Pony Express Mail-Order Bride

by Rhonda Gibson

  Hazel pushed back her chair. “Thank you for the pie and coffee, Bella.”

  “Yes, thank you. Mighty good,” Johnny said.

  Philip stood and extended his hand. “Thank you for saving the boy’s life. We are in your debt.”

  Johnny shook Philip’s hand. “I am glad Mother knew where he came from. I would not have been happy to take him back to camp with me.”

  “I wouldn’t have been too happy about that myself,” Philip agreed.

  “No, my father’s people are not as accepting of the white man as they once were. It would have been a hard life on the boy.” Johnny walked to the door. Everyone followed except for Thomas. He remained at the table, eating.

  Philip knew that Johnny spoke from personal experience. Why had Hazel given her son to the Pawnee tribe? It was obvious that she loved him very much. He also knew that the Pawnee were not happy about the white man crossing their hunting grounds. He nodded.

  “Hazel, come over tomorrow. I’ll bake in the morning. I’d love your company.” Bella hugged her friend close. “Thank you for bringing Mark home. I can’t thank you enough.”

  The older woman returned her hug. “I could only imagine how frightened you must have been. It was the least Johnny and I could do.”

  Philip followed Johnny out onto the porch. Seeing only his and Thomas’s horses tied to the porch post, he asked, “Did you walk over?”

  Johnny nodded. “Mother refused to ride my mustang and I would not ride while she and the boy walked. So we all walked.”

  “Would you two like a ride home? Hazel can bring the horses back in the morning,” Philip offered.

  Hazel joined them. “No, thanks, Phil. If we walk, I’ll have more time with my boy.” She tucked her hand into the crook of Johnny’s arm.

  Philip watched them leave.

  Bella came to stand beside him on the porch. “Is it just me? Or does that look strange?” She waved her hand in the direction of Hazel and Johnny.

  He had to agree. Seeing a short white woman walking with her hand tucked into an Indian brave’s arm did seem a little out of place. Even for this part of the country. Philip chuckled, then turned to reenter the house.

  Thomas pushed away from the table. “I think I’ll head home, too.” He walked past his brother and sister-in-law.

  Philip waited until the door shut behind Thomas before turning to his new wards.

  Mark and Caleb stood in the center of the room waiting. He hated the idea of disciplining the little boy. His own father would have had no trouble taking him out to the woodshed, but John Young, his adoptive father, had never laid a hand on him. Truth be told, he’d never had to. Papa John had given him a stern talk, explained why he was disappointed in him, and that had been enough. Maybe that was the approach he should take with Mark.

  Bella entered behind him and shut the door. She walked around Philip. “Let’s go to the table.”

  He heard the concern in her voice and wondered if it was because she dreaded disciplining the boys. Or did she think he should be the one to do it and dreaded what he’d do? Philip nodded his head and the boys walked slowly to the table.

  They both looked so small sitting on the logs. Mark’s eyes were downcast. Caleb chewed on the tip of one of his fingers, a sure sign the boy was nervous.

  Philip and Bella sat down. “As a family, what should we decide is a good punishment for Mark? He knew better than to leave without telling one of us,” he said, making eye contact with everyone at the table except Mark, who still studied the tabletop as if it could swallow him.

  Bella shook her head. “I’m not sure. I do know I was worried almost sick. Anything could have happened to him.”

  He looked to Caleb. The little boy swallowed hard and said, “I don’t think I should say. After all, he is my little brother.”

  Philip nodded. “You’re probably right.” He turned his gaze to Mark. “Mark, what do you think is a fitting punishment?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What would your father have done if you had left the house without an adult?” Bella asked. She folded her hands on top of the table and waited.

  Mark lifted moist eyes. “He would have whipped me.” Tears began to stream down his face.

  Caleb wrapped his arm around Mark’s shoulders. Mark leaned into his brother and cried all the harder. Philip looked to Bella, who looked horrified at the little boy’s reaction to her mention of his father.

  Philip said the little boy’s name in a soft voice. “Mark...”

  Mark slowly turned to face Philip. He used his hands to try to stop the flow of tears.

  His watery gaze tore at Philip’s heart. “We aren’t going to whip you. But we were very worried. There is a reason we asked you not to leave the house without one of us. Can you tell us what one of those reasons might be?”

  “Because I might get eaten by a bear?” Mark sniffled.

  “Come spring, yes. Right now they are sleeping,” Bella said.

  “Any other reasons?” Philip asked.

  While Mark scrunched up his face and thought, Bella stood up and got the cookie jar. She set it in the center of the table and then turned to fill two glasses with water from the water bucket.

  “I might run into a Injun?” he asked.

  Philip nodded. “Yes, and not all Indians are nice like Johnny. Right now they aren’t happy that we are in their hunting grounds. In other parts of the country they are killing Pony Express men. Mostly stock holders and station managers, but they are still murdering good men.”

  Mark’s and Caleb’s eyes grew round and their mouths formed perfect O’s.

  “I didn’t know that,” Caleb said, picking up a cookie that Bella had placed before him.

  Philip nodded. “I know you didn’t. But, to be fair, the Indians are not the only people out there that will hurt a small boy, if given the chance. Bad men come in all colors and sizes. The Indians are no worse or better than the white man. You need to use good judgment when dealing with both. That’s the reason Bella and I want you to never leave the house without one of us.”

  “Forever?” Mark asked.

  Bella set a cup of coffee in front of Philip. “Well, at least until you are older.”

  “We’ll let you know when you are old enough,” Philip added. The rich fragrance of the coffee teased his nose. He picked up the cup and took a sip. Was there anything that Bella fixed that didn’t taste wonderful? If there was, he hadn’t found it yet.

  She looked sternly at her nephews. “Promise you will not leave this house or go anyplace without an adult with you.”

  “I promise,” Caleb said immediately.

  Mark took longer. It seemed as if he was arguing with himself. Finally, Mark looked up at his aunt. “I promise, too, Aunt Bella.”

  “Good. Then eat your cookie.” She smiled sweetly at him.

  Philip studied the little boy over his cup. Mark was strong-willed and this troubled Philip. Would the boy take off again? He prayed not and made a decision to keep a closer eye on his youngest charge.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Over the next month, Bella baked bread and kept her little house in tip-top order. She was pleased that they were becoming a family. Philip and Caleb worked on furniture for the house. Mark loved the horses and helped Philip feed and water them daily.

  Bella admired her new rocking chairs and small couch. She finished wiping off the table and then hurried to her bedroom to grab her sewing box and fabric. Today Josephine and Hazel were coming over to make pillows.

  Philip had left that morning on the Pony Express trail, so the boys were playing checkers on the floor. She smiled. Neither of the boys really knew how to play, but they enjoyed pretending.

  Box and fabric in hand, Bella hurried back upstairs. She heard a knock
on the door. As she passed the kitchen table, Bella laid down the fabric and box, then hurried to open the door for her friends. Bella pulled the door open with a big smile, but it quickly faded.

  Marlow Brooks, her ex-fiancé, stood in the doorway. “Are you going to invite me inside?”

  How had he found her? Why had he arrived? Bella had no intention of inviting him into her home. “No. My husband, Philip, isn’t home and it wouldn’t be proper.”

  He laughed. “You’re going to be proper, even out here in the sticks?”

  Caleb and Mark came to stand beside her. Caleb asked, “Who is he?”

  Marlow bent down and offered the little boy his hand to shake. When Caleb took it, he said, “I am Marlow Brooks, your aunt Bella’s fiancé.” He looked up at her and smiled. “If she will have me back.”

  Bella gently pushed Caleb away from Marlow. She turned to the boys. “Go back to playing your game. Mr. Brooks is leaving now.”

  Marlow stood slowly. He leaned against the door frame and stuck out his boot to stop her from shutting the door in his face. “Aw, Bella. I’m sorry I hurt you. I was wrong.” He reached out and touched her cheek lightly with one manicured finger.

  She jerked away from him. Why had she ever found him attractive? He was a handsome man, but his behavior appalled her.

  “I don’t know how you found me, Marlow, but now you know I’m already married. Go home, Marlow.” She tried to shut the door.

  He planted a hand on the door above her head. “You don’t love him, Bella. I know. I can see it in your eyes.”

  “If you see anything, Marlow, it’s anger.” She heard a horse and wagon come into the yard. Bella sighed with relief.

  Marlow turned to look over his shoulder at the newcomers. “Friends of yours?”

  Bella looked under his arm. Thomas had pulled the wagon up to the barn. “My brother-in-law and sister-in-law.”

  “Pretty wife.” He dropped his hand from the door. “I’ll be back. I have business to discuss with you.” Marlow turned and walked down the steps. He waved at Thomas and Josephine as he climbed back on his horse and then spun away.

  Thomas waved at her from the barn. Bella returned his wave and motioned for Josephine to come inside. She turned to find the boys standing in the doorway. “Boys, get in the house. It’s too cold for you to be standing out here in your stocking feet.”

  She turned back and saw Josephine walking to the house. Bella decided she didn’t want the other woman to know any more about Marlow than she intended to tell her. She smiled at Josephine and then walked back to where the boys were playing with the checkers and their wooden horses.

  Bella leaned close to them and whispered, “Don’t say anything about Mr. Brooks to Josephine, Thomas or even Philip. I want to tell them. Understood?”

  “All right, Aunt Bella,” Mark agreed. He used his horse to knock Caleb’s over. “I got you!” he yelled.

  Caleb shouted, “Did not! That wasn’t fair. I was listening to Aunt Bella.” He picked up his horse and pretended to trot it around the checkers.

  Satisfied they’d already forgotten about her visitor, Bella stood. Josephine entered the house and quickly shut the door. “It is getting so cold out there. I feel bad about Philip being on the trail in this weather.” She took her sewing box and fabric to the table. “Thomas talked to a rider this morning that said they are getting snow in the direction Philip was riding.”

  Bella walked to the water kettle. “Would you like hot tea or coffee?” Thankfully the water was still piping hot. “Boys, say hello to Josephine.”

  They looked up. “Hi, Aunt Josephine.”

  “Hello, boys. Tea, please.” She eased into her chair. “I wonder if it’s too cold for Hazel to come out and join us.” Josephine took the cup of hot water from Bella and reached for the tea and tea strainer.

  What had Marlow meant when he’d said he had business with her? They’d broken off all their business when he’d told her he didn’t want to be saddled with someone else’s kids. Bella looked to the door. “I hope she comes.”

  Josephine looked at Bella. It was obvious she wanted to ask who had been visiting, but politeness kept her from doing so. “Have you given any thought as to what we can stuff the pillows with?” she asked instead.

  Bella grinned. She decided to push her worries away. “I was thinking beans.”

  “Like pinto beans?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  Hazel came through the door with a puff of snowy air. “It’s so cold out there, I thought about not coming.” She grinned. “But you two don’t know how to have fun without me, so here I am.” She hung up her coat and walked into the room. “What are you boys playing over there?”

  “Checkers.”

  “Horsies.”

  “Which is it?” Hazel asked. She walked over to see for herself.

  Josephine turned her attention back to Bella. “I guess you could use beans. We have lots of those and they aren’t too expensive.”

  “What were you thinking of using?” Bella asked, taking the tea strainer from Josephine and dumping the spent leaves in the slop bucket.

  “I hadn’t given it any thought until I got here.”

  Hazel joined the conversation. “We could use rice, too.”

  “Did you know that rice will hold heat?” Bella asked. “Coffee or tea?” She directed the question to Hazel.

  “Coffee. How do you heat the rice, and other than to eat it, why would you want to?” Hazel sat down across from Josephine. She placed her sewing box on the table and opened it up.

  Bella poured hot coffee into one of her best mugs. She handed it to Hazel, then returned to start her own cup of tea. “Well, back home, they were putting it in a pan and warming it up. Then when it was nice and hot they’d pour it into the sleeve of a shirt, they’d tie off both open ends and then drape it around their neck or lean against it to make their back stop hurting.”

  “Who is they?” Hazel asked. She took a sip of the hot coffee and sighed. “That sure warms an old woman’s bones right up.”

  Josephine tried not to laugh as she mimicked Hazel. “Yeah, who is they?”

  Bella carried her cup of hot water to the table. “They are the ladies I worked with at the bakery.”

  “I wonder if I could wrap that around my feet at night. Sure would beat having a hot brick at the bottom of the bed. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve kicked that thing in my sleep.” Hazel looked around the kitchen. “You got any pie lying around here?”

  Josephine laughed. “Have you known her not to have pie, or cookies, lying about?”

  Bella grinned. “I made an apple pie this morning.”

  “Were you saving it for dinner?” Hazel asked.

  “No, I made it for us this afternoon.”

  While she got the pie, Hazel and Josephine began working on their cushions and pillows. Bella slid a slice to each of them and then sat down again.

  “I’m glad you talked us into doing this, Bella,” Josephine said as she savored the sugary pie.

  “Me, too,” Bella admitted. She pulled out her fabric and began working on a pillow for the couch. It was a light green print with little leaves.

  Both Josephine and Hazel worked on their cushions. They chatted back and forth. Bella smiled. Moving here and marrying Philip had been the best decision she’d ever made. Her gaze moved to the boys, who were happily playing with blocks.

  Marlow’s voice floated through her memory. Why was he here? She’d told him she was married, but he had asked her to marry him anyway. What was Philip going to say when he found out her ex-fiancé was in Dove Creek—and that he’d been out to see her?

  Dread filled her.

  * * *

  Philip had been home for two days. Bella seemed quieter than normal. The house lo
oked wonderful. While he was gone she’d made pillows and curtains for the window over the kitchen washtub. Maybe she simply needed some fresh air.

  Now that he was rested, they could take a drive to Dove Creek. He could take the rocker and table that he’d made to sell at the general store. The boys were downstairs changing clothes. They’d managed to fall in the mud while feeding the pigs at the relay station.

  “Bella, how would you like to ride into town? I could take the rocker and table to the general store and we could eat at the new boardinghouse.” He took a sip of his coffee.

  Bella’s big eyes seemed to grow in her face. “I’d rather eat at the little diner, if it’s all the same to you.” She laid her dishcloth on the counter.

  “We could do that.”

  Caleb and Mark came racing up the stairs.

  “Boys, how would you like to ride into Dove Creek?”

  Mark asked, “Can we get a peppermint stick each?”

  “I don’t want a peppermint stick. I want lemon drops,” Caleb said and shoved his brother sideways.

  “I tell you what. You boys help me load the table and chair into the wagon and we’ll get both.” He pushed up from the table.

  The boys ran to get their coats. “Do you think we can stop at the livery, too?” Mark asked.

  Philip went to put his coat on also. “Why?”

  “Mr. Morris said I could sit on ol’ Snowball next time we came to town.”

  Bella called from the kitchen, “While you men do that, I’ll go to the dress shop.”

  Philip laughed. His small family seemed very happy with his idea of going to town. “We’ll be ready to leave in about fifteen minutes, Bella. Do you think that will give you enough time?”

  She nodded. “I’ll put this food away and go put on a more suitable dress.”

  “That dress is fine,” Philip told her. It was a light blue dress that brought out the blue in her eyes. He hated to admit it, but he’d missed Bella and the boys more than ever this trip. She’d greeted him with a smile and hot apple pie when he’d arrived home. He was getting used to such greetings.