“I don’t mind. My wagon is just over there.”
Josie followed his gaze and spotted a wagon parked and hitched by two horses in front of a gray building. She forced a soft smile. “Very well then.”
Travis took her bag, his sleeves tightening around his forearms, outlining his muscular build. Josie’s eyes widened upon studying them. Travis wasn’t as broad as Marcus had been, but his muscles were large and powerful. One hand latched around her throat and it wouldn’t take long to—
“Just this way.” Travis’s warm voice removed Josie from her thoughts. She nodded, lifting up her dragging petticoat.
Josie trailed behind him as he made his way down the muddy road. The recent rain had deepened the mud, making every step a challenge.At least you didn’t wear your good shoes.She carefully proceeded and focused on keeping her balance. The last thing she wanted was for Travis to see her as a clumsy woman. She needed this marriage to happen. If he found her unfit, he’d send her home. Josie pressed a hand to her stomach while it twisted in knots.We won’t go back. We won’t.
The gray building boasted a sign reading “Lynde General Store.” Its painted exterior stood out against the surrounding unpainted buildings of raw lumber and mortar. Josie looked upward, studying the merchandise through the large windows—fabrics, jars of preserves, shelves of canned goods, and a display case of carved wooden toys. A boy and a girl stood beside their mother as she conversed with the man at the counter. The children giggled, pointing at the candy jar. The mother’s eyes narrowed at the children and she snapped at them. Josie laughed softly.Oh, how mischievous children are at that age.
Travis loaded Josie’s bag, then brushed his hands together. “Sorry about the street. We were recently blessed with a downpour.”
Josie dropped her arms at her sides.Blessedwas an understatement for a farmer, dependent on rain to make a decent living. “I’m all right.”
Travis climbed up the wagon and extended his hand towards Josie. His strong arm led her upward, and she situated herself on the driver’s seat. Travis didn’t seem like a horrid man, but Josie knew better than to judge too quickly. He wasn’t what she had expected—clean-shaven, well-mannered, lacking the ruggedness she imagined. Those striking blue eyes of his caught her off guard—they were inviting yet mysterious, and she couldn’t help but think he was rather handsome.
But looks didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. What truly mattered was if she could trust him with her life—and her baby’s
A wave of relief came over Travis as his curious questions about his bride were finally answered. Miss Josephine Callahan wasn’t at all what he had expected—she wasn’t a woman of spinster age or a girl too young to be considered a woman. Instead, she embodied the perfect image of a mature woman—well-mannered, modest, and dressed in fashionable yet proper attire. Her bonnet, with its ridiculous flowers at the brim and silk ribbon tied under her chin, might be too gaudy for a humble farmer’s wife, but her high-neck bodice and matching petticoat were simple enough for Sunday best.
Not only was Miss Callahan of proper marrying age, but she was also easy on the eyes. Her blonde hair, the exact shade of wheat, peeked out from under that gaudy bonnet, shimmering like gold beneath sunlight as the wagon rolled down the main road. Travis did notice her a mite too skinny, her cheekbonessharp beneath her skin and her waist too narrow. But after weeks on the trail, he could sympathize with her.
While Travis didn’t mind her petite frame or youth, one concern consumed him: how would she adjust to the rugged realities of frontier life? He had witnessed the challenges it posed to even the strongest individuals—his father and uncle, both of whom passed before turning forty. He could envision the tragic day like it was yesterday, his father dropping dead from a heart attack because of the laborious work. Travis pushed the memory away, like many times before.
No matter if Miss Callahan lacked experience, her delicate demeanor might not be suited for the hardships they would face. When shaking her hand, he was shocked by how soft her hands were—smooth like a baby’s skin. She’d need calloused hands, strong stamina, and determination to survive. Yet who was he to say she lacked those skills?
“So . . . um . . . Was it difficult saying goodbye to your family?” Travis asked.
Miss Callahan opened her mouth to answer but then hesitated. Her face turned a deep shade of red. Had Travis said something wrong? He couldn’t tell if the heat caused her to flush or if he had somehow upset her.You fool,Travis scolded himself, clutching the reins tighter.What a stupid question to ask. Of course it was upsetting. You can see it on her face.The last thing he wanted was to make her more uncomfortable than she already seemed.
“I don’t have much family,” Miss Callahan answered softly, timid like a skittish mouse. She dropped her gaze. “I only have my great-aunt.”
Travis chewed his lower lip and looked ahead. “I’m sorry.”
He averted his eyes back to Miss Callahan just in time to catch her sneaking a brief glance at him. Her gaze quickly shifted away. Sensing her hesitation, Travis remained silent, allowing her the space to speak when she was ready.
“Don’t be,” she finally said. “My family had a plantation before the war. I had three brothers who perished in the war, leaving my parents and my younger sister, Susannah. They passed from fever seven years ago.”
As Travis caught another glimpse of her, he quickly took notice of the pain in her expressions. Her bottom lip slipped under her teeth and her arms wrapped around her body, as though she were hugging herself.
Travis swallowed hard, her painful loss reminding him of his own. “I . . . I am so sorry.”
Miss Callahan looked ahead, dropping her hands into her lap. “A lot has happened since the war, but I’ve learned to manage.”
“I heard it was bad.” Travis cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. “My family has lived here all my life, so we didn’t feel the need to enlist.”
“You have a beautiful country here from what I’ve seen,” Miss Callahan said quickly, her voice a bit perkier than before. Her chin lifted. “The mountain peaks are remarkable. Our mountains in North Carolina look nothing like this.”
Her words brought a lop-sided smile to Travis’s face. “I hope you grow to love it.”
Silence stretched between them again like the rolling prairie, but the stillness soon broke when Travis pulled up to the homestead. Miss Callahan fidgeted with her skirt and sat straighter when his children bolted out of the cabin with Aunt Polly behind them, holding Gideon on her hip. Travis gently pulled back the reins, slowing the wagon to a halt. Lillian and Jonas both beamed, their smiles wide and welcoming as they caught sight of the woman who would become their new mother.
Ivy, however, stood back, her expression reserved as she watched beside Aunt Polly. Travis couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern. He knew Ivy wasn’t one to easily warm up to new people. Still, he hoped she would at least be welcoming andpolite to his soon-to-be-bride. After all, this was a fresh start for all of them, and he wanted it to go as smoothly as possible.
“Pa!” Lillian and Jonas shrieked, jumping up and down beside Travis’s side of the wagon. Travis dismounted, and the children immediately embraced him. Their hugs tightened as though they hadn’t seen him in weeks. Travis squatted to their level and kissed the tops of their heads.
“Be polite,” Travis whispered in their ears before turning to help Miss Callahan from the wagon.
