Pony Express Mail-Order Bride. Rhonda Gibson

reached out and turned her head so that she faced him once more. She tried to ignore the hurt and tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. “Are you saying you’d be happy with a marriage where I gave you my last name and adopted the boys?”

      “I suppose so. As long as you understand I can never fall in love with you. Or anyone else for that matter. My only concern is for the boys.”

      Philip chuckled.

      “What’s so funny?”

      “Thomas and his wife, Josephine, had what Thomas called a marriage of convenience. Sounds like we’re agreeing to the same arrangement.”

      She frowned. “I still don’t see the humor.”

      Philip explained, “I sent for a mail-order bride for Thomas, and Josephine answered his ad. Now he’s done the same to me.” He shrugged. “I don’t know. All of a sudden, it struck me as funny.”

      Bella shook her head, still not seeing the humor in their situation. She didn’t want to marry for love, but it saddened her that for the rest of her life she would be married to a man who didn’t love her. Was she overly tired? Or had the stress of the last month addled her brain? For the sake of the boys, theirs was to be a marriage of convenience.

      * * *

      The next morning, Philip folded his blanket and laid it on the couch. His gaze moved to the two sleeping boys. Cara had returned shortly after supper and she and Bella now slept in the only other room in the house.

      He quietly walked to the front door, pulled on his boots, coat and hat and then headed outside to feed the horses. John was due back later and Philip wanted the relay station to be in tip-top shape when he arrived.

      Philip yawned as he slipped out the door. Cold air tugged at his hat. Even though he’d been bone-tired the night before, sleep had evaded him like fog on a new spring morning. His mind refused to shut down. How was he going to take care of a family? After praying during the early hours, sleep and a plan came to him.

      If John returned early enough, Philip intended on packing Bella and the boys up and taking them to the Young farm, where his adoptive family and Pony Express home station was. He could only imagine what Ma was going to say when he arrived with his future wife and children in tow.

      Philip hurried to the warmth of the barn. He hummed as he fed the horses and mucked out stalls. His ma would probably be surprised, but also proud of him for taking on the two little boys, he was sure of it.

      It was a typical January morning and the trip to the creek would be cold. When it could be delayed no longer, Philip picked up two large buckets and pulled the barn door open. A cold wind hit him as he shut the door and then headed out to get the water. The wind had picked up and blew about him.

      With his head down, he reached the edge of the creek in a matter of minutes. When Philip looked up, he was surprised to see Bella at the water’s edge, scooping up a bucket of cold water.

      Bella turned at his approach. “Good morning.”

      He walked to the bank. “Good morning. I should have thought to come get fresh water for the house before heading to the barn. Here, let me take that,” Philip offered, setting one of his buckets down and reaching for hers.

      She smiled and shook her head. “No, thank you. I’ve got it.” Bella took a step up the bank, her eyes downcast.

      Was she having second thoughts about marrying him? Or was she feeling shy this morning? Philip hurriedly filled both buckets and then hurried after her. “How are the boys this morning?” he asked for something to say.

      Bella glanced at him. “They were still asleep when I left the house.”

      “Oh.” He tried to think of something more to say. Philip cleared his throat. “If it’s all the same to you, as soon as John gets home, I’d like to head for home.”

      “Home?”

      Philip ducked his head against a cold blast of wind. “Yes. My family’s home is the Young farm that is one of the Pony Express home stations. It’s about ten miles from here. I’d like for you to meet my family before we get married and move to the relay station.”

      She nodded, also fighting against the wind. “That sounds nice. Do you have a large family?”

      He grinned. “You could say that. Why don’t you go on inside with the water and I’ll be in as soon as I get the animals taken care of. We can talk then.”

      Bella shivered and clutched the front of her tan coat tighter about her. “Sounds good.” She walked to the house at a fast pace.

      Philip hurried through the remainder of his chores. Once done, he returned to the house. His boots pounded on the steps of the porch. The wind continued to pull at him as he opened the door. Warmth washed over his flesh, sending prickles into his face.

      “Breakfast is almost ready, Philip,” Cara said, scraping scrambled eggs onto five plates.

      His gaze sought out Bella’s. Compared to Cara, Bella was tall. The two women were as different as night and day. Cara’s hair was bright red, while Bella’s was sunshine blond. Cara’s green eyes were sharp and Bella’s blue eyes were soft. Bella’s voice was quiet with a gentleness that seemed to soothe, whereas Cara’s held an Irish brogue that tickled the ear.

      Yes, they were different. He hoped that physical appearance was the only difference. Cara was as kind as a kitten. So far, Bella seemed to have the same trait.

      Bella smiled at him. A soft pink filled her cheeks, reminding Philip that he was staring. He grinned and winked at her. The pink in her face burst into flames and turned bloodred. Philip couldn’t help but chuckle.

      Cara laughed. “Hang your coat up, Philip, and stay awhile.” She carried the plates to the table. How she balanced them so well, Philip had no idea.

      He did as she said. “It sure smells good.” Philip walked toward where the boys were seated at the table. “You men mind if I sit between you?” He pulled out the chair.

      They both shook their heads. Their hair stuck up in all directions. They wore pajamas on their small bodies. “Bella usually sits between us,” Mark said, playing with his fork.

      “Does she now?” Philip arched his eyebrow at the boy.

      Caleb scratched his head. “Yep.”

      He looked to Bella. She had moved to the stove and was pulling out a pan of fresh biscuits. “You can sit there. I’ll sit on the other side of Mark.” Once she’d placed the pan on the top of the stove, Bella motioned for him to sit.

      Philip sat and waited for the women to join them at the table. Mark wiped at the sleep in his eyes, while Caleb yawned. When the women were seated, Cara asked him to bless the meal and he did.

      The boys immediately began eating. They shoveled the food into their mouths as if they feared it would be their last meal. He remembered seeing other small children, half-starved, eating their first meal at the orphanage and his heart went out to the two small boys.

      Bella softly said, “Slow down, boys. There is plenty of food.”

      Caleb swallowed hard. “For now.”

      Philip laid his hand on the boy’s shoulder. Looking deep into Caleb’s eyes, he vowed, “You boys will never go hungry again.”

      “They have never gone hungry,” Bella said, her voice shaking. “I’ve always made sure they’ve had something to eat.”

      He turned to look at her. “I didn’t mean to imply that you haven’t done your best.”

      She lowered her head, but not before he saw that her eyelashes were damp. “And I didn’t mean to snap.”

      Cara broke the silence that had formed around the table. “Philip, do you reckon John will be home today?”

      “Probably. I’m sorry he took