Brides of the West-Part One

by Hestand, Rita

  "Take me to him? Why isn't he meeting me here himself?" She asked, her brows nearly meeting in the middle of her forehead.

  "He's can't. He's off on a hunting trip…" The man fumbled with the hat in his hand.

  She glanced up and down the man. He was clean cut, for a cowboy, and his manners were impressive. But his words threw her into a tizzy. The man she planned to marry was out on a hunting trip when she'd written and told him she was coming. How could he?

  Was that really a good explanation? Here she was ready to get married, and he was out hunting.

  "Hunting?" She screeched. Trying to gather her composure once more, she beamed a frown at the man staring at her. Of all things she expected, this wasn't one of them. Hershel was hunting on her wedding day?

  "Well, I'm sure I can find my own way. After all, he lives here doesn't he?" She asked innocently. "I mean, I was under the impression he would be here to meet me. I suppose hunting takes priority over getting married…here in the wilds."

  The man stared at her a moment, apparently unsure how to react to her.

  "Not exactly ma'am, this time of year, with the snows coming and all, he needs to get his meat stored for the winter. I'm sure he was just thinking of you."

  She folded her lips together in a maddening frown. "I see…"

  But she didn't see. She was angry that she hadn't taken priority over mundane things like hunting. Just once in her life, couldn't she come first? This was not a good start for her future.

  Buck squirmed a bit and edged his fingers around the rim of his hat. "Not exactly… you don't."

  "Not exactly? What does that mean?" She asked.

  "He doesn't live here. He lives up there." He pointed.

  She saw no up there. "Up where?" She rolled her eyes dramatically.

  "Up there in the mountains, miss." Buck explained.

  "He's a…mountain man?" She gasped. Sweet Jesus, had she ever gotten herself into a mess this time. Boasting that this would be an adventure she wouldn't forget, was coming true, in the worst way.

  "Sure…I figured you knew that." Buck backed up a bit.

  "All I have is a picture of him and his letters. His letters were so full of beautiful things. I couldn't resist him. But he never mentioned he lived on a mountain." She clutched the picture to her chest. "Now I'm beginning to wonder if there are a lot of things he didn't mention."

  Her uneasiness grew, festering inside her, especially since the man in front of her still hadn't smiled.

  "I'm sorry about that. Probably didn't want to scare you away." Buck offered her an explanation. "So are you ready to leave now?"

  "Leave, as in going up the mountain?" She asked her eyes widening.

  "Yes."

  "No!" She floundered, standing up and pacing a bit before explaining. This gentleman, whoever he was, didn't understand, and she couldn't expect him to. "You don't understand. We were to be married right away. Why do you think I am sitting here in a wedding dress, like some idiot?" She was becoming hysterical. Her voice rose and then she put a hand over her mouth, as though to still her thoughts. She couldn't allow her feelings to spill out to this man. It was Hershel she was angry with.

  Buck stared at her, watching her every move.

  "How long does it take to get there?" She asked innocently.

  "Oh about a week or two, depending on the weather."

  She folded and refolded her hands. "Mr.…Daggett, is it?"

  "Yes ma'am." He leaned toward her to be sure he heard her.

  "This will never do!" She almost screamed and he backed away once more.

  "No ma'am. I can understand you being reasonably upset, but…"

  "A week. Well…even you should know that it would be two to three weeks before we could be married if I go up the mountain. I just can't do that. I won't be compromised!" She heard her own voice rise. "I thought he understood. The wedding has to be now, today!"

  "No, ma'am I don't think he did, but I understand. Well, I guess we better figure something out. Hadn't we?" He suggested scratching his chin.

  He leaned on her luggage for a moment as he scratched his chin.

  Rachel felt irritation crawl up her back. Already things were going wrong. And then an idea hit her.

  "I thought he understood. Evidently not. But…there is one thing. Although I'm not sure if we could find someone to do it for us here."

  "What's that ma'am."

  "W-we could be married by proxy." She studied the problem for a long moment. "I've read about it. Napoleon and Marie-Louise of Austria were married by proxy in March of 1810. The honorable Archduke Charles stood in his place as Napoleon. In other words, we could be married in this state if you would stand in for Hershel."

  Buck looked wide-eyed at the lady.

  "Stand in? You want me to marry you?" He asked incredulously, his eyes growing larger by the minute..

  Short of laughing hysterically, she put her hand over her mouth. "No," Her laughter died when she saw how shocked he was at her statement. "You would be a proxy, just take Hershel's place. In the state of Colorado, it is legal. I've checked that information before coming, in case something went awry. Would you be willing to do this for your friend?" She looked at Buck without the slightest idea of what might be going through his head.

  "I wouldn't be married to you, though, right?" He scratched his head. "Hershel would?"

  "That's right." She answered standing up and looking at him with a plea in her smile.

  "Well…I don't know…I mean, is it legal?"

  "Very much so…"

  Buck paced the boardwalk and glanced at her several times. He turned his head one way, then another. Apparently she had put the man in a stew. She hadn't meant to shock him with her idea. She thought men of the west couldn't be shocked so quickly.

  "If you really are his friend, you'd do this for him…for me." She cried although she knew she had no real pull on this man's loyalty.

  "We just have this ceremony and go on up the mountain, just like that?" He asked. "And you're married, and I'm not, is that it?"

  "Yes, there's nothing complicated about it. And you wouldn't be married to me in the least." She insisted. "But I would be married to Hershel and if I got snowed in, there would be no problem. I wouldn't have to turn around and come back."

  "Well…where do we go to get this done?" Buck asked, obviously uncomfortable about the whole thing.

  "We just need to find a preacher." She insisted.

  "A preacher. Oh yeah, sure…"

  "Do you know any?" She asked.

  "Sure…I know one. He hasn't preached in town for a long while, but he's got the papers saying he's a bonafied preacher, so I'm sure he could."

  "Good. Is he here, in this town?"

  "No, ma'am, he's up the mountain a ways. On the way." He told her.

  "Good. Then, I must change my clothes somewhere and then we can be off." She smiled and grabbed her bags.

  He took the bags from her hands and looked her in the eye.

  Oddly enough, it flustered her a bit as he touched her hand. Buck Daggett was much better looking than Hershel, she noted silently. In fact, in some rugged way, he was handsome.

  "I'll take you over to Lilly's so you can change there." He said, hauling her luggage and waiting for her to follow.

  For the briefest of moments, Rachel wondered exactly what she had gotten herself into.

  Oh well…there's no turning back now!

  Chapter Two

  Much to her chagrin, Lilly was a whore at the Red Lantern Saloon. Wading through the drunken miners, cowboys, and riffraff, Buck had taken her to a back room where a woman with blonde hair stood staring at her. She wore a gold silk dress that split up the side, and was very low at the neck. Rachel blushed. The woman was stunning and would have been beautiful had it not been for so much make-up.

  "Who's this with you Buck?" Lilly's husky voice echoed across the room almost harshly. "Your bride?"

  The slight twist of her of lip spoke volum
es to Rachel. This woman knew Buck intimately.

  "Easy Lilly, this is Rachel Landers, Hershel's intended. She needs to change her clothes. I'm taking her up there. They were supposed to be married here, but obviously there were some mixed ups somewhere."

  Lilly's gaze surveyed her with precision. "You're taking her to Hershel?"

  Rachel reacted, flinching inwardly.

  "Yeah, but we need to get her out of this dress and into some clothes fit for traveling the mountains, can you help us?" Buck asked looking perplexed at the expression on Lilly's face.

  "Well, sure I can Buck." The woman eyed her thoroughly. "Now let's see, you look to be a might small, but I'm sure I've got some clothes that will fit you. You wait here honey, I'll be right back." Lilly smiled for the first time.

  Rachel stared at her in wonder. The woman had enough stuff on her face to make it crack if she smiled. But Rachel had to admit she was friendly and helpful. She'd never come face to face with a woman of ill repute. Still, she somehow liked her. To help a total stranger, spoke volumes of what kind of person she was capable of being. Rachel prided herself on being able to size a person up not only by their looks, but actions, and manners.

  In no time at all, Lilly traipsed back into the room with a handful of clothes. As she threw the clothes on the big bed, her perfume wafted through the room. Rachel sneezed.

  "Okay dearie, let's get that dress off you, and Buck you can wait outside until I'm done here," Lilly instructed.

  "Oh…oh yeah, sure." He nodded to them both and stepped outside the door.

  As Lilly helped her with the tiny buttons of her dress, she looked her over. "What in the world are you doing, honey?" She asked.

  Rachel turned about to look at her. Misery and regret mingled in her mind. Somewhat exasperated at being mocked, her voice grated. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, what are you doing marrying a man like Hershel?" Lilly's voice faded with something close to pity. "Land sakes, you are a beautiful young woman, and you look as though you've got a brain working in that head of yours. But Hershel Newton?"

  Rachel studied her a moment. Although this woman was more worldly than educated, Rachel saw a wisdom in her blue eyes. Looking past the paint on her face, and the eye-catching dress, Rachel saw a woman of the world, with experience and intelligence.

  She shrugged, hopelessly. "We've corresponded for a year almost. Through his beautiful letters, I feel as though I know him well."

  Lilly stared at her then broke out in laughter.

  Rachel didn't know whether she should laugh with her or be humiliated further. "Letters? You didn't correspond with Hershel."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Why….child, Hershel can't write…"

  Rachel stared at her with her mouth hanging open. How many kinds of fool could she be? "He…can't?"

  "Not one word, he can't read either." Lilly almost laughed until she saw the strange look on Rachel's face. "You didn't know, did you. That's what I mean, honey. You have no idea who he really is. How in the world did you let this happen?"

  "But he wrote such beautiful letters." She insisted, her voice lowering with defeat.

  "He didn't."

  "No?" Rachel felt her heart drop to her knees. Was everything she had learned about the man a lie? Had she been a fool again? How would she ever face this down? She couldn't go home, they'd mock her the rest of her life for being so foolish.

  "Someone could have written for him, I suppose, but he didn't write no letters, that much I'm sure." Lilly studied her a moment. "But you came here, with the intention of marrying him, on letters he didn't even write. You poor little fool."

  Confusion and anger mingled as Rachel tried to hold herself proud. She had been a fool.

  "Then if he didn't write them, who did?"

  "Just guessing I say you should ask Buck, he's his best friend," Lilly suggested.

  "Oh dear…I don't feel well." Rachel saw the error of her ways and wished she could change the last few days of her life.

  But just the struggle to get here, in the God-forsaken little town had been a nightmare. Now to find out she had again acted the fool was more than she could bear.

  "No, I imagine you don't." Lilly shook her head at her innocence.

  "I've been such a fool." Rachel moaned. "Again."

  "Oh, now don't take on so dearie. You could do worse. It's just well…Hershel isn't a genteel kind of fella, and I can tell you are quite the lady. He's rough, and hard and all man. But don't get me wrong, Hershel is a right good man. Got a heart of gold. And he doesn't lie. Maybe he told someone else to write down the words. Maybe in some way, he did write them." Lilly suggested when she saw how distraught the girl was.

  "Maybe…" She barely uttered her words fading like the wind. "But that's a big maybe."

  Her mind was racing and heart was breaking inside, not so much for her dream of finding a good husband, but for being foolish enough to think she had succeeded. Her family would never let her live this one down. She'd done many stupid things as a young woman, but this definitely took the cake.

  "Well, you take heart. If he offered marriage, he was either drunk or he meant it."

  Little consolation that was, Rachel pouted. And he drank to boot.

  Rachel closed her eyes and reprimanded herself. Hershel hadn't proposed. No, she had escaped home, thinking he would naturally marry her if she came all this way to be with him. How foolish was that?

  "I've been a fool to come here. I see that now. When does the stage leave for the east? I should go home immediately."

  "Well honey, you aren't the first, nor will you be the last to be a fool. Most women are when it comes to men." Lilly laughed. "And I wouldn't be getting on no stage until I found out just how big a fool I'd been. I mean, if you are looking for a good man, then he's your man. But I got to warn you, he's not the prettiest."

  When her expression of shock and shame didn't alter, Lilly she came to her and hugged her.

  "Listen, you came all the way from where?"

  "Philadelphia…"

  "So why not be sure it is a mistake. I've seen men turn themselves around for the right woman. It happens."

  Rachel looked at her for a long moment. This woman was a woman of the world, she had seen things that Rachel couldn't even imagine. She was wise, of that Rachel was sure.

  "But I'd have to marry him before I knew if it were a mistake, don't you see. And then it might be too late."

  "I can't tell you what to do miss, but I can say if it was me, I'd make sure it was a mistake before I walked away from it."

  "Mr. Daggett has agreed to stand in for Hershel and we'd be married by proxy. Do you think that wise, without first talking to Hershel." Rachel informed her. "There's so many things I need to discuss with him before…But if I go up, without benefit of marriage I might get snowed in and then what would I do. I won't be compromised."

  Lilly lifted her chin a bit and then shook her head.

  "Well, a promise is a promise. Besides, if you don't do it that way, you're liable to get stuck up that mountain for months, without the benefit of marriage just like you said. So if it's important to you, I'd that care of that for sure. Besides, you can get a divorce if you have to. No, that's not what they call it when you haven't consummated the marriage…oh yes, annulment. You could have it annulled if you decided it was a mistake."

  "Divorce…I'm talking about divorcing and I'm not even married yet!" Her voice became shrill. "Months. Alone in a cabin with a man all winter. Oh, you are right. I would have to marry him by proxy. And you are right again about the annulment, too. Yes," Rachel straightened her shoulders and looked hopeful at Lilly. "You are right."

  "You could do worse." Lilly patronized her.

  "Could I?"

  "You bet. Now don't you fret." Lilly patted her on the shoulder and took the dress away.

  She undid the corset and before long she had Rachel looking almost as though she fit in, with a riding skirt, a flannel shirt, and long
boots that came up to her knees. She topped it off with a hat and smiled. "Now that's better. You look like a lady that belongs here."

  "Thank you, what do I owe you?" Rachel asked getting her bag out.

  "Nothing, the girl that wore those clothes is long gone and I don't think any of my girls can wear them. We're a little more endowed, shall we say." Lilly gave her a quick once over and smiled. But Rachel still looked puzzled. "They got a little more meat on their bones, than you. Those clothes have been sitting around here for ages. I wish you luck honey. And don't worry. It will all work out. You just gotta know you're options."

  Lilly must have seen her indecision.

  "A woman of your caliber doesn't come out here on a whim. They must have been some letters." Lilly smiled.

  "Yes…they were." Rachel murmured.

  Lilly called Buck back in.

  Buck looked at Rachel and something in his expression changed. She saw shock in his face.

  "Well, what do you think Buck?" Lilly asked.

  "She'll do fine. Thanks, Lilly." Buck nodded and guided Rachel out of the room. "See you Lilly."

  "Thanks, Lilly," Rachel called to her.

  Lilly was smiling and waving, and nodding to her all at once.

  "It'll all be alright. And your mighty welcome…" Lilly hollered through the door.

  "Who was that woman?" Rachel looked at Buck for answers as he pulled her through the doorway and grabbed her bag in the other hand.

  "What do you mean. That was Lilly, she owns this place." Buck informed her. Not bothering to stop and chat with several of the men that hollered at him.

  "She does?"

  "Yeah, you might not believe it by looking but she's one of the richest women in this territory." Buck informed her.

  "Really…" Rachel looked back as Buck drew her out of the saloon and into the bright sunshine.

  Somehow Lilly had impressed her, with her soft heart and sound advice. She almost wished she could take Lilly with her.

  "We better get ourselves some pack mules and supplies before we set out." Buck informed her as he took her hand and pulled her down the boardwalk after him.

  People were everywhere. Men with picks and hammers in their hands. Men with soot and dust all over them. Ladies that were dressed like men. Rachel took it all in with fascination.