The Express Bride

by Kimberley Woodhouse

  “Don’t worry about the Express. I’ll make sure it’s taken care of.” She pulled back his jacket and gasped. “Have you been shot?”

  He nodded and passed out.

  “Tom!” Their quiet stable manager had been outside to change out the horses. Hopefully he could hear her. “Tom!”

  The man came running in the front door. “Is he all right? I saw the blood.”

  “I don’t know. Can you go get your wife for me? I need her help.” Pressing her hand to the wound in Mark’s shoulder, she hoped that he hadn’t lost too much blood already.

  In less than two minutes, the Liverpools were back—June carrying her basket of supplies they used when anyone got injured.

  She moved in and looked. “Keep the pressure on it until I can get some water boiling.”

  Jackie glanced up at Tom, who wrung his hat in his hands.

  “I hate to bring this up, but I need you to decide what to do.” His quiet voice was steady.

  “What is it?”

  “The Express. Timothy just left. Michael and John are out with the wagon, and Mark is injured. Eddie won’t be back until tonight. Paul and Luke won’t be back until tomorrow because of the specials. We don’t havea rider to take this to the next station.”

  She looked around her. Elijah lay unconscious in the other room. Mark sat bleeding in front of her. All the other riders were gone. She looked back to Tom.

  “I would, Jack, but you know I can’t. I’m way too heavy. It’d kill the horse to carry me that far and that fast.”

  June returned with the hot water and put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. I’ll take care of them both. Tom will be here with me, and hopefully the doctor will get here soon and the boys will return with the wagon.”

  With a nod, she lifted her hand from Mark’s shoulder. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “The horse is ready to go with the mochila,” Tom said.

  “I’d better go change.” Jackie looked down at her hands. She’d have to wash off the blood and try to dress warmly but without all the weight of her petticoats.

  As she ran to her room, her heart ached. First Elijah, and now Mark. What was going on?

  Stripping out of her skirts and petticoats, she decided to be practical—if a bit uncivilized—and put on her dad’s pants over her knickers. Cinching the waist as tight as she could, she threw on his heavy coat over her bodice and plopped his hat on her head.

  When she came out to the parlor, June’s eyebrows rose as she took in her attire. “Not a word, my friend. Please.”

  “I wouldn’t dare.” June turned her attention back to Mark’s wound.

  “Take care of them.”

  “God is watching over us. You be careful.”

  Tom walked Jackie out. “Tell them what happened to Mark when you get to Virginia City and make sure another rider goes the rest of the way. Do you hear me?”

  The tone of his voice made her grin. “Since when do you tell your boss what to do?”

  He didn’t smile back. “I’m serious, Jack. All of this isn’t coincidence. You need to be careful. And there’s a storm coming. I can feel it in my knees.”

  She laid a hand on his arm. “I’ll be careful. I promise.” Looking up, she realized he’d changed out the horse for Romeo.

  “I figured you’d be more comfortable on your own horse.”

  “And he can run like the wind. Thank you.” With his help, she climbed up on Romeo’s back for the second time that day. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Please ask the doctor to stay until I return.”

  “Will do.”

  Leaning over her horse’s neck, she whispered toward his ear, “Let’s go, Romeo.”

  Romeo took off without hesitation. Jackie positioned herself above the saddle and hunched down as much as she could. It was a good thing she’d tied Dad’s hat down with the chin strap or it’d be long gone.

  The ride to Virginia City passed in a blur, but the whole way she’d kept an eye on the clouds overhead. Tom was right. A storm was coming. Sooner rather than later.

  She passed Doc Thompson on his horse about halfway to Virginia City and sighed with relief. At least Elijah and Mark would have help. Now she just had to get the mochila to the next station so the Express could get to San Francisco. Whatever was in the way pocket must be pretty important for another special Express to have been sent.

  By the time she reached the edge of town, the wind had picked up and barreled toward her from the west. Riding hard to the station, she prayed for the storm to hold off until she could get home.

  She pulled Romeo to a quick stop. The next station manager was out with a fresh horse and ready for the transfer.

  Jumping off her horse, she removed the mochila as fast as she could and gave it to him. He placed it on the next horse.

  “Jack?” He finally got a good look at her. “What are you doing riding?”

  “Mark came in with a bullet wound with this packet. Whatever it is, it’s important and needs to get to San Francisco. Timothy had already left on the regular westbound route, and my other riders weren’t back from their routes this morning. We had an emergency that had me send Michael and John into town, so I was the only one available.” She climbed back up on Romeo. “Look, I’ve got to get back.You’ve got another rider who can go?”

  “Sure.” The man shouted commands over his shoulder and then turned back to her. “It looks like a pretty good storm is coming, Jack. Ya better be careful.”

  “Will do. Tell your riders to be careful too. I don’t like that one of my boys has been shot.” She wrapped her scarf around her face to combat the icy air that was getting colder by the minute.

  With a flick of the reins, she headed back out of town as the snow began to fall. Rather than ride all the way through town, she decided to take Romeo on the outskirts so he could run full out again. The faster they could get back, the better. Maneuvering her way to the edge of town, she sighed when she could let her horse run.

  But as she rounded the corner of an empty stable, a gunshot went off.

  Time seemed to stand still as she watched a man—who didn’t look any older than twenty—fall to the ground.

  Romeo reared, and she clenched her knees to his sides to keep her seat.

  It was then that she saw the face of the shooter.

  Mr. Williamson—if that was his real name—still held the gun aloft. He grinned at the body on the ground.

  It didn’t seem real.

  She gasped.

  Romeo didn’t stop because of her shock. He leapt back into a full run.

  Keeping her head down, Jackie struggled to know what to do. Flying on the back of her horse away from that horrific moment helped her to breathe. But her heart raced in rhythm with Romeo’s hooves.

  What should she do? Should she turn around and go find the sheriff?

  A shot pinged off a boulder to her right.

  Romeo surged ahead and she ducked as low as she could on his back. Did the man have a horse to chase her? Had he recognized her? She closed her eyes as the image of the man who was shot flooded her mind.

  But she opened them back up and risked a look behind her. The man was just a speck now, but he still stood where she’d left him. Letting out a deep sigh, she turned forward again.

  Could he recognize her in these clothes and with her face covered? The thought made her shiver. If he did, he knew her name from the other day and could certainly find her.

  Oh God, help us. Please. Please don’t let him know who I am!

  Home. She needed to get home. Hopefully she wouldn’t be shot on the way.

  Then she would decide what to do.

  With her head up against Romeo’s neck, Jackie could barely see through the blizzard-like conditions. They were so close to home—she only hoped her faithful horse could find the way.

  She couldn’t bear pushing him as hard as she had on the way to Virginia City. But he’d sensed the storm as well and had moved at a quick canter. Even so,
he’d slowed considerably over the last few miles as the snow had gotten deeper, coming down in a sideways blur of white.

  The cold had seeped into every bone of her body. If they didn’t make it soon, she feared they would be stuck out in the storm.

  Romeo lifted his head and whinnied at her. She patted his neck. “I know, boy. I’m sorry. You can do it. I know you can.”

  Then the most beautiful sight was before her.

  Home.

  As they rode up to the front door of the station house, she noticed a stagecoach was sitting outside.

  Tom and Michael ran out to meet her.

  “Jack! You’re all right!” Michael practically pulled her off the horse into a hug. “I was getting so worried.”

  Tom just gave her a smile and took Romeo to the stable, his hand on the guide rope above his head. While she was gone, they’d strung the ropes to help them get from building to building. Every winter they had to do it. Just in case of a whiteout.

  “How’s Elijah? And Mark?”

  “Doc got Mark all patched up. He’s in the bunkhouse asleep.”

  “Doc is with Elijah now.”

  As she walked in the door, she saw the stage driver and his second man in the parlor. Then she gasped as Mr. Crowell stood.

  “Mr. Crowell. There’s so much I need to tell you.”

  He stepped toward her. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”

  “All right.” As much as she wanted to see Elijah, she knew that Mr. Crowell’s sudden arrival must be very important.

  Once they were in the farthest corner of the room, he whispered, “Did you get my message to Williamson?”

  “I did. This morning. But sir, as soon as I started asking questions, he changed his demeanor. He shoved me out the door and told me to keep my nose out of his business. And there’s more.” It was hard to believe it had happened. “I just saw him shoot another man.”

  Crowell closed his eyes for a moment, and his lips formed a hard line. “I just learned that Sanders has been killed as well. It appears we had someone infiltrate our contacts.” He looked down at her. “There’s some news that I don’t want to have to share, but I must.”

  “What is it?”

  “We’ve received several letters that incriminate your father as the forger. One of them stated that your father had a box at the bank filled with the forged notes. When we went to the bank, they were there.”

  “What? You know Dad didn’t have anything to do with this.”

  “I’m sorry, Miss Rivers. But I’m afraid we’re going to have to shut down your station until we can determine the truth.”

  Her heart sank. They were shutting her down?

  Michael ran out of the guest hallway. “Jack. Come quick. You too, Mr. Crowell. Elijah won’t stop going on and on about you.”

  They all headed to Elijah’s room.

  When she saw him, his eyes were glassy, his face red.

  The doc stood over him. “The pain from opening the wound woke him up, but I don’t know for how long. The fever is pretty bad. He keeps saying he has to talk to Crowell.”

  “That’s me.” Mr. Crowell moved closer to the bed.

  Elijah’s face contorted when he laid eyes on the older man. His eyeslooked frantic. “Sanders was shot…. Williamson lied….”

  “I know, son.” Crowell looked to her. “Was Elijah there—in Virginia City—the day Sanders was killed?”

  She nodded. “Yes, and then the stage was attacked on the way home. We never could figure out why he was on the stage. Unless our horse was stolen?” None of it had made sense.

  Crowell shook his head in disbelief. “So he tried to kill the only witness. Elijah.”

  Jackie gasped. “The stage attack—that was … someone trying to kill him?”

  Crowell shoved his hat back on his head. “I’m afraid it sounds as if that’s so. It’s high time we stopped this fiend.” Marching toward the door, he threw over his shoulder, “Might I borrow a horse?”

  “You’ll never get anywhere in this blizzard.” Michael met the man at the door. “You’re going to have to wait until it passes.”

  James Crowell nodded and looked back at her. “I’m sincerely sorry for all this. You have my word I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  Taking a seat next to Elijah, she laid her hand over his arm. “Thank you. I have faith that you will, sir. But I also need you to know that my dad had nothing to do with this. You know that, right?”

  Crowell grimaced. “I believe that to be true, but I have to prove it.”

  “I have confidence that you will. You said that I had your word?”

  “Yes.”

  “There’s something I need to show you.” She stood and went to her room. Gathering the bonds her dad had left her in the box, she took them out to the parlor where Crowell waited. “My dad left these for me. I wouldn’t want you to think I was hiding anything from you or keeping any secrets.”

  “We’ll take these as evidence. I appreciate your honesty.”

  “I stand by Marshall Rivers’s innocence.”

  He nodded. “And I hope to return these to you if they’re real.”

  She lifted her chin. “Well, until the storm passes, you are welcome to stay in your room here and we will help you with whatever provisions you need.”

  November 19, 1860

  Another week and a half had passed with Elijah in and out of consciousness. The fever had finally broken yesterday, so the doctor was hopeful that he would awaken permanently soon.

  Her days had been restless since Mr. Crowell had announced that he was shutting her down. Of course the blizzard had kept everyone housebound for three days and then the Express riders had all gone to Virginia City to help out with the runs from there. It had become all too quiet without her boys around.

  The shutting down of one of the stations would be devastating to the Pony Express if it lasted for long. The horses and riders couldn’t go on without being switched out.

  But even as she worried over the situation, she prayed that God would take care of it all. The sooner they caught the forgers and cleared her dad’s name, the sooner life could go on the way it should.

  Until then? Well, she was determined to pray.

  June had been in and out visiting with her. Encouraging her. Chatting about this or that from Godey’s. But what Jackie really wanted was to be able to talk to Elijah.

  So much had transpired. Her life had been a whirlwind since they met. A month during which her whole world had been turned upside down.

  Walking over to the window, she peered through the ice-covered glass to the white world around them. Normally she loved the snow, but now it seemed like a hindrance.

  Patience. She needed to work on her patience. Was she trusting God to handle this situation or not?

  Turning back to watch Elijah as he slept, she walked back to her chair and picked up her mother’s journal. She’d read almost the whole thing over the past few days, and it had done her heart a lot of good. While it had been painful to read about her parents’ past, she was thankful for the lessons her mother shared. Lessons she wished she could have learnedin person from the woman who bore her. Several images of her mother smiling and laughing had come back to her over this time. Each one had made her cry tears of joy.

  One in particular had become a favorite memory that she went back to over and over. They were chasing a tumbleweed, and their giggles had floated up into the air together. It wasn’t much, but she clung to it.

  Running her hand over the pages, she looked at the journal where she’d left off and flipped a few pages. It almost hurt to realize that she was at the end. This must have been right before Mom contracted the fever.

  With a deep breath, she looked down at the entry.

  June 1, 1837

  Dearest Jacqueline,

  You have grown so much, my sweet. It is such a joy to watch you run around and play. Enjoying life, laughing, smiling, jabbering on and on about the horses, the bugs, the rocks,
the dirt—whatever you fancy at the moment. Today as I laughed with you over the suds and bubbles floating out of the washtub, I realized that I have done a grave disservice to you. And I plan to fix that starting right now.

  I’ve told you about your father. I’ve told you what happened and why I took you away. But I haven’t told you about the man I fell in love with.

  Charles was handsome and charming, with a smile that could light up a room. You inherited that smile, and I love it every time I see it. But he was more than just a dashing young man. He was also intelligent and very business savvy. He took the dowry from my father and practically doubled it overnight. He could make a fortune every day of the week.

  What I loved most was that he could make me laugh. I think that is what I missed most when he went down his dark path. The laughter. We’d always had so much fun.

  But we had been very young. Immature. Naive. We were not prepared for what was to come.

  When those dark times came, I now believe he became very depressed. Because he couldn’t figure out what was missing in his life, he filled the void with liquor.

  My beautiful girl, I never want you to think of your father as a horrible man. And as you grow up, I will do my best to honor him when I speak to you. But it would be dishonest of me if I didn’t tell you that I am still very afraid of him finding me. Especially if he hasn’t changed. But if he has found God and turned his life around—I would receive him with open arms. I want you to know that. The reason we are so far away from where you were born is because I wanted a place to hide. I wanted a place where he could never find us. It would crush me if something happened to you because I didn’t protect you from him.

  Then there is the side of my heart that God is working on. I’ve chosen to forgive him. Like God forgives us.

  So what I have prayed for him the past few years is that he finds the Lord. It is also my prayer for you, little one. God is the only One who can fill the hole in your heart. We are sinners. All of us. Because of that sin, our punishment should be death. But Jesus paid the price for us. Our debt is paid. As you grow, I long to tell you more about our great God and how much He loves us.

  I hope to share all of this and more with you in reflective conversation as you grow older. I long to point out my favorite scriptures and all that God has taught me.