Pony Express Courtship, page 22
Seth inhaled through his nose and released the air through his mouth. Then he turned to face the man with a smile. At least he hoped it was a smile and not a grimace. “Yes, I am.”
The man walked toward him with an outstretched hand. “I’m Ben Wheeler. May we speak to you outside?”
Seth shook the man’s hand. “Of course.” His gaze moved to the woman and for the first time he really looked at her. Emma’s words about Charlotte came back to him. She’s a sweet woman with auburn hair and green eyes. Seth realized he was looking in the face of his mail-order bride.
She extended her hand also. “Seth, I’m Charlotte. Charlotte Fisher.”
He took her delicate hand in his. His gaze moved to Rebecca, who stared back at him with big blue eyes. Seth felt the air leave his lungs.
Mr. Wheeler cleared his throat. “Is there someplace private we can talk?” he asked.
Seth released Charlotte’s hand. “Yes, yes, there is.” He opened the front door and inhaled the scent of roses as Charlotte passed him.
Once outside, Seth looked around for a place to take them. He knew that if they stayed on the porch, Rebecca would be able to hear every word they said.
Charlotte motioned toward the stage. “We could sit inside the coach and talk.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Mr. Wheeler agreed, leading the way.
Mr. Wheeler helped Charlotte into the stage and then motioned for Seth to follow her. “This is between the two of you.” He made eye contact with Seth and said, “I hope you make the right decision.” Mr. Wheeler nodded his head and closed the door on the coach.
Charlotte folded her hands in her lap and searched Seth’s face. “I can’t believe we are finally meeting.”
He looked around the carriage. “Me, either. This wasn’t exactly how I thought it would happen.” Seth studied her face. “I’m sorry I didn’t find you as fast as I’d planned.”
Charlotte shook her head. “No, it was my fault. Let me explain.”
Seth nodded, happy to finally find out what had happened to her.
“I left on the day I sent you that last letter but to get to the station I had to walk through a cold rainstorm. When the stage left I was soaked and already starting to feel bad. We got about halfway to St. Joseph and I was very sick. Fever and chills shook my body. The ladies on the coach were afraid I was going to make them sick, too. So they talked the driver into leaving me behind.” Her green eyes took on a faraway look as if she was reliving those moments.
“Why didn’t you take the next stage and continue on? I would have taken care of you.” He leaned forward and took her hands in his.
Charlotte smiled. “I’m sure you would have, but I didn’t have any more money and the next stage wouldn’t arrive for another two days. The lady at the stagecoach stop said I could sleep in the barn. So I stumbled to the barn and tried to get better. When the stagecoach arrived I was weak from lack of food and the fever that had consumed me. But I was determined to get to you.” Her green eyes searched his.
Seth couldn’t believe how cruel the women had treated Charlotte. She was beautiful and jealousy was a cruel beast that some women fought. Of course, jealousy may have had nothing to do with their treatment of Charlotte; it could have been their fear of getting sick. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to you first,” he confessed. “You don’t have to tell me this, if it is too painful. You are here now and that’s what is important.”
“No, I have to tell you the whole story.” She pulled her hands from his. “I made it out of the barn but tripped when I took a step to get into the coach.” Her hand went to her head. “The fall knocked me out and when I awoke, I had no idea who I was or where I’d been going.” She dropped her hand back in her lap. “But thankfully, Mr. Wheeler was on that stage. He’s a doctor. He found out from the woman at the station that my name was Charlotte Fisher.” A gentle smile touched her lips. “Ben says he fell in love with me the moment he saw me. Can you believe that?”
Seth sat back in his seat. So the man outside the door was in love with Charlotte. He smiled at her. “Yes, I can. You are a very beautiful woman.”
She giggled. “Well, that day I was anything but beautiful. Anyway, he nursed me back to health, took me back to Sacramento and helped me find a job at the restaurant.”
Seth was confused. It was obvious that Charlotte was in love with Ben also, so why was she here? He knew she hadn’t had time to get his letter. How did she know where he was? If she didn’t know he was here and it was a complete accident, how had they known he was Seth Armstrong?
“I’m almost done, I promise.” Charlotte sat up straighter. “I was working one day when I heard a conversation between two men who had just arrived on the afternoon stage. One of the men asked the other if he thought they might run into Charlotte Fisher, that gal that Seth Armstrong was looking for in Dove Creek. I don’t know why it happened but hearing both our names in the same sentence had my memories flooding back to me. I remembered why I was on the stage. That night I told Ben and explained to him that I had to come find you.” She inhaled deeply.
Seth searched her face. “But you love Ben, so why did you come here looking for me?”
“I came to ask you to release me from my promise. I know I said I’d marry you and I will, if you won’t release me, but please, Seth. Ben wants to marry me, and my heart will shatter into a million pieces if I can’t marry him. He’s the first man who hasn’t looked at me and only seen outside beauty. He saw me when I was sick, dirty and starving, and he loved me on sight.” Her hands shook in her lap. Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
Seth leaned forward and placed his hands on hers once more. “It’s all right. I release you, Charlotte.”
She grabbed him and hugged him, then leaned back. “But what about your promise to your grandmother?”
He shifted on the hard seat. “She made me promise to get married. She didn’t say it had to be to you.”
A smile tipped her lips once more. “You’re happy I’m releasing you, aren’t you?”
Seth nodded. His heart was about to explode out of his chest with happiness. Now that he knew what had happened to Charlotte and she’d asked him to release her, he was free to tell Rebecca how he felt about her.
“It’s the woman from the house, isn’t it? The one with the bandaged hand.” She wisely crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a stern look.
Seth laughed. “Yes, but she doesn’t know how I feel, so I’m a little unsure what the future holds now. Thank you for coming and telling me what had happened to you. I wish you and Mr. Wheeler the best.” Seth stood to exit the coach.
“I wish you the best, too, Seth. If you tell her that you love her, I’m sure your future will be bright.”
How could Charlotte be so sure? Would Rebecca believe that he loved her? Would she say yes if he asked her to marry him?
Lord, let Your will be done. He silently prayed that his will and God’s will were in alignment.
* * *
Rebecca watched from the window as Seth climbed out of the coach. Charlotte followed, looking happier now that they’d had their talk. What had she said to him? They’d been in the coach so long.
“What do you think they talked about?” Emma asked, standing beside her.
Fay answered from the sofa. “It’s none of our business, ladies.”
Rebecca ignored Fay. “I don’t know but look how happy she is now.”
Emma nodded. “But she’s getting back in the coach and so is the man. Are they leaving?”
The coach pulled away from the house and continued on its route, carrying Charlotte and Mr. Wheeler with it. Rebecca watched as Seth hurried to the bunkhouse. “He never even looked back.” She turned from the window. “I’m tired. I think I’ll go lie down for a little while.” Rebecca started to walk out of the room but stopped. “Thank you both for taking care of the passengers today.”
Emma asked, “Rebecca, are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine. I just need to rest.” She didn’t tell them that her heart was breaking. Seth seemed happy, Charlotte seemed happy and Rebecca couldn’t help but feel miserable.
She went to her room and shut the door. The desire to throw herself across the bed and weep pulled strongly at her. Was Charlotte going on to St. Joseph to wait for Seth? Were they still planning on getting married?
Deep down Rebecca felt sure that they hadn’t broken off their marriage since they both looked so happy. Even Charlotte’s companion had looked pleased.
Rebecca avoided the bed and moved to the stuffed chair that sat beside the window. She picked up her Bible off the side table and opened it to Proverbs.
To her, Proverbs was the book of wisdom—at least that was what she liked to think. She read Proverbs, chapter sixteen, verse nine, out loud. “‘A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.’”
Peace washed over her. God was in control. Seth may have been in her life for a little while and if he left, she’d be fine because God would never leave her.
She closed the Bible and lay across her bed. “Lord, I trust You to direct my steps.” Rebecca closed her eyes, sadly wishing that her steps and Seth’s walked side by side.
* * *
Seth paced the bunkhouse. He knew that God had brought him to the Young farm to teach him about love. When he’d arrived he’d sworn never to fall in love, to never let anyone hurt him like his mother had hurt him and his father. But all that had changed.
He loved Rebecca. He wanted to marry her. He also respected her sons enough to ask their permission.
Philip entered the bunkhouse first. When he saw Seth, he frowned. “Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Better than all right. Go tell the other boys to come here. I’d like to have a meeting with them.”
Philip nodded. “Let me change out of these wet socks and I’ll go get them.”
It seemed to take forever for Philip to do the simple task of changing socks. And it took even longer for all the boys to make their way into the bunkhouse.
“This is everyone,” Philip announced unnecessarily.
Seth walked to the stove and stood in front of it, facing them. “Today my mail-order bride came to the farm.”
“What?”
“Where is she?”
“I didn’t see her.”
“Are you going to marry her here?”
“Does Ma like her?”
Jacob stopped the questions. “Shut up, and let him talk.”
“She released me from marrying her. It would seem Charlotte has met someone more to her liking and so have I.” Seth took a breath and was immediately interrupted again with questions and outrage.
“Who did she meet?”
“What does more to her liking mean?”
“Who have you met?”
“Enough!” Jacob yelled.
All the boys looked to him.
“If you interrupt Seth one more time, I am going to thrash you.”
They seemed to take their older brother at his word and quieted down again. All eyes turned to Seth.
Seth answered their questions. “She met a doctor and they are going to get married. That’s what I meant by more to her liking. As for who I have met.” He paused. For the first time he worried the Young men might reject him and his idea to marry their mother.
Jacob grinned. “Go on, tell them who you have met.”
Seth swallowed and then rushed on. “I met your mother and I want to marry her.”
Andrew stood. In a tense voice he asked, “Why?”
The two men locked gazes. “Because I love her,” Seth answered.
Jacob stood, too. He stepped between Andrew and Seth as if he thought Andrew would start a fight. Jacob said, “Then you should marry her.”
Andrew nodded his approval.
Clayton, Thomas and Philip grinned up at him.
Noah shrugged. “If you love her, then you should marry her.”
Benjamin stood and looked up at Seth. He didn’t say anything and he didn’t nod. Seth kneeled down in front of him. This little boy meant the world to him and he needed his approval as much, or more, than the others’. “Beni, I can’t marry her unless all the Young men approve. It wouldn’t be right.”
“Would I have to call you Papa Seth?”
The seriousness in Benjamin’s voice reminded Seth that in Beni’s eyes he was trying to take John’s place in their lives. He shook his head. “No, you don’t. I’ll always be Seth to you. I can’t take Papa John’s place in your heart, Beni. No one can.”
He looked to his other brothers, who nodded their heads at him. Benjamin looked back to Seth. “Then I reckon it’s all right with me, if you want to marry Ma.”
Seth stood and faced them once more. He swallowed. “Thanks.”
They laughed and clapped him on the back. Andrew stood off to the side with his arms crossed over his chest. Seth turned to him. “Andrew, are you sure you’re all right with me asking her to marry me?”
“Yep, I was just thinking. Now you have to actually ask her. These guys are acting like she’s already said yes. She might say no.” He turned and walked out of the bunkhouse.
Seth’s heart sank. Andrew was right. What if she did say no? What if she did reject him? Would she feel like Beni, that no man could take her late husband’s place?
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next morning, Seth was still worrying about Rebecca’s answer. The sound of a rider coming in fast drew his attention. There weren’t any Pony Express riders scheduled. He stepped out his side door and watched as the sheriff entered the yard.
He walked over to him. “What brings you out this morning, Sheriff?”
The sheriff leaned on his horse’s saddle horn. “Just thought you’d like to know we caught our road bandits. It was thanks to your quick shooting.”
“Who are they?” Jacob asked, coming to stand beside Seth. The other boys crowded around them, too.
The sheriff tipped his hat back. “Jake Edwards.”
“Mr. Edwards that owns the general store?” Clayton asked.
“One and the same. Seems he and a couple of his old buddies were making extra money on the side by robbing stagecoach passengers. Seth here put a bullet in Edwards.” He grinned. “Those things smart when they get infected. Bring a man to tears and to the doctor.”
“How’d you catch the other two?” Seth asked.
“Seems the pain was pretty bad and he told Doc everything while the bullet was being removed.” He rubbed his chin. “Who knew Doc could get information like that just by taking out a bullet?”
Seth was glad the men were behind bars. “Thanks for letting us know, Sheriff. We’ll breathe a little easier around here.”
The sheriff nodded. “Well, I best be getting back to town. I have prisoners waiting for breakfast this morning.” He spun around and headed back to town.
All the way into the house, the boys talked about Mr. Edwards and the fact that they knew he was no good all along. Seth listened but didn’t add to the conversation. His thoughts were on Rebecca and how she was going to answer his marriage proposal.
* * *
Rebecca listened to the boys repeat what the sheriff had said. She watched Seth’s reaction to the news. He seemed distracted and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking of Charlotte.
They hadn’t had their nightly meeting the evening before. Seth hadn’t bothered to come in for dinner. Had he been packing a bag? Even now, was he planning on leaving after breakfast?
The boys lingered over breakfast longer than normal. She noticed that they watched Seth, too. Were they concerned that he would be leaving soon?
It was Andrew who finally said, “Seth, are you doing this today or should we go on and do our chores?”
Seth looked startled for a moment and then he swallowed hard and stood to his feet. He walked to Rebecca’s end of the table and offered her his hand.
Unsure what was going on, Rebecca allowed him to pull her up. She opened her mouth to ask what he was doing when he laid a finger over her lips.
“Rebecca Young, I have known for a while now that I love you, but because of Charlotte and my promise to marry her, I haven’t been able to tell you. Until today.” He stopped and searched her eyes.
Had he just told her he loved her? In front of her kids, Fay and Emma? She looked around the room. The boys all just sat watching expectantly. Fay covered her mouth with her hand and Emma and Joy sat staring with big eyes. She looked back to Seth. “I...”
Seth kneeled down on one knee in front of her. “I love you, Rebecca Young. Will you marry me?” His warm eyes held all the love that was within his heart.
“I do love you, Seth, but I can’t agree to marry you.”
He stood. Pain reflected in his eyes. “Why not?”
She looked to her children. “I need their permission.”
Smiles broke out over the boys’ faces.
Jacob laughed. “Ma, we’ve already given Seth our approval.”
A smile began to touch her lips. Seth had respected her and her boys enough to ask their permission. “What about you, Joy?”
She felt Seth’s arm snake around her waist.
“I like Seth. I want to keep him.”
Rebecca turned to face Seth. His eyes now held understanding, but uncertainty at what her answer was going to be. “I want to keep you, too. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Seth didn’t give her a chance to change her mind. He pulled her close and kissed her lips. The boys hooted, the women laughed and Rebecca relaxed in his arms.
When he pulled away from her, she whispered against his lips, “I love you, too, Seth. I have for a while now.”
