Measure of Grace

by Al Lacy

  “Lord,” she whispered, barely moving her lips, “help me. I have a real task ahead. Please guide me and give me wisdom as I talk to Jordan about being saved. And give me a preacher who will help me.”

  The stage rolled into Elkton on schedule, and Diana was busy looking the town over as much as possible from her window. Her heart was thudding in her chest as the stage stopped in front of the Wells Fargo station.

  There was a scrambling up in the box as driver, shotgunner, and Victor Williams climbed down. One of the male passengers hopped out of the coach, offered Diana his hand, and helped her down. She stepped aside to allow the other passengers to get off, and looked at a small group of people who were standing about.

  There was no young man Jordan’s age in the group.

  The group apparently was waiting for two of the other passengers, for they rushed to them, embracing them.

  Victor Williams joined Albert Baxter, each carrying his overnight bag. As they were about to head down the street for the Elkton Hotel, Williams stepped up to Diana. “Good-bye, Miss Morrow. I wish you the very best in this new chapter of your life.”

  “Thank you, sir,” she said. “And thank you for what you did for me.”

  The two men walked away briskly.

  The air was cold, and a chilly breeze was whipping through the town.

  Pulling her scarf up tighter against her throat, Diana looked around for Jordan, but the area had cleared. The driver and shotgunner were unloading her small trunk and suitcase.

  Stepping up to them, she said, “Could I prevail on you gentlemen to carry those into the office for me, please? The person who is to meet me isn’t here yet.”

  “Be glad to, ma’am,” said the driver.

  Carrying the luggage, they followed Diana into the office. The elderly agent stood behind the counter and greeted the stage crew warmly as they sat the luggage down near the door.

  “The person who is to meet the lady hasn’t shown up yet, Clarence,” said the driver. “She asked us to bring them in here for her.”

  “Fine,” said Clarence Hubbard, who was bald, except for a white fringe over his ears. “You’ve got four passengers for Ketcham. They should be showing up soon.”

  “We’ll go ahead and feed the horses,” said the shotgunner.

  Diana thanked them as they headed out the door.

  “You must be Miss Diana Morrow,” said Clarence. “The Ketcham agent wired to tell me about the avalanche, and that you’d be on this stage. Who’s coming to pick you up?”

  “His name is Jordan Shaw, sir,” said Diana, moving closer to the counter.

  “Oh, sure. Of the Bar-S Ranch.”

  “That’s right. As you know from the wire, I was to have been here on Thursday. I assume Jordan was here to pick me up.”

  Clarence shrugged. “I don’t know, ma’am. I wasn’t here on Thursday. I’m not the regular agent. Used to be, but I retired two years ago. Fella named Vern Morton is the agent now, but he’s gone to Boise for a few days, so I’m filling in.”

  “I see. Well, I’m sure Jordan was here to pick me up on Thursday. So you’ve had no contact with him about this morning’s wire, then.”

  “No, ma’am. I haven’t seen him. I was here all day yesterday, too. Didn’t see him then, either.”

  “Hmm. Is there a buggy I could hire to take me to the ranch?”

  “Oh, sure. But we just got a new eight-inch blanket of snow last night, so it’ll probably be a sleigh. I’ll send the shotgunner down the street to fetch Willie Akins. Willie’ll take you out there.”

  Fifteen minutes later Diana sat beside middle-aged Willie Akins as the sleigh glided over the snow, heading out of town. Soon they were in the country, and Diana drank in the beauty of the snow-covered scenery around her. She kept looking northward, taking in the majesty of the Sawtooth Mountains with their white peaks reaching for the sky.

  Perplexed as to why Jordan had not stayed in contact with the Fargo agent concerning her delayed arrival, she told herself it was probably because for some reason he had not received her letter, and had no idea if or when she would arrive.

  Oh, dear! she thought. Maybe Jordan did get the letter, but he thinks because I wasn’t on the stage Thursday that I had changed my mind and wouldn’t be coming. Well, if that’s the case, I can soon straighten that out!

  The cold air put a rosy glow on her cheeks, and the anticipation of soon meeting the man she had come to marry put a lively sparkle in her eyes.

  It was almost ten o’clock when Knight Colburn was drawing near the Bar-S Ranch and heard a shout behind him.

  Turning around in the saddle, he saw William Shaw trotting his horse through the snow, waving at him. Pulling rein, Knight halted his horse and waited for William to catch up.

  As William drew up, Knight said, “I assume Jordan didn’t come in sometime last night.”

  “He didn’t,” said William.

  When the two men entered the ranch house together, they found Mark and Lorene in the kitchen, having coffee with Sylvia.

  All three greeted Knight, then Mark said, “I’m sure glad you’re coming along with Dad and me.”

  “I couldn’t do anything else,” said Knight. “I have to be with you so we can find him together.”

  Sylvia poured coffee for Knight and her husband, saying it would warm them up for the cold ride.

  Some twenty minutes later, the coffee cups were just about empty, and the three men were eager to get in the saddle and head into the mountains.

  Suddenly there was a knock at the front door.

  “You boys finish your coffee,” said William. “I’ll see who it is.”

  When William opened the door, he found a lovely young brunette on the porch and the sleigh near the house with luggage on the backseat. He waved to the driver. “Hello, Willie!” He met the young lady’s probing gaze.

  “You are Mr. William Shaw, I presume,” said Diana, with a warm smile.

  “I am.”

  “I’m Diana Morrow,” she said, thinking her name would bring on a welcoming smile.

  Puzzlement showed on William’s face. Squinting, he said, “I’m sorry, Miss—I assume it’s ‘Miss’ Morrow. Am I supposed to know you?”

  It was Diana’s turn to show puzzlement. “Yes. Miss Diana Morrow from Richmond, Virginia.”

  Still, William looked confused.

  “You are Jordan Shaw’s father?”

  “Well, yes, but—”

  “You must know that I’m here to be Jordan’s mail order bride.”

  William was shocked into silence as he stared at the pretty young woman with the hint of a soft Southern drawl in her speech. Suddenly aware that she was still standing out in the cold air, he stepped back and motioned for her to come his way, trying to find his voice.

  When she was in, and he pushed the door shut while still staring at her, eyes wide, Diana noted the perplexed expression on his face. “Have I come at an inconvenient time, Mr. Shaw?”

  William’s mouth quivered as he found his voice. “Ah … ah … no. No. I’m just stunned, is all. Please forgive my bad manners.”

  “Is Jordan here?”

  “Uh … no. He went hunting in the Sawtooth Mountains on Tuesday and has not returned.”

  “Oh. May I—may I have Mr. Akins bring my luggage in?”

  “Certainly,” said William.

  Diana opened the door and motioned to Willie.

  When the luggage was placed on the floor just inside the door, Diana reached into her purse. “Thank you, Mr. Akins. I appreciate your bringing me out here.”

  William stepped up, waved her off, and said, “No, no! Let me take care of Willie.”

  He pulled out his wallet and placed more than enough money to cover the cost of Diana’s ride to the Bar-S in Willie’s hand. Willie thanked him, told Diana he hoped she would enjoy living in Idaho, and left.

  When the door was closed, William looked at Diana, befuddled as to how this could happen without anybody in the family
knowing about it.

  Drawing in a short breath, he said, “May I take your coat?”

  “Oh yes. Thank you.”

  When the coat was hanging on a peg next to the door, William took another short breath. “M-Miss Morrow, let me take you back to the kitchen, where the rest of the family is having coffee.”

  KNIGHT COLBURN AND MARK HEDREN instantly rose to their feet at the table when William ushered the lovely dark-haired woman into the kitchen. Sylvia and Lorene looked at her, wondering who she was, where she was from, and why she was there. They could tell that Mark was having the same thoughts. The ranch seldom had visitors in the dead of winter.

  They were also confused at the look on Knight’s face. He didn’t look perplexed, but rather, seemed awed by the young woman.

  Running his gaze over the four faces, William said, “I would like to introduce Miss Diana Morrow from Richmond, Virginia. She just came in on the nine-thirty stage. Miss Morrow, this is my wife, Sylvia—Jordan’s mother.”

  Sylvia smiled, though the mention of Jordan added more puzzlement to the situation. “Happy to meet you, Miss Morrow.” Her brow furrowed. “How do you know Jordan?”

  “I’ll explain in a moment,” said William. “Miss Morrow, this is Jordan’s sister, Lorene, and this is Lorene’s husband, Mark Hedren.”

  Both Hedrens greeted Diana in a friendly manner.

  Gesturing toward the tall man, William said, “And this is Knight Colburn, Jordan’s best friend.”

  Knight swallowed hard as he looked into Diana’s dark eyes. So this is Diana, he thought.

  Knight was closest to her. She offered her hand, and he took it, noting that it was trembling a bit. “Ma’am,” he said, pressing a smile on his lips.

  William scrubbed a palm over his mouth nervously. “Miss Morrow told me at the door that she has come to be Jordan’s mail order bride.”

  The look of puzzlement on the faces of Sylvia, Lorene, and Mark changed quickly to shock.

  “H-his m-mail order b-bride?” said Sylvia.

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Diana.

  Sylvia’s face was white. “He … he never said anything about a mail order bride. This comes as a jolt to all of us.” She stood up quickly, pulled back a chair that had not been occupied, and said, “Please s-sit down, Miss Morrow. Would you like some coffee?”

  “Ah … not right now, Mrs. Shaw, thank you. But I do need to sit down.” As she spoke, she eased onto the chair and set her purse on the floor next to a chair leg.

  The three men sat down.

  Sylvia muttered, “I don’t understand why Jordan would do this and not even share it with his family. Miss Morrow, are you sure you have this right?”

  “Why, yes. Jordan put an ad in some newspapers back east, saying he was looking for a mail order bride. I don’t know how many newspapers, but one ad was in the Richmond Chronicle. I read the ad, and … well, I answered it.”

  Sylvia shook her head. “I just can’t believe it.”

  Knight’s stomach was in knots.

  Diana picked up her purse, opened it, and took out the clipped newspaper ad and the two letters she had received from Jordan. Handing the ad to Sylvia, she said, “Read this and pass it around, Mrs. Shaw.”

  While a stunned Sylvia read the ad, Diana looked around at the others and said, “Jordan sent me the money for my travel expenses.”

  Blinking and shaking her head at what she had read in the ad, Sylvia handed it to Lorene. Both she and Mark read it, then Lorene handed it to her father. When William had read it, he said, “Well, the ad has the name and address correct. It was Jordan’s ad, all right.” He then passed it on to Knight.

  Knight took it and recognized the ad he had written.

  Diana then handed Jordan’s first letter to Sylvia and the second letter to William. “These are the letters he sent me in reply to the ones I sent him.”

  Sylvia’s head bobbed as she looked at the letter. She picked up the envelope and looked it over. “Well, something’s wrong here,” she said. “This is definitely not Jordan’s handwriting.”

  William hadn’t started to read yet. He looked at the handwriting on the envelope, then opened the letter and examined it. “Same here, honey,” he said. “This isn’t his handwriting, either.”

  The pulse in Diana’s temples throbbed. A flicker of emotion skittered across her pale face. Stunned, she ran her eyes between Jordan’s parents. “I … I don’t understand. If somebody is pulling some kind of joke, they certainly parted with a substantial sum of money to get me here.”

  At this point, Knight knew he had to tell all of them what had happened. Adjusting himself nervously on the chair, he said, “Well, it’s time for me to shed light on all of this confusion.”

  Every eye went to him like metal to a magnet.

  They listened intently as Knight told how Jordan had come to him, saying he wanted to put a mail order bride ad in some eastern newspapers, and asked him to word the ad for him because he had a way with words. He went on to explain that for the same reason, at Jordan’s request, it was he who had written the letters to Diana, with Jordan giving him basically what he wanted to say.

  This news left everyone at the table speechless, including Diana.

  “But why did our son want to advertise for a mail order bride, Knight?” asked Sylvia. “He could marry Belinda anytime he wanted to. She’s in love with him.”

  Diana’s eyes widened.

  Knight eased back on the chair, rubbed his chin, and said, “That’s just it, Sylvia. Jordan has never had a romantic interest in Belinda, but from what he has told me, he has been under pressure from her to develop a romance, and from her parents and from you and William as well. He felt like he was being pushed into marriage with a girl he didn’t love. He didn’t know how to just come out and tell Belinda he wanted nothing to do with her without hurting your feelings. He came up with the idea of a mail order bride, believing that when he brought his prospective bride to you, it would make everything easier.

  “He came to my office at the Sentinel, told me about his mail order bride idea and asked me to send the ad to several eastern newspapers for him. He swore me to secrecy. He was so excited about Diana coming.”

  Sylvia burst into tears, “Then something has happened to him! His not being here when Diana arrived is proof of it.”

  William left his chair, bent down, and put an arm around Sylvia. “Don’t despair now, honey. We can’t give up.”

  When Sylvia’s sobbing subsided, Diana said, “I should explain that I was actually supposed to arrive on the three o’clock stage last Thursday, but an avalanche in the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming held up the train, making it a day and a half late getting to Boise, where I was to catch the train to Ketcham. Mr. Shaw, you told me at the door that Jordan went hunting in the mountains on Tuesday.”

  “Yes.”

  “So he did intend to be back before Thursday.”

  “Mm-hmm. He was to return Tuesday evening. Over the past several years, we have had him go hunting in the mountains alone, saying he would be back in a day—and then he has stayed up there sometimes three or four days. We figured this was another one of those incidents. But now we see that it isn’t.”

  “Oh, my,” Diana said, putting a hand to her mouth.

  Standing to full height but keeping a hand on Sylvia’s shoulder, William said, “Diana—I mean, Miss Morrow, I—”

  “Please, sir. You can call me Diana.”

  William nodded, smiled, and said, “All right, Diana. I am about to take Mark and Knight with me to see if we can find Jordan. There’s an old abandoned cabin in the high country where Jordan stays when he is up there hunting. He always hunts in that area so he can stay in the cabin at night. We’ll start there, first. If he’s not there, we’ll search for him.”

  “May I go along with you?” asked Diana.

  “Oh, honey,” said Sylvia, “that’s rough country up there. It’s no place for a woman. You can stay here with Lorene and me.”
>
  “Right,” said Lorene. “You’d have to ride a horse. For a young lady from Richmond, that would be quite difficult.”

  “I’m actually from a farm a few miles outside of Richmond,” said Diana. “I’ve ridden horses since I was a child. I really want to go. I feel I should, since Jordan wanted me to come as his potential bride.”

  She looked at William with pleading eyes. “Please, Mr. Shaw.”

  William rubbed his chin, ran his gaze to the other men, and said, “What do you think, boys?”

  “Well, since we’ve met this fine young lady, and have learned that Jordan wanted her for his wife,” said Mark, “I think we should take her with us.”

  William looked at Jordan’s best friend. “Knight?”

  “It’s fine with me, in view of the circumstances.”

  “All right, Miss—I mean, Diana,” said William, “you can go with us.”

  “Thank you!” she said, smiling. “I’m sure you’re wanting to go right away. I have a split skirt with me, which is more suitable for riding. I’ll need a few minutes to get changed, and then could I have five minutes to write my mother a letter? I promised her I’d write as soon as I arrived, so she would know I got here safely. It wouldn’t be out of the way, would it, to let me post it in town on the way to the mountains?”

  “It’s faster getting to the mountains if you bypass the town,” said Lorene. “I’m going into town a little later today. I’ll mail it for you.”

  “Oh, thank you,” said Diana. Then to William: “Can I have a few minutes?”

  “Of course.”

  Diana turned to Sylvia. “Is there a room I can use to change into more appropriate clothes?”

  It took Sylvia a few seconds to respond. “Oh! Of course, child. Forgive me. I’m just so upset right now.”

  “I understand, Mrs. Shaw. I’m rather in a state of shock, myself.”

  “I assume you want her in the front guest room,” said William.

  “Yes,” said Sylvia.

  “First, let’s read these letters that Diana got from Jordan,” said William, “then I’ll carry her luggage up there. While she’s getting ready and writing the letter to her mother, the boys and I will saddle her a horse and load up the packhorses.”