Spring 1874
Hannah POV
I was sitting on the wrap-around porch, lost in my memories of our life together. Time seemed to go so quickly and the love and passion that Jamie and I shared had only grown over the years. The house was quiet for a change and I was enjoying the silence, as I gently stroked my stomach. I hadn’t told Jamie yet, probably today though. I smiled to myself.
Jamie and I were surprised to learn, a few months after our wedding, that none of the banks could tell for sure exactly how much money had been stolen during Beecham’s theft scheme. With no definitive proof that the money sitting in the bank account came from the alleged bank robberies, the authorities released the money to Jamie and I. We were shocked. Neither of us really wanted it, however, we decided to use it for good causes. We sent a tidy sum to the St. Louis Boarding House, knowing that it would help ease the financial burden on
March 1864 Abigail POV I was exhausted. It was late and I needed to find shelter for the night. I continued to walk down the ever-darkening streets of St. Louis. It has to be here somewhere, I thought to myself. The nice man at the livery had shared with me about an orphanage and boarding house that took in young ladies who found themselves in desperate situations. I continued along the street for several more minutes and sighed in relief when I finally saw the house I had been searching for. “St. Louis Boarding House & Orphanage for Lost Souls” read the sign at the front gate. Well, in some ways, I am an orphan. And I’m definitely a lost soul, of sorts, I mused to myself as I reached out and opened the gate. I walked through the gate and latched it behind me. Then I made my way to the front door and knocked. I could hear movement from within and I straightened my shoulders and stood as tall as I could. It was difficult with my small frame; I was barely five feet four inches. As I
Hannah POV “Hannah, get up girl, the house is on fire”, I heard my father as he shook me to wake me up. My heart began pounding and fear kept me frozen in my bed. I just stared at him and couldn’t move. He grabbed me up in his tight hug, a hug that usually brought comfort and peace, but now it only brought fear. “Hannah, darlin’ you have to get up and get out of the house” he said again, this time his voice also held a hint of fear. The urgency I heard in his voice forced me to move and I scrambled out of bed and asked, “What about Edward?’ “I’ll get him and your mama. Go now” he said as he raced out of my room and down the short hallway to the room he shared with my momma. My baby brother, just two months old, spent most nights in the room because it was easier on momma. Momma just hadn’t been the same after she birthed him, she was much weaker and stayed in bed most days. I watched for just a moment as my papa disappeared into the room and then I turned and ran for the door. As I r
St. Louis 1865 Hannah POVDid I really want to do this? Was this the next step for me? Was I ready to leave the place I called home for the last seven years? Would he be kind like my papa? Would I be a good wife and mother just like my momma? So many questions and I had no answers, only the butterflies in my stomach. So lost in thought while sitting on the swing in the backyard of the boarding house, that I didn’t hear them sneak up behind me.“Gotcha!” they all screamed at the same time, causing me to jump and almost fall out of the tree swing. “Ah! Don’t do that to me! You know how that makes my heart race,” I growled at them as they laughed. My friends, just like me, were now ready to begin striking out on their own, ready to face the world. We all lived at the boarding house, and assisted Mrs. Sheffield and her brother, Mr. Knight in caring for the boarding house and the orphanage next door.Mrs. Sheffield became a widow about twenty-five years ago and decided to open her lovel
Texas 1865Jamie POVWaking up this morning, I had no idea my situation would become more difficult than it was. Living every day with the man who ruined my life while biding my time has not been easy. Every day I had to pretend that I liked him and that I trusted him above all others. I have taken his laziness, his snide comments, and his arrogance, and what has it gotten me? Not far, that’s for sure. I’m not really any closer to my goal today than I was seven years ago. Over the last seven years, I have often wondered why I subjected myself to this pain and suffering. I often debated with myself about quitting and walking away, but I would remember what happened and my resolve to stay would strengthen.Flashback to twelve years agoI was in the barn mucking the stalls, just about to finish chores for the day, when I heard my father yell for me. “Jamie, come quick!” I ran out of the barn to find my father running to a horse with a body slumped over it. As he reached the horse and pul
Hannah POVTwo weeks in a stagecoach was not what I would call a good time, but I was determined to make a life in my new home. I still wondered about the man who had agreed to marry me, sight unseen. What would he think of me? I was almost as tall as the average man, so hopefully my husband to be wouldn’t mind a taller than average woman. My long red hair was pulled up in a tight bun at the nape of my neck, which was a blessing in the summer heat. As I mopped my brow and neck with my handkerchief, I glanced at my companions, a young widow, Eliza, and her son, Caleb, on their way to visit family in south Texas. She and I had become friends on the journey. By friends I mean that we shared stories of our lives and even a few hopes for the future. She was on her way to her childhood home following the death of her husband. He had passed in a railway accident. I didn’t get all of the details, but it didn’t seem like a happy marriage. Which left me to wonder if I would have to endure the s
Jamie POV When I arrived in town just before noon, I headed straight to the post office to send the wire. The wire was for my Uncle Samuel who lived in Big Spring. It was time for him to join me. Beecham had begun to get sloppy with his business dealings and if we waited too long, he would do something stupid and the ranch would be lost. I stepped up to the window at the post office and smiled, “Good morning, Miss Betsy. I need to send a wire to my uncle in Big Spring. Think you can help me with that?” She looked up at me and gave me a look that said she wasn’t falling for my tricks, “Jamie, I declare! You come into town and just assume that your good looks and those dimples are going to have the women in this town eating out of your hand and tripping over themselves to do your bidding. But let me tell you young man, I won’t fall for it!” She continued in a sing-song voice, obviously mimicking me, “Think you can help with that?! Boy, I am the post mistress! That is my job! Now give m
Hannah POVWhen Jamie helped me off the wagon, I didn’t want his hands to let go of me. I tried to cover my feelings by dismissing him rather quickly. When I turned to look at my husband, I was astonished. This was NOT a twenty-two-year-old man. No, this man was old enough to be my father! How is this possible? Was there a mistake? Or did the man lie to Mrs. Sheffield? Play it cool, Hannah, I thought to myself. I would not allow this man to know that he had been caught in a lie, for surely that is what had happened. I listened quietly as he dismissed Jamie without even a glance, as if Jamie was a slave and of no value. While I had dismissed him just a few moments ago, it wasn’t because I felt Jamie was of lesser status than I. I had to say something to cover up just how much his presence affected me. For surely, if Mr. Beecham found out, he would dismiss Jamie from service and I couldn’t allow that to happen on my account.Taking in Mr. Beecham’s appearance was a complete shock. He wa
Jamie POVI woke up before the sun, and as usual, I began to plan my day before I even crawled out of bed. I had my own space inside the bunkhouse, being the ranch foreman had its perks. The others shared a sleeping space with cots along each wall. My room was small, but I didn’t need much. Just a bed, a writing desk and a night stand that held the ewer and basin. Today’s agenda included bringing in the twenty steers born this year for branding. They had just weaned a few weeks ago and we needed to get them added to the herd so they could acclimate before winter set in. After the branding, which would take most of the morning, we needed to ride fence again. I wanted to take a look at the spot that was damaged yesterday. Following that, I wanted to check on Mrs. Beecham. Yeah, I needed to think of her that way. It was the only thing I could do. I was an honorable man and she wasn’t mine.I heard the others moving around and decided to crawl out of bed and get the day started. I joined