A Hope Unseen (Escape to the West Book 2)

by Leigh, Nerys

  Jo smiled, taking Mr Silversmith’s hand and bobbing a small curtsey. “The pleasure is mine, Gabriel.” And then she winked.

  Sara’s hand flew to her mouth to hide her shock. She knew Jo was about to marry the man, but a wink was so wildly forward it threw her. Maybe she’d been mistaken, maybe Jo had something in her eye. It was dusty and smoky around the train, after all. Yes, that must have been it.

  “And finally,” the pastor said, drawing Sara’s attention away from Jo, “Amy Watts.”

  Sara peered around Daniel to the only man still to claim his bride. He stood awkwardly, looking so terrified she felt instantly sorry for him. Adam Emerson stood as tall as Daniel with hair as dark, if a little longer, and the most striking blue eyes she’d ever seen. He wasn’t as handsome as Daniel, but he was close. A small smile stole onto her face. Amy would be thrilled.

  “Amy Watts?” Pastor Jones repeated.

  Sara looked around, only now realising her friend had vanished. She’d been so taken with Daniel that she’d barely noticed anything else around her.

  “Amy?” she called, searching the throng of passengers loitering around the station for Amy’s blonde hair and unconventional outfit. Finally she spotted her, more or less where she’d left her, half hidden by the crowd. “Amy! There you are.”

  Amy was looking up at a man in a long dark coat, Mr Pulaski. Even though Sara was off the train, the sight of him made her want to hide. He’d spoken to her on several occasions during the week long journey. Those had been the times she hadn’t managed to avoid him. He was quite astonishingly and persistently boring.

  At Sara’s call, he looked towards her and their eyes met. He smiled and touched the brim of his hat. Not wanting to appear impolite, Sara nodded in response.

  Amy was walking towards the group and Sara gratefully moved her attention back to her friend.

  “There you are,” Pastor Jones said, sounding relieved. “Amy Watts, may I present Adam Emerson?”

  As Amy greeted her husband to be, Sara’s gaze strayed back up to Daniel’s face. He’d told her in his letters that he and Adam had known each other since they were children, and he looked pleased for his friend as he watched Adam and Amy meet for the first time. Then he moved his eyes to Sara and she blushed and looked down, embarrassed that she’d been caught staring.

  She could already tell she was going to have a problem stopping herself from gazing at him constantly, but she supposed there were far worse problems than having a devastatingly handsome husband. Like having a husband you weren’t sure was in love with you so much as your social status and ability to hold a dinner party.

  At least with Daniel Sara knew he wanted her for her. He’d even paid for her train ticket across the country which was no small cost. Of course, she’d brought the money with her to pay him back. She’d just needed to know he wanted her enough to do it.

  “Well,” Pastor Jones said, “now we’re all sorted out, let’s get the luggage and head to the church.”

  They made their way to the rear carriage of the train where the trunks and cases were being unloaded. With the five of them, quite a mound of luggage was building up.

  Daniel leaned down to whisper, “Whose are the blue ones?”

  Sara laughed. “Don’t worry, they’re not mine. They’re Louisa’s.” She pointed to a single brown trunk and matching suitcase. “Those are mine.”

  He nodded, smiling. “I wouldn’t have minded, but I might have needed a bigger wagon.”

  The man who had come to meet Louisa, Peter Johnson, began loading the heavy-looking trunks onto his wagon standing nearby, lifting each one as if it weighed just a few pounds.

  “Peter’s the town’s blacksmith,” Daniel said in response to Sara’s look of amazement. “Strong as two oxen, which I guess has come in useful with Jesse.”

  He unwound his arm from hers and went to retrieve her luggage.

  Sara moved to stand next to Louisa. “Are you all right?”

  Louisa released her lower lip from between her teeth and gave her an unconvincing smile. “Of course.” She glanced at Mr Johnson. “Well... maybe I’m a little worried. Oh dear, does it show?”

  Sara linked their arms. “Just a little bit. But it’s completely understandable.”

  Louisa sighed and chewed her lip again. “I asked Mr Johnson why Jesse hasn’t come and he just said he’d explain when we got there. Oh Sara, what if he’s changed his mind? What will I do?”

  Sara squeezed her arm, drawing her closer. “You showed me his letters, there is no way the man who wrote those wonderful words has changed his mind. He’s besotted, that’s the only word for it.”

  This time, Louisa’s smile was genuine. “Besotted?”

  “Besotted. I might even go so far as enamoured.”

  Louisa laughed quietly. “I’m sorry I’m not going to be there for your wedding. Daniel’s very handsome.”

  Sara couldn’t help but nod in emphatic agreement. “I can’t stop staring at him. It’s embarrassing.”

  Louisa nudged her shoulder. “Don’t worry, by the way he’s been looking at you he won’t mind one bit.”

  “Are you ready, Miss Wood?” Mr Johnson said, walking towards them.

  Sara could almost hear the wagon behind him groaning under the strain of carrying Louisa’s trunks. She must have packed everything she owned. Sara had left most of her belongings with her parents to send on later. Looking at all that Louisa had brought, she was suddenly worried she may not have packed nearly enough.

  “Yes, thank you,” Louisa said. She gave Sara a quick hug and whispered, “See you Sunday,” before leaving with Mr Johnson.

  Having loaded Sara’s luggage into his wagon, Daniel walked up beside her and held out his arm with a smile. “Shall we go?”

  Sara slipped her hand around his elbow into a position that, despite only having just met him, was becoming wonderfully familiar. They followed Pastor and Mrs Jones away from the station as the train pulled out in a cloud of steam, resuming its journey to San Francisco.

  In front of Sara and Daniel, Lizzy was chatting animatedly to Mr Shand, her arm in his. For his part, he was still looking a little stunned. Sara hoped he would appreciate Lizzy’s constant enthusiasm as much as she had come to.

  Next to them walked Jo and Mr Silversmith, also arm in arm. They weren’t speaking and Jo was looking around her at every building they passed. If Sara hadn’t known any better, she would have said she was sizing up the town.

  To Sara’s left were Amy and Adam. They weren’t touching and Adam’s hands were pushed into his pockets as he looked at the ground ahead of him. Amy looked nervous, darting glances back at the station behind her. Something was clearly wrong.

  Sara heard Adam ask if she was all right and Amy came to a sudden halt. Then she crumpled to the ground.

  Sara gasped and rushed over to her. Adam was already on his knees beside his soon-to-be wife, looking scared.

  “What happened?” Sara said as the others all gathered around them.

  “I... I don’t know.” Adam touched one hand to Amy’s face. “She just fainted.”

  “Oh my, is she all right?” Mrs Jones said.

  “Give her some air,” Lizzy said.

  “Amy?” Sara said. “Amy, can you hear me?”

  After what must have been no more than a minute, but felt like an age, Amy’s eyes fluttered open and she looked up at Adam.

  Sara breathed out.

  “She’s awake!” Mrs Jones said.

  “Give her some air!” Lizzy repeated.

  Adam helped her to sit up. “Are you all right?”

  Amy put a hand to her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened.”

  “You’ve obviously had a lot of excitement and stress travelling,” Pastor Jones said, crouching beside her.

  Sara thought Amy had been acting strangely since they arrived. Perhaps this was why. Daniel moved to stand beside her and almost without thinking she wound her arm around his. She was worried
for her friend and being close to him felt reassuring.

  “I’m all right,” Amy said. “Truly, I’m fine.”

  With Adam’s help she rose to her feet, a little unsteadily. Taking a step, she faded again and would have fallen if Adam hadn’t held onto her.

  “Maybe I should just take her home,” he said to the pastor. “Could we possibly have the ceremony tomorrow?”

  Sara felt desperately sorry for him. He looked on the verge of panic.

  “Of course we can,” Pastor Jones said. “That’s a good idea. I’m sure all she needs is some food and a good rest.”

  Leaving Daniel, Sara walked over to Amy as the others backed away. “Are you well, Amy? Can I do anything?”

  “No, I’ll be fine.” She smiled and whispered, “You go and marry your handsome cowboy. I know you want to.”

  Sara had to bite back a giggle. Daniel wasn’t a cowboy, but as they were in the semi-wild west it was close enough.

  She leaned in close to Amy, lowering her voice. “He’s wonderful, isn’t he?”

  Amy seemed to be feeling better as they walked the rest of the way to the church, nevertheless Adam stayed close, not taking his eyes from her as if waiting to catch her if she fainted again. Sara knew that was a good sign. It meant he cared about her. He and Amy would be a good match.

  When they reached the church, Adam and Amy said their goodbyes and carried on towards the middle of town and Adam’s home. The rest of them went inside.

  The Emmanuel Church was a homely building, with flowers in pots outside the front door, tall arched windows letting in plenty of light, and cream coloured walls giving the interior a warm feel. Rows of wooden chairs filled most of the building, with a raised platform at the front. The pastor and Mrs Jones led the small group to the front where they took seats in the first row and he stepped up onto the platform.

  “Welcome to Emmanuel Church,” he said, smiling. “Of course you don’t have to attend, but we’d love to see you on Sundays. I’m contractually obliged to say that, but it’s still true.”

  A smattering of laughter rippled around his tiny congregation.

  “When my wife and I got in touch with the Western Sunset Marriage Service more than two years ago in response to the increasing need for wives for the unattached men around the town, we had no idea of the response we’d receive, and the number of marriages that would result. It has been a joy to be instrumental in bringing lonely men and women together and seeing the happiness it brings. I am truly honoured to be joining you together as men and wives, and know that you will be continually in our prayers as you start your new lives together.”

  “Amen,” Mrs Jones said.

  Sara looked up at Daniel beside her and found him gazing at her in a way that stole her breath away. Tiny lines formed at the corners of his eyes and his dimple appeared. She decided that dimple was her favourite thing in the world.

  “So without further ado, Miss Carter and Mr Silversmith, would you join me?”

  Sara blinked and looked at the pastor. She’d missed every word he’d said from the moment she’d looked into Daniel’s eyes. They could have been sitting there for hours for all she knew.

  Jo and Gabriel’s vows went without a hitch and Sara noted that the pastor didn’t include the usual “you may kiss the bride” at the end. Although, somewhat surprising everyone in attendance including the bridegroom, Jo kissed him anyway.

  Lizzy and Richard’s short ceremony also went smoothly, for the most part. As the pastor said, “Lizzy, do you...” she immediately said, “Yes!” Then, her eyes wide, she slapped one hand over her mouth and exclaimed, “Oh!” and laughed along with the rest of them.

  And then the pastor said, “Miss Worthing and Mr Raine, would you join me?”

  And Sara’s stomach exploded in butterflies.

  Over the past week, Sara had sometimes felt as if their time on the train would never end, that she would never get to meet the man whose letters had persuaded her he was the only one she wanted. Even though it had been her choice to become a mail order bride, it was still a huge undertaking to leave her family and friends and travel across the country to marry a man she’d never met. She wouldn’t have done it for just any man. But Daniel wasn’t just any man.

  His letters had brought her a joy and excitement she’d never felt before, even at the beginning of her courtship with Henry. She’d waited for each one with an almost unbearable anticipation, and when they’d arrived she’d read them over and over until they were in danger of falling apart. When he’d finally asked her to marry him, she hadn’t hesitated to say yes.

  And now here she was, about to become Mrs Daniel Raine. In a moment of clarity, she knew she was right where she was supposed to be, where God wanted her to be.

  “Sara, Daniel,” Pastor Jones said as they stood side by side in front of him, “marriage is a sacred vow before God and a pledge to each other to stand together, as one, for the rest of your lives. Whatever may come, you will never face it alone. It won’t always be easy, but if you love and hold onto each other through it all, it will be right.”

  He’d said the same thing to the other two couples, but somehow it went straight to Sara’s heart when he was talking about her and Daniel. The thought that loving and holding onto Daniel wasn’t going to be difficult came to her and she felt a blush heat her cheeks. Daniel’s smile grew, which made her blush even more.

  “Daniel, do you have a ring?” the pastor said. “It’s all right if you don’t, most men have the ring made afterwards.”

  “I have one.” He looked at Sara as he pulled a small cloth bag from his pocket. “I don’t know if it will fit, but I can have it altered. I just wanted to have it ready for you.”

  The backs of Sara’s eyes were suddenly burning. She blinked rapidly and pressed her lips together, an embarrassing squeak all she could manage in response.

  Don’t cry. Do not cry.

  Never moving his eyes from her, Daniel handed the narrow gold band to Pastor Jones who placed it onto the open Bible he held.

  He then said, “Would you face each other?” Somewhat unnecessarily as they were already gazing into each other’s eyes. “Daniel, would you repeat after me...”

  Daniel’s eyes held hers as he slid the ring onto her finger and said, “I, Daniel Jonathan Raine, take you, Sara Julia Worthing, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us.”

  “Sara, please repeat after me...”

  Sara’s heart was beating so fast she almost forgot to say the words, and afterwards she wasn’t sure she hadn’t made a mistake somewhere.

  But it didn’t seem to matter, because the pastor said, “I now pronounce you man and wife. Congratulations, Mr and Mrs Raine.”

  And, just like that, she was Daniel’s wife.

  Chapter 2

  Sara stepped through the church door into the sunshine on the arm of her husband.

  Her husband.

  Although she’d had plenty of time to mentally prepare herself for being married, she still found herself a little overwhelmed. She had a husband. She was a wife. Daniel’s wife.

  She surreptitiously peeked up at him as they exited onto the street. Every time she looked at him her heart sped up. Would that stop happening? Would seeing his face become so commonplace that she would no longer feel that twinge of excitement? She hoped not.

  From this angle his strong jaw line was particularly striking and she wasn’t aware she was staring until he looked down at her and smiled. Feeling the blood rush to her cheeks, she looked down. She was really going to have to get the blushing under control.

  The small group of three newly-married couples made their way back to the station where they’d left their luggage-laden wagons in the care of the stationmaster and it was an emotional farewell to Lizzy and Jo, despite knowing they would all see each other again at church
in just two days time. Sara had become used to seeing them almost all day, every day.

  When they’d left, she walked to where Daniel was waiting by his wagon.

  He dipped his head to look into her eyes. “You OK?”

  “I am. It’s funny how seven days on a train can bring people together. I feel like I’ve known them so much longer.” She reached out to stroke the neck of the horse nearest to her, a beautiful chestnut mare. “Who’s this?”

  “This is Ginger. She’s Will’s.” He indicated the bay stallion next to her. “And that’s River. He’s mine.”

  Will was Daniel’s younger brother who worked for him and lived on the farm. Sara couldn’t help feeling some trepidation at the prospect of having him around. It was one thing to be moving in with the man she’d been corresponding with for months and had just married, but entirely another to get used to living around a stranger. Although from the way Daniel had written about him, she knew they were close. She hoped Will wouldn’t resent her sudden intrusion into their bachelorhood. Perhaps they’d even become friends.

  Sara greeted both horses, swallowing a pang of sadness at the thought of her own horse back at home. Although she’d known it was the right thing to do, leaving Eliza was a wrench and she missed her.

  Daniel helped her into the wagon and climbed up beside her, then he snapped the reins and River and Ginger started off.

  He glanced back at her single trunk and small suitcase. “That doesn’t seem like much to bring with you. Is there anything you need to get in town before we leave?”

  “Oh, no, thank you. I have everything I need.” Sara thought back to packing for her trip. “My parents said they’d send anything more I wanted, but you said your house isn’t very large so I didn’t want to bring too much and overwhelm you.”