by Rye Hart
Three weeks had passed since Silla’s operation, and much to her joy, her vision began to return a little each day. At first, she could only distinguish light from dark, and then gradually shapes and colors began to reappear. One morning, as she walked carefully to the kitchen, she saw her brother clearly.
“Jake? Oh Jake I can see you,” she cried.
Jake enveloped Silla in a hug as she continued to look around the room.
“Ellie! Oh Ellie it’s so good to see you too,” she exclaimed.
Her gaze fell on Lance who sat in the corner just waiting for her to find him.
“And you, Mr. Boardman, you are as handsome as ever,” she said, beaming her brightest smile.
Lance rose from his chair and swept Silla off of her feet. I love you Silla,” he said as he placed a kiss on her lips.
“I love you too Lance.”
Chapter Seven
As her wedding day arrived Silla was absolutely radiant. She was going marry the man she loved. The sun was shining and everyone in town had shown up to celebrate. As Ellie was helping Silla get ready, she began talking about Ben and how close they had gotten.
“You and Ben? Oh Ellie I think it’s wonderful! Ben is a wonderful man and I know he cares a great deal about you.”
“He is so kind. I knew you’d be happy for us Miss Silla.”
There was knock on the door and Travis Boardman entered the room.
“Since this is a special day, I have something special for you. It was my great grandmothers and every bride after her wore it for her wedding,” he said, as he took a beautiful necklace out of its box. Travis held up a tear dropped shaped fire opal surrounded by rows of diamonds so bright it glowed.
“Oh Mr. Boardman it’s beautiful,” Silla gushed. “And on you Silla, it looks like it always belonged.”
The sound of the music cued that the ceremony was about to begin. Outside in the yard the guests waited for the bride, and Ben took her hand to walk her down the aisle toward her happily ever after.
The End
Rebecca
Chapter One
I wasn’t sure what the West had in store for me, but it had to be better than what I was facing in Charlotte. I sighed and looked out the window as a few of the visiting women went on and on about a man that one of them was marrying. It was moments like this when I wanted out the most.
Charlotte was one of the bigger cities in the South and it was known for its opulence and fashion. Southern Hospitality was alive and well here, though that mostly rested on the shoulders of the women who resided here. We lived in large plantation houses and made sure the children and men were cared for. That was the fate of any woman who lived in Charlotte.
My eyes fluttered closed as I felt a headache pulsing at my temples. It always gave me a headache to sit around and listen to these hens cluck. They were so content with their lives. They were happy to be the wives of men they’d never met before their wedding day. They were content to live in large mansions, fanning themselves and chatting about useless things like the latest fashions from New York. Their lives were far from what I wanted for myself.
I’d grown up around women like this my entire life. My mother had been quiet and mousy with little to no ambition. She loved me, but I was all she had in her life. My father was a strict man and spent very little time at home, though I had some fond memories of playing with him in the fields. He was one of the only people who never went easy on me. He treated me like he would a son. It gave me a strange sense of freedom when he allowed me to do the things the boys did.
As I grew older, this stopped. He no longer allowed me to play like I was a boy since it would make me less desirable as a wife. I traded in fishing and hunting for tea making and baking. I hated all of these mundane tasks and as I learned needle point, I would sit on the porch and long to run through the grass and play in the creek.
There was at least some comfort, knowing my parents weren’t planning to marry me off to some random man who was willing to pay a high enough dowry. I was their only child and so they treasured me. I was going to be allowed to pick my suitor.
This comfort was quickly stripped away when both my mother and father became ill with consumption. I did my best to care for them but even the doctors weren’t able to make them well. They passed on through the gates of Heaven, leaving me in the hands of my money-hungry uncle. As a woman, I could not inherit my parent’s estate, so it all went to my father’s brother. He was happy to have the extra money, but he wasn’t happy that he was stuck with me. He resolved the situation by finding me a husband; a man named Robert Richfield. He was apparently a very wealthy, very old man who had an eye for blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauties like myself.
I wasn’t going to go through with it. I refused to allow myself to be married off and sold like a mule. I was going to fight this, even if I did not have many options available. I knew I had one; I could run away to the West. Many of the men out there were desperate for wives and while I’d be agreeing to enter into a marriage with a practical stranger, at least it would be on my own accord. Besides, I needed the adventure like I needed air.
“Rebecca?” one of the women asked, waving a gloved hand in front of my face.
My eyes widened and I jumped a little, staring at the women before me. They all looked a bit concerned and confused.
“What?” I asked softly, confused by their concerned looks.
“We’ve been trying to get your attention for a while now. Are you okay?” the youngest woman asked.
I put a hand to my neck and smiled weakly. “Oh. Yes, I’m fine,” I whispered softly, looking down at the plate of untouched finger sandwiches. “Just daydreaming, I suppose.”
One of the older women chuckled and sipped her tea, glancing over at me. “She’s at that age where all she does is daydream about babies and her wedding.”
I forced a smile and nodded, glancing back out the window to the field of wild flowers. “I suppose so,” I agreed. “Just eager to be married and start my new life,” I said, trying to sound convincing.
“Oh! I remember being like that,” another woman commented. “I miss being so young and eager,” she sighed. “That excitement tends to go away after the first few years,” she mused.
I winced at that comment and closed my eyes, putting a hand to my forehead. God, I did not want to feel trapped like these women. I wasn’t going to allow myself to be miserable like them. I just wasn’t going to allow it.
My plan may have been foolhardy and maybe it wasn’t perfectly thought out, but it was going to get me out of here. I stood up with the rest of the women and we gathered our things to head home. I opened my parasol and walked just behind the group, glancing at the train station longingly. With a little luck and a little more time, I would be on that train and escaping this trap of a life. I wasn’t sure where I was going to go or who would be waiting for me on the other side. Everything could be terrible and I might find myself in the clutches of an outlaw. There was a lot of risk associated with the path I’d chosen, but I knew one thing for certain; no matter how bad it was in the West, it could not have been worse than the fate I faced by staying here.
Chapter Two
As the women kept walking I glanced over my shoulder at the post office. There was a small board that hung right outside the door, where people nailed wedding announcements, birth announcements, and a wealth of other news. It also happened to be the place where the postman put ads for mail order brides.
I managed to sneak away from the women without being noticed. I walked over to the board, pretending to be interested in some of the more boring news items before glancing around and making sure no one was watching. When I was sure it was safe, I took down one of the ads and stuffed it in my corset.
By the time I left the post office, I'd managed to snag four or five if the ads without anyone seeing me. I had plenty of ink and paper at home to write the letters. I'd already decided that I was going to have the letters delivered to my uncl
e’s second home by the ocean. We rarely went there in the winter so it would be the perfect place to receive the letters without drawing too much attention since it was within walking distance.
I hurried home with my prize, struggling to walk at a normal pace. I knew that if I was caught running I would draw attention and that was the last thing I wanted. I managed to make it home without earning any strange glances. It wasn’t too late for a lady to be out on her own and so no one really gave me a second look.
My uncle and his wife rarely paid any attention to me; I was just standing in the way of their money. Once I was married off they wouldn’t have to spend any more of their precious inheritance on me. I would say it was sad, but I honestly did not care much. I disliked them just as much as they disliked me. It made it easy for me to sneak away into the room upstairs. I always had my meals brought to me anyway.
I spent the better part of the night writing letters and sealing them up. I did not bother using an alias since no one in the West was going to know who I was. A few of the ads showed promise. Most of the men were ranchers or farmers who’d moved to the West searching for gold and promising business ventures. There was plenty of land out there and most of the men seemed to be doing rather well for themselves. One of the men, however, was very vague in his letter, though it was obvious he was far better educated than the rest, which held an enormous amount of appeal to me. I was a voracious reader and writer and I’d hoped to marry a man with similar interests; someone who would encourage my own hobbies.
The letters were tucked away in a basket and stayed there until the next morning. My uncle tried hassling me about going out on my own, but I ignored it, smiling and nodding solemnly as if I were truly sorry. I never listened to his lectures because he did not mean any of them. He could have cared less if I was actually hurt or not. If I fell off a cliff it would probably be rather convenient for him.
As much as I hated him however, I ignored it and smiled, not wanting to give him any reason to have me locked away for hysteria. He was looking for any reason to get rid of me at this point and marriage had been the only option so far.
I wandered from the house, under the pretense that I was going into town for fresh flowers and books. My uncle rolled his eyes when I told him I needed more books but did not stop me. I did plan on going to the market, though I had to make a quick detour. I waited at the beach house, handing the letters to the postman. I had family all over the South, so he did not ask too many questions about the letters.
After handing the letters over, I knew it was going to be a waiting game. I went to the beach house every day, waiting for any of the men to respond. I knew it might take a while, but the wait made me anxious. Every day that passed was a day I was getting closer to my wedding. I wasn’t ready to give up my life to the old man my uncle wanted me to wed. I wanted adventure and I wanted a chance to breathe and be free.
It took nearly a month but one of the letters finally came back. I tore into it eagerly, my eyes scanning over the well-practiced pen strokes. It was the educated man. He wanted me to come live with him in Boulder, Colorado. He included enough money to pay for my travel expenses, and would be expecting me within the month.
I stared at the money in my hand and my fingers began to tremble. This was it; this was my life line. I tucked the money away, my heart nearly beating out of my chest. I wasn’t about to hang around here any longer than I had to. This was God’s way of telling me it was time. He’d provided a way out and I wasn’t going to ignore the sign.
Once I made it home I began to pack my things. I could easily hide the suitcases, though I doubted anyone would come up here to check anyway. I only had to make it through a few more days. The next train was leaving in less than a week and I was going to be on it.
My new life was only a train ride away now.
Chapter Three
The train left early in the morning and I had to silently sneak out and pray I did not wake my aunt or uncle. I did not bother leaving a note telling them where I was because I honestly did not trust them. If they knew where I was there was the distinct possibility that they might come after me and drag me back so they could collect the money Richard had offered for me. I could only hope that they would just be happy that I was gone.
I managed to sneak out of the house just as the sun was starting to rise. I knew the train master would be entering into the station and I knew the young boy who sold tickets would already be there. I was dressed in one of my best dresses, wanting to impress my new husband. I wasn’t normally the sort to go out on a limb to impress a man, but I did not want him to send me back. I recognized that I was going to have to put some effort forth, but it was worth it to me.
I hummed and set the money in front of the ticket boy. He was idly flipping through a few of the ticket boxes before he stopped and looked at me. His eyes widened a moment as he looked me up and down.
"You're Rebecca Wright. You're marrying Lord Richfield,” he said.
My eyes widened and I stared at the boy who somehow knew who I was. "How do you know who I am?" I whispered, panic running through my body. I had no idea how this young boy knew me, but it was cause for concern.
"I work in his gardens. I've seen you there," he hummed.
I swallowed thickly and started to pull out a few extra bills, hoping I could buy the boy’s silence. I leaned close and closed my eyes a moment, taking a breath before speaking. I did not want to sound too panicked or desperate.
"Young man..," I played it up a little. "Please do not tell anyone I was here," I whispered softly.
His eyes seemed to spark in understanding when I offered the extra money. He looked up at me a moment. "Are bad people after you?" he whispered back.
I nodded quickly. "Yes. That's exactly it. Very bad people are after me."
He took the money slowly, glancing up at me again as he nodded "Okay, I won't tell anyone," he said with a soft smile.
I allowed him to pull the money from my hand and kissed his cheeks.
"Thank you, thank you so much," I whispered.
I left him blushing as I took my ticket and quickly walked toward the train, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. I'd managed to clear my first hurdle and I was feeling good. I was nervious for what was to come next but I had a good feeling about my decision.
The train took off from the station not long after I boarded and despite the crowded conditions, I felt hopeful for the first time in a long time. The train rocked and I rested my forehead against the cool glass, a smile playing on my lips. It was all going to be okay. I was finally free and it was going to be okay.
The ride took far less time than I assumed it would. We rolled right on through Chicago before making it to Boulder. The train moved faster than I could have ever expected. I’d never seen anything like it. Even though I came from a wealthy family, we mostly traveled by horse and buggy, which took quite a while. On the train, everything blurred by so fast I could barely keep up.
When the train finally stopped in the station, I hopped off and followed the small gaggle of women who I knew were also there to meet their husbands. There was very little direction in the letter than told me what I needed to do once I got off the train. It just said to go to the ticket master and he would help me.
One by one, each woman was given a small map and verbal directions. They all seemed shocked that they were being expected to find their own husbands. They took the maps hesitantly before walking out the door.
When I came to the window the man did not even look up at me. “Name?”
“Rebecca Masters.”
He lifted his gaze and glanced at me like he did not quite believe me. After a moment he hummed and nodded. “Go right outside. You’ll see a large carriage with an elderly man driving it. He will take you to Lord William’s home.”
I blinked but nodded, leaving the line. I could feel the eyes of the other women on me but said nothing. I was the only woman who hadn’t received a map and been sent on my way. I th
ink it made some of the other women jealous.
As I stepped outside the train station a gust of cold air hit my cheeks, stinging the skin and turning it pink. Charlotte got cold of course, but nothing like this cold, dry air. I turned my face away from it, gasping softly. My eyes stung and I had to stifle my surprise. I’d always heard the West was warm, though I knew winter was right around the corner.
As I was trying to get my bearings, a deep voice rumbled, catching my attention. “Ms. Masters?”
I looked up, shocked to see a tall Indian, with long white hair braided neatly. A feather had been tucked into the plaits, giving him an exotic look. His wrinkled face spoke to his age.
“Yes, I’m Ms. Masters,” I said.
He nodded and picked up my luggage, setting it in the floor of the carriage. He opened the door and offered his hand. “I will take you to meet your husband.”
“My husband? We aren’t married yet.”
He cocked a brow and just smiled softly. “Everything will be explained soon, young one,” he said.
His cryptic message confused me, but I decided not to argue. I was eager to meet the man I would be spending the rest of my life with.
Chapter Four
The ride through the country was bumpy and not at all what I was used to. There were no shops filled with dresses and no groups of ladies wandering, fanning themselves and gossiping about the latest marriage. Everyone was hard at work, trying to build their homes, and that excited me more than I could put into words. Sure it was going to be hard work, but I wasn’t afraid of that. I welcomed the opportunity to get my hands dirty and feel the sun on my face. This was a dream come true.
Those dreams were dashed rather quickly, however. The carriage came to a complete stop in front of a large mansion and my face fell. The tall man came around and opened the door for me, helping me out of the carriage.