She nestled onto the bed and pulled the sheet up to her neck, staring at the ceiling.
“It’s only a few hours until I will be on my way again. Anyone could survive for a few hours.”
Chapter 7 – Texas Territory
Amelia hardly slept that night. She tossed and turned, staring at the ceiling or the wall. Part of her wished she hadn’t slept so much on the coach, but she reasoned with herself that it was nerves keeping her up more than anything else.
You have to stop this. The more you stress about him finding you, the worse this is going to be. Toby. Is. Gone.
As the sun crept through the curtains, she pulled on her dress. She slept in her slip so she only needed to pull on her outer garment, and she was ready. The cold morning air felt good on her skin, and she didn’t mind at all the smell of the musty coach cabin. She was close to her destination, and freedom.
It was smooth sailing into Texas. There weren’t any other passengers on the coach, so there wasn’t any reason to stop between Arkansas and Redstone. Amelia imagined that Redstone, Texas was going to be a slice of heaven on earth. She didn’t know much about ranching, growing up in the South caused her to grow used to the town life, but this new prospect excited her.
Dust flew into the air with each step the horses took, and she felt lighter and lighter as they went along. Every now and then they crossed paths with another stage or rider on horseback, and each time Amelia sank back into her seat. She didn’t want anyone to see her, no matter who they were.
Some of the riders stopped to talk to the driver, passing news on the area, but nobody said anything about a man looking for a young woman. Each time they asked the driver what the news was, Amelia felt her stomach drop, but each time the news always happened to be what the cattle rustlers were doing or the gold that was in the territory.
Even still, Amelia counted down the miles. The sooner she was in town, the better.
Suddenly, the stage stopped, and Amelia poked her head out the window.
“What’s wrong? Why did we stop?”
The driver was standing on the edge of the river bank, shielding his eyes with his hand as he looked across.
“I think we can make it, but it might be a little rough in the middle. Chin up!”
He smiled at her and slapped the rump of his horse, then climbed up in the seat. Amelia gulped and sat back, hanging onto the side of the coach. She had heard of stagecoaches sinking in rivers, or capsizing, or even the passengers getting swept away by the mighty current.
The only thing she was grateful for was that she had forgotten about Toby. At least for the moment.
Amelia could hear the driver shouting to the horses, and felt the stage plunge into the river. It slowed as they reached the center of the river, and she felt her stomach lurch as the stage was lifted off the bottom of the river. Though she couldn’t hear what the driver was saying, she could hear him shouting.
Water started to seep into the coach, filling the floor and sloshing onto her skirts. The water was filling the coach, and the water line was right up to the base of the window. The horses were whinnying as they swam as hard as they could, and the driver was still shouting and cracking his whip.
The roar of the water was too much. Amelia felt as though she was going to faint. Was she going to be lost in this river? Part of her wished she was back home again. Even a life with Toby would be an improvement to drowning in this terrible river.
Amelia wanted to scream, but her voice was hoarse. She closed her eyes and jammed her fingers into her ears. The stage lurched and tipped from side to side, making her feel nauseous.
Then, all was still.
Amelia opened one eye first, then the other one. There was still water in the coach, but it was receding. She looked out of the window, and could see they were on dry ground once again. She poked her head out of the stage, and looked for the driver.
He was up by the horses, soothing them and adjusting their straps. Amelia called over to him, and he hurried back.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was going to be that deep. Oh well! All’s well that ends, well, and there’s no harm to the coach or the horses. Redstone is about an hour away, and you will be home for good!”
Amelia was still shaken, but she thanked him. She sighed and closed her eyes as he shouted to the horses and slapped the reigns on their backs. The coach plunged forward, and they continued on. Within half an hour she was dry inside the coach once more, and the air felt hot and dry.
She could see farmhouses the closer they got to town, and more and more people were about. For the first time in her journey, Amelia didn’t feel nervous. She was excited. This was going to be her new home. These people were going to be her new neighbors, and this country was going to be her country.
“We’re almost there, Miss! Just a few minutes longer!”
The driver yelled down to her, and she waived up at him to show him she heard. The town was rising up in front of them, and there was the post office.
She felt the stage rumble to a stop, and she felt giddy. She wondered what her husband was going to be like, and what she was going to say when she saw him. She tossed open the door and stepped outside.
There, on the ground in front of her, wasn’t her new husband.
It was the sheriff, and next to him stood Toby.
Chapter 8 – Free at Last
“That’s her!”
Toby pointed up to Amelia, and she shouted as the sheriff grabbed her by the arm.
“I’m sorry, but you are under arrest.”
“On what charges?!”
Amelia shouted indignantly. She couldn’t believe this was happening, or that Toby was here in front of her. How did he find her? How did he beat her here?
“Robbery. You stole $200 from me, as well as some household goods. I have a list right here. Search her, sheriff.”
The sheriff grabbed her bag and poured out the contents.
“Yes, the things on the list are here.”
“Hold on there! What is the meaning of all this?”
A tall, handsome man pushed his way through the crowd, stepping in between her and Toby. Amelia knew in a moment that he must be Bird, and her heart fluttered.
“Bird Hanes! What are you doing here?”
The sheriff laughed and clapped the man on the back.
“I was retrieving my wife, but it seems you have her detained for some reason. May I ask why?”
“This young lady? Your wife? What are you talking about? This is a runaway from this man’s house. She has stolen money from him as well as supplies, and is heading away as fast as she can. I am here to stop her and see that justice is done.”
Amelia could feel the color drain from her face. Of course Toby would have come up with such an elaborate tail to have her arrested. No doubt he would have her thrown in prison, or settle the account by taking her home with him. Either way sounded equally dreadful to her.
“That is a bold faced lie! This woman is simply traveling to marry me. You see, I was searching for a wife, and looked back home to find one. She answered me, and as it appears, she wasn’t in the best of situations. But that money was hers to take by all my reckoning, and she is old enough to make her own decisions, so let her be.”
Bird pulled the letter she had written out of his pocket, and unfolded it. He smoothed it flat against his chest, and handed it over to the sheriff. Amelia softly prayed that the sheriff would see her side of things and let her go.
“Forget this nonsense! She is my daughter, and I have every right to take her home with me!” Toby had flown into a rage, and tried to yank the letter away from the sheriff, but he held it out of reach and placed his hand on Toby’s chest to keep him at bay.
“I’m sorry, but it appears the young lady has done nothing wrong. It says right here that she used the money her mother left her, and no doubt she has a bank note to prove it. Do you, my dear?”
He turned to Amelia, who nodded, and opened her satchel. Wate
r poured out of her bag as she opened it, and the note was wet and washed out, but the words were still visible on it.
She handed it over to the sheriff who skimmed it, and looked back at the letter Bird had handed to him. He looked at the three who were gathered around him, and shook his head. Nobody said anything for a moment, then the sheriff finally broke the silence.
“It all checks out here, Toby, so I am afraid there’s nothing I can do to help you. If she marries this man, she is his wife, and that puts her in his family. If she chooses to remain as she is, you have a bit more say, but not much. But really the choice is up to her.”
Toby’s face turned bright red, and he slammed his hat on the ground.
“She can’t do this to me! I won’t have it!”
“That’s not your choice to make, Sir, and I must say I have fallen in love with your daughter.”
He turned away from Toby, and looked down at Amelia. She felt her face turn red with a blush, and never before had she felt so vulnerable. She held his gaze for a few seconds, then she looked down at her feet. He cupped her head in his hands and lifted her face to look him in the eye.
“Amelia, I think you are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on, and if you will have me, I would love to have the honor of making you my bride.”
Amelia could feel tears in her eyes as she nodded, and the sheriff whooped.
“Well doesn’t this just beat all? I thought I was out here to make an arrest, and instead I am making a wedding! I can perform the ceremony right now if you two would like!”
They both laughed and Amelia nodded. Toby continued to shout his protest, but the sheriff motioned for his deputy to come over and assist Toby out of the way. Amelia smiled as she took her place beside Bird.
Their ceremony was short and sweet, but it was perfect for Amelia. She often wondered what her wedding day would be like, but she never imagined it would be like this. Yet, it was absolutely perfect in every way. Bird held out his hand, and helped her up into his wagon.
As they rode off into the sunset, Amelia was happier than she had ever been. She had found what love truly was, and she wouldn’t have changed a single thing. She was ready to be a wife, and she was ready for her happy ever after.
Finally, the wait was over.
THE END.
Love Never Fails
Mail Order Bride
CHRISTIAN MICHAEL
Chapter 1 – Mary Needs a Mother
The rain pattered against the window of the schoolhouse, and Jason twisted his hat in his hands. His daughter, Mary, sat on the bench beside him, letting her legs dangle freely. She swung her feet carelessly back and forth.
“Mary sit still,” her father said in a low voice.
“But why Papa? I’m so bored!”
“Because you need to act like a lady.” Jason would have continued his speech, but the door to the back of the school opened at that moment, and he stood to greet the teacher.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Shoats, but I’m afraid the weather made travel a little difficult.”
“It’s quite all right Mrs. Johnstone. I trust you have a ride home in the rain?”
Mrs. Johnstone smiled and nodded, then turned to look at Mary.
“I have some cookies left over from lunch in my bag. If you want to go wait in the coatroom you may have them. I will only be a minute with your father.”
“Yippee!” Mary shouted as she leapt off the bench and ran down the aisle.
“Mary! You must walk while indoors! You –“ Jason sighed and shook his head.
“I’ve been trying my best to teach her some manners, but it’s hard when she’s in school all day then has to wait at my brother’s shop while I finish up. I know Jack doesn’t have to time to teach her while he’s trying to run the store, and a stable is no place for a little girl.”
Mrs. Johnstone held her hand up to stop him.
“No explanation needed, Mr. Shoats. It’s quite all right. I know that you have a lot to do with the stable and trying to keep a roof over your heads, but Mary’s manners aren’t what I wanted to talk to you about. It’s her schooling.”
Jason looked down at the floor, nervously twisting his hat in his hands as he listened. He hated these discussions with the teacher. Always had, even before it was just him and his daughter. Now, without the support or help of his wife, he felt even more pressured by the teacher.
“What about her schooling? She’s here every day, and I hear her reciting her lessons at the dinner table…”
“She may recite something, but they certainly aren’t her lessons.” Mrs. Johnstone replied curtly, and a pang ran through Jason’s heart as the teacher continued.
“She is falling behind in her reading to be honest, and I don’t think she’s even trying. She seems to have lost all interest in schooling or any academic subjects at all for that matter.”
“Well, she has been through a lot-“ Jason began, but once again he was cut off by Mrs. Johnstone.
“I am sorry for your loss, Mr. Shoats, and I can only imagine what losing a mother can do to a child, but that was months ago, and your daughter isn’t getting any better in her studies. Now, I am afraid she is going to hold up the class if we don’t do something about this.”
Anger welled up inside of Jason, but he held his tongue. The last thing he needed to worry about right now was making the teacher mad and getting his daughter expelled.
Life had been a struggle the past few months. His wife, Lucinda, had passed away with fever. He had done everything in his power to help her recover, and in spite of taking her to every doctor in the area, she finally succumbed to the illness.
Jason had worked long hours at the stable, trying to catch up on the doctor bills and keep himself and his daughter fed and clothed. The payments for the house were due to the bank, and he didn’t have time to help her in school. In fact, Mary had been spending the afternoons after school with her Uncle Jack in his little shop while Jason finished up his work at the stable.
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted with Mary poking her head into the room.
“Papa! The rain’s letting up! Can’t I go out and play in the puddles? Please Papa! Please please please please please!”
Jason turned to face his daughter, and said firmly, “Honey, I have to talk to your teacher right now, I need you to wait out in the other room, and I’ll be right there.”
He struggled to keep his voice low, trying not to yield to his frustration, although he felt right at his wit’s end at this point.
“But Papa! This is taking forever! I’ll be right outside! Please Papa! Please?” Mary was running around in circles by the door, waving her arms around and yelling.
Finally, Jason couldn’t keep his voice down any longer.
“All right!” He yelled, “But stay right outside where I can see you out the window. And don’t get all muddy, you hear?”
“Yay! Thank you, Papa!”
Mary turned and ran out the door, completely undeterred by her father’s outburst, and began jumping in every puddle she could find.
Jason watched her go, then took a deep breath in before letting it back out slowly.
“I’m sorry for that, she gets excited, and forgets that she has to wait her turn.” Jason turned back to the teacher, hoping she didn’t mind the exchange.
The teacher just looked at him and shook her head.
“Look,” Jason continued, “I know Mary needs to learn some manners, ok?”
“What the girl needs,” Mrs. Johnstone sighed. She hesitated for a moment, then said in a lowered tone, “is a mother.”
Jason exhaled sharply, sat down, and looked out the window. He sat there a second, watching his daughter jump from puddle to puddle in the rain as he still twisted his hat in his hands.
Finally, he nodded.
“Yes, indeed she does.”
Chapter 2 – Alone in the World
Amy Anne sighed and put the towel over the rack in th
e kitchen. She listened to the clamor in the other room, but didn’t pay much attention to what was actually being said. She figured they were all talking about some picnic or garden party or something like that.
The youngest child in the family of 5 children, Amy Anne never felt like she fully belonged. She wasn’t a blood relative to the sisters in the other room, she had been adopted by this wealthy family when she was just a child.
They had been kind to her, but they hadn’t let her forget the fact she had been adopted, or that their mother and father weren’t her mother and father. Amy Anne’s adopted parents knew nothing of this talk, and had always treated Amy as their own, but regardless of this Amy Anne still felt that she was alone in the world.
Suddenly, the voice of her sister Jane called into the kitchen.
“Amy Anne! We are talking of having a garden party! What do you think? We should invite all of the young ladies and gentleman in town… especially the eligible young gentleman!”
She heard laughter in the other room, and her other sisters chide Jane. Amy Wiped her hands on her skirt, and walked to the doorway of the parlor.
“A garden party? But we just had a party last month. If we throw them too often they will begin to expect it, and the house will always be filled with strangers!”
“I should think you would know well what it would be like to be a stranger in this house.” Katherine said, and the other sisters laughed. Amy Anne smiled and tried to laugh along with them, as she always did, but she felt a twinge of pain in her heart.
“Even still, I don’t know that we can justify another party so soon. What would Mother and Father say?”
“Our parents wouldn’t mind. After all, they are away on holiday for at least a couple more weeks, and we may as well enjoy the space while we have it.” Katherine snorted, then added, “after all, we need to find ourselves husbands. Father’s not going to want to keep paying for all our whims as we age.”
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