With that, she turned and walked down the hall.
Elizabeth closed and locked the door, then carefully opened the envelope from Matt, not wishing to damage any of the precious words that might be contained within.
My dear Elizabeth,
You have made me the happiest of men. I have enclosed a train ticket to Juniper Junction, you simply need to fill in the dates. I am most eager to make you my bride.
With much affection,
Matt
Happy thrills ran through her body. The ticket. The ticket to her new life, to freedom and to love. Everything she’d ever wanted all wrapped up in that one slim piece of paper.
Chapter 2
Train Station
Juniper Junction, Wyoming Territory
Matthew Foreman stood nervously on the platform, gazing down the length of track as far as he could see, but no train approached.
“I’m sure the train will be here soon,” Jake, the foreman at Windy River Ranch and Matt’s soon-to-be best man said to him, no doubt trying to calm his wedding day jitters.
“Yes, I’m sure she’ll be here soon,” echoed Posey, Jake’s wife. “I’m looking forward to meeting her. How romantic to be a mail order bride!”
Jake gave his petite wife a stern look. “Don’t get any ideas, Posey. You’re already married. Aren’t I romantic enough for you?” He gave her a knowing look and a blush immediately flared over her face.
“Jake!” She swatted at him with the flowers she held in her hands, though the two of them laughed heartily at the teasing.
That. That was the sort of relationship Matt hoped to have with Elizabeth. Comfortable and playful. But also, he knew there was a deep affection between Jake and Posey. The sort of bond that enabled a couple to weather the storms of life.
He sighed. If only his parents had had such a bond.
But, he put that sad thought out of his mind. This was not the time or place for it.
In just moments, his dear Elizabeth would arrive and they would be wed right away. He’d made all the arrangements with Pastor Ellis and had even asked Posey to be a bridesmaid since Elizabeth had left all friends and family behind in St. Louis. Though, as he considered the matter he realized that she had not mentioned her family in her letters. They had been much more engaged in sharing their thoughts with each other over the course of their correspondence. He knew few of the specifics of her life, but he felt he had gotten a glimpse into her soul.
If truth be told, Matt was a bit of a romantic. Oh, he was manly and loved the life he lived working with the horses and cowboys at Windy River Ranch, but to him, it was also a life that fed his soul. Riding across the vast expanse of Wyoming or watching the sunset were spiritual experiences to him. He’d written a long paragraph to Elizabeth describing the beauty of the moon and stars in the open skies of Wyoming. When she replied with wonder at his description, he knew she was the girl for him.
But that did not mean he was not a red-blooded man who longed to feel the soft curves of his new bride and to bed her with frequency and fervency.
His cock began to stir in his pants and so he redirected his attention to the commotion on the platform. Several people had come to greet his new bride. He’d meant to keep it sort of quiet but in his excitement he’d shared more than he’d planned. As he glanced around at the folks who all seemed to be in good spirits, he was glad he did. It was a festive atmosphere and it matched his mood as well.
However none of them had to wonder if they’d made a hasty decision. Matt was generally a thoughtful and cautious man, but once he received Elizabeth’s first letter, he just knew she was the one for him. Those instincts had gotten him far in his twenty-nine years, he wasn’t going to start doubting them now.
Finally, in the distance, he heard a train whistle. Activity on the platform increased and Matt’s heart sped up.
“She’s almost here, Matt!” Jake clapped him on the shoulder with one of his massive hands and nearly sent him flying. Jake, a gentle giant of a man, didn’t always recognize how much bigger he was than most every man in Juniper Junction.
Posey bounced up and down on her toes. “Oh, I’m so excited.”
Matt appreciated their enthusiasm, though suddenly reality set in for him and he got very nervous. He was about to meet the woman who would be his bride. ’Til death do them part.
What if he’d made a huge mistake? What if his instincts were wrong? Why hadn’t he found a bride among the young ladies of Juniper Junction? People he knew or could easily find out about?
While his mind whirled with all those doubts, the train had pulled into the station.
He took a deep breath. This was it. His whole future would be stepping off that train in a matter of moments.
* * *
"Next stop, Juniper Junction."
The words cut through Elizabeth like a blast of hot air from a furnace. Inside her gloves, her hands sweated with abandon. She swallowed hard and smoothed down the skirt of her dress. Blue silk and a matching hat.
She glanced around the train. Only a few passengers remained, since most of the folks on board had gotten off in Monroe City, a much larger and more promising metropolis. They’d had a long stop in Monroe City so she’d also gotten off the train to stretch her legs and also to take care of some business.
She’d tried to sell off some of her jewelry in St. Louis, assuming she’d have little use for the baubles in Juniper Junction and also because she was desperate for some cash. However, when she’d stepped inside the jeweler had greeted her by name and congratulated her on her pending nuptials, so she simply told him she was window shopping and then made a hasty retreat.
She’d had better luck in Kansas City and sold off a bracelet and a pair of earrings to a jeweler who had no concerns for who she was or why she might be disposing of jewelry.
Along the miles of her travels, Elizabeth made a couple of decisions. The first was that she’d like to be called Lizzie instead of a stuffy name like Elizabeth. And second, she realized that once she’d sold off some of the family jewels, she felt lighter. Happier. The cash in hand didn’t hurt matters any, either. So when she found there was a long stop in Monroe City she made haste to find a jeweler.
Satisfied with her transaction, she got back on the train, money tucked away deep in her valise.
Next stop, Juniper Junction and Matt Foreman.
Her heart pounded. Doubt crept in. Had she made a huge mistake?
But then she remembered Nevie Pettit. Her father.
More importantly, she remembered I am eager to hold you close and make you mine. To care for you always and she knew she hadn’t made a mistake.
And didn't she still maintain a glimmer of hope that the warm emotions his letters had inspired in her would be reciprocated by the man who wrote them?
She glanced out the window as the train slid into the station. A large sign said, "Juniper Junction." Her heart pounded. She licked her dry lips and said a silent prayer.
Asking for forgiveness for the many deceptions she'd perpetrated in the last week.
And those she was about to.
The conductor, a kindly gentleman with silver hair, lifted her valise down from the compartment overhead. "Thank you," she said.
He gave her a warm smile. "I'm sure everything will be just fine, miss. Will you be getting married right away?"
Startled, she gave him a longer look. "H-how did you know?" She glanced around to see if anyone else was listening but they were all absorbed in their own thoughts and preparations for exiting the train. Some hung out the windows waving and calling to friends and family on the platform.
"Oh, I've seen dozens of mail order brides on this train. They all have the same look. A combination of hopeful and scared to death."
Lizzie laughed. "That's about right." She blew out the breath she'd been holding. "I know you're just trying to be nice, but your words do help."
The train had come to a complete stop, though folks had been running alongsid
e as soon as it got near the platform.
"Do you know anything about Juniper Junction?" she asked.
"It's a nice little town. Folks are real friendly."
"That's good to hear." She paused. She didn't want to appear nervous but she'd never see this man again, so she asked another question. "The man I'm going to m-marry works at Windy River Ranch. Do you know anything about that?"
The conductor's eyebrows shot up and he grinned wide. "Oh, a Windy River man? Well, you're a lucky gal, that's what. Mr. Conners runs Windy River and he won't put up with no accounts and layabouts. If your man works for Mr. Conners, you can bet he's a fine fella."
She took a deep breath and glanced toward the window. "I hope you're right."
When she turned back, the conductor had moved on to help people off the train and to collect their luggage. She had a small case and though she was eager to exit and get on with her life, she took a moment to peer out the window, scanning the gathered crowd to see if she could determine which of them was the man she'd traveled halfway across the country to meet.
And marry.
People were spread all around the platform and excitement filled the air. As people disembarked, they were greeted with shouts and hugs and quickly escorted away.
When the crowd thinned, she spotted a man staring at the train and her heart skipped a beat. Wavy hair, piercing eyes and broad shoulders. Of course, there were several men who met that description standing about, but one in particular drew her attention to him. That had to be him.
She took a deep breath and stood, gathered her things and prepared to plunge into her future. Her future as Mrs. Matthew Foreman.
* * *
"Where's she at, Matt?"
"You know, my cousin in Black Clover ordered himself one of them brides in the mail and she never showed up. He was sure something had happened to her on the way, but I think she just cashed in the ticket and kept writing letters to other fools."
Matt stared at the door to the train as people continued to get off, none of them wearing a blue silk dress and hat. In fact, very few of them were women at all, let alone the one he'd been waiting for. Dreaming about.
More and more people exited the train and then the line got thinner and thinner, Matt's spirits began to flag.
When a few moments passed and no more passengers came out, folks waiting to board the train clamored on.
He heard sympathetic murmurs around him and felt his face flush.
Matt's heart sank.
Suddenly, there was movement in one of the doorways. Was it? Yes, yes, it was. A blue silk dress and matching hat and the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the bright sun and he stepped forward to claim his bride.
Not everyone was as careful of the passengers or as attentive as Matt. From the corner of his eye he caught movement as two young women charged toward the train at the same moment his Elizabeth was attempting to leave it.
With a quick glance he recognized them as Myrtle and Aggie, two troublemakers who Mr. Conners, the owner of Windy River Ranch and Matt’s employer, had escorted to the train today to make sure they got out of town.
Matt had been relieved to know they’d be gone before his bride arrived. They’d caused all kinds of problems, particularly for Jake’s bride, Posey. And Matt didn’t want to take any chances that they’d do the same to Elizabeth.
Marriage to a stranger would have enough challenges without the added stress of the bickering sisters who seemed intent on bringing misery to everyone around them.
But, it seemed Myrtle and Aggie couldn’t do anything in a quiet and ladylike manner, including boarding a train. As he watched Aggie swing her valise onto the steps of the train he gasped.
Instead of landing on the step, the bag whacked into Elizabeth, sending her and her luggage tumbling forward in a swirl of blue silk.
* * *
Lizzie had been scanning the crowd, though it was difficult with the sun beaming directly into her eyes. She raised her hand to shield her gaze, but she was nervous and having a bit of trouble focusing. Then a commotion caught her attention. Two women dragging heavy-looking suitcases approached the train. An older gentleman stood behind them, arms crossed and a stern expression on his face. She wondered why he didn’t assist them, but got the distinct impression he was displeased with the two young ladies. And based on their sharp words for each other, she could understand why he gave them a wide berth.
“Hurry up, Myrtle. You’re always so slow.”
“Oh shut up. The train won’t leave without us. What’s your rush, anyway? It’s not like leaving was our decision.” She shot an insolent glare toward the man accompanying them. He shrugged and pointed to the train.
“Quit stalling. I want you two out of town today. If you don’t make the train, it’ll be on a pair of mules.”
Elizabeth was a bit taken aback by the statement and she wondered if running young ladies out of town was a regular occurrence in Juniper Junction. And what would warrant such an eviction?
“You two are a couple of lying troublemakers and I’ve had it with you. Now quit messing around and get on the dang train.”
Apparently lying troublemakers got run out of town on the rail. Literally.
Looking past the commotion, her heart caught in her throat as her eyes made contact with the gaze of a man who had to be none other than Mr. Matthew Foreman. Her intended.
She gasped. She’d hoped he’d be handsome, but this was even more than she’d dared to conjure in her imaginings about him. And there had been many. Ever since the first letter arrived from the sincere yet romantic cowboy.
So mesmerized was she by the man as he approached that she failed to pay sufficient attention to the warring young ladies. Just as Lizzie raised her leg to step off the train, one of the troublemakers swung her heavy case onto the step and slammed it into Lizzie, creating a stabbing pain in her side.
With a surprised squeal, Lizzie propelled forward. Her valise flew from her hand and her skirts billowed all around. In her mind, all she could think was This is hardly the kind of entrance I wanted to make.
She eyed the hard wood of the platform as she spiraled toward it and braced for impact, covering her face with her arms and holding her breath.
But, instead of slamming into the unyielding surface of the train platform, Lizzie found herself cradled in strong arms. Slowly, she blinked and gazed up into a pair of mesmerizing amber eyes. Her lips parted in surprise and she tried to think of something to say, but her breath had stalled in her chest.
His eyes warmed to a golden glow and he gave her a heart stopping smile. “Are you Elizabeth?”
She nodded.
“I’m Matt Foreman. Welcome to Juniper Junction.”
Chapter 3
Loud cheers erupted all around, but Matt hardly noticed as he gazed into the startled face of Elizabeth, his bride. He'd had some lingering doubts, wondering about the wisdom of marrying a woman based on a few letters, but as her soft curves pressed against his body, Matt knew she was exactly the woman for him. There could be no other. They were meant for each other.
A feeling of contentment—and more than a small amount of lust—washed over him. The piece that had been missing from his life, that he wasn't even aware he needed, had flown into his arms and landed in a sweet-smelling heap of blue silk. His heart swelled and he sent up a silent prayer of thanksgiving for her arrival, and this feeling he had, one he'd sometimes doubted would ever really happen to him, was nothing short of a miracle.
"Hello, M-Matt," she said with a shy smile. "It's nice to m-meet you."
Her voice was like a lark singing from a tall tree on the prairie.
A crowd gathered around them and all Matt could think was that he wished they'd go away and leave him alone to bask in the beauty and sweetness of his bride-to-be.
"You can probably put her down now, Matt." Jake's deep voice broke through the chatter. "I got her bag." He held up Elizabeth's worn
valise. Somehow it had withstood the flight from the steps of the train and the hard landing on the platform without bursting open. Matt nodded to acknowledge his friend's words before returning his focus to Elizabeth.
"Were you hurt?" Matt asked, his eyes searching her face for any sign of distress.
She shifted a bit in his arms and touched her side, then winced. “I feel a bit bruised here on my side, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
When she winced, it was like he felt the pain too.
He swore silently and then glared at the train where he could see the forms of Myrtle and Aggie fighting over who got the window seat. They could not be gone soon enough.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, returning his gaze to the much more pleasant visage of his bride’s face, though she still had a pained expression. “We’ll stop off to see Doc before we see the preacher.”
“Oh no,” Elizabeth shifted again to look at him directly, “I’m sure it’s nothing.” She blushed prettily. “Besides, isn’t the preacher waiting for us?” Then a look of worry flashed over her face. “Unless you’d rather wait?” Her pink tongue darted out to wet her lips and the sight of it filled Matt’s mind with all sorts of carnal thoughts.
“Absolutely not!” He peered into her eyes—the color of cornflowers—and wondered if it would be wrong to run all the way to Pastor Ellis’s house with his bride in his arms.
"Maybe you ought to put her down so we can say hello," Jake said, his deep voice waking Matt from his reverie as he gazed at his bride.
Cowboy’s Rules: Brides of Juniper Junction, Book Three Page 2