Mail Order Megan (Widows, Brides, and Secret Babies Book 11)

by Elissa Strati

  Miguel and Maria provided translations for Ted as the conversation flowed in both languages. Ted grew progressively less self-conscious about using the Spanish words he’d already learned, although he was teased about his pronunciation. Hearing Megan’s accent improve, the more she spoke, he made a concerted effort to listen to the way the sounds were made, and when the wedding cake came out, his “¡Ay, mira!” (Oh, look!) was greeted by Miguel, saying, “You sound just like me!”

  His bride beamed up at him and concurred. “That was wonderfully said, my darling!” she whispered in his ear as she stood to cut the cake, which had been placed on a side table. With a swift upward patting of air with her left hand she signaled to him to rise as well.

  Before the cake cutting could commence, however, the strains of a guitar began to waft into the room. A beaming Sra. Suarez swept open the doors to admit a mariachi trio, accompanied by a number of neighbors and a few of the friends he had made while living in Benson, each accompanied by their families, including children.

  Beaming through her tears of joy at the outpouring of welcome, Megan turned to her new husband, whose arm had crept around her waist, drawing her toward him. His eyes, too, shone, as he quickly pressed his lips to her forehead and then turned toward Sra. Suarez, his other arm extended to her for an embrace.

  “Tu eres como un hijo para mi,” (you are like a son to me) she murmured as she hugged the two of them, then gestured the room to silence and turned back to the couple.

  “Now you cut cake!”

  And then the party really began. After partnering her husband in the first waltz, Megan danced with everyone, including the priest, Miguel, and several of the girls. Ted remained on the floor as long as she did, with a brief break for toasts to the bride and groom.

  As twilight fell and the heat of the day rapidly dissipated, the doors were thrown open and the guests spilled onto the porches and into the patio. Although the evening’s coolness was welcome, Megan stayed within to see to Camellia and meet young Josue, Sra. Ortega’s infant son, as well as several other infants now sharing the nursery as their parents and siblings partied outside.

  Ted joined her, relieved to be away from the crowd for a bit. Even in his college days he’d not been much of a partygoer, and the celebration today was somewhat overwhelming—and exhausting. His bride was clearly beginning to droop, too.

  “You know this little fiesta will likely go on well into the small hours, as is the custom here. Much like our own evening soirées,” he chuckled.

  “But those don’t usually start until later in the evening!” Megan sighed, realizing she’d have been well-rested prior to such an event, not at the tail end of many days of travel and a roller-coaster of emotions.

  “Well, I suppose as the party hosts, we should return to the fray.”

  “No,” he whispered in her ear, “we are merely the guests of honor. I proclaim Sra. Suarez the hostess and suggest we slip upstairs. At this point in the festivities, I doubt we’ll even be missed.”

  That they were missed was evidenced by the raucous serenade beneath a lighted window. The newlyweds, however, were in another room.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN – A Little Excitement

  The next morning Megan awoke to a knock on the bedroom door and Maria’s voice calling out, “Desayuna, señor, señora. Breakfast!”

  “Just leave it on the hall table,” rumbled the reply from beneath her ear.

  Peering upward through her lashes, Megan saw her new husband smiling down at her, and smiled shyly back at him. She realized she was cuddled up against him and blushed.

  “No need for that, sweetheart,” he murmured, bending his head to kiss her good morning. “Sit tight and I’ll bring in the tray.”

  He got up and slipped on his dressing gown, and opened the door. Maria bustled in and set the tray on a table by the window and began to pour out a cup of hot chocolate.

  “Maria! Out!” demanded Ted.

  Chagrinned, the girl curtsied and withdrew, but not before bringing the cup to Megan, who had pulled the covers up to her chin, and setting it on the nightstand near her.

  “You call me to dress,” Maria reminded her before scurrying out.

  Looking at each other, Ted and Megan started laughing. She sat up and reached for the cup and gave a small groan of pleasure when she tasted the beverage. This was the best chocolate she’d ever enjoyed!

  “Would you like your breakfast in bed or might you care to join me at the table?”

  Setting down her cup, Megan declared, “The table, I think.”

  Ted reached over and picked up her negligee, then helped her into it before escorting her to the table and holding her chair. She’d brought her cup with her and he reached for it to refill for her before pouring a cup for himself.

  “While the food is not what I was accustomed to enjoy in Philadelphia,” he mused, “it is really quite excellent.”

  “I certainly found it so last night,” Megan agreed.

  “With all the excitement yesterday, you never really told me about your trip nor how you came to be traveling without a maid and with a baby.”

  “It certainly hadn’t been my plan to traverse the country unchaperoned,” agreed Megan, “but at the last minute Lucy informed me she was courting and had no intention of traveling anywhere. Frankly, in hindsight, I’m delighted not to have to deal any longer with her airs and laziness. She wasn’t a very good hairdresser and would likely not have been much of a travel companion.”

  “Why on earth did you put up with her, then?”

  “Well, one does, doesn’t one?”

  He considered for a moment. “Yes, you are quite right. Better the devil one knows.”

  She then proceeded to recount her train adventure, starting with Anna’s parting gift of Sonia’s daughter.

  “So this Willie ‘the Dip’ character was dressed up as a woman and attacked you in your private compartment?”

  She nodded. He made her go over her self-defense moves a few times, shaking his head and chuckling.

  “You make me even prouder to be your husband, you know!”

  But he became quite concerned when he realized she was still at risk from Willie’s accomplice, “Droopy Pete.”

  “Well, I am expecting to hear from the Pinkerton Detective, Mr. Ned Brandt. He was going to ascertain whether Pete were on the train or still in Philadelphia. I had rather hoped he might have telegraphed the news by now.”

  “Who else knows about all this?”

  “Mr. Brandt was very careful to protect my identity, so although the passengers from Philadelphia were aware of the excitement, by the time the Pullman cars had been switched twice, most folks were unaware of the earlier incident. But of course all the maids and porters aboard were informed, as they were charged with my protection throughout the trip. If you don’t mind, I plan to meet the train on its return trip from San Francisco to visit with Johnson and Mr. Stevenson, especially.

  “Do you mind if I go with you to thank them for protecting you so well? Although I must say, I am amazed with your fast thinking and actions!”

  She blushed prettily under his praise. Really, she’d only done what the girls had been taught in class! Anyone would have done the same!

  She must have spoken the thought aloud, as he murmured in her ear, “But they didn’t. You did.” And then he kissed her soundly.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN – “Droopy Pete”

  Willie’s partner, “Droopy Pete” Gunder, so called because of his massive handlebar mustache, had seen Willie hauled out of the Pullman car and managed to figure out who’d turned him in. He shook his head. The woman was constantly surrounded and frequently had a baby in her arms. He would happily have pushed her off the train, but he had a weak spot for babies, having five of his own.

  He hadn’t meant to kill that porter. The man’d just hit his head funny when Pete had slugged him. The eyes staring at him spooked him so hard he couldn’t finish the job and ended up dropping the poke of jewels
as he scrambled out the door of the compartment.

  He’d almost forgotten to remove his mustache when he slipped into the next car, that’s how spooked he was!

  He’d stayed on the train after Harrisburg instead of hopping the return car, so he could follow the woman. If Willie actually done in Nettie, then he probably deserves to hang, he thought, but Pete didn’t intend to join him. And nobody knew him out here. He’d see to it that it stayed that way.

  Having largely stayed in the lucrative Pennsylvania and New York corridors, he had never been beyond Ohio, so he was as fascinated by the countryside as the ladies, as the train moved ever south and west. He had managed to pick up enough of the gossip to understand that the women were debarking in Benson, so he made up his mind to enjoy the remainder of the journey. He laughed at the thought of the poor fellow whose ticket he had stolen, who had then been forced off the train in St. Louis. Looked as if he had been headed to the gold fields in California.

  Too bad Pete wouldn't be able to use the rest of the ticket. Maybe he'd be able to cash it in for part of the return fare. Of course, if he were able to score it big, he might be able to ride first class going home. Wouldn't Maddie just love that!

  He’d heard the rumors about Miss Maddux since he’d been in Benson. Baby wasn’t even hers! But no one seemed to know she’d been the one to get Willie put away. He knew it was her, ‘cuz he’d seen the Pinkerton guy, Brandt, talking with her as Pete walked by pretending to go to the next car. And then he’d been stuck there for what seemed like hours as her car had folks in and out like a beehive. It had been that way the whole trip. No chance to get her alone.

  And she still had folks surrounding her all the time. When she wasn’t with her husband she had them Mex’s hanging around, especially that brat they called Miguel. Course his oldest was about that age. Nah, he wouldn’t mess with kids. Bad luck.

  He knew she was looking for the baby’s father and was agitating to get to Tombstone to track him down. Maybe that’s where he’d head, see if he could get a bead on the guy. Maybe pick up some of that silver lying about. He grinned to himself. Yeah, maybe make a big enough score to retire and get home to Maddie and the kids. He’d write her today to find out if she’d heard anything. Be sure it was safe to come home. He missed his family!

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – News

  Megan strolled into Ted’s office.

  “I’ve received a letter from Flora stating Moses has found the location of Tom’s mine and learned that it was Tom’s partner, Randy Evans, who had left town to retrieve his wife and sons. Randy has just returned to Tombstone and discovered there’s been a cave-in at the entrance.” Megan offered Flora’s letter to her husband of a week. “I’d like to ride to Tombstone to meet Mr. Evans. May I borrow the buggy, please?”

  “You wish to go to Tombstone by yourself?”

  “Well, I know how busy you are, and it is important to me that I locate Camellia’s father for her.”

  “You must understand that gentlewomen in this country do not ride unaccompanied. For that matter, I doubt you went too many places by yourself even in Philadelphia.”

  “Yes, but I was a single woman then. Now that I'm married, I thought I would have more freedom of movement.”

  “It is not your freedom about which I'm concerned, but your safety. This is rough country and there are still Indians, renegades, outlaws, and not enough women; there are some men who would not respect you properly and I would never wish to take a chance with your safety. So, please wait until I may accompany you on your journey.”

  “And, when do you think that may be?”

  “Actually, let me check with Mr. Bose—you met him at our wedding—and get back to you this evening.” His serious mien turned impish as he added, “It is possible we could even catch tomorrow’s stage together if you will indulge me in the time to conduct some railroad business while I’m there?”

  She grinned back at him and boldly leaned forward to drop a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll let Mrs. Suarez know we will be away a night or two. I think I’d rather have Camellia stay here, don’t you think?” She strolled back out to make arrangements for their trip and to pen a quick note to Flora about their plans, asking if Moses could meet with them. If she hurried she could just make the mail coach.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – Broken Heart

  Seeing to the packing with Maria, Megan pulled aside Sonia’s bag and valise. She’d gone through everything while on the train, but hadn’t had room to spread things out and really examine them. One of the pieces of jewelry had especially intrigued her.

  There it was, the oversized, heavy silver pendant that appeared to have been cut roughly in half. It rather looks like a puzzle piece, with most of the right side missing, she mused, her finger tracing the outside loop—like half a heart! And then it starts up again, but an arrow shape cuts in toward the center from the side and the top. She turned it over. An inscription on the back read: You have the best part of my heart, but I kept the piece that holds yours. The drawer stuck a bit when she tried to replace it within the box. Pulling it out again, she realized there was a letter which had gotten caught.

  It was actually just a note. All of Sonia’s letters from Tom had been in another packet. The note was dated just after the last letter. It must have accompanied the pendant. Megan carefully unfolded it and read:

  Dearest Sonia,

  It is far too long since I have seen you and held you in my arms, but I hope to be back to Philadelphia in time for the birth our child. As I mentioned in my last letter, Randy and I believe we have made a rich strike. We have already mined enough silver to obtain tickets for each of us to return for our wives and families and to have you all come join us here.

  Randy has asked to be allowed to leave first as his wife is ready to travel now and he has been missing his two boys fiercely. No more fiercely than I have been missing you, I vow!

  I have had this pendant made from a single lump of silver I pulled from the ground myself. I then had a piece cut out for me to hold onto until I am once again holding you, my dearest love and light of my life. When we are reunited, so will be this heart, and my own heart will once more be whole.

  I sign this with all my love and devotion and prayers that we may soon be reunited,

  Your loving husband,

  Tom

  Megan tucked the letter beneath the pendant and slid the drawer back into its slot, then reached into her pocket for the handkerchief she kept tucked there. As she slowly dried her face she was pondering what she had just learned.

  1 – Tom had planned to be back in time for Sonia’s lying in, which had been almost three months ago.

  2 – Randy had been planning to make the round trip to his home between the time of the letter and when Tom would have had to leave to make it back in time.

  3 – The letter had been dated only three weeks before Camellia’s birth, which meant either Tom or Sonia had miscalculated the date, or the birth had been early.

  4 – Randy had just returned to town so he had been gone almost four months. What had happened in that time?

  5 – Where was Tom?

  Perhaps they could go to the Tombstone Post Office to determine when Tom had last picked up his mail. It might narrow the search period or even provide a clue to where he might have gone.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN – Tombstone

  Ted helped Megan down from the stagecoach. The ride had been hot, dusty, cramped, long, and uncomfortable. The need for rail service was clearly evident to Megan! She’d been hearing from her fellow passengers how the new service from Benson to Tucson had already cut that trip down from nearly two days to under two hours, and Megan had seen for herself the vast difference in comfort levels.

  The newlyweds’ first stop was the Post Office where no questions were asked when Ted requested the mail for Tom McNeel. Handing the small packet of letters to Megan, he then escorted her to the Owl Café for a bite to eat after their five hour journey.

  They flirted
as they enjoyed their repast, after which they checked into the Grand Hotel. Built just the year before, it featured electricity and running water and the elegance the Philadelphia debutante had once expected as routine and normal.

  “I apologize again for leaving you alone here while I conduct business. But this will give you an opportunity to rest a bit, before we go to visit with Flora and Moses. I am most looking forward to meeting them.” Ted brought her hand to his lips.

  “Well, from your description I’m not sure the Golden Eagle Brewery would be quite a suitable place for me to join you. Although if you continue in this manner I am not sure but I may try to persuade you to stay here with me.”

  At this bit of sauciness he swooped down to kiss her on her lips, but then pulled swiftly away, knowing she was quite right about the temptation she presented.

  “Jones really wanted to meet at the Bird Cage, but I explained I am newly married and preferred not to be seen there.” Megan smiled. Tombstone was a mining town and catered to all tastes; Ted had been at great pains to ensure she knew there were establishments she should avoid.

  “I wish you all success in your business, my darling. Hurry back to me! I’ll be resting for both of us but I also plan to see if I can determine when Tom disappeared. From the frequency of his letters to Sonia, he stopped by often to pick up his mail.”

  “At the very least it should help narrow down our search.”

  Their room was nicely furnished, Megan observed as she sat at the elegant little desk and laid Tom’s mail down. She sorted the items by postmark date, placing letters from Sonia in one stack and all others in a second.

  The earliest of Sonia’s letters was from the day after Camellia’s birth. So it would seem Tom didn’t know he had a daughter. Two letters from a Mrs. McNeel—Tom’s mother?—were even more recent. And then there were several from R. Evans, presumably Tom’s partner. The first of these was dated a week before Camellia was born, and was the earliest date of all. She hesitated, saying a little prayer that she was not doing wrong, reading another’s mail, and then opened that letter.