"Of course. You need to remember that our faults make us human. Nothing we have been through or go through is wasted. Our Father holds our destiny in his hand. Surely you have seen this first hand, now?" Bronnah is shocked and looks at her.
“Chase told me the circumstances of your meeting. It seems to me that all of this was destined to happen. Truth be told, he is planning on surprising you with a wedding once you arrive in Wyoming, but I think it would be best for our men to learn that not everything should go according to their wills.”
Bronnah is stunned but relieved to have the charade over with. “What do you mean, Mrs. Higgins?”
“I mean if you’d like, we could plan a wedding at our church, something small and intimate.” Bronnah’s heart swells with excitement.
“I’d love that. I have learned one thing, Mrs. Higgins. Life is too short to waste a moment on regret and what ifs. Will you help me?”
“Call me, Anna. I have a few house calls to make this afternoon. You can come with me and meet the preacher. We will arrange everything.” Bronnah laughs and hugs her new friend.
“Stay and plan a funeral or go and plan a wedding? Is it selfish of me, Anna, to be happy when someone is dying?”
“No. We will pray for her soul and hope that God shows mercy and then we will ask our father to bless your future.”
***
“Good Morning, Darla,” Sheriff Rex said to the young widow running the postal office. “I need to send a private message,” he slides an envelope with cash, and she grins.
“You’re just in time, I was getting ready to shut down for my morning break,” she jumps up and rushes to put the closed sign on the door. “I’ll leave you to it.” She disappears as usual when he makes his “request.” It’s not easy raising three young boys without their father. The money helps feed them and buys her security from the local men who think a widow will settle for anyone. Grinning she sits and counts her money.
“Wyoming bound, train 42, Central Pacific, stop.” He murmurs as he taps out his message to California and thinks as he waits for his reply. It was easy enough to find out which train they were leaving on and their destination. The sound of his reply coming through has him grinning. His hope was to drug both Bronnah and Eve and take them both out at the same time, but that damn Marshall doesn’t leave her side for a moment.
“All set, Darla. Have a nice morning,” he flips the open sign over for her and marches down to the train station.
“What’s the plan, Sheriff,” his deputy asked softly.
“Trains have accidents all the time, but this one will meet with an Indian Raid. It’s an unfortunate and bloody way to die.”
“Sure is, I almost feel sorry for them, but they should know better than to steal from the Chen.”
“Yep. You watch over them and make sure they’re on that train in a few days. I have a matter of a burn victim to tend too. Can’t make them suspicious.”
“Yes sir,” he smiles and mounts his horse.
Chapter 32
Bronnah and Anna leave for the day with Chase's approval, and later she nervously asks Anna for a moment alone to speak to the preacher. Standing in a small wooden church she sits with a young preacher who looked to be her age and murmurs, "I need to ask forgiveness Father?"
He’s quiet for a moment and nods in understanding. “I can’t give you what you seek. You must pray to him, directly.”
"I'm afraid that my anger has blocked me from my walk with God," she whispers and wipes at her tears. Bronnah sits with him and tells him of her journey across the sea. She tells him of the loss and the offer of a second chance at happiness, and she waits while he takes it all in.
"You've had a time of it, Ms. O'Dalaigh, but if you let go of the anger, one day, you will be able to think of this time with thankfulness. We will pray for those souls and ask our father to watch over those still affected by these people's sinful actions."
"How do I just go on with my life, knowing that they're still doing this? Is it all my fault? If I'd stayed, so many lives would have been spared…" she starts to say, but the preacher interrupts her.
"No. There is no such thing as luck. Every step you took was guided by a loving hand. Don't you see that just has your steps are guided, so, too, are others? You have done everything you can to help, and now it's time for you to trust in those around you to do what they can.
“But, there are more young women, being…” she stops when he holds up a hand.
“Ms. O’Dalaigh you aren’t God. Let go and let him move, just as he did for you.”
His fierce words strike a chord in her heart, and her tears start to flow. Pressure untangles releasing her soul, and she finds comfort in the strength of his words. "Thank you for reminding me."
“It’s my job, Ms. O’Dalaigh, and I would be honored to marry you tomorrow at eight pm if you wish.”
“I’d like nothing more. Thank you.”
An air of excitement floats through the house the next day. Dinner is animated as the four girls talk about the day. Bronnah is quiet and rises quickly to help Anna with the dishes. Chase is worried and desperate to get her alone for a moment. Bronnah has been
