Читать книгу Pony Express Christmas Bride - Rhonda Gibson - Страница 14

Chapter Five

Josephine looked at her reflection with apprehension. Her short red hair curled about her face and ears in a wild array. She didn’t feel like a bride. She wasn’t sure she even looked like a bride.

Cutting her long red hair had been a big sacrifice and made her look like a boy. The store-bought dress she wore was too big and hid all her womanly curves. Weariness filled Josephine’s eyes where joy should reside.

“You look beautiful,” Hazel said as she slipped into the room.

“I don’t feel beautiful.” Josephine ran her hand down the pale green dress that hung on her slim body.

Hazel grinned. “Well, you are.”

“I should have tried the dress on last night. Then I’d have known it was too big and could have taken in the sides.” She sighed, wishing for another dress but knowing that the only other dress she had fit just as this one did.

Store-bought dresses never fit right. If only she’d had the foresight to buy material, but she hadn’t. At the time she’d bought the two dresses, Josephine hadn’t cared how they would look on her, but after just a few days around Thomas, she did care.

Josephine sighed. He deserved a pretty bride. Last night as she lay thinking about her wedding day, she realized that Thomas really was a good man. The fact that she was pretty sure he’d given up sleep to check on her made Josephine want to please him. It had been a long time since anyone had thought of her and put their own needs aside.

Hazel studied her a moment, then snapped her fingers. “I have just the right thing.” She returned a few moments later with an exquisite belt made of soft, supple leather with lace overlay and a dainty gold buckle.

Josephine let out a long, audible breath. She fingered the belt reverently. “Oh, Hazel. It’s lovely.”

“Well, put it on, girl. Let’s see what it does for you.”

Josephine buckled the belt about her waist, then turned to look in the mirror. The belt pulled the material snugly over her shoulders, accentuating her womanly curves and tiny waist. Of its own accord her smile broadened in approval. Hazel tugged here and there in the back and then met her eyes in the mirror. “Are you about ready to go? Thomas and Philip arrived a few moments ago. They are hitching up the wagon now.” She touched one of Josephine’s many curls.

Butterflies took up residence in her stomach. She placed her hand over the flutters. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Josephine picked up her handbag and hat, then turned to the older woman. “I know I’m getting married today, but it doesn’t feel the way I thought it would.”

Hazel opened the door. “What did you think you’d feel?”

Josephine knew she was being silly. Growing up, she’d fantasized about the perfect wedding, with her papa by her side and the man of her dreams standing at the church altar waiting for her. Her white dress would flow about her instead of the green dress she now wore with a belt to take up the slack. The thoughts saddened her. As a child, she’d dreamed of love and romance.

She picked up the green cloak that matched her dress. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter.” Josephine put on the cloak and then stepped around Hazel. With her head held high and her stomach in knots, she walked out the front door.

Thomas turned in the saddle to look at her. What did he see? She felt her cheeks grow warm under his steady gaze. His eyes no longer looked clouded with weariness, and for that she was thankful.

“Green is a pretty color on you,” he said, swinging down from the horse.

He was just being kind. Still Josephine answered appropriately as she made her way to the wagon. “Thank you.”

He helped her up onto the wooden bench and did the same for Hazel. Josephine busied herself tucking a blanket around her cold legs. The older woman scooped up the reins and smiled. “It might be cold, but the sun is shining. A perfect day for a wedding.”

Philip laughed and swung his horse around. He led the way down the muddy road that led to town. Thomas brought up the rear.

Josephine wished she could see Thomas’s face. Was he as nervous about today as she was? Or was this simply a chore that he needed to get done and over with?

It was at times like this that Josephine wished her mother were still alive. She pulled her mother’s gold-plated necklace out from under her dress. Her hand wrapped around it. If her mother were here, Josephine knew, she wouldn’t be marrying Thomas Young. She’d be home preparing to become the wife of a man of stature. Not a Pony Express rider who, thanks to his brother’s meddling, felt obligated to marry her.

Josephine glanced over her shoulder. Thomas was looking to the left. She took the brief moment to study the side of his face. Even with the faint scar that ran from his temple to his chin, he was probably the most handsome man she’d ever seen.

Thomas swiveled in the saddle to find her gazing at him. Embarrassed to be caught staring, Josephine quickly turned her head to face forward once more. She worried her lip between her teeth as they rode in silence.

This was the day she’d been waiting for. The day when she’d finally have freedom from her uncle and his evil intents. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.

Josephine sighed heavily. If only it were a happy day. Instead the four people heading to town all looked as if they were walking to the gallows.

Was she making the biggest mistake of her life? Would marrying Thomas turn out worse than marrying an old, fat gambler? Could she ever trust Thomas? Probably not.

As soon as her uncle found out she was married and left, Thomas would be finished with his need to help her. She’d be alone. Josephine raised her chin and looked straight ahead. Don’t fall in love or trust this man, she told herself.

* * *

Thomas felt her rejection as strongly as if she’d slapped him. Oh, she said their vows and acted like she’d meant them, but earlier he’d seen the way she quickly turned after staring at his scarred face. He wasn’t fooling himself into believing that Josephine would ever grow to love him. If anything, she’d put up an invisible wall.

“You may now kiss your bride.”

What? Kiss your bride? He’d forgotten all about this part. Should he have discussed it with Josephine before the ceremony? He looked into Josephine’s upturned face. Her eyes were closed as she waited for his kiss. A kiss he was sure she’d despise.

Philip slapped him on the back. “Go on, kiss her,” he encouraged a little above a whisper.

Thomas leaned in and gently touched his lips to hers. A soft shock tickled his lips. He opened his eyes to find her looking into his with an emotion he’d never seen there. Had the spark between them surprised her, too? He pulled away.

Hazel grabbed Josephine and hugged her fast. “Congratulations.” Tears filled her eyes.

His new wife’s soft voice responded with a quick “Thank you.”

Thomas thanked the traveling judge and quickly paid him for his services, then followed Hazel and Josephine from the small office.

Philip clasped an arm around his shoulders. “I wish you a lifetime of happiness, little brother.”

“I’m only a month younger than you, Philip,” Thomas answered, shrugging Philip’s arm away.

They stepped out into the sunlight. Thomas squinted his eyes. His gaze quickly found Josephine. She and Hazel stood beside the wagon. They’d parked it under a tree off to the side of the sheriff’s office, where the ceremony had taken place. His horse was tied to the gate of the wagon along with Philip’s.

“Tell Ma and Seth I said hello,” Philip said, falling into step with him as he walked toward the women.

He sighed. “I wish you could come with us.”

Philip chuckled and dropped his voice. “Why? Afraid of your new bride?”

Thomas glared at him. “Never mind. On second thought, I’m glad you aren’t coming.”

“Yeah, me, too. When Ma finds out you got married without her, she’s going to skin you alive.” Philip shook his head in mock sorrow and then hurried on toward Hazel and Josephine.

Thomas pushed air from his lungs. Philip was right. He should have given the family time to come to the wedding. But on the way home, he’d remembered how afraid Josephine seemed and he’d only wanted to protect her and get married as soon as possible. Now that he was sure her uncle could never hurt her, Thomas knew it was time to tell the rest of the family and his mother that they’d gotten married. Philip looked to Hazel. “Hazel, are you ready to get back to your place?” he asked as he untied his horse from the wagon.

“Just about. Since we aren’t going out to the Young farm, I’d like to stop in at the general store and pick up some thread before heading home. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

“What’s going on?” Josephine asked, looking from one of them to the other. Confusion filled her soft features.

Hazel looked at her and grinned. “Philip and I decided to let you and your new husband go to his parents by yourself.” She smiled as if this was a wonderful gift that had just been bestowed on them.

Josephine’s expressive brown gaze met his. “I didn’t realize we were going to your parents.”

“I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you last night.”

“Thomas, I didn’t pack for an overnight trip.” Reproach laced her indulgent words.

He hadn’t thought of that, either. Where was his head? His thoughts had been so wrapped up in getting them to town safely and keeping a lookout for trouble from her uncle that he’d not considered what would be important to her. “Um, we can go to the general store and buy what you need.” Thomas congratulated himself on his quick thinking.

But one look at her face and he could tell she wasn’t impressed. So far her wedding day had been a total disappointment. He’d seen the way her face had dropped when they discovered that the preacher was out of town but that they could be married by the traveling judge. And now she had to face his family without Hazel’s steady comfort and her personal belongings.

Hazel patted Josephine’s arm, drawing her attention from him. “This is my fault, too. In all the excitement of getting ready, I didn’t notice that you hadn’t packed a bag this morning. I’m sorry, Josephine.”

Philip pulled himself up into his saddle. “I don’t see where there is any harm done.” He turned his horse toward Main Street. “Other than that ragged carpetbag, she didn’t arrive with anything personal to start with.”

Thomas wanted to strangle his brother. Philip had the sensitivity of a grizzly bear. Josephine touched the necklace that rested on her chest. She pulled her shoulders back and nodded. Her eyes still sparkled with what Thomas could only estimate to be anger or perhaps unshed tears. He quickly looked away.

Hazel hurried to the side of the wagon and climbed aboard. “I have a better idea. Josephine and I will run over to the widow Ring’s house. Her dresses will fit Josephine better than those store-bought ones.”

“But I don’t have any money with me, Hazel.” Josephine ignored Thomas’s offer to assist her up to the wagon seat. She pulled herself up and smoothed her skirt about her legs.

Thomas quickly assured her. “I’ll pay for whatever you need.”

Philip’s deep chuckle irritated him. He frowned at his brother while untying his horse from the wagon. Thomas pulled himself into the saddle.

“Of course you will. You’re married now. Whatever Josephine wants, you will pay for,” Hazel reminded him. She snapped the reins over the horse’s back, setting them into motion.

Thomas nodded. Nothing he said or did today was right. He clamped his lips shut, determined not to say the wrong thing again.

“Why don’t you boys go wait for us at the general store? I’d like a little time with Josephine before you two take off for your parents’. We’ll meet you there in an hour.” Hazel wasn’t really asking them to leave; her tone told them to go.

Thomas heard his brother’s snort of laughter again. This was all Philip’s fault. If his brother had just minded his own business and not written an advertisement for a mail-order bride, neither he nor Josephine would be in this situation now.

Hazel turned the wagon down Elm Street and left the men staring after them.

“Looks like we have an hour to kill. What do you want to do now?” Philip asked. He rested his arms on the saddle horn and looked across at Thomas.

“I’d love to strangle you. But since that’s against the law and I’d have to answer to Ma if I did, I suppose we can go to the bakery and get a slice or two of sweetbread while we wait.” He turned his horse toward the small store.

Thomas hoped a hot cup of coffee and sweetbread would calm the troubled waters of his stomach. He felt as if he’d just fought a mighty battle and lost. Josephine was angry at him and they hadn’t been married even a half hour. Would they forever be at odds? Or was this about to become normal life for him?