Pony Express Mail-Order Bride

by Rhonda Gibson

  Chapter Eight

  Philip, Josephine and Hazel arrived at the Young farm a little before dusk. He was thankful that the women had agreed to ride their own horses instead of bringing a wagon. It would have taken much longer to get back if they had brought the wagon.

  Caleb spotted him and came running. “Philip! You came back!”

  He dropped from the horse. “Of course I came back.”

  Caleb stubbed his toe against a small rock and sent it sailing across the yard. “Well, I wasn’t so sure you’d be back.”

  Philip kneeled down in front of the little boy. Mark ran up to stand beside his brother. “As long as the Lord will allow me to live and breathe, I will never leave you.” He pulled both boys into a hug.

  “I told you he’d come back,” Benjamin said, coming to a halt beside them. “Hi, Aunt Josephine, Aunt Hazel.”

  Both women slid off the backs of their horses. “Hello, Benjamin.” Josephine gave him a hug.

  When she released him, Hazel grabbed the boy. “Benny Young. You have got to stop growing.” His head came to her chest. She released him, then turned her attention to the other two boys. “You must be Caleb and Mark.”

  At their nods, Philip made the introductions. “Boys, this is your aunt Josephine and aunt Hazel.”

  “Oh, Philip, they are adorable.” Josephine smiled down at them.

  “Now, Josephine, don’t embarrass the boys. I want you to meet Bella, so let’s head to the house.” Philip handed the horses’ reins to Benjamin. “Do you mind taking care of the horses for us, Benny?”

  “Naw, we’ll take care of them. Won’t we, fellas?”

  Caleb and Mark nodded eagerly. Philip watched them lead the horses into the barn. It broke his heart that the boys hadn’t thought he’d come back. Had the same thought crossed Bella’s mind? He hoped not.

  Philip opened the door for the ladies and then followed them inside. The smell of roast and potatoes greeted his hungry belly and it growled its approval.

  Bella came through the kitchen door with a wide grin. Her hair looked a little mussed and her checks red. Was that joy he saw in her eyes? Had she missed him?

  Don’t kid yourself, Phil. Your family is overwhelming and she’s simply happy to see a familiar face, he told himself.

  He stepped around Josephine and Hazel. “Bella, I’d like you to meet my sister in-law, Josephine, and our next-door neighbor Hazel. Ladies, this beautiful young woman is my future wife, Bella.”

  Bella stepped up beside him and grabbed his hand. She held on as if she was drowning.

  Philip looked down at her, puzzled. Her eyes had gone from joy to wariness in the few moments it had taken him to make the introductions. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  “Oh, we are so happy to meet you,” Josephine said as she offered Bella a quick hug.

  Hazel stood back and eyed the younger woman. She gently pulled Josephine back. “Josie, give the girl some breathing room. She looks like she might just pass out from all this attention.”

  Bella squared her shoulders and smiled tightly. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

  Josephine’s expression said she didn’t understand why there was so much tension in the room. Philip didn’t really understand it, either. What was wrong with Bella?

  She squeezed his hand tighter. “I’m sorry. I guess I should have warned Philip that I’m not very good around a lot of people. The last couple of days have been a little stressful for me. It’s not you. I just...”

  Hazel smiled. “Girl, there is no reason to explain. There’s nothing wrong with you. I don’t care much for crowds myself. That’s why I live on the outskirts instead of in town.”

  “Is that Hazel’s voice I hear out here?” Rebecca asked, coming through the kitchen door. She wiped her hands on her apron and hurried into the room for hugs.

  Philip watched Bella’s face. He noted the tightness around her mouth and the paleness of her skin. Gently he tugged on her hand. In a soft voice he asked, “Would you like to go with me to the barn to check on the boys?”

  “That would be lovely.” She sighed. Relief washed away a little of the tightness on her face.

  The other women were busy catching up as they hugged each other and oohed over new hairstyles and dresses. “If you ladies will excuse us, Bella and I are going to go check on the boys.”

  “You kids go on,” Hazel said, smiling at them with understanding.

  Rebecca called over her shoulder, “Hurry back. Philip, we still need to make sure that your suit will fit.”

  “Ma, I’m not wearing a suit.” Philip propelled Bella from the house.

  Bella giggled. “Do you really think you are going to get out of wearing a suit to your wedding?”

  “Yep. I hate being trussed up in layers of clothes. I’m going to wear my jeans, boots and a new shirt. It’s blue. I got it while we were in Dove Creek.” He winked at her and headed away from the barn and toward the creek.

  “I thought we were going to the barn.”

  “We were, but now that I know she wants me to hurry back, I think I’ll go somewhere else.” Philip grabbed her hand and made a run for the tree line.

  Bella laughed as they cleared the yard. “You are a mess, Philip Young.”

  He slowed down but continued to hold on to her hand. “How were things while I was gone?” Philip realized that he’d taken Bella from the house so fast that she didn’t have time to get her coat. He released her hand, slipped out of his coat and draped it around her shoulders.

  “Thanks.” She snuggled into the warm jacket. “It was all right. I just hadn’t expected there to be so many people about. Your mother invited the whole town to our wedding.”

  Philip wasn’t surprised. “And I’m guessing she plans on using the barn for the ceremony and party afterward?”

  Bella nodded. “People have been arriving to ask what they can bring.”

  He led her to the water’s edge. “Or came to see the new bride.” He kneeled down and picked up a rock. The water was frozen, so his thought of skipping rocks vanished as quickly as it had formed.

  “Maybe. I’ve met more ladies in the last two days than I have in two months.”

  He frowned. “Really?”

  She smiled. “When I say met, I mean spoken to and exchanged names.”

  “Oh.” He tossed the rock across the frozen surface. “I’m sorry about that. We probably should have talked about the wedding more before we arrived.”

  Bella sat down on an old log. “Yeah, I would have preferred a small wedding with just your family present.”

  “I understand. I’m sorry Ma has gone all out.” He stood and walked back to her. “She means well.”

  She nodded. “I know. And after tomorrow this will be behind us.” Bella stood. “We probably should head back.”

  Philip chuckled. “You’re probably right. She’ll send a search party after us if we stay gone much longer.” Even though he laughed, Philip couldn’t help but feel bad that Bella was anticipating the wedding being over. It wasn’t that he wanted the wedding to be special for him. After all, he didn’t even want to get married. But he felt that Bella should have the wedding day she wanted.

  They started walking back to the house. “Have you always been quiet?” Philip asked, tucking his hands deep into his front pockets.

  “I don’t think I’m quiet when I’m with only two or three people, but I suppose I have been.” She looked off into the distance. “That’s one of the reasons I love baking so much.”

  He didn’t understand what baking had to do with being quiet.

  His confusion must have shown on his face, because Bella explained. “When I worked at the bakery, I stayed in the kitchen and baked. Most of the time there were only two people besides me at the bakery and they were
up front.” She looked up at him and then continued with a shrug. “My day started early, so going to work there weren’t many people about. Then when I was done, I’d go back to my home and read or sleep.”

  “I see. So you really aren’t used to being around others.” He almost felt sorry for her. Philip liked being with other people and talking, joking and laughing.

  Bella shook her head. “No, until I got the boys, I didn’t have to worry about anyone else and I enjoyed my own company.”

  He pulled his hand from his pocket and grasped hers. “Well, after our wedding we’ll head back to the relay station. Thomas and Josephine are the only two other people that live there.”

  “So, we’ll be living with them?”

  Philip frowned. They really hadn’t talked much about life after marriage. “Yes, the house has two bedrooms, so we’ll have one and Thomas and Josephine will have the other. My room is small, but the four of us will be fine until we can make other arrangements. I’m sure the boys and I can make pallets.”

  She scowled but nodded. Bella remained silent the rest of the way to the house. Philip hadn’t thought that she wouldn’t want to live with his brother and sister-in-law once they were married. “Let’s check on the boys before heading inside,” he suggested when they came to the yard.

  They went to the barn. When he pulled the door open, Philip gasped. Everything had been cleared in the center, looking much like it had at Christmas. Only now white streamers hung from the rafters and big yellow bows made from fabric decorated the stall doors. The horses had all been moved to the very back of the barn. Several tables stood off to the right—Philip assumed this was for the food that the neighbors and his mother planned on cooking up.

  The boys were nowhere in sight and Philip realized it was suppertime as the triangle rang out. “Those little rascals are already in the house, probably at the table.” He smiled at Bella.

  “Probably. My nephews love to eat.” She turned and walked out the door.

  Philip followed. He pulled the barn door closed and watched as his brothers arrived from all directions. They laughed and pushed at each other. Thankfully there were only three of them at home now.

  Seth rounded the barn beside him. He put his arm around Philip’s shoulders. “Are you ready for the big day tomorrow?”

  Bella looked over her shoulder and grinned but continued walking. Philip wasn’t sure if she could hear them, or if she’d picked up her pace because she wanted to give them privacy.

  “Hey, Bella. Can I have a quiet word with you?” Andrew asked, hurrying to her side.

  Philip wondered what Andrew wanted with Bella but knew he needed to respond to Seth’s question. “I’m ready for it all to be over and just to start a simple life with her.”

  Seth nodded. “I understand, son. That’s how I felt when I married your mother. But truth is married life isn’t always simple.” He stopped with his arm still around Philip’s shoulders.

  Philip stopped also and turned his head to look at his stepfather. “Is there something you want to say, Seth?”

  “As a matter of fact, there is. Your mother is worried about you.”

  “I can’t imagine why.” Philip shook his head. “Bella is a nice girl. The boys have been well behaved. What gives her cause to worry?”

  Seth laughed. “It’s not Bella that worries her, it’s you.”

  “Me?”

  “Aren’t you the one who has always said you’re not the marrying kind?”

  Philip nodded. “Yep, and it’s true.”

  “Then why are you getting married?”

  He rubbed his chin with the back of his hand. “Because those boys need a father figure.” Philip repeated what he’d said earlier, knowing it was true.

  “Let someone else marry her and give them boys a pa. Why does it have to be you?” Seth crossed his arms over his chest and waited.

  Philip watched Bella and Andrew talking with their heads together. Why did it have to be him? He wasn’t attached to Bella romantically. Was Andrew interested in her? No, everyone knew Andrew had feelings for Emma.

  “Because I’m the one she wants to marry. And I want to make sure those boys are treated fairly,” Philip answered.

  “So you love her?”

  Philip jerked back as if he’d been slapped. “No. You know I can’t fall in love with her or any other woman for that matter.”

  Seth frowned. “Refresh my memory, why is that?”

  Frustrated, Philip started to walk away, but respect for his stepfather held him in place. Seth knew about his past. Well, he knew the truth as the ladies at the orphanage had told it. They’d said his father died of a broken heart when his mother died. But Philip knew his father was weak and had killed himself.

  He had no intention of falling in love or expecting someone to fall in love with him so deeply that should either of them die the other would kill themselves and leave behind small children. “You know the reason. Besides, Bella and I have no intention of falling in love. We have agreed to raise the boys together as friends.”

  Seth nodded. “I see. Son, love may creep up on you and then what? Will Bella only want friendship then or will she change her mind and love you back? Or what if she falls in love with you?”

  Philip shook his head. “That isn’t going to happen.”

  His stepfather shook his head. “We’ll see. Come on. Time for supper.”

  Was he being naive to think they could just be friends? Hadn’t people with arranged marriages gotten married and remained friends and never fallen in love?

  His gaze moved to Bella and Andrew. Andrew nodded his head with a smile, gave Bella a quick hug and then bounded up the porch steps. She turned and smiled at him. It was a sweet smile. Bella was a beautiful young woman, with dreams.

  Philip assured himself that those dreams didn’t include falling in love again. But what if he was wrong?

  Chapter Nine

  The next morning, Bella fussed with her hair. Rebecca had insisted that since the preacher was there they should have Sunday morning services before the wedding. It seemed as if her future mother-in-law was trying to postpone the wedding for as long as possible.

  Bella really didn’t understand why. Rebecca claimed to like her, claimed to be all right with them marrying due to her answering a mail-order-bride advertisement, but she found all sorts of reasons to put off the actual event.

  Church services, lunch and then the wedding. Didn’t Rebecca know how nerve-racking this was for her? She smoothed down her calico dress while looking at the pretty pink wedding dress that she’d wear later. Her hands shook. If only there weren’t so many people watching. Maybe then she’d be less nervous.

  A soft knock sounded on the bedroom door. She was sharing the room with Joy, but the little girl had already dressed and gone down to play, so it was up to Bella to answer it. She took a deep breath, dreading to see who waited on the other side, and pulled the door open.

  Philip stood before her. As he’d vowed, he wore a blue shirt, black jeans and black boots. His sandy-brown hair was combed into place and his blue eyes sparkled. “Can I come in?”

  “I’m not sure if that is appropriate,” she answered uneasily. The last thing she needed was for her future mother-in-law to find them alone in a bedroom before the ceremony.

  Philip nodded. “Then can you come out?”

  Bella realized that she was as ready as she’d ever be to face today’s crowd. She’d heard wagons arriving all morning and knew there would be more introductions today than she’d ever experienced. “All right.” She pulled the door closed behind her.

  He grabbed her hand and headed down the hall, then quickly darted into the kitchen. Fay, Rebecca, Josephine, Hazel and Emma were finding places for covered dishes. Bella felt she should stay and help, but Philip tugged her
hand and continued through the kitchen.

  Several of the ladies, with big grins on their faces, wished her good morning.

  Her answer sounded weak in her ears as she allowed Philip to pull her onward. “Good morning. Evidently I’m in a hurry.”

  The sound of laughter met her ears as the kitchen door slammed behind them. “Where are we going, Philip?”

  “To the river to talk.”

  Would they forever be heading to the river to “talk”? Bella followed along as fast as she could. Several people called out to Philip with congratulations and he responded in kind as they passed. He continued at a fast clip even after they were out of the yard and into the woods. What could he possibly want to talk to her about that was this important?

  As soon as they were at the water’s edge Philip stopped and turned to her. “You don’t want this large wedding, do you?” he asked.

  Bella shook her head. “It terrifies me to think I have to stand in front of all those people and say anything, let alone ‘I do.’”

  “What if I told you I know how we can get out of a big wedding and still get married today?”

  “I’d say you are insane. There is no way your mother is going to let us cancel this wedding.” She shook her head. “No way.”

  Philip laughed. “Yes, there is. I’m going to convince Seth to help us and talk to the preacher about doing a small ceremony, after all the guests have gone home.”

  Bella couldn’t believe that Philip could pull off such a feat. She gaped at him. “How?”

  “Well, last night after everyone had gone to bed, I heard Ma say that she’s always dreamed of the wedding she is giving us. Then I remembered her wedding to Seth was a small ceremony. So, I’m going to explain to Seth how you feel. At the last minute, I’m going to ask Ma to come to the back with me and then I’m going to walk her down the aisle to Seth. They can get married again and then he can whisper to her that as soon as all the guests leave, you will get the small wedding you want.”

  Bella clapped her hands together. “Are you sure she won’t get angry?”