Chapter 1
San Antonio, Texas
“Finally!” Uncle Leo said, sounding both exasperated and happy at the same time. “I can see the station. We’re almost there.”
“That’s great,” Bonnie said with a forced smile.
“I can’t wait to not be constantly moving,” he said with a sigh, still peering out of the window in their compartment. “And maybe your stomach will settle once we’re off the train.”
“Yes, I’m sure it will,” Bonnie agreed.
Having a stomach that was all aflutter with nerves wasn’t something Bonnie Wright was used to. Hailing from New York, she hadn’t thought anything could unsettle her, and yet, as the train pulled into the station in San Antonio, Texas, she was nervous. Excited, but definitely very nervous too.
Her previous life hadn’t been what one might call fulfilling. Still, she had lived comfortably enough. And yet, thanks to things far beyond her control, she had decided to hop on a train and come all this way.
As the train wheezed and sighed to a halt, the platform came starkly into view.
She had daydreamed that Jeff would be waiting for her, possibly with a bunch of flowers.
Time would stand still, and she would be dressed in something flowing, with her hair billowing out behind her in the breeze.
He would be regal and tall, a friendly yet imposing man who would sweep her off her feet onto the back of his white charger and go racing off across the green fields with her to their new home.
Now, here was the station, packed with people of all ages.
Bonnie was in a plain skirt and blouse, nothing flowing, and her curly hair had been tied back in a bun at the base of her neck with so many pins she would be pulling them out for hours before going to bed that evening.
She very much doubted Jeff would bring her flowers, much less ride a white stallion.
The important thing was that she had finally arrived. The only problem was …
Jeff Carter, the wonderful man she’d been corresponding with, hadn’t technically asked her to come out to Texas and meet him.
In fact, from his last couple of letters, she got the distinct impression that he didn’t want her to come out to the little town that he and his friends had built.
She knew there was trouble there, something about bandits, but Jeff had never made it seem like it was all that bad.
She’d just assumed such things were part of the Wild West.
Still, she supposed she should have waited for an invitation from him.
Bonnie had gotten to the point where she thought he might simply be too busy to invite her, and so, when things had gone south at home, she’d decided to invite herself out to meet Jeff in person.
Hopefully, he wasn’t angry with her for that.
It was bold, but Bonnie believed God’s hand had guided her to Jeff’s ad in the newspaper for a mail order bride.
The time they’d spent writing letters had convinced her he was the right man for her, so she’d said a prayer and impulsively boarded a train.
Admittedly, circumstances at home had forced her to travel rather faster than she’d expected.
The man standing beside her pushed his wire-rimmed spectacles up the bridge of his nose and peered at the station through the window in the compartment door. Another wave of nerves fluttered through Bonnie. Jeff had no idea her godfather had come along on this trip.
“So, are we doing this or not, Peanut?” Uncle Leo asked.
Bonnie looked up at his kind face and forced a smile. “We are absolutely doing this.”
“Well, then, let’s go. You know the train isn’t going to wait forever.”
Looking out at the platform through the open compartment door, Bonnie had expected to see a large station, something like Grand Central Station back home.
This was nothing like that. It was a Spanish-style building with a large platform.
Although it was busy, it lacked the hustle and bustle of a New York terminal.
This place looked quieter and a lot more rural, especially with several chickens squawking in crates, waiting to be loaded for their journey.
“Wow. You certainly don’t see that every day,” Uncle Leo said. “What’s next? A flock of sheep or a herd of cows?”
Bonnie smiled as she gave the compartment one last check to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. She hadn’t, but she didn’t want to step out onto that busy platform. It would mean she was really doing this and suddenly she was scared.
Sensing her hesitation, Uncle Leo reached out and took her hand, squeezing it. He smiled. “Come on, Peanut. It’ll be fine. He’s gonna be thrilled to see you.”
“You think so?” she asked, gathering her things. Why had she brought so much with her? A trunk, a valise, and a shoulder bag she could sling across her body was a lot, but she hadn’t had anywhere to leave things back in Brooklyn.
She chuckled at the thought that the biggest piece of baggage she’d brought was Uncle Leo. There had never been any question of him not coming with her. She would rather walk over hot coals than leave him behind.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, maneuvering through the open door and looking out at the folks on the platform.
“Nothing,” she said, hurrying to drag her trunk to the door. People certainly looked different here. There was a lot more flannel in evidence.
Uncle Leo, who had only a portmanteau with all his things in it, helped her to get her luggage on the platform and away from the train.
“Well, it’s not Grand Central, is it?” he asked, looking around. “It’s hardly a station at all.”
“Uncle Leo!” she chided. “We’re making a fresh start, remember? So, we have to be open-minded about things that aren’t like home.”
“I was just making an observation,” he said testily. “And don’t go getting on your high horse with me, missy. I’m still your godfather.”
Bonnie regarded him. He was a short, stocky man who had made his living as a greengrocer in Brooklyn for well over twenty-five years. His warm brown eyes had a no-nonsense look permanently etched in them, although now they held interest and a little surprise as well.
“What?” he asked, no doubt feeling her eyes on him.
Bonnie didn’t know what to say. “I want to commit this moment to memory.”
“Why?”
“Well, remember how you used to say that your whole world was in Brooklyn, and you had no desire to set foot anywhere else?”
He pulled a face at her. “Yeah, yeah. Circumstances!” he said, pointing a decisive finger at her. “It’s all down to circumstances, and only those who can adapt survive.” He patted his chest with his fingers. “I can change.”
Reaching out, she took his hand and squeezed it. “You definitely can.”
He patted her hand. “Now, where is this fella of yours? Wasn’t he supposed to be here to collect us?”
Bonnie nodded and scanned the crowd, looking for Jeff.
Had he received her letter stating when they would arrive in San Antonio?
If he had, then why wasn’t he here now? Or was he here and she just couldn’t see him?
Maybe she wouldn’t recognize him from his description.
Or what if he’d been so annoyed by her unexpected announcement that she was on her way that he’d decided not to pick her up or have anything to do with her at all?
Uncle Leo was scanning the crowd too. “So, how are we going to know it’s him?” he asked. “What does he look like?”
“He said he’s blond and tall,” Bonnie said.
“You know, tall and blonde isn’t much to go on,” Uncle Leo said with a shake of his head. “I count about ten men here who fit that description.”
“I told Jeff what I look like, so hopefully, he’ll find us if we don’t see him first,” Bonnie said, bouncing on the balls of her feet nervously. “He should be here somewhere.”
She really hoped Jeff would spot her and come over before Uncle Leo got acerbic. Things tended to go awry when the old man got fed up with someone.
And then she saw him. It had to be him because the man was dressed in a red and blue flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of brown work trousers, and scuffed boots.
Pretty much what Jeff said he always wore.
This man held a wide-brimmed hat and wore a pistol on his hip.
Mind you, a lot of other people on the platform wore similar attire, but a gleaming deputy sheriff’s badge was pinned to the pocket of the man Bonnie was now certain was Jeff.
There was another man with him, a little shorter and stockier, scanning the crowd.
Bonnie beamed as her heart skipped a beat when Jeff spotted her.
He held her gaze for a long moment and then, after patting his friend’s shoulder to get his attention, headed straight toward Leo and Bonnie, a look of determination on his face.
Determined hadn’t featured in her daydreams, although she was grateful it wasn’t anger, at least.
“Is that him?” Uncle Leo asked.
“I think so,” Bonnie said uncertainly, watching the men walking toward them, dodging the other folks on the platform.
“Bonnie Wright?” the man who might be Jeff asked, stepping up to her and looking down at her. He was a good head and shoulders taller than she was.
She nodded, her heart beating stupidly fast in her chest. Looking up, she noticed that he had gorgeous blue-green eyes. They were so clear and lovely …
She realized after a moment that they were stuck in an awkward silence. She seemed to have forgotten how to speak. Bonnie opened her mouth, but nothing came out. It was terribly embarrassing, standing there staring at this handsome man, unable to utter so much as a squeak!
“And you are?” Uncle Leo asked, stepping forward to save the day.
“None of your business,” Jeff said, frowning at Uncle Leo.
Oh dear. Bonnie had to find her voice, but it seemed to have gone on vacation without her. She tried once more, and nothing came out.
“I’m her godfather, Leonardo Di Aventura, so it is very much my business.” Uncle Leo puffed out his chest.