by Cyndi Raye
“Nothing to be nervous about, Mrs. Jackson Montana. No need to worry about anything, ever again.”
She smiled up at him, knowing he was being kind. “But you see, Jackson, its not the elements or cowboys I find myself worried about.”
“Well, what is it then?”
“You.”
He stopped abruptly, swinging her towards him. His hands rested gently on her shoulders. Looking into her eyes, he began to speak in a serious tone. “I will never let you come to harm, Becky. You are my best friend, more now than even when we were young. What we had will carry us through our married life. Don’t you see, this marriage is indeed a blessing from above. I feel in my heart it is meant to be. No one from this town or any other will come between us.”
She bit at her bottom lip nervously, causing Jackson to smile. He lifted a hand to her mouth, tracing her trembling lips with his index finger.
She sighed. “I, I know that part. It’s, well, it’s hard for me to explain.”
“Be honest, it’s all I ask.”
“Tonight, well, I am nervous about tonight, our marriage bed.” There. She had whispered the words that were on her mind ever since she left Miss Addie’s boarding house earlier.
He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close. “Trust me. There is nothing to worry about.”
Becky nodded, then grinned. A tad embarrassed because he now knew her true emotions, she pushed her shoulders back determined to get through the afternoon without feeling shamed. “I will and I do.”
He leaned over to whisper in her ear. “If you are going to be an independent woman, these things are nothing to be ashamed of. You’ll see, I promise.”
He led her inside, taking his time as he remarked on the décor in the lobby of the Dawson Hotel, how local artists shared their statues and paintings here. As Becky was led from the lobby to the ballroom, she was relieved to know her husband truly did have her best interests at heart. She couldn’t help the giddiness inside, determined to put fear aside and enjoy the rest of the day.
John Abbot and the horrible events that had taken when she had gotten off the train weeks before were now in the past. She pushed those thoughts aside even though he had threatened to find her and make her pay. She was a married woman now. He wasn’t allowed to bother her any longer.
Except those who opposed the law didn’t much care about rules. A tiny thread of fear tried to push its way up until she decided to stomp it to the ground. She gazed at her new husband, noticing the strong jaw, his determined and bold features causing all the fear to flee. It was her wedding day. She was going to rejoice and be glad.
“Welcome to Wichita Falls, Mrs. Montana.” A dark haired woman wearing a silky red dress and pale skin hurried to her side. A tall, handsome man stood beside her. The lady took her hands and held on to them. “It’s a pleasure to see Mr. Montana married at last. I’m Lily Dawson, and this is my husband, Ben.”
The man nodded, then whisked Lily away when the quartet along the far wall began to play a slow melody, her laughter renting the air. Lily’s laughter faded as the two began to waltz across the floor, eyes only for each other.
Her husband held out his hand. “Care to dance, Mrs. Montana?” His eyes held her own, and his smile drew her to him like a bee to honey.
She felt silly and carefree. Without a word, she placed her hand in his and let him lead her around the floor, closer to the other couples there. With a nod, Rebecca acknowledge the other couples who smiled at them with one of her own.
It was heaven in his strong arms. This had to be a dream. She closed her eyes, letting her mind drift to a place for the lucky few. How did she become one of them?
“A penny for your thoughts?” Jackson’s low voice caressed her cheek. A deep sigh escaped from down inside.
“Never in a hundred years had I thought I would be such a lucky woman. I feel as if I’m in a dream and sooner or later I’ll wake up. This doesn’t happen to girls like me.”
He pulled her closer, his cheek against hers. “Yes it does. We are both lucky, darling. To have had such a friendship so long ago and now to rekindle it years later is a dream come true. I must admit I had my doubts I would ever find you again.”
She stopped moving while the music continued on. “You looked for me? How so? I was always at the orphanage until I was thrown out the day I turned of age.”
He grinned. “It’s okay, Becky. I know you were betrothed to someone.”
“What? You’re mistaken. I’ve never been engaged to anyone.”
Jackson’s face turned grim. His eyes darkened. “Never?” he asked, clearly confused.
She shook her head. “Never. Why in the world would you think I was engaged? Except for the mail order bride fiasco, I’ve been alone.”
Jackson mumbled under his breath. She was certain the words were too delicate for her ears was the reason he didn’t dare say them out loud.
“I was duped.”
“What?”
He nodded, his angry eyes glaring at the top of her head. He didn’t look at her as he spoke, as if he were living a memory all over again. “When I was eighteen, I had earned enough money to leave the farm in Kansas, where I had ended up. The first thing I did was to take the train to New York to see you. I had told you I would be back for you and was determined to keep my word. Besides, I missed you. It had been six years since we had last spoken. When I got to the orphanage, I planned to whisk you away to become my bride. I stood on those cold, brick steps and knocked on the door of the girls side. Sister Mary Helen slid the door open and refused me entrance. She said you were betrothed to another man.”
“No! That was a lie!” Her arms slid to his waist.
Jackson nodded. “I didn’t believe her at first until she threatened to have me removed from the premises. What I just now realized is that if I had taken you from them at sixteen, they would lose two years of wages while you worked in the factory.”
His stiff body was the only thing showing his hard emotions. Rebecca tried to reassure him. “I’m here now. Let’s move on and forget the rest. Agree?”
He nodded, taking in a deep breath. “You are right, Mrs. Jackson. We’re young, we have our whole lives ahead of us. Forget the past, just like I’ve always tried to do.”
She smiled up at him as the music came to a stop. “Except for me. I’m a part of your past you will never be able to forget.”
Jackson grabbed her and held her close in a big hug. “Becky, have I ever told you how much I missed your sass?”
“No sir, but you better start getting used to it because I’m here for good.”
“Amen.”
Rebecca smiled at his last remark, raising her head to the sky, thanking God for a good husband. When she gazed over the large ballroom, a figure in a dark blue coat and floppy hat that covered facial features walked briskly across the room towards the door. The mystery person turned for one last look before leaving, avoiding eye contact. She thought it was strange at first and was going to mention this to her new husband, then thought better of it. Some people were just hands down strange.
All she wanted was to have a beautiful evening as Mrs. Jackson Montana.
<><>
Jackson noticed how Becky scrunched her brows together. He gazed across the ballroom wanting to know what caused her to look confused. As he watched a figure slide through the door, he almost went after it, wondering why someone would want to sneak through a wedding reception. “Did you see who that was?”
She shrugged. “No. Perhaps a guest from the hotel walked in here and realized there was a reception going on. My bet is they quickly tried to leave before anyone noticed they were interrupting.”
Jackson pondered. Becky’s answer seemed like that may be what just happened. Although he was almost always on guard because of his experience at Mill’s Ridge, he had to learn to relax somewhat. It would do no one any good to become suspicious of everyone around them on his wedding day.
He swung Becky to and fro, wrapping his
arms around her shoulders and placing a quick kiss upon her cheek. “Thank you.”
She looked taken back. “Why?”
“For not marrying John Abbott. For running away to Dallas and for letting me rescue you.”
Rebecca lifted her chin and stamped her foot. “Mr. Montana, I’ll have you know I almost rescued myself. Why, I had a ticket to California in my possession. All I had to do was get on the train and I would have been safe.”
Jackson rolled his eyes, but not while she could see him. There was no way she could get on the train, not with Abbott standing on the platform waiting on her.
His arms tightened around her. He wasn’t sure if he loved her, but it was mighty close. Since he didn’t know what love really was, he guessed he liked her an awful lot. He knew one thing. Deep down inside, he would cherish this woman and never let her come to any harm. He would give up his life to make sure she was safe. If that was love, then he guessed he was in love with his wife. He probably always was, even as a young boy.
“Can we go?” she whispered in his ear. “I’m getting tired.”
Her words brought him back to the celebration in the ballroom. “Yes, let’s make our leave with Miss Addie.”
Jackson held her close as they made their way towards the small group in the back of the ballroom. Ben, Lily and Miss Addie were talking quietly amongst themselves when a beautiful woman glided through the crowd.
“Mr. and Mrs. Montana, may I have an interview please? It will take two minutes of your precious time?”
Jackson grimaced. The newspaperwoman was used to having her say. She had married Daniel Johnson, owner of the only newspaper in town. Jackson heard about them when he first came to town. Now he watched with amusement while she worked her way to the two of them.
“Charity Ashwood, at your service.” She held out her hand, shaking each of theirs in a brisk manner. “I’ll cut to the chase since I know the two of you are anxious to go home. Rumors are the two of you met many years ago while being incarcerated at an orphanage in the big city. Is this true?”
Jackson shook his head. “Miss Charity, of course it is true. How did you get this information so quickly.”
Her eyes widened as if insulted. Her chin lowered. “Sheriff, I’ll have you know it is my job to find these things out. I am verifying the information because I am the top newspaperwoman in Wichita Falls and beyond.”
Rebecca smiled. “Miss Charity. It’s been a long day. We’ve been chased by a bad man, escaping from his clutches by the skin of our teeth and I am ready to go home. If you want a story, how about tomorrow at noon? I will answer any and all questions then. Come for tea.”
“Perfect. I was about to question you more. I’ll see you then.” She shook hands again and marched out of the ballroom, stopping to give Lily a hug.
Jackson smiled at his bride. “I don’t think anyone has ever stopped an interview with Miss Charity so quickly.”
“She seems like a lovely woman. I want to get to know her but it has been a long day.”
The undercurrent in her voice pushed Jackson to take their leave. As they stepped on to the street, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “My office is across from the saloon, so I may have to check on the deputy sometime later on. But for now, my cabin is right down the street and around the corner.”
The two strolled arm in arm past Miss Addie’s towards the end of the street, where they made a right turn and crossed the street to the small cabin there. It was a one story structure, quite small with a large porch out front.
Jackson felt her shiver. “Are you cold?”
“No, I’m simply fearful of what’s to come.”
At least she was honest. “No need to be. Do you trust me?”
She nodded. “I do.”
He picked her up, taking the steps one at a time as a nervous giggle erupted from her soft lips. He stopped at the door. “Welcome home, Mrs. Montana.”
Then he swept open the door, and took her across the threshold before she could have any more second thoughts.
Chapter 5
“Sheriff Montana! Sheriff Montana!” A harried voice called from the street.
Jackson didn’t want to wake up. He sucked in a deep breath and slid from the feather bed, careful not to wake his sleeping wife. As he got dressed, his hand slid open the curtain to see who was raising cain outside his home. Dressed more like a cowboy than an officer of the law in faded brown pants, a long shirt, short vest and a droopy cowboy hat, the deputy held a sheet of paper above his head, slashing it through the air as if it were from the President himself.
He wrapped his knuckles on the window to let Johnson Tanner know he heard.
“Is everything alright?” His wife’s sweet voice echoed through the bedroom like a dove singing its morning song.
“Go back to sleep, darling. My deputy is calling me. I’ll be back in a while.”
“I’ll have no difficulty with that.”
Her eyes fluttered shut by the time he made it back to the bed. Little puffs of air escaped from her mouth, an almost serene like look on her beautiful face. Leaning over, Jackson brushed his mouth over her brow, grinning, remembering their wedding night. After all the talk of being scared of what was to come, she sure wasn’t shy once she found out what truly happens in a wedding bed.
He wanted to stay behind and spend the day with his wife but knew there was a days work ahead. Closing the door on their little cabin, Jackson strolled to the anxious deputy. “What in tarnation is so important you have to wake me up?”
“I’m sorry, but Miss Addie sent this to me before the sun rose over the horizon. She said perhaps you should know right away.” He shoved the paper at Jackson, the dread in his voice crackling like an open fire in the middle of the prairie.
Jackson snatched it from his hand, reading the headline blaring at him from the front page of the local paper.
The deputy piped up. “Can they ride in here and do something like this?”
The Sheriff shook his head. “Not in my town they won’t!”
“We gonna run ‘em out of town, Sheriff Jackson?”
Jackson grunted. “If we have to, yes. First things first. Let’s keep an even head on our shoulders and find out how this happened.”
The deputy followed on Jackson’s heels as they made their way across town to the newspaper office. He hoped Daniel Ashwood was there. He didn’t rightly want to discuss the impending matter with Daniel’s wife, who was the newspaperman’s partner in the only printing business in town.
Just as he was thinking how awkward it would be, Mrs. Ashwood came out of the office like a speeding locomotive. She nodded to the men and clammored her way down the few steps, throwing an apology at them so fast and quick they barely had time to acknowledge her. “Sorry, gentlemen, you’ll have to see my husband. A big story awaits!”
Jackson, relieved for the most part, stomped up the steps, pushing his way inside. “Daniel!” he growled, angry at the newspaper man for even allowing such jargon in his paper.
Daniel sat at a big desk by the large picture window, his head down, glasses teetering on the tip of his nose. He looked up and smiled when he saw Jackson.
Except the sheriff was in no mood to be cordial. Taking long strides to the big desk, he slammed the newspaper down on top of papers that scattered in all directions at the interruption. “What’s this all about?”
Daniel pushed his reading glasses up before turning the paper his way. “I am supposing you are speaking of the auction?”
“You know darn well that’s what has me sore, Daniel!”
The newspaperman stood. “I’m afraid it’s the right of the entrepreneur to place an ad in my paper. What kind of newspaper owner would I be if I were to make judgement on what is placed here?”
Jackson leaned closer to Daniel. “I am the sheriff in this town. How am I supposed to answer to this?”
“Well, I didn’t say as a town we have to accept this type of shenanigans. I just report on what
is happening.”
Deputy Tanner tried to put in his two cents. Jackson almost forgot about him. “You tell ‘em, Sheriff. Run them out of town when they get here! We don’t want no riff-raff like that in Wichita Falls!”
The clutter of horse’s hooves stopped in front of the newspaper office. Jackson glanced through the dusty window to see Miss Addie grab a parasol and make her way up the steps. Dread seeped in stronger than the aroma at the stables on an overly humid day.
Her voice permeated across the room. “Mr. Ashwood, a word please!”
“Get in line then, Miss Addie. Sheriff is questioning my reporting skills as well.”
“This nonsense needs taken out of the paper immediately. We can’t have this going on in our town. We’ve fought so hard to have a clean, respectable place for families to live.”
Daniel Ashwood stood his ground as she gave him what for. “I’m sorry, Miss Addie. I’m not rescinding my story. This is what is happening and the town has a right to know and participate if they choose. You can’t stop progress.”
“Progress! It’s inhumane! Despicable! We can’t allow this in our town!”
“I agree.” Jackson was not about to let this go on for much longer. He had the power to throw the auctioneer out of town and he would, lock, stock and barrel.
Addie turned to leave. “I expect all of you at the town meeting this afternoon at three. Please pass it on to everyone you know. We won’t proceed with the meeting until everyone is in attendance. This may last all night so you best get moving!”
Jackson and Daniel looked at each other then grinned. “She’s a feisty woman, isn’t she?”
Jackson nodded. “She has a good enough reason. We can’t allow this, sorry, Daniel.”
“I tend to agree, Sheriff, but there’s nothing I can do when someone pays me to put an advertisement in the paper. I was just bringing it to the everyone’s attention, is all.”
“You sure did. See you at the meeting.”
Jackson left the building to watch Miss Addie storm up the steps and in to the hotel. She supposed the woman was giving fair warning to Ben and Lily to prepare the ballroom for the meeting. It was the only place big enough to hold the population of a growing town.