by Aisha Brooks
Relief poured through her veins as she heard the good news. The doctor would accept her as a bride, and had sent some money for her travels, there was enough to get to Oregon by train, where the rest of the money for the trip would be waiting for her to finish the rest of her trip to California.
Excited, she told him to send the man a response and let him know she was coming. She went home to pack the few bits of clothing she had left, and say goodbye to her family. She knew they would be surprised, as she hadn't warned her parents of her plan, but they were planning her wedding to the rancher she didn't want to marry, and she was of an age where they couldn't force her to marry him.
She was vaguely worried they'd marry her seventeen year old sister off to him if she left, but she decided she'd tell her sister how to find her if she needed to leave home. Hopefully the good doctor wouldn't turn down family, and with young, strong men around, finding her sister a husband if needed wouldn't be that hard... she hoped.
When she got home she packed. She would miss her horse. She'd had it since it was a baby and wished she could bring it with her. Instead, she told one of her younger sisters to take good care of it, and it was her’s now. Feeling herself tear up, she tried to be strong.
Now she just had to break the news to her parents.
“Momma?” Julie called out to the barn, trying to find her mom. She was due any day now with the newest baby, but it didn't stop her mom from working all day long. Julie didn't want to be like that. She loved children and wanted a few, but she wanted to enjoy her life too, not work from sun up to sundown and never get to stop and actually enjoy looking at the stars or the blue skies.
“Yes Julie, I'm in here honey.” Her mom was mucking out a stall, one of their cows was about to give birth and her mother was preparing the labor stall.
“Momma, I have something to tell you,” Julie started to say when her mom stopped and leaned on the pitchfork.
“You're leaving us,” Her mom asked her bluntly.
Julie was surprised, “How did you know?”
“There's no secrets in this town Julie, and Hank has a big mouth. Your Poppa and I knew you were talking to a man in California to be his bride. I'm assuming you two came to an agreement?” her mom asked her.
“Yes, we did. I'll be leaving in the morning,” Julie told her, “You're not mad?”
“Julie, honey we love you, but you leaving gives us more food to feed the rest of the mouths we have, and the new ones to come. I wish you the best of luck, and hope you send me letters and telegrams sometimes, but I want you happy and want more for you than struggling to find enough food to eat.” Her mom set the pitch fork down and hugged her daughter, then stiffened.
“Are you okay mom?” Julie asked her when she realized her mom wasn't hugging her back after a minute.
“My water just broke, I guess your new brother or sister has decided to make its arrival before you leave so you can meet them. Go get your father.” Her mom hobbled back to the house leaving Julie to locate her dad.
Chapter 2: Traveling Alone
Julie sat on the train and looked out the window watching the scenery pass by. The greenness of the trees and beautiful crystal blue water left her in awe. She'd never been on a train before, but she was enjoying herself.
She'd been given enough money for first class tickets, but she hadn't needed something that fancy, and instead had gotten coach and saved some of the money. When she reached Oregon she planned on adding a few things to her wardrobe so she wouldn't appear to be so penniless and threadbare when she arrived to her husband-to-be in California.
She clutched the telegram to her chest. He had described himself. Dark hair, blue eyes, tall in stature. She was excited, it would be a nice contrast to her short self. She had long blond hair, that when she wore it down went to her waist and green eyes.
Her dresses from back home weren't exactly fancy, and she looked like a dirt poor woman compared to most of the women on the train she was riding with. It had made her decide she needed to get at least one or two generic dresses from a store before finishing her trip so she could at least walk off the train and look a little less farm-girl like.
Having made the decision to do this, she was hoping she wasn't making the biggest mistake of her life. How did she know he wouldn't hurt her? Once she was his wife, he could do anything he wanted to her, she would think a doctor would be an honorable guy, but you never knew.
Trying to force herself not to be scared, she went to sleep early in the evening and was woken up the next morning when they arrived in Oregon. Just three more days and she'd be in California. The evening train would leave tonight, giving her the day to go shopping at the small town they stopped in.
She got off the train and they pulled her luggage and stored it for the train when it arrived tonight. She went into the small town and tried to pick up a few essentials and a couple of dresses.
Julie walked into the little town store and saw the prettiest little pink dress she'd ever seen in her life. The ruffles around the skirt and lace and buttons on the chest were beautiful and it was the prettiest thing she'd ever seen.
“How much?” she asked the shopkeeper.
“Five dollars,” he told her and didn't look up from the book he was reading.
“I can afford three dollars,” she told him and then stared at it, feeling upset, she couldn't spend all the money she had on one dress. But she really wanted it. For once in her life, she wanted to buy something for her, something that made her feel beautiful in. She deserved it. She also wanted to look nice for the man she was about to meet.
The man looked up at her and looked her head to toe and then at the dress she was holding.
“Fine, give me the three dollars and just don't tell my wife. She made it,” he told her and then took her money, wrapping the dress up in brown paper.
“Thank you so much!” she told him, clutching the package, thanking the good lord for the kindness of others.
She wandered around the town and found a couple more cheap dresses, but the pink one was the one she planned on changing into for when she got off the train to meet him.
Marshal Masters. She was excited to meet him, she was looking forward to the rest of her trip. She got back to the train that night, and boarded, her ticket had been in her pocket, unwilling to risk losing it.
She slept most of the night, waiting until morning to slip into the pink dress. She finally changed into the dress when they announced they were a couple hours from the train station, and about to reach their final destination.
When the train came to a lurching stop, she anxiously collected her things and got off and stood in the pickup area, waiting for her luggage and to find Marshal. Slowly, everyone who got off the train with her had disappeared and it was just her standing there, confused.
She sat on the bench, alone, waiting for hours. Finally one of the people from the train station came outside and asked her if she needed help.
“I was waiting for someone,” she told him, wondering why the doctor had stood her up. She was angry. She traveled all this way, just to have him be a no-show. She didn't have enough money to get back home, what would she do now?
“I can take you into town to the local hotel, it's better than sitting here all night, come on, I have my buggy out back,” the man told her and grabbed her luggage for her.
“Thank you, I suppose I should have expected that it was a possibility I'd get here and he'd stand me up, but I didn't think he would,” Julie admitted as she climbed into the seat next to him.
The man took her into town and stopped in front of the local hotel, which wasn't much of a hotel. It was a four bedroom house with a plump older lady who offered food and extended stays for twelve dollars a month.
Chapter 3: The Doctor Finally Shows
Julie was haggling with Bettina, who owned the local hotel. She didn't have the money to pay for the monthly fee, but she had a strong back and could work. Bettina agreed to let her stay for a
week in return for housekeeping services and only because she didn't have anyone trying to rent the room right now.
The first time she was full, she'd kick her out to make room for a paying customer. Julie was thankful for the time she was given to sort the situation out.
She was sweeping the main entryway when a man walked in he had a full, bushy beard and was the size of a bear. He stopped when he saw her and just stared at her, she arched a brow at him and then continued to sweep, ignoring him.
“Julie?” He walked over to her and asked her, hesitating as he stood a couple feet from her.
“Yes, can I help you?” She stopped sweeping the floor and looked up again at him.
“I'm Marshal, I'm so sorry I didn't show up yesterday at the train station, I was delivering a baby and I couldn't leave her, it was a rough delivery,” he told her and pulled the hat off his head and held it in his hands. “I promise that I wouldn't have left you there otherwise, and I didn't have a way to send someone to tell you.”
“You're forgiven,” she told him, then resumed her sweeping.
“Why are you still cleaning?” he asked her, looking confused, he reached out and stopped the broom by grabbing the end of the handle.
“I have to pay my keep somehow,” she replied to him, speaking slowly as if he was dense and tried to jerk the broom from his hands.
“I already paid for your room and board for the next week. You don't have to do this unless you want to do it for some odd reason. Our marriage license is already approved, but there was a grace waiting period that will be over next week. We can be wed after that, if that's agreeable with you,” he told her, finding her attractive and more than he expected.
“That's fine,” Julie said, swallowing hard, realizing that this was really going to happen and trying not to show her fear.
She was afraid. This could go wrong in so many different ways. She didn't even know this man. Yet. While he was late, he showed up and apologized and that went a long ways for showing him as an honorable man. She appreciated a man who could apologize.
“I would like to have dinner with you tonight. Bettina agreed to cook for us. Will you eat with me?” he asked her.
“Okay, we can do that,” Julie told him as she looked up, really getting a good look at him.
He looked tired, but that didn't detract from his rugged good looks. She understood that as a doctor, he had a responsibility to his patients, so she wasn't really mad at him for not showing up, at least he showed up now.
“You're younger looking than I thought you would be,” he told her. He knew she was young, but she looked much younger than her nineteen years. Normally girls living in rugged environments aged quickly, yet her youthful appearance wasn't marred by hard work.
“And your bigger and bushier than I thought you would be, so I guess we’re even,” she retorted and then gave him a quirky half smile.
Marshal looked at her for a minute, then started to laugh. “Saucy aren't you?”
“I can be, that's what happens when you're the oldest of ten,” she told him and then smiled at him. “I'm not mad at you, I'm just nervous about the whole thing. I traveled over a thousand miles to come marry a stranger. I would be nervous no matter what, so please don't take it personally.” Julie patted his arm to reassure him.
“I understand, and even once we are married, I am willing to give you the time you need to acclimate yourself to being married. I won't push you. I'm not that kind of man to make demands at the expense of my woman's health, emotional or otherwise,” he told her, and then put his hat back on his head. “I need to go nap, I was up all night delivering that baby, and I'll be back in time for dinner. I just didn't want to leave you here not knowing what happened.”
“Thank you,” Julie said, appreciating his honesty. He seemed like a good guy so far, she hoped it would work out well for both of them. They were both taking a risk on each other, it wasn't just her that was putting herself out there on a limb for a stranger. He was too.
Chapter 4: Getting To Know Each Other
Julie put the pink dress back on, it fit her like it had been made for her, and she had never felt more beautiful. Bettina had helped her style her hair, piling the blond curls on her head with pins, framing her delicate face.
She sat in her room, with the meat, veggies and bread sitting on two plates, the wine pitcher in between the two place settings with the empty cups waiting. A knock on the door and she relaxed a little, she hadn't realized she was worried he'd stand her up again until she was worried he was late.
“Come in,” she called and then stood up as he walked in the room, she smoothed her hands on her dress, trying not to show how nervous she really was. She'd been looking forward to this, getting to know him. She was looking forward to being married and really felt like she was doing the right thing, even though being a mail ordered bride wasn't really the norm, but a girl had to do what a girl had to do.
He walked over and stared at her, looking down at her, he towered above her head, making her feel tiny. She blinked up at him and then gave him a big smile.
“Hungry?” She asked, trying to sound cheerful, not wanting to let her previous fears a moment before show. Acting insecure wasn't an attractive trait, she focused on smiling at him and getting to know him. Those were the important things right now.
“Starving, smells good. Do you know how to cook? It doesn't matter if you don't, I can cook, believe it or not,” he asked her as he sat down and poured the wine for both of them.
“I can cook, sew, and I can even butcher a pig if you really need me too. I also can ride horses, do basic book keeping, and I almost know the entire bible by heart,” she replied as she reached out and grabbed the bread and put a small bite in her mouth. “I can also bake, and I don't mind doing volunteer work, or if you need help with your doctoring. I also know some basic first aid and I've delivered my share of cow babies.”
“Sounds like you've had your share of life experiences already,” Marshal told her as he cut his meat and put a bite in his mouth. He closed his eyes for a moment and enjoyed the bites of meat. He was hungry.
“I've helped deliver four of my younger siblings, including the one born right before I came here on the train, so if you need help, I'm not squeamish,” she told him and continued to eat her meal, feeling content. He was relaxing to talk too, for a man as large and burly as him. She'd have expected him to be more intimidating, but he didn't scare her.
“So you understand what happens between married couples I take it,” he asked her as he swiped some of the bread and put it into his mouth.
“Yes, I get the gist, it's hard not too when you live in a three room house with more than ten people. There's no privacy, and we don't really talk about those things in details, as my parents considered it fairly private, but we got the gist,” she admitted, blushing at the idea of talking about sex and intimacy.
“Are you prepared for the intimate relations once we are married?” Marshal asked her bluntly. “I find you attractive, and as I said earlier, I'm willing to wait as long as you need, but if you're up for it, I'd like to have our wedding night be a real wedding night.”
Julie was drinking her wine and choked, the image of them naked together against white sheets danced in her head. She coughed hard, and glanced up at him through the watering of her eyes.
He reached over and slapped her on the back, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, sorry,” she muttered as she cleared her throat from the wine going down the wrong pipe.
“Was the idea that shocking? Or?” He asked her as he leaned back and watched her, his expression bland.
“No, the opposite to be exact, I have a good imagination, and... yeah, let us just leave it there and not talk about it anymore,” Julie said and then met his gaze as the blush went up her neck, cheeks and even turned the tip of her ears red.
“So, you don't find the idea of the marriage bed distasteful?” he asked her to clarify.
“No, I know
that it's for producing children, but I also know my mother told me that it can be fun just for the sake of it. I wouldn't know since I saved myself for marriage, but the idea of it doesn't offend me, or scare me. I know logically the first time can be painful, but after that it shouldn't hurt anymore,” Julie wanted to impress him with knowledge, hoping that she'd seem worldly and more educated than she was, despite her innocence.
“I find you beautiful, despite how young you appear on the surface. Your descriptions didn't do you justice, and your energy makes me smile. I think things will work out between us, I think we'll get along famously. I work long hours sometimes, and if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, I'll pay for you to train as a nurse so you can assist me eventually, but after we celebrate being married for a while first,” he told her, but the more he thought about her helping him, the more it seemed like a good idea. He could use an extra set of hands around, and she seemed eager to help.
