Where The Four Winds Collide Read online

  At dusk, Adeline helped Miss Lady clean up the kitchen. She glanced up as Mae walked in and motioned her to a chair. Her stomach lurched at Mae's lack of expression. This couldn't be good.

  "A man stopped by asking for you."

  Adeline's heart leaped to her throat. Somehow she'd let herself believe she'd be safe here, but she wasn't, and it wasn't fair to put Mae and the others in danger. Her father and Billy's men could come here and cause problems looking for her. "I'm sorry," she slumped forward placing her face in her hands. "I'll leave tomorrow, I have four dollars."

  "Be quiet and listen, girl," Mae hushed her. "There's a stagecoach leaving for Texas in a couple of days. You should be on it. You can go there and make a good living teaching or in midwifery.

  "T--T--Texas," Adeline stuttered, "I've never considered going so far. It's so dangerous. I heard stories of Indians attacking and women being taken by wild renegades."

  "Well, child, they'll eventually find you here, there's no question about it." Miss Lady's worried eyes met hers. "Either option is dangerous for you. If your father finds you here, in a whorehouse, he is liable to beat you to death. At least in Texas you've got a chance."

  Adeline nodded mutely. They were right. She had limited options, being a woman alone. She'd rather die scalped by savages than marry a cheater and woman-beater like Billy Johnson. No doubt after a good thrashing, her father would force the marriage because of her disobedience. Afterwards Billy would then ensure she paid dearly for running. Probably for years, if not forever.

  No, she could relate with Lucinda in this matter. She'd never marry either.

  Adeline made up her mind and raised her head to the grim faces looking back.

  "I'll go to Texas."

  Don't throw up, don't do it. Adeline kept repeating the words in her head. The swaying stagecoach and her rumbling stomach ganged up against her resolution, and she began to heave. Someone grabbed her by the hair and shoved her face out of the small window just in time.

  Tears of humiliation poured down her face while she waited to be sure her stomach was empty before lowering herself to the hard seat and leaning her heated face against the side of the shifting carriage. She wiped a dirty handkerchief another passenger had given her across her mouth and moaned.

  "Maybe you should stay at the next station," An older man regarded her with distaste, covering his nose with a pristine handkerchief. "You're not looking well at all, young lady."

  Adeline nodded, not wanting to speak. Her presence was making everyone miserable, and she felt the worst of all. Her head wobbled to the opposite side and collided with a thin man's shoulder. "I'm sorry," she mumbled and leaned away from him, attempting to make herself as small as possible. Her stomach lurched again, and she prayed they would arrive at a station soon.

  Her prayer was answered when the stagecoach pulled into a waiting station. Adeline sprinted down the steps of the coach and raced to an outhouse to throw up again and relieve herself. She didn't linger because the stink of the enclosure was unbearable to her already weak stomach. But obviously, she was gone long enough for the passengers to urge the coachman to leave her behind, because when she wobbled back to the station, the stagecoach was pulling away.

  About to collapse in despair, she was startled when an old man came up and took her by the arm. "Come on, girl. They left your things over here. There's a cot in the room in there where nobody'll bother ya." He pointed into the darkness. "I'll be in the room over there, he pointed toward another door, then early mornin' you'll find me out front, in the office. The next coach should arrive by morning. Maybe they'll have a seat for ya." He guided her to a small dark room with only a sliver of sunlight peeking in through a dingy curtain nailed above a minuscule window. The cool darkness was a welcome oasis, and Adeline sank onto the cot, lifting her head only when the old man shoved a cup of water in her hand. After drinking and feeling relief at the substance staying down, she closed her eyes.

  It felt as if only a few minutes had passed, but when Adeline woke, it was dark outside. Overwhelmed at her current state, alone without a soul to care for her, she sat with her back to the corner and brought her knees to her chest. It was too quiet. Adeline rested her cheek on top of her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs. More than anything, she wanted to cry at what had become of her life, but she clenched her jaw and refused. What awaited her? She didn't know a soul. What if during her bouts with nausea someone had stolen her money? Her eyes darted to the carpetbag on the floor, but she didn't have the energy to check it.

  She took a shaky breath, willing herself not to cry. Nonetheless, a sob escaped and she swallowed more down. If there wasn't a seat on the next stagecoach, she wasn't sure what her options were. She began to pray.

  Morning finally arrived, and the old man knocked on her door to find Adeline had already splashed water on her face. She followed him to the front of the station. He motioned toward a coffee cup and some bread on a side table. "Help ya self." He went to the front window and peered out. "Here comes the stagecoach now."

  Adeline took a bite of bread and sipped coffee, and almost immediately her stomach lurched, so she put it down and prepared to leave. She wouldn't eat. Hopefully she'd survive long enough to arrive in Texas.

  The passengers on the second leg of her journey were a vast contrast to the ones on the first. Five excited mail-order brides spoke nonstop in nervous tones, each of them telling how they expected to react upon meeting their new husbands. They feared what they'd do if the men turned out not to be what they expected.

  One lady let out a big sigh. "Lord knows, I've been writing this man long enough, I hope he didn't misrepresent himself." Another patted the woman’s hand, shaking her head. "Mine is named Calvin, and he’s an accountant. He’s supposed to be well-to-do." Her watery blue eyes widened. "I'm asking the Lord to bless me with a good humble man."

  Adeline frowned when another woman huffed in response. "Ladies, we're going to a wild world. Men have run around without women for so long there's no telling if they'll have any manners left at all. I, for one, plan to teach my new husband to be a gentleman in short order." She stopped abruptly and turned to Adeline. "What about you? Are you expected?"

  Five sets of eyes locked on to her, waiting for a reply. Was she the only woman arriving with no one waiting for her and no idea what she'd do once there?

  Adeline gulped. "I-I have n-no idea what awaits me," she stammered. When no one reacted, she realized they were waiting for her to continue. "I, um, well, I have no idea who will be picking me up."

  "Oh," the woman who'd questioned her earlier smiled knowingly. "He didn't send you a likeness of himself." The women shook their heads and pursed their lips as if they felt sorry for her. "Hopefully, he won't be too homely."

  "Yes," the woman with the watery blue eyes spoke. "Let’s pray for this young lady's man. Lord, let him be a good humble man."

  Adeline rested her head on the inside wall of the coach. Her stomach grumbled; she'd not eaten in two days. The only thing she'd dared to swallow was water. Thankfully, although lightheaded, she wasn't too nauseated. In an attempt to dissuade the dizziness, she closed her eyes only to be startled awake by a squeal from one of the women sitting across from her.

  "Oh, my. We are here, ladies! We have arrived in Four Winds!"

  A warm breeze caressed her face as she leaned over to peer out the coach's window. The town was abuzz with activity. She spotted several children running ahead of the coach and waving at the driver. A small group of people milled in front of what looked to be a mercantile.

  Her companions began pinching their cheeks and smoothing their hair before carefully donning hats. Several of the women slid on kid gloves and fluffed their skirts. The coach came to a stop and everyone froze, their eyes darted at each other as if seeking encouragement. Each woman then made her exit.

  Adeline was the last one to descend the steps. The coachman handed her the small carpetbag she'd brought with her. "The Four Winds Hotel
is over yonder, ma'am," He pointed toward a two-story building where the other women were already headed. "You'll be met there by Judge Maphis."

  "Is there somewhere I can..." She stopped speaking when the ground swayed. "I need some water, please."

  The coachman nodded and pointed to a small wooden shack a few feet away. "It's where I spend the night when I'm here. Miss Holly will give you something to drink."

  She stumbled to the small house, blinking away her double vision.

  When she neared, a sour-faced woman opened the door and looked down at her.

  “May I please bother you for some water?” Adeline stammered.

  The woman handed her a cup of water. "I'm sure someone's waiting for you over at the hotel," her narrowed eyes, brimming with disapproval, studied her from the doorway, not inviting her in. The woman mistook her for a bride. Perhaps mail-order brides were not well regarded there.

  Adeline returned the cup and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Thank you so much." She began to walk toward the hotel. Perhaps someone there would have information on finding a teaching job. Her mind began to wander and she became confused. Or was she a mail-order bride? Who was she marrying? Her vision blurred and she shook her head and giggled. It was a silly idea. She wasn't getting married. She was going to be a teacher. Teaching children. Or was she going to have children?

  Everything swayed and Adeline held her hand out to steady herself against a short fence. After resting a few minutes, she'd make her way to the hotel. Not sure why she needed to go there. What had the woman said? Someone waited for her?

  Yes, that was it. Someone was waiting for her.

  Chapter Four

  The two-hour ride into Four Winds didn't seem to take long. The sun warmed Jackson's back and the breeze blew balmy and pleasant. A stagecoach passed by, headed toward town. The fast gait of the four beasts pulling it kicked up a dust cloud. Jackson held his steed in place to allow the dirt in the air to settle. No doubt, the horses were desperate for feed and water and sensed their destination was not too far ahead.

  He patted his palomino's neck and urged the huge animal forward. Perhaps the stagecoach brought a letter or picture from a prospective wife. Jackson flushed, recalling how he'd fought with Heath over the damn ad.

  His brother placed the ad and then informed him afterwards, wearing a lazy smile and goading Jackson to lose his temper. He'd been tempted -- Heath always did try him -- but his brother was right. He wanted a wife and family, and waiting around for a woman to miraculously appear hadn't worked as of yet. It sure wasn't going to happen anytime soon if he didn't hurry up and do something.

  He’d saved the one reply to his ad. The tattered letter had gotten wet and was damaged so badly he could hardly make out any of the message. The correspondence hailed from Virginia, and the lady, whose name was not clear in the letter, had either green or grey eyes. In the only other legible portion, she declared herself to be a good seamstress and cook, and to be of good moral character. Jackson had no illusions the woman would be attractive. He only hoped that she had a pleasant personality and that they would get along well with each other.

  The hitching post in front of the sheriff's office was the only one in sight without a horse tied to it. Four Winds was bustling today it seemed.

  "Better hurry, Jackson, maybe yours is here today," Calvin Durnstead, a balding accountant, called to him as he rushed across the street toward the hotel, a bouquet of wilted wildflowers in his hand.

  What is going on?

  A group of kids ranging from toddlers to teenagers peered through the front windows of the Four Winds Hotel. Perhaps a well-known personality had arrived. Well, he'd know soon enough; Heath always knew what was going on in town. Jackson tied his horse to the fencepost in front of the sheriff's office and headed inside.

  "I didn't expect you back so soon, sheriff." Earl, Heath's deputy jerked his feet from on top of the desk and sat bolt upright in his chair when Jackson walked in. No doubt, the man mistook him for his brother, as they favored in height and light hair color, because once the deputy realized who Jackson was, he leaned back and lifted his feet onto the desk once again. "What brings you into town, Jackson?" Earl asked with a bored expression.

  Lazy and skinny as the day was long, Earl Madison was not the man Jackson wished for his brother to have at his back in a crisis. Unfortunately, men who were willing to become lawmen for the meager pay were hard to find in these parts. To somewhat make up for it, Jackson insisted Heath deputize him so he could help out when needed. Thankfully, once winter settled in, it would be a quieter time and less dangerous for Heath and Earl.

  Jackson studied the deputy for a moment.

  "Where's Heath?"

  Earl motioned toward the window with his head. "Across at the hotel, probably sorting out which lady belongs to who. Judge Maphis is over there, too."

  A loud snore caught Jackson's attention. A stout man lay on the floor along the wall behind Earl. With his mouth gaping open, the man snored and mumbled in his sleep before turning onto his side and attempting to get more comfortable. The unlucky man was handcuffed to the chair Earl sat on. Jackson wondered if Earl would be able to handle him once the large man woke up.

  Earl followed his line of sight. "He passed plum out and the sheriff said to leave him where he lay. It's not worth wrenching our backs to try to move him."

  Jackson nodded. He couldn't disagree with Heath's logic on that part. Unfortunately, by the size of the man, Earl was in trouble when the man woke. Neither he nor the chair would be able to hold him. "Why are Heath and the judge needed to sort out some lady business?"

  "Stagecoach brought some women. You know -- brides." Earl rolled his eyes as if thinking Jackson addled. "There's some disagreement over which man one of them belongs to. It seems the Miller twins can't figure out which of them got the letter from this one particular girl. Being they're identical, the girl is as confused as they are." Earl let out a cackle and slapped his leg. "I'd pay to see it and not be here hog-sittin'." He directed a scowl at the man on the floor."

  "I need to talk to my brother," Jackson said, moving toward the door before Earl could suggest he take his place. "See you around, Earl."

  "Yeah. Well, come back and tell me what happens," Earl grumbled.

  Jackson hurried outside without a backward glance. He wondered how long the mail-order bride situation would take to resolve. He needed to discuss the missing cattle with Heath and get his brother's take on how to find the thieves. Jackson glanced toward the hotel; the crowd at the hotel windows was larger now. Mr. and Mrs. Busby, the owners of the mercantile next door, stood with several others behind the kids and peered inside.

  Jackson shook his head. The Miller twins would be fodder for many a firelight conversation this winter. Just as he turned toward the hotel, someone ran straight into his chest. He looked down into the largest green eyes he'd ever seen. They shone in bright contrast to the woman's pale face. She lifted her hand as if to wipe her hair away from her face and promptly fainted. As she collapsed, he caught her against him and lifted her along with her carpetbag.

  With the curvy woman in his arms, Jackson headed to the hotel, where she could lie down while he fetched the doctor. When her hand pressed against his chest, he glanced down at her to ensure she'd not awakened. Her long lashes were fanned out across the tops of her pale cheeks, and her pink lips were pursed. The woman was lovely and smelled clean and flowery. After a moment, Jackson realized he was standing beside the busy street, looking like a fool, staring at the unconscious woman he held in his arms. With a firm shake of his head, he focused on the matter at hand.

  The people in front of the hotel watched him with curiosity as he made his way to the front door. The mercantile owner, Kyle Busby, held the door open, and Jackson nodded in gratitude as he brushed past him into the cool interior of the hotel lobby.

  As they entered, the room became silent. Judge Maphis was in the process of marrying one of the Miller twins and his
bride, while the other twin stood by, seeming more relieved than upset. Calvin Durnstead held hands with a plump woman who scowled at Jackson for distracting the judge with the impromptu entrance. Another two couples stood facing the judge, stealing glances at each other and blushing.

  Heath stood on the other side of the judge, watching over the spontaneous proceedings. Jackson caught his eye, and his brother nodded in acknowledgement. The judge glanced up. "Come on in, Jackson, I don't have all day."

  Not wanting to cause any more disruption, he stood behind the other couples and waited for the judge to finish his liturgy. Although feeling awkward at holding the unconscious woman, truth be told, he enjoyed the feel of her weight in his arms.

  The woman didn't seem to be in undue distress; the long bumpy ride in the stagecoach and the heat were probably what ailed her. He noticed her face was regaining color. The cooler interior of the hotel appeared to help. Her chest rose and fell with each breath, and he caught himself having inappropriate thoughts. He jerked his gaze to Judge Maphis in an effort to ignore the strong beating of his heart and wayward ideas in his mind.

  "By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husbands and wives." The judge finally concluded the ceremony, and Jackson turned to face Heath, who'd moved to stand beside him.

  Heath stood wordlessly studying Jackson's burden.

  Jackson heaved a deep sigh. "She ran into me outside and passed out. I need to put this lady down and maybe get her a cool compress or something. Probably overtired from the stagecoach trip. Then we need to talk." Jackson told his brother while searching for a place to lay the woman down. "I've got some missing cattle."

  Heath's loud laugh caught him off guard. "Why the hell are you talking about cows right now, brother?"

  Spotting an empty couch, Jackson laid the woman down and turned to face his brother. "Because it's what I came to town for."

  A flash of alarm crossed Heath's face, his eyes darting to the woman on the couch and back to him. "You didn't come into town to meet the stagecoach?"