Pony Express Christmas Bride. Rhonda Gibson
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you like a cup of coffee and a couple of cookies? Joy baked them.” Rebecca turned from him and walked to the stove.
He smiled at his little sister, who stood beside Josephine. “I’d love one of Joy’s cookies.”
Joy grinned proudly at his words. “They are sugar cookies.” She cut her eyes to look at Josephine. “I like to use lots of butter in my cookies.”
“I noticed that. They are especially yummy.” Josephine smiled at the little girl.
Thomas walked to the table and sat down beside his new wife. “I love sugar cookies.” He scooped up Joy and hugged his sister close.
Josephine watched them with a soft grin. “I’ll have to borrow your recipe, Joy.”
Joy’s shyness filled her voice as she said, “It’s really Ma’s recipe. She just lets me use it.”
“I’ll be happy to write it out for you, Josephine. But I have to warn you, Thomas will eat them all if you don’t watch him closely.” Rebecca sat a dessert plate in front of him with two cookies on it.
He snatched one of the cookies up and made a big show of taking a bite from the treat. “Mmm, these are good.” Thomas prayed he’d make it through the day. Both of the women in his life seemed as prickly as porcupines and he was the one who seemed to rub them both the wrong way. All he could do was pray.
* * *
Watching Thomas with his brothers and sister, Josephine envied his large family. After they’d told them about Philip’s sending for her as a mail-order bride and her uncle’s treachery, Josephine began to enjoy their laughter and teasing. During the meal, she observed Joy’s shyness but realized that Joy’s brothers did not have that affliction. They were all very easy natured and outgoing, from the youngest, Benjamin, to the oldest, Andrew.
She handed Rebecca the almost empty bowl of mashed potatoes. “What else can I do, Rebecca?”
“If you want to dry, you are more than welcome to do so.” Rebecca smiled at her.
Fay and Emma exchanged puzzled looks. “Um, then what are we supposed to do?” Emma asked.
“Whatever you want.” Rebecca grinned over her shoulder at them. “I’d like to get to know my new daughter-in-law over the dishes.”
Josephine swallowed. What did Rebecca want to know? She dreaded the questioning that would soon take place.
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Fay walked from the room. Emma giggled and followed.
The rest of the lunch crowd fled the kitchen, including Rebecca’s husband, Seth. Rebecca laughed. “I guess I didn’t have to tell them at all.”
Josephine wanted to thrash her new husband. He’d been the first to leave the room.
Rebecca turned to face her. “Well, now that we’re alone, let’s get to know each other.” She offered a sweet smile and began to wash the dishes.
Josephine took a cup from her and asked, “So what do you want to know?”
“Anything you want to tell me.” Rebecca’s dimples showed as she looked at Josephine. “I just want to get to know you. I’m not your judge. I want to be your friend.”
Just like that? All she had to do was share a little about herself and Rebecca would be her friend? Josephine focused on the cup in her hands. “I’m not sure where to start.” Stalling, that was what she was doing, stalling, pure and simple.
“How about telling me where you are from?”
“St. Joseph, Missouri.” She set the dry cup aside and reached for the next.
“It must have been hard to leave there.”
Josephine thought about that for a moment. “Not really. Mama died seven years ago and Papa ran off four years later. I really don’t have any other family except my uncle and I don’t miss him at all.”
Rebecca placed another clean dish in the drying bucket. “What about friends?”
She shrugged. “I don’t have any.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Josephine laid the dishrag to the side and faced Rebecca. She didn’t want her mother-in-law’s pity. “I know this sounds strange to you, coming from this big family and all, but I really don’t have anyone who cares about me. No family, no friends, nobody.” She heard the crispness in her voice and almost wished she could take it back. But maybe this was just what Rebecca needed to hear. Not everyone had the perfect family.
Rebecca turned so quickly that Josephine took a step back from her. Her blue eyes blazed and her cheeks turned bright pink, anger laced her words. “Let me tell you about me. I grew up in an orphanage and had one brother. He was forced to leave me at the age of twelve and brave the streets alone and in the cold of winter. He froze to death. I was sent here to this farm to help my late husband John’s mother and father, not as a daughter but as a hired hand. John saw me, liked me and married me. Mainly to please his mother and father. We grew to love each other and we built this family. After John’s death, Seth arrived here as a Pony Express station manager. We fell in love and have kept this family together.”
Josephine opened her mouth to say she was sorry, but Rebecca held up her hand to silence whatever she thought Josephine was about to say. “During that time, I met Fay. Her husband had died and the owner of the house they were living in kicked her out. Emma came here as a slave. Fay and I, with the boys’ help, figured out a way to save her from her owners.”
Rebecca placed her damp hands on her hips. “We all have had a hard life, except maybe Joy. All of these young men that I call my sons were orphans. So, no, I don’t find your situation strange. What I do find strange is your need to lash out at someone who is offering you the hand of friendship and the chance at a new life.”
She deserved that. Josephine licked her lips and nodded. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed your life was any easier than mine has been.”
Rebecca pulled her into a tight hug. “Josephine, Thomas sees something in you that he likes. Believe it or not, I see it, too. The fact that you don’t trust anyone hasn’t gone unnoticed, but let me assure you, you now have a family and friends, if you will allow myself, Fay and Emma to get close enough to you.” She released Josephine and looked into her eyes.
Josephine wanted to believe her. She wanted to trust that they were all offering her the hand of family and friendship. But when her uncle had begun selling off their property and firing their help, her so-called friends had all distanced themselves from her. She had quickly learned the only one she could depend on and trust was herself. “I’ll try.” And she would, but it wouldn’t be easy.
“I’m sorry I lost my temper. It doesn’t happen often.”
Josephine smiled. From the shame-filled look on Rebecca’s face, she knew Rebecca meant her apology. “I was feeling sorry for myself, but I don’t anymore. I needed to hear about your past and will try to tell you more of mine without feeling sorry for myself as I do so.”
Rebecca nodded and then turned back to the washbasin. “We better get the rest of these dishes done before it’s suppertime.”
Josephine picked the drying towel back up and asked, “Has Thomas told you why we got married?”
“He did. I was hoping he’d wait until his family could attend the service.” Rebecca’s hands flew as she washed dishes.
“I’m sorry.”
Soft laughter filled the air. “It’s not your fault. Thomas could have told me yesterday when he was here that he was getting married today, but he didn’t. That’s not your fault, it’s his.”
Josephine didn’t argue. She spent the next hour telling Rebecca about her childhood, her mother’s sudden death and her father’s