Chapter 3

Before Mary Anna took the time to ask the Lord about her plan to get a husband, the day for the proxy bride ceremony arrived. The weather was bright and sunny, she hoped, like her future. Standing in front of the stage depot, she and Alice were first in line to draw a name out of the bucket the preacher held.

With a shaking hand, Mary Anna put her hand in and took out the name Chris Starke. He was twenty-five and from Abilene, Kansas. There were no words on what he looked like or what he did, but Mary Anna decided she'd put her faith to work and believe he was a good man.

Alice squealed. "I got a man named Steve Boyd. He's twenty-six and owns a livery. I hope he's a nice man."

Mary Anna smiled. "Well, it's all done except for the I do part. Let's go."

They stood in line next to the designated man. Suddenly, the preacher stood on a crate and started rattling off the words in a hurried manner. One thing was for sure, talking that fast, he wasn't from the South.

The preacher stopped talking and took a breath. "Say I do."

The participants said, "I do."

Then he smiled. "You are now married to your partner. Sign up here at the stage to go to the city where your partner is. They are waiting for you and have paid your fare."

Mary Anna squeezed Alice's hand. "Let's get our tickets." She went to the office and handed her papers to the clerk. He stamped them and smiled. "To Kansas. Your stage leaves in twenty minutes. Don't be late, or you'll miss it."

Alice got her ticket, too. "It's a good thing we packed before the ceremony."

"Yes, it was. I hope this is a smart idea."

"It will work out grand. I'm so glad we're going to the same city. I would be nervous traveling alone." Alice looked around. "I wonder who will be on our stage."

Mary Anna followed her friend's gaze and had the same thought. Most of those sitting in the waiting area looked like rough customers. Some wore ragged suits that had seen a better day. None of them looked like the gentlemen of old that they were used to seeing before the war.

Of course, before the war, there would have been trains to take. They'd been destroyed during the war, and the tracks hadn't been repaired yet. So, they were going on a stagecoach headed for Kansas.

Finally, the call came to board the stage. Mary Anna scooted in and moved to the far window. Alice slid in right beside her. Four men entered the stage. Two salesmen. One sold liquor, and one sold guns. A scary combination. One man looked like a gambler, and the fourth one could be an outlaw. The men stared at them but left them alone.

Mary Anna whispered to Alice, "I hope they won't bother us."

Alice scooted closer to her. "They are a scary bunch. That man with the six-shooter on his hip scares me. Do you think he's wanted?"

"Shh. Don't let him hear you." Mary Anna tried not to stare at the man. He sat opposite them and leaned against the window with his legs stretched out, taking up the room in front of her. Inadvertently, she kicked his foot.

He lifted his hat off his face and looked at her. "Is there a problem?"

Mary Anna stared at him, praying he wouldn't pull his gun out of the holster. "No! Not at all. I'm so sorry."

He grinned. "Don't worry, ma'am. I'm not an outlaw." He opened his jacket and revealed the tin star pinned to his shirt. "I'm U. S. Marshal Owen Trask. I'm going to Kansas."

Alice, always the curious one, sat at the edge of her seat. "Are you going to arrest an outlaw?"

Mary Anna dug an elbow into Alice's side.

"Well, I want to know." Alice smiled at the marshal. "I'm sorry, I am the curious sort."

He grinned. "I'm looking for someone. Nothing for you to worry about." He glanced out the window and then back at them. "What business would two Southern ladies have in a dusty town like Abilene?"

Mary Anna looked him square in the eyes. "We're going to meet our husbands there."

The Marshal lifted an eyebrow. "I guess they went on ahead to provide a decent home for you?" He looked at them with concern in his eyes.

Mary Anna didn't want to tell him they'd never met their husbands. She remained quiet and let the conversation drop.

Alice cleared her throat. "We've never met our husbands. We're proxy brides."

Marshal Trask sat up straight. "You've never met them? I hate to say this, ladies, but Abilene isn't known for refined gentlemen. It's a drop-off point for cowboys after pushing a herd through, and drifters, not to mention outlaws."

Mary Anna's heart froze. "We trust the Lord has good men for us."

"You better. What are their names, if you don't mind my asking?"

Mary Anna looked at the piece of paper in her hand. "Chris Starke."

Alice smiled. "Steve Boyd. I believe he owns a livery."

"I know Steve. He's a good man." His gaze fell on Mary Anna. "I don't know Chris Starke. I hope he treats you right."

Mary Anna nodded. "I believe he will. Besides, we have nothing and no one to go back to. Mississippi is broken and full of ruined lives."

The marshal nodded. "I understand, but a lot of those ruined men went west and got as far as Kansas. It's a wild state full of angry men and no place for a lady."

"Thank you for your concern. We'll be fine." Mary Anna pulled her gaze from him, looked out the window, and said goodbye to the lush greenery of Mississippi. Whatever she was going to have to face, she'd do it. With the help of the Lord, it would turn out all right. She sent a silent prayer to the Lord that Chris Starke was a good man. He had to be.

The marshal let out a tired sigh. "All right. I'll be in town for a while. If you need anything, let me know."

Alice fiddled with the string on her reticule. "Are you married?"

Marshal Trask shook his head. "No, ma'am. Being a U.S. Marshal doesn't allow for a man to take on a family. I'm hardly home, and then there is the risk of never coming home."

Alice sighed. "I'm sorry. That must make it a lonely life."

He nodded. "Sometimes it is, but I'm free to do as I please. This country is growing, and more people are moving west. They need the law, and I provide a semblance of peace and order."

Mary Anna smiled at him. "We thank you for your service."

He tipped his hat. "Thank you, ma'am. Like I said, if you run into trouble, I'll be there to help."

"Is the sheriff in Abilene a good man?"

"He's as good as he can be. It's a wild town, and he can only be in one place at a time. He does his best, but it's not easy."

Mary Anna had the sudden realization that she very well may have chosen unwisely. What if Chris was an outlaw? Then she chided herself. Why would an outlaw want to get married? Silly of her to worry. She'd been so sure this was what the Lord would want her to do. If only she'd taken the time to ask.