Roger was completely taken aback by this news. He had never even considered such a thing as this could be going on. He had to admit that he was a little peeved that she had kept such a problem from him, but when he put himself in her place, he thought he might have done the same thing. It did not diminish his love her and it only made him want to see her more so that he could protect her.
About a week after receiving this letter, Roger was in town one day when he saw a man getting out of the Stagecoach. He had never seen this man before but he just had a feeling this was the Mr. Turner from Melissa’s letter, the man who had pursued her across the country. He was an older man than Roger had expected, and as Turner looked about the town with disdain, Roger could see his sour demeanor and the meanness in his eyes. It was unfortunate, he thought, that this man had arrived in town before Melissa had. Roger toyed with the idea of going over to this man and telling him who he was and that he thought Turner would be better off leaving town right away. This felt wrong to Roger, however. He did not feel he had the right to run him out of town, and if he had been in Turner’s position, he would feel that he deserved to have his say with Melissa having travelled all this way in the hope of taking her back home.
Roger knew that Melissa would probably not like this decision, but he also knew that when she thought about it later, she would be able to respect why he had done it. At least, that was what he hoped. He watched as Mr. Turner walked into the hotel. Things were going to get messier before they got better.
Chapter 7
Melissa’s stomach tumbled and lurched despite the slow, gentle progress of the Stagecoach as it rolled towards her destination. It was nerve-wracking enough to be meeting the man she was going to marry for the first time, but know she had the added complication that Mr. Turner could be here too. If he hadn’t made it to town before her, he would surely be hot on her heels. She also had no idea how Roger would have taken her last letter, written in great haste just after she had escaped the clutches of her forced fiancé. She had felt at the time that it was better for her to come clean about everything rather than letting Roger hear some alternate version from Turner. It was quite possible that Roger no longer wanted anything to do with her and that she would be alone in a town where she knew no one and had no money to support herself.
Her fears were allayed, however, when she stepped out into the sunlight and a pleasant voice asked her,
“Melissa?” She shielded her eyes and looked at the man who had asked, a handsome, tanned blond man in cowboy style dress.
“Roger?” she answered and he nodded with a large smile on his face.
“It’s so good to finally meet you,” he said.
“And you, I didn’t know if you’d be here or not after that letter I sent you,” she gushed.
“Don’t worry about all of that, but I think I better warn you, I think the man you spoke about is in town. If it is him, he arrived yesterday,” Roger said. Melissa blushed but she didn’t have time for any other reaction than this,
“There you are!” Turner’s harsh voice rang out as he appeared beside them. He looked hot and sweaty; this was clearly not the climate for him. He grabbed her by the arm but just as quickly Roger pulled Turner’s arm from her,
“Take your hands off the lady,” he said with a stern look.
“Who do you think you are, cowboy?” Turner said staring at him in disbelief; it was possible that Roger was the first person who had ever stood up to him.
“I’m Ms. Thomas’s intended,” Roger said. Melissa was surprised at his language but too worried to focus on it just then.
“Well that’s funny because the last time I checked, she was getting married to me,” Turner said.
“I know all about how she was forced into that arrangement by her father,” Roger said, “And it doesn’t interest me in the least.”
“You have no honor then,” Turner said.
“I am very honorable, but I don’t take any part in forcing people to do things against their own will.” Turner waved a dismissive hand in the air and turned back to Melissa.
“That is quite enough of this nonsense; it’s time for us to go back home,” he said.
“I am home,” Melissa said taking a side step so that she was beside Roger and showing Turner that she meant what she said.
“You would rather live in this flea infested sweat hole with this cowpoke, than in luxury with me?” Turner asked incredulously.
“I am in love with this man, I am not in love with you and for that matter you are not in love with me either,” she said.
“Love, what on earth does that have to do with anything? I can give you everything, this guy looks like he has nothing to his name at all!” Turner said.
“I may not be rich, but I can provide for a wife and family should I be blessed with one,” Roger said. Turner started to laugh.
“This is getting more ridiculous by the second,” he said. “Melissa, think of you parents, of the scandal you will be causing for them,” he then said in a placatory tone, as if he were talking to a misbehaving child.
“That is unfortunate,” Melissa said genuinely feeling bad as she knew this would be the case, “But I can't go against my heart.” Turner laughed out loud again and shook his head. He took his hat off and wiped his brow; he was very uncomfortable in the afternoon sun. He looked to Roger and said, “You two are welcome to one another cowpoke,” and with that he stormed back off to the hotel to get into the shade. Melissa and Roger watched him walk away and she couldn’t believe that it was all over, just like that.
“That went much better than I would have thought,” she said to Roger.
“I think the heat was getting to him,” he replied, “I won't be too surprised if he comes looking for you this evening when it is cooler to have another go at persuading you to go back with him.”
“Well, you know that I’m not going to be leaving,” she said and he nodded.
It so happened that the hotel Turner was in was the only hotel in town so Melissa also had to take a room there. It would not have been proper for her to stay in her new home until she and Roger were married. It was not ideal to be sharing a roof with Turner but there was no avoiding it.
“You go and settle in and rest for a while and I’ll come by to see you this evening to show you around the town,” Roger said when Melissa was all booked in.
“Thank you, a little wash and a nap might be in order after the day I’ve had so far,” she smiled. They said goodbye and she went to her room.
A couple of hours later, but earlier than she had expected, there was a knock on the door and the porter told her that Roger was waiting for her in a carriage outside the hotel. Melissa checked herself in the looking glass and then went downstairs. There was a carriage out on the street but to her surprise, Roger was not standing by it waiting to help her in. She walked out and looked inside. Just as she did the door opened and a hand came out and pulled her inside. The carriage was moving before she was able to right herself. When she finally was able to pull herself up onto the seats, she turned and saw that it was Turner who was in the carriage.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“No more talking, no more nonsense, we are going home,” he said back to her.
“You can’t kidnap me!” she shouted at him. glancing outside she could see that the horses were moving too fast for her have any hope of jumping out; she would seriously hurt herself.
“I’m not kidnapping you, I’m rescuing you from yourself,” he smiled wickedly.
Chapter 8
Roger arrived at the hotel and asked the porter to go up and let Ms. Thomas know that he was here.
“But, she already left with a man called Roger,” the porter said looking very confused.
“What are you talking about?” Roger asked.
“I went up to tell her Roger was waiting in a carriage outside and she came down and got into the carriage; actually got in is being generous, he was very rough with her, he p
ractically yanked her off her feet and into the back with him,” the porter answered.
“What did he look like?”
“A tall man, in his fifties, very gruff.” Roger knew immediately that this was Turner and he had tricked Melissa to the carriage and then forcibly taken her away. He ran outside leaving the porter even more bewildered than ever and pulled the trap from his horse and then jumped up on its back. The horse enjoying not pulling anything behind it flew off the direction Roger directed. He knew that Turner would be taking her to the nearest town with a train station. That would take them overnight to get there and he had the advantage of being one man on an otherwise unencumbered horse. It was growing dim out but the sky was clear and he was sure the light of the moon would let him see the carriage even at a distance.
At last, the dust trail was perceptible in the distance and Roger knew it was only a matter of minutes before he caught up with them now. He fought the urge to spur his horse on; he was sure she was tired enough already without adding to her troubles.
He got alongside the carriage but he couldn’t see inside so he rode up to the driver and shouted at him to stop the horses.
“I’m under orders not to stop until I get to the train station,” the driver said.
“What’s going on out there?” Turner’s angry voice came from the window. “You!” he said when he saw Roger bouncing on his horses back.
“Roger?” Melissa’s voice called out but she could not see him.
“I’m here Melissa, don’t worry, we’ll get you sorted soon,” Roger called back to her.
“Driver, make sure you don’t stop this carriage for anything or it will be your head!” Turner shouted.
Roger looked at the driver and saw that he was going to do as he was told. This left Roger with no choice. He got closer to the carriage and then leapt across so that he was clinging to the side of it as his horse ran off free, still keeping pace with the carriage.
“Get off there!” Turner shouted and he swung his heavy fists outside to try to knock Roger off. Roger evaded his blows and clambered up onto the roof. He lay there on his chest for a moment and considered what to do. He gripped onto the bar that ran along the side of the roof and with a heft let himself swing down and he came feet first through the window. Turner had been leaning out the other window at the time and by chance, Roger caught him square in the buttocks with both feet. The pressure made the door fall open and Turner tumbled out and onto the rapidly passing ground. The driver turned in shock and seeing the man rolling he pulled up the horses.
Roger and Melissa jumped out and ran to Turner. He was a little dazed, completely covered in dust, but apart from that, he seemed to be fine. Roger helped him to his feet but Turner pushed his hand away,
“Get away from me,” he said visibly shaken by his ordeal, “You two are as crazy as each other and as far as I am concerned you are welcome to each other!” He stormed back to the carriage and got in and shouted at the driver to continue on to the station.
Melissa and Roger never saw Turner again, and in time, after the wedding her parents came to visit and all was forgiven. They liked Roger and the loved the new place Melissa lived. A year after the wedding Melissa fell pregnant and they had twins, one boy and one girl. Roger had well finished the housing improvements by this time and Melissa had never been happier or more content in her life. Years later she would still always remember the day she found that newspaper, the paper that led her to meet her husband. How strange and wonderful fate could be.
THE END.
Hope For A Widow
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
“I do,” Elle panted, smiling at the man in front of her. Her skin was sticky with sweat, and her beautiful white dress chafed delicate areas of her flesh, but that didn’t stop the feeling of sweet relief to wash over. “I do,” she repeated, unable to help herself.
Amusement glinted in her new husband’s eyes.
The church they were in was small and rickety, the floorboards and window frames splintered and faded. There were so many people there to watch her and Duncan Aster get married that these men and women were forced to remain standing while pressing against one another; there were even a few people peeking through the windows outside the church.
The day was hot and muggy, and the presence of all of these people made the air in the church all the more suffocating.
Elle knew none of them. These were Duncan’s friends and neighbors, for this was Duncan’s home—Chinnawah, Kansas. She had just gotten off a train from New York City by herself a few days ago. None of her family or friends had followed her, and with any luck, none of them would ever find her.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the pastor said. He stood before the both of them more like an altar than a person, his arms spread wide and his head held high.
Duncan leaned forward, and Elle met him the rest of the way. The kiss was brief and gentle, but it made a reassuring warmth shoot through her body. She was finally his wife; she was finally Mrs. Aster. It was as if Eleanor “Elle” Mayweather had faded away in the midst of this rebirth of sorts. Perhaps now she and her unborn child were truly safe.
The people applauded and cheered, backing away as best as they could so that Elle and Duncan could actually exit the church.
The pastor said some more words, but Elle couldn’t hear him over the crowd. She just let a grinning Duncan grab her hand and lead her toward the church doors.
At this point in her pregnancy, Elle merely looked a little round—a little bloated. Thank God Duncan didn’t seem to care. She couldn’t go back to New York if he had turned her down the moment she stepped off that train to meet him, and she didn’t think she could survive in the west with nothing to her name but the clothes on her back, her sack of other items, and the fetus growing inside of her.
Thank God Duncan hadn’t taken back his proposal—the one he made to her in his last letter to her. She would admit to having basically coerced it out of him. They had only written back and forth to each other a few times, and neither one of them truly knew the other, but Elle didn’t have the time to take things slow. She had had to leave New York City as soon as possible.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said as they walked back to his—to their home.
Duncan had a small house on the outskirts of town. It could be seen from the church—out in the dirt-covered valley, the horizon seeming to slice through it from the angle Elle was seeing it at. There were no other homes near this place, nor any barns. It was just a house and its land, and that was just fine with Elle.
Duncan snorted at her. “You’re being kind.”
“Obviously,” she said, tightening her grip on his hand as she bumped into him. “I’m a kind person. I can’t be anything but kind.”
He turned to her and gave her a playful smirk. Though she hadn’t initially cared if Duncan was handsome or not, she had been delighted to discover that he was. He had a strong jaw, piercing blue eyes, and a well-toned body that made her shiver in all kinds of ways. But the best part about him was how easy going he was. He didn’t intimidate her, nor pressure her, and that was what really mattered in the end.
Thinking of this, Elle glanced over her white dress as they continued to walk. It was getting stained by the orange and brown dirt that blew through the wind, especially around the dress’s bottom trim. However, she wasn’t bothered by it, nor was Duncan. Duncan had given her the dress as a formality, and neither one of them felt too emotionally connected to it. Perhaps if he had courted her the more proper way, she might have felt differently about it. Maybe they both would have.
They continued on in companionable silence after that. Once they were inside the house, Elle began to unzip and shimmy out of her dress. Being bold wasn’t new to her, but she still felt a tinge of nervousness jitter within her stomach. This was going to be hers and Duncan’s first time, after all.
Standing in the entryway, Duncan gaped at her. The sunset casted bright or
ange light through the house’s windows, making the furniture within the home seem to glow with an orange-ish, yellowish hue.
It was a nice setting, Elle thought as she peeled out of her poofy and stained dress. It relaxed her, even as she mentally prepared herself for her upcoming wedding night.
“Elle,” Duncan said, his eyes conveying conflicting emotions. “We don’t…I mean, if you’re not ready…”
In her undergarments now, Elle walked over and grabbed both of his rugged hands. Her heart hammered in her chest as her skin began to seep out more sweat. However, as nervous as she was about all of this, she was even more nervous about not getting this process over with. After all, it was imperative that Duncan believe that the child in her womb was his.
“Come on, honey,” she whispered, keeping her mouth open a little. She took deep breaths and forced her body not to quiver. “I’ve been waiting so long for you.”
Duncan still looked unsure. Perhaps he had never been with a woman before; perhaps he was insecure. Or perhaps he was simply trying to look out for her. No matter what the case, Elle recognized that she would have to be gentle and reassuring.
“I want this,” she said, smiling. “If you want to take this slow, we can take it slow. I won’t bite.”
He huffed at that, shaking his head. “We’ll take it slow.”
She nodded, her smile softening.
He visibly relaxed before nodding in return. “Okay.”
When she tugged him toward her, he followed and immediately wrapped his arms around her waist. She moved her head upward and kissed him. As promised, she moved slowly against him. It was actually kind of calming, the way they seemed to synch to one another so readily.
[2016] Widow Finds Love Page 13
