Pony Express Christmas Bride. Rhonda Gibson

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       Chapter Two

      Josephine trembled with anger. She’d been lied to. Again. What made men act the way they did? Were there no honorable men left in the world? Josephine pulled the locket from under her dress and held it in her hand. In the past her mother’s necklace had given her a sense of hope. Now it only felt like a weighted piece of jewelry.

      “Are you cold, dear?” Hazel used her right hand and tucked the blanket tighter around Josephine’s legs. Snow drifted easily about them.

      “Not really,” she answered as she tucked the necklace back inside the neck of her dress. How did she explain that she trembled from fear? Her plans had seemed so simple when she left St. Joseph. She’d get to Dove Creek by traveling the Pony Express trail, then once she arrived, find her mail-order groom and get married. But that wasn’t how it had worked out. Now her future looked vague and shadowy. She tried to force her confused emotions into order, but sadness enveloped her along with the ever-constant and pulsating fear.

      “Angry?” Hazel ventured.

      Josephine looked at Hazel in surprise and nodded. Philip had been the one who had placed the ad and answered her letter. He’d lied to her. Like all the men in her life, he’d turned out to be a deceiver. First her father had deserted her shortly after her mother’s death, then her uncle had betrayed her by using her to pay off his gambling debts and now Philip had tricked her. Men couldn’t be trusted. “Very,” she admitted.

      “I don’t blame you one bit. Phil doesn’t always think before he acts. I’m sure it never dawned on him that his meddling in Thomas’s life would put you in danger.” Her aged hands slapped the reins over the horses’ backs to speed them along.

      The snow continued to fall heavily in big, puffy flakes. Josephine didn’t correct her by saying she’d been in danger long before Philip’s deceit. Instead she asked, “Why would he do such a thing?”

      Hazel shook her gray head. “I might be partially to blame. I’ve been telling those boys for months that they needed wives. It gets lonely out here, but I never imagined Philip would go off and do a harebrained thing like this. I’m sorry, Josephine.”

      “Miss Hazel, it’s not your fault. Philip is the one who placed the ad and encouraged me to come. He’s to blame.” Josephine looked over her shoulder. She could see Thomas trailing them, riding Philip’s horse. Had he really not known what his brother was up to? Maybe he hadn’t. His green eyes had shone with confusion when she and Philip first entered the old shack.

      If Hazel heard the bitterness in Josephine’s voice, she didn’t let on. “They are both nice young men,” Hazel said, turning down another lane.

      Josephine didn’t want to argue with the older woman, but right now she just didn’t see it. Philip had lied to her and pretended to be his brother; at least, he had in the letter he’d sent. And at no time during their trip out to the way station had he said anything about Thomas not knowing she was coming. As for Thomas, he might be nice, but he didn’t want to get married and she didn’t know what she’d do if he didn’t marry her.

      The wagon slowed to a stop in front of a farmhouse. “It’s not much, but it is home,” Hazel said, setting the brake and preparing to dismount from the wagon.

      Josephine looked at the small house and smiled. She watched as smoke curled upward from the chimney into the late-afternoon sky. Its warmth beckoned to her. “It’s perfect.” Weariness weighed heavily upon her shoulders as she climbed down from the wagon.

      Thomas pulled up beside them. His cowboy hat covered most of his head, but light brown hair could be seen around his ears and neck. A light beard covered his face. “Hazel, it looks like we are in for a heavy snow. Can I cut more wood for you?”

      It seemed now that he wasn’t filled with shock, his voice had lowered a degree. Josephine found herself looking up at him. She liked the warmth in his expression.

      Hazel answered, “No, thank you, Tom. We’re set for a few days.” She carried her basket up the steps.

      A few days? Josephine hadn’t planned on staying with the woman a few days. She needed to get back to Dove Creek and to the preacher who could marry them. Her gaze moved from the old woman back to Thomas.

      His green eyes searched hers. “Do you mind talking for a few minutes?” he asked, swinging down from the saddle.

      “Come on inside, both of you. You can use the sitting room to have your visit,” Hazel ordered as she entered the house.

      Josephine didn’t know exactly when or how she’d let the older woman take over her life, but it seemed Hazel had done just that. She turned her attention back to Thomas. “I need to talk to you, too.” If she could make him understand why she needed to get married as soon as possible, then maybe he’d agree.

      He nodded and followed her into the house. Josephine stopped inside the doorway. She hadn’t expected to see a plush settee and large chair in the small home. A beautiful rug rested on the floor and colorful paintings filled the walls.

      Hazel came out of a door to the right of the room. “Josephine, you can sleep in there tonight.” She indicated the room behind her and then continued on to the kitchen. “I’m going to make hot coffee. Would either of you like a slice of spice cake to go with the coffee?”

      Thomas answered, “I can’t stay long.” He took his hat off and worked the brim with his hands.

      “I’d love a piece,” Josephine replied as her stomach growled.