by Rye Hart
It seemed my only option was going to be going into the city and finding work like the other women. Another sob wrenched its way from my chest and I curled up, choking on my tears as they fell and stained the newspaper clipping I’d wrapped some meat in. I opened my eyes slowly, glancing over the ad. It was an ad for a mail order bride. I’d seen these before but never paid too much attention to them.
Some families refused to go to the cities and opted for traveling west instead. The Western lands were starting to become settled, though it was still dangerous. There were roaming bands of natives and wild cats so big they were known to carry off small women and children. Desperation sent most of the families and widows north.
The West had mostly been settled by men looking for gold, adventure, or land of their own, and so there were few women out there. They men eventually became lonely and wanted companionship and a family. The only way to find wives was to send ads back east, begging women to come west. They often paid for the woman’s travel expenses and took care of them once they arrived.
I stared down at the ad, realizing it might be my only hope. I took a chance and responded to it and was a bit surprised to have and envelope with $100 dollars in it arrive a few weeks later. The letter that came with the mail offered an address and instructions that the money was to be used for traveling fees. It was more than enough to cover the cost of a ticket and my meals.
As I stood in the living area of my home, I stared down at the money, tears coming to my eyes, knowing it was going to be what saved us. This was our ticket out and it came just in time.
I left the house for the bank to take, giving my livestock to the neighbors who’d helped me through Richard’s death. Soon I was on my way to Charleston, Gabriel strapped to my back. The ride into town took several days but soon enough I was at the train station with my small suitcase in hand. I bought my ticket and boarded the train, settling in and trying to ignore the air of sadness that seemed to encompass the box car.
Soon the train pulled away from the station and I was on my way to my new life.
Chapter Four
The journey lasted for what felt like months. The money my soon-to-be-husband sent was only enough for me to afford the cheapest seats and meals. I was squished between two larger women who’d insisted on wearing fashionable dresses despite their many layers and the heat of the train. It was cold outside but the thick windows didn’t let any of the chill into the stuffy train car.
We made a few stops along the way, one of them being Chicago. I considered getting out and exploring the city for the few hours we were there. It seemed like a good idea until I stepped off the train and saw a man shot right in front of the platform. The man who’d shot him stole his wallet and ran from the scene. No one even stopped him or tried to help the wounded man.
The sight left me in shock and I turned around, running back into the train car and sitting back down in my seat, clutching Gabriel close. We were safe as long as we were in the train. I decided I wasn’t leaving for anything. This wasn’t Grace. I didn’t know my way around these large cities and I certainly didn’t know how to protect myself.
The trip was hard on Gabriel too. He spent most of his time crying or nursing. The rumbling of the wheels made it hard for the poor thing to sleep and the tight quarters didn’t make things easier. I didn’t sleep well while we were on the train and neither did he. It broke my heart to see my poor baby so exhausted. I wanted to help him, but I didn’t know what to do.
I wasn’t sure how much longer I could be on this train and stay sane. The sounds and smells were starting to get to me, but just as I was about to snap we came to my stop: Billings, Montana. It was a fairly large town for the west, though my future husband lived in a small town just outside of Billings called Whispering Hills.
As I stepped off the train, I was assaulted with a sudden wave of surprisingly warm, dry air. Fall was just around the corner so the air wasn’t too hot, but the dryness of it caught me off guard. I gasped softly and rushed into the station, coughing, a hand pressed to my chest. I was all but doubled over, doing my best to catch my breath.
I was sure I was going to choke when I felt a gently hand on my back. “You must be from the South,” a soft voice said, a smile in her tone.
I glanced up, my eyes watering from coughing. A beautiful woman stood before me, chuckling as she offered me copper cup full of water. “Take a drink.”
The water felt good on my dry throat and as soon as I’d drained the mug, I wiped my mouth and looked at the woman who’d offered it to me. “How did you know I was from the South?”
“I’m from Richmond. I had a similar reaction when I got off the train for the first time. The air is quite different here. My name is Rebecca. What’s yours?”
I took a breath and sighed. “Mary. I’m from North Carolina.”
“A beautiful state,” she said, offering a toothy smile. She glanced down at my baby and beamed. “What a lovely little boy!” she sang.
A smile finally came across my face and I nodded. “He is, isn’t he?”
Rebecca didn’t ask my about Gabriel’s father, though she probably already knew. I’m sure she’d heard a million stories just like mine. After a moment of tickling Gabe’s belly she looked up at me and hummed.
“What was your full name? We’ve had a few Mary’s come in today.”
“Mary Marshall,” I said.
Rebecca’s face fell a little and she looked down. “Oh, um, come with me.”
I didn’t like the tone her voice had taken. I could already tell something was very wrong. She led me through the train station and brought me over to a man who wore a clean uniform and wide brimmed hat. His hair was a little too long and swept out of his face, his eyes tired. He looked at me and then at Gabriel, sighing.
“Who is this?” he asked.
“Mary Marshall,” Rebecca said softly.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose a moment. “She has a kid?” he grunted, turning towards Rebecca.
“Sheriff, I don’t think she knows,” Rebecca said quietly.
I instantly became nervous. Was this the man who was supposed to save my child and me from destitution? “I told you I had a child in my letter,” I said frowning, turning to glance at Rebecca. “What don’t I know?”
The Sheriff sighed and removed his hat, scratching his dark hair. Now that he was facing me I could tell he was a handsome man. He had a strong jaw and just enough stubble for it to be mildly attractive. The most beautiful part of his face, hands down though, were his green eyes.
I’d always loved Richard’s emerald eyes because I felt mine were dull and brown. He always told me I had hair like golden wheat and eyes like honey. I never believed him for a second though. How could I compete with those gorgeous green orbs?
Now I was staring into the face of a man who had eyes just as beautiful as Richard’s and it made my heart ache for him. I swallowed as he glanced back at me and crossed his arms over his broad chest.
“I’m not the man you wrote, Mary.”
I frowned a little and took a step back. “Then who are you?”
“I’m the mayor and lawman of this town. My name is Sheriff Mitchell.”
“Where is my husband?” I asked carefully.
Sheriff Mitchell sighed a little and shook his head. “He died. He was helping a nearby rancher and he was trampled to death.”
I felt my legs turn to jelly underneath me, and as I wobbled the Sheriff gasped and reached out, grabbing my elbow to steady me. I could not stop the tears that began pouring down my cheeks. Soon I was pressing myself to the Sheriff, sobbing as Rebecca rubbed my shoulder, trying to calm me down.
“I cannot go back! I cannot go back there! There’s nothing for me there!” I sobbed, clinging to him. “They took my house, the war took my husband and I have nothing! This was my last chance!” I sobbed, my body shaking desperately as I clung to him.
The Sheriff seemed shocked but gently wrapped his arms around
me and held me close, clearing his throat. “Now, don’t you worry. We aren’t going to send you back, Mary,” he said gently. “We’ll just have to find you someone else to marry.”
“What do I do until then?” I asked through my tears.
There was a moment of silence before he cupped my cheek and lifted my gaze. I stared into his eyes for a moment and my throat went dry. The world faded away and it was like I was looking into Richard’s eyes again.
“You’ll stay with me,” he said softly.
“ Really?” I asked, hardly believing his kindness.
He nodded. “I’m the Sheriff here. It’s my job to protect the people of this town and now that you’re here, it’s my job to protect you too,” he said gently with a nod.
My eyes welled with tears and I threw my arms around him, holding him tight as tears spilled down my cheeks. “Thank you!”
I could hear the smile in his voice and it warmed my heart. The fear dissipated as he patted my back and gently pulled me away. “Let’s go get you settled, alright?”
Chapter Five
Sheriff Mitchell was the most amazing man I’d ever met. He was kind and patient, offering everyone in town the same amount of respect. He was fair and exactly with this Western town needed. He and a small group of deputies kept order in the city, though they were never unjust. It was a fine balance and they juggled it with impressive ease.
He took me into his home and cared for me as if I were his wife. He lived on a small farm in cabin that only had one bedroom. He offered Gabriel and me the bed and insisted on sleeping near the fire in a makeshift cot. It was more than a little sweet of him and made me care for him even more as the days wore on.
Living with him was easy. He was a kind man and he took to Gabriel quickly, often spending his evenings helping me feed and care for the little boy. I learned that his name was Jared and he’d been born in Billings. His father had been one of the original settlers and was the Sheriff before him. When I told him it suited him he got flustered but thanked me.
Jared seemed like the type of man who didn’t know just how wonderful he was. He went about his day helping everyone else and never took time for himself. His entire life was dedicated to keeping the people of Billings safe and he took that job very seriously.
It was strange to me that Jared didn’t have a wife. How could a man like him not have women falling all over him? I learned quickly that it was his dedication to his job that kept him single. Women threw themselves at Jared, though he hardly seemed to notice. He was too set on caring for the town and the people under his protection.
I seemed to be the only woman who broke that spell. Even though we weren’t married, I took on the role of his wife. If he was going to be so selfless and take care of me and my son, the least I could do was help take care of him as well. I kept the house clean and organized and even managed to help care for the livestock her had on the farm.
He was impressed that I was such a hard worker and seemed even more awed when I explained I’d helped my husband run our farm back home. Jared only had a horse, a cow and some chickens, so caring for them wasn’t that hard; I’d had a lot more responsibility in Grace.
Jared never asked me about Richard, though I didn’t mind. Richard’s death was still a sore spot and I didn’t handle talking about it well. I missed him terribly and whenever I thought about him too long, I’d burst into tears. I missed my home and I missed Richard, but when Jared wrapped his arms around me and held me close all of that pain disappeared for just that moment. The pain of losing everything I’d once known would not ever go away, but I knew it would get easier with time.
The rest of the town accepted me with open arms and Rebecca became a good friend. She was a kind woman with a big heart and a loving spirit. I learned that she had come here as a mail order bride as well, though she wasn’t married before all of this began. She’d been looking for adventure and boy did she find it.
There were a few local women who didn’t care for me because Jared had taken a liking to me. They were jealous that they’d been chasing him all these years and had nothing to show for it. I’d shown up and swept him out from under their feet without even trying. While they seemed concerned about him, I knew it wasn’t warranted. Jared and I had an amicable relationship, but that was the extent of it.
Some days he looked at me with something akin to desire but I brushed it off. Maybe it was impossible for a man and a woman to live together without feeling something for one another. I wasn’t sure, but I ignored it for now, not wanting to get my hopes up. If I was forced to be honest, I would have said that I cared for him but that was just too much of a risk. He could have had any woman in town. Why would he choose me, a widow with a child?
Even though I was sure he would pass me off the first chance he got, I could not help but hope things would stay this way and I enjoyed the time spent together. Gabriel was even happier. He didn’t cry as often now that he had a father figure again.
Things seemed like they were finally falling into place.
Chapter Six
Neither myself nor Jared were actively looking for a husband for me. I didn’t want to leave his home and Jared seemed to enjoy having home-cooked meals every night. A part of me even though that as long as I cooked, he would not send me away to live with another man.
I was scared of the type of husband I might get saddled with if I left the safety of Jared’s home. I’d learned quickly that not all the men in the West were as kind as Jared. Most of them were vile and cruel. They spit and cursed and even hit their wives. The idea that I might end up forced to marry someone like that made my skin crawl. I could not possibly end up with someone so cruel, could I?
Jared seemed to understand this fear so he never pushed me to find a new husband. He allowed me to stay in the safety of his home with an open-ended welcome. When the topic came up among friends he would simply say that it was hard to find a husband for a woman who already had a baby. He wasn’t wrong either. The few men who’d come forward as possible husbands seemed completely put off by the idea of raising another man’s child.
We were walking through the small market one afternoon and I was humming to myself, Gabriel settled in a sling that laid across my body. He was giggling and shaking a toy that made rattling sounds that we’d bought from native traders. He absolutely adored the thing and I liked that it kept him content and quiet.
Jared had run off to find the blacksmith. We needed new shoes put on the horse and with only one blacksmith in town, he was often backed up with orders. We always needed to talk to him almost a month in advance.
I stopped at a fruit stall and ran my hands over some beautifully ripe apples, surprised at how my mouth watered. Winter had been harsh and few crops managed to grow during the coldest months. Now that the snow was melting, fruit was starting to appear on the trees again and in the market. I filled my basket with ripe fruits and vegetables, chatting with the woman who ran the stall.
“Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to stop by and buy some more!” I told her as I paid for my purchases.
I turned to walk away and nearly ran right into a tall, burly man who stood almost a foot above me. He was abnormally large and his hands and face were scarred. When I met his dull, grey eyes I felt fear run down my spine. I didn’t know why, but my body was screaming for me to run. I swallowed thickly and stared up at him for a moment before dropping my gaze and starting to move around him.
“So sorry, Sir.” I murmured.
As I started to move past him he reached out and grabbed my arm. I gasped and put my arm around Gabriel in an attempt to protect him since I was suddenly feeling threatened.
“What are you doing?! Let me go!” I shouted.
He looked down at me, his cloudy eyes focusing on my face. “You’re the woman they’re trying to find a husband for,” he murmured, staring at me.
For a moment, terror ran through me. How did he know that? How did he know who I was? Then it hit me; the city kep
t a list of women looking for husbands in the court house. Anyone had access to them. He must have seen my tin type and information.
“Yes, I am, but I-” I stammered.
“What? You think you’re too good for me?” he growled, yanking me closer.
I screamed and tried to scramble away. The woman who ran the stand had already jumped up and I prayed she was going for help. I tried to squirm out of the man’s grasp but he had a tight hold on me. He yanked me close and stared at me, his nostrils flaring.
I was seconds from trying to claw his face when Jared ran over, his hand on his gun. “Excuse me. What do you think you’re doing?” he asked in his most authoritative tone.
The man who had a hold of me, held me fast and clearly wasn’t going to let go without a fight. His eyes narrowed and he stared at Jared for a long moment. “This is the woman looking for a husband. I’m here to claim her.”
Jared pulled his gun, making sure the other man saw that it was cocked and ready to go. “I don’t know where you’re from, Sir, but around here we don’t claim women. We let them choose their husbands.”
The man snorted but released me. I ran over to Jared, eyes wide as I pressed myself against his chest, panting hard as tears threatened to roll down my cheeks. Jared put one arm around me, staring the taller man down.
“You think that’s how the natural world works, Sheriff? You start letting women pick their husbands and things will run amok.”
I turned to look at the man, my heart slamming in my chest. “You only think that way because no woman would ever marry a brute like you!” I said, feeling bold while in Jarod’s protective grasp.
His eyes narrowed and he took a step towards me. “You little-“
Jared raised his gun, stopping the man dead in his tracks. “Not another step,” He said, his voice low and threatening.
