Page 4 of Chloe's Christmas Escape
That, Jackson thought,was all God’s doing.
He dipped the towel in the warm water once more and twisted it before placing it against his leg. Breathing out the remaining tension he’d been carrying, he tipped his head back against the wall behind him, thinking of the little town and the possibilities it promised.
What more could a man ask for than a town settled by his best friends?
It sounded like heaven.
Chapter Two
Eight days later
No one had warned Chloe about the smells on the stagecoach. She pressed the back of her hand against her nose, closed her eyes, and tried not to retch.
Happy thoughts, Chloe,she thought to herself.Think happy thoughts.
She recalled the previous week, which had been a whirlwind of activity.
Mama had cried as she boarded the stagecoach bound for the west, and her da stood steady with her siblings as she gave a wave from the small window.
Marshal Masters settled into the leather seat across from her, taking up more room than necessary with his broad shoulders and long legs. He looked her in the eyes and nodded; a silent promise to fulfill the commitment he made to her parents. He would safely deliver her to his nephew and ensure they were married properly before he returned to Pittsburgh.
She had one trunk on the rack above the stage and a small linen travel bag tucked behind her feet. Mama promised that when it was safe, she would send along the rest of Chloe’s belongings.
Chloe didn’t think that would happen.
Marshal Masters had warned that they shouldn’t communicate until they were certain that no one was, in fact, searching for Chloe. How long that would be, he couldn’t say.
She opened her eyes and looked out the window. The sun barely kissed the horizon behind them as dawn broke. Not only was she homesick, the motion of the stage and the smells wafting inside the coach were making her feel ill. She puffed out her cheeks and exhaled through her nose.
They shouldn’t be far from Chicago.
The marshal had barely spoken with her during the trip. Thankfully, the widow sitting next to her had been friendly and chatted with Chloe on the ride. Like Chloe, the young widow was heading to Chicago to get married. Apparently, mail-order brides were quite common. With the war making so many young widows, women were heading west in search of new husbands. That had brought relief to her spirit — she wasn’t the only one marrying a stranger.
“We’ll be there soon,” Marshal Masters spoke, gazing out the flap into the darkness. He’d been sitting tall, keeping watch since she’d woke. The stage suddenly lurched forward. The ground beneath them seemed to change as they picked up speed, causing her breath to catch in her throat.
They would be there soon enough and then she’d be getting married.
But what if he wouldn’t marry her?
That was the thought that had been spinning in her mind the entire journey. She knew she was pretty enough. Her blondish brown hair and blue-gray eyes were something that people commented on often. Papa had given her a packet of things to take with her, but she hadn’t had time to review it, and she’d promised to do whatever it took to keep her safe.
“What if he says no?” Kara whispered, leaning into Chloe, who was startled to hear her thoughts out loud.
“You’ve corresponded,” Chloe stated plainly, letting her hand pat the other woman’s reassuringly. “He invited you out and paid for your fare. He’s not going to say no.”
“Thank you,” Kara whispered, tipping her head to look out the window as well.
Chloe didn’t have the same type of reassurances, though. Mama had spun her tales of women who had entered loveless, mail-order marriages, but she still encouraged Chloe to take heart; perhaps, if given enough time, the man she was about to meet could even come to love her.
Thus, Chloe was determined she would be the most supportive companion she could be. The stagecoach continued to rock, and she placed her hand against the wall to steady herself. Eventually, the driver called the word she longed to hear.
“Chicago!”
Moments later, the coach rumbled past tall buildings, and they were coming to a full stop.Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to arrive safely, she breathed, waiting for the doors to open. They’d made two other stops along the way, and it hadn’t taken her long to realize there was a system to disembarking the stage.
Marshal Masters stepped out first and grabbed a wooden step that was laying under the seat. He placed it beneath the door for them and held out his hand. Chloe let Kara step out first and then glanced around the coach one more time, before ducking her head and stepping out as well.
“Here we go,” she mumbled, taking the hand waiting to guide her to the ground.
