have condemned me to death.” He sat his cup on the side table and dropped his head into his hands.

  Josephine watched his shoulders shake. She didn’t want harm to come to her uncle. Yes, he’d treated her badly and attempted to sell her to cover his debts, but at the end of the day, he was still her family. Her only family. “Uncle, I have a little money put away. You can have it.”

  He looked up at her between his fingers. “How much?”

  Josephine walked into the kitchen and pulled out a jar where she’d put her household money and the money she’d made while working as a Pony Express rider. She couldn’t give him the household money, at least, not until she spoke to Thomas about it, but she could give him her wages. Carefully, Josephine separated the two. She tucked the remainder of the money back into the jar and then returned to her uncle.

  His gaze met hers as he took the cash. “Thank you, child. This will keep him at bay for a while. I’ll figure out how to get the rest.” He tucked the bills into his shirt pocket and smiled at her.

  “I’m glad I could help.” She wanted to send him on his way, but it was cold outside and the snow-covered roads were hazardous to travel at night. Where was Thomas? Her gaze moved to the door. Surely he or Philip would return soon.

  “Would it be all right with your husband if I camped out here by the fireplace tonight?” he asked, pulling Josephine from her thoughts.

  She wanted to tell him no, that he couldn’t stay, but instead nodded. “I’m sure Thomas won’t mind.” Josephine went into her bedroom and got a quilt and blanket for him to use.

  He quickly spread the blanket out and used it as a bed, then took his boots off. “You have a really nice place here, Josephine. Your ma and pa would have been proud to see where you live today.”

  Was he being sincere or sarcastic? That was the problem. Josephine had never been able to read her uncle. She simply rubbed her arms. It wasn’t cold in the room, but having him under her roof left Josephine feeling odd and unhappy.

  “Well, if you are comfortable here, I believe I’ll retire to my room.” Then she thought about the poor horse tied to the front porch. “Uncle, aren’t you going to take the horse out to the barn? I’m sure Thomas wouldn’t mind if you put him in a stall out there.”

  “Naw, he’ll be fine for the night. I plan on leaving before the sun rises. The weather won’t hurt him any.” He turned his back on her and faced the fireplace.

  Josephine didn’t like it. Horses deserved better treatment. The temptation to go out and take care of the horse pulled at her. What would Thomas think when he came home and discovered a strange horse at the porch and a stranger sleeping in his house?

  She made the decision to stay up and wait for him to come home. Her uncle’s soft snores filled the sitting room. Good, maybe now he’d sleep off the strong drink he’d enjoyed earlier. Josephine walked to her room and quietly shut the door.

  The bed looked inviting. Josephine pushed the thought aside and walked to her table and chair. She’d sit down and read the Bible until Thomas came home.

  A few hours later her neck and back ached. Josephine raised her head from the table where she’d fallen asleep. Wind whipped about the window. Snow and sleet pelted the walls of her bedroom. The sound shot pain through her already aching head.

  Josephine stood and stretched her back. Then she remembered her uncle in the sitting room. He’d said he wanted to get an early start. She could just imagine his anger at her for sleeping late. She walked to the door and quietly pulled it open.

  His bedding lay near the fireplace, folded neatly, but he was nowhere to be seen. Josephine hurried to the front door and pulled it open. Cold air rushed past her and snow swirled about her feet. The horse was gone. She sighed in relief and closed the door. He’d taken the money and left. For that she was grateful. Until she noticed that her money jar was empty and the door to Thomas and Philip’s room stood open.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Thomas had begun to think that Josephine had made up the story of her uncle and his plans to marry her off. Now he wished she had. “So he took all our money?”

  Josephine nodded. “I’m so sorry. I never dreamed he’d steal it from me.” Tears
marred her face.

  “It’s all right, Josephine. At least he’s gone now. We’ll start saving again.” He thought about the gold nugget that hung from her neck but just as easily shoved the thought aside. It was hers, not his or Philip’s.

  “But what about your ranch?”

  Thomas pulled her to him and wrapped her in a tight hug. “If it’s God’s will, He’ll supply a way for us to get the ranch.”

  Philip grunted. “Yeah, he took my saddle money, too.”

  Josephine pulled out of Thomas’s embrace. “Saddle money?”

  “I’ve been saving for a new saddle.” Philip tossed kindling into the fireplace. “It’s my own fault. I felt the Lord urging me to come home last night, but I thought I might get another big buck.”

  “Oh, Philip. I am so sorry.” Her brown eyes filled with sorrow. “I shouldn’t have trusted him.”

  Thomas patted her shoulder. “I’m just glad he didn’t hurt you.”

  “Yeah, me, too.” Philip stood. “Josephine, do you think he’ll come back?”

  She shook her head. “No. He got what he wanted.” Her hand moved to the necklace resting on her chest. “More than likely, my uncle will look for the closest card game. He always thinks he’ll make enough money to pay off the men he already owes.”

  The snowstorm beat against the cabin walls. Had Josephine’s uncle gotten caught in the snowstorm? Was he somewhere freezing to death? Thomas prayed not; he wouldn’t wish that type of death on any man. He didn’t think Josephine had thought of that possibility yet. Hopefully, she wouldn’t.

  “If you two don’t mind, I’d like to go lie down for a little while.” Josephine turned toward her bedroom. “I didn’t sleep well last night and my head is achy today.”

  Thomas prayed she wasn’t coming down with a cold. “No, go ahead.”

  Philip sent her a smile. “It’s a good day to rest. With this weather, I doubt we’ll be doing much more than that ourselves.”

  “Thank you.” She shut her door.

  Thomas walked over to where Philip stood. “Poor dear. She’s been through a lot.”

  Philip sat down in one of the rockers. “It would seem so.” He waited a few moments, then lowered his voice and asked, “How long should I wait before I go out looking for him?”

  The fire crackled at their feet. “You thinking he got caught in this storm, too?”

  “He’s a townie. Probably only has a light coat on.” Philip shook his head. “I’ll go look for him. If Josephine is correct, he’s headed back to Dove Creek.”

  Thomas stood. “I’ll go.”

  “No, you should stay here with her. Don’t tell her that I’ve gone looking for her uncle. There’s no need to worry her.” Philip pulled his boots back on.

  “Thanks for taking her feelings into consideration.”

  Philip sat up, then stood. “That’s what family does.” He pulled his coat from the nail by the door. “I wouldn’t be a good husband, but I’m not a bad brother-in-law.” He grinned as he put on his gloves.

  “You are that. Don’t stay out too long. If you can’t find him within the hour, come home.”

  “Will do.” Philip pulled the door open and disappeared in a cloud of swirling snow.

  Thomas sat back down in his chair. He reached over and picked up his Bible. Worrying about Philip and Josephine’s uncle would accomplish nothing. Reading God’s Word would soothe his troubled mind and educate him at the same time.

  Forty-five minutes later, Philip returned. He came in the door looking as if he’d walked instead of riding his horse through the snow. Thomas didn’t need his brother to tell him he’d found Josephine’s uncle dead.

  “Where did you find him?” Thomas poured Philip a hot cup of coffee and carried it to him.

  Philip took the mug and sipped from it. He leaned back his head and closed his eyes. “He was half in and half out of the river.” He opened his eyes, sighed and took another sip of his hot coffee.

  Thomas swallowed. “Where is he now?”

  “I put his horse in the lean-to with mine and covered his body with snow behind the barn.” Philip yawned.

  “Thank you. Now go get some rest. I’ll tell Josephine when she gets up from her nap.” Thomas ran a hand over his face.

  Philip finished the coffee and stood once more. “He was clutching his shirt pocket when I found him.” Philip pulled a wad of money from his front pants pocket. “This is what was inside.”

  Thomas took the money and sighed. How would Josephine take this news? He wasn’t looking forward to being the one to tell her that her uncle had died. But it was his responsibility as her husband to break it to her gently. How did one go about doing that?

  * * *

  Josephine still couldn’t believe that her uncle had frozen to death. She had cried tears for him and wished that he hadn’t left when he had, but in her mind the loving uncle she knew as a child had long been dead. She sighed. Now it was time to decide what to do with his body.

  Thomas touched her shoulder. “Josephine, Philip and I will take care of your uncle.”

  “The ground is frozen, Thomas.” Her voice sounded small in her own ears.

  He knelt down beside her chair and took her cold hands into his warmer ones. “Yes, but a while back Philip and I discovered a small cave. We can move him there. It will make a good grave site. Don’t you think so, Philip?” Thomas rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand.

  Philip stood by the window looking out at the falling snow. Her brother-in-law seemed lost in the storm outside. He’d already helped so much; she couldn’t bring herself to ask him to do more.

  “That it would.” He turned to face them. “I’m so sorry, Josephine. If I hadn’t written to you, this would never have happened.”

  Josephine stood.

  Thomas released her hands.

  She walked over to Philip. “This wasn’t your fault, Philip. My uncle allowed his gambling to direct his actions. You are not to blame. Not in my eyes and not in God’s.” Josephine hugged him about the waist.

  He enfolded her in his arms for a quick hug. “Thank you.” Philip released her and stepped back. “I should be comforting you, not the other way around.”

  Thomas walked over to them. “We comfort each other in times like these. That makes us a strong family unit. We may not be wealthy in money or material things, but we’re rich beyond measure in the important things that count.”

  “Ma says that all the time.” Philip’s grin somehow lightened the atmosphere in the room and Thomas swept a hand through his sandy-brown hair as if relieved there would be no more serious sadness for the day.

  Thomas reached for his coat, his green eyes alight with warmth. “Let’s get our evening chores out of the way. The temperature seems to be falling faster than night.”

  Philip nodded and then hurriedly tucked into his coat, gloves and scarf. He opened the door and left the two of them alone. Thomas turned to Josephine. His soft eyes looked deeply into hers. “Are you all right?”

  “I am. It’s sad that he is gone, but it’s also a relief. I know that sounds horrible, but it’s how I feel.” Josephine offered him a wobbly smile.

  He walked over to her and hugged her close. “Well, if things should change and you need someone to talk to, I’m here for you.” Thomas tilted her face up so that he was looking into her eyes.

  His sincerity touched her heart. She nodded. “You will be the first to know.” Josephine stepped out of his grasp. “You better get going. Philip will have both your chores finished and I won’t have time to get my surprise done.”

  He grinned, brushed the side of her face with the back of his hand and opened the door. Cold air rushed into the room, causing Josephine to shiver. “After all this, you have a surprise for us?”

  “Yep, I t
hink it’s something you both will enjoy.”

  As the door closed behind him, Josephine went into action. She mixed a cake batter Hazel had just given her the recipe for and put it in the side oven of the cookstove. So far they’d had pies and fritters, but not once a cake, especially a chocolate one. She fried ham slices and made biscuits, but the secret she’d mentioned to Thomas was the two ears of popping corn Hazel had shared with her.

  Hazel had told her that popping corn had been scarce since the drought from this past year’s growing season. The general store had gotten in an order and Hazel had been fortunate enough to be there when it arrived and had purchased several ears.

  The men returned right as she took the cake from the oven; the smell filled the house with mouthwatering goodness. Both of them crowded round, oohing and ahhing, until she made them leave the kitchen.

  She sat the cake in her room to cool so she could frost it, another treat they would share, and then she called them to the table for ham, biscuits and coffee. When Thomas finished, he reached for the jar of apple butter, but Josephine lightly smacked his hand.

  “Don’t you dare spoil dessert. Have you already forgotten that beautiful cake?”

  “I’m pretty sure I have room for an apple butter biscuit and cake.” He reached again and she moved the jar closer to her.

  “But you might not have room for my surprise.”

  Thomas and Philip both froze. “You mean the cake is not the surprise?” Philip all but licked his lips, his face brightened at the suggestion.

  “The cake is only half.” Josephine laughed. “You both look like kids on the night before Christmas.”

  They finished their meal, laughing and teasing, and Josephine felt her smile broaden with approval when Thomas patted his stomach and exhaled a long sigh of contentment. She washed up the dishes, and then when the men settled into chairs in front of the fireplace, she put oil and butter in her biggest cast-iron pot. She took the kernels from the two ears of corn, which she’d stripped from the cobs earlier, and as quietly as possible poured them into the kettle.