by Annie Boone
Exhausted, she nearly missed her stop. Grabbing her bag, she struggled to join the others as they all stepped off the train. With a deep breath, she looked around to try to get her bearings. She could hardly keep her eyes open as she staggered off down the steps and into the street.
Christina noticed the buildings and the many people bustling about there. In Virginia, folks had a tendency of trying to stay indoors as much as possible. But here in Colorado, everyone acted as though it were summer the way the children played in the streets and women enjoyed a slow stroll without direction. It fascinated her, and she nearly missed the tall gentleman on his cart.
“Good day,” he called, stopping just to the side so he didn’t block her from the street.
Clutching her bag, she looked up and squinted. “Good day, sir.”
He tipped his hat and glanced around at the street as she had. “Welcome to Rocky Ridge. I’m the sheriff in these hereabouts. Can I help you get wherever it is you need to go? Someone you might be here to see?”
Rubbing her face, she nodded hesitantly. Christina stepped a little closer but glanced at the street and realized it could always be a trap. She was innately wary because of her heritage and her past.
What would these folks be like? There was no telling, and she kept waiting for something to happen. The man seemed nice enough, but she still didn’t know what to expect since she was a new face in town, and different. It wouldn’t be the first time someone wanted her in jail for how she looked. “Possibly. Can you please direct me to the boarding house? It should be owned by the Jessups, and I’m not certain of which direction to go to get there.”
Just as she was building up her resolve to walk as far as it took to get there rather than trust a stranger, the man chuckled. He was older than her by a few years and had a faded scar on one side of his face plus others she could see across the hands holding the reins. His smile caught her by surprise. And when he jumped down and put out a hand she fought the urge to bolt.
Stepping back, she held her purse tighter, ready to run if it came to that. “What is it?” She asked warily.
“Lucas Jessup at your service,” he tipped his hat. “I pass by here often in case this happens. A woman coming for the boarding house.” He shared the information as she remained tense and on guard. “Susannah, my sweet wife, will be glad to have another woman in the house, and I was about to head home. Would you like to join me?”
Weighing her options, Christina slowly nodded. After all there was still no reason not to disbelieve him. She glanced at the cart that was filled with a few more goods. “Well, I suppose. I would appreciate that. Thank you, sir.” Gingerly she handed over her bag and he set it carefully into the back of the cart.
She followed, turning to climb in to the back beside her bag. “Oh, please. You should ride up front. Here, let me help you up.” Mr. Jessup pulled off his hat revealing a head of thick dark hair and beckoned her over.
Hesitantly, Christina glanced at the back. She always sat there, from habit and from never having enough space in the front. It was her aunt and uncle’s seat, after all. Biting her lip, she tried to shrug off the unease and gave in to his request. He accepted her hand without shuddering and gave her the support she needed to sit on the front bench.
Mr. Jessup made it back around to his side and picked up the reins. “All right. Lemondrop, let’s go home.” He clicked his tongue and they started down the street. Clutching the board beneath her, Christina’s breath caught as she felt the wind through her air. She didn’t get that in the back of a cart.
It became a rocking motion, one that made the tension in her shoulders fade away. All that was left, however, was her exhaustion. Her energy was used up in staying upright, with her eyes drifting closed until she felt a light hand on her shoulder.
Stirring, Christina rubbed her eyes. “Hmm?”
“We’re here,” Mr. Jessup told her softly, and then climbed down. Trying to hide her yawn, Christina glanced around to find herself in a barn. It was a very spacious one with a loft and several stalls. The man was putting the horse he called Lemondrop into one of the stalls. After that, he came over to her side with a kind grin. “Are you ready to come down?”
Blushing, she nodded and accepted his outstretched hand. “Yes, of course. I apologize, I didn’t realize we were here.” When she reached the ground, she wavered and put a hand on the wagon for support as he handed over her bag.
“The house is this way,” he offered politely, and guided her towards the house. She stumbled several times but managed to stay upright. Her vision blurred but she focused on the door, which Mr. Jessup opened for them. “Susie darling,” he called out. “We have a guest!”
He started putting away the items he had carried inside, and she stood nervously by the door. Though she tried to concentrate on staying alert, Christina’s resolve was fading just as a bright ball of energy came into the kitchen. “A guest? Oh, hello. Welcome! My name is Susannah Jessup. Lucas, how long have you two been here? I didn’t know we were expecting anyone. But never mind that, our door is always open and we’re very, very glad to have you, dear.” She looked warmly at Christina an took a step closer.
The woman was petite, around the same height, with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. While they shared several similar qualities, Mrs. Jessup was much paler with much lighter hair and eyes. She had the biggest smile and clasped her hands together for just a moment before wrapping Christina in a firm hug. “Thank you,” Christina managed, blinking several times, and then covered a big yawn with her hand. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry. It was a long trip.”
She shook her head, yellow curls bouncing. “If you’re from back east, I’m sure it was! What’s your name, dear?”
“Christina Bristol.” Another yawn escaped.
The other woman tutted. “You’ve had a long journey, indeed. Where do you hail from, dear? Can I get you any water?” Then she started getting one before Christina could say anything.
“Virginia,” Christina said finally. She glanced at the ground, feeling their gazes on her, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to offer all the details.
There was a moment of silence before Susannah returned and handed her a glass of water. “I suppose we can save conversation for later. You look weary, so let’s get you to your room so you can rest. Come with me and I’ll help you settle in. I’m assuming you came here for the boarding house, is that right?”
Christina nodded, and glanced back at the kitchen as they left. Still clutching her bag, she trailed after the blonde woman. Mrs. Jessup had a dancing gait, and she wondered how the woman had so much life to her. She focused on the swirls of blonde hair as she was led to a room. It was lovely with a soft bed and softer blankets. There was a window with lace curtains, and a chest for her things.
“Here we are,” Susannah proclaimed proudly. “You can call this yours while you’re here. Welcome. I’m pleased to have you here with us, dear.”
“Thank you, ma’am. Mrs. Jessup, I mean.”
“You’re here to learn the skills and find yourself a husband, yes?” The words came out awkwardly as they glanced at one another. “I just want to make sure there’s no misunderstanding about that part of what we do here.”
There it was, put in its plainest terms. Christina hesitated, unable to meet her gaze as she nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” She blushed deeply as she agreed. Though she believed this is what she needed to do, the whole thing was a little embarrassing.
The woman bit her lip. “And there were no suitors back home?” She pressed. “I don’t mean to ask much, of course, I shouldn’t be—well, Lucas tells me I pry too much so I apologize if that’s rude. I just want to be clear that you’re unmarried and looking to change that.”
Shrugging, Christina leaned against the bedpost. “I am, yes.”
Susannah appeared to sigh in relief, but Christina couldn’t be sure. It was taking more strength to keep her eyes open than to stand.
“I understand. Well, yo
u should get some rest, dear. I’ll come back later to get you for supper in case you’re hungry. We’ll be in the main house if you need anything. Sleep well.” She waved and closed the door behind her.
By that point, her mind was no longer able to function. It took all of Christina’s strength to pull off her shoes and put her bag down on the chest. She was halfway under the bundle of blankets when her eyes closed, and she immediately fell asleep.
7
Susannah
“I had to be positive that she was actually here to be a mail order bride,” Susannah explained as she set the utensils around the table carefully. “So I wasn’t prying. I just wanted to be sure. We all need to be very, very clear about what is going on here. Um, I need to be is the best way to say that, I suppose. I must make sure that each young woman is here to start a new life. To find a husband. And I think that’s important. Don’t you?”
Lucas was at the other end of the table and she watched his brow furrow in concentration, torn between the conversation and reviewing their accounts. “I suppose. But I saw her face when she didn’t say where she was from.”
“She answered. She said Virginia.”
“And you were about to pry. You had your prying face on,” Lucas told her, not even looking her way. It bugged her. Pouting, Susannah set the last of the silverware down and put her hands on her hips. Then she stared at him until he sighed, giving her an exasperated look in response. “Susie darling, you meant well, I know. I’m just saying that she was past the point of exhaustion. All that could have waited.”
After a minute, Susannah let it go. “All right, fine. The poor thing was certainly tired. But oh, she’s lovely. Isn’t she? That hair, it looks like pure silk. I’ve never seen anything like it. That young lady is a remarkable one, I just know it.” Susannah beamed and went over, rubbing his shoulder. “I have a good feeling about her, don’t you?”
Several of the papers slipped from his hands and he made a face. But he left them there, taking a deep breath before looking at her. With a soft smile, Lucas took her hand in his and pulled her onto his lap. Her breath caught at the swift movement and raised she her eyebrows at him. “Everything turns out well when you’re around,” he said finally, and tugged on her hair lovingly.
Smiling, Susannah leaned forward and gently touched his cheek. Already there was scruff across his chin and she could feel the unevenness of his old scar. Lucas’s features were so familiar to her that she didn’t even need her eyes to know it was him. His scent, his voice, his touch. Everything about him was unique, and she knew every wrinkle and breath. “Only because you’re my luck,” she chuckled. “Now, is that pumpkin I smell?”
“I hope so,” he kissed her nose. “Because I’m starving.” His stomach agreed by groaning loudly. It made Susannah laugh, and she hopped off his lap. After they blessed the food, Susannah took a plate down to the young woman’s room, but when she peaked in, the girl was fast asleep.
He didn’t have much to say about their journey from town, only that Miss Christina Bristol was quiet and uncomfortable but that was to be expected. Susannah cleaned the kitchen and they gathered blankets with a book to read out on the porch. Lucas fixed the lantern on the table and wrapped an arm around her.
“We don’t do this often enough,” she sighed happily, leaning against him as her heart pattered lightly inside her chest when he started the story.
Lucas was only in two chapters when his speech slowed down. Immediately she looked up and realized he was looking ahead. Straightening up, Susannah found a wagon headed in their direction. It was small but they were close enough for her to recognize it. “It’s the Connors!”
Sure enough, Matthew pulled up at the gate. At first she had supposed that the figure beside him would be his wife, but Eleanor was much slighter. And they weren’t in a hurry, so that meant nothing was wrong. Lucas moved to the edge of the stairs, welcoming the men.
“Hello,” he tipped his hat with a grin. “I’m Lucas Jessup,” he added to the unfamiliar figure.
It was another man, more roughly dressed than Matthew. He was tall, thick with muscle, and though he offered a polite smile, he was more than ready to keep his head low and the hat on.
“This is Mitchell Powell,” Matthew explained, and took the package from him. “We bring you a pie! Eleanor requested I bring it to you immediately. Then I brought Mitch along for company.”
Though Susannah accepted the pie, Lucas was right there hovering over her to peek through and sniff at what it might be. With one deep inhale, he grinned down at her. “It’s huckleberry.”
His expression made her chuckle. “Then I suppose we had best dish it out now, shouldn’t we? Gentlemen, would you like to join us inside?”
Matthew shook his head. “No, that’s all right. We don’t want our dirty boots on your clean floors. But I wouldn’t say no to a piece of pie,” he added with a wink.
Laughing, she nodded. “Perfect. I’ll be back in a moment and bring some cider to go with it.” Humming, she stepped inside to gather everything. Moving quickly about, she was able to load everything up in one trip back to the men. The tray was heavy and Lucas was quick to grab it from her once she reached the door. Susannah passed around the plates and mugs before sitting back on the bench with her husband. They nodded their thanks and all bit into the delicious treat. It was perfect, as all of Eleanor’s huckleberry pies were since she’d perfected the recipe.
Susannah eyed the men curiously as they ate their pie, and she looked at the stranger again. If Matthew liked him, then he had to be a good man and that was enough for her. “Mr. Powell,” she called him out, watching him keep his head hunched and his collar up. Cocking her head, she tried to catch a better glimpse of the man. When he heard his name, his eyes lifted and met hers. Only then did she realize why he kept his face hidden.
On the right side of Mitchell’s face was what appeared to be a birthmark. It was a little darker than the rest of his face and covered about half of his cheek. It made sense then, and her heart went out to him. Everything he did was to maneuver that mark out of everyone’s sight. But she was undeterred, for her own husband wore a scar of his own. Susannah smiled when their eyes met.
“Have you been in Rocky Ridge long?” She smiled and waited on his response.
Glancing around, he shook his head. “No, ma’am, I haven’t.”
“Well, welcome!” She beamed. “We’re glad to have you here. The Connors are wonderful folks, and I’m sure you’ll settle in quite nicely.”
Mitchell cleared his throat. “I hope so. Yes, thank you.”
Finished with his pie, Lucas settled back with an arm around his wife. She appreciated the extra warmth and grinned at him, offering him a bite of her pie which he eagerly took. She chuckled. “Matthew, how is the ranch these days? And the girls?”
Swallowing the last of his cider, Matthew Connor relaxed back in his own chair. “Good, and wonderful. Eleanor wants you two to join us for supper soon. Our little one is going through teething pains, but perhaps next month would be good?”
Nodding, Susannah glanced at her husband. “Yes, of course. Hopefully when the snow melts we’ll be able to gather together more often. The drive here wasn’t difficult?”
“Not at all,” he assured them. “It’s been a lovely week. Oh, and I don’t think we told you, but our next herd of horses just arrived. They are exquisite, Susannah. Lucas, if you’re needing any horses, be sure to let me know. Once they’re broken, they’ll be great for whatever you need.”
Lucas nodded, stealing another bite of Susannah’s pie. “I’ll think about it, thank you. And Powell, what are you doing? Are you working with the horses?”
For some reason, Matthew chuckled. He glanced at the man before nodding to the Jessups. “He sure is. Mitchell managed to get a Mustang eating right out of his hand this very afternoon.”
Susannah glanced at her husband who would understand this statement better, knowing very little of horses herself. Just the id
ea made her squirm in her seat. But Lucas squeezed her tight in her discomfort and nodded to the gentlemen. “That’s very impressive. Have you worked with horses often?”
The young gentleman shrugged, running a hand through his dark hair before setting the hat snugly back in place. “On and off, I suppose. I just think that I understand them, that’s all. They’re good creatures, with good hearts.”
Matthew grinned proudly. “He has a way with them, that’s for certain. Now, enough about us. How are things with you? And the boarding house?”
Setting down her empty plate, Susannah wrapped her shawl more tightly around her shoulders. “Things are very well. Lucas repaired a broken horseshoe, and we’re going to have a few calves due in a few months, it looks like. And just today we had a young lady arrive,” she added with a bright grin. “Oh, she is darling. Her name is Miss Christina Bristol and I’m sure you’ll see her around town soon.”
“Lovely,” Matthew nodded, and turned to Mitchell. “The Jessups run a boarding house for women. Actually, Susannah is a matchmaker. Women come stay here as long as they need to and learn valuable skills. And she introduces them to gentleman she thinks would be a good match. She has marvelous insight and she’s quite successful.”
Susannah shook her head with pink tinged cheeks. “You’re too kind, Matthew. It takes a lot of hard work for everyone to make things happen. I just want to be there to help women settle out here.”
“How do you match them up?” Mitchell cocked his head curiously. “What happens if they, well, they don’t like each other?”
“The moment things aren’t going well, we bring it to a stop. We’ve had a few slip ups along the way, but so far everything has concluded happily. I want the very best for everyone. You see,” she paused as she met his gaze again. “I came out west to marry Lucas and knew very little about how to run a household here. I know other women are coming out to take this same journey. Now they can come here to learn skills and they help with my duties and I’m able to help them find husbands.”