Chapter 2

Hope tried to calm her nerves as she threw back her covers. She’d lain awake for hours listening to the clock on her mantle, as the seconds slowly ticked away. When she finally felt, like it was safe enough to try and leave, she quickly donned her traveling dress and slipped on her boots while, mentally, checking off the items she knew she would need for her new life.

Laying the note for her father on her pillow, she grabbed her bags and quietly slipped out her bedroom door. She removed the key from her pocket and locked the door from the outside. Hopefully, this would give her the extra time she would need to get safely out of town. Before going to bed that night, Hope had made sure all the letters and the ad, from Levi Matthews, had either been burned or was packed in one of her bags. She didn’t want her father or Philip to ever find her; just the thought of what they would do sent tingles of fear coursing through her body.

Tip toeing down the back stairs and out of the house, Hope ran to the barn, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. She quickly saddled her mare, then tied her bags to the saddle horn. After walking her horse about fifty yards, Hope threw herself into the saddle and took off to the other side of town. As a precaution, she had sewn most of her money and the little bit of jewelry she had into her petticoats. There were so many stories of train robbers and the last thing she needed was to be robbed and left penniless all alone in the middle of nowhere. The train was at the station when she got there. It had arrived during the night, and was to leave again shortly after dawn. She had just enough time to get settled when it began to pull out of the station. At the last minute Hope decided to bring her mare Whinny with her, after having her for five years, she just couldn't bear the thought of leaving her. She was a beautiful mare, and would breed healthy foals. Hope knew if she left Whinny, her father would sell her to pay off some of his debts. No, better that she bring the horse with her.

The tension slowly began to fade from her body as the distance between her and Savannah grew. She sat back and closed her eyes and tried to relax. She knew this was the right decision, for her. Though, some people would say she was crazy for choosing the unknown instead of Philip. He had money and she would live in luxury but, she would never be happy. With Levi Matthews, she probably wouldn’t have a lot of money, but hopefully she would be able to find some small measure of happiness. After all, he was only taking a new wife because of his daughter, Ellie.

He had told her why he’d put the ad out and she understood. There would be no love, and no children, other than the one he already had, but she could live with that. He’d been honest with her from the start, and Hope was confident that she would, at the very least be content. She’d always loved children and had hoped to, one day, have a large family of her own. The thought of never having her own children hurt a little but, at least, she would have his child to love.

There was always the possibility that, one day, Mr. Matthews may change his mind and want a real marriage. It really didn’t matter what he looked like to her. She knew he wasn’t a bad person, if what he’d written in his letters was true. Honestly, to Hope, almost anything would be better than being married to Philip.

Hope had traveled very little in her life and never outside the state; in fact the farthest she’d ever been was Atlanta. She'd only brought a few personal belongings; but there just hadn’t been room to bring much. The only thing, other than her clothes and the little bit of jewelry, she brought with her was her two favorite books, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ Maybe Ellie would like them as much as she did. Hope thought about reading to the little girl, and how much she looked forward to getting to know her. For the first time, excitement began to course through her as she thought of her new life.

Hope was in awe of the ever-changing landscape. She’d been traveling for two weeks and at every stop she’d held her breath hoping that no one was waiting to take her back to Savannah. Luck had been with her and so far, she hadn’t had any problems. No one had said anything about her traveling alone. She always made sure to keep her shoulders back, her chin up and to act like traveling alone half-way across the country was something she did every day. The conductor had told her that morning that they would be reaching Red Valley by noon tomorrow.

Excitement coursed through Hope’s body as she dreamed of how her new life was going to be. She knew she would be the one preparing the meals and doing the cleaning, and that was perfectly fine with her. She’d done all the cooking and most of the cleaning for the last two years, when her father’s gambling had hit an all-time high and money had begun to get tight.

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“Hope. Hope!” William called as he knocked on his daughter’s door. It wasn’t like her to not get up and fix breakfast, but being the forgiving man he was, he’d let it slide. Now, at 1:00 in the afternoon, his patience had run out, not to mention that he was hungry. He tried the knob again and, just like before it was locked. “Dammit Hope, open this door right this minute or I’ll kick it in!” Still nothing. Backing up,, he dropped his shoulder and rammed it into the door. It didn’t budge. Backing up a few more steps he dropped his shoulder again and rammed the door. It cracked but still held. He repeated the steps, this time the door frame splintered and the door flung open with such force it banged against the wall and popped back, almost hitting him in the face, as he stepped through the threshold.

He stood there for a minute trying to catch his breath as he looked around the room. Nothing looked different, but his daughter was nowhere to be found. His eyes went to the bed, it didn’t look like it had been slept in. Then he saw something on the pillow as he walked over to it, fear began to settle in his chest, and it grew with each step he took towards what he could now see, was a letter. William reached out and picked up the letter, then walked over to the chair by the window and sat down to read.

Father,

You know that I cannot tolerate Philips presence; he’s a cold, cruel man and I will not marry him or anyone like him. I know you owe him money but I will not be bartered to pay your debts. Nor do I wish to have the type of life you and Mother had. I’ve decided to go to New York, where I’ll try to find work as a governess. Please, do not try to find me as I will only run away again.

Hope

The color drained from his face, as the bitter taste of bile rose in the back of his throat. What was he going to do? Philip would kill him for sure. The only reason he hadn’t already, was because he wanted to marry Hope, and now she was gone. “That ungrateful little bitch!” How could she do this to him, her own father? She was his way out of the financial ruin he was currently in.

“William? What are you doing?” A cool, emotionless voice asked from the battered doorway.

“Oh God! Philip, she’s gone! What are we going to do? You have to help me.” William babbled, as the other man strode forward and plucked the letter from his numb fingers.

After reading it, he replied, “We shall simply have to go after her. I can’t say I won’t make her pay for all the trouble she’s causing, though.”

“I don't care what you do to her or with her when you find her. She will no longer be my problem. The girl has been nothing but a pain in my backside since she was born. If I didn't need her, I would just say good riddance.”

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Levi and Ellie were coming in from the range so he could fix his daughter lunch. They were walking up the steps to the front porch when a rider called out, as he approached them.

Levi realized who it was and tensed slightly. The sheriff didn't usually ride up like that, for a social visit. “Afternoon Sheriff. What brings you out this way on such a fine afternoon?” he asked cordially, as he tipped his hat.

Sheriff Andy Helms pulled an envelope from an inside pocket of his jacket. “This came for you this morning; I was headed out on my rounds and thought I would bring it to you.” Andy said as he leaned over and handed the letter to the other man.

“Thank you kindly. I was just headed into the house to fix Ellie and me some lunch, would you care to join us?”

“No, no I’d best be on my way. The missus doesn't like it when I'm late for supper and if I don’t get a move on I'll be late, for sure.” Andy said with a chuckle.

“Congratulations, by the way! When did Doc Baker say the new one will arrive?”

The sheriff took his hat off and ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. “Well, he's not real sure.” The confusion was evident on the other man's face and Andy chuckled again. “Well, Doc said he thinks she might be having twins. If that's the case she would be due in about five months, if it's just one, then she would be due about six months. But we'll know more as time goes by.”

“Well, then, I guess double congratulations are in order, after all Doc isn't usually wrong about twins.”

“No, and Ann is beside herself and more than just a little overwhelmed at the thought of having twins. You know her father passed away recently, so her mother is coming to live with us and she will be here to help.”

Levi chuckled. “Good luck with that. If my mother in law had come to live with us, I think I would have smothered her in her sleep.”

“I can certainly understand. I've heard some mother-in-law stories that would make a grown man cry. Well look, you have a good afternoon now.” The sheriff said as he tipped his hat. “Miss Ellie.” He then turned his horse to resume rounds.

Grabbing his daughter’s hand, Levi turned to go back up the steps to fix lunch. “Come on Munchkin.”

“But Papa, what about your letter?”

“I'll read it in just a little bit, in the mean time you go wash up, OK.”

“Yes, sir.”

The love he felt for his daughter never ceased to amaze him. He'd had no idea it was possible to love someone as much as he loved his daughter. His own family, surely, did not love him or they would have never disowned him the way they did. Pushing down the old bitterness he pulled the letter out of his back pocket and looked at the return address.

His heart sped up; this was the moment of truth. He turned the envelope over and broke the seal, sliding the letter out, unfolding it he read the short response.

Mr. Matthews,

I have decided to take you up on your kind offer. According to the train station I should be arriving between the 25th and 30th of this month. I do apologize for not being able to give you a more definitive date.

Respectfully,

Hope Saunders

Relief flooded through him, she was coming. They could get married and he wouldn't have to worry about losing Ellie anymore. He was folding the letter when he realized what the date was. It was the 24th. Oh, shit! He had a lot to do before she arrived and that could be as early as tomorrow.