Along the miles of her travels, Elizabeth made a couple of decisions. The first was that she’d like to be called Lizzie instead of a stuffy name like Elizabeth. And second, she realized that once she’d sold off some of the family jewels, she felt lighter. Happier. The cash in hand didn’t hurt matters any, either. So when she found there was a long stop in Monroe City she made haste to find a jeweler.
Satisfied with her transaction, she got back on the train, money tucked away deep in her valise.
Next stop, Juniper Junction and Matt Foreman.
Her heart pounded. Doubt crept in. Had she made a huge mistake?
But then she remembered Nevie Pettit. Her father.
More importantly, she remembered I am eager to hold you close and make you mine. To care for you always and she knew she hadn’t made a mistake.
And didn't she still maintain a glimmer of hope that the warm emotions his letters had inspired in her would be reciprocated by the man who wrote them?
She glanced out the window as the train slid into the station. A large sign said, "Juniper Junction." Her heart pounded. She licked her dry lips and said a silent prayer.
Asking for forgiveness for the many deceptions she'd perpetrated in the last week.
And those she was about to.
The conductor, a kindly gentleman with silver hair, lifted her valise down from the compartment overhead. "Thank you," she said.
He gave her a warm smile. "I'm sure everything will be just fine, miss. Will you be getting married right away?"
Startled, she gave him a longer look. "H-how did you know?" She glanced around to see if anyone else was listening but they were all absorbed in their own thoughts and preparations for exiting the train. Some hung out the windows waving and calling to friends and family on the platform.
"Oh, I've seen dozens of mail order brides on this train. They all have the same look. A combination of hopeful and scared to death."
Lizzie laughed. "That's about right." She blew out the breath she'd been holding. "I know you're just trying to be nice, but your words do help."
The train had come to a complete stop, though folks had been running alongside as soon as it got near the platform.
"Do you know anything about Juniper Junction?" she asked.
"It's a nice little town. Folks are real friendly."
"That's good to hear." She paused. She didn't want to appear nervous but she'd never see this man again, so she asked another question. "The man I'm going to m-marry works at Windy River Ranch. Do you know anything about that?"
The conductor's eyebrows shot up and he grinned wide. "Oh, a Windy River man? Well, you're a lucky gal, that's what. Mr. Conners runs Windy River and he won't put up with no accounts and layabouts. If your man works for Mr. Conners, you can bet he's a fine fella."
She took a deep breath and glanced toward the window. "I hope you're right."
When she turned back, the conductor had moved on to help people off the train and to collect their luggage. She had a small case and though she was eager to exit and get on with her life, she took a moment to peer out the window, scanning the gathered crowd to see if she could determine which of them was the man she'd traveled halfway across the country to meet.
And marry.
People were spread all around the platform and excitement filled the air. As people disembarked, they were greeted with shouts and hugs and quickly escorted away.
When the crowd thinned, she spotted a man staring at the train and her heart skipped a beat. Wavy hair, piercing eyes and broad shoulders. Of course, there were several men who met that description standing about, but one in particular drew her attention to him. That had to be him.
She took a deep breath and stood, gathered her things and prepared to plunge into her future. Her future as Mrs. Matthew Foreman.
* * *
"Where's she at, Matt?"
"You know, my cousin in Black Clover ordered himself one of them brides in the mail and she never showed up. He was sure something had happened to her on the way, but I think she just cashed in the ticket and kept writing letters to other fools."
Matt stared at the door to the train as people continued to get off, none of them wearing a blue silk dress and hat. In fact, very few of them were women at all, let alone the one he'd been waiting for. Dreaming about.
More and more people exited the train and then the line got thinner and thinner, Matt's spirits began to flag.
When a few moments passed and no more passengers came out, folks waiting to board the train clamored on.
He heard sympathetic murmurs around him and felt his face flush.
Matt's heart sank.
Suddenly, there was movement in one of the doorways. Was it? Yes, yes, it was. A blue silk dress and matching hat and the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the bright sun and he stepped forward to claim his bride.
Not everyone was as careful of the passengers or as attentive as Matt. From the corner of his eye he caught movement as two young women charged toward the train at the same moment his Elizabeth was attempting to leave it.
With a quick glance he recognized them as Myrtle and Aggie, two troublemakers who Mr. Conners, the owner of Windy River Ranch and Matt’s employer, had escorted to the train today to make sure they got out of town.
Matt had been relieved to know they’d be gone before his bride arrived. They’d caused all kinds of problems, particularly for Jake’s bride, Posey. And Matt didn’t want to take any chances that they’d do the same to Elizabeth.
Marriage to a
