Silver Creek (The Parker Family Saga)

by G. L. Snodgrass

  The man scoffed, “A man shouldn’t be up here all alone. In fact, I come to call this place Lonesome Valley.”

  Jack didn’t know if he agreed. He’d gone his own way for so long he didn’t care for the idea of sharing his life with some unknown woman.

  “I don’t know.”

  The man didn’t respond for a long moment then said, “Got any paper? A pencil?”

  Jack removed the small tally book he kept in his front shirt pocket and tore out a sheet of paper. He placed it and a pencil on the table next to the man.

  The man grunted as he shifted in his chair. All the while, he kept his left hand on his stomach. Tacking a deep breath, he started to write. Jack reached over to hold the paper in place.

  “There,” the man said as he sat back with a heavy sigh. “Show that to Judge Benson. He knows my hand.”

  Jack looked down at the paper. “I don’t know. I still haven’t agreed to this.”

  The man shrugged his shoulders. “If not. Then sell the team and wagon and give her the money. It should be enough to get her home.”

  Jack nodded. It was the least he could do for a dying man.

  Later that afternoon, he used the shovel to hammer in the marker then stepped back and dipped his head for a moment.

  He took a deep breath and stepped away from the grave.

  “Come on Duke,” he said to his dog. “We need to go disappoint a young woman.”

  Chapter Two

  Miss Jennifer O’Neil glanced down at the letter in her hand and sighed. Two more hours, she thought as the train rocked back and forth. Two more hours and she would know if she had made the stupidest mistake of her life.

  But then, what choice did she have. That was the thing about bad mistakes. They were usually a result of limited options.

  Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her racing heart. Really, she told herself. She should not question herself. This was for the best. Nathanial’s two letters had reassured her, and his offer of marriage had been like a rope to a drowning woman.

  Tucking a stray wisp of hair back into her bun, she wondered if Nathanial would be pleased with her. She had been told that she was attractive. In fact, that was the reason that Mr. Butler had pursued her. Of course, Mrs. Butler had not been pleased and spread ugly rumors throughout their small town.

  Rumors she had been unable to knock down. It seemed there were too many wives who wanted her gone. Preferably sooner rather than later.

  Nathanial’s offer had been a godsend. Even if it did mean marrying a man she had never met. But then, what woman truly knew the man she married?

  Sitting back, she looked out at the brown landscape so different than the plains of East Missouri. Slowly, the scenery disappeared as she let her mind wander.

  What would their life be like, she wondered? His letters made him sound rather … normal. Not dull, she tried to reassure herself. She preferred the term ‘safe’. Perhaps not as well educated as herself. But then beggars could not be choosy. She feared there would be little passion. But perhaps they could grow to care for each other. Really, wasn’t that all any woman could ask for.

  And, if she was particularly lucky, they would be blessed with children. The thought made her smile. Yes, that would be the life she wished for. Marriage. Children. And if she had to travel halfway across the continent to achieve it. Then so be it.

  Deep down though, she pined for the loss of passion. A great love. The kind that was written about in books. That was what she secretly desired. But a poor woman without prospects had little choice.

  As the train rocked back and forth. The clickity-clack lulled her to sleep. To dream of a tall strange man with wide shoulders and dangerous eyes.

  The lonesome call of the train whistle woke her from her nap. Sitting up straight, she wiped at her mouth, checked her hair, then ran her hands over her dress to make sure everything was in place. The best of her two dresses, she prayed that Nathanial didn’t notice the repaired cuff or the lace she had added to hide the frayed hem.

  This was the moment, she thought as the train slowed. Her stomach churned with worry as she took a deep calming breath. Nathanial would want a composed, sensible woman. Not some emotional ninny. No, they must start their lives together with the right impression.

  Swallowing hard, she forced her racing heart to calm down. As the train slowed to a halt, she bent down to look out on the platform. All the while holding her breath. This was ridiculous. She had no idea what the man looked like. Other than his comment about being of average height. She had no clue.

  Once again taking a deep breath, she handed her bag to the porter and allowed him to guide her down the steps and onto the platform. Twisting about, she scanned the area for anyone who might be Nathanial Parker.

  A tall cowboy leaned against the station but it couldn’t be him, she thought. The man was too tall. And a quick look confirmed that this man need never send for a mail-order bride. Half the single women in the state would have jumped at the chance.

  Where was Nathanial? Two cowboys were offloading a bull from the back of the train. A young couple was meeting what was obviously the woman’s parents. The conductor was looking at his watch.

  Jennifer’s heart lurched. Was he late? Was the train early. Or? Had he changed his mind? No surely not.

  Suddenly a sick feeling filled her. Had she traveled all this way for nothing? She thought of the three dollars and twenty-two cents in her reticule and shivered. How would she survive? Suddenly, the gravity of the situation began to sink in.

  The sick feeling was slowly replaced with a stomach-churning fear.

  “Excuse me, Miss O’Neil?” A deep voice said behind her.

  She quickly spun around, her hopes rising only to be sorely disappointed. It was the handsome cowboy. He was even taller than she had thought.

  He frowned for a moment then quickly removed his hat. Studying her, she watched as a look of confusion crossed his face. As if he were having to rethink his reality.

  “Yes?” she managed to say as she studied the man. The gun on his hip made her feel uneasy. It was uncommon where she came from. But things were different out here she reminded herself. Looking up, she continued to catalog what she saw. Tall and lean. With wide shoulders. A small scar to the side of his left eye drew her attention. How had he gotten it? she wondered.

  But it was his eyes that captured her. Gray. The eyes of a wolf. A dangerous man they said. A warrior. Her stomach turned over for some unknown reason.

  “Did Mr. Parker send you?” she managed to say, rather pleased with herself that her voice had not broken.

  The man frowned deeply then glanced down at the hat in his hand.

  “Come,” he said, taking her elbow. “Let’s talk over here.”

  Her stomach clenched up as she allowed him to lead her to a bench next to the station wall. He nodded for her to sit. Her world became shaky as she smoothed her dress and sat down. Whatever had happened, it couldn’t be good. Not with that solemn look.

  “I’m sorry,” he began. “But Mr. Parker was killed yesterday. On his ranch.”

  Her world fell away as she gasped and brought a hand to cover her open mouth.

  “What?” she exclaimed. “But …”

  He frowned and nodded, confirming her worst fear.

  “Are you sure. We were to be married today.”

  The tall man nodded again, obviously not enjoying telling her that her betrothed had died.

  A deep numbness filled her. How had this happened? What was to become of her? Three dollars would not last long. Who could she go to for help? This was a strange town filled with rough men.

  “You said, killed. What happened, Mr. ….?”

  “Tanner, ma’am, Jack Tanner.” He paused for a moment studying her face. Then, taking a quick breath he continued, “As to what happened. I can’t rightly say. I was passing through and found him that way. Shot. He asked me to come tell you. I could see that he set you up high.”

  Jenn
y sighed. Poor Nathanial. His letters had made it seem as if he were so lonely. And to die that way, with only a stranger. Her heart hurt thinking about it.

  The man next to her continued to frown as he studied her. She ignored him as she tried to think of some way forward.

  “Can you tell me, Mr. Tanner, do you know of work for a woman in this town.”

  He winced and shook his head. “To tell you the truth. An honest woman shouldn’t be left alone in this town. Too many miners and cowhands too far from home. Most will treat you with respect. But most isn’t all.”

  Her heart fell. It was as she feared. But what choice did she have?

  “Won’t you be going back home?” the man asked with a furrowed brow. “He said I was to sell the team and wagon and give you the money. It should fetch more than enough for a train ticket plus a little over.”

  She stared at him blankly for a moment then scoffed and shook her head. “I have nothing to go back to.”

  The man continued to stare at her for a long second as if trying to discover something. At last, he sighed heavily and said, “There is another option.”

  Jenny pulled her mind back to the present as she gave him a questioning look. What options. There were none. She had gambled everything on Nathanial.

  Reaching into his shirt pocket, Mr. Tanner pulled out a folded piece of paper. The back smudged with a long red streak that looked like blood.

  “Parker said that he would leave us his place on the condition we marry.”

  “What!” she exclaimed as she pulled further away from him. He held out the paper for her. Taking a deep breath she slowly unfolded it. It was Nathanial’s handwriting that was instantly obvious.

  I Nathanial Parker leave my spread to Jack Tanner and Miss Jennifer O’Neil on the condition they marry before taking it on. Otherwise, the goverment can have it back.

  Nate Parker

  That was so Nathanial. His misspelling of the word government was typical. But how? What did it all mean? And this man. A man she didn’t know. Why did the idea of marrying him send a fluttery feeling through her insides? As if a hundred hummingbirds had taken up residence.

  “Surely he wasn’t serious,” she mumbled, more to herself than to the man next to her.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I do believe he was very serious.”

  Jenny studied the man across from her. What kind of man was he? And why was she even thinking of going through with this?

  “Tell me your thoughts on the matter, Mr. Tanner.”

  He frowned for a moment then stared off into the far distance. “I admit, I had no plans of going through with his proposal. But … I don’t know. It is a nice spread.”

  Jenny winced inside. That was what it was for this man. An opportunity to gain a piece of land. Nothing more.

  “And you would be willing to take on a wife for this … spread?”

  He nodded solemnly, “I think I would,” he said. Then looking at her closely he added, “For the right wife.”

  Her cheeks grew warm under his gaze. She had seen that look in a great many men. That hungry look. But unlike the others, this man’s obvious desires didn’t frighten her. Instead, they lit a small fire deep down.

  “And we would marry today?” she asked. “But I don’t really know what type of man you are, Mr. Tanner. It is asking a lot.”

  The big cowboy nodded slowly. “Yes, Ma’am. I understand. It would be a bit much. There is not much to tell. I’m a good man with either a horse or a double jack. I’ve traveled over most of the western states and I can tell you that there is nothing prettier than Parker’s Lonesome Valley.”

  She continued to frown. It had not exactly been the answer she had hoped for.

  Obviously seeing her disappointment, he turned the hat in his hand then looked her directly in the eye and said, “I can promise you, Miss O’Neil, that I will never cause you harm. At least not on purpose.”

  Jenny bit the inside of her lip. A more unromantic sentence had never been uttered, she thought. But really, he could not be faulted. He had tried to reassure her.

  Wringing her hands in her lap, she looked up into his eyes and tried to come to a decision. Should she do this? Marry a man she didn’t know. Hadn’t that been what she had planned with Nathanial? Was this any different?

  Yet, her racing heart told her that it was different. This man was different and she knew in the pit of her stomach that she was risking her very heart.

  “Very well, Mr. Tanner. I agree to marry you.”

  He didn’t smile, he simply nodded as if they had struck a business deal.

  “I must warn you though,” she quickly added. “I was not raised on a farm. You will need to show me what I must know. But I am a hard worker and I learn fast.”

  A new nervousness filled her. What if he changed his mind?

  “Can you cook?”

  She nodded quickly. That was one thing her mother had insisted she know how to do.

  “Biscuits?”

  Jenny frowned then nodded. “Of course.”

  His shoulders slumped with relief. “In that case Miss O’Neil. I am sure we will get along nicely.”

  That was it she realized. She had lost one betrothed and obtained another in a few minutes. She was to be Mrs. Jack Tanner. All because she could cook biscuits.

  Lonesome Valley Bride