Rhonda Gibson - Pony Express Mail-Order Bride

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 my ride.”

Cara laughed. “Not me. He needed a break from this place. Even if it is only for an overnight adventure.”

Philip nodded. He knew what she meant. A relay station was a place where the riders exchanged horses, unlike the home station, where they would stop and start their runs. A home station meant just that, home. John didn’t ride unless a rider couldn’t continue. He was pretty much stuck at the station, day in and day out. That was one of the reasons Philip and Thomas continued to ride for the Pony Express after they’d taken over the relay station on the other side of Dove Creek.

Bella looked from him to Cara. Confusion filled her eyes. Her forehead crinkled. “Why would he be glad to be gone?”

Philip answered. “Relay stations can be very lonely. I’m sure John is enjoying being at the Young home station. My brothers are probably telling him all kinds of stories.” Philip bit into the most delicious biscuit he’d ever tasted—and his adoptive ma’s were pretty good. Last night’s had been good, but this one seemed to melt in his mouth.

Understanding lit up Bella’s face, then remembrance. “Oh, you said you’d tell me about your family.” She smiled.

He savored the buttery bread for a moment longer before swallowing. “I did, didn’t I?”

She nodded her agreement.

Philip smiled. “Well, I was adopted when I turned twelve. John Young and his wife, Rebecca, not only adopted me, but also six other boys. Plus, they had a little girl of their own. So all together I have six brothers and a sister. Sadly, John passed away, but not before he signed all us boys, except Benjamin, up to be Pony Express riders.”

“How come Benjamin didn’t get to be a rider?” Mark asked around a mouthful of eggs.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, Mark,” Bella scolded in a gentle voice.

The little boy ducked his head. “Sorry,” he muttered.

“Because he’s only eight years old. Oh, I take that back. He just had a birthday, so he’s nine now.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Bella said. She stood.

Philip enjoyed the gentle swishing sound her skirt made as she walked to the washtub. “Thank you.”

“I imagine that your adoptive father’s death was hard on Rebecca,” Cara said with a frown.

“It was, but then Seth Armstrong showed up at the farm as the Pony Express station manager and the two of them fell in love. They were married and now we are all a happy family again.” He pushed his chair back and carried his plate to Bella.

She took it and slipped it into the hot, soapy water. “I’m glad she found a man who would take in all you boys.”

Was that bitterness he heard in her voice?

She looked up at him with sadness in her eyes. Philip remembered her talking about her fiancé rejecting her after he discovered there would be children to raise that weren’t his. His heart went out to the broken woman in front of him. What could he do to bring the smile back on her face?

Philip vowed that he’d make her smile again.

Chapter Four

“Do all these brothers and sister have names?” Bella asked as she wiped the food from the dishes.

“As a matter of fact, they do. I’ll start with the oldest and work my way down to the youngest. Jacob, Andrew, Clayton, Thomas, Noah, Benjamin and, lastly, Joy.”

Cara walked to them. “Bella, go sit down and enjoy your coffee. I’ll do these dishes. After all, you did most of the cooking this morning and gathered the water.” She held her plate and the boys’.

“I can help,” Bella answered. “The job will get done faster with more hands and then we can all three enjoy another cup of coffee.”

Philip went to the table and gathered the remaining dishes. He set them on the counter. She wondered if he would always be this helpful.

“Aunt Bella, can we be excused?” Caleb asked.

She glanced at her nephews. “Are your hands clean?”

Both boys looked down at their fingers and nodded.

“Then I suppose you can.”

They scooted off their chairs and hurried into the sitting area, where their toy horses awaited them. Caleb rushed ahead and handed Mark his toy. Bella heard Philip chuckle and turned to face him.

At her inquisitive look, he said, “Caleb reminds me a lot of Benjamin.” Philip shook his head.

“How so?” Cara asked. “If I remember right, they don’t look anything alike.”

Philip shook his head. “Not in looks but in actions. Ben is always looking out for Joy.”

Bella had to admit that Caleb tried to look after Mark. Unfortunately, she’d learned really quickly that the little boy didn’t care much for his older brother bossing him around. “Yes, but Mark doesn’t always want his help.”

They finished the dishes. Cara excused herself and left them sitting at the kitchen table nursing cups of warm coffee. Bella looked into the dark liquid and inhaled its rich fragrance.

“You are a very good cook,” Philip said, complimenting her.

She looked up at him. “Thank you. I love to cook and bake.” Bella twisted the cup in her hands. She’d always dreamed of someday owning her own café and serving fresh desserts. Her gaze moved to the boys. But now that dream was gone.

Philip chuckled, drawing her attention again. “Well, that’s good, because I like to eat.”

Bella smiled. “Most people do.”

The door came open with a bang and John Turnstone entered the room. He pulled off his coat and looked around. Cara came from the bedroom with a bright smile on her face. “Did you have a good ride, dear?”

“I did.” He walked across the room and hugged his wife tightly.

Bella pushed her chair back and walked to the stove. She avoided watching the other couple’s greeting. Instead she asked, “John, would you like a cup of coffee?”