Emily: Army Mail Order Bride

by Mercy Levy

  Before Steven could answer Rose, the stranger walked into the dining room. Keeping his eyes downcast, he walked to a table on the far side of the room and sat down facing Steven. Reaching into his coat pocket, the man pulled out a deck of cards and began shuffling them. “Stormy night,” he said just loud enough for his voice to carry across the dining room.

  “I reckon it is. Two men have been found shot to death in the livery stable. Sheriff Tracy will be along in a few minutes. He'll want to talk with you,” Steven answered back in a firm voice.

  The man simply nodded his head and said no more. Rose began to speak when a tall, grizzly bear, of a man, walked into the dining room carrying a rifle.

  “Mr. Landon,” Steven said surprised. Rising to his feet, he grabbed his hat.

  Rose stared at the large man. Something about the man's face seemed awfully familiar. She studied his thick gray hair that stuck out of the bottom of his hat and bushy gray beard, but she couldn’t quite see his eyes.

  “I came into town to send you back to the ranch. I can wait for the telegram. The sheriff told me about the murders,” Simon Landon told Steven, glancing at the stranger. “Hello, Nathan.”

  The stranger called Nathan stopped shuffling the cards in his hand. “Long time, Simon,” he said in a low voice.

  “You know that man?” Steven asked Simon.

  “Storm blew in a bad critter,” Simon told Steven and turned his attention to Rose. “And who might you be?” he asked in a firm but polite voice. This man was clearly used to giving orders.

  “Rose Watson,” she answered. Slowly standing up, she stared at Simon with curious eyes. Even though the man didn't speak with a clear southern drawl she thought she detected traces of a Savannah accent. Perhaps she was just wishing it to be so.

  “Pretty name for a pretty lady,” Nathan said loud enough for them all to hear.

  Rose shivered involuntarily and took a step toward Steven.

  “What are you doing here, Nathan?” Simon asked, with more than a hint of irritation in his voice. Gripping the rifle in his hand, he waited for Nathan to go for his gun. Instead, Nathan began shuffling the cards in his hands once more.

  “Boss,” Steven began to speak but paused. Looking at Rose, he saw pain and fear in the woman's eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Sir, where are you from?” Rose asked Simon as tears began to glisten in her eyes. “I thought I detected an accent. Are you from the south? You match the age that my daddy would be,” she rambled.

  Simon kept his eyes on Nathan. “Little lady, I don't know what you're talking about,” he replied in a tone that struck Rose in her heart. “I ain't anyone's daddy.”

  Unable to control her tears, Rose ran out of the dining room. Steven, torn between his loyalty to Simon and his desire to chase after Rose, hesitated for a few seconds. Finally, his heart won out and he ran out of the dining room. Finding Rose crying at the front desk, he eased his way over to her. “Rose, are you okay?”

  Rose raised her eyes and looked at Steven. With tears streaming down her soft, pink cheeks, she shook her head. “I know that man is my daddy, I felt it.”

  Stepping closer to Rose, Steven began to wonder if his boss was the woman's Pa. After all, Simon Landon was a mystery to most people. The most anyone knew about the man was that he had come to Montana from the east. But a lot of folks came to from the east, seeking a new life in the west.

  “And the worst part is, I went against my mother's wishes. Oh, mother was right. I should have listened to her,” Rose cried. “But I so dearly wanted to find my daddy.”

  Steven watched Rose wipe away her tears. “Rose, I wish there was something I could do or say to make you feel better,” he said awkwardly.

  “I suppose I'll go back to St. Louis and marry a man I don't love and grow old attending boring gatherings, pretending that I'm more worthy than everyone else simply because my husband is a wealthy banker,” she told Steven sadly. Then, without understanding why, she asked Steven, “What is love?”

  All the color in Steven's face drained. “What?” he looked as if someone had pulled a gun on him.

  “What is love?” Rose asked in a soft tone as her tears continued to fall.

  “I reckon love is something the Good Lord gives us when we are meant to be with one person forever. I think.” Steven fumbled for a good answer.

  Rose stared at Steven. It was obvious a man like Steven understood the depth and secret of love whereas her soon-to-be husband knew nothing of the word.

  “Yes,” she answered, “love comes from God. But why do we deny such love and settle for wealth and status Are they really an adequate substitute?”

  Hearing the lobby door open, Steven watched Sheriff Tracy burst in and slam the door shut behind him. Rose was expecting the sheriff to be a man quite like Simon Landon. She was shocked to see a small man well into his seventies enter the lobby wearing a thick brown coat and brown hat. His face showed the years he had spent keeping order and seeing the worst of humanity. “Simon around?” he asked.

  Rose watched Sheriff Tracy shake the snow off his coat and look at her. “In the dining room. Some man named Nathan is in there with him,” Steven answered Sheriff Tracy.

  “Nathan?” Sheriff Tracy said and then felt panic grip his chest. “Nathan Bedford?”

  Steven felt the color drain from his face again. “Yeah, of course. I knew I heard that name somewhere before.”

  “Who is Nathan Bedford?” Rose asked alarmed.

  “Nathan Bedford is a hired assassin,” Sheriff Tracy informed Rose. “The man is also Simon Landon's half-brother. I better get in there.”

  Rose watched Sheriff Tracy rush into the dining room. Suddenly a long-forgotten memory tried to struggle into her conscious thoughts. Desperately trying to make sense of the memory, she closed her eyes. When she felt Steven touch her shoulder, she opened her eyes and looked up.

  “Are you okay?” he asked for what seemed like the tenth time that evening.

  “No, I'm not okay,” Rose answered and began to cry. Unable to hold back any longer, Steven gently wrapped his arms around Rose and pulled her to his chest. Rose didn't fight, instead, she allowed herself to be held and comforted as her heart poured painful tears.

  *

  Rose watched Sheriff Tracy lean against the front desk in the lobby. Carefully watching Nathan Bedford, he took care to make sure he could reach the gun sitting on his hip of the need arose. “This storm has us locked in,” he spoke. “Jacob, is your wife upstairs?”

  Jacob nodded his head. “Locked in her room with orders to open the door to no one but me or you.”

  “So that leaves the young lady here, yourself, Steven, Simon, myself and him,” Sheriff Tracy said the last word like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

  “Folks, we're going to stand right here in this lobby until day break. No one leaves, is that clear? Two men have been shot dead and I intend to find the killer,” the sheriff announced.

  Rose saw Nathan grin under his black hat. “Awful night,” he said in his slithery voice.

  “Shut up,” Simon snapped. “You may be fast on the draw, but you ain't nothing but a coward when it comes to bare fists.”

  Nathan stopped grinning. “I've come here to settle an old score, Simon. It seems like luck has handed me a good draw.” Nathan glanced at Rose. “I suggest you hold your tongue.”

  Steven noticed the way Nathan looked at Rose and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He instinctively moved to her side and rested his large hand on his holstered gun. He glared at Nathan but the man simply smiled in return. Steven started to draw his weapon.

  “Enough,” the sheriff barked. “Everyone take their hands off of their weapons and shut their mouths.”

  Steven stared hard at Nathan, but did as he was told. Everyone else followed suit and the tension in the room cleared just a little. Nathan walked back into the dining room. Sheriff Tracy followed him and stood in the doorway to watch Nathan sit down at a table a
nd begin shuffling cards once again.

  He nodded at Jacob to stand watch for him and then returned back to Simon. “Everyone needs to have sharp eyes tonight. I want that man out of my town as soon as the storm quits its blustering out there. Keep your guns handy boys in case we need them. We have women to defend here,” the sheriff said.

  Simon picked up his rifle and then walked over to the fireplace. “He killed those two men, I’d bet my land on it,” he said staring into the fire.

  “I’d back that bet,” Steven said, resting his hand on his gun once more.

  Sheriff Tracy had relieved Nathan of his gun and placed it behind the front desk. “Doc Dalton has to dig the bullets out them. Until then, I have nothing to go on but suspicion. It's better to hold him here under guard. I have Old Gary and Melton over at the jail, drunker than a skunk. I sure can't lock a hired killer in with them.”

  Rose stepped closer to Steven. “Aren’t you afraid of that man? I mean to hear it told, he’s a horrible person. And a murderer,” she said, her eyes wide. “Why would you antagonize him?”

  Steven looked Rose in the eye. “I didn’t like the way he was looking at you,” he said, protectively. A few hours in a hotel lobby with this woman and he was already to defend her honor. “Any man who hides behinds his guns and threatens women, isn’t a man to be frightened of. He’s a man to run out of town.”

  Rose laid a delicate hand on Steven’s muscular arm. “You’re my hero,” she said, smiling brightly up at him.

  Steven blushed. “I'm not a hero. I'm just a hired cowhand,” he said, trying to brush off the complement.

  Rose listened to Steven and shook her head. Keeping her hand on his arm, she smiled. “I know a man who went to college, speaks without any grammatical error, wears expensive suits, eats the finest foods and smokes the finest cigars. Yet, he is a coward and never would have defended me so. It matters not your station in life or your career, it matters what’s in your heart. You, Steven, have a good heart.”

  Simon glanced over his shoulder at Rose. He watched as she took her hand away from Steven's arm. “My hero,” he heard her say to Steven, “is a man whose heart is honest and brave.”

  Simon looked back into the fire. Listening to the pine wood pop and sizzle, he thought about Betty Watson and their daughter. He glanced at his half-brother and knew he would have to keep his mouth shut for a while longer.

  “Jacob,” he called out, “I'll stand first watch. You go upstairs to your wife and get some rest.”

  “Is that okay, Sheriff?” Jacob asked.

  Sheriff Tracy nodded his head. Taking a pouch of tobacco out of his coat pocket, he began to roll himself a cigarette. “Yeah, go upstairs and settle down. We've got it covered down here.”

  Jacob walked over to Rose and put his hand on her shoulder. “Upstairs, room three, if trouble starts. Do you hear me?”

  Rose reached out and hugged Jacob. “Thank you.”

  “I'll be praying,” Jacob whispered into Rose's ear and hurried upstairs.

  Walking away from the fireplace, Simon went to the dining room door and spotted Nathan shuffling cards. “You gave up your guns mighty easy,” he said.

  Nathan grinned. “Storm brings in awful things, doesn't it Simon? But don't worry, when this storm ends, the score will be settled.”

  “What is that awful man talking about?” Rose asked Steven.

  Steven could only shrug his shoulders. “I don't know. Boss, is there anything we should know?” he dared to ask.

  “If you value your job, don't ask me any questions,” Simon barked at Steven, which was out of character for the man to do. Simon respected Steven and considered him his top hand.

  “Yes, boss,” Steven answered and looked at Rose. He eyes told her that something was horribly wrong. “Sheriff, will it be alright if me and Rose go into the kitchen and make some coffee? Gonna be a long night and a mighty cold one at that.”

  “Good idea,” Sheriff Tracy agreed. “And that fireplace ain't gonna keep alive by itself. Sooner or later one of us is going to have to go out back and fetch some wood.”

  “Sooner or later,” Nathan grinned and continued shuffling his cards.

  Chapter 3

  Love and Danger

  Rose watched Steven put a gray teapot down onto a black wood stove sitting in the corner of a small but cozy kitchen. “Thank you,” she told Steven in a tired voice. “I have always liked hot honey water.”

  Steven watched Rose sit down at a round wooden table covered with a white tablecloth. “I'm glad Jacob's wife had some honey in here. Water shouldn't take too long to boil.”

  Rose grew silent. Outside, the blizzard continued to punish the town. She shivered. “That awful man,” she began with a shudder.

  “Now don't you go worrying about him,” Steven told Rose. Walking to the kitchen table, he sat down across from her. Knowing that Rose needed to be distracted from her worries, Steven decided to begin asking a few questions. “What is St. Louis like? I've never been there.”

  Rose stared across the table into Steven's face. The way Steven was looking at her made her feel beautiful and safe. “I have never liked St. Louis,” she admitted in a low whisper. “I was young when my mother and I left Savannah and honestly, I don't really know where to call home.”

  Captivated by Rose's glowing beauty Steven felt as if he were somehow in another world, speaking with a woman only his deepest dreams could see. “I felt that way for a while myself,” he admitted. “But when I ended up here in Snow Valley, I reckon I just kinda settled into the land.”

  “I hope one day to find the place I feel truly settled,” Rose said and smiled at Steven. “Maybe you can show me around when the storm ends? I'm sure there are many beautiful places to see.”

  “Hey now,” Steven beamed, “that's a mighty fine idea. I know of some really nice spots that might impress you. I mean, not that you seem the sort that needs to be impressed,” he quickly stated, not wanting to make her sound like a spoiled princess.

  Rose laughed and reached across the table to lightly touch his hand. “Thank you Steven. You might be the only person in my life who hasn’t treated me like a porcelain doll. You’re right, I don’t need to be impressed. Money and possessions have never been things I have needed to be happy. Honestly, most of the people I know with money, my own dear mother included, are miserable. Always chasing after material things instead of enjoying the wonders the Lord has laid out before them.”

  “What does it help a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul,” Steven whispered a Bible verse to himself. Looking up into Rose's warm eyes, he smiled.

  “Exactly!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands. “That is one of my favorite passages. Growing up as I did, with want for nothing, I clung to that principal to keep me close to Jesus. My relationship with him changed my heart.”

  “Jesus changed my heart, too,” Steven smiled. “I met Jesus right here in Snow Valley. Jacob introduced me to Him. He's what I call a silent preacher. I sure wish that man would get up on a pulpit.”

  “When God calls him,” Rose assured Steven. Hearing the teapot begin to squeal, she stood up. “You stay seated. I'll fix us both some honey water.”

  Steven watched Rose almost float across the kitchen, fetch two brown coffee mugs, and begin preparing the honey water. As he watched her, something deep in his heart began to tug at him. He heard a small voice in his heart tell him he was meant to love Rose. But how? He was only a cowhand that could barely read. Rose was an educated, incredible, beautiful, and amazing woman. Despite what she had said about not placing value in money and possessions, could he possibly be good enough for her?

  “Careful, it’s hot,” Rose warned Steven sitting the brown coffee cup down in front of him. Retaking her seat, she carefully sipped her honey water. “Very nice,” she smiled.

  Steven took a sip of his honey water. “Hey, that's good,” he said and took another sip. “I've never had hot honey water before. Is this some kind of drin
k they serve in St. Louis?”

  “No,” Rose said and then became very sad. “My daddy used to drink hot honey water. I remember that from when I was a child. It’s one of the only things I remember about him.”

  “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you,” Steven said.

  “It's not your fault. You didn't walk out on your daughter,” Rose sighed. “My father left when I was very young. One day he vanished into thin air, leaving my mother and me all alone. My mother has never forgiven him for deserting us.”

  Steven leaned back in his chair. “It just doesn't make sense. I've known Simon for a few years now. He's a good man. It just doesn't seem fitting that he would up and leave his family without cause. Why are you so sure he’s your Pa?”

  “I can’t explain it,” she said. It’s just something I feel. But my mother told me my father wanted to know me and Simon clearly wants nothing to do with me. Maybe I’m just crazy. Or seeing things I want to see because I’m desperate to know him and know why he left.” She shook her head and the tears came again to her eyes. “I just don’t want to be alone.”

  “You're not alone. You have your mother back in St. Louis and that fella you're going to marry,” Steven answered, the words bitter on his tongue.

  Rose wiped her tears away. “I love my mother, but her heart is guarded, and the man I'm agreed to marry, I don't love him. I agreed to marriage because I’m a dutiful daughter. Well at least I was a dutiful daughter. When I return to St. Louis, I may return to my mother and a future husband, but I will still be very much alone.”

  “Then why go back?” Steven suddenly asked Rose. “You're a grown woman. You can go anywhere and meet all sorts of folk.”

  “I wish I were that adventurous,” Rose stated. “This journey alone nearly scared the wits out of me, but I was determined to meet my father. All I truly want is to settle into a warm home and have a family of my own. I would be plenty happy spending my days tending my children and a man that I loved.”

  "That doesn't sound so bad," Steven told her.

  “You could travel, as well, yet you remain in Snow Valley. There must be something in this place that touches your heart,” Rose said to him.