The Express Bride

by Kimberley Woodhouse

  And Father, You are the Great Physician. I ask You to heal Mr. Vines so that he at least has the chance to meet his daughter. It will be a long time before I can travel and bring her back to Kansas City, but I ask for You to keep sustaining him and encouraging him. Also, God, I need wisdom with Jackie. You know I’ve come to care for her. But I don’t have any idea what I’m to do. Is this Your will? Please guide me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  As he opened his eyes, a new sense of calm washed over him. Maybe the real key was what he’d thought about on his trip out here. Focus on God. Not on his own will.

  He placed his Bible beside him on the bed and picked up the second packet from Mr. Vines. It was hefty as if the man had written him quite the missive. But as he opened it up and leafed through the pages, he realized they were letters. Obviously from different people at different times because of the variances in paper and handwriting.

  Curious, Elijah began with the top letter.

  Elijah,

  Colson and I found these letters this week. I don’t know if you’ve come any closer to finding my daughter, but perhaps these will help. I must admit it’s almost embarrassing to share such intimate details with you, but I am desperate. Desperate to find my daughter and to apologize to her for all that I’ve done. I hope you don’t think any less of me after reading these letters, but I’m sure there must be a clue in here somewhere. And you’re just the man to figure it out.

  I miss you, my boy. Please send word as soon as you can.

  Charles Vines

  Elijah looked at the yellowed sheets behind Mr. Vines’s note. The first letter was quite interesting. A mystery person whom Anna had obviously confided in because the sender knew that Vines had not been a good man. But the writer said that while Vines’s wife and daughter were safe, he would not reveal their location. Hmm … Elijah had never seen anything quite like it. It had to be from a man because he stated he would protect them at all costs. Could Marshall have written this letter?

  He quickly flipped to the next page. A different script filled the paper. His heart wrenched when he read the name at the bottom. Going back to the top, Elijah took a breath and read:

  July 2, 1837

  Charles,

  I forgive you. It has taken me a long time to be able to say these words out loud, but time is running short for me.

  As I think of God’s unconditional love for us—sinners and wretches that we are—I’m amazed at His example of forgiveness. So I ask that you forgive me as well.

  I’m dying, Charles. I’m sorry it has come to this, and my heart aches with the thought of leaving my precious daughter behind at such a tender age, but the fever has taken hold.

  I pray that you have found God and His forgiveness. I pray for your soul every day.

  I loved you, Charles. With all my heart. I’m sorry for all the ways I failed you. But I couldn’t fix you. Only God can do that.

  I’m leaving Jacqueline in good hands.

  Anna

  The shaky handwriting on the page attested to the difficulty thewoman had in writing it. But his instincts had proven true. Anna and Charles’s daughter’s name was Jacqueline. That combined with the fact that Jackie was the spitting image of the woman in the painting was enough proof for him. He flipped to the next page.

  July 11, 1837

  Mr. Vines,

  Your wife became quite ill with the fever, and I’m afraid she will not be with us much longer.

  She’s asked me to promise to care for her daughter. I have given my solemn word to her. I will raise Jacqueline as my own and provide the best life for her that I can. Anna’s greatest wish is that you have found peace with God. How she still loves you, I do not understand, but it has been a privilege to know her and learn from her example. I will continue to pray that you find God’s grace and mercy.

  Sincerely,

  M.R.

  Elijah turned to the last page.

  July 13, 1837

  Mr. Vines,

  I regret to inform you that the fever took your wife this morning. She had been happy these last years.

  M.R.

  Splotches smeared the ink in one place and crinkled the paper in several others. Whoever it was must have cared deeply for Anna, for their tears marked the page. Elijah remembered Charles telling him about this letter. How it had been delayed for months in the long mail-service route. Especially since he moved from St. Louis to Kansas City. Eventhough Charles had tried to start over and be a better man, the letter had crushed him.

  Elijah sucked in a breath. All the proof he needed was right there in front of him. The last two letters were signed M.R.—Marshall Rivers. It was all true. Jacqueline Rivers was actually Jacqueline Vines. Now he just needed to tell Jackie.

  After feeding everyone lunch, Jackie wiped her hands on her apron and headed to Elijah’s room. She’d tucked the letter from her dad and one from her mother in her pocket.

  “Elijah?”

  His eyes were closed, but he obviously heard her. “Hmm?” Blinking several times, he focused on her. “I’m sorry. I was asleep again.”

  She pulled the chair up close so she could talk softly. “I don’t want to lose my gumption, so I’m just going to be blunt, all right?”

  He scrubbed at his eyes with his right hand. “I’m listening.”

  “You asked me yesterday if I wanted to know if Charles Vines was my father. Well, what I didn’t tell you—and the reason I ran out of the room—is that I already knew.” Taking a deep breath, she felt a tear escape her eye. “Dad wrote me a letter—remember how I was looking for the Shakespeare book?”

  His brow scrunched like he was confused. “Yes, but what does Shakespeare have to do with the letter?”

  “I’m sorry. It was just a clue. My father hid a box for me. I always liked treasure hunts when I was a kid.” Another tear. Another shaky breath. She could do this. “Anyway, I found the box, and then the stagecoach was attacked and you were injured, and I didn’t have a chance to open it. But then I did … and Dad told me that he wasn’t my real father. I have to admit, it crushed me to find that out. My dad was the greatest man I’d ever known. He was amazing….”

  Elijah reached across the bed and put his hand over hers. “I’m sure hewas, Jackie. I wasn’t trying to take that away from you.”

  “I know that.” She squeezed his hand and held on. “But then I read a letter from my mother.” Her shoulders began to shake. “So when you asked me about it, I was just too overwhelmed. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that I already knew.”

  “That’s all right. There’s no need to apologize.” His eyes were filled with compassion and understanding. “I think you need to read these.” He handed her a small stack of letters.

  She took them with shaky hands and glanced at each one. Dad’s handwriting! And then her mother’s on another. “Where did you get these?”

  “Charles sent them. He thought they might help me find you.”

  Ducking her head at the intensity in his gaze, Jackie read through them. She hadn’t needed any more confirmation, but these definitely added to the story she’d been trying to digest for the past couple of days. She handed them back to Elijah and brushed a tear from her cheek.

  “My mother also left a journal of sorts—it appears to be letters she wrote to me to help me understand. I started to read it, but there’s still more.” How did she ask what pressed on her heart? “Elijah, I need you to be honest with me. My mother was careful not to bash my father—Mr. Vines—but she was truthful. He sounds like he was a … a monster.” The tears flowed freely. “He hurt her. Was violent. Did you know that she lost …” She couldn’t say it; the words choked her. Closing her eyes, she swallowed and started again. “My mother lost three babies before me. Because of … him. It’s why she decided to leave.”

  Elijah let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. “Oh Jackie. I’m so sorry.”

  She leaned forward and placed her other hand atop his. “You told me that your boss was a good ma
n. The best of men. Didn’t you? So how can this be the same person? I need to know. I can’t … I just can’t go on with this facade all around me. But how am I supposed to deal with all this?” She sniffed and begged him with her eyes for the truth.

  “I didn’t know Charles when he was the other man. The only man I’ve known is the good one. But he told me himself that he was a despicableperson before God got ahold of him. His greatest desire was to find you and set things right. He wants you to know the truth and he wants to apologize.”

  She ducked her head and held on tight to his hand that she’d sandwiched between her own. When she looked up at him, she thought for sure that what she saw there was love. She’d seen it between Tom and June and had longed for it deep down. “I don’t know what to do—my whole life has been good. It really has. Dad led me to the Lord when I was just a young thing. I always believed that he was married to my mother and that he loved her very much. I thought things had been perfect between them and then the fever took her.

  “Her loss was tragic and awful, but Dad and I … we made it. Because we had each other and we had our faith. But what do I do with this now? The two people I thought were my parents weren’t actually married. Did people think they were married? Or how many people thought they were living in sin, or had a child out of wedlock? Not that I should care about what people think, I know—but the picture I’ve had painted in my mind all this time …” She shook her head and sighed. “Yet they both wrote to me that even though they loved each other deeply, they never broke God’s commandments. My mother was actually still married to a man she’d run away from. I feel like it was all a lie! My whole, beautiful life was a lie. It’s like a jar that’s broken into a hundred pieces. Shattered. So will I not know what real is when it comes? Is this real?”

  Elijah pushed himself up with his other arm and winced. He took a deep breath. “Out of everyone I’ve ever met, Jacqueline Rivers, you have had more real in your life than any of them. Just because they weren’t perfect and you didn’t know the whole truth doesn’t mean that your life is a lie. Believe me, I’ve seen enough people living a fake life to know the difference.”

  He squeezed the hand that he held before he continued. “Why do you think I’m so drawn to you and want to know more about you? It’s because you’ve experienced real love, Jackie. You know what it is. You’ve had the joys of a real family—even as different as it has been—and you still enjoy that here. All these riders—John, Mark, Luke, Paul, Timothy, Eddie—the Liverpools, and Michael. It’s a beautiful thing to watch all of you here. I want that. Long for it. If I’ve learned anything from all of this, it’s that I want to have a family of my own. I’ve never had the opportunity to experience love like this. I thought I was in love once a long time ago, and she betrayed me. So I’ve kind of put a barrier around my heart all these years.”

  What was he saying? She swallowed hard. “But you’re going to leave here eventually. I’ll never see you again.”

  He grimaced. “I’m making a mess out of this. I’m so sorry. This wasn’t the time for me to …” Swiping his other hand down his face, he looked at her sheepishly. “Can we start again?”

  “Does that mean you’re not going to leave?”

  “I’m not going anywhere for a good long while. If you haven’t noticed, I can’t.”

  The way he said it made her giggle.

  “And I’d genuinely like to get to know you better, Jacqueline Rivers. I’m asking you if you will pray with me about this. Perhaps consider a courtship of sorts?” He winced as he leaned closer to place his other hand atop hers.

  “I’d like to know you better too. Of course I will pray. A courtship sounds … lovely.” She looked down at their hands stacked in her lap. “I’m sorry for falling apart like that.”

  Elijah nodded and leaned back in the bed. “You had a right to.”

  “This is going to take a lot of getting used to. I’m not quite sure what to do with myself since I can’t talk to Dad about it and I don’t remember my mother.”

  “Give it time. Read the letters and the journal. Savor everything you can. I’ll be here. And when I’m healed, we can travel to Kansas City together so you can meet Charles Vines for yourself. You still have family left.”

  He was right. Although it was hard to fathom that the man her mother had run away from was now desperately searching for her and seeking forgiveness. God, what are You doing? Because I don’t understand. And it hurts. But I will trust You. “It’s hard to think about leaving here. I’venever been farther away from home than Carson City. What if I don’t like it there?”

  “Let’s not worry about it now. We’ve got plenty of time to figure it out since Doc says it’s going to be weeks before I can even attempt to walk.” He leaned a bit closer. “No one is telling you that you have to stay there. I’ll be with you the whole time. And if I know anything about Charles Vines, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he decided to sell off his whole estate and move wherever you wanted to go.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “As much as it scares me to travel like that, I like the idea of spending more time with you.” She allowed a smile to fill her face.

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  His hand inside of hers was warm and strong.

  “Looking forward to what?” Michael stood at the door grinning like he’d just found his birthday cake and eaten it all.

  Jackie released Elijah’s hand and gave the young man—who was growing up way too fast—a look that meant she’d talk to him later about eavesdropping. “None of your business.” She sat up straighter. “Did you need something?”

  “Yeah, you know I was just teasin’ ya. You two were looking so serious.” He walked over to her and squeezed her shoulder. “This just came in on the Express.”

  “I missed an Express?” In all her years, she’d never missed the stage or the Pony Express when it came through. Well, other than when she’d conked her head the other day. But even when she was little, before she had any real responsibilities, she’d always raced outside to see what the stage brought. No one could miss the rumble of the horses as they came through.

  “We all knew you two were talking, and we didn’t want to disturb you.”

  “I’m still shocked. I didn’t even realize it had come.”

  “You must have been really engrossed in whatever you were talking about.” Michael shrugged. “I’ll be out in the parlor if you need me.”

  “Thank you.” She looked down at the missive in her hands. “It’s from Mr. Crowell.”

  Elijah put a hand to his forehead.

  Jackie stood up and leaned over him. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”

  He let out a huff. “I’m fine. I just remembered that I need to get some very important information to him.”

  Shaking her head, she sat back down and put a hand to her chest. “You had me worried for a moment. I’m sure he’ll understand—you were waylaid and unconscious for a good while.”

  “Would you mind bringing me some writing supplies? I need to send something as soon as I can. Is there an address on there I can send it to?”

  She checked the envelope. “Yes, right here.” Gathering the supplies he needed, she handed them to him and sat back in the chair and opened the letter.

  Miss Rivers,

  I’ve been detained in Carson City longer than I expected.

  The next section of the letter appeared to be in the code.

  “I’ll be right back, Elijah.” She stood up and ran to her room to retrieve the paper she needed to decipher it.

  The forgeries are not originating from here, but they have come through here. Have you heard from Mr. Johnson? Could you ask if he had the meeting we discussed? I haven’t heard from him, which concerns me.

  I apologize for asking for your services once again, but I am at an impasse. I have an urgent matter that needs to be discussed with Mr. Williamson in Virginia City. Could you get a m
essage to him from me? I can’t send an Express; it’s too dangerous and might fall into the wrong hands. It needs to be brought to him in person. That ensures both of you protection. Right now, we’re unsure of who is to be trusted.

  If you can, please tell him, “Sacramento is ready.” That’s it.

  I shall return by the end of November if not sooner. Thankyou for the information you supplied; it was of great use to us.

  The note continued in regular writing.

  Please keep all of this to yourself. It is of utmost importance.

  Your friend,

  James Crowell

  Jackie folded the letter back into the envelope. “He asked if I’d heard from you, so it’s a good thing you’re writing him. He asked if you had the meeting as discussed.” What were Crowell and Elijah working on together? She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She had enough going on.

  In that moment, she realized she’d never gotten off a letter to the owners. Well, that couldn’t wait any longer. She needed to write the owners and tell them the truth today. She felt her life had contained too many lies already.

  “That’s one of the things I need to write him about. I’ll take care of it, so don’t worry.”

  “What?” She gave him a puzzled look and realized he was still thinking about Mr. Crowell. “Oh, all right.”

  His attention on the letter he was writing, Elijah didn’t look up at her.

  She stood. “Well, I’d better see to the rest of dinner preparations.”

  He looked up at her. “Will you come back later?” The pleading in his blue eyes made her stomach flip.

  “I’d love to.”

  The fat man stood in front of him, a greedy smile making his double chin grow. “Just your luck, I finished them all. And they’re perfect, if I do say so myself.”