by Jill Maguire
“I was just passing by on my way to the garden. I think that would be the perfect spot for our discussion.”
Virginia nodded and followed. This was not a conversation she was looking forward to.
Once they were settled, the old nun sighed heavily. “I do believe this is the most beautiful spot on earth. It is certainly a good place to calm a restless spirit and clear a troubled heart.”
Virginia smiled. There wasn’t a shred of doubt in her mind that Mother Superior knew how difficult this decision had been for her.
“Yes, it is. I have come here often in the past weeks to do just that.”
“And have you found your answers?”
Virginia nodded. “I have. You know how much I love it here, and how grateful I am for all that you’ve done for me. This place, you, the other sisters, and the children have been my family.” She paused.
“But?”
“But I have decided not to take my vows. I know in my heart that God wants something else for me.”
Mother Superior nodded. “I thought that would be your decision. And I assume you have asked the Lord’s guidance on this matter?”
“Many times.”
“And you’re sure.”
“I am.”
“And so what is your plan?”
Now came the hard part. Now she had to tell the secret she had been guarding for some time. Virginia took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“I have to confess that I have been rather secretive with my plans. I wanted to be sure that everything was working out before I said anything definite. But things have fallen into place perfectly and I’m happy to report that I am leaving this wonderful place to take up residence in Loring, Texas. I am travelling west to marry a wonderful man who is need of a wife.”
Mother Superior raised her brow. “A mail order bride?”
Virginia nodded. “I’ve been writing to him for some time. He is the Sherriff in Loring, Texas. He owns his own homestead, attends church regularly and wants to put down roots and raise a family. He is kind and caring, and has sent me generous funds to provide for my comfortable passage.”
“You sound very happy and very certain that this is what you want.”
“I am. And it is. I hope I can go with your blessing. It’s very important to me.”
Mother Superior reached across the bench and squeezed her hand. “Of course you have my blessing, and I will pray for your safe journey and happy life.”
“Thank you,” Virginia whispered, “For everything.”
The two women walked in comfortable silence back to join the others for Sunday services.
“Will you allow me to make an announcement at the end of worship today?”
“Absolutely. Now that I’ve told you, I want everyone to know. I want to share my happiness.”
Once the announcement was made, Virginia’s heart felt lighter than it had been in some time. It was good to share her future plans with those she loved. Everyone wished her well and all of the children complained about how much they were going to miss her. With many a promise made to keep in touch with everyone, Virginia retreated to her room to write her final letter to Fletcher Clark. In just a few weeks now, she would be standing with him at the altar.
That night, for the first time in a long time, Virginia slept without having the dream. Perhaps it was the contented state of her mind, or perhaps it was the anticipation of her upcoming adventure that drove it away. Whatever the reason, she was thankful.
Chapter Two
Fletcher Clarke tugged the ratty old bandana from his pocket and wiped his face.
“Jiminy,” he croaked, his throat dry. “It’s hotter ‘n blazes out here today.” His grumpy tirade melted away as he looked at the house which now stood completed. It had taken every penny he could save, and every spare minute he could find, but it was done. This is the home that he would share with his soon to be bride.
“Looking good, Fletcher. Looking good!” Fletcher smiled at his good friend Morgan Trent.
“Thanks, Morgan. I think it’s safe to call it finished. Just a few more nails and we’re done! I can’t thank you enough for all of your help. If it weren’t for you, I’d likely be bringing my new bride home to my room behind the jailhouse.”
Morgan laughed, the bellowing sound chasing two ground birds into a frenzied take off. “You might just be right about that.”
“All it needs now is a woman’s touch on the inside, and maybe a flower garden or two around the place.”
“You’re marrying a southern gal, my friend. You’d best be figuring out how to plant yourself a big ole magnolia tree and making it bloom.”
Fletcher scratched his forehead and frowned. “Well I doubt I’m going be able to make that happen. Do you suppose I could sway her over to some wild roses? They grow pretty easy in these parts.”
The men laughed in unison this time, knowing full well that gardening of any kind was going to be left up to the new woman of the house.
Changing the subject, Morgan’s expression turned serious. “Is everything still going according to plan? She hasn’t changed her mind on you has she?”
Fletcher shook his head and smiled. “Nope. I have won her over with my tender words and charm, and she will be arriving in just a few weeks.”
”Good to hear,” Morgan said slapping his friend on the back. “Can’t wait to meet her. ‘Bout time our local Sherriff settled down. Town was starting to buzz some about you leaving for points farther west, but since you started building this place, the rumors have died down. You’ve been good for this town, Fletcher. It needs you.”
Fletcher shrugged. “I suppose so. But sometimes I still wonder how I let you all convince me to stay!”
“It was simple. We used our charm and tender words.”
Laughing loudly, the two men returned to their work, and for a time the only sounds that disturbed the peaceful countryside was the echo of their hammers. Eventually Morgan stepped back to survey their progress.
“I think we’re done,” he said, nodding his head vigorously. Mopping his face once again, Fletcher joined him and nodded just as enthusiastically.
“Yep. I’m just going tidy up a bit, and call it a day. Why don’t you head on home to that pretty little wife of yours and have some fun? Tell her I’m mighty grateful for her letting you spend so much time out here. First thing once I’m married, we’ll have you over for supper.”
Morgan stretched his tall frame and smiled. “You got yourself a deal. Kate’s going to love having a friend.”
Later, as the sun set turned the Texas sky into a painting of red and gold, Fletcher sat alone and reflected on how he had arrived at this point.
It hadn’t been his intention to stay in Texas. He was supposed to be just passing through. But he couldn’t just turn his back on a town full of people who had no kind of law and was being perpetually hassled by outlaws, robbers and thieves.
On the particular day that he had stopped, three masked gunmen had entered the bank and demanded money at gunpoint. Then, not happy enough with their takings, they had continued to shoot up the saloon and were on their way to clearing out the mercantile when Fletcher stepped in.
Although they outnumbered him three to one, they were small men compared to Fletcher’s six foot four, two hundred pound frame, and they were lousy shots to boot. Fletcher, on the other hand, was an excellent shot, and it didn’t take much to run the no goods out of town empty handed.
But it would only be a matter of time until they returned. Fletcher tried to convince the townsfolk to take action, but no one wanted to volunteer. And so he had stayed.
It hadn’t taken a lot to convince him, really. He had been on the move for some time, trying to find a place to settle down. Back when he first set out, he was heading for California and the promise of gold, but somewhere along the way he had grown tired of that dream.
Loring, Texas held no promise of riches, but he had grown to love the people and the way of life. His
intention was to start a ranch, raise a few cattle and earn an honest living with his own hands and hard work. And that was still his plan, although now he was also the town Sherriff. Now he was going to try and do both.
He was well on his way, having secured his land claim and built his house. He would hire a ranch hand to watch over things whenever he had to be in town. The one and only thing that he hadn’t been able to find was a wife.
Womenfolk were scarce in these parts, except for the ones that worked in the saloon, and they weren’t the marrying kind. Fletcher knew it took the hand and the heart of a good woman to make a homestead run well. And besides, he yearned for the love and companionship that would come with marriage, not to mention young ones that would come along down the road.
And so he had set out to find himself a bride. After placing several ads in the matrimonial news, and corresponding with a handful of perspective brides, he had finally found the one.
Her name was Virginia Hollings. She was a southern girl, looking to travel west for a new life. Her letters had been well composed, thoughtful and kind. He had learned that she loved children and wanted a family, and that her faith was a very important part of her life. She was strong, he knew, because she had overcome great losses in her life and yet remained cheerful and positive.
After only the third letter, Fletcher knew he was in love. They had continued to write for several weeks and then he had sent her a train ticket and cash for her journey. She was to arrive in two weeks on the Henderson stage and he would meet her there.
At times he felt as though the day would never come, and at others he felt worried that he would never have things ready on time. But as he surveyed his new home and the rolling hills of pasture land that surrounded it, he knew he was ready. And he also knew for certain, that the next two weeks were going to crawl by.
Chapter Three
“I’m sure gonna miss you, Miss “Ginina.” Virginia smiled down into the huge sad eyes of the little boy she had come to love. He’d been dropped off at the orphanage with only a short letter that gave his first name as Thomas but no last name. One day, out of the blue, he announced to everyone that his name was John. No one ever discovered where he got the idea from, but being as they didn’t really know his name, everyone just started calling him Thomas John. Eventually it became shortened to TJ and that’s what he’d been called ever since.
Now Virginia pulled him into a tight hug, her own eyes brimming with tears. “I know, TJ. I’m really going to miss you too. I’m going to miss all of you,” she whispered, her eyes scanning the group of children who had come to see her off.
Suddenly she was swamped in a flood of chubby little arms and tear stained faces. The older children, a little more reserved than the younger ones, stood off to the side, looking just as bleary eyed.
“Now, now,” Mother Superior said stepping into the fray and disengaging the youngsters from Virginia’s skirts. “We are here to wish Virginia well on her way to a new life. It’s not a time to be sad and gloomy. How about you all give her a big smile that she can remember each of you by.”
Straightening up, Virginia smiled and walked over to the woman who had been the only mother she had known for most of her life.
“Thank you for everything.” They seemed like small words compared to the huge amount of love and gratitude that she held in her heart.
Mother Superior smiled, and drew her into a warm hug. “It has been my pleasure,” she said. “God be with you now as you head out into the world. We’ll miss you.”
“And I will miss all of you so much. But I promise to write and tell you everything that is going on in my life.”
The children all cheered at those words, and began chattering all together about the things they most wanted to hear. “Tell us about the horses on the ranch. Tell us about the Indians. We’ve read that there are wild Indians out west. Tell us about the wolves and mountain lions and buffalo.” The older girls smiled coyly. “And tell us about your husband and what it’s like to be married.”
Virginia laughed. “Perhaps I will have to write a novel of my adventures so that I can include all those things.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the shrill call of the train’s whistle. Mother Superior started shuffling all of the children off the platform. She took Virginia’s arm and walked with her to the steps of the train.
“Off you go, child. Safe journey.”
Virginia nodded and gave one last wave to the children, then stepped into the warm coach. She continued to watch and wave until the people she loved most in the world disappeared from sight as the train moved away. She was off. With a mixture of anticipation and dread whirling around in her head, she settled into her seat.
“That was quite a send-off. You obviously have a lot of people who love you.”
Virginia turned to the rather matronly looking woman in the seat beside her. “I really do,” she agreed. “And it’s quite hard to be leaving them.”
The old woman smiled causing an eruption of laugh lines all over her weathered face. “But at the same time you are excited to be starting off on a new adventure. Am I right?”
Virginia nodded. “I’m heading west to be married.”
“How wonderful. Am I right in assuming you are a mail order bride?”
“I am. I have met a most wonderful man from Texas. He is the sheriff in a small town there.”
The woman nodded knowingly, causing a few strands of silver hair to escape their pins. ”My daughter was also a mail order bride. She has been out west for almost a year now. She is going to have a baby very soon. In fact, I’m travelling out to be there for the big event.”
“How wonderful. And will this be your first grandchild?”
The warm laughter that answered her query filled the crowded coach, making every one turn to look at her and smile.
“Heavens no,” she continued. “This will be my eleventh! I have four children all grown up with babes of all ages. My daughter Sadie, is the first to travel away though. All of the others have stayed back east.”
“You must miss her a lot.”
“I do, but all I ever wanted for my children was their happiness, and she is quite happy. And it gives me a good reason to get out into the world a bit myself. Perhaps one day your mother will be sitting on a train just as I am today, coming to visit you.”
Virginia shook her head. “I am an orphan,” she said simply.
“I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Virginia reached over and squeezed her wrinkled hand. “You haven’t. I was very loved and well cared for in the orphanage. I have had a very happy life and am looking forward to this next step.”
The woman squeezed her hand in return. “Good for you, dear. Good for you. And does your new husband to be have family where he lives?”
Again Virginia shook her head. “In his letters he told me that he was also an orphan. We looked at that as something that we have in common.”
“Indeed it is. And you will have your own children and start a completely new generation.” She smiled knowingly and Virginia nodded, thinking of just how wonderful that concept was.
Eventually the older woman grew sleepy and they drifted off into their own thoughts as the repetitive drone of the train played out its song. To Virginia, it seemed as though the wheels were repeating a chorus of “Heading west, heading west,” over and over.
Gradually the sound lulled her to sleep and she dozed until the call of the whistle blared once again. In just another few minutes, she would meet her soon to be husband. She was so glad that he had offered to travel the extra distance to meet her at the train. Not only would it save her several hours of travel on a stuffy stage, it would also give them a bit of time alone together before they arrived in Loring.
She peered out the small window as the train slowed to a stop. Several men were standing on the platform along with a few families with children. Focusing on the men that seemed to be alone, she tried to pick t
he one she thought was Fletcher Clarke.
She knew from his letters that he was tall, slim and had dark hair and eyes. From this distance, all of the men she could see fit that description. But something drew her eyes to one man in particular. He was holding a bouquet of yellow roses, and something in her heart told her that he was the one.
Chapter Four
Fletcher gave the team one final brush before he announced out loud that they were ready. “There you go boys. That’s as good as it gets. I think Miss Virginia Hollings will be suitably impressed.” As if they understood his words, the horses whinnied in unison and shook their carefully combed manes back to their usual messy state. Fletcher shrugged and smiled good naturedly at his team. “Oh well. Can’t say I didn’t try.”
Then, in one smooth motion he was up and seated in the front of the wagon. He took the reins in hand, and before he gave the team their go ahead, he checked the seat beside him.
Blanket in case it gets cold, check. Slickers in case it rains, check. Picnic basket with a few items for the trip back, check. And last but not least, a bouquet of fragrant wild yellow roses tied with ribbon. Then, patting his jacket pocket, he felt the small round item inside. Wedding ring, check. Fletcher smiled. Morgan’s wife, Kate had seen to it that he remembered all the romantic things. Today he was going to marry his new bride and he wanted everything to be perfect.
Fletcher was about to head out when the sound of horses approaching drew his attention. Morgan was flying along the dirt road obviously in a hurry. Fletcher waited until he pulled up beside the team.
“What’s up friend? Where’s the fire?”
His friend laughed. ”No fire, just more instructions from Kate before you go, and she said if I didn’t make it here on time to give them to you, then I’d best just keep riding till I caught up with you. I don’t mess around when Kate gets determined about something. You know what they say.”
Fletcher chuckled. “Nope, can’t say as I do. I’ve never been married remember?”