He pulled his hand away from his shoulder and focused on the scenery around them. The road was clear, making travel much easier. To the right he saw a large tree with dry ground under its branches and decided to pull the wagon over for a bit of lunch.
In a soft voice, Bella asked, “Is there anything I can do to ease the stress in your shoulder?”
He smiled. “Thanks, but I think all it needs is to stretch a little. I thought we’d stop here and have lunch, if that’s all right with you.” Philip set the brake on the wagon and slipped off the hard seat.
She nodded. “This is a perfect spot. The boys can play under the tree while I get lunch set out.” Bella pulled a picnic basket out from under the seat.
The boys continued to sleep as she dug out sandwiches, pickles and a jug of apple cider. Philip walked about, swinging his arms and stretching his muscles. Sitting on a wagon all day wasn’t something he was accustomed to. Now, riding a horse all day, that was a different story. He grinned. In a few days he’d be back in the saddle, riding for the Pony Express.
His gaze moved to Bella as she worked. Would they be married before he had another run? He walked to the tailgate of the wagon, where she had set out the food on a blanket.
“We should tell the boys we’re getting married, before we get to your folks’ house.” Bella handed him a sandwich.
He looked to the two lumps under the blankets. “I suppose you’re right.” Although he thought they probably already knew, since they’d talked openly about it with John and Cara Turnstone.
She grinned at him and motioned for him to watch the blankets that covered the boys. Bella raised her voice slightly. “Would you like a cookie after you finish your sandwich, Philip?”
Two blond heads popped out from under the covers.
“I want a cookie,” Mark exclaimed, shoving the blankets away and pushing his way toward the back of the wagon, where Bella and Philip were.
Philip brushed the hair on the little boy’s head with his hand. “Sandwich first, cookies last.”
“Aw, why do we have to eat the icky food first?” Mark protested, frowning down at the bread and meat Bella had just thrust into his small hand.
Caleb sat down beside his brother and yawned out the answer. “Because the icky food is the best for your body.” He grinned at Bella when he took the sandwich she offered. “But Aunt Bella’s food is never icky.”
Philip laughed. “Already a charmer, aren’t you, Caleb?”
He smiled at Philip but didn’t answer. Pretty smart little boy, Philip thought. The sandwich was good but a little dry. That was what one could expect from trail food.
“Boys, I have something I want to tell you.”
Wariness filled the children’s eyes at Bella’s words. Both lowered their half-eaten sandwiches.
Bella smiled at them. “This is good news, not bad.”
Philip half expected the boys to relax but was disappointed. Mark’s eyes began to fill with mist. He rubbed them in an attempt to fight off the tears.
Philip laid his hand on the little boy’s shoulder. In a gentle voice he said, “Buck up, little man. You might like what she has to say.” He nodded to Bella to continue.
She pushed a strand of hair from her face. “Philip has asked me to marry him and I’ve agreed.”
They continued to look at her, waiting. He grinned. “That means you get to live with me at the relay station.”
Caleb frowned. “We know that. Is that the news?”
Bella chuckled. “Well, yes. I thought you’d be surprised.”
Both boys gave her another look of exasperation and then continued eating.
With disbelief filling her voice, Bella asked, “You really aren’t surprised?”
“Nope, you told us we were coming out here so you could marry Philip. So since we found him and haven’t moved on, we figured you two were getting married.” Caleb stared at her as if she’d grown two heads.
“Plus, we heard you talking to John and Cara about it.” Mark shook his head. “We aren’t babies, Aunt Bella.” Then he finished off his sandwich. With the last morsel still in his mouth, he asked, “Can I have my cookie now?”
Philip laughed. The boys were proving to be very smart. Bella would need to stay on her toes with these two. He wiped the last crumb from his own mouth and said, “Yeah, can we?”
She shook her head and handed over the cookies. Her fingers brushed his and Bella looked up at him. Had she felt a small spark, too? Or just been surprised at his touch? He’d never expected to feel anything for her, so what was this attraction? Perhaps it was nothing. Perhaps it was static electricity in the air. Or perhaps... No, Philip refused to even think that it could be more than just a small spark of electricity.
* * *
After riding for over fourteen hours, Philip pulled the wagon into the Young family farm’s front yard. The sound of cows lowing and chickens settling in for the night were a comfort to his tired mind.
Andrew was the first to greet them. “Better move that wagon next to the porch. I have a rider coming in any minute now.”
Philip nodded and grinned. “Nice to see you, too, big brother.” He did as Andrew said and guided the horse to the porch, where his mother and her close friend, Fay, sat rocking.
His mother, Rebecca, stood and pulled her shawl closer. A smile graced her face. “’Bout time you got home, son. We’ve been waiting for days.”
He set the brake on the wagon, then jumped down and hurried up the porch steps. Philip picked up his adoptive mother and swung her around. Her squeal was the reward he’d been looking for.
“Put me down.” She playfully slapped his shoulder.
Philip hugged her close and then did as she ordered. He stepped back and grinned. “You’ll never believe this, Ma, but I’m getting married.” Not the most graceful way to announce his future plans, but no one had ever claimed he was graceful.
She looked at him with an open mouth. Her big blue eyes had grown even bigger. “You’re what?”
“Getting married.”
Rebecca looked to the wagon, where Andrew was talking to Bella. The little boys stood behind her in the bed of the wagon looking about. “I see.”
Fay stepped up beside Rebecca. She grinned at Philip. “Why don’t you all come inside? I’ll put a fresh pot of coffee on and get those young’uns a glass of milk.” She turned and entered the house before he had a chance to answer or respond.
He was grateful that Fay was taking the matter into her own hands. She had entered their lives at the same time that Seth had. Her husband had recently passed away and her landlord had kicked her out of her home. Rebecca, seeing a need, had invited her out to the farm. Fay was a part of their family now and Philip was grateful for her kind ways.
He hurried back to the wagon. First Philip helped Bella down, then he turned to swing both boys to the ground also. Then he led them up the stairs, where Rebecca still stood. He understood his mother’s shock. How many times in the past had he sworn he wasn’t the marrying kind? “Ma, I’d like you to meet Bella, Caleb and Mark.”
Rebecca nodded. “Please call me Rebecca.” She opened the screen door. “Come on in.”
Bella smiled. “Thank you. I know this is probably a shock to you. But I hope we can be friends as well as in-laws.” She entered the house. “Come along, boys,” Bella called over her shoulder.
Caleb