Wagon Train Wife: Prairie Brides

Wagon Train Wife

Walton Valley Book 1

Catherine Kennedy

Inspired Press Limited

Copyright © 2021 by Catherine Kennedy

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance of fictional characters to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or a book review.

Editor: Sara Miller/Arnetta Jackson

Cover Design: Hannah Linder Designs

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Epilogue

About the author

Also by Catherine Kennedy

Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Proverbs 28:6

Chapter One

April 1868 - Independence, Missouri

Eliza Fairchild hurried from the hotel, not knowing where she was heading, only that she must find her sister.

Their uncle, and guardian, was a strict man who most definitely would not stand for them being late for dinner. It was a constant source of utter amazement to Eliza that he was related to her father. Not only had her papa been loving and kind, he had also been gregarious and rather unreserved. Particularly rare qualities for people of their social standing.

Uncle Phillip, for his part, was cold and entirely humorless. His wife was, if it was at all possible, worse. While she wasn’t exactly unkind, she certainly let both Eliza and Hannah know in her actions and demeanor, if not words, that having responsibility for her dead brother-in-law’s children was not what she wanted.

Eliza’s mind lurched between various possibilities for Hannah’s disappearance—none of them good. Perhaps she should follow her aunt’s insistent advice and spend less time with her head buried in books and more time in the real world. Maybe then she would know where Hannah had gone.

Passing by the stores, she looked in. No sign of Hannah. She was doing this all wrong. She should’ve asked at the desk of the hotel to see if anyone had seen her sister leave. It was quite possible Hannah was still in the hotel.

Hannah was afraid of their uncle. Eliza could not believe Hannah would dare do something that would make him angry or displeased.

She wished she hadn’t spent so long looking at bonnets in the dressmaker’s shop. Perhaps then she would at least know how long her sister had been missing.

Rounding the corner, the pungent aroma of the horses at the livery in front of her stopped her feet. Hannah wouldn’t have come here, would she? Though they had both ridden at home in England, they had not had the opportunity since being in the care of their uncle and aunt.

She missed the horses, their home, but most of all their comforting life. The familiar tightness took root in her chest and moved down to her stomach. Eliza leaned against the side of the store and sucked a deep breath into her lungs and willed the prickle of tears behind her eyes to stop.

This was not the time to mourn the loss of her parents.

A movement in front of her caught her eye, and she looked up to see a tall man striding towards her. His gaze looked warily from left to right, as though he too was searching for someone before it fixed on her.

Eliza looked behind her, certain he was staring at someone else. What could this stranger possibly want with her?

Miss?

Her fogged brain swum, trying to clear itself. She was acting like the worst kind of novel heroine—one of those whose actions made Eliza want to throw the book against a wall in a most unladylike fashion.

The man in front of her reached out, as though to touch her arm. The movement cleared her mind immediately.

I don’t know you. Eliza looked behind her once more, as though her uncle was there watching her talk to a stranger in the middle of the street with no thought at all to social propriety.

I beg your pardon, ma’am. He yanked his hat from his head, spinning it round in his hands. But I need some help in the stable.

Eliza couldn’t take her gaze away from his hands. They were huge, dirty workman’s hands. At home in England, a man such as he would not have dared approach her—let alone to speak to her. Of course, were they at home, she would not be walking around unaccompanied.

Help? Eliza repeated, hating how breathless she sounded. From me?

There is a young lady there… he paused, again looking around for someone else. I wouldn’t ask you, but I think she needs a lady’s help and I…

You’re not a lady. Eliza finished with an understanding nod.

I am not. She… he stopped speaking again, and a flush of embarrassment stained his cheeks. She needs help.

You have said that already. What is wrong with her and why would I be able to help? Eliza felt a frown pulling at her forehead.

Because you’re…

A lady. Eliza hesitated. There was a Bible quote she should know by heart but didn’t. Something about looking out for the interests of others as well as one’s own. That was all well and good but wasn’t following a man she did not know into a stable, of all places, an idiotic action?

Please? She’s very distressed.

Eliza wasn’t sure what completed her decision. It certainly wasn’t his accent—hadn’t her uncle said on so many occasions that the Irish were untrustworthy—but something in his green eyes. Something lost, something that spoke to her of a similar grief to her own.

Very well. Eliza looked up at him, hoping her voice sounded as firm as she meant it to sound. Her entire body trembled. This could be the worst decision she had ever made.

***

As Thomas walked toward the stable, he looked over his shoulder to check if the young lady was following him.

He was certain of two things: Someone of his sort could get run out of town, or much worse, for so much as talking to someone of her place in society. Encouraging her to follow him into a building, however good his intentions, was almost certain to lead to the ‘much worse’ side of things.

Come on, miss, ma’am… He wasn’t at all sure how to speak to her. Partly because the town was full of people of all different social classes. Mostly, however, because she was so pretty, he struggled to force words past his horribly tied tongue.

She’d stopped following him and was trying to peer into the livery building behind him. I don’t think this is a very good idea.

I can assure you of my best intentions, Thomas said, wishing one of his sisters or his mother was there to help. They would certainly know what to say.

I don’t know you.

I’m Thomas Flanagan. He stopped short of putting out a hand toward her, attempting to shake her hand was definitely too far. My mother, if she were here, would tell you I am trustworthy. I have two sisters, Ellen and Julia, but if they were in a situation such as yours, I would tell them to run and find the law.

Give me one good reason I shouldn’t do exactly that.

He could listen to her upper class accent all day long. All those perfectly pronounced vowels and careful diction.

The girl…lady…she begged me not to. She said I had to find someone to help find her sister.

Her sister?

She looked as though someone had added extra powder to her already pale face. Please God, don’t let her have an attack of the vapors. Thomas closed his eyes, hoping that minor act would make his prayer more worthy.

Yes, she said her sister would know what to do but that I must not get the sheriff. She…

Hannah! She strode past him and into the livery, no longer looking as though she was going to pass out but as though her life depended on her reaching the stricken woman. Hannah, are you in there?

He followed, hearing the response from the young lady who had pleaded for his help. Eliza, is that you? Oh, please…

Thomas couldn’t bear the note of utter despair in her voice. Follow me.

He led Eliza to the stable at the end where the young lady lay, covered from chin to toes by a very well used horse blanket.

Eliza rushed into the stable and lifted Hannah’s face, a hand on each of the girl’s cheeks. She twisted her sister’s face this way and that, examining it for injuries.

Where are you hurt? Oh darling, what has happened to you? Let us get you out of this smelly building and back to your warm, safe room.

No! The other girl did not answer any of the questions that tumbled out of her sister’s mouth, but her refusal to move made Thomas’s heart hammer harder in his chest.

But we must, we cannot stay here.

Indeed, they could not.

At any moment, someone may come across them and Thomas as the sole male would have more than a bit of explaining to do. Societal norms in this frontier town may not be quite as they were back home, but he was certain the town’s lawmen would start by drawing their weapons. Asking questions would come a poor second.

Ladies… Thomas stepped forward awkwardly, not wanting to interfere in their conversation but equally aware of the precariousness of his position. What can I do to help?

Run! Run as fast as you can out of the building, get to somewhere heavily populated and hope that you can say you’ve been there for a goodly amount of time.

His brain screamed the obvious answer to him, but his feet did not move. His parents had not raised him to run away from difficult situations, but to face them head on and use his God-given smarts to find the best answer.

Even when his elder brother had accused him of running away from Ireland and abandoning his family, Thomas had used his intelligence to argue back. He wasn’t running away. He was finding them a better place to live. One where their crops would prosper, and the family could live without the fear of starvation as their constant waking companion.

Of course, that had been before his father had died on the journey over the Atlantic. Thomas’s dream of building a home and sending for his family had landed at the bottom of the ocean along with his father’s body.

Her blue eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, looked him over. Clearly, she dismissed him as being of use to her as she turned her gaze back on her sister.

Hannah, please talk to me. Tell me where you are hurt.

Hannah pursed her lips together and looked away from her sister. While Eliza looked as though she may give in to the tears that threatened at any moment, the younger girl cried as though she may never stop.

I cannot…

We can talk later. Eliza nodded. Words were not needed, but actions most definitely were. But for now, we must get back to our room before Uncle Phillip and Aunt Helen realize we are missing.

I can never go back there. Hannah shook her head. Although tears still ran down her face, her voice sounded as adamant as her sister’s.

Perhaps your sister will talk to you without me being here? Thomas asked hopefully. I have chores I can get on with.

Truthfully, it was nearly time for dinner and having worked since dawn, all he actually wanted to do was have a bite to eat at the diner and crawl into bed.

Please do not leave us, Eliza turned, her sister’s hand clutched in hers. I may need some help to move my sister. As you can see, she is very ill.

I’m not going anywhere with you. Hannah tugged her hand free and turned her face away. Neither will I speak of what happened this day. Never.

The material on the brim of his hat would likely wear away, he had twirled it in his hands so much. He rammed it back onto his head, needing to do something, even as his instincts were to clear out as fast as he could and forget he had ever met these two young ladies.

But he could not.

Not simply because he’d been taught that a man who follows Christ should never turn his back on a person in need, but mostly because his mother had not raised him to be a coward. Running right now might save his hide, but it was also spineless.

Thomas tried to imagine what his mother would do now if one of his sisters were hiding in a barn, refusing to come out. She would try gently cajoling, as Eliza had, he was sure. Next, she would probably try bribery with something delicious smelling she had taken out of the oven.

However, he didn’t believe that Hannah’s refusal to come out was because she was simply being stubborn or childish, or that she just needed a bit of attention. Those were the only reasons he could think of for his sisters choosing to spend time in what amounted to nothing more than an animal’s bedroom.

This was a lady. There had to be an excellent reason for her to select a place he knew both of his sisters would reject. His siblings were accustomed to nature’s sights and smells—these young ladies were not.

Hannah, Thomas moved next to Eliza and kneeled beside the stricken young woman. Tell us what you need us to do.

He ensured he was far enough away that he wasn’t crowding her. Thomas hoped he was close enough that even in the gloomy building she could see that he was earnest in his desire to help.

What I need, Hannah hiccupped and tried to compose herself, yet tears still fell from her eyes. Is for you to help me run away.

***

Eliza watched as Thomas rocked back on his haunches, nearly toppling over.

Run away? She echoed her sister’s plea. Neither of them was fond of their aunt and uncle, but running away seemed rather extreme.

We must.

Must we?

Eliza wanted to shake herself. Was she destined to keep repeating her sister’s words like a ninny? Seeing Hannah in such a distressed state had upset her. Being around Thomas was making her all too aware of the implications they would all face if they were found in such circumstances.

He wasn’t a gentleman, no man of any respectable class would allow himself to be in a secluded building with not one, but two young ladies. Though, of course, that wasn’t his fault.