As they continued to talk, the space between them and John increased. Sophia appreciated the man's discretion. "So, Matthew, when did you decide to come West? How did you end up in Wyoming?"
"When I grew up, I was stubborn. Thought I already knew everything. I didn't want to work the land, not like Pa. I wanted adventure, and yes at one pointed I wanted gold. Soon as I was old enough, I lit out. Then came the war. I fought in the war, made it out alive, and eventually made it here. I tried my hand at mining, which of course as you know didn't turn out like I thought it would. But I loved this place enough to stay, and I'm going to stay here as long as God allows me." He gestured to the land beyond them. "Take a look at this place. It's probably very different than what you know back east, but it's beautiful just the same."
"You're right, it's very different, but I like it.” The sun had risen over the horizon and Sophia soaked in the rays. She discovered she wasn't homesick for Maine, not like she thought she'd be. She wasn't quite sure yet how she would manage the winter in Angel Vale, but she would try.
The distance between them and John on the trail had increased to the point Sophia didn't feel as uncomfortable speaking in front of the stranger.
"About the newspaper. . . I know it is relatively new, but what made you decide to start a newspaper here of all places? Why not leave Angel Vale and work for a newspaper in a larger city?" Sophia gave Matthew a sideways glance.
"You're full of questions, aren't you? Well, to give you the long answer, a newspaper seemed to be the thing to do. I'm not interested in working the land and being a farmer or even a rancher, like I said, but I am interested in building our community. The best way to do that is to help join people together. A newspaper will do that. We're making history here, whether we know it or not. Someone needs to write it down and keep track of what's going on. It might not be significant to some people, but one day it will be. I have faith that it will. When The Eatery first opened, when Travis buys new horses for the livery, well people need to know those things happened.”
"I can tell you care very much for this community. I hope my presence here has been a help and not a hindrance to you." Sometimes she wasn't sure if she was a help. On some occasions when he would read her articles, he'd mutter and shake his head. She could not fathom what exactly was wrong with what she'd written. Maybe now would be a good time to broach the subject. Unless, the conversation and her questions were beginning to wear on his nerves.
"We're almost there,” John called out ahead of them.
Sure enough, Sophia could glimpse something on the horizon beyond them, coming into view with every step the horses took toward it. All thoughts of conversation fled from her mind at that moment when the Devil's Tower came into view.
A sheer cliff of rock rising what had to be hundreds and hundreds of feet from the rolling plains below. The shape of the rock formation made her think a hand had thrust a giant's thimble up from the earth below. If she had to write about this, she wouldn't know how to describe it in any other way. The other ladies would be full of questions tonight after she returned from her outing.
"I know, I felt the same way when I first laid eyes on it. One of the most curious things I've ever seen in my entire life.” Matt removed his hat and mopped his brow with the back of the sleeve.
"When we are close enough, are we going to stop for a break? I'm not complaining, I'm just curious." Sophia wanted to wiggle her feet a little bit, but she was reluctant to remove her booted feet from the strips. She rode astride, not sidesaddle, sacrificing her dignity and composure for a feeling of security instead of having to deal with balance while riding sidesaddle in this country. Anyway, riding astride was a balancing act enough for her.
Matthew nodded. "Yes, I'd thought of us taking a break. The horses will need it and so will we, before we turn back."
"I did bring us a little something to eat. Something simple but hardy enough to fill our stomachs before we ride home."
They found a small boulder near a tree, dismounted and tied the horses. John rode off in another direction, not quite out of sight. He dismounted as well, then sat beneath a tree while his horse grazed, giving the couple space to talk.
#
The ride had tired Matt more than he wanted to admit. He eagerly accepted the food Sophia had brought. "It's a bit of the chilly day for a picnic. This probably would have been best to do several weeks ago." Matt took a bite of the biscuit sandwich Sophia had brought for him.
"But it's a beautiful day, just the same. Perhaps we should just call this a snack, instead of a picnic." She scanned the area, and he watched as she took in the sight of Devil's Tower. She took a sip from the canteen before continuing. "I'm glad we came. Thank you. I know we've been very busy and there's been a lot to do, but I did love seeing this before winter comes in earnest."
They sat in silence for a moment and Matt wondered what was going through her head. The lady had come all this way just to meet him and possibly start a life here. So far, she had jumped into her work with enthusiasm and vigor. He insisted on paying her, since she was so helpful, possibly more so than any worker he could have hired. She did not decline the money, but instead told him she would put it into savings.
"There is nothing I really need right now, but I thank you for it anyway."
Sophia looked at him now and cleared her throat. "Matthew, there's some things I've been meaning to speak with you about regarding the newspaper. I know you're trying to sell more copies and get more people interested in reading it. Why don't we see about sending some copies to the railroad station, and perhaps even Cheyenne. If you are trying to draw people to the community, that might be a good idea."
"I hadn't thought of that. I don't know that it would be a lot of trouble to go through, and what if I didn't get paid for the copies? "
"Oh, these are the samples only. You would not have to worry about anyone paying you for them. Simply run print a few extra copies."
Matt shrugged. "That's a possibility. I'll have to think on that for a while."
He wasn't used to a woman like Sophia Webster. Not that he'd never encountered women before, but Sophia spoke with boldness and definitely had ideas of her own. Some men didn't cotton to a woman speak to a man this way. He found the quality quite appealing, but what if they disagreed? The newspaper was his business, after all. He put a lot of his resources into giving the brides to Angel Vale and it had paid off, in more ways than financially, so what was the problem with the cost of extra paper and ink? He found himself balking at the idea, just a bit, for some reason.
"You don't really like the idea, do you?" Sophia brown eyes bored into him. "Surely the cost of a few sheets of paper every week will not cause you to break your bank. Is it the fact that this is my idea, and not yours?"
"I didn't say that I didn't like the idea, and it doesn't matter if it was your idea. I only said it was a possibility, and I'll have to think about it." He couldn't fathom why she seemed a tad miffed at his reaction.
"Very well, then." Sophia polished off the last of her food, then smiled. "Enough about the newspaper. I'm happy to rest a moment and look at this beautiful display. The rocks in the tower surely are and wonder to behold."
Met nodded. "I agree. Now, I've never seen the ocean and I expect that is truly a wonder to behold. I've seen rivers, lakes, but never anything as big as ocean."
"You are right, it truly is. It reminds me of how small we are, and how big our Creator is, who made the ocean."
"Maybe one day, you'll get to show me that ocean." His words surprised him. They meant that one day, he and Sophia would be together.
"That remains to be seen, Matthew Thomas." Sophia glanced at him but this time did not smile. Her eyes held questions he wasn't sure he had the answers for.
#
Sophia's muscles ached as she dressed for bed. After she returned from the ride to Bear Lodge, the other ladies helped her heat water so she could take a soak in the bathtub behind a bedsheet hung up in the k
itchen area. She was thankful for the tub, one little luxury the men had put into the mill house for the brides. She would never take something like a bathtub for granted again.
What a day it had been! She had gotten to know Matthew better and saw some of the beautifully wild countryside. Despite the aches and pains from an all day trail ride, she couldn't help but smile about the events of the very full day.
A soft knock came at her door. Becky stood just outside. She carried a plate bearing four cookies. "I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
"Of course not, please come right in."
Becky settled onto the lumpy mattress. "I brought cookies. We save some from supper. How did everything go? What did that 'Devil's Tower' look like?" The younger woman had supper at the Eatery with Jake that evening and she had missed out on all the conversation after Sophia returned.
"I've never seen anything like it before. It was great and terrible, rising up from the foothills. No wonder people are a bit in awe of it." Sophia sat beside Becky and picked up a cookie. She bit into it. "Oh, these are delicious. I can't recall the last time I ate a cookie."
"One of the other ladies baked them for her beau. I'm surprised there were any left." Becky smiled. "So, how did you and Matthew get along?"
"Quite well. I learned more about him, where he came from, how he came to live in Wyoming and Angel Vale, why he decided to start the newspaper. I gave him an idea for possibly distributing more copies outside Angel Vale, but he didn't seem too keen about it. Perhaps it's the fact he didn't think of it himself." She had to chuckle a bit, although at the time it did cause for a tense moment.
"Men certainly do like to come up with their own ideas." Becky shook her head. The smile departed from her face. "So you had a safe journey, then? I'm only asking because someone has seen evidence of a bear not too far from town."
"We did have a safe journey overall. A friend of Matthew's, a native man named John, rode with us also. We saw no wild animal, save some deer. On the way back, John did point out some bear tracks. He didn't think they were fresh, but both he and Matt did suggest we ladies stay close to town. For that matter, I think anyone should stay close to town." Seeing the tracks from a beast like that made her realize they were still in relatively wild country.
"I hope they find it soon, or it will just go away and leave us alone."
Sophia nodded. Life seems so uncertain here. Or maybe it's just that we have removed ourselves from our old routines and have frequent reminders of how little we can control."
"Oh Sophia, that is very true. Yet, this also reminds me how our Heavenly Father is watching over us to. He holds our futures in His hands."
Thank you, Becky." Sophia gave the younger woman a quick hug. "You are wise beyond your years."
Chapter 6
The point of Sophia's pencil crept along the notepad as she wrote the story of the grizzly bear which had been lurking outside Angel Vale. She licked her lips as she recalled the tale a cowboy told about his encounter with the animal. Sophia had heard the tale from another of the mail-order brides and it had intrigued her enough to ride out to the ranch and interview the cowboy.
A group from the town had successfully killed the bear and they could all breathe easier. Matthew had agreed to let her write the story. She didn't know how she'd feel about meeting up with a bear, even with winter descending upon them, a time when bears hibernated, she'd been told. When she and Matthew had ridden to Bear Lodge, she'd been full of seeing the wonder of God's creation around them. She didn't consider the fact they could be in any immediate danger.
It had been an interesting few weeks since their trip and all the news which followed.
“Is your story finished yet?” Matthew asked from across the room, where he sat hunched over the type. Today was his turn to set the type for the next edition of the newspaper, but she could tell it wasn't his favorite activity. It wasn't hers, either. They both took turns, sometimes agreeing to the possibility of hiring someone with a younger back and shoulders in the future. But that would be only after the paper started earning more money.
“Almost, almost.”
During the weeks after the trip to Bear Lodge, Matthew hadn't mentioned marriage, or a wedding. All he and Sophia talked about together was work and the weather. She found she buried herself in her work, and the more she did so, the less she thought about Maine and everything she had left behind. Which wasn't much.
Still, the uncertainty of her future with Matthew loomed ahead of her. The two of them had grown closer, yes, in a way. Or maybe, she'd been wrong about that. When Ezekiel had courted her, it was on the advice of the family and she had gone along with the prospect which had been presented to her.
At that time, there was no mention of closeness or getting to know one another. Then why was she expecting more, this time around? The other ladies looked to her as one who knew a few things about love and marriage, given her longtime experience in the state of matrimony. But no, she might as well be starting all over again. Which truthfully, she was.
The bell clanged over the front door and they both looked up. In came Becky, holding an envelope.
“Oh, good, I was hoping you would be here.” She smiled at Sophia. “I came from the mercantile. Jake said a letter arrived for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, for you.”
Sophia couldn't imagine who would have written her. Both her parents had passed on, Ezekiel's family had no use for her anymore. Her cousins and other extended family members in New England also had their own matters to attend to. She didn't event tell them she had moved to Wyoming.
She glanced down at the envelope. “Matthew, it's from you.”
Matthew looked up from his work at the press. The color drained from his face. “May I see that, please? I'd rather you not read it.”
Both women shot him a look.
“Now, Matthew. . .” Sophia began.
Becky stood uncertainly, glancing between them both. “I'm not sure I understand.”
“Yes, the letter is from me. I. . .I'd written you a letter directly, answering your first—and only—letter to me.”
“Ah, I see. You did mention that not long after I arrived.” Sophia took a few steps across the wooden floor and accepted the letter from Becky. “Thank you for bringing it to me.”
“I'd rather you not open it, if you don't mind.” Matthew rubbed his forehead.
But her hands had already opened the envelope and slid the letter from inside. “Curious, that it comes back to Angel Vale now.”
“Jake isn't quite sure what happened, or how the letter ended up back here.” Becky frowned.
Sophia unfolded the piece of paper.
Dear Mrs. Webster,
I have received your letter in return and I thank you for your kind response.
Marriage is a solemn, holy undertaking. While I have done my best to help solicit brides to come West to Angel Vale, I must admit that after your letter I have done much praying and soul-searching.
Perhaps it might be best if I wait on entering into marriage after all. I am undertaking a business endeavor which is likely going to claim much of my time, resources, and attention. Therefore, I think it would be unfair to ask a woman to come alongside me while my energies are devoted elsewhere.
While I remain, again, thankful for your response, I do not wish to cause you the trouble of making such a long journey to Wyoming.
Unless, however, you might meet someone upon your arrival here that might pique your interest. In that case, I would be most happy to broker an arrangement on your behalf. I look forward to your response.
I remain, your humble servant,
Matthew Thomas
Sophia set the letter on the counter. Before she'd even come to Wyoming, he'd already changed his mind. What now, after all she'd been through to get here.
“Sophia, I can explain.”
She raised her hands and shook her head. “You don't need to.”
She'd been right,
right all along not to step into marriage immediately. What did this man, Matthew Thomas, intend? Had he been fooling her all along? Because at the moment, she felt very foolish.
Sophia took a few steps toward the front door. “I need air.” She heard Becky saying something as she passed her on the way out. Sophia headed outside, not caring she didn't grab her coat.
He wanted to explain to her. Of course, she should let him do just that. But her breath came out in gasps as she stumbled onto Main Street, took the nearest corner to a side street.
Footsteps gained on her. “Sophia, stop.”
She kept striding along. “I don't want to talk to you right now. We have no agreement. Has this all been a pretense?”
“No. I can explain.”
She did need to allow him to say his piece. She whirled to face him.
“Explain, Matthew Thomas.”
“I was afraid.” He stopped, close to her. He carried her shawl and slipped it around her shoulders. She found the gesture endearing and unsettling at the same time.
Sophia nodded. “That's fair enough. I've been afraid, too. But less afraid, now.”
“As soon as I wrote the first letter introducing myself I had misgivings. Then, I read your letter to me, so I wrote this one.”
“I should have never written to you, never looked at any of the men's letters. If I'd only received the second letter you wrote me before coming here.”
“I wrote that letter because, well, I thought maybe I was getting caught up in what the other fellas were talking about. Wives, building a home, a life with someone. I wanted that, or part of me does. Did. Does.”
“See, you don't even know, now.” She bit her lip. She cared more deeply for him than she wanted to admit. This hesitation of his—theirs—was no surprise. They'd discussed it the first day.
But the fact the letter came back with such a tone of reluctance. It was far more than hesitation. It was releasing her from any potential commitment and backing out of the endeavor altogether—except for him perhaps finding another possible husband for her.
Christmas Mail Order Angels: The complete 11 Volume Set Page 66
