Her Unexpected Destiny_Seeing Ranch series

by Florence Linnington

  “Are you all right?” Allie asked.

  Melissa put on a pleasant face, but it could not hide the fact that she was clearly still in pain. “Yes. Just a bit fatigued is all.”

  “You should lie down,” Allie answered quickly. “We have a long way to go till Cincinatti. Here. Recline here, and I can sit across the way.”

  “I don’t wish to be a bother.”

  “You’re not,” Allie responded. “Everyone feels ill at some point. Rest.”

  Melissa finally did as she was told, lying across the two seats and tucking her folded hands under her head. Allie sat across the way, trying to distract herself by watching the sun set. As the next few hours drifted by, though, it became increasingly obvious that Melissa was very ill. She’d grown paler, her skin taking on a bluish tinge, and she stayed curled into a ball.

  Worry churning in her, Allie fetched some water from the meal car and encouraged Melissa to drink it.

  “Where are we?” Melissa asked, pulling herself up to sit. She stared at the empty water cup in her hand before looking around the train in confusion.

  “We are about to enter Cincinatti.” Allie pursed her lips. “I believe we should get off and get you to a doctor.”

  Melissa’s eyes were wild. “But I have to be in Wyoming.”

  “I know.” Allie touched the other woman’s arm, reflecting the sweet act Melissa had shown hours earlier. “But if you stay on this train, you may become more ill, and that will not serve you at all.”

  Melissa thought about it a moment before nodding. “I suppose you are right.”

  Allie had already given this action considerable thought. Even Cincinatti felt dangerously close to New York, but she could not leave Melissa to fend for herself. She would get them a room in the most indistinct place she could find and stay with Melissa until she was well again. Allie’s good conscience would not allow her to do otherwise.

  “Come,” Allie said. “Let us get off the train.”

  Slipping an arm around Melissa’s waist, Allie slowly guided her off of the train. It was a difficult task, on account of Allie also having to carry their two bags. The whole time, Melissa squirmed in pain, and Allie became even more concerned. Something was dreadfully wrong.

  “I feel as if I will be sick,” Melissa murmured, not several feet onto the platform. Without warning, she broke free from Allie’s hold and rushed to the platform’s edge, where she vomited off the side. Several people looked their way, but almost everyone continued on about their business.

  Allie set the bags on the wooden planks and waited for Melissa to right herself. After a few minutes, she wiped her lips with a handkerchief and gave Allie a weak smile.

  “I must look quite the fright,” she whispered in a weak voice.

  Allie summoned an encouraging look. “Even ill, you are a beautiful woman. Now lean against me, and we will find a place to stay the night.”

  Allie’s original plan to find a hotel a good distance from the station did not come to fruition, for Melissa could not walk that far. They ended up staying in a house right near the tracks. The man behind the desk eyed Melissa as he took Allie’s money—which was dwindling fast. Allie worried he would prohibit them from staying at the hotel while ill, but he said nothing, only led them to a drafty, dark room on the second floor.

  Right away, Allie tucked Melissa into the bed. The night was hot, but she still drew the blankets up to Melissa’s chin.

  “I am dreadfully thirsty,” Melissa rasped.

  “Rest, and I’ll get you some water.”

  While she did that, Allie also asked the man at the desk to call for a doctor. Even if he didn’t like Melissa’s illness, there was nothing that could be done, and she was shut away from the other guests. Surely, he would not throw them out.

  When Allie returned to the room, Melissa was gone, the bedspreads thrown back.

  “Melissa?” she called, looking up and down the hall.

  Melissa appeared at the top of the stairs, laboriously dragging herself up the last few steps.

  “I went outside,” she explained. “To the yard. I am… dreadfully… ill.” Each word seemed a struggle. Before she could make it to where Allie stood in the room’s doorway, she fell toward the wall. Allie rushed over and righted her just in time.

  “I have your water. Climb back into bed.”

  Allie went to get Melissa water twice more, and still, she was thirsty. To make matters worse, she’d grown paler and began vomiting into the bed pan.

  Sighing, Melissa looked up at Allie from the bed. “You should not be here with me. We are in Cincinatti, your destination. Surely, you have business to attend to.”

  A lump formed in Allie’s throat. She wished she could tell Melissa there was no business; there was no one for Allie to see. At that point, the only person she had in the whole world was a girl she’d become acquainted with only that day.

  Suddenly, Allie could keep the secret tucked away no longer.

  “There is no one here for me to see, Melissa,” she admitted. “In fact, this is my first time in Cincinatti.”

  “Oh.” Melissa blinked in confusion.

  Guilt gripped Allie. What was she doing? The poor girl was sick. She was not interested in Allie’s dramatic story.

  “Never mind.” Allie forced a cheery smile onto her face. “You must rest. The doctor will be here soon, and he will tell us what we must do to make you better.”

  Melissa stared solemnly at Allie. “Allie, is something the matter?”

  Allie gulped. “It is nothing you should be burdened with.”

  Melissa’s brow folded. “Oh, don’t say that.” She pulled herself up into a halfway sitting position, resting her back against the headboard. “I am stuck here in this strange room, feeling awful. I need something to distract my mind.”

  Allie licked her dry lips, considering. She felt she could trust Melissa, even though they had only just met. If anyone were to understand her plight, surely it would be other women.

  Taking the one rickety, wooden chair in the room, Allie pulled it to Melissa’s bedside and had a seat. “I want desperately to unburden my soul by telling you my story, but—”

  “Tell me,” Melissa insisted.

  Allie clasped her hands together. If she revealed all at once and at a fast pace, the action would be more bearable. “I was working in New York at a garment factory, and the owner came in and attempted to… force himself… upon me. When I struck him across the head and drew blood, he told me I would pay. I believed him, Melissa. This man, he is very powerful, and I am nothing but a factory worker. He owns nearly half of New York, and everyone says he receives what he wants.”

  Allie’s chin trembled, and her interlocked hands began to shake. “And so I fled. The truth is that my destination is not Cincinatti. I do not know where my final destination is. I apologize for misleading you. I am… afraid.” Allie’s voice cracked, and she could not go on.

  “Allie,” Melissa croaked, “do not apologize. I understand completely, and I am dreadfully sorry for your plight.”

  Allie was overcome with relief. “Thank you.”

  “You should come with me—to Shallow Springs.”

  Allie stared at Melissa. “But… how? What would I do there… No one must know who I am.”

  “Bed pan, please,” Melissa gasped.

  Allie handed it to her just in time.

  Done with the violent retching, Melissa closed her eyes and dropped her head back against the baseboard. “I fear that we will be here for a while.”

  “I am not going anywhere, I promise. I will take care of you.”

  Melissa opened her eyes and smiled weakly. “Thank you… Now, will you do something for me?”

  “Anything.”

  “I would like to dictate a letter to Matthew, letting him know I am held up.”

  “Certainly.”

  Back downstairs Allie went, to procure a pencil and paper. While there, she checked on the arrival of the doctor, and the
front-desk man assured her he was indeed on his way.

  “What would you like to say?” Allie asked, once she’d resumed her spot on the chair.

  “Dear Matthew, it is with regret that I inform you I am being held up.” Melissa paused while she took in a long breath. “I have abruptly taken ill and must stay in Cincinnati while I recover. As soon as I am better, I will be on the next train to you.”

  Melissa closed her eyes, pain evident in her tight expression. Allie understood that she was in too much discomfort to go on.

  “I will add that you are too ill to write anymore and that you look forward to reaching him,” Allie said, hastily adding the last bit.

  “Thank you,” Melissa whispered.

  “And I’ll make sure this is on tomorrow’s post. Do not worry.”

  “I won’t.” Melissa opened her eyes, and despite her pallor, warmth shone in her irises. “I am lucky to have met you.”

  Tears filled Allie’s eyes, and she blinked them back. “And I am blessed to have met you.”

  “We will go to Shallow Springs, Allie… together.”

  15

  15. Matt

  Chapter Fifteen

  June 1883

  Matt woke with an ache across his whole forehead—not that he’d had much sleep to wake up from. In between all the tossing and turning, he probably hadn’t gotten more than a couple hours of rest.

  All night long, as the crickets sang, and Matt watched the clouds drift across the moon from his bedroom window, he’d thought about Melissa. He’d thought about himself. He’d wondered where he’d gone wrong. Was this all his fault? Or did Melissa have an impenetrable heart? She’d said she cared for him… So then, what was the complication?

  Matt could have stayed and heard her out. He should have. Her turning down the ring had made him feel like he was being ripped into a thousand pieces, though. Forget about talking. Simply looking at her had been hard.

  He had needed to get out of there before he lost his dang mind. He would have retreated to the stable, his favorite place, but since that’s where he left Melissa standing, he’d settled on going home.

  It used to be he loved the silence of his little house. It was a shelter from the rest of the world. Last night, that hadn’t been the case. The silence had been painful.

  Now, the rest of the land finally awake with him, Matt forced down a tasteless breakfast. Usually he ate at the main house. Nothing could beat his Ma’s cooking. He had a few staples in his cupboard, though, including some cornbread she’d baked him the other day.

  He had no appetite, but he shoved the bread down anyway. He didn’t want to go into the main house for breakfast and see Melissa, and he needed a full belly to fuel his work.

  Grabbing his hat from the hook on the wall, Matt jammed it onto his head and opened the door—and nearly ran right into Pa.

  “Gah!” Matt shouted, jumping back like a scared jackrabbit.

  “I was about to knock,” Pa explained.

  Matt folded his arms over his chest. “Are we digging that trench on the south end today?”

  Pa took an unnaturally long time thinking it over. “I’ll get started on it. I need you to go into town and pick up some nails.”

  Matt hesitated. He never liked going into town, but if they needed nails, the only place to get them was the general store.

  “Right,” Matt agreed. “I’ll go now.”

  Pa put his hand up. “Wait one second, son. Is everything all right? It’s not like you to miss breakfast.”

  Matt kept his gaze above his father’s head. “I’m fine.”

  “You sure there’s nothing you want to talk about?”

  Matt rubbed the back of his neck, considering the offer. He could probably use a listening ear, but he was starting to feel cramped on the farm. It seemed like anytime he and Melissa exchanged a word, his parents knew about it.

  Had she told them about the night before?

  Suddenly, going into town seemed like a great idea.

  “No, Pa, but thanks.” He stepped onto the small porch and closed the door behind him. “I should be getting into town, so I don’t leave you working on that trench all by yourself all day.”

  Pa grunted in response, which Matt knew was his way of showing that the conversation wasn’t over. Leaving it be for the time, he went to the stable. Both dogs were in there, lazing around in the shade. The sun had barely risen, and yet the animals were already preparing for the harsh day ahead of them.

  “Smart idea,” he told Bird and Baxter.

  Saddling up, Matt rode Trigger in the direction of town, taking care to not look at the main house once. He couldn’t risk accidentally catching sight of Melissa. He’d have to see her soon, but he couldn’t take a run-in that morning.

  Town was sleepy, with most of the activity happening in front of the schoolhouse, where children rushed to make it into the building on time. Tying Trigger in the bit of shade on the hitching post, Matt made his way into the general store.

  “Hello there,” someone said the second he entered.

  Matt looked up from the floor he’d been staring at and caught sight of Nat. He leaned against the front counter, wearing a goofy grin.

  “What brings the great hermit to town?” Nat joked.

  “Nails.” Matt nodded at the storekeeper, who was busy writing something in his giant log.

  “Hey, me too!” Nat picked up a little bag and shook it. Nails rattled around inside the cloth. “I never got around to finishing those dang shingles. Gotta make our houses all nice for the brides, though.” He winked.

  “Uh-huh.” Matt got busy inspecting the bolts of cloth.

  Nat was quiet for a moment.

  “You also looking to sew a dress?” he eventually asked.

  Matt started to scowl, but one look at his friend’s cheerful face, and he could only smirk.

  “Sorry. I’m, uh, not...” He glanced in the shopkeeper’s direction, but the man had gone into the back room, leaving the other two alone.

  “Not what?” Nat frowned. “Is something going on?”

  Matt rubbed his jaw, figuring out how best to put it. In the end, he decided blunt facts were good. “I gave Melissa Ma’s ring last night, but she wouldn’t take it.”

  “Oh.” Nat wrinkled his nose in confusion. “Did she say why?”

  Matt’s exhale burned his nose. “She said that I don’t know her, and that it… it’s not right.”

  Nat made a pained noise. “Ouch.”

  It was the last thing Matt needed to hear. It only showed he’d been right about the problems between them. In bringing Melissa to Shallow Springs, he’d bitten off a bite that was hard to chew. They were strangers. How could he expect for things to work out between them within a matter of weeks?

  “Cheer up, though,” Nat said, lightly smacking the side of Matt’s arm. “She hasn’t been here long. I’m sure everything will work out.”

  “I don’t know.” Matt crossed his arms, wishing he could close his eyes and go back to sleep. Not only was he dead tired, he also longed to slip into unconsciousness, into a place where there were no worries.

  “What do you mean by that? Did something happen with her?”

  “That’s it. Nothing happened. Everything was right as rain, Nat. I was going about my business as usual, plus spending all the time with her I could.” Matt shook his head. “She wanted to come here, and now it’s like she wishes she never did. Maybe she met me and changed her mind. I don’t know.”

  “I doubt she met you and changed her mind. Don’t tell me you’ve never noticed the way women look at you.”

  Matt guffawed. “You must have me confused with yourself.”

  Nat grinned cheekily. “Maybe we’re both two fine-looking fellas.”

  But Matt had already lost his joking mood. Catching sight of the small jewelry display under the counter’s glass hadn’t helped. It only reminded him of his mother’s ring, which he’d locked up in the cabinet in his bedroom. By now, Ma must h
ave noticed Melissa wasn’t wearing it.

  “Hey now”—Nat pushed his hat back and intently peered at Matt—“Melissa is still new to these parts.”

  “It’s not the landscape she’s adjusting to,” Matt grumbled.

  “Adjusting is adjusting. Did she say she doesn’t want to marry you?”

  “Not in those words,” Matt admitted, “but she wouldn’t take my ring. She might as well have told me the wedding is off.”