“Thank you, again,” I said.
“For what?” He asked genuinely confused.
“For being so good about all of this. You are a kind and giving husband. Now my family is coming out of the blue and you are so calm,” I said.
“Not really. I’m terribly concerned about your sister’s visit,” he said frankly.
“Really?” I asked.
“Of course,” he said. “My wife was my family. My parents are long gone and I have no brothers or sisters to introduce you to. You are my wife. Your family is my family. As far as impressions go I cannot have started on a very good foot. Your sister probably had certain expectations for your wedding. Your brother in law probably imagined he’d give you away or have a dance at your reception. They probably imagined you always living nearer. I have changed all of that.”
“For the better,” I assured him. “Rebecca will meet you and be happy you can provide for me. Michael will be pleased that you are a man’s man, but also that you do not treat me harshly despite our arrangement. Besides, advertised marriages are a modern thing and I think you and I have done well. We certainly seem content as any couple I know that courted normally.”
He gave a nod. A few moments later we were back at our own home and he was at my side to help me from the carriage.
“Continue to be the Jacob Johnson I have gotten to know and I think they will be just as pleased as I am,” I said giving him a reassuring smile.
“You’re pleased?” he asked still holding me from helping me down.
He looked into my eyes almost trying get a response from them.
“Yes,” I said keeping his gaze but separating our stance.
He put his arms to his side and smiled. Then offered me an arm as we walked into the house.
Chapter 9
A few weeks later Jacob and I stood on the same train platform I arrived on only a few months earlier. I was daydreaming about all that had happened when we heard the whistle of the train as it made its way down the tracks. We brought jerky for Michael and a specialty chocolate as a gift for Rebecca.
The moment my sister stepped off the train I felt excitement rush through me.
“Rebecca,” I called and raised my arm to get her attention.
She tapped Michael’s arm and gestured in my direction. I placed both their presents under my left arm and threaded my right through Jacob’s. He gave me a surprised smile and then turned to face my family. We met each other about halfway and exchanged hellos, introductions, and gifts.
The men carried everything to the carriage and rode in the front while Rebecca and I walked behind them and then rode in the back.
“He is quite handsome,” she said once she felt the carriage begin to move.
“That he is,” I agree honestly.
“You look well, and I believe your dress is new. Isn’t it?” She asked.
“It is, and thank you. He bought me a few things as gifts to help me feel more at home once we were married. He really is a good man. I think you will be approving once you get to know him,” I said.
“I’m sure I will. You have always had good judgement. I think more than anything I just hated that you didn’t tell me. Then, I wasn’t a part of your special day. I know mom couldn’t be there and having her around made such a difference when I first married Michael. I knew I loved him, but had no idea what I was doing as a wife,” she said.
“Well, Jacob and I have a good friendship and as a wife, I do no more than what I saw you and mother do. I do have a good amount of freedom though. The west is a far less restricting world than we grew up in, sister,” I said.
The air was clearing between us and our trip began to become a good visit quickly.
I pointed out a few sites as we made our way out of Denver. We lunched at Mrs. Goodman’s. I could tell Michael and Rebecca were pleased to meet her. Just as she did when I first met her, she sang Jacob’s praises. She told them of his work with her husband and regaled us all with stories of different experiences she and Jacob had before her husband had passed and since. By the time we parted to our home, one would have thought Rebecca and Michael were also old friends of Mrs. Goodman.
“This is our home,” Jacob said as we approached our house.
The gentlemen helped Rebecca and me from the carriage. She and Michael took in the property before them and seemed pleased. I gave them the tour of the house and then Jacob and Michael put the horse away and toured the property. I helped Rebecca settle their belongings.
We moved to the kitchen and talked as I prepared dinner. We could hear the men laughing loudly at something outside.
“You, really do seem happy here. I can easily see why,” Rebecca said.
“I am,” I replied.
I was kneading dough to cut biscuits. She peeled a few potatoes. A ham was baking.
“You two seem a very good match,” she continued.
“Thank you,” I said. “I don’t know that I could have married better if I had actually tried.”
“Do you love him?” she asked.
“We just have an agreement,” I said cutting the biscuits.
She gave me a long look, then nodded. She excused herself to lie down. The day had been a bit exhausting and she wanted a small rest before dinner. I continued cooking and called the men to wash up just as everything was ready. I called up the stairs to Rebecca once the table was set.
Once we were all seated. Jacob led grace. The season was changing and it was getting cooler; after dinner Jacob prepared a fire in the fireplace. Michael moved to sit closer to Rebecca and they shared a smile between them.
“We actually had another reason for coming,” my sister said.
Jacob came to stand beside the chair I was sitting in.
“Oh, dear, is there bad news,” I asked.
“Oh, no, of course not,” Michael reassured me quickly. “In fact, I think we have the best news of all.”
I looked back and forth between the two of them. Then, the realization washed over me and they both smiled and started nodding rapidly. My sister and I stood, hugging, screaming, and laughing with joy.
“Well I’m out of the house, but a few months and it looks like you got to work,” I teased Michael.
Jacob stepped forward and Rebecca let him in on the joke.
“We are having a baby,” she exclaimed excitedly. “After trying and trying I’ll be a mother!”
“And such a good mother,” I added. “Michael, you will make the most wonderful father.”
“Congratulations to you both,” Jacob said shaking Michael’s hand. He looked most shocked when my sister threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
“I am happy that our family is growing all around. You are part of this family, too, Uncle Jacob,” she teased.
We talked into the night with the excitement of all the changes that had occurred. In fact, the rest of their week-long visit was nothing but smiles with the exception of some mild morning sickness my sister had. Mrs. Goodman insisted that my sister keep correspondence with her as well and asked if the baby could call her Nana. Michael’s parents were still alive, but a bit more solemn in personality than Mrs. Goodman. He and Rebecca welcomed the friendliness of our dear neighbor.
When they returned to Kansas it was hard to tell who would miss whom more.
As Jacob and I drove home from the station we talked about the joy they would experience with a child to complete their family. I found myself thinking about the kind of father he could be someday. I knew he would be a good father if given the opportunity.
Did our agreement have such opportunity?
Chapter 10
We survived the cold of the holiday season and spent a great deal of time with Mrs. Goodman. In fact, we welcomed 1875 at her home. Prudence and Robert had the night off and had gone to a party with a few other service workers. We did not expect them to return and decided to stay the night at Mrs. Goodman’s.
At midnight, she kissed each of our cheeks and insis
ted we dance while she played piano. It was quite a time for only three people. She went to bed around one o’clock.
Jacob and I sat up together a little longer and watch the fire die out. Then, he walked me to the room I first stayed in when I arrived to Colorado. He kissed my forehead and went down the hall to rest on the couch in the study.
I looked forward to the New Year.
There were little touches of my own throughout our house now and Jacob and I had a routine that could have been enviable to any marriage. We had breakfast and dinner together every day. Sometimes I would ride to the site he was working and we would share a picnic lunch. Mrs. Goodman and I would visit town together once a week. The three of us always had Saturday lunch at our house and Sunday dinner at hers.
I rode so often that new trails were taking shape around our property and the Goodman house. There were all sorts of interesting things to collect and I painted pictures of things that were too large to keep. I could not ask for more.
Jacob had even begun seeing results in one of the new caverns he was exploring. He came home regularly with a few grams to an ounce of silver.
We made it through spring with a nice garden, new animals, and letters of good progress on my sister’s pregnancy. She was due at the end of June and Jacob had arranged for me to spend six weeks to help her recover and care for the baby.
Our niece, Gillian, was born July 20th and healthy active baby from her first breath. I enjoyed my time with my sister’s family and the new little one, but I had the strangest aching feeling the entire time I was gone.
Chapter 11
As I rode the Kansas pacific one more time from Kansas City, Missouri to Denver the ache gave way to excitement. I realized I missed my husband. In fact, I longed for him. In his absence, I learned that I had fallen in love with him, but fate’s cruel hand was at work again. It was late July and summer rains were heavy. All commuters to Denver were put off the train one stop early in Strasburg. Cherry Creek had risen and the train could not reach Denver.
I paid a carriage driver extra to see me to Denver to find that Jacob was not home when I arrived the evening of the 25th. I readied my horse and rode the mile or so to Mrs. Goodman’s.
She was pleased to see me, but we were both concerned about Jacob. Cherry Creek was not far from where he was mining silver when I left. I told her I would check in on her during the day.
I rode fiercely under moonlight peeking through rain to find that Jacob had moved on to a new site in the month I was away. I continued, calling his name between breaks of thunder until I came upon his horse and work cart.
I could see the horse was distressed. I dismounted and tied my horse near his and gave a quick pat to his haunches to soothe him and reassure him he was safe. I was there.
Jacob was nowhere in sight and I couldn’t see light from the cave for him to be sheltered there. I ran to the mouth of the cavern and shouted his name once more. I was drowned out by the thunder, I moved in a little further and shouted once more with all the volume I could manage.
I waited and listened. Nothing.
I couldn’t give up. I moved in further following the marks that Jacob had made for the path he was taking. I was trudging through nearly a foot of water that seemed to be getting deeper as I moved into the cave. I caught myself just before a drop off of about a dozen feet.
Jacob laid on a large rock, soaked and unconscious.
“Jacob!” I screamed.
Tears were coming now. I was sure he was dead. I sunk to my knees sobbing and wailing loudly.
“Lillian? Lillian is that you, can you hear me?” Jacob called.
“Yes,” I yelled wiping tears away.
“Lillian, my leg is broken. The storm isn’t stopping. You need to get out of here and go home where it is safe,” he called.
“Not without you,” I replied.
He insisted, but I told him there was no time for this back and forth.
“You promised me what I want and I want you! Now how do I get you out of here?” I asked desperately.
“I have rope here, but it’s no good. There should be more with my horse. If you can lead the horses into the cave I can tie myself with the new rope and they can raise me out.
“Okay, I’ll get the horses and come right back,” I said.
I ran to the horses, but they pulled against me as I tried to lead them into the cave. I pulled their bridals so they could both really look at me. Without another word or whinny, they followed me in. they hesitated only a moment when a rush of water came in making it rise around our legs. We heard Jacob call and all felt a surge of purpose.
I tied the rope to one saddle, sent it down to Jacob for him to rig support as best as he could then he sent back the other end to be tied to the second horse. Once he was back to the higher ground I did my best to care for his leg and bind it.
The horses were calmer having Jacob back and we all passed the night in the entrance of the cave. In the morning, the rain had stopped, but the area had taken significant damage. Luckily, Jacob’s leg was the worst of what we encountered.
Weeks later, Jacob was still on bed rest as his leg healed. I brought breakfast to his room and opened his curtains.
I was happy to be starting a new day with my husband. I loved the life I had chosen.
Epilogue
After a few months, Jacob was fully recovered and our bond had grown stronger than ever. We made the decision to have a child of our own and six months later, I had become pregnant.
As my stomach grew in size, I often pondered that day when I first set out to come West. Although it was my hope, I only half-heartedly expected to find true love and a new family. I still do miss seeing my sister and Michael on a daily basis, but I firmly believe that responding to that ad was the greatest decision I have ever made.
THE END
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The Unwelcome Bride: Chapter 1
The sun was at its highest point as Adam Richards sat down to rest. He was drenched in sweat. He leaned against an ancient tree as he pulled the rim of his hat over his eyes, preparing himself for a quick nap.
He had worked hard all morning, but now all the horses were fed, their water was fresh, and their pen was clean. It was hard work breeding horses for a living, but Adam loved it. Recently, he had moved to Texas from Pennsylvania to follow his dream. Adam had loved horses for as long as he could remember. They were his favorite animal and having his own herd of horses was like a dream come true. Now he was known for the best-tamed broncos in the state.
This reputation, however, only came with hard work. It was not easy taming broncos. They were dangerous animals capable of killing a man in an instant with their powerful legs. Still, Adam didn’t mind the risk. He loved working with the beautiful beasts, and that’s all that mattered to him. In all honesty, Adam adored his work and he treasured the rush of adrenaline he felt whenever he approached a wild bronco.
Most of all, Adam loved the satisfaction he got whenever he succeeded in climbing onto a bronco’s back, the culmination of achievement for a bronco tamer. Adam would feel a surge of pride course through his body when this happened. The feeling was like none other. It was what he lived for.
But today he would dance with death. He had a new bronco to tame. This horse was beautiful, with a silky brown and white coat, but with a wild look in his eyes. This beast would be a challenge. But Adam had never failed at taming a horse before.
Eventually, Adam woke up and stretched. His nap had been short, but it was all he needed to rest his body. As he stretched he loo
ked at his horses. There was a larger pen where he kept his tamed horses and to the side, separate from all the other horses, was the bronco. The horse looked regal as he pranced around his pen. Adam watched as the horse kept his head held high, displaying a strong spirit. That spirit would be hard to break, but Adam was ready for the challenge.
With an air of confidence, Adam approached the horse. The bronco snorted angrily and pawed at the ground when Adam entered the pen. The bronco felt threatened by Adam’s presence. The horse was defending its territory and Adam needed to proceed with caution.
Adam moved further into the pen. He hugged the fence, knowing that the horse could charge at any moment. However, as he circled around the perimeter the bronco never attacked him. Instead, the horse eyed him suspiciously, keeping his eyes locked on the intruder. Adam took this to be a good sign.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sugar cube before reaching out his hand and offering it to the horse. Adam watched as the horse’s nostrils moved, sniffing the air, smelling the sugar. The horse took a tentative step toward Adam. The beast’s muscles rippled under his skin with his movement and Adam knew he had to be careful. If the horse decided to attack, then Adam would be in trouble. One kick to the chest was all it would take to kill him.
As Adam continued to reach out his hand, the horse took another step. Adam smiled, thinking maybe the horse would be easier to tame than he originally thought. Feeling confident, Adam took a step forward. Suddenly, however, the horse reacted, charging forward, ramming Adam into the fence. Luckily Adam was able to jump over the fence and escape before the horse could do any serious damage.
Adam sighed as he looked at the horse who was now trotting to the other side of the enclosure. This would be a hard one.
And, in fact, he was. For the rest of the day, Adam worked at the bronco, trying to get closer to the horse, to no avail. As dusk approached, Adam had made no progress. The only thing he had managed to do was name the horse Charger.
AFRICAN AMERICAN URBAN FICTION: BWWM ROMANCE: Billionaire Baby Daddy (Billionaire Secret Baby Pregnancy Romance) (Multicultural & Interracial Romance Short Stories) Page 69