Chapter 4 #2
“She does, but there has been a huge problem that I should have mentioned sooner. The hotel we stayed in last night lost her luggage. One of her maids gave her this dress to wear so we wouldn’t miss the train while they stayed behind trying to locate it.
In the meantime, I came to pick up our tickets, and, in my own stupidity, I didn’t notice that the ticket master had also botched her name.
This entire trip has been trying, and we haven’t even left the station!
I told her to pick up a few necessities and meet me here, but apparently, because of the way she is dressed and the fact that I had her ticket with me, no one would assist her.
It’s a miracle one of my workers saw her standing here looking for me before we left the station.
Here’s the ticket. This is my wife, Jessica.
I am just glad I was able to locate her before the train left.
I can’t imagine the horror she would have gone through trying to catch up to me in Utah.
As you can see here, they have her name spelled wrong.
It should say Jessica and not Jessie, it’s just a clerical error. ”
“Sir, I apologize for the railway’s incompetence and the distress your good wife has been put through. I am ashamed of how some people react to a simple dress, as it’s easy to tell by her bearing that she is not a commoner.”
I know he is simply trying to pacify me at this point, while he tries to figure out what to do next.
The train whistle blows, and I can see it the moment the young man caves.
“Please come aboard, and we will do our best to accommodate you and your wife. The sleeping car you were originally assigned to is for a single occupant only, but the only other available car has two separate beds. It was originally designed for a lady and her lady’s maid. ”
“That room will work perfectly. Jessica has a hard time sleeping with me anyway, with all my snoring.”
Thankfully, this entire time Jessica has remained silent by my side, but there is no missing the death grip she has on my arm. I pat her hand affectionately before helping her up the large steps.
“Let’s make haste, my love. I know you are upset, but we will get you some new dresses at the next stop. Until then, we will just try to put this unfortunate event behind us and simply enjoy the next few days relaxing.”
Jessica looks up at me, her green eyes huge in her small, pale face, and I swear I feel her shivering slightly when my hand lands on her lower back, leading her forward. The conductor opens the door to one of the staterooms, and I set her bag down on the floor.
“Sir, I will have your luggage moved here shortly. Do you want me to schedule dinner in your rooms this evening or in the dining car?”
“I think we have had enough excitement today, so in here will be just fine. Is that alright, dear?”
“Yes, that is fine with me, … dear.”
I must fight the smile that wants to grace my lips as she turns away, looking around the room, as I can tell she struggled to call me that endearment.
The moment the door closes, I see her shoulders relax slightly.
I step back away from her, knowing my size and the fact that I am a complete stranger must be a little troubling.
What I was not prepared for is the fire in her eyes and her hands on her small hips when she turns toward me.
“Really Mr. Kerns? Out of all the stories in the world, you pick that one?”
“Sorry … I’m out of practice smuggling girls.”
“You do realize that the moment we leave this room, everyone will know what a farce this is.”
“Not if you play the part.”
“Have you looked at me?”
I know that any way I answer that question, it’s not going to be right. If I say people will only notice your beauty, she will become leery of me. If I say, ‘act like a lady,’ she will insist that I don’t think she can or is one … so I just shrug my shoulders.
“Don’t act like this is nothing. The second I walk out of here in this dress, no amount of lying about lost luggage is going to make me into a lady. All I am going to do is embarrass us both.”
“You seem well-behaved enough. So why would you say that?”
She closes her eyes and lifts her head saying, “Lord, give me strength. You have known me for less than ten minutes, Sir. What do you know about me? What if I eat with my toes or snort when I laugh? Never mind, I will remain in here for the remainder of the trip and save us both the trouble. You can go on like you normally do and forget that I’m even here. ”
“Now that’s just stupid! You are not a prisoner, so why put yourself through that? Who cares what these strangers think? The moment we step off this train, we will never see any of them again, Jessica.”
“That is not the truth with all the passengers, Sir. What about Colby and the others? What will they think of me shacking up with you like this? If we were caught alone like this back home, tongues would already be wagging.”
The moment she mentions his name, I feel my temper rising, and I have no idea why. “What is that young man to you? Is there something I should know before this trip starts? Are you and he lovers … a couple?”
“How dare you!” I almost laugh when she stomps her small foot, and for a moment, she reminds me of Mother.
“You may be my employer Mr. Kerns, but you have no right to ask or inquire about my personal life. If you must know, I’ve known Colby since I was a kid, and no, he’s not my lover—not that it’s any of your business. I am not that kind of girl!”
For some reason, I feel like an ass, and I know if there had been something to throw, she would have tossed it at my head, as I can see the fire in her bright green eyes.
I hold up my hands in surrender, “I apologize, that was out of line. You are right, I do not know you, and we have found ourselves in quite a predicament here. Yes, I should have thought this through a little bit longer, but all we can do now is make the best of it. We are both adults, Jessica. We can make this work as I have no intention of allowing them to throw either of us off this train due to falsified documents. So, as long as you don’t eat with your feet, we will do fine.
I am sure you have watched enough ladies in your line of work to be able to mimic them if need be. ”
A knock on the door has me brushing past her, as the room is extremely small.
Opening the door, I find my own luggage outside.
Grabbing the bags, I bring them in, sitting them next to the closest bed.
I quickly notice how shabby her little cloth bag is compared to the five leather ones I have with me.
“When we get to Chicago, we will go out and get you some appropriate clothing. We should be there in a day or so.”
“I do not have the funds to waste on such frivolities. I have an extra dress with me and some personal items. That is all I need, but I appreciate your offer.”
“First of all, Jessica, I was not expecting you to pay for them, as I do believe I can afford a few frivolities, as you call them. And the clothes you have with you may do when you are walking alongside a wagon gathering cow dung, but they won’t keep you warm at night or dry in the rain.
I’m sure the others will also need more than they have with them, so this isn’t something I was simply offering you.
I had planned on getting the men new horses, saddles, and appropriate clothing as well. ”
She hangs her head. I can tell she is dead tired on her feet and completely overwhelmed, and she doesn’t know what to do with herself.
“Forgive me Sir, it’s been a trying day, and I am simply reacting. I am grateful for anything you wish to bestow upon me.”
“Reggie! Please stop calling me Sir … it makes me feel old, and there is no difference between classes out here, Jess. I am simply a man, so call me by my God-given name, no differently than you do the others.” I try to make light of the situation, since she is a bundle of nerves right now.
“Jessica, why don’t you sit down? I will ring for something to drink, and we can try to relax a little before dinner. Do you prefer coffee or tea?”
“Either is fine, I am not picky. Sir … I mean, Reggie, you do not have to stay in here with me. Once the train gets on its way, I’m sure I can find somewhere to sleep in one of the passenger cars in the back.
I am certain a man such as yourself has better things to do than babysit a wayward servant. ”
Once again, I feel my temper spike. “Absolutely not, you will not be sleeping on an old wooden bench when there is a perfectly good bed right here. Actually, I don’t have anything else to do …
you are the most interesting thing that’s happened to me in a while.
It’s not every day a man gets a fake wife, and this is a good test run for me.
Now I will ask you once again, and this time you will tell me the truth: coffee or tea? ”
“Tea.”
“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“I am used to being the one waiting on others.”
“I understand that, but for the next few days, you are the wife of a very influential man, so enjoy it.”
“You act as if I can just turn off who I am.”
“No, that’s not the case, but what I do know is that in general, people are quick to adapt to any situation, so you’ve got this.
We will dine in our room this evening, and yes, when it’s time for bed, things will be a little strange, but by the end of this trip, we will have adapted and all will be well. That is just the way of life.”
“Mr. Kerns, I would think of the two of us, you would be more upset than I. After all, it’s not like you picked me as your wife. A man like you can have any woman he wants. What if your dream woman is on this train right now and you miss her because you are stuck acting with me?”