The Express Bride

by Kimberley Woodhouse

  “They’ll be here after their runs.”

  She hugged each one of them.

  “We’ve missed you too, Jack. And we’ve missed your cooking.” Timothy made a face. “I never want to eat anyone else’s food ever again.”

  Laughter rounded the group.

  “We should get you all inside.”

  “Let us take care of the horses. We’ll be in soon.” Michael nodded to the other boys. Seeing him take on such leadership and responsibility made her heart swell with pride.

  “I’ll get some refreshments ready for you.”

  She led the others inside. After she closed the door, a large, portly man held out his hand. “The name’s Trevor Hudson, miss.” The puff from his cigar made her eyes water. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “Oh, well, it’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hudson.”

  Mr. Crowell held out an arm. “Could we join Mr. Johnson in his room? He’ll want to hear all of this.”

  “Of course.” They went to Elijah’s room, and she gave him a big smile.

  Mr. Crowell didn’t waste any time. “I’m happy to say that it’s all over. Trevor here was the key to catching Carl Blackwood—whom you would recognize as the man who pretended to be Williamson. He killed our man and then posed as him.”

  “That’s awful. But I’m so glad you caught him. How did you do it?” She couldn’t believe it was finally over. Watching that man get shot had given her nightmares.

  “Well, it wasn’t easy. We’ve had Trevor here in place as a forger—he’s an expert on treasury notes—ever since Carl killed the last man he’d had working for him. He’d been feeding us information about how Carl was doing it and we were able to track the notes that Trevor made here since he left a special mark on each one. What we hadn’t figured out was how Marshall had been implicated in it all. Carl obviously hadn’t been doing it alone, but since he seemed to kill off all his accomplices as he went, we couldn’t find the trail. But once you delivered the message that Sacramento was ready, Carl killed his nephew—the man you saw him shoot—and headed straight for San Francisco rather than Sacramento to cash in his forgeries. He headed straight into our trap. We caught him red-handed. Then when we returned to Virginia City, we found his nephew’s belongings and all the other proof we needed. It didn’t take much for Carl’s sister to turn on him and tell the whole shady tale.”

  “How much money did he steal?”

  “One hundred thousand dollars in gold was found on him when we caught him. He was planning on doubling that in San Francisco.”

  Elijah whistled. “That’s a fortune.”

  Mr. Crowell nodded. “Yes, it is. And it would have been a terrible blow to the economy.” He walked up to Jackie. “All these so-called letters that were seen as evidence against Marshall Rivers?” Mr. Crowell tossed them on the desk. “They were all mysteriously delivered around the same time. And look at the handwriting. They’re all written by the same person. Then we noticed that there isn’t one legitimate postmark on any of these.” He shot her a smile. “They’re frauds, Miss Rivers. Written by Carl’s nephew and planted to implicate your dad. The man who raised you—Marshall Rivers—is exonerated of any accusations against him.” He held out another stack of documents with his other hand. “I believe these are yours. They’re real.”

  She stood to her feet and hugged the man. “Thank you. Thank you.” She took the documents and clutched them to her chest. “It was so sweet of him to do this for me. I think I’d like to give them to the boys.” Tears streamed down her face. “I wish you all could have known Dad—Marshall. He was such a good man.”

  Mr. Vines—her real father—walked toward her slowly. “He sounds like the best of men and someone I would have greatly respected. Just look at how well he raised you.”

  Elijah gripped Jackie’s hand tighter as they walked down the street and back. “I can’t believe it’s already February.”

  “And look at how well you’re walking. There’s hardly a limp anymore.” The smile that she gave him just about melted him.

  How he longed to make this woman his wife. “Thank you for helping me with my exercises all this time. I know it hasn’t been easy for you.”

  “Oh, pshaw. With Father helping so much with everything at the station, I’ve had plenty of time to help. Besides, it has given us more time together.”

  “Not much of a courtship, huh?” He lifted her hand in his and drew it to his chest as he stopped and turned toward her.

  “I beg to differ.” Only a few inches separated them. “It has been”—she licked her lips—“wonderful.”

  Tipping his head down toward hers, he watched her green eyes sparkle in the sunlight. “It has been, hasn’t it?”

  “Mm-hmm.” She blinked and lifted her face closer to his.

  “Oh, just kiss her already. We’re all getting tired of your constant googly eyes at each other anyway,” Michael teased.

  Elijah chuckled but kept her close. “You know, he’s sounding more and more like his big sister every day.”

  “Oh?” She raised an eyebrow. “How’s that?”

  “Bossy, bossy.”

  Jackie laughed and put her other hand behind his neck. “Why don’t you kiss me already?”

  “Bossy.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips but didn’t pull back. “Because I want to ask you a question.”

  “All right. I’m listening.” She inched closer.

  “Will you marry me, Jack?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Jackie kissed him. “Yes.”

  Elijah released her hand so he could wrap her in his arms, and then he kissed her with all the love he held for her.

  Applause rang out around them.

  Jackie pulled back. “I didn’t realize we had an audience.” Her cheeks a deep pink, she looked into his eyes. “Oh, what does it matter. I love you.” With a passion he wasn’t ready for, she kissed him back.

  When they pulled apart, Elijah’s heart was thrumming in his chest.

  Jackie grabbed his hand again as they turned to their friends. “We’re getting married!”

  Charles walked toward him with his hand outstretched. “That’s wonderful news. When?”

  “Oh, how about St. Valentine’s Day?” Elijah threw out.

  “But that’s in just a week.” Jackie gave him an odd look. “And that’s already too long to wait.”

  February 14, 1861

  Jackie sat in her room in the beautiful gown her father had paid a small fortune to have made in just a few days. In a few minutes, she’d walk out and become Mrs. Elijah Johnson. The thought made her heart soar.

  A knock sounded at the door.

  “Come in.” She stood and picked up the bouquet she’d made out of the ribbons Dad had given her over the years.

  “You look beautiful.” Her father looked on with pride. “Are you ready?”

  She gave a giddy nod. “And more excited than I’ve ever been.”

  “That young man out there is the best man I’ve ever known. I know he’ll cherish you and love you.”

  “I know.” And she did. With all her heart.

  “Is there anything else you need on this special day?”

  “I can’t think of anything.” Jackie loved the time she’d had to spend with her father. But an idea struck. “Actually, there is something I’d like to ask you to help with.”

  “Of course, anything.” His eyes always lit up whenever she asked him to help her with anything.

  “Mama wrote in her journal to me that I have a cousin in California. It’s a distant cousin, but still, I’d love to see if we could find her.” She hated asking something that might bring him pain from the past.

  “I would love to help you, my dear. In fact, California would make a nice trip. You, me, and Elijah could take a little trip there.”

  “Oh, could we?”

  “As soon as you want to go, I say we should head west! I’ve always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean.”

  Jackie clappe
d her hands together and gave her father a huge hug.

  He pulled back, a sentimental expression on his face. “I want to give you something.”

  “Father, you’ve given me so much already.”

  “Oh, hush. I’ll have none of that. Allow me to shower my daughter with whatever I want. You know, I might not be around forever.”

  She tried not to giggle at the dramatic look on his face. Even though she knew he had been quite sick last year, his health had only continued to improve.

  He pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket. “I have paid a small fortune for this piece twice. I gave it to your mother because I loved her so much and thought with my own will I could love her forever. But I was wrong. I didn’t understand real love. So I’m giving it to you now as a reminder that God’s love is forever. And it’s only through His love that you and Elijah will be able to navigate this life and love one another the way He designed for a husband and wife.” He opened the cloth to reveal the piece.

  She didn’t even look at the gift for a moment. His words had reached down into her heart and touched her very soul. When she looked down, she saw the back of a brooch where the word “Forever” was etched. “OhFather. It’s lovely.”

  “Just like you are.” Elijah’s voice floated over to her from the door. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

  She shook her head and smiled.

  Father took the brooch and pinned it to her ribbon bouquet. “Something from both of your fathers on this special day.” Then he turned and escorted her toward the door.

  Jackie put all her effort into keeping the tears at bay. She looked at the man who was about to be her husband, and her breath caught.

  “I have a request.” Elijah blocked the doorway.

  “All right?”

  “Could we pray together before the ceremony?”

  “I’d like that. Very much.”

  He leaned in and captured her lips. Right there in front of her father. Which she didn’t mind one bit.

  Every nerve ending in her body tingled as he deepened the kiss.

  “Ahem.”

  They pulled apart.

  “I thought you said you wanted to pray?” The teasing look in her father’s eyes made them both laugh.

  “Yes, sir. But I needed to kiss her first so I could focus.”

  Heat crept up her neck at the passion she saw in her almost-husband’s eyes.

  “Very wise. I knew you were smart, Elijah Johnson.” Father patted him on the shoulder and squeezed past him through the door. “Why don’t you two come out here into the parlor so that after you pray together, we can all pray for you as well?”

  Elijah wrapped an arm around her waist and looked into her eyes. “I can’t think of a better way for us to start our married life.”

  “I can’t either.” Oh, how she adored this man. Thank You, Lord, for bringing Elijah to me.

  Elijah took her hands and put his forehead down on hers. As soon as they closed their eyes, he began, “Gracious heavenly Father—”

  The unmistakable sound of an incoming Express interrupted and Jackie couldn’t help giggling. Out of habit she turned to the door, but Michael stopped her with a wave of his hand.

  “Now don’t go getting hitched without us. We’ll be right back.”

  Gathering her close once more, Elijah started again. “Lord, we praise You and thank You for this day. Father, Jackie and I stand together wanting to dedicate our lives to You—”

  The door crashed open. “Did I miss the wedding?” Timothy stood in the doorway out of breath.

  Everyone gathered in the parlor laughed.

  “No.” Jackie looked into Elijah’s eyes and remembered his kiss. “We were just about to get started.”

  “Well, what are you waiting for? I’m hungry.”

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  So much fascinating history surrounds the Pony Express. And plenty of legends and myths as well. But what most people don’t realize is that it was a huge financial flop. Even though it was twice as fast as its competitors, the riders, horses, and stations required to keep it running were extremely costly. During the Paiute wars when it had to shut down, it’s estimated the Express lost at least seventy-five thousand dollars. Financial problems were very real. William Russell—one of the owners—was arrested in December 1860 and indicted in January 1861 on possession of stolen Indian bonds, but the case was never brought to trial because of the start of the Civil War. By the time the Express ended, it is believed that the endeavor lost as much as two hundred thousand dollars.

  So although the forgery of the treasury notes and my villain were completely of my own imagination, the ideas are based on the historical facts surrounding the Pony Express.

  While I used the real man who was secretary of the treasury during the time—Howell Cobb—the man who was his secretary (Mr. Crowell) is fictitious.

  It was also fun to add into the story how far west Anna originally went. This is where I took artistic liberty, because the first documented white women to travel over the Rockies were Narcissa Whitman and Eliza Spalding in 1836. There were white women in what we now think of as California at this time, but they’d traveled by sea to get there. (From what I could find, they were missionaries like the Whitmans and Spaldings.) So I stretched it and had Anna come west in 1834 by wagon because of her desperation. Several men had traveled west by wagon atthis time, but it wasn’t common for women. What better way for her to hide than to do something out of the ordinary? In 1834, what is modern-day Nevada was still Mexico. By 1860 it was the Utah Territory. To see fascinating maps of the US through history, here’s a great link:

  http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/unitedstates/1826-1850b.html

  To see a map of the Pony Express stations, check out these links: https://nationalponyexpress.org/historic-pony-express-trail/stations/#nv

  http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM7A1J_Pony_Express_Carson_Sink_Station

  To learn more about the stations, visit the following sites:

  https://www.expeditionutah.com/featured-trails/pony-express-trail/nevada-pony-express-stations/

  https://www.expeditionutah.com/featured-trails/pony-express-trail/

  https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/poex/hrs/hrs8a.htm#149

  Some wonderful books I would recommend to read that I purchased at the Pony Express Museums include The Pony Express Trail: Yesterday and Today by William E. Hill; Pony Express by Fred Reinfeld; Riders of the Pony Express by Ralph Moody; Here Comes the Pony: The Story of the Pony Express (an educational activity book and great resource) by William E. Hill; and my personal favorite, The Saga of the Pony Express by Joseph J. DiCerto.

  As always, I pray you have enjoyed this intriguing glimpse into history as we’ve journeyed with Jackie and Elijah.

  Thank you, readers.

  Kimberley

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  The last two years of my life have seemed like a whirlwind of deadlines, sickness, surgeries, cross-country moves, and plain ol’ chaos. God has been so gracious to get me through, but there are many people I need to thank. Especially for helping me get this story into your hands.

  Darcie, Becca, Kayla, and Tracie—I never would have made it through without you. Thank you.

  Jeremy, you will always be my hero. Thank you for all you did to help make another story happen. I love you!

  Becky Germany and the whole Barbour team—you are amazing.

  Becky Durost Fish, for another whirlwind of edits. I have so enjoyed working with you. Thank you, thank you!

  And always a huge thanks goes out to my readers. I couldn’t do this without you!

  Grab on to joy!

  Kimberley Woodhouse

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books. A popular speaker and teacher, she has shared her theme of “Joy through Trials” with more than half a million people across the country at more than two t
housand events. Kim and her incredible husband of twenty-five-plus years have two adult children. She’s passionate about music and Bible study and loves the gift of story.

  You can connect with Kimberley at www.kimberleywoodhouse.com and www.facebook.com/KimberleyWoodhouseAuthor.

  FOLLOW THE FAMILY TREE THROUGH HISTORY WITH …

  The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo

  Will Ellis Lose All at the Alamo?

  Join the adventure through history, romance, and family legacy as the Daughters of the Mayflower continues with The Alamo Bride in 1836 as Texians are facing war with Mexico. With the men of her family away, Ellis must stand courageous and decide what she is willing to sacrifice for the future of the republic.

  Paperback / 978-1-68322-820-2 / $12.99

  The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

  Can Olivia survive the crime and Gold Rush fever of 1849 … and the countless marriage proposals?

  Daughters of the Mayflower continues with The Golden Bride in 1849 as gold fever explodes in San Francisco. While Olivia is working to leave the crime ridden city, her heart has become attached to a man with a cause worth staying for.

  Paperback / 978-1-68322-891-2 / $12.99

  The Rebel Bride (December 2019) by Shannon McNear

  Can Love Form Amidst Tensions of War?

  Daughters of the Mayflower continues with The Rebel Bride. Can a quiet Tennessee hill girl help a wounded Yankee soldier face his worst fear—not dying for his convictions, but becoming a useless casualty of the fight?

  Paperback / 978-1-64352-240-1 / $12.99